Sparkles & Spinach

Alex & Von - Healthy, Good for You , & Green!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:12:00 +0000

I have been SUPER busy lately getting ready to take my very last exam through my Holistic Nutrition School, hence the lack of posts, but I couldn't resist posting my latest announcement... I am SO excited to tell you about this amazing company I came across a couple months ago!! Alex + Von is this awesome company that sells chemical free, healthy, and green products all in one place. They also give women (and men too) the opportunity to earn money by selling these products as well. But before you dismiss the company as one of the millions out there trying to break into the already saturated industry, let me tell you, the really cool thing is that the products they carry are already very well known! I've been a fan of 100% Pure and Suki for some time, and when I found out that I would be able to sell these products and recommend them to my Holistic Health Counseling Clients, I was blown away!!!

One thing that I am truly passionate about is recommending a healthy lifestyle to others. Not just what I eat, but what I put on my face and slather on my skin , and my family's skin as well. A few years ago I started developing an allergy to my makeup and skincare. These are things I had no idea weren't safe, but my skin obviously had other ideas and had had enough! So I started doing research and was horrified by what I came across. So many of the products lining the pretty shelves at your local Sephora, Drugstore, Target, etc are a plethora of chemical cocktails. How can this be? That is what is so hard for me to grasp, the epitome of one of the many things wrong with this country in my opinion, but don't even get me started... That's a whole other "can of worms". You have to be really really careful what you put on your skin. It's your biggest organ after all, and it's like a sponge. It took me quite some time to learn what to avoid and what products can be trusted. But the nice thing is that companies like Alex+Von make it so easy. You really can trust everything these ladies stand behind and you can certainly trust me! Holistic Living is my life and my career. I would never back something that I didn't believe in and wasn't passionate about. So that being said, I became a consultant at the perfect time! There are some super amazing deals going on through 100% Pure ...

- Buy 3 Body Products and Get 1 Free (must be same product)

- Orders over $75 get a free body scrub
- 20% off Cocoa Products (Ends Today, 2/1)
- 25% off Gift Sets (Ends Today, 2/1)
To view all the amazing products visit my 100% Pure Specials Page

All orders of $50 or more also receive free shipping! You'll want to act fast as these offers expire tonight!!

If you're interested in learning more about the products, selling them yourself/adding them to your business or how you can get discounts, feel free to contact me anytime! There are always amazing specials going on!!!

PS - if you would like to try some of the skincare out, but aren't sure what line/products would work for you, you can try some of them out with our Sample Goody Bag! Love the products so much you want to sell them? You'll get $10 off your sign-up kit fee!

XOXO

Holistic Nutrition Scholarship

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:40:00 +0000

I know I don't talk about it much, but enrolling at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition was one of the best decisions I ever made and has been one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. Being someone that is not only a major Nutrition junkie, but also someone that has struggled with various minor ailments over the years, it has been such a wealth of information for me. I am so excited to fulfill my dream of helping others doing something I am so passionate about! In fact, I actually graduate from the program this week and am elated that I can finally call myself a Certified Holistic Health Counselor!

So this week we found out about this awesome offer IIN was allowing all of us Ambassadors to extend. This is just such an amazing opportunity and it's not something IIN does often at all, so I wanted to be sure to let you know about it! Today through tomorrow, 2/3 at 5pm EST, I am allowed to give away a $1,000 scholarship to one lucky person that enrolls in the Holistic Health Counselor program! The catch? You must enroll between now and tomorrow and I only have one scholarship to give away! I highly doubt an offer like this will come around again, it certainly hasn't in the year that I've been in the program! So if becoming a Certified Health Coach/Counselor as a career piques your interest at all, you should definitely take advantage! I can't recommend the program enough!! And even better.... our classes are now offered on an ipad 2 format! So you will get one included in your tuition! The payment plans are extremely flexible, so even if you don't have tons of $$$ to shell out, it's achievable! Trust me, I did the lowest payment plan ;)

If you're interested in learning more about the program feel free to contact me and send me your questions anytime! Even after the offer expires!! I am always happy to share my IIN experience with you. If you would like to enroll and take my scholarship, give them a call at 877-730-5444 and mention my name (Christy Eckert) and the L.O.V.E. Scholarship to get $1,000 off of your total tuition costs. Act fast, this offer won't last!!!

XOXO

The Power of Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +0000

I saw this quote today and it really made me stop and think... I've found myself in a major funk lately and it's so easy to go down the road of over-analyzing, worrying, and what-if's... I truly believe that you attract what you put out into the universe, but it's so easy to get caught up in it isn't it? So I'm making a pledge to myself today to be more mindful of my thoughts. To stop beating myself up. To stop worrying about the future & my expectations of myself and to start thinking about today...

To start thinking about NOW...

XOXO

Winter Colds & Detoxing

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

So to be honest... I lasted just 1 day doing TAM. I don't even count it as officially starting. After that little scare I had that day, I had a hard time jumping right back in the next day. And then it was the next day. And so on. Add to that, that I've had these horrible non-stop sinus headaches after my surgery that just won't go away with the constant weather fluctuation here in NJ! During the last couple weeks, as I've been dealing with the usual stuff - colds, a sick little boy, and just life in general, I've had a lot of time to think. I'm done my Holistic Nutrition program in just a couple weeks, so I've been really throwing myself into my schoolwork and spending my time thinking about THE health plan, dreaming of business ideas.

Then it hit me.... I should know better. I've been going about this all wrong. After the summer I had and the surgery and getting sick so much the weeks post-surgery, my body just isn't the same. I can't just start doing TAM like I never stopped!!! So at this point I've decided I need to get my body healthy first. I need to Detox. And let me clarify... Detox means different things to different people. Detox for me means to eat clean - mostly homemade juices, veggies, fruits, unrefined sugars, nuts, grains, etc. I need to get rid of the fatigue, aches, pains, headaches and get myself feeling goof so I don't feel like I'm on my deathbed whenever I want to kick my own ass!

So that's where I've been. Battling the newest strain of colds to come through the house and experimenting with various recipes, seeing how my body feels and coming up with a plan to get the healthiest I've ever felt. I'm not going to make strict rules (I don't do well with boxing myself in), I'm not going to beat myself up over every little thing and right now, I'm going to be my own client. I've been coming up with some new, healthy recipes that I'm planning on sharing. I'm juicing when I can. And I'm trying to stop the cycle of addictive foods that I tend to indulge in sometimes. It is a vicious cycle!

And if you're curious what the juice is above? That's one of my fav's! Kale, Lemon, Pear, Celery & ginger. Mmmmmm. SO good!!! Trust me, try it and you'll love it!!! So I truly apologize for the MIA.... I'm really hoping I'll have some great tips to post & recipes you'll all love! Once I'm a Certified Holistic Health Coach I'll have a lot more blog time =)

XOXO

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Banana Smoothie Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:15:00 +0000

There aren't too many things I like more than Banana's! They are def in the top 3 of my favorite foods & I put them in everything!!! So today when I didn't feel like eating much for lunch, I decided to use one of the many we currently have to make a delicious smoothie. The nice thing about this recipe is that there really aren't any rules, you can add more or less of anything to your personal taste! A frozen banana would also work well here if you prefer a frothy cold smoothie ;)

Christy's Vanilla Banana Smoothie

Serves 1

~ 1 banana
~ 1 cup Almond Milk (could also sub vanilla flavor, soy milk (though I don't rec, or Rice Milk)
~ 1 Tsp Ground Flaxseeds
~ 1 Tsp Cinnamon (I LOVE it!!!)
~ Dash of Vanilla extract
~ 1-2 Tablespoons organic oats
~ 2 Tsp Justin's Maple Almond Butter, or PB
~ 8 drops NuNaturals Vanilla Liquid Stevia

Blend & enjoy!

I think a date and/or a shot of espresso or brewed cacao would also work well in here! Yum!!!

XOXO

New Year, New Me - TAM Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I am SO ready for the most amazing year yet!!! I have to say... 2011 wasn't my best year. I know that there are many people out there that have far worse things going on, but it was just one thing after another and I wasn't sad to see it go! I have lots planned for this year. Many goals, resolutions and a couple milestones. This is the first time in a long time I've truly been this excited!

So today I embarked on my Wellness journey, which started with jumping back into TAM. If you're new to my blog or don't know about my love for TAM (or gasp... don't know what it is or who that lovely lady in the pic is...) read on =) TAM stands for Tracy Anderson Method and that is THE one and only gorgeous, adorable, butt-kicker in the photo above. And let me just tell you if you don't know already... I love Tracy. I mean LOVE with a capital L. Not just because she's so motivating and fun to watch, but also because her workouts are the most effective I have ever come across. They aren't boring either. But they kick your ass! Not gonna lie.

So this will make the 3rd time I've done Tracy's 30 Day Method. So today was Day 1 and it was good and bad. Lets start with the good... It felt great to get back into a routine after such a rotten summer and it being so long since I've felt good enough to workout. I got through 20 of each muscle work move. I know, doesn't sound like a lot, but it really is for Day 1! So now onto the bad... Over the summer in prep for my surgery, I had to be allergy tested and started immunotherapy. It was found that I'm allergic to TONS of stuff, one of the worst being 10, oh yes... 10!!!, different kinds of mold. I started the allergy shots in the middle of one of the worst mold seasons NJ has ever seen and suffered a horrbile allergic asthma attack that almost put me in the ER. Luckily I live closer to my specialist office, got a counteractive shot, neb treatment and was ok. Anyway... I've always wheezed when I do cardio so I thought I may have some Exercise Induced Asthma, but it seems that the episode in the early Fall woke up a whole new arena of issues. Now I'm like hyper-sensitive to so many things, my nose is STILL healing from surgery and after weeks of being sick with Bronchitis, I guess my body is still struggling. Even after just 40min of exercise I had a small flare-up today. Luckily after using my Breathe Resp EO Blend I felt better within 8min (especially since my inhaler did nothing!).

So lesson learned. I'm a little down about it and hoping that it doesn't cause a long-term issue with working out as I do love my TAM and I need to get back in shape! Tomorrow I'll be trying out some strategies beforehand to get me by until I can get back in to see the Pulmonary Spec. Cross your fingers for me!!! So I'm thinking of blogging my way through the whole 30 days since so many of you lovelies were so interested in it last time. I'm not planning on doing a post every day, unless you all want me to. Let me know. I'm thinking maybe every 2-3 days? And if you're also a loyal TAM Addict, make sure to post your results, blog posts, etc in the comments. We all need to support each other!!! Here's to a Fantastic 2012!

XOXO

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:16:00 +0000

I know I probably won't have a chance to get on here again before the Holiday, so I just wanted to wish all of you a very very Happy & Healthy Holiday!!!

Thanks so much for following my blog! Lots of love!!!

Tis the Season...

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:40:00 +0000

I start out every Holiday season with the best intentions, and like always, run around until the very last minute. Thankfully there's Pinterest! I was pretty good at making a list of gifts out for my little boy this year, but I'm still struggling with Teacher's gifts, class gifts, a little something for my neighbors etc. I found some great last-minute ideas on Pinterest that could pretty easily be thrown together...

Holiday Treat Bags Via Pinterest

These adorable little treat bags would be great for gifting cookies, truffles, etc!

Bell Ornaments at CraftsRedesigned via Pinterest

I'm planning on making these cute little ornaments for the Kindergarten class... if I can find them! *fingers crossed*

Reindeer Food at Chic N' Scratch via Pinterest

Reindeer Food is also a great last-minute gift for a child's class!

Michael Buble Holiday Cd

Gifting your fav Holiday CD is also a great idea! Add a bottle of wine or champagne and your set! I love the new Michael Buble Christmas!!!

DIY Holiday Cd at Let The Games Begin via Pinterest

If you're really ambitious and you have the time and supplies, you could make your own Holiday CD with all of your favorite tunes to give out to neighbors & friends. This would make a lovely personalized gift =)

DIY Ornaments at A Yellow Bicycle via Pinterest

DIY Ornaments are also a fun, personal gift for the special people in your life! You can use acrylic paint {shown above} or you can do the glitter version here. Gift them individually or in a gorgeous set!

It looks like I'll be quite busy tieing up loose ends and throwing together some DIY gifties! Ps - I just had to share these adorable little toys I bought for my kitties yesterday...

Aren't they the cutest?!? I found them at Target. They are going to LOVE them!!!

XOXO

Healthy Holiday Guide & Raw Recipe Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:27:00 +0000

Hi Lovelies! So sorry for the lack of posts!! Getting ready for this holiday, battling colds on & off, taking care of a sick kiddo and working part-time, all while finishing my Holistic Nutrition cert has been kicking my behind!!! I've been meaning to post this guide that my awesome Holistic Nutrition school put together. It has some really great recipes in it that you could prepare for the holiday and beyond. It's a rather large file so this is my first time using BOX to post it, if it doesn't work, please let me know! I'm also happy to email it to you if need be ;)

I also received an email from Raw Chef Russell James yesterday about an amazing Raw Food gift that he's involved in! If you're not familiar with Russell, make sure to check out his website. I've taken a couple of his classes and they are some of the best I've come across. He also gives away recipes regularly through his newsletter. Anyway, he's one of the people that has participated in Karen Knowler's 12 Days of Raw Christmas Giveaway. It's free to sign up and starting today (if you miss a day or two, you can still access past gifts) there will be gifts given away each day. Think mini ebooks filled with delicious raw recipes and more! I'm pretty excited about it! I started experimenting with Raw Foods last year and I love them, especially the desserts ... YUM.

I hope you enjoy your free goodies! And if you make anything, please do come back and link here to tell us all about it!!

XOXO

Book Review : Before Ever After

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:06:00 +0000

I just finished this book a couple weeks ago and it's absolutely AMAZING! Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto is not just a love story.... It's pure magic. I don't even know how to explain it other than the fact that it took my breath away. Here is a snippet of the synopsis from the website:

A modern fairy tale about true love, happy endings, new beginnings, and everything in between. Available as a hardcover and eBook August 2011.

Three years after her husband Max’s death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max–same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose–he could be Max’s long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well.

As outrageous as Paolo’s claims seem–how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn’t he looked her up? – Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down–if it is really Max– and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max’s stories of bloody Parisian barricades,medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her “happily ever after.” And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.

Before Ever After has definitely topped my list of all-time favorite books! I borrowed it from the library and waited forever to read it, so I read it quickly. It's on my Holiday Wishlist so I can actually go back and take my time reading it now that I know what's going to happen. And something else funny that I have to add.... Do you ever have "characters" pop in your head when you're reading a book? Sometimes it happens for me, but not always. I actually find it truly annoying when some do and some don't, which was the case with this book. Only Max really had a clear picture and voice in my mind, and this was him...

Charles Mesure

For anyone that's read this gem, what do you think? He's on Desperate Housewives this season. I think that may be why he popped in my head. I think he seems pretty dead-on, with the exception that he's slightly older than Max.

XOXO

Dreaming of Sparkles

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:24:00 +0000

As you can probably tell by my blog name, I absolutely adore sparkles! So it's only natural with the quickly approaching Holiday Season, that they are not only on my mind, but quite a few sparkly items have made my holiday wish list! Here are a few of my current fav's...

Factory Scattered Sequin Tank

I was lucky enough to grab this beauty during an amazing JC Factory sale a couple weeks ago! Such a great price I wish I would have gotten the warm taupe too. So pretty under a blazer with trouser jeans!

Zara Sequin "wallet" that's more like a clutch ; )


DSW Alice Glitter Pump in Gold - Oh so lovely

Marcia Moran Gold Druzy Studs

I'm so in love with these earrings. I'm hoping they'll go on sale at some point!

JCrew Gold Glitter iphone 4 Case

This is WAY high on my holiday wish list & if I don't get it I'm going to ~~hurt someone~~ be VERY disappointed! It may just need to be an early gift!

Coming Soon.... more gift ideas & amazing finds! Enjoy your weekend!!!

XOXO

Raw Apple Pie & A Free Nutrition Book!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:50:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but I love apples! Especially in comforting fall & winter desserts that make you feel so nostalgic for the holidays. Yesterday I recieved an email from Whole Foods highlighting some amazing recipes for Thanksgiving. After I was done checking them out, I was perusing the site and came across a recipe for a Raw version of an Apple Pie. Being that I'm watching my Gluten intake as well as really curbing my Dairy over the last year, this sounded awesome! I'm planning on making it this weekend.

A FRESH TAKE ON APPLE PIE

courtesy of Whole Foods

Serves 12

This fall dessert focuses on the flavors of fresh apples rather than baked. Make this pie a few hours before you're planning to serve it as the filling needs some time to soften.
Ingredients

Crust
8 ounces pitted dates
2 cups sliced almonds
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Filling
1 whole orange, peeled and sectioned
1/4 cup raisins
2 teaspoons finely chopped peeled ginger root
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 large Fuji apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/4 cup toasted unsweetened shredded coconut(optional)
Method

For the crust, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Place boiling water and dates in a small bowl and let soak for 10 minutes. Drain and reserve soaking liquid. Place dates, almonds, walnuts, cinnamon and salt in the bowl of a food processor; blend to form a sticky paste. (There will be larger pieces of nuts.) If needed, thin with a couple of tablespoons or more of reserved soaking liquid to help the blending process. Spoon the mixture into 9-inch pie plate; press over the bottom and up the sides to form the crust. Set aside.

For the filling, place orange, raisins, ginger, cinnamon and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds to finely chop the fruit and make some juice. Place sliced apples in a medium bowl and add orange-raisin mixture. Toss to coat completely. Transfer apple-mixture to prepared crust. Let pie rest for at least 2 hours to help soften the apples. Sprinkle with coconut before serving.

Check out the nutritional info or print/share the recipe here

I also have some other great news! My Holistic Nutrition school is giving away a free Nutrition Book while supplies last (no strings attached!). Pretty awesome right?! Go to my Healthy Bliss Health Coaching website to get yours!

Ps - I also just had to mention that they are also changing over the format of classes starting January 2012 to the ipad! So all new students that enroll over the next couple weeks will get an ipad2!!! Even more amazing... this will also give all Certified Holistic Health Coaches the option to run a paperless Health Coaching practice. I'm super excited! The program couldn't get much better in my opinion, but it did! Contact me for more info if you're interested ;)

Favorite {Healthy} Beauty Products

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:04:00 +0000

I've been thinking a lot about the beauty & personal care products that people use so I thought it was time to do my own personal spin of "What's in your medicine cabinet". I'm a huge believer in using natural products for everything down to my toothpaste! Why? Because your skin is your body's largest organ and it's like a sponge. It literally absorbs anything you put on it, including all the chemicals that might be hiding in your everyday favorites!

I'll step off my soapbox for now and save all that for another post! Here are some of my must-haves that are healthy to boot ;)

Weleda Citrus Deodorant

This smells SO good! I sometimes need to mix it with another Aluminum-free deodorant, but it works great! They also have it in a pretty rose scent too. And you can it it at Target or your local Grocery stores health food section


Shea Terra Mint Marrakesh Black Soap

I cannot live without this stuff! I've been using it for over a year and it's awesome! I use it as a face wash and on my back & upper arms. Sometimes it can be a teeny bit drying at first, but it still works great and so refreshing!

Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus

This stuff is inexpensive, works great and smells AMAZING!!! Smells just like Ambrosia (that fruit salad with coconut milk, mandarin oranges & marshmallows) OMG ... And even better? They sell it at Target!!!

Pacifica Anything!

I adore Pacifica! The body butter is lovely & I own several of the solid perfumes, which I can't get enough of. One of my fav's that just happens to be on sale in a gift set right now is Mediterranean Fig (shown above). It's earthy, fruity & just plain sexy. But not for everyone I'm sure.... which is ok because there are so many great scents to choose from!

I plan on reviewing and introducing additional products every week! What are some of your favorite good-for-you products? I would love to try some new ones!

XOXO

DISCLAIMER: I did not receive any compensation or free products for my reviews above. These are my own personal reviews.

Latest Anthro Loves

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:55:00 +0000

Like SO many other bloggers I am a major Anthro lover, have been for years! I know the clothes are overpriced, but there's just something about the designs, fabrics, colors etc. They just... get it right. I'm a sucker for drapey blouses and collars and I love the basic tee but it needs to have that little extra something that Anthro so willingly dishes out! Quite a few things have been added to my ongoing Anthro lust list. I went to the store last night to see if I could try any on, but I was kind of disappointed to see that a lot of the new pieces aren't available in my local store yet. I would have loved to try the coat most of all as I've read mixed reviews about it. So without further ado....

Tartan Boucle Blazer

I have seen this blazer in person and it's stunning! I would love to snag this if it goes on sale at some point!

Superfine Cowlneck

This is another that was in-store. Very pretty!

Runway Lapel Coat in Navy

It was lust at first sight when I saw this coat online a couple weeks ago. Alas, after two trips to Anthro, it's still not available in my closest store. Some people love it, others not so much. I may just need to order it to try it out!

Shawl-Collar Boatneck

This reminds me of a fancy sweatshirt, which I love! Sadly I could not try it on. Love the Turquoise as well! What made your Anthro lust list? Have you tried any of my favorites? I would love to hear your throughts!

XOXO

Happy Weekend!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:16:00 +0000

COMING SOON....

~ New Name
~ New Design
~ A bunch of new content plus the same fun fashion/style stuff =)

Have a great weekend!!!

XOXO

Fall is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:36:00 +0000

Ok.... I know Fall hasn't "technically" started, but to me it starts the 1st day of school! lol. I have been dreaming of this day all summer and even though it's raining, it's still cool and starting to feel a little like Fall. Today was my Son's 1st day of Second grade! I can't believe how big he is getting and what a little man he has become. Time goes by so fast!!! We had a very low-key holiday weekend. Shopping, wrapping up some loose ends for back to school, my husbands fantasy football draft, dinner with neighbors and just spending time together as a family. It was a really nice end to summer break! I also cooked up some amazing pumpkin bread last night to send in my little guys lunch today. It also makes for a great breakfast!

Easy Pumpkin Bread

Adapted from Bethenny's Boo Boo Banana Bread Recipe

*recipe is doubled to make a large amount

~ 2 cups flour (I use oat flour, whole oats run through the food processor)

~ 2 eggs

~ 1 can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling!)

~ 1 cup raw sugar

~ 1 1/2 TB butter (I used Earth balance)

~ 1 TB Vanilla Extract

~ 1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

~ 1 Tsp Baking Soda

~ 1/2 Tsp Salt

~ 1-2 TB Cinnamon (more or less depending on what you like, I like a lot!!!)

~ A couple dashes of Pumpkin Pie Spice if you have it

~ Raisins and/or nuts are optional

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. I like to put all the dry ingredients in 1 bowl and whisk them. Wet in another, whisked as well. Then combine. I use Unrefined Coconut Oil to grease my pan. I don't need parchment this way, but you can cut a piece or parchment to fit your 8x8 pan or larger loaf pan.

2. Pour batter into the pan of your choice with parchment (I recommend if you don't use coconut oil). Cover your pan loosely with foil or a glass lid if using corningware etc.

3. Bake for 30 minutes covered. Remove cover and bake for an additional 20-30min or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out almost clean. Cool completely, slice and serve.

*If you don't want to use eggs, you can also substitute 1/3-1/2C apple sauce 1/3-1/2C yogurt. Your cooking time may vary depending on the texture of the batter, pan used and your oven.

Enjoy!!!!

Anthro Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:55:00 +0000

Happy Weekend everyone! I hope you all are enjoying your Sunday!! This weekend has been pretty low-key for me. I recently accepted a position at my Son's elementary school, so we took a trip out to Anthropologie and JCrew yesterday. I didn't really fall in love with anything, but I did get a couple things from Anthropologie and have my eye on a couple other things...

Gathering Tank

I totally fell in love with the color of this Tee! I'm a sucker for green and I love "the business" it has on the shoulder. It just gives a plain tee something special =)

Silver Pave Posts

I own these posts in gold and they are a must-have! They are a touch more blingy than traditional diamond studs, but not over the top. I get tons of compliments on them all the time, so I had to snap up the silver!!

Deciduous Pullover

I didn't really see much else that I fell in love with, but I did see this interesting shirt. I didn't feel like trying it on, but I loved the color, the drape in the back and the little bow. I also saw these gorgeous post earrings as well. The photo does not do them justice. I made sure to show the hubby so he could add them to my bday list!!

Creme Brulee Posts

Are you an Anthro fan? What are some of your favorites?

I can finally see some light...

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 20:15:00 +0000

I'm not sure if I've ever really gone into it before, but for the last few years I have had MAJOR issues regarding TMJ, Sinuses, etc. As a teen I got sinus infections quite a bit and was never really told that there was any urgency to fix anything. I suffered through many years of seasonal allergies, struggled through taking antibiotics (becoming allergic to some) and just kept dealing with the pain. 3 years ago a subtle grinding habit turned into full blown TMJ and between the two it has been a nightmare! Just the end of this June a lot of my symptoms got so much worse. My left eye started bothering me, I was getting dizzy spells and sometimes even vertigo, light sensitivity and the pain.... that's a whole other thing. We were without insurance for a while and finally got it back July 1st so I went right to the Doc. I found a fantastic ENT and he said I have a major mess to clean up. Because my sinus issues went on for so long, my septum became severely deviated, and I have a lot of issues that need to be handled asap. I'll be scheduling surgery sometime for the next month or so. I never thought I would be so happy to be told "You NEED surgery and it's not elective" This has been such a major thing I have been struggling with and honestly, I was starting to really lose hope. I just said to my husband the other night "I don't remember the last time I even felt like a normal person. Maybe I just need to accept the fact that I might be in pain for the rest of my life."

Unfortunately no one really understands all of the issues that those with TMJ struggle with. We might look ok on the outside, but on the inside we feel like we got punched in our face repeatedly most days. I know there are worse things in life to deal with, and I'm so thankful that I don't have a horrible illness or disease, but some days it's still really hard. I'm really hoping that maybe this surgery might take some of the edge off of my TMJ since the Doc believes it might have caused it. Even if it doesn't, it's still half my battle won! I can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel!!!

So that is where I have been most of my summer and leading into the summer. I'm really hoping to start back up with blogging regularly now that my little hiatus seems to finally be over! What did you all do this summer? I hope everyone has been enjoying it!!!

School & More School!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:27:00 +0000

I cannot believe how much time has flown by since my last post! I have had so much going on and keep meaning to get on a posting schedule, but it just keeps falling to the bottom of my ever-growing list of "things to do". I do have tons of news!!! I am currently in a Holistic Health/Nutrition program through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition! I started this past March and I will officially graduate early next year. I can't say enough about the program! I've been learning so much and am so excited to finally take my passion for all things nutrition/fitness to the next level. It's so funny how things come full circle. Years ago I almost got a degree in Sports Med/Nutrition. At the time it just wasn't right for me and a lot of my beliefs just fell into the Holistic realm of things, so I opted out. And becoming a Holistic Health Coach/Counselor will just be the beginning for me! I'm actually in the process of starting a new blog that I will be posting all of the fantastic info that I come across as well as tips, fitness stuff, Tracy Stuff etc! I'm so excited to finally do what I love. I will still be updating on this blog as well. Thanks for sticking with me! I hope that you'll visit my new blog too =)

"Pretty Delicious" Gyoza Recipe & Review

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:59:00 +0000

A couple months ago I had been reading through my Healthy Bi$#@ newsletter when I stumbled upon a delicious looking recipe for Potato & Herb Gnocchi. It looked amazing and I was immediately intrigued after reading about the recipe creator, Candice Kumai. Candice was one of the Chef's that competed on the first season of Bravo's Top Chef. She has an amazing blog called Stiletto Chef, which I promptly visited and poured over for a good 20 minutes. I love Candice's style of writing - she is witty, funny, and absolutely charming and most importantly .... She makes cooking healthy food fun! Shortly after I commented on Candice's blog I heard back from her and let me tell you... She is the nicest person! She was awaiting the release of her new cookbook Pretty Delicious, and after reading about it, so was I!! I pre-ordered the book off of Amazon and got it shortly after it's release. Candice's book was everything I had hoped it would be and more!!!

Let's start with the photography. Gorgeous! Seriously, this little darling is so pretty she's coffee table-worthy. All the photo's of the food are so fresh and exciting, it makes you want to try everything! I sat and read through the whole book immediately (yes, I really do read cookbooks) and was really impressed. For those of you that might not know, I am pretty much a health nut. Nutrition has been kind of a hobby of mine for quite some time and I love nothing more than reading book after book on food, how it effects your body, nutritional value, etc. Candice nails it! Her book isn't just a cookbook, it's also an introductory course on healthy food benefits and cooking. She even includes some food/beauty recipes at the end which I loved!!! As a person who is an avid cook and who has about 30 cookbooks in my pantry closet, I have to tell you... Pretty Delicious is already one of my fav's!

And I couldn't give you my thoughts without at least including a recipe! "Mom's Homemade Gyoza" was the first dish I made from the book and it was delish! Candice's recipe was already fab, but I did make a couple teensy changes to suit my own personal taste. Here is the recipe....

Mom's Homemade Gyozaby Candice Kumai
Dipping Sauce:
~ 1/4 Cup reduced-sodium soy sauce~ 1/4 cup rice vinegar~ scallions sliced on the diagonal
Gyoza:
~ 1 lb 96% Lean Ground Beef ( I used ground turkey breast)~ 5 dried shitake mushrooms, soaked in boiling water for 5min, drained & chopped(I didn't have dried, so I used fresh)~ 5 scallions, finely chopped~ 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped~ 3 large green cabbage leaves, finely chopped (I subbed bagged, shredded, purple cabbage)~ 4 garlic cloves, minced~ 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce ( I might try Bragg's Liquid Amino's next time)~ 2 Tb Dark Sesame Oil~ 1 tsp sugar~ 1 tsp Fresh Grated Ginger ( I loved this! I wish I had added more!!)~ Flour for dusting surface~ 30 Round Wonton Skins - about 1/2 the package~ 6 tsp Veg oil
To make the sauce: Whisk the soy sauce and vinegar together in a small dish. Add the scallions and set aside.
To make the gyoza: Mix the ground beef, mushrooms, scallions, onion, cabbage, and garlic together in a large bowl. ( I needed to use up some bell pepper before it went bad, so I added that in as well). Whisk the soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and sugar together in a small bowl. Add the soy sauce mixture to the beef mixture and stir together until combined.
Sprinkle a work surface with some flour. Place a small bowl of warm water next to your work area. Place a wonton wrapper on the floured area and place 2 teaspoons of the beef mixture in the center. (I had some trouble with this part. My wontons weren't fitting all the meat! So I had to use a little less. It takes practice, but it's worth it!) Dip a finger in the warm water and moisten the edges of the wrapper, then fold the wrapper over the filling as if you were making a turnover. Press the edges together. Use your index finger and thumb to pinch the edges so they have a cute ruffled look like the edge of a pie crust. Set aside and repeat with the rest of the filling and wrappers.
Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of veg oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add about 10 gyoza to the pan and cook until the bottoms are golden brown, about 1-2 min. When peaking under the gyoza to check for browning, be gentle! They are very fragile. Add 1/4 cup of water to the skillet, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook without turning until the wrappers are translucent, about 2 min. Uncover and cook until the water has evaporated and the filling is cooked through, about 2-3 min longer.
Remove the pan from the heat. Pour any liquid remaining in the pan into a bowl. Place a large plate over the skillet, the plate should be larger than the skillet, and flip the pan over. The gyoza should effortlessly fall from pan to plate revealing their gorgeous, golden brown skins. Gyoza taste best when hot, so serve immediately with the dipping sauce as you cook up the next batch. Cook 2 more batches, adding a tiny bit more oil as needed and 1/4 cup water for each batch. Wipe out the skillet between batches if necessary.
Candace also posted this fab video on her blog recently! For anyone new to making gyoza (or what some might refer to as potstickers, this is great!)

PRETTY DELICIOUS Gyoza with Chef Angelo Sosa! from Candice Kumai on Vimeo.

Ready ... Set... Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:43:00 +0000

It's been a long couple weeks. This month has been particularly bad with my hormones. They have been really unbalanced ever since I had my son several years ago and every few months or so they will just rage out of control! Major PMS this past week my friends. Sorry if that's TMI, but I just had to say it. In fact, it was so bad that any strict part of my diet went out the window. I did end up ordering Tracy Anderson's Omnicentric Metamorphosis program and I'm so excited to get started with it! I also got her Perfect Design Series that I ordered from Gilt in the mail the other day!! I'll be getting a new meal plan with the new Omni Dvd's, which I hear is slightly similar to the 30 Day Method book, but also a little different. So this is the plan so far...

The Omni's aren't due to arrive until Tues, so tomorrow I'll start with Cardio from the book and PD1. I'm just going to eat clean. 2 servings of grain (whole grain, wild rice, oatmeal, quinoa, etc) with no grains with dinner. A combo of TA & Jackie Warner rec's. I also need to go out and look for the supplements JW mentioned as I really need to get these hormones under control. As I said before, JW's approach with eating is very similar. She just encourages whole grains twice a day during her diet. She also allows two cheat meals on the weekend under a certain caloric amount. Will I do this? I don't know. I am well aware of what my trigger foods are and while I'm pretty good with self-control, I don't want the cravings. So my "cheat meal" will most likely be something that is still healthy but that I wouldn't eat every day.

I've seen AMAZING results from bloggers and women on Tracy Andersons FB page that did the 30 Day Method!!!! So it does work if you stick to it! I just want to clarify that I wasn't implying that it doesn't. And it was working for me in terms of losing weight and tightening up. But I like to work out hard and the no grain at all thing kicked my butt! I've also heard of women doing well with it by eating clean and following the guidelines but not the strict menu. I think it just all depends on you, how disciplined you are, the foods you like or don't like etc. I am extremely confident that I can make my own TA friendly diet and still succeed. Do I think everyone can do that? No. But we'll see. ;) I haven't decided whether I'll blog about it daily or not. This blog wasn't intended to be a fitness blog, so I'm not sure if I want to bombard it with my diet posts. What do you guys want? Daily posts? Posts every couple days? A new blog dedicated to my fitness regimen? Talk to me and let me know! Documenting this diet, being honest and sharing my results is important to me because it holds me accountable, but it's also really important to me because I know it was really inspiring and motivating some of you! I want to keep doing that, so please let me know what you think either in a comment or you can contact me via email by clicking on the pink button on the right ;) Happy Sunday!!!

XOXO

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:44:00 +0000

Hello Lovelies!

I'm back and ready to commit to my "diet reboot" as I call it. I've been doing pretty well since adding in some complex carbs here and there! I do hate to admit that just in the last couple days I have cheated by eating a couple things. I've been having those monthly cravings if you know what I mean and it's so hard to resist. But it's been quite a learning process. I've always eaten pretty well, but one thing I've really learned is that I can be a real sugar addict. I purchased Jackie Warner's Book and it has really given me a lot to think about. I have been a fan of JW since her show Work Out debuted on Bravo a few years ago. A lot of things she discusses in the book really make sense. Most of her theories center around sugar addiction and Hormonal imbalances - which I absolutely have! And was really excited to learn that you can change these imbalances with your diet, vitamins and supplements. I've been recommended to go on the pill for my hormone issues and I just do not want to AT ALL. That is definitely a last resort for me!

So where am I at now? Aside from my couple cheats, I've been eating food like mexican avocado salad, spinach chestnut salad, turkey avocado roll-ups, eggs and Homemade oatmeal with Irish Oats daily. Love it!!! Not much has really changed. And lucky enough for me, since I added the 1-2 servings of complex carbs (except with dinner or after) I'm still down 4 lbs! At this point I'm looking to do a combo of Tracy's menu's with Jackie's food rec's, which really aren't much different except for the carbs ;)

Thanks again to all of you for all the wonderful comments and emails! I truly appreciate it!!!

XOXO

Diet Reboot

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:11:00 +0000

Today was supposed to be Day 6 of the TAM 30 Day Method and sadly I just cannot do it (the menu) another day. Even with tweaking the menu's, I just still feel so unhealthy. It pains me to say this because I am a HUGE Tracy Anderson fan! And maybe this diet really does wonders for others, but it just didn't for me. However the exercise parts of it I love! I have had no issue with. This morning when I had my kiwi dessert for breakfast and then proceeded to feel like I was going to pass out, well ... that was it for me. I don't mean this to be offensive towards TA at all, but I have never ever felt so unhealthy in my life. I've been working out almost 2 hours daily for the last 5 days and I still have never felt so unhealthy. Sigh.....

So out of sheer curiosity, since I brought the book upstairs for my husband to use, I looked at Jillian Michael's book. There is a Metabolic rate quiz on there that I decided to take. According to the test, I am a balanced oxidizer which apparently means that in order for my body to function to lose weight and to be able to fuel up for workouts, I need a decent ratio of complex carbs, lean protein, and low-starch fruit or veg with most meals. That makes sense and it's probably why I've felt like a zombie the last few days.

I am not saying that the 30 Day Method doesn't work. What I am saying is that as far as the food goes.... for 30 days and working out hard and heavily... it doesn't work for me. For me I think it was a great 5 Day Cleanse and it made me see what I can live without and what I can't in my diet - which is great! I have no bad cravings for sugar which is good and don't really want to eat bad carbs... bonus. Do I plan on going back to eating the bad stuff now? No way. So where am I going from here....

I plan to keep up with Tracy's workout sequence in her 30 Day Method Book and still eat some of the foods on her menu. I'll still be following the 3 meals and one snack option... Unless I feel dizzy or not well and then I may add a juice or smoothie to help boost my energy. I'm a huge Jackie Warner fan and am hearing really good things about her new book, so I may do somewhat of a combination of Tracy's Book Sequences with Jackie's recommended diet for the remainder of the 30 days. Meaning no desserts, bad carbs, multiple carb servings etc. I don't really plan on it being all that different from what I was already doing. I just need a bit more energy to really ramp up my metabolism, get motivated, get an effective workout in and so I don't pass out! LOL.

I am pretty disappointed in myself though. I do feel a little let down and like I am letting anyone that has been reading my blog and cheering me on down. But I want to get this weight off and get in shape and I know that doing it with almost no complex carbs and limited protein will just not work for me. I'll still be posting my progress on here, but it will most likely be updates every couple of days rather than everyday ;) I do want to thank everyone that has been sending me encouraging comments, emails and contacting me on FB. You have all been so awesome!!! I'm glad I have inspired you and I hope that my honesty and determination continues to do so. I am absolutely determined to do this!

Winter Chic

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:03:00 +0000

I love a look that can multi-task in various seasonal wardrobes! I am all about functional and carrying pieces over. I've been wanting to add some different looks to this blog for a while now and just never seem to have the time. So that's been one of the new blog challenges I've given myself. Instead of posting just lists of pretty things, I want to try to style them into actual looks. So this is my first go round...

Flare Denim by Gap
Boots by Aldo

I can see most of these items being paired with other pieces to transition into spring and summer! I would most likely wear the cardi with a plain tank in the color of your choosing. I think most would work with the basic black and brown tones. The little studs could add sparkle as an everyday earring and I could see this gorgeous necklace worn with an airy summer maxi dress - one of my summer staples!

Have you started thinking about what you'll wear this spring/summer? What's on your must list?

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Christy {SparklesandSpinach}) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:10:00 +0000

I have been so busy I have had no time to get on the computer lately! This holiday just seems so crazy this year. Christmas is my favorite, but for some reason, I just can't wait until it's over. So much prep for one day as much as I love it! Today after I pick up my son from school I'll be cleaning, prepping food and menu's and then wrapping all of my Husband's gifts. I really don't like wrapping so he's always sweet enough to wrap all of our son's gifts and any others as well. =) So the next couple of days will definitely be busy! Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday!!!!