Lifestyle: Five Things to do to Boost Your Mood

What to do When You Experience a Low 

It happens to all of us- you're minding your business, going about daily life, when bam! Something hits you and you're not feeling as "go get em" as you once were. It could be a comment from a friend, a suggestion from a coworker or a compliment gone wrong from your spouse (LOL- we've all been there).

Whatever the trigger, you're feeling low and mopey. When we're feeling this way, we tend to busy ourselves with passive activities - scrolling through social media feeds or binge watching a tv show in our pjs. But because of our mood, instead of feeling relaxed or inspired by these activities, we end up feeling worse then when we started.

Low moods are part of life and what goes up, must come down- but there's no need to stay there too long. 

Here's a few ways you can pull your socks up a little quicker and get your mind and your heart back on track fast.

Go Outside

Stepping out into the fresh air is a great way to change your mindset. Doing this in the morning especially, can have a great impact on your mood. The air is generally cooler and makes you feel a sense of renewed energy. 

Exercise

The quickest way to feel better fast, is to get some steps in. Going for a walk/run, doing some yoga or even an online workout video, will get you to a great mindset in no time. Even better- head to the gym. You will get out of the house and get some endorphins flowing which will definitely give you a rush of positivity.

Breathe

Doing a quick meditation will really help get your positive juices flowing. Try a guided meditation video on Youtube like this one. 

If you need an instant mindset shift, try aromatherapy. I use a pure essential oil in an uplifting scent like Lemon, to give me a little boost if I need some positive energy flow.

Just apply a drop of a citrus scent (make sure to use only the purest essential oils - I use DoTerra brand oils. Connect with me on Instagram to order them in Canada. )

Put a few drops on the palm of your hands, rub them together, place them over your nose and then take three deep breaths in. You can also put a few drops in a hot cup of water for a DIY diffuser. But if you don't have any essential oils at home, peeling a fresh orange or zesting a lemon will definitely give you the same type of therapeutic benefits. Just take some deep breaths while you do it. 

Read (Listen or Watch)

Reading something inspiring- whether you have time to commit to a book or a one page article, can quickly enhance your mindset. In the same vein, watching an inspiring documentary or TedTalk or listening to an uplifting podcast can make all the difference in your day. The most recent talk I watched was Brene Brown's The Call to Courage on Netflix and it gave me so much to think about. 

I recently also got back into Podcasts and I love them. These, along with my Audible "reads" give me life when I'm driving, walking or even doing household chores. It's a great way to consume knowledge while you do your daily activities and it's the ultimate answer for those who feel they don't have time to read.

Connect

Make plans with a friend who inspires you. It could be someone who makes you laugh, someone you have great conversation with, or someone you just haven't seen in awhile. The point is connect in person. Reach out to a friend and meet for a coffee. It will force you out of your lull and get you out of the house. You'll have fresh conversation, feel warm and fuzzy from hanging with your friend and generally be in a better mood.

It's natural to have low moods from time to time. But it's definitely important to be able to pull yourself out of them too. If you're feeling low,  hope these tips help you get back to your positive and energetic self quickly!

If you find that the low mood persists and you just can't shake it - please reach out to a friend, your health care provider or find help online by clicking here .

Lifestyle: Freedom from Mobile

The Life-Changing Magic of Putting Your Phone Away

Feeling drained and exhausted more than you feel rested? That was me. Then I started doing one simple thing every day, which I swear has changed my life for the better.

I put my phone away.

It isn't difficult (well, maybe sometimes) and it costs nothing. I can't believe I didn't do this more before.

It's so simple but completely life-changing.

Over the course of the last few weeks, I've made a conscious effort to place my phone out of reach during meals and while "unwinding" in the evenings.

This was more than a social media cleanse for me. It was about using technology in a way that was beneficial and positive.

The impact this one decision has had on my daily life is really unbelievable, so I thought I would share what I've learned through this little social experiment.

Photo by Jag Gundu

I am able to focus better with less distractions.

It sounds pretty obvious, but once your phone is out of your hands, you realize how much scrolling you actually do. While I love social media for many reasons and do much of my work online, I find that it can easily become a habit to click and scroll on your phone, taking time away from yourself and your loved ones.

Like anything else, social media is wonderful when you use it in moderation and knowing when your use has gone from productive to mindless, is half of the battle.

Tip: when you find that you are are no longer engaging online, reading captions or slowing down to enjoy a photo, it's time to log off.

I have more energy

While we think of mindless scrolling as a relaxing pastime, I actually feel it depletes my energy a bit. As I said, I enjoy using social media and I do so actively, but once I feel I am not consuming productively, it can quickly turn into an energy suck.

Too much exposure to a screen can leave your eyes and your mind feeling tired and drained - especially if you are scrolling while watching TV. Doing two things at once, is actually not saving you time - it's making you feel more exhausted - but more on that later.

Give your eyes and your mind a break - you will feel the difference.

I actually relax during downtime

I used to think I was too busy to truly relax and that I had too many things to do. It turns out, the reason I was feeling so tired and overworked was because I wasn't turning it off, even after I had "finished for the day."

Putting my phone away in the evenings has been key to me feeling like I have a life other than wearing my multiple job hats. In addition to my traditional work, I'm thinking about video editing, blog writing, photography and pitching - needless to say, there is always something to do all day long and into the evenings. I find it can be a struggle to put it aside but I've learned that having a cut-off time for myself really helps.

There will always be something to do, but it's important to be protective of what you need to recharge and feel good.

It's not that we don't have enough time, it's that we don't have clear priorities. Making myself and my personal downtime a priority has made an incredible difference in how I feel.

Multitasking is overrated 

We come from a generation that once glamorized multi-tasking. In some cases, it's a great skill - like when you can prep lunch while you have dinner bubbling on the stove.

At other times, it does more harm than good. It's another distraction and keeps you from focusing on one task at a time, making you feel stressed and overwhelmed.

Even something as simple as checking your twitter feed while watching TV can leave you feeling like you didn't have any downtime at all.

Do one thing at at time. You will be surprised that you feel like you have more hours in the day. Slowing your mind down a little, allows you to truly rejuvenate in the down time you do have.

I feel more content with the time I have to myself. 

After putting my phone away, I notice I am more present during conversations, I have time for other things I enjoy like reading and I actually begin to recharge.

These days when 10:00 pm rolls around, I'm ok with calling it a night and I feel pretty satisfied with "what I did that evening".

Without the distraction of my phone in my hand, I feel like I've spent quality time with loved ones and that I'm more in the moment. I feel like I'm increasing my attention span and making time to connect with myself by disconnecting a little from the outside world.

When I watch a Netflix documentary or a movie, I enjoy it so much more (probably because I actually pay attention!) and my hubby and I feel as though we actually hung out.

Photo by Banga Studios

Hang up to Hang Out

It's crazy how something that is supposed to make our lives easier and more efficient can actually be detrimental if we don't use it properly.

Putting away our phones when we are with family, friends or even just doing something that matters to us, is a sign of respect - towards others and ourselves. It's also respecting w
hat you need in order to perform at your best level.

Decide what works for you, what you're ok with and then set your own limits. I find taking a picture in the moment is fine, but scrolling/texting while I am supposed to be doing something else is too much.

While I haven't sworn off social media, apps, online reading and attending to my email inbox in the evenings, I have purposefully readjusted my priorities. It's a work in progress but one that I think can be so beneficial to so many of us.

Do you find you spend a lot of time scrolling on your phone while you're relaxing in the evenings?

Do you have any tricks to make sure you're not distracted while doing other things that are important to you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Leave me a comment below or find me on Instagram @angeliesood

Recipe: Healthy Energy Bites

Meal Prep- Making No-Bake Energy Bites

If you're following me on Instagram, you know that I love to meal-prep and plan. This is one of my weekly rituals that I swear by. If I meal prep on a Sunday, I essentially ensure I am:

• making healthier food choices
• saving time during the week
• saving money
• not eating out

One of my go to items for breakfast and snacks have been Energy Bites.

I love these bites because they are so delicious and they are the perfect hit of protein, energy, fibre and sweetness to tide you over till your next meal. They are also super easy and quick to make.
I really think you can make these regardless of your skill level in the kitchen. 

These Energy Bites are not something I've invented but I have experimented and tried a few different versions which led me to come up with a flavour combination that I personally love.

Making these bites will take about 15 minutes but will definitely ensure your week starts off on the right foot.

Energy Bites

Servings: 24 bites   

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup oats

1 cup of Wow Butter (to make an allergy safe version, or you can use any nut butter)

1/4  cup chia seeds (I use white chia) 

1/4 cup chocolate chips (I like semi-sweet or dark)

1/4 cup pepitas

2 tbsp. honey

dehydrated coconut to coat

1 tsp. cinnamon

1) Combine the Wow Butter, honey and oats in a large bowl

2) Add the pepitas, chocoate chips and chia seeds and stir to combine

3) Create 1 inch balls, rolling them between your palms

4) Roll them in dehydrated coconut to coat

5) Place the energy balls in a glass dish with an air tight lid to enjoy all week long. 

These energy bites can be refrigerated or kept at room temperature if you prefer. 

I find that these bites make a great grab and go breakfast snack and make an awesome afternoon pick me up instead of reaching for a cookie. 

Hope you try them out at home! If you have your own go-to energy bite recipe, I'd love to try it! Leave me a comment and share it below.

Lifestyle: How to Set Yourself up for Success in January

How to Approach a New Year

With the new year upon us, it's that time and the frequently used "R" word is being thrown around like confetti.

Many of us make resolutions in January but it's only a matter of weeks before they are forgotten and we fall back to our old habits. 

I really don't mind the word 'resolution' but I think that's because I have a pretty healthy relationship with goal setting. I believe goals are meant to be set and reset time and time again. In fact, I really think it's a great idea to set your goals in January and then revisit them again in a few months. 

Check up on yourself every quarter- just like you would at your job. See what worked and what doesn't...

If you plan to set and reset, you won't get down on yourself if you don't make permanent changes in one shot. It's a process- not a magic trick. Real change takes time and is hard work. 

So how do I approach January 1st? For the last few years I've been doing a few things that have really worked for me. I have a New Year routine and it really helps me set my mind for the upcoming calendar year.

So forget "resolutions," here are the 'R' words you should be embracing this December 31st.

Recharge

Rest and Relax. As you wrap December up, take some time to pat yourself on the back. 

Good or bad, you made it through a whole year of challenges, obstacles, ups and downs. You deserve a break! Schedule some "me time" leading up to December 31st and do the things you love to do. 

               

Read a book, meditate, journal, do some yoga, go for a mindfulness walk, take a long candlelit bath or book a massage. The idea is to congratulate yourself on the year you've just completed and to celebrate the accomplishments that have come along with it. 

Taking this time for yourself will help you approach January with a positive attitude and more energy to start again.

Refresh

Clean, de-clutter and reorganize. These are things I love to do before a new year begins. There is something so satisfying about cleaning out your closet or junk drawer and getting rid of anything that doesn't serve you in the new year. Cleansing brings renewed energy into your space and into your life too. 

Put away some of your holiday decor if you're no longer enjoying it, rearrange your desk or bedside table, replace broken items around the home and generally de-clutter. Whether it's old makeup, outdated magazines or socks with holes in them, you will feel the shift in energy when you get rid of these things that are just taking up space.

Tip: take on one small action item at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed by this huge task. 

And don't stop there- open some windows, light some candles or burn some sage to cleanse the energy in your home before ringing in the new year. 

Reflect

The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on the last 12 months. It can be hard to remember all the things that went down when you look at the year as a whole. 

I recommend starting with your photo gallery. Just scroll through the photos you snapped over the last year. It's amazing the small moments we forget even happened. 

Take some time to remember the family gatherings, amazing sunsets, vacations, people and places you enjoyed and experienced. 

It's easy to lose sight of all the great things that happened when we are charging ahead to a new year. But I always think it's important to raise a glass to all that went well in the last 365 days and to celebrate the small things, while taking note of big changes or challenges of the year gone by. 

Reset 

Now that you've had time to reflect on all the awesome and not so awesome moments of the year gone by, it's time to set some goals for the year ahead.

Make a list (yes, write it down) of all the things you'd like to experience or achieve in the upcoming year.  Instead of broad statements like "Get in Shape," write down a solid and specific goal Ie. "Work out 3 evenings a week using an online video."

  

Once your list is complete, look at your goals again and see if there are a few steps that you could take in January to get your goals started. 

For example, if you want a new job in a different industry, take an online course in January that will help give you the skills you may need or update your Linked In profile as a first step.

If you want to "Travel More," find one place you can explore in your hometown in the Spring. 

If you want to "Eat healthy,"  borrow a vegetarian cookbook from the library or find a blog and commit to one new recipe a week.

Breaking your goals into smaller steps and chunks will help you get on your way to achieving them over the course of the new year.

Achieving your goals doesn't have to be a burden or cost a lot of money. Make it manageable and you can make it happen.

Let's Get It

I hope that these "R words" help set you up for a year of renewed energy and success ahead. Wishing you all an amazing celebration and a healthy, happy and productive year ahead.

Happy New Year and all my love! 

xo 

Angelie 

Lifestyle: Healthy lunches at home, work and school

How to Pack a Healthy Lunch for Kids (and the Kids at Heart)

Editor's Note:

I am so excited to have my friend, Jodi Dennie from SD Fitness as a guest writer on my blog. She has some amazing insight and tips on how to make school lunches healthy and fun for kids. But I'm thinking- these tips are definitely applicable for everyone, young or old. So read on if you're looking to get your health on -  whether you've got young mouths to feed or if you're just trying to feed yourself!

- Angelie

*By Jodi Dennie*

Once the kids are out the door, we pretty much have to rely on our awesome parenting and trust that they’ll make some good decisions when they are on their own. There is one thing however, that we do have more control over, and that’s what they fuel their day with at school.  

Ensuring our kiddos are equipped with healthy nutrients and vitamins will set them up with the energy they need to push them through their busy little days.  Breakfast is an important meal and can be tricky, but that’s a different topic for another day.  Today, lunch is the main event and I am sharing my top 5 tips for packing healthy, delicious lunches for our kids.

 
COVER ALL THE IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS

It is super important that kids get a balanced lunch including all the important nutrients. There are three categories that you want to make sure are in their lunch boxes daily- Protein, Carbs and Healthy Fats. 

Protein

Protein will keep your child feeling satisfied, full and alert in class and less likely to crave all those sugary treats.  

Great sources of protein for lunch can be found in:

Eggs 

Lunch ideas:

• Baked egg cups in muffin tins with veggies + cheese
• Hard boiled eggs
• Spinach and egg scramble

Fish

Lunch ideas:

• Mini whole grain pitas stuffed with tuna
• Tuna wraps
• Fish Sticks
• Salmon patties 

Meats

Lunch ideas:

• Turkey sandwiches or wraps 
• Chicken nuggets
• Turkey or beef chili
• any leftovers from dinner

Beans and Legumes

Lunch ideas:

• Edamame sprinkled with salt
• Roasted Chickpeas
• Falafel balls
• Lentil hummus with veggies + pitas to dip
• Black bean quesadilla                                                                                                            

Seeds

Lunch ideas:                                      

• Baked goods with hemp
• oatmeal protein balls with oats, seeds and chia
• trail mix with oats, pepita, sunflower and chia seeds

Dairy

Lunch ideas:   

• Greek yogurt parfait with berries and granola
• Cheese and crackers
• Cheese quesadilla with veggies/beans                                                                                          

             

Carbs

Whole grain complex carbs will fuel your child with energy.  Stick to whole grains that give added fibre like:

•  whole wheat bread
•  pita
• wraps
• brown rice
• gluten-free or whole wheat pasta 
• oats
• whole grain pancakes or waffles
• whole grain or gluten-free baked goods

Vegetables and fruits as well as beans and legumes are carbs as well, so load your plates with them/ My kids love sweet potatoes fries and fruit salad.

Fats

We want to make sure our kids are consuming fats - the good, healthy kind....and yes, there is such a thing.

Contrary to our popular belief about fats, our bodies require good healthy fats to supply nutrients that are essential for growth and energy. 

Fats are also super important to the brain (which is 70 percent fat). So, we want to make sure our kids are getting fats like:

• avocado
• seeds
• eggs
• coconut oil
• cheese
• salmon

Tip: Try guacamole with veggies and pita to dip, or sunflower butter (which tastes just like peanut butter but is even better for you) with celery.

ADD SOMETHING GREEN + SOMETHING BRIGHT

I always tell my daughters, ‘green means good and bright means right’, at least when it comes to your fruits and veggies. 

Green vegetables are loaded with nutrients and are super filling.  The brighter, more colourful the vegetable or fruit means the more antioxidants and nutrients they have. 

My go-to greens:

• cucumber coins
• edamame
• green peas
• celery with sun-butter and raisins
• broccoli with dip
• guacamole

My go-to brights:

• apple slices
• blueberries
• grapes
• watermelon
• sweet potato wedges

MAKE IT KID-FRIENDLY

Now that you've got the basics covered, it's time to make it fun! 

Kids love bite-sized food, fun shapes and anything that they can eat with their fingers.  It's not necessary to stay up all night carving flowers and dinosaurs out of cucumbers and avocados, unless that’s your thing. 

I am just talking about a few easy and simple tips to making lunch more appealing to kids. The goal is for them to come home with empty lunch boxes.

Here are some tips to make the meal more appealing to your little ones:

• Cut fruits and veggies into small pieces rather than sending the whole apple or pear
• Skewer foods like berries, grapes, cheese, cherry tomatoes, or pieces of bread onto sticks or toothpicks
• Use colourful silicon baking cups to hold foods in place and keep them organized in their lunch boxes
• Small picks and utensils in their favourite colours are a nice touch
• Kids enjoy dipping their food in sauces and dips like guacamole, hummus, sun-butter, tzatziki, salsa and yogurt.  Cut up some veggies for dipping or try apples, crackers, bread sticks, or pita.

PROCESSED VS HOMEMADE AND THE 80/20 RULE

When it comes to treats, I go by the 80/20 rule.  If 80% of their meal is healthy, clean and nutritious then I am okay with 20% being a more processed treat. 

I do prepare some baked goods like muffins and protein balls that are great for lunch additions.  

But, I also purchase pre-packaged snacks that the kids love. It's all about balance.  

Generally, I will pack 2 of these treats into their lunch.   

Some of our favourite store-bought snacks are:

• squeezy fruit sauce pouches
• granola bars
• nutri-grain bars
• goldfish crackers
• fruit-to-go bars
• freeze dried fruit
• coconut chips 
• chocolate chips
• rice krispy treats

  CHOOSE THE RIGHT LUNCH BAG

I’ve tried a few different lunch-bags, but fell in love with our bento-style box by Yumbox.  There are so many options out there, but here are the 3 main checks that are a must:

1.    Leakproof- if you’re packing dips, yogurts, or sauces, you want a container that wont leak all over their bags and work.  Bonus if there are no detachable lids involved that tend to go missing.

2.    Green- choose a lunch system that helps to eliminate waste and the need to use baggies, and plastic wrap. We use reusable snack baggies for dry goods like pretzels and crackers, making for a waste free lunch.  If you are using a plastic container be sure it is BPA-free.

3.    Lightweight- opt for a lunch box that fits nicely into their backpack so there are less items for them to carry, especially for the little ones.

With these 5 tips in your lunch-making arsenal, I am sure you will be rocking healthy and delicious lunches that your kids will love!

 If you are looking for more tips on how to clean up your nutrition, my husband and I are all about living a healthy, balanced life - check out our Online Fitness Program which includes a full Nutrition guide with recipes. 

5 Things You May Want to Start Doing For Yourself

The Simple Things

Just came back from an epic adventure in Europe and Africa and it took me about two days to come off the high. Two days?

Yup. That's all it took for the pesky, little daily life stresses to start weighing heavily on my shoulders again; and you know what? That's unacceptable.



I decided it's up to me to keep my inner zen regardless of a packed schedule, a long to-do list or societal expectations to act a certain way.

I did a little brainstorming and came up with a few things that legitimately make me feel a little happier and a little more peaceful while navigating daily life.

The goal is, to do these things every day in order to cultivate more happiness, more fulfillment, more peace and to quiet my mind.

Here I'm sharing 5 things I've promised to do for myself every day to keep my calm.

Check them out and maybe you will find they help you too.

Or if you have any other goals to add to the list, I'd love to hear them - please leave me a comment below.

Journal

Take a few minutes and write down something you are grateful for, something you are proud of or something that went well that day or the day before. 

Taking a little time to reflect on something positive can brighten your mood and helps you see the world in a more upbeat way. 

My favourite tool for this is the Five Minute Journal which I have been using intermittently for a few years. It has a series of questions that you can answer in the morning and evening, to give you some direction while you journal. You can also use a regular notebook or some loose leaf paper, the goal is to just do it.

Read

There's something to be said about doing things that don't require electronics. Reading makes me feel good. It makes me a little happier and I notice an increased sense of accomplishment when I finish a great book or learn something new. So I've decided to commit to ten minutes a day - it doesn't sound like much, but it's actually kind of hard to sit and focus when you are out of the practice. I'm looking forward to some good quality time with my books (no e-readers for me- although I have friends who swear by them).

Be Active

Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) wasn't kidding - exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy. So let's get some endorphins on the daily, shall we? I've committed to a daily 30 minute yoga practice but this could include working out, going for a walk or jog, or even using an app like the Seven Minute Workout. It's a great tool that leads you through exercises that you can do at home without any equipment. It's funny how exercise can be the first thing to slide when life gets busier and more is required of us; yet it's also the thing that makes us feel better the fastest. I've read exercise is the most under-utilized mood enhancer and really it's so true, don't you think?

Be Still

Sometimes, as weird as it feels, it's ok to do nothing. "Busy" is a word that is starting to have a negative connotation for me. I don't want to be so busy, that I can't do the things that make me happy or the things that keep me sane! Those should not be the things that fall to the wayside when things are hectic - although that's often the case.

I'm promising myself ten minutes a day to just be still. Essentially, it's ten minutes to do nothing and it's harder than it sounds. Use the time for meditation, practicing mindful breathing or to enjoy the outdoors. I've noticed, I am so much happier when I have some time to just sit outside and do nothing.

If you are just getting into meditation try "Guided Meditation" videos on Youtube. My other favourite tool is the app Headspace.

Nothing like sitting and staring at a magical sunset to get some peace

Connect with yourself

Over my two weeks of travels I made a concerted effort to avoid aimlessly looking at my phone. I posted some updates to my social media but I made an effort not to connect every time I had wifi. I also put my phone away at the pool, meals and on excursions (after I took my photos of course). The reason was, I find I'm often scrolling mindlessly on my device. It's become such a habit that sometimes I will be watching tv and the show will end before I look up from my phone. It's not a great habit and I'd really like to more aware of how much I use my phone as well as be able to focus on a task when I'm doing it. If I'm sitting at a pool, I want to completely be sitting at the pool. If I'm watching a video, I'd like to be engaged with what I'm watching. If I'm researching something, I don't necessarily also have to be running a load of laundry at the same time. It helps me decompress and makes me feel like I actually relaxed. Multitasking is great, but sometimes it makes us feel more spent since our brains are working over time just to keep up.

In fact, I read an interesting article that cited MIT Neuroscientist Earl Miller. Miller says that our brains are actually not wired to multitask well and that "when people thing they are multitasking they are really just switching from one task to another very rapidly. Each time they do there's a cognitive cost."

If you want to read more about the negative effects of multitasking, check out this article by Larry Kim.

So there you go -   my 5 things to start doing for myself. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions too. Do you have other goals to add to the list? Leave me a comment below or connect with my on my Instagram @angeliesood

I'd love to hear from you!

Lifestyle: Natural Remedies and Immune Boosters

Natural Immune Boosters

Rain, rain go away.... 

It's been raining for days here in Toronto and the weather forecast doesn't look as though that will be changing anytime soon. 

When the seasons turn, it can be hard to keep your immunity up and the result is you catch a cold or just feel a little blah.

Today, I'm sharing a few of my favourite remedies and products for when I feel a cold coming on or for when I'm feeling a little down because of the weather - hope it helps!

Saje Natural Wellness

For the last year or so I've been completely loving Saje Natural Wellness. I can spend an hour in that store and learn so much by just looking through the products. I want to try everything!

My favourites so far are definitely their diffusers and I use these in my daily routine. Diffusing the right natural scents can make such a difference in how you feel. 

I have the Aromagem Ultrasonic Diffuser as well as the Aroma Om Ultrasonic Diffuser and it's probably only a matter of time before I buy one for every room in my house. (Currently I have one in my family room and one in my bedroom).

It diffuses natural essential oils and releases negative ions to cleanse and purify the air. It makes you feel like you're by the ocean - which results in a nice relaxing vibe around your home. It's a complete mood booster!

In communal areas, I always love diffusing something with citrus to perk up. In my bedroom, I diffuse something calming like lavender oil to help me wind down.

My other favourites at Saje right now are their natural roll-on remedies. I'd recommend Peppermint Halo for when you have a headache, Immune if you're fighting off a cold and Eater's Digest for an upset stomach. 

Home Remedies

When I'm fighting off a cold or looking for a little immunity boost there is one tried and true home remedy that I always recommend: Turmeric Tea.

My mom used to give me Turmeric Milk or "Golden Milk" when I wasn't feeling well growing up but I have since cut back on having too much dairy. I still make it using coconut milk (you can watch the video recipe below) but now my perfect turmeric concoction is now a tea made from honey, ginger lemon and turmeric.

Just mix about a 1/2 teaspoon of the golden powder into a cup of hot water and add the other ingredients to taste.

You can check out my Vegan Aryuvedic Golden Milk recipe here:

I drink this if I feel a sore throat coming on or if I'm just generally looking for a little immunity boost. Turmeric has so many healing properties- it's an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory.

If you don't have it in your spice cabinet, I'd highly suggest picking some up from your local grocery store - just be careful to keep it away from your clothes- it stains!

Go Green

When I'm feeling an afternoon lull these days and feel a little drained, I'm reaching for a green juice. Many grocery stores carry fresh cold-pressed juices and my favourite right now is a line called Cedar Juice. 

I love this juice because it clearly states the percentage of fruit to vegetables in every bottle. I personally want to juice more veggies so I love this because it helps me determine which bottle to reach for.

Drinking green juice instead of coffee when you need a boost is a great positive lifestyle choice and the energy boost stays with me a lot longer. 

Wishing you wellness

We can all use a little pick-me-up when the sun is in hiding and it's raining all day. Hope these natural products and remedies work for you as they have for me. I would love to hear about your favourite remedies too! Let me know what they are in the comments below. 

Be well!