My Journey to Health and Happiness. SO excited to share!!

Its been nearly 3 years since my last blog entry and so much has changed. 'I' have changed to be more specific, and I'm excited to share all my new discoveries and passions.  
I'll post some photos of the amazing things I love and look forward to sharing with you :)

This is my No Bake Chocolate "Nice" cream cake! All natural whole food ingredients like medjool dates, coconut milk, hazelnuts, cashews & rolled oats!!  Ill post all the recipe soon

About 3 years ago I became very ill.  For 2 years doctors searched for the "diagnosis".  Test after test I sank into a very dark place of fear and pain.  As time carried on and the testing continued, I started to look for my own answers.  I began with nutrition.  I spent hour after hour poring over information and studies.  Peoples personal stories and experiences.  It wasn't hard for me to see that my eating habits were far from healthy, although I had thought they were.

Picking flowers and eating fruit. Something about the fresh scents of nature that can soothe my wild mind.  Darn-it, why cant we have lilacs all year round!!!

I also began to access my lifestyle.  My stress level.  Was I doing things in my life that truly made me happy?  That gave me a sense of Joy and Peace?  Not really.  I was so focused on my business and career that I was forgetting to enjoy life.  I worked all day and barley slept.  Even if I sat down to watch TV in the evening Id still be working.  I thought if I spent anytime doing anything other then working, cleaning etc, it was time wasted.

My home reno and my handsome best friend (my husband)

We fell off our rockers and on a whim bought a 200+ heritage home that looked like AmityVille Horror house, but we reno-ed, reno-ed, reno-ed and heres a peak, our kitchen.  The rest of the house is pretty amazing as well.  but I'll never re-no again LOL

I remember laying in bed at night and being so wound up, all the ideas and to do's running through my head.  My mind was never at rest.  I took all of this into account and decided. IM GOING TO CHANGE.
A change not to impress anyone, not for any other reason but to find HAPPINESS.  Medically I was told I had Lupus and Fibromyalgia.  I also had sever degenerative arthritis in my spine.  
I decided this was not my reality and began my path to natural wellness.  I started with my diet.  I said good by to all the refined sugars and oils. goodbye to all the processed foods, all the junk foods.  I cleared out my pantry and fridge of all the franken-foods.  I began a Whole Food Plant Based lifestyle.  

ahhhh, apple ginger berry water.  One of my fave. Anti inflamitory, anti oxidents, heres your fountain of youth

This I believe has made THE MOST SIGNIFICANT change in my life!!! It wasn't long before I literally felt like a new person.  My pain diminished.  I had energy that I have NEVER experienced in my life.  I began to glow from the inside.  My mind cleared.  My moods shifted.  The anxiety went away.  I can honestly say I began a new life.  The life I had always wanted.

the awesomeness that is chia pudding parfait :)

I also shifted "spiritually".  I don't mean religion, but spirit.  That happy place inside of us that is connected to nature and the Earth.  I began to take time for myself.  Took time for GRATITUDE.  I realized I would be much more productive if I was happy and ultimately productivity was not the key to happiness.  I slowed down.  Took time to enjoy my tea.  To sit in the sun and play in my garden.  Listened to the wind, took my dog for walks, read books, mediation, yoga ... I began to LOVE MY LIFE.

Mediation is one of THE BEST things I have ever done.  Twice a day. 

So that brings us to today, where am I at? I no longer see doctors on a weekly basis.  I feel amazing. Although I do have some back pain here and there, who wouldn't after 7 car accidents, yes I got in another car accident 5 months ago, it wasn't my fault :)).  But between the yoga and my awesome anti inflammatory Ginger Turmeric tea I don't need any medication.  I am 38 and look younger now then I did 10 years ago.  I'm grateful! Grateful for having been in pain, grateful for having a second chance to live this beautiful life.  Grateful to have found the healing power of food and happiness and I cant wait to share my continued journey 
  ps ... yes I still do arts and crafts all the time.  Lots of fun magical things to share :)

The other loves of my life.  My daughter Daisey, Best friend forever Bear and the fabulous dachshund Baby T (Theo)

xo Theresa 

Day 28 DIY Holiday Snowglobe Snowman, Christmas gift

Day 28 Holiday Snowman Snowglobe :)

I made these little guys after I did the snowglobe reindeer in my previous post .. so cute ..  This little snow globe would make a lovely gift or decoration and kids will love to make it as well for a fun Christmas craft!

What you will need;

~ a jar, I used a baby food jar reduce reuse recycle

~ glue gun and liquid glue (I used E6000)

~ burlap, mine was from Michaels and has this amazing gold glitter too it!

~ snow flakes you can find at most dollar stores or craft stores

~ Twine or ribbon (mine is from Micheals, its hemp twine with metallic threads .. sparkle!)

~ miniature figurines .. at this time of year they are everywhere, mine are from AC Moors

~ a small piece of wood or foam 1"

~ glitter!  

Your scene will be set on the inside of your lid as your jar will be upside down. glue your wood or foam to the inside of the lid, your snowman will stand on this .. it will give him height so he is not hidden under the lip of the lid.

                 Next Glue your snowman and tree to your wood.  

I used a glue gun.

Now take your liquid glue .. I used E600, and cover your wood and whatever part of the lid shows .. again making sure to leave room for the jar to fit ontop.

let it snow .. 

cover your scene in snow and puch it down with your fingers so it can attach to the glue, of course you'll still have lots of loose snow for flurries :)

Glitter time .. sprinle your glitter on top, as much as you'd like.

I added these amazing gold and silver glitter stars too

 put your jar on top .. its good to add a little E6000 to the track so no little ones can unscrew it.

now measure your burlap piece .. aout 1/2" larger then the lid or enough to cover whatever size your lid is.

Glue your burlap onto your lid.  I put one dot of glue in the center of the lid and then worked in sections glueing along the outer edge of the lid.

look at how pretty it is with the gold thread!

Lastly wrap your twine or whatever ribbon you choose around the burlap ..

I used white with silver thread :)

walaa! whimsical, cute .. I love this!

Day 27 Snowglobe Reindeer

Day 27 Reindeer Holiday Snowglobe 

Im so excited Christmas is coming I want to make all sorts of pretty whimsical gifts for family and friends .. so all my crafting from here to Christmas will be lovely holiday treats! I bought these super cute little reindeer and some 'reindeer moss' .. thats what its called.  I decided to make snow globes with them since I loved the little necklace so much.

What you will need

~ mini reindeer.  I found mine at AC Moores but around his time of year you can find pretty miniatures everywhere .. (I also found thise teeny trees and snowmen)

~ Reindeer Moss .. most craft stores carry this .. its real moss .. so pretty

~ glue gun

~ Jar .. I used a baby food jar but if you want to get fancy Michaels has all different shapes and sizes.

~ Snow dust (craft store)

~ fine white glitter (craft store, I used Martha's)

~ Burlap .. I bought this gorgeous burlap with gold threads running through it at Michaels .. sparkle sparkle

~ Hemp Twine, Michaels .. also has gold and copper threads running through it :)

~ I tiny piece of wood

Lets begin

You'l be creating your scene on the lid of the jar.  Start by making sure your wood fits into the lid and the jar still closes on top.  The wood will give your reindeer a little height so he does not get lost under the lid.  Glue on your wood with a glue gun .. make sure the top is flush with the lid or your deer will stand crooked.

                     

Next glue your deers we little hoofs to the wood ..

Begin to moss ify.  I took very small bits of moss, dropped a little glue on the bottom and added them to my wood and lid. 

 Make sure you do not add to much so your lid can still close when the jar is placed on top.

pretty .. now let it snow .. add your snow dust.

... now a little magic shimmer, what is a craft without glitter??  

I added these tiny red sequins as well .. I wanted a pop of color that looked like berries.

Now measure your lid on the burlap.  I traced it with a pencil, but Martha has a disappearing marker that I need to get, perfect for something like this. 

cut about 1/2" around the circle or whatever length will cover your jars lid.

look at the pretty sparkle!

Now small sections at a time apply your glue and attach your burlap to your lid.

Tie on your hemp .. of course you can use and string or ribbon your like ..

shake a little to get a shimmering storm started around your deer .. the glitter will catch on the glass just enough for the whimsy effect.

Walaa . so pretty!  Your reindeer snow globe.  

favorite thing ('these are a few..');

... love this over sized clock I just found at Home Sense .. Im doing the French Provincial look for my new house .. my husband just put in those hardwood floors you see and that beam is made of 200 year old barn wood we found when we removed a wall (along with lath and plaster, my new house is 203 years old)