Matcha: Your Guide To This Wonder Tea!

Credit

Hey loves! This is a post I have been wanting to write for some time, as I have recently discovered this delish and multi-beneficial tea! However, I happened to have had this submitted to me to post, so I decided to just go ahead and share this one instead! Still covers pretty much everything I planned to say, so it's all good! :-)

Anyhoo..read on and let me know your thoughts on this tea - have you tried it? How do you drink it - iced, hot? What is your favorite brand of Matcha tea? Let me know in the comments below!

Peace & Love,
~Sabrina xoxo

Matcha: Your Guide To This Wonder Tea! 

~This post was submitted to TBE

You might have heard of the new wonder tea that just about everybody is trying these days. No, it’s not green tea. Health and fitness experts have been drinking green tea for ages in the hopes that everybody else will catch on. It’s matcha! Now, although matcha has been around for a while, it’s only just hit the mainstream. This guide will tell you a bit more about it and why you should drink it!

The History of Matcha

Matcha tea is an ancient Japanese tea. It’s been around since the 12th century in Japan, when monks used to drink it to help them expand their awareness. The tea soon became consumed by people outside of monk colonies, and it has been a well-kept secret ever since. It is pure green tea powder, making your drink a very deep green in colour.

Why You Should Drink Matcha

There are so many reasons you should give matcha go, as its benefits are unmatched by any other tea. Matcha tea is 10 times more powerful than regular green tea. That’s right; 10 times! It’s really high in antioxidants, making it a great addition to a good diet and exercise program. It promotes calm, yet people use it as an alternative to coffee because it enhances clarity and focus. That being said, it’ll never give you the jitteriness that coffee can. It naturally contains caffeine, but the boost in energy is thanks to many of the other great ingredients. It’s like a clean "buzz", if you like. You can improve your cholesterol, burn more calories, and detoxify your body too. It speeds up the metabolism like no other tea!

credit

How to Prepare Matcha Tea

Preparing matcha tea isn’t too complicated, but it’s different to other tea. You can use a small scoop to get a small amount of powder in your cup. You don’t need much at all to brew a nice cup of matcha. Then you want to use nearly boiling water; not boiling, as that will impair the benefits and flavour of the tea! Pour a small amount of water into your cup, and make a paste. At this point, you could even use a matcha whisk to get out any lumps and bumps. If you don’t do this, your tea powder can clump at the bottom. Then you can pour the rest of your water in the tea. Some like to use a small electric whisk to froth up the tea. You can even add a little coconut or almond milk to make a matcha latte if you like!

What Else You Can Do With Matcha

You can add matcha powder to anything you bake, smoothies, and more. It’ll still give you the benefits! View http://www.amazon.ca/Matcha-Green-Tea-Powder-Culinary/dp/B00DDT116M for more information!

How to Know if Your Matcha is Quality

Your matcha tea is quality when it’s a bright green colour. The brighter the green, the better the tea!

Will you give matcha tea a go?

*Post was submitted to TBE for compensation, all edits made by TBE

Healing Your Soul After Emotional Trauma

Hey, guys! I wanted to share this post with you as it kind of hit home for me. I don't open up a lot about my personal struggles (maybe I should...?), but I definitely feel that the context of this post is something most of (if not all) can relate to. One day, maybe I'll get the courage to fully open up here about some of my own issues (other than skin issues!)..but until then, here are some pretty good tips on how to start the emotional healing process after something traumatic happens...

Peace & love,
Sabrina xoxo

Healing Your Soul After Emotional Trauma

~Post contributed by Amie Scott

Emotional trauma can come in many different forms. Many of the forms are overlooked; you may have experienced it from a break up, an accident, loss of a loved one, or something that people think you should just ‘get over’. It’s important that you take time to heal your soul after something big in your life takes place. You are the only one who can truly care for you the way you need to be treated. You can’t rely on anybody else. The sooner you start healing yourself, the better you’ll feel. Time is a healer, but you need to focus on you in the meantime. Here are some ideas:

Start Meditating and Deep Breathing

Meditation is an underrated exercise. Luckily, many people are starting to realise exactly what meditation can do for them. It can help you to clear your mind and get complete focus and clarity on a situation. It can help you to make better decisions, and live in the moment. It can stop you from dwelling on things that have happened to you. There’s a reason people have been doing it for years. It really can help you to heal your soul!

Focus Intensely on the Now

Focus intensely on the now. Don’t ponder over the past, and things you could have done differently. Don’t feel anxious about the future. All you have, all any of us really have, is the present moment. Make sure you focus on the now. There will be times you find yourself not appreciating the moment as much. Simply bring yourself back to it. Appreciate the comfort of the chair you’re sitting in. The colours on a flower in your garden. Your whole life can change when you just change your attitude!

credit

Treat Yourself

Treat yourself how you feel you should be treated. Take yourself on adventures and dates. Run yourself a candle lit bath. Cook yourself nice meals. Use oils and nice things to assist you. You need to start with yourself, before you can expect anybody else to come and treat you.

Become More Spiritual

There are many ways you can become more spiritual. Chinese astrology, tarot cards, and crystals are all things you can incorporate into your life. This might seem like mumbo jumbo to you now, but many people swear by them!

Do Things That You Love

Doing things you love is very important for the soul. Write. Read. Garden. Draw. Do anything that sets your soul on fire and makes you feel alive.

Eat Well and Exercise

Start eating right and exercising. Not only will this improve your self image, it’ll make you feel so much happier. Eating well will make you healthier, fight off disease and illness, and you might even lose excess weight. Exercise will release endorphins and change your body in ways you can’t imagine. Go gently at first if you’re not used to it. Eventually, you’ll get into really good habits.

Hopefully, this guide will help you on the way to healing your soul. Only you can start the process!


Are there any tips you have that may help with the emotional healing process? Let me know below!


Thank you to Amie for this contribution! ~Sabrina xo


*I was given a small compensation to publish this post, however, I had control over content - which I felt was relevant to my blog. :-)

The Best Things to Give Up for a Healthier Lifestyle!

We all want to be healthy. We may not always do the things we should to be healthy (like not eat that 4th piece of pizza!), but we all want to feel and look our best.

This post I'm sharing today lists a few of those things that should be eliminated if you want to achieve that goal. Personally, I'd love to be able to give up stress, but it doesn't seem to want to give up on me! *Sigh*

Anyways, read on and enjoy my friends!

Peace & love,
~Sabrina xoxo

The Best Things to Give Up for a Healthier Lifestyle!

I don't like to negative, but, unfortunately, being healthy isn't always about doing fun things. Sometimes you have to decide to cut things out of your life to create a healthier lifestyle. It can suck to get rid of some of the things you enjoy, but the results are worth. Even if you struggle at the beginning, you'll soon wonder how you ever found it so hard. There are several bad habits that everyone could do with getting under control. If any of the things below play a part in your life, you should consider giving them up.

Smoking

You don't need me to tell you that smoking isn't good for you. You might know a 90-year-old grandma who has been smoking all her life, but I bet she has one heck of smoker's cough (not to mention lines and wrinkles galore!). When you stop smoking, you can begin to see the health benefits almost right away. Within a few weeks or months, your circulation improves. You'll get ill less, and you'll be able to breathe better. You might have tried to give up before and failed, but that doesn't mean you can't try again. Just keep reminding yourself of the reason's you're quitting.

Drugs and Alcohol

Giving up drugs and alcohol may seem like another no-brainer, but many people wouldn't do either. Many people are happy to reduce how much they drink and perhaps avoid drugs entirely. But giving up drinking isn't always a popular suggestion. However, for some people, it's essential to stop. There is drug and alcohol treatment for women in the form of rehab facilities for anyone who feels like they might have a problem. It's the best way to deal with serious substance abuse issues and get the support you need. However, if you don't have an addiction, it's all about having the self-discipline to follow through on your promise.

Source: https://flic.kr/p/cFMMc

Sugar

You can't cut sugar out of your diet completely. You'll find naturally occurring sugars in a lot of foods. But you can try to avoid refined sugar and only sugars that aren't added into your food. A lot of people feel much better when they reduce their sugar intake. However, you have to be careful not to replace sugar with other unhealthy sweeteners. If you have a sweet tooth, you don't have to avoid the things you love. Just have things in moderation and try to pick healthier options. Swirl some jam or fresh berries into your oatmeal or mix some honey or Stevia with your yogurt.

Stress

Stress isn't something anyone would be reluctant to give up. Unfortunately, it's difficult to avoid stress altogether. The best you can do is try to turn stress into something more positive and deal with it in a healthy way. Some pressure can be useful to stretch yourself and help you be more productive. But you also need to find ways to relax and to deal with stress in the moment so you keep your head.

Giving up anything can be tough, and it's even harder when you have an addiction. But cutting negative things from your life could turn it around.

~Post was contributed to TBE


*I was compensated to publish this post

8 Food & Nutrition Trends To Watch For in 2016!

Well, another year has flown by! Seriously, Father Time, slow it down a bit, will ya?! Anyways, I hope you guys had a great New Year's and that 2016 is all that you want it to be! :-)

I have so many things I plan to accomplish this year (many for TBE, many personal/health related) and I can't wait to get going!

But first things first...

The following post was inspired by an email I was sent and after reading through it, I felt it was interesting enough to share here on my blog!

Food, nutrition and holistic treatments have played a huge role in my journey to wellness - I am a firm believer in the whole "you are what you eat" message - so seeing that the natural food and wellness movement is just growing and getting stronger and more popular makes me want to jump for joy (but that may throw my back out, so I'll settle for a gentle happy dance)!

Take a look and see what you think!

Photo Credit

Eight Trends to Watch in 2016

Janet Little, Nutritionist for Sprouts Farmers Market

1. Ancient Sprouted Grains: People continue to seek authentic culinary experiences while trying to maximize their nutritional opportunities. Ancient sprouted grains are the perfect hybrid of these two trends. According to SPINS, a leading information provider for the Natural and Specialty Products Industry, sales of ancient grains such as Kamut, spelt and amaranth have been growing at a rate of over 100% annually¹. Additionally, the increasing number of people with gluten-sensitivities has led to an increased overall awareness of the homogenization of our diets as it pertains to grains. People are learning that there is a lot more out there than just wheat, and sprouted grains offer a strong boost of nutrition. In fact, packaged grains labeled gluten-free have shown a 29% increase in growth².

2. Plant-based proteins: With the attention being paid to the health and environmental consequences of eating meat, people are seeking ways to fulfill their protein requirements through plants. Sales growth of vegan products has grown by 10% at multi-outlet grocery retailers³. New combination-nut butters and protein-boosted nut milks along with products containing alternative ingredients such as pea protein and chia will continue to rise in popularity.

3. The Anti-Artificial Movement: Watch for companies to continue to “naturalize” their products as customers increasingly reject flake flavors and colors. Even major food manufacturers with heritage brands are getting on board and re-engineering their recipes. People also will seek “simplicity” in foods looking for products without a long list of ingredients.

4. Natural Alternative Sweeteners: As obesity rates have soared to over a third of adult Americans and diabetes affects 9.3% of the U.S. population, interest in alternative sugars is rising. Low-glycemic sweetener coconut palm sugar has shown a 78% increase in sales growth while still-hot zero-calorie stevia has grown 32%. Sugar-alcohols maltitol and xylitol have also shown growth at 33% and 23% respectively⁴.

5. Natural Baby Food: Baby food grows up! Consumers are increasingly rejecting anything artificial for themselves as well as their children and are choosing organic baby food both for health and environmental reasons. And the newest trends in baby food mimic those of adult food, with more sophisticated flavors, superfoods and protein.

6. Natural Stress Relievers: After years of over-caffeinating with coffee and energy drinks we are starting to see a growing need for products that relax us. “Calming” functional products such as beverages or supplements will see a rise in popularity.  

7. Better for You Desserts: There is an increasing awareness of the effect that high fructose corn syrup and sugar have on the body, which is leading to a trend of desserts with a higher nutritional profile. Companies such as Artic Zero and Miss Jones Baking Co. are capitalizing on this trend with dessert options that are better for you and devoid of artificial ingredients.

8. Millennials as Cooks: Now that millennials are coming into their own they are becoming more accomplished in the kitchen and looking for education and products to support their culinary endeavors. Spice blends and easy baking kits give millennials the convenience they seek while still feeling as if you are creating a meal from scratch.

¹SPINSscan Natural, 52 Weeks Ending 7/12/2015

²Ibid

 ³Ibid

⁴Ibid

~Thank you to Janet Little for sharing this info! 

What food and nutrition trends do you think will be big this year? Any from the list above or any not mentioned? I'd love to hear your thoughts!! :-)

Peace & love,

Sabrina xoxo

Tips For Starting A Brand New Skincare Regimen!

Hey, lovelies! I hope you have a fantabulous New Year's tonight! Anyone have any special plans? Me, I'm keeping it low key with the hubs and our furry babies - just a quiet evening of pizza, detox salad (which we'll need after the pizza - I'll share the recipe in another post if you'd like!?), roasted Brussels Sprouts, wine and maybe a movie! :-) 

I'm still trying to rest up as much as possible, but I get too bored easily - I'm literally the worst person when it comes to "taking it easy" (nervous energy?)! I'm trying to stay off of Social Media and I won't be really working much on my blog posts until Monday or so, but I do have a few contributed posts that I figured I'd continue sharing - it'll give me a chance to work on some of the changes I am making to "TBE" and also..rest...if I can handle that! lol

Anyhoo...this post is all about starting a new skincare regimen - and any of you beauty bloggers out there know how testing multiple brands can affect your skin - breakouts anyone? (goal #29383883379 for 2016 is to figure out a better testing timetable)! 

So, without further ramblings..I hope you enjoy this post! :-)

Peace & Love & have a safe and Happy New Year!!! 
~Sabrina xoxo

Tips For Starting A Brand New Skincare Regimen!

Image link

The New Year brings with it resolutions and hopes of changing ourselves for the better. To start your new year off in the best way possible, why not start a new skincare regimen? It might not be as drastic as losing weight or cutting back on wine, but it’s something that will make you feel great. Treating your skin better will make putting your makeup on much easier and may even give you the confidence to go without. So if you’re ready to start pampering your skin a bit more, follow these tips!

Find out your skin type

Before you head to a store (or online shop) and buy all of the skin care products in sight, it would be beneficial for you to determine what kind of skin you have. Look in the mirror and take a good look at your skin. Does it look dry? Or oily? Or sensitive? Or is it a combination? Whatever it is you need to buy the right products to cater to your skin’s needs. Your skin is never going to look fantastic if you’re using the products that are aimed at a skin type that is different to your own. Do your research on products that will work efficiently on your particular skin type. Also, read other people’s reviews before you buy. Your skin might benefit from organic and natural ingredients or a deeply nourishing moisturizer. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from the experts to ensure you know which products will suit you.

Don’t mess with your skin

When you’re starting your new skin care regimen, as tempting as it might be, don’t mess. Your skin is more delicate than you think. Squeezing and pulling at your skin is not going to get rid of your blemishes and pimples, it will just make them worse. It will also damage your skin making it scar and wrinkle prematurely. Your fingers and nails will also cut your skin and fill your pores with oil and dirt. Which is likely to cause more spots and blemishes. This is obviously not what you want. Visit howtogetridofpimples.com.au to find out how to remove spots and blemishes safely and hygienically.

Image link

Remove your makeup every night

While you are asleep, your skin repairs itself, which can be made more difficult when you have makeup on. One of the best tips for healthy skin is to remove all makeup before you go to bed. Invest in a good makeup remover which will remove the buildup of foundation that has become lodged into your pores. Taking off your makeup gives your skin a chance to breathe and feel lovely and fresh. Remember to make sure the remover is not too harsh on your skin but effectively gets rid of all your makeup (like this one found here).

Don’t be discouraged if your new skincare regimen doesn’t work instantly. It’s going to take time for your skin to adjust to the new products you are using. The key is patience and consistency and within a few weeks, you’ll be able to see changes occurring.

~This post was contributed by Amie Wright


What are your tips for starting a new skincare regimen? Let me know in the comments below!


*I received compensation for publishing this post. Post contains an affiliate link.

How To Keep Your Pets Safe & Stress-Free While You're Away From Home!

Hey guys! I know I posted on my Instagram that I was taking a break from blogging, social media, etc.. until after New Year's, and while I am trying to follow that as best as I can (which in all honesty is hard for me to just avoid it altogether! #addiction), I decided that it wouldn't hurt to schedule out a few posts I thought might be of interest in the meantime! 

This one I am sharing today is by contributing author, Beth Jones, and it focuses on keeping your pets safe and stress-free - which as a devoted animal mommy, is of huge importance to me! I personally utilize tip #2 (below) when my husband and I go away and to help keep pets' stress levels down, you can also check out some holistic pet treatments from Siddha Flower Essences (see review here)! 

Enjoy! 

Peace & Love,

~Sabrina xoxo

How to Keep Your Pets Safe & Stress-Free While You're Away From Home!

Image by Flickr

So you’ve packed your summer essentials ( if you live in the US, these would still work to keep that "glow" even in the Winter!) and you’re ready for the trip of a lifetime. But you’re worried about leaving your beloved pet at home. Worrying about our animals is something all pet owners do, but this is exacerbated when we are going away! We know they will miss us, as we will miss them, and we want them to feel as comfortable and calm as possible. Here is a list of options you can choose from so you can enjoy your trip and be confident that your pet is safe and sound!

Boarding

Kennels and catteries can become a temporary home for your pet while you’re away. But these can sometimes be stressful experiences, especially if your pet is not used to being away from home. Never book your pet into an establishment without reading reviews and visiting first. Each one will be different, and the one you choose initially may not be ideal for your pet. You want to find a kennel that has fantastic facilities and staff that take the time to fuss and care for your animal. Also, look at the other pets currently housed there, as this should be a good indication of how other people’s pets are treated. Do plenty of research before you go to ensure you’re sending your pet to the best one possible.

Ask Friends and Family

This is often the most common choice for pet owners who are travelling. It’s likely that the pet will have met the friend or relative before which is bound to make the process easier. If your cat or dog gets stressed out easily, then having a familiar face around can ease their distress. Your chosen friend or family member can check in on them at home, or they can temporarily move them to their house. It’s likely you will have to leave instructions on how to care for your pet but make it as simple as possible. The person you have chosen will have their own life going on, so don’t ask too much of them. Be reasonable and only ask them to do what is necessary.

Image by Flickr

Pet Sitter

If you don’t have friends and family nearby to ask for help, a pet sitter is the next best thing. It’s a big responsibility looking after your pet, so you need to ensure they are right for the job. You ideally need to screen a few pet sitters to choose from and to arrange a meeting beforehand. That way you can see how well your pet gets along with them. If you don’t feel comfortable around them, move onto the next one. Also, remember to check their insurance and reviews from previous clients. You can use this website here for a greater understanding of what pet sitting entails.

So, whether you’re going for a few nights away with friends or a full-blown vacation abroad, you have a number of options to choose from. It’s your responsibility to make sure they are properly cared for while you are away from home, so don’t leave it to the last minute.  Whichever option you choose, you can feel confident knowing they are in good hands.

~This post has been contributed by Beth Jones

What steps do you take to ensure your pet is safe & stress-free before going away? Let me know in the comments!

*I received compensation for publishing this post

Start the New Year Off in the Right Way!

Image

The holidays are here and shortly it will be the new year! I think that any time is good to reevaluate and see where you are in life. But what better time than the start of a brand new year? This next year can be your best yet! Here are a few little tips to make sure you start it off in the right way and get the best out of it.

Review the Previous Year

Did you set goals last year? If so, take stock and see how you did. Did you achieve all that you wanted? Hopefully, it was more, but if it wasn’t, you have got time to put it right. It is a great idea to write this kind of thing down, so you have a record of it and track your progress.

What things did you do to improve your life? Were the goals unrealistic last year? It all needs to be evaluated so that you can improve and set better goals in the new year.

Think about You

It may just be easy to think about errands that you need to do or small projects that you should have finished. It is important to have yourself as a focus in a new year. Making sure you are taken care of and can be on the right path to achieving what you want, will make you a better all round person. It is hard to help others feel good if you don’t feel too good about yourself.

Is there something you could do to give your year a kick start? Could you do with a boost? Changing something in the short term could help. How about a new haircut or colour or a beauty treatment like coolsculpting? Start the new year off feeling as good as you can.

image

Set Realistic Goals

You may have on your bucket list to run a marathon. That is great and one day it might happen. If you haven’t been running for months and have a low level of fitness, it may not be a realistic goal this year. Have it as something to work towards and start off by aiming for a 10k race. Then perhaps a half marathon. You have to think about how much time you have to commit to your goals too. This isn’t an excuse to not aim high. You can still achieve a lot. You will achieve so much more, though, if the goals are realistic.

Clear Your To-Do List

You want to start the new year off with a fresh start. One great way to do this is by starting the year off with a clear to-do list. Wind up those errands that are on the list. Cross off things that are no longer relevant or required. There may be some things that you have been putting off. If you still need to do them, now is the time. You don’t want to drag anything with you into 2016. It is so satisfying marking things off your list, isn’t it?

A clear list going into the new year will make you feel positive and motivated. Good luck with your new year goals and plans!

*This post has been contributed by Beth Jones


What goals do you have planned for the New Year? Sound off in the comments below!

Peace & love,

Sabrina xoxo

*I received compensation for publishing this post

Guest Post: Healthy Alternatives to Toxic Cleaning Products

Hey guys! I have another guest post I'd like to share, this one focusing on "cleaning up" your cleaning products! I'm always looking for safer, more eco-friendly alternatives to contemporary cleaning products and this post that was submitted to TBE gives some great advice on how to get started! :-)

Enjoy!

Peace & Love,
Sabrina xoxo

We are all exposed to toxic chemicals every day not only when we are outside, but also indoors. That is why it is important to do everything possible to protect at least our homes from the dangerous impact of these toxins, since we spend such big part of our time there. Even simple things like cleaning and cooking can pollute the air and expose us and our families to toxins. When it comes to cleaning, however, we usually rely on strong detergents and various special disinfectants to get the job done. And even though those supplies can remove the grime, they can also leave unhealthy chemical residues behind.

A better solution is to find eco alternatives to those ordinary cleaning supplies. These "greener" products will still help you maintain every room of your place in good condition but will also preserve your health and the health of the other members of your family. It is important to do this, especially if you have little kids who are constantly crawling around, touching and playing with everything. Below are some measures you could take to make your home a safer place for you and your family:

·         Prepare you own eco-friendly, all-purpose cleaner – The shops certainly offer all kinds of effective all-purpose cleaners. The only problem is that they are filled with toxic chemicals, which could be very dangerous for you. There is a solution to this problem and that's a homemade all-purpose cleaner used by many companies like CityCleaners Croydon. The ingredients are simple – white vinegar, baking soda and water. You can put the special blend in a spray bottle and use it for the disinfection of all kinds of surfaces and places.

·         Use homemade air freshener – Cooking, dusting, vacuuming, all of those things could seriously pollute the air in your home. Good ventilation is certainly important but you can prepare your own chemical-free air freshener as well. You need several simple ingredients like distilled water, essential oils of your choosing and a little baking soda. This is an excellent recipe, which will give you a very effective product. Forget about the expensive store-bought air fresheners and enjoy your special toxic-free mix.

·         Cease the usage of chlorine bleach – Chlorine bleach is among the most dangerous cleaning products which a lot of people use in their homes anyway either for their laundry, for the disinfection of their toilets or other household tasks. Inhaling these toxins while cleaning is enough to endanger your health, so it's better to just stop using chlorine bleach altogether and replace it with chlorine-free products.

·         Make your own fabric softener – The laundry also needs your special cares, so instead of spending money for expensive fabric softeners every time, just start making your own. To make you will need one gallon of white vinegar and about 20 or 30 drops of your favourite essential oil. You can mix the ingredients together in a vessel and store your eco fabric softener in there. 1/3 cup will be more than enough for one load of laundry.

Those are only part of the many recipes for eco-friendly cleaning products you could try. Switching  to chemical-free cleaning supplies is without a doubt the best way to reduce the usage of toxic supplies for the disinfection of your home. So, don't hesitate any more and reorganise your bathroom and kitchen cabinets today! Collect all dangerous cleaning supplies and get rid of them. By doing that you won't be tempted to use them in the future and you will also free some space in your home for the new eco-friendly products you will be using later!

*Post was contributed to TBE as a guest post.