Show Notes!

"Summer Mom" - How to simplify and embrace the simple pleasures of summer

Regardless if you are working or at home with your kids over summer vacation, these months should be spent enjoying life.  In this episode I share ways you can simplify life to enjoy the simple pleasures of summer.

1.  Breathe in pleasant scents

Citrus or peppermint invigorate and lift mood, Lavender is calming

2   Take a “joke break”

Listen to a joke.  Ask Siri to tell you a joke.   Leaves you feeling a little bit lighter

3.   Boost your mood before you start your day by setting your intentions

Set your intentions for the day before even getting out of bed.  Today will be a great day.

4.   Interrupt negative thoughts with gratitude

Every time you have a negative thought, replace it with a positive.  In your head, or aloud, say things you are grateful for. If you can write them down in a journal.  

No matter how awful life can be, there’s always something to be grateful for.”

5.  Combine a physical act with a mantra

Put your hands in prayer motions, breath and repeat "I am calm, I am relaxed".

6.  Watch a funny video

Watch a quick funny clip.  Keep a playlist on you tube

7.  Practice deep breathing

Focus on the breath

8.  Do a one-minute meditation

download a meditation app 

9.  Connect with nature

Go for a mindfulness walk, ride your bike go for a jog, go sit under a tree and count the birds.  

10.  Play your favorite tunes

Listening to music is a quick way to shift your mood.  Make a playlist of your favorite songs or artists and have them ready and available.  

11.  Send someone a kind message

Send a text message or email to someone.  Express gratitude for that person, pay them a random compliment, or ask how their day is going. 

12. Workout

Increased endorphins makes you happy

Oral health should be taken very seriously.  It is the window to our overall health. Teaching our kids preventative measures, like proper brushing and flossing is key.  So is finding a dentist that you trust and that aligns with your values and beliefs.

1. I don't believe in fluoride  Fluoride is a neurotoxin.  It's known to impact the cardiovascular, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, immune, integumentary, renal, respiratory, and skeletal systems, and exposure to fluoride has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, infertility, and many other adverse health outcomes, including fluoride toxicity.

2.  I don't believe in Mercury fillingsSilver fillings are banned in many other countries but not here in the US.  it is absorbed into the body and retained particularly in the brain, kidney, liver, lung, and gastrointestinal tract.

 Dental Mercury could cause:

Allergies

Cardiovascular problems

Alzheimer’s disease

Autism spectrum disorders

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Kidney disease

Depression and anxiety

Reproductive dysfunction

Autoimmune disorders

Mercury poisoning

3.  I don't believe in Root canalsThey are intrusive and can lead to bigger problems.During a root canal, dangerous bacteria can hide out in the tooth.  It can become super toxic and can migrate to other tissues in your body, and your heart, kidneys, bones and brain.  

4.  I don't believe in laughing gasI don't want to give my child nitrous oxide to my child to get a cavity filled.

I made a conscious decision to find a holistic dentist that has the same beliefs as me. A holistic dentist or biological dentist looks at the patient’s overall health and uses natural therapies to prevent, diagnose and treat.  Reduced root canals, crowns and invasive techniques.        

Practices minimally invasive dentistry with the Biomimetic philosophy

Educate yourself as much as possible and make informed decisions.  If you don’t feel comfortable with a recommendation made by your dentist or any doctor, you have every right to say no.  You can always do something later on after you’ve researched it and made a conscious, educated decision if you choose to, but you can’t undo something.  Leave me a comment and let me know if you are a non conformist.

Do you ever feel like you are surviving instead of living?With each passing day instead of doing what you really want to do, you always find yourself doing what you have to do in order to just get through the day.We think and hope that this cycle will stop and magically get better, but without effort on our part, it won’t. This may very well be the rest of our lives, unless we decide to change things. Our every day small actions can work for us, or against us. It’s up to us to choose which.What is intentional living?  

According to Wikepedia, "Intentional living is any lifestyle based on an individual or group's conscious attempts to live according to their values and beliefs. These can include lifestyles based on Religious, Political or Ethical values, as well as Coaching, Personal Transformation, and Leadership Training".

10 steps you can take to live intentionally  

1. Daily Gratitude 

2. Set your intentions for the day.

3.  Declutter

4.  Set goals

5.  Yoga

6.  Meditation

7.  Daily Movement

8.  Healthy Eating

9.  Relaxation

10.  Unplug from Technology

Podcast Episode 8 - Is Social Media Controlling your life?  How to Facebook on Purpose 

I made a conscious decision to live my best mom life.  I intentionally create a life that is filled with peace, calm and tranquility.  I avoid things that don’t lend itself to my intention.

One steps i’m taking is to use social media on purpose by setting social media limits  

What does that mean? I made a conscious decision to not spend wasteful time on social media. Have you ever checked the screen time function on your smart phone? I did and I could't believe how much time I was spending on social media. When you add a couple minutes here and there it adds up to be a lot.

As a blogger, social media is a big part of my purpose. I promote published blog posts, I engage with my followers, and I build relationships with other moms and other bloggers.

On a personal level, I love connecting with my friends and family. I enjoy seeing their family pictures and watching their kids grow. It's a nice way to keep up with people's lives.

I also love talking about things like the latest housewives shenanigans.

On the other hand, there are a lot of negatives to social media.

It can cause us stress, anxiety and even depression

It can set unrealistic expectations

There's cyberbullying

It can cause unhealthy sleep patterns

FOMO anyone?

It can create a negative body image by constantly comparing ourselves to others

It can cause disagreements which lead to arguments and even an end to a friendship

As with anything else in life, it's all about balance.

Here are some steps I have been taking and how you too can Facebook on Purpose:

1.  Don't scroll social throughout the day.

2.  Customize your newsfeed that aligns with your purpose. 

3.  DO NOT go on Facebook first thing in the morning or right before going to sleep. 

4. Turn off notifications.

A side hustle is a side job that creates supplemental income. It’s an opportunity to monetize on something your most interested in without quitting your day job.

37% of Americans have a side hustle.

I strongly believe in my heart of hearts that all moms should have some kind of side hustle

Supplemental income is always valuable especially for moms.

It can be used as savings for the future or for a rainy day.

It can be used to invest.

It can be used to enjoy the extra’s of life like family vacations or nice cars.

Or it can be used simply to make ends meet.

An extra stream of income is always beneficial no matter what your situation is.

Benefits of having a side hustle

Back up plan

Financial Freedom

Time Freedom

Make an impact in the world

Tap into your creative energy

Be a role model

Side hustles for moms

1. Network Marketing

Network marketing aka MLM – multi level marketing, referral marketing or direct sales is selling products that you believe in to customers. It’s basically recommending products that you use, love and trust to family and friends and their family and friends. Network Marketing has become extremely popular especially with moms, because you have the ability to create your own schedule and on your own terms. You can work as much or as little as you’d like.

Here are some things to consider when deciding which MLM company is a right match for you:

Choose a company that has been around for at least 5 years.

Believe in the products and the company. Their philosophy should align with your beliefs.

Is there a genuine need for the product or service?

Is training and support available?

Does the company offer products or services that are unique?

2. Start a blog

Do you have an interest or a passion on a topic? If so you can start a blog. Blogging is flexible, satisfying and there is immense earning potential. All you need to start a blog is a computer and a domain name. There are quite a few free domains to choose from as you are just getting started.

Top ways to monetize a blog:

Affiliate marketing

Ads

Sell your products

Create and sell digital products well

3. E-commerce

Do you make any speciality handmade or vintage items? If you don’t want to create your own website to see your products, you can sell them online through an e-commerce platform like Amazon, Ebay, Etsy, Shopify, Weebly and WooCommerce to name a few. I haven’t done this but my initial plan when I first started my blog was to sell my own products. My blog kinda took a different turn but selling your products on-line can be very rewarding. It’s a great way to monetize on your talent and passion while providing a service for people. People may need what you have to offer.

4. Teach online

According to Forbes, online learning will be a $325 billion dollar industry by the year 2025. People want to learn more and do more but they don’t have the time to commit to pursue their hopes, dreams and passions. This is where on-line courses come in. You can learn about pretty much any topic you want, while sitting in your pajamas and fuzzy socks at a time that is convenient for you.

If you have a talent and a passion for a specific niche, you can teach online.

5. Freelance writing

Do you have a natural knack for writing? If so you can write for companies and they will pay you. This is great side hustle for stay at home moms. You can create your own schedule and work as much or as little as you want.

Podcast Episode 6 - Our food system i failing our kids. How we as moms, can feed our kids healthy foods

Show Notes

1-3 school aged children are obese

more than 200,000 youth have type 2 diabetes

Over 5 million kids have food allergies

15-18% of kids have a chronic illness

Multiple factors to blame.  

Fast food

Fast food has become quite popular with our fast paced life and everyone's over booked schedules.   BUT... fast food is loaded with preservatives, it's high in fat, and has empty calories. Food is deep fried in a corn based oil, which is the most unhealthiest oil for human consumption. It’s high in saturated fat which is a known contributor to heart disease.  Even the "healthy" options are not as healthy as you think.

Genetically Modified Foods (GMO's)

Gmo's is a laboratory process of taking genes from one species and inserting them into another to obtain a desired trait or characteristic.  Mixing genes is unnatural and produces new toxins, allergens, carcinogens and nutritional deficiencies.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require safety studies, does not mandate labeling gmo’s and allows companies to put their GM foods onto the market without notifying stores.  70-80% of the food we eat are genetically modified.

Growth Hormones and antibiotics

Many conventional farmed animals are given growth hormones to fatten them up and antibiotics to treat illness they encounter in their hazardous, overcrowded  living conditions. These toxins are getting into our food supply and are having detrimental effects on our health.

Artificial flavors, artificial colors, added sugars, natural flavors, high fructose corn syrup

Ingredient labels can be very overwhelming.  But the more you read them and learn about the ingredients, the more comfortable you will feel in making educated food decisions.  

What foods should I be eating?

Whole Foods

Whole foods or real foods have not been processed or refined.   

fruits

vegetables

legumes

nuts

seeds

grains

fish

chicken

turkey

beef

dairy  - Milk, yogurt, butter, cheese

Foods free of GMO's

Foods are not required to label when they contain genetically modified ingredients.  But many foods are labeling foods that DO NOT contain gmo's.

Non GMO

GMO Free

GMO Project verified

Organic - always free of GMO's

Organic

Organic foods have the most nutritional benefits as they do not have pesticides, fertilizers and gmo's like their conventional counterpart.  

USDA Organic

100% Organic

If a labels says "Organic" then at least 70% of the ingredients are organic

Conventional fruits and vegetables are saturated with harmful pesticides.

Here is a list of Fruits and Vegetables that you should ALWAYS buy organic

Dirty Dozen

Apples

Strawberries

Grapes

Celery

Cherries

Peaches

Pears

Spinach

Sweet Bell Peppers

Nectarines

Cherry Tomatoes

Potatoes

Clean 15 - least likelihood to contain pesticide residue

Here are the items the EWG identified for its “Clean 15,” which report the least likelihood to contain pesticide residue.

Avocados

Sweet Corn

Pineapples

Cabbages

Onions

Sweet Peas

Papayas

Asparagus

Mangoes

Eggplants

Honeydews

Kiwis

Cantaloupes

Cauliflower

Broccoli

Grass fed, free of hormones and antibiotics

When buying dairy and meats you want to opt for grass fed, free of hormones and antibiotics.

When buying eggs choose Free-Range, Pasture Raised and Organic.

When buying fish, opt for wild caught preferably locally sourced or from areas that are not highly polluted.

How to prevent a cold when you feel it coming on:  6 ways to cleanse and detox your body to kick an illness before it even starts. A few weeks ago i woke up my throat was scratchy, i had a headache, i had no energy and the back of my neck/head hurt which always happens when I’m getting sick.  With 4 little ones to take care of and busy schedules there was no way I was going down without a fight.  I was intentional about everything I did in the couple days that I felt an illness coming on and it worked.  I did not get sick I’m going to share with you 6 things I did to avoid getting sick.  6 steps you can take to cleanse and detox your body to kick an illness before it even starts. Detox bath  A detox bath draws out toxins and balances the body.  It reduces inflammation and boosts the immune system. How to take a detox bath Run hot water.  As hot as you can take it Add 1 cup Epsom Salt Add 10 drops of Eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil to the salts Pour in bath and mix around bath water Sit and soak for 30 minutes Probiotic EnemaPeople have been using enemas for centuries to treat constipation, bowel issues and to cleanse the colon.   In addition to improving regularity and bowel cleaning, enama’s also help to eliminate toxins that are stored in the body.  A probiotic enema eliminates harmful bacteria in your system and increases the good bacteria.  Probiotic enemas are very effective because they are placed directly into the colon. This avoids the possibility of probiotics being killed by stomach acids that they come in contact with.   It’s especially popular for people who suffer from IBS or colitis.  Enema Benefits to Cleanse and Detox Your BodyFastShort periods of fasting increase the immune system and reduce inflammation.I did a 12 hour fast for three days straight and by the third day I felt completely better.  It was a liquid fast.  I drank liquids all day every day.Bone Broth - How To Make Homemade Bone Broth and Why You Should (Video Bonus)Tea w/ honey Lemon water with acv Super foods 12 Super Foods That Boost Immune System and How You Can Include Them In Your Family’s DietDe - stressChronic stress causes the release of the “stress response hormone”, cortisol into our bloodstream.  Our blood pressure goes up and our heart rate increases and has a negative effect on our immune system.  The less stressed and more relaxed we are the better our bodies will be able to do what it’s mean to do and fight off the illness.  Being moms and living in a fast paced world, we cant completely eliminate stress from our lives but we can be mindful about keeping our stress levels down and taking certain steps to decrease stress. Strategies to help us relax Meditation Stillness Social media on purpose Bath How to be a Happy Mom and Lead a More Meaningful Life – 8 Habits of Happy Moms That Will Change Your LifeOil pulling Oil pulling pulls out toxins from your body, reduces inflammation and boosts your immune system.  Some of its benefits are It aides in oral health as well as soothes sore throats, clears out excess mucus and fights colds.   Take a tablespoon of coconut oil ad swish it around your mouth and between your teeth for 5-10 minutes then spit it out into a garbage.  It’s super easy to do and one of the best detox methods you can incorporate into your daily routine. Summarize -  6 ways to cleanse and detox your body to kick an illness before it even starts.Detox bath Probiotic EnemaFastSuper foods De - stressOil pullDid you find any of these steps valuable?  is there anything you will start incorporating into your life?  What steps do you take to lead a happy and meaningful life? Leave me a comment,