Sexy Strawberry No Bake Collagen Fudge

Happy [early} Valentine's Day, beauties! Oh baby, do I have the treat for you. I got into one of those "I just need to make something sweet but I don't even want to wait for something to bake" mode. You know what I mean. And obviously, when this happens, all I want is almond butter slathered on something. 

What I came up with is a healthy, no-bake strawberry collagen freezer fudge recipe I just had to share.

So I whipped out these adorable little ice molds that I picked up at Miniso for $3 and got to the cupboard. I just pulled out a random selection of ingredients and decided I would make these sexy strawberry collagen bites. If you don't have the collagen or sex dust on hand, don't even worry! All you really need is almond butter, coconut butter and a topping. You could throw in some dark chocolate here or whatever you'd like. They take literally 10 minutes to throw together and you'll have a delish batch of "fudge" to store in your freezer for when the sweet craving hits. It's creamy, tastes kind of like a strawberry wafer and will leave you excited for the day ahead. *wink wink*

P.S.: Did I mention they are packed with healthy fats, contains no refined sugar and will improve your hair, skin, nails, joints and gut all at the same time? All thanks to the COLLAGEN.

... you know I love collagen... you can read more on that here. 

But since this is a Valentine's Day treat I thought I would pack it with a few sexy additions. A little sex dust (totally optional) which is just a natural adaptogen that spikes creativity and energy, and goji berries, which are full of antioxidants and also boost your mood and energy.

Here's the recipe and some links if you want to stock up on some goodies!

S H O P   T H E  P O S T 

Collagen Chia Pudding - 2 Ways

I've gotten my mom hooked on energy bites, my dad hooked on banana date cookies, and I'm about to get you hooked on something else. It's pretty next level. We've all heard of OOs-- overnight oats. Am I right? And they're old news. I got a new trick up my sleeve and it's a breakfast that will fill you up long time, work on your beauty routine and even give you a boost of energy without the crash. Did I mention it will really GET THINGS moving (if you know what I mean)? Collagen chia pudding. Guys, it's my new thing, and I can't stop eating it. I think this is like my 13th day in a row of having it for breakfast. What can I say? When I like something, I really like something!

So what is it? It's essential chia pudding but mixed with a few amazing additions. Chia seeds are packed with amazing nutrients. Omega 3's, fiber, protein, and they expand in your tummy, keeping you full longer.  I love Vital Proteins collagen (I did a whole post on it, here), so when they recently came out with their on-the-go packs of Beauty Collagen and Matcha Collagen, my mind immediately went into creative drive, concocting all the things I could do with them. I've revamped my Matcha bars into bites with them, and have made some delish strawberry beauty balls.



But back to the chia. This recipe is SO insanely easy to whip together. I make a big batch on a Sunday and separate them into jars for the week. It's so filling, just lightly sweetened with yacon syrup, and you can customize it to your liking. To hone in on the antioxidizing, detoxifying, energy boosting, skin/hair/nails improving benefits you will need collagen. But it's worth the investment. Let me break down the basic recipe then I will share how I customize each one.

Chia Pudding:
4 tablespoons chia seeds
1/2 cup almond milk
2 spoonfuls Yoso coconut yogurt (optional-- I like it because it makes the texture more creamy)
1 tsp Organic Traditions yacon syrup (if you don't have, maple syrup will do, Yacon Syrup is just less sweet, and contains prebiotics)

Ingredients:
1. Mix all ingredients together in a jar and put the lid on and shake
2. Make sure all chia seeds are incorporated and not stuck to the side of jar
3. Separate into two jars (or more, depending on how big you want your serving sizes to be)

Collagen Additions:
4. Add in 1 packet of Matcha Collagen to one jar (I add some coconut flakes on the top)
5. Add in 1 packet of Strawberry Beauty Collagen to the other jar (I add a dab of lemon juice and lemon zest, along with some frozen berries)

Why Strawberry Collagen? It's packed with hyaluronic acid, improves digestion, sleep, and hydrates your skin.
Why Matcha Collagen? A calm and focusing energy-boost without the crash! Again the 10 g of collagen in each pack ensures your getting skin, nail, and hair benefits, too.

There you have it. Your new breakfast, snack, on-the-go beauty boost. Let me know if you try it!

Blueberry Vanilla Collagen Smoothie with Vital Proteins + Giveaway

Collagen... what is it? Why do we need it? What are the benefits?

I was just as curious as you. You may have seen some of my recent Instagram stories regarding collagen peptides and are wondering what's the deal. Rewind to last year when I discovered Vital Proteins thanks to The Balanced Blonde and Shut The Kale Up. I kept seeing them pour these little blue packs into their morning coffees and I needed to investigate! 

P.S. there is a giveaway AND a video below, so keep scrolling!

What is it?

Collagen is a protein found in the body. It promotes the growth of healthy hair, skin, nail, bones, and joints. But when we work out and get older, it breaks down and cannot replenish enough on its own. Collagen is great for the skin and getting that glow, too! Once it hits the bloodstream it acts as a binder for water and hyaluronic acid (you know how much I love H.A.), therefore holding in that moisture and resulting in plump, hydrated skin. Beauty-full? Yeah, I'd say so too! It also promotes a healthy gut since it is filled with amino acids.

Best way to increase collagen?

Ingest it. Topically it's not as impactful. Ingesting pure and natural sources of collagen is the best way to get it right where you need it. 

What's the deal with Vital Proteins?

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (aka collagen in powder form) are sourced from grass-fed, pasture raised bovine hides.No, not vegetarian or vegan, but they are gluten free, dairy free, paleo friendly and whole 30 approved! With each scoop, you are getting 20 g of collagen. That's insane. The difference between regular protein? Collagen protein has higher levels of amino acids which help to give us the strength for stronger joints, and skin elasticity.  The original is tasteless and totally dissolves in liquid. They also have flavoured products such as Melon Mint, Mixed Berry, and my favourite, Vanilla Coconut Water.

How to use?

The possibilities are endless! Stir the original in coffee (no taste and totally dissolves), add to smoothies as a protein boost, or shake with water. I love adding a scoop in my energy balls, baked goods (like pancakes and cookies) and mixed in with oatmeal and soup.

Here's a recap:

**20 g of collagen, 18 g of protein with 1 scoop
**tasteless and dissolves completely
**beauty boost & anti-ageing-- glowing, healthy skin, nail and hair strength
**strength-- bone & joint health
**gut health-- all those amino acids

Let's put it to use, shall we?

Here's a detox smoothie recipe that I am OBSESSED with. Try it out! 

Blueberry Vanilla Detox Smoothie

ingredients:

1 handful greens (spinach, kale)

1/4 cup frozen zucchini 

1/4 cup frozen blueberries 

1 scoop Vital Proteins Vanilla & Coconut Water
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal

almond milk (however much to result in your desired consistency, start with 1/2 cup and add more milk or ice as needed)
extras: I always add in some maca powder (for balancing hormones) or ashwagandha (to release stress/anxiety), or Brain Dust (for a boost), and almond butter to make it extra creamy. Feel free to add some frozen banana slices if you'd like it a touch more sweet!

top with your faves: granola, nuts, seeds, etc!


GIVEAWAY!!! Vital Proteins and I are teaming up to give you the ultimate pack-- the Vanilla & Coconut Water Collagen Peptides AND a pack of the original Collagen Peptides! All you have to do is enter below. Super easy! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Contest open to Canadians AND US residents! Thank you to Vital Proteins for allowing me to share a product that I love! 

Secrets For Gorgeous, Full, Lively Hair

There’s a reason why I don’t share many care hair posts on my blog, especially sponsored posts at that. Companies usually want you to test out the products and within a weeks time detail your findings. Well for me that just isn’t enough time. Sure the first use is always amazing! You’re thinking holy moly this is the greatest shizz on the planet. But you never have enough time to actually see the long-term results... is it overall drying to my scalp? Will it cause my psoriasis to flare up? So unless I truly love something, I don't bother.