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How to Jump Start a Whole Body Cleanse in the New Year

January 2, 2025 0

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to embrace a healthier lifestyle?

Starting (and sticking to) that journey can feel daunting, especially if you’re dealing with challenges like weight issues, fatigue, or skin and digestive problems. But don’t worry—you’re not alone! A fantastic way to jumpstart your wellness goals is by trying a cleanse.

Wait, what’s a cleanse? How does it work?

Think of a cleanse as a much-needed vacation for your body. It gives your system the time it needs to recover from stress, process toxins, and start fresh. While it might sound intimidating, it’s simpler than you think. Personally, I’ve completed several juice cleanses over the years, and though they can be challenging, the health benefits have been well worth it. Whether you go the juice route or try another type of cleanse, here are three key steps to help you get started:

1. Give Yourself a Checkup

The first and most important step is to assess where you’re at. Take inventory of your health habits and pinpoint areas for improvement. Are you consuming too much caffeine, alcohol, sugar, or processed foods? Are you exposed to toxic household cleaners or personal care products? Take stock and start removing those harmful elements from your life.

Pro tip: Before diving into a cleanse, consult your healthcare provider. The first time I tried a 30-day cleanse, I experienced hair loss due to an iron deficiency—yikes! While it all grew back (phew!), it was a scary experience that taught me the importance of professional guidance.

2. Stay Hydrated

Water is your best friend when it comes to flushing out toxins. Keep a glass or reusable water bottle handy and refill it often. This is especially crucial during a juice cleanse to avoid dehydration and those pesky detox headaches. If plain water feels monotonous, spice it up with slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, or even a sprig of mint. And here’s a fun fact: Studies show we drink more when using a straw. So, grab one and sip away!

3. Slow Down and Reflect

Gentle exercise like yoga, walking, or swimming can boost circulation and reduce stress during your cleanse. Afterward, treat yourself to a soothing steam or sauna session—it’s the ultimate reward!

Take a moment each day to reflect on your progress and set intentions for the future. Journaling, sketching, or connecting with like-minded individuals can be incredibly therapeutic during this transformative time.

4. Eat Mindfully Post-Cleanse

Once your cleanse is complete, focus on nourishing your body with whole, nutrient-rich foods. Leafy greens, high-fiber meals, and plant-based options should become staples in your diet. Avoid (or eliminate) processed foods, artificial ingredients, hydrogenated fats, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar. Smaller portions and organic choices will help you maintain that post-cleanse glow and energy.

Your Turn:

Do you take time to cleanse your body and mind at the start of a new year? Or do you incorporate cleansing into your routine regularly? I’d love to hear how it’s impacted your life!

Last-Minute Tips for an Eco-Friendly Christmas

December 20, 2024 0

With Christmas just a few days away, the excitement is building—but so is the hustle and bustle! It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos, but there’s still time to make eco-friendly choices that will add thoughtfulness to your celebrations. Here are some simple, last-minute tips to make your holiday greener without skipping the joy.

1. Wrap It Up Sustainably

Ditch the roll of shiny, plastic-coated wrapping paper and opt for creative alternatives already in your home. Use fabric scraps, newspaper, old maps, or even reusable scarves. Add a festive touch with natural elements like twine, dried herbs, or sprigs of pine.

2. Shop Local for Last-Minute Gifts

There’s no need to rely on overnight shipping. Head to local markets or small businesses for unique, handcrafted gifts that support your community. Bonus: You’ll save on all that packaging waste!

3. Simplify Your Holiday Menu

Planning a feast? Choose seasonal, plant-based ingredients where you can. Skip individually packaged items and shop at bulk or farmer’s markets instead. For leftover lovers, have reusable containers ready to share the holiday abundance.

4. Create a Cozy Holiday Ambiance

Instead of buying more decorations, take a walk outside! Gather pinecones, evergreen branches, and other natural elements to create a warm and inviting space. Dimming the lights and using candles can also add a cozy, festive glow.

5. Focus on Experiences Over Things

If you’re still scrambling for a gift, consider offering an experience instead. A homemade coupon for babysitting, a nature walk, or a post-holiday movie night can mean more than anything wrapped in a box.

6. Recycle Thoughtfully

After the unwrapping frenzy, be mindful of what you toss. Recycle cardboard boxes, gift wrap without glitter or foil, and reuse bows and ribbons for next year. Compost food scraps instead of tossing them in the trash.

The holidays don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. With just a few simple changes, you can celebrate with heart and mindfulness, keeping the magic alive while being kinder to the planet. Wishing you and your family a joyful and eco-friendly Christmas!

Living Naturally and Eco-Friendly: From Skincare to Cleaning House

December 16, 2024 0

Living an eco-friendly lifestyle has never been more important. From our skin care choices to how we clean our homes, small changes to daily habits can have significant effects on both ourselves and the planet. In this blog, we’ll look at practical tips and ideas on incorporating natural practices into everyday life to form cleaner, greener living environments.

Beeswax Is Versatile 

Beeswax, an all-natural and sustainable ingredient, boasts multiple uses in natural skincare and household products. With its waxy texture and unique properties, eco-conscious people have many ways to use natural wax from bees to incorporate sustainable practices into their lifestyle. DIY lip balm or candles can both use beeswax products as a base ingredient. Beeswax offers such benefits that prioritize both personal wellbeing as well as environmental consideration.

Natural Skincare Solutions

Cleanse, Nourish and Protect

When choosing skincare products that will benefit both you and the environment, look for natural and organic ingredients that are gentle on both. Use natural cleansers on your face, plant-based moisturizers to nourish skin from within, and mineral sunscreens as additional layers of defense from UV radiation.

DIY Beauty Treatments

Put your creativity to use in the kitchen and try creating your own natural beauty treatments at home. From homemade face masks using ingredients such as honey, yogurt, and avocado to body scrubs made with sugar and coconut oil, DIY beauty treatments not only give you greater control over what ingredients go into them but can help cut waste due to excessive packaging.

Sustainable Fashion Choices

Consider Secondhand and Vintage 

When it comes to fashion, consider opting for secondhand and vintage clothing as a smart way of saving both money and reducing textile waste by prolonging the life cycle of clothing production. Thrift stores, consignment shops and online marketplaces provide an abundance of unique finds at greatly reduced costs. This can help extend its useful life while simultaneously decreasing textile waste from production processes and lessening environmental impacts associated with the fashion industry.

Consider Sustainable Fabrics

When looking for clothing, opt for brands that prioritize sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, linen, hemp, or recycled materials, as these tend to offer superior comfort and durability while being eco-friendly.

Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning

Natural Cleaning Products

Opt for non-chemical cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and essential oils for effective home cleaning solutions. You can easily create an all-purpose cleaner by mixing vinegar and water or make an aromatic citrus cleaner by combining lemon peels with vinegar.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Adopting sustainable cleaning practices also involves minimizing waste. Instead of disposable paper towels, try switching to reusable cleaning cloths. Consider refillable containers for cleaning products or purchasing bulk so as to limit packaging waste. Be sure to recycle whenever possible and search out eco-friendly options for items like plastic bottles or packaging materials.

Conclusion

By making intentional choices in our daily lives, we can all contribute to creating a more sustainable world. From using natural skincare from bees wax and sustainable fashion choices, to eco-friendly home cleaning practices, every small step counts towards building an eco-friendlier future. Commit yourself to living more naturally and sustainably.

How to Make a Healthier Gingerbread House for the Holidays

December 6, 2024 4

 

Every year as an advent activity, Eben and I made a gingerbread house. While those store-bought gingerbread kits seem very simple, making your own gingerbread house can be too! You can use ingredients that you already have on-hand, use your creativity, and there is no packaging waste either.

This year, we decided to make a healthier version of the gingerbread house using ingredients that we already had in our kitchen cupboards. And while there are still a handful of chocolate candies used in the decorating, most of the ingredients are better for him. The best part, it took less than an hour to make and we laughed and chatted while we made it, and our house smelled fantastic when we were done! Read on to learn how to make a healthier gingerbread house with your children for the holidays and add it to your weekend activity list.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

  • graham crackers 
  • carob chips
  • shredded coconut
  • miniature chocolate pieces
  • yogurt covered almonds
  • square cereal pieces
  • ice cream cones
  • cinnamon sticks
  • peanut butter
  • baker’s twine

Step 2: Choose your Design

Eben and I decided on a simple cottage design inspired by the ingredients that we had on hand in our kitchen. We wanted a sweet look and choose our colors to match the orange yogurt covered almonds that we had.

Step 3: Construct the House

You will need 4 graham crackers squares and 4 graham cracker triangles. Use a serrated knife to cut the graham crackers into a triangular shape.

We melted carob chips and used them to “glue” the house together. We then placed it in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the hardening process.

Step 4: Add the Roof

Choose your favorite square cereal to construct the roof. We used peanut butter to secure the “shingles” on the roof starting from the bottom and then layering each level until we reached the roofline. We added the shingles to all four sides of the roof.

Step 5: Add Doors and Windows

We used more cereal and miniature chocolate pieces to make the front door and windows – attaching those to the house with peanut butter as well.

Step 6: Add a Little Color

We used orange yogurt covered almonds to the peak of the house!

Step 7: Make the Trees

We used sugar ice cream cones turned upside down and adorned with miniature chocolate pieces (also attached with peanut butter) for our miniature forest of trees.

Step 8: Make a Wood Pile

We tied a small stack of cinnamon sticks together with baker’s twine to make a stack of firewood to place next to the house.

Step 9: Add the Snow

We sprinkled shredded coconut all around the gingerbread house and then added the trees and woodpile to the finished display!

Step 10: Eat and Enjoy!

After all of our work, Eben didn’t want to eat the house immediately – he said we should at least wait a day and enjoy looking at it before we devour it.

Do you make gingerbread houses with your children? Have you ever made a healthier version? How did it turn out?

Green Your Thanksgiving With Edible, Organic Place Cards

November 16, 2024 2
Styled Stock Photos for Instagram and Social Media, Flatlays, Social Squares from the SC Stockshop

I am having a lot of fun planning how the dinner table will look this Thanksgiving. Especially since it will be super small which means less pressure and more relaxing! 

First on my list of things to do to prepare is to decide on place cards for our tiny family. I really love, love, love these pear place cards from Sunset. I think a beautiful, delicious organic pear with a lovely recycled name tag would be perfect. I am also considering giant pomegranates with recycled name tags attached. (You know how I feel about pomegranates!)

What type of place cards will you be using on Thanksgiving?
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