Enter 2011 with a Spirit of Giving

By Cindy Clemens, Life Coach

One of my favorite aspects of the holiday season is how it opens up our hearts to others and fosters a spirit of giving. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could carry this forward into the rest of the year. Here are three ways to plug into abundance consciousness and allow generosity to flow through you into 2011.

First, realize how much giving to others allows abundance to flow to you. Whenever I am feeling anxious or worried about money, I look for some way to share what I have with others. I know that if I focus on what I lack and nurture scarcity consciousness, I will manifest more lack. The easiest way I know to change that negative thinking is to take stock of all that I do have and immediately look for a way to give of my time, talent and resources. It never fails – once I do this, I receive much more than I have given. By unstopping the blockage caused by fear about not having enough, I allow Source’s bounty to flow to me.

Second, ask Source where your giving can be most useful. I have come to realize that we are the conduits for Source’s unlimited abundance. I am not aware of Source dropping off sacks of money to those in need. Instead, Source needs us to do the footwork, and if you earnestly ask for guidance, you will be directed how and where you are needed. If we all do this, the assistance will come when we hit a rough patch.

Finally, when you do receive a nudge to give, do it right away without over thinking it. I know when I receive a pitch for a donation or a request for my time, at first I feel very moved to help. But, if I don’t give or commit right away, I tend to talk myself out of it or whittle down what I am willing to share. I allow fear and scarcity to creep in and reduce my gift, and I deprive myself of the full return on my investment.

Holiday Tip from the Chef

Executive Chef Dale Van Sky advises, "Eat smaller amounts of holiday fare to alleviate that overstuffed feeling and 'food hangover' the next day."

Holiday Tip from the Chef

Executive Chef Dale Van Sky advises, "If you make turkey gravy, use brown rice flour instead of all purpose flour. Brown rice flour is higher in nutritional values than any wheat flour and is gluten free so people with celiac disease can still enjoy a gravy or cream soup."

Tea Tree Eucalyptus Wellness Soak

If Old Man Winter is getting the best of you this season, try adding five drops each of essential oil of peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus to bath water that’s a little warmer than your normal soaks. Add eight drops of thyme if your chest is congested. Soak for as long as you are comfortable. Afterward, drink plenty of hot water with lemon and honey.

Encouragement from Life Coach Cindy Clemens

It's OK not to be available 24/7. Take time to care for yourself.

Holiday Tip from the Chef

Executive Chef Dale Van Sky advises, "Plan your menu ahead. There are a lot of items that can be prepared the day before the holiday. Have the family assist in preparing the menu."

Tip from Chef Dale

Executive Chef Dale Van Sky always uses a spritz bottle for oils. It allows you to control how much oil you use, and you can better disperse it around the pan.

Chef Dale says that oil can become rancid if you don't use it quickly enough. When you put the oil in the bottle, mark the bottle with a piece of masking tape with today's date on it. Throw away the oil if you haven't used it after three months. Be sure to clean the bottle thoroughly with hot, soapy water and dry completely before adding new oil.

The Gift of Feeling...

By Andrea Hanson, CEHP, Energy Therapist

Thinking, rationalizing, measuring, manipulating, figuring....all functions of the left hemisphere and gifts of the rational mind, necessary and useful...in certain times. However, when it comes to affairs of the heart and soul, the rational mind pales to intuition and imagination.

We cannot think our way through life choices that involve others. We must feel what is necessary first and then take action based on heart- and soul-felt information. Then the rational mind may implement our decisions.

Weighing the pros and cons of a situation is usually fruitless unless it is put in terms of feelings. Have you ever really made a decision based on a pro and con list? If we weigh our possible choices rationally against outside influences, it becomes a hopeless, unending list of possible scenarios.

If we create a clear image of the desired outcome, we are more in touch with our desired inner reality and more able to move towards it. Feel, feel, feel to deal with challenges and desires. Be clear, detailed, and then let it go and allow it to materialize. Leave the thinking for To Do lists, calculating finances, reading and arranging things.

Emotional Fitness: The ability to feel and express your truth with grace and ease and remain in balance.

Soak the Stress Away

Soothe the mind and rejuvenate the heart with this bath. Plus, it's very healing for tired or overworked muscles.

Place five drops of marjoram and 10 drops of lavender into a warm bath. Lay back and soak for twenty minutes.

(Note: Marjoram may cause drowsiness and also should not be used by pregnant women.)

Protect Your Winter Skin

By Myrna Beardshear
@RedMountainSpa
Director of Spa & Wellness

Wind, cold and indoor heating during the winter can leave skin feeling parched, tight, dry and flaky. Allowing skin to become severely dry means it is less effective at providing a barrier against infection and can split and bleed, creating a greater chance for an infection.

Dry, itchy skin can be prevented with a few simple changes to a skin care routine.

Long, hot showers may make you feel warmer, but as soon as you step out of the water, your skin begins to lose moisture because hot water removes natural oil from the skin, leaving it dry and itchy. Bathe or shower in lukewarm (not hot) water and limit showers to five to ten minutes.

Within three minutes of stepping out of the shower or bath apply a cream, ointment or lotion to your damp skin. This helps to trap water in the upper skin layers and decreases dryness and itching. If you don’t want your skin to feel oily or greasy use a cream or lotion with a light texture.

Exfoliate two or three times a week to remove dry, flaky skin from the surface and allow moisturizer to penetrate better.

The most potent moisturizing treatments contain one or more of the following: botanical oils; antioxidant vitamins A,C, and E; seaweed or algae; and oxygen which helps carry nourishing agents to the skin. Vitamin-rich serums are especially effective for dry, mature facial skin. Their small molecular structure helps them penetrate the skin.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, switch to a thicker more occlusive moisturizer to prove extra protection from wind and cold. Snow can reflect more than 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, so be sure to always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and reapply every two hours for maximum benefit. Don’t forget to protect your lips with a lip balm of at least an SPF 15 to prevent chapped lips.

After washing hands always put on hand cream to seal-in moisture.

Remember to drink enough water during the winter months. Like the earth, our bodies are comprised of 70% water. Just as preserving our world’s bodies of water is vital to the planet’s equilibrium, maintaining ideal hydration levels in the human body is one of the simplest ways to balance the entire organism, including the skin.

Here are two home care remedies for extremely dry skin:
Gentle yogurt and aloe cleanser:
2 T fresh plain yogurt
2 T aloe gel

Warm you hands under running water and then gently massage the mixture onto the skin. Remove with a clean washcloth and pat dry.

Follow with this healing mask:
Combine one tablespoon of honey and one teaspoon of wheat germ oil with a beaten egg yolk. Whip the mixture into two tablespoons of powdered milk or one tablespoon of fresh, whole milk. Apply to clean skin and leave on for 20 minutes. Remove gently with tepid water.