If you have been anywhere near a mall or large shopping centre recently, you are aware that the Christmas buying season is in full swing. Last week we were bombarded with Black Friday specials all with the intention to stimulate the economy by making big purchases for the holiday season. Big box stores thrive on enticing customers with specials and sales that create excitement and urgency to buy NOW. This week is the Countdown to Christmas Craze, and we want you to be aware of the push to spend, spend, spend!
This holiday season, we encourage you to get back to the basics of why the Holiday Season is so special. It is a time for families and friends to come together to create healthy meals and memories, and to be thankful for the special relationships that we have with our loved ones. It is also a time to give back to our local communities and charities by donating to a local food bank or Christmas Cheer drive or volunteering at a local charity event.
Let’s awaken our CONSCIOUS GIFT GIVING SPIRIT!
Rather than following the trend to spend hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on gifts from big box stores, look for ways to buy local from small business owners that cater towards more green gift giving. Look for locally made products, like jams, jellies, salsas, cheeses or preserves. Fair trade chocolates and coffees are also wonderful gift ideas. Local artists and craft sales or bazaars also provide fantastic gift giving ideas. For the person on your list that has everything, try creating a gift basket filled with organic lotions, soaps, bath salts and other organic hygiene products.
Whatever your holiday traditions are, we encourage you to be mindful this holiday season and focus on the quality of relationships you have with your spouse, children, extended family and friends. Gift giving will always be a part of our holidays, but putting an emphasis on family first will shift the holiday experience to one of gratefulness and love, from the hectic hustle and bustle of big box store shopping.
If you are considering making your own gift baskets, here are a couple of recipes that you can make to include in your beautiful creation. They are non-toxic, smell wonderful and will delight any recipient of your gifts.
DIY Christmas Gifts!!
DIY Citrus Bath Salts:
2 pounds Coarse Sea Salt
50-100 drops of your favourite essential oils (our favourite is Citrus at bath time! Grapefruit and orange)
Mix well and place into mason jars. You can add a nice DIY label and a ribbon to top it off.
DIY Chocolate-Vanilla Skin Cream:
1/2 cup extra virgin, organic, raw coconut oil
1/2 cup raw cacao butter
20 drops of vanilla essential oil
In a double boiler, add the cacao butter is liquified, and then add the coconut oil until it is well mixed and remove from heat. Add your essential oils and pour into small containers with a label. Put in the fridge to harden and use liberally! It can be stored for months in the fridge.
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Jo-Anne Richardson, Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Energy Medicine Practitioner
Jo-Anne works with Fournier disAbility & Health Management Solutions to provide online education for clients and patients. Her interest in healthy, joyful living is demonstrated in her writing, coaching and teaching. Her goal is to improve the health of her community by empowering you with knowledge, support and new ideas.
Looking for more tips and information on holistic health and living? Like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FournierHealth and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/FournierHealth
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Lucie M.H. Fournier RN, COHN(C), BA (Psych)
Founder/Workplace Health Strategist
With over 30 years of experience in disability management, and a return on investment on average of 1:7, Fournier disAbility & Health provides customized and results oriented services in Absenteeism Management including Attendance, Sick Time/Short, Long Term Disability, and WSIB claims for employers across Ontario.
Expertise in 5 distinct niches of disAbility management include:
1. Complex claims management resolution
2. Mental health claim return to work & accommodations
3. Advanced level training for internal claims manager to make a significant impact on the health of the employee and wealth of the organization
4. Transitional Leadership when moving to & from a 3rd party disAbility Management company
5. Sensitive claims & disAbility management of professional staff, such as HR, health team, and/or executives such as supervisors, managers, directors
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