DIY: La Croix Door Mat

The best part is that this DIY is way easier than it looks.

TBH, I made this a few months ago as a holiday gift. I saw a similar version on Pinterest (for wayyyyy more money than I wanted to spend), so I figured I could do it myself. And thank the DIY gods, I was right.

The entire project took less than an hour to make (and it was almost dry by then, too). If La Croix isn't your jam, you can change the phrase on the doormat to be anything that you want. It's that easy (but really, if you aren't obsessed with La Croix, we need to talk).

Materials

Doormat (I used this one from IKEA)

Black craft paint (especially if you can find a waterproof version, go for it!)

Paintbrush

Lettered stencils (the ones I used were roughly 3 inches tall)

Tape (I used painter's tape)

Directions

1.) Using your stencils, space out the phrase you'd like to use. Use tape to hold the letters in place (this will also help you space them apart). 

2.) Pour your black paint onto a paper plate or piece of scrap paper. Use your paintbrush to paint within the lines of the stencils. I found a dabbing technique to work best (it forced the paint to penetrate deeper into the mat that way). Paint inside each of the letters. If you feel the paint looks light, go over it a second time.

3.) Allow the paint to dry. After an hour or so, remove the stencils carefully and allow the mat to continue drying. I allowed mine to dry for roughly 24 hours before I gifted it.

4.) Enjoy!

|| Photo is property of Mountain Shadow Morning. Must give credit. ||

Recipe: Quick Oats Pancakes with Honey

No joke, this recipe made my whole Sunday (and maybe every one of my Sundays moving forward). 

Let's just start here - this recipe is healthy, easy to make and you (probably) have everything you need for it in your cupboards. Plus, they're delicious. And pair very well with grapefruit mimosas.

|| Photos are property of Mountain Shadow Morning. Must give credit. || 

Quick Oats Pancakes with Honey
Makes 3 servings

Ingredients

Quick (instant) oats: 2 cups

Milk (I used cashew milk): 1 1/4 cups
Banana: 1

Honey: 1 tablespoon
Cinnamon: 1/2 teaspoon

Eggs: 1

Baking soda: 1/2 teaspoon

Optional: Chia and flax seeds

Directions

1.) Mix all ingredients together in a blender except for the egg. Once the mixture is blended, add the egg and blend until everything is mixed.

2.) Heat a pan on your stovetop. Pour batter into the saucepan and flip pancakes once the pancakes have bubbled (pancakes should be a dark golden color on each side). Repeat until mixture is gone and top with maple syrup.

3.) Enjoy!

Presently: March

|| Photo is property of Mountain Shadow Morning. Must give credit. || 

Making: healthy dinners and lunches after allowing ourselves to completely indulge in Alaska.
Watching: The Last Alaskans - it's SO good! We got hooked in Alaska and are addicted now that we're home.
Doing: laundry and cleaning. Coming home after vacation is actually kind of the worst.
Thinking: about spring clothing - I have bachelorette parties in Florida and the Hamptons in May and can't wait to not have to wear a hat and mittens.
Visiting: with our families in March and April. We really haven't seen them since the holidays, so it will feel so good to spend time with them.
Wearing: this super oversized long sleeve shirt from an Alaskan gift shop. It's super nerdy but only cost $8 and I kind of love everything about it.
Spending: more like saving! I need to get back to budgeting after this trip, and with others (and lots of summer weddings) on the horizon. I did, however, splurge for tulips and cupcakes for a friend's birthday and had to snap a photo because SPRING THINGS.
Shopping: for groceries, mostly. The nicer weather puts me in the mood to get back in the kitchen.
Eating: this unreal broccoli slaw salad with grapefruit that Hayden came up with. It's so good and he actually refuses to give me the recipe.
Drinking: maybe an iced coffee this week? I don't hate the idea...
Missing: Alaska (yes, already). It's a truly incredible place. We're already dreaming up our next adventure back there.
Planning: our summer calendar (we're in the double digits as far as weddings go).
Working: a lot now that I'm back for vaca. It's been a very busy few months, so my week and a half long vaca was much needed. Now it's back to the grind!
Reading: This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live by Melody Warnick. I'm (admittedly) not doing as well with my resolution of reading two books per month, but I started this one on our trip and am beyond hooked.
Wanting: more warm sunny days (this means longer walks for me and Camper).
Enjoying: how productive I can be with my laptop and a pot of coffee (yes, pot).
Writing: blog posts about our Alaska trip!
Pinning: ...not much of anything lately. I am, however, looking for a killer seafood chowder recipe that's on the healthier side and packed with fresh herbs. If you have recommendations, please share!
Cooking: hopefully that seafood chowder. Stay tuned.
Pondering: how long I could sleep if I really let myself. My bet is +11 hours.
Listening: to new music for my March playlists. I'm currently vibing on Lord Huron and Hippo Campus.
Liking: that there's no snow on the ground. I know it should still be winter, but clean sidewalks are a dog mom's DREAM (no muddy paws).
Feeling: like if I close my eyes and wish hard enough, I'll be back in Alaska in this little cabin on Resurrection Bay in Seward. Photos to come.
Noticing: that we're already almost done with March! The days are flying by.
Going: to put more focus on blogging regularly now that I'm back to a (more) normal schedule. I have so much to share with you all!
Debating: a massive food-prepping evening spent in the kitchen. Also debating an entire evening spent on my couch. Toss-up.
Loving: exploring new restaurants (particularly a few new ones in St. Paul). We recently went to Revival and Groveland Tap **insert heart eye emoji**.
Marveling: over how good it feels to have the evenings stay lighter a little longer.

Fit: Hip Opening Postures

We spent a lot of time in the car during our Alaskan adventure, which means my hips (and probably Hayden's too) are tighter than ever. Now that we're home, my hips need some serious TLC.

Luckily, there's yoga for that. These are a few of the postures I'm doing nonstop this week! Any other suggestions for me?

Extended Child's Pose - Balasana

Starting off my practice with child's pose is a great way for me to start. By opening my hips and hinging forward at my torso, my weight naturally shifts onto my hips, helping them open and expand.

Come to sit on your heels on the back of your mat. Bring your big toes to touch and open your knees wide. Hinge forward at your hips, rest your forehead on your mat and extend your arms long. 

Easy Pose - Sukhasana

This is a great warm-up pose for me. Allowing my back to lengthen and my hips to drop feels great. With time, my knees sink closer to the floor, opening up my hips.

Cross your legs, engage your uddiyana bandha (core lock) and sit tall. Lengthen your spine and relax your shoulders away from your ears. Rest your hands on your thighs or knees.

Bound Angle Pose - Baddha Konasana

This is one of the best hip openers there is. This pose helps counteract "crunched" hips.

In a seated posture, bring the soles of your feet together and press into the soles of each foot. Bring your knees wide and relax your shoulders. Roll out your neck in this position - trust me, it feels great.

Cow Face Pose - Gomukhasana

This pose helps me open both my hips and shoulders and feels wonderful first thing in the morning or after a long day.

Cross your legs one over another so your knees come to touch. Straighten your spine and place your hands at the sides of your body.

Fire Log Pose - Agnistambhasana

This pose is anything but easy for me. Squaring and stacking my shins is difficult, and I'm unable to stay in this posture for long.

From a seated posture, work to stack your shins on top of one another, parallel to the top of your mat. Lengthen your spine and pull your shoulders away from your ears. 

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose - Ardha Matsyendrasana

A classic outer hip stretch. This bring me back to my days as a soccer player. This pose helps stretch and energize the spine in addition to stretching the hip muscles.

Come to supta badha konasana (soles of your feet touch with your knees open wide). Lift your right foot and place it to the outside of your left thigh. Bring your left foot closer to your sits bone. On an inhale reach your left arm up toward the ceiling, and on an exhale connect your outside bicep to the outside of your right knee. Plant your right hand squarely behind you. Use both arms and your core to square your chest to the right and twist deeper in your hips. 

Pigeon Pose - Eka Pada Rajakapotasana

The king of hip openers! Pigeon is a variation of the advanced pose (one-legged king pigeon pose). These poses lengthen hip flexors and increase the external range of motion of the femur in the hip socket.

Start from downward facing dog. On an inhale lift your right leg high, and on an exhale bring your right knee to your right hand and work to square your shin to the top of your mat (mine is nowhere near there; wherever you're at is fine). Flex your right foot and let your torso come forward. Spend some time here, and switch legs to even out the stretch.

Wide-Legged Forward Fold - Prasarita Padottanasana

Technically an inversion, this posture helps strengthen and stretch the inner back legs and the spine, while relieving backaches and calming the mind. Yum.

Stand with your feet greater than hip width distance apart. Point your toes forward and place a slight bend in your knees to prevent hyperextending your knee joint. Bend forward at your hips and allow gravity to bring your torso down. Shift your weight more into your toes and relax your head and neck.

Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend - Upavistha Konasana

This pose helps stretch the insides and backs of the legs while releasing the groin muscles.

Sit on your sits bones and extend your legs long. Lengthen your spine and engage your core. Reach your arms out in the direction of your toes and hinge forward at your hips. Place a bend in your knees (as much as is comfortable) to straighten and lengthen your spine. With every inhale lengthen your spine, and with every exhale fold forward.

Reclining Hero Pose - Supta Virasana

Both a heart and hip opener, I love reclining hero pose. It's an intermediate posture that should only be done when your body is very warm. As you're lowering down, place a block or blankets behind your back for a gentler stretch.

Bend your knees and come to sit on your heels. Gently bring your heels wider and come to sit on the ground. Engage your core and bring your elbows back behind you to rest on the ground. Continue engaging your core and gently lower yourself back to a comfortable position (using a block, blankets or extending down to the ground).

|| Photos are property of Mountain Shadow Morning. Must give credit. ||

Mood: March Feel

We're back! After 11 days exploring the Last Frontier, we're home in Minneapolis (currently on hour 1839402990 snuggling with Camp). It was an incredible trip, and I can't wait to share our adventures with you later this month! In the meantime, welcome, March.

I always associate colors with months, and for some reason, March always feels green (fingers crossed that means we'll see warmer weather and less snow this month, today's a good sign). While we're reminiscing every minute of our winter adventure in Alaska, I'm still daydreaming about green grass and blue skies. Spring, I'm hoping you grace us with your presence sooner rather than later. 

This month, I'm moving toward spring. I'm adding more greenery to our home, spending more time on my yoga mat and am phasing out my billowy winter clothes. Camper and I are also v excited to see more sunshine and take more naps in the sun (he's my little sun seeker, as you can see below).

March, welcome. 

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