Charcoal Cleansing Bar + Sea Salt Spray

January 19, 2016 Shannon Taatjes

Two new amazing safe products just hit Beautycounter's website today! The Charcoal Cleansing Bar made it's debut last month but sold out quick...it's back in stock today! The Sea Salt Spray is brand new and I can't wait to get my hands on it because I LOVE sea salt sprays to create great textured style in my hair. Here's a little more info about these two....

CHARCOAL CLEANSING BAR

This Charcoal Cleansing Bar is called a "face bar", but can absolutely be used on your body too. I've heard it works wonders on "bacne". It detoxifies and absorbs impurities without drying it out! If you struggle with acne at all... or have teenagers going through that phase... give this a try. I don't have acne, but i do have small breakouts at times and I plan to keep this bar on hand for those times when I need it. I've heard this bar is absolutely amazing for blackheads. Many people think they need to steer clear of oils when they have acne prone or oily skin and this simply is not true. You just have to use the right ones. Synthetic oils sit on top of the skin and can make your skin "greasy". Many products are actually overly drying with harsh surfactants such as sulfates....which end up making the problem worse. This bar gently draws out impurities with charcoal while nourishing the skin with safe oils that are easily absorbed. This one bar will last you for months. This is going to be a HOT item, so you might want to jump on this before it sells out again;)

SEA SALT SPRAY

Ready for beachy waves? This Sea Salt Spray is for you! I've always loved using sea salt spray on my hair because it creates a great, textured style...but I felt other brands would dry it out. I have dry hair anyway, so I stopped using it as much. This one will give it touchable texture without drying it out! It has Himalayan Pink salt, red algae extract, and clay. It's used to create beachy waves, enhance curls and restore shine. Other sprays often contain hormone-disrupting ingredients and are contaminated with measurable amounts of carcinogens. It just came out today....so I'll be ordering this one for sure. I'm headed to Maui in March and this will be my perfect hair companion!

Enjoy! I am more and more excited every day now that I'm using more and more Beautycounter products. It makes me feel great to know I'm using products that are safe and non toxic. They are so high performing and their packaging is spot on. I'm a girly girl...so I'll admit that matters to me! My husband is totally happy we are making safer switches too. He even requested I order him the shaving cream so I did immediately when I learned his old one had carcinogens and hormone disrupters that may cause liver damage! So don't forget the think about your entire family when making safer switches;)

I'll keep you posted on the products I'm using and loving! Have an awesome day....and don't forget to watch "The Human Experiment" on Netfilx to learn more about what's really going on in the U.S. and why many of the products we use every day could be causing our family harm. Read more about my mission to help get safe products into the hands of everyone in my Safe Product Movement post and Why I Chose Beautycounter.

5 Steps to choosing Your Best Life

January 16, 2016 Shannon Taatjes

Are you living your Best Life? I was nowhere near living my Best Life, even just a couple of years ago. I want to share with you how I got from there... to here, on the path to living my Best Life.

I spent so much of my life paralyzed In fear. Standing still. Not changing.

I finally found myself wondering how I got here? Why wasn't my life as awesome as I knew it should be? Why weren't things going my way? Why wasn't I lucky?

One day it hit me. I was settling for everything in my life. I was letting life happen to me.

About 15 years ago, when I started learning about the Law of Attraction, it helped me understand why my life looked the way it did. I did that. That was on me. It became so clear to me why my life looked the way it did. Once I realized that I created the life I had then, I knew I had the power to create the life I wanted. ...but I was going to have to make some changes.

I want to share the 5 steps that really helped me to turn my life around. I think they can help you too.

5 STEPS TO CHOOSING YOUR BEST LIFE:

STOP BEING A VICTIM. I put this one first for a reason. You can't really move on to the other steps until you accomplish step 1. Maybe you weren't dealt the best cards in life...I certainly wasn't. Some of the most amazing people I know weren't...but that isn't what stops you from success. What stops you from success is not owning up and taking responsibility for YOU. Don't get caught up in blaming others for your life. Even though it may start out that way, YOU get to choose if you stay there... or change. I used to let my past, or my current situation, define who I was. You have to change your story. What's possible? Just because you started out at point A....doesn't mean you have to reside at point A your entire life. Think of all the places life could take you, if you just broke free from that victim mentality. Take responsibility for your life and know that you have the power to change it...improve it. Once you do, trust me, your life will change. Think for a moment.... what might me holding you back?
START FOCUSING ON YOUR STRENGTHS. This was a big one for me. I used to spend so much time focusing on my weaknesses, that I couldn't even begin to see my strengths. I'm quite introverted and I used to see that as such a weakness. I spent so much time wishing I could change that one thing about myself that it consumed me. It took that desire to change...accomplishing step 1... to finally turn that weakness into a strength. I started learning more about myself. I took a Myers Briggs personality test and I learned that I'm a strong INFP, which is only 4% of the population. It helped me so much to learn more about what my strengths and weaknesses are. When I spoke to the expert on the phone after she evaluated me, she said she loves getting results that are so confirmed and definite. She said, "I hope you're an entrepreneur...if not, you should be." I was so happy to know I'm finally on the right path in my lifeI learned that while I may be a strong introverted "feeler", I also do have an extroverted side. I'm an extroverted "intuitive". I have a very strong intuition, or "sixth sense" for knowing what others need. Turns out I have a very strong creative quality too. She explained that I love helping others, I have extremely strong values, and I'm happiest when I'm trying to make the world a better place. Princess Diana, Johnny Depp...and many authors like J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Virginia Woolf, Orwell and Shakespeare are all on this list. I'm pretty okay with my personality traits now that I know what good company I'm in;) I also learned more about my weaknesses so that I'm aware of them. I learned that cleaning is mundane to me and organization is not my forte. Yep, the test pretty much nailed me. She explained that you don't necessarily have to change your weaknesses, but being more aware of them helps us know where we need to fill in the gaps and get help. We can't be all the things! These are the things I need to learn to delegate. (Yep, the personality test gave me permission to get a housekeeper without guilt, LOL....and a bookkeeper) This will help me know the team I need to build around me to have success because I'm good at some things, and not good at others. Taking a personality test not only helped me realize my strengths and understand my weaknesses, it helped me understand myself, accept myself. Am I still an introvert? Absolutely. The difference is... today I wouldn't change that quality about myself for the world. I told you my story in this section to help you see that what we need to gain is CONFIDENCE. What are you good at? What do you do in your spare time that excites you and makes you feel alive? What do you know a lot about? We all have strengths... something to give. Focus on your strengths and quit allowing your weaknesses to hold you back from being great! When you do this, you just might find your purpose in life!
LEARN TO SET GOALS. This is key. This step cannot be skipped if you want to have success and live your Best Life. There is a right way and wrong way to set goals. Don't get me wrong, setting any goal is better than not setting one, but if we know how set goals correctly, we'll have more success. I've actually already written "How to Set Goals in 5 Simple Steps"...so I'll let you read that post to learn more about the "how to". The important thing to know is, without goals, you can't have success. It's like setting off on a roadtrip without a destination. Unless you want to drive around aimlessly, letting life happen to you, you need to set specific goals. Trust me on this. We truly can achieve anything we put our mind to, but we need a plan to get there.
FACE YOUR FEAR. Many people never get past this one. Everyone is afraid of something. That something is failure for many people. We've all seen the quote, right? "What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?" Remember when you were a kid and you had all of these hopes and dreams of what you wanted to do in your life? What happened to those? Where'd those dreams go? I was actually a terrified child... pretty much afraid of my own shadow, but I still had hopes and dreams inside me. Even as I became a young adult going to work every day for someone else... I had this little voice inside my head telling me "You should be doing more." I had settled for the job I had. I'd backed into that career. I happened to be great at it. Even though I was great at it, does that mean I needed to stay great at it for 17 years? Yep, that's how long I stayed...with that little voice nagging me every single day. I faced a big fear when I started my blog in 2014. I had no idea what I was doing when I started, I just knew I was on the right path by how happy it made me feel. That voice was finally quiet. 2015 was my year of "YES". I decided that in order to grow, I needed to start facing my fears. Fears that I knew had held me back from living my Best Life. I told myself that in 2015, when something came along that I would normally say "no" to.... I'd say "yes" and figure it out. No more taking the easy road. Like many people, my biggest fear is public speaking. I'd gone to great lengths to avoid it my entire life. There were even times in high school when I took a lower grade just so I didn't have to face it. I'd gotten away with it until my 40's, I was essentially in the clear. So why on earth did I stop my "no/never public speaking EVER" streak?? Because I knew if I was going to live my Best Life, I at least needed to conquer my biggest fear. So I said "yes". Long story short, I ended up public speaking FOUR different times... one of them was on a stage, mic'd, in front of about 400 people in San Francisco. Whaaaa? Who am I? But guess what? I didn't die even one time. I did it. Was I perfect? Nope. Does that matter to me as much as it would've before? Nope. I did well, I was authentic, and I helped people. My personality type is also a perfectionist, so that was tough for me, trust me. The old me would've beaten myself up for every piece that wasn't perfect. When it became not about me anymore, and about the people I could potentially help, I was able to succeed. Do I want to become a public speaker from now on? Nope. But at least I'm confident that I'll no longer have that paralyzing fear if I'm ever asked to do it from here on out, and that feels pretty awesome. What fear is holding you back from living your Best Life? Maybe it's time you made it a goal to conquer it once and for all. Take it from me... it's never too late.
GO FOR IT. What would your life look like if you were living your Best Life today? What areas of your life would need to change in order to get from here... to there? I'm a firm believer that when there's a will, there's a way. You just need to find your will, do the work, and the way will present itself as clear as the yellow brick road. Make sure you click the link above to my post on the Law of Attraction. It might just be the most important piece. We aren't meant to be mediocre. It's why that feeling is unsettling to us. Don't be okay with being complacent. Don't get lazy. Don't be too hard on yourself... but be too hard on yourself! Yes, you read that right. There are times for both. Don't compare yourself to others, learn to accept YOU for your unique awesome-ness, get over yourself.... then kick your own butt! Push yourself to be better than before! No one is going to show up at your door one day and say "Here! I found your Best Life for you...here you go!" It's up to you. You have to want it. You have to decide you're worth it. You have to create it for yourself. It's never too late to GO FOR that thing that you know is inside you, just waiting to be great!

I hope this inspired you in some way. I'd LOVE to hear from you. If any of this resonates with you, I hope you give these things a try. Tag me on social media or comment below... and let me know how you're making changes to live YOUR Best Life.

This quote was sent to me a while back by an old friend who has known me for a long time. I love it so much because it resonates with me more than you know. I want it to resonate with you too;) Here's to living your Best Life.

Safe Product Movement

January 13, 2016 Shannon Taatjes

I'm starting a movement and I need your help!

Are you ready to clean up your act? I am. This is the year I'm finally opening my eyes to the truth about what's really in our products we use every day.

Since this is going to be a new journey for me, I thought it would be fun to take you along with me and get everyone involved! Why? Because as we all start cleaning up our act together, we can share the products we love and why! We all want to be safe, but we also want products that are going to perform. We can help one another find cleaner, safer products that work the way we need them to. Join this movement with me!

Now, before we go any further, I want to point one thing out. I don't want you going down the rabbit hole on this! Don't let it consume you. The point is to just do better. We cannot be perfect and I'm not asking you to be. Let's just be aware and when we can choose a safer product....make the switch! ...Okay, now we can move on.

Here's what we can do to help each other...

Download the Skin Deep App to start checking your products like make up, skin care, lotions, toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo to see how they score. Let's aim for products that have a "low" hazard score of 1 or 2. What this means is it has a low hazard for health concerns like Cancer, Developmental/Reprotoxicity, and Allergies. Get your kids involved and make it fun! Decide where you need to make improvements. You don't need to do it all at once, the key is to start paying closer attention to your products and what's really in them.
Start switching out your current products that score a "moderate" to "high" hazard score (unsafe) to new products that ARE safe. If you find a product with a low score that you love...and works well...I want to hear from you so we can all know about it! Share your switch by posting it on Instagram or social media of your choice with the hashtag #safeproductmovement so others can search and see all the safer products that people have already tried out and love! This will be a great way to get recommendations! Let's say someone is looking for a new safer sunscreen for their family.... they can search the hashtag to find one that maybe someone has already tried and loves! I will also have a Pinterest Board called Safe Product Movement where I will share mine and yours!
Spread the word! Tell everyone you know you have joined the Safe Product Movement! Share this post with them to show them how it works. First, it will help more people get safer products into their homes. Second, it will help more people find high performing safe products because more people will be sharing their "switches"!

Decide for yourself how quickly you want to make "switches". Maybe you're the kind of person who will throw out all of the unsafe products at once. Maybe you plan to make one healthy switch per week. Not all products are in the EWG Skin Deep Database, but as we search products it tells them what products are being scanned and searched...so they are adding new info all the time to their database. Just do the best you can. Use your common sense and if you're unsure, call the company or do some online research about the brand.

One ingredient I want to mention is "Fragrance". This is an ingredient to AVOID. There can be dozens to hundreds of chemicals legally hidden in this word that are linked to birth defects, breast cancer, diabetes, obesity, autism, and ADHD. Any chemical that a manufacturer doesn't want to disclose, they can just hide it under that one dangerous word... "Fragrance". Pretty messed up, huh? Instead look for "frangrance-free" or essential oils are okay.

I'm calling this a "Movement" because things need to change in this country. There are 1400 toxic ingredients that have been banned from products in Europe. There have only been ELEVEN ingredients that have been banned from products in the U.S. The last time Congress passed a law regulating the cosmetics industry was 1938. Not okay. It's up to us to make a change in our homes, for our families. If you're looking for a skin care and cosmetic line that is known to be safe, read my page here about why I chose this one. I love that by choosing products from this company, I don't even have to spend time checking...I know it's safe. Time saver;)

I'm SO excited to start seeing your "switches"!! Like I said, I need your help so please get involved and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! I've already made skin care switches, toothpaste switch and counter spray switch. I'll post them soon! Share your switches and share this message! Thanks everyone, let's make a difference!

These are the kinds of things you'll see me posting on social media...

As you can see in the EWG Skin Deep app, the score on the Colgate just isn't okay with me anymore.  I've been putting ingredients that only "moderately" cause cancer directly onto my gums twice a day?  That's going right into our bloodstre… — As you can see in the EWG Skin Deep app, the score on the Colgate just isn't okay with me anymore. I've been putting ingredients that only "moderately" cause cancer directly onto my gums twice a day? That's going right into our bloodstream! Not okay. Make a "switch" to a safer product for your family. I feel so much better now every time I brush now that I've switched. Toothpaste may be something you may not remember to switch, so check yours!

Now, I've heard that Colgate actually owns Tom's now....I heard that from some of you after posting this on Instagram. I want you to know that that's not the part that concerns me. All I'm focusing on is making better choices, safer choices.

Swedish Meatballs

January 4, 2016 Shannon Taatjes

We all remember the meals we grew up on as children. One meal has always stood out in my mind. My mom has made Swedish Meatballs for as long as I can remember...they had such a distinct flavor that were so different than an Italian meatball. She served them on top of wide egg noodles with just the gravy they had been cooked in. They were simple, but delicious.

I called her recently to get her recipe to see if I could make a healthier Paleo version that's also Whole30 approved...while still keeping that delicious flavor that my mom had mastered. I decided to give it a try. I looked at some Paleo recipes online to see what people were using to make them healthier and started to make my plan...in looking at some other Paleo versions I noticed one big difference in my mom’s recipe, the amount of onion she used was way more. I thought maybe this was key...

In looking online, I noticed that everyone was comparing “good” Swedish Meatballs to the high standard of the IKEA Swedish Meatball! I must say, I have never had an IKEA Swedish Meatball as I don’t think I could bring myself to eat at IKEA. No offense to IKEA...from what I read they are the real deal.

So, I’m going into this with only the memory of my mom’s Swedish Meatballs as my guide... maybe one of these days I’ll be brave and taste the famous IKEA ones to see what all the hype is about.

When I told my husband I was making these, he did not jump for joy, to say the least. He’s not a huge fan. He said the ones he’s had were very bland... “Why would you have a Swedish Meatball when you could have an Italian Meatball??” I can see his point, but I was on a mission to see if I could recreate that tasty dish my mom used to make.

Well, I must say, it was a Paleo success! As they were cooking, the smell was right on. The taste ended up being right on too! I think my mom would approve.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground meat - any grass fed, good quality ground meat. I used ground venison this time. Buffalo (Bison) would be great to try too...it is a great source of protein, iron and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s also traditional to use 1/2 pork, so if you choose....you can do that.
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 egg, beaten
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Ghee, for browning meatballs
1 Tbsp Arrowroot powder
1 cup hot water
fresh parsley for garnish, chopped

Process:

You will need a sauté pan to brown and cook the meatballs in. I use a large cast iron skillet.

Combine all ingredients, up through the salt and pepper, in a large bowl...the last 4 ingredients on the list will come later. Mix until well combined, but don’t over-mix. I use my hands for this part! It’s going to look like a lot of onions. It is, but they will cook down and give an amazing flavor.

Form 1 inch meatballs. I use a 1 tablespoon ice cream scoop, this works well to get them all the same size and is actually kind of fun to use and makes the process go faster. I place them on parchment paper and then use my hands to roll them into tight balls. I was able to make 42 meatballs out of this recipe.

Heat your pan over medium-high heat. Add about 1 tablespoon ghee to the pan and continue to add ghee as needed to coat the bottom as you brown the meatballs in small batches, don’t crowd the pan. I did about 10-14 at a time. Roll them around to brown all sides and set aside on a plate until all meatballs are browned. The first few meatballs I browned stuck a bit...and after that the pan was nicely coated and they didn’t stick...so I sacrificed my first few that fell apart a bit and ended up with 36 meatballs, still plenty:)
Using the same pan, add the Arrowroot powder and whisk around in the pan, grabbing all those yummy meatball drippings! Stirring, add the hot water to make a gravy. Mix well. It will thicken in time...

Add all of the meatballs back into the pan and carefully stir a bit to coat them with the gravy. Bring to a quick boil then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes until cooked through, stirring occasionally. !
Like I said, my mom used to serve these over wide egg noodles, but I’m going for a Paleo-Friendly dish here, so....I served these over Garlic Mashed N’otatoes made out of cauliflower. If you're doing the Whole30, you could also make them with real potatoes because potatoes are Whole30 approved! These are really tasty that way...a great “meat and potato” taste combination! Serve with a good sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley.

I was thrilled with how these turned out, they tasted like mom’s. One thing I noticed...these were even better the next day! My husband happened to be out of town the night I made these, so I served them to him the following night, leftover.

He thought they were delicious! That says a lot for the guy that doesn’t even care for Swedish Meatballs! When I tasted them that next night, they were even better...the flavors had a chance to really come together and enhance! I think I’ll make these a day ahead next time!!!

Maybe one of these days I will take a taste of the famous IKEA Swedish Meatball and close my eyes for a minute knowing that there is white flour, cream, and breadcrumbs galore. They also have a hefty 1172 calories per serving...I looked it up! I just like knowing what’s going in my body, ...so until then, I will definitely be making my recipe again, especially now that my husband is a fan!

Whole30 Approved Products I love!

January 1, 2016 Shannon Taatjes

I'm excited to give you a list of some of the products I use and love while on the Whole30 Program that will help you enjoy the journey and have more success!

I've also made it very convenient for you to shop my favorites online! I realize some of you might not have access to some of these items, so I've put some of my favorite Whole30 faves on my “Amazon Picks” section to make it super easy for you to shop for them! Click this button below to browse...it has helpful Whole30 books in there too...I’ve also included direct convenient shopping links for you below in the list…I’ve added some new favorites to the list below so make sure to check out both sections.

My Amazon Picks

WHOLE30 LIST:

KOMBUCHA - This is a great fizzy, healthy fermented drink that you should try! Just read your ingredients and make sure you don't see "cane sugar" added on that list. The two brands in the photo above are approved. This makes the perfect "mocktail" too....pour it in a pretty martini glass with a lemon twist and enjoy while you feel fancy!
CAULIFLOWER RICE - This is found at Trader Joe's in the freezer section. It's very convenient to keep a few of these in the freezer during your Whole30! It does sell out because of it's popularity, so if you find it, buy a few!! If you cannot find it, you can always make your own...here's my recipe for cauliflower rice.
RXBAR's and RXBAR Nut Butters - These are the BEST protein bar that is Whole30 compliant. I keep one of these in my bag while on the go in case I get hungry and find myself with nothing compliant to eat nearby. The peanut butter flavor is the only one that is not Whole30 approved. You can find them in some stores or you can get them by clicking the links and getting them delivered right to your door. There are a variety of flavors…I love the Mint!
CHICKEN APPLE SAUSAGE - I usually keep some of these around during my Whole30 for days that I need a break from cooking too much! Just read your ingredients to make sure they are compliant!
COCONUT OIL - This is just essential on the Whole30. It is one of my "go-to" cooking fats and is also excellent blended into coffee!! Try it! Don't just stir it in though, you need to blend it...it will make it frothy and yummy. It keeps you satisfied too because of the healthy fats! Don't be afraid of healthy fats on the Whole30...it's your friend;)
GHEE - This is something I didn't know too much about before the Whole30, so if this is new to you I encourage you to give it a try! It's essentially like butter without the dairy in it! More and more stores are carrying it these days like WholeFoods, Sprouts and Trader Joe's. It's my other "go-to" cooking fat. I’ve linked one of my favorite brands here as it makes a huge difference to get a high quality one.
MUSTARD - This is a great condiment to keep around, just read your ingredients because many mustards have added sugar. I use this for my deviled eggs. Yum.
ALMOND BUTTER - This is a great snack on bananas or apples with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Again, just read your ingredients. I get a "raw" or dry roasted almond butter which means it's literally just raw almonds and salt or not roasted with unhealthy oils. OR make your own...it's easy and less expensive! Here's my recipe for Coconut Almond Butter.
SUGAR FREE BACON - I find Pederson's Natural Farms Sugar-Free Bacon at Sprout's stores. They also have sugar free bacon at Whole Foods. Just read your ingredients! Here's my fun recipe for Bacon Wrapped Sweet Potato Bites that is delicious!
COCONUT MILK - Full fat canned coconut milk is always stocked in my pantry. I use it in my coffee because I'm not a fan of black coffee. It's also used in so many Whole30 recipes and is a great staple to keep on hand during your Whole30. Just read your ingredients, guar gum is approved on the Whole30, it's just a thickener. I’ve linked my FAVORITE brand because the cans are BPA-Free!
BRAGG'S APPLE CIDER VINEGAR - I always have this on hand because I use it in my Homemade Mayo recipe. It gives it that slight "tang" that I love in my mayo! Find my Mayo recipe HERE. It’s so simple to make!
COCONUT AMINOS - This is a great healthy alternative for soy sauce and can be used in many recipes and as a marinade. I’ve linked to my personal favorite brand.
HOT SAUCE - Just read your ingredients...I love Trader Joe's Habanero Hot Sauce.
LIGHT TASTING OLIVE OIL - This is essential for making homemade mayo. If you use regular olive oil, it will taste horrible, trust me. You can also use avocado oil, but I prefer the brand I’ve linked for my mayo. I buy the 2 pack as I make it every week and hate running out! They also carry this 2 pack at Costco!
TESSAMAE'S DRESSINGS, SAUCES & MARINADES - This is a wonderful, compliant brand!! Easy to shop online in case it's hard for you to find. I also love these convenient packs of salad dressing for on the go!
LA CROIX SPARKLING WATERS - I just LOVE these. The flavors are amazing and they keep you from getting bored because they have so many flavors. These will make your Whole30 more enjoyable;) ...and yes, put some in a fancy glass for a "mocktail"! They carry these at Target Stores and most grocery stores. Other Sparkling Waters I love are Waterloo (tastes AH-mazing) and Topo Chico is my favorite plain Mineral Water that comes in a nice glass bottle and I consider it the champagne of sparkling.
SAFE CATCH TUNA - I love this brand because it's 100% mercury tested. It tastes amazing. They carry it at Sprout's or I’ve linked to it here for easy online shopping.
SALSA - This is a big one to make sure you read your ingredients on as sneaky sugars can be in many brands. I love Trader Joe's red and green salsas. Great on eggs and great to cook with!
PRIMAL KITCHEN condiments - These are ALWAYS around when I’m on a Whole30 or not. It’s my go-to mayo if I haven’t made my own. Their dressings are so delicious!
NEW PRIMAL BEEF THINS - These are delicious jerky like snacks and a great on the go protein source! New Primal also has AMAZING condiments and some of the best BBQ sauces!

These are a few of my favorite compliant items I hope you'll try to make your Whole30 more enjoyable! Remember to eat REAL WHOLE FOODS as much as possible while on the Whole30, but if you are buying something that is packaged....just remember the golden rule and READ YOUR INGREDIENTS!

Happy Whole30-ing everyone! You got this!!

For more useful information about everything WHOLE30, check out my FREE WHOLE30 GUIDE!

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Holiday Gift Guide - my top 10

December 11, 2015 Shannon Taatjes

Not sure what to get your loved ones this year? I've got you covered! I've put together some of my favorite things that are sure to be hits with your loved ones! I kept it to my TOP TEN, which was hard to do because I have many FAVES, but I wanted to give you ideas for the entire family...

1. BLANKET SCARF - I put this as # 1 on purpose because this is my # 1 pick this year as the "perfect gift". I have two of these myself and is the go-to gift I'm giving this year!! It is so soft, so warm, so functional, so stylish...it's just perfect. AND the best part? It's a GREAT DEAL! It's 100% wool and was $125. It is on sale for only $49! It comes in many colors and can be worn many different ways. I have it in the navy plaid (left) and the gray with large black stripe. I'm giving the gray with black stripe away to so many people this year! (right: one of my gorgeous girlfriends modeling her new one;) GET YOURS HERE!

2. SONOS WIRELESS SOUND SYSTEM - This was what I got for my husband last year, but was really a gift for me too;) I have to tell you, we have enjoyed this more than anything. We are music lovers and this took our listening experience to the next level for sure. We can control it with an app on our phones and the sound is unbelievable. We can move the speakers around to different rooms as we please and play different songs in different rooms!! If you're looking for a high end gift...this is it. WELL worth every penny. GET YOURS HERE! or GET YOUR TWO-PACK & SAVE $50! I also recommend a SONOS BRIDGE that gives you a designated wireless connection for your Sonos system! It's all so simple to set up!

3. SONY a6000 CAMERA - Want to know what I WANT for Christmas? THIS. This camera has all of the power of the big DSLR cameras with the interchangeable lenses...in a small size! You can get so many different lenses for it. I must admit, I have a really nice Nikon DSLR camera which I love...but I end up taking pics for my blog with my iPhone because the Nikon is so big I never have it with me! This would change all of that. Ahem....if my husband is reading this....hint, hint;) GET YOURS HERE!

4. MIRACLE MORNING BOOK - This book has been amazing. My husband and I have been doing this after reading it and it's improved our lives. This is for the people in your life that love personal development. They will LOVE this one. Hey, give the gift of personal development to those who don't even know they love it yet:) You just might change their life! GET YOURS HERE! If you want to read my full blog post about this book click here.

5. DOG SWEATER - Ok, you know I can't forget "Stella", my French Bulldog. Dogs are a HUGE part of our families and I love that this sweater isn't too tight like many are...especially on muscular Bully Breeds;) This sweater is perfect for your pooch to feel warm and loved this holiday...and is perfect for posting embarrassing dog pics on Instagram. He-he. GET YOURS HERE!

6. BEANIE - This is the perfect gift for your husband or son. My son happens to be in the fashion industry and works for Carhartt WIP ('Work In Progress'...which is the high end fashion line of Carhartt.) He designs their lookbooks. This is a great beanie for anyone to stay warm...and fashionable;) My husband has a black one and I have the dark blue. GET YOURS HERE!

7. SWAROVSKI ORNAMENT - This is my "best all around" gift pick. It's perfect for mom, friend, hostess gift...anyone will love this gorgeous crystal ornament with the year on it. I have two of these and they are my most special ornaments I have. Each year is unique, no two years are alike. (The pic on the right is mine from this year.) It comes in a beautiful keepsake box and is guaranteed to be cherished for years to come. Photos just don't do it justice, it's so sparkly and beautiful in person! GET YOURS HERE!

8. THE PERFECT OVER THE KNEE BOOT - Ok, so this gift is for you ladies. Yes, we all need that perfect gift and that means that sometimes we need to buy ourselves something pretty. Yep, I bought these Dolce Vita suede beauties in the "saddle" color for myself this year. They also have a gorgeous taupe color. You deserve them too:) GET YOURS HERE!

9. TYME IRON - This is the perfect solution for curling your hair. It gets you the look of a curling iron with the ease of a flat iron. You can create loose beachy waves or tighter curls...and everything in between. I'd love to have this myself! It's on the pricey side, but.... Want to know what to get your picky teenage girl? You're welcome. ;) GET YOURS HERE!

10. MICHAEL KORS WATCH - I absolutely love this watch. I think this would be perfect for mom, sister, friend, wife....it's stylish and classic. An oversized gold watch never goes out of style. I get so many compliments on this watch. Want to give jewelry this year? This will be a hit. GET YOURS HERE!

I hope this list gives you a few super special ideas for those special people in your life! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!