The Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Happy Friday!

It's finally Friday! YAY! To cool off from this scorchy, summer heat we are introducing you a Citrus Tea Punch.

To start off you will need:

• 6 cups water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 family sized tea bass
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup orange juice
• 16oz lemonade thawed

1. Combine 4 cups water and sugar in heavy saucepan and boil.

2. Cook until sugar dissolves; remove from heat.

3. Add cloves, tea bags, and cinnamon.

4. Steep 6 mins.

5. Strain into pitcher; discard solids.

6. Add 2 cups water, juice. lemonade, and still well. 

7. Chill and serve over ice. 

Throwback Thursday ~ Coconut oil liquid soap

I bet most of you don't remember Lulu Blossom made coconut oil liquid soap.For today's Throwback Thursday we are offering a DIY recipe that you can make at home.

To start off you will need:

• 4oz coconut oil 
• 10.7oz Potassium Hydroxide for lye/water solution
• 32.2oz distilled water
• 4tbs 5% Borax solution per 8oz of soap paste (neutralizes)
• 4-5oz distilled water per 8oz soap paste for dillution
• Stainless steel pot or crock pot
• Rubber gloves
• Protective eye wear
• Ball jar or glass container 
• Utensils (spoons, spatulas) only to be used for mixing lye. Lye is poisonous and should be mixed outside or in an area with plenty ventilation. Never cook with utensils or pots that have come in contact with lye. 

Directions:

1. Measure and melt coconut oil.
2. Mix lye and water for solution.
3. Mix oil and lye together.
4. Bring to trace (which is when it starts to thicken.)
5. Cook the paste either in crock pot or stove top- usually about 4 hours.
6. Add 4tbs of 5% borax to 4-5oz distilled water and mix per 8oz of paste.
7. Once the solution is mixed and neutralized, pour into glass container and cap lids until the solution starts to become viscous and cloudy. It will go from clear to the color in the picture above. Once this has happened feel free to add any fragrance or essential oil for a scent. However, we find that unscented is pleasant as well. 

***When mixing water lye solution, make sure to wear protective eye wear like goggles or glasses and mix lye slowly as it becomes very hot quickly.***

Wellness Wednesday ~ Foods for Healthy Hair

What you eat reflects entirely on your body, especially your hair. Today's Wellness Wednesday, we will focus on foods that promote healthy, luscious hair. 

1. Fruits and Vegetables

This seems pretty obvious and you probably saw this one coming. Fruits and veggies are rich in vitamin C, helping your body absorb iron. Without iron, your hair will start to fall out(especially in women!!!!)

2. Spinach

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I'm not a big fan of spinach either. However, spinach is rich in iron, beta carotene(which transforms into vitamin A), folate, and vitamin C. All in all, it's great in keeping those fancy follicles healthy!

3. Blueberries

Yum! Blueberries are perfect in producing vitamin C. The vitamin that prevents hair breakage and is essential for circulation to the scalp. Plus, they're absolutely delicious!

4. Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and iron. Much like fruits and vegetables, eggs will prevent hair loss.  

5.  Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Your body is not capable of producing omega-3 fatty acids, which is essential for hair growth. However, you can get it from salmon, walnuts, sardines, flaxseeds, and mackerel. 

Happy Monday!

Let's begin Monday off with a good start. Enjoy the rest of your week hanging out by the sun and getting tanned! We sure are loving this weather!

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Churro Waffles recipe!

Good morning, fellow readers! Recently, while browsing the interwebs I stumbled upon a recipe that I'm pretty sure was crafted by the hands of all the Greek gods.  The churro waffle is a delicious food that is perfect for breakfast or brunch. You decide!

To start off you will need:

1 teaspoon salt 

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons white sugar
2 eggs                                                                      
2 cups of all purpose flour1 1/2 cups warm milk 
1/3 cup butter, melted                                                

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 3 shakes of cinnamon plus

For the churro topping:
1 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup cinnamon
1/2 cup of melted butter

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside.  Also at this time you can combine your churro topping and set it aside. Preheat waffle iron

      2.In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture;  Next fold in three shakes of cinnamon beat until blended

       3. At this time you can also melt your 1/2 cup of butter used to pour over waffles. Next generously spray your waffle iron with no stick cooking spray. Than ladle the batter into a preheated waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp. Once fully cooked immediately pour melted butter on each side of the waffle and than dip each buttered side into your cinnamon/sugar churro mixture.

BOGO Lip Balm!

Wellness Wednesday ~ Get that H2O

To start off Wellness Wednesday, let me fill you in on an experience of mine. On a summer day, I was battling with an excruciating headache. I didn't know what the root of this problem could be, until I realized that I hadn't had any water all day. Then, I gulped copious amounts of water. I instantly felt better and swore to myself to drink more water to avoid headaches like the one I had that day. Ladies and gentlemen, keep in mind that your brain tissue is 70% to 80% of water, and depriving yourself of water can lead to migraines!

We all know that water is great to quench your thirst on a hot summer day, and even to prevent headaches, but staying hydrated is import for many different reasons. Here are five other reasons for you to grab a glass of cold water!

First off, the largest organ of your body, skin, functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. Drinking more water will prevent your skin from becoming dry and flaky and is a natural anti-aging regiment. You can wear all the creams and skin treatments you want, but it won't help you if you don't drink your water! 

Secondly, your body is made up of 60% water. It is essential that your body gets the water it needs to help out other bodily functions. The functions include digestion, circulation, creation of saliva, and maintenance of body temperature. 

Thirdly, water boosts your metabolism. At this very moment, many chemical reactions are taking place in your body. Drink water to keep these chemical reactions moving smoothly. One of the best ways to lose weight is to keep your metabolism going. So kick the soda, and replace it with a bottle of water.

Ever had kidney stones? Well, as it turns out water helps your kidneys. You probably know that, but it's important to be reminded that we can avoid those debilitating kidney stones by simply drinking more water. It is a great toxin cleanser for your body. 

Lastly, if you are reading this from work and you're feeling a little glum, you probably should gulp  a glass of water. It will make you more alert at work! 

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Pick Me Up Mondays

Lulu Blossom loves pin ups! Including this one of Robert Downey Jr's face photoshopped onto a pin up girls body. Doesn't he just look fabulous? To add on to the fabulousness, we are having a sale.
Buy one Lip Balm and get one FREE!

Home Remedies to Stunt Your Hair Growth

Hair plays an intricate part in our appearance and style. We have all faced damaged hair, dandruff, and hair fall. Here are a couple of ways to maintain healthy long hair!

1. Apple Cider Vinegar 
This ingredient helps accelerate hair growth and can be used as a final rinse while washing your hair. 

2. Coconut Milk

We cannot express our love and admiration for coconuts enough. Coconut is rich in proteins, iron, potassium, and fibers. To implement the Tree of Life to your hair regiment, extract the milk of a coconut and apply it to the needed areas. You then want to keep it in your hair overnight. Once the sun comes out and you're awake, you should it rinse off with cool water. 

3. Coconut Oil

This is the best natural conditioner for hair. It reduces dandruff, hair breakage, and hair loss. 

Summer loving had me a blast. Summer loving happened so fast! 

Throwback Thursday with Emii!

Music artist, actress, martial artist, and avid fan of Marvel Comics, Emii at the Golden Globes with Rachael Kash. She is known for her song Mr. Romeo featuring Snoop Dogg.

Wellness Wednesday- Chemical Sunscreen VS Natural Sunscreen

Alas, summer is here! That means more sunshine followed with a tanned body. For today's Wellness Wednesday, we will provide information on the difference between chemical sunscreen and natural sunscreen.

Natural sunscreen > Chemical sunscreen. Why is that? Well, laboratory studies have indicated that numerous chemicals in sunscreen mimic hormones and disrupt the hormone system.

The most troubling and commonly used chemical in sunscreen in the U.S. is oxybenzone.  We advise you to avoid this chemical at all costs, for it can penetrate the skin, cause allergic skin reactions, and may disrupt hormones. Oxybenzone is also found in mother's milk. If you're a mother and want to have a healthy baby, do not use a sunscreen containing this chemical.

Instead, we strongly recommend you use a natural sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. It is the safest for adults and children. Natural sunscreens immediately protect you from the sun the moment you apply it.

Tips Tuesday Vegan Recipe ~ Taco Salad

     VEGAN TACO SALAD

I wanted to add a tasty recipe for summer that was vegan, healthy and light but hearty at the same time. I think this one is all of those things. This recipe was found on Oh She Glows. You can visit this site for tons of great recipes. Check it out here http://ohsheglows.com/2012/06/12/layered-raw-taco-salad-for-two/

   Layered Raw Taco Salad for Two

 Don’t let the long ingredient list put you off; the entire recipe took me about 30 minutes or so. Feel free to adapt this salad     depending on what you have in your kitchen.

 Print, Email, or Text this recipe Inspired by : The Naked Sprout’s Taco Salad

Walnut Taco Meat: (adapted from my taco meat recipes) (yield: scant 1/2 cup)

 1/2 cup walnuts, soaked for 2-8 hours

•  1 & 1/2 tsp chili powder
•  1/2 tsp cumin powder
•  fine grain sea salt, to taste
•  cayenne pepper, to taste (optional)

 Cashew or Macadamia cream: (yield: 1 heaping cup)

•  1 cup macadamia (or cashew) nuts, soaked in water for 2-8 hours
• 11-12 tbsp water (use as needed to achieve desired consistency)
• 2-3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, to taste
• fine grain sea salt, to taste (I used just over 1/4 tsp)

3-Minute Guacamole: (yield: 3/4 cup)

• 1 large ripe avocado
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 1/2 small tomato, chopped
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp + 1 tsp fresh lime juice
• scant 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt, or to taste

Other salad ingredients:

• greens of choice
• salsa
• green onion (optional)
• crackers

Taco meat: In a food processor (or by hand), pulse (or chop) the ingredients until combined. Make sure to leave the walnuts chunky. Remove and set aside.

Cream sauce: Drain and rinse the soaked nuts. Add them into a processor and process. Stream in about 1/2 cup water and a couple tbsp of lemon juice. Add more water as needed to achieve your desired consistency. The nut sauce should be super smooth and not grainy. Add salt to taste.

Guacamole: In a medium-sized bowl, mash the avocado flesh with a fork, leaving some chunks. Stir in the chopped tomato, red onion, lime juice, and seasonings to taste.

To assemble: (per bowl) Add a hefty base of greens in a large bowl followed by a heaping 1/4 cup scoop of guacamole in the middle. Spoon on 2 tbsp of salsa over the greens followed by half of the taco meat. Add a couple tbsp of cream into a plastic baggie, snip off end, and pipe over top the taco meat. Garnish with a chopped green onion and leftover chopped tomato and red onion. Place a few crackers into the salad before serving. If you find yourself with leftover lemon and lime juice like I did, place juice into a glass, fill with water, add liquid sweetener to taste, and serve over ice.

Read more: http://ohsheglows.com/2012/06/12/layered-raw-taco-salad-for-two/#ixzz36uSF7wJV

Pick Me Up Mondays

Now that it's Monday, I bet you can resonate with this drowsy looking panda while also trying to recover from the 4th of July weekend. Start your week by trying to be like this cute, smiling panda that does not give a care in the world. 

Belleza Reviews Milk & Honey Body Lotion

Throwback Thursday from the Golden Globes Party 2012 with Lou Ferrigno/The Incredible Hulk

As a kid who had an Incredible Hulk sleeping bag in the 80's, everyone knows how incredibly ecstatic I was to meet Lou Ferrigno. He wasn't always the macho type during his childhood. Instead, he was relentlessly teased. Not only that, he suffered a 75% hearing loss. By 13 years old he started weight training. Then he went on to win IFBB Mr. America and IFBB Mr. Universe, making him a World Guinness Book of record making him the youngest Mr. Universe. He later went on to become the iconic superhero the Incredible Hulk. We admire the fact that Ferrigno created Ferrigno Fit a community that focuses itself on positive habits, lifestyles, and ideas. Who knew we had so much in common with the Hulk.

Wellness Wednesday- 4th of July Recipes

Good morning, readers! Today is Wednesday Wellness. To begin the 4th of July with a healthy start, here are some recipes we recommend you share with friends & family! 

Vegan Tempeh & Black Bean Burgers 

To begin you will need :

1 tbsp ground flax seeds

3 tbsp unsweetened almond milk or water

1-8oz package tempeh

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp grilling or hamburger seasoning mix

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

1 cup cooked black beans

2 medium scallions, sliced thin

½ cup shredded vegan cheese 

3 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray.
2. Combine ground flax seeds and almond milk or water in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Crumble tempeh in a large bowl. Add Paprika, hamburger seasoning, salt and black pepper and toss gently.
4. Add black beans, scallions, cheese and flax mixture and using your hands, mash it all together until all the ingredients are combined.
5. Divide the mixture in 4 pieces and shape each one into patties, about an inch thick.
6. Brush both sides of each patty with olive oil and carefully transfer them to the baking sheet. Bake at 375F for 30 minutes then broil for 5-7 minutes, watching them carefully so they don't burn.
7. Serve on a bun.
8. Pat yourself on the back for achieving this delicious vegan burger!

Everyone on this Earth loves pizza and can't say no to a pizza dish. Try this Vegan Grilled Veggie Pizza recipe!

To begin you will need :

• 1 recipe for a 10-inch vegan pizza dough
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1 vine-ripe tomatoes, cored, seeded, thinly sliced
• 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 6 button mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 3 to 4 finely torn fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup shredded vegan cheese

1. Spray grill rack or griddle with a nonstick cooking spray. Preheat grill to medium heat.
2. Put those muscles to work by rolling the pizza dough out to either 10-inch round or a rectangle.
3. Brush with olive oil and place pizza on grate or griddle. Then, close the lid and grill for 2-3 mins. 
4. Remove the from grill and add the remaining ingredients.
5. Slide back onto grill and close the lid. Grill for 4 mins or at least until the cheese is melted.
6. Cut into wedges or squares.
7. Sit back and watch as the others enjoy your dish. 

We hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Lulu Blossom Review