October 2016 – Craving Happy

Product Review: BioClarity + Giveaway (11/07)

Published on October 31, 2016November 1, 2016 by HannahLeave a comment

I was thrilled when BioClarity reached out with a month long trial of their skincare products! I have never suffered from serious skin issues, but in stressful times I definitely experience annoying breakouts. Given that I am a senior in college, I am feeling some serious stress so I was grateful for an extra set of tools to help keep my skin clear.

A photo posted by Hannah (@craving_happy) on Oct 31, 2016 at 8:49am PDT

I have sensitive skin, so products are often too harsh, irritating, or drying to my skin. Luckily, I did not have those problems at with BioClarity! I am not sure why that might be, but this product is definitely unique. It is made using Floralux, which is naturally derived from chlorophyll. It is a three-step program with a wash, treatment, and restore gel. My favorite product is the restore gel, which is actually bright green. This product is actually very soothing, even for my sensitive skin. I have been happy with how much these products have helped calm my skin, while also being effective.

In the midst of this stressful year, I am glad that I have to worry a little bit less about my skin and can focus more on what matters. I definitely do not feel that skin should dictate mood or beauty, but I know I feel less confident when I am having skin issues. I hope that one day I won’t let my physical appearance impact how I feel about myself, but for now, I do.

If you want to try BioClarity for yourself you can either buy it with a special discount or enter the giveaway going on now through November 7, 2016! If you want to purchase your own BioClarity, use discount code is “HANNAH” at checkout or click here.

If you want to enter the giveaway (ends 11/07/16), follow this link to enter on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BMO6EW4j23B/?taken-by=craving_happy

Good luck!

Letting go: fighting the perfectionist urge

Published on October 27, 2016October 24, 2016 by Hannah1 Comment

According to Merriam-Webster, perfectionism is:

1. a : the doctrine that the perfection of moral character constitutes a person’s highest good
b : the theological doctrine that a state of freedom from sin is attainable on earth

2: a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable

This likely sounds familiar…at least if you’re anything like me! In the past few years, I have started calling myself a “recovering perfectionist,” often in jest, but it is true. Perfectionism is an ugly, unrealistic standard and is impossible to achieve. Realistically, I know I will never be the best, smartest, nicest, or prettiest person, and that is MORE than okay.

Dr. Kristin Neff, a psychologist famous for her research on self-compassion, discusses this at length in her book on self-compassion, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. She discusses how our movement to focus on self-esteem has supported the notion that we are all special and unique; while this sounds good in theory, it also means that we are unique and special compared to others. Everyone is told that they can be the “best,” when obviously that is statistically impossible.

So what does this mean? It means we are told we can, and should, be perfect. This is often not direct or meant to have negative effect. In fact, most parents, teachers, and peers believe that this will give a child a self-esteem boost and improve their academic performance and increase confidence. Unfortunately, this oftentimes sets an individual up to experience high pressure, even if they put that pressure upon themselves.

There are many realms of my life where I am working to let go of my perfectionist tendencies, and instead adopt a mindset that promotes striving for excellence. One of my favorite takeaways from Dr. Neff’s research is the idea of treating yourself like you would treat a good friend. Would you ever tell your friend they were stupid for not making an A on the test? Would you tell your friend he or she looks ugly? Definitely not! So why would you ever treat yourself that way?

Recently, I did not get accepted for a program I really wanted. Was I mad at myself? Did I punish myself for not being “good enough”? No, I treated myself with compassion; I felt sad for a while, made time to see friends, ate some Halo Top ice-cream, and assured myself there are plenty of opportunities out there that would be an even better fit for me. Looking back, I am so proud of how far I have come and am proud to know and love myself, no matter how imperfect I might be. What are your thoughts on self-compassion? Are you a perfectionist?

Easy Meal in Minutes: Huevos Rancheros

Published on October 20, 2016January 2, 2017 by HannahLeave a comment

Huevos rancheros are one of the easiest quick, healthy meal options in my playbook! Eggs are a great source of protein that have less environmental impact than many other animal proteins, plus they are inexpensive. The longest part of the recipe process is waiting for the oven to preheat!

I used fresh tomatillos, but feel free to substitute in tomatoes. The tomatillos simply add a nice subtle zesty flavor.

Ingredients:
1 can diced zesty tomatoes
4-5 tomatillos, chopped
1 large zucchini, chopped
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease a cast iron skillet with coconut oil.
Pour can of diced zesty tomatoes into a separate pan on low on the stove.
Add chopped zucchini, bell pepper, and tomatillos to pan and increase to medium heat.
Continue cooking veggie mixture on the stove for 5-7 minutes or until veggies are slightly tender.
Pour tomato-veggie mixture into greased skillet.
Made two slight indents in veggies, and then crack eggs into indents (this keeps eggs in one place so they don’t spread into edges).
Place the skillet in the oven for 15-20min or until eggs do not jiggle when you shake the pan–feel free to take it out a few minutes early if you like runny yolks!
Enjoy!

My dad even got a little crazy and topped his hues rancheros with some jalapeño cheddar popcorn! Do you ever try crazy toppings? What would you put on your huevos rancheros?

Find more meatless options in the Meatless Monday Link-Up hosted by Running On Happy!

Quick Updates, Banana Bread, and a GIVEAWAY! (10/24)

Published on October 17, 2016October 15, 2016 by Hannah2 Comments

Hi! I am sorry I have been MIA–between classes and work, I’ve been a little distracted from some of my favorite things (like blogging!). If you haven’t seen on my instagram feed, I’m hosting a Detour Bar giveaway:

A photo posted by Hannah (@craving_happy) on Oct 11, 2016 at 7:01am PDT

If you want to enter, feel free to head over to my Instagram feed and comment with one thing you love about yourself, or you can comment on this post to enter!

In celebration of the giveaway, I decided to make some banana bread using detour bars! This is a great way to add some chocolate, while also adding a protein punch. This is such a simple recipe and is perfect for busy school-day morning.

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 banana
1/2c applesauce
1.5 cups flour (I recommend a combination of coconut flour, almond flour, and garbanzo bean flour)
1tsp baking powder
1/3 cup almond butter
1 detour bar of choice, chopped into 1in pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit .
Combine banana, apple sauce, eggs, and almond better until smooth in a bowl.
Add flour and baking powder to wet ingredients.
Stir until just combined.
Stir in chopped detour bar.
Pour batter into greased, floured medium bread pan.
Bake for 25 minutes or until top is golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.

Homemade BBQ Sauce and Adventures

Published on October 3, 2016October 1, 2016 by HannahLeave a comment

I always love adventures…taking a wrong turn, adding in a teaspoon instead of a tablespoon, accidentally signing up for an event…usually these “mistakes” become adventures and memories. Although the memories may not always be completely positive, I find that I learn something every time and usually have some amazing friends along for the ride!

This is part of why I love cooking; the worst that can happen is one bad dish. Definitely not a horrendous outcome, no matter how horrendous the mistake. These errors also lead to good lessons: 1) always double check if you greased your pan 2) never crack eggs into all of your ingredients (egg shells!) 3) always set the timer for the minimum cook time

Here is a recipe for one of my experiments that magically came out well! I wander through tons of websites and blogs so this recipe has definitely been influenced from what I have seen in the past, but it was a lot of guessing and testing.

I hope you use this recipe as a base, but make it your own! Add an extra dash of hot sauce, a bit of your favorite spice–have fun with it 🙂

Ingredients:
6 tbsp apple cider vinegar (I like Bragg’s)
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp lemon juice
6 packets stevia (I use NuNaturals)
2 cups stewed, roasted tomatoes
1 tsp liquid smoke (this is a MUST, and I highly recommend it for adding a smoky flavor to any dish)
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp of your favorite hot sauce

Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil while stirring continuously.
Once it has boiled, turn off the heat and let cool.
Place mixture in the fridge and use it as you would use regular BBQ sauce! Enjoy!