Hello Homemade.

By now I am sure you are well aware that Jonathan and I got a new blender yesterday.
I was a bit apprehensive about it because of the outrageous cost, but I am in love!
But our old blender was beginning to leave our daily green smoothies a little leafy. YUCK! So it was definitely time for a new blender!

Yesterday we made some fresh carrot juice with 3 carrots, some fresh ginger, and lemon juice. That's it. This blender turned those ingredients into whole juice! It was amazing. There was VERY LITTLE pulp that could be strained out, but we left it in for the fiber!
We also made some peach sorbet last night that was also super easy, and super good.
I am LOVING making so many things at home instead of buying them!

Now for the main reason for this post Homemade Tomato Sauce!
The Blendtec blender came with a cookbook that is really good.
As I was looking through it last night I saw a recipe for tomato sauce that I decided I just had to try! We are making stuffed peppers this week and it calls for can tomato sauce, so I decided to make it instead!

While I was at the farmers market this morning I picked up the tomatoes and onions I needed for the sauce.
It was super easy to make and it made our apartment smell fabulous! (Taste yummy too)

Ingredients:
2 lbs tomatoes (quartered)
1 medium onion roughly chopped
8 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp Oregano
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp olive oil

Toss all ingredients in a 9x13 baking dish and roast at 375 for 1 hour
Let cool slightly
Place all roasted ingredients in blender and blend until you are satisfied with consistency. Or if you have a Blendtec hit the "sauce" button.

It isn't as dark or red as the sauce you buy in the store but it taste so yummy and the best part it....NO PRESERVATIVES! ;)

I made 2 batches but only had 2 jars, so the rest is in a Tupperware. :)

Getting the expensive blender may have been Jonathan's idea, but I think I may be more in love with it! I am super excited about being able to make all these homemade things and whole juices!

Up next on my list of homemade things to try in the blender is: almond milk, butter, and almond butter! ;)

Our Clean Eating Journey

If you follow me on Instagram or are friends with me on Facebook I am sure you are well aware that Jonathan and I have begun to "eat clean"

In America, we are over-eating, but are nutritionally STARVING! So if we eat more healthy foods our bodies will actually register that we are full because it is getting what it needs to be healthy.

What does that even mean!?!?!?

Well I'm so glad you asked, let me tell ya! ;)
In a nutshell clean eating is eating only what God has made. So if it grew on a tree (or bush, or in the ground), walked on land, or swam in the sea we eat it!
A clean eating diet is made up of fruits, veggies, lean meat, and whole grains, eating only MINIMALLY processed foods, if you allow yourself to eat processed foods at all.

Another key to clean eating is to eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals. An ideal day for a clean eater would be:
Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Dinner
Snack (if you absolutely need it)
As long as you make sure everything you eat is clean, you really stay full all day!

Why in the world would you do that!?!?

Ah, I'll share that with you too!
Many people start to eat clean for weight loss purposes, but Jonathan and I are eating clean to get healthy.

After watching the documentary Hungry for Change on Netflix processed foods completely gross me out now that I know what they actually do to my body and how they negatively impact my health. I HIGHLY suggest you check it out, it's an awesome documentary!

So after researching different healthy eating lifestyles Jonathan and I felt that clean eating was the best for us. (The weight loss that inevitably comes with the elimination of crappy food is a plus too!)

Now the hard part...what to eat!?!?

There are actually TONS of clean eating recipes, and it is super easy to "clean up" recipes you love and use regularly! Just swap out the unclean items for clean ones. You will really be surprised at how many clean items you can find in your grocery store, I know I was. (Just stay FAR away from the candy isle!)

The hardest part is eating clean when you go out, but with the rise in "healthy" options at restaurants once you know what to look for it is quite easy to find clean entrees while eating out. ;)

Now for my game plan!

Sundays will be my weekly lunch prep day where I will prepare whatever we will be taking for lunch throughout the week. This way we can have yummy lunches that are clean, and easy to fix during a busy week.

This week we will have Mexican chicken pitas. Super easy, and super yummy.
I'm cooking a chicken in the crockpot that was seasoned with homemade clean taco seasoning. Once that is cooked I will shred it and store it in the fridge. I will also cook the corn and rinse the black beans to store in the fridge.
This way each night we can prepare our lunch Tupperwares with chicken, corn, and beans and pack a whole grain pita. How easy is that!?!? (Easier than fixing a sandwich!!!)
And an added plus, for Jonathan and I to have these super yummy lunches only cost $8.50!!!
FOR A WHOLE WEEK OF GOOD LUNCHES! Whoa!

What about sweets!?!?!

Since added sugars are NOT clean, it can be difficult to find snacks to curb those sweet cravings.
This is why I am SO GLAD I found THIS RECIPE for homemade chocolate Larabar bites.
Larabars are clean, but are so expensive. But this recipe is so easy to make and they are really yummy, and clean!

I will definitely be keeping you guys posted on how our clean eating journey is going, I really think this will last with us. We are feeling better and better each day as all those gross toxins are leaving our bodies. We have more energy too! :)

If you have any questions let me know! Ill do my best to answer them, but keep in mind that I'm just a beginner! :)

Stay healthy! :)

Below is a picture of the Larabar bites as well as the chicken and ingredients thatbwill be used for the Mexican chicken pitas!

My First Kroger Trip!!

Made my first ever couponing trip to Kroger today! I LOVE it.
I wasn't able to double a coupon, but they had a great deal going on so I was still able to score!

Right now when you buy certain items you get $5 back when you buy 5.

Here is what I got:

2 Secret: $4.37 each: $8.74
Sale: $3.49 each
Mega Sale: -$2
Minus $2/2 Q
Total: $1.49 each: $2.98

2 Gillette Fusion Shave Cream: $4.34 each: $8.68
Sale: $2.99 each
Mega Sale: -$2
Minus $1/1 Q
Minus BOGO FREE Q (-$2.99)
Total: FREE!!!

Herbal Essences: $3.16
Sale: $2.79
Mega Sale: -$1
Minus $1/1 Q
Total: $.79

Total worth: $20.76
Total Spent: $3.76

Not too shabby if I say so myself! :)

My Last CVSTrip Before Going to Ohio

Jonathan and I leave for Ohio tomorrow!! By 10:30 Eastern time we will be there! I am so excited!

So I had to go to CVS one last time before leaving! After I used some of the L'Oreal alchohol free hair styler I LOVED it, so I decided for less than $.25 each, I should stock up. So I did! :)

Here is what I got:

6 L'Oreal Stylers: $6.99 each: $41.94
Clearance: $1.74
Minus (3) $3/2 Q
Total: $.24 each: $1.44

4 Herbal Essences: $4.49 each: $17.96
Clearance: $1.12 each: $4.48
Minus: (4) $1/1 Q
Total: $.12 each: $.48

Total Worth: $59.90
Total Spent: $1.92

So happy! I used POCKET CHANGE to buy $60 worth of hair care!

My Day Chasing Shampoo

Happy New Year!!!!

I spent my morning scoping out every nearby CVS and checking their hair care clearance.
The P&G that was in the papers on Sunday have several coupons that make shampoo only CENTS at CVS.

Since I only had one P&G (until mine come in the mail, hopefully tomorrow) I didn't get too much today, but rest assured that I definitely intend to pick up some more hair care! Even if my coupons don't come in tomorrow I have some printable coupons that I can use!

Here is what I got, at 3 different stores:

Herbal Essences: $4.49
Clearance: $1.12
Minus $1/1 Q
Total: $.12

2 L'Oreal Stylers: $6.99 each: $13.98
Clearance: $1.74 each: $3.48
Minus $3/2 Q
Minus $.50 ECB
Total: FREE

4 Dove Shampoo: $4.99 each: $19.96
Clearance: $1.24 each: $4.96
Minus (2) $2/2 Q
Total: $.96

Total Worth: $38.43
Total Spent: $1.08

I am super excited about the L'Oreal stylers because they are alcohol free, meaning they won't dry out hair! I got those with the printable Qs so I have 3 more of them that I definitely plan on using!