Emily’s Molasses Cookies

Not trying to brag, but people love my molasses cookies. They are my go-to dessert when company is coming over and Nick’s favorite for me to whip up when he’s craving a warm, gooey treat.

They never fail. Are always yummy. Even when I don’t follow the recipe exactly, they turn out great. So, don’t be nervous to change the spice measurements and feel free to throw in your Young Living Essential Oils when you have them on hand.

I’ve used YLEO Cinnamon Bark, Ginger, Cardamom, Clove and Nutmeg many times and just a couple drops of each really gives these cookies that extra zing that’s amazing in a molasses cookie. Don’t have the essential oils? Click HERE to order from me!

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cardamom

(Optional: instead of using cinnamon, ginger and cardamom, you can use 1 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice)

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened (use vegan butter to make this recipe vegan)

2/3 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 tsp vanilla

Sugar for rolling

Directions:

If you have an electric mixer, start by putting in the butter. Turn on the mixer and while it’s stirring, slowly add each ingredient. I like to do it in this order: butter, then brown sugar, then molasses, then vanilla, then all the spices, then slowly add the 2 cups of flour with the baking soda. Let the mixer continue stirring until ingredients are fully mixed, stopping to clean the sides of bowl if needed.

If you don’t have an electric mixer and plan to hand mix, combine all the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in two separate bowls and then mix them together into one bowl. 

Once all ingredients are fully mixed, place the ball of dough in the refrigerator for a 30 minutes or so. It’s not required, but the cold dough is easier to form into balls.

When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven at 350, form the dough into cookie sized balls, roll them in a bowl of sugar and press down with fork. Bake for 9-11 mins.

Enjoy!

PUMPKIN SPICE CINNAMON ROLLS

Preheat to 350

4 1/2 teaspoons rapid rise yeast

1 cup warm water

1 teaspoon sugar

Whisk together and let sit for 5-10 minutes

Then, add in 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

Mix until you've got a huge ball of dough

Roll the dough out into a big rectangle. Cover top with two handfuls of brown sugar (about 1/2 cup) and then sprinkle on Pumpkin Pie Spice and Cinnamon until brown sugar is covered. At least do 1 Tablespoon of PPS and Cinnamon, but add more if you want!

Roll up, slice into about 10-12 rolls and place on baking sheet. No need to let rise, throw them in the oven now and bake for about 20-25 minutes. You might have to check the center of one to make sure it's cooked to your liking.

Now it's time to frost!

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2-3 Tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon Vanilla (optional)

Now add in that Pumpkin Pie Spice until you're happy...I added and mixed until I got a nice mocha color. Be warned, I used so much PPS that the rolls had a kick to them (I think from all the clove). Also, don't be afraid to double or triple the frosting recipe if you like extra!

I promise these are super easy. I can whip them up in 20 minutes and by the time they've baked and are on our plates, it's only been an hour!

Try them this Saturday morning!

PS - if you're not into PPS, just use cinnamon in the rolls filling and leave it out of the frosting!

How To Go Vegan TODAY

Going vegan wasn’t all that hard for me, but every now and then I’ll be reminded of something I used to enjoy. I know that I could eat that item again if I wanted to, but feeling good just feels so much better.

Have you been interested in going vegan but aren’t sure where to start?

Here are my tips:

1. Focus on what you can eat and don’t dwell on the few things you’re avoiding. You’re really only cutting out three things: meat, dairy and eggs. But, you can eat EVERYTHING else: all fruits, all vegetables, all nuts, all seeds, etc, leaving you with tens of thousands of options.

2. Fill up on what you enjoy. I love juiced oranges, sliced pineapple, dates and avocados covered in lemon juice and salt.

3. Be willing to experiment. I used to hate salads, but now I’ve figured out my favorite recipes and actually crave them.

4. Educate yourself. The more time I invest in learning about how food is related to health, the more I’m motivated to eat well.

5. Read labels and say no. Dairy (and other crap) is in everything and not everyone understands diet restrictions, so don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.

I know it’s tempting to eat whatever is easy, whatever’s put in front of you and whatever you crave. I know. But, I promise that putting some boundaries on food will leave you feeling better in the long run.

How to save THOUSANDS using low-tox products

Do you do subscription boxes?

I’ve had clothes and smoothies delivered to my door and it’s such a treat!

Did you know that Young Living also has a monthly subscription box?  I call it my wellness box and, every month, it arrives with tons of stuff I used to buy at the grocery store, like toothpaste and mouthwash, makeup and skincare, supplements and cleaning supplies, essential oils and so much more.

I love it!

But the best part?  Each month I get my wellness box, I'm also earning rewards points.  Since subscribing in November 2013, I’ve earned 6,335.13 points.  And the points are treated as cash, so I’ve earned $6,335.13!

Young Living let’s me choose exactly when I want in my box each month.  I can even choose different products every time.  It’s all non-toxic, natural and safe.  AND I’m earning rewards points.  It’s the best.

$6,335.13
is enough savings to book a trip to Europe, or go on an Alaskan cruise, or take a road trip…believe me, we’ve done all three with the money we’ve saved and have much more travel ahead of us in the next year😉

Don’t assume that investing in your health has to break the bank.  We have tons of tips and tricks for saving you money while becoming the best version of you.

And if you’d also like to earn money, like Nick and I do, we can teach you how we do that too!

Click HERE to order through me and use code SHAREYL for 10% off!

How To Get Hard Things Done

“The belief that you can do it comes from doing it.”

-Darlene Weir

I think back over my life and all the times I said “I can’t do that” or “I’d never be able to do that”. Times I believed that something was just too hard and I didn’t have what it takes.

Sometimes I let those beliefs hold me back from accomplishing what I wished or wanted. But every now and then, I’d somehow find the courage to stop making excuses and simply do it.

“I’ll never be able to run my own business”, “I can’t run well enough to sign up for a race”, “I’ll never be good at social media”, “I can’t be a vegan because I can’t live without cheese”, “I won’t survive a medication free, natural birth”, “I’ll never travel once I have kids” and even something as silly as “I’ll never learn how to wand my hair”...these were all things that I truly believed at one point.

Each one of these beliefs, though, we’re just that...beliefs. At some point, for every one of these (and more), I decided to take control and simply make it happen.

I learned how to be a business owner, run, use social media, live without cheese, naturally birth babies, travel with a toddler and wand my hair. The belief that I could do each one of these came from just doing them.

So, let’s stop making excuses by using words like “can’t” and “could never” and be honest with ourselves. We CAN do it. It’s a choice. And if we choose NOT to do it, let’s begin using phrases like, “that’s not my priority right now” instead. I don’t want to be a victim. I doubt you want to either.

The belief that we can do it comes from doing it. Let’s do it.

Daily Self-Care Routine

Solitude - Schedule some alone time each day. It can be as simple as a cup of tea before anyone else wakes, a long soak in the bath, a few moments with your journal, a quiet walk outdoors, deep breaths of Young Living essential oil blends like Awaken or Release or even some much needed spiritual refreshment with your Bible or favorite devotional.

Movement - Take some time to exercise each day. Whether you have 5 minutes or 2 hours, commit to some form of movement. I fluctuate between walks, yoga, HIIT, short jogs and strength training. The best exercise for you is the one that you'll do. So pick something you'll enjoy and get going.

Nutrition - Consume less sugar and cafeine and add in more water and plant-based whole-foods. Avoid eating out or grabbing take-out and, instead, cook your meals from scratch. Pay attention while eating and begin to eliminate foods that negatively effect your physical, mental and emotional health.

Monitor - Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Monitor what you watch, what you listen to and what you say. Choose to surround yourself with what and who lifts you up.

Rest - Learn to practice relaxation techniques, like meditation, and be sure to get around 8 hours of sleep a night. But remember that rest isn't just about sleep. If you can, take a day off every week, a weekend off  every month and a week off every quarter. Whether it's a get-away or a staycation, the purpose is to unplug and come back refreshed.

My TOP 5 Favorite Young Living Oils & Products:

I've been using Young Living essential oils and products for almost 10 years. Over these years, I've gone through seasons of favorites, so I wanted to share my current must-haves:

1. Rose Ointment - massage this in to all your extra dry spots
2. Cortistop - take this for your lingering tummy bulge

3. Golden Turmeric - sip this for inflammation that effects you

4. Mirah Cleansing Oil - wash off your makeup, without stripping your skin

5. Lavender Lip Balm - this one is always in my top 5 :)

***Email me (nickandemilystewart@me.com) to get my discount code to order your Young Living!

38 pieces of advice

I just turned 38 in August and wanted to put together my words of wisdom!

Here’s my 38 pieces of wisdom to mark my 38th birthday

1. Never say never.

2. Kill them with kindness.

3. Just ask.

4. Spend time with people you love.

5. Travel often.

6. Be generous.

7. Learn something new (all the time).

8. Go on walks.

9. Choose the best option in front of you.

10. Read daily.

11. Plan girls nights.

12. Stretch.

13. Don’t spend what you don’t have.

14. Make goals.

15. Find a hobby (or three).

16. Go outside as much as possible.

17. Set boundaries with your smartphone.

18. Eat real food.

19. Get a dog.

20. Do work you love.

21. Wear comfy shoes.

22. Cook homemade meals.

23. Get monthly facials.

24. Live toxin-free.

25. Practice solitude.

26. Dress in beautiful colors.

27. Tidy your home each morning.

28. Enjoy quiet nights at home.

29. Become friends with your neighbors.

30. Take lots of vacations.

31. Drink more water.

32. Get enough sleep.

33. Use lamps for lighting.

34. Practice minimalism.

35. Kiss your baby too much.

36. Pray constantly.

37. Go on trips with friends and no kids.

38. Talk to a counselor.

Got any good advice? Please share!

Honey Lavender Green Tea Recipe

We recently spent Labor Day weekend at the lake and Carol, a friend, came up with this refreshing recipe. It was a hit with our group, so I wanted to share!

Honey Lavender Green Tea

Steep green tea for a few minutes in hot water (use a bag or loose-leaf)

Stir in a tsp-tbsp honey while hot

Pour over ice

Add a drop of Young Living Lavender Oil (buy HERE from me)

Add milk (I like oatmilk best) to your liking

Stir everything together

Enjoy!

***Email me nickandemilystewart@me.com when you buy your Lavender oil through me so I can set you up with my Young Living resources!

Emily’s Cinnamon Rolls

Whenever I host, I try to invite friends and family over for brunch. These cinnamon rolls always turn out amazingly gooey and no one has ever complained. Set out some fresh berries and hand out cups of hot coffee and you’ve got a happy crowd. It’s minimal effort, inexpensive and makes hosting easy.

Directions:

Whisk together:

4.5 tsp rapid rise yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar

Let sit for 5 minutes (the combo should bubble up)

Add in:
2.5 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar

Mix all ingredients together until dough is formed. 

Roll dough into a flat rectangle 

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 tbsp cinnamon, covering dough evenly. If you don’t care about following instructions, this is where I just eyeball it and do as much sugar and cinnamon as I think looks good. It’s more than what the recipe calls for!

Roll up, cut into rolls and place in pan. I like to use my cast iron pan, but any will do. 

Preheat to 350

Bake for about 20 minutes or until slightly golden on top and inside dough is done (every oven varies…I’ve had ovens that needed 15 minutes and ovens that needed 25)

Top with frosting:

To make the frosting, combine 1.5 cups powdered sugar with 2-3 tbsp water and 1/4 tsp vanilla (or 4 drops Young Living Vanilla Vitality).

(I double or triple the frosting, so don’t be nervous to eyeball it. You can make it as thick or watery as you like, etc.)

Enjoy!

My Famous Bread Recipe

Whisk 1.5 cups warm water with 1 tbsp active dry yeast and 1 tbsp sugar or honey.

Let sit 5 mins

Add in 3.5 cups all purpose flour and 1.5 tsp salt

Mix everything together and preheat oven to 400

Place dough ball in pan or create a pretty braided design :)

Let rise 10 mins - 2 hours (you choose)

Cut slits into top of bread, drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt

Bake for 25-35 mins or golden brown on top

Enjoy!

How To Use Young Living Essential Oils Internally

Wondering how to use the oils internally?

Method 1

Grab a bottle of Young Living Vegetable Capsules, a carrier oil (like Extra Virgin Olive Oil), a dropper bottle and your essential oils!

1. Take the top off the veggie capsule
2. Put a few drops of your essential oil
3. Fill to top with carrier oil
4. Put top back on veggie capsule
5. Take capsule with water (just like a supplement/pill)

Let me know if you want a list of our favorites for making capsules😉

Method 2

Simply add oils to your drinks and food!

Here are some of the ways we enjoy doing this:

-add Citrus Oils to your water/seltzer water to give flavor
-add Thieves to Chai Tea
-add Peppermint to brownies
-add Cardamom, Ginger, Clove and Vanilla oils to Molasses cookies
-add Lime to Guacamole
-add a drop of Digize to a shot of water and take for upset stomach

Method 3

Drop oils under you tongue (don’t do this with “hot” oils) or even swipe Peppermint across the top of your tongue for better breath😉

Want to get into ingesting, but don’t have oils yet? DM me to get started!

***Order your Young Living essential oils HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off

Can you guess what oil I used in these cinnamon rolls?

7 Areas You Need To Simplify

Life can be overwhelming and leave us feeling like we are just going through the motions, trying to survive. Today, for example, I have a growing list of things to get done, but also a baby who wants all my attention. That’s why I believe minimalism is so valuable, especially for mamas. Stop overthinking and over-planning and choose simplicity in these 7 areas.

EXERCISE - Find an activity you enjoy and get moving daily, whether it's a walk, a yoga class or lifting weights with your husband.

STUFF - Just because there's space doesn't mean you need to fill it. And just because you can buy something, doesn't mean you should.

PEOPLE - Look at your relationships and decide on a few that mean the world to you, then pour your energy into those people.

WORK - Try lots of jobs until you find what the one you love…then stick with it.

TIME - Say no to everything, then say yes to only what you truly want or need to do.

FOOD - Choose 1 ingredient foods, like an apple, a head of broccoli or a bag of almonds to create your snacks and meals.

MONEY - Cut up your credit cards and begin to live within your means.

The less I have, the more I feel clear headed and calm. Minimalism can be such a healthy hobby and helps to take a lot off our plates!

What area do you most need to simplify?

How To Stick To Vegan Diet While Traveling

I’m ready to get back into crossing off my Bucket List. We love traveling and are eager to take Ivy all over, but there aren’t always vegan options. That’s ok! Here are how we handle vegan travel:

1. HIT THE GROCERY STORE - Stock up on your favorite fruits, veggies, grains and nuts if you are staying somewhere with a kitchen. Breakfast can be as easy as a smoothie or a big bowl of cut up fruit! For lunch, whip up a salad with spinach leaves, colorful veggies and top with avocado. And dinner can be rice, topped with steamed veggies.

2. FIND A JUICE/SMOOTHIE BAR - Most juice and smoothie bars have plenty of options for vegans! Just look through their menu and be sure to ask them questions about ingredients. Plus, they often have smoothie bowl too. Yum! I could seriously spend all my money at these places. It's like heaven. Not cheap, but heaven all the same.

3. LOOK UP VEGAN RESTAURANTS - They are not always available, or listed online, but if you can find a vegan restaurant, you'll have tons of options! Chances are it will be a little more expensive than a regular restaurant, so be prepared. Some restaurants aren't 100% vegan, but will have vegan options. This is probably your best choice if you can find it.

4. GO OUT TO A REGULAR RESTAURANT - When all else fails, go eat at a regular place. You can almost always find something vegan or ask for substitutions. Usually I just focus on the salads and sides. We often have to ask the waiter to hold the meat and cheese and add extra veggies, but they always do. Easy peasy. Even a baked potato and steamed veggies would work!

5. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS - Don't leave home without snacks. If you have no idea about the area, go prepared. You don't want to show up and find out there are no decent grocery stores, juice bars and no restaurants with vegan options. I love keeping bananas, nuts, protein bars, carrots and dates around for quick and easy for snacks. These have held me and Nick over for many trips!

Do you have dietary restrictions and love to travel? Share your tips!

MY 7 DAY VEGAN MEAL PLAN

For a my fellow vegans who need some new inspiration and my non-vegans who want to try out some great vegan recipes, but don't know where to start:

Emily's 7 Day Vegan Meal Plan
(click links for recipes)

Breakfast:

Muffins

Granola

Pancakes

Biscuits and Gravy (planning on trying this one out on a slow Saturday)

Cinnamon Rolls

Veggie Burrito

Juice, Smoothie or Smoothie Bowl (just search Pinterest...or Google)

Lunch:

Falafel Salad

Vegetable Fritters

Chickpea Salad

Avocado Quesadilla

Taco Salad (on my list to try out soon)

Red Peppers Stuffed with Guacamole

Juice, Smoothie or Smoothie Bowl (search Pinterest or Google)

Dinner:

Fried Rice

Crockpot Quinoa Tacos

Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Coconut Quinoa Curry

Thai Curry Vegetable Soup

Chili (gonna try this one this month)

Juice, Smoothie or Smoothie Bowl (you know where to find recipes, right?)

Sides and Snacks:

Potato Wedges

Sweet Potato Fries

Fresh bread

Tortilla Chips and Salsa

Sliced Fruit and/or cut up Veggies with hummus

Nuts and seeds

Juice, Smoothie or Smoothie Bowl (you know what to do)

Desserts:

Peanut Butter Cups

Nice Cream

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Juice, Smoothie or Smoothie Bowl (...not even gonna remind you)

Do you have any amazing vegan recipes that you want to share?

HOW I LOST 30 POUNDS IN TWO YEARS

Yep, two years.  It wasn't quick and easy, but I like that I did it my way (and slowly) because it's been sustainable.

My friend Emily Christopher at Emily Lynn Photography took these photos (above).  The one on the left is in 2016, the center photo is 2017 and on the right is last week.  That outfit that was uncomfortably tight in 2016 is now too big to wear, including the shoes!

Although I lost several sizes -- including a shoe size, weird -- the biggest improvement has been my overall health.  I'm more comfortable in my clothes, I have more energy, my blood pressure is back to normal and I feel more like myself.  It wasn't just that I wanted to lose weight.  I wanted to simply feel good again.

So, on May 4th, 2016, when a friend canceled last minute, I chose to go to Barre class alone.  Going to the gym alone is my worst nightmare, but something clicked and I made the decision to exercise daily whether I had a workout partner or not.

I stuck to it and began to build confidence and improve other areas of my health also.  Two years later, I now feel the best I've ever felt...even better than how I felt in high school!

Honestly, I'm pretty embarrassed to share these progress pics (above).  So, why am I sharing anyway?

I want to show you that it doesn't have to be some expensive trainer at the gym, or a crazy-hard 6-week challenge.  You can get healthier over time, taking baby steps along the way.  Just get started and make the decision to stick to it. 

We want what we want right now and without making any sacrifices.  That's just not reality.  Instead, decide to make small changes and improvements over time.  Eat better.  Move daily.  Listen to your body.  Do a little better each day.  Let it take time.  After all, it took time to get to where you are right now.

If you aren't feeling your best, I hope that me sharing my story can encourage you that you can do this!  I've gone from being a Cinnamon Sugar PopTart lover and an exercise hater, to a person who makes better food choices and gets moving a little each day because I want to.

Don't tell yourself you have to do all or nothing...just do something.  Simply choose one thing to work on today.  Keep it up until you've got that down.  Then add one more thing.  Keep it up until it's easy.  Then add one more thing.  Keep this cycle going until you've reached your goal, even if it takes two years.

I'm here to tell you, it's worth it.