iheartwellness.com

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

I heart Friday’s so freaking much!

Last night my sister and I headed on one of our crazy little adventures and went spray tanning! We choose to go to a salon with a natural product and they airbrush you by hand. We figured the colour would go on a bit more evenly if we had a human spray us instead of a machine

Have you ever had this done??

We left there looking pretty bronzed. In the morning I got a text message from Michelle asking if I looked any darker than my natural pasty self and I checked myself out in a mirror and well….no….I didn’t look that much darker than I did going into this place.

I figured I would find some random patches of orange somewhere hidden on this body and there was nothing!

We called the salon and she told us the lady who sprayed us gave us the “light” version as we were pale. UGH! I payed $33 smackers for this tan, I want to look tanned! So they were super nice enough to have us come in this afternoon to get a darker tan applied for free We just got back and WOW do I looked Dark!

I do NOT look as dark as Ross did on that Friends episode he gets a tan….thank goodness!

I love that show!

I look like I just got back from Hawaii for a week and I didn’t even see the sun for this. I am staying clear from tanning beds as I do not want any premature wrinkles

Today was supposed to be my Day #3 - cardio day of my Fitnessista.com Bikini Body Workout and I think I have to pass today since I can’t sweat or my tan will run

I will jump back on that fitness wagon tomorrow morning. My goal is to look like this when I am done:

She looks pretty tanned. I wonder if it is spray??

I made a fab batch of yummy bars yesterday that I found on the lovely LoveVeggiesAndYoga.com site! You have to check these bars out! AMAZING!!

I love making treats that require no baking, it is so easy! I have had 2 of these today, and yes, I have put them on my food list for today

Have you ever spray tanned??

XXOO
Kris

Happy Saturday All!

I am DONE my shopping!! I just finished with a little somethin’, somethin’ for my sis today and now I can calmly say…..my shopping is officially done. Man does this feel good!

Today’s blog topic is all about how we speak and feel about our beautiful selves

I just read on The Raw Divas (wonderful site!) - 3 Power Exercises to Reset a Positive New Body Image

One of the points they mentioned was Stand before a mirror and view your body for a full ten minutes. They went onto give instructions saying - Reject all negative thoughts and feelings as part of the old self that only contributes to wrong choices, addictions, and disease. Embrace the new self with unconditional love and acceptance for yourself as you are right now.

I resonate so well this this article written on The Raw Divas site because I do this daily. I speak to myself in the mirror positve, affirming words and do this everytime I am washing my hands, washing my face, I do it in the shower, everywhere! Every mirror I pass I say something wonderful about ME! Do you know how good this feels? In the beginning I did feel I was being conceded or whatnot, but truthfully we are all beauties inside and out, so why now voice it

Some other tips on speaking love for yourself is remember not to beat yourself up with any straggling negative thought that pops into your head, just say “thank you” and move onto a benefiting thought. Some days (trust me we all have them) it will be more of a challenge to let the negative ones rest, but then just remember you can focus and incorporate this back in the following day

For myself I have a little “game” I play when I am out with other people or even home working in my office chatting with all of you - I say to myself over and over “I am the most attractive woman in this room” or “I am a strong leader” and I can feel my back straighten up, my head is higher and I don’t even know I am reacting this way until I asses how I am feeling. “Hmmm I feel pretty good right now…..I am a strong and beautiful”

When you continue to do this you will feel how strong this is in your belly - you will feel great!!

Try this for a few days in the mirror in your bathroom No one has to know!

I would love to hear feed back on other “tricks” you do to allow you to get out of a ”Funk” or feel Power within you.

Well dolls, I am off to the Festival of Lights!! Enjoy your evening!

I thought this post needed a pic - so here is one of Ryan and I enjoying the backyard in Palm Springs! Ahhh my time there can’t come soon enough

XXOO
Kris

Happy Monday Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend doing your weekend thang and are enjoying this Monday just as much! I once heard – “You know you are on the right path in life when your Monday feels like a Saturday” Very true isn’t it?! This weekend was very enjoyable for me, we almost finished our Christmas shopping, the gifts are wrapped and I got some baking done. Staying in and baking is one of my all time favorite Christmas activities and I was lucky enough to have some time to do that yesterday afternoon. I baked a bunch more Mint Chocolate Cookies and froze them for the week ahead.

The beautiful thing with my cookies and baking is they are all healthy so eating a cookie or two a day isn’t going to hurt you. I love healthy bakin’ In case you missed it here is the recipe for these wonderful minty treats.

Last night was a very proactive night for me and we actually whipped up dinner for tonight and Tuesday already. Don’t you love when you are able to do this? Now I can go home and just pop it in the oven! We made some delicious Veggie Stew, with Mung Beans.

Look at how wonderful this stew looked as we were assembling it.

Veggie Winter Stew:

1 small Red Cabbage
3 medium Sweet Potatoes
4 Beets
1 bag Frozen Organic Green Beans
Carrots
Onion
2 cups Mung Beans
2 Vegan Bouillon’s
Dashes of Mrs. Dash
Salt and Pepper
6 cups water

Throw everything in a pot and simmer until Mung Beans are done cooking - roughly 30 - 45 minutes.
You can add as many veggies and spices as you would like! Canned tomatoes are also a good option in here if you like them

I ended up with enough for 2 dinners, and a few lunches – Perfect!

HEALTH NEWS:

For the last 2 weeks I have been taking daily detox drops in my morning water. These drops are to help with eliminating bad bacteria (Candida) and keeping the Good Bacteria in tact in your GI tract and make your insides healthy and glowing! Since taking these drops I can feel my urge for sweets, especially fruit calm right down which is great. Previous to these drops I could have eaten fruit all day long because I was craving the sugar so much. Now I only have one apple in my morning green smoothie. I recently read that women should only be eating 1 piece of fruit in the winter time and I honestly feel better since doing so. I knew I had a bit of parasites in my GI tract from when I went for that detox scan in the very beginning of my detox machine appointments and now it is all gone! I feel clearer and I am noticing a difference in my appetite. I find I crave way more veggies, and I can eat less throughout the day of good wholesome foods and I am completely satisfied. No more parasites craving my food.

Anyways I would like to thank my little morning detox drops for repairing my tummy

BEAUTY:

I learned that switching up your Shampoo every other wash is great to do for your hair. I do follow this and I rotate between 3 organic shampoos. By switching them up your hair always has volume, shine and looks healthier. The reason is your hair never gets used to a shampoo so you get continuous shine and beautiful hair!

I rotate between (no judging) Dessert Essence Organic Italian Grape Shampoo, Live Clean Volumizing Shampoo and Hudson’s Buddy Wash Shampoo. Ok this is where no judging is allowed – My dogs shampoo is all natural and no harsh ingredients. It has coconut oil in it! So I googled it and sooo many people use this on their hair as well, so I am not the only one.

When I first used it Ryan came into the washroom and said “you gave the dog a bath?” I said “no, why?” “It smells like his shampoo….” Well that would be me! It actually smells really good

Hudson Hates bath time so it is always a struggle to get him in there to lather him up!

Do you rotate your Shampoo?? What shampoo do you find works well for you?

Enjoy your day all! I hope the weather is as sunny where you are as it is where I am!

XXOO
Kris

Howdy,

Happy Tuesday morn to you all! I am up and ready to start my beautiful sunny day - that’s right, you heard me - It is sunny in Vancouver. Thank you mother nature, we all really needed some Vit D around here.

I loved all the great comments on Coconut oil as a moisturizer! It works surprisinly really well when and your body is thanking you for the outside nourishment

I received a few emails on the brand of Coconut Oil I use - Currently I am using the Orphee Activa Organic Coconut Oil. It is nice and coco nutty and it is very reasonably priced for Cold Pressed, Virgin Coconut Oil. I actually paid $9.99 on sale!

This morning I am quite well rested and I believe I am so well rested and “perky” because last night I had the house to myself….Ryan was out a meeting for work and I was baking, blog reading and rockin’ to Christmas music with Hudson. It was such a chill night. Ryan asked if I wanted to go with him to his seminar, and you know when you honestly just want to stay home…and not worry about a thing? That was my intuition telling me ”stay home and relax” so I decided to let him go on his little lonesome.

I was cleaning the kitchen when I had a thought to make some Chocolate Almond Butter Cups. I decided to use dates and raw almond butter as the filling and coconut oil, cocoa, and agave as the chocolate (as seen in previous post, this is my weakness). Off I went to concoct these cups and I think these little gems turned out wickedly! I need to learn how to channel in recipes better, sometime I get some real great ones and this one is pretty darn good.

Kris’ Sweet Almond Butter Cups

makes 4 - 5 cups

Chocolate:
3 tbs Cocoa (might need more depending on how dark you want the chocolate)
2 tbs Coconut Oil
1 1/2 tsp Agave Nectar (or more depending on sweet tooth level)

Filling:
2/3 cup of dates (soaked)
3 tbsp Raw Almond Butter

Mix the chocolate mixture together, and pour a little bit in 4 or 5 muffin liners

Place in the Freezer to firm

Meanwhile - mash dates and Almond butter together in a separate bowl

Remove the muffin liners from the freezer and place even amounts of filling in each one.
*Make sure to press the filling down

Add more chocolate sauce to the top of the filling and place back in the Fridge or Freezer.

Let set for about 15 - 20 minutes and enjoy!

I must also mention I have a Life Coachappointment today and I am sooo looking forward to it. It has been 2 weeks since I last saw her, and I have so much to tell her!! I am noticing such a wonderful difference and confidence in myself since working with her……ahhh I am my new BFF and I am a pretty darn good friend to myself My list of items and areas to work on to go over with her today already printed and ready to go. Until then I must run and get Carrots and Celery as we are flat out…..again.

What has been your best concoction in the Kitchen?? Was it a baked good?

WOOO HOOOO! Thank you for the recipe Submissions! Keep them rollin’ in. Interested in a change in winning a Starbucks Gift Pack and Holiday Gifts valued at $40? Enter Here and email the dessert recipe to iheartwellness@gmail.com

XXOO
Kris

Hello!!!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day! Today was my 2nd to last detox appointment which means Friday night I am a free gal! Hmmmm what will I do / make first? I am really looking forward to making pumpkin muffins and something with chocolate chips! I think my raw cocoa in the cupboard might have forgotten who I am - 1 month is a mighty long time to be away from cocoa!

Today I would like to chit chat skin care products! I have tried every skin car product under the sun and finally I have found a line that I adore and that adores me!! Thank you Juice Beauty gods! I heart you all!

Friends, have any of you tried or use the Juice Beauty line?

I am tickled pink that these products are A) organic, B) I am not allergic to them and C) they are so juicy and natural J I am also so happy that I can go to my local sephora and get points on my sephora card…..I love free products and the last time I reached my 100 points I received a delicious papaya smelling body butter….mmmmm

Anywhoo I have been using the Cleanser, the apple peel (which is FAB!) the oil fee moisturizer and the Organic facial Moisture Concentrate (in the evenings)…….”I think I am in love now….” Now I got my eyes open and I am looking for the perfect eye cream that is natural and fabulous. Any ideas or recommendations??? I should go speak to my team at Sephora and see what they say about the Juice Beauty eye cream.

I have figured out in these last few years how important it is to feed the skin, and not just through our food we eat, but also what you slather on our bods! Our skin absorbs it all! That’s harsh when you think about it - I am a self tanner in the summer Can you get Natural Self Tanner?!?

Make up and beauty is a hot topic for me - Fill me in on your skin care! Ahhh chatting beauty products J

Good Evening!!

How is everyone doing this Monday? Today just flew by so fast for me and I am finally able to sit down now to do my post and it is almost my bed time!

I had my 6th detox appointment today! That means only 2 weeks left on this strict diet and I can then go back to eating spices, nuts and cocoa……..mmmmm cocoa……cocoa with nuts….AHHHH I miss it. Honestly I feel really good knowing I am eating clean and “mending” my insides everyday. With this diet we are at a grocery store every second day picking up fresh fruit and veggies (organic of course!). We just got back from the Super Store and picked up a whack of organics.

This doesn’t even include what is in our fridge! But its too messy to show right now……so ashamed….

See all of those beautiful bananas? They will be gone in 2-3 days as Ryan thinks they are the easiest thing to eat throughout the day. They go in smoothies, for walks with the dog, car rides - those bananas will travel! At least he isn’t eating snickers bars, so I can’t complain

I also picked up the most AMAZING smelling organic, vegan shampoo by Desert Essence. This purple bottle of sweetness smells just like grape crush and who did not love grape crush when they were kids? Grape crush was a major ingredient when creating swamp water! Anyone want to admit they mixed and drank a variety of flavors of pop and called it swamp water? Sugar high!

Using shampoo that doesn’t have all the chemicals in it is so much better for your hair and your scalp. Since using a chemical free shampoo I find my color will last longer and my hair is less brittle. Another wonderful thing about Desert Essence is that all of their Organic products are Wheat and Gluten Free. The products are made on a line that is kept Gluten Free! I have a wheat intolerance so I really love seeing options out there for people who have to watch out for these things.

I have not used this fruity shampoo yet, but I will give you the verdict once I have.

Has anyone else used this Desert Essence Organics Shampoo before?? Or another natural shampoo?

Kris