The China Study

Another great book, If you're trying to go Vegan or researching the effects that animal products have on people...Ready "The China Study"

http://www.thechinastudy.com/about.html

Skinny Bitch

While I haven't read all of the book yet, I hear it's a good one, especially if you're trying to go vegan. Which I am, trying is the keyword here. You may be thinking that vegans are just crazed people who think you might as well be eating a dog if your eating a cow...while I disagree I am trying to go vegan for health reasons. I used to think being vegan is unhealthy...where do you get your protein...the truth is you get your protein from vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, grains, pretty much anything you eat has protein, which is much healthier for you than animal products. Trust me, I've done my research, spent hours upon hours comparing and reading articles, books, and professional opinions. Here is the truth, animal products are making people sick. Most people are lactose in tolerant and they don't even know it. All the chemicals that are in meat, milk, cheese, are making you sick. If you want glowing skin, to feel better about your self, look better, get better hair, longer, healthier fingernails, and most importantly if you don't want to get cancer or other chronic diseases (yes it's been proved that animal products cause cancer and chronic disease, don't believe me...look it up) then cut the animal products out of your life. I'm not talking about a diet here, I'm talking about how you are going to eat for the rest of your life. Here is an excerpt from "Skinny Bitch" Thanks gather.com

Skinny Bitch: "Okay. Use your head. You need to get healthy if you want to get skinny. Health = skinny. Unhealthy = fat. The first thing you need to do is give up your gross vices. Don't act surprised! You cannot keep eating the same shit and expect to get skinny. Or smoke."

"To make matters worse, some alcohol (and non-organic wines) still contain urethane, a cancer-causing chemical....Trade your booze for organic red wine produced without sulfites. (Sulfites are additives used in food and wine - to extend shelf life and fight bacteria growth. Asthma and allergic reactions can be triggered by sulfites...Read the label - it should say "No Sulfites Added" or "NSA." ...This magical elixir - organic red wine with NSA - is rich in cancer-righting antioxidants, can reduce risk of stroke, helps thin the blood, and has flavonoids, which lower cholesterol. Yes, organic red wine is good for you...."

"Brace yourselves, girls. Soda is liquid Satan. It is the devil. It is garbage. There is nothing in soda that should be put into your body. For starters, soda's high levels of phosphorous can increase calcium loss from the body, as can its sodium and caffeine....And the last time we checked, sugar, found in soda by the boatload, does not make you skinny! Now don't go patting yourself on the back if you drink diet soda. That stuff is even worse. Aspartame...has been blamed for a slew of scary maladies, like arthritis, birth defects, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's, lupus, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. When methyl alcohol, a component of aspartame, enters your body, it turns into formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic."

"Junk food will never go away. It becomes more alluring by the minute with laboratory-developed aromas, artificial flavors, chemical food colors, toxic preservatives and heart-stopping hydrogenated oils...Candy bars, potato chips, and ice cream taste like heaven, of course. But they will pitch a tent on your hips and camp out all year. "

"Give up the notion that you can be sedentary and still lose weight. You need to exercise...Eating properly will dramatically improve your health, body, and all other aspects of your life. But you've still gotta move your ass. Anyone with a brain can do the math. When done in conjunction with a good diet, exercise will make you lose weight faster than healthy eating alone....When we exercise, our elevated heart rates and deep breathing cause our ‘bodyminds' to enter a fat-burning mode that can last throughout the day." Regardless of what time you work out, you'll soon become addicted to exercising...Plus, working out tends to keep our junk food cravings and elephant appetites at bay. It's a win-win. Work out."

On the Atkins diet:

Skinny Bitch: "Hmm. Eat the flesh of dead cows, dead pigs and dead chickens. Avoid fresh fruit. You are a total moron if you think the Atkins diet will make you thin, Or, you are a gluttonous pig who wants to believe you can each cheeseburgers all day long and lose weight. Perhaps you weren't listening the first time: You need to get healthy if you want to be skinny! Eating carcasses all day while avoiding fruit is a recipe for disaster. Of course, if you stop eating refined carbohydrates, you will lose weight. That's the part of the Atkins diet that actually works...When you eat large amounts of animal protein and saturated fats and do not eat whole grains, vegetables and fresh fruits, there is no fiber to bind all of the toxins and fat together to be eliminated from your body."

Read below and you will never want to eat meat again...

"Of the ten billion animals slaughtered each year for America's consumption, the vast majority of them come from factory farms. Factory farms that raise cattle, pigs, chickens, egg-laying hens, veal calves, or dairy cows have an enormous amount of animals in a small space... The animals are confined inside buildings, where they are literally packed on top of each other. Egg-laying hens are crammed into cares so small, they are unable to open their wings, and their mangled feet actually grow around the wire mesh floors. This overcrowded, stressful environment causes chickens to peck at each other and factory farm workers, so the ends of their beaks are seared off their faces using a hot knife. Pigs and cows are imprisoned in stalls so small, they are unable to turn around or lie down comfortably. Cattle are subject to third-degree branding burns and having their testicles and horns ripped out. Pigs also suffer from branding and castration, in addition to the mutilation of their ears, tails and teeth. They all live in the filth of their own urine, feces and vomit, with infected, festering sores and wounds. To keep animals alive in these unsanitary conditions, farmers must give them regular doses of antibiotics....


"Half of all the antibiotics made in the United States each year are administered to farm animals, causing antibiotic resistance in the humans who eat them..."


Skinny Bitch also compiled a partial list of the ingredients in meat, poultry, seafood and dairy: benzene hexachloride (BHC), chlordane, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dieldrin, dioxin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, (HCB), and lindane, all of which have been linked variously to cancer, birth defects, obesity, liver and kidney damage, nervous system disorders.

To get "Skinny Bitch" go to any book store or buy it off amazon.com

Pool Workout

If you're looking to shed some weight in a fun way? Try this fun pool workout. Curtsy of fitnessmagazine.com

Toning Water Exercises

How It Works
"This water workout burns tons of calories but feels like play," says Greg Moe, a master trainer for Rough-Fit outdoor fitness programs in Tustin, California, who created these insanely trimming moves (just see what they do for your abs!) exclusively for FITNESS. Simply treading water vigorously can zap 11 calories a minute, same as a six-mile-per-hour run. "Plus, water's continuous resistance forces you to engage more muscle fibers through a larger range of motion," says Moe, so you'll firm from every angle.

Perform as many reps of each exercise as you can in 30 seconds, rest, then repeat. (As you get fitter, aim for 45 to 60 seconds.) Do this workout on nonconsecutive days and emerge with a body to dive for!

For the pool exercises go to

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/lose-weight/total-body/pool-workout/?sssdmh=dm17.395169&esrc=nwfitdailytip092609&email=2044755937

Blueberry-Oat Bars

Here is a vegan friendly yummy recipe!

Enjoy!


Blueberry-Oat Bars
If you prefer a sweeter bar, add more agave nectar, sugar, stevia, or your favorite sweetener to the blueberries as they are cooking. Or add a sugar glaze on top by mixing a little vegan powdered sugar with water until it's the right consistency for drizzling.

1 pint blueberries
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup apple juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with enough water or juice to form a smooth paste

3 cups oatmeal* (regular, not instant)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 ounces unsweetened applesauce
6 tablespoons (3/8 cup) agave nectar
6 tablespoons (3/8 cup) water
1 teaspoon vanilla


Preheat oven to 375F. Oil an 8x8-inch baking dish.

In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, agave nectar, and juice. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When it boils, stir in the vanilla and the cornstarch mixture. Continue to stir as the mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.

Put 1 1/2 cups of the oatmeal into a blender and grind it to a fine powder. Pour it into a medium-sized mixing bowl and add the remaining oatmeal, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Stir in the apple sauce, agave nectar, water, and vanilla, and mix well.

Spread half of the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing well to cover the bottom of the pan. Spoon the blueberry filling over the batter, and cover the blueberries with the remaining batter.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

*Use gluten-free oats to make these gluten-free.

The Royal Tenenbaums

If you're looking for a new movie to check out this fall, look no further than The Royal Tenenbaums. The Royal Tenenbaums is a great movie that will keep you laughing, crying, and uplift your spirits. With great actors like Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, and Danny Glover. The Royal Tenebaums brilliantly filmed scenes, moving music and comdeyfilled action will keep you wanting more.

Fashion Update

This fall you may be wondering, whats in and whats out?? This fall keep it fresh with a variety of textures like leather and fur, colors like deep purple and gray, and fun with over the knee boots. Whether you go with ripped jeans, ripped tights or knits, you'll be in the clear. Here are some items to avoid and throw out...jean jackets and those low rise pants.

Covet Your Style

Today I was browsing the web, like I normally do while I'm at work and I came across the best website I have found to date. Covet takes you through a series of pictures, you click on the picture that suits your style best. You do that for a couple of minutes, I did it longer just because it was fun and I wanted them to know my style better. After it found my style and had me choose my sizes, colors, styles, and prices I do and don't like and designers that I do and don't like. Now instead of having to browse through a variety of websites to find my style, I have Covet sending me items that I love! I am so excited! Here are my styles that Covet found for me!

1. Trendy Modern

2. Contemporary Boho

3. Contemporary California

Burberry

Today I decided to write about a fashion line that I absolutly love, Burberry. What I love about Burberry is their quality and innovation in fabric and outerwear. Burberry offers luxury handbags and apparel that brings quality and style to anyone who wears it. A recognized luxury brand with a worldwide network for over a century. Burberry is best know for their trademark tartan patterns and famous trench coat.

Happy Halloween

As you all know Halloween is coming up fast. You may be wondering what to wear. Well for most of you girls out there, we have learned you can wear something slutty and no one can say anything (well to your face) because duh is HALLOWEEN! Whether you're looking for something popular this season or you want to look unique. Beautifully Polished has got you covered. Here are some of the seasons most popular looks.

1. Sailor

2. Witches

3. Pocahontas

4. Superheros

5. Fairies

I am still contemplating what I am going to wear. I was going to be a sailor but my little sister snatched that away. I think I have found the one. Now don't hold me to this, I am very fickle when it comes to Halloween costumes but I think I might have found the one, its cute and simple. Its a cute hippie? Whats your opinion?

Help Your Hair

Ever made this mistake? Cutting your hair too short? I know I have countless times. If you're looking for a great way to get your hair to grow longer faster and stay healthy, try these tips.

1. Only Wash Your Hair Every Other Day - Ever since I started using this tip my hair has not gotten healthier but longer. It doesn't mean you can't shower everyday, just don't get your hair wet, put it up in a cute, stylish ponytail.

2. Switch Your Pillow Cases to Silk - I know when I sleep I toss and turn, and mess up my hair, making me look like the bride of Frankenstein. Switching to silk pillows will help keep your hair mess free and you will get less split ends.

3. Eat Healthy - Yes I know swim suit season is over and the Holidays are coming up but that's no excuse ladies. Make sure you are eating healthy, meaning lots of fruits, veggies, nuts and healthy oils.

4. Leave in Treatments - This is a great way to get much need moisture to your hair. If leave in treatments make your hair limp, try leaving it in at night.

Quote of the Day

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases.
- Carl Jung

Project Runway

I started to watch the show Project Runway. I really like watching the designers go through the process and seeing the end product. I'm going to study fashion so I like to really pay attention. Does anyone else watch the show? Who's your favorite designer? design? Who do you think should get kicked off?

Quote of the Day

When we can't dream any longer we die.
-Emma Goldman