South Korea Bound…
Posted: May 22, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Thoughts | Tags: chris freytag, face book, Fitness, food matters, Fruit, Inspiration, Organic, South Korea, strength train, travel, Twisted Twins, vacation, Vegetables 1 Comment »NEWS
Good morning everyone! Just a quick note to inform you that I’m leaving for a 12 day trip to South Korea to visit my daughter (she teaches English there). I won’t be posting during this time unless it’s a quick picture and/or if I come across something I have to share with you. Wish me luck on the 18-hour flight! 
*Today, because I’m in vacation mode, I’m sharing some of my favorite, most informational and inspirational charts/pictures.
FOOD
The chart below is from “Food Matters” and it’s a quick guide to know which vegetables and fruit to buy organic.
BEAUTY
Have you ever wondered how many chemicals you put on your body everyday?
FITNESS
At one time in my life, I thought weight training would make me look bulky but thankfully, I’ve learned otherwise.
Information: Chris Freytag
INSPIRATION
happinessinyourlife.com
BONUS
I just want to take a minute to thank everyone that has signed up to receive updates from the blog my sister and I created www.twistedtwins68.com. Your support means the world to us and per request; we just recently launched a Twisted Twins face-book page. You can find us at http://www.facebook.com/twistedtwins68. There, you can find our blog updates and random tidbits, but don’t forget to click on the LIKE button!
M, see you soon! :)
Avocado’s & Pit’s
Posted: May 20, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Pasta, Potatoes and Quinoa, Thoughts | Tags: Avocado, Basil, garlic cloves, Inspiration, Lemon juice, Olive oil, pepper, Pit Potion, Sea salt 9 Comments »FOOD
One of my Vitamin De face book friends (Kristy), suggested the featured recipe and I’m not even exaggerating when I tell you that it’s delicious!
15 minute Creamy Avocado Pasta
Ingredients
1 medium-sized ripe Avocado, pitted
½ lemon, juiced
2-3 garlic cloves
½ teaspoon sea salt
1-teaspoon basil
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Your choice of pasta
Black pepper to taste
Directions
- Cook pasta according to directions
- Meanwhile, make the sauce by placing the garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil into a food processor. Process until smooth. Now add in the pitted avocado, basil, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy.
- When pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse in a strainer and place pasta into a large bowl. Pour on sauce and toss until fully combined. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.
*Note: This dish not reheat well due to the avocado in the sauce. Please serve immediately.
- Original recipe (and picture) by Angela Liddon. I’ve revised the recipe a little bit.
BEAUTY
If you have tried natural deodorants in the past you know that it’s not easy to find one that really takes the place of your everyday ordinary one’s. I’ve gone through several and finally stumbled across one that works for me. What does it smell like? Nothing. Not even at the end of the day. You stay fresh but it seriously smells like nothing. I can’t explain it. All I know is that when I read the ingredients, I can understand every single one listed and I like that.
Pure unrefined shea butter**, pure unrefined cocoa butter**, corn starch*, baking soda, kaolin clay, rice bran oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba, glycerin, wheat germ oil, rosehip seed oil*, tea tree oil*, 100% organic essential oil blend*, and Vitamin E.
PIT POTION ROCKS! :) http://www.natureofbeauty.com/pit-potion/
INSPIRATION
Crock-pot Quinoa Stew
Posted: May 17, 2012 Filed under: Crock-pot, Thoughts | Tags: Basil, Black Beans, Black pepper, Celery, chili powder, Cumin, Garlic, green pepper, Inspiration, kidney beans, Olive oil, Paprika, Quinoa, Red Pepper, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, Tomato Sauce 4 Comments »FOOD
I love healthy food but I don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen preparing it so when I come across a crock-pot recipe with nutritious ingredients, I get a little excited. :)
*This recipe may look like it has a lot of ingredients but most of its seasonings which makes this dish DELISH!
Quinoa Stew
Ingredients
1-tablespoon olive oil
3-4 garlic cloves, pressed
2 handfuls of chopped up celery
2 handfuls of chopped up mushrooms (any kind is fine)
1 red or green pepper (or half of each), diced
————————————————–
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1-teaspoon cumin powder
1-teaspoon paprika
1-teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon chili powder
1-tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)
Black pepper to taste
————————————————–
½ cup uncooked quinoa
3 cups of water
8 ounce unsalted tomato sauce
1 can (15 ounce) kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can (15 ounce) black beans (drained and rinsed)
Directions
- Sauté garlic, celery, mushrooms and pepper in oil for 10 minutes on medium.
- Add spices, herbs and soy sauce to mixture and stir in for a few minutes.
- Combine water, tomato sauce, quinoa and beans in a large crock-pot.
- Add mixture from step number one. Stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.
*If you like it hotter (sounds a little personal) add more chili powder or red pepper flakes.
This recipe has been revised from original.
INSPIRATION
mom, Mom, MOM!
Posted: May 13, 2012 Filed under: Thoughts | Tags: Beauty & Hygiene, Chocolate, Dark chocolate, Fitness, Inspiration, Mom, Mother's Day, motherhood 2 Comments »I love my Birthday, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Quite uncommon, I know… but I have serious legitimate excuses for enjoying all three of these days. First, being an adoptee, I’m lucky to have been born at all so I celebrate my birthday for at least 7 days each year. It’s a big “whew I made it out alive” celebration. Second, I’m a romantic and who doesn’t love chocolate? Last but not least, I’m lucky to have a mom that gave me everything a child could ask for and I’m also quite proud of the mom I turned out to be. No matter what I do in life, being a mother is my greatest accomplishment. Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
FOOD
Since it is Mother’s Day, I’m giving myself a break from writing and decided to post a delicious chocolate recipe I shared last October. Make it for your mom! :)
http://devitamin.com/2011/10/18/chocolate-turtles/
BEAUTY
It’s Mother’s Day; take your mom to get a mani/pedi or a massage. :)
FITNESS
It’s Mother’s Day; take a nice relaxing walk. :)
INSPIRATION
Below is a post that has been swarming around face-book and I printed it out as a gentle reminder to myself, now that my own mom is getting older.
Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: “My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day… the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you… my darling daughter. “
BONUS
I would like to take a minute to promote a new blog created by my sister and I.
Irish Twins born 353 days apart.
Their biological mother isn’t the only thing they have in common…
Warning: May contain adult content not suitable for children under 18.
Belated Mexican Recipe
Posted: May 8, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Fitness, Least Amount of Ingredients Recipes, Mexican Food, My own recipe creations, Thoughts | Tags: Avocado, Cinco de Mayo, clove of garlic, Coconut oil, Fitness, Garlic, guacamole recipe, Inspiration, jump rope, Lime Juice, Mexican Food, Salsa, Teeth 1 Comment »FOOD
I have no idea how I missed Cinco de Mayo. It’s a little embarrassing, one because I love Mexican food and two, because I’m part Hispanic (not in any particular order). I deeply apologize and to make up for it, I’m sharing my quick guacamole recipe. I wish I had exact measurements for you but I don’t. It’s one of those recipes you just have to eye-ball it. That is the weirdest saying. Eye ball it? Really?
Ingredients
2 avocados (scoop out the inside)
Salsa (maybe a cup?)
Limejuice (maybe 2 tablespoons?)
One clove of garlic
Directions
Place all ingredients in a food processor, blender or mash and mix by hand. Mix until smooth.
*Seriously, it seems you can never make enough of this stuff!
BEAUTY
As you know, I’m addicted to coconut oil as a multi-use beauty product. Did you know you can brush your teeth with it? I’m not lying. It’s crazy, but true. Just put it on your toothbrush and get to it. It’s supposedly helps gum sensitivity, heel gums, brightens teeth and is naturally deodorizing. I’m going to try using it for a week straight, but I’m kind of a freak when it comes to my teeth so the minute I feel like it’s not making me feel fresh, I’m bailing out.
FITNESS
Below is a picture of the amount of space (5.5×8.5 feet) I use to workout everyday. Granted I have a treadmill and a jump rope when I feel like branching out a little but you don’t need a lot of space to get in a good workout.
INSPIRATION
