Smoothie Update

I meant to jump on here a few days ago and share an update about our challenge. Oops. Things have been really busy here the last couple days. But here we are, so a little bit about the smoothies and the week.

 

Things have gone really well! I have explored some new smoothie ingredients (no not the cabbage). But I kinda feel like doing the challenged pushed me to add new fruits and veggies to our fridge. It was really exciting to go shopping and have so much colour in the cart, and even more exciting in the morning opening the fridge and choosing what to mix up!

Something I found a big help for busy mornings was prepping the night before. I got the jars clean and ready, the blender out, and prepped some of the fruits and veggies so they were ready to pop in the blender in the morning. We started out the week with 3 smoothies a day, and some healthy snacks. As the week progressed we incorporated healthy meals and focused on including lots of veggies. There were a few moments of weakness, but overall we are pretty proud of the healthy eating choices!

Here is a list of a few ingredients I wouldn't have reached for a week ago, and am so glad I tried!

• spinach, blends well with little taste
• zucchini, blends well
• fresh ginger, grated, gives a refreshing zing
• sweet potato, baked, 1/3 of the potato adds some fibre and tastes creamy (to me)
• baked beets, sweet and provide a brilliant colour
• avocado, creamy, great fats
• hemp hearts, creamy, protein packed

And I will leave you with my favourite recipe from the week, which just happens to be a green smoothie and tastes divine!  

Sweet Green Smoothie

• 1 banana
• 1/2 avocado
• small handful of spinach
• 1/2 small zucchini, sliced
• 1/4 cup of plain greek yougurt
• 1/3 cup frozen bluberries
• drizzle of raw local honey
• grate a little fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• Blend together, and add water to make the consistency you prefer

Happy Smoothie Making friends! What is your favourite recipe?
xox
Margot

Staying on top of the Cold Weather Season

Winter has finally settled in, with all the snow, and cold, and blustery winds that come with it. We are trying our best to stay on top of the cold weather season this year, and I thought I would share some of the ways we are doing so!

I have made a point this winter to start every day with Greens. Sometimes they are in a smoothie, sometimes just mixed in a glass of water. I love these Greens because they offer 38 herbs and nutrient rich 'superfoods', 8+ servings of fruits and veggies in each glass, they help promote an alkalized environment in the body, and they provide amazing probiotic support for optimum digestive health.

Did you know that disease thrives in an acidic environment? And that promoting healthy gut flora with the use of probiotics is  great way to improve immune health?

I made a chest rub for the kids. To help ease congestion and calm them to ensure they get a good sleep at night. It is super simple, and takes only  few minutes to whip up:

2tbsp   Coconut oil (unrefined)

1tsp     Apricot oil (or Almond)

5drops Tea Tree essential oil

5drops Lemon essential oil

3drops Lavender essential oil (optional)

3drops Copaiba essential oil (optional)

Warm the coconut oil in a glass jar until it is liquid, add the apricot oil, allow mixture to cool slightly. Add all the essential oils and mix. Rub on chest nightly before bed.

Add 10 drops of Thieves essential oil to a roller bottle, and fill to the top with Apricot oil (or any other carrier oil). Apply to the bottoms of your feet morning and night to help give your immune system a little boost and enjoy the pleasant scent! ;) I like to dilute it simply to make the oil stretch farther, even diluted it still has great benefits!

Finally, we've been diffusing oils regularly. As you can see above there are many benefits to diffusing oils. The benefits will depend on which oils you choose to diffuse. This time of year I love to diffuse Thieves, Purification, Lavender, Lemon or my personal favourite Northern Lights Black Spruce.

What do you do to make it through the winter season?
xox
Margot

Foaming Hand Soap

Many people wonder why I would bother to go to the 'trouble' of making my own cleaning and body care products. I have been dabbling in homemade products for about 6 years, but never committed fully to replacing all of the products in our home. In the past I replaced many of the regular products with those from The Honest Company, it is great company and I love the products, but ordering products every 5-6weeks was getting expensive. I knew there was a better way. Since I joined Young Living I have been replacing traditional solutions to ailments and cleaning with essential oils. Making our home and bodies healthier.

I am making about 1 product day right now. So it isn't time consuming and you use really cost effective ingredients (and a small amount of them). And so far I am over the moon with the results!

DIY Foaming Hand Soap

12oz       Previously boiled water, cooled (or distilled if you have it)
2tbsp      Castile Soap
1/2tsp     Olive Oil (optional*)
5-8drops Essential Oils

Add the water to the jug, leaving about 1" of space from the top. Then add the Castile Soap, Olive Oil and Essential Oils (I used 3 drops Thieves, and 5 Orange, you can use any scent you like). Shake gently to combine.

*The Olive Oil will help keep your pump working well, and make your Essential Oils last longer but isn't necessary.

Have you made your own soap? What oils did you use?

xox
Margot

Outdoor Play in the Winter

Sometimes I avoid outdoor play in the winter. Mostly because of all the time it takes to get everyone dressed. But I have to say when we take the time everyone benefits. We all get some much needed fresh air, expend some energy and get a little exercise in the process. Pip loves to pull out his bicycle, no matter the season - he calls it his motorcycle. And Emi finds anything she can to climb. It's cute. I love watching them. And I always feel better after a little fresh air mid winter.

Did you get out in the snow today?

xox
Margot

Hiatus and a Winter Warm-up!

It has been a while since I have been on here, I kept meaning to log on and share something but just couldn't find the time. I returned to work fulltime last year in March, when Emi was only 5months old. It was extremely hard, I definitely wouldn't recommend it if isn't something you have to do. But, one of the major benefits of working seasonally is an annual Hiatus. So at the end of November, I was done my fulltime contract and I finally had a little more time with the kiddos.

Now that it is January, and the Christmas rush has subsided, the kids and I are having many slow days at home. Catching up on little jobs around the house, playing in the fluffy snow, reading and watching movies, and lately enjoying lots of yummy hot chocolate. Recently Pip requested some hot chocolate, but we were out of mix. So I whipped up some hot cocoa, which we all liked immensely!

Winter Warm-up

2 big 'mugfuls' almond milk (or any milk of your choosing)

2 teaspoons cocoa powder

4 teaspoons honey (maple syrup or raw sugar work too)

1 drop of orange or peppermint Essential Oil

Warm milk in a saucepan on the stove, whisk in cocoa powder and honey pour into mugs. Add 1 drop of your preferred oil (for the adults) and mix up for a tasty treat!

I recently joined Young Living, and have to say I can't believe I didn't do it sooner! I have dabbled in Essential Oils for years now, but have never included oils in all aspects of my life. Young Living oils are therapeutic grade and 100% pure, also the only oils I would personally consume. I am steadily replacing everything in my home with essential oils, and enjoying the benefits of having them in my life!

Do you use essential oils in your home? Do you have any questions? I am happy to help!

xox

Margot