​2019 is well on it's way, and with every happy new year comes the barrage of New Years Resolution pressure.

It seems to be the norm to create boring arbitrary non-specific goals like: lose weight (ugh), save money, declutter, start running (again), apply for jobs, just because, well, 'tis the season! 

I'm not here for it. 
What I am here for, however, is to see you create goals that align with who YOU are, and what YOU desire in this life.
Goals that light you up instead of drag you down.
Goals that are FUN to pursue, where the journey is as wonderful as the destination.
Goals where you can learn, and grow, and flourish in more than just one direction. 

If you would like to explore what it would feel like to begin this new year with fully committed, connected, and enlivening support around making the changes to create the lifestyle you've always wanted to create for yourself, to learn the mindsets, structures, tools and rituals necessary to make living your MOST desired life a journey that feels inspired and indulgent, with a sense of EASE, and FUN...

Let's schedule a time to talk, and see how we can work together to
MAKE.
IT.
HAPPEN.

- Schedule a FREE Introductory Health Coaching Consultation- 

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These consultations can take place at my cozy office in The Nuin Center, or from the comfort of your own home, over the phone! 

"I never get sick."

Is probably one of the most frequent lies I tell myself as an adult (along with "diet starts tomorrow" and "I'm never drinking again").
By day, I am the office manager of a very busy and very germ-y elementary school, and people big and small tend to drop like flies at various times throughout the year.

Be it Strep Throat, Pinkeye, Flu, Barfnado...something is always going around. I am likely jinxing myself by typing this, but so far this year, and ALL of last year, I've been able to avoid ALL OF IT! 
Now, to be honest I've had whispers of malaise here and there, but I activate super defense mode on all fronts, and have so far been successful at keeping the sick at bay*. 

When I feel a little rough or a creeping ill coming on, I utilize the following remedies to make sure I don't fall along with my comrades: 

1. Oregano Oil - Diluted in a shot glass of water. Tastes like watery pizza, but it does the trick. I just pick up a bottle at the Co-op or Whole Foods
2. Pharmaceutical Grade Supplements - One product in particular, called Proflavanol C is something I take regularly, then amp it up when I'm feeling run down, or already sick. I'm convinced that this formulation of Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Grapeseed cuts my sick time in half.
3. Sleep - I have a theory that we fall ill when we are moving too fast and hectically through life, and that stress helps to lower our immunity, so we become more susceptible to illness. But, I also think that getting a cold or feeling run-down is our bodies telling us that it's time to SLOW DOWN and take care of ourselves. 
4. Water - You knew this already. Chug-a-lug my friend
5. Liver Tincture from Cutting Root 
6. Essential Oil Steam - I will shake a few drops of eucalyptus and tea tree oil in the shower in the morning to help my sinuses and airways feel clearer and better. Peppermint is amazing for headaches as well.
7. Movement - Low key walks in my super cute neighborhood, or through Frick Park with the pup to help move that lymph!
8. Soup! - See below 

Here is the recipe for my Go-To-Never-Get-Sick-But-When-I-Do-I-Make-This-Soup soup:

Coconut Oil
Sesame Oil
Cayenne Pepper or Hot Chili Oil
Yellow Miso
Kombu
Bonito
Wakame
Shitake mushrooms - Fresh or Dried, but you get bonus brothiness if reconstituted from dried
Garlic - All of it
Celery
Onion
Scallions

Bonus veggies as craved - Your body knows what it needs:
Kale
Carrots
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Potatoes
Beans
Zucchini
Tofu

Soak the Bonito and Kombu in a pot of water heated to low, for about 30 minutes, then strain out the solids. At the same time, rehydrate your mushrooms in a separate bowl or pot (I use a tea kettle to speed the process along with hot water).

Combine the bonito broth with the mushrooms and broth in a large stock pot. 

In a frying pan heat up some coconut oil, then saute your celery, onion, and garlic. 
Combine everything in the stock pot and simmer on medium low. Take out a portion of the hot water and carefully wisk in about a tablespoon of miso, then add back to the soup, taking care not to boil. 
Add your wakame and your bonus veggies and simmer until everything is cooked.
Serve hot, topped with sesame oil, scallions, and cayenne pepper/chili oil to taste. 

Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Seasoning is Phenomenal in this!

December. 

A beautiful month full of family, friends, good food, fun parties, hopefully lots of rest, and frequently: Presents! 
I love watching these "What I Got for Christmas" videos on Youtube. It's usually a bunch of very clean looking beauty gurus talking about products and gadgets they've received over the holidays. In case you are as nosy as I am, and were wondering about what I got for Christmas, I'll provide you a quick list: 

• Food Prep Containers
• Cookbook
• The new Ghostbusters! 
• The fluffiest bathrobe known to man
• Glassware
• Stomach Virus

Yep.

Dear sweet Saint Nicholas brought me a stomach bug. Realistically, it probably wasn't that jolly old elf to infect my insides, but the many tiny humans I interact with on a daily basis. 

Luckily, I was already home with my family when it hit. Which means I had the built in support of family to help take care of my puppy, run to the store for supplies, make me warm beverages, and all together make sure I wasn't dying (even though that's how it felt at times).

It struck me that, as someone who lives on her own, who considers herself to be a strong and independent woman, I am WOEFULLY unprepared for the rare occasions when I do get sick. This experience served as a wakeup call as to what I need to have on hand, just in case I can't make it to the kitchen, let alone the store. 
​
Here are the top things I recommend having in supply, just in case you get sick, and don't have family around for support.

Immediate Support​

• A Bucket - Just in case you can't make it to your preffered plumbing apparatus quickly enough
• Toothbrush and toothpaste, Mouthwash
• Cold washcloth for your forehead

​Beverages
If you happened to spend the night sweating with a fever, and with your body rejecting everything you've consumed in the past 12 hours, you are at risk for dehydration. 

• Electrolyte support such as: Pedialyte or Gatorade. It was my great pleasure to discover that Pedialyte also comes in popsicle form! 
• Ginger ale
• Tea - I recommend Ginger or Pepperment - Both are soothing for nausea 
• Water - A Pitcher is helpful as well, so you don't have to keep running back and forth to the kitchen.
• Ice Chips 

Gentle Foods
Once you're beyond the worst of it, you're going to want to replenish your body, and revive your blood sugar, but probably should take it easy on what you ingest for the next day or so. You also won't feel like cooking, so here are some quick and easy foods to put in your belly.

• Apple Sauce
• Rice Pudding
• Miso Soup or Vegetable Broth - Add tofu to get some protein as well. 

​
*Medicine and Supplements​​
*I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, this is simply a list of things that have helped me when I was ill.*

• Dramamine - to help tame nausea and knock you the hell out so you can sleep it off
• Probiotic - To replenish any lost gut bacteria and re-establish the balance of your flora
• Digestive Enzymes - Provide support when adventuring back to the land of solid foods
• Advil, Ibuprofen, etc - Relief for fever symptoms, headaches, body aches, muscle soreness from vomiting
• Antacid - Active Calcium Chewable is my favorite because it provides your body with calcium, instead of depleting it.

Comfort Items

• Soft pajamas, and a warm cozy bathrobe
• Hot water bottle, heating pads, and ice packs  - To help soothe your muscles from intense contractions and fever aches
• If you really want to think ahead, make sure your bathmat is plush and soft and easy on the knees for when you are snuggling up to the porcelain prince.

ASK FOR HELP

• YES we are strong. YES we are independent. YES we can do it on our own and pull through. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean we should HAVE to, or that we can't utilize our communities to make our lives easier.
• Whether you reach out by text, or phone, reach out and let somebody who loves you know that you're sick. Perhaps make an agreement with a friend TODAY that you can be there, and call upon each other, guilt free. <--- Do this today!
• Here are some ideas for things you can ask your friend to do:
  • Take on your dog or child for the day or just the afternoon, so you can rest and recouperate
  • Go on a zombie supply run to the store for any of the items listed above, in case you're out of stock
  • Make a doctor's appointment, or take you to an urgent care facility - I know that the way I was feeling, there's no way I should be behind the wheel
  • Recommend a trashy show to stream on Netflix. As Julie says on Difficult People: "It turns the brain off so the body can heal."
  • Check in on you every couple of hours to see if you need anything/make sure your cat isn't chowing down on your deceased body. (Sorry, had to be addressed).

I've added most of the items above to my Retail Therapy Amazon Store, so you can find them quickly, and easily, and take action today.  Add them to your cart so you aren't left high and dry when the unexpected happens.

Let me know in the comments: 
Is there anything you would add to this list?
This is mostly specific to stomach bugs, so if you'd like to see an edition dedicated to the illness of your choice ( Strep throat, head cold, hangover, allergies, PMS, ETC. ) let me know!

Wishing you a lovely and healthy week, 
xx
Caitlin