Author: Marcy Dillon

I love make up!  I don’t wear it all the time, but when I do wear it, I want to look my very best! I want to look good, but I don’t want to slather toxic chemicals on my skin!  I don’t want those chemicals being absorbed and wreaking havoc on my body, which is why I am very pick about the products I will use.  Some of the companies that I personally recommend and pick and choose products from are 100% Pure and Painted Earth.  However, my absolute favorite cosmetic line is sold through Young Living and called Savvy Minerals. If they carried all of the products that I needed I am confident that I would use Savvy Minerals exclusively!  Why?

Savvy Minerals contain NO PARABENS, PHTHALATES, PETROCHEMICALS, BISMUTH, TALC, SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES, or SYNTHETIC COLORANTS. 100% Toxin-Free!

The Savvy Minerals Foundation is a mineral based (unlike any other mineral make up I have ever used) powder with a lightweight texture and buildable formula that blends perfectly into skin for a natural radiant finish!  (*Tip if you need more coverage try adding the Misting Spray, misting your brush before applying the powder foundation) (Currently 10 skin tone options to choose from)

Savvy Minerals Eyeshadow is a rich buildable and blendable color to create a variety of looks! (Currently 10 shades)

Savvy Minerals Blush choose from 3 different soft color choices to bring an effortless, natural-looking flush to your cheeks.

Savvy Minerals Diamond Veil is a translucent powder that smooths and evens skin tone, absorbs oil, and adds a luminous finish (Can also be used as a highlighter)

Savvy Minerals Lipstick choose from 5 different shades for a smooth buildable and weightless lip color that is perfect for everyday use.

Savvy Mineras Lip Gloss or choose this peppermint infused super smooth lip color (4 to choose from) with high impact shine!

Savvy Minerals Eyeliner is a black powder based eyeliner that looks amazing and stays put when mixed with a small quantity of water.

Savvy Minerals Multitasker a multipurpose brown powder that can act as an eyebrow filler, eyeliner, or eye shadow.

Savvy Minerals Misting Spray is a pigment and particle controlling mist that perfectly compliments and sets mineral makeup for a flawless finish!!

Sometimes it takes a massive shakeup in your life for you to wake up and see the world in a different light.

Bitterness, anger, avoidance and combative behavior solves nothing. Being kind, empathetic, understanding, compassionate and generally a happy person can have a huge impact on you as well as those around you. Perhaps the hardest, yet most freeing thing you can do is learn to forgive and move forward. (Sometimes THAT seems impossible)

Forgiveness. Many people say that they have forgiven someone, yet every time that individual’s name comes up you can just hear the anger or sarcasm in their voice and their facial expression changes. Clearly, they haven’t reached a level of true forgiveness. And I get it. I’ve been there. I’ve been hurt and angry. I have said I have forgiven someone but deep down I was still holding onto what they did. I couldn’t let it go. But true forgiveness requires that you do just that. LET. IT. GO! (Anyone else see Elsa from Frozen after reading that?) It also allows you to move forward and believe it or not, heal. When you begin to heal it becomes the most freeing feeling. You can talk about and think about that individual without bitterness or anger. Sometimes, you can even talk TO that person again.

It is easy to give advice to others and tell them to get over it or be kind even when others are unkind to you, but until you are faced with that situation (especially an extremely difficult and hurtful one) you truly don’t understand just how hard that can be. I think it’s our human nature to retaliate and want to hurt others that hurt us! We want them to hurt because of the pain they caused us…BUT doesn’t that make us just as bad as them? It doesn’t solve anything (may make you feel better in the moment though, right?). In the long run, you won’t feel any better and you will actually do more damage to both YOUR physical and emotional wellbeing.

When you finally learn to forgive, let go, and move forward…one of two things will happen; either you will find a way to rebuild that relationship (depending on how important that person was in your life…in my case, my father) or you will be able to move forward and leave that relationship behind. Regardless, you will find peace. And man, that is a great feeling!

Pastor McReynold’s (my grandmother’s minister) once said, “So many people think that hate is the opposite of love, but they are wrong. The true opposite of love is apathy.” Those words are so true. Hate comes from being hurt and caring too much. Now, I’m not saying we should all become apathetic. I’m saying that once another person’s actions or behaviors no longer evoke strong emotions from you, you have achieved complete forgiveness and are able to move forward.

Being hurt really stinks, but unfortunately, most of us will experience it in our lifetimes…it’s part of being human. How we deal with that hurt helps to define who we become. I have chosen to be a kinder, gentler, more loving person. I will not let someone else’s behavior harden my heart. What will you choose to do?

I loved that song as a little girl; still do in fact.  When I was little, my mother used to sing “Somewhere over the Rainbow” to me almost every night before bed and I would drift off to sleep.  It’s very sweet memory, one I will cherish throughout my entire lifetime.  It is also a memory and tradition I passed down to my own children…we now sing it together on car rides and have created our own memories.

Music is an amazing concept that can evoke very strong emotions and elicit very strong memories. During times of sadness, darkness, or struggles…music can renew your spirit and help you find your way back to a happy place.  Ordinary songs can take on brand new meaning and can comfort you in ways that you never thought imaginable.  In fact there are numerous studies that have been conducted that have proven that listening to music has an effect on our health, both mental and physical.  How cool is that?? Music can alter our mental and physical states and help us to relax, relieve pain, lower stress level, blood pressure and more!

So, whatever your taste in music may be, turn it on and turn it up!

(http://greatist.com/happiness/unexpected-health-benefits-music)

 

“Music can change the world because it can change people.”
― Bono

 

We have all dealt with toxic people and situations in our lives. Some situations and individuals cause us more distress than others and can wreak havoc on our health and wellbeing if we allow them to. 

NEVER let these people or situations steal your joy or rob you of your self worth. When someone engages in immoral, unethical and just downright nasty behavior, it is a reflection of their character. Ultimately, God or Karma will be the judge and jury. It is not our job to pass that judgement. Your character will be defined by how you choose to handle the situation. Initially, we are inclined to lash out, that’s just human nature. We want to hurt those that have hurt us. However, when you take the time to really delve into the situation and realize that it is not you with the issues, but the other person, you begin to change your mindset and almost feel sorry for them and anyone who feeds into their twisted web of confusion and lies. You pray for their soul. 

I am not saying, by any means, that you should accept someone’s delusional behavior or twisted reality. I am not saying that you should allow their toxicity to infiltrate your life. What I am saying is that, if you are a person of faith, you should pray for them and those they have under their spell. You should forgive them for the emotional harm that they may have caused you, and you should distance yourself, for your own sanity and emotional wellbeing. (If you are not a person of faith, just learn to distance yourself from the negative behavior for your own health). 

*There are studies that show a correlation between holding on to hurt and anger to poor health, both physical and emotional.

Forgiveness, meditation, positive thoughts, and even prayer can go a long way in healing your damaged soul and heart. By forgiving, distancing yourself from toxic people & situations and letting go, you are allowing your body to let go of any anger or hurt and allowing joy and happiness back in.  🙂❤️

So, the other day while I was making dinner, I decided to try my hand at a new gluten free bread recipe (I never have had much luck before.  It always turned out too hard or crumbly, was too difficult, too much sugar or required dairy).  Multitasking can get really interesting in my kitchen and I have been known to create completely new dishes while trying to follow too many different recipes at once (although I have to say half of these new concoctions aren’t too shabby).  Anyway, I was following a recipe I found on the internet and ended up adding a little too much apple cider vinegar to the mix, however I didn’t know it at the time.  The bread turned out fantastic!  It was light and fluffy!  Perfect!  It was so good, it didn’t last a day in our house.  Sooooo, the next day I decided to make another two loaves, but actually followed the recipe correctly….wasn’t quite the hit it was the night before.  The third time was perfect!  My family loves this stuff and it’s so easy to make!

I know many of my friends suffer from gluten sensitivities and struggle to find a good bread replacement.  So, here ya go!  And enjoy!!

 

Awesomest Gluten Free Homemade Bread (Grain, sugar and dairy free)

1 cup Cashew or Coconut butter (I use 1/2 cup of coconut butter and 1/2 cup raw cashew butter)
4 large free range pastured Eggs
1-2 Tbsp Honey or Maple Syrup
2 1/2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 c Gluten Free Flour
1/4 c Cashew, Almond, or Coconut Milk
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Himalayan Pink Salt

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees and place a small glass dish of water on the bottom rack (this step is REALLY important)
2) Line a large loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with organic cooking spray.
3) Separate egg yolks from egg whites and set the whites aside.
4) Mix egg yolks with the cashew and or coconut butter, slowly adding vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), and milk
5) In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, and salt)
6) Back to the egg whites…beat egg whites until peaks form.
7)(((MAKE SURE THE OVEN IS PREHEATED AND READY)))
8) Combine the dry ingredients with the butter and egg mixture and mix until well combined.
9) Add the beaten egg whites until just combined (do not over mix)
10) Immediately pour into loaf pan or pans and place in the oven.
11) Bake for 45-55 minutes being sure NOT TO OPEN THE OVEN FOR AT LEAST 40 MINUTES. (If you want to check progress, turn on the light)
12) Remove from oven and cool for 15-20 minutes.
13) Gently remove from loaf pan(s) and cool on a wire rack for 1 hour before serving.
14) Wrap tightly and store in fridge for up to 1 week.

Printable Recipe

I spent the better part of my life not going to a chiropractor.  I’m not really sure what my excuse was.  I was kind of afraid of them, maybe? All of that “bone cracking” kinda frightened me a little.  It seemed a little odd to me, I guess.  Of course, others around me didn’t seem to disagree either.  My friends and even my family physician dismissed chiropractors as “quacks.” My mind was made up, I was steering as far clear of those “quack doctors” as possible. (And to think, I had made up my mind when I was no more than 10 years old!!)

Flash forward 10 years. I was now 20 years old and moving some furniture in my new apartment when all of the sudden, I heard a “pop.”  That awful sound was followed by pain in my left hip that gradually spread into my lower back and became so excruciating that I couldn’t walk, stand, sit…anything!  Everything was uncomfortable!  Of course, I went to my family doctor and after examination, he determined I had “thrown my back out” and quickly prescribed, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and a couple of other types of medications, along with instructions to ice it, blah, blah, blah! Six weeks later, I was golden…good as new!  I felt like a million bucks!  Woohoo!  Yay, for my awesome doctor and his awesome miracle drugs!  Flash forward 2 years.  I sneezed!  I SNEEZED! Guess what?  Back to the doctor, back on the meds and again, 6 weeks later, I was better.  I was miserable!  Was I destined to have these horrible episodes forever?  Over the course of the next 15 years, I would turn wrong or sleep wrong or whatever wrong and again my back would go out and I’d suffer through 6 weeks of pain and recovery.  This 6 week recovery time became a nightmare.  I have kids and a husband to take care of!! (It’s not fun when you have to crawl from room to room because the muscles in your back are refusing to cooperate).

Finally, last August, I decided to be brave. My lovely friend Shannon and her husband Norbert offered a Chiropractic Evaluation for me and my children.  It wasn’t scary at all.  In fact I welcomed the change!  After returning home, I immediately set up an appointment with a local chiropractor and we worked out a family plan so that my family could receive regular adjustments to keep our bodies in top shape.  Best decision I have made in a VERY long time (best decision ever was accepting the proposal of my awesome and handsome husband, Allen).  We have been going regularly, but due to unforeseen family emergencies and situations over the past few months, our schedule got a little out of whack and our regular visits weren’t so regular.

Wednesday afternoon, I guess I turned wrong.  As the day progressed, so did the spasms, pain, and raising of the left hip.  By evening I was in tears.  My daughter administered a Raindrop Technique and my husband did his best to work out the kinks in the muscles and then iced them.  Without them, I’m positive I wouldn’t have been able to get out of bed Thursday morning!  1 pm on Thursday couldn’t come fast enough.  I was in pain.  Muscles in spasm and I am sure I was starting to look like Quasimodo when I walked.  I walked into my chiropractor’s office and told him what was going on (I had never had to see him for an acute issue, so this was going to be the real test).  I told him that historically, my recovery time was somewhere around 6 weeks.  His response was music to my ears, ” We’ll get you feeling better in no time! It won’t take 6 weeks.” He manipulated my bones and and all that good stuff they do. He then administered some muscle therapy to help relax the spasms. I was already feeling better! I left with no medications or prescriptions. He said, go home. Walk. Don’t sit for prolonged periods of time and ice it before bed.  Then come back on Tuesday.  Of course, I followed all instructions! (My awesome husband decided to add a TENS device to the mix as well.)  Yay!  By last night, I felt 60% better than I did before I stepped foot in the chiropractors office!

This morning I woke up sore.  Sore is okay though.  I can do sore.  No spasms, no excruciating pain and no weird posture when I walked. It’s been less than 24 hours since I went to the chiropractor and I can walk like a normal person!  I cannot tell you just how exciting this is for me.  90% better!

So, my advice to you…if you have back issues or even if you feel perfectly fine, go see your chiropractor.  If you don’t have one, get one.  Look for a wellness based one.  If insurance doesn’t cover your care, ask them to please work with you to develop a plan for you and your family’s health.  Many will work with you and want you to be healthy. Chiropractic care has been an amazing addition to my family’s health and wellness plan!  Now that we are under chiropractic care, I cannot imagine our lives without it!!

   <<<<<< Love this guy!!! His voice is soothing and relaxing!

What is the Solfeggio Scale?

Everything in our universe vibrates at a frequency…including us! Everything you see is energy.

Our vibrational frequencies change based on different factors in our lives. Someone who is ill has a lower vibrational frequency than someone who is well.

Laughing increases our vibrational frequency!!

What we eat, how much we exercise, what we do to our bodies affects our frequencies, which in tune affects our health.

That being said, I want to introduce you to the Solfeggio frequency scale. I found this little gem during a time in my life when I was struggling with lots of different challenges that ranged from being unable to get a good night’s sleep to struggling with severe mood fluctuations and crazy hormonal fluctuations. After I implemented the Solfeggio scale guided meditation into my nightly ritual, I started to experience positive changes in my health!

So, what is the history behind the Solfeggio frequencies?

Dr Joseph Puleo, naturopathic physician and one of America’s leading herbalists, began his research of the Solfeggio frequencies in the mid-1970’s. In his examination of the Bible he found in Genesis: Chapter 7, Verses 12-83, that there were a pattern of six repeating codes around a series of sacred numbers, 3, 6 and 9. When he deciphered these using the ancient Pythagorean method of reducing the verse numbers to their single digit integers, the codes revealed a series of six electromagnetic sound frequencies that correspond to the six missing tones of the ancient Solfeggio scale.

The Solfeggio frequencies contain the six pure tonal notes that were once used to make up the ancient musical scale, until, it has been presumed, they were altered by the Catholic Church and Pope Gregory I, (better known as “Gregory the Great”), who served from 590 to 604 AD. The Church claims that they have “lost” 152 of these amazing ancient Gregorian chants, but more than likely, they have been purposely locked away in the bowels of the Vatican archives. One of those sacred chants, however, known as, “The Hymn to St. John the Baptist,” has re-emerged. It has become known as the most inspirational hymn ever written and features all six Solfeggio notes.

These are the Solfeggio frequencies:

UT – 396 Hz – Liberating Guilt and Fear
RE – 417 Hz – Undoing Situations and Facilitating Change
MI – 528 Hz – Transformation and Miracles (DNA Repair – Repair – and derives from the phrase “MI-ra gestorum” in Latin meaning “miracle”. This is the exact frequency used by genetic biochemists to repair broken DNA – the genetic blueprint upon which life is based!)
FA – 639 Hz – Connecting/Relationships
SOL – 741 Hz – Awakening Intuition
LA – 852 Hz – Returning to Spiritual Order

Sound is a vibration of air whilst vibrations in the energetic field are primal and so affect everything because, as the physics and metaphysics agree, absolutely everything including mankind is vibrating energy.

So imagine the power of creating the Solfeggio frequencies energetically instead of as mere sounds – how much more benefit we could derive from it.

I currently use this set of 6 apps that I found in the Apple App Store (can also be found in Google Play)

Our modern day musical scale is slightly out of sync from the original Solfeggio frequencies and is, consequently, more dissonant as it is based upon what is termed the “Twelve-Tone Equal Temperament.” In ancient times, the musical scale was called “Just Intonation.” Our modern music also falls within the A 440 Hz frequency, which was changed from A 417 Hz, around 1914.

A 7th note was added to the modern scale in the form of a “SI,” or a “TI,” as in the “DO, RE, MI, FA, SO, LA, TI” vocal scale, while the original Solfeggio scale was composed of only six notes: “UT, RE, MI, FA, SO, LA.”

Source: http://www.lifeenergysolutions.com/solfeggio-frequencies/

1 Apple
1 Beet
3 Carrots
4 Kale Leaves
1″ of Ginger
1 Clove of Garlic

Peel beet and ginger. Wash all produce. Blend through a juicer and enjoy!

Beets and apples are great for the liver and gall bladder. Ginger is soothing to the digestive tract.  Kale and Garlic are immune boosting and Carrots are full of Vitamin A.

1 cup fennel bulb, sliced paper thin
1 cup green apple, sliced into paper in half moons
2 cups baby arugula
1/4 cup pistachio nuts (shelled), raw or dry roasted
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon minced thyme
1 teaspoon red jalapeno, seeded and finely minced
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

*****1/4 cup Mandarin Moscato Vinaigrette

PDF Fruit & Fennel Salad

Ingredients:
1 – Head of Organic Cauliflower, Chopped
1 – Yellow Onion, Chopped
1 – Clove of Garlic, Chopped
1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
2 – Large Portabello Mushroom Caps
1 – Bunch of Asparagus
2 – Tbsp Olive Oil
3 cups of Vegetable Broth
3 tbsp Real Butter
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a saucepan, combine cauliflower, onion, garlic and vegetable broth.
Bring to a boil and cook until cauliflower is tender.
Meanwhile, place Mushrooms in a non stick pan and bake for 20 minutes cap side down with a 1/2 tbsp butter in each cap.
When Cauliflower is tender pour contents of saucepan into a blender. Add 2 tbsp butter, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper and blend until smooth and creamy. (adjust salt and pepper to your liking). Set aside.
Over medium heat sautee the asparagus tips until tender crisp in olive oil.
Remove Mushroom Caps from the oven, top with the cauliflower Bechamel sauce.
Arrange Asparagus on top and sprinkle with Ceyenne or JuvaSpice* for garnish.
Serve

PDF Portabello Mushroom Steaks