For any stragglers still checking-in over here… please change your bookmarks to my new URL!

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Can I bribe you with a new cheesecake recipe?

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Or how about some FREE stevia?

What are you waiting for?!

As I hinted earlier this week, there have been some BIG changes going on behind the scenes lately…

I’M MOVING MY BLOG!!!!

–> CLICK HERE to check it out!

(p.s. there’s a Giveaway over there for some [...]]]> As I hinted earlier this week, there have been some BIG changes going on behind the scenes lately…

I’M MOVING MY BLOG!!!!

–> CLICK HERE to check it out!

(p.s. there’s a Giveaway over there for some extra motivation…)

**And please change your bookmarks, email subscriptions, and Google Reader to my new website– www.Detoxinista.com– to keep reading!

Years ago, when I first embarked on my detox journey, my focus was solely on food. I started buying organic, fresh produce, became conscious of my food combinations, and eliminated nearly all processed foods. In fact, almost everything that went [...]]]> Years ago, when I first embarked on my detox journey, my focus was solely on food. I started buying organic, fresh produce, became conscious of my food combinations, and eliminated nearly all processed foods. In fact, almost everything that went into my mouth had to meet my high standards– but for some reason, I didn’t hold my skin care products to the same standard. This was partially due to the terrible acne I experienced in my teens. Though I finally got it under control (thanks to a serious round of Accutane and years of birth control– yikes), it left me scared to try anything new on my skin!

If you really think about it, though, whatever goes on our skin SHOULD be held to the same standard as our food! After all, our skin is our LARGEST organ, and easily “drinks” up whatever we put on it! (hence, why the Birth Control Patch is as effective as the Pill.) Would you drink your body lotion? I doubt Bath & Body Works’ lotion tastes as good as it smells.

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Many of you have asked me which products I use lately, so I thought I’d show you some of my favorites:

Juice Beauty’s Brightening Cleanser and Moisturizer are my go-to products for my face. They are nice and gentle on my sensitive skin, and smell great! Juice Beauty products all seem to score well on the Skin Deep database (a score of 0-2 is considered “low hazard”), so it’s nice to know they’re free of scary ingredients.

While I was in NYC for my training with Natalia Rose, I also picked up a new favorite at One Lucky Duck:

Amazing Face, by Simply Divine Botanicals. I love this lotion because you can literally EAT every ingredient in the jar. It’s thick and creamy, so you only need a little bit to cover your whole face! My skin feels so soft and moisturized, and smells wonderful! I thought this lotion was a little pricey when I bought it in May, but it’s not even half-way gone yet… and I use it almost every night! Good value.

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Another favorite discovery from One Lucky Duck is my all-natural deodorant:

Crystal Ally Deodorant! (I love the Pink Grapefruit scent!) I tried many “natural” deodorants before this one, and NONE of them worked for me. I didn’t have very high expectations when I tried this one, but boy, was I pleasantly surprised! It keeps me smelling fresh through my workouts, and I’ve had numerous readers confirm that it works for them, too! Try it!

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My next favorite product does it ALL:

Dr. Bronner’s “Magic” soap! I use the cleansing bars in the shower, and thanks to a tip from my brilliant sister-in-law–> it’s also my toothpaste! She recommended that I try the peppermint flavor, and I simply squirt it onto my toothbrush. It doesn’t taste great, but it’s not bad… and you quickly get used to it. This soap foams up like crazy (thanks to my electric toothbrush) and leaves my teeth feeling squeaky-clean. Seriously, my mouth has NEVER felt so clean. I think it’s even improved my morning breath!

Best. Discovery. Yet.

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Makeup is probably the one area I’ve been the most hesitant to change. I still love Bobbi Brown’s products (I first invested in some for my wedding, and have been hooked ever since!) But, I’ve made some gradual changes in that department…

I tried RMS Beauty’s un-cover up, and have been really happy with it so far:

This cover up is moisturizing, and provides light coverage for daily use. I still use my Bobbi Brown foundation (with no SPF) for big events, because I love the way it looks in photos– but the RMS stuff works for me the rest of the time. I also love their lip shine!

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For my nails, I’ve been shopping at Whole Foods lately:

They carry No Miss Vegan Nail Polish! I’ve tried two colors so far, and both have had great coverage– without looking streaky, like some other brands I’ve tried. I’m not totally convinced this nail polish is all that “safe,” but since I really enjoy having some color on my nails, I think this brand is better than most.

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For full-body moisturizing, I keep it simple:

The people over at Tropical Traditions sent me this jar of coconut oil, and I’ve used it for EVERYTHING! I keep a container of it in my bathroom to use as lotion when I step out of the shower, and keep another container in my kitchen for cooking.

Now that’s a lotion I don’t mind eating.

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Time for you all to share! What’s your favorite natural beauty product? Any good hair care products I should try? I haven’t found a favorite in that department yet… though my favorite shower filter has definitely improved the texture and shine of my hair!

]]> http://healthyhoggin.com/2011/08/beauty-you-can-eat/feed/ 15 http://healthyhoggin.com/2011/08/weekend-eats-2/ http://healthyhoggin.com/2011/08/weekend-eats-2/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:36:23 +0000 Megan http://healthyhoggin.com/?p=5516

Glad you all enjoyed the wedding photos! My weekend was obviously a busy one, but we loved every minute of it. I was happy to have the opportunity to break-in my new lens while playing wedding photographer behind the scenes, [...]]]> Glad you all enjoyed the wedding photos! My weekend was obviously a busy one, but we loved every minute of it. I was happy to have the opportunity to break-in my new lens while playing wedding photographer behind the scenes, too:

(the couple hired a professional photographer for the ceremony and reception, but I snapped the getting-ready stuff– which are always some of my favorite moments. )

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And while we were go-go-go most of the time, we did manage to make some time for food!

First, at the rehearsal dinner:

The dinner was nice and casual–> at a local bar that served burgers, sandwiches and deep-fried appetizers. All of the salads on the menu were covered in cheese, croutons and chicken (none of which appeal to me), but, luckily, I have no problem asking for what I want. I saw that they offered chips and guacamole as an appetizer, so I politely asked the server if I could have a large bowl of mixed greens with a side of guacamole. He was happy to oblige! They were very generous with the guacamole portion, too, so I was a happy camper. Instant salad!

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On the wedding day, we had early hair appointments, so iced coffees gave us a much-needed buzz to get through the morning…

…and of course, after multiple hair-do’s, we were starving!!

Lunch was at a local bakery:

I opted for the House Salad, which was topped with sunflower seeds, marinated beets and cucumbers, and house-made croutons (which were quickly scooted off my plate– I have never cared for croutons on salad. Bleck.)

I also carried a pint of organic cherry tomatoes and a bag of raw almonds in my purse, which we snacked on for the rest of the day:

Fact: I’m the queen of snacks. Everyone knows that I always have cherry tomatoes, raw almonds and dark chocolate in my purse. Always.

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The ceremony went beautifully, and by the time we reached the reception venue, we were starving!!

I nursed a glass of wine, and plenty of water.

And enjoyed an Italian buffet:

I filled my whole plate with Caesar salad (and tossed the soggy croutons… again, bleck!) and had a meatball covered in marinara on the side. It all tasted amazing!

Sweets and coffee followed later:

Wedding cake (!!!)

And M&M’s!! Plain M&M’s are highly underrated, if you ask me.

(no, Austin… I’m not asking you. I know you don’t like them.)

But I love them.

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All in all, my weekend was filled with a nice balance of fresh eats, and fun indulgences. I’ve been playing around with the idea of “cheat days” (for lack of a better description…) and I’m finding that I really like being consistent with my cleansing diet most of the time– but with a few breaks here and there. It seems to be a nice “shock” to my metabolism, and keeps my body guessing.

Another “break” I took this weekend?

Fresh “Blueberry Betty!” My mom made this family recipe from blueberries that she picked herself, and served it with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream!

It was perhaps the best thing I’ve eaten all summer.

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I’m trying to play catch-up from my weekend away from the computer, so if you’ve tried to contact me lately, I promise I’ll get back to you ASAP! My inbox is a little overwhelming at the moment…

Also, some of you noticed that my profile picture changed– there are more changes coming to the blog soon! Exciting stuff.

Reader Feedback: What’s the best thing you’ve eaten lately?

Congratulations, Sara!!!

Hello from the airport!

I’m sipping on iced coffee, with a splash of cream, before taking off.

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Since travel days inevitably mean a lot of sitting, I brought along a little gadget [...]]]> Hello from the airport!

I’m sipping on iced coffee, with a splash of cream, before taking off.

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Since travel days inevitably mean a lot of sitting, I brought along a little gadget to motivate me to keep moving:

A Fitbit!

My hiking buddy has owned her Fitbit for nearly a year now, and is always raving about it. She’s also been nagging me to get one ever since, so that we can be “fitbit friends” online for some friendly competition. I wasn’t sold on the idea of shelling out money for what seems like a glorified pedometer… but after trying a couple bulkier knock-offs, I finally caved. And I’m glad I did! This teeny-tiny pedometer hides easily on my pants (or on a bra, for ladies) and every time I walk near my computer, it automatically uploads my steps into an online database!

The Fitbit website is also great for estimating your daily calorie burn–> which I love! I think it’s easy to forget how many calories we burn just by keeping our body functioning, and the Fitbit calorie counter takes that into account, based on your height and body weight. You can also keep track of your food and sleeping patterns using their site, but I don’t plan on taking advantage of that anytime soon. Food tracking sounds tedious to me, but I think it’s great if you’re trying a new plan and want to make sure you’re fueling your body properly.

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Mostly, I’m just hoping my new gadget will motivate me to get out and walk while I’m traveling this week. It’s HOT in Kansas.

[source]

Like, really hot.

Hopefully no one will have to peel me off the ground anytime soon.

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Hope you all have a great (and cooler) day! See you next time from Kansas!

It’s been an EARLY morning for me.

I only got 4 hours of sleep last night. (my own fault–> we saw Crazy Stupid Love last night, and it kept me from working like I should have been. The movie kinda reminded [...]]]> It’s been an EARLY morning for me.

I only got 4 hours of sleep last night. (my own fault–> we saw Crazy Stupid Love last night, and it kept me from working like I should have been. The movie kinda reminded me of Love Actually, in the best way… not in a knock-off sort of way, like Valentine’s Day. ) Definitely worth the lack of sleep, since I’ll be away from Austin for the next 8 days!

To top it all off, Austin’s car wouldn’t start this morning. Uggggg…

(it’s working now, thank God.)

Looks like it might be a two-cup kinda day.

Have I mentioned that I’m back on the coffee wagon? Um, yeah. Big time. I’ve been drinking coffee daily for the past couple weeks, and it doesn’t seem to be hindering my yeast-fighting regimen one bit. Yeast is still leaving my body, thanks to the Candi-Gone supplements! (for those of you who asked, the Candi-Gone seems to be very effective! I actually stopped taking the Fungal Defense with it, because it just wasn’t necessary anymore.)

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I’m also very happily back on the almond butter wagon, if you haven’t noticed.

(I tried making my own almond butter in my Omega juicer last week– it’s SO easy to do! But, since I didn’t add any oil, mine was drier than the store-bought kind… I don’t know how Artisana does it! Theirs is so much creamier, and tastes much more “raw” to me than the Trader Joe’s brand.)

Regardless of which kind of almond butter you use, this little concoction is worth making:

Almond Butter Fudge Pudding
serves 1

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons raw almond butter
2 Tablespoons almond milk
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
liquid stevia, to taste (I used about 5 drops)
1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional, but it helps it thicken up!)

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl, and stir by hand until smooth and creamy. Adjust the liquid stevia, to taste, then place the bowl in the freezer for 15 minutes to set. It will thicken up when cold!

I like to whip this up BEFORE eating my lunch salad.

Yesterday’s salad was a pile of fresh spinach and shredded carrots, topped with liquid crack.

By the time I had devoured my leafy greens, my dessert was ready! There’s nothing better than having dessert (a nutrient-dense one, at that!) after lunch AND dinner.

Hope you try it!

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I’ve got a LONG day ahead of me, so I better get crackin’! I leave for my best friend’s wedding this weekend (yay!), so I’ve got a lot of packing to do and last-minute errands to run this afternoon! And thank you all so much for you congrats to Teija–> isn’t she amazing?

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, my friend Teija was one of my very first clients. Teija’s older sister was getting married in July, so she approached me for a plan to help her lose a few pounds and [...]]]> As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, my friend Teija was one of my very first clients. Teija’s older sister was getting married in July, so she approached me for a plan to help her lose a few pounds and feel her best— before all the family wedding pictures would inevitably ensue.

Here’s what Teija looked like before working with me:

Standing here with her mom.

And, after a few months of health coaching, here’s the cell phone picture Teija snapped of herself last week:

Holy cow. She’s lost 26 lbs to date!!

The best part? Teija has an absolute glow about her. She has made lasting lifestyle changes that should be easy for her to stick to, and that make her FEEL great on a daily basis! She didn’t have to give up her favorite foods or go on some crazy exercise program, either. (In fact, most people would probably be shocked by how little she had to exercise!) We simply figured out what tweaks would work well with her current lifestyle, and went from there!

Obviously, it worked.

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Kinda makes you want to slurp up your green juice, doesn’t it?

Cheers to Teija!

HAPPY AUGUST!!!! (Um… how did that get here so fast?)

Did you all have a good weekend?

Austin was out of town for a bachelor-party weekend, so I spent the majority of mine eating, shopping, and reading.

It was kinda awesome.

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EATING:

Pizza-flavored salad! [...]]]> HAPPY AUGUST!!!! (Um… how did that get here so fast?)

Did you all have a good weekend?

Austin was out of town for a bachelor-party weekend, so I spent the majority of mine eating, shopping, and reading.

It was kinda awesome.

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EATING:

Pizza-flavored salad! Just use marinara sauce as your dressing, and top with your favorite (goat) cheese and toppings!

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SHOPPING:

Both in my sister-in-law’s closet (thanks to her, I have a MUCH better dress selection for our weddings coming up!), and at Nordstrom Rack. I originally went there ONLY to return the dress I bought last week, but I ended up walking out with these:

The clearance rack sucked me in… and these ankle boots were too good of a deal to pass up. So comfy!!

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READING:

I have a client who is VERY interested in Paleo-style eating, so I picked up The Primal Blueprint to be more knowledgeable on the subject. I’ve actually been enjoying Mark Sisson’s blog, Mark’s Daily Apple, for a while now and really appreciate his sincerity in wanting to help others–> I love authors who give out lots of free information on their blogs, rather than marketing his or her book all over the place. His book is also much more lifestyle-based, including tips on ALL aspects of Paleo life, rather than JUST focusing on the diet. While I’m not sold on eating meat multiple times a day, I actually love his exercise advice!!

Another book I perused over the weekend?

This little gem was included in a swag bag sent to Austin’s work. I assume that the author wanted a photograph of a celebrity reading this diet book to wind up in US Weekly. Too bad for him, it wound up in my hands instead.

Usually, when approaching a diet book I haven’t heard of, I jump to the back–> where the “plan” is usually outlined in an easy-to-read format. At the back of this book, I found a bunch of bullet points highlighting some important points that the author wanted to make. I’ve included a few here for you, because I nearly DIED LAUGHING when I read them! From what I gather, the author recommends you eat 10 bites of food a day– 5 bites and lunch, and another 5 bites at dinner. Regardless of what food you choose. Um, yeah.

Here are some of his recommendations:

-Consume your five bites in less than one minute and immediately throw the remaining food away.

-Go to your favorite all-you-can-eat restaurant and order a lot of food. Then throw everything away after five bites. How did that make you feel? How about 10 minutes later? Amazing, isn’t it?

-I recommend that you buy a bag of 2.07 oz. Snickers bars, and periodically eat one for lunch or dinner to imprint in your mind how small a five bite meal is.

-Avoid buying new clothes until you have reached your goal. Cinch pants up; let shirts hang. Do not reward yourself with new clothes until a FULL celebration is in order.

[source]

So, who’s going to join me on the Snicker’s diet?? LOL I hope you all see how flawed this diet is… and that it made you laugh as much as I did. We all need a good laugh on Mondays, right?

Hope you’re all having a great day!

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Reader Feedback: What’s the craziest diet plan you’ve ever heard of or tried?

During my time as a barista at a local coffee shop, I became familiar with LOTS of specialty coffee drinks.

Espresso con panna.

Shot in the dark.

Americano.

Double-tall, skinny half-caf caramel macchiato– extra hot– hold the whip cream, but add caramel drizzle…

…you [...]]]> During my time as a barista at a local coffee shop, I became familiar with LOTS of specialty coffee drinks.

Espresso con panna.

Shot in the dark.

Americano.

Double-tall, skinny half-caf caramel macchiato– extra hot– hold the whip cream, but add caramel drizzle…

…you get the idea.

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But one of my FAVORITE drinks to make didn’t even involve coffee. It was called a “steamer,” and it was simply steamed milk sweetened with a flavored syrup. The two most popular flavors requested were almond and vanilla–> both of which are delicious. Granted, these were more often than not ordered for children… but I think it’s just because the adults didn’t know what they were missing!

In case you’re one of those adults, here’s my dairy-free twist on the traditional steamer. I recommend you try it ASAP.

The star of the show?

Homemade COCONUT MILK!

Did you know you can make coconut milk at home just by blending organic shredded coconut with pure water?

I used the same ratio I do for making almond milk–> 1 cup shredded coconut + 4 cups filtered water.

Blend until creamy, then strain through a nut milk bag or mesh strainer:

You’ll have plenty of coconut pulp leftover… which could be saved for another recipe! (maybe dry it out for some coconut flour?)

Store your milk in a sealed container in the fridge.

I got this cute glass “milk” jar at Home Goods.

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Now that you’ve got your coconut milk ready, it’s time to make a steamer!!

Creamy Coconut Steamer
serves 1

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
liquid stevia, to taste (I used 7-10 drops)

Directions:

Combine the coconut milk, vanilla and almond extracts in a saucepan over high heat. Stir constantly until piping hot, then pour into a mug and sweeten with stevia, to taste.

Curl up and enjoy!!

This steamer is perfect on its own, but also pairs perfectly with a few pieces of dark chocolate.

Trust me on that one.