Homemade Raw Chocolate - Very Easy - Very Yummy - Very Sexy - Very Healthy

How sexy is chocolate?  Very sexy.  It got me thinking, let's start using sex to sell it.  Oh wait, the big corporations already beat me to it!  And oh wait, I'm not talking about most of the store bought chocolates available...because those are sooooo not sexy!  I'm talking about RAW chocolate!  If you are too busy to make your own I highly suggest Righteously Raw, a very good plant based company working hard to change the face of chocolate.  So if you want to be sexy, go buy a bar or make this easy recipe yourself at home.  It's the melt in your mouth, or your partners mouth kinda orgasmic delight that will get your magnesium levels balances and your heart pumping.

Oddly enough, when I first encountered raw cacao I was living in Hawaii, in a very odd, very poetic, and very melancholy state.  I went to a local farmer's market and the cacao/coffee farmer gave me some for free and told me, "This will heal your broken heart."  So really cacao goes much further than sex.  It's LOVE, straight to the heartstrings.  Literally, it helps your heart!  So there I was, hooked from this beautiful moment, never looking back at the major name brand chocolates again!

So, enough about sex, love and chocolate.  Here is the recipe and a little video I made to show the method.

Enjoy your raw chocolate, your sex and most importantly, your LOVE!

Lots of love, Trish

Detox Water

Okay, so if you are like me than you have tried many different varieties of home brewed flavored water.  And if not, give it a try for a week and I guarantee that you will become hooked!  I have been infusing my water for the last year now and have found that it is not only amazing in its taste but also curbs my hunger and helps me keep properly hydrated.  Not to mention the long, very long list of health benefits!

After many attempts I have found that my favorite infusion recipe is lemon, cucumber and mint.  It is really very simple, all you must do is prepare your water in the evening, leave it stored in the refrigerator overnight and enjoy your magically infused water that next morning.  I personally do my best to finish off my jug of infused water first thing upon waking up, to ensure my organs get a good start to the day!  After I finish off my jug I usually go ahead and refill it with purified water.  It is recommended to allow the infusion to take place, so let it brew for at least 3 hours till you indulge in your infused water.

Depending on your jug and taste, you can add more or less of the ingredients.  I personally use an old wine carafe so my recipe will be based on using .75 Liters of water.

What you will need:

• 1 Lemon
• 1/2 Cucumber
• 1/4 Cup Mint 

Instructions:

1. Clean lemon, mint and cucumber thoroughly!  
2. Optional:  Peel lemon and cucumber if they are not organic or home grown
3. Thinly slice cucumber and lemon
4. Place in clean glass jug
5. Cover and store in refrigerator for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight  

The benefits of drinking water are endless. Science says that our bodies are roughly 60% water and that the Earth is roughly 70% water. Hence, water is the star, water takes the cake, and water is in fact most essential beverage available.

Water aids digestion, maintains body temperature, energizes muscles, helps in weight loss, promotes clear skin and hair, aids in nutrient absorption, assists your kidneys with waste removal, and on and on and on!

It is recommended that adults consume any where from 9-16 cups of water a day.  This is all dependent on contextual factors, like your weight, activity levels, and the climate you find yourself situated in and so on.  There is a great calculator available here if you would like to find the appropriate amount of water you need to receive all of the benefits.

Hydration Calculator

Lastly, forget the plastic bottles PLEASE!  There's enough waste on this glorious Earth and with the population currently over 7 billion, let's all do something simple to pitch in and get reusable water containers.

Imagine if everyday, every person consumed 1 bottle of water, for 1 week???!!!  That would be 7 billion X 7 days = 49 BILLION plastic bottles! Now that is a shit load of plastic, even all of the recycling plants in the world will not be able to keep up with this, sad but true.

All we can do is our best.  So let's do just that for our bodies, souls and our Earth!

ONE EARTH - ONE RACE - ONE LOVE

Lots of Love, Trish

Coming Soon Mint Tutorial!

Mint - The easiest herb to grow at home, the herb that just keeps on giving!  So give up on buying it and start growing it on your own.  

Lush Henna Caca Brun: Review and How To Tutorial

So it's been a while, a solid, 5 year while since I've made a change to my hair. To be honest I was getting bored, so it came time for a change! Now, what's a green juice sippin' girl to do if she wants to dye her hair? Get a box dye? Ohhh no! Go pay a fortune at a salon? Nah. Then the light bulb flickered on! Nichole,  a natural women I've always looked up to and friend I made while living in Hawaii came straight into my mind. She once told me, years ago about the benefits of henna for hair.

So there I went, researching henna, googling instructions and brands and so on. Here in South Africa there's not a huge amount of health food shops around so I decided to go with Lush and their henna hair dye line. Lush has it's up's and down's. On the up side they have a fresh and minimalist approach to packaging, as not to waste unnecessary cardboard or plastics. They fight against animal testing! Something much desired, who wants to think of sweet puppies getting tortured while you dye your hair?! And for the most part, their products include natural ingredients.  On the down side, there are some upsetting ingredients in their products like sodium lauryl sulfate in their shampoos...which my scalp absolutely hates! Needless to say, the henna line is 98% better for you and for the Earth when comparing the list of ingredients to the rest of the home dye treatments offered up by the beauty industry. The dye comes in a range of four colors, from black to red.  I went with the Caca Brun because ultimately, when it came down to it I wasn't ready to make a drastic change.  Haha!

What you need:

1. Depending on your hair length 1-4 blocks of Lush Henna Dye (I used 3) 
2. A knife to chop and dice henna blocks 
3. 2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar 
4. Fresh Pressed Coffee 
5. Mixing Bowl
6. Vaseline 
7. Hair Bands
8. Saran Wrap
9. Gloves
10. Old Beanie and Old Clothes
11. Lots of Newspaper
12. Time (4 hours at least) 

How to Henna: 

1. Section your hair off so it's easy to dye when you are ready
2. Vaseline your hair line, neck and ears 
3. Place many layers of newspaper onto the surface and ground where you will be applying your henna, with mirror. 
4. Prepare a batch of strong coffee
5. Cut your henna blocks into a fine chop and place in bowl
6. Add 2 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar 
7. Slowly add your hot coffee to the fine chopped henna, add and mix till you have a yogurt like consistency
8. Go to your newspaper area 
9. Put gloves on
10. Start from the back and work to the front till your hair is fully drenched in henna, use every last bit of henna mix on your head and work your hair into a classy up do
11. Saran Wrap your hair tightly 
12. Clean up any messy bits that got onto your hairline, neck and ears
13. Cover Saran wrapped head with old beanie (Optional, but henna works on heat so this helps keep heat on your henna head) 
14. Wait at least 4 hours till you rinse out
15. Once ready to rinse out apply lots of conditioner over the bathtub or shower area
16. Rinse with hot water, apply more conditioner and rinse out with hot water, repeat a few times till the water runs clear 

Results and Other Tidbits: 

I was pleased with this product and I will use it again.  Although, I found that my hair color only came in gradually, and that it was only three days after the dye job till I had the results I desired.  It was strange, each morning I woke up after the experience my husband told me, "Your hair is even darker today."  I think this kind of dye takes time, so patience is the key.  It was a gradual and natural change, something that suited me perfectly.

It was easy for me to apply, and easy to clean up since I was prepared.  The smell was enjoyable to me and lingered in my hair for days after the application.  My hair is also much nicer, healthier and stronger after this treatment.  The addition of organic, fair trade coco butter in this product really, really conditioned my hair, it was such a wonderful bonus!

I loved this so much that I think of doing this once a month or once every other month simply to rejuvenate my locks and add richness to it that it deserves.  Lastly, I highly recommend setting a free day aside to do this, make it a full on spa day, whip up some home made face masks, sip on some coffee, cozy up to your current book, bask in the sun or just do whatever it is you do that keeps ya chill.

Many thanks Lush!

Lots of Love,
Trish

DIY: Brew Your Own Kombucha

Kombucha - A lightly fermented drink of sweetened black tea, green tea or white tea that comes to life (literally) with a Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast.  Otherwise known as a "SCOBY" or "The Mother," this funny, slimy organism is what converts your tea into a probiotic dream!  It eats up the sugars in its brewing stage and in turn gives you this heavenly beverage. The origins of this probiotic drink were first recorded in 221 BC during the Tsin Dynasty and it was knows as "The Tea of Immortality."

There are countless and countless health claims for Kombucha.  Simply google it! Here are a few benefits from the endless lists:  promoting positive gut bacteria, detoxifying properties, promotes healthy liver functions, prevents iron deficiency,  promotes healthy nervous system functions, aids asthma patients, lubricates joint functioning, lowers cancer rates, strengthens the immune system, aids in weight loss, promotes healthy skin and hair and soooooo on and soooooo forth.  Like I said, google it.  I'm no expert on the science of this stuff but I know for fact that it makes me feel good, I enjoy the taste and it is very easy and very affordable to make at home.  So say goodbye to buying those fancy 5$ bottles of Kombucha at your local health shop and say hello to home brewing!

So here we go.

Kombucha Essentials 

1.  Big GLASS jar, allows for at least 8 cups of water (use glass only)
2.  Rubber Bands
3.  Clean Dishcloths 
3.  Black Tea, Green Tea or White Tea
4.  Organic Sugar
5.  Filtered Water
6.  SCOBY
7.  Glass Storage Bottles


Step 1 : Do you have a SCOBY?

If yes, than skip this step!  There are many SCOBYs available at health food shops and farmer's markets these days, since the stuff is so popular.  If you are SCOBY-less than...

Let's make a SOCBY!

1. Get all Kombucha essentials out PLUS one bottle of original, non flavored Kombucha
2. Brew 4 bags of tea with 4 cups of purified, boiling water, place into your sturdy glass jar, 1 cup of water per 1 bag of preferred tea
3. Add 4 Tablespoons of Organic Sugar into the hot brewing tea
4. Remove tea bags once it has steeped for roughly 10 minutes
5. Cover tea jar with a clean dish cloth, rubber band tightly and store in a cool room
6. Allow tea to cool completely (I usually leave it overnight) 
7. Once tea has cooled add your bottle of original, non flavored Kombucha into your jar
8. Re-cover with a clean dishcloth and rubber band
9. Wait and watch your SCOBY develop, this should take around 2-3 weeks

Step 2 : Brewing Kombucha 

Once your SCOBY is ready for brewing you will find that each new batch of Kombucha you make will produce a baby SCOBY.  Therefore, you can buy more and more glass jars and have a full blown Kombucha production line at home!  Or you can give SCOBYs away to friends who also want to start brewing their own Kombucha.  Once you have one SCOBY it's only a matter of time till you have 10 SCOBYs, they are exponential, the gift that simply keeps on giving!  I tend to be a bit OCD so I will select my best looking SCOBYs and discard any mangled, old or discolored SCOBYs.  And since I am always producing SCOBYs I have a good group to select from for my brewing.  

Let's make Kombucha! 

1. Get all Kombucha essentials out PLUS your SCOBY
2. Measure out your glass jar and find out how many cups it takes.  My jar takes 10 cups so I brew 10 bags of green, black or white tea with 10 cups of water.  (Remember it is a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio.  1 bag of tea : 1 cup of water : 1 tablespoon of sugar)
3. Add organic sugar.  My jar takes 10 cups so I add 10 tablespoons of sugar.
4. Allow tea to steep for roughly 10 minutes
5. Remove tea bags
6. Cover jar with clean dishcloth and rubber band
7. Store in a cool room
8. Allow to completely cool!  (Your SCOBY will die if you add it into the hot tea)
9. Once tea is completely cool add your SCOBY into the jar
10. Cover jar with clean dishcloth and rubber band
11. Allow Kombucha to brew for roughly 7-10 days (If you want it stronger than go longer, if you want it sweeter than go shorter, you can play with the time to see how you like your own Kombucha) 
12. After your Kombucha has brewed remove your SCOBY and safe keep it in a clean jar with a small amount of Kombucha, just to keep it happy while your next batch of tea cools. 
13. Pour your freshly brewed Kombucha into glass storage jars and place straight into the refrigerator! 
14. Enjoy your beautiful Kombucha 

Important Side Notes: 

1. You want to make sure you use green tea, black tea or white tea - herbal teas can throw your brew off since they often have added oils in them.
2. You want to make sure you are using glass! 
3. Keep your jars, brewing stations, dishcloths and any utensils extremely clean as to not allow any mold to grow in your Kombucha.  
4. When you remove your SCOBYs after brewing you want to clean them off by running them under cold water.  If there is discoloration, like black, or green growths on your SCOBY than there is a chance your SCOBY grew some mold.  Discard this batch of Kombucha and the SCOBY.  Store your SCOBY in a clean glass jar with a small amount of fresh Kombucha till your next batch of tea cools.  
5. Adding flavors!  If you fancy flavored Kombucha than cheers to you!  Once your Kombucha has brewed add flavorings.  It is important to add flavors after brewing!  Flavors that I love include organic cranberry concentrate, pureed mango, fresh pressed ginger, fresh pressed lemon juice, and chai seeds are also a wonderful addition.  Really the flavorings and combinations are endless so use your creativity! 
6. This beverage does contain live cultures.  Do not be afraid of the random floater swimming around in your Kombucha.  If you get yucked out by these than you can take a sieve and pour your brewed Kombucha through before pouring into your storage jars. 

Trusting you enjoy your home brewed Kombucha!  I would love to know more about the techniques you use and the flavors you choose to add to your Kombucha, so feel free to comment or send me an email!  

Lots of Love <3

20 Minute Workout: Strength Training - Dance - Yoga

Okay, so sometimes I just get over running.  Don't get me wrong, running is my drug!  However, when running seems dull I find myself dancing around my bedroom in the early hours of the morning, blasting whatever song I am currently obsessed with, and often times these mornings make for some very 'feel good' days.  I practiced a little routine like this one with my sister, Miranda and she inspired me to put it into a video.  So here it is!  I created this fast little workout video that incorporates very basic dance, strength training and yoga to energize your day.  Hoping you enjoy it!

Lots of Love, Trish

An Evolution: After Insanity Remains Love

I have been thinking a lot about love lately.  As you and I know, love is not always easy but it is always fruitful...even if we are unaware of its bounty.  I have struggled with love, spent years of my life obsessed with each moment, each flutter and poured it all into poetry.  As I dedicated my life to poetry I found myself a manic mess, with tattered notebooks full, reading poems to anyone willing to listen, and most probably annoying a few people in my path.  Regardless of how others felt at the time, it felt right and it was honestly all I could do to express myself in a rather mad world.  In retrospect, I can see that I was boiling in a bit of a stew.  A stew of insanity.  Do not get me wrong.  I enjoyed it, would never replace it and will never regret living in my boiling stew.  However, as I grew, as we all do...I learned another side of love.    

Insanity.  A definition that goes a little like this : repeating the same thing over and over and over, expecting different results each time while using the same stupid method one used the first several times and getting the exact, same old, shit results.  Into easy terms, person A goes out for a night out on the town and drives under the influence and gets caught drinking and driving.  Oh shit!  Court, lawyers, regret...so on and so froth.  Person A goes out for a night out on the town and drives under the influence and gets into a minor fender bender.  Oh shit shit!  Court, lawyers, regret, car repair...so on and so forth.  Person A goes out for a night out on the town and drives under the influence and gets into a major car crash and kills women, children and puppies.  OH SHIT SHIT, MAJOR SHIT!  Court, lawyers, regret, jail time, suicide...so on and so forth.  "Why, oh why didn't I just learn?" 

Okay, enough on the insanity rant.  Love that is immature simply loves insanity...the point I was finally getting at!  This is fine.  This is a step that enables one to reach a more mature love, an evolved love, a love that does not lust or want, but a love that only desires good hope and endless blessings.  The past three years of my life have been just that, an evolution of love.  Breaking free from the insanity and moving into clarity, because love that is mature is TRUE love.  

Whether it is poetry, pottery, painting, music, drawing, doodling, blogging or baking, if you are like me, then from time to time you find yourself in a mode of obsession.  This is fine.  Everything is always, reliably temporary.  Things always change.  Adapting to our changes is what can make or break us from succeeding with love. 

Life is short.  We will all die soon.  I don't say this in an alarming way or a negative way, simply in the speck of historical time, our lifetimes are just that, a speck...so what should I do with mine and what will you do with yours?  Make your speck spectacularly filled with true love?  I think so.