Elements of Life

With just a few days left in 2023, spend some time enjoying a good book! 📚

There's nothing quite like getting lost in the pages of a novel and being transported to another world. Books are such a great way to unwind after a long day or week, allowing your mind to focus on something completely different and new.

Are you reading a great book right now?

Gift idea number 3 is all about creating a shared experience between you and the one you love!

Plan a surprise weekend getaway with your sweetheart. Choose somewhere you’ve never been and include some unique meals or a cool and unusual adventure. This gives you something to look forward to after the holidays are over and the best part is you’ll be making memories that will last a lifetime.

Gift idea number 2 is perfect for the friend who has young children at home!

It’s so easy to give the gift of time! Offer your bestie, neighbor, sister, or coworker the chance to dash out for a few hours while you watch the kids! Bring a fun game or age-appropriate crafts and enjoy the time with the littles while mom is out having some time to herself. This is one of the best gifts ever!

Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list can be exhausting. But fear not - we have 3 gift ideas to share with you this week that are easy to pull together, even at the last minute! Here’s the first…

Gift idea number 1: A gift certificate for a massage!

Everyone loves gifts that make them feel good, and what’s better than a healing and relaxing massage? Swing by your favorite spa and grab a gift certificate for that person on your list who would enjoy some pampering (umm… who doesn’t want that?).

Even if the recipient lives far away, many spas will send gift certificates in the mail or via email, so there’s still time to send that gift on its way!

What’s your favorite mocktail?

We love a good mocktail! They allow you to enjoy the festivities of a holiday party without having to succumb to the temptation of an alcoholic beverage.

So, if you’re keeping your alcohol to a minimum this season, try out some fun and creative mocktails instead. Your liver will thank you!

Don’t let food allergies keep you from enjoying the holiday parties!

One of the best ways to ensure that you’ll have the right type of food available at holiday parties is to bring something to share! The host will appreciate the gesture and you can be assured that you don’t have to crash your eating habits during the holidays!

Self-care should be done year-round, but when we are talking about a little winter pampering, a facial could be just what you need!

Chat with your aesthetician and see what they recommend to offset dry winter skin. You might find that ultra-hydrating products might be just the ticket, or you may decide to have an organic facial peel to revive dead, dry skin.

What winter self-care treatments do you love? 💙

Caring for your skin in the winter months is not easy.

Finding the perfect high-quality, organic skincare products can be a daunting task. But here’s an inexpensive product sampler that’s not only easy to use but is designed to do deep cleaning and provide the perfect amount of moisture to replenish what the dry winter air took away.

Take a look and let us know what you think!
https://karigran.com/collections/organic-skin-care/products/mini-kit

Okay – you might not be a liver fan but trust me – this recipe tastes NOTHING like liver!

Just try it… it’s surprisingly delicious and good for you too!

Liver Pate Recipe Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, chopped
½ pound Cremini or Shiitake
1 pound chicken or duck liver
2/3 cup dry vermouth
2 cloves garlic, mashed
½ teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ cup crème fraîche
4 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
Celtic sea salt to taste

Instructions

Melt butter in a heavy skillet. Add onions and sauté, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes, until onions are soft, and then add mushrooms and sauté for another 10 minutes.

Add liver and sauté for about 6-7 minutes. Add wine, garlic, mustard, lemon juice and rosemary. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered until the liquid has evaporated. Allow to cool.

Blend in a food processor with softened butter and crème fraîche. Place in a crock or mold and chill well. Serve on true sourdough bread, seed crackers, or simply eat alone.

Bon appétit! 😋

If you want your liver to really love you…

Think about joining us for a 21-day Purification program! During these 3 weeks, you’ll be eating some delicious food, helping your liver clear out unwanted toxins, and enjoying the benefits of better sleep, clearer skin, and more energy. We recommend doing this type of liver reset once or twice each year.

Have you ever done a liver cleanse before? It’s not as bad as it sounds – promise! 😁

What’s your favorite Black Friday activity? Are you a shopper? Or do you prefer to stay home?

💚

The next time you need a very special gift for someone you love, try this!

Create a gratitude journal where YOU write down all the things you’re grateful for about THEM!

Taking the time to write down the little things you appreciate about someone else helps keep you focused on the positive, and when you give your completed journal to them, they'll remember just how loved they truly are.

Find a small Moleskin journal and keep it with you. Whenever you see them doing something you love or appreciate, write it down! Before long, you’ll have a full notebook and a full heart! 💗

Have you ever tried hot yoga?

We will be honest, the thought of it makes us sweat, but there are actually some great benefits of doing yoga in the heat! 🔥

Read more here: https://www.thegoodbody.com/benefits-of-hot-yoga/

One Week Challenge: Practice Child’s Pose for 5-10 minutes, every day for one week!

This simple, relaxing yoga pose has some amazing health benefits!

Child’s Pose can:
* Relieve tension in the lower back
* Lengthen the spine
* Boost blood circulation
* Aid in digestion
* Open up the hips
* Stretch the ankles, shoulders, and thighs
* Strengthen the knees
* Massage internal organs
* Release fatigue and energize the body
* Calm the mind

Are you in? We’ll be doing this stretch too!

This fall recipe will give you serious rainbow vibes – red, orange, yellow, green, and purple! And when you eat the colors of the rainbow, you get a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals to nourish your body!

Here’s today’s Roasted Vegetables recipe from Cookie + Kate!

Ingredients

1 bell pepper (red, orange or yellow), cut into 1” squares
2 carrots, peeled and cut on the diagonal so each piece is about ½″ thick at the widest part
1 crown of broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
1 small red onion, cut into ½”-wide wedges
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon fine salt
Optional seasonings: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.

2. Place the chopped vegetables on the parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil and salt. Stir gently, arranging them evenly across the baking sheet.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. They are done when the edges are turning a nice golden color, and the vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork.

4. Remove from the oven and toss with the butter and white vinegar immediately after baking.

5. These veggies are best served warm. Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Recipe can be found here: https://cookieandkate.com/roasted-vegetables-recipe/

Warm apples? Cinnamon? Maple syrup?

There’s not much else to say!

This Paleo Apple Crisp will give you all the fall feels (and zero guilt). We borrowed this recipe from Bojon Gourmet (link below) and you won’t be disappointed!

Before you devour yours, come back here and post pictures. We can’t wait to see it!

Filling Ingredients

2 pounds sweet-tart apples (such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady; about 7 medium)
¼ cup apple cider or juice
1 tablespoon maple syrup (more if your apples are very tart)
1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon fine sea or kosher salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (dairy or vegan), diced

Crumble Topping Ingredients

¾ cup blanched almond flour (or almond meal or hazelnut meal; try tiger nut flour for a nut-free version)
¼ cup cassava flour (or sweet rice or GF all-purpose flour)
1 ½ tablespoons tapioca flour (or cornstarch)
½ cup toasted pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped (omit for nut-free or use pumpkin seeds)
⅓ cup coconut sugar or maple sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon fine sea or kosher salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted
Non-dairy vanilla ice cream

Instructions

1. Position the rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350ºF.

2. Peel the apples and slice thinly, about three-eighths of an inch each.

3. Place apple slices in a large bowl with the apple cider, maple syrup, lemon juice, and salt. Combine well.

4. Place the apples into a 9-inch round baking dish with 2-inch-high sides (or an 8x8-inch square pan) and dot with the cubed butter.

5. Bake at 350ºF until bubbling, approximately 30-35 minutes.

6. Remove from oven and stir gently.

To Make the Topping

1. While the apples bake, place the almond, cassava, and tapioca flours in a large bowl with the nuts, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to combine.

2. Slowly stir in the melted butter and mix well; the mixture will resemble gravel.

3. Once the apples are out of the oven, crumble the topping over the top. Return to the oven and bake until the topping is deep golden, and the apples are bubbling again, about 40-50 minutes.

4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly, at least 10 minutes. The topping will become more crisp as it cools and the juices will soak back into the apples.

5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or you can eat it at room temperature!

Recipe Adapted from: https://bojongourmet.com/paleo-apple-crisp-almond-flour/

There’s nothing like a house filled with the wonderful smell of fall. We’ve got a few amazing recipes to share with you this week that will make your house smell amazing!

If you don’t already follow Love and Lemons (or own their cookbooks), now is the time.

This Butternut Squash Soup (from Love & Lemons) is absolutely amazing! The butternut squash combined with the savory herbs sage, rosemary, and ginger make this especially yummy!

Let us know how you like it!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 (3-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
½ tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
3 to 4 cups vegetable broth
Freshly ground black pepper
Chopped parsley
Toasted pumpkin seeds
Crusty bread

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper and sauté until soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the squash and cook until it begins to soften, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Add the garlic, sage, rosemary, and ginger. Stir and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant, then add 3 cups of the vegetable broth.

3. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the squash is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

4. Allow to cool slightly and pour the soup into a blender, working in batches if necessary, and blend until smooth. If your soup is too thick, add up to 1 cup more broth and blend.

5. Season to taste and garnish with parsley, pumpkin seeds, and a few pieces of crusty bread.

6. Enjoy!

Recipe: https://www.loveandlemons.com/butternut-squash-soup/

How do you honor yourself when you’re facing a challenge?

Ever feel like you want to talk to a friend, but you also don’t want to risk sounding judgmental or mean or just super confused about everything?

This is where journaling can be the perfect activity to help you sort through whatever is going on in your life.

Journaling is a great way to let your thoughts and emotions flow, where no one is caught in the crossfire and there’s no judgment about what you say. It’s truly a profound tool for healing your mind and soul.

Are you a journaler? 📝

Not into Halloween?

We understand it’s not for everyone. But you can still focus on the wonderful fall season instead.

Add a seasonal door wreath, decorate your table with a few candles and fall leaves, and add a few fall-colored throw pillows to your bed or sofa. Super easy decorations that will put you in the spirit! 🧡

Mini Mummy Pizzas are the perfect Halloween snack for kids!

Here’s how to make them:

Grab a flatbread or a cauliflower round and place it on a baking sheet. Top with tomato sauce, then drape long shreds of mozzarella string across to look like mummy wrapping. Use green and black olives to create eyes. Bake in the oven until warm and slightly crisp on the bottoms. Then enjoy! 😋

Check out these pumpkin carvings! 🎃

Have you ever tried carving something unique on your Halloween pumpkin? If so, I’d love to see it!