Palm Springs Playlist

Soo excited to be heading off into the desert in a couple hours for a girls weekend in Palm Springs with some of my best girlfriends from college!

Also pretty excited for this amaze-balls hotel we will be staying at.
Check out the Viceroy, you guys!!

Photos via Viceroy

If you need me, I will be poolside. Under my new, giant, floppy hat. Yes!

Image via Target

And once again this Friday, I am linking up with Whitney over at I Wore Yoga Pants to Work for #backthatazzup Friday!

Check out her Friday Post  to meet lots of other new friends with more #backthatazzup tunes for your listening pleasure!

Once again, have an awesome, sunshine-y weekend!

So There.

Healthy Turkey Mushroom Stroganoff

There is something I love about beef stroganoff, but I really don't eat beef, and it seems too rich to eat a lot of.
I decided to make a lighter version with ground turkey and veggies, Greek yogurt, and serve it over a bit of quinoa, instead of tossed with pasta. (You could substitute whole wheat egg noodles, or brown rice if you like. But give quinoa a try!)

Serves 4

Recipe:


2 cups sliced mushrooms
1/2 onion, diced
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup red wine (or more, and then drink some, whatever...glug... glug...)
1 cup shredded zucchini
1/2 pound Extra Lean ground turkey
1 cup marinara sauce
1/4 cup vegetable (or chicken/turkey) broth
2 Tablespoons Worcheshire sauce
1 cup low fat or non fat Greek yogurt
salt & pepper to taste
Optional - grated swiss, jack, or mozzarella cheese

Cook mushrooms and onion in olive oil in large skillet until tender; about 10 minutes. 
Add the red wine to de-glaze the pan.
Add zucchini and cook for couple more minutes. Push veggies to outside edges of skillet.

Add ground turkey and cook through and browned.

Add marinara sauce, broth, Worcheshire sauce, and salt and pepper to pan and stir to combine.
Cook for 5-10 minutes, until reduced. (Add a bit more broth, if sauce is too thick)
Stir in yogurt until heated through.

Serve over cooked quinoa and top with a bit of shredded cheese, if desired. (with me, it is always desired!!)

So There.

Happy Friday!

It's Friday, you guys!

Loving the short week, this week, with Monday off. Woohoo!

AND, it is supposed to be, like, 90 degrees all weekend! Hello beach and pool!

I'll be here, if you need me ;)

Click for LIVE Beach Cam:  http://hotellaguna.com/beach-cam/

To celebrate Friday, I am linking up with the adorable Whitney from I Wore Yoga Pants to Work for, wait for it,... #backthatazzup Friday!

You guys! I was sold as soon as I heard 'hashtag'. Plus there's music!

"The purpose: To start our weekend with some fantastic jams.

The station that inspired it: "Back That Azz Up" on Pandora Radio.

The rules: Link your jams up and have a jam sesh with all of us!" - Whitney

Amaze-balls. Love it.  I am so excited for my very first Link Up to #backthatazzup Friday!

So here are a couple jams I have been listening to lately.

Check out her Friday Post to meet lots of other new friends with more #backthatazzup tunes for your listening pleasure!

Have an awesome, sunshine-y weekend!

So There.

Jan Marini Skin Research Products

I was given the opportunity to test out a couple of products by the Jan Marini Skin Research Company.

Jan Marini is a recognized leader and innovator in skin care that is committed to continually expanding and improving the professional skin care market.

JMSR products and its award-winning Skin Care Management System are used and trusted by physicians and skin care professionals worldwide to ensure optimum results for their patients and clients.

This highly regarded skin care line is available online, or can be found at spas and dermatology offices throughout the country. To find products near you click here.

A couple locations in South Orange County are:

Spa Alana
34179 Golden Lantern Ste 101
Dana Point CA 92629
949.378.6610

skinfinity spa​ - I have heard great things from friends about this spa in particular!!

18021 Sky Park East, Suite N

Irvine, California  92614

949.955.3536

Angela Fikany - Business/Esthetician Sales Rep for all of West LA Territory
Angela.Fikany@janmarini.com
310.946.8268

The products I checked out were the:

Age Intervention Enlighten Plus, a lotion to improve skin uniformity, and

Daily Body Protectant SPF 34, a high quality sunscreen.

The skin brightener reduces sun and age spots, creating a more youthful skin appearance.
This product seems like a great night cream to use, especially around the eyes.

The sunscreen has a mellow scent and goes on easily. 

To determine which products would be best for your skin needs, check out this consultation quiz! (Who doesn't love a good quiz? Takes me back to my teen magazine days!)

Jan Marini Skin Research is a quality line of products, and would be a great addition to your beauty regimen.

So There.

Disclosure:  I received complimentary products to review on behalf of Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc. All opinions are my own.

Amy’s Best All Natural Cleaning Tips

I am so in love with Pinterest, but sometimes I forget all the great tips I have pinned, even though there are in one place. 

I decided to compile this straightforward list of all the best Natural Ingredient Cleaning Tips I want to remember to use.  I have tried most of these and they work great!

I have this list printed out on my fridge as a reminder!!

You should do the same.

Click here for a Printable List

So here we go:

Amy’s Best All Natural Cleaning Tips:

Prevent Mold, Remove Pesticides and Wax - Soak fruit, berries, veggies in 1:4 ratio of vinegar and water + salt.  For up 15min. to an hour, or more for non-organic apples.

Remove Rust from Knives – Soak in Lemon juice, scrub with scrubby side of sponge

Clean rusted cookie sheets – soak in thick layer of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for over an hour. Scrub off.

(I need to try again, it didn’t work that well)

Clean Reusable Straws – run homemade felt on a string through straw, soaked in hot water, dish soap, and 1 tsp bleach. Rinse well.

See my blog post for detailed instructions on how to do this!

Sanitize Cutting Board - Vinegar

Remove and Prevent Water Marks - Rub faucet with waxed paper

Household Cleaning:

Vinegar for counters and floors.

Hydrogen peroxide for windows and mirrors.

Use the above + sprinkle with baking soda in salt shaker for bathrooms.

Rubbing Alcohol for carpet stains.

Olive oil for fingerprints on stainless steel appliances.

To Keep bugs away – Spray window sills with Peppermint oil

Natural Bleach Alternative for Laundry Whites or Cleaning 12 cups water
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup hydrogen peroxide

Mix. Add 2 cups per wash load or put in spray bottle and use as a household cleaner. 

DIY Window and Glass Cleaner Recipe Ingredients

2 c. water

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

I put leftover orange, lemon or lime peelings in a mason jar.  Then I add vinegar to fill up the jar. Let it steep for 2 weeks. Take the peelings out with tongs.

You have citrus smelling cleaner.

*Ants hate vinegar, so it works well for counter tops in the summer.

So there.

7 Layer Greek Dip

Hummus  and veggies are a great snack.
For parties, on days like Memorial Day, I like to transform this snack into a crowd-pleaser Seven Layer Greek Dip, served with pita chips!

Just like with this simple lentil appetizer, all these ingredients can be found at Trader Joe's.

16oz container of hummus - any variety (by all means, if you have more time, make your own!)
1 english cucumber, finely chopped 
1 red bell pepper (or tomato), finely chopped
12oz Tzatziki sauce (*see note 1 below)
3/4 cup kalamata olives, chopped
1 container feta cheese - about 1 cup
3 Tbsp balsamic glaze (**see note 2 below)
drizzle of good quality extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped

Start with an 8" x 8" serving dish.

Layer the ingredients in the order above.
Drizzle with the balsamic glaze, olive oil, and sprinkle a few fresh dill sprigs on top.
Serve with pita chips.

That's it!
So simple!

Now for some tips:

*note 1: Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt dip with cucumber and dill. Very light and refreshing.  Makes a great dip, or serving sauce with lemon chicken, too! Trader Joe's sells a good, ready made Tzatziki dip.
But you can make it yourself so easily, and all you really need is the leftover fresh dill from above, and another finely chopped cucumber.  Buy plain Greek yogurt (please, not vanilla!), and mix in fresh dill and cucumber.  Add some black pepper and a bit of salt. Done!
Great to make the day before you need to use it.

*note 2:  Balsamic vinegar is great in a salad dressing.
Balsamic glaze is great on ANYTHING!  You can buy this pre-made (which I recommend) at Trader Joe's in the salad dressing aisle.  It is just vinegar and sometimes a bit of apple juice, cooked down and slowly reduced, until it becomes a lovely, sweet, rich syrup. YUM.

All packed up and ready to go!

Hope you all have had a great long weekend!

So There.

My Very First Conscious Box Delivery

So, a few weeks ago I won a giveaway from a fellow blogger, Along Comes Mary!

(And yes, I've used this same clip in the past. Deal with it. It is a good one. ...and somehow always applicable!)

I won three months of home delivery from Conscious Box, which is a monthly mail order program that sends a box packed full of healthy and earth-friendly goodies!

Even the actual Box is made from 100% recycled materials, Ink from veggies, and a BPA-Free label.

It is such a great, and super fun!, way to discover new healthful food, beauty, and home products.

I couldn't wait to open my package, when it arrived!!

This package was filled with tea, seasoning salt, an electrolyte powdered drink, granola-type snacks, a couple relaxation items: a tea and drink, all natural toothpaste and sunscreen, and dishwasher detergent.

I love the Gatorade alternative of the electrolyte drink, Ultima Replenisher.  It is more healthful and tastes great!  It contains no artificial sugars or food coloring; only natural, replenishing ingredients and a bit of stevia.

This Earthpaste toothpaste by Redmond Trading Company is made from natural clay and salt, with essential oils.  "Food Grade Redmond Clay® is a polishing cleanser with antibacterial properties that has been used for centuries to promote digestive health."  

At first, it is super weird to use a toothpaste without that well-known foaming agent added, and without the bright white or blue artificial coloring. But the wintergreen taste is refreshing, and it seems to do its job just as well as any other common toothpaste.  It is also 100% safe to swallow, so is great for kids, as well.  They even make an especially kid friendly lemonade flavor.

I am really excited to try these dishwashing detergent tabs, and I have been researching (read: Pinterest) how to make your own organic and natural dish soap lately and this seems much more natural than my current brand.

I also can't wait to try out this natural sunscreen this summer! Mainstream sunblock always seems SO full of chemicals.

I wish there were a couple more food items to try out, but overall I was super impressed with this company and get to be exposed to all these natural and interesting products in a convenient sample size!

Thanks Conscious Box & Along Comes Mary!!

So There.