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I used to have a love-hate relationship with this time of year. I often long for the colder weather and shorter days towards the end of summer and the end of the year holidays bring a special kind of joy to my soul. There was a time though when I spent those months feeling sluggish, often with chapped lips and a runny nose. I wasn’t good at taking care of myself and giving my body the support tools it needed when stress and illness ran high.
Over the past few year I’ve gotten better about looking after my health, so I wanted to share a few of the remedies I’ve learned along the way.
Cayenne Tea
This is my favorite tea to drink in the winter. Anytime I start feeling stuffy I drink a cup of cayenne tea. The first time I tried this tea, I was honestly scared to take the first sip. The idea of cayenne pepper and hot water did not sound fun to me. The spiciness from the pepper isn’t actually too that strong and it mixes well with the lemon and honey.
Recipe:
1/4 tsp cayenne powder
Juice of half a lemon
1 TBSP honey
- Place cayenne powder in a mug, then pour boiling water over it. Add lemon + honey, and stir.
- Sip slowly once it has cooled a bit.
Fire Cider
Fire cider is a sweet and spicy infused vinegar, packed full of anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This traditional folk remedy is wonderful to have on hand this time of year because not only is it an immune booster but acts as a decongestant, digestive stimulant, and helps with circulation throughout the body.
Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry syrup has been a favorite of mine for years now. This can be taken alone, or you can mix it into tea or yogurt.
Recipe:
1 c dried black elderberries
3 c water
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp cloves or clove powder
1 cup honey or simple sugar syrup (I use simple syrup because I currently have an infant, but I’ve used honey in the past)
- Combine water, elderberries, cinnamon, and cloves in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cover and let simmer on low for about 30 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half.
- Remove from heat. Use a potato masher or fork to mash the berries, then let sit until it is cool enough to handle.
- Pour through a strainer into a glass bowl. Keep the juice and discard the pulp. Let cool to lukewarm.
- Add in the honey or simple syrup and mix well. Transfer to a lidded jar or glass jug. Store in the fridge for up to 3 months.
Lemon + Ginger Honey
I love this honey infusion during the winter months because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Lemon and ginger honey is excellent to add to teas and warm drinks.
Get the recipe here.
Moisturizing Sugar Scrub
Sugar scrubs are a must in the winter when skin starts to get dry. Here are a few of my favorite recipes.
- Woodsy Grapefruit Sugar Scrub
- Pink Lemonade Sugar Scrub
- Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub
- Peppermint Sugar Scrub
- Lavender Sugar Scrub
Feel Better Tea
How to make: Combine equal parts meadowsweet, elder flowers, rose hips in a jar. Scoop 1 TBSP into a tea infuser, add to a mug a mug of hot water. Cover and let steep 10 minutes.
Chicken Soup
Chicken soup has all that immune boosting goodness we are usually looking for during the cold winter months. I’m not much of a fan of most chicken soup recipes because they are too
Some Other Tips:
- Drink lots of water. I try to make sure I am drinking at least 64 oz of water a day. The right amount of water will vary for each individual, so listen to your body.
- Take a vitamin D supplement
- Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can lower your immune system response.
- Keep the air in your home clean. I like to crack a window every now and then to let in some fresh air. I also often have some sort of cleansing essential oil in my diffuser. Room sprays are great too.
- Speaking of essential oils, it’s good to have some on hand. Melaleuca, Lavender, Peppermint, and Orange are great ones to start with.
- Probiotics and Adaptogens. I use the Mommy’s Bliss probiotic drops for the girls and I use these. For adaptogens, I really like Moon Dust from Moon Juice.
Let’s discuss! What are some of your favorite winter remedies?
Pin For Later:
![](https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/119238233_685867065640921_6319490334947599005_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=101&_nc_ohc=TimTkmOPqhoAX8cPy3L&oh=36da413e42899b10797e50d333cf9cd4&oe=5F9B8C55 "How are you guys doing?
This is a late post, but we are halfway through September, so I thought I\'d check-in.
To be honest, my brain is feeling extra fickle this week. Kind of like that feeling where you keep opening the fridge because you want something, but you don\'t know what that something is, so you end up eating nothing at all. Now instead of food, apply that to everything. I start classes next week, so I think my head is just heavy with anticipation, and everything feels busy. I keep getting distracted by the silliest things, both externally and internally. Smoke from the west coast fires has taken over the area for a week now, so I have a perpetual headache, and the kids are climbing the walls because they can\'t go outside. I also hoped to be farther along in my WIP than I am at this point, but instead, I\'ve rewritten the same chapter I don\'t know how many times because \\"something is just not right.\\"
If you\'re having a rough week, I just wanted to say that I see you, and I feel you. The optimist in me wants to say that this too will pass, but also, it\'s okay to be frustrated, and it\'s okay to talk about.")
![](https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/118922655_324548418766329_4125889172795121205_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=d8dzgzoltHoAX-G8ff9&oh=112597cb4231b97bfce1ff7998749ec9&oe=5F9AC826 "How is the weather where you are? I saw some places were already getting some snow 😱
Our world here is a bit hazy this week. There is smoke in the air from the fires burning through the west coast. My nose and my throat burn, and my heart hurts for the trees and the animals and the people who have all been affected. I\'m hoping for rain and cold air, but it\'s hotter today than it was yesterday, and tomorrow is it\'s only going to get hotter 😭. I\'d very much like it to be October already.
Writing update: I only got 20 minutes in yesterday. I kinda cheated on my tv ban last night 😂 To be fair, it was brother\'s birthday so we watched a movie, which isn\'t technically \\"tv.\\" Anyway, we watched #Alive and it was really good, so if you\'re into zombie movies, I highly recommend it.")
![](https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/118395221_397176611260425_4431500204494581414_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=7-h2l8S8udMAX9B3K0H&oh=865712176b7f0fd185072e2c0e1446f4&oe=5F98C348 "\\"Till this moment, I never knew myself.\\" - Jane Austen
I was inspired by @thedailymagpie \'s #5booksthatmademe challenge to share the books that have influenced me as a writer. These are the five stories that shaped how, why, and what I write.
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — All of her books have had a huge impact on me growing up, but this one especially influenced me as a writer. Elizabeth was the first character in a book that I fully related to, flaws and all, and it taught me the importance of being able to find yourself in a book.
2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien — This is the book that got me hooked on fantasy and showed me the types of stories I wanted to tell—stories full of grand adventures and whimsical characters. I couldn\'t get enough of the trolls and dragons and the band of dwarves. I was Bilbo waiting for Gandalf to take me on an adventure, at that same time wanting to curl up in my hobbit hole with a good book and some tea cakes. Also, it has a map.
3. Sky in the Deep by @adrienneyoungbooks — I still, to this day, cannot pinpoint exactly what it is about this book spoke to me as a writer. I don\'t know if it is the author\'s style of writing or her personal connection with the story coming through the pages or that it has everything I love in a story. Still, it shifted the way I look at writing, and it got me writing again after not doing so for quite a long time.
4. Discovery of Witches by @debharkness — This is the first book I fangirled over as an adult. I stayed up late into the night reading it, and it brought back that feeling of when I first read Twilight in high school and was obsessed with the Cullens. That is the feeling I want to give to readers one day, and this is the book that showed me that.
5. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie — This story will forever hold my heart. As a writer, I will always be Peter Pan living in Neverland. Writing is where I can run free and let myself play. It\'s where no idea is too silly, personal growth can come in the form of sword fights, and saying \'I do believe in fairies\' doesn\'t freak people out. (Swipe to see an old picture of my kids dressed up as lost boys.)")
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