January 2016

Checking in on my New Year’s “Un-Resolution”

January 27, 2016

My "Un-Resolution": I Didn't Improve One Damn Thing. As the month comes to a close, I'm wondering how many of you kept your New Year's Resolutions. Maybe some are still at it. Maybe some lasted a week, and then your life got busy. Maybe, you were like me, and it was just another day and you are good enough the way you are and you are just going to "keep on, keeping on". Whatever the case may be. Good for you. Day-to-day living can be stressful. I feel like most days, if I didn't scream in my head at least fifty times some swear word, it wasn't that bad of a day. I just keep taking one day at a time, try to be positive, handle problems when...

resolution

It takes two weeks to create a habit

January 26, 2016

Health, Lifestyle

Start small. Make small changes. New Year's resolutions are difficult to maintain. Gym rats always say that January is the suckiest month to be in the gym. All of the newbies with resolutions clog the gym arteries with their good intentions. February 1st, they can breathe again because everyone has given up. Its getting close to February 1st, have you given up on your health goal? Any habit, based on scientific studies, takes 2 weeks to create. During the first two weeks, its a choice. After two weeks, it has become a habit. So start small. Replace one soda a day with water. Replace one crappy snack with an apple. Take a ten minute brain break and walk outside, or even stroll around your building. Meditate for 2 minutes...

Get back on the wagon & create your shining year with Leonie Dawson

January 25, 2016

Health

“I’m a hippy that gets shit done,” says Leonie Dawson, CEO of Shining Biz & Life Academy and creator of the Create Your Shining Year series of workbooks, diaries, and other resources. This Australian native has managed to turn what was once a simple idea into a million dollar business where she is able to keep herself and her children top priority. For the past five years, she has developed her own system to help countless others achieve their personal and professional goals. Her 2016 Create Your Shining Year Workbook is a mere fraction of what she has to offer. She also has a selection of webinars and other online courses that have helped thousands find purpose and contentment in life and work. Now, most of us...

higher self journaling organization planning self-care

DIY Coconut Salt Scrub Recipe

January 22, 2016

Health

doTerra representative, Jane Morba, offers us a recipe for a coconut salt scrub that can incorporate your favorite essential oils for glowing, more vibrant skin. What You Need: 1 cup organic virgin coconut oil 1 cup Pink Himalayan (or Epsom) salt 1/4 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil (may substitute grapseed oil) 15 drops of your favorite essential oil Directions: 1. Melt coconut oil in microwave or over a double boiler. 2. Once melted, remove from heat. 3. Add Fractionated Coconut Oil and Pink Himalayan Salt into melted coconut oil. 4. Stir until combined. 5. Add essential oils. 6. Let sit until coconut oil solidifies, stirring every 10 minutes. Tip: Put in refrigerator to speed up the cooling process. 7. Stir until well combined and store in an airtight container. 8. To use, rub on skin and rinse with warm water. - See...

Health

Why I love lavender

January 22, 2016

Health

Lavender is my favorite essential oil. It always has been. It was the first oil I worked with, and it is still one of the only oils I use on a regular basis. My original thought was to create an "essential" essential oil kit for you, but in the end I realized, as I had many years ago, that for most of my essential oil needs, lavender fits the bill. Here's why I love lavender: It's gentle, yet extremely effective It's gentle enough for babies. Yes, babies… although always check with your health care practitioner, and be careful. I used it constantly while pregnant—and it was one of the only essential oils I did use. Although it's gentle enough for a baby's skin and respiratory system, it's powerful...

Health herbs

Health & Strength

January 21, 2016

Uncategorized

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Fitness Nutrition

Boost Your Mood

January 21, 2016

Uncategorized

Yoga

Boost Your Mood

January 21, 2016

Uncategorized

Yoga

Get Up and Go

January 21, 2016

Uncategorized

Yoga

The Benefits of Detoxification

January 21, 2016

Health

Beauty Training

Everyday aromatherapy: smells that take me away

January 20, 2016

Uncategorized

I grew up splitting my time between the suburbs and the mountains. My parents split when I was little and my mom stayed in the suburbs and my day moved to the mountains. When I’d visit my dad, I always enjoyed the smells of the mountains. To me, the smell of the mountains is the heavy scent of pine, melting snow in the soil, fresh cut wood, fires from chimneys and Colorado moss growing on the rocks. Any one of those smells today trigger a calming effect on my mind as well as my body. Along my current walking route (in a warehouse district of town) on my lunch hour, I pass a small group of pine trees. I breathe in deeply and smile while passing every...

soil

Your Complete Guide to Eating Well.

January 20, 2016

Uncategorized

Health Yoga

Move It! Scientifically Proven Ways to Get Motivated.

January 20, 2016

Uncategorized

Fitness Health

Smoothie Recipes Loaded With Winter Superfoods.

January 20, 2016

Uncategorized

Beauty Health Nutrition

Angelic Essentials’ Tracie Yates tells her “Origin Story”

January 19, 2016

Uncategorized

Guest blogger Tracie Yates, owner of Angelic Essentials, explains her essential oils experience from the beginning. While new to the business side of oils, Tracie believes they should be an integral part of every well-balanced life. Tracie Yates *********************************************** I discovered the benefits of essential oils 13 years ago. At that time I was going through a very traumatic time in my life, my marriage was falling apart, my business was struggling and my rock, my daddy, had just passed away unexpectedly. A young lady introduced me to the oils when she saw how deeply I was grieving. She told me there were oils that could help relieve the intensity of my grief. Although I did not buy this claim at all I decided to give it a...

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils 101

January 18, 2016

Health

As I focus on my meditation practice and always look for new tools to engage in a deeper, more spiritual awareness, I find aromatherapy to be an essential instrument to my practice and overall daily living. But with so many brands, schools of thought, and opinions, how do we discern the true meaning and benefits of aromatherapy? Being new to aromatherapy, I’ve reached out to our Mind Key member Danielle Rose, whose expertise in aromatherapy and essential oils provides valuable information. The first question I asked her, and possibly the most important question when learning about essential oils, is what are they exactly? Additionally, how do you know we’re buying pure and authentic products? Danielle explains that essential oils are derived through distillation of plant material--usually the...

nature

Body and Mind.

January 16, 2016

Uncategorized

Beauty Lifestyle Training

Making Space: Your weight loss plateau

January 14, 2016

Health, Lifestyle

I was in a yoga class not that long ago… and I heard the instructor say something I hear over and over again in yoga classes… "Breathe space into your body, in between the bones and joints." Breathe… a key element to yoga and to life… but it was the "making space" that hit me this time. My weight is something I've struggled with since having children. Those few extra pounds reveal themselves in places I'd rather they not. Skimming Louise L. Hay's book, "You Can Heal Your Life," shows us where aches, pains, and even weight will settle when we mentally allow it. I won't tell you where my weight settles, because that will be too telling of my own personal demons… but I will say,...

Health mindfulness weight loss Yoga

Connection between mental, emotional and physical health

January 12, 2016

Uncategorized

Mental and emotional health play a larger part in your physical health than you might realize. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as a: state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. They say that there is no health without mental health. Googling the words "mental health physical health" returned about 197,000 results in under one second. There have been thousands if not millions of studies surrounding the connection. I can vouch for the connection in my own life. Between July of 2012 and March of 2013, I lost 40 pounds walking, dancing with my kids and the Xbox, and riding my bike. I felt pretty good, even though I still wanted to lose about 20 more pounds. I...

mental health

How Affirmations Can Keep Us On Track To Our New Year Resolutions

January 11, 2016

Uncategorized

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them ~Albert Einstein Hi everyone, my name is Barbara Steingas. Just after graduating college, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, an autoimmune disease deemed incurable by traditional western medicine. The first several years I followed the gastroenterologist’s advice andtook the prescribed medicines that were supposed to control my symptoms. However, I continued to spiral downward until I was a walking skeleton from not being able to really eat, and had excruciating vaginal-rectal abscesses. As a last resort, the gastroenterologist suggested a new treatment option: take an immunosuppressive medication, but due to my frail state, the doctor said there was a high risk that if I contracted a cold it could potentially turn into...

weight loss

Why I’m a part of the Mind Key Community, and you should be too. A NewYear’s Resolution

January 8, 2016

Uncategorized

Sarah Loukos looking at both Mind Key Anthologies as the audience enjoys another artist story. Last night, in a small town library, seven artists sat in front of a group of people who wanted to listen and learn about our Anthologies. We read from the book, talked about our art or our writing and what our past was like and how living your happiness is what really motivates us to keep doing what we are meant to do in our hearts. The average age that came to listen was 70 years old. Now, mind you, I'm not complaining, I'm so happy that at 70+ years old, they are still searching and growing and are full of life, they want to live happy. They chose Mind Key to learn something and to...

Making a 365 resolution–is it right for you?

January 7, 2016

Uncategorized

What is the difference between a resolution and a #365project? Not much, other than a #365project is something you resolve to do every day for an entire year. Writing coach, Marisa Goudy Today I want to share writing coach Marisa Goudy's experience with #365projects. I've done this a million times--usually promising to write, walk, or do yoga everyday. Usually, these resolutions fall flat--whether they're made on January 1st or in the middle of the year. Two years ago, the same year her second child was born, Marisa successfully completed her #365project...

resolution

TONIGHT: Live readings and discussion on how to live your passion

January 6, 2016

Uncategorized

This evening, members of the Mind Key Project will be reading poetry, essays and fiction from the Mind Key Anthologies at the Kinnelon Public Library in NJ and there are still spots available for YOU!! The Mind Key Anthologies are a compilation of art and writing intended to help others discover happiest and healthiest self by following their passion—not just in their free time, but for a living. The theme of being inspired by art and bringing that inspiration into everyday life runs through each of our publications. The contributors are healers, writers, artists, psychics and more, who are on a path of professional and personal self-discovery and healing. They each enjoy providing resources to help others do the same. Mind Key's inaugural book, The Mind Key Project: An Anthology, debuted...

My New Year Irresolution

January 5, 2016

Lifestyle

At Mind Key we focus on finding our inner strength and peace. As members we rely on a small voice that calls us to determine our true destiny and to reach our highest potential. To do so it takes practice, patience, and enlightenment. Focusing on new milestones is something we often do at the end of a year. As the holidays approach and we ready ourselves for 2016, we’re faced with the future. Where will our hearts take us? Will we find the right path? Will we conquer our fears and accomplish what we were created to do? Sometimes the answer to those questions comes in the form of resolutions, a common practice when confronting a new year. As for me, I call mine ‘New Year...

personal development relationship with self resolution

What is a resolution? Why do it?

January 5, 2016

Uncategorized

What is a resolution?Merriam Webster defines "resolution" simply as: the act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. : the act of resolving something : an answer or solution to something.This offers an interesting light in which to cast our New Years resolutions. What are we actually doing when we make them? Are we resolving to fix or find an answer to a conflict or problem in our life?Considering this definition prior to jumping feet first into a resolution that is impossible to keep could provide the insight needed to make that resolution last. According to StatisticBrain.com, the #1 New Year's resolution is probably exactly what you think it might be: To lose weight. The first question to ask is why. Why...

resolution weight loss

Happy New Year…..I’m Tapped Out On Self Improvement.

January 2, 2016

Energy

I love to read blogs. Blogs of all kinds. "Stress Almost Killed Me-Then I Changed My Mind", "Do You Focus On Your Needs Or The Needs Of Others", "How To Be A More Mindful Parent". The list can go on and on. We read blogs to get information, see a different side to something, learn a new craft..whatever.What I have found, as I write this blog, is that it's another three second sound bite. My life for the last 10 years has been, mind you slowly, getting more distracted. As I, write this, I'm texting with a TV on in the background. I have read numerous blogs on how to be more "zen". Do one thing at a time. Take your time. (I'm now watching...

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