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Look to the Higher Things

During our childhood we should be taught the real lesson of life and made to understand life in its true sense. Let pictures be shown of the real life. If they would put on the screen the pictures of the real life, the real understanding, and teach the people that there is no death, teach them of the beautiful conditions on the other side of life which are waiting for every one entitled to them, after they understand the higher life, the world would be different. I lived in a life of make-believe, and we tried to amuse humanity. I am sorry for the girls who fall into a life of sport. They think they have a good time, – yes, for a while. But there is always some little voice – conscience – that bothers you, no matter how you try to kill it. Oh, if I could only teach the young girls, – tell them of the folly of such a life! If I could only teach them to look up to the higher life, and show them the truth of that life! We should teach people to live for others, not for self. We should teach the girls the principles of life, not falsehood. One thing that is very detrimental to the world is drink and morphine. As conditions are now they are driving the girls and boys to misery. People condemn without acting, and what do they gain? They drive the young to the depths, because when the law forbids things, they want them, and in some way or another they get them. They enjoy them more because they are forbidden. There is also something else. You know, whiskey and the other alcoholic drinks have a thousand, yes, a million thoughts that go with them. The cranks concentrate their minds on drink, and condemn it, and when sensitives get it, they become wild. They become crazy with all the thoughts that are sent with it. It drives them down and down. Man should live and learn of God’s wonderful manifestations. God is the Life of All, but man is the devil. I do not mean man alone when I say man, but I mean humanity. God gave us a free will, but we misuse it. People should be taught the true teachings of Christ. They say: “Did not Christ make wine? And did He not give it to the people?” They do not understand that it was the Wine of Life. Christ spoke about the spiritual. The majority of people think he spoke of the material. Understand God right. Do not let us fear Him. He is not a man sitting on a throne, but He is the Spirit of All Life. Everything around us is a part of this Divine Life. Evil has its place just as the good has. If we had no evil we could not know the good. It is only from the experiences we pass through that we learn the lessons of life, that we gain wisdom, and I learn of the life everlasting that lies before us. My salvation came in the spirit world when I found the truth, because I had been through misery. After I had gone through the fire of conscience, I was purified. I was anxious to find the truth, and after I found it there was no doubting. I wanted peace and harmony and I was then ready for it. You find gold after it has gone through the fire of purification. After my soul had gone through the fire of conscience, I found God within myself, not on the outside. Find God and be content within yourself. Learn to understand yourself first before you judge others, then you will not judge. Let us be friends to all, do good to all, and do good whenever we can. Let us conquer self. Whenever self rises within you to torment you and tries to make you give way to anger, and give way to drinking and all kinds of trouble, say to yourself that you are not angry, and that you will not give way to things. Then, instead of saying anything to others, get up and turn around, and your anger will be gone, because you will not say what you wanted to, and many times, in that way, you will have harmony. When we are in a state of anger, we say things that afterwards we are sorry for, and sometimes these things can never be forgotten. So let us always think, if we feel anger coming over us, that we will not give way to it; let us turn around and say: “No, I will conquer self, I will look to higher things, not the lower. I will conquer, and you cannot come in and torment.” I was in that state of anger and it was my death. What did I do? I killed myself. I did not mean to kill myself, but I did it in a mood of anger. Conquer self before it is too late. Conquer your anger before it goes too far. I was swept by anger, and what happened? I killed myself. Then when I woke up and saw what I had done, I was in anguish. It was through anger – anger and selfishness. Let us conquer, and when anger comes in let us say: “Get thee behind me Satan!” Turnaround, and that will shutout any spirit that would take possession of you. If I had turned around I would not have done what I did. If I could only tell people of the life they should live, and have them put pictures on the screen of the true life and teachings of Jesus and the lessons He taught, and how much good we could all do for humanity, it would turn many criminals, and they would become good men and women. This is Olive T. Good Night

(from 30 years among the dead)

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Castille soap – the best choice for skin

You might be surprised to learn that most soaps and body washes don’t actually contain soap.  Instead, these products are a blend of chemical detergents and surfactants. Unless a product explicitly says it’s a soap and not a detergent, you should assume it’s a detergent blend.  Companies do this for a few reasons.  First, unsurprisingly, detergents and surfactants are a lot cheaper than soaps to produce.  Detergents and surfactants are also easier to make into products that have properties companies think consumers like such as “gel” texture and thick foaming.  Sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium stearate are some of the most commonly used detergents and surfactants.  If your “soap” product contains any of these, you would do your skin a favor by tossing it.

Detergents and surfactants strip out the skin’s natural oils much more harshly than soaps do.  On top of that, detergents will disrupt critical enzymes in the skin cells as well as the glycoprotein matrix that gives skin its structure.  Consistently washing the skin with detergents and surfactants will give you dry and rough skin, making it less able to breathe and clear out toxins like it’s designed to.

There are plenty of great soaps available, but they may be difficult to find in your average conventional supermarket. As far as widely distributed products go, I like Dr. Bronners soaps as well as other castille soaps. Castille soap is oil that has been processed with lye until the lye disintegrates and all that is left is the saponified oil. These can be made with any oil but the most popular ones seem to be palm, olive and coconut oils. I like to buy soap with my favorite essential oils and extracts such as lavender and vanilla. I also have been known to make my own soap so I can tailor it to my needs. In these cases I will add oils and herbs that I feel I could use in my skincare routine to the soap base. I know some people that swear by using liquid castille soap for everything from their laundry to their shampoo, but I prefer to use it as a household cleanser and handsoap. This way I don’t strip my hair of precious oils and make it frizzy. I love castille soap in bar form as a body wash, while I use my own recipes or a moisturizing shampoo. The great thing about oil soaps is that they aren’t full of harmful chemicals and dyes. I used to buy hand soap in bulk, as well as dish soap and laundry dertergent. While I have yet to try castille for laundry, I think it works great for washing my hands and dishes. It usually smells great minus artificial fragrances that seem to be in so many hand soaps these days.

I would recommend this soap to anyone looking for a safe alternative to endocrine disrupter containing soaps on the market. Simple, time-tested ingredients are better for the environment, and more importantly, for your body. If you or someone you love have an autoimmune condition, replacing potentially harmful personal care products is a good first step to healing. When your body is weak and your immune system is down, your body is prone to experiencing negative effects from household cleansers and products. It can be overwhelming sometimes to initiate big changes, but as I always say, every little bit helps. Small steps lead to big differences.

 

Spicy Mexican-Style Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I don’t know about you but I love foods wrapped in lettuce. I wrap my burgers, egg rolls, tacos and other various dishes in lettuce in place of bread or other naughty foods. This recipe is a fun low carb, gluten-free, grain-free, natural organic meal. I have made it before with cashews which was delicious, but this time I’m putting a Mexican spin on it by adding salsa, cheese and avocado. Feel free to mix it up or add chopped up cashews or peanuts if you would like to to be a little more asian inspired. This is so tasty and guilt-free. I eat until I’m full and feel no shame.

Mexican-Style Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Print Recipe
Gluten free, non-gmo, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, organic goodness. That's a mouthful. Literally.
Servings Prep Time
2-3 10 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
10 minutes 1 hour
Servings Prep Time
2-3 10 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
10 minutes 1 hour
Mexican-Style Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Print Recipe
Gluten free, non-gmo, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, organic goodness. That's a mouthful. Literally.
Servings Prep Time
2-3 10 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
10 minutes 1 hour
Servings Prep Time
2-3 10 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
10 minutes 1 hour
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Cut up chicken into small pieces. Add sweetener of choice, amino acids or tamari, pepper, garlic, spices, onion, chopped tomato, and vinegar. I marinate the chicken in the ingredients for an hour, but you can whip it up and cook it right away if you're short on time and it will still turn out delicious. Pan fry in coconut oil until golden brown. Scoop onto plate and add cheese, yoghurt, avocado and salsa and spoon into lettuce.
Recipe Notes

This works well as a main course as well as an appetizer:)

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Dark Well Guided Meditation

This meditation was created with the purpose of knocking down barriers and lifting your subconscious mind to a higher plane where solutions can be found. Many times when we feel as though our situation is hopeless we are failing to see a way out, but it does exist. There is always a positive side to everything and our higher selves are capable of “seeing the forest through the trees” as the saying goes. Listen to this script when you have a little bit of time to unwind and you are feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.

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Gluten-Free Coconut Chia Banana Bread Recipe

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I love to find new ways of making old recipes tastier and healthier. I recently made this gluten free banana bread a little better with the help of some chia and coconut.

Gluten-Free Coconut Chia Banana Bread

1 cup organic coconut Flour

1 cup sorghum flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoon raw sugar or honey

1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking soda

4 teaspoon chia seeds

4 teaspoon shredded coconut

4 eggs

4 ripe bananas

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

4 Tablespoon coconut oil

1/4 cup coconut milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°. Add dry ingredients in large bowl. Combine applesauce, eggs, coconut milk, bananas, vanilla and coconut milk in separate smaller bowl. Add ingredients together and mix until mixture is moist. Coat 2 4×8 inch loaf pans with oil and pour. Bake for 45 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick and it comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes or overnight for best consistency.

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Although it may not look as pretty as some other banana breads due it’s lack of gluten, I can assure you it is delicious. Enjoy!

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Beat Stubborn Belly Fat

If your like most of us, you have struggled with unwanted weight around the waist. This area is commonly referred to with endearing titles such as “beer belly”, “spare tire”, or my personal favorite “love handles”. Although I have no love for mine, I realize that self hate will not only get nothing done, it also impairs my motivation.

I have never really been overweight, fortunately, but I have had issues with gaining weight in not-so-flattering places. In my quest to get the perfect physique, I have taken up more physical activity, and tweaked my diet over the course of the years.

I began eating a lot of carbs, sugars and starches, believing that fat content was was made you gain weight. Then I started to catch on and get rid of a lot of the calories. My body went into starvation mode, and with less calories and carbs, made me grumpy and left me feeling hopeless about keeping it up.

I have found that starving yourself and cutting out all calories is not sustainable. I also love carbs like fruit and pizza so I missed food and became grumpy all the time.

Many instances I just gave up and binged on crappy food for a week because I couldn’t stand eating “special” food and watching everyone else pig out on junk food seemingly unfazed. I knew there had to be a solution. But was it rocket science? Unknown secret spells only gifted souls were privy to?

I was determined to find answers, and after several years of experimenting and reading I think I found a cure to beat the bloat.

This is the formula:

Right Eating + Right Exercise = Right Weight-loss

I know, crazy right? Like you haven’t heard that before.

The trick in that equation is right eating and exercise. So if you aren’t adding the correct ingredients together, you aren’t going to get the results you want.

I hope to get into this more in coming posts, but to give you a quick synopsis of what I have found I have compiled a list of the keys to remember when trying to lose weight in your stomach.

Right Eating

1. Eat three to seven times a day. This means breakfast, lunch and dinner at hopefully the same time each day with occasional snacks in between.

2. Portion control is essential. You may think you want to eat a whole plate of food but remember your body has to process that food today…not tomorrow, in order to stay trim.

3. Monitor your starches and grains. Limit your rice, pasta, potatoes, quinoa, bread, oatmeal etc to one 1/2 cup per day. This should not be part of every meal. Remember that peas, beans, squash, sweet potatoes and corn are starches so this rule goes for them as well. Because the second group are fibrous, aim for 1/2 to 1 cup a day and don’t beat yourself up if you go a little over that.

4. Watch your sugar intake. I did a no processed sugar challenge a while ago and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done for my health. If you drink coffee with sugar, try a tad less and ween yourself off or use a raw sugar or raw honey instead. There are also some good substitutes such as monk fruit, stevia or xylitol. Eat fruit with reckless abandon. There are a lot of diets that will tell you to avoid fruit but because they are filled with fiber I say go for it. If you enjoy ice cream, try blending frozen pineapples or a fruit mixture in place of it. Fruit juice does not count since it is highly processed and contains no fiber.

5. Find new interesting ways to eat vegetables, and eat at least one to two servings per meal. Maybe for you this is an omelet with veggies for breakfast, or a salad everyday for lunch with peppers and mushrooms, or a cauliflower puree on the side for dinner. Whatever it takes, look up recipes and add them into your meals. Don’t eat your favorite food first, start with your least favorite healthy choice.

6. Drink herbal tea or lemon water throughout the day. If you are feeling frisky, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to it.

7. Eat one probiotic per day. Get to know and love your best friends kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi. They will be helping you digest that food you ate today…and (stresses importance)..not tomorrow.

Right Exercise

1. Move! If you walk after each meal..then hooray! Go you! If not then shoot for once a day or laps around your house while dusting. The goal here is to spend less time on your butt. If that includes dancing while you run the vacuum or get ready for work, then cool. If that means getting up to do jumping jacks during commercials, that’s cool too. Take the stairs or park further away when you grocery shop. Every little bit counts, and those extra steps will burn calories.

2. Build muscle. With your healthy eating in place, you really just need to be doing muscle building to lose fat. Focus on one part of your body twice a week, or all every day with one skip day a week. I encourage you to try squats for your butt and thighs, sideways crunches for abs, and arm weights for your arms. There are a million ways to do squats, lift weights and workout the abs. Just focus on doing a little ever day and sticking to it. You don’t have to work out for hours, you just have to work your muscles for several repetitions a day to get results. Start off slow with ten and increase it by 5-10 each week after it becomes a habit.

3. Interval over cardio. I know you have seen a lot of workout videos that last one hour, with crazy cardio routines that make you tired and sweaty. I don’t think this is essential. Interval training is getting your heart rate up for a shorter period of time versus running marathons. This means that a few 60 second sprints are more powerful than running miles. If you can find a place to do sprints then rest a few times a day then good for you, if not then try burpees or jump rope for about a minute then rest. Do this several times.

4. Do something fun. I encourage you to try yoga, spin classes, dance classes, zumba or aerobics. Anything that gets you with a group of people doing the same thing twice a week is good. This forces you to feel obligated to go and will keep you working hard during the class. If you can’t afford your local gym, try the YMCA or a meetup group.

Final Thought:

Everyone has trouble with certain parts of their body, but with daily commitments, you will get the results. There is no question that eating the right food and staying active works. If you are having trouble with overcoming internal barriers try a meditation or hypnosis. In many cases, people who have issues with taking care of their bodies do not respect themselves or value themselves for various reasons. Listen to motivational speeches on youtube or make a vision board that you look at everyday. Remember that you are worth it and that you can feel better than you ever imagined once these changes begin to take place. After six weeks of working at it, you will feel the difference.

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Anything but Pills

I used to have a hard time taking my vitamins and herbs everyday. Coming from a family of naturalists, I essentially had a whole apothecary in my kitchen cabinets. The issue became, however, that because of the overwhelming amount of herbal supplements, I rarely took them.

To combat this issue, I decided I needed to cut down on the inventory of pills I had in my cabinets. I started with the multivitamins then began taking the supplements I knew I needed at the time. Since I didn’t want to take 10 pills or more a day, I stuck to only a few. This dramatically changed my ability to take my supplements. The choice anxiety was impairing my ability to manage my health. By cutting down, I was simplifying my life. Simplicity is something I have found to be deeply therapeutic and healing.

Now I focus on what I need, and discard what I don’t. If it isn’t serving me, I don’t want it in my life. I research like crazy when I have an issue so i’m not bombarding my body with pills I don’t really have use for. Honestly, your liver will thank you if you keep it simple. Too many supplements and you are overworking your body’s filtration system.

That’s why whenever I meet someone who says they just can’t seem to remember to take their pills, I tell them to keep it simple. Make sure you really need that supplement before you take it.

What I like to do is incorporate as many health supplements into my lifestyle as possible without taking it in pill form. For example, I know that horsetail and burdock root is good for my hair. But I don’t want to take two pills everyday for that, so what I do is get the loose dried plant and make tea every day. This way I can give my body what it needs without overtaxing my liver or overwhelming my psyche.

If you read about how great turmeric is for you or how amazing pomegranate is, think twice before you buy the supplement. Rule of thumb is if you can eat it you don’t need to take it. Get those nutrients and antioxidants from food, not pills. Avoiding pill popping is a goal of mine and I hope it’s one of yours too. I recommend thinking over what you put in your body and what alternatives you can try. With simplicity in mind it becomes easier to give your body what it needs without overdoing it.

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4 Plants That Work Better Than Medicine

Although modern medicine definitely has it’s place, alternative medicine can offer us a gentler approach to both preventative illness as well as treatment. These plant derived alternatives to prescription drugs can offer a bit of relief without the headache of going to the doctor. The teas will be labeled (T) and the spices labeled (S), or (TS) for both.

Fenugreek (S) – Aids digestion, clears mucus, treats appendicitis, blood sugar regulation in diabetes and other insulin related disorders, calms inflammatory illnesses, is rumored to be an aphrodisiac, fight cancer, help menopausal issues and induce labor. The ancient Egyptians are even said to have used fenugreek to make their sweat smell of maple syrup.

Ginger (TS) – Aids digestion, relieves nausea, motion sickness and morning sickness, calms inflammation, alleviates muscle pain, and is rumored to treat cancer, specifically ovarian cancer. It acts as a painkiller, maintains blood circulation, prevents cold and flu, prevents colon cancer, strengthens immunity, and is a natural expectorant.

Mint (TS)- Aids digestion, reduces seasonal allergies, calms inflammation, natural decongestant, IBS treatment, cooling and calming when used topically, helps with asthma, fatigue, motion sickness. Rumored to kill cancer and help with weight loss.

Ginseng (T) – Increases vitality, treats adrenal fatigue, supplies energy, great for stress management. Ginseng is an excellent daily supplement for clearing the mind and staying young.

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Turmeric’s Many Uses

Turmeric has been used for hundreds of years all over the world not only in cooking, but also as a skin treatment, hair inhibitor and skin lightener.  This herb is a miracle food and provides many benefits to the body, even rumored to prevent cancer. Applied to the skin as a topical paste it can be left on anywhere from 10 minutes to as long as it takes to dry.

Kasturi turmeric is a non-yellowing form of turmeric which is equally effective for all sorts of skin related issues like acne or rosacea. Any turmeric will have benefits if used, but katsuri will not stain your skin. Another way to protect your skin from staining, is to add milk and some oat flour which behaves like a thickener as well as soothing the skin with oat’s emollient qualities. This paste will also be less likely to stain your skin.  If you do happen to stain it however, a little soap and a microfiber washcloth should be able to remove any residue left. 

Benefits of a Turmeric Mask include: 

-Acne and Oily Skin Treatment

-Skin brightening

-Skin Cleansing

-Wrinkle Reduction

-Body Hair Remover

-Dandruff Treatment

-Cuts and Burns

-Eczema

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Naturally Lighten Skin

It seems like everyone wants to either lighten or tan their skin. The skin whitening fad is just as popular as the fake bake in many parts of the world. Regardless of your complexion, chances are you want to change it;) This article seeks to give you some ideas for naturally lightening your skin. Remember that you are beautiful no matter what your skin tone, and try to enjoy the grass on your side of the fence in the meantime.

 
FACE AND BODY MASKS
 
Yogurt and Lemon Juice Mask

Yogurt contains probiotics (active cultures) which are great for acne and skin smoothing. If you apply a yogurt mask over time, it will brighten and even out your skin tone. The acids and vitamin C content in lemons work as a natural bleaching agent for the skin.

TO USE:

A tablespoon of plain greek yogurt (no additives like sugar is preferred) mixed with a squirt of lemon will be enough to cover your entire face. Use more for a body application. Spread the mixture on your skin. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes or until the mask dries. Rinse in the shower or with a damp washcloth.

Microfiber towel (Body and Face)

Exfoliating or removing dead skin cells is another good way to brighten skin tone. Aim for no more than twice a week. Microfiber towels are exfoliating and reusable. You should wash them after every use and keep a few on hand.

TO USE:

Just scrub your body down in the shower with a cleanser for a mild exfoliation or without for a deeper one. For face scrub more gently and make sure not to over do it.

Sugar and Oil Scrub (Body)

Because of the size of the sugar granules, this is not super recommended for your face, although your body will glow and feel silky smooth. Olive oil benefits are numerous, and mixed with sugar your skin will thank you.

 

TO USE:

Mix enough olive oil into a half cup of sugar to form a paste. Apply in circular motions, and rinse.

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Best Detox Bath Ingredients

A good detox bath once a week is great for relieving stress, as well as removing toxins that have accumulated in your body from bad food choices, cosmetic additives, and environmental pollutants.  This can have a huge impact on your wellbeing and health, so it’s always a good idea to take time to relax and release.

Start with candles and at least 20 minutes of undisturbed time. 40 minutes is ideal if you can squeeze it in.

It’s always nice to do two things at once, and with pampering and beauty, a little goes a long way. Jump start your bath with an oil treatment for your hair, since your body temperature will be rising and it will heat up the oil, providing a more effective treatment. I found this one lying around. I like to use it after my baths or on extremely dry skin like elbows and knees. It contains almond oil and lavender oil.

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Here are the ingredients you will need for the detox bath:

  • Apple Cider Vinegar

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  • Baking Soda

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  • Sea Salt

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  • Tea Tree Oil

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Dermal Roller and Yogurt Facelift

Everyone wants younger and firmer looking skin, but a facelift isn’t always an option. It’s a risky surgery, and expensive. The alternative is skin care products. Products out there can be costly as well, and who knows if they will even work!

After being asked repeatedly at work about botox alternatives, I realized firming saggy skin was something many woman wanted. While continuing my education to become a paramedical aesthetician, I found out about something called “dermal rolling”.

Dermal rolling is a great way to combat scarring, age spots (hyperpigmentation), acne, wrinkles and saggy skin. In an attempt to firm my own facial skin, correct uneven skin tone, decrease pore size, and alleviate scarring, I was on a quest to dermal roll my face for 30 days.

In the process, my skin would be regenerating, hence, sloughing off. Because I am a huge fan of yogurt as a face mask, I decided to also use yogurt to subtly peel the inevitable dead skin along the way. Not only does it help kill acne, but it exfoliates in the process. It’s safe and gentle enough to use every day, and more affordable than store bought exfoliants and masks.

Rules I Followed:

1. Dermal roll with a 1.0 mm dermal roller 3x a week, or roughly every three days. To do this, roll the dermal roller slowly and firmly across skin in rows, then go back the opposite way. I usually go up and down on my whole face, then left and right.

2. Apply a plain yogurt mask daily in the a.m.

Tips:

* I used coconut oil cleanser at night, with makeup removing wipes for my eye makeup.

* I wore the minimum amount of makeup I could tolerate during the day without feeling completely naked.

What to expect: Your face may look red and feel like a sunburn after 10-15 minutes of dermal rolling. Pinpoint bleeding is perfectly normal and will wash off and be unnoticeable. The redness will disappear over the next fews days followed by subtle peeling.

Remember to target scowl lines between eyebrows that develop from thinking too hard or being upset. Also target nasolabial folds (laugh lines), and any other issues you personally have with your skin. Dermal rolling can also

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Middle Eastern Style Lentil Soup

This soup is great for cold winter weather, and especially delicious if you like lentils. Soup is great for achieving a clear complexion because it holds many important nutrients and contains water. It also is beneficial for weightless because it fills you up with vegetable juice.

Middle Eastern Style Lentil Soup

  • 3 tablespoons regular olive oil (or coconut oil)
  • 2 large onions, finely chopped
  • 5 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon pepper of choice (I like cayenne)
  • 2 cups lentils; rinsed clean
  • 10 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Himalayan salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Greek yogurt

In large stainless steel pot, sauté the onions in oil over medium-high heat until they start to soften. Turn heat down to medium-low and continue to cook until they start to caramelize.

Add garlic, stirring frequently to prevent the garlic from burning.

Add the cumin and pepper.

Add lentils and chicken broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.

Once the soups starts to boil, reduce heat to medium or medium-low and allow to simmer until lentils are soft. About 30 minutes.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

If you want a creamier soup, use a hand mixer once they are softened.

Add the spinach. You can chop the spinach, if desired, but it is not necessary.

Add the lemon juice.

Garnish with dollop of Greek-style yogurt, and serve.

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Easy Spanish Rice

Easy Spanish Rice

  • 1 can organic stewed tomatoes
  • 1/2 jar of organic homemade tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp of raw honey
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 2 Tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 Tbsp hot pepper of choice
  • rice
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 lb grass fed beef

Add onion, garlic, bell pepper, stewed tomatoes and olive oil together in pan.

Cook until vegetables begin to soften, then add beef, tomato sauce, honey, and hot pepper, and cook until beef is done.

Add rice, salt to taste and serve.

Spanish rice is an easy gluten free meal that can be quite satisfying with few ingredients. Feel free to add hot sauce like tabasco or siracha to taste, and some greek yogurt on top to serve at the end.

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No Processed Sugar Challenge

I’m in week one of my no processed sugar challenge and I had no idea how much sugar I really ate!

The first week has been a little difficult since I realized how many things have sugar in them! Sauces, condiments and even sausage!

The cravings are the worst in the morning, since I used to grab a muffin, pastry or other sugar filled food to start my day.

I also found it incredibly difficult to resist pizza, garlic bread and cake at my nephew’s 3rd birthday party at chucky cheese. I assumed that either the dough or the sauce had sugar in it and took no chances. I sipped unsweetened ice tea while others drank soda.

I ended up running to the car and grab some healthy chips to combat the urge to freak out and ingest all available sugar. That would have most likely ruined his big day. You can tell he is pretty excited.

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I felt like a teen on prom night sneaking in these chips. Luckily these are way healthier than spiked punch, but maybe not as fun. They are delicious, sweet, sprouted and GMO free:

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To combat the craving issue I have made a habit of:

1. Starting the day with one whole pot of green tea but quitting after that so I don’t overdo it on the caffeine.

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2. I then sip tea throughout the rest of the day that is not caffeinated and preferably herbal with health benefits.

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3. I make fruit smoothies and juices comprised of mangos, strawberries, raspberries, raw honey, Garden of Life protein powder, Lily of the Desert aloe vera gel, and a little tea if its too thick. The protein helps with cravings and helps you feel full, and the honey adds the sweetness I’m craving.

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4. Lunch has been typically a 1/2 cup rice with vegetables and some form of meat. I found the easiest way to do this was to make rice a few times throughout the week and stir fry with vegetables, and either grass fed beef, farm raised chicken, or organic tofu in soy sauce, butter, and himalayan salt and pepper to taste. I then wrapped a little of the stir fry in roasted seaweed from the asian market. The seaweed is a healthy sea vegetable and offers a little salty flavoring that is to die for. Sesame seeds on top, yum!

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5. Snacking has been reduced to tea sipping, smoothies, fresh and dried fruit.

6. Dinners have been experimental most of the week with some successes and some fails. Pad thai was delicious but proved harder to master than I thought. I think I will write down the ingredients that work best and post it in the future. I also made Spanish rice, creamy coconut Thai fish with rice, and Middle Eastern style lentil soup throughout this challenge.

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I only notice a slight change in my weight and size. I don’t feel as bloated but still have my little belly to work on; flat stomach and slimmer waist being my goal. I encourage everyone to limit their sugar intake what with diabetes being on the rise, and processed and synthetic sugar being the largest contributor to obesity.

 

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Creamy Coconut Thai Fish with rice

This recipe was a gamble for me…but it turned out to be a hit.

I have been trying to incorporate more wild caught fish in my diet, around 3x a week.

Creamy Coconut Thai Fish with Rice

  • Several pieces of whitefish such as cod or haddock
  • 1 can of coconut milk (whole fat)
  • 3 tsp of red pepper of choice (I like red pepper and cayenne)
  • 2 Tbsp of minced garlic
  • 1 Tbsp of raw honey
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 3 Tbsp of fish sauce
  • 2 Tbsp of coconut powder or flakes
  • 1 tsp of coconut oil

Combine garlic, coconut milk, honey, coconut powder, pepper, and fish sauce. Heat over medium heat; avoid boiling. When thickened, add lemon and remove from heat.

Take 1/4 of sauce out of pan for serving later.

Add enough rice to the sauce to create a creamy rice mixture. Since I usually make about 6 cups of rice at a time, I like to use leftover rice from my meal the night before.

Dry whitefish filets well, and salt and pepper both sides. Sear each side in coconut oil  for 2 minutes without disturbing the fish while cooking on medium high heat.

Serve fish filet on top of rice mixture and pour some of the remaining sauce on the fish.

Voila! Yummy coconut Thai fish and rice.

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Common foods that make you fat and ruin your skin

Many of us are so used to eating these common foods, that we don’t even realize the damage we are causing our bodies. Just because these foods seem normal to us, and everyone we know is eating them, doesn’t mean they have any nutritional value or health content.

A few simple changes can make a huge difference in your waistline as well as your skin’s texture and vitality.

Try these replacement ideas the next time you go to grab one of your favorite go to snacks and meals.

  • Canned fruit

Replacement: Fresh or dried unsweetened fruit

  • Store bought apple sauce

Replacement: Make your own by using organic apples, a little honey or other natural sweetener like xylitol or coconut sugar and a food processor

  • Cereal bars

Replacement: A rice cake and natural peanut butter mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of agave syrup on top

  • Bowl of cereal

Replacement: Homestyle rolled oats with organic maple syrup

  • Toast with butter substitute

Replacement: Sprouted bread and real organic butter

  • Cake

Replacement: Gluten-free coconut chia banana bread

  • Soda

Replacement: Homemade juices

 

 

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No Processed Sugar Challenge

This challenge will be exactly that, a challenge!

I am currently mildly addicted to these amazing Thai tea cakes and I have decided that when the box is gone, I will begin the challenge.

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The challenge will begin January 30th and end on February 30th.

Rules:

1. Any food is fair game that does not include processed sugar*.

2. Honey, coconut sugar, stevia, xylotol, cane sugar, agave syrup and natural maple syrup are okay.

3. Naturally occurring fruit and dairy sugars are okay.

* Processed sugars include white sugar, brown sugar, sucrose, fructose, or corn syrup.