Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September 1, 2017August 30, 20171 Comment

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Via

My most favorite kid Asher Ray has been fighting Ewing’s Sarcoma since she was three years old. She will turn nine in October. Ewing’s is a rare type of bone cancer. She has fought the most beautiful fight with the most grace and patience I’ve ever seen from anyone. She is the strongest person I know. (Her parents are close seconds.)

Every September we advocate for Childhood Cancer Awareness. We need a cure. This child deserves a cure. All the children deserve a cure. And we will fight to get one.

This month I will donating all of the income from my Beautycounter business to the American Childhood Cancer Organization of Arkansas in honor of Bit’s fight. Beautycounter and fighting childhood cancer go hand-in-hand. The mission of Beautycounter is to get safer skin care and beauty products into the hands of everyone.

Some of the things found in our personal care products are known carcinogens, meaning they are known to cause cancer. With skin being the largest organ of our bodies, it seems like a no-brainer to want to take care of it. But here’s the thing…there is little to no regulation on what companies can put or not put into your personal care and beauty products. Words like “fragrance” are used to hide whatever carcinogens, hormone disruptors or irritants companies need to hide.

We deserve better than that as consumers.

Finding Beautycounter was a total turning point for me. Learning I could make better choices about what I put on my face and body makes me happy, and the products are high performing and high quality.

My goal for September is to get safer products for you so I can donate my commissions to an organization that is near and dear to my heart.

To get yourself some Beautycounter products, check out my Website. I will be giving away some really awesome stuff throughout the month. So be sure to watch for it on my Facebook page.

Skin Care with Integrity

August 27, 2017Leave a comment

I’ve always been one of those people that want more out of stuff.

A good skin care regime has eluded me for years. During my teens and early twenties, I fought acne. Nothing seemed to work for me. I took every medicine known to fight it, and I tried every cream to find clear skin.

When I heard about Beautycounter, I felt like it was different. Not only was it a beauty and skin care company, it was a mission based company working towards getting safer products into the hands of everyone.

With little regulation in our personal care products, major companies are allowed to put nearly anything in our makeup and skin care products. Fragrance being the ultimate “hiding place” for known carcinogens and toxic chemicals. But because it is listed on the ingredient label as fragrance and the lack of regulation, those toxic things do not have to be defined at all. Scary, huh?

Beautycounter changed everything for me. I found safer products that worked at a high standard. I love that the company worked to create safer products that didn’t feel granola.

This stuff works. I have loved every product I’ve tried. So much so that I became a consultant.

If I found products that work for me, that I love, that are within my budget, why not take the leap of faith to work toward getting more people safer products. My family and friends safer products. As much as it is about me and my love of Beautycounter, it’s also about me sharing it with other people. Educating people about the subpar beauty industry we currently participate in. Sharing safer, high performing products with people I know and love.

It’s so much bigger than me. So much bigger than a tube of mascara. It’s about demanding better. Demanding more as a consumer. Learning the why behind it.

Ask me why I chose Beautycounter over everything else. Ask me why it’s different. Ask me why it works for me.

Steak Tabbouleh

June 29, 2017Leave a comment

Green Chef is killing it with their Paleo menu this week.

I whipped this up in about 20 minutes after my one mile evening run. I loved the cauliflower rice mixture with tomatoes, cucumber, fresh mint, fresh parsley and a lemony vinaigrette. But I think it could have been better with chicken.

Tonight’s one mile put the hurt on me.

I’ve not been watching my pace. Just seeing what feels comfortable to my lungs and legs.

I was much faster today without intending to be. And I felt every step. My calves hurt. My legs cramped up. I had multiple side stitches. I chalk it up to not drinking enough water (and the three very small cookies I ate before leaving work).

Three days. Three miles. Things are on the up. I love these long summer days.

Curry Shrimp Salad and One Mile a Day

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017Leave a comment

This dinner was on point.

Green Chef wins again. I’ve figured out I really like curry. I like to use the spice in my own recipes. I like to eat traditional curry made by this Indian guy at my office. But I don’t love a curry dish at a restaurant.

A little curry powder goes a long way. But this shrimp salad is on point. So on point that I plan on recreating in my own way.

One Mile a Day

In other news, I’ve started running again. My sweet mom gave me a great idea for running inspiration.

I’ve been hung up on running like my old self. You know…the one who ran 13 miles for fun on the weekends.

Now the thought of running that far doesn’t even sound appealing. But work has been pretty stressful, and I’ve been craving some kind of mental release. So back to my running roots I go.

So here’s how it works (in case you want to do it, too):

Run one mile each day

That’s it.

It doesn’t matter if you walk most of it. If it hurts (cause it will). If you kinda hate it (cause you might). If you run the entire mile without stopping (go you).

What matters is you made the effort. That you did it. Each step works towards a healthier you RIGHT NOW. Not the old you. But the present you.

This is day two for me. First day was 13 minutes and some change. Today was 12:27. Each day I hope to get a little better, a little stronger. And each day I will honor what my body can do.

Anyone want to take the One Mile a Day challenge?

Grilled Kielbasa with Yellow Squash and Roasted Okra

June 27, 2017June 27, 2017Leave a comment

I am in no way a professional cook. But I know my way around the kitchen.

That having been said…being a grill master is a different ballgame. I play in the minor leagues when it comes to grilling. Like I can do it, but it could be better if someone else did it.

The boyfriend started the grill. It made it to flaming hot status. I put pork chops covered in BBQ sauce on said grill. And I almost burnt the house down.

So really…kids, don’t play with fire.

But dinner turned out pretty good.

I managed to save the pork chops, but I threw a Pederson Farms Whole30 approved kielbasa on the grill for good measure.

I roasted the okra in the oven at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. And I grilled the squash.

Do yourself a favor and get the Pederson Farms kielbasa. It is a game changer. Sugar free. No nitrates. No MSG. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Anyone else had issues being the grill master? Or is it just me?