Hello again! Welcome to my very first blog. You are one of my first readers! I have so many topics I want to talk about but lets start with WATER. I filter mine and not only what I consume, or my family consumes for that matter, but what we all bathe, shower, even wash our hands in. You can get a home filtering system but as for us, we filter our already filtered drinking water with a pitcher. Our favorite is the Hskyhan, navy blue Alkaline filtering Pitcher. Mine is in the picture here, you can taste the difference! #ad https://amzn.to/402uKV3
You can see it too! It has an Alkaline water filter which I love, you change it every 60 days. It reminds me of Dasani water and that was my bottle I used to prefer. If you still buy plastic bottles of water, I would advise against it honestly. They just end up in our beautiful oceans somehow and my trash bags can prove it. I've watched countless videos and it's appalling. But when I seen these trash bags, I felt a little better. They are made completely of plastic bottles taken out of our oceans! Love it! My husband says they are very strong and he likes them better anyway! #ad https://amzn.to/3ZXjn0I
Being the cosmetologist that I am, I started reading about how our water was affecting our skin and hair so of course I had to try filtering the water I showered with as well..so a few months later I purchased a filtering shower head . My skin and hair IMMEDIATELY started changing!! My husband is of course a manly man. The hair comes along with that and he was always so itchy. Well I don't hear him complain anymore and that tells me it's working very well. They are affordable and very easy to install. I actually sell just the filters in my salon. One of my Favorite Beauty Companies make them so I thought why not? I definitely suggest reading the reviews but I do love this one alot so had to share. #ad https://amzn.to/4h1fT41
There are so many things in our water, I just can't think about where it comes from or what they treat it with. Either way you look at it, it's just awful. Please please filter your water and use a reusable drinking bottle from home. There are some great choices out there, Slim Modern is my favorite and I carry it every where I go, I mean EVERY WHERE! # ad https://amzn.to/4a7VnfS
Then there is all of the trash in our oceans, I'll speak a lot more about but right now, I just wanted to say that currently, 33 billion pounds of plastic enters our marine environment every single year. Think about it. I just want to cry....
Here is what my research came up with anyway...
I remember being a little girl, playing outside and drinking from our water hose. I'm sure you do too. Life was so much simpler back then. Now we have the Internet . My research has shown that the EPA sets the standards for what's in our water in the U.S. More than 2 billion people drink water that has sewage, pesticides, lead, mercury, hazardous waste and other dangers in it according to Web MD. If you drink from a well, organic chemicals, heavy metals, fertilizer chemicals and bacteria could be added to the list. So we started drinking bottled water. Which honestly, we still don't know what is truly in it. Then there's the bottles ..they end up in our land fills and oceans. I traded in my cases of bottled water for filtering mine instead and not just drinking, bathing to. I've already mentioned how long it takes for whatever touches us to be in our bloodstream. I just do not want to consume any of those things..do you? I really do believe we are making all of these newer diseases more prevalent by what we are using in our homes, everyday without a second thought. If we, one by one, give it that second thought and do something about it, we will see a decrease. I hope I'm making sense..if I can get one person to change their thinking, then I've made a change and for the better, and so on. One step at a time.
Rated Best seller. I've seen systems for thousands. I don't believe you have to spend so much, I do believe we need healthier water to drink, bathe, wash our clothes and dishes in. As we speak, our town water has a brown hue..wth. That's not right! Hmm..what to do next?
Laundry detergent was the very first product that a I changed. I found out about 1,4 Dioxane. This chemical is a carcinogen! Why is it in laundry detergent? There was a list of them Banned in a state on the East Coast, that list had very popular Name Brand Laundry Detergents on it. Did you know that everything that touches our skin is absorbed and flowing through our bloodstream in 26 seconds [ give or take a few]? Meaning the detergent residue on my clothes has that in it and is being absorbed into my body, 24/7, 365???? I don't think so! I would like to talk about the Brand Truly Free. It is exactly as the Name says. Truly Free of these Harmful Chemicals! That doesn't mean that it isn't effective at all, in fact, just the opposite. It doesn't leave a residue, it rinses completely and leaves nothing behind but truly clean clothes and a truly amazing scent. I also love that it comes with an empty recycled container and then you just buy refill packets. Only fill the lid 1/4 full for high efficiency, 1/2 for regular machines. Oh, again, the fragrance (all natural too) is Fantastic! Their softener is Incredible too! Hard to explain in words how lovely. Way better than the blue stuff! They have lots of great "Truly Free" products! Better than your Grandma's as the package says. #ad
The softener was the first thing from the Truly Free line that I tried. I went crazy for the smell. Truly Free is meant to rinse completely from your clothing. Leaves no residue behind at all! (Except the amazing smell!) I love that. Your clothes will not only be rinsed in a non-toxic, plant based softening rinse, and Smell Fabulous, but also seem so much lighter feeling without all of that weight from the residue. Fantastic right!? I use them personally and they have my stamp of approval. Mine are in the picture above and I'm almost ready to reorder and just the packets this time which is a game changer for me! #ad https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9WMHN34?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.CNGL9KAJ9F1D&linkCode=tr1&tag=healthybybr01-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.CNGL9KAJ9F1D_1736970161159
I know I have been Talking Laundry here but wanted to mention one more Truly Free brand product that I have been using that is changing things up around here in my home. I have an old Dishwasher and the dishwasher products I have been trying just hasn't been getting my dishes clean and leaving a residue. They were still very cloudy; I thought it was just the dishwasher itself. But I ordered Truly Free's Dishwasher Soap, which is super fine btw and wow, they are really clean! Sparkling even So I wanted to share that with you as well. This company is really blowing my mind! They are plant based, non-toxic and still very effective! Another alternative to the ones normally bought that contains many harmful chemicals such as carcinogens. They really do rinse completely clean as stated and even using an old appliance in my case. You can see in the picture how clean and sparkling the wine glass is! Now to get my husband to install my new one that's just sitting in the garage!
Who loves Coffee as much as I do?
Coffee is amazing.. but these days I am loving Mushroom Coffee.. yes .. mushroom.
Mushroom coffee is a healthier alternative to regular coffee, and I LOVE coffee. Boasting medicinal mushroom extracts and added health benefits.
Although it's a current trend, this concept is far from new according to healthline. According to online sources, mushrooms were used as a coffee substitute in World War ll, when coffee beans weren't available. There's also a history of culinary and medicinal use of mushrooms in Asian countries, specifically for Chinese medicine, for their nutritional and health benefits.
Mushroom coffee is a delicate blend of mushrooms and coffee beans combined to brew a dark, smooth, nutty coffee. Mushroom coffee generally uses extracts from medicinal mushrooms such as Chaga, Turkey tail , Lions Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps. Just a couple of the benefits include reduced anxiety and improved immunity for example but there are so much more.
Mushrooms are dehydrated, ground into a fine powder and mixed into ground coffee beans( the good ones are tested for mold which are the ones I definitely look for). These can be prepared using the same methods as coffee to make delicious mochas, lattes or even black.
They have lower caffeine than regular coffee.( 20%) This helps with the stomach issues usually associated with regular coffee due to higher caffeine content and MOLD if not tested properly
I have done my own testing of different popular trending brands. Started with Everyday dose. Loved the taste, but not enough of the mushrooms listed so I moved on to Ryze. It has the mushrooms I was looking for, but taste was a different matter. Then I found Neurobrain. It has it all, the taste, the medicinal properties of the mushrooms I was looking for and that was all of them. Love it! Health benefits include but not limited to improved immunity, potential for cancer prevention, anti ulcer, Anti-allergenic, reduce heart disease. Now, it's pricey so I tried another and I was pleasantly surprised . Beyondbrew. Great taste , all of the mediicinal mushrooms above and pro/prebiotics, and it tastes fantastic ! #ad https://amzn.to/40p3WzH
If mushroom coffee isn't what you are looking for. Please make sure yours is tested for mold. It's in most of the popular brands out there believe it or not. Not to mention other "Nasties". I found a great organic one that tests and makes sure you get AMAZING COFFEE but without the additives we can do without. VITA CUP is Fabulous.
Vita Cup has many to choose from! Even a new Blueberry! Also available for Keurig or regular coffee makers. It's definitely a staple for my home. Hubs doesn't like my mushroom coffee lattes..so found this one. Heck, I probably use half his pods and I get in trouble when I do, lol. Oooh, they are compostible too fyi...
Sugar or Sugar Substitute?
Many believe in moderation, sugar ,on its own is ok. The moderation part is the issue. I have been trying to eliminate as much sugar in my diet as possible. Hey, we all fall off the wagon when their is an apple pie on the table on America's holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas.. but who's judging. Now. I am of course like most women, trying to lose some pounds, in my case, for my daughter's wedding. Hey, gotta look fabulous! So I have been looking for that sugar substitute that has no calories, tastes the most like real sugar and is HEALTHY for us! Aren't you? So again we go to the world wide web.
Stevia, honey, dates and Agave are the healthiest sugar substitutes and I do use them all in one way or another.
Truvia is a natural sugar substitute derived from the leaves of the stevia reboudiana plant. It can be 200 times sweeter and contains No carbs, or Calories! Makes an excellent option to reduce sugar intake. I happen to love this one. I use it daily whether it's by a spoonful or it's already in drink mixes and so on. #ad https://amzn.to/3BQ1Dw
Brown sugar substitute
I prefer raw honey compared to the little bear shaped bottles. I love a little in tea or on toast. It is rich in antioxidants, it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, it provides vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It should be consumed in moderation due to high sugar content meaning a little goes a long way! #ad https://amzn.to/4h6rrDj
I want to also spend a little time talking about flavoring syrups, the ones used in coffee, drinks, etc..If I do want a coffee, and I make a trip to Scooters( It's walking distance from my home), I don't add the flavoring there, I take my drink home, or even work as I have a few there and I add my sugar free Salted Caramel or Coconut Skinny Syrup. Jordan's Skinny's are my favorite. Again, some research is saying the real thing is healthier for us than the substitutes, so you can get either regular or sugar free. Iny case, I go for sugar free, What's one pump gonna hurt huh? Yes, I know this is a site talking about all things healthy but I think I'm allowed this one. And i do love them. #ad https://amzn.to/3Cd4lfi
In conclusion, sugar is not bad for us. It's natural. I used to live in South Florida where sugar cane fields were everywhere. I'll never forget the smell when they would light those fields on fire. Friends who lived there their whole lives used to cut and suck on the stalks for the sweetness. Talk about raw. So..moderation is key my friends. Stay sweet!
Is Saving our Beautiful trees on your mind...
As much as it is mine? I know how a lot of us think " What will what I do, one person make a difference? If you can change your thinking just a little, it will mean ALOT! When one of us share how we make small changes , and a friend or family member does too, then their friends and so on. Before you know it, these small steps are spreading like wildfire. That alone is the meaning for my blog. To make a real difference in the thinking of the Masses. We need our trees, plants, forests, etc to Breathe! To live.. they supply our oxygen. I changed and I am so grateful that I did. 99 % of what I use is compostible, they can break down and eventually become part of our ecosystem. Paper plates, cups, straws for example just fill up in piles, hell, mountains of trash. I myself do not want my grandchildren growing up on a planet filled with Waste from our negligence! There is a Better Way! Literally. The toilet paper is use, Better Way is a Small Step. Everything down to their beautiful wrapping is compostible!
Better Way
This is an actual excerpt from their wrapping and it's so meaningful. It's the definition of hope for me. It should be for all of us, it's a true Mission Statement!
VPLUS... Green in Vision , Plus in Action
These paper plates are the ones I switched to and now what we use every single day. They work as well as the regular ones you buy now. But they are better for our planet being compostible as well as a great paper plate. Trust me ,I tried not to use paper ones altogether.There just isn't time to spend doing all of those dishes! So again ... Small steps...
Make the reusable choice..
Instead of a paper towel, use these reusable, compostible , even washable ones..there are tons to choose from! I have a lot! Here is a picture of some new ones I got as a gift. They are amazing. They are reusable, thick, super absorbant, very cute and of course .. compostible.
Mrs. Meyers is the bomb! It's effective, I have found their products work even better. The scents they come up with Smell so Amazing. Acorn Spice is my Favorite right now, and Compassion flower will always be a family favorite.
Do just a little research on the products you have in your home right now. I can guarantee there is cancer causing agents in them. The paper products too, not to mention how they end up in landfills. And not only the ingredients in the bottles, in the containers themselves! The day I Changed my Mind, My Thinking.. I haven't turned back. Neither will you. Once you truly know, it's impossible not to keep going. To keep making the small steps that will lead to a better future for everyone and our planet. Let's work together and make a huge impact!
Supplements, are they making a difference in our health or do we just have expensive pee? 🥴
I have a few Supplements that I really do think are important and are in my daily regimen.
Collagen
Personally, I think this is the most important supplement I am currently taking. We are made of collagen proteins. As we age, they deplete so what do we need to do? .. Supplement the Collagen we are losing right? Don't you, doesn't everyone? If not, you should. I have tried a few of course. The one I really thought was gonna be great, tasted terrible. When you buy unflavored , you don't want to taste it of course. I tried it in water and it was disgusting. I threw it away. So I went online and looked for reviews and sites that tested them and found one that they were saying was #1 in the country right now. They of course consider the ingredients, the benefits, sources and taste. I love Primal Harvest which is the one that was suggested. They have quite a few different supplements but I have only tried their collagen, just ordered more in fact. I plan on trying their supplement for women, it's supposed to help with Peri menopausal symptoms so I'll be ordering very soon but for now , the collagen is what's most important to me, from them anyway. #ad https://amzn.to/3C7lyqx
You can bundle it with their greens, multi collagen, multi vitamins, women's multi, probiotics and so on. Primal Harvest is a great small company, with great sources, ingredients and amazing benefits. Consistency is key here so you have to give it some time. Take it for a few months, maybe start adding some of their other items and take note of how you start to feel. See if your hair and skin starts looking better, your joints and gut are starting to feel better but really give it time.
Colostrum
Colostrum is a newer trending supplemental product. If you don't already know, when mammal has an infant, yes, us too, Colostrum is what they get when first starting to breastfeed..it's full of antibodies and nutrients. Science has discovered its a powerhouse superfood for us too. Researching I found Wonder Cow.
And Wow is it fantastic. I started with their colostrum,( If it isn't golden yellow, they say it has additives) colostrum creamer and then added the wonder Glow. Now they are in my regimen which I do change a little day to day to get all of their nutrients. You will figure out your own along the way. Wonder Glow is in capsule form, it has colostrum, collagen and hyaluronic acid. Talk about a powerhouse product! Take three a day! Love love love it! #ad https://amzn.to/4gG2PS1
Again, be consistent. Take your own supplements and about the same time of day is best as well to start seeing the benefits as quickly as possible. I have a morning/late morning regimen. I make my coffee and add a couple of them with that. Then, next is my tumbler and it's greens, more colostrum and I use a sugar free syrup, my favorite for this combo is coconut and it tastes so good. There's more...
Organ Superfoods
I do take another supplement that you might not have heard of yet. It's an ancestral superfood blend. The one I chose after trial and error is PRIMAL QUEEN. I did order a different one before I found it , glad I did because it's great for the hubs. But primal queen is for women, by a woman. I love small women owned companies if you can't tell ...lol.. Back in the day they used every part of the cow including their organs. These have the heart, liver, kidneys. The Primal Queen adds the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and more. Eliminating these from our everyday diet, we lose all of the nutrients and other benefits from them and all of that extra protein of course.. They are freeze dried, ground to a fine powder and put in capsules. I'm sure you've heard of the benefits bone broth and seen it being sold everywhere by now. I'm so glad I ran across all of this in my reading, I immediately jumped on the band wagon as all of this is great for our health .As far as Primal Queen goes, when all of the female organs etc. are added, it balances our hormones. Do some research on ancestral supplements and see what I mean, I know it sounds a little icky, but once you see all of the wonderful benefits it could do for you, I bet you'll want to give it a try and I really think it's the primal queen that has helped me with my peri meno symptoms. Other than my face getting a little red, they are gone. For men, Paleo Valley is what you need to look for. I'll find a link for you as well. I feel so much better combining these products and knowing that they are all organically sourced, clean, no fillers, etc.. I'm A happy girl.. well Woman. #ad https://amzn.to/42aZTZc
Paleo Valley is a great small, family owned company as well. Nathan is on his second month now and is starting to feel the benefits. Consistency is KEY! Gonna say this a lot friends.
Everyone is different, so it's possible a different combination of supplements would be better for you. Just look through and see what matches your symptoms, etc .. be consistent in trying them, for example give a combo 4-6 months, then if need be switch it up. Luckily, after about a year I found my combination. I really do feel them working! My husband says I just have really expensive pee, haha ..but I'm sure my body is taking what it needs first, I promise you that. Yes, it is costly to have a Regimen like mine. When it comes to my health and well-being, I feel it is more important to BE Healthy and feel good than worry about the money. If I seem like I'm going overboard, try just a couple. But please do some reading about the supplements I mentioned and their benefits to our health. You'll see why I have a pretty big bundle. 🩷
Gifts for your Valentine 💕
Valentine's Day is approaching so I wanted to talk a little about it and give some alternative gift ideas rather than the old Chocolate Box routine.
#ad. I had to share this! I am getting one. I'm sure my husband is tired of all of my skincare and makeup covering up our dresser, it is very nice, Marble top and it's covered with products and I use and love them all so I have to do something. I think I found it and they are going fast! I'm buying mine soon. Are you like me? Take a look..
Next one I found that is pretty great is shower steamers or bombs ( depending on brand). These little things are fantastic! Whether you are needing a pick me up in the morning, to calm down, or even sick and need a little eucalyptus to open up those sinuses, you drop one of these in your shower and they deliver a great aroma. Makes your shower more like a spa experience! Your loved one will not be disappointed. I would buy a second one for yourself if i were you! Really? #ad
Charcuterie is huge right now and I think is the way to go! At least in my opinion if we are talking an assorted box, Smirly has a very nice one. I love a great Charcuterie with olives and cheeses.. this one looks fantastic! # ad
I found a great line of clutch and hobo bags that are adorable. With a good price tag too. JM PEI. They have a cute hobo bag in every color to choose from, I personally like this style the best . #ad
Hello again! When I think of healthy, or healthier ..I think of Gluten free! There aren't a lot of choices for Valentine's Day Chocolates that are gluten free. Well I finally found a great one! They have many choices for gifts for your gluten free loved ones so I had to add them to this page of course! GLUTEN FREE PALACE! I am so happy that we are starting to truly have some great choices. Not just that little aisle anymore. #ad https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL75JYXF?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.2ZFU2FOPROZW0&linkCode=tr1&tag=healthybybr01-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.2ZFU2FOPROZW0_1738182865389
Here are some great choices! Happy Valentine's Day! Thankyou Gluten free Palace!
Jewelry!
Yes..we all love jewelry, and diamonds even more. This is a conflict free , lab grown diamond. It's from environmentally friendly sources. Luxury and sustainability come together with DIAMOND DOMAIN. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CY5HCM7Y?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.3E28F0TUGPXSC&linkCode=tr1&tag=healthybybr01-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.3E28F0TUGPXSC_1739119293314
Stunning and Sustainable! I'll be showing this to my husband!!! FOR SURE! Thankyou Meg for the referral