Green Scene

Ever find that the weeks leading up to summer are far more stressful than you thought possible?

The world has a way of speeding up before it slows down, and if that’s where you find yourself today, keep reading for DIY life savers. Why not set aside an afternoon this weekend to pause and take care of yourself? We ask so much of our bodies and we’re not always kind to them in return! Unfortunately, the results of our negligence are often quite uncomfortable. Indigestion, acne, cracked skin, sore throats – they all throw us off course from time to time, especially when we’re stressed or living life on the go!

Peppermint oil and/or tea will quickly calm you down if you’re having one of those days. Mint tea is usually caffeine free and relieves nausea and indigestion. Make yourself a cup before bedtime, open a good book, and prepare for sleep the right way! Have a cup or two during the day to give yourself some extra Vitamin B or to gain control over your appetite.

Adding peppermint oils to your bathwater can soothe rashes and help with decongesting sniffly sinuses.

This chocolate peppermint smoothie is packed with super foods that will recharge your system, but the gist of it is peppermint extract, cocao, and coconut milk – what’s not to love? In a rush? Prep this the night before and bring it on your morning commute!

Here we have a DIY chest rub, a lemon zest hand scrub (for gardeners really, but it works for anyone with sorry looking hands), and peppermint mocha soap.

Here’s a friendly reminder to keep drinking tea – peppermint really will work wonders for your body – as well as a recipe for homemade cough drops!

Thanks for checking in – be sure to #Cayisa when you’re sporting our arm candy and come back on Monday for some healthy inspiration!

(Photo credit: linked websites)

A very green mother’s day!

There are just a few days left before Mother’s Day! Are you excited? Because we are!

What a beautiful time to celebrate the women in our lives who have nurtured us and raised us up over the years. Whether you’re a mom yourself or just want to honor the moms you love, you’ve come to the right place for Mother’s Day inspiration! Take a look at yummy brunch recipes and fun, green gifts that will definitely earn you a smile or two.

1. Try these granola cups – you can customize yogurt and fruit flavors!

2. Easy eggs benedict for the whole family!

3. How about a hashbrown egg nest with avocado?

4. Red pepper and baked egg galettes – get cultural with brunch!

5. Butter jam was a new phenomenon to me, but it looks absolutely amazing!

6. Slow cooked french toast is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

This homemade facial scrub is all natural and perfect for the mama who likes at home pampering. 

Here we have 2 different kinds of gardening gifts – one for the DIY whiz and one for the online shopping pro. Either one will add an extra touch of spring to mom’s home!

And of course, if you really want to spoil the women you love, try some arm candy! For a limited time, Cayisa is running a special offer – enter “mom” at checkout and receive 25% off your order. With that kind of deal, you should treat yourself, too! (But shhh, don’t tell mom that.)If you’re celebrating, have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

(Photo credit: linked websites)

Green Scene

This week’s post is really a shout-out to Food Babe and Vitamin C.

We’re celebrating Food Babe because as you’ll read here, her fearless army convinced Kraft to “dump the dyes.”  An online petition with over 365,000 signatures demanded that Kraft remove yellow dyes #5 and #6 from their macaroni and cheese. Not only are these dyes linked to cancer, they have no nutritional value and are manmade…in labs. Hardly ideal ingredients for your family to consume. So thank the #FoodBabeArmy for making macaroni safe again!

General Food Babe insight is always useful, and I loved this recent post on healthy office snacks. Drop the donuts and much on something that will keep you feeling GOOD about yourself!

Of her top 20 picks, homemade hummus, avocados, green smoothies, and homemade cookies are my favourites.

Now for the Vitamin C. As the weather gets warmer, oranges will be in high demand. Ever wondered why?

People often talk about a Vitamin C boost, but how does one little orange help our bodies function?

Vitamin C is known to assist in collagen production i.e. your skin feels happy.

Oranges are high in fiber which aids in good digestion.

Oranges have a high Vitamin A content which is responsible for maintaining night vision. Vitamin A also helps your eyes absorb light.

Drinking orange juice reduces the risk of kidney stones and kidney failure.

Oranges contain potassium which is useful at regulating heart health.

Oranges are even carbohydrate safe. They’re a fruit and obviously contain sugar, but any food with a glycemic index under 55 is healthy. And guess what, your standard orange conveniently has a glycemic index of 40. This means eating oranges won’t drastically increase your blood sugar. Win, win.

*Necessary safety announcement: you shouldn’t consume more than 2000mg of Vitamin C a day. Additionally, if you suffer from heartburn, the acidity in oranges may feel uncomfortable, so be wise when getting your orange fix.

Orange education: found here and here.

If you’re feeling inspired, check out these orangey ideas:

1. A healthy orange julius: recipe here

2. Orange scones (beware: indulgent): recipe here

3. Fun fact: orange peel can be used as kindling for your summer bonfires

4. Herb and citrus oven roasted chicken: recipe here

5. Chocolate covered orange peel: recipe here

6. Homemade orange extract: recipe here

(Photo credit: linked websites)

Enjoy your weekend and check back on Monday for our weekly Meatless Monday post!

Green Scene

Got enough potassium in your life?

This week’s post is dedicated to a spunky little fruit which oozes potassium and other nutritional goodness (for other super fruit info, check out our acai post and Cayisa jewelry which features seeds!).

Avocados have multiple uses, but first and foremost they’re just tasty.

If you happen to have picky eaters in your family, you can easily sneak them avocado because it has such a subtle flavor…chocolate avocado cookies, for instance, are the perfect deception.

High in vitamins B6, B5, C, K, and E, avocados also have healthy fatty acids and plenty of fiber.

With less sugar than your average fruit, these green machines may actually lower cholesterol and typically have around 4g protein each. What’s not to love?

Need help figuring out if your avocados are good to go? This life hack from Buzzfeed will make things easier.

1. Have a guilt free afternoon snack with these avocado chocolate cookies from Thank Your Body!

2. Try this facial scrub from Glitter Gloss Garbage!

3. The Lean Green Bean has a great avocado lemon salad dressing.

(Photos courtesy of linked sites)

Green Scene

This week I want to spotlight an eco-friendly organization currently engaging with the world’s most brilliant minds.

These minds come in a variety of shapes and sizes and their opinions matter more than we realize.

City Blossoms is a DC nonprofit planting roots in the Washington community through its work with children and young adults.

That’s right – if we want a green revolution we need to enlist the k-12 folks asap.

The City Blossoms team focuses on creating safe places for children to work together, inviting them to use their creativity as they cultivate and maintain gardens. Perhaps it seems a little cliche, but children really are the future and the greatest gift they can receive is an education – not just an education about going green, but an education about how to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

If we empower children, we’re empowering whole generations to come.

Here’s a look at City Blossoms’ holistic approach:

(Photo courtesy of cityblossoms.org)

City Blossoms is the kind of program that notices needs and fills them. Children need positive relationships with their peers and mentors. They need to be aware of the planet they call home and understand why giving back matters. They need to eat well, nourishing their growing bodies with natural, unprocessed foods. And they certainly need to flex their creative muscles.

With a bilingual early childhood program, field trips, a cookbook, volunteer opportunities and more, this project is making a huge imprint.

Perhaps you can start something similar in your neighborhood.

After all, it takes a village to raise a child…and coincidentally, it can take a village to raise a garden, too.

Passionate about making a difference? Check out City Blossoms here

Want to know more about how Cayisa helps educate? Click here

Green Scene

In honour of Valentine’s Day, a variety of fun, healthy valentine ideas are coming your way. But first. Have you heard of the Goat Lady?

Ginnie Tate, North Carolina resident and owner of one massively successful farm, opened Goat Lady Dairy in 1995. Located in Randolph County, this farm is a tribute to goats and good cheese. More importantly, Goat Lady Dairy seeks to unite rural and urban Carolina by fostering relationships with the city folk. Did you know that the Halcyon Restaurant, located in Charlotte’s prominent new Mint Museum, features Goat Lady as one of its artisans? Ginnie and her family are kind of a big deal for all the right reasons! They have chosen to protect their land by entering into a conservation easement which means Tate’s land will always be used agriculturally. With open farm days, cheese tastings, national awards, and gourmet dining events, Goat Lady Dairy is definitely somewhere you should visit this year.

Click here for a list of places selling Goat Lady products near you!

And now…

1. Avocado chocolate truffles – different…but glorious.

2. Easy jam sandwiches for your kids!

3. This valentine printable can be customized for friends, other halves, and kids alike. Just choose their favourite tea and you’re good to go.

4. Chocolate cream covered raspberries. Healthy decadence is the best kind.

5. Pomegranate ice cubes. Who knew?

6. Mini pizzas your kids will love!

Photos credit belongs to linked websites.

The Green Scene

Extra, extra read all about it!

Community supported agriculture will help you set your best green foot forward in 2015.

An environmental science course first led me to Poplar Ridge Farm in south Charlotte several years ago. When the trip began, we were just desperate to escape our lecture room, but by the time we were through, most of us had a whole new appreciation for sustainable farming.

USDA certified organic and owned by Marianne Battistone and Philip Norwood, Poplar Ridge Farm prioritizes the nutrition and education of its local community, and people are actually pretty thankful for that. With produce available at farmers’ markets and in local restaurants, this farm-to-table, community backed program is the perfect example of living life the right way – the healthy way.

As everyone comes together to purchase shares, whole families are being impacted by the benefits of environmentally friendly farming. It helps that the farm itself is gorgeous. The property is quaintly chic and has plenty of Carolina sunshine to go around, and its caretakers are deeply invested in quality harvests.

So take a moment to think about it. How many of your misplaced dollars have gone towards produce that is genetically modified or foods that serve little nutritional purpose? By investing your grocery bill budget into a community supported agriculture (CSA) membership, you can have access to fresh veggies, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Surely that’s a good trade off!

Want more info on CSA programs? Click here!

Want more info on Poplar Ridge? Click here!

Interested in how Cayisa supports sustainable living? Click here!