Foodie - Pineapple Whip

So my kids wanted a treat and this is what we came up with over the weekend! I adapted it from Detoxinista.com website...She absolutely has the best healthy clean recipes!

1 cup Almond Milk (can use coconut milk too)

 6 cups frozen pineapple

 1 Tbsp of organic raw honey

Place all the ingredients in the food processor or blender

Blend until smooth

Serve & Enjoy

xoxo

Ali

Beauty - Can you really have too much Lipgloss?

I have an obsession with lip-gloss and lipstick...I can never have enough! Below are some of my all-time favorites and the ones I can never live without.

1.  Sephora's Sparkle Vinyl Lip Gloss in Get noticed - sad news it is discontinued but you can buy from ebay!

2. Nars Turkish Delight Lipgloss

3. Lorac Cotton Candy Lipgloss limited edition

4. MAC Lipgloss in Angel

5. MAC Lipstick in Pretty Please

6. Revlon Colorburst lipgloss in Pink Ice



My list could go on and on as I had 14 lip-gloss/lipsticks in my purse alone...but these are my every day ones that I love to wear. Let me know what your favorites lip colors are!

xoxo

Ali



 



Healthy Nut - Oil Pulling

 

 

 

     I know you are probably asking yourself what the heck is oil pulling...well, it’s the latest health habit that many people are now doing!

     Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for oral health and detoxification. It uses pure oils such as coconut and sesame oil as agents for pulling harmful bacteria, fungus, and other organisms out of the mouth, teeth, gums and even throat.  In 1992, Dr. Karach first introduced oil pulling as a cure to a variety of illnesses ranging from heart disease to digestive troubles to hormonal disorders. 

     The concept of oil pulling is very simple.  Dr. Karach’s oil pulling method consists of swishing a couple teaspoons of oil in the mouth for 5 to 20 minutes and then spits it out and rinses.  The best time for it to be done is in the morning before eating, but it can be done any time of the day.  Do not ever swallow the oil because it is loaded with bacteria and toxins!!!

     By swishing the coconut oil around in your mouth for the allotted time it is able to decrease plaque and remove toxins without disturbing the teeth or gums, being similar to mouthwash. Oil pulling is incredibly effective in whitening teeth, healing gums, preventing bad breath, decreasing inflammation, and aids in healing of oral infections. This holistic treatment has also been known to help treat certain systemic conditions in the body.

 

 

Benefits of oil pulling for oral health:

• Strengthening of the teeth, gums, and jaw
• Prevention of cavities and gingivitis
• Prevention for bad breath
• Remedy for bleeding gum
• Prevention of dryness of the lips, mouth and throat
• Holistic treatment for TMJ and general soreness in the jaw

 

Benefits of oil pulling for overall health:

• Migraine headache relief
• Correcting hormone imbalances
• Reduces inflammation of arthritis
• May help with gastro-enteritis
• Reduction of eczema
• Helps support normal kidney function
• May help reduce sinus congestion
• Helps reduce insomnia
• Aids in reducing pain
• Reduces the symptoms of allergies
• Helps detoxify the body of harmful metals and organisms

So you are probably asking yourself how do I oil pull…Well, the steps are below:

1. Purchase organic coconut oil  
2. Place 1 tbsp of organic coconut oil into your mouth and swish the oil around for 5-20 minutes, 20 minutes is the best!
3. Once your time is up, spit the oil out into the trash, not the sink or toilet because it will harden. Do not swallow the oil as it is full of toxins, bacteria, and pus!
4. Rinse your mouth out with warm water a few times.
5. Brush your teeth

Now start oil pulling and let me know what you thoughts!!!

Xoxo

Ali

http://www.iherb.com/Garden-of-Life-Extra-Virgin-Coconut-Oil-32-fl-oz-946ml/11662

 

 

 

 

Tone & Tighten Tuesday - Terrific Tabata

It's time to Tone & Tighten! Below is an awesome tabata workout that I often use in between my weighted gym sessions to get my heart rate up or even at home when I don't have time to go to the gym. If I use in between my weights, after the first set of exercises I perform the cardio tabata, then after the next set I perform the strength tabata and then so on. If I am working out at home I will usually complete this 3-4 times. You can either just time it out on a stop watch or download the seconds pro app on your phone that I suggested in my previous blog and they actually have a tabata timer so super easy to plug in!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

xoxo

Ali

 

 

Foodie Friday - Sneaky Sneaky Smoothies & Popsicles

 

Every mom knows how hard it is to get your kid to eat "healthy" foods and take their vitamins. Thankfully my kids like to take their vitamins but sometimes its hard to get them to eat certain foods like KALE! So this is my SNEAKY SNEAKY SMOOTHIE recipe. My kids absolutely love this smoothie and any leftovers we make into popsicles.  They are perfect popsicles for when your kids are sick too because full of vitamin C and not filled with all that bad sugar!

 

 Serves 3 kids and makes 4 popsicles

1 cup of organic orange juice

1 cup of cold water

1 cup of organic frozen cherries

1 cup of organic frozen blueberries

1 cup of ice

2 frozen bananas

4 handfuls of organic kale (I use spinach too)

2 scoops of Madre C

 

(if too thick add more water)

Blend until smooth

 

 

Enjoy!!!

 

xoxo

Ali

Fashion Forward Thursday - My New Loves

 

So my "New Loves" related to fashion this week are these accessories from Gigglosophy. The shop is found on etsy and everything is handmade, custom made. All of the jewelry items are gold or silver plated and best part super affordable! Below are my favorite items and click the pictures to be directed to the website.

 

xoxo

Ali

 

 

Healthy Nut - Relax It

Whether it is from working out or stress, I have sore muscles! And the best way to relax my tense sore muscles is magnesium and Epsom salt baths!

1. Magnesium oil - I will use 8 sprays of this 1-2 times a day, on any area that is sore...usually for me it is my neck & back! Once you spray it on, leave it on for 20 minutes, then shower or wipe off the applied area.

2. Epsom Salt baths - Place 2-4 cups of Epsom salt in the bath while the water is running so it can dissolve. I also put 5-10 drops of lavender in the water too, lavender is a great for stress relief! Then soak and relax in the tub!

3. Magnesium supplement - Magnesium is known to help relax your body especially your nervous system. So I take 200mg in the morning and 500mg at night to help relax those muscles and nerves of mine. It can also help with migraines when paired with riboflavin & CoQ10. The best way to know if you are taking too much magnesium is by your bathroom habits...too much magnesium will make you have to go to the bathroom a little more than normal! 

So start RELAXIN that body of yours!

xoxo

Ali



Tone & Tighten Tuesday - Ultimate Ab Workout

It is time for the ultimate ab workout! Either pair this with your workout for the day or with 20-30 minutes of cardio. I used the seconds pro app for this workout as well.

Perform 2-3 sets of, make sure to set the rest time for 10 seconds in between each exercise and 1 minute rest in between each set.

 

xoxo

Ali

 



 

 

Motivational Monday - From the Heart - I will NOT live in FEAR

At some point in our life we have all felt FEAR...Fear can be crippling, debilitating, and all consuming! I know this because I have dealt with it firsthand.  I have always been a "high stress" person, I work better under pressure...most of us do! But a few years ago after my third child, I developed severe postpartum anxiety. It was a nightmare; I had never dealt with anything so hard in my life!  I thought I was "SUPERWOMAN", I thought I could do it ALL, but boy was I wrong.  No matter how structured, organized, and "all together" I was, it didn't matter.  I had three kids under the age of 5, a husband that traveled, a graduate student, a worry wart, and the pressure of being the "PERFECT" wife, mom, and friend.

My world turned upside down in June of 2012 when God woke me up and said “Get your priorities in order"! For a little over a year I dealt with panic attacks and anxiety/fear. I felt a complete loss of control over my body and my thoughts.  Fear of something happening to me, fear of something happening to my children, fear of not being the best wife and mother, worry about finances, worry of not knowing what I was supposed to do with my life and the list could go on consumed my mind. Fear, worry, anxiety & panic were my life for over a year. I still deal with it today and I have to make a daily effort to not think fearful, worrisome thoughts, but I know that through God's strength, I will NOT live in FEAR! Even while I am typing this my eyes fill with tears as I realize how far I've come in two years and where God has brought me today.  God woke me up and made me realize I was missing out on so many things in my life because of control, fear, and worry. I tried to control everything out of fear...fear to protect myself of getting hurt, fear of my children getting hurt; fear of losing control...But God had more and has more for me and for you.  He has a plan and future for me and for you, plans to prosper us, not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). I realize now this is all a part of my testimony; it has made me who I am today and who I will be in the future. This entire journey has made me a better person, wife, mother, and friend.

So I want to encourage all of you today to confront your fears. "Until the power of fear is broken in our lives, we are held captive to it.  To fulfill His plan for our lives and to enjoy all the blessings He wants to give us, we simply must refuse to live in fear" Joyce Meyer.  

If you struggle with fear, worry, anxiety, panic, depression, illness, whatever it is, accept it, confront it, and give it to Him. I know as a wife & mother that worry and fear comes with the territory, we worry out of love for our children, but that's not the life God has for you!  You can do ALL things with His strength. And God can use anything for good; you just have to let him! I never thought that my anxiety & panic attacks could be used for good, but it is, it is molding and shaping me to be the women God wants me to be.  Joshua 1:9, "Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid".

Below are pictures of verses that I keep in my phone and when I begin to worry or fearful thoughts creep into my head I read them!

You are a strong, fearless, talented, beautiful, and compassionate woman!!! Choose to live BOLDLY & COURAGEOUSLY! Tell yourself today I will NOT live in FEAR.

xoxo

Ali

 

Foodie Friday - Peanut Butter Honey Oat Bites

These are purely addicting! When I have a sweet craving I try to have a "healthy" alternative if possible and these peanut butter oat bites are on the top of my list for "healthy" sweets. I do have to be careful because I have been known to eat the entire batch of them in one sitting while watching the Walking Dead!

Enjoy and let me know what you think if you make them!

Peanut Butter Oat Bites:
1 cup of old fashion rolled oats gluten free
1/2 cup organic creamy peanut butter  (if want less fat use 1/4c pb & 1/4c powdered pb)
1/4 cup organic honey
1/4 cup reduced fat unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup chia sea
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (I use carob chips)

Mix together; place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to congeal; then roll into 12-14 balls.
Store in either refrigerator for short term or freezer for long term storage.

They are DELICIOUS & everyone in my family loves them!!!!

XOXO
Ali

Fashion Forward - Maxi Madness

http://www.lulus.com/products/tricks-of-the-trade-taupe-maxi-dress/104930.html

Summer time is approaching and I love maxi dresses! I love all types of dresses, but maxi style is my favorite. You can either dress it down during the day with sandals or dress it up at night with a necklace, bracelets, and wedges!

Below are some of my favorite maxi dresses for the summer all under $99

Click the picture to be directed to website

xoxo

Ali

http://www.lulus.com/products/maxin-relaxin-multi-print-maxi-dress/150242.html

 

http://www.lulus.com/products/lulus-exclusive-silent-lagoon-pink-maxi-dress/140066.html