Tea & Topaz

This is the fifth post in my Shape Up Challenge series It's almost the end of June, which means that this is the last post in my Shape Up Challenge series . If you took part, I hope you are feeling great and are ready for the summer! For my last post in this series, I'm sharing some healthy snack ideas. If you are anything like me, you have no problem with sticking to eating healthy meals, but it's the snacking that always gets you. The best way to make a satisfying snack is to make sure that it contains a mix of protein, healthy carbs and healthy fats. Below are some of my favourite snacks! Hummus and Veggies The veggies contain healthy carbs, while the hummus provides you with protein and healthy fats. Whole Grain Crackers with Natural Peanut Butter You can also try other nut butters, hummus or even mashed avocado. Make sure your crackers contain 100% whole grains though! Plain Yogurt with Fruit and Walnuts or Almonds The yogurt co...

This is the fourth post in my Shape Up Challenge series We're more than half way through June which means the Shape Up Challenge is soon coming to an end! It's easy to stick to your workouts and healthy eating in the beginning, but for some of us it gets more difficult a few weeks in. I'm sharing some tips for staying motivated today in case any of you are in need of some motivation! (Source) Schedule a time to workout : I find that it's so much easier to stick to my workout routine if I schedule a consistent time to exercise. When I do this, exercise becomes a natural part of my daily routine. If I skip a workout, I really miss it!  Workout with a friend : Some people love to workout but others hate it. If you are in the latter group, schedule a workout with a friend. You won't believe how fast your workout will go by! Change up your workouts : Doing the same workout day after day can get boring. Switching up your workouts and trying a variety of ...

This is the third post in my Shape Up Challenge series Drinking enough water is so important! Lots of us mistake dehydration for hunger, which can lead to weight gain. It is recommended that we drink 2 litres of water each day. I don't have any problem drinking that much water, but I know it's not so easy for some of us. Today I'm sharing some ideas for flavouring water with fruit and herbs that I found on Pinterest . Simply add a handful of fruit and a sprig or two of herbs to a pitcher of water, and let the flavours meld for a couple of hours. Hopefully it will get you drinking more water! Water Infused with Cucumber, Lime and Mint (Source) Water Infused with Orange (Source) Water Infused with Watermelon and Basil (Source) Water Infused with Raspberry, Kiwi and Lime (Source) Water Infused with Ginger, Basil and Grapefruit (Source) Water Infused with Strawberries, Blueberries and Cucumber (Source) Water Infuse...

Have you ever thought about what's in the products you use everyday? I certainly didn't, until about a year ago. If you've read any of the posts in my natural beauty series , you know that I've been trying to make my skin care routine more natural and environmentally friendly. Everything from skin care to shampoo to hand soap to dish soap to laundry detergent is made with chemicals that have been linked to both disrupting the endocrine system and causing cancer. The EU has banned or regulated over 1,300 ingredients used in personal care products. Here in North America, we are much more lenient. The FDA has banned only 11 ingredients, while Health Canada's list of banned ingredients is only slightly longer!  (Source)  As well, terms such as "green," "eco-friendly" and "pure" are often meaningless as they aren't regulated and are often only used to market products. For example, the majority of Green Works products receive a grade of F...

This is the first post in a new series which explores natural beauty products. I recently went for a facial at a new-to-me spa and was told something that has resonated with me ever since: why would you put something on your body that you wouldn't eat? During my facial, I was told about all the yucky ingredients in conventional skin care products, and about the importance of feeding our skin with everything it needs. She explained that we should not use products that contain alcohol, which dries out the skin causing it to produce oil, and should look for products that contain oil, especially those of us with oily skin. Immediately following my facial I scoured my local drugstores looking for natural skin care products with oil and no alcohol. I had no luck and came home empty handed. At this time, I was never completely happy with the skin care products that I was using. After checking the ingredients of my current products, combined with my unsuccessful shopping trip for ...

Today I wanted to share a healthy recipe with you. These sweet potato muffins are full of nutrients, can be made vegan, and make a perfect breakfast or snack. Sweet Potato Muffins Makes 12 Adapted from  Canadian Living 1 sweet potato, baked and mashed 2 cups all-purpose flour, either white or whole wheat, or a combination of both (I used whole wheat only)* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (if you prefer a sweeter muffin, increase to 3/4 cup) 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 2 eggs or equivalent vegan egg substitute** 1/3 cup organic coconut oil, melted 1 cup almond milk, preferably unsweetened, heated to prevent coconut oil from solidifying 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut In a large bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and spices. Set aside. In another bowl, mix together mashed sweet potato, eggs, coconut oil and almond milk until smooth. Pour over dry ingredients and mix until just combined. S...