As a small business owner and mother of 4, I often do not get enough sleep. I know, I know, I should go to sleep earlier and manage my time more efficiently. There are many times however, that it just doesn’t happen. I know many of you can relate to this. Here are some of the ways I get through those days, when really I would simply love to crawl back into bed but just have too much to do.

1 I drink brightened water throughout the day. Water brightened with things like a squeeze of fresh lemon,  a spoonful (or teabag) of hibiscus with ginger, or a few leaves of fresh mint, help keep me hydrated and happy.

2 I stretch the back of my legs and my back. Forward bends, lunges stretching the back of the calves and so on,  help release muscle tension that can cause fatigue. Spending as little as 3-5 minutes, two times per day can bring a significant release within a day or two of taking on this little habit.  That small ache that you weren’t even aware of can cause significant fatigue. Anything you do to help release it, can really bring an increase in energy throughout the day.

3  I try to remember to tell someone I love them. The heart is a major source of energy in the body, consciously tapping into it brings me strength and vibrance. 🙂

4 I try to avoid eating large quantities of grain, they use a lot of energy to digest and tend to make me feel weighed down and tired. Eating small amounts of grain, like 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time combined with protein sources and lots of non starchy veggies (ie leafy greens) and fruit helps me keep going when I am tired. Also I can munch on red bell peppers and apples or green beans all day long just to stay awake while working at the computer and I am not going to get into trouble with weight gain.

5 I try to remember that today could be my last. I got this advice from a Navy Seal veteran, and I see it as a deep wisdom. Choosing to be grateful for today, is energizing, strengthening and brings me courage and patience when I need it.

6 I sometimes stop in the middle of working and just do as many push ups as I can. This kind of little physical sprint gets the adrenals going and can buy me an hour or two of productivity when I feel like I am toast.

7 Sometimes I just give in to sweet surrender. In other words, sometimes I can find a way to close my eyes for 15 minutes for a power nap or even an hour in the middle of it all. Although I may wake up groggy, I am much more able to handle the rest of the day than if I had not had that sleep.

8 Of course, this list would not be complete without an uplifting Minty Cocoa lip balm application recommendation or some Citrus Grove Ultra Healing Body Butter shmeared on the hands and deeply inhaled.

Ok, so that’s my list. Anyone else have other tricks for keeping going when sleep is not plentiful in your life? Let us know!

Thanks and be well,

Ora

Ora’s Amazing Herbal, because herbs are amazing

Autumn is almost here, and while the fall brings so many lovely associations of crisp weather, pumpkin spice everything, and approaching holidays, there is another association with back-to-school that is less pleasant, and on the minds of many parents: lice. These pests are unfortunately easily transferred among students in close classroom environments, and apparently, a new breed of “super lice” have become resistant to the over the counter pesticide treatments that are usually recommended. These lice have spread through 42 states, and it is certainly easier to avoid them than get rid of them, but how?

Many parents try to buy organic food and avoid unnecessary chemical exposure, so why would we want to apply even stronger prescription strength pesticides to our child’s scalp? Everything applied to the skin is absorbed into the bloodstream in varying degrees, just like any topical pharmaceutical. That makes it very important to consider what we apply to our skin all the time, but especially when looking to eliminate a pest like lice. It can be tempting to use the strongest chemical available just to get rid of the nuisance, but we have to consider the effect on our children’s health. That is where essential oils can play an extremely helpful role!

Pure essential oils are carefully distilled and contain the plant’s strongest, most therapeutic properties. They can be effective even when harsher treatments are not, and since they are non-toxic and health promoting, using them preventatively is a great option to prevent lice from ever having a chance to become a problem!

Some oils that are known to help repel lice are:
Rosemary
Cedar Leaf (aka Thuja)
Tea Tree (aka Melaleuca)
Thyme
Geranium
Lavender
(Any combination of these oils should be effective, but using all of them together even more so.)

Since essential oils are very concentrated plant extracts, it is important to purchase high quality oils from a reputable source, and use care when applying them to children. Usually it is suggested to dilute essential oils with a carrier, such as a salve or oil before applying. One great option is to combine one drop of each oil per teaspoon of carrier in a jar. Mix well, and rub a dab between your hands before massaging into the scalp. This will nourish dry hair and promote a healthy scalp as well! Another way to use the oils is to combine 10 drops of each in an 8oz spray bottle with water. Shake before spraying on a small amount while covering eyes, then smooth over the hair. With either preparation, if any irritation occurs, stop using. The oils may be too strong, in which case, dilute with more carrier. When preventing lice it is also recommended to keep long hair tied back in a bun.

Caitlin Eisner Fisch is a writer, personal chef, and independent distributor with Young Living essential oils. You can learn more about oils, and order through http://babystepseo.com/u/thejoyofcaitlin

Contact her at thejoyofcaitlin.oils@gmail.com with any questions, or check out her homeschooling journey on Instagram @thejoyofcaitlin and her essential oil journey @thejoyofcaitlin.oils

At Ora’s Amazing Herbal we have had a few “happy accidents” over the years. Touchy skin salve being so Amazing as a natural hemorrhoid treatment is one of them. This guest blogger, has some fun tips on how to get to the bottom of the situation. (Did she really just say that?!) – Ora

Moms, Let’s Talk About Hemorrhoids

I’ve got three kids, all born in the painful-pushing- split me open-oh g-d it burns way. I like to think that I have three hemorrhoids to match. Not being able to see down there I don’t know for sure, but I do know that motherhood for me has involved a nearly obsessive interest in what I eat and making sure it comes out ok. While my college diet was probably contributory (pizza, cereal and fro yo anyone?) the strain on my body from carrying an additional 50-40- 30lbs around, let alone the strain of pushing out 7lbs at a go, has given me my new lifetime companions.

It’s COMPLETELY normal. Especially for moms. And it’s not as bad as it could be. There’s homeopathy that can help (Hamamelis or Nux Vomica to start), there’s the Squatty Potty (check out the faux-mercial with the unicorn, hilarious) and there’s yoga poses like downward dog that loosen up the region and shift the weight off of your nether parts. Tucks pads are a drugstore standard and are slightly better than baby wipes when it comes to cleaning yourself, since the astringent witch hazel cools and shrinks the inflamed vessels.

Keeping a diet with vegetable fiber, plenty of water and not too much dairy is the easiest way to stay comfortable. But sometimes pizza and wine are in order. And sometimes we just eat way too much matzoh. Whatever the reason, Ora’s Amazing Herbal Touchy Skin Salve is, well, amazing, when it comes to reducing symptoms. The special herbal formula soothes the hemorrhoids themselves, relieves inflammation and generally lubricates the region for less mess and less discomfort.

All natural. All good. Because herbs are amazing. (Thanks for that little plug Ruthie-Ora)

Ruthie Pearlman is a doula, homeopath and mother of three. When she’s not pretending to homestead in Maine she’s shaking it on the dance floor in New Jersey. Check out her Facebook page “Homeopathy For Moms.”