I can admit it with a great big happy heart that although I have times I can appear extroverted, I am 100% an introvert!
Beautiful sunny day, my daughters birthday and we took a trip to the city to the mall and costco…
Yes ALL.THE.PEOPLE!
Don’t get me wrong, we had a great day, wonderful company, alot of fun and laughs… but yes lots of people!
Before we left I prepared with our all natural On Guard Hand Sanitizing Mist. This isn’t because of the fear being currenty spread about the latest illness going around, it’s because it’s what we use in our home all the time instead of the typical hand sanitizer you see everywhere, that stuff I personally do not recommend or use. I’ve personally had many issues with my health with endocrine disrupting chemicals and have had amazing success at switching to a holistic lifestyle, so this is what we use and recommend! Natures best 💫
Happy to be home, lathered up in some of my fav oils, interesting because I’m really not a floral person but these totally calm me, and chillaxin! I truly am a rural girl at heart, always have been always will be ✌💗!
Rose over my heart, Neroli up and down my inner arms, magnolia on my jaw line and neck, jasmine behind my ears. Added Amavi to the roller mix down my neck and then Sandalwood and Tangerine to the diffuser!
For my oil lovers out there let me share the emotional uses behind these oils. Truthfully though I do not remember all their emotional uses, I go for what I am drawn to and honestly its always bang on!
The other night we made home made pierogies! They were SO good. We have some more testing and tweaking to do, but for a formerly non-Baker this felt SO liberating!
Having a unique digestive system, my hubby and I had to work together! Thankfully we make an awesome team in the kitchen. Could be because one of us used to cook professionally… and the other is called Mom ;)
I learned many years back that I had a unique digestive system, I was just too ignorant back then to listen to my body. Honestly though, part of it was I didnt want to be an inconvenience to anyone. So eating at someone elses house, at a restaurant. It was many years later that I learned I couldn’t eat any reheated starches. Rice, pasta, potatoes etc! If I did I would experience almost immediate pain, major discomfort, bloating and multiple bathroom runs. Let’s keep it real, but mature ;) It hit me one day, I had reheated my lunch at work and not long after eating this all began.
Alot is mindset. Because I KNOW I cannot reheat these foods, at times causes me to over eat. I “justify” because I need to enjoy it now… BS!
We are getting so much better at just simply making smaller portions. At times this doesn’t happen and I feel guilty about throwing food out that cannot be eaten again.
Here’s the thing. When someone has something physically wrong with then, like a broken limb you can SEE and understand why they need different support.
So why, in the big picture, should I feel any different with my health issues and supporting my body the way it should be?! I SHOULDN’T and yet I DID!
However since the early winter, since I was given a taste of how even more amazing I could feel… its NOT worth it! Its not worth putting my comfort and health aside because I “might” be an inconvenience… especially when I’m not!
Emotionally this can really do a number on people to, I know because I used to do this to myself! I’m so happy I can say USED TO!!!
Check out our home made pierogies! I loved them and am excited to try this recipe again!
The Recipe
2 cups Gluten Free Flour Mix
Salt to taste
1/4 cup EVOO
1 large egg
1/4 cup Lactose Free Greek Yogurt
1/4 cup warm water
Add more water slowly as required
Mix the ingredients together, we used a dough hook in our kitchen aid mixer for ease.
Add flour to your counter before rolling out the dough. We used a large glass to make our circles. We added the old cheddar and bacon to the dough before adding the potatoes. Next time I would mix the cheese and bacon with the potatoes simply for ease! A little goes a long way!
Once you have the pierogies ready, drop them into boiling water. Once they float move them over to a medium-hot frying pan to brown to taste!
Mental health is a topic that is very near and dear to us. All of us have been touched by it to some degree, it’s our emotions, how we feel, processing those feelings and dealing with life.
I am a big advocate for feeling your feelings. Slowing life down to honor your souls ability to decompress and reset. I have personally found that when I schedule in downtime I am over all happier, healthier, more productive and trusting in life!
Let me share with you an awesome resource available for additional mental health education! As I’ve previously mentioned, everyone’s body, health etc. Is different. What works exactly for one person will be different for the next person. That is part of the amazing options available to holistically support your body, soul and mind!
Check out the details below! 👇
Mental Health Week – Empowering you and your loved ones with dōTERRA.
Starts Monday March 2, all presentations will be recorded for you to watch later, or catch them live.
Our Missy has been a part of our family for just over a month now. She has taught us even more patience and unconditional love. Welcoming a rescue kitty into our home has filled my heart with love, but also reminded that our journeys do not define us. Our sweet girl is so lovable and cuddly, but is also over coming alot of fear that at times has her hiding more than we see her. We have shown her love, encouraged her socializing and she is making progress on her time. Last night was one of her family cuddle nights, check out the smile in the 3rd pic. As you can see, Missy has chosen my daughter as her “safe” person and place!
The other night Kendra Fisher , an incredible spokesperson for Mental Health – Mentally Fit, came into our community to share her incredible journey with living a Mentally Fit life.
Our local arena community hall was packed! It was SO heartwarming to see so many people out to support mental health in our community. Kendra shared some of her very low moments with our community and her previous way of thinking, asking for help is weak. Kendra instilled confidence in the audience that its OK to ask for help! Asking for help actually shows strength!
We all have different journeys in life. We cannot allow our past to define who we are moving forward. Everyone makes mistakes, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow!
Kendra also mentioned the importance of remembering that people online can be very mean, to not google yourself or read the comments. Words can sting very hard, even when coming from a stranger!
This evening was amazing, to not only see the room filled with people from the community, but also a lot of kids! Our son’s hockey coach cancelled practice so the boys could attend! I was so proud of their decision and all the boys who attended with their family!
Cuddling with our kitten last night reminded me of Kendra’s words on Monday night. What is tough for one person may not be for another. We all experience our own highs and lows. Our life path is our own. Whether we are a wee kitten, young girl or boy, or a grown man or woman!
Break the stigma of mental health. Be kind and compassionate to others and any struggles they may be facing.
Thank you Kendra for opening your heart and sharing your story. Honestly it was an affirmation for me and the direction I’ve been going in life lately. Less mindless scrolling of social media, less caring what others think, more pouring into me, my family and our home, more self care, more downtime reading, writing and taking photos, always looking for a positive in any situation, being grateful, so very grateful! Being IN the NOW ✌💕
The other day, I took a bit of a leap, it actually just happened, not planned in any way, just happened, I talked and the words flowed, perfectly honestly!
Might be too much for some, it felt completely right for me.
What I found interesting was when I woke up this morning, I felt even more clear, I felt inspired to get up and get going. I am loving my earlier mornings and although not perfect, I am enjoying my morning routine and know it will continue to evolve into so much more with each day.
Writing the blog was not hard at all. Shooting the video, my words flowed, way more than what I had originally thought they would. If you’ve got 30 minutes you can get a really good feel for my story and what fueled my transformation to take me from feeling so much resentment towards my health and body to truly LOVING my body and appreciating, feeling gratitude for all it has and continues to do for me!
Push the fear aside. Writing the blog was easy. Posting on social media, made my stomach do flip flops. WHY!? Why does social do this!? The first thing that jumps to my mind is judgment and negativity. Even though its MY story. I PUSHED THAT ASIDE HARD! I hit the share button – NOT because I feel like what I did/do is what everyone should – no I shared because if more people had shared their story back in 2004/5 when I was truly struggling, when PCOS was this unknown taboo “women’s illness” I perhaps wouldn’t have felt so alone, isolated and broken.
The world needs more of us to share our truths, to share our story, and all the real raw parts and spread more love and positivity throughout the world. Regardless what you THINK someone else may say or think.
Another dear friend reached out earlier this week, one who we share a similar life experience. In the moment it shook me. Brought a lot of mixed feelings back to the surface. I allowed myself time to FEEL these feelings, to process them – for both of us. To be ok with a slight pull back, before stepping back into the strength and determination that is within me, and her.
Life is a journey, of loving yourself and living your best life – whatever that may be in that moment. Sometimes it is snuggled on the couch in a blanket, with a book, journal or watching netflix snacking on good food. Its also whatever fuels your passions and lights your heart up. Its the highs, lows and all the in between. Relationships, romantic, friendship, family. <3
I was allowing the opinion of someone affect my energy and how I was feeling.
In that moment, I gave away my own power because of someone else’s words, their opinion.
I told myself it was no big deal, which it really wasn’t, yet it felt like such a heavy weight!
Someone else and their opinion stole time from me. The power of the mind is unreal! Even without logical thinking, someone’s opinion becomes truth?!
NO!
Then, finding out that the opinion of that person, which was causing me emotional pain… was actually wrong!
The “weight” lifts, almost instantly. Not because I have to be right, no because I enjoy living in my truths, which means living with both good and bad, real life and no judgment. I do very strongly believe everyone should live their own truths, by being honest, integral, compassionate and conscientious to the words they speak. To realize I allowed time to be taken from me, and recognize that I simply cannot do that anymore!
The only opinions that truly matter are mine! Even my own opinions, may not always be truth, this is why we must be open to lifelong learning, to always growing, as I tell my kids all the time, we learn something new everyday and it’s ok to “not know” something! ✌
I felt inspired to share my heart today, and in a video ! A beautiful friend reached out to me about my own journey and curious if I could share my own personal journey with a friend of her’s who also has PCOS. Of course I said yes and that’s when I thought, its time to do an updated video and apparently my heart had a lot to say ;) 💗
There once was a time in my life I was ashamed of my body, my health and it was a container that held onto a lot of anger and resentment. Thankfully I was able to rise up, it may have taken me a lot of years to get to this point, and it will always be a work in progress, its 100% worth it.
To know that I am able to listen to my heart and soul, to allow myself to be my true me, to be ok at putting myself out there, at times, learning to care less of what others think. The truth of the matter is, each of us as an individual, is the only person who can truly shift our own life. I know this because Ive lived it, and like I mention in the video, we have all been through shit, lord knows that, some of us need more life lessons than others, a little bit more growth, sometimes its to grab our attention in a pretty significant way.
I am thankful for my journey, I am thankful for the people who have come, gone and stayed in my life. I am grateful for the life lessons – all of them good, bad and otherwise have got me to where I am today and for that, thank you. As much as I have thought about “going back and changing….” whatever – I wouldn’t be who I am today, if that happened. I am who I am today because of my life journey. Perhaps its because I have been known to be a stubborn firey red head, yes that has been true, I prefer to think of it as PASSION ON FIRE! 🔥
Energy truly is everything. Whether you believe it or not. Our physical, emotional and energy health is all intertwined and I believe wholeheartedly its this combination which has helped me achieve my current state of health.
Deal with the shit in your life. Whatever that may be. If you are physically sick all the time – aches, pains, cold, flu, whatever else… what are you ignoring emotionally or what are you hiding from yourself or others that needs to surface. This can be a BIG one for people. I know it was for me. I was freaking ignorant about my health and body.
Clean up your life. In more ways than one. The products you use in your home, on your body, the food you eat, the people you associate with. I am the type of person who gives people the benefit of the doubt, until they have wronged me, then my fiery passion lights up.
Make yourself the top priority. Even if you have kids. For me tonight, that meant using my 2 hours of complete alone time to read and write. Something that frees and lights my soul up. When the kids were younger, mommy would give herself a “time out” – when my husband would be home of course when they were younger, but even when they were old enough to get it, they both now appreciate alone time to decompress.
Do what works for you! Every one of us is different, unique and beautiful. No one’s journey is exactly the same as anyone else’s, although my journey may seem similar to someone else, it wont be the exact same. Baby steps, welcome change with open arms and trust in divine timing.
I truly am happy to help anyone who might be on a similar journey or who may have questions about how I am supporting myself, that is what inspired my video and even listening back to it, I truly spoke from my heart. Some things people may feel are too much information – this is my story and honestly, I truly believe the more people who actually step up and tell their story, normalize what many of us have felt like, it may help someone like me who at a point in my life thought my body was against me, hated myself and questioned “why me” all the freaking time. Yes I have health issues, the last thing I want to do is hide them, especially from my children and those I love and am related to, because if I do, there is a good chance my kids may have their own health challenges as well.
💫 When you shine a light on the darkness, the darkness begins to fade.💫
I truly did start out thinking I was going to make a quick video, and then my heart and soul completely took over. Its all good, because I believe there was a purpose in sharing, someone out there needs to hear these words, even if simply for encouragement. It felt really good in my heart. Ive mentioned my health challenges many times, but most of those times Ive held on tight to my emotions. My journey to become a mom is one that will always hold strong emotions for me, to remind myself of how dreams can come true and that these two children of mine truly are gifts from god who I love more than anything. But, as Ive learned, you must always always love yourself entirely first. Which I can now, without a doubt, say I do. No one is perfect and that is what is beautiful about life, its a journey, make it yours! ✌
I’ve mentioned before about my desire to pull back from social media. I feel like these past couple weeks I’ve been much more conscious about it. I prefer to surround myself with positivity! It’s actually surprising how other people’s opinions and negative energy can (sometimes quickly) bring you down!
There is an online local page that is supposed to be supportive of things in the community and can very quickly turn negative. I received a notification of something posted, so briefly checked it out. A post about a new business joining town, quickly turned from the new business “joining” our town to the negative closed minded opinions of others about what “this” town needs, one remark saying “here we go again…”.
I felt a twinge in my heart, I get both sides of small businesses, I get entirely the power of supporting local business. I’ve grown up, my kids have grown up, in small business. This is a part of our life. Supporting small town is so important. There is heart and soul in our downtown, in every single business in our town.
Running a business is challenging. So the fact that someone wants to open up a business in our town, rejoice it! Congratulate them! If you do not like or need what they sell, that’s YOUR choice! If it’s not the type of business you think should be joining our town… what is stopping you?!
Rather than follow the masses or allow ourselves to be directed down a negative path, it’s actually easier to look for a positive in any negative situation, than continue down the rabbit hole condemning someone else.
Rise up! Be an example for the children in your life 🙏🥰✌
It’s almost too easy to loose your true self. Who you really are. In a time when people are most connected, so many are actually disconnected.
Relationships we “have” online begin taking over parts of our life where we should be expanding, naturally, outward into the world and most importantly inward to ourselves.
The year began with such beautiful energy. I have however felt like my energy has been slightly stifled the past couple weeks.
I’ve pulled inward, pushed the outside world to a distance. Feel like I’ve for too long, allowed the outside world to influence and it wasn’t always in a positive way. Focusing on people who, really in the big picture, do not matter in my day to day life. Truth be told, the biggest part of this meant pulling back from social media. Focusing on ME and not what everyone else is doing. Limiting social has felt freeing. Not that I don’t care about the people I follow… but really, my life and my mental health is so much more important. Far too often it’s simple to get sucked in, when really what we need to focus on is our own life.
Yesterday morning I woke up naturally, actually at my normal time also! As much as I could have went back to sleep, I stayed up. I poured into me. I gave myself permission to slow. My brain has been quite active these past couple months. I have found when this happens I allow myself to get overwhelmed far too quickly, until I become conscious of my thoughts and actions! It’s taken me so much less time to shift, thankfully!
I started with a Turmeric tea in bed (coffee for the husband) and a blend in the diffuser. I selected the oils based on my intuition, trust in yourself and you will always be lead to the truth!
Ginger – The Oil of Empowerment
Geranium – The Oil of Love & Trust
Ylang Ylang – The Oil of the Inner Child
Frankincense – The Oil of Truth
Green Mandarin – The Oil of Pure Potential
Many of these I know their emotional uses, like Frank, Ylang Ylang, Geranium because they are well used 😉. The others… how fitting for this weekend! 💕
I appreciate my daily greatness journal. It provides me a beautiful start and finish to my day. I hadn’t meditated in a while so that was my next course of action. Helen Murray, who a couple years ago I did personal coaching with, has a beautiful Peace, Grace and Prosperity Meditation on her website as a free download. Go have a listen, it is like magic to calm and clear the mind! Helen has a beautiful way of speaking and beautiful energy about her.
This morning, this was the SourceMessage on Instagram. An account I feel very aligned with! Cheers to a beautiful day, filling myself up! 😘
Many of us can acknowledge and admit getting sucked into social media. This year, as a whole I have dedicated to being more purposeful, being more intentional and allowing that to reflect in my everyday living and online life.
Ive felt a pull to push back on social, for months now. To get back to the real me, which honestly was pen and paper, writing poems, allowing my words and feelings to flow. To capture real life with my camera, in the beginning with film and now convenient with digital, providing the opportunity to take as many photos as I can, not worrying as much about the perfect shot, because knowing that I am able to capture multiple. My blog and photos on Flickr. Both of which I had long before many of the “popular” social sites showed up and began dominating… Allowing my creativity to flow, without judgment, restriction.
There is life beyond social media, a tool that I have come to appreciate, but also one that I choose to not allow to dominate my time or life. Modeling for my children as well. Much of my realization and growth has been fueled through our home shifts and changes. All of which has been modeled by our current life.
I have felt this pull for a while, sure things can be “personalized” on these social sites – but its not true personalization. Many people we are all “friends” with, but really thats almost diluted the real meaning of what a “friend” is. 2020 will be a year of growth. I can feel it.
