My Favorite Things: Oct 28, 2022

Happy Friday! ?? I don't know about you, but I'm excited for the weekend... it's been a busy last couple months and with the holidays creeping ever closer I'm looking forward to some time in the next couple days for some much needed R&R. Yes, there are still the "to do's" for the weekend (soccer game + end of season party, volleyball, house guests, PT) but for once it's not packed! YAY! How about you? What are you looking forward to this weekend??

I've also been thinking about this weekly newsletter and wanting to create some more fun and consistency with it. So starting today, each week you can expect the following:?

?? Food for thought - something to mull over and consider as you're looking at how you can enhance your own personal Whole Life Health

?? A favorite body care, R&R tool, or home idea that brings me joy for you to try or check out.

?? Upcoming events I think you'll be interested in hearing about that I believe will enhance our Whole Life Health journey. All of which will either be something I'm directly involved in or are from a colleague that I deeply trust and respect.?

?? A new recipe - either of my own devising that fits with the season, or one I've come across during the week.?

So read on! And let me know what you think of this new format or if there's something else that's missing you'd like to see included!?

1. Food For Thought: Exercise is a Celebration, Not a Punishment

This month, one of the topics I've been talking about with my Claim Your Health clients is body movement and exercise, and that this should be something that brings you, or at least your body, joy. There are so many forms of body movement that there is one (or many!) that is right for you. Well, this morning I came across a quote that I absolutely loved and wanted to share.

" Exercise is a celebration of what your body can do, not a punishment for what you ate."?It's a great reminder of the very simple, but important fact, that exercise or body movement should not be used as an antidote to eating poorly or as punishment for not taking care of ourselves in other fundamental ways.

Instead, it is a celebration of our body and the fact that it can move, support and sustain us in such beautiful ways.?

2. My Fav: Home scent for fall/winter that boosts your body.?

I love using essential oils on occasion. I'm not a big fanatic, or particularly knowledgable (for that I turn to friends who are certified aromatherapists - I highly recommend doing the same!). But through them, and doing my own searching, I've found an essential oil company that I really love and trust (no - it's not DoTERRA). I don't have anything against DoTERRA but generally speaking I'm not a fan of "Multi-Level Marketing" companies for many many reasons... but that's another conversation.?

So! This week I wanted to share one of my favorite oil blends that I use in my home diffuser when I'm feeling like I could use a little warming support and cozy feel in the house:?Plant Therapy Germ Fighter Blend?

You can check out their other blends and individual oils as well. One thing I do highly recommend with any essential oil is that you buy organic. As pointed out to me by an aromatherapist, when we're inhaling essential oils in whatever fashion, these are particles that can pass through the blood-brain barrier, and if the sources are not free of toxins, it can be incredibly damaging to our body and our brain. Clean, organic, well sourced is so important!?

I also want to note that when the bottle says you only need a drop or two, they really mean it! The concentration levels are so HIGH! Do not over do it. Not only will you be wasting money, but some oils can be potentially hazardous at higher potency.?I also want to note that when the bottle says you only need a drop or two, they really mean it! The concentration levels are so HIGH! Do not over do it. Not only will you be wasting money, but some oils can be potentially hazardous at higher potency.?

Essential oils can be amazing when used correctly. And this one I love... my home smells and feels amazing right now ????

3. Coming Up: If You've Been Struggling with Releasing Weight...

Don't forget to check out the?"Beyond the Food: Weight Loss Summit"?coming up next week! It is a great way to get some "think outside the box" information about why releasing weight might be a struggle for you.?It starts on Tuesday, November 1st and runs just for 4 days. I'll be speaking on Day 3 and would love to see you there.?

Plus Pamela's giving you a great way to purchase the recordings of all the interviews if you wish, and along with that you'll have access to some pretty awesome programs, tools and kits donated by all the speakers.?Check it out HERE!?

4. Recipe Time: It's Halloween! Let's cook with Pumpkin ??

I'll be honest, I LOVE pumpkin and pumpkin spice. But the craze around it, and the ability to find what feels like literally everything in pumpkin spice flavor drives me nuts. But it really is a great fall food and there's so much you can do with it! Some of my favorites are pumpkin curry, pumpkin bread, pumpkin-butternut squash bisque, roasted squash as a side dish... just to name a few.?

So this week, I wanted to share my own creation: Grain Free-Paleo pumpkin bread. It's an amazing snack or quick breakfast and we have this handy for healthy, tasty, grab-and-go needs... which around here is frequent. You can bake it in a loaf pan, a bread bowl or 9" cake pan (my personal favorite). Depending on the baking dish you use, you may need to vary the baking time (hence the range listed in the instructions). Eat plain, or with your favorite dairy-free or organic cream cheese smeared on top. Check out the recipe ????.?

Kia's Paleo Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

• 1 15oz can organic puréed pumpkin?(or 1 3/4 to 2 cups cooked puréed pumpkin)
• 4 large eggs (room temp is best)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract?
• 1/4 cup coconut oil melted and cooled to almost room temp
• 1 3/4 cups almond flour (my favorite is blanched almond flour but either works fine)
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour/tapioca starch (I use bobs red mill)
• 1 tsp baking soda?
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 generous tsp pumpkin spice
• 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt
• 1 cup chopped goodies - optional?(some of our favorites: 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts, 1/4 - 1/2 cup dried or candied ginger,?for a sweet treat: 1/2 cup caramel chips)

To make your own pumpkin spice mix: 1t cinnamon, 1/2t ground ginger, 1/4t ground nutmeg, 1/8t ground allspice, 1/8t ground cloves).?

Instructions

1.?Whisk together all dry ingredients and set aside. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and throughly grease a medium loaf pan, bread bowl or 9” cake pan.?

2.?In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and mashed bananas, then vanilla and coconut oil until well combined.

3.?Slowly stir the dry mixture into the wet using a spatula until just moistened and no visible flour remains.4.?Gently stir in optional ingredients.

5.?Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 55-70 minutes until deep golden brown and toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the loaf pan resting on a wire rack, then remove, slice and serve. Enjoy!

That's it for this week!?I hope you have a fantastic weekend!???

xx

Kia