For me, the best thing about Whole Foods is its incredible produce selection. There is so much to choose from, and everything is always so fresh and delicious! I have a list of fruits and veggies that I buy every week, but every now-and-then I like to pick up something out of the ordinary to mix it up a bit. It's fun to then come home and research recipes on what to make with your new discoveries!
I found the recipe video below through by Googling recipes for Bok Choy (a delicious vegetable loaded with vitamins C, A and calcium!) Not only was this recipe great (I've since made it several times), but the "Renegade" team is an absolute delight! So fun.
Enjoy!
-Stefanie
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
We all have our quirks...
I am a top 10 list junkie. (Which is why you will see lots of these throughout my blog!) Ever since my boyfriend introduced me to Consumer reports, I have become obsessed with reading reviews on products and services. I won’t buy anything on Amazon with less than 4 stars, and I literally read every.single.writeup on every product I am considering. I keep items in virtual shopping carts for days, even weeks at a time, pondering the worth-while-ness of each and every item (the “Save for Later” feature has to be one of my favorite inventions).
In part, this obsession is what led me to the blog community. Unlimited, 24-7 access to real, unbiased (usually) product reviews from people all over the world with similar tastes and interests as me? Sign me up!
I am not at all a brand snob (thanks Mom!), but I like to have the best of the best in terms of quality (thanks a lot, Dad…). I am also a fierce discount hunter. I take pride in my ability to identify something I want to buy (but shouldn’t), research what gives its “je ne sais quoi,” (for those interested, I have found that for beauty products, this is usually top-quality, pure ingredients; for fashion, it’s design, fit, and fabrics with a flattering drape and luxurious hand-feel) and then search the internet for a suitable alternative. Sometimes, this leads me to come up with crazy concoctions (tumeric face wash). Sometimes this has phenomenal results (brown sugar body scrub). But it’s always a rewarding journey. Amazon.com is my
Why Did I Become a Vegetarian to Begin With?
· Why Did I Become A Vegetarian?
o I get asked the question a LOT. New friends and acquaintances, co-workers, family members…sometimes multiple times from the same people! I believe for some people the curiosity stems from a genuine interest in different philosophies on health and nutrition. I find that the inquisitors generally fall into one of two camps. Frequently those people have even considered trying to give up meat for one reason or another at some point, but can’t quite commit and some people just cannot process
o No matter where you are at with your personal nutrition, I hope that
o I harbor no intentions to convert anyone to vegetarian or veganism, but I would encourage everyone to give it a shot (Two Week Meat-Free Challenge?) and see what it does to their body, skin, energy, and digestion. I am NOT a dietician or nutritionist, however, and I know from (personal experience) that the decision to switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet is not one that should be taken lightly. If you decide to commit to a meatless diet long term, you should absolutely discuss this with your physician and do plenty of your own research online on reputable medical sites like WebMD and MayoClinic.
o The [economic reasons] fascinate me, but those certainly weren’t my motivating factor.
o I LOVE animals (I share with my boyfriend an adorable dog, Lucy, and the coolest cat in the world, Scooter).
o For me, the journey started my freshman year of college in the Campus cafeteria. I went to a very nice private college down in Florida with a pretty decent café offering…but it didn’t take m
o I cannot confirm that this was the case; it was just my observation. But it GROSSED.ME.OUT. Tremendously.
o In the end, though, I did it for my own personal health.
9 Tips For Flawless Winter Skin
Every year we lament our dry, rough, scaly winter skin. Here are some of my favorite tips on how to keep your glow year-round:
1. Water. Most women have heard that you should try to consume 8, 8 oz. glasses, or about two liters per day. According to the Mayo Clinic, "no single formula fits everyone." Know your body.
2. Omega-3 Fish Oil. When I first started taking these softgels, I noticed that they gave my skin a dewy sheen. Read about the benefits of this miracle oil here. My favorite brand: Nordic Naturals. If are a true vegan and like to avoid fish products like I do, try a flax oil supplement instead.
3. Exfoliate. There is no better way to relieve dry, itchy, winter skin. For your face, I am a fan of the drugstore classic. For your body, try Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish, or make your own.
4. Cream Body Wash. Soap is drying, so switch to an organic cream body wash to retain moisture in colder months. Try Avalon Organic's Olive and Grape Seed Bath & Shower Gel.
5. Humidifier. One of the most damaging aspects of winter weather is not actually the cold air outside, but the dry heat that we pump inside our homes. If you are fortunate enough to have an AprilAire humidifier built into your heating system, make sure the humidity is adjusted to the proper levels for the temperature. If not, get a small portable humdifier to use in your bedroom while you sleep.
6. Serious Moisturizer. In the winter, we have to step up our body moisturizer. I like to layer an organic body oil under a thicker moisturizing lotion before slipping on my socks at night. I like Dr. Hauschka Blackthorn Body Oil (which also helps with the appearance of stretch marks!), or even more natural - pure virgin 100% coconut oil (another post on this soon!) Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion is another favorite.
7. Extra Zzzz's. Go to bed one hour earlier than usual and you'll be fresher in the morning. Our skin needs sleep to repair itself.
8. Take a Cold Shower: Ok, not a cold shower! But not a hot one! As tempting as it may be to warm up from the frightful weather with a nice, long hot shower....beware! Hot water is extremely drying to the skin. Instead, try to get used to warm shower, then warm up with a hot towel fresh from the dryer when you get out.
9. Pucker Up: First of all, don’t lick! Your saliva will dry out your lips, so avoid licking them. Icy winter wind can do a number on our lips, so make sure to keep your pucker moist at all times. Burt's Bees makes a beautiful product that gives you just a kiss of color and pearlized shine on top of all the benefits of their world famous 100% natural lip balm. Check out all of the delicious Lip Shimmer color choices here. If you need more soothing power for already damaged lips, exfoliate by gently rubbing a moist washcloth over your tips, then slather on coconut oil or some Smith's Rosebud Salve. This cult-favorite, multi-purpose lip balm does wonders to soothe dry lips. Added bonus? It also calms and heals irritation and soothes the sting of minor burns. Keep it in your purse all winter to rub on dry elbows or cracked cuticles.
My Journey to Health: How I Transitioned from being an Ovo-Lacto-Pescatarian (read: a “barely” vegetarian) to an Almost Raw, Mostly Vegan who couldn’t care less about the label
o Where I was At: Proud to Be Unhealthy?
o My Life-Long Battle with Digestive Issues
o And Then I found Kimberly Snyder
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