UTSPÄDD Popsicle molds ROCK!

Image source IKEA

OK as an early childhood educator for over 25 years I can honestly say I have tried all sorts of homemade Popsicle options over the years with my crew but the UTSPÄDD from IKEA Catalogue is by far my favorite now! 

Image source IKEA

Silk Almond Milk Popsicle's!

Easy to fill - once filled with liquid the cap does not LEAK so you can easily toss in the freezer without worry AND I love that while eating because it is a 'tube' vs 'stick' mold it does not drip all over as it melts so unless your toddler decides to purposefully tip it over and watch his melted portion spill - its virtually mess free! 

Plus homemade allows you to control ingredients - they were just the Silk Almond Milk - Dark Chocolate poured into the molds and frozen and oh so creamy and tasty! 

Get them at your local IKEA! 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
 Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life

Beat the Heat with this Hygiene tip!

Wee bit of a TMI blog post but it happens to all of us so finding the courage to share! 

Not sure about where you live but it has been a HOT one here these past few weeks. So hot and dry where have water bans and backyard fire pit bans do to the dry conditions! 

As a result I have spent a lot of time in my bathing suit at local splash pads keeping cool with the kiddies and well that combination of extreme heat and sweat and wearing bathing suit material all day has resulted in me not feeling so 'fresh'!

So just wanted to share a little 'DIY Spray' that I have been enjoying to help combat the summer phenomena! 


DIY Feminine Hygiene Spray!

What You Need

• 8 oz amber glass or stainless steel bottle ideally with a 'spritz' style top.
• 4 oz witch hazel
• 4 oz distilled water
• 2 drops Rose Oil (or Geranium if cannot source Rose)
• 2 drops Lavender oil
• 2 drops Melaluca / Tea Tree Oil

What You Do

• Add all ingredients in to the bottle and shake well to mix.
• Spritz bikini area after bathing or as needed to refresh and reduce unwanted odors. If you cannot source a spray bottle using cotton balls to apply mixture to your bikini area to help freshen works well too!
• Shake well before each use to ensure well mixed.
• Helps control unwanted orders and reduce ingrown hair.

Now you can enjoy the heat AND feel fresh as a flower!

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life

Never too old to play in the MUD!

Aloette’s Muddy Up Detoxifying Masque isn’t just fun to wear.  This exfoliating formula, featuring soothing cucumber extract and pore purifying Calcium Bentonite, deep cleans to reveal brighter, tighter looking skin in just one application!

You apply Muddy Up to clean skin and allow to dry until cracks appear.  Rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow with desired serums and moisturizer in your normal skincare regime! 

This is my favorite Saturday night self care ... yes I am a lame home body who looks forward to spending Saturday night at home in my PJ's pampering myself! 

Bentonite Clay is an AWESOME  - I love what they have to say about it over at Naturally Living Ideas

Clay unclogs the skin pores and shrinks them

Whether you have oily skin or not, your pores will undoubtedly become clogged at some point. Shrinking the size of your pores can help tremendously with keeping your face clean and blemishes as bay. Apply to your face and neck and leave it on for about thirty minutes to help with this challenge. You will feel your face tighten slightly as the mask dries. Rinse with warm tap water and pat dry with a clean towel. Repeat this twice a week to reduce the size of your pores and leave your skin feeling vital and fresh.

Clay helps control the overproduction of sebum

Too much oil on the skin, abnormal shedding of dead skin cells and excess bacteria generally results in acne. You may also be prone to outbreaks if you take certain medication, produce too much sebum (a natural oil) or have a family history of acne. Blackheads or whiteheads are produced due to an excess of sebum, which cause blocks within the hair follicles on the skin. Oily skin with too much sebum encourages the production of bacteria which irritates the skin. This can result in acne. To keep your skin soft, supple and blemish-free, use a dab of Muddy directly on blemishes. Leave on overnight and repeat until blemish is gone.

Clay draws out the toxins from the skin

Bentonite clay has a very strong negative electrical charge. Since many toxins have a positive charge, the clay bonds to them. When it comes in contact with a toxin, heavy metal, chemical, or other impurity, the clay will gobble up the toxin and release its minerals for the body to use. In addition, Bentonite clay also pulls hydrogen from cells, allowing room for oxygen. This helps with circulation, and overall skin tone and health.

Clay makes skin softer

Bentonite clay is loaded with silica, a trace mineral that strengthens connective tissue including muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone. In addition, it makes your skin super soft. Silica is the most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust and is the name for the chemical compound silicon dioxide. Glass, quartz, and sand are all comprised of oxygen and silicon.  Using bentonite clay on your skin means you reap all of its benefits as it is readily absorbed. If you want more of its benefits, eat foods high in this mineral including garbanzo beans, cucumbers, mangos, asparagus, leeks, green beans, strawberries, and celery.

Clay gives a definite glow to your face

Bentonite clay conditions and nourishes one’s skin by removing the dead cells and also extracting the extra oils and impurities from the surface of the skin. For a “glow” you should apply the clay mask regularly.Keep the mask for at least five minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. The aftermath of this is an instant glow on the face. Many use the mask just a few times a week or once a week and have great results.

Clay exfoliates

Exfoliating is a very important part of any skincare regime. It not only removes dead cells but also unclogs the dirt and oil in your pores that can cause breakouts. Although you can find many exfoliating products in the store, they often contain harsh ingredients. These ingredients include plastics, irritating fragrances, glycerin, parabens, phthalates and other questionable substances.

Clay helps reduce the appearance of scars

If you are one of the millions who suffer from acne, you not only have to deal with the acne itself but also the scars that remain from it.  The use of bentonite clay is one among the few effective home remedies to remove the scar tissues. As mentioned, this clay helps to remove toxins from your pores, allows skin to heal and reduces inflammation.

Bentonite clay helps in the lightening of acne marks on the face. Bentonite clay helps one to get rid of scar tissues and stretch marks easily and effectively. Acne scars often result in red color on the face. Clay can help heal the skin and reduce inflammation and redness.

Clay is safe for all skin types

Bentonite clay is very effective and beneficial for skin and safe, no matter how old you are. Bentonite clay is suitable for all types such as normal, oily or acne-prone skin. As mentioned, clay is packed with useful minerals and it will help detoxify while nourishing your skin.  

Caution: If you react to some metals or have an allergy to some substances in the clay, you may experience itchiness on the skin. It is rarely seen with topical use of bentonite clay on the skin unless you have super sensitive skin. Test the clay on less sensitive areas of your body before using on the face.

Clay can be used to regenerate skin tissue

Bentonite clay can be used to rebuild damaged skin tissue. Activated bentonite clay assists in healing and regenerating skin tissue. The clay also helps to rejuvenate skin naturally and reduce fine lines and wrinkles while fighting bacteria and infection.

Clay gives you an even skin tone

During one’s childhood, one has almost perfect skin with an even tone. But as the time passes, skin damages from common problems such as sun exposure, discoloration of the skin and acne breakouts with most of us ending up with uneven skin tone and skin discoloration on your face.

Although it is not possible to completely recover the baby like skin, by applying bentonite clay on the face you can attain a younger look and improve your skin texture and tone. Dead skin cells, developed over time on the skin surface, give your skin an uneven tone and aged look. By exfoliating your skin you can eliminate such dead skin cells so that newer, younger skin can grow through to give your skin complexion a revitalized appearance.

These are just some of the many ways that this gift from the earth can help you look and feel your best. It is amazing that something so simple as clay can do so much!


Have an amazing day

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much 
Be Totallyawake4-life

Grain Free Crescent Rolls

We are celebrating a little mans 3rd birthday today - and he requested 'goat cheese pop tarts' is what he calls them but in reality they are a version of grain free stuffed crescent rolls that we adapted to meet his dietary needs! 

 We love these because they are awesome warm out of the oven in the winter months but also just as tasty cold for picnic lunches! 

Grain Free Crescent Rolls

What You Need: Adapted from here

• 2 tablespoon flax seed 
• 1 packet Active Dry Yeast
• 1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 3/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• 4 Large Egg Whites 
• 1 Large Organic Egg Yolk
• 1 tablespoon Ghee or Dairy Free Butter Alternative 
• 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 teaspoon liquid stevia 
• 2 cups of Soy flour  - plus some extra for rolling
• 3/4 cup coconut palm sugar
• 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 generous cup of Coconut flour
• 1 tablespoon Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

What You Do:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the flax seed and yeast.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the almond milk, applesauce, egg whites and extracts. Dump the flax seed/yeast mix on top and quickly whisk together.
• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of soy flour, the coconut palm sugar , baking powder and salt. Dump the dry over the wet and fold together with a rubber spatula.
• Shape the sticky dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in a warm area for 1 hour + 20 minute.
• Measure out your coconut flour. Take about 2 tablespoons out and dust it over the slightly risen dough. Gently fold the mixture until it absorbs the coconut flour, then dust another 2 tablespoon over the dough and fold in again Continue to do this until all the coconut flour is mixed into the dough. Then knead the dough into a ball.
• Using a cutting board or other smooth flat work surface (this is an awesome option) dust with about 2 tablespoons of of soy flour, place the dough on top, then dust again with same amount of soy flour. Roll the dough into a rectangle, then use a pizza cutter to slice the rectangle into 12 tall triangles.
• Line a large cookie sheets parchment paper and set aside.
• Create the crescents by rolling the dough triangle, starting from the widest end and rolling to the triangle point. 
• Cover the cookie sheet with plastic wrap and place in a warm area for 1 hour 
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and almond milk.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the crescents with the egg wash and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. 
• Let crescents cool on the pan. Serve warm!

Bakers Addiitonal Notes:

For a savory version: Stuff with heaping teaspoon of Chevre goat cheese and a raspberry jam and roll up and apply the egg wash as normal.

For a Kids will Love you forever: Stuff with a couple slices of pepperoni and shredded cheese and roll up. Sprinkle some  pizza seasoning on top of the egg wash. Serve with a side of marinara sauce 

 

For the Chocolate Lover: Add 2 teaspoon of Enjoy Life chocolate chips to each crescent as you roll them up. Apple the Egg Wash and than sprinkle some chocolate topper onto them.

For an Apple Pie Version: Dice a Granny Smith apple and marinate in 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoons coconut sugar and 2 teaspoons Apple Pie spice. When the apples are soft, add a spoonful to each crescent as you roll them up. Apple the Egg Wash and sprinkle with a wee bit more Apple pie spice!

 Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Father's Day T-shit

Father's Day is coming soon - we love creating handmade treasures to show dad our love! Footprint T shirts are always a blast!

What You Need

• Plain Tshirt
• Fabric Paint
• Paint brush
• Fabric Marker
• Warm soap and water bucket

What You Do

• Paint child's feet and let them walk across the tshirt - wash feet with soap and water. *Tip put down either an old sheet or something to protect your surface from excited feet that might not stay ON the shirt!
• Repeat in multiple colors if desired
• Allow to air dry! 
• If child is not yet printing help them by adding a slogan such as "My child walks all over me" shown above or another we've done is "Following in Daddy's Footsteps"

Another idea to step it up a notch

• We took photos of child with dad and printed onto iron on paper and put on the front. You can even edit the photo to add 'words' as well before printing on to the photo paper. (sorry no photos but did not have permission to show the kiddies faces online)

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life




 

Bacon Wrapped Apple BBQ Chicken in the Crockpot!

 Bacon Wrapped Apple BBQ Chicken in the Crockpot!

 





What You Need

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup BBQ sauce,  either store bought or quick DIY version below pairs nicely!
• ¼ cup coconut palm sugar
• ⅛ cup lemon juice, fresh or from a bottle
• 5 small apples, peeled and chopped, I love the tartness of a Granny for cooking but Gala works well too.
• 8 slices bacon

What You Do

1. In a small bowl, combine BBQ sauce, coconut palm sugar, lemon juice and peeled/chopped apples.
2. Wrap each chicken breast with two slices of bacon and place in a greased slow cooker.
3. Pour BBQ-apple mixture over chicken and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is done.

Maple BBQ sauce
 
What You Need:

• 1 cup ketchup (homemade ketchup using Epicure Chai Ketchup blend)
•  3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil 
• 1.5 tablespoons molasses 
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1/2 tablespoon ground mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

What You Do: 1. In a medium saucepan mix together all ingredients. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer.
2. Simmer for 20minutes (uncovered), stirring occasionally.
3. Makes 1.5 cups of sauce. Pour and unused sauce into a glass jar and refrigerate for future use with a lovely BBQ hamburger option.

Serve with a side of your choice ... I opted for a lovely spinach and cabbage salad with a  Balsamic vinaigrette ... perfect dinner specially this past weekend with the wet weather we were having making using BBQ outside less palatable! 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life

Allergy Season Support

I use to suffer severely from seasonal allergies - I went years getting regular allergy shots trying to get them under control and had about two decades where they were 'mild symptoms' on occassion to the point I almost forgot how I use to suffer. 

However last couple years allergies decided to make a vicious come back ... just being outside in the yard had my eyes watering and me skin itching and I could not go anywhere NEAR my garden without breaking out in hives ... it caught me off guard and unprepared for what was available for supporting me and I suffered back with the trail and error of what would help but not THIS year! This year I got a jump start with the help of doTERRA and essential oil blends! 

Love the BREATHE line from doTERRA  ... the vapor stick, mints and oil blend rub helped get me through a nasty cold this past winter and its been a godsend this spring with the start of allergy season ... I have even been able to spend some time helping with the gardening with the help of the TriEase gels although admittedly kinda enjoying delegating that to my spouse cause while I love the look of a pretty garden I do not find weeding and tending the garden soothing relaxation at ALL would totally rather be on the deck sipping a lemon aid admiring his handiwork! 

 If you are a lover of the Breathe line or would like to try it JUNE is an awesome month ... you can earn several pieces from the line for FREE with a $200 PV US order! If you'd like more info about placing an order or how to get a wholesale discount so you can get even MORE of your favorite products at a savings please give me a shout!

Have an amazing day

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Sweet 'n Smoky Salmon

So it's been a while since I have had a chance to blog - life got really busy with other awesome opportunities in my Stampin' business that brought more custom orders and time in the craftroom and in the process I lost my balance of all the plates I have in the air for a bit but I am back at making my health and wellness a priority and with that comes making sharing my journey with others, as a form of accountability, a priority too! 

It is funny how easy it is to slip back into poor habits even when you know better they can just 'sneak back up' on you!

Going to share one of my favorite ways to enjoy Salmon here for you - I adapted the recipe a bit for my own preferences

Sweet 'n Smoky Salmon (adapted from here)

Serves: Makes 4 servings

What You Need:

• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Epicure Louisiana Hot and Spicy, divided 
• 2 tablespoons organic coconut palm sugar or honey, divided 
• 1 pound salmon fillets 
  
  

Orange Salsa 

• 2 cans (11 ounces each) mandarin oranges, in their own juice, drained and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon Epicure Louisiana Hot and Spicy

What You Do:

• For the Salmon, mix juice, oil and 1 tablespoon each Seasoning and sugar or honey in small bowl. Place salmon in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade; turn to coat well. Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer for extra flavor. Meanwhile, for the Salsa, mix all ingredients in medium bowl until well blended. Cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.* Mix remaining 1 tablespoon each Seasoning and sugar/honey in small bowl. Remove salmon from marinade. Discard any remaining marinade. Rub salmon evenly with seasoning mixture.
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with Orange Salsa 

 * Alternately if you would rather do on the BBQ for an additional smokey flavor. Soak a Cedar plank for a few hours and bake on the preheated BBQ for the same 10-15 minutes avoiding the 'direct flame'.

Pairs awesome with a light spinach, cranberry and almond salad or the boys had mini potatoes and a side salad. 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

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Relax and Rewind those tired feet!

If you feet look like THIS crocodile skin after a long winter you totally need to try our the new "ReWind Overnight Foot Treatment" from Aloette because your soles could use some love.

The ReWind Overnight Foot Treatment is a unique Farm to Jar treatment that hydrates the soles overnight for a better tomorrow. 

Using the power of Turkish Myrtle Oil, this treatment promotes cellular turnover to energize the soles, smooth out skin texture and reduce the appearance of calluses. When you Re/Wind the stresses of the day in your sleep, you can wake up the next day for a better tomorrow!

 

Suggested application is to massage into clean and dry feet until fully absorbed. Once dry, put on socks and let the treatment work its magic overnight.

For myself I love to use it as part of my Saturday night self care routine - I know when did I get so old that Saturday nights became more about self care and less about social butterfly night at the bars but it is what it is! 

I like to give myself a 'home pedicure' for my feet with my most loved Aloette products! 

I start with a Restorative Enzyme peel ... cause this amazing product is not just for your FACE it is for anywhere you want to do an extra exfoliation of dead skin to allow for newer younger looking and feeling skin to emerge and what area of your body accumulates more dead skin than your FEET! 

The Restorative Enzyme peel is a wonderful alternative to harsh chemical peels using a combination of natural fruit extracts—including grapefruit, cucumber, papaya and pineapple—and containing Aloeganic aloe vera, our non-invasive 60-Second Miracle Peel gently smoothes and exfoliates without the use of abrasive acids or chemicals and with zero downtime.

I find beginning my foot pampering with this product like when using it for your face, allows the power of the products used afterwards to penetrate deeper into your skin layers - so in this case the awesomeness of the Turkish Mrytle to give even better results than on its own  - and well patience has never been my strong suit!

After my Enzyme peel I love to soak them in some warm water with the Essential Cleansing Oil Cleanser with its nourishing sesame, avocado, olive and safflower oils is a perfect cleanser, add in some Relax bath salts with its subtle citrus-ginger aroma works to calm the mind for a more peaceful evening. as well as adding in a few drops of lavendar essential oil to help reduce the aches and pains from a long work week chasing after the littles! 

 

Once I have soaked them I use the Multi Action scrub a blend of natural almond meal and kaolin gently exfoliate any remaining 'dead skin' that was loosened during the soak portion and the honey, papaya extract and  aloe vera help to condition the skin! 

I than dry off my feet, clip any cuticles on the toes that might need attention and than a apply the Rewind Overnight treatment and because I cannot sleep with socks on I choose to seal that in with some of our awesome Body Butter Balm for added moisture an .... it really is an AMAZING pampering for the feet! 

Have an amazing day! 

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life

Lemon Dilly Tuna Wraps

They say that April showers bring May flowers apparently but for me April brings daydreams of picnics at the park and spending more and more time outside with the crew! I love spending time outside which means this time of year I typically want to spend less time in the kitchen making food!

The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer and I am craving 'lighter meals' so today I whipped myself up some lovely Lemon Dilly Tuna Wraps for lunch ... so quick and easy a meal fixing but still with such a pleasureful punch of crispness and flavor and oh so filling! 

 

 

 

 

What You Need

•  1 can of low sodium water packed tuna
• 1/2 cup of diced sweet onion
• 1/4 cup of celery
• 1/4 cup of sweet peppers (red/green/orange)
• 4 large leafs of romaine, rinsed and patted dry
• 1 tbsp. of mayo
• 1 tbps. of Epicure lemon dilly seasoning 
• Pepper to taste

 

What You Do

• Mix the tuna, veggies, mayo and seasonings in a bowl
• Scoop 1/4 into each of the romaine leaf and wrap up like a burrito
• Let marinade in the fridge for a couple hours if possible for the flavors to blend 

 

Have an amazing day!

 

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Preparing for the Spring Harvest?

Warmer weather is coming so it is once again that time of year when women in Canada prepare for the 'spring harvest'  after a winter of hiding our arms, legs and other bits in parkas its time to shed all the layers and harvest the forest of hair we've often let overgrown during that time! 

For myself, suffering from very sensitive skin and psoriasis on top, finding that perfect 'Spring Harvest and summer maintenance shaving ritual' has always been a challenge! 

As a teen I learned that part of the challenge with my type of psoriasis is that anywhere I injury my skin I will break out in a patch of psoriasis - so getting a nick while SHAVING has always been a nightmare for me and resulted in my shying away from 'shaving' at all!

However hair removal is a large part of our culture and I eventually have to yield to harvesting. As most other hair removal options require harsh chemicals that result in a reaction as well I found out the hard way they too were not options for me - tried waxing, tried sugaring, tried electrolysis, tried removal creams all with no success  :( 

So finally tried an Epilator  which gentle removes hair by the root and while it is gentle on the hardy skin of the LEGS there are a few areas of the body that require 'harvesting' this time of year that I so do not want to PULL the hair out by the ROOT so have to resort to shaving!

With my success at all the other Aloette products and my sensitive skin I am so excited to be able to try Aloette's new NICK'S Shaving Crème as part of my spring harvest regime this year!

All the reviews from testers have been coming back with no nicks here! People are loving the healing effect of the certified organic Aloe Vera and the amazing moisturizing benefits of coconut oil!

When you use Nick’s Shaving Crème for Men and Women you will enjoy a refreshing boost of hydration every time you shave. 

A Farm to Jar blend of coconut oil and aloe vera soothe and nourish skin, preventing redness and irritation. 

Reviewers have shared they have also noticed that they are no longer getting 'ingrown hairs' after shaving - which I am so excited to try for preparing for harvesting for BEACH LEVEL!

Nick’s Shaving Crème blend of beneficial ingredients is perfect for BOTH men and women so can help take up less room in your medicine cabinet! 

Just apply onto damp skin working up a lather, shave with your razor and rinse off with warm water.

 Follow with your regular skincare regime and away you go!

Have an amazing day!


Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life