In celebration of the season, I thought it would be nice to look at one of my favorite and most popular inspirational charms. The ‘Believe’ charm in purple was designed to remind us that what we believe ends up part of what we experience – and there’s not better time to work on our beliefs than springtime!

Just like planting seeds in the soil, our beliefs about ourselves, the world, and others come to bloom and tint the life we lead. If we believe negative things about our worth, power, or importance we will end up repeating patterns that reinforce those beliefs. Similarly, if we view the world and the people in it as something to be overly protective about, fearful of, or leery about – we end up calling out experiences that prove our beliefs to be true.

The ‘Believe’ inspirational charm was designed and handmade by me to remind us all that we have the power to create healthy, positive, and inspired beliefs. We can choose to work on ourselves and stay in the positive end of the spectrum. When we notice that our thoughts, feelings, or actions reflect a bad belief, we have all the power and wisdom we need to heal that pattern… every time, all the time!

The ‘Believe’ charm is all about reminding us of that power and keeping us inspired to always have excellent self care and to love who we are and where we wish to be in life. I invite you to click the link below to see more of this charm and to let the good energy and colorful light it carries make a positive change on your life right now!

Greek Yogurt

I love yogurt, and never would have guessed it was helpful in fighting the bulge! The thing about Greek style yogurt is that it has a ton of protein that the body loves. Protein takes a long time to digest, so it ends up staying in your stomach longer. This means feeling fuller and happier for a longer amount of time – less eating!

Many Greek yogurts now come with natural fruits so that you can also curb a sweet tooth when you’re getting your protein!

Green Tea

Hot or iced, green tea help boost the metabolism and get the body burning fat quickly. My friend Josh from Living Herbal Tea suggests drinking sips of green tea throughout the day instead of just taking down one cup in the morning. This way your metabolism will stay piqued throughout the entire day. During the summer, try filling a thermos with chilled green tea and lemon and sipping it throughout the day. Yum!

Watermelon

What? Watermelon can help us lose weight? It turns out that like the name suggests, watermelon has a ton of water content. This means a fuller stomach and more hydrated body to combat hunger, emotional eating, and cravings! Experts say that many people who think they are hungry are really just thirsty, so eating watermelon may just be the best of both worlds. have you ever sliced up your melon and refrigerated it for several hours so that you could enjoy it ice cold? It’s an amazing treat and the perfect healthy alternative for ice cream lovers.

Veggies

Eating raw sliced vegetables is a simple way to get your snack on with none of the guilt or weight. Veggies are high in nutrients, water, and life energy, so having them on hand to replace chips or other snacks is a great idea.

Popcorn

Believe it or not, air-popped popcorn is a great snack that’s low in calories and high in fat fighting fiber. Air-popped corn is mostly air, but it ends  up being a whole lot of snack to keep your body happy. Try tossing it with coconut oil, sea salt, or nutritional yeast for extra flavor and even more health benefits.

Here’s to happy snacking, a full stomach, a healthy body, and easy weight loss!

As with all diets and weight loss goals, make sure to talk with your health care professional to make sure that you have all the information you need to stay healthy.

Chakra is Sanskrit for ‘wheel’. They are energy centers in the body that relate to physical, chemical, emotional, mental, and spiritual processes – and making sure they are healthy is extremely important. One of the simplest ways to care for your chakras and the energy they channel into your body is through the use of color. Each chakra has a specific color that aligns to the job it does, and working with those colors helps keep the chakra spinning freely with nourishing life energy.

My chakra necklaces combine the power of all 7 chakra colors so that you get a ‘tonic’ effect that helps bring good energy and function to each of your energy centers from root to crown.

In order to see the handmade chakra necklaces and other limited edition pieces I create, I invite you to join me and over 30,000 other amazing people on my Facebook page! In addition to the jewelry, I also share inspiration, wisdom, how-to’s, and lots of smiles throughout the day – the perfect way to transform your Facebook timeline into a force for healing in your life!

Click the link below to visit…

LEARN TO BREATHE

How strange does that sound… ‘learn to breathe!’. Most people think they are breathing experts since they do it all day every day, but what if it turns out we’re breathing wrong and wrong breathing contributes dramatically to our stress level and ability to handle stress in a healthy way?

The most calming, tonifying, and strengthening way to breathe is with the belly. On inhalation the area around the navel should gently expand, and the chest and shoulders should stay relaxed and still. Most of us are taught to breathe with our shoulders and chests in order to keep our tummies tucked in and a false posture – but it has really negative long term effects on our health. Learning to let go and let the breathe sink all the way down no matter what the belly does in the process is a game changer for people who do it. Stress levels decrease, the mind clears, digestion improves, the vital organs start getting a gentle massage as the diaphragm goes up and down, toxins are expelled more readily, and the whole body system feels better. Can you believe that breathing differently changes so much?

GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD

For most people stress isn’t a single event – it’s a cycle. One stressful thing happens, then we stress out about it, then we get stressed out about being stressed, then our bodies react, then more stress, and the cycle continues. The best way to break this vicious cycle is to stop focusing and feeding the often silent and invisible subconscious thoughts that fuel it.

Getting our of our heads means to do something that is grounding, different, stimulating, and novel. Our brains love this kind of stuff, and it gives them something better to do than dwell on the negative. Here are some ideas you could try…

• Go for a walk in a new park
• Try a new flavor of cold ice cream
• Get a massage
• Walk in the cool grass with bare feet
• Drink cold water
• Smell a flower or some essential oils
• Drive home a different way than usual
• Listen to a radio station you’ve never tried before
• Shop at a new grocery store
• Walk your dog one block further than usual

Little things like this can give the brain and the emotions new, positive things to ‘chew on’ so that they don’t have so much extra energy and space to dwell on patterns, habits, and behaviors that make up stress and anxiety cycle.

RECEIVE HEALING

Did you know that the world around us is filled with healing energy? Plants, colors, stones, animals, people, and places all have the ability to help us rise above our stress and find a new set of healthy tools to work with in life. Here are some things you can bring into your life for natural healing and stress relief…

• Drink healing erbs in the form of hot or iced herbal tea like lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, and rose hips
• Carry smooth gemstones that calm and soothe the nerves like rose quartz, lepidolite, aventurine, and howlite
• Surround yourself with colors like light blue and lavender that are known to calm the mind and emotions
• Eat more foods that calm like oats, spinach, walnuts, and avocados

The healing solutions to stress start with deciding to choose more for ourselves, and to accept help from the world around us. Take a deep breath right now and give yourself the gift of less stress and more joy this season!

Aromatherapy blends usually come in a dropper bottle or infuser. These can be smelled as needed, or drops can be added to a handkerchief or pocket square so that you can enjoy the fragrance wherever you go. Before applying any aromatherapy blends to your skin, check to make sure that they are properly diluted in a carrier oil to avoid skin reactions – essential oils are very powerful!

LAVENDER

• Relaxes the body and mind while soothing the emotions
• Relieves stress and anxiety
• Reminds us to see life as beautiful and sweet

BERGAMOT

• Natural insect repellent
• Fights depression and anxiety
• Helps create a healthy digestion system

GERANIUM

• Harmonizes the mind and emotions to relieve stress and increase joy
• A great scent to relieve PMS tension
• Repels mosquitoes

PEPPERMINT

• Calms the stomach
• Fights nausea
• Clears the mind and helps bring energy and clarity to thinking

ROSE

• A great general mood enhancer that fights sadness, gloom, and stress
• Fights fatigue of the mind and helps strengthen memory
• Warming, aphrodisiac, and inspiring

The next time you visit your favorite health food store, check out the aromatherapy available and see just how powerful and instant its healing effects can be!

The Dream Gift Set comes with two matching pieces…

Charm Pendant

The charm is handmade using high-end inks and vibrant colors that will surely catch every eye. The charm is embellished with genuine Swarovski crystals, Argentum silver, and sterling silver accents.

Earrings

Each set of earrings that comes from my artisan studio is created with the same matching color elements that the charm pendants are made from. These earrings are created to bring light and movement to your world!

To see the Dream gift sets, click the link below…

In order to draw your prayers, you’re going to need a few basic supplies. These items will cover the drawing process and a special prayer ceremony you can do once the drawing is done…

• Paper or whiteboard. Go big!
• Pens, pencils, markers, crayons, or dry erase markers if you’re using a whiteboard.
• A candle

If you can, hand your paper or your board on the wall. This brings to memory the ancient cave walls and sacred temple walls where prayers have been drawn for millenniums.

Here’s how to draw your prayer…

• Open your mind and your heart while connecting to the Divine. Remind yourself that all things are possible, and get excited about it!
• Give yourself permission to create. Get rid of any self-doubt or criticism – it has not place in this work. Envision what you want in your life and put your pen to the paper! Just draw! Do not think about how ‘good’ the drawing is. Just let it become an emotional and powerful experience where you map out what you choose to bring in to your life path.
• Add specifics. Draw in people, ideas, words of power, places, or even time frames. Draw yourself as you want to be – not as you are now. If you are looking for healing, draw yourself as the healthy person you want to be. If you are looking for work, draw yourself happy, excited, and abundant at your amazing new job. If you’re ready for love, draw yourself in a happy relationship that is honest, stable, healthy, and fun.
• Keep going until you sense that you are done.
• The last step is to sign your painting. Ancient cave artists placed a hand print on their drawings to mark is as their own – usually a print over a sketch of an animal they wanted to catch during a hunt. You may want to trace your own hand over your drawing to symbolize your willingness to receive it, or you can just put your special signature on the drawing to seal the prayer.

Once you’re done, here’s a simple daily prayer meditation you can do to increase the depth of your work…

• Light a candle to bring light, illumination, and energy to your meditation. You may choose a religious candle, a plain candle, or something scented. Go with what feels right for you.
• Place the candle between you and your drawing to show that the path is well lit and warm.
• Gaze at your drawing and let it come to life for you. Remember the meanings of the things you drew, and let them create belief, empowerment, and excitement within you. Try to see it happening for real as though you are watching your life unfold on television.
• During this time you may actually get answers to your prayers in the form of ideas, questions, or inspirations. These things are extremely important as they may hold the key to making your prayer happen fully in your life. We have to do our part when we ask for help from the Divine, and it is during this meditation that our role becomes clear.

Enjoy the process of drawing your prayer. This practice can be deeply therapeutic, releasing, healing, and inspirational. If you approach it with an open mind and heart, you are sure to walk away with energy, wisdom, and feelings that will go to work helping you create the changes you want to see on your life path.

Blessings!

Stay Local

Whenever possible buy local. This cots down on transportation exhaust while supporting your local economy at the same time.

Love Your Bottle

Avoid bottled water whenever possible. Most all plastic water bottles are not made from recycled materials, and most will not be recycled after they’ve been used. A plastic water bottle can take decades to decompose! Instead of buying bottled water, invest in a nice reusable sport bottle and keep it filled with your own filtered water from home.

Co-Create

Plant a tree or a garden! Just by adding one tree to your area you can help cut down on air pollution while adding a natural cleaning agent to the land and all kinds of beauty, shade, and joy!

Cell Phone Heaven

Cell phones have some extremely toxic materials that easily leech into the Earth when they break down in landfills. When your phone is past its prime, take the time to drop it off at an electronics recycling center so that we can mine less and keep these chemicals from the Earth that supports us.

Don’t Make A Statement!

If you get notices in the mail from your bank, school, credit card, alma matter, or other organization – ask them to stop. Now days most organizations and companies can send everything via email so that you can cut down on wasted paper.

To get even more simple tips to changing the planet, check out these great sites…

50 Ways To Help The Planet

101 Ways To Heal The Earth

Namaste

This ancient Hindu term reminds us that what we see on the outside is only a small part of the story. When we say Namaste to someone, we are taking a moment to recognize that they are a spiritual being on a quest. We recognize that beyond how they look, how they talk, what they do, or what they know, they are a being just like we are and they are walking a path that we can never understand. Namaste allows us, in a word, to honor the deeper spirit within each individual.

Namaste In Purple

Purple is a royal color that help cultivate self-esteem, self-worth, and personal power. Through this color we are reminded that we all come from the same royal lineage because we were all made from the same Source. When we combine purple energy with Namaste energy, we get a gentle reminder to see the deeper spirit within ourselves as well as those around us. This is a great earring set for anyone who struggles with loving themselves enough, doing self care enough, or seeing themselves as valuable as others are.

Namaste In Blue

Blue is calming, comforting, and assuring. We all share the same endless blue sky, and for this reason blue reminds us that we are all connected. When we combine blue energy with Namaste energy, we feel more at home and safe in the world because we realize that everyone around us is on their own journey and that we are all in this together. Blue allows us to relax into the world so that we can really call it home. This is a great earring set for anyone who feels unsafe, alienated, or not at home in the world. It helps us learn to trust again, and it helps us see the beauty and spirit hidden in all beings even when negative things may happen.

I created each set of Namaste earrings to compliment a matching Circles Of Inspiration charm. When the earrings are worn with the charm is creates a triangle shape on the body that lifts our energy and surrounds us with positive things! Click the link below to see all of my Namaste inspired pieces…

Making Hot Tea

Just steep about 1 teaspoon of herbs in hot water for 6-8 minutes. Remove the herbs or empty your infuser. Cool tea to a safe temperature and enjoy!

Making Iced Tea

Once your hot tea has been created, just add ice cubes or put it in the fridge to chill.

Lemon Balm

This is a wonderful simple tea for the spring. It is naturally sweet and light, and it calms the nerves while bringing a sense of joy to the heart and mind.

Mint

Any of the mint herbal teas like peppermint or true mint are a treat when the weather is warm. These teas have complex flavors that are rich and enjoyable, and they make a great iced herbal tea!

Lemon Verbena

This classic herbal tea is great iced or hot. It tastes like a combination of lemon and green in a very unique way.

Rose Hips

If you’ve never tried rose hips tea, this is the season to do it! The floral depth of rose hips are a great addition to a spring picnic, and they’re a great way to celebrate the many blooming flowers all around.

Nettle

While nettle is a little on the bland side taste-wise, it is a must-have in any medicinal herbal tea chest. Nettle is known for helping relieve springtime allergies – so it’s a great addition to your favorite great tasting spring tea blend.

Ginger

Ginger root herbal tea is the perfect warm drink to usher in the warm weather. This is a great herbal tea for people who experience chill during the spring, and it’s a great tea to help boost your metabolism for the more active seasons ahead.

Find more fun herbal tea recipes at www.LivingHerbalTea.com