Raw Pumpkin Pie Recipe

So this afternoon, I decided to hit the kitchen and make some Raw Pumpkin Pie!

Here is what you need:

Raw Pumpkin Pie Crust

• 2 cups pecans or walnuts
• 1/2 cup soaked dates
• Dash of sea salt

Blend the crust ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor, then evenly distribute in the bottom of a pie plate.

Raw Pumpkin Pie Filling

• 2 cups fresh pumpkin
• 1 cup soaked dates
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. freshly diced ginger
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. coconut oil
• Dash of organic vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup almond milk or water from soaked dates to help blend

STEP 1: 
Prepare your pie crust by adding all pie crust ingredients into a blender or food processor.  Spoon crust into pie pan and spread evenly in pie pan and along sides.  Set aside.

Step 2:
Start with a new fresh pumpkin! Its the season for pumpkins so you can find one just about anywhere!  Of course I would recommend supporting your local farmers ;)  Cut the pumpkin-- First slice off the bottom, then the top, then slowly carve off the outer layer.  Next, slice the pumpkin in half and remove the seeds and other "stuff".  NOTE:  SAVE THE SEEDS for other recipes!



Step 3:  Blend the chunks of pumpkin in blender or food processor.  Add all other ingredients... and VIOLA!.. Raw Pumpkin Pie!

Be sure to place in fridge for about 2 hours so nice and firm and easy to serve!  Top with walnuts.  Serve each individual slice with Whip Cream or Vegan Whip and Cinnamon.

Farouk (Chi Iron) Awarded $300M Judgment!!!

Farouk Awarded $300M Judgment

Temp-tations Old World Thermal Printed Satchel with 2qt. Baker

How darling is this "Presentable Ovenware" set by Temp-tations(R) ? This is the 'today's special value' on QVC! They come in 2 designs and 16 amazing colors! This is definitely one to snatch up for the holidays! It presents very well and you will be the talk of the party with your fashionable accessory to bring your dish to various holiday dinners and parties! Its more then just a smart buy--including thermal insulated satchel, 2-quart baker with wire holder, tempered glass trivet, and plastic storage cover, its also trendy and cute as well! These also make for great gifts!

Enjoy!

Top 3 items on Wish List...

I love giving to others, it makes me smile when I am in a position to give whether it be a tangible item, spiritual word or inspiration, mental food for thought, a kind smile, an unspoken blessing on someone's life or what have you. The art/gift of giving without any expectation of receiving in return is one of the best gifts! It truly warms my heart. Cultivating that gift along with understanding its importance and silencing the ego/self can be a task, but once the roots take a firm hold, it stands strong!
Now, having said that (I could go on and on) there are things in life that we desire for ourselves, there is no denying that! So I'm going to put it out there....

My top 3 (superficial) things on my Wish List:

1. Laptop (Sony Vaio, in white) Be specific right!?
2. Vita-mixer (to make all of my scrumptious foods and drinks)
3. iPod touch (for my listening pleasure and to download my meditation CD's)

Not much right? I'm putting these out into the universe.... your turn! 3-2-1 GO! TYPE YOUR TOP 3 IN THE COMMENTS BOX. You never know what I or other readers may be able to Bless you with!.....

TREND ALERT: Textured tights for Fall/Winter...

This season, a big trend is textured tights.  I absolutely LOVE textured tights! I love wearing them in the fall and winter to spice up a plain outfit or to glamorize an already amazing outfit.   I've been wearing them for years and they are one of my favorite accessories.  I'm glad to see that its "on-trend" this year so there should be lots of options!  I wear them for both work and play.  :)

MonicaRose, stylist to the stars, has some amazing tights on her blog page.

okay... now I guess I'm ready for the cold weather! ;)

How to Properly Wash Fresh Veggies...

More and more people are eating raw, organic, fresh, natural veggies these days as opposed to canned. It's no wonder because once you  TASTE the incredible difference in fresh produce vs. canned and even MORE Fresh vs. Organic, you will NEVER go back. Certified Organic veggies are grown in a different environment from basic veggies which are sprayed with harmful chemicals, pesticides and herbicides. Having said this, since Organic Veggies are grown in a chemical free environment, it does make Organic Veggies more susceptible to pesky bugs.

Extra care should be taken when cleaning veggies, and especially Organic veggies. First you will need to:



1. SOAK VEGGIES in a bowl of cold water.  I usually put veggies in a colander that fits inside of the bowl so its easier to drain.  When I am ready, I just remove the colander from the water.

 

2. ADD:  1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to the water and let it soak for 10 minutes.  Apple Cider Vinegar gets your veggies SQUEAKY clean!

3. REMOVE the colander from the bowl and let the water drain out.

\

 

Repeat this process for 3 washes for perfectly cleaned veggies! 

Enjoy!

Beautiful, naturally... inside and out Seminar

NEWS FLASH!

About a month ago I was blessed with the opportunity to present a Seminar to a women's group at my Dad's church to kick off their women's month.  What an amazing honor!  God works in mysterious ways, above our imagination or expectations!   This was on my heart heavy to share with others and the Women's group contact me to speak on health and fitness!  

I spoke on the connection of mind, body and spirit, the proper order of the three in order to have balance in your life, how to achieve balance in you life, how to be beautiful, naturally inside and out (the theme of my blog), the spiritual importance of why we should maintain our bodies as our temples and much more! We had an amazing time and the Seminar was a great success! I was so honored that my presentation was so well received by the women's group. To my surprise, the women's group has asked me to come back and do a 6-part series as well as a 2-part series for the young ladies group (ages 9-17) as well! I am really excited about both up coming Seminars and am preparing for an amazing work. I will post a clip from the Seminar soon!

xoxo.. nameste

To Mac Blush or not to Mac Blush?

Hey dolls..

Now, I am a self-proclaimed natural girl.. natural hair, organic eating, vegan in training, natural skin care product junkie.. the works.. HOWEVER.. I have yet to fully convert to Organic and Natural makeup.  :/  I'm sorry!  I just love make-up wayyyy to much! I love getting glammed up!  I'm a huge fan of gorgeous eyes, natural hued lips and feminine gleaming cheeks!  That is why I am a sucker for Mac Blush. They have so many colors that range from bold and beautiful to soft and chic.. what more could a girl ask for!  


I recently purchased Gingerly Blush by Mac:



Its the perfect blend of rose and peach and is great for the fall! Lately, I've been wearing it everyday to transition from my summer bronzers.  As a tip, I've been applying a light coat of my FAVORITE summer bronzer and topping it with my Gingerly Blush to achieve the perfect "season transition" glow!   Mac also has a great line of Mineralized blushes and I am dying to try... soon.. very soon...

Here's a pic with Gingerly.. very faint and believable.. you can sort of see it in this pic!

31 Days of Giveaways at www.Naturallycurly.com

If you haven't already, go to naturallycurly.com for their 31 Days of Giveaways! They are giving away thousands of dollars worth of curly hair products. Remember to enter each day and best of luck!  This ends on October 31st and you can enter each day.  Good Luck!  The products that they have are great for gals and guys... If you win and can't use the products, Christmas is right around the corner and they would be great gifts...

Good Luck....

Flax Seeds for a Hair Gel?

Hola! Well, I have something GREAT for everyone today!  I hope you enjoy this... Here is a new all natural alternative for hair gel... DRUM ROLL PLEASE.. Its flax seed hair gel! Many people are taking their hair products into their own hands now a days, as many hair products contain alcohol and lots of people in general, are just interested in trying new things! Well, here is the latest and greatest of things I've tried for my hair. FLAX SEED HAIR GEL.. Yes, you heard correctly.... Its made from Flaxseeds and a few other simple ingredients. This product is perishable, but can last up to about 2 weeks if kept in the refrigerator. Here is the recipe. Let me know what you think of it and if you like the results on your hair!

Flaxseed Gel Recipe

Ingredients:


2 Tbsp Whole Flax Seeds
1 cup water
Pure Aloe Vera Gel, if desired
Few drops of essential oil of your choice for scent
Vitamin E capsule as preservative
Container to house gel

Instructions:
1.  Mix one cup of water to flaxseeds and add to a pan.


2.  Heat slowly, stirring often to stop seeds from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

3.  Continue to stir gently as water comes to a boil.

4.  A frothy jelly will form.  Be sure to turn the heat down a little when seeds settle in the jelly rather than falling immediately to the bottom of the pan then turn the heat off.

5.  Carefully pour the liquid through a strainer over a bowl checking for any seeds that may have passed through.

6.  Add Essential oils or preservative.  (Preservatives will extend the life of the gel to about 2 weeks.  ie. Vitamin E capsule.  Mix the gel carefully adding any alcohol or preservatives to increase the shelf life of the gel.)

7. Fill container with gel and add Aloe Vera Gel for additional moisture, if desired.

How did it work for you?

PS.  I'm on a quest to find a recipe for a Setting Lotion to set my hair when I do my curly styles!  I want to try to make it myself, so we will see.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share.  I want something that will not leave my hair sticky, but will yield a nice soft finish that holds curl and eliminates frizz....

Afternoon Snack: All natural chips

It's that 3pm slump..... need to grab your afternoon snack? If you want some chips, opt for the natural chips instead of those greasy potatoes chips. These chips by Food Should Taste Good are all natural, taste amazing and have a good price point. They come in a variety of flavors. I love these in multigrain, lime or sweet potatoe.... there are several options, so try them based on your preference. I like the ones with the least amount of ingredients!

Enjoy...

UPDATE: Curlformers; no heat styling

Happy Friday!

Who's looking forward to an amazing weekend? The Green Festival is in Washington, DC this weekend. If you are in the area, try to attend! There will be some great exhibits for green living!

Now, back to Curlformers.... So, as you know, I love my curlformers and I decided to take it up a notch and order the Long and Extra Wide Curlformer kit for bigger and fuller curls! Variety is the spice of life, right!? Well, I hope to get them sometime next week and ill be sure to post my results!

I'm still looking for the PERFECT PRODUCT COMBO! So far, I'm loving my curls, but am still working on the perfect product combination. Ironically, the first time I did my curls, and used the LEAST amount of products, I yielded the best results! Who knew!!!

How do you Curl? Share...... :)

Coconut Sweeter? Good or Gimick

Hi dolls! In case you don't know, I love everything coconut and its many uses... coconut oil for cooking, baking, hair and skin, coconut milk, butter, etc. So, I guess it was only natural, that when I discovered coconut sweetener, by Coconut Secrets I was ridiculously excited!!! I have not tried it yet but plan to this evening when I make my raw pumpkin pie and vegan pumpkin muffins! I'll be sure to post pics and maybe even a tutorial on these tasty treats! Ill also update soon on my take of the Raw Coconut Sweetener---- so look for that soon.

Enjoy you day!

ORGANIC and 100% Natural Hair Remover by Moom!

I must admit.. I was skeptic at first.  Not because I thought it wouldn't work, but because I wasn't sure if I could inflict pain on myself!  Now I've tried an at home waxing kit before.. another natural one actually, which worked super well-- however, the wax was on pre-treated strips.  I found this super cool  Organic waxing kit at my local Ulta...  It has all natural and organic ingredients and came with reusable strips.  The waxing kit was housed in a pretty package. The ingredients consisted of Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Chamomile, Organic Lavender and Water. I contemplated... Will it really work? I took one look at my neglected post-summer legs, and decided to just purchase it and give it a world.  After all, it was all natural and organic!  

Well, today I decided to try the organic waxing... yippie!  I followed the instructions to the T... Heat for 10 seconds in microwave or in a pot of hot water, apply organic wax to legs, and then.. let it rip!  Well, it took me about 30 minutes to do both legs and I must say... WOW... great results!  My legs are super smooth... much better then any razor!  The pain I dreaded only lasted for about 3 seconds after each rip...ahhh the price of beauty right  :) The true test now is to see how long the hair will stay gone.  The claim by Moom.com  is that the you will experience hair free legs for 8 weeks....   that remains to be seen. I'll have an update for you on this.  But for right now my legs are super smooth, nick free, cut free, bump free and super mositurized..... this gets 5 STARS for me! I'm very pleased. Wish I had this product this summer... this will be a staple in my regiment next summer, provided it holds true to its claim, or at least close to it!  (I'm sure it will as my hair came out from the root!!!)

oh..  the best part?  The kit was only $16.99 and the strips are reusable, just wash with warm water.  I think the refil bottle was about $13.00  great deal for what you get!

later dolls... xoxo 

Boots: Lust and Must

Super Chill, and Super Chic at the same time...

Lust:  I really love Kourtney Kardashian's look in this picture... It's very chill and relaxed and is perfect for traveling and/or running errands.  It has the right amount of sophistication and glamour for a relaxed day! The way to cute boots are by Chanel.  The Chanel two-tone boots will run you about $2,000.00... if you don't have that kind of cash to dish out on shoes to travel/run errands in, I found a great alternative by Ciao Bella.  The style is very similar and at a fraction of the cost!

Kourtney Kardashian in Chanel Boots.  Picture courtesy of Kourtney's Official website.


Must:  These boots are by Ciao Bella retail for $198.00 and are very similar in style to the Chanel boots!  Finish this look with some great leggings, hat and scarf and you are ready to go!  

These two-tone leather riding boots (style: Tori) retail for $198, but on Bluefly, they are being sold for $138.

Top 5 Styles for Curly Hair: NO HEAT



Thandie Newton


Curly is the new straight!  Or at least for me... :)  Right now I have a personal challenge to NOT straighten my curly hair for 3 months!  I'm 6 weeks into my personal challenge and I am really embracing my curls and the versatile fabulous styles!  If you've read any of my previous post regarding my hair, my last relaxer/perm was in January 2009.  I decided against the "Big Chop", and transitioned to natural hair by gradually cutting my relaxed ends over the last year and a half.  Now, my hair is fully all natural...full...curly and I'm loving it!  Below are my top 5 styles for curly hair and/or natural hair-- NO HEAT required!


1. Curlformers!  I have been doing this for about a month and am in love with this style. Its super easy, super quick and yields amazing results.   The cost for the curlformers starter kit is apx. $60 at http://www.curlformers.com/ and at Sally's Beauty Supply. 

2. Twist out!   This style is really easy to achieve as well.  I simply wash and/or co-wash and deep condition my hair then divide my WET hair into sections and twist each section.  To give it body and definition, I pin curl the twist.  Once my hair is dry, I take it down and viola!  Fabulous style!

3. Bun -- Low, Side or High!  This usually occurs around "day 4" after wearing any of the other styles mentioned or simply right after a fresh wash.  Either way, the bun is one of my favorites.  It is so versatile.  I do (1) a loose, high bun in the top center of my head, (2) a structured smooth bun in the top center of my head, (2) a smooth bun with all my hair pinned to one side, (4) a loose side bun with pieces hanging in the front and sides... you get the point! There are so many options.

4. Braid out!  Really just as simple as the twist out.  Only difference is you will achieve a different curl pattern.  The braid out gives a more crinkled pattern where the twist out yields a more wavy pattern.

5. and last but not least.. the classic... Wash and Go!  This is not always as "simple" as it sounds, as most of you know, it takes some manipulation and the right product combination to achieve the perfect "Wash and Go".  You need to make sure the MOP is maintained throughout the day.  I usually put oil and a other products as well as an anti-frizz to keep the mane tame!  I will post soon on some of my favorite products!

I never realized how many style options I would have with natural hair.  When I was relaxed, I only wore my hair in limiting styles... part in the middle with flowing curls or straight hair.  Now that I am natural, I've experimented with sooo many styles.  A coworker told me on yesterday that she loves all the ways that I wear my hair! Guess it did not go unnoticed!

BONUS STYLE:  .. ok.. I know I said 5, but I can't forget my old faithful RollerSet with NO HEAT! this does take a while to dry, so you have to dedicate some time to it.  I don't do this as much unless I plan to be in the house for several hours as the rollers can be a bit uncomfortable to sleep in.

REMEMBER, curly hair loves moisture, so be sure to keep your tresses well moisturized regardless of the style you chose...

What's your top curly style?  do share... :)

Cinammon Brooms and apples for fall

I absolutely love seasonal smells... it comforts my mood, inviting the wonders of the season. During the fall, I love the smell of cinnamon and apples! I always purchase a cinnamon broom for my home and apple scented home scents and candles! It's soooooo comforting to come home to that smell. Recent guest to my home have commented on how wonderful it smells.... Love it! What's you favorite fall scent for your home?

Curlformers: NO HEAT STYLING

I'm obsessed!!! I henna'ed my hair, again! Since my 5 week experiment this summer, I now apply henna to my hair once a month. This time, I used my cheap henna from my local Indian Store which cost me $1.99 for the box, and I swear that henna is amazing! Good, cheap and quick henna fix! NEW HENNA TIP: I purchased a conditioning cap from Sally's Beauty Supply Store which I normally use when I put in a deep conditioner. The cap locks in heat for maximum penetration of the conditioner. Well last night, in an effort to speed up the henna process, I covered my head with a plastic cap then placed the conditioning cap over my head to keep the henna warm and to speed up the henna process. It worked wonderfully. The cap was apx. $2.00 and I will be sure to go back and purchase another! One cap for henna treatments and one for deep conditioner treatments. Back to Curlformers!!!! I decided to try Curlformers in my hair which I have been wanting to try for months! I finally purchased the Curlformers kit from Sally's which included 40 long and narrow and 6 short and wide curlers and a styling hooks.(I will purchase the long and wide curlformers for bigger curls option soon.)

For All my NATURAL HAIR LADIES: I was truly amazed at the results with Curlformers. My hair is natural and this REALLY gave my curls an amazing finish. The process is really easy once you get the hang of it. My hair was freshly washed, henna'ed and deep conditioned. I put the curlformers in my hair while MY HAIR WAS WET. I used Jane Carter Solution leave-in-conditioner to detangle and Shea Moisture Organic Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Style Conditioning Milk for setting, body and shine and Living Proof Straight Making (No Frizz) Styling Cream for my roots. I then took small to medium sections of WET hair and curled away, following the instructions in the box. I parted in the front in the angle that I wanted my curls to set. This process took me about 45 minutes. This was my first attempt so about 15 minutes of that was trial and error! After all the curls where in, I covered my head with a satin cap and went to bed. NO HEAT REQUIRED!!!! The next morning, I took the curlformers out and was TRULY amazed at the amazing curls I achieved with no heat. I think this will be one of my staple styles. I love the results.

What would I do differently? Next time, in addition to the products I used mentioned above, I will use a SETTING LOTION to LOCK in LONG LASTING curls.

Here are some pics of my final do! What do you think?

Curlformers can be purchased at, http:// www.curlformers.com/, Sally's Beauty Supply or Amazon.com

a Thought....

Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it....

Are you truly happy? If so, that's half of your battle! Have a great Monday!!!

Thoughts?

Organic Amla Powder: Face and Hair

UPDATE: I recently purchased some ORGANIC Amla Powder from HennaSooq! Right away, I was able to tell the difference in the Organic Amla! It was really amazing. It was a lot thicker and more rich.  If you saw my previous post on How to Apply Amla as a Face Mask you will see how I suggest to mix it. One update to that is, to mix HOT water to the amla, let it cool and then apply as normal. 

In addition, I also purchased some Organic Henna as well from HennaSooq.  I just mixed and applied it today, and quite honestly, I could tell the difference in the henna as soon as I openned the packed.  When I muxed it, the texture was very smooth. I was quite pleased!  The results remain to be seen.. its actually in my hair now as we speak! I will post an update on the results on tomorrow.  ttyl dolls!

How to Avoid Muscle Atrophy

I'm sure everyone had been there... start working out... fall off... start again, muscle pain, fall of again... and so in. Well, this vicious cycle should be avoided! We should try to do some form of physical exercise each day, to challenge ourselves. Three are so many benefits of daily exercise from cardiovascular health, decrease in blood pressure, strong bonus to avoidance of disuse muscle atrophy over time.

What is muscle atrophy?
In short, it is the deterioration of muscle tissue and occurs when muscles are not in use. It can happen a lot quicker than you think! Years of a desk job, a 'couch potatoes' lifestyle, and no exercise, its easy to fall victim to this. This is the most common form of atrophy and is commonly referred to as disuse atrophy.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO!!!

How do you treat muscle atrophy?
The good news about us is that atrophy is reversible and muscle tissues can be repaired or strengthened. The best way to treat disuse muscle atrophy is with (1.) exercise involving endurance and strength training; (2.) nutrition and (3.) a determined mind! Avoiding muscle atrophy is as easy as taking a walk each day, biking, lifting free weights... don't be afraid to challenge our body. If you are unsure of your fitness level, consult with a certified personal fitness trainer and your physicians to determine what a comfortable starting point is for you.

Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Happy Mooonday dolls! Hope your weekend was awesome. I attended an amazing seminar this weekend.. all day Saturday and Sunday. My weekend flew by!

Well... anyway...Who says you can't DIY a Chipotle style burritos bowl at home? It's a great quick lunch or dinner... here is what you need and what you need to do!

Vegetable Burrito Bowl:

What you need:
Organic, local Romaine lettuce, cleaned and washed
1 can of organic, low/no sodium black beans
Fresh pico de gallo (store bought from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods or homemade)
Organic cheese
Homemade taco seasoning blend or store bought blend that is low sodium
Fresh guacamole (Whole Foods or Trader Joe's have a great one)

What to do:
In a saucepan, heat black beans on medium heat and add taco seasoning to your desired taste. Thoroughly clean Romaine lettuce (I do an Apple cider vinegar rinse), pat dry, roll and slice for shredded lettuce style. Then place lettuce in bowl, top with black beans, then pico de gallo, scoop of guacamole, and finally cheese... and your done!

BONUS: Add one tablespoon of flax seed oil to black beans.

*If preparing for on the go for the office, bag each ingredients separately, repeat beans when ready to eat then stack all ingredients we referenced above!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheescake Recipe: raw/vegan dessert

Hola and happy Friday! Here is a great recipe for a Raw/Vegan cheesecake that I found (courtesy of . I altered it just a tad! Hope you enjoy!!!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Tofu Cheesecake

Ingredients
FILLING
12 ounces organic dark chocolate/vegan chips
2 12-ounce packages of firm silken tofu
2 tablespoons agave nectar or 1/3 cup of homemade fruit sweetener
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons soy milk or coconut milk
1 1/4 cup organic peanut butter

CRUST
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup soy margarine
1/2 cup organic sugar or raw sugar

Optional:
chocolate syrup for garnish
Soy whip cream

Preparation: Melt chocolate over double boiler. Blend melted chocolate with 12 ounces of tofu, 1 tablespoon agave nectar, vanilla and 2 tablespoons of soy milk. In separate bowl, blend 12 ounces tofu, 1 cup peanut butter, 2 tablespoons soy milk and 1 tablespoon agave nectar.
Crust: blend oats, sugar and margarine and press into a spring form pan. Cover bottom of crust with remaining peanut butter. Pour chocolate/tofu mixture in pie crust, then peanut butter/tofu mixture on top.

Viola!!!