Here comes the Sun! {and what I did to combat depression}

So thankful for that!!!

First of all, I know. it's been 2 months since my last post so I wanted to give you a little update on my blog happenings.  While I will continue to do fun and {hopefully} inspirational tutorials and keep you posted on Lis Dunn designs, I will not be following the Something New for 52 as planned;{  We have had both computer and internet issues over the past 2 months and I got to the point of such frustration that I just took a little hiatus.  Sometimes that is a really good thing! All is well now and the blessing is that I was able to focus on custom orders and new design ideas!

With that being said, I wanted to share something that has been on my heart.

It has been a rough winter for most of the country! 

Not only weather wise, but especially tough for those of us that experience little {or big} bouts of SAD.

This year was a struggle for me.

I don't want to sound all "gloom and doom" because there were some very big blessings happening in this same time period, but I think depression is one of those things that people just don't want to admit or talk about.

It's real

It's painful

There doesn't have to be a reason

You really can't explain it

While it doesn't seem like it in the moment, these times can have a really positive impact, my friends. 

{Photo Credit: Pinterest}

I got to a point about a month ago where I really heard myself for the first time and it made me sad.  I was not myself.  While I didn't feel hopeless, I really didn't feel hopeful either {does that make sense?} 

In that moment, I made a choice.  This wasn't going to get the best of me!

I AM A DAUGHTER OF THE KING!!!

I am not going to go on and on with what these few months looked like.  If you're still reading this, you probably have some idea of what depression looks and feels like.

What I DO want to share are some of the things I did to be better.

Light Therapy

For years, I sneered at the idea that a light bulb would have an impact on your well being.  While shopping on black Friday 2012, I jokingly said that I wanted a Happy Light.  Mom remembered that and last Christmas bought me one.  I used it faithfully. Last winter was probably the most positive winter {mood wise} that I had had in all of my adult life.  So in that moment this winter when I knew something had to be done, I went back to my 20 minutes a day.  You're not looking into the light.  It just needs to be on near you.  I have it on for 20 min while I'm at the computer.

Yoga

This was another one of those things that I just didn't see myself doing or benefiting from.  My personality is a bit high-strung.  I don't do "still" very well.  I am a runner!! but as I said, I was desperate and would try anything positive to get back to being myself.    I am HOOKED! It's actually a fabulous work out.  I absolutely love it and feel amazing.  I look forward to the mornings and getting my day started with yoga! 

Here is a link to some of the workouts that I have been doing.

Diet

Over the past 3 or 4 years I have really been more in tune with how foods affect me.  Ugh, it really stinks because when we were young, we could eat it all with no repercussions.   My body has been much more sensitive to certain things as I have gotten older {this would probably be a lengthy blog post in itself!}  Here are a few of the things that I have changed/ added that have contributed to feeling better over-all.

*limit {not eliminate} caffeine and sugar 

{this is the absolute hardest thing for me, but the reward is so worth it}

*Focus on foods that are beneficial for your well-being

*Start the day with Coconut water and ACV

{these aren't great tasting on their own, but I have listed below the smoothie that I make every morning}

Super Boost Morning Smoothie

3 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Cup Coconut Water

1/2 Cup Almond Milk

1 Tbsp Flax Seed

1/2 Cup Pineapple

1/2 Banana

I hope that if you are going through a struggle now, there is something in here that helps you.  

Big giant hugs and blessings to you!

{Photo Credit: Pinterest}

Need a Boost? Juice!

The New Year always inspires good intentions... plans to eat better... do better... be better!

Juicing is something that I love doing all year long, but am especially inspired to do at full throttle in the New Year!

{This is a repost from my old blog, Papermellie}

I would say it was about 9 years ago that I invested in my Jack Lalanne Juicer.

At this time, juicing was not as popular as it is now, and this juicer was only available via infomercial.

I remember this was my very first informercial purchase and I was so excited about it.  I was a young mother of 3 with little energy (I believe the middle boys were 1 and 2 at the time and Mel was maybe 7)  It was one of those late nights and I was entranced by what this juicer had to offer!  It was LIFE CHANGING, it claimed!

So I made the call and waited for that delivery!

Remember how I told you about myCricut and what a great investment that was...

THIS JUICER WAY SURPASSES MY CRICUT LOVE!

I will admitt, sometimes I'll go through phases, but for the most part I use my juicer on a weekly basis.

At first I was just juicing fruits.  Let's be honest, it just sounds SO much more inviting.

Then I started researching all of the different vegetable juices and their incredible benefits and I was sold on those too!

I want to tell you about the #1 benefit of this juicer for us.

POPSICLES!!

My 10 year old will only eat raw apples and carrots and not even very often, so very early on, I would juice an array of yummy fruits and sneak in a little carrot and spinach and freeze them in the popsicle molds (yes, these molds generally come with their own holders... they have since been lost and simply replaced with popsicle sticks). The kiddos go crazy on them! (nowadays I even add a little  ground flaxseed and chia seeds;))

They can enjoy a cool treat and I can feel good about what they are putting into their bodies! That in itself has paid for the juicer a hundred times over!

Often, I will juice a large batch of fruits and vegetables...

and then freeze them in these ball freezer jars... perfect for a single serving that I can thaw overnight.

Obviously, fresh juice is your most beneficial option, but I love the convenience of freezing them because it's hard to keep a large supply of fresh fruits and vegetables "fresh" for too long AND cleaning the machine takes a little time, so it is nice to do it once a week rather than every day!

There is a certain vegetable that I have avoided fro a while... I don't know why I was so timid to try these!

Beets seem to be all the rage right now, so I found a recipe and decided to give it a try.

I won't say it is my favorite thing on earth, but I actually quite enjoyed it.  The color is gorgeous and I think the fact that there is ginger in it made a difference.  I do love me some ginger!

Here is the recipe I tried (from this pin):

Energizing Beet Juice

(recipe is for 2 people)

1 large beet with its greens

2 Red Delicious Apples

1 Large Red Bell Pepper

1 Large English Cucumber

1 small slice of fresh ginger root

Juice and Enjoy!

Read about the benefits of Beets here and here

and the tremendous benefits of juicing here

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Linking up at:
Someday Crafts

No-Bake Energy Bites

{This is a repost from my old blog, Papermellie.  This was one of my most popular posts and I wanted to tell you that after almost a year of making these on an almost weekly basis... this is one of my family's most fave {healthy} treats!!  Whether I make 1, 2 or 3 batches at a time, they are gone within a day!}

No-Bake Energy Bites {PI #60}

This has got to be my favorite Pinterest recipes thus far!

I am always looking for ways to satisfy both my sweet tooth and love for things that nourish my body.  As I've gotten older, I've been more in touch with what fuels my body and what shuts it down.

I LOVE sweets, but always regret eating certain things because I physically feel so horrible.  I'm slowly transitioning into a place where feeling healthy and energetic is much more enjoyable than a few indulgent moments of sweet treats.

Don't misunderstand, I find so much joy in baking that I will not be giving that up anytime soon, but am trying to find a better balance.

These No-Bake Energy Bites will definitely be a new staple in our home! They are the best of both worlds!

This is something that my children {and myself} can enjoy and I can feel good about putting this in our bodies for fuel AND I know exactly what is in there. These are honestly better than any store bought granola bar/ bite that I have tried {and we buy a LOT of bars here!}

Here is the recipe courtesy of gimmesomeoven

No-Bake Energy Bites Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
• 1 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Method:

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like.  (Mine were about 1″ in diameter.)  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Makes about 20-25 balls.

In case you are not fully convinced, I thought I would share with you just a few specific benefits of the bites.

The Oatmeal {courtesy of Care2.com}

Low calorie food; stops cravings.

Provides high levels of fiber, low levels of fat, and high levels of protein.

Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces risk of diabetes (type 2)

Removes your bad cholesterol (without affecting your good cholesterol).

Contains lignans which protect against heart disease and cancer.

Contains unique antioxidants beneficial for heart disease.

Protects against heart failure.

Enhances immune response to disease.

The Honey {courtesy of organicfacts.net}

Antibacterial and Anti fungal Properties.

Antioxidants.

Good Source of Vitamins and Minerals.

Good source of energy {easy to digest} Improves Athletic Performance.

The Flax seed {Courtesy of flaxhealth.com}

Fights Cholesterol, Diabetes, Constipation, Inflammation, Heart Disease & “The Blues”

High in lignans, Omega 3’s & Fiber

I went ahead and packaged these in little baggies for the kiddos to grab on the go!