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She Bakes The Heat

Beautycounter, Safer Skincare

My friend Aimee knows that I do my best to take care of my health. Knowing this, she recently reached out to me about a company that is very dear to her, Beautycounter. This skincare and makeup company stands for regulating questionable or harmful chemicals in makeup and skincare and are devoted to progress. Apparently in the European Union they have banned over 1,300 chemicals in their personal and skin care products. In the U.S. they have only banned 30! I couldn’t believe this! Our skin is our largest organ and when you start to really think about what is topically going all over your body, it makes you pause and think about the potential negative consequences.

Beautycounter is an advocate of healthier safer skin care. They put their money where their mouth is and are heading to Capitol Hill for a MarchForth campaign to make change from March 3-5, seeking to educate and change the regulations and what is allowed in skincare products. March 4th is also Beautycounter’s 5-year anniversary. I usually like to keep things light on my blog but I thought this information/knowledge was too important to pass up!

After Aimee told me about this company I knew I had to try their products! I tried a variety of their lotions, soaps and face washes first and loved them! I also like their face oils. They smell amazing, my skin feels fantastic and oils are all the rage! I then bought a mask for myself and then the charcoal wash and mask for my daughter. She has only used it for a few days and she can see a huge difference.

I feel good about using their products and encourage you to give them a try. I am offering a giveaway for some fabulous eyeshadows, valued at $122! If you take a look at this link, https://www.beautycounter.com/aimeecarmody1 AND you order something you will be put into a drawing to win! I encourage each and every one of you to try Beautycounter. Beautycounter will also be on The Today show March 1st to further discuss the movement and helping regulating the industry! I would love to hear from you your thoughts on this topic!

March 1, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

Lifestyle

My AeroGarden

One of my favorite things I look forward to in the summer is the fresh veggies and herbs from my garden. It is fun to watch them grow, harvest and then eventually eat them. It always makes me feel healthier. This past Christmas my parents gave me an AeroGarden. I had never heard of one before. It is a small countertop indoor garden that helps you grow herbs or vegetables in your home.

It’s pretty easy to set up. There are pods that have the seeds and nutrients in them and you place them in the plastic container under the LED light. There is another small container that you put water in about every two weeks. The first two rounds I added a capful of Miracle Grow, as recommended, to the water. I started to see tiny buds and before you knew it I had these huge herbs growing.

In my AeroGarden, I have dill, parsley and basil. I have to cut the dill back probably every other day because it grows so quickly. I started cutting it back and setting it aside to dry. For a little fun I have been using my mortal and pestle to crush the dill. My plan is to have enough dry dill to either store or make some dill dip! I am not sure how well it will store but I may end up using it all in the recipe anyway.

I think the AeroGarden is fool proof. If you just want to dabble in gardening it is super easy. Or you may want to start out just with the pods and then eventually transfer the herbs into your larger garden in the spring. AeroGarden offers a wide variety of lettuces and other veggies. They even have flowers, I think that would be fun to try over the winter. I would love to hear if you have an AeroGarden or are planning on giving it a try!

February 26, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

Lifestyle

Avocado Oil; The Many Benefits And Uses

Avocado Oil Mayonnaise

Ingredients

2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
1 large Egg
1/2 teaspoon Dry Mustard Powder
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1 cup Avocado Oil

Instructions

Add lemon juice, large egg, seasonings and let set for 30 seconds.
Pour avocado oil in VERY slowly while you mix in your Food Processor.

As you know I love to cook. Lately there has been lots of talk about the health benefits of using different kinds of oils in our cooking and eating. Some of these oils can even be used for your hair and skin. I’m going to do a short series on different types of oils, their uses and health benefits. The first oil I am going to share is avocado oil. It is my new favorite oil to work with and I started using it not too long ago.

There are several health benefits of avocado oil and here are some of my top favorites.

1.) Rich in healthy fats. 70% is Omega 9. Reduces cholesterol and improves heart health. It has been proven to help increase the good cholesterol or HDL.

2.) High in Lutein, an antioxidant that benefits the health of your eyes from age related degeneration. Our bodies do not produce lutein so it is important to supplement. Lutein can also help prevent certain types of cancers.

3.) Improves your skin and hair. It contains monounsaturated fats that are great for hydrating your skin but also improves eczema and other skin inflammations. Personally, this is where I have noticed the greatest improvement. Over the winter my skin was in way better condition due to the fact that I was pushing the monounsaturated fats in my diet.

4.) High in antioxidants which can help reduce free radicals. Free radicals are waste products that can cause damage to your cells, DNA and proteins in your body. Having a diet high in antioxidants is very beneficial and can help reduce the risk of some cancers.

5.) Easy to use. It has a buttery flavor and a high smoke point of over 500 degrees! If you are unaware what a smoke point means, it is the point at which the oil is heated and begins to smoke. This is an indication that it is turning carcinogenic and breaking down and will start to burn.

There are a variety of ways in which you can use avocado oil. One of my favorites, because of its butter flavor, is to use it on a salad or on popcorn! It is really quite delicious and healthy! Of course, it is still an oil so make sure you are paying attention to the quantities.

Another great way to use avocado oil is for marinating meats! The buttery flavor and the high smoke point make it ideal for grilling steaks or veggies! This veggie combination is delicious and a family favorite. It is super easy and all I added was the avocado oil and some salt and pepper. I feel so much better when I am eating healthy and it is real food!

Try drizzling it on French Bread or any type of artisan bread will work, add a dash or two of garlic salt. It’s amazing, you can’t beat that buttery flavor! Pair it with some spaghetti and it is rockin good!

Give avocado oil a try. I think you will love it as much as I do. Let me know some of your favorite recipes, maybe I’ll give them a try!

February 19, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

Style

One Of My Favorite Jewelry Designers; Kendra Scott

The last few years I have enjoyed the look of costume jewelry and I am loving particular designers such as Kendra Scott. Her designs are feminine and gorgeous. She also does a lot of philanthropy and founded Kendra Cares, a program that brings her Color Bar to pediatric hospitals across the nation. Her goal is to have one in every hospital. They serve pediatric patients and give them the ability to create and design their own special piece of jewelry. This makes me love Kendra Scott even more!

A few years ago, I started off with a few Kendra Scott pieces. Whenever I wear them I get lots of compliments. I am starting to get a nice collection. The pieces are always on trend and they offer a range of pricing. I love the “fringe” collection and have a necklace that is in turquoise. It looks great with white, tan or even a navy blouse! I also have a matching bracelet and earrings. Another favorite is the Kitty Statement Earrings in Blue Mix. They just say summer to me! I love them and plan on wearing them a lot this spring. On her website is a “design your own” jewelry section. It is so fun and you can make your own jewelry from a necklace, earrings or bracelet. It’s a great custom gift idea for a friend or relative. There is even a section to design your own wedding jewelry. I think it is such a nice idea. I know brides enjoy giving jewelry to their bridesmaids as a gift. I am planning on making a necklace on the site for myself!

Kendra Scott’s Jewelry is bold with tons of statement pieces. They are great for that special occasion and for the everyday. If you haven’t heard of Kendra Scott, I encourage you to check out her jewelry line. The quality speaks for itself. Definitely worth the investment! Who are some of your favorite jewelry designers?

February 15, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

Lifestyle

Homemade Bath Bombs

Every now and then I love a relaxing bath. I like to make sure I am soaking in natural ingredients that are not harmful to my body. Studies show that our largest organ, our skin, is porous so make sure you know what you are putting on your skin! I never really thought much about a bath being toxic but if you have ingredients that should be banned then it makes sense to learn how to make homemade bath bombs which is what I decided to do.

This recipe is relatively easy and to get the best results you need to allow it to sit overnight. I like to do small projects like this and then give some away as gifts to my friends or family. A great personalized gift is the best! Most of the ingredients are household items except the soap dye. The main ingredients are citric acid, baking soda, corn starch, carrier oil which is like a coconut oil, essential oils and you can purchase a Bath Bomb Mold. (A Christmas bulb that can be opened, is what I used).

I gave some to my daughter who loves baths. She loved them and we both agreed they leave your skin feeling so soft! It was great knowing all of the ingredients instead of strange names I can’t pronounce! I encourage you to try this recipe and when you do let me know what you think!

Homemade Bath Bomb

Ingredients

1 cup Citric Acid
1 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Corn Starch
1/2 cup Carrier Oil (almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, etc)
10 drops Essential Oils (I used lavender)
Soap Dye optional

Instructions

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
Mix the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl.
Slowly pour liquid mixture into dry mixture, whisking as you go.
Squeeze mixture together, it should have some hold.
Fill the bath bomb molds with mixture, overflowing slightly and push together.
Remove one half of the bath bomb mold and set to dry.
Let dry overnight.
Remove the remaining bath bomb mold.
Enjoy!

February 12, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

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