Here are some of our favorite simple things to do or make to keep you healthy and happy when you’re spending more time at home.
DIY Whipped Coconut Body Butter
Treat yourself or your partner to a massage with this scrumptious body butter!
Ingredients
1 Cup unrefined coconut oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)
A few drops of your favorite essential oil
Directions
1. Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl. (You do not have to melt the coconut oil first.)
2. Mix on high speed with a wire whisk for 6-7 minutes or until whipped into a light, airy consistency.
3. Spoon the whipped coconut oil body butter into a glass jar and cover tightly. Store at room temperature, or in the refrigerator if your house is so warm it melts the oil.
Note: Your whipped coconut oil should stay relatively soft, even at colder temperatures. It can also form into little froth of tiny coconut oil pearls that will melt right into your skin.
Curl Up With This Cozy Organic Hot Chocolate Recipe
To top off a lovely dinner, this organic dark sipping chocolate is not only a delicious and festive dessert, but the coconut milk, organic cacao, honey and spice makes for a heart healthy dessert that you, your significant other or friends are sure to enjoy!
Ingredients
6-ounces 70% cocoa fine quality (sweetened) chocolate, broken into small pieces
4-ounces water
4-ounces of coconut milk
Dash of Pumpkin Pie spice
Aseda Honey or Agave
Directions
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Heat the liquid in a double boiler. Remember that coconut milk will blunt the sharp, distinctive flavors of the chocolate, and also remember that 70% cocoa is very rich without the addition of coconut milk.
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Stir in the chocolate until melted and smooth. If the beverage seems too thin, stir more chocolate, a little at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency. Conversely, if it’s too thick, thin with a small amount of water or coconut milk.
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Serve in small sized cups.
Makes 4-ounces – serves 3-5 people (depending on how much you want to share)
Have Fun With An Exercise Ball
You’ve seen those large stability balls at the gym, but if you haven’t used one, you’re probably wondering, “What do I do with that?!”
It turns out that you can do a lot with this simple tool. An exercise or stability ball can be used in myriad ways, from building strength to deep stretching, and it’s a valuable addition to your home fitness space and routine.
How to Choose: Stability balls come in different sizes, generally between 55 cm and 75 cm in diameter, and it’s important to choose the correct size for your height. Use these guidelines, and if you’re between sizes, test out both to determine which one feels best.
How to Use: You can work nearly every part of your body with an exercise ball. Try wall squats for your legs, balance pushups for your arms, and knee tucks for your core. Check out workout guides and videos on YouTube to understand proper form for your exercises.
Write About It – Mood-Boosting Tips For A Better Outlook
When we are stressed out and unhappy, we tend to be more aggressive, emotional, unhealthy, and disconnected. We may discuss it with friends, but how many of us actually take the time to write our thoughts down with good old-fashioned pen and paper? (I know — it’s like going back to the stone-age, right?)
The act of “journaling,” however, is a psychologically detoxifying process that allows us to voice our thoughts about our experiences to ourselves. Writing down experiences — and our reaction to them — can be extremely beneficial for seeing the big picture and focusing on at least one positive aspect.
As for writing these things down, one might ask, “Why journal with pen and paper? Why not just use social media, a blog or a digital magazine contribution to express our thoughts?” When we write for other people, we are not always honest with ourselves. But when we are alone with our thoughts, we can be genuinely honest about both the good and the bad in our lives, which helps us determine our true feelings about a situation and allows us to be proactive about change.
Exercise:
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Buy a journal with cover art that you love (colorful design, animal print, flowers, etc. . .), and start to reconnect with yourself by writing down only the things you dislike about your job.
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Now write down at least one positive outcome that your job has allowed you to accomplish. Maybe you have been able to pay a loan down, buy a car, or book a weekend trip you couldn’t otherwise do.
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Whatever it is, write it on a sticky note. Put the note up in your bathroom, or send yourself a text reminder of it. Focus on that one positive thing and what it means to you, weekly or daily, and watch your stress begin to recede and your happiness start to increase more each day.
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