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Summer is here! For many of us that means more time in the sunshine. Whether you’re spending a day at the beach or enjoying a simple stroll through the neighborhood, there’s a higher likelihood of getting sun exposure in this season than in others. Of course the big question is—-how do protect your skin from harmful UV rays? There is a lot of fear around increased skin cancer risk from overexposure to the sun, and yet conventional sunscreens contain a lot of chemicals that are also concerning. Could your efforts to protect yourself from the sun be doing more harm than good?

Mother’s Day is May 12^th this year. For most of us, this is an opportunity to celebrate and love the women that mean the most to us. Whether it is a mother, grandmother, aunt, or friend, there is usually someone that has had a special impact on each of our lives. For some of us, Mother’s Day can also be really painful. This post is meant to give ideas for those looking to buy a gift for a woman that is important to you, as well as offer a few suggestions for caring for yourself, if Mother’s Day is a harder day of the year.

When was the last time you slowed down and took a few minutes to just breathe? If you are like me, taking an hour to pause from life and pamper yourself does not happen all that frequently. Relax? Rest? Spa day? What is that?! The reality is that we need rest. We need relaxation. We were not made to always go, go, go. And when we try going without stopping we often end up in a full-blown immune system crash. So take a seat, grab a cup of tea and get ready to read about one way that you can relax and rest, while also nourishing and healing your face at the same time.

Back in the 1800s, homeopathy was the choice medicine in America and Europe. It was most often used and advocated for by European royalty, American entrepreneurs, literary giants, and religious leaders. By 1900, there were 22 homeopathic medical schools, over 100 homeopathic hospitals, and more than 1,000 homeopathic pharmacies. Imagine that! Popularity soared high amongst women, not only as users of homeopathy, but also as practitioners. The training of the 19^th century homeopaths was above and beyond that of its orthodox physician colleges, and a higher percentage of graduates from homeopathic medical school passed their board examinations, then did the orthodox medical students.

Across America, we know the months from October to March as “cold and flu season.” Peak times vary from year to year, but most commonly February is recorded to be the month with the most cases of the flu. Over the last 35 years, February topped the charts fifteen times (yikes!). In addition to the flu, other respiratory viruses are also more prevalent during this time, particularly rhinovirus and the all-to-well-known, respiratory simplex virus (RSV).

Making matters worse, cold and flu season also lands right during the holiday season when traveling is at its highest. This only increases the chances for spreading these many bugs and diseases. So, what is one to do? Cold and flu season is inevitable, and going outside almost always is too, but that does not mean we have to be doomed to the fateful reality of this sickie time. Prevention is key, and there are many steps we can take to support our health and immune system, especially during these frigid months. 

Last month we celebrated the Winter Solstice, which marked the shortest day of the year. December 21, 2018 brought not a single ray of sunlight to places like the North Pole, located at the very top of the Northern Hemisphere. Regardless of where you are living, the hours of sunshine are significantly shorter in the winter months than in the summer months. Compounding the issue further, winter tends to bring more gloomy and overcast days, snow, and harsh weather, all of which keep the sun from shining. It’s really no wonder that so many people experience seasonal affective disorder each year.

With the rise in preventative healthcare, focus is shifting from simply treating disease and illness, to optimizing overall quality of life. This is where herbal medicine can be extremely powerful. I love Urban Moonshine products. Founded in 2008 by Jovial King, Urban Moonshine is set on the goal of making herbal medicine more easily accessible. Their core value is to maintain quality and organic standards, while getting people excited about herbal medicine and the way we think about the healing power of plants. While there are many health-promoting herbals to consider, today we are going to focus on tonics that build immunity, energy and joy.

Safer beauty is a huge topic of conversation these days and we’re finding more and more clean products hit the shelves to support great skin health. While we’re huge advocates of safe beauty and safe beauty practices, we’re still no stranger to experimenting with our own homemade remedies to create the most perfect lotions and potions to support our skin’s radiant glow.  

There isn’t a day that goes by in my home when I am not wiping the kitchen countertops of bright orange powder, or some diluted yellowish substance made up of that bright orange powder mixed with something else. Coconut oil, almond milk, ghee—it all goes well with turmeric! I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this flavorful, healing spice: turmeric stains everything and can be a mess to deal with, but its benefits far outweigh any trouble it causes. Because of that it is a staple in my household, and after this article it will probably become one in yours too! 

This summertime has been a hot one, filled with some of the highest temperatures and UV indexes we’ve seen in decades. For many, that doesn’t qualm the internal desire to pack up the car and jet off to enjoy an outdoor adventure---hiking with a buddy, boating on the lake, volleyball at the beach or even lounging in the backyard with a summertime drink.

While many of these ‘adventures’ include fun gear like a glass water bottle, a hat, or perhaps a newly crafted Spotify playlist, the most important items you can’t leave the house without are a natural and good-for-you sunscreen and skin-loving foods. Sun exposure is no joke and we’ve got a whole routine to keep our largest organ happy and healthy throughout the summer months.