Cranberry Tangerine Scones

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I am a sucker for a good scone. One of my favorite afternoon treats is a delicious coffee and a scone. I like to make these into small size scones so I don’t ruin my appetite or my exercise efforts. The little treat is so worth it, though.

These tangerine cranberry scones are super delicious pretty much any time of day. Not just for afternoon coffee time. You could have them for breakfast, brunch or dessert.

Health Benefits of Cranberries:

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As far as healthy foods go, cranberries are at the top of the list due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content and are often referred to as a “super food.” Not to mention, half a cup of cranberries contains only 25 calories! The possible health benefits of consuming cranberries include lowered risk of urinary tract infections, prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, decreased blood pressure and more.

Ingredients:

Scones

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold salted butter, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon grated tangerine or orange zest
  • 1 cup chopped dried cranberries
  • ¾ cup plus 4 tablespoons heavy cream

Glaze

Directions:

For the scones:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large glass bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and salt. Cut the butter into the mixture using a pastry cutter or fingers until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add the tangerine zest and dried cranberries.
  3. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add ¾ cup of the heavy cream. Mix the dough together. It should have a slightly dry texture, but not crumbly. Add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of heavy cream if the dough seems too dry.
  4. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for 1 minute. Form the dough into a round 1-inch thick, and use a knife or a pizza 4. cutter to cut the round into 8 equal wedges. Arrange the wedges in a round, but about 1 inch apart, on the baking sheet. Brush the wedges with 4 tablespoons heavy cream and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the scones are golden and the edges are lightly toasted.

For the glaze:

  1. In a glass bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, tangerine zest, orange juice, and tangerine essential oil. Drizzle the glaze on top of the warm scones.

Serve the scones warm or cold. Either way they will be delicious!

*Note: It is important to be sure you are using an essential oil that is safe for consumption. Many so called ‘essential oils’ from drugstores and grocery stores are quite toxic if taken internally. I choose to use only Certified Pure Therapuetic Grade doTERRA Essential oils. I recommended working closely with someone who can mentor you on the use of essential oils. You can also downloaded this free ebook that is a perfect guide for using essential oils.

I would love to hear what you think! Comment below and let me know if you loved these!

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Beginnings

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“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”

– Vincent Van Gogh
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We have all had that initial beginning of something.

That first time taking a fitness class, embarking on a new way of eating, beginning a mediation practice, or as simple as increasing water consumption. Sometimes the first class, or the first recipe, or the first time you sat with awareness is often the hardest.

If you are embarking on a new something consider these 5 tips:

1. Remember it is about the journey. While enthusiasm is fabulous, it can be so easy to jump from your starting point with only the end result in mind.  Whether you are looking to lose weight or increase your overall well-being it is imperative to enjoy the steps along the way.  If your only focus in losing those 20 pounds, I guarantee you will miss the joy in planning, shopping, cooking and eating that amazing meal. The tastes you experience are the end result, but the joy that can come from loving what you are creating is the journey.  Enjoy each step.

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2.  Stop and breathe. Every single day find 10 minutes to simply breathe.  Inhale. Exhale with intention and awareness.  This practice will keep you grounded as your life changes.  As you embark on a new way of being, people around you will challenge you.  It is imperative that you have this tool in your tool box.  Breathe.

3. Be tender with yourself. Yes, you will stumble.  And you will miss the Yoga class because of work.  Yes, you will eat that cookie the kids leftover.  Yes you will choose soda over water.  It happens.  Start again without a litany of negative self-talk.  Instead remember that the sun does come up tomorrow and you can begin again.

4. Ask yourself those hard questions. As you begin anything new it is key to get into your heart and know what it is that you are seeking. Are you doing this for you or for someone else?  Are you doing it with the hope that you will be happier? Do you have a goal in mind or are you wanting to just explore the experience?  Are you willing to make choices and changes?  What are you willing to do to make those changes?

5. Be open to a mind shift. Do you notice that you have a series of limiting beliefs about yourself or your life? You know, things like “I don’t have enough time or money”, “I am not flexible”, “I can’t sit still long enough to meditate”, “I don’t like the taste of plain water”.  Consider what might happen if you turned those limiting beliefs into statements of hope—“I have the ability to choose where I spend my money”, “I choose to make the time, because I am worth it”, “I honor my body in a Yoga class and not compete”, “I am capable of sitting for 5 minutes today”, “I am grateful to have fresh, clean water to drink”.  Consider shifting to a belief of positivity and hope.

Why? Because YOU are worth it.

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Morning Routine

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What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?

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Many years ago I would get out of bed and just start “doing”…. I was asleep living my life and just going through the motions of existing.

Then I started a ritual of being quiet and still. I made a commitment to getting up a little earlier before the house woke up and began making time for myself. I say this a lot, but when I WOKE UP to living, I became a better person. Part of the waking up process was cultivating a morning ritual. 

The results were amazing; I yelled less, I reacted less, I was angry less, and I was peeling off all the garbage I had accumulated through my life. It was clear to me that anger had eroded every cell of my being and I was a perfect example of what that looked like.

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I was toxic mess in every aspect of my life. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. A toxic, heavy mess.

And then I began this simple morning ritual. I started the great wake up of my life where I went from unconscious living to conscious and deliberate living.

The rest is history ?

Here is how I start my day: I usually take 30 minutes to do some of these things before the day gets busy.

  • I am a big intention-for-the-day person and I almost always pull a positive card that gives me something to think about throughout the day.
  • I note all the goodness in my life and welcome in the day with an open heart by breathing mindfully for 5-10 minutes and sitting with all that IS.
  • I enjoy my coffee with mindfulness. I practice the art of tasting it, smelling it, and enjoying the warmth.

After this part of my morning is complete and my spirit is cared for, I go and take care of my physical body with movement. Right now I am enjoying short walks and time on my yoga mat or pilates reformer.

Once I have had a little time for myself I can be ready to give to others. You know the old saying you cannot pour from an empty cup.

What’s your morning routine like?

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One Bowl Breakfast Cookies

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I admit it. I cannot keep cookies in the house without eating at least one per day. I recently solved my guilt by making some healthy versions of cookies. Since I am also not a big breakfast eater I wanted to try to make something that is healthy and something that I would actually want to eat. And, does anyone ever really eat all the bananas before they go brown??? This recipe is great for those forgotten bananas.

These One Bowl Breakfast Cookies are so quick and easy to make–it’s as simple as mixing together wholesome ingredients in one bowl and baking them into the best morning meal. These nourishing banana oat breakfast cookies are the perfect way to start your day, because cookies taste even better for breakfast! Plus, you can play around with different mix-ins so you will never get bored. Who could get bored with a cookie anyway??? My latest favorite thing to toss in is shredded coconut and my favorite chocolate protein powder …… soooo good. And the protein gives you a little more to keep you feeling full.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cup quick oats (I choose gluten free oats)
  •  ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  •  ¼ tsp salt
  •  ½ cup natural creamy peanut butter
  •  ½ tsp vanilla extract
  •  2 large ripe bananas mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
  •  ¼ cup dark chocolate chips

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

  • Mix-Ins: Feel free to add your favorite mix-ins for extra texture and taste. Some ideas include dried cranberries, raisins, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, unsweetened shredded coconut, and chopped nuts. 
  • Nut Butter: You can substitute the peanut butter with almond butter or cashew butter. To keep it nut-free, try sunflower seed butter or even smooth tahini can be used. 
  • Something Sweeter: The bananas add natural sweetness to these cookies. However, if you want them sweeter, add 2-4 tablespoons of maple syrup, honey (note that honey is not vegan-friendly), or agave nectar.

LETS MAKE SOME COOKIES

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until combined. Drop 2 tablespoon scoops onto the baking sheet.
I recommend baking your cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet to avoid the cookies sticking. Flatten into the shape of a cookie. The cookies will not spread, so they will come out of the oven in the same shape that they go in. You can use a cookie cutter to help form perfect circles or use the bottom of a juice class to smush the dough down. Bake at 350°F for 14-17 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Remove from the oven, cool and serve. I like to store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to a week (mine never last that long though).

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Enjoy!

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April Inspiration

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AWAKEN; verb (used with or without object) to awake; waken.

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As I walk each day, I am happy to be reminded that nature calls us to be awake and aware. The first signs of green are starting to pop up and I believe it teaches us about resiliency and the rhythms of nature. It is such a great season to notice Life. My knee surgery has been much harder than I anticipated and it has been a true test of my patience and resiliency so seeing the little shoots of green make their way through the hard winter soil is a good lesson for me.

As we enter into April, despite what is going on around us, we are reminded of the cycles of life that exist in all forms. This is a beautiful time to look to nature for the lessons and to welcome your own season of growth. Springtime is a great time to scatter seeds within yourself to create the beautiful blossoms in your life that you desire. Simply noticing and then cultivating growth within yourself will do wonders as you blossom this season.

Some great ideas for personal growth include increasing tolerance, having patience, loving yourself more, laughing daily, or slowing down to enjoy life.

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Once you set your intention and scatter your seeds, it is time to nurture these powerful thoughts and water them with love and tenderness. Keeping weeds away through positive thoughts and affirmations are a sure way to have a great harvest in the coming months.

What seeds will you scatter this season? I am planning to plant some seeds of acceptance and really working at seeing what IS.

I have been teaching yoga for over fifteen years in the community and back in April of 2011, I decided to create the vision that has become known as Embracing Spirit Yoga. I am so blessed to share Yoga with people of ALL abilities in the community and in my studio. I am beyond grateful for those who have supported and loved me all these years.

Blessings to you as you scatter seeds in your life and AWAKEN from the season of slumber.

Also, check out this amazing AWAKEN blend to inspire you to live your best life!

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Stacie believes that it is her life purpose to share the gift of Yoga with anyone who is willing to say yes. In addition to raising a family and being an advocate for those with disabilities, Stacie is founder of Embracing Spirit Yoga which specializes in bringing adaptive Yoga into community centers and rehabilitation clinics. Bringing her depth of compassion to the mat–or the chair–she offers students the opportunity to grow as an individual in all aspects of their life.

With over fourteen years experience, Stacie Wyatt is an E-500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Life Wellness Coach, Senior YogaFit Instructor, Mind/Body Personal Trainer, Stress Reduction and Meditation Instructor, Pilates Instructor, and Barre Instructor. Stacie is also certified in Integrative Movement Therapy™and is also a believer in the power and application of essential oils for health and wellness and proudly shares doTERRA essential oils.

Stacie brings her personal life experience of raising a daughter with a disability and over 12 years working in special education to her everyday Yoga classes.

Welcome to Holland

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“I am different, not less.” 

 Temple Grandin
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I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it and to imagine how it would feel. This poem was given to me when my girl was just eight years old and it changed my entire view of what I was given. In time this poem made more and more sense to me as I learned to not only accept the challenges that we had but also see that she was literally the little spark of goodness that opened so many doors for me to heal, and as a result it led me to do the magical work that I do with people with brain injuries and other disabilities in my community.

Today, I am proud to say my girl has grown into a sweet, kindhearted and somewhat independent young woman. She enjoys her volunteer job at the local animal shelter and loves caring for her dog, Emma. I was able to renovate my house a few years ago so that she has her own make shift apartment in my home where she lives with her dog as independently as possible. It has been my goal and focus that she become as self-sufficient as possible, not just for her own well-being but also because the reality is I will not live forever and I want her to either have success in supported living in the community, or be the least big of a burden to one of her brothers should they choose to have her live with them.

She has surpassed so much more than what anyone ever thought she’d be able to do. Of course, this came with decades of advocating, teaching and patience on my part and her willingness to do hard things.

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This poem was the game changer for me and our life together navigating one of the hardest forms of parenting. Please feel free to pass this along to another parenting navigating this strange, yet beautiful experience.

Welcome to Holland

When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip – to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”

“Holland?!?” you say. “What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.”

But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It’s just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around…. and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills….and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy… and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away… because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But… if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things … about Holland.

Photo by Michal Knotek on Pexels.com

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Japa Meditation

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Have you ever used a Mala and practiced Japa meditation? Malas — also known as yoga beads or japamalas — are necklaces that usually have 108 beads. Mala, in Sanskrit means “garland”. Malas are meant to help you focus your mind during meditation. While Japa meditation is my favorite way to meditate, the beads themselves hold a powerful visual reminder throughout the day of the statement I meditated on and the tactile sensation brings me right back. When my mind wanders throughout the day, I can simply touch my mala and I am reminded of what statement I chose.

In meditation practice, Japa meditation holds a special place. It is the process of mentally repeating a mantra or speaking a phrase while meditating using a mala. The word Japa means muttering in Sanskrit. The meditative practice of Japa keeps the human mind steady and resistant to disturbance.

Meditation could mean different things to different people. I have written and taught how to transform meditation into mindfulness and how learning to live each moment in the state of mindfulness can change your life. While sometimes I have a “formal” meditation practice, it is often that my meditation/mindfulness practice takes shape in other ways.n

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Many consider meditation as a quiet observation, wherein others often consider it a practice of self-awareness or reflection upon themselves. Either way, stillness and introspection is an amazing insight to your daily life.

I love to practice Japa meditation because for me it helps me to focus on a powerful statement, 108 times. It embeds in my spirit something positive and powerful. Plus the tactile use of the mala adds an element to the meditation that my mind enjoys. I have several Malas—some are made of stones like jasper and agate but my favorite is a sandalwood mala that has become richer over times as I use it.

The practice of Japa creates beneficial mental pathways and is a strong technique for focusing the mind and harnessing the subtle powers of the body/mind. I have seen this practice in my students many times as we learn Japa together. Some have even purchased mala beads to continue on their own.

How to practice Japa meditation:

Japa meditation is practiced by moving your fingers along a mala or the strings of beads known as Japa mala. There are many types of Japa that include speaking the mantra aloud, whispering the mantra or silently repeating the mantra. I prefer to be silent. There is also a technique you can use if you don’t have a string of mala beads. You can see that technique in this video.

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Now that you know how to practice Japa, choose a powerful statement and try it.

Here are some positive affirmations to try:
  • I am calm
  • I am centered
  • I am in control
  • I am loved
  • I am grateful
  • am worthy of what I do and speak
  • I am valued and loved
  • I am allowed to put myself first
  • I am safe
  • I am secure
  • I release all my shame that I am holding
  • I love my body and what it does for me.

Most often, I simply say “I am____” and follow it with a variety of words like patient, strong, healthy, resilient, powerful, etc.

Are you going to give it a try?

* this is my sandalwood mala and a Sanskrit word Shanti tattoo which translates to peace

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How Fast Do Essential Oils Work?

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when you know better, you do better

Maya Angelou
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Think essential oils just smell good? Back when I first started using them, I did too. I have learned through the years that they are actually working inside your brain and body to support every cell within our body. Crazy, eh?

Think about it. Long before pharmacies came to town, our ancestors used plants to help our bodies. Peppermint plants, homemade salves from herbs and tree parts, teas and much more. We strayed from these methods but I think more and more people are coming back to them.

People often get overwhelmed when learning about essential oils and I admit, it can be confusing at forest. But, using essential oils is really pretty simple.

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Stop for a second.

Ask yourself what you are feeling. (Stressed, tired, overwhelmed, in pain, etc)…..then ask yourself what you WANT to feel. (Happy, calm, energized, peaceful, content, etc), then grab an oil that will offer that.

The simplest terms of beginning to learn about aromatherapy is to think of a tree. The higher up on the tree you go, the more uplifted and energized you’ll feel (citrus), the lower to the ground and close to the tree the more grounded and calm you’ll feel. (trees, roots, barks, flowers). Mints and herbs are low growing and provide unique properties. Mints will be both soothing and uplifting and herbs are typically used for ailments and brain support (basil and rosemary and excellent brain supports).

Pick one.

Put a few drops in your hands. Cup your nose and breathe. Apply the extra to the back of your neck and chest.

There ya go. Aromatherapy 101! I have a great downloaded ebook that explains it all. Once you get started, I will hook you up with education and mentoring plus a fabulous welcome gift.

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Scattering Seeds

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The first signs of green are starting to pop up and I believe it teaches us about resiliency and the rhythms of nature. It is such a great season to notice Life.

As I walk each day, I am happy to be reminded that nature calls us to be awake and aware.

Spring time is a great time to be reminded of the cycles of life that exist in all forms. This is a beautiful time to look to nature for the lessons and to welcome your own time of growth.

Springtime is a great time to scatter seeds within yourself to create the beautiful blossoms in your life that you desire.

Take time to notice the changes around you as you see the trees begin to bud. Perhaps you see the crocus flowers pop open and the bright yellow daffodils smile at you. Simply noticing and then cultivating growth within yourself will do wonders for your spirit as you blossom this season.

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If we look at seeds as a symbol for our growth we can see that some great ideas for personal growth. What about increasing tolerance, having patience, loving yourself more, laughing daily, or slowing down to enjoy life? How about planting some of those seeds in your heart?

Once you set your intention and scatter your seeds, it is time to nurture these powerful thoughts and water them with love and tenderness. Keeping weeds away through positive thoughts and affirmations are a sure way to have a great harvest in the coming months.

What seeds will you scatter this season?

I am planning to plant more seeds of kindness to all beings this year. Spreading kindness is something I feel the world needs more of. One of my favorite acts of kindness is to give packets of wildflower seeds to random people. The smile that comes on their face when give you something so simple as a packet of potential beauty brings me so much happiness.

One of my biggest seeds I ever grew was the vision I had for my business.

I knew my seed had to have the intention of service at its heart. Way back in April of 2011, I decided to create the vision that has become known as Embracing Spirit Yoga. I am so blessed to share Yoga with people of ALL abilities in the community and in my studio for nearly two decades.

Like all strong plants, the seeds naturally sow themselves year after year and my business is thriving.

It truly does all start with a vision. A seed. Then with mindful attention to the seed, or vision, in time it will indeed grow into something amazing. Sure, there have been seasons where things needed to be replanted and readjusted, but in time it all grew into something that I am so proud of.

Now is the time to gather up your seeds and be ready to scatter them.

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Natural Thyroid Support

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The thyroid, located in the front of the neck, is a small butterfly-shaped organ. It plays a mighty role in your health by producing hormones which travel throughout the body. These hormones regulate our hearts, digestion, muscle control, and equally important, brain development. As a result, you need your thyroid to be performing well to feel well. Did you know that there are many essential oils for thyroid support?


First let’s look at why the thyroid is so important. Thyroid hormones affect your metabolism rate, which means how fast or slow your brain, heart, muscles, liver, and other parts of your body work. Amazing, Huh?


Paying attention to the language your body is speaking can really give you insight to your thyroid working too fast or too slowly. For example, if you don’t have enough thyroid hormone, you might feel tired and cold. Or, if you have too much thyroid hormone, you might feel nervous, jumpy, and warm.

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The thyroid is controlled by the pituitary gland which oversees thyroid hormone production. Additionally, it tells the thyroid to make more or less according to what the body needs. The pituitary gland is even smaller, about the size of a pea, yet still vitally important to our health. In fact, we can use essential oils for thyroid and pituitary support to keep our body working at it’s best.

The best essential oils for thyroid support are Lemongrass, Myrrh, Clove, Frankincense, Basil and Peppermint.

  1. Frankincense – Frankincense, also known as the “King of oils”, is a powerfully supportive oil for the body. Its complex chemistry, coupled with a high ratio of Monoterpenes (25%), make it a multi-purpose oil and a strong support on a cellular and DNA level. Furthermore, Frankincense is calming for the immune and nervous systems, skin and emotions.
  2. Myrrh – Because Myrrh is very high in Sesquiterpenes (75%), it is a strong support for the thyroid. Sesquiterpenes also stimulate the limbic system, hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands.
  3. Clove – Clove is a powerful antioxidant and immune support for the body. High in phenols which stimulate the immune and nervous system, they further help keep your cells performing well.
  4. Lemongrass – Lemongrass is high in aldehydes (up to 80%). This works to calm the nervous system, relieve stress and promote relaxation while also being uplifting. Combine with Clove, Myrrh and Frankincense for a daily thyroid support blend.
  5. Peppermint – Peppermint gives us a natural energy boost. If you’re tired, it’s a wonderful pick-me-up during the day, especially in those late afternoon hours. Try it in a diffuser, put a drop in your hands to inhale or just smell from the bottle. It is also supportive to the thyroid.
    1. Basil – Basil is actually known as a fabulous support for the adrenal system. When the thyroid is out of balance then the adrenals usually are too, and visa versa. So support for one is support for the other. Dilute Basil and apply over the adrenal glands (on both sides of the back, just under the rub cage) daily.

Remember, essential oils are so potent that it doesn’t take much to be effective. This roller blend will last about TWO months and each bottle of essential oils is 250 drops! That means you’ll have a long supply of thyroid support, but also the oils in this blend are incredibly versatile and you’ll find TONS of uses for them.

If you’d like to learn the basics of essential oils, check out this handy guide. It’s super easy to get these oils at wholesale prices, just pop over here OR I am happy to make you a thyroid blend to try before you invest!

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Twigs and Trash

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In order to grow we must first remove what it is in the way.

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For many years I have been teaching the concept that much like a garden we have outside, before we can plant anything and expect it to grow, we first have to remove all the old stuff, the trash and the things that are cluttering the soil. Today, as I was doing that exact literal thing in my backyard raking leaves and removing last years dead plants that were once so vibrant, I was reminded of the conversation I had this week with a group of men who have traumatic brain injures.

I teach this topic every March, regardless of who is in my classes because I think no matter who you are and what your life experience is, we all have something that is cluttering up our heart and therefore limiting the potential we have to grow. This might be something like fear, disappointment, regret, guilt, shame, resentment, anger or any other feeling and emotion that we have carried around for days or decades.

As I was guiding a meditation about visualizing a garden and seeing the old growth, the twigs and the trash, I asked them each to see a garden in their heart that may also have some things that could be getting in the way of growth.

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I shared with my ‘frat house’ that they have fondly referred to themselves as, that I have some disappointment that is taking up space in my own heart. I carry it day after day, year after year and despite all my attempts to pull it out, it seems to have a root system that is deep and new shoots pop up and take over my heart at times.

As we had a discussion about this, they called me out on it and the wise man who developed a life changing brain tumor at age 23 gave me the best insight on how to manage all the little twigs and trash that take up space. He is turning 60 in a a few weeks and following his diagnosis while in his final year of college his life has been a series of assisted living settings and long term support. He lost his independence and so much more, and yet is so wise.

Are you ready for this? In my humbleness, I asked how does one remove all the “twigs and trash” from our hearts. I asked how do I remove the disappointment?

He shared that you can never fully rid of every twig or piece of trash that has landed in the garden, instead you have to learn to manage and grow around them.

Huh, I said.

Tell me more, I said.

He went on to say that the remnants of the the “twigs” and “trash” will likely always be there and sometimes they may stick out of the soil and poke you but our job is to plants things around them so the beauty takes over.

Again, I asked how.

The wise teacher said:

  • forgiveness
  • acceptance
  • gratitude

When we forgive ourselves and others we remove so much of the garbage that fills our heart. This removes resentment, bitterness, and what-if thinking. When we accept was IS we no longer grieve for what might have been which brings presence to growing today. And finally, when we focus on being grateful we see all that we have, not all that we do not have.

How’s that for insightful?

It’s not so much about removing the parts of our heart that impede growth, but rather moving them aside through forgiveness, acceptance and gratitude so that we make space for something far more amazing to grow.

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Lemon Cheesecake Bites

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Ahhhh….Spring is here and that means all things lemon! The freshness of lemon makes everything happier and here in Colorado the season of Spring comes in and will usually leave for a few days and then return again! We get fooled when the season comes because April is our typical snowiest month of the year and sometimes we even get snow in May and June!

Yikes back to the happiness of lemon!

These Mini Lemon Cheesecakes are creamy, easy, and have a blast of refreshing lemon flavor. With the flavor you get a burst of Spring and instant happiness!

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Since these are in a cupcake pan because they are the perfect-sized dessert and make the best dessert for birthday parties, pot lucks, gatherings, showers, holidays, or any time you’re craving cheesecake. You can top with whipped cream, and fresh berries, or enjoy them just as they are. 

I love making cheesecake bites because they are SO much easier to make than a whole cheesecake. Plus I can have a little bite and be totally satisfied versus a big slice of cheesecake that feels heavy. You don’t have to feel as guilty because they are made in a cupcake pan so they are perfectly portioned and make the best dessert for any occasion.

INGREDIENTS:

Lemon Cheesecake Filling

  • 12 ounces softened cream cheese (1 1/2 blocks)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Shortbread Cookie Crust

  • 1 cup shortbread cookies
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
HOW TO MAKE:


MAKE THE SHORTBREAD CRUST

In a food processor, combine the shortbread cookies, melted butter, and sugar. Process for a few minutes until the mixture turns into a crumb-like consistency. Line two REGULAR cupcake baking pans with paper or silicone liners and evenly divide the shortbread cookie crumb mixture among 16 cups. With a spice jar, firmly press onto the cookie mixture to form a crust. Set aside.

MAKE CHEESCAKE BATTER

In a large mixing bowl beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and flour with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sour cream, vanilla extract, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice and beat just until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl often. The cheesecake mixture will be smooth. Be sure not to overmix.

FILL

With a tablespoon, spoon the mixture evenly on top of the crusts. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until the centers are set. Let cool completely, and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Remove cupcake liners and top with whipped cream (optional).

You can store these delicious bites in a plastic container in the fridge for up to a week, although they won’t last that long!

And the little bottle of lemon essential oil? First and foremost make sure your oil is tested for purity and is proven to be clear of impurities and potential harmful additives. I only use doTERRA because of their strict testing and ensuring that every bottle is safe for use, plus they are transparent about their testing protocols and every bottle’s testing report can be viewed at sourcetoyou.com. I am positive that grocery store essential oils don’t have this testing. Be safe and be aware.

There are tons of uses for the lemon essential oil beyond these tasty treats. Cleaning surfaces in your home, adding a drop to your water for a burst of flavor, making homemade cleaning paste and tablets, adding to greek yogurt, diffusing for a fresh aroma, and so much more. This handy guide will show you all the ways to use essential oils!

Now, go get to making these lemony little bites of goodness!

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