Time For A Do-Over

         

 

Lately I have been feeling like I need to kick being healthy up a notch. Last February I severed and shattered my ring finger on my right hand. That was probably THE most painful thing that has ever happened to me. Made birthing a 9lb baby with no drugs seem like a piece of cake. After the surgery to repair said finger it took months of recuperation. I was on pain killers for months and pretty much stopped all my normal activities. Could not work, exercise, clean the house….I pretty much watched Netflix as a full time gig. Here I am 9 month later and my finger still is not healed. I actually have 2 more procedures lined up over the next several months. I had to much damage to the severed finger to grow a nail so they now want to do a skin graft. FUN STUFF!

Anyway, needless to say I sat around eating crap and not exercising for the last 9 months. Time to get back on track. Luckily, as I have had some schooling in this field so let’s take that knowledge and see what we can do. Feel free to join me or just cheer me on!

Young Living Oils

My first experience with Young Living Oils was back in November 2010. I had recently moved to North Carolina. I had started experiencing pain in my lower right side. I was not sure if the pain was coming from my back, and organ, kidney stones? It was a radiating pain. Over time it progressed to where I was having trouble sitting and bending. My daughter had to help me pull my pants up and tie my shoes. I went from feeling like a healthy individual to someone who was completely limited.

I started visiting doctors. I saw the gynecologist who did a pelvis exam, an ultrasound, and an MRI. I went to the chiropractor who started treating me twice a week. I saw my primary who had no clue. Finally, I was sent to a neurologist. After more testing came a diagnosis. I still remember sitting there with my husband when he read the results. I had 3 herniated disc, osteoarthritis, and early on-set degenerative disc disease. I looked at my husband. I was shocked. I was in my early thirties….He must be wrong!

We started talking about treatment. He told me the condition would only get worse from this point out. He wanted to start giving me Bo-tox injections in my back. He said it was something new they were doing with the pain. Bo-tox? Umm…no. That was not happening. I started talking to people. I wanted to look for an alternative. Something that did not include filling my back with poison.

Around the same time I had met a couple at a street fair who ran a weight loss clinic and they were also Young Living Distributors. We spoke about Young Living Oils and the their so called health benefits. She told me about something called the Raindrop Technique that was supposed to have great results in the area of pain relief, detoxing, de-stressing,etc..

I began my research. I spoke more with the couple. I researched online and spoke with people on Facebook and ultimately decided what I wanted to try in an attempt to help myself before the doctor filled me with poison.

•  I began with a Master Cleanse Diet (for more on that click here: http://themastercleanse.org/
• I ordered a book that was referred to me through my friend that would teach me a little about the oils and their uses so I would know where to start. Seen below:

I ordered the book Reference Guide for Essential Oils through Abundanthealth4u.com. Great site but I will save all that info for another review.

I ordered the Raindrop Technique Kit through my friend the distributor and also looked up Raindrop Technique Practitioners in my area. So again…Master Cleanse, personal use of oils, and 1 Raindrop Technique session. Of course I went into this hopeful BUT still very much skeptical.

About 2 weeks into this process I started to feel relief! I went from not being able to pull up my own pants to signing up for Yoga Teacher training in the matter of a month! Needless to say I am a fan and a firm believer of these oils. Again this is all my personal experience and my opinion but I would most certainly recommend Young Living Products!

I enjoyed them so much I actually took further training to learn more about essential oils. Through the website http://www.raindroptraining.com/ I enrolled to become a Certified Raindrop Practitioner Licensed Spiritual Healer. It was a great experience and I learned a lot!

That all being said….here are some of my favorite Young Living products:

• Lavendar Single Oil
• Clary Sage Single Oil
• Frankincense Single Oil
• Rose Single Oil
• Helichrysum Single Oil
• Abundance Oil Blend
• AromaSiez Oil Blend ( I believe this really helped my back)
• Joy Oil Blend
• PanAway Oil Blend ( Again great for pain)
• Peace & Calming Oil Blend ( Loved for my children)
• Purification Oil Blend ( A few drops in my bath water and I am so HAPPY!)
• The Everyday Oils Essential Oil Collection is the first thing I ordered and a great place to start!

FYI- I am not a Young Living Distributor and I have not been compensated for this review. This is my personal experience and opinion of Young Living Products.

 

Book Review: The Raw Food Detox Diet

The Raw Food Detox Diet The Five-Step Plan For Vibrant Health and Maximum Weight Loss by Natalia Rose

My husband and I purchased this book back in 2010. We tried the plan together and both really liked the results. This is the only diet plan that I think my husband actually enjoyed and had amazing results with. With that said I will start this plan again this coming Monday, May the 4th. I invite you to join me on this journey as I will regularly blog my experience with this detox. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. It has been a while since I read the book which is why I will start Monday. I will use the next few days to re-read this book.

This book explains detoxification and how it works and then provides a step by step guide for the detox. In addition, the book discusses how to make the detox work for your life. Dining out, parties and events, traveling, etc.. Wish me luck!

Quick and Easy Eggplant, Spinach, and Potato Recipe

This is the time of year I yearn for nutritious comfort food. Here is a recipe I started making several years ago. When I refer to season mix I am referring to this mixture I make. It is a mock McCormick’s Montreal Steak Seasoning I found on line.

SEASONING RECIPE:

Take an old salt or pepper shaker with larger holes. Add 4 tbsp Himalayan Sea Salt, 1 tbsp cracked pepper, 1 tbsp dehydrated onion, 1/2 tbsp dehydrated garlic, 1/2 tbsp crushed red pepper, 1/2 tbsp thyme, 1/2 tbsp rosemary, 1/2 tbsp coriander.

Ok, here is what we need for the Eggplant recipe:

*one small eggplant

*4 cups fresh baby spinach

*1/2 onion sliced and 1/4 more diced

*14 oz diced tomatoes or 2 fresh tomatoes diced with juice

*3 garlic cloves, minced

*1/2 tbsp coconut oil

*drizzle of cold pressed olive oil

*1 bag new potatoes, cleaned and quartered

*1 1/2tbsp of the seasoning mix mentioned above

*vinegar

Peel and slice eggplant. Layer eggplant on plate separating each layer with a paper towel and sprinkle with sea salt. Place a heavy pot on top and let sit for 20 minutes. This will help reduce bitterness. Place coconut oil in pan with garlic and heat until you can smell the garlic about a minutes. Add eggplant and heat another minute. Add spinach, tomatoes, sliced onion, and salt and pepper to taste.

Set aside.

Now for the potatoes:

Pre-heat oven for 400 degrees F.

Toss quartered potatoes and onions with olive oil and seasoning mix and place on a stone baking sheet. I really prefer the Pampered Chef stones. They are excellent. Bake about 35-45 minutes until potatoes are tender and starting to brown on edges. Remove and drizzle the vinegar.

You can serve eggplant next to potatoes or on top. 🙂

Vegan Corn Chowder

I love, love, love this vegan corn chowder recipe. It has a great kick to it and is perfect on a rainy or brisk day!

Ingredients:

• 1tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 large pepper, seeded and chopped (your choice of res, orange, or yellow)
• 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2″ bites.
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely diced ( I highly recommend wearing food gloves when handling jalapenos. If you get the oil on your hands and then touch your eyes or face it will burn) You may also use 2 tbsp of pre-diced jalapeno in a jar.
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1//8 tsp cracked pepper
• 1 tsp Himalayan Salt
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup water
• 5 ears of fresh corn kernels or 3 cups of frozen corn
• 1 bag of petite red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1/2″ pieces with skin on.
• 2 bay leaves
• cayenne pepper to taste. Start with a quick dash and explore your spiciness!
• 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 tbsp of grade a maple syrup

Directions:

In large pot saute onions, peppers, carrots, and jalapenos over a medium high heat until softened.

Add rosemary, thyme, salt, cayenne pepper and pepper. Saute about 2 minutes.

Add broth, water, potatoes, corn, and bay leaves. Cover the pot and bring to a slow boil, lower heat and simmer about half an hour (make sure potatoes are tender.) Remove bay leaves. Place half of the soup into VitaMix and puree for about 1 minute. Add puree back into pot and mix stir well. Add maple syrup and coconut milk. Simmer another 5 minutes. Let soup cool slightly and serve. Enjoy some buttered bread with this warm all over meal!

 

Awesome Cauliflower Potato Soup

I LOVE soup! A perfect comfort food. This recipe quickly became a favorite rainy day recipe for my family. 🙂 I hope you enjoy it too!

 

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vegan margarine
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 1 potato, chopped
• 1 head cauliflower, chopped
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 bay leaves
• Himalayan Pink salt to taste
• Crushed black pepper to taste

Directions:

1) Saute onions and garlic until softened. Add cauliflower and potato and cook several minutes continually stirring.

2) Add vegetable broth and bay leaves. Let simmer about half an hour.

3) Remove bay leaves. Transfer to Vitamix. Blend on high for about 2 minutes.

Top with garnish of your choice. Chives, dill, fresh parsley, and scallions are all great options!

T,L,T Sandwich

When I was eating meat one of my FAVORITE  sandwiches was a BLT. I have been able to replace this with my new favorite TLT sandwich. (Tempeh, Lettuce, and Tomato)

• Tempeh sliced
• Tomato
• Lettuce
• Bread (your choice of regular or Gluten Free- I have used Gluten Free)
• Veganaise (well the amount is up to you!)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of Grade A Maple Syrup
• 1 Tablespoon cold pressed olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon onion
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• dash of cayenne
• 1 teaspoon tamari

 

Ok, so let’s start with the Tempeh. It will come in a rectangular block so you can decide if you would like to make horizontal or vertical strips. I wanted mine to fit nicely on my sandwich so I went with smaller strips. Slice thinly and place in mixing bowl.  Combine maple syrup, tamari, and seasonings and toss with tempeh.

Heat frying pan with either a little olive oil or coconut oil. Brown tempeh slices.

Toast your bread slices and slather up your bread with Veganaise . Top with tempeh, lettuce, and tomato.

Kale Chips

This is a sure way to get my kids to eat some greens. They love them!

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

Start by taking a bunch of kale and clean it. Remove kale from stalk ny holding stalk and pulling kale down.

Rip clean kale into bite size pieces. Toss in bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and season with sea salt and garlic salt. Place kale bites on baking sheet or stone ware.

Cook for 5 -10 minutes. I use a Pampered Chef stone so I do not need to flip them. If you use a regular baking sheet you may want to flip them once half way through. Have fun and try different seasonings on them. 🙂

Cauliflower Sauce Corn Pasta with Spinach and Shallots

This was sort of tossed together as a cleaning out the fridge meal. I must admit sometimes those are the best recipes~

Ingredients:

• 1 bag corn pasta
• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1 shallot chopped
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil (your preference)
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Pink  Salt

Clean and cut cauliflower and steam until tender. Toss cauliflower and broth in Vitamix and turn on 10 and High for 40 seconds.

Boil water and cook pasta according to directions. In separate skillet. saute shallots, garlic and spinach. Mix cauliflower sauce into pan with spinach. Add salt to mixture. Add pasta. Enjoy!

 

Cauliflower sauce with corn pasta with spinach and shallots

Crock Pot Lentil Soup

I love soup and I love my crock pot. This quick easy lentil soup is one of my go to recipes. I love the versatility of this recipe as well. Sometime I will add spinach, kale, or even some brown rice to the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 onion chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon of Himalayan Pink Crystal Salt
• 1 tomato chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cup green lentils
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 5 cups water

Throw all ingredients in crock pot on low for 8 hours. Cool and add 3 teaspoons of red wine vinegar. Some times we add a couple drops of hot sauce. Salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!