REVIEW: January Favorites

Hello! Well, January flew by and I’m sad to say that I don’t have very many new favorites to share with you. Our January was consumed by loving up on our newest family member and working on a few projects! For those of you who do not follow me on Instagram, we adopted this beautiful senior dog, Abbey….

According to her records, she is a shepherd mix and will be turning 10 the day before Willow turns three. We could not have found a better fit for our home. Abbey is incredibly gentle, obedient AND isn’t phased by our two cats – which makes them VERY happy. Willow has bonded with Abbey in such a way that it almost moves me to tears and definitely melts my heart. Our little family is complete.

Ok…are you ready for my January favorites?!? Here we go!

JANUARY FAVORITES….

Kite Hill Artisan Almond Milk Product >> Soft Fresh Truffle, Dill & Chive

Oh, my! This was amazing! We found it on sale at Whole Foods ($7.99) and had to give it a try because I’m a HUGE fan of dill and chive. This did not disappoint! Creamy, packed with flavor and no weird “fake” taste as the only ingredients are:

Almond milk (water, almonds), salt, truffle oil, enzymes, dill pollen, chives, dill, cultures.

 Since we haven’t been able to get our hands on Luke’s crackers, we paired it with apples. Willow LOVED this and was sad when it was all gone. It won’t be something we buy every week, as it is on the pricier side, but it certainly is a nice treat.

Home

Purely Elizabeth >> Ancient Grain Oatmeal

In an attempt to change up Willow’s buckwheat, I found this on sale at Whole Foods and gave it a try. Willow wasn’t a fan because of the whole flax seeds, but I REALLY enjoyed it. Organic, gluten-free, sugar-free AND cooks in 2 minutes…a great option for a super quick breakfast. I love all the ingredients: Quinoa, Amaranth, Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds and Hemp. Packs in 7 grams of protein and 4 grams of fat. I have made it both sweet (with a tiny drizzle of maple syrup) and savory (garlic and homemade cheese sauce) – Each way was equally delicious! From my understanding, Target also carries this brand, but I can’t say for certain if they carry this exact option.

Savory Spice >> Za’atar Seasoning

Now, this isn’t a new favorite, but it’s one I keep forgetting to include in my monthly posts! We buy almost all of our seasonings from this great little spice shop – Savory Spice, as they sell fresh and high quality options. They have a store here in Bend, but you can also order through their website online. Za’atar seasoning is used primarily in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods –  we were first introduced to this amazing seasoning while dining at one of our favorite places to eat, Kebaba. This specific blend from Savory Spice includes: Sumac, toasted sesame seeds, salt, cumin, Mediterranean thyme, Greek oregano and marjoram. Our favorite way to use this is on roasted potatoes or veggies.

Frankie and Myrrh >> Spray the Bitch Away

My friend Jen, from Jen Goes Green, sent this to me last month and I have to show you how she covered up the original label…

This spray is AMAZING! I seriously can’t help but laugh when I pick up this little bottle – pretty much instantly puts me in a better mood. Now, that’s not to say I’m a grumpy person, but we all have our bad days. The scent is intoxicating and consists of ALL of my favorites: geranium, clary sage, lavender, bergamot and frankincense. I’ve been spraying our house with it, along with wearing it as a perfume.

Here’s what Frankie & Myrrh have to say about this spray:

An aromatherapy spray/ perfume for when you’re irritated, pissed off, annoyed, tired, peeved, frustrated, enraged, or have an overall bad attitude! Spray generously in your environs and breathe in mist. Spray near co-workers, friends, and relatives as needed. Great for those PMS days. A light freshwater spray/perfume with a purpose.

As I’ve learned from Jen, they have a wonderful selection of other sprays – can’t wait to try more in the future!

http://frankieandmyrrh.storenvy.com/

Kate’s Magik >> Aura Mists – Ghostbuster

You might remember me sharing with you in my December Favorites, Kate’s Magik. Last month we picked up this bottle of Ghostbuster spray for $14 (can be found at Natural Grocers, Whole Foods or online). Willow had been waking up screaming and it appeared to be due to a bad dream. I’ll be honest, at first it didn’t work and I think it was because while I was spraying it, I was laughing and not expecting it to actually work. Just like when you work with crystals, the intention must be there. Envision what you want, what you want to happen – put the energy out there. Well, last month we had more restful nights than we have in the past. We spray our bed and surrounding area focusing on the pillows and Willow’s blankies. I think it’s helped all of us sleep a little better. Last week, and I have no idea how this started, Willow started freaking out because she saw a hermit crab in our bedroom. There isn’t really a hermit crab, let that be known 😉 When I say freaking out, I mean shrieking and pointing in the direction of the apparent crab. We tried everything to calm her down, but she was so upset. Finally, I grabbed this bottle of Ghostbuster and told her that this spray would make the crab go away. Seriously worked like MAGIC! Ever since that night, she reminds me at every bedtime to grab the spray. The scent is lovely and calming, as it contains sweet orange, lavender and chamomile. So, I’m pretty sure we’ll always have this bottle on hand!

Ghostbuster Aura Mist

My Quotable Kid – A Parents’ Journal of Unforgettable Quotes

It’s really hard to believe that our once closed-mouth jabberer is now a full-blown chatterbox. I remember my grandmother used to have this book called: Kids Say the Darndest Things. I used to be in tears, laughing so hard at what some of these kids came up with. In the last month or so, Willow has been coming up with some noteworthy quotes, some that literally have us rolling on the floor. For example, this Saturday, while out walking Abbey, Willow stopped to pick up a dried up weed or part of a bush – she looked at me and said, “I bring flower home for bees.” First of all, we haven’t seen a bee in quite some time – second, who taught her that?!

I picked this journal up at Target for $14.95…but Amazon sells if for just under $10. I was impatient.

When you open the cover, there is a spot to place a photo of your child and each page is dedicated to one quote. It has an area to write – who said it, what age, where and then the quote. I was writing some of her quotes in a journal I use daily for her, but this way, Josh can also write quotes down as they happen.

Hope everyone had a great January – Happy February!

Thanks for stopping by!

❤