30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 30: Last Day

It is the last day of the Wellness Challenge!  Woohoo!  Honestly, I can't believe I made it to the finish line. Truth be told, there was a point where I thought to myself, "I can't believe how many bad habits I've accumulated.  How am I even standing up?"  I also wondered what I had gotten myself into.  I wasn't even sure I would be able to keep blogging for 30 days straight.  In a way, throwing out a Challenge into the blogosphere was a way to challenge myself, of keeping me honest.  If you have been following along as a lurker, multiple pats on the back all around!  I bet you thought there would be a huge revelation on the last day.  Well, not really.  On the last day, I think we all deserve a free pass, a day of freedom where we get to feel free of stress and worry, a day where we revel in feeling comfortable in our own skins.  I just wanted to add that all the suggestions posited during the Challenge were exactly that, suggestions.  Each suggestion was like a symbolic apple a day.  It is up to each of us to pick and choose what works in our own lives.  Thanks so much to all of you who silently followed along!

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 29: Reusable Glass and BPA Free Food Storage Containers

For the second to last day (!!) of the Challenge, I would like to chat a little bit about food storage containers. I have been slowly weeding out my collection of plastic containers.  We know so much more about toxins leaching out of plastic into our food and once the veil of ignorance has been pierced, there is no going back.  Even Monsieur has come on board and absolutely loves using glass containers for storing leftovers.

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I really like this 22 piece set by Rubbermaid as it is dishwasher, freezer, microwave and oven safe.  Some glass containers are not able to go into the microwave so, if you use the microwave often, this is a feature that you will want to look for.  The lids snap to bases, other lids and nest inside each other for easier organization.  How cool is that?

This one by Glasslock is oven safe and microwaveable.  I like the fact that it is airtight and leakproof.  Like the Rubbermaid set, it is BPA free and, bonus, recyclable.

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Of course, I forget Pyrex, the granddad of all glass containers!  

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The glass is preheated oven, microwave, fridge, freezer & dishwasher safe and the lid is BPA free.

Of course, heavy glass is fine for storing food at home but it is too much to expect a child to lug a heavy glass container to school.

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I like this BPA free plastic set, above, by Rubbermaid because you get 42 pieces and a variety of sizes.  As with the glass version, the lids snap together and to bases.

This BPA plastic set by JLY Canada, below,  has compartments and is stackable.

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Containers are great not just for leftovers and lunches but for meal prepping and menu planning.  This set below by Fit4Life is BPA free and microwaveable.

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Hopefully this post has given you some food for thought!  Come back tomorrow for the last day of the Challenge and celebration time.

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

  

  

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 28: Choosing The Right Task Lighting For You

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Back when I was a poor student, I rented the attic room in a boarding house.  Because it was the attic room, the rent was slightly less than the other rooms.  At the time, I thought I was getting a great deal.  I had the whole of the attic to myself.  It wasn't until the end of the school year that I realized that I had not gotten such a great bargain after all.  There was only one tiny window at one end.  The room which was panelled in dark laminate and had dark carpeting was in perpetual gloom even if all the lights were on.  I would get severe headaches after long bouts of sitting at my desk.  Eventually I realized the headaches were caused by the constant squinting.  With all the studying I was doing, I ended up permanently damaging my eyesight.  Ever since, I have been quite anal when it comes to proper task lighting.  So for Day 28, I want to chat a little about proper lighting in the home.  Broadly speaking, there are 2 types of lighting, ambient and task lighting.  I live in a condo and so changing ambient lighting which usually involves ceiling lighting is not really an option.  This challenge is about relatively easy, doable changes so I am going to focus on task lighting which usually involves desk lamps or lighting for specific tasks.  First, think about your desk or work space and whether you believe it to be adequately lit for the tasks you perform at that area.  Do you work there during day or evening hours?  Simple tasks performed for a minimal amount may only require a decorative table lamp that gives off 360 degree light.  However, if you are there for long periods of time, a desk lamp that shines a light focused on your work space or electronic devices might be better suited to your needs.  You may also wish to think about adjustability. OttLite is a highly respected brand and the OttLite Executive Desk Lamp pictured above is an example of a desk lamp designed for task lighting. A rotating shade and and height adjustments mean you can angle it to suit your lighting needs.

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There are so many styles to suit all sorts of needs.  I like this OttLite because it comes with a space saving craft organizer.

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I really like this sleek Turcom LED Desk and Table Lamp as it has a USB port, it's dimmable and has a touch sensitive control panel.  The fact that it is LED leads me to another consideration and that is the type of light bulb that the lamp uses.  Ask yourself whether you want the yellowish light of an incandescent bulb or the cooler light given off by an LED or CFL lightbulb. 

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There are so many styles ranging from traditional to contemporary to choose from, it would be impossible to cover them all.  I am sure we are all familiar with the traditional banker's lamp that is often placed over a piano.  I like this modern interpretation by OttLite pictured above.

I hope this has given you some ideas to tweak your work space so that you are able to work with greater ease and comfort.

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links. 

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 27: Picking the Right Office and Desk Chair for You

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At first glance, you would not think that the furniture in our homes ought to be included in our drive towards wellness.  Several years back, I was involved as a passenger in a car accident.  Cue months of physiotherapy and I soon came to realize how important it was to have furniture, especially office/desk chairs, that suited my needs.  Even though I am now recovered, I still think that proper office chairs for working long hours at a desk is a necessity.  They help support the back and legs and stave off fatigue and cramping.  The one pictured above is a gaming/racing style but don't be put off by the name of the style.  Gamers spend a lot of time in a chair so a comfortable chair is a must.  Look for terms such as "ergonomic" and "adjustable."  You want a chair that has as many adjustable features as possible so that you can customize it to suit your body.

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There are so many styles available and they need not be the stereotypical bland desk chair of old.  I like the one above as it has a mesh back so, visually, it has a lighter look.  Bonus is that the mesh back helps keeps you from feeling overheated.

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They don't have to come in standard issue black either.  This white Eames replica aluminum chair has a wonderful modern contemporary look to it.  At the very basic level, height adjustment is key.  Ask yourself whether you require head support or adjustable versus fixed arm rests, padded versus hard arm rests, fixed or adjustable back.  Functionality first, then looks.

Here is another white one.

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And this luxury executive chair by HomCom even has a retractable footrest!

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Years later, I still use my ergonomic chair every single day when working at my desk and would never dream of using any other type of chair.  So for me, I consider it another "lifetime haul purchase" that was made mindfully and intentionally.

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 26: Haircare for Sensitive Skin Live Clean Hypoallergenic Shampoo and Conditioner

For Day 26, I wanted to talk a little bit about haircare.  For years, I washed my hair every day.  I just assumed that I had a schizophrenic scalp and hair where it was dry and itchy yet got greasy very quickly.  I tried expensive salon brands, drugstore brands and organic brands from the health food store, to no avail.  I didn't realize that by washing it every day, I was stripping it of body oil which caused my scalp to react by producing more oil.  As well, back then, hypoallergenic, perfume free body products were almost impossible to find.  Now they are so much more readily available.  The Live Clean Sensitive Hypoallergenic Shampoo and Conditioner featured in my September, 2016 Monthly Favourites but they deserve another mention as, months later, I am still using them.  I love the fact that they are perfume free.  Increasing numbers of people are being struck by severe environmental sensitivities such as reactions to perfume and more and more employers and public places such as hospitals are banning the use of fragrance.  Personally, I don't want a lot of clashing, competing fragrances on me.  Of course, I am just writing about what I use and what works for me.  I am sure that there are a lot of lovely haircare products out there that smell delicious.  Monsieur, for example, loves slathering himself with all sorts of smellies.  The more, the better!  I buy my Live Clean products at Shoppers.  I have noticed that the Hypoallergenic ones are more likely to be carried in the larger Shoppers.  It is really heartening to find quality hypoallergenic products at a reasonable price that are readily available in a national chain store.

For a deep conditioning mask, I have tried olive oil.  It leaves caramel brown highlights in my hair.  And for toning the scalp and treating dandruff, apple cider vinegar works a treat.  These items are commonly found in your kitchen and are inexpensive solutions.  Have you tried any natural remedies?  I haven't been brave enough to try baking soda as I have seen one too many photographs of oily dandruffy Gorgon-like heads of hair to be tempted.  Although if you have tried baking soda, please share your experience!

This is not a sponsored post.  Affiliate links may be added in the future.

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 25: Natural Latex Pillows

On Day 2 of the Challenge, I wrote about better sleeping habits.  So for Day 25, I want to write about a particular method I implemented to help me get better sleep.  For much of my life, I have either used feather pillows or polyester fill pillows.  The problem with feather or down pillows is that while they fluff up wonderfully, they are not machine washable.  I started waking up in the morning with my sinuses completely clogged up and feeling like I was being suffocated.  I discovered that I had developed an allergy to dust and dust mites.  So I switched to polyester fill pillows.  Even though the label said machine washable, inevitably, they would come out misshapen and lumpy.  After a bit of research, I switched over to natural latex pillows.

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Unlike memory foam, there is no issue with offgassing.  And unlike polyester fill pillows, I don't ever have to worry about it becoming misshapen or lumpy and trying to fluff it up as, similar to memory foam, it retains its shape.  The vents prevent the sleeper from feeling hot and it is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial.  Natural latex is made plants (commonly rubber plants or bamboo) so is eco-friendly.  This is good news if you are hesitant about using down or feathers.  I am in love with my natural latex pillows and Monsieur is sold too.  For me, they really do qualify as a "lifetime haul" purchase that was made intentionally and mindfully.

Can you believe we are nearing the finish line?  Already, I feel like celebrating!  Any suggestions to throw into the ring for the last few days, speak up now!

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 24: Ceramic Fry Pans, Gotham Cookware, Le Creuset Cast Iron Skillets

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When I first set up house with Monsieur, he noticed that I didn't have any PFOA coated nonstick (Teflon coated) cookware in the house.  He promptly went out and bought a nonstick fry pan, much to my chagrin.  My protestations regarding the dangers of PFOA fell on deaf ears.  Those fry pans never last, the coating inevitably starts peeling off.  Eventually, I couldn't stand it any longer and started researching alternatives.  By that point, fry pans with a ceramic coating had now made their appearance in the world and were, to my way of thinking, a viable safer alternative to the nonstick dilemma.  I started bringing home ceramic coated fry pans and, unbelievably, Monsieur was quite pleased.  I guess my exhortations had fallen on fertile ground after all.  So for Day 24, I want to talk about switching out cookware coated with PFOA.  

Please bear in mind that all of my suggestions during the Challenge are ones that I have been trying out and aren't directives.  We all lead different lives and have different needs.  What works for me, might not work for you. As with cookware, maybe you don't have any problems using cookware coated in PFOA.  But as was the case with Monsieur, who didn't even know that a safer alternative was available, it was nice to bring it to his attention and then let him decide.

The current fry pan that we are using is the 12.5" one made by Gotham.  The coating is made of ground ceramic and copper so the interior has that flashy copper colour.  It is PFOA, PTFE, and PFOS free.

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I had assumed that a ceramic coating would be more durable than a PFOA one but you do need to be gentle with it.  No metal utensils or harsh scouring pads.  So far, our Gotham pan is holding up and Monsieur is really pleased with its performance.  I like the fact that the price is comparable to a good quality name brand stainless steel fry pan.

If you have the budget for it, you really can't go wrong with classic Le Creuset.  A well seasoned cast iron skillet is practically nonstick.  

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Any foodie or chef will tell you that they develop a deep relationship with their favourite kitchen tools and Monsieur is in love with his Le Creuset skillet.  But then, of course, he would be a fan as he is French!  They  really are workhorses in the kitchen (I am referring to Le Creuset but then, come to think of it,  Monsieur is a workhorse too) and were made to endure decades of usage.  Personally, I am just glad that my mind is at ease with the cookware that we are using.  I don't see the point of being careful choosing the food we eat but then negating all that effort by preparing it in cookware that might be leaching toxic chemicals.  I know that Le Creuset is pricey but they last for years and for me, it is a thoughtful, mindful purchase.

How are you doing with the Challenge?  The finish line is close at hand!

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 23: Mrs Meyer and Pet House Soy Candles, Flameless Candles

I am sure I am not alone in saying that I love candles.  They create an instant sense of intimacy.  But what I didn't realize is that ordinary paraffin wax candles are a petroleum byproduct.  So when I was merrily burning those candles, I was breathing in the equivalent of exhaust fumes!  In this case, ignorance really is bliss. So for Day 23, I would like to discuss alternatives to paraffin wax candles.  Myself, I have switched over to flameless candles.  No more fiddling with matches or trying to clean out the tar and soot from the candle holders.  You can even get ones that come with a remote control and timer here. 

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They even flicker like the real thing.  How cool is that?  But I must say that sometimes I do miss burning a scented candle.  Enter the world of soy candles.  Soy candles are all natural.  We have all heard of Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products but did you know that there are soy candles as well?  It comes in scents such as lavender, basil, geranium.

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The jar is a jelly jar that can be repurposed once the candle is done.  I do love being able to reuse something.  And for those households with pets, you can even get soy candles from Pet House Candle designed to tackle doggy odours.

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The one pictured above is Pina Colada but there are 15 fragrances total to choose from.  After all, our furbabies need to breathe clean air as much as we do.  I am really pleased that there are so many options available now to help us create a well home.

We are moving towards the finish line of the Challenge.  Woohoo!  If you have any suggestions, there are only a few days left to include them in the Challenge so please leave them in the comments.

This is not a sponsored post.  Some links are affiliate links.

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 22: Homemade Citrus and Vinegar Cleaner

For Day 22, I am reposting a post I wrote on homemade citrus and vinegar cleaners back in January, 2016. Over a year later and I am still using this spray.  So I can attest that this was a lifestyle or household change that has stuck with me.  I consider it relevant to the Challenge as removing toxic and/or harsh commercial cleaners from the household boosts the wellbeing of its occupants.  If you have small crawling children or pets who love licking the floors, then a gentle cleaning agent like vinegar really eases the mind.  And I don't know about you but I much prefer the scent of citrus essential oils and vinegar to the sickly, cloying scents of commercial cleaners that invariably make me nauseous.  So here is the original post.

Hello Friends!  As the last year drew to a close, I did a lot of soul searching.  I was working 3 jobs and felt really overwhelmed.  Luckily, because I had started "zone cleaning" (more on that later) and had begun simplifying my life in other areas, my home didn't fall into a complete shambles.  Well, at least not right away.  I had heard about the versatility of using vinegar as a household cleaner long ago but for some reason, the concept had never "clicked" with me.  I just assumed that commercially made cleaners would do the job much better and I would have to put up with the hassle of searching for a cleaner whose artificial fragrance didn't make me sick.  Late last year, I chanced upon the idea of making a citrus vinegar cleaner.  And as clementines are in abundance during the Christmas season, I decided to try it out.

I am not a particularly crafty person so the simplicity of making this cleaner really appealed to me.  All you need to do really is eat the clementines (or any other citrus fruit of your choosing) and put the peels into the vinegar.  I used a vintage mason jar.  I leave the peels in for about 2 weeks.  The essential oils in the peels slowly leach out and turn the vinegar orange.  The vinegar takes on a fresh citrus scent.  Plus the citrus ingredient boosts the cleaning power of the vinegar.   I love the fact that it is all natural and homemade.  You get your Vitamin C and make your own citrus cleaner at the same time.  How easy is that?

The sense of pride and satisfaction that I get every time I use the cleaner was quite unexpected.  I truly feel like I am "blessing" my home whenever I use it because it is non-toxic and I took the time to make it.  Now, making sure I always have a supply on hand to keep my spray bottle topped up is part of my household routine.

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 21: Decreasing Exposure to EMF's in the Bedroom

I don't know when it started but I began leaving my cellphone and tablet on my bedside table overnight or sometimes, if I fell asleep before moving them, they would be on the bed beside me.   I am sure that having a cellphone on the bedside table overnight is a common phenomenon especially if it is used as an alarm clock.  However, for Day 21, I want to try to decrease the EMF's in the bedroom.  I know that there is a growing body of evidence that shows the deleterious effects of longterm exposure to high levels of EMF's.  WiFi devices that are on all night long and constantly polling for a signal emit a large quantity of EMF's which can lead to poor quality sleep amongst other things.  My sleep has been terrible for months and anything that can improve it would be a boon.  As well, every time there is a notification, I just can't resist checking my phone even if it is the middle of the night.  It is as if I have fallen into the trap of FOMO without even realizing it.  So from now on, I can going to make a conscious effort to turn them off at night or, at the very least, place them as far away from the bed as possible.  Even if you don't believe in the downside of EMF exposure, if you use your phone as an alarm clock, placing it far away from the bed will force you to get up on time instead of hitting the snooze button over and over again.  So win, win!

Stay tuned as we cruise towards the last leg of the Challenge!  Now is your chance to include any suggestions in the comments!

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 20: Vitamins and Supplements

For Day 20 of the Challenge, I want to chat a little about supplements.  Now I want to be clear and state that I am not a healthcare professional and I am just doing what feels right for me.  Everyone has different needs and requirements and, if in doubt, please use common sense and consult an expert.  So now that's out of the way, let's carry on!  There was a time when I tried and tried to take a vitamin supplement, usually in the form of a daily multivitamin.  But a few days in and I would get a persistent low grade headache which would not go away.  Later, I realized that the headache was similar to the headaches one gets when doing a detox cleanse.  I could never get past it even though I knew that, if I could just get over the hump and soldier on, I would come out the other side feeling better.  However, when my health took a nosedive, I decided to give vitamin supplements another try and, lo and behold, I didn't experience any headaches at all.  I have been taking them daily for the better part of 7 months now.  The composition changes slightly depending on what I think I need.  Right now, I am taking an Omega 3-6-9 supplement, a Calcium Zinc Magnesium supplement and am trying out a Biotin supplement which I have heard is really good for healthy hair.  I was taking a Glucosamine supplement but didn't really notice any difference.  I know it can take a few months of regular use to see an improvement so I might try it again.  Normally, I get my supplements at Shoppers which is a Canadian pharmacy.  You can collect reward points at Shoppers and get notifications for flash specials.  For example, today between 6 and 9 pm, it was BOGO on select supplements.  Do you take supplements?  Any recommendations?  Have you noticed any discernible benefits?

This is not a sponsored post.  Any suggestions for the Challenge, please let me know in the comments!

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 18: Positive Thinking and Support Systems

If you grew up surrounded by negativity, learning to keep a positive frame of mind can take a lot of hard work and practice until it becomes the new normal.  You may receive push back from those closest to you who resist the change in status quo.  This can be a painful process as it is intrinsic in human nature to resist change and to be fearful of the unknown.  We all know someone who loves to be the troublemaker, that one needy person who sucks all of the oxygen out of the room and makes you feel exhausted and deflated.  It is important to maintain some distance for your own sanity and equilibrium.  I do know firsthand how difficult this can be but I realized it was absolutely essential in order for me to get a grip on my stress levels.  For example, there was one person who insisted on calling me up at 1, 2 and even 3 am in the morning simply to vent, never mind that I had to get up early the next morning.  I don't take those phone calls anymore.  I had to become choosy in structuring a support system around me that was positive and uplifting.  I also had to learn to become my own support system, my own cheerleader, and safeguard myself.  After all, if I didn't, who would?

If you have any suggestions for the Wellness Challenge, let me know in the comments so I can include them!

30 Days to Wellness Challenge Day 17: Positive Thinking and Identifying Negative Thought Patterns

Day 17 is a continuation of Day 16.  The flip side of positive thinking is identifying negative thought patterns.  This has always been a bugbear of mine.  Thoughts like "I am not pretty enough, smart enough, young enough etc" run rampant in my subconscious.  I have found that it is important to acknowledge them and move on otherwise they continue to run unchecked, sabotaging all of my actions.  How I envy those people raised with boundless self-confidence, wholly oblivious to those niggling worries and doubts that plague us lesser mortals!

If you have any suggestions for the Challenge, please let me know so that I can include them!

30 Day Wellness Challenge Day Two: Better Sleeping Habits

For Day Two of my 30 Day Wellness Challenge, I have decided to tackle my poor sleeping habit.  For years, I was chronically sleep deprived.  As a student, I pulled all nighters on the regular.  Even as a working stiff, I would keep late hours reading or watching telly as a way to escape the boredom of my waking hours spent in a cubicle.  Then, my health took a nose dive.  Night after night was spent tossing and turning in pain, trying to count sheep and failing.  Because I wasn't getting quality REM sleep, my memory and cognitive functions were impacted.  So I figured I might as well start staying up late, aimlessly surfing the Net.  Better that than miserably trying to sleep.  It didn't help that Monsieur loves falling asleep to the telly.  I don't know how many times I have had to get up at 3 or 4 am to turn off the telly.  Now, I picked sleep as today's actionable task because this is something that, normally, does not require buy-in from other household members.  Obviously, my goal might be a little harder to achieve because I find it very difficult to fall asleep with the television blaring away.  But, I am determined to give it a shot because I want to get up the next day without feeling like I haven't rested at all.  I am positive that getting a good sleep will help me to lead a more balanced life.

I hope you will continue to follow along on my journey.  Use #30days2wellnesslbh on Instagram so I can find you!

The Road To Wellness and Slow Living Begins With One Step: 30 Day Wellness Challenge Day One Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Smoothie

I had always imagined that the road to slow or simple living would be easy.  First, I started decluttering.  Let me just say here that I have been decluttering since at least the beginning of the year and I am still not done.  Decluttering brings up all sorts of emotional issues which may delay or hinder the process.  Then other areas of one's life comes under scrutiny.  What one puts in to one's mouth, the people one surrounds oneself with and how one spends one's time get parsed on a microscopic level.  And if one lives with other people there may be a lot of negotiating going on.  One may be negotiating how to redefine the home or living space and even how relationships are conducted.  It can seem incredibly overwhelming.  So I decided that I had to go back to basics.  I would do just one thing a day that would bring me back to center.  It didn't have to be a huge grand gesture like chucking everything and going backpacking around the world.  After all, who of us can do that?  Most of us have bills to pay, responsibilities to uphold and children to raise.  And it had to be something that didn't require buy-in from the entire family (although it would be great if they did join in).  But doing one actionable step every day, day by day, no matter how small, I figured I could do.

  

I used to joke about green smoothies.  "It's swamp water!" I cried gleefully.  But my health issues had plateaued.  I wasn't getting worse but I wasn't getting better either.  I needed a kickstart in the right direction. So, much to Monsieur's amazement, I came home with a bottle of emerald green sludge.  And you know what?  It tastes great!  It would take me 10 minutes to type out all the ingredients but there is stuff in there such as Nova Scotia dulse which I would never have thought to add in to a homemade version.  This is why, as a newbie in the green smoothie arena, I decided to purchase a bottle from Bolthouse Farms, rather than attempting to make my own.  I knew it would be a huge time crunch to go to various grocery and health food stores to gather all the ingredients.  For example, I don't have the faintest idea where to go to find barley grass, let alone Nova Scotia dulse.  More to the point, it had to taste good for me to continue with it.  Now, knowing that it tastes eminently palatable, I will be able to down a glass of this on a regular basis.  Day by day, it will become a habit that infuses me with goodness.  And each time I do it, I am reminding myself that I am being respectful of me, that I am worthy and that I am coming back to center.  And tomorrow I will pick some other step to take.  And all these incremental steps, strung together will guide me towards a new horizon.  So, any suggestions on what my next step should be?  I need running buddies to tow me across the finish line.  And if you want to join in, leave a comment telling me what small or large thing you did to move you along the path to wellness.  Or use #30days2wellnesslbh on Instagram.

If you have any green smoothie or healthy smoothie recipes, please let me know!

This is not a sponsored post.  

Getting My Hair Cut By A Student At The Aveda Institute

I am addicted to getting my hair cut by a student.  Yes, a student!  For years, I went to a very expensive salon.  Initially, I was paying $45.00 then it slowly crept up towards $75.00, then $95.00, then $120.00.  Now with taxes and a hefty tip, I was looking at a $150.00 haircut and, pretty soon, I knew it would be closing in on $200.00.  I don't colour my hair or have it permed or straightened.  It is a simple trim. I know that, in certain places and circles, a $200.00 haircut is nothing.  But, for me, I noticed that I was beginning to dread booking my appointment.  It wasn't just the money but I would go in expecting to come out with a revolutionary haircut worthy of all those dollars and, despite constantly asking my stylist for suggestions, I always came out looking like me, with the exact same hairstyle that was now 1.5 inches shorter.  So, I let my hair grow and grow until one day I couldn't stand it anymore and typed in "cheap haircuts" into Google. And it came up with Aveda Institute.

It turns out that it is a feeder school for my very expensive salon.  What?!  You can book an appointment with an Institute, Academy, Advanced Graduate, or Educator Level stylist and the prices reflect the stylist's level of expertise.  Usually I request an Institute Level stylist who is still a student.  The cost?  Under $30.00. This includes a blissful head, neck and shoulder massage and an offer of coffee or tea.  It is quite amusing that you can get such a bargain at a place that is located just a stone's throw away from the financial district. So far, I have had amazing haircuts and haircuts that were average but I have never had a haircut that was horrendous.  Be prepared for the haircut to take a long time.  Depending on the student's skill level, it can take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours as they are supervised and have to constantly check in with their educator.  The trade off is that this means peace of mind for the customer as there is almost no likelihood that you will come out looking like you had a run-in with a  lawnmower.

Looking back now, I do wish that I had known of this option much, much sooner.  But as with everything in life, it required a turning point in mindset.  I grew up enduring years of bad home haircuts.  From the time I was young, it was drummed into me that I had horrible hair.  It was slightly wavy, like my father's, and, boy, was my hair hated for that reason.  I grew up convinced that, if I so much as set foot in a salon, the hairdresser would take one look and faint away in horror.  When I finally was old enough to earn my own money and venture into a salon, it was a relief to find a stylist who did a decent job with my hair and didn't look at me or my poor hair like I was the spawn of the devil.  I should stop and say here, that aside from a tendency to get frizzy during humid summer months, there is nothing untoward about my hair or anything remotely suggesting that I have DNA derived from supernatural beings, aliens or similar.  At least I hope not. Even when the cost kept creeping up, I stuck with her, too afraid to look elsewhere.  I know this sounds ridiculous but isn't it true that all those deeply buried anxieties are ridiculous when dredged up to the light of day?  Getting to the root of the negative livestreaming in my head helped spur me to make a change.  It is highly unlikely I will ever go back to the land of $100 plus haircuts as I can think of many, many other things I would rather spend my money on.  Now when I pay for my student haircut, I feel truly happy that I got my money's worth for that service and that the student acquired valuable on-the-job experience.  To me, it is an even, value for value exchange.  Now, I am not saying that an expensive haircut is inherently bad.  There is something to be said for going into a swanky salon with delicious perfumed air and bowls of fresh flowers.  I had a cordial relationship with my old stylist so that wasn't an issue.  But I was going for the wrong reasons.  I was letting fear dictate my actions and leaving feeling dissatisfied.  So the takeaway from this story is that, by letting go of an old fear, something beneficial and positive came out of it.  Have you ever had your hair cut by a student?  Let me know in the comments!

This is not a sponsored post.  

I will be embarking on a 30 Day Wellness Challenge starting in June.  I am definitely going to need an internet running buddy, maybe even an entire team of running buddies to drag me over the finish line.  So this is a call for help.  Watch this space and stay tuned for that!