- Bella C
Summertime Wellness Essentials
Original Publish Date: July 8, 2018
With summer in full swing, I have been wholly enjoying the heat, the humidity, and the long, sunny days after a bone chilling winter. With the change of seasons comes a change in my wellness routine, and I wanted to share some of my summer faves with you here today.
Repair Intention Blend: Yes, I make this blend! I thought it would be weird if I snuck this one in somewhere in the middle of my list because lately, it has been my go to oil of support. As a mom, I suffer with tremendous guilt going off to work and leaving my woman-child home on her own during the week. Pair that with this being her last summer before she turns 18. My family is on the cusp of this event in our lives, this (what's the word for it?) witnessing of the child moving into "adulthood". It is beautiful and it sucks and every inch of my nervous system is feeling it. My Repair blend is made with oils of Sandalwood (deeply calming), Frankincense (grounding + meditative), Clove (for dream stimulation + courage), and Neroli (a joy amplifier), to help me combat the blues I'm experiencing in this deeply joyful time. Yes! Sadness + Joy go hand in hand. You can pick up a bottle of Repair in my shop here.
I put a scoop of this powder in my morning coffee with some heavy cream and blend it up in the mixer. Why? Well, it makes my bones feel a little less crickety. Collagen supports healthy hair, skin, & nails as well as bone support, digestion, and muscle recovery. I feel so good in my skin when taking this supplement. You can grab your own right here.*
Joy Juice Flower Elixir (Image via: lotuswei.com)
The makers at Lotus Wei share that this elixir "magnifies: joy, laughter, euphoria, contentment, enjoying life more." while it "dissolves seriousness + feeling the weight of responsibilities."
I can get behind that! I place 5 drops under my tongue 5 times per day. It has been a true happiness support.
Watermelon Radish Salad (Image via: downshiftology.com)
This summer I am taking great care with my eating. I have been doing Keto since the end of May . . . and I cannot tell you what a game changer this way of eating has been for my body and mind.
The fruits and veggies on keto are limited, so you could imagine my delight when I found this Watermelon Radish Salad recipe on Pinterest. It's packed with detoxifying properties and mega nutrients. This salad is a hydration boost for the body & cooling in the heat. (Rather than use their lemon vinaigrette, I simply drizzle with olive oil, lemon, & pink salt). Paying attention to what I eat has been such an integral part of healing my body and amazing for my overall wellness.
Sunshine !!
On every single hot, sun shiny day this season thus far, I have made it a point to get outside and lay in the sun for at least 10 to 20 minutes for a healthy does of Vitamin D. I'm one of those early 40's women who keeps their face covered with a hat & sunglasses & SPF because holy melasma, the skin on my face is super sun damaged. Yet I still need the sun for my body, bones, and my wellness.
I ordered this beach towel at the beginning of the season and I simply love it. The tight, thick, woven Turkish cotton feels sturdy, like a security blanket sheltering my body. It is truly a must have. You can get one here.*
Oil Diffuser !! - - This diffuser is Ah-mazing! Both my daughter and I own one. You can change the light color, which sets the perfect mood in a dark room. It also has a timer so you can set the diffuser up for how long you want it to run.
Benefits of diffusing essential oils: Personally, I believe it elevates my mood and helps me sleep better depending on the oils I choose. There are a host of health benefits you could find online, but I don't subscribe to any of them other than supporting my stuffy nostrils during a cold.
I adore this diffuser. Get yours here.* Some fave oils of mine? Cedarwood* & Eucalyptus* oils.
Perfume ??!! On the topic of scent, I have been loving incorporating any natural perfumes that are Sandalwood based.
Sandalwood is a holy oil used for prayer and meditation. It is said to be very calming and grounding, which is why I use it in so many of my Intention Oils.
This Sandalwood perfume by Pacifica, a cruelty free and vegan brand, is fresh and invigorating. It settles so lovely on my skin without feeling overpowering. I wear it all summer long because it reminds me of a orange, cotton candy sunset. Get yours here.*
Summer Reading !!
Well, it has been a very looooong time since I have sat down to read a book. My eye-sight is not what it once was. I wear a - 4.75 contact in both eyes because I can't see anything 5 feet in front of me. It's been that way since the 4th grade. My prescription makes everything smaller so reading has become an issue.
I have been doing books on the kindle and audio books for a few years now and truly, there is nothing like sitting down with a real book. The way the book smells, the feel of the pages between my fingertips . . . oooh I have missed getting completely lost in a book, especially in the summer.
I ordered a pair of readers on the advice of my eye doctor (he's been my eye doc since the age of 15 and I adore him). I then drove to the nearest Barnes and Nobles (yes, they still exist!) and picked up the latest Stephen King, one of my favorite authors, for next week's beach vacation. I will get lost in a book once again. You can order a copy here.* (My fave fictional book genres are murder mystery, thriller, and deep love stories).
Music !!! (Image via: Sequins & Stripes <- good playlists there!)
What a vibe lifter music can be, especially if you can open yourself up to new and exciting music that you've never heard before.
I have a Spotify account but what has been a LOT of fun is searching for different playlists on Pinterest. Look here. There are hundreds of them. And for all occasions at that! Playlists for summer, for happy songs, for depressing, emo music . . . Pinterest will not let you down.
Lately . . . I have only been listening to Rap + R & B. Who am I ?
Sleep !! This must have is actually free :) (Image via: urbanoutfitters.com)
A good night's sleep is essential to my wellness. I don't always get a solid night of sleep, but I try. I am in bed by 9:30 pm most nights with the a few drops of Lavender + Cedarwood running in the diffuser. I won't lie and say I power down my phone . . . because I am heavily stalking everyone on Instagram and Facebook for about a half an hour before I put a show on the tv. #truth
I don't subscribe to the "no electronics before bed" theory. If I'm tired, I will sleep. If I had some coffee past 3 pm and I'm extra antsy, I will make a peppermint tea + take a half of a tylenol pm to help me get to bed. My mind races at night regardless.
I find that my bedtime routine is an integral piece of the puzzle that I must complete. I wash my face. I put a clean set of pj's on. I get into the bed. Some nights I fall asleep quicker than others. I find that the more I "do" during the day combined with my activity level greatly contributes to how fast I fall asleep. If I have a lazy day with a lot of sitting and not much outside time, I have a harder time falling asleep. It's just something I've noticed. Sleep. I need it. I love it. I do all I can to get a good night of it in.
