Creative Mind by Nancy Ann

Some people may think this technique for relaxation sounds corny or strange but for me and many others it really works and all you need are a few minutes a day when you feel you need it the most.  It is excellent before bedtime for a great nights sleep or to relax yourself to face an active stressful day. In fact it works so well that it is also used in hospitals and private nursing care facilities to help patients. http://www.livestrong.com/article/150430-benefit-of-guided-imagery/ http://www.guidedimageryinc.com/home/surgery_procedures_pain_relief.aspx " Guided imagery is the use of visualization techniques to help your body enter a relaxed state. In other words, you close your eyes and imagine the sights and sounds of a place that you find relaxing. The most common visualizations often involve a tropical beach, warm sun and soothing sounds of the ocean -- in fact, this is the visualization that I find most relaxing. If you find, however, that some other imagined scene is more a...

Over the last 25 years I have been busy with raising my three sons who are all now in college. Last Summer, to fight the "empty nest syndrome", I started to try and find things that I am interested in and enjoy. I always loved photography but never really had the time to explore my interests. One nice Summer day morning I stepped outside to enjoy a cup of coffee on my back deck and brought my camera to take pictures of my two basset hounds, Clyde & Opie. As I was sitting there, as I did many times, I was admiring my three Rose of Sharon bushes with all their amazing flowers when for the very first time,  I took notice of the enormous amount of bumblebees flying in and out of the flowers. I never really paid much attention to them or gave them much thought. For the heck of it I grabbed my camera and began to take pictures of them. That was where it all started - the obsession and appreciation of these little hard working creatures that go so unnoticed unless they buzz pas...

Lemon Balm is one of my very favorite herbs for my personal "wellness".  It is in the mint family of herbs but it actually has a very strong, soothing lemon scent when you rub the leaves. It has been used as far back as the Middle Ages as a "calming" herb to reduce stress and anxiety, to promote sleep and so much more.  It is grown all over the world.  Plant some in your garden this year with your herbs and you will also help with the bee population! There is just so many ways to use lemon balm.  You can purchase the pure essential oil and burn as aromatherapy or place few drops in your bath for total relaxation. (That is my preferred method of use.)  It is also sold as teas, capsules,   extracts & tinctures.  Crops are grown all over the world and used in everything from medicines, cosmetics and furniture products. As with anything, if you have a medical condition consult with your physician.  I do not promote use of herbs as an alternate cho...

I have loved Burt's Bees products for years but the more I researched their products and their company, the more I love them!  I started using their products many years ago.  Our skin is our bodies largest organ so I have always tried to use natural products and lotions.   Burt's Bees products are also affected by the "Honey Bee Crisis".  While browsing around their website I clicked on their "Wellness Program Overview".  " At Burt’s Bees, Inc., we care about the well being of our employees. They’re the heart and soul of Burt’s Bees, and we strive to support them - body, mind and spirit. The aim of our Wellness Program is to inspire and assist our employees in succeeding in their health and life goals. Toward that end, we've assembled an assortment of benefits and services to help them stay healthy and live the life they want to live." http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/body-moisturizers/ They not only offer great products, t...

Stress is a normal reaction to positive and negative moments in our lives.  Let's face it though, nowadays there seems to be a lot more than our usual "everyday stresses" to stress about... like reading the headline news and hearing about the insanity going on in the world, the state of the economy etc. When we experience stress our bodies have a stress hormone called "Cortisol" that increases.  That hormone affects body functions like blood pressure, insulin for blood sugar and proper immune function. So our bodies are equipped to handle stress but too much stress for too long can lead to all kinds of health problems like heart disease, stroke, cancer, depression, obesity, diabetes, memory loss  -etc.  That is why it is important to find different ways for you to relax under stressful conditions so you can lower the stress hormone back to a normal level.  I try to  find natural & healthier ways to relieve daily stresses like exer...

         I had a bit of Winter "cabin fever" with all the recent snow storms. Cabin fever  explanation from Wikipedia: "Cabin fever is an idiomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in, in a small space, with nothing to do, for an extended period (as in a simple country vacation cottage during a long rain or snow). Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, laughter, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow or dark."  ......yup, I had cabin fever!    I needed to force myself to get some fresh air and go find some "nature therapy" in the middle of this cold  month of January.   The moon looked like a big snowball in the sky.  Maybe the moon is frozen too?? That got me thinking about the temperature on t...