Month: March 2018

Essential Oils The Life I Live

I Have Psoriasis, and This Is How I Treat It Naturally

Psoriasis sucks, and that’s the truth. The problem is, this auto-immune condition is untreatable. So, if you have it, you always will. That’s the part that sucks the most.

While the worst of it seemed to last forever, I can say that I’ve come out the other side now. At times, I almost forget it’s there. When I flare, it’s a glaring reminder to not forget. Why? Because a couple changes changed my psoriasis life. And that is no joke.

I don’t like medication, shots, OTC remedies or basically anything deemed “needed” by the American Medical Association. I like natural. I like preventative. I like to eat and download (3)move for health, before and preferably in place, of medication.

When I first was diagnosed with psoriasis, it was bad, it was spreading and it wouldn’t quit. For the full story, read here.

Right now, I have scalp psoriasis. I also battle occasional face ‘pox’ (as I call them) and armpit pox as well. On top of those areas, my forearms flare almost weekly. Doesn’t sound good to you, does it? But trust me when I say, it really is.

When I was diagnosed I had it worse, and in many more places including my elbows, patches on parts of both calves, my forehead and my armpits. Plus, as mentioned in my story, I had a severe, raw, red and bleeding left forearm because it itched and I itched it. As you can see, what I deal with now is significantly less than this. And I am so thankful.

But I work HARD for these results. I make choices everyday that keep my psoriasis at bay and are natural remedies. I also eat to heal my psoriasis from the inside out. This is what I do:

I eat gluten-free

Gluten-free foods lessen the inflammatory reactions within my body and I gluten-freewholeheartedly believe this is a HUGE part of the relief I experience.

I use essential oils

I know, you’re like, “Of course you do.” What don’t you use essential oils for? And, it’s true. Essential oils don’t get rid of my psoriasis but peppermint nixes the itch, almost immediately, which is huge for psoriasis sufferers. I also use them in my baths which smell great and are super enjoyable.

I take essential oil baths

These baths help keep flares at bay and make my skin feel great. Plus, I have alwaysPeppermintoil loved climbing into the bathtub. These baths have epsom salt, essential oils and even apple cider vinegar. Want to take one yourself. Click here for my essential oils bath, especially for psoriasis.

Honestly, these three things, really two things, are it. And my psoriasis is so much better just due to these remedies. I still haven’t had any shots since the end of 2017 and we are three months into 2018 now. This makes me very happy.

Psoriasis is a part of my life and I don’t like it. That’s the problem. But eating gluten-free and using oils are a part of my life, too. And ultimately that’s an amazing solution for psoriasis. If you’re reading this, I pray you don’t have psoriasis and you were just interested in my story. But, if you do have psoriasis, I urge you to try these remedies and I pray that they help you and your skin as much as they have, me. I wish natural health to you all!

 

 

 

 

Essential Oils The Life I Live

Post-Workout Sore: I Have an Essential Oils Bath for That

If you love to workout like I do, then you get sore. And sometimes you’re not only sore but it really hurts. I did a heavy leg lift over the weekend and yesterday my legs literally ached. I knew I needed an essential oils bath, I just didn’t know how much until I slipped under the surface of that warm bath.

I used different oils than I usually do in the bath and one was orange essential oil. As I drew my bath, my entire place started to smell like orange. It was heavenly. I felt better after this bath and if you’re sore from the gym, you will, too!

How to Prepare an Essential Oils Bath for Soreness

1. Draw a bath of warm, and NOT hot (this detail is most important,) water.

2. Using a mason jar or glass measuring container, add two cups of Epsom salt. To the salt, add your oils. For sore muscles, this is the combination I used:

IMG_20171005_080104

  • Copaiba 10 drops
  • Orange  10 drops

4. Soak 20-30 minutes to reap the benefits.

5. Finish with lotion

  • apply a high-quality lotion

Coconut oil is an amazing moisturizer, too, but a little messy. A little goes a long way, so use it sparingly, until you’re used to it. Other oils like jojoba, sweet almond, avocado oil, and others work much the same way.

Self-care using quality ingredients are vital to feel your best. Check out the links below for my everyday, wellness book and my favorite, natural lotion.

This lotion I love!

For oils, I use Young Living Essential Oils. If you want to order through me, let me know in the comments.

Disclaimer: I use Young Living Essential Oils and based on my research, I believe these are the best, safest, and most pure oils on the market. PLEASE do your own research and determine which oils are best for you and your family. 

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Bible Study Week 3

So, I have to be honest. This weeks bible study didn’t effect me as much as the last two. This isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it or learn from it, it just didn’t touch me the way the other lectures did. And I liked this.

What? Why would I like it? Well, with less to “resonate” with, I felt as if it made me think more. And this is what I thought.

The focus of the week was about miracles, the idea of Exodus 16:22:

KJV_Exodus_16-22

 

The main point is that we have to trust God for the things that we need. You must try and give effort but at the point where it’s time to stop, rest and reflect, you must do that.

When God gave us sabboth, it was to teach us to stop and learn to “resist the urge to continue.” In the flesh, we must never stop. It’s go, go, go, work more, attend more events, social media more, read more. It never ends. In the spirit, no. We should rest, relax, be quiet, be content, and let go.

So, we need to trust Him. If we take Sunday to praise Him, to sit and listen for Him, and to rest as He has told us to, that means we have to resist the urge to produce. We have to trust that what He has allowed us to “do, gather, produce, create, and take care of what we “needed to,” throughout the majority of the week, and we need not think on or do on sabboth.

This does apply to me, in part, because I have to stop myself from working, especially on pexels-photo-267559Sundays. There are lots of sports on during the day on Sundays and my husband and I will often watch. Well, he watches and sits on the laptop, and since I don’t really care about most sports, I work.

But I have begun to be thoughtful about it. And if I am working, it’s to do these blog posts.  I’m praying more, getting into the word more, and in this case, writing more. I think my writing and reflection would be acceptable for sabboth. I mean after all, what does God want more than us to share His word and spread His love?

Do you think I’m just disillusioning myself and giving myself an “out” for sabboth so that I can still work? Maybe so, but I think if I asked Him, he would tell me He’s glad I’m moving into the word, sharing it and spending more time with Him=)

Happy Sunday friends and have a blessed week=)

Dairy Free Gluten Free Recipes The Life I Live

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

It never fails, when I buy bananas, and I eat one, I think, “God, how good is this?” But by the time I go to eat another (usually the next day and especially in FL,) they went brown. Can you relate?

But, to be honest, as delicious and fresh as a good yellow banana is, I LOVE to use “old” bananas to cook with. Whether it’s trying out a new recipe or throwing them into a protein shake, browned bananas are my jam. And this banana bread recipe? You will love how easy it is and how great it tastes!

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1/2 cup almond milkIMG_20180308_153653
  • 2 ripe bananas, smashed
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 1/2 cups rice flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of salt

Cinnamon Swirl Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 4 tablespoons coconut sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

In a large bowl, add the eggs and whisk. Next, add the avocado oil and almond milk. Add in the bananas and smash until mixed and incorporated. Stir in the honey. Add in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix together to incorporate.

For the cinnamon swirl sauce, mix the ingredients together in a separate small bowl.

In a glass bread pan, greased with avocado oil, add half of the bread mixture. Then, add half of the cinnamon swirl sauce. Finish by adding the rest of the bread mixture and remainder of the sauce on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes or until you can stick a skewer in and it comes out clean.

This was my first time making banana bread with rice flour and it turned out so yummy! I’m glad I tried this new recipe and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

So, when life gives you overripe bananas, make Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread=)

Like this recipe? Check out my other books=)

Want a paperback copy? Reply in the comments and I’ll send you one.

Essential Oils Explorations The Life I Live

I Love to Travel: Cruise Tips

So, we did it. Our first cruise is in the books. It was a short four day venture and, all in all, it was pretty great. We went from South Florida, to further in South Florida in Key West, then to Cozumel, Mexico, a day on the ship and back.

I had never been on a cruise before but there were some things I brought and I was SO GLAD! Want to know what they were? Here you go=)

Sun HatIMG_20180210_233132

I bought said sun hat in Panama. It’s literally the first (and only) sun hat I have ever bought. It’s big and purple and I love it. Plus, it worked great for the cruise. The last day we spent on the back of the ship, tanning, reading and drinking and without that hat I would have left the cruise with a sunburned face. Instead, I left golden brown face.

Scarf

I have the most beautiful, soft, Persian scarf and this, too, was perfect for the trip. Not only is it gorgeous, cashmere, and an amazing accessory. It’s also huge, warm and doubled as a great extra but also a sometimes needed (warm) shoulder cover up.

Rope or Necklace (Holder) for Your Ship Card

Little did I know we would have to have a card to do everything on the ship. Order food? Need your card. Drinks Where’s your card? Want to leave the ship or get back on? Card. Get a shoelace necklace, rope or chain to wear your card. So much easier and then you always have it with you.

Ginger or Peppermint Oil Peppermintoil

Even if you think your tummy is good, if you’ve never been on a cruise, bring something to tame your tum! I always have peppermint oil on me (or at least in some form because the allergy oil blend I use has peppermint in it) so that is good. I also have been eating crystallized ginger since I was a child..it was my Grams go to for anything tummy.

Sunscreen

Make SURE you have sunscreen. I mean, you can spend 3 times as much on board to buy some if you want, but you WILL need it. On the ship, on excursions, and any time your outside slather it on. The ship gives you ample opportunity to get in your Vitamin D, but if you’re not careful, you’ll get a lot more than that.

Literally having these things (minus anything for my card) helped so much. I was really thankful I thought to bring these items and I know they helped me to enjoy myself to the fullest.

Anything I missed? I hope you are taking the time to enjoy this life, too, and get out and do new things when you can! XOXO

 

Dairy Free Gluten Free Meats Paleo Recipes The Life I Live

Paleo Swedish Meatballs

Who loves Swedish meatballs? I do, I do! And these are so good, really easy and one of my all time favorites!

I eat them alone. Nick likes them with noodles or rice. Heck, you could even make a Swedish meatball sub sandwich with them if you wanted to! I hope you love these as much as me, they are truly a comfort food and the flavor is just scrumptious.

Paleo Swedish Meatballs

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oilIMG_20180225_104118
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/2 onion, minced
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/3 cup Almond Flour (or breadcrumbs of choice)
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/3 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)

In a large skillet pan, add the avocado oil and heat on medium. Mix the ingredients together with your hands, in a bowl, and add small, equal-sized meatballs to the pan. You want to give each meatball its own space, so that it can brown up. You will finish cooking them in the sauce so brown the outsides for about 5 minutes and remove from the heat. Set aside. Do not remove the grease from the bottom of the pan!

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
  • 1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • pinch of salt and pepper

Using the leftover grease from the bottom of the pan, whisk in the tapioca starch. Heat for 2 minutes and then add the rest of the ingredients. Heat 5 minutes before adding the meatballs back into the pan. Once you add the meatballs back in, simmer together 10 minutes and serve.

Love this recipe? Check out my other books, too=)

Want a paperback copy? Reply in the comments and I’ll send you one!

Dairy Free Gluten Free Meats Paleo Recipes The Life I Live vegetables

Honey Chicken Chinese Dinner

I love homemade Chinese food. It’s easy and quick to pull together and healthier and more fulfilling than take out. Plus, if you don’t have good Chinese near you (we def don’t,) than not only is this the best option, but the only option.

But, honestly, this recipe is so good. I made it, I ate it and it was awesome. Nick thought so, too, and so will you. Enjoy!

Honey Chicken

  • 2 chicken breasts, cut up into 1 inch piecesIMG_20180216_142624
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil for frying
  • 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
  • Pinch of salt and pepper
  • 1 cup matchstick carrots
  • 1 scallion, chopped (to sprinkle at the end of cooking)
  • sesame seeds (optional)

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ginger powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon tapioca flour

In a medium-sized bowl, mix your chopped chicken, 2 tablespoons tapioca starch and a pinch of salt and pepper. Heat a medium skillet on medium heat with the avocado oil and add the chicken to the pan. Cook about 5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Add the carrots and cook an additional 2 minutes.

In a separate pan, add the sauce ingredients together and whisk to combine. Add the sauce to the chicken and carrots and let cook about five minutes or until the sauce thickens a bit. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. 

Like this recipe? Check out my other books, and watch for more to come!

Want a paperback copy? Reply in the comments and I’ll send you one!

 

Dairy Free Gluten Free Paleo Recipes The Life I Live Vegan

Homemade Western Dressing

If you know me, you know I love soup and salad. You also know I stay away from gluten and I don’t like soy. You know what else I don’t like? Store salad dressings. So, what to do?

Of course, I want to make my own. Like everything else, I figure, why not make a dressing exactly how I love it and also homemade and healthy. (Which is so different from the stuff you buy at the store!)

Also because, as a Midwest girl living on the east coast, with a BFF that lives on the west coast, I can tell you it is very hard to find the delicious, rich western dressing that I grew up loving. But, alas, you don’t have to look for it any longer because now you can make it. It’s so easy, so good and takes only a couple of minutes.

Homemade Western DressingIMG_20180223_084656

  • 2/3 cup organic ketchup
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/2 tsp coconut aminos
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Pinch pepper

Just mix everything together and chill.

The taste is spot on, and there’s no soy, no high fructose corn syrup and no chemicals! If you like western, this will be your new fave. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Like this recipe? Check out my other books, and watch for more to come!

Want a paperback copy? Reply in the comments and I’ll send you one!

 

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: Bible Study Week 2

Good morning friends, and Happy Sunday=)

This week was the second week of bible study and it was just as good as the first. (Click here to read the first weeks post.) This week’s big idea was about saying “no.” You need to stop, pause, and cease and sometimes, say “no.”

The talk was good but it was the after talk that really got me this week. My bible babe, Cindee, said something that really struck a cord with me. And it changed my whole week for the better.

She asked us all to think about how we know when it’s time to stop something. Now, I’m one to join in, talk, and discuss my feelings or ideas, but I wasn’t sure what she was getting at when she said this.

So as she went on, I was curious to know what she was referring to and how she knew to stop. And let me tell you something. These words were right from God, through Cindee’s mouth, and into my ears. I’m talking a game changer. And this is what she said.

She said, “You know you’ve overdone it when you feel these three things.”

  1. frustration
  2. anger
  3. depression

She said that when you snap at someone else, you know you’ve overdone it. When you snap at yourself and when you’re quick to feel agitated, annoyed or upset, you’ve done too much. These feelings signify that you’ve overdone it, and that you’re not resting enough. Who else can relate?

I know when she said these words I felt like, yup, I can see that. I spent the rest of the day really thinking on her words, what they meant to me and how they related to me. It was a good time of reflection and it didn’t take long for my actions to kick in because Wednesday was really good to me.

But before I get into that, there was something else, too. This was the second part of what I needed to really feel things (thoughts and actions) turn around. She said that we have got to live in the spiritual, and not the natural. This means taking control of our emotions and thoughts, speaking and acting with love and calm, and remembering what God wants us to do each day. That being, to be happy and spread love.

She said that when you are upset, snapping, annoyed or anything negative, that that’s not God in you, but the devil, trying to work his way in and ruin your day. And you know what? I’ve heard this so many times, but last Tuesday morning, when she said that, it stuck. I got it as if I’d heard it for the first time. And it was a great message for me to hear.

The next day, on Wednesday, I remembered waking up, and just feeling good. I felt better than I had in a long time. My marriage had a good day and night. I felt extra positive and ready for the day. And I carried that feeling with me all week.

I reminded myself that God wants us to be happy. I pushed any thought that wasn’t positive, inspiring or happy out of my head. I reminded myself to live in the spiritual and not the natural. Talk about freeing.

Now, I’m not saying that I’m cured of sadness. I’m not saying that negative things haven’t happened this week. But regardless of those things, this new way of thinking and being feels good. And I look forward to holding onto that and reminding myself of it so I can live my happiest and best life.

I hope this touched you in as amazing a way as it touched me. It felt really great and I’m so thankful for Cindee, and all the other amazing women from bible study. I can’t wait to see what else I get out of this study and share it with you.

I wish you all a very Happy Sunday, and until then, stay blessed=)

 

 

Essential Oils The Life I Live

I have Psoriasis and This is My Story

Psoriasis effects 7.5 million people, and I’m one of them. Ugh.

This autoimmune disease is uncurable and uncomfortable, to say the least. I began showing symptoms of psoriasis after moving to South Florida in 2015 and was diagnosed with psoriasis in the summer of 2016. I was so sad.

Leading up to the diagnosis, I tried for months to relieve or rid my skin of what was

psoriasis-on-an-elbow
This is what my elbows looked like, almost constantly, for the better part of two years.

ailing it. I did research for weeks and tried essential oils, epsom salt, coconut oil treatments, and more. Nothing touched it and it was getting worse. It itched, hurt, looked terrible and I had had it. I tried lots of OTC remedies and finally went to my dermatologist.

At the time, I didn’t know that much about psoriasis. In my mind, I could get rid of anything with my natural “cures,” but no. My dermatologist recommended a steroid cream and I left that day, but never got it. I  ended up back in her office less than 4 months later, with bigger worse patches, and a left forearm that was raw after weeks of scratching.

She told me to get the cream, again. I got the cream. I used it as instructed for over a month and it didn’t helped. I was miserable. No one I know has psoriasis so I didn’t have anyone to go to for advice. And looking on the internet just made me realize that everyone who has psoriasis was as miserable as I was.

I made another appointment and went back to my dermatologist. This time, she gave me a steroid shot and finally! Some relief. But the thing is, I don’t want to have to get shots for the rest of my life to feel less of my psoriasis. I don’t want to use steroid creams and OTC products forever. So, I’m not.

For about a year, I went in every three months for my shots.  I had two shots in the leg, two shots in my armpits, and probably almost 10 shots in my elbows. At present, I have psoriasis on my face and scalp.

But NONE on my elbows?!?!? How amazing is that? Praise God! My last shots were towards the end of last year (2017) and I don’t have to schedule another appointment anytime soon. So happy!

But I still have it. I don’t do anything “medically” for my face or scalp. But it’s there and it’s real.

I took a step back and accepted it. Also, I forced myself to think of the other side. In all reality, my psoriasis effects me negatively, everyday, but most people would have no idea because they can’t see it.

I am so blessed. My psoriasis covers maybe 10% of my skin (in this moment) and a huge

Underarm-rash-image
Mine was smaller but looked like this in my armpits.

part of that is my scalp. Some people have the opposite and deal with 90% coverage and huge red and scaling patches that hurt and itch, covering nearly every inch of their bodies.

The reality of it all is that I have it. I need to deal with it the best I can and I want to do it as naturally as I can. So this is my story. It’s not pretty but it’s real. And if you have psoriasis, I want to help you in anyway I can. Because #psoriasissucks.

Watch for more posts about psoriasis, especially pertaining to what I do for mine, how I eat because of it, and more.

For other wellness tips, especially for busy lifestyles, check out my book!