Earthy Girl Living

I’m hooked…..You will be too!

Posted on May 23, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

May is almost over and here we are about half way through the year. I hope you all are out there working hard on creating a New You! Don’t let the fact that we are half way through the year be a deterrent and let it discourage you. You need to open up your mind and think “I can do this.” Maybe you haven’t even made one change yet……well this is your time to jump on board that train! Now is the time because look at it this way…you still have half a year left!! Today is the best time to get started being the best YOU, that you can be.

Most of us take our healthy gums and teeth for granted. Talk to someone that has had major dental problems and they will tell you not to take them for granted and to make sure to brush, floss, not eat too many sugary things, and visit your dentist regularly. I certainly hope you all are doing that already. You really need to be proactive about your dental care. Don’t put it off!

I’d like to tell you about an alternative way to take care of your mouth, teeth, gums, and boost your immune system while doing it. This is the practice of Oil Pulling and I’m hooked!!! You may or may not have heard of this practice and maybe you’ve never given it a thought; but let me tell you, it really works to decrease bacteria in your mouth and it builds healthy, whiter teeth, freshens breath and improves your gums. The oil actually pulls impurities out of your body. These impurities stick right to the oil and you spit them out where they belong; in the trash!

This practice of “Oil Pulling” has been used by Ayurvedic Medicine Systems, which is one of the oldest medicine systems in the world. Ayurvedic Medicine actually started in India about 3,000 years ago. People all over the world are still using this type of practice today. Don’t know if you know that yoga and meditation are part of this system too! Lots of folks really believe in this type of natural health care for overall health and wellness. I know I do!

Back 3000 years ago folks didn’t go to the dentist twice a year and brush and floss like we do today. No one had ever heard of a toothbrush, yet the people actually didn’t loose their teeth because of rotten, decaying teeth either. They were actually found with a set of full teeth according to archeologists. The sweet sugary candies and drinks hadn’t been invented yet so pretty much they ate a diet of greens, grains, fruits, and meat. They used chew sticks to clean their teeth. Chew sticks were found in tombs of the Egyptians dating back to 3000 b.c. and many other areas around Egypt also used “Oil Pulling.”

So what do you actually have to do for oil pulling? Well it is basically taking about 1-2 teaspoons of coconut, (best choice because it is anti bacterial, anti fungal, anti inflammatory, ) sesame, or almond oil and swish it around in your mouth and through your teeth for 10-20 minutes. I find the best way to do this is while I’m getting ready in the morning and doing my normal routine. Set a timer, keep swishing, and don’t swallow all that toxic junk you worked so hard to get rid of. Spit it out when done!

The best time to do oil pulling is first thing in the morning right after you get up, but if you did it any time in the day or evening it would be beneficial. (I’m actually doing it know as I write this blog) Don’t brush your teeth or drink anything. You want to do this on an empty stomach. Use about 1-2 teaspoons of oil. (I only use about 1 teaspoon because my mouth can’t handle much more) Swish the solid oil around in your mouth, gently. As you are swishing, the solid oil will become liquid. Try to make it for 10-20 minutes and then dispose. (If you can only make it 5 that’s great!! Do what you can!I) Spit it in the trash can since the oils might mess up the plumbing. Have a glass ready to rinse your mouth out with plain water or you actually you can use a warm salt water mix to swish around for added benefit! Next brush your teeth like you normally would. Voila! You have a super clean, awesome, feeling mouth! I have a great toothpaste I like to use that is fluoride free. I would love to give you a sample if you would like to try some.

Plan on using this oil pulling method 3 to 4 times a week. You will notice a huge difference!!! Like what you ask? Well you will have whiter teeth, reduction of halitosis (bad breath), less sinus drainage, reduction of migraines, hangovers might vanish…crazy I know…but it’s all connected, and less sensitive teeth!

Below is a video that outlines exactly what you should do for oil pulling step by step and some other good info from Dr. Axe.

The hard part for me is that I don’t care for the taste of coconut so I will add a few drops of essential oils into it. I scoop out the coconut oil on a spoon and I love to use clove and cinnamon oil. Clove oil is fantastic for dental health. It helps to clean the teeth and gums while promoting fresh breath. You might like orange oil or peppermint oil too. You can mix it up and choose what floats your boat on a given day. Now make sure to choose a therapeutic grade oil that can be consumed. Not all oils are the same. For more information about the best oils on the planet, please get in touch with me.

Oil pulling actually helps reverse tooth decay. Read an article HERE that talks about reversing tooth decay. I can tell you first hand that it does work. I went for my normal bi-annual check up and teeth cleaning; the hygienist stuck that pointy probe instrument in my tooth and it stuck right in there. The dentist came in and did the same thing. She said, “Let’s schedule a time to have it filled. I started oil pulling and when I went back, it was hard as a rock. They were both like “Well we aren’t sure what happened??” Well I know what happened, I reversed my decaying tooth! Bam!

I think coconut oil is an essential in any house. It’s not only great in the kitchen, you’ve just learned about oil pulling, and you can also use it in your hair as a conditioner. Your hair will be soft and shiny. After you get out of the shower and towel dry your hair, rub a little bit in your hands and spread it all over your hair. Don’t use too much or you will end up with greasy hair You can use coconut oil as a skin moisturizer too! You know I am big on not putting chemical laden lotions on my body; well this has 1 ingredient: coconut oil. Towel dry and rub some coconut oil all over your body in place of lotion. Use a high quality coconut oil like this one here. You can’t get much more natural than that, right?

I really hope you give this a try and I know you will be hooked too!! A high quality, organic, coconut oil is fairly inexpensive and so versatile. One jar will last several months. I’ve had my jar for about 6 months now. You can’t beat that! It really makes your mouth, skin, and hair, look and feel great!

Make sure to get your clothes cleaned out of your closets for serveamillion.org. The collection ends May 31st!! Get moving!

I hope you have a great week and make sure to be kind to someone out there!

Naturally, Lisa

I Can Only Imagine……

Posted on May 16, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

We really live in a mixed up, crazy world and sometimes it seems life is literally out of control. I would rather focus on the good things and the good people out there making a difference in the world. This past weekend Relay for Life was in our area and it had great success! “The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest and most impactful fundraising event to end cancer. It unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all.”

Hall County held their event at North Georgia College on Friday, May 13. It was a very successful evening. I’m very proud of my community! Did you know that Gwinnett County has the largest Relay for Life chapter in the world? They raised over 1.4 million dollars and hope to reach their goal of raising over 2 million before the summer is over! Whoa Baby!! Watch a video clip here that highlights what it was all about.

We all know someone touched by cancer and Relay for Life is one way to participate in your own community to raise funds for cancer research. Check out your local area to see when they will host this annual fund raiser. Please participate in some way. You can support Relay for Life by buying participants T shirts, raffles, or even homemade baked goods being sold. You can also become a team captain and get a booth organized. The American Cancer Society saves more than 500 lives a day!

Get the whole family out there and let your children see that we all need get involved and to give back. It’s a great event for families because it’s a blast with music, dancing, face painting, jumpy houses, and many other things to check out! Let’s get the ” ME, ME, ME” mentality out of our mindset and start thinking about others!

The importance of Relay for Life really hit close to home this past weekend as I attended a funeral of a close family friend that was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. This friend walked the Susan B. Komen walk for breast cancer many times in several different states to raise awareness and funds for research. Her cancer moved from her breast, to her lung, to her brain. She was a fighter and totally inspiring to all that knew her. Even while she was undergoing chemotherapy she was out there walking for the cause. She will be greatly missed by all of us!

Could you imagine a world with-OUT cancer? A world where we wouldn’t lose loved ones to the big “C”. It’s a global problem! I hope you realize that “YOU” are in control of your own destiny. We all can take a step closer to a cancer free world by living a healthier lifestyle today! Choices you make today can make a difference in your future.

Remember “What you sow, you will reap.” Galatians 6:7. It might take years for a tumor to show up in your body. Cancer is usually slow growing and it may take 7 or more years for you to even have an indication that something is wrong. To put it simply, cancer is caused by mutant cells duplicating. There are many things causing your cells to become mutant, such as toxins, processed foods, smoking, alcohol, etc.

The great news is that most cancers can be reversed!!! There is a great series called “The Truth About Cancer“ that is amazing and eye opening! I think everyone should watch it, especially those that have had a diagnosis. I would highly recommend checking this series out because it will be life changing! I promise you will learn something new!!

Here are some things you need to do on a daily basis to stay healthy: drink plenty of water, eat a healthy diet, (limit meat to a few times a week), limit sugar intake, eat healthy fats, exercise, and get 7-8 hours a sleep a night. Take daily supplements (I have the best ones to offer you so contact me if you would like to know more), get outside and soak up 20-30 minutes of sun exposure a day without sunscreen and as much of your body exposed as possible (not at peek sun time), and find something you are passionate about!!

I make this sound really easy as I write all this down, but I know it is not!! I struggle like everyone to make wise choices too! We all CAN do this! There’s a book out there that I would recommend called “You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life! Written by Jen Sincero. Start today! Just make one change! Baby steps!

When is was thinking of a title for today’s blog, my first thought was “Could you imagine?”, then the song titled “I Can Only Imagine” popped into my head. I have included it below. It’s a beautiful song so I hope you check it out.

I hope you are still cleaning out those closets for “servamillion.org.” Help provide meals for folks in Kenya by cleaning out old clothes. Each large bag is worth 55 meals. Drops off sights are listed on the website. If you have any bags of clothes and would like to bring them to me, I will be happy to take them over to our local drop off spot. The collection ends May 31st!

Have a great week! Give someone you love a hug!

Naturally, Lisa

What do you value?

Posted on May 9, 2016May 17, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

“For all the Cardamoms, soccer moms, career moms, foster moms, and stay-at-home moms–you are all SUPER moms, and it’s your day! Hope all you mothers out there enjoyed a great day today!” Happy Mother’s Day!

I hope the first thing that came to your mind of “What do you value?”…..was YOU! It’s hard sometimes to put ourselves at the top of the list; especially if you’re a mother. It seems we get pulled in ninety different directions and our needs end up being at the bottom of the list. It can be exhausting both physically and emotionally! You have to make sure you take time for you or you will eventually get worn down and this can cause havoc on your health!! Your family needs you healthy and well!! Value…..YOU!

I’m sure many of you can relate to this… it seems this time of year that life is crazy and going at warp speed. The month of May alone is wild! You probably have some of the same pressures of: projects due, graduation parties, wedding and baby showers, school functions, and after school sports. Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get it all done. This busy and stressful schedule can be very hard on our bodies and our health. We all need balance to make our lives less hectic.

You must value your body enough to make a conscience decision to actually put your health first. After I listened to, How Not To Die, on Audible, I have tried to make an effort to incorporate the list of the top 12 foods we should eat each day, according to Dr. Michael Greger. He refers to these items as the “daily dozen” and he includes how many servings of each we should be eating too! He states that “people don’t die of old age but most commonly from heart attacks. Most heart attacks are preventable if you switch to a more plant based diet.”

I am including this list for you from the book How Not to Die to check your daily eating habits and see if you can incorporate them into your diet. Check out the book on Audible too! I learned so much from listening to it!

Do you make it a daily habit to eat like this now? Did you notice there are no spots for meat in the daily dozen? Post this list on your fridge and see how closely you can come to eating these food items from each day.

Dr. Greger also mentions that we should all be walking about 10,000 steps a day plus lifting weights and doing some cardio. He feels like 90 minutes of exercise on a daily basis is what we need. That’s a little hard to swallow being that I walk all day, never sit at my desk, and I have to make an effort to come home and walk for about and hour to get my total steps up to 10,000.

If you are someone that sits behind a desk all day, you better pick up the pace and get moving! You really need to make an effort to walk around the office. Bring your tennis shoes to work and take a lap or two around the parking lot at lunch!

Now I mentioned that we all need balance in our lives. I have a great oil company that makes a blend of essential oils known as the grounding blend. It has a warm, woody aroma and it creates a sense of calm and wellbeing. They blend Spruce, Ho Wood, Frankincense, Blue Tansy, and Blue Chamomile with Fractionated Coconut Oil too. This oil promotes tranquility and relaxation.

Spruce, which is in the grounding blend, was used by Native Americans for health and spiritual reasons and is still used today to bring harmony to the mind and body. Ho Wood, Blue Tansy, and Blue Chamomile can ease anxious feelings, while Frankincense provides a grounding, balancing effect on emotions.” You should try it. I like to rub it on my feet in the morning after I shower. Just a couple drops on each foot and it does help me feel in a state of balance throughout the day! Give it a try!!

If you are interested in this great “grounding blend,” please let me know and I can hook you up! Remember if you need any diffusers I have them for you! Diffusing the oil is another way of getting a treatment. This grounding blend is also a great oil to diffuse if you feel like you need some peace and calmness in your life! Let me know if I can help you!!

Until next week, be kind to someone out there!

Naturally, Lisa

P.S. Keep rounding up your clothes for Servamillion. Check out the website for drop off spots near you! Each bag full of clothes is worth 55 meals to folks in Africa. I’ve already cleaned out 3 bags!!

Which Came First?

Posted on May 2, 2016May 15, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Which did come first? The chicken or the egg? Pretty deep thinking right? …. Either way, I’m glad we have eggs to eat and the fact that they are so inexpensive is awesome! I don’t know if you like them or not, but I LOVE eggs! They really are one of the most perfect foods out there. You can eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a snack! You can eat them raw, hardboiled, sunny side up, scrambled, or fried. You can eat them here or there, you can eat them anywhere! (ha ha good ol’ Dr. Seuss. I’m sorry I guess that’s the first grade teacher coming out in me!) Eggs are full of protein. Each egg has between 5 -6 grams of protein and only about 70 calories!

Eggs get a bad rap these days. So many people I know only eat the egg whites and they skip the most delicious part because they say they are watching their cholesterol. It is true that the white contains most of the protein but the yolk contains some great nutritional benefits too. Studies are finding now that eating 2 eggs a day (not just the whites) can actually be very beneficial to your health. Eating the whole egg doesn’t bring raise your lipid profile (an assessment for cardiac risk), and it actually might improve it! It’s a package deal if you ask me! You really need to read this article on cholesterol and see what the new studies are saying.

I highly recommend that you find a local farmer’s market to purchase your eggs. There’s a lot of disturbing information out there on ways people are fooling the system. If you think you are buying free range, organic eggs at the grocery store, think again. It’s really all semantics. Read this article if you want to know the real deal. It might really make you give up eating eggs from the store and you might ponder becoming a vegetarian all together.

If you live in the Gainesville area, check out Green Acres Farmers Market off of Hwy 53. There are many folks out there with free range chickens laying a much better egg than the store bought ones. You might just need to investigate in your area to find someone. There are many farmer’s markets around town now, so someone there can certainly supply you some authentic, organic, free-range eggs too!

There are a few differences that are noticeable with store bought vs. free range. It doesn’t matter which color the shell is; they are all the same inside and have the same nutritional value. The shell is actually thicker on free range eggs. The vitamin D the chickens are soaking up while they are “free ranging” affects the shell. The yolk on the free range egg will be a much deeper, golden color. It is creamier and won’t break as easily as the store bought ones. I challenge you to try the comparison of the two. You will taste and see the difference. It is unmistakable!!

I typically buy 3 dozen eggs at a time. I pay $5.50/per dozen. They can stay right out on your counter for up to 6 weeks. If you shop at the grocery store and buy free range, organic eggs, you will pay about $5.00/per dozen. After reading the article above I hope you realize that they really aren’t really free range, organic.) I would much rather support a local farmer and get a far superior egg! Look at the difference between the eggs I made for breakfast one morning. One is store bought and the other ones are free range. Can you see the difference? I told you it is unreal.

One way I love to eat eggs is with homemade salsa. I actually make this simple chunky salsa and put it on my eggs. It’s awesome and you can of course enjoy it with chips too! It is really fast and easy. All you need is 1 can Rotel (I like original), 1 can yellow corn, 1 can black beans, cilantro, onion, and lime juice. I chop the cilantro and onion, drain the beans, corn, and Rotel. I add the juice of 1/2 to a 1 whole lime. If I don’t have fresh lime, I use lime oil. It only takes a drop or two at the most. Mix, refrigerate a few hours, and get ready to chow down! You will love this dip! It is a staple in my house. You know exactly what is in it and it’s low cal and high in protein!

You can actually diffuse lime oil too! Lime is known for it’s benefits to uplift, balance, and energize. It helps to support a healthy immune system, it affects your mood in a positive way, and promotes emotional balance. Now remember the oil comes from the lime peel and is not from the juice! It is super concentrated! A little goes a long way!

Lime oil is also good for removing grease spots and sticker residue. I hate it when you buy something like a picture frame and they stick the price tag right in the middle of the glass and you end up with a sticky spot. Just get a cloth, put some lime oil on it and rub. You will be amazed at how quickly the sticky spot is erased!

Here’s a great recipe for Key Lime Parfait:

Ingredients:

1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
1/2 cup organic granola (we like to use organic French vanilla granola)
Zest and juice of 2 key limes
2 drops Lime essential oil
Optional: 1 tablespoon honey

Note: Key limes are naturally a lot smaller than regular limes. If you can’t find key limes than replace with 1/2 of a regular lime.

Directions:

In a small bowl, add yogurt, lime zest, lime juice, Lime essential oil, and honey for added sweetness.
In a tall cup or bowl, add 1/3 of the yogurt mixture to the bottom of cup and top with 1/2 of granola. Repeat layers until ingredients are gone

Now on a totally different note: For you Atlanta folks, please consider cleaning out your closets and donating your items to a program called “A Million Meals.” Your items will need to be put in a garbage bag and taken to a local church near you. You can click here to find a church in your area that’s participating in the program. I’m sure there is one close to you and more are being added daily. For every garbage bag full of adult and kids clothes that you donate, you will be providing meals for 55 people in Africa. The goal is to reach 1 million meals, or “1 mealion.” So get cleaning out your old shoes, purses, belts, T-shirts, bathing suits, etc. Get them in by May 31st!!

Until next week, clean out those closets, be safe, and be kind to someone out there!

Naturally, Lisa

No! Don’t Do It!!

Posted on April 25, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Picture this…friends are coming over for dinner and you’re getting ready for an awesome evening grilling out! You’ve gone to the grocery store and gotten all the ingredients you need to make the perfect meal. You have a nice bottle of wine chilling on ice and you decide to light a few candles before your guests arrival. NO! Don’t do it!!

I know there is something romantic about the ambiance and flicker of a candle, but candles can be very toxic to your health! People don’t realize that most fragrances used in candles, lotions, etc. are synthetic and are actually made from petrochemicals. So you basically are lighting a candle made from crude oil inside your house. Nasty! The fumes release harmful toxins that may cause headaches, sinus issues, asthma, and even cancer!

Hard to believe that simply lighting a candle can cause so much harm, but it’s true and you can read more about the link between airborne toxins and health issues. Go to www.mercola.com and enter “danger of airborne toxins” in the blue search box.

Soy candles are safer to burn, so look for them if you just have to have that candle fix! Many folks have switched over to using a battery operated candle that look like a candle, flickers like a candle, but they release no harmful chemicals. Smart move if you’ve already made that change!!

I’ve always been attracted to smells. I guess that’s why I’ve always loved candles too! I’m just as guilty as the next person about using candles in my house. Since being on this health journey and changing my lifestyle to a more holistic approach, I actually rounded up all my candles and took them either to Good Will or threw them away! I actually feel guilty taking them for someone else to use after all the information I’ve found out about their dangers. I encourage you to have a candle round up at your house too! Get rid of them!

Now if you just love fragrance like I do, there is another option. Use a diffuser and 100% natural, organic, essential oils! Diffusers are safe and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They are not only omitting a fantastic fragrance but they are also cleaning the air and adding a health benefit to you and your family. I have them in almost every room in the house!

Most diffusers require water, an outlet to work, and of course, your favorite essential oil. A few drops and you are on your way to better health. I have just ordered a few diffusers that actually plug into a laptop and run off USB power. If you are interested, I can hook you up!

They make diffusers for your car too! Please do not use those air fresheners that hang from your rear view mirror or the ones that clip on the vent! Bad stuff! Those toxic chemicals that you are breathing in, as you sit in your car that’s all closed up, are very dangerous to your health! If you have kids, you really need to throw those smelly air fresheners away!

You can combine oils to help with any situation you are going through in life. If you need a pick me up to get moving, a calming blend to rest, an immune builder, or something romantic for the bedroom, (Oh La La!) there is an oil for you and many combos that will work. I encourage you to give it a try.

A simple morning blend to get you moving and make you happy to start the day is: 2 drops of Wild Orange, 2 drops of Citrus Oil and 2 drops of Peppermint oil. One of my favorites for immune building is 3 drops of Wild Orange and 3 drops of Protective Blend. (This is a must have oil for any house.)

For a restful night’s sleep and calming down I love Calming Blend, Vetiver, and Cedarwood. I diffuse this most every night! To add a spark to your romance, diffuse Ylang Ylang, Clary Sage, and Vetiver. Long ago Ylang Ylang was put on the bed of newly married couples for their wedding night. Vetiver is a great balancing oil and helps slow the nervous system down, which we can all use from our stressful lives!!! (I’ve touched on many of the other oils on past blogs so check them out!)

My favorite oil company offers fantastic oil for women. It is a blend of patchouli, bergamot, sandalwood, rose, jasmine, cinnamon bark, vetiver, ylang ylang, geranium, and cocoa and vanilla bean extracts. I like to wear it as a perfume. It adjusts to individual body chemistry and smells different on everyone. It’s crazy but it does. Let me know if you would like more info on it.

These are just a few examples of some blends to use in your diffuser. The list is really endless. Any issue you might have, there is a solution with my favorite oil company. If you would like more information on them, please let me know. If you need a diffuser, I have them! Talk to me before you order on line!

Remember all oils are not the same. Please contact me before you go out there an purchase oils from a chain store.

Until next week, make sure to be kind to someone! (even if you think they don’t deserve it!!)

Naturally, Lisa

Beware! Danger!

Posted on April 18, 2016April 18, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

As you can tell from the title on the video, this was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway in January. This original song is from a friend who wrote and played guitar on the song. My husband has a YOU TUBE channel called Fishemon. If you like to fish, check it out to see what he’s been catching and where he’s been catching them!

We have been spending a lot of time in the Western Carolina area over the past few years. It’s a pretty simple drive up and depending on if you like mountain driving, or freeway driving, you can go either way. We always opt for the mountain route just because it is gorgeous and it’s actually is a little bit quicker. Places like Highlands and Cashiers are very popular. I watch the thermometer drop as I ride up the mountain. It’s always about 10-15 degrees cooler than it is at my house. Great for summer time to get away from the Atlanta heat!!

From Gainesville GA, we can be in Highlands, NC in 90 minutes. Most of the drive is 4 lane and quick. The last 30 minutes is up the mountain on a windy, curvy road; highway 64. There are many B & B’s and other quant hotels to stay in for a quick getaway. We love the Old Edwards Inn because it is so comfortable and within walking distance of downtown’s trendy shops and restaurants. Lots of folks like to go up for a day trip, but it’s always fun to do something different and spend the night for a special occasion!

One of our favorite restaurants in town is Paoletti’s. It’s a popular spot, so if you know you’re heading that way, make a reservation! It always is excellent; no matter if we’ve had the Italian cuisine or filet. There are many hikes and waterfalls close by in this area of the Nantahala Forest. You should check out a few of our favorites: Bridal Veils Falls, Dry Falls, and Secret Falls are all worth exploring.

You basically are traveling up into the Blue Ridge Mountains as you are heading north on 64. If you continue on 64 through Highlands you will end up in Cashiers. (The correct pronunciation is “Cashers.”) We typically pass on through even though it looks really cute! If you keep driving you will go though the Lake Toxaway area and in 20 or so miles you will be in Brevard., NC. This is our new favorite place!!

Brevard has the small college town vibe, it’s artsy, lots of music, brew pubs, biking and hiking galore, and fishing is off the hook (Ha ha I guess it’s on the hook). It’s only 30 minutes outside of Asheville! There are trolleys that come from Asheville to Brevard! They are equipped with bike racks so people can bring their bikes to Brevard too! It drops folks off right on front of the Oskar Blues Brewery.

Danger! Beware! I’m just warning you; you might be like us and fall in love with it too. We actually fell so in love with the place, that we bought a house in town. It’s a small 3 bedroom, 1 bath, needing some repair, but within walking distance to downtown. As soon as we start the remodel, I will post some photos of what we are doing. It might even be up for rent, so keep that in mind! I’ve already had folks wanting to book it for Christmas and we haven’t even started the remodel yet!

The downtown area is so cute and has awesome restaurants and shops! One of our favorite places to eat is at Big Mike’s Pizza. It’s one of the best pizza’s we have ever eaten!! There are many varieties of restaurants to choose from; it just depends on what kind of mood you’re in and how fancy you want to go.

Brevard has great camping too! The Davidson River Campground is one of our favorite places! Well I have to say ever since Rachel Ray put it out there as one of the top 50 campgrounds in the US, everyone else really likes it now too! That’s a bummer because it is pretty crowded. The good news is that you can make reservations! The campsites are pretty private and the bath houses clean. There are hiking and biking trails all around and the entire park is paved and flat. Make sure to bring your bikes!!

Many folks like to tube down the river and swim in the swimming hole on the last loop of the campground. Kids of all ages enjoy the place. There is another spot close by that is an all time favorite! If you feel inclined to do some sliding on your fanny down some slippery, mossy rocks, this is your place! It is called Sliding Rock. There are long lines during the summer months, so my suggestion is to get there early. The park rangers actually turn people away if it is too crowded.

All that I have mentioned so far has been in the Pisgah Forest, including the Blue Ridge Parkaway. If you take about a 20 minute drive outside of Brevard, you can find the Dupont Forest. We love it over there too! The only problem with this area is that there is no camping. It’s a day use only park. If you’ve ever seen Hunger Games, you might recognize some of the waterfalls from this park. There are great beginner bike trails in the Dupont area. Over on the Pisgah side it is for more experienced riders!

We did take our bikes and rode all around! It was very fun even though we did have to get off and push some! We are just figuring this whole biking thing out!! We took the kids one weekend and actually walked the area too!! You can spend the day and have a picnic.

So I hope I’ve given you some ideas of places to go for a quick getaway, (If you are in the Atlanta area) when you’re looking for something to do; maybe over the summer!

I hope you check some of the places out and let me know if you liked them!

Have a great week and remember to be kind to someone!

Naturally, Lisa

Times, They Change!!

Posted on April 11, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Down here in the south last week, we were on spring break. My friends in Australia were on fall break! How cool is that! Whichever break you were on, I hope you had a great, relaxing time! It’s nice just to sleep in a little and hang with the family! Enjoy it with your school-aged kids because it won’t be long and all that will change. The kids will enter college and have a different spring break; or even better, they will graduate from college and get a job (a good thing) and won’t be able to get away (a bad thing). Times, they change, so enjoy each moment as they unfold!

A very popular place to visit over spring break is the beach! We always loved going to the beach as a family! There’s nothing like the warm sunshine on your skin and the sand beneath your feet! But since things are different now, kids in college and working, my husband and I decided to head north! I have to say, we had a truly enjoyable adventure!

We had pretty basic accommodations: no footed bath tubs, no 1000 thread count sheets, nor eggs benedict delivered to our door. (am I dreaming or what?) Instead we stayed in our 19′ by 5′ van. We call this thing “The Vehicle.” It was a basic Sprinter cargo van (Fed Ex truck) which we made some modifications to. My hubby is really talented at things like that! We added a queen size bed, microwave, toaster oven, propane heater, hot water heater, solar panels to run the stuff, and all the basics you could think of that you might need on a road trip, including a bike hitch!

So we decided to do something a little different and head north to Virginia. We picked a town called Damascus, VA. We had heard good things about the town and of course I’ve read about it in all my Appalachian Trail books. Damascus is one town on the AT where the trail goes right through the center of it. I actually walked on the AT (Haha) We fell in love with this small, friendly town! We immediately were checking out houses to see how much real estate went for. (If you know us, you know this is the norm.)There are many hostels and B& B’s in town so no worries if you don’t have something like “The Vehicle.” There’s lots of tent camping too, if that’s more your thing!

The cool thing about this town is the trail there called “The Virginia Creeper Trail” which is about 34 miles long. You can ride, walk, or horseback down from White Top Station.There is a shuttle service that will take you to the top of the mountain and drop you off. All you have to do is ride down hill. How awesome is that?! The cost of renting a bike and being shuttled up to the station was only $27.00 each. They equip you with a bike, helmet, and water. We used www.blueblazebikeandshuttle.com. There were several outfitters in town, so take your pick, or bring your own!

There are places to stop along the way as you’re heading down the trail. There are restaurants and restrooms. It follows the White Top Laurel River down the mountain and uses the old railway path; we crossed over 32 trestles as we came down. It ended up taking us about 5 1/2 hours since my husband fished along the way. We picnicked and just enjoyed the day. We stopped our journey in Damascus, which is the 19 mile mark down hill. We decided to do the other part of the trail another day. Most people only take about 3-4 hours to complete the section we did.

That evening, we took a journey up the mountain and ended up at Grayson Highland’s State Park. There were many trails, camping, fishing, and the AT crosses through this park too! We camped up top on the mountain and the next day we walked on a few trails and came across this sign below. We did see many hikers out and about and I spoke with several, which of course fueled my ambition to make a plan to get started hiking the AT! Anybody with me??!!

There are over 17 trails in Grayson Highlands State park that you can walk, horseback ride, or ride bikes. One trail that’s a favorite is called the Rhododendron Trail, also known as the Massie Gap Trail. This is a short walk (15-20 minutes) and you can see wild ponies just hanging out. They were very sweet as you can see, they look like pet dogs. Hikers from the AT actually walk about 3 miles on this trail within the park too! I picked up some information about the upcoming festivals and It sounds like there are many throughout the year. If interested, check it out at the highlighted link below!

If you like to get outdoors and enjoy nature, I highly recommend that you try The Virginia Creeper Trail, as well as Grayson Highlands. We went up to Massie Gap about 9:30 one night and saw the most beautiful display of stars we’ve ever seen! It was like we were in a planetaria! There was no ambient light and no moon, so I think we saw millions of stars! If you are a star gazer check out this link. I wish we had discovered this adventure when the kids were smaller. They would have loved it! I can tell you though, we will be taking them back up there to try it out because no matter what your age, you will love it too!

One last thing this week, check out some new music from a local West Virginia boy. His name is Christian Lopez and he stars in the Christian Lopez Band! The band was named one of the top newcomers by Rolling Stone in 2015! He is adorable (no I’m not being a cougar) and talented too. You’ll also love his banjo player and drummer! He will be coming to Atlanta on Friday, April 22nd at the Variety Play House with Sister Hazel, if you want to check them out locally! We saw him in Athens, GA and it was a great show! Listen to him below!!

Have a great week and make sure to be kind to someone!

Naturally, Lisa

Ideas for a Staycation??

Posted on April 4, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

This week we are off for spring break. It is a much-needed break for students as well as teachers. It is so hard to believe that we only have about 30 days left of school upon our return from the break!

I’ve heard many students mentioning varying locations they will be visiting far from home over the break; but maybe you’re doing more of a “staycation” and want to stick closer to home. Make sure to take advantage of the many natural resources we have around Atlanta. There is so much to do, but you just have to get up and go do it! Its easy to talk yourself out of it and think you have too much to do around the house, but once you get there you’ll be so glad you did!

There is so much to see in our area and I will only mention a few. You most likely know about these places but many times we just drive right by them and say…”One day…” I will start with the beautiful Lake Lanier that offers many types of water activities. It might be a little chilly to go swimming right now as the water temperature is 71 degrees, but you can definitely get out and go kayaking, boating, fishing, and camping. There are many campgrounds available. One that is always a big favorite is Old Federal Campground and Day Use Park. If anything just go have a picnic and take walk by the water!

Another fun day trip is to head north up to Tallullah Gorge in Clayton, Georgia. It’s only about a 90 minute drive from Atlanta. Tallulah Gorge State Park offers over 15 miles of fantastic hiking trails, ranging in difficulty from easy to extremely difficult. You will need to arrive early at the park’s interpretive center to request a gorge floor permit. They limit permits to 100 a day. The passes are not available on dam release days so you will need to check the schedule before you make the drive up.

Now if you want to make a few days stay in the Clayton area you can always go camping at Black Rock Mountain Campground. Take a load off after you’ve hiked and enjoy 42 camping tent sites or stay in 1 of the 10 cabins that are offered. You can enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains, four hiking trails, hiking around the lake, several waterfalls, and the forest. This is a very popular sight so you might want to try to make reservations before you go!

Now let me say if I am camping there are several items that I always take with me. First off, if you want to shower, you most likely will use a public bathroom with shower house. For the most part they are usually, pretty clean. I always wear sandals when showering, but just to be safe I use Melaleuca Oil. I add 20-25 drops in a small glass spray bottle and fill the rest with water. After I towel off, I spritz it on my feet and shoes to help cleanse and protect my toes and keep nails looking healthy.

Being outdoors, and exposed to the sun for hours at a time, can sometimes result in lip burns. The minute I get back to camp I put 1 drop of Melalueca oil and my lips to help promote healthy immune function. This is the best treatment I have ever found! Melaleuca oil can also be used for dry scalp. Add a few drops to your regular shampoo and this will help support healthy hair follicles! One last thing you might like Melaleuca oil for is for skin irritation. If you have a break out that pops up, put a drop on it and watch it help skin imperfections!

Another item that is a must have when outdoors and I’ve learned to never leave home without when I am camping is lavender oil. Lavender is the best oil to put on a any skin irritations. It immediately soothes the sight and it makes skin feel better. If you have anything that itches put a few drops on and you will be amazed! It’s all natural and has no side effects! It smells great too!!

I will be heading further north this week. I am off to explore a few campgrounds in Virginia. We are planning on heading up the Blue Ridge Parkway and taking a few detours along the way. I will be able to report back about my excursions next week. We found some interesting campgrounds and some beautiful scenery to check out. We plan to stock the cooler and let the road take us where it will. We will be doing some hiking, biking and fishing!

I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing, spring break!

Naturally, Lisa

What Would Jesus Do?

Posted on March 27, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Happy Easter to you all! The song linked above is one that I often hear on the radio and absolutely love. Because it is Easter Sunday, I thought that it was fitting and I wanted to share with you all. If you have never heard this song before its called “Your Name is Glorious”, by Jesus Culture, featuring Kim Walker-Smith. I think you’ll like it!

You know the saying, “What goes around, comes around.??” Well essential oils for healing are making their way back around!! Did you know that essential oils and plants used for healing were mentioned in the Bible more than 500 times? Do you know the first oil mentioned in the Bible? If you do I’m impressed. I will give you a hint: You can find it in Genesis 37:23-28. “And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.” Its Myrrh Oil!

In the Old Testament oils were referenced in 36 out of the 39 books and in the New Testament they were referenced in 10 out of the 27 books. Plants have been used medicinally since the beginning of time. Essential oils, as we know them today, are not the same as they were then, due to advancement of extraction and distillation processes. Now we are benefitting from a much purer form of oil.

The same chemical procedure still enables oil to pass through the skin and into the body. It passes through the cell membrane and within 30 seconds it can be in your bloodstream. For example, If you place a drop of peppermint oil on your foot, you will taste it in your mouth within 30 seconds. Crazy right?! Try it out! Then within 30 minutes that oil will be in every cell of your body. Bam! That’s awesome! It is mind blowing that the healing properties from essential oils can happen that quickly!

Back in the day, 2016 years ago and many years even before that, when spring arrived, as it does each year, what did the people do for seasonal discomfort? Seriously WWJD? People had to use natural sources from the land to help them with any problem they had. They used holistic, plant-based solutions. The oils were essential in every aspect of their lives. Haha get it?” Essential?” Man I crack myself up!

There is evidence dating back before the Egyptians, of people using Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Cassia, and Lavender oils to help with wounds, upset stomach, cleaners, skin care, perfume, religious ceremonies, bug repellant, embalming, and promoting health and well being. I mean the list goes on and on! Oils were so valuable that they found gallons of them in the tombs of the Pharaohs to be used for their afterlife.

When Jesus was born, the Three Wise Men even brought him the offering of Frankincense and Myrrh. Too cool! These oils were more valuable than gold and only used for royalty. Frankincense is called “The King of Oils”. It has been used in religious ceremonies as they would burn the resin. It was used a salve for skin as well as a perfume. Frankincense is great for your skin and promotes a feeling of well being. The saying is, “If in doubt, use Frankincense.” You can’t go wrong with it. I use it daily!

Myrrh was also known to be as valuable as gold and was used in many religious ceremonies as well. It was often used in the embalming process, and as a health aid. It has great healing properties for the mouth and throat. Do you ever get an itchy throat? You can add it to a cup of water to gargle with it, or add a drop to your toothpaste to promote healthy gums. This oil can also be used topically, specifically on the face, to get rid of fine lines and imperfections.

We are so lucky to have access to these oils today. We need to take advantage of them and add them to our daily health regimen! They are an alternative that we should reach for first!!

As I have started my holistic approach and journey to wellness, I try not to take anything unless it is all natural.

I rarely even take Tylenol or Advil unless it is the last resort.

There are several essential oils that can help support seasonal threats. The best threesome (no, not that kind haha)…. for seasonal discomfort are: lavender, lemon, and peppermint oils. Put 2 drops of each of these three oils in a gel cap and ingest. You can diffuse them together or rub them on your feet too! Add a drop of each to a steaming cup of water and just inhale. It will help clear your breathing and aid in healthy respiratory function.

There is a product that has made this super easy for you. All three oils are combined for you in a gel cap ready for you to take. All you have to do is swallow. The product is available and I would love to hook you you up. Contact me if you would like to know more. You can take 1-2 a day as needed for seasonal discomfort. Keep out of reach of children and if you are pregnant, get your doctor’s approval first.

Have you ever had that drippy nose in the spring? Lemon oil might be able to help with this problem. Rub a drop right under your nose. If you have sensitive skin you will need to dilute with a little fractionated coconut oil or olive oil. I also love using lemon oil in my water. Just a few drops a day and it supports healthy digestion as well as adds some energy to your step! Tip: Glass containers work best for your drinking water when adding oils.

The lemon oil is such a versatile product. I use it to clean my house too! I put about 15-25 drops in a glass spray bottle with some vodka, or rubbing alcohol, and water, and it works fantastic to clean sliding glass doors, mirrors, and stainless steel appliances. No toxic side effects and it deodorizes as you clean! It has such a refreshing aroma! Remember that lemon oil is not lemon juice. The oil comes from the rind of the fruit. It is very potent! You can also use it as furniture polish. Good ‘ol Lemon Pledge, move over!

One last oil that is also great for seasonal discomfort, (and I think every household should have) is called Respiratory blend. It is a blend of oils and helps clear airways eases breathing. It supports your respiratory system. There are also Respiratory drops (like a cough drop) that help clean and sooth the airways.

I love all these products so much and I could go on and on! You really have to give them a try and you will see for yourself! They will change your life just like they have mine!

Please let me know if I can help you in any way! I would love to get you started on your own holistic journey and would be happy to send you some samples so you can feel the difference yourself! Please Contact me with any questions!

Proverbs 29:18
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is He..”

I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day! Be kind to someone and always be kind to yourself!

Happy Easter! WWJD

Naturally, Lisa

Spring is Sprouting, So Can YOU!

Posted on March 20, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Happy first day of spring!

The flowers are bursting out around here and it is so beautiful!! Spring has sprung! I decided I wanted to get on the bandwagon too!

I have started to grow my own sprouts. It is really super easy to do and it only takes a few days until you have sprouts ready to eat! I double dog dare you to try it!!

Last week I spoke about the rise of diabetes in our country. If you didn’t read my blog from last week, make sure to check it out! I listened to Dr. Greger’s book on Audible. It’s called How Not To Die. It was very in depth but well worth listening to; if you are really serious about making a change in your diet and your health. I highly recommend it!

One key idea I picked up on in the book was how beneficial broccoli is to our health. It helps with many types of cancers. He suggests to eat it every day. He also mentions that broccoli sprouts help reduce the risk of type II diabetes. He recommends 1/4 cup of broccoli sprouts a day.

So you want to get started!?!?! You only need a few things: You will need a couple of ball jars, a screen for each jar to put over the top of the opening to strain the water off, and some seeds of your choice. I started with broccoli and sunflower seeds. They are yummy!

You can, of course, order a set that includes everything you need, but I wanted to try it with what I had available. I wasn’t sure if I’d like this whole sprouting seeds business and I didn’t want to invest much money if it was awful. I have to say I like using the jars and they are super easy. Maybe one day I’ll get the trays and the set, but right now I like using the jars.

To start, you will need to rinse the jars and place a little bit of the seeds in the bottom of the jar. The broccoli seeds are so tiny only about 1 teaspoon is needed. I just usually guess and pour. Screw on the lid with the screen in place. Rinse the seeds and place upside down to strain the water off. I place mine in a bowl upside down at an angle so the water can continue to drain.

I put them in a dark spot for the first 24 hours. You could throw a towel over them if you want. I usually put mine in my pantry. Then after 24 hours, bring them out, or uncover, and let them sit on your counter. I rinse them several times throughout the day and follow the same procedure.

Rinse, strain, place upside down on counter. I do this for several days until they sprout and completely fill up the jar. Then, they are ready to eat!!! I take them out of the jar and place them in a container and keep them in the refrigerator. Add them to your salad or to any meal. You can even juice them! Who knew right?

Here’s a great Caesar salad dressing recipe from Dr. Michael Kluper. This recipe was from the book How Not to Die.

2Tbsp almond meal
3 crushed garlic cloves
3Tbsp dijon mustard
3Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
2Tbsp white miso
3Tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup of water

Blend and enjoy! If you have a high speed mixer it might be best to use whole almonds in place of the almond meal.

Here’s another way to use your sprouts. Try this stir fry recipe.It’s yummo!

Cook 1 cup of white rice. While it’s cooking, scramble an egg. Add oil to a pan, add rice, shred a bit of carrot, a little onion, add the egg, salt and pepper to taste, and of course add your broccoli and sunflower sprouts. Add a little dab of butter while this is all cooking. Stir and brown, Add Bragg’s Liquid Amino (soy sauce alternative) and you have a fabulous meal! It’s super easy! You of course could add some chicken or steak too!

Here’s a great diffuser recipe to try this spring. It will take you to paradise!!

2 drops citrus or wild orange

2 drops Sandalwood

3 drops Grapefruit

If you need a diffuser, or any oils, I would love to talk with you about them! Just let me know!

I hope you have a fantastic week! Get out there and move around! Spring is here!!

Naturally, Lisa