The play by play on waking up with a cold.

When I woke up this morning, I found myself sneezing constantly and all stuffed up.  Things weren't too bad yet, so I decided to break out the arsenal.

I started by taking my vitamins.  I will amp myself all day with extra Vit C.

Then I applied essential oils(eucalyptus and oregano) to the bottoms of my feet and on my neck and chest.  I will apply other combinations throughout the day including cinnamon, lemon and peppermint, etc.

I drank some good quality tea with added raw honey.

I took some straight echinacea, will do that three times today. 

Will be sure to take a couple shots of raw apple cider vinegar.

I will seal the deal by taking a nice hot bath tonight with some of my favorite essential oils.

So there you have it.  That's what I do when I start to feel myself getting sick(with a minor cold).  Break out the arsenal so when you feel yourself getting sick you can nip it in the bud before things go too far south!

If you have an arsenal for the common cold, please share your ideas with us.  We just might learn something from each other.

Organic trash talk



There sure has been a lot of talk about GMO's, organic foods and whether or not they truly make a difference.  I recently became aware of a study put out by Stanford that claimed there is little to no difference between organic and non-organic food.  No, I didn't read the study.  I wouldn't waste my time.

Organic food is taking a serious bashing recently.  And there is a good reason why.  With all the recent chatter on GMO(Genetically Modified) foods and organic/and or healthy eating on the rise, big business is scared.  Well, let's just call big business what it is...companies like Monsanto.  Monsanto doesn't want consumers aware of the health benefits of eating organic or avoiding GMO's.  That would put them out of business.  Not to mention, their goal of globally dominating the food supply would take a serious hit.  I'm such a conspiracy theorist...or not.

Here is why I'm telling you this.  I don't want anyone to be fooled by the media or the so called studies.  For me personally, it all comes down to common sense.  You can find a study or statistics to back up just about any side of an argument.  That's where you use the brain and intuition that God gave you and you discern the truth from lies.

On one side we have processed, chemically treated and lab created food.  On the other we have organic, dirty(in a good way) and unaltered food.  Not to mention who the proceeds of the sale goes to.  Common sense tells me to choose the latter.

Can organic "stuff" get hyped?  Sure it can.  Are there organic companies who may lie about their products and fool consumers?  Probably so.  This is where YOU come in and use your best judgement.  But one thing that I am convinced of is that your chances are much better off with the organic side of things.  With that said, there is evil lurking everywhere, we need to use wisdom as to not be blind to it.

Control of the food supply can make or break us as a people.  We must maintain control so that we can have access to clean and safe food.  Buy local, healthy and organic as much as you possibly can and never forget to discern the truth from lies.  They are not going to stop this battle anytime soon.  It will only get worse.  Your health, your children's health and the dirt underneath your feet are depending on YOU and I to make the right choices.

Stocking your medicine cabinet for winter...Hippy Chick style.

With winter approaching, I have started thinking about what kinds of things I want to have on hand for the cold and flu season.  I have been caught without supplies and a sick child and been very upset with myself.  So many times, if we have the right supplies, we can nip it in the bud before it turns into something much more serious.  Here is a list of things that I would absolutely NOT be caught dead without this winter.  For the sake of time and your attention spans, I will only list a few things, but I could go on and on!  I hope that you all can dig deeper and expand your medicine cabinets the healthy way.



 

Essential oils including eucalyptus, cinnamon, lemon and tea tree(these are some of the more affordable ones).  If you really want to start getting funky with it, add others like Cedarwood, Lavender, Sweet Orange, Myrrh, Peppermint, etc!  There are sooo many other good ones, but let's start there.  Apply the oils(just a drop or two) at the first onset of a cold or cough, using a little oil of your choice as a carrier(such as coconut oil).  Good alternative to Vick's.  Rub on chest and bottoms of the feet a couple times a day or more.  Don't forget to purchase GOOD oils, they won't do the job if they are crap.  I go through Mountain Rose Herbs.

 

 

A good moisturizer for all the dry skin and also for applying your essential oils.  I prefer either coconut oil(raw, unrefined) or Tamanu oil.  Mix the two together and you get a great consistency for that dry winter skin, cracks, etc.  Add a little Vitamin E oil in there and you'll really be lovin' it.

 

 

Echinacea.  I buy it in a dropper bottle, straight stuff.  There are a lot of products out there likes teas and such, which I'm sure are great, but the straight stuff is what I like.  Echinacea works wonders with any type of illness.

 

 

Vitamin C.  Seems like a no brainer, but make sure you are stocked up.  I take it in a capsule(absorbs better) or you can get the powdered stuff(like Emergen-C).  I take it every few hours during the day when I am sick. 

 

 

Multi-Vitamin.  Be sure you are taking your daily vitamin to keep your immunity up.  Prevention.  Like anything, there are crappy vitamins and good ones.  Do your research.

 

 

Electrolytes.  The last thing you want to do is have yourself or child start puking and you have no electrolytes on hand.  I prefer coconut water, because it's the absolute healthiest and best.  I try and steer clear of Gatorade and the flavored Pedialyte because I don't see how high fructose corn syrup is going to help me or my child when they are sick...  So I try and stick to the coconut water, unflavored Pedialyte or the packets of powdered electrolytes(electrolyte stamina power pack by Trace Minerals Research).  Hammer the stuff down immediately, because once your electrolytes are off balance, you're in a heap of trouble.

 

 

Colloidal Silver.  Use as directed, please.  A natural alternative to antibiotics.  I have used this with great results for the last few years and wouldn't be without it.

 

 

Some good, raw honey.  Excellent for a sore throat, not to mention it's healing properties.  I will give my kids a spoonful(they don't object) when they complain of a sore throat.

 

 

 

 

So there ya have it.  What wouldn't you do without this winter??

 

 



 



I'm not always okay.

I am experiencing a lot of change, wonder, and unknown in my life right now.

I feel like I don't really know what is going on and I don't have much control.

Where am I going to end up?

Where am I being led?

It's easy to get happy, then sad, then discouraged and eventually hopeful.

No matter what we are going through, we have Someone who is going to help us.  I know that God is on my side.  He may not give me the answers I want, the timing may be off and it may get a tad bit uncomfortable. 

Bottom line, God always has to remind me that I am NOT in control.  And when I attempt to be, I ALWAYS get myself into trouble.  Sometimes I think it would be nice for life to be like a remote control where I could hit stop, pause, fast forward and rewind.  That power button might even come in handy.

It's okay to let Him take the reigns.  He's better equipped than we are, been around a little longer and always has our best interests at heart.

It's okay to have those days and admit...."I'm not okay".  Feel it.  Work it out.  Move on.  Know that all is well.

All is well, all is well;
Lift up your voice and sing.
Born is now Emmanuel,
Born is our Lord and Savior.
Sing Alleluia, sing Alleluia, all is well.

You may be thinking that all is NOT well!  All is NOT well with your soul!  I get it.  However, it all comes in to perspective when we remember this...

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

That is what Jesus said, dying on the cross.  He remembered us, our sins above his own pain and suffering. 

He still will.

No matter where you are, He will meet you there if you let Him.

So join me in casting your fear and worries aside and rest in knowing that there is someone else out there who will willingly take that burden for you if you let Him.

And no, it's not this dude.

It's this One.