Touching-Up Your Makeup Routine: Part One

November 13, 2016 in Nourished Body

Recently my 10-year-old niece asked me "Why do you wear makeup?" I've come along way from my self-conscious days of middle and high school when I felt the need to hide behind my makeup, so I thought for a moment before I responded to her question.

See I wanted to answer her question honestly while preserving and protecting her own self-imagine as a woman and image-bearer of God. I said something to the effect of "I wear makeup not because I feel like I HAVE to or NEED to, but because it is fun to put on. I prefer to put very little makeup on and have it look natural." Do I feel prettier with my makeup on? Yes, but I've reached a place where I love myself regardless. I don't NEED to wear makeup to the grocery store, but I do feel a bit more comfortable with it on. Hey, I'm a work in progress :)

Anyway, in my pursuit to remove unnecessary and harmful chemicals in my life, I discovered one daily routine that needed serious attention...my makeup. Have you ever looked into what is in your makeup?

Chores, Cleaning, and Chaos!

October 24, 2016 in Nourished Home

Is chaos how you would describe cleaning and chores in your household? Do you dread cleaning and put it off for "another day"? Read on for some HELP: hope, encouragement, laughter, and a plan.

As I laid down to go to sleep last night, I took a long deep, cleansing breath and felt a sense of contentment about the cleanliness of my home. Now, I know what you are thinking....so let me dispel a couple things:

I do not have a maid or anyone who is at home full time to clean.
I am not delusional...well mostly not
The magical cleaning fairy has not returned by calls, texts, or emails. Ever.

No, the secret here is a concept I dreamed up one night as I was falling asleep or possibly in the shower where all great ideas come to life. This is it: a cleaning schedule. I'm all about organization and schedules, so this was no surprise to my husband. I was ecstatic! We've used this strategy on and off throughout the past few years. The location of our home and members of our family have changed, so by necessity our cleaning schedule has adapted.

3 Nutrition Tips for Your Back-to-School Routine

October 10, 2016 in Nourished Home, Nourished Body

Fall is a great time to think about our families’ health. Kids go back to school (or for those of us homeschool parents, we “host” the kids at “school”, some of us settle into a new routine, the weather gets cooler and the leaves change into beautiful shades of red, gold, and purple. We want to protect our children when they are out and about -- so we get out the snacks, water bottles, and helmets J. While those items are vital for the health of our children and us, the rest of the items in our snack and sports bags may be poisoning our children. Below are the 3 food products that should be avoided:

Mouthwatering Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe

October 03, 2016 in Nourished Recipes, Nourished Body, Nourished Home

Looking for a healthy dip or dressing to top your veggies from your CSA or farmer’s market trip? Here’s a creamy and delicious buttermilk ranch recipe that will have you reaching for more veggies.

My Pilgrimage to a Hermitage

September 26, 2016 in Nourished Mind, Nourished Soul

I must start by saying that this was my personal experience and should you choose to go to a Hermitage, you may have a different experience as God created us all differently. I say that because if you go and experience this for yourself, I encourage you to let go of your expectations - completely. God is faithful and he will move in your life if you set aside time just for him.

Upon arriving to the Hermitage (an hour and a half late). . . Wait, let me back up. I ran out of gas on the way there. I pulled out of my driveway and my meter said 4 miles to E. I had approximately 7 miles to travel to get to the gas station. Miraculously, I floated in and stopped my truck in front of the pump on fumes. I whispered a silent prayer of thanks to God for getting me to the pump.

I tell you this because running out of gas is exactly how I felt spiritually and emotionally when I arrived at the Hermitage. I was gassed out: tired, overwhelmed, emotionally spent. My bucket was empty. As a health and wellness professional, I'm embarrassed to admit this because I feel some unrealistic expectation to be able to maintain balance at every point in my life. My over-scheduled calendar and my under-filled bucket dictated my peace, or lack thereof. I had given everything and everyone all I had, and I was pretty empty.