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WHAT WE’RE LOVING THIS MONTH

Let’s talk about non-toxic bronzers, shall we?

I’m always down for a little bronzer on my face but some of the brands out there make me look like I’m a clown. I’m sure many of you can relate. I’ve spent a while searching for a bronzer that doesn’t make me look fake or pathetic, haha, and these are the few brands that I came up with.

They’re great for travel, for everyday use or for special occasions when you feel like you need to add a bit of a sun-kissed glow to that marvelous face of yours.

HOW WE USE THEM

The bronzers I use are not powder form- I find that the powder bronzers make me look really wrinkly and older and they seem blotchy to me. Can you relate?

I do use the cream bronzers because they’re easier to apply, stay on longer and they look more subtle, which is key for having a natural sun-kissed look.

I use bronzers very sparingly. I put a dab on my forehead, on each cheek and on my chin. I don’t know if a makeup artist would agree with this (probably not) but I’m an Aquarius and like to do things my own way- so this is how I do it. I pair it with a little mascara and I’m good to go.

WHY WE TRUST THESE BRANDS

These brands are all non-toxic and made without chemicals and all that other junk that you don’t want on your face (and getting into your body because your skin is your biggest organ). All of this is laid out in full in my best-selling book, Eating Clean, where I break down for you all the chemicals to avoid in your beauty products and personal care products. It’s more of a guidebook so you know what to use and what to stay away from.

I’ve tried each of these brands below and they work really well, especially in the summer heat. They don’t get streak-y or slime-y or blotchy or anything of that sort. They keep well and I’ve been using them interchangeably for a few months now.

These are my favorites so far:

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WHAT WE’RE LOVING THIS MONTH

Let’s talk about body lotion.

I was never too much of a fan of it.

Why?

Well, because so many brands I tried were gooey and sticky and smelled funny or they’d make my skin feel sticky when I was sweating.

Hence, why I gave up on body lotion for many years.

Until I discovered a few brands that I really loved.

And that’s exactly what I’m sharing with you today.

HOW WE USE THEM

I really love using facial oils on my face. However, when it comes to my body, lotion seems to do the trick. I use them from my chest down to my toes and I apply it right after I get out of the shower when I’m applying my makeup, putting on my deodorant and putting facial oil on my neck and face. I try to get all of this done within 5 minutes right when I hop out of the shower and dry off so it’s not daunting and exhausting.

I’m not the kind of gal that takes hours to get ready.

I’m quick.

In and out.

These brands last awhile so you won’t need to buy a new bottle every month. They’re great even when you’re sweating and they last all day, which is what I really loved about all of them. You can use them however you’d like and wherever you’d like but I find the quickest and easiest way to apply these lotions is when your skin is still a bit moist (but not wet) right after towel drying from your shower or bath.

WHY WE TRUST THESE BRANDS

I’ve tried a heck of a lot of lotions. Let’s just start by saying that.

But these brands are different. They also happen to be a few of my favorite brands that I use for other beauty products, as well. They’re all non-toxic so they’re made with really great ingredients that are high-quality and that you can trust. They’re also ideal for anyone with sensitive skin, like myself, because they’re not the kind of lotions that will cause you to break out or anything of that sort. They’re made from simple ingredients that are clean.

I also included my favorite baby lotion in this roundup because I know many of you have asked me what is safe to use on your baby. The Erbaviva brand below is fabulous and I love using the baby lotion even on my sensitive skin.

Take a look below to see if any of these brands float your boat and click on the product for more information.

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ONIONS.

THEY’RE WHAT’S FOR DINNER.

HERE’S HOW WOMEN FROM 3 DECADES (on our team) CREATE A MEAL FOR THEMSELVES WITH OUR STAR INGREDIENT: ONIONS.

Onions are quite under-rated if you ask us. They’re one of the BEST ways to add flavor to ANY recipe in very little time. And if you’re anything like us, eating an anti-inflammatory diet and looking for creative ways to add flavor to your food without gluten, dairy, soy, refined sugar and other inflammatory ingredients, onions are an excellent place to start.

Not only do they add flavor, but they’re also an excellent source of prebiotics, which are needed to feed the probiotics in our guts to keep our immune system healthy! We each try to add a few onions a week to our main meals from breakfast to dinner.

Here are three ways we love to whip up these gorgeous veggies. Whether you’re using white onions, yellow onions, Vidalia onions, red onions, etc…you can use any of these three options in your own kitchen.

20’s // Sara

During this time of the year, I’m always looking for easy veggie-based recipes for backyard get-togethers. My favorite way to serve onions is grilled – the taste of a grilled onion reminds me of summer and the skewers are so fun to share. Grilled onions are naturally sweet and they pair perfectly with just about any veggie. Here’s how I make them!

THE COOKING TECHNIQUE: GRILL

STEP 1 // Peel one large white and one large red onion and discard the ends. Slice the onions across the middle; slice each side in half and then in half again, so you have eight chunk-like pieces. Marinate the onions in a medium bowl with 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil and a large pinch of sea salt and pepper to taste for at least 20 minutes. Feel free to add any other spices of your choice to the marinade such as chili powder or ground cumin.

STEP 2 // Skewer each onion piece through the middle. It’s okay to stack a lot of onions on one skewer, but make sure they’re spread out so they cook evenly. They should just be touching each other and not smushed together. If you go overboard, they won’t cook well in the middle. Grill the onions on low heat on the grill, watching them closely to keep from burning, until they are translucent and have a light char (about 15 minutes).

STEP 3 // Remove the onions from grill and serve warm or at room temperature!

MAKE IT A MEAL Grill up some additional skewers using sliced zucchini or colored bell peppers. Serve your skewers with a gluten-free grain like quinoa or brown rice (See our feature: How to cook grains), or slide your grilled veggies on top of a bed of salad greens for a light meal. 

LET’S SERVE IT Hot is our first choice but they’re equally as delicious served warm! Grilled onions taste best right off of the grill, when the warmth and natural sweetness of the onion pairs perfectly with the char from the grill.

TOOLS TO USE Skewers, platter, tongs

30’s // Amie

My favorite way to serve onions is to caramelize them. It might sound intimidating but I swear it’s easier than you think. All you need to do is add thinly sliced onions to a hot skillet with olive oil and sea salt and wait until they caramelize. I’ll show you how step-by-step below.

THE COOKING TECHNIQUE: CARAMELIZE

STEP 1 // Peel and thinly slice two large white onions and discard the ends.

STEP 2 // Heat a large skillet over medium heat on the stovetop. Add 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil. Let the skillet get nice and warm and add the sliced onions, stir to coat the onions with the oil then spread the onions in a single layer in the skillet, sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. sea salt (plus more to taste) and cover. Let the onions sit for about 5 minutes, then stir again.

This is a key step, you don’t want to be stirring often or the onions won’t caramelize! A spatula is a great tool to use here when the onions get nice and golden brown because they help you scrape up the bits that may get stuck to the skillet. Repeat the stirring every 5 minutes (don’t stir more than that) until the onions are caramelized, about 30 minutes. Lower the heat if the onions are burning.

STEP 3 // Remove from the heat and serve warm. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

MAKE IT A MEAL I like to add a cup of cooked quinoa or wild rice to the caramelized onions and if I’m extra hungry, I’ll top it off with sliced organic roasted chicken.

LET’S SERVE IT I love to serve these warm but they’re equally as delicious served at room temperature the next day on a salad for leftovers!

TOOLS TO USE wooden cutting board, sharp knife, spatula, ceramic skillet.

40’s+ // Jennifer

My favorite way to use onions is simply by roasting them in the oven. My house is full during this time of year since the kids are on school break so I try and cook meals that are quick and easy and don’t require too much thought, which is why the oven is one of my best friends. It’s funny because growing up onions were my least favorite food but now I can’t get enough of them. The flavor and texture of roasted onions are hard to beat. Lucky my kids have been a fan of onions from a young age so I can add them into just about anything and I receive raving reviews from my family every time I make them.

THE COOKING TECHNIQUE: ROASTED

STEP 1 // Peel two large yellow onions and discard the ends. Cut the onions in 1/2 or into 1/4 pieces.

STEP 2 // Toss the onions together with 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. sea salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place onions on a prepared baking sheet and roast until golden brown- about 25-30 minutes. I personally like to have them a bit burnt on the tips sometimes, so the desired crispness is completely up to you.

STEP 3 //  Remove the onions from oven and serve warm. Place leftovers in the refrigerator.

MAKE IT A MEAL // For a quick and easy summer meal, I love to add roasted onions to a big salad like our French Green Bean Salad with Roasted Onions or mixed into a melody of veggies like our Easy Roasted Veggie Platter with Lemon Basil Quinoa.

LET’S SERVE IT// Warm or room temperature. They taste the best right out of the oven but just as good if you let them sit for a bit. These roasted onions add so much extra flavor to a salad without needing tons of dressing or inflammatory ingredients. Trust me, you’ll be wishing you started roasted onions a long time ago once you taste the difference.

TOOLS TO USE // wooden cutting board, sharp knife, unbleached parchment paper, baking sheet.

STILL HUNGRY? For more of our anti-inflammatory recipes, check out our 30 Day Reset Program, which is only available for a limited time through summer.

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WHAT WE’RE LOVING THIS MONTH

Let’s talk about exfoliating for a minute, shall we?

Like many of you, I’m all about minimal products in my bathroom. I can easily turn into a product junkie but then I don’t end up using half of the products and they end up expiring. So, I’m doing something a bit different this year.

I threw away ALL of my beauty products (and I get sent a LOT of products from brands) because it was overwhelming and so many products – even though they claimed to be ‘clean’ – were still filled with junk that were affecting my skin and my hormones (hello PMS!). It’s amazing what a chemical in a beauty product can do to the chemical reactions in your body, isn’t it?

Anyway, that said, I’m on the lookout for a VERY FEW key products this year and when I find them I’m going to share them with you.

First up are non-toxic exfoliants, because a girl’s gotta exfoliate that skin of hers to get that soft baby touch we all crave. I’ve never been a weekly exfoliator but I do like to do it once every two weeks to keep my skin soft and silky.

HOW WE USE THEM

I’m going to start by talking about the glove in the top row. That’s all I really need to address here. Everything else is up to you and will depend on your personal preference because we’re all different. But this GLOVE! Where do I begin?

My skin would feel like sandpaper without it. Let’s just put it that way. I think that should give you a good understanding of how powerful this baby is. You can use this glove with regular soap or with an exfoliator on your body and WOW, you will notice results within a few minutes. I kid you not. Try it for yourself.

The other products are all brands that I trust and admire because they’re clean and their ingredients are pure. I’ve used each of these products throughout the last few years and I must say these are my favorite non-toxic exfoliants to use because they’re not too harsh and they’re not BS – they’re just right, like Goldilocks. You’ll see.

WHY WE TRUST THESE BRANDS

I’ve been through my fair share of brands and these are the ones that I’m relying on right now when it comes to exfoliating. I highly suggest clicking on each one to see what works for you. Some of you exfoliate in the shower, others do it in the sink before bed and some of you in the AM before work.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach so do as you wish and have FUN with this. Beauty is supposed to be F-U-N so go enjoy yourself and treat yourself to a little scrub to polish that beautiful body of yours.

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I’m honored and excited to be sharing my upcoming retreat, Whole Body Transformation, with all of you in Santa Cruz, California. This retreat is going to be specifically for women and will address the underlying issues keeping women stuck, unwell, symptomatic and going in circles with their health.

This retreat center is brand new with a gorgeous new kitchen so we’ll be cooking and I’ll be sharing my formula for an anti-inflammatory meal. We’ll also be enjoying time outdoors on the beautiful property as well as going through The Valpone Method, which is the formula I created to help women go deeper into their healing journey.

I created The Valpone Method, a three-layered approach to healing your body and your mind, to share what I’ve learned throughout my 12 years of deep healing going through chronic illness and pain and this is my way of giving back to you and sharing the answers I had to discover myself that weren’t found in a book or doctor’s office.

The retreat will start on Friday evening and will go through Sunday morning. 

If you’re struggling with your health and you feel like you’ve tried everything, this is the retreat for you because what I’ve discovered throughout the last decade of healing myself is that no one person will ever heal you – you’re the one that has to do the work and put the pieces together. Luckily, I did all of this work for you so I can help you navigate how to heal yourself and spearhead your journey. 

For so many years I thought I had to suffer and just deal with the symptoms I was facing because eating clean food and taking supplements wasn’t cutting it. I had to go deeper beyond the physical layer of the body into the emotional layer and then finally the energetic layer to really start to see improvements in my body and that’s exactly what happens for all of my clients, as well. There is more work to be done but unfortunately, that work cannot be done in a doctor’s office. Sadly, as wonderful as doctors are, they put us into a one-size-fits-all approach that we all know by now doesn’t work because each of our bodies (and our past conditioning and traumas and so forth) are different and the cause of our symptoms is different for everyone so treating everyone with the same approach- even if the symptoms look similar- is not the way to go!

Someone said to me last month, “you can only help people as much as you’ve been able to discover, figure out and help yourself”, which is why most doctors cannot help you because, sure they can save your life and I am not dismissing them at all (I am very grateful for doctors), but they haven’t been through this so unfortunately, they cannot help you navigate this. There is another way.

And that’s exactly what we’re going to review during these three days together. This will be an intimate safe space for women to come and enjoy themselves and discover what is holding them back from getting to the next level with their health.

• Explore the three layers of healing the body through The Valpone Method: physical, emotional, and energetic layers.
• Discover the missing pieces keeping you unwell, symptomatic and feeling like you are ‘going in circles’ with your health. 
• Learn how to balance your hormones naturally without using synthetic hormone products.
• Understand the unconscious mind, trauma, and past experiences that may be silently and negatively affecting your health. The Valpone Method that I will be presenting will help you heal these deeper layers so you can go home with tools to help yourself on a daily basis.
• Learning how to use your subconscious mind to create your own reality and understand the quantum physics behind how your internal reality creates your external reality. This is the true process of manifestation and creation, which includes understanding the feminine and masculine energies that we all embody, as well as the allowing and receiving (receptive) energies, our true self identity, consciousness, deep present moment awareness and more.
• Decrease anxiety, overwhelm and other emotions driving your body on a daily basis. You’ll be learning how to gently move your body and nervous system into a new, healthier emotional state.
• Learn how to create flavor in your food while addressing weight, cravings, and fatigue without using gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, or other inflammatory foods in the gorgeous NEW kitchen at the retreat center.
• Empower yourself with daily step-by-step whole-body detoxification- true health is far more than just eating clean!
• Learning The Movement and embodying this gentle approach to releasing stored emotions, understanding how our past emotions and traumas are stored in our fascia and allowing our physical body to move through the emotional and energetic experiences of our past without burning out our adrenals. This will be a light workout every morning led by Amie with beautiful soothing music to relax your nervous system and allow your body to enter a flow state with your mind.
• Take your health into your own hands with practical tools to improve the quality of your life for optimal health and a deeper sense of well-being.

Lastly, throughout the last 12 years of my searching and struggling, I have yet to find a book, method or technique that offers all of the components of this groundbreaking method while shifting the physical, emotional and energetic layers of the body and I am so excited to share all of this with you. My goal is to set you up for a path of hope and to teach you how to have more autonomy over your health and your entire life by allowing you to take back your power and spearhead your own journey.

All the information for the retreat can be found on the 1440 website. I truly hope to see you in August! It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Much Love,

Amie

p.s. If you have any questions about the retreat, we are more than happy to answer them. You can email us at hello@thehealthyapple.com.

BEGIN TO HEAL YOUR BODY // Start your journey to healing your body with our 30 Day Reset Program, filled with anti-inflammatory recipes to help detox your body full of harsh chemicals, available for a limited time through summer.

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