Seeds are life. Without seeds, we would not have fruits, vegetables, or grains to eat. We would lack the nutrients we need to survive. Our ancestors depended upon seeds, and we still depend upon them today. A 2014 documentary called Open Sesame explores the story of seeds and our connection to them. I watched the film and decided to share my favorite takeaways from it, and how you can make a difference in sustaining the seeds that sustain us!
I don’t know about you, but coffee plays a very important role in my life. Not only do I need a strong cup of coffee in the morning to complete my breakfast routine, but as a writer I often need the stimulation of coffee while I work, as well as the idea of a warm mug or cup next to me to facilitate the creative process. I try to stick with just 1-2 cups of coffee per day, and I’ve learned to substitute hot tea or other beverages so coffee overload isn’t affecting my sleep or giving me the jitters during the day.
Here enters the latest “fad” in the health foods world – Coconut Oil Supercharged Coffee. It plays off the idea of the Bulletproof Coffee, where coffee is brewed and mixed in a blender with grass-fed butter to create a foamy latte that contains “healthy fats” for a mental and physical boost. Although grass-fed better may have it’s merits, especially compared to more generic butter, it’s still dairy – not ideal and not cruelty free. But some amazing person came up with the vegan version! Instead of butter, use plant-based fats from coconut oil. It doesn’t have any of the negative health effects of butter and it doesn’t involve using animals or animal product.
I made Coconut Oil Supercharged Coffee nearly every day this past fall and winter, and guess what? I didn’t get sick at all, other than a brief allergy stint upon moving from one region of Texas to another (climate changes tend to affect me like that). My rockin’ immune system was courtesy of the coconut oil, which is a natural anti-bacterial and antiseptic. It’s also loaded with healthy fats for your brain and it makes your coffee taste like a million times better! A foamy, dreamy latte you can make yourself with two ingredients.
I’m super excited about today’s post because I made another video and it’s an easy 2-in-1 beauty hack that is all natural! The majority of skin and beauty products on the market contain chemicals and preservatives, even if they claim to be “all natural.” Our skin, especially on the face, is so delicate – too delicate to be slathering chemicals onto – because your skin absorbs anything you put on it.
Treat your skin kindly and it will stay nice and smooth for you a lot longer. And your teeth too! I can’t even imagine all the yucky chemicals found in whitening products, and even some toothpastes too. That’s why I made a video for this simple Turmeric Face & Tooth Mask. It’s full of amazing nutrients. Try it out yourself and see what you think!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I cannot skip breakfast! As soon as I wake up in the morning, I stumble into the kitchen and begin making my brekkies, because I cannot function or talk to other humans until I eat food and drink coffee 😩☕️
For me, it’s all about the carbs. The more healthy carbs I consume in the morning, the more energy I have and the less hungry I am before lunch. That’s what makes this oatmeal and potato combo the perfect breakfast, plus it’s easy to make and goes perfect with a foamy vegan latte. Yum!!
Just imagine… organic old-fashioned oats topped with butter, brown sugar, coconut flakes and berries, then paired with crispy cubes of red potatoes sauteed in olive oil and seasoned with onion and some cheesy nutritional yeast. I like the balance of sweet and savory because you get the best of worlds!
Check out how my take on these classic breakfast dishes that are vegan, gluten free and totally delicious!
I’m all about using natural foods as beauty products – apple cider vinegar toner, turmeric facial masks, coconut oil for skin and hair – and I would love to hand make everything myself, but that’s just not realistic right now. I’m sure at one point in the future I’ll be making my own shampoo and lip balm and even makeup. It’s actually not that difficult once you have the ingredients and tools. But for now, I’ve found my favorite store-bought beauty items that are vegan, cruelty free and contain lots of all natural ingredients as opposed to chemicals.
Here are my favorite beauty must haves!
