Mother Earth’s Medicine Cabinet: DIY Natural Bug Spray

American beautyberry is also known as French mulberry, sour-bush, bunch-berry, and purple beautyberry. The berries grow all throughout the Southeastern USA. Funny enough, it’s actually the leaves and stems that have the most power in warding of bugs in this DIY spray.

The Dangers of Plastic Water Bottles

Have you seen those itty-bitty plastic bottled waters that can be consumed in one giant gulp? Anyone who has gone for a hike, done a workout routine, or was even remotely thirsty understands the impracticality of a plastic bottle that size. That 8 ounces of water will not suffice your body's need for hydration. So how about a bigger plastic bottled water? As absurd as that small bottle is, the bigger versions are no better. While you may see buying bottled water as a quick fix, the truth of the matter is: that quick fix has a lasting negative impact on the environment and your health.

Superfood 101: Garlic & Onion!

Organic garlic and organic onion are valuable herbs that benefit the body, add flavor to foods and are well known for their healing qualities. They are both members of the allium family, among chives, shallots, and leeks. They are one of the oldest and easiest plants to grow and have been cultivated for millennia. It is said that both garlic and onions originated in Asia but onions and garlic grew wild in the Americas and were popular long before Europeans arrived. Onions were regarded as a god in ancient Egypt – because of an onion’s many layers, it symbolized life.

Quick Pizza Dough *Vegan*

Want homemade pizza without the hassle? Try my vegan quick dough recipe! With no overnight waiting times, you can be sitting down to eat within the hour. Get as creative as you like with the toppings – your options are endless! Some of my favorites are the classic marinara and (non-dairy) cheese, roasted vegetables with garlic, or pineapple with spicy tofu and mushrooms. Whatever toppings you choose, you are sure to impress with this quick and easy pizza dough!

Special Supplies

Rolling pin

Pizza pan (or cookie sheet)

Mango Trees 101: How To Plant (And Care For) Your Very Own

An evergreen tree with a luscious fruit, mangoes are best enjoyed from well cared for trees.

The mango tree, scientifically known as the Mangifera indica, is a hardy evergreen tree best suited for the tropical and sub-tropical regions. If the temperature doesn’t go below 40°F or about 4°C where you live, then yes, you can grow some heady, luscious mangoes. And mangoes are not just good for the palate; they are delicious, but come loaded with a host of benefits.

Let Life Break You Down

In order for the life you were meant to live to come together, the life you are living now first has to come apart. There is no linear path to one’s evolution. It is a cycle that has to keep undoing itself: the habits, the structures, the comfort, the expectations, the stories that define it -- so that when one’s life as s/he knows it has been totally broken down, only from there is there room for something much greater and truer to sprout from beneath.

Natural Ways to Replenish Electrolytes Through Food

Electrolytes are what keep us going. These ionized minerals send electrically charged signals throughout our body, allowing cells to function. Without them, our cells would not be able to communicate and our body would shut down. Rigorous exercise can cause electrolyte loss via sweating. If you are tempted to grab a sugary, neon-colored sports drink to rehydrate, stop! The best way to replenish electrolytes is through food. Look to one of these food sources if you are in need of an electrolyte boost of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

Calcium

Yielding: On Facing Your Trauma

I’ve come to believe that to be alive means to experience trauma; and I don’t mean things like war, or car accidents (although those things too) — I mean things like death, divorce, and anything else that shakes us up and makes us feel unsafe physically or emotionally. Trauma can also be secondary, by the way. It can be induced by hearing or seeing someone else’s traumatic experiences. When you take into account the majority of news stories, I’m pretty sure we’re all walking around a little traumatized.

Take a Chance: Create Experiences

Do it now! Go against the grain, take an adventure, thwart off the oh-so-average, menial life you have been living. I once read a story about a rocking chair -- yes, a rocking chair. It started out by painting a picture. An image of a grandparent seated in an old, wooden rocking chair on an outdoor patio overlooking a great expanse of open land. Sun shining, starry-eyed grandchildren gathered around waiting for yet another wild venture saga.