Quick Protein-Filled Recipe

I didn't have time to take a picture, but here is a filling, healthy, and protein-filled lunch if you are looking for some ideas:

*1 six oz fillet of fresh catch cod
*1/3 cup edamame soybeans
*1 medium tomato, sliced

Throw into a bowl and sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and basil

*1 cup soy milk
*1 scoop plant-based protein (I use Vegn Sport brand)
*1 cup watermelon
*1/2 cup pineapple

Blend ingredients together for a delicious protein shake! Of course, if you are a whey protein fan, you can use whey, but I believe that plant-based protein to be much better for you. At least, I used to get severe stomach cramps from whey protein, and I no longer get these from the pea protein isolate that I use.

Note: I do eat an odd mixture of vegetarian/vegan/pescetarian, so my recipes revolve around this. I do offer some alternatives though, too, in the description. Have a healthy weekend!

A Hippie's Hip Tattoo

I got this little beauty on my hip yesterday at a tattoo shop called Little Buddha in Steger, Illinois (done by Kenny Young). I couldn't be happier with the results! I had a dream before I came home for summer break. I dreamed that this tattoo was on my hip, and when I woke up, it made a lot of sense for me.

See, my mother was always into yoga when I was younger, so our house was constantly decked out with moon, star, and sun wallpaper, incense burners, candle holders, you name it! It reminds me of our bond together.

Not only that, but I am very interested in tarot cards. I give out tarot card readings and also collect vintage decks. The 19th card (XIX) of the Major Arcana is called The Sun. This card represents someone who makes positive decisions that will help them have a great future. It also represents happiness and strong relationships, along with a charitable person. These are some things that I would like to continue to work towards, so this tattoo meant the world to me.

The Sun:

Tattoos are a wonderful thing! However, I did indeed find it pretty painful (especially on my hip bone). I would say that my pain threshold is below average, so I am sure it isn't as bad for most people. So, if you have a dream or a feeling you should get something, take the jump and GET INKED!

NATURAL Beauty

I used to use beauty products from the grocery store like most people do: Regular shampoo and conditioner, store brand soap, shaving cream, brand makeup, and store-bought hair products. My hair is naturally thin and wavy, but it seemed like it was always dry, brittle, and covered in split ends. I read in magazines that the solution was more products, and that wavy/curly hair is naturally dry and you couldn't do a thing about it.

I'm not sure how it happened, but over Christmas break, I came across an article about SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), a chemical that is nearly every shampoo, soap, face wash, and toothpaste. It helps create a rich lather, and it is cheaply made, so all beauty brands (and industrial cleaner brands) use it.

Here's the problem: Over 16,000 studies have been done on SLS, and it is found that the chemical is directly related to eye and skin irritation, organ toxicity, developmental/reproductive toxicity, cellular changes, mutations, and cancer.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/13/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.aspx

Why is SLS used then? Companies claim that it is safe because it is only on the skin for a short period of time and cannot be toxic in small doses. Small doses? The average American uses soap, shampoos, and toothpaste multiple times a day!

SLS is a powerful chemical that strips your hair of its natural oils, and worse, those store-bought conditioners coat your hair in mineral oil, giving it a false shine that makes you believe your hair is in good condition. Chances are, it isn't. Plus, putting chemicals on your skin is more dangerous than ingesting it! If it is ingested, it can be broken down by the liver, kidneys, and stomach. But when it is absorbed through the skin, there is no process to break it down so it ends up in your bloodstream immediately.

So I've found a solution to this problem. I made it my mission to find more natural beauty products free of chemicals, and better yet, almost everything I've found is much, much cheaper than those chemical-filled products.

These are some of the products that can always be found in my bathroom. Starting from the left, I have baking soda, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, Burt's Bees shampoo, 100% extra virgin olive oil, and two tumbler cups.

I came across the "no poo" method of using just baking soda and apple cider vinegar in place of shampoo and conditioner. The baking soda forces your hair follicles open while the apple cider vinegar forces them closed, creating the perfect wash/rinse combination.

http://www.love-yourself-naturally.com/2013/04/welcome-to-no-poo-hair-care/

Now, I couldn't deal with 3 months of having a greaseball head of hair, so I use baking soda diluted in water as shampoo every other time I wash my hair (which is about 3-4 times a week now). I use Burts Bee's every other time I wash. I use about 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar diluted in water to condition my hair every time I shower. And I must say, my hair has never looked better!

I stopped dying my hair as well and was pleasantly surprised at how shiny and healthy my real hair looked. I'll never dye it again, and I'll never use store bought shampoo and conditioners. They are a scam that only make your hair look worse so that you keep buying their products.

Another plus is that I spend almost nothing on hair care. The gallon of ACV cost about $8 and lasted me 6 months. That one bottle of shampoo also lasted me 6 months (about $8), and I only bought 2 boxes of baking soda the past 6 months ($1.50). I'm not good at the math thing, but I imagine that is no more than $2.50 a month.

Some other organic trades I've done & loved:

*Olive oil instead of shaving cream: This is an amazing switch I've found. It feels weird at first, but it is the best way to shave! It is so moisturizing, I rarely ever get razor bumps anymore, and I never accidentally cut myself with my razor in the shower.

*Coconut oil instead of lotion: Coconut oil works better than lotion, and it is naturally SPF 4! I put a very small amount all over my body while my skin is still wet from the shower. I use this on my face too. I have never found a moisturizer that makes my skin look better than coconut oil. Also, it heals acne and scars!

*Witch hazel instead of toner: Toner is probably the biggest waste of money ever, only because you can buy a big bottle of witch hazel for much cheaper, and it does the exact same job. It clears up acne, cleans out your bores, dissolves razor bumps, and evens out your skin tone! I love witch hazel. Find it at any store!

*Olive oil and castor oil as face wash: I have major combination skin, and this "face wash" heals my acne and moisturizes my face. I even converted my sister, who has extremely sensitive skin that turns red and flaky, and my mom who has relatively dry skin.

This is my amazing "face wash". I haven't used anything else for six months! All you do is get a reusable flip top bottle (I found this one at Walmart for 97 cents) and make a combination of castor oil and extra virgin olive oil. The general standard is to use 7 parts olive oil to 3 parts castor oil. Castor oil is very drying so it dries up acne, and olive oil moisturizes.

The theory is that store-bought face washes that claim to "heal" acne actually make acne worse. Your face produces oil for a reason: because it needs it! When you are constantly stripping your face of oil, your skin becomes irritated and your face responds by producing even more oil. You don't need to strip your face of oil, you need to remove the "bad" oil and replace it with "good" oil!

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

I used to have a very greasy face, but ever since I started using this mixture, my face has not been greasy at all! It's amazing, really. Not to mention, it is the BEST makeup remover I've ever used!

All you do is rub the mixture all over your face (with makeup still on), take a warm rag, and wipe it off. That's it! No over-drying or worrying about grease!

I really hope you think about the products you are using and how you can treat your body better. Why should we support these companies that could care less about our actual well being? As long as our dollar is in their pocket, they don't care what they are giving us. So let's start a beauty revolution. Forget the store-bought crap. The more natural, the better it is for you!

One more thing: I do splurge on some beauty products, only because I believe there is no way around it and I like the results it gives me.

Bare Minerals: I absolutely love, love, love Bare Minerals. Their powders are the kind of powders that cover up flaws but still let your natural beauty shine through, not to mention that they never make my face break out. The moment I switch to anything else, my skin flares up and breaks out again. I highly recommend Bare Minerals to everyone. I recommend visiting a store to get fitted with the right color because it can be impossible to find the right shade yourself. It took me 2 years to finally go into the store and get fitted - I had no idea I was the lightest possible shade! Also, their mascara is made with vitamins, so you don't have to worry about your eyelashes getting brittle and falling off.

*Tip: Don't do the every month renewal method. If you take the time to order your makeup each time you run out, you get much bigger containers of makeup for the same price and they last way longer.

Wen: The only reason I have Wen products is because my mom bought them and didn't like them. I have to agree that they don't seem like a miracle product, but it is all natural. I do like the conditioners, though. Their deep conditioner works really well, and I use the regular conditioner as leave-in conditioner, but I'm sure you could find something much, much cheaper out there that works just as well. Just my opinion, though. I have read that it works really well for some other people.

Hair wise, if you have thin hair, this might not work that great for your hair. I say that only because my mom has thin, straight hair, and I have wavy, thin hair.

Have you gone all natural yet? If not, get started! You will be amazed with how amazing your skin and hair will look and feel! Have a great weekend.

Project Healthy: Jillian Michaels Detox Water

This week, I decided to give the Jillian Michaels Detox Water cleanse a try. It was appealing to me because you could still eat normally (eating healthier helps, though), and all you had to do was add a cup of brewed tea and a very small amount of cranberry juice and lemon juice to about 8 cups of water that you will drink all day.

The Recipe:
*60 ounces purified water
*2 tablespoons pure cranberry juice
*2 tablespoons of lemon juice
*1 cup of brewed dandelion detox tea

I must say that I loved this cleanse after day one. I really like the taste of the water, and it was pretty easy for me to down the 60 ounces upon arriving home from work. The morning after the first day of drinking this cleanse drink, my tummy was much flatter and I felt much more confident about myself because of this reason. I must admit, though, it definitely "cleans you out" the first day, if you know what I mean. Like, a lot.
But this is definitely a good thing for your body.

I eat a ton of fiber during the day, so my stomach is usually pretty bloated, but this cleanse has completely flattened it out by Day 5! I am very impressed. I highly recommend this "cleanse", because it is easy, it works, and you can still eat!

Now, I have noticed that I drink way more than 60 ounces of water a day. I am considering buying a gallon Ice Mountain jug and skewing the ingredients so that I can drink this gallon all day long. You can do this too, but if 60 ounces is plenty for you, then drink that all throughout the day and you will have the same affect. I also recommend drinking plain water on top of this too, especially if you are exercising, but it is completely up to you. Here is what I bought:

I unfortunately bought a cranberry juice mix that included grape juice and apple juice, but it had no sugar added so I think it worked just fine. I am sure that regular 100% cranberry juice would work better, though, especially if it is organic. Be sure that there is no sugar added! I found my detox tea in Walmart in the tea aisle. The tea is called "EveryDay Detox" by Traditional Medicinals. It tastes great, kind of like licorice, and it definitely did the job. And, these tea bags are compostable, so you can throw it in the garden and give back to the earth what you took from it (a great added bonus, in my opinion).

So overall, I say YES to Jillian Michaels Detox Water recipe. It can't hurt anyone, and you can still eat whatever you like! I do suggest eating more fiber during this and it will only help you even more. Plus, with the way she looks, I might just follow anything she says.

Let me know if you tried it, and how your results turned out!

One More Thing: I have seen some things on Pinterest claiming that you will lose 5 pounds of fat by doing this cleanse. I highly doubt this. It is possible to lose 5 pounds of gunk from your intestines, but I do not endorse this for fat loss. In fact, I have not lost any weight from doing this cleanse, but I still look and feel great!

Health Tip #1: Replace Your Unhealthy Breakfast With A Big Green Salad

I can't think of anything unhealthier than the typical breakfast foods: cereals (loaded with carbs, sugar, and chemicals like acetone), sausage, bacon, and eggs (fat, calories, cholesterol), milk and orange juice (fat, sugar, unnecessary calories), pancakes (sugar, simple carbs, butter), and the list goes on and on. Did you know that the only reason we eat eggs, bacon, and milk for breakfast is because of a massive PR campaign done in the 1920s  that promoted the meat & dairy industry? This campaign was done by none other than the "grandfather" of PR, Edward Bernays.
http://www.americantable.org/2012/07/how-bacon-and-eggs-became-the-american-breakfast/

Here's the problem. When we wake up, our body is naturally in starvation mode from going without food while we were sleeping. What it needs is lean protein, leafy greens, other vegetables, and some fruit. It craves nutrients, especially in the morning when it is without these nutrients.

The last thing our bodies need is a load of fat, calories, sugar, and cholesterol in the morning. This causes your body to work overtime trying to rid all the cholesterol from your blood and trying to push all those unhealthy ingredients through your system.

I decided to rid of these so-called "nutritious breakfast foods" from my diet. Instead of the meat, dairy, and sugar, I have started to fill up on a big, green salad in the morning instead. Here is my early breakfast today:

Ingredients: 1 large green bell pepper, 1 1/3 cups kale, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, juice of 1/2 a lime, and a sprinkle of sea salt and cayenne pepper.

Some days, I will put other things into this salad, such as avocados, cucumbers, spinach tomatoes, or any other healthy vegetable or fruit. Today, I craved kale and green pepper.


I know what you're thinking. Salad for breakfast?! Yuck! But it isn't nearly as weird as you may think. It might seem hard to force it down initially, but after doing this for a month and a half, my body craves its healthy greens in the morning. I look forward to having my early morning salad far more than I ever looked forward to bacon, eggs, and biscuits!
With an early morning salad like this one, you already have gotten tons of your daily nutrients, and this salad will fill you up much better than any processed foods. With this salad, I just loaded up on Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Iron, and other necessary nutrients.

I challenge you to start replacing your usual breakfast with a big, filling salad 2-3 time a week to start. You will notice how much more energy you have and how much healthier you feel by at least the third week. I do realize that it is also a good idea to have healthy proteins in your breakfast. Forget the bacon and sausage (for these are not healthy), and try cooking some quinoa and beans to eat after your salad. You can even grill some organic chicken and throw it into the salad as well if you are a meat eater. However, know that chicken has just as much cholesterol as a steak, so try to avoid it so early in the morning as possible.

Also, be sure to add a huge glass of water to the mix, or two, especially if you drink coffee (I know I need my morning coffee). Your body is quite dehydrated from going without fluids all night, so drink up!

My Hippie Life

I created this blog in hopes of sharing my wisdom on living a more natural, spiritually-inclined, and healthy life. I believe that we are the change that we wish to see in the world. I believe that we shouldn't follow the government, the FDA, or any other society blindly - research anything you've been told because you might be surprised what you find. That may be a lot to ask, but that is why I created this blog. I created it to help you reach your physical and spiritual goals (both are infinitely intertwined). If you are looking for a better body, a healthier mind, and an alternative way of life, this is your place to be.