Brewing the Buch! (How to make Kombucha)

Make your own Kombucha!!! 

It's really easy and fast once you get the hang of it! 

OPTIONS:
1) Find a friend with a scoby (the mother mushroom) and after each batch of brewing the mushroom duplicates and you can divide it. 

Ask people at your local health food store. That's where I got my first shroom.

2) Buy a starter kit from your health food store. It's about $10-$15. 

3) Order from Williams and Sonoma, they have the whole starter kit and just the scoby. 

I personally like the third option because you know that the glassware is safe when you buy the whole kit. Since you don't want any lead oxidization to take place during fermentation. 


Anyone interested in my shroom. Email me and I will ship to you! :) 


INGREDIENTS:

1 GALLON OF WATER
1 CUP OF SUGAR
4 TEA BAGS
1 CUP OF SCOBY/MUSHROOM/CULTURE

INSTRUCTIONS:

I boil about 1/3 gallon enough to melt the sugar and to allow the tea to steep. Add both the 1 cup of sugar and tea bags to the boiling water. I use a stainless steel mixer bowl for this step. Stir until the sugar melts and more water if needed. Wait 20 minutes although 10 is probably enough to maximize the flavor of the tea. 

Once cooled, remove the tea bags and use metal or plastic utensils avoiding wood.  Then add the remaining water and the starter kit (the mushroom and some of the fermented tea) to a clean* kitchen glass safe gallon jar. 

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Too high temperatures are bad for the mushroom killing good bacteria.

Some people do up to 10-12 tea bags/1 ounce of tea leaves. I find that four is enough flavor. 

*Should be washed throughly preferably in a dishwasher. Then just to be sure. I pour boiling water all over the utensils. I add a small amount of boiling water to the glass jar and swivel it so the temperature and pressure does not escalate allowing the glass to adjust. Then I repeat those steps with white vinegar. And ALWAYS wipe with a fresh towel. 

Cover the glass container with a clean cloth thin enough to allow some ventilation (old t-shirt,cheese cloth,etc.)and brew anywhere from 7-30 days. The longer it brews the more strong and less sweet it becomes. 

Store in a dry place. Warm temperatures are the best, 70ish-80ish works. 80-85 is ideal and a faster process. 

After you have already made a batch to continue the process just pour out the kombucha into more gl. Be sure to leave about a cup or more of the original batch of the kombucha and mushroom and then add more sugar, water, and tea bags and repeat the process! 

Then add fruit to bottles/containers and let it sit over night it will take on the fruity flavor! 

 My favorite flavor is strawberry lemon. I add a full lemon to the batch and some lemon rind. 

This batch is strawberry lemon. However, mixed berry and it tastes like the lemon berry slush from sonic. 

My sad attempt at a lemon twist. 

Lemon Ginger is my next attempt!

The main health benefit is the probiotics and the mushroom 'eats' all the sugar so I deemed it safe when detoxing or avoiding sugar.

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P.S. I obviously didn't know how to spell Kom-BUCH-A. Or was it that I was too lazy to erase a few letters? You'll never know ;) 

Happy Brewing! 

All my love, health and happy blessings to you in the TWO-OH-ONE-FIVE! 

Dom



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Makeup for Mermaids (Waterproofing Your Makeup Tutorial)

If you want to look cute and fresh like Ariel when you pop ashore ready to sing to your unconscious human Prince Eric a creepy tune, keep reading! If you like looking smeared and scary like Ursula, that's totally cool too. Sometimes we all just want to the rock the hot mess. No judgement. Been there before! (Seriously.) 

I know that summer is coming to an end, but for some the hot sticky sweaty days are still ahead.  For those who will be spending their Labor Day Weekend near/on/in water, you will benefit from this post.(Unless you don't wear makeup then you really won't need this post.)

Now, I must have been a fish in a previous life because I spend some serious time under the water. 

Just look at that super attractive photo ;) 

As you can see I have a decent amount of eye make up on! It faded a bit but was still there when I made it home (six hours later). 

STARTING WITH THE EYES

My favorite eyeshadow to get wet is MAC's 'Mineralize' Eyeshadow Duo. However any powder eyeshadow will work. I've tried numerous kinds and it doesn't ruin them! 

First you get your eye makeup brush wet with water and then apply as you normally would. Just dipping the tips of the brush in some water should be sufficient. If the shadow is too thin, tap the brush to dry and keep adding the shadow. 

Boom. Set. All waterproofed and ready!

I really like MAC's Fluidline for eyeliner. I use the pot and brush, but I think the pencil is easier, especially when it comes to winging your liner! You can actually use the fulidline for a smokey eye primer. It's a good investment for your makeup bag.

For mascara my favorite since 2009 has to be Clinic's High Impact Curling Mascara. I like this because it doesn't smear, just flakes off when you gently rub your eyes with water, oil, or makeup remover. It has been my go to for every single event, it is tear proof and water proof! 

   

  Photo: Sephora 

   

Photo: Nordstrom

Photo: Nordstrom 

      

                               

FOR THE BASE 

For my foundation I use ZUZU Luxe's Dual Powder Foundation. It is my favorite coverage waterproof or not. What I do is just use a flat foundation brush and get it wet like the eyeshadow and apply. It's a bit trickier than eyeshadow because too much can make you too dark. But just play with it, and you'll get it in no time. 

For non watery events, I use the ZuZu liquid foundation and then powder for a beautiful fresh faced but great coverage.

Zuzu is Vegan and Gluten free and can be found at Vitamin Cottages and all the Whole Foods I have been at. 

For blush/bronzer/highlighter I would recommend a cream base, like RMS's lip2cheek! I have DEMURE but the one shown is SMILE.  RMS, is an all Organic Ingredient Makeup! They are pretty water resistant. However, everyone's skin has a different texture. So just keep that in mind if these products don't work for you! 

I have never tried to get MAC 'Mineralize' Blush and Bronzers wet, but I bet they work great like the eye shadows!

I also like Origins' Pinch Your Cheeks for my cheekies (on my face of course, don't be weird). I love the CoralBerry hue. And it gives you a perfect cute very natural sun kissed look. 

I have also tried just using regular powdered blush and bronzer, you just apply it with a wet make up brush.

 

 Photo: RMS

Photo: Origins

      Photo: Amazon 

LASTLY LIPS 

I use Chanel Rogue Allure, Enthusiast #74 (Which I had since 2008 and don't even know if they still make it). A little goes a long way and lasts for days! Seriously! One time I fell asleep with it on and my hand was under my lips. I woke up with a kissy mark, and it took some serious scrubbing to get it off of my hand.

Or I use Origin's pinch your cheeks, or just chap stick.   

   

Photo: Nordstrom

  

Photo Credit

   

Photo: Nordstrom

                                

I know that all of this makeup is pricey! But I have started collecting pieces over the years, and they have lasted for many years, except the powder. It lasted a year. (Is that maybe gross or unhealthy?!).  

If you have any questions please feel free to comment/email us! 

 

Have fun! Have a wonderful rest of summer! 

Kisses,

Dominique 

IN SHARK WEEK SHAPE

Work out like a Great White Shark Beast! What better time than Shark week? We personally love Shark Week and find ourselves watching it whenever we have down time. (And if you are like Dom, she uses Shark Week as an excuse to skip the gym!) So why not get in a little workout too?! 

Dominique in her running gear, "I will go for a run in ten minutes." Ten minutes later, "OOOOOOOH. The Great White is on TV, as soon as he leaves I'll go run." Working out Shark Week never happened, last year. So we created this and we're definitely doing this all week so we can Shark Week and workout! Who's with us!? 

HAPPY SHARK WEEK!

Love,
The DoDos 

Raw, energizing anti-aging AND chocolate! Get the glow!

You know how they say chocolate is good for you? Well this drink is better than good for you! It’s amazing! Each ingredient is not very tasty on its own, but put them together and you get a yummy chocolate drink that fills you up and keeps you looking young. And this little number will keep you energized the whole day. (It's addictive in the good way!)

It’s our secret hot chocolate recipe. The secret ingredient is actually a lack of ingredient. There is NO sugar in this. And I mean no sugar, sugar substitutes, stevia, dates, dried fruit, honey, maple syrup or other posers that sneak into most chocolate recipes.

Now for the recipe:

1 cup almond milk

1 tbsp gelatin

1 tbsp cacao powder

1 tbsp chia seeds
cinnamon

Directions:

1. Pour the almond milk in a blender bottle. Add the gelatin. Mix immediately to prevent large clumps. 
2. Add cacao powder and mix again.
3. Add the mixture to a saucepan, stirring constantly until the gelatin and cacao powder dissolve. 
4. After attaining the desired temperature, pour into a mug. It’s summer right now so you may want to heat it just enough to get the ingredients to dissolve.
5. Add in chia seeds stirring for a few minutes to prevent clumping. 
6. Top it off with cinnamon. I like a lot, not a dash.
7. Now sit back and enjoy the chocolate knowing that you are building strong bones and preventing wrinkles.

Allow me to explain how each ingredient is not only yummy, but beneficial for you.

1. Almond milk: Lower in calories than dairy milk, it’s also heart healthy. It contains 50 percent of your daily vitamin E and 25 percent of your vitamin D. It also contains the B vitamins, iron and riboflavin. You can make it yourself, but my favorite brand is Almond Breeze.
2. Chia seeds: This tiny seed packs big benefits. It is a great source of omega fatty acids, minerals, vitamins and soluble fiber. It even has more antioxidants than flaxseed. When soaked in a liquid, they puff up and take on gel-like qualities that fill you up and curb cravings. The brand used in this post is Navitas Naturals.
3. Cacao powder: This is the type of “chocolate” that is good for you. It is a natural source of antioxidants and fiber. It also has one of the highest dietary sources of magnesium, flavanols, and polyphenols. We also used Navitas Naturals. Cacao powder is not the same as cocoa powder. If you want to know about the differences, read here.
4. Gelatin: To be exact, gelatin is the purified protein derived by the selective hydrolysis of collagen from the skin, the connective tissue and/or bones of animals. I use the Great Lakes Unflavored Gelatin. Make sure you use a grass fed one so that the source comes from healthy animals. Gelatin contains 6g of protein per serving and is a good source of amino acids. 

The benefits will surprise you! The collagen is equivalent to magic when it comes to looking young and healthy. The problem is that as we age, our collagen levels decrease. But that’s why you should have this drink! The amino acids in gelatin will keep your skin looking young. You are also less prone to wrinkles due to the added collagen. It will give you stronger teeth, hair and nails. Now, stretch marks and cellulite...some of a woman’s worst fears, and often times both are very difficult to get rid of, but not anymore! Gelatin helps with that! And still the list goes on! It aides in liver detox, weight loss, digestion, leaky gut, strong bones, arthritis support, high metabolism, adrenals, hormone balance, wound repair, and allergies. I only included an overview, click here to read more.

In the picture, I included a premade cacao mix that does have a little bit of coconut sugar. I do not use this in my recipe, but my sister loves it! It has cayenne pepper and some other spices that aid in digestion. The brand is Righteously Raw Rawcholatl, if you want to ask for it in stores.