Facebook Giveaway!

A couple of weeks ago I announced that I was holding a little giveaway.  It is simple just like my facebook page to be entered.  In celebration of my sweet son's 2 birthday I want to give away 1 gift when we hit 200 likes!! So tell your friends, all you have to do is like the page and you are entered!! 6" Skinny or Regular Glass Straw.

These super fantastic reusable glass drinking straws are an affordable replacement to toxic plastic straws. Made from the strongest commercially available glass in the world, these reusable drinking straws pay for themselves over a short period of time. Whether you are a first timer that just wants to prove the concept or a fan of simplicity, these get the job done.

This Post May Cause Miracles & Less Swearing!

~I am willing to let go of my self-doubt  ~ I surrender to self-love~

I feel this is an appropriate opening statement; I need this affirmation in my view so I can lose the self-doubt in writing this review on Gabrielle Bernstein’s May Cause Miracles book. ~heart~

I have been writing a lot lately, trying to get my holistic nutrition one women show business going.  I feel like my posts are getting better, as I go, and my confidence in my writing ability is improving.  Although when I started this particular post I stared at the screen for a long time.  I haven’t actually finished the book; I started it with “everyone” January 7th so I’m 18 days in.  Although I’m not even ½ way through, I have done so much work and seen subtle changes that I’m so thank-full for that I do not want to do this book an injustice in my reviewing it.  It’s a life changer.

Gab’s (as I like to call her J) book could not have come at a better time.  I have never been so ready for a change in my life, to work with my sub conscience and clean it up.  Let my ~ing (inner guide) guide me with love and tell my ego to not let the door hit it on the ass on the way out. Plus she talks in a language I can understand and adds a swear word here and there.  I’m sorry sometimes a good f-bomb just feels good, (not that Gabby uses that swear word).  Although as I read this book and take this journey I realize I need to stop saying the F-bomb less and more of the F-word (forgiveness).

We need to witness our fears and forgive them; we also need to have forgiveness for others, the ones that wronged you (even the a*@hole ex's), and most importantly you.  When you don’t forgive yourself for your thoughts, your actions, and your resentment towards others or even if you’re holding on to anger from the past you are only hurting yourself.  I am learning to let go and to stop beating myself up and learn from my mistakes and my past.  The past is a fantastic learning tool, and I’m letting forgiveness be my guide.

I believe I’m completely ready now for this journey because I am a mother, I want to face my fears (aka writing for public viewing) and I do not want to pass down my anxiety to my son.  I want him to be connected to love and not to the ego where you can fall into a dark path of self-judgment.  I try to teach and model for him healthy eating, clean living and how to have fun.  So of course I want to teach him how to have a healthy perspective on life and himself, because growing up is hard.

I don’t recall reading a spiritual book/guide before but this book is making me realize I had a lot of tools in place already.  Being a congenital heart patient has taught me a lot and I always knew I had something “greater” protecting me, like guardian angels. …stayyyy with me.  Whenever the doctors would say negative things that could happen with my future health I never got it.  I always felt they were talking about someone else.  Like telling me I couldn’t have kids, forget that I thought, or I couldn’t do certain exercises, so I joined spin class.  I always knew I was being guided and protected, however I let my emotions and fear get in my way. I have come to realize within these past 18 days I let other peoples emotions and moods greatly affect me as well, so now I am letting love be my guide baby. 

I have always been a big believer in if you put it out into the universe it will come back to you, negative or positive (my hubby), with this book May Cause Miracles, it is giving me the tools and guiding me to live a life full of miracles!! 

For example a couple of days ago the day’s affirmation was “I turn my perception of my body over to the care of my inner guide.  Show me what you got…” For the 1^st time in 16 months since my sweet boy was born I looked at myself in the mirror at the gym with all my new curves and thought I’m grateful for my body, my energy, my health and how sexy I look. ~hot mamma~

I’m sure I could write 100 pages about MCM but as I stand here in my warrior pose, breastfeeding my handsome hazel-eyed son, while sipping a smoothie, making gluten free cookies and folding laundry I think to myself isn’t this a miracle?  To quote my favorite movie after Dirty Dancing, The Wizard of Oz ~ “ (Kim) you had the power all along”

The Pumpkin Seed -Review & Giveaway.

I am very excited to write this blog post, why you may ask is because I get to introduce you to The Pumpkin Seed.  A fierce eco friendly, natural skin care loving, holistic foodie, mother and wife behind the natural skin line The Pumpkin Seed.  After learning more and more about how toxic our environment is and how many chemicals we are exposed to she – Rebecca decided there are some toxins her family did not have to be subjected too.  In her home she makes her own cleaning products, skin care products, baby wipes, and tries to eat as little processed foods as possible.  This all lead Rebecca to making her fabulous (better then the drug store) natural skincare line, as Rebecca puts it “and they don’t give you cancer”. 

Now a days there are a lot of natural skin lines popping up, made by stay at home moms to big companies.   There is something to be said about this line made by a mother, you can truly feel the love, research and thought behind and in the products. 

I’m not actually sure how I found Rebecca at The Pumpkin Seed but I did contact her about her products through twitter.  From there we started to talk and made a real connection and now I have had the pleasure of trying some of her products and writing a review about them.

I love skincare products, always have and always will; I have tried a lot in my day.  I made the switch to natural skincare, shampoos and deodorant about 5 years ago and have tried everything, every brand and have liked most.  Although with the few products I have tried of Rebecca’s, they have by far been my favorite.  The old saying is (okay not that old) you shouldn’t put anything on your skin the largest organ in your body that you would not eat.  At least 60% of what you put on your skin gets absorbed and The Pumpkin Seed passes the test. My belly, legs, face and armpits have never been happier.

Lavender Deodorant

I’ll just say it now; pit stick has been the hardest for me to completely switch over to 100% natural.  The reasoning behind it is who wants smelly wet pits?  Even knowing all the potential nasty health side effects like Alzheimer’s because of the aluminum or anti-perspirants that clog your pores and stop your body from eliminating toxins, plus the chemicals in them and right by your fatty tissues of the breast and lymph nodes.  Nightmare!  So I took Rebecca’s deodorant and tested it for a week.  I wore it during spin and body pump class and no one looked at me funny.  I was a little wet because it is deodorant but I did not smell.  With other natural deodorant’s I have tried in the past, I was very smelly and wet. I’m so pleased and a bonus I had nice soft armpits and it healed any razor burns.

Facial Cleansing Grains

I cannot say enough about this product; my skin is glowing like a glowworm, I cannot believe it.  This has to be my favorite by far of anything I have ever tried and the smell is so delicious, I almost want to eat it.  It takes off your make-up, leaves your skin sweetly soft and gives you an immediate glow.  The best part is this facial cleanser can be used daily for exfoliating and it isn’t harsh in anyway.  All I have to say is try it!!!

Mamma Cream

All-purpose cream for moms and moms-to-be, it moisturizes, alleviates dry and itchy skin, and helps avoid or reduce the appearance of stretch marks, and scars.  This feels so nice on your skin, especially after you shave; it isn’t greasy and absorbed nicely.  I asked Rebecca about the natural scent and why there was no added fragrance and this is what she told me…smart mamma...

 I don't use essential oils in the mama cream because a lot of essentials are unsafe during pregnancy, and women have a heightened sense of smell when pregnant and often find scented products too nauseating. Citrus essential oils will also cause skin to burn faster in the sun so I don't use those.

Soothing Lavender Lip Balm

Heaven in a little tin. I don’t wear lipstick but I like lip balm and this one is not too sticky or wet and with the alkanet root powder it provides a natural slight deep red tint to lips, my son loved all the moist kisses on his cheeks.  As Rebecca explained the olive oil heals, the lavender essential oil calms your senses (not over powering) and the honey is a natural humectant, keeping your lips hydrated.

 Now for the fun part, we have two products to giveaway, to two lucky readers.  

For the giveaway we are giving away two separate The Pumpkin Seed products, the Lavender Deodorant (a new one, not the one tested) and a Natural Body Butter.  This contest is open to Canadian residents only and closes January 28th, 2013.  You can enter up to 5 times 5 different ways ;

Like Appreciating Health's facebook page & comment why you would love to try these products.

Like The Pumpkin Seed's facebook page & comment why you would love to try these products.

Follow Appreciating Health’s on twitter & comment why you would love to try these products using @AppreciatingHea .

Follow The Pumpkin Seed's on twitter & comment why you would love to try these products using @ThePumpkinSeed .

Make a comment on this post.

Hope you enjoy The Pumpkin Seed as much as I do!

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Meet and Greet!!

The fabulous Mrs Doctor Karen Beal has been so kind to let me use her office to host a meet and greet.  She has been such a lovely and dear support for me and my vision in helping others feel their best and teach people about health.  I have set up a few things to make this a fun and exciting meet and greet.  I want people to ask me questions and learn about what I do.  I want to explain my programsand try to find a fit for everyone.  It's a new age today (not the end of world).  So let's start this new age healthier, more aware and just plain old happier.  Let's appreciate what we do have and worry less on what we don't.  If you don't have a lot of extra money and really feel you could use my help, talk to me, I'm sure we can find a way.

What else to expect at the meet and greet is samples, samples of mommy friendly (& toddler) smoothies, fresh juice, almond milk and some baby 1st foods.  Also whoever signs up for one of my packageswill be entered into a draw to win a fabulous healthy prize pack. 

Sound fantastic?  So if you are in the Ajax area and/or a client of the fabulous Karen Beal then come on over.  If you can't make it but would like to get on this, then contact me and we can arrange something.

So I hope everyone has a relaxing and healthy Holiday, however you spend it.

In good health,