When Superwoman Didn't Come to the Rescue

When I first overhauled my diet and lifestyle in 2011 so that I could be superwoman for everyone around me (kids, husband, employer, parents, etc) I thought that being a “yes woman” was the epitome of selflessness. Admirable, right? 

Well, let’s take a closer look at the word “selfless” from Merriam Webster...

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When life gives you a boomerang…

DON'T FORGET TO DUCK!

Have you gone through a really rough time in your life and felt the relief of having made it to the other side only to find yourself knee deep in something so similar that you can swear you’re living the nightmare all over again? 

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Turning Fear into Excitement

Have you ever had that feeling in the pit of your stomach when faced with a new challenge? That gut punch and rapid heartbeat that seem to electrify you at the near mention of an activity outside your comfort zone? I find it happening more and more lately now that I’m no longer “sick”. So many thrilling life experiences were put on hold for half a decade while I found myself increasingly confined to the stability of my own safe little world.  Now that I’m really living life again I find that activities I once took for granted sometimes scare the crap out of me. 

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Raw Onion Bread

It doesn't get much easier than this guys. Really. A dehydrator and food processor are required, so if you have those fancy tools stored away for a wild hit of inspiration, now's the time to drag those babies out of hiding. 

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Carrie EckertComment
Chakras 101

Among the some 88,000 chakras, or energy centers, in the human body, Hinduism recognizes seven major ones that run along the spine to the crown of the head. According to some Eastern traditions, learning how to balance these energy centers can optimize energy flow to fuel and sustain aspects of your life and your body.  Let's take a look at location, color and basic connection associated with each of these major chakras...

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Phytonutrients Part I

Phytonutrients, also known as phytochemicals, are the powerhouse components of plants that give them their wide array of vibrant colors and flavors. We now know that we need more than fats, proteins, carbs, vitamins and minerals to achieve and sustain optimal health. Phytonutrients with their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and disease-fighting abilities are crucial for growth and wellbeing. 

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Baby Greens, Tomato and Dill Quiche

I'm more of a frittata fan personally since Paleo crusts made with almond flour tend to be a bit heavy. However, I stumbled upon this one from Everyday Maven and had to give it a try. The almond flour is balanced by the tapioca flour and she chose the perfect blend of just a few simple spices to enhance the flavor. I ended up with four mini quiches and had to force myself to put the last one in the freezer or I would have eaten these every single morning this week!

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Butternut Squash Made Easy

One of my favorite sources is winter squash, especially butternut. Its sweet, nutty taste compliments bitter greens nicely and satisfies my sugar cravings. Doesn't hurt that it's an excellent source of vitamins A and C. When I first starting eating it regularly a few years ago I was unsure of how exactly to tackle cutting the thing. Here are my simple tips...

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Gems at Joe's

While the jury is still out on whether or not their private label products are actually 100% GMO-free (see Food Babe's post), they certainly seem to be a company dedicated to pleasing their customers. They offer many products that are free of antibiotics, preservatives and synthetic colors, they are super friendly, and their prices can't be beat!

I thought it might be fun to post some of my discoveries from time to time. Today I happened to have some kid-free time on my hands and decided to inspect the shelves more closely. I wasn't disappointed!

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Universe Drink

Before moving down south to sunnier  Sarasota, Florida, we lived in Ponte Vedra and often ate at a wonderful little organic, raw food cafe in St Augustine called The Present Moment. They gave me permission to post one or two of their recipes when I was there, so I thought I would start with this one. It has antioxidant-rich raw cacao, the ancient Chinese superfruit goji powder, and hormone-balancing maca root powder...

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Singing Canary

The Singing Canary has become a regular part of my morning routine several times/week since my poor adrenals are still on the mend. Decades of abuse can take years to repair and my adrenals are apparently among the last of my body parts to fully heal.

Their Facebook post gives you all the details, but I made a few little changes...

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Sprouted Buckwheat Granola

In spite of its name, buckwheat is not actually wheat at all.  It's a gluten-free, wheat-free and grain-free fruit seed that is known for its blood pressure and cholesterol lowering effects. It is a complete protein, containing all 8 essential amino acids.  Taking the extra step to sprout buckwheat helps to breakdown the anti-nutrients and hard-to-digest components of the seed and at the same time, helps to release highly beneficial nutrients. 

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Nutrient Dense Bone Broth Rice

So now you've made your first batch of homemade bone broth (or at least thought about it) and you're wondering what to do with it?!?  For picky kids who don't care for broth or even soup, saturating simple white rice in nutrient dense broth makes a nutritious side dish! Check out the process in action...

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Toasted Coconut Squares

The secret ingredient in this recipe is coconut butter.  It's creamy texture really adds oomph to these otherwise pretty basic "larabar"-style snacks. If you haven't yet tried coconut cream or coconut butter then you're definitely missing out!  I eat a spoonful almost daily to satiate my sweet tooth.  In addition to other benefits, coconut butter is rich in lauric acid, which is shown to boost immunity and destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Personally, I prefer coconut cream from Tropical TraditionsArtisana is good as well...

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