My Must-have Health Food items from Amazon

I'm often mentioning new products I'm using on my Instagram and am always asked where they are from and so I thought I would compile a list of all my favorites! These are my tried & true must have health food and supplement items. I use most of them on the daily or weekly basis and I add them in many different recipes! Stay-tuned, I have many more recipes using these items that will be posted soon! 

for smoothies, cooking, baking, or whatever else your heart desires! 

Vital proteins collagen peptides is my favorite to put in ALL my smoothies! Collagen peptides helps heal your gut, aids in digestion, and is a hair, skin, and nails supplement! You can't taste it but it adds so many nutrients to your daily smoothie. You can even put it in your coffee or matcha in the mornings! 

COCONUT BUTTER!!! AKA my favorite thing, ever. Coconut butter is better than coconut oil because it also contains the coconut meat. This is a great supplement to add to your coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, desserts, or just eat it by the spoonful! yum. 

Cacao nibs are a stable of my every day diet.. what can I say, I love chocolate! I love raw cacao because its adds a crunch to oatmeal, a decadence to smoothies, and is full of antioxidants! I gave two size options for you but I get the Anthony's brand and buy them in bulk because I got through a bag pretty fast! 

I always make sure I have turmeric on hand because it is such a powerful spice and supplement! Turmeric is amazing for getting rid of inflammation and It also is a great sleep aid! Put a 1/4 teaspoon of this with some warm coconut milk and cinnamon and drink it right before bed. So comforting! 

Ashwagandha is my favorite adaptogen of all time and I add it to everything! Ashwagandha is an herb that has been noted to heal hormone imbalances, calm stress and anxiety, and giving natural energy. If you were to try out any adaptogen, I highly recommend trying out this one! 

A matcha tea a day keeps the good health here to stay... Honestly though, try to swap out coffee one day a week for a matcha latte and you will notice a difference! 

I hope you find this helpful! I have no doubt that adding these superfoods to your pantry will have huge health benefits for you! Feel free to reach out with any questions on how to use them! 

-Lo 

The Perfect Smoothie

How to make the perfect smoothie

If you know me, you know that I am smoothie-obsessed. I make a smoothie for one of my meals every single day and I have noticed huge health benefits from it! Not only is it extremely easy to make but the health benefits are endless. I also love how I can customize my daily smoothie to fit that particular day & health goals. Going on a hard workout and need extra protein? Add a vegan protein powder in. Feeling sluggish? Add vitamin D. Feeling Stressed? Add an adaptogen like Ashwagandha! The customization options are endless. 

The Perfect Smoothie

Fruit + Greens + Protein + Healthy fat+ Customizable Supplements = The Perfect Smoothie

FRUIT-

when making a smoothie, its important to not overload it with sugary fruits. I usually add half of a banana, handful of strawberries, handful of blueberries, and acai to my smoothies. Rule of thumb- never put more fruit in your smoothie then you would actually eat in one sitting! 

GREENS-

Adding in greens to your smoothie is not only extremely nutritious but its also GENIUS because you can't even taste the greens! Greens also help balance out the sugar in the fruit and give your body the nutrients it needs for proper digestion. I always add either a handful of kale or spinach to my smoothies. 

PROTEIN-

I don't always add protein into my smoothies but when I do, its plant-based and low on sugar! My favorite way to get protein in my smoothies is Vital Protein Collagen Peptides. I love this because its not only a great source of protein but its also amazing support for hair, skin, nails, and your gut! I also love the Tone It Up plant-based protein and use it often. I don't eat very much meat and so adding in protein is super important for me because it keeps me full longer and keeps me from craving carbs!

HEALTHY FAT-

When making a smoothie, I love adding in healthy fats to help keep me full for longer. Healthy fats are good for so many other reasons as well such as brain function and prolonged energy. I usually add coconut butter or avocado in my smoothie and it also helps make it creamier! 

CUSTOMIZABLE SUPPLEMENTS-

I'm a huge fan of adaptogens! Adaptogens are special herbs that help the body adapt to different environmental stressors. I will do an entire blog post on these powerful herbs but my favorites to use in smoothies are Ashwagandha and Reishi! 

I hope this helps you in your own smoothie making! Aim to make a smoothie a day and just see how your overall health improves for the better! Making a Smoothie doesn't have to be difficult. Start small and you can always purchase different ingredients down the road once you get the hang of what you like and don't like in your smoothies. Have fun with it! I've learned all I know about smoothies from trial and error! :) 

Feel free to comment with any more questions you may have and Happy Smoothie Making! 

Current Favorite: Easy Breakfast

I posted my breakfast of choice on my Instagram story recently and got a ton of questions about it! I went back and forth between doing a blog post on it because it is seriously the EASIEST breakfast to make. Steel-cut oats, raw cacao, agave, coconut flakes, chia seeds, and anything else your little heart desires! On days I need something a little more hearty then an acai bowl or smoothie, this is my go-to. Full of fiber, omega's, healthy fats, and more. Try it out and add your own favorite toppings! 

Speak soon!

Lauren

Getting back into the swing of things...

One of my biggest flaws is that I am an over-achiever. More like an over-committer. I like doing it all, and doing it all RIGHT NOW. I don't like saying "no" to things or putting projects on the back burner. I'd like to think I can get it all done but life has hit me smack dab in my face over the last few months and I've had to learn a hard lesson.

I watched a training video for my skincare business the other day and it hit me like a ton of bricks.  

"Don't let anyone tell you that you can't have it all. You CAN have it all; you just can't have it at the same time." 

 I  realized that there was no possible way that I could be in yoga teacher training five days a week, spend the time and attention needed to grow my skincare business, adjust to my new home, nurture new friendships, invest in my marriage, and spend the hours needed to blog it all at the same time. Something had to give, and it was this blog, for a season. Dreaming this blog into fruition has been such a fun creative process for me and I have so many future plans for it. Plans to share travels, beauty, fashion, food, and the more serious things like marriage, friendships, faith, and work.

I have big plans and lots of fun content to share this summer, I can't wait! For now, enjoy this moody playlist that has been making me feel all the summer-time reflective feels.

Speak soon!

Lauren

City Lights & Pretty Jewelry

This weekend was pretty gloomy and rainy here in Hawaii but I was craving some adventure and so we went to town! Normally, we like our little section of the island and we really don't veer off very much but every once in awhile I crave more stimulation! ha

Chinatown is our favorite neighborhood to goto in Honolulu because of the cute boutiques, hip restaurants, and artsy vibe. There are so many good restaurants down there, I want to try them all!  Since this date was super last minute, I put together an outfit super quick. These rag + bone flared jeans are super fun and comfy and I just paired them with a loose Free People crop top. What I really loved about this look was my colorful jewelry! I collaborated with my friend Megan, who happens to be a Stella & Dot stylist, and she sent me some really fun jewelry to style! I am IN LOVE with Stella & Dot's summer collection and want to buy EVERYTHING. I already placed a pretty big order for jewelry this month and I am already eyeing some more pieces I want. ;) I am hosting an online Trunk Show for my friend Megan and it is going on now! Click this link to shop all of these goodies!

Have a great week, everyone!! 

xoxo