sewing studio scrappy chandelier - DIY

my sewing studio is a work in progress. i have made great strides in organizing my space in the last year, but it is by no means complete. one thing i've been dying to change is the light fixture in this room. i knew i didn't want to buy a new fixture and i have lots of fabric scraps that i needed to use up so i decided to make a scrappy fabric chandelier. i love the look of it and it definitely adds more character to my studio. read more to see how i made it.

supplies:

• chicken wire basket
• rotary cutter and cutting mat
• fabric scraps

directions:

1. cut your fabric scraps into 1 inch strips. my strips were about 10 inches long. depending on the look you're going for you can use longer strips. our ceilings aren't super high and i knew i didn't want my fabric chandelier getting in the way, so i stuck with 10 inches.

2. double knot the strips around the chicken wire basket. make sure to mix and match the colors along the way to create a balanced look.

3. take down old light fixture and use existing bolts to attach new light fixture, bottom of basket facing down towards the floor. this is what i did, but it totally depends on the type of fixture you currently have. it should be pretty easy to figure out how to attach it.

4. step back and admire your new fixture. :)

this project took minimal time and is the perfect addition to my studio. plus, i got to use up some of my scraps which was one of my 2014 goals. win. win. 

homemade dry shampoo - DIY

oh my goodness girls, i can hardly contain my excitement about this dry shampoo recipe. i don't wash my hair everyday, in fact i don't even wash it every other day {more on this in posts to come...and don't take this the wrong way, i do shower daily}. so i love, love, LOVE a great dry shampoo and have tried plenty of different kinds.

the main issue i have with most dry shampoos on the market is that they are white and my hair is dark. this combination just doesn't go together and it typically looks like i have a bad case of dandruff going on. this is so. not. cool. another downfall is the price of a quality dry shampoo. so dang expensive. if i kept track of every penny i have spent on hair care products in my life, it would likely make me sick. so, when doterra posted this DIY dry shampoo recipe to their blog, i was elated. actually, elated is probably an understatement, i shrieked with joy because it includes a special recipe for all those brunettes out there!

i made this dry shampoo a month ago and have used it almost daily since. it works wonders. and i'm not just saying that. i brought it to work and my friend, jenna, tried it and she gave rave reviews as well. she just ordered doterra oils and is going to make her own batch.

below is the recipe i followed from the doterra blog for dark hair:

ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder {apparently you can buy this at health food stores, but i just used cornstarch since i already had it on hand}
• 2 tablespoons cacao powder
• 2 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil {i used melaleuca oil because i didn't have rosemary oil, but it's on my list of oils to purchase}
• 2 drops peppermint oil

 directions:

1. mix all ingredients well in a mixing bowl. transfer contents small glass container. use an old make-up brush to apply to hair at the roots. you'll notice a difference immediately. the powder quickly soaks up excess oil and leaves your hair looking and smelling fresh. i love the lingering scent of peppermint that i smell throughout the day. delish.

the doterra blog recommends mixing all the ingredients in a food processor, but i found this just creates a bigger mess and the mixing bowl worked just fine for me. i haven't had any issues without using the food processor and am still quite pleased with the results. i'll definitely continue using this dry shampoo recipe. it works great for my super dark hair and the best part is it's drastically cheaper than those expensive dry shampoos i used to buy at sephora. more money in my pocket = a very happy girl.

have you ever made a dry shampoo? any tips or tricks i should know about? let me know if you make this recipe and what you think of it.

chemical free all-purpose spray DIY

a few weeks ago i made all-purpose spray using my doterra essential oils and i have waited to post about it to be sure that i actually like the spray. i needed to test it out a few times to see if it was post-worthy.

as you know, our goal this year has been to remove as many chemicals from our home as possible. and i've found that doterra essential oils are a great way to make this happen. i discovered this recipe on doterra's blog and decided to give it a test run…

i followed the directions exactly as they appear on doterra's blog. on guard and grapefruit are two of my favorite oils, and i have to admit i love this all-purpose spray. it worked great and gets the job done because of the properties of both on guard and grapefruit. on guard is a protective blend and great for boosting immunity. it's antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. on guard helps get the sickies out and is exceptional for cleaning as it kills all those nasty germs. grapefruit also has healing properties; it is a disinfectant and helps build the immune system. the combination of these two oils makes for a solid all-purpose spray.

i am constantly cleaning our countertops and stove. this spray cuts grease and leaves the kitchen smelling fresh. i've also used it to clean the tub in our bathroom. i don't think i would use this spray on granite, marble or other porous surfaces as the citrus oils tend to be harsh and could damage the finish.

the only difference i made is adding a few more essential oil drops than the doterra recipe. here is the recipe i followed:

supplies:

• 16 oz. glass spray bottle (i ordered mine from here)
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 3/4 cups water
• 20 drops on guard essential oil
• 20 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 1 teaspoon borax

directions:

1. add all ingredients to spray bottle. shake well prior to each use.

we have almost used this whole bottle of all-purpose spray and i cannot wait to test out some new oil combinations next time. doterra has a list of recommendations and the one that's catching my eye most is the eucalyptus, peppermint, and wild orange. 

like i said above, this is a great alternative and non-toxic way to keep your house clean and free of germs. 

happy and healthy cleaning. :)

spaghetti squash stir fry

we love chinese, thai, and laotian cuisine at casa de hein. we often order take-out from our favorite local restaurants, but we were craving a spicy stir fry tonight and with the midwestern snowstorm that we had today we figured we would cook at home tonight. plus, what's better than making a meal with fresh organic produce and other ingredients that you know are better for you than the unhealthy oils and fats that restaurants use? one of our favorite things to do is cook together, so spending quality time with my man was also a plus. ;)

we have been trying to eat healthier lately and reduce our gluten intake since my mister has been reading wheat belly by dr. william davis. {fun fact: we met him two weekends ago at the well expo in madison & he signed R's book.} he bought the book because he heard that cutting wheat from his diet could help his eczema. he gets horrible eczema and it is exacerbated by the dry winter weather, so he is always willing to try something that touts an eczema fix. he has been pleasantly surprised at the results he is seeing as his skin has improved immensely.

since we no longer eat gluten we have to find other ways to create those meals that often contain wheat. we used to make our spicy stir fry with noodles, but tonight we decided to try spaghetti squash. the only disappointment i have is that we haven't tried this sooner because it was SO much better than noodles and left us feeling completely satisfied. both my mister and i said that we will only make our stir fry with spaghetti squash from here on out. no need to add grains if we don't have to. spaghetti squash is the way to go, folks!

the one downfall to this meal is that it is a bit time consuming to make since you need to roast the spaghetti squash. don't fret though, this is super easy to do. cut squash in half, remove the guts, brush each half with olive oil, bake face down at 375 for 40-45 minutes. if you can easily pierce the skin with a fork, it's done. easy peasy.

this is our new favorite creation. i'll probably make it again within the next few days because yes, it was that good. also, two man approved meals in a row, i'm on a roll!

ingredients:

• two organic chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons reduced sodium tamari {gluten free soy sauce}
• cracked black pepper
• coconut oil {i do all the sauteing with this}
• 3 cage free eggs
• 4 organic carrots, sliced
• 2 organic leeks, sliced {just the white parts}
• 10 sugar snap peas, sliced
• 3 organic green onions {just the green parts}
• 3 inch piece of ginger, peeled sliced and diced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• handful of bean sprouts
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup tamari
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons red hot pepper flakes
• 1/2 roasted spaghetti squash

directions:

1. roast spaghetti squash as you are preparing the rest of the dish.

2. cut chicken breasts into bite size pieces. place in a bowl with 2 tablespoons tamari. i make sure that the chicken is coated in tamari {see photo below} so you might need a little more than 2 tablespoons depending on the size of your chicken breasts. i also sprinkle with cracked black pepper. put in the refrigerator while you chop the veggies.

3. chop carrots, leeks, sugar snap peas, and green onions. place in a bowl.

4. melt 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil in a large hot skillet. remove chicken from refrigerator and cook over high heat until done. remove from pan and set aside.

5. add a small amount of coconut oil to the pan and cook the scrambled eggs until just done and set aside.

6. chop the fresh ginger into tiny pieces and press the garlic cloves through a press. we love, love, love garlic and ginger, i'm talking can't get enough of it, so if these aren't your favorite flavors, i wouldn't add quite as much as we did.

7. melt 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in the skillet. toss in bowl of chopped veggies and a handful of bean sprouts {bean sprouts not pictured}. add the ginger and garlic. stir fry for about 3 minutes until the veggies are cooked. we don't like soggy veggies so we don't cook them for more than 3 minutes.

8. using a fork, scrape the 1/2 spaghetti squash out of its skin and add to the stir fry. make sure you get all the squash out. when you are finished you should only have the skin with no squash left inside. mix well. every time i make spaghetti squash i am always amazed at how it really does look like spaghetti!

9. add the chicken and eggs to the stir fry. mix well.

10. add 1/4 cup rice vinegar {little secret: at the last minute i realized we didn't have rice vinegar, so instead i took a little less than 1/4 cup of white vinegar and mixed it with 3 tablespoons water and 1.5 tablespoons of truvia}, 1/4 cup tamari, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, and 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes. we really like it spicy, so i usually add more than 2 teaspoons and i always add extra to my personal bowl.

 

11. mix well and stir fry for 3 minutes. remove pan from heat, portion into bowls and devour this super healthy spaghetti squash stir fry. that's what we did. oh, and we both can't wait until lunch tomorrow to indulge once again as we had plenty of leftovers for 4 more meals. i would say this recipe could serve up to 6.

my mister asked that this stir fry be added to our weekly rotation. and quite honestly, it would be hard for me to disagree because i'm sure i'll crave this weekly. it was so delicious!

happy cooking! :)

souper great soup

winter in wisco is starting to wear on me and with the frigid temperatures we have been experiencing, i needed some filling soup to soothe my soul. i made the most delicious soup the other day and my mister loved it. he took it to work for lunch and followed up with an email stating how fantastic it was. so, ladies, this soup is man approved. it keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days so it's an easy lunch option. in fact, my friend hannah came over the other night for dinner and we had this soup and salad. she also loved it so i sent a bowl home with her that she could take to work the next day. we liked the soup so much that three days later i made another batch.

from start to finish it didn't take me longer than 45 minutes to make.

ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. mild italian sausage
• 4 carrots
• 3 celery stalks 
• small sweet onion
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 zucchini
• 3 handfuls frozen kale
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can northern beans
• 2 cups green lentils, cooked
• 2 cans chicken broth
• 3 hot chili peppers
• 1 teaspoon red hot pepper flakes

directions:

1. brown italian sausage in a large pan. set a aside.

2. chop the carrots, celery, and onion.

3. saute the carrots, celery, and onion in the same large pan. add 1 teaspoon of thyme, 1  teaspoon of oregano, 1 teaspoon of sage, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper. saute until onion is translucent.

4. as you are sauteing the veggies above, slice the zuchinni and quarter each slice. then toss these in the pan.

5. add 3 handfuls of kale. i used frozen kale because it's what i had at home. fresh kale would be great as well.

6. transfer mixture into a stock pot. add can of diced tomatoes. drain and rinse great northern beans and add to stock pot.

7. add italian sausage to stock pot and the two cans of chicken broth. add two cups of cooked green lentils. toss in three hot chili peppers and 1 teaspoon of red hot pepper flakes. 

8. let simmer for about 30 minutes and enjoy a piping hot bowl.

i hope you enjoy this quick, delicious recipe. it seriously is souper great!

also, i apologize for the picture quality as i took all of these photos at night and the lighting wasn't the best. 

hi, my name is ashley & i'm addicted to vegetables

my favorite food group is vegetables. i would choose veggies over fruit any day of the week. when my mister and i first started dating, his favorite food group was anything but vegetables. for real. the only vegetable he ate was potatoes {i told him that doesn't count as a vegetable} and an occasional raw carrot. it couldn't be cooked carrots though because he didn't like the texture. i quickly came to the conclusion that the reason he didn't like vegetables was because they hadn't been prepared in a way that he enjoyed.

enter crazy girlfriend lady {that would be me} who pushed him to eat vegetables and now six years later he happily eats most everything and often requests broccoli, brussels sprouts, and green beans; all foods that he used to turn his nose up to. the only thing i haven't been able to get him to eat is a salad, but i'm so proud of his progress that the salad refusal doesn't bother me one bit.

i have had many people ask how i got him to try vegetables that he swore he wouldn't eat again. the answer is simple. i started out slow and tried not to force him. i did what my parents used to do with me and my brother when we were kids. i asked him to try just a bite of roasted broccoli one day and he made a disgusting face, put the piece in his mouth, chewed it to bits, swallowed it and smiled. i knew it killed him to admit that he might actually like something that he was so adamant about hating. after that roasted broccoli day, he was more willing to try other things.

this last summer beets came in our community supported agriculture (csa) share and he flat out stated that he was "not going to eat those things." so, i cooked them up my favorite way and once he realized they weren't steamed and actually smelled delicious he asked for a bite. he loved them. i got my mister to eat beets. if you were to tell me six years ago that this man of mine was going to eat and like beets i would have laughed in your face.

we roast or grill all of our vegetables. i cannot remember the last time i steamed or boiled them. another way we make sure to get enough vegetables is in our daily morning green smoothies. it is the best way for us to get our day started. we are each getting at least one cup of power greens to kick-start our day. we also make a lot of soups. this is another easy way to incorporate healthy foods.

in general, we have tried to be more natural in our home. we eat as much raw/whole food as possible and obtain important nutrients through super food consumption.  i can dive into that in future posts as i share some of our favorite recipes and the reasoning behind the choices we are making.

how do you incorporate vegetables into your daily routine? i'm always looking for ideas!