I was looking through pinterest (LOVE it!) and I stumbled upon these cool natural hair rinses. I already knew about the vinegar one...which works great by the way! You can even use apple cider vinegar as a conditioner after shampooing..it makes your hair sooo soft. But I thought I'd share the rest of the recipes too, they sound wonderful, I can't wait to use some of them!
Natural Hair Rinse Recipes
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
My Sweet Little Donnie Boy
Donnie just can't make up his mind sometimes....he doesn't know if he should laugh or cry or grunt. This is a video to his Grandparents....he was smiling, but trying to lift himself up and cry, so he was making this hilarious noise. I thought it was so cute! (Of course.) Had to post it for the world to see..enjoy!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Chicken Tortilla Soup
I LOVE chicken tortilla soup and one evening I was having a fabulous bowl of it at my in-laws place. Seriously..it was soo good and perfect. I asked Zach's mom how to make it...since I love it so much why didn't I ever make it, right? She briefly told me what I can put in it and explained how easy it was. I finally tried a few months ago and have perfected it to my liking since!
Ok, so start with whatever broth you might have in the pantry, chicken or veggie will do just fine.
1. Season your broth to your liking. I usually sauté garlic and onion in a little butter and olive oil BEFORE I even put the broth in...it really brings out the flavor that way.
- salt and pepper
- fresh herbs (or dry herbs)
- seasoned salt
- paprika
- a tiny bit of cayenne pepper (I prefer my soup a little more spicy than normal)
- red pepper flakes
- chili powder (definitely remember to put these last three ingredients in...you can't have chicken tortilla soup without them!)
- cumin
- your favorite salsa
2. Bring it all to a boil and add in whatever else you like.
- chicken (already cooked chicken is probably easier than raw, so you don't have to wait so long)
- corn
- black beans or white beans (I, personally love white beans, but my hubs hates them, so I NEVER end up using them. Sad.)
3. Let everything simmer for a little bit so the flavors can mingle and the last ingredients have time to heat up (the longer it simmers the better tasting it will be)
4. I'll toast up some tortilla strips and throw them in my bowl when I actually eat the soup...you don't want to let it sit in the pot, they just get mushy and slimy. Sprinkle your fav. cheese on there too...soo good! Parmesan is SUPER yummy in it, but the real kind you have to shred...not the shredded one in the green packaging that I know we all love at some point in our lives...it's just not the same though! I get pretty spoiled with having good cheese around since Zach works in Specialty (it's mainly cheese) at Whole Foods. :)
Once you get your broth to the way you like it...its really just cumin, chili powder and salsa that you can add to any soup and it will taste like a tortilla soup. You can play with it and really shape it to your family's liking and never have to be restricted to "one" recipe...the possibilities are endless!
Lately, I've been making it without the chicken, corn (not Zach's favorite), butter and cheese and with just veggie broth, however, I personally think the chicken broth has a lot more flavor...Zach has been on an all vegan diet for the last few months, so I can easily turn this soup into a meal that he can have...YES! Sprinkle a bit of nutritional yeast instead of cheese, it tastes just like cheese, has a ton of b-vitamins and is a complete protein..super good for you too! And for all the nursing Mamas out there...nutritional yeast REALLY helps you produce more milk. You can sprinkle it on popcorn or eggs or make "faux quesadillas" with a tiny bit of olive oil to make it stick to the tortilla...have it anyway you like!!
Ok, so start with whatever broth you might have in the pantry, chicken or veggie will do just fine.
1. Season your broth to your liking. I usually sauté garlic and onion in a little butter and olive oil BEFORE I even put the broth in...it really brings out the flavor that way.
- salt and pepper
- fresh herbs (or dry herbs)
- seasoned salt
- paprika
- a tiny bit of cayenne pepper (I prefer my soup a little more spicy than normal)
- red pepper flakes
- chili powder (definitely remember to put these last three ingredients in...you can't have chicken tortilla soup without them!)
- cumin
- your favorite salsa
2. Bring it all to a boil and add in whatever else you like.
- chicken (already cooked chicken is probably easier than raw, so you don't have to wait so long)
- corn
- black beans or white beans (I, personally love white beans, but my hubs hates them, so I NEVER end up using them. Sad.)
3. Let everything simmer for a little bit so the flavors can mingle and the last ingredients have time to heat up (the longer it simmers the better tasting it will be)
4. I'll toast up some tortilla strips and throw them in my bowl when I actually eat the soup...you don't want to let it sit in the pot, they just get mushy and slimy. Sprinkle your fav. cheese on there too...soo good! Parmesan is SUPER yummy in it, but the real kind you have to shred...not the shredded one in the green packaging that I know we all love at some point in our lives...it's just not the same though! I get pretty spoiled with having good cheese around since Zach works in Specialty (it's mainly cheese) at Whole Foods. :)
Once you get your broth to the way you like it...its really just cumin, chili powder and salsa that you can add to any soup and it will taste like a tortilla soup. You can play with it and really shape it to your family's liking and never have to be restricted to "one" recipe...the possibilities are endless!
Lately, I've been making it without the chicken, corn (not Zach's favorite), butter and cheese and with just veggie broth, however, I personally think the chicken broth has a lot more flavor...Zach has been on an all vegan diet for the last few months, so I can easily turn this soup into a meal that he can have...YES! Sprinkle a bit of nutritional yeast instead of cheese, it tastes just like cheese, has a ton of b-vitamins and is a complete protein..super good for you too! And for all the nursing Mamas out there...nutritional yeast REALLY helps you produce more milk. You can sprinkle it on popcorn or eggs or make "faux quesadillas" with a tiny bit of olive oil to make it stick to the tortilla...have it anyway you like!!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Long time no update!
What an adventure these last few months have been! The Lord has graciously allowed me to give birth to a beautiful baby boy, Donatello {Donnie} Maxwell Hoffman. No, we didn't name him after a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, didn't even remember that it was one of their names! It means "Given by God" and after the loss of our first baby, the heartache and difficulty that came with that situation, I did not expect to be pregnant for a while, however the Lord saw it fit to bless us with another little one SO SOON after my miscarriage. Clearly all children are given by God, but we felt that this name in particular was really appropriate for our little man, with his timing in mind. I am so thankful for my sweet bundle of joy!
Moving on, I had a baby, packed up my house (with lots of help, thank you all!!) and had to wait an extra month to move (our new home wasn't finished and only found out a couple of days before we were supposed actually move.) Let me just say, after packing your whole house and having a newborn..still living in the old house for 30 days was NOT fun, but the Lord is sovereign over all things and we ended up getting lots of extra perks with our landlord because of his mistake in not informing us sooner about the progress of the house. I am grateful that our dear Lord was growing me and teaching me to be patient and to trust Him in ALL things. Fast forward to December..it's where all the fun begins.. Dec 1, we moved and my sister, Olga, (THANK YOU!) flew out to help me unpack the important things in my house so that I could be able to live and function for the first week. On the 7th, we flew out to LA for a week, to see our brother Max get married to the lovely Hailey Rochow, who is now Hailey Hoffman, yay for more sisters! LOVE YOU! :) And I got to see my family too...soo nice and refreshing, I did not want to leave! After getting back, Zach went RIGHT back to work at Whole Foods, and a few days later, it was sweet Hopey's 16th Birthday party, then Christmas, then my dear sister, Viktoriya and her hubs and baby came to visit for a couple of days, which was so fun and relaxing! It's always a joy to see family! Ok, THEN it was Max and Hailey's Nashville reception, then a small[er] get together at our house on New Years Eve and now I am here. It's January 1, 2012 :) I am home with a sick husband, and a baby who is ready to get sick anyday now and I feel my body finally giving in to all the craziness as well. But I am sure we will be alright. :)
I am so excited for our new place and getting it fully set up, there are so many things I want to do and create, I can't wait to post some projects on here! Finally. hah.
I'm also really starting to get into the swing of things and having the baby around and actually getting most things done around the house, my body is well and recovered. {Thank you Jesus for a great midwife who did a fantastic job, delivering the baby and sewing me up later!}
I love the beginning of new year, I feel refreshed and determined to do better and know that I will because the Lord is faithful to grow me, because He LOVES me. What could be more encouraging than a God who disciplines because He loves and a God who has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness? Nothing drives me to want to be more like Christ than knowing that He has provided all resources for me to lead a godly life! I pray that God will grow my passion for Him more and more each day!
....I could write a novel on here about lots of other details and things, if I had the time, but my baby is hungry and being ever so cute with all of his coos and caas and I want to plaayy with him :)
Check back soon!
-Sasha
Moving on, I had a baby, packed up my house (with lots of help, thank you all!!) and had to wait an extra month to move (our new home wasn't finished and only found out a couple of days before we were supposed actually move.) Let me just say, after packing your whole house and having a newborn..still living in the old house for 30 days was NOT fun, but the Lord is sovereign over all things and we ended up getting lots of extra perks with our landlord because of his mistake in not informing us sooner about the progress of the house. I am grateful that our dear Lord was growing me and teaching me to be patient and to trust Him in ALL things. Fast forward to December..it's where all the fun begins.. Dec 1, we moved and my sister, Olga, (THANK YOU!) flew out to help me unpack the important things in my house so that I could be able to live and function for the first week. On the 7th, we flew out to LA for a week, to see our brother Max get married to the lovely Hailey Rochow, who is now Hailey Hoffman, yay for more sisters! LOVE YOU! :) And I got to see my family too...soo nice and refreshing, I did not want to leave! After getting back, Zach went RIGHT back to work at Whole Foods, and a few days later, it was sweet Hopey's 16th Birthday party, then Christmas, then my dear sister, Viktoriya and her hubs and baby came to visit for a couple of days, which was so fun and relaxing! It's always a joy to see family! Ok, THEN it was Max and Hailey's Nashville reception, then a small[er] get together at our house on New Years Eve and now I am here. It's January 1, 2012 :) I am home with a sick husband, and a baby who is ready to get sick anyday now and I feel my body finally giving in to all the craziness as well. But I am sure we will be alright. :)
I am so excited for our new place and getting it fully set up, there are so many things I want to do and create, I can't wait to post some projects on here! Finally. hah.
I'm also really starting to get into the swing of things and having the baby around and actually getting most things done around the house, my body is well and recovered. {Thank you Jesus for a great midwife who did a fantastic job, delivering the baby and sewing me up later!}
I love the beginning of new year, I feel refreshed and determined to do better and know that I will because the Lord is faithful to grow me, because He LOVES me. What could be more encouraging than a God who disciplines because He loves and a God who has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness? Nothing drives me to want to be more like Christ than knowing that He has provided all resources for me to lead a godly life! I pray that God will grow my passion for Him more and more each day!
....I could write a novel on here about lots of other details and things, if I had the time, but my baby is hungry and being ever so cute with all of his coos and caas and I want to plaayy with him :)
Check back soon!
-Sasha
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