The Superfood you should be adding to your Coffee by Tero Isokauppila

Mushrooms might not be the first things that come to mind when you picture your morning coffee, but hear me out. Though they may not be as "sexy" as other superfoods on the market today, medicinal mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane come packed with some hefty nutritional benefits. At the beginning of the 21st century, fungi were used in more than 10 of the 20 most profitable products used in human medicine—including penicillin. Today, thousands of studies have been conducted on their healing properties.

Researchers have compiled promising evidence that antioxidants in Chaga mushrooms can help lower inflammation in the body; while Reishi mushrooms might improve heart health by lowering LDL cholesterol levels, Cordyceps can boost natural energy levels and oxygen intake by up to 15 percent, and Lion's Mane might influence brain health by stimulating the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) production in the body. Incorporating even small amounts of nutrient-rich mushrooms into your daily routine can help you tap into these significant health benefits. Not to mention they can be added to almost any diet—no matter if you're Paleo or vegan. The only downside is that these healthier mushroom often have a bitter taste.

That's where mushroom coffee comes into play. Coffee comes with health benefits of its own, and it's one of the few bitter foods that people consume regularly. However, drinking coffee can be very taxing on our adrenals and tough on our stomachs due to its acidity. But combining coffee with mushrooms may help alleviate these issues. This superfood combo of mushrooms and coffee might sound outrageous, but it tastes much better than you'd imagine. Here are two of my favorite morning coffee recipes. Not only will they help you wake up; they'll improve mental focus, boost brain health, and support overall immunity.

Quick & Easy Mushroom Latte One packet Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane (which comes in a powder form similar to other instant coffees) 1 cup hot water A splash almond milk A tiny bit of vanilla-flavored liquid stevia Mix everything together with a spoon or milk frother.

Hard-Core Mushroom Coffee 16 grams high-quality coffee beans of your choice 1 cup hot water One packet Four Sigmatic Chaga Elixir 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 teaspoon ghee 1 teaspoon maca and/or mucuna extract Grind the coffee beans and throw them into an AeroPress or a French Press. Extract them with hot water for 60 to 90 seconds, depending on the size of your grind. Mix the fresh-brewed coffee and all other ingredients in a blender for a few seconds, and you’re done. Just remember to open the blender lid carefully after mixing a warm drink. http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-24153/the-superfood-you-should-be-adding-to-your-coffee.html

Quote of the day

5 Reasons Getting What You Want might not be Good for You by Steven Aitchison

You’ve wanted this thing for so long. This person, this car, this house, this job, this ______ (insert desire). It’s all you can think about. You want it so bad. It’s all you can think of. You look at pictures, daydream about it. It almost consumes you. Your neighbour just got that same car you wanted and you’re dying inside. You are happy for them but jealous at the same time. You’ve had your eye on that internal job for months, but your co-worker got it instead of you. So why not you? Why you can’t have those things you want? Why is it that all those things you want, seem to elude you? We all hear that good things will come to you if you stay positive and put out your intention. So where is it and why did the other guy get it and not you? Sometimes not getting what you want is a brilliant stroke of luck. Here’s why.

1. The business just collapsed. You thought you really wanted that job in that business but instead you took another job. 6 months later that business you thought was awe some just closed down. Lucky you. But is it luck? The universe knows and lined you up to prevent you from future stress. Not all jobs you think you want are actually good for you. The money may be good but money isn’t everything. Not getting that job has given you the opportunity to rethink your career path.

2. That person that you have been admiring for a while and would really love to date? They’re in jail now. Phew. Ok so maybe a bit extreme but you get the point. We think we know someone and they appear to be so great at the start and you are sure they are your perfect match and you daydream for hours about marrying them. Then boom. Turns out they aren’t so picture perfect after all. The universe saved you again. It also is giving you time to prepare yourself for that person who is perfect for you.

3. Changing the course of your life. We really don’t know what is ahead. We can plan tomorrow but anything can happen between now and then. Life will throw many curveballs at you but the trick is to learn how to juggle them and toss them back. With every experience and every thing you thought you wanted and lost, you learned something new and grew.

4. There is something better for you. You thought that person or job or car was great and when you didn’t get it, it made you sad but then out of the clear blue comes something totally unexpected. Something fantastic and way better than what you first thought you really wanted. A better job, better deal on a car, nicer partner. Bigger better nicer, there is something definitely better just around the corner for you. Be patient.

5. You’ll get better at rolling with changes. When things don’t go your way, things don’t come to you, you get turned down for things, etc. Eventually you will grow from all the changes and become more open minded and learn how to deal with them. You will also see that better things happen and your attitude will be more positive too.

The saying holds true. Not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck. At first we don’t recognize it as such. For a lot of us, what happens is we get frustrated, angry or even depressed when what we want doesn’t transpire for us. We question it and ourselves. We wonder what we did wrong and why can’t we have it. In reality, you have done nothing wrong and it has everything to do with the fact that the universe knows exactly what you need and when you need it. Have faith and let go. http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/5-reasons-getting-what-you-want-might-not-be-good-for-you/

8 Secrets of People who don't have Clutter by PureWow

8 Secrets of People Who Don’t Have Clutter Cut the crap with these simple tips Your old stand-mixer. Your kid’s broken recorder. That box of candles you’ve been meaning to regift. Despite your best intentions, clutter has a way of piling up…and taking over. Here, eight secrets of folks who are magically able to keep their homes free of stuff. 1. THEY DON'T KEEP GIFTS THEY DON'T LIKE It might seem callous, but there’s no shame in parting with gifts that aren’t your thing. If you're worried you'll offend your mother-in-law, rest assured that she probably won’t ask you where that Santa paperweight went. And if she does, you can always lie and say you’re keeping it at the office. 2. THEY DON'T OWN CLOTHES THEY DON'T LIKE This one seems obvious, but think about it: How many ugly sweatshirts are you hanging onto just because you might wear them to paint the garage some day? Put those suckers out to pasture. (And when painting day comes, we promise you’ll find a way not to be topless.) 3. THEY DON'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER WARDROBES You thought that box of bathing suits in your basement was an honest effort to stay organized. But in reality, it’s giving you an excuse to hold onto stuff you don’t need. (C’mon are you ever going to wear that rainbow string bikini?) A good rule of thumb: Your entire yearly wardrobe should fit in your drawers and closet. If it doesn’t, you need to purge. 4. THEY DIGITIZE Some things--like your first edition Alice in Wonderland--are nice to own in the flesh. Other things--like tax returns from 2006--are better off kept in the cloud. Take stock of your papers, books and emovies to see what you could easily digitize and store on your computer or online. 5. THEY INVEST IN SMART GARBAGE SOLUTIONS Dear anyone who has a stack of magazines or empty water bottles in her mudroom: If you have dedicated recycling bins (preferably tucked away or built into a cabinet), you are far more likely to keep trash out of sight until collection day arrives. 6. THEY CLEAN THEIR COUNTERTOPS DAILY Ever try to wipe down a countertop that’s covered in crap? Not so easy, is it? 7. WHEN THEY BUY A NEW ITEM, THEY THROW OUT AN OLD ONE Think about the stuff in your house in terms of finite numbers. You have 20 pairs of shoes. You have 3 spatulas. You have 6 tubes of lipstick. When you buy a new pair of boots or even just a fun, little cooking utensil, an old one has to go. 8. THEY DON'T HAVE A JUNK DRAWER Yes, it’s tempting to have a place to store the stuff you’re not quite sure what to do with. But mark our words: Once you allow that old cell phone charger into junk-drawer purgatory, it’s a slippery slope toward total chaos. Best to throw it out, or assign it a proper home in the first place. http://www.purewow.com/home/Secrets-of-People-Who-Dont-Have-Clutter?utm_campaign=mindbodygreen.com&utm_source=pubexchange&utm_medium=syndication&utm_content=pubexchange_module

The Only Beauty Product you'll ever need by Ella Woodward

Coconut oil is an absolute miracle ingredient and an all-around superfood. It's usually thought of as a food full of important vitamins, minerals and fats. But coconut oil isn't just great in the kitchen — it's also a rock star beauty ingredient. I always have a pot of it in my bathroom as it has so many amazing properties that help your whole body glow. I use it as a moisturizer, hair mask, makeup remover, exfoliator, nail softener, lip balm and a bath time wonder. It's a serious all-rounder! Just make sure to use raw, unrefined, virgin, organic coconut oil.

Moisturizer Coconut oil acts as a sweet, smooth, tropical-smelling lotion that works as an amazing moisturizer. I use it on my face and body before bed, and find that I always wake up looking fresh the next morning with my skin looking happy. Coconut oil is full of microbial and antifungal properties that help skin heal itself, whilst all it's vitamins and healthy fats nourish, plump and moisturize the skin. As a body moisturizer, it gets rid of dryness, especially around areas like cracked feet, elbows or even eczema patches. It's the perfect answer for soothing cracked, dry lips in the winter and even sunburns in the summer, as its so deeply moisturizing. The vitamin E content also helps reduce the appearance of scars so if you ever burn yourself, be sure to smother the burn area in coconut oil!

Hair Mask I also use coconut oil as a hair mask to deeply condition and soften the ends of my hair. I add a spoonful to my ends and then try to leave it on overnight, but even ten minutes makes a difference. It instantly revives dry, limp hair and leaves it looking bouncy and beautiful. If you're prone to dandruff or a particularly irritated scalp, massaging a Tbsp into your scalp for a few minutes will help calm and revitalize your hair roots for happier locks and a healthier head. Though it'll need a few rounds of shampooing to fully wash out, it's worth it!

Makeup Remover The next use for coconut oil is as a makeup remover. I just add a pea-sized amount to my eyes and gently rub it in to take off all eye makeup. Trust me, even waterproof mascara stands no chance! It melts away any makeup, meaning you'll never again wake up with panda eyes in the morning!

Exfoliator I mix coconut oil with brown sugar for a completely natural body scrub. It gets rid of all lumps, bumps and dead skin from your body while leaving it feeling soft. It also moisturizes your body as you scrub, which is an awesome added bonus.

Nails Coconut oil also feels lovely rubbed into your cuticles and nail beds before bed, especially if you've been wearing nail polish.

Lips I use coconut oil to soothe and moisturize cracked or dry lips in the winter and even sunburn in the summer.

Bath A spoonful of coconut oil in your tub helps create a perfect bath. It infuses the water with a calming scent while also moisturizing and nourishing your body as your soak. Your skin will feel soft and velvety when you get out, especially if you're exfoliated also. Just add a spoonful into the hot water and swirl it around before you slip in. Photo courtesy of the author http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-16277/the-only-beauty-product-youll-ever-need.htm

Look beneath the surface

Djeco Princess Marguerite lampshade

The 'Princess Marguerite' rice paper lampshade from Djeco is charming and decorative both day and night. This pretty princess themed design also features birds, hearts and flowers. Beautiful baby,s room, nursery and playroom decor. Assembly required. Dimensions: 40cm Box Size: 40 x x 40 x 1cm http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001GZK3AK