Sunday, March 31, 2013

Wellness Haul!!

Last week I purchased 5 products at EarthFare.


John and I have really been enjoying Vega Nutritional Shake in Chocolate. It is very filling and tastes great.  I make a smoothie out of 1/2 scoop Vega powder in Chocolate, 1 banana, 5-8 frozen cherries, 1 cup Rice Dream Rice Milk, 1 teaspoon liquid vitamin D, and 1/2 TBSP organic flaxseed oil.  (I double the recipe if John is having some too).


After watching Hungry for Change on Netflix, I was inspired to pick up some Aloe Vera Gel Juice. Here is a blog that talks about some of the benefits: http://www.healthybitchdaily.com/post/aloe-vera-more-than-just-a-first-aid-plant

Chia Seeds are awesome! I use these bad-boys in my raw brownie bites, smoothies and other treats.  They are a great source of omega 3's and fiber.

VegLife vitamin D is a good vegan D2 supplement. Picked some of that up on sale ($2 off)


I also wanted to test AmazingGrass Raw Reserve Green Superfood. Check out the ingredients:


It was just as good as the Amazing Grass Original, if not better! (not taste wise but nutrition wise)


Friday, March 29, 2013

Kale Hummus

I found this hummus to be a great way to get some raw kale and raw garlic in my diet.  It's tasty and spicy.

Ingredients:
1 can of organic, low sodium chick peas, drained, and rinsed
1 large leaf of kale, destemmed, and ripped into smaller pieces
1 glove raw garlic
1/2 teaspoon Mountain Rose Herbs garlic powder
3 TBSP tahini
3 TBSP fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 - 2 TBSP Penzey's Turkish Seasoning (this is a must for this recipe- the flavor is different without it)
1/2 teaspoon Penzey's Freshly Ground Black Pepper
2 TBSP organic olive oil
pinch of salt
1 TBSP water - more if needed

Blend all ingredients in a food processor (except the water). Add the water 1 teaspoon at a time until you have the desired consistency.

This goes so well with warmed up pita bread. Raw veggies are good too (carrots, celery, broccoli)

I used one TBSP of the Turkish Seasoning in my dish.



Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of the finished product!  John and I ate up all the hummus :(

Note: In the second picture there is a white kitchen item in the upper left hand corner.  This is my citrus juicer.  It makes extracting lemon juice so easy.  It also helps with measuring and not wasting the juice. There is an easy to pour spout (it is out of view in this picture).  Purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Book Review: The Night Circus

This book was really engaging.  It was like Harry Potter meets the circus.  Dueling magicians, yes please!  Forbidden love, yes please!  I couldn't put this down. Thank you Erin Morgenstern for a great novel. I really think that a hollywood producer could make this book into a fantastic movie.




Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Disco Inferno

I picked up these nail colors at EarthFare (a store similar to Whole Foods) because they don't contain the "Big 3" toxins that most nail colors have- Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate and Toluene.  The company is called SpaRitual.

The purple nail polish is named Disco Inferno and the clear one is the base/top coat.



 It's fun to have a pop of color, especially in springtime!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Salty!

After reading about the perks of Himalayan Pink Salt, I decided to pick some up at the local health food/grocery store (Earth Fare).  There are as many as 84 naturally occurring trace minerals and elements in Himalayan Pink Salt! Regular ol' processed table salt only has one, iodine, and that's only because manufactures added it back into the salt after the processing.  Himalayan Pink Salt looks like little pink crystals. I grind it up with my mortar and pestle to achieve whatever consistency I desire. Love it!

For more information, check out the sites below:
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/himalayan-crystal-salt-benefits/

http://www.naturalnews.com/028724_Himalayan_salt_sea.html

I also bought some French Celtic Sea Salt.  I've been cooking with sea salt for a while but only recently found out there is a huge difference between brands. The one I was buying was the cheap stuff and resembled table salt.  I decided to look up some information about real Celtic Sea Salt and try some.  The product I purchased is already ground up (I don't have to use my mortar and pestle) and is a fine, almost powdery consistency (different from regular salt granules). It is sandy/beige/grayish in color.  Celtic Sea Salt also has many trace minerals and elements.

More information about Celtic Sea Salt:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/168886-celtic-sea-salt-benefits/


Sunday, March 24, 2013

Two New Dresses

I recently purchased two new dresses!


The first one I picked up at Salvation Army for $12.99. I usually won't pay that much at a thrift store for a dress but this one is a BRAND NEW with tags Jessica Simpson dress. The detailing is really nice (it is hard to see in the pictures); it's perfect for summer. I think it'll look even better once I get a tan.




The second dress I bought at Rugged Warehouse (a store very similar to Gabriel Brothers). It's an adorable Ann Taylor dress in a deep peach color.  This was a STEAL. It was originally $14.99 and it was marked down to $10.  The loop in the back which holds a button was half on- it was a super easy fix (literally took 5 minutes to sew and there is zero trace of any issue). I really like the cut out in the back.



Saturday, March 23, 2013

Crazy Sexy Kitchen Cookbook

Kris Carr is amazing! If you have never read Crazy Sexy Diet, I highly recommend it. Kris is funny, witty, straight-forward, concerned about health, and the future of society.



She came out with a new cookbook in 2012 and I really want to buy it! It's called Crazy Sexy Kitchen. It is a New York Times Best Seller.  Has anyone tried any of her recipes?

She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and has been able to halt the advancement by diet and exercise! Wow! What an inspiration! If you have time and want to learn more, her website is http://kriscarr.com.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Buttercream & Blue Eyeshadow

I tried to copy this picture using the more natural products I own.  I don't have a blue that dark but I think it still looks nice.


What I used:
Jane Iredale Lid Primer

Alima Pure Buttercream eyeshadow 

Zuzu Luxe Eyeshadow in Skylar

Pure Heart Clean Hands Mineral Blush in papaya



I used a sample of MUFE HD foundation.


Update 03/25/2013
I tried this look again and instead of using skylar as my blue color I used a blue sparkly shadow I purchased from EcoGlo Minerals (steel blue is the color)






Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Simple Healthy Breakfast

Ingredients:
1/2 cup uncooked oats
1/2 banana, cut in small pieces
10- 15 raisins
1 TBSP sunflower seeds
1/2 TBSP organic flaxseed oil
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 TBSP 100% real maple syrup
(optional)- 1 TBSP chopped walnuts

Put oats in a cereal bowl. Boil 1  cup of water.  Pour enough water in the cereal bowl over the oats, enough to cover the oats. Let sit 2 minutes.  Put the toppings on (except maple syrup). Stir.  Drizzle the top with maple syrup. Enjoy!




Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Make Your Own Baby Food

I buy baby food all the time but about once a week I will make up a batch of fresh baby food for Athan.

In this batch of baby food there are all kinds of veggies and grains:
organic brown rice, organic quinoa, organic carrots, organic celery, organic potatoes, organic sweet potatoes, garlic, onion, mushrooms, small pinch of salt and pepper, 1/2 TBSP organic flaxseed oil, organic olive oil.

I cook the rice and most of the veggies (sometimes I leave out some veggies so that Athan can benefit from some raw food). The quinoa was left over from a dish I made for John and I the night before.

Puree all ingredients in a food processor.  Add water to create desired consistency. Drizzle in oils. Blend some more. Store in old baby food jars that are cleaned out and dry.





I also like to add cooked beans (or canned that are rinsed & drained) and cashews/almonds to add protein and calories.  

I made this recipe the other day and it turned out really well: acorn squash, organic quinoa, 1/2 cup of organic kale leaves, organic flaxseed oil, 2 TBSP cashews.  I tasted it myself and it was really yummy!