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Organizing a small space on a limited budget can be tricky, but what if we told you we discovered a home decor item that can work wonders for multiple rooms in your home — all for under 10 bucks?

Believe it or not, wall-mounted coat hook racks — like this satin nickel one from Amazon — can be used to organize everything from purses in a tiny closet to pots and pans in a cramped kitchen.

Read on for a handful of unexpected ways you can employ a coat hook rack to help streamline your space.

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Yes, you really can make baked ziti (well, “baked” ziti) in your slow cooker. And the result isn’t just good — it’s amazing. What it lacks in the crispy-edges department it gains in the ooey-gooey comfort-food department: tender noodles coated in marinara and mixed with a double dose of melty cheese.

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The best-kept secret about mugs is that they actually make a pretty great holiday present. No, we’re not talking about the cheesy ones that say “World’s Best Mom” or even cheeky ones that say “World’s Okayest Mom.” No, we’re talking about the beautiful, lovingly handmade ones that you can get on Etsy.

Get a hand-thrown ceramic option and it’s an instant gift for your work wife, your brother-in-law, or your coffee-loving best friend. Take a look at these nine options and you’ll see what we mean.

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My first MDA Success Story was published in June 2016. Towards the end I said “My story isn’t over. It is just beginning.”

Those words couldn’t be more true.

That success story was about overcoming decades of chronic cystic acne, along with digestive issues and anxiety.

And the Primal lifestyle truly helped me to accomplish all of that. After decades as a vegetarian, pescetarian, and sometimes raw vegan, making a gradual transition to a Primal diet really changed my life.

The big thing for me was the acne. It’s painful enough to grow up with it, but for me it never really went away, despite every prescription drug in the book. There were even three rounds of Accutane along with some horrible side effects. Removing grains and dairy and adding animal protein and fat back into my diet reduced the inflammation very quickly, and within about a month my skin looked dramatically different.

At the same time my skin was miraculously clearing up, my sometimes debilitating digestive issues and anxiety quietly left the room.

And if my story ended there, it would have been a happy ending.

But things just keep getting better.

At the age of 51, my energy levels have increased and I have better body composition than ever. But it’s so much more than that. I’m more adventurous, confident, creative and intuitive.

Since my last success story was published, I’ve gradually transitioned to a keto lifestyle. I refer to it as “borderline keto” since I do not track or measure anything. I know that works great for some people, I just don’t care for it. But by increasing the healthy fats and moderating the protein I feel even more focused and energetic. Even though I had already made the switch, reading The Keto Reset Diet was helpful, and I’ve recommended it to so many people.

I’ve also completed my Primal Health Coach certification (even though I had another health coaching certification under my belt already.) I believe so strongly in the value of this lifestyle and want to learn everything I can, so I continue to educate myself by attending events like Paleo f(x) and reading everything I can get my hands on. I’m also taking my first digital cooking class, Paleo Cooking Bootcamp, and loving it.

When my last success story was published I had been writing a blog called “happy, healthy and hot” for about six months. It was mostly recipes and natural beauty tips presented in a playful, sassy style.

As I wanted to share my message with more people, I started posting on Instagram as well (@happyhealthyandhot_elizabeth), and eventually started sharing more of my lifestyle, including travel, fashion, personal development, and short videos showing easy workouts that I do at home (many times with a cameo appearance by my dog). I used to be a very private person, but I know that sharing these snapshots of my day to day life can show how easy it to live a healthy lifestyle.

I’ve also been featured on other health related websites and have been interviewed for podcasts, including the Primal Blueprint Podcast. Love sharing the happy, healthy and hot message with as many people as I can.

I truly believe that everyone deserves to look and feel amazing, and the Primal lifestyle is a great way to start. Living this way should be fun and easy…if it feels like a chore you’re not doing it right!

What started out as a little health blog is organically growing into a lifestyle brand with followers from all over the world.

Is my life perfect? Absolutely not. During this time I’ve dealt with some major personal challenges just like everyone else. But I’ve come out of them stronger than ever.

People are always asking me what I eat. Here’s a typical day… I start with lemon water and coffee. I always blend Collagen Peptides or Collagen Fuel (vanilla is my fave) into the coffee. There’s usually a blended green drink too…typically something like spinach or baby kale and fresh lemon.

A few hours later I get hungry for some real food, and might make eggs with leftover veggies, or just eat leftovers from the night before.

A second meal will be another form of protein…fish and beef are my favorites and a bunch of non starchy veggies. For example, today I had salmon, roasted brussels sprouts and avocado as a late lunch. Salmon or sardines make an appearance a few times a week…love what they do for my skin.

I’ve tried intermittent fasting but don’t do it on a regular basis. Instead, I just try to listen to my body and eat when I’m truly hungry. Lately I find myself eating two meals rather than three, and maybe having some small snacks.

Most days I’ll have a few squares of super dark chocolate or some type of Paleo “treat,” especially if I’m trying out a new recipe for happy, healthy and hot. Totally enjoy dry red wine from time to time too.

I’m not really into supplements, with the exception of using Collagen Peptides in some form every single day of my life. I’ve been doing this for years, and my skin is firmer now at the age of 51 than it was ten years ago. I also think the collagen keeps me from getting sore when I work out. Some nights I take a magnesium supplement before bed, and the only multi I will take is Primal Master Formula.

I don’t belong to a gym, although I have in the past. For now, I feel great doing some simple workouts at home (love my boss ball) and my dog forces me to get out and walk every single day. Working part time as a bartender is pretty physical too.

There are two things I plan to add this year to increase my fitness: sprinting and pull-ups. I learned so much about the value of sprinting in the Primal Health Coach course, but still haven’t made it part of my fitness routine. So this is the year! And right now I can’t do a pull up to save my life, but that’s going to change in 2018.

I’ve attached some pics from a recent trip to the Bahamas with my daughter, and one from a recipe I posted on my blog.

So I’ll say it again…my story is just beginning. Life is full of adventure and possibility. Can’t wait to see where the next few years take me. Thanks for reading!

The readers featured in our success stories share their experiences in their own words. The Primal Blueprint and Keto Reset diets are not intended as medical intervention or diagnosis. Nor are they replacements for working with a qualified healthcare practitioner. It’s important to speak with your doctor before beginning any new dietary or lifestyle program, and please consult your physician before making any changes to medication or treatment protocols. Each individual’s results may vary.

The post Life Is Full of Adventure and Possibility appeared first on Mark’s Daily Apple.

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As the (proud-ish) owner of a 2000 Honda Accord, I don’t have to worry about a lot of things. I can always find my car in a crowded parking lot (thanks to its hideous sun-baked, spotted paint job), and I feel fine leaving it anywhere (I don’t really care if shopping carts dent it or if someone scrapes it a bit while trying to parallel park). It runs just fine, too, so the biggest concern I have about it comes every year around this time: How to get a Christmas tree home in it?

Over the years, my husband and I have tried tying it to the roof and stuffing it into the trunk. We don’t love either option (the first leads to a horrifying drive home and the latter makes one heck of a mess), so when I heard that Amazon was selling live Christmas trees, I knew we’d be giving it a try this year.

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When I was growing up, the only brand of pasta you’d find in our pantry was that blue box that starts with a B. The frequent commercials showed images of Italians in Italy eating it, so it must’ve been the best, right?

Then I actually went to Italy, to study abroad and then later for grad school. While I found boxes of my tried-and-true pasta at the neighborhood grocery stores, there was another blue box that squeezed up against them on the shelf. I’d seen this brand in the States, but hadn’t paid much attention it.

After making friends with locals, learning the language, and cooking a whole lot of pasta, I learned one very important thing: I’d been buying the wrong pasta my whole life. Turns out, the Italians buy the other blue box.

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Most people don’t like Costco — they love Costco. People get so amped when it’s time to talk (or, as evidenced by the traffic on this site, read) about Costco. And rightfully so! The warehouse store has some of the best deals, top-quality products, and free samples galore!

If have a Costco-lover in your life (or if you’re the Costco-lover in someone else’s), you need this list. It features five great holiday gifts that any serious warehouse shopper will be able to put to good use.

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Like most of you, my introduction to sweet and sour chicken was by way of my local takeout joint. Several years later, I discovered that this takeout favorite is surprisingly easy to make at home — and easier still when your slow cooker is involved. The impossibly delicious sweet and tangy sauce comes together with just a few pantry ingredients, and it thickens while it cooks, blanketing the boneless chicken thighs and veggies.

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For some, grapefruit can be an acquired taste. If you don’t love this tart citrus fruit, you may want to give it a second try after reading this. There are numerous research-backed reasons to enjoy this superfruit. Grapefruit contains tons of water Grapefruit contains 88% pure water. This makes it one of the highest water […]

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If you like pork tenderloin, it’s time you try boneless pork loin. Consider it tenderloin’s larger, equally mild cousin. It’s the star of this super-simple cozy dinner, in which the slow cooker does all the work to create juicy pork loin with a side of thick-cut carrots and baby red potatoes. Plus, you’ll love the sweet and tangy sauce that brings it all together.

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