The Dirty Dozen | Quick Tip Monday

The Dirty Dozen, or the Holy Grail of produce buying. When heading out to the grocery store make sure you ALWAY bring this list (or have it memorized like some of us, ahem..) This list will protect you from the evils of pesticides, herbicides and all the other -cides you do not want in you healthy body. This is a list of fruits and vegs that should always, without any question, be organic! 

 

1. Peaches: Have a delicate skin making it easy for the multiple sprays to seep into the delicious fruit.

2. Apples: The heavy wax of this fruit helps keep the toxins inside, even peeling it won't be much help.

3. Grapes: Sprayed with 35 different pesticides, and has a thin skin, like the peach.

4. Strawberries: Sprayed with a whomping 36 different pesticides!

5. Cherries: 91% of cherries reported as filled with pesticides in a study done by EWG.

6. Nectarines: 97% of this scrumptious fruit!

7. Raspberries: 36 different pesicides used. It is very difficult to clean raspberries because of their fine skin and many crevasses.

8. Bell Peppers: Again, thin skin.

9. Celery: 29 varieties of pesticides

10. Spinach and Lettuce: Contaminated with the most harmful pesticides.

11. Potatoes: Not just pesticides on this one, but also fungicides

12. Tomatoes: Soft skin. Make sure when buying it says "Organic: ripened on the vine" or else it was picked before ripe and sprayed to ripen.

 

So there you have it, an easy list to guide you through the grocery store!

 

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Perfect Fall Day | Weekend

This past weekend my family and I went apple picking at a local U-Pick a few minutes outside of the city (MacKay Apple Orchard, for those wondering). I fully endorse buying fresh local fruit (those who know me, will concur) so when it come to U-Picks I am all for them! And thank the wonders of the universe that I live in such a BEAUTIFUL country, especially in the Fall! Everywhere you look could be made into a painting.

To me it is very important to support our local farms and shops, who else would keep them in business? Also, it is much more beneficial to buy local because the less time the item spends getting from the farm to you the more nutrients are available for your body to use. After reading an eye opening article on Food Matters titled: Are you eating one year old apples? I realized that buying grocery store apples just isn't nutritionally acceptable anymore. I'm eating with a plan guys, I want to get as much of the healthy nutrients as possible from ALL of my foods! Maybe even live forever (haha!)

So here are a few photos to document how awesome buying local is and how much fun you can have gathering healthy foods!

Photo Credit: Kyle Hanson Photography

Photo Credit: Kyle Hanson Photography

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Evening Skin Care | Make It a Routine

Hello all! I thought I'd share with you what my nightly skin care routine is. For all those I'm-too-sleepy-to-wash-my-makeup-off girls out there, this is quick and easy and makes for less of a clean up the next day! So before you get all sloth-like in your jammies stop at the bathroom before bed and freshen up that beautiful face of yours!

First things first: cleanse! How would you like your face to feel as soft as a cloud? For this I use Ultrabland from the Canadian company Lush. This is a cleanser that removes makeup AND helps treat acne! (Bonus!) Just apply a small amount to your finger tips and rub all over your face and neck. I use a bit more over my eyes because my makeup is heavier there. Wash with a warm cloth and you are finito!

My next weapon of choice is coconut oil! Big surprise, eh? To enhance that beautiful soft skin, and to balance oils, apply this to your face the same way as Ultrabland. Your skin will be thanking you for this in your later years for not treating it with the thousands of commercial cleansers, that are filled with toxins,on the market today. 

Last, but certainly not least, (drum roll, please) Grease Lightning by Lush! This takes the gold medal for clearing acne spots! I swear by the product, I used to use a medicated acne cream that was full of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin, it even used to bleach my skin and clothes (yea, hell no!), now with this handy-dandy gel I no longer have to worry about any of that! Not to mention is smells amazing (oh hai rosemary, tea tree, thyme, and lavender!) 

Two Extras: I don't always use a face mask but when I do I use Mask of Magnaminty by Lush. It's deep cleansing and make my skin feel ultra fresh! 

I use my Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream by 100% Pure. This eye cream helps de-puff and brighten the dark circles under my eyes! I use this twice a day, morning and night, because I feel Ike my eyes need it!

Recap:

Ultrabland by Lush: $16.95

Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil: $8.99

Grease Lightning by Lush: $13.95

Mask of Magnaminty by Lush: $12.95

Coffee Bean Eye Cream by 100% Pure: $14.00

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My 5 Uses For Coconut Oil

For this post I wanted to do a shout out to Coconut Oil (holla!) If you haven't already, invest in some today! It's literally a life changer. 

TIP: When you pick out your oil make sure it is Organic and Virgin to make sure it is pure.

Makeup Remover

Use you coconut oil as a chemical free way to remove makeup, it even just to clear your face before bed. For those with oily skin fear not! This will not make your skin more oily, it will actually help balance out the oils in you face and actually keep it from getting shinny!

Shaving Cream

Next time you hop in the shower bring your coconut oil with you! Rub a small amount on your legs and shave like you normally would. I promise it'll be the closest shave you'll ever have (Sweeney Todd?)! And as a plus your legs will be so soft you won't be able to stop touching them!

Yeast Infection 

I have suffered from s chronic yeast infection for years, I tried EVERYTHING! I was to the point where I was buying Canesten at least once a month and using Doctor prescribed medication. Once I found out about how coconut oil has magical healing powers (antibacterial, anti fungal) I had to give it a try. And let me tell you what, it was pure sorcery! I haven't had a yeast infection since! I couldn't believe blow something so simple fix such a major problem for me. To use: freeze it in an ice cube tray, once frozen cut into pieces and insert vaginally, do this as soon as you notice first signs and it should kick the yeast infections butt! 

Lubricant

That's right ladies, you read that right. Stop using that chemical-filled-bladder-infection-promoting lube and start using the best oil on earth (not to mention it can double as a massage oil)! It's not sticky, or smelly, and it doesn't stain! 

Oil Pulling

I'm sure you're not surprised to see this make the list but I swear by it. Oil pulling is a ancient Chinese medicine that pulls toxins from the body. Use 1 tablespoon and swish it around in your mouth for 20 minutes making sure to swish through your teeth for at least 5 minutes. Do NOT swallow! At the end of the 20 minutes the oil will be full of toxins so you do not want to swallow it! 

Other benefits: whitens teeth, clears eczema,  and promotes oral hygiene!

Banana Berry Bliss | Quick Tip Monday

I have decided that I will dedicate Monday to quick and easy tips!

This smoothie is literally the easiest breakfast to make when you are short of time. 

What you'll need:

2 Ripe Bananas 

1/2-1 Cup Mixed berries 

Coconut water to desired consistency 

So delicious

So nutritious 

So simple

ENJOY

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