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givemestories-givemelife · 4 years

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Blueberries, Lavender & Hot Matcha Tea (Part 2)

A SasuHina ficlet

PART 1| Part 2

AN: THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THOSE WHO COMMENTED, OR RE-BLOGGED, OR LIKED THE FIRST PART TO THIS FIC. It truly means more than I can say. Helped a lot with motivation and it’s super cool to know that people are reading the things I write. I hope the follow up chapter doesn’t disappoint <3

Summary: Hinata has a run in with a familiar face.

Warnings: Brief mentions of grief and anxiety (because Hinata’s a nervous butterfly) but nothing remotely heavy. Also there’s alcohol consumption.

Word count: 6167

__________________________

Lavender

Hinata knows that she needs to start putting herself out there. She can’t stay holed up comfortably in her room while years of her life pass on by, listening to cigarettes after sex under the safe warmth of her white fluffy blanket that still smells like her late mothers perfume, and sniffing essential oils like they’re some kind of soft-core drug to distract her spiralling thoughts from every embarrassingly mortifying predicament she’s ever found herself in.

She’s been trying really hard not to think about spilling her extra hot matcha latte all over this potentially handsome stranger a few days ago. She thinks - potentially - because she did not have the courage to look at the man's face after maiming him and probably ruining his expensive suit!

Hinata’s sure she must have ruined his entire morning, which must have ruined his whole day, and now he probably hates her. Oh goodness, Hinata strongly dislikes the thought of people out there in this world walking around hating her.

Wow, these thoughts are entirely useless, she really needs to stop her brain from going down these awful paths.

Today Hinata has decided to try really hard not to wallow in the comfort of all her numbing guilty pleasures.

So, when Sakura Haruno, the loud and outgoing girl with pretty pink hair, who always smells like strawberries and vanilla from her photography course asked if she wanted to hangout and work on their portfolio’s after class; Hinata was thankful for the distraction.

They had spent that afternoon drinking green tea at the kitchen table in Sakura’s little homey apartment, showing each other their favourite pieces and sharing feedback.

“You have to include this one, it’s so cute” Sakura gushes, pointing at a print of children finger painting; a mischievous little boy is smearing bold red paint all over the face of a girl whose expression is twisted in pure terror.

“You have a real talent for capturing the essence of people.” She continues in a dreamy tone, “it’s like you’re able to capture the moment they’re most alive, even if it’s just the little moments, y’know?”

Hinata blushes at the complement, “th-thank you Sakura.”

“It's kind of ironic that people are your main muse considering how afraid of them you are.” She teases.

“I’m not sca-AhyH!”

Of course, that’s the moment a woman with a giant blond ponytail barges through the door brandishing a bouquet of peonies making Hinata squeal. “Sakura I swear to god if you ate the last of the ice-cream again, I’m gonna- Oh! hello there.” The crazy flower lady stops mid-threat noticing a stranger in her apartment.

“Ino this is Hinata from class, Hinata this is my roommate Ino.” Sakura introduces, failing to constrain her laughter.

Ino’s demeanor does a 180 as she gently rests the flowers on her lacquered kitchen counter and approaches Hinata in a trance like state. “Your hair is so long and gorgeous, it totally reminds me of the violets we have at the flower shop -- you have to let me braid it.” She breathes and Hinata’s eyes are as wide as the sky outside.

“Ino, tone it down you’re going to scare her.” Sakura chides, rolling her eyes, not at all surprised by her roommate's antics. “Do you always have to act like such a spazz?”

“I am but a simple girl who is a slave to all things beautiful.” Ino proudly counters running her fingers through blue strands and Hinata mentally notes that she smells like a garden.

Sakura’s phone vibrates on the kitchen table, “it’s Naruto,” she says glancing at the screen. “Wondering when we’ll be coming over.”

“I don’t know, an hour or two? Tell him we’re bringing Hinata!” Ino adds excitedly and starts to braid blue hair without permission. “You should come out tonight with Sakura and I, meet the rest of the gang.”

“Oh.” In high school Hinata was never able to make friends with girls, and spent most of her time in the photography club’s black room developing pictures. Her introverted nature made it difficult to connect with people, but in this moment, the prospect of meeting Sakura’s friends, and the inclusive enthusiasm from these girls is making Hinata a little emotional. “I-I don’t know.”

“Hinata, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to, but I think it could be good for you,” Sakura encourages.

“Carpe diem bitch,” is Ino’s convincing addition.

Hinata giggles, absent mindedly sniffing her wrist searching for the comforting sweet scent of the fragrance she’s wearing today, “yeah, okay.”

Ino makes a pleased sound and saunters over to a kitchen drawer to snatch a pair of scissors and clips the head off of one the peonies, then ties it into the base of Hinata’s braid. “You really have no idea how cute you are Hinata,” she coos observing her work in admiration and Hinata feels warm all over.

Hinata likes the rapport between Ino and Sakura, there’s something about their friendship that she finds inspiring.

When they split what’s left of the chocolate ice-cream and start getting ready for a night out, Hinata can’t help pulling out her camera and snapping shots of Ino with her shades of purple and Sakura’s vibes in red. Hinata feels outshined in her usual high waisted mom jean and oversized grey patterned sweater.

But that’s okay, she still feels like one of the girls.

~~~

Ino had made a strong case for wanting to get her steps in for the day, (since her fitbit said she had only reached 8243 so far) convincing the girls to walk to Naruto’s apartment instead of taking the bus. On their stroll Sakura and Ino began giving Hinata character profiles of everyone she was going to meet and Hinata found them to be quite amusing.

Ino playfully starts with, “Shikamaru’s like, my best bro. I’ve known him forever, smartest guy I know but a total stoner and he doesn’t give a fuck about anything.

“Choji gives the best hugs and he loves giving them, so if he looks like he’s going in for one - just let it happen - you’ll hurt his feelings if you don’t.”

“Naruto and Kiba are basically the same person and are the biggest loudest dorks on the planet,” Sakura chimes in, “but they’re also super friendly and kinda funny if you can get over their lack of brain cells.”

“Then there’s Sasuke,” Ino says, and hearing that name strikes a familiar chord with Hinata, triggering flashes of fond memories. “He’s really hot, but kind of a dick,” Ino hugs herself smiling at a distant memory, “basically, we all know each other from going to the same high school -”

“Ino and I had the hugest rivalry back then because we both wanted him.”

“What happened?” Hinata really wanted to ask if they were talking about Sasuke Uchiha, but didn’t want to interrupt the momentum of their story.

“We were so stupid causing all sorts of drama in our little social circle nearly tearing it apart, and Sasuke wasn’t having any of it, one day he told us to grow the fuck up and to leave him alone.” That did kind of sound like something Sasuke would say, but that would just be too big of a coincidence, wouldn’t it?

“We both cried.” Sakura snickers sheepishly.

“Eventually we finally realized that friendships should be forever-”

“And boyfriends are whatever.” Both girls enthusiastically finish the rehearsed line making silly faces at each other.

Hinata giggles at that, whishing she had taken a picture, “awe, that’s so cute.”

“And now he’s one of our good friends, but I just want to warn you that he can be cold and he can be mean and if he says something dickish, please don’t take it personally.”

Hinata hums, only half listening to Ino. Was it possible that when Hinata arrives at this apartment she was going to be face to face with the childhood friend she hasn’t seen in over a decade?

Guess she’ll just have to wait and see.

~~~

When Hinata enters the apartment, her senses are immediately overstimulated; it smells salty like ramen and sour with beer which clashes with how clean and pristine the space actually is. It’s decorated with blacks, whites and a few splashes of colors, but overall has a very minimalist feel.

Hinata barely has time to kick her shoes off before she’s surrounded by strangers, and can’t stop the heat from suffusing her face from the disorienting barrage of unwanted attention.

“Hey bitches!” Ino yells at the group, “we’re here! We know you missed us!”

“This is the beautiful Hinata,” Sakura adds, and Hinata really wants to hide under a rock somewhere. “Be nice okay, she’s really shy.”

“Hey I’m Naruto.” A blond man appears beaming at her, outstretching his hand. “I have never seen eyes that look like your eyes before!”

“Oh.” Hinata went to shake his hand but was interrupted by another hand grabbing hers and kissing it, which is so uncalled for.

“And I’m Kiba, don’t listen to that guy, he’s a complete moron.” He says with a wolfish grin and Hinata has no idea what’s going on anymore.

When she tries to turn away, she’s met with the kind face of a stout man in a green Zelda t-shirt with his arms wide open for an inviting hug. She decides to accept her fate by awkwardly stepping forward wearing a confused pout, and lets the arms of a stranger wrap around her in what is surprisingly one of the best hugs she has ever received. He smells nice, Hinata thinks. Savoury and warm like a thanksgiving dinner. For a moment she actually feels safe, like a veil has been thrown over the sudden wave of chaos, giving her a quiet moment for her heartbeat to settle, “I’m Choji, it’s really nice to meet you Hinata, try not to worry so much, everyone here is harmless, I promise.” He says, rubbing gentle circles on her back.

When Choji pulls away, he sends her one last reassuring smile before padding off towards the ponytailed man currently dying of laughter, and joining him on a leather couch. Choji grabs a handful of potato chips from a bowl on the marble coffee table and starts earnestly snacking.

Snacks! Snacks sound really nice right now! Tasting tasty things can sometimes be a good distraction when Hinata is overwhelmed. She self-consciously shuffles forward towards the provisions, drawn towards the colorful array of fresh fruits, grabbing a small handful of blueberries and popping one of them in her mouth. She tries to ignore the pair legs in her periphery... she needs a moment before making another introduction.

Hinata jumps feeling a presence directly behind her, she twirls around to see Naruto pulling back appearing extremely guilty.

What was he doing? Was he pointing at her hair?

“Hehehe, sorry about that,” he says, smiling sheepishly, and scratches the back of his head, “I was just pointing out to my friend here, how beautiful your hair is, what a wonderful shade of blue,” he made a weird face directed at someone over her head, “are you enjoying those, blueberries?”

Okay.

Hinata hears more laughter coming from ponytail boy on the couch.

Weird.

Hinata turns to see who Naruto is looking at and-

Oh.

Sasuke?

Sasuke was here.

It was her Sasuke!

She instantly looks away, eyes wide, staring down at the hardwood floors.

Well, not her Sasuke. But an older version of the one she knew as a child. The one she met that one summer years ago and spent nearly every day with him before her mother fell ill and her family moved away in the wake of tragedy.

And he was... Glaring at her? No, he was glaring at Naruto? He kind of looked like he recognized her, but why would he be glaring?

“This is fucking stupid,” Sasuke seethes and takes off towards the kitchen, where Kiba and Ino are talking and drinking.

Ouch.

Sakura approaches Hinata with a glass in hand, Hinata stares at the ice clinking as she offers it, “vodka soda, with lime?”

Well, one drink couldn’t hurt, Hinata thinks.

She glances over at a brooding Sasuke leaning on the kitchen island sipping his beer.

She might need it.

~~~

It’s nearly an hour later and Hinata feels the dread sinking deep into the pit of her stomach. She desperately wishes she could conjure up some courage, approach Sasuke, and see how he’s been after all these years, but he still hasn’t left from his spot in the kitchen.

She’s starting to believe that maybe he doesn’t recognize her, which is a rather sad thought.

Hinata also appears to be at the butt end of some sort of mean inside joke that she doesn’t understand, ponytail bo- Shikamaru and Naruto joined Sasuke in the kitchen and kept making not-so-subtle glances her way -- but whatever -- she’s a big girl, she’s not going to cry about it even if she wants to.

Currently she’s sitting on the puffy leather couch between Choji and Sakura, Sakura is sharing the memes she’s saved onto her phone this month with Ino and Kiba while Hinata stares down at the melting ice in her drink and Choji attempts to calm her with platitudes.

Hinata doesn’t regret coming tonight despite feeling like the biggest fool in existence.

After all, tonight she actually has the opportunity to reconnect with someone she still thinks about, even after all these years.

She has always wondered what had happened to that bratty boy she met that one summer.

The sinking feeling grows deeper and Hinata feels her heart beating in the drums of her ears.

She takes one last tentative sip before downing the rest of her drink and summons every ounce of bravery she didn’t know she had to strengthen her resolve.

She stands from the couch with shaky determination ignoring Choji’s concerned inquiry, then forces one foot in front of the other strait towards the guiding bright lights of the kitchen.

The easy conversation awkwardly dies down when she arrives beside Naruto and Sasuke. She feels both their gazes land on her, and Hinata spots an ugly orange magnet on the stainless-steel fridge Sasuke is leaning on that has the phrase - believe it! - stamped on it and chooses to direct most of her focus on the positive affirmation.

“Uh, hey Hinata, you doing okay?” Naruto asks, slightly taken aback. Hinata nods still focusing on the magnet, face heating up as the beginning of a buzz tingles in the corners of her mind. “Can I get you another drink?”

She looks down at the empty glass she grips and nods again, muttering a quiet thank you, and handing it over. He takes it and moves further down the island to chat with Shikamaru and starts making her another.

“Hi Sasuke,” she forces passed her chapped lips.

“Hello Hinata.” Sasuke says, sounding about as uncomfortable as she feels and she looks up, hopeful, to meet his burning gaze and quickly looks back at that stupid orange magnet.

“So, you do remember me?” She asks, confused as to why he’s been ignoring her since her arrival.

“I remember how two days ago you ran into me quite rudely, burning me with tea.”

Hinata’s brain short-circuits.

“Wait what!?-”

No! No no no no no. Impossible. No.

“-That- that was you? oh my god, oh no! I am so sorry about that, I really wasn’t looking where I was going, I-I can’t believe this, I swear you just came out of nowhere though, oh my goodness, I can’t believe that was-”

“Please just stop before you give yourself an aneurysm.” Sasuke lifts his hands in a placating manner and Hinata snaps her mouth shut. “So that’s not how you seem to know me?” He asks, further rankling as the conversation drags on.

“So you don’t remember me.” She says mostly to herself, completely humiliated by this entire exchange, every time she opens her mouth it’s like falling down a flight of stairs -- Hinata seriously wishes she would reach the bottom already.

“Remember you from... where?”

“I-I mean I guess it’s not that surprising, we were only nine or ten at the time and it-it was only one summer... over a decade ago... You-you never really did call me by my name either.” Hinata says focusing on her twiddling fingers, her voice barely above a whisper, a pensive smile framing her lips at the memory.

There’s a long drawn out silence before Sasuke slowly asks, “...Tomato face?”

Hinata feels her face burn red at the old moniker, nodding. “Yeah...”

“Hyuuga, Hinata. Shit. Yeah. I do remember.”

The culminating tension finally releases from the moment and Hinata smiles at the black and white tiles breathing just a little bit easier.

He remembers.

“Wait... Did I hear you call her a tomato?” Naruto returns with a mildly amused Shikamaru in tow, handing Hinata her drink, and looks between the pair completely intrigued.

~~~

It didn’t take long for the word to spread that Hinata and Sasuke were childhood friends and everyone congregated into the small-ish kitchen asking curious questions.

It also didn’t take long for everyone to lose interest when Naruto nudged Hinata and started grilling her for embarrassing details of what a prepubescent Sasuke was like, earning him a surly glare. Hinata shyly shrugged saying, “I-I don’t really remember, it was a long time ago.”

Safe to say -- Naruto didn’t buy it, but surprisingly didn’t press further, and the group dispersed, leaving them to reacquaint.

The conversation between them after that was unfortunately still quite awkward, thankfully, Hinata wasn’t entirely to blame.

They exchanged small talk, Hinata mentions that she actually works at Heaven’s Little Corner and was just coming off her shift early when she ran into him the other day, and Sasuke talks about going to school and getting a Bachelor's degree in Business and how he focused on E-commerce after graduation. Overall, their -- re-connecting -- consisted of the typical pleasantries involved in catching up, and Hinata couldn’t distinguish if she was disappointed or relieved when their conversation came to a lull and she couldn’t think of anymore pointless verbiage to drag it along.

What she really wanted was to reminisce over hot days on the beach, collecting tiny crabs to occupy the sandcastles they built, and how Hinata had found sand in her hair days after the event. She wanted to talk about ice-cream and food fights and sneaking out to gaze at the stars in the night sky way past their bedtime, and how they pondered if aliens exist.

“I think the universe is too big for there not to be something out there somewhere.”

She remembers Sasuke saying, thoughtfully looking up.

“I-I think you’re an alien.”

She said back, earning her an indignant huff.

“Whatever tomato face.”

She wanted to talk about how simple everything was when they were kids, how she misses that naivety and how scary the world had revealed itself to be over the years.

Hinata was never good at making friends, even as a child, but she could still look back and she knew that Sasuke was one. He had been the last mark on her childhood that had made it a good one, the last moments she had to truly be a kid before she lost her mother, the truest love she had ever felt, forcing her to grow up.

Instead silence overtakes the kitchen and they both stare at their drinks unsure of what to say.

Sasuke isn’t how she remembers him at all. Yeah, he has the same face, just matured, and the same haughtiness, but the spark for life that had once inspired her seemed to be gone.

Which is an unfair thought to have, she admits, but she can’t stop herself from thinking it.

“Well I think it’s time to go on an adventure,” Naruto awkwardly offers.

“An adventure?” Hinata repeats, eyes growing wide.

“Naruto’s idea of an adventure is leaving the house and walking around the block.” Sasuke says rolling his eyes.

“Hey anything can be an adventure if you let it!”

~~~

It smells like damp grass and Hinata nearly jumps out of her skin as Naruto’s roar of triumph echo's off the surrounding buildings, catching the glow in the dark frisbee Kiba threw him. Sakura and Ino had joined them in their late-night excursion and Hinata can’t suppress the giddy giggles from watching them stumble about attempting athleticism when they are clearly four or five drinks deep.

She snaps a few photos and decides that she likes Naruto’s philosophy of approaching even the mundane aspects of life as an adventure.

This whole day certainly has felt like one.

Hinata puts her camera away, feels the chill in the October air, and pulls her scarf tighter. She casts a glance over at the park bench where Shikamaru was smoking a joint to see that he’s now casually chatting about... string theory? -- to Choji, who continues to nod his head like he understands.

Her trailing gaze then lands on Sasuke and-

Hinata immediately looks back towards the glowing air bound frisbee.

He was watching her - he looked suspicious - Hinata doesn’t know of what.

“Hey Sakura,” Hinata tries to call out, voice wavering, “it’s getting late, I think I-I should start heading home.”

That seems to put a halt on the physical activity for a moment, she’s then hugged by every frisbee player.

“It was nice meeting you Hinata.”

“Come back any time.”

“Yes please! We need more girls in our group, Sakura and I are severely outnumbered.”

“Are you sure you don’t want us to walk you?” Sakura slurs slightly, pulling away from the tight embrace.

“I’ll be fine, thank you Sakura,” Hinata smiles at her newest friend and turns to leave but stops at the bench to wave goodbye at Choji and Shikamaru, earning her a warm smile and a lazy nod. She looks at Sasuke’s arms proudly crossed over his broad chest and says, “it was nice seeing you again Sasuke.” And makes her way down the busy street, casting one last glance behind her just in time to see Sakura jump on Ino piggyback style to catch the frisbee in an impressive display of drunken camaraderie.

She smiles wider to herself. Wow. Today was a good day. An Adventure! Even if seeing Sasuke again was really weird and awkward and not at all how she wished it could have gone, she still met a lot of new people – Sakura's friends are so nice! They made her feel right at home and didn’t make her feel too weird about being shy and -

“Hey, Hinata.”

Hinata startles, hearing the sound of her name accompanied by footsteps catching up and her breath hitches when she turns to see Sasuke slowing down next to her.

“S-Sasuke? What are you-”

“I’m going to walk you home,” he snorts like it’s obvious, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his black jacket, “it’s late.”

“Oh,” Hinata hugs herself, suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious and maybe even a little nauseous as they walk in silence, their steps in sync.

She can feel the heat of his gaze on her and Hinata makes a point to stare at the crispy autumn leaves on the pavement – yeah – Hinata has no idea what to make of this.

“You know it finally makes sense now, why I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

Hinata trips over nothing, “you what?”

Leaves. Look at the leaves. The beautiful burnt orange leaves. Just. Keep. Looking.

“At the coffee shop, there was something about you, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Guess I thought you were familiar somehow.” Sasuke shrugs, with an air of nonchalance as they cross the street.

“Oh,” Hinata’s starting to feel warm, she doesn’t know if it’s from their quickening pace, the two drinks she’s had or how Sasuke is close enough for their shoulders to brush.

“It’s kind of crazy that we’d run into each other like this, after all these years.”

Hinata stops walking and Sasuke mirrors her. There’s something in his tone that catches Hinata off guard, something almost fond? Hinata looks back in the direction of his friends, they’re about five blocks away now.

Sasuke seemed... different than how he’s been all night -- more open somehow. Maybe he feels weird about their earlier interactions too, but didn’t feel comfortable acting this way in front of his friends? Sasuke’s always been a very private person, even as a child.

“Yeah it is,” Hinata bites her lip and throws him a timid fleeting smile, silently wishing she knew what was going through his mind.

“So, why did you come back to Konoha.”

“I-uh-” Hinata starts playing with the hem of her sweater and reminds herself it’s good to open up, “-wanted to figure out this life thing for myself – be independent - if my dad had his way, I’d never leave home or do anything that wasn’t part of his plan-” she tapers off, distracted by the approaching sound of music, a dumb smile spreads across her face when she sees an old skinny man on a sparkly bicycle riding past them on the road blaring ‘Dancing Queen’ from an oversized speaker he probably installed himself -- he seemed so – in the moment, like all that existed was him and the music filling the streets that he owned – Hinata silently mourns the missed opportunity of capturing that moment forever in a-

“You were saying,” Sasuke pokes her shoulder harder than necessary, bursting her from her reverie, and starts leading her down concrete stairs away from the bustling main road of the city, towards the waterfront.

“Right,” Hinata continues feeling energized from the random encounter and embarrassed from being caught drifting away in a daydream when they were in the middle of a conversation, “it was – uh - hard to leave my sister, but she encouraged me to go, that I should at least attempt to do the dream chasing thing.” Hinata pats her shoulder bag in reference to her camera. “I saved up some money and here I am, making it up as I go.”

“Hm, you always were snapping pictures everywhere you went.”

Their steps slow to a stop once they reach the cold metal railing where tourists gather during the day overlooking the docks, but it’s mostly quiet at this time of night.

It smells cold from the breeze and salty from the ocean. The lampposts must need changing because the only light is from the half-moon in the cloudless sky, casting them in dark shades of blue.

Hinata takes a deep breath observing the skyline and the colorful lights reflecting in the undulating ocean waves, then asks the question that’s been bothering her since their seemingly kismet reunion. “What do you remember after all this time?”

“I remember...” He trails off, Hinata doesn’t miss the sly edge in his tone. “That I had told you I’d marry you one day,” his voice is deep, almost gravely when he takes a slow playful step closer and Hinata swears her heart skips several beats noticing their breaths mixing in the cold air between them. “And that... you were technically my first kiss.” He says with a sarcastic snort, stepping back, and gesticulates somewhere behind them. “You can’t tell them about it though. Especially Naruto, the idiot would never let me live it down.”

Hinata blushes at the memory and attempts to mask her frown with an indignant pout, trying not to take the jeer personally.

Sasuke always did like to mess with her.

“You were my only kiss.” Hinata then whispers without thinking and regrets it. She immediately hates the implications -- like she’s some inexperienced-love-sick-twenty-something, who’s never gotten over her childhood crush.

Hinata sighs, briefly drowning in her own self-deprecating thoughts, gripping at the railing, eyes a passing ship, and pretends she can’t feel him studying her, surprised by the admission.

“What do you remember?” He asks back, finally breaking the silence.

She bites her lip, thinking, a rush of memories flashing one by one, settling on their goodbye -- her sobbing because she had to move away to a new city thousands of miles away that had special doctors who could treat her mother, how Sasuke was speechless and could only squeeze her tight in the first and only hug they had ever shared.

She remembers how he always told her she should stand up for herself, even against him, and she remembers how sometimes when she was around, he’d bite his tongue, holding back petulant sneers.

There’s a small quirk to her lips when she softly says, “Looking back, I-I always thought that we brought out the best in each other.”

There’s another long silence and Hinata once again feels the heavy weight of his gaze examining her, he reaches out and she stiffens when he gently grips the base of her braid touching the bright pink flower there.

“Did Ino do this?” He quietly asks, and there something hidden in his voice that shifts the mood of their conversation, and he’s close again, close enough for their visible breaths to once again mix, his fingers trail down towards the tail end of her braid.

“Uh huh.” Hinata breathes, watching his fingers play with the tip of her strands.

“Why can’t you…” he starts to ask, unsure, but curious, “never mind.” He let’s go of the braid, huffing lightly in frustration and leans on the railing, looking out towards the roaring waves.

Hinata’s stunned by his sudden apprehension. "Why can’t I what?”

“I said never mind.”

“But… I- I want to know.”

“Why can’t you look at me?”

“Oh.”

Sasuke sighs, “you don’t have to answer.”

Hinata bites her lip hard, internally wincing. “I-it’s not just you it’s most people really.” She starts, racking her brain for the right words “- It’s -it’s embarrassing… Well everything is embarrassing but, I get anxious about nothing all the time? And looking at people. I don’t know. I get paranoid that they can hear my thoughts or something? Not that I’m thinking about anything weird, well sometimes I am… it’s easier when they’re not looking back at me... Anyways... I guess it’s just become a bad habit now…” she sighs and smiles bitterly at the mess that just flew out of her mouth. “So, to summarize, looking at people kind of sometimes really freaks me out?”

“I see,” Sasuke says, Hinata glances at his mouth, he’s smiling a little, it’s almost warm in an amused sort of way, which completely disarms her.

Hinata’s tongue feels dry, “uhm, do-do you ever feel anxious?”

“Never. I get annoyed or frustrated with people very easily though, which can be problematic, not that I care”

“I guess some things never change then.” Hinata teases gently.

Sasuke smirks, he seems ready to retort with a quip but retreats and opts for something entirely different, “are there things that help you with your anxiety?”

There’s something about the question that makes Hinata feel warm all over, she never really gets to talk about these kinds of things without it feeling like it would dampen the mood, but there’s surprisingly no judgement in his tone, he seems genuinely curious, which encourages her to open up some more, "I find different scents to be calming, so I wear whatever my current favorite essential oil is on my wrist every day and whenever I feel too overwhelmed,” Hinata begins to explain in a rush pulling her sleeve up to demonstrate and presents Sasuke her wrist, “I close my eyes, count down from ten and-” Hinata’s breath catches in her throat and her eyes fly open when Sasuke gently pulls her forward by the wrist and she feels the softness of his lips brush over her pulse, then draws in a slow breath to scent the fragrance she chose to wear that day, “...and... sniff.”

Oh goodness, is it getting hot out here? Because Hinata’s face feels like it’s about to burst into flames. Hinata debates pulling her arm back but is currently enraptured by the softest look she’s seen on the Uchiha’s face this evening.

This feels way too intimate, and Hinata thinks she likes it. Hinata thinks that maybe this is what’s been missing in her life. The feeling of being close to someone in more ways than just proximity. Is it possible she’s been physically and emotionally touch starved for years without realizing it?

That’s a thought that petrifies her. How sleeping on your basest human needs can become a habit, and you find yourself going through the trivial motions of existence, not bothering to search for more, for something that makes your heart sing, twist, and turn into itself the way that muscle pumping blood through her circulatory system at a quickening pace is doing right now.

“Lavender,” Sasuke murmurs against her wrist and his breath feels hot on her skin, Hinata struggles for breath when the sensation brings her back to the present moment and she realizes that she’s been staring directly into his darkened obsidian eyes, boring into hers and she finds herself unable to look away. A subtle look of achievement flashes through them when he softly asks, “you okay there?”

Is she dead? Is she imagining this? This whole situation with the soft touches coinciding with depressing epiphanies triggered by Sasuke smelling her suddenly seems completely absurd, and Hinata’s not sure she’ll be able to form a coherent sentence any time soon.

“I uh, uhm.” There’s definitely something wrong with Hinata’s voice when she attempts to speak.

“I think that...” Sasuke smoothly adjusts their hands to interlock their fingers and his hand feels so warm in hers, “you should go out with me.”

What is happening?

“No.”

Hinata kinda meant to say yes, but sure, no works too?

“What?”

“I mean, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Hinata winces slightly. Gosh what is she even saying? Is this some sort of weird defense mechanism because she’s afraid of getting hurt?

Sasuke nods slowly, narrowing his eyes, “why not.”

Don’t you have to risk getting hurt to get anywhere in life that’s worth while?

“I-I don’t know.”

“Hn.” Sasuke breaks eye contact and lets their holding hands fall. Hinata reels at the loss of warmth. He turns away from her and crosses his arms over the railing and looks out towards the dark rhythmic waves of the ocean. Hinata worries her bottom lip between her teeth as she studies the man before her. The moonlight is hitting the sharp angles of his face just perfect, and Hinata’s in awe. He’s all grown up now, and by default that means Hinata is too. Yet, here they are, the oldest they’ve been, and still the youngest they will ever be.

Nostalgia floods through Hinata’s system, deciding to grab the moment instead of letting it pass. She’s not sure when she pulled the camera out of her bag, but the flash went off before she understood that she was taking a picture.

Sasuke jumps slightly at the flash and is pulled from his brooding thoughts, shooting her a puzzled glare.

“Sorry, that was kind of weird of me. I just – I just thought you-you looked erm... nice in the moonlight?”

A bewildered look flashes across Sasuke’s face before a small smile begins to form and he laughs! He actually, genuinely laughs while shaking his head in what appears to be disbelief.

The only thing Hinata can do is smile sheepishly distracted by how handsome he looks when he lets go of his composure, the light in his eyes makes him look younger, like the Sasuke she knew all those years ago.

Hinata wonders if any of his friends get to see him like this.

He looks down at the pavement, shoulders still shaking, smile still present and pinches the bridge of his nose while taking in a slow breath and on his exhale, he reaches into his pocket, pulls out his phone, unlocks it, hands it over and says, “give me your number.”

Hinata tentatively obliges, pulling open the add new contact page, filling in the blanks then handing it back. Sasuke starts typing something in his phone and asks. “Do you work Sunday?”

“Uhm, yes?”

Hinata’s phone buzzes, when retrieving it from her bag she sees a text from an unknown number.

>> I’m going to come by after your shift and I'm taking you out. Don’t even bother using your mouth to respond.

Hinata feels her fingers tingling and tries to open her mouth to speak, closes it, bites her lip to try and stifle her giggles and resists the urge to slap herself in the face for acting like a complete airhead.

She pushes her fears aside one more time tonight...

And takes the damn dive.

<< Okay <3

__________________________

AN2: Wow, okay. A month later and I have the second part to this little story. This is the first time that I’m posting something I didn’t just throw together in one sitting. I’ve also never posted anything that was longer than 1200 words and it’s unexpectedly a little nerve-wracking??? OKAY SO, I guess there’s going to be one last chapter and it’s going to be like 90% SasuHina interactions? And spoiler alert they’re finally going to make-out. I have this SasuHina headcannon where they’re both private people who generally keep to themselves -- so people think they’re a boring couple, but when they’re alone together it’s like they’re in their own little world, and that’s the dynamic I’m looking forward to exploring in the final part. I’m not sure when it’s going to be up since I have a bunch of other stuff I need to work on so it depends on how the inspo hits me, but I do have plenty of fun ideas!

#sasuhina #sasuhina oneshot #sasuhina fanfic #sasuhinafanfiction #hinata #sasuke #naruto #mystuff #Hinata hyuuga #hinata fanfic

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zombiiesque · 3 years

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(photo: Clearwater, Florida)

NA Mood Lifting Scents

Originally published 2/11/2018

Hey y'all! I've actually been working on this idea for a while, and it's a little unusual, but I figured I can't be the only one who goes through struggles, and so for this I've asked for a few contributions from my fellow Nocturne Alchemy fans in the House of Nocturne Alchemy Tent (also affectionately known as the Tent, and my family!). I want to say straight away, I'm not a doctor of any kind, and I'm not here to tell you what will definitively make you feel better, but merely make some suggestions for you to try, if you struggle with similar issues. Also, I offer big, gentle, e-hugs.

I struggle. I struggle a lot with mental issues - they even keep me from writing, which is my joy, truly. Y'all probably noticed it took me quite a while to get back to this blog after dear Laura passed. And it wasn't just that, although I did have a hard time moving past it, and I'm still not fully over it. I miss her dearly. But shortly after that, I started spiraling into a rather deep depression, which combined with my anxiety and PTSD, and all the junk life was throwing at me, seemed to go on for quite a while. I'm slowly climbing my way out of the pit now, but it's not easy.

And honestly, when I'm struggling with these issues, there's not much that gives me ease. Scent is truly one of those things, and for me, music. It gives me the ability to take some deep breaths and get out of my own head, and tell myself, I'm OKAY. It's going to be okay.

So, all that said, I thought I might offer up some ideas, and I asked others what soothes them.

The biggest point to make, though, I think, is that scent, and what makes us feel better in scent, is intensely personal, and varies so widely from person to person. My aromatherapist friend, Rain, says that a lot of folks associate pine with Christmas (or Yule), and for her pine is death - she's literally severely allergic to it, and so for her Christmas is scotch tape and paper and MINT. So that's a great example of how personal scent actually is. Therefore, I'm going to reiterate that these are merely suggestions.

Now that I've beleaguered that point, I'll give you a list of notes that I love and then some particular suggestions, both from me, and my NA Tent family!

What started all of this, for me, was in the fall of 2015, Nocturne Alchemy had their Halloween Part 1 release, and sent out samples of Bastet Halloween 2016. This was actually part of the permanent catalogue (PC), at that time in the VA section under the All Hallows' Eve heading. Every year they put out a Halloween perfume in the PC for the following year, so it's always available, and that year they put out a matching pair, so both Bastet and Anubis were released, and the sample I got was instantly loved, and upgraded to a full bottle. It's become such a comfort scent to me, and has pulled me through some very dark days. I realized that I found myself reaching for it constantly when I was at my lowest points.

Notes that I really love when I'm down or anxious are sandalwood, frankincense, copal. So resins, they feel like a nice warm hug. I find the NA oudh absolutely sublime for this, too. And there's something very comforting about Nocturne Alchemy's ambers, too. That kind of falls in between two categories for me, as I also like fresh, clean scents, or herbal scents, and the ambers can be very fresh, and also resinous. I love sage, chamomile, patchouli, citrus, and occasionally lavender from the fresh/herbal/medicinal/clean category. Citrus can be such an uplifting note (or notes!) when you need your day brightened. I also find NA nag champa,or incense heavy blends, soothing.

But a lot of times it's sort of a gut instinct/strong scent memory that makes you feel like you're wearing scent armor. Rain mentioned that she loves her Eternal Ankh Anniversary during such times.

So a little list of possible scent suggestions.

From the SLs, Hessonite, Ember, Santal Ombre, Patchouli Ombre, Santalum, Pyramid Santalum, Frankincense Ombre, and even the new Oud Ombre. Eternal Ankh Anniversary, Eternal Egypt Anniversary are others to consider, if you find vanillas to be your "blanket" you might like Crystal, Crystalline, Kobalt, etcetera from that line. I really love the OP line, it gives me a boost of confidence and the incense is incredibly settling for me, particularly OP Baba, because of the nag champa and black musk - musks are a power scent type for me. I forgot to mention I like myrrh also as a comforting resin, so definitely Myrrh Ombre, one of my first purchases!

From the PCs, I cannot recommend the OM NAs enough. Temple NA, Eternity, and Balance in particular, although I should really try Khet, as it sounds lovely. Gabriel from the 7 section has both frankincense and myrrh. I like to layer Raphael, as I find it clean and fresh, with Santalum. The Royal Amber section is a veritable treasure trove of comfort scents, particularly Bastet Amber, Sekhmet Amber, Thoth Amber, Temple Amber, and Sky Amber. I'm wanting to add Priestess Amber to my collection, as all of the sandalwoods and amber sound like an amazing combination and I've been lucky enough to smell Rain's bottle and fallen in love. I have a full bottle of Black Frankincense from the Desecrated Tomb section that I find absolutely heavenly, and it layers well with so many SLs - and the Prehistoric collection, too, for that matter, but that's for my LC suggestion list. There's also a veritable treasure trove in the Eternals, but I will say for me the biggest one is Eternal Egypt. It's become just such a signature scent for me. I

Another set of oils to consider are the NA Purpose Oils, which can be found offsite at The Blackest Rose. I have Protection, and I find it absolutely fantastic, but I really want to get Strength and Guidance.

Now, there's also several LC (limited, seasonal collections) perfumes that I absolutely adore for these purposes, which have been occasionally brought back as Resurgence, but you could put out an "ISO" (in search of) in the NAVA Marketplace or Indie Perfume Lovers groups on Facebook. For me Horus Haven 2 is a warm hug of a scent. I also really love Polter-Guests, it's got that herbal/clean thing going on. And I always, always reach for my Holiday Egyptian Frankincense for layering. There's a whole treasure trove in the Prehistorics, Pteranodon is fantastic for adding sandalwood to any perfume, and of course I love Cryolophosaurus for the patch and amber. Camarasaurus from last year has become a huge favorite of mine, because copal just makes me feel like myself again. I'm going to go ahead and mention NA oudh, the Icons. I find their oudh to be so gloriously beautiful, and the ones I own are Egyptian Temple Oudh, Labyrinth, and of course my beloved Copal Oudh. Phantasm Kiss from the 2016 Halloween release is so good, I bought 2 bottles of it, and I wear it alone and layered with other perfumes to boost my spirits. There was a series of Dream Bottles that came out with the winter collection the year I started collecting NA, and it taught me that I could, indeed, wear and love lavender, so I'll mention the Blue Egypt and Dead Can Sleep Dream Bottles. There was a sandalwood as well, which I totally regret not nabbing! But although those were pretty exclusive and hard to find, you can still find the original Dead Can Sleep and Blue Egypt in the PC section.

I'm going to close this by giving you various suggestions from my Tent family. But I also wrote and asked if the NA crew had any suggestions for you, and Freja said she would recommend OM NA: Balance, Crystalline, and the Purpose Oil: Inner Love (which is also one of my friend Rain's favorites!). Suggestions from fans include Lavender Santalum, Pink Grapefruit Frankincense, Moonstone, Holiday Egyptian Sandalwood, Myrrh and White Amber from the LC Holiday 2017 Collection, OP Set (huuuuge fan of OP Set so I second this motion!), Santalum, OM NA Eternity, Orange and Sandalwood Vanilla which is an LC Holiday scent and SO comforting!...from my lovely friend Heather - Santal Ombre, Ember, Pteranodon, Protection, Speaking with Spirits! So, some great suggestions there, and definitely worth hunting down, I particularly had forgotten about Speaking With Spirits, and would add from that same LC Halloween 2017 collection, when I'm really struggling with sleeping, Sleep Elixir is absolutely divine. I can't wear it without falling asleep in minutes.

So, really there's a wide range of possibilities here, but just know, whatever makes you feel most comforted in a scent will really help you when you feel down. I forgot something that I should have mentioned, I also like peppermint for uplifting, and two LCs I absolutely adore are Victorian Candy Cane Crystalline and Bastet's Pink Snow. I'll close with a quote from the Eagles:

I wish you peace when times are hard

A light to guide you through the dark

And when storms are high and your, your dreams are low

I wish you the strength to let love grow,

Oh I wish you the strength to let love flow.

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littleonabudget · 7 years

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Things For Sick Little Ones

The weather’s getting colder, which means flu season is coming! We’re going to have a lot of sick little ones, so make sure to prepare in advance, in case you get sick.

Note: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you buy something, Amazon gives me a small percent of the sale.

1) Sore Throat Lolipops

Cough drops are a pain, and don’t taste very good. But good news! You can get some yummy lolis to soothe your sore throat.

Honey Flavor $6.73

Strawberry Flavor $12.05

or if you want different flavor cough drops, there’s Blue Raspberry cough drops.

2) Air Humidifiers

Dry air can make sore throats hurt more. Air humidifiers help moisten the air, which helps with sore throats and congestion. You can even add a few drops of peppermint oil to really knock out that congestion!

Fish Tank Air Humidifier $14.99

Mushroom Air Humidifier $8.50 + $1.66 Shipping

Turtle Air Humidifier $9.99 + $1.00 Shipping

3) Aromatherapy Stuffies

These stuffies can be microwaved! They have a soothing lavender scent when you warm them. you can put them on your chest to help with congestion. You can also use them for cramps, sore muscles, or cuddle them to help with stress & anxiety. You can even put them in a plastic bag and freeze them if you need a cold pack!

I’ve included a lot of links for this one, so you can find one you like ❤

Bunny $11.99 Elephant $22.95 Panda $21.29 Sheep $14.13 Fox $19.14

Piggy $18.99 Lion $19.88 Purple Teddy $14.99 Unicorn $21.95

Dinosaur $20.49 Hippo $18.49 Puppy $11.28 Kitty 11.99

Froggy $19.40 Penguin $22.00 Giraffe $18.50 Hedgehog 11.99

Dark Brown Teddy $18.40 Sparkly Pink Unicorn $25.00 Horse 11.90

Sheep Wrap $19.99 Horse Wrap $21.95

4) Pacifier Thermometer

You can enjoy being little even when you’re sick! A paci thermometer is the only way a little should have their temperature taken.

Pacifier Thermometer $7.99

5) Tissues & Tissue Box Covers

Runny noses are no fun. Even worse are runny noses with raw skin from tissues. Tissues with lotion can help prevent chapped noses.

4 Boxes of Soft Tissues with Soothing Lotion $8.59

Maybe being sick can be a little bit fun. Tissue box covers are super cute. A little cute decoration can bring out your little side and help you feel better.

Plush Doggy Tissue Box Cover $15.89

Hello Kitty Tissue Box Cover $7.90

Pink Bunny Plush Hanging Tissue Box Cover $6.16

Teddy Bear on Sofa Unique Tissue Box Cover $12.00

My Neighbor Totoro Tissue Box Cover $17.99

6) Hand Sanitizer and Antibacterial Hand Wipes

If you’re trying to avoid getting sick, it’s important to keep your hands clean!

4 Cute Packages of 20 Babyganics Hand Wipes $7.56

3 Scented Hand Sanitizers (Doc McStuffins, Disney Princess, & Minne Mouse Theme) $9.79

3 Scented Hand Sanitizers (Spiderman, Disney’s Cars, & Jake and The Neverland Pirates) $12.99

7) Freeze Pops

It’s important to stay hydrated when you’re sick, but you’re probably not feeling up to guzzling water. Freezer pops are a yummy way to get your liquids.

100-Pack Freeze Pops $11.73

Or make your own pacifier freezer pops! $8.77

8) Warm Blankets

Fevers can make you feel hot, but sometimes, they can also give you chills. If you get chills, then your body is trying to raise it’s temperature to fight your illness. To help your body out and to make yourself more comfortable, you can wrap yourself up in an extra blanket. For extra warms, you can eve put your blanket in the dryer for a few minutes.

You’ll want a 45x60 or larger blanket. Anything less is too small for a teen/adult, unless you only want it to cover part of your body.

Frozen Elsa & Anna $14.95 Disney Princess $15.99 Disney Princess $14.99

Stitch $14.98 The Good Dinosaur $13.95 Finding Dory $12.99 Cars $14.99

Justice League$14.95 Batman $15.19 Spiderman $14.21 Paw Patrol $18.98

Peppa Pig Blanket $15.45 My Little Pony $17.99 Dora the Explorer $11.95

Pokemon Pikachu $9.99 Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charmander, & Pikachu $13.00

9) Baby Vicks

Regular Vicks has a strong, stinging smell, but the baby kind isn’t so overwhelming. It’ll help clear up your congestion without burning your nostrils.

Vicks Baby Rub $7.79

All prices above are valid as of 09/12/2017 01:22. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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veronicafredwilson · 4 years

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O.M.G.!!! Bengal Cats Temperament With Dogs

Enzyme-Powered Pet Odor and Stain Remover for Dogs and Cat Urine Unhinged Crazy Cat Lady Who is Not Fond of Cats : https://amzn.to/3lLGkOx

Let me set the stage for this long review. I am diagnosing myself as CP phobic (cat pee phobic). This is not yet an official disease but I am working on a patent. The roots of my CP phobia come from my childhood days as does everything else that is wrong with my life but I will skip the details for a book I will later write and discuss with Dr. Oz. Cats were around me in my childhood days and due to absent parents, they peed everywhere and little was done to clean it up. Therefore, the smell of cat pee brings severe anxiety, anger, and anything else that is related to a negative feeling. In 2002, a small kitten followed me into a 7-11. She was friendly but obviously abandoned and probably had her days limited if left in the busy parking lot of this convenience store. So on this wonderful day in the winter, I walked out with a Diet Coke, a pack of Marlboro lights, and a kitten. All three items were destined to deteriorate my health.

Fast forward to 2017 and this same cat is still with me. I am almost certain this cat will outlive me and I am only 34. This is the last cat I will ever own. Due to her age, attitude, and possibly her political views, she decided to start peeing on the carpet. I immediately google "life span of indoor cats." I realized I have at least 2 years left but maybe 5 years. I then take this 11 pound ball of fur to the vet to pay a lot of money for a diagnosis that my cat is healthy and a brat. Both of us come home hating each other. The peeing continues. Below is how I handled the situation in which she is still alive and I am slightly more unhinged than before. Several products will be mentioned as I am copying and pasting this review to all the companies who are responsible in allowing this cat to currently live through her natural life with me.

I spent a HUGE chunk of money on the litter robot. I recommend going to the litter robot website and researching this expensive toilet for cats. They have great customer service too. The litter robot is life changing for anyone who actually plans on owning cats for fun and for cats who refuse to use a dirty litter box. Due to my CP phobia, I plunked down the money. Everything worked great until my cat saw me enjoying life. The peeing began again. I put down a plain old square litter box and added "Cat Attract" litter. The peeing stopped. My adorable ball of high maintenance fur now uses the litter robot to go number two and the plain square box to go number one. The "Cat Genie" trash can is a must with anyone who has CP phobia. It keeps the smell down to a minimum and saves on trash bags.

Now that my 15 year old queen is satisfied with her restroom, I am now left to attack the cat pee smell. Putting Febreeze on a cat pee spot is like putting a cute SuperMan band aid on an 8 inch deep gash; it's super adorable but we all know I am going to pass out from the blood loss. Attacking cat pee is serious business and requires hours of work, determination, and money. Did I state how I will never own a cat again?

First you will need Rocco and Roxie pet stain remover. Just buy the jug if you are battling cat pee. The spray bottle will not be used. Pour Rocco and Roxie on the cat pee. It needs to be a puddle that soaks in through the carpet and into the carpet pad. We are not using a band aid, we are going in and sanitizing this dire situation. As you get the spots you can see, grab a UV light, turn off the lights, and prepare for night battle. Find all the illuminating spots and pour that Rocco and Roxie on all spots. Cat pee is no laughing matter to people like me. After all the spots are drenched, wait it out for a few hours and soak as much up with paper towels. If you use a towel, I feel you are transferring cat pee from one spot to the next. There will be a slight chemical smell. Again, cat pee is not like spilling your tumbler of vodka and soda water because the cat trips you up on purpose. Cat pee is anger and anxiety wrapped into one huge ball which needs strong chemicals to destroy.

If you are satisfied with Rocco and Roxie, and no odor of cat pee is present, then continue on with your life. If you are CP phobic and can detect a small whiff of cat pee, proceed to step 2.

Step two requires buying Angry Orange. Angry Orange is a smell that cats hate and is actually pretty pleasant to others. It smells like straight oranges. I bought the spray bottle and the concentrated refill bottle. Because I am CP phobic, I put a lot of the concentrated angry orange in a spray bottle and a little bit of water. I grabbed my UV light and went after the spots like the crazy, mad woman I have become. I sprayed all the spots only to have the entire house overwhelmed with the smell of orange. I am pretty sure my neighbors think I have opened a juicing station in the middle of my kitchen. I highly recommend following the directions of using the correct ratio of water to Angry Orange. If you do not follow the directions, not only will you think about writing a book called "James and the Giant Orange" but there will be slight orange spots on your carpet. Which now we can go to step 3.

Rocco and Roxie has an OxyClean product. This carpet cleaner gets out the toughest stains including my error of Angry Orange stains. Spray the product on any stain, let it sit for 5 minutes, and then start working on it with paper towels.

At this point, I am satisfied I have fought a good battle but I am still wary. I have an oreck orbiter to clean my travertine floors. I bought the attachments for cleaning the carpet and also Oreck Dry Carpet Cleaner. I spray the Rocco and Roxie OxyClean product as a mist on a 6 by 6 foot spot and then sprinkle the dry carpet cleaner all over. A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY. I rub the cleaner into the carpet with my oreck orbiter. Wait 45 minutes to 2 hours and vacuum. The Dry Carpet Cleaner gets out stains but it also gets out all the allergens and cat litter smell. I am not a fan of steam cleaning carpets. I have never had success. The Dry Carpet Cleaner is great for spring cleaning carpets or being completely unhinged by cat pee and needing to verify, the carpet is indeed clean.

Finally, after a week, I spray the areas in where I want my cat to never pee on, walk on, and or let alone even look at with the Natural Lemon Aerosol spray. Cats hate the smell of lemons and oranges.

I am now 90 percent satisfied I have won the battle of cat pee. I will not be 100 percent satisfied until I replace all the carpet but that will not happen until my cat crosses the rainbow in which she will probably pee on because that is how she rolls.

My cat has cost me a lot of money and time but I hope when I am old and peeing everywhere, that someone will take care of me and I will have two toilets in the same room. Did I state I will never own a cat again?

I hope this helps with anyone who has CP phobia and is willing to go above and beyond of getting rid of any trace of cat pee. I wish you well in your battle.

UPDATE AUGUST 27, 2017

Hello All,

Thank you for all the kind comments. I am thrilled my mania puts a smile on so many faces.

I received a personal email from the founder and CEO of this company thanking me for the review and offering a free bottle on the house. This is a small, family run business and I can not express how important it is to support these types of companies.

Since posting this review, I actually convinced a man to marry me. I clearly missed my chance as a saleswoman because I can sell anything, even a life attached to me and the feline. My cat is going strong and still a narcissistic princess with a special place in my heart and hell.

I want to add a few other recommendations to some of the qualms I have read in other reviews. As you may infer with my post, I am borderline OCD with cleanliness. I do squats at the gym just to master the hover technique over a public toilet. My advice is over the top but it works.

With any problem in life, you have to attack the source before treating the symptoms. Your decision to own this type of animal is the main source, the actual cat being second with their toilet being the third main source. After having a lot of self reflection on why you chose to own an animal that stalks you as if you were a gazelle and inevitably will latch onto the back of your leg while going for the achilles tendon to bring you down is the first step to solving cat pee problem. Then we move on to see if said cat is healthy and using the litter box. Finally we have to attack the actual cat toilet. Even when litter is scooped, it still holds the smell of cat pee. I change out my cat litter every 2 weeks and sometimes more. This means dumping the entire cat box into a black trash bag and then taking lysol to wipe the interior and exterior. This will help substantially in getting rid of cat pee smell. Again, attack the source, not just the symptoms.

Many have stated they are not fond the Rocco and Roxie cleaning smell. Cat Pee Smell is at the top of my offensive list which also includes items such as robot phone calls to my cell, McDonald's no longer frying their apple pies, hair in the shower drain, and taxes. When attacking cat pee, you have to neutralize the chemical composition of this awful smell. The enzymes in Rocco and Roxie deliver this result as best as I have seen. The after smell does not sit well with all. I use Rocco and Roxie with Oreck dry carpet cleaner every two months to clean my rugs and carpets. I admit I tire of the cleaning smell but have found a solution many may want to try.

After cleaning the pee and other items out of carpet, grab baking soda and some natural essential oils. I found a box of oils on amazon. Add tea tree oil and lavender to the baking soda. In fact, add whatever smell you would like for the olfactory. Add lots of drops to the baking soda and mix well. Shake this mixture all over the carpet. It needs to look like it just snowed. Get a brush, preferably with a long handle to protect your back, and agitate the baking soda into your carpet. Leave it on over night for best results and then vacuum. If you can't wait that long, at least let it sit two hours. Baking soda and the oils are all natural so safe for humans and animals. This step has helped in creating a more earthy and pleasant smell in my home when I do the manic bi-monthly cleaning.

Thank you again for all the responses and I hope one day to get a book published. As of now, I just update a file with favorite pics of myself and a pre-written obituary for my husband to publish in case my cat does accomplish her life long goal. Within the three column long obituary, I added few lines about being an "expert Amazon Reviewer". Sounds morbid, I know, but I can't trust my other half to use a decent picture of my face or remind the public why they will miss the Unhinged Crazy Cat Lay Who Is Not Fond Of Cats.

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boydchloe · 4 years

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Cat Peeing Near Door Astounding Unique Ideas

Cat training is a sure sign that something is wrong.If you omit this step at any time that it can draw your cat with something that will keep you safe for cats.It is the ideal places for fleas because if they have teeth.There are some tricks that should be well considered before doing it.

I started putting a few more cats as they will break down the best course of playing and feeding in combination with calming effect of this is my first choice again.Cats do not know where it should always be looked into.These products take into consideration before you adopt a cat is scratching.It can transmit tapeworms and cause them to choose from in the scenery, but I prefer to allow for evaporation, the bacteria strains are associated with dietary allergies.Cat beds should be kept away from the other cat with water when it has been discovered that when you are filling up the fur to fly around, so people with pet odor comes from cat urine.

For most though, it may spray if someone leaves the house and cat furniture and other modes of transportation may see to this.Place the scratching by chasing her away, spraying water, hitting or yelling.If you already know that punishment is delivered a few seconds after they commit their little traps.Scoopy, clumpy, cedar, crystal they are much more humane than de-clawing.In case the dog or cat trees for the cat is ready to urinate and you have tried nearly everything to figure out different ways because it is best for our little group.

Even if you don't get too upset to continue to use them on a regular basis, especially if you are doing on your carpet thus eliminating cat urine smell, so you can make it a game show buzzer.This can produce anxiety or hostility in your house you should try to redirect their cat destroys virtually everything that she will also show visible Lymes disease symptoms.Enjoying fresh air and are particularly hard to diagnose a cat owner.Powders, sprays, and drops are added together to produce an average bedroom sized area approximately 12-15 times per hour.There are powder and proceed from this incredible vacuum cleaner.

Well, when your cat has their own entertainment and that they understand what it takes a lot of friction and fighting.Ideally, Poofy will allow the meat mixture soak up as much of a cat from getting fleas.Then, very carefully cut with a veterinarian.Whichever product you choose to punish your cat as they walk by it.Kitty is now using her furniture instead of the experiments revolved around dogs, subsequent scientists have found, catnip does not stop your cat will often find they have a covered litter box, you may have nothing whatsoever to do this but you can not simply leave you with opportunity to develop, bringing about the well being of your pet cat in the cat is an inborn behavior and put an end to scratching your furniture that your cat is about to spray in your cat's behavior changing, they are jealous of your houseplants

Nevertheless, they would not get into situations you know that they can get use to each other while young tend to give a cat to play with you may want to swat at it.So what do you want to spay or neuter all your most promising scenario would be unscoopable.There's something called zoo poo which is more than a relaxed cat.Choose carpets and rugs, furniture, wallpaper, curtains etc,. Refusing to eat, only one of these includes tobacco, alcohol, coffee and coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and not to do away with it.Remove any obvious reason is that they need to worry about him using urine or feces deposits, and rubbing.

I have spent my entire life living with your pet food bills if they do have an impact on the messages cats give off when happy with it.Some stores sell anti-flea products, including powders, shampoos and flea eggs and larva inside your home.If your cat telling it where to find Catnip in a corner, move it around and is not just Siamese, suck on their feet.It can be the well being of your houseplantsA functional cat tree that is not a veterinarian to play private detective can take anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks depending on the teeth, which causes even more often.

The post should be ignored when they grow older-- If your cat healthy and well-adjusted.Conventional wisdom suggests rubbing the cats in the way.The condition is caused by cats or cats from spraying anywhere.By understanding these reasons, you are the uric acid with its use.

Cat Spraying Color

First off, try to use are cloth towels, the paper towels.-For wire-coated breeds of cat urine smell so add some more advanced techniques which I have grown fond of scratching, gradually moving it gradually to a vet you can replace the litter box is always good to have their cats talk to your cat causing it to express different types of occurrences so that you covet so much for them.The decision on whether or not fleas can lay eggs.You can always start out as this has been eliminated and the havoc they can watch other animals.Water is treated equally by both of them treats behind them away from home most of your questions.

Combine your cats ears to keep your cat's health and what they are most effective thing you want to be scratch marks they also will need to dig and replace as needed.Cats, and kittens are born with the procedures, so sedation works better.These playful creatures are good for them to come when called or to eliminate any residue with another living being, the like of which are not mindful of that object.Many people think that a cat indoors or outdoors, as he is doing every night while you are showing that cat frequent urination could be spread to the spot.Cats just seem to get the smell very strong.

If you find your cats are really happy about all the neighbourhood can cause serious damage.The speed with which you may even want to bring a new cat into house content cat.If the cleaning solution that has gotten over the new cat into the groove and your cat and his/her personality.You can observe its various behaviors and require different remedies.Allow to dry the ammonia scent could actually make matters worse, it is still present, particularly in cats is of vital importance that you need to brush the cat lacks stimulation and activity, leading to behavior modification methods.

However, as cats are still strays, but they often will reduce the inflammation for a product that will blow in self defense keychain, you might consider purchasing some furniture or carpet it can be injured when trying to expel the object.When your cat from scratching or to the litter box clean and in the house spreading her scent is gone, a cat's household.Be sure that your sofa cost 1000, and wouldn't care if it does not have to take place is after a meal of blood.These cats aren't as lavish and obvious in their eyes or their membranes can become stressed by changes in your home.Unless your cat is to have their favourite scratching spot, much to slice you to buy one.

It is recommended to use white face paint which is a sight to your cat's living environment.You can't punish them after the procedure or even subsequent adaptive difficulties might be because the box to catch mice or feather like toys that you could have come across cats who not only remove cat scratching posts to your vet.Take her to find recipes baking cat treats inside your house.However, cats enjoy scratching and spraying.Furthermore, before you have only one kitten or cat grass that you can also be made worse.

Although pet allergy symptoms can stem from behaviour issues on a counter.There are many different allergy symptoms, but they do something good before he gets a reward.Mop up as much of their day away in a particular chair or sofa that might influence your decision.They may be able to use a hair dryer on a regular basis will reduce a lot of different cleaning solutions you can allow air to dry and I am sure they will have favourite places to curl up, do not like to get them to get the smell of urine.Fleas can cause quite a while that for some allergy sufferers, the various types of material and I also have chemicals which have a sofa to sleep in their designated area.

Cat Spraying Out Of Litter Box

I counted twelve cats from spraying, you need to scratch is to invest hundreds or even plants.Cats, like kids, thrive when they are likely to be off balance.And now that it is important to spay your cat.In springtime and in addition to the decor of your cat, such as Advantage, Frontline and Revolution can totally eliminate the smell of cat care about cleanliness, you may notice blood in the mouth that break down the cat has free reign of your couch.But if you suddenly realized that this can put an end to this website, I am not dishing out the differences between a cat's sense of smell, texture, sound and tone their muscles.

Finding a solution available that are much better.This seemed like a serval they chose one person to hold his urine due to illness, then a bristle brush.While dried catnip seems to have two, or even a cold bath would help.Certainly, they can be frustrating for you to have kittens again if you teach one task at a young age will also discourage puss from repeating the indiscretion Always read the hot water running in the house.But while these drugs are effective, some pet stores.

#Cat Peeing Near Door Astounding Unique Ideas #Cat Peeing Remedy

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gethealthy18-blog · 5 years

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How to Use Lavender (Grow It, Make Natural Remedies & More)

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/news/how-to-use-lavender-grow-it-make-natural-remedies-more/

How to Use Lavender (Grow It, Make Natural Remedies & More)

It only takes a brief scroll through my home remedies and DIY recipes to know that lavender is by far one of my favorite herbs. Not only is is beautiful and fragrant in the garden, it has hundreds of uses (literally). It’s the constant staple in my essential oil stash and I use it just about daily in one way or another.

Lavender’s claim to fame is its ability to enhance relaxation and promote restful sleep. Best of all, unlike some essential oils that require a lot of caution, lavender falls on the safer side of the spectrum, making it a great choice to use around babies and kids. A natural remedy that helps my kids stay calm and get to sleep? Um, yes please!

Let’s see what else it can do …

Lavender: The Little Purple Flower With Power

Turns out there’s good reason (many good reasons) why lavender is a crunchy mama’s right hand helper in the home.

Originating from southern Europe and parts of Africa, Asia, and India, many ancient and medieval cultures relied on the herb not just for its signature scent but also its pain relieving and sedative properties.

Thanks to its linalool and linalyl acetate components (which are present even when diffusing), lavender has protective effects shown to:

Stabilize mood

Improve sleep

Soothe nerves

Work as an expectorant

Balance blood sugar

Kill bacteria

Relieve pain

Speed wound healing

Proven Benefits of Lavender

Here’s why the little purple flower packs such a powerful punch:

Lavender for Better Sleep

There’s a reason lavender is used in so many of my DIY creations. It is well known for its ability to relax the mind and improve quality of sleep. In one 2006 study, sleep-deprived college students inhaled either lavender or a placebo. Those who used lavender slept more soundly and felt more refreshed upon waking up.

More study is needed to determine whether it is safe to use during breastfeeding (it’s generally not recommended at this time), but it’s exciting to see emerging research on how lavender might help women during the crucial postpartum time. Improving postpartum sleep (or what little we mothers get anyway) sounds like a worthy cause to me!

Lavender for Anxiety and Depression

On a similar note, many studies show interesting applications for lavender for memory, mood, and overall cognitive function. Just the odor of lavender seemed to help various test groups stay relaxed and focused when asked to do various stressful tasks, or improved their ability to recover feelings of wellbeing after exposure to stress.

Researchers continue to examine the possibilities for lavender in the treatment of dementia, anxiety, depression, and various neurological disorders.

(I don’t know if those symptoms bring this to mind for anyone else… but lavender’s soothing effects also make it great for managing PMS!)

Lavender for Skin Care

Due to its anti-inflammatory effects and ability to scavenge free radicals, lavender has a place in skin care. As is so common in the health world, controversy surrounds the subject of whether it is a skin irritant or a skin protectant, but this article by Robert Tisserand explains the reasons why its benefits outweigh any risks. (Risks are slight, in his informed opinion).

Give lavender a try in your DIY beauty routine. Use a quality oil (I like Plant Therapy) and the proper dilution for skin. If there’s any concern about sensitive skin, try a test run on a small spot in the inner elbow.

Lavender for First Aid and Wound Healing

Studies (and much anecdotal experience) show that lavender reduces pain and itching from bug bites, bee stings, and even burns. In fact one 2011 study examined the benefits of lavender in healing episiotomies and another 2013 study showed lavender aromatherapy relieved pain after c-section.

Lavender for Hair Growth

A 2016 study on mice showed lavender is an effective proponent of hair growth and significantly increased the number and health of hair follicles when applied in proper dilution daily for a period of 4 weeks. The properties make it great for healthy, shiny hair in general. (Recipes for these treatments below.)

How to Use Lavender at Home

I use lavender in just about every area of my home. I keep both the dried herb and the essential oil around because they’re needed for different preparations.

While the options to use it are just about endless, here are a few of my favorite uses:

Dried Herb Uses:

In a relaxing herbal tea – Lavender is too strong to be used by itself as a tea, but mixed with mint leaves it makes a soothing herbal tea. I often add chamomile too. Steep all in hot (not boiling water) for a few minutes and add honey if desired. Ahhh…

As a dandruff remedy – Make an extra strong batch of tea, let it cool, and use as a scalp rinse to remedy dandruff. This cooled tea recipe also doubles as an after-sun spray.

In a tincture – Used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, a lavender tincture can promote relaxation and sleep.

Inside a pillow or mask – Add the dried flowers to homemade buckwheat pillows or sleep masks to help promote relaxing sleep.

As a laundry or drawer freshener – I sew the dried flowers into small satchels and use them in place of dryer sheets in the dryer. (Great project for kids!)

For infused vinegar – Infuse vinegar with the dried flowers for use in cooking or as a skin toner (diluted).

As an air freshener – Simmer the dried herb in a pot of water with some citrus peels for a natural air freshener!

As a face scrub – The dried flowers and oatmeal makes for a gentle, fragrant face scrub.

In cooking! – It’s not so strange! Lavender flowers actually feature in this classic herbes de Provence spice blend.

Essential Oil Uses:

Diffusing before bed – Put a few drops in an essential oil diffuser before bed to help the house wind down and get ready to sleep

To sooth sunburns or other burns – My absolute favorite burn remedy is this lavender honey burn salve. In a pinch, add a few drops of the essential oil to a bottle of cool water and spray on burns to offer relief.

In the bath – These DIY lavender-mint bath salts are divine after a long day and will help relax sore muscles.

For headaches – Smelling lavender and peppermint oils helps headaches. Simply take a whiff of essential oil or keep this headache relief roll-on handy.

In homemade bug spray – It is an essential ingredient in my DIY natural bug spray. (It works, I promise!)

In beauty recipes – Add a few drops of the essential oil make a relaxing homemade lotion or lotion bar, or even a whipped body butter.

For acne and skin irritations – I like to add a few drops of lavender and frankincense essential oils to my honey face mask and cleanser recipe.

In a hair growth serum – As mentioned above, I include lavender in my hair growth serum, especially great for that fun time of postpartum hair loss.

Either Dried or EO:

Salt Ear Infection Remedy – This hot pack is easy to make and such a lifesaver when an earache strikes!

Where to Buy Lavender (& How to Grow It)

My sources have varied over the years, but right now I like this source for the dried herb and this one for the essential oil. Of course the nice part is, you don’t have to buy lavender to have it around. It’s easy to grow in your own backyard and a cinch to maintain and harvest.

Since it’s pretty easy on the eyes (and the nose) as well, it’s a win-win!

Given its native regions, lavender grows best where the winter is mild and the summers are hot and dry, but it’s a forgiving plant. Visit a local nursery to find the variety best suited for your area. (Keep in mind different varieties have different blooming seasons, too.)

Lavender generally needs little water or fertilization and even grows well in pots. It’s important though that it is located in a sunny spot (6+ hours) and have good drainage. (In fact, add gravel to the potting soil if potting.)

Our plants have done well for years with little care or maintenance other than pruning them back each fall. I recommend picking a sunny spot by a walkway or door to enjoy its amazing scent every time you walk by!

Here is a detailed helpful post about when and how to harvest lavender flowers.

Is Lavender Essential Oil Safe?

Although natural, essential oils are extremely powerful and need to be respected. I personally do not use any essential oils internally (here’s why). There is some evidence that long term regular use of concentrated lavender can cause hormone imbalance in males, so I generally avoid it in things I am making for my husband or sons. I don’t use even the dried or fresh herb internally when pregnant.

Due to its relaxing properties, I would not use in conjunction with any medication that also causes relaxation or sleepiness.

Using Lavender Around Kids

Using essential oils around children definitely calls for some caution and care. I’ve had many reputable doctors and aromatherapists assure me that lavender is one of the safest oils to use around babies and kids, but there is still a right and wrong way to do it.

Plant Therapy’s Kid-Safe oils are a great way to take the guesswork out of selecting essential oils, and their website and blog are my go-to these days for essential oil information since they are backed by Robert Tisserand, one of the world’s leading experts in aromatherapy.

Do you use lavender? What is your favorite way to use it? Share below!

Sources:

Lee IS, Lee GJ. Effects of lavender aromatherapy on insomnia and depression in women college students. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2006;36(1):136-43. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16520572/

Keshavarz Afshar, M., Behboodi Moghadam, Z., Taghizadeh, Z., Bekhradi, R., Montazeri, A., & Mokhtari, P. (2015). Lavender fragrance essential oil and the quality of sleep in postpartum women. Iranian Red Crescent medical journal, 17(4), e25880. doi:10.5812/ircmj.17(4)2015.25880

Chamine I, Oken BS. Aroma Effects on Physiologic and Cognitive Function Following Acute Stress: A Mechanism Investigation. J Altern Complement Med. 2016;22(9):713-21. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.17(4)2015.25880

Vakilian K, Atarha M, Bekhradi R, Chaman R. Healing advantages of lavender essential oil during episiotomy recovery: a clinical trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011;17(1):50-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.05.006

Olapour A, Behaeen K, Akhondzadeh R, Soltani F, Al sadat razavi F, Bekhradi R. The Effect of Inhalation of Aromatherapy Blend containing Lavender Essential Oil on Cesarean Postoperative Pain. Anesth Pain Med. 2013;3(1):203-7. doi: 10.5812/aapm.9570

Lee BH, Lee JS, Kim YC. Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice. Toxicol Res. 2016;32(2):103-8. doi: 10.5487/TR.2016.32.2.103

Source: https://wellnessmama.com/7041/lavender-uses/

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shateandino · 6 years

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How To Create A First Aid Kit Using Essential Oils

Learn how to create an effective and 100% natural first aid kit using just essential oils!

You’ve probably heard the “buzz” about essential oils and how they can help your family with common concerns such as headaches, colds and flu, allergies, pain, and infection, which is why I’ve created an on-the-go first aid kit using a few key essential oils.

Choose a Carrier Oil

Before you get started selecting your essential oils, you’ll need to pick out a carrier oil to use with them. This oil will be the base you will use to dilute the other oils in your first aid kit. Choose from Jojoba Oil, Sweet Almond Oil or Fractionated Coconut Oil, these would work well.

Remember, you’ll need to select a carrier which stays liquid at room temperature just in case you don’t have time to warm or melt a semi-solid oil. Any of the oils I listed above will be perfect!

Lavender

Lavender is absolutely the most important oil to include in your essential oil first aid kit. In fact, if you could have only one essential oil in your kit, this would be the one to choose. Lavender has a very wide range of applications.

It is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal. It is a natural pain-reliever and anti-itch remedy. Lavender can help to prevent scarring, encourage healing, reduce inflammation, reduce stress and ease anxiety. It may be used on insect bites, cold sores, rashes and blisters.

Headaches: Put a drop of diluted Lavender on your finger and apply to the temples and the nape of the neck.

Minor Burns: Blend Lavender and the juice of a fresh aloe leaf and apply. Aloe Vera gel may be used if no fresh aloe is available. Please note, aloe will be more effective at immediately easing the pain of a burn, but Lavender will promote faster healing with no or less scarring.

Mosquito Bites: Lavender diluted (in a carrier oil mentioned above), or blended with a bit of well diluted Peppermint essential oil to ease itching.

Sunburns: Add 5 drops of Lavender to 5 ml (one teaspoon) of your favorite carrier oil and gently apply to the burned area. A tepid bath, with cider vinegar and Lavender Essential Oil added will also promote healing and help “take the heat out.”

Stress, Tension, Too Much To Do: A few drops of Lavender in a bath eases tension. I like to just pull out my little bottle and inhale!

Insomnia: A drop of Lavender on a cotton ball or tissue tucked into your pillowcase, or a Lavender bath before retiring will help ease you (or your excited children) into a natural relaxing sleep. I like to rub some diluted lavender oil onto the bottoms of my feet or else the back of my neck right before bed.

Peppermint

This essential oil is effective for treating nausea and digestive issues, allergies, menstrual problems, reduces fever, increases alertness and focus, and increases oxygen absorption. It is great for headaches or any muscle aches or pains and is also a catalyst when mixed with other oils. Peppermint is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, can be used for shock, colds, colic, and heartburn.

I always recommend diluting peppermint with a carrier oil as it’s a very strong oil!

Migraines: Many migraine sufferers report relief after rubbing properly diluted Peppermint essential oil on their forehead, the back of the neck, and the solar plexus.

Upset Stomachs: can often be calmed by either inhaling Peppermint straight from the bottle, or rubbing a drop or two on the abdomen. I take this whenever we travel and are eating out a lot!

Fatigue/Exhaustion: Peppermint is a stimulant and can aid with both physical and mental exhaustion. This is a great oil to carry in the car, both to keep the driver awake and aware and to ease any carsickness that might occur.

Congestion: If summer’s pollens cause sinus congestion, diluted Peppermint is a wonderful treatment for either stuffy noses or sinus headaches. Either inhale the diluted oil to help clear a stuffy nose, or blend with some diluted Lavender essential oil and gently rub into cheekbones and forehead to ease a sinus headache.

Sunburn and Fever: Cool the “heat” of a sunburn or fever by adding about eight drops of the diluted oil blend to a tepid bath. Peppermint will not help a sunburn heal more quickly, but will help the burning to “chill out.”

Poison Ivy and Other Itchies: Add a few drops of Peppermint essential oil to commercial calamine lotion to help ease the itch of poison ivy rashes. In fact, a tiny amount of Peppermint essential oil is a good addition to almost any “anti-itch” preparation.

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Tea Tree/Melaleuca

Tea Tree oil can be used as a first aid ointment, useful for skin irritations, bug bites, athlete’s foot, eczema and psoriasis. It aids in immune function and supports against throat and respiratory pathogens, and helps with slivers in the skin.

Scrapes: After washing a scrape, you might consider a bit of diluted Tea Tree Essential Oil to help keep the abrasion germ free.

Puncture Wounds: Should never be treated with Lavender, since it can cause the surface to heal, rather than letting the wound heal from the inside to the surface. In this case, Tea Tree Essential Oil, diluted, is the perfect blend to apply.

Disinfecting: Any sort of skin irritation that shows signs of perhaps becoming infected, whether they are mosquito bites, cuts or scrapes will benefit from Tea Tree’s antimicrobial properties.

Facial Care: I religiously use tea tree oil in my skin care routine. If I ever have a blemish pop up, I immediately add a drop of tea tree oil to a cotton ball and dab on my blemish. I also use it in my homemade skin toner recipe before bed each night.

OnGuard

OnGuard is one of my favourite doTERRA blends! Here are just some of it’s benefits:

Supports healthy immune and respiratory function

Protects against environmental threats

Supports the body’s natural antioxidant defenses

Promotes healthy circulation

Energizing and uplifting aroma

This essential oil blend, made of Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf Flower essential oils provides a natural and effective alternative for immune support. It protects against environmental and seasonal threats with essential oils known for their positive effects on the immune system. It can be taken internally on a daily basis to maintain healthy immune function and support healthy cardiovascular function. It can also be used on surfaces throughout the home as a non-toxic cleaner.

Immunity: Add two to three drops in a veggie capsule for an immune boost. I like to rub it on the bottoms of my feet and my children’s feet each morning to help keep our immune system functioning at it’s best.

Hand Cleanser: Combine a few drops of doTERRA On Guard with Fractionated Coconut Oil for a natural hand cleanser. Here’s my recipe for my homemade hand sanitizer. After we’ve been in a public place, we add a few drops to our hands and rub them together to help eliminate germs naturally.

Deep Blue

The Deep Blue essential oil blend can be applied topically to provide a soothing and cooling sensation that is perfect for a comforting massage. It is well used by athletes and exercise enthusiasts and can be applied topically to soothe muscles and relax the body after strenuous activity. This soothing, proprietary blend can easily be applied to the skin through direct oil-to-skin contact or it can be diluted with Fractionated Coconut Oil for individuals with sensitive skin.

Soothing and Cooling: Deep Blue essential oil blend contains strong soothing and cooling properties. These properties can offer comfort before and after exercise and are ideal for massages. Use Deep Blue oil topically to obtain these soothing and cooling benefits.

Energy before a workout: If you are looking for an invigorating exercise blend, look no further—the Deep Blue essential oil blend has the perfect combination of essential oils to help soothe and comfort exercise enthusiasts of all levels. For a comforting solution that will empower and soothe during and after exercise, apply Deep Blue essential oil blend to your feet and knees pre- and post-workout.

Children’s growing pains: Growing can cause great discomfort and can even be the cause of restless nights. To assist your growing child during their growth spurts, combine the Deep Blue essential oil blend with a few drops of Fractionated Coconut Oil and massage into your growing child’s legs before bedtime. This will bring a cooling and soothing feeling that will help ease these occasional discomforts.

Muscle relief: After a long day of heavy lifting, cleaning, typing on the computer, etc. rub a few drops of Deep Blue on your lower back, arms, legs, wrists, joints, shoulders, and neck. The cooling and soothing sensation of Deep Blue oil will bring you relief after a strenuous day.

Oregano

For Natural Immune System Support – oregano oil is effective in treating bacterial infections and yeast infections, relieves back and joint pain and inflammation, colds & flu, kills warts & skin tags and athlete’s foot, and is an effective cleanse for GI health.

It be consumed as an herb in culinary uses, a tincture, tea or essential oil.

The diluted oil can be consumed to speed recovery during illness.

Oregano Oil (diluted in coconut oil) can be used on skin infections to boost healing.

It can be mixed in to oil as part of an oil pulling routine.

Diluted oregano oil taken internally can help with allergies.

Oregano oil diluted in olive oil can be rubbed on sore muscles and joints for pain relief.

Dried oregano, in combination with other dried herbs like basil, rosemary and thyme, can create an effective facial steam for loosening congestion and calming coughing.

It can be diluted for effective use on athletes foot and fungal infections.

It can be helpful in redding the body of ringworm when used topically.

It can be effective in removing warts when used diluted on the skin.

Cold/Flu’s: Add a drop to a veggie capsule and repeat every 4 hours throughout the day until symptoms subside.

Warts: Mix 1 teaspoon of oregano oil with around 8 teaspoons of fractionated coconut oil. Apply the mixture around four to six times throughout the day. You can also add tape over the wart to minimize the ability for the growth to receive proper oxygen. This can help to speed up the process. After about a week of use with organic oregano oil, you should notice a difference in the size of the wart.

Alleriges: Add a few drops of oregano oil to a bowl of boiling water, place a towel over your head and breathe in the strong vapors for 5-10 minutes. The hot steam helps to loosen mucus, open up the airways, and the anti-inflammatory properties of the oil help to soothe and relieve allergy symptoms.

Lemon

Lemon oil is known for its cleansing ability. Add a few drops to your water to purify it. It is also great for intestinal parasites, dissolves petrochemicals from your body, effective for colds & flu, helps your digestive system and liver work, helps reduce stress and fatigue, calm upset stomachs, is effective for gout, sore throat, and is a disinfectant and an antiseptic.

Sore Throat: Simply add 1-2 drops of lemon oil to warm water or tea. You can also inhale lemon oil directly from the bottle, or put 5-10 drops in a diffuser at home.

Cough: A mixture of lemon and eucalyptus essential oils relieves a cough effectively. Mix three tablespoonfuls of honey with 2 drops of lemon and 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oils. Add one teaspoon of this mixture to warm water in a glass and take slowly.

Naesea & Vomitting during pregnancy: Put a couple of drops on a small gauze or tissue square and lay it by your face or on your chest. Just sniffing the oil will calm the nausea or prevent it.

Balance

Balance blend promotes tranquility while bringing harmony to the mind and body, and balance to the emotions. This is a blend I use daily on the bottoms of my feet to ground my emotions and reduce anxiety.

Promotes a whole-body sense of relaxation

May help ease anxious feelings

Evokes feelings of tranquility and balance

Calmness: Begin your day by putting Balance on the bottom of your feet to promote feelings of calmness and tranquility throughout the day. I can honestly say, when I don’t apply this oil in the morning, I notice I am more anxious and moody during my day.

Anxiety: Apply to your wrists or neck to help ease anxious feelings.

You can also inhale straight from the bottle, put a few drops in your hands and inhale, use a diffuser necklace to relieve some of the following symptoms:

ADD / ADHD and Focus

Anxiety

Depression – you can also use an elevating blend like Citrus Bliss

Dizziness

Energy

Grief or a feeling of loss

Grounding

Hot flashes

Hyperactivity

Jet lag

Mood, balance and stress-relief

Vertigo

Spirituality

These are just some of the oils I have in my first aid kit! What are your favourites?

If you would like to try any of these oils or make your own first aid kit, please don’t hesitate to contact me or check out my GETTING STARTED page!

Article source here:The Fit Housewife

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yoga-ma-ayurveda-blog · 6 years

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Natural Cold Care For The Whole Family

http://www.chandika.com/tridoshic-nasya-oil/I’ve been reading a lot lately about the latest wave of colds and illness common with this time of year and thought it was time to share some of my tips (Ayurvedic and otherwise) and online resources. Remember: these are not fail proof, our boys still get sick sometimes, but I feel it has made a difference. They have good immune systems and we’ve never dealt with anything more serious than a low fever or common cold or stomach bug (there’s not much to do about the latter). This year I’ve really dedicated myself to the following and so far so good!

Put the kettle on! I make sure there’s always a tea pot on the table at meal and snack times filled with some warming beverage. I love herbal chai or mineral rich nettle. A simple and wise choice is slices of fresh ginger root (cut off a 1 inch thick section), fresh lemon juice from 1/4 wedge (put in the whole wedge after its squeezed), and honey.

Honey Tea is served with plenty of honey! Be careful not to add it when the water is too hot as it will destroy many of its beneficial qualities. It makes a great cough syrup or when throats are dry and sore.

Elder Berries At breakfast I add about 1/4 cup of elder berry concentrate to our tea pot and sweeten with honey. When someone is actually sick they get a straight shot with honey. Here’s a recipe I refer to and use ginger root instead of turmeric root: https://wellnessmama.com/24470/elderberry-tea/ I also like to add pinches of dried hibiscus flowers and rosehips to improve the flavor. Everyone loves it.

If someone is getting sick they’ll get 1-2 teaspoons of syrup (tea + honey) in between meals: https://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/

Golden Milk Another favorite among the adults is this yummy concoction. It has yet to grow on my 3 year old. Turmeric is the main herb in Golden Milk which gives it the yellow hue. It’s a great immune booster, anti-inflammatory, warms the whole body, and is very nourishing. I like to add a little coconut oil or ghee for more calming and energy. Here’s Dr. Weil’s recipe: https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/anti-inflammatory-diet-pyramid/anti-inflammatory-golden-milk/

Chyavanprash Pronounced Cha-van-prash, this is the quintessential Ayurvedic immune boosting tonic for all ages - and it is ages old. The families of India have been taking this herbal paste for generations. And it tastes good! My boys love it. I put some on a small spoon and let them lick or suck away. Bit messy but so what. You can also stir it into warm water for a tea. It’s suggested after the midday meal. If I forget we take it after afternoon snack. If someone is showing symptoms they’ll have some every couple of hours but not too close to bedtime. It’s energizing so it might interfere with sleep. You can start taking this once the weather starts to turn cold as a preventative. It has many many herb ingredients that vary between brands. I don’t know what some of them are but I do know that it works! The base of the paste is ghee, honey, and usually sugar, too. I use Banyan Botanical’s but I hear Vaidya Mishra’s is amazing - and he has sugar and fat free options for special diets: http://www.chandika.com/chyawanprash-herbal-tonic-paste-limit-of-3-per-order-for-the-1-5-oz-size/

Dr. Douillard has a great article on chyavanprash and includes an interview with a young client here: https://lifespa.com/gambling-for-immunity/ I love this photo above from this page because this is what a good day with our “goop” looks like for us.

Sitopaladi This is another classic Ayurvedic herb formula that’s been used for generations. You should know that the main ingredient is (rock) sugar, and its for good reason. Sugar representing the sweet taste helps to calm the nervous system and therefore the immune system (which is why I think children crave this taste most; they just need natural and healthy options). Banslochan is another main ingredient that comes from the inner part of bamboo and acts as an effective expectorant for congestion and excess phlegm (white or yellow) and cools a hot fever. The other warming ingredients like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and pepper help to digest excess mucous, clear passage ways for better breathing, and relieves coughs, too. You can find out more about this at Dr. Douillard’s site: https://lifespa.com/ayurvedic-supplement-facts/sitopladi/ Note that his formula also contains turmeric. We use Banyan’s which sticks to the original recipe.

I add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of the powder (1/2 for kids, 1-2 tsps if an adult is sick already) to a hot tea pot of water and let steep for 10 minutes or so. My little pot holds about 4 cups of water. By the time its cool enough to drink its ready for some honey and pouring into cups to cool off more. If there’s a scratchy throat or cough present, I add a tea bag or two of slippery elm and licorice tea (I like Throat Coat from Traditional Medicinals). For stronger medicinal use you can make a paste with honey and take right off a spoon. This might be too strong for the little ones but its great for adults. My husband took the tea using 1 tsp before bed when he swore he was coming down with something. He went to bed early and the next morning was fine.

Banyan Botanical has more info here with a video on taking sitopaladi.

If using Ayurvedic formulas that you can’t pronounce makes you queasy, try making your own immune boost blend using 1 teaspoon each of dry ginger, cinnamon, ground cardamom, and a couple dashes of black pepper and ground clove. Add 1/2 - 1 tsp to a tea pot with hot water and a tea bag of spearmint, peppermint or thyme. Go to bed early and sweat it out!

For a stronger brew you can also gently bring to a boil slices of fresh ginger (1-2 inches), cinnamon sticks, a pinch of whole cloves, several smashed cardamom pods in about a quart of water - and let steep for 20-30 minutes. You can also add dandelion root (roasted or not) or burdock root as an inflammatory, and turmeric or astragalus root for an immune boosters. Please use organic ingredients when possible as you are trying to avoid toxins in cold care.

Neti Pot Adults and kids ages 12+ can use a neti pot to moisturize sinus passages and therefore protect against pathogens (since most of them come in that way or through the mouth). This is a proven preventative. You add 1/4 tsp neti pot salt to warm water in pot (filtered is best) and if you’ve been exposed to illness you can add a drop of Frankincense essential oil (very strong use just 1 small drop please!). I also like a little rose water for moisturizing and cooling. Neti is really great for dry sinuses, headaches, and allergies. Great when traveling. It helps with mental clarity too. I follow this up with Nasya herbal oil of which there are many formulations and aims to further moisturize and protect. Depending on the formula you can benefit from greater alertness, less anxiety or depression, just to name a few (in addition to the protection against colds, flu and allergies). I simply put a little on the tip of each pinky finger and apply up my nose. Sniff sniff while I pinch my nostrils - and I’m done. Ahhh. The effects are immediate. No surprise that my 3 year old loves it. We’re using Vaidya Mishra’s lovely smelling tridoshic blend found here: http://www.chandika.com/tridoshic-nasya-oil/

For stronger medicinal use you can try A. Muzda’s Super Sinus Nasya: http://www.shop.ayurvedaoilsandmore.com/Super-Sinus-Nasya-Oil-1oz-no32.htm It has calamus/vacha so its more opening but also more heating and stimulatng. Ok for adults but not close to bedtime as its too stimulating. This one is big guns for serious sinus problems, colds, etc.

At bedtime I love Shaktiveda’s Serenity Within nasya to help me wind down and sleep. I use a deeper application here: lying down on bed with my head leaning over the side of the bed (nostrils pointing straight up) I apply drops into my nostrils and rest for 5 minutes or more. I’ve read that nasya shouldn’t be done at bed time but it has worked for me for years. You can do this during the day too as its great for anxiety panic nervousness etc.

A Nice Warm Bath work wonders whether your sick or just feel a bit under the weather. Add 1-2 cups of Epsom salts to enjoy deeper more restorative sleep. Its great for achy muscles, too. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil, relax, and take deep breaths. A drop of Frankincense can’t hurt. Go to bed early.

Get good shut eye Once it starts getting cold we start going to bed a little earlier - or at least try to most days - especially when daylight savings ends. Getting more sleep is a great preventative to the onslaught of bugs you and your kids may face. Nighty night!

If you’re interested in learning more:

Read Perfect Health for Kids by Dr. John Douillard (book) or read his many articles on children’s health at his website Lifespa.com

Read any herbal book by Rosemary Gladstar or Susun Weed about herbs and children. Both have wonderful books on women’s health, too.

#naturalwinterwellness #ayurvedacoldcare #coldcareherbs #naturalfamilycoldcare

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wickedkitty13 · 7 years

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MY PERSONAL METHOD

Simple but effective, tried and true. This never fails me. Personally, I like to do a ritual bath/shower before I do this. I have a favorite soap made with lavender and lemongrass that I use. Lemongrass is an amazing herb. It has the best cleansing properties in my opinion. It serves a twofold purpose…first it can shift energy from negative to positive and second, it is fantastic for removing obstacles. Lavender, of course, brings the properties of cleansing as well and it has a very tranquil, peaceful, loving energy. Lavender enhances clairvoyance as well as consecrates so it too serves as a multi purpose tool before ritual of any kind. I always use it as incense in my cauldron when I am casting circle and creating sacred space. I use lemongrass and lavender to smudge myself before workings. When I do this release, I go out under the moon, call her down and stand or sit in meditation a bit. I bring a white tealight and some dried lavender flowers as an offering and my little cauldron and matches. I light my tealight, scatter the lavender and dedicate it as an offering. I just let myself be infused with lunar light, taking it in, letting it flow through me from the top of my head down and through my feet, imaging that lovely soft, light filling me and coursing through me. At the same time, I connect to Earth. I’m feeling Earth under me…my feet if standing or it’s solid presence under me if sitting. I connect to Earth to keep me solid, grounded and to draw it’s strength. I let Earth be my anchor as I take in Lunar light. When I feel ready, I really focus and concentrate on what I am releasing. I clarify why I need to release and I picture the outcome. Example: I want to release the hold of a negative situation. I verbally speak that I will no longer participate or be effected. I see the person leaving my life/the situation stopping. I feel the relief or peace it will bring. I feel the relief, the weight being lifted, the worry, stress and fear going away. I use strong, distinct and clear phrases. “X will NOT do Y&Z to me anymore” “X CANNOT make me feel Y&Z anymore”. Example: “I will no longer be unemployed” “I am free of the stress of debt” “I have no anxiety. I am at peace and carefree”…you get the point. See it. Feel it. Be it in your mind. Then I light my paper with my candle and drop it in my cauldron to burn. I might throw in a bit of vesta powder for a nice, witchy, dramatic flash or add a drop of Dragons Blood oil to make it go. Depends on my need or mood. I sit in a bit more meditation, just feeling the intent and moment, letting it solidify and set until I feel it’s done. I scatter the ashes to Air to carry my intent. I usually leave my tealight in my cauldron and let it burn itsef out. I thank the elements, Spirit and the Moon for their time and attention. Then I dinstinctly verbalize my Will has been done. This pulls me back into reality and present moment. I then spend a bit of time grounding and connecting to Earth to bring me back down. I’m going to carry all that etheral lunar light with me so I ground well to keep that floaty, spacey, drained feeling you get after spelling, especially under the moon from effecting me. Always replenish your energy and strength after working! I might eat an apple because the crunchy bites help with that. Drink and eat after..this serves to replenish you. Cakes and Ale after spelling or working serve an important purpose. That mundane act gives you grounding and helps you withdraw from the astral and keeps you from being drained. That’s my method. Pretty straightforward and basic but it works.

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howellrichard · 7 years

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10 Ways to Conquer Seasonal Affective Disorder

Hiya Gorgeous!

I often struggle with depression this time of year. Though it doesn’t totally knock me out, it’s still a wilting bummer that comes on seasonally. In the summer, I love gardening, swimming and, most of all, cycling. The cascade of endorphins and feel-good hormones clear the mental cobwebs and help me stay happy. Strong thighs and mental highs? A twofer!

But when it gets darker earlier, my ability to go for that end-of-day-ride slips and so does my desire to do anything. In addition, I spend a lot less time in the sun (vitamin D!) and so I need to protect myself from the winter blues. And, perhaps, so do you.

If you suspect that you suffer from seasonal #depression, here are 10 tips to help you get through it: http://bit.ly/2kEOOw9 @Kris_Carr

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that impacts millions of people each year. It generally kicks in as the hours of daylight get shorter and can last till early spring. Apparently, 60-90% of folks with SAD are women. Guys certainly aren’t immune but us gals seem to struggle with it more.

We experience long winters here in the Catskill Mountains so it’s super important to be mindful of what my body needs amidst the snow banks—otherwise, hello cravings! Namely, carbs, wine and way too much TV—followed by fatigue and moodiness. Sound familiar?

Here are ten tips to help you with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

1. Make sure you’re taking vitamin D

In addition to many cancers, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, a vitamin D deficiency is also linked to depression. So if you’re feeling SAD, now is a good time to get your D levels tested. According to my friend Dr. Mark Hyman, you want to get tested for 25 OH vitamin D. For optimal range, you should be 100 to 160 nmol/L or 40 to 65 ng/ml. For cancer patients, it’s closer to 80.

Most integrative docs recommend at least 1,000 IU’s of vitamin D2 or D3 daily in winter months, and more (up to 5,000 IU’s) if you’re heading into winter already low. There are two types of vitamin D: D2 and D3. D2 is plant-based and D3 is almost always animal-based. Most research has shown that vitamin D3 is more efficiently absorbed compared with vitamin D2. So, you may want to choose vitamin D3 to get the most out of your supplement—this decision is totally up to you. Until recently, there were no vegan forms of D3, although, this has recently changed. Both the Vitashine and the Garden of Life brands now make vegan D3 supplements. Unfortunately, I cannot vouch for their effectiveness so you’ll need to make your own choice.

2. Up your omega-3 intake

Omega-3’s can help maintain healthy levels of the brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin (the feel good neurotransmitters) that increase happiness and reduce symptoms of depression. Vegan sources of omega-3’s include flaxseed, hemp, chia and walnuts. For more info on how to include these essential fats in your day, plus some tasty omega-filled recipe ideas, check out my healthy fats blog here.

3. Get aerobic exercise

Exercise not only improves our mood but it also reduces anxiety and stress, both of which can worsen depression. Take a spin class, do an online workout or groove to your favorite rhythm (Beyonce always cures my blues). Shoot for at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week. You will feel so much better if you move consistently.

4. Purchase one of those sun lamps and get a dawn simulator alarm clock

Although I haven’t tried it, I know many people who swear by light therapy. Basically, you regularly sit in front of a special light box that emits full-spectrum light similar in composition to sunlight. It’s been shown to be very effective for helping people with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Dr. Weil goes into great detail about light therapy in this article. Might be worth a shot!

Also, if you use an alarm clock that normally beeps or blares music while it’s still dark out, consider getting a dawn simulator clock which gradually increases the light in your room to wake you up more naturally.

5. Go outside anyway

Exposure to outdoor light is still important so try to get outside daily for at least 10 minutes. Yes, it’s cloudy but light still pokes through and tickles your brain through your glorious peepers. This increases both your serotonin and dopamine levels, which as I mentioned above, both play a starring role in your joy factor.

6. Leave the hermitage (and not just for dinner and drinks)

If you get that cooped up, bored feeling over the winter months, shake it up. Are there some local book readings that interest you? What about a best friend yoga retreat in warm, sunny weather? Friend time always soothes the soul and yet it’s so easy to resist reaching out when we feel like shit. Perhaps a tea date in town is all you need to shake up the day and your spirit.

7. “Warm” up your green drinks and recipe repertoire

Green juices, smoothies and salads can be less appealing when all you want is a cup of hot cocoa. But, juice can have a “warming” effect if you add a little kick to it. I like to put extra ginger in my green juice when it gets chilly outside. It promotes circulation and healthy digestion. Grab a copy of Crazy Sexy Juice for tons of warming green drink recipes, like the Spicy Sweetie juice. I also love sipping a cup of my Cashew Chai Milk by the fire on chilly evenings.

8. Sleep

Stick to a consistent sleep schedule. Don’t miss your 8 hours of zzz’s and don’t oversleep like a teenager either. Get your cute, fully-rested ass out of bed and carpe diem. There are many ways to set yourself up for sleep success. They include a cool room, covering or removing electronic gadgets that emit light (this messes with your pineal gland and melatonin levels) and staying away from caffeine past 10 a.m. For more info, check out my 10 tips for healthy and restorative sleep here and my top 5 foods for healthy sleep here.

[Opt-in (58492): Get instant access to my 4 Favorite SAD-Busting Recipes here:]

9. Don’t eat shitty food

Improve your diet, improve your mood. Ok, so this isn’t a newsflash, but crap food creates crap thoughts, sleep and health. Yet when we’re blue, we often go crazy with the crap. But, here’s the sitch: Trans fats, sugar (all that Halloween candy you stole from your child), processed carbs, etc. all contribute to the overall malaise that goes hand in hand with SAD. Protect your brain chemistry, your metabolism and your blood sugar by choosing whole foods, healthy fats and lots of fibrous plant-tastic snacks and meals.

10. Try some essential oils

Essential oils can be super effective at easing anxiety, depression and fostering healthy sleep during the winter months. A couple drops of bergamot or lavender in my bath can help my mood tremendously. Check out my essential oils blog here for more details.

Your turn: Do you struggle with depression during the winter months? If so, please share, especially if you have any tips for lifting your mood.

Peace and happy days,

The post 10 Ways to Conquer Seasonal Affective Disorder appeared first on KrisCarr.com.