Time to Pause

Today I discovered an apple core buried deep inside my pocketbook, which was actually left over from last weeks’ snack on the go. Nice, huh? Fortunately, it was in a Ziploc bag, so things could have been worse. I did learn a few things from this apple core discovery though – first, that I really need to clean out my pocketbook more often and second, that I was making a conscious choice of eating an apple rather than some type of candy bar or sugary snack. Most importantly though, I needed to pay attention to the sign that came to me in the form of an apple core – that I needed to slow down. In the midst of the chaos that is our lives, we need to take a moment and pause. A time to stop and be mindful of what is really going on and enjoy the moment with no distractions.

We are all so busy with what is happening in our lives and we are all trying to wear different hats and so often it becomes overwhelming and frustrating. For me, I am trying to be the best mom to my beautiful girls, a loving wife to my wonderful husband, a supportive daughter to my fabulous parents and a caring sibling to my only sister. I am also trying to develop two different business ventures, keep the house clean, walk the dog, manage household schedules and duties and plan and execute nourishing meals that bring my family together. Most days, there are not enough hours left to accomplish everything on my to do list and I have to constantly remind myself that it is ok. I have to remember to work in some “me time” to prevent the chaos from turning into stress. I have to pare down on my schedule, give myself a break and reconnect with myself. By doing this, stress is reduced, frustrations are minimized and I still feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. Connecting with myself may come in the form of yoga or going on a bike ride or walking the dog and noticing the flowers that have started to bloom or driving in the car in silence to focus on driving through the beautiful community with no distractions.

By making a conscious effort connecting to ourselves, we may also find that it helps us in our relationships with others. If your teenager is non-stop talking about her dramatic day and you are furiously trying to make a work deadline, stop and pause. By putting down your work for a few minutes and really focus on listening; you may help to cultivate a better connection with your teen. Then, when you return to your work, you may discover that you now have a much clearer, more focused mind. If we don’t take the time to stop, pause and be mindful of the wonderful life that we have in front of us we may not be realizing our full potential and may end up getting stressed out due to our overwhelming lives. We may yell at our kids as a result of this build up of stress, we might neglect to properly care for our bodies by eating or drinking too much, or we might get depressed by what is happening economically and we can’t seem to thrive amongst the chaos. But we can, it’s all under our control and it’s about making choices.

Check in with yourself to see where you are at in your day, or how the week is shaping up for you. Do you have too much on your calendar? Can you cut back or delegate any of those items? It’s a matter of what works for you and how you can cultivate that sense of joy and passion and appreciation for yourself and others in your life. So, pay attention to the signs that come your way as reminders to slow down and pause and be in your moment – alive and awake.

In The Buff

I was beyond excited when I received an email from Buff'd Cosmetics asking if I'd be interested in receiving some makeup samples and writing a review about them in my blog. For those of you who know me well understand my penchant for playing with makeup, especially the kind that's good for your skin. So, of course I jumped at the chance!

Buff'd, a Canadian company, specializes in cosmetics made with the finest mineral powders and pigments. Their all natural products are free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, irritants and toxins.

As a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, I understand not only the importance of feeding yourself well from the inside out, but also from the outside in, as your body absorbs at least sixty percent of what you put on your skin. So, I'm a big advocate of mineral makeup and have been faithful to a certain brand, but I was willing to take a look at Buff'd and see how it compared to my current fave.

Well, I have to say, I was certainly impressed with all ten generous samples that were sent to me and I certainly put them to the test. The Warm foundation applied beautifully and balanced out the redness of my skin, while still allowing my natural glow to shine through. The Hallow finishing powder, which I applied over the foundation, gave me some extra radiance and eliminated the need for any touch ups. Then I mixed the Tulip blush with the Toast bronzer, gaving me a fabulous, sunkissed look. I finished by highlighting my eyes with Candlelight Illuminating Dust on my browbones, lined my peepers with the shimmery gunmetal-like Nova liner and placed a bit of the soft, pewter colored Denim shadow in the crease.

The minerals did not change color at all, taking me through a very humid day, part of which consisted of forty five minutes under the blow dryer at the hair salon as well as an evening event where I had to speak in front of over 200 people. The makeup provided the coverage I was looking for, without any heaviness at all, didn't cause any breakouts, and garnered plenty of compliments.

I'm certainly sold - check out the Buff'd site (http://www.buffd.com/) and place your order - I know I will!

Get Your Fix

I had been wanting to give up my thirteen year coffee habit, but was fearful of how I would survive without my daily jolt. I loved the ritual of starting my day with a warm, delicious beverage, but had read some bad press about caffeinated coffee and even more bad press about decaf coffee and the chemical laden process decaffeinating beans involves. Caffeine causes a blood sugar drop, followed by increased sugar cravings, which could contribute to weight gain. Caffeine can also affect sleep, may accelerate aging and has been linked to elevated cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone and when elevated can cause an accumulation of abdominal fat - okay, we don't need anymore of that!

So, after hearing about Teeccino coffee alternative and its long list of benefits - freedom from cravings, easier weight loss, a flatter abdomen, diminished under eye puffinesss, clearer skin, a natural digestive aid and restores alkaline balance and energy to the body - I decided to give it a try. So, I got out my french press (the company recommends this as the best method to brew Teeccino), waited a few minutes for it to brew, added my stevia and organic half and half and was instantly hooked! It tasted like a smoother, more delicious version of coffee, similar to a flavored coffee, as I had chosen the the Vanilla Nut variety, which is naturally flavored, with no artificial ingredients.

I have not looked back since and even my husband and older daughter have joined me in drinking and enjoying Teecino. I still savor the ritual of a warm, soothing beverage, just now in a different form. Check out http://www.teeccino.com/ for your free sample and recipe ideas.

Turn On Your Smart Stick

Eggonomical Eating

As we are all facing these challenging economical times, cutting back or going without certain items, especially when it comes to food, has become the norm these days. We all know that good health is priceless, and if we make an effort to nourish and care for our bodies, we will be blessed with vitality and longevity. Feeding our bodies well shouldn't break the bank, though and that's why today's post highlights one of the most budget-friendly, versatile, good-for-you foods - the egg! Coming in at less than twenty cents per egg for organic and even less for non-organic, they are a bargain lovers dream. Scrambled, hard-boiled, poached, fried - there are many opportunities to incorporate the egg into your meals and snacks. Packed with protein, lecithin and phospholipids, eggs happen to be excellent for your skin, arteries and your waistline. In fact, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, eating eggs for breakfast made overweight women crave and eat less until lunch the next day. So, keep a supply of hard boiled eggs in your fridge, so you'll always have one or two to grab for a healthy snack, or to use in a quick lunch over chopped veggies and greens. You can even whip them up into an easy, crustless quiche that your whole family can enjoy and still stick to a budget. Try out my favorite crustless quiche recipe below that's perfect for any time of day. You can even get creative by using leftover veggies that happen to be lingering in your fridge. You can brainstorm and come up with your own variations, incorporating crabmeat, taco fixings ( ok - not both together), whatever appeals to you - would love to hear what combinations you come up with!

Basic Quiche:

1 3/4 - 2 Cups organic half and half

4 organic eggs, beaten

Salt and Pepper

1 to 2 Cups cooked chopped meat and/or veggies

1 to 2 cups shredded cheese

Whisk half and half and eggs in mixing bowl. Add in filling ingredients and cheese into well greased pie pan, no need for crust. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes, then lower heat to 350 and bake another 30 minutes or so. Allow to set 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with tossed green salad if desired.

Reach Cooking Nirvana in Your Own Kitchen

As we come upon the eight year anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, I recall feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness on that day and for many months after, much like the rest of the world was feeling. I just wanted to be at home, knowing that I was with my family and that we were all safe. I realized that I couldn’t hole up in the house forever, but I did discover something that brought me great comfort and a sense of calm - being in the kitchen cooking a warm, nourishing meal for my family.

More than ever, I felt the need to bring my family together and one of the ways was to all be at the dinner table catching up on each others’ day. So, I spent my days looking at recipes and discovered that I loved to create comfort foods – meals that bring you in from the cold and warm your whole body (maybe that’s part of the reason why I live in New England!) - foods like a hearty turkey chili, meatball soup topped with fresh grated parmesan, crispy herb roasted chicken, melt in your mouth Italian pot roast and out of this world eggplant rollatini. These are meals that are easy to prepare and can sit all afternoon in the oven, crock pot or stove, permeating the house with their rich aroma.

When the family arrives safe and warm at home that's when the togetherness begins. Gathered around the dinner table, sharing, laughing and just connecting – that’s what it’s all about. So, whether you need to distress from the day or just channel your inner Julia Child, cultivate your calm in the kitchen by cooking nourishing, wholesome and satisfying meals for your family.

Start by looking for recipes (check my website http://www.nutritionalmerritt.com/ for a few to get you started), gather your ingredients and take your time - make sure your little ones are out of the house or occupied, so you can focus. Put on some favorite music and let the fabulous scents that you create in the kitchen help to soothe your soul. Pretty soon you will have reached cooking nirvana and all your worries will have miraculously melted away. Give it a try - would love to hear how it works out!

Add Some Hemp to Your Day in a Legal Way

I discovered a new food item that I'm in love with that totally enhances my meals, taking them to the next level. While away on vacation, visiting a local health food store, I stumbled upon an item that I had read great things about - raw hemp seeds. Ok, they are totally legal, super nutritious and can be used in so many different dishes. A cross between sesame seeds and pine nuts, these little grain-like wonders are packed with essential omega fats (these are the good fats), protein, fiber and tons of vitamins and minerals.

I first tried these beauties sprinkled on my salad - totally amping it up to gourmet status. I then tried the seeds as a bed for my homemade turkey meat sauce, instead of using pasta, which gave the dish amazing flavor and texture. Their fat and protein content helped to keep me satiated and held cravings at bay.

I have been thinking of ways to incorporate these delectable seeds into more recipes - perhaps using them in place of rice for stuffed peppers, substituting them for bulgur in a tabouli salad, the possibilities are endless. Give these hemp seeds a go, whether you're looking to replace grains & pasta due to food intolerances, want to add more omega fats to your diet to recapture radiance and lift depression or are just looking to boost your overall health. Check out http://www.nutiva.com/ to find a store near you so you can be on your way to adding a little hemp to your day!