Welcome

Welcome! We're 3 generations of women who said farewell to sunny Southern California and waved 'hi y'all' to sultry South Carolina. We love helping other women in need. I'm not saying you are needy! But don't you love getting tips from women who know something more than you in specific areas?

My daughter, Jacquie, is a certified nutritionist and I'm learning some easy steps to becoming healthier as the days--and years--go by. She owns and works at Life Wellness Center in Lexington, SC with her husband of 25 years, Dr. Thomas Blake.

My 22-year-old granddaughter, Destiny, is a make-up artist with MAC Cosmetics in Columbia, SC. She is teaching me simple ways to add a little glitter to my life ... and don't we all need some glitter now and then? She loves her Zumba classes and playing with her two labs.

And me? Well, through the years--sixty-eight at this writing--I've gleaned from some marvelous mentors and learned from the hard knocks of life how to fulfill the dreams that God has placed in me. I'm a writer, and I recently published my first novel, Lady and the Sea, based on my life story. (you can visit my website at www.sharonleaf.com and order my two novels at www.amazon.com/author/www.sharonleaf.com

Friday, April 12, 2013

Spring break


Stay tuned!  We shall return, just taking a short Spring break!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

"Natural Allergy Remedy Tips" from Jacquie

Jacquie's Garden
Spring is in the air, and so is the pollen which so many people are allergic to! Allergies are no fun, they make our nose run, eyes water and itchy, and can cause sinus infections. Here are a few tips, tricks and natural remedies for this allergy season.

1) Hold one massive spring cleaning session, then stick to a regular cleaning schedule based on what works for you and how bad your symptoms are.

2) Use a vacuum cleaner once a week that has a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, or a double -filter bag.

3) As part as your regular cleaning schedule, use a damp rag and a mold cleaning cleaner to wipe down wood or metal surfaces that accumulate dust.

4) Regularly wash all linens in hot water.

5) Clear out all dust collecting clutter! Not only is spring cleaning a perfect way to organize your space but your nose will thank you as well!

6) Keep windows and doors closed to keep pollen and mold outside. Also take off your shoes before coming in the house.

Natural Remedies to Try
Local Honey: Right before you go to bed, consume 1 teaspoon of honey mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, or try chewing a piece of honeycomb from a local bee farm or farmer's market.

Neti Pots: Flush sinuses and keep them clear with this small teapot-shaped vessel. Pick one up at your local health foods store or Whole Foods; opt for the ceramic one.  Be sure to always use distilled, sterilized, or previously boiled water.

Bee pollen: the natural supplement produced by bees, available at health food stores, has been known to improve symptoms. Try to start taking before allergy season is in full swing to build up a tolerance before maintaining a daily intake.

I personally take a natural supplement called Sinutol (we sell it at our Wellness Center) It works great at keeping your sinus lubricated with essential oils like eucalyptus . Many of our patients have seen a decrease in their sinus and allergy problems.

Also, breathing through your nose helps; it is  your body's built-in air filter before the air you are breathing hits your lungs. Breathing through your mouth sends the air straight down to your lungs with no filtering out some of the junk in the air.

So try some of these tips and go outside and enjoy the Spring!

Health and blessings!

Jacquie's garden
www.lifewellnesscentersc.com

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Jacquie declares, "Even dogs love smoothies!"


My sweet Labs, Ricky Bobbie (yellow 5 mos.) and Lotto (chocolate 5 years), wait patiently every morning for their share of the Spring Smoothie. They love it! They are the healthiest dogs in town! 


FRUITS + VEGGIES = HAPPINESS

People who eat the most fruits and veggies are the happiest, according to a British study. Experts at the University of Warwick reviewed 80,000 people and found that mental health rose with the number of servings of fruits & veggies they ate every day.

People who ate seven daily servings - the current recommendation is five- were the happiest. The type of fruits & veggies eaten did not seem to be a factor.

So if you are like me, to sit and actually eat 7 servings of fruits and veggies a day is almost impossible. But when I put it all in my Bledtec and blend it up I can easily drink my smoothie and feel amazing and energized after because I have just given my body exactly what it needs! And any other fruits and veggies I eat during the day is just an added bonus!

Foods and there Nutritional Value

Chia Seeds: are very nutritious, best known as a super rich source of protein and provides superior nutrition for the brain functioning. Do you want to increase your brain power and body strength with one of the most powerful foods imaginable? Chia seeds impart power and energy to you. Chia seeds are mild tasting, easily digestible and very versatile.

Hemp Seeds: are the best known as a nutritionally complete food containing all nine amino acids and heavy minerals, which help build strong hair, nails, skin, muscles and connective tissue. Containing over 36 percent protein makes them almost the highest protein source available!

The reason I chose these two seeds is to introduce you to the Protein Powder I mix in my Smoothie every morning. It is by LifeTime and it called Life's Basics Plant Protein Mix. It has Pea, Hemp, Rice and Chia Seeds. It is one of the cleanest and easiest to digest protein powder available. But best of all is that it tastes WONDERFUL! Companies send me samples all the time of their products, wanting me to sell them.  If I don't like them, I can't sell them.  Oh, by the way, they use NO added: yeast, corn, soy, gluten, wheat, milk, egg, whey or any artificial flavors or preservatives. It is also safe for diabetics because it is low on the Glycemic Index (only 3 grams of sugar)  You can pick it up at your local health food store or we sell it at our Wellness Center for $25.00. If you have picky eaters or drinkers, in this case the protein powder added to the smoothie usually wins them over.


LifeTime Plant Protein Mix
(available at Life Wellness Center, Lexington, SC)

Until next time, keep drinking!  Smoothies, that is.

Health and blessings!

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Destiny says, "Color your Spring!"

"Ship Ahoy!" week-end at Mac Cosmetics
I love my job (recognize my Mom?)

To celebrate Spring, how about adding some color to brighten some of these cloudy days that we're still having?  I suggest a classy coral lipstick and some glitzy green eye shadow.  
Keep your make-up simple on those work days and when you're car-pooling the kids around town, but when the week-end comes, splash it up with color and lots of smiles.

Until next time, show a little diva in your life.  You'll like the results.

www.maccosmetics.com

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Jacquie says, "Ahhh, Spring Smoothies!"






Ahhh, it's the first day of spring. Spring is the season where color comes into play! Flowers bloom, leaves on the tree's return, and the weather starts to warm up and we are ready to head outside. It is also the season where we have a larger selection of fresh fruits and veggies at the local Farmers market and in the grocery store.

Here are just a few nutritional values of the fruits and veggies you may put in your smoothie;

1) Apple-  An APPLE a day really does keep the doctor away! Apples are loaded with quercetin, a flavonoid, wich helps prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. Quercetin also aids in allergy related problems such as asthma, sneezing and congestion. I see more and more people coming into our Wellness Center with allergies and I tell them to start eating some apples, and it really helps!

2) Arugula- Other than it's fun name, it is best known for it's high sulphur content which makes it an excellent skin purifier. Rich in vitamin C and potassium, it is considered to be an aphrodisiac, hmmm I think I will be doubling up on this in the future! It also contains phytochemicals such as carotenes and chlorophyll, which make it an excellent source of antioxidants.

3) Beets- beets are my new best friend! They are best known as an amazing liver cleanser. They have been found to improve performance in athletes, most likely because of an abundance of nitrites. The high content of iron in beets regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells and supplies fresh oxygen to the body, and the copper content in beets help make the iron more available to the body. Our liver has many functions, but one of the most important one is Detoxification. All of the waste removal takes place in the liver, it removes bacteria and helps keep our blood clean. So eat lots of fresh beets!

I will add more to the list on the next blog.

Now for some logistics, what kind of blender should you have to make the most nutrient dense smoothies? I have a Blendtec and it is amazing and I highly recommend it. It breaks down the food and extracts the nutrients so well and makes it much easier for your body to digest. It also makes fresh juice, soups, sauces and many other yummy things, it is also BPA-free. it easily replaces other appliances you may use. It is not cheap, they start at $454.00. I have had mine for over 5 years and I use it almost everyday!

There is also the Vitamix which is great. It starts at $564.00.

I bought my Mom a NutriBullet and it works great also. David Wolfe the inventor of NutriBullet is a very educated man in nutrition. This one is nice because it is reasonably priced at $119 and they allow you to make 6 easy payments of $19.99!

I would not recommend a cheap blender, you will need to replace it often if you use it a lot, and it does not break down the food like the above blenders.


There's my Blendtec all ready to go. In 30 seconds I have a beautiful Spring Smoothie ready to drink!


Health and blessings!

www.lifewellnesscentersc.com