Worth a Second Look: Organic Burst
Hello Lovlies!
During the second semester of my freshman year I came across some natural supplements that I am excited to try and show all of you. The brand is called Organic Burst. To see the website click on the name anytime you see it in the blog, including the previous sentence. Organic Burst carries their supplements in pill form and powder form if you want to mix them into a smoothie or a shake. Below are the different supplements, their benefits and where they originate. If you need any ideas or recipes for how to make a shake with these supplements or incorporate them into your meals follow them on Instagram by clicking here. The link will direct you straight there. I really recommend that you check out their website. It has more information about their products, why you should choose their products, and directions on how to take the supplements and how many you should take daily.
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
Acai Berry
Organic Burst only sales the capsule form of this Amazon fruit from Brazil. Acai is rich in essential fatty acids omega 3-6 and contains omega-9 oleic acid. It is recommended as part of a daily beauty routine by beauty experts and is great to incorporate into a post-workout shake. Before taking this supplement regularly I would suggest talking to your doctor about Acai Berry because I personally know a few people who have consumed products with Acai Berry and it lowered their blood pressure too low. Acai doesn't effect me in that way and I get it all the time in smoothies. Everyone's health is different, but as a precaution, mention the supplement to your physician just to be sure it's safe for you.
Spirulina
OrganicBurst sells both the powder and capsule form of this supplement. Spirulina is a plant that has existed on our planet for billions of years and is native to civilizations like the Aztecs. Spirulina contains Vitamin B6, iron, Thiamine, and is rich in protein. The Vitamin B6 and iron helps strengthen the immune system and helps support healthy brain and cognitive function. Thiamine contributes to the normal functions of the heart. Spirulina's richness in protein (60-70%) is four times more absorbent than protein. This supplement is a powerhouse, especially for those who do not eat as much red meat and pork. The protein in Spirulina makes up for that and some.
Chlorella
Again, OrganicBurst sells this supplement in both powder and capsule form. Chlorella is a microalgae that contains high levels of folic acid, Vitamin D, iron, Vitamin K, iodine, zinc, and Vitamin B2. Chlorella helps form new cells in your body, promotes detoxification, supports the liver gallbladder, and kidneys, and provides immune system benefits.
Baobab
Organic Burst only sells this African superfood in powder form. It offers a high amount of Vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The vitamin C helps with alertness and energy, supports the immune system, and boosts iron uptake. Baobab is hydrating and aids with a healthy nervous system due to its potassium content.
Wheatgrass
Organic Burst sells wheatgrass in powder form. It is a rich source of chlorophyll, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, energy-metabolising minerals, and fiber. The wheatgrass powder contains Vitamin A, antioxidants, and a good source of essential fatty acids that help promote healthy skin. It also boosts energy and can aid in weight loss.
Maca
Last, but certainly not least, Maca is known as Peruvian Ginseng and has been used in Peru for many many years. Organic Burst provides this Peruvian wonder in powder form. Maca strengthens the body and helps maintain optimal stamina and endurance. It acts as a caffeine-free energizer and also, just as important, it helps with sexual health. Studies have been done that show that the Maca powder boosts sexual desire in both men and women without any adverse effects on sexual hormones.
All of the information that I have written on this blog came directly from the OrganicBurst.com website. I personally do not advise anyone to take all of these supplements at the same time. I would say that taking 2 or 3 of them would be safe. I would advise you to ask your doctor or an actual health professional about taking these supplement. Again, everyone's health is different therefore everyone will have different responses to these pills and powders. I personally would like to try the Spirulina powder for protein, Chlorella pills for all of its functions, and Maca powder for energy.
Which supplements would you be interested in trying?
Staying Motivated for the Long Run
I know there is probably a large majority of us who have large life goals that we want to achieve. These life goals are not easy to accomplish and take a lot of hard work. Once these goals are accomplished we feel so accomplished (obviously) and proud of ourselves. But sometimes, and maybe even a lot of the time, there are people who do not make their life goals and quit because they couldn't see it to the very end. The life goals that you set for yourself can be accomplished. The determining factor of your success is how you come about your goal. Like I say in a lot of my post, because it is true, I'm still young and have a lot of learning and wisdom to gain. But, at this point of my life I feel like I have learned two important tips in achieving long term goals that I would like to share. 1) Turn your long term goal into short term goals and 2) Give yourself time to acknowledge your success. These two tips are probably two of many steps that need to be done in order to accomplish goals, but I think these two will lead you in the right direction. These are steps that I have been working on myself. So wish me luck and I hope you enjoy these two steps and possibly even put them to work to benefit yourself.
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
Turn your long term goals into short term goals
-Working towards a long term goal takes a lot of work, dedication, and patience. A lot of the time our efforts feel like they are getting us no where and as a result some people give up on their goals. The best way to keep yourself motivated is to not focus entirely on the long term goal, but to focus on the completion of milestones that get you to your long term goals. Focusing on the big picture is way more overwhelming than looking at the smaller picture. I'm sure most people, including myself, feel motivated to keep pushing forward when they are seeing quick results. Focusing on the big picture will not result in faster results. But, the smaller pictures that construct the bigger picture will.
For example, my long term goal in school is to go to graduate school and become a certified Nurse Midwife. In order to do that I have to do well in my undergraduate studies, get into a nursing school, graduate, work as a registered nurse in the labor and delivery department of a hospital for at least a year, get accepted into a certified Nurse Midwife graduate program, endure 2-3 years of that program and then finally graduate with the proper education and credentials to practice as a Midwife. From all of that, it is going to take about 7 to 8 years of schooling. That means a lot of sleepless nights studying and having to stay consistent with my grades. As of now, I am only in my first year of college and if I constantly focused on becoming a Midwife now it would be far too overwhelming to think about all of the years of stressful studying I would have to do. I'm starting to stress just from thinking about it. So instead, I focus on the first step first: getting into nursing school. Nursing programs are impacted everywhere and competition is tough. So to keep me motivated to continue down the path towards becoming a Midwife I focus on getting into nursing school. I need to keep my grades up for 3 more semester, including the one I'm in now. So right now my only focus is nursing school. Because it's so much closer in the future than becoming a Nurse midwife it doesn't seem as daunting. After getting into nursing school I'll focus on graduating and getting a job as a registered nurse and so on and so forth. Focusing on the increment of the journey instead of the whole picture makes the extra effort less strenuous because you'll see the results of your progress much faster.
Give yourself time to acknowledge your success
-It's easy for us to complete a task and instantly work on the next one and not acknowledge that we have progressed from where we were at the start. Constant work on one really long task can be daunting, repetitive, and discouraging after awhile. To keep yourself encouraged, take a step back every once in awhile and look at how far you have come. From the time you first started working towards the goal to where you currently are. It's further than where you were in the beginning right? Be proud and take pride in that. Accepting and basking in your progress will make the journey a little easier because your progress will be your own motivation. Don't be afraid to take a day off and reset your focus. A trip to the beach, museum, park, garden, cafe, or restaurant you've been wanting to go to maybe? Give yourself a break every now and then. You deserve it.
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
Turn your long term goals into short term goals
-Working towards a long term goal takes a lot of work, dedication, and patience. A lot of the time our efforts feel like they are getting us no where and as a result some people give up on their goals. The best way to keep yourself motivated is to not focus entirely on the long term goal, but to focus on the completion of milestones that get you to your long term goals. Focusing on the big picture is way more overwhelming than looking at the smaller picture. I'm sure most people, including myself, feel motivated to keep pushing forward when they are seeing quick results. Focusing on the big picture will not result in faster results. But, the smaller pictures that construct the bigger picture will.
For example, my long term goal in school is to go to graduate school and become a certified Nurse Midwife. In order to do that I have to do well in my undergraduate studies, get into a nursing school, graduate, work as a registered nurse in the labor and delivery department of a hospital for at least a year, get accepted into a certified Nurse Midwife graduate program, endure 2-3 years of that program and then finally graduate with the proper education and credentials to practice as a Midwife. From all of that, it is going to take about 7 to 8 years of schooling. That means a lot of sleepless nights studying and having to stay consistent with my grades. As of now, I am only in my first year of college and if I constantly focused on becoming a Midwife now it would be far too overwhelming to think about all of the years of stressful studying I would have to do. I'm starting to stress just from thinking about it. So instead, I focus on the first step first: getting into nursing school. Nursing programs are impacted everywhere and competition is tough. So to keep me motivated to continue down the path towards becoming a Midwife I focus on getting into nursing school. I need to keep my grades up for 3 more semester, including the one I'm in now. So right now my only focus is nursing school. Because it's so much closer in the future than becoming a Nurse midwife it doesn't seem as daunting. After getting into nursing school I'll focus on graduating and getting a job as a registered nurse and so on and so forth. Focusing on the increment of the journey instead of the whole picture makes the extra effort less strenuous because you'll see the results of your progress much faster.
Give yourself time to acknowledge your success
-It's easy for us to complete a task and instantly work on the next one and not acknowledge that we have progressed from where we were at the start. Constant work on one really long task can be daunting, repetitive, and discouraging after awhile. To keep yourself encouraged, take a step back every once in awhile and look at how far you have come. From the time you first started working towards the goal to where you currently are. It's further than where you were in the beginning right? Be proud and take pride in that. Accepting and basking in your progress will make the journey a little easier because your progress will be your own motivation. Don't be afraid to take a day off and reset your focus. A trip to the beach, museum, park, garden, cafe, or restaurant you've been wanting to go to maybe? Give yourself a break every now and then. You deserve it.
We're always looking for it, but how do we know when we've found it?
Love.
This blog is about the simplest but one of the most complicated things in life.
What do you look for in love? How do we know it's love? Where do we look? and Once we've got it, then what?Questions that I know I don't have the answers to but questions that I can at least state my opinion on. I'm still very young and I have so much more to experience and more wisdom to gain, but as a person who feels and has emotions I can chime my opinion on this topic. Feel free to chime your thoughts and opinions on this topic as well. There isn't a concrete definition or a correct perspective on this powerful phenomenon, so let your thoughts be heard.
What do you look for in love?
From the perspective of someone who is looking from the outside in, I feel like people take love to seriously. I think that love should be fun, adventurous, kind and inspiring. I think you and your significant other should make each other laugh and should constantly be surprising one another. Love should be simple. It shouldn't take constant date night and gifts to be happy. I feel like you should be comfortable with a walk to the store or a planned stay in and wear pajamas and watch movies and TV all day kind of days are good. But that doesn't mean a romantic day/evening out every once in a while shouldn't be done. I think that it's important to examine the other person's true intentions in themselves as well as in the relationship. It goes for us as well. If our own intentions are not true to ourselves how can we hold true intentions towards someone else?
How do we know it's love?
Love is completely subjective. It depends on the person and their needs. But all in all, I think that you'll know it's love when that person makes you happy and makes you laugh. When you can let your barriers down and they never go near the boundaries of taking advantage of you. When you see things in that person that no one else can. When you can see their gentle side, their strong side, their potential and the love that you are blessed to be able to experience. I think when you feel secure and protected around this person and feel like they have everything under control is a powerful feeling. Yet at the same time you can feel strong even in their presence. When they encourage you and push you toward your own goals while still being able to focus on their own. I think when all of these components come together it makes the strong bond that we know as Love.
Where do we look?
I feel like love just naturally manifests when you come across someone that makes you see things in a whole new positive perspective that you would have never thought of before. But if there were a place to look for love the number one place to look would be within yourself. Be the person you want to love and that person will come. If you want someone who is strong, confident, and independent then you have to be strong, confident, and independent. It would be illogical for you to think that your "dream guy/girl" will come along if you aren't the "dream you". The phrase "opposites attract" is irrelevant to the circumstance of love, in my opinion. Not all of the time, but most of the time, if there is someone who is not matching the amount of effort that you are putting into the relationship then they do not have the same intentions as you. For example, if you are someone who lacks confidence and someone with a huge amount of confidence comes along there is a possibility that they think they can take advantage of you and they will. Or if it's the other way around and you're a strong confident person and the other person is the opposite then they may have the intention to use you to better themselves or somehow get ahead in life. If you ever feel like the person that has come along is too good to be true, then chances are you're right. The person you "fall in love with" shouldn't be an intimidation. They should be an excellent compliment to the strong and solid you that you already are. These circumstances are not always the case, but it's really important to watch this person and really dig deep and look into their intentions.
Once we've go it, Now what?
Hold onto it. Easier said then done, I know. You're two individuals who are trying to work as one solid couple. Someone's interest might change, or time just slowly changes a person. Honest communication is key. Let your feelings be heard. Tell them how you feel, do what you can to make it work. Love is a never ending process. It's difficulty varies on the kind of person you are with, which is why it is important to really examine and watch this person before stepping into love. Keeping the love strong can be a little easier or harder. What's really important is that equal effort is put in by both partners. No one person can put in more effort. It will lead to resentment and frequent arguing. It's possible to fall out of love with a person, it happens a lot. That's completely normal. Is it going to hurt? Yes. But time and experience will heal. But if this 'love' is doing more harm than good, it's time to let it go. Don't ever be afraid to let go of something that you know is hurting you or the both of you. It'll be hard in the beginning but in the end you're doing both of you a favor.
Love is such a complicated situation. But if it's done correctly it can be one of the best experiences in your life. Love is not a one try success, it's going to take trial and error, misses, minor hits, and heartache. But just think of it this way, all of your struggle and strife is going to bring you closer to the love that will make you smile, feel like your on top of the world, and happy beyond description. It's gonna be a long and rough journey, but if you follow the path you create for yourself you'll find your own happy ending.
So are you up for the journey?
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
This blog is about the simplest but one of the most complicated things in life.
What do you look for in love? How do we know it's love? Where do we look? and Once we've got it, then what?Questions that I know I don't have the answers to but questions that I can at least state my opinion on. I'm still very young and I have so much more to experience and more wisdom to gain, but as a person who feels and has emotions I can chime my opinion on this topic. Feel free to chime your thoughts and opinions on this topic as well. There isn't a concrete definition or a correct perspective on this powerful phenomenon, so let your thoughts be heard.
What do you look for in love?
From the perspective of someone who is looking from the outside in, I feel like people take love to seriously. I think that love should be fun, adventurous, kind and inspiring. I think you and your significant other should make each other laugh and should constantly be surprising one another. Love should be simple. It shouldn't take constant date night and gifts to be happy. I feel like you should be comfortable with a walk to the store or a planned stay in and wear pajamas and watch movies and TV all day kind of days are good. But that doesn't mean a romantic day/evening out every once in a while shouldn't be done. I think that it's important to examine the other person's true intentions in themselves as well as in the relationship. It goes for us as well. If our own intentions are not true to ourselves how can we hold true intentions towards someone else?
How do we know it's love?
Love is completely subjective. It depends on the person and their needs. But all in all, I think that you'll know it's love when that person makes you happy and makes you laugh. When you can let your barriers down and they never go near the boundaries of taking advantage of you. When you see things in that person that no one else can. When you can see their gentle side, their strong side, their potential and the love that you are blessed to be able to experience. I think when you feel secure and protected around this person and feel like they have everything under control is a powerful feeling. Yet at the same time you can feel strong even in their presence. When they encourage you and push you toward your own goals while still being able to focus on their own. I think when all of these components come together it makes the strong bond that we know as Love.
Where do we look?
I feel like love just naturally manifests when you come across someone that makes you see things in a whole new positive perspective that you would have never thought of before. But if there were a place to look for love the number one place to look would be within yourself. Be the person you want to love and that person will come. If you want someone who is strong, confident, and independent then you have to be strong, confident, and independent. It would be illogical for you to think that your "dream guy/girl" will come along if you aren't the "dream you". The phrase "opposites attract" is irrelevant to the circumstance of love, in my opinion. Not all of the time, but most of the time, if there is someone who is not matching the amount of effort that you are putting into the relationship then they do not have the same intentions as you. For example, if you are someone who lacks confidence and someone with a huge amount of confidence comes along there is a possibility that they think they can take advantage of you and they will. Or if it's the other way around and you're a strong confident person and the other person is the opposite then they may have the intention to use you to better themselves or somehow get ahead in life. If you ever feel like the person that has come along is too good to be true, then chances are you're right. The person you "fall in love with" shouldn't be an intimidation. They should be an excellent compliment to the strong and solid you that you already are. These circumstances are not always the case, but it's really important to watch this person and really dig deep and look into their intentions.
Once we've go it, Now what?
Hold onto it. Easier said then done, I know. You're two individuals who are trying to work as one solid couple. Someone's interest might change, or time just slowly changes a person. Honest communication is key. Let your feelings be heard. Tell them how you feel, do what you can to make it work. Love is a never ending process. It's difficulty varies on the kind of person you are with, which is why it is important to really examine and watch this person before stepping into love. Keeping the love strong can be a little easier or harder. What's really important is that equal effort is put in by both partners. No one person can put in more effort. It will lead to resentment and frequent arguing. It's possible to fall out of love with a person, it happens a lot. That's completely normal. Is it going to hurt? Yes. But time and experience will heal. But if this 'love' is doing more harm than good, it's time to let it go. Don't ever be afraid to let go of something that you know is hurting you or the both of you. It'll be hard in the beginning but in the end you're doing both of you a favor.
Love is such a complicated situation. But if it's done correctly it can be one of the best experiences in your life. Love is not a one try success, it's going to take trial and error, misses, minor hits, and heartache. But just think of it this way, all of your struggle and strife is going to bring you closer to the love that will make you smile, feel like your on top of the world, and happy beyond description. It's gonna be a long and rough journey, but if you follow the path you create for yourself you'll find your own happy ending.
So are you up for the journey?
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
Healthy Spontaneous Getaways
Everyday routines can be draining and stressful; wake up, go to work/school, sit in traffic/study for hours, go home to cook/try to be social and interactive, get less than the recommended 8 hours of sleep, and repeat. It can become extremely overwhelming. As crappy as it is, it must be done. But there is a way to make our every day routines a little less stressful and overwhelming.
The best way to do that is to take spontaneous getaways. Whether it's a beach day, going to the city, or going to a coffee shop that you've been wanting to go to. Pick one day or even two days where you can take some time to get away and re-energize yourself. If you think you do not have the time to relax and recharge yourself then you really need to do this. This getaway doesn't have to be a day long, it can be a couple of hours. The constant rush of every day life can definitely wear you down mentally and physically. If you stay in that routine constantly you'll lose sight of yourself and you'll eventually find yourself going through the motions and not living.
So next time you feel like you're losing control or you're about to break down take a step back out of your life and ask yourself, "where do I find peace?" and "where can I relax?" The first place you think of is the place you'll be able to relax and unwind. Plan a day out your week to go to where ever that place is and try to make that your weekly routine so that when you're having a crappy week your getaway day will be your motivation to keep pushing through your week.
When you go to your getaway location leave your busy life for the time that you are there. Leave all of your stress and worries behind you. The only thing you should be thinking about is where you are right then and there and how much your getaway was much needed. From personal experience these private getaways are super efficient. My mind felt so much clearer during my getaway and when I returned back to my reality things weren't as hectic. I was able to think clearly and get things done. I actually got more done after my getaway than I do while under stress during my week. You're getaways should be exclusively customized to you. Go where you want to go and do what you want to do. Go alone or bring a close friend, it's up to you. Just make sure that whatever it is you do you do it only for you. If you happen to plan something on your getaway day, drop it. Or at least push it later into your day. Make sure you take advantage of your getaway, you deserve it.
This was my first week starting this routine and I've been absolutely pleased with the positive effects it has. Before I used to think I didn't have time to relax and "reset", but taking time out to "reset" is what's going to improve my performance during my busy week. My getaway day takes place on Saturday mornings to this beautiful place. It's a reasonable distance away so I jog here. I walk along the beach and let the water rush against my feet. After walking the beach for about half a mile or so I find a place to sit down on a towel and enjoy the view and mediate. I encourage everyone to try this at least once. Find your peaceful place and see the immediate difference it makes on you and how differently you perform during your week. Give it a try and if it works for you spread the word to your friends and family.
Ocean Beach, San Francisco, California
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
The best way to do that is to take spontaneous getaways. Whether it's a beach day, going to the city, or going to a coffee shop that you've been wanting to go to. Pick one day or even two days where you can take some time to get away and re-energize yourself. If you think you do not have the time to relax and recharge yourself then you really need to do this. This getaway doesn't have to be a day long, it can be a couple of hours. The constant rush of every day life can definitely wear you down mentally and physically. If you stay in that routine constantly you'll lose sight of yourself and you'll eventually find yourself going through the motions and not living.
So next time you feel like you're losing control or you're about to break down take a step back out of your life and ask yourself, "where do I find peace?" and "where can I relax?" The first place you think of is the place you'll be able to relax and unwind. Plan a day out your week to go to where ever that place is and try to make that your weekly routine so that when you're having a crappy week your getaway day will be your motivation to keep pushing through your week.
When you go to your getaway location leave your busy life for the time that you are there. Leave all of your stress and worries behind you. The only thing you should be thinking about is where you are right then and there and how much your getaway was much needed. From personal experience these private getaways are super efficient. My mind felt so much clearer during my getaway and when I returned back to my reality things weren't as hectic. I was able to think clearly and get things done. I actually got more done after my getaway than I do while under stress during my week. You're getaways should be exclusively customized to you. Go where you want to go and do what you want to do. Go alone or bring a close friend, it's up to you. Just make sure that whatever it is you do you do it only for you. If you happen to plan something on your getaway day, drop it. Or at least push it later into your day. Make sure you take advantage of your getaway, you deserve it.
This was my first week starting this routine and I've been absolutely pleased with the positive effects it has. Before I used to think I didn't have time to relax and "reset", but taking time out to "reset" is what's going to improve my performance during my busy week. My getaway day takes place on Saturday mornings to this beautiful place. It's a reasonable distance away so I jog here. I walk along the beach and let the water rush against my feet. After walking the beach for about half a mile or so I find a place to sit down on a towel and enjoy the view and mediate. I encourage everyone to try this at least once. Find your peaceful place and see the immediate difference it makes on you and how differently you perform during your week. Give it a try and if it works for you spread the word to your friends and family.
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
Foods to help increase energy levels
With the new year still fresh and full of possibilities I'm sure there are a lot of tasks that you are determined to tackle during the year. I know I do, but with school, work, and other things going on in life wouldn't it be great to have the energy to lead your every day life and conquer those tasks on your 'to-do list'? Here are some foods that I picked out that are great for boosting your energy levels while on the go. It's not everyday that we can go home and cook up some energy boosting meals and go back to our busy days. These foods are great for on-the-go and easy to put in your purse, backpack, or whatever bag you use during the day. I hope you all enjoy and Happy New Year!
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
Greek YogurtGreek Yogurt is a little bit thicker than other yogurts, it's also one of my favorites. After working out for hours at the gym a cup of Greek yogurt is always my go-to snack. It's light and filling at the same time. Greek yogurt can be a quick and healthy breakfast, snack, or dessert. To dress it up and add more to it you can add your favorite pieces of fresh fruit or granola. Not only is it healthy, it's great for when you need to stay awake or if you need a quick energy boost throughout the day. Greek yogurt is high in protein, calcium, potassium, vitamin B12, and carbs. The carbs are what make the yogurt a valuable source of slow-release energy. So go and find your favorite Greek yogurt flavor and enjoy.
Fresh fruit are really easy to grab and take with you on the go. If you have a lunch bag or just a plastic sandwich bag don't be afraid to fill it up with some fruit. Fruit contains natural sugar to help boost your energy levels and many fruits contain vitamin C and fiber. Strawberries and oranges are the most common fruits to take on the go, but grapes, cherries, and chopped melons are great energy boosters as well.
A great way of consuming grains is through whole grain cereal. During school I used to bring a sandwich bag of dry cereal, preferably the Mixed Berries flavor of Special K, and I would snack on them throughout the day. Eating cereal throughout the day kept me awake and I felt more alert in class. Our bodies use carbohydrates to fuel itself and eating whole grains is important for creating natural energy that last throughout the day. I love carrying dry cereal with me. I can carry a lot of it in a small sandwich bag and it can easily be stored in my purse or in my backpack without taking up space.
I'm a huge tea drinker! I love all kinds of tea whether it is hot or cold. During the later half of the year when it's really cold I always carry hot tea to class in my travel mug. During the early months of the year when it's mild out and starting to warm up I drink a lot of iced tea. I occasionally drink the already bottled tea out of the store, but I like to make my own as well. I usually boil water as if I am making a hot cup of tea. I pour the water into my travel mug with a teabag, let it cool down for a little bit, store it in the refrigerator overnight and then I'll take it out the next morning to take with me. I add ice cubes to it as well to give it an extra chill and a little sugar to sweeten it very lightly. If I have time I make large quantities of iced tea and keep it in the refrigerator in a large pitcher so that I can pour it in my travel mug or have some while I am at home .Tea, specifically green tea, is packed with powerful antioxidants and is known to help boost energy levels. The caffeine in the tea could be a major factor to that.
Water makes up about 60% of our body weight. Our vital organs require water in order to function properly. Water is an energy booster and keeps us alert and focused. I always carry a bottle of water where ever I go. There is always a bottle in my backpack, my purse, or in my hand. If I forget to bring a bottle of water with me I feel incomplete, as weird as that sounds. There have been some days when I hadn't had a lot of water and I would feel sluggish and unable to concentrate or organize my thoughts well. After drinking a bottle or water I felt more awake and alert. It's always important to drink water and stay hydrated. I know a few people who do not like the taste of water because it's too bland, I can totally relate because I was one of those people. If you need ideas on how to make drinking water more tolerable I posted an article about different ways to make water taste better by adding fruit to it and making your own fruit water. You should definitely check it out.
Stressing Over Finals
For some people finals are over or just about over, but for me I start finals next week. I feel pretty good about my finals this semester, but I'm still a little stressed. Since it's my first experience with college finals I want to create a healthy habit when it comes to approaching finals. Here are some tips on how to ease a little bit of the stress of finals. These stress relieving tips can be used for other things than just finals. It can be used to help ease the stress of work, relationships, personal life, and financial stress. You can even modify and personalize these tips to make them fun or more suitable for you. Make your routine unique! I hope you all enjoy. :)
Your Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
Stress Relieving Tips:
Listen to Music
Listening to your favorite artists will instantly relax your mind and body. Take a few minutes out of your day to sit back and clear your mind. Don't think of the things you have to do, just enjoy the moment for what it is. Music that is great for relieving stress is nature sounds. As cliche as it may seem, it's really helpful. Stop what you're doing, turn on some tunes, and enjoy the moment.
Talk to a Friend
Human to human communication is important, specially if it's communicating with a good friend of yours. You don't have to spend a whole day with that person. It can be a trip to a coffee shop or a 25 minute phone call. Talking to a friend eases stress because that person will either get your mind off of that stress or will tell you they're going through the same thing. If that's the case you won't feel alone and knowing that you're not alone will help you cope with stress a little bit easier. Laughing and chatting with a friend is always a good time and a fun stress reliever. It's something that shouldn't be taken for granted.
Eat Right
When we have so many things to do during the day we tend to grab the quickest and closest thing to us and sometimes the quickest and closest things to us aren't the healthiest. If we're studying for long hours we'll grab chips or a bag of candy. Anything that's easy to take with us and easy to eat. That's not always the best thing to do. Instead, grab some fruit and water. Fruit are known to help reduce stress. Eating right makes you feel more alert and it's healthy for you. It's basically a win win situation.
Be Mindful
Meditating and things like Yoga, Pilates and tai chi are great for long term stress relief. Try taking a class or just sit and meditate in a quiet room for 10 minutes. I personally like meditating. After 10 minutes of clearing my mind and deep breathing I feel a lot better and like my mind had organized itself. Making me feel less stressed out.
Drink Tea
Tea is a really soothing drink whether it is served hot or cold. To relieve stress, hot tea is the way to go. Tea has less than half the amount of caffeine and has healthy antioxidants. There are also different types of teas that are great for healing. Whether it is digestion, immunity, or to aid in alertness and relieving stress. I love tea, it's one of my favorite drinks and whenever I drink it I never feel stressed.
Sleep Tight
It's recommended to get at least 8-9hrs of sleep a night but honestly I haven't gotten that much sleep since I've started college. Turning your room into the perfect sleeping sanctuary will help you feel rejuvenated in the morning. To do this make sure that you try to avoid doing homework in your bed. If you accustom yourself to doing work on your bed whenever you get in bed you're gonna feel as if you need to be doing something and you won't feel as relaxed. Before it's time for you to go to sleep neatly pull back your covers so that your bed looks more appealing and more like it's welcoming you to go to sleep. If your bed is tempting you to go to sleep when you get into bed you'll feel more at ease and fall asleep. And lastly, turn off all of the lights and have the room temperature to your liking. A dark room will help you fall asleep because you can't see in the dark so you can't look around. All of these steps will turn your room into a sleep sanctuary and will help you feel rejuvenated for the next day, no matter how many hours of sleep you may get.
More Than Just Water
I don't know about all of you, but I've always heard that it's important to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. I've gone online to find out how much water we really need to drink a day. From all of my findings it is safe to say that we should all drink at least 8 glasses a day, or a little over a liter of water throughout the day to stay properly hydrated. I don't mind water too much, but after awhile the plainness of water gets tiring and I give in to juice and soda. I've found some ways to make water more enjoyable and naturally tasteful. It's easy to make and you can make an abundant amount of it so that you can take it in a travel cup and store the rest in your refrigerator for later. It's a great way of staying healthy and enjoying great flavors. All of these recipes are natural. The only ingredients you need are water and the fruits and vegetables of your choice. Don't be afraid to experiment and add your own little spins to these recipes. Think of them as a foundation to something healthy and delicious that you can make on your own. Enjoy. :)
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
With making fruit/vegetable water there are only 3 easy steps:
1) Cut up the fruit/vegetable of your choice and place it in a pitcher
2) Fill the pitcher with water. (ice is optional)
*I like using ice in my individual servings, I feel like the chill of the ice enhances the flavors*
3) Let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to let the flavors infuse
Here are some fruit/vegetable water ideas and the benefits of drinking them:
(This recipe makes 2 quarts. Top ingredients with 6 cups ice, fill jar or pitcher with water, stir, and cover. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors infuse)
Strawberry Basil Blast: Scrunch 8 fresh mint leaves to release their flavors. Combine 3 cups of halved strawberries and gently muddle with a wooden spoon or spatula.
(This recipe makes 2 quarts. Top ingredients with 6 cups ice, fill jar or pitcher with water, stir, and cover. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors infuse)
(This recipe makes 2 quarts. Top ingredients with 6 cups ice, fill jar or pitcher with water, stir, and cover. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors infuse)
The last 3 recipes I got from Prevention.com. Click on the link and it will take you to the page with these recipes along with 23 other delicious fruit water ideas and recipes. Hopefully these recipes help and hopefully these will help us drink more water and enjoy the natural taste of fruit and water.
Just in Time For the Holidays
Thanksgiving is a few days away and it's one of my favorite holidays. Thanksgiving to me is a time of bonding and togetherness. The family gathers in one home to laugh, catch up on old times, make new memories, love, and enjoy a delicious feast together. I won't be flying home to Southern California for Thanksgiving this year unfortunately. It'll be my first time spending the holidays away from family, but it's okay. I'll be home just in time for Christmas.
Now that I'm older there's one thing that I would love to do.That one thing is to host a Thanksgiving dinner for my close friends and family. Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner is a lot of work, but I think that there isn't a better feeling than decorating your home and preparing a meal for you and your guests to enjoy and bond over. Unfortunately, I'm a college student and I live in the on-campus dorms at my university so my budget and living situation won't allow me to do so. But in the future when I'm out of college and I have my own home I will host a Thanksgiving dinner at least once. :)
Here are some Thanksgiving recipes that I would experiment with if I were to host a Thanksgiving feast. I hope you guys find these recipes helpful and yummy like I do. To see the recipes click on the names of the dishes above the picture and it will send you straight to the recipe.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays. :)
Yours Truly,
Carla Renee
xoxo
Pear, Arugula, and Pancetta Salad
Nutty Brown Rice
Spinach Puffs
Classic Roast Turkey with Herbed Stuffing and Old-Fashioned Gravy
Cranberry Eggnog Tart
Pumpkin Ginger Cheesecake Pie
Spiced Hot Chocolate
Oreo Frappe
For more recipes like these go to bigoven.com or epicurious.com where I got the recipes I posted above.
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