However, I will say this:

As someone who is stressed out 97% of the time, breathing deeply is not something that comes naturally to me.  I’m usually so focused on the things that I need to get accomplished by my self-imposed deadlines that  proper breathing almost always takes a back seat. Lately, though, I’ve been trying to do right. Below are several articles/posts that have helped me understand the importance of deep breathing. Since the facts are useless without a solution, they also suggest ways of utilizing the diaphragm and breathing right:

• How to Breathe Correctly
• Why You Should Practice Deep Breathing (and How to Do It)
• How To Breathe Properly
• Breathe Deep to Lower Blood Pressure

Are you a shallow breather? It’s a hard habit to break, but it seems like it might be worth the effort!

In other news, I recently discovered that mixing the cheapest green tea bags in the entire grocery store with the cheapest spearmint tea bags in the entire grocery store results in something almost identical to one of my favorite teas of all time:

Just call me Master Tea.

…actually, please don’t.

*We’ll see if this lazybones is singing the same tune a month from now. : /

If you’re interested in making your own, then just blend the following:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 green apple
• 2 large handfuls of spinach
• 1/2 a cup of water or prune juice

This little guy makes for a delicious on-the-go breakfast or post workout treat. And I’m not sure how to say this without being either gross or too scientific, but this smoothie is also great at facilitating bowel regularity. I’ve considered adding chilled green tea instead of water for an antioxidant and caffeine boost, but I’ve yet to give it a try.

Also, one of my readers recently told me about a smoothie that’s supposed to work wonders for the skin. I haven’t gotten around to making it, but I’m gonna go ahead and share it with you guys since it sounds pretty dreamy. She says it tastes just like a berry smoothie with a hint of lemon and mint. Yum!

Blend the following:

• 1 cup of carrot juice
• 1 cup of low fat vanilla yogurt (or whichever flavor you prefer)
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice (she suggested freezing the lemon juice in an ice cube tray and then adding two cubes to thicken the smoothie)
• 2 mint leaves
• 1 small handful of assorted berries
• 1 big handful of spinach

If you like yellow Starbursts, then you’ll love these Vitamin C with Zinc Super Chews. That’s exactly what they taste like! They’re not only delicious, though. Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea strengthen the immune system while B Vitamins provide the energy support your body needs. I went through this pack in no time, and I plan to buy some more on my next trip to the grocery store.

Acai, Goji, B Vitamins, Guarana Seed Extract, and Tea Leaf Extract provide you with the energy you need in these shots, while the caffeine and B Vitamins support a healthy metabolism. Sweetened with stevia extract and agave nectar, these shots are also free of refined sugar! Did I mention they’re packed with Vitamin C too? Of the two flavors I received, the Acai Organic Energy Shot was my favorite. The acai fruit puree made it especially palatable, and once it was gone I found myself wanting another. The Goji Energy Shot wasn’t without perks, though. It tasted a bit like a liquid vitamin, but I got over this pretty quickly. I’ve read plenty of positive articles about nutritionally dense goji berries in the past, and adding a little goji juice to my diet just felt right. You know?

How about you guys? Are there any energy/immunity boosting supplements you swear by?

*Samples were provided by Genesis Today; opinions are all mine.

Silly hats are the only worthwhile items Ron Jon Surf Shop has to offer.

Hey guys, I hope you’re all having the best week. Here are a few links to some summer/beach related articles I’ve recently come across. Enjoy!

• Several of these casual updos could easily be recreated for a relaxing day on the beach or just a hot day in the sun.
• This sunscreen infographic is so informative! I love arming myself with useful information.
• Parts 1 and 2 of Eco Stiletto’s Eco Bikini Feature are very promising. Bikinis made from recycled water bottles and organic cotton? I can’t wait for parts 3-4!
• Get a bikini wax this month and kill two birds with one stone.  Be swimsuit ready and support cervical cancer and HPV research.

I brought my own snacks to the Harry Potter premiere last night, and I think it was a smart move.

By swapping

a large Coke

for

this Super Fruit Tea

I’ve managed to cut out the high fructose corn syrup completely and reduce my calorie intake by at least 150. As an added bonus, this super fruit tea provides 100% DV of both B12 and Vitamin C.

By trading

a medium buttered movie popcorn

for

these sea salt & black sesame wildrice crisps

I’ve successfully cut the fat in half  and added 12g of whole grain per serving!

By substituting

a box of Raisinets

with

this Iced Oatmeal Raisin Luna Bar

I’ve picked a snack with half the sugar and significant amounts of Vitamins A, B,C, E, and K. Did I mention there are also plenty of minerals and protein in this 70% organic bar?

The best part? These snacks cost a total of $6. Assuming the coke costs $4, the popcorn costs $5, and the raisinets cost $3 (and those are all very low estimates), I’ve totally halved the money I would’ve spent!

You guys have a great weekend. I’ll be at the beach next week with Kirby’s family, so I have another week of beach themed posts lined up!

Image Sources: Coke, Popcorn, Raisinets.

Lemon, Garlic, Red Pepper, & Kale with a Mutilated Fried Egg

Vegetables A La Grecque with Chevre + Balsamic Vinegar & Cabbage Salad

Avocado, Crushed Red Pepper, & Chevre on Toast

Dark Chocolate Almond Spread & Strawberries on Toast

Fyi, the toast ideas weren’t entirely mine. I was inspired by a toast post I saw over at A Cozy Kitchen, which happens to be the only food blog I frequently read. I swapped the ricotta for chevre on the avocado toast and the almond butter for the dark chocolate version on the strawberry toast.

I also snapped a few Instagram pictures at the Farmer’s Market this week, but I really should’ve taken more. There were so many colorful fruits and vegetables! Instead I limited myself to only taking pictures at the tables with the nicest and/or least attentive workers. This seemed like the surest way to avoid seeming like a creep.

Assorted Peppers

Cashew & Almond Butter

Eggs & Tomatoes

Probiotic Drinks

Before I go, here are a couple of interesting articles and a potentially tasty recipe:

• 19 Sugars & Sweeteners: Which Are Healthy?- A few paragraphs into this article, it occurred to me that the author might not be entirely informed, but it’s still an expansive and at the very least interesting article. I hadn’t even heard of a few of these sweeteners.
• Cut Your Diabetes Risk in Half- Spinach and black beans are eaten frequently in this household, but maybe I need more pumpkin and sunflower seeds in my life. Homemade trail mix, perhaps?
• Moroccan Couscous with Saffron- After seeing this recipe, which is taken from The Kind Diet, I’m tempted to buy the entire book. Alicia Silverstone knows what’s up.

Happy Friday, friends!

When I saw Genesis Today’s new Wake Me and Relax Me drinks in reasonably-priced 10 ounce bottles, I knew I had to try them both. The impressive ingredients and attractive design sealed the deal. My expectations were pretty high since I’m a huge fan of their Acai Berry Juice, but I tried to have an open mind with both beverages. Below are my thoughts concerning each.

Wake Me- This was definitely my least favorite of the two. I’ve been known to enjoy a stevia-sweetened drink before, but this was almost too much to handle (and since the first few ingredients listed were fruit juices, it probably wasn’t even necessary). The stevia combined with another flavor I couldn’t pinpoint gave this juice a SunnyD type taste that I did not appreciate or enjoy. On the bright side, however, I did feel especially energized after finishing the bottle.

Relax Me- I really liked this tea. It tasted like cherry juice (which makes sense since it’s the first ingredient listed) mixed with prune juice (a juice that some people find disgusting but I actually enjoy), and the stevia was apparent but not overwhelming. I thought about taking a pre bedtime nap after finishing this beverage, and I felt relaxed enough to do so, but I thought better of it. I’ll definitely be buying Relax Me again.

Have you tried either of these drinks before? Have anything to add?

After realizing that all three of my bottles of sunscreen were expired, I began looking for a safe and affordable replacement to bring with me to the beach. I researched my past purchases (the first three below) and several other sunscreens I’ve yet to try. Below are my findings, made (for the most part) incredibly easy by the Environmental Working Group’s 2011 Sunscreen Report.

Burt’s Bees Chemical-Free Sunscree (SPF 30)- This sunscreen has excellent stability and good UVB protection, but the merely moderate UVA protection and the presence of fragrance and sodium borate in the ingredient list might be future deal breakers.

Price- around $15.00 for 3.5 fl oz.

Nature’s Gate Aqua Block (SPF 50)- Excellent and good UVB/UVA protection (respectively) seems promising, but the high hazard score of Oxybenzone, one of the active ingredients, is quite alarming.

Price- around $8.99 for 4 fl oz.

Alba Botanica Facial Sunblock (SPF 20)- This sunscreen has been reformulated at least once since I bought it, and it might even have a new bottle.  The current formulation provides only moderate UVA and UVB protection, so I probably won’t be repurchasing it.

Price- around $9.95 for 4 fl oz.

Kiss My Face Cell Mate Facial Creme & Sunscreen (SPF 15)- While the link and the picture are specific to the SPF 10 version, I actually have two small free samples of SPF 15. Still, I cannot imagine their performance and ingredients being terribly different from one another.  And while I do still plan to use my free samples, the poor UVA protection and presence of Oxybenzone are not at all ideal.

Price- around $21.oo for 1 fl oz.

Kiss My Face Oat Protein Complex (SPF 30)- I have two free samples of this sunscreen as well. Perhaps its decent ingredients and excellent stability will overshadow its moderate UVA protection.

Price- around $12.95 for 4 fl oz.

And now for those that appear to be the safest (unfortunately, affordable products with entirely exceptional ingredients aren’t as easy to come by):

Badger Unscented Sunscreen (SPF 30+)- With low health concerns, good UVB protection, and excellent UVA protection, this sunscreen seems like it might be a winner. For something a little fancier and for the same reasons, I’d also like to try the Badger Lightly Scented Lavender Sunscreen.

Price- around $16.00 for a 2.9 oz tube.

Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Unscented Sunscreen (SPF 30+)- Good UVA/UVB protection? Check! Excellent stability? Double check! Low health concerns? Triple check!

Price- around $13.67 for 4 fl oz.

Loving Naturals Sunscreen (SPF 30+)- This sunblock has excellent UVA protection and stability. Additionally, its UVB protection is good and its health concerns are low.

Price- around $18.99 for 5 oz or $9.99 for 2.7 oz.

True Natural Cosmetics All Natural Sunscreen (SPF 40)- This sunscreen has fantastic ingredients, excellent UVB protection and stability, and good UVA protection.

Price- around $17.99 for 3 oz or or $7.49 for 1 oz.

Tropical Sands All Natural Sunscreen (SPF 50)- The UVA/UVB protection and stability of this sunscreen are all excellent, and the health concerns are low. It seems pretty great all around.

Price- around $19.95 for 5.4 oz.

I hope you guys find this information as useful as I did! I’ll let everyone know which choice I made with a product review in the near future.

If for some reason you feel like none of the above sunscreens would work for you, then you might wanna check out the full list of Top Sunscreens.

Image Sources: Burt’s Bees, Nature’s Gate, Alba Botanica, Kiss My Face Cell Mate, Kiss My Face Oat Protein Complex, Badger, Aubrey Organics, Loving Naturals, True Natural Cosmetics, Tropical Sands.

Beetroot Pesto Pasta + Salad w/ Homemade Balsamic*

Carrot, Spinach, Spring Mix, Onion, Garlic, Cranberry & Goat Cheese Vegetable Wrap

Curried Carrot Soup, Salad, and Blue Juice

Blueberry Zucchini Muffins**

Roly Poly's Tart Frozen Yogurt (Roly Yo) Covered in Granola & Blueberries

* Homemade Balsamic Recipe

**Zucchini Bread Recipe

Before I go, here are a few interesting food related articles.

• Just Because It’s Organic Doesn’t Mean It’s Healthy- I am occasionally guilty of buying a box of cookies made with organic flour/sugar and thinking all is well with the world. And there’s BPA in Amy’s canned foods?! I’m not big into canned anything, but that’s downright disappointing.
• Know Which Food is Genetically Modified- It’s possible that I’ve posted a link to a similar article before, but I still find this very interesting. It makes avoiding genetically modified food much easier.
• How to Stop Buying Palm Oil and Help Save the Orangutans- After I realized that my favorite peanut butter contained palm oil, I found a better alternative with fewer ingredients.