Simply Raw Express

Simply Raw Express has just opened its door at 989 Wellington street in Ottawa's up-and-coming neighbourhood of Hintonburg.

Congratulations to the owners Natasha Kyssa and Mark Faul who for many years, have been promoting the raw vegan way of life. Special acknowledgement to Natasha for her perseverance. She has been on the raw food path for twenty some years. I am certain it was not always easy going against the current. 

Natasha has been offering her services assisting people through her detox program, teaching about the raw vegan diet and she is also an author of the Simply Raw Detox Manual - a book definitely worth having.

A few years back, I personally had the pleasure to experience Natasha's 28-day detox program. I loved it! I believe it to be the best way to detox. Results are awesome and the process itself becomes a great reminder of what pure food tastes like. Finally you get to experience food as medicine!  Next time you feel like you need to clean out your body and want to see a healthy glow to your skin, sign up for Natasha's cleanse at www.simplyraw.ca

The famous Norwalk juicer; I have been fantasizing about it since the 80's. It is the Rolls-Royce of  juicers. Now, I can drink great, fresh juices pressed by this awesome contraption! Finally my fantasy has been fulfilled.

At Simply Raw Express you will find a selection of super-foods, very tasty raw vegan sushi, salads, smoothies and soups for those who like it hot. Treat yourself to Natasha's raw cheesecake; it is a must!
 

Simply Raw (Norwalk juicer expressed) fresh organic juices. I have tasted energizing carrot/apple and green alkalizing blend. Both delicious!

Good luck Simply Raw Express! I wish you great success:)))

Mimi Kirk an inspiration for vibrant agless beauty.

If you ever thought that 'sexy' is a thing of youth you surely have not heard of Mimi Kirk.
Lately, this hot and I mean hot, 73 year old woman has been a guest on many TV shows. She is an amazing inspiration for all who want to feel and look great at any age. Check out her website www.youngonrawfood.com and get her book 'Live Raw'.

Apricot face mask.

Today at the store, I was very happy to find fresh organic apricots. Along with peaches, they are my very favorite fruit. Summer is on its way:)))  Fresh, ripe apricots are also one of the best face mask bases for aging, devitalized and dull skin. Very nourishing and high in vitamin A, this delicious fruit promotes cellular regeneration and prevents wrinkles.

 

Apricot is said to have originated in China.  From there it spread to other parts of Asia and eventually found its way to Greece and Italy. As food, apricot is quite laxative and rates high in alkalinity. It contains cobalt and is a very good choice for anyone with anemic tendencies. So, eat plenty!

To whip up your very own, totally effective, gloriously smelling  apricot face mask you will need the following:

1 ripe apricot

1 tsp. of honey ( manuka honey if you can get your hands on it)

1 tsp. of apricot oil,  rosehip or almond oil

You can stop right here (it will make a lovely mask) or you can boost it a bit with high on antioxidants matcha tea - just a pinch will do and 1/2 tsp. of white clay.
I usually blend the ingredients in the magic bullet but you can use a fork to mash up the fruit and just add the rest.
Apply generously to a cleansed face, neck and upper chest.
Cover your eyes with thinly sliced cucumber and lie down for 15 min.
Rinse with lukewarm water and moisturize.
This healthy concoction from the kitchen will leave your skin glowing, hydrated and delicately scented.  

Welcome to my aromatic treasure box.

A few years back at one of Ottawa's antique shops I found a lovely old cutlery trunk. Beautifully made from solid wood, I loved it from the moment I saw it. I bought it:))  At the time, I was not sure how I was going to use it and it sat empty for a few months. Then one day I looked at it and thought that the trunk was going to make a perfect home for my precious essential oils.

This is where all of the oils live now. I have quite a collection:))

I enjoy my oils nicely organized and handy when I create aromatic blends.

Beautified by tea...

chamomile and lavender

Besides my periodic addiction to good Earl Grey tea from Nectar Fine Teas in West Village, I generally stick with organic locally grown herbs from Judy at www.earthmedicine.ca which I steep into a tea. I find the loose dried herbs produce much better results both in their taste profile and as healing agents. Usually, the tea coming in a bag contains the lowest grade, poor quality dust from the bottom of the bin; not useful for true health enhancement. The same goes for black teas.

Herbal teas are an excellent choice as a hot drink, but they are also very tasty iced on a hot summer day.

Using herbal tea as a hydrating mist for your skin may not be so obvious but is worth a try as it often proves much more beneficial than many commercial toners.

Lavender;who does not love the smell of lavender? This lovely flower tastes the best mixed with other herbs like chamomile and rose.

lavender

On its own, the taste does not quite give its smell justice. As a face mist lavender is absolutely wonderful. Excellent for dry and aging skin, it will support skin cell regeneration and keep your skin nicely hydrated and your busy mind relaxed.
General directions for making a light herbal face mist: 

1 tsp. of lavender (or any other herb you are using)

1 cup of hot water

let it steep for 15min

strain

cool it down

transport into a spray bottle

place in the fridge

mist your face as needed

It will not keep for longer than a day or two (if stored in the fridge) so you have a couple of options: make enough for one day or make more and freeze it (ice cube trays do the trick) and take out as much as you need on a given day.

Chamomile is another great herb for beautifying skin. This one is particularly great for ladies with sensitive skin.

It is calming and soothing taken both internally and applied externally as a mist. In the summer you may want to drink it iced  with a slice of lemon; it is delish!

Burdock root is a serious skin helper. It is excellent for detoxification purposes so drink it if you are troubled by acne and blackheads. It will purify your blood and keep your skin nice and clean:))

burdock root

Burdock root can be taken as a tea 1/2 cup before your meals. Your skin will benefit greatly if washed with burdock tea 2x a day.

These are just simple suggestions on how you can use herbal teas, of course you can use them in many other ways. Add them to home made face masks or to your bath... They are beautiful, healing and definitely much needed in your daily life. Start playing!

                                          

  

Tea spoon - my cleansing power tool.

No, I am not using a tea spoon to cleanse my skin but I do scrape my tongue with it every morning.

If you already are into tongue scraping read no more, but if you have never indulged in this peculiar practice stay with me and I will show you that your tea spoon has a higher purpose then stirring sugar in your coffee:)))

According to Ayurveda - 'the science of life' originating in India, the tongue is quite a story teller in regards to the internal state of our well-being. The science of tongue analysis is complex and it is a part of an Ayurvedic health assessment. What Ayurveda suggests is that while we sleep we release toxins from the digestive tract. Over night these toxins accumulate on the surface of our tongues. If we do not remove the toxic coating from our tongues first thing in the morning, we end up ingesting it with our first drink or meal. Yuk!!!  Hence the tea spoon. You can purchase a fancy tongue scraper at your health food store but I find that a tea spoon does the trick.

I strongly recommend you add this simple practice to your morning routine. Your mouth will feel way better. It is simply good hygiene, keeping you body cleaner and your mouth healthier.

 

1.  Pick a teaspoon from your kitchen and make a home for it in the bathroom, next to your tooth brush.

2.  Every morning upon rising clean your tongue, only then brush your teeth.

3.  Follow with a glass of warm purified water with a splash of fresh lemon. 

Now, that's a fresh start to your day. Simple like that!