Tag Archives: Health

Pick me up!

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It’s Monday! New week, fresh start.

Since its afternoon here, maybe later for some, I thought I would share a little afternoon treat, or rather a way to help combat the craving for bad afternoon treats. And if you know me well, you know what I am going to share is a treat for me. I love me some JUICE! It’s the perfect way to satisfy the sweet tooth.

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It’s common to feel slightly sluggish in the afternoon. Our bodies are metabolizing lunch and go through a natural lull. It’s also common for people to start craving some sugar, a pick me up, in the afternoon. DON’T DO IT! You know you’re just going to crash after. No bueno :-(

Instead, take a walk, drink a tall glass of water, and munch on some healthy, natural sugars. Here enters Green Juice!! You already know it’s packed full of vitamins and nutrients,it is kicked into your system immediately, and when you add some fruit (apple, lemon, orange), you can totally kick that sugar cravings booty! Loading up on the good helps knock out room (cravings) for the bad.

Here’s what I just whipped up:

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  • Kale

  • Romain lettuce

  • 1 stock of celery

  • 1 apple

  • 1 lemon

  • small ginger knob

  • 1/2 cucumber

  • collard greens

Next time that sweet tooth comes knocking, try satisfying it with a green juice and make sure to add something sweet like an apple and lemon.

 

Adios 2012, Hellooooo 2013

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I’m a little late on this, but HAPPY NEW YEAR, and happy Friday!!  It’s 2013, woo woo!

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I cannot believe 2012 is over.  It was the best year yet.  I was so blessed to have SO many great moments throughout the year, and even the not so great only made me stronger and appreciate the good that much more.  God, my family, friends, and readers have given me so much in terms of good times, support, an ear for listening, advice, etc. and I am so grateful.

Let’s do a little recap, cool?!  Cool.

I started off watching the Ducks win the Rosebowl, and heyooo, they just won the Fiesta Bowl last night!!

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{ Go Ducks }

The next day, I took off to Costa Rica for a few months.  It was truly one of the best times of my life.  I loved seeing old friends, meeting new ones, exploring, enjoying SO much beach time, and living Pura Vida ;-)

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{ Erik came to visit. Valentine’s dinner }
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{ mi hermano Will }

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{ buddies }
{ waterfalls }

The fun didn’t stop after those few months.  Erik and I did a birthday wine tasting in Paso Robles, a camping trip to Lake Isabella, and many trips back to San Francisco < a couple recaps  here and here>  I also got to visit a few new places including Detroit, Seattle, and Utah.  We finished the year with a trip up north to Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, and Marin.  It’s been a pretty on the go year, but I have enjoyed pretty much all of it.  I absolutely love traveling and visiting old and new spots!

So 2012, you kicked butt, thanks for being such a WONDERFUL year.  I cannot wait to see what you have in store 2013, you have a lot to live up to ;-)

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So let’s get into 2013 shall we?  Alright, I thought the pic above summed up my mindset for the year perfectly.  I am not really one for resolutions, rather I like incorporating something positive into my life or getting rid of something negative (I conquered a major vice in 2012!!).  With that said, 2013 is about positive thinking and intentions, and how putting those thoughts, ideas, whathaveyous into action.  It is one thing to have good ideas and intentions, but it is so very important to act them out, make things happen.  I know that where I focus my positive energy will change throughout the year.  I would like to become more in tune with my deeper thoughts to know what and where to focus my energy.

My intentions for the beginning of the year are to connect more with to my spirituality and to focus heavily on my health coaching practice.  For the month of January I have decided to cut out alcohol and keep a clean diet to keep my mind and body clear.  I am also practicing daily meditation and yoga to help practice and put into effect my intentions.  I’m thinking some kind of cleanse will is also in order…wish me luck ;-)

Do you guys have new years resolutions or intentions?  What preparations and practices do you do to help set forth your intentions?  Please share!! I love hearing positive words from friends.  And speaking of positive words, I will be trying to post more positive affirmations and health tips from school on my Facebook page.  Feel free to like and follow along ;-)

Alright, enough babble, time to get moving!  Have a happy, healthy, and active weekend.  I will be out and about all weekend, it’s supposed to be beautiful in SoCal!  Peace friends!

Seasonal Eating – Fall/Winter

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Aaaaand I am back from Mexico!  Tan and relaxed!

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{ view from the house }

Erik and I had  such a great time down south.  We were out in the middle of nowhere, seriously, with hardly anything but the casitas (houses), our friends, beach, and plenty of Pacifico ;-)   It was a quick 5 day vacation but so glorious!

 

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{ sunrise }

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Now that I’m back, I’m getting caught up on work, studying, cleaning, finishing decorating (!!) and getting ready for Erik’s big work holiday party tomorrow night.  I am beyond excited, I love getting dolled up!  And his work goes all out, it’s a fabulous event.  Oh, and getting to party at the Montage Beverly Hills, doesn’t hurt either.  I’ll hopefully have some pretty pics of the place to post Monday :-)

OK, so back to business.  I normally keep things pretty clean in the kitchen when cooking and preparing foods.  Just lots of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.  It’s even more important to try to keep the diet clean in this season.  Not only will your body and immune system stay stronger (fight off sickness, boom!), you will feel less guilty for occasionally indulging.

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Let’s face it, we all like to enjoy the good times during the holidays, and there is never a shortage of good foods, treats, and drinks around!

Christmas gingerbread.

There is enough stress during the holidays without the need to worry about your waistline.  So load up on the goods, and allow yourself to enjoy some indulgences without guilt ;-)

Which brings me to seasonal eating: Fall/Winter:

Part of staying natural with foods is to eat seasonal.  I posted a while back about why buying seasonal vegetables and fruits is beneficial.  On top of those reasons, the earth is telling us what we should be eating in the current season to keep us healthy and strong.  We grow lots a hydrating and cooling foods in summer months, correct?  Our bodies need those foods in the hot months, but you don’t want you body cooling down lots in the winter months.  You would be more susceptible to illness if you stayed eating mostly just the fruits and veggies you eat in summer.  During the colder winter months, your body wants denser, heavier foods.  It’s important to incorporate plenty of high protein, high good fat, and oils during these months.  Root vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets, yams) are very satisfying in winter.  They are more dense, and because of how they are grown (root), will keep us feeling more grounded, warm, cozy…just what our body is craving!!

Harvest time, pumpkins

Here is a good list of fall and winter foods.  Try adding these to your grocery list and keep an eye out for these at the market:

  • Squash

  • Apples

  • Beets

  • Brussel sprouts

  • Cranberries

  • Mushrooms

  • Figs

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Swiss chard

  • Figs

  • Grapefruit

  • Kale

  • Leeks

  • Lemons

  • Radishes

  • Turnips

I’m aiming to have some delicious recipes posted next week incorporating these foods!  Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

Pumpkin Facial Scrub

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Hello there beautiful pumpkins!!!

How were your weekends?  It was a beautiful one here!!  We headed out to Pasadena to watch the Utah Utes play the UCLA Bruins.  Pasadena is absolutely beautiful this time of the year and we had such a great time catching up with Erik’s friends who were visiting from Utah.  Other than that, lots of sports, watching my 49er’s and my Giants baseball.  Woo woo, let’s hear it for play-offs!!!  BTW, you like how they are my teams.  Yeah, because I have so much to do with the organizations, decisions, successes…

{ tailgating }

Anyway, back to the pumpkins!  Did ya’ll try out those baked pumpkin doughnut holes?  I sure hope so, those babies were muy delicioso!  Well if you did try them, or maybe another pumpkin recipe,  you might have some left over pumpkin.  What to do, what to do??  How about you try slathering it on your face?!  Ya heard me, make a yummy pumpkin face scrub!  

All you need is anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of pureed pumpkin, mixed with a few tablespoons of organic, raw sugar.  Drop in a couple drops of flax or grape seed oil, and you’ve got yourself a powerful scrub right there!  Add sugar a tablespoon at a time.  Since this is a face scrub, you do not want too much sugar exfoliating, we need to be gentle with the facial skin :-)  Use your judgement, you’re smart cookies, errrr pumpkins ;-) .  I would recommend scrubbing it on at the beginning of your shower, letting it sit several minutes, then gently removing with a warm wash cloth.

So what is this mask doing for you?  Well lots, especially if you took in a good amount of sun this summer.   Here are a few reasons to try this mask:

  • Pumpkins are rich in vitamins and nutrients
  • Pumpkin helps ease and repair environmental and sun damage
  • Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants
  • The pumpkin will help moisturiize while the sugar will rid your skin of dead skin cells
  • Pumpkin vitamins fight acne and blemishes
  • Pumpkin can ease redness and inflammation

Hope this gives you a little help using any extra pumpkin you have around :-)  Enjoy your yummy mask Pumpkins!

Northwest Bound

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Hello, and happy weekend Thursday! It’s the end of the week for me! I’m off to Seattle with a quick stop in Eugene, OR to meet up with some family for a night. I am beyond excited to visit Seattle being a it’s my first time (other than several layovers at the airport). The weekend will be filled with family, friends, exploring, and most importantly the Oregon Ducks football game!

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Have you been to Seattle?? What are some things I must do, see, places to eat, drink!? Do tell ;-)

Also, while I was getting things cleaned up and packed up today, I whipped up this protein packed, immune boosting, super healthy and good for you yet so yummy smoothie!! You must try it. This will be my new go to breakfast I think :-)

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Blend up 1 frozen banana, 1/2 avocado (promise you can’t taste it), 1 cup almond milk, a few ice cubes, 1 small handful cacao nibs, 1 tablespoon almond butter, 3 pitted medjool dates, some raw spouted protein powder, and some MACA powder (more on its amazing benefits later).

Ok, that’s all I got for ya! I’m off to the great Pacific Northwest! Have a healthy and fabulous weekend!

Particular benefits from Juicing

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Well hello Friday, so nice to see you again.  Feel free to stop by whenever you want ;-)

I think today is a good day for a Health Pumped Post!  Kick off the weekend right, right?  Yes.

I have mentioned before the Benefits of Juicing and doing Juice Cleanses.  So today’s post is more about how the Fruits and Vegetables we juice with actually benefit us.  You can literally juice almost any vegetable or fruit, like even potatoes, crazy right?!  Instead of talking about anything and everything under the sun (or in the dirt) to juice with, I’m highlighting what I use most frequently.  Sometimes I include all of the following, but usually it is some variation of lots of greens and a little fruit and/or citrus.  

So here we go!  Hope this helps you understand how all these wonderful fruits and veggies help our lovely bodies stay healthy and happy!

  • Apple:  Helps cleanse the liver and kidneys, also helps them function properly.  Energy booster with the natural sugar.  Also helps the taste ;-)
  • Carrot:  Contain lots of Vitamin A and beta-carotene which helps eyes.  Supports the liver and digestion.  Cancer fighter.  Revitalizes skin
  • Cucumber:  Contains antioxidants and promotes healthy skin (hello glow!!).  The high water content aids in cleansing and weight loss
  • Lemon: Cut off peel. High in Vitamin C.  Helps eliminate free radicals (cancer and body damage causers).  Helps cleanse the body and clean the urinary tract.  Promotes clear skin.
  • Ginger:  Huge immune booster.  Kicks up the digestive tract.
  • Beet:  Huge blood cleanser and liver cleanser.  Rich in anti-oxidants.
  • Dandelion Root:  Big body detoxifier and cleanser.  Liver and gallbladder helper (helps produce and remove bile). dandelion is very bitter so use sparingly
  • Parsley: High in iron and B12.  Natural diuretic (cleanser) and a good immune booster.  strong in taste, so again, use sparingly
  • Kale:  High in iron, calcium, and Vitamins A,K, and C.

Hope this gives a little more help and information for why to include certain fruits and vegetables.  Also, here are some combinations I like to use are:

  1. A few carrots, half a beet, an apple, and a nub of ginger
  2. Kale, lettuce, dandelion, a little parsley, half a cucumber, a lemon, and an apple
  3. A few carrots, a lemon, a nub of ginger

What are your favorite things to juice with?

Now go enjoy some fresh juice!!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Check out these sites for more information:  Worlds healthiest foods and LiveStrong

After Sun Soothing Spary

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Well, it’s official, June Gloom is here in So Cal, and apparently not going anywhere anytime soon.  Silly May, teasing us with “summer” weather.  No matter, I’m bailing the city for the next few days and heading a bit north for some camping at the lake.

Since I REALLY enjoy being in the sun, it’s important to keep my skin well protected.  This includes time in the sun (duh) and after.  Gotta keep that skin well moisturized!!  I searched through some of my natural beauty books and came up with an awesome after sun spray!!  It’s so easy to make, feels great, and smells so warm and yummy.  Enjoy!!

Aloe Vera After Sun Spray:

  • 1 cup aloe vera juice
  • 20 drops lavender essential oil
  • 10 drop rosemary essential oil
  • 1 spray bottle

Just combine all the ingredients in a (glass) spray bottle, shake vigorously, and use as needed.  Store in the refrigerator.  Should last several months.

Happy Friday, enjoy some tunes!  Months later, still can’t get enough of her voice :-)

Juicy Juicing Recipes

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Juice Juice Juice, how many posts can I write about juicing?  I thought they might get a little boring buuuut in the past few weeks alone I have had several friends and family mention their latest obsession:  JUICING!!!!  It is part of my daily routine and I am so happy to see people starting to incorporate it into their lives as well.  That being said, I’ll be posting some of my juice recipes more often, thankyouverymuch!

Blood and Liver Helper – 4 carrots, 1/2 cucumber, 1 small beet, 2 small apples, 1 small garlic clove

Green Mixer – 2 large kale leaves, a handful of broccoli, several parsley sprigs, 1 cucumber, 2 carrots, 1 apple, 1 lemon

3 large kale leaves, 2 apples, several parsley sprigs, 3 celery sticks, 1 cucumber

Blood cleanser – 4 carrots, 2 apples, 4 celery, small ginger nug, 1/2 cucumber

Juice Cleanse Day 2!

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So I am day 2 of the Juice Cleanse!  Yesterdays post was all over the place, much like my head I think.  I felt like I was in the clouds most of the day.  

Morning Report:  That foggy head feeling isn’t quite as intense today, but I certainly do not have normal focus and energy.  I do however feel lighter and not bloated at all (sorry for using that word, for some reason I think it’s the worst).  My skin also feels super hydrated!

Midday Report:  Similar to morning, less foggy head though.  Not hungry whatsoever.  I actually haven’t been hungry this whole time.  I am just craving something to chew and something salty ;-)

Night Report:  Feeling tired, but spending two hours gardening might have contributed to that.  I feel more alert, way less foggy that earlier.  My body still feels light and not puffy at all.  I was a little concerned I would be retaining water but I don’t think that is the case.  I have only had 4 juices so far.  I am a little too tired to make the last one.  I am just going to pop over to Mothers Market and buy a fresh pressed juice there.  This might be the hardest part because I LOVE that place.  Seriously, and the juice bar is next to the kitchen.  Waaaa, only one more day though!!

Here’s today juices, and again, the recipes are mostly derived from The Power of Juicing…

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Juice 1:  ”Satin Skin” – 4 carrots, 1 apple, 1/2 knob of ginger root, handful of spinach

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Juice 2:  ”Body Cleanser” – 2 carrots, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 beet, lemon (peeled)

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Juice 3:  ”Liver Mover” – 1/2 beet, 2 apples, 1/2 knob of ginger, 1/4 cucumber, lemon (peeled)

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Juice 4:  ”Champ” – 3 carrots, 2 apples, 4 large kale leaves

I’ll be back tomorrow with the final update…EXCITED!!!  I’m already thinking up recipes for Friday!  And by already I mean I have been since yesterday, hmm.  

*Side note – I don’t say it but try to buy all fruits and vegetables should organic, especially for juicing 

Juice Cleanse – Day 1

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LOTS of veggies and fruits for three days.  This is what I have just signed up for.  I’m going through a juice cleanse, right now actually.  It’s almost the end of the first day.  I have decided to share my recipes, thoughts, and feelings daily as I go through this cleanse.  And let me tell you, there is a lot going on…

Why a juice cleanse?

  • Juicing is a direct shot of nutrients and vitamins into your system.  Unlike smoothies or eating the veggies/fruit straight, the body has to do VERY minimal work to process and digest.  Through the juicing process, the fiber is removed so all your body is processing is the liquid nutrients.
  • Since your body doesn’t have to work hard at all to digest, your organs and metabolism get a much-needed rest.  Think of how much work the liver does daily filtering and processing.  Juicing allows a nice rest :-)
  • It’s a great way to support the body in releasing toxins
  • Since your metabolism and organs are getting a rest, it’s also a good way to reboot your internal system

How am I doing the cleanse?

It’s really cool to see so many juicing shops and cleanses out there now.  I however, did not choose to buy one of these cleanses.  While they are convenient, I have a few reasons for doing it on my own…

  • I have a really great Breville juicer.  It makes juicing easy and cleanup fast.
  • I juice almost daily, so I’m not looking to go through such extreme processes that some of the plans offer.
  • I actually enjoy the reading and research that comes with planning a cleanse.  I chose specific juicing recipes to aid in the cleansing I want.

Here’s the Breakdown:

I originally planned 6 juices today, but it’s almost bed time and I was able to get down 5 8-10 ounce juices.  I chose most of my recipes from The Power of Juicing.  I usually go with my own recipe of “throw everything juicable in the juice and stomach it” but for a cleanse, I wanted to have some recipes to change it up.

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Juice 1:  Immune booster – 3 carrots, 1 celery stock, 1 apple, 1/2 beet, small handful of wheatgrass, handful of parsley, small cut of ginger, half a cucumber

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Juice 2:  Blood Rejuvenator – 4 carrots, handful of spinach, 4 lettuce leaves, 1/4 turnip, small handful of parsley, 1 apple

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Juice 3:  Liver move – 1/2 beet with greens, 1/2 cucumber, 3 apples, little ginger

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Juice 4:  Pink flush – 1 grapefruit, 2 apples, 1/2 cucumber

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Juice 5:  My own mix – 6 lettuce leaves, 3 celery stock, 1 apple, 1/2 cucumber, 2 small limes, 1 lemon

So there was todays menu.  I am exhausted!!  I feel good but really tired.  I feel super foggy too, I have felt this way on and off all day.  Time to hit the hay!!