Tag: holistic lifestyle

Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Brownies

Published on by soreiya1 Comment

Happy December Everyone!

I associate the holiday season with rich chocolate desserts more then anything else.  So while others have visions of sugar plums dancing I tend to dream of chocolate waltzing.  Bad joke?  Alright, I’ll stop before I hurt myself.

At the beginning of November I decided to challenge myself and create a few delicious dessert recipes that were decadent yet still moderately healthy treats. Eating well is a lifestyle not a diet which includes clean high quality foods that support your body without leaving you feeling deprived or overwhelmed.  To me, this includes desserts.  You don’t need to have an all or nothing approach when it comes to eating.  Simple swaps and little adjustments can make a big difference in your health and how you look and feel overall.  I created these recipes for my clients and for you, to give you options during the holiday season and beyond. For those of you who are intimidated by baking please note that I am not a baker by any means, I just really like to eat.  It’s also important to me to know what is in my food. These recipes are simple, easy and require minimal skill, ingredients or effort.  My kitchen is literally in a closet and I have zero counter space, yet these recipes still came together beautifully – if I can do it, I have faith that you can too.

First up: Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Butter Brownies

These dark chocolate chunk brownies are the most perfect dessert that I have ever baked.  Rich, dense, moist and oh so good.  Did I mention that they are gluten free and refined sugar free?!?!

Cue happy dance

This amazing recipe has officially become my go to dessert recipe when I need a sweet treat.

Please note: All of the ingredients that I used when making these little bites of heaven were organic, but I understand that buying organic that can be a little pricey, so just try to keep your ingredients as clean and as high quality as your budget will allow.

Ingredients:

4 madjool dates (pitted and mashed)

1 cup of pure dark maple syrup

1 365g jar of creamy almond butter

2 medium organic eggs

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup raw cacao powder

1 heaping tablespoon of chunky almond butter

pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt (or regular sea salt)

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup of organic dark chocolate chunks (minimum 70%) plus some more for the top

What to do:

Pre-heat oven to 320

Line 8 X 8 pan with parchment paper

Beat the maple syrup and dates until creamy (I used a blender for this part to ensure that the dates were completely integrated)

Mix in the creamy almond butter, this will make the mixture extremely thick so slowly add in the almond milk to loosen up the batter and make it easier to mix

Slowly add the eggs

Add raw cacao, baking soda and salt and mix well until fully incorporated

Stir in the chunky almond butter and the chocolate chunks

Pour the batter into pan and top with extra chocolate chunks

Bake for 35 – 40 minutes

If you can resist eating some straight out of the pan before the brownies have cooled you are officially my new hero.  I on the other hand burned the inside of my mouth – it was totally worth it.

Enjoy! XXS

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Glow Getter Homemade Mask

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I love beauty DIY’s and homemade masks are no exception.  Not only is making your own masks cost effective, but masks that you create at home are more natural and safer for both your skin and your overall health.  This honey and papaya mask is one of my favourites and it is very easy to make. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.  There are many different versions of this mask online, but after trying a bunch of them I came up with this one using my favourite ingredients.  I have been hooked on it ever since!  Just ten minutes will help to leave your skin happy, hydrated and glowing.  Like with all beauty regimens, consistency is key so try using this mask once a week for long term results.

Some of the benefits of the ingredients in this mask include:

Papaya – this beta carotene rich fruit is filled with powerful enzymes that help to combat free radicals on the skins surface.  The alpha hydroxy acids in papaya help to dissolve dead skin cells by acting as a mild exfoliator.

Lemon – this natural astringent helps to tighten pores and lighten acne scarring.

Raw honey – is extremely hydrating which is perfect for the drying cooler temps

Turmeric – helps to tone the skin and is anti aging as it fights free radicals on the surface of the skin.

Ingredients:

3 teaspoons of fresh papaya

1 teaspoon of raw or manuka honey

1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon of turmeric

Directions:

Mash the turmeric with the back of a fork and combine it with the remainder of the ingredients.

Apply to clean skin with a brush.  Turmeric can stain the skin so applying it with your fingers may result in yellow nails and fingers.

After 10 – 15 minutes gently remove the mask with warm water and a wash cloth.  Continue with the remainder of your skin care regimen.

Bonus Tips:

  • It is best to use this face mask at night as some of the ingredients can increase skin sensitivity.  Make sure that you use sunscreen during the day to help protect your skin.
  • For people with sensitive skin, it is best to do a skin test first to ensure that your skin doesn’t react to this face mask.
  • You can use this mask all over your body including your neck and legs.
  • Refrigerate any leftovers and use it within two days.
  • Some people may find that the turmeric has lightly stained their skin (this really depends on your skin tone), cleansing your face should help to remove the colour.

I hope that you have a beautiful day!  XXS

The Self Care Shower Ritual That You May Be Missing

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Detox is a commonly used word amongst people in the wellness community, and over the past few years it has become a commonly used buzz word in popular culture as well.  It means many things to many people, but essentially it is used to communicate a method to rid toxins – most commonly from the body.  While your body has detox organs that help to eliminate toxins from your body naturally, there are certain things that one can do to help further stimulate this process within the body.

This year I decided to incorporate a new detox ritual into my self care routine, namely dry brushing.  This self care routine has become popular over the past few years, and while I had attempted once or twice prior to this year, 2016 is the year that I committed.  For those of you that don’t know, dry brushing is the process of brushing your skin with a natural bristle brush.  Some of the benefits of dry brushing include:

  • It sweeps away dry skin cells
  • Improves digestion
  • Stimulates the lymph nodes
  • Improves the appearance of cellulite
  • Boosts circulation

It is best to dry brush before you take your shower and many prefer to do it in the morning as they feel energized after.  How to maximize your dry brushing experience:

  • Use a soft but firm natural bristle brush
  • Start dry brushing at your feet and brush upwards to your heart
  • While dry brushing your stomach, brush in a counter clockwise circular motion
  • Use a circular motion when dry brushing your chest – that is where lymph drainage occurs
  • Take your time, spend 3 – 5 minutes dry brushing
  • Enjoy the process, it is a great time to breathe and take some time for yourself while doing something great for your body.

I am so happy that I have added dry brushing into my self care routine.  My skin looks and feels great since I have started.  It forces me to slow down and take a minute for myself while I am brushing.  It is extremely therapeutic and I find myself looking forward to my new self care ritual on a daily basis.

Are there any new self care rituals that you have included in your routine this year?  Let me know in the comments below.

I hope that you have a fabulous day!  XXS

 

My Battle With This Horrible Tasting Superfood

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In my quest to clean up my diet I have tried a myriad of so called superfoods.  One superfood that caught my attention a few years ago was algae – more specifically spirulina and chlorella. As high source of protein and nutrient dense, this blue green algae is filled with many vitamins and minerals including magnesium, calcium and B vitamins. The benefits of spirulina and chlorella include regulating blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, boost energy and detoxification from heavy metals.

Given the amount of research supporting the beneficial health claims of both spirulina and chlorella I was interested in adding it into my diet.  Most people who supplement with these algae tend to add it to their smoothies but I am not a big smoothie drinker as I generally prefer to chew my food. Adding aqua greens into my non existent smoothie routine was not going to work for me.  I decided that the best way to take the spirulina and chlorella was to mix it with water and just gulp it down.  I generally don’t have to much difficulty introducing new things into my diet and I assumed that spirulina and chlorella wouldn’t be an issue.

I was wrong.

Nothing I have ever eaten in my entire life could have prepared me for the disgusting, pungent, nauseating taste of this algae.  It smelt funny, tasted worse and left me with an distinctly queasy feeling that I hope to never experience again.  I was traumatized. But I am also stubborn and giving up on my goal of including spirulina and chlorella in my diet was not something that I was willing to do just yet.  So for the next few days I would faithfully mix a spoonful of the powdered greens with water and choke it down telling myself that it wasn’t that bad, that the agony that I felt was all in my head. I was lying to myself and I was not very convincing.

Spirulina and chlorella soon became my superfood nemesis and I was willing to avoid it all cost.  I would think of excuses as to why it was not a good idea to drink it that day, I would “forget” to drink  it on the days that I couldn’t think of an excuse and I would hide the container in the back of my fridge so that it would be “out of sight, out of mind”.  I should have just thrown in the proverbial towel, thrown away the pricey container of spirulina and chlorella and moved on, but I read a lot of articles and do a lot of research on health and well being, and I was frequently reading about the benefits of these powerful algae.  A small part of me was just not willing to completely give up.

I finally came across an article that solved my dilemma. It discussed how wonderful blue green algae was for the body, and offered a simple suggestion for those wanting to create an easy and energizing beverage using spirulina and chlorella – instead of mixing the greens with plain water, use coconut water instead.  The sweetness of the coconut water neutralizes the strong seaweedy taste of the chlorella and spirulina and the addition of the coconut water offers extra hydration and electrolytes.  Genius!  I hadn’t thought to mix it with anything else as I generally stick to water or tea as my choice of beverage. I immediately ran to the grocery store to purchase a carton of pure coconut water and the next morning before heading to the gym I tested out my “new” concoction – while the taste wasn’t amazing, it is tolerable and even somewhat refreshing.  Now I’m hooked.  Spirulina and chlorella mixed with coconut water is the perfect pre-workout beverage, it’s protein rich, hydrating, energizing, healthy and filling.

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For those of you interested in boosting your superfood intake with spirulina and chlorella:

  • only purchase algae that is clean, safe and pure – environmental pollution can contaminate algae
  • purchase organic to ensure that it is free of fertilizers and toxins
  • purchase from a reputable maufacturer
  • some people are allergic to spirulina and chlorella, seek medical attention at the first sign of an allergic reaction
  • spirulina and chlorella can interfere with certain medications including blood thinners.  Check with your doctor to ensure it won’t interfere with any medications you are on and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Spirulina and chlorella can be great and healthy additions to many diets but the key is to find a way to take it in a way that works best for you and be consistent.  By mixing it with coconut water you have an easy, energizing and healthy drink to help you power through your day.

Are there any super foods that you have struggled with?

I hope that you have a great day!  XXS

My Latest Beauty Obsession

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I love to try out new beauty products, and without a doubt my favourite beauty product in my beauty arsenal are masks. Sheet masks, foam masks, clay masks, DIY masks – I love them all and I try a new one every chance that I get. I consider masking a bit of self love for my skin in my on going quest to be the  glowy-est possible version of myself.  Recently, I treated myself to the new Honey Potion mask from Farmacy, and to say that I am obsessed with this mask is an understatement.  It is fabulous!  Filled with hydrating ingredients and anti oxidants, this mask leaves your skin moisturized, glowing and refreshed.

True to it’s name Honey Potion looks like a jar of honey (just don’t eat it) and when you massage it onto your skin it turns white and begins to warm up.  The warming sensation adds to the spa feel of this mask. Wash it off with warm water after 10 – 15 minutes and enjoy the glow!  As an extra little bonus the spatula that comes with the jar magnetically attaches to the lid – perfect for someone like me who always loses the spatula!

The ingredients in Honey Potion include ultra hydrating honey, propolis and royal jelly all of which makes this mask a must have for winter as cold outdoor temperatures and indoor heating can be incredibly dehydrating and wreck havoc on your skin.

For those of you that are not familiar with the Farmacy brand, it is definitely one that you should check out.  They combine farm grown botanicals with cutting edge technology to produce clean irritant free products.  Plus all of Farmacy’s products are made from naturally derived ingredients and free of parabens, formaldehyde and artificial colourings plus their products are not tested on animals.  Effective clean, green beauty – this mask checks every box and is the perfect addition to my beauty arsenal.

Have you tried any products from Farmacy? What is your favourite beauty product?

I hope that you have a beautiful day!

XXS