I am not a great sit-down-and-eat-a-meal kind of girl, especially during the day. I love a good solid protein rich dinner but my daytime eating is much more like grazing.
I love grabbing a few things I can eat in the car as I travel around to all my assisted living centers to teach yoga. I usually have nuts, grapes and a container of this hummus because it is so easy and so tasty. I usually eat it with veggies or crunchy crackers.
Every morning each of us is faced with a choice—focus on the things that are challenging or focus on life.
I choose LIFE. I choose to notice the colors I see. I choose to listen to the birds that fly in and out of the yard. I choose to feel the aliveness in my body—even if that aliveness is pain. I choose to get up and live LIFE.
I choose to embrace all aspects of my experience each day and not to dwell on the parts of being human that are tough.
I have been making these little treasures for awhile and cannot believe how SIMPLE they are. My skin feels amazing and I know that I am saving tons of money on store bought (and often filled with junk) face toning products.
I use these in the morning right when I get up. I like to say that it is washing the sleep off. Doing this gives me a super fresh complexion, a nice wake-up aroma, and skin that feels super clean.
Sometimes I switch out the essential oils for other ones but I have found my skin loves turmeric (anti-inflammatory), lavender (soothing and calming) and tea tree (cleansing and purifying). I add water, castille soap, and witch hazel. I am not a big measuring type person, I usually just eyeball it.
to a 2 cups measuring cup add a squirt of soap, a bigger squirt or two of Witch hazel, 20 drops (ish) of each essential oil, fill with water, optional stir
pour liquid over the cotton pads
seal the jar and use daily
You can find all of my favorite DIY ingredients and tools in my amazon shop. You can grab the essential oils by clicking on the button below. The best part is these three oils are SO versatile that you will have tools on hand for sleep, inflammation, skin support, cleaning your surfaces and MUCH more. Once you get the oils, I will personally connect with you for a free consult to show you how easy it is to swap out everyday items for natural ingredients. Also, check out this free ebook to see just how easy it is to use essential oils in your home!
Do you garden? When I first started growing veggies I didn’t have any confidence in my abilities so I started super small. I mostly grew things in pots and it was easy and fun. Each year since then I have expanded into more and more and now have a full size garden that grows many, many things.
There is truly something magical about growing your own food! Today I am going to freeze some beans, make pesto, pickle cucumbers and make salsa! How fun is that?
It is also in gardening that I feel so so connected and relaxed. After a long day of work there is just something so good about getting my hands in my plants, even if it’s just to check the progress. I also have found that still have a tendency to think in terms of scarcity and “not enough” mentality, so I over plant and thinking things won’t grow and end up with a crowded overly abundant garden. In some ways the garden reminds me that that I can continue to work on my thinking and personal development. Also, this year the raccoons have been enjoying digging things up which has been a little frustrating but the bounty is still coming in.
If you have not ever gardened, I say give it a try! A simple google search for you area or a handy book from your local library can get you started!
I have found that not only does spending time with my plants help my stress it also has an array of other benefits.
Planting flowers and vegetables can reap bountiful bouquets and delicious harvests for your dining table. But did you know gardening also can do wonders for your well-being? Here are eight surprising health benefits of gardening. Check this out:
1. Gardening can build self-esteem.
Maybe you don’t think you were born with a green thumb, but after tilling, planting, nurturing and harvesting plants, you might see a slightly different person in the mirror: a person who can grow things and is a little more in tune with the earth.
It always feels good to accomplish new tasks, and if you can grow a garden, what can’t you do?
2. Gardening is good for your heart.
All that digging, planting and weeding burns calories and strengthens your heart.
“There are physical benefits from doing the manual labor of gardening,” says UNC Health internal medicine physician Robert Hutchins, MD, MPH. “It’s hard work to garden, and it provides some cardiovascular benefit.”
3. Gardening reduces stress.
Gardening can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“Gardening gives you a chance to focus on something and put your mind to work with a goal and a task in mind,” Dr. Hutchins says, “which is helpful especially now with so much illness and death and talk of death, just to see things growing and things thriving.”
4. Gardening can make you happy.
Getting dirt under your nails while digging in the ground can make you pretty happy. In fact, inhaling M. vaccae, a healthy bacteria that lives in soil, can increase levels of serotonin and reduce anxiety.
5. Gardening can improve your hand strength.
All that digging, planting and pulling does more than produce plants. Gardening also will increase your hand strength. What a great way to keep your hands and fingers as strong as possible for as long as possible.
6. Gardening is good for the whole family.
Gardening can be a solo activity or an opportunity for bonding with your family and friends. The happiness and stress relief that gardening provides is a great thing to share with loved ones. Also, gardening has special benefits for kids. Early exposure to dirt has been linked to numerous health benefits, from reducing allergies to autoimmune diseases. Plus, when they pull a carrot from the ground for the first time you will see pure happiness and awe.
7. Gardening can give you a boost of vitamin D.
A healthy dose of vitamin D increases your calcium levels, which benefits your bones and immune system. Exposure to sunlight helped older adults achieve adequate amounts of vitamin D. Just don’t forget your sunscreen.
8. Growing your own food can help you eat healthier.
If you have a vegetable or herb or fruit garden, you’re getting fresh produce that you know hasn’t been treated with pesticides.
“It’s essentially as farm-to-table as it gets,” Dr. Hutchins says, “if you’re eating what you’re growing.”
Are you ready to start planning next seasons garden?
Rose has been known to promote a calm and relaxed state of mind. Roll this incredible oil on your abdomen for menstrual discomfort, hormone support, and libido support.
I did a little digging and found that according to Health Line Rose oil has had quite a few studies done and the results are promising.
Check out all that Rose oil supports:
Anxious Feelings and Stress
Rose oil has a relaxing effect on many people.
In one studyTrusted Source, researchers applied rose oil to the skin of each participant, and then measured its effects on the most common symptoms of anxiety. Blood pressure, heart rates, breathing rates, cortisol levels, and blood oxygen levels all decreased. The subjects also reported feeling much more relaxed after the oil treatment.
Another studyTrusted Source involving over 100 women who were giving birth found that rose oil lowered their anxiety levels during delivery.
Antibacterial, antifungal properties
Researchers have found that essential oil distilled from roses can be effective against a wide range of microbes that cause infections. This includes E. coli, as well as some strains of the bacteria that can cause staph infections (Staphylococcus) and strep throat (Streptococcus).
Additionally, the study found that rose oil was effective against Candida albicans, which can cause fungal infections in the mouth, gut, and vagina.
Stimulates sex drive
Two studies have found that inhaling rose oil increased sexual desire and sexual satisfaction among men and, to a lesser extent, women. One studyTrusted Source involved male participants with a major depressive disorder who were taking antidepressants, and the other studyTrusted Source involved female participants with the same disorder and also on antidepressants.
Researchers believe that the release of dopamine in the brain, a known motivator, may be what spurs the increase in sexual desire, while simultaneously alleviating symptoms of depression.
Eases depressive symptoms
A number of clinical studies have found that rose oil helps to improve the symptoms of depression. In a 2012 studyTrusted Source, a small group of postpartum women underwent treatment for depression.
One group received aromatherapy in addition to conventional medical treatments. The women who used aromatherapy improved significantly more than women who used conventional medicine alone.
Studies have also found that rose oil stimulates the release of the chemical dopamine. Researchers believe this chemical plays a pivotal role in helping to relieve the symptoms of depression.
I love the emotional side of Rose oil as well. I love to apply it to my heart when I am feeling a need for some extra compassion either for myself or for others.
Where will you be keeping Rose now?
Me? my desk my nightstand my purse/on the go
Ready to get your hands on some Rose? It is pricey but SO worth it! You won’t be disappointed.
I know if you are anything like me, nutrition can be put on the back burner especially when we are always so busy.
Today, the standard diet is not what it used to be. There are many factors in play when it comes to food’s depletion of nutrients in the soil to the increase in consumption of highly processed foods.
Proper nutrition supports your body’s natural hormones and keeps them balanced. We are in luck because d?TERRA has us covered with their supplements, the Lifelong Vitality Pack.
LLV, the foundation to your health and wellness, consists of Alpha CRS®+, Microplex VMz®, and xEO Mega®. The ingredients in these 3 products are designed to ensure you are supporting your cells, getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs as well as supplying the fatty acids and other nutrients that are necessary to look and feel your best.
? Sleep better ???? Have more energy ?? Feel more balanced
It is no wonder this is one of d?TERRA’s most popular products! Hormone and total body support at its finest.
By the way, a good friend who lost a good amount of weight, grew back her healthy hair and is feeling better than ever after a divorce last year, said one of her biggest changes was splitting her LLV and taking her morning and afternoon doses separately! I’m starting that tip RIGHT AWAY!
?Do you take LLV every day? Ready to? Did I mention it has a 30 day moneyback guarantee? It’s on day 29 or 30 you don’t feel amazingly better, you can simply return them and get your money back. I’m pretty sure you’re going to love how you feel though. Also, I would like to gift you with a free wellness consultation just for getting started.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, abundance is defined as an amount that is more than enough.
Have any of you noticed how much nature reminds us of that same bounty that is available? The constantly changing and growing plants tell me that the same extraordinary potential exists within me. I see how the animals gather and forage what they need and this reminds me that everything I need is right here. I am grateful for the rain and the amazing colors that surround me. My garden is a perfect example to me of “more than enough”– the green beans and cucumbers this year may just feed the neighborhood! Oh, and I made my first ever batch of chokecherry jelly and it is amazing.
For years I have focused on creating a more abundant life and the ways in which that has all happened marvels me on a daily basis. Some may think of abundance as simply financial bounty, but I have come to see it as so much more.
For me abundance shows up in the random acts of kindness I receive, the support I consistently have for my classes, my friendships, the magnitude of joy in my life, colors everywhere, laughter that fills a room, a belly full of food, and enough money for me to live happily and generously.
As we come into the long, and usually hot month of August, I encourage you to look for the bounty in your own life that exist all around you….Simple things like lemonade, lazy afternoons in the hammock, delicious ice cream, sunflowers, sweet watermelon, a basket of veggies, the feel of a breeze against our cheek, the laughter of children chasing the ice cream truck and much more.
When we recognize all that truly IS, we can shed the notion that there is not enough.
I honestly can’t wait until this time of year despite my often endless complaints about the heat. I balance out my intolerance for long summer days of high temperatures with plenty of time to play in my garden and marvel at the bounty of goodness that comes with a little time and patience.
Usually by this time of year I am also getting a little bored with variations of salads so it is always a thrill to find the first few summer squashes or yellow crook neck zucchini’s because one of my favorite summer foods is grilled vegetables. I also love to grill peaches, drizzle with honey and top with fresh ice cream!
I usually pair grilled vegetables with a juicy steak or a grilled chicken breast but these are also delicious just on their own. Simple, fresh and super tasty.
Preheat an outdoor grill to high heat. (I have also been known to use my indoor grill if I am in a hurry or it is the middle of winter and I am craving some summer flavors). Cut three zucchini or crook neck into thin lengthwise planks. Brush with one tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. I also love to use garlic salt instead of plain salt. Arrange on the grate with plenty of space between. Grill until tender, lightly charred or about 3-4 minutes per side (unless you’re using an indoor grill that closes it would be just 3-4 minutes total). Transfer to a plate. In a bowl mix together cherry tomatoes and one tablespoon olive oil, apple cider or balsamic vinegar and I love to add some fresh chopped mint or rosemary. Stir up the tomatoes, smash a few for a splash of juice and pour over the grilled veggies.
Let me ask it this way… do you have a history of holding back your voice out of fear, nervousness or trauma? Or would you like to speak your truth and use your voice more confidently and more often?
Did you know that issue is often the emotional root of thyroid issues? ?????
You can grab everything you need to make this blend HERE.
I know it is pricey, but if you used these oils only for this blend it would make about twenty thyroid blends! Oh, and each roller I make lasts me about 3 months. So we are talking YEARS of use but I guarantee you will find many other uses for these four oils. Lemongrass is my go to for cleaning surfaces, diffusing for a fresh aroma and insect repellent. Clove is great for oral health—I add a drop to my toothpaste to support my gums! It also smells like fall when you diffuse it! Frankincense is a daily for me—I take a drop internally everyday day for healthy cellular support and immune system, I roll it on my spine to calm my overactive nervous system and I use myrrh in my skin care. I’m telling you the uses are endless!
Th investment is so worth it! You’ll even get wholesale pricing for a year for free! I will also plug you into my education and community support and send you a personalized gift to get you started using them. Check out this gorgeous ebook to learn more!
The Hypothalamus: This is the gland that drives the whole endocrine system by linking our endocrine system with our nervous system.
The Thyroid: This gland is crucial to healthy development and regulates your metabolism.
The Adrenals: This gland is actually made up of two glands: the cortex and medulla. These glands produce hormones in response to stress (cortisol) and regulate blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and the body’s salt and water balance.
The Pancreas – The pancreas is responsible for producing glucagon and insulin. These hormones help regulate sugar (glucose) in the blood.
The Gonads: Ovaries and Testes both produce steroids that affect growth and development and also regulate reproductive cycles and behaviors.
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