#ThankfulThursday Day 5 of @wearestrob 

#PreserveYourselfChallenge

1. What are you thankful for today? 
2. Pause and take the time to appreciate. 
3. Demonstrate gratitude to others.

Taking the time to cherish what is beautiful, what is going well, your wins, thank your loved ones or friends.

Self-preservation week is about making intentional choices to radically practice self-care.
How does it work?

1. Follow us @wisdombodyandsoul & @wearestrob on Instagram or www.facebook.com/wearestrob
2. Take some time before the week to evaluate where you're at physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is a great time for some journaling!
3. Decide how you'll practice your self-care for the week. You might decide that you need to go to bed earlier each night, or that you'll take a walk outside every day, or you'll cook a healthy meal for yourself each night. Self-care is open-ended! Pick one thing that you think will benefit your physical, mental, or spiritual health. Our co-founders and other small-business co-sponsors will be participating along with you!
4. Use #PreserveYourselfChallenge and #PreservationCheck to check in with everyone throughout the week! STROB Apothecary and our small-business co-sponsors will be responding to your #PreservationCheck tagged posts under the hashtag #STROBChallenge to keep the conversation going and offer our support in your journey! You may offer your own self-care tips, talk about your own journey, or comment on how important you find self-care in pushing forward.
5. At the end of the week, make a wrap-up post or video using #PreserveYourselfChallenge. How did your week of self-preservation go? Was it difficult to devote the time to self-care? Do you feel more rested or otherwise able to tackle the challenges that lie ahead of us? How can you make this practice more important in your every day life?

At the end of the day, self-care by itself is not going to solve the systemic problems that we're facing today. But, we know that to keep pushing forward, we have to take care of ourselves as well as others in our community. We're big believers in the old adage, "You can't pour from an empty cup!" Therefore, STROB Apothecary's Self Preservation Week is about keeping our cups filled so that we can all keep moving forward.

Check out the main event and other cosponsors HERE

Choose your intension and need tools to help archive your selfcare goals and pamper yourself check out the Owlet Membership Box HERE

I will be posing a few of my favorite self care tasks on Instagram! 

​You can also check out the bingo card below for ideas.  

Soap is a great way to sooth your skin, but what about soothing that stressed-out mind? Try a Gua Sha Massage Tool!

What exactly is Gua Sha, besides a funky-sounding word? According to Healthline, "Gua sha is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to improve your circulation. This ancient Chinese healing technique may offer a unique approach to better health, addressing issues like chronic pain."

Better circulation means less stiffness in the body, which in turn can lead to more relaxation and a better life! 

1) Facial Massage Wash face I like to use oil cleanser, use toner and apply oil to your face. Always use your tool flat or at a slight angle, never use too much pressure and extremely gentle around the eye area.   Wash your stone with soap and water when done.  ​
2) Body Massage  Perfect for easing sore muscles and tense areas. Pro tip put your stone in the freezer or fridge for body massage its amazing!  
3) Neck Tension. Studies out there show that people who were massaged with Gua Sha felt less neck pain than the ones who weren't. I have a LOTTA neck tension and I can tell you that Gua Sha massage has always help massage my neck tension.

Do you read this how-to and crave the comfort that a Gua Sha can provide? Then take time to check out and order the ones I have! $20 gets you stimulated circulation and a happier life, which sounds like a bargain to me!

Life is always stressful, but it is best to turn the home into a place where you can block out all distractions and negativity. In my opinion, an amazing way to do that is with a steam facial!

If you have not done a steam facial, you really should!  Steam facials are a great DIY way to hydrate your skin, refresh your sinuses and release any stress from your day.  

Want to try one yourself? Here are some extremely easy steps:

1.  Wash your face
2. Grab a comfy large thick towel
3. Boil 2-3 cups of water, add 1-2 Tablespoon tea, cover and steep for 5 minutes.
4. Add to large heat proof bowl or place you pan somewhere heat safe.
5. Place on a very steady table/ counter somewhere you can sit for 10 minutes.
6. Remove cover, sit down near bowl, place thick large towel over your head and bowl
make a tent.
7. Place your face at least 12-15 inches from bowl and close your eyes.  Rest in your tent for 5-10 min. You can lift towel or take breaks if needed. 
8. Once done you can do a moisture mask or you can refresh with cool toner and moisturize.  
9. You can use cool tea in bath, hair rinse or water your plants. 


In case you are reading this blog and really like the idea of a steam facial, you are going to love that I'm introducing new steam facial teas in my care boxes next month! Check back on my website and stay tuned.
 
If you don’t have time for a steam facial, I also enjoy a really warm soft washcloth.

1. Add hot water to a soft washcloth
2. Lean back in tub or your chair and properly place the towel on your face where you can still breath.
3. Leave it there for 5 minutes, if you need to get more hot water.  Not too hot!
4. Make sure to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
5. Moisturize afterwards

*Steam facials are not recommended for injured skin, sunburnt skin, extremely sensitive skin, rosacea, broken capillaries and inflamed acne.  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. We make no medical claims, and our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Women who are pregnant or nursing or persons with medical conditions should consult their physician before using any herbal products.
 

Recommended herbs
Normal/ Combination- Lavender buds, peppermint, rosemary, rose petals, calendula, chamomile, raspberry leaf and comfrey leaf.
Dry- Crushed fennel seeds, lavender buds, rosemary, rose petals, calendula, elderflowers, chamomile and comfrey leaf.
Oily- Peppermint, raspberry leaf, sage, rosemary, calendula, orange peels
 
 
You can add a few drops of essential oil if you desire too
Normal/ Combination- Lavender, peppermint, rosemary, chamomile, geranium and frankincense.
Dry- Lavender, rosemary, chamomile and frankincense.
Oily- Peppermint, juniper, frankincense and lavender.
 
 
 
 
 

Surprise! It's a blog post!

Okay, it's not just any blog post -- it's one about surprises. Right now, we probably have a negative connotation of the word. 2020 has been filled with one surprise after another: lockdowns, sickness, the craziness of the election, etc. It feels like one curve after another.

But what if I told you that surprises can actually be a great thing in life? In fact, they're something to be truly thankful for! I want you to embrace the surprises in life and, with a little help from my products, conquer any uncertainty that comes your way. 

Here are the reasons why surprises are GOOD:

1. They Keep You Sharp

Nobody likes a dull day, and too many dull days can make a dull life. So embrace the excitement of surprise -- without it, you'd never have a day worth remembering!

2. Sometimes You Can Look Forward to Them!

If somebody tells you they have a surprise for you, aren't you usually happy about that?

We all love to know that someone planned a celebration or is saving a precious gift for us, so you should embrace a more positive view of surprises!
​
3. They Help You Grow

Nobody likes being shocked by something, but the truth is that surprises test your mettle and prove you've got what it takes to succeed. As a business owner and mom, everyday I'm surprised (good and bad) by whatever happens in the day.

But you know what? Even if it caused a brief moment of anxiety, once I calmed down, I took on whatever happened and always felt good about accomplishing it. Whether it was starting my own business, dealing with parenthood or working events, the surprises that come from them make me a better person.

We all love meditation, but there are a few times when it just won't do. Maybe it's because you've done the same routine too many times. Maybe you're just so overwhelmed with everything that the mere thought of calm is a no-no.

While I don't want to intrude on a bad moment, I hope this message finds you in a receptive time; if you're looking for a new form of meditation to give you a calming feel, try Shower Meditation.

The instructions are as simple as what the graphic says, but I want you to try the steps and tell me how you feel.

Take a nice warm shower and imagine washing away all the anxiety, stress, unkind thoughts, all the negativity all down the drain. 
Slowly let these negative thoughts to the surface and wash them away.
Focus on your breath and clear your mind, once all the negativity is down the drain forgive yourself, be kind, and importantly relax.
If you really want to make sure it works, make sure to include a bar of my soap as you scrub the negative emotions outta your body like it was dirt from a hard day's work.

In case you want to know more about shower meditation, check out this link! I want you to know the ways of the calm!

  I sure do get mixed up in the day to day chaos, to do list, working, mom guilt, and anything that gets thrown my way.   My household is a circus act most days… I will bet you can relate.  I am exhausted and all of this is not just about surviving, we need to find ways for us to THRIVE!     
Know the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup”?  I cannot function and help the rest of the family if I am just running around in circles and running around in my own head.  What are the positive things and small steps we can do to take care of us to fill this “empty cup”?  
Self Care! 
Self-care in not selfish it is needed!   Let us take a couple minutes daily to practice this much needed Self Care!  🧖🏻‍♀️  You will thank yourself!  

In our Monsoon Mamas Facebook Group we are working a a few fun challenges to help motivate us!  If you would like to join us head on over  here.  

 Don't worry this is not going to be wild and overwhelming self care challenge!  I am not talking about taking a whole spa day.  The bingo card below or download the PDF to help with future self care ideas!  

 You can post pictures, videos, comments, ideas and anything self care related you want to show us in our Facebook group.  
We can help, motivate and encourage one another!   Let us start on Monday October 5th, 2020.  


👇You can download the Self Care Bingo PDF card here!  👇 

Of course, achieving that is a whole other story. For me, a good night's sleep was a struggle -- it would only happen after hours of tossing and turning and just general discomfort. Who wants to go to bed when you wind up feeling like that?

And it's not like all that extra time trying to sleep would make me feel any better! I'd have little rest in the morning and would wake up just exhausted. That made a bad mom, bad wife, bad worker and just all-around grumpy person. Nobody would see this and think "yes, let me have that experience every night".

But around the time I started Wisdom Body & Soul, I implemented a few changes into my daily routine so I could sleep better. Within a few weeks, shut-eye became easy, not difficult. To do it, here are the three ideas I came up with and followed:

1. Shower Before Bed
Maybe it's just me, but something about a warm shower calms me down and makes me sleepy! I take a nice and hot one right before going to bed, and the combination of that and the soft comfort of my pillow shuts my eye-lids almost instantly!

I came up with this on accident one night, but it was the happiest accident ever!

2. Sleep With an Eye Pillow
Eye Pillows are one of the best ways to comfort headaches, relieve tired eyes and fill your sleep with happy thoughts and aromas! I've been an eye pillow proponent forever, especially since the first one I bought helped me through plenty of restless nights -- being a Mom tends to give you that!

If you're looking for an eye pillow for yourself, I'd suggest taking a look at some Wisdom Body and Soul Eye Pillows! They're filled with flax seeds and real herbs, a perfect way to receive aromatherapy while you sleep. Purchase them here >>


3. Buy a Diffuser and Put it in Your Bedroom
Honestly,  this is the best thing you can do right now. Used in conjunction with essential oils, diffusers are the greatest things ever, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as filling the air with pleasant smells. I put on some sage diffusers in my home and let me tell you, everybody in the family feels a lot happier! That calm makes you sleep much better.

If you have a diffuser and are looking for the right essential oils to drop in it, check out the Wisdom Body and Soul Essential Oils! Just a few drips and the relaxation will come over you immediately!

Happy day friends!

This was a blog I was working on before Coronavirus became the tornado that wrecked all of our lives -- it's only more applicable now! Stress is a natural human emotion and it's okay to feel. However, how you deal with it is everything.

I still struggle with anxiety, but it's much better than it used to be. Before I discovered the joys of mindfulness, my mind was a wound-up toy, looking for reasons to run all over life in the wrong way. I'd hang out in grocery store parking lots, nap or spend way to much time in the restroom! Not much of a way to spend life...

Nowadays, when I'm struggling with stressful thoughts, I do one of the four things:

1. Practice Yoga

No yogi card needed! All you need is an internet connection and a soft place to take a lotus position. Here is my go-to musical playlist, a mediation playlist designed to pick your mind up off the hamster wheel of life and instead put you in a better place.

2. Take a Bath

When's the last time you gave yourself a bath? We associate the activity with young kids, but adults need the soothing feeling of warm water and bubbles on their skins. In addition, the feeling of slowing down and closing your eyes while taking in a hot bath cures so many anxieties. Of course, if you're looking for a soap to give yourself a good rub with, I have plenty of natural and vegan soaps for you to buy...

3. Guided Meditation

This is somewhat related to the first point, except you can do this without leaving your bed! When stressed, I like to take out the lighter and burn a little sage, search "guided meditation" on YouTube and throw on my eye pillow as I cuddle up in bed. No ear plugs though!

In case you're looking for eye pillows to sooth headaches and give your mind a general rest, check out the kinds I make for Wisdom Body & Soul! They're little bunches of comfort.

4. Diffuse Essential Oils

I love this step because of how little work it requires. All you need to do is purchase a diffuser and some essential oils, put a few drops of the latter in and poof, calm will fill the air after a few minutes.

Of course, with a little Wisdom Body & Soul essential oils filling the air, you'll receive all the relaxation your mind and body crave!