I loved this so much that I am sharing it again . . . Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!

One of the perks of having your own business is that you get to choose (to some extent) the people who you surround yourself with on a daily basis.  I am continually inspired by spending time with my colleagues, who I am lucky to also call friends.  I have asked some of these great women who work with me at Nutritious Life to take a moment to reflect on Mother’s Day.  Their answers speak to some of the pillars that are the foundation of a Nutritious Life. I hope these words inspire you as you recognize and honor the women and mothers in your life, this Mother’s Day.

Tiffany: Eating Empowered

As a mom of a preschooler, people ask me if my daughter eats healthy because I’m a nutritionist.  The truth is, she’s a typical kid who loves her sweets and struggles to get in green vegetables.  When I was in grad school studying nutrition I had very strong ideas about how I would feed my child when I became a mother…and then I actually had a child.  She is her own person and has her own likes and dislikes.  She does like a lot of healthy foods, but it is a daily, ongoing attempt to get her to try new foods.  I just try to expose her to these wonderfully healthy foods as much as possible, so at the very least she recognizes them (she can identify kale and avocado even if she hasn’t quite yet learned to like them).  She helps me assemble my salads, we go to the farmers’ market together, and she knows all about vitamins A, B and C and how they make her body healthy.  I keep telling myself that I was picky as a kid and grew up to love vegetables, so there’s hope for her, too. So, on Mother’s Day we will enjoy one of our favorite weekend activities together…cooking whole wheat pancakes.  She gets on the step stool and helps me measure and mix the batter, and we occasionally add some fruit to bump up the nutrition.  But let’s be honest, for my daughter it’s not about the whole grain goodness; it’s really all about the syrup.

Amanda: Stress Less

Growing up, my mom always taught me to STRESS LESS. I’ve always had a tendency to stress about things that were out of my control or that really weren’t worth stressing about. My mom has a saying: “Is this tragic or merely inconvenient?” Putting the problem into perspective and knowing that I can deal with the “inconvenient”, and helping me come up with a plan always helped me stress less, and is a phrase I often repeat to myself today when something arises. To return the favor, my mom and I spend Mother’s Day indulging in a relaxing spa day each year.

Lara: Sleep Deep

As the mother of two little girls, almost 4 and 20 months, sleeping in doesn’t happen often. Since our eldest child was born, my husband makes Mother’s Day a special day for me beginning with a lazy morning in bed. It’s amazing what a little extra sleep can do for my overall mood and energy. It sets me up for an amazing day with my family. In fact, just the idea of knowing I can stay in bed is enough for me. On Mother’s Day, like most days, I just want snuggle with my girls and get lots of hugs and kisses. Being a mother is the greatest gift in the world. And a little extra sleep doesn’t hurt!

Michelle: Pamper Thyself

Mother’s day is a traditional day in my family where for as long as I can remember, the day is all about embracing, valuing, and pampering my mom, grandmothers, aunts, and all mothers in the family alike. For brunch, my dad’s side of the family would gather around my grandmother over an abundance of middle eastern Persian cuisine and tell jokes, pastime stories, and sing happy mother’s day songs in Persian, Hebrew, and English. My cousins and I would create small gifts of hearts and poems to distribute to our mothers, giving them hugs, kisses, and unforgettable keepsakes. Then for dinner, we would do the same exact thing with my mother’s side of the family. As I grew older, my gifts became more sophisticated from a scribble of love to a spa date. It is a big day of appreciation and acknowledgement for all mothers do – so do a little something extra to pamper all the mothers out there, including yourself! No matter how old you get mom still loves the hand written heart shaped poems – a keepsake that she can always turn to for happiness and smiles. This Mother’s Day pamper mom with written love whether that is a beautiful poem, note, engraved poetry art, or a handmade scrapbook/collage, it will be sure to keep her smiling and feel loved and appreciated for more than just one day!

Stacia: Sex Ed

I don’t really like to be the center of attention. It makes me nervous. I have tried repeatedly to make Mother’s Day about my mother or mother in law – pampering others is much more my style. But, with 3 amazing kids, I have no choice but to succumb to their doting. Really, it is like bizzaro day. Instead of making 5 breakfasts, lunches and dinners, cleaning up and managing the household, my family takes charge. Behind it all is my husband, who plans, orchestrates and organizes breakfast, my kiddie “rock concert” and barbecue or picnic. There is nothing sexier to me than watching the man I adore (after 12 years 6 moves, more than 10 jobs between us, sickness and health) make super-daddy-egg-sandwiches, and actually clean up. On Mother’s Day, it is not lost on me that the honor of being called mumma is really because of the man I love.

Cheers to another year of parenting! I hope you are honored, pampered and rested in celebration of all your hard work.

I loved this so much that I am sharing it again . . . Happy Mother’s Day, Moms!

One of the perks of having your own business is that you get to choose (to some extent) the people who you surround yourself with on a daily basis.  I am continually inspired by spending time with my colleagues, who I am lucky to also call friends.  I have asked some of these great women who work with me at Nutritious Life to take a moment to reflect on Mother’s Day.  Their answers speak to some of the pillars that are the foundation of a Nutritious Life. I hope these words inspire you as you recognize and honor the women and mothers in your life, this Mother’s Day.

Tiffany: Eating Empowered

As a mom of a preschooler, people ask me if my daughter eats healthy because I’m a nutritionist.  The truth is, she’s a typical kid who loves her sweets and struggles to get in green vegetables.  When I was in grad school studying nutrition I had very strong ideas about how I would feed my child when I became a mother…and then I actually had a child.  She is her own person and has her own likes and dislikes.  She does like a lot of healthy foods, but it is a daily, ongoing attempt to get her to try new foods.  I just try to expose her to these wonderfully healthy foods as much as possible, so at the very least she recognizes them (she can identify kale and avocado even if she hasn’t quite yet learned to like them).  She helps me assemble my salads, we go to the farmers’ market together, and she knows all about vitamins A, B and C and how they make her body healthy.  I keep telling myself that I was picky as a kid and grew up to love vegetables, so there’s hope for her, too. So, on Mother’s Day we will enjoy one of our favorite weekend activities together…cooking whole wheat pancakes.  She gets on the step stool and helps me measure and mix the batter, and we occasionally add some fruit to bump up the nutrition.  But let’s be honest, for my daughter it’s not about the whole grain goodness; it’s really all about the syrup.

Amanda: Stress Less

Growing up, my mom always taught me to STRESS LESS. I’ve always had a tendency to stress about things that were out of my control or that really weren’t worth stressing about. My mom has a saying: “Is this tragic or merely inconvenient?” Putting the problem into perspective and knowing that I can deal with the “inconvenient”, and helping me come up with a plan always helped me stress less, and is a phrase I often repeat to myself today when something arises. To return the favor, my mom and I spend Mother’s Day indulging in a relaxing spa day each year.

Lara: Sleep Deep

As the mother of two little girls, almost 4 and 20 months, sleeping in doesn’t happen often. Since our eldest child was born, my husband makes Mother’s Day a special day for me beginning with a lazy morning in bed. It’s amazing what a little extra sleep can do for my overall mood and energy. It sets me up for an amazing day with my family. In fact, just the idea of knowing I can stay in bed is enough for me. On Mother’s Day, like most days, I just want snuggle with my girls and get lots of hugs and kisses. Being a mother is the greatest gift in the world. And a little extra sleep doesn’t hurt!

Michelle: Pamper Thyself

Mother’s day is a traditional day in my family where for as long as I can remember, the day is all about embracing, valuing, and pampering my mom, grandmothers, aunts, and all mothers in the family alike. For brunch, my dad’s side of the family would gather around my grandmother over an abundance of middle eastern Persian cuisine and tell jokes, pastime stories, and sing happy mother’s day songs in Persian, Hebrew, and English. My cousins and I would create small gifts of hearts and poems to distribute to our mothers, giving them hugs, kisses, and unforgettable keepsakes. Then for dinner, we would do the same exact thing with my mother’s side of the family. As I grew older, my gifts became more sophisticated from a scribble of love to a spa date. It is a big day of appreciation and acknowledgement for all mothers do – so do a little something extra to pamper all the mothers out there, including yourself! No matter how old you get mom still loves the hand written heart shaped poems – a keepsake that she can always turn to for happiness and smiles. This Mother’s Day pamper mom with written love whether that is a beautiful poem, note, engraved poetry art, or a handmade scrapbook/collage, it will be sure to keep her smiling and feel loved and appreciated for more than just one day!

Stacia: Sex Ed

I don’t really like to be the center of attention. It makes me nervous. I have tried repeatedly to make Mother’s Day about my mother or mother in law – pampering others is much more my style. But, with 3 amazing kids, I have no choice but to succumb to their doting. Really, it is like bizzaro day. Instead of making 5 breakfasts, lunches and dinners, cleaning up and managing the household, my family takes charge. Behind it all is my husband, who plans, orchestrates and organizes breakfast, my kiddie “rock concert” and barbecue or picnic. There is nothing sexier to me than watching the man I adore (after 12 years 6 moves, more than 10 jobs between us, sickness and health) make super-daddy-egg-sandwiches, and actually clean up. On Mother’s Day, it is not lost on me that the honor of being called mumma is really because of the man I love.

Cheers to another year of parenting! I hope you are honored, pampered and rested in celebration of all your hard work.

When we think of intimacy, we often think of face-to-face interactions, snuggling, and embracing one another. But what if intimacy could extend past these tangible embraces? Studies show that the mind is a powerful tool when it comes to stimulating your sex drive, and sending visually stimulating images has been shown to be beneficial in relationships. Simply sending your man or woman a photo to get them thinking about you is a great way to get the ball rolling. Sometimes, a picture is worth more than 1,000 words!

NLT: Next time you’re thinking about your significant other, snap a photo of yourself and send it their way. Not a photographer? You don’t have to be! With today’s technology, such as apps like Instagram, you can snap, edit, and send a perfect photo within seconds. Don’t believe us? Check out Keri’s Instagram and prepare to be amazed.

Some people are really into the New Year’s resolution thing, but I’m not a huge believer in the once a year promises – I try to make small goals for myself and work at them often. While I try to start each year fresh, Labor Day really inspires me to reevaluate what I want from my year. I’m not going to chat you up with back-to-school rallying. I will not stress you out with talk of changing your wardrobe and breaking out the boots. I really want to speak to your (and my) personal goals on this Labor Day holiday.

I want to ask you to be a partner with me as I lay the foundation for the upcoming academic year. I like to look at the mission of my private practice and make sure that I’m practicing what I preach. I need to keep my work fresh, so sitting down to do this is super important to me.

There are 8 key elements to my philosophy – I call them the “pillars” of Nutritious Life. I’m going to lay them out for you. There is a bullet with MY goal to correspond with each pillar and I have left one bullet for you in each category to add your goals. Remember to keep your goals simple and attainable. You have reached your goal if it has become a habit; at that point, set a new goal for yourself.

Eat empowered — Feel empowered putting the most nutrient rich food in your body. It’s not “I can’t eat the dessert” – it IS – “I can eat the blueberries!”  When we focus on how good we feel fueling ourselves with the best foods you will continue to be motivated to eat these foods.

• This year I’m going to do a great job stocking my purse, desk and travel bag with healthful snacks (I’m usually pretty good at this) AND I’m going to make sure that I have a stockpile of ready to eat veggies to grab and go in my refrigerator each week. I’m going to chop my celery, trim my green beans and julienne my jicima on Sunday nights when I’m catching up on my favorite shows.
• Your Eat Empowered goal:

Exercise steady  – Aside from burning calories exercise is important because when we exercise our bodies releases endorphins which make us feel good and motivate us to eat well, do our jobs well and simply be happy!

• On days when getting to the gym or a class stresses me out because I have so much to do, I am going to walk up the 7 flights of stairs to my office and I’m going to bang out push-ups, planks  and wall sits while I’m on the phone.
• Your Exercise Steady goal:

Drink up — Our bodies are 50-75% water. The most common reason people are sluggish in the afternoon is due to dehydration. If we don’t drink enough water our bodies do not function properly, we become tired and do not metabolize food properly.

• I am really solid in the fluid department and get my water in every day. Still, I’d like to get more lemon in (it is great at detoxifying the liver), so I plan to slice up some lemon (or cucumber or whatever inspires me that week) for my water; I’ll do this the same time I am cutting up my veggies on Sunday nights.
• I have a second goal: I’d like to have a pitcher of homemade unsweetened iced tea in the house at all times and plan to make a pitcher for me and the family in interesting flavors. It is a great alternative to plain water and is full of antioxidants.
• Your Drink up goal:

Pamper thyself — Treating ourselves to something special can have emotional and physical benefits. Simple small indulgences, like a manicure, massage, bubble bath can make us look and feel great.

• I love a little pampering, but it can be a feast or famine thing for me. Sometimes I have a good run of making it to get a manicure, haircut, movie or leisurely cup of coffee over the Sunday paper. Sometimes weeks go by without my stopping for air. My goal is to meet a girlfriend for a walk once a week for an hour, manicure or cup of tea.
•  Your Pamper Thyself goal:

Sleep deep — When we are well rested we make better food choices, have more energy to go the gym, walk to work or take time for our favorite activities.

• Honestly, this is the pillar I struggle with the most. I know I function best with 7 hours of sleep per night, so I’m going to schedule my sleep like a doctor’s visit and write into my calendar what time I’ll get to bed and wake each day so that I can stick to it.
• Your Sleep Deep goal:

Sex ed — Oxytocin – a hormone released after orgasm in men and women, through cuddling, and even by simply holding hands – acts as a soothing antioxidant and may make it easier for people to stick to their healthy eating style.

• I’m not letting you into my bedroom goals this time . . . a girl needs a little privacy. But I will share this…My kids are still little. I plan to snuggle them as long as they’ll let me. I’ll get my oxytocin dose while I cuddle them and read chapters of The Little Prince.
• Your Sex Ed goal:

Stress less — Stress increases the level of the hormone cortisol in our bodies, which in turn makes our bodies crave carbohydrates, specifically high sugar carbohydrates, and store fat around the mid-section. So, even if we don’t eat more due to stress we can still gain weight due to stress!

• I’m going to write down the 3 or 4 things that have me most stressed out at the beginning of each day. Having them on paper will help me acknowledge them fully and make them seem less intimidating. I’ll give myself extra points if I write an action plan as to how I am going to manage them before they happen.
• Your Stress Less goal:

Your world — The environment that surrounds us can impact our heath, both our mental and physical health.

• This one is easy. I am going to make a clutter free entry way to my home by setting my family up with labeled hooks, bins and customized areas for their ‘junk.’ I’ve been dying to make that project a reality and will conquer it by the first day of school.
• Your Your World goal:

OK, friends. Get cracking. Of course you can share them with me or a good friend . . . remember to reevaluate often. Happy Labor Day. Enjoy!

Did you know that having sex improves your sense of smell? After sex, there is a surge in the production of the hormone prolactin, which causes your brain’s stem cells to form new neurons in the olfactory bulb, also known as the brain’s smell center. Another fun fact? The preferred scent of your man might vary depending on where you live. That’s right ladies. Your geographical location may have something to do with the way you like your men to smell. Researchers broke down data from a study to determine female scent preferences across the nation. Check out which scents ranked most popular:

1. Vanilla (Chicago)

2. Coffee (East Coast)

3. Lavender (Los Angeles)

4. Fresh Air/Rain (Nation-wide!)

Who knew that our favorite manly musks differ from city to city? Don’t turn your noses up at this idea yet.  Your man may not be the type to spritz on one of these scents but you can still get in the mood! If he is hesitant to switch up his usual cologne, start slow by lighting a candle with one of the above aromas. Remember, your sense of smell will be heightened for a more sensual experience.

NLT: If you’re new at experimenting with scents, try some of our favorite sophisticated and sexy natural soy candles from the Archipelago collection. Combos like Walnut Espresso and Lavender Spice may be just enough to get you in the mood. These candles may not be the only flames you ignite…

I know I am not alone in my love and passion for the beach. A lake is fine. A river is nice. There is nothing like the ocean, though, to really get me rejuvenated. I take a very whole person approach to health and wellness – in my practice, I have pillars of my philosophy devoted to balancing the nutrition (for nutrition is only one part!) within the context of a person’s life. I speak to my clients on the following points: stress less, your world, sleep deep, pamper thyself. There is nothing like a day at the beach to zero in on keeping my personal pillars intact. Today I’m sharing 10 reasons why the beach is healthy for you. It is worth the sand in your suit and full body sun-block. Read on!

1. Salt water: there is nothing more therapeutic for your joints and muscles than a soak in salt water. The ocean heals little nicks, cuts and scrapes and if you take a minute to exfoliate with a little sand, you’re skin will be grateful for days. (Just remember to reapply sunscreen after time in the salt water and sand – it can eat away your suntan lotion).
2. Sense of stimulation: Go ahead and try to name one of your senses that isn’t stimulated by a day at the beach. Take a minute to see the gorgeous surf, sand and sky combination – it is glorious any time of day. Smell the salty air that can do wonders for pulling stress out of you with every exhale. Of course you don’t eat the beach, but taste how much more delicious your food is with a little salty happiness stuck to your lips and smile. There is not a more relaxing and rejuvenating sound than the ocean. Hear waves hit the shore but do more than that – listen to the sounds of the beach; it’s like a healthy orchestra of restoration for your soul. Finally, there is nothing you cannot touch that isn’t spectacular – from the sand to the sea to the pages in your book, the feel of a day on the beach cannot be replicated.
3. Recreate. I find there is nothing more cathartic than a long walk on the beach. It doesn’t have to be fast – my favorite ones are the ones I take leisurely holding hands with my kids and looking for seashells. There is no goal, no rush, no place to be. My walk is most treasured. Of course, it is hard to resist being active. I love it all: football, Frisbee, volleyball, building castles, boogie boarding and body surfing are my top choices.
4. Body check. Once a year, around my birthday in January I look my body over for new moles, skin changes and anything unusual. I do the same before I go to the beach. As I put on my sun block, I start with my face and work my way down my body – taking time to pay attention to my skin and looking for anything I might not otherwise notice. It’s a good practice to get in the habit of. I always ask the hunk rubbing lotion on my back to take a peek too, but double check in the mirror as well.
5. Unplugged. Honestly my colleagues in my office would never believe me, but I really love it that the beach is entirely destructive to technology. It feels good to organize myself to be without my computer, phone and tablet for a few hours. Some of my most creative moments have come when I’m undistracted and left alone with uninterrupted thoughts. I’m able to focus entirely in the moment without worrying that a ding, blip or ring will pull me from my escape.
6. Pampering 101. It feels pretty to feel pretty on the beach. Polished fingers and toes are a great reward for me, and taking the time to care for myself and all of my digits reminds me that it is important to take time to do things just for pleasure and pleasure has a purpose in my health and wellness. If I’m really, really engaged, I throw in a 10 minute massage, an exfoliation, or skin treatment just to really practice what I preach.
7. Sleep. Whenever I look around at the beach, I notice dozers everywhere. Rarely do I get more than a twilight and dreamy sleep while actually on the beach, but when I go home, I find that I am rested, relaxed and ready to have the best night of sleep – it is truly therapeutic.
8. Turn on. You can argue until you are blue in the face that there are things sexier than the beach, and I will not believe it. Once my ‘senses’ are stimulated (see #2), and I am relaxed, pampered and have unplugged, I look to keep the good feelings going between the sheets.
9. Bare feet. Having bare feet means freedom. It is nearly impossible to be formal without shoes on. If I am shoeless, I laugh more. I trip less. Bare feet mean comfort, and I love being comfortable. My shoes are always off underneath my desk. When I walk into my house, the first thing I do is kick off my heels, sneakers and flip flops. When I am barefoot, I am the most free version of me.
10. Humanity. There is a lack of humanity in many aspects of my daily life. I’m usually racing about with all of New York racing about around me. There is no patience, solitude or connecting over the truly important things in life. At the beach I find people pull out more civility. Families connect. Friends play. Lovers relate and there is a different community for the day – one made up of people who are all out for a nice time. It is noticeable to me when I am on vacation or at a local beach for the day. I look forward to that.

Reconstruct your pillars. Dig out your umbrella. Add to my list. See you on the sand, friends!

50 Shades of Grey is doing for women’s libidos what Dr. Ruth did for sex lives in the 80s by breaking taboos and steaming up bedrooms across the globe. Spicing up your sex quotient with some lady-friendly erotica can lead to more regular romps in the boudoir and greater happiness. Researchers estimate that increasing intercourse from once a month to once a week is equivalent to the amount of happiness generated by earning an additional $50,000 in income. Now that’s a lot of happiness!  So keep pushing the envelope in the bedroom and get ready for a stronger sense of well-being and overall joy.

NLT: If you’ve got a taste for literature that’s a little, well, shall we say explicit, then check out the steamy sex scenes in Jill Kargman’s The Rockstar in Seat 3A. An ideal beach or airplane read (if you are looking to keep your sexy reads under wraps), the title won’t divulge the sultry content to others. We promise you will NOT want this story to end…Don’t mind showing the world what has you so enthralled? Try Best Woman’s Erotica 2012 for a collection of short stories by different authors that cater to a variety of tastes.

One of the perks of having your own business is that you get to choose (to some extent) the people who you surround yourself with on a daily basis.  I am continually inspired by spending time with my colleagues, who I am lucky to also call friends.  I have asked some of these great women who work with me at Nutritious Life to take a moment to reflect on Mother’s Day.  Their answers speak to some of the pillars that are the foundation of a Nutritious Life. I hope these words inspire you as you recognize and honor the women and mothers in your life, this Mother’s Day.

Tiffany: Eat Empowered

As a mom of a preschooler, people ask me if my daughter eats healthy because I’m a nutritionist.  The truth is, she’s a typical kid who loves her sweets and struggles to get in green vegetables.  When I was in grad school studying nutrition I had very strong ideas about how I would feed my child when I became a mother…and then I actually had a child.  She is her own person and has her own likes and dislikes.  She does like a lot of healthy foods, but it is a daily, ongoing attempt to get her to try new foods.  I just try to expose her to these wonderfully healthy foods as much as possible, so at the very least she recognizes them (she can identify kale and avocado even if she hasn’t quite yet learned to like them).  She helps me assemble my salads, we go to the farmers’ market together, and she knows all about vitamins A, B and C and how they make her body healthy.  I keep telling myself that I was picky as a kid and grew up to love vegetables, so there’s hope for her, too. So, on Mother’s Day we will enjoy one of our favorite weekend activities together…cooking whole wheat pancakes.  She gets on the step stool and helps me measure and mix the batter, and we occasionally add some fruit to bump up the nutrition.  But let’s be honest, for my daughter it’s not about the whole grain goodness; it’s really all about the syrup.

 Amanda: Stress Less

Growing up, my mom always taught me to STRESS LESS. I’ve always had a tendency to stress about things that were out of my control or that really weren’t worth stressing about. My mom has a saying: “Is this tragic or merely inconvenient?” Putting the problem into perspective and knowing that I can deal with the “inconvenient”, and helping me come up with a plan always helped me stress less, and is a phrase I often repeat to myself today when something arises. To return the favor, my mom and I spend Mother’s Day indulging in a relaxing spa day each year.

Lara: Sleep Deep

As the mother of two little girls, almost 4 and 20 months, sleeping in doesn’t happen often. Since our eldest child was born, my husband makes Mother’s Day a special day for me beginning with a lazy morning in bed. It’s amazing what a little extra sleep can do for my overall mood and energy. It sets me up for an amazing day with my family. In fact, just the idea of knowing I can stay in bed is enough for me. On Mother’s Day, like most days, I just want snuggle with my girls and get lots of hugs and kisses. Being a mother is the greatest gift in the world. And a little extra sleep doesn’t hurt!

Michelle: Pamper Thyself

Mother’s day is a traditional day in my family where for as long as I can remember, the day is all about embracing, valuing, and pampering my mom, grandmothers, aunts, and all mothers in the family alike. For brunch, my dad’s side of the family would gather around my grandmother over an abundance of middle eastern Persian cuisine and tell jokes, past time stories, and sing happy mother’s day songs in Persian, Hebrew, and English. My cousins and I would create small gifts of hearts and poems to distribute to our mothers, giving them hugs, kisses, and unforgettable keepsakes. Then for dinner, we would do the same exact thing with my mother’s side of the family. As I grew older, my gifts became more sophisticated from a scribble of love to a spa date. It is a big day of appreciation and acknowledgement for all mothers do – so do a little something extra to pamper all the mothers out there, including yourself! No matter how old you get mom still loves the hand written heart shaped poems – a keepsake that she can always turn to for happiness and smiles. This Mother’s Day pamper mom with written love whether that is a beautiful poem, note, engraved poetry art, or a handmade scrapbook/collage, it will be sure to keep her smiling and feel loved and appreciated for more than just one day!

Stacia: Sex Ed

I don’t really like to be the center of attention. It makes me nervous. I have tried repeatedly to make Mother’s Day about my mother or mother in law – pampering others is much more my style. But, with 3 amazing kids, I have no choice but to succumb to their doting. Really, it is like bizzaro day. Instead of making 5 breakfasts, lunches and dinners, cleaning up and managing the household, my family takes charge. Behind it all is my husband, who plans, orchestrates and organizes breakfast, my kiddie “rock concert” and barbecue or picnic. There is nothing sexier to me than watching the man I adore (after 12 years 6 moves, more than 10 jobs between us, sickness and health) make super-daddy-egg-sandwiches, and actually clean up. On Mother’s Day, it is not lost on me that the honor of being called mumma is really because of the man I love.

Cheers to another year of parenting! I hope you are honored, pampered and rested in celebration of all your hard work.

I always get a little itch, right in the beginning of April. It is a kind of anticipatory nag to clean, clean-out and overhaul my home in preparation for spring. Usually, getting started is rather simple: I open my pantry. Tempted as I may be by pretty packaging and seductive scents, I am almost always disappointed in the new cleaning products I try. I sometimes even clean with a new product, only to re-clean with lemon, vinegar or baking soda! So, today, in honor of making my world a place I love to thrive in, I praise the merits of food once again – only this time for reasons above and beyond their nutritive properties!

Lemon – I always have lemons at home. I have a stash of sliced or wedged lemons in my refrigerator at all times to toss into a glass of water, or squeeze on my salad or fish. There is no denying that they are a staple in my world, and I love lemon for liver support, vitamin C burst, and fresh scent. In my home, I use lemons to clean, and I love this product to make my own cleaning solution. I squeeze a lemon into a spray bottle and wipe down my countertops. It works beautifully to remove grease without chemicals. It can also be used as a bleaching agent on clothing, so if I accidentally have a spill at a restaurant, I ask for a slice of lemon to treat a potential stain.

White Vinegar – I love all types of vinegar, but it is safe to say that I always have white vinegar in the pantry. I use it in cucumber and tomato salads (instead of mayonnaise), and love the role of all vinegars in my health and wellness. For no calories but tons of flavor, vinegar aids the digestive system; it contains potassium, magnesium, calcium, pectin and acetic acid. It improves the absorption and utilization of several essential nutrients. When I am in doubt about how to clean something, white vinegar is my usual go-to. I use it mixed with a little water (and sometimes a bit of castile soap) on my floors, windows, shower doors, toilets and as a drain cleaner. Though it may not be my favorite scent in the world, I’m always thrilled when I smell vinegar b/c I know my home is clean.

 Baking soda – An obvious choice, baking soda is not just a leavening agent, used to make your dough rise. Most of us have this baking staple all over our homes to absorb odors. I keep a box in the pantry, one in the fridge, one in the freezer and one in the closet with my kids’ sports equipment. While I often don’t change the boxes often enough (change every 30 days!), I am comforted to know they are there. There is not much nutritional benefit to baking soda, which is a source of sodium (1/2 your daily needs in a teaspoon) and little else. Still, baking soda is a cleaning powerhouse, and can be mixed with a little water to form a paste and clean between bathroom tiles, sterling silver, and stains on china and ceramics. Also, there is nothing better at removing red wine stains. Simply pour the baking soda over the stain (as soon as you can), let it dry, and all of the wine will transfer to the baking soda. Vacuum it up and no one will be the wiser!

Olive oil – A prince among oils, olive oil contains those wonderful monounsaturated fatty acids that are cardio-protective, it can improve cholesterol profiles when used in the place of other fats and provides delicious satiety. It is also used in my beauty routine as a moisturizer for my hair, nails and skin and my home care routine as a wood polish! Used to return shine to otherwise dull or untreated wood, simply combine three parts olive oil to one part vinegar or lemon juice.

Oh, how I look forward to my clean, green, delicious and sparkling spring home!

Trouble sleeping? We all know sex is good for our health, but did you know that getting lucky can actually help you fall asleep? Research shows that the tendency for a person to fall asleep right after sex is associated with a greater desire for bonding and cuddling with their partner. This study also found that women were more likely than men to be the first to fall asleep after intimacy. Get close to your partner and get some shut eye!

NLT: In We Were an Island: The Maine Life of Art & Nan Kellam, Peter Blanchard writes about a couple that kept their relationship wonderful while living alone together on an isolated island for 40 years. Of course, personal space and occasional solitude was essential for each of them nonetheless.

As part of a whole person and Nutritious LIFE approach to wellness and weight management, it is often important to look at what is happening between my clients’ sheets. Even though lots of clients raise their eyebrows when intimacy is inquired about, the dirty deets aren’t what I’m after. Scientists have linked feel good hormones with achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. We all have stressors and stress hormones that build up in our systems and act like toxins in our bodies. There are hormones that do exactly the opposite – they make us feel good. These hormones deserve just as much attention, which is why they are the focus of today.

Two hormones are worthy of special attention: oxytocin is well studied for its calming effects. It is released after orgasm and feel good moments; it floods the body with relaxation messages and lowers anxiety and the brain’s natural resistance responses. The other happy hormones worthy of focus are endorphins. Linked to feelings of well being, endorphins are naturally released during exercise and pleasurable moments and are responsible for lessening feelings of pain. Oxytocin and endorphins in the body stimulate a metabolic process to reduce the intake of calories, reduce hunger and slow the digestion of fat. To make it simple, the more one feels good, the greater the health, weight management and wellness benefit there is.

It is worth getting your feel good on. Try one of these:

 Oxytocin – is released from the pituitary during orgasm, hugging, touching, breast feeding and bonding. It is associated with increasing feelings of trust and generosity. Try some of these touch techniques to get your oxytocin release:

• Have sex
• Try acupuncture
• Get a massage
• Snuggle a baby
• Cuddle a puppy

Endorphins — are primarily released from the brain and spinal cord during exercise, physical activity, sex, positive thinking and emotional stimulus. Endorphins are associated with lessening feelings of pain and depression by triggering positive feelings and reducing feelings of stress. Try one of these techniques to stimulate your body’s endorphins:

• Eat capsaicin from chili powder or peppers
• Have a good cry
• Laugh
• Get in a good workout
• Use a steam room or sauna

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by turning on your oxytocin and endorphins. Best of all, these suggestions work best when applied with a partner; you can use any of the above suggestions as an excuse to care for someone you love as you care for yourself!