Practicing Self Care

Self Care is a phrase that is everywhere lately. Today I heard Dr. Jennifer Ashton of Good Morning America speak about her new book, "The Self Care Solution: A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier, and Fitter--One Month at a Time." Dr. Jen is a very likable individual, but I do weigh everything she says, as it is evident that she has a strong relationship with the drug companies.  Today I thought if she is talking about it, so will I.  Here are some of my own tips.

~ Hydrate More ~
You will never regret drinking more water. What it does for weight loss, your complexion, and filtering out chemicals from food and medicine is beyond good. My own Doctor, Theri Raby, of the Raby Institute For Integrative Medicine in Chicago, suggested that I drink 6 cups of Green Tea a day (that's a lot of water ) to fight inflammation prior to surgery last Summer. I still do it. 

Soma Water Bottles

In hydrating, please be aware that the average plastic water bottle sold at the store, Costco, airports, etc is filled with BPA, a known cancerogenic. These bottles are made with shatter resistant glass with a silicone outer cover. The bamboo handle and lid is also Eco friendly. It's a healthy alternative at

Food52 or Amazon

~ Sleep More ~

One thing is for sure, we don't get enough sleep. Our bodies really need 7-10 hours of sleep to function right, to heal from illness, to maintain a healthy metabolism, and much more. I have several friends that have major sleeping problems due to medication. That makes me so sad. The following are some ideas for a good night's sleep from Goop

Start a Ritual

This is something I do every night - without fail.  Take a warm bath, but a warm shower would do, too. “When you get out of a warm bath, the air temperature around you will cool your core, which sends a chemical reflex to the brain that induces sleep.”  Make it an aromatherapy experience, without chemicals please. I really love Goop's

 bath products like these bath soaks

How about a Martini while you are soaking? Sounds perfect to me, especially this one which is like an emotional detox. Made with Epsom salts, essential oils, oils for stress, and natural fragrance. It's all good for you. But Goop offers other soaks that promise to get you ready for

 bed and sleep.

Create The Right Environment

First, keep the room cool. I find that to be the #1 rule in sleep. We often run our air conditioning even in January to make that happen. Then, if you have ever slept in a Four Seasons Hotel bed, you know what I mean by creating a cushy cozy  environment. The comforters, pillows, featherbeds, and mattresses are divine in down. For me, it has to be down. I feel as if I am sleeping in a cloud. If your bed could use an upgrade, Pacific Coast bedding is offering 25% off everything with Free Shipping. If you are allergic, they offer down alternative bedding.  Then new this year is the 

Weighted Blanket.

Tranquility Weighted Throw Blanket

Rated at the top by the Today Show last month, this blanket is affordable and weighs 12 pounds. I know that would never work for us. But I have a friend that swears by hers.  She describes her weighted blanket like a warm hug. Maybe it will help you. See this one at Amazon.

~ Be Open To Essential Oils ~

Turns out that the Three kings knew what they were doing by gifting Frankincense and Myrrh.  I use essential oils daily for so many reasons. They are my first line of defense when an ailment occurs. One thing I know for sure, and from experience, your oils MUST be pure and organic. If not, your oil could be laced with fillers that do more harm than good. There are three brands that I trust to be pure and organic. I have tried them all: Dr. Axe,  DoTerra and Organixx.

~ Treat Your Skin With Love 
(Not Chemicals ) ~ 

Happy skin is the prettiest, don't you think? I have often heard friends state that they have very sensitive skin. It's more likely that your skin is sensitive to chemicals in skincare and makeup. In other words, there is nothing wrong with your skin, it's the products you are using on it. I mean, who really wants formaldehyde, artificial fragrance, or cancerous oxybenzone on their face and body? Before you buy your next round of skincare, please check out EWG's Skin Deep to see if your brand is safe and free of chemicals.  I can highly recommend the following skincare lines and products: Beekman 1802 soaps, facial wipes, and body creams. I am obsessed with the wipes which you can find now at QVC.  Annmarie Skincare at Amazon is organic, all natural and wildcrafted. It smells wonderful. I recommend that you start with the Restore Travel Kit. It's a five piece kit which offers you ample amounts of Cleanser, Toning Mist, Facial Oil, Exfoliating Scrub + Honey Mask.

  

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