Kefir..mmmm

If you don't know what Kefir is, it is basically like yogurt but much more nutritious. It's known for having probiotics which help in digestion. For those of you who don't drink milk or eat yogurt because of lactose intolerance, kefir can be easily digested.

Drinking the plain by itself is not that tasty. I would recommend blending it with frozen fruit or mixing it with fruit as a snack. Lifeway Kefir comes in other flavors but check the labels as they are sweetened with sugar.

If you do eat yogurt or drink milk, I would say try this product out (at least the plain version.)

Recipes

True Blue Treat
Great ice cream alternative!

Pour frozen blueberries into pretty clear bowl. Pour Strawberry Lifeway Kefir over berries to cover. Stir slightly. TRY to wait 60 seconds before eating! As blueberries melt, kefir freezes.

A scrumptious nutritious treat without additives. Very satisfying!

Good year round.



Sweetheart Cookies
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar - packed
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain Lifeway Kefir
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup flour


Very Berry Smoothie
Ingredients:

* 1 cup plain Lifeway Kefir
* 1/2 cup blueberries
* 1/2 cup strawberries
* 1 cup ice cubes

Preparation: Place all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth. If it gets too thick add a tablespoon of water. Pour into a tall glass once blended.





You can learn more about Lifeway Kefir here:

http://www.lifeway.net/

My addiction with baby thai coconuts

Well here you go....I had a couple of inquires of why I love them so much, so I'm giving you two recipes that I use the coconuts for.

*******Pink Smoothie******

The water from one (BT) coconut

frozen strawberries

one carrot

a splash of vanilla

1/2 of a beet...or a whole I use a whole because I love beets. (Boil and peel first if you don't have a juicer...I first juice my carrot and beet (raw) then add to blender with coconut water and frozen strawberries, vanilla.)

dates

Then blend everything together and enjoy...yum!


Another recipe I do with BT Coconuts is a raw chocolate pudding.

**********Raw chocolate pudding************


Fill blender with...

Meat from BT coconut

agave necter...5 tablespoons

real maple syrup just a drop or two

a cup of raw kale

organic cocoa powder, or raw powder chocolate

a dash of sea salt

1 cup of water

a handful of dates

and some raw nuts if you wish

Blend together till smooth and enjoy.

The kids and I like it and way better for you then the other stuff out there.


Another way to enjoy the Baby Thai coconut is split open and eat meat....my favorite.

Jazz up that butter baby

Orange-Honey Butter - Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of honey and 2 tsp. of orange zest to a stick of softened butter.


Vanilla Butter - Stir in 1-2 tsp. of vanilla and 1 Tbsp. of powdered sugar to softened butter.


Berry Butter - Mix a few berries with 2-3 Tbsp. of powdered sugar into butter.


Cinnamon Butter - Add 2-3 Tbsp. sugar, 1-2 tsp. cinnamon and a small dash of vanilla to 2 sticks of softened butter. Use on bagels, pancakes, bread or even on baked sweet potatoes topped with some extra brown sugar.

I like using organic butter, and Olivina spread....great treat on toast, and I sometimes use the berry or cinnamon to soft cream cheese for an extra yummy treat.

Sunny Start Smoothie

Need a boost in the morning try this...YUM

1 cup of fresh orange juice

2 bananas- cut

2 tablespoons of honey

1 orange- peeled and cut

1/4 cup of granola

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend til smooth

Have a Peachy Day smoothie

Have a Peachy Day!


2 cups spinach
1 cup fresh Cantaloupe, cut in chunks
1/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1/2 cup frozen peaches
1-2 oranges juiced
Water

Blend all ingredients together until smooth. This smoothie has a very fresh, tropical taste. Perfect for breakfast or a special treat in the middle of your day! The color of this smoothie is a Technicolor green that kids love too and besides it's so yummy!

Obedience or Independence?

If you love Me, keep My commandments." John 14:15

If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God. As soon as I obey Him, I fullfill my spiritual destiny.
Obedience is a daily choice not something we are to feel. It is the choice to forgive when hurt , to love instead of hate, to stop judgeing when it's not our place , to use kind words instead of a dagger tongue, to give instead of take, to reach out when you want to walk away. Obedience is a choice you make with your free will. Is your Independence so important that you refuse yourself peace and freedom.

More tips

De-puff
Mix together ¼ cucumber (puree) and 1 ounce of aloe vera gel---incredible de-puffer –it will keep In the fridge for a few days.
This won’t cost you a cent to look more rested (helps to de-puff under eye area)…before you rise out of bed, place a pillow under your head (elevated) for 15 min ( during that time go over your schedule, meditate or relax).

To tighten skin, apply whipped egg whites to your face with a fan brush, leave on for 20 minutes to see results.

Exfoliate your skin with 1 T applesauce and 1 T of wheatgerm add together and make a paste—apply and leave on for 10-15 min.

Lighten up those dark patches with ½ cup mint (fresh) water (brewed and strained) to ½ cup of lemon (squeezed) apply to dark areas like elbows or knees and let dry, repeat 3-5 times.

Clear up Skin with 1 T yogurt and 1 T honey, mix-apply and leave on for 15 min.

Stimulate your hair and scalp with a rosemary water, take a few stems of loaded rosemary and add to 4 cups of spring water, boil for 2-4 minutes then strain, reserve the cooled liquid for your container and use as a final rinse for your hair routine---The results will be shinier more youthful hair.

Itchy scalp? Resolve it by keeping apple cider vinegar (organic) in a squirt bottle—in your shower, after you rinsed your hair with rosemary water—squirt some vinegar on your scalp.

Beautiful hands and feet—quick and easy soft skin made simple by applying un-petroleum jelly to rough dry hands and feet before bed (cover with gloves and socks) then wake up to soft supple skin! Another one to try is simply using organic coconut oil.

DIY Highlights
1 T of Chamomile tea into 1 C of purified water strain and cool
2 lemons (squeezed)
Pour into spray bottle—leave on hair and sit in the sun for 15 min (sunscreen on your face) but even without any sun—you will still see a difference.


Hair Mask
¼ c coconut oil
3-4 drops of Rosemary essential oil
Leave on for 20 min. then rinse.

Alternative to Botox
Frownies—price is anywhere from 14.95 (drugstore.com) or 19.95 at WholeFoods—the results are amazing—they retrain the muscles around the eye, forehead and mouth area.

If Frownies is not in your budget, you can use scotch tape, the kind that you would wrap a present in—use on the wrinkles, let it stay for four hours—

Another use for tape is…wrap a piece of tape around your finger, sticky side up—pat on dry flakes of skin around the chin, nose or forehead—it is a quick way to eliminate them when your in a pinch.

On a serious note...I know these tips will help the mirror reflection,however you need to remember that you are beautiful inside and out.
God wants us to accept ourselves just as we are. He loves us and our imperfections. He wants us to be beautiful without the vanity.
You are highly valued, needed and made on purpose for a purpose!

All of these tips are from an awesome friend Shelly Ballestero which you cn find at
http://www.beautybygod.blogspot.com/