Spend LESS on groceries and get the GOOD stuff!!

                               

This is typically how my shopping cart will look.  Of course it varies, when I need chicken and other meats and the occasional fun foods, but these are my basic go-to's.

Pay attention to what you're buying,

Ask yourself:

Is it fresh?
Does it have a long shelf life? 
Is this natural? 

While all of your food does not have to come straight from the earth, it's good to buy more fruits and vegetables than things that come in cans or packages that maintain a longer shelf life.

Not all foods with a long shelf life are bad, i.e. peanut butter, but make sure to check labels and ingredients next time you go grocery shopping and get more fresh produce!

Tip of the week: Load up your grocery cart with fruits and veggies

• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Edamame
• Broccoli
• Green beans
• Apples
• Bolthouse Farms smoothie drinks

Plus some greek yogurt 

Spend less on groceries and buy more of the good stuff! 

Some of my favorite healthy breakfasts

  

         

               

(All pictures were taken by me)

Healthy chicken fajitas! Easy and quick to make

Chicken Fajitas with corn tortillas!

Things you'll need:

• Green and red peppers
• Fajita skillet sauce packet
• Onions
• Chicken tenders 
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cheese
• Skillets

Make sure the chicken is thawed and ready to go.  In one skillet, saute the chicken strips in olive oil, salt, and pepper. 

In a separate skillet, saute the peppers and onions in some olive oil.

Once all ingredients are soft and sauteed, throw them all into one skillet and mix in the sauce! 

 

 

Natural Skin Cleanser--great for moisturising and deep pore cleansing

Two simple ingredients.

Oil (Safflower oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, etc.)

I used Safflower oil or olive oil and those work great.

Sea Salt

THAT'S IT!

 Sea Salt and Oil Cleanser


Pour a few tablespoons of oil into a glass jar.

Then add a generous amount of sea salt.  A few tablespoons or so as well.

You'll be able to tell if you need a little more once you mix it up a little bit.

Then shake it up in a circular motion, with the lid on and you've got your natural granulated cleanser!

Use this cleanser 3-4 times a week. 

Things Ive noticed while using this cleanser.  I have had large pores for years now and I've noticed that after using this mixture, they've been shrinking and closing up.  Also, what I like to call my occasional "underground pimples" have begun to either surface and clear up or go away on their own.  The sea salt allows for exfoliation and a thorough cleanse deep down in your pores.  The oil smooths and conditions your skin once you've used abrasion and exfoliation.

Note:  While using this cleanser, you will have put in more of an effort to rinse off your face with water and then gently dry your face with a towel, absorbing any excess oil.  The results are very worth it!  Younger, smoother, and dewier looking skin! (:

Costa Rica's Pura Vida; Live a Healthy Pure Life

Over Thanksgiving break, I was in Costa Rica for 8 days with 20 of my family members.  We were there to simply reunite, relax, bond, and enjoy!  We surfed everyday, went zip-lining, visited several different beaches and surfing spots, and just hung out.

It was truly the trip of a lifetime.  Our houses we rented were literally in the jungle and walking distance of the ocean.  The food there was so unprocessed and fresh; it was incredible!  We ate a lot of fish, eggs, chicken, fruits, vegetables, minimal red meats, and things low in sugar.  It felt like such a cleanse.

While eating these foods all week, I felt better and more energized.  It just confirms that we really are what we eat.  If we eat the good stuff, real unprocessed foods, we feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally.

This trip was like a retreat for the heart, body, mind, and soul.  I bonded with many family members whom I don't get to see that often, got to spend quality time with close loved ones, and got to be spiritual and at peace with the world.  I encourage all of you to take time out of your day or week to really be present in the moment with your friends and family and to just live.  Eat real foods; they make you feel better.  And stay active!  Do some sort of activity everyday.

Not everyone gets the luxury of surfing daily or even partaking in hiking and activities like those, but go for a walk, get your heart rate up, and practice yoga. Take time to relax and meditate.  Reflect on all of your blessings and appreciate the things you already have. 

Viva una pura vida!  Choose to be happy.  Happiness looks good on everyone and radiates around you.  People like happy people because it makes them feel happier.  So be happy (:

Find a happy place & make time for yourself. (Finals are around the corner)

Make time for yourself. (This is especially important during times of high-stress, where you feel like you don't have a lot of time). 

I wound up in the ER a couple nights ago because I felt like I was having a heart attack.  Turns out it was Costochondritis, which basically means my chest walls were super inflamed causing major chest discomfort along with other symptoms.  I think it was at least half stress-related.  I've been very busy with my studies and work that I barely had time to breathe.  I suffered the consequences later when I was literally not able to breathe well.  After all of that happened and I was released, I told myself I would start making time for myself, just to download, to relax. 

So on Sunday, I went for a run/power-walk and went to a spot in the forest that I like to go to when I want to just sit and think or not think at all.  I didn't bring my phone so I was disconnected from technology and distractions.  It was a great opportunity for me to reflect on life and meditate.  For me, when I am surrounded by nature, removed from the fast-paced world we live in, I can finally breathe and things start to become much clearer.

I love to sit there and take in all the beauty or sometimes I write poetry, listening to the sounds of the leaves rustling, or the wind blowing through the trees.

Later that evening, I stretched and watched some of my favorite TV shows and began to feel much calmer and at peace with myself. 

I seriously suggest to you all that you take time for yourself to unwind from your busy life and just live.

So even throughout your busy days, take an hour or half hour at least to read a book, take a walk, sit in the forest, dance, work out, stretch, do yoga, meditate, take a bath, light some candles, write, catch up with an old friend you haven't talked to in ages, call or Skype your family, or do whatever makes you happy and relaxed for those moments.

It's amazing how doing these things can really reduce your overall stress level.