Monthly Archives: March 2012

All About Almonds

I think most people can agree that almonds are a healthy and satisfying go-to snack. Lately, I have been enjoying these beautiful brownish babies in other ways, mostly by way of moisturizer and scrubs.

As the hot, dry summer months approach, staying well moisturized is a huge priority. And seeing as I like to match >or try to< my almond friends in color during the summer, is it very important that I keep this face and body well nourished with a healthy moisturizer.

What I mean by healthy is…think of your body as a sponge. TONS of tiny little openings absorbing almost everything we expose it to, from the air >> pollution even << to the moisturizer and anti-aging creams. Your body is absorbing TONS of it!!! The amount the body takes in depends on the ingredients, but unnecessary chemicals are something I DO NOT need to be feeding to my skin. It is hard enough protecting against things we have less control over, i.e. pollution and over exposure to sun (I firmly believe moderate amounts of sun are beneficial). So why add more when there are such NATURAL, BENEFICIAL, HEALTHY alternatives.

For the past several months I have been OBSESSING over my 100% pure, sweet almond oil >>I use this brand NOW<<. It has a very mild scent, not very oily, and absorbs easily.

I still use my old moisturizers and eye creams about once a week, but I am finding even that amount is slowly declining. I am all about being NATURAL now. Giving my body wholesome, natural care. My BODY and FACE know what it is >not a ton of chemicals< and they have been showing positive feedback! I have NEVER had such a healthy glow to my face. Even my boyfriend says he has never seen my skin look so radiant!! I simply use a few drops after showering in the morning and at night, paying special attention to the eye area.

I have also started using this almond oil as a lip scrub. I take about a teaspoon or RAW, ORGANIC sugar and mix it with several drops of the almond oil and BAM!!! Moisturizing lip scrub. The sugar acts as a exfoilant and the oil helps moisturize. I just lightly scrub it with a toothbrush for about a minute then rinse. My lips are soft, smooth, and moisturized!

Blendin’ & Juicin’

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Ever get overly ambitious at the farmers market or grocery store? Promise yourself you will be eating more fruit and veggies?? Do you actually end up throwing out or composting a bit of it? No? Good for you Me on the other hand, well I do end up with this problem. Not anymore!

Other than my copa de vino >>glass of wine<< I do have other beverages that are a MUST on the daily list. While mi vino does have some benefits, i.e. re-lax-ation and helping the heart, my smoothies and juices are where it’s really at!! PACKED full of NUTRIENTS, VITAMINS, and MINERALS.

I try to make at least a juice and/or smoothie everyday. It’s also a great way to sneak in other supplements and vitamins with these beneficial beverages! BOOM, getting some NUTES into your system...fast and easy while being quite tasty :-)

Freezing fruit that’s on its way out of freshville will later work amazingly in a smoothie. Last Sunday’s smoothie consisted of strawberries that needed to be used, along with a frozen banana, some almond milk, avocado, and ground flax. The avocado might sound strange, but it helps thicken and make it creamy while adding protein and healthy fat. Mixed with the other ingredients, you really won’t be able to taste it (I only used a quarter).

Tossed in a blender and BOOM, nutritionally packed, low-fat, and de-li-cious!! Such an easy and healthy meal or snack! Even add some coconut oil, a dash of stevia, agave, or other natural sweetener.

The ground up flaxseed adds TONS of fiber >>aiding in digestion<< high in B vitamins, and is rich in fatty acids. Buying ground flaxseed at the store can be pricey $$, and since I am ALL about finding more cost efficient ways to be healthy, I recommend buying it in bulk from your local health food store. It will most likely be in seed form so you will need to grind it up at home (I use a coffee grinder). It’s not much work and well worth the $$ you will save.

Moving onto to my other fav bev, JUICE! A good juicer can be a pricey investment, but, in my humble opinion, well worth it. Especially if you are vegan. Or if you’re a health nut. Or if you really just want to be able to make fresh juice. You can look online at HUNDREDS of recipes for juicing combinations, but for me, I just like to pack it full of TONS of FRESH and ORGANIC veggies, then top it off with a little fruit to balance the taste and add some more nutrients and vitamins.

Kale, spinach, chard, celery, carrots, beets, cucumber, lemon, apple, and ginger…pressed through a juicer. BAM! The body instantly receives TONS of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. >>this juice actually served 3 people<<

Try whipping yourself up a fresh smoothie or juice and give your body a loving BOOST of nature’s goodness!! Enjoy!