RA stories

Thank you for allowing me to take the stage last night along with so many amazing women.  It was an absolute honor. 

I was overwhelmed with emotions last night as Stacy Cassio announced that my story received the most votes for Pink Mentor Network's 2020 Growth Stories, which also meant that the voters really resonated with my story. 

Honestly, I was super nervous and probably rushed so I wouldn't be choked up and cry.  Many of you asked for what I shared afterwards since it was pretty difficult to take notes - if you don't know some of the Ayurvedic terms, it probably didn't help that I talked so fast - which is why I'm writing this blog for you to reference in the upcoming months.  And yes, you can absolutely share with whomever needs to hear my story.

I truly hope what I'm sharing will help you and anyone you know end 2020 with some resilience, joy, patience, and kindness to yourself.

2020 has been a lot of things... tough, sad, stressful, weird, and challenging are things to come to mind. Businesses have failed, and people have gotten sick, lost jobs, or lost loved ones. 

With all of the stress and uncertainty that has come with this year, many of us have packed on the Quarantine 15 (or more)! If this is you, don't fret. There are safe, healthy ways to get these extra pounds off. 

We had the opportunity to interview Rhya Pachin, one of the experts in functional nutrition here in Charlotte. You may remember her from earlier in the year when she talked with us about the gut microbiome and the importance of using food and nutrition to heal the body. 

Today, she is going to talk to us more about that pesky "Quarantine 15" and how we can make a few simple lifestyle changes to get that off, and keep it off.

Sugar is in everything. I am sure you know that things like cupcakes and candy are loaded with sugar, but you may be surprised about the sugar content hiding in some foods that may seem otherwise innocent. Would you have thought that your baked beans, spaghetti sauce, ketchup and low-fat yogurt can actually be packed with more sugar than your dessert?

Today, I am interviewing Jacqueline Bourne, who has taken the plunge into sugar free living. You may remember her from a previous interview interview where we talked about getting your best internal and external glow. Her website is full of helpful resources, so make sure to check that out.

In this interview, you'll learn more about how Jacqueline was able to transition her family away from sugars and the incredible transformation this has had on their health and lives. She even gives recommendations for sugar substitutions as well as a delicious recipe!

Would you benefit from adding a deodorant spray to your routine? Natural deodorants 

offer a safe and effective odor protection. However, during the hot days of summer or after a gym workout, you may need a little more. This is where our deodorant sprays come in! Learn more about deodorant sprays and how they will be the perfect addition to your summer routine! 

Acne can tell you a lot about what is going on in your life and within your body. Both Ayurveda and Chinese medicine use Face Mapping to correlate breakouts with organs and lifestyle factors. This is an in depth look at what your skin could be telling you, and changes you could make to clear up your face. You will be surprised about what you can learn from your skin!

Ever wonder what natural remedies you can use for sensitive skin, dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis?

With both Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism, I definitely suffer from dry skin, swelling, redness, and inflammation.  I have found many skin care products to exasperate my skin conditions.

Check the back labels of products!  Avoid certain ingredients like parabens, sulfates, dyes, and fragrances as well as alcohol-based cleansers and products - they can dry and irritate skin further.  Not all moisturizers are created equal, so choosing the wrong moisturizer can also make dry skin and certain skin conditions worse.  Hydration is key, and using sun protection is very important. 

Learn more about the list of a few natural remedies that help with certain health and skin conditions.

If you haven't heard the story of why Roses and Azalea is started, here's a really quick version.  I struggled with autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism, and other illnesses for more than a decade and was finally diagnosed after hearing Dr. Amy Myers on a podcast randomly one day.  My husband was the one to catch that episode and thought told me that many of my symptoms matched the ones discussed on the podcast.

The diagnosis took a long time.  After persistence, our own personal research, seeing doctors across three different states, and being our own advocates, we finally had the diagnosis in 2018.  Although there was some relief in knowing that "it wasn't actually all in my head" like some of the healthcare professionals had told me since my early 20's (in fact, a doctor had told me that because I'm a woman who is getting old, what else should I expect), I wondered "now what?"

Some of you reading this may be wondering exactly that.  You've already been diagnosed with autoimmune disease(s) and have had very little guidance and resources.  Some of you may not have reached diagnosis yet and want some answers.  Wherever in your health journey, I want to reassure you that you aren't alone and that there ARE some resources and support out there for you!

Today, I am interviewing Anessa Powell who is very familiar with living with an autoimmune disease, Addison's Disease.  She is an amazing wife and mother of two.  Anessa is a passionate speaker and educator as well as one of the leaders of Autoimmune Sisters, the #1 online community for those living with an autoimmune disease.  In this interview, you'll find out a little more about Anessa's own health journey, some advice she has for being a modern woman juggling life with autoimmune disease, advice for caretakers, and some of the much-needed resources for those living with autoimmune disease(s).

Recently the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic.  And with all the difference information, media, and opinions portrayed on social media by the general public, confusion and misleading information can cause mass panic.

As someone who is at high risk with asthma and autoimmune disease, I don't take things lightly.  I've heard from many different perspectives including medical professionals.  There's charts floating around comparing the flu with COVID-19.  Pictures of how there's no toilet paper (and other resources) have dominated my Facebook feed.

No matter how things turn out with a severe flu season, rise of Coronavirus cases, and other illnesses, it is important to boost your immune system and to prevent from getting sick when possible.  The best thing you can do for yourself and your family members is to remain calm and carry out your life normally, to start making healthy lifestyle changes, and to practice good hand hygiene.

Not sure where to start?  I have written about 10 ways to boost your immune system and to reduce the risk of infection!  All facts, no opinions.  Read this very important information now.

It's almost Valentine's Day❣  Whether you have a bae/hunny or not in your life, every single woman deserves self-love and self-care.

Love doesn't always have to come from other people.  In fact, it is so important to love yourself.  As women, we wear so many hats in this modern day, and sometimes we forget about our own needs because we are so busy taking care of other people - at work, at home, anywhere really.

This interview of Chrystal Rose is about self-love that impacts the mind, body, and spirit.  I'm going to be completely honest - this is something that I am 100% still struggling with.  I've been bullied and shamed all of my life, a lot of times by the people whom I thought loved me and was closest to me, so this topic is absolutely important to me.  Sometimes people don't realize that words really hurt, and they truly don't realize how those words can impact others' self-esteem, self-worth, and self-love.

Chrystal owns Rebellia, the Rebel Babe Cave podcast, and Mental Message.  She is also a nutritional coach and is currently working on obtaining a certification in life coaching that focuses on body image and disordered eating from a holistic approach.  Chrystal is extremely passionate at what she does and wants to make an impact on women's lives - centering around changing the mindset, achieving sustainability (instead of trying yo-yo diets), and working towards balance.