At Whole Food Love, we spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but it’s usually around the stove.  In today’s blog, we’re still going to be in the kitchen, but for a WHOLE new reason!

Here’s the deal ladies, your skin is your largest organ so you want to be EXTREMELY cautious about what you use on it.  Harsh chemicals are absorbed directly into your body so you want to be make sure you’re using ingredients that are as natural as possible.

Here’s the secret…“Natural” ingredients are also much cheaper than the processed chemicals that so many beauty products use.

A parched face never looked good on anyone, so we’ll dive right in and here are our top 7 Natural Skin Remedies Revealed…

WATER

Lets start with the easiest and most basic – WATER. A simple way to increase the radiance and glow of your skin is to drink one gallon of water per day. In just two weeks you’ll notice clearer skin and whiter eyes. We’ve all see this info graphic on Facebook – Challenge yourself. We guarantee you’ll see results + we’ve all see that Facebook picture.)

PAPAYA PEEL ENZYME MASK

I love spending time in the produce aisle, especially when I can make my beauty purchases there as well! Papaya is a not only a delicious treat, but it’s a *sweet* face mask too! It’s great for cleansing and clarifying skin and it’s 100% NATURAL!

Look for a nearly ripe papaya. Cut fruit and rub your face with the papaya, avoiding the delicate eye and lip area. Let the fruit soak in for 5 -10 minutes. Pat off with a lukewarm wash-cloth. After treatment, your complexion will appear youthful, radiant, and fresh.

**Caution** The more unripe the fruit is, the stronger the enzymes will be. If the enzymes are too strong, you may start to feel a tingling or burning. If this occurs, simply remove with a lukewarm washcloth.

 RETRO REMEDY RESCUE – ACV!

Apple Cider Vinegar is truly one of nature’s miracle products. There are literally hundreds of uses in that $3 bottle!

For skin health, we love to use it as a cleansing astringent. After using a gentle cleanser on your face, soak a cotton ball with ACV and apply directly to skin. Notice that new dewy glow and diminished pores!

For other uses of ACV including a beauty tip for shiny hair check out the full article here.

MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL EYE TREATMENT

Enough with cleansing, let’s talk MOISTURE!

Need to reduce fine lines and dark circles around the delicate eye area? That same Argan Oil that you have been using to polish that beautiful hair can also be used on your under eyes.

Make sure you’re using 100% pure Argan Oil. I know it’s expensive, but you only need a few drops. Gently dab under eyes at night to decrease dark circles and lines.

AVOCADO, HONEY?

 

In need of an all-over moisturizing? Look no further than our Avocado Glow Face Mask. Winter weather and sun damage can be harsh on all skin so here is quick remedy that you can mix up in no time and all you need is an Avocado and Honey!

1.) Remove make up and wash face with gentle cleanser.

2.) Peel + Pit Avocado

3.)   Mash in small bowl with a fork until smooth.

4.) Add 1 Tbsp. of honey and mix until it forms a paste.

5.) Using clean fingers, apply mixture to your face being careful to avoid the eye area. Leave on for 20 minutes

6.) Remove with lukewarm wash cloth and notice how skin looks fresh, plump, and smooth!

Want more info? Check out the full article here

SEXY & SMOOTH – COCONUT OIL + OLIVE OIL

 

Now that we have the facial moisturizer, we also need an all over body moisturizer. With literally thousands of body moisturizer options, the task can be daunting. Don’t bother with the store aisles, simply head to your kitchen.

{Coconut oil} is one of the easiest and best moisturizers you can use! Coconut oil in its natural state resembles the consistency of butter. Simply scoop out 1 – 2 tablespoons and apply to legs, torso, and arms as a body butter.

Your body heat will naturally begin to melt the coconut oil and you’ll be able to massage it into skin.

**Caution** Coconut oil can take a few minutes to absorb into skin so its a great evening option, but not great for rushed mornings. It also may stain silk material. Don’t be afraid to try it – just know WHEN to use it.

{Olive Oil} is a soothing fat for damaged hair and dry skin as well as nails! To moisturize dry skin and heal damage try an Olive Oil Moisture Treatment!

(PSSST – Olive Oil can also help minimize stretch marks so keep this in mind when Baby is on the Brain.)

After a hot evening bath or shower, massage olive oil into the skin. Allow the oil to sink in for twenty minutes and towel off excess. Try this once per week and notice how soft and smooth your skin feels.

LUSCIOUS LADY SUGAR LIPS

Are you constantly applying Chapstick to no avail. Winter can be especially brutal on those LIPS. Here’s a great natural + inexpensive way to exfoliate and make you your lips look even more luscious.
½ Cup Sugar or Other Granulated Sweetener (White Sugar works just fine)

½ Cup Oil of your choice (We use Coconut or Grapeseed Oil)

1 – 2 Drops of Essential Oil (We LOVE peppermint for lips)

 

1.) Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.

2.) Store in a glass container. (Plastic will work but has been known to change the properties of some essential oils.)

3.) Apply liberally to lips and rub together for 30 seconds. Wipe off excess with lukewarm wash cloth.

Apply moisturizer or lipstick and watch it work even harder for you now that those dry cracked lips are gone for good!

Do you have any at home natural remedies that you love? Share them in the comments below.   What natural remedy do you already have in your kitchen? Let us know!

Live your WHOLE life,

Meg + Shannon

We are so excited to introduce you to Dani DiPirro, our featured expert from Beautiful University’s Interview with the Experts series. Dani is our guide to maintaining a positive attitude and living in the moment. Remember, this is YOUR life!  Looking for inspiration? Read on for the full interview!

Live your WHOLE life,

Shannon + Meg

Dani, congrats on being crowned Elle magazine’s Coach of the Month for March! We know you’re excited! Tell us how it feels to have all your hard work recognized.

Thank you! I’m thrilled to be featured as Elle Magazine’s Coach of the Month. It’s very exciting to be recognized for what I’ve been working on for years, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to share my insights with a wider audience via Elle’s website and through the magazine.

Positively Present is a blog and personal development website completely dedicated to focusing on “the positive” and “the now” in every situation, everyday. You mentioned that you lived with a negative attitude for 25 years. What sparked your evolution and what inspired you to share it with the world?

When I was 25, I was at a low point in my life. I didn’t love my job, my relationship status wasn’t ideal, and I was struggling a lot to feel happy. I started doing researching online and in books about how to be happier and, as I researched, I began to see that happiness was more like a result of experiencing something, not a state of being. To me, happiness is an emotion we experience from time to time, while positivity is something that can be cultivated on a daily basis. I started focusing on positivity and realized that, in order to really stay positive, I also needed to stay present, to stop dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. After reading countless websites about happiness and self-improvement, I thought it might be nice to start my own site, sharing my journey of trying to live a more positive, more present life. And that’s how, in February 2009, PositivelyPresent.com was born.

We know that our mental state, attitude, and thoughts have an effect on our physical health. During even the most difficult times, there is always a way to find the positive and move through the experience. How do you keep a positive attitude and what are some techniques in your toolbox to spot the “positive” even in the most difficult of situations? Have you noticed a change in your physical health since your conscious decision to “live in the now”?

One of the greatest tools for creating more positivity in life is to focus on gratitude. No matter how difficult a situation, there is always something to be grateful for.

It’s very difficult to be unhappy or upset when you’re focusing on all of the things you have to be thankful for.

In addition, it’s important to focus on acceptance when going through a tough time. You don’t have to like what’s happening, but if you accept it for what it is — if you try to take a step back and see it from a neutral point of view — you’ll remove a lot of the pain and stress from the situation, which makes it easier to stay positive. Positivity can certainly lead to a more healthy lifestyle. When you’re focused on the positive, you have less stress and, as we all know, less stress leads to better health. In addition, having a positive mindset can help you to make positive choices when it comes to your health as well, like eating better and choosing to exercise.

You started documenting your experience on your blog and your book The Positively Present Guide to Life, which will debut in March. How did you determine that you had so much more to share with the world? What impact can readers expect after reading the book?

I’ve always been a book lover so it made sense for me to take what I’ve been working on at PositivelyPresent.com and put it into a book format. In our very digital world, I think sometimes it’s nice to have something tangible that we can hold and look at. The book is based on the blog content, but it takes it further and goes more in depth with insights on how to stay positively present at home, at work, in relationships, in love, and during change. In addition, the book features inspiring, illustrated quotes throughout as well as accessible activities to help readers take the advice from the page and use it in real life.

What are you most grateful for?

I’m most grateful for the supportive friends and family I have in my life who have encouraged me to follow my heart and do what I love to do. Without their love, inspiration, and support, I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today so I’m incredibly thankful for them.

Where can people find out more about you and your work?

For more about me + my work, visit DaniDiPirro.com. For weekly inspiration and articles on living a more positive, present life, check out PositivelyPresent.com. And don’t forget to friend me on Facebook (@Positively Present), tweet me on Twitter, find me on Pinterest, and follow me on Instagram!

…said no one in Boston, New York or Chicago today!

WOW, there are quite a few of you out there getting buried in snow this week! February is one of those months marking the transition into spring for part of the country and the hellish reminder that winter is here and that damn groundhog definitely saw his shadow for others!

Yes, here in SoCal it’s sunny and mild, and I even went to a Farmers’ Market today…ok I didn’t mean to rub it in! For everyone outside The Golden State without access to fresh, local produce from a local Farmers’ Market, make your grocery store your go-to! You can find fresh, seasonal produce that packs a host of benefits when compared to its well-traveled counterparts.

Well-traveled food?! It is estimated that the average American meal travels about 1,500 miles to get from farm to plate.[1] There are a number of reasons for this (like the result of importing fruits and vegetables from other countries), but when you purchase produce that is in its growing season, you can mitigate both the cost and travel miles of your grocery list. Last time I traveled 1,500 miles in one sitting, let’s just say I felt “less than fresh.” Your food is the same way! Don’t buy jetlagged food! Switch your view of imported foods from main course to supplemental side dish.

When you purchase food that’s in the peak of its supply, it costs less to harvest + transport, and thus less to purchase. This drives the quality of seasonal produce UP! The food is grown closer to you, which means less travel, less spoiling, and less preservation needed in transport. Farmers can also pick our food at its peak (when food isn’t in season, farmers have to pick when it’s a tad unripe to give time to ripen so it won’t spoil on the trip). Ok, in a nutshell, this food has more health benefits + flavor!!!

So What’s in Season NOW?

Asparagus

Beets

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Celery

Citrus

Fennel

Kale

Leeks

Parsnips

Radishes

Turnips

Winter Squash

One of my favorite “late winter” greens happens to be Brussels sprouts. I like them so much in fact that during my last trip to NYC to see my friends Justine and Taryn we literally made a meal on these AMAZING glazed balsamic Brussels Sprouts, and the waiter thought we were crazy J So, without further ado the copycat Glazed Balsamic Brussels Sprouts recipe below. Enjoy!!!

Ingredients:

1 lb. Brussels sprouts, rinsed and trimmed

¼ cup EVOO

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut Brussels sprouts in half and remove the core (by cutting a deep “V” in the center of the stem part). Removing the core decreases cooking time.
3. Arrange Brussels sprouts on unlined cookie sheet. Option to add loose leaves, as these get nice and crispy when roasted.
4. Add the EVOO, salt and pepper and toss with your hands to coat. Spread the sprouts out in a single layer.
5. Roast for about 30 minutes, tossing after 15 minutes. Check and keep in oven until the loose leaves are nice and browned and sprouts are tender and bright green.

Remove from oven and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Option to add additional salt and pepper, to taste. Place in serving bowl and enjoy!

 

Live your WHOLE life,

Shannon + Meg

 

[1] From The Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture

We are so excited to introduce you to our featured guest blogger! Meet Patsy Culp, Chief Celebrator and Founder of &Celebrate. She is the queen of living in the moment and our guide to learn how to “Live Every Day Like a Celebration!” Whether you need a reason to find the silver lining or have a desire to be inspired, Patsy can show you how to celebrate the small stuff! Read on to learn her top tips for celebrating Valentine’s Day!

Live your WHOLE life,

Shannon + Meg

Love is in the air this time of year. Whether you are in a romantic relationship, or you long to be, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the ones you love – yourself included. Perhaps you’ll choose to honor the ones you’re celebrating through a gift of flowers, handwritten notes, or simply spending quality time together.

One of my favorite traditions is setting the table for two on Valentine’s Day. I started to do this long before my husband and I first met, as a way of celebrating myself (and providing the Universe with a hint that I was open to receiving a romantic partner). Funny enough, when that guy finally showed up years later, our first date fell on the weekend of Valentine’s Day. (We’re celebrating six years together this week!)

Set your table for two, six, or one – jazz it up, add a little sparkle, and most of all have fun with it! Each theme was built using everyday tableware and decorations I’ve gathered over the years. By simply featuring different tableware and centerpiece elements, you can instantly change the vibe of the room. The possibilities are endless!

I hope these Valentine’s Day tablescapes inspire you to treat yourself and those you love to a wholesome meal, some chocolate covered strawberries, meaningful conversation, and most importantly, champagne – because after all, sometimes having a bottle of champagne in the fridge is reason enough to celebrate.

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Feeling inspired?  Ready to shed the winter weight, kick your sugar craving, or conquer your kitchen this Spring? Be an Early Bird and enroll now for our next session of Beautiful University!  Reserve your spot today and save $40 off the regular price, but hurry class starts February 23rd and this deal won’t last long!  Check out what Patsy and other Beautiful U alumni are saying 🙂

Ever think your grandma was talking nonsense when she suggested home remedies for your everyday ailments? That may be the case with standing on your head to rid yourself of hiccups… but there are some that actually work! Well Grandma Ruthie had plenty, here are her top 6 uses for the retro home remedy Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).

So what is ACV?

ACV, apple cider vinegar, is a type of vinegar made from cider, the result of crushing apples and squeezing out the liquid then adding bacteria and yeast. After 2 rounds of fermentation, the concoction is turned into vinegar by acetic-acid forming bacteria. It’s usually amber and resembles apple juice.

Why does some ACV look like apple juice that’s been left out too long?

As the Gerson Institute explains, unpasteurized, raw, organic ACV has “mother of vinegar,” or what we lovingly refer to as “the good stuff.” Mother of vinegar resembles the strand-like sediments in Khombucha and contains the raw enzymes + gut-friendly bacteria that promote healing.

But first, some background…

I was lucky enough to grow up spending time with my grandparents each week. My Grandma Ruth taught me a LOT, in fact, she was one of the inspirations behind Whole Food Love!  Ruthie possessed endless knowledge of frugal, ingenious life hacks (before they were popular). Below are some of her pearls of wisdom: home remedies with Apple Cider Vinegar, which is quickly making its way back into mainstream.

 

Ruthie’s Top 6 uses for ACV 

1. Goodbye Bland! The sweet + sour taste of ACV gives an instant “zing” to otherwise bland foods. Use 1 Tbsp. on your next salad or quinoa bowl for a zesty addition. ACV lowers glucose levels and contains enzymes that help promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. Daily intake of acetic acid in ACV is also linked to weight loss via an increase in satiety.

2. So Fresh and So Clean! Move over Pinesol, here’s an ACV cleaning solution that will leave your kitchen smelling like a basket of freshly picked delicious apples (not lemony bleach). Simply mix 1 part ACV with 1 part water to create a chemical-free, non-toxic, anti-bacterial, odor-absorbing and cheap DIY cleaning solution. Spray on hard surfaces and wipe with a cloth: use freely in the kitchen, bathroom and on hardwood floors!

3. Shine On! Who doesn’t want a smooth, shiny mane? ACV can be used as a conditioner replacement! The vinegar helps remove excess oil and dirt while balancing you hair’s pH. ACV seals the cuticle, clearing dandruff + greasy build-up and soothes an itchy, irritated scalp. After shampooing, mix 2 Tbsp. ACV with 8oz. of cold water. Stir to combine and pour over wet hair. Let sit and rinse with cool water. Try this a couple times per week for best results.

4. Easy, Glowing Skin! ACV can be used as a cleansing astringent and antibacterial, although any condition involving inflammation and irritation will benefit from this simple home remedy. After using a gentle cleanser on your face, soak a cotton ball with ACV and apply directly to skin (can also use this as an all-natural aftershave).   For extra detoxification, use ACV astringent morning and night before applying sunscreen.

5. Goodbye Sniffles! As soon as you feel a sore throat or flu symptoms, make some ACV tea! Combine 8 oz. boiling water with 1 Tbsp. ACV in a coffee mug. If desired, sweeten with a drop of honey and sprinkle of ground cinnamon. ACV tea is great for draining mucous, soothing a sore throat, and even warding off colds (thanks to the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties).

6. Sunburn Forgiveness! We’ve all learned that lesson, multiple times in fact. The one where we forget to put on sunscreen, have a blast one summer day and then pay for it the rest of the week with red, uncomfortable sunburn. There’s a trick Grandma Ruthie showed me that I have employed more times than I can count: Soak a handkerchief in ACV and apply directly to sunburned skin. It will feel cold at first, so leave the soaked handkerchief on for 1-2 minutes. Like magic, remove the handkerchief and feel the heat! Follow-up with copious amounts of lotion and your sunburn will fade without peeling.

Try one or try all! Let us know with a comment what you think 🙂 Have another ACV remedy? Share it in the comment section below!

 

Live your WHOLE life,

Shannon + Meg

 

*Consuming ridiculously large amounts of ACV can have some side effects (250 ml each day for years)…So don’t go overboard (obvious? Yes)!