Issue 4

Not so traditional gift giving for the holidays

I have really tried to lean outside of traditional gift giving over the past few years, I'm far from traditional and it makes it more fun for everyone! How many of us really need one more random thing, am I right?! How many of us would love to try a treat from a friends family lineage, personalized items or maybe even something repurposed, AM I RIGHT?!

A few years ago I made pickled jar bundles with pickled garlic, pickled onions, pickled strawberries and pickled Italian giardiniera salad. I prepared them a month early and they were ready to go out the week of Christmas. I love a gift that comes in a reusable mason jar... cookie or muffin mix, a gift card, or anything pickled!! Homemade vanilla extract is always a great gift to the baker in your life or as a prepared gift to have on hand. I am a huge fan of personalizing items, and for that I have some fun with the Cricut making vinyl decals for glass cups, stencils for painting a sign, or for iron on vinyl to make t-shirts/sweatshirts/hats etc. Outisde of the holidays it comes in handy making birthday or event shirts, teachers gifts, and home decor. Youtube videos were and still are my guide in using and navigating the Cricut settings and many ways to use it! I'll like the Cricut and tools here for you to check out.

I had a conversation with a fellow thrift lover recently, and we talked about thrifted gifts, can we normalize this please? Maybe not for your kids upcoming birthday party they are attending, but for someone who you adore who collects or is in need of a specific thing... its a BIG YES for me. Cleaned, signed and delivered..... I'm yours! The thoughtfulness, the Earthly impact and not contributing to money stress is pure gold.

Gua Sha Facial Massage

The History

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing technique that has roots that go back over 2,000 years. Originally used as a full-body scraping practice in traditional Chinese medicine, gua sha was believed to release stagnant energy or “qi” to improve circulation, alleviate muscle pain, and reduce inflammation. Estheticians Practitioners use tools made from jade, animal bones, or stones to scrape the skin until redness appears indicating that toxins and blockages were being released.

Modern Practice

In the more recent years, gua sha has evolved into a more gentle practice focused on the face, where smooth rounded jade or quartz stones are glided across the skin in delicate strokes. This facial massage stimulates lymphatic drainage, increases blood flow, and relieves muscle tension promoting a glowing complexion and a more sculpted appearance. Modern gua sha combines ancient wisdom with contemporary beauty practices, bringing a mindful, holistic approach to skincare.

Before this facial massage you want to open up and loosen lymphatic flow by lightly massaging the neck below the ears, and the armpit. Using clean hands follow these steps, always bracing skin and with a gentle glide. Avoid deep massage with your tool or pulling on facial skin. Serums and grapeseed oil make a great slip and glide for this facial massage technique.

Here are the general steps to perform a gua sha facial massage at home:

1. Cleanse and Prep the Skin: Start with a clean face, then apply a facial oil or serum to create glide. This allows the tool to glide smoothly without pulling or tugging on the skin.

2. Holding Your Tool: Hold it at a slight angle (about 15 degrees) so it’s mostly flat against your skin.

3. Begin at the Neck: Starting with the neck helps to encourage lymphatic drainage. Gently stroke the tool upwards and outwards from the base of the neck toward the jawline, using light pressure. Repeat each stroke 3-5 times.

4. Move to the Jawline: Place the tool at the center of your chin, then glide it along the jawline toward your ear, using upward motions. This can help relieve tension and define the jaw.

5. Massage the Cheeks: Position the tool next to your nose and gently glide it across your cheekbones toward the hairline. This movement boosts circulation and can help enhance skin tone.

6. Work on the Eye Area: Be gentle around the eyes. Starting from the inner corner under the eye, gently sweep the tool outward toward the temple. This can help reduce puffiness and improve lymphatic drainage.

7. Forehead Massage: Begin between your eyebrows, then glide the tool up toward the hairline. Then, sweep from the center of the forehead outward toward the temples to release tension and relax facial muscles.

8. Finish and Clean Your Tool: After covering all areas, clean your gua sha tool with warm soapy water. Massage any remaining oil or serum into your skin

Skin Affirmations

After finishing my skin routine each evening I like to talk sweet to myself in the mirror with those skin affirmations. Keeping things positive and vibing up I'll say things like... Skin stays up for those who vibe up, a forever young tip!

"I am beautiful, absolutely sexy actually!"

"I am youthful and I have the key to feeling that way!"

"My skin is a reflection of my efforts and I AM DOING THIS"

"My skin is glowing because I make good choices"

"I am glowing different than I used to, and damn it feels good."

Supplement Spotlight

-Still praising my NRF2- keeping inflammation down on a cellular level, not giving virus or disease a chance to thrive.

Release oxidative stress and carcinogens, making room for nutrients and collagen in the cells for strong immunity and antiaging on that cellular level

-Womens probiotic/prebiotic -keeping gut and vaginal health strong. I grab mine from Sprouts in the refrigerated vitamin section- also where I pick to be kids probiotics.

-Axio nootropic. I had to panic order this recently and I am hoping it arrives before I am out. I was such a skeptic to these drinks, and now I never want to be without. Mental organization, brain energy and lifting of the brain fog have been a game changer for me and my business.

That wraps up Issue 4, I hope you enjoyed these topics and learned something new, thanks for reading!

Be well, stay well.

Nichoelle Adler