Today we’re talking about Body Brushing - or Dry Brushing. Yes I know, I thought the same thing! What does this mean, and why are we talking about it? To be honest, I just started learning more about this detoxifying, … Continue reading
A massive tornado ripped through Oklahoma City suburbs yesterday killing at least 51 people, including 20 children, and leveling two elementary schools and a hospital along with thousands of homes.
If you’re looking for ways to help residents in Oklahoma, the following are credible relief organizations working in the area:
The American Red Cross has several shelters open in Oklahoma and Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles have begun delivering hot meals throughout the affected areas. The Red Cross is also working to link loved ones in Moore who are OK through a website called Safe and Well. Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, donate online, or donate by phone at 1-800-RED CROSS.
The Salvation Army is activating disaster response teams and mobile feeding units to help residents and rescuers in Moore, Okla., as well as in other locations in the Plains and the Midwest that were impacted by tornadoes. Donate online or text STORM to 80888 to contribute $10 to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts or make a donation by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY. If you’re sending a check make sure you put the words “Oklahoma Tornado Relief” on the check, and mail it to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK., 73157.
Los Angeles-based international relief agency Operation USA announced it’s providing emergency aid where needed to community-based health organizations across Oklahoma. Donate online, by phone at 1-800-678-7255, or by check made out to Operation USA, 7421 Beverly Blvd., PH, Los Angeles, CA 90036. You can also donate $10 by texting AID to 50555. Corporate donations of bulk quantities of disaster-appropriate supplies are also being requested.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief says it has deployed at least 80 volunteers to respond to severe weather in Oklahoma. Those interested in helping can make a tax-deductible donation to the BGCO’s Disaster Relief ministry online or call (405) 942-3800. You may also send checks to: BGCO Attn: Disaster Relief 3800 N. May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73112.
Giada’s Morning Routine I may have a little bit of an obsession with Giada DeLaurentiis. Her recent recipes are easy, simple and full of clean ingredients such as lemon, basil and quinoa. Her newest book is fantastic! Side note: I’ve … Continue reading
Work has been crazy lately and I am finding it harder and harder to make it to the gym. When I am ‘crunched’ (pun intended) for time, this is my go-to at home workout plan. Now that the weather is nice, you can add in a quick run outside if you have time.
GLUTES:
Lunge
Hold one weight in each hand, arms at your side with palms facing each other. Take a big step with your left foot so that it is in front of your right. Slowly lower your body as far as you can until your left leg is at a 90 degree angle – keeping your weight in your heels. Then push off with your heels to go back to your original position. Alternate legs and do 15 reps on each side. You should feel this is the lower glutes right where your leg hits your thigh.
Donkey Kicks
Start by coming down to a table position on elbows and knees. Holding your abs in to protect your back, flex your right foot raise your leg up. Don’t let your thigh raise higher than your glutes. You should feel this in your lower glutes right where your leg hits your thigh.
ABS:
Plank
Start in pushup position. Adjust your arms so that they are in line with your wrists, directly beneath your shoulders. Keep your back flat and arms long. Hold this position for one minute. You will probably feel this all over but emphasis should be on the abdomen.
Reverse Crunch
Lie on the floor with hands at your side. Raise legs in the air so that they are at a 90 degree angle with the ground. Contract your abs to curl your hips off of the floor, reaching towards the ceiling. It’s a small movement. The key is to use your abs to lift your hips rather than swinging your legs. You will feel this in your lower abs.
Reaching for that bag of ‘tater chips when 2PM rolls around? Are gummy bears your go to pick up at 11AM? Those two snacks used to be my favorites when I started to feel hunger pangs. Did I ever feel … Continue reading
To juice or not to juice? That is the question… that I am here to answer.
Difference Distinguished
A smoothie is a slushy blend of fruits, vegetables, and whatever else you decide to blend. It includes all of the nutrients and all of the fiber that the fruits and vegetables have to offer. A juice is the liquid version of the smoothie with all the fiber removed.
Why Smoothie?
Digestion – Smoothies are easier to digest than eating fruits and veggies whole because they are already partially broken down. The work your digestive system has to do, the more energy your body can spend doing other things.
Clean Sweep – All the fiber in your ingredients stay in your smoothie. Fiber helps move things along in your digestive tract and eventually eliminate toxins from your bowels.
Control – It is easy to add virtually anything to your smoothie (i.e. protein and vitamin powder) without messing up the texture or taste. This allows your smoothies to contain more nutritional benefits than the produces that composes it.
Satisfying – Since juices don’t contain any fiber they will only fill you up for about 30 min. Smoothies are much more satisfying, making them a great choice for before or after a workout.
Why Juice?
Digestion – Juices are even easier to digest than smoothies because they have no fiber. This means that your bodies literally do not have to do anything to extract the vitamins and minerals from your juices, they are simply absorbed into your blood stream.
Buzz – Since your body is instantaneously slammed with of nutrients without the need to digest the juice first, the result is an energy boosting buzz.
Variety – It is much easier to juice veggies that you have trouble eat that it is to throw them in a smoothie. A cup of spinach might only give you 2 ounces of juice. Add a little bit of lemon and you can’t even taste the bitterness of the spinach. On the other hand, if you put 1 cup of spinach in your smoothie the blend will be completely dominated by the spinach.
I try to eat at home as much as I can so I can make sure I know exactly what is going in my food. However, sometimes you just need a break. The Eat Well Guide® is a free online directory for anyone in search of fresh, locally grown and sustainably produced food in the United States and Canada.
The Guide’s thousands of listings include family farms, restaurants, farmers’ markets, grocery stores, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, U-pick orchards and more. Users can search by location, keyword, category or product to find good food, download customized guides, or plan a trip with the innovative mapping tool, Eat Well Everywhere.
It’s so easy. Just type in your city or zip code and a list of organic sustainable restaurants in that area pop up.
Try it out HERE
This stuff is fantastic! And that is all… KIDDING. Please, let me indulge you about the wonderful juices Suja has to offer and how my 1-day cleanse turned out. I highly recommend heading to your nearest Whole Foods and checking … Continue reading
I have finally mastered the kale chip and now I can’t stop making them and experimenting with different flavors. The recipe is pretty easy. The ingredients vary depending on the flavor. This is one of my tried and true favorites.
Ingredients:
Directions:
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Lots of time with friends, family and a good dose of “me” time! Have a fabulous, healthy weekend!
getting down & dirty
adventures in a sodium-free life
ballet barre meets yoga and pilates
