If traditional baking is a science, does that make gluten-free vegan baking rocket science? The answer is no; it doesn’t have to be! To put it lightly, I have a sweet tooth, and a hard time turning down baked goods. However, as a vegan who is gluten-free, I have learned that buying those incredibly overpriced, dense, heavy treats is a waste of time and money. So, over the years, I have challenged myself by dabbling in gluten-free, vegan baking, and have learned a few valuable tricks along the way.

Think Ayurveda, and you may start thinking about herbs and medicinal concoctions used to stave off diseases. Well, true, to a point. But that’s not the sole and whole of Ayurveda. Instead, Ayurveda, first and foremost, is a lifestyle, a way of life. The word Ayurveda in itself can be translated as life science – in effect, Ayurveda is a set of principles to live your life by, not just recipes of herbal concoctions to drive away that cold.

Did you know the average woman eats 7 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime? To make sure you're not eating chemicals, try these crafty recipes for all natural lipstick and lip gloss. The best part is, they'll certainly save you a buck or two in the long run. Lipstick and lip gloss not your thing? You can always give these away if you'd rather not use them. Either that or learn to craft eye makeup instead! Either way, you're bound to look (and feel) fabulous.

If you don’t know what herbal tonics are, winter is a really great time to learn about them. They are easy to make and simple to store, but the benefits are incredible.

What Are Tonics?

Herbal tonics consist of an infusion of herbs mixed with water, consumable alcohol, vinegar, or oil. Tonics are used to restore and refresh our bodies, as well aspromote our general health and well-being. There are various ‘tonic herbs’ that will increase your overall vitality, improve longevity, invigorate the internal systems, and even strengthen the spirit.

With so many vitamin options out there, it can be overwhelming to choose what’s right for you.  While each individual is different, and your doctor or nutritionist can help devise a customized plan for you, here is a basic guide to get you started with some of the most common – and most beneficial – vitamins to give you a boost.

Vitamin D

The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity.  Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto).  And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tunin

No matter how much I cook, food never ceases to amaze me, and every fall, I fall in love with apples all over again. During this time of year, many varieties are at the height of their flavor and texture. In nature they’re falling from tree branches, and in grocery stores and farmers’ markets, they’re abundantly available. 

Got a bad gut and need some help digesting your food? This tonic should help: It's specifically designed to work with fall bounty too, so make it before the season is over! I recommend using it whenever you feel you've eaten too much food, or have an upset stomach. That said, you can also drink it as often as you like to promote good gut health on a regular basis. Cranberries are known for aiding in digestion, lowering wrinkle-causing inflammation, and even preventing urinary tract infections.

Need some help with your skin woes this winter? Try Ayurvedic TLC.

You know a health-food craze when you start seeing avocado toast on your local brewery’s menu offerings.