http://www.thealternativedaily.com/

[…]

http://www.thealternativedaily.com/

[…]

http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Pin it

From Apartment Therapy → 15+ Glorious Uses for Wax Paper at Home

READ MORE »

http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Pin it

You might want to think twice about ordering the salmon special next time you’re out to dinner. Following their report released earlier this year about the mislabeling of Maryland crab cakes, the nonprofit conservation group Oceana released new findings about the mislabeling of another popular seafood item: wild salmon.

READ MORE »

http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Pin it

If you joined The Kitchn’s Baking School, then you’re deep into our last few lessons on layer cakes and decorating basics. If you’ve got your cake and some basic buttercream, what’s next? What takes a cake from good to great? Decoration!

Creating an Instagram-ready cake doesn’t mean you have to be a pro with the pastry bag. Here are seven ways to make your cake look over-the-top dramatic — but don’t require decorating genius to achieve.

READ MORE »

http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Pin it

The cooking and sharing of food is not only used to celebrate life; since early human history, it has also played an important part in marking the death of a loved one, and these rituals continue in many different forms today. From Mormon funeral potatoes to bread shaped liked bones, here are five food-related death traditions from around the world.

READ MORE »

http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Pin it

The Kitchn’s Baking School Day 20: All about cake decorating.
Join The Kitchn’s Baking School: Sign up and see all The Kitchn’s Baking School assignments

Dream of sky-high bakery-style cakes, cupcakes, and other decorative treats? You know, cakes with super-smooth buttercream, cupcakes with intricate frosting, and cookies with delicately piped details and sugar garnishes? Or even those treats with a rustic, “homemade” finish and handfuls of colorful sprinkles? Learning to decorate cakes does not have to be as daunting as it may seem.

Hopefully by the end of today’s lesson, gorgeous layer cakes and swirly cupcakes will be flying out of your kitchens left and right. What better way to celebrate the last days of Baking School?

READ MORE »

http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Pin it

Listen, I’m all for a good gag. Give me some crunchy meringue “bones” or a few mummy-wrapped jalapeño poppers on Halloween, and I’m yours. But there’s a line, folks — a line that should not be crossed, no matter how much you want to win at Halloween. Here are 10 times when my Pinterest browsing made me queasy. Do you dare click through?

READ MORE »

http://www.thekitchn.com/feedburnermain

Pin it

If you’re anything like me, Halloween has crept up on you. Suddenly, it’s the end of October (what!) and you’re faced with the prospect of going to a Halloween party this weekend with no costume at all, or settling on something really lame. While I appreciate the throwback charm of Ye Olde Bedsheet Ghost as much as the next costume-challenged girl, our team has some fresh ideas for you.

May we suggest a quick trip to the grocery store on your way to the party? While you’re picking up beer or a bottle of wine, grab supplies for one of these last-minute, pun-tastic Halloween costumes.

READ MORE »

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

My story? A journey to say the least. I have come to learn there are literally millions of people caught up in the same vicious cycle I was stuck in. My entire life from the age of eight years old—yes, I was on a “diet” at the age of eight—my weight was up and down continuously, sometimes dramatically up and down. I tried just about every diet on the market, weight loss aids, appetite suppressants, supplements, cleanses, you name it and I probably had tried it. I had gone as far as starvation diets, and countless hours in the gym. Yes, I had times where I was lean, weight was down, I even did some modeling in my 20s but I did not “feel good.” I constantly had health problems from chronic physical illness to an anxiety disorder early in life. I tortured my body in pursuit of looking good, “being lean.” It was a full time job, trying to reach this image/goal/desire.

By age 40, I found myself fat, unfit, depressed and miserable. I had sky-high blood pressure requiring various heart and blood pressure medications. The doctor’s answer was to slap on medication and follow-up. What the? Alrighty then. I was under tremendous work stress, having family issues, financial struggles, balancing life with a new “blended” family. You name it, I was struggling in all areas like most of us today do. When I thought it was bad enough, I suffered a tragic loss. My younger brother, whom I was very close with died in a tragic accident. I found myself in the bottom of a bottle of alcohol and I stayed there, diluted for quite some time. I could not handle my reality. I continued to spiral down in a deep depression until I finally saw myself for what I was becoming. I was not the mom, wife, friend or family member I once prided myself as being.

It was time to take charge of my existence, take charge of my health, take charge of my future. At this point, I was desperate for better health. It was no longer about wanting to “get skinny” or look good. It was about creating a “NEW” reality. I began studying conventional nutrition to see what I could do to help myself. I was employing Holistic – Vegan practices and working out. Within one month I no longer needed medication and was down 20 pounds. I was fired up!!! BUT – soon the weight loss plateaued and I always felt a bit weak and tired and HUNGRY! After I became a certified Holistic consultant, I decided to continue my education and took on Sports Nutrition. I changed my diet again and followed a Sports nutrition regimen and took on a challenging physique sculpting program. I got some very slow results, but wow was it difficult. I lived by meal timing, portion control, agonizing constant macro-nutrient counting and many days of frustration with still not getting results I was looking for. I received my Sports Nutrition consulting certificate but still felt lost, I was doing everything text book but it still was not working!

I was on to more healthful lifestyle practices and making slow changes to my body, but I still did not feel right and I did not feel I was on to the right path. I remembered that I had tried The Primal Blueprint a few years prior. I treated it like a fad diet just like everything else in my past. I felt good and lost weight but I fell back into old habits fairly quickly. I did not understand the high fat concept as fat is vilified in our “heart-healthy” low-fat, grain laden conventional wisdom of today. So, the controversy was my excuse to eat grains again, because quite frankly, I liked them. Man, did my health later reflect I had gone back to old ways! With all my recent education, I thought I should look at The Primal Blueprint again since I was on this mission to take charge of my health.

The decision to look at The Primal Blueprint again was life changing! I nearly effortlessly began to lose that stubborn body fat, toned up and was feeling good, strong, happy, energized and sleeping well for the first time in my life. I wanted more, more… I knew the Primal lifestyle was the path I was looking for. I decided to enroll in The Primal Blueprint Expert Certification so that I could get an in-depth education on the “why”. I loved that the Primal Blueprint philosophy was all backed by science. Trust me, I employed countless hours of independent research and personal experimentation during this journey of finding better health.

I agree 100% with the Primal Blueprint lifestyle. I have never felt so fantastic, been as physically fit, energized, focused, relaxed and calm. The fact that my cholesterol, blood pressure and resting heart rate are fantastic is just tangible proof I am on the correct path. In fact, my HDL was SO impressive at my last vitality check, the doctor was extremely interested, and wanted extensive detail of what I do… The best thing of all is that I am full of energy to be the best mom and wife I can be. I play with the kids, I’m happy and engaged with life again. I am setting a good example for my children and creating a healthy existence for them. I don’t think there is any greater satisfaction in this world than that! My husband is completely committed to the Primal lifestyle as well, feels fantastic and has made quite a transformation himself!

I have never felt so free and in control of my health, and for that I am eternally grateful. I cannot express my gratitude enough for the work of Mark Sisson and the wonderful Primal staff. Not only did I get the tools I needed to reshape my life, all those around me benefit because I can offer value to their lives now. As my journey continues, it is time for me to pay it forward. I am bounding with enthusiasm to help guide others in finding their way to better health. Now, my mission is to share what I have learned, my journey, my passion! I am forever a Primal Blueprint enthusiast!

Denise