Category: Health & Beauty

We made the switch to raw food for our dog and the results have been remarkable; I can’t believe we didn’t do it sooner. The brand he loves is Bold by Nature. So why did we make the switch and what changes have we seen??

1. His coat has never been shinier .
2. His dandruff is at a minimum which made us think perhaps it was symptomatic of allergies; and if it isn’t the food had been great for his skin regardless.
3. He is like a puppy again; so much more energy.
4. Trying to get him to drink water has always been a struggle; and raw food helps to keep him hydrated especially when he is super active during hunting season.
5. He is at a more healthy weight and his weight is more consistent –he really fluctuated between summer & winter.
6. At our last vet visit they noted that he had some tartar; it wasn’t bad but we definitely didn’t want it turning into a major dental issue; since switching his teeth look much better.
7. We definitely were dissatisfied with the amount of fillers in his kibble since the manufacturers changed the recipe.
8. We noticed his got stiff easily and wondered if there was wear and tear on his elbow. Since switching we haven’t noticed any limping after laying down and his hygroma has not returned –sometimes it got to be the size of a golf ball.
9. Let’s be honest, dogs can be stinky; since making the switch not only has his breath improved (probably because of improved digestive benefits) but his farts are not longer room clearing.
10. We have even noticed a change in his bowel movements; he is more regular and seems less constipated.

If you are new to my blog; I have been setting three small goals each month. In January I focused on my physical health. In February I focused on my mental health. And then I really tried to have fun and “make the most” of March.  April is going to be a reset for me; I am feeling like I am starting to get a little lax with somethings and I spent a lot of time in March going out, traveling and having fun so it was tough to be as consistent as I would have liked. Getting sick really knocked the wind out of my sails as well; normally I give up, but I am going to persevere and give myself grace. I guess “Finishing What I Started,” is the theme for this month.

1. I didn’t manage to make it through all the yoga workouts on the NTC; so I have 46 more to go. My goal last month wasn’t very realistic and I recognize that. I know I won’t get through all of the remaining workouts but I am going to keep going.
   
2. I have noticed that I am drinking coffee everyday but I am not really enjoying it and I am just drinking it because others are. I am going to make the switch to tea; I really fell in love with the Lady Londonderry tea we had at The Empress.
   
3. I need to re-visit my sleep routine; lately I am finding that I am TIRED in the mornings. So I am going to spend time looking into this and trying out different things.

I can’t believe how fast February flew by; I mean I shouldn’t be surprised it is the shortest month in the year. I set three small goals for myself in January (which centered on physical health) and then again in February, however this month I focused on mental health. To keep myself accountable I’m checking in monthly with you all. As a refresher, my goals were…

1. Journaling
2. Reading instead of scrolling
3. Meditation

How did I do?

In terms of journalling; I start every morning journalling. I use my 200 Writing Prompt book from Piccadilly. These are the prompts that I share with you each Wednesday. Journalling in the morning keeps me off my phone. I am not scrolling on social media and I am not checking my work emails until I get to work. I enjoy the quiet moments to myself in the morning.

In terms of reading instead of scrolling; I read a book a week. The unfortunate part has been that I ran out of physical books so I had to buy books on my ipad –so I haven’t ended up limiting my screen time before bed in that sense. However, even though I’m on a ‘device’ before going to bed; I am actually sleeping better (my sleep score on my Fit Bit can attest to that) because I am not viewing overstimulating posts.

In terms of meditation; I have been doing a breathing exercise each morning and before bed, consistently. After getting ready for work I sit on the couch do a meditation, respond to a journal prompt and then the Wordle. It’s a really good routine. Right before bed I read up to 7 chapters in a book then my breathing exercise and then turn out the lights.

Having bid 2022 a long overdue “adieu,” I spent some time thinking about what I wanted 2023 to be. Every year I tell myself that “this is my year, this is the year I’m going to get started.” Started on what?, I am not sure. 2022 was another tough year, the heartbreak often overshadowed the incredible moments. I lost momentum a lot in 2022; it seemed like the second I dusted myself off, something else hit me hard. Two steps forward, one step back. Most resolutions have been abandoned by now, so I didn’t make any. Instead, I decided that each month I am going to set a series of THREE different challenges or goals.

The focus of January was Physical Health: moving my body more, drinking more water and snacking less. I am going to try and continue on with those goals but I am going to add the following…

February 2023: Mental Health

1. Journaling
-I’m going to spend about 5 minutes each morning filling in a writing prompt.

2. Reading instead of Scrolling
-To quiet my brain before bed; I am going to read at least ONE chapter of a book instead of scrolling on Instagram for extended periods of time.

3. Meditation
-Each day I am going to do a breathing exercise; I really don’t have any excuse –I can access this on my Fit Bit. Ideally, I’d like to do one in the morning and evening.

Wishing you all the best this month!