Secrets to having a HEALTHY winter!

School has started and leaves are beginning to fall. Sweaters, hot apple cider and smells of pumpkin. I LOVE this time of year, it brings some of my most favorite things. For a lot of people it also brings some of their most "not-favorite" things; colds, flu, time off work, snotty noses, sleep deprivation, cranky kids, cranky parents, co-pays, long waits at the doctor, antibiotics, raw noses, aches pains and fevers..... and on and on.

WHAT IF I told you that you could avoid costly visits to the doctor?
WHAT IF I told you, you can actually ENJOY the holiday season this year?
WHAT IF I told you that taking a sick day from work doesn't mean you have to actually be sick, and it's not because one of your kids are sick?

WHAT IF................

What would you do?

 How would that feel and look?

I'm here to tell and show you how you CAN have those things and make this your BEST winter yet!

Here is what my family does for optimal health, and you can too!

FOOD -  This plays a bigger role than people think in how well the avoid or attract sickness. During this time of year there are lots of goodies, and we all know what happens at Halloween...... This is what you can do at home, so that when it's party time you can indulge a little bit...

• Reduce if not completely eliminate dairy products.They are mucus forming and attract germs like crazy!!
• Reduce or eliminate refined sugars and flour foods. Instead, eat lots of yummy soups ( bean, homemade chicken noodle, stew...) squashes, potatoes and veggies!
• Sell the Halloween Candy - There are Dentists that pay GOOD money for it!
• Drink some Raspberry leaf or Peppermint tea everyday, they boost the immune system and are nice on cold mornings. 
• EVERY morning, have a green smoothie! This helps to clean out your body of gunk, get high levels of vitamin C and supercharges you for all the energy this time of year takes.

IMMUNE SUPPORT - There are lots of things you can do to support your immune system and give it that added boost so it stays strong and effective for in the event something happens.

• Liver Care - Your liver's health is a foundation to the rest of your health, especially your immune system! Its as easy as 2 drops of essential oils and some fresh lemon juice every morning. You will also notice better "winter skin", easy energy and less allergies when Spring comes along! I recommend goDesana Lemon and Peppermint Essential oils HERE and learn more about Liver Care here.
• Essential Oils - EO's have an affinity for strengthening the immune system, and for actually killing of the "germs", bacteria and even VIRUS. Applying essential oils everyday will keep you immune system up and help to get rid of invaders before you will even know they have come in! You can learn more about HOW essential oils do this HERE These are what we use and I recommend - Wellness for adults, Wellness for Kids/Elderly, Ravensara, Tri-Remedy, Tea Tree, Lemon, Peppermint and Protector. Right now you can save HUGE on all these oils HERE. (AND GET FREE SHIPPING!)
• Garlic - Add it fresh to all your foods and even chop it up and swallow like a pill. Garlic is a natural anti-biotic, anti-viral AND anti-yeast! It supports and strengthens the immune system and is super good for the digestive tract, keeping it clean and healthy.
• Marine Phytoplankton - This is a whole food supplement that fills in the missing links in your diet. You can pick some up at Whole Foods, Good Earth or even Amazon. This is the brand I recommend - UMAC-CORE 

(goDesana essential oils are exclusively sourced and approved by eo expert Alexandria Brighton. Learn more about how not all oils are created equally and how you can choose the best oils for your family HERE.)

The Pursuit of Happiness

Last night my kids and I sat down to watch the movie "Pursuit of Happyness". It has been a while since I have seen that movie, and the things I gleaned from it were very touching. Classics do that, you can review them over and over again and get something new from it every time, enriching your life and raising it to a whole new level.

I was taking notes, writing questions for myself to answer and to review in my self evaluations I hold often. I wanted to share some of them with you and some of the things I learned in creating happiness and the life we desire to live.

If you haven't seen the movie, I HIGHLY recommend you watch it :) It is a real life story of a man who pretty much loses everything and while taking care of his son, continues to pursue the happiness he hopes exist.

Ask yourself these questions -

• Do you believe that you have the power to create the life you want?
• What is happiness? Do we ever really find it or is it something we create?
• What odds are against you?
• Do I believe I can, especially when others say I can't?
• Am I a risk taker for what I want?
• Am I willing to do what it takes, at all costs?
• Am I REALLY clear on what it is I want?

Chris Gardner, the man the movie was made about, had a clear vision of what he wanted. Life threw curve after curve to him and he kept pursuing. He was COMMITTED to what he was after and he had an honorable purpose. What is your purpose?

These are the key things that will guarantee your happiness in life.

• BE committed. No matter what you may look like to others, or what comes your way, stick with the course you have chosen. 
• BE honest. Be honest with yourself about what YOUR truth is. If you don't know, being completely honest will bring your answer to you.
• BE clear. Know what it is you are going for. Direct movement will create better results vs. jumping around trying to focus on other things along with what you are wanting. 
• Be believing. Believe in yourself. Believe in happiness. Believe that you CAN.
• BE grateful. Your gratitude for everyday happenings will take you farther than the "big" things. It is by small and simple things that great things come to pass.
•  BE forgiving. Forgive yourself for mistakes or getting of course. Recognize, forgive and move forward. Forgive others for judging, criticising and even sabatoging what you are wanting to create.
• BE patient. Slow down and allow things to happen. When we become forceful to reap what we sow, we will never harvest.

I learned that happiness is not found at the end of the pursuit, Happiness is found IN the pursuit. The pursuit never ends. We will reach benchmarks that we will use to determine if we are following our dreams and how clear we are on them, but we will always be in pursuit.

Rumbly bumbly goes your belly..........

Digestion - becoming one of the most talked about subjects. Why? Because people today are having more issues with it then they ever have. IBS, Constipation, Cancer, Acid reflux, Celiac, Gluten Intolerance, Excess flatulence, Gallbladder disease, and more.

Do you suffer from any of these? If you do, you understand how important it is when digestion is working well and not causing pain and dysfuntction.

90% of ALL disease can be connected back to the colon. Unhealthy digestion = unhealthy colon = disease. So no matter what your ailment, go to digestion first.

As far as digestion goes here are some signs it is unhealthy;

• bloating
• excess flatulance
• cramping
• constipation
• malnourishment
• low/sluggish energy
• irritability

These are foods that are hard for your body to digest;

• dairy (all of it)
• meats
• white flour
• white sugar
• processed food (anything boxed,canned or that would survive a nuclear blast)
• high fatty foods (anything fried ...)

So we get that digestion is important, how do we promote healthy digestion?

Here are some things that will support healthy digestion - 

• Fruit first thing in the morning until about 10:00 am. Your body is still in it's elimination cycle until then and so any food that is put in before will not be digested properly. Fruit digests itself and helps to "clean house" Plus it gives lots of good energy!
• Stop eating after 6 or 7 at night. This is when the body begins it's elimination process, leaving again, the food to ferment and not digest properly.
• Avoid the foods that are hard to digest, or keep them to a minimum. ( 10% - 20% of your weekly food intake is a good rule of thumb)
• Drink lots of water. Water is a carrier and helps to keep things moving out.
• Increase fiber. Not by supplements at the grocery store but by adding high fiber foods to your diet. I like adding ground flax seed to everything. You don't hardly notice it in your food, but you recognize the benefits! EAT MORE RAW VEGGIES!!

Benefits of healthy digestion -

• increased energy
• weightloss
• increased mental acuity
• better absorption of nutrients
• Happiness!

Other ways you can support better digestion and help with symptoms -

• Liver Cleanse - Stimulates bowel movements, increases bile production, eliminates
  
  
  toxins. Use Peppermint and Lemon goDesana essential oils.
• Ginger - Good for nausea and settling upset stomach. Use as an essential oil or the root itself.
• Cayenne- In a capsule or on your food, helps to calm an upset stomach, stimulates bowels and helps to relieve gas.
• Garlic - Chopped and swallowed like a pill or on your food, it also will relieve gas and cramps and calm upset stomach. Acts as a mild laxative.
• Exercise - Particularly yoga, it massages and stimulates the internal organs activating their function.
• Dygest - Formulated with oils that have been historically known to aid and support the digestive system. Not only helping relieve symptoms, but actually healing the problem!

Do as I'm doing.......follow follow me........

Do as I'm doing....follow follow me........This was a song I learned as a little one for fun, you know to get the wiggles out so we as a class would pay better attention to our teacher. There is a lot of truth to those words, especially as a parent.

Our children are great observers, and learn best when taught by example. They will mimic what we do, like a little girl will pretend to put mascara on her eyes while her mom is doing makeup. They learn best this way.

Sometimes we aren't as aware of our actions as we are our words. We tell our children what they should/shouldn't be doing, what is important and on; but do our actions support our

words?

Does the phrase " Do as I say not as I do" sound familiar? It seems that is a common theme for most parents, and all parents at one time or another.

It is important that we are in integrity with our children. That what we expect out of them, we give of ourselves.

If we don't do this, then we make ourselves out to be liars and someone our children will not feel they can trust, or are afraid to. TRUST is the most important thing in any relationship, especially parent/child.

Self inventory is one of the things I practice most, I evaluate what I am doing and compare it to where or what I want to be. Then I make adjustments as I can. Here are some idea's that will help you to add value to your children's life through your example, creating a HomeMade quality of life.

• Take care of yourself. Wake up early and take time for yourself to exercise, spiritual study and get ready for the day. This will teach them that it is important for them to take care of themselves and have personal time.
• If it's not ok for them, is it really ok for you? This question isn't exactly black and white because there are some age defining terms. Let your children know what those age defining terms are. For example, our rule used to be no food in the family room. So they always had to eat in the kitchen. However we as parents would still eat in the family room. Mixed message, right? So now the rule is, when you are older than the age of 12, you can eat in the family room. That way, my husband and I stay in integrity by following the rules.Answer this question honestly in everything - TV, radio, books, how time is spent....etc.
• Do they have adequate time with you? Sometimes we as parents get so busy doing "adult" stuff, that our children can get lost in the background. I know that it is hard finding balance but it is important that as you take time for yourself, you take time for them as well. At our house, the morning is mine to get my chores done, school and anything business related. Then at 2:00 it is my time with the kids. This way they have my undivided attention and I make better use of my mornings :)
• Take Time. Take the time to REALLY listen intently and to make sure you FOLLOW THROUGH with what they ask of you. They in turn will take time to listen to you and follow through with what you ask of them. Take the time to explain the WHY of things. Why you want them to do something, why you don't want them to do something. Avoid and get rid of the attitude - Because I said so, or Because I am the parent.
• Do you like what you see in the mirror? Children are  perfect reflections of who we are. The way you treat them is the way they will treat you. Don't like how they are treating you? Change how you treat them! They will use the same words and actions they are taught - towards you, their siblings and towards other people. Children deserve respect and when it is given them they will happily give it in return.

The great thing about children is they are naturally great examples to us, we can learn a lot from them :)

Fitness isn't just Physical!

Exercise, eat right, exercise, be strong, tone, work out and on and on. Any of that sound familiar to you?

It seems that people are realizing more and more how important it is to be physically fit; to have more healthy clean and whole foods, and to exercise. This is super good, and hopefully will make a huge difference for our children who are said to be the first generation to die before

their parents.

I would like to take a different focus on being fit. it's not just physical! It is important to remember that health and fitness is not just about how our body looks. It's about our thought process, our perspective, our relationship with God and fellow man. It's about how we see ourselves and treat ourselves and how we allow others to do the same. The neat thing is, they all work together! You start becoming healthy in one area, it will bring health to other areas in your life.

We are in a physical experience so we often see things physically before we recognize them mentally or spiritually.

Did you know though, that EVERYTHING we experience physically is first created mentally, emotionally and spiritually?

If we have fit minds, emotions and spirituality, the easier it is to have the body we all know we dream about.

Think about it - emotional eating anyone? Usually people think that they just have to power through not eating the chocolate when they are feeling down in the dumps. What if you didn't have to force yourself not to eat the chocolate because you had been mentally "working out" and didn't let that other person's rude comment effect the rest of your day? 

And what about your relationship with your spouse, kids and even parents? What the scale says isn't going to make them like you more. How you treat and see yourself, and the world, is what makes people like you. Because when you treat and see yourself as good, you see that in other people too.

So, when you are focused on getting your 30 minute workout in and eating the right amount of calories, make sure you spend the same amount of time each day strengthening your mental, emotional and spiritual muscles too!

Here are some ideas - 

Meditation - Serves to think more clearly, strengthens the personal will and desire, brings peace and healing. Great for stress management! Here is a link for a guided visual meditation by my favorite Yogi - Chaz Rough with Yogamazing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIV7cmwkefI

Focus essential oil blend - Use this blend when increased mental alertness is required, such as driving, studying for or taking tests. Use when you have creative or mental tasks to perform and need extra concentration. http://www.godesana.com/focus.asp?site=hiabundance

E-Motion essential oil blend - Short for "energy in motion", this uplifting blend fosters the ability to use personal energy in taking appropriate action to create the visions, goals and objectives we've set our sights on - putting the energy in motion - literally. http://www.godesana.com/essentialblends.asp?site=hiabundance

Kindred Essence essential oil blends -  Representing the circular nature of the seasons and cycles of life. From birth, to adolescent, to young adult, to mid-life, and wise elder-hood, then the return to dirt within mother earth and our creator.There is a Kindred Spirit Blend to assist, teach and nurture each of us along the way. Whether we're struggling with a life challenge, wondering about a life-question, or just wanting to navigate the inevitable daily 'ups & downs', the Kindred Spirits can assist.  http://www.godesana.com/circle-of-vitality.asp?site=hiabundance

Affirmations - I like to listen to Carol Tuttle's CD " Affirmations to change your life now" while I am doing my daily exercise. There are affirmations for your health, relationships, depression and more. It's one of my favorite things to do! https://ct.liveyourtruth.com/store/ct/cdsdvds-carol-tuttle 

EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique is a powerful way to let go of old thought patterns and emotions that no longer serve you. Something you can easily do anytime, anywhere :) http://www.emofree.com/

A Thankful Heart

Have you ever paid attention to what people say might actually be true? Things like "I feel you" or " Your giving off good vibes"? Do you think that actually happens?

I do.

Let's look at the word e-motion. It means, energy in motion. So what is energy? We could get down to the nitty gritty and talk about atoms and electrons, but I will spare you and myself :)

You know the electrical impulses in your body? The ones that are detectable by lie detectors and other instruments? That is energy.You send off "vibes" that is felt by all around you, whether you recognize it or not. That energy has different frequencies, or speeds of vibration. Think of how you hear, it is a series of vibrations, that your inner ear detects and translates into the sound. The higher/quicker the vibration, the harder it is to hear.

My dad was a deisel mechanic for 25 years or so, and that was one of the key things in keeping equipment running at top notch, making sure everything was in harmony and at the right frequency. If it was off just a little bit, things would vibrate wrong and you would have a broken peice of machinery that costs more than we understand.

Our bodies are the same way! We vibrate on different frequencies and the higher our vibration the greater our health, in every aspect. Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual. When we aren't vibrating at the right frequency we experience "brokenness" or disease, hurting a powerful piece of machinery that is more valuable than we could understand.Just ask a mother.

What does this have to do with Gratitude?

Gratitude is the highest vibrating frequency we can experience. So lets do some math - Gratitude = health, happiness, radiance. The more gratitude we have, the more we experience those things. The more we experience those things, the more we have that we are grateful for. And the cycle keeps going and going! And we seek and experience more things that help to support those things - high vibrational foods, drinks, exercise, movies, music, conversations... and on and on.

The key is getting the ball rolling. These days it can be tough to find things we are grateful for among all the low-vibrational things that happen around us. 

Here are some easy tips that aren't overwhelming to help you raise your vibration for a happy healthier you!

• High Vibrational Foods - These are easy to add, RAW, certified Organic foods that will help you feel great!

• Smooth Vitality -Smooth Vitality creates a feeling of satiety (fullness), is high in antioxidants, improves cardiovascular function, increases good cholesterol/decreases bad cholesterol and is a great energy source!
• Green Vitality - Drink your greens and feel your body become alive with energy! Raise your pH, alkalize and energize by adding Five Alive Green Vitality to your daily diet!
• Cell Vitality - Cell Vitality's unique structure oxygenates and feeds the cells - cleaning and "tuning up" our body's systems all day long.  

• Essential Oils - Essential oils are the oldest and some of the most powerful therapeutic agents ever known to man.They are the life blood of the plants and some of the highest frequencies on the planet. So whether we use essential oils and essential oil blends to relax, for stress reduction, or perhaps to calm an upset stomach, or relieve back pain, or even disinfect a cut, essential oils are indispensable! 

• Gratitude - Gratitude supports one in finding that place of compassion and forgiveness, both for self and for others. It is helpful whenever we feel spiritually numb or feel the need to consciously reconnect to our divine nature.
• Delight - Formulated specifically to appeal to the inner child in each of us. It reminds us to 'enjoy the journey' and not take ourselves or life's challenges too seriously. It can literally support us in 'lightening up'.
• E-Motion - Short for "energy in motion", this uplifting blend fosters the ability to use personal energy in taking appropriate action to create the visions, goals and objectives we've set our sights on - putting the energy in motion - literally.
• Rose -  Rose perfumes have been popular since perfumes and body fragrance's first began. To wear as a perfume apply to the wrists, the heart, the neck, or anywhere you feel inspired. Apply as often as needed to release anxieties, worries, sorrows and to feel beautify, sensual and deserving of love.

To BE or not to BE...... That IS THE question!!

UGHHH!!!! How often do you feel this way? How often do you feel this way compared to feeling this way - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you think you have a choice in how you feel? Absolutely you do! Have you ever heard something similar to "You can't control what goes on around you, but you CAN control how you respond?" Ponder on that for a moment. What does that mean to you?

When life is going crazy, and it seems that in one way or another it usually does, we get to choose how we respond and what OUR actions are. More often than not we choose the easy way - to let it effect us and let life control our emotions.

What if you took a minute, when life "happens", to breathe deeply and make a conscious choice of how you responded?
 

What would you CHOOSE?

Here's a couple of ideas to help you decide what you would choose - 

Do you enjoy being angry? Do you enjoy being annoyed? Do you enjoy being irritated? Do you enjoy being depressed? Do you enjoy yelling? Do you enjoy carrying burdens?

OR

Do you enjoy being at peace? Do you enjoy being happy? Do you enjoy satisfaction of responsibility? Do you enjoy speaking clearly and precise?

You might be thinking to yourself that it's not your fault if something doesn't go right and it is bothersome to you. You are EXACTLY right! It's not your fault! However, it IS up to you whether or not you let it drag you down and effect everything else and your whole day, week or year!

Yes some things in life aren't fun, but skipping through mud puddles is by far more fun than dragging your feet!!

POOP - We talk about it!

My 8 year old daughter came to me today excited that she has been having 2 bowel movements a day every day for 2 weeks. I love how she understands the importance of this and that she recognizes it's benefits! This is especially cool because our diet the last week and a half has been somewhat on the less than desirable side.

This is a regular conversation at our house. If someone isn't feeling good, that is the first thing we ask. "Have you pooped today?"

It seems that as a society we are real hush hush about our bowel movements. It's not something you talk about because it is gross. Yes, it is...... especially at the dinner table!

However, when in the conversation about your health, you might want to get comfortable with talking about it! Did you know that 90% of all disease is connected to an unhealthy colon? The biggest sign of an unhealthy colon is constipation!!

Now, knowing this, you will understand that one of the first questions I will always ask is, "How many bowel movements do you have a day? What are they like?" Yes you may feel odd or want to keep it personal, but it is an integral part of getting you healthy and clean :)

The ideal amount of BM's a day is 5. First thing in the morning, after each meal and right before bed. They will feel like you've done nothing but when you see the toilet you will be surprised at what came out!

Good is 3 or more. This means your bowels are functioning pretty well. The other key is how they feel. Is it hard to go? Are they compact, loose or somewhere in between?

ALL of this is important in determining how healthy your colon is, what nutrients you are or AREN'T absorbing and so on.

I don't have that many, how do I have more? Laxatives?

Most people will think that taking a good laxative to have that many BM's will make them healthy. WRONG! All laxatives do is push things through, in an uncomfortable way, and don't do anything to resolve the underlying issue. The WHY.

All our bodies need are the right nutrients and it will correct itself. Here are some things you can do to help your body with the immediate desires and for the long term correcting and healing.

The first are my favorites, then there a couple more links with some more options -

Dr. Christopher's Lower Bowel formula - This is one of Dr. Christopher's most famous formula's. It is a gentle and very effective food for the lower bowel. Nourishing it and healing it so it will perform as it was designed. Strengthening the muscles and cleansing the intestinal wall of compacted fecal matter, increasing the absorption of essential nutrients. http://www.drchristophersherbshop.com/Lower_Bowel.html 
 
goDesana Peppermint Essential Oil - Peppermint is an activator and a stimulator. It will stimulate sluggish bowels and help them get moving. Paired with goDesana Lemon Essential Oil it makes a powerful liver cleanse which increases the production of bile. Bile is essential in healthy bowel movements.http://www.godesana.com/peppermint.asp?site=hiabundance

Green Vitality Green Smoothie - Fruit first thing in the morning helps the body in it's elimination process. A green smoothie combines the cleansing effects of fruit and the vital nutrients and fibers of greens and seeds. As our food is becoming depleted in nutrients as the years go on, even organic foods, the need for whole food supplementation is increasing for desired health. Green Organics Green Vitality greens has played a major role in increasing the  sustainability of my bowels health. http://www.godesana.com/greenvitality.asp?site=hiabundance


goDesana Dygest essential oil blend - http://www.godesana.com/dygest.asp?site=hiabundance

Dr. Christopher's Quick Colon Cleanse - http://www.drchristophersherbshop.com/Quick_Colon_Cleanse.html

So, Have you pooped today?

Black Bean Quinoa Salad

This is super easy - and tasty!!

Quinoa
Sprouted Black Beans
Chopped Lettuce ( My choice is Romaine )
Cherry or Grape tomatoes cut in half
Green Onions
Mushrooms
Bell Pepper
Cucumber
Olives









Quinoa -

Soak 2 cups of quinoa for about 15 minutes while you bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Turn off heat when boil is reached. Drain and rinse quinoa then put in boiled water, cover with lid and let sit about 20 - 30 minutes.

Sprouted Black Beans -

You can find directions in the Whole Foods Binder by Elisa Wadsworth. You can purchase that here - Whole Foods Binder

Salad -

Take the rest of the ingredients and chop the way you like for a green salad.

Cook the Quinoa and warm the beans. Place in bottom of bowl and top with Green Salad. Drizzle with your favorite dressing and your done!

Can I lean on you?

How often are we busy, focusing on important things or simply want our children to leave us alone for a minute to breathe? More often than not is probably the answer.

I had a little wake up call yesterday as we sat in church..... a place where we teach our children to sit reverently and let us listen.

My 4 year old daughter was sitting by me and tapping on me. This usually is met with " not now" "no talking" "stop" " let me listen" or something along those lines. I turned to reply to her and she looked up at me and said quietly

"Can I lean on you?"

Instantly my heart melted and swelled - what a simple yet profound phrase coming from my child. To me it meant more than what she was implying, to simply lay her head against my arm while I listened. It went deep into my heart and I asked myself "Can she lean on me?" Am I showing up for her so she knows I am always there for her and my other children? Am I getting caught up in all the "adult" things and responsibilities I have and neglecting this part of my role?

Even in living a homemade life, it is easy to get distracted and make other things priorities that would still serve well being farther down on the list. That is why I love simple reminders like this to keep everything in perspective and in the correct order. To make sure my children know that YES, even if I am doing something, they can still lean on me as their mother, no matter what I am doing.

Take a minute or a whole day to make sure that those who you love most in your life - children, spouse, siblings, or parents and let them know that they CAN lean on you and that they are an integral part of your life.

Fear - It doesn't need to run your life.

Do you have anything you fear? To others does it seem irrational or simply an excuse? Does this fear paralyze you from being able to do the things you want to do?

I have a fear that I have had since I can remember. It has been so bad at times that I have been physically sick, paralyzed and often in tears just at the mention of it. In fact writing this is really hard for me because it is making me think of it.

First of all, because you have a fear does not make you less than anyone else. Even if it is so severe it can be considered a phobia. Telling yourself there is something wrong with you because you have that fear actually feeds the energy of fear.

The key is recognizing it for what it is, and then taking steps to move forward and release that fear. Here are a couple of tips that help me, have a made a huge difference and have actually lessened the "symptoms" of what has been my fear. In a lot of cases the fears have even been turned off like a light switch turns on and off the light!






TIP #1 - Tapping. I am ok no matter what happens, everyone is ok no matter what happens, everything is ok no matter what happens. These phrases are probably the hardest things to think of when you are in the middle of true fear. As soon as your fear has presented itself, begin tapping over and behind your ears saying these 3 phrases until you feel a shift, then do it at least one or two more times. This helps to reset your fight or flight response and calms your nerves - it helps to reprogram your  negative reaction to allow you to give a positive response.

TIP #2 - Breathe. Fear triggers our fight or flight response and can cause lots of stress on our bodies. Changing that initial response will make a huge difference. Of course if it is something that is startling you migh react at first. Recognize it, then begin breathing long slow deep breaths.







TIP #3 - Ground Yourself. Step outside and put your bare feet in the dirt or grass and feel the sunshine on your face. The earth is very healing and will actually absorb our stress from our bodies, and center us so that we can see, feel and think clearly. If you don't have the option of going outside, Essential Oils are a great alternative - they are the essence and healing power of Mother Earth in a bottle. Great grounding oils are Green Organics.



TIP #4 - Prayer. I always say a silent prayer for strength and faith to replace my fear. You cannot have them present in your being at the same time.









I hope these tips can help you as they have helped me. They are good not only for sudden bouts of fear, but any type of low vibrational, negative thinking and even overcoming addiction. Use these tips in place of giving in to addiction, anxiety, depression, and anger.

5 lbs to go!!

I am not a very big person - physically. I am 5 foot and normally weigh about 110 pounds. With my first 3 kids it was super easy to get back to weight after having them, I didn't even think about it. I ate what I wanted during pregnancy and afterwards. Well 4 kids and 8 years later, I am noticing a difference!

Last week I posted on my facebook fan page that I had 5 more pounds to go and then I would be at my pre-pregnancy weight and then it was time to start sculpting my amazing muscles!

Well I wanted to share with you how I am consistently dropping the weight and how I will keep it off.

This last pregnancy started out differently than what I desired - SICK! And the only thing I could eat without being horribly sick and losing it, was processed food. I am normally an avid whole foods eater - foods that you would pick out of your garden and not a box or can. So this was a big change for me. I felt gross eating it, but didn't really have much of a choice. That set me up for my eating habits through the rest of the pregnancy. Although I did pretty good, I still wanted lots of sugar and butter. Thus I baked a few times a week each week and ate most of it! I did good on my weight gain though, only gaining about 35 pounds by delivery time. However it was sugar and butter weight instead of healthy vegetable weight!

So I have baby and lose 20 pounds right off the bat, I was thinking yay! it will come off like the others. Well over the next 4 months I went down another 5 pounds and plateaued. I was still baking a few times a week - sugar cravings were SO bad. I had to have something everyday, if not multiple times a day.

Now when I am talking sugar, I'm not talking white refined sugar. I only use Turbinado or honey and I don't use wheat. And I do it homemade except for maybe a little treat on a date with my hubby. So these cookies and things were full of flax, coconut oil and other healthy stuff, but it was still sugar and fat. 

I was having a super low energy ornery experience and I couldn't remember feeling that way for years. My other pregnancies were full of healthy food cravings and I hadn't felt that addicted to sugar since before my whole experience that took me down the healthy path.

I drink green smoothies every morning for breakfast and they are always really good about getting me through the day. I was still having a hard time because of the sugar I was having. I was telling my husband one night about my issues and he told me to start adding our Smooth Vitality Protein and Yerba Mate herb to my smoothies. I was already doing lots of greens and Green Vitality which were good ( I can't imagine how I would have felt not having them)

So, I started adding the protein and yerba mate to my smoothies AND doing my liver cleanse consistently every morning about 20 minutes before my smoothie. WOW I will tell you, not only did I do some major cleansing but it was pretty much instantly that I no longer was craving the sugar! In fact I didn't make any treats for 2 months, and then that was some honey cookies for my students finals. 

I am now down to 5 more pounds and then I will be focusing on building lean muscles and toning. I am SO excited!! My plan is, with my new barefoot shoes, to walk/climb hills for half an hour every morning for the next month (get my feet and ankles ready to start running in them) THEN once that is done, I will start again the Couch 2 5K program and then begin incorporating more muscle training activities.

This protein and green mix have been SO instrumental to me being able to cut the cravings and have the energy I desire for all that I do, I can't even express my gratitude for them. I have tried proteins before and this is the only one I don't get sick on and it actually gives me energy :)

Smooth Vitality is a dairy, GMO, soy, gluten, whey, casein free nutritional shake. It is RAW and 100% organic! You can't get better quality than that.!

Green Vitality is a RAW organic blend of 25 different greens, turning your body into a vibrant alkaline environment from a deadly acidic one.

I won't go a day without these two!

I'll keep you posted :)

If you want to get your own you can go here - Green Organics

the HomeMade MOM

 Homemade - Grandma's, aprons, clothes, bread......warm and fuzzy. What do you think of when you think of homemade?

I think of quality, individual interest and care. This is the feeling that I want to inspire in everyone. That they have a life that is quality, individual and full of care. I also want to share what I do in my life to have those things!

This blog will be a fun way for me to share those things with you, and inspire you to live your own HomeMade life.

Welcome to a life of Warm Fuzzies!

Never Fails..........Mother's Day on your mind?

How is your spring? Mine is WONDERFUL!! I can't believe how much moisture we are getting, and it is fantastic! My fields are so nice and green, and I have some ponies that are anxious to get out and graze. I love farm life!

Today I am going to share an awesome story about my baby and some great Mother's Day Ideas!!

Anyone planting a garden this year? You can get some great tips and tricks as well as answers to your questions from Elisa Wadsworth ( proud to be her sister!) at www.inthegardenofeatin.com She is a Master Gardner who has gardened in one way or another for over 15 years. Her gardens are always beautiful and plenty. Right now she is working on creating a CSA in Fort Collins, CO with her husband, 5 boys and friends. You can follow their progress and happenings on the farm at www.inthegardenofeatin.blogspot.com - I highly recommend it - and not just because she is my sister!

NEVER FAILS!!! :)

Sometimes the term "never fails" is used in a negative perspective - however for me, today, it is SUPER positive!

My little Emma, started to have irregular bowel movements when she was about 3 weeks old. I did EVERYTHING I could think of the help - changed my diet( even more!) incorporated herbs to help ( they helped ME but didn't pass along to her lol) used oils ( they helped with her upset tummy and made her a little more regular) but she was still going over 4 days without a movement. At her well child check ups, the doctor said its part of development and breast fed babies are usually not very regular. I wasn't very satisfied but didn't know what to do.

THEN I started taking Green Organics Green Vitality - and just like that she started to have a movement EVERY day!! Obviously I was missing something in my diet - not needing to take things out.
Then I ran out, and my next shipment was on back order so I was without it for a couple weeks. I was adding more greens to my smoothies, and different variaties, they helped some, but she went back to about 4 days.

THEN I got my Green Vitality, and VOILA! She is having 1-2 movements a day. Green Vitality NEVER FAILS!
It is obvious to me, that even though we may be doing everything right in our diet, but how true it is that our foods are depleted of much needed nutrients - even compared to 50 years ago! And how true it is that RAW, whole food, organic supplements can make such a huge difference and "fill in the blanks" of what we are missing.

COMING UP........MOTHER'S DAY!!

Mother's Day is one of my favorite holidays - not just because I am a mother of 4 beautiful children, but because we get to honor women, and their truth. Women's roles are Mother's. We are nurturing, loving, peacemaking feminine beauty. There is a quiet strength that resides in us that is often leaned on by our family.

When I think of women, and who they TRULY are, instead of what our society today has made/encouraged them to be, they are truly in alignment with these things - the awesome power of the moon, connection, beauty, inner strength, wisdom, inner knowing, intuition, a soft wave that softens the rough edges of what is around us.

How are you honoring your mother? Your wife? the mother inside you? Your sisters? Other important women in their life? It is time to honor the divine woman inside and I have the perfect opportunity for that, something we are all familiar with, something that will nourish the woman/women in your life and help them live their truth and beauty!

Lavender is known as the Divine Mother. This is a PERFECT way to honor Woman, and it will last them a LONG time!!

You can read more about the Lavender's starting here - http://www.greenorganicsinternational.com/lavender.asp?=hiabundance

AND you can add Sesso Dolce to the gift (or give it on it's own!) and awaken the the Goddess within - http://sessodolce.com/index.asp?site=hiabundance

Men - Shopping isn't necessarily your strong point, and finding the perfect gift isn't always easy - take it from a woman who knows - you will Rank really high on Mother's day with either of these gifts and even higher with both!!

Log into your back office to order either of these.https://www.cs4000.net/GreenOrganics/member/default.asp
Don't have a back office yet? I'll show you how to get one so you can save 30% off retail pricing!

SWEET Cornbread

Combine -
1/2 cup coconut oil
4 organic free range eggs ( you can use flax eggs instead and then increase baking powder by about 1.5 tsp.)
2 1/2 cups almond milk ( I have used just water before and it works great!)

Beat until all combined

Then add -

1 cup organic cornmeal ( one of those things to get from Azure Standard in bulk)

3 cups spelt flour

1 1/4 Turbinado

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Beat until smooth. Poor into 9x13 greased pan. Cook at 350 for about 35 min.

Are YOU Ready?

Today is the first day of Spring, the timing couldn't be more perfect for
things going on here with me - how about you?
With it being a time of re-birth, coming forth and balance, it is all
supporting the things I have been focused on creating over the last few
months, and it is the perfect timing for them to all begin coming to
fruition!
I will be sharing these things with you over time, and you will be seeing
changes to my direction in life, that is going to bring about many
blessings for you and those you love.
I want to express my gratitude to and for you, for reading my emails and
supporting me as I move through life and doing what I can to BE that change
in the world I desire to see in everyone.
On this day, I want you to meditate over the things you desire in your life
- whether it be physical, financial, spiritual, emotional or mental. Then
ponder over the reasons WHY you want these changes.
- Why is it important?
- Why will it improve who you are?
- Why will it create more harmony and balance?
- Why will it benefit your family?
Then when you have done this, keep yourself open to any inspiration you
receive throughout the day, and WRITE it DOWN when it comes! Keep a paper
close by, in your pocket even, and pay attention to what comes. You will be
inspired and impressed by what comes to your mind!
Have a blessed day and keep watching for changes with my website and stay
excited for receiving more!!

Crunchy Everything Granola

Overnight soak about a 1/2 - 1 cup of each of these or your own favorites -
Pumpkin Seeds
Flax Seeds
Hemp Seeds
Sesamea Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Almonds
Pecans
Cashews
The next morning, drain the water off of those and then stir in with 8 cups organic rolled oats.
In a pan mix 1 cup turbinado and 1/4 c water. warm so turbinado melts. Remove from heat and stir in 1 c. honey, 1 tbsp. coconut oil, 1/2 tsp salt. Stir together and pour over mixture. Stir until evenly coated. Spread on parchment paper in cooking sheets. ***** Do not use wax paper. For some reason I did this and it stuck to my pans really bad!
Pre heat oven to lowest setting. Put sheets in oven and stirring infrequently, leave until desired crunchiness is reached.

The Gift of Emma

All of my children have blessed my life in infinite ways. Through them I have developed and grown, found true meaning to life and how to live it each day. They have taught me and inspired me. Today I focus on the changes in my life that my sweetest Emma has made possible.
FEAR - something we all have and probably will encounter most of our lives. I believe mastering this one untruth destroys the foundation for all untruth's.

My sister in law and I - 39 weeks

December 4, 2012 - My parents, sister Elisa and 4 of her boys had been visiting for a week now. My sister -in-law had her baby a couple days ago and my due date was tomorrow! My pregnancy had been great, but as of today I was emotionally and mentally done being pregnant - not to mention moving around wasn't that easy anymore either!
As I went to bed, I prayed this baby would come. I was so ready to meet this person and know them. I did not know if they were a boy or a girl - and I was dying to find out! As I lay there praying, my husband rolled over to me and told me he needed to talk to the baby. So I listened as he spoke to my belly - You can be whoever you are. I give you permission to be yourself and not who I think you should be. - There were other things but I can't remember them word for word. But the message was clear.
At 3:30 am I woke up to feeling wet. I lay there thinking, is this what I think it is? All my other labors had to have the water broken for me at the hospital, so I had no idea what to expect. And then I felt a gush - it is! I woke Stephen who at first laid there as bewildered as I was. Then he jumped out of bed and started getting ready to go, and waking everyone up. My sweet mother squealed with excitement :)
We had planned to labor as long as we could at home, and if my water broke, that was a sign to go to the hospital. I called the mid-wives, and my sweet Doula, Breanne Ackerman,  letting them know what was happening, . We met Breanne at the hospital where they took us upstairs to our room. It was a large, comfy room, with a big couch and table with chairs in it, with room to spare! Stephen called his mother and she met us there shortly after. she works at the hospital, so she just came into work a bit early :)
Stephen and I prepared as we had outlined in our Birth Plan. We set apart the room for what was about to take place, inviting God, Christ and Heavenly Mother to be present with us. Breanne used essential oil mister sprays to clear the energy of the room and to support creating it to be a sacred cherished space. We turned on the diffuser with a blend in it called Hope -perfect for the mood we were setting.
We then waited. We ate breakfast, visited and waited. I had contractions,  but they weren't what I had imagined they would be like. We had an awesome nurse, Dana, that got us settled in and had a fun conversation about the flu vaccine, why not to get it and what she was pursuing with the hospital so she wouldn't be required to receive it. We walked up and down the hall, sat on the birthing ball and did squats... and waited.
Lunchtime came, and I was HUNGERY! I ordered a big lunch - meatloaf :)
Stephen's mom went down to her office to work, and we told her we would keep her updated so she could come back when things got closer. It was so neat to have both our mother's there with us.
There is a concern with water breaking, that if the labor doesn't progress at a good rate, the risk of infection greatly increases. The mid-wife on call came and saw us around 1:00 pm. She had concern over how inconsistent my contractions were and my water being broke. Our new nurse, Alex, checked me to see where I was at in labor. I wasn't anymore dilated than I was at my appointment on Monday - at a 2 and 75% effaced.
We discussed the risks and what I could do to stimulate the labor. We agreed that if I hadn't progressed any by 2:30, that we would start an iv of Petocin. This was a little hard for me at first, because I wanted a completely natural birth, but I also understood the concern of safety and was grateful to receive the help.
We did everything we could to get things moving, including nipple stimulation , which isn't as fun as it may sound :) 2:30 came and there was no progress. So we began the Petocin at a very low level. I was getting tired at this point, simply because I had been up for 12 hours, so I lay down to rest. Breanne got out my body oil with a Lavender and Frankincense essential oil blend in it and massaged my feet. It felt SO amazing! And she did it for so long, I was SO grateful.
Things started to progress, and I remember thinking, "Is this really how it is?" I began using the techniques I had been learning and studying and  repeating the affirmations I had created for when I was in a contraction. Stephen was a great support to me. Putting pressure on my back, standing and swaying with me, whispering words of love and comfort...... Breanne also kept speaking words of affirmation, keeping Christ my center of thought, helping me to stay relaxed.
We also used oils from the Whole Body collection from Alexandria Brighton, to address pain and discomfort. I used these oils throughout my pregnancy and was so grateful for how well they worked!
Because I had the Petocin, it was required that I kept the monitor on my belly to watch the baby's heart rate. I wasn't so keen to this, because it was super uncomfortable and hurt during a contraction,but I had enough room to move as I needed so I kept myself in a place of allowance.
Things continued on.... I really wasn't realizing how much so because of the state of meditation I was keeping myself in. I primarily stayed kneeling by the bedside laying my head on the bed, kind of like you would leaning on the birthing ball. That and standing next to Stephen and having him hold me up while going limp, were the two positions that were the most comfortable and relieved me the most.
Then the classic sign of being close to delivery presented itself - I kept having strong urges to go to the bathroom. This increased the challenge of keeping my mind in the space I had intended because I kept going into the bathroom and sitting on the toilet, then coming back out. The urges became more intense and my sister reminded me that it meant things were about to happen. I assured her I remembered, but that I seriously had to go to the bathroom...he he :)
Stephen came with me, and Dana was back on shift - she reminded me she didn't want to deliver a baby over the toilet. I remember sitting there, and the contractions were so intense, I was beginning to give up. He convinced me that it was time, and we needed to go back to the bed. Feelings of hopelessness began to creep into my mind and the short walk from the bathroom to the bed, it turned into feelings of despair and crying to Stephen that I couldn't do it, I wasn't strong enough ..... and I couldn't do it. When I said those things everything began to disappear around me, I only remember everyone jumping up and lifting me onto the bed. I felt so faithless and cried out to God to release me.
Dana checked me, the first time since Alex had done it before the Petocin. She said I was at a 9 - andmy urge to push was so strong, I started to push on my own, Dana told me to hang on because the mid-wife needed to be there, but I did what my body told me to do. When she saw the baby coming, she jumped on board.
Stephen and Breanne each held my hands and Elisa read to me my affirmations. There was the head...... 1 push...... the head was out...... 2 push and I had delivered my baby. I laid there with my eyes closed, in amazement and gratitude for such an awe inspiring experience. Stephen was speechless and Dana had to beckon him to announce the baby's gender..."IT'S A......!" "A girl! we have a baby girl" I still lay there, in amazement at everything that happened. Everything was outside of my world. They put her on my chest and she was so amazing. My baby Emma. The cord had already stopped pulsing, so Stephen cut it, and I just held her.  I had never felt so connected to God or myself than any other moment.

What I came away with from this?
I'll tell you -

• Natural Birth is the most amazing experience ever - Especially making Christ the focus
• Major shifts in my energy and who I am. I cleared so much fear, and gained so much power, that I am doing things in my life I never thought I would, and having faith I never thought I could possess
• I am excited to do it again
• I am strong
• The body is amazing - especially when we let it do things it's way
• Anything really is possible.... If you BELIEVE

Ranch Dressing

First make Cashew sour cream -

• Soak 1 cup cashews 4-6 hours
• Rinse
• Place in blender with 1 TBS plus ½ tsp Apple Cider vinegar ( or rice vinegar) and ¼ tsp. salt
• ¾ c. Water total
• Add water ¼ cup at a time.
• Put in fridge to thicken

 Now for the ranch dressing -

• 1 cup Sour cream
• 2 tsp Agave Nectar/Honey
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp Nutritional Yeast
• ¼ tsp garlic granules or ½ clove fresh garlic
• 1 tsp. Salt
• ¼ tsp Pepper
• ½ tsp Basil
• 1 tsp Parsley

Place ingredients in blender and mix. Set in fridge to thicken.

RAW Week

Whew! This week has been a lot of fun! My husband and I started a RAW challenge, and jump started it off with a 3 day Juice cleanse last Friday. We have experience quite the "cleansing" :)
When you think of your car or home, you do routine maintenance on them to keep them running at their best, to last you a long time.... so a cleanse is for our bodies! Routine maintenance to keep them running good to have a high quality of life for a long time!
We aren't going to go strictly RAW forever - I believe that some foods are meant to be cooked, and science actually shows that some foods nutritional value increases when lightly steamed or low-heated. We did this for the sole fact that we had gotten ourselves in a "bad" food grind and this was a good way to get us out of it!
I wanted to share with you some of the foods we have had this week, they have all been fantastic and will surely be added to my menu permanently :)
It IS important I believe to have a diet that is a minimum 50% raw :)
For our breakfast we stayed the same - Green smoothies and fruit until noon :) With the complimentary taste of GO Raspberry Ketones (a super support for burning fat) and GO Green Vitality ( 25 different greens in one easy package!) Which are both RAW and ORGANIC! (Learn more about both of these by clicking on their links or go here - www.greenorganicsinternational.com/hiabundance )
For lunch I made this granola - I was going to dehydrate it but the kids wanted to eat it just sprouted, and it was really good! I mixed oat groats, pumpkin seeds, almonds, pecans, hemp seeds and sunflower seeds. We ate it with a bit of raw honey and freshly made almond milk :)

Then for dinner we had Creamy Ranch Cauliflower salad - Chopped Cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, spinach and my dairy free ranch dressing. MMMM!

Day 4-
Dinner today was super yummy! We had what seems to be a classic at summer barbeques, just modified to be a bit healthier! Broccoli Salad....
Cashew Mayo, Apple Cider Vinegar, Agave Nectar, broccoli, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, red onion and craisins.


Day 5- Fettuccine Alfredo This was probably one of my favorites! I am a sucker for Italian food...Creamy Italian food with lots of Garlic! Zucchini Alfredo :)
Zucchini, tomatoes, cashew Alfredo sauce. This was a new Alfredo recipe, and I like it better than the one I have, so I will be updating that soon!

I had a hankering for something sweet, so I made these RAW oatmeal chocolate chip cookies - YUM!
Prunes (which I wasn't a fan of until this!), Pecan meal, Rolled Oats and some chocolate chips.


Day 6 - Lasagna! Again, Italian food :) Who can go wrong with it?
Zucchini, Raw tomato sauce, Cashew/sunflower seed ricotta, Spinach and fresh tomatoes

For lunch today, we had raw honey mixed with raw peanut butter in celery sticks and then chopped veggies in my Ranch dressing - super filling and super good!


Day 7 - Crunchy Cabbage Apple Salad
This was super good! The same dressing from the broccoli salad and some chopped apples and cabbage. Super easy, Super good :)


For snacks we had some zucchini chips, sweet potato chips, and beet chips. The zucchini ones were our favorite, and I made them all on my dehydrator :) I also made some yummy corn chips on the dehydrator but didn't get a picture, they went too fast! We didn't really use a lot of snacks though, because we felt so satisfied!
The purpose of this was a redirection to get us back on the right track, and for sure will be doing it in the future to add to our maintenance!
I will be posting the recipes for all of these over the next few days....so stay tuned!