The Embrace Blog

Welcome to the Embrace blog where we share self-care tips to help you get the most out of life.  

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Keeping Healthy as the Weather Changes

body mind emotion Mar 25, 2024

Well speaking of the weather, how is your health doing?  Not only your physical body, but your mind as well. I know most of us are done with winter, yet she persists.

For many of us, myself included, you feel the nudge of a cold approaching.  What do you do?  Do you take action, or just brace for what's ahead.

  • Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids such as water, herbal teas, and broths. Staying hydrated helps your body fight off infections and can ease symptoms if you do get sick. There is nothing like a bowl of homemade chicken soup, but I will say when I feel that way I look for comfort soup, like Campbell's chicken noodle.  Mind you, the salt content may be high. 
  • Rest Up: Listen to your body and rest as much as possible. Sleep supports your immune system, and getting enough of it can help your body fend off a cold.  This includes taking a nap if you feel tired - listen to your body, it's trying to tell you what it needs.
  • Wash Your Hands Regularly:...
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Turning Regret into Wisdom - it's a process!

mind and emotion Dec 08, 2023
Do you have a current situation in your life that you think about often, with full regret? How often do you think about it?  Does it bring you down or upset you or agitate you everytime you think about it?  Do you then pass that onto others?  Is it a cycle that just seems to keep repeating in your head that you can't seem to shake?  
 
If you answer yes to these questions, know that you are not alone.  In fact we are never really taught about regret and how to turn it into wisdom, we just experience it and navigate through the best we can.
 
What do you think regret is doing to your overall view of yourself?  Your energy?  Your "glow"?  Do you put yourself up high on the list when it comes to self-care?  Probably not, at least for me I know it knocks me down if I am suffering with regret.  
 
If you can't think of any regrets you have, let's look at common reasons for regret and see if you can relate.  Then we can...
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Adapting to Change

mind Nov 10, 2023
Have you noticed the pace of change, especially when it comes to technology, AI, and even my bank just changed the orientation of the access card at the bank machine!  It just never stops, and as they say 
"The only thing that is consistent is change itself."  
 
Why is adapting to change a part of self-care?  If we resist change we get set in our ways, get stubborn, maybe even angry at the changes and we spend time fussing over them wasting valuable time and energy that can be better used.  That's why it's better to be flexible and to learn to adapt. 
 
The question is, do you embrace change or resist it?  Here is a little demonstration for you about change.
 
CLICK HERE or photo to watch video now.
 
 
So you see, that is just a simple task of changing the position of your thumbs, and yet when asked to put your hands together again fast, you go back to the old way.  This is so true about most change in our...
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Is It Really "Comfort Food"?

body mind emotion Oct 09, 2023
With the cooler temperatures creeping in, do you find yourself reaching for your favourite "comfort food"?
 
What is your favorite comfort food of all time?  
Here are some top comfort food choices:
  • Mac & Cheese - who can resist that creamy cheesy pasta?
  • Chicken Soup - a hearty dish that's believed to have healing properties, and just warms our belly.
  • Mashed Potatoes - growing up on those as a kid makes me feel warm and protected, especially topped with butter, salt & pepper.
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwich - crispy bread and gooey melted cheese make for a comforting combination.  
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies - a timeless comfort food, especially fresh out of the oven with melted chocolate chips.
  • Spaghetti and Meatballs - warm and filling in the tummy.
  • Chili - another popular dish as the weather turns cold.
  • Fried Chicken - Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside.
  • Pizza - a North American favourite, loaded with your favorite toppings.
  • Ice Cream - another creamy...
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Do you LOVE Essential Oils?

body mind emotion Sep 13, 2023

 

Are you a lover of essential oils? 

If yes keep reading as I share an amazing Face Tightening Serum, all natural below.

But first did you know that doTERRA essential oils come from parts of the world where they originated? Lavender from Bulgaria for example. Why does this matter, because those soils are rich in minerals and nutrients that you cannot get from just growing your own here in North America.  This alone sets doTERRA apart for the others, but wait there's more.

 

Anyone can label an essential oil as "therapeutic" as there is no regulatory board for essential oils.  Due to this doTERRA has implemented rigorous testing standards to set them apart.  First, before it leaves its country of origin; 2 - as it enters the USA by an external source;  and 3 - in the doTERRA lab, every batch, not just a sampling from the main batch, is tested and once it meets standard, it is bottled at their site in Utah.  There are now warehouse in Canada...

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The Pros and Cons of Caffeine

body mind emotion Sep 12, 2023
Are you a coffee or tea drinker?  
 
Do you drink either everyday?  
 
More than one, or are you that person who always has a coffee in hand or at your desk?  
 
Do you ever consider the fact that caffeine is highly addictive and that you may also be addicted? 
 
Do you care?  
If not take a read below as you may change your mind.
 
Lots of questions I know, and drinking these beverages, and the many variations is a widely accepted practice, even around the world.  There is nothing like a cappuccino when in Italy!  
 
Speaking of Italy, what really took me by surprise when we were there many moons ago, is that there were no "to go" orders.  You stopped, sat or stood and drank your cappuccino and enjoyed every last drop.  So different than the lifestyle we were used to at home, where it is rush rush rush, do more, have more, work more... then at least for me I found caffeine became a necessary part of my...
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Tips for Getting Back to Routine

mind and body Aug 23, 2023

Getting back to routine can be challenging, but it's essential for productivity and overall well-being.  It's a huge part of self-care as you schedule it into your life. 

It's back to school time, indicating it's time to get back to routine, summer is just about over, and it's time to focus.
 
When thinking about autumn, do you ever get that inkling that aaaahhh fall is about to arrive, and it's time to get back to routine, and maybe even start something new?  It always reminds me of the feelings I had as a teenager, going back to high school, and anxiety, the excitement, the smell of fall in the air, the crunching of leaves...  time to get life on track.
 
Not sure where to start? You're not alone.  Here are 10 tips to help you get back on track, or on track for the first time.
 
1  Start Small - We have all tried something where you jump in with both feet, only to find yourself drifting away from that thing within a few months or even...
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Dealing with the HOT HOT summer

body Jul 19, 2023

With the planet heating up, so are we!  Many places are hitting temperatures and breaking records.  The sad part is, this is our new norm, so we need to learn to cope accordingly.  This is a very important part of our self-care.

 
Tips on staying cool during our hot summer days:
  • Stay Hydrated - drink plenty of water and or eat hydrating food like watermelon, cucumber, and citrus fruits.  In fact add a slice or two of cucumber to your water.  It then becomes what some call "living water" and helps you better absorb the water your drinking leading to better hydration. 
  • Become a Shade Seeker when outdoors, and avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day, typically between 10am and 4pm.  When walking I stick to the shady side of the street.
  • Perform outdoor activities in the morning before it heats up.  We make sure we get Penelope our dog out and back typically before 10am.  After that it's just to dangerous.
  • Air Conditioning -...
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Feeling Stressed? Try this...

mind and emotion Jul 09, 2023

Feeling stressed and can't seem to find a remedy?

Have you ever tried or even heard of Lemon Balm?
 
First of all what is Lemon balm, and where can you get it?
 
Lemon balm is a herbaceous perennial plant from the mint family.  It is native to Mediterranean region and is widely cultivated around the world for its aromatic leaves and medicinal properties.
 
The leaves of lemon balm are primarily used for their medicinal and culinary purposes, such as in making herbal teas, infusions, tinctures, and extracts.  
 
Now regarding tinctures, many are preserved in alcohol, but common sense dictates (as suggested by Anthony William and I agree) that we could be harming our liver and making it process that, instead of gaining all the goodness from the Lemon balm.  Our livers become drunk with alcohol so is it really going to give us the best bang for our buck?  Would you hire a drunk to deliver your nutrients, or would you think they were probably not...
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Mind Care - When is it time to reach out for support?

mind Feb 12, 2023

As I have been creating content for the self-care membership, it reminded me of the importance of "mind care" for our mental health.  You see in the membership I focus on all parts of us, meaning, the Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual. If we can maintain those four areas, we have a better chance at achieving balance in our life as we care for ourselves beyond the physical. 

But first what do I mean by "mind care" and "mental health"?

When I was a kid (with transparency I'm mid-50's now) the term "mental health" was not used in my circle anyway, it was "mental illness" which through my limited paradigm back then, meant something was seriously wrong.  I really did not know anyone who experienced it, so had no idea of what it meant.  In fact the term scared me, as I figured it meant someone would be locked up or put onto some serious medication.  Aaaahhh ignorance...

Let's zoom ahead to present day where the term "mental health" is used frequently, and...

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