Organic Foods � why so expensive?

Ever try to go �organic� and buy some organic fruit, vegetables or milk?  Then you look at the price and say, �Oh, my� and wonder why organic costs so much more?  So what gives, why do you have to pay more for the healthier organic option? 

• Chemicals, pesticides � one reason people buy organic foods is that they aren�t sprayed with all the pesticides and chemicals.  And organic farmers do raise their produce and products without the use of pesticides that are harmful to your health and harmful to the environment.  But this means farmers can lose more of their crop to insects, fungus and other plant diseases.  Also, without the chemical preservatives some foods won�t last as long on the shelf.   
•  Hormones� many farmers use growth hormones or enhancers to make the animals grow faster and can go to market sooner.   Organic farmers don�t use these hormones but then spend the extra money as the animals like chickens take longer to reach maturity.        
• Weeds � yes weeds make organic food more costly.  Rather than use chemicals to control weeds, organic farmers rotate their crops to maintain a healthy soil and to prevent weed growth.  Organic farmers also weed by hand, the old fashioned way, but more costly way to rid their fields of weeds.
• Fertilizer � plants thrive on good soil.  Organic farmers don�t rely on chemical fertilizers but organic fertilizers which can cost more than the chemical variety. 
• USDA Certification � to label their product �organic�, with the USDA Organic Seal, the farmer needs to meet strict standards.   To use this seal the farmer needs to ensure no antibiotics or pesticides were used.   USDA � accredited certifying agents verify the standards have been met. 

How do you know if a food is �organic�?

• 100%  Organic - The USDA Organic Seal means the product is certified organic, and all agricultural ingredients are certified organic.  Product will use the USDA Organic Seal or state it is 100% organic.
• �Made with Organic�:  at least 70% of the product is certified organic.  Product will not have the USDA organic seal on the package.

Source:  National Organic Program,  Labeling Organic Products,   7 Reasons Organic Food is so Expensive   Image Source:  USDA organic seal

learning to embrace my natural curl and growing my hair out

hey there, thanks for stopping by to read my blog.

today i want to share with you how i am learning (because i am still learning) how to embrace my natural curl and grow my hair out.

firstly my hair history... i've use hair straighteners on my hair for the last 10 years, the first half of which i actually straightened it and the second half of which i use it to curl my hair. they were GHDs but were still very damaging to my hair. any time i wanted to let my hair dry naturally it would be a very frizzy mess of curls and straight bits and ringlets and waves, it couldn't decide what it should do because it was so damaged.

then one day in may this year, when we were celebrating my husband's birthday in london with my cousin everything changed.

i had been feeling strange about how 'natural' my hair was, i talk about natural haircare and natural beauty all the time on my youtube channel, but i felt like my hair was the one area in which i wasn't really practicing what i preached.

so that weekend in london i washed my hair as normal and let it dry naturally over breakfast with my cousin. before showering i had asked her if she would help me sort my hair for the day, saying that i'd leave it to dry naturally but that 'because it would be such a mess' i could use some help putting it up. anyway, once it had dried she looked at me and told me that i'd be crazy to do anything to it, rather it looked amazing just left down. her husband and mine agreed so profoundly that i spent the day in london with my natural hair (yes, i was looking in every window and bus reflection to check it throughout the day).

the only other time i'd had an epiphany like this about my hair was when i went on a lake adventure day in a wetsuit and i knew there'd be no power socket. that was when i was dating Pete (my now husband), and it would be the first time he'd see my real hair. i had spent a long time the week leading up to it dreading him seeing 'the real me'. BUT, when he saw my natural curls he didn't laugh, he didn't joke, instead he stared. and later he told me that he dreamt that his future wife would have hair like that. awesome!

so, with these combined experiences i really felt i had the confidence to go for it. i spoke with my cousin about how i should manage at work, as i felt i looked unprofessional with my hair all in 'disarray'. she said 'wear a killer outfit and do your make-up properly, then whack a grip in the front bit' - very sound advice to which i still keep.

so i've only used heat on my hair 3 times since may. once at the hairdressers and the other two for special occasions.

i've had to have a lot of encouragement along the way to stick with it. Pete has been really amazing at boosting my self-esteem where necessary and tell me that i look beautiful when i look as though i'm faffing. particularly when i was going on my birthday meal back in july...

my family are the most lovely and awesome bunch of people i know, and i respect their opinions greatly, and on the odd occasion they'd seen my real hair they had been less than complimentary, instead they had called it 'frizzy' or 'messy' or told me to go and sort my hair out. it was with sincere trepidation that i would ever let them see my real hair for fear of their comments really shaping the way i saw myself.

so for my birthday meal i spent a lot of time preparing myself and Pete spent a lot of time encouraging me and told me that he thought i looked beautiful and that it didn't matter about anyone else's opinion. and he was right. as it happens it seems like someone had forewarned my family that i was nervous about my hair and that they should all compliment it, so they went out of their way to be nice about it - which (although it was a little disingenuous) i loved and did improve my mood a lot.

since then, they've got used to seeing my real hair and they actually like it! at my grandads 80th, he said 'i can't believe you ever straightened it'.

yes, there's a lot of emotional baggage attached to my hair, it is after all supposed to be my crowning glory, and the thing that makes me attractive to men, it's supposed to be sexy and lustrous and shiny. it's supposed to look polished and healthy.

i think i'd really reached a tipping point in May, further helped by my having found plenty of split ends, and realising that my hair was not growing out, however much i wanted it to.

so, in the pursuit of long hair and gorgeous shiny natural locks, i embarked on this crazy journey to just let my hair be. here's some things i'm doing to help my hair restore itself:

• trimming my split ends - i bought a pair of professional hair scissors from boots, and have been using them to trim off any split ends i find. there were loads to begin with, and by removing them have noticed the shine come back to my hair, and the curls start to look more even. (be careful because trimming split ends can be really addictive!)
• haircuts - i hadn't had my hair cut professionally in 4 years, instead i've been doing it myself and so it had lost some of it's shape. i spent a lot of money on a professional cut and it made me feel like a million dollars, so i'll probably go annually from no on.
• shampoo and condition - every  2 days i shampoo and condition my hair. i'm currently using that Jason Biotin range, which seems to be the first natural conditioner to moisturise my hair without leaving it feeling greasy. 
• finger combing - i do this when i get out the bath and shower, and this helps the curls to dry more evenly.
• gently does it! - as with my face, the best way to look after your hair is to be gentle with it and respect it. instead of roughly towel drying as i used to, i just gently pat it and smooth the towel over it to get rid of excess moisture before just leaving it to dry.
• eat well - this is something i've always done for the functioning of my own body, but it's important to remember that shiny hair is encouraged by a plant-strong, nutrient-dense diet. get as many fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds into your diet to help it grow. i don't take supplements at all, instead i just eat real food and lots of it.
• water - again, like with your skin, your hair benefits from you drinking water, so get as much in as possible. i try to get at least 8 pints a day!
• exercise - now this is an area i'm definitely learning in. i haven't been the best exerciser in the past, and i am constantly changing my routine because of the changing seasons. however the majority of the year i spend on my bike riding long rides in my local forest and no matter the season i am always walking everywhere, and hiking on holidays too. one thing i need to work on which will help a lot with the shine of my hair is making sure i sweat more, so i'll be working on that one in the coming months!
• silk pillows - i have one which i don't use, but i might get it back into use to see how it goes. this should really help prevent split ends and encourage shine.
• invisibobbles - i find sleeping with long hair very tricky, and currently pop it up using an invisibobble. it doesn't catch and stays in my hair all night. i'm not sure that it's particularly eco-friendly, but it does the job for now.
• coconut oil - the magical wonder product that works for everything - popping this on the end once in a while will help provide moisture to your hair and is the best and only hair treatment i would ever use or recommend.

So here's my video on the subject in case you haven't already seen it:

I hope you all have a lovely day, thank you so much for reading,

Alissa ?

TOSSING OUT THE TRASH

So many of us have a hard time accepting the great things about ourselves, the accomplishments achieved, the results gained, and instead zero in on what we think is negative.  I have to admit that I am guilty of this on occasion and I know my hubby would like to beat me over the lack of �mental game� head when I have a vocal slip. Why do we go right for that juggler of what we �think� is not a great attribute on our bodies, even if it is a work in progress? I for one am going to toss any negative stuff that may pop out of my mouth about myself into the mental trash can.  I do not allow negative talk in my studio, and I will not be a hypocrite behind closed doors.  So, next time I complain about how my butt is not as lifted, and go for a squeeze of disappointment on the cheeks, I will slap my own backside for that behavior.

The journey of this life is to be our BEST self at every age, and joining the  50+ club now means my bootie will not be as high and tight as my twenty something beautiful backside daughter (btw � got it from her Mama J), but I applaud that I am happy with my body overall.  Sometimes I think it feels difficult mentally to grow old and more like an inability to believe or accept that it is happening.  We go through the process of living each day not thinking about what is going on with our bodies with each passing day, month, or year.  The reality is that we are all growing older and the changes that go along with that are not an option.  I am not counting the options of medical science elective processes that are chosen to hide what is happening with our aging process and let�s face it, minor elective procedures stop working or look absolutely ridiculous as the years add up.  In my mind I still feel twenty-something, but the mirror reveals a truth that sometimes blows my mind and I am sure many can relate to what I am saying.

It is not that I am being a negative Nancy about me or my body, but I do miss my younger self sometimes. I believe that is an OK feeling to have as long as it does not interfere with accepting the beautiful person that I am right now.  The years have gone by in what seems like a blink of an eye and that is what is so unbelievable.  I look at my daughter and see myself years younger and WOW, if that is not a reality check.  That is when the meaning of life and how generations are ready to step up and into the position of where I am hits home. It truly is a beautiful thing and growing older is an honor and privilege, but for many it is scary to face or accept.   It really is OK to say that I am fifty years old and that I am happy with my fitness level and body appearance. Loving ourselves right where we are is what starts the positive mental game process of improving and progressing.

Trashing who we are, verbally attacking our bodies, and feeling crappy or guilty about it is not a healthy way to live.  It is important to achieve the best health and fitness at every age and that is what matters in addition to being happy through the process.  No one enjoys being around a negative Nancy or Ned, and that can stop with each of us by holding our tongues and immediately changing our thought process to something positive when those negatives try to knock at our door. In fact, it is important to take it out of our door and right into the trash.

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Be well and Stay Healthy

Simple is Healthy

Simple is Healthy!

Simple is Healthy ~ Food, Part 1

YES�I have lots to say about keeping it simple and being such a chatter box, and trying not to jump too hard on the soap box, I knew this was going to become a series of SIMPLE.  I came across a quote that struck me �90% of people avoided obesity and diabetes long before anyone knew what a calorie was let alone counted them�let�s make �healthy� healthy again� and it ended with the word�SIMPLE.

WOW, I thought on that and realized just how dynamic and powerful this statement was to me and how true it is for my life.  As a child, my parents modeled living from the land in our back yard and boy do I ever remember how my weekends were spent�pulling weeds from the garden.  Talk about a bitter sweet chore as a child�dirty hands, dirty knees, blisters�and the smell of tomato leaves so strong it could choke you�anyone relate?  Fruit trees adorned our backyard, and my Dad was a master grafter trying to create the perfect blend of fabulous fruit flavors.  I could walk in the garden and pluck a vine ripe tomato or enjoy an apple from one of our many trees�Simple.  What I am trying to say by sharing a small glimpse into my childhood is that food should be simple, and for me�simple is healthy.  Part one of this Blog, I will be covering food and what simple means for my Stay Healthy Life and as it relates to what and how I eat. 

I enjoy food in its� true, SIMPLE form to this day and believe that the simpler the food, the healthier the food.  If it comes in a box, with a label full of words that I can�t understand, and the ingredient list takes up the entire side of the product, this is not a simple food�it is a bunch of mixed up crap in a box that sits on a shelf and has a shelf life longer than me.  That is what I am talking about, and am I going to put this in my body...A BIG NO on that.  Now, toss me an organic Fuji apple, and this is one happy girl ready to enjoy Simple Real Food, full of nutrients that my body needs.  Keeping food simple eliminates all stress of what I should be eating�how fabulous is that.  Once food becomes complicated, stress over the how much, what, and when  to eat enters the picture�ok�a small soap box�and thanks to agencies that will go un-named, media, marketing, blah blah blah�this world has gone crazy with complicated food and empty promises of pseudo health in a box that has greatly increased illness in this country.  Bringing food back to simple keeps me healthy and I am sure all of America would be healthier too. 

Simple means fresh, simple means I can pick the item up and smell it, and inspect it for the best pick of the produce.  Simple means one ingredient, I can usually eat the item at purchase, and if I am hungry for example, I will enjoy an organic piece of fruit during my drive.  When this concept is truly grasped, it eliminates all questions like�what did she/he eat to look like that? What did they do?  What diet was used�YUCK�diet is a dirty word in my book.  Keeping my food simple is how I maintain ME.  There is no secret this or that and I am hopeful that one day, everyone will wake up and realize this.  A few other foods that I include in my simple line up are organic boneless skinless chicken breasts, wild caught fish, grains, nuts, seeds, strained organic Greek yogurt, and cage free organic eggs�now, check this list in addition to what I shared earlier.  I am eating foods that are from the earth, as fresh as possible when I purchase organic, not processed in a factory and stuffed in a box. 

I enjoy the colors, aromas, textures, and flavors of simple foods and when I combine them into a salad�WOW�simple at its� very BEST!  Of course some of my food items come in bottles and containers such as my Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Vinegars, Honeys, Nut Butters, Quinoa, Brown Rice, Greek Yogurt, Almond Milk, etc�but I research to ensure that they are minimally and organically processed, minimal ingredients and simple stored form.  NOW�this is the thing about eating my simple food�if I do not eat it raw or blend for a green smoothie, I am in the kitchen slicing, dicing, and cooking up a SIMPLE and HEALTHY meal that surpasses any complicated junk- in- a- box non-food item that is being passed off as �good for your health� food. 

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

I enjoy a stress free simple eating life that allows me to enjoy lots of healthy foods throughout the day.  I do not keep a food journal, count calories, grams, ounces, etc�I SIMPLY eat to live.  My body tells me when to eat and that is usually every 2 � hours and I eat to satiety, not to feel uncomfortable.  It is amazing how much MORE food I can eat when it is simply healthy�my large salads for example�OH MY�they seem to get bigger instead of smaller with every bite.  One of my favorite simple veggies right now are brussel sprouts�.I roast these in the oven with EVOO and spices and OH MY�these nutrient packed baby cabbages are filling. 

So�.I will continue to keep my food SIMPLE�it is my LIFESTYLE�and I am happy to know that I am making �healthy� healthy again! Stay Healthy ~

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list.  If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding! 

 

Stay Healthy~ Darla

 

 

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Marie Claire and Neals Yard

This months copy of Marie Claire has the most gorgeous freebie...a tube of Neals Yard Frankincense Hydrating Cream. Its 25ml which is loads, and it retails for just under �10, so a total bargain.

I tried it out last night and this morning, and its so smoothing and hydrating, totally gorgeous. Its important for skin at this time of year to have a moisturiser that is hydrating, as skin is often drier because of cold winds and central heating.

Skin that is dehydrated can look rough and bumpy, as well as being slightly oily on the t-zone and dry on the cheeks. But, with morning and night moisturising, as well as making sure that skin is completely clean by cleansing and toning before popping on the gorgeous cream.

Its 91% organic too, full off essential oil extracts and skin plumping ingredients. I love this product so much!

Natural Skincare Routine

Its amazing how good Lauren's skin looks in the video, its certainly worth trying out some of her tips and homemade cosmetic recipes.

I tried out her almond meal scrub and it totally made my skin soft and dewy. It was a little bit tricky to apply, but if you make sure to do it over a sink or something, it will be fine. I added a little bit of neroli water to make a paste, which was gorgeous.