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