BANANA ALMOND PANCAKES (GLUTEN FREE)..YUM!

Greetings my fellow 'good eaters'...After a morning viewing all of the yummy eats in Trader Joes, I was craving some pancakes...but not just any cakes, something hearty and healthy, topped with fruit, almonds, granola and yummy maple syrup..So, why not some Banana Pancakes. Want to know all the 'hows' of this yummy goodness...check it out below!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• 3 small bananas (9.5 ounces), mashed (the riper the better, I found..much easier to mash)
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter, melted ( I used Coconut Oil)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (about 1 small lemon, juiced)
• 2 teaspoon honey or maple syrup 
• 2 eggs (for vegans, you can leave this out or use apple sauce)
• 1 cup almond flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

LET'S COOK!!

1. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the mashed bananas, coconut oil (or butter), lemon juice and honey (or maple syrup).
2. Beat in the eggs, or add the applesauce. (If your coconut oil goes back to its solid state, just warm the mixture for short 20 second bursts in the microwave, stirring between each, until it is melted again.)
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
4. Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. With a big spoon, stir just until the dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened. Do not overmix!
5. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes. You may want to thin out the batter a bit with a touch of almond milk or water.
6. Heat a heavy cast iron skillet/non-stick pan over medium-low heat, or heat an electric griddle to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly oil the surface with coconut oil, butter or cooking spray. (If you're using a non-stick electric griddle, you might not need any oil at all.)
7. Once the surface of the pan is hot enough that a drop of water sizzles on it, pour ¼ cup of batter onto the pan. Let the pancake cook for about 3 minutes, until bubbles begin to form around the edges of the cake. (The times can vary, just be sure to allow to cook thoroughly)
8. Once the underside of the pancake is lightly golden, flip it with a spatula and cook for another 90 seconds or so, until golden brown on both sides. You may need to adjust the heat up or down at this point.
9. Serve the pancakes immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven.
10. Add toppings of your choice. I added Fresh blue berries, banana, granola, almond shavings and Grade B Maple Syrup
11. ENJOY with a smile!!!

SO..WHAT'S THE RAVE ABOUT OIL PULLING...DO YOU YOU DO IT?

It's What We Love Wednesday!! 

And what we are loving...OIL PULLING!!
This is a method that we use in our household as we continuously strive for a holistic lifestyle. Testimony: My husband had became distracted from oil pulling and about a few months after, his gums began to bother him..so, he once again, rekindled his journey of oil pulling and within DAYS his gums gave him nooo issues. So, once again, he is a firm believer in oil pulling

WHAT IS OIL PULLING EXACTLY..

For those who may be unfamiliar, Oil pulling is a method that's been around for thousands of years in Ayurvedic practices by East Indians, that requires the use of 1 TBSP of a natural beneficial oil (usually Coconut or Sesame Oil) and swished around in the mouth for 20 minutes which aids in pulling the toxins found in our mouth from our mouth. Recently, it's widely used as a tool for detoxification of your whole body..And as I always believe, the whole body entails mind, body and spirit. From the foods we eat, to the chemicals we put on our skin, to how we think all work together as a team to form a holistic lifestyle. Our bodies are exposed to so many toxins and it's beneficial to help minimize the toxins that we are exposed to and that attempt to remain in our bodies. 

THE BENEFITS OF OIL PULLING...

Studies have shown that it reduces the issues of tooth decay, plaque and gum disease by minimizing most strains of the bacteria Streptococcus. How it works, is the fatty acid of coconut oil turns into acid, which in turn is toxic to certain bacteria. It is also known to be beneficial to destroying the yeast found in our mouths. Oil Pulling may help to lessen the overall toxic burden (as mentioned above) on your immune system by preventing the spread of these organisms from your mouth to the rest of your body. 

In terms of oral health, It has been known to possibly:

• Strengthen gums and teeth
• Prevent bad breath
• Aid in preventing bleeding gums
• Prevent dryness of lips, mouth and throat
• Naturally whitens teeth

In terms of overall health, it has been known to possibly aid in:

• Migraine relief
• Correcting hormone balances
• reducing inflammation of arthritis
• Reducing eczema
• Relieve sinus congestion
• Reduce insomnia
• Reduces pain
• Reduces symptoms of allergies
• Helps detoxify the body of harmful metals and organisms

HOW TO DO...OIL PULLING

On an empty stomach and before drinking anything (so early in the morning), Take 1 TBSP of Sesame Oil or Coconut Oil (we have used both, but prefer coconut,due to it primarily consisting of lauric acid, which is an antimicrobial which aids in effectively destroying fungi, bacteria and some viruses...It also gave quicker results than the sesame oil, but be sure to test for yourself and see which works better for you) and swish around in your mouth, as if using a mouth wash, for 20 minutes (for beginners, if 20 minutes is a long time, try 10 first, but 20 minutes gives you a head start to experiencing the benefits). Be sure NOT to swallow and if you feel you may swallow, spit out and start again. After 20 minutes, spit oil out (it should be white and foamy and no longer clear, this is a sign that the oil holds toxins within). Rinse mouth thoroughly with salt water, then brush. It may seem unusual at first, but once you get used to it, you grow to love it and incorporate it into your daily routine. 
Newbie tip: if this is your first time oil pulling, understand that it is a detoxification process for the body as a whole. As a first time, you may experience what is called Herx Reaction, which is a reaction where you may feel worse before feeling better because your body is going through a detoxification process. It's your body's way of telling you that the fungus, bacteria, parasites and other pathogens are effectively dying off. Since our bodies are filled with so many toxins, many of which enter through the mouth and skin, once these nasties die off, your body will react. 

MY PERSONAL AND FAMILY EXPERIENCE

Within the first 2 weeks, I noticed my teeth appeared whiter and absolutely no bleeding from my gums. After 2 weeks, I noticed my skin clearing from any breakouts. I don't suffer with headaches, allergies or congestion, so I can't truly say on those. After 3 1/2 weeks, I noticed my breath is fresher, even in the early morning and my lips were a lot less dry. And ole dentist said, 'whatever it is you're doing, keep doing it as your teeth and gums are in great condition). For my husband, who suffers with allergies from time to time, noticed a difference in his allergies once he rekindled oil pulling. He also had a lump in his wrist that I felt was toxin buildup that went away after about a week and a half. So, while we can't vouch for all things that are claimed to become reduced, helped or healed with oil pulling, we can definitely vouch for our personal experience of ailments we may have experienced from oil pulling. We also recently introduced to our 8 year old and will introduce to our other 3 once they reach an age where they understand that you do not SWALLOW the nasty mixture..yukkers! Until next time..A Bientot!
HERE:  Dr. Mercola discusses the scoop on Oil Pulling

HERE: FRAN of HeyFranHey, shares her experience with Oil Pulling

**Note: This information is not intended to diagnose, cure or heal any health illnesses. For any health issues, please consult your local practitioner. 

CRATE FAUX WINDOW SEAT..NO TOOLS NEEDED

Greetings, Lovelies!! I pray all is well..Ok, so here is another awesome DIY project that requires No Tools!!!

Super simple, all you need are some crates, pillows or accessories of your choice, and that's all. This is now our kids favorite places to do artwork, play on the computer, do school work or simply lounge around. When I say it's super simple, watch this!

Depending on how wide or long will determine the amount of crates needed. I grabbed some additional crates and had a few left over from the Crate Coffee Table I made about a few months ago. To check out that tutorial, click here. Meanwhile, here's a quick pic:

So, as you can see, I'm a fan of crates and because my design style is Rustic Chic, I love incorporating wood and earth elements juxtaposed with interesting fabrics and chic furniture and accessories. Ok, ok, back to the tutorial...I used a total of 6 crates. At Walmart, these will run about $9.97 ea, but you can find them at Michaels and use a coupon code that you can find online. Again, you do not have to use this many, it truly depends on your desired look. Because I love layering pillows, this amount worked perfect for me and it fit perfectly in the window. 

So, I simply paired the crates together handle side to handle side and achieved this look. (Again, I used a total of 6, because I felt 4 was not large enough to incorporate pillows and for the kids to be able to do work, reading, play or computer time). No tools, simply pair them together...Note, should you choose to sit on the crates as an adult or teen, then I would definitely recommend using tools and applying a piece of plywood on the top and bottom of the crates to be able to support the weight. But, if you don't mind creating this faux look of a window seat, then no tools.

Once you have all the crates paired together, add some pillows and enjoy. In this room, we usually enjoy floor seating, so we have many pillows for floor seating. Check out the pics below for the finished look. Hope you enjoyed DIY Sunday!! Until next time, go out, my creative ones and DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY).