Feet… we rely on them to move us an untold number of steps in our lifetimes, but we rarely think of them (except when they hurt!) and do precious little to care for them. Seems to me they deserve more thanks than they are getting! One way I’ve recently started taking better care of my feet, as well as my entire body, is through the practice of soaking them in Epsom salt and essential oils. Not only does this show my feet some pampering and love, but it is a relaxing, detoxifying evening ritual that decreases stress and grounds my energy. We’ve also found that it’s the perfect thing for our whole family to take part in while reading or watching a movie. My 6...

There are times when we all need to increased focus to get something done, learn a new concept, or achieve a goal. Or when everything around us seems chaotic or out of control, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, frazzled, and ineffective. Essential oils are a great help to us in these situations, whether it’s to clear our minds, clarify our thoughts, provide grounding, increase retention of information, or offer a boost of energy. Here are some of my favorites to foster an additional measure of focus and concentration. Rosemary Rosemary is refreshing, cooling, and clearing. It energizes, uplifts, and increases alertness, leaving you feel...

Today is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. Not familiar with this term? It’s the day each year when the sun travels on its lowest arc in the sky. This results in the shortest amount of daylight and longest period of darkness . It’s also the first official day of winter on American calendars. Yes, the sun is at its least today, with darkness prevailing for many more hours than the sun will be visible above the horizon. But rather than feeling bleak or oppressive, as some think of winter, it is instead the beginning of something… a day that shows us a gleam of light at the end of a lo...

Searching for the best natural remedies to get you through the winter *ick*? Or to strengthen your immune system to the point that it can fight off just about anything? Then walk with me a bit... I’m sharing some of my most effective tools! My grandmother loved...

I DON’T WANT TO GET SICK (pleads everyone this time of year) !!! This post (and it's companion ) will show you the natural remedies you need to stay healthy until Spring! November is here! We are now well into Fall and hurtling quickly toward winter. With the cooling weather has arrived various forms of seasonal “ick.” You know what I’m talking about… sniffling, sneezing, constantly reaching for tissues, fatigue, chills, body aches, or simply feeling like you’ve been run over by a bus. People in my workplace have been falling like flies over the past couple of weeks! As far as ...

New to golden milk, a.k.a. the " turmeric latte "? You're missing out on a most delicious, nourishing treat! Originating in India, golden milk is a centuries-old Ayurvedic drink that has recently been making inroads in other regions. This comforting beverage is traditionally made by simmering milk with turmeric and other spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, or cardamom. While some people find it soothing after dinner or before bed, others e...

Welcome back to the third and final part of my series on healthy travel! You’ve planned wisely, packed smartly, and journeyed using strategies to best to avoid illness and counteract the stress that travel puts on your body. Now that you’ve reached your destination,...

My family rarely traveled when I was a child. As in only a handful of times in my first 18 years and only once outside of New York State. Seem strange? Blame it on the cows. Dairy cows that need to be milked twice a day, 365 days a year. That and the constant struggle to turn a profit keeps many dairy farmers, especially those who own small family farms, close to home. Both the time and the money to travel simply did not exist. Somehow, I went ...

Affiliate Disclosure My five-year old, Gabby, and I are hitting the road in a couple days for our annual trip north to my hometown. As a self-admitted "muncher," I have always been one of those who packs the car or carry-on luggage with plenty of snacks. However, after we were both diagnosed with food allergies several years ago (wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, and yeast, among others), stocking up before trips became an imperative. I know from experience that there are very long stretches of highway between here and most destinations where there is little we can safely eat. Virtual wastelands of healthy food options. So, I've become expert at preparing and packing healthy snacks to keep us energized and satisfied. ...

Hi, again! Welcome back for part 2 of my green cleaning series. As I discussed in this blog post , many of the cleaning products on store shelves have been linked by peer reviewed studies to both acute and chronic health issues. Definitely not something to mess around with! Is it possible to clean your home (office, car, or any other type of facility) without all the harsh, health-compromising chemicals? Absolutely! You can easily achieve this goal by making your own! This way, you have complete control over each and every ingredient. They are super simple and quick to make using ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen or bathroom +...

ARE YOUR CLEANING PRODUCTS SAFE FOR A CHILD TO CONSUME? If not (or if you’re not sure), this post is for you! THERE ARE HOW MANY CHEMICALS? There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today, the majority of which have never been tested and publicly assessed for safety. How can this be? First, there is an absence of federal regulations requiring that safety tests be conducted on chemicals. Second, there are no fede...

Yoga and its health benefits have been studied for generations. In the last 10 years, yoga participation numbers have grown steadily, with over 10 million more people participating in yoga in the spring of 2017 than there were in 2006 . It’s no surprise that today there are 36.7 million yoga participants in the United States alone! Those are staggering numbers! With its focus on breathing and posture, yoga reduces stress hormones and increases physical and emotional well-being, allowing for individuals to find peace in their hectic daily lives. Related Resources: Do you run, compete in triathlons,...

Winter is upon us and many are already feeling under the weather. My husband laid low for much of the weekend feeling less than stellar. In addition, even healthy practices can put us at greater risk of weakened immune systems . For example, prolonged periods of exercise and heavy training regimens are associated with suppression of immune system function, w...

Are you struggling to maximize your workouts/training program or to achieve your performance goals because you're tired, stressed, frequently under the weather, or nursing an injury? I’ve been there and know how frustrating it can be! The difference between achieving and not meeting your goals is more than just your performance in the moment. It’s actually the "stuff" that happens between the competitions: stress, too little sleep, illness, missed training sessions, not fueling properly, or not using the right products to perform optimally. ...

I almost always dilute my essential oils before applying them to my skin. Why? DOWNLOAD FREE DILUTION GUIDE Except in certain cases where applying oils "neat" or directly to your skin without a carrier oil may be appropriate (e.g., to stop active bleeding or immediately after burns, bug bites, or stings), dilution of oils is important before applying them to your skin. Essential oils are VERY powerful and should be used ...

Most of us experience muscle or joint pain or discomfort from time to time. Whether we sustain an injury, overdo exercise or yard work, or have a chronic condition, we are looking for ways to experience relief. There are so many natural methods to consider, from massage to acupuncture to infrared sauna to yoga to heat and electric stimulation (electromyostimulation). We use all of these pr...

We don't often think about the role that the scents we inhale play within our bodies. We may be vaguely or even acutely conscious of certain aromas, which can span the range from fresh, clean, light, flowery, spicy, earthy, or sweet to loamy, stale, musty, repulsive, putrid, nauseating, or just plain rotten. But does their effect go beyond the mere enjoyment or dislike of a particular scent? Most definitely! Your sense of smell elicits powerful physiologic, mental, and emotional responses. This means that the aromatic molecules that your nose takes in can impact your mood, mental process...

Mosquitoes are an inevitable downside to summertime. I absolutely hate being bitten, followed by the days of itching and temptation to scratch the welts. Unfortunately for me, I’m a mosquito magnet. Even if no one else is getting bit, my arms and legs are being eaten alive. Couple that with having spent the majority of my career traveling in parts of the world where mosquito-transmitted diseases – think malaria, dengue, and yellow fever – are rampant (you definitely don’t want any of those!), and you see why I've used a ton of bug spray over the course of my life. I used to practically bathe in insect repellent (namely Deep Woods OFF) when outside in the evening or traveling in equatorial regi...

One day when I was young, my mother brought home two drinking glasses from Pizza Hut. [Remember when, from time to time, fast food restaurants would offer limited edition collectors' glasses for purchase? My family’s “fancy” holiday stemware, which are still used for serving milkshakes on C...

I recently took an overseas business trip for the first time in over two years. I definitely couldn’t take my entire oil collection with me to Bosnia and so set about trying to narrow down the list to just the “bare essentials.” So many choices! Which to take? Here’s what I finally chose to pack and why: Balance – promotes tranquility, brings harmony to the mind and body, balances emotions, creates a sense of calm and well-being, promotes whole body relaxation, helps ease anxious feelings (traveling gets your body out of whack… help it stabilize and readjust) Breathe – maintains clear airways and easy breathing, he...