Blog Posts - PaleoLove Company

Backpacking the Smokies

9/14/2020

This past weekend I had an adventure with my daughter in the Great Smoky Mountains. We went on our first backpacking trip together with a guide from The Blue Ridging Hiking Co. I have not been backpacking since I was about 12 years old, which was a LONG time ago, think 1970’s. Man has the equipment changed, for the BETTER!! The packs are lighter, the bags compress smaller and the food is tastier. I even enjoyed Momma's Mammoth Munch on the trail.

This trip was much needed after spending the last 6 months in some form of COVID isolation. We were able to get away from the craziness of the news cycle, the tension of being in a quarantined city and broke out into the beautiful rainforest of the Smokies. We did 3 days of hiking and 2 nights of camping, by the babbling cool mountain streams, nature’s own sound machine. We woke to rainstorms in the middle of the night. We huddled under shelter enjoying post dinner time conversations about books, movies and life.

We saw deer, hummingbirds, salamanders, millipedes, snails, slugs, just missed seeing a bear and a spectrum of fungi all over the forest floor. We enjoyed discovering natures wonders in the forest. We ended our hike with a view of a spectacular waterfall, sore muscles, smelly, bug bitten bodies. However I know we will do this again.

I highly recommend taking the time to get out in nature. Take a break from the craziness of life to slow down, take in the smell of our big blue beautiful planet. It will not only help your soul but also your body.

Pssst . . . I have a something to share

7/6/2020

This past week I join the Beautycounter Team. It was a natural fit for me. I have always been interested in the natural health and wellness world since I was young. So when I discovered Beautycounter and their clean products, that performed well, it seemed to fit my life and goals. Especially since our skin is our number 1 detoxifying organ. It was a not a big leap for me to make the choice to start using products that are free of over 1,800 chemicals.

The first time I tried Beautycounter products was last summer. It so happened to be at the same time I tried ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD). My skin looked amazing and I felt amazing. I wasn't entirely sure - why my skin looked so amazing. I attributed to fact that I had just been fasting. However fast forward to this winter. I again did the ProLon FMD I felt amazing, however my skin looked good just not as good as when I was using Beautycounter products. So I decided to try the set I tested in August 2019, Countertime Collection. OMG, my skin started looking better and feeling better. Then when I added in another round of ProLon, boom there you have it my skin looked the same as last August. LOL So I am a happy happy girl. I also love that Beautycounter is a certified B Corporation, which means safer products, sustainability, charitable giving, advocacy and transparency. Overall I feel this will be a good fit for me and my business of better living through feeding our bodies real food and paying attention our bodies.

Let me know if I can help live better in the skin you're in.

Birthday Food Drive and Pesto . . . .

6/30/2020

This month for my daughters birthday, we did a drive by birthday party with a food drive for Out of the Garden Project. This program has been really stretch thin since the virus has hit the US. Previously they were able to go and purchase pallets of canned goods from a warehouse store. But it's just not a reality now. If you are inclined to donate, they can use could use more food donations of canned meats and vegetables. They already have enough beans, plus who wants to eat so many beans. So if you have a little extra food or money you can donate to an organization who is taking care of those who have been hit hardest by this pandemic please consider them. They are serving the children with the greatest need for food during this time. Previously they sent home backpacks of non-perishable food for the weekend when these children were in school.

This weekend I made PESTO again!!! Yes, but this time I made it with kale, basil, walnuts and garlic scapes. We don't use dairy because 2 of my family members are intolerant to dairy. It is too inflammatory for their bodies. We used the pesto last night on a new recipe I saw posted by Dr. Mark Hyman, No Cheese, "Cheesy" Cauliflower Bites with Basil Pesto. OMG!!! We loved it. Actually we did not tell my daughter what the name of the dish was because she has a thing about cheese. blegh However once we got her to taste it with the pesto she was SOLD!!! I highly recommend making it. (We used a different pesto recipe, see below.)

Vegan Pesto

8 basil leaves
3 large leaves of kale
4 garlic scapes (we got ours from PTB Farm)
1/2 cup of walnuts or whatever nuts your prefer
1 tsp sea salt
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1/4 cup of olive oil

Instructions:

Put kale, basil and garlic scapes in high power blender or food processor. Plus until mixed.
Add walnuts or whatever nuts you prefer. Plus until combined
Add lemon juice and olive oil in a cup. Turn on blender or food processor, slowly add the lemon juice and olive oil until fully combined.
Store 1 week covered. If you cover the pesto with a bit of olive oil it will stop the oxidation (darkening of the pesto)

Bread, Psylly Turtles and Pizza

6/22/2020

Four Fun Things I've been up toThis past week I've been keeping myself busy with the following activities.

1) I've started back to my weekly, now twice weekly Boot Camp, except now it's a social distancing type of camp. It's great to be getting together and exercising with friends outdoor. We are using our own parking spots as 6 ft markers.

2) I made Psylly Turtles this weekend. OMG, they are amazing. My daughter likes them with mini chocolate chips, by Enjoy Life. I like them with cacao nibs. These turtles are a slightly sweet treat, with side benefits. LOL right. Check out the benefits of psyllium husks:

psyllium husks are food for your gut bacteria. Yes, even your gut needs to be feed.
these magic husks can heal your poop problems, such as change the runny to firm and firm to softer. YAY
helps clear LDL cholesterol from your bloodstream making your liver and heart happier. <3 :)
improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar.
here check out what else these beautiful husks can do. Note the recipe is towards the bottom of page.

3) I made more sourdough bread. This time I made mini loaves to share with more friends. It's so much fun sharing the baking love.

4) Last night we made pizza on the grill. It was crunchy, just like a gluten filled pizza dough but it was GLUTEN FREE and DAIRY FREE!!! Just because a food group needs to be given up, doesn't mean you need to give up on having those kinds of food. It just takes creativity and putting on a different pair of lenses. Need help reframing. Drop me an email.

One last thing, this week I will be doing a fast. I will share how I'm doing in my Instagram stories.

Black Lives Matter . . . White Privilege . . .

6/7/2020

Over the past week we have seen a response to George Floyd's killing as elsewhere in the United States and across the world. After the protest, then riots and destruction. Comes the beauty of rebirth. The artwork on the boarded up windows shows the path we, society, needs to take, because BLACK LIVES MATTER!! Their life is at stake everyday just doing normal day to day activities. Whereas white lives don't have that same fear. I hope you too will take steps to learn what racism is, to unlearn the little things whites do, consider donating to black charities. This is one way to help change the world and read books on white privilege and the black experience.
We can't continue to ignore what is happening to a large portion of our population, the African-American population.

Hard to Believe it is June!!!

6/1/2020

The last 2 months have left me feeling like I've lost a chunk of my life. However there have been good things that have happened as a result of the lock down.

1) I am now baking bread weekly. That is HUGE for me. That is one baking experience that has not been successful for me. This week I even made Sourdough Pancakes, gluten free, dairy free but not vegan. Maybe next time. They were the most fluffy pancakes we've had since going gluten free. I love being able to use the sourdough discards in this way.

2) I am now running again, 2 times a week. This excites me greatly, because I broke my foot in January and was unable to run for 3 months. I am a bit tired and sore, but I'm much happier getting in regular exercise.

3) Starting June 17th the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market is starting a program for prepared food and craft vendors to pick up pre-orders on Wednesday mornings. Please message me if you are interested in picking of orders from PaleoLove on Wednesday mornings.

4) I will continue to offer my online store and offer products on Gate City Harvest online store for the time being.

5) At this time I still have Momma Bear Shots available. I am considering repackaging them in returnable, reuseable. recyclable containers. I would like your feedback on the Momma Bear Shots if you are still using them and the new packaging is something you would prefer or not prefer and why.

6) Since graduating from the Functional Nutrition Alliance as an educator/coach. I am starting a Facebook Group called Rethinking Food. Click here to join. or check it out.

Cultivating Creativity will benefit the Brain

5/28/2020

Have I told you about this amazing opportunity that is starting SOON? My friend Alisha Wielfaert over at Yoke and Abundance is offering a 3.5 month class on Cultivating Creativity. Starting next week.
Did you know there are benefits to your brain when you get creative?
1) It’s a great coping skill for mental health. And who couldn’t use a boost in their mental health? I mean I am starting to feel the pinch of sheltering in place.
2) Getting creative in projects and activities that fosters self expression leads to stress relief. 3) Creativity quiets the areas of the brain involved in checking and judging.
4) Being creative helps us achieve a state of flow, so we can let go of the need to overthink and analyze. Thus we can be fully present.

There are so many more benefits to getting creative that I couldn’t list them all here. But check out these links for just a few more.

Creativity and Engineering
Why Creativity is Important

Here's the link to register and the code PALEOLOVE

Monday . . . Monday it's that day again!!

5/18/2020

We have now been in quarantine 9 weeks here in North Carolina. How are you doing? Have you learned anything new? Tried any new recipes? I've been busy at home and online.
I truly miss going to the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market. I miss my market family but most of all I miss talking with you and making new friends who happen to stop by my booth. Keeping my fingers cross that June will bring back community connections. In the meantime here is what I have been up to.

1) Still making sourdough bread. LOL, are you? I am so excited about this accomplishment. In the past I have tried making bread and failed miserably! The fact that I MADE sourdough bread with my own STARTER still has me giddy. So giddy that I attempted to make a fancy round loaf like the gluten full kind I have been watching. And you know what I did and it turned out gorgeous. I also gave that one to a new member of the gluten free family. This young woman, a teen, is still adjusting to this lifestyle. I hope she enjoys that loaf as much as my family and I do.

2) I recently tried Dr. Mark Hyman's new coffee recipe from his book Food Fix. It was tasty, although a bit grainy at the bottom. Not sure if that was the cocoa powder which I normally put in my coffee or the cashew butter. But check it out. It went really great with avocado sourdough toast.

3) This weekend I made a new batch of gluten free, vegan waffles!! The best yet. My husband was thrilled with this batch and it's a keeper. Check out the Healthy Maven for her recipe. I topped mine with coconut whip cream and fresh strawberries. I can't get enough of those strawberries. This year they are so TASTY!!!

4) I am working on my #dochange challenge from the Functional Nutrition Alliance. I soon will be revealing a Facebook group revolving around Rethinking Foods. Our relationship, or attachment to foods that are not good for our bodies. I still remember that day when we discovered my daughter couldn't have gluten, dairy, soy and yeast. I felt like a deer in the headlights. We are now on the other side of the mountain but man it was hard to rethink our food choices, meal plans and how to travel. I wouldn't change a thing in the world for this journey. Even though it has been really hard at times. If you are looking for support in rethinking your food choices. Please reach out. I would be happy to support you on your journey. I really understand that feeling.

I FINISHED the program!!!

5/12/2020

First I want to share EXCITING news with you. I just completed the 10 month program from Functional Nutrition Alliance, a full body system approach to what is happening inside our bodies. Approaching health and healing from a root cause viewpoint. If you want to learn more about this program or how I can help you sleuth what is going on inside just email me.

Now is the time to accept the #dochangechallenge.

Over the course of the last 8 weeks we all have been through a lot of changes and challenges. I've made a few new connections in the community for selling my granola, Momma Bear Shots and donuts, see below. I've also been picking up new skills and resources for shopping.

1) You can find our products online at the PaleoLove Shop. Pick up at the Corner Market in the advance order tent or purchase at Susan's Table. In addition to Aubrey's farm - Gate City Harvest online store.

2) I'm sure you have been watching everyone make sourdough bread online, wishing you could too. Nicole over at Gluten Free on Shoestring has a recipe for a gluten free sourdough starter and bread. It's not that hard to make AND the bread smells & tastes AMAZING. Just ask my family.

3) I found some great masks that are cotton, 2 ply with antimicrobial finish and are washable. They are make locally in Asheboro at Wells Hosiery, Inc. They are willing to ship, just email Susan Wrenn.

4) The last few weeks I've been getting our fruit from a local company, Foster-Caviness. They are offering weekly fruit and vegetable boxes. You get a great mix of fruits or vegetables for only $25. It saves you time from having to go to the grocery store, plus it helps support a local business. Pick up is on Friday's 3-4 pm here in Greensboro, NC

5) Or you can visit our local farmers markets, Greensboro Curb Market, The Corner Market or Piedmont Triad Market to find local farmers. Lately I've been getting my produce from Aubrey at Gate City Harvest. I love his mixed greens and spinach. Getting in lots of folate. LOL

6) A big highlight to our week has been the fresh strawberries from Farlow Farm. Natalee and I are big strawberries fans. So this is has been putting a big smiles on our faces and in our tummies.

Lastly the big new is Matcha Madness NOW at Deep Roots Market!!!

Momma Bear Shots just like. . .

2/1/2018

I have fallen love with the paleo coffee, bulletproof kind without the collagen. But I much prefer my own brand, Momma Bear Shots. Made with grass fed butter, coconut oil and cocoa powder for the chocolate ones and pumpkin puree with pumpkin spices for my favorite Pumpkin Spice Momma Bear Shot. I love the creamy mouthfeel, the luscious chocolaty taste and warm pumpkin scents. Message me for how you can get Momma Bear Shots in your coffee or tea.

Mary Bryan-Stewart

Mary, is the creator and founder of PaleoLove Company, Mom, wife, friend, partner in crime, and entrepreneur. She has been a lover of art, food and traveling since she was very young. She began her paleo journey just out of curiosity, then her oldest daughter developed health problems where she needed to consume a low carb low sugar diet. It is here where she developed her skills in creating and making low sugar low carb treats and eats.

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