Healthy and Hopeful

Stress Away

Published on March 13, 2016March 22, 2016 by Christine2 Comments

Oh, stress. If you’re anything like me, just thinking about or trying to stop being stressed makes me stressed! For years, I was under constant high-stress and even though I thought I was handling it well emotionally (well, for a while anyway), I had no idea the effect it was having on my body.

Our body’s natural reaction to stress is designed to help us out in a tough situation. It causes a release of hormones and increases our heart rate to get more oxygen to the brain so we can function better. That immediate response is beneficial, but when stress becomes constant or chronic, the effects turn negative. Here are just a few of the symptoms caused by constant stress:

Irritability
Insomnia
Hypertension
Depression
Anxiety
High blood sugar
Headaches
Social withdrawal
Weight gain
Decreased appetite
Heartburn
Acid reflux
Back and/or neck pain
Low libido
Frequent illness (decreased immune function)

If you are under chronic stress, let me just say first – you must evaluate your life for stressors and remove as many as possible (job, friendship, time commitments, diet, exercise). I know, that’s seems obvious, but seriously make a list now and do it. It took me far too long to make changes and my body and relationships suffered. Okay, now that you’ve done that… of course, you’ll still have stress in your life at times. I’ve got a great recommendation for how to help with that – Stress Away essential oil.

I know you’re thinking “an essential oil? really?” Hear me out…

It sounds crazy, but there’s actually science behind it. Our nose is different than any other sense in that smells pass through the emotional part of our brain first, while the other senses go straight to the rational part of the brain. It is well documented within science that smells can recall emotions better than a touch or words or pictures. And we know it… the smell of baking cookies inexplicably reminds us of grandma or a cologne or perfume scent reminds us of a certain person. The aromas of essential oils can touch our emotions in ways that cannot reach them by any other means – hence the whole practice of aromatherapy.

Stress Away has become my very favorite blend of essential oils. It brings peace and tranquility, taking the stress of the day away. When I’m not able to control my cortisol response and my heart is racing, this helps like nothing else ever has.

A “blend” means that it contains several different individual plant oils in one bottle:

Copaiba – helps soothe, can provide pain relief
Lime – stimulates a tired mind and renews your spirit
Cedarwood – clears the mind, stabilizing and grounding
Vanilla – who doesn’t love that wonderful, sweet fragrance!?
Ocotea – creates a peaceful environment
Lavender – calming, improves concentration

I use Stress Away all the time… here are 10 different ways you can try it too:

When you feel overwhelmed and need instant relief, smell it straight from the bottle.
Mix 5 drops with 2 cups epsom salts and add to your bath to relax after a tough day.
For a calming perfume that will last for hours, add a drop directly to your wrists, neck or temples.
To create a peaceful environment at home, add it to your diffuser. I love adding with another citrus oil for freshening the air (see my favorite diffuser combinations here).
When you’re driving in traffic (or with kids maybe?), put a couple drops on a cotton ball and put that in your air vent to fill the car with a refreshing aroma.
Add to a travel diffuser in your office at work to relieve the stress of the day.
Have a stressed pet during travel, storms or fireworks? Dilute with coconut oil and apply to the front paw. It won’t hurt if they lick it!
If you have a headache, rub on the back of your neck and temples for some relief. Not only is it calming, but the copaiba also has pain relieving effects.
Clench or grind your teeth at night? Try a drop on your jaw joints to reduce tension.
At bedtime, add lavender, stress away and cedarwood to your diffuser to promote both relaxation and the natural release of melatonin to help you fall and stay asleep.

If you are interested in learning more about essential oils or how to purchase, visit this page or you write a comment with your email address and I can reach out to you directly!

Gluten-Free Baby Shower

Published on March 6, 2016March 6, 2016 by Christine1 Comment

This weekend I hosted a baby shower for a friend who is allergic to gluten. We wanted her to be able to eat everything at her own shower without worry, so we created a completely gluten-free spread for the event.

In case you are hosting for a bride or mama with this same allergy, I thought I would share the menu we put together. While it certainly wasn’t sugar-free, we had plenty of healthier options to choose from. Plus, it was all super easy to put together so you won’t be in the kitchen prepping all day.

Chicken & Waffle Skewers – My friend thought up this brilliant, easy idea – find gluten-free chicken tenders and gluten-free waffles in the frozen food section. Toast them in the oven then cut into bite-sized pieces and alternate on a mini skewer or toothpick. Serve with hot syrup or honey.

Veggies & Hummus

Fruit & Dip – For a healthier alternative to the classic cream cheese + marshmallow fluff dip, mix 2 cups vanilla yogurt with 1/2 cup honey and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Serve with your favorite fresh fruit.

Gluten-Free Mini Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – found in the baked goods section at Whole Foods

and a beautiful “Naked” Cake!

I’m usually not a fan of baking because I don’t have the patience to follow recipes, but this cake was super easy! I used Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Mix and prepared according to the directions, baking in 2 9-inch diameter cake pans. I used coconut oil instead of toxic vegetable oil. The cake was super moist and didn’t taste at all gluten-free.

Once the cake cooled, I pulled them out of the pans and placed in the freezer for 30-45 minutes – this makes the cake easier to cut and frost. In the meantime, I made some buttercream frosting. I used this recipe because it calls only for butter and no shortening. I added about double the milk and double the vanilla it called for to make it a bit creamier and more spreadable.

When I pulled the cakes out of the freezer, I cut each in half so that I could have 4 cake layers. Then, I spread frosting in between each layer. Once I had all four layers stacked, I ran my knife around the outside to smooth out the edges a bit, without covering the cake completely, giving it that “naked” effect.

For drinks, we had yummy sparkling Italian sodas for the mama to drink, served in champagne glasses. And for the guests who weren’t pregnant, we had some local Peach & Grapefruit Deep Eddy Vodka(not gluten-free) to add – if you haven’t tried these yet, they are super delicious!

Happy Hosting!

Quick Survey!

Published on February 25, 2016 by ChristineLeave a comment

As I’m planning my upcoming blog posts, I wanted to reach out to all my lovely readers, to see what you want to read about most. Can you take 20 seconds and complete this survey for me?

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Buying Organic on a Budget

Published on February 16, 2016February 16, 2016 by Christine3 Comments

Where I After writing about how I’ve made the change to buying all organic foods, I’ve received lots of questions about how I’ve been able to make that happen within budget. Purchasing all-organic groceries is only slightly more expensive than buying conventional and has also provided an extra cost-saving bonus: improving my nutrition with an organic diet has saved me money on healthcare costs too. Today, I’m sharing how I save money on organic groceries.

My 4 Grocery Shopping Rules:

Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. I’m a sucker for a good deal, so I have to resist temptation and be intentional about buying only what I need. If I don’t follow this rule, I usually end up spending more than I planned.
Check for coupons before you check-out. While I’m not much of a coupon-er, I do check for coupons at the store before I purchase. At Whole Foods, they have a wall of coupons to look through when you walk in the store. And many stores, like Sprouts and Natural Grocers, put their coupon ads on their website; I’ll look on my phone while in line or before I walk in the store. You can save even more by looking for coupons in the weekly mailed ads, especially if you create your grocery list around those deals. Most coupons are for processed foods, but I often find some for fresh items too at the stores I list below.
Make a list and stick to it. Plan out your meals for the week and make a shopping list. Knowing what you need to buy keeps you from wandering throughout the store and buying things you don’t need. I also have a running list of always-needed items, like toiletries, coconut oil and dog food, that I look for regularly and buy when they’re on sale.
Buy fresh. Processed and pre-prepared foods are always more expensive than the actual ingredients. Stick to the edge of the store as you shop and load up with fresh items to cook at home. The bulk of your cart should be filled with organic produce & meat, not cardboard or plastic packages.

Where I Shop for the Best Deals:

Whole Foods – This might come as a surprise with the common nickname “whole paycheck,” but Whole Foods has actually had to reduce its prices lately to compete. I regularly shop at Whole Foods and find some great deals. The hardest part is staying away from all the yummy pre-prepared food they have available… just don’t go shopping hungry!
Natural Grocers – This store always has incredible sales throughout the store. They get much of their produce directly from local farmers and since it doesn’t have to travel miles on a truck to get there, it’s usually cheaper. Plus, if you use your debit card, you can save 5% on your total purchase.
Sprouts – Sprouts coupons run Wednesday-Wednesday, which means that on Wednesdays, they have double the amount of deals available than any other day of the week. If you happen to be shopping on a Wednesday, this is the place to save money.
Farmers Market – Buying direct from the source saves on overhead costs, which ultimately saves you money. The best bonus here is that you’re supporting local farmers and ranchers who are passionate about providing healthy food options to their community.
Thrive Market – Think Whole Foods meets Costco meets Amazon. It’s an online shop that offers wholesale pricing on non-perishable organic foods, toiletries, vitamins and more. And, you get free shipping on orders over $49. Thrive Market is also socially conscious: they use recyclable packaging and when you sign up as a member, Thrive will donate a membership to a low-income family so they too can have access to lower cost organic foods. Get a 30-day free trial membership and 15% off your first order by signing up here!
Instacart – If you have a hard time buying more than what’s on your list when you grocery shop (or just don’t have time/hate going to the store), you should check this site out. Here’s the deal: You pick what you want online, an Instacart shopper does all the shopping for you and then delivers your groceries to your front door at the time slot you choose. Whole Foods is a store option and the prices are usually the same as in-store; the only extra cost is a delivery fee. Since this process let’s you see exactly how items are adding up as you shop, I feel like it keeps me to my exact shopping list and budget. PLUS, Instacart will shop at Cost-Co without you having a membership to shop there, so that gets you even more savings. Get $5 off your first order here!
Where do I not shop for organic foods? My regular local grocery store, HEB. The organic items are always more expensive, sometimes even double the cost of a natural foods store. So, if you’ve been comparing prices and seeing how expensive that organic apple is compared to its conventional counterpart, consider that it may be the store you’re at.

Think you can make the switch to buying all organic groceries? Or have any tips to share? I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Shopping!

Thieves Essential Oil

Published on February 8, 2016January 30, 2016 by Christine7 Comments

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to write about one of my all-time favorite essential oils: Thieves. This oil is incredible at supporting the immune system to help fight illness.

So what’s with the name? This blend of oils is based on a formula that allegedly kept 4 thieves from getting the bubonic plague as they robbed the dead and dying. When questioned by authorities, legend has it that they revealed the secret blend they wore in masks to protect themselves in exchange for a lesser punishment.

What’s in it? Whether the legend is true or not, Thieves is a blend of 5 really powerful essential oils:

Clove has been used since ancient times by Healers to aid the body in fighting infection. Interesting historical tidbit: When the Dutch conquered the island of Ternate in 16th century, they destroyed the many clove trees on the island. Until that time, many generations were protected from epidemics because of cloves in their diet; afterwards, nearly the entire indigenous population died from disease.
Lemon contains properties that amplify immunity and promotes circulation and lymphatic function.
Cinnamon Bark is mentioned throughout the Bible and is valuable for helping your body fight infection.
Eucalyptus Radiata was a treasured ingredient in folk medicine; it’s great for supporting the respiratory and sinus system.
Rosemary was burned as incense to help protect against infection by cultures for many centuries. This herb is supports immune function and improves mental clarity.

How do I use it? I put a drop of Thieves on the bottom of my feet every day as a regular immune system boost. I use extra when I’m sick and put it in my diffuser to disinfect the air as well. Whenever I fly somewhere, I put a couple of drops on a scarf and wear it on the airplane to help disinfect the air I breathe.

I also clean my house with it. Thieves Household Cleaner is the best all-purpose cleaner I’ve ever used. And the best part – it’s completely non-toxic. I use it for all my kitchen and bathroom surfaces, as a de-greaser and for cleaning my windows and mirrors. I recently, finally threw away all the chemical cleaners in my house and replaced them with this safe option. The good news is that it’s also cheaper than all the other products I was buying!