Goodbye Chocolate Monster

Lately my skin has been horrible and no dermatologist or product seemed to be working. So I have turned to food. I have now been on a very low sugar, low carb and if I can help it NO processed foods regiment for 2 weeks. So far it has been going well, until this week.
This week the chocolate cravings hit me! They come with fiery and unrelenting force...ladies you know what I'm talking about! You just cant help it you have to have something rich and chocolaty! But what could I do I wasn't supposed to eat anything like that.
Well today I concocted a perfect antidote and all day I have been free from further chocolate cravings! Now don't get me wrong it was still chocolate and still sugar but it wasn't a processed sugary bar. It was 100% natural sugar and good dark cocoa powder and I want to share it with all of you in hopes that it can help others with the miserable chocolate monsters that live inside us.

1 glass of organic milk
1/2 tsp of dark (60% or more) cocoa powder
1 organic banana
put it in a blender or use a hand mixer like I did.  That's it!

Its sweet and yummy, almost like chocolate milk shake but with no processed foods or added sugar PLUS using 60% or more cocoa powder means you get all the great antioxidants that chocolate has to offer.  ENJOY!

Creatively Yours,
Christina Marie
PS. If you need it a hint more sweet add just the smallest drip of raw honey on top before you blend.

Homemade Salt Scrub (helps me with acne)

Recently my good friend Willa and I were discussing how in the last 3 years our skin has gotten worse. I have always struggled with light acne but suddenly when I turned 22 it took a seriously bad turn, especially on my back. After trying all the chemical options I decided to go a whole new direction.

When it comes to using chemicals in my house I am a bit of "hippie" (for lack of a better word). So as my acne got worse I thought "why not be diligent about not using chemicals on my face and back too?" You see I was a believer and constant user of benzyl peroxide but recently it just hasn't been making any difference. So I began to try different things. The first thing that really helped was switching to an all natural lavender body wash (Lavender helps with inflammation). I since have also switched to a natural SPF and only use it when I know I'll be outside. The rest of the time I use Trader Joe's Nourish Oil-Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer mixed with a few drops of rose-hip oil. My skin so far has responded pretty well!

One thing I really like to do for my back and for my face is exfoliate 1-2 times a week and to do so I combining three different ideas/theories into my homemade salt scrub... the Oil Cleansing Method, sea salt and essential oils. I wanted to share it with you all especially because so many others are struggling with the same issue of adult acne.

Besides even if you don't have acne its refreshing and gives your skin a nice glow. I will give you two variations one for body scrub and one for a face scrub.

I just use the ingredients I can find from the grocery store here. But when we move I hope to transition to all organic ingredients.

Day light savings pick me up smoothie

Happy Monday Everyone!
 
If your anything like me then on Mondays, especially after a time change, your not so happy. This morning I was dragging! So I decided to make myself a delicious smoothie to help boost my energy. (I sort of am in love with liquid calories LOL.)
Any way I got to thinking why not share one of my favorite treats with all of you and hopefully make your Monday a little less blue...except it is blue in color cause of the blueberries LOL but you know what I meant :)
 

 
Ingredient:
1/2 Cup frozen blueberries
1/3 of an avocado frozen (I always freeze avocados for my smoothies you cant taste them and they are so darn good for you!)
1/2 Cup of Apple Juice (I personally really like simply apple its more like cider) 
1 Banana