by Caroline | Dec 17, 2016 | Lifestyle
The holidays are meant to be happy remember? Give yourself the gift of holiday presence! (It’s not all about the presents, it’s about the PRESENCE.) We often get so wrapped up in the falalalala that we forget to pause, breathe, and actually enjoy the most wonderful time of year. Below are our top tops on staying present, sane, and even HAPPY throughout the holiday season.
Pick and choose.
Your calendar is FULL of holiday parties, cookie exchanges, secret Santas, cocktail parties, and pure busyness. It’s when we over-commit that December becomes a blur and we end up ringing in the New Year in need of a nap, vacation, and detox. What if we stopped saying “yes” to everything and commit to only what we’re actually looking forward to?? Not to sound like the Grinch, but truth is that we have a choice. Say yes to the things that you enjoy and skip the rest; you’ll have more fun and be less burned out!
Embrace the crazy.
Holiday shopping, in some regard, is pretty unavoidable for most of us. While it would have been ideal to start the shopping early to avoid the last-minute crunch, for most of us, that concept is long gone (better luck next year!) Instead of heading into the madness with frustration and angst before you even find a parking spot, commit to embrace the chaos, lines, music, and the crowds. Turn shopping into a family affair, girl’s night out, or excuse for a date. Remember that you always have a choice. Remind yourself what the holidays are really about and choose to be positive, you’ll find that the little things just won’t bug you as much. The hustle and bustle is out there, so we might as well embrace it!
Catch your breath.
We get so ‘wrapped up’ in the shopping, wrapping, decorating, cookie-baking, caroling…This just leaves us overwhelmed and under the weather. Schedule down time with (or without) friends and family. There’s nothing wrong with staying in for a movie or game night, partying in your pajamas, or soaking up the season solo in a warm bath. Schedule time to do nothing just like you would put aside time for an important event. When you are out and about, remind yourself often to pause, take a long, deep breath and return to the current moment instead of worrying about what’s to come and go. Click here for more mindful tips and here for OHH’s tips on staying healthy throughout the holidays.
It’s the thought that counts…right?!
The more thought we put into our gift-giving, the more we enjoy the giving more than the getting. So, instead of thinking of each gift as another check on your to-do list, take some time to put genuine thought before you buy, especially for those near and dear to your heart. Few of us need more “stuff,” so instead of clutter under the tree, spend some time doing for others to fulfill their hearts and yours this holiday season.
This post was graciously submitted to Bloom & Spark by Kiley from onehealthyamptons.com. Thanks Kiley!
by Caroline | Dec 5, 2016 | Lifestyle
It’s so easy to lose track of our sanity this time of year! Is anyone else losing their mind over crowded malls and parking lot wars, or is it just me? This year I’ve made a commitment to myself to put my health and happiness first and not lose myself in the chaos. That means no malls! NADA! I’ve done all of my holiday shopping at local shops to support my home town, and on Amazon!
I wanted to share with my wonderful readers the things that I use in my own home to make it easy for me to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s so much easier when your environment supports your healthy habits. My healthy home gift guide will give you ideas for the health nut in your life. Or maybe for the person who needs to live a healthier lifestyle, these gifts can be a gentle nudge in that direction.
In the spirit of transparency, the links I have provided are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission on stuff you buy through my links. However, I wouldn’t recommend anything I didn’t either use myself or completely love!
Cool Mist Humidifier Ultrasonic Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser
Full disclosure, this is not the exact essential oil diffuser I use (the one I use isn’t on amazon). But, I really wanted to include one here because I feel it greatly contributes to my health and wellbeing. I even got one for my office and my coworkers love it! This one is really similar, and actually a bit nicer too because it’s coated in wood, and looks so pretty! If i didn’t already have one I would definitely get this one.
Yoga Ladies Stretching Metal Bookend
OMG how cute are these book ends? Ok they don’t help make your home a healthier place but they are such a unique touch for the yogi that already has everything for her home!
Mexican Falsa Yoga Blanket
Yoga blankets are essential to a good yoga practice, as they can be used for so many things. I love this one because since it’s also really stylish it would also make a great throw blanket as well!
Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer
This is the exact juicer I use in my house, and I absolutely love it! I got it because of its easy clean up first and foremost. I used to have a juicer that required a lot of cleaning of many parts afterwards, and it eventually became a dust collector in the back of my kitchen cabinet. When my cousin had this one I fell in love with it and got one immediately. The juicing aspect is great, but the real beauty is in the easy clean up. I just rinse off a couple of parts and put them right back on. So simple! It now lives on my counter top.
Old Dutch Cast Iron Placidity Teapot
I absolutely love lose leaf tea! I use a cast iron tea pot, partly because it’s so pretty, but also because cast iron is so durable and it keeps the tea warm for a while. And I just feel so fancy pouring tea from a nice pot like this one!
Soma Sustainable Pitcher & Plant-Based Water Filter
I actually asked for this water filter for my birthday (I know…you know you’re getting old when you ask for a water filter for your birthday). The pitcher is just so pretty and modern, and I love the company (SOMA) for it’s integrity and care of the environment when creating their product. This thing is currently chilling in my fridge (ha get it!!!).
Meditation Cushion
Ok I’m going to sound like a terrible yoga teacher, but I always thought I didn’t need a meditation pillow because I had plenty of pillows on my couch so why bother getting another one. Omg, I was so wrong. These meditation cushions are filled with buckwheat hulls, which give it a really sturdy and supportive feel. You really stay put when you’re on this thing, which is so important when you are easily distracted in meditation like me.
Eat-Taste-Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook for Modern Living
I got this cookbook for Christmas last year, and It’s so much more than a compilation of recipes. If you are interested in Ayurveda then this is the jackpot of all Ayurvedic cookbooks. It contains all the basic (and not so basic) information on Ayurvedic living, while also giving you great recipes for all the dosha types. It has recipes from basic all the way to complex so you can make anything your heart desires.
Fresh Energy Cookbook: Detox Recipes To Supercharge Your Life
I honestly don’t know when I got this book but I’ve had it a while and it gets a lot of use in my house. It contains great recipes that are super fresh and clean (mostly vegetarian). It also has great juice and smoothie recipes too. If you’re looking to clean up your diet or do a detox that doesn’t require you giving up solid food I highly recommend this book.
Clean Food: A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source with More Than 200 Recipes for a Healthy and Sustainable You
This book is great when I want a seasonal recipe. The recipes are organized into spring, summer, fall and winter chapters and showcase the produce that are in season that time of year. While there’s some typical vegan fare, many recipes play with expected ingredients in interesting ways: marinated tofu with ginger cashew dipping sauce; quinoa and black bean salad with apricot lime dressing; and spicy coconut pumpkin soup. The desserts are especially appealing, with options such as fresh fruit tart with almond crust; chocolate pecan pie; and banana coconut chocolate chip cookies.
Miracle-Gro AeroGarden Sprout with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit
I have been wanting something like this for years!!! Who loves me? Ok, but how amazing would it be to grow your own herbs indoors all winter long? This herb kit can sit on your counter or a window sill all winter long and you will always have fresh herbs for your amazing dinners.
Philips Wake-Up Light with Sunrise Simulation
Somebody please get me one of these for Christmas (and if not I’m prepared to just get it for myself). I have the worst time waking up in the morning. My room is like a cave and gets absolutely no morning sunlight. I often hit snooze on my phone for an hour or more, yikes! This alarm clock wakes you up gradually with simulated sunlight and bird sounds so you can wake up naturally. Another perk is that you won’t need your phone right next to your bed anymore (a growing bad habit in my life).
Nutrient Dense superfood protein shake
My final gift idea for your health loving friend or family member is shakeology. I drink my shake every day and it gives me a ton of superfood nutrients and protein. It keeps me full for hours which is great since I don’t have much time to eat at work. I’ve tried so many different protein powders over the years and this is honestly one of my favorites. The website also gives you a ton of recipes, and not just smoothie recipes, I’m talking chocolate cake and snickerdoodle cookies. Apparently you can use the shakeology mix in so many recipes.
The Healthy Home Gift Guide
by Caroline | Nov 27, 2016 | Lifestyle
We spend our whole lives striving for the next thing. Graduate with that degree, get the dream job, buy the house, the fancy car. Forward, forward, onward, upward. Don’t look back. Keep striving. Success is only found by looking ahead and pushing a little bit more. Society only loves you when you’re advancing in it.
But before you cam bloom, you need grounded roots. And we often neglect that essential component. I wouldnt want a construction company to cut the budget for the foundation, and used the extra resources to build a taller skyscraper. So why do I live my life like that?
When you dig deep into the core of you, (your roots) what do you find? Do you know what you see? Is the landscape murky, or clear?
Doing this type of deep inner work, you may kind that some old stuff is brought to the surface. You can call it fear, old wounds, triggers. Those things deep within us that are a whisper, but everpresent. You ignore these feelings, push them down as you reach for that afternoon latte to keep you going.
You aren’t always aware of them, but they guide your attitudes, decisions and lifestyle. You blame it on your past; that shitty boyfriend who said you were unloveable, the addict in your family that made your home unsafe. The regection, the judgement along the way. The beliefs we made up to explain how the world works when our child brains could’t comprehend the complexity and dynamics of life.
We all have some version of this.
We see our fears as making us weak, imperfect. A crack in the porcelean.
What holds you back from being fucking awesome?
What are you protecting yourself against?
The feeling that you are unworthy of happiness, and success? “Who am I to…”
The fear of failure, because there’s no gold metal for the losing team. “Why should I bother to…”
Lack mindset; “I don’t have the resources, time, education, money, intellect, creativity to…”
We all need time to reconcile the limiting beliefs that diminish our self worth. Healing the fears and wounds that hold you back from your greatness. I think there should be a mandatory stock taking period each year, where we are all expected do unplug and listen to the thoughts in your head, and the feelings in your gut. A time to ask ourselves what am I doing here? Is what I’m doing making any difference? What’s driving me? What am I running from? What am I runnung towards?
But being healed doesn’t mean your woulds go away. Being healed means you thank those wounds and see them as your greatest teacher.
How to do this:
- Remember that uou are magnificent. You are loved. You were made to do epic shit.
- Get clear on what holds you back. Ask yourself: what are my greatest fears? What has hurt me in the past? What are my woulds?
- Identify where they hold you back in your life/career/relationsips.
- Do the work daily to kindly thank those beliefs, and send them on their way. IF that doesn’t make any selse to you create a mantra/prayer/affirmation/saying of the new belief you want to create, that you can go back to over and over again. Play that shit on repeat.
Rather than trying to rid yourself of your darkness, transforming your the way you see your wounds will help you grow past them. They are there to teach you. To help you on your journey of evolution. When you see your fears as your teacher, rather than your enemy, you learn a great deal more about your place on this earth.
xo,
by Caroline | Nov 6, 2016 | Lifestyle
Because essential oils have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory benefits, it helps to add them to a bath when you want to rid your body of impurities.
The benefits of a detox bath are two fold: first your body sweats out toxins. Remember, sweating is one of the best ways to get toxins out of our bodies, so a hot bath is not only relaxing for tired muscles, but it helps the process of detoxification through sweating it out.
Not only are baths totally practical (that is if you’re someone who values good body hygiene) but they are also an easy and affordable luxury that’s available to anyone with a tub.
The best way to start simple is with your base ingredients.(These are rough measurements, we’re not baking a cake here.)
- 1 cup epsom salt
- 1/4 cup baking soda
From there you can add any assortment of essential oils, herbs or spices. I like to call it ACCESSORIZING BATH TIME!
Here are some of my favorite combinations:
When you have a cold: Peppermint and Eucalyptus essential oils 1-3 drops of each
When your skin is dry: 1 tbsp Coconut oil, 1/2 c oatmeal, 1/2 c coconut milk, 4-5 lavender essential oil
When you have tired muscles: peppermint, lavender essential oils 1-4 drops of each
When you’re stressed: Lavender and chamomile
by Caroline | Oct 24, 2016 | Lifestyle
I love talking about how to use Ayurvedic techniques, especially when it comes to the seasons. So I am super pumped to share about Ayurveda for autumn. If you’re like most of us around here this may be the first time you’ve heard of the term “Ayurveda.” So if you are not familiar with the Ayurvedic philosophy and traditions go check out my post Ayurveda 101.
Knowing Ayurvedic techniques for autumn is key in maintaining your health this time of year. Everywhere you look, transition is occurring. In nature, trees are letting go of their leaves, in preparation for winter. There’s a gentle slowing down of growth and a cooling of temperatures. Even our daily routines slow down. More time is spent indoors and under blankets; craving warmth and protection from the elements. The windy and dry qualities of this season are a hallmark of fall. We innately savor the time where we can experience the simplicity and quiet essence of the season.
What is “Vata Season?”
Late fall and winter are known in ayurveda as “vata season” because they are marked by some of the same qualities that characterize vata dosha: cold, dry, light, clear, and moving. Fall is dominated by the element air. The qualities of nature are windy, dry and cool. Since there is an abundance of vata energy this time of year, it’s beneficial to take steps to balance the excess vata this fall so we can maintain our wellbeing.
Signs of excess vata:
- Increased anxiety/unsettledness
- Bothered by cold and wind
- Poor sleep
- Excess stimulation is bothersome–i.e. crowds and loud noises
- Bloating and gas
- Dry skin and hair
- Feeling disorganized and overwhelmed
- Inability to sit still
Why adopt a seasonal routine?
As the external environment changes, it also increases the vata energy in our internal environment. Noticing the qualities of the season can empower you to seek balance from the fluctuations in climate.
We already do this without knowing it. In the winter we like to cuddle up by a fire and eat warming, hearty foods to counter the cold, raw qualities in nature. In the summer we love salads, watermelon and more cooling foods. Spring and Fall are times of change; either a slowing down or a revving up in growth.
So, it’s innate to offset seasonal imbalances with our routines. Practitioners of ayurveda have been studying the season’s affect on our bodies for thousands of years. It’s our way to protect our own wellbeing in the different environmental extremes.
When we have these qualities in balance we are healthy, vibrant and energetic. In Ayurveda, having a seasonal routine helps you gain some equilibrium and enhance your wellbeing all year long. It’s also important to know your personal constitution (pita, vata, kapha) when designing your seasonal routines. Always keeping balance in mind.
In Ayurveda, like enhances like, therefore balance is the key when the climate changes. In the cold winter months we don’t want to eat cold, airy foods like salads because it would increase the “vata” energy. Therefore, we balance these qualities with it’s opposite. If fall is vata season (characterized by dry, cool, air, and movement) we balance that with routines that help us find more warmth and grounding.
It actually makes a lot of sense and you’ve probably done some of this already just purely instinctively
Top Ayurveda Tips for Autumn:
Food:
- Your diet is the best way to counter vata imbalances this fall. Eat foods that are substantial, cooked, warming, and soothing. Meals high in protein, fat and oil are recommended this time of year.
- Spices that are warming, savory and grounding are best added to these meals.
- Warm foods seem obvious, therefore roasted or sautéed seasonal vegetables are ideal.
- Breakfasts like oatmeal and other cooked grains are great.
- Enjoy more sweet, sour, and salty tastes, while avoiding bitter, astringent, and pungent tastes.
- Lunch and dinner may include seasonal vegetables that are seamed, roasted or sautéed, paired with hearty grains and stews which can be grounding and moisturizing.
- Overall try to reduce foods that are raw, cold, light, and dry this season such as raw vegetables, dry cereal, cold sandwiches, crackers, chips, popcorn, and dried fruit.
- Drink lots of warming liquids like tea to balance the cool and dry qualities of vata season.
Exercise:
- Keep your yoga and fitness routines grounding and warming.
- Weightlifting naturally feels grounding to our bodies.
- A yoga sequence focused on poses that ground the body are essential.
- Cardio to build strength and heat will help balance cool energy.
- Whatever you do, movement is key in keeping the body warm, however too much movement can aggravate vata so be mindful of vata aggravating workouts like outdoor cycling or running.
Daily Routines:
- Make sure you are warm and hydrated to balance the cool and dry nature of the season. Extra layers, warm baths, and a humidifier are your best friend.
- Vata is aggravated my moving air, so avoiding drafty rooms or fans is helpful.
- Massage oil into your skin after the shower.
- A grounding meditation practice can help pacify excess vata that increases anxiety and ceaseless thoughts.
- Check out a whole post I created on self care for the fall
(opens in a new tab)
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by Caroline | Sep 27, 2016 | Lifestyle
If your skin becomes extremely dry as soon as the weather turns cold, you’re going to love this DIY activated charcoal and coffee scrub!
This scrub is not meant to be used as a full body or facial exfoliate. A basic coffee scrub is a more suitable option if that is what you plan on using it for. However if you suffer from dry skin, activated charcoal is worth it’s weight in gold.
Activated Charcoal is often used in poultices for bee stings, mosquito bites and other bug bites. It helps to soothe the itchiness, as it adsorbs many chemicals, gases and toxins.
Coconut oil also helps to soothe dry irritated skin. In addition to helping to soothe the irritated skin, it’s also absorbed into the skin helping to moisturize dry areas.
The charcoal and coffee act as a natural exfoliate helping to remove dead, dry skin cells. While some coffee scrubs may make the problem worse by drying your skin out, the coconut oil helps to lock in moisture.
The caffeine found in coffee is a powerful antioxidant, which penetrates the skin barrier. It also helps to improve circulation.
If you have dry patches of skin that never seem to go away you need to try this DIY.
I recommend sourcing a high quality organic coffee and grind it up extremely fine.
I use coconut activated charcoal powder because it’s extremely fine, meaning it has more surface area to work with. If you already have hardwood or bamboo charcoal those will work too, as will capsules of charcoal.
Finally, organic coconut oil can be found everywhere these days, chances are you already have some in your fridge or cupboard.
Ingredients
- ½ tbsp. finely ground coffee
- ½ tbsp. activated charcoal
- 1 tbsp. coconut oil
Directions
- Mix the charcoal and coffee together and add 1 tbsp. of coconut oil. Remember when it drops to room temperature coconut oil solidifies so your mixture is going to also solidify making it difficult to work with. It’s best when the coconut oil is liquid.
- Note: It’s best to apply it in the shower because this mixture is messy!
- Place a pea-sized amount on your dry skin and gently rub it in. Let it sit for 3 to 4 minutes, before washing it off. Apply daily until the dry skin has healed.
It will be difficult to wash off, the charcoal may leave a grey-ish tinge on your skin but it’ll wash away. The mixture comes off completely with soap but I’d recommend using it sparingly because soap can actually strip your skin of moisture. I recommend that you use Castile soap because it’s extremely gentle, free of chemicals and it won’t strip dearly needed moisture.
Enjoy!
xo,
This DIY recipe was graciously submitted to Bloom & Spark by Megan Thompson of goldmountainbeauty.com. Megan is a DIY health & beauty addict. She’s committed to making her itsy-bitsy apartment chemical free and her diet as unprocessed as possible. You can find her work at Gold Mountain Beauty where she is responsible for the blog, Instagram and Pinterest.
