New Year's Hangover Helper

Happy New Years!!!  

Plan on celebrating with alcohol?  You could end up with a hangover!  Of course my first advice is going to be to limit your alcohol intake or better yet, drink some Kombucha!  It is a fermented healthy drink! 

Crunch Challenge!

Last month, some of you joined me in the Squat Challenge.  If you completed the entire month, congrats!  You are on your way to a healthier you!  

This month, join me for a

 CRUNCH CHALLENGE! 

SQUAT TIME!

Why wait until January to get healthy and active?  You can do it now and start the New Year healthy and happy! 

Join me in the Squat Challenge for the month of December!!!

A TWISTED ANKLE

I have always been accident prone and it continues into my 40's.  I have this habit of sitting on one foot, or sitting cross legged.  I know in my mind this is not good for me or my posture.  I always end up with my foot going to sleep, then I get up and try to walk.  This is not good to do when you can't feel your foot.

I get up and try to walk and I end up twisting my ankle like I did just a couple of days ago.  OUCH! 

Whipped Body Lotion!

Stop the Presses!!!!! 

 This morning I blogged about Whipped Body Butter (click here for that recipe)...the recipe that I made last night.  This was definitely a butter like consistancy.  It felt a little more greasy, but it worked.  I still love it, but not as much as I love the Whipped Body Lotion that I made for my Sister and I today.  She has been a lot like me and has used the Salves, with the coconut oil and beeswax she loved them and wanted to make a bunch of small jars for her to add essential oils as needed.  I convinced her to wait until she tried the Whipped that I was making today.  SHE IS HOOKED!  

Whipped Body Butter

In the last few days, there have been a few posts from other bloggers on Body Butters.    I tried on of them with a few adjustments.   I love a good body butter.  At first when I melted the ingredients then put them in the fridge for a while and started mixing, I didn't think it would come together....but after about 4 minutes of whipping with a hand mixer I had what looked like a creamy cloud!    I am in love!  I made a pretty big batch then split it up into different containers to use different essential oils.  My favorite is the Peppermint Cloud.  It feels and smells so good.  My Mom's favorite is the Rosewood and Sandalwood with a few drops of Rose Absolute.   I also made another jar to put on my feet at night that has Lavender & Vetiver!



You have to remember, this is a BODY BUTTER, so it takes a while to soak in..not like a lotion that can soak in immediately, but with the cold weather, brings chapped skin and this would be a great thing to use.
You can even make enough for you and have some leftover for gifts!

Look at this cloud like creamy wonder!

I think I almost prefer this over my salves that I have been making for so long!  You can add any oils that you want.  I will give you a few ideas at the end of this post, but you will not be disappointed!

HOW DO YOU STORE YOUR ESSENTIAL OILS?

WOW!  That is all I can say.  The more I learn about essential oils, the more I find that the care and use of them can be complicated, but very worth it! 

I currently have all of my oils stored on a couple of shelves in my office.  All in alphabetical order. 

Boost Your Immune System

There are many things that can crash your immune system bringing on sickness and disease. 

Your immune system, when healthy, helps fight of colds, infections and anything else that can make you sick. 

There are a lot of things that can break down your immune system, but one of the big ones is...

Essential Oils for Maturing Hair

Getting older can change the structure of your hair.  Gray starts coming in, you loose some hair.  Me, well when I was a child, I had extremely straight hair..as a teen, I permed my hair on a constant basis until I was about 18, but then my perm lasted for years!  All of a sudden I had curly hair!  So, of course I started coloring plus the fact that I used tons of styling aids, and always in the sun.  Our hair goes through a lot of abuse.  Since I lost all this weight, my hair started falling out and breaking off.  This can happen when you make such a drastic change in your lifestyle....

Chapped Lips Can Lead To Cold Sores!

The cold weather can lead to dry and chapped lips. 

When left untreated, those chapped lips can cause cold sores! 

AMAZING EASY & DELICIOUS NUT BUTTER COOKIE!

Doesn't this just look YUMMY?!?!?! 

Living Healthy, Loving Life October 2013 Contest!

Welcome to the FIRST monthly Living Healthy, Loving Life Contest Giveaway!!!
If this goes well, I am hoping to offer something like this every once in a while! 

I want to thank everybody who uses my Coupon Code: livinghealthy 

But for one lucky person who uses code: livinghealthy during the month of October, you will get a 

SPECIAL GIFT!

Immune Boosting Foods & Essential Oils To Combat....

The Cold and Flu Season! 

It's is once again that time of the year.  I can't do the flu shot and really don't care to.  So how do I protect my body? 

IS YOUR BUSY MIND GIVING YOU A HEADACHE?

*Note I am not a doctor and this has not been evaluated by the Federal Government...these are remedies that work for me..not all EOs work the same for everybody...use EOs with caution.


Headaches can be caused by several issues. What is important is to calm your mind to get rid of those headaches.  The blend below will help with mental clarity, relaxing your mind and your body, and balancing your overall well being.   It is also important to drink plenty of water when you have a headache.  Most headaches are linked to dehydration.  


CALM YOUR MIND BLEND
4 drops Frankincense
3 drops Lavender
2 drops Roman Chamomile
1 drops Marjoram
1 drops Geranium
1 drop  Peppermint


Put together in 10ml of carrier oil.  You can test for your likeness, and adjust the drops as you desire, just make sure that you keep it at 12 drops/10ml of carrier oil. I don't care for the smell of geranium, but I like the Roman Chamomile, so I increased the number of drops of the Chamomile and decreased Geranium as seen above.

You can diffuse this blend, or you can rub it into your temples and the stem of your brain.  You can also rub on the bottom of your feet.  Take a few minutes for yourself and inhale the wonderful blend and visualize your "happy place".   I suggest closing your eyes while inhaling and breathe deep, and do a 3-2-1 countdown.  Inhale, and imagine the number 3, 3 times as you slowly exhale, do the same for the number 2, then the number 1.  This will bring your mind and your body to a relaxing state of mind.

If you would like to make a headache salve, you would want to increase your total drops to 48 drops per 4oz of salve. Rub this into the bottom of your feet or on your hands.


Frankincense supports emotional healing and offers clarity when one is distracted and overwhelmed

Lavender essential oil has an overall balancing effect on the nervous system

Roman Chamomile has been used to help relax muscles and cause sedation. It has been also used to clear the mind and relax nerves.

Marjoram has been used to help relax muscles and balance the mind; it has a warming action and pain killing properties that calm emotions. Also aids in lowering blood pressure.

Geranium may be used to help remove bad or negative memories and support the circulatory and nervous system.

Peppermint- Soothing yet stimulating.  Many studies have shown  the effectiveness of it’s ability to arouse concentration, focus and mental sharpness.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOUTH!

Gingivitis, or Periodontal disease is not a fun thing to have.  If let this go to long, you can develop other health problems, so it is important to take care of your mouth.  

Here are a few tips...this is what has worked for me but may not work for another. 
Make sure you brush your teeth regularly.  I use a homemade toothpaste of Tropical Traditions (Click Here) Gold Label Coconut Oil, Baking Soda, Coconut Nectar and Essential Oils.  Since using this the tartar on my teeth has decreased tremendously and I don't have bad breath.

Toothpaste

3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil <----Click Here to purchase
3 Tablespoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon of Coconut syrup
20 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil <----Click Here to purchase
5 drops of Cinnamon Essential Oil <----Click Here to purchase
5 drops of Shield Essential Oil  <----Click Here to purchase

I store this in a small glass Jelly Jar.  Each person in our family has their own jar.

 After I put a little on my toothbrush, I also sprinkle some Aztec Healing Bentonite Clay on top of the toothpaste.  Yes, I know it does not sound appealing to be brushing your teeth with mud, but trust me, my teeth have never looked better!  The healing clay will pull toxins and metals out of your mouth.  Not to worry if you have filings, it won't pull those out, but did you know that metal filing releases toxins into your body?  The healing clay will help with this. It also helps to provide essential minerals to the body.

OIL PULLING

This can take a little getting use to at first.  You might have to work up to the full 10-15 minutes at first.   Here are the steps that I take.

I will brush my teeth with just water before I oil pull.  You want to make sure you are pulling toxins and possible left over food.

Take a spoon full of Oil, some use Sunflower or Sesame Oil but I use Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil.  Then I will start slowly swishing it in my mouth, between my teeth.  I usually try to keep myself busy, the time will go by a lot faster if you are doing the dishes or whatever you can find to do.  Whatever you do, try not to swallow the oil, you don't want those toxins to go back into your body.

After time is up, then I spit it out and swish some warm salt water in my mouth, then I brush my teeth with the toothpaste above.

It is important that you make sure you rinse out the sink really well after you spit the oil from the oil pulling out.  You have just pulled all that "gunk" out of your mouth.  I usually wash out the sink, then spray it with my water mixed with Shield spray that I keep by my sink as a disinfectant.

Gingivitis Mouthwash

Then I rinse my mouth with this great mouthwash that will help with gingivitis or periodontal disease.  If you have inflammation of the gums or they are red or painful, this mouthwash is for you.  I use it more as a preventative. 

WARNING: THIS DOES CONTAIN ALCOHOL

But you don't drink it. 

In a glass bottle combine the following: 

1 cup of brandy

30 drops of thyme <----Click Here to purchase

30 drops of peppermint <----Click Here to purchase

10 drops of myrrh <----Click Here to purchase

10 drops of fennel <----Click Here to purchase

To use, add 2 or 3 teaspoons to half a glass of warm water and rinse.  

Thyme is great for treating gum infections. Fennel can be used to strengthen the gums and myrrh is great for its healing and tonic properties. 

Banana-Berry Chocolate Pudding

Want a great alternative to store bought Chocolate Pudding that is HEALTHY for you?  

This is great!

I made three batches of this to take to a small get together in our neighborhood and it was a hit! 

BANANA-BERRY CHOCOLATE PUDDING! 

I originally got the recipe from Hybrid Rasta Mama

then made a few adjustments to it. 

Cooler Weather Can Bring Arthritis Pain.

*Note I am not a doctor and this has not been evaluated by the Federal Government...these are remedies that work for me..not all EOs work the same for everybody...use EOs with caution.

For the young and the young at heart, the cooler weather can mean stiff muscles and major pain due to arthritis.

I take care of my Mom, who has really bad arthritis in her knees and ankles. There are some essential oil recipes that incorporate Birch Oil and/or Wintergreen for pain management, but for seniors, Birch isn't always the best due the methyl salicylate that it contains.  Especially in seniors and people with epilepsy and those that are on blood thinners, this is not an oil to be used.  Don't get me wrong, I love my Birch Oil and Wintergreen, but to put it simple, it is not an Essential Oil for everybody. To be safe for those that are "Young at Heart" it would be a good idea to consult a doctor before the use of Birch or Wintergreen. 

This Arthritis Blend is wonderful and does not contain either Birch or Wintergreen but has many wonderful properties. 


Arthritis Blend
Blend the following in a blending bottle
Lavender- 6 drops
Rosemary- 6 drops
Black Pepper- 4 drops
Ginger- 2 drops
Clove Bud- 2 drops
Helichrysum- 2 drops (optional but very healing)


Add 10-15 drops of the blend to a 10ml roller bottle and top off with carrier oil (I use Fractionated Coconut Oil)
Apply to the affected area before activity or when pain begins. 

Here are the benefits of each oil...

Lavender is analgesic, antidepressant, antirheumatic, antispasmodic. It can be used for relief of rheumatisim, sciatica and arthritis.



Rosemary is analgesic and is used for tired, stiff and overworked muscles. 

Black Pepper is a warming oil that can be used to prevent pain an stiffness in joints and muscles.



Ginger is great for a circulatory stimulant.  It is recommended for poor circulation, cold hands and feet.



Clove Bud is an analgesic and antispasmodic.  It will help relieve pain from arthritis and rheumatism.



Though not necessary  I recommend a couple of drops of Helichrysum due to it's amazing healing properties. 
Helichrysum is a very powerful oil and is highly sought after hence why it is more expensive than most. It has regenerative and anti-inflammatory actions.

It is used to heal wounds and for injuries such as twisted ankles and knees and sprains. This oil also helps with nerve regeneration and scar reduction. 

Fall is in the air & the smell of Clove is on my mind

Fall is in the air! 

What are you drinking?

There are so many things to drink these days....do you know what you are drinking? 

Cilantro or Coriander, it is your choice....

Melaleuca...Also known as Tea Tree Oil and it's amazing uses!

Just something about this picture is very calming to me. 

Maybe it is the fact that these are Melaleuca trees which have great healing powers. 

Essential Oil Labels

This post will be short and sweet!  

I love my label maker that I bought just for my essential oil creations. 

Homemade Muscle Rub

*Note I am not a doctor and this has not been evaluated by the Federal Government...these are remedies that work for me..not all EOs work the same for everybody...use EOs with caution.

This recipe has the basic Essential Oils for homemade Tiger Balm, with a few extras.   My husband and I both use this as a pre-work out salve on joints that we know is giving us problems or when we have worked around the yard or the house and know that we might be sore after days end. 

The general salve rule I use is for every cup of oil, I use 2 tablespoons of beeswax.   This recipe is for a smaller portion.

Ingredients:

Salve Recipe

½  Tablespoon beeswax
1/2 Cup of Coconut oil

Few drops of Vitamin E oil (this acts as a preservative)

Place coconut oil and beeswax in a double boiler and melt at a low heat stirring occasionally.

Pour melted oils in your glass container then add your Vitamin E oil.  Let oils cool for about 10 minutes before adding your Essential oils or they will evaporate more quickly.

Or, you can use the Whipped Body Lotion Recipe that you can find HERE

Blend the following Essential Oils in a blending bottle

Essential Oils

10 drops camphor or Ravintsara (Ravintsara is Eucalyptol’ (1,8-cineol)  I use Ravintsara.

Eucalyptol’ (1,8-cineol)

Eucalyptol’ (1,8-cineol)

Eucalyptol’ (1,8-cineol)

9 drops peppermint essential oil
7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops clove essential oil
5 drop cinnamon essential oil

5 drop of helichrysum (optional)

3 drops of blue tansy (optional)


For every 4oz or lotion or salve, I use 40-50 drops of the essential oil blend

Stir your Essential Oils into your salve with a small wooden spoon or I use two bamboo skewers.  I don’t like to use metal in my salves as Coconut oil has the ability to remove rust from metal.  You risk contaminating your salve by using a metal spoon.

Immediately after you stir in your essential oils, cover your jar immediately so your oils do not evaporate.

Essential Oil Properties:

Camphor- Relieves Pain/ Ravintsara is Anti-Rheumatic (prefer to use the Ravintsara)

Peppermint Oil-analgesic and anaesthetic

Eucalyptus- analgesic and anti-inflammatory

Clove- Analgesic and antispasmodic

Cinnamon-anaesthetic and antispasmodic

Helichrysum- analgesic and anti-inflammatory, regenerative

Blue Tansy- anti-inflammatory, analgesic

I like to get my essential oil products from a local source.  They are great quality oils and products at very reasonable prices and the always have great specials going on! 

I have no affiliation to Ananda Apothecary. 

Got that feeling of "BLAH"?

There are many forms of depression.  Just feeling "Blah" is one of them.  You need something to brighten your day.  Winter months will soon be on their way and the sunshine and warm weather will be taken over by ol' man winter.

Get yourself prepared! 

Lavender Honey Face Mask

I love a good facial!  Especially when it has to do with honey and lavender.  

This face mask feels amazing.  It tingles while it is on your face and with the Sparks Naturals Lavender, it relaxes you and is good for your face! 

(I highly recommend to test a small patch before applying to the entire face for sensitivity)

My Essential Oil Inventory

My Essential Oil Inventory List 

Give your WORKOUT a KICK with Essential Oils!

How do I incorporate using essential oils with my workouts?  It is important to prepare your body for the workout it is about to get and essential oils can be an important part of that.  During a workout you need energy, and stamina and focus.  There are many oils that can help out with all of these, but these are the oils and blends of my choice.

Delicious Healthy Lime Pudding

A pudding that is actually healthy? 

YOU BET!!!

This is an amazing little dessert for when you just need something sweet and refreshing! 

Doesn't this just look delicious?

LIVING HEALTHY AND LOVING LIFE!

I HAVE DONE IT!

If you read my first post to this blog, you know that I started a journey to a healthier and happier life in February.  I was and still am determined! 

Here in Colorado we have a program called "Weigh and Win".  It was free to sign up and they actually pay you to lose weight and keep it off.  I thought, "why not".  So I added this as part of my journey.  They do give tips, but I had already had my food and exercise plan mapped out due to the book I read, "Ultra Metabolism" by Dr. Mark Hyman.  But I wanted a way to track my progress in my weight loss. 

I started at 204 and would go in and weigh in and track my progress.

Well as of today 8/17/2013, I have hit my goal of 150lbs! 

Fried Jicama!! Instead of French Fries!

My family has always been a fan of anything potato.

  My weakness was always a certain fast food chains french fries..we will just call them the M place.   I couldn't get enough of them. 

It was no wonder I was so unhealthy and overweight. 

But since my decision to get healthy, I have been finding healthy substitutes for a lot of foods that I use to eat and feed my family.  

A great alternative to potato is.......

JICAMA!!!!! 

Hot Flash, Hot Flash, Read All About It!

Some of you may think, what can a 43 year old know about hot flashes?  Believe it or not, a lot! After a hysterectomy two years ago, I have come to know hot flashes very well.  I know the minute they start coming on.

 But instead of running in the kitchen and trying to climb in the fridge, just make yourself up a simple, easy, solution to have with you at all times!

My Favorite Body Wash Recipe!

 I LOVE MY HOMEMADE BODY WASH! 

I use to use bar soap that would dry my skin out and leave an icky film.  I tried a few variations of Homemade Body Wash until I finally got it where I like it! 

Salmon Patties! It's what's for Dinner!

Well my Sister would be proud of me.  I am so bad about writing down my recipes.  I have always made them up as I cook.  But this one, I actually did write down to share with all of you!

My family LOVES Salmon Patties.  My husband is a very picky eater and would not eat just cooked Salmon, but I knew he liked Tuna Patties. So, I started making Salmon Patties and he LOVED them.  

My Life with Essential Oils

Essential Oils have made such a big difference in my life!  

A big "THANK YOU" goes out to my sister for introducing me to essential oils.  (to be referred to as "EO's in the rest of my post).   They have made such a difference in my life! 

To Sum It All Up....

My last three posts went into deep detail of what I did to change my eating habits and what vitamins and supplements that I take. I wanted to take this post and give you a summary of what I did.  I will try to make this as short and sweet as possible.

So How Did You Do It?

***Before you begin reading, remember, I am not a doctor, I don't claim to be a doctor.  These are just things that worked for me.  Each person is different.  Before making drastic changes, I highly recommend consulting your doctor as I did.  Any products listed on this page, I use on a regular basis and I am not getting any kind of benefits from naming them.***

I am constantly asked, "So how did you do it?" 

In the next few posts, I am going to share with you things that I shared with my wonderful doctor, who was fully on board with my new healthy way of life.   Although, I kind of got the feeling that she was a little skeptical since she had seen my weight and my health yo-yo up and down for many years. 

My Next Steps

 

 Well, I made the decision that it was time to get healthy and change my habits, but what was I going to do about it?  How do I start? I talked the talk but now it was time to walk the walk! 

After reading the book that I mentioned in my previous post, there were some good tips that I put into action.   First thing was first! 

GET THE UNHEALTHY FOODS OUT OF MY HOUSE!

I cleaned out the fridge and the cabinets.  All processed sugars and breads, anything that had the ingredient high fructose corn syrup went out the door.  My cabinets and fridge have never been so clean, so that was an added bonus!  I had lots of soda/pop in the house too...GONE GONE GONE! 

The Beginning of My Journey to a Healthy Life!

I wanted to kick off this blog with the story of my journey

I am 43 years old and have not had the greatest health my entire life.  I struggled with weight problems ever since I was a teen.  I was put on high blood pressure medications when I was in my 20's.  Addicted to Mountain Dew, fast food and ate some of the worst foods for my body that I could.   This lead to a diagnosis of Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome.  I was put on Metformin, then cholesterol medication in my 30's.    After I got married my husband and I tried to conceive many times only to have multiple miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy.

Welcome!

Welcome to "Living Healthy, Loving Life!"

In this blog, I will take you on my journey to living a healthy life, including meals and recipes, exercise, and my most recent love for essential oils and some of the recipes I use with essential oils.