Category Archives: Natural Living

Natural Living

DIY Olive Oil Lip Balm

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diy-olive-oil-lip-balm

This olive oil lip balm was extremely easy to make, and only uses two ingredients – olive oil, and beeswax. You can add essential oils to this recipe if you like, but I wanted to keep this recipe as basic as possible. I love olive oil bath and beauty products. Maybe my Italian background is showing, but for me, olive oil reminds me of high-end health-oriented spa products. This recipe make a little bit more than one tube, and can easily be multiplied to make lovely little gifts for friends and family. I bought the beeswax pastilles from Mountain Rose Herbs and I used California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I like this brand because it’s made it California and is certified extra virgin olive oil by the California Olive Oil Council. This insures that  will be exactly what it claims to be: 100% pure extra virgin olive oil.

DIY Olive Oil Lip Balm
 
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Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 1 lip balm
Ingredients
  • 1 tsp beeswax
  • 1½ tsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
  1. Place a heat-resistant glass pyrex measuring cup in a pot with a couple inches of water. Put on heat at a low setting so you start to see steam.
  2. Add beeswax and olive oil to measuring cup, and mix with a popsicle stick or bamboo skewer until they are both melted.
  3. Pour mixture carefully into a lip balm container.
  4. It should cool very quickly, but to be on the safe side, wait five minutes before using.

Natural Living

Happy Thanksgiving!

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thanksgiving dinner

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I’m so grateful for your support, and for all the delicious healthy food! I made a quick photo collage of some yummy paleo and dairy free food. Top left is my family recipe for Cranberry Relish. Directly to the right, is my recipe for Garlic and Rosemary Mashed Cauliflower. I altered my stuffing recipe … and I didn’t measure the ingredients for my gravy, so I might do some follow-up Thanksgiving posts. Let me know in the comments if that’s something you might be interested in.

Then there is a zoomed out picture of the buffet table, and underneath Mima’s (Shameer’s Tanzanian grandmother)  kachumber. I just got an ingredient list from her, so I will be posting the recipe soon! It’s one of my favorites.

Check out my turkey pre-cut!!! It was my first time making it and I’m super proud!!! I used a dry salt brine, just like Nonni (my Italian grandma).

thanksgiving

Thanks again for supporting my blog! Have a wonderful holiday!

Warmly,

Lauren & Shameer

Natural Living

3 Ingredient Bronzing Moisturizer

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The vast majority of cosmetics available today have many carcinogenic and toxic additives in their ingredients list. They have been linked to a variety of maladies ranging from eczema and hives on the milder side to more serious issues like lung damage and cancerous breast tumors. Click here to learn more about ten toxic ingredients you should avoid in any cosmetic product.

I have never really been one to wear makeup since I have sensitive skin and never really learned how exactly to apply it. Recently, I had been looking for a natural product to balance out a few lighter shaded spots on my face.  Even many of the natural makeup lines contained additives that I was less than sure about, so I decided to make my own bronzing moisturizer. This moisturizer only contains 3 ingredients, all of which are great for your skin, and it smells amazing!

3 Ingredient Bronzing Moisturizer– Raw/Vegan/Organic
 
Turmeric Powder– Anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, known to even out skin tone and add glow to skin.
Cacao Powder– Smells amazing, and contains sulfer which is essencial for healthy hair, nails, and skin.
Coconut Oil– Moisturizing, protects skin from free radicals, anti-bacterial.
I am estimating the measurements that I used for my skin tone: 3 TBS. Cacao powder, 2/3 Tsp. Turmeric Powder, 2 Heaping TBS. Coconut oil. Chances are you know your own skin tone best so adjust to your liking. I recommend starting with just a little turmeric so you get a nice glow rather than an accidental yellow tone. If you have a lighter skin tone cinnamon powder (also anti-bacterial), and arrowroot starch can be used to cut the cacao powder and lighten the tone. To add a subtle red or pink undertone use a super fine mesh strainer to stain beet root powder or hibiscus powder, and add the fine strained powders to your mixture until you get the shade you desire.
Voila! your very own customized bronzing makeup!
Sources:
http://www.fitsugar.com/10-Toxic-Cosmetic-Ingredients-Avoid-204330
http://www.lovingfit.com/nutrition/raw-cacao-amazing-super-food/
http://www.bewellbuzz.com/general/benefits-of-turmeric-for-skin-and-more/
http://coconutoilforskin.com/
Natural Living

You Know You’re a Health Nut When …

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You know you’re a health nut when

… you don’t get sick, you get detox symptoms.

… the bacteria in your fridge is for probiotics.

… you go out to dinner at Whole Foods.

…. you’ve eaten a salad for breakfast.

… enemas & colonics become acceptable mealtime conversation. 

… you can’t easily find healthy food in your local health food store.

… you’ve carried produce in your purse.

… you don’t just order the healthiest item on the menu, you adjust it too.

… you don’t do diets, you do cleanses.

… even your poop goes green and you think it’s beautiful.

…. your DVR is filled with Dr. Oz.

 

Natural Living

Healthy Dinner at the Movies

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movie theater
Shameer and I went to the new Dine-in AMC Theater that opened in Marina del Ray for the first time. We saw Olympus Has Fallen, which turned out to be a great choice because dinner distracts a bit from the movie, and this movie wouldn’t be ruined if we didn’t pay close attention. The leather seats were really large and comfy, and the service was great. Eating healthy at the movies can be tricky. All the candy and the smell of popcorn can be a really big temptation. Usually, I pack a water bottle and healthy snacks in my purse, but at this place, their dinner menu had some healthy options. Plus, when I asked if I could make their Veggie Tray appetizer healthier by substituting the side of pizza bread and the ranch and blue cheese dressing for more veggies and hummus, they were very accommodating. Before I ordered, they asked if they could add a dollar extra here and there for the extra veggies and hummus, but it still ended up reasonable because it was technically an appetizer. And, they gave me a large portion size, which as you all know, is really important when you are eating healthy food. I couldn’t finish all the jicama by the end of the movie, that’s how much fiber I ate. I also ordered a glass of water and a Tazo herbal tea in the flavor refresh. At the end of the night, I was really excited that we had found another healthy outing, which Shameer and I can both enjoy.