Life after trauma can be difficult. Days, months, or years may pass before we realize that we are being affected; going through life with unconscious triggers and mysterious illnesses. Then, we wake up. We realize that trauma is at the root of our pain and even if it feels there is no way through, there is hope. In this post I share a bit about my journey and a few tools that help me navigate.

This week I thought I’d step away from all the deep stuff and keep it light with EOs. By now you probably know that I love using essential oils to help me stay dysautonomia strong and often lean on them for pain management too. BUT, did you know that I also like to use my EOs for fun, self exploration, and real life shit?! One of my biggest beliefs is that life should be full of joy.. even when going through the hard shit. No matter what my day looks like I aim to create moments of light and gratitude throughout and I often use essential oils to help me do that. So, today I want to share a few of my favorite ways to use these little guys for that extra oomph. P. S. they make great holiday gifts too!

It seems that everywhere I turn I hear “I’m so busy!” These days people seem busier than ever and in my observation all this busy-ness doesn't seem to be contributing to increased happiness; just the opposite. As work and community demands increase we must learn to say yes to what really matters and no to everything else. We’ll always have obligations that we don’t enjoy, so what I want to ask is this.. Are you making room for the things you do?

For me, fall is about cozy goodness and all things pumpkin so, it goes without saying that I just had to share my very favorite pumpkin lasagna recipe. No, it’s not super deep, but what’s more satisfying than nurturing ourselves with wholesome, yummy food? Self care is definitely part of my spiritual hygiene and often times, when I need some extra TLC, or just a little pick me up, I open a bottle of clean red wine, crank up my favorite tunes, and get to cooking.

This recipe is a favorite in our house and I hope it becomes one of yours too! It’s full of flavor, super healthy (that part can be our little secret), and high on comfort. So, as the temps cool down cozy up with this easy breezy recipe and maybe even enjoy a snuggly night in with those you love. That’s exactly what we did this weekend and boy was it nice. XOXO

Sometimes, it seems we get stuck on autopilot and before we know it the very things we put in place to make our life easier and more vibrant are actually causing panic and overwhelm. While I love a good routine (I am a Taurus after all) it can sometimes get the best of me. Maybe my body would benefit for (gasp) something other than Bulletproof Coffee every now and then. Maybe I don’t need to do the exact regimen my physical therapist laid out for me day in and day out. What if my body wants a break from a certain supplement? How do I handle it when my to-do list is too long and seems never-ending? What about all those obligations? It all comes down to presence.

Lately I’ve found myself feeling more overwhelmed than usual and a big part of the issue has been ME. I’ve been second guessing my intuition, trying to do too many things at once, and looking too far ahead on my schedule. Sure, I’ve had a lot to do and probably over-scheduled myself in a few areas, but that wasn’t really the problem. The bigger issue was that I was not paying attention in the moment and I was definitely not practicing presence. When I realized this I began to make adjustments and everything got easier. Would I put an adaptogen in my coffee? Follow my intuition. Long week of appointments and obligations? Focus on one at a time. Staying present makes a huge difference in my life and I think you’ll benefit too. It is one thing we truly can control and has many positive benefits, mental and physical health upgrade included. So, if you’re interested in bringing a little more ease to your day, read on to learn what I do when I’m feeling overwhelmed and how I come back to myself when I’m spinning out. Enjoy! XOXO

I often hear people say I look so young or seem so happy. Well, today I’m sharing my secret for both.. PLEASURE! It may seem simple, but learning to live life from a state of guilt-free pleasure has taken awareness and time. However, once I started I didn’t want to stop! And, while maybe you have some learned fear around doing what feels good, I’m here to tell you that you can live from a place of pleasure and trust yourself to do so. There is no reason to fear doing what feels good, because there is a natural stop built into that plan. Too much of anything will likely leave us feeling.. let’s just say “not so good.” So, if we’re paying attention, and if our goal is to feel good, we will, over time, create our own boundaries in order to do just that. No outside dictator required!

Whether you deal with something as extreme as gastroparesis or are simply looking for ways to tame tummy troubles I’ve got you covered. While I’ve been pretty open about my struggles with gastroparesis I haven’t shared my full story and today I’m diving in. Read on to hear what got my attention, how I was diagnosed, what’s helped me the most, how I’ve somewhat tamed the beast, and what I do in a flare. You’ll even learn how you can create a new relationship with your stomach, including a little tidbit that may just help you enjoy your food even more - no guilt allowed! I’m so excited to be sharing all of these nuggets with you. Don’t wait, find out more now!

Self care can come in many forms and when dealing with chronic or short term pain it's all too easy to try to push through without properly addressing the issue. While controlling inflammation through diet and mindful movement is a big part of my pain management plan, self massage and essential oils are just as important. Now I'm sharing why I reach for this rub instead of prescription medicine