Favorite Things- Natural Edition

I've been trying to use less and less beauty products and less and less processed foods. Here are a few things I've been doing lately:

1. Honey and Brown Sugar face scrub.
I went to my first farmer's market this weekend and I didn't find what I was looking for, but did get some locally grown honey. I found it fascinating that honey could taste different because of what type of flowers a bee "feasted(?)" on. I chose a local honey called Spring Blossom, meaning the bees had feasted on Spring flowers, as opposed to fall flowers. Anyway, I added a small amount of brown sugar to a jar, then added honey until I liked the consistency, and voila, a natural face scrub! Honey can help with inflammation and helps to wash away impurities without stripping skin of natural oils (of which I have plenty). The brown sugar mixture has a pleasant scent and the granules are small so it is not irritating on my skin. I noticed a lovely post shower glow after I used this and I plan to use it 2-3 days a week. I should also point out I don't wash my face often and I typically do not wear much make up. I've found the more I wash my face, the worse it gets.

2. Baking soda in my shampoo. I don't use much product in my hair, but i've found occasionally adding baking soda makes my hair feel "extra squeaky clean." I tried the "no poo" method for awhile, washing my hair with just baking soda and water, and an occasional apple cider vinegar rinse, but it just wasn't cleansing enough for me. I needed more because my hair is very fine and gets oily very easily.

3. Natural Body scrubs. I've been big in to this lately- I made my friend Danielle a body scrub that didn't have too much scent because she is pregnant and I didn't want anything to make her nauseous (I used: white and brown sugar, grape seed and almond oil, vanilla and lavender). I made myself a body scrub of white sugar, olive oil, almond oil, grated clementine peel, and a few drops of orange blossom essential oil. It has been really fun trying new things and the fact that I know exactly what goes in them is nice too :)

4. I've been making my own sauce for the last few months, and every time I make it, I change it up a bit. I found an original recipe on the Mind Body Green website (I highly recommend this website, so awesome!) and I've tweaked it to make it how I like it. Typically, I use: Pomi Strained Tomatoes (I've had a tough time finding the diced ones lately), a can of diced tomatoes, no salt added- ghee (another favorite new thing!) onions, sometimes garlic, spices to taste. I throw everything in a pot, let it simmer for 45 minutes, the last ten I add in all the spices, taste and add as needed. let it cool, then puree it, because you know this girl CANNOT handle chunky food. :)

5. I make my own tomato soup- Take one tablespoon of olive oil and 1 garlic clove, cook for 1 minute on med-high heat. Then add tomatoes (I use Hunt's diced and unsalted) and 1 cup broth (I use Kitchen Basics Unsalted vegetable broth), reduce heat and cook for about 20 minutes. Add spices after you turn off the heat, let sit until cool, puree with immersion blender (or food processor or blender). The version I make has about 60 calories with nothing added or I add in fresh mozz or morningstar veggie crumbles and some parmesan cheese. I also sometimes add in baby spinach. A delicious and quick lunch or snack!

Hope you are all well.

xoxo

Food of Late

I've tried to make a new recipe at least once a week, whether it be dinner, a snack, or a dessert.

A blog that I am currently in love with is www.detoxinista.com

I've been trying to eat less "diet" food and more real food. I have been eating right, I haven't been drinking, and although I haven't lost weight, I feel a lot better.

Check this website out for great, natural (paleo if you will) recipes. Many of them require very few ingredients. My current favorites are the "Dole Whip" (I'm not sure if that's what it's called on the website but it's basically fresh frozen pineapple and almond milk and blend blend blend) and "Flourless Peanut Butter Blondies", both of which I found through Pinterest.

Here's another recipe that I've had for a very long time, and finally got around to making:

http://www.health.com/health/recipe/0,,50400000122274,00.html


xoxo

Favorite Things (Mostly) Food Edition

Food!

Caramel Apple Crunch Pak

I stumbled upon these at Market Basket and they’re a great little snack. It’s a pack of pre cut green apple slices and a small bit of caramel. It’s only 80 calories and a great (and half healthy) treat that really hits the spot!

Nature’s Earthly Choice Heritage Grain Blend – 100% Whole Grain Red and Gold Quinoa, Amaranth, Brown Rice, and Wild Rice

This stuff is so good – you have got to try it. I’ve been trying different grains/sides to try and expand what I eat, and this has so many different flavors and textures, I really like it! I typically cook it in chicken broth and then add a few teaspoons of parmesan or feta cheese. A perfect accompaniment to grilled chicken!

Frozen Kiwi Pops

Yep, as simple as it sounds. I saw this on Pinterest and thought – what a great alternative to an ice pop. You just slice a kiwi, insert a lollipop stick, freeze it for a bit (I usually do an hour or so), dip it in chocolate (I use dark ) and then freeze until hard. I usually let it sit out of the freezer for a little while before biting into it, because it gets very hard. But tasty and so easy! I plan on trying homemade watermelon pops soon and will let you know how that goes.

Cooking Light.Com's Banana Bread

I have made this recipe too many times to count - I actually made it a few times in the last few months. Nick and I both love it (I use Whole Wheat Flour instead of white and add dark chocolate chips).

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-banana-bread-10000000549764/

Jason’s Vitamin E Lotion

This stuff is a great moisturizer, inexpensive, and has virtually no scent. I use very little perfume/scented things now that the baby is trying to eat me all the time :)

Bejeweled iPhone App

This one is just plain silly – a great time waster to take my mind off things when I need a break.

xoxo

Favorite Things...

Although nowadays I don't have much time for me...thought I'd post a few things I'm digging.

1. The hospital lotion with almond oil - haha...sounds funny, but the lotion that I was given at the hospital is unscented and very light, and I mix it with pure almond oil and use it on my whole body, including my c-section scar and stretch marks. It is very absorbent and light, and I use very little/no fragrance now since the babe is alway close.

2. Oatmeal - original flaxseed with no flavoring from market basket. A packet is only 100 calories and I mix in some cinnamon. Maple Brown Sugar oatmeal is one of the grossest smelling things ever - I felt that way even when I wasn't pregnant. This is much simpler and quite delicious. :)

3. Sleep. 'nuff said

4. Yoga- what little I can do of it, feels fantastic.

5. Shea Body Scrub from The Body Shop - virtually unscented, light, and makes my skin super soft.

Prego Recommendation

For any of my pregnant ladies out there, I positively LOVE Bella B Mama Soak, Refeshing Sitz Bath Powder. Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Bella-Mama-Soak-Refreshing-Powder/dp/B001W039GY/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329866698&sr=8-1-fkmr1

I love the way it smells, and it makes my skin feel soft, and it is just so relaxing in the tub. It is a little pricey, but so very worth it. Give it a try to soothe your tired back or aching body parts. :)

My back started killing me yesterday, I know it's not back labor, the baby's head is just settling down further and I think he must be pressing on a nerve. I look ridiculous trying to walk, but I just keep telling myself only a few more weeks to go! I also joke and say I haven't drank for almost 9 months...so I can handle just about anything!

xoxo

Favorite Things

My favorite things of late:

1. Argan/Moroccan Oil. Technically, I'm not sure if these are the same thing. I've chosen to stop coloring my hair- I colored it almost three months ago and went darker with brown highlights, and so far it is growing out really nicely. I did it primarily to save money, but as you know I've been making a conscious effort to be cruelty free with my beauty products, and hair color (other than Aveda and Henna) is mostly not cruelty free, and I know the one my hair dresses uses is not. Nick bought me a new flat iron for Christmas and I found out (accidentally, haha) so he let me have it. It came with a small sample of argan oil and I am in love! It smells great and makes my hair super soft and shiny. I purchased organix brand "moroccan oil" shampoo and deep conditioner a few months back (inexpensive!) and my hair has never looked better! I have fine hair that gets easily oily, so if you share the same hair type as me, give it a try!

2. The Body Shop's tea tree oil line. I use the blackhead clearing scrub in the morning with the day moisturizer and the cleanser at night with my clarisonic skin care brush and follow with the night moisturizer. I also use Juice Beauty's night time moisturizer occasionally if my skin feels a little dry - which is very rare!

3. Iced decaf tea/green tea. I am making a conscious effort to stay away from diet soda (although I do have it once in awhile) and this is a nice replacement for water. It's got a little bit of flavor and hits the spot...although it makes me have to pee even more than normal.

4. Amazon.com. I've been obsessed with this website for as long as I can remember, but I've had such great luck finding Christmas gifts here so if you're looking for something strange or particular, give this website a try - be sure to choose the "free" shipping option if you don't mind waiting a few extra days for the package.

5. The Walking Dead. This is a show on AMC and it is amazing. I am a big horror movie fan, so if you're not, don't watch this. But if you are, this show is well worth it!

6. The baby kicking. I know..this should have been first on the list! It really is pretty awesome. I'm not always conscious of it but I really notice him when I wake up and right before I go to sleep, probably because it's a bit quieter. I smile every time I feel him. When in Mexico I was in the room alot resting and he was "bopping" around as I like to think of it...I'm pretty sure he liked it there. :)

7. Lady Gaga. At any given moment, I bust out in song with some of her lyrics. She's amazing. Yes, she's out there, but she's her own person, does (and wears!) what she wants, many of her songs are meaningful (whether it be to others or something personal to her), and she actually has talent.

8. Family. Even though they make me crazy, I'm really glad to be home, on a longer than normal trip. I'll be home in January again for a small baby shower my mom is throwing for me, but other than that once the baby comes I'm not sure when I'll be back.

9. Cheese. Any. Kind. I can't get enough of it.

xoxo

Favorite Things

Since there's not much to do other than sit inside today, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite things of late.

1. Yankee Candles. My favorite scents of the moment are Clean Cotton and Pomegranate Cider. It doesn't really make sense, but the smell just makes me smile. I don't get it, but I like it.

2. Fiber One Bread. First of all, it's one of the few breads I've found WITHOUT High Fructose Corn Syrup. I used to always eat "lite" bread which tasted like cardboard - and was less substantial then a cracker. Fiber One Bread has 100 calories per slice, but it is so filling and thick and delicious, it is well worth it. I put a thin layer of peanut butter on two pieces, have a protein shake with soy milk, and it's a perfect breakfast that keeps me full until noon.

3. This weather. Well, not today's weather (silly Irene), but it's been cooling down as the fall is getting closer. People at work complain that "the summer is over", but I think the fall is quite beautiful as well. The winter is another story ;)

4. Free weekends. I was pretty bummed on Friday that we decided not to head down to New York, but a weekend of "nothing" has been wonderfully relaxing. I woke up super early yesterday and today, probably because I was in bed at about 9 at night.

5. The Body Shop. It's a small store in the mall and I don't get there often, but when I do, the service is always impeccable and the employees are always incredibly helpful. It's a bit pricey, but it's cruelty free and has some amazing scents (Satsuma...heaven!) Check it out if you can. Yesterday I bought a grapefruit "flavored" lip gloss and it is to die for!

Hope everyone is safe and with the ones they love.

xoxo