Featured

Seriously. In today's world it seems something is always competing for our attention... the news, podcasts, social media, etc. Something is always happening + wanting to be seen. But you know what... something has ALWAYS been happening. Right? And the world kept turning.

Green Smoothie Recipe

This smoothie recipe is one of my favorites and one I have almost every single day. We do change it up a wee bit here and there because, to be honest…. I typically share my smoothie with the Gillies, our 5yr old twins and some days they ask for chocolate or berries instead. And I’m not going to rock that boat because with smoothies, it’s a way I can sneak in some extra greens and superfoods! You feel me?

Makeup Bag "MUST HAVES" for Moms

Wow. Let’s be real for a second, love. Growing up, I never learned about make-up… which is COMPLETELY odd considering I grew up in the South, right? However, my mom wasn't into make-up so... it's not something I learned. Not saying that’s bad or good… just my story. Now. In full honesty, there are a few things I NORMALLY use such as:

+ eyeshadow (for my right eyebrow - to hide a scar: fell off a chair when I was wee little)

+ sunscreen on my face

+ mascara (for special occasions)

And that's typically it....EXCEPT if you count chapstick. Does that count?

WHY BRAIN + GUT HEALTH BECAME MY PASSION... and true calling

Um. I bet you read this title and was like… what, the what? Am I right? Because it’s my life and even I didn’t see how this twist was going to unfold. But, I’ll try to share with you the bullet points as the WHOLE story is a wee bit too personal to just throw up on the screen in words and if being truly honest, it’s still a raw which is CRAZY as it began almost 6 years ago!

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

BOOK REVIEW: Body Love by Kelly LeVeque

If you couldn’t tell, I highly recommend this book... it's not about a diet, but personalizing your nutrition for YOUR LIFESTYLE and more!

This book will stay in close reach… I’m still not through making all those delicious “FAB4Smoothies”. If you tried one, which one was your favorite? Make sure to comment below or shoot me a DM on social to let me know! Today’s was CHUNKY MONKEY…. so good! Oh, so good!

WHEN STRESS SLIPS ME BACK INTO OLD HABITS... YIKES!

STRESS KICKED ME IN MY LADY BITS

Wow. Talk about being REAL with the title… when stress kicks me in my lady bits. And this wee bit of a blog post is all about being real with you but mostly with myself. See. In January, I realized I needed to start focusing on my health… I noticed my gut was a bit unhappy with my life choices: not sleeping, not eating enough calories, not drinking enough water, getting anxious over things I have no control over, saying “YES” to things that weren’t my focus or getting TO my goal!

So. I designed a plan…. something doable. Focusing on what I could control, read on!

Focusing on Self-Care with HERBAL TEA BATHS

As an emergency veterinarian, twin mama bear, wifey and wellness coach hosting a FREE community (Brain + Gut Health Explorers), I definitely felt MY OWN wellness had fell to the sidelines. And I’m not talking about eating well and working out… I’m talking about TAKING CARE OF ME with self-care!

And taking care of YOU may look so much different to the next person, but that’s the beauty of things, right? You discover what works for you… which may be: an epsom salt bath, a weekly massage (not jealous at all), a girl’s night out a month, getting lost in a new book or even taking a break with a foot massage after a hard shift at work.

You find a way to take care of YOU love… put that oxygen mask on FIRST, am I right? Herbal tea baths is one way I am learning to do this for ME! Here’s the recipe…

WHY I STILL HAVE CHOCOLATE ON MY WELLNESS JOURNEY…

First off, who needs a reason to eat chocolate… am I right? But here’s the thing. Yep. You knew there was a catch, didn’t you? You gorgeous thing, you!

The catch is this. I’m not talking about chocolate that you find in your typical over-the-counter candy bars or snack items. Those typically have MILK chocolate which has a higher sugar content and less of cocoa. The chocolate I’m referring to is dark chocolate (85% cocoa or higher, if you can stand it).

HOW THIS MOMPRENEUR WORKS OUT AT HOME

Now. This may sound a wee bit silly... but, learn to schedule exercise like an appointment. IF you think of exercise like a meeting with YOU being the CEO of your body... you wouldn't miss the meeting, right?

Even if you are JUST starting out (now: check with primary care physician before starting any new workout routine)... but write down exactly when you are going to workout + with what (DVD, group class, weights, walk around the block, etc).

CHARCOAL: My Favorite Beauty Ingredient

As an emergency veterinarian, I have used activated charcoal plenty of times to treat certain toxins in patients, but over the past year or so, charcoal has made it’s way into my beauty routine.

First, as a cleanser in my facial soap bar and weekly face mask which I love! Then, I started to use charcoal in my tooth paste… and now in my deodorant! I’ll share these products down below as well as a few links if you’d like to dive deeper into understanding charcoal! And why wouldn’t you? For me, I love discovering new ways to reduce chemicals + toxins in our daily routine because there always seems to be a connection in everything, right? Especially in the products you use and your brain + gut health.

NOURISH BOWL RECIPE: focusing on my plate and not calories

Recently. I discovered the need to stop focusing so much on NUMBERS and really shift my attention to the TYPES of foods I was nourishing my body with which maybe a bit of a “duh” moment to some… but it was an “aha” moment to me. Maybe you are like this as well… you focus so intently on HOW MUCH calories you eat or get overwhelmed with macronutrients. How much fat? How many carbs does this have? Ugh. Do I need more protein?

It’s all too overwhelming and if I’m being honest, it’s a slippery slope for me… because once I start tracking numbers, it’s ALL i think about and my attitude towards food starts to become a tad bit aggressive instead of realizing food is a gift to my body — it gives you the ability to HEAL and NOURISH your body! How wonderful is that, am I right?

MY TOP 5 HEALTH HACKS FOR 2019!

What better time to share with my tribe in Brain + Gut Health Explorers Community and YOU my top 5 health hacks I TRY to do each day for my overall health than the first part of the NEW YEAR!!! Truth, these may be things YOU do already + maybe you have health hacks that YOU think are vital... share, love. The more you know, the more you can grow. Now, let’s dive in…

HOW I SNEAK VEGGIES INTO MY KIDS (and hubster's) PLATE!

Okay. If you follow me for even a wee bit, you know I love a good green smoothie... loaded with healthy fats + dark berries. Majority of the time, I am blessed that our 5yr old twins (aka. the Gillies) enjoy my love for a good green smoothie as well. I know. I know. I am blessed.

However. Every once in a while the Gillies get a wee bit sassy which they inherited primarily from their daddy-o… and they do not want to have a green smoothie. READ ON for the recipe…

Stop Flaking on YOU!

Each time, I postpone an appointment or skip out on getting my hair cut or bail on that hot yoga class... I’m saying, “there’s something more important than me + my health at that moment.”

Ouch. Right? Well… read on.

MOMPRENEUR'S HACKS FOR GOOD NIGHT SLEEP

You probably have heard that a kick-sass morning routine is what you need to WIN YOUR DAY! Heck, it’s something I tell the women in our Brain + Gut Health Explorers Community… but here’s a fun factoid for you.

Yes. Rising + shining (even dimly) early in the morning and crossing things off your list will help you reach that goal… lose weight, publish that book, be a homeschooling teaching ninja… whatever goal you set for yourself. But the thing NO ONE talks about is the importance of an EVENING ROUTINE.

Feed Your Mind… with Books

my hubster has this amazing ability to spit out truth bombs when you least expect it. or want it.
and the other day, we were talking about the goals we set for the upcoming month when insert his truth bomb… read on.

My Birthday Eve Tradition

each year on my birthday eve, I write a word of intention… one I will focus on throughout my trip around the sun. and I make a list of things I would love to accomplish… some silly, some hardcore. here’s a wee glimpse into my birthday even tradition.

Celebrate the Small Stuff

one thing we sometimes forget to do when mapping out a HUGE goal we have... whether that's a health/fitness goal, weight loss goal, business venture, family goal, etc. is CELEBRATE the wins along the way.

it’s something I learned which helped me tremendously on my health journey.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup (Low Carb Style)

RECIPE: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

The perfect soup for a chilly autumn day… you can make it with gluten free noodles OR zoodles (zucchini noodles- not pictured) for a low-carb meal.

Twin Mom/Boss Babe Life Hack: Schedule Your Week!

One thing I am learning real quick… if it’s not scheduled, this hot mess mama is most likely going to forget it. So, schedule some time for YOU to jot it down on your “ta-da” list! You don’t want to miss ANYTHING important, do you, love?

HEALTHY TRAVEL TIPS: staying on track while moving cross-country

Our family of four + two geriatric dogs recently relocated cross-country from the deep South to the Pacific Northwest. Here’s a glimpse into our story as well as some travel tips to keep you healthy, sane and the mama-fanny-pack at bay! You are welcome.

LIFE PLOT TWIST: from ER Veterinarian to Wellness Coach

Just a glimpse into how I started as an emergency veterinarian yet a dream placed in my heart yelled… PLOT TWIST!

Lot less ATTA... a wee bit more GRATTA!

Let's shift the focus to a wee bit more gratitude... write down three things each night of what you are grateful for on that day!

Popeye was on to Something... Eating Leafy Greens!

We all know we should eat greens... even Popeye eats his spinach, right? But why is it so hard for some (like my hubster) to eat their leafy greens? Seriously. The hubster has to wrap bacon around a bunch of spinach or toss it into the juicer to chug in order to get his greens. It's ridiculous, but with twin 4yr olds.... I'm starting to appreciate the fact that some people just WILL NOT eat certain foods (or at least need them to be snuck onto their plates). Here’s our tidbits on eating a cup of greens a day! Enjoy!

How Making Your Bed Helps Your Productivity

The simple task of making your bed first thing in the morning also has been linked to increased productivity, lowering one's stress level and improving one's mood as well as better quality of sleep.

It's a small task. Why not try... for a week to see how making your bed FIRST thing in the morning helps you! You in?

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

RECIPE: Homemade Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I get a load of questions within our Brain + Gut Health Explorers community with HOW WE MAKE PIZZA! Well, here you go, love. But be warned… this recipe does have dairy in it! YIKES! I know… what can I say, we are human :) Enjoy!

My typical FAST-BREAKER

RECIPE: Brain-Boosting Smoothie

I get a load of questions within our Brain + Gut Health Explorers community with HOW I BREAK MY FAST! Well, here you go, love. My quick brain-boosting superfoodie smoothie which helps fuel me right + energized to keep up with our fast-paced twins, the Gillies.

Our Daily Dose of Green Juice

RECIPE: Green Juice

Here’s our brain boosting + gut healing dose of green juice which is approved + often requested by our twin 5yr olds, the Gillies! Hope you enjoy!

Non-Dairy Chocolate "Ice Cream"

RECIPE: Non-Dairy Ice Cream

We try to be dairy + gluten free in our household... this sweet treat keeps us on our health goals and is approved by twin 4yr olds!

Natural Deodorant: Ditching Chemicals on My Pits

In our journey towards a healthier lifestyle... while our main focus is optimal brain + gut health... I realized nutrition isn't the ONLY thing that contributes to optimal brain + gut health, but also your internal dialogue... your daily habits... and even the products you place ON your body. So. I started with deodorant.