This page contains the items I use regularly, have in my own kitchen and bathroom, and make part of my holistic lifestyle.  Basically, everything I think is downright fabulous!
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Beauty and Personal Care

​The skin is a major detoxification organ.  It also is able to absorb what you put on it. Therefore, I strive to avoid toxins and use products that are as natural as possible.
Cosmetics:  My absolute favorite organic, all-natural cosmetics beauty firm is 100% Pure. I love that their cosmetics are naturally fruit-pigmented and are packed with antioxidants and nutrients.  They offer a full and colorful line of foundations, primers, concealers, blush, eye makeup, lipstick and gloss, and much, much more.  You can choose from either cream or powders, too.  100% Pure products live up to their name, because they are completely free of synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents, or any other unhealthy toxins. 
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Dental care:  To brush my teeth, I use Ora Wellness HealThy Mouth Brushing Blend. It's made from organic essential oils.  Just 3 drops on a toothbrush is all you need!  Great for travel, too.  I also love Earthpaste, especially the lemon flavor. Neither contain any toxic fluoride.
Body wash:  I keep Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap in the shower.  I like the citrus orange variety.
Facial cleanser & eye make-up remover:  I use organic jojoba oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba) and the oil-cleansing method .  Just rub in & rinse off.  It's wonderful and doesn't leave an oily residue.  I keep one bottle in the bathroom cabinet and one in the shower.  Tea Tree pads are easy to wash my face without water.
Facial toner:  I simply put some witch hazel on an organic, round cotton pad with a drop of tea tree oil, which helps fight acne.
Facial oils: I love an oil that nourishes your skin with natural nutrients and provides moisture and healing properties.  I use either organic tamanu oil or rosehip seed oil.
Body moisturizer:  Again, jojoba oil for the body.  It's my #1 go-to for skin care!  MadeOn: Skin Care Products and Primal Life Organics are wonderful, too!
Feminine needs: I love the Veeda tampons and pads.  They are made from real cotton and without and chemicals, dyes, synthetics, and pesticides (who wants those up there!?) And they work.
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Sunscreen:  Sunshine is vital for my well-being, so I only wear sunscreen if I'll be out in the sun for a long time.  I wear Badger sunscreen on my body and Elta MD sunscreen on my face.  Or, make your own at home!
Deodorant:  I avoid aluminum in deodorant and don't want to inhibit natural perspiration.  To stay smelling pretty, I simply make my own.  For store-bought, I like Primal Pit Paste.  It really works!
Haircare:  100% Pure makes the natural shampoo and conditioner I personally use.  And my long, thick locks are pretty picky!


​Essential oils

You'll find essential oils in almost every room in my house: the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, laundry room, the office area, plus in my purse for when I'm away from home.
Essential oils: When it comes to essential oils, quality really matters. I did my homework before I confidently made the choice to use Young Living oils.  They set the standard for purity and authenticity through a unique "seed to seal" process. This protects nature’s living energy in every bottle. Essential oils are a great way to use Mother Nature (instead of toxic chemicals) to help support our own body's health and wellness. ​
Carrier oils: There are dozens of options, but my #1 go-to (again) is jojoba oil.  On my face, I use either organic tamanu oil or rosehip seed oil.  The best carrier oils you find right in your kitchen are pure olive oil like Kasandrinos olive oil,  Avocado oil, and Macadamia Nut oil.


​Supplements

​Whenever available, I use whole-food based supplements.  Then it is more likely the nutrients are in natural proportions and are more bio-available and better absorbed.
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Supplement lines: The entire line of vitamins and supplements from Garden of Life is excellent.  The Radiant Life Company supplements are all top-notch, too!
Cod liver oil:  This super-supplement (from a high-quality, clean source) is fantastic for a healthy heart, skin, arteries, brain function, bone strength, and joints!
Multi-vitamin: Daily, I take a Garden of Life - Vitamin Code RAW Women's Multivitamin.  My husband takes the Men's RAW version.  
Liver: When I started taking a daily liver supplement, my anemia disappeared and my energy skyrocketed (because of the natural iron and B12 content).  I can't live without it. Radiant Life Company sells a fantastic grass-fed liver pill and powder.  
If you want to order liver pills on Amazon, Zen Principle brand also comes from grass-fed cows raised without hormones in Argentina, yay!
Vitamin C:  The whole food supplements for vitamin C are so much better than synthetic ascorbic acid.  I put a serving of Healthforce Nutritionals Vitamin C powder in a glass of water or a smoothie.  It's made from Acerola cherries and it's a wonderful antioxidant! Or, Pure Radiance C by Pure Synergy Company is made from organic Camu Camu berries, which is the world's richest source of vitamin C.  
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Collagen/Gelatin:  I prefer Vital Proteins collagen and gelatin because they come in nice air-tight containers.  The prices are excellent and the shipping is free from their website.  I consider collagen vital for both health and beauty.
Magnesium:  Taking magnesium before bed helps me sleep like a baby. I buy liquid magnesium on Amazon. It's 100% bio-available.  I take 1/2 capful at night in a little water.  If you prefer a pill, Magnesium glycinate is a great option & what I take along when I travel.
Probiotics: The majority of the immune system is in the gut, and that's why probiotics are vital for overall health.  Garden of Life Primal Defense probiotic is excellent for gut repair.  NOW brand Probiotic 10 is what I take daily, and is quite economical.  
Turmeric:  (Also known as curcumin & what gives curry it's vibrant color.)  This is an incredible herb that fights inflammation like a champ!  It's also a very powerful antioxidant.  I take a capsule of turmeric every day.  It's also great to cook with and can be found at Radiant life Company. 
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For sore muscles:  After a real hard work-out, I take some L-glutamine powder in water.  I also rub on some magnesium oil and it relaxes the muscles.  It comes in magnesium lotion, too, which is good for massage and also helps skin conditions.  
Green Powder:  Amazing Grass superfood powders are excellent and I'm a huge fan.  I have a scoop or two every day along with my collagen, sometimes in a smoothie.
Their main product is Green SuperFood Powder, which comes in many flavors like berry, chocolate, tangerine, and peppermint. Their top-of-the-line product is Raw Reserve.  
Maca Powder:  I take maca everyday for hormone balance.  The Maca Team's products are the very best.  They are organic, fair-traded, non-GMO, fresh, and very potent.
Protein Powders:  I don't use it often, but I'm a fan of how Designs for Health brand has formulated their protein powders.  PurePaleo Protein is top-of-the-line! It's dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, legume-free, and even GMO-free. In fact, I'm a huge fan of their entire line of supplements. 
​OR, if you tolerate whey or egg white powders, Jay Robb is also a fantastic brand of protein powders.


​Kitchen Items

I like to bake much more than I like to cook. But, I value the nutrition in a whole-food, home cooked meal. So, if there's anything I can use to make the job easier, I'm all for it!
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Slicer/Noodle maker: The Spiral Vegetable Slicer is just about the coolest gadget in my kitchen. It can be used on zucchini, squash, onions, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, apples, and more.  Very easy clean-up. It's a great way to get your kids to eat their veggies. 
Chopper: I have owned a Pampered Chef Food Chopper since 2001 and it's still as sharp as ever and like new.  I use it constantly and love it!
Kitchen shears:  I have no idea how I ever lived without a handy pair of kitchen shears.  You'll wonder how you ever lived without them, too!
Silpat:  This nonstick wonder is what I use to cover my cookie sheets and bake cookies, pizza, rolls, etc.  I will always have a  Silpat Silicone Baking mat in my kitchen.
Mixer:  I rarely lug out my big mixer and instead use a good hand mixer for almost everything.
Blender:  My old blender finally wore out, so I just got a brand new Ninja!!
Paper goods:  I don't like chlorine or bleach to seep into my healthy food, so look for If You Care brand parchment paper and baking cups.
Slow cooker:  Meal prep never seems like a chore with my slow cooker.  Make dinner in the morning and relax!
A good knife set:  I love Kyocera ceramic knives. Or, other fantastic brands of stainless steel knives are Wusthof and J.A. Henckels.
Scoops:  I use various sizes of Stainless Steel Scoops for perfectly round muffins, rolls, cookies, etc.
Smoothie Straws:  I like Reusable Stainless Steel Metal Drinking Straws from Eco at Heart. They're dishwasher safe and BPA free.
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Pots & pans:  I'm a huge fan of world-class, enameled, cast iron Le Creuset Cookware.  I'm able to simply wipe it clean with a paper towel most often.  Le Creuset can be expensive, so for the basics I suggest a small frying pan, a large frying pan, a sauce pan, and a dutch oven.  


​Food & Fixin's

I like to get the large majority of the food for my family from local, fresh sources.  I want to support local business and local farmers.  Most whole foods are perishable, so it just makes sense.  However, there are some items I order regularly because I trust they're quality and know they're tasty.
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Grass-Fed Meats:  Your local grocery store, farm, or farmer's market may carry grass-fed meats. If not,  US Wellness Meats is a great source for grass-fed, grass-finished beef.  Plus, they offer lamb, bison, duck, poultry  grass-fed dairy, snacks, wild-caught seafood,  and even pet food! FREE shipping, too!  I've also ordered bison meat from Grassfed Traditions Farm in Wisconsin.  It is delicious!
Seafood:  I don't live anywhere near an ocean, but I always buy wild caught fish at the grocery store. The sardines I like are Wild Planet Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Wild planet also offers a nice line of many sustainability-caught canned salmon and tuna.
Baking flours:  No gluten allowed in my kitchen!  I like to work with Honeyville Almond Flour, ground Cashew Meal, and Bob's Red Mill Coconut Flour. I always order "sprouted" Flax Meal because it contains less phytates, and use Tapioca flour when I need more starchy of a flour. 
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Bone Broth: The healthiest and best bone broth on the market is from Kettle & Fire! Each batch uses only certified organic ingredients, and marrow bones from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle and chicken that are hormone and antibiotic free.
Coconut Milk & Cream:  I use Native Forest brand.  It's organic and the cans are BPA free.
Coconut Oil:  I only buy Tropical Traditions brand.  Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is "top of the line".  If you want a lighter flavor, try the "expeller pressed" variety, which is my favorite!
Ghee:  I make my own ghee from grassfed butter, but I do love to bring or buy a jar of Purity Farm Organic Ghee when I travel.
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Chocolate Chips:  I'm pretty picky about my chocolate and only use Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips. They're soy, nut, and dairy free.  I see them at my local Kroger, but buy them in bulk online.

Spices: I love to make my own yummy spice blends (see recipes here) and I usually use Simply Organic spices.  To buy pre-made spice blends, Primal Palate has some great ones!
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Condiments:  


​Around the House

I do my best to make my home a haven for health and wellness.
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For cleaning:  Nothing outrageous here! A wet rag with a water and some elbow grease usually does the trick.  Non-toxic, too!
  • Household Traditions is a great place to buy non-toxic cleaning supplies.  They carry laundry detergent, disinfectants, dish liquid, dishwasher detergent, glass cleaner, and more.
Laundry detergent: I use the Thieves laundry detergent with essential oils from Young Living. I use their Thieves concentrated Household Cleaner in a spray bottle, too. It cleans pretty much everything.
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Earthing:  In the winter, when my feet don't touch the bare ground, I sleep with a small earthing mat touching my lower legs.  It can also be used under your keyboard and mouse.  It's great for stress relief to be connected to the earth!  (Read more on my Health Q's page.)
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Screen-time at night:  My husband gets a big chucke every time he sees me in my goofy Orange Plastic Glasses.  Sunlight in the daytime is blue light. Evening light is orange light, like a sunset. Orange light tells your body it's time to wind down and prepare for rest.  However, your computer screen and iPad are lit by blue light.  So, if you're up web-surfing or reading at night, you may be keeping yourself awake!  I wear these as to not interfere with normal light patterns, which allows my melatonin to kick-in naturally  & I can fall asleep normally.  Get a pair for yourself!


​Fitness

My social life pretty much revolves around my fitness activities. A perfect example of holistic health: mind, body, and spirit!
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Yoga supplies:  I'm a fan of Gaiam brand products.  I prefer a mat that's thin, and a cloth yoga mat bag is always nice to have for portability.
Tracker:  I wore a FitBit Tracker for years, every since the original version was out. It tracks steps, activity, sleep, and food through a very easy to learn program on your computer or phone app.
Tennis gear: When I'm not at home cooking or blogging, you can find me on the tennis court!  I've always been happy with Wilson's line of racquets.  My racquet in particular is the Wilson Juice 108.  My tennis bag is a JetPac tote.  I also like their tennis backpacks.  JetPac bags are very durable, roomy, and very stylish, too. Don't forget the tennis balls!

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