Sometimes Words Aren't Easy. That's When We Have Links. || Friday Finds

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 || Weekend ||

Is it just me or did time warp, and now it's going 1000 mph? I'm sure all of us are busy and blurry as we hit the shortest month of the year. Just keep those yearly intentions a go go going. I added back into my life oil pulling and am preparing myself for meditation as my February resolutions -- keeping in mind my spontaneity resolution of January. How are yours going? Have you hit February and lost your drive and passion? If you're ready to kick it back up again and beat those energy slumps, self-sabotaging thoughts, and diet fads to the curb, consider working with me -- we'll get you right back on track. Otherwise, content yourself with this week's nutritional excitement of one of my favorite foods -- beets! I'm so glad you're all checking in and getting just as excited as I am over nutrition, yoga, and mindfulness. Really makes a girl's heart swoon -- this girl that is. I'll be spending the weekend making up a big batch of recipe surprise, catching up on work, some studying, and watching my new favorite (soon to be all-watched) series: The Paradise. Love it. Enjoy your Saturday and Sunday!

What are you up to this weekend? Watching the game?

LINKS & FINDS ||

So I guess bandage dresses are okay since one saved a woman's life and all.

Oh the puppies of wintertime. Cue the adorable giggles. You know you will.

Superbowl ads of 2015 -- what was your favorite?

A beautiful beat on aging.

Love these tips on getting the most out of your studio workout.

With vegan cheese? A platter fit for Queens.

A gift idea for a certain someone's birthday coming up.

Even though my schedule is very wacky lately, I'm loving these 8 tricks to make yourself wake up earlier.

Love this for crafting your brand. It's the cards against humanity for Suits.

These Valentine’s Day craft ideas are perfection

Homemade tea bags for the love in your life – even if it’s just yourself.

Hair inspo: yes.

Enough already. Everybody can have a bikini body.

Explore, love, hope, and be yourself. Always.

xx

All About That Beet, Bout That Beet, No Carrots (Just kidding, we love carrots) || Nutrition Post || 2.5.15

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BEET || BEETROOT

from the Beta vulgaris

Beets are the type of vegetable that either grow on people after being awesomely prepared or will forever stay in the never-cook category. I’m here to tell you that beets are amazing — for a whole host of other reasons than roasting them under the broiler with mushrooms, garlic, olive oil, and some sea salt. Yum. They originate on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Africa and Europe and are in season during the Summer and Autumn. They’re easily grown in the home garden.

Beetroots are high in folate, magnesium, and fiber along with being a good source of vitamin B6 and C. The phenols in beets — which provide awesome antioxidant properties — are a perfect pair to the betalains, water-soluble plant pigments that give beets their vibrant, staining color, not mention being incredible beneficial to the human body. If you’re lucky to eat some of the beet greens, you’ll find your system energized with more fiber, vitamins A, B6, C, K, & E, thiamine, and riboflavin, present with high levels of magnesium, potassium, calcium, the ever-essential iron, and copper. Plus a whole host of other nutrients that would turn this page into just a list. But just one more… In very simple terms, beets when digested, run through the system scooping up toxins, allowing them to become water soluble in the body and neutralized so as not to harm the beneficial properties. This allows them to easily pass through the system, leaving the body stock full of nutrients, free of impurities. Umm hello! I’ll take one at every meal please.

Nutritional Benefits |

Per one cup raw – 136g – only some of many incredible benefits include

  • Fiber // 4g fiber
  • Carbohydrates // 13g carbohydrates (9g from sugar)
  • Vitamin C // 11% DV
  • Folate // 34% DV
  • Magnesium // 8% DV
  • Potassium // 13% DV
  • Manganese // 28% DV
  • Antioxidants
  • Phytonutrients // betalains | carotenoids (beta-carotene)

What It Can Help Me With |

  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-Inflammatory
  • Anticancer properties
  • Reduced oxidation and inflammation in obese women
  • In an animal study, beetroot juice was protective against esophageal cancer

How I Can Use It |

note || be sure to wash and scrub beets — since they grow in the ground, they often are coated in sand and dirt, making it less than appetizing to juice or add to a smoothie and get the granules stuck in your teeth

Roasted || helps best to preserve the folate my favorite go-to recipe is roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper, with button mushrooms under the broiler and then tossed with spinach for a warm salad.

Steamed || this way is perfect for just cooking them up to have on hand for the week. awesome with brown rice, sweet potatoes, some hummus, and greens.

Raw || when it’s not so cold and you’re looking for a simple but nutritious option, try adding raw shredded beets to shredded cabbage, and apples with apple cider vinegar and honey for a summer coleslaw option

And don’t forget: pickled, sliced, added to juices, tossed into smoothies*, etc.

* speaking of smoothies — stay tuned for a beautiful recipe next week. just in time to treat yourself for Valentine’s Day ;-) .

Can't wait to share the recipe next Thursday.... HAPPY DANCE. Now go enjoy some beets ;). Xx.

UPDATE: Here's the recipe! The Smoothie of Love!