Category: Organic

Health and Wellness, Organic, Skincare

Beauty Tip: Identify the Problem and Read the Ingredients for the Solution.

lannholmes

Ever wish you knew exactly what ingredients to look for so you knew exactly what product to buy, targeting your specific skin and beauty issue(s) and desires?

I know, for me, ingredients of a product will either make me want the product or not. They must be pure (nature-derived), healthy and organic (or, mostly) for my skin.

So, now, after reading an issue of Cosmopolitan, we’ll have this handy go-to list as a resource for when we’re in need of some beauty help.  🙂

Here we go!

For…

  • uneven texture – use retinol to boost cell turnover for a healthy complexion
  • discoloration – phytic acid – fades everything from sun spots to acne scars and niacinamide to prevent future pigmentation
  • oily skin moisturizer – hyaluronic acid – creates balance
  • dry skin moisturizer – ceramides – cocoon skin, leaving it feeling silky-smooth
  • moisturizing body wash – sulfate-free
  • face oil – rich in vitamin C, rosehip and sea buckthorn berry – evens skin tone and boosts firmness
  • body oil – macadamia and avocado – makes skin glisten!
  • SPF for the face – 50 and sweatproof
  • SPF for the body – zinc – amazing at preventing burns
  • dry skin cleanser – jojoba and aloe – face won’t feel tight post-wash
  • oily skin cleanser – charcoal – ‘sucks gunk from pores’ and salicylic acid ‘zaps zits’
  • A.M. eye treatment – peptides – plumps thin under-eye skin
  • P.M. eye treatment – pop on eye patches
  • brightening mask – AHA and glycolic acid – resurfaces the skin, leaving a glow
  • wrinkles – hyaluronic acid and collagen – repair skin damage
  • acne – adapalene (a retinoid) – regulates cell turnover to prevent clogged pores and reduce redness
  • at-home peel – gentle fruit acids for 14 days and then, something rich in glycolic and salicylic acid for 14 days
  • lip-plumping – restylane and restylane-L – allover volume; restylane silk – subtle enhancements; juvederm ultra XC – a ‘plush, pillowy effect’; juvederm volbella XC – defines the lip line and treats fine lines around the mouth

So, there you go.  Let’s go for the natural healthy beauty products with great ingredients!

Love,

Lisa

 

Food, Organic

Vegan Recipe We’d Like to Try: Peruvian Quinoa Stew

lannholmes

Do you like stew?  I have been thinking about making a stew for a while, but, the heat where I live isn’t really pushing me to rush into the kitchen and make something you’d typically make when the weather outside is brrr. ..you know?

But, then, I came upon this one.  Sounds quite good.  The avocado garnish is my favorite part!

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. coconut oil

1/2 large white onion, diced

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1 celery stalk, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 lb purple, red and/or yellow baby potatoes, cut into 1/2 in dice (about 2 cups)

1/2 cup quinoa

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 tsp lb butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 in dice (about 2 cups)

4 cups vegetable broth

sea salt, to taste

1 avocado, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

*Superfood boost: add 2 cups of chopped dark leafy greens-like kale or Swiss chard to the pot the last couple of minutes of cooking

  1. Warm oil in pot over medium heat.  Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add potatoes and stir constantly while cooking for 2 to 3 minutes longer.
  2. Stir in quinoa, oregano, thyme, turmeric and pepper, and then add butternut squash and broth.  If your broth is an unsalted (or low-salt) variety, add a couple of pinches of salt; if your broth is already salted, wait until the end of cooking to season as needed.  Turn heat to high and bring mixture to a boil.  Cover pot, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Uncover pot and simmer mixture for 5 minutes longer, using a spoon to partially mash butternut squash to make a thicker, stew-like broth.  Remove pot from heat, cover once more and let stand for 10 minutes to allow flavors to fully meld.
  4. Taste for seasoning and add additional salt as needed, as well as a little water if you prefer a thinner stew.  Serve garnished with chopped avocado and cilantro.

 

I think we’ll give this a whirl tomorrow…

Love,

Lisa

P.S.

I love testimonials!  😛

Food, Organic

A Vegan Recipe We Did Try, and Liked: BBQ Carrot Dogs

lannholmes

Image result for bbq carrot dogs

I was pleasantly surprised when I tried these for the first time yesterday.  Maybe you will be, too!

Ingredients:

  • 8 medium carrots
  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1/3 cup cider vinegar
  • 3 tbl. reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tbl mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 8 hot dog buns, toasted, if desired
  • ketchup, mustard, relish and or sauerkraut

Directions:

  1. Peel carrots and trim to fit the length of your hot dog buns.  Bring a couple inches of water to a boil in a large pot with a steamer basket.  Add carrots, cover and steam until barely cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk broth, vinegar, soy cause (or tamari), mustard, garlic powder and paprika in a sealable 1-gallon plastic bag.  Add the carrots, seal and place the bag in the refrigerator, keeping the carrots in a single layer.  Marinate for at least 3 hours or up to 1 day, turning twice.
  3. Preheat grill to high or heat a grill pan over high heat.
  4. Remove the carrots from the marinade.  Grill the carrots, turning once or twice, until they’re hot and have grill marks, about 5 minutes.  Serve on buns with your favorite condiments.

We really enjoyed this.  I’m not even a huge fan of carrots and am weird about textures. Definitely give this recipe two thumbs up!

Enjoy!

Lisa                                                                                                                                                             P.S.                                                                                                                                                              Let me know what you think when you make it!  And!  If you haven’t signed up to ‘follow’ me via email, please do so!  Good stuff coming soon!  xxoo

www.EatingWell.com

Food, Organic

Delicious Vegan Recipe We’d Like to Try: Dr. Greger’s Pesto Recipe

lannholmes

Image result for pesto

Do you love pesto?  Do you have a basil plant?  Thinking about getting one?  Well, this recipe was found by my husband.  Apparently this one, in particular, will give you 8 of the 12 foods that you want to eat daily…so, here goes it…

2 cups fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup freshly toasted walnuts

2 cloves fresh garlic

1/4 of a peeled lemon

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

1/4 inch fresh turmeric root (or 1/4 tsp turmeric powder)

1/4 cup pinto beans

1/4 cup water o liquid from bean can

1 tablespoon white miso

pepper to taste

Combine everything in a food processor or use an immersion blender (my preferred choice) and blend until smooth.  Scoop onto pasta.

And, that’s it, folks.  Simple.  Healthy.  Delicious.

Bon Appetit,

Lisa

Food, Organic

Health and Wellness Tip: Shop Around!

lannholmes

Image result for organic

Here, you will see that we shop regularly at four stores.  Under each store is what we typically buy from each one.  And, usually, if it’s not on sale, and, we know it will go on sale eventually, we, just go with the best value at the time at whatever store it’s from…

  Publix

jelly                                                                                                                                                    Greenwise gallon milk                                                                                                                           grass-fed organic beef                                                                                                                           orange juice                                                                                                                                             almond creamer                                                                                                                                     almond milk                                                                                                                                             Greenwise organic icecream                                                                                                               eggs                                                                                                                                                           on sale fruit                                                                                                                                             on sale cereal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Wal-Mart                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     canned beans                                                                                                                                           carrots                                                                                                                                                       onion                                                                                                                                                         celery                                                                                                                                                         green onions                                                                                                                                           mushrooms                                                                                                                                             broth                                                                                                                                                         fig bars                                                                                                                                                     bananas                                                                                                                                                     pasta                                                                                                                                                         mandarin orange cups                                                                                                                           peppers

 B.J’s

tomato sauce                                                                                                                                           minced garlic                                                                                                                                           olive oil                                                                                                                                                     lettuce                                                                                                                                                       apples                                                                                                                                                       potatoes                                                                                                                                                     hummus                                                                                                                                                   tomatoes                                                                                                                                                   applesauce cups                                                                                                                                     frozen veggies                                                                                                                                         frozen fruit                                                                                                                                               maple syrup                                                                                                                                             honey

Target

shredded cheese                                                                                                                                     pasta                                                                                                                                                         tomato sauce                                                                                                                                           oatmeal                                                                                                                                                     salmon pouches                                                                                                                                       seaweed snacks                                                                                                                                       on sale frozen veggies                                                                                                                           cereal, occasionally (peanut butter balls – yum!)                                                                             mandarin orange cups                                                                                                                           meat

Hope this helps!  Let me know if you have any questions or some insight!

Love,

Lisa

P.S. Please follow me via email.