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Kellie Abate

August 16, 2018
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Be Environmentally Friendly On Vacation

By | Article, Blogs, Food for thought, Tips & Tricks

WE ARE CREATURES OF HABIT, when it comes to our personal items or our homes, we maintain a consistent agenda to keep everything well maintained and spotless. We don’t want to live in filth, so for example, we keep dirty clothes organized in a hamper and wash them when the hamper gets filled up, we wash our dishes to be able to reuse them, take the garbage out, preserve a garden or lawn, recycle, and so much more. So, how come when it comes to vacationing, we lose sight of our sanitation and admiration?

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Don’t pause on being respectful and environmentally friendly because we desire to be pampered on vacation. We should treat mother Earth the same way we would handle our own homes because Earth is our home base! Respect the environment and mother Earth and the locals will be thankful.

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Clean Your Trash!

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Just because a housekeeper comes into the hotel room to maintain all the rooms, doesn’t mean it is respectful to leave everything a complete disaster for her to clean or because there are landscapers, they will clean the trash off the land. Especially when it comes to trash! Use a garbage can. If you are walking through the halls of the resort or outside walking the paths to the beach, find a garbage can, don’t just throw your trash onto the ground and if the locals recycle, then you recycle as well. Keep the environment clean, so that it will maintain its beauty. Be respectful to the employees and the resort.

Bring a Reusable Water Bottle

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Bring a reusable water bottle with you when you travel. If it is empty, it will pass through TSA with no problem. But, by bringing your own bottle, you are saving plastic bottles from being used. Which is great because it requires fossil fuels polluting the air to break down plastic in the landfills. So, think green about plastic because you don’t want the beautiful environment, clean air, and breathtaking oceans to be polluted and ruined.

Think Local

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By supporting local business; like farmers markets, local restaurants, souvenir stands, and much more; you are supporting local agriculture which means that they don’t need to outsource to other countries for branded products. Plus, you are keeping the locals happy, supporting their culture, and learning about their history. It is a great way to show them that there are benefits to tourism.

Choose Green Activities

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Earth-friendly activities are great for being environmentally friendly. Plus, they are also super fun. So, look into activities like snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, biking, and hiking. Not only do you get to try new activities, but this is another great way to learn about their culture and what the land has to offer. Most importantly! It will reduce your carbon footprint. (NOTE: A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouses gases produced to support your activities.)

Use Biodegradable Sunscreen

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Save the coral reefs! Save the oceans! Every day we need to remember and appreciate our oceans because without them, we wouldn’t have beautiful beaches to explore all over the world and we wouldn’t have gorgeous marine life to discover. By wearing biodegradable sunscreen, you are protecting the oceans ecosystem.

Continue to think green and keep our environment alive!

August 15, 2018
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Minerals of Mexico

By | Article, Blogs, Food for thought

SIXTY MINERALS HAVE BEEN CLAIMED IN MEXICO; which means that’s where they were first found and studied. Mexico has been mined dating back to pre-historic times and continues to produce substantial quantities of prized minerals. It is one of the top 3 countries for largest suppliers of collectable minerals; Brazil and the US included. The intrusive igneous rock formation, geological events, and semi-arid climate of Mexico have worked together to create this mineral paradise.

Amethyst is one of the most effective stones for healing, that’s why it received the name,” All-healer.” The energy is transformed into positivity and love. It is the healer of anxiety. It transmits neural signals through the head of calming and peaceful energy to soothe the mind, which then soothes the body. Amethyst was found in Vera Cruz and Guerrero, Mexico.

Fire Opal was born in the volcanoes of Mexico. It is when water meets the lava, hardening into a stone of vivid reds, oranges, and yellows. Fire Opal enhances creative energy, facilitates change, and guides progress. They protect against danger and empowers oneself to remove from a toxic situation.

Rosasite is a striking blue mineral, deeply calming and allows one to speak with clarity and with truth. It is useful for memory recall, support, strength, and sustainability. Rosasite is found in Durango, Mexico.

Golden Apatite enhances the vibration of mental clarity and strength of will. It brings a spiritual energy to the mind motivating faith and passion for life, and implanting a sense of self-worth and confidence. It gives balance to the mind and restores any emotional damage. This golden mineral was claimed in Durango, Mexico.

Grossular garnet empowers all things nurturing from Mother Earth, empowerments, hope, encourages gratitude, social growth, and service to the community. It is also the stone of appreciating abundance. Grossulars colors vary from sunrise to the greens of the earth and is found in Sierra de la Cruces and Coahuila, Mexico.

Topaz, the “crystal of potency,” radiates gentle soothing, healing, stimulating, and recharging powers. It empowers strength, inspiration, truth and forgiveness, and confidence. Increases faithfulness in love and friendships. It is all things needed to build a stable environment. Topaz was claimed in Tepetate, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas, Mexico.

Pyrite, often called “Fool’s Gold,” because of its shiny, gold exterior is actually the stone of hidden fire by striking it against metal or stone. Pyro means fire. This is the masculine stone of action, will, potential, stimulating idea flow, confidence, and persistence. It is also a shield against negative energy, emotional attacks, and physical harm. This talisman was found in Zacatecas, Mexico.

Silver is the mirror of emotions, the mind, love, and healing. It brings advantage, patience, and perseverance to the wearer. The metal is reflective, so it reflects any evil intent, like magical security, back to the sender. This energy is a magnificent conduit. There is a large abundance of silver all over Mexico, like Zacatecas is Mexico’s leading silver producing state, then Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Coahuila, and San Luis Potosi.

Danburite helps to “let your love light shine.” The love energy of this crystal brings serenity and peace to the heart. It relieves emotional pain and increases acceptance of self-love. Danburite will fill your life with love, happiness, and spiritual enlightenment.  It is mined in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Wulfenite is the stone of creativity and transformation. It helps the hard worker to overcome pessimism, procrastination, and self-defeating attitudes. It encourages determination, clarity, and inspires creative thoughts and ideas. This crystal is found Durango, Mexico.

Those are just 10 stones listed out of the 60 mined in Mexico. Some other stones are opal, rhodochrosite, legrandite, creedite, adamite, acanthite, pyrargyrite, boleite, polybasite, stephanite, floural, pyrrhotite, galena, smithsonite, goethite, calcite, hematite, hemimorphite, paradamite, mimetite, anhydrite, cumengite, stibiconite, agate, gypsum, cassiterite, scorodite, arsenopyrite, barite, and many, many more!

When you go to visit the Karisma Resorts in Mexico, the Vassa Spa at the Azul Resorts and Naay Spa at the El Dorado Resorts, are filled with healing crystals. They are placed in dishes, water fountains, scattered all over, if you keep your eyes open. Close your eyes, place your hand in the dish, and let the crystals energy pick you. Don’t be afraid to ask the locals about the minerals and their properties. They might be able to help you locate where you can mine your own crystals too!

August 9, 2018
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How to Survive Traveling with Toddlers

By | Article, Blogs, Tips & Tricks

WORKING IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, it is our duty to make sure all aspects of travel are covered, from planning the perfect romantic getaway to packing hacks to traveling with children… We cover it all.

Traveling with children is not my forte because I personally don’t have any, so I took the time to interview my closest friend, Kelly, who is a wife, mother of 3 toddlers, and 2 dogs.

The Dodaro family is constantly going on road trips from their hometown in New Jersey to Nags Head, NC, Hershey Park, PA, Chatham, NY, Pittsburg, PA, Washington DC, and Sykesville, MD.

I asked her, “how do you survive vacationing with 3 kids, who are 5, 3, and 11 months?”

Kelly’s response, “Keep them entertained.”

Below are Kelly’s 5 tips on how to survive traveling with toddlers!

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Tip #1: Pack LOTS of snacks! Nobody wants to hear “I’m hungryyyyyy” or “I’m thirstyyyyy” for hours. Hungry turns into hangry (hungry angry) and there’s nothing worse than 3 hangry little kids screaming and crying in the car or on a plane.

Tip #2: If you are into electronics, which these days it’s hard not to be, make sure the iPads are fully charged. Throw on a movie, give the kids some snacks, and you are guaranteed at least an hour and a half of semi-peace and quiet. If a movie isn’t cutting it, download some free kid-friendly games that will keep them entertained.  This will make them happy and more importantly will keep them from bugging you every 5 minutes.

Tip #3: If you want to work your child’s brain activity, play some verbal games that keep them thinking.

  • For example play the “I’m going on a picnic..” alphabet game. Each person takes a turn picking out an item they are going to bring on the picnic using each letter of the alphabet. (i.e. I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing an apple. The next person would say I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing an apple and a banana.) The key is to remember each item that was said and recite them all back when it’s your turn.
  • Another game to play is “I’m thinking of an animal.” One person thinks of an animal and gives clues about them. The players can ask yes or no questions and guess until they come up with the correct animal. It’s a lot of fun and makes children think and learn new things without even realizing it.

Tip #4: Coloring books and crayons/colored pencils/markers are always a simple solution to keep kids entertained.

Tip #5: What child doesn’t like a dance party? Make a playlist of your child’s favorite songs, crank up the volume, and dance the long car ride away of if you are on a plane, give them headphones and let them entertain themselves. They have fun, you have fun, and honestly, it’s funny watching your little kids create their own dances.

“These things work for my family. Hopefully they can help some other families as well. Good luck with your children and safe travels!” – Kelly Dodaro

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August 8, 2018
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Pinching Pennies to Poolside in Paradise

By | Article, Blogs, Business

There are so many cliché mottos based on living your life, such as,

YOLO (you only live one)

live your life to the fullest

live your best life

live, laugh, love

and probably so many more!

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The reality is that it’s easy to say these mottos, but ask yourself the question, are you really living your best life, or living life to the fullest?

I’ll let you think about that one.

For me, as an example, I can honestly say I wasn’t living my dream life. I was working long hours in the restaurant industry as a waitress for almost 10 years, working my butt off to just skimp by with tips. I didn’t know if my bills were going to be paid on time and the amount of money I made at the end of a 4-hour shift or 10-hour shift changed on a daily basis. It was inconsistent and just all around rough.

What kind of life is that?

That’s not living your best life. That’s living a life of stress, fear, disappointment, and struggle.

I am 26 years old with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English. Call me a millennial, but I am just trying to live my life and be happy.

I knew that after finishing college, I probably wasn’t going to have my dream job right away.  But, if I had known that I was going to spend the next 10 years of my life, waitressing, I wouldn’t have buried my head in student loans. And if I had known that after 10 years of waitressing, I still wouldn’t have a job that I wanted to turn into a career, I wouldn’t have left living with my parents and emptied my bank account just trying to pay for rent.

Wu Tang Clan said it best, “cash rules everything around me.”

This day and age, so many of us are living a life, pay check to pay check, just trying to get by and survive. You can’t get a job because you don’t have any experience on your resume, but you can’t get any experience because you can’t get a job! It’s heartbreaking that we spend more days as slaves, rather than spending our life creating new memories, going on adventures, or growing in a spiritual way that spreads positivity.

We are fighters. We are warriors. We are survivors.

If you are tired of living a life of struggle, rather than a life of memories and adventure…

I have a solution for you.

A solution that will enable you to live your best life, travel while working based on your own time schedule, free from financial struggles, and joining a community of people who have the same beliefs and desires as you.

My solution, work with Luxevo Vacations.

All it took was someone to give me a chance, someone to see what I was capable of doing in my career field, and for someone to say you’re hired, for me to break through my dark cloud of misery and to experience the light of hope.

I am now the Lead Copywriter and WordPress administrator for our LXVN Magazine, and social media assistant. I have been working with Luxēvo Vacations for only 6 months and I have been on more adventures with this group of people, than ever in my lifetime, and they just keep on coming.

Luxevo Vacations gave me that chance to live my life and they will do the same for you.

We are just a group of ordinary people who understand that life can be a struggle, but it doesn’t have to be. We all came from different backgrounds; customer service, construction, fresh out of college or high school, or no education at all, so we get it.

Life gets busy, bills have to be paid, family has grown up and moved around the world leaving you with no time to see them, you’re so busy you don’t have any time to take a vacation or even just a personal day, but not here.

At Luxevo Vacations, they give you the freedom to travel, to work anywhere in the world, on your own time schedule. Their trainings help you learn about ins and outs of the travel industry, selling travel, and becoming a top Travel Specialist. This is the kind of career opportunity that can take you from struggling, to being completely debt free.

So, now let me ask you this…

Are you ready to change your life?

Are you ready to live your best life, be free to travel, work on your own time schedule, become free from debt, and join the Luxevo Vacations movement?

We want to change the way people work. We want people to completely live their best life to the fullest, traveling the world, creating memories, and to just be happy. It is time to stop merely saying those cliché mottos; its time to live them.

You may be thinking, “that all sounds great, but I want to know more”.  If you are ready to embark on this new life adventure but just need a little more information…

Sign up for Luxevo Vacations Founder, Burt Kramer’s FREE live webinar today!

In his webinar, Burt shares his “Three Secret’s for Success Selling Travel”, as well as his vision for creating an opportunity for people looking to live a more fulfilled life by working in the travel industry.

 “I have spent over 15 years in the travel industry working with thousands of travel agents perfecting a proven process that’s allowing ordinary people to break into travel and become successful and fulfilled,” Burt said.

Seizing the opportunity to work with Luxevo Vacations was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

It changed my life, and it can change yours too.

Register here for Burt Kramer's Webinar!

July 24, 2018
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Lets Taco ’bout Mexico

By | Article, Blogs, Destinations, Places

I don’t need to sit here and convince you Mexico is awesome because all I would need to say is tacos and tequila, and I’ve already won your vote. So, if you’re like me, you’ve always been curious about the place that brought to us the most delicious tacos and mouthwatering tequila. Here are 20 interesting facts about Mexico that will make you want to go there!

MMM… Good thing its Taco Tuesday because I am going to go eat my weight in tacos because we can’t TACO bout it and not get tacos! (punny intended.)

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  1. The official name of Mexico is Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United Mexican States).
  1. Spanish is the national language of Mexico.
  1. Mexico’s population is 130,759,074 people.
  1. Mexico’s size is 756,066 square miles.
  1. The world’s largest tamale made in Mexico, called Zacahuil, is 3 ft long and 150 LBs.
  1. The Jaguar is the largest wildcat and is found in Mexico’s southern jungles.
  1. The oldest university in North America is the National University of Mexico, founded in 1551 by Charles V of Spain.
  1. The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog and is named after a Mexican state.
  1. Millions of monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico, every year, from the U.S and Canada.
  1. Mexico and U.S border is the second largest border in the world (U.S. and Canadian border is number 1).
  1. Mexico has the second highest number of Catholic citizens (Brazil is number 1).
  1. Mexican children do not receive presents on Christmas Day. They receive gifts on January 6, the day on which Mexicans celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men.
  1. Mexico’s flag is made up three vertical stripes. The left green stripe stands for hope, the middle white stripe represents purity, and the right red stripe represents the blood of those who died fighting for Mexico’s independence.
  1. Mexico City has the highest elevation, is oldest city in North America, and is one of the largest cities in the world.
  1. Mexico is located in the “Ring of Fire,” one of the earth’s most violent earthquake and volcano zones.
  1. Mexico is home to a very rare rabbit called the volcano rabbit which lives near Mexican volcanoes.
  1. Mexico introduced chocolate, corn, and chilies to the world
  1. Tequila and Tabasco are named after states in Mexico.
  1. The largest pyramid in the world is the Great Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico. It is also the largest monument ever constructed in the world.
  1. Mexico City is built on a lake, over the ruins of a great Aztec city, Tenochtitlan. It is sinking at a rate of 6 to 8 inches a year. Pumps draw water out for the city’s growing population.

Now that you finished this blog and I have convinced you to go to Mexico….

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July 20, 2018
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#INeedaVacation

By | Article, Blogs, Food for thought, Vacations

I think we can all agree that every once in a while, a moment in life happens, that makes us say “I need a vacation.” Usually it happens at home, in the work place, on a car ride, or you just hear someone say something that literally blows your mind. It’s okay. We have all been there and if you haven’t… you’re lying.Image result for i'm done with this job gif

To prove my point that we have all had moments like this; I searched on twitter, the hashtag #INeedAVacation, and constructed this blog of relatable “I need a vacation” moments, so that we can all laugh about the struggles of adulthood.

July 9, 2018
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Drink the Local Flavors

By | Article, Blogs, Food

THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY IS RISING in popularity. People are conforming to the lifestyle of being an “experienced craft-beer drinker” because they do not want to keep drinking the same old watered-down beer. There are so many elements that influence this lifestyle, like what styles, ingredients, flavors, aromas, scents, ABV (Alcohol by volume), IBU (International bitterness units), name brands, locations, and the list goes on. Craft beers are intriguing because no beer is the same. They are all unique in look, flavor, smell, brewery history, and the feeling it gives you.Image result for craft beer gif

Some of the most trendsetting craft beer breweries started in the Caribbean and made its way over to the U.S. So, we listed here 10 local craft beers brewed in the Caribbean.

Red Stripe

Jamaica’s infamous Red Stripe craft beer, is brewed by Desnoes & Geddes Limited at the Red Stripe Brewery in Kingston, Jamaica. This beverage has been brewing since 1928. The locals and tourist love this light amber, butterscotch flavor, with an easy 4.7% alcohol. Red Stripe represents the passion and ethnicity of Jamaica, so every bottle is made with Jamaica’s authenticity.

Balashi Chill

Balashi Chill is micro-brewed at the Brouwrij Nacional Balashi, in Santa Cruz, Aruba. It was first brewed back in 1998. It is the only beer brewed here making it, Aruba’s beer. This golden beer has won taste awards in 2001, 2004, and 2013, crafted only with premium ingredients, like Aruba’s world class water, barley, rice, and corn. It has a 5% ABV and a sweeter taste. This island beer is made with quality and passion.

Tempus Alt Clasica

Tempus Alt Clasica craft beer, is micro-brewed at Cerveceria Primus (Primus Brewery) in Mexico. This 5.2% ABV, deep amber, creamy texture, nutty with earthy hops, balanced with sweet malts; is created to be smooth for your palate. This beverage has the perfect balance of flavors from the fresh produce found in Mexico, making it one of the top craft beers to try.

Presidente

Presidente is brewed by the primary beer producer in the Dominican Republic, since 1935, at the Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana (CND). This gold, pilsner style beer has a 5% ABV and a moderately bitter hops flavor. Made from the best quality raw materials in D.R., definitely makes it the best beer, the realest tasting beer, and gives you the feeling of the Dominican. Because it is so widely accepted by locals and tourists, this increases the contribution to the sales of the products, resources, and people of D.R. It has developed a true beer culture.

Blonde Ale

Boquerón Brewing Company’s Blonde Ale from Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico is on the rise. Their mission isn’t to brew the most quantity of beer, but rather produce the highest quality of the freshest ales. This golden color, 5% ABV, beer uses premium malts, hops, yeast, and lemon to give a mild bitterness and unique taste. This balance of tasty and refreshing pleases lovers of all craft beers.

Island Pirate Ale

Island Pirate Ale is the first- ever Bahamian India Pale Ale, brewed at Pirate Republic Brewing Company in Nassau, Bahamas. This 5.2% ABV, American-style ale is copper color, smooth with a delicious complexity of pineapple and citrus aromas. Their motto is “we bet you’ll be feeling like an island pirate in no time.” This beer is well balanced and refreshing.

10 Saints

10 Saints Hand Crafted Beer is aged in Mount Gay ‘Special Reserve’ rum casks, at 10 Saints Brewing, in Barbados. This 4.8% ABV, golden-amber beer has a lightly roasted malt and vanilla aroma with a smooth finish of spicy rum. 10 Saints Brewing got their name because Barbados is split into 11 parishes, out of the 11 parishes, 10 of them are Saints, getting their name 10 Saints Brewing. The owner of 10 Saints utilizes this by educating tourists and locals about the history of Barbados.

Belikin Lager

Belize Brewing Company, is home of the Belikin Lager, since 1969. This beverage has become one of the top sellers in Belize. This classic, full-bodied beer, is a special blend of Canadian pilsner malt and German hops, with a revitalizing 4.8% ABV. There motto is “Belikin is brewed for Belizeans, by Belizeans, and onli eena Belize.”

Wadadli

This famous flagship craft beer, Wadadli, is micro-brewed at the Antigua Brewery, in Antigua, Guatemala. It has become a favorite amongst the locals and tourists, making it the beer of Antigua. This 4.8% ABV, has strong aromas of sweet malt, tastes of grain, corn, with a light bitter finish. Antigua Brewery has started a new trend in the local beer market by using in-house desalination plant to provide fresh water for their brewing operations. They also offer refunds on returned bottles. The locals are appreciative of how eco-friendly this brewery is and how they stay true to the flavors of Guatemala.

Make sure to try these local beers when you visit one of these 9 Caribbean spots!
July 2, 2018
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Be So Relaxed You Thought You Were on Vacation

By | Article, Blogs, Fashion, Tips & Tricks

TOO BAD EVERYDAY CAN’T FEEL LIKE VACATION. Unfortunately, you’ll be sitting at work to pay the bills, writing papers in school to get an education, or your home is just filled with clutter and chaos because you’re too overwhelmed to get it together. Life happens and when it does happen, it hits hard. But with the help from these wonderful essential oils; they can make you feel so calm and relaxed, you thought you were on vacation!

Essential oils are the new au natural, anxiety and stress relief remedies. There is no need for pills anymore when you can just smell a few drops of these oils and completely change the whole vibe of your day! Inhale them deeply, add some to your bath or shower, diffuse the oils into the air, or rub a little on your nostrils, palms, temples, or feet because everyone should feel like there on vacation every day.

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Lavender 

Lavender is number one in being a stress reliever. Its scent is light, flowery, and super calming. It relieves nervous tension, anxiety, emotional damage, improves sleep, and can relieve pain. Add the scent to the air, listen to a beach white noise on YouTube, dim the lights, and take a bath and you will feel as relaxed like you’re on vacation.

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Bergamot 

Here’s another essential oil that could be the new au natural remedy to relieving depression. Bergamots combination of spicy and citrus is a complex scent that gives you the perfect amount of R&R (reduction & relaxation). It reduces nerve tension, anxiety, stress, high blood pressure, insomnia, and depression by relaxing your nerves, your anxiety levels, and it’s an antidepressant. Just like lavender you can place it in the shower or bathtub, rub it on your skin, and inhale deeply for its warming effects to overcome any stress.

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Tea Tree

Tea Tree, also known as Melaleuca oil, comes from the Melaleuca Alternifolia tree. The benefits of this oil make it a must-have for every home. Benefits include mental cleansing from stress, anxiety, or physical pain, it soothes skin from irritants or burns, and can be used a great household cleaner, keeping your home smelling like a relaxing day outdoors.

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Eucalyptus

With one inhale of eucalyptus you will instantly imagine yourself outdoors. The smell is unique. It is piney, but minty, with a hint of warm honey. There are so many health benefits to eucalyptus; improves respiratory circulation and immunity. Just rub a little in your hands, inhale deeply through your nose or mouth, and it will open up your air ways, your sinuses, your chest for clear breathing, and all that tight tension you were feeling in your chest, will just disappear.

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Lemon 

When I think of lemon, I think of a lemon in my cold water, iced tea, or cold cocktail, and when I think of a cold beverage, I think of being somewhere tropical and hot. This citrus not only tastes good, but also smells good! Smelling the cent of lemon will stimulate your mind into daydreaming about an island escape, which will enhance your serotonin levels, and bring you to a state of complete tranquility and happiness.

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Wild Orange 

This is another citrus smell that will stimulate your mind into thinking you’re on an island. Only, the difference between lemon and orange, is that orange energizes the mind and body. It uplifts the mood and energy levels, so that you are ready to go, go, go. You can diffuse this around your home or take a moment at work to meditate your mind with the scent of wild orange and enhance your performance and keep you charged.

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Patchouli

Patchouli is from a plant called, Lamiaceae, commonly known for being part of the mint family. The scent is warm and spicy, also referred to as “the scent of the 60’s”. Rubbing patchouli oil on your wrists and temples relieves stress, anxiety, and depression, making you feel like you just woke up from a nap on the beach.

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Ylang Ylang 

Comes from the tropical flower Cananga Ordorata Genuina, It is the “flower of all flowers.” It’s sweet floral scent is an antidepressant, enhances relaxation, and lowers blood pressure (frustration, anger, anxiety). This would be another oil that you could put in the bathtub, listen to some calming music, and imagine yourself on a beach with no stress!

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Ginger 

Gut-friendly ginger is great for reducing nausea, stomach knots, pains, or upset stomach. Sometimes when stress happens or nerves, our stomachs react first. With the potent and powerful scent of ginger essential oil, one sniff is a quick remedy for calming our minds and bodies, especially our stomach muscles. This could be great for pre-travel nerves the night before or before your flight.

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Seaberry Oil 

Also known as, Sea buckthorn Oil, comes from a berry called Hippophae Rhamnoides. It is the new go-to vacation essential if you are going to be on a beach. It is the au natural remedy for your skin. After laying in the sun for hours, you feel crispy and dried up, you might be burnt or just added to your amazing tan, either way rubbing Seaberry oil all over your skin is great for anti-aging, skins elasticity, heals burns, and rejuvenates skin.

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June 29, 2018
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Sun Safety

By | Article, Blogs, Fashion, Tips & Tricks

WHEN I ORIGINALLY WROTE THIS sunscreen post, I based it on all types of sunscreens. So, my top 5 came out to be

1. Neutrogena

2. Banana Boat

3. Coppertone

4. Hawaiian Tropics

5. Aveeno

I wrote a whole blog piece about how they protect our skin, but I started to realize something… Do they protect our environment? Do they protect the coral reefs from getting bleached when we swim in the ocean or snorkel? Mother Earth is our home base and I believe it should be equally respected from all angles, like the coral reefs. Our coral reefs help the trees produce oxygen for us. Products with the ingredients Oxybenzone, Butylparaben, Octinoxate, Methylbenzylidene camphor, and so many more, are polluting our oceans and destroying the coral reefs. We need to recognize the damage that is being done to our environment and start making a change.

So, my research went from “best sunscreen” to “best biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef safe sunscreen” and I put together a list of the TOP 5 BIODEGRADABLE, ECO-FRIENDLY, REEF SAFE SUNSCREENS.

Sun Bum Mineral Sun Care

Sun bums new, zinc-based mineral collection is ideal for your safety and protecting the earth. These products are healthy, especially for the most sensitive skin, because it is made with specialized hypo-allergenics and is fragrance free. They are100% vegan, gluten free, paraben free, and cruelty free, as well. For babies to adults, this sunscreen is great for everyone and the environment.

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Mama Kuleana Reef Safe Sunscreen

This handmade sunscreen is made by mama Kuleana in the West Maui Mountains in Hawaii. Her sunscreen is eco-friendly and reef safe. Each container is made with love, so you know the person behind it cares about your health and the environment. The best is, she uses biodegradable containers to protect the environment. The ingredients are Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Organic Safflower Oil, Non-Nano Zinc Powder, Raspberry Oil, Rose Hip Seed Oil, and Vitamin E oil. She also includes the essential oils: Carrot and Frankincense, for their skin protecting properties.

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Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen

At Blue Lizards, their belief is, “We believe that strong protection doesn’t require a harsh touch.” So, they created a chemical free, mineral based sunscreen that is safe for the environment. Mineral based sunscreens reflect the sun’s rays, not absorb them. Their smart bottles change color when they are exposed to UV light. The color of the bottle top changes from white to blue. This sunscreen is dermatologist recommended.

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Suntegrity Skincare

This sunscreen was made with those who lost their lives to skin cancer in mind. This holistic, mineral sun care is the new alternative to skin protection. This eco-friendly sunscreen without harsh chemical uses the ingredient non-Nano zinc oxide and even better, their bottles were made to be recyclable to reduce plastic waste to protect the planet. Eco friendly and reef friendly, cruelty free, and paraben free. This product protects you and the world you love.

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Raw Elements Certified Natural Sunscreen

Founded by a beach lifeguard, this natural alternative for sunscreen is made with active antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals produced by mother earth. It’s organic, chemical free, reef safe, biodegradable, and 100% recyclable. The ingredients include Certified Natural Zinc Oxide, Organic Beeswax, Organic Black Tea, Natural Candelilla Wax, Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Organic Green Tea, Organic Rosemary Oil, Natural Mango Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Sunflower, and Natural Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Soy Free. This product is safe for the smallest infant or most active athlete.

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Take a chance on these all natural sunscreens and keep protecting our planet!

June 23, 2018
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“54% of American’s don’t take Vacation…”

By | Article, Blogs, Food for thought, Tips & Tricks, Vacations

ONE OF THE BIGGEST STATISTICS that will make you say “What!”, is the fact that 54% of America don’t take vacation time!

I know! I thought the same exact thing when I read that.

Not only is vacationing amazing because you get to spend X amount of days on an island, relaxing, while you have servers pamper you all day long, and get to walk around in a bathing suit without being judged… There are also some serious benefits that will improve your quality of life.

Positive HealthImage result for feeling healthy gif

Life is rough. You wake up, go to work all day, take care of your kids (or furbabies), clean and feed whoever is in your household, go to sleep, wake up, REPEAT. There’s no time in there for you to take care of yourself. While you are on vacation, you get to sleep more, eat more, soak in some Vitamin C, and give your body and mind a break. According to science, you can increase your health by 20% by taking one vacation.

 

Stress-reliefImage result for relax gif

Whether it’s the pressure at work, from your family, or just having a super busy schedule; taking a vacation gets you away from all the chaos in your life. It will dramatically reduce stress, anxiety, and mental and physical burnouts that you are feeling.

 

Productivity, Creativity, & InspirationImage result for creativity gif

Just like a battery, if we are over worked without a break, our batteries run low on juice. If our battery is low, we lose our creativity, our patience, are less helpful and hardworking, and make poor decisions. That’s why a few days on a vacation is beneficial, so that you have time to recharge your batteries, refuel and refresh yourself, and return energized.

 

Self-timeImage result for vacation time gif

When your life consists of focusing on everything else around you, but yourself, you are reducing your quality of life. Taking a vacation will give you the opportunity to reflect on yourself and the changes you can make to improve your lifestyle to make it better, make you realize the care you need to give to yourself, and a sense of peace. Experiencing an island escape will be good for your mind, your body, and most importantly, yourself.

 

HappinessImage result for happiness vacation gif

Science says taking a vacation improves your happiness, so don’t you want to be happy? Then take a vacation!