Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts

Friday, September 9, 2016

Hitting the Refresh Button

The best $3 I ever spent was on a 1 hour foot massage (somewhere in rural China).  That lady worked magic on my weary travellers feet and I’ve yet to match that experience spending 20 fold the amount.  
Lately, I spend a lot of time standing.  I may not be exploring new places (more like pacing in circles to calm a crying baby or chasing a toddler) but my tootsies could use a respite all the same.  

For about the same amount of cash, I have come close to finding a method to refresh my feet that may not be as memorable, but comes close to being as rejuvenating as my travel experience.  

Lemon, epsom salt and some warm water (perhaps with a glass of wine on the side) are a wonderful soak that not only make your feet feel pampered, but promotes overall relaxation. On the particularly long days, it feels like hitting the refresh button.  This has been one of my favorite little ways to use 5 minutes for self-care which is so desperately needed as a new mom.  

What are your favorite little luxuries? 

P.S.  Now that it's September, one of my favorite Fall nail colors is Essie's Chinchilly

Monday, July 11, 2016

Schmidt's Natural Deodorant


I have tried countless natural deodorants over the years with disappointment.   So after a month of rigorous testing (giving birth and nursing a baby in the summer qualifies as rigorous in my book) I’m excited that Schmidts works beautifully.  

When you have but a few precious moments to get ready in the morning, every product counts. And while deodorant may be the most pedestrian of beauty products, this one is worthy of a quick post. 


The ylang-ylang scent is lovely but not overpowering in the way that some can be. And because it’s aluminum free and natural I feel good about using it and having a baby be so close.  So while I may not have enough time to put on makeup, at least I’ve found something to help me feel fresh!  

P.S. Some of my other favorite natural beauty products are here or here.
*this post was not sponsored

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Sweet Cheeks: Call Me A Beauty Counter Convert



After months of piqued interested, I reached out to a local Beauty Counter representative and asked to  sample some of their products.  Luckily, they started shipping to Canada about 8 weeks ago and their makeup line will be available here starting this month.

I've been especially interested in trying their face wash, but wasn't sure which one was for me.  I have mentioned before how hard it has been to find a replacement for Cetaphil that is more natural.  After a few weeks of using their Nourishing Cream Cleanser, I can confidently say I'm a convert.  I love that it is gentle enough to double as a eye makeup remover and also makes my skin feel cleansed but not tight.  

In preparation for having a newborn, I've been thinking a lot about the beauty products I use.  Especially when they are so little and you have so much skin-to-skin contact, I like to be mindful of what I am putting on my skin as it will be shared.  I feel great about these products! Void of harmful chemicals; they are made with stringent standards (more here).

Coincidently,  they recent came out with a line of baby products too.  I was able to sample the baby balm and am hooked.  This stuff is gold! 

James Robert has suffered with eczema since he was a baby.  His cheeks are an area that tend to especially suffer; they get ruddy and chapped easily even in warmer weather.  Many doctors have recommended aquaphor, which is a useful product, but not at all natural.  The baby balm from Beauty counter cleared up his chapped cheeks in just two applications.  It easily massages into the skin and doesn't leave a residue or stickiness.  After trying literally dozens of products, I can say this one has worked the best for us by far. 

This is in no way a sponsored post, and after sampling I eagerly purchased both of these on my own. but These two products were too good not to share!

 P.S.  Here are some of my other green beauty favorites.  Or click on the wellness tab above for more!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Easy DIY All-Purpose and Antibacterial Cleaner

Within the past few weeks,  we have been dealing with strep throat, hand foot and mouth and then there was a breakout of fifths disease at James Robert's school (I had never heard of this before)!  It's so hard to be pregnant and care for a sick family;  I fought wanting to help, but wanting to protect myself (apparently fifths disease can be dangerous for pregnant women).

So needless to say, I've in de-germ mode around here.  Thankfully, everyone is feeling better, but this cleaner is still something I use daily to swipe our most-touched surfaces.  I shared this "recipe" on snapchat recently (meg_leanderson) and got a few questions, so I thought I'd answer them here.

I never thought I would be the type to make my own cleaner, but after making this once I was hooked.  The smell is so much better than anything I've ever bought from the store.

I'm also totally in love with the fact that it is safe and effective (the essential oils help kill germs).  It's a peace of mind to know you're spraying something that is safe with little one's around. There is something about knowing exactly goes in it that makes me feel great!
Recipe: 
2 Tablespoons of Castile Soap
10 drops of lemon essential oil
15 drops of thieves essential oil
fill the rest with water 

Notes: 
  • You'll want to use a glass bottle for mixing this cleaner because essential oils can leach into plastic.  I got mine from here
  • I love Dr. Bronners Castile Soap for so many things; you won't regret getting a bottle.
  • You can order Young Living Essential Oils here; I also recommend Lesley's site and resources.  

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

DIY Sugar Lip Polish + Whipped Sugar Body Scrub

This pregnancy is flying by. I’m astonished that we’re over half way to meeting this baby boy and can hardly contain my excitement.  I’m also relishing every moment of the second trimester while I have energy and feel good! Looking back, my third trimester with James Robert was challenging- I had pregnancy induced arthritis and I generally didn’t feel great.  So this time around, I’m determined to take better care of myself-- a little pampering can go a long way, right?! 
Trouble with pampering is that it usually takes a lot of time and often I'm ready to crash at the end of the day.  But these two recipes proved to be a quick and easy pick-me-up with ample time leftover. 

The dry winter cold is taking a toll on my skin and although I’ve been eyeing the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish forever, I haven’t had a chance to make it to the mall (and was too impatient to wait for it to be shipped).  Yesterday, I had an I-need-it-now kind of moment. So, on a whim, I tried my hand at making two scrubs- one for the body and one for the lips all with ingredients in my pantry.  

I’m not typically a DIY beauty type of girl.  But these saved me time, money and are 100% natural which makes me feel great about the end result.  There are a ton of recipes on pinterest, and I’ll link to the ones I used below, but in general, there are some easy formulas to follow.   

Both scrubs are very effective at sloughing away the winter blahs and feel totally indulgent. I consider this little project a  nap time success!
Lip Scrub:
Ingredients:
Mix equal parts sugar (granulated or brown) + honey + coconut oil*.  I also added a dash of bourbon- vanilla (from TJ's) for extra deliciousness. For my little pot I only used about 1 teaspoon each. 

Directions: 
Apply in circular motion to lips for about a minute and then wipe away (I dare you not to eat some). 

Whipped Sugar Body Scrub:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup coconut oil*
1 teaspoon of corn starch (optional)
1 cup granulated sugar
essential oil (optional)

Directions:
1) Mix equal parts olive oil + coconut oil in a pan.  Melt over low heat.  Do not let boil. 
2) Pour into a large bowl (I used one that goes to my stand mixer) and then put in freezer for 10 minutes. 
3) Once the edges start to harden, whip the oil on high speed for about 2 minutes.  It will become opaque.  Add cornstarch if desired (it will have a less oily consistency) and continue to whip for another 2-3 minutes. 
4) Once the oil becomes a cool whip-like consistency, gently fold in 1 cup of granulated sugar. 
5) Add essential oils if desired. I added about 10 drops of lavender and 5 drops of ylang-ylang. 

*Quick note on coconut oil. I LOVE coconut oil.  I wrote about it during my first pregnancy here.  My favorite brand is this one

I used two glass containers with lids from emptied beauty products, but you could easily use a mason jar or whatever you have on hand! What tips and tricks do you have for at-home pampering?  I'd love to know! 

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Our Favorite Chicken Noodle Soup + Turmeric Broth

I sometimes hesitate to share my recipes here as they are so often a conglomeration of a couple different recipes I read.  My style of cooking leans heavily on my own interpretation and sometimes I can’t remember exactly what I did.  

James Robert has been a bit under the weather, so this past Sunday I made a big batch of chicken noodle soup.  It was heralded as my “best ever”.  So in an effort to remember the recipe and pay it forward, I wanted to share what I did this time around. 

Besides, chicken noodle soup is one of those things that doesn’t need to be to the T.  With endless delicious iterations, I hope you can find this a jumping off point to be tweaked with your favorite embellishments.  

Of note, I have been adding turmeric to the broth for the added immune boosting properties.  I would highly recommend this addition to your next chicken noodle soup as the flavour and benefits have been a fast favorite. 

Everyone has their own desired broth to noodle/chicken ratio.  In my family that can be highly contested, so this recipe is easily adaptable to add more or less of your favorites.  Also, if you want to add more veggies, we’ve done that too with delicious results.  James Robert loves okra, so if we have some, I usually add a few handfuls of that too. 
This recipe easily serves 3-4 for dinner with leftovers for the rest of the week! 

Our Favorite Chicken Noodle Soup:

Ingredients: 
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Butter
3-4 cloves of garlic chopped
1 small yellow onion chopped (about 1/2 cup)
3-4 carrots chopped
2-3 sticks of celery chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
Dash of Herbes de Provence

1/4-1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric 
6 cups of vegetable stock (store bought or I like this recipe here)
4-5 big handfuls of your favorite egg noodle
1-2 cups of shredded chicken 
chopped parsley for garnish

Directions:
  1. Poach 2 chicken breasts in boiling water.  Add the chicken breasts to boiling, salted water (I also add a few bay leaves to mine) and let simmer for about 20-25 minutes.  Once cooked, shred the chicken and set aside.  If you have leftovers they are delicious for chicken salad the next day.
  2. In a large heavy-bottom pot, add the butter and oil.  Once warm, add the garlic, onions, a dash of S&P and let saute for about 5 minutes.  Add the carrots and celery and continue to saute for another 5 minutes or so. At this point, I add a dash of Herbes de Provence. 
  3. Add about half the broth (3 cups or so) to cover the veggies and let them simmer until soft or about 15-20 minutes. 
  4. Add the rest of the broth and noodles and let them cook until soft which is about 8 minutes. 
  5. Add the shredded chicken. 
  6. At this point add the turmeric and then taste to adjust seasoning and add more Salt and Pepper as desired. 
  7. Serve with a garnish of parsley and your favorite crackers. 

Friday, November 20, 2015

Friday Favorites: Green Beauty

Way back when I started this blog,  I was living in New Zealand and my eyes were open to making more eco-friendly decisions.  In particular, I become much more aware of what some conventional beauty and cleaning products were putting in their ingredients.  On the bright side, I also became aware of how many wonderful green alternatives there are.

Over the years, I have tried a lot of different products.  I don't claim to be an expert.  I don't even claim to only use clean products... but my motto is, it's not about doing everything, it's about doing something.

It's been forever, so I thought it would be fun to recap some of my more recent favorites. So if you're just dipping your toes into the green beauty scene, of if you're a green beauty maven, I hope this list of some of my current favorite products will be fun to read through.

What are your favorites? Please let me know!
Green Beauty Favorites

1) The Cleanser by Graydon:  I have had the hardest time swapping my old standby, Cetaphil, for something less toxic. In fact, I held on to that the longest.  But, I finally found something that performs similarly for my sensitive skin.  It foams a bit more than Cetaphil, but the consistency is similar.  It makes your face feel thoroughly cleansed but never tight.  I'm really in love with this product.

2) Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Toner:  I used to be skeptical about toner, but after using it religiously for over a year, I can say that it does indeed make your other product work better.  I like this line of products, but this toner is my favorite.  I've used other more pricey toners, but keep coming back to this one and you can't beat the price point (you can usually get it on sale at WF). Plus it smells great.

3) Antipodes Serum:  This stuff is a miracle worker.  It makes your skin feel plump and supple instantly.  It is the extra moisture boost I need without feeling sticky or like there is an extra layer on your face.  It's a game changer.  Side note, this product line originated in New Zealand. It's harder to find in the states, but you can get it at Whole Foods in Canada.

4) Acure Night Cream:  This is a light weight night cream that doesn't feel heavy, but gets the job done. With the winter months approaching, I have turned to this for a the needed moisture protection. I alternate between using this and #5 nightly.

5) I like to make my own face oil with a mix of grape seed oil and frankincense and lavender essential oil.  I use it every couple of nights and in the dead of winter, I will use it every night.  It smells wonderful and it beautifully restores skin over night and doesn't feel heavy.  If I'm feeling really ambitious, I'll do a little face massage with it like this.

6) Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask:  There is a reason her stuff has a cult following- it is that good.  I use this mask about once a week.  I may have been known to fall asleep with it on a few times and it truly makes your skin feel brand new.

7) Burt's Bees Blemish Stick: For pesky little spots, this is a life saver.

8) Rescue Aromatherapy by Rocky Mountain Soap Co: I was introduced to this product line while in Banff.  I have been using this mist as a great way to banish the stuffy noses that come with this time of year.  I like to spritz it before bed and inhale deeply. It doesn't do anything for my skin as much as just make me feel refreshed and relaxed.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Teal Pumpkin Project

Teal Pumpkin Project
our front door getting ready for Halloween; this is the sign we will display this year

My father tells the story of one fateful Halloween that he took a bite of a PayDay candy bar and ended up being rushed to the ER- he was allergic to peanuts.  I didn't comprehend the true terror of this story until becoming a mother and learning that James Robert has the same allergy.

This will be the first Halloween that we take him trick-or-treating and I do so with some trepidation. Being an allergy mom means trying to think 10 steps ahead and being prepared as best as possible. That's why I'm thrilled that today, unlike when my father was little, there is more awareness.  In fact, there is a movement to make trick-or-treating more allergy friendly.

This year, our family has pledged to take part in the Teal Pumpkin Project--yours can too!  The food allergy research and education foundation (FARE) created the Teal Pumpkin project as a way to raise awareness of food allergies (not just peanut allergies) and promote inclusion in trick-or-treating.

Whether your child has a food allergy or not, odds are that you know another child who does.  This is the simplest way to make your house friendly for all children who want to go out this weekend and make fun and safe memories.


Fall
Our Neighborhood is ready for Halloween!
How:
1) Display a teal pumpkin and/or free printable at your home.
2) Provide non-candy treats (some ideas below)
3) Sign up here  (this is optional)

It's important to note that the idea isn't to take candy out of Halloween, in fact, at our house, we're going to be offering candy and non-food items.  

When choosing candy, I found an assortment that were peanut free.  When children and parents come to the door, we will ask if they have a food allergy and provide choices. I'll be keeping the candy separate from the non food items.
Untitled
these are some of the food items we will be handing out
What to give:
Kids, especially the little ones, will enjoy non-food items as much as candy.  Here are some of my favorite ideas:
  • stickers
  • temporary tattoos
  • bubbles
  • spider rings
  • novelty toys
  • glow sticks/ bracelets
  • bouncy balls

Where to shop:
I'm planning on hitting up my local dollar store or party supply store.  If you're going to do your shopping on amazon prime, consider using AmazonSmile.  If you click here, your shopping will donate .5% of eligible purchases to the Food Allergy Research & Education charity!

For more information and FAQ's, click here. 

Monday, September 28, 2015

Germ Patrol- Fighting Cold and Flu Season Naturally

Mat and I just returned from an incredible trip to Banff, AB (more on that later)!  After our flight yesterday and taking James Robert to pre-school this morning, fighting off colds and the flu are at the top of my mind.  So many people coughing and sneezing-yikes!

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in my book. I'm determined to try to keep our family healthier this year.  Here are a few of the easy, natural habits I'm planning on making routine:

Thieves Essential Oil: In a quest for natural alternatives for James Robert last year, I became hooked on Thieves Essential oil for the whole family.  Among many things, Thieves promotes a healthy immune system. We use a roller of diluted Thieves on the bottoms of James Robert's feet before bed and sometimes I'll also roll a bit on the lovie he sleeps with at night. I also like to diffuse it and clean with it.**

Apple Cider Vinegar: Drinking a glass of water with apple cider vinegar each day (I posted more on that here).

Chicken Stock: Homemade chicken stock has so many medicinal properties. I'd like to make chicken stock and soups regularly.  One of my favorite chicken soup recipes is here. 

Yoga/ meditation/ foam rolling:  I am going to try my hardest to incorporate one of these practices into my daily routine. Taking time to pause and relax can help your body from getting run down. I love to follow Lauren Roxburgh on instagram for foam rolling ideas like these. 

I'd love to hear if you have any other tips!?

**Here is a good place to start if you're interested in learning more about essential oils. 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Mrs Meyers Review

I was recently contact by Mrs Meyers to review some of their products.  Already a big fan of their dish and hand soap, I was thrilled to receive the Baby Blossom detergent and Sweet Pea laundry set to try. Their company ethos of earth-friendly products coupled with their recent "Grow Inspired" campaign are what I like about their brand.
Baby blossom detergent 
sweet pea se
But how do they stack up?

Efficacy:
  • After using all of the products and putting them through James Robert's very rigorous blow-out test, I was really pleased to see that the detergent was gentle but very effective at getting out baby stains.  Helping the cause, my husband also donated some dirty clothes for me to try the Sweet Pea stain remover and I was really surprised by how well it worked, while having a great smell.

Green rating: 
  • This is where things get tricky.  There is a continuum for green products and I think these products fall somewhere in the middle. I studied the ingredients list and both of these products fare far better than most conventional brands. However, they do contain some ingredients that are questionable-- namely the synthetic fragrances (they are  compliance with IFRA/ RIFM (International Fragrance Association and Research Institute for Fragrance Materials) guidelines for safety).  I love the smell of the products sent to me, however, I wouldn't recommend these products for families with sensitivities to smell or highly sensitive skin.
Price point: 
  • Compared with other baby detergent, this falls somewhere in the middle at $15.99 for 64oz, it is highly concentrated though, so it will last forever.
Overall:
  • Overall, I give these products a B-. I love that they work well and leave my clothes smelling great, but when it comes to being good for my family, there are other brands that do not use synthetic fragrances and are eco-friendly that I would likely turn to in the future if I'm going to spend that kind of money on detergent.    
  • I have used Dr Bronner's, Charlie's Soap, All Free and Clear and EcoStore (which I blogged about here) in the past.
Thanks to Mrs Meyers for letting me review their products. I'm interested in know, are you loyal to a laundry detergent? What do you like for you and your family?

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

DIY citrus and herb salt scrub

Post-camping calls for some scrubbing.  So I whipped up a summery version of the scrub I gifted for Christmas this year.  
I got the idea from L'Occitane's verbena line; the scent is beautiful so I wanted to try and recreate something like that at home. Besides loving the fact that I know every single ingredient that I'm using, the $44 price tag of their scrub compared to this DIY version sets you up for some big savings.

Recipe:
1 cup of organic sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
juice and zest of 1 large lemon
4 verbena leaves finely chopped
4 lemon balm leaves finely chopped

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and then add to your favorite container- enjoy!

For my other favorite DIY scrub, go here.

PS. Did you enter to win the Arbonne Lift Gel?! I swear by this stuff and the winner will be announced tomorrow!  Enter to win here

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Healthy Habits: Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a panacea.  In my quest for easy, green cleaners I started researching Tea Tree Oil and came across some eye-opening information.  Here's the quick and dirty:


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

What does your future look like?

Week 4 into participating in the Ashtanga yoga workshop, my practice has taken a markedly more prominent place in my life.  There is a calm and peace where there used to be worry and doubt.  Transformative stuff.  Need-to-stick-with-it-stuff.  


In a recent class, we talked about goals.  Jen challenged us to think about a 10 year vision.  She challenged us to visualize where, what and who we see in our life in the future and not just the cookie cutter version that society subscribes.  I've started pinning to a vision board and collecting images that are helping me formulate those goals- big and small.  Snippets of the future.
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What does you're future look like?    

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Healthy Habits: Natural Skin Care by Arbonne

The average woman comes in contact with hundreds of chemicals before breakfast.  Between shampoo, lotions and makeup we slather, primp and downright obsess over product to make us look and feel our best.  But did you know that our skin directly absorbs chemicals into our bloodstream?  The advantages of knowing what's in your beauty routine are boundless.

Over the years I've been better at reading labels and tried a few different product lines, but only recently did I find a brand that made me want to sit down and write this post.

About 2 months ago, I was invited to an Arbonne spa party and was introduced to a line of products that spoke my language.  Pure, safe and beneficial is the modo for their personal care and wellness products that are all botanically-based.  But I'm more excited about what's not in them than what is.

Arbonne personal care products are formulated without:
  • • Animal products or animal by-products
  • • Parabens
  • • Formaldehyde-donating preservatives
  • • Petroleum-based ingredients
    • • Benzene
    • • Mineral Oil
    • • Petrolatum
    • • Phthalates
    • • Toluene
  • • PABA
So I bought a few products {the instant lift and the eye cream} and have been using them religiously.  I can honestly say that this is the most enthusiastic I've ever been about skincare.  I love the smell and feel of the products, but more importantly I love the results.  

While there are many other great natural skincare lines out there, this one has stood out to me above the rest. Arbonne also has a natural cosmetics line I can't wait to try. 

I'm excited to be planning a spa party for my friends; perhaps you've been to one too? I would love to know what your experience has been.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Major Update and Eco-Friendly Pet Products


Remember Major? Well, this, my friends, is the face of a happy dog.

Perhaps he knows that his new toy is made of non-toxic recycled material?  Or perhaps he is enticed by it's ball/bone/stick design?  Doubtful. But either way, his affinity shows markedly good taste.

Major has attached himself to this new toy and I am happy to report that after 3 days of hearty chewing, the Zogoflex is no worse for wear.  I don't know how many "indestructible" toys we have gone through in under 5 minutes.

I ordered the Hurley Zogoflex from my new favorite source for eco-friendly dog gear- West Paw Design and had to share.   Based in Montana, this company carries a wide variety of pet products and is committed to eco-friendly wares and green business growth.



Major is also enjoying his eco-nap which is the product of 33 recycled plastic bottles.  SO cool!

There are great colors to chose from and compared to many other crate liners/ beds the prices are reasonable.

**I have not been paid to review these products; I simply want to pass along a great resource and have been very pleased with their products. 

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Healthy Habits: Glass Food Storage

Thanks to my friends at Rubbermaid, I've added a collection of glass food storage containers to my kitchen.  I'm in the process of phasing out the plastic containers we use for a number of reasons.  Namely, for healthy considerations, as I've outlined below.  Besides being better for me and the environment, glass containers are just plain better looking.  Case in point, my breakfast... I mean, doesn't that just make you smile?
I've been really happy with this collection and can't wait to add more to it:

Perhaps you're thinking of making the switch?  Here's the quick and dirty...

Why Eliminate Plasic Food Storage Containers:
Did you know that plastic food containers leach trace amount of plastic into your food? And heating food in plastic seems to increase the amount transferred.

While research disputes the healthy level of chemical "leaching" or "migration", two chemicals that are under heavy investigation are  bisphenol A (BPA) and a class of chemicals called phthalates.  

Using glass food storage containers eliminates the risk harmful chemicals getting into your food, it is better for the environment and allows you to go from freezer-to-oven in a snap.  

Quick Tips on Plastic Food Containers:
  • Look for the recycling code (#1-7) on plastic products:
    • Avoid: #1 PET, #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 polycarbonate.
    • Safer: #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, and #5 PP
  •  Do not heat plastic food containers, even if they say they are microwave safe 
More Reading:

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Eco-Chic: Envirosax

Featuring surfer-turned-artist, Robb Havassy's stunning abstract, this envirosax is the most covetable reusable bag I've seen in a long time.

Created as part of envirosax's partnership with the Surfrider Foundation; each purchase provides 50 cents towards Rise over the Plastic campaign which benefits marine wildlife.  A statement piece making a statement, I love it! 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Healthy Habits: Apple Cider Vinegar

The verdict is out on how long it takes to form a habit; psych 101 used to preach 21 days, but newer research espouses 66.  Now that we're well into the 2nd month of the New Year, I'm pausing to revaluate where I am with some of the new healthy habits that I'm trying to form.  Will you join me?
I'm simultaneously surprised and delighted that drinking Apple Cider Vinegar {ACV} has become part of my daily routine.  I'll be the first to admit my pessimism- on January 1, after my first drink, I was not thrilled. However, as weeks have rolled by, its become easier to drink as I started noticing results.  Therefore, I wanted to share with you.

Here are some of the benefits.

I've been drinking 1-2 tablespoons of Bragg's ACV per day, as directed.  My best advice is to drink 1 tablespoon in room temperature water with some honey, 2 times a day.  Or, I've been adding 2 tablespoons to tea every afternoon.

What have I noticed:
I feel immediate relief of upset stomach, it aids digestion and I have noticed a difference in my complexion.

Verdict:
There are articles and research that claim and dispute different things. However, based on my initial positive reaction, I'm going to stick with this for a few more months.  I have also talked to a health coach and she highly recommended this daily ritual. Has anyone else had positive results from drinking ACV?

More info:
Natural Health
WebMD
LiveStrong
Bragg

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

DIY Sugar Scrub

It's not too late to make holiday gifts this year! This easy DIY sugar scrub recipe can be done in a flash and is a great, healthy gift to give this season.

Recipe:
1 cup of organic cane sugar
1/3 cup of organic sea salt
1/2 cup organic coconut oil
2-3 tablespoon almond oil
Lavender essential oil {or your favorite scent}- approx 15 drops

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and adjust the amount of essential oil and almond oil to your preference of texture. Add to your favorite jar, gift and enjoy the ohhs and ahhs.

PS. I got this jar from Hobby Lobby and added a gift tag to the top

Monday, December 12, 2011

Healthful Holiday Gift Guide

From yoga class to the farmers market, this gift guide is for the recipient who glows from the inside-out. Bringing some bliss to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season; here is a round-up of my favorite holistic items for that health-nut on your shopping list.


1) Salt Crystal lamps emit healthy ions and clean the air, this version plugs into a computerUSB port- it's the perfect desktop zen.

2) Auric Blends Egyptian Godess Roll-on perfume is wildly popular scent for a reason, it evokes an inner calm. I roll this stuff on before every yoga class and Om my way through practice.

3) Gorgeous and green are adjectives that can apply to the gift as well as the recipient when giving air plants, the ones from Airplant Supply Co. are my favorite.

4) Trinkets that remind the wearer to live with purpose bring a sense of shavasana to all wardrobes. Satya's heavens necklaces are a pretty way to do just that.

5) Detoxifying and energy-boosting, a natural bristle brush with a removable head is perfect for dry brushing away holiday stress.

6) Plenty: Vibrant Recipes from London's Ottolenghi elevates vegetables to a whole new level. It is this year's crown jewel of vegetarian tomes.

7) For instant skin hydration with naturally skin-healthy ingredients, Ahava's Dry Oil Body Mist is incredible. It is also paraben-free, and produced without the use of petroleum or harsh synthetics.

8) A subscription to Whole Living magazine will keep them inspired all year long.

9)Modern, colorful and BPA-free, bkr bottles are portable friend for any filtered H2O fiend.