 The end of Summer break is upon us, and its probably bitter sweet for most of us. If you have kids, maybe you'll miss them like crazy when they go back to school, maybe this has been the best summer ever and you're attached to your kiddos like the fleas and ticks that invade your beloved pooches backside after a hike through long grass. Perhaps you're the type of parent that makes 'To Do' lists at the beginning of summer, highlighting every museum, state landmark, campsite, water park, lake, and music festival there is. You've planned the whole summer and packed it with crafts, cook outs, peaks and parks, movies and sleepovers, corn hole contests and balloon fights. If you're that kind of parent, well, I admire you. It's not like I didn't try! Every summer its the same thing. A couple weeks before school lets out, I start thinking of cool. awesome things to do. 'This year's gonna be different!', I say to my kids. 'This year, we're gonna do stuff! Lots more hikes and bike rides. Maybe we'll even hand make a scrapbook out of recycled material and paste summer pictures in it of all the things we did! ANNND, you're all going to read more! Every Saturday, we're going to go to the library and check out books and you'll each read at least three a week. Sound good?!'
OK, well, three weeks left of summer, and we got to the library twice. Once to check books out, and once to return them. My thirteen year old 'discovered' that he's quite good at video games, and you don't have to actually leave the house to play them. Meh.. Our annual July 4th party got rained out, our new corn hole game sat in the garage, and we had every intention of a road trip to Montana except well, who would watch the dogs? But, we did manage a trip to California to visit my brother and his gorgeous wife, and spend time with my beautiful long lost cousin and lovely auntie. We floated on the Delta, stayed up too late talking about what we want to be when we grow up, and my three boys tubed off the back of my brothers boat. I'm fairly certain I acquired a few more gray hairs watching my youngest get nearly pulled under by the wake of a giant boat driven by its drunk captain. All that healthy food, and his strong little arms kept him on the surface of the water. Thank you kale shakes! Yep, he drinks them. So, as this Summer break winds down, remember its not what you did or didn't do, but the time you spent with your friends and family. A quiet chat sitting outside watching the sunset, a calm stroll on the trail near your house, or just snuggling up together watching Avengers for the tenth time. Life flies by. Treasure today, right now. Love and live and kiss your babies, be it fur babies or human babies. And always lead with your heart. Namaste
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 On this day I want to write a few words to remember the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom and those that sacrifice everyday so people like me, my family and friends can sleep at night knowing our country is safe. My family has a very long history as members of the military that spans as far back as the civil war. My great great uncle was one of the first men during WWII to rescue some of the prisoners of Auschwitz, and my Grandfather was captured by the Germans because he worked in communications, thankfully he was eventually let go.
Memorial Day is more than just a day off from work or school, a great occasion for a BBQ or a chance to travel. These things do speak to the holidays true spirit, but above all else, Memorial Day honors Americans who have died in service to their country. We celebrate Memorial Day by enjoying the many freedoms that American servicemen and women have perished protecting. Memorial Day was once known as Decoration Day for the practice of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags. The name dates back to 1882, but the older name didn't disappear until after WWII. It wasn't until 1967 that federal law declared "Memorial Day" the official name. In 2000, Congress established a National Moment of Remembrance, which asks Americans to pause for one minute at 3pm in an act of national unity. The time was chosen because 3 pm "is the time when Americans are enjoying their freedoms on this national holiday". So while this lovely long three-day weekend is fun and relaxing, take the time to remember our country, why its still the greatest place to live and how we got here. Thank you servicemen and women.  Can anyone tell me what the heck happened to the year so far? Its gonna be May soon! WHAAAT!? Life goes by so fast and with it, opportunities to make a difference. So start now.
I love that pic to the left, it reminds me a lot of light energy and how colors transmit healing. I think that's why I chose it, soothing and peaceful. Speaking of which, I'm now offering Spiritual Counseling, and if you're one of my Nutrition clients, this might be something you want to get in on. Its enriching and captures more than just the nutrition aspect, it takes into account the triad of Holistic living, mind body spirit. We all need balancing at some point in our lives. I see everything that makes up who you are, entwined and intermingling with you as a whole. Your human interactions, your relationship with food, the way you make decisions and how they are made based on your life's experiences and how you process them, and basically your overall healthy state of mind. In my practice, I believe that how you react to the world, how you feel about yourself, and the things you tell yourself everyday have a direct correlation to your overall health, which is why I'm integrating Holistic Counseling into my practice. Most, if not all of this will be done online and over the phone. I've found that people seem to open up easier when there is a phone between them and who they are talking to. Also, in the next month or so, I will be offering my next book for free for the first thirty people who subscribe to my newsletter. You will have access to it before it even hits publication! I will keep you posted as to when this will happen, and when it does, subscribe and I will send you the link to download! Cheers!  Yay Finally! Ok, well, its still cold and snowy here in Colorado, buuut, occasionally it'll heat up a tad and give us a false sense of security that Spring is here. I'm so ready ugh...
I've been keeping very very busy writing, in fact, I have finished my first YA fantasy novel and will be querying some agents in the next few weeks, EXCITED! That along with all the other cool and awesome things, trying to build my clientele here in Colorado, and doing some health events to get things rolling. Although, I wish everything was all glorious, unfortunately its not. We lost our shelter senior kitty last week. We adopted him at the age of 14 and at the time we had no idea he had so many medical issues. He was by far one of the sweetest kitties I've ever owned. We had him for three years and he just passed last Wednesday. My heart still hurts for him. On the up side, we also had adopted a new puppy to add to our brood of dogs, three now. Shes a border collie/ Aussie mix and oh lord have mercy, soooo cute! This winter brought a lot of weird illnesses. I got Flu A, which, I haven't had the flu in 12 years, no joke. When I woke up one morning, I had a fever and was like "what the heck is going on? I'm hot, but cold?" Needless to say, the flu kicked my fanny, but I was able to get through it holistically and feeling stronger than ever. Although it took a good month to really feel up to going back to the gym and working out hard. And fortunately none of the kids got the flu, just me, yeah fun... So, how about you? What have you all been up to? I get thousands of readers every week and would love to hear from you! I love my followers and without you guys I wouldn't have this site. Thank you all and let me know how I can make this site better and what kind of things you'd like to know or read about? Cheers and until next time! I've had my business Holistic business for quite sometime now, 20 years or so, but I've moved around and with that comes a whole new territory I have to work with. When you're new to an area, it's hard to get the word out about your business especially because people don't know you and always get apprehensive about trying something or someone new. They know they've been wanting to change their bad habits, they know they should get support to make that change, but its hard to take that first step.
Even though I'm from the West, I took a hiatus to Ohio for about 8 years and I just moved back to Colorado about three years ago. Since then, for about the last two years or so, I've been working to make it happen here. While I still have a lot of my online clients, I'm trying to bring it back to Colorado, and focus my energy locally. Treating clients across the country has it's challenges, I really like the personal interaction of one on one ( I don't get that with online clients, bummer...), and it allows me to hone in on their exact needs much faster. Texting and emails has worked, but it definitely has its limitations. That being said, I've been trying everyday to get out there and talk to people, find out what they're looking for and let them know "I'M HERE TO HELP YOU!" Its been fun getting to know the community and talking to all sorts of people, from various health situations, each with different health goals and learning the different ways they want to improve their life. This is why I love my job so much! I really enjoy helping people reach their long-term personal health and wellness goals, and in the process supporting them on their journey towards empowerment. It's fun to see which direction this will take, I love creating relationships with people in the community, and watching my business blossom into a new garden of opportunity. I don't really make resolutions, I make goals, both for my business and myself personally.As always, I focus on improved fitness (that's always on the list), leaning more towards plant based (actually tougher than I thought, especially because of my protein needs!), not being so hard on myself (I think that's a tough one for everyone), not stressing over the little things, meditating more, trying to get more sleep (yeah, we shall see how long that one lasts), and just in general realizing that as long as I'm doing the best I can, that is enough. Sometimes we all forget that one. Enjoy your week, your month and your own company. Be gentle with yourself and tell yourself everyday 'I'm kinda cool, and I'm doing a great job!'. And remember, this life, this journey that you're on, keep moving forward everyday. Even if its baby steps, just keep moving!!! Namaste!  Dazzling light displays, the smell of fresh hot donuts and pastry's (Ughhhh cookies!), the holiday sounds of carolers (do they still do that?! OK maybe sounds of impatient kids at the mall,) and sipping your favorite holiday drink (love the chocolate spiced coffees this time of year!), all while you try and de-stress the day (or night) away. But you have to admit, when all is said and done, OY what a celebration! Sometimes, this time of year can spark some not so great feelings of the added stress of having to buy gifts when things are a little tight, or trying to be around people you don't necessarily enjoy (hint: starts with 'F' ends with 'AMILY). and sometimes you may feel like, well, that you're just not feelin' it. I'm here to tell you, it doesn't matter what you have going on, go with it. Don't beat yourself up because you're not behaving the way you 'should'. Ugh, I hate that word! What you 'should' be doing is, whatever works for you. Do the best YOU you can everyday. If it means you simply just don't wanna get up and do anything, well, then don't and whatever it was you had going on today, can wait til tomorrow, it'll be there!
Don't stress it, don't worry about it and by all means, take care of your spirit. Because when they talk about the spirit of the season, it also means holding onto your own spirit. Practice self- care and most importantly, be gentle with yourself, LOVE yourself and be kind to you. Because you can't be kind to others if you're not happy with yourself. Practice positive self talk, and for the next week, do something nice for yourself! Cheers! And, if you're in the Denver area, for the month of January if you mention this Blog, you will get 25% off any one service in my new place located inside the Laguna Beauty Bar in Parker, Colorado!!  This month can be a mix of elation and anxiety with the weather getting colder which brings on a sense of 'lets cuddle' and the holidays approaching which brings on a sense of 'Omg! The holidays are approaching already! What happened to 2018?!" Yeah, I get it. So even though this time of year can be fun and filled with exciting new memories, it may not always feel that way. How can we de stress and enjoy without feeling overwhelmed? Even though during the holidays its about giving to others and remembering the important people in our lives, I think sometimes we need to stop and think about what we need right now. Through the hustle and bustle of everyday stuff, try and treat yourself also. Whether it be a delicious cup of coffee from your favorite coffee shop, getting your nails done, relaxing at a spa with a massage, taking some time to watch a movie you've been wanting to see forever, or even creating a nighttime routine that involves serious downtime (meditation, soaping up with your fav body wash, and climbing into your warm snuggly jammies). Whatever works for you and your life, really take some downtime. Make it a priority and treasure the moments in between the craziness. The moments of quiet and peace, the moments of recharge and the moments of where everything comes to a halt and you can breathe.
Namaste and Peace Kristina  Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! Things begin to slow down, trees explode with color, the weather gets a little cooler and we start feeling the need to hunker down and prepare ourselves for the coming winter months. Usually, Ill spend a little time thinking about the holidays and what I need to do for the next couple of months. In my family, October and November are HUGE birthday months. Last count I think there were 12 birthdays back to back! So I need to do lots of planning and organizing if I want to get anything done and on time! I also have to consider upping the battle against flu bugs in my kids, as lack of sleep, too much stress (homework!), not eating as well as they should, and the cooler weather brings higher risk of infections. Sad but true.
I started back in August, giving my kids a good probiotics (my youngest hates swallowing pills so I break it open and dissolve it in water), making sure they take it EVERY SINGLE DAY even on weekends, and garlic oil. I've also upped their veggie intake and making sure they rest more (hard to do when they are constantly on the go!). I have also upped my probiotics as whatever they bring in the house, guess what, I get it! That being said, I also try and do all of the above. So, first step in easing the inevitable cold and flu season: -Take a good probiotic -start taking garlic oil -up your water intake -REST and more REST! Listen to your body!! Stay well and Namaste!  April brings all kinds of new and exciting things! Kids are wrapping up the end of the year, the weather is changing (although Mother Nature may be teasing you for a while longer), days are just beginning to get longer, and we're starting to think about Summer and what to do with our kids for 12 weeks! Ugh!
With warmer weather brings bugs and lots of them! Some of those bugs like spiders, mosquitos, fleas and ticks, make their way into our lives in the most unpleasant of ways. And with all the videos floating around Youtube about the horrible side effects of flea and tick meds, what’s a person to do? What about us humans? Kids bringing home head lice and mosquitos eating them alive?! You don’t want to saturate your little babies with nasty poisons and spray them with cell mutating, cancer causing toxins that could create further issues! Ok, so what can we do? First things first, your pets. Some websites say to feed your dogs garlic oil and that can be tricky. Garlic does have a tendency to cause some toxicity that can actually be fatal. Breathlessness, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, pale gums, weakness, elevated heart rate are just a few symptoms of garlic overload which can build up in your dogs system over time. Feeding your dog a good well balanced diet that includes veggies (be sure and research which veggies your dog can eat), is a start. What I have found that works wonderfully and is highly effective without any side effects is cedar oil. I get a new bottle every year and use on both my dogs. I start at the back of the neck and put little drops all the way down their spine. I do this so they can’t lick it off. Then I rub it in. You may need to reapply every month or so, but cedar oil is known to help repel fleas, ticks and mosquitos! I’ve been using it for years! Next, your kiddos. I start giving my kids garlic oil capsules thirty days before head lice season (is there a season for that?) and all during the summer. Garlic oil repels head lice 100% of the time, and repels mosquitos as well. When we lived in Ohio where the mosquitos are as large as helicopters, the garlic wasn’t 100% effective so I topped it off with cedar oil on the back of my children's necks. Also, avoid eating bananas before venturing out. The smell of bananas on your breath attracts mosquitos! So there you have it, some good ammo to ward off nasty bugs that can really wreak havoc on your otherwise fun summer days. Got spiders? Saturate cotton balls with lavender or vinegar and put them where you think the spiders may be crawling in. Yep it works! Good luck and let me know if you have any other natural ideas to ward off those creepy biters! And I don't mean Walkers! Cheers! Cold and flu season is upon us and while we want to blame the kids at school for spreading it around (school is a petri dish), truth is, everywhere we go now is potential for those nasty little germs. So whether you’re fighting the flu, strep, or just a head cold, here’s a few things you can do to get you through it and on your way to feeling better.
!. Rest! I cannot stress this enough! Rest is probably one of the most, if not the most, important thing you can do right now. Get in your comfys and climb in bed early. Sleep in when you can. Put your phone or ipod away from your bedroom (an entirely different room would be best), and do some relaxation techniques to help you fall asleep faster. 2. Eat well. This is the most critical time to eat your fruits and veggies. If you weren’t a big greens eater before, now is the time to up your raw foods game. Google raw shake recipes and load up. Your body is crying out for good nutrition, give it what it needs! 3. Hydrate!!! Another very important thing. Water, coconut water, limited amounts of Gatorade, organic apple juice. When you have a fever, even if you’re not throwing up, you still need to hydrate. Try to get at least 64 ounces of liquid a day. And no, wine and spirits are not the same. Healthy liquids people! 4. Try your best to fight off the bugs with natural cough and cold meds and homeopaths. My favorites are Hylands homeopathic cough and cold and Oscillococcinum (both are sold at Walgreens, Target and Walmart) and help your body ward off the nasties faster and build your immune system. 5. Probiotics! Another must whether you’re fighting off a bug, or needing to clean up your gut, probiotics is a must have pretty much always. 6. And last, when you’re all better, take the time to really clean your house and get rid of all the critters that invade your body. But, instead of using bleach, use a non toxic enzyme cleaner that will eliminate all. Basic G from Shaklee or Simple Green are two very good green cleaners that will do a great job in scouring your house. They even get rid of the strep virus and they’re organic! Good luck this season and stay healthy!!! |
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