Tag Archives: prewedding advice
You know that reality check you get every time you go swim suit shopping? It isn’t usually a pleasant one—at least not for me—and when a big vacation or event is on the horizon, I’m eager to do everything I can to facilitate helping my body to look the best it can! One of those things happens to be getting one of the amazing detoxifying body wraps that my friend and personal wrapper Sharon offers!
Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t the end all be all cure for the body you’ve always dreamed of, but combined with a clean diet and exercise, they can help give you the jump start you need to reach your goals and help you to maintain!
One of the things I love most about doing the wrap is that when I decide it’s time to schedule it, that means it’s time to clean up my diet. When I’m really serious about it, I even do a cleanse. Not one of those crazy cayenne pepper cleanses, but a simple clean eating, lots of water, working out, kick my but into gear cleanses. Cutting out the things I love (coffee, sugar, gluten, dairy, wine…oh wonderful wine) is never easy, but it’s only for a week and I know the end result is feeling awesome on the inside and outside. Even better, usually there is a fabulous vacation waiting on the other end!
Sharon’s spa is fabulous and she has found her calling in what she does. So if you have a trip to the beach, an upcoming wedding or some other fun adventure in your near future, give her a call, set a goal for yourself, and get your sexy on!
Sharon Vendle
Holistic Health Practitioner
Are you experiencing fatigue or lack of energy, weight issues (over or under), digestive problems, cravings or addiction, headaches, anxiety, depression, skin disorders or have been sick more than once this year? These are signs of a toxic body. Toxins can come from many sources – the foods we eat, the air we breathe, the amount of stress in our lives, smoking or even medications we take.
There are many ways to detoxify ranging from elimination of certain foods, liquid or a juice cleanse, supplements, body wraps, exercise and a complete detoxification program that combines some or all of the above. Detoxification really focuses on redirecting the body’s energy from digestion and on to healing. Ever wonder why you feel so tired after a big meal or one that consist of red meat, sugar and processed foods? Your body can use up to 40% of its energy for digestion leaving you fatigued and unable to concentrate. When you juice or have more whole grains, vegetables, and lean protein, your body naturally digests these easier, using less energy and thus leaving you with more energy to exercise, be more alert or active.
Exercise increases circulation and oxygen flow in your body which replenishes tissues and provides increased energy throughout the day. Exercise also releases endorphins in the brain that fights depression or mood swings. And at the very least exercise that results in sweating releases toxins from your body.
Detoxification with herbal supplements can improve digestion as you expel accumulated waste, parasites and unhealthy bacteria from your body. Organs such as kidneys, liver, and colon are cleansed to help them function optimally, blood and lymph fluids are purified all resulting in a stronger immune system. On a 30-day Detox Program, clients have lowered their cholesterol and sugar levels, lowered their blood pressure, dramatically improve skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, acne and hives, strengthen their immune system and lost weight – all this leads to feeling better than they have in months or years!
Some tips to help detoxify and live healthier:
- Detoxify with a Detox Body Wrap – what makes ours so unique? It focuses on releasing toxins from the body through the use of an herbal cream that your skin absorbs and a wrap that applies light pressure to the lymphatic system. It is NOT a wrap that encourages sweat or excessive heat; in fact, it is quite relaxing and starts with a body scrub to slough off dead skin which allows the cream to penetrate easier. Next, you are wrapped and can either rest for 45-60 min. or have a Facial while in the wrap. I highly recommend the facial as it not only passes the time quickly, it leaves you feeling completely rejuvenated. Your skin looks great, your body feels lighter and tighter and over the next couple of days, as you drink water and flush the toxins out, clients notice inch loss and an overall feeling of wellness begins. When toxins get trapped between fat cells, cellulite can form. When you release toxins trapped between fat cells, the cells shrink and thus the inch loss. Detox Body Wraps are designed to compliment cleanses and internal detoxification programs; however, many clients also have one or a series prior to a bikini bound vacation, wedding, photo shoots, or simply after a weekend of indulgence.
- Eliminate caffeine, alcohol, white flour, refined sugar, dairy, red meat and anything that contains yeast from your diet. Give your body a rest from these toxins and reduce yeast levels in the body as high levels can lead to cravings for sugar and white flour, infection, allergies and fatigue. Eat more whole grains, vegetables and lean protein. You will notice a difference in a matter of days; however, I recommend people commit to 11, 20, or 30 days – give yourself a goal and commit to achieving it, your health is one of your most valuable assets.
- Exercise 4-5 times a week – increase circulation which increases oxygen and energy flow in your body. Exercise will help manage your weight, promote better sleep, and release endorphins that will make you feel good!
- Hydrate, water is critical for energy, cell rejuvenation, and to regulate all our bodily functions especially flushing your lymph system and colon of toxins and waste. A good rule of thumb is to drink 70-90 oz. water/day or half your body weight in ounces (ex. Weight =120lbs, drink 60 oz. of water/day).
Through detoxification you can transform your health and have energy when you want it and restful sleep when you need it. For a free consultation, feel free to email: Sharon@sharonvendle.com
About the contributor
Sharon Vendle is a Holistic Health Practitioner and Founder/Co-Owner of Spa Belle Vie in San Francisco. She specializes in Detoxification Programs, Detox Body Wraps, Massage Therapy and Skin Care Treatments. Visit: www.sharonvendle.com for more information.
Planning your wedding is hard work; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Whether it’s a small, intimate backyard gathering or a huge, elaborate celebration, there’s a lot to do. So I’ve been gathering some simple tips (stay tuned for the detailed tips) for my couples to help them survive this wild ride!
1) ) Join a wedding community such as A Practical Wedding, Wedding Chicks, Once Wed, Off Beat Bride, I Do Venues etc. Follow the blog, take part in the conversations, reach out and ask questions. It’s important to know that there is a community of people out there that know and understand what you’re going through and have fabulous advice to share!
2) Get the right vendors for you. Do your research and make sure you are going to get what you expect and deserve. Talk to them over the phone, via skype and if you can, meet them in person to make sure your personalities click. Ask for references and read their reviews (on their website or Yelp etc). Make sure you have a contract with each and every one of them! We are all here to help you achieve the best day of your life, so make sure we are the right people for the job!
3) Talk to and lean on the vendors you already have! We are all in the wedding industry, which means we have worked with all kinds of caterers, DJ’s, planners, make-up artists, videographers, etc., and we can help pair you with someone who is just right for your big day! Use your resources to your advantage; we’re here to help.
On that note I have a vendor page on my site if your in need of awesome people: http://173.255.253.231/chloejackman.com/public/info/vendors/
4) Open an email account just for the wedding. This is a simple yet very important tip: a way to keep everything wedding-related organized. Also, it gives both you and your boo (fiancé) access to all the same information without overwhelming your daily life.
5) Make a binder!!! This is a great way to keep everything organized and in one place: from price lists to contracts to colors to contacts to samples and so on. There’s a lot of information to gather and track, so this will make the planning process way easier and less stressful. And make it fun/creative/cute… that always helps me get more into it!
6) Make a Pinterest page! Maybe you’re not into Pinterest, or maybe you don’t know what it is (If that’s the case let me know and I’ll walk you through it). But I think it’s an essential tool for gathering inspiration and ideas. Keep in mind that you can OD on it and become overwhelmed, so try to keep your focus on searching for specific things you’re in need of: hair ideas, center pieces, color schemes, nail polish designs, favors, and other details. In order to prevent ODing, most of my brides swear off it one or two months before the big day, so as not to overwhelm themselves with new ideas.
7) Most importantly make sure to take ‘non-wedding’ time out for each other. Don’t lose focus on what really matters which is the love between you and your fiancé!
No matter what, this is going to be one of the most amazing days of your life and I hope to be there to enjoy it with you, but if I’m not please let me know how it goes!
xo,
As my life continues to move forward (whether I want it to or not), I find myself thinking a lot about my future: as a woman, a business owner, a wife (no I’m not engaged…yet!), or a mother (no I’m not pregnant…yet!). Being in my early 30s and being in my line of work, I’m constantly seeing lots of friends and clients taking the big “next steps” in life, so growing up is heavy on my mind.
I spend a lot of time watching couples and friends interact, seeing how they complement each other and watching their love grow, develop and thrive. Having parents who are divorced, but dating someone whose parents have been married for 30 years, I often contemplate what it takes to make a relationship work (I would also like to mention that all my clients to date are still together… I like to take credit for that but really it’s because they all hecka love each other and are willing to put in the effort to make it work!). With all this heavy love-related information floating around in my head, I’ve begun talking to family therapists and mediators to find out what kinds of issues are most common in the separations/divorces they deal with, and to get their insight on how most of it could be avoided.
This brings me to Mandi, who wrote our guest feature today. Mandi is a Marriage & Family Therapist (you can read more about here at the end of the blog), and she notes the importance of getting some counseling before your big day (or after, if that’s the way it worked out), to discuss the issues that can and most likely will come up in the course of a lifetime together. Let’s be honest people, forever is a long ass time: most of us won’t have friendships as long as our relationship, so it’s important understand how to make love last beyond the early years (often full of play and party) into the grown-up chapters of life dealing with money, children, in-laws, sex (or the lack thereof), things you have in common, and the things you can’t stand! Thanks to Mandi for her insights and wisdom.
Because let’s face it…we all want our own version of “Happy Ever After.”
xo,
Why Premarital Counseling is Beneficial for All Couples
by Mandi Armond
Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times in a couple’s life together. Unfortunately, the engagement period is often consumed by wedding planning and not necessarily preparation for what’s to come afterwards, marriage. In a country where the divorce rate can reach up to 50%, it’s surprising that more couples do not invest the time and effort into preparing their marriages for success. Premarital counseling is designed to help couples work through current issues, plan for how to navigate future problems, and strengthen their relationships. The process is often described as fun and insightful and can, according to some studies, lower the possibility of divorce by 30%.
Premarital counseling is generally conducted by a licensed therapist or member of the clergy. Depending on the specific program, it’s likely that couples will complete discussions, exercises, and thoughtful practice of important relationship skills. Programs such as PREPARE/ENRICH also offer couples a detailed assessment of the strengths and opportunities for growth in their relationship. Specific topics that are likely to be addressed include communication, conflict resolution, finances, relationship roles, intimacy, and personality differences. Regardless of what you focus on in session, it’s a great way for couples to affirm to each other that the quality and strength of their marriage is a priority.
No matter your religious affiliation, length of time together, sexual orientation, age, or relationship strength, premarital counseling can be beneficial. For couples that already have a strong foundation it can reinforce good habits and deepen their bond. For couples that need more assistance, it can be a great venue to get expert guidance on how to effectively negotiate and overcome issues. When couples are on the fence about whether it’s necessary, I always invite them to think of premarital counseling as preventive care for marriages. If you put in the work now, you’ll enjoy a healthier, more fulfilling marriage later.
About the Guest Blogger:
Mandi Armond is a Marriage & Family Therapist Intern that practices within the non-profit agency, Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy in San Francisco, CA. She specializes in premarital counseling using the #1 premarital assessment and program, PREPARE/ENRICH. Mandi offers traditional one-on-two premarital counseling, as well as one-day workshops for engaged couples. For more information, please visit her website, www.mandiarmond.com.
