Oh HI there!!
I know I know, I might seem a little bruised and beat up but I have a secret!
2016 might have tried to crush me to pieces but something amazing happened.
I finally let go. The surrender of finally breaking.
I finally found a peace I never knew available.
Been a hard year beloved? Yea… Me too.
I feel like we have gone from one traumatic tragedy to the next…
2 miscarriages. ER & ICU visits for me and different family members. Financial struggles, relational challenges, depression, hopelessness… You name it! OH and this week a LOVELY car accident to put a little icing on the top… My natural tendency is to panic and FREAK OUT!
But I feel the Lord whisper that there is another and a better way.
What is it you ask?
GRATITUDE.
Yup. That’s right.
Gratitude.
Oh man… there she goes… giving us the “lets all just ignore whats going on and walk in the opposite direction talk”… But Rachael my life has been HARD!
Yes friend.
It HAS been hard.
But did you know that He has been with you the whole time?
I know… I didn’t realize it either till I finally let myself BREAK.
Its inside out and upside down, but gratitude is a beautiful weapon of our warfare against the schemes, trials and assaults of the enemy.
To overcome obstacles, walk in gratitude.
Tired of fighting depression and anxiety, declare gratitude.
Want to wake up in the morning and not stay in bed ALL DAY, SHOUT OUT GRATITUDE.
GRATITUDE:
The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Seems easy enough. Right?
Well, that is till your world come crashing down!
Yet in the midst of all the trials and heartache we have gone through this year, something has shifted inside of me. I find myself telling God what I am thankful for in the midst of the pain. His mercy really is new every morning. The fact that I have 2 beautiful babies waiting for me… PRAYING for me in heaven. The miracle that I didn’t slip into a coma or die in that ICU room. The depth of love and trust that has been built through trial by fire in my husband and I’s relationship. All things that could have been brushed aside.
BUT GOD.
What does it even look like have a heart alive in love, trusting completely and knowing that His Word says…
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him,who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (emphasis mine)
ALL THINGS.
Not some things.
Or just the GOOD things.
Nor the I perfectly pinterest packaged together things.
ALL THINGS.
Do you believe it friend?
That even when you feel broken, He can see the end from the beginning?
He knows the end of the story and is creating something beautiful in you?
When things were easy and effortless it never stuck as deep.
Oh I looooooove Jesus… but didn’t really NEED Him.
OUCH.
The beauty of brokenness causes us to see that through the good & bad, broke & beautiful, bruised and battered, He is forging gratitude in me.
Gratitude in ALL THINGS. Not just the promotions, but the trials.
So to you dear heart, HOLD ON.
Hold onto your faith.
Let your heart fall into His and know that He has you.
Don’t force a thankful heart but look at what He HAS DONE.
For you are BEAUTIFUL.
Breathtaking.
Loved.
Cherished.
Fought for.
Let gratitude rest in your heart and carry you through the storm.
He’s not about your breaking in this season but MAKING you into something beautiful.
I am HORRIBLE at completing CERTAIN tasks on time. Other things I loooooove doing? I can’t run fast enough towards them!
Tasks like TAXES. Or expense reports. Or laundry… Anyone else out there??
Today is the blessed (or dreaded) TAX DAY and though I FINALLY got ours done last night, I could have saved a BUNCH of time, stress and emotional haywire had I stayed on top of it as I went. uuuuugggghh.
I was thinking about this last night and realized there are a few EASY things anyone can do to stop procrastinating… so I thought I would yell at MYSELF and see if anyone else related! You too? GREAT!
Here we go!
TIP #1: GET ORGANIZED
Well duh.
But are you doing it? Like REALLY doing it? Lets take the simplicity of laundry for example.
It HAS to be done and for most people with kids, it needs to be done DAILY. Double uuuuggghh.
So instead of putting it off in hopes of the laundry fairy coming and sweeping it all away, get a system in place!
“Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”
Wise words from Ben Franklin and they really make an impact! If you know you need to do a certain number of loads a week and you get super overwhelmed doing them ALL at once (OMG punch me now) try breaking it down into more reasonable and manageable goals.
Wake up and put a load in. After lunch put it in the dryer. Kids down for their nap? FOLD JUST 1 LOAD.
Then tomorrow do the same thing or every other day if it’s just you and the hubs.
Doesn’t that just FEEL better? Instead of having a pile of 4-5 loads of laundry, you stay organized, integrate it into your schedule and get it done more consistently. Talk about keeping your stress level (and lack of piles of laundry) low! WIN.
TIP #2: MAKE IT PRETTY/FUN/ENJOYABLE
OMG. If it’s not pretty or creative or somewhat enjoyable I run as fast as I can the other way. YUCK.
For my 2016 taxes I am going to try something new this year to help keep me a bit more on top of things. First I am going to get some really pretty files.
Insert the wonderland of TARGET…
Target has some gorgeous files that I have seen rotating in their dollar section (omg why is this section so magical!?!) and I looooooove the itty bitty prices! Recently they have had some adorable home office items that make some of the mundane tasks preeetttyyyyyyy.
Why pretty? Sound a little silly to you? Well to be honest, keeping record of all my expenses for the month isn’t exactly my idea of FUN. Buuuuuuut if when I have to pull it all out and I have something lovely to look at, it sparks that tiny sense of joy, I feel like I can pummel through! Try integrating things like labels, stickers, washi tape and color coding to make it enjoyable! Mmmmmm washi tape.
ALSO- Get an app on your phone that you LIKE and will USE that has an easy interface. Ok this isn’t exactly pretty, but make it enjoyable. Read reviews and find something that fits YOUR needs and is actually a bit fun to use! If you don’t despise doing the work, you will be less likely to procrastinate. These types of simple changes, though small, will make an impact of consistency over time and get your habits straight!
TIP #3: PUT IT IN YOUR SCHEDULE
I touched on this earlier, but if you don’t plan to do it, you will ALWAYS find an excuse to put it off till later.
My husband and I decided that Thursday afternoons will be when we BOTH work on our expense reports. Not only are we accountable TOGETHER but the weekly consistency helps us to stay on track and not have HOURS to do in one given time slot. Instead we spend 30-90 minutes a week. That seems SO doable when you look at it that way! Some weeks will be super easy and others a bit more time-consuming BUT it’s blocked out int he schedule, just like a meeting would be for work.
This also helps you to remember out of the ordinary situations that crept up. Keeping a schedule with thing you HATE doing will help you to not avoid it and embrace the simplicity of the task at hand. Less stress and a little more peace in the heart? YES PLEASE!!!
So there are my TOP 3 tips to kick procrastinating in the BUTT!
What are some ways that YOU have found helpful to stop procrastinating?
Post a comment below with your FAVORITE tips and tricks!
If you haven’t joined the conversation over at FACEBOOK, make sure to drop me a note hello!
Lets kick procrastination in the face ONE DAY AT A TIME!
Ok yall… Before we dive into my Citrus in the Spring EO series,
(starting off with my fave Wild Orange)…
Can we just talk about SPRING for a minute!!?
ITS FINALLY SUNNY! And beautiful! And warm! And breezy!
Spring colors, spring cleaning, spring nights and cool mornings…
Well, enough about ME. I’m sure you get it… I LOVE SPRING!
So let’s get started and kick off this “I love Citrus in the Spring” series with my best pal WILD ORANGE! Mmmmm. I love orange. OK, here we go!
Meet your new BFF. Seriously. In a few weeks you are going to ask me how you survived as long as you have without this gem of an oil. And oh boy is it a happy one!! I’m sure we can all use a little mood boost with a daily dose of vitamin D after those cold winter months, right!? RIGHT!!!
This is going to be a family favorite in NO time!
BASICS:
Wild Orange Essential Oil (Citrus Sinensis) is extracted from the rind of the orange and cold pressed. It is such a dreamy, lovely, intoxicating oil. If I am travelling and even crack the lid open, (heaven forbid I actually place a drop or two in the palm of my hand!) everyone around me sighs and says “ohhhhhh wooooow… that smells SO good!” AND RIGHTLY SO! Wild Orange is an uplifting, invigorating and renewing oil that is quite creative. Creative you ask? Let me explain…
Most oils in the citrus family (Lemon, Lime & Grapefruit) have a predominant uplifting effect on the body, mood and energy levels. Wild Orange not only has that ability but can ALSO have a lovely calming effect when the body calls for it. I like to think of it this way: Some of us are wired with a ton of energy and an INVIGORATING BOOST is not exactly what you need but RATHER a gentle, natural, calming effect. Wild orange does that and more! Many have found it to be helpful to lull them to sleep by diffusing it before bedtime AND help wake them up in the morning. Give the body what it needs and it works the way it is supposed to! Pretty cool huh!!?
TOP USES:
• Powerful cleanser and purifying agent
• Contains powerful antioxidants*
• Supports a healthy immune system
• Energizing and revitalizing aroma
EMOTIONAL BENEFITS:
How many times have you cut into an orange (or tried to peel it with your fingers) and that zest from the rind invigorates your senses?! That is your nose interacting with the essential oils! SO cool! Something that I LOVE about an orange peel is that the scent is so HAPPY. This energetic oil is often known for these amazing uplifting properties and can support and foster creativity, boost physical energy as well as inspire abundance. Simply breathing in this oil can affect many different things we might be emotionally going through. Wild Orange aids in letting go of fear, scarcity, poverty mindsets and so many more. When we breathe in these amazing oil molecules, they are actually affecting different parts of our brain that control our mood and emotions. Wild Orange helps us to connect to the playful part of our hearts, allowing us to walk in joy, fun and spontaneity!
BLENDS WITH:
One of the best part of using essential oils to support different parts of the body is that you can LAYER them with others! Not only will you SMELL SO GOOD but you will be layering the benefits one by one! I like to massage an oil into a reflexology point or desired area of the body for about 30-45 seconds before I layer another one on. This helps to increase circulation, allowing the oils to penetrate deeper into the skin. ALSO it is good to remember that these oils are so power packed that one drop goes a looooooooong long way. So only use 1-2 drops at a time, remembering that as soon as 15min has passed, DON’T BE SHY, REAPPLY!
(In case you are new, some EO Basics can be found HERE)
SO back to what blends BEST with Wild Orange!!? Nearly EVERYTHING! When you are looking at scent compatibility, Cinnamon, Lavender and Peppermint are your top winners! Looking for deeper emotional balance? Try Tangerine, Ylang-Ylang, Lemon or Peppermint. Some of my personal favorites are Frankincense, Bergamot, Clary Sage and Arborvitae. Discover what works best for you and have fun whipping up your own favorite blends!
TOP USES:
We have talked about a TON of different ways that you can use Wild Orange, but here is a snapshot of my faves!
All citrus oils are AMAZING at cleansing and purifying surfaces naturally. Place a couple drops in a spritzer bottle with water and a little white vinegar and VOILA, homemade all-purpose cleaner!
Did you know there are some essential oils SO pure that you can take them (in moderation) internally!? YES! Its true and I want to tell you ALL about my yays and nays of why I believe some brands are safe! (Make sure to click the link below to learn MORE!) BUT if you have a bottle of essential oil that has a supplement fact sheet on it, then you are cleared to put a drop or two to flavor water, boost smoothies, heighten the flavor of foods and SO much more! (Stay tuned for more into coming your way about the safety of essential oils!)
OMG diffusers. I will eventually post on why they are so magical, but trust me. You have to have one. I promise. I have like 5 and seriously they are the best things ever to dispense essential oils into the air! Boosting moods and cleaning the airways one tiny molecule at a time!
Last my but not least, just take a drop, place it in the palm of your hands, rub together, cup to your nose and inhale gently but DEEPLY! Try and do this slowly, holding your breath for 10 seconds and repeat 3-4x. I promise if you are a cranky bunny it’s only a matter of time before you are soaring with smiles! I keep wild orange in my purse just for those moments I get CRAZY!
WRAP UP:
Wild Orange is your BFF, your mood radar, your mid day energy booster and your super awesome kitchen cleaner. I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about this AMAZING and favorite oil of mine and will go grab yours RIGHT NOW and breathe it in deeply! Trust me, you will be glad you did!
Make sure to join the conversation and comment on my FACEBOOK page your FAVORITE way to use wild orange!
Are you new to this Essential Oil journey and want to learn more about how to empower you and your family with these amazing natural solutions!?
Make sure to fill out the link below and you will see some GREAT info flying your way!!! HAPPY OILING!
Have fun, stay healthy and smile big with WILD ORANGE!
Its true.
I’ve become “that girl”…
You know, the “holistic, all natural, eat as organic and gluten free as you possibly can and tell the whole wide world WHY” kind of girl. That is a HUGE difference from my diet soda addiction, sugar obsession, calorie glutton, processed snack way of life
Yup. That’s me.
Reaching for a NEW kind of normal. In my defense, I have been SICK for over a year now and fed up. Fed up with doctors not knowing how to diagnose me. Tired of the fatigue, mental brain fog, upset stomach and overall malaise. Tired of using pain pills or OTC drugs to numb the ache but never solve the problem. Tired of cancelling plans, calling in sick, and unable to function normally day to day. So I am getting back to basics. Down to the root of health…
I AM SO HAPPY I DID.
I have become ADDICTED to the way juicing has impacted my energy levels, headaches and overall strength and many of YOUasked me what I am doing.
How did I go down an entire dress size, sleep better and lessen my headaches in a matter of just a week?
Well the answer lies in living what God intended for us, naturally. Its about eating what our bodies were created to consume, work on our food addictions and emotional triggers, and ask God daily for strength and help to change for the better. The power of testimony is real, and I am so excited to share with you my top 5 energy boosting, detoxifying juices that have changed my day to day living. Health is about making small changes over time and I want to help and inspire you in any way that I can.
I AM HOOKED!
I got so sick and tired of feeling SO sick and tired, I decided to do what I could on my own to better my overall health. I am only a few weeks in, but have seen such great results I cant go back. When I am passionate about something, I tend to share about it with ENERGY, so I hope my excitement spreads to YOU!
This is my new best friend… The NutriBullet.
Not a traditional juicer and ABSOLUTELY NOT a blender.
This handy dandy little machine is what’s called a JUICE EXTRACTOR.
But Rachael, what the heck is a juice extractor? Looks like a blender to me… I thought the same thing friends, but here is the difference. Unlike your common juicers (which remove the nutrient rich pulp) and basic blenders (which just mush ingredients around) a juice EXTRACTOR actually breaks down your ingredients at their cellular level, creating a juice that is not only nutritious, but it is easily absorbed into your body.
OMG and did I mention its EASY!!?
You just fill the cup with half fresh, raw greens (arugula, Swiss chard, kale, spinach etc) add some nutrient dense berries (or other fruits) toss in some organic, raw almonds, walnuts or pecans, add a couple super-food elements like chia seeds, flax or maca powder, finish it off with a cup or so of filtered spring water, twist on the extractor blade, and BAM, that’s it!. You’ve got yourself a pulverized and incredibly delicious juice (they call it a “nutriblast“… so cute!)
The special blade actually breaks down the tough items, like nuts, root veggies and leaves, and makes it easy to digest for your body.
So easy. So yum!
The reason I started juicing 2x a day was because I consistently felt like garbage. By day 2 and 3 I was feeling better from my body detoxing and by the end of the 1st week I felt better than I had in years! I would eat a light meal in the evenings of fresh veggies and 4-6oz of a clean protein, and it helped SO much!
So where do YOU start!? Here are my BEST energy boosting juices! (Recipes taken from the Nutribullet Natural Healing Foods Book, nutribullet.com)
Toxin Cleansing Blast Flush toxins from your body with this delicious,fruity concoction.
• 1-2 handfuls of rinsed spinach
• 1 cored pear
• 1 banana
• 1 cored apple
• 1 cup of pineapple
• filtered spring water
The Immune Booster:
Keep healthy even during flu season with this delicious elixir packed with antioxidant goodness.
• 1-2 handfuls of rinsed spring greens
• 1 banana
• 1 peeled orange
• 1 cup of pineapple
• 1 handful of blueberries
• filtered spring water
Protein Powerhouse
Packed full of protein, this super satisfying blend keeps you energized for hours.
• 2 handfuls spring greens
• 1 avocado
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 orange
• 1 cup mango
• 1/8 cup cashews
• filtered spring water
Tropical Tonic
Boost your immune system with this vitamin C rich drink.
• 2 handfuls spring greens
• 1 avocado
• juice of ½ lemon
• 1 cup mango
• 1 cup papaya
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• filtered spring water
Vita-Berry Blast
Ward off cancer, heart disease, and viruses with this sweet and tasty blast of flavonoids!
• 1-2 handfuls of rinsed spinach
• 1 cup of blueberries
• 1 banana
• 1 handful strawberries
• filtered spring water
Hope you try some of these out and start feeling better! I would LOVE to hear what you think! Please comment below any questions you might have, and let me know what is your favorite blast! Remember, you are NOT alone in the journey to healthy living!
I will be praying that you have a happy & healthy holiday season.
My journey to healthy living has been long and often lonely, but yesterday I posted that I started juicing a week ago and got a HUGE response from so many friends! My in laws gave us a Nutribullet for an early Christmas gift, and I began using it for 2 meals a day. Crazy thing is I am down a dress size, no longer bloated, my headaches have decreased, I am almost completely off Tylenol and caffeine, I’m sleeping better and my blood sugars are AMAZING! I am a happy girl indeed!
I decided to put some of the details that were asked in the post, yet as I started, I think this will become a mini series on gluten free living, detoxing, juicing and how to naturally shift to a healthy lifestyle.
If you haven’t read my journey as to why I live gluten, grain and sugar free, make sure to pop over HERE. In a nutshell, I have a severe gluten intolerance and I am in the process of shifting my ENTIRE life around to try and get my health back into a better balance. (Easier said then done my friends) I want to make sure that everyone understands that what I explain here on this blog is from my own personal research, my own personal testimony and shared experience. If you are like me and have a medical condition, please consult your doctor!
With that said, I want to share a bit of my childhood, so that you understand the reasond I am so personal and passionate with my health and choice of eating. I tend to be wholehearted and extreme in anything I do, so I hope you find my zeal hope-filled and inspiring!
To understand me a bit, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the young age of 3. I’ve been in and out of the hospitals growing up, with a number of life threatening comas which should have taken my life. The Lords hand was on me, and I see that He saved my life to touch and impact others with His life. I’d like to share vulnerably a bit our my own journey and hope that it meets you wherever you are today.
I started “sneak eating” as early as I can remember. As a diabetic, you are told what you can eat and how much you are allowed to consume at certain times of the day. Yet my sweet little sister was allowed to have all sorts of yummy and decedent food that I “wasn’t allowed” to have, and to my adolescent brain, that wasn’t fair.
I became obsessed with food. Addicted. Consumed. It was often times all I could think of. I would strategically sneak into the kitchen when my mom was out of the room and consume as much as I could in a short amount of time. That lead to constant upset stomach aches, high blood sugars and a mental battle that would follow me into adulthood.
Fast forward 25 years or so and you find me at the ripe age of 28. Migraines were weekly battles and my sugar addiction was out of control. You see, the pesky thing with sugar is that once the cycle starts, it is vicious, aggressive, and near impossible to control. I was about to move to Atlanta Georgia for a semester of school, and before I left, my chiropractor suggested getting off all sugar, grains and gluten. (Gluten, what the heck is that? And how will i survive without SUGAR!)
I decided to try it, seeing as no amount of Tylenol could even remotely touch the headaches. Within the first few weeks I experienced so much energy I was floored to keep going. Just 3 months into living gluten, grain and sugar free, I was 22 lbs lighter, walking with nearly NO headaches and sleeping better than I had in years. I ate a diet of clean & lean animal protein (organic when I could afford), nutrient rich organic vegetables and limited amounts of low glycemic index fruits and berries. It was INCREDIBLE!
I moved back home to finish my last semester of school and life happened FAST when I quickly became engaged to my love & best friend Justin. Throughout that season of graduating college with my him living and serving an orphanage in Brazil, planning a wedding and cross country move, I slipped from eating as clean as I once did and fell back into old habit patterns. We arrived in Atlanta in the Fall of 2012 and a few short months later I was nearly bed ridden with sickness while doctors couldn’t figure our what was going on. I was fighting migraines again, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, malaise, brain fog and social anxiety and felt just downright MISERABLE. Weeks turned into months and months turned into almost a year until we figured out the greatest attack against my system was a teensy little thing called: GLUTEN.
Gluten is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species, including barley and rye. Gluten gives elasticity to dough, helping it rise and keep its shape and often gives the final product a chewy texture. (Wikipedia)
At this point we were living almost 80-85% “gluten free”. You know, making sure we “sort of” watched out for it. It made sense to eat ALMOST completely off gluten, but I had never actually researched the affects and symptoms that can come alongside of someone struggling with a gluten intolerance.
The intolerance can be linked with a myriad of symptoms such as:
Autoimmune conditions
Chronic diseases
Skin eruptions, eczema, cold sores, acne
Fatigue
Joint pain
Indigestion
Bloating Gas
Heartburn
Constipation
Diarrhea
Congestion
Anxiety
Moodiness or irritability
Headaches or migraines
When NOTHING else seemed to be working, I had been in and out of meeting with dozens of specialists here in Atlanta and tons of blood work drawn, my husband had the most simple of suggestions one night. He said “well babe, since nothing else seems to be working, what if we just cut out the gluten for a few weeks and see how you feel?”
Made sense to me…
So we did it. But not the 85%. Not even the 96%… NO. We went 100% gluten free. We purged the house. We read EVERY label. We stopped eating out in restaurants (I almost died). And you know what? Within 2 weeks my symptoms had decreased and I was able to function for the first time in MONTHS!!! That’s all it took! No doctor could tell me anything otherwise and as we have now been gluten free for 3+ months, we are never going back.
SO… Why did I share all that??
I want to take the next few posts to develop the understanding and issues that gluten, (sugar, grains, processed foods…) bring. Know that since eliminating it from my diet, so many other symptoms have dissolved, and my body is on its way to healing. Did you know that it takes 7-14 days for gluten to exit your body once introduced, and symptoms of bloating, weight gain, severe stomach discomfort and fatigue can be onset within the hour of ingestion.
Gluten is NO JOKE and not just a “fad diet” gimmick. Even if you don’t suffer from an intolerance like I do, the way gluten is processed in wheat etc these days, most bodies do best in eliminating it from their diet altogether.
SO, that’s a teensy introduction to my journey. It has been long, and I am only in the beginning stages of my healing, but I am on a mission to LIVE as full as I can TODAY. I have struggled with food for my whole life if I am honest, but I know that I am meant to LIVE and LIVE abundantly. At this point I will do whatever it takes to LIVE each day to its fullest. My hope for these posts is where other men and women who are on the same quest for health can come together, share stories, encourage and inspire one another.
I hope you stay tuned these next few weeks as I share a few tips and tricks that I have learned along the way and share your own successes and struggles. We are ALL in this together and none of us are alone. Make sure to comment below any questions or testimonies of your own victory!
Follow up post to come in a few days!
Until next time,
