Bliss

I'm long overdue for a post but today I was so inspired to write on what defines wealth. My family and I have been staying with a friend who has a fabulous house in a gated community in South Florida. It's everyone's dream to live in such luxury and abundance but as much as enjoy it I realized that while this experience brought me joy, it couldn't touch one of my happiest memories of late. Honestly, being with a great group of friends playing Taboo and mafia increased my joy to such levels that it eclipsed vacationing in such grandeur. We laughed till we cried, teased each other, argued, and forged new bonds that could never equal to gated communities, private clubhouses, and Lexuses. These are all things, and honestly if you don't do meaningful acts with these things they will just be utensils with the promise of a greater life. Now, I do not deny that there is a certain esteem and ease that comes with living in wealth but making that what drives you just sets you up for a huge disappointment. You'll have the finest utensils in the world but no one meaningful to share it with, no rich human experiences to cherish, no beauty to fill your life. We are relational creatures so the next time you're killing yourself to aspire to reach something remember this-- will the end use of whatever I'm trying to gain make me truly happy? Will it enrich my human experience that I will live to be better? If not, don't kill yourself over it. Just enjoy that humble meal in your small apartment instead of brooding with discontent over it's lack of storage. See the beauty in your humility, and revel in it. So many envy to have such meaning in their lives but lack the courage to admit it. Do crazy things, live like you were dying, and remember:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
— Mark Twain

Toodles & God bless,

Christie

4 ways to lighten your PMS

If you're like me, I have months where I turn into a "green-eyed" monster flying-off-the-hinges at one point or breaking out in tears the next. This is all is due to our drastic drop in Estrogen days before the onset of our period. Instead of hibernation, buckets of chocolate icecream, or acting like the bride of chuckie to your loved ones there's actually a couple of steps you can take to lighten your symptoms. They're very simple steps and mostly nature-inspired.

1. You are what you eat.
I was having severe cramps and just felt that my strength was ebbing away. However, I realized that when I ate certain foods and drank certain things that my periods were so much lighter and easier.

Foods to add to the list: Omega-3's do wonders for your body so incorporate Flax-seeds (oil, pills),tuna, salmon. Beta-carotene, add some more carrots to your salads, garnish your rice with shredded carrots. Bananas, probiotic yogurt (to help regulate your digestion system), complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat breads, cereals and fruits which can help increase seratonin levels (your happy hormones!). Beans are full of protein that will do you a world of good! So get yourself your fav Mexican food. Get your Zinc in and Folic Acid by popping in some vitamin pills.

2. Take preventative aim against severe cramps.
A natural way to get rid of cramps and relax your uterus muscle is to add some ginger to warm milk. Warm up some milk and cut up some fresh ginger (canned ginger) or add a couple of table spoons of ginger powder to the milk and let it lightly boil. Pour into your favorite mug and drink. In a half hour you'll be feeling pretty chipper! This recipe is an oldie I got from my mom :-) that works EVERY time!

No ginger? No problem! Take one or two pills of ibuprofen starting two to three days before your worst period days. It helps prevent blood clots which are the major cause of your cramps.

3. Drink to your health
A very easy way to get more nutrients and vitamins in is by drinking V8 multi-vitamin juice (pick ones w/o high fructose corn syrup) or whatever other brands of fruit juices mixed with vegetable juice. Honestly, one of the best things that I ever did to help my PMS symptoms.

4. Do some yoga or Pilates stretches
There are different beneficial poses "asanas" that help increase bloodflow, muscle stretching, and relaxation. Here's some links for some recommended asanas http://bitly.com/2mlaEQ & http://bitly.com/oJl3H

Want to read more on how your hormones influence you week by week? Marie Claire has a great article called "Your Life in Hormones". Read it here--> http://bitly.com/hDHOH
http://www.fitsugar.com/1054411

Green your Margarita!

Today, I found a yummy recipe for creating an organic margarita. I'm anxious to try it soon being the organic health nut that I am. According to Elizabeth Seward of Planet Green (Discover channel) "Not only did this margarita taste awesome, but I would argue that it was over all more satisfying because I knew I was putting healthy ingredients into my body."


Organic Margarita Recipe

1.5 ounces of tequila (4 Copas makes organic tequila you can use.)
1/2 ounce of pure organic acai
3/4 ounce of organic agave nectar
1/2 ounce of organic egg white
1 organic lime, squeezed

Shake until metal shaker is frosted and then strain into a chilled glass. Enjoy!

Originally from Planet Green http://bitly.com/8hmvs
Image by Getty Images