essential oils!

I've been exploring the wide world of essential oils lately.  It was kind of a random path that led me to essential oils, but also it was a long time coming.  I had a friend who started using them and they changed her life.  I was obviously a bit curious (and a lot skeptical), so after chatting with her for a bit, I decided that I wanted to give essential oils a try myself.  I knew that essential oils were sold at my local natural health store, but after doing some research and reading about essential oils, I knew that I didn't want to bother wasting my money with lower quality oils.  I'd also seen stories from people who'd tried using oils from natural health food stores and they didn't work... and then tried Young Living's essential oils, and they worked.  So I decided to start my essential oils journey with Young Living.  Since I wanted to go for it, I decided to become a Young Living member, which I think is the best way to do it.  As a member you get the wholesale prices, versus being a retail customer and paying the full retail prices, which are 24% more than the wholesale prices.  Do you own research before choosing which essential oil company you want to use.  There's a lot of conflicting information out there, it can be discouraging. I'd heard enough testimonials from people who used Young Living, I chose to go with them.

I'm still a newbie to the whole essential oil thing.  I know there are people out there who are 100% sold on the whole thing, and I'm still in the optimistic skeptic camp, but so far in my own little experimentations with them I've been very pleased and excited about the possibilities.  So far I've used my oils for quite a few things!  I'm a relatively healthy person, I don't have any chronic health problems or anything, so I wasn't sure if I'd be using the oils frequently, but it's amazing how many things can be replaced by essential oils!

My first attempt at using them was on chapped lips.  I had some crazy chapped, peeling lips from the winter climate and heard that Lavender was great for fixing that right up.  Not only did it instantly relieve the cracks in my lips, overnight Lavender healed them up and they looked better than ever.  I kicked a yeast infection in a couple days using Thieves and Purification (a couple essential oil blends).  I bit the inside of my cheek super hard and I know that whenever that happens it always turns into a horrible canker sore.  So bad that I can barely eat.  In two days of using Thieves on the bite, it was totally healed and never came close to becoming a canker sore.  Peppermint is great for headaches, and Panaway is amazing on my sore post-workout muscles (Insanity will do that to ya, let me tell you).  I've also started putting drops of Cedarwood in my conditioner to help promote hair growth after I lost a bunch of hair from using birth control pills, so I have yet to see the results from that yet.  Oh!  And Lavender and Peppermint helped soothe some period cramps too!  I haven't had those in forever since I've been on birth control and now that I'm off I guess it's back to that fun grind.  Cedarwood and Valor have both become my go-to insomnia-butt-kicker, for the occasional night when my brain won't let my body sleep.  I realized that even though I don't deal with any major health problems, I've found that oils have been great for just my regular I'm-A-Human daily issues.  And the best part is that I don't have to use any drugs.  I haven't taken any drugs since getting my starter kit.  Huzzah!

If you're interested in getting started with essential oils or just want a little more info on the kit that I started off with, click here!


I am required by law in the USA to state, “These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products and techniques mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” If you are under the care of a physician or taking prescription medications, please inform your doctor before using essential oils. If you are pregnant or nursing be sure to check with your physician before using essential oils. Keep essential oils out of the reach of children.

authenticity comes in all shapes // share your story

hen I discovered blogs, it was kind of life changing.  Prior to seeing any kind of online fashion blog, the only place I'd ever seen fashion or style was in the pages of a magazine, or maybe on TV.  I remember being a young adolescent, plagued by my big, unruly hair and I longed for the sleek, straight hair I saw on the pages of magazines and on TV.  I wished that my body would grow into a woman's body, but my idea of what a woman's body was?  What I saw on TV and in magazines.  I figured my legs would grow longer, I'd have full, perky breasts, and hopefully I'd learn how to tame my hair into something manageable.  
Fast forward to late-high school/college aged me, and I'd begun the process of accepting that not all women look like the women in magazines, and growing up doesn't mean growing into that.  At least, not for everyone.  I was the short daughter of a short mom and a average height dad.  I was the daughter of a woman who I thought was beautiful, but who didn't have long legs and large perky breasts.  I realized it was completely silly for younger me to think I'd look like a magazine model, because, well, genetics.  Duh!
But the fact is, even though I know that my mom never talked about weight or dieting or complained about her body (and I'm immensely thankful to her for modeling a body-positive mindset), the media informed me, sometimes subtly, sometimes not so subtly, that I should aspire to a certain type of body, regardless of whether or not that body was in the cards for me genetically.  The truth is, whether or not we like it, the media plays a pretty big role in informing our preferences and our beliefs about others and about ourselves.

So when I randomly stumbled through the internet one lazy July afternoon in the kitchen of my parents' house and found myself scrolling with wonder through The Clothes Horse, I was mesmerized.  Real people, sharing photos of themselves wearing cute outfits, for anyone to see.  People my size and shape.  People with small breasts and big butts.  Big people, little people, tall people, short people.  It was crazy!  And the best part about it was how awesome it was to see beautifully styled outfits in real life.  These weren't models on a set with a stylist, hair and makeup, lights, and a professional photographer.  They were just girls who really liked getting dressed and wanted to be a part of a community that inspired them, and they were actually wearing those outfits out and about.  I knew I wanted to be a part of the community somehow, it was just so refreshing to see people like me wearing beautiful outfits.  I wasn't very stylish yet, I was still pretty solidly stuck in my jeans and t-shirt rut I'd been riding since high school, but I knew that I wanted to be around people who would inspire me to explore that side of myself.
In all the years I've been blogging, one of my favorite things has been seeing how the fashion industry has had to adjust itself to cope with the democratization of fashion because of the internet and, largely, fashion blogs.   Companies large and small want to work with bloggers because people like seeing clothes on people who aren't in the midst of a huge fashion shoot.  All of the bloggers I know actually wear all the outfits they style on their blogs out in real life.  It's a slice of something authentic, not something manufactured.  
The one thing that seems to be remaining in the fashion industry, resisting the pull of authenticity, is the photoshopping, casting of models, and manufacturing of plus sizes.  There are definitely some struggles (manufacturing plus sizes, especially for smaller, independent designers, can be a huge cost that they might not make back in sales.  Super slender models are cast because sample sizes are so tiny), but I think we're reaching a tipping point.  People are tired of being lied to.  People are tired of the before-photoshop and after-photoshop scandals.  People want to see themselves (and their bodies and/or ethnicities) represented in the fashion world as a whole.  
Over the years I've loved having the privilege of working with forward-thinking companies.  Companies who value their customers and authenticity.  I think it can be pretty hard to go against the flow in the fashion industry, but I'm always encouraged when I see people standing up for what they believe is right.  I've worked with ModCloth for years and have always liked how they include photos  and size info in the item reviews, showcase photos of their customers on their site and on their style gallery, and now they're taking it a step further by signing the Heroes Pledge for Advertisers, committing to not digitally alter the bodies of their models, and also to do their best to hire models of a variety of shapes, sizes, and ethnicities.  Susan Gregg Koger, ModCloth's founder and chief creative officer, just released an open letter sharing her thoughts on the fashion industry and her commitment to authenticity and transparency in advertising.   Interestingly Dove, who's been marketing with the "Real Beauty" campaign have, so far, declined to sign the pledge.  

It's exciting to hear so much momentum for body positivity and diversity in an industry that for decades has been pretty monochromatic.  I think that blogs have played a pretty big role in showing people that you don't have to look a certain way to be stylish or feel good about yourself.  But, you know, I might be a bit biased, being a blogger and all.  The internet as a whole has given regular people a platform and a place for voices to be raised and empowered.  We've learned that not only do our voices matter, but they can be powerful when we raise them in unison.  
So what's your story?  Have you felt like false, unrealistic advertising has adversely affected your body image, either now, or growing up?    42% of girls in grades 1-3 want to be thinner, 81% of 10-year-olds are afraid of getting fat, 78% of 17-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies, young girls are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of nuclear war, cancer, or losing their parents.  Are you a parent trying to figure out how to fight the statistics for your daughter?  This is our story, but it doesn't have to be our kids' story.  How can we fight the harmful messages that are literally killing girls and women?  Are you still fighting for your own life?  To love your own body?  To believe you are beautiful just the way you are?  You aren't alone.  
Here’s how to participate:

 Write your own post on your own blog, sharing your experience with how the media has affected your body image, how you're fighting to change the harmful messages, or how you're changing the future for your children. Write it quick, don’t overthink it, just spill it all out, it can be pictures if you want, whatever. If you’ve already written one, feel free to link that up, too.

 Include a link in your post back to this post, so your readers can find others writing on the same topic.

 Enter the link to your post (the actual post link, not just your blog link) into the link-up tool thing there below.

 Tell a few people about your post,  either through social media or talk about it with a friend over coffee.  Click around and visit a few of the other posts linked up!

An InLinkz Link-up

labor days

ne of the downsides of being self employed is that you don't really have vacation days.  Well, unless you force yourself to not do anything one day, which is easier said than done.  Scrolling through my Facebook feed yesterday I saw tons of people enjoying family barbecues, relaxing beach activities, and backyard hangouts.  It can be easy to never "leave" work, when work is just a laptop-open away, and even if the laptop is closed, shutting down work-mode-brain can be nearly impossible.  But lately I've felt like a break is needed, and seeing everybody enjoying quality time with friends and family on Labor day intensified that feeling.  Luckily I'll be going to a family friend's wedding this weekend and so I might leave the computer at home, buy a book I've been wanting to read, and just unplug for some quality time with loved ones.  Technically I will be working (I'm shooting the wedding), but the couple days before the wedding it'll be nice to just melt back into the warmth of spending time with loved ones, sans technology.
How do you self-employed ladies balance work and home/not-work life?  Any sneaky tricks I'm missing (or is it just work to the point of near burnout, then crash for a few days, drink some wine, binge on Netflix and then get back to work)?

 
top + blazer/courtesy of modcloth :: skirt(similar)/thrifted purse(similar)/courtesy of fossil :: necklace(similar)/gift :: glasses/courtesy of bonlook shoes(similar)/courtesy of bc footwear:: photos by Dan

cheesecake with huckleberry sauce

rowing up, I wasn't a cheesecake fan.  It might have had something to do with not liking cheese, especially melted cheese, and the idea of a cheese-cake just sounded gross to me.  My brother loved cheesecake, but I would have nothing to do with it.  In the past couple years I've come to like cheesecake, but I'd never made one before and had only really ever had store bought cheesecakes or cheesecake served as dessert at restaurants.  After picking a huge container of huckleberries, I decided that huckleberry cheesecake sounded pretty delicious and figured that it was as good a time as any to try my hand at baking a cheesecake!  I was a little nervous, as I'd heard cheesecake could be difficult, but it turned out so perfectly.  I wish I'd taken a photo of the top before I slathered it with cream topping, it was so smooth and gorgeous!  Maybe it was beginner's luck, but I'll take it.  I'm excited to have cheesecake in my (relatively limited) baking repertoire now!  
Perfect Cheesecake
(recipe via simplyrecipes)

Crust
2 cups Graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp sugar
Pinch salt
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Filling
2 lbs (4- 8oz packages) cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

1.  The first step is to prepare your springform pan so that no water leaks into it while cooking. Take a large 18 by 18-inch piece of aluminum foil (don't try to get away with the smaller width of foil, it won't be big enough to go high enough on the sides of the springform pan and you'll end up with soggy crust), place the springform pan in the middle of the foil and fold up the sides of the foil around the pan making sure that you don't create any holes in the foil (again, water=soggy, ruined crust).  Press the foil around the edges of the pan and repeat with a second 18x18 inch square of foil. Press the top of the foil sheets around the top edge of the pan to secure.

If you want to easily remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the springform pan, before you put the foil on the sides, cut a slice of parchment paper a little larger than the size of the bottom of the pan.  With the sides off, place the parchment paper over the bottom of the pan and then secure the sides of the pan, so that the paper sticks out the bottom a bit.

2. Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack in lower third of oven.   To make the crust, pulse the graham crackers in a food processor or blender until finely ground. Put in a large bowl, and stir in the sugar and salt, then stir in the melted butter.

3. Pour the graham cracker crumb mixture in the bottom of the springform pan.  Using your hands, press down on the crumbs to form a nice even layer at the bottom of the pan (but be careful not to make any holes in the aluminum foil wrap).  Place in the oven for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.

4.  Cut the cream cheese into chunks and place in the bowl of an electric mixer, with the paddle attachment (or grab a spoon and give your arm muscles a go). Mix on medium speed for 4 minutes until smooth, soft and creamy. Add the sugar, beat for 4 minutes more. Add the salt and vanilla, beating after each addition. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for one minute after each addition. Add the sour cream, beat until incorporated. Add the heavy cream, beat until incorporated. Remember to scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl, and scrape up any thicker bits of cream cheese that have stuck to the bottom that the mixer has failed to incorporate.
 

5.  Place the foil-wrapped springform pan in a large, high-sided roasting pan.  I didn't have one so I just went to Safeway and grabbed one of those big, aluminum turkey pans in the baking aisle and it worked great and was cheap. Boil 2 quarts of water. Pour the cream cheese filling into the springform pan, over the graham cracker bottom layer and smooth the top with a spatula. Place the roasting pan with the springform pan in it, in the oven, on the lower rack, then carefully pour the hot water into the roasting pan, to create a water bath for the cheesecake, pouring until the water reaches halfway up the side of the springform pan.  Cook at 325°F for 1 1/2 hours.

6. Turn off the heat of the oven. Crack open the oven door 1-inch, and let the cake cool in the oven, as the oven cools, for another hour. This slow cooling will help prevent the cheesecake surface from cracking.

7.  Remove the cheesecake from the oven and water bath and tent the top of the cheesecake with foil, making sure it doesn't touch the top of the cheesecake. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Before serving, prepare the toppings for the cheesecake!  The options are kind of endless, but since I have tons of huckleberries in my fridge right now, a huckleberry cheesecake sounded perfect.

Cream Topping
2 cups sour cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Place sour cream in a medium sized bowl, stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla, until smooth. Chill until you are ready to serve the cake.

Huckleberry Sauce
recipe via foodnetwork
2 cups huckleberries
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons water

In a saucepan over medium heat, add huckleberries, granulated sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water. Slowly stir into the huckleberry sauce and heat until thoroughly combined and thickened.

To Serve:
Remove the cake from the refrigerator and remove the foil from the sides of the pan.  If you put parchment paper over the bottom of the pan, you should be able to easily slide the cake off the pan's bottom and onto whatever serving plate you'd like. Run a butter knife between the edge of the cake and the pan. Open the springform latch and slowly open the pan and remove the sides. Spread the top with the cream topping and drizzle with Huckleberry sauce.  You should have enough Cream and Huckleberry topping to add to slices, too, for extra decadence!

If you don't finish the whole cake, it freezes well so you can save it for later.  Or eat it for breakfast all week... I definitely didn't do that at all.  Nope.

diy gold glitter glasses

ometimes you find a pair of old glasses you never wear and decide they'd be way cooler as gold glitter glasses.  And you happen to have gold glitter, gold glitter paint, and gold marker.  A few hours later... voila!  I mean, come on.  What could be more fun than glitter glasses?  Well, besides pairing glitter glasses and a super colorful 

wig

, that is.  Sure they might not be practical for daily wear, but who cares?  A pink and purple wig isn't totally practical for daily wear either, but it's hella fun.  That's right, I just brought back "hella."  Deal with it.

Sure, you might not "need" a pair of glitter glasses, but it's a pretty quick and easy DIY that you can do in an afternoon and they'd be really fun for a photo shoot or photo booth.  If you don't have some spare glasses already, you can find some non-prescription glasses at Target, and thrift stores usually have quite an assortment of glasses as well.  This would also be an awesome DIY for a pair of sunglasses!

Materials:

Glasses

Gold marker

or nail polish

Glitter Paint

Glitter

Nailpolish Top Coat

1. Paint a base of gold, either with a gold nail polish or gold marker (or whatever color you want the base to be, depending on the color of glitter you're using).  Allow the base coat to dry completely, at least 30 minutes.  I only did the front portion of the glasses, not the sides, but if you want to do the whole glasses, go for it.  I'd recommend not doing the inside, though, since you won't see that when you're wearing it and it'd probably be scratchy.

2. Squirt out a glob of the glitter paint and shake some loose glitter into the glob and mix with a paintbrush.  Paint the glitter on as thick as you'd like.  I tried to cover the gold base as much as possible without it looking super globby.  Again, allow to dry completely.  I'd give it at least an hour.  Don't paint the glitter on the inside of the nose rest as it'd be super scratchy and uncomfortable to wear.  I just left that part with the gold base coat, sans glitter.

3. To really seal everything, paint a layer of nail polish clear coat over the whole glitter and gold layer. This will keep the glitter from flaking off and keep the gold base coat from rubbing off onto your skin.  Make sure it's completely dry before wearing!  I let mine sit overnight to make sure they were ready to wear.