Embrace the Winter Season

As the winter season unfolds, we find ourselves needing to adapt to colder temperatures and darker days. It's the perfect time to embrace the cozy and comforting aspects of this season while taking care of your overall well-being. This month you will find valuable tips and tricks to help you stay cozy, healthy, and thriving during the winter months ... from warm and nourishing recipes to self-care practices that promote wellness. So, let's embrace the beauty of winter together and make the most of this frosty time of the year!




Nose and Lips
Colder weather brings lower humidity outside and more time spent inside. This can mean dryer conditions for your skin, your body's largest eliminatory organ.  

Nose: Your nose is the body's ultimate air cleaner as it filters, humidifies and warms the air you breathe. Do you tend to have increased nose bleeds during the colder months? This is because the "skin" inside your nose is just as susceptible to dryness as the rest of your body's skin. Dry winter air can dry out nasal passages, thicken mucus and decrease the cilia hairs ability to sweep away germs leaving you vulnerable to a lower level of wellness. Watch this video by Naturopath, Danette Goodyear, with tips on how to keep the nose tissue moist and to make sure "whatever" passes through your nose "passes through something else first". 

TIP: Great when exercising too!


Lips: Unlike other parts of your skin lips do not contain oil glands. This makes them more susceptible to dryness and cracking. Whether it is due to weather or lack of self-care, reduced moisture can make this problem worse. 

Tips: 
  • Stay hydrated by drinking more water
  • Use a humidifier
  • Incorporate Lip Balms into your daily routine
  • Wrap a scarf around your mouth in cold weather
  • Use the Poppyseed Lip Scrub to gently exfoliate 2-3x/week.
  • Rose Ointment is awesome as lip balm and works great on kids with chapped lips.
Bonus Tip: Toxic toothpastes and mouthwashes can dry lips out. Use Thieves instead! After brushing teeth, use your wet brush in gentle swirls on your lips for a few seconds each day.
Nostril Swipe Salve: Substitute Thieves oil if you do not have Egyptian Gold.


DIY Lavender Sugar Scrub: Exfoliate for "kissable" soft lips. Olive Oil can be substituted for the V-6 oil and Geranium for the Rose oil.


Create a Cozy Area

Winter can be long and dreary so why not make it as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

 1) Throw Blankets and Pillows: Nothing says "comfy" like poofy pillows and soft blankets. This is by far the easiest and most economical way to update and keep it comfy. Here are a few tips:
  • decide which style you prefer: 
    • "neat freak" or "casual vibe"
    • "minimalist approach" or "layering"
  • use the "Rule of 3": arranging in groups of odd numbers rather than even numbers is more visually interesting and memorable. Start with "3" and experiment with groups of "5" or "7".
  • make a blanket fort: nothing is more fun or cozy for kids than a blanket fort. See how to create 3 different styles of blanket forts with this video. 
2) Area Rugs: large or small, area rugs can add warmth and coziness. There are such varieties of materials to choose from. However, using materials like wool, sheepskin, and natural fibers that are heavily textured make for the best choices that will feel great on the feet. 

3) Create Ambiance: since indoor air quality is already typically compromised, why add to it with candles that contain dangerous synthetic fragrances. There are a variety of essential oil diffusers that have changing lights to select from. Instead of contributing to poor air quality, studies have shown essential oils actually help to clean the air, as well as, provide  numerous wellness benefits like this one: 



Recipes

Ditch the ice-cold glass for your favorite mug: It's time to make winter nights cozy with these perfect drinks. 

1. Hot Chocolate: Nothing goes better with cold winter nights than a hot drink like this hot chocolate one. Enhance the flavor with just a drop of Peppermint Vitality essential oil for "Peppermint Hot Chocolate". 

2. Sparkling Ginger Pear Mocktail: This sparkling ginger pear mocktail is the perfect cozy winter mocktail! It’s made with fresh ginger, pear juice, honey, and sparkling water. Add a little more flavor and kick with a drop of Ginger Vitality essential oil.

3. Spiced Apple Cider: This is a traditional winter favorite with a little twist.
  • 4 cups apple cider
  • 8 drops Orange Vitality essential oil
  • 2 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
  • 2 drops Clove Vitality essential oil
  • cinnamon sticks optional garnish
  • Warm the cider (no need to boil). Stir in the essential oils. Serve while warm garnished with a cinnamon stick. 





















Are you ready to embrace the winter season?
With the winter season upon us, let's make every effort to make each and every day as cozy and enjoyable as possible. By implementing the tips and recipes shared in this newsletter, you can help these cooler, winter months go by faster.