Kelly Bonanno

Your soulful coach for wellness, clean beauty & eco lifestyle Savvy | Sexy | Beautiful | Healthy | You

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Savvy Girl’s Premiere Virtual Self Care Retreat & Giveaway

Are you feeling out of sorts? A bit more anxious than usual? It’s completely understandable. This unprecedented situation has most everyone stressed out and overwhelmed.

April happens to be National Stress Awareness month, quite timely given what we’re going through with COVID-19, isn’t it?

For most of us, the situation is frightening, confusing and inconvenient but for some, it’s downright devastating. People have lost their lives, others are fighting for their lives and many are facing serious financial hardships.

I truly hope each of you reading this are healthy and safe. If you or a loved one has fallen ill, my heart goes out to you.

It’s on my heart to help you feel supported during this pandemic. To accomplish that, I am offering a free Virtual Self-Care Retreat.

Join us for 10 days of healthy, relaxing activities to make your time at home less stressful and more productive and enjoyable ?

Now more than ever devoting attention to your well-being is essential. The current global climate has people on edge and fearful. The shelter in place has many feeling overwhelmed and disoriented. You’re trying to stay healthy, doing your part to prevent the spread of coronavirus while navigating this new normal, albeit temporary. But some things will change for good.

I want to help you turn that around, choose faith over fear, find peace and relieve tension. We’re not stuck at home, we’re safe at home. Let’s make the most of it.

My Virtual Self-Care Retreat gives you fun, simple ways to practice self-care along with self-love and self-compassion. Self-love is acknowledging that you are enough. You matter. You are loved. The most important relationship you’ll ever have is the one with yourself. Learn to listen to your own inner voice and feel important enough to be heard and looked after the you care for others. Loving and nurturing yourself allows you to love and nurture others in a stronger capacity.

During this time of uncertainty trying to avoid coronavirus and adhere to the social distancing mandate, the most beneficial thing you can do is support your mind and body with positive habits that reduce anxiety and strengthen your immune system.

This virtual retreat will help improve mood and reduce anxiety during this challenging time while normal life is on hold. Sign up and join us, everyone who participates will be entered to win a self-care clean beauty bundle!

I’m known for helping people go green and improve health by reducing toxic load caused by environmental toxins but other things cause a different type of toxicity that I help people mitigate. Stress, fear, anxiety, pessimism are all toxic to your system. A strong immune system is vital right now, read this blog post for tips to boost yours: 5 Powerful Ways To Strengthen your Immune System During This Pandemic 

During this retreat, we are going to detox your lifestyle with some radical self-care and fun.

Go from overwhelm to relaxed in 10 days.

We start on

World Health Day

Tuesday, April 7th

Sign up now for the next retreat!

We’re all in this together, joining a community in the name of self-love with like-minded individuals will lift your spirits and offer a welcomed distraction.

Do stress and anxiety harm your health and impair your immune system? Yes, but there are enjoyable ways to mitigate the harmful effects.

Each day, I’ll share fun, easy self-care and wellness activities designed to alleviate stress, anxiety and overwhelm. Enjoyable self-care – not the overused buzzword type that’s demanding and makes you feel guilty if you don’t do it!

Some activities will be purely for relaxation and well being, others will help you be more efficient and productive with your time at home. You’ll have access to my free private Facebook community where you can bond with like-minded individuals and get support.

This resource is everything you need to incorporate self-care and self-development into your daily routine and kick stress to the curb.

Whether you are extra busy and overwhelmed working from home while homeschooling or find yourself with more time on your hands than usual and perhaps bored, this retreat will benefit you. I will be sending you emails and replays of all the Facebook live streams so you can complete activities on your own time.

Click here to sign up for the Virtual Self-care Retreat and enjoy 10 fun, stress-reducing days devoted to you ?Joy heals. Focusing on the positive heals.

All participants have a chance to win a self-care clean beauty bundle! Enter the giveaway on the form below. 

Invite your friends to join us too!

This retreat is very important to me. I want to give you the tools that I use to alleviate my stress and the self-care activities my clients and I enjoy to feel calm and centered during these difficult times.

Creating a positive mindset and inner peace will help keep you healthy. It’s good to feel good.

Stay well ? 

Sign up here now for the next Virtual Self-Care Retreat and to enter the new giveaway click here.     #savvygirlsvirtualretreat 

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12 Healthy Habits That Help Ease & Prevent Cold & Flu

The dreaded cold and flu season is underway and hitting hard. People everywhere are under the weather! Natural methods to prevent and treat the nasty flu bug has been a hot topic in my Facebook group, since it’s that time of year again, let’s revisit that topic.

It’s a myth that extreme temperatures cause cold and flu viruses and other bacterial illnesses, we catch it from one another. It’s all that passing germs back and forth and all around by touching handles, cell phones, door knobs, the dillweed that double dips at happy hour, the chick that sneezes on you in the elevator… which is why you’ll never catch me eating with unwashed hands.

Look, we have to build our immunities but who likes to get taken out for days on end by bad virus?! Sucks to feel lousy. Isn’t coughing the worst? Just as you’re finally falling asleep – ?

The annoying symptoms suck but certain viruses can be serious

The flu is the cause of roughly 36,000 deaths each year and over 200,000 people are hospitalized because of it. Some succumb because they end up having sepsis.

Strep is going around, both my boys had it over the holidays. If a sore throat persists for a few days, even without a fever, (neither of my boys had a fever) get checked. If it’s Strep, you need to get treated because when it goes un treated it can lead to Rheumatic fever or kidney problems. I saw first hand, how terrible this is.

My best friend had strep but was diagnosed with the flu. She later developed rheumatic fever but when undiagnosed for 3 years. No one could figure it out. It was a devastating ordeal for her. Fortunately a fantastic infectious disease doctor properly diagnosed her and she recovered.

We’re most contagious the first few days we have symptoms

However, we can even be contagious 24 hours before the first sign of cold symptoms and up to 4 days before flu symptoms appear so it’s not easy to avoid the nasty little germs but there are measures you can take to prevent or at least lessen the severity.

Healthy Habits Keep Illness Away

1) Drink up

You’ve heard it before but it’s sage advice: stay hydrated, it helps ease a stuffy nose and sore throat and helps flush out those germs. Drinks plenty of water! More and more doctors, including Dr. Oz recommend Elderberry extract. One way to get it that will  also aid your hydration is in an herbal tea. Drinking 4 – 6 cups of elderberry tea a day at the onset of symptoms because medical trials have shown that it helps block viruses from entering your cells and aids in shortening the duration of the flu. He calls it a ‘natural Tamiflu’. In fact, my pharmacist told me that a study done in Israel found Elderberry to be just as effective as Tamiflu. How about that?!

2)  Catch your zzzz’s

Sleep is restorative, our bodies rejuvenate and repair while we sleep. Inadequate amounts of shut eye compromise the immune system and make it difficult for our bodies to fight infection and illness. While you are resting, your immune system is better able to produce cytokines, chemicals that attack virus cells.

3) Manage stress

Stress depresses our immune system and makes us more vulnerable to illness. Things that cause major stress like the loss of a job as well as little stressors like the jerk that cuts you off on the freeway both take their toll. Meditation helps but if getting your om on isn’t going to happen at least give yourself  10 minutes of downtime to do some deep breathing and get yourself centered.

Book your complimentary health assessment

4) Eat the right foods

The Real Age docs also say that lean protein rich foods such as turkey, tofu, chicken, nuts, nonfat dairy, beans and fish enable your body to make disease fighting antibodies. They also recommend loading up on foods that contain flavonoids and vitamin C like oranges, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, tomatoes and broccoli because they help your body produce protective immune cells. Whole grain foods are also beneficial because they have immune enhancing nutrients like zinc, selenium, and beta glucan. Don’t let a hectic schedule keep you from healthy choices, grab my  Healthy Eating On The Go guide with simple tips & habits along with several delicious, nutritious options to grab & go when you are pressed for time.

Natural Remedies Work

5) Try Probiotics

I take a good probiotic every day because gut health is vital for a strong immune system. 80% of our immunity is in our gut. The connection to our health cannot be denied. Find a quality probiotic and make sure your doctor agrees it’s right for you. I take a good probiotic every day because gut health is vital for overall health. a review of 10 studies revealed that those who took them were 40% less likely to get that yearly cold or have a bad season with 3 or more colds. If you do come down with one, a probiotic will reduce your need for antibiotics if you get a bacterial infection along with it. If you do end up needing antibiotics, probiotics help replace the good bacteria which is very important!

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6) These Natural Remedies Are My Must Haves

These remedies are great if you feel like you’re coming down with something or if you’re already feeling sick. Oregano Oil strengthens the immune system which is what your body needs when fighting off illness. It is very anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. Lots of ‘antis’ against bad stuff which is good! Its benefits are far reaching including healing skin issues, digestive problems and so much more! Grape seed extract is another rock star immune strengthener to take at the first sign of illness. Colloidal Silver is a good flu fighter to keep in your medicine cabinet. A study from the Journal of Virological Methods showed that Silver kills various types of flu viruses.Thieves Essential oil is great. There are several essential oils that can help, Dr. Axe has a handy guide you can find here. Garlic and good old vitamin C help too. Winter Tonic & Winter Balance are homeopathic remedies that help prevent the flu, I have thankfully found both to be very helpful at warding it off. I can’t give you medical advice, just sharing what works for me and my family.

Bonus natural remedy…

7) Immunitone Plus

Immunitone Plus is my newfound gem. It’s fantastic – however – only take it if you feel like you’re coming down with something or if you are already not feeling well. It’s not something you take on a daily basis because too much echinacea and the other ingredients is not beneficial. I discovered this supplement last spring on a visit to a local holistic doctor. This is now my first line of defense. My kids were sick over the holidays, I felt like I was coming down with it one night, took this along with chlorella and woke up feeling fine!  It contains Astragalus, herbs, elderberry, mushroom extracts and other natural compounds that boost the immune system including herbs that support the balance of cytokines, regulatory proteins released by immune cells as well as normal natural killer (NK) cell activity. However — echinacea should not be used unless you are feeling ill because it can affect the liver and there are other issues. AND — there are situations when elderberry is not advised as outlined in this article: When Not to Use Elderberry: Using a Little Discernment As I always recommend, check with your healthcare provider. I am simply making recommendations and letting you guys know what works for me; I’m not a doctor, I’m not prescribing anything.

Tried and true methods are your friend

8) Gargle with warm salt water

The saline solution has a sanitizing effect that helps flush out viruses and bacteria and clears mucous and irritants, it also reduces inflammation by drawing out excess water from throat tissue. Saline nasal spray (non-medicated) and nasal irrigation systems like a neti pot (when used with the proper solution, not just tap water) help ease congestion and clear out sinuses.

9) Coat your throat with honey

1 – 2 tablespoons of organic honey help sooth your throat and curb a cough. You want organic honey because regular honey is often contaminated, especially if it’s manufactured in China. Raw organic Maunuka honey (one that has a minimum of UMF 16) has the most healing properties. I highly recommend taking a teaspoon of Manuka honey if you feel you’re coming down with something and if you do get sick, take one everyday, it’s my get well quick secret.

10) Wash your hands

You touch a door nob after someone who is sick or getting sick has, then grab your cell phone, your Ipad – their germs are all over your stuff. I’m a regular hand washer although I try not to be too crazy about it because exposure to harmless germs and bacteria strengthens our immune system. And this doesn’t mean wash your hands, touch your cell phone, steering wheel, a door handle, then eat or prepare food and say, ‘well, I washed my hands’. Seriously, want to get sick LESS often? Do Not eat with your hands or touch your face unless you have just washed them!

Use good old soap and water, NOT the antibacterial type because they kill good bacteria and weaken our body’s ability to fight germs; many health professionals claim that they are to blame for the increase of deadly ‘super bugs.’ Even the FDA is investigating triclosan, a very toxic chemical found in most antibacterial products. I keep eco-friendly chemical free hand sanitizer and baby wipes in my car to wipe away germs my kids and I come in contact with. I use the sanitizer sparingly and only when necessary because overuse of hand sanitizers can be detrimental as well.

Grandma was right 

11) Have a bowl of soup

We’ve all heard that chicken soup can help ease a cold, apparently it’s true. According to the doctors at Real Age, sipping chicken soup cuts the duration of a cold by 50%. They believe it’s because cooked chicken releases an amino acid called cysteine that has a similar chemistry to the bronchitis drug, acetylcysteine. Add garlic, a natural infection fighter to your recipe along with some hot red pepper, a strong decongestant and you should feel better.

12) Exercise

Physical activity boosts the immune system so staying active and working out on a regular basis will help keep illness away. When you do get sick, it’s ok and even beneficial to keep up your physical activity as long as your symptoms are above the neck – stuffy nose, scratchy throat. However, if you have the chills, a hacking chest cough, stomach flu, fever, etc., rest.

Fortunately, I rarely get sick, I’m blessed with a strong immune system but I also have adopted most of these habits that help keep germs at bay.

How ’bout a little bonus tip? Believe you are well. Believe you are healing. Mindset is everything in all areas of life. As Abraham-Hicks says, “A belief is a thought you keep thinking.” Keep your thoughts leaning toward positive, healing vibes. This works in all aspects of life. We become our thoughts.

Do you find yourself prone to getting sick often? It could be an underlying issue but most likely your immune system simply needs a boost. Simply balancing nutrition and blood sugar can help. Set up a free health assessment with me, I’ll evaluate you and offer some guidance and tips.

Stay well!

A votre sante

Be sure to enter my latest giveaway for your chance to win Pure & Coco Skincare products and cosmetic bag, my Home Detox Masterclass and a 1:1 Eco Wellness coaching session with me ~ prize valued over $200!

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Make 2019 Your Healthiest Year Ever

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and improve health? You’re not alone, that is the resolution for nearly 50% of Americans. Sadly, only about 8% end up achieving their resolutions. Don’t be part of that 8%! I would love to help you feel your best and reach your health goals.

A mere 10% reduction in body weight reduces your risk of various weight-related diseases by 50%! Curious to learn if  you are at a healthy BMI (body mss index)? Use this calculator to determine your healthy weight.

 

Your weight and your health are inextricably tied together. A healthy body starts with a heathy weight. 

The weight loss program I coach clients through is extremely easy to follow and highly effective, designed for optimal health. It’s an innovative lifestyle approach that gets your mind and body working together helping you adopt healthy habits that contribute to your long-term success.

It’s a proven system; no deprivation, no hunger, lose your cravings and transform your health. Not only do people lose a significant amount of weight, clients experience a variety of health benefits such as more energy, better quality of sleep, more confidence, comfortable in their body, balanced blood sugar and insulin levels, freedom from yoyo dieting, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, ulcers disappear, joint pain  disappears, migraines decrease, eliminate various medications and C-Pap machine, mitigate type II Diabetes as well as other issues and symptoms on this whole health program that produces lasting results.

 

Book Your Complimentary Health Assessment

Obesity is the leading cause of preventable death. Most people think that an obese person is 100 or more pounds overweight but that’s not the case. The definition of obesity is only 30 pounds overweight.

71% of Americans are obese or overweight and plenty might not be overweight but they aren’t healthy. Are you one of them? Let’s change that in 2019.

Your doctor might be telling you that you are overweight, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or any number of other health issues but are they giving you the tools you need to get healthy or are they simply offering the ‘band-aid’ of medication?

Food can be an addiction which is why willpower often doesn’t work for the long term. We have to create new habits and rather than rely on willpower, create a healthy environment for our body by fueling it with the proper balance of nutrition so we lose cravings and hunger and use fat stores as energy.

Too many people are eating ‘healthy’ but they are not eating in precise balance.

They are grasping at straws, trying the latest diet trend but wind up frustrated because they can’t stick with it or they have some success but it’s not a realistic long term plan and they gain the weight back.

If you’re feeling sluggish, low energy or have extra weight you’re likely not as healthy as you’d like to be.

Do you want to make 2019 your healthiest year ever?! I would be thrilled to help you accomplish that goal, guiding you through that journey every step of the way with individualized coaching and a community of support giving you tools and knowledge for long-term sustainability.

Weight loss and improved health is the outcome. It’s predictable transformation. Everyone can succeed.

It’s a systematic approach, a transformational program that gives you the simple tools to adopt a healthy lifestyle habits one healthy habit at a time. It’s a plan that fits within every budget. It’s not an additional cost, you simply divert your current food budget to the plan that best fits your needs, all our coaching  and professional health led support is included.

If you’d like to learn more, let’s set a time where I can do a complimentary health assessment on you and explore that.  Click here to book a time that is convenient for you. I would be honored to help you achieve your weight loss goals and transform your health with ease.

During your complimentary health assessment…

I’ll evaluate you and give you a crystal clear plan with key steps to get weight off for good.

We’ll uncover hidden challenges that could be sabotaging your weight-loss efforts. You’ll learn tips to mitigate Type II Diabetes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol and potentially get off certain medications.

You’ll leave the session renewed, energized and inspired to make the changes necessary to implement new healthy habits as well as learning about a proven method to lose weight once and for all.

Click here to book your free health assessment at a time that is convenient for you or email me: kelly@kellybonanno.com. 

Feel free to grab my FREE Healthy Eating On The Go guide with simple tips and habits along with several delicious, nutritious options to grab and go when you are pressed for time.

How I lost 10 pounds

How I lost 10 pounds… So fun chatting with these wonderful women! If what we talked about resonated with you, message me or post a comment to set up your free health assessment & explore what's possible!

Posted by Savvy Girl's Organic World With Kelly Bonanno on Thursday, December 13, 2018

 

Happy 2019 ?Make it your healthiest, happient year ever! 

 

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Roccoco Botanicals Skin Care Review & Giveaway!

Roccoco Botanicals is one of the best skin care lines that I have ever tried and you, my beautiful, savvy friend, have a chance to win an entire 4 piece skin care set from them!

Effective anti-aging skin care

I am a tough customer when it comes to skin care, particularly anti-aging skin care. I want something that is truly clean. It cannot have an unpleasant or over powering scent (even when scents aren’t synthetic, they can be unpleasant!). I especially want something that is seriously effective. I’d like to notice a positive change in my skin. Demanding? Perhaps. but it’s possible. Excellent, result driven, non toxic skin care does exist, ladies.

**Scroll to bottom of the post to enter the giveaway**

Using skin care that is appropriate and effective for my age group is key. So many beauty bloggers and YouTubers, particularly when it comes to green beauty are 27 if they’re a day. So when they tell us about organic beauty products they’ve tried and say they are so amazing and go on about how their skin is glowing it doesn’t carry much weight because your skin should be glowing and beautiful if you’re not even 35 yet. Those of us who are well over 40, like me, would like products that make aging skin glow! 

Having said that, I realize that just because you’re under 30 doesn’t mean you necessarily have beautiful skin; some people do have skin issues like rosacea, acne, milia or even premature aging. I get it, but I’m talking in general. 

There are wonderful clean, green, eco beauty lines on the market. I am continuously on the hunt for eco friendly skin care that combats signs of aging that women in middle age and beyond want to address as well as skin care that addresses acne and other skin issues my clients struggle with. That is the type of natural, eco skin care that I want to introduce to you. It’s not about looking like we’re 25, it’s simply about looking our best and giving our skin the best possible chance to glow and radiate our inner beauty. It’s about looking healthy.

Quality eco friendly skin care

Which brings me to the fantastic line I am reviewing today, Roccoco Botanicals.  Founder, Jacine Greenwood, started the line aiming to provide safe, quality skincare for compromised and hyper-sensitive skin inspired by her children whom both suffered from eczema. Their products focus on calming and soothing irritated skin and making it less reactive.

They use extracts from the native bushlands of Australia, where they are based. The formulas are safe and advanced with liquid crystals, botanicals and botanically derived ingredients such as peony, pomegranate, resveratrol, elderflower and many more. Their headquarters are in Australia and they have a warehouse in Boise, Idaho. Each item is in beautiful recyclable packaging.

Is acne or random breakouts your issue? They have you covered. Roccoco Botanicals has a fantastic anti-acne line  as well. Jacine is one of the most knowledgeable people I have come across when it comes to skincare. She was recently nominated for Favorite Brand Educator in the DERMASCOPE Magazine Aestheticians’ Choice Awards! They also have remarkable products for healing eczema. Follow her on Instagram and you will get helpful tips and information every time she posts.

I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing her. Be sure to watch it, Jacine offers wonderful information about how the nourishing ingredients they use in their formulations benefits the skin and we discuss what good, quality skin care should be delivering. 

Roccoco Botanicals Giveaway

This is a big giveaway, Jacine is offering a phenomenal prize valued at nearly $400! One of my very lucky readers will win the full 4 piece anti-aging set which includes:

Soothing Cleansing Oil An oil based cleanser containing a soothing blend of Omega 3 rich oils designed to gently clean skin while replenishing vital lipids. Sunflower Oil, Raspberry Oil and Passionfruit are high in essential fatty acids which help to replenish the skin barrier. It helps dislodge blackheads which makes it is a great cleanser for dehydrated acne skin.

Purifying Essence Helps exfoliate and unblock pores without drying out the skin.

LRT (Lift + Rejuvenate + Tone) This is their revolutionary neck cream that I was lucky to try. It is designed specifically for the architecture of the neck and décolletage. I think we can all agree that the neck area is one of the hardest areas to firm and tone. You’ve seen those women who look pretty good but the neck not so much which is why I always tell clients to take care of that area too! Good skin care does not stop at the jawline. Very few peptides on the market specifically target this area effectively, the way LRT does. It also reduces pigmentation and evens out skin tone. She told me that they were seeing great results on the face so I applied it all the way from the chest up to my forehead.

Pomegranate Eye Balm A rich cream infused with peptides. It firms and tones the eye area reducing the appearance of expression wrinkles.

My video review & interview with Jacine

This luxurious line of high quality skin care products delivers. I am impressed. As you’ll hear when you watch my video review, I saw results with the anti-aging products she sent me. They are extremely effective yet gentle. Very hydrating, felt wonderful on my face and smells lovely. I love that they package formulations in pumps. I find them easier to use and they are certainly more sanitary.

The cleansing oil is divine and if you get blackheads, this is your new best friend. The eye balm is phenomenal. I get puffiness around the eye area, not only did this eye balm not exacerbate that the way many eye creams on the market do, my eye area looked better. I was starting to see some crepiness on my neck (ugh) but the LRT took care of it, I saw a noticeable improvement! I also noticed a firmness.

It was such a pleasure interviewing Jacine!

They also offer remote consultations. They will help you and guide you to the right products for your skin concerns. Jacine is extremely knowledgable. One conversation with her is like a masterclass in clean, natural skin care ingredients! She is a genius when it comes to healing acneic skin and she is absolutely delightful, such a sweet, likable person.

This is not just some cheapo giveaway, the value of this is nearly $400!

Oh, and another really cool thing? If you are the winner, let me know what your skin type is and if the skin care set featured doesn’t align with your skin type, she will send you products that do!

Do not hesitate, enter to WIN now!

Update: Sorry you missed the giveaway but you can check out all the wonderful Roccoco Botanicals products here. Try some and let me know what you think! I’m sure you will love them and the results they give you.

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Go Non Toxic In 2018! Get Started With These 5 Tips

I hope 2018 is off to a wonderful start for you! I began my year on a family cruise to the Mexican Riviera which was fabulous. I was offline for most of the week, no wifi at sea. It felt so good to take a break, have fun with loved ones, unwind & unplug! The average person checks they’re phone 50 – 300 times a day. It was nice to not have the temptation. I highly recommend taking a tech break whenever possible, even if it’s just for a day.

I love the holidays so I do get a tad blue as they come to an end but there is something very exciting about starting fresh with a brand new year and diving into a world of new possibilities.

Most of us want to make changes when a new year begins; those changes typically involve getting healthier. This could be losing weight, exercising regularly, quit smoking, eating more fruits and veggies, adding a meditation practice… You know I take a very holistic approach to wellness so I advocate all those goals and I am here to help you reach them.

My suggestion? Go non toxic. Most people don’t realize how important it is to reduce our body’s toxic burden. Toxicity levels in our system can wreak havoc on our health.

A healthy, eco friendly lifestyle is not a luxury. Detoxing your lifestyle is simply not an option if you want to be healthy.

The truth is, we live in an extremely toxic world. Being healthy requires detoxing our personal care and beauty routines and our home environments. The good news, it’s really not difficult and I am here to help you do it.

The other fantastic thing about adopting this particular healthy habit is that you don’t have to give up any of your favorite foods or start some intense workout routine to reap the benefits. It’s easier than trying to lose weight or change your diet or get in shape. Seriously!

Whether you are just beginning your green non toxic journey or you are already living a pretty clean life but want to go further, all steps to detoxing will improve your health. Period.

The healthiest individuals make detoxing a natural part of their daily routine.

Even small changes will make a difference. Here are a few things you can start doing this year to detox and improve your health:

  • Start your day with a detoxifying drink. A cup of warm water with the juice of 1 organic lemon will set you up with a healthy start to your day by helping to flush the kidneys, aid digestion, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, balance pH levels and the acidity stimulates liver to produce acids that help detox the body… how about all those benefits without much work?! Oh and you’ll also get a nice dose of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin B and C and other antioxidants, which all help combat wrinkles savvy girls! 
  • Ecofy your cleaning routine Use products that do not contain harmful toxins to clean your home, car and office. Just like using non toxic personal care products, this is far healthier for the environment and your family
  • Steer clear of Bisphenol A. I have written about the dangers of BPA in several posts over the years. It’s found in everything from plastic containers to the lining of canned foods to cash register receipts. BPA is problematic because it imitates estrogen so it disrupts our endocrine system and messes with hormones. It’s been associated with many cancers including breast cancer. The truth is, most plastic has estrogenic chemicals so it’s healthy to avoid plastic as much as possible.
  • Toss toxic air fresheners  Exposure even just once a week can increase your odds of developing asthma by as much as 71% and can contribute to an increase in pulmonary diseases. Plus there is no evidence that they disinfect the air in any way but research is showing that chemicals in these products harm us. Try Master Blaster, it eliminates odors and blasts stain (even tough laundry stains!) or  John Desilvia‘s natural version instead: 2 T baking soda, 5 drops of essential oil, 2 C water in a spray bottle.
  • For the love of all that’s good in the world, DITCH TOXIC DEODORANT & ANTIPERSPIRANT! They contain parabens (which mimic the body’s natural hormones increasing the risk of breast and other cancers) and aluminum. Both have been found in breast cancer tissue. Our underarms absorb even more than other areas of our skin. Want a safe, healthy alternative that actually works ALL day and night? You’ll find it here in my list of clean personal care products that I approve.

You know sipping your daily h20 intake from plastic water bottles is no good because of the BPA and phthalates not to mention how horrible they are for the environment. Another disposable item habit to break is coffee pods, 30 million go to the landfills each day. Start using reusable K-cups for Keurig. You’ll save money and help out the beautiful environment!

There you have it, a new year’s detox that doesn’t require fasting or juicing for a cleanse. How about that? Pretty easy way to detox, right?!

Want even more great tips on how to reduce the toxins in your home with ease and live a healthier, more eco friendly lifestyle in 2018? Grab my free healthy home checklist, The Savvy Girl’s Guide To Eco Friendly Living: Detoxify Your Home In 10 Easy Steps 

And if you want to green your beauty routine grab The Savvy Girl’s Guide To Looking Younger Without Toxic Chemicals In 10 Easy Steps. 

I am ready to start this new year with a bang, how about you?! I am developing some very exciting things that I can’t wait to share with you.

Happy 2018!

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InLight Organic Skincare Review & Giveaway

Allow me to gush for a moment… I simply love this line. The products I tried for this review are sublime. They prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that we can have luxurious, effective, high performing skin care products without turning to toxins.

Inlight Organic Skincare is formulated with effective organic food-grade and cold-pressed oils, herbs, the purest essential oils and beeswax. The products are formulated by homeopathic doctor, medical herbalist and skin expert Dr Mariano Spiezia, the company’s founder.

One of the products they sent me to review is their facial cleanser. It’s a deeply hydrating oil-based balm that lifts skin impurities, fights blackheads and spots and removes makeup. The scent of this cleansing balm is absolutely divine. My first thought was ‘do they make a fragrance in this scent?!’ I seriously want a perfume version of it!

It’s different from any cleanser I have tried. You leave it on for a few minutes to allow it to deeply decongest and cleanse then wipe it off with the ph balancing floral tonic or for added exfoliation remove it with their organic cotton glove or your own wash cloth. This lovely cleanser is the recipient of beauty awards such as Anti-aging Beauty Bible and Green Parent Natural Beauty.

The face oil is one of the best that I have tried. It glides onto the skin beautifully giving a silky feeling. The scent is very nice; subtle with notes of vanilla and rose. Every ingredient is clean as is the scent but even some organic fragrances can be too overpowering, this is not! It’s designed to moisturize and nourish the skin as well as balance production of skin sebum.

My skin felt wonderful after applying it. It absorbs nicely and works very well under make up. I also used it at night and do believe I see some improvement in my skin.

The packaging is also lovely. Performance is what really matters but presentation is important, baby!

Check out my latest video, I give my full review and interviewed Lucie Husarkova, founder of Hug Your Skin. She shared interesting information about some of the effective anti-aging ingredients they use.

Holiday shopping is under way so I know you’re looking for great gift ideas, luxurious skincare is always a wonderful gift. Treat yourself and the women on your list.

Enter the giveaway for your chance to win an InLight product. There will be 2 lucky winners! One of you will win the chocolate mask and one of you will win the face oil.

They are also kindly giving all of my fabulous savvy readers 15% off any purchase. Just head to my affiliate link and enter coupon code KELLY15 at checkout. Discount valid through end December 31, 2017.

If you purchase Thursday, November 23 through Monday, November 27 you’ll get the special Black Friday deal: 25% OFF with promo code BFCB25. Purchases over $60 will include beauty glove made from 100% organic cotton.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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5 Tips For Healthier Summer Grilling

Grill season is here! Getting ready for a fun 4th of July BBQ with friends and family? Before you fire up the grill and enjoy those yummy burgers, hot dogs and steaks as we honor our great country’s independence check out these tips to help make your grilling experience a little healthier.

2-summer-grilling-lgn1. Marinate
Heterocuclic amines (HCAs) are substances that form when a chemical found in muscle called creatine reacts with amino acids which are the building blocks of protein during high heat grilling and pan frying. Research shows that these compounds increase the risk of certain cancers such as stomach cancer. Marinated meats produce less of these substances. Lemon and vinegar based marinades work well because the acidity prevents HCAs from adhering to the meat. Marinating with fresh or dried herbs such as rosemary, oregano, sage or thyme lowers risk of the cancer causing compounds by up to 90%. Are you a beer drinker? Crack open a bottle, marinating meat in beer can slash the risk by 88%

2. Don’t Overcook
You can also help counteract the adverse effects of HCAs by not over cooking the meat, frequently turning meat on the grill, cooking at lower temperatures and using smaller cuts of meat

3. Be Careful With Raw Meat
Keep food in the refrigerator right up until the time you’re ready to throw it on the grill. Handle raw meats properly, cross contamination is the leading cause of food poisoning. Use different cutting boards for meats and veggies and wash your hands and untensils regularly. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove pathogens

4. Don’t Leave Perishable Foods Out
When left out, food can begin to develop harmful bacteria after 2 hours. Various bacteria can cause food poisoning so put all perishable foods back in the frig within that time frame

5. Choose Grass-fed Beef
It has more omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid. It’s also lower in fat and calories. Organic is best. Use a food thermometer to make sure your food is cooked to the proper temperatures. Throw some veggies on the grill too, they taste sublime when they are grilled and you’ll get a nice dose of antioxidants. Happy grilling!

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Mombajuice ~ Your Kids Will Love This Healthy Smoothie

Fave things, $1 store, plants, smoothies 117Last night was smoothie night, it’s popular in our house. I make them on a regular basis, my kids love them & I love how quick, easy & healthy they are. It all started a few years ago. I wanted to come up with a healthier version of what they like at smoothie bars but the kids whined & complained that they’d rather go to Jamba Juice. My husband told them that tonight, it’s mombajuice! Fortunately, they LOVED my smoothies & so did my husband, they’ve been a staple in our house ever since. They’re the holy grail of food: nutritious, delicious & the kids are excited when I make them. That’s a tough combo to come by.

I use all organic ingredients, makes 4 servings:
~Toss about 2 cups of your favorite fresh or frozen fruit in the blender. I usually use the tried and true strawberries, banana and some raspberries, blueberries or blackberries. Try different fruits you like, experiment!
~2 cups organic low fat vanilla greek yogurt (or whatever flavor you prefer)
~4 Tbsp. flaxseed oil or chia seeds & a few sprinkles of wheat germ
~1 – 2 scoops of protein powder & some almonds  ~1/4 cup ice
~I even sneak in a little chopped spinach (they don’t even taste it!) and blend it all up until smooth and enjoy!

I keep frozen organic fruit on hand in the freezer and when our bananas start to turn brown I toss them in the freezer so I always have one on hand for smoothie night. I add organic, cold pressed, filtered flaxseed Oil, an excellent source for omega 3 fatty acids and lignans, because of its many health benefits.

Research has shown it may help reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer, helps protect against high blood pressure and lowers cholesterol which plays a part in preventing heart disease and stroke, promotes healthy skin, hair and nails.

Studies also show that it may increase the rate at which fat is burned by stimulating brown fat cells and helps increase energy production in the body, just to name a few! Any of your mommy friends looking for a healthy snack their kids will love? Send this her way.