Spring Cleaning: The Body

So we all think about Spring Cleaning our houses or apartments…but lest we forget to Spring Clean our own bodies – the temple in which we continuously inhabit regardless of where our brick and mortar resides. Here’s a few recipes from posts-past that provide a little detoxification of the body, for which Springtime is the most apropos.

If you have the time, the 4-day Springtime Detoxifying Cleanse is absolutely wonderful! As is fresh fruit…tons of fresh fruit!

For just a quick kick into purification, Teatime: Rosey Detox is a simple and easy way to get a minor flushing…and with just a cup, I do mean minor. But every little bit helps, right?!

And for the smoothie-inclined, and with Farmer’s Markets beginning to appear throughout the South (it may take a few more weeks for those further North)..check out the Pineapple-Cherry Pick-Me-Up! This smoothie provides the slightest hint of detoxing properties, plus it gives you a nice boost of energy to make it through the day! 🙂

And complete the cleansing with some new external products to keep the outside as purified as the inside..Arbonne Seasource Detoxifying Kit!

Happy Spring Cleaning!

On This Day In History: Nacho Salad

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Golden Delight

This drink is going to seem a little strange to many of you – “you want me to drink a whole teaspoon of turmeric??”  But it actually tastes wonderful.  It’s very warming, filling, and may very well be good for your health.  Turmeric is known to be an anti-inflammatory agent, have loads of anti-oxidants, improves liver function and lowers cholesterol.  Cinnamon is also anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, improves memory function and regulates blood sugar.  A single teaspoon of both turmeric and cinnamon each have 5% of the recommended daily value for iron!  Add in the contribution from the hemp milk and you’re getting 15% of your iron in one cup of this drink, for those of you keeping track.  I have a strong personal preference for Ceylon cinnamon (aka “true” cinnamon), rather than the Cassia that is always what you’re getting when you buy something labeled “cinnamon” without specifying “Ceylon.”  If you can’t tell by the label which one you’ve got, then you’ve got Cassia.  Ceylon cinnamon has a milder, sweeter, more delicate flavor than Cassia.  But if you can’t find Ceylon cinnamon, or are totally content with the Cassia you have (a valid life choice), I would reduce the amount called for in this recipe.

Ingredients:

1/2 C water

1 tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp ground Ceylon cinnamon (or 1/2 tsp Cassia cinnamon)

3/4 C vanilla hemp milk

1 tsp almond oil

Instructions:

1.  Bring water to a simmer is a small sauce pan.  Whisk in the turmeric and cinnamon.  Simmer for 3 minutes.

2.  Whisk in the hemp milk and almond oil.  Reduce heat to low.  As soon as it begins to simmer, remove from heat and serve.

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Cherry Blossom Yoga – NOW OPEN!

Hello Primate Readers,

I know that Jo and I have been on hiatus, and most of you know that it’s because we’ve been building and opening a yoga studio in Spring TX (or Houston for those who like to think in Metro-area terms). Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that we are NOW OPEN and ready to share the wonderful experience of yoga with you! Now, for a little shameless self-plugging 🙂

We have a NEW STUDENT SPECIAL! All students new to the studio (which, right now is everyone) can get your first month of unlimited classes for $50! Anyone who knows yoga studios, knows that is a steal! So come in NOW!!!

We are also offering a GRAND OPENING REFERRAL BONUS! For all current members of the studio (see the above New Student Special in order to become a member of the studio), we’re offering a referral bonus of $25 for everyone you refer into the studio which purchases a New Student Special! Of course, you must remind your friend to list YOU as ‘how they heard about Cherry Blossom Yoga’ on their liability waiver so we know who to give the credit to 😉 This offer is valid from now until May 1, 2010 – so get your friends in now!

And to entice you a little further, you’ve all seen the pics of the build-out…but here’s some of the final product 🙂

A few shots of our Vegan, Handmade, and Fair Trade boutique items…

And for an overall view..

After the boutique, you walk down the hallway into Studio A. The front studio is slightly smaller, enough room for maybe 10-12 students…

Then, either choosing to walk through the flower doors, or continue down the hallway into Studio B (cool names for the studios to come). The back studio is slightly larger, accommodating up to perhaps 15-18 students…

As you enter the back of the space, you can pick up any props you may need for class, change clothes in the dressing area, leave your bags and such in a cubbie to keep the studio space free and clear, or use the facilities.

So pop into the studio, take a class..a tour..or treat yourself to some handmade soaps or candles from the boutique – 100% vegan & 100% cruelty-free. And if you’re looking for something for yourself or your significant other..a pair of Fair Trade earrings, and a 100% recycled glass jewelry dish to hold said earrings would be a sweet treat for your sweetie 😉

Thanks for your patience, and I promise…we will be back to recipes soon 🙂

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Product Review: Arbonne Seasource Detox Set

Brandi, over at Brandi’s V-Spot blog, was holding a contest for a free Arbonne Seasource Detox Spa Express Set. As I love any good contest that is vegan related, and has such an awesome prize as a full size (what you’d buy if you’re purchasing the same pack) Arbonne Express Detox set, I entered my answers to the questions – basically how much I love animals and how long I plan on being vegan (can you say ‘to infinity and beyond’?). I was amazed when I got the email saying I had won!! I was ecstatic to say the least! So Brandi sends me the kit, and I’m blown away by the amount of stuff I won. Full bottles of Detoxifying Rescue Wash, Fortifying Hair mask, Sea Mud Face & Body Mask, Renewing Body Gelée, and Foaming Salt Scrub! Not only did she include the full kit, but she was kind enough to toss in a couple bags of detox tea, a few stickers from PETA, and of course info on the kit itself.

So to the review part. The first time I washed my face with the body/face Detoxifying Rescue wash, I could instantly feel a cleaner wash (and I’d been using Alba Organics, which gives a pretty clean wash) – but this was different. Maybe it’s because my skin was so desperate for something more with all the construction going on (see Apologies and News)..I don’t know, but it felt great! It has a bit of a citrus scent to it (which I know is excellent for reversing damage to skin). The Body Gelée has that wonderful minty scent that perks you right up – perfect for my legs during ladder climbing and such. And it makes my skin feel just like silk…vegan silk! The Fortifying Hair Mask makes my hair as soft as the day I was born – before any damaging sun rays, or hair coloring or product infiltration! I didn’t even have to use a leave-in conditioner out of the shower in order to comb it out (you know, to detangle it). I felt like a whole new person – or better yet, I felt like the beautiful girly girl I was before all this manly manual labor commenced 😉 The Foaming Salt scrub buffed away the impurities and my skin glowed after the shower!

Of course, I wouldn’t recommend doing construction just so you can buy a Detox Kit…I think you could reap even more benefits on a ‘normal’ regular basis from such products. So thank you, Brandi, for my random selection so I could experience something I normally wouldn’t have splurged on myself. I have a feeling, I’m going to be working Arbonne into the budget for beauty regimen in the future.

This was not a solicited review, but Brandi is now a consultant for Arbonne International…if you need products, Brandi is your gal!

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