“Look what you made me do!” Sound familiar?

How do you deal with someone who blames you... for everything!? Even if you contributed to a situation, blaming is a trap door in any relationship and outrages most people with a sense of injustice.

So, how do we respond when we find ourselves being blamed? How do we escape the blame game?

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Do you ever think, “When is it going to be my turn?” Do your needs come last—after the needs of your spouse, your children, work, community service, in-laws, siblings, friends, and pets? My needs always used to come last. As a young adult, I remember rarely having time or energy for myself and what was important to me. It was very disheartening. And it took me years of conscious effort to replace my well-practiced compliance and pleasing with strong boundaries that supported my life and relationships.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes     Estimated time to master: a lifetime! 😊

You may have heard that smell is a powerful conduit for memory. However, did you know that when you're feeling down, you can uplift your mood with essential oils? It's true. And it's not just hear-say; there are scientific studies that support the positive effects of using scent to alter emotional states. 

For good or ill, scent can directly affect your mind and mood.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Nothing is more exciting and empowering than working on a project or playing on a dynamic team—until it’s not.

Collaboration and teamwork can be unpredictable—even fragile—and an energetic brainstorming can go completely awry by a subtle putdown. A co-worker makes a critical comment about a blog posted on the company newsletter. Someone makes a disparaging remark about another person's work. Most everyone has experienced something like this, right?Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

And guess who the culprits were?

Teenagers.

We know that the brain plays a central and critical role in just about everything, from our thoughts to our emotions, to our behavior—for better or worse! Our brain is the engine. Research has also shown us that our brains have the incredible capacity to rewire themselves.

Sit quietly with that thought for a moment. The ability of the brain to rewire is revolutionary and life-changing. This knowledge puts us in the driver’s seat of our lives. And practicing mindfulness builds greater self-awareness and enhances our mental health.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Fall meant Apple Hill where I grew up. Like clockwork, the air would turn crisper, and seemingly everyone would trek to the Hill for apple everything—donuts, cider, apples in caramel, and apple-picking. Applesauce and apple pies everywhere.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

"Are you an only child?"

That question always gives me pause. Yes, but also, no. I am not alone in being the child of a blended family. Nor am I the only one who’s a bit confused by the whole situation—parents included.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The back-to-school season is a mammoth shift for kids and their families alike. Even more notorious are back-to-school illnesses at all ages, which spread far beyond the home and classroom. Every company with an employee who needs to pick up a sick kid at a moment's notice is familiar with the disruption.

If you aren’t already using essential oils, time to start! They're a fantastic way to jumpstart the immune system and reinforce your children's healthy—and yours!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes