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You’re never too old to be obsessed with Disney princesses. Maybe you’re a little old to wear a full-blown costume to the bank to ask for a mortgage, but you’re always allowed to curl up on your couch with a cup of hot chocolate, throw on your favorite nostalgic movie, and belt out the power ballads. If you really want to take it to the next level, infuse your cooking with that Disney magic and match your dinner to your princess. Wearing a tiara while you cook is totally appropriate.

We’ve paired every Disney princess (there are 11 official ones) with the next dinner recipe you should make. Do you have a favorite princess? We’ll tell you what to eat next.

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Today’s guest post is offered up by Jessica Gouthro of PaleoHacks.com. I feel like midsummer calls for some good R&R. Enjoy the chance to kick back and relax with her routine, everyone.

A simple restorative yoga practice can teach you to truly relax your body, tune in with your breath, and calm your stressed-out mind.

Restorative yoga uses props to aid in physical, mental, and emotional relaxation.

As you do these poses, keep in mind the goal is not to “work hard” like you might do in a traditional flow yoga class. The goal is to get comfortable, hold still, and allow your mind to slow down and the tension to release from all areas of your body.

In this practice, we’ll use a mat, a chair, and a rolled-up blanket for some moves, but you can also use a pillow or bolster in place of the blanket and/or the edge of your bed or couch in place of the chair.

If you are feeling stressed, give these 7 postures a try and feel the results for yourself.

Supported Child’s Pose

Kneel on your mat with your knees wide and feet touching.
Place the rolled up blanket underneath you, making sure it will be long enough to support your head when you lay forward.

Walk your hands out all the way and rest your head to one side on the blanket.

Sit your hips back all the way toward your heels and get comfortable.
Breathe deeply as you relax into the posture.

Hold Supported Child’s Pose for about 1 minute.

Kneeling Twist

Kneel on your mat in an all-fours position.

Thread one arm through the middle and twist your torso until you can place that shoulder on the ground.

Press into the floor with the opposite hand to exaggerate the twist.
Breathe and relax.

Hold this Kneeling Twist for 30 seconds, then switch to the other side and hold for another 30 seconds.

Supported Relaxed Plow

Lie on your back.

Kick your legs up and over into a plow position.

Support your lower back with your hands.

Relax your legs, allowing your knees to bend comfortably down by your ears.

Breathe and relax.

Hold Supported Relaxed Plow for about 30 seconds.

Seated Wide Leg Supported Forward Fold

Sit in front of your chair (or bed or couch) and stretch your legs out wide to the sides.

Lean forward and place your forearms on the edge of the chair with your forehead resting on top of your arms.

Relax your feet and legs and just get comfortable with the stretch.

If this feels like too much stretch, you may bend your knees.

Breathe deeply and relax.

Hold Seated Wide Leg Supported Forward Fold for about 30 seconds.

Legs Elevated Resting Pose

Lie on your back with your butt very close to the front of the chair (or bed or couch).

Place your legs on top of the chair so that knees are bent at a 90-degree angle.

Lift your arms up for a goal post shape, with the backs of your hands rested on the ground.

Ensure that your shoulder blades are tucked flat on the ground and chest is lifted to attain the most restful position. There should be a natural curve in your lower back.

Breathe deep and relax into the posture.

Hold Legs Elevated Resting Pose for about 1 minute.

Resting Butterfly

Sit on your mat, placing your rolled-up blanket at the base of your spine and stretching out behind you.

Put the soles of your feet together with knees wide to form a “butterfly” shape with your legs.

Lie back and fold the top of the blanket over again to create a small pillow for your head to rest.

Stretch your arms out to the sides with palms facing up.

Breathe deeply and relax into the posture, allowing your knees to fall towards the ground comfortably.

Hold Resting Butterfly for about 1 minute.

Savasana

Lie flat on your back with legs extended and arms by your sides.

Adjust your shoulders and hips until your find a comfortable resting position. Allow a natural curve in your spine.

Hold Savasana for about 1 minute.

These poses are incredibly restorative and effective for reducing stress, calming the nervous system and allowing us to unwind after a busy day.
Hold the postures as long as you like or repeat the sequence more than one time.

I hope you will return to this practice next time you feel stressed and share what you’ve learned with anyone needing to unwind in a healthy way.

Thanks again to Jessica Gouthro from PaleoHacks.com for the great restorative routine today. Questions, comments, suggestions for more stress (or de-stress) related topic on MDA? Share them on the comment board, and thanks for reading today, everybody.

The post 7 Relaxing Yoga Poses to Unwind appeared first on Mark’s Daily Apple.

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In the last couple years the meal kit industry has exploded, and it’s not hard to figure out why. Trying to find the right recipe to fit your dietary needs, plus grocery shopping, and then prepping all the ingredients to actually make the dish takes time. Meal kits offer you back time in the kitchen, without having to order takeout (again) or going with another bowl of cold cereal.

The only problem with meal kits, of course, is that they’re normally pretty expensive. Many of them, like Blue Apron, can cost around $10 per person, which really adds up if you’re trying to save money on food. That’s why we’re pretty excited about a new meal kit offering, DINNERLY, which not only allows you to whip up a meal in less than 30 minutes, but it also costs about $5 per person.

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Food Network star Ree Drummond is known for many things: her down-home recipes, her best-selling book, and the blog that shot her to fame in the first place. Also on that list? Her gorgeous ranch kitchen in Oklahoma where she shoots her Food Network series.

As you might expect from a Food Network star, her kitchen is completely decked out with top-notch finishes and super-smart solutions. And there are some good ideas in here worth stealing for your own kitchen.

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To me, serving a cocktail that involves bubbles makes just about any occasion feel like a celebration — even if it’s only an impromptu Thursday barbecue. That’s what makes this punch so important to have on your roster this summer. Cubes of fresh, juicy watermelon bob in a pitcher of Prosecco and the whole thing is brightened up further with fresh mint leaves. It’s a cocktail that is sure to turn even the most laid-back, thrown-together affair feel extra festive and fun.

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Au revoir, Paris! Ann Mah takes us off the tourist path on a culinary tour of France’s favorite regional foods.

This herb-flecked farmer’s cheese is a classic recipe from Lyon, which is considered the gastronomic capital of France. Cervelle de canut translates literally to “silk-weaver’s brains.” There are many wild theories behind the name — some believe it indicated the low status of the silk workers, while others claim it’s in reference to the labor revolts staged by the canuts in the mid-19th century. Whatever the case, it is true that the canuts frequently enjoyed this soft, savory cheese, spread on baguette or toasted bread.

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Happy National Mojito Day! Let’s celebrate with fresh blackberry mojitos. Before you head out to your favorite cocktail bar, know that these pretty-in-pink cocktails are super easy to make at home — no mixology degree required.

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As I walked the streets of downtown Chicago, clutching three paper bags of half-eaten doughnuts from three different shops, I had to finally admit that my friends were right — I really did have a doughnut obsession. I could say it started when I moved to Portland, the day I walked into punk-souled Voodoo Doughnut and walked out with a bright-purple, Kool-Aid-dusted Grape Ape. But I know it started much earlier. For me, memory lane is paved with rainbow sprinkles.

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