Lemon (Hark the Herald)
Major Antioxidant Benefits
Lemon is so cleansing
Purifies air and surfaces
Promotes Cognitive Ability
Mix with honey to soothe - throat for a while
Helps lift mood and makes me smile

Get cleansing benefits every day
Add few drops to water to make room spray
Drink lemon water out of glass or stainless steel
This essential oil comes from the Lemon Peel.

15 Uses for Lemon
    1    What is that smell?   Diffuse Lemon to neutralize odors of any kind.  This will also uplift mood.
    2    Sticky Stuff?   Lemon essential oil is awesome for removing sticky tree sap, sticker residue and permanent marker. It even gets gum out of hair!
    3    Add zest to your Water.  Add Lemon to your water!  Be sure it is in glass or stainless steel..
Add ice. Shake well. You will love the flavor!
    4    Clean the air during Remodel.  Diffuse lemon essential oil while you repaint or remodel your home.
    5    Road-Trip Good Times.   Next time you go on a long trip.  Add a few drops of Lemon to a cotton ball and shove in your air vent. This lifts mood and gets the stink out.
    6    Up your Happy.  Diffuse lemon essential oil to brighten and energize your mood. 
    7    Flavor Boost. Add a drop of Lemon essential oil anytime you are cooking with lemon juice.  This gives it a  great flavor.  Add to an herbal tea and honey too.
    8    Perk-Me-Up. Need energy? Try rubbing a drop of Lemon on your hands and inhale.  You’ll be amazed at the power of the Lemony aroma!
    9    Smell Lemons, Not Chemicals. Add a couple drops of Lemon essential oil to your dishwater. Adding Lemon will make it a better experience for you while taking advantage of the cleaning qualities in Lemon essential oil!  Your glassware will be crystal clean.
    10    Super Study Powers. Diffuse with Peppermint in the classroom or during homework time to help the kids stay awake and focused.
    11    An Original All-Purpose Cleaner. Mix 5-6 drops Lemon essential oil with water and vinegar in a spray bottle to cleanse and purify surfaces. Use to clean kitchen counters and stainless steel appliances. For stainless steel, mix Lemon essential oil with olive oil for best results.
    12    Fruity Fun. Use Lemon essential oil mixed with water and vinegar.  Keep in a spray to clean friut and have it last longer too. 
    13     Bad Smelling towels? . When your towels smell yucky and could use a boost, add Lemon oil to your detergent!
    14    Furrnitre Polish.  A few drops of Lemon essential oil combined with a few drops to olive oil makes a great and non-toxic furniture polish.
    15    Seasonal Threat Releif.  Add 1-2 drops of each Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint in a shot glass.  Fill with a little water.   Swish for 5 seconds and swallow.  Instant relief.
 

It was a beautiful day and I had just dropped my kids off at school.  I normally go the gym for a class with friends but the weather was perfect that morning so I decided to go for a run.  I was also training for a 5K and wanted to work on my timing.
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When I run, I feel that it is my time to escape from the world.   Let’s face it… we all need a little escape every now and again.  During my warm up I take that time to breathe in the fresh air, spread my arms wide and thank GOD for my health!   I tuned into a wonderful and inspirational pod cast (as I often do) and set out for my 3 mile run.  

Most of the first mile was uphill on a sidewalk.  My heart was racing and a few times I had to walk to pace myself but I finally made it to the top!  The rest was downhill.  This is the BEST part as I love to sprint down!  I was flying, feeling like a gazelle, happy as can be, endorphins running high, heart pounding, lungs filled with air and a smile in my heart until suddenly…. my foot hit a large rock and I went pummeling to the ground.

It all happened so fast!  Hands hit the ground, left knee went down and I thought it was over.  The momentum kept me moving forward until my right shoulder slid across the gravel and I finally hit the side of my head.  Did I mention that all of this was off-road and in dirt & gravel?  That was probably a blessing!

I laid there in a cloud of dust, dirt, sweat and (almost) tears.   I have run close to 1,000 times and have never had this type of fall.   I gathered myself together and walked to a nearby shady tree to access the damage.   Nothing too serious except for hamburger hands and knee.  My shoulder had tons of skin missing and my right hand started to swell.  My head hurt too so I just laid down in the shade, took a few deep breaths and told myself, “Natalie, you are going to be ok!”  

Once I pulled myself together,  I called my husband (thank God for cell phones) then walked over a mile back to my car.   It has been almost 4 weeks since the fall and I am almost 100% back to normal.  Nothing broken and no permanent damage.   It could have been so much worse!!

My first answer was because I am supposed to pick myself up and keep going!  Or maybe it was to teach me that NOTHING is going to stop me.  I am STRONG.  I GOT THIS.
Then my dear friend and mentor Amy Thedinga said, “Natalie, maybe you are supposed to STOP and just…….. feel.”  I wasn’t sure what she meant about that until I did some soul searching.  I asked myself some deep questions.

Why am I keeping myself so busy?
What am I trying to prove?
Why do I sometimes put others in front of myself?
Am I running from something?
Am I numbing feelings that I need to “feel”?
What do I truly want to do with my life?
Am I good enough?
What am I waiting for?

This fall actually lead me down a path that is crucial for me to take.   There are so many things that I need to work on with my past if I want to get clear with my future!   I can’t grow at all in life if I don’t accept who I am, work on my personal development daily, realize that I AM enough and truly believe in all my heart that I can do anything with my life!  However I have to BELIEVE 100% in myself first.  I have to work on ME and that takes a lot of time.   No one is perfect.  Everyone on this earth wants to be loved, understood, cared for and valued! 

I have to nourish my body daily with nutritious foods and clean water and  I also have to nourish my mind with books, videos and clues that many successful people have left behind.  Here is a favorite nugget.....

A book that was recommended to me is “The Power of Imperfection” by Brené Brown.
This book has made me embrace who I am:

I am vulnerable
I make mistakes
I have had to deal with extreme sadness, grief, stress and depression in my life and its OK!
I’m not perfect… no one is
I love myself enough to work on ME daily
Courage is contagious
I have to learn to be more patient with myself

One of Brené’s friends Katherine Center says,
“You have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs.”  
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What did I learn through this fall?  That sometimes it's ok to just STOP and BE.   Be who I truly am instead of how I think others want me to be.  

Because of Brené Brown's book and encouragement, I am working on letting go of what others think, of perfectionism, of numbing and powerlessness, of scarcity and fear of the dark.  I am working on letting go of comparison, anxiety, self-doubt and the thought of always having to be in control.   I am letting go of who I think I am supposed to be and embracing who I already am.   It is HARD but is uncovering things I never knew existed within myself.  

I will keep learning daily and I will also make mistakes.  I will continue growing into the strong and independent woman I am supposed to be so that I can encourage others to do the same.

I AM ENOUGH!  You know what?  YOU ARE TOO!
xoxo
~Natalie

​HERE are some natural solutions that I used to heal faster :)  I don't know what I would have done without the "Owie Spray."

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Have you ever met someone for the first time and you had an immediate connection with them and you feel like you’ve known them forever?  This is how I feel about someone I met a few years ago.  She is one of the most inspirational people I know, she makes me laugh, motivates many and has a huge impact on numerous people.   Her name is Amy Wilson and I met her at the gym.

Why do I go to the gym?  I have been told, “Natalie, you are skinny, you don’t need to work out!” When I was younger, I didn’t think I needed to work out or eat healthy.  I never took my health seriously until my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 50.  Watching her go through treatments  off and on for 10 years was not only devastating to me and my family but it also had a huge impact on me.  It was a take-your-health-seriously wakeup call!  I knew that I needed to take better care of myself and my family.  I learned I needed to eliminate toxins, eat healthy, move my body and be around inspiring people that motivate me to be a better person.

This is where Amy comes in.  She is an instructor at LVAC and I meet her over 5 years ago when I was nervous newbie in her Body Attack class.  Amy is truly one of a kind.  Her positivity, drive and beautiful smile brighten up just about any room.  Not only is she a GREAT teacher, but she makes it light, makes us laugh and PUSHES us in class further than we think we can go.  My favorite is when she says, “Give someone a high five. We are strong alone, but together we are powerful.”  This is so true.  The other day when I walked out of class I talked to another Amy fan that told me she gets more out of Amy’s 60 minute class than she does after going to the gym for 2 hours.  I know many others feel the same way because  her classes are packed.
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Amy not only pushes us in class, but has a creative and fun way of doing so.  I wish I had a pen and paper to remember all her words of inspiration.  Here are some of my faves…

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“It’s easy if you make it easy.”  

“Why did you come here today?”

“Where do you want to be in life and what are you
going to do to get there?”

“Don’t quit because it is hard.  Finish because you want it.”
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“Who’s with me?”

"You came here to change, what are you gonna do to make that change?"

I encourage you to find your Amy.  Find someone that is going to push you and motivate you to be a better person.  Find someone who makes you smile, laugh and have fun.  Find that person that makes you grin just by seeing them from across the room.  Find your light, your happy place and you will forever be hooked.  Those people are out there. THEY are the people you should surround yourself with because they are the people that will make a difference in your life for many years to come.  I am beyond blessed that I found her and I know that many other people feel the same.  

One of my favorite things Amy said in class is, “A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.”  My mom would say this to me  all the time.  Coincidence?  I don’t think so. 

Stay well!
​Cheers,