it is well | 3.2.15.

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it is well || girlmeetslife.com

is it well {with my soul}

On Friday night we had our first Liberty Sisterhood event of 2015, and it was…on another level. About a dozen amazing women from church shared their stories about finding freedom through Jesus, and to say it was inspiring would be the understatement of the year. I shared on Instagram the gist of what I took away from it…

Being free isn’t about being perfect, self-reliant, or even strong. It’s okay to know when and where we’re weak. Freedom is a choice - one to be made daily - of surrendering the lies and claiming the truth about who we are and who God is. Still reeling from the bravery of so many women at #LibertySisterhood declaring where they have found freedom and inspiring us all to do the same! Being in bondage to anything is NOT normal or okay. Break free. Today’s the day.

Jessi did an incredible job of recapping the night - click here to read more about it.

it is well {with my body}

I’ve mentioned before how I’m a fan of essential oils, and lately more and more positive information is coming out about the benefits of using them.

I currently use Progessence Plus for hormonal balance, which I believe helped (in congruence with getting acupuncture) me regain my cycle. I also use Lavender for relaxation purposes.

Here are some articles about Essential Oils + their benefits:

About/How To Use Essential Oils
Essential Oils Might Be The New Antibiotics
A Guide To Essential Oils

Young Living Essential Oils

If you’re interested in purchasing essential oils, my friend Emily is an affiliate for Young Living. Click here to purchase through her. Or if you have any questions email me at gracie(at)girlmeetslife(dot)com and I can connect you with her!

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Have you ever tried using essential oils? What are your thoughts on them?

it is well | 2.23.15.

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it is well || girlmeetslife.com

it is well {with my soul}

I feel like I’ve mentioned a gazillion times that my word of the year is simplify. But it’s holding me accountable, soooo I’m going to keep talking about it.

Naturally, I loved this article - Accomplish More by Committing to Less.

“It’s simple math. Each additional project divides your time into smaller and smaller pieces so that you have less of it to devote to anything. Whereas if you reduce your number of responsibilities, you have more time to devote to each one.”

This taps into exactly why I’m trying to simplify my life/responsibilities - to do fewer things with excellence rather than a ton of things just okay.

I must admit, though, that I haven’t done a stellar job with that so far this year. It’s just so easy for me to fall back to what has been my normal routine. But recently I’ve gotten the motivation back, and I’m pretty excited to make some (difficult?) decisions about my career/life. Wish me luck…

it is well {with my body}

Before sugar was demonized as the worst possible thing we could eat, salt was one of the biggest enemies of people striving to be healthy. But over the past few years, Himalayan Pink Salt has come out of the woodwork as being not just a less-harmful version of the favorite condiment, but one that actually includes health benefits.

Pink Himalayan Salt

It’s believed that Himalayan Pink Salt is the purest and most natural salt on earth because it’s from an environment that has been protected by snow and ice (and previously lava). Because of that, it is packed with tons of vitamins and minerals.

According to this article, because of those minerals the benefits of Himalayan Pink Salt include:

Create an electrolyte balance
Increases hydration
Regulate water content both inside and outside of cells Balance pH (alkaline/acidity) and help to reduce acid reflux
Prevent muscle cramping
Aid in proper metabolism functioning
Strengthen bones
Lower blood pressure
Help the intestines absorb nutrients
Prevent goiters
Improve circulation
Dissolve and eliminate sediment to remove toxins

Good news for you salt lovers, huh? So instead of saying goodbye to salt, just go ahead and choose the right salt. Plus, how much for fun is it that it’s pink? ;)

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Have you tried Himalayan Pink Salt?
What are your thoughts on accomplishing more by doing less? Is that something you’d say you’re good at?

 

it is well | 2.9.15.

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it is well || girlmeetslife.com

it is well {with my soul}

The other day I read this article by one of my favorite writers, , and I found myself saying YES! so many times while reading it (as I normally do with her pieces).

You’re Never Fully Ready

The older I get, the more I’m realizing that one of the biggest misconceptions about growing up is the idea that we’ll be fully ready for those “big” life changes.

Moving out on your own.
The career change.
The marriage.
The first house.
The children.

I obviously can’t speak for all of those experiences, but I can say that getting older hasn’t magically made me a fearless, more intelligent, ready-for-anything person. In fact, I’ve probably even gotten more scared of change. Ha!

My mom once told me how she still feels like her twenty-something year old self, and that always stuck with me. Could it be that I’ll always FEEL like the Gracie that I am right now? What about the more mature, grab life by the horns adult I envisioned becoming one day?

Of course we learn from life’s experiences and mature from them to an extent, and I’m sure there are times where we’re more ready than others. But I’ve personally been realizing more and more (and hearing from older people) that most of the time, you don’t always feel ready. Life happens, and sometimes you just have to keep up, roll with it, and act on it.

Sounds scary, right? I guess it could. But I think even more so that it seems really, really exciting. Let’s get paddling.

 

it is well {with my body}

Last week I shared on Instagram how I’m such a huge fan of the Viva Vanilla Vega Protein Smoothie, and since then the obsession has only grown. Never in a million years did I think I’d prefer the flavor of a plant-based protein powder over a whey one.

Vega Protein Smoothie - Viva Vanilla

 

My go-to smoothie lately has been a combo of banana, spinach, frozen berries, a full scoop of this Vega, and almond milk. It’s crazy filling because of the extra punch of protein combined with the fiber. The perfect light breakfast or a great afternoon snack.

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Are you a fan of protein powder? What’s your favorite?
What’s something in your life that you’re struggling with being “ready” for?

it is well | 2.2.15.

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it is well || girlmeetslife.com

IT IS WELL {WITH MY SOUL}

I don’t know about you, but this time of year I always find myself getting into a bit of a funk. The winter (after the holidays) can just be a very gloomy time without much to be excited about.

Thankfully, I’ve kept that usual rut at bay this year, and I wanted to share with you how I’ve been actively doing so. That’s the key word, really - actively.

CHOOSING joy.
CHOOSING hope.
CHOOSING peace.

Sounds easier said than done, right? Well that’s why reading the Bible is so important - it gives us the tools we need to choose those things. What we need to remember, though, that choosing those things goes hand in hand with surrendering to God. Pulled from me previous post, Choose Joy…

So the next time you’re feeling down…actively choose joy.

“Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” John 16:24

When you’re feeling worrisome…choose to trust.

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:25-26

Stressed out? Choose peace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Struggling with unbelief? Choose hope.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Instead of living with a sense of fear and dread…choose expectancy.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

(Also worth noting if you do happen to find yourself in a funk right now - here are some of my tips for getting out of a rut.)

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IT IS WELL {WITH MY BODY}

When I stumbled upon this Ice Cube Facial beauty tip on The Skinny Confidential the other day, I knew I had to try it. I’ve used ice packs in the past to decrease eye/face puffiness, so I was pretty confident I’d like the results.

(Not to mention any beauty hack that doesn’t require a dime spent is a good one in my book.)

So yesterday I decided to give it a try. It was about 30 minutes after my spin class and my face was still a bit red/puffy from working out. I did the “facial” by dunking my face in the ice water a few times for about a total of 20 seconds (I’m a huge baby and can’t hold my breath).

The results? Well, after I stopped giggling at myself for the fact that I was dunking my face in ice water…I noticed an instant change in my face. My whole face - especially under my eyes - felt much less puffy, the redness reduced, and CRAZY refreshed. And it seemed to last throughout the day, too!

It may sound crazy…and it’s not super comfortable…but I definitely suggest giving an Ice Cube Facial a shot.

Er, dunk.

ice cube facial

Do you too find yourself in a funk this time of year?
Ever try an ice cube facial? (Let me know if you do!) :)

 

 

it is well | 1.26.15.

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it is well || girlmeetslife.com

IT IS WELL {WITH MY SOUL}

I mentioned a few weeks ago how my word of the year is SIMPLIFY, and since then I’ve really been trying to focus more on getting my mind in the right place before rushing into the day ahead. I’ve always tried to squeeze in productive mornings when I could, but lately I’ve made it an every day practice of being even more intentional with how I spent the first hour or two of my day.

Here are my top tips for making the most out of your morning. Whether you implement one or all six, I think you might find them helpful in your own life as well!

(if you’re a YouTube user, feel free to go ahead and subscribe to my channel!)

Mentioned in this video:
3 Tips For Keeping A Journal
Jesus Calling devotional
God’s Promises Day By Day devotional
Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith devotional

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IT IS WELL {WITH MY BODY}

I haven’t made mention of it here on GML yet, but a few months ago I started getting acupuncture for some hormonal issues I’ve dealt with for over 10 years. Through the process I’ve noticed that a lot of people have no idea how acupuncture actually works.

While there’s a lot more to it than just this, I thought I’d share this brief video where my doctor (Jingduan Yang) explains what acupuncture is in under 2 minutes. He does a great job of summarizing the general idea.

(Side note - I was thinking of planning my full acupuncture story soon. Is that something you’d be interested in?)

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Do you practice any of the morning rituals I suggested? What are some of yours?

it is well | 1.19.15.

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it is well || girlmeetslife.com

IT IS WELL {WITH MY SOUL}

One of my favorite daily devotionals is Faith’s Check Book by Charles Spurgeon. I’ll be honest - it’s not the easiest read in the world. I often read mine out loud and very slowly to fully grasp it. But when I do, they’re literally life-changing.

Here is a devotional from last week (January 16th) that really hit home for me, and I thought it might for you too.


IT IS WELL {WITH MY BODY}

Over the past few years there seems to have been a huge shift in the “a calorie is a calorie” mentality. Reading books like The Calorie Myth and It Starts With Food was incredibly eye opening for me. Even though I had heard a handful of times that not all calories are created equal (anymore), I never fully understood why.

Those books were very helpful in explaining it, but this article 7 Common Calorie Myths We Should All Stop Believing from Mark’s Daily Apple broke it down even more. It’s definitely worth a read!

My thoughts - I hate to give the PC answer, but for me it really does come down to moderation and balance. I don’t think there’s one “perfect” way to eat because we’re all built completely differently. Maybe calories do matter more for some people than others. Maybe grains/fat/etc. affect one person completely differently than another.

But no matter how we choose to eat, I still think that balance is key. I’ve been finding that sticking to real foods (less grains, less sugar) is best for me, but that doesn’t mean I’ll never eat pizza again. I think as a society we’ve become so obsessed with weight and dieting that we just keep pendulum swinging from one mindset to another, and maybe that’s an even bigger issue than the mathematics of it all…

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What are your thoughts on the whole “is a calorie just a calorie” debate?

it is well | 1.12.15.

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I’m so excited to introduce this new weekly series I’ll be doing here on GML.

it is well || girlmeetslife.com

I’ve mentioned about a trillion times that even though I like to keep GML fun and lighthearted most of the time, it’s also really important to me to use my platform here to inspire and uplift women.

So at the beginning of every week I’m going to share some short & sweet thoughts about being well both in your soul (mentally, emotionally, spiritually) *and* your body (physically), as I really believe that true health/wellness is about tending to our whole selves. I also like the idea of combining inspiration with practical tools/advice - little things that might add some extra motivation to the busyness of your week.

I’m not an expert so this is just based on my own thoughts/experiences, and I’ll often share from other sources :) So here’s what it will look like!

it is well {with my SOUL}

This is one of my daily devotionals from last week (from God’s Promises Day by Day), and it really struck a chord with me.

{it is well} devotional

I don’t know if you believe in God or not. But what I do know is that the God I believe in…this is His character. He isn’t some inaccessible, unreliable, far off in the galaxies God. He is a God that truly cares about what brings us pain and what brings us joy. He cares more than anything about the condition of our heart.

This God i know loves us on a personal, intimate level, and don’t let anyone or any preconceived notions tell you otherwise. I challenge you today and this week to go to God with everything - your burdens, your desires, your past, present and future. The best advice I could ever give is to get to know Him!

it is well {with my BODY}

I’ve heard a handful of times about how it’s good to drink warm lemon water in the morning, but I never fully knew why. Here’s an article that lays out the 16 Health Benefits of Drinking Warm Lemon Water. Heck, even if only a few of them are true - it’s worth a shot to me!

I’ve read of some people adding cayenne pepper to their warm lemon water as it can supposedly boost metabolism, but that was just too gross for me. Instead, I’ll often add a generous sprinkle of cinnamon to mine, as cinnamon has been shown to regular blood sugar and may reduce immflamation.

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Have you tried drinking warm lemon water in the morning?