FALL FAVORITES ▷▷

Hello there! Hope you are all doing fabulous! It's looking more like Fall up in Northern Wisconsin -- as the leaves are changing, and the weather is getting crisper. It's my favorite time of the year, and I have so many favorite parts of this season. Since the first day of Fall was just a few days ago, I wanted to share a few DIY and ideas with you. 

First of all.. who doesn't love organic apple cider? We recently received ours from one of our local organic farms, and it is delicious (as you can see, we only have half left)! ▽

+ drink it cold or warm... I love warming up the cider on a cool autumn evening and throwing in a cinnamon stick to spice it up a bit

+ if you have company and are drinking it cold .. slice up apples and oranges and throw them in for a delicious and aesthetically appealing drink

+ apple cider is amazing in smoothies... just add 1/4 cup 

+ mulling spice- pick up a packet of this and place in pan with apple cider (it adds some spice to your beverage)

Speaking of apples... a must have for Fall is for the house to smell amazing. You can do this with just a few items that you probably have on hand (Mine is very simple: 2 ingredients). 

+ cut up a few apples and place them in a small pan full of water

+ add cinnamon sticks (option: you could add oranges or cloves or anything else that reminds you of Autumn

+ simmer on stove until your house has the aroma of Fall (I like to call it... if you don't have a candle on hand type scent) 

Another beverage that I insist on having in the cooler months is TEA! I can not live without it nor would I want to.  I start each day with an organic green tea and end the evening with an organic peppermint tea. One gives you plenty of natural energy while the other calms and soothes the body for bedtime. Lovely. What are your favorite teas? 

Organic Eucalyptus Oil is a MUST for this time of year! This oil is decongestant, antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory.  This means that when it comes to cold season... it wins! With its amazing properties, people suffering from asthma and any respiratory issues can benefit.

+ I love to add a few drops to a cotton ball and slowly inhale its soothing scent for fatigue, plus I like its earthy aroma 

+ add a few drops to a sachet and place by the bedside for a resting sleep 

+ in the winter months, I combine epsom salts with a few drops of this oil for a soothing bath or foot soak

What kind of ideas do you have for Fall? I would love to hear them all!

Hope you enjoyed this post. Please leave me your email if you would like more ideas and DIYS like this... 

** (Please further research and use precaution when using any essential oil, as some may not be able to use this particular oil). 

Take care--

Jennifer 

(This post is not intended to cure or treat any diseases, and not been approved by the FDA). 
















 

   How to have a stress-free evening ▷▷

Hello there! Hope you all are having a marvelous week! Sorry for not posting last week-- it was a hectic time. This week is better, and I'm feeling good and creative. 

This week, I will give you a few tips on how to have a stress-free evening... if your having one of the weeks like I had.  Whether you work 40+ hours per week or are a stay at home person, you still need that "relax" time for yourself.  This time is to reflect on what makes you happy and a time to pamper yourself. It's really not an "option" to take care of yourself, I mean, if you don't take care of YOU-- how can you possibly take care of anyone else? This is how I see it, anyways. :) 

These are some of my favorite tips that I feel will help some people to unwind, and hopefully it can be a weekly event or bi-weekly? I really hope that you can take at least a half hour per week to escape reality and create YOU time. 

Let's get started... 

✣ Take some time to read a good book or magazine. If you're like me, I have about ten books laying next to the bed waiting to be read. I also have dozens on my iPad. Reading enables your mind to escape to another place and can also strengthen the mind. I have heard that reading makes your smarter... I mean, why would it not? Your learning new words perhaps, and sentence structure is important. (I can't help it, I loved English class). 

✣ Watch one of your favorite movies. I have several movies that will wind me down, and make me laugh at the same time. I'm a huge fan of the 50-60's era movies... and my favorite actress is Audrey Hepburn. I love how everyone dressed up to go everywhere, and the biggest problem they had was which fancy drink to make. I just sit and watch and dream. I'm clearly in the wrong generation. Anyways, watching your favorite films will help you to relax, and also if it's a comedy-- make you laugh! Laughter is the best medicine! 

✣ Listen to music. This is my favorite thing to do all the time! Actually, I am chair dancing as I am typing. I kid you NOT! Anyone else do this?! I am such a music fan of ALL music from classical and jazz to tech and pop. Music ALWAYS puts me in a great mood! Each song has its own message and beat... plus, it can bring back good memories. I can't even tell you all my favorites... we would be here for three days! 

✣ Meditate. I really am trying hard to save at least 5-10 minutes a day for this.  Meditation is a great way to savor the moment and focus on the important things in life. Take this time to sit somewhere quiet (away from the dogs, kids and outdoor noises), close your eyes, and take super big deep breaths. You can also listen to some soft music to help you quiet your mind. If you have a fascination with water sounds like I do, here is a fantastic list for you: 

Sacred Healing Waters by Sayama 
http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Healing-Waters-Sayama/dp/B0009HLCF6?tag=duckduckgo-osx-20
(also available on iTunes) 

✣ Be creative! What kind of artist are you? Bust out the canvas and watercolor, or grab some clay and create a fabulous sculpture. Okay, if you don't like these ideas, there are plenty of other ways to be creative... even decorating your home or cooking uses a skill. Everyone has some creativity in their bones! 

✣ Write someone a letter-- handwritten please! As in old-fashioned sitting down and taking a pen or pencil and letting the words create themselves on paper. This is so relaxing to me when I'm having a stressful day... and the person receiving the letter will be thrilled that you took time to write to them. Snail-mail it is! By the way, I purchase these little note cards and pens from Target... they always have great stuff! 

✣ Spa night! Yes, please!!!! Create your own little spa right in your home. You can make yourself a mask and foot soak (I have a mask recipe in my blog archive) or you can purchase them from my shop, if you don't feel like grabbing supplies. I like to throw my hair up, crank up or down the tunes, grab some wine, and slather some chocolatey goodness on my face! I also love to throw a few drops of organic lavender oil on a cotton ball and deeply inhale. Instant relaxation. This whole spa-ish process calms the nerves and puts you in a better mood. 

✣ Take a hot bath. This is a very calming experience. Light a few candles, listen to some light music, and let the hot water take you away. You could even throw some epsom salt in the bath to soothe, and detoxify the body. Winning!

✣ Clean and organize. This may sound odd and boring, but some people like myself love to clean and organize. If I am having a bad day, I will organize like a crazy! Somehow, in the process of organizing, my mind is slowly slipping away from the bad day. Try it. 

✣ Go for a walk, preferably a nature walk. There is something amazing about nature... the scent, sound, and inspiration. Anytime I need some fresh ideas, nature is where I turn. She somehow has all the answers to everyday problems. We live by Lake Superior, and the waves and smell of the water is truly breathtaking. I love to sit by the lake, collect unusual rocks, and bring a picnic. 

✣ Buy a fresh bouquet of flowers. Fresh flowers in the house... there is nothing like it. I prefer white flowers, as they are so fresh, crisp, and clean looking. Plus, they make the house smell amazing. What are your favorites? 

✣ Sip on a favorite wine or tea.  This can be anything that you love! I love a nice cabernet... just because the health benefits are so worth it. Peppermint tea is also known to soothe and calm the nerves. 

These are just a few tips that can transform a stressful day into a stress-free evening. Even a half hour can do wonders for your mind and body. Take that time for YOU. 

Thanks so much for reading! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Take care,

Jennifer 

   Cocoa Clay Mask ▷▷

Hi there lovelies! How are you all doing this week? 

Hope you are enjoying your days. It's been so hot and humid here the last few weeks. This humid and wicked hot weather just makes me want to detoxify my skin everyday. 

I wanted to share an amazing mask that I have been using for a few years now. I use it all year long, and the recipe can be modified to your liking as well. It contains some yummy and detoxifying ingredients that heals and soothes the skin. I actually can't wait until the evening when I can whip up this recipe and slather it all over my face. Plus, it contains only a few ingredients that should be fairly easy to attain locally. All skin types can benefit from its delicious, gorgeous, and wholesome ingredients. 

Let's talk about these spa-ish ingredients and why they are beneficial: 

Bentonite Clay ~ It is composed of ash made from volcanoes, and originated in France. Sounds luxurious and spa-ish already huh? Don't worry, it is. It has a strong negative electromagnetic (negative is good, positive is bad in this aspect) that pulls toxins from the skin. In other words, the clay is like a sponge and will absorb all the nasty toxins out of the skin. Bentonite clay also has some anti-aging benefits, as it encourages cell turnover, creating healthier, beautiful skin. We all want this.

Organic Honey or Local, raw honey ~ Honey is antibacterial and antimicrobial, meaning it kills bacteria that can cause acne and any other breakouts. It also is anti-aging in that it contains some wonderful antioxidants (vitamins). Plus, it smells amazing! 

Organic Cacao Powder (cocoa) ~ This delicious powder is also loaded with antioxidants, which creates a glowing, beautiful complexion. This also smells yummy. 

What you need:

▶︎ Bentonite Clay --  get it here ▷ https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/bentonite-clay/profile

▶︎ Honey - organic is best, but any local honey will be just fine. Make sure it is local. I will be using raw, local honey.

▶︎ Organic Cacao powder - it smells amazing! I already said that. 

▶︎ Wooden spoon and bowl, NO METALS... if using Bentonite clay, it states that the clay should not come in contact with anything metal... as it can be pulled into the clay. Yuck! 

▶︎ Little brush to apply mask to face (you can also use your fingers)

▶︎ H2O

Yummy Cocoa Clay Face Mask

Here we go! Grab a glass of wine, put your feet up and read a book. We are pretending your home is a spa, right? And you can look and feel cool like me with the mask on. Oh, my beverage of choice was some white wine with a frozen strawberry.  The best part... eating the soaked strawberry. ❤︎

Here we go!

✣  Make sure your face is CLEAN! You don't want to deep clean and detox with makeup on.  It defeats the purpose. 

✣  Mix 2 teaspoons of clay, 1/2 teaspoon of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa together in your wooden bowl with your wooden spoon. (You can modify this to your liking).

✣  Add a tad of water to the bowl and stir until you form a paste. (Don't worry if you add  too much water, just add more ingredients). The paste should look like chocolate cake batter... yum! Don't eat it though. 

✣  Take your brush and apply mask to face and neck, if you wish. It shouldn't be a thin or thick layer, just in between. 

✣  Leave the mixture on for a good 20 minutes. The mask will tighten your skin very quickly, and you will feel like you can't smile... the things we do for beauty! You will then rinse with a warm washcloth, and then cool water to close the delicate pores. 

Wonderful ... your skin should feel good and detoxified! You may get a bit red after the mask, it's very common, as the bentonite clay brings the blood to the surface of the skin, detoxifying it-- that's a great thing! Don't worry, the redness won't last long. I would recommend using this mask at least once a week... in the evening. 

After this spa-like experience, I usually wash my skin, and moisturize- locking that moisture in place for the night. This is very important. ❤︎


Hope this was helpful and you try it very soon! What other recipes have you tried or would like to try?

Take care,

Jennifer ❤︎