I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
If you’re a regular reader of my blog you know I live my life as a vegan 90% of the time. The other 15% I haven’t quite mastered because of my love of a few foods like great cheese and certain desserts. Pimento cheese is a perfect example of my 10% indulgence. But like a true 85%-of-the-time-vegan I make mine with Vegenaise.
Let’s take a quick pause here to talk about Vegenaise. Vegenaise is a vegan alternative to mayo, and I love it. It is one of those rare finds that tastes exactly like the real thing, but has way less calories (though this recipe is not for anyone looking for a low calorie snack). Try it, you’ll become obsessed. I’ve already got everyone in my family hooked on it. P.S. I’ve only ever gotten the purple label Vegenaise which is the one made with grapeseed oil, not sure about the other flavors.
And back to the cheese…pimento cheese is truly a southern addiction and beyond easy to make. It’s perfect as a spread, on burgers, veggie burgers, and if you really want to try something good get some texas toast, a panini press and make a grilled cheese. Oh My Goodness.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the recipe, and if you’re a first time Vegenaise taster let me know your thoughts. xoxo
Oh the goodness just waiting to be devoured in our oh-so-stylish Fish Bowls
Waiting On Matha’s Pimento Cheese Dip
1 Block of organic cheddar
1 Block of organic pepper jack
1/2 Jar of pimentos (the small jar)
1/2-3/4 cup of Vegenaise (purple lid, Grapeseed oil flavor)
Cayenne pepper (optional)
Shred/Grate all of the cheese and combine in a bowl. Add 1/2 jar of pimentos including the liquid they are in, 1/2 cup of Vegenaise, cayenne pepper to taste. Stir. If it’s still to dry add additional Vegenaise. The consistency is a personal preference, the Vegenaise should bind everything together, but shouldn’t break the ingredients down.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve.
**To make a smooth pimento cheese spread simply place everything in a food processor and blend.**
While I’m not a makeup obsessed person (my everyday makeup routine consists of less than 8 products which I’ll be sharing with y’all next week), I am a product-obsessed person.
It’s probably because I’ve struggled with my skin since the age of thirteen. And while my skin is better than ever, it seems that every day there’s a new issue to tackle thanks to mother nature so I’m always on the hunt for the next best magic concoction. Plus, someone has to test all of those Waiting On Martha Home beauty products before they go on the shelf right?!
But today’s roundup doesn’t just have to do with what I’m currently putting on my skin, but also what I’ve been taking every day with my morning coffee. I’m talking about the holy grail, the motherload, the best probiotic I’ve ever taken. And trust me when I say I’ve tried out at least a dozen probiotics over the past six or so years, but this one by Seed has been a gut-health game changer.
Along with my new probiotic, some of my favorite products I’m sharing today include a $10 ice roller that will roll the stress away along with your eye bags. A Himalayan scalp scrub that might be the best shampoo I’ve ever used. A perfume from Tulum that has me smelling like the beach all year long. A face oil with a cult following, and so many other great green, non-toxic beauty products I swear by.
And lastly, I have finally found a non-toxic mascara that actually works. You see the problem with non-toxic or “green” mascara is they tend to flake before noon leaving me with a constant racoon eye I have to rub away. Not with this one. Not only does it volumize as it says, but it doesn’t flake like the others. Plus it lasts, I can confidently wear this mascara all day, without re-applying once! Best non toxic mascara ever!
Keep reading below to see more in-depth descriptions of these thirteen products and how I use them. And if you’re following along via Bloglovin, please note you have to actually click into the post to see all thirteen products broken down. Truly, MKR
P.S. If you’re interested in why I’ve changed my entire beauty routine over to clean products I encourage you to read THIS.
I have found it, FINALLY! The best ever non toxic mascara! Made with natural fibers, this advanced formula increases volume by 385%* to create fuller, more dramatic-looking lashes without clumping, flaking or smudging.
Cleaner, plant-derived ingredients, like carnauba wax and rice bran wax, replace harmful emollients, while bataua oil helps soften lashes.
Goodnight, dullness. Good morning, glow. Formulated with 15 botanically-derived acids, this leave-on AHA/BHA peel improves skin texture and minimizes the appearance of pores, fine lines, and dark spots without irritation or over-drying. Glycolic, lactic, and malic acids clear away dull surface skin cells, while hyaluronic acid and essential fatty acids soothe and nourish to reveal a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion.
Why is it safer?
This Overnight Resurfacing Peel is formulated without synthetic fragrances, PEGs, and formaldehyde-based preservatives commonly found in peels.
Hello, bright eyes. Formulated for the delicate eye area, this nourishing cream awakens eyes. Squalane hydrates skin, while betaine and phytic acid boost oxygenation to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and shadows for brighter-looking eyes. Breakthrough Bio-Mimic Technology harnesses the unique life-giving properties of plants to match the composition of skin, giving it precisely what it needs and nothing it doesn’t.
This coconut melt is unlike others, I’m not quite sure how or why, but it’s definitely the best I’ve used to date. You can use it as a hair mask, moisturizer, makeup remover, shaving oil, and so much more. I love it as a chapstick. And it will last forever! A little goes a long way!
Heres a few more ideas… as a hair mask by applying it to your hair from root to tip and letting it sit from 40 minutes to overnight; slather it all over your body from head to toe to moisturize; dab a little on a cotton ball and wipe it over your face to remove makeup; or even massage onto dry or damp legs as a shaving oil. Scoop out a generous glob and drop it in a hot bath; dab underneath your eyes to reduce dark circles; massage it all over your baby’s skin; or rub it all over your pregnant belly.
Energizing exfoliation at its best! While brown sugar buffs away dull skin, hydrating sweet almond, apricot kernel, and sunflower oils and mineral-rich evening primrose leave skin looking supple and smooth. Lastly, a blend of pure citrus and lemongrass oils leaves a fresh and invigorating scent.
I picked up this perfume while vacationing at Alys Beach. Direct from Tulum, they couldn’t have captured the smell of the beach any better. I loved it so much I got a candle as well! Thinking I would never find it again, I was thrilled to find that Net-A-Porter carries the entire line!
Lush, exotic floral oils give skin a bright new glow while gently preserving its youth and replenishing hydration. An exquisite blend of Orchid Extract, precious Jasmine Sambac, and Japanese Camellia Flower Oil combine to defend against free radicals, increase elasticity, and feed the skin with beneficial vitamins and fatty acids such as Omega 3 and 6 to protect against premature aging.
I’ve tried all 3 of the face oils Herbivore makes and I understand why this one has the cult following. While I liked them all, I loved this one!
The question I get the most on Instagram Stories is what eye shadow I use. Well here you go! This ultimate anytime, anywhere eyeshadow palette includes 18 neutral shades, a double-ended brush, and a removable mirror. A trifecta of finishes—satin, metallic, and matte—creates endless looks for every skin tone. Though I use the brown tones the most, and highlight with the white. All shadows get their luxurious texture from naturally-derived cocoa seed butter.
The $10 miracle worker! Keep this roller in the freezer, and get ready to roll yourself into a zen state while it depuffs the lack of sleep you got the night before.
The roller is helpful to lessen wrinkles and moisture dry skin, release tension, fatigue, sunburn, sore muscles, bruises, and minor injury. It’s also great for shrinking pores. Use the ice roller after applying a mask to shrink pores and make your face more comfortable.
I get migraines, so I was immediately sold when I read about Goops Himalayan salt scalp scrub. I mean doesn’t it sound so refershing? What I didn’t expect was what an amazing shampoo it would be!
Made of exfoliating mineral-rich Himalayan pink salt, nourishing cold-pressed moringa oil, and pure unfiltered rose hip oil purifies and detoxifies all at once. The scrub cleanses the hair and scalp of product buildup, dirt, and oil, leaving both clean and refreshed. The cleansing scent—rosemary, geranium, orange, and peppermint—lingers subtly in hair and smells amazing as you wash.
And I know its a bit on the pricey side, but a little goes a long way. This container lasted me about a month and a half.
Formulated with the same salinity as the Pacific Ocean, this naturally fragrant sea salt spray will bring new life and beachy volume to flat uninspired locks. The essential oils of coconut and vanilla give off an exotic aroma. I use this spray whenever I’m airdrying my hair or want a little extra volume.
As I stated above, I’ve tried at least a dozen different probiotics over the years, but this one has been the biggest game changer. My explanation here won’t do it justices because it involves a lot of science, so I suggest visiting their site and reading for yourself. And if you do decide to give it a whirl, make sure you follow their dosing protocol to get started. I ended up not reading the directions and taking the full dosage right away rather than working up to it and it made me nauseous. Once I actually followed directions I was good to go!
Your skin is your largest organ, so what you put on it is EXTREMELY important. That’s one of the many reasons I love this all over body moisturizer from Beauty Counter. I can rest easy that I’m not slathering myself in chemicals and toxins.
Created with patent-pending Bio-Mimic Technology, Countermatch adapts to your skin, delivering exactly the nourishment it needs and nothing it doesn’t. Rich yet rapidly absorbing, it softens without a trace of stickiness. The result? Refreshed, vibrant, radiant skin at its peak performance.
Key Ingredients: Shea Butter: rich in vitamin E, it boosts hydration and restores elasticity. Squalane: Derived from olives, it draws moisture into the skin and visibly restores elasticity. Plum Oil (Prunus Domestica Seed Extract): Rich in omegas 6 & 9 and vitamin E, it reinforces the moisture barrier for healthy-looking skin.
While I’m not a lover of breakfast per se, I am a lover of breakfast baked goods. Muffins, scones, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and quick breads are my love language. I mean is there anything more satisfying than a warm muffin and a cup of strong coffee in the morning?
But out of all the baked goods, I love blueberry muffins the best. It probably stems from growing up in Michigan. I have very fond memories of blueberry picking with my mother. We’d come home with buckets and buckets of fresh blueberries, my fingers stained blue from all the blueberries picked.
Most would get frozen to last through the year, but a few quarts would go into making her homemade blueberry pies and blueberry muffins. Two staples I would live on through the summer months.
However, as I’ve gotten older Mother Nature has played her cruel tricks and I’ve found I can’t eat my beloved pies and muffins with abandon like I used to. My cravings for both of these, of course, has not stopped which has sent me on a mission to find a healthier version of my two favorites.
For the pie, I’ve found the best thing to do is re-imagine my mother’s pie into a blueberry handpie. The smaller hand-pie size, which are easily freezable, prevents me from being found sitting on the sofa pie dish in-lap. Portion control is the key.
As far as the muffins are concerned, I’ve tested a few recipes throughout the years, but today’s recipe for Dairy Free Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins is by far the best.
Made with quick oats, chia seed, wheat flour, cinnamon, almond milk and plenty of fresh blueberries today’s Dairy Free Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins recipe is one you’ll definitely want to bookmark. Plus, it’s only 135 calories! Considering that the average blueberry muffin contains 425 calories I would say these muffins are already a winner!
And bonus, because they’re made with quick-oats they’re much denser and more filling than your standard muffin. So I can have one for breakfast and feel full. I even tried to eat two for breakfast the other day and I couldn’t finish the second one.
What I also love about these Dairy Free Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins is that you can double up the recipe and freeze the second batch. That way when you haven’t properly prepared breakfast you can just grab a muffin and go!
I can honestly say these muffins were incredibly easy to make and completely satisfying. I mean anytime you nail a from-scratch baking recipe on the first try they get classified as easy. And as far as the statement of them being completely satisfying let me clarify.
Will any healthy-ish muffin ever taste as good as a true butter, sugar, flour, no-counting-calories muffin…no. Just no. But, these Dairy Free Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins are delicious, and completely quell my craving for that no-abandon bakery muffin.
So trust me on this, pour yourself a cup of coffee and whip up a batch or two of these easy, and healthy-ish Dairy Free Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins this weekend. If you’re following on Bloglovin, click into the post to find the recipe and enjoy! Truly, MKR
