tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45678907831691729712024-03-13T12:21:15.690-04:00Naturally in LoveOur {Cluttered, Messy, Not-So-Perfect} Road to Natural BlissKatie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-40587197053671173312013-06-17T16:10:00.000-04:002013-07-02T16:14:09.872-04:00Our Engagement Pictures! Back in April we traveled out to Asheville to have an engagement session with our fabulous photographers, <a href="http://philandkristen.com/" target="_blank">Phil + Kristen Photography</a>. We packed for the weather to be warm...well it did not turn out to be as warm as we wanted. But we stuck to the plan and used a good dose of imagination (and our Northern blood didn't hurt either.) It was a beautiful day and our pictures turned out even more beautiful. We cannot wait to work with them again on our big day.<br />
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We had so much fun and they all turned out FABULOUS. I had so much trouble just picking a few of the hundreds we have to share with you. I hope you enjoyed!<br />
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All photography was taken by <a href="http://philandkristen.com/" target="_blank">Phil + Kristen Photography</a>.<br />
<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-24305386296664222102013-06-12T11:26:00.000-04:002013-07-02T15:27:08.595-04:00It's Summer, Y'all!Today is my first day of summer vacation!<br />
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I slept in until 9:30 (!!!) and still have not gotten out of bed - luckily I prepared myself for this last night before bed by bringing my computer and cord so I would be prepared for a full on lazy wednesday.<br />
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At first I felt a bit guilty about laying in bed all day...mostly because today is Wednesday and I just indulged in this very act on Saturday blaming it on a similar reason - Friday being the last day of school! But today TRUELY starts my summer vacation.<br />
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I have such a long list of projects and things I would like to do this summer...I may be over ambitious...I may decide to just plain relax...I am realizing that I haven't had an entire summer off since I was fifteen! This may be my last entire summer off for a while, too. We will see what next summer brings...but until then...I am going to sit back and relax today away!<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-82519710968089490872013-04-21T23:16:00.001-04:002013-04-21T23:17:01.833-04:00Dr. Oz 3 Day Detox Cleanse - Day 1...sort of So it is 11:00 and I am finally getting to bed. I should be sleeping (I am NOT someone who gets up at the first ring of the alarm...or the fifth) but instead I just have to blog about starting the <a href="http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-ozs-3-day-detox-cleanse-one-sheet" target="_blank">Dr. Oz 3 Day Detox Cleanse</a>! It has to be brief because I do need to go to sleep and have had a very busy night and weekend!<br />
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We went to Asheville this weekend to get our engagement pictures taken - super excited to see how they turned out! We got home today around 5:30 and then jetted off to the grocery store to get supplies so we could begin our cleanse we have been planning! It took three stores, a conversation with a store manager, some frustrations about "oh! I could have gotten that cheaper here!" and some back and forths, and two hours. We spent MUCH more than anticipated...Dr. Oz says it will cost about $16 a day...as did many blogs I read about the cleanse. So we thought...alright sixteen dollars a day times three days times two of us would be around $95. Yup...did NOT happen... over $170 (and we had 1 avacado, 1 lemon, 1 lime and the lavender oil already!) We do think there are already a few things we over purchased - kale, raspberries, and blueberries - and there were a few items that we will have some or a lot left over so that price does not reflect what we will use - flaxseed, coconut oil, almond butter, vitamins and probiotics. But still...$75 more?! That is a LOT more than we expected...but more on that later.<br />
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Once we got home it was already 8:00 and Hari was staaaaarving (despite the fact that we lived it up today in the food department knowing that at dinner time we would be sipping our meals through a straw for the next 72 hours) so I began his first dinner smoothie. Forty-five minutes later we were both trying our first smoothie.<br />
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While sipping on dinner I made both Hari and my drinks for breakfast and lunch tomorrow. It took me about an hour to make the breakfast and lunch drinks - not to bad. The lunch drink made a ton! I hope other blogs I have read are wrong and it doesn't make me gag...<br />
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Initial thoughts...<br />
-All of the drinks smell HORRIBLE!<br />
-I wish it was cold *note to self<br />
-I am so glad I bought smoothie straws<br />
-I am glad I did not add as much cayenne pepper as instructed to the dinner drink...it is not spicy at all...will add more tomorrow night!<br />
-Dinner drink is not TERRIBLE! Yay!<br />
-One drink down...eight more to go!<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-5830092196676856842013-04-17T21:43:00.001-04:002013-04-17T21:43:16.626-04:00What's in our box? - Week 1The day has come! Today was the first pick up of our CSA and we are very excited! We decided to let you know "what's in our box" each week so you can get a feel for what Sandhills Farm 2 Table is all about and what our CSA is all about as we begin this adventure! We also will share our menu (and recipes!) each week.<br />
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This week we had...<br />
-3 Vine Ripened Tomatoes<br />
-Hydroponic Bibb Lettuce<br />
-2 Sweet Potatoes<br />
-Elephant Garlic<br />
-1 Green Pepper<br />
-2 Grapefruits<br />
-1 Lemon<br />
-1 Jar of Blueberry Jam<br />
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This being our first week, we do not have our menu entirely planned...we're going to have to get used to shifting our menu from a Sunday-Saturday rotation to a Wednesday-Tuesday with pick up day being on Wednesdays.<br />
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Because of this, thoughts of travel for the weekend, and ideas of a cleanse to begin next week...we only have planned two meals. Tonight we had Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps. They were DELISH! I will share the recipe A.S.A.P! Tomorrow we are having Sweet Potato Latkes with Chicken and fresh garden salad.<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-59325928712622648102013-04-14T20:29:00.000-04:002013-04-14T20:29:34.842-04:00The Organization Carries On...So my <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/04/not-quite-end-of-31-day-organizational.html" target="_blank">31 Day Challenge</a> may have ended at the start of this month...but that by no means meant I was done! I have so many projects I'm in the planning stages or middle of execution - I can't wait to share! The challenge really inspired me to revamp how we life.<br />
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I found out last week that come this summer we will be having a friend stay with us for a few months...this really put the fire under my but to kick into cleaning and organizing gear. I finally tackled the clothes mountain on the guest bed. It took me all day...but it is gone! And it's not coming back. More on that soon...<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-60611794297569999492013-04-02T14:57:00.000-04:002013-04-02T18:43:20.341-04:00Not quite the end of the 31 Day Organizational Challenge March is over, but my organization is far from over! As you know, I participated in the <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2013/03/org-junkies-31-day-organizational-challenge-begins-sponsors.html" target="_blank">31 Day Organizational Challenge</a> with <a href="http://www.orgjunkie.com/" target="_blank">Org Junkie</a>. Here are the Before and After Pictures of the room I chose to tackle...my closet!<br />
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At the beginning of the challenge I took pictures of my entire apartment...because let's face it...it was a mess of disorganization. Well, let's just say I bit off more than I could chew...which I kind of knew from the beginning...since I took before pictures of just about every room!<br />
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This was a horrible month to do this challenge...for starters I began the challenge a week late. We were then out of town every weekend for the rest of the month...the first weekend we were in Charlotte, the next in Asheville, and then the following in Tampa...then the month was over! Boy did it fly! But my lack of time did not discourage me at all...but it certainly cut into my high expectations. I was able to begin small...and I do NOT plan on stopping here.<br />
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I started in furthest corner of my apartment...my closet. Here are the before pictures...<br />
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I already had my closet (somewhat) organized with my clothes neatly organized by type...I know many people like to organize by color...but that just doesn't work for my mind! On my side, obviously the longer side, I start with skirts (short, then long), then long sleeves, short sleeves, dressy tank tops, cotton tank tops, sleeveless dresses, spaghetti strap dresses, thick tank dresses, short sleeve dresses, and long sleeve dresses. My sweetie's side has his short sleeves, then long sleeves, then dress shirts.<br />
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I also have three sets of drawers - one large set with socks, underwear, and bathing suits - a drawer for each; another large set with running shorts and t-shirts with a drawer for shorts, and a drawer for each of us with our work t-shirts. The third set of drawers is home to Hari's undershirts, socks and boxers.<br />
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Last I have three different hanging shelves - one for my shoes, one for Hari's shorts and pants, and one for our linens, winter hats and gloves, and other "closet things" (like a heating pad!)<br />
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The worst part was all of my jewelry still in boxes from the move, my flip flops all over the floor, and just the lack of my things being put away. Which led me to...<br />
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<b><u>The make over...</u></b></div>
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I focused on adding more storage as well as making it pretty - because my closet was NOT pretty (and who doesn't like pretty things?) I purchased a cube shelf from Lowes with three cloth cube drawers. I bought a pink large and pink small bowl from Hobby Lobby for my jewelry. I found a plate rack and plates at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore to add some attractive vertical storage for my toiletries, nail polish and sunglasses. I already had a coat rack as well as a hanging jewelry holder. I hung these two racks to hang and display my necklaces.<br />
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Last I cleaned up the floor, put my scarves in one of the cube baskets, wallets and small bags in another, and flip flops in the last - this is not a permanent home for the flip flops as they are still a little messy in there - all of them have to be taken out to get to the ones on the bottom! - Any ideas for this?<br />
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My favorite part of this project is all of the pretty flowers I incorporated and the amount of storage I was able to put in such as small area! I also love how I was able to do it on such a resonable budget (under $95!)<br />
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Cube shelf - $44.97 from Lowes - my "splurge!"<br />
Floral cube baskets - $6.99 each from Lowes<br />
Pink flower bowls - about $22 (cannot find the receipt!) from Hobby Lobby<br />
Plate rack and plates - $3 for plate rack and $1 per plate all from Habitat ReStore<br />
Coat rack for necklaces - already had!<br />
Necklace organizer - already had!<br />
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<b><u>The Official 31 Day Organizational Challenge Questions:</u></b></div>
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<b><i>1. What space did you decide to organize and why?</i></b><br />
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I tackled my closet. As my <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/03/day-1-31-23-day-organizational-challenge.html" target="_blank">first post</a> of the challenge declared...I needed an organizational makeover all over my apartment! I moved out of state in August so even though all boxes (yes, all with the motivation of this challenge...they are now all unpacked!!!) are unpacked...the house is by no means put together and organized yet...but what house is...it's all a work in progress...ugh, as usual I have babbled on without answering the question...<br />
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I chose to tackle my closet. I picked my closet because it was the furthest corner of my house. So often we organize what people (guests) see and not what we have to deal with and function with every day. I figured if I organized my closet with the motivation of this challenge the motivation of guests would work for the rest of the apartment! This way I can also work my way out organizing all the way! :)<br />
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<b><i>2. What steps did you take to ensure you completed the space with the 31 day timeline?</i></b><br />
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This was a VERY tough task...as I said, this was probably the worst timing for me to take this on...but that actually gave me some extra motivation since I had three vacations - including a week long vacation - in there! I had to work on organizing after work and in the small moments I had. I worked in small chunks until the job was done...and accepted that I only had the time I had. I put my ideas in a notebook and made weekly goals for myself.<br />
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<b><i>3. What was the hardest part of the challenge for you and how did you overcome it?</i></b><br />
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The absolute hardest part of the challenge was time! As a teacher - time is always the hardest thing...so I suppose I was used to this. I started the challenge a week late, I was out of town for a total of 12 of the 23 days (remember, I started 8 days late!) Just about all of the days I was in town for the challenge were work days! Anyway...like I said...time was the hardest part!<br />
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I overcame time as a factor by working when I had time. I used my weekly goals to chunk what I needed to get done in the time I had. Each time I saw progress I was motivated to keep going!<br />
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<b><i>4. What did you do with the "stuff" you were able to purge out of your newly organized space?</i></b><br />
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This project did not require all that much purging. Most of the things in my closet need to be rearranged and to find a home. There were a few clothing items I found that I no longer wore - those were donated to Goodwill. Everything else found a home within my closet - and a few other things in our other closet (don't worry - they belong there!)<br />
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<b><i>5. Tell me one of your proudest moments during this challenge?</i></b><br />
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The proudest moment I had in this challenge was completing it! Standing back and looking at what I had accomplished felt so great. It felt even better when my fiancé went in the closet and simply said "Wow! Look at this!" It is so pretty and functional - I really don't want to leave my closet now!<br />
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<b><i>6. Explain any organizing "tools" you used to help you create additional space and to establish some limits and boundaries? </i></b><br />
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My crate style shelf (and that entire area) has created so much space and didn't take up a lot of room! Vertical storage is great! The shelf creates nine smaller spaces that create boundaries and specific places for specific things. I was able to add three drawers to put "messier" things like scarves, flip flops, and wallets/small bags neatly and together. On top I added the plate rack for more vertical organization that provides distinct areas for small items.<br />
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<b><i>7. What is ONE piece of organizing advice you've learned on this journey that you could encourage someone else with? </i></b><br />
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Do I really have to just pick one? Okay...I think one of the best thing I have learned and can share with others is just do it! Pick a room, area, even simply a shelf (start small!) and start! Once you get going you will get momentum and want to keep going. When you see your beautiful (yes, organization is beautiful!) area you will be so motivated to keep going, I promise!<br />
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There we have it! I am so excited to have finished this task. I cannot wait to spend April on our bedroom...and maybe even another space...what should it be?<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-60648547434306412252013-03-10T12:30:00.003-04:002013-03-10T12:35:20.898-04:00Early bird catches the...goat?I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning, yet I have not gotten out of bed or accomplished anything today...why you might ask? Because of goats. I have been full out, tears streaming down my cheeks, laughing out loud at these videos...and I cannot stop watching...if you need your day brightened...watch on.<br />
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Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-6741242256140161802013-03-09T09:29:00.000-05:002013-03-09T09:29:09.065-05:00Day 2 of the 31 Org ChallengeToday is the second day of me being in the <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2013/03/org-junkies-31-day-organizational-challenge-begins-sponsors.html" target="_blank">31 Day Organizational Challenge</a>...first thoughts...I already need to be shortening that name because it is a finger full to type!<br />
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Today personally feels like it is day one since all I was able to accomplish yesterday was my before pictures. I did peruse <a href="http://pinterest.com/kaydibec/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>...like a lot...but didn't decide where I should start. After posting those horribly embarrassing and revealing pictures of my house...I know every area could use a bit of organization!<br />
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Then again...I do not know what I am going to be able to get done today because we are going to take the long hike up to Raleigh to register today! I fear that I am going to see great things and get great ideas while doing so...I hope I remember that I am registering, not shopping! I will have to wait for these things! ;)<br />
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Well today's tasks: decide what room I will tackle first, get some ideas, register for really fun stuff (don't buy anything.)<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-40033855035137052072013-03-08T21:37:00.000-05:002013-03-09T01:12:19.516-05:00Day 1, 31 [23] Day Organizational ChallengeDay 1 of the 31 [23] Day Organizational Challenge!<br />
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So as I said <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/03/thats-it-im-taking-stand.html" target="_blank">earlier</a>, I stumbled upon the <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2013/03/org-junkies-31-day-organizational-challenge-begins-sponsors.html" target="_blank">31 Day Organizational Challenge today</a>. The challenge did start on March 1st, but it is never to late to get organized...and why put it off because I am 8 days behind the crowd? So I will be doing the 23 Day Organizational Challenge...I have faith in myself I can make up for lost days...with two vacations in there...so I guess now it's the 15 Day Challenge...don't worry...I'm not going to let that scare me!<br />
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I was unable to post before pictures previously because I couldn't find my charger. But I was so pumped I had to get started right away! So I let it charge a little and then click clicked away. I must point out...today is Friday, the end of a <a href="http://stilettosandbirkenstocks.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-very-firstfive-for-friday-with.html" target="_blank">long week</a>, I did not clean up at all before taking these pictures...it's how it was, as is. Oh my. With much hesitation to let you in on my mess...here are the before pictures:<br />
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Would you look at that mess! How completely and utterly embarrassing. Alright, now that I feel like there are naked pictures of me on the internet (I could be exaggerating a tad)...where to start?<br />
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Oh, and the charger? I quickly found one in my dresser...but knew it wasn't the one I was looking for - my charger has been lost before...so a new one was purchased...and just like that the original one appeared like a Vegas showgirl in an empty box! So I have two chargers. Anyway, I found one...just to find the other one right above the plug I used...Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-89983484946942635182013-03-08T16:52:00.001-05:002013-03-09T01:19:17.677-05:00That's it, I'm taking a stand!Hari and I moved to North Carolina a few days shy of 8 months ago. Although majority (give or take one or two "junk/to sort" boxes) of boxes were finally unpacked in November - don't judge that it even took that long - I still feel like we are packed up and not settled. It usually takes me about a year to settle in to a place...that was a problem in college since I was moving every year...but I am annoyed by our unsettled house.<br />
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Confession? Hari and I can be a bit messy...not dirty, cluttered. Last night after my student's BIG performance (read about that here) my coworker (and co-author of my teaching <a href="http://stilettosandbirkenstocks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>) came over for a celebratory drink...because I was not prepared I had not cleaned up before hand...I was MORTIFIED to invite someone into our house in this state...good think I love her and she didn't judge me...at least she said she didn't. So here is a [even more embarrassing confession...an example of our clutteredness that Benita witnessed last night...the contents of our coffee table: Whole Green Catalog: 1,000 Best Things for You and the Earth, Zumba DVDs, scissors, an empty heart shaped Valentine's Day chocolate box, pliers, a cloth napkin, SkipBo, a Wii Remote, two (why?!) candy dishes...one being a Christmas dish, a few Valentine's from my students, a vacuum attachment, an Avon catalog, a bottle of lotion, a sharpie, a Hobby Lobby receipt, DVD player remote, lesson plans, and two combs.<br />
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Today I have decided to take a stand against this STRESSFUL chaos - would you believe me if I told you I enjoy it when things are neat, organized, and in their place? I know I have a split personality...any way, I had another work day today (believe me, I do actually teach...I just happen to blog on days I have work days, I promise!) and when I got home I felt gung-ho (as I always do) to do a project. I scoured my <a href="http://pinterest.com/kaydibec/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> boards for which project I wanted to do today...and all I could think was how badly I wanted to organize...and I stumbled upon <a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2013/03/org-junkies-31-day-organizational-challenge-begins-sponsors.html" target="_blank">this</a>...<br />
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So...without further ado...<br />
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Introductions and <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/03/day-1-31-23-day-organizational-challenge.html" target="_blank">before pictures</a> coming soon...because (really, Katie?!) I can't find me camera charger...and my camera is dead, dead, dead (and my super supportive fiancé wasn't able to take pictures of my babies at their production last night because of it!) I mean what kind of cruel trick is that...I go to organize my home and my camera charger is missing...because of lack of organization! Just more proof of my desperate need to organize our new home...<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-24099280744991886312013-02-23T13:11:00.000-05:002013-02-23T23:18:26.016-05:00A Squeaky Clean Toilet (without the Unnatural Goo)"Cleaning the toilet is my favorite job!" - said no one ever.<br />
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But it is a job that has got to be done! And it's one of the few jobs that I have been doing the non-natural way for a long time, mostly because I hadn't figured out how to do it the natural way. So scrub after scrub I continued to clean the toilet with the thick blue gunk that just couldn't be good for my gal pal, Mother Earth. Until I tried this...<br />
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I clean just about everything with vinegar...the counters, the windows, the bathtub, you name it, I probably clean it with vinegar. I also use baking soda for many things...carpet cleaner, to unclog sinks, the to clean the stove...anyway...another thing I now use these two wonder products for is...<br />
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All Natural Toilet Cleaner!<br />
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1. Empty the toilet of all water. To do this, turn off the water line and pour a large bucket of water (I use a 5 gallon bucket I use for mopping) in the toilet. This causes the toilet to clear, without filling up again.<br />
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2. Sprinkle baking soda around the inside of the toilet. Be sure to coat the entire area including the upper rim.<br />
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3. Using a spray bottle, spray the entire toilet with vinegar. Allow to sit for about 15 minutes. Clean with toilet brush, turn water back on and flush.<br />
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Happy Cleaning!<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-9288633855317341272013-02-07T22:50:00.001-05:002013-02-23T11:16:30.773-05:00We're Joining a CSA, Y'all!We are bursting at the seems in excitement for our CSA to begin in April. I have been wanting to join one since my senior year of college...oh, I might have gotten ahead of myself, you don't know what a CSA is? Let me fill you in :)<br />
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CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Community Supported Agriculture is a way for community members to pledge to support one (or more) local farms. The members share in the risks of the growers while receiving the benefits of their food production. Members subscribe for a season, receiving a share each week containing varying amounts fruits and vegetables. Many CSA's also have shares with herbs, flowers, eggs, meat and value added products (honey, jam, bread, etc.) CSA's create a community between consumers and producers and support the environment, local economy, and eating healthy and local foods.<br />
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So back on track...We decided to join the Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative. We chose this mostly because of it being in county, most of the CSA's we found were about 45 minutes away (defeats the local draw, huh?) Starting in April we will be getting a box of produce each week. Something to consider if you are thinking about joining a CSA is that you do not get to choose what you get, you get in season, local produce. "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit," as my second graders would let you know. If you are a picky eater and you don't like to cook, it might not be for you. But I, for the most part, love love love vegetables and love cooking and trying new recipes (and sharing them, too!) So that being said, we are eagerly awaiting our first pick up in April.<br />
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The adventure begins in 68 days...we can't wait!<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-28638513571990667502013-02-02T09:49:00.000-05:002013-02-02T09:49:35.415-05:00What you waiting for?So in honor of the amazing fact that we have somehow had over 500 pageviews we are asking you a very important question...<br />
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Remember that song by Gwen Steffani? It was rumored it was about Britney Spears...but really who can argue it wasn't? But I can't help to have that song in my head while I ask you all, "What you waiting for?" Why haven't you decided to follow us yet? You obviously like (love, even?) what we are doing because you keep showing up! So follow us for more homemade cleaners, yummy recipes, fun tips, hiking, babbling, meditation, mishaps, and more. We promise you it will be fun.<br />
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Go on, go click "Join this Site!"<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-30873905781569682192013-01-31T17:42:00.001-05:002013-01-31T17:45:38.395-05:00Where'd we go?I know I know, it appears I have "pulled a Katie." If you don't know me well, or if you haven't known me long...you might not know what I mean. Let me fill you in...my dad is a dreamer and he passed that trait down to me. I am a dreamer. I get big ideas that I get excited about...and then lose interest. Call it ADHD, call it a busy life, call it lack of followthrough, call it what you like. I have been accused of it.<br />
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But let me tell you...this is not the case here, ADHD maybe, but not "pulling a Katie." I know we haven't posted all week, but people get busy. Teachers also can get obsessed with <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Katherine-Rogers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Teachers Pay Teachers</a> check out my store! Did I mention that I am now a <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Katherine-Rogers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">seller</a>? Well I am...and let me tell you...it takes up a lot of time for a perfectionist!<br />
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Well...what this ramble is all about is...we're still here...I haven't flaked out on my blogging adventure. I love it too much!<br />
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A few things that are coming soon...<br />
-Hiking review of Raven Rock State Park<br />
-Homemade Auntie Anne's Pretzel Recipe<br />
-Homemade shower spray<br />
-Curry Chicken Alfredo (yes, it sounds strangely delicious...because it is!)<br />
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See y'all soon!<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-60514684080921367962013-01-27T12:50:00.001-05:002013-01-27T12:55:29.969-05:00Roasted Butternut Squash HummusAs I told you all yesterday, I got a new <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-new-food-processor.html" target="_blank">food processor</a>! I just could not wait to use it! The first night I got it, I tried to use it to mix my <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/01/crock-pot-coconut-chicken-curry-with.html" target="_blank">naan</a> dough, but it was a fail - too much dough! So last night I tried again and it was an amazing success!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0QbwDVzeaIc/UQVlx_2PmaI/AAAAAAAABDU/2pB1mlCTluI/s1600/roastedsquashhummus9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0QbwDVzeaIc/UQVlx_2PmaI/AAAAAAAABDU/2pB1mlCTluI/s640/roastedsquashhummus9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you like hummus, I can promise you that you will LOVE this.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEXW2PLn8fc/UQVlv3hwe_I/AAAAAAAABCg/Zj2fk0wU8vA/s1600/roastedsquashhummus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEXW2PLn8fc/UQVlv3hwe_I/AAAAAAAABCg/Zj2fk0wU8vA/s320/roastedsquashhummus1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Ingredients<br />
1 butternut squash<br />
5 cloves of minced garlic<br />
1 tbsp of ground cumin<br />
1 1/2 tsp of salt<br />
1 1/2 tsp of pepper<br />
1 tbsp of lemon juice<br />
3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oli<br />
2 tbsp of tahini<br />
2 cans of garbanzo beans, rinsed<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BRJPS6yai_8/UQVlwHFb1NI/AAAAAAAABCo/8KqxdrgJz1M/s1600/roastedsquashhummus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BRJPS6yai_8/UQVlwHFb1NI/AAAAAAAABCo/8KqxdrgJz1M/s200/roastedsquashhummus2.jpg" width="200" /></a>Directions<br />
1. Preheat your oven to 350º<br />
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2. Cut your butternut squash in half. This will take a sharp knife and a lot of muscle. Good thing I have been working out. Scoop out all the seeds and set aside.<br />
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3. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a cookie sheet in the oven and roast for 1 hour.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHS1zs8z7Ug/UQVlv5VSTzI/AAAAAAAABCk/vC0jYBiag-c/s1600/roastedsquashhummus3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="109" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHS1zs8z7Ug/UQVlv5VSTzI/AAAAAAAABCk/vC0jYBiag-c/s200/roastedsquashhummus3.jpg" width="200" /></a>4. While roasting (breath in an enjoy the smell) gather the rest of your ingredients. In your food processor add garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, lemon juice, olive oil and tahini. Give it a few pulses to mix it up. Then add one can of garbanzo beans and wait! Don't mix yet, even if you're excited, wait.<br />
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5. Once the squash is done roasting let cool for about 15 minutes if you're antsy or 30-60 minutes if you have time and don't want to get burned. I waited about 5 minutes and suffered the hot potato game.<br />
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6. Scoop out the squash avoiding the skin and add to the processor. Add the second can of garbanzo beans and pulse until smooth.<br />
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7. Be the first to taste so you don't poison your friends and family!<br />
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8. Enjoy with veggies, pita, leftover <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/01/crock-pot-coconut-chicken-curry-with.html" target="_blank">naan</a>, and pretzels.<br />
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I'm sure you are asking why you set the seeds aside? To make roasted squash seeds of course! Rinse, let soak in salt water for 30 minutes. Drain and place on cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake at 350º for 15 minutes stirring half way through. Let cook and enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiley approves! </td></tr>
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Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-66855400915280529462013-01-26T10:59:00.000-05:002013-01-27T12:13:38.680-05:00My New Food ProcessorYesterday, weather affected my school day again. We had an early dismissal and I decided to get everything on my to do list done. Do you believe me? If you don't, you know me well. I spent my afternoon researching food processors and then went out (I know, the storm, I should have kept my northern butt safe at home!) and bought one.<br />
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My dad and his fiancée had given Hari and me a gift card to Bed Bath and Beyond. Hari, like the amazing fiancé he is, told me I could pick out whatever I wanted (he may have had the ulterior motive of the amazing food to come.) I have many kitchen things on my wish list: a KitchenAid mixer (I'll have to wait until I make my bridal registry,) a bread maker (mostly for the kneading mode,) an emersion blender, a food processor, a juicer (hello, expensive!) and a blender (wine smoothies, anyone?) - just to name a "few" things. Based on all of the things it can do, I decided a food processor would be the best choice for now. I can do so much with it; chop, slice, grate, knead, mix, and more! Can you tell I watched a lot of infomercials as a child?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to get cookin' y'all!</td></tr>
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After extensive research on <a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/food-processors" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ConsumerSearch</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Kitchen-Dining-Food-Processors/zgbs/kitchen/289920" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, and <a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/appliances/food-processor-reviews/best-food-processors#slide-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Good Housekeeping</a> I found that the Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus was the best machine out there. It had the most features, the best warranty and a lot of great reviews! I was in the market for the 9 cup, but since I wanted to get cooking right away, and my local Bed Bath and Beyond only had the 11 cup, I was willing to compromise. I'm sure I won't regret it. <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/01/roasted-butternut-squash-hummus.html" target="_blank">Hummus</a> recipe to come soon!<br />
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<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-36341824302519630022013-01-25T20:39:00.000-05:002013-01-27T12:14:09.937-05:00Crock Pot Coconut Chicken Curry with Homemade Garlic NaanI love cooking with the Crock Pot. It's like having a personal chef for one easy payment of $24.99! So last night I gathered my ingredients did some chopping and cutting and within 30 minutes my Crock Pot was in the refrigerator ready to be slow cooked to an amazing dinner!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serves 4-6</td></tr>
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Ingredients:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0weN1anzJk/UQQJgcXgmAI/AAAAAAAABAo/faUYPtDhw7o/s1600/cp+coconut+curry+ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0weN1anzJk/UQQJgcXgmAI/AAAAAAAABAo/faUYPtDhw7o/s200/cp+coconut+curry+ingredients.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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2lbs of skinless boneless chicken breast, trimmed and cut into cubes</div>
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3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed</div>
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1 medium onion, diced </div>
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3-4 garlic cloves, minced</div>
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1 13.5 oz can of coconut milk</div>
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1 cup chicken broth</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-usCWqRfJ2wU/UQQJgTp4RcI/AAAAAAAABAw/KqW3smFU6Vs/s1600/cp+coconut+curry1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-usCWqRfJ2wU/UQQJgTp4RcI/AAAAAAAABAw/KqW3smFU6Vs/s200/cp+coconut+curry1.jpg" width="200" /></a>3-4 tbsp curry powder (based on taste)</div>
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1 tsp of cumin</div>
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1/2 tsp of kosher salt</div>
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1/2 tsp of coarse ground black pepper</div>
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1 red bell pepper, chopped<br />
1 tbsp of cornstarch<br />
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Directions:<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-50uyo9p-ij4/UQQJgSLG9WI/AAAAAAAABAs/uuYwkaDi5bs/s1600/cp+coconut+curry2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-50uyo9p-ij4/UQQJgSLG9WI/AAAAAAAABAs/uuYwkaDi5bs/s200/cp+coconut+curry2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<li>Place chicken, potatoes and onion in the Crock Pot. Add garlic, curry powder, cumin, salt and black pepper. Stir until mean and potatoes are coated.</li>
<li>If you are preparing the night before, it is now time to put this in the refrigerator overnight. If you are ready get cooking now, let's get going to the next step now...</li>
<li>Add coconut milk and chicken broth and cook on low for 4-5 hours.</li>
<li>Shred chicken with a fork, but be careful not to mash the potatoes! (You can skip this step if you want your chicken to remain cubed or you are nervous about mashed potato curry!)</li>
<li>Add red bell pepper to the Crock Pot and cook for thirty minutes. </li>
<li>Stir in cornstarch to thicken. Let cook for about 15 more minutes.</li>
<li>Serve over basmati rice with naan (Want to know how to make homemade naan? I know you do...read on.)</li>
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Sure you could go to your local grocery store and buy a package that contains two pieces of naan for $2.99...or you could follow this recipe and have 12 pieces that you made! I think the decision is clear...</div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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1 package of active dry yeast<br />
1 cup of hot water (about 120º)<br />
1/4 cup white sugar<br />
3 tbsp of milk<br />
1 egg, beaten<br />
2 tsp salt<br />
4 1/2 cups of flour (can use all purpose or bread flour)<br />
1/2 tsp of baking soda<br />
2 cloves of garlic, minced<br />
1/4 cup of butter</div>
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Directions:</div>
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<li>Combine 1tbsp of sugar with hot water (about 120º) sprinkle the packet of yeast on top of the hot water and let sit for about 5-8 minutes until it is frothy. </li>
<li>Add sugar, salt, milk, baking soda and egg to the yeast and water.</li>
<li>Slowly add the flour until a soft dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for about 5 minutes.</li>
<li>Place in a greased bowl in a warm place and cover with a towel. Let rise for 1-2 hours.</li>
<li>After the dough has doubled in size, pull apart and make 12-14 evenly sized balls (about the size of a golfball.) Knead garlic into each ball. Place these on a baking sheet and allow to rest for about 30 minutes. </li>
<li>Place your oven rack at the top or one row down from the top of the oven. If you are using a pizza stone (what I use and recommend, however you can use a cookie sheet but do not preheat the oven with this) place it on the rack and preheat the oven using the broil setting on High.</li>
<li>While the oven is preheating...combine the butter and 1 minced clove of garlic. Melt in the microwave or over the stove. </li>
<li>Roll each ball flat using a rolling pin on a floured surface. I suggest rolling all of the dough out before cooking, because things get fast from here. </li>
<li>Once the oven is hot, pour some oil on the stone and place 1-2 (I do not do more because like I said, things go fast!) pieces of dough on stone brushing them with the butter mixture. Push the rack under the grill, but do not close the oven! Closely watch the dough. It will bubble up and when it is slightly browned, flip and brush the other side with garlic butter. Once this side begins to brown take out of the oven. This step only takes about 1-2 minutes per side.</li>
<li>Repeat until you have cooked all the dough.</li>
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<li>Enjoy with your favorite Indian dish, make into naan pizza, with <a href="http://wearenaturallyinlove.blogspot.com/2013/01/roasted-butternut-squash-hummus.html" target="_blank">hummus</a>, or enjoy as is. </li>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QsmLdV9GGPo/UQQFE3xLjpI/AAAAAAAABAM/Z1JL9R1De18/s1600/naan+uhoh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QsmLdV9GGPo/UQQFE3xLjpI/AAAAAAAABAM/Z1JL9R1De18/s320/naan+uhoh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do not close the oven,or you'll end up with this!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rRIWAiKZvVs/UQQK8qJs7SI/AAAAAAAABBc/pa3Qpwfj06s/s1600/IMG_3805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rRIWAiKZvVs/UQQK8qJs7SI/AAAAAAAABBc/pa3Qpwfj06s/s320/IMG_3805.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And someone will have to eat it, burnt edges and all!</td></tr>
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For some reason when I made this tonight, the dough did not rise. It could be the lack of heat in our 55º home. This created a very dense, pita like bread. Still good, but not naan-like. I have used this recipe before and did not have this problem and it tasted very much like naan. Can't win 'em all, I suppose! Enjoy!<br />
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Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-47969376042576770092013-01-23T20:30:00.000-05:002013-01-24T21:48:29.324-05:00Wednesday Night Tostadas One of our favorite quick and easy recipes is what we dubbed, "Wednesday Night Tostadas." We named them this because they are a great "middle of the week, don't feel like cooking" recipe. These can be made start to finish with 8 ingredients in under 20 minutes.<br />
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Recipe is for 2, but simple to double for a family!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YM-El3fF1q8/UQCMtuUOXfI/AAAAAAAAA-0/Hw4NZyQjbJ0/s1600/Slide3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YM-El3fF1q8/UQCMtuUOXfI/AAAAAAAAA-0/Hw4NZyQjbJ0/s200/Slide3.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Ingredients:<br />
4 Corn and Whole Wheat Blend Tortillas<br />
1 cup of black beans (half a can, drained)<br />
1 cup of frozen corn<br />
1 tbsp of olive oil<br />
1 tbsp of lime juice (can use 1/2 lime squeezed)<br />
1 tbsp of freshly chopped cilantro (or 1tsp of dried)<br />
1/4 tsp of crushed red pepper<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1m1GNTSJl20/UQCMtZr4mVI/AAAAAAAAA-s/k3S6uffUJbc/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1m1GNTSJl20/UQCMtZr4mVI/AAAAAAAAA-s/k3S6uffUJbc/s200/Slide2.jpg" width="200" /></a>1/2 cup of Cheddar Cheese<br />
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Directions:<br />
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<ol><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwfPgxiWNTM/UQCOL4KIruI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/CiAXM5qjQvo/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nwfPgxiWNTM/UQCOL4KIruI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/CiAXM5qjQvo/s320/Slide4.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Pre-heat the oven to 350º and arrange the tortillas on a cookie sheet. Once preheated, place in the oven for about 6 minutes flipping part way through.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">While the tortillas bake, combine beans, corn, olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, and red pepper.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Once tortillas are baked (should be lightly browned and slightly stiff) dish the mix evenly on each of the tortillas. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bake for 5 minutes until hot. Remove and sprinkle cheese over each tostada. Return to the oven until cheese is melted.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Serve immediately with fresh salsa. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Take your first bite and enjoy! Be careful, they will be hot! </span></li>
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We hope you fall in love with our simple Wednesday Night Tostadas!<br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-41847956320509761932013-01-21T11:50:00.001-05:002013-01-21T11:53:00.822-05:00Meditation Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today is the first day of Meditation Monday. I started meditating a couple of years ago. It was a way to relive stress and calm myself down. I also used mediation to get my mind thinking in different ways.<br />
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Meditation is very easy and does not take a lot of time. I do a ten minute meditation everyday. You do not have to sit up right with your legs in a pretzel. Meditation is all about being confortable and aware. To start you need to find a comfortable position. I tend to sit in my chair, feet on the ground. You then have to slowly close your eyes and start breathing deeply in and out. To start clearing your mind of thoughts, you need to concentrate on your deep breathes. I then use a guided meditation I find these on YouTube. There are some short ones and some really long ones. Lately I have been using a chakra guided meditation. Chakras are energy centers in your body. This meditation is ten minutes and aims to relieve stress and energize you for the day.<br />
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Today I was lucky enough to share my meditation with Katie, because she was home from work in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. I suggest you try it, it really helps relax you before a stressful day.<br />
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Have a great monday!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Impervious; font-size: 26pt;">-Hari</span><br />
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In case the link above does not work for any reason, you can find this week's meditation that Katie and I did this morning <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs_DuZigRzY" target="_blank">here</a>.Hari Dhurjatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13033223437372594137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-26091596864027554192013-01-20T14:22:00.001-05:002013-01-20T14:22:19.924-05:00Lice is gross.It is a fact. The person who gets lice is not gross, but the actual lice themselves are. Using a word I once said in college and will never live down, it's growdy!<br />
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As a teacher, lice is one of the hazards of the job. But I do not plan on getting it. It makes my skin crawl and my head begin to itch just thinking about it! Despite popular belief (mostly among children,) lice like clean hair. Many people try to deter lice with hair products such as hair spray and hair gel. Since I do not use any product in hair and do not plan on it anytime soon, I needed something else. Turns out, lice also despise the smell of tea tree oil.<br />
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What you need:<br />
Your favorite shampoo<br />
Tea tree oil<br />
An empty bottle<br />
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Pour your favorite shampoo into an empty bottle. I do this because I do not want to use this shampoo every day (it is very strong smelling!) I only wash my hair with this shampoo on school days and use my normal shampoo on weekends. If you don't mind using it every day you can skip this. Now add 15-20 drops of tea tree oil to the bottle and shake. Voila! You now have very inexpensive homemade lice shampoo!<br />
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This shampoo can be as expensive or cheap as you make it, you use whatever shampoo you prefer. The tea tree oil cost about $7.50 at the local drug store. This will last for a very long time if this is all you are using it for - however it has many other household uses! Amazon has lice prevention shampoo starting at $9.89 for 12oz. As with most homemade things, this is much cheaper!<br />
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*Note this is not a lice treatment, this is a preventative shampoo.*<br />
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Enjoy your lice free head!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Impervious; font-size: 26pt;">-Katie </span><br />
<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-15671045288694348162013-01-19T15:14:00.002-05:002013-01-19T15:14:43.162-05:00The Ever So Pinned About...Homemade Laundry DetergentSo I love pinterest. And by love, I mean that when I first got an account I racked up nearly 1,000 pins in a week. It tapered off after that, but now after pinning I have what is nearing 4,500 pins...obsession? Probably not...but I do like it...a lot. That being said, majority of the things I pin, I place on a board and it is lost in a sea of weddings and dream homes and sweets and savorys and fashion and beaches and...you get it, right? It's never utilized. But there are the lucky ones. The chosen pins. And this was one I have been itching to try...Homemade Laundry Detergent.<br />
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We make as many of our cleaning products from household goods and try to be chemical free. This not only makes us feel better about what we and our puppy (and someday babies) are breathing in, eating off of (or licking in Kiley's case,) and generally living in but it saves us <b>a lot </b>of money, contributes less waste to landfills and generally works better! This product is no exception!<br />
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I have had a couple of homemade laundry detergent recipes pinned for a long time, they may have even been my first pins, but had yet to try any of them. So when our giant "Eco-Friendly" Sams Club detergent was on it's last load, and after searching this very unenvironmentally friendly town for another similar product, Hari asked me if we could make our own. Does he not know me? Of course we can! So I did some research...looked at my pins, others pins, searched google and figured out what we were going to make. I found so many recipes! So I picked and chose and came up with the following:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pS2lheLEiZs/UPrrxmxX4WI/AAAAAAAAA8g/ZZEd03W1yEY/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pS2lheLEiZs/UPrrxmxX4WI/AAAAAAAAA8g/ZZEd03W1yEY/s640/Slide1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JmsURlFrjU4/UPrv9VA35WI/AAAAAAAAA84/x8_qc4jaR7g/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JmsURlFrjU4/UPrv9VA35WI/AAAAAAAAA84/x8_qc4jaR7g/s200/Slide2.jpg" width="200" /></a>What you need...<br />
1 4lb 12oz box of Borax<br />
1 3lb 7oz box of Super Washing Soda<br />
2 2lb boxes of Pure Baking Soda (or a 4lb box if you're lucky enough to find one!)<br />
3 bars of Fels Naptha Soap<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ILqcohNk4I/UPrv89pAiLI/AAAAAAAAA8w/yosnyJapxsg/s1600/Slide3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ILqcohNk4I/UPrv89pAiLI/AAAAAAAAA8w/yosnyJapxsg/s200/Slide3.jpg" width="200" /></a>1 1.3lb jar of OxiClean (optional for extra stain fighting)<br />
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We purchased all of our ingredients from Walmart (not usually our store of choice, but where we live it is the only option.) Everything was found in the laundry aisle.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5fPjbAjdZg/UPrv9PnfvYI/AAAAAAAAA80/FMIB9ZK6tQg/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S5fPjbAjdZg/UPrv9PnfvYI/AAAAAAAAA80/FMIB9ZK6tQg/s200/Slide4.jpg" width="200" /></a>1. Grate your bars of soap. I used a cheese grater. I was very nervous about using my cheese grater for soap - I was worried that it would break (the soap turned out to be very soft, so that was not a problem.) I was also worried about cleaning it after. As I grated the soap it was getting in every nook and cranny of the grater. Good news! It all rinsed off with cold water, then we ran it through the dish washer - good as new!<br />
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This was a bit of an arm workout - I have read that others used their food processors for a easy grating alternative.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ITkfk1CBlE0/UPrv9rPS5pI/AAAAAAAAA9A/-PqzNMuo6GQ/s1600/Slide5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ITkfk1CBlE0/UPrv9rPS5pI/AAAAAAAAA9A/-PqzNMuo6GQ/s200/Slide5.jpg" width="200" /></a>2. Line a large bucket with a trash bag, I used a 3 gallon wash bucket that I had used to brine my turkey in last Thanksgiving. The larger the bucket the better, mine was a little tight!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sURdyHAtOjA/UPrv96efQ5I/AAAAAAAAA9E/YGYxRxpGaLo/s1600/Slide6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sURdyHAtOjA/UPrv96efQ5I/AAAAAAAAA9E/YGYxRxpGaLo/s200/Slide6.jpg" width="200" /></a>3. Combine all your ingredients in the bucket and mix. We tried picking up the bag to shake it around - we immediately stopped this for fear of the bag exploding everywhere! I'm sure if you use a heavy duty bag you would be fine to shake away though. We used a large spoon to stir and occasionally picked the bag up (gently!) and rolled it on the counter to make sure the ingredients were mixing - this is important because we found a large deposit of grated soap still at the bottom. We also mixed by separating the mix into to containers and then pouring it back into the bucket (thank you, high school chemistry class!)<br />
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4. Take a minute to enjoy the smell - great, isn't it?! Your laundry room will smell great as long as this is in there, too! Luckily my laundry room is off my bathroom so this doubles as a bathroom freshener.<br />
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5. You're done! You can transfer the mix into a large container, leave it in the garbage bag or mixing bucket, or put in smaller containers to share! It makes about 2 gallons of soap. I found my container in the kitchen section of Walmart, it was only 1 gallon so I left the remainder in the garbage bag to transfer later as needed.<br />
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You will only need <b>1-2 tbsp</b> of the mix for <b>each load</b>. I saved the OxiClean scoop which is about 2 tbsp and works perfectly!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Important Tips, Tricks and Information...</span></div>
This is HE Washer safe, I use it in my top loading washer and it worked great. If you use a front loading washer, do not pour the mix in the tray that slides out, it will cause a mess! From what I have read (I have not used it in a front loading washer) you can just add it directly to the barrel.<br />
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For added fabric softening add 1/4 cup of vinegar - don't worry, your clothes will not smell! This will soften your clothes, brighten your whites and colors, and disinfect if needed.<br />
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Use at your own risk for sensitive skin, bloggers have raved that it has been fine for their own sensitive skin and even babies, but everyone is different!<br />
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Do not use for cloth baby diapers. The baking soda affects the absorbency of the fabric.<br />
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You can replace the Fels Naptha with Zote or Ivory soap.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Cost</span></div>
Borax - $3.38<br />
Super Washing Soda - $3.24<br />
Baking Soda - $1.24 x 2 = $2.48<br />
Fels Naptha Soap - $0.97 x 3 = $2.91<br />
OxiClean $3.86<br />
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Total Cost of Ingredients - $15.87 (before tax)<br />
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I also bought a 1 gallon glass container for a one time cost of $7.44<br />
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We only have just begun using it so we don't know how long it will last, but there are 512 tablespoons in 2 gallons...so using 1-2 tablespoons per load that means it should last 256 - 512 loads. I like things extra clean, so I use 2 tablespoons per load and we usually do about 4 loads of laundry every two weeks...so at that rate this should last us 29.5 months or 2 and a half years. Can that be right?!<br />
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I'm a numbers girl so let me break it down for you...<br />
If you use 2 tablespoons per load that's 6 cents per load<br />
If you use 1 tablespoon per load that's 3 cents per load<br />
At our average # of loads this detergent will cost us 54 cents a month or $6.45 per year<br />
For a family who does let's say an average of 5 loads per week (using 2 tbsp of detergent) it would last 11.8 months at $1.34 per month or $16.12 for the year! WOW!<br />
<br />
Savings? Laundry detergents cost a variety of prices based on what you choose to buy and where you buy it. The last detergent we purchased was Ecos Plus Liquid Detergent from Sams Club. Based on their advertised price of $13.98 and 252 loads it should break down to lasting us as long as our homemade variety and costing only 5 cents a load - this however is not how it played out. Ecos lasted us about a year. We had to use more than recommended because it did not seem to get the clothes clean - on top of that we also had to use OxiClean (an added cost). In addition to those costs, there is the cost of a membership at Sams Club and the environmental cost of the large plastic bottle that may end up in a landfill if not properly recycled (we do recycle but you never know what happens once the truck picks it up!) None of this deterred us from buying Ecos as it is an environmentally friendly product and it was purchased in bulk so there was not as many plastic bottles being used. BUT - at $13.98 for a year we will save $7.53 with our new detergent (and there will not be the waste of the plastic container since we put ours in a reusable glass container.)<br />
<br />
That being said, the cost savings for those who purchase detergent at grocery stores and big box stores will be even greater!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, does it play nice with the environment?</span></div>
I honestly cannot report too much on this right now. Mostly because my research is limited. The two ingredients that I wonder about are the OxiClean and the Fels Naptha. I have read things about OxiClean that go both ways. I did read about the Fels Naptha on this <a href="http://onthewaytothefarm.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/zote-soap-alternative-to-fels-naptha-soap/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blog</a>, saying to use Zote instead because it is more environmentally friendly, but it did not go into to much detail. I will research this some more...but until then this is a far cheaper alternative to store bought detergents and there is less physical waste going to the landfill. That is already better than store bought!<br />
<br />
Boy was that long, but I'll tell ya, it was packed full of information!<br />
<br />
We hope you enjoy your new soap as much as we do! Cleans great, smells great, saves money, and limits waste! We're happy!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiley hung around the entire time we made this, she loved the smell!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Impervious; font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">-Katie and Hari<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
I tried very hard to find the various blogs I used to make my soap...but since I made it last weekend, I cannot remember what I took from where. I can give credit however to the one blog I had pinned that sent me on my quest: <a href="http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html#comments" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Being Creative to Keep My Sanity - Homemade Laundry Soap</a> Thank you!<br />
<br />Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-38158580886237759002013-01-19T08:45:00.002-05:002013-01-19T08:48:30.613-05:00Oh! There's the "Cold" Weather We've Hear About!After my warm and sunny Non-Snow or Ice Delay yesterday, I was beginning to lose faith in the local weatherman (as if living with Rochester's weather hadn't solidified that yet!) But then we woke up to find this...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OA8Pm1xRTZI/UPqi6a6jW8I/AAAAAAAAA8I/fGa5WCtiljQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-01-19+at+8.42.28+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OA8Pm1xRTZI/UPqi6a6jW8I/AAAAAAAAA8I/fGa5WCtiljQ/s400/Screen+shot+2013-01-19+at+8.42.28+AM.png" width="316" /></a></div>
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Yes, of course the highs for the day are warmer here and Rochester is predicting snow all week (jealous!) but would you look at those current temps?! North Carolina, you continue to amuse me. Don't worry, New York, we still have yet to turn our heat on here, we won't become soft southerners! But then again if you know us well, we never turned our heat on in Rochester until mid November either! I expect we will never turn it on here...</div>
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<span style="font-family: Impervious; font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">-Katie and Hari<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-58664573983313396682013-01-18T18:25:00.000-05:002013-01-18T22:50:45.596-05:00Snow (???) Delay...Today my school had a two hour delay. When I found out about it last night, I had yet to see even a flake. It was raining, but it was only 50 degrees out. So no sign of ice, yet. The weatherman on the local news was very concerned about this storm. Hari and I were apprehensive. How bad could it be?<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view when I woke up this morning. <br />
Not even a flake on the ground!</td></tr>
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It...was...not bad at all. When I woke up, there was no snow on the roads or the ground or even the trees. There was no ice to be found. The sun was shinning! It was 50 degrees. These southerners are so funny! Schools had already announced that they were closed for today yesterday at 3 p.m.! Bread was flying off the shelves, stores were out of milk - all for a beautiful day! Oh North Carolina, you amuse my Rochester soul.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MgGrb6c8szU/UPnTQRC5lII/AAAAAAAAA6w/qepLRz9CeUU/s1600/IMG_3741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CnYSYWSnAY/UPnUFajBIQI/AAAAAAAAA7E/IISWkWb5Syw/s1600/IMG_3743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CnYSYWSnAY/UPnUFajBIQI/AAAAAAAAA7E/IISWkWb5Syw/s320/IMG_3743.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all that snow! <br />
Good thing I brought my snow brush to the south!</td></tr>
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Despite the lack of storm and the hype over nothing, I did get to have a relaxing morning, and a very nice Friday at school. My internal clock awoke me at seven, the time I typically leave for work, in a panic. "WAKE UP! YOU'RE LATE!" But really, my alarm was not due to go off for another hour. I was able to relax and get ready for work at my leisure. It was lovely! At school, my students arrived at 10:00, went straight to dance, had lunch and then recess, had their weekly spelling and reading tests, then art. By the time that they were done with art there was enough time for snack and a quick read of Scholastic News. What an amazing Friday! Now I have a three day weekend. What a life! I am off to enjoy a well deserved glass of wine for my hard day.<br />
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P.S. This is what snow looks like, N.C.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rochester, NY December 29 2012 - And yes, we still drove in this!</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567890783169172971.post-7201862741955602872013-01-17T23:28:00.000-05:002013-01-18T07:36:47.170-05:00Hey Blog, Hey!Hello, blogosphere! This is Hari, Katie and Kiley in our first ever joint blog. Exciting, we know. Hari and Katie were born in Massachusetts and New York respectively and we spent majority of our lives (give or take some college years) in Rochester, N.Y. Although we are Yankees, our puppy Kiley is a Southern Belle. Kiley lived in Mississippi until Katie fell in love with her in 2010 and she came to live with us in Rochester (you can find out more about her story here.) Last summer we moved to rural North Carolina by way of Katie landing a teaching job, and our lives have turned upside down.<br />
<br />
So this is our "natural hippie blog" (as Hari called it) or just a glimpse into our cluttered, messy, not so perfect life. Katie came up with the blog as we were hiking. I (Hari) found it silly, but after thinking about it, realized we can use it to share our weirdness with the world. You might find natural cleaning remedies, hiking reviews, wedding ideas (did we mention that we are engaged?!), and delicious recipes. We don't really know where this blog will go, but we find it to be fun for us. It is a way to do something together in our hectic lives.<br />
<br />
We have been called "crunchy" and "granola" as if it is a bad thing...but we take it as a compliment. Did you know that we kiss trees, too? We are by no means perfect, nor do we think that we are. We try to respect the Earth and our bodies all while trying to balance our passions, lack of time, and lack of budget. So sometimes we may not be using or doing what someone views as the most environmentally friendly thing, or maybe what we are doing is too friendly - we are just doing us. Love us or leave us be.<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ijlntkl2-v4/UPjNL1fcdMI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/fq2dSNO42tw/s1600/IMG_3681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ijlntkl2-v4/UPjNL1fcdMI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/fq2dSNO42tw/s320/IMG_3681.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking at Raven Rock Park (the blog inspiring hike!)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Impervious; font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">-Katie and Hari<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Katie Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12052096565751521233noreply@blogger.com0