My 2017 Summer Goals

Seeing that summer is almost here, I thought it might be helpful to set a few summer goals for myself. I know you’re supposed to focus on setting actual tasks that can be ticked off a list, but I’ve realized quite a few of mine are more over arching themes. 

And I’m OK with that. 

ONE — spend more time being active outside

Over the winter, when I was home, I got pretty good at doing my 2 p.m. yoga session in my living room. But now that is is beautiful out I love finding ways to do my daily physical activity outside. 

This means going and riding my bike and my long board. As well as going on walks and maybe even a run (jog) every now and then. 

TWO — take advantage of nice weather, and appreciating it

I know this one connects itself to number one on my list. But, I spend so much time in the cold months cooped up inside because I just really dislike the cold. But now that it’s warm out, I need to get into the habit of taking myself outside to enjoy the weather I spent so many months wishing for. 

Sunshine and blue skies feed my soul. This can be as simple as sitting in hammocks, going on walks and going camping. 

THREE — get back into journaling, meditation and yoga.

When things got a bit crazy last month a few things had to give way to what had to get done. Unfortunately it was these things that I know have such an incredible impact on my overall well-being. 

Before we went to Bali I was doing a daily meditation and it was great. 

While in Bali I did a ton of yoga and my body felt great. I even came home thinking I might want to get my teacher training done. 

And up until last month I was consistently journaling every single morning.

All things I enjoy, and all things I want to get back into the habit of. 

FOUR — read more

Once again, normally I am always reading, but I didn’t have time to do it last month. 

I’m going to put together a summer reading list and start knocking it out. Summer is a great time to read books. Grab a blanket, grab a hammock, get outside and read. Not to mention reading before bed instead of being on your computer or phone. 

The current book I’m working my way through is actually one I’ve had on my bookshelf for a few months. “The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed on Women: Exploding the Estrogen Myth"

FIVE —  start a second FemmeHead channel

This is a tangible step. One I know I’m already going to do. I want a place to share more behind the scenes life vlogs and videos. 

And to be honest. It might even have happened by the time this goes up. 

SIX — more time with family and friends

I’ve been doing a good job at this so far this year, but it’s one that I want to keep up on. Since quitting my job in January I have found that I spend quite a bit of my time alone, at home, working. Which is great, it is where I am most productive and focused. But this also means I need to put more effort into that time outside of work, and fill it up with social interaction, or I start to go a bit batty. 

SEVEN — drink more fluids (a never ending goal)

Do I even have to go through the benefits? [better complexion, digestion, energy, everything]. 

I’m really good at drinking my coffee every morning. But rubbish at drinking water. 

Spicy foods really helps. As well as making sure you have a glass or some sort of container of water near you at all times. 

EIGHT — eat more fresh fruits and vegetables

This is one of those things that is easy and natural. These are the things I crave. But winter can be a time of comfort, of seeking out warmth. 

But as the seasons grow warmer it is not only easier to find fresh fruits and vegetables, but that's what I find myself gravitating towards anyways. 

In the end these are all pretty simple, achievable goal themes for the summer. But I find that taking the time to sit down, think through what I want to accomplish, and write it all down helps guide me through my daily activities. 

Finding Goldilocks | My Search for the Perfect Hair Care Routine

I’ve had just about every hair color and hair cut that one could have. 

Brown to blonde to purple, black and red. 

Angled bob, long, pixie and medium length cuts. 

We all spend a great deal of time searching for the hairstyle that suits us best. 

And I find myself in a conundrum. When I use typical store bought shampoos, conditioners and such my hair becomes limp and lifeless. But when I try some variation of no-poo method my hair can become brittle and unruly. 

A happy medium between these two is what I’m in search of.

Since returning home in February I’ve been able to put a bit more life with the baking soda/vinegar combination once a week. 

And over the past month I’ve been able to give my hair a little extra nourishment thanks to some natural, organic products by the Innate Life that were sent to me. 

[Disclaimer: While yes, these were “sent” to me, I only chose to accept their offer after checking that they were organic, natural and vegan. And can I just say they came at the perfect time].

On a night where I don’t have anywhere I have to go (be seen) the next day or two I will choose between the Scalp Treatment or the Herbal Hair Mask. 

First off, these smell absolutely amazing, and therefore really have this calming effect on me while I’m sleeping in them. Both are quite thick and therefore make it easy to spread in my hair without dropping a bunch of product through my fingers. 

By the next morning either my scalp or my ends are feeling nice and nourished. I will wash my hair (baking soda/vinegar) and let it air dry. I have found that these are pretty potent and therefore require a second washing later in the day or the following day to get the excess oils out. 

And then the other product from them that I’ve been using is the Rose Hair Elixir. Once again, boy does it smell good, and I love to put this on my baby hairs that are growing back in as well as take away some of the frizz and static. 

I know I need to find a new cleansing system to replace the baking soda/vinegar, because they’re a bit harsh on my hair as well as not as clarifying as I’d like. 

I’ll take any of your suggestions!

I have some soap nuts on their way to me in the mail. They came recommended by one of my 1-on-1 girls, and I’m really excited to try them out. I’m hoping the can continue to give my hair that pumped up life it gets when I don’t use traditional shampoos and conditioners, but at the same time without being as harsh to my hair as the baking soda seems to be. 

"The Kind Mama" | Book Review

My older sister is currently pregnant with what will be the first baby born in my family since my youngest brother was born…21 years ago. 

Let’s just say I’m very, very excited for that little munchkin to arrive. 

And at the same time I’ve had so many thoughts and questions popping into my head about pregnancy and birth. So, naturally I’ve turned to books. Honestly, people probably think I’m the pregnant one!

One of my favorite baby related book I’ve read so far is “The Kind Mama” by Alice Silverstone. The whole time I was reading it I found myself just shaking my head “Yes, yes!”

It was incredible how right everything she was saying felt to me.

She takes you through using a vegan diet to boost your fertility, nourish your pregnancy and heal you after birth. I found this book because I was researching books about having a vegan pregnancy because obviously that is something I want to do, but I want to do it correctly. 

She also talks about breastfeeding and kind parenting, keeping toxic chemicals and other not so good for you things away from you and your family.

Not to mention nourishing, delicious looking recipes to support you through the entire process. 

I loved how open and honest she was about everything. And on top of that how positive and loving she was. While many women are very excited to be pregnant they seem to have a very rough go at pregnancy, labor and birth. 

Reading through this book sparked so many internal questions I had about when that time comes for me. I’ve known I want to do it a certain “way”, but actually seeing the potential for what that could be was amazing.

Things like having a vegan pregnancy, natural home birth, breastfeeding, healing after birth and raising happy, healthy kiddos free of dangerous ingredients and chemicals. 

I’m definitely romanticizing motherhood, but to be honest it’s something I can’t wait for. Especially now that my sister has started her journey.

And when the time comes The Kind Mama will be one of the books I pick up to reread. 

Three Different Chickpea Sandwich Recipes

Chickpea sandwiches are one of my favorite things to make. They’re so simple, delicious and you can do so many different things with them. 

While I normally craft them from whatever leftovers I have sitting in my fridge or pantry I wanted to share three of my favorite combos with you today.  (AKA tweak these however you want).

Sweet and Spicy Chickpea Sandwich

+ 1/2 cup of chickpeas

+ 2 T dijon mustard

+ 2 T sriracha

+ salt and pepper to taste

+ 2 slices of toasted bread

+ jam/jelly

I got the inspiration for this one from a local vegetarian cafe here in Des Moines. The trick to this one is to put your favorite jam/jelly on both slices of your toasted bread. Then make your chickpea spread spicy by adding dijon mustard and sriracha (or something comparable), as well as a bit of salt and pepper to your chickpeas, heating them up and smashing them till they’re broken up but not complete mush. Put it all together and enjoy!

Spiced Chickpea Sandwich

+ 1/2 cup of chickpeas

+ 1 T dijon

+ 1 T sriracha

+ 1 T veggie broth

+ 1 T nutritional yeast

+ 1 tsp curry powder

+ 1 tsp chili powder

+ 2 T diced jalapeños 

+ 2 T diced onion

+ salt and pepper to taste

+ 2 slices of toasted bread

+ romaine, spinach or kale

+ 1 sliced tomato

I normally make my chickpea spread with quite a few spices and sauces, but you can use whatever you have in your cabinet that you like. I also use sriracha and dijon to give it flavor and help smooth it out. 

Add your spices and sauces to chickpeas, heat them, smash them, and then add onions. Top with some sort of greens (romaine, spinach or kale) and tomatoes. I like the crunch that romaine or kale gives the sandwich. 

Chickpea and Red Cabbage/Pickled Beet Sandwich

+ 1/2 cup of chickpeas

+ 1 T dijon

+ 1 T sriracha 

+ few tsps of favorite spices

+ 2 slices of toasted bread

+ 1/4 cup of pickled red cabbage and/or pickled beets

Make the spiced chickpea spread the same as the previous recipe, but the key here is topping it with pickled red cabbage or pickled beets. Trust me. 

And there you have it. As you can see I’m not one for structured recipes, but I wanted to give you an idea of some of the ways I like to play around with chickpeas in my sandwiches. 

And while I made all these recipes to make one sandwich, I usually double it and make two sandwiches. 

Some chickpea nutritional facts for you (per 1 cup):

+ 268 calories

+ 14.5 grams of protein (1/4 of my daily protein need)

+ 12.5 grams of fiber (almost 1/2 my daily need)

+ minerals — calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium

+ vitamins — K, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B5 (pantothenic acid) B6, B9 (folate).

I wanted to share a bit of this nutritional stuff to show you how easy it is to get a variety of those different things you need day to day as a vegan/vegetarian. People always wonder, "What do you eat?" and "Where do you get your protein and calcium??" Well, one place is chickpeas. Yum!

Searching for Nutrition + Supplements For Your Cycle

Three great books on this topic:

The two I reach for most often — 

+ The Period Repair Manual, for women with things like irregular cycles, PMS, etc. “Natural treatment for better hormones and better periods"

+ Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition “self-care for improved cycles and fertility, naturally"

Where I point women with more serious menstrual issues like PCOS and Endometriosis — 

+ WomanCode “Perfect your cycle, amplify your fertility, supercharge your sex drive and become a power source” 

It was through these books that I knew I needed to start better supporting my progesterone. And I knew I could do it through food and a few supplements. 

Whenever women reach out with some sort of menstrual issue I always point them towards one of these books. One day I hope it will be within my wheelhouse to offer dietary and medical advice, but for now I feel completely confident and comfortable with my ability to point women towards different resources that will give them the information they need. 

If you’re experiencing an issue with your menstrual cycle I always suggest first digging into your diet. What are you eating? You’d be surprised to realize that even when you think you’re eating what you should be, there are certain things that could be causing your woes. Things like dairy, sugar, processed and packaged foods. 

So before you go looking for some pill to swallow to rid you of all your problems, make sure you have a solid foundation full of nutritious vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, seeds. 

And then maybe you realize you need a little extra assistance from a few, well thought out, supplements. This doesn’t mean you can let go of the focus on your diet. Nope, that needs to be and should be a lifestyle change. I went vegan almost exactly four years ago and I have been continuously learning about nutrition and improving my diet ever since. 

A book that I’m currently working my way through that I’m enjoying is The Kind Mama. It’s all about vegan nutrition, fertility, pregnancy, birth and having some cute kiddos. I think the information in this book surrounding vegan fertility is valuable to any female vegan looking to boost her menstrual cycle. And not in a “I’m ready to start popping out the babies!” sort of way. But you should reach for supercharged fertility even when you’re trying not to get pregnant because you want your body to be in its best shape possible. 

So, with a continued focus on diet and nutrition you can move into looking at possible supplements. And while there will be countless supplements that could help, you'll want to narrow it down to just a few. Which are going to have the biggest impact? Offer the most potential? 

You want to make sure you’re getting quality supplements, and in a form that your body can best absorb. This requires a bit of research but I enjoy that aspect of it. 

And if you don’t feel comfortable making these decisions yourself you can find a local naturopath near you to aid you along the way. Because sometimes there are issues we can’t figure out how to heal by ourselves. And that’s OK. 

Having a 10-step Skincare Routine As a Vegan Trying To Create Less Waste

I know, I know. I’ve been talking a lot about skincare lately, but I feel like I have finally started to crack the code on what my skin needs.

And that is more attention and moisture. But this doesn’t mean I have to sacrifice trying to create less waste and being vegan. There are a TON of products that fall under neither of these categories, and that makes the decision making process that much easier.

I’m not here to claim I’m some perfect vegan, zero-waste, minimalist saint. Ha! I’m not. And to be honest I find a lot of judgement and negativity in theses different communities if you’re not “perfect".

Accept the fact you’re not going to perfect, you’re going to make mistakes and unfortunately people are going to call you out along the way (well, maybe not if you don’t post your adventures online).

Here’s the process I try to go through when finding new products:

+ do I need it?

+ can I make it myself, or is it something I already have?

+ can I get it in a recyclable, or better yet, reusable container?

+ what are the ingredients?

+ was it tested on animals?

And here’s how you can make a more step-heavy skincare regimen as vegan and zero waste as possible.

If you can get products that are multifunctional that’s a great place to start. For example I’m currently using primrose oil for three of the “steps”. 

     Step 1, 9 + 10 — I use primrose oil at the beginning if I need to remove mascara or makeup, which isn’t often, then I use it as the very last step to add extra moisture to everything. 

     Step 2 — I’m going to be trying out Dr. Bronner’s Soap when I use the last few bits of a Pacifica cleanser (it came in a plastic bottle, but was vegan)

     Step 3 — I use baking soda or coffee grounds for exfoliators. 

     Step 4 — I use masks from lush, where they have a reward recycling program for the containers. 

     Step 5 + 6 Aren’t zero-waste because they came in plastic, but in the future I could make them, or find an option not in plastic

     Step 7 — The next serum I’m getting comes in a glass bottle

     Step 8 — I don’t currently have an eye cream, but if I do get another one I will first look into making it myself.

A post that inspired this thought process was Zero Waste 10 Step Korean Skincare Routine from the blog, Paris to Go. If you want some real skincare inspiration go read that post. 

And while some people may think to be a minimalist you have to just keep your skincare to a cold splash of water on your face once a day, I know most women need more than that. Especially in the winter. 

And to be honest you can make all of your skincare products at home, but this combination of products has been working out really well for me. 

To end, don’t forget that staying hydrated, nourished through diet, and the importance of elements like sleep and exercise all have on your skin. 

So get out there and radiate my friends!

I Stopped Using Shampoo + Conditioner...Again

The term “no-poo” makes me cringe. Seriously? We couldn’t come up with a better name for not using shampoo and conditioner? And I can’t say “I’m not washing my hair” because that’s not true. I am. It’s just with household products. 

It’s not the first time I’ve done this. I did it around two years ago, but the difference that time was I stopped brushing my hair, and started letting it dread. A fun process in which I was pretty shocked with how quickly it started to form. That lasted for a few months, and then I decided I wanted to be able to curl my hair, and I didn’t really want dreads. So I brushed it out. 

But recently I noticed my hair was just sad and limp looking. There was no texture or volume. And it got greasy fast. It was really meh and I wanted to inject a little life back into it!

The easiest option was to start using the baking soda/vinegar rinse mix, which I have been using once a week. And my hair is already looking much more voluptuous. 

I keep around a cup of baking soda in a mason jar because the cardboard box you buy it in doesn’t fair well in the bathroom. And I mix up a vinegar rinse using apple cider vinegar, water and a few drops of peppermint essential oil (to mask the ’salad’ scent). I think my ratio is something like two tablespoons or so to a cup of water. 

So, how do I do it?

After wetting my hair I sprinkle about a tablespoon of baking soda into the palm of my hand and drizzle a tiny bit of water to achieve a paste-like texture. I then try to equally distribute that onto a few different spots on my scalp — above my forehead, my ears and the nape of my neck. I think usually go in and mix another batch of paste to spread around the crown of my head, where I get most of the build up and oil. 

When I used this method in the past I would mix baking soda with water in a small bottle and it was more water then paste. I find using the paste method works better for my hair type, and I’ve had better results. 

After I’ve deposited the paste into the different scalp locations I then go in for a nice scalp massage, really focusing on scrubbing away any gunk. I picture it as exfoliating my scalp, focusing my efforts at the roots, trying not to spread the mixture through my hair. 

I scrub for around a minute and then rinse it all out. One thing to note about this method is you’re going to have to spend more time rinsing your hair than with traditional shampoo. I go through my hair a few times scrubbing as I rinse. 

After I feel like my hair is good and free of the baking soda mix I’ll move into the vinegar rinse. I also just have this in a jar. I will carefully pour a bit of it on the bottom half of my hair and then finger comb it through before rinsing it out with water as well. 

I go through this process around once a week, and have found that my hair doesn’t get greasy until the last few days, and I can usually hide the fact that it’s messy by throwing it up. 

In between “cleanings” I will try and give myself scalp massages every other day, especially towards the end of the week when there’s more natural oils in my hair, in an effort to work it down into the rest of my hair. 

And I find that this helps disperse the oil from the roots of my hair, and almost acts as a “dry shampoo” of sorts. It doesn’t always work, but usually it helps make my hair not look quite as oily and therefore I can get another day or two of wearing my hair down before its too oily and I have to wear it up. 

Overall, I’m very pleased with the outcome and how simple it is. In the future I’m interested into looking into and trying out different no-poo methods like soap nuts, but for the time being this is simple and I have everything I need.

A Fresh Juice Recipe For Each Phase of Your Menstrual Cycle

Now, I’m not promoting juice fasts, but I love making juices and thought it would be fun to look into creating a recipe to support each phase of your cycle. Obviously you can just choose to each any of these veggies and fruits fresh if you don’t feel like juicing them!

And remember fresh juice is best, not bottled juice or stuff that was juiced hours, or days ago. And if you don’t have a juicer feel free to whip up a smoothie based on these recipes as well!

Menstrual Phase Juice

My goals — nourish, rest + renew

Veggies: beet, kale

Fruits: blackberry, blueberry, grape, watermelon

I love beet, kale and watermelon, which I think would be a great combo for a juice. And I like to balance out my veggies and fruits so it’s not to sweet and not too “earthy”. 

+ 2 beets

+ 4 - 6 sticks of kale

+ 2 - 3 cups of watermelon (I find that the easiest way to juice watermelon is to just toss it in a blender and pour that through a strainer)

Follicular Phase Juice

My goals — reenergize + motivate

Veggies: carrot, parsley

Fruits: grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, pomegranate

Carrots are one of my favorite veggies to juice! I think a great combo would be carrot, orange and then lemon or lime (depending on if you have a preference). 

+ 4 - 6 carrots

+ 2 - 4 oranges

+ 1 lemon or lime

Ovulatory Phase Juice

My goals — outgoing, stamina + motivation

Veggies: chard, spinach, tomato

Fruits: cantaloupe, coconut, raspberry, strawberry

I’m not a fan of chard, but if you are throw it in there! I think a great combo would be spinach, tomato, cantaloupe and strawberry. 

+ 2 handfuls of spinach

+ 4 tomatoes 

+ 1/2 cantaloupe

+ 2 handfuls of strawberries

Luteal Phase Juice

My goals — slow down, let go, + calm down

Veggies: celery, cucumber, ginger

Fruits: apple, peach, pear

I love love love ginger, and apples in juices. But I’m not a fan of celery. A great combo would be cucumber, ginger, apple. 

+ 2 cucumbers

+ “thumb” sized portion of ginger

+ 4 apples

+ 4 stalks of celery (if you’re into that)

I don’t know about you, but I’m drooling just thinking of these. I’m going to go whip up a carrot, apple, ginger juice because that’s what I have sitting in my fridge right now. 

What are your favorite juice recipes? 

I Tried to Make Zero Waste Sheet Masks, and Failed

I’ve been digging into the Korean Skincare craze recently, and I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. 

Now, if you’re not familiar with the different steps, here is one version of them, which I follow (sort of):

One — oil cleanser

I don’t double cleanse because I never have a full face of makeup on that requires it. I would like to add an oil cleanser eventually, just to try it out, but I haven’t found one quite yet.  

Two — water-based cleanser

I’m using up my Pacifica Sea Foam cleanser, which is a bit too drying for me so I’ll be keeping my eye out for a replacement as I near the bottom of the bottle. 

Three — exfoliator

I’ve just been using coffee grounds or baking soda. 

Four — toner

I’m using the Son & Park Beauty Water.

Five — essence

I got the Missha Time Revolution to use for this step. 

Six — serum

I ran out of serum but have my eyes set on the Klairs vitamin C serum. 

Seven — mask

I’ve been using two masks from Lush, Rosy Cheeks and Oatfix, which I love. But this is the particular step I want to talk about today, so once you’ve finished reading the next three steps we can continue with my tale. 

Eight — Eye Cream

I’m at the end of my Kiehls eye cream, and I’m maybe thinking an Innisfree eye cream next. I want to look into ingredients and such before getting my next one. 

Nine — moisturizer

Working my way through my Alaffia day cream (yup, I use it in the morning and before bed). 

Ten — SPF or overnight mask

SPF is something I try to wear, especially since I’ve been going to warmer, sunnier places (I’ll fry like a lobster without it). But I’m really interested in finding an overnight mask that checks off all my requirements. 

Ok, now that you’ve gotten that all in your head, let’s go back to step seven, masks. 

Now, this is what I want to talk about today. What’s even more popular then the 10-step skincare process is Korean sheet masks themselves. But I take issue with how much waste they create. 

Think about it. Some women use a sheet mask a day, which creates a lot of trash, and even just three a week adds up!

I was tinkering with the idea of creating my own zero waste sheet masks, but  I didn’t want to waste a bunch of precious liquid by soaking it into a self-made muslin mask. 

And I didn’t want to blow through a bunch of money going out and buying all the supplies. So, what to do? 

I decided to take a look at recipes I liked, and to see if I couldn’t just alter them to fit the ingredients I already had at home. 

One recipe that I found was for a hydrating mask on Rookie. Here’s the original ingredients: 

+ 4 ounces coconut water

+ 1/4 tsp melted coconut oil

+ 1 tsp grapeseed oil

+ 1/2 tsp olive oil

Instead of using grape seed oil, which is great for acne-prone skin for it’s astringent qualities, I’m going to use my evening primrose oil, which is not only moisturizing, but has fatty acids great for soothing itchy, inflamed skin. 

I borrowed some coconut oil from my mom because your girl is currently out. And I decided instead of coconut water I was going to go with good old fashion water that I've distilled first. 

My mom had some fabric that should've could've worked, but it just didn't. It was a hilarious process making the fabric mask. (I was alone in my bathroom, cracking myself up as I made it). But it wasn't going to stay on my face unless I attached a few straps and tied it to my head. 

So, instead of using a sheet mask I just slapped the ingredients on my face and let them soak in. Well, I left out the water and just put the oils on instead. 

I’ve discovered that DIY homemade masks are awesome, when I want to go that route I just look at what I have and whip something up. And my other go to lately has been Lush masks. Like I said I have two that I’m currently using. They have a recycling program where if you bring in five of their pots your get a free mask. Win, win! 

I wasn’t too gung-ho on the 10-step skincare routine at first because it seemed like a lot of steps, and it seemed wasteful buying tiny things of products, but I’ve found a good middle ground with using products I already have as well products that fall within my skincare guidelines and I’m quite happy with where it’s at. 

And my skin has be ever grateful for the extra TLC and moisture this winter. 

Dear Victoria | A Letter to My Teenage Self

Hey Victoria,

Ok, where to even start. I feel like I have so much to say, but don’t want to overwhelm you. So, I’ll try to stay concise. Keep to the important bits, right?

Learn about your body. Knowledge is power, and don’t hand that power over to a guy. Go figure out what’s happening in there, and why. Explore, question, don’t be ashamed. 

Your body is normal. The skin. The hair. All of it. Yes you’ll look back on photos and wonder what you were thinking when you plucked your eyebrows into near extinction, but you’ve got to try it out for yourself. Do it for you, and no one else. But maybe just leave your eyebrows alone, pretty pretty please. 

Remember when you couldn’t wait to get your period, but then quickly fell into the trap of negativity when it finally came? Yeah, having a period is not annoying or unfair. Your cycle is this amazing thing that you can use to connect to yourself, to other females, and the world in general. 

What you put into and onto your body matters. Learn about nutrition. And just know the more natural, the better when it comes to food and beauty products. 

Let go of the material things. It’s never going to be about what you own. What matters is how you treat other people, and what impact you leave in your wake. Collect memories, not things. 

There’s going to be so much beyond high school, college even. You’ll get a taste of your future self there, but you won’t really start to discover her until you’re out. 

Write. I know it seems like such a big task when you have to write a two-page paper, but writing is going to become like therapy to you. Get a journal and make a date with it each day. 

And finally, listen to that nagging voice in the back of your head. Let it guide you, it knows where it’s going. 

Oh, and don’t forget to smile, hug, laugh, cry, scream. Emotions are healthy. All of them. Don’t be afraid to feel them. 

Keep pushing girl, 

Victoria 

[If you found yourself thinking, "Geesh I really want to learn more about my body and my menstrual cycle" then go check out my Chart Your Cycle course. Take a chance to learn more about a part of your body you've been told to be ashamed of and annoyed by for so long.]

Stop Counting Calories | A Better Use of Food Journaling

I have tried to count calories on maybe two separate occasions, and both times I failed at whatever restrictive goal I had set for myself. 

I don’t know about you but I finally realized that counting calories just isn’t something I’m interested in. When I hear about people tracking what they eat, the majority seems to be using it to keep track of the caloric aspect of food. 

But today I wanted to share an alternative benefit I have found from tracking what you eat, and it has nothing to do with losing weight or restricting yourself. 

The first time I discovered the power of tracking what I ate was back in 2012. I had suffered from never ending stomach pain that I just sort of wrote off as normal for the longest time. I was uncomfortable, groggy, and constipated. 

But it finally clicked, pain and discomfort should not be the norm. Not to mention that I thought one bowel movement a week was perfectly normal. 

I decided to track what I ate for a week, and how I felt after that meal. A pretty simple task. I knew it must be something I was eating that was causing me so much pain, but I couldn’t figure it out before recording my meals. 

So I would write down what I ate, the ingredients involved, and then how I felt after. Was there pain, discomfort, bloating, and when was I going to the bathroom. Things like that. 

From this I discovered that meat, especially red meat was a big trigger for the stomach pain. I was a pretty typical Iowa girl. I love potatoes and bread, but I decided what’s the harm in giving up meat for a week just to see if anything happened? 

And if you’ve heard any of my story before you know the answer. I felt so so much better after that week. But just to make sure, I decided to eat meat once more to see if I could tell a difference. And I could. The stomach pain, bloating, etc. returned quickly after eating that meal containing meat. 

I thought, ok what’s the big deal with giving up meat. I can do that. So I started in on my vegetarian journey in October 2012. I felt so much better after that switch that in the following April I decided to go 100% vegan as well as cut out gluten. And that summer was a definite peak in life on how I felt. I had no more stomach pain, bloating, I lost 5 - 10 pounds, and started having daily bowel movements, which I’ve learned is the norm.

I have done it on a smaller scale since then. Sometimes while traveling abroad I will experience some digestive issues. By tracking what I am consuming, and how I feel after I am able to see what foods I need to cut out while my stomach heals itself. 

Another time I’ve done it is when I started breaking out again this past summer through this winter. I started paying attention, and discovered the culprit, sugar. Because of this I challenged myself to take a month long break from added refined sugar, and have been pleasantly pleased with the results. No longer is my forehead broken out. Yes, I still get the occasional pimple or two around ovulation, but that cluster of ever lingering acne on my forehead is almost gone. I have also noticed renewed energy as well as less of an afternoon fog, and sudden drops in energy throughout the day. 

What in your life is currently ailing you? Is there a chance it could be related to your diet or fixed by food? Start tracking your meals, not restricting anything, but just noting how you feel after each meal. What are your food triggers? Maybe you don’t have any, but maybe you do. 

Keeping a food journal is a great first step into starting to pay attention to what you put in your body, next you can start noticing environmental factors. Quality of sleep, daily activities, exercise, relationships, work, etc. 

Feel free to share anything you’ve noticed through food journaling.  

What My Life In Bali Consists Of

It’s incredible what thrusting yourself outside your normal routine can do for you. So, much so that I think I’m going to start routinely spicing it up a bit. 

Our first stop in Bali was the coveted Ubud. It was where we spent most of our time here last year, saving our trip from the disappointed taste in our mouth from the south. 

There wasn’t much work to be done in Ubud, at first, but this was because there was so much to do, so many adventures and fun to be had. 

A typical day in Ubud, went a little like this:

+ wake up

+ yoga 

+ breakfast 

+ go on an adventure

+ eat lunch (Ubud has so many delicious offerings in this department)

+ hang out, swim, work, go on another adventure

+ dinner

+ bed

After eight nights in Ubud, we ventured North, to the coast, finding ourself in a calm villa just west of Lovina. 

I thought life in Ubud was slow paced, but boy was I pleasantly shocked with how chill the north coast was. Here is where I started to find my groove, establishing a routine finally. And getting so much inspired work done.

Our days up on the North coast looked a lot like this:

+ wake up and make a cup of coffee

+ go out to our balcony to write in my journals 

+ start my work for the day

+ eat breakfast

+ either work more or go on an adventure

+ eat lunch

+ swim, play ping pong, continue working

+ eat dinner

+ watch a movie, play more ping pong

+ go to bed

I loved having plenty of comfortable spots around our villa to sit and work, not to mention just being able to take a quick break from work by jumping into the pool.

From there we drove almost three hours east, to Amed. 

We only spent a two full days in Amed, but we had a lot of fun in the ocean while we were there, which was an nice change from the pools, not that I have anything against pools, we had a pretty awesome one at the house we were staying at. 

Amed went like this:

+ wake up

+ head out to the front deck and watch the fishermen come in

+ journal 

+ eat breakfast

+ go scuba diving or snorkeling for a few hours

+ find some lunch

+ head home

+ take a dip in the pool and work for the afternoon

+ dinner

+ bed

After our time in Amed we headed back to Ubud, bringing the trip full circle. It felt so good to come back to a familiar place, to recognize the streets, to go back to our favorite spots here again while discovering new places at the same time. 

And that’s where I’m at right now. There’s three days left and it’s much of the same schedule, except for we’ve found that delicious balance between work and play. 

I am pleasantly surprised with some of the "lessons" that have come out of this trip and I’ll be writing about those soon enough. 

Bali, you have my heart. I’m already thinking about when I come back to you next time. 

Some Cold Weather Vegan Recipes

The weather is getting colder so I wanted to share some vegan recipes for the season. Enjoy!

Vegan Biscuits and Gravy

One thing that I find myself craving from my pre-vegan days is biscuits and gravy. And then found this recipe on The Southern Vegan. Yum. Obviously not an everyday breakfast recipe but gosh sometimes it’s nice to have some warm, comfort food. 

Buttermilk Biscuits

2 C flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 C vegan butter

3/4 C cold dairy free milk

1 tsp vinegar

— Preheat oven 450

— Mix milk + vinegar. Put to side to curdle. 

— Put dry ingredients into bowl, mix in vegan butter with a fork.

— add milk/vinegar mixture + quickly stir until dough forms

— make dough into ball + refrigerate for 20 - 30 minutes

— roll dough to 1/2” thick + cut into circles

— put on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 - 12 minutes. 

Sausage Gravy

1/2 C flour

4 C non-dairy milk

4 vegan sausage patties or links

1/2 C oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

— Saute vegan sausage, until cooked and browned, crumble into smaller pieces + set to the side

— add oil, flour and black pepper to pan + stir over low heat until brown and creamy (mine formed into an almost dough)

— slowly add milk, stir until creamy and thicker + add in sausage  crumbles

— serve hot over biscuits

Vegan Chili

There are so many great variations on this but I love recipes that use squash as well.

1 onion

1 bell pepper

1 large sweet potato

butternut squash

4 cloves garlic

1 can black beans

1 can of pinto beans

1 can diced tomatoes

2 1/2 C vegetable broth

chili powder

cumin

paprika

cayenne pepper

salt

(I don’t measure the last five ingredients, I just put some in and taste it as I go, usually adding more and more)

— cut up all the vegetables first

— put your large pot over medium heat, saute onion and bell pepper for 6-7 minutes.

— add sweet potato, squash, and seasonings, for 3 minutes

— add garlic for 1 minute

— add broth and tomatoes

— add rinsed beans

— bring to boil, then cover, lower heat, simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally

— add more seasoning if you want

— scoop into bowl and add any toppings you want (avocado is delicious if it’s in season)

Vegan Cookies

My mom makes the most delicious chocolate chip cookies, and I stole her recipe and made it vegan. 

Preheat oven to 350, grease cookie sheet.

2 sticks vegan butter

3/4 C white sugar

3/4 C brown sugar

— cream these together with whisk

2 vegan flax “eggs” 

tsp baking soda

tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

mix two T of flax seed with 3 T of hot water, set to side for a minute until it becomes an “egg like” consistency. then mix all of this with butter/sugar mixture. 

3 c flour

1/2 C (or more) dark chocolate chips

slowly mix in flour 1/2 a cup at time, then add chocolate chips. 

Bake for 12 - 14 minutes each depending on how gooey or firm you want your cookies.