My 5 Steps to Decorating your Christmas Tree like a Professional

Monday, November 21, 2016

My 5 Step Christmas Tree Decorating Process to make it look Professional:
1) Fluff
2) Add Lights
3) RIBBON! 
4) Add Sprigs 
5) Add Ornaments

See video below for more details! 




15 Health & Wellness Books You Should Read This Year

Thursday, November 3, 2016

I've compiled a list of my 15 favorite Health & Wellness Books that you should read this year. 

I like big books and I cannot lie. 


Gosh, really...is there anything greater than a 
GOOD book? They inspire us. Change our perspective. Help us grow. And most importantly...they help uslead better, more fulfilling lives. 

No matter what the topic, I hope you remain a forever student and continue to quench your thirst for understanding with books. 

My FITNESS journey started all the way back in 2010. At the time, admittedly..I was all about the bikini body. I still strongly feel like there is nothing wrong with that... every women should feel confident in her skin! Fitness helped me gain confidence, I was in a better MOOD, and all around had a better attitude about life.
That fitness journey laid a solid foundation for the next part of my journey...




Focusing on my HEALTH and optimal nutrition. Fitness was the gateway that showed me why it's important to pay attention to the foods I was eating...and to make sure I moved my body. Because of my fitness journey, I started to PAY ATTENTION to what my body was telling me.

In 2012, my body was telling me A LOT of things. Between stomach pain, nausea, mood swings, FATIGUE...weight gain...something was going on... 


I won't bore you with all of the details if you are here for my book list, but if you are interested...you can read my health story here.

LONG story short: I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that affects my thyroid. My doctor told me I would need to be gluten free, soy free, dairy free. 

It wasn't about looking good in a bikini anymore...My journey became about HEALTH FIRST.  I want my body to operate at max capacity, the way God intended. 
At the VERY least, I didn't want to wake up DEAD tired anymore. The fatigue was crippling. 
My journey has been ANYTHING BUT PERFECT...but Ive learned a lot along the way!
So with that...I became obsessed with learning EVERYTHING I could about health, wellness, nutrition, and living a GOOD life (MIND, BODY AND SOUL).

I decided to compile a list of 15 of my favorite reads from this year in hopes that it will help you in your wellness journey.

I STRONGLY believe that when you know WHY you should do something, you are EXPONENTIALLY more likely to stick with it.
If you understand WHY broccoli is so good for your body, you suddenly feel excited and accomplished when you eat it. If you just think "calories are calories", then you will end up grabbing any ole junkie thing for lunch. Knowledge can translate to brain food (Very literally).


My Top 15 Health & Wellness Books (In no particular order)


  1. Superlife: 5 Forces that will Make You Healthy, Fit & Eternally Awesome
    A GREAT book for both beginners and experts. Written with a very easy to understand and genuine tone. Literally EVERYONE can benefit from reading this.
  2.  Whole 30: 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom
    Literally cannot explain the life changing magnitude of this cookbook/guide. I followed their guidelines for 30 days and well beyond. It's helped reverse nearly every symptom I was experiencing. If you have any doubts as to whether food is  MEDICINE OR POISON...this book will educate you and leave a lasting impression
  3. It Starts with Food
    Prequel to Whole30- This book dives more in depth into the Whole30 Philosophy. I highly recommend it on audiobook (audible is my fav!)
  4. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause  If you have Hashimoto's, this book is a must read. It will help you uncover the root cause AND how to reverse it (despite what doctors tell you).
  5. The Paleo Solution  Excellent book. It's fun, easy to understand and Robb makes a LOT of sense (and backs up his claims with science-y goodness).
  6.  Made to Crave
    This isn't a diet book...instead the author tackles the question, "Why do we crave food?"  Being overweight is more than a physical issue- it's an emotional, mental and spiritual battle as well. If you (are Christian) and turn to food when you are bored, stressed, needing comfort, I recommend reading this book!
  7. How to Be Alive
    This isn't a fitness or nutrition book, but I felt like it was important to add. Colin talks about how to achieve a satisfying life...and turns the magnifying glass on the decisions that WE make...which in turn...shape our lives. If you are looking for meaning, I recommend snatching this book up!
  8. Eat Dirt: Why Leaky Gut May Be the Root Cause of Your Health Problems and 5 Surprising Steps to Cure It
    I've never heard of leaky gut before 2014...now it seems like everyone has it...(and most still don't know it).
    You CAN heal your body...and this book is a great start!
  9. Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 20th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
    Switching gears a little bit here...OH my freaking gosh this book is a MUST for all women. Whether you want to get pregnant or avoid getting pregnant (or shoot, just want to learn about your body), this book is a MUST.
    I cannot even believe that I am 32 and just now learning (in depth) about my body. I wish I had read this years ago.
    Also, side note: If you read this book and follow her advice, there is no need to take hormone disrupting birth control.
  10. The Autoimmune Solution: Prevent and Reverse the Full Spectrum of Inflammatory Symptoms and Diseases
    As someone with an autoimmune disease, I found this book incredibly helpful. Bottom line: Food is medicine.
  11. The Immune System Recovery Plan: A Doctor's 4-Step Program to Treat Autoimmune Disease
  12. Wheat Belly
  13. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
  14. The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don't Have with People You Don't Like Doing Things You Don't Want to Do  If you want a good belly laugh...and to cure your people pleasing addiction..this book is a must
  15. Against All Grain: Delectable Paleo Recipes to Eat Well & Feel Great
    A beautiful book with the BEST recipes. Love.
I'm always reading and will have more to add! But I hope this list helps you get started! xo
Comment below if you have any recommendations that I should check out! 
- THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS -