For All You Quinoa Fans

Attention all Quinoa-Lovers (or anyone curious about Quinoa):

I found this great article with Recipes in Experience Life Magazine - enjoy!

CLICK for article

December Newsletter: Boost Your Immunity!

Click HERE for fantastic information about boosting immunity / staying healthy!

Staying Healthy

Wellness/Prevention: Staying Healthy! 
"The preservation of health is easier than the cure for disease." 
~ B.J. Palmer

Totally Made-Up Tortellini Soup (and its GOOD!)

My friend, Amy, recently shared some of her Mom's tortellini soup recipe with me and it was sooo good (I enjoyed a small sample)!   

I generally don't eat tortellini but once I had a taste of the shared soup I had to make it for myself.  

Being incredibly impatient I just decided to make-up my own recipe today vs. waiting for Amy to get me her recipe (love you, Amy!) and I have to say its really, really yummy.  
Even my Mom who is in town visiting had 2nds and my husband loves it, too!   

This soup is chock full of really great stuff and is definitely filling / soothing.   Enjoy!  

Recipe just below photo...

Ingredients (use Organic or Locally Farmed where possible):

2 Carrots (peeled and sliced)
2 Celery Stalks (sliced)
5 Garlic Cloves (I used a garlic Zoom to chop-up really well)
2 Onions (chopped)
2 Cups Frozen Spinach
8 oz. Sliced Mushrooms
14.5 ounces Diced Tomatoes (low sodium -- with or without the liquid - your choice)
4 Cups Broth (veggie or chicken - low sodium -- your choice)
1.5 Tbsp Coconut Oil (this is the consistency of a shortening but cooks down to an oil)
2 Tbsp Butter
1/4 tsp Cayenne
1/2 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Oregano
Salt to Taste

What to do:

1.   Melt Coconut Oil and Butter in a large soup pot (medium to medium high heat)
2.   Sautee Onion, Carrot, Celery and Garlic -- 5 minutes
3.   Add in Mushrooms and sautee all ingredients for 5 more minutes
4.   Add seasonings (cayenne, cumin, oregano) -- stir well until seasonings are blended
5.   Add tomato (tomato liquid optional) and broth
6.   Add frozen spinach
7.   Salt to taste
8.   Bring all to a boil and then reduce hit to a simmer and cover for 30-45 minutes

**In a separate pot**
1.  Boil tortellini of choice (I bought a "boutique brand" at Whole Foods)
2.  Follow directions on packaging
3.  Drain tortellini and set aside

Once Soup is done simmering spoon out some soup into a bowl and then add Tortellini.  Stir together.

Storage:
Store the soup separately from the tortellini and reheat together as you get hungry for more!

Vegetable & Quinoa Soup (really like a Chowder)

This is sooo good and it is more like a chowder.  

You definitely feel like you are eating a complete meal.

As a bonus it is full of so many good things and is easy to make, reheat, freeze and serve later.   

This would be a GREAT Thanksgiving appetizer!

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped (plus celery leaves)
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
4 cups vegetable stock
1 small tin, plum tomatoes (I used fire-roasted organic tomatoes from Whole Foods) -- with juice
1 14.5 ounce tin of organic cannellini beans (or white beans of any kind) -- drained
1/2 cup quinoa
sea salt and pepper to taste

Prep:
1.  Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat.  Add in the onions, celery, garlic, carrots and sweet potatoes and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring often.
2.  Add the vegetable stock, quinoa, beans (drained) and tomatoes (with juice) and bay leaves and increase heat to bring to a boil.  Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cover, cooking until the veggies are tender and the quinoa has expanded, about 30 minutes.
3.  Pour 1/2 the soup into a food processor or VitaMix and puree until smooth.  Return to the pot.  Season with sea salt and pepper.  Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with your favorite garnish.

Mad About Trans Fats

GREAT, QUICK-READ ARTICLE:   CLICK

Good Fat / Bad Fat

Diet: Why Some Fats May Be Bad. 
Some fats (like animal fats) are linked to ailments like heart disease and diabetes while others (like those from fish, plants, and nuts) have health benefits. Why the difference? The results of one study suggest that some fats encourage the growth of harmful bacteria in the digestive system. Our bodies recognize those fats and launch an immune response. The result is low-level inflammation that, over the long term, causes chronic disease. 
Quarterly Review of Biology, September 2012

Interesting

Exercise: Lack of Exercise As A Medical Condition? 
According to physiologist Michael Joyner, M.D., "physical inactivity is the root cause of many of the common problems that we have." These problems include obesity, diabetes, joint damage, and high blood pressure. If lack of exercise (deconditioning) was treated as a medical condition, then perhaps more patients and doctors would see exercise as a treatment that should be considered first for many medical complaints. 
Mayo Clinic, August 2012 

Alcohol and Nutrition

Great Article (CLICK)

Water!

Wellness/Prevention: Drink Water! 
Water is your body's principle chemical component and makes up 60% of your body weight. Water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose, and throat tissues. Lack of water can lead to dehydration, and even mild dehydration (as low as 1-2% loss of normal water volume) can drain your energy and make you tired. 
Institute of Medicine

Homemade Roasted Tomato Soup

OK, so our tastebuds are going crazy right now at our house.  We have this Homemade Roasted Tomato Soup simmering on the stove AND the chili recipe (see post below) simmering in the slow cooker all at the same time.   Oh, the lovely aroma(s)!!    

CLICK here for soup recipe and see post just below for chili.

PS - we did not use the heavy cream in the soup (its totally awesome without it!).
PPS - we quadrupled most ingredients (celery, carrots, tomatoes, etc) to make more because we eat a lot of this!

Compliments to my friend, Trina, for the recipe share.

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili compliments of Real Simple

Our house smells SO good right now with this simmering in the slow cooker.  YUM!
CLICK for Recipe and let the mouth-watering begin!

Be a Loser!

Wellness/Prevention: Lose To Gain? 
People who are overweight or obese could gain ten years worth of health benefits by simply losing 20 pounds. Modest weight loss (average 14 lbs) reduced the risk of individuals developing Type 2 diabetes by 58%. Weight loss of just 10% of a person's body weight has been shown to have long-term impact on sleep apnea, hypertension, quality of life, and to slow the decline in mobility that occurs as people age. 
American Psychological Association, July 201

Had no idea!

Diet: The Not So Small Intestine. 
Have you ever wondered how your body gets nutrients out of your food? Your small intestine absorbs most of your food; however, the small intestine is not that small. The average surface of the human small intestine is about the size of a tennis court! 
Gray's Anatomy 

Really Cool Fact!

Wellness/Prevention: Constant Change. 
A big reason to stay healthy is that the cells of your body are constantly replaced. Eating right and exercising will give the new cells the best chance to become healthy cells. For example, did you know that humans shed and re-grow outer skin cells about every 27 days? That's almost 1,000 new skins in a lifetime! 
Gray's Anatomy

Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

Click Me for Recipe

Ultimate Health by Dr. Sarah Marshall, Naturopathic Physician

What Is Ultimate Health?  It's time for a reality check.  If asked if we are healthy most of us would answer, "Yes".  And, yet, as a country 2/3 of adults are overweight or obese, we are tired, stressed out, overwhelmed, over scheduled, toxic and more or less don't feel so hot. So what gives?  How are we defining health in the first place and what does it feel like to be healthy? The most common definition of health is not having a disease. This definition is not nearly broad enough to truly support our lives. Nearly 20 years ago the World Health Organization defined health as:  "A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."     What that definition really looks like in our lives is what I call Ultimate Health. Ultimate Health is having a strong, fit, healthy body, a peaceful, kind and gentle mind, balanced, joyful, loving, and rich emotions, and living a life of purpose with passion, satisfaction and abundance.

Clean Living

Wellness/Prevention: Live Longer - Exercise & Diet. 
According to a recent study, women aged 70-79 who exercise and eat healthy amounts of fruits and vegetables have a longer life expectancy than those who do not. What makes this study unique is that it looked at these two factors together. Researchers found that the women who were most physically active and had the highest fruit and vegetable consumption were 8 times more likely to survive the 5 year follow-up period than the women with the lowest rates of exercise and healthy eating. 
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, June 2012

Be Happy.

Arbonne's Pure Mint Deodorant: A Review

Jenni's Review of Pure Mint Deodorant (new!):

I also used the Pure Mint Toothpaste and Mouthwash last night and those Reviews are below.

Like with the toothpaste and mouthwash I am a huge fan of the packaging of this new "Pure Mint" line. The colors are clean and simple. The products themselves look clean and neat sitting on the bathroom counter. These products are made to help us feel clean/refreshed and just looking at them evokes that emotion of clean and happy.

Once you remove the deodorant cap there is a safety seal type of cap that needs to be removed. It takes a little bit of "oomph" to remove that safety seal but I found that if I pulled up each side a bit and then alternated that on both sides, one at a time, it came off easily vs. just pulling on the "tab" alone.

I LOVE that the deodorant is a solid and that it is not like a powder. It is more of a gel solid if that makes sense. The product itself, the "stick" part -- is like a clear-ish hue. It has a rounded top which is always nice for application. It is wide -- not like a ball -- more like an oval.   Its nice that you don't have to "break it in" where some deodorants are flat and can hurt until you round them out.

I LOVE that as soon as you apply the deodorant it INSTANTLY absorbs into the skin. Just like all of Arbonne's products formulated for the skin the products absorb immediately and get to work. There is no greasy or sticky feeling once you apply. It is almost like the product disappears into the skin!

I trialed the deodorant in the late afternoon after we returned home from a long car ride. Our house was very warm as we had turned the AC down since we were away. I was unpacking, cleaning, doing laundry and pretty much not sitting still for almost 2 hours.

Given these conditions I have to say I am SUPER IMPRESSED with the Pure Mint Deodorant!!! I did not feel sweaty even though I could tell my body temperature was elevated from all my work around the house. Not to sound weird but I did do a "sniff test" several times under each arm and there was no sweaty, musty, "body odor" smell that we all get from exerting ourselves or being in warmer conditions.

I am excited to trial it all day today! I did hear through the grapevine that a male Arbonne Consultant trialed this deodorant all day long and the product worked for him all day! Strong enough for WOMEN and MEN!

BONUS: I currently use a $20 retail natural deodorant and Arbonne's Pure Mint Deodorant blows it out of the water! The Arbonne brand is SO MUCH BETTER and since the Arbonne brand is only $8 before my discount I am totally sold!

Overall Review: This is an awesome deodorant! I am impressed with it on every level. I am so happy Arbonne finally came out with this Pure Mint line!! ♥

Arbonne's Pure Mint Mouthwash: A Review

Jenni's Review of Pure Mint Mouthwash (new!):

I also used this product for the first time last night (see Pure Mint Toothpaste review below). 

Like with the toothpaste, I found the packaging to be clean, simple -- it looked appealing to me sitting on my bathroom countertop. I'm a visual person so that type of thing actually matters to me!

The mouthwash cap is easy to remove (trust me, not all of them are!).

Once the cap was removed I immediately noticed the clean, refreshing scent of the mouthwash. Not overpowering in any way, but from an aromatherapy standpoint the scent is pleasing and refreshing. It reminded me of opening a wrapper of spearmint gum. Makes me happy!

The flavor of the mouthwash is awesome. It has a very smooth taste if that makes sense. Its NOT at all medicinal and is actually very nice! The mint is the most predominant flavor and there are some subtle hints of other flavors but I couldn't quite put my finger on the exact ones.

After I rinsed with the mouthwash my mouth felt insanely clean! Even my teeth felt clean. I could tell that this mouthwash did an excellent job at not only giving refreshment to my mouth but that it did a great job cleaning and getting rid of bacteria.

**In addition to mint also contains: cranberry extract, grape seed extract, ginger root extract, camellia sinensis leaf, aloe leaf, punica granatum fruit extract**

Overall Review: I am definitely going to replace the current brand of natural mouthwash I am using with the new Arbonne Pure Mint Mouthwash. This is even better than the brand I use from Whole Foods.... and BONUS... it costs less, too! I love that I can get Arbonne's brand at a discount and that Arbonne will pay me to use it and share it. That makes my mouth happy, too! Its easy to share something you love and that is healthy to boot.

Arbonne's Pure Mint Toothpaste: A Review

Jenni's Review of Pure Mint Toothpaste (new!):

I used it for the first time last night. First impressions:
The packaging... clean, simple and looked "happy" next to the bathroom sink. That actually matters to me. :)

The texture of the toothpaste is a bit thick which I like because you don't waste too much as you squeeze it onto the toothbrush. It also doesn't fall off the brush like other natural brands. I can't stand globs of toothpaste in the sink.

I use a small Sonicare toothbrush head and enough toothpaste to cover the brush is enough to do a thorough brushing. Just like Arbonne's products a little goes a long way. If you like a larger amount of toothpaste obviously you can apply more to your brush.


The toothpaste is a gel consistency.  It has a clear appearance.   Not opaque like a typical paste.

The flavor is a really nice mint. Scent is mild but refreshing. Not too overpowering but definitely the right blend of flavors to make your mouth feel very clean. When brushing the texture of the toothpaste doesn't actually "foam" like most toothpastes... another sign of a good, natural product.

*In addition to mint also contains: cranberry extract, grape seed extract, ginger root extract, camellia sinensis leaf, aloe leaf, punica granatum fruit extract*

Overall Review: I am definitely going to replace my current brand of natural toothpaste with Arbonne's. It gives a really good clean and the texture, flavor and overall effectiveness of this product are awesome! Plus, why wouldn't I replace this product with the added bonus that I get it at a great discount and Arbonne pays me to use it?!

Your Past Predicts Your Future

Mini Chocolate-Chip Love Bites

These are so good you might want to eat the whole batch at once... don't say I didn't warn you.  :)

Adapted from "Chocolate Covered Katie" (blog) recipe.

I doubled everything and it made about 20 cookies:
* 1/2 cup rolled oats
* 1/2 cup applesauce (organic if you can)
* 1/4 cup nut butter (I used Trader Joe's crunchy peanut butter with flaxseed)
* 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
* 1/16 salt
* 1-2 tbsp. mini chocolate chips (I used a vegan chip by "Enjoy Life" -- deelish!)
* 2 1/2 tbsp. dried berries (I used organic sulfite-free dried cherries)
* 1 tbsp. unrefined cane sugar (you can use another healthy sweetener of your choice)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mash the applesauce with the nut better then add all other ingredients.  Mix well until combined.   Shape into cookies (use a mini scoop or your hands work, too).  Bake on a greased cookie sheet for around 14-16 minutes and allow to cool for 10 minutes.   (I used a Silpat cookie sheet liner and it works great to give an even baking -- no burned tops or bottoms.)

Recipes from Arbonne Cooking Class at Williams-Sonoma

Vegetable Spring Rolls

Source:  Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook/ Williams Sonoma

½ lb Shiitake Mushrooms

2 tsp canola oil

1 garlic clove

1 tsp low sodium soy sauce

7 oz thin dried rice noodle

12 rice paper wrappers

1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced.

2 avocados, ripe, pitted, peeled and sliced

2 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks

1 cup packed, herb sprigs such as mint, cilantro, basil, etc.

• Trim stems from shiitakes and discard (or save for soup or stock). Slice caps and set aside. In a large nonstick fry pan, heat 1 ½ tsp of oil over medium high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not browned, about 30 seconds. Add mushrooms and sauté until they have released their juices, 3 -4 minutes. Add 1 tsp soy sauce and cook until pan is dry, about 1 minute
• Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add noodles, stir to separate, and cook until tender, 3-5 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water. Wipe pot dry, return noodles to pot and toss with remaining. ½ tsp of oil.
• Fill a large shallow with very hot tap water. Soak rice-paper wrappers, 1 or 2 at a time, until flexible, about 30 seconds. Shake off any excess water and stack on a plate. Place 1 wrapper flat on a work surface. Arrange a combination of noodles, bell pepper, avocado, mushrooms, carrots and herbs across center of wrapper; fold ends in over filling, then roll up tightly from edge closest to you. Repeat to make more rolls. 
• Cut rolls in half on the diagonal and serve right away.

Nuoc Mam Cham - Dipping Fish Sauce

Source: adoptvietnam.org

Note:  Only apple cider vinegar should be used during the 30 Days to Fit plan.  Tamari could be used as the dipping sauce during this time.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Honey or agave nectar
• 4 tablespoons rice vinegar 
• 5 tablespoons fish sauce (3 Crabs brand recommended; available at asian groceries such as Assi Mart or Super H Mart)
• 1 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
• 2 small fresh chili peppers

Directions

Stir honey with vinegar and fish sauce.

Combine garlic, peppers, and add mixture.

Stir in the fish sauce mixture.

Stir Fried Chicken & Bok Choy

Adapted from Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook/Willams Sonoma

2 tbsp Dry Sherry

1 tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce

½ tsp Sambal Oelek or other Asian Chile Paste

1 lb Baby Bok Choy

1 lb Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast

3 tsp Peanut or Olive Oil (divided by half)

2 Garlic Cloves

1 tbsp Fresh Ginger, Minced or grated

¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes

2 cups Cooked Brown Rice

• In a small bowl, stir together sherry, soy sauce and chile paste and set aside
• Trim stem ends from baby bok choy and separate into leaves. Cut chicken into ½” slices then cut into 1” strips
• Heat 1 1\2 tsp of oil in a wok or large nonstick fry pan over high heat. When oil is hot, add bok choy and toss and stir just until tender crisp, 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Add remaining 1 ½ tsp oil to pan. When hot, add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring constantly until fragrant but not browned, 15-30 second. Add chicken to the pan and cook, stirring until lightly browned and cooked through, 2-3 minutes.
• Return bok choy to pan along with any juices accumulated in bowl, then add sherry mixture and toss and stir just until heated through, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with chile flakes and serve, right away with rice.

Coconut Milk Ice Cream

4 egg yolks

½ cup xylitol or sugar when not doing 30 Day Plan

1- 13.5 oz can light coconut milk

1-13.5 oz can regular coconut milk

2 teas vanilla extract

• In a large bowl, whisk yolks & sugar together until pale yellow, 1-2 minutes.  Add light and regular coconut milk and whisk again until well combined.
• Transfer coconut mixture to medium pot and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until just thickened and mixture coats the back of the spoon, 8-10 minutes.  Be sure not to let the mixture boil.  Remove pot and stir in vanilla.
• Transfer contents of pot to a bowl and chill until cold.  Process mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions and then to a container with a lid and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.   

Laugher IS the best medicine

Laughter is one of the most powerful ways to ward off disease and illness known to man. Most of us probably don’t think about how often we laugh, but rest assured, our body is keeping count. Children seem to understand that laughter is the best medicine, as they laugh, on average, up to 400 times a day. Adults average only 17 times per day. Is it any wonder children seem to enjoy life more than their parents? 

The benefits of laughter are far reaching. Laughter brings joy to your life and to those around you; makes your cheeks red and your face glow, making you more approachable and even more loveable; alleviates pain in the body and provides you with a sense of well-being by releasing endorphins and serotonin, which have been proven to help reduce pain and can even enhance treatments of many illnesses and diseases; reduces the negative stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine; allows us to connect with others more readily and to share a common bond with them; and also helps supply your body with oxygen, helping you feel full of energy and life. 

Your body treats laughter just like exercise, as it makes the blood vessels work more efficiently, increases blood flow to the heart, and helps to increase lung capacity.  A good belly laugh can boost your immune system’s ability to ward off disease for up to three days. Imagine the benefit of laughing multiple times daily! 

Laughter is a great distraction from the stresses and rigors of life. Any time you can change your focus from the negative emotions of your day, even for just a few moments, the better off you are. Laughter also enhances your ability to have a good night’s sleep. 

The bottom line is that laughing is one of the best natural health remedies. So, if your stress levels are mounting, if you are feeling unhealthy, if you are feeling rundown and depressed, or you just want some relief, then LAUGH! The more you laugh, the better you feel, and the better those around you will feel too.

Practicing Presence: Living from the Heart

Great article!   CLICK

Soda News

Thanks to my sister for sharing this article.     Intriguing, indeed!   

CLICK

Healthy Chocolate-Chip Cookies

Adapted from recipe by Chocolate Covered Katie (blog).....

Soft Chocolate-Chip Cookies

(Makes 14-20 cookies)

• 2/3 cup plus 1/2 cup oat flour (140g) *can use gluten free oat flour*
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 4 tbsp brown sugar or brown coconut sugar (or Sucanat)
• 4 tbsp xylitol (or evaporated cane juice)
• 3 tbsp to 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I get Vegan chocolate chips and they are awesome!)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp vegetable or coconut oil
• 3-5 tbsp milk of choice, as needed

Preheat oven to 380 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients and mix very well. Add wet, and form into a big ball. Now make little balls from the big one. For soft cookies, refrigerate until cold (otherwise, just bake right away). Bake 7 minutes, or until they’ve spread out and look just a little undercooked. Remove from oven when they’re still a little undercooked, then it’s important to let cookies cool at least 10 minutes before trying to remove from tray, as they’ll continue to cook while cooling. For soft cookies, store in a lidded plastic container. For crispy cookies, store in a lidded glass container.

Chickpea, Basil and Tomato Salad

• 1 can organic chickpeas, drained and rinsed -- or soak your own!
• About 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved  (go organic!)
• 25 large basil leaves, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar  (Bragg's is so good)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp honey (10g) -- or Agave if you are strict Vegan
• pinch of salt

Toss all ingredients together and chill for at least 20 minutes, allowing all the flavors to merge.

Then EAT!

Can’t get any simpler than that. :)

5 Things Happy People Do

See how many of the 5 you do, too!   CLICK to read

Strawberry-Avocado Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Another recipe in honor of Gluten Free Month... thank you, Julie, for sharing!

Strawberry-Avocado Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips (yes, it's gluten free!)

2 t. grape seed or olive oil

6 brown rice tortillas ( publix greenwise in frozen foods)

2 t. stevia mixed with 1/2 t cinnamon

1 1/2 finely chopped ripe avocado

2 T finely minced fresh cilantro

2 t fresh lime juice

1 c finely chopped strawberries

Preheat oven to 350, brush both sides of tortilla with oil, cut into triangles with pizza cutter and scatter on cookie sheet. bake for 10 minutes until crispy. take out of oven and sprinkle with cinnamon mixture. I then gave them a shot of sea salt to enhance the flavor.

Prepare salsa by chopping strawberries and mixing with cilantro and lime juice. I refrigerated so the juices could mingle, then added the chopped avocados just before serving.

Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole

In honor of  Gluten-Free Month and given the fact that a nice lady had made this for tasting today at Whole Foods... I decided to whip this up tonight so we can reheat all weekend long.  YUM!

You will need:
Coconut Oil Cooking Spray
6 Slices Gluten Free Bread (Udi's or Whole Foods brands are great)
2 Cups Mixed Berries (I used Organic Strawberries and Blueberries)
5 Eggs (or Egg Substitute)
1 Cup Non-Dairy Milk (I used Rice Milk)
1/2 Cup Organic Maple Syrup
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Cinnamon

What to do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Oil an 8 inch glass baking pan
Line pan with bread (overlap slices and press down to form solid bottom layer)
Scatter Berries over top of bread
Whisk together eggs, milk, syrup and spices -- pour over bread
Bake until golden brown and set -- approx 45-50 minutes

Setting a Good Example

Wellness/Prevention: Unhealthy Snacks, Sodas and Watching TV. 
In a study of obesity among European children, Dr. Yannis Manios, Assistant Professor at Harokopio University in Athens, writes, "We found that many countries are lacking clear guidelines on healthy eating and active play. However, there is good evidence linking sedentary behavior (like TV watching) with subsequent obesity. Therefore, TV-watching in kindergartens should be replaced by more active, non-competitive, fun activities which will promote the participation of the whole class and help children to achieve optimal growth, health and well-being. Similarly at home, TVs in the bedroom and unhealthy snacks in the kitchen cupboard are a bad idea. Parents should also remember that their role is not only to provide healthy food and drink options but to act as a role model themselves, since kids are copying their behaviors." 
Obesity Reviews, March 2012

Keep it Positive

"Do not worry at all about negative thoughts, and do not try to control them. All you have to do is begin to think good thoughts each day. Plant as many good thoughts as you can in each day. As you begin to think good thoughts you will attract more and more good thoughts, and eventually the good thoughts will wipe out the negative thoughts altogether." - Rhonda Byrne

Hire Yourself and Join Arbonne to avoid this....

Wellness/Prevention: Avoid Absenteeism. 
The US is losing $226 billion per year due to employee absenteeism. A worker is less likely to take sick leave if their supervisor offers support (lightened work load or stress management training) when an employee is experiencing psychosomatic stress symptoms. The worker feels inclined to reciprocate the supportive treatment by keeping their work effort high. 
European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, January 2012

Lending a Hand

Arbonne Consultants Raised over $300,000 in just 2 days this past weekend at Arbonne's Global Training Conference in Las Vegas.  Arbonne's Corporate Home Office is going to MATCH this 100% giving a $600,000 boost to Arbonne's incredible new Charitable Foundation.
CLICK

Interesting Debate

CLICK for article

Hellooooo Breakfast!

Quinoa Squash Porridge - Slow Cooker Version - From Hungry Hungry Hippie blog

[vegan, gluten free]

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup butternut squash puree
• 1 T cinnamon
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 3 cups water

I added everything together, stirred it all up and let it cook 7 hours on low heat overnight. 

Hungry Hungry Hippie: Arbonne Protein

Cool blog and hooray for the Arbonne Protein mention!
CLICK

Interesting!

Exercise: Exercise Linked To Change In DNA. 
Exercise almost immediately alters DNA in healthy but inactive men and women. Although the genetic makeup is not altered, DNA molecules change structurally and chemically when a person exercises. One researcher noted, "Our muscles are really plastic. We often say 'You are what you eat.' Well, muscle adapts to what you do. If you don't use it, you lost it and this is one of the mechanisms that allow that to happen." 
Cell Metabolism, March 2012

I really like her!!

CLICK

Arbonne in USA Today

CLICK here for USA Today Feature -- see Arbonne ads on page 11

MATH

Your Attitude + Your Choices = Your Life

Full Potential

"It is generally believed that the average person uses only about ten percent of their potential. That is to say that the average person could be ten times more productive and successful than they currently are. Studies done at Stanford University Brain Institute are even less flattering. They claim that the average person only uses about two percent of their full potential. No matter which figure you agree with, it is clear that we perform far below what we are capable of."  
(taken from Positively Positive blog post on reaching your full potential)

Sticky Note

Nothing says Easter like..... KALE CHIPS!!

Breathing Exercise to Calm the Mind

This really works!   
CLICK

Refined Sugars vs Natural Sweeteners

I love this blog and found this to be super-informative:  CLICK

How well do you know your chicken?

Thank you to my sister for sharing this with me.  While it seems a little on the "alarmist" side its actually not.  Sometimes the truth hurts.   Take a read and see what you think!
CLICK for article

Arbonne Charitable Foundation takes flight!

Arbonne Charitable Foundation:

The 501(c)(3) registered charity will focus on aligning with non-profits that are established and include building self-esteem for teens as a part of their mission. Then, as we work to plant roots for Arbonne's Foundation, partnering with existing, established organizations will help us build a bridge to success. The Foundation is committed to sharing its people and products in local communities, with the goal of improving lives in meaningful ways. The Foundation will reach all across the United States and Internationally, as well. Official Launch will be on April 26th and several events have been underway to prepare for the launch. The Arbonne spirit of giving back and lending a hand is alive and well!

And the envelope, please....

Clara loves "envelope".... which is her way of saying 'cantaloupe'.

I will never look at that melon the same. :)

Stressed? Yoga!

Exercise: Yoga And Stress.
Yoga may be effective for stress-related psychological and medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and cardiac disease. The theory could be used to develop specific mind-body practices for the prevention and treatment of these conditions in conjunction with standard treatments.
Medical Hypotheses, March 2012

Sweet Potato Cakes

This is my kinda cake! I don't know that I would even use the yogurt sauce since I think these look amazing naked. For flour you can use a gluten-free all purpose flour in place of the recommended flours. CLICK for recipe.

Stuff like this makes me HAPPY.

7 Health Benefits of Going Barefoot

No better feeling than bare feet dipped in the ocean!

CLICK

My Sister's White Bean and Veggie Soup Puree

Making this as I type and the house smells sooo good!

Here is the recipe - doesn't get much easier or more healthy:

Sautee a large onion (yellow or white) and a few garlic cloves in olive oil

Roughly chop a couple of carrots and celery stalks and throw into pot

Saute this much for about 5 minutes

Add chopped zuchhini, yellow squash and mushrooms

*I used an entire zucchini and 2 smaller yellow squash and baby portabellos

Add enough broth (veggie or chicken) to cover all veggies -- about 4 cups

Add white beans (I used an entire can of organic, sodium-free white beans)

Simmer for 5 minutes

Add salt and pepper and simmer for another 10-15 minutes

Pour into Blender/VitaMix and puree

Eat

The End