Sarah Gabb's Blog

[image error]

There are five great things I love about this post.

Reducing- by not purchasing additional consumables (even glass ones).
Reusing- something you already have and saving it from the landfill or even the energies of recycling.
Minimizing toxins in your food by not using plastic storage containers.
Frees up lots of space in the fridge.
It looks pretty.

I get all giddy inside every time I finish using a jar of spaghetti sauce, pickles, or salsa. I can’t wait for my husband to do the dishes so I can have a new clean food storage container to fill with pretty fruits and veggies. They are also great for your beans, grains, oatmeal and other pantry items.

I know this post might seem like common sense but it took me awhile to figure this one out. I just wanted to share my “aha moment” and hopefully it can help some of you too! 

So the next time you finish using the last of the contents in your glass jar, think if you could use it as a cost free, chemical free storage container!

The best reusable item you have ever used is…

 

 

[image error] Tags:  




Del.icio.us


[image error]


Facebook

[image error]

TweetThis

[image error]
Digg

[image error]

StumbleUpon

[image error]


Comments:  0 (Zero), Be the first to leave a reply!You might be interested in this:  
[image error]  Banana Drama: Banana hair mask[image error]  Natural Deodorant: Don't Sweat the Bad Stuff[image error]  Clear the Clutter, Clear Your Mind[image error]  Fantastic Online Coupon Tip[image error]  Happy April Fool's Day!Copyright © Modern Hippie Mama [Free Reusable Glass Food Storage], All Right Reserved. 2013.

[image error]Get some motivation to clear clutter and live simply.

This book includes over 40 motivational quotes to help you reduce clutter from your life. Every other page includes an inspirational photo, quote, and benefit of being clutter free. Also included are 50 tips to help you improve each area (10 tips for each).

These quotes and tips will get you motivated to:

Declutter your life

Clear a cluttered mind

Declutter your home

Get rid of that office clutter

Start living simply with the special “Simplify” section of quotes.

Don’t forget to keep your sense of humor while being inspired. Included is a page of silly vocabulary words provoked by clutter. How many of these vocabulary words are included in your life?

Also learn why clutter could be holding you back and why it is such an important part of your health and well being.

Find out how you can reduce stress, breath a little easier, and brighten your mood just from clearing out the junk!

 

[image error]In this book you will find 50 inspirational quotes along with breathtaking color photos. At the end of the book are 35 helpful stress relief tips including:

Tips to reduce stress before it starts

Methods to help you deal with stress

Stress at work

Dealing with difficult people

Stress can sneak its way into our lives very easily. There is so much going on in our world today that it is difficult to not get carried away in the swift current. We forget to take a break and relax. We don’t often get a chance to deal with stress.

This book is an easy quick read and something that you can easily read over and over to help you manage your stress.

 

 

 

 

[image error]In this book you will find 53 inspirational quotes along with breathtaking color photos. At the end of the book are many fitness tips and resources including:

Why you aren’t exercising now

How to get started on an exercise routine

Exercises to do at Home

Exercises to do at Work

Exercises while playing

We all know that exercise plays an important role in our health. Sometimes we get stuck in the life’s ruts and we need a motivational push to get us back on track.

This book is an easy quick read and something that you can easily read over and over to help you get more movement into your lifestyle

[image error] Tags:  Books, clear clutter, declutter, exercise motivation, fitness inspiration, fitness motivation, remove clutter, stress relief




Del.icio.us


[image error]


Facebook

[image error]

TweetThis

[image error]
Digg

[image error]

StumbleUpon

[image error]


Comments:  0 (Zero), Be the first to leave a reply!You might be interested in this:  
[image error]  Happy April Fool's Day![image error]  Clear the Clutter, Clear Your Mind[image error]  Natural Deodorant: Don't Sweat the Bad Stuff[image error]  Benefits of SunshineCopyright © Modern Hippie Mama [Books], All Right Reserved. 2013.

[image error]Lately I have been testing some natural beauty remedies for a new book. My most recent experiment was with a banana hair treatment to make hair shinier. I was so excited to try this out because you know that I LOVE bananas!

I smashed up one of my ripe bananas and started to smother my head and hair with the banana mixture. As I was massaging the banana mush into my (dry) hair I thought, “Hmmmm, I bet I was supposed to do this with wet hair.” Well, it was too late at that point. So I just left the banana treatment in my hair for about 30 minutes then took a shower to wash it out. I’m pretty sure that was the longest shower I have ever taken! This is pretty gross to say, but the banana felt like slimy boogers in my hair.I washed and washed and washed.

Finally I gave up and decided I would try to get the rest out after my hair had dried.  When my hair was dry I tried brushing out the rest of the muck. My bathroom counter was covered in dark, dried, banana flakes- ewwwww! 

So lesson learned, test out your hair treatments on WET hair!

What is the craziest hair disaster you have had?

[image error] Tags:  banana, banana hair care, banana hair treatment, hair mask, hair treatment, natural hair care




Del.icio.us


[image error]


Facebook

[image error]

TweetThis

[image error]
Digg

[image error]

StumbleUpon

[image error]


Comments:  0 (Zero), Be the first to leave a reply!You might be interested in this:  
[image error]  Happy April Fool's Day![image error]  Time to practice what I preach- Stress management[image error]  3 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse[image error]  Natural Deodorant: Don't Sweat the Bad Stuff[image error]  Clear the Clutter, Clear Your MindCopyright © Modern Hippie Mama [Banana Drama: Banana hair mask], All Right Reserved. 2013.

[image error]

What makes you laugh?

I don’t know about you, but every April Fool’s Day I think it is so fun to think of all the silly pranks and jokes we play on each other. I’m not much of a prankster myself but I have been had a few times for sure. I think the biggest joke that was played on me on April 1st was from my mom. We all know that good ‘ol “I’m pregnant” joke the ladies like to play on everyone. Well, when I was about 19 my mom called me on April Fools’ and pulled that old trick. She was going on and on saying she didn’t know what to do, that her and my dad were too old to be raising a baby, blah blah blah. And I totally fell for it! She was 52! Yeah, I’m pretty gullible. But it still gives me a good laugh when I think about it.

 

What’s the biggest joke you ever fell for on April 1st?

[image error] Tags:  april fools day, laugh, make you laugh, pranks, silly




Del.icio.us


[image error]


Facebook

[image error]

TweetThis

[image error]
Digg

[image error]

StumbleUpon

[image error]


Comments:  0 (Zero), Be the first to leave a reply!You might be interested in this:  
[image error]  Natural Deodorant: Don't Sweat the Bad Stuff[image error]  3 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse[image error]  Benefits of Sunshine[image error]  Time to practice what I preach- Stress management[image error]  Clear the Clutter, Clear Your MindCopyright © Modern Hippie Mama [Happy April Fool's Day!], All Right Reserved. 2013.

[image error]

Sweet online discounts!

This isn’t really a budgeting or money management tip but it’s a great tip to SAVE YOU SOME MONEY! I just had to share it with all of you.

I have no idea how I didn’t know this before since I have been a coupon queen in the past (need to start up again soon!). However, I have been the kind of coupon queen who has the 5 lb coupon notebook that got lugged around everywhere. I don’t do a lot of online shopping. But when I see that empty little “coupon code” box online and I don’t have anything to fill it with, it breaks my little heart.

Little heart, be broken no more! This really is a common sense thing and I thought I was pretty good at researching things but I just about kicked myself when a friend told me about this last night.

All you have to do is an online search for the website and coupon code. For instance, you see a great outfit online at Old Navy. Just search “Old Navy coupon code”. That’s it! Crazy right?!

What’s the first thing you are going to do a coupon search for?

[image error]

Happy Golden Rays

I know it can be tough to get rid of those winter blues but here are some helpful benefits and tips to get you chasing any rays of sun that you can find this Spring!

 

BENEFITS:

1. Happy mood. The sun puts us in a good mood. In the winter it can warm our bones and our spirits. In the summer it makes us want to bask in all its glory. Endorphins are released. Your stress seems to melt away. If you have the blue’s, they start to turn into sunny yellows.  Sunshine is nature’s prozac.

 

2. Strong bones. Vitamin D helps maximize calcium absorption which will make your bones less susceptible to fractures, bone diseases, and osteoporosis.

 

3. Better sleep. Sunshine increases melatonin and gets your circadian rythms aligned.

 

4. Natural antibiotic. Sunshine helps kill viruses, bacteria, and microbes. Sunshine is also beneficial for your laundry as it kills dust mites and odors too.

 

5. Better circulation and lower blood pressure. Sunshine helps dilate the blood vessels in your skin which allows more blood to flow freely.

 

6. Stronger immune system. The sun increases your production of red and white blood cells.

 

7. Helps you lose weight! Really? Yes, really. Sunshine increases metabolism and helps maintain blood sugar levels. Plus, when it’s sunny outside you want to go out and play!

 

8. Eliminates toxins. Sunshine is good for the liver and increases its function to filter and remove wastes and toxins from the body. Also, when your blood vessels are dilated, the blood can filter out toxins more easily (see the previous benefit about circulation).

 

9. Lowers cholesterol. Sounds crazy right? Well, believe it or not, the cholesterol that is stored under your skin can be converted to Vitamin D while catching those golden rays. So eat your Cheerios outside on a sunny morning!

 

10. Glowing skin. Sunshine will of course add a little color to your cheeks but it can also help clear up skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

 

11. Helps you cut back on your bad habits. When we act out our bad habits, we are usually trying to overcompensate to make ourselves happy. So when we are happy in the sunshine, we depend on our bad habits less. These could include smoking, drinking, and even eating chocolate- eek!

 

TIPS:

Try to get your Vitamin D from the sun rather than from supplements. Our body automatically uses the exact amount of Vitamin D that it needs when you get it from the sun.

 

Try to get a few minutes outside without sunscreen or sunglasses. No more then 10-15 minutes without protection though, and try to avoid the times 10am-4pm summer sun. (Common sense works well here).

 

Start a garden.

 

Take a walk outside.

 

Go to the park.

 

Read a book outside.

 

IF YOU DON’T GET ENOUGH SUNSHINE:

 

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Lack of vitamin D may lead to a condition called rickets, especially in children, in which bones and teeth are weak. In adults it may cause a condition called osteomalacia, in which calcium is lost from bones so that they become weak.”

So get out there and have some fun in the sun!

 

Sources:

http://www.simplegreenorganichappy.com

http://www.ecosalon.com

http://www.voices.yahoo.com

http://www.mayoclinic.com

 

[image error]

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was my 30th birthday! Nearly all day I was extremely happy, smiling, and excited for no apparent reason. Well, one reason might have been because I had just released my new book on Amazon and it was listed as a number one seller in many categories, but other than that I was just overly exuberant. I’m lucky in the fact that I don’t feel old or unaccomplished at all. Part of it could be that I have extremely good genes from my mom and we tend to look about 15 years younger than we really are.

So where did the stressful part come from? The whole day was pretty laid back. I spent it with my husband and daughter and we just hung out at home. We had done a bigger celebration a few days earlier with friends. The birthday plan for dinner was to go to my new favorite restaurant for a special artichoke pasta treat and the super duper treat of their cheesecake for dessert. I had been looking forward to it all day and I guess that was also part of the reason I was so excited. When we got to the restaurant the waiter took our drink orders and we opened our menus…it was all Mexican food.

Normally I LOVE Mexican food. But for my birthday that was the last thing I was in the mood for. And the tears started falling. Right there in the middle of the restaurant at our table. I know, it sounds ridiculous and childish. Especially on my 30th birthday. It wasn’t like me at all. But I have somewhat of an excuse (don’t we all?). For the past five years my birthday has been bittersweet. On my 25th birthday I lost my mom to cancer. She was my best friend and “partner in crime”. She was also the goofiest, funnest, most beautiful person I ever knew. We called each other at least four times a day. I’m an only child so we were especially close. When she passed away my whole world came crashing down. Since then, on my birthday I like to celebrate my mom as well as my birthday. It gives me a chance to address my loss of her but also remember all the good times we had together. So that’s why it is bittersweet.

So anyway, I had been doing a pretty good job of holding back the sorrow all day. But when my dinner plans fell through I cracked. Not only was I super sad, I was actually pretty mad. But I made myself do a self check. True this was something that I could not control. What I could control was how I dealt with the situation. So I let my silent tears fall for a minute, toughed it up and took a few deep breaths, and didn’t let it ruin the rest of my night.

I instantly felt better (not 100%, but probably about 75% which made a big difference). And when we got home my husband baked me a birthday cake all by himself.

I felt that this was a great story to share with you all because I know what it is like to deal with loss and have stress threaten your happiness. We all have a choice of how we deal with it, even if it is something pretty deep and important to us. And I break down sometimes just like the rest of us- even cry in the middle of a restaurant on my birthday.

Tell me about a time that you managed your stress.

[image error]

Clutter free and comfortable

7 Tips to Prevent Clutter Build Up

When you first hear “Environmental Wellness” you might think of recycling, using green products, and saving the whales. But did you realize that Environmental Wellness also includes your personal environment? How comfortable do you feel in your personal space? Do you have piles of paperwork, an overflowing bookshelf, a sink full of dishes, bulging trash can, or a laundry basket full of clothes? You might not realize that these things can actually have an impact on your mood and make you feel blue.

Can you think of a time when you were invited to someone’s house that was clean and tidy, smelled nice, and maybe had some flickering candles or a glowing fire? Did you instantly feel welcome, comfortable, and at ease? Now think of a time when you have gone to someone’s house that is messy, cluttered, and smells bad. Did you feel awkward, anxious, and like you just wanted to escape? This shows how big of an impact our immediate surroundings can have on our wellness and mood.

Prevention is one way that you can make sure your home is a safe haven and not somewhere that you want to escape. Clutter can’t build up inside your house if you don’t bring it in in the first place. Think about everything that you are bringing in the house. Junk mail? Excess shopping items? Trash?

JUNK MAIL

1. Try sorting your mail at the counter in the post office and throw away anything that you do not need in their trash can.

2.If you feel comfortable with it, pay all your bills online.

3.If you get mail delivered at your house, try to go through it immediately after you bring it inside, throw away junk and file the important things.

4.Make or buy an attractive mail organizer for the important things in your mail.

EXCESS SHOPPING ITEMS 

5. Think about every item before you purchase it. Do you really need it? Do you have something already at home that you could use instead? Did you budget for the item?

6. Stick to a shopping list. Take some time to plan before you go shopping. Whether it is groceries or clothes, a list will help keep you accountable as well as help you cut down on return trips.

TRASH

7. It is great to clean out your car or clean up your yard. But try to not bring that trash inside your house, just take it straight out to the trash can at the curb.

What kind of clutter can you cut down on?

 

 

[image error]Water can be one of the most overlooked health benefits. In America it is so cheap and accessible yet many people fail to get the required amount. We tend to only drink beverages when we are thirsty. However, if you are thirsty you are already starting to get dehydrated. On top of dehydration if you are drinking something besides water, you are still not replenishing the need for water.

How much water should you be drinking? Everyone should be drinking at least 64oz of water a day. You can also figure out how much additional water you need by taking your body weight and dividing it in half. Drink that number in ounces per day. So if you weigh 140 lbs, divide that in half which is 70. So you would need to drink at least 70oz. of water per day.

Fill ‘er up. I sometimes find it difficult to remember to drink water. One thing that I like to do first thing in the morning is fill up a 1 liter water bottle with fresh water. Then I try to drink as much as I can right away.

Smooth-ie sailing. Second, I like to make a big green smoothie that has at least 1 cup of water in it. Plus, the addition of spinach and raw fruit like bananas or strawberries helps to up my water intake.

Don’t be out of sight, out of mind. Throughout the day I try to keep my water bottle in my line of vision and every time I look at it, I try to drink as much as I can. I will also take a big gulp or two every time before I go to the restroom. It sounds silly, but it is just one of those things that helps me consciously drink my water. I try to refill my water bottle as much as possible throughout the day.

Hungry for water. Last but not least; every time you think you are hungry drink some water instead and wait a few minutes. Often, our bodies are actually thirsty instead of hungry. You will notice you are snacking less while getting much needed hydration instead.

How much water do you drink a day?

[image error]We all sweat. But we don’t all have to smell bad. How is this so?

Sweating is a natural and essential part of our body’s endocrine system. Sweat helps maintain our body temperature and helps cool the body down if we get too hot.

So what makes sweat smell bad? Sweat actually has no smell to it. It is the bacteria that is on our skin, mixed with the sweat that can make that bad odor. In order to get rid of the bad smell, we need to get rid of the bad bacteria, not the sweat.

I’m sure some of you have heard that there are many harmful ingredients in commercial deodorants. And even though they appear to work, common sense still tells you that you are clogging up your pores and masking a problem rather than fixing the problem. It is easy to see why I was so excited to find an alternative to using commercial deodorants.

Remember that if you are doing any extra sweating – drink lots of extra water! You need to replenish the fluids that you are losing during sweating.

What are the alternatives?

Go without. For the past year my friends have been teasing me about being a hippie but honestly, most days I just go without any deodorant at all and surprisingly I think my body has adjusted just fine. (Don’t worry, I do still shave my armpits. Haven’t gone total hippie yet!) Since I have been going without, I don’t think I sweat or smell any worse then when I wore commercial deodorant.

Make your own. Just in case I wanted that extra “security” I had found a great recipe to make my very own deodorant with coconut oil, baking soda, and cornstarch and it works pretty good. But it is a little difficult to apply and it is still white, which can rub off on clothing and clump up in unatractive little balls under your arms. And there is still the issue of possibly clogging pores.

Deodorant crystal stick. Yesterday I found out about a deodorant crystal stick also known as a mineral salt deodorant from a fellow blogger. It is basically a big block of salt! How crazy is that? Apparently, the mineral salts kill bacteria. I was super excited to try one of these and today I actually got one and I can’t wait to see how it works. I’ll let you know in a week or two.

[image error]

This is the deodorant crystal stick that I bought today.

Have you ever tried any of these alternatives? What was the outcome?