Crockpot Veggie Pasta and Turkey Meat Sauce

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I’ve been on a total crockpot kick lately. That seems to happen every winter, and before the urge kicks in, I always think…

“Why don’t I use my crock pot more??!!”

Then, I do, and I think…

“Why don’t I use my crock pot more??!!”!!!

Every post I do on my crockpot meals, I wax poetic on the fabulousness of it, but then the spring and summer roll around and I forget about it. I’m determined to make things all year round! It’s SO easy, and the smell walking into your home after not being home all day/or even if you ARE home all day…YUM!!!

And I don’t know about where you live, but here in Seattle…spring has NOT sprung, and warm yummy dinners still sound amazing!

So, I decided to try spaghetti and meat sauce. Total classic. Total crowd pleaser when you have kids. Pretty cheap too! And…it can be healthy and easy!

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Ingredients (feeds 4 with leftovers)

2 lbs ground turkey. I like to make it heavy on the protein!
1 Can of pasta sauce. I used a 32 oz jar (check labels if you are on Whole30)
1/2 teaspoon crushed ginger
1/2 Teaspoon crushed garlic
1 Medium to Large Onion
1/2 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning.
1/2 a box of Pasta (again, I go light on this end and used veggie pasta. You could use gluten free OR 2 cups zoodles or sweet potato noodles etc if you are Whole30!)

Directions

Place Diced Onion, Crushed Ginger, and Crushed Garlic, Ground Turkey (Yes, I put mine in mostly frozen because…no time to dethaw, and it still worked out great!), Jar of Pasta sauce and Italian seasonings in the crockpot, and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5.
When you are about 10-15 minutes out, you can add the pasta or zoodles etc and they will cook to being tender. I think they’d be mushy if you added them in at the beginning, but let me know if you try! I even added them after the cook time when it was in “warm” mode, and it worked!

Enjoy!

White Button Down + High Rise Crop Flares (Classics for the WIN!)

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We actually got a break in the monsoon season weather we’ve been having!! Seriously…our basement flooded, but besides that and in addition to that I’m SO OVER IT!!

It was SO nice to have a sunny day. As nice “looking” as it was, it was still super windy and cold.

We only had 10 minutes before we had to go get ready for Maya’s T-Ball practice, so we made this a quick little shoot 🙂

I took these pair of high rise flares (that I thrifted for super cheap!) and chopped them off at the bottom. Crop flares are currently my favorite style, so I may or may not have chopped off a number of my flare and boot leg jeans recently! 😉 Better than buying a bunch of new current crop flares for a kazillion dollars, I say!

Paired with a white button down? Really…you can’t go wrong pairing a white button down with ANY pair of jeans! Total classic…

Hahaha. This next one cracks me up!For those wondering. The reason the first image and the image below look “lighter and hazier”, it’s because I had my tripod in the sun to get the shot. The darker and crisper close up shots, were with the camera in the shade with us.
This next four shots literally happened in less than a minute. Taking images with a tripod isn’t always the easiest, but the remote trigger taking a shot every second for 10 seconds sure is! I flipped our position and then got these! I managed to convince Maya to do ONE twirl picture by herself…

On me…

Top- AG Jeans (eBay, similar here)

Jeans- J Brand (thrifted and DIY raw hem, similar here)

Shoes- Nene “Joyce Slip ons” c/o

On Maya…

Jacket- GapKids (thrifted, but similar here)

Dress- Lili Gaufrette (thrifted, but current styles here)

Leggings- Children’s Place (thrifted, but 2 pack similar here)

Shoes- Nene “Joyce Slip ons” c/o

Keeping it Real…

What happens when people drive by and you are the nerd by yourself taking pictures….

Her face!!! hahaha.

(all pictures taken with a shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Layering for Spring (in GREEN!) Happy St Patrick’ Day!

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I wish I could say that I totally planned for us to wear green, and I had this post all lined up for St Patrick’s Day, but….I didn’t.

It was a happy accident though 🙂

I’m sooooo over the weather that’s been going on!! I just want to wear summer dresses (ok, no I don’t, because summer dresses aren’t my go to, buuuuuuut, right now?? SUMMER DRESSES! I want to wear them. And flip flops, and shorts, and anything else that’s appropriate for 65 degree plus.

Which, we are NOT seeing…

Until then, I will layer summer dresses with sweaters, jackets, and booties 🙂

Oh, Maya….you know the smile that’s next is not just me! I can’t even…

The reason I wanted to do this shot. Other than, I LOVE shoe shots?

Both of our booties are WATERPROOF!!!

Ok, maybe mine are only water resistant. I haven’t tested them. She for SURE has tested hers 😉

But…if you are looking for cute water “resistant” boots, check these out. Mine are sold out, but the brand makes more!! This is Maya’s posing face…

haha. I meant to get some sun flare, and got a rainbow flare instead-WIN!!! Oh, and waterproof, you say? Let me test them out!!

Ok, I never told her they were waterproof. She would have tested them out regardless…

But…her socks were dry and a wet wipe made the boots good as new!

Retail…$75. Thrifted in like new condition…$4.25.

So, sure-walk through those puddles as a test! 🙂

On me…

Jean Jacket- 3×1 thrifted for $10!!! (similar here retails for $300!!)

Sweater- Inhabit (old, similar here)

Dress- Ella Moss (eBay-love this one here)

Boots- Aquatalia (eBay for $50! similar here)

On Maya…

Jacket-Zara (thrifted)

Dress- Antik Batik (eBay, this is fun too)

Leggings- Tea Collection (thrifted, similar here)

Boots- Pediped “Flex Issa” (thrifted for $4.25)

Keeping it Real…

I swear, whenever I say I want to try and get a few pictures of just me…. I give her snacks, yet she always wants to be in the shots!!!

However….when I want to get a shot of her or the both of us??

Yeah….she’s off and running away, and it takes me 10 minutes to get her back. 🙂

Oh….WIND??! Yeah, miiiiiiiiiight not be wearing this dress on windy days. NOTE TO SELF!

Yup….so her.

(all pictures taken with a shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Overalls + Chunky Knits + Hats (fall or…COLD spring!)

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Anyone else wondering WTF is going on with our weather?? We had snow a week ago in March…in Seattle!!

All that to say, I’ve gotten creative with my layering. Chunky knit under overalls? Sure, why not!

Oh, and a hat to keep my hair from blowing crazy in the WIND?

YES, PLEASE! blog-vintage-felt-hat-paige-sierra-overalls-j-crew-sweater-sam-edelman-lisle-booties-1

On me…

Sweater- J Crew (thrifted)

Hat- Vintage (thrifted)

Overalls- Paige “Sierra” Overalls (eBay, similar here)

Boots- Sam Edelman “Lisle” Boots (thrifted for $10!! Sold out, but love this lower heel version)

Keeping it Real…

I l had 20 minutes to take pictures before I had to pick Maya up from preschool, so I thought I’d go somewhere other than right outside our house.

I went a few blocks away, got somewhat set up in front of a cool neighborhood side walk, and I kid you not…as soon as I was ready, two teenage boys came home from school and walked into the house I was about to shoot in front of-giving me weird looks. I could have waited, but…TWENTY MINUTES!!

So….I gathered up my tripod and focusing stand that I’d already set up, and drove on. I pulled up to another block in my neighborhood, and decided to go for it no matter what.

Um….DEAD half eaten RAT!!!! AND….dog poop. Right where I was going to set my tripod!! I had to laugh! Because, thankfully, my tripod doesn’t care. I DID!!! But…I looked away 🙂

(all pictures taken with a shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Leather Jacket + Stripes + High Rise Skinnies + Clogs

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If there were ever a “mom uniform” or…let’s be real…any girl’s uniform…

THIS SHOULD BE IT!

Leather Jacket + Stripes + High Rise Skinnies + Clogs

You can never go wrong. blog-doma-leather-jacket-free-people-mother-looker-kork-ease-portia-clogs-1 These shoes are BEYOND comfortable!!! Pretty much any shoe from this company is like walking on a cloud-LOVE! Her face…haha. blog-zara-faux-leather-jacket-gap-long-cardigan-hanna-andersson-play-dress-moto-boots-1

On me…

Leather Jacket- Doma” (old similar here)

Top- Free People (thrifted, similar here)

Jeans- Mother Denim “The Looker High Rise” (Thrifted)

Clogs- Korks by Kork Ease “Portia” (similar here)

On Maya…

Jacket- Zara (thrifted, similar here)

Sweater- Gapkids (thrifted, but similar here)

Dress- Hanna Andersson (thrifted, but similar here)

Leggings- Kirkland

Boots-Joseph Allen (thrifted, similar here)

Keeping it Real…

Playing tug of war with the focus stand 🙂

I tell her now that we can do whatever she wants. It keeps her happy, and that’s all I can ask for…haha. blog-outtake-2

(all pictures taken with a shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

4 Ingredient Protein Packed Pancakes (gluten free)

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These were a total spur of the moment “I have stuff that’s going bad, and I should probably make something!” recipe.

I had made a quinoa dinner earlier in the week that I’ll hopefully post soon (practically a one pot easy meal!) So…why am I posting this before that? was that good!! And more importantly…THAT EASY! Oh, and should I mention-HEALTHY?!

Because this was that good!! And more importantly…THAT EASY! Oh, and should I mention-HEALTHY?!

When it’s a trifecta, I know I should blog it! Ok, when it’s a trifecta, and I actually take pictures, I know I should blog it 🙂

What you need… (makes 20 mini pancakes or 10 medium)

One overripe banana
One cup cooked quinoa
2 eggs
2 tablespoons unsweetened Almond Milk
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

What you need to do…

Mash the banana, add everything else, and mix a lot (baby got back! ok, nevermind…)

blog-4-ingredient-protein-packed-gluten-free-pancakes-2 She’s usually up for being my baking assistant, but not always the willing photography assistant. Totally understandable since it was first thing in the morning 🙂 Above are Tablespoon mini pancakes for Maya, which she’s flipping (and are pictured stacked later)

Below are the 1/4 cup pancakes that I ate (as well as a few of her mini ones :)).
blog-4-ingredient-protein-packed-gluten-free-pancakes-6 The mini ones were easier to photograph, and….could she be a better assistant???!!

Just for kicks, I entered everything into VeryWell.com. If you eat the entire batch, it’s less than 500 calories and has 20 grams of protein! Honestly, they were so filling, I ate half the batch myself, and then worked out. I was totally satisfied until lunch! Normally, I eat a lot more of-to be honest…processed calories usually, and am not as satisfied. Lesson to be learned. But, let’s be real. This was super simple, easy, and quick to do, but…it wasn’t as quick as grabbing something with no clean up. I GET IT! I’ll let you know if they toast well haha.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 (423g)
Per Serving	% Daily Value*
Calories 458
Total Fat 13.6g	21%
Saturated Fat 2.9g	15%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 327mg	109%
Sodium 160mg	7%
Potassium 564mg	16%
Total Carb 66.9g	22%
Dietary Fiber 8.2g	33%
Sugars 15.1g
Protein 20.5g

Enjoy!! dit-elle-Lauren

Chunky Knits + High Waisted Flares + Clogs

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Life’s been a little crazy lately…. Ok, I feel like it has been for the last few years, but lately…more so! All that to say. I don’t have time to think about what I want to wear. I think about it during the day, and have all these ideas, but in the morning? I throw on skinny jeans, a striped top, and a leather jacket or sweater. There’s nothing wrong with that. Honestly, most days, I’m just happy for my 10 minute shower at the gym!!

But. I like clothes. Probably not a shock. I love how changing what you wear can change your mood. I love that you can get creative with what you wear, and it can say something about your personality that people may not have expected. I think people underestimate clothing and how it relates to how it makes you feel. But maybe that’s just me.

However, if you’ve ever watched a makeover show, you’ll know that it’s not! But the truth of the matter is. People lack the time, the money, and the energy or knowledge about what would make them look better and feel better.

Again, one of the many reasons I love thrifting. You can cheaply buy/try something new, and totally change your mood for the day! And if you say you don’t have any good thrift stores near you, then you can easily go online! Admittedly, you need to try things on at stores to find what styles/brands fit you best, but you can absolutely leave without buying and find things cheaper on eBay, Poshmark, thredUp, or Tradesy.

My entire outfit (as MOST of my outfits) were bought at a discount.

blog-free-people-brick-sweater-hudson-high-rise-flare-korks-portia-clogs-1 GAH!!! I’m soooooo bummed. I took a bunch of images, but my CF card got corrupted.

I put my card in, and it only loaded half the pics I took. I tried a few times, and it kept giving me an error. THEN…it wouldn’t even recognize the card! I was SO bummed, because I got some super cute images of Maya with her newly lost two bottom teeth. WAH WAH!! 😦

BUT…SO glad it didn’t happen to a client’s images! So, all in all, it was probably a blessing in disguise, because I now always put two cards in my camera (which I should have been doing all along…

So, honestly…I have been waiting to blog these. I kept thinking I’d find a way to recover the lost images, but I’m finally letting that go. For anyone that knows me (which honestly, is two-hi mom and dad!), it was REALLY hard for me to let this go. But I finally did, so I’m blogging this lone image of Maya. And also saying good bye to an recipe that I captured on that same card that has been long forgotten (because I rarely write things down and use images to help me remember). I’m sure it was AMAZING!! 😉

Alas…I leave you with Maya not so happy with a sidways smile…

blog-forever21-girls-faux-leather-jacket-crewcuts-hudson-jeans-suede-booties-1

On me…

Sweater- Free People “Ryanne” (eBay, sold out, )

Top- Old, similar here.

Jeans- Hudson (thrifted, similar here)

Clogs- Kork Ease “Portia” (eBay sold out, similar here)

On Maya…

Jacket- Forever21 (thrifted, but loving this one here)

Top- Crewcuts (thrifted, similar here )

Jeans- Hudson (Nordstrom Rack, but similar here)

Shoes- Crewcuts (thrifted)

Keeping it Real…

Could there be more than my corrupted CF card? Why yes…

Because, at first, she’s ambivilant about pictures. Or, really…she thinks its funny to make grimacing faces at first. I’ll admit. It’s a process with the self timer. Most times, she doesn’t even realize that I’ve set it up, but sometimes she does, and…pictures. NO PICTURES! Hence, the lack of frequency in our images together. Usually, once I get her playing, she forgets about the camera, but it’s a little harder when it’s on the side walk in front of our house. As easy as it may be…
blog-outtake-1

Yet, she always goes for my focusing stand!! blog-outtake-2

(all pictures taken with a self timer/shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Leather Jackets + Plaid + Stripes (can you go wrong?!)

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I’m thinking no. But that’s because I can’t stop wearing stripes with a leather jacket almost every day!

These images were taken three months ago, but I haven’t been able to blog much, and…it kind of still matches the transition of weather, so I’m going with it… 1-blog-ig-hm-doma-leather-gap-plaid-dl1961-emma-el-naturalista-9

blog-doma-leather-jacket-plaid-stripes-booties-2 Never mind that Maya has lost two of those bottom baby teeth by now! GAH!! It’s so weird to just look back on a couple of months ago and see all her teeth! blog-zara-faux-leather-jacket-hanna-andersson-plaid-top-mini-boden-skinny-jeans-josmo-boots-1

On me…

Hats- H&M (kids, mine is 12-14 old)

Leather Jacket- Doma” (old similar here)-

Top- Gap (Funky Jane’s Consignent)

Jeans- DL1961 Emma in “Riker”

Boots- El Naturalista Duna N528 (thrifted for $7!!)

On Maya…

Hats- H&M (kids, hers is 8-10 old)

Jacket- Zara (thrifted, similar here)

Sweater- Old Navy (thrifted)

Top- Hanna Andersson (thrifted)

Jeans- Mini Boden (thrifted)

Boots-Josmo “Multi Strap Buckle Boot” (Nordstrom Rack, similar here and less expensive here)

Keeping it Real…

I don’t even know what was going on here…

And…am I kissing her and she’s really loving it? I think so!! But…I wasn’t so sure that I’d post it 😉 blog-outtake-2

Enough said… blog-outtake-3

(all pictures taken with a shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Paleo Apple Muffins with Steusel Topping

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blog-paleo-apple-streusel-gluten-free-muffins-1 Maya had a play date the other day, and I promised them we could make something. I’ve been wanting to try a healthier apple muffin, and these turned out so good!! You could leave out the walnuts for a nut free option for school!
So moist and yummy!! blog-paleo-apple-streusel-gluten-free-muffins-5

Ingredients (makes 12 muffins or 24 minis)

2 cups almond flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice or 1/2 tsp ginger and 1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 eggs
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
4 medjul dates pitted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
2 small apples, diced or about 1 1/2 cups

For the streusel-

1/4 cup almond flour
1 tsp coconut flour
1 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
pinch of salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Line muffin cups with muffin liners.
First, prepare the streusel topping by mixing everything together, except for the pecans, in a small bowl. Add the pecans and stir until well combined. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together the dry muffins ingredients (almond flour through nutmeg).
In a large bowl, mix together the wet muffins ingredients (eggs through Almond Milk).
Add the dry mix to the wet and stir just until combined! Fold in the apples.
Pour 1/3 cup of batter into each muffin cup. Sprinkle the streusel on top.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 5 minutes and then lower the temperature to 350 degrees F and for another 8 – 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean. Mini muffins only needed 8 more minutes but larger muffins may need up to 15.
Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then remove the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.
These are super moist and need to be kept refrigerated in an airtight container after the first 24 hours.

Recipe adapted from Texanerin Baking.

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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I’ve never been a “let’s get dressed up and go out on the town!” kind of Valentine’s Day girl…

A) It seems like a lot of fuss and pressure for one designated day that you are sharing with…EVERYONE!

B) I hate crowds. See above…sharing with EVERYONE-no thanks!

C) You pay way more and it’s SO hard to get into good restaurants in Seattle, because…yup-everyone!! Are you sensing a trend here?

Every year the Huz makes us a nice dinner. We get a nice bottle of wine, and stay at home and have way more fun!

We had our normally busy day, but I managed to bribe Maya into going outside twice. Once for 5 minutes, and then again for 4 haha. Yes, I checked the time stamp 😉

I took these of myself when Maya was in school. I knew I was going to go help out at her Valentine’s Day party and then after letting her play after school, we’d come home to dinner. All that to say…I kept it pretty casual, but added a fun pop of red with my comfy clogs! blog-doma-leather-jacket-striped-top-dl1961-toni-red-sven-clogs-1 The only way I could get pics of Maya was to let her just do whatever she wanted. Which usually means dancing. The girl has got some serious moves!! blog-faux-leather-jacket-crewcuts-heart-sweater-gapkids-tiered-skirt-steve-madden-lace-up-studded-boots Loooooove! Omg, her little tongue sticking out through the gap in her missing teeth??!!!
I would have loved to have gone somewhere with a little better scenery than our dirty front steps, but you take what you can get!

And I LOVE this one! blog-doma-leather-jacket-striped-top-dl1961-toni-red-sven-clogs-8 And these… 🙂 I thought about asking her for a serious smile, but these are so her!! blog-faux-leather-jacket-crewcuts-heart-sweater-gapkids-tiered-skirt-steve-madden-lace-up-studded-boots-4 I can’t even…