Sleep...or Lack of

My youngest will soon be 5. And let me tell you, she's counting down the days. However, there were many times where I wondered if I'd make it to this point because I was running on very little sleep. I was lucky if I could get a total of 3 broken hours of sleep per night, (and the sleepless nights had started before the end of the first trimester -months before she was born).
This beloved child of mine didn't know what napping was either, once she came into our world. Fifteen minutes, twice a day, seemed to meet her needs. At night, which began around 11:00 pm for her, meant she'd be wanting to feed every hour or so...all night long. That was if she wasn't screaming at the top of her lungs. I often joked during this time that had she been born first, she'd be an only child, but joining the family as child #6 ensures her spot as the baby of the family, and I'm done.

When she was about two, she would wake up screaming at night, and we quickly learned that trying to soothe her with words or a reassuring touch only aggravated the situation and could make the event last an hour.  An hour of kicking, screaming...it was exhausting. Somehow, dad managed to sleep though most of her fits, but not me.  I was desperate for some sleep. (You know it's bad when you're looking forward to a few days in the bush with cadets on a field training exercise just so you can get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep at night...even if its close to freezing and you're sleeping on the ground without a fire nearby).




In comes Stress Away.  Now, I am not promoting this as a cure-all. I am not a doctor and am not

trying to diagnose or treat anything. I am simply sharing my story. But let's face it, I was desperate. A sleep deprived mama can be a dangerous thing...or so the men-folk want us to believe. And as I mentioned,  I was desperate. She was three now, and I needed some sleep, some rest or even just some down time.

I remember the first time I tried Stress Away like it was yesterday. As usual, she woke up screaming and I remember thinking -here we go again, because some nights we went through this more than once. I reached out for the bottle on my night stand and passed it under her nose so she could smell it, being very careful not to touch her. She paused when she got a whiff of it and took a deep breath. Then, to my disbelief, she dropped onto her pillow and went back to sleep. I thought she was messing with me. OK, I know that kids that young, in the middle of a fit, wouldn't try to pull one over on anyone, but it was just too incredible to believe that this oil could diffuse the moment. BUT IT DID. She slept for hours. I slept for hours. For the first time in almost four years!



I soon figured out that letting a drop fall onto her would quickly diffuse the fit and allow her to return to sleep almost a soon as she'd start flipping out. Even better, I started to offer her a drop before bedtime which she gladly rubbed onto her wrists as she settled into bed for the night. I say 'night' because I mean night. Hours of uninterrupted sleep. After a week using this blend, she began sleeping through the night. She's still not a peaceful sleeper, and can turn full circle moving in any which way in the bed while she sleeps, but she sleeps.
You can diffuse this oil and its amazing lime-vanilla aroma will fill the room and offer a blessed night. You can add a drop to a cup of Epsom salts that you add to your evening bath, or rub it on your wrist*. I imagine a drop on the pillow case might be nice as well.

I sometimes diffuse lavender and cedarwood to promote a good night's sleep since Health Canada says they both can 'act as a nervine and calmative which enhances relaxation'. These oils happen to be in the beloved Stress Away blend, and I much prefer its smell . So, needless to say, it has become a staple oil in my home. My daughter now has her own mini bottle that I take with us when we go out, and she can wear her diffuser necklace whenever she wants. 

I love this blend and I am grateful for the peace it has brought to my nights. I've shared it with some friends who were stressed out, and they have fallen in love with it as well.  It's a keeper!

Making Choices

Today we're going to see how making some simple, minor changes can impact not only your life, but our planet's life. It's as easy as swapping  a few things out for healthier, greener choices.
Somewhere on my blog, I mentioned using essential oils for over 30 years. One of the holistic health training courses I took included essential oils in its teachings, increasing an already existent love for nature's gifts.

I'm going to share some of these simple, effective and highly beneficial changes we can make. Oils are the life force of the plant they come from, and the many benefits are simply amazing. Today, with internet at the tips of our fingers, we can easily access the information we need to make informed choices.

I've used essential for most of my life, at first because they smelled amazing, and later because they made me feel better, and once I learned of their properties, there was no going back. Yet somehow, I've only recently switched over to Young Living. I started off with oils from specialty shops where you could get incense and diffusers, which were no more than hand-blown glass sitting atop of an aquarium air pump, (and we paid close to $100 way back then). Since going organic several years ago, I switched my oils as well, not wanting to have concentrated pesticides in my oils, but the ultimate move came when I was introduced to Young Living. Not only do they guarantee a "Seed to Seal" process, where they use only the best seeds, grown and harvested in ways that reflect my priorities, my values, and my vision for the planet. (We'll take a closer look at that another time, butif you'd like to know more now, just click on this LINK).

They are hands-down, the most amazing oils I have ever used. I still remember holding my organic 'before' oils and smelling the difference between the two. I happened to have lemon and peppermint from both companies on hand. The smell alone was enough to show me these were far from ordinary oils, but nothing had prepared me for what happened next...Where I would have used 20-25 drops of my organic oils, 1-3 drops of my Young Living oils did the trick. You cannot imagine my surprise. In making balms, deodorant, creams, lotions toothpaste, outdoor spray, room freshener, hair detangler, bath salts, and more, I just got way more out of every bottle of oil! (There's about 90-100 drops in each 5 ml bottle, and 250 in every 15 ml bottle).

Oils brought a boost of power to my cleaning, out went scented candles and room sprays, and the sense of well-being from diffusing them is something to be experienced.

Not only has Health Canada assigned NPN's* to many of the Young Living oils, but Health Canada recognizes these oils as having the following benefits:

1.  Used in aromatherapy for symptomatic relief of acne/boils.

2.  Used in aromatherapy to relieve minor skin irritation/cuts/bruises/burns.

3.  Used in aromatherapy for symptomatic relief of eczema/dermatitis.

4.  Used in aromatherapy as a nervine/calmative.

5.  Used in aromatherapy to help relieve joint/muscle pain associated with sprain/strain/rheumatoid arthritis.

6.  Used in aromatherapy to help relieve headache.

7.  Used in aromatherapy as a carminative/antispasmodic for symptomatic relief of digestive discomfort.

8.  Used in aromatherapy to help relieve colds/cough.

*(Natural Product Number's,  assigned to health products having passed the most rigorous standards and safety controls)

 (Copied from the Health Canada website)

Oh, and we now have a Canadian "+" line used in food preparation. I made a batch of black pepper and lime kale chips the other night...wow, were they tasty.

Yes, these oils are amazing!

Young Living took it one step further and came up with a "Starter Kit," making it easy to not only fall in love with these wondrous gifts of nature, but they assembled a collection of oils that do it all. All the issues mentioned above in the Health Canada list are covered by what you get in this kit, and more. Aside from a diffuser you get the following oils:

Lavender,
Peppermint,
Lemon,
Copaiba,
Thieves,
Panaway,
R.C.
Purification,
Di-Gize,
Frankincense,
Northern Lights Black Spruce,

A 1 oz bottle of Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier,
AromaGlide Roller Fitment (turn any bottle into a roll-on)
10 Love it? Share it! Sample Business Cards (5 English/5 French)
10 Love it? Share it! Sample Oil Bottles
2 NingXia Red 2 oz samples (a superfood/oil infused drink)
A Product Guide

All this is yours for only $199.97 Canadian. ($160 US) The oils in the US kit are a little different. PM me f you want more info on them.

Rather than go through what each oil does,  I want to share a few personal stories with these oils. Like Lemon, not only does it smell amazing, but at Costco the other day, my youngest was eating an organic lollipop...(yeah...it happens sometimes). But since they didn't have the kind I had purchased in the past, I got another, not realizing there was gum in the middle! The next thing I know, shes got gum on every finger, and of course, through her long, curly hair. I carry a mini oil kit with me everywhere, lemon is in it, so, out comes a drop or two of lemon, and I literally slide the gum right off her hair. (Next came the very sticky fingers lol).
This same child, managed to burn her shoulder on a cookie sheet that I had just taken out of the oven. She'd dragged her bench to look at the cookies, and came up under the edge of the pan, giving her an instant burn, and man can she scream.

A drop of lavender with a bit of coconut oil put out that fire within seconds. She doesn't even have a mark.
Anyone ever lose sleep because someone in the room is snoring? My nights are already short, so when the snoring begins, I whip out my peppermint oil and put a few drops on DH's ankle. (He's already tested it right on his skin and it does not irritate him at all), but what it does do, is make the noise stop within minutes -especially when he's eaten things he's sensitive to.
One of the women I work with told me she was in a lot of neck and shoulder pain due to an accident moving a patient. I pulled out my panaway, fitted with the roller top, and applied it to her sore muscles. She was able to lift her arm above her shoulder, something that had become near impossible since the accident. The pain eased, mobility increased...how cool is that?
My daughter loves to work out and runs a 10 Km as often as she can. Using R.C. before hand helps improve breathing while she's out running. (It can get pretty humid here in the summer).
Thieves....dearly, beloved Thieves. My 2 youngest do gymnastics in an awesome gym, covered with everyone's sweat and germs, lol. I rub a drop under their feet (mixed with a bit of coconut oil), and off they go. IF they catch anything, it never lasts for more than 24 hrs (and so far they average one 24 hr cold a year),  while the others can drag it on for weeks. We LOVE this oil. When people are nice enough to come over for a visit, while nursing a cold no less, I diffuse Thieves. (Thieves and orange smells amazing). So far, we haven't caught anything since.
For tummy issues, Di-Gize has got you covered. Trust me. I could go on... and just for fun, look up the benefits of Frankincense oil.

Imagine a soothing massage with these amazing oils...or adding one drop (I kid you not) of lavender oil to a cup of Epsom salts (shake well) and put that into a relaxing bath you'll fall in love with.

One last story...Stress Away. My youngest has always been very intense. She'd wake up at night screaming, and we couldn't even touch her to reassure her without making things worth. This had been going on for months...until I opened up the bottle of Stress Away and had her smell it by simply passing it under her nose, careful not to touche her. She fell right back onto her pillow and slept through the night! I  thought she was messing with me at first, but no...this oil not only ended her night terrors, but she finally began sleeping through the night. She was 3, so it was long overdue, for both my mental and physical health.

Oils are absorbed into the body within seconds, and they do a body good on every level. Simply breathing them in while using the diffuser is an experience all in its own. No more toxic candles,  plug-ins, or room deodorizers needed. And now with the 'plus' line, we can enjoy them in the kitchen. I added 2 drops of spearmint + and a few of tangerine + to a jug of homemade lemonade. Sooo good!

Why get a kit? Because you can't lose with this deal. When you buy it, you're saving about 1/2 price on getting these items on their own. You get an awesome diffuser, and as an added bonus, you can purchase any of the Young Living products at 24% off for a whole year. If you want to extend this privilege, all you need to do is buy for $50 during this year. That's it. You never 'have' to buy anything else.

I decided to give them a try even though I already had a cabinet full of oils -that I usually bought a bottle at a time. I learned that if I bought for 125 pv (point value based on $1 US = 1 pv), I got a free bonus oil. Also, between 10 and 25% of the pv value was banked, and I could use them in exchange for more products. (The 1st 3 months are at 10%, then you move up to 20% until it's been 24 months, from which point on you get 25%).

Young Living offers everything from oils to makeup, baby care products to supplements, infused superfood drinks and more. All made with safe, non-toxic ingredients that you can trace back to their origin. Their Thieves multipurpose household cleaner impresses me every time I use it, from crystal clear windows, to a sparkling clean kitchen, bathroom and floors. I washed down the siding on my house off the deck last week. This stuff is amazing! And all you need is a capful of soap in a spray bottle full of water! It's crazy. I've stopped buying glass cleaner, floor cleaner, bathroom cleaner, kitchen cleaner and all the rest. This one bottle does it all.


Young Living offers more than oils, they give you a helping hand in getting back online with a healthier lifestyle, making better choices and leaving toxic, chemical elements out of your daily routine. Add healthier food choices and see how far you've come? Feels good, too, doesn't it?

If the business side of Young Living interests you, give me a shout. I'm never far away -especially since my computer woes have subsided, lol.

My Young Living number is 11073874 if ever you need it.

You can have your kit delivered to your door within days.

Special bonus!!!
If you want one, I'll cover the shipping costs!

Reducing Your Plastic Use

By now you've likely come across a post on plastic waste in the ocean, or a campaign against drinking straws, or seen pictures of the tons of plastic rolling around and rapidly engulfing our planet. Terrible, isn't it? But have you really taken a close look at plastic in your everyday life? Have you given any thought to what you use, throw away, recycle?

 When you throw away something that could have been composted or recycled, when you chose single serve packs of apple sauce for the kids' lunches rather than buying a large a glass jar that you dish up into smaller, reusable containers, when you put a plastic spoon in the lunchbox to go along with the apple sauce...and you think something like, "What difference can I make, I'm just one person?" Every person, every gesture, every effort is valuable. I laughed when I read this, "The person who thinks they're too small to make a difference has never tried to sleep with a mosquito in the room." So never dismiss your efforts as being inconsequential.



We have done more damage to our planet in the past 150 years, than mankind had managed to do in the previous 1000. If we want to be able to leave something for future generations, taking action isn't really an option anymore. It doesn't have to be painful either. It's all about becoming aware of our actions and adopting healthy ones.

So come on, let's start the journey together, invite friends and family to join in, and make a party of it. I'll get the ball rolling and share some simple steps you can take to do the same. To make it more interesting, share what you've done with us here. Invite friends and family to join in.

Let's start with 10 items. Here goes!


1-Straws. We gave up plastic straws for glass and stainless steel. Now, I prefer the glass to the stainless, but glass is not practical with kids. Last week I found bamboo straws for them!
2-Utensils. We bring our utensils from home anytime we pack a lunch. Bamboo utensil packs are affordable and come in a cloth pouch. The adult kit has a pair of chopsticks in it as well. We went out for veggie burgers the other day and we got to sample one of their desserts,  using compostable utensils. Now how cool is that?
3-Plates. Be it for a beach picnic, a school lunch or a lawn party, there are alternatives here too. Paper, bamboo, stainless steel, and yes, banana leaves, (totally Awesome!) or even glass, depending on where you're going and what you're doing with these.
4-Bottles. Here too, we can buy glass, (sport bottles have a silicone casing to protect them), stainless steel, or even a mason jar can do the trick.
5-Coffee cups. Bring your own coffee cup to fill at your favorite morning stop. There are many models on the market to choose from.
6-Shopping bags. Most stores offer reusable bags, from IKEA to Costco to Walmart. In the end, it doesn't matter where you get them, it just matters that you use them. You could even make your own.
7-Produce bags. I am fortunate enough to do my groceries online (I love my awesome organic grocery store! Shout out to Bio Sattva up in Val David, Qc!) I pick up my order in 2 big bins, so no grocery bags, and no produce bags. Everything is placed directly inside the bin as is, without plastic. My daughter bought herself a set of mesh reusable produce bags, so that's another option, or again, make your own.
8-Food storage containers. I donated all of my Tupperware and plastic containers a while back and switched to glass containers. I also use mason jars a lot! There are also silicone stretch covers that fit over almost any size bowl.
9-Soap, shampoo and  domestic cleaners all come in plastic bottles. It's getting easier and easier to bring your jars and refill them at bulk stores. We have zero waste stores for both food and soaps/cleaners, so we just refill our jars or containers.
10-Plastic wrap/bags. It is now possible to buy reusable lunch bags to pack sandwiches and such. They come in different sizes with cool colors and patterns. To replace plastic wrap, beeswax covered organic cotton is another option.

Amazon and organic health food stores carry most of these products. If you find other places, let us know!

I came across this on Facebook one night...definitely food for thought. Even if we recycle, we're still contributing to the problem, not the solution. Plastic is everywhere and in almost everything, from your phone, television, computer, car, home and more. Every bit we can cut down on helps. Just look around you and count how many things are made of plastic. My laptop, screen, printer, wall plug/switch covers, thumbtacks, mp3 player, phone, pencil holder, pens, fake fireplace heater, and multi-frame wall art are all made of plastic to varying degrees. It's everywhere. I can't imagine a wooden printer either. So for now, we're still stuck with it. But that doesn't mean we can't start to eliminate the over-consumption and waste choking our planet.

Let me know how you are doing on your end. Together, we can and will make a difference.  I love sitting back and watching discussions between my 2 youngest, (4 & 10), on composting, recycling, organic foods and healthy choices. Every bit helps, every step makes a difference...not just for us, but for our beloved planet.

Spring into Your New Life -step 5

Hello everyone, I'm back! My laptop decided to take a vacation, and refused to cooperate, telling me I didn't have a hard drive installed...and of course someone else turns it on, and it opens like it should. So, after being a whole week, (with multiple attempts to correct the problem -including replacing said hard drive,) I'm going to hurry and do my best to get this post out to you.

Step 5

Now that we are reading ingredients and swapping out personal care products, household cleaners, and food...what's next?

Let's pause a moment to mention scented candles, air-fresheners, sprays and plug-ins, and just how toxic they can be. Studies have shown that the residual chemicals from our beloved air-fresheners contain toxic chemicals that accumulate in consistently-increasing amounts over time. You don't need me to tell you how bad that can be. Chemicals such as Phthalates, which have been known to interfere with the production of testosterone and have been associated with reproductive abnormalities. Formaldehyde, has been linked to things such as throat and nose cancer, is known to cause chronic irritation to the airways, increasing the risk of asthma, infections and other respiratory ailments. Naphthalene, found mostly in plug-ins compounds the risks formaldehyde brings, since it was shown from studies done on rats to cause tissue damage and lung cancer. And the list goes on.

Essential oils can be used in diffusers to spread not only a pleasant aroma throughout the house, but a

beneficial one as well. Oils on their own and in various combinations can have beneficial effects on the household, from uplifting or calming, odor removing and purifying, to respiratory aid and more.
If you love your candles, make your own using beeswax or another safe wax and essential oils. It's that easy. There are recipes for reed diffusers as well as simply placing a few drops of your chosen oils on some un glazed pottery beads. Fortunately for us today, you can google a DIY in a split second. There are so many safe, fun and beautiful recipes out there. Indulge yourself.

Of course, you can get yourself a diffuser and some essential oils and go to town. You won't regret it, because if the blink of an eye you can set the mood with a beautiful diffuser that'll be beneficial to those fortunate enough to be in the room. My absolute favorite one is called the Desert Mist diffuser because it will stay on all night (if that's what I want) and shut off afterwards. It offers different operating modes and white light, candle light or any of the beautiful rainbow colors. Oil diffuser packages are available and you can learn more about them HERE. If ever you decide to get one, leave me a message and II'll throw in a free gift.

One last thing...A great way to help rid your body of all these toxins we've been talking about is to take a bath with Epsom salts and a few drops of essential oils! This soothing, relaxing, detoxing or even invigorating baths will do you a world of good. 1 drop of Lavender in 1 cup Epsom salts will help you unwind, the Stress Away blend is pure magic. Raven or eucalyptus for soothing the respiratory tract  or Pan Away to ease a sore body after a workout is ahhh-mazing. (All these blends are from Young Living, the only company I trust, and I've been using oils for 30 years now...I have tried so many over the years, organic and all...but these are simply the best. You'd need to put 20 drops of any other lavender oil to get the same benefits of a single drop of our oil...I kid you not. So in the end, you're spending more on the cheap oils getting less out of them on so many levels.)


I wanted to add a pic of my favorite diffuser...It's on a shelf on my room, so it's not a pretty promo pic, but it'll do. The candle setting really looks like a flickering candle, it's sooo pretty. The girls like it when it's cycles through the different colors. To each his own.

Spring into Your New Life -step 4

Hello!
How are we all doing?

Hopefully we're all reading labels and rethinking what we've been using and consuming. And with a little luck, a few light bulbs have been going off, not to mention a few red lights as well.
If you're feeling a little overwhelmed and wondering where to go from here...then maybe this'll help.

Stop and take a deep breath. My journey in the kitchen started with a mason jar filled with dried chickpeas, and it took me a long time before I figured out what to do with them. By taking it one step at a time, replacing food and products with non-toxic, non-GMO organic alternatives, you are already doing something great for your body, your family, your home, the environment and our planet.
Did you know glyphosates are water soluble?
Meaning they get into ground water, so they are not only on the plants and foods we eat, but in them as well (since the plants drink the tainted water), and they contaminate our environment. The coral around the Hawaiian islands where some of these crops are grown are now dead or heavily damaged because the toxins that wash into the ocean. I was going to post a link, but there were too many to choose from and they made me feel sick. So...suffice it to say, choosing  organic has a greater impact than you might realize. Just think of the Bees.

Your next step is finding a new recipe you'd like to try and integrate it into your weekly routine. Try adding a new one every week (depending on your schedule), until the good things have crowded out the bad. The great thing about this approach is you won't even notice it happening.
You'll just look back at your pantry somewhere down the line and realize how far you've come.

Every day, new products, recipes, tips n tricks become available. These veggie-kabobs on the left...drizzle a tiny bit of avocado oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and marjoram, and my mouth is watering just thinking about it! I will BBQ this as soon as the snow melts. Marjoram is amazing on veggies. Or if you're fully raw...salad on a stick. Either way...it'll be yummy!

What lies ahead? Well, we're going to take a look at plastic, recycling, composting and all that stuff. Again, baby steps. A little knowledge goes a long way, but sadly in our world today, we seem to be living life in fast-forward, with barely time to catch a breath. So we end up going with the flow, not even realize what's going on behind the scenes. We fail to see how great an impact  our choices can have. On the plus side, there are those who have gone before us, and we're already starting to see the change their choices are having. It's just the tip of the iceberg, but it's promising.

If you go through my blog, there are a few recipes and DIY's you might like to try. If you come across any great recipes or products on your side, don't hesitate to share! If you'd like to be interviewed on this blog, sharing your journey (be it day 1 or 1000), let me know. It'll be fun.

See you in Step 5

Spring into Your New Life -step 3

I've probably mentioned this before, but I'm going to say it again...I hate when someone compares the food we eat to the fuel we put in our cars. Gasoline makes the car go (providing everything else is in order)...but when it comes to making our bodies 'go', food is so much more than fuel. Think about it. When your car breaks down, it doesn't matter if you have a full tank or only a quarter tank. The fuel won't repair the car. But the food we eat has an effect on our body's overall state.

Everything you put in your mouth is going to have an impact on your body and your health. Your body has the most amazing ability to repair, to regenerate, and to rebuild itself. Some things better than others. Every single cell in your body will be replaced at one time or another, some within days others taking up to ten years, and what you've been 'fueling' your body with is going to show up in one or more areas. 

Has this ever happened to you? You get a random cut or scratch that leaves a scar, but that other injury that everyone groaned and said "That's gonna leave a mark," is no longer visible. Why?

The food you eat provides the nutrients or building blocks for a healthy body. Empty calories, endless chemical ingredients, pre-packaged, processed foods are far from the best you can do for  yourself, because instead of making you the best possible you, your body has to scramble to sort, remove, process and neutralize all the crap you've been feeding it. Do you need an endless supply of caffeine to keep going? Do you have skin issues, mood swings, mental fog, aches and pains to name a few? Could your body be trying to tell you that it's reached its max toxic load?

So now that we've got you reading labels in and around the house, what about your food? This is where you can throw in, "You are what you eat." I'ts as simple as that. If you're thinking something like, "Eating Organic is just too expensive," we'll get into that in just a bit. I found two videos you might like to take a look at. The first one is about 2 min, and the second covers the Clean Fifteen and the Dirty Dozen. Think of it as a good place to start. Just click on the links. 

Toxins in the body, and the Dirty Dozen. 

As I mentioned at the beginning of this journey, it doesn't take long before you start to feel the effects of these green and healthy choices. I think you just might be in for a wonderful surprise. 

Where do you start? 

Pay attention to what you're eating. If you are buying your food in any other form than what comes straight from Mother Nature, read the labels attentively. If it doesn't sound like something you'd use in your kitchen, but rather in a science experiment, you might want to rethink putting that in your mouth. Cameron Diaz wrote in The Body Book, "Just because you can put something in your mouth, chew it, swallow it, and poop it out, doesn't mean it's food." And that says it all. 

My suggestion here is to become aware of what you've been feeding yourself. The last thing I promote is cutting things out of your diet, because restrictions bring out resistance and sets you up for failure, or a walk of misery. This should be a celebration! You matter enough to merit loving care. Organic produce on sale is affordable. Buying from the clean fifteen (see video) is awesome, because you know these foods are safe. Avoiding the dirty dozen also keeps toxic food out of your diet. There are ways to get healthy...many ways.

If you start making yourself a smoothie for breakfast (or any one meal a day) you will have changed over 30% of your diet with this one, simple move. Now how's that as food for thought?
See? It really isn't that hard. Taking baby steps over a long period of time will get you farther than running off half-cocked, only to give up ten days later. We are not trying to make this painful, we want to make lasting changes, healthy choices, and we want it to be a wonderful experience of learning and growth.

Cheers!

Here is a list from dirtiest to cleanest veggies that came out 2 days ago from the Environmental Working Group.
https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/full-list.php

Spring into Your New Life -Step 2

So, did you do it? Did you start looking at labels and ingredients?
How many of you were curious enough to look up some of these ingredients? How many of you now feel a little overwhelmed, thinking, "Now what?"
No worries, I've got your back.

For sure the best thing you could do would be to chuck it all and get new, non-toxic, organic products. However, I am well aware that not everyone has that option. So here we go. Finish that bottle, and replace it with a better choice. Same thing for your toothpaste, conditioner, fabric softener, body lotion, bubble bath...etc. Replace them one by one, or start by buying one every week when you get your groceries and run your errands. I've also found that the good stuff works better and lasts longer.
Now, take a look at what you really need. Is it possible for one product to do more than one thing? Take your time, ask around, and read labels before choosing.

What to look for...
Organic,
Non-GMO,
5 ingredients or less (Or as few as possible),
Ethical,
Eco-friendly,

I have been making my own products for over 25 years, but I do buy products as well. I will be sharing recipes for those who want to get started on this for themselves. Although it is less expensive in the end to make your own, you have to take into consideration that the initial startup will be an investment.
When it comes to store-bought items, I mostly use Bio-Vert or Young Living products.  The awesome part of Young Living is that they work, they are very concentrated (no unnecessary water added to them) AND...you get redeemable points and freebies just for buying your products. Once you start looking into your personal care products, move on to household products. My absolute favorite is the Thieves Household Cleaner, formulated with 100 percent plant and mineral based ingredients. You add a capful of the cleaner to a spray bottle and fill with water...it works well and still surprises me with how great it is. When I suggested getting multi-purpose products, Thieves Household Cleaner is right up there, because you can use it for every household cleaning project, from crystalline, streak-free windows and mirrors, to floors, bathrooms, kitchens, the garage and more. You can also add a few drops of an essential oil to up the grease-cutting abilities for those nasty jobs.

I don't wear makeup, but my grown-up daughters do. They've fallen in love with the Young Living Savvy Mineral Makeup collection, as well as the facial products and moisturizers. It's such a relief to be able to trust where you're products are coming from.
The new Seedlings collection cover all of your baby's needs. I can't tell you how outraged I was when I read my fist baby wash label and discovered formaldehyde in it! My youngest is 4 and we went with elimination communication, so we didn't use diapers or toxic wipes.

I've added the links to the Young Living Canadian Product Guide, and the US Savvy Minerals guide. If you need the US product guide, you'll see the link for it on ISSU. IF ever you're interested in Young Living, let me know. I'll gladly answer any and all questions you may have. In the Canadian Issue there is a section highlighting the  Natural Health Products, their benefits and uses.

My family is precious to me. I want to watch them grow up to be healthy and happy, and I take my role in their growth and education seriously. I am deeply grateful to play this role, and I rejoice in every moment we share together, from discussions to study topics, arts & leisure or even preparing a meal and doing chores.

I watch as my older children share in their discoveries of the world around them, choosing their own organic, non-toxic path. And I see the difference with my younger ones, the youngest being brought up in a 100% organic household. They are all aware of our 'footprint' on this planet and every time one learns of something we can do to improve any part of it, they share. Great discussions and investigations follow.

Here's something for you to watch on our topic. Let me know what you think, and share with your friends!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVIuyNyIan0
OK, and a second one as well...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVIWhPUjrek

Spring into Your New Life

As much as I would LOVE to shout out that spring has finally arrived, I'd be lying...we're buried in snow here, and they're actually calling for another snowstorm this weekend. BUT! That means we have more time to get our groove on and move into our new healthy lifestyle.
Now don't go running off on me just yet, hear me out. Allow me to be your guide on this journey, bringing simple, economical, and fabulous new habits, recipes and tips for a healthy home and lifestyle. This will not only be painless, but you'll feel absolutely Ahhh-mazing. Your family will thank you. Your friends will notice, co-workers will comment... OK, OK, in all seriousness, read on, give it a try, and let me know what you think.

What I am proposing is this. There's an expression, 'Once you learn something, you can't unlearn it.' Knowledge is power, (no it's not me throwing another quote at you), and in gaining knowledge, you gain power over your life!

Ready? Then let's do it.
We're going to start with your daily routine.
Think about it, starting from the moment you stretch and yawn. This first stage will most likely be an eye-opening experience.
I want you to  look for the toxins you come in contact with as you move through your day. Now the easiest way to do so is by reading ingredients on the products you plan on using, from soap and shampoo, to anything that goes in or on your body.

Don't go running to google all the ingredients just yet, because you'll find yourself spending hours, if not days doing research. Start simple, read your shampoo ingredients on the bottle, (and any other product you use). Anything that you don't recognize, any word you don't understand, or know for sure to be totally safe in-or-on your body, you might want to re-think using.

Before you say something like, "I don't drink my shampoo," I want to share this little fact. The skin is an amazing organ, and whatever you place on your skin is absorbed into the body...within 26 seconds. Yes, that's all it takes before traces of the product can be found in your blood. So if you don't recognize the ingredient, chances are, your body doesn't either.

Toxins are everywhere and in everything, so let's start with becoming aware of them, and reducing our exposure to them. The human body is an amazing thing...capable of regeneration and healing, provided we give it the right tools and environment. We want to avoid having our body spend all of its time and energy trying to rid the toxins from our system, and let it do what it was meant to do...repair, rebuild and regenerate.

Ingredients such as acetone, alcohol, alpha-hydroxy acids, benzophenones, BHA, BHT, collagen, coal tar dyes, DEA, dibenzoylmethanes ether, fluoride, formaldehyde, hydroxyanisole, isopropanol, lanolin, MEA, methylene chloride, mineral oil, paba, PEG, phenol, phenylenediamine, propolyne glycol, quaternium, saccarin, SLS, SLES, talc, toluene, triclosan, TEA...to name a few, are linked to health issues such as cancer, skin/eye irritations, allergic reactions, asthma, and have been known to accumulate in the organs. Oh, and let's not forget that some are considered neurotoxins, causing damage to the central nervous system or Teratogen, affecting the embryo.  How's that for an eye-opener? And all you wanted was to take a shower.

I haven't started in on makeup either, because they come with their own set of nasty. Perfume can easily have over 250 different chemicals, nail polish- 31, lipstick- 33, eye shadow- 26, blush- 16, foundation- 24, deodorant- 15, body lotion- 32, etc. But we were only going to start reading labels today, looking into what we've been putting on or in our bodies.

Are you ready to head down this path  with me? You might just find yourself feeling better, more vibrant, and alive! It doesn't take months to notice the difference either. Lowering our toxic load can make us feel great in a short amount of time. And I promise I will make this as painless as possible. Heck, it might even be fun.

I will gladly list alternatives, solutions and even some DIY projects for those of you who want to know exactly what they're putting on or in their body.

If you're feeling adventurous, go a little further than your bathroom. Have you ever taken into consideration things like your household cleaners, laundry products, dishwasher detergents, dish soap, disinfectants, etc?

Day 1

Read the ingredient list on the products you use.

What have you found on this little treasure hunt?  Can you think of any other places we might come in contact with toxins in the home? Share in the comments below. Let's rock this!

Study Time

Whether you homeschool or simply have homework to do with your kids (or for yourself), there are times where focus and concentration just aren't there.
For us, when I hit a wall with a subject, I have the option of putting it aside and focusing on another topic or activity.

If you are working on a project or under a deadline, you might not have that possibility. So what else can you do?

Personally, I have a whole slew of ideas, tips n tricks. (It's essential to keep my cool around a resistant child or my own mental blocks when my brain shuts down). So here are a few ideas you can try!

-Get up and move. This can work wonders for the mind and body. (It's also a better choice than losing your cool or getting discouraged). Do some stretching. You might even step outside for a walk or a few minutes of fresh air. Think about it...if you're just going to sit there not being productive (wasting time), go do something!

-Change your focus. If I'm writing a scene in my novel that just isn't working, I'll sometimes put it aside and work on a completely different scene. It doesn't have to be a scene I'll keep, but it can open the door to creativity again.  I'll build character profiles, like a family tree with descriptions of as many family members I can dream up, giving my main players more depth. This will actually make my character interactions richer.

- Sometimes a fresh view on the topic can help. If you're studying a chapter that you can't seem to wrap your mind around, go to another one or skip ahead to the wrap-up and see what the author was trying to convey. If you go back and it still makes no sense, google it. Look online for similar content.

-Natural support.  I diffuse or inhale essential oils. Did you know that there are some oils that easily and effectively help relieve stress, and enhance focus and clarity? I've had friends and co-workers reach out, desperate for support in their times of need. (Studying for an interview, job promotion, finals, etc.)
Every single one of them happily shared their success. I love knowing the oils helped. Lemon and peppermint is a great combo, vetiver, or beloved Stress Away are just a few of my choices.

So you see, there are options. Sometimes, getting stress out of the way allows our creative juices to flow, or at least allows oxygen to fill our lungs once again.