by Christina | Dec 14, 2016 | Wellness
“It’s so hard to shop for guys.” I hear this constantly during the holidays. I think that we think it’s hard to shop for guys, but the truth is, it’s not really. It seems difficult because men are pretty simple. And women overthink everything. Most guys are also minimalists, too, so there’s not much they need that they don’t already have. While that might make us think its harder to shop for men than for women, it’s actually easier. I’m pretty sure most guys will be excited to receive anything you pick out for them.
I will admit, though, that I tend to spend a lot of money on gifts for the men in my life. I’m not totally sure why that is. My hunch is that because most guys already have what they need, I want to buy them extras that they don’t need, which tend to be nicer items. Fancy ish.
That being said, I’ve compiled a gift guide for the men in your life with the help of one of my best guy friends. In other words, I suggested things and had him tell me yes or no. And then he suggested things. So this has a male stamp of approval, in case you were nervous! #Legit
This guide is much shorter than my gift guide for women, so it’s not broken up into parts. I’ll just explain everything as I go.
Stonewall Kitchen Sweet Grille Sauce Collection: I bought these for my dad one year for his birthday, and he has asked for them for every single holiday ever since. He has literally asked 5 people to buy him these this year for Christmas. I wish these were healthy, but they’re not. But hey, it’s Christmas! The good news is that I can pronounce all of the ingredients and I know what the ingredients are! It could be worse. Anyways, he tells me these are the best BBQ sauces in the game. I don’t know many guys who wouldn’t go for a good BBQ sauce.
Stainless Steel BBQ Tool Set: If your man is into grilling, then hook him up with some classy grilling tools! He will actually use them, so he will appreciate them. Plus, it might incentivize him to cook you up something super yummy! 😉
Leather Card Case: Apparently card cases are the cool new thing. Guys have the ability to travel light (unlike me with my 300 pound purse), and a card case is even more convenient for them than a wallet. Since most men already have a nice wallet, why not get them a classy card case to spice things up?!
Sephora Favorites Cologne Sampler: Every man needs a good scent. And, just like for women, picking a scent is tricky. It’s personal! That’s where the cologne sampler comes in. He can sample a ton of different fragrances, and then he can use the Scent Certificate to redeem a full-sized set of his choice! In a way, he’s picking out his own present. For everything you get in this set, it’s a total steal.
Chukka Boots: These are soooo classy. If the man in question doesn’t already have a pair of quality, nice shoes, buy him some! Chukka boots are super popular right now, and these ones from Steve Madden were the best quality chukka boots I could find that were also relatively affordable. My friend also recommended these ones from Clark’s, which are a little bit more expensive, but well worth the money.
Topman Cotton Bomber Jacket: So swaggy. Bomber jackets can be dressed up or dressed down, and black goes with everything. Word on the street is that you should order a size up in this particular jacket, just to be safe. If your guy isn’t very stylish, then Christmas is the perfect time to trick him into getting a little more fashionable!
MVMT Watch: Let’s be honest – watches are kind of the only accessory guys can really switch up. I don’t think a guy can have too many watches. MVMT has some really nice styles at really affordable prices, so browse around! Casual, fancy, bulky, slim…they’ve got it all.
Stainless Steel Beer Mug: Just like every woman needs a girly mug for her tea, every man needs a MAN MUG. Not only is it perfect for coffee in the morning, but it’s also ideal for keepin’ your beer cool at night. Insulation for the win!
The Art of Shaving – The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave Carry-On: This set comes with pre-shave oil, shaving cream, after-shave balm, and a shaving brush! This is the male version of fancy personal care products that us women love to unnecessarily buy each other. You know he’ll use it at some point, and it’s travel-friendly! Why not take something as boring as shaving and try to spice it up a little bit?
Beautycounter Naughty to Nice Gift Set: I’m serious when I say everybody needs Beautycounter’s charcoal cleansing bar and charcoal mask. My sister got her boyfriend to start using it, and he loves it. My aunt got my uncle to start using it, and he loves it too. EVERYONE LOVES IT. This will transform anybody’s skin. Any age, any skin type. Do it.
Powerbeats Wireless: Yes, these are expensive. But you’ll be the hero if you get these. Don’t forget, you can always go in on a gift with another person, or a few other people, so that you don’t have to pay the full amount! I feel like these headphones are on every guy’s wish list, and you know he will definitely use them.
Sports Jersey: If the man in question has a favorite sports team or favorite player, go for a jersey or a T-shirt! It’s a nice way to show that you know something personal about him, and he will love that you put some thought into it.
Anyone else think guys aren’t as hard to shop for as we all think? I think we need to stop overthinking it!
by Christina | Dec 13, 2016 | Recipes, Wellness
Good ole’ golden milk. It’s all over the Internet. I don’t mean to sound super cool or anything, buuuut I’ve been drinking golden milk for quite a few years now. Pre-popularity. It’s such a basic recipe that I never thought to even put it on the blog, but I recently came up with a new twist on the old classic. Golden. Milk. Pudding.
As much as I love golden milk, I much prefer to eat something rather than drink something. I like substance. There’s also something really soothing about a pudding or a Jell-O. It brings me back to my childhood when my mom would make me custard or strawberry Jell-O as a treat, especially when I was sick. But this time, it’s actually healthy.
The beauty of this recipe is that you can make it either a pudding or a Jell-O by using the same ingredients – you just gotta adjust the measurements a tad. I love to make it both ways, depending on my mood.
Let’s get back to golden milk for a second. Maybe you haven’t tried it. Maybe you haven’t even heard of it. In case you haven’t, I’ll tell ya a little bit about this magical potion. Golden milk has been used for a loooong time as a healing remedy in Ayurvedic medicine, especially when it comes to digestion, immunity, and liver function. It’s also been used as a folk remedy for colds, headaches, sore throats, and depression. The “gold” in golden milk comes from turmeric, which contains circumin, a polyphenol with a ton of health benefits. Two of my favorites? Circumin helps reduce inflammation and eliminate toxins in the body. Obviously, my favorite part of golden milk is its digestive benefits. You know me and digestive health… It’s my number one fave.
In general, golden milk is very relaxing and comforting. I love having golden milk before bed as a way to calm myself down and soothe my stomach. What’s in it, anyways? There are different variations, but mainly – coconut milk, turmeric, ginger, pepper, vanilla, and cinnamon. The oddball is pepper, I know. But you need the pepper! When you add black pepper to a mixture that contains turmeric, the body absorbs the turmeric 2000% better. WHOA.
So how do you turn regular golden milk into golden milk PUDDING or golden milk JELL-O?! Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin, of course! I’ve briefly discussed the health benefits of collagen before, but I’ll review them again. First of all, the collagen protein in beef gelatin is a powerhouse when it comes to digestive improvements. Gelatin lines the GI tract to help enhance the nutrients absorbed from your food and improve your overall gut health. That’s key if you want to heal leaky gut. Adding gelatin to the already powerful benefits of turmeric makes this recipe a GUT HEALTH DREAM. The collagen in gelatin also helps strengthen bones, reduce inflammation, improve sleep quality, and enhance the health of your hair, skin, and nails. So it’s a beauty food, too! Plus, it contains 17 grams of protein per serving. Hello, muscles!
Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin is Paleo, gluten-free, sugar-free, and hormone-free. And Whole 30 approved! In fact, this entire recipe is. It’s also AIP–friendly. You can choose to add sweetener if you want, but I prefer not to. I think it’s just as good without it.
This recipe is full of healthy fats from the coconut milk and lots of protein from the gelatin, so it’ll fill you up! This is also a great recipe to meal prep ahead of time. It only takes a few minutes, and the next day you can just grab it and go. I’ve been having this as a snack nonstop for the past few weeks…and I’m definitely not getting tired of it.
Golden Milk Pudding / Jell-O (Gluten-Free / Paleo / AIP-Friendly)
Serves: 1-2
Time: 5-10 minutes, plus refrigeration for a few hours/overnight
Ingredients:
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean powder (I prefer vanilla bean powder)
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 – 1 tbsp Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin
- Optional: 1 tbsp maple syrup, honey, or other sweetener
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients besides the gelatin into a small saucepan. Mix everything together until it is well combined.
- Now it’s time to bloom the gelatin! To do so, sprinkle the gelatin in a single layer on top of the coconut milk mixture. If you want a pudding-like consistency, use 3/4 tbsp of gelatin. If you want the consistency to be firmer, like Jell-O, use 1 tbsp.
- You’ll see the gelatin form a thicker layer on top of the coconut milk. Use a whisk to stir the gelatin into the coconut milk mixture, and then heat the saucepan over medium-low heat. It just has to get warm enough for the gelatin to melt and dissolve into the mixture, which only takes a few minutes. Keep whisking while you’re heating it.
- When everything looks dissolved after a few minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and pour it into whatever container you’re going to use – mason jar, bowl, etc. You can pour it all into one container or split it into two.
- Let the mixture cool in the container(s) for five minutes or so, and then place the bowls in the fridge for the pudding/Jell-O to set. You can leave it in the fridge overnight (which is what I usually do) or just for a few hours.
- Once the pudding is set, enjoy! You can top it with coconut flakes, nuts, or any other toppings your heart desires!
by Christina | Dec 13, 2016 | Wellness
I know I’m kinda late on this, but if you’re anything like me, you haven’t done your Christmas shopping yet. Whoops.
I’m about to say something that might seem really strange considering the title of this post. If you really want to give an amazing gift…don’t follow a gift guide.
I’m serious. Don’t get me wrong – I love gift guides. They’re extremely helpful. Buuuut I would never get someone who means a lot to me something from a gift guide. I pride myself on giving excellent presents, and the key to giving a good gift is creativity. Think hard about the person you want to get a gift for, and try to think of something unique for that person. Something that would really really resonate with them and mean something to them. You have to think outside the box. Also, try to choose something the person wouldn’t usually buy for herself. That’s what makes a kickass present.
I admit, it can be difficult to come up with gift ideas, though. That’s where a gift guide comes in handy. This is my interpretation of fabulous presents for the women in your life, which means you might not be into everything I suggest. That’s totally okay! But maybe I can give you at least one new idea that you didn’t think of before. I tried to cover every price range and every type of woman. We’re all very different, after all.
Disclaimer: The beauty section is going to be ridiculously long…Sorry ’bout it.
For the Beauty Babe
Basically, I would highly suggest everything on the Beautycounter site. The holiday sets are seriously amazing. I’m pretty much buying everyone I know a holiday set. Plus, it’s a great way to help your friends and family transition over to products with clean, safe ingredients. Even though I would suggest everything, here are my top picks!
Beautycounter Winter Warmth Palette: If you’re shopping for a makeup lover, she’ll adore this palette. It comes with 6 gorgeous eyeshadow shades, two blush shades, and a highlighter. These colors go perfectly with every skin tone, so you seriously can’t go wrong.
Naughty to Nice Gift Set: This set includes the Charcoal Bar and the Purifying Charcoal Mask – my two favorite Beautycounter products. These products will transform anyone’s skin. I’ve never met someone who wasn’t obsessed with these after trying them.
Our Favorites for Your Favorite Gift Set: This gift set includes the Rosewater Mist, the Cream Exfoliator, the Day Cream, the Hydrating Face Oil, and the Peppermint Lip Conditioner. This contains all the staples, so it’s basically the perfect Beautycounter starter set.
Morphe 35O Eyeshadwo Palette: If you’re on a budget but want to gift a really nice makeup palette, GET THIS. Obviously I am partial to Beautycounter because the ingredients are so clean. However, this is much lower in price range. Setting ingredients aside, I love Morphe shadows. These are some of the best quality eyeshadows I’ve ever used, and you get a ton of shades for an extremely low price. All of the shades are very pigmented, blendable, and versatile.
Morphe 12 Piece Brush Set: I feel like makeup brush sets are such an overlooked gift idea. There are so many women who don’t have quality makeup brushes, and good makeup brushes are game changers. Morphe Brushes are extremely affordable, and they’re better than almost every high-end makeup brush I’ve ever tried.
Drybar Let it Blow! Ultimate Travel Essentials Kit: If you have a higher budget, then a blow dryer is the way to go. Do you know how many women have shitty-ass hair dryers?! It’s a crime. And most women feel guilty about buying themselves a new, nice hair dryer. This one from Drybar is seriously amazing, and it comes with a mini brush, alligator clips (my obsession), detangler, and dry shampoo and conditioner. (This is one of my favorite dry shampoos!)
Sephora Favorites Extravagant Eyes: In general, the Sephora Favorites sets are great because they have a wide variety of products, and you get get to sample a lil’ bit of everything. I love getting my friends these sets – everyone is always excited to try something new. Aaaand this is definitely the kind of thing most people don’t buy for themselves!
Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite Set: Who doesn’t love getting new lippies?! I’m obsessed with this set… I bought it for myself. Bite Beauty makes my favorite lipsticks, and the ingredients are very on point compared to most other brands. Plus, this includes great everyday shades in addition to some more dramatic tones, so there’s something for everyone!
Formula X – X in the City Nail Polish Set: I looooove getting nail polish for Christmas because I feel guilty buying it for myself. I don’t know any girl who wouldn’t be excited to get new nail polish for Christmas. This set has a great shade range, and Formula X is one of my favorite nail polish formulas. HIGH QUALITY, but a great gift if you’re on a budget!
Lorac PRO Eyeshadow Palette: I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it many times again…This is my all-time favorite eyeshadow palette. If you can only have one palette in your life, get this. Every person can get a ton of use out of this. The shades are extremely pigmented, smooth, and blendable. I’m addicted.
Sephora Favorites Perfume Travel Sampler: I ask for this every single year. There’s a bigger one that’s slightly more expensive, but I included this one because it’s more affordable. Most people don’t like to splurge on fragrances for themselves, which makes perfume a really nice gift to give. However, it can be sketchy to pick out a fragrance for someone else. That’s why this sampler is perfect! No choosing required. And it comes with a voucher for a free rollerball or travel spray of the person’s choice! Such a steal. (Mom, if you’re reading this… I want this plz.)
LUSH Jolly Hollydays Set: Every LUSH set is incredible, but I just picked a mid-range one that I liked the best, which I actually bought for one of my friends. LUSH products are so indulgent and dreamy. They make any woman feel like a queen. This one comes with 3 bath bombs, a shower gel, and a soap bar. Everything smells like heaven and is adorably packaged, of course. Again, it’s an extra-special gift because most people wouldn’t splurge on this for themselves.
For the Active Lady
Fitbit: If you’re splurging on your mom, Fitbits seem to be the way to go. I don’t have one, and I don’t really want one, but everyone else seems to be obsessed with these things. And I mean, who would turn down a cool fitness gadget?
Yoga Mat: Every girl needs a yoga mat. Even if she doesn’t do yoga. Top of the line yoga mats can be really expensive, but these ones from Lululemon are great quality and a really reasonable price.
Foam Roller: If yo’ girl is active, SHE NEEDS A FOAM ROLLER. Most people neglect foam rolling, but it’s absolutely essential for full recovery and muscle-soothing. Help a girl out and hook her up.
For the Fashionista
V-Neck Sweater: If you’re going to go for clothes, shoot for something that’s easy to guess someone’s size in. Like a large sweater. Not a tight shirt. Everyone needs a comfy sweater, and this will look good on anyone.
Black Crossbody Bag: Everyone also needs a black crossbody bag, whether they know it or not. This looks extremely high-end, but it’s very inexpensive. This literally goes with every single outfit, and it can be paired with a casual outfit or something fancier. It honestly looks exactly like a $300 Rebecca Minkoff bag.
BaubleBar Bar Pendant Necklace: When it comes to jewelry, I recommend always keeping it simple. A bar necklace is very simple, elegant, classy, and versatile. And I really want it, so I’m just assuming everyone else will think it’s cute too.
Alex and Ani Bracelet: These are literally the only bracelets I will ever wear. They’re so freakin’ cute. There are so many to pick from, and you can’t go wrong! Pick a bracelet that you think your lady will love. That’s how you personalize the gift — really try to figure out what would mean something to her! There should be a purpose behind the charm that you pick. If she doesn’t already have one, this can be a fun way to help her start an Alex & Ani bracelet collection. Maybe for her birthday you can get her another one!
For the Kitchen Queen
Sweet Sentiment Teapot: Every woman needs a good teapot. Classy, simple, elegant. And again, most people won’t go out of the way to buy this for themselves. Plus, this one is very Instagram-able.
David’s Tea Oh, Christmas Treats: This set contains 12 different loose leaf teas from David’s Tea — perf for any tea lover in your life! David’s Tea has some of my absolute favorite dessert teas. If you haven’t noticed, I practically live at David’s when I go home for the holidays. I’ve gotten this for my friends before for previous Christmases, and they all adored this gift.
Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain: Celebrations: I love all of Danielle Walker’s cookbooks and think they would all be perfect gifts for anyone. Her recipes are healthy, simple, and totally delicious. Celebrations focuses on recipes that are perfect for special occasions, so it’s the perfect cookbook to use to make HEALTHY holiday treats! Also, I personally don’t think anyone can have too many cookbooks!
For the Simple Woman
Capri Blue Candle: Not only does this candle smell amazing, but it’s also gorgeous. You can’t go wrong with cute decor, and you definitely can’t go wrong with making your house smell like heaven. This candle comes in a few scents, so pick what you like. Most people don’t want to indulge in a fancy candle for themselves, so do it for them!
Monogram Mug: I don’t know any woman who wouldn’t love a new mug. These are extra cute, and they feel more personalized because of the monogram. Plain mugs are boring. You could also pair this gift with a new tea or some fancy coffee — perfect present!
Erin Condren Custom Life Planner: A new year is coming up, which means everyone needs to get a new planner. It doesn’t necessarily have to be this planner, but these are great gifts because they’re so customized. Plus, you know she will definitely use this. If you have a disorganized friend, this is the perfect way to sneakily clean up her life…
PHEW! That was a long one, but hopefully it gave you guys some gift ideas! I’ll be posting two more gift guides this week, so STAY TUNED! XO
by Christina | Dec 10, 2016 | Recipes, Wellness
I am utterly inexplicably absolutely completely head-over-heels in love with these cookies.
Can we just take a second to acknowledge how exciting it is to finally get into holiday baking?! It’s one of my favorite parts of the season. I feel like every kind of cookie is appropriate and necessary at this time of year. I mean, milk and cookies…Santa… duh. Plus, every cookie is the perfect companion to a warm mug of hot cocoa. Am I right or amirite?!
Growing up, I wasn’t really a fan of eating gingerbread man cookies. I was obsessed with the book, The Gingerbread Man, though. When I was 3 and didn’t know how to read yet, I made my grandma read me the story over and over again until I had it memorized. Once I did, I told her that I wanted to read her the book. She was so impressed when I recited it. Basically, I tricked her into thinking I knew how to read. She found out the truth when she tested me on another book, though.
My grandma loved gingerbread men. We used to bake them all the time together, and for that reason, I loved them too. I adored the ritual. I loved to make the dough and play around with it. I loved to steal some when she wasn’t looking. I remember thinking how heavy the rolling pin was. I could barely lift it up. Rolling out the dough literally knocked the life out of me because I was such a tiny human.
She used to get mad at me because I would hit my hand on the flour on the table so that it would puff up into the air in a huge cloud. I thought I was hilarious. Then she would dip her hand into the flour and tap me on the nose. “Christina, the White-Nosed Reindeer!” So many giggles.
Then came the decorating. That was my absolute favorite part. I always wanted the pink icing, and I insisted that we only make gingerbread women. Yes, I’ve been a hardcore feminist for as long as I can remember.
I’ve always been really bad at decorating gingerbread people, though. Dealing with icing is so precise. Nonetheless, we made a party out of it.
As much fun as I had baking and decorating the cookies with my grandma, they always turned out hard as a rock. I love that woman, may she rest in peace, but she had a knack for overcooking/burning pretty much everything. A trait she passed onto my mother, as well.
So I was never really into eating them. I thought I was going to break my teeth. And because they were overcooked, they tasted kind of bland anyways. I would eat them, though, just to please her.
It took me quite awhile to try gingerbread cookies from another source, and when I did, I was like… Okay, okay. Pretty good. Nothing life-changing, but yummy. And very seasonal, so obviously I’m on board. However, I still kept running into the problem of the cookies not being soft enough. I like a chewy cookie. A chewy, rich cookie. I wasn’t getting that from most gingerbread men.
Here is my twist on the gingerbread man. You can make the cookie sandwiches, or you can just make regular cookies without the filling. You can use a gingerbread cookie cutter, you can use a different shape, or you can make them regular circular if you don’t have a cookie cutter! Whatever you want. They’ll still taste fabulous, no matter what shape they’re in.
These gingerbread men are perfectly moist and chewy. They’re not hard and stiff. At all. Texture is on point. They’re like the perfect chocolate chip cookie, but not chocolate chip. You know what I mean?
Then, let’s get onto the flavor. These bad boys PACK A PUNCH. I won’t lie, they’re rich. Which I love. If you assemble the entire cookie sandwich, you’ve got a dense dessert. In the best way possible. My sister and I were eating them warm with a fork. Like cake.
So you’ve got two layers of rich, soft, chewy, gingerbread goodness sandwiching a warm, sweet, gooey filling. If regular gingerbread is too zingy for you, the filling really helps balance it out. Takes the edge off. Brings the ginger zap down a bit, but adds a deeper, heavier flavor. It’s honestly divine.
You could also just use the filling as a topping if you want. I have an addiction to cookie sandwiches, though, so I couldn’t help myself. The filling is a coconut butter base, of course. Do I do anything without coconut butter? It’s so delicious, thick, and creamy.
Whenever I have sugar, I always try to pair it with protein and/or fat. That helps blunt the insulin spike from the sugar you’re consuming, and as I’ve explained before, you want balanced blood sugar. Healthy fats comin’ in clutch, once again. So not only does the filling add a rich, decadent layer of yumminess to the treat, but it also makes your bod happier.
These are extremely simple and quick. You don’t need to make ’em look fancy. They’re also super fun to make, especially if you do the full gingerbread-man-sandwich version. Using a cookie cutter is a magical experience. And rolling out the dough, playin’ around with the flour… Perf bonding activity for friends. 🙂
Other reason I’m super proud of these? NO REFINED SUGAR. You don’t need it. Molasses and maple syrup add more than enough sweetness, and these cookies won’t leave you feelin’ like crap afterward. Even with my ultra sensitive stomach, I literally ate 14 of these in one sitting (wouldn’t recommend that though, because then you gotta make another batch….) and had no stomach issues at all. That’s basically unheard of for me because I’m so sugar-sensitive.
Refined-sugar-free, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, paleo, vegan…EVERYTHING. Make ’em for your family, make ’em for your friends, and make ’em for Santa. Even he will be impressed. I mean, these aren’t just your regular gingerbread men! They’re so much more. Plus, you get to avoid the frustrating decorating-with-icing process, and disguise any sub-par decorating skills with fancy cookie-sandwich-making skills.
Paleo / Vegan Gingerbread Men Cookie Sandwiches
Makes: 14 cookies
Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
Cookies:
- 2 1/4 cups almond flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 cup dark maple syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt
- 2 tbsp molasses
- 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
Filling:
- 1/2 cup coconut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350*F. Grease a cookie sheet with coconut oil.
- Mix all of the cookie ingredients together in a large bowl.
- When the dough is formed, add a thin layer of gluten-free flour (I used arrowroot) to a large surface. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out until it’s about 1/2 an inch thick. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter, or any other cookie cutter, to cut out gingerbread man-shaped cookies.
- Add the cookies to the cookie sheet, spread about an inch apart from each other. After you use up as much of the dough as you can, smash the leftover dough into a ball, roll it out, and repeat the process again until you’ve used up almost all of the dough.
- If you don’t want to make actual gingerbread men, you can just make regular cookies with your hands by ripping off pieces of the dough and making circular cookies about 1/2 an inch thick.
- Place the cookies in the oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges look slightly browned. They should rise a little bit and they might look slightly undercooked, but they’ll keep cooking and harden more when you take them out. After the cookies are done, allow them to cool for about 15 minutes.
- While the cookies are in the oven, make the frosting. If your coconut butter is hard, place it in the microwave in a microwave-safe container for about 20 seconds to melt it.
- Add all of the filling ingredients into a small bowl and mix them together until everything is well-combined.
- To assemble the cookie sandwiches, use a knife to spread some of the filling onto the underside of a gingerbread man. You can make it as thick or as thin as you want! Then place another gingerbread man on top, with the flat side facing the filling, and repeat with more cookies!
- You can also use the filling as a frosting and top the gingerbread men with the filling, or you can just eat the gingerbread men plain.
- EAT AND ENJOY!
I hope you enjoy these gingerbread men as much as I do. If you make them, be sure to tag me (@addicted_to_lovely) in your photo! Aaaaand I want to know…What’s your favorite holiday treat?!
by Christina | Dec 6, 2016 | Recipes, Wellness
We all know that my obsession with green smoothies is a little too real. If you watch my Instagram or Snapchat stories, you know I drink a green smoothie every single day. Usually as my afternoon snack.
When made properly, green smoothies are powerhouses when it comes to health benefits. Unfortunately, most people make a high-sugar, fruit-filled smoothie, add in some spinach to make it green, and call it a day. That is not my idea of a healthy green smoothie.
I’ve had this recipe on repeat for weeks now, and I seriously can’t get enough. You guys have all been asking for the recipe, so I had to share. I follow a high-fat diet, and this smoothie is healthy-fat central. Because this smoothie is high in fats, your blood sugar will stay balanced, and you’re going to stay full for a long period of time.
Besides tasting amazing, this smoothie is thick – my #1 smoothie requirement. It’s just not as satisfying if it’s not thick, ya know? More than that, though, every single ingredient in this smoothie is exploding with health benefits. And it’s a super simple recipe. You don’t need to add in 5,000 superfood powders to create a delicious, healthy smoothie.
Let’s talk about those ingredients, shall we? We all know I have a coconut addiction – coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut butter, coconut flakes. It’s by far one of my favorite flavors on this planet. If you don’t eat coconut butter by the spoonful, you’re seriously missing out. It tastes like frosting.
Most people tout the benefits of coconut oil, but what about coconut meat itself? This smoothie contains coconut butter, coconut meat, and unsweetened coconut flakes. Just like coconut oil, coconut meat and its by-products contain medium chain triglycerides, also known as MCTs. I’m sure you’ve heard of MCTs before. MCTs are basically magical fuel. They move straight from the intestines to the liver and are immediately turned into fuel for your bod, which means they won’t hang out and store as fat. MCTs actually boost the metabolism and help promote fat loss. MCTs also increase the body’s ketone levels, and ketones are a fab source of energy for the brain. Heard of the term “fat burner”? If you’re a fat burner, your body knows how to use fat instead of glucose to power up.
Coconut meat is full of vitamins A and E, polyphenols, and phytosterols, which all work to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Did you know that areas of the world with the highest amounts of coconut consumption have the lowest rates of heart disease? Now you do.
High in fat and fiber, coconut meat is QUEEN when it comes to keeping you full and satisfied. Coconut consumption has been linked to better immune health due to its anti-viral and antibacterial properties, and it has also been linked to improved thyroid function. And what about the beauty benefits?! Coconut consumption has been shown to keep your hair healthy and improve the look of your skin. ALL ABOUT THOSE HEALTHY FATS.
The next star of the show is Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Greens. Where do I even begin with this stuff? I’ve been taking collagen every single day for almost two years now. I cannot being to explain to you what it’s done to transform my digestive system, my skin, my hair, and my joints. I’m going to do an entire post on collagen very soon, because I really want to get into it. I really think everyone should be taking collagen every single day. But for now — let’s focus on the Beauty Greens.
First of all, the Beauty Greens are Paleo, gluten-free, and sugar-free. Duh. The collagen is from non-GMO, wild-caught red snapper. I’ll save all the details about collagen for my in-depth post, but what you need to know right now is that collagen improves the health of your hair, skin, and nails. Like, your hair and nails will grow insanely quickly, and your skin will definitely become more vibrant and supple. Collagen also helps build and preserve muscle, reduces inflammation in the body, and helps heal the gut lining.
Let’s talk about gut health for a sec. Collagen itself is amazing for digestive health, but the Beauty Greens are extra fab for digestion because they contain probiotics. (Bacillus coagulans, to be exact.) Probiotics are key when it comes to digestive health, but they also support the immune system and protect against skin conditions, like eczema, as well.
The Beauty Greens taste like heaven. They’re coconut-vanilla flavored, which is seriously the ultimate combo. They also contain 10 grams of protein per scoop, and this smoothie has 2 scoops. So 20 grams of protein. That’ll keep you full, and it’ll help you build dat muscle.
The last few ingredients are spinach and cinnamon. Spinach is high in zinc, magnesium, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, potassium, copper… the list goes on. I mean, it’s spinach.
I put cinnamon into every single smoothie I make, and it’s not only because it makes everything taste extra delicious. Cinnamon helps balance blood sugar levels, which should be your goal every time you eat. Balanced blood sugar means a happy body! Cinnamon also has antibiotic and antimicrobial effects that benefit the skin, so it’s a must in a beauty drink!
Basically, you cannot go wrong with this smoothie. It’s delicious, it supports gut health, and it’s the ultimate beauty smoothie.
Creamy Coconut Green Beauty Smoothie
Serves: 1
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 Handfuls of Spinach (I always use Organic Girl)
- 1/2 cup coconut meat (I always buy pre-cut from Whole Foods because I’m lazy)
- 2 tbsp raw coconut butter (Artisana is my favorite)
- 2 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Beauty Greens
- 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup ice (use more ice if you want it thicker, but it will dilute the flavor a little bit)
- dash of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup water
- 1-2 tbsp coconut flakes
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients except for the coconut flakes into a blender and blend. Add more water to thin, if you want.
- Pour into a glass and top with coconut flakes.
- Enjoy!
Let me know if you try it! What’s YOUR go-to green smoothie?
