K R I S T E N Sweeney, CNP

I DID IT! I officially graduated, and I am now a certified organic skincare formulator! ahhh!!! This is such a huge accomplishment for me and I am beyond excited & honoured to have completed this extensive course. ... Over that last few years, I have grown a huge passion for natural skincare and all things wellness and beauty. 2 yrs ago when I heard about @formulabotanica the top international school in organic cosmetic formulation based out of the UK, I knew this was something I wanted to do and so I dove right in to learning more about natural skincare and formulation. Pictured is my emulsion (face cream) I created & formulated to submit for my final! It is a Nourish & Rejuvenating Face Cream made with some key ingredients: Squalane, Rosehip Seed Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera. This face cream will leave your skin feeling nourished, hydrated & soothed, while providing nutrient-rich botanicals to protect the skin’s barrier and leave a youthful glow!

T H A N K F U L

satisfying my sweet tooth with this CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD - -> gluten free + low sugar 3 ripe bananas 2 eggs... 2 cups almond flour 2 tbsp @chosenfoods avocado oil 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 pink Himalayan salt 1/4 tapioca flour 1 tsp @simplyorganicfoods vanilla @enjoylifefoods Chocolate chips (to your own desired amount) (I used @bobsredmill for the almond flour, tapioca flour and baking soda) Mix bananas, vanilla, eggs & avocado oil together in a bowl. Mix almond flour, tapioca flour and baking soda and salt together in a separate bowl. Combine both mixtures together and stir with a spatula until combined and there are no clumps. Stir in chocolate chips Line a bread loaf pan with parchment paper and pour in batter. Top with additional chocolate chips Bake at 350 for 20 mins. Then cover, and continue to bake for an additional 15 mins. See more

Stress + Anxiety. Something that people are experiencing more than ever right now. With this new virus spreading worldwide, it has definitely heightened stress and anxiety levels for many different reasons - but it is SO important to know how to cope with these feelings so you can control your response and not let it control you. I myself have a hard time dealing with stress and have dealt with anxiety on and off my whole life. I am still working on figuring out my coping ...mechanisms and how to master them when I know I need them - but I wanted to share with you what I have been using that has helped me. These are just a few of my own coping mechanisms, but there are definitely many others. Dealing with stress and anxiety is different for everyone, so I would love to hear what helps you below! somewhere in the Caribbean @ Caribbean Ocean

Sunday stay-at-home breakfast 2 organic eggs cooked in oil, on a bed of sautéed spinach . 1 slice of gluten free toast, with @kitehillfoods everything bagel cream cheese (seriously the best!) slice of cheese , avocado and cracker pepper. We also had a protein shake to go with it!... HAPPY SUNDAY!

BERRY C O L L A G E N SMOOTHIE anti-inflammatory. immune boosting. glowing skin I have been making these smoothies lately because I have been under the weather - the holidays definitely got me! This smoothie was all my body was craving, so that’s what I gave it (for about 1 week straight!) I packed it full of antioxidants and vitamin C to help lower inflammation and boost my immune system, but also kept in mind all the benefits this smoothie provides for healthy, glowing ...skin - always have skin on the mind 1/2 water 1/2 oat milk frozen blueberries frozen blackberries frozen strawberries kale spinach frozen banana chia seeds + flax seeds coconut oil collagen powder See more

Looking back on 2019 as it comes to an end, there were so many ups, definitely some downs, but there is SO much to be grateful for! our little Koda bear came into our lives we got engaged! I started a new journey of professional and personal growth ... found a new passion that I am excited to share with the world travelled with the ones I love the most celebrated a few special milestones #30 #40 #60 #70 ... and so much more! 2019, you were great and everything that happened along the way was all apart of my path. Can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store #2020 See more

#challengeaccepted ‘EMPOWERED WOMEN, EMPOWER WOMEN’

DARK CHOCOLATE + MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS I love the @foursigmatic mushroom coffees/lattes - if you haven’t tried them, I highly suggest you give them a try. The two Kris and I drank today on this gloomy Sunday afternoon incorporated both reishi + turkey tail mushrooms, which both have great health benefits (I’ve listed a few below) and paired it with @caminoamigos dark chocolate with raspberries - because I love the combo REISHI MUSHROOM fights inflammation, boosts ener...gy, reduces stress and fatigue (helps your body cope by acting as an adaptogen), detoxifies, boosts immune system, antioxidant to fight free radicals, aids in gut heath, improves cognitive ability, has cancer fighting properties. TURKEY TAIL MUSHROOM packed with antioxidants, contains immune boosting Polysaccharopeptides, contains prebiotics helping to improve gut heath, loaded with antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenols that help reduce inflammation. DARK CHOCOLATE scientific studies have shown that dark chocolate - sorry, milk and white chocolate don’t count - is rich in antioxidants and packed with nutrients, making this bittersweet treat a superfood favorite. It can help to improve brain health and reduce oxidative stress due to its high levels of flavonoids, packed with vitamins + minerals to support skin health, improve mood etc. It’s easy to get carried away and overeat sweets. I love dark chocolate because the bitterness prevents overeating but still satisfies - especially with the added raspberries in there! What are some of your go-to ‘healthier’ options you love to indulge in?

Sometimes my meals are random AF, and I literally throw whatever I think will work well together, and yesterday’s dinner was just that - but it was FUEGO (in my opinion at least!) I used our air fryer to toast up @liveorganicfood vegan mung bean kimchi pancakes, sautéed some mushrooms in butter and scrambled up an egg. Threw it on top with a chili Tamari sauce and added an avocado on the side (because healthy fats ) and topped it with valentines hot sauce and my favourite spice (pictured). I know it probably sounds super random - but it was delicious! I made sure it included protein, fat, fibre and carb. Do you ever throw together a random meal and surprise yourself with how good it turns out?

I made these incredibly delicious (and adorable) peanut butter mini egg cookies the other day for Easter, and let me tell you... they were a HUGE hit - for just my fiancé and I lol! Thank you to my girl @nourishwithjass for the recipe and inspiration. You can find the recipe on her page. They are low in sugar, gluten free and topped with @cadburydairymilkca mini eggs .. I mean come on! @ Port Credit

Happy Easter - oh how I miss getting dressed up and being able to visit my family during this time.. I hope everyone enjoys their day regardless of our situation! Stay Healthy