Food Picture Collage: cashew-coconut blueberry ice-cream cake, yogurt fruit bowl, collard green wraps etc.

Hello guys,

It's so good to be back blogging about what matters to me. I wanted to share some of  the meals that I've been eating & enjoying in a picture collage.

www.liliashealthbook.blogspot.com

1. Collard green wraps: sunflower seed pâté, tomato, dulse, cucumber, bell pepper
2. Zucchini noodles with tomatoes in a basil-avocado sauce
3. yogurt bowl with mix berries, kiwi. (I use goat milk kefir)
4. cucumber slices topped with sunflower seed pâté, cucumber & bell pepper
5. Smoothie: spinach, mix berry, almond milk, banana, plant-based protien (sunwarrior), flax, chia
6. Fruits: blueberries, mandarins, grapefruit, kiwi, brazil nuts, mint leaves
7. homemade coconut yogurt with kiwi
8. yogurt bowl: mix berries, almonds, sunflower seeds, ground flax, chia
9. homegrown sunflower sprouts (a great addition to salads)
10. Vegetable & black bean patties
11& 12. Smoothie: spinach, pineapple, banana, water, flax seeds, hemp seeds, green powder
13. Cashew, coconut, blueberry cake / dessert
14. Chia bowl: coconut milk/almond milk, chia seeds, flax, honey topped with kiwi & blueberries
15. Tumeric infused scrambled eggs with onions, collard greens, tomatoes

Which one is your favorite?

Thanks for reading, sharing, commenting,

Lavender Shea Hair & Body Recipe (+Giveaway) [CLOSED]

Hello friends,

I'm back with another blogspot and this time I am giving away my all time favorite body butter for hair and body. This is my all time #1 moisturizer in the colder months to keep my hair and skin moisturized and supple. If you're a follower of my blog, then you know I have a few body butter recipes on the blog, here, here and here. 

A few weeks ago I made a batch and gave to friends who love it.


This is my first contest on the blog and I'm super excited about it. Since I have a small readership of the blog, the giveaway will be open till Friday, 10/17/2014 at 11:59:59 pm EST. Open to followers only | Open Nationally (in the US only).

(Whipped)Lavender Shea Coconut Hair & Body Butter

shea butter

coconut oil

olive oil

aloe vera gel

lavender essential oil (or peppermint if you like)

You will receive the hair & body butter in a 6 oz mason jar! A mason jar that you can always re-use.

How to Enter:

1. Must be a follower of my blog ---> Click 'join this site' under followers on the home page [on the left)
2. Leave 1 comment (any comment) under this blog post

• One entry per person please. 
• I will choose the winner from current, active subscribers who leave 1 comment on the blog
• I make my own hair & body butter in my house, in my kitchen. I don’t have a sterile lab. So, while I try my best to ensure everything is clean.
• I am not responsible if the winner has any negative reactions to any of the items in the prize package—I will include a list of all ingredients and the winner is responsible for ensuring they are not allergic/sensitive to any of them.
• I am not responsible for any negative reactions resulting from misuse (intentional or accidental). They are not food safe, and should not be consumed or inserted into the body in any way, shape, or form. Keep out of eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and all other orifices.
• Entrants CANNOT SUE ME for ANY REASON. I am running this contest out of my own pocket and the goodness of my heart because I am excited about the products that I make and I want to share them with my readers. 
•  I am going to mail the hair & body butter using USPS.
• I reserve the right to update and change these rules as I see fit throughout the duration of the contest
• The winner must reply to the e-mail selecting them as the winner within two (2) calendar days or another winner will be selected (so you should subscribe with an e-mail address you actually check).

I hope this helps,

Removing Makeup using Coconut Oil

Hello friends,

I'm back with another blogpost!

www.liliashealthbook.blogspot.com

In this post, I will share with you a super easy makeup remover using only one ingredient: Coconut oil.

When I began using makeup, I thought that I had to use the pricey store bought makeup removers, especially for eye makeup. I wanted to use something that was natural of course, but also with ingredients that if entered the eyes were deemed safe. Finding an all natural makeup remover wasn't easy to find. I did my research to find that oil, especially coconut oil works just as fine, if not better than store-bought removers. 

Coconut oil is very safe to use around the eyes. It removes the most stubborn eye makeup, such as mascara, leaving your eye lashes nicely conditioned. Due to its anti-bacterial properties, coconut oil is suited to remove makeup on the face and around the eyes. Always go for the extra-virgin organic coconut oil for quality.

I use coconut oil daily, both internally and externally and I love it. Other ways to include coconut oil in your daily life can be found using this link.


I hope this helps,

Brown Sugar Cocoa Body Scub

Hello friends,

In this post I will share with you how I achieve soft, supple skin all year round, but especially now that the weather is warmer. 

Body scrubs provide the best of both worlds once it comes to the skin: exfoliation and moisturization.  Summer is fast approaching, revealing more skin. Body scrubs will help you to put your best skin forward every time. 

This Brown sugar cocoa body scrub recipe will help you achieve silky, soft, supple skin. You won’t even need to lotion afterwards.

Brown Sugar Cocoa Body Scrub 

                                                                                                                                                              

• ·       ½ - 1 cup of brown sugar
• ·       ¼ cup of cocoa butter
• ·       4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
• ·       Essential oil of your choice (In this recipe I used lavender)

Enjoy before or after your shower or bath. Massage this into your skin until the sugar dissolves. The olive oil and cocoa butter will leave your skin feeling super soft and supple, while the brown sugar will exfoliate, removing dead skin. Moreover, your lymphatic system will thank you!

Enjoy your new body scrub.

Caution: your bath tub may be slippery!

I hope this helps,

Detecting Mineral & Vitamin Deficiencies

Hello friends,

Detecting mineral and vitamin deficiencies are not always obvious, especially when you're not sure what to look for. Hopefully this infographic helps. As always, don't forget to do your own research. No one body is the same.

via pinterest

I hope this helps,

52 Week Money Challenge

Hello friends,

image via pinterest

I think a big part of being healthy and well is making sure that our finances are in order. Building a savings account is not always the easiest thing to do, but with discipline and commitment it can be done. I have found the 52 Week Money Challenge to work very well in helping me and others save a little each week.

Keep in mind, this is the 16th week. It's not too late.

This is how it works:

Save $1 the first week. The second week, $2; the third week, $3. Increase the amount by $1 each week. By the end of 52 weeks, you will have saved $1,378!

I have friends who double their weekly savings each week. There is no wrong or right way to do this. The idea is to get in the habit of saving. 

It's not too late to join. If you're already participating in the 52 week challenge, let me know how you're making out.


Take care,

Discovering Health + Wellness: Oil Pulling & Apple Cider Vinegar Water

Hello guys,

I know I haven't blogged in so long. (My first blog post for the year).  I truly love blogging and "Discovering various aspects to Health & Wellness" (My blog tag line) and sharing them here with you.

In the midst of my absence, I have discovered health and wellness treatments/remedies and would like to share them with you. My new additions are below: 

image via pinterest

1. Oil Pulling. In an effort to be more of an active participant in my oral health, I have taken up oil pulling. I've wanted to try oil pulling for so long now, I've finally given it a chance, using sesame oil. The purported benefits seem fair enough and couldn't pass up doing something that seems so harmless and easy doing. The infographic briefly sums up this ancient ayurvedic treatment. 

More information on oil pulling on the links below:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/12/oil-pulling_n_4943808.html

http://www.henryhappened.com/oil-pulling.html

Also, heyfranhey has a great YouTube video on oil pulling.

2.  Apple Cider Vinegar.  My day begins with hydration. Every morning I drink 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. This has been an awesome way for me to jump start my body, while cleaning it out.in and outside of the body Apple cider vinegar is both beneficial in and on the body. 

Do your research. Give it a try. Let me know.

If you've tried either oil pulling or drinking apple cider vinegar in water, please share below in the comments section.

image via pinterest

I hope this helps,

Lilia