Mind/Body

The Best Guided Meditation App For People Who Don’t Meditate (Yet!)

“It takes too long.”

“I don’t have any time for that.”

“Isn’t that for hippies and those people who do yoga?”

Yup, I used each of these excuses and more to avoid meditating. My mind would race to the point of exhaustion every day, yet I had convinced myself that I didn’t need to meditate. If this sounds anything like you, then these guided meditation apps are just what you need!

No, you don’t need to build a meditation room in your house and dedicate hours in your new floral pants to this practice. Dedicating as little as 10 minutes a day can truly have an impact on your mind. And you can even do some of these while on the go! That pretty much wiped out all my excuses.

Here’s 5 of the top guided meditation apps for the person who doesn’t (yet!) like to meditate.  Continue Reading

November 23, 2016
Recipes

Gluten Free Appetizers For Thanksgiving

Navigating through the holidays when you have certain dietary restrictions can be somewhat of a challenge. Whether you are gluten free or some of your guests are, here are some delicious and easy to make gluten free appetizers that everyone will enjoy this Thanksgiving. Continue Reading

November 16, 2016
Recipes

Top 15 Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipes

Boy oh boy, do I love Thanksgiving! A time to get together, give thanks and- of course- to indulge in some of the best home-cooked food all year. Now, if your family is anything like mine, they’re not exactly on the gluten-free band wagon (yet!), so it can be challenging to get to enjoy everyone’s cooking without suffering the consequences the next day.

Staying gluten-free during the holidays is actually easier than it may seem. Many of the dishes we tend to make for Thanksgiving are either already gluten-free or can be easily converted to gluten-free with a few substitutions that no one will even notice.

Here are 15 delicious gluten free Thanksgiving recipes to share with your family this year!  Continue Reading

November 8, 2016
Pet Health

5 Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Pet During The Holidays

During the holidays, we tend to allow ourselves a few more treats than usual. Who doesn’t love a hot chocolate or a warm chocolate chip cookie or Gramma’s famous cheesecake? While it’s okay for us to indulge a little here and there, it’s important not to be tempted to allow our four-legged friends to join in on the fun. What can bring a full belly and a smile to us can actually be quite dangerous to them.

Here are 5 common foods we’re often tempted to share with our pets during the holidays and why we shouldn’t.  Continue Reading

November 1, 2016
Mind/Body

How To Cleanse Your Home With Sage

The ancient art of smudging involves burning sacred plants, most commonly sage, and allowing the smoke to clear, blessing the space and clearing the stagnant energy that is negatively impacting your life. It can be done upon moving into a new home or whenever you feel the effects of negative energy within your environment.

The goal of smudging is to clear your space- whether that be your body, your mind, your spirit or your physical surroundings- of any lingering, unwanted energy that may be there. This dormant negative energy can directly impact your mental and physical state, so it is important to address it.

Before getting started, it’s important to remember that this is an ancient spiritual ceremony, so you should treat it as such. Be sure to maintain a calm, clear mind during the ceremony. If you are comfortable, you can even offer an affirmation or a prayer as you go. Continue Reading

October 23, 2016
Recipes

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Is there anything better than a pumpkin spice latte on a chilly Fall day?

Yes, I have had the “real deal” Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte that everyone talks about. And yes, it is every bit as amazing as they said it would be. BUT, I just cannot justify the ingredients, the sugar content and that price tag!

Here is a gluten free, dairy free pumpkin spice latte recipe that is sure to satiate your Starbucks craving while keeping both your body and your wallet much happier. Continue Reading

October 15, 2016
Nutrition

Panera Nutrition Facts: Is It Really The Healthier Option?

So many of us are trying our best to steer clear of the grab-and-go convenience of fast food restaurants because of how unhealthy they are. But what are we supposed to eat when we are jammed for time or on a long road trip and our stomach starts growling?

Yes, in an ideal world we always have our lunches packed and our snacks on hand. I don’t know about you, but I don’t actually live in an ideal world. Things happen. And getting hungry when we’re on the road is one of them.

So, are there better alternatives to McDonald’s that can offer us a fast, but healthy meal?

Panera has been touted as just that. A health-conscious, “better for you” fast food alternative. Aware that Panera is known for their delicious breads, pastas and baked goods, I definitely was a little skeptical about this going in. Here’s what I learned.  Continue Reading

September 29, 2016
Fitness, Nutrition

Pre Workout For Women: Do We Really Need It?

There seems to be a supplement for everything these days. A pre-workout supplement, a post-workout supplement, a fat burner, supplements for heart health, for digestive health… It’s overwhelming! We want to be healthy and feel good, but which of the millions of supplements out there do we really need?

Pre-workout drinks are nothing new. Men have been taking them regularly for many years. (I’m sure we’ve all seen the guys walking around with their neon pink or orange water jugs, right?) It is more recently that women have been taking interest in these workout enhancers as well. But do we really need them? And are they even safe? Continue Reading

September 21, 2016
Pet Health

Natural Pet Remedies

Just like children, our four-legged friends can have a laundry list of ailments as they grow up. But not everything needs a medication or a costly trip to the vet. In most cases, a natural remedy can do just the trick.

I always encourage you, if in doubt, to call the vet. You always want to keep them in the loop with what’s going on with your pet. Once you’ve ensured there is nothing life threatening or of major concern going on, there is often a natural treatment to help alleviate their symptoms. Here is a list of common minor ailments and natural remedies for dogs.  Continue Reading

September 13, 2016
Mind/Body

The Benefits of Meditation For Kids

As parents, our one goal in life is to keep our kids happy and healthy. Unfortunately, it seems our little ones are feeling the effects of stress and anxiety at increasingly younger ages. One great way to combat the everyday stresses of life and to build your child’s inner strength and stability is through meditation.

I know what you’re thinking. “My kid sit still- and quiet?!- for more than 2 minutes? Yeah, right!” But integrating a meditation practice into your kids’ lives can be easier- and more fun- than you might think. There are lots of fun, creative ways to build both your child’s inner strength and awareness and your bond together as well.  Continue Reading

September 5, 2016