Hemp + Chia SUPERFUEL Bowl

When I find a new recipe that I like, and it's easy to prepare, I find myself becoming a bit obsessed...Especially when it's uber healthy, gives you superwoman energy, and keeps you full half the day. 

And one of the many things I love about my two health-conscious sisters is that they appreciate and enjoy nourishing, healthy food....AND we get to steal recipes from each other. So thank you to my sister for my new breakfast obsession! You can modify this recipe however you prefer, but the combo below has been the ULTIMATE!  

Ingredients:

Organic shelled hemp seeds, 3 Tablespoons

Organic chia seeds, 2 Tablespoons

Coconut or Almond milk, 1 Cup

Stevia, 3 Drops

Cacao Green Superfood, 1 Scoop

Slivered Almonds, Handful

Organic figs

Banana

Agave, Drizzle

Place the hemp seeds, chia seeds, stevia, and milk into a container or small bowl. Stir, cover, and allow to sit overnight to thicken. In the morning, stir the mixture to get an even consistency. Add cacao, green powder, cinnamon, nuts, fruit, or whatever toppings you prefer. That's it...EASY! If you're really craving it in the morning and you forgot to make it overnight, you can allow it to thicken for an hour or so to get the same results.

I prefer to make 2-3 batches at one time so I can grab and go for the next few days. I have been super spoiled lately and have been using homemade almond milk from my sister, which elevates this bowl even more. She's going to teach me her tricks so I can start making my own...so stay tuned!

**Hover over the ingredients above to find links to some of the specific products that I use.

Smoothie Selfies

Happy New Year Everyone!

This year has definitely gotten going at a running start, and it's hard to believe the first month of the year is already more than half-way over! The first few weeks of the year were spent recovering from holiday food coma, getting back into a FULL work week, and transitioning back to a healthy and productive routine.

In the spirit of New Year's resolutions and getting back to routine, my sisters and I have been inspiring each other through smoothie selfies each day...so so silly I know! But honestly...their daily smoothie photos and ingredient lists have been inspiring me to get my daily dose of blended greens each day. No matter how silly the motivation, finding a support system that is working towards the same goals as you can help tremendously with your resolutions all year long.

Here's to finding inspiration and motivation in 2014, and surrounding yourself with people that support and promote your best self! 

Dirty 30...Not For This Girl!

The Body Deli Vital-C Serum

My favorite product right now...made from live, raw foods, and stored in the fridge so every morning is like getting a facial!

As I move into my 30th year this Friday...eek!...I have become more aware and educated about what I put in my body, but even more so...what I put ON my body. The task of eliminating chemicals and toxins from your diet alone can be quite the task, but cleaning up the everyday products that you put on your body can be absolutely overwhelming.

Our skin has absorptive properties, so technically you shouldn't put anything on your skin that you wouldn't put in your mouth, as the skin is just another way for toxins and carcinogens to enter your body, creating cancer-growing cells.

When I first started tossing my toxic products and making room for the new products, I would stand in the store aisle, eyes glazed over, not knowing where to begin! So what can you do...besides memorize all the wordy ingredients you want to avoid, like...diethanolamine or isopropylparaben. No thank you!! The process doesn't have to be daunting, and I have to say I feel more empowered and in control as I move into a new decade!

So here are a few things that I've done over the past 6 months to change the products that I use and educate myself around the toxins that hide in many of our everyday beauty products...

1. Save the following link on your phone, or print it out and keep it in your handbag...Be Naturally You.

A great friend, who's mother is a natural skin care chemist, gave me this handy list of ingredients to watch out for when you're shopping for new products or making sure your existing products make the cut. The list can be a bit overwhelming, but the more you use it, the easier it will be to remember the ingredients you need to watch out for!

2. Start simple...

Change out each product as you run out of it. This can help your wallet and your sanity. When you're getting low on say face wash or mascara, start looking into which brands you can switch to instead of completely dumping your cabinet of products.

3. Shop Health Food Stores...

Local health food stores, as well as Whole Foods and Sprouts, have great natural beauty products, and they usually have knowledgeable associates available that can help walk you through their favorite natural products.

4. Trial and error...

I probably tried 4 different deodorants before I found one that actually worked well, so don't be afraid to find out that some of your more natural products don't perform quite the same as the chemical-filled products you're used to. Friends that are on the same journey are helpful in finding great products too!

5. Get Back to Basics...

Coconut and essential oils were my best friends when first starting to switch over my products. You can find great uses for coconut oil here, I use it for lotion, eye makeup remover, lip balm, night cream, ETC! Stay tuned for a homemade dry skin remedy you can whip up yourself, and have confidence in the ingredients.

Just a warning: The more you know, the more you're going to check every single product in your home...haha! Just last night I was doing dishes and reading the ingredients of my supposedly "natural" dishwash soap, and looks like I need to find a new one...totally worth it though!

LOCAL Greens: Kreation Organic Juicery

I tend to make my own juices at home, but when I'm about and about and I need something to keep me sustained, I make a stop at Whole Foods, or more recently

Kreation Organic Juicery 

in Manhattan Beach.

Kreation is a small chain with locations in Manhattan Beach, as well as various spots in West Los Angeles. The juices are made from 100% organic fruits and vegetables purchased locally in Santa Monica. They have a wide selection of juices, kombuchas, nut milks, and enhanced waters like lavender, aloe vera, and peppermint. I love how each juice has the ingredients, as well as the benefits you'll receive from each ingredient on the side of the bottle. They also let you sample each flavor before you buy so you know exactly what you're getting...like healthy wine tasting! Maybe not so much, but at least you don't buy a huge quantity of one flavor, and then try it to realize it tastes like dirty socks...

Not only does Kreation have yummy and nutrient-rich juices, their stores are filled with gorgeous succulent walls. Even their truck that delivers juices around the Los Angeles area has some amazing greenery on it! You can pick up a juice or two if you're just stopping in, or they also have detox plans that you can purchase if you want to do a cleanse for a few days...or maybe a month...or more!

Special Delivery: Fruits & Veggies

I received my first shipment of organic fruits and veggies this week from Farm Fresh To You, and let me tell you, it was like Christmas! I have never been more excited to receive a package on my doorstep!

Farm Fresh To You is a fruit and vegetable delivery service that brings organic, in-season, and LOCAL produce right to your doorstep. You can choose the items you DON'T want, and your delivery for the week will depend on what the farms have ready for pickin'! There are lots of varieties of boxes you can receive, such as veggies only, or fruit and veggie mixes. This week was blood oranges, Nantes carrots, butternut squash, red potatoes, and Hass avocadoes!

I decided to try it out so that I can incorporate more in-season produce into my diet, as well as challenge myself to try new recipes with fruits and vegetables that I wouldn't normally pick up at the market, like this romanesco...

Ground MATCHA Green Tea

Ground Matcha Via

My recent discovery of matcha green tea in powdered form was like striking gold! I had no idea what a glorious superfood I was missing out on all this time!

Powdered matcha green tea makes the other superfoods look not as super, and is an easy addition to smoothies, juices, soups, plain hot water, or even cupcake batter??!! It contains 10 times the benefits of a steeped cup of green tea!

Let me tell you why I LOVE me some powdered matcha:

1.  Powdered Matcha Green tea has almost 7 times more naturally occurring antioxidants than dark chocolate...Plentiful antioxidants means boatloads of alkalizing, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral benefits for YOU!

2.  The caffeine in powdered matcha provide a calm energy which lasts for about 4-6 hours, and provides a productive alertness much different than a cup of coffee. Your mood is elevated and you have a greater ability to concentrate, but still feel the ZING!

3.  Powdered matcha contains choryphyll, which detoxifies the blood, balances pH, and also gives it a bright, cheery green color.

4.  Other reported benefits of powdered matcha are that it promotes fat burning, aids digestion, improves foul breath, and boosts immunity.

Stay tuned Friday for a little detoxification combo using some powdered matcha...just in time for the weekend!

Kombucha for Detoxification and Energy

Kombucha is my version of healthy soda...it has an effervescent quality to it, and refreshes and re-energizes!

There are tremendous benefits from consuming kombucha, whereas soda...not so much...

KOMBUCHA

is a fermented effervescent tea with detoxing and energizing qualities. You can make the tea on your own, or you can purchase a ready-to-drink bottle at your favorite health food store. Bottled kombucha is often complemented with ingredients, such as ginger, spirulina, chlorella, or chia seeds, and give it a less bitter taste.

Let's discover some of the most common benefits:

1.  Kombucha contains live cultures of probiotics, increasing intestinal flora and improving digestion. Your body will be able to absorb the good nutrients, and get rid of toxicity.

2.  Most versions of kombucha contain a wide range of B vitamins, providing energy to the body, as well as vitamin C, boosting immunity and promoting detoxification.

3.  Kombucha balances the pH in the body, alkalizing acidity, and flushing toxins out of the kidney. This is similar to the benefits of warm water and lemon, that I discussed here.

4.  Kombucha increases metabolism, as the body is brought into an equilibrium with all systems running more smoothly.

The benefits of kombucha are most effective when consumed on a daily basis, which can get quite expensive if you are buying it pre-bottled.

Try brewing your own kombucha in order to gain the most benefit...something I plan to try out myself...so stay tuned for a tutorial on how to brew your own!

For the LOVE of Tea Tree Oil!

I love a good green product with multiple uses, and am constantly searching for natural, do-it-yourself remedies!

 When I recently needed a cleaner for my yoga mat to rid off all the yuckiness that gathers from dripping sweat and being transported back and forth, I found my remedy in

TEA TREE OIL!

Here are a few fun facts about my new FAV oil:

1.  Tea tree oil fights off bacteria, fungi, and viruses...hence, my use for a yoga mat cleaner!

2.  It can be applied to your skin and used to treat acne, eczema, and Athlete's Foot. Word to the wise... avoid eyes when applying to your face!

3.  The scent of tea tree oil is energizing and can lift your mood. I use tea tree oil as a morning toner, making me feel more awake, energized, and fresh!

4.  When used as a spray, tea tree oil can control mold and mustiness, preventing germs from lingering. I spray the mat cleaner on my pillow in the morning to keep germs off, and it smells like a spa when I jump in bed at night.

To Make Your Own Tea Tree Oil Disinfectant Spray, you will need:

Small spray bottle

Tea Tree Oil

Water

Essential Oil of your choice

**I used a Rosemary Lavender for an energizing, but calming scent.

Combine in spray bottle: 1 cup of water, 12-15 drops of tea tree oil, and 12-15 drops of essential oil.

If there is something that I can create or use in my own home that doesn't contain chemicals and lots of additives, then I am hooked!

I ♥ Lemons!

Lemons Via

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make...EVERYTHING!

These detoxifying, and beautifully bright fruits are present in almost every recipe I make. Not only do they give a little zing to every dish, but they have innumerous health benefits as well. It has been found that starting your day with lemon and hot water will detoxify and cleanse your digestive system and liver.

Some of my favorite benefits of lemon include:

1.  They are extremely high in Vitamin C, and can fight off colds, flu, and throat ailments. Add lemon to your echinacea or green tea when you feel a cold coming on.

2.  The citric acid in lemon aids digestion, relieves constipation, and can prevent formation of kidney stones. I start my day with warm water and lemon just for these reasons, and the smell will wake up your senses.

3.  Lemon has preservative qualities. If you sprinkle lemon on your apples or avocados, you can keep them from turning brown, and extend their life.

4.  It can be used as an aromatherapy aid, as lemons lift mood and energy levels, helpful to those with depression, and going through menopause. It clears the mind allowing for better focus and concentration.

5. It has antibacterial and astringent properties, and can improve the appearance of dull skin. When applied to the skin as a toner, it acts as an anti-aging treatment.

Besides all of the above everyday uses, lemons look fantastic and bright in a bowl in your kitchen, which is personally one of my favorite uses!

**Try a few of my favorite recipes with lemon here, here, and here...with plenty more coming soon!

Green Product I Love: My S'well Bottle

This little green bottle packs a lot of punch, and has been by my side since I bought it a few weeks back!

When you purchase a bottle, you are supporting WaterAid, which provides safe, hygienic, and sanitized water to the world's poorest communities, as well as cutting down on the waste of plastic bottles that are disposed of each day.

Aside from the green benefits of this bottle, it looks super sleek...I get asked about it often in work meetings, and it is made of double stainless steel, so liquids stay cold for 24 hours, and hot for 12 hours!

I put it to the test, and brought my S'well with cold water to my 100 degree hot yoga class, which is pretty much always impossible to maintain a cold water bottle throughout the whole class, and SUCCESS!

Not only that...Every Sunday I take my dog for a long walk and play session down at the beach, and my coffee is usually cold by the time we're done, but the S'well passed that test too!

To snag one up for yourself, you can find them here. I know I'll be buying a few more for holiday gifts this year, and I have to say the wine bottle size could come in pretty handy for some outdoor strolls through Christmas lights!