Greetings!
For the last several months I have been prioritizing the health and fitness component of the 5-year challenge (the subject of this blog). I’m happy to report that I am no longer prehypertensive! Yes, I did it! ❤ I obtained a healthy blood pressure by eating vegan 5 days a week. It took awhile, I had a few setbacks (learned to take a B12 spray supplement), but I persevered and am ecstatic about the outcome.
While I don’t eat dairy anymore, on my “off days” I will eat fish or chicken — usually fish such as wild-caught salmon or mercury-tested tuna. The more I learn about plant-based eating and the more I learn how to make delicious recipes that satisfy any craving I might have, the simpler and more enjoyable plant-based eating feels. I love it. My food has become my medicine. Bye bye, pills. 😀
Below I share a recipe a Facebook friend gave me for DIY “nice cream” (dairy free ice cream). It’s soooooooooooooo fast. Soooooooooo easy. And the simplicity of the ingredients list just rocks: No crazy preservatives, no refined sugar, etc. Still delicious. And if you do a Google search, you can find all sorts of variations of this recipe that enable you to create the flavor your desire (strawberry, mango, etc.).
DIY Vegan “Nice Cream” Recipe
- 3 frozen VERY ripe bananas
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 3/4 cup of canned coconut milk
- optional: vegan chocolate chips (if you want chocolate chip ice cream instead of vanilla ice cream)
- Add all ingredients (except the chocolate chips) in a blender or food process.
- Blend until smooth.
- Remove from blender/processor.
- Optional: Add chocolate chips.
- Eat.
- Freeze what’s left over, and eat that later!
Besides eating a vegan diet 5 days a week, I have been exercising at least 3 times a week (usually 6 times a week). My favorite routine is the one below. I have a Total Gym “knock off” called the Weider Ultimate Body Works Machine. It’s almost an exact match to the Total Gym, but I like it better because there’s no need to disconnect and reconnect the cables. If I do this routine with vigor, it’s both a cardio workout as well as a strength training workout.
Super Brief Hair Update
I tried for weeks and weeks to replicate that stylist’s wash and go results. I’ve gotten somewhat close. This past weekend I used the RevAir to stretch my hair, then I flat ironed it and my hubby trimmed it for me. I rocked the straight look at church on Sunday, and since then I’ve been wearing a twist-out on flat ironed hair. I’m enjoying the look. 🙂
In the near future: I am going to order Naptural85’s cream and oil to see what kind of twist out I get with it. I’m going to try the wash-and-go technique featured in the video below. I am also about to do a SEVERE hair products purge. I’ll share about those when they happen. That’s it. 🙂
Please feel free to share your thoughts/questions. How is your hair? How is your regimen? How’s your health? What exercises do you like?
As always, thanks for visiting. Until next time . . .
Yvette
❤
The Blossoming, Fit Natural 
Hello! I just wanted to know if you’ve ever tried the Bask and Bloom Brahmi Masque. If yes, what is your review? Also, have you tried Kindred Butters Honey Nectar Conditioner? It’s supposed to be a dupe if Bekura’s YAM, but a lot cheaper. Both of theses products contain honey which my hair loves. From reading your blog posts I see your hair loves honey too. I tried the SM Manuka Masque and it has become holy grail status. I know it’s one of your favorites. Are you still using it? Thank you!
P.S. Are you planning on doing a new post with your current hair products/staples and regimen?
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Hi, Tay! My apologies for the late reply (holiday busyness with cooking, hosting, and the kids being out of school). Thank you so much for your comment! I’m so glad you found a holy grail DC. Yes! 😀 I tried the Bask and Bloom Brahmi Masque a while back, and it did not do much for my hair. However, quite a few folks at the longhaircareforum REALLY loved it, so it might just be my hair. Yours might love it. I have not yet tried the Kindred Butters Honey Nectar Conditioner, but I say go for it (and if you do please let me know what you think). Kindred Butters DCs get the BEST reviews. I have been soooooo tempted to try it. One reason I haven’t is because I’m still going through the SM Manuka Honey DCs I bought in bulk on sale. Another reason is that I’ve pulled back a little on buying handmade products now that someone helped me realize that with handmade products, we’re basically just buying products that don’t get any safety check from anywhere, and then putting it on our hair/bodies. I’m torn!
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Hi! Thank you for responding! I browsed the forum you suggested and there is a whole lot going on there. Lol… it’s like a blog form of YouTube. I’ve learned that a set routine and products work best for me and I’m experiencing much better hair as a result. I prefer to read individual blog posts from you and other honest bloggers. Regarding handmade products, are you going to stop using them altogether? What route are you going as an alternative to handmade? I didn’t know that they don’t go through safety checks. That’s a real eye opener.
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Hi, Tay! Yes, that’s an understatement 😆 It is INDEED a busy forum. Ooooo, glad to hear that you are experiencing better hair by sticking to a set routine and products. Nice! I need to follow your example, LOL. 😀 And I don’t want to steer you wrong so you might want to check, but that’s what I was told: No inspection needed to sell handmade products online from one’s kitchen. So yes, for now I have stopped using handmade products altogether. People have been using certain trusted sellers for years though, their hair thriving, so I’m probably being overly cautious. I just don’t want to worry/think about it, so I’ve cut them out for peace of mind. The main handmade products I purchased were deep conditioners . . . and also a whipped shea butter and natural hair “grease” that both smelled DIVINE. I have replaced the deep conditioners by finding the Shea Moisture manuka honey masque and the Uncle Funky’s Daughter Heal & Renew mask for my moisturizing DCs . . . and the Shea Moisture high porosity masque as my prepoo/detangler. I haven’t found comparable replacements for the whipped shea butter and the “grease,” but I don’t use them much at the moment anyway. NOTE: You might already know, but Sally Beauty is doing their 12 Days promotion right now. Various items are on sale for 50% off on different days (stylers one day, tools another, etc.). I believe it’s both in-store and online (free shipping often). I hope you have a great day, Tay!
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