Guac On Lock: 6 Guacamole Upgrades From A Michelin-Starred Chef

We know guacamole is extra. And we're always willing to pay. But not all guac is created equal. At Chef David LeFevre's beloved M.B. Post and Fishing with Dynamite in Manhattan Beach near L.A. the green stuff is always on point. To celebrate the newly opened The Arthur J (in Manhattan Beach too) we asked Chef LeFevre to let us in on how he gets guacamole looking this gorgeous (hint: just add edible flowers) and how he likes to take the traditional recipe to the next level. Try some of this celebrated chef's ideas at home for a fresh spin on Taco Tuesday (tons of healthy taco recipes can be found here) or just to impress the ladies for an at-home brunch!

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Clean Green Eats: Kabocha Squash Salad with Quinoa and Kale

We love our zucchini and spaghetti squash, but we'd be lying if we said we were anything but over the moon that kabocha, butternut, and other non-summer squashes are slowly coming back in season! Although called "winter squash," seeing these babies back on farmers market stands is an unofficial signal that the hottest months are behind us and autumn is on our heels. This recipe from green goddess Candice Kumai's new cookbook Clean Green Eats uses roasted kabocha squash atop a bed of hearty kale leaves and quinoa - a perfectly balanced lunch or dinner, if you ask us. Get cooking on your new favorite fall recipe...  This hearty, heartwarming salad is delish as a side dish or even as a full meal. It’s also a great base recipe to experiment with - feel free to swap out the quinoa with another healthy grain like farro, freekeh, or barley. You can also swap out the kale for arugula, the apple for pear, or the pepitas for walnut or pecan pieces. Make it your own and get creative with your cooking! Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is so good for you in so many ways - from stimulating your circulation to clearing up breakouts. It also adds a slightly sweet tang to any dressing. I love it paired with a bit of mustard and honey.

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On My Bookshelf: 6 Inspiring Must-Read Books According To Kris Carr

We're nerd-ing out and reading up this fall. There's nothing like a brand new book to harness all our autumn ambition and enthusiasm. We've rounded up almost 30 essential wellness reads inside The Shop and we'll be adding 3 more reader picks by the end of the season. In the mood to flip pages? We've asked our September Guest Editor, wellness guru Kris Carr to share what's been inspiring her lately. Check out all six of her must-read book selections - we're tempted to swipe up the entire collection...

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Going Boho In Palm Springs: Make The Fire Cider From Our Herbalism Workshop

There are a good two dozen weekend getaways just hours from L.A. But in the last few years, there's just nothing quite like what's happening in hot and quirky Palm Springs. The latest desert hotspot on our radar is the Avalon Palm Springs. The Avalon fills a sweet spot between the art deco sophistication of the Parker Hotel and the nouveau kitch of The Ace, an ideal desert experience that's both a little Old Hollywood and a lot of modern L.A. We spent a recent weekend inside one of their bungalows for a very Chalkboardy getaway, including yoga, herbalism classes, treatments at the new Estrella Spa, and dinners at the modern, sustainable Chi Chi restaurant. By the middle of next year, the Avalon will also be completely updated with design elements from one of our favorite L.A. designers, Kelly Wearstler. To give you a taste of our desert getaway, we asked the Avalon's farm-to-spa guru, herbalist Jason Harler (who also built the programs at The Standard Miami and the Ace Palm Springs) to help us make this killer wellness tonic, Fire Cider - a genius blend of apple cider vinegar and other natural ingredients that will help keep your immunity up through the coming season! Here's Jason... Many people the world over are familiar with a version of the traditional folk remedy that boosts the immune system, stimulates digestion and warms the body on cold days. We’ve shifted it up a notch by tincturing it with both vodka and apple cider vinegar so that it’s stronger (which means more power in a smaller dose) and will last up to a couple years once it’s made. You can carry it around in a dropper bottle and use it as a tonic immune and general health booster when traveling and living your busy life. This is a folk preparation and the ingredients can change from year to year depending on your region and the time of year. Try to use fresh organic ingredients and feel free to modify this by using herbs that you know will address certain things that are happening within your own system.The standard base ingredients are apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish and cayenne, but there are plenty of other herbs that can be thrown in for added kick or for anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties (like thyme and oregano). Fire cider is traditionally made without the vodka, but we like like it with the extra kick, as well as the extra power of the extracts that vodka brings out of the plants along with apple cider vinegar. It can be taken straight by drops or a spoonful if you feel a cold coming on or added to organic veggie juice (think health-boosting Bloody Mary!).

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Superfood Spotlight: Hawthorn Berries

Watch out world, there's yet another super-berry trending this year. The truth is, every berry, veggie and herb under the sun has special qualities for our health, but we love learning about berries like hawthorn that we've never tried before. Learn all about these fabled fruits from the herbalists at Urban Moonshine (read our interview about their wild-crafted herbal tinctures here - pretty cool!) and learn to make this cool herbal tincture with them.... What it is: Like its cousin the apple, hawthorn berries come in many species and varietals and grow all over the world. But the similarity stops there: Hawthorn (Crataegus species) is low in carbohydrates but packed with super-antioxidant flavonoids and prebiotic polysaccharides. Fabled in traditional European folklore, the tree is also called the whitethorn or May thorn, in reference to its beautiful flowers, and is still thought to be inhabited by a powerful faery-spirit skilled in love and revitalization. Why use it: The chemistry of hawthorn is similar to that of many other superfood berries, including acai, goji and blueberry: flavonoid pigments known as anthocyanidins reduce inflammation, support regeneration and vitality and improve circulation. But out of all the berries, hawthorn has by far the best clinical research record: Consistent results show its effectiveness for blood pressure, heart failure, and poor circulation. The unique anthocyanidins seem to interface with the endothelial surface layer that lines arteries and capillaries, making it thicker and more resistant to the damage caused by free radicals. Hawthorn is also a lot more affordable than its more exotic cousins! How to use it: Dry hawthorn berries make a wonderful ruby-red tincture (see below). Mix two teaspoons of the tincture with one tablespoon of raw honey to make a delicious spread for fruit or toast, or try the full recipe below for a tasty, super-safe and effective daily heart tonic.

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Drought-Friendly Farming With A California Ranch

Living in L.A, we're hyper aware of the effects of the Californa drought: lawns are being replaced by succulent gardens, restaurants are serving water by request only, and some of our fave produce has become a little harder to find. We love that everyone is doing their part to conserve our precious resources, but we love it even more that farms and ranches have gotten in on the action and are leading by example. L.A.-based farm-to-table delivery service Out Of The Box Collective gives us the lowdown on one Santa Barbara-adjacent ranch doing their part to make a difference... For five years now, one of our favorite stops at the Santa Barbara farmer’s market has been Rancho San Julian’s market table, where Elizabeth Poett sells pastured beef from her family ranch. This 14,000 acre ranch has been in Elizabeth’s family for over 8 generations and is one of California’s oldest family run ranches. A profound love and respect for the land has been passed down through these generations. They have been raising cattle on pasture and using traditional herding methods on horseback for more than 200 years. The ranch, which is graced by forests of California Live Oak, also grows a variety of vegetables, grapes, and lavender. Its tradition of environmental stewardship extends now to solar power in a watering system designed to protect its many creeks and arroyos. Faced with the challenges brought on by the recent severe drought, Elizabeth Poett, who was born and raised on the ranch, has worked with her family to bring back the ranch’s sustainable farm by bringing on bio-dynamic guru Chris Thompson. The crops they have been growing, with minimal water, are absolutely beautiful, and a testament to the love and care that has gone into cultivating them. [olists num=1] [olists num=2]

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Yoga Matters With Chad Dennis of Wanderlust Hollywood

Ever since its grand opening this summer, we've been obsessed with Wanderlust Hollywood. This all-inclusive wellness center slays when it comes to health on a holistic level, from its superfoodie-friendly cafe to its inspirational speakeasy lectures to its guided meditations. But the thing we love most about Wanderlust space (started by the founders of the festival of the same name) is its diverse, progressive yoga class lineup. From traditional Vinyasa to their signature SoulScape and The Fixx classes, each 45-90 minute flow is our perfect combo of soul-awakening experience and supercharged sweat sesh. This soul-stirring approach to yoga is spearheaded by Chad Dennis, Wanderlust Hollywood's director of yoga. As the yoga instructor to musicians such as Maroon 5 (he was on tour with them for over eight years!), Chad knows the power of music when it comes to movement. His classes at Wanderlust Hollywood pay close attention to alignment and detail, marrying rhythm and music to a creative, progressive sequencing while keeping the focus on each practitioner as an individual. There is no right or wrong way to experience the kind of yoga that Chad and his Wanderlust teachers offer - whether you're an experienced yogi or completely new to downward dogs, if it awakens something in your soul, you're on the right track. From the biggest lessons he hopes to teach to living yoga off the mat (one word: family), Chad's refreshing perspective on "the practice" of yoga is exactly why we love him...

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