Thursday, June 25, 2015

Allergies, pollen, dust, oh my!

So I have continued to use my essential oils, but it hasn't helped.  I am still taking my allergy medicine plus Tylenol Sinus just to have a somewhat normal nose. 



Anyway, I was talking to a good friend of mine and she mentioned her daughter, who is maybe 2, just got diagnosed with allergies as well.  So they bought a diffuser, and use the same mixture as I do, peppermint, lavender, and lemon, and diffuse it for her.  She said it has cleared her up completely.  

So I am off to find a diffuser, in hopes that it will help!

I am not giving up on essential oils, but I just don't know if the topical method is good for me, for my allergies.

Update 7/24:
I still haven't bought a diffuseer, and kind of gave up on the essential oils for allergies, until I get one.  But I am not completely giving up.


Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Almost New Years Eve!

So our Mary Kay year goes from July 1 - June 30.  So for us it is almost time to celebrate all our wins for 2014-2015!  



And of course this is the last push for the end of the year for a lot of us.  It is where dreams are accomplished, goals reached, and celebrations will occur.  


I just found out today that I am less than $2000 away from a huge goal.  I have never sold $2000 in one week.  But there is a first time for everything, right?

So help a sister out!  Any sized order is greatly appreciated. And if you don't have a consultant yet, register on my website (www.marykay.com/lizherman), and you'll get 25% off any order over $75!

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Day 2/3 of Essential Oils

So I have been using the essential oil blend, Allerg-ease, for a few days now.  I am not sure it is working.  And I'm not sure that I am doin it correctly.  

This is why I haven't gone full force with essential oils.  I don't feel like I know how to use them properly.  I did have another brand of essential oils' rep tell me to use one of their blends, for a totally different ailment, back to back to back...  As in put it on, wait a few minutes, put it on again, and repeat.  Now, I want to believe in them.  I want them to work.  I am not a person who likes taking medicines.  

But so far, I am disappointed.  They haven't helped my allergies yet.  In fact, I've had to add another medicine to make it through my day normally.  So I am taking my Allegra, Tylenol Sinus, and using these essential oils.

So weigh in...  Who uses them?  How do you use them?  What brand?  Do you diffuse, use them topically, or ingest them?

Saturday, June 20, 2015

I'm jumping in...

So my essential oils from Jade Bloom arrived yesterday.  I completely forgot to try them last night, but I will be trying them tonight. And I will update you on my feelings, experiences, and everything.

I got an oil born for my allergies, and a camping blend for... Well, I have a very high strung 3 year old.  Lol

I am not 100% sold on ingesting these, but it does say on the website that they are safe for ingesting.  I will be applying them topically.  I also hear that infusing them is good, and maybe one day I will dive into infusing them.  But for now, I'm taking the easy route.

Have you used essential oils?  Tell me about your experience.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Link

Here is my latest fitness post, over at my other blog.  Enjoy.

Fit For Life Liz

Traveling with 2 under 10

I know, I know... Doesn't sound as accomplished as some out there, but I will wiring this throughout my trip up north (as we southerners says).

So, a little background, I have an 8 year old girl and a 3 year old boy.  My hubby is stationed in DC, and we don't live with him, at the moment.

Just a side note, I can't stand when people assume that we are getting divorced.  We aren't, not that it is anyone's business by my husband's and my own.  Sometimes military families have to be separated, whether voluntarily or not.  Our's was voluntary, but it doesn't make it any easier.

Okay, so back to my journey.  The kids and I are going to spend some time up north with family for the summer.  I used to spend my summers along Lake Michigan at our family summer home.  It is still a magical place to me.  Where else do you have gorgeous beaches, along a freshwater lake that seems as big as an ocean... Well, you can't see across it anyway.  

Now, it is a bit different, because we are on a different lake, although it does feed into "the Lake" (Lake Michigan).  Now I can see across my lake, but that's okay.  I still love being there.

So, I'm sure in the next few days, I will become more and more stressed, as I realize there is WAY more than I thought I had to do to get ready.  But we will be fine... At least, that is what I am telling myself!

So I started this post before we left.  And you know what?  We made it... in one piece... and without too much angst.

Seriously, my kids turned into angels in the car... okay, angels is going a bit far.  But my 3 year old, who is a handful and all boy, actually didn't do too badly in the car.

Both kids had a DVD player, and watched them, with head phones!  Unheard of!  

The first day we drove for only about 5-6 hours.  Not too bad.  And I took the kids to the pool when we got to our hotel.  The second day was a long day, but it went quickly.  And we stopped at my Aunt's house in Cincinnati.  We spent 1 day and 2 nights there.  It was a great break.

And we arrived in Michigan, in one piece, without being too angry at each other.  Now the kids are enjoying the lawn, the lake and fishing.  We plan to visit the beach, hang out with our cousins, visiting all sorts of tourist places, and just plain relaxing.

Let the summer begin!

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Health, weight loss and self esteem

I feel like I am continually on the quest for better health, to lose weight and feel good about myself.

I know outward appearances don't matter too much, but I also know that when we feel good about our outward appearance, especially if it coincides with our inner self, we are more confident, which just makes life better.  It makes me happier, not sure about you.

Anyway, so I am always talking about how I eat cleanly, well, most of the time.  No one is perfect, let's be real here.  And I did for a long time.  But my nutrition had gone overboard in the last few months, between cheese, wine, and sugar, I just felt gross.  So I decided to take it into my own hands and change it.

A good friend, if not best friend, found this book and this system.  So I read the book.  It made sense.

The book, "Why Kids Make You Fat and How to Get Your Body Back" by Mark Macdonald, made sense.  I liked what he was saying and I liked what I read about the program.  They, to me, took a real life approach to nutrition.  I do feel like our society is going down a slippery slope.  And I had an unhealthy relationship with food, and wine.  And by the wine part, I mean if I had a trying day, or long day, or the kids acted up, or whatever, I would have a glass or two of wine a night.  I decided I needed to "dry" out.  Don't get me wrong, once I feel better and feel like I am on my way to better health, I will indulge in my favorites, like wine and chocolate.  Sugar was also a big thing for me.  I was eating way too much of it.  So I cut them out... for a week.

So far, it has been a LONG week.  But I have felt better.  My week is up on Sat.

Back to this program.  It is all about eating in 3's... protein, carbs (but good carbs like fruits and veggies) and healthy fats.  Whole foods, good foods, not processed.  So it seemed to fit into what I wanted my nutrition to look like.

One thing I have found, for myself, that I'm not sure it is enough food.  The book says to throw what we all know about calories out the window.  So we aren't counting calories, or macros, but instead eating portion sizes.  This part fits with the 21 Day Fix (affiliate link) that I love so much!  Similarities are that it is recommended to eat every 3 hours, and to eat smaller meals.  Where it differs is that at each meal you are to eat your 3's, but the portion sizes are considerably smaller.

21 Day Fix focuses on eating enough fruits and veggies.  This program says one lean protein (chicken breast, turkey breast, ground chicken breast, ground turkey breast, etc.), one carb (fruit or veggie) and one good fat (nuts, seeds, avocado, etc.).  There are some "free" foods on this program, but they are mostly herbs, and lettuce, spinach, pretty much anything you'd make a salad with.  That's it.  Easy, because meal planning has been easy.  But difficult, because I'm not sure I am getting enough.  Oh and I almost forgot, no caffeine... well if you can do it.  Some people do "detox" off the caffeine.  I personally do not.  But I do miss my morning coffee and all it's horribly delicious chemical goodness.

There are supplements that you are supposed to take.  But you need to read the book to get those and the dosages.

The first two days, I hit the afternoon slump BIG time!  As in falling asleep in my chair, hit the slump.  I am feeling better.

I do not know if I have lost weight, but I definitely feel less bloated, and day by day, I am having less cravings for bad things.

I went out for lunch with my mom yesterday, and had a hard time finding something I would enjoy eating and was on plan.  WOW!  I never really thought about that before.  So I cheated, a bit.  I had whole grain bread.  Oh yeah, did I forget to mention no breads, carbs - like rice, etc, salt or cheese.  All of which I love.

But don't fret, you do slowly add these back in, in the later phases of this nutrition plan.  It is supposed to be an 8 week run for health, which leads you to making a lifestyle change.

So my friend who introduced me to it, lost 12 or 13 lbs in her first week.  Yes, the book acknowledges that this is mostly water weight.  After the first week, you move into the fat burning phase.  You get to add back in other foods, and even a cheat meal, or off plan meal.  And finally the third phase is supposed to be your forever phase, with life happening when it happens.

So she has continued to lose another 2-3 lbs in the last week or two.  She has been on this plan for about 3-4 weeks.  I think it is fantastic that she isn't starving on this plan.  I am... which is why I don't know if it is the exact program for me.  Does this mean I am stopping completely?  No...  I am just modifying it.  And once this first week is over, which is what the book suggests, I will be adding back in exercise.  I have a few races I want to run and am thinking about pursuing a certification for a particular exercise program that I have fallen in love with.

So tell me, what kind of program do you follow?  Do you meal plan?

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Let's talk essential oils

I don't know about you, but I am the type of person who HATES, (did I say that loudly enough?), to take medicines.  I can't tell you why, and I know sometimes they are necessary, but overall, I think that our society is quick to medicate.

So, I've been on a search for something more natural.  And walks in essential oils into my life.

It feels like there was this HUGE boom, overnight, of people using essential oils, and people joining companies that sell oils.  I am SO not against direct sales of any kind, trust you me.  I know I can outfit my home and even grocery shop through direct sales, and then clothe yourself.  You can buy EVERYTHING through direct sales and I love it!

I love it because it helps keep parents home, it offers a way for people to better themselves, to feel good about their lives, to own something when they might have felt they couldn't.  I know, I participate in them and support my fellow consultants/coaches/reps (whatever you may wish to be called).

But I digress...  Sorry, not sorry!

Anyway, I have tried out different essential oils, and want to learn more, especially for ones to keep me and my family healthy (including my allergies).  I am still super green when it comes to oils, and how to use them.  But I am forever reading, and learning.

In the meantime, I did find a company that I feel has quality oils.  Not that I feel that one company is better than the other.  I know I have thought that some of the prices were a bit high, but again, I am learning all about them.

Please check out this company (affiliate link) and tell me what you think!


So tell me, what is your favorite essential oil?  Do you use them?  Regularly?