Sassy Housewife 3 : Apple Chips

HELLO LOVELIES!
I Cryssi am on a cooking bender.  This is something in years past I have hated, but I am determine this year to be a better wife, and a healthier me, so here I am on this little ole journey.  One thing that I am trying my darndest too cut out of my life, as much as possible, is a lot of processed foods.  Now don't get me wrong, I know most everything is processed, but I can't take eating one more bag of chips, or one more frozen lunch.  I just can't do it.

Today I wanted something sweet and crunchy to accompany my turkey wrap for lunch, but I have no chips in my house, and I didn't want a raw apple so I tried out something I saw on pinterest.. apple chips.  DELISH!

So here are my 4 easy steps to making my apple chips.. my mistakes, and amendments!

OK first choose your apples.  I used Granny Smith.. if you like your apples more tart I would say go with this, but if you are wanting something a little more sweet you may want golden delicious.  Peel your apple.. this was mistake #1 on my part... I just didn't like the peel once it was cooked, but hey everyone is different.  try out different things.. who knows the peel may be your favorite part.  Next, cut your apples in thin slices.. if you have a mandolin slicer, please use it.. I have one {SOMEWHERE} which I couldn't find.. so I used a knife.. and cut myself!

Secondly .. Dust your apple slices with brown sugar and cinnamon, or coat them, whatever your pleasure!

Next Spray cooking oil on a cookie sheet, heat over to 350 and place in oven for about 12 minutes.. check after about 8 as everyone's oven is different, and hey you may even need 15 minutes

I really enjoyed my lunch today.. this was the perfect thing to satisfy my sweet tooth, and a happy little side dish for my lunch! Make them for the kids or the hubby!  I know they will love them! Until next time Lovelies!

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A Garden for two... Hayley and Alex's love story

Meet the adorable Hayley and Alex...

   We showed up for their adorable enagement session at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens and could instantly feel their giddy love for each other. Every other second was filled with giggles and touching hands. They first started dating as juniors in high school, went to college together, were engaged at the gardens, and are now in the midst of all their lovely wedding planning (we cannot wait!!) 

Warm hugs on this chilly January day!

xoxo

Lollie and Cryssi

Here is a lil video of the day that I put together. This is my first one, so be patient with me! I (lollie) am falling in love with video lately :)

Flower Engagement Session from Sassyfras Studios on Vimeo.

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Sassy Housewife... My 5 grocery changes this week

Happy Rainy (hopefully snowy soon!) Thursday Loves...

     I think most people can agree that a grocery trip is one of the most dreaded moments of the week... the lines, the kiddos running down the aisles knocking over jars of glass pickles, the total dollar amount at the end. It can be a rough couple of hours, and sometimes leads to bad decisions. In the chaos of trying to get out of there quickly, we sometimes can listen to our five year olds begging for that bag of cookies or giant container of cheese puffs... and in our frustrations, we give in. Healthy options are not always the most popular option but it can end with some new fun favorites with your family plus maybe losing a few pounds in the process. Also, take an extra trip to the farmer's market. By developing relationships with farmers you can find many that are pesticide free, organic, and allow their animals to be free range. We are chatting with one right now about grass fed cow meat and a boat load of veggies!

    Some of you know of Haven's sick history and the problems we have had with it. We now are trying to conquer her problems and our health by making yummy easy choices. Here are 5 easy choices that are healthy for our daughters (and us) plus are pretty yummy. 

1. Tea  sweetened with yummy honey. Both black and green tea have lots of yummy benefits like loads of antioxidants (I learned that their benefits are almost identical so have fun picking your fave flavor!)...  Honey also has nutrients, but beware of how much you use for the calories can quickly add up! Skip the soda aisle. Even diet soda has terrible side effects like kidney and tooth damage as well as bone loss.

 2. Snikiddy Eat Your Vegetables Chips... No MSG, no trans fat, gluten free, cholesterol free, 1 serving of veggies in every ounce, and an excellent source of vitamin A. I discovered these for Haven who loves those dreaded cheetos at lunch... and guess what? She ate them right up! :)

 3. Fruits for the sweet tooth. Strawberries, apples, grapes, pineapple, etc.... are such a great swap for the cookie aisle. I have never been a fruit person (shocker- my family cant believe this!) but I am learning to find the yumminess in fruits that I normally would skip over. Havie G took a Pink Lady Apple this morning for snack and ate it right up (even with her loose tooth)

 

4. One thing that was strongly suggested to us for Havie G was switching over to organic milk. Yes, it is more expensive but the shelf life is much longer. Plus, it is missing artificial hormones like BGH that are given to cows producing regular milk. Lastly, all organic dairy cows are SUPPOSED to spend most of the year pasture grazing as opposed to feeding lots... which makes me feel better about drinking it. It is also packed full of nutrients, yummy calcium and lots of vitamins. We choose whole milk because lil A needs more fat for her teenie brain development, but organic milk comes in all forms (2%, 1%,skim, and even chocolate!) 

 5. Free Range Eggs... If I had a choice I would have my own chicken but where we live makes it nearly impossible. But there are lots of local farms near us who raise free range chickies and have lots of yummy eggs. Many in our area feed organic feed as well... keeping as many pesticides out of our diets as possible. Yes, a trip to the outdoor market may be out of the way but it is a great way to support your local farmer and keep healthier options in your home.

Like I said, some of these may not be the easiest or most popular options but we are taking lil baby steps to better our lifestyle. Tony and I have lots to learn and are completely open to new suggestions on ways to guide our family down the healthy road. Feel free to send any our way! Much love and happy grocery shopping :)

xoxo

Lollie and Cryssi 

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The Sassy Housewife : Ed. 1

We are beyond excited about 2013 and not only what it holds for our business but what it holds in our personal and home lives. We are not big on "resolutions" but rather goals and lifestyle changes we want to follow through.  If you know us, then you know that we love our soda {cherry lemon sun drop} and our pizza and cheeseburgers, I could go for a Penguin Drive In Burger and fried pickles right about now!  We have done some soul and life purpose searching, and have realized above everything else in 2013 we want to be great wives, and Lollie, a great wife and mother, and along with great daughters to our heavenly father.

This is definitely a new journey for me, Cryssi, who before this week never cooked 5 meals in a single week in her life.  All that has changed, and we are beyond excited about sharing our domestic journeys, tips, tricks, recipes, pinterest flops & success, and fun little tidily bits with you all!

First this is one is for all you WOOF WOOF lovers.  Yes I Cryssi, love, like love love my animals, Lollie thinks it is a bit weird.  I have 2 dogs, Roxy who is 10, and Gidget, just turned one.  I have Buckwheat, my adorable black cat who adopted me and Justin 2 years ago.  Literally as we were moving into the rental house we were living at the time, she walked right in with us.

One thing Lollie and I are really trying to do this year is being more conscious of toxins and unhealthy things that are in our food.  This pertains to our animals, our my babies, too.  The whole story started after my dad brought home a rather obscure pack of dog treats for Gidget.  Leary and not sure I wanted to give them to my suppose to be Yorkie, I actually think she is an American Terrier, I searched the company to see what people had to say.  Well a few google searches later, I saw that little doggies had been dying from these  {GASP}.  The company had thought to have been putting fillers, probably plastic in the food and it was killing dogs.  After a few more google searches I realized that ALOT of dog treats and food were pouring in with reports of killing perfectly healthy little doggies.

So the journey began to not buy any more treats.  I first learned Gidget adored apples after visiting our local apple farm, and she ate every one in sight.  So if you don't want to make these treats, I suggest trying apples.  My dog LOVES them.    Last night I came across a Pinterest Pin on homemade dog treats, and since I had all the ingredients in the house I took the whole 7 minutes it took to make them and I made them...

THE RECIPE
3 CUPS OF QUICK OATS
1/2 CUP LOW FAT MILK
1 CUP PEANUT BUTTER

Mix the Milk and Peanut Butter together, then add the Oats one cup at a time until all mixed together.
Then take mixture and roll into bite size balls placing on a wax paper lined cookie sheet.  Place in fridge for an hour to let stiffen.  I then stored mine in a large Mason Jar in the fridge.

And how does Gidget like them?? See for yourself.  I couldn't get a clear picture of her she was jumping up trying to get the treat, and my hand along with it if needs be!

P.s. My dad ate one not knowing what they were... he really liked them, in case you get hungry ;)!

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Kelton and Cole in the High Country... part 1

There are some weddings that just make you sigh from beginning to end... the ones where everyone is late but no one seems to mind, officiants are barefoot, ceremony readings are from a Dr. Seuss book, stomping is a form of dancing, and a Mr. and Mrs. get lost in time during pictures. Kelton and Cole's wedding was one of our favorites from 2011, not just because of the fresh mountain air and hipster vibe, but mainly because their wedding felt like a family reunion. Everyone had love beaming around them, including us, and we could not help but wish that we could stay at Camp Sky Ranch just a bit longer. Kelton put so much love into every detail, even taking a DIY workshop for her flowers, making buttons with friends, and a vintage bunting. One of our favorite parts of the day was when Cole gave Kelton a feather leather band that he had made, one for her and one for him. We loved this wedding so much that we had to split it into 2 parts, so be on the lookout for part 2 soon! 

       

    

Part 2 coming soon!!

xoxo

Lollie and Cryssi

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