Way back when we spent a lot more time 'on the land' or integrated with the Earth we knew the cycle of the days, whether that was related to how we were planting our food or when we might start a migration pattern. These days we're often a lot less aware of the cycles, other than - it's fall time, what cute sweaters and boots can I wear?! (to be fair, I miss the Fall season living in Florida and absolutely still lean into and enjoy wearing cute fall outfits when I go North 😄) but there's also a deeper layer to it.
The Fall equinox can mean different things to different people, it's generally looked at as when the days become shorter than the nights and on the equinox (literally meaning equal night in latin) the day and the night are roughly the same.
It's also a season when many people begin to take time for self-reflection, as it's the season of harvest we can look around at what we might have gained over the last months and what we might be shedding, as we also see the trees shed their leaves (well in the North, not so much in Florida 😜).
This time of year is also the Jewish New Year, which is a time for closing out the year and rebirthing into the next.
To me each day is a way to shed a layer surrounding yourself and what it means to be a mother vs a maiden. Watching my baby grow (literally each day he looks a little different!), hearing his new sounds, watching him try new things, makes me pause and relish in the moments, the same way sitting among the trees and watching their leaves fall once did.
What does fall mean to you?🍂
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells and tissues, leading to inflammation and damage. The exact causes aren’t fully understood, but there are known factors that contribute to having an autoimmune.
Some people have questions around why they might feel the way they do or why they were 'diagnosed' with an autoimmune. It can definitely be overwhelming and a little stressful at first when you learn that you have one. I’ve found it helpful to be educated as much as I can and learn how to best serve my body and my health.
Although each autoimmune has it's own flavor, many of them show up in our bodies from these factors:
✨Genetic Predisposition: family history = higher risk (doesn’t mean you’re destined, just means you may have some genes that can ‘turn on’ when lifestyle factors aren’t so hot)
✨Environmental Triggers: infections, exposure to toxins, chemicals, and pollutants, as well as dietary factors.
✨Hormonal Influence: Hormonal changes, particularly in women, can influence the risk of autoimmune diseases
✨Chronic Stress: can lead to inflammation and affect the body's ability to regulate the immune response
✨Gut Health: imbalance in the gut microbiota can potentially trigger immune responses that contribute to autoimmune conditions
✨Smoking and Environmental Exposures: increase the risk of autoimmune diseases
It's important to know that there are so many different autoimmune diseases that have different causes and triggers. You may not be able to pinpoint to just one factor unfortunately.
The important thing though is to learn what causes the triggers in your body and how to best avoid them for your own health and wellbeing!🫶 Our goal is to feel good at the end of the day; that’s all we want. Slowly take away and reintroduce to your body certain triggers to determine what upsets your body. Over time, you’ll get more in tune with your body and learn what to avoid and what’s okay to have!
There are many many things that can be helpful for the postpartum body and while I talk about them a lot, there are still so many of us who don't know all the things which is why I’m so passionate about educating and talking about these topics.
Pregnancy and postpartum can take its toll on your body and your overall health. It’s so important for your recovery to be doing things to serve and love on your body.
These different tools, whether they’re supplements, oils, foods, mindset work etc. can all have a place in your recovery. Collagen is a great supplement for postpartum moms for so many reasons and it’s a supplement that can be easily added to your routine.
Collagen is important for postpartum recovery for several reasons:
✨Tissue Repair: helps in the repair and healing of any tissue damage related to pregnancy and childbirth
✨Skin Elasticity: aids in healing and recovery due to hormonal and weight fluctuations
✨Joint Health: Aids in joint discomfort or pain
✨Hair and Nail Health: hormonal changes affect your hair and nail growth, so collagen is a great resource to promote healthy hair/nails and regrowth.
✨Gut Health: so much stems from your gut and it’s so important to keep it in balance with the physically demanding needs of postpartum recovery on your body
A good collagen can support your body in a number of ways. From supporting your bones to combat any loss in density and help with joint pains that come from pregnancy and labor/delivery.
Taking collagen can support and balance out other levels in your body as well, such as your hormones and levels of glycine that your body needs to get restful sleep.
Young Living’s inner beauty collagen is the best way to go if you are looking to take one! The ingredients are sustainably sourced and are ones you can feel good about putting into your body.
🫶 I created a guide for Breastfeeding moms to support you along your journey to educate you and remove the overwhelm and the 2am google search! It's packed with recipes, resources and more to encourage you. Grab it here!
Stress can be defined as any type of change that causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain. Stress is your body's response to anything that requires attention or action.
When you're a mother, stress can show up in many different ways, and sometimes not always in the negative, however, it can cause your body to react in some not so favorable ways.
Many women experience the hormonal ups and downs after birth which can be compounded by stress and even cause an autoimmune to flare up or show up.
It's okay to admit that you get stressed sometimes! It's normal and you're not alone. I am a work from home mom with two jobs (my 9-5 and my own business!) with a baby; I totally get it. Being that I have an autoimmune as well, I've had to learn how to manage my stress level because it can really impact my body.
I have to be super mindful of daily stressors because it can trigger a negative response in my body. With that being said, whether or not you have an autoimmune preventing stress on the body is definitely favorable!
So here are a few tips that help me!
✨Laugh and Have Fun: The easiest way to do this, is to laugh with your baby! or I've definetly put on a comedian in the background while working- like Ali Woong who has two Netflix specials - a lot of which talk about motherhood! Sometimes you just need a good low-key laugh sesh to lighten your mood.
✨Stay Connected: Having friends with babies or children has been the absolute best helper for me and being able to chat with others who just 'get it' is so huge!
Stress is a part of life and it’s going to happen, but it’s important to not live in a constant state of stress and find ways that you can cope and overcome on the hard days!
Warm, spicy, and just sweet enough, this delicious drink can be made in large batches and kept for up to 2 weeks in your fridge. Perfect as a pick-me-up following long fall walks!
Ingredients:
- 10 organic large apples, quartered (strong flavored apples such as Granny Smith work best)
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon all spice
- 3 drops Clove essential oil
- 3 drops Orange essential oil
- 3 drops Nutmeg essential oil
- 60 g organic coconut sugar
Instructions:
- In a large pot over medium heat, add your apples, cinnamon sticks, all spice, essential oils, and brown sugar.
- Cover with water by at least 2 inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
- After the two hours, use a potato masher or wooden spoon to mash the softened apples. Return to the hob and allow to simmer uncovered for 1 more hour.
- Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the solids with a wooden spoon to squeeze all the juices out. Discard solids.
- Serve warm.
