Tag Archives: Energy

Thoughtful Thursday The Power of Hydration

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In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the importance of staying hydrated. Yet, proper hydration is essential for maintaining optimal health and well-being. With last summer being a bit of a scorcher, it becomes even more crucial to prioritize hydration. Here’s why staying hydrated is so important and some tips to help you do so effectively:

Why it Matters:

  1. Vital Bodily Functions: Water regulates temperature, aids digestion, and boosts nutrient absorption, keeping your body running smoothly.
  2. Glowing Skin: Hydration plumps skin cells, flushes out toxins, and prevents dryness and premature aging for a radiant complexion.
  3. Energy Boost: Drinking water maintains alertness, fights fatigue, and keeps you focused throughout the day.
  4. Weight Management: Hydration helps control appetite, supports metabolism, and aids calorie burning.

Tips for Staying Hydration:

  • Carry a reusable bottle everywhere you go for easy access (make sure it’s BPA Free)
  • Set reminders to drink regularly, especially during busy times.
  • Infuse water with fruit, herbs or cucumber for a flavorful twist!
  • Eat water-rich foods like fruits and veggies to boost hydration.

Prioritize hydration to support your health, energy, and overall well-being. Stay refreshed and enjoy the benefits of a hydrated lifestyle!

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Thoughtful Thursday WFPB

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As most of you know I started eating vegan due to health issues. But in the last several years companies have created many plant based products including cheese which actually tastes pretty good. So I fell into the trap of time constraints and plain old convenience.

My body started to develop aches and pains. It wasn’t anything major but it was also different than before I went vegan. I didn’t pay much mind to it but a month before we went on our holiday vacation I decided to go Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB).

You may be asking why I did this when I’m already vegan. Here’s the scoop, a soda and bag of potato chips is vegan but is it healthy for you? The obvious answer is no because it’s highly processed, contains lots of sugar, salt and other things you can’t pronounce.

Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB) is just that. You’re eating fruits and veggies that aren’t processed. So no plant based products made in a manufacturing plant. You buy your produce, prepare it and then eat it – plain and simple just as God intended.

Every morning when I’d wake up I would lay in bed assessing the daily aches and pains. It took about 3 weeks and I woke up one morning assessing the discomfort and to my surprise there was absolutely nothing! I felt perfectly fine. I continued to lay there because there had to be something. But nope, there was nothing. I was amazed that eating processed foods caused so much inflammation resulting in pain that I felt throughout my body especially my joints. Plus I dropped weight, my energy went through the roof and I felt like I turned the clock back 30 years!

What I learned from this is you don’t necessarily need to eat plant based foods but definitely eat whole foods. If you want to feel good, have more energy, lose weight reduce or completely eliminate the processed foods from your diet. You may be surprised at how great you can feel!

Hope this inspires you, thanks for stopping by!!

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“It’s not about eating healthy to lose weight. It’s about eating healthy to feel good.” ~Demi Lovato

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Thoughtful Thursday The Joys of Spring

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The first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere is coming this Monday, March 20, 2023 and it will run until June 21, 2023. You may have already noticed the warmer temps moving in, birds nesting and beautiful flowers beginning to bloom. Also, on this first day of Spring the hours of daylight and night are almost equal. It always takes some adjusting to the new longer days ahead.

On my lovely morning walks I’ve seen many squirrels busy building their nests. You can tell the difference between a bird and squirrel nest from the ground because birds primarily build their nests with twigs. Whereas squirrels use fresh branches with the leaves attached. You may also notice a lot of small pieces of fresh branches with leaves on the ground.

This was a photo I took with my phone of a squirrel nest. They’re easily seen once the leaves dry and turn brown. Squirrels can have anywhere from 2-4 babies usually between the months of February to May. They have a hefty appetite and will eat their own body weight every week which is about 1.5 pounds. I love watching them in the mornings with their high energy, it motivates me on my walks 😊

Have you checked your yard for signs of any new babies that may be coming soon?

Hope you enjoyed today’s post. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Mission Organization

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Imagine going to the library and the books are randomly placed on the shelves. You’d get frustrated because you can’t find what you’re looking for. If you were the person in charge of getting new books for the library you wouldn’t know which books to add because you don’t know what’s already there.

We all have a tendency of acquiring “stuff” that seems to pile up and multiply all on it’s own if we don’t tend to it. Maybe we’re just not an organizer by nature or we’ll get to it later but then later never comes. All this “stuff” stops the flow of energy causing you to become unhappy, stressed and lose clarity to name a few.

I’m getting ready to do the floors in my studio. It’s something I’ve been putting off but needs to get done. I’m not looking forward to packing everything up because I have a lot of art supplies I use. On the other hand this is going to force me to really look at what I have and ask “do I really need this, does it bring me happiness.”

I wanted to get some new ideas and a fresh outlook to organizing my studio so I purchased a book by Desha Peacock, “Your Creative Work Space” which is available on Amazon.

I started reading the book and love it so far. Desha shares examples of creative work spaces from different people in different professions. She also shares her wisdom for organizing your sacred space and keeping that way. I’m already very excited to put some of her ideas to use and create better energy flow in my studio.

I’m not sure how this is going to work out but I’ll do my best to keep posting and sharing the happy with everyone. Wish me luck 😅

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Energy Flow

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I’m making some changes in my home, including my studio. I normally don’t like change because it takes me out of my rhythm. But one good thing that’s coming out of the chaos is it’s forcing me to declutter.

We tend to get caught up in the normal rhythm of things because our minds are running on autopilot. But when you bring in change, it makes you look at things more closely. One of my favorite quotes is by Marie Kondo “Does it bring you joy? If not get rid of it!” It’s a simple enough rule to follow but is easily overlooked.

Another rule that Marie Kondo talks about is that when you bring something new into your home, something old must go. This keeps you from accumulating too much clutter. But who can let all those treasures that you’ve spent countless years collecting simply go? I have a tough time with that one, lol. But it is a good rule to follow.

As far as my studio is concerned I’ve decided to put some things that I don’t use much temporarily in storage. This way, I give myself a certain length of time and if I don’t need the things in that box, they can go. If I find I need something, then I have to make room for it in my studio. It makes it easier because I don’t have to overthink the whole process.

What do you do to get the energy flowing in your home? How do you organize and declutter? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” ~William Morris

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A few of my favorite books:

  • “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo
  • “Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui” by Karen Kingston
  • “Real Life Organizing: Clean and Clutter-Free in 15 Minutes a Day” by Cassandra Aarssen

Thoughtful Thursday

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Photo by Maria Vidaurre – Mockingbird hatchlings

Welcome Little Ones

Last week I wrote about the coming of Spring and the Mockingbirds that made a nest in our topiary just outside of our front door. I still find it odd that they did this with all of the foot traffic in and out of our home, but I guess they felt safe enough.

We’ve been watching Momma coming in and out from the nest a lot from our window. One time we saw her come back with a worm so we investigated once we knew she left. When we walked outside you could hear tiny little peeps. Lo and behold, we had 3 new babies in the nest and I was able to get a quick photo before Momma came back.

Life is beautiful, precious and just amazes me at times. We were blessed to see the birds build the nest, lay their eggs and now welcome the new babies. I’m still in awe with these precious little ones.

Mockingbirds are the Florida State Bird and are here all year round. They are about ten inches in length, sing beautiful songs and are excellent mimics. We’re keeping everyone away from the nest area so the babies and parents don’t stress. We can see that Momma keeps an ever watchful eye over her babies as Mockingbirds are known for fiercely defending their nests.

Take the time to slow down and breathe in the beauty and new life all around you during this very special season.

Have a lovely weekend!

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“Those who find beauty in all of nature will find themselves at one with life itself.” ~L.W. Gilbert

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Thoughtful Thursday Spring

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Spring Solstice

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the Spring Equinox is on Saturday, 3/20/2021. This marks the first official day of spring in the Northern hemisphere. On this day, the length of the day and night are almost equal.

The flowers are beginning to bloom and the birds are nesting. We have a pair of what I believe are Mockingbirds that have made their nest just outside our front door in the topiary tree. We’ve been careful to keep the noise down, lights low and the gardeners away from that tree so that we do not disturb them. But it can be a little challenging since they are right at our front door. You can see the momma bird on her eggs keeping them nice and warm. I can’t wait for them to hatch! Very exciting!!

Have you checked your yard for any exciting new babies that may be coming soon? Would love to hear from you.

Hope you have a great weekend!

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“Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own.” ~Charles Dickens

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Thoughtful Thursday

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Daylight Savings Time

This Sunday marks Daylight Savings Time. We go to bed on Saturday night and at 12 am we are supposed to set our clocks forward 1 hour. An easy way to remember which way to set your clock is think “Spring forward, Fall back.”

But who started this and why? During World War I, President Roosevelt had the idea to follow the European model and suggested to Congress to start one standard time throughout our country. This was supposed to help us utilize our resources better. Thus they enacted the 1918 Standard Time Act which was meant to only be in effect for 7 months out of the year. After the war, the Standard Time Act was discontinued. However, some states still continued to follow it.

When World War II started, Congress imposed new legislation that was basically same as the 1918 Time Act but would be in effect for the entire year instead of only 7 months. This was repealed in 1945, and again some states kept following the Time Act.

In 1966 Congress passed new legislation that would permanently set a standard time for the entire nation. There are a few exceptions to the rule. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not follow this legislation, as well as overseas US Territories.

So don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead 1 hour Saturday night before going to bed. Hope you have a great weekend!

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Sources:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/daylight-saving-time-instituted

https://time.com/5005600/states-without-daylight-savings-time

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Thoughtful Thursday

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10 Essentials Oils for Colds and Flu

When I start to feel a little off, I always turn to my essential oils. They’re my first line of defense against colds or flu. Essential oils have wonderful therapeutic properties and help shorten the duration of the illness when used at the first signs of symptoms including itchy eyes, sore throat, cough, sneezing and mild fever or just the general overall feeling of being unwell.

My favorite way to use essential oils when I start to get sick is through steam inhalation in the shower or bath or by using a diffuser. You can rub some blends directly on your skin, however you need to use caution because they can be irritating to some. Also, if you are pregnant you should consult your doctor before using essential oils.

  • Basil – useful in treating colds, aches and pains
  • Bergamot – useful in treating fevers and coughs
  • Cinnamon – useful in treating colds, flu, coughs and viral infections
  • Clove – useful as an analgesic and antiseptic
  • Eucalyptus – useful in treating sore throats, coughs, sinusitis, aches, pains and as an antiseptic
  • Lavender – useful in treating colds, flu, coughs, sinus congestion
  • Peppermint – useful in treating fevers, flu and can ease breathing
  • Sandalwood – useful in treating colds
  • Tea Tree – useful in treating colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections
  • Thyme – useful in treating bacterial and viral infections also helps to boost immunity

There are many books and online resources for finding oil blends but I recently came across a great book by Stephanie Gerber titled “Essential glow.” Below are a few of her recipes and I encourage you to check out her site at HellowGlow.com

11 Essential Oil Diffuser Blends for Cold + Flu Season

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Thoughtful Thursday

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The Benefits of Exercise

I wake up groggy like most and go through my morning routine, sometimes half asleep. But before I do any work of any kind, I work my body. I do 30 minute weight training and 30 minute cardio either on the elliptical or outside for a walk, weather permitting. On the days I don’t do my workout, it takes me longer to get going.

My morning workout literally crank starts my engine. It gets my blood flowing and my mind starts to click along. Exercising increases your energy levels too. It also helps you feel better and puts you in a better mood to start your day. Working out tones your muscles and helps build bone density and helps you avoid injuries by maintaining your strength. Plus it helps with weight loss and to get a better night of sleep.

Now I’m not saying you have to workout for an hour a day. For some that’s too much and for others, it’s not enough. You need to create a workout routine that works for you. It doesn’t need to be complicated with lots of equipment. You can do yoga, sit ups, push ups or walk in place to name a few. Make it easy so you’ll do it and stick with it. If you have limitations, there is a lot of information available online for doing modified exercises. Before starting any new exercise routine you should consult with your doctor or health practitioner. Just moving your body for 5 minutes a day will benefit you greatly and make you feel good!

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