Sara Martel

This is not at all what it seems. These are not French fries. Can you guess what they are ? If I said turnips would you believe me? Thanks to @ilanamulsteinrd for this recipe. ... I love doing food swaps. It’s a simple way to up-level your health without the sacrifice of good tasting and comforting foods. Other food swaps I have adopted over the years are listed here. Instead of : Unhealthy vegetable oils (ie. canola oil) Coconut oil or Extra Virgin olive oil Cow’s milk unsweetened oat milk/ coconut milk/almond milk Butter or margarine Ghee or grass-fed butter White rice brown basmati or brown rice And so much more... Please share your healthy food swaps! See more

Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though the...y quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.- Khalil Gibran Happy Valentines Day to my best friend. See more

Well I don’t know about you but as we hit the 1 year mark on this pandemic I am missing theatre like you wouldn’t believe. This show is a gift!! So happy it is rescheduled and we have dates !! And look who is in this cast!! Couldn’t be more proud! Whose putting this one on their calendar?

I thought the only way to better days was through tomorrow. - Tim Minchin I’ll be happy when... I can’t wait for next week when I .... Things will be better after........ We all do this. We sometimes wish our lives away with aspirations and timelines that promise happiness. But the we reach those marks in life and before we know it we are setting more conditions to obtain joy in our lives. Do you find yourself in that mindset? I am practicing mindfulness and contentment in the moment. Not easy trust me. I have recently decided to slow down and just BE rather than DO. I am a human BEING after all. Share in the comments your favourite way to practice living in the moment. Do you find it a struggle to be still? See more

Always say yes to new adventures! Where will your next adventure be when the pandemic is over? This picture was taken during an adventure in the summer of 2018. John and I and the kids took an 18 day trip to explore Japan. We spent a week in Tokyo and then ventured into Japan’s country side with stops in places like Takayama and Kyoto. ... This is our last night if this life changing trip in a traditional Japanese inn called a Ryokan. A ryokan features tatami-matted rooms and communal baths. We wore yukatas during our stay and had the loveliest Japanese staff member Yoko serve us breakfast and dinner in our room and tend to all our needs including turning down our Tatami beds for the night. We especially enjoyed our traditional Kaiseki dinner of elegantly served Japanese haute cuisine. What an incredible experience. One moment we will never forget that brought tears to my eyes and demonstrated the impeccable hospitality of the Japanese people, was on our departure for the airport. As we walked away to the main adjacent street to grab some provisions before our taxi ride to catch our flight home, the entire staff of the Ryokan stood outside and waved us goodbye until they could no longer see us. I cannot wait to create more memories like this. how about you? Where are you headed next ?

I don’t always nail my nutrition. But my overall main focus is to reduce inflammation. Afterall it’s chronic inflammation that can lead to serious health problems. I’ve noticed in the last couple of months that I am feeling more joint pain and muscle aches due to menopause. I am two months away from being officially declared menopausal. That lower estrogen can increase inflammation in the body and make you feel achy and fatigued. Does anyone he...re relate to this? I’ve always been a believer that we are what we eat and that food is thy medicine, so I’ve been digging even more into nutritional science. Here’s my action plan to help reduce that inflammation. Include foods that are naturally anti-inflammatory, like berries, brocoli, mushrooms and green tea. Add turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic and other herbs and spices that naturally help reduce inflammation to your meals. Cocao, nuts, fatty fish and other foods rich in Omega 3s, and those glorious leafy greens can also help. Keep those joints moving with daily exercise and stretches. Practice mindfulness to reduce stress. There are so many APPs to choose from that provide guided meditations. If new to meditation start with a short 5 minute meditation and build on that habit. Never underestimate the importance of filling the gaps of a whole foods diet with a good supplement regime. We live in a toxic world so extra antioxidants are key to fighting free radicals and slowing down that oxidation. I chose 14 years ago USANA Health Sciences for its highest rated health products that are produced in an FDA facility and manufactured at the highest standards. Please DM me for more info if you are looking to up level your vitamins or check out the link in my bio. Are you feeling the aches and pains of menopause ? Please share your strategies for reducing inflammation! I would love to learn from you too! See more