Great Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Easter Eggs!

Hi there!

Happy Good Friday!  Can you believe spring is in full effect?  This week, I reverence the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   


Here is a great guilty free :) recipe for some great homemade Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Easter Eggs.  This are very similar to a the popular Reese Peanut Butter Easter Eggs but are made with 65% pure dark chocolate, no processed sugar and some additional minerals!

Here is what you need:

Filing:


1 cup Raw Peanuts

1/2 cup of hydrated dates (about 4 or 5) pitted

Dash of Celtic Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Salt

1/2 tsp of Raw Coconut Crystal by Coconut Secrets
1/2 tsp Coconut Oil

1 tsp of Organic Flax Seed Oil


Coating:

Vegan Chocolate Chips (60% or better)

Extra stuff:
Parchment paper or non-stick foil

What to do:
 
1.  Combine all of the filing ingredients in a a mini Ninja or food processor for a delicate chop.  Once the filing is nice and smooth, scoop out with a spoon and mold into egg shape.  Set aside.
 
2. Next, melt the chocolate chips on simmer in a small sauce pan.  (You can add a small amount of coconut oil to thin the chocolate a bit.)  Dip the peanut butter egg molds into the warmed chocolate until fully coated. 
 
3.  Place each egg on non-stick foil, cover and place in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour or until hard.
 
Serve!!!
 
TIP:  If you want crunchy Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Easter Eggs,  set aside a portion of the raw peanuts and just crush them and add them to the mixture AFTER its been blended right before you make the molds.
 
Enjoy and Happy Easter!

5 Ways to Cut Liquid Calories

 Are you drinking your calories away? 

Here are my Top 5 Ways to Cut your Liquid calories:

1.  Avoid Soda!  Do you know that the average can of soda contains 32 teaspoons of sugar and that it will take 32 8 ounce glasses of water to neutralize your body's pH?  If you drink soda, giving up 2 cans of soda a day can cut back about 300 calories as well as lower your sugar intake.  Try opting for a less sugared drink.

2. Cut out sweetened and artificially sweetened Fruit Juices!  Most fruit juices on the market today are not natural juices, contain only about 10% fruit juice, are loaded with processed sugars and are the furthest thing from a nutritious drink.


3. Avoid the fancy coffee and donut shop drinks.  Yes, I know the latest frappuchino, latte or blended fruit smoothies sounds really enticing, however, most of them are loaded with unnecessary calories and sugar. 



4.  Add fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice to your water.  I keep fresh lemons and limes in my home at all times.  Fresh lemon or lime juice is a great compliment to your water.  Both of these fruits help to eliminate toxins from your body, aid in digestion and can assist in helping your drop a few extra pounds!


5. DRINK WATER!  Water should be your best friend.  It helps with so much in your body. It keeps everything flowing.  Our brains are about 85% water.  If you are dehydrated or near dehydration, then your brain can suffer.. not to mention the normal flow that is necessary in our bodies.


So... Drink up and Enjoy!

Amazing Artist: SoHo NYC

This weekend while shopping in SoHo, NYC for my birthday, I came across the most amazing work by artist Isack Kousnsky. I also had the pleasure of meeting Isack, a very friendly, unassuming artist! Each piece was a breathtaking, captivating creation that had me speechless. His artwork captures moments in time of natures natural occurrences and amazing views of various landmarks with a colorful spin. I love discovering expressions of art.


Art gives you a glimpse into the soul and mind of its creator. When you find art that speaks to you on a deeper level, its soul stirring.


You can check out his work here: http://www.isack-art.com/


Here is a sample of Isack's work:

Central Park B&W with Pink, by Isack Kousnsky

I will be purchasing a piece in the near future! I am so excited!

Amazing Kale Chips Recipe!

Ingredients:
1 bunch organic kale (cleaned and chopped to form "chips")

1 tablespoon olive oil
Sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
pinch of crushed red pepper

Directions:
1.Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a non insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2.With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, pepper and crusehd red pepper.

3.Bake until the edges of the kale are brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

and Viola!!!!

Did you try them?  What do you think?

Cabbage, Mango Smoothie... Who Knew!

Hi Everyone!

So... don't get scared now, but I have a new smoothie for you that I think you may like!  Its a combination of Cabbage, Mango, Grape and Lemon!

What you need:
1/2 head of cabbage
1 mango
1 cup of red or green grapes
Lemon (juice, pulp and zest)... I LOVE lemons!
Water
*Mint leaves for garnish-- if you like the "extra" things in life as I do :)
*Honey or Coconut Secrets to sweeten if desired. 

What to do:
Blend the cabbage and water.  Add additional ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth.  (I use my Vitamixer).  Check out www.qvc.com to purchase the Vitamixer! Right now, its on Easy Pay so its a great time to get this on a payment plan!  Click here for the link: QVC

The next time I make this, I will take a picture.. in the meantime, enjoy this "simulated" pic of what it should look like! :)

Heart Dis-ease, the Silent Killer?

Hello Everyone~

I came across this amazing video today by Dr. Crandall, a heart disease specialist.  Heart dis-ease is a silent killer for many.  This video gives some great advice on how to prevent heart dis-ease and heal yourself from heart dis-ease.

Dr. Chauncey Crandall is Chief of the Cardiac Transplant Program at the world-renowned Palm Beach Cardiovascular Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. and practices interventional, vascular, and transplant cardiology.  Dr. Crandall is known as the “Christian physician”, and has been heralded for his values and message of hope to all his heart patients.


Please take the time to listen in on the video by clicking here.  If may save your life or the life of your love one.

~in loving memory of Tyrone R. Mason (July 14, 1940- September 18, 2011)

Confessions of a Mascara Junkie: Part I

Hello:  My name is _______________ and I am a mascara junkie with no desire to recover.  Anyone else out there like this?  Well, if you are and if you are anything like me, you are always on the quest for your next best mascara fix.. the one that promises to lift, curl, volumizes, strengthen, thicken, define, separate... you know the drill.

Recently, I purchased this amazing mascara by Smashbox from Ulta AND it was 1/2 price during the week I purchased it.  Good deal right?   Anyway, any good mascara junkie knows that it's all about the brush AND the formula.  This mascara wins on both ends.  The mascara has a unique flexible dual brush and comb applicator. You can use the brush side to build and thicken, then follow with the comb side to define and lengthen.  The formula is an amazingly rich highly pigmented black that last the duration of the day.  It literally coats your lash in one swoop.  After that, I go back and seperate with the comb side.

My SCORE for this mascara is:  5 STARS



TIP:  Use Christian Dior mascara primer as a base coat.

Good Luck and happy lashing! 

Shoes, Shoes and More Shoes!

Ok, so if you know me, you know about my love for SHOE's... and not just any shoes, but nicely crafted, artistic, sophisticated shoes!  One of my favorite Italian designers is Casadei.   This stilleto pump by Casadei is a thing of beauty!

Check out these AMAZING black suede pumps by Casadei:



This is a classic style with an amazing air of elegance.  The shoe also comes in black patent and blue suede.





What do you think?  Definitely one to add to my life ....  :)

Ron Kardashian: A New Fitness Icon?

Hi guys!  If  you read my previous post about Ron Kardashian, then you will be excited to hear what's new for this growing health and fitness icon!  I've followed his career for a while now and am excited about what he has coming down the pipeline!

In case you don't know, Ron Kardashian is a Celebrity Life Coach,  passionate corporate speaker and fitness authority.  Not to mention... he's  HOT :), his message of physical, mental, spiritual and financial health are worth looking at and paying attention too!  His ideals are very similar to mine and its always exciting to hear about others who are on the same or a similar path as yours.  Ron has a new book called "Ron Kardashian's 30 Second Solution".  Endorsed by TD Jake's who says, Ron... "Introduces readers to NEW breakthrough information for transforming old patterns into dramatic turnarounds for those who want to derive purpose and more satisfaction form life.", this book is on my MUST READ list.  I am excited to give it a whirl.

Have you read it yet? Heard about it? any thoughts?  I will give a book review on this soon!

Kardashian Kollection at Sears: Top Picks

So, last week, I visited Sears, one of the oldest retailers in American history... Walmat and Target got their start because of stores likes Sears, soooooo DON't sleep on them :)

As a kid growing up, my grandparents just LOVED Sears and they went there for everything from tires for the car, to clothes, washers and dryers, toaster ovens to fine jewelry.. you name it, Sears carried it! I think Sears lost a wee bit of their finese in the 90's and early 00's, but after my recent visit to Sears from the lure of the Kardashian sisters new klothing line, the Kardashian Kollection, I would say that Sears is defininitely stepping it up! 

The line reaches a rather interesting demographic... young tweens, college students, professionals looking for "fun" clothes and mature divas!  

Anywho, in my review, I really adore the style brought to Sears with the new "store within a store" koncept, with the larger the life size posters, black chandaliers, red potted roses, red carpet and black logo hangers 

My top pics and purchases from the kollection are...

Kardashian Kollection Leopard dress with lace overlay:


As seen on Kim Kardashian on David Letterman


I'm a sucker for animal print.. :/   .....for GOOD animal print!  It can't be too busy, or too cheap.  This makes the mark. What do you think?

Black Blazer with Lace back and sleeve


Lace see-through Shirt and matching skirt!


Seen here on Kourtney Kardashian. Pink lace Kardashian Kollection Shirt

 There are tons of other great pieces that I plan to add to my Kollection (sorry.. can't help the "K" fever) for the fall!

I must admit, these girls know how to SELL SELL SELL... Thee last several days, they've ditching their high-end desginer digs and replaced them with clothes from their OWN line... Marketing 101: best way to market your product?  USE/WEAR it yourself, don't just endorse it!  Way to go ladies...

My only dismay was the sizing seemed a bit off?  Anyone else experience this?  I think because of the dempgraphic, perhaps they tried to combine, juniors-misses-petite-women's sizes all into one line.  I DID have to go up a size on a few pieces from my normal size.

Next review... Kohl's for JLo's collection...  Celebrity mini-lines in reasonbly prices stores are definitely trending now...

Did anyone else purchase?  What's your fav?