Valentine's Day Sex Elixir

Valentine's Day: A day of love which is celebrated solo, with the gals, or with your main squeeze. Why not enjoy a smooth beverage - with or without the alchy? This concoction will make you feel pretty relaxed and a little more sexy.  Mixed in with herbs and a tummy digestive aid. ENJOY!

Valentine's Day Sex Elixir

• 3 oz. pomegranate juice

• 1.5 oz. sparkling wine

• 1/2 oz. coconut kefir water

• 1/4 teaspoon of Damiana leaf

• 1/4 teaspoon Kava root

• 1/4 teaspoon pine polle

Mix together and enjoy!

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Sima Morrison, founder of House of Citrine, is a vibrant soul with a potent zest for life and the beauty in its simple pleasures. As a holistic nutritionist, Sima has made it her life's journey to experience, to empower, and to explore the synergy between the mind and the body. She manifests her vision through her online journal, designing recipes and cultivating conversation in the sharing of health, wellness, and inspiration. Sima lives with an open heart and views being in service to others as her most important calling, practicing compassion and helping people to heal past trauma. She is a certified Kundalini yoga instructor and meditation facilitator.

Butternut Squash & Caramelized Red Onion Pizza

An Autumn and Winter celebration. All of our favorite seasonal goodies on one golden gluten free + vegan cornmeal crust. I see this beauty as a farmer’s market pizza. Everything was sourced from my local market even the organic cornmeal. Simple, delicious food that will warm the home and the heart. Enjoy!

by: Michelle Gerrard-Marriott, The Vibrant Kitchen & Home

The Goods

For the Cornmeal crust

• ½ cup cornmeal
• ⅓ cup sweet rice flour
• ¼ cup gluten free oat flour
• ¼ cup tapioca starch
• ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 8 tablespoons cold Earth Balance, cut into ½-inch cubes
• 6-8 tablespoons ice water

For the toppings

• 1 cup cashews (soaked) 
• 1 roasted red bell pepper 
• 2 leaves Sage minced 
• 1 lemon 
• 2 cloves garlic 
• ½ cup water 
• Handful of basil 
• Handful of parsley 
• 2 red onions sliced thinly 
• 1 sweet onion
• 1 tabelspoon coconut sugar 
• 1 large or 2 small butternut squash skinned and cut into cubes 
• 4 tablespoons Maple Syrup 
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne or paprika whichever you prefer 
• Salt + Pepper 

Get Cooking

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 

First you will get your butternut squash roasting! Throw your cubed butternut squash in a roasting dish. Drizzle with olive oil and maple syrup. Then sprinkle on salt, pepper and the cayenne or paprika. Toss with your hands until evenly coated and put in oven. 

Now start creating your gorgeous, golden cornmeal crust! Grab your good processor and pulse together the cornmeal, sweet rice flour, gluten free oat flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum and pink salt. 

Then add in your thyme leaves and butter. Slowly add the water a little bit at a time while pulsing. You want the dough to hold together when you pinch it in between your fingers. You do not want it to be too sticky though, just get it to the point where it holds together beautifully.  Now if you want to incorporate the senses, forget the food processor and make your dough in a large bowl. Whisk your dry ingredients then add your butter and thyme and drop the water in a bit at a time and mix with your hands. This is my preferred method as it really allows you to feel the dough. 

Form the dough into a flattened disc and wrap in a tea towel or plastic wrap. Pop in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or up to an hour. 

Lightly flour a piece of parchment paper with cornmeal and place the dough on top. With a second piece of parchment paper on top, roll the rough into a nice round to fit a tart pan. Remove the top piece of parchment paper and flip the round over into the tart pan, pressing down on the bottom and sides. Carefully peel back the second piece of parchment paper and trim/press the edges. Chill for 10 minutes.

You will bake this beauty for about 20 minutes before adding your filling. 

Cashew cheese and caramelized onions

Add your soaked cashews, roasted bell pepper, sage, lemon juice and zest, garlic and water in a high powered blender like a Vitamix. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste and more herbs or lemon juice depending on what you enjoy! Remember to cook with all of your senses. 

Now to caramelize your onions. Slice your red and sweet onions thinly and put in a large saucepan with a couple tablespoons of warmed olive oil. Once your onions hit the pan add some salt and pepper. When your onions begin to become fragrant add in your tablespoon of coconut sugar. Now let your onions work their magic. Low and slow on medium/low heat for 30-35 minutes. 

Now to assemble your pizza.  Get your par baked crusts and top them with cashew cheese. Now add your roasted butternut squash and then top with caramelized onions and more cashew cheese.  Bake for around 30 minutes depending on your oven. When you get the pizzas out top with freshly cut basil and parsley.  Serve and enjoy! 

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Michelle Gerrard-Marriott is the founder of The Vibrant Kitchen & Home, a site for wellness and elegant recipes that nourish the body and soul. Find her on Instagram and Facebook.

10 Ways You Can Take Control Over You Skin Right Now in Preparation for the Holidays

As you know by now HOC is not shy when it comes to sharing the best of the best in vibrant health and that is why we took no shortcuts when we journeyed to visit Stephanie Lauren Brown in the city that never sleeps for tips on how to take care of our skin when we don’t get enough! Stephanie knows how to substantially improve skin with more than fourteen years of studies in conjunction with Ayurveda, and coupled with her magic touch. She can tell just from looking at you what lifestyle your body is living and give you suggestions that give results! 

Stephanie, if only all facials could be as sweet as yours. When we think of your approach to skin, the first word that comes to mind is effective. Experiencing your customized holistic facial in NYC further encouraged us to care for our skin from the inside out. 

What are ten ways you can take control over you skin right now in preparation for the holidays?

1. Start with hydration. We all know that drinking water is important, but when the temperature gets low, a key move you can make to keep yourself hydrated is forgoing ice altogether and instead, sip on hot water throughout the day. Throw a slice of lemon or orange in there for a little extra flavor if drinking hot water doesn't sound appealing. Hot water encourages your digestive system to relax and keeps all of your channels open to hydrate more deeply.

2. Exfoliate! The face and the body are probably ready for a more intense exfoliation after all of the time spent outdoors in the summer. For the body, I like to mix up a little organic sugar with sesame oil to make a scrub, and then take it into the shower with me. And depending on how intense the weather is where you live, exfoliate your face with caution. If you do too much, you'll end up causing more harm than good. This is a good time of year to begin a nighttime retinol treatment, which can exfoliate gently and help improve just about every skin concern imaginable - fine lines, sun spots, breakouts, etc. I adore Marie Veronique's gentle and natural versions. 

3. Up your internal omega intake with foods like salmon, sardines, anchovies, nuts, and seeds. These foods are important for just about all of the body's organs and functions, but your skin, in particular, will thank you. 

4. Massage your face. We really should be taking the time each day to do this, as the immediate and long term benefits are so great. Massage not only assists our skin in working more effectively, but improves the actual health of the skin by boosting circulation and oxygenation of the muscles. We hold a lot of tension in our facial muscles, especially around the jaw and in the forehead, so consciously relaxing these muscles relieves stress there and can prevent fine lines from forming. This is why I typically spend nearly an hour or more massaging the faces of my clients! Over time, the muscles lift, TMJ pain disappears, and the skin congests less. It's probably the single most important thing you can do for your skin, period. 

5. At night, the skin can absorb and assimilate nutrients more effectively than during the daytime, so it's imperative to take the time with your evening  skincare routine. Make sure you're effectively removing your makeup, then cleansing, followed by toning and then massaging in your serums. Layer on a heathy dose of a balm or moisturizer and wake up to happier skin, every morning. 

6. If you live in a dry climate, consider a humidifier next to your bed while you sleep to increase the amount of water in the air, and therefore, in your skin. 

7. There are a lot of health trends that come and go, but one that I can really get behind is the bone broth craze. There are so many good minerals, vitamins, and nutrients in there that we can't get from any other source in nature- I really try to encourage everyone to get on board with this. Some of my vegan clients have reluctantly tried this and have seen major improvements with a lot of different symptoms- from indigestion and leaky gut to joint pain and arthritis. Can't recommend it enough!

8. Sleep is so essential and it's always staggering to see the research on how many of us aren't sleeping well consistently. More than anything, it helps to regulate our body's hormones and basically affects every angle of our overall well-being, including the skin's health. If you're not sleeping well, make it your highest priority. 

9. By now we are all aware of how much stress can age us prematurely, so at this point it's just a matter of finding little ways to alleviate stress as we experience it on a daily basis. This is why having a few breathing practices are so helpful - we can do them anywhere and at any time. Breathing is generally at the heart of many meditation techniques and discovering at least one that works for you is key to keeping hormones balanced and the skin radiant. 

10. Get a facial! At a minimum, I recommend getting at least one facial with each seasonal change annually. This is especially important if you live somewhere with dramatic seasonal changes so that you can get a professional's stamp of approval on seasonally-appropriate products for home use, which can be different for everyone. Find an Esthetician who aligns with your values and uses products that you are interested in using so that they can be an effective part of your team.

Article by: Karli Quinn

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Stephanie Lauren Brown is a passionate Holistic Skin Therapist whose work focuses on nurturing the skin from the inside out.

After personally battling cystic acne for ten years, Stephanie understands how frustrating and self-deprecating troubled skin can be. Years of internal antibiotic use combined with harsh, chemically-laden prescription creams and aggressive facial procedures made her wonder why no one or nothing had seemed to make a substantial improvement in her skin. It was then she decided to explore what might be causing this chronic condition, and began a deep, lifelong study of the body and its processes.

Over fifteen years of studies have refined Stephanie's abilities to assist clients who are suffering from troubled skin utilizing natural ingredients and practiced techniques. She has been a working Certified Massage Therapist since 2002, and is a Certified Ayurvedic Health Educator through the California College of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Institute since 2006. Stephanie is also an Aveda-trained holistic Esthetician and has completed multiple advanced body and skin therapy trainings throughout her career in a variety of healing modalities including Marma point therapy, Pancha Karma and traditional Ayurvedic body therapies, Acupressure, Reflexology, manual lymph drainage, Myofascial release, and Reiki. She holds Aesthetic Licenses in both New York and California. Stephanie combines the most effective techniques in her treatments in addition to thoughtful lifestyle coaching to assist each client on their path to vibrant health.

Dr. Sarah Larsen - Medical Intuitive

A Doctor and third generation palm reader, Sarah Larsen fuses Eastern and Western medicine as a medical intuitive. Using her deeply rooted ancestral psychic training, she has spent most of her life studying love and how to apply it practically towards healing. She and her husband Greg also share their passion for the miraculous as co-hosts of their weekly podcast called Miracle Makers and transformational world tours to sacred sites.

1.What daily practices do you highlight for people seeking health and wholeness?

We are creatures of habit and I love sharing the practices and behaviors that generate health and wholeness! These highly-sought states of being both can be found in simple practices that I teach and do! 

In fact, it could be summed up in the Sanskrit proverb, "For breath is life and if you breathe well you will live long on earth." 

I have 6 main practices that create great breath, health, and wholeness:

Before Sunrise: 

1. The Vedas state that one hour and thirty-six minutes prior to sunrise is the most powerful time for intentions, prayers, and meditation. This means daily, as we wake, we have the opportunity to synchronize all of these and our breath with the earth's cycles! Wake up, breathe, and create with the sunrise!

2. I oil pull, and this allows my entire body to be cleansed! Oil pulling was practiced daily in India and simply requires moving oil between our teeth! The full practice as studied and written about can be found here.

Before Lunchtime:

3. Feel hungry!  I practice eating only when I feel hunger and limit my body from ever feeling full.  It is the number one thing that you can do to extend your life! A little growth hormone gets created every time you feel hunger! Growth hormones repair your cells, raise your metabolism, and create the conditions for your major organs to repair themselves!

4. Before lunch drink 6 to 8 large glasses of water filled with fresh cut lemon or cucumbers! Many of us have heard the saying, "Where there is water there is life," and the same is true for our bodies!  By filling our bodies with 48 ounces of fresh water before lunch, we will have flushed our system and created new living life in our body!

5. Before lunch, also set up a time to sweat daily! With this much water in our system it is easy to walk or stretch into a sweat! Sweating and heating up the body with light movement keeps disease and cancers out of our system! 

At Sunset:

6.  Gratitude is a great attitude! The origins of this word have to do with "good will"! When we have the energy of good will in our lives, then there isn't anything we can't be, do, or have! The ancient teachings have the optimal time for feeling grateful at around sunset. I recommend sitting and watching the sunset for the day!  Actively create a practice to fill our hearts with gratitude for the moments that filled our day and our hearts! What you think about comes about! Let our hearts feel the daily practice of receiving and thanking for all we took in this day!

Gratitude has been linked to health benefits and an overall sense of wellness!

2.Do you see the integration of Eastern and Western medicine becoming more mainstream? Do you anticipate that this will be an essential component in the coming years?

The integration of Eastern and Western Medicine has been occurring since the Beatles shared their love for India with the rest of the world! In one way or another, the teachings of the two global hemispheres are essential to each other. The East is seeking the research and technology found here, especially with emergency medicine! The West is seeking out the peace and wholeness medicine practiced in the East! Whole herbs, nutrition, and full-body practices are recommended by most mainstream doctors, too! Most medical centers have a component of both now! Yoga, meditation, and nutrition are household words based on the integration of the two systems. We are also validating more and more of the Eastern practices with Western measuring devices. For example, the benefits of meditation are seen in a CT scan immediately! 

3. You have a deep connection with Egypt...Who is the real Isis and what do we have to learn from this goddess/culture?

Egypt is the home to humanity and to some of the greatest mysteries on Earth! We can trace all of those living at this time back to this region! I love sharing the land of the Great Pyramids of Giza, the timeless Nile, and mystery school teachings that holds the keys to everlasting peace, harmony, and service to humanity. There are many archetypes of humanity represented there. The archetype of the goddess Isis represents the true Divine Mother that helps humanity remember who they are! She is known for taking the scattered pieces of man, gathering what was lost, and then creating potential from remembering its wholeness! Her teachings are etched in the hieroglyphs! Essential oils, herbal remedies, and healing processes we still use today are found in the hieroglyphs! The surgical tray we use today is etched with precision into the walls of the temple. You have got to see it to believe it!

There are videos for you from prior retreats to Egypt on my website, found here.

4. Can you tell us about your role as a medical intuitive?

As a medical Intuitive I have the ability to listen deeply to what each cell, organ, and system in your body is communicating. My first teachers were my grandmothers! They were the most educated women and healers in the township that my grandfathers governed. Growing up, I did not know that everyone didn't see, hear, or feel what I did about other people's bodies until I was enrolled in medical school in India. I knew that all discomfort and disease have a spiritual, emotional, and mental component before they become physical symptoms of the body! I could "feel, hear, and see" the spirit, emotions, and thoughts occurring in others! I have been so blessed to have learned, taught, and served in so many regions of the world and with many different types of healing modalities. I am grateful for all of the education as a medical doctor that allows me to use my intuitive gifts to serve those that come to me. I believe my life is to be of service, and helping you experience your body at this level heals it to its inherent wholeness! I believe your health, happiness, and wholeness serve to bring about everlasting peace!

5. What special wisdom do you have for us this year in 2016?

2016 is a year of miracles! We are going to witness medical miracles, miracles for humanity, and direct connection to the spirit being measured by science! 

I launched a new show on UBN network called Miracle Makers. This truly is a gift from my heart to yours!

I know the miracle of being connected to something greater than ourselves and I am so grateful to share this wisdom with our community!  My husband, Greg Larsen, and I host incredible experts from around the world and share how the miraculous happens! Our goal is to help you know and embody your soul's purpose!

We would love for you to have all your hearts desires!

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To gain more of Dr. Sarah Larsen's wisdom visit her website, facebook, twitter, and YouTube channel.  Listen to her live shows on UBN Radio here, as well as her show Miracle Makers.