Mother in the Mountains - adventures in SLC, homeschooling, reading, traveling

Softball/Baseball First Birthday Photoshoot

April 10, 2023 motherinthemountains

When my son turned one I knew I wanted to do a fun first birthday shoot but I had no inspiration on what to do. I had looked all over online for something that might fit his fun personality as well as something that would be relatively easy for me to pull together. Nothing seemed to fit until finally, the night before I saw one picture of a softball-themed shoot and decided that was what I would do. Most of my family has all played softball and/or baseball and we’re huge fans of both. Unfortunately, I had one photo as inspiration to go on so I had to make it up as I went!

I already had him a baseball-themed pajama set so I grabbed him another outfit at Walmart. Then I pulled out all of our softball and baseball gear plus a wooden crate we had on hand. The only things I purchased were the second outfit, the cap, and the ingredients for the cake.

Making the One banner

Materials: Brown paper bag or kraft paper, brown twine, scrapbook letters, white paper, red marker

I found a paper bag and using a ruler measured out by eyeballing the shape of one of the banners. I cut it out and adjusted it as needed. I used it as a template for the other two.

For the ball, I cut out a circle and freehanded the red lines. I did consider doing a softball but a baseball is more recognizable.

For the other letters, I found scrapbook letters, traced them, cut them, and glued them on.

I folded the top of each banner piece over the brown twine and glued it the paper to itself.

It took about an hour but most of that hour was spent tracking down materials. I was at my mom’s house so I didn’t know how to find everything as I do at home.

First Birthday Smash Cake

I baked two small round cakes stacked. I frosted it with whipping cream stabilized with gelatin. The only sugar in the cake was the red licorice I used to make the traditional baseball markings.

Photoshoot

We went out to the local ball field and set up all the props. We added the baby last and quickly started taking pictures while he played with all the props. I feel like this is a great theme for any kid because balls and bats are so much fun to play with.

Halfway through we switched outfits and then added the cake. In hindsight, I would pick a second location without gravel or dirt for the cake smash. He ate equal parts whipping cream and dirt!

What is your favorite cake smash/first birthday shoot theme? I think this one fit him perfectly and I’m so glad we manage to throw it together.

xo Faith

Introducing Our Upcoming Project

April 3, 2023 motherinthemountains

Hi, we’re the chicks in this henhouse. We’re super excited to introduce you to our new project! The five of us will be working together to create content, posts, and more that will encompass a lot more than what one person can do alone. There’s strength in numbers! And something is always better when done with family.

Introducing Faith

I’m Faith! I am the original creator of the blog, I’ve been blogging for over 15 years and I’m super excited to drag my sisters and mom into the blog life. I’m a Christian crunchy mama of four, and I’m married to an engineer. In December [2022], I’ll have my master’s in counseling. I love what I do, and I’m excited to share it! I also love cooking, reading and writing, gardening, and being a homemaker.

Introducing Coreen

Hi, my name is Coreen and I was forced to be here but since I’m here already I am a poor newlywed college student who’s really into fitness. I also love reading and softball. My husband is a farmer as well as an IT man. I work on a farm when I’m not studying history.

Introducing Amanda

What’s up, I’m ‘Manda. I’m also a poor college student. I’m going because I received a full ride because I know how to manipulate the system and get good grades. I love to draw, read, sing, play softball, and the list goes on. I still live at home but hey at least I don’t live in my mom’s basement.

Introducing Abby

I’m Abby, I’m the second-youngest. I was the youngest for an entire five years until my mom finally decided to give me a baby sister. I’m concurrently enrolled as a high school student working toward my associate’s as well as my high school diploma. I love fashion, reading, and frolicking on trails behind our house, and my family.

We have one more sister, Anna. But she has a few more years to go before she can join us in our blogging adventure.

Introducing Jill

I’m Jill the mama hen of all these girls and I have three sons also. I adore my family, coffee, teaching, scrapbooking, reading, riding bikes, gardening, planning and hosting parties, and spending time with my children and grandchildren. I’ve been in education for over 20 years and I’m excited to share all the things I’ve learned by homeschooling and teaching in a public school. I also can’t wait to share what I’m working on in scrapbooking, it’s one of my most important past times to preserve my family’s legacy.

Our purpose for this joint project is to inspire, educate, and impact people with compassion and love for others.

Love,

Chicks in the Henhouse

Best Coffee Shops in Salt Lake City

July 1, 2020 motherinthemountains

I’ve been living in this city for 2.5 years now and I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the coffee scene now. There’s dozens and dozens of coffee shops, I still have a list of places I need to try. However, I have already chosen what I think are the best coffee shops in Salt Lake City.

Ultimately, I’m going to share my three favorite that I go to over and over. I will also share coffee shops that are pretty decent and meet my requirements for good coffee. I will not mention any that I did not like or would not go to again. That means if a coffee shop is not on here it is probably not worth going to.

What makes a good coffee shop?

Flavor

I’m a traditional Italian espresso coffee fan. I’m not sure what those blonde roast lovers are thinking. I’ve ended up at a couple of those innovative places and they do not make it on this list. I like rich, I like bold. I do not like sour or weak.

I also like both cold and hot drinks. Sometimes I prefer one over the other but I like them both equally. That means I love a coffee shop that can make both amazingly well.

Cleanliness

This is second in importance. I don’t need a bright, new clean starbucks but it shouldn’t smell or look like a trash heap. Artistic clutter is nice but garbage is not. A clean bathroom is a necessity as you can tell if they prioritize cleanliness based on their toilet. Overall, a clean sitting area makes me trust that the area they make my coffee in is also clean.

Ambiance

I’m a sucker for good ambiance. I really love places you can just sit around for a while. I love a good white and metal space as well as a grungy (but clean!) interesting art space. I also like a variety of places to sit. A small table, an arm chair, and bar stools are all great and if they’re all available – even better!

Now that you know what I look for in a good coffee shop, let’s get down to the list.

Three Best Coffee Shops in Salt Lake City

Raw Bean

I typically go to the downtown location but I have been to both of the other locations. They are both drive thru so the ambiance doesn’t apply to them. However, the downtown Raw Bean is clean, neat and has an upstairs area with lots of seating.

I tend to order off of their monthly special board because I have not been disappointed. I’ve been pleased with everything I’ve ordered there. I’ve tried hot, cold, and even blended. Some of their specials have multiple syrups so if you like less sweet try something else or ask for half sweet.

Recommendation: Shot in the dark with cream (flavors, optional)

Bad Ass Coffee Salt Lake City

I’ve only gone in twice because I typically go here when I’m driving down State Street headed somewhere. Here’s why I love them:

The nicest employees. Once I asked for something with cinnamon and so they just made me something. I don’t know what it was but they were extremely nice and it was extremely delicious.
Really great coffee. Hot, iced, or blended.
A fun, clean, space, decorated with hawaiian flair.

Recommendation: Jitter juice (hot or iced)

Java Jo’s

This is the only one of my favorites that is not dine in. There are several locations but I like the one by the University. Their menu is not extensive but their specialty drinks are all amazing. The cinnamon dolce is my go to. Their hot drinks are best in my opinion, second is blended, and last is iced. Iced is still good, just not as good as their hot drinks. Their Italian Soda’s are also some of the best I’ve had.

Recommendation: Hot cinnamon dolce or Frozen Mocha

Honorable Mentions

This is a list of places I like. I prefer to go to my top 3 but if I’m running errands and one of these places are near I’ll swing by. These are also places I will take friends (aka my sisters) to. They are somewhat ordered from my favorites to not my favorites. If it didn’t make it on this list chances are I tried it and didn’t like it. I’m pretty sure I’ve tried most places in SLC so if there’s a place you love that’s not on this list, let me know! I would love to check it out and maybe add it to this portion.

The Red Moose

Cute little cafe in a neighborhood, right down the block from a good park to hang out with your drink.

Kafeneio Coffeehouse

Interesting, large interior. An old building but clean. The specials are named after gods which is super fun and I’ve liked all the ones I’ve tried. They also have amazing croissants from a local bakery.

Blue Copper Coffee Room

Super tiny but clean interior. Really nice barista and good drinks.

Bjorns Brews

I’ve not made it inside yet but I’ve been through the drive thru a few times. Drinks are great and they have a delicious croissant sandwich. There’s a few locations.

Coffee Noir

Non-pretentious coffee place with great out door seating. Great customer service and drinks.

The Rose Establishment

The environment is very conducive for group get togethers.

Publik Coffee Roasters

Tried once but I will go back. A huge, minimalist interior with hipster type drink and food options.

I hope this is a helpful resource for anyone looking for the best coffee shops in Salt Lake City! There are so many good places it’s not worth going to somewhere subpar.

Faith

Healthy Eating Journey: Long Lasting Healthy Habits

June 17, 2020 motherinthemountains Leave a Comment

This is my final update on Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion. You can read my other posts here, here and here. This post is sponsored by Always Eat After 7 PM but as always, these opinions and thoughts are my own. Today I want to talk about how this plan can encourage you to make long lasting healthy habits.

After I had implemented some of the techniques and eating habits in my life my husband decided he wanted to join in. We started over together and in the first two weeks he lost ten pounds. When we went onto the maintenance phase I was surprised that it was actually easier than I expected to continue make healthy choices. I still eat processed and sugary things every so often, even not on our cheat day. I only do this because I’m confident that I won’t binge on unhealthy foods and I have good eating habits overall.

Long Lasting Healthy Habits

What I loved seeing, though, was my husband had no sugar for the first 14 days. Then, when we were able to start having cheat days I fully expected him to indulge along with me. He didn’t. In fact he has limited his sugar intake longer and better than I have. Personally, I enjoy all vegetables, salads, and just generally healthy foods – whereas he merely tolerates them. Yet, after eating this way for several weeks he actually enjoys the way we eat now.

I didn’t need to lose ten pounds but I still enjoyed following this plan. Even if you don’t have a huge weight loss goal this plan can guide you toward long lasting healthy habits. Joel wrote:

“Fact is, most diets are extremely narrow with regard to food choices and variety, and many even limit entire macronutrients altogether over the course of the entire program (think low-carb and low-fat diets). Three months with no carbs? No thanks. Such practices not only are entirely unnecessary, but make for a miserable, unsustainable experience.”

And he was entirely right. Most diets are difficult and not enjoyable so I hoped Joel was right that his program is different. It didn’t sound like any diets I’d heard of before. And it turns out it really wasn’t, it was surprisingly easy to follow and pretty enjoyable. Not only that it helped our whole family develop long lasting healthy habits. I’m excited to continue meal prepping and using the recipes so I can keep feeling this great.

Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase. Learn more about the book and how to purchase here.

Faith

Healthy Eating Journey: Healthy Eating Habits

June 12, 2020 motherinthemountains

I’ve been talking about Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion the last few weeks and it’s time for an update! This post is sponsored by Always Eat After 7 PM but as always, these opinions and thoughts are my own. You can see my previous posts here and here. This week I’m going to about how my healthy eating habits has turned into healthy habits for the whole family.

Last week I talked about how it took a few days to get used to Intermittent Fasting but soon became a habit.

Joel writes:

“Going without breakfast is part of intermittent fasting (IF), also called time-restricted feeding (TRF). IF is a pattern of food consumption that cycles between fasting and eating in specific time periods. There are various ways to do it; one of the most common is the 16/8 protocol, which involves 16 hours of fasting—typically done overnight—with an 8-hour window in which to eat each day.”

What I like about skipping breakfast is that I feel alert and start my day out productive. I have more energy because I’m eating better so when I wake up I am ready to get my work out in. Eating late at night helps me sleep better as well. I feel awake and healthy instead of tired all the time.

Healthy Eating Habits Start Young

After my girls wake up I feed them breakfast and have my coffee or tea with collagen. Later in the day, I make lunch for myself and my girls. I find that because I’m eating better, so are they. I usually give them the same things I eat just in different proportions and sometimes with an added carb. They’re super great eaters and will usually eat whatever I make.

I also notice that as I’m following this diet it is essential that I make good meals for lunch and dinner. It makes such a big difference when you’re eating whole, real foods rather than processed and fast foods. I also notice that when my options are limited and my cupboards aren’t full of unhealthy foods that I typically make or reach for healthier snacks. Overall, we are all eating much healthier.

Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase.

Faith Owen

Healthy Eating Journey: Intermittent Fasting

June 4, 2020 motherinthemountains

Last week I talked about Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion and how I was excited to use his plan to kick start my healthy eating journey. This post is sponsored by Always Eat After 7 PM but as always, these opinions and thoughts are my own. The first thing I noticed was how he was challenging old views of dieting. I am generally the oddball out in discussions about eating healthy since I don’t subscribe to outdated advice on nutrition. That’s why Always Eat After 7 PM was something that seemed attractive to me. I especially loved that Joel backs up his book with real research and science.

One of my favorite new ways to start my day is with a glass of lemon and water. Joel writes:

“One of the simplest 3-Minute Fat-Burning Morning Rituals, lemon water is a glass of water mixed with the juice of one half of a lemon. This drink provides all the benefits of regular drinking water, which supports weight loss, digestive health, physical performance, and cognitive function.”

It was actually a super easy change and now it is a habit to start my day with water. I notice I enjoy drinking lemon water and it encourages me to drink more water throughout the day. Even if you don’t have this book yet I recommend starting this habit.

Healthy Eating Update

At first it was difficult to get into the habit of skipping breakfast and eating primarily vegetables and protein for meals. It was a surprise that it quickly it became easier. I noticed just by paying attention to what I was eating then I was making better choices. I definitely felt better by week 2 of the first phase.

This week I wanted to share a few Q&A’s with the author that might convince you to get this book and try it out if you’re not convinced already:

Q1: How long did it take for you to develop the diet?
It actually took several years of researching for me to discover the real science of eating late night. After a few years of tweaking and refining, I finally came up with a rapid fat loss solution that overcomes all the pitfalls of traditional diets.
Q2: What was the most surprising discovery when you were researching scientific data for the diet?
That almost everything my college education and certifications taught me was NOT grounded in published scientific research.
Q3: How difficult is the Always Eat After 7 PM plan to follow?
It’s not. And that’s exactly why I wrote the book. While any diet is never truly easy, it can be more enjoyable and much easier to adhere to when you understand how Always Eat After 7pm works because it caters to our bodies natural instincts.

Stay tuned for an update next week!

Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase.

Faith Owen