The holidays are a beautiful time to exhale, relax and indulge a little.  I believe that ‘A little of what you fancy does you good’.

But, there is nothing worse than having January roll around and suddenly being an extra 10 pounds heavier and feeling sluggish from holiday excess.  I don’t want you to have to face another New Year like that!

Eating abundance of raw, living foods especially during the holidays, will keep your vibe and looks at an all-time high.

This is the year you will go into the New Year feeling INCREDIBLE !

RECIPE FOR SOULFUL CELEBRATIONS

The parties!  The holiday stress! The temptations! So, what to do while holidaying?  I was recently invited to share in a wonderful project called Evolve your Winer Traditions.  The talk I give is based on my recipe for soulful celebrations that fosters connectivity with everyone while looking after yourself:

♥ REFLECTION Getting in touch with what your intentions are around the holidays

♥ RELATIONSHIP Connecting with self and others in meaningful ways over the holidays

♥ RECIPES Enjoying festive food that supports health and enhance beauty

Bringing those elements together creates an amazing atmosphere and rich interactions.  You can check it out HERE

I have woven them all into a list of 10 practical ways to holiday in grace and ease.

MY TOP 10 TIPS FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTY OVER THE HOLIDAYS

1. Be prepared. The holidays bring up different emotions including FEAR that we will over-eat, and then the inevitable GUILT.  Many women have anxiety during the holidays around the endless buffets of food that is available. A lot of women are afraid they will go over-board and not be able to control themselves. Let’s shift this conversation right there!  You are a powerful woman capable of making choices that serve you. The food has no power over you and in itself is not scary.  It’s that you are not trusting yourself.

You are a powerful goddess who makes important things happen, and make it look easy.

Set your intention for how you want to move through your holidays. It is actually a wonderful time to practice and strengthen your commitment to honouring yourself as the beautiful, worthy and valuable woman you truly are!

Read and re-read Naked Beauty to saturate yourself in messages that help you remember who you really are.  A beautiful gift to give yourself this holiday season…‘This year, I promise myself that I will see my beauty, remember my worth, pamper myself’.

2. Wear a particular piece of jewelry that makes you feel like a Queen. And whenever you touch it or look at it during the festivities, let it serve as a sparkling reminder of your beauty and inner light that naturally radiates from YOU. You don’t need food to make you feel good when you are filled up from within from a deeper place of self-love. The holidays are a magical time and you are going to SHINE this year, inside-out!

You are a miracle of beauty, love and inspiration and are too modest to even consider how many feel blessed just to catch a glimpse of you…

3. Fill up on a gorgeous Green Smoothie that has lots of fresh fruit and green leaves of spinach or parsley, for example, right before heading out the door so you don’t arrive hungry. A healthy smoothie or snack that is high in fiber will fill you before you get to the party and will set the tone for the entire night.

4. Bring a large salad, dressing or raw dessert, one that you are excited about indulging in and will be proud to share.  Everyone loves dessert, and I have several a gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, sugar-free no-bake decadent desserts on the Recipe page, plus a non-gluten, dairy and wheat-free Manicotti made from zucchini noodles and cashews from my own Italian kitchen that I make over the holidays.

5. Be a sexy sampler.  One bite of this, one bite of that.  A little taste here and there won’t hurt, and will help you feel festive, not deprived.  Keep to your usual regimen, and then sprinkle in a little bit of naughtiness here and there. Have fun!

Your smile is the sweetest spot in the Universe, your laughter is music that opens minds and hearts to a better world.  You are so Beautiful!

6. Pass on the pastry and deep fried appetizers, and instead, create a pretty rainbow plate of whatever raw crudités or fruit are available. Remember, the first taste is with your eyes…You can create a plate of paradise that will be a feast for all your senses!

7. Drink lots of water with lime, out of an elegant wine goblet to feel fabulous!  Bring your own delicious egg and dairy-free Spice Nog, Pommegranate Wine as pictured above, (Juice the seeds from 2 pommegranates with a sprig of mint) or a favorite juice made fresh or from the Health Food Store. Add sparkling water for a special treat, and garnish with fresh mint or a pretty slice of lime. You will stay fresh, pretty and hydrated all night!

8. Chew wisely. Take your sweet time…Savour each and every bite, sensually.  Don’t forget to breathe. Maybe even carry portable chopsticks like I do; they will remind you to slow right down. It takes several minutes for the brain to register that you have eaten, and a lot can slip in unnoticed…Instead, breathe, relax, take in all the sites and sounds in the room- notice everyone’s plate piled high and being wolfed down, and then, pace yourself. Take small bites, put your cutlery down in between each one, and sip water. Stay attuned to your breathing and enjoy the ambience of the occasion. YOU are filled with peace and poise.  Eat nutritionally dense foods that fill and fuel with vibrant energy like the new raw-gourmet gluten-free, dairy-free, caffeine-free cheeky Cappuccino Cheesecake I recently created for the holydays (and dedicated to the author of my favorite book of 2010)

9. Carry a small bottle of Spirulina capsules tucked in your handbag and take about 4 an hour or so before the party.  Spirulina comes from special seaweed that contains an abundance of protein and minerals and is a true, ancient SUPERFOOD.  Spirulina helps to suppress the appetite because it is SO nutritious. I explain it more in depth in my book Naked Beauty.  It seriously works!  And the side effects?  Beautiful skin!

10. The holidays are a magical time to connect more deeply with yourself and everyone. To align yourself with your intention to embody the essence of the festivities and de-stress

* turn on some relaxing music while getting ready or upbeat tunes and dance around to get your blood flowing

* sing in the shower or have a calming Lavender bath before each event to center and pamper yourself and get you out of your thought-stream and into your body

That is where your pleasure is, and that is where your power is. Celebrate and acknowledge yourself so you are filled up even before the celebrations begin.

You are so beautiful you don’t even have to be flawless.

Relax. Focus on socializing more than food; mingle, dance, take someone for a walk, play games, look through family albums, tell the children a story or hang out near the Mistletoe, and laugh a lot!  Embrace the spirit of the season connecting with friends and family. Hold your intention to focus on what is most meaningful to you about holiday gatherings and enjoy the magic!

Tagged: exquisite self care, natural health and beauty, raw foods, raw renewal, rejuvenation, sensual beauty