fithiphealthy

SMILE...

...It's Friday! 

Image of Lithe Instructor, Elizabeth Sturgis in a full straddle, via Dom.

ZINGY APPLE-NUT PORRIDGE.

I love this zingy, raw Apple-Nut Porridge recipe... Just pulse in a blender and sprinkle with goji berries and some ground flax seeds...It's delicious and keeps you full for hours!

Ingredients: 

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped raw almonds, soaked overnight and drained 

1 Granny Smith apple—peeled, cored and coarsely chopped

2 dried figs, coarsely chopped

1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger 

1 teaspoon dried goji berries

1/2 teaspoon ground flax seeds 

Directions: 

In a food processor, grind the nuts. Add the apple, figs and ginger; pulse until chunky. Transfer the porridge to a bowl. Top with the goji berries and ground flax. One Serving= 277 cal, 10 gm fat, 0.7 gm sat fat, 48 gm carb, 9 gm fiber.

Images via flikr & thedailyplate.com

VIP.

 

REDEEM YOURSELF.

 

Maybe your engagement ring isn't a conflict-free?  Are you sorry that you didn't join the Peace Corps? Well, you can redeem yourself this spring by purchasing some of these sustainable, local artisan goods. 

Bantu Swim wear is manufactured entirely in Ethiopia.  The line started with the idea that jobs, not a percentage of proceeds make for sustainable improvements and better lives. Their  Brazilian cut, reversable lycra bikinis come in colorful prints copied from traditional wax cloth fabrics, like Bamako (loud olive, magenta and navy peacock feathers).   

A Peace Treaty is a company that was born as a personal pact between Farah Malik, a Pakistani Muslim, and Dana Arbib, a Libyan Jew. The company creates employment for skilled artisans working in places of socio-political strife, effectively supporting their craft while elevating their products for an exclusive, international audience. 

I love to wash up with locally made Khadi soaps-in scents like jasmine, rose, and lime. The formulas are based on ancient Ayurvedic recipies, which means no animal testing, no mineral oils, no synthetics and minimal packaging, pretty fitting for a company founded by Ghandi. 

Wrap yourself beautiful with African scarves by lemlem.  

Images via Lemlem, Bantu, Khadi and A Small Collection.

NATURE VS. FUTURE!

When it comes to beauty products, I really walk the line.  I consistently go between a few products that are totally natural (you can literally eat them) and a few products that are more futuristic, yet are somewhat 'naturally' enhanced to the fight the sweat factor and not over-dry my sensitive skin. 

 I'm a huge Pratima fan.  Pratima is 100% natural and based on Indian Ayurveda.  It's soothing and gentle yet it really works...It's my absolute favorite skin care line.  When I feel like I need something a little bit stronger, I turn to Dr. Bucky's skin care line.  I love the pharmaceutical-grade green tea toner and his Shade Plus sunscreen.  Shade Plus adds a bit of color to your skin, mattifies and protects it from the sun's harmful rays.  It really works wonders against age spots and freckles-even when I'm outside all day working in the sun. 

Looking for Pratima?  The line isn't easy to find, but we're lucky here in Philly!  Go visit my friend and facialist, Kelley Hughes (yep, she lithes!) over at Moko in Old City!  Dr. Bucky's line can be purchased at his Washington Square or Ardmore office.  

 

Images via Pratima & Garancedore.fr  

SKYN CARE.

 

It's Wednesday On Wednesday!

 

We are all plagued by those nasty little red bumps that crop up on chins and noses from time to time.  The Anti-Blemish Gel in Skyn  Iceland's skin care product line is hands down the best pimple spot treatment I have ever used.  

I used to be dedicated to those acne creams that burned my skin because I thought that the discomfort meant that the medicine was working.  However, Skyn's product glides on like aloe vera gel, has a neutral, non-bleachy smell, and contains willow bark, a naturally occurring form of salicylic acid.  It doesn't make skin burn or peel, and it eliminates redness rather than adding to it.  Plus, it works!  You can buy it at Sephora or from their website.

Images via Skyniceland.com, frontiercoop.com & garancedore.fr

LITHEMETHOD.COM

 

Lithe's new site will be up at some point today, tonight or tomorrow morning!  Can't wait!

IMMERSION TONIGHT!

 

Get started tonight and be bikini-ready before May!  

Rittenhouse:   

Tuesday & Thursday beginning on Tuesday, 3.16.10 at 8:15PM  

Image of Lithe Instructor, Stephanie Costante in Cinch side bend via Dom

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