New year, New goals

Oh my goodness, it's been way too long hasn't it?! What started out as a few times a week blog has slowly started declining. I lost my mojo! Though I'm frustrated with myself for that, I think it has also shown me that if I'm passionate about blogging, then it's going to take work. I have to decide what I want to write about before I sit down at the computer, I have to remember to take photos of projects or things that I want to share here, and I have to strive to be interesting enough that people will actually want to read what I have to chat about. I'm working on it.

It's 2014, pretty crazy right? I feel like this is the year that has been hyped up a lot, but don't ask my why I feel that way, I have no clue. Maybe because it's the year that I would be graduating college, if I wasn't taking a fifth year. Well, as tradition calls for, it's time for me to think of 'resolutions' and goals for the new year. I don't really like the term resolution and the stereotype that comes with new year resolutions. It's like 'this is what I do wrong and I need to stop' and I just feel like most ideas people come up with are slightly unrealistic or already come with the concept that since it's a new year resolution it's doomed to fail from the start. Maybe I'm mostly focusing on the 'go to the gym six days a week' goal that almost everyone makes. I'm more into the idea of bettering yourself. Then again I suppose that is what all resolutions are for right?

So for my new year goals. I haven't really thought that hard about many of them. The biggest one I think, is to get my asthma under control. Ever since I graduated high school and stopped being a three-season athlete, I've noticed how difficult it is for me to run even short distances without having trouble breathing or needing my inhaler. I want to run a 5k, my first one, this summer. It's on my bucket list, so it has to happen right? Some steps I'm taking toward this goal is working out more. Typical new year resolution, though I'm not going to push myself to go to the gym at 5 am three days a week or anything like that. I've started a 30-day squat challenge, next month will be fab-ab February, I'm taking a ballet class (for credit!!) that will also help with my cardio hopefully, and I plan on going to the gym once school starts again to bike or run.

One of my other goals is to get an internship or research opportunity having to do with fair trade, or community gardens, or something along those sorts. I'm very interested in these sorts of things, and I've been thinking about what I should do when I graduate, and these opportunities will help steer me in some sort of direction.

I want to eat better. Not necessarily less or cut out sugar or fat, but just better. Eat proteins with grains (that's a thing right?), snack less or snack smarter, things like that.

Another goal is to save money. I'm terrible at saving. I think it's partly because I've never exactly had a job that I make enough money to save. I mean I've made money that has lasted my through a semester of no work, but I want to work on putting money aside that will slowly build up into some sort of savings. Along those lines, I'm planning on getting a store or airline credit card, to build credit. We'll see how that goes.

And finally, BLOG! I really want to blog more, and do more creative things with the blog. A few people have told me that I'm a decent writer, and I think it would be really cool to write or blog for an environmental magazine or website, so any practice I can get in writing will help me if that's what I decide to do!

Those are really my only 'new year resolutions' at least from what I can remember, but I have other goals for the year, such as go to Kodiak for my niece's second birthday and visit Seattle along the way, travel to see friends more, and get outside more, but I wouldn't call those resolutions.

I think I've made reasonable goals that I will be able to keep and accomplish! That's really the point of it all right? Come up with goals that will better you as a person but that you will be able to accomplish. Otherwise, what's the point of even making them? Let me know if you have any goals for the new year and how you plan on accomplishing them! Happy 2014.

Naomi Odlin

Catch-up

Hey everyone, it's been a while hasn't it? I apologize for the long break, things have been crazy around here. I've been getting tons of paperwork and sending out tons of emails to get ready to start school again in January, my grandfather passed away during Thanksgiving week, so on top of the holiday there were many events to attend and many family hangouts. Though it was a sad time it was really good to see most of my family, absolutely everyone (from my dad's side) were there besides my brother and his family, and with such a big family it's hard to get everyone together at once, so this was a good thing. We reminisced a lot about my grandfather and made new memories and it was really wonderful. Though we'll miss you Grampy, it was your time to go and we all can't wait to see you in the next life.

Here's a picture of all most of the cousins with my grandmother after the service. The lady holding the baby in the front are the oldest and youngest grandchildren, 36 year difference!

Now to give you all a little video to watch,  that will pull your heartstrings and make you melt! I stumbled across it the other day on Facebook I believe, and I love it so much. It's a short film about zombies, but with a super cute twist. I don't want to give it away so just watch it whydoncha! 

Cargo.

Have a wonderful December everyone, I'm semi-looking forward to snow, but I hope it doesn't come too soon and I hope there isn't too much! I'm not a fan of shoveling haha. See you all soon.

Naomi Odlin

Ten Thousand Villages Loves

There's this store in the Old Port, aka Portland, that I'm in love with. I know it has a few other shops around the country, I'm not sure where though, but it also has a website. The store is called Ten Thousand Villages, and it's a nonprofit fairtrade shop, two of my favorite things! Everything in the store is handmade, a lot of it is upcycled, and is from all over the world. Everytime I'm in the area I just have to go in and I almost always leave with something. The other day my mom and I started our Christmas shopping (I didn't want to because I don't like to think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving) because we're going to be sending presents out to my brother and his family in Alaska pretty soon. I of course wanted to get some gifts from Ten Thousand Villages, and decided that I would share some things from the store that I love with you guys here on my blog! I hope you like them.

This dancing sculpture from Burkina Faso is awesome.

What a perfect toy to get a little person as a gift!

Made in Kenya, this bracelet is beautiful.

 I want this for my everyday bag!

Prettiest leaf wind chime ever.

I am in love with this quirky cheese knife.

They are called flowing waters earrings. I can totally see it.

I'm going to get this tree topper angel from the Philippines.

The story of how this wall art is made is too cool.

And finally any Zelda fans out there want this owl ocarina?

I could literally (not really) buy everything in that store. I'm going to put it on my wedding registry, whenever that will be haha. And the things you see in there, I can't believe it's all handmade! Unreal. I love that it's fairtrade and sustainable, but I also love how local it is to me, because I love being local as well! Let me know if you end up checking the shop out. Have a wonderful week!

Naomi Odlin

Tea.

Hello there everyone! One thing that I have gotten into the habit of doing, is as I'm winding down at the end of the day, I'll make myself a cup of tea. I'm a huge fan of tea, mostly chai (I could drink chai all day everyday), though there are many other types I enjoy. Not only is tea super yummy, in my opinion, but there are many health benefits for this beverage. After a little Google search, I have found some reasons why tea is a healthy drink. And here they are!

Drinking tea could help you lose weight. Many teas have little to no calories (unless you add sweeteners and milk), and they have components that help promote a higher metabolism.

Tea, especially green tea, is packed full of antioxidants, which is said to help prevent cancer. But keep in mind that tea isn't a cure all, it just has cancer-fighting benefits.

Black tea helps prevent your blood from clotting and clumping, and therefore lowers the risk of heart disease.

Tea has been found to improve your bones!

Oolong tea is suppose to help prevent the appearance of wrinkles and age spots. It strengths your skins elastin and collagen.

White tea can help keep your joints stronger, and green tea is linked to reducing arthritis by reducing inflammation and slowing cartilage breakdown.

Stressed? By drinking black tea your lowering your stress hormones as well as lowering your blood pressure, which is linked to stress.

Drinking tea can wake you up in the morning, due to the caffeine, however it won't stain your teeth like coffee does, so you can smile brighter.

And there are just a few reasons to drink tea! It doesn't matter if you use loose leaf or tea bags (I use both). Though if you can, try to get local, sustainable, and  fair trade tea when you have the choice. There are also so many different types and flavors of tea, from peppermint to chocolate to chamomile to passion fruit, the possibilities are endless! All of this tea talk is making me crave a chai latte, so if you'll excuse me I'm going to go make one!

What is your favorite tea beverage? Have a good weekend!

Naomi Odlin

PS: If you're wondering where I got all of this information, or want to do more research of your own, here are the links to the articles I read. 1, 2, 3, 4

Fall Recipes to Try

Happy November everyone! I can't handle how it's already dark at five now that we set the clocks back, I miss the sun. But before we know it we'll be setting the clocks ahead again and be at the beach in the summer! Thus is the cycle of life.

Since it's been slowing getting colder and colder, and now that I have brought out the down and wool blankets, it's about time to turn to my food Pinterest board and look for those yummy fall-type recipes that I want to try out this season. Here are ten that I can't wait to try.

Chorizo Macaroni and Cheese.

Cheesy Quinoa and Broccoli Patties.

Quinoa and Sweet Potato Chili.

Stuffed Acorn Squash.

Spinach and Tortellini Soup.

Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups.

Baked Hummus and Spinach Dip.

Mozzarella Sticks.

Crock Pot Rosemary and Olive Oil Bread.

And for dessert...

Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana and Peanut Butter Bites.

A lot of these look and sound like that aren't that difficult to make which I like. Also some of them seem like the could be stand alone meals, which is my most favorite thing ever since I'm not a big fan of making bunches of sides to go with whatever I just spent an hour or two creating. Maybe one day if I have a family I'll be more into side dishes, but for now it's not what I like to do. I think I may try to make one of those quinoa recipes today, because quinoa and I have a wonderful relationship together where we just love each other for who we are and what we might become (a meal in the quinoa's case). 

Are there any cozy meals that you can't wait to try out as the weather outside gets less friendly? Let me know and enjoy your November!

Naomi Odlin

Apple Crisp!

Guys! I made apple crisp for the first time the other night! and I remembered to take pictures of the process, which I'm pretty proud of myself for. As mentioned before in one of my posts, I don't really follow recipes, but it tasted really good!

Start with apples! These were from our apple picking trip a couple of weeks ago.

Peel your apples! If you have a small pan, just peel a few, but keep in mind they they will get smaller when cooking, so make sure you have enough apples to pile your pan high.

Core your apples! Careful not to accidentally cut yourself like I did (stabbed myself actually, right in the palm ouch!)

Slice those apples up!

Now I didn't take a picture of a couple of the steps sorry! Basically what you do is toss your sliced apples with some flour, sugar, and apple pie spice and put them in your pan. Then make a mixture of oats, melted butter, a little flour, sugar, and apple pie spice, and cover the apples with it. 

Then cook your crisp at 350 degrees for an hour or so. Then let it cool a little, top it off with vanilla ice cream if you're into that sort of thing, and dig in!

After this first attempt of mine was successful, and I realized how easy apple crisp is, I experimented and made another for my cousin's baby shower. I did it without sugar (honey instead) and added cranberries to the crumble mixture. One thing that I didn't do this second time around that I should have, was cover it with foil at the beginning to let the apples cook, then take it off to let the top crisp. I'm not sure why this one was different than the first one, probably something to do with not using sugar, or something like that. Anyways just a little tip. Besides being pretty crispy on the top everyone at the shower really liked it and that made me really happy.

After the baby shower, my mom and I went to an apple cider pressing party at one of her co-worker's houses, and it was such a blast! What a better way to get all the man power needed to make cider than to invite all your friends over for a pot luck? I can definitely see myself owning a press in the future and having awesome autumn parties like the one I attended. The cider tasted great too.

I feel like this will definitely become one of my go to dishes for a simple and healthy(ish) dessert. Have a wonderful week!

Naomi Odlin

Etsy Love: Baby Edition

So my cousin is having her first child later this year, a girl, and I simply adore children, I mean I'm a nanny it's kind of in the job description. She's having a shower on Sunday, so of course I have been obsessing over everything in the baby section of Etsy. Though it's probably too late to order anything, I still can't help but look and fall in live with it all! Here I'll share some things I love, that I just picked out, favorited before in hopes of getting it for my niece, or just something that I plan to get for my future children. I hope you like them and think everything is as cute as I do!

Peas in a pod, like OMG.

I think everyone in the 90s had a Stacking toy.

I'm a geek and I am totally putting this Star Wars sign on my car when I have a kid.

Cute and simple elephant puzzle.

I mentioned I'm a geek right? And a huge Trekky. And Spock makes a cute doll.

What a happy pull horse!

This teething ring.

I love this little camera for a little photographer.

Waldorf dolls are just the sweetest.

Well there you have it. And by now you've probably picked up on my Etsy obsession. I could be on that site for days without being bothered. For my cousin's shower though, I think my mom and I are going to get a couple things off her registry and then maybe pop down to a local shop and grab a cute handmade stuffed animal or toy. Oh babies are such fun! 

Have a wonderful week everyone, I'll get into the habit of posting more often one day I'm sure of it!

Naomi Odlin