When you store water in a copper water bottle, the water naturally and safely absorbs very small amounts of copper that helps neutralize toxins as it ionizes and balances the pH of water to become natural alkaline water. In addition, according to Ayurvedic principles, water stored in a copper vessel has the ability to balance all the three doshas in your body, (vata, kapha and pitta) and it does so by positively charging the water. This also ensures proper functioning of different organs and several metabolic processes. For best results,  keep 2-3 glasses of water in a copper vessel overnight, and drink it in the morning. I can personally vouch for the improved taste. The water is crisp and refreshing and has a lighter feel to it, much like water from a mineral spring.

And there’s more. Studies have shown that copper is anti-bacterial, acts as an effective anti-oxidant, improves immunity, supports good health, prevents aging, eliminates toxins and free radicals, and stimulates the brain. Because copper is naturally anti-bacterial, a copper bottle is naturally self-sterilizing and therefore does not require as much cleaning as other water bottles. However, not all copper water bottles are the same. When purchasing a copper water bottle, be sure to look for one that is made of 100% pure high-grade food-safe copper that does not contain any metals, alloys or lining. My favorite is from Copper H2O that you can purchase here. I’ve been using mine for the past few months and I can definitely see an improvement in my energy, skin tone and overall well-being, plus the hammered effect on the bottle is unique and stylish. 

One of the most relaxing things I enjoy is creating sea-inspired crafts from items I find in nature. This has been a favorite past time of mine since I was a child growing up spending my summers at the beaches in New Jersey. I find the process of collecting and creating both calming and restorative. For as long as I can remember I have loved seashells and have always been fascinated by mermaids and the legends of lost sunken treasures. In my new Mermaid Sea Treasure Collection of soap and lotion dispensers, I have managed to combine all three. I created the sea glass look with spray paint in solid colors with an overlay of “sand” paint decorated with seashells and embellished my designs with jewel-like sparkly beads and sea glass. To protect the finish I sealed with a clear spray varnish. These dispensers can be used for both soap and lotion and are beautiful accent pieces for ocean themed decor and can be purchased in my SeaweedArt Etsy store.

In an ionic (sorry, could’t resist)  twist of coincidental fate, I received an email from the makers of Prana dry brush, asking me to try their product and write a review. Of course I said yes and they shipped me their Ionic Body Brush, which I used daily for a month. Using light strokes toward my heart I brushed my arms, chest and body every morning as soon as I woke up and before my shower. In just a few days I could see a significant decrease in the swelling around my elbow. If those positive results weren’t enough, I soon discovered that there were many other benefits to dry brushing as well, such as developing muscle tone, relaxing muscle tension, refreshing the nervous system and relieving stress.

In addition to detoxifying your body and improving circulation, dry brushing can boost your immune system, prevent ingrown hair by opening pores and it’s a great exfoliator! It not only sloughed off my dead skin cells, it also primed my skin to better absorb moisturizing creams and lotions. My overall skin started to glow. I seemed to have a new vitality. Dimples and cellulite were diminished, along with crepey skin. My skin has never looked so good.  To learn more about how a Prana dry brush can benefit you click here. And to purchase here.

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Recently I discovered a wonderful non-profit, Oceans 360º whose mission is to bring high resolution underwater 360/180 virtual reality video from around the globe to classrooms, museums and aquariums in order to raise awareness about the fragility of the world’s oceans. Imagine wearing virtual reality goggles and being surrounded by the water.  Video captured with a special camera is processed so that it can viewed as if you were inside a 360 degree sphere.  When you put on the virtual reality goggles, you are instantly transported to a transparent underwater bubble where you can move your body around, look in all directions and see things as if you were a scuba diver.

The videos are on different topics like coral reefs, the kelp forests and coming soon, Humpback whales, currently being filmed in Tonga.  They are shot in various locations around the globe by scientists and underwater photographers.  The videos below are short, one minute samples taken from the Oceans 360º website, but the virtual reality ones that children get to experience in the classroom are 5 minutes long. Take a look and let me know what you think. Click and hold on the video so you can move it around.

To learn more about how you can help Oceans 360º click here.

I have always been a big tea drinker. It’s not just the taste that attracts me, but also the experience, because so many calming, peaceful rituals are associated with tea.  As Henry James once said,“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” As a foodie and healthy living advocate, I appreciate not only the traditional tea time accompaniments, like tea cakes and tea sandwiches, but also the healing, mindfulness and restorative properties of tea.

Several years ago I read an inspirational memoir that changed my life,  Zhena Muzyka’s Life by the Cup:Inspiration for a Purpose-Filled Life. The author shares how she founded her tea company, Zhena’s Gypsy Tea, “with nothing but the desire to provide a good and healthful life for my sick newborn son, but I found so much more.” She further stated that tea, hope and her active dreams saved her son and along the way, saved herself too. I was so moved by her story that I reached out to Zhena on Facebook and she graciously responded and even went so far as to Skype into a birthday tea party I threw for myself. I am continually grateful for her words of wisdom and encouragement, especially now as I navigate a new phase in my life. I need a lot of self-care these days, and taking a few moments every day to unwind, relax and reflect while sipping a comfy cup of tea is the best medicine ever. Below are two of my favorite “teafood” recipes.

English Cucumber Sandwiches

Ingredients: 

• 1 large cucumber peeled and thinly sliced. For best results use a mandoline.
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion salt
• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch lemon pepper
• fresh dill for garnish
• sliced bread of your choice (I prefer white)

Mix all ingredients together and spread evenly on one slice of bread, layer the cucumbers on top and top with another slice of bread. If you prefer, cut off the crusts and slice sandwiches into halves or quarters. Garnish the tops with dill. For another variation, mix cream cheese only with some chopped mint and follow the rest of the directions. Serve with a cup of the classics: London Tea or Egyptian Chamomile.

Italian Wedding Cookies

This is a traditional recipe that is usually made at Christmas time by many cultures. I like them year round.  My Italian mother had her own version, which I have included here.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 6 T sugar
• 1/2  tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup finely chopped nuts  a food processor or nut chopper works best)
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Heat oven to 325º F. In a large mixer on high ( l love my Kitchen Aid)  cream butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy. Reduce speed to medium and gradually add in flour and salt. Stir in nuts until just blended. Chill dough for 30 minutes or until firm. Roll into one inch sized balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 13-15 minutes, until just slightly browned. Cool enough to touch and then roll in powdered sugar. Note: If the cookies are too warm, the sugar will melt, which actually makes them dewy and delicious. If that happens, just roll them again. You want a powdery finish on the cookies. Serve with desert teas like Vanilla Berry Truffle or Carmelized Pear.

Enjoy your tea time. You deserve it. If you have a particular blend of tea or tea time ritual, I’d love to hear from you. Contact me here. 

• 1 cup milk or alternative (I used coconut.)
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
• 2 T peanut butter (To save calories and fat I used powdered peanut butter, just as good.)
• 1 T each ground flax and chia seeds (I had neither, so I sprinkled some hemp seeds on top)

Pour the first four ingredients into a blender or your NutriBullet and mix well. Then sprinkle the seeds on top. For an added garnish, I topped off with some sliced bananas and sprinkled on some raw nuts. My favorite are from Living Intensions. I happened to have their activated white chocolate super food nut blend of cashews, sprouted almonds, cacao nibs and live probiotics. I felt like it needed something more since I was out of flax and chia seeds. It was delicious and very filling and serves two, so I saved half and put it in the freezer and that gave it a slushy, desert like texture and I ate the rest with a spoon for desert. Next time I make it I’ll pour it into popsicle molds.

People are always complementing me on my great skin, to which I always bashfully respond, “Thanks!” And then I feel compelled to tell them how they too can have a beautiful complexion. I know that some of my epidermis good fortune can be attributed to a healthy diet and good genes, but mostly it’s the result of a copious use of sunscreen. I love the sun just as much as anyone, heck I live in California, so it’s hard to avoid, but I have always made sure to protect myself with lightweight breathable clothing, a sunhat (a must and I highly recommend the ones from my good friends at Head’n Home Hats) and a generous lather of zinc oxide.  Aside from premature aging, excessive sun exposure can also lead to skin cancer, however, there are some sunscreens that do more harm than good.

Several years ago I visited a dermatologist who told me she didn’t believe in sunscreen because she thought the risks associated with them were worse than the damage caused by the sun’s harmful rays. She went on to explain that what you put on your body can get into your blood stream and organs and the ingredients found in most sunscreens are not safe. Now with the advent of mineral based products, we don’t have to worry about that anymore, but aside from the use of sunscreen, there is much more you can do to keep your skin hydrated and looking dewy moist and fresh. To that end, I’d like to share with you some of my favorite pre and post sunbathing products.

In order to achieve an even tan and overall glow, you must first smooth out all the rough patches and Arbonne’s Rescue and Renew Detox Scrub does the job. It polishes away dry dead skin cells and helps improve the overall appearance of radiant, brightened skin leaving you with the look and feel of silky soft skin. It’s formulated with pure essential oils of grapefruit and orange, which are known to create a sense of energy and increased invigoration to really get you going!

For post sun care or anytime of the day for that matter, I cannot live without the Detox Gelee. I actually use this product every morning after I get out of the shower. Since it’s a gel, it has a light, whipped feel to it and absorbs quickly and has a very cooling effect, which can be very comforting this time of year. It’s great for aching muscles and even analgesic on cuts and bruises. The key ingredients are essential oils of lavender, grapefruit, orange and tangerine, when combined create a sense of relaxation. Green algae replenishes the skins natural lipid barrier, vitamin E to retain moisture and malachite extract that acts as an antioxidant to protect against environmental dryness.

For overall skin hydration, (in addition to drinking lots of water) I like to mix together the Detox Body Lotion and the Detox Body Oil. It alleviates the “crepey” skin look so if you got that going on, give this a try. The lotion contains alfalfa and chicory extracts to improve skin tone and smoothness and the shea butter acts as a body conditioner. Vitamin B5 acts as an humectant and emollient. Grape seed and sesame oils support collagen, helping to promote firming looking skin.

All of the products listed above are safe for all skin types including sensitive skin, dermatologist tested, cruelty free and vegan! Safe, pure and beneficial inspired by nature and scientifically tested. So go forth and enjoy the sun safely!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Ingredients:

• 4 oz tin(s) of sardines packed in oil
• good quality olive oil (or you can use the oil from the sardines)
• 1 large shallot sliced thin
• 2 cloves of garlic (or more to taste) chopped
• large red pepper, sliced
• capers (I prefer the salted kind)
• sprig of fresh rosemary, chopped
• a few leaves of fresh basil, sliced into ribbons
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

I was so excited to try this recipe because I love sardines! Not only are they super healthy for you, rich with Omega 3 fats, they also remind me of my Italian mother who used to pack me sardine sandwiches (with the heads still on) for school lunches.  When everyone else was eating peanut butter and jelly or bologna sandwiches I was the exotic one. Fortunately sardines have gained in popularity, especially here in the Monterey Bay, thanks to John Steinbeck and his depiction of the sardine fisheries in his novel  Cannery Row.

Like my mom, I cook by instinct and rarely follow a recipe exactly, which is why the ingredients listed above are approximate. Don’t worry, you can’t make any mistakes. It’s all good. Here’s what to do.

Preheat oven to 425º F. Drizzle some olive oil in a medium-sized saute pan. Cook on medium high and when it’s hot, but not smoking, add the garlic, shallot, pepper and rosemary. Cook until the vegetables soften and reduce heat and cook for another five minutes. Add vinegar and cook until the vinegar has reduced, then add the capers. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir the ribboned basil into the shallot mixture.

You are now ready to make the pizza. Place flatbread on cooking stone or pizza tray. If you don’t have one, a cookie sheet will do.  Then sprinkle with both the cheeses. Top with shallot mixture, spreading out to the edges and arrange the sardines on top. My favorite brand of sardines is Wild Planet because they are scale free and sustainably caught in the North Pacific. In this version I used two different kinds for each pizza, slightly smoked packed in lemon and ones marinated in marinara sauce.

Bake in heated oven for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with roasted vegetables or a tomato basil salad and a light white wine like Albarino, which always pairs well with seafood. For great selections of fine California wines delivered to your door please visit The California Wine Club. 

Mangia!

Today’s guest post is by Helen Sanders, Chief editor at Health Ambition and a proud mother of two who’s passionate about nutrition and ways to live healthier with more energy! By the way, I’ve tried this and it does work!

What is oil pulling? When I first heard of this primal remedy that came from the wise ancients of India, I assumed that this was a very weird way of pulling oil out from the body. Why would I want to do that? Is this going to make me feel better or just sick?

Well, let’s take a closer look at what oil pulling really is. Oil pulling comes from the primitive text of Ayurvedic medicine, which is widely known as traditional Indian medicine. Being a lover of alternative medicine, I had to give it a try.

But, before I gained the will power to attempt oil pulling, I wanted to know the basic questions that anyone would have. Does oil pulling work? What are the oil pulling results? Read more …

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