I Prefer Small Meals and Snacks

First and foremost, I want to wish you all a…. valentine's day

I am such a lover, so this Hallmark holiday really puts me into an EXTRA lovey dovey spirit. Whether you celebrate Valentine’s day or not, I hope you all have a wonderful day full of love and joy! I’ll be doing my best to spread the love today.

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Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which means it was a day to fast in between meals (it means a lot more than that but I’m not getting into that right now). Being that I am not one to eat big meals, I am more of a small meals and snacks throughout the day kind of gal, this is always a little challenging for me. It involves some planning to make sure I build significant meals to keep me energized throughout the work day and not hit any slumps. Like most of us, I need A LOT of energy to get through the day.

In the morning I unrolled the yoga mat and put on a Yoga/Pilates OnDemand. The workout was about 25 minutes and it felt GREAT. My body was pretty sore and tight before the workout, but once I was done with the session, I felt much more relaxed and less tense. After yoga, I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then finished with a plank.

Then it was time to get breakfast going. I cooked up a batch of quinoa, topped it with kale, a little bit of cheese, salt, pepper, avocado, and an egg.

quinoa and egg breakfast

quinoa and egg breakfast

How’s that for breakfast creativity? That was definitely a bit out of my breakfast comfort zone (aka banana and peanut butter). And as if that wasn’t enough, I gobbled up some lemon blueberry bread. Multiply this bite in my hand times about six.

blueberry lemon bread

I was set.

Breakfast held me over into lunch and then some. For lunch I made a Greek yogurt bowl with chia seeds, FAGE non-fat Greek yogurt, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries.

fruit and yogurt bowl

And last and maybe least (dinner isn’t too impressive), for dinner I made a salad with cabbage, lettuce, beans, peas, feta cheese, sunflower seeds, and honey mustard dressing. I snacked on carrots while I threw the salad together. I was really hungry by the time dinner rolled around.

salad

Part two of dinner was trail mix with some raisins, peanuts, almonds, and dark chocolate chips.

trail mix

After a day of eating only three solid meals, versus my regular small meals and snacks, I am absolutely sure that I prefer the more frequent small meals and snacks. I felt pretty blech all day.

I am fully aware that some cultures fast all day long for different reasons, and I tip my hat to them. That takes incredible willpower and dedication which is why I refuse to complain about having to do this one day. Making any changes to a typical daily intake, also really makes me realize how fortunate I am to have food available to me at all times.

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Intelligent Nutrients Giveaway Winner

Switching gears here, once again. It’s time to announce the winner of the Intelligent Nutrients shampoo and conditioner!

The winner has been randomly chosen. Congratulations to…

Alicia @ The Wannabe Foodie!!

I’m very excited for you to try these products! Send me an email at beautifullynutty@gmail.com with your address information. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you to all who entered! If you follow me on Twitter, be on the lookout for another giveaway coming your way. My twitter handle is: @NuttyMelanie

Happy Valentine’s Day my friends! xoxo I hope your day is filled with love.

Question: Whether you are dating, married, or single…Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Anything fun planned for today?

Continue Reading I Prefer Small Meals and Snacks

My Intelligent Nutrients Experience and A GIVEAWAY! {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

It’s Monday and I know personally I sometimes struggle with the thought of Monday but I just may have something to perk you up.

A week ago, I was invited in for an organic experience at an incredible health and beauty shop called Intelligent Nutrients in the Mall of America. I have so much to tell you about this wonderful company. Here it goes…

The Founder

In 1978, a man by the name of Horst Rechelbacher founded Aveda Corporation, a global plant-based cosmetic company, and ushered a new consciousness into the world of beauty. Nearly two decades later, he sold Aveda to Estee Lauder. He shifted focus to Intelligent Nutrients, a health and beauty company that lives to the highest standards of 100% food-based, safe, non-toxic and organic ingredients. source

intelligent nutrients

The Philosophy

“Everything that we put on our bodies must be nutritious and safe.” ~ Horst Rechelbacher

All of their products are 100% certified organic. It would be safe to consume their beauty products (although it’s not recommended unless you like eating soap :wink:). Their products are completely free of pesticides.

Nutritional Chemistry: Their products are free of sulfates, plastics, parabens, silicone, mineral oil, petrolatum, petrochemical-derivatives and synthetics. Instead, they are formulated with state-of-the-art science that makes them potent and high-performing.

Plant Stem Cells: They utilize plant stem cells cultivated without soil in the purest lab conditions. This revolutionary process lets us release the life force of the plant in its most pure form – with some delivering as much as 1000 X the anti-oxidant activity of the entire plant.

source

intelligent nutrients

The shop = gorgeous

intelligent nutrients

intelligent nutrients

The products: They have everything from skin care, to body care, hair care, nutraceuticals, aromatics, and more. Check out their complete list of products.

intelligent nutrients

intelligent nutrients

Almost every one of their products has something called Intellimune which is a super antioxidant seed blend. They take thousands of certified-organic fruit and vegetable seeds packed with even more potential than the plants themselves. Because they are the source of all life, they cold-press them without chemicals for a potency far greater than the sum of its parts. They then take these  highly antioxidant-dense seeds and cold-press them without chemicals or heat for absolute potency.

The results: Intellimune fights off free radicals, reduces inflammation, protects healthy cellular activity and growth and helps to slow unnecessary premature aging and disease in the process.

source

intelligent nutrients

intelligent nutrientsMy Experience

Are you still with me? I know this is a lot of information but it so exciting to me. Upon arrival I was greeted by the very welcoming team. David (who is a remarkable man BTW) started my visit with a tour of the store, while explaining the philosophies of IN as well as product information, allowing me to test out some products, and ask as many questions as I wanted.

Next, I was sent to the biofeedback area. Here I placed my hand on a sensor, first alone without any scents in front of me, and then a second time with a particular aromatherapy under my nose. This biofeedback read my stress level as well as different areas of my brain such as creativity, intellectual, physical, and emotional levels, among others.

The first reading told me that my overall state at that moment was very nurturing and that the intellectual part of my brain specifically was being stimulated. This was probably because I had just received a lot of information from David about IN and in general I am a very nurturing and compassionate person.

The second reading with the scent under my nose, came back as somewhat more physical and I had an increase in energy from that particular aromatherapy.

I was absolutely intrigued. 
intelligent nutrients

Next it was time for my scalp massage. David massaged oil into my hair ( I believe it was the destress express oil) as I immediately began to relax. Next he shampooed and conditioned my hair with the Pureluxe Harmonic hair products.

intelligent nutrients

He left the conditioner in my hair for a while, and wrapped it in a warm wet towel as I relaxed and enjoyed the aroma oxygen bar. He also massaged some oil onto my hands and let them rest under a warm wet towel. I felt like a princess.

intelligent nutrients

The finishing touch was a hair blowout completed with round brushes. I was in pure bliss. Total relaxation mode.

Before I left I snapped a photo with two of the three team members. As you can see by  my droopy eyes I was still in total zen mode. I had fallen in love with this place, people, and these products.

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Even after just one treatment, I could absolutely feel and see a difference in my hair. I had fewer split ends, it was softer, and it just felt clean. I felt great.

hair intelligent nutrients

They sent me home with an extremely generous care package which I was more than grateful for.

intelligent nutrients

To be perfectly honest I could go on and on about this stuff all day because of how amazed I was with my experience and these products. I encourage you to check out the Intelligent Nutrient website and learn more. I am so impressed by this company.

But before you leave, I have more to share. YOU could be the owner of an Intelligent Nutrient’s Pureluxe Harmonic Shampoo and Conditioner!

intelligent nutri

IN and I are hosting a giveaway for one lucky Beautifully Nutty reader. We want you to experience these wonderful products. Here is your chance to win!

To enter for your chance to win:

  1. Comment on this post telling me why you would enjoy this product
  2. Earn a second entry: Go to http://www.facebook.com/beautifullynutty and “like” BN on facebook.
  3. Earn a THIRD entry: Tweet “I entered to win @intelligentnutr hair products from @NuttyMelanie http://bit.ly/U6z15b

Make sure you include extra comments on this post telling me you “liked” on facebook and tweeted. 🙂

Entries will be accepted until Wednesday February 13th, 9 pm central and the winner will be announced on Thursday February 14th. This giveaway is open to continental U.S residents only (again, so sorry to my out of country readers!).

I am VERY excited about this giveaway. Good luck!

Disclaimer: The services and products from Intelligent Nutrients were given to me as complimentary gifts. I was not paid nor asked to write a review based on my experience. All opinions expressed about this company are my own. 

Continue Reading My Intelligent Nutrients Experience and A GIVEAWAY! {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}