Looking for the perfect drink for your pool party! The mister whipped up a batch of his famous Gin Lemonade recently and I was reminded how much I love it this time of year! Be careful though, they are strong – one is all you need. Ha!
What you will need:
juice from 5 organic lemons
1 1/2 cups of organic sugar
1 1/2 cup organic gin (you can also use vodka)
8 cups ice
Directions:
Whisk the lemon juice and sugar together until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the gin and whisk again. Then, add the 8 cups of ice to a blender with the gin-lemon-sugar mixture and blend until smooth. Add lemon slices for garnish and enjoy.
Holistic therapy, also known as “complementary” or “alternative” medicine (CAM), can be a controversial subject. Many people believe that holistic therapies are not of any use with no real benefits.
The truth is, while these therapies are not backed with concrete scientific evidence, they do help millions each year with various health issues from headaches to the side effects of cancer. It appears that holistic therapies have also increased in popularity throughout the last decade with more people looking for an alternative to conventional medicine which may have failed to help them so far.
Here are the 4 most popular holistic therapy treatments of the last decade.
1. Chiropractic
Chiropractors help millions all over the world each year with their various back problems. However, there is no science that backs any of the methods used by chiropractors. The rise in chiropractor popularity is mainly down to the modern lifestyles we lead. Many of us are chained to a desk five days of each and every week. This has led to epidemics in back and posture issues, some of which can be very serious to the person’s overall health and wellbeing.
Chiropractors offer a holistic approach that ditches the copious amounts of painkillers and prescription drugs offered up by doctors. Instead, a chiropractor will try to understand what changes in your life or habits are creating the pain and dealing with each one.
A chiropractor may ask you about your personal life, recent changes in your life, emotional issues and any added stress you may be experiencing. This helps them to find the core problem to help rectify the issue completely, not just numb the pain.
2. Acupuncture
There is no doubt you will have seen acupuncture being performed on TV or in movies. This is the process of adding extremely thin needles into a person’s body to help treat a number of health issues.
Acupuncture was born in ancient China and is still widely used by millions across the world. Practitioners of acupuncture claim that this holistic treatment can treat any number of health issues including:
Headaches and migraines
Chronic pains including head, shoulder, and neck
Joint pains
Dental pains
Postoperative pains
An example could be a patient who has recently had silver free tooth fillings but is now experiencing a number of pains in their mouth. An acupuncturist would try to eliminate the pain by finding areas of the body that need ‘rebalancing’. Acupuncture is based on the principle that our body is one energy and the cause of most pain is an imbalance of this energy. The needles, when placed in the correct places, should remove the pain for the patient.
Millions of people have successful acupuncture treatments every year despite the treatment having no scientific grounding.
3. CBD Oil
If you haven’t yet heard of CBD Oil then you must have been living under a rock in 2019. The latest buzz in natural medicine if the concentrated extract of cannabinoids from the hemp plant known as, CBD oil. Millions of people all over the world are experiencing phenomenal benefits from the oil including help with pain relief, anxiety, stress, acne, inflammation, nausea, asthma, insomnia, epilepsy, concentration, and muscle recovery.
Following the relaxed legislation of cannabis medicines in 2018, markets all over the world have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for CBD oil. People that have struggled with severe pains all their life are finally finding relief thanks to CBD oil.
As research continues to back the product and it’s health benefits, doctors and other health professionals are now suggesting CBD oil to their patients. It’s expected that the demand for CBD oil will continue to grow exponentially in the new decade.
4. Reflexology
Reflexology is another ancient Chinese treatment which is becoming popular again. Reflexology is based on the principle that areas of our body are all connected to reflex points in our hands, feet, and head. By rebalancing the body’s energy, much like acupuncture, practitioners of reflexology claim they can restore a person’s health and boost their wellbeing.
Reflexology involves the manipulation of the reflex points through massage and micromovement techniques. Depending on the health issue of the patient, the practitioner will decide on which parts of the body require massage. It’s thought that different body parts help different organs and muscles of the body. For example, the right foot influences the organs. The treatment is also thought to improve blood flow and oxygenation around the body which helps the performance of vital organs.
Those that claim reflexology has helped improve their health condition were most commonly suffering from:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Back, shoulder and head pain
Headaches and migraines
Respiratory issues
Immune system issues
Hormonal imbalances
Reflexology is also becoming an increasingly popular treatment for dealing with the side effects of cancer, most notably that of breast cancer for women.
Have you carved your pumpkins yet? We carved ours last night. Eben’s favorite part was scooping out the pumpkin goop with his bare hands. We saved all of the pumpkin seeds, washed and dried them, then baked them in the oven with a little bit of olive oil and sea salt. Yum. Do you roast the seeds from your pumpkins?
If not, you should give it a try. Here are our 6 easy steps:
1- Scoop the pumpkin goop.
2- Rinse and dry the pumpkin seeds.
3- Mix the pumpkin seeds with a generous amount of olive oil and sea salt.
4- Spread the pumpkin seeds on a cookie sheet.
5- Bake at 300° for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6- Enjoy while you catch up on your favorite fall sitcom.
Can you believe that October begins tomorrow? October is one of my favorite months – not only does it mark the beginning of fall, but Halloween is right around the corner. I have been making a list of all of the fun, eco-friendly activities that I want to do with Eben and the mister this month. We decorated our home last night and tonight, we will start the month off right by reading our spooky stories by candlelight and since the hurricane shutters are still on – it will be super spooky! I can’t wait! Read on for 30 more eco-friendly ways that we will be spending October – and share your favorite fall family traditions and links in the comments – I would love to hear what you have planned.
I am going to check off each fun thing we do this year!
As inquisitive as kids can be, they will drill you with dozens of questions on a daily basis to understand your every decision, every move, and every choice you make. And if they are growing up in an eco-friendly family, they will slowly adopt and comprehend the benefits of such a balanced lifestyle, when explained properly.
However, teens are a whole different story – many of them are rebellious by nature and they are eager to be different from everyone and not follow the herd. As a mom of two little nestlings, I’m striving towards instilling an eco-friendly mindset into my kids throughout their adolescent years with the help of these simple activities, but even if you’re a newbie in the green world and wish to pass this wisdom onto your teen kids, these could be true life-savers!
#1: Contribute to cleanliness
I’ve noticed that our little rascals are eager to help around the house, especially when we make things interesting with some music and healthy snacks. Suddenly, cleaning up the room and washing the dishes no longer feel like chores, but like fun family time! Kids have also been asking me where I spend my Saturday mornings, and when I explained that I go to clean the local riverside with a few other people, they actually yelled: “Mommy, we want to come, too!”
Since modern societies still have much to learn in order to build this awareness as a norm, you have a chance to encourage your teenagers to take part in causes that matter to them and that will allow them to make a difference and thus, be different. You don’t have to chaperone them, but treat them as responsible adults and support them in their search for the right local activities to keep your community clean.
#2: Green exercise and transportation
Our little nestlings can spend hours playing in the garden, helping their dad make a birdhouse or playing with our pooch, but teens yearn for independent activities that will reflect their core beliefs and every choice they make is a statement. My husband and I have been using eco-friendly Gitane ebikes to work out and ride across town, and our kids have noticed that these bikes are different from the majority of those they see on the streets.
It’s natural that teens have increased self-awareness about their looks and their values, and supporting their efforts to be fit, healthy and confident with the help of an eco-friendly method will help them stand out in the crowd even more. Plus, they will reap the rewards of a healthy lifestyle and start early with maintaining their green habits.
#3: Green fashion
If our little girl already knows she adores green tees and absolutely despises yellow skirts, then I can only imagine the level of detailed commitment a teenager is willing to invest in their wardrobe. What they wear is yet another form of authentic self-expression, and they wouldn’t be caught dead in something they find ordinary or conformist.
And what better way to appeal to their inner rebel than by introducing them to an eco-friendly line created by none other than a teenage girl? Maya Penn is a young entrepreneur with tremendous ambitions to create sustainable, fashionable clothes. Although not many youngsters will be eager to make their own line of clothes, you can encourage them to design their new spring outfits by using sustainable materials and thus support the local economy.
#4: Everyday choices
If my kids are proud of me for hosting lectures on eco-friendly choices in our community, and the global teenage population prides themselves on individuals such as Ann Makosinski and her energy-efficient inventions, then your adolescent kids certainly do not lack sources of inspiration in this day and age.
Not only can you help them stay informed and learn about their peers who are literally changing the world, but you can also lead by example in your own home without imposing your beliefs. Small deeds such as shopping in your local market for locally grown goods, or more involved ones such as organizing green food drives for the homeless, hosting seminars and volunteering are more than enough to inspire your kids to make a difference and have fun during spring.
