The Smoothie Vegetarians

Last week I had the worst cold! I am not a fan of taking over the counter medicine, and I try to avoid it at all costs. This means, when I get sick I have a few secrets that I swear by to help clear up any cold I may get. It is also important to note that technically, there is no way to cure a cold, but these tips can help you feel better faster! With cold season quickly approaching us, I thought this would be a really good time to share my tried and true ways to beat a common cold naturally. Some of these things may seem like common sense, but I decided to put them in because the better you take care of yourself, the faster you will recover (or you may not get sick at all!) -Hydrate When you are sick, be sure to drink more water than you typically would. Your body is working hard and your body needs the extra water to get the "ick" out of you. The recommended amount is to drink 9-13 8 ounce glasses a day while you are sick. If you are suffering from a sor...

I have always had trouble sleeping and I am alway looking for natural ways to help me get to sleep. Sleeping pills (even melatonin) leave me feeling not rested at all. I have found if I can natural coax myself to sleep I sleep better and I am happier.  I also love plants, they naturally clear the air, circulate oxygen and are beautiful to look at. I have carefully researched what plants to put in my room. All of these plants are not only beautiful but they also can help you get better sleep! 1. Aloe Vera Plant Click HERE to purchase one of these beauties! Aloe Vera was one of the first additions to my bedroom plants, it is also one of my favorites. It can be used for multiple purposes, not only will Aloe Vera help you get better sleep, it can also be used to help soothe inflammation, scars, and burns.  Another interesting fact is that when there are harmful chemicals near this plant is will start to have brown spots appear...

Can’t stand overpowering flavor? Freaked out by Fluoride? Experience gum irritation? Aren’t afraid of staining a toothbrush yellow? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to the above questions, I would suggest trying this turmeric toothpaste! I began seeking at-home toothpaste alternatives when my son started brushing his teeth. Mine? Whatever . His? PRECIOUS. Never having been accustom to store-bought toothpaste, he didn’t wonder why it was yellow or thought it was unusual that he had to shake it. He begrudgingly brushes his teeth just like the kids who use Crest. I also really enjoy not spending $12 a tube for toothpaste without fluoride. Not to mention what a relief is it to brush my teeth before and/or after coffee without the two flavors mixing badly—the mint flavor is only as strong as you make it! Last but not least, I get to mix a little potion! Even if you don’t answer ‘yes’ to the above questions, this recipe is seriously cheap and effective. Why not give it a spin? E...

Photo from http://www.reviews.com/natural-deodorant/ Hi guys! Today I am going to talk about something a bit different. Anyone who has switched from traditional deodorant to natural deodorant knows that it can be a painful and expensive process. I have very sensitive skin, and I had a few extremely painful reactions to the more popular natural deodorant brands. When I turned to others for help, it felt like I was being told a million different things. Luckily, I was finally able to find a natural deodorant that did not make me break out. I was recently made aware of this awesome  natural deodorant guide from Review.com! They went through all of the trouble to test 23 different natural deodorants and organizing it into a very helpful guide . In fact, they spent months talking with a dermatologist, a chemist, and two natural deodorant creators. Basically, they did all of the dirty work for us! One of their top finds was one of my favorites ...

I thought I would share one of my natural cleaning recipes today. Since we had a pretty mild winter we have been having an awful time with pests.  Since in my home we try to avoid harsh chemicals, pest spray would never be able to make that cut. After quite a bit of research, I developed this recipe as a general pest control spray. Each ingredient has a purpose. These essential oils will help keep away bugs, roaches, spiders, and ants. All you would need to do is spray it around the entry points in your home. This would be places like doorframes, windows and any holes or cracks in the walls. I also like to wipe my counters down with it. Another helpful tip is to make your home as uninviting as possible. You can do this by making sure all food is covered and put away. Crumbs are whipped up off the counter and swept off of the floor and any spills are whipped up right away.  What are your favorite ways to keep the pests away? -Stella- ...

Summer is upon us once again and that means going outside, hiking, swimming and a lot more. It also means bugs. A lot of the bug sprays on the market are made using chemicals and a lot of other gross things that are not good for you and your family. But there is good news! You can make it using a few simple and all natural ingredients that are healthier and better for you. All of the ingredients in this bug spray are designed for very specific reasons. The essential oils used are great against certain bugs and the witch hazel is fantastic for your skin! They are not harsh or will harm you but they are super effective and will help make your summer so much better. Let’s explore the ingredients before we get to how to make it. Lavender oil is great for repelling mosquitos and spiders. In fact, it can be just as effective as citronella oil against mosquitos. It also smells nicer. You can use this on its own in the bug spray but combining it with other oils means you will ...

The last couple of years I heard a lot about oil pulling and the benefits of pulling for your oil hygiene. Oil pulling can be good for your overall health as well. I have always wanted to try it but it seemed very daunting to swish coconut oil for 20 minutes. I don’t have 20 minutes in my day to give my mouth that kind of workout. I wanted to find a better way. I have always had a terrible time with my teeth. I brush them everyday and floss most days but no matter what I always ended up with cavities. My teeth are straight but over the years have yellowed. I actually really like my teeth so the yellowing, while insignificant in the scheme of life, made me very self-conscious. I wanted to find a way to improve my oral health and take care of the yellowing. When I was looking online for ideas I stumbled on a Facebook page about zero waste. It was there that they talked about the blog Trash is for Tossers. Lauren, the zero waste queen, had a recipe for toothpaste using a ...

When I was younger I thought the best way to combat my oily skin was simply by not applying a moisturizer. I would dry out my face with cleansers thinking that was going to get me the results I wanted. I always felt I couldn’t wear actual makeup because my skin was so oily. Now, as an adult, I realize I was making my face produce more oil. When the skin is dried out it overproduces oil to help – exactly what I didn’t want. But I was still struggling with oily skin even though I started toning and moisturizing. What was I to do? The key is to finding the right products and fighting oil with oil. What? Why would you use oil to combat oil? Your skin produces oil for many reasons. One reason is because your cleanser and toner are taking away too much oil so it helps by making more. By adding more oils, the right kind of oils, back into the skin then your skin will be at a healthy level. The best thing I have found is making my own face oil. I use this after I wa...

For the last three months are so I have been OBSESSED with essential oils! I have incorporated them into just about every aspect of my life. From my beauty routine to cleaning, to a quick fix for a headache. My box of oils has a solution to any problem I throw at it. Today I am going to go over the essential oils I use in my beauty routine and the benefits they have. If I missed your favorite essential oil, let me know in the comments below! ~Stella~ Frankincense Essential Oil Frankincense oil is wonderful for all types of skin. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits. These benefits make it best for acne-prone skin. You can also use it as a toner. It can reduce the appearance of pores and helps even the skin tone. It also helps encourage new cell growth. This will help tighten skin, reduce wrinkles and the appearance of scars. It also is wonderful for soothing chapped or dry skin. Lavender Essential Oil As if Lavender oil...

The Face: ‘What lays manifest in the physical, is a mirror of the internal’ ~ Jan P. L ó pez. The skin on one’s face is the most sensitive part of the body, we wash often, moisturize and expose to the sun daily. In order to maintain healthy skin, it is imperative to hydrate the body effectively by consuming as much fruits and vegetables daily along with drinking sufficient amounts of pure water. Diet plays a major role in the appearance and health of one’s skin. In conjunction with the above, it is also important to ensure t whatever goes on the skin is safe and nourishing. It is 100 %true that ’if you would not eat it, perhaps it should not be on the skin. ' The skin is  porous and the largest organ of the body and  thus easily transports whatever it  comes into contact with  to the bloodstream in a matter of just seconds. So, let us look at some of the very natural ingredients/items which can benefit the skin and its natural health, as ...