Mixology || Curling Pudding (or Twist-out Definer)

Do you want to make your own curling pudding or twist cream?  Or do you want a product that holds without the dryness or flakiness?  Here is a recipe worth trying:

Ingredients (large batch):
1 tbsp castor oil
1/4 cup shea butter
1 1/4 cup your favorite gel

Instructions:
Whip the shea butter with the castor oil using a hand mixer (ideal) or a fork. Then mix in the gel thoroughly.  Use to define curls or apply before twisting for a defined twist-out.

"Soul" Food Mondays || We Make Our Days

We make our days pleasant or miserable. If we insist on being miserable, irritable and nasty, more than likely the day will give us exactly what we give it. A day is too valuable to waste on misery and unhappiness. ~IYANLA VANZANT

Your perception becomes your reality.  A miserable outlook may translate into a miserable truth.  We make our days.

Motivation Today: Heart Disease Infographic

I want to thank everyone who contributed their thoughts to our last discussion about what to do when hosting carnivores. If you missed that post, it's a hot one, with plenty of room for more discussion, so please stop on by.

That post is a good reminder that many of us are struggling to remain true to what we know is the right way to eat (for us at this time, no judging!). Just because I blog about healthy eating/living doesn't mean I don't struggle to make good choices for my health each and every day. I'm always open to motivation, and the following infographic provides me with an immense amount of it to keep going. I hope it helps you too!

It wasn't created by people who are promoting a plant-based diet as a preventative measure against heart disease. It was sent to me by a company trying to sell reduced cost prescription drugs! How funny is that? But it's still an awesome reminder.

Read more �

Reader Advice Day: When Carnivores are Coming for a Visit

I received the following e-mail this morning. I've spent a lot of the day trying to figure out how I would cope in the following social situation. I'd like to say that I have all of the answers, but I don't. This is a very complicated issue. Please take the time to read this letter and, after careful consideration, share how you would handle this:

Dear Wendy,

I desperately need your help and perhaps you've written on this issue. Can you direct me to one of your blogs or give some advice?

My husband's cousin and her husband are coming for a two week visit. She's my husband's only living relative so we are trying to be kind. She and her husband are trying to determine if they want to move here.

We have explained in detail that we follow a plant based diet and that our doctors tell us not to bring into the house foods that are tempting. I have sent her links to your website, Fuhrman, Happy Healthy Long Life and McDougall for recipes. She picked out some recipes and I am experimenting. At her request, I sent her the list of foods that we regularly enjoy:

baked potatoes with grilled onions and mushrooms or salsa and guacamole + a salad
rice pasta with marinara sauce
spinach salad with boiled potatoes
regular salad with sweet potatoes on the side
grilled portabella mushrooms on sprouted grain rolls
roasted winter vegetables or "rockin' potatoes" with salad
bean soup and salad
Veggie burgers
Morrocan stew with quinoa
Smokey Chipoltle Chili

Then, she responded with: "Could we do pancakes, quiches and eggs and low fat sausages" and on and on...things we do not want to eat. I responded we don't eat those foods. However, we like those foods and they are tempting.

Now, as her visit is two weeks away she has written the following:

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Planning Now for our Plant-strong Superbowl Party 2013

Two years ago I hosted a Plant-strong Superbowl Party at my house. If you've been reading HGK for two years and you remember that party, thank you!

Our Plant-strong Superbowl Party was a big success and I had a lot of fun blogging before and after the party about the delicious potential in that day. Last year we were invited to our neighbor's home, and while it was a lovely event (Lynn is the best home cook ever and she just started culinary school this year), I really missed doing it myself and making it as close to Plant-perfect as I could make it.

Superbowl Sunday is kind of like Thanksgiving to me, I figure that if you cook enough years in a row for the holiday," over time one can really refine the menu into something that everyone enjoys and looks forward to. Doing it one year and not the next was kind of a buzz kill for me. I realize that most people would be, like, "Phew! Thank heavens that's off my plate!" But not me . . .

Read more �

Healthy Recipes || Banana-less Green Smoothies

I have nothing against bananas (and actually enjoy their health benefits), but have you noticed how they are a critical ingredient in most "green smoothie" recipes?  I presume this inclusion is because blending bananas into such smoothies is a quick and easy way to sweeten or mask the taste of ... well, the green vegetables.  However, if for whatever reason, you do not want to add bananas to your green smoothies, there are banana-less recipes out there.  Here are a few:

{Image Source}

RECIPE #1 - Source
Ingredients:
1 cup seedless green grapes
1 cup packed baby spinach
1/2 cup ice
1/4 cup coconut milk

RECIPE #2 - Source
Ingredients:
 2 cups cantaloupe
1/4 avocado
1 tbsp mint leaves
1 tbsp basil leaves
splash of water
4-5 ice cubes

RECIPE #3 - Source
Ingredients:
1 medium cucumber
1/2 Bosc pear
3-4 ice cubes

RECIPE #4 - Source
Ingredients:
2 kiwis
1/2 cup chocolate almond milk
1/4 cup water
1 cup curly green kale
1 cup ice

For more recipes (with or without bananas), check out www.greenlemonade.com.

Reader's Question: Moisturizing Twist Extensions

For questions, use the "Contact Me" tab OR leave a comment!

Reader's Question:
I have twist extensions... How do I keep my hair moisturised?

My Answer:

In my opinion, the best way to moisturize twists (or any other braid) extensions is to use a water-based spritz followed by sealing with an oil.  This method allows for sufficient moisture without contributing to meshing, loc-ing, or severe product buildup.  Heavier products, especially thick butters, can build up near the roots and facilitate meshing or loc-ing, especially in kinkier strands.  If you REALLY want to use them, though, I suggest staying as far away from your roots as possible and only using the butter once or twice between washes.

That being said, what are some good spritzes and oils to use?  Well, let us start with the oils.  Light and somewhat odorless oils, such as grapeseed and jojoba, are my top suggestions.  Coconut oil may be used, but be aware that your extensions will smell of the oil (and that may or may not be okay, depending on how you feel).  Olive oil is less odorous but heavy.

Now for the spritzes:  A water-based one is a good start.  A water- and glycerin-based one may be even better, depending on what your hair likes.  I list a few spritz recipes in this post.  If you would rather buy one, I suggest looking for those geared towards braids (e.g., African Pride).

Finally, the moisturizing regimen while wearing twist extensions: Spritz anywhere from daily to weekly, depending on what your hair requires.  I would not suggest going beyond a week (particularly in the later stages of the wear) because the extensions themselves may be drying.  This is especially possible if you used synthetic hair for braiding.  As for sealing, that can occur anywhere from every few days to weekly.  Sealing daily can attract dirt to the hair quicker than usual thus leading to increased frequency in washing.

I hope this answers your question!