Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy Nail Serum

/ embracingspirit / 1 Comment

The winters can be so drying for our skin, but also our NAILS! When I saw this I couldn’t believe how simple! This is also great if you have had artificial nails or other methods to make your nails pretty, but THIS is the bomb! I snagged these little bottles from my amazon shop and can’t wait to make this!

Fill the rest with castor oil. Castor oil is extremely moisturizing, strengthening and absorbs well into the skin while promoting nail growth.

Goodbye brittle dry nails and hello healthy gorgeous nails! If you are not already a wholesale member, just send me a message and I will will help you get started with oils that meet your budget!

You can find these sweet little bottles in my amazon shop! Check out this gorgeous ebook about the basics of essential oils, too!

Magnolia

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

High in linalool, magnolia essential oil is known for its calming, soothing, and relaxing properties. It uplifts the spirit and instills a sense of natural wonder in the world around us.

It is also pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimicrobial, sedative, and antiseptic.

Magnolia flower essential oil is also known to:

• Alleviate rashes, hives, eczema, and psoriasis
• Calm worry, tension, and feelings of stress
• Ease anxiety
• Ease inflammation
• Ease menstrual discomfort
• Encourage better communication
• Heal dry skin
• Help heal minor wounds
• Improve memory and focus
• Increase appetite
• Increase circulation
• Increase confidence
• Inspire romance
• Instill a sense of well-being
• Reduce scars
• Relieve respiratory congestion
• Relieve symptoms of PMS
• Relieve feelings of depression
• Soothe cough
• Stimulate the lymphatic system

And, it smells amazing.

Learn more here! And if you are curious about how to use essential oils in your home, check out this gorgeous ebook!

Essential Oils and the Brain

/ embracingspirit / 4 Comments

Do you ever wonder what people mean when they say “aromatic benefits”??

Your sense of smell is much more accurate than any of your other senses.

Your ability to smell comes from sensory cells called Olfactory Sensory Neurons, found in a small patch of tissue very high in your nose. Those cells connect to your brain.

Each of those sensory neurons has one odor receptor – and molecules released by substances around us stimulate these receptors. Once your neurons detect your molecules, they send messages to your limbic lobe of your brain.

Our sense of smell is 10,000 more sensitive than our other senses.

Scent travels faster to the brain with smell than it does with sight, or even sound.

The limbic lobe is a group of brain structures that is below the cortex of the brain – it includes the amygdala and the hippocampus. Your limbic lobe (system of brain structures) is directly connected to the parts of your brain that control many aspects of your body – hormone levels, stress, memory, breathing, heart rate, and more.

The only way to stimulate the emotional brain is through your sense of smell – which is one of the reasons why Essential Oils can work so incredibly well. Feelings of depression, fear, anger, happiness, joy and even anxiety all originate from the limbic lobe of the brain.

Essential Oils can help alleviate symptoms at a cellular level through their therapeutic properties. The stimulation of hormones and chemicals can drastically affect physiology and behavior.

Essential Oils responses are varied. They be stimulating (Peppermint), or calming (Lavender). Some are sedative (Cedarwood) and some balancing (Frankincense).

My Top Five for Emotions:

  • Roman Chamomile: Helps support feelings of peace, love and acceptance.
  • Cedarwood: Helps support healthy focus and encouragement while also grounding.
  • Lavender: Helps support relaxation and calming. This one also helps with communicating feelings.
  • Bergamot: Uplifting and will help support healthy confidence levels. This one also helping foster self love and self worth.
  • Frankincense: Powerful cleanser of the spirit – grounding and can help during times of negativity.
REFERENCES:

How do Essential Oils Affect our Mind and Our Emotions. Retrieved from http://www.biospiritual-energy-healing.com/essential-oils-affect-our-minds.html

You can learn more about the basics of essential oils here.

The Journey

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

I had a wonderful day turning 50 filled with love and goodness. I woke up with a sense of wonder and excitement for this beautiful next season. And the journey continues..

One day you
finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Empower Yourself

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

Each month I am loving crafting gorgeous blends of essential oils and gems to inspire and bring a deeper sense of mind, body and spirit healing to the user.

I created this blend to fuel those who wear it to be empowered to live within their deepest wishes and desires. Also to be driven to live each day with a sense of purpose and a drive to be their very best.

The oils in this blend are synergistically powerful in doing just that.

Each oil has its own unique physical and emotional properties, while also working together to bring about a great sense of personal power. The added lapis lazuli, or commonly known as the ‘wisdom keeper’ helps guide each of us on our path. Check out all the emotional benefits of this blend. You can grab yours here.

Empower Blend

  • Clove: empowered, clear boundaries, protected
  • Ginger: empowered, capable, responsible
  • Cardamom: objective, respectful, self-control
  • Ylang ylang: freedom, playful, intuitive
  • Basil: energized, renewed, rested
  • Bergamot: self-acceptance, optimistic, confident
  • Peppermint: buoyant, optimistic, relieved
  • Arborvitae: grace-filled, trusting, peaceful
  • Frankincense: wisdom, discerning, connected
  • Lapis Lazuli—”THE WISDOM KEEPER” Assists individuals in taking the lead n your own life and is a natural immune system booster.

Healthy Start

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

Have you been seeing essential oils popping up everywhere? Even the dollar store! Ack! When it comes to putting anything in, on or around my body, I want to make sure it is pure and safe.

For years I grabbed oils wherever and had no idea they could be unsafe for me or my kids (including the furry ones)!!

I did my research and chose a company with high ethics and a deep desire to change lives.

What I love the most is the co-impacting sourcing. This means the farmers and their families and communities all over the world are paid and treated with honor and integrity. Every drop I use is helping someone else benefit too. Whether it is building a school or hospital, getting fresh water available, teaching communities how to better themselves, the growers lives are improved.

I also wanted to make sure what I was investing in was pure and unadulterated essential oils.

I didn’t want additives or false claims of purity. I wanted the stuff hospitals use.

I know you can get oils anywhere, but I hope that you’d consider linking up with me and my tribe. This means you have support using the oils, you’re part of a community of like minded health seeking people with a heart of service. Helping others find solutions and light in their lives is what I am all about.

If that resonates with you then let’s get going!

I love this starter kit because it has everything a household needs! Plus the diffuser is a perfect one for bedrooms, kitchens, etc. I love that it runs for 11 hours!

This bundle comes with:

  • On Guard—Energizing, Daily Immune Support
  • Oregano—purifying, Mega Immune Support
  • Lavender— Calming, Skin, Sleep, Babies
  • Frankincense—Renewing, Relaxing, Brain & Immune Support
  • Lemon— Revitalizing, Cleansing, Uplifting, Detoxing
  • Tea Tree—Cleansing, Ear and Skin Support, Lice
  • Peppermint—Stimulating, Cooling, Focus, Bug Repellent
  • DigestZen—Relieving, Digestive Support, Bloating, Gas
  • Breathe—Invigorating, Respiratory Support, Clear Breathing
  • Deep Blue—Soothing, Aches and Pains, Muscle Support
  • Stone Diffuser—Diffuse 5 hours Continuously or 10 hours Intermittently

Plus, you’ll get access to my VIP group, ongoing mentoring, free wellness consultation, and an amazing welcome package.

You can also gift this to someone! The gift of health and wellness–how awesome!

Grab this bundle – Healthy Start Kit

Release

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

I love mindfully crafting essential oil blends together for an emotional purpose. Last month I wanted to offer one that could help facilitate a release of the years emotions. It smells heavenly and as apply it to my hands and take in three full complete breaths, I can feel the tension escape my body.

This RELEASE blend that was offered last month isn’t just for the year end. This is a blend to use anytime life shows up and becomes stuck in your body and heart.

Check out what is included in this RELEASE blend.

  • Thyme empties the soul of negativity, leaves the heart open wide. This oil helps with emotional release.
  • Lemongrass is the oil of cleansing. It helps us let go of toxic energy and negativity. It helps release limiting beliefs. It allows us to move past old trauma and to gain clarity to move forward.
  • Cypress is the oil of motion. Ever feel stuck? Cypress will help you let go of worry and the need for control, and help you have trust in the flow of life. It will help with getting unstuck and moving forward.
  • Peppermint is the oil of a buoyant heart. It is a very invigorating oil to both mind and body. It is an encouraging oil that helps us rediscover the joy of life and being alive!
  • Basil essential oil is helpful in dealing with feelings of anxiety, panic, or apprehension, and has been said to be the oil of “renewal”, both emotionally and spiritually. It provides strength and tranquility to the heart and mind, making it perfect for overwhelm, stress, fatigue, and may even assist a person in their efforts to overcome addiction–which makes it a great choice for overcoming ruminating thoughts and self-sabotaging behaviors that often result from toxic relationships
  • Cedarwood oil is a great oil for times of crisis or sudden change, such as when there is an adjustment in households, jobs, and/or relationships. These events often lead to feeling isolated or knocked off balance. Cedarwood provides feelings of stability and grounding when external circumstances threaten your feelings of stability. It also helps lessen fears that deter your ability to realize your potential.
  • Bergamot helps us transfer love back to ourselves. We can be so fixated on wanting other people to make us happy that we forget we can do that for ourselves. Bergamot is uplifting, has natural anti-depressant properties, and helps us to relax and regain self-confidence again. Bergamot oil helps us in the areas of self-love, self-worth, self-acceptance, self-judgment, and self-loathing. It instills validation within, allowing us to accept our own authenticity, and not spend so much time worrying about the opinions of others.
  • Frankincense. In addition to alleviating and eliminating depression, Frankincense is known as the “Oil of Truth”, revealing deceptiveness and false truths. It invites the individual to let go of lower vibrations, insults, and negativity. This oil helps create new perspectives based on integrity and enlightenment. Frankincense is a powerful cleanser of the spirit. It assists in removing malevolent energies attached to a person, allowing them to open to enlightenment. Addresses the emotions of abandonment and spiritual disconnectedness.
  • Lemon. In addition to its bright aroma, lemon is also a great cleanser and purifier. This is a perfect choice to bring clarity, focus and brightness to the end of the year.
  • Smokey Quartz–The Smoky Quartz crystal is a grounding stone known for its ability to help you move on from difficult or painful experiences. It guides you to a higher state of being, a place where you can let go of the past and welcome in the future.

2020 Year in Review

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

Ahhhhh.the final day of 2020. It has been a transformative year for me in so many ways. When I pulled up my #bestnine photos I was happy to see that two of my favorite quotes made the cut.

Mindset IS everything.

Like so many people, my life that I knew came to an abrupt stop March 7th—my studio closed, the gym I taught at closed, the long term care centers and clinics I saw clients in closed, and my daughters adult day programming closed.I needed to generate an income to sustain my life AND meet the needs of my kid. Within 36 hours my entire business went online and I was again navigating meaningful and purposeful activities for my girl to do while at home, and still maintain her social skills, advocating skills and navigating the community.

My mindset HAD to shift, and shift quickly. What once was daunting to me, has now become second nature. I actually like the camera! And the growth I have seen in my daughter these last nine months has solidified my belief that the services in the community need a serious overhaul before I would consider putting her back in a program.

The other quote that popped up inspired me to be open to anything…to allow myself to become what I want by moving through the challenges with grace, hard work and a bunch of faith.The cute little gal in the photos showed up so much because my life changed SO much this year, I was able to spend weekly time with my little mini-me. The special bond that we have developed would not have happened if not for the major changes to my work schedule.

A major ankle surgery and looking forward to the next season of my life inspired me to practice radical self-love. To say no when I needed to, to take extra long bubble baths and be willing to receive help and accept a pace of healing that has been incredibly slow. I recognized the boundaries that were needed to keep my heart in a good space. I learned to let go.

For me, 2020 has been remarkable.

My word for 2020 was REVERENCE—a deep honor and respect for all things and experiences.

I’d say I embraced it beautifully.

Gratitude Practice

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

I am a huge believer in a gratitude practice. A real, honest to goodness, emotionally charged gratitude practice.

Even though this has been a tough year, I think we always have something to be grateful for.

Need some help feeling it? Our sense of smell is directly tied to our brain, so a quick sniff can influence how we feel. This gorgeously crafted blend may be just the thing you need. It’s perfect and works wonderfully with your emotions and your brain to bring out a thankful heart.

Gratitude Blend

  • Siberian fir; breaking negative emotional and spiritual patterns
  • Frankincense; raise awareness, shine your bright light
  • Grapefruit; appreciate who you are
  • Wild Orange; abundance and bright future, gladness to the heart
  • Geranium; heart opening, realize security in what you do have
  • Clove; instills power, sense of protection, integrity
  • Amber chips—A fossilized tree resin, amber radiates laughter, vitality, and courage. This stone holds the protective energy of our beloved trees, the guardians of Earth.

Before these sell out, you can grab yours here! If you want to learn more about the basics of using essential oils, enjoy this free ebook.

Whipped Body Butter

/ embracingspirit / 3 Comments

Our skin is our largest organ and it takes in everything that we put on it! I make my own soothing body butter and it is all I use on my skin! This super easy technique is quick and easy.

•one cup shea butter

•half cup hard coconut oil

• three tablespoon beeswax pellets

• 1/4 cup almond oil

• splash of vegetable glycerin (optional)

• 20-30 drops of your fave essential oils I actually love lavender, rosemary and spearmint these days.

• Put all of the ingredients except the essential oils into a mason jar. Place the jar in a pot of simmering water until it melts. Once it is all melted together, pour into a glass bowl to become hard again. I even put the bowl in fridge for a while. Once it is hard, add the essential oils and whip with a hand mixer until fluffy. Store in glass jars. ENJOY!

Watch How Easy It Is To Make

Supporting Small Business

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

When you donate to my yoga classes, buy essential oils from me or hire me to share yoga in your rehabilitation center or with a private client, you are supporting ME in my small business. YOU are helping me sustain my purpose and my livelihood.

I am content with what I have, however, securing a financial future for me and my daughter is why I work tirelessly most days of the week. When you look to buy gifts this year, think about the small businesses in your life and support them. You can buy essential oils anywhere, but if you choose to buy them from me you are supporting me and not the big box chains and you are getting top quality oils that are safe. Choose small this year because really you are choosing to make a difference in someone’s life.

I am a yoga teacher and mindfulness coach. I am a wellness coach. I am a doterra leader and essential oil advocate. I am a mom. I am a CNA to my disabled daughter. I am the voice for others. Thank you for supporting ME this year.

If you’re ready to change your life, perhaps I can help. Check out all my offerings.

Acknowledging the Goodness

/ embracingspirit / 1 Comment

In recent weeks I have been coming up with strategies to ease my aching heart about the obviously very different Thanksgiving celebration that this year will hold. On one hand, I am incredibly grateful for the health and happiness within my family and close friends, but I am also allowing myself to feel the very real disappointment and sadness that is present when I face the grim reality that I won’t be spending this years annual holiday surrounded by food, festivities, and of course, family.

In the big picture I realize that it is just one day. One measly 24-hour period that can easily be made up when this all passes with a bounty of food and connection.

And yet, I also have a strong need to acknowledge the sadness and emptiness that the lack of tradition brings to my heart. There is in fact a hole that is empty of the connection that regardless of how busy our lives are, people come together for one day of family.

I will miss that.

I have given myself a few days to notice the missing parts of the tradition that I love so much. I love the hectic amount of cooking, the matching orange, brown and red table decorations, and even the ridiculous turkey shaped salt and pepper shakers. I love to see my sons interact and jive each other while their sister tries to sheepishly engage. I love to see the history of our lives be woven together again for a few short hours.

Now that I have had my time to feel what I feel, I am ready to rumble with making new traditions. I decided to switch up my classic food items a bit and prepare a few new dishes. After spending some time prepping yesterday I came to the realization that cooking for two is much easier than fourteen, so there is some beauty there. I also realized that my kids are making their own traditions and that is what I always wanted. I had always hoped that they would grow up to truly own their life and create experiences for themselves that nurture their unique spirit.

As the turkey gets put into the oven today, I am reminded of all the good. I have raised two fantastic men, I have a warm ad cozy house, my career fulfills me and I am truly loved. Those are the things that matter. The memories and traditions will be locked into my heart space with fondness, and today I choose to take abundant breaths and soak in the quietude of the day knowing that all is well.