Sunday Sage Smudging

Hey, loves!  Sundays are usually my day to do a little cooking, cleaning and some relaxation before the week starts.  This morning while packing for this move I'm about to make, I was feeling a little anxious and just uneasy.

 I have been reading about the benefits of burning sage, also called smudging, and decided to finally pull out the Shamans Market White Sage mini smudge stick I got in my Holbox a few months back.  I'm not one who is really into such practices, or rituals, if you want to call them that but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try this out after reading about the benefits.

• white sage has been traditionally used when one is feeling low on energy
• to create balance
• to cleanse and purify your home of bad/negative energy
• can have a cleansing effect on the air by increasing the oxygen supply to the brain 
• can relax muscle tension

I was unsure how exactly to burn the sage but, I looked online (Google is always my friend) and took the following steps so, that I didn't burn the house down.

1. Light the top of the sage stick bundle- I didn't have to blow it out to prevent the whole thing from catching on fire, the fire went out on its own.

2. I walked into every room and just let the smoke go up, watching it swirl up into amazing little circles that I have never seen before with regular smoke from candles and such.

3. I prayed in each room and just asked for love, clarity, and peace of mind to fill this space and everyone who resides here.

Have you ever tried 'smudging'?

Superbowl XLVIII: Healthy Edition

We're doing it lowkey over here, just me and my babe watching the Superbowl.  The drinks are fresh carrot juice (for the Broncos) and a fresh juice of dark berries mixed with juiced apples (for the Seahawks). I'm rooting for the Broncos since my Giants didn't make it this year *sad face*.

Who you wit'?

November is American Diabetes Month

Diabetes, "the sugar", "sugar diabetes", or whatever other nicknames are out there has become one of the most common conditions in the U.S.  As someone who has been diagnosed as pre-diabetic and has a family history of diabetes, I knew I had to highlight this month being American Diabetes month.

A few fast facts:

--Common symptoms of diabetes:

• Urinating often
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry - even though you are eating
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
• Weight loss - even though you are eating more (type 1)
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)
• Sometimes, symptoms are mild and go unnoticed

--About 8.3% of the U.S. population (25.8 million children and adults) have diabetes

•  Diagnosed: 18.8 million people
• Undiagnosed: 7.0 million people
• Prediabetes: 79 million people*

I have a major sweet tooth and I have had to learn (still learning) how to change what I eat so that I can properly manage my blood sugar. 

 Complications such as heart attack, stroke and kidney failure can result from allowing blood sugar levels to spike or drop too low.  Therefore, a consistent workout regimen, improved diet, and healthier lifestyle have all helped me to not have full-blown Type 2 diabetes, and over time I know that I can stay off my medication.  

Here are some of the best foods to use to control your blood sugar:

• High fiber foods such as grapes, apples and blueberries, beans
• Cinnamon- can help to improve blood sugar and curb cravings
• Nuts- can lower bad cholesterol levels and balance blood sugar  

Get screened.

 It is estimated that about 7 million people have diabetes and do not know it.  Everyone should get screened for diabetes by a primary doctor or health department/ health clinic.  Diabetes, if left untreated, can cause serious complications but, if diagnosed in time, a person can live a perfectly healthy life if managed the right way.  Take charge of your health and get tested!

For more information about diabetes, where to get screened, and how you can help support diabetes research go to:

American Diabetes Association

.