Linda's Lunacy

Faith, Home, & Family

What is Wellness?

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This What is Wellness post contains affiliate links

“Health and Wellness” is a phrase that has been around for years. It’s still going strong, and only getting more popular.

But what is wellness??

What is Wellness?

Dictionary.com defines wellness as:

1. the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort.

2. an approach to healthcare that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life, as opposed to emphasizing treating diseases.

So wellness is not just one thing.

It’s everything we do to try and stay healthy. The food we eat, the exercise we do, the supplements we take, our mental and emotional health.

Wellness is the whole package. Emotional health, mental health, and physical health.

Most of the time we think that Healthy = not sick.

But it’s more than that. It’s being proactive. We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to maintain our mental, emotional, and physical health.

Start Your Wellness Journey

It’s never too late to start! It doesn’t matter our age.

If you are not where you would like to be with your health and wellness. Start now!

Start with a visit to your doctor.

Then start slowly making changes in your diet, your exercise routine, and your supplements. It’s been proven that if we make slow changes, instead of big changes all at once, we are more apt to keep up with the changes we do make.

Try and focus on your mental and emotional health every day, too.

Do something you enjoy, just because you enjoy it. Surround yourself with people that build you up, not tear you down. Religion is a big part of mental and emotional health as well.

If you need help making changes, I recommend finding a health coach. (It’s what I want to be when I grow up! lol)

You might also like Give the Gift of Wellness, and How to But the Best Hand Sanitizer.

**This post contains affiliate links. If you click the links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you

Give the Gift of Wellness This Mother’s Day

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*This post contains affiliate links

Mother’s Day is almost here. Give your mother the gift of wellness this year!

Here are a few of my favorite wellness products that I use and love. These would make great gifts for anyone, anytime of the year! If you have any questions, just ask!

The Breast Chek Kit is something that I think all women should have. It’s a tool to help with breast self exams. It makes it easier to feel any little lumps. I have one, and it really helps.

Joyome is a skin care line that works to balance your skins microbiome to keep it healthy. This isn’t make up, it’s skin care. We start losing collagen at age 25, so we all need this!

I have used Triplex for about 6 years now. Gut health is so important to our overall health. Gut health seems to be a buzz word that everyone is using now. But Triplex really works! I love it, and hope to never be without it, because it has really helped me.

Sometimes wellness refers to our mental and emotional health, too. Mom’s need time to relax, and do things that they find fun, and that are important to them. With Cratejoy, you can have a box sent to mom that she will thoroughly enjoy. There are many boxes to choose from, so you’re sure to find something your your mom loves. You can have a box sent one time, or pick a subscription.

Ok, this next gift might be a little tricky. You can’t just give your mom a scale and insinuate that she needs to lose weight. But…..if she has expressed an interest in all the things that todays scales can do, this is a great one. I bought this one for myself. It syncs with an app on your phone to tell you not only weight, but body composition. The app saves your data, and you can set goals, and see your progress. I love being able to track my progress with building muscle.

I discovered Thrive Market a few months ago. I live in a rural area, and would have to drive a hour and a half to two hours to get to a store that carries the same products. Now I can have them delivered right to my door. Here’s a picture of my last delivery.

From meat and other items needed for dinners, to snacks, supplements, personal care, and household items. They really have just about everything that you need. And it’s all high quality, sustainable products. I love that you can search for a specific diet need, keto, vegetarian, gluten free, and more. It will pull up all the gluten free, for example, items for you to look at.

Give your mother a membership and she will thank you! Send her her first order, and she will THANK YOU! lol You can send a gift card to cover the membership & add some extra for their first order. Go HERE to get 25% of your first order, and get a free gift, too!

Those are a few wellness items that I use and love.

And that I would love to receive as a gift, too!

*This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

How to Buy the Best Hand Sanitizer

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*This how to buy the best hand sanitizer post contains affiliate links

Now a days, we all need to keep sanitizer on hand all the time.

Hand Sanitizer can be expensive, and hard to find, so make sure you are buying the best one for you.

Here are some tips.

How to Buy the Best Hand Sanitizer

1.     Be Sure About Alcohol Percentage

The amount of alcohol in the hand sanitizer is critically important and the most effective hand sanitizers consist of 60-85% alcohol by volume, so be sure to check the alcohol percentage before purchasing.

2.     Check Alcohol Type

 Ethanol is proven to be more effective than isopropyl alcohol on its own against viruses. Be sure to check the type of alcohol to make sure you are purchasing the most effective hand sanitizer.

3.     Additional Ingredients

Check out the extra ingredients in the hand sanitizers as ingredients like Aloe, which is used in Smart Care hand sanitizers, help to smooth the skin upon application and reduce the dryness associated with alcohol.

4.     Proper Application is Important

In advance of application, make sure to clean all dirt and grease from your hands.  Apply a small dab of hand sanitizer to the palm of one hand, then rub your hands together. Make sure the sanitizer has dried before wiping your hands.

5.     Select a Brand with A Proven Reputation

Lastly, with the increasing number of brands on the market make sure to select a brand that has an established reputation for delivering performance and efficacy.

I recently received these Smart Care sanitizer products. Smart Care has been a leader in hand sanitizing products since 2015. They also carry some paper products, and first aid supplies. I saw some really cute disposable masks for kids, too!

These little character bottles are the best smelling hand sanitizer I’ve ever tried. If your kids won’t use hand sanitizer because of the smell, try these! There are several different licensed characters to choose from for all ages.

The antibacterial wipes are for only ages 3 and up. They are convenient to carry in your bag or purse when you don’t want to worry about liquid spilling.

The giveaway below is now over. I hope you found these tips for buying hand sanitizer helpful!

Smart Care Hand Sanitizer Package Giveaway

Enter below to win the Smart Care Hand Sanitizer Package below. Hand soap, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, alcohol wipes….everything you need!

Be sure to read the terms and conditions on the form!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” My opinions are my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you click the links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you

How to Find the Perfect Exercise for You!

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Exercise is so important to our health and well being.  We can’t truly be healthy without exercise. 

 

The benefits of exercise are many. It reduces the risk of illness and disease.  We need weightbearing exercise for strong, healthy bones. Exercise helps with weight management. It reduces stress, and improves our mood. Just to name a few!

 

 

 

How to Find the Perfect Exercise for You!

 

1. Go see your doctor. Yes, that’s the first step to finding the perfect exercise for you. Talk to your doctor. Tell him/her that you want to start exercising and get cleared for new physical activity.

 

 

 

2. Decide what your health goals are. Improve your heart health? Lose weight? Stay active instead of slowing down with age? Build muscle? Increase your stamina? You have to choose the health goals that are important to you. Choosing all, or too many, will make it next to impossible for you to meet your goals. Pick one. Reach that goal or be well on your way to reaching it, before you add another one.

 

 

3. Think about the things you love to do. Did you love a certain sport when you were in school? Did you take skating/horseback riding/dance lessons? Is being out in nature your thing or do you prefer to be indoors? Once you focus on the things you love to do, you will be able to narrow down what exercise you will love. Take up those lessons again, find a sports team to play on. Go out and hike that mountain. Well, work your way up to the mountain. lol

 

 

4. Take a good look at your schedule. Committing several hours a week to a sports team/ dance lessons, etc. won’t work if your schedule is already full. No matter how hard you try, you will be setting yourself up for failure. You may need to start out smaller while you work on changing your schedule. Maybe your lunch hour is the only time you have. Take a walk instead of being on your phone or talking to others. Get them to go on a walk with you!

  

5. Do you like to exercise with others? Or do you prefer to be alone? if you prefer to be alone and you take a large exercise class/join a team, you aren’t going to be able to keep with it. And vice versa. Do you want/need someone with you to tell you what to do every step of the way? If you do, getting a trainer or coach will really help you. If you don’t, getting a trainer will make you miserable, and you will stop.

 

Once you find what you love, that fits with your personality, and schedule, it’s time to get moving!

Breast Health Facts

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But we should be concerned with breast health year round, not just during October.

My mother is a breast cancer survivor. So I personally know some things about breast cancer. And I try to stay informed about new information. Here are some facts that I have learned about breast cancer.



Breast Health Facts



Breast Health Facts



~Breast cancer is the number two cancer in woman in the United States. Some kinds of skin cancer comes in first.*

~There were 250,520 cases of breast cancer in the US in 2017, the last year that there is data for.*

~There are some things you can do to lower your risk of getting breast cancer, not drinking alcohol, for example.

~You need to know the breast cancer history for the women in your family. Whether you get tested for the breast cancer gene is a personal decision. But you still need to know if women in your family have gotten breast cancer. This information will help your doctor decide how often you should be screened.

~The majority of breast cancer cases are not family related.

~It has not been proven that anti-perspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer.*
If you are concerned, do some research to find one that you are comfortable using. There are many options available now.

~Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk. Even if you can only breastfeed for a month or two, it’s awesome for baby, and will help lower your risk. The longer you breastfeed, the lower your risk.

~Early detection is key to improving survival rates.

~A mammogram is the standard test to check for breast cancer. There are some concerns about the radiation from mammograms. If this concerns you, talk to your doctor. Sometimes, in some cases, another test can be done with less radiation.

~We all need to be diligent in doing our monthly self breast exams. I use this to help during self exams. Right now there is a buy one, get one free sale going on. So you can share one!

~Not every lump is cancer! Please don’t avoid doing self exams, and yearly exams with your doctor. You don’t need to be afraid!



Breast cancer doesn’t just affect women. It affects men, too. Their mothers, girlfriends, wives, daughters, are getting breast cancer. Men get breast cancer, too! So ladies, make sure the men in your life know the facts about breast health!


Here are a couple of things that I made for my mother to celebrate her being a breast cancer survivor.

A pink ribbon scarf, and a ribbon grapevine wreath.



*This page contains an affiliate link. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

*I got these numbers from here and here. And info from here.

Vitamin D – What It Is and Why You Need It

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Since I have experienced low Vitamin D myself, I have done some research.

So I decided to share what I have learned with you!

 

Vitamin D – What It Is and Why You Need It

 

IMG_2093 (1)

 

Your body can not survive without Vitamin D. Vitamin D promotes cell growth, immune function, and it reduces inflammation, and along with calcium, it is important for your bones.

Your immune system is directly affected by low Vitamin D.

Low Vitamin D equals low immune system.

That fact is extremely important to know concerning the virus we are dealing with right now.

 

Some signs of low Vitamin D are

  • fatigue
  • you get sick all the time, or have repeated infections
  • poor wound healing
  • bone pain
  • muscle pain
  • hair loss
  • depression

Now obviously, those signs can come from numerous things.

So it’s important to go see your doctor about your symptoms.

 

Vitamin D is the only nutrient that your body can make when it is exposed to the sun. Pretty cool, huh?

It can take as little as 15-20 minutes a day of sun, exposing your arms, legs, abdomen, and back. You will need at least double that if you are exposing only your arms and legs. Which brings you to an amount of time that is next to impossible to achieve during the winter in the majority of the United States.

 

You may get enough vitamin D from your diet and the sun during the summer. In the winter, however, many people need to take a supplement.

 

Good sources of Vitamin D include:

  • salmon
  • tuna, and other wild caught fish
  • beef or calf liver
  • egg yolks
  • dairy products – milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.

To name a few.

 

Vitamin D What It Is And Why You Need It

 

 

Doctors don’t always order a Vitamin D test when you are having lab work done. You may have to ask.

 

You can get too much Vitamin D.  And too much can lead to health problems.

You can’t get too much by eating foods with Vitamin D and from the sun.

You can get too much from taking supplements.

That’s why it’s important to get your vitamin D level checked regularly.

 

I have experienced low vitamin D myself. I know how awful it can make you feel. If you are trying to eat right and take care of yourself, but still feel bad and have some or all of the symptoms listed above, check with your doctor!

 

 

 

Do You Take Your Vision for Granted?

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*This is a sponsored post.

 

I take my vision for granted.

 

Admit it, you do to.

 

From the time we open our eyes in the morning until we close our eyes at night, we don’t even think about what an amazing gift our vision is. We take it for granted that we will always be able to see. Looking at ourselves in the mirror in the morning. Driving our cars. Seeing how yummy our food looks. Watching tv or a sports game. Looking at the stars in the sky at night.

 

I have been blessed to be able to watch my tiny newborn babies grow into awesome adults. And the many, many memory making moments in between. My daughter is expecting my first grandchild this summer. I can hardly wait to lay my eyes on that sweet little bundle of joy!

 

We take the ability to see all those marvelous sights for granted.   Until something happens to our vision.

 

Do You Take Your Vision for Granted?

 

Do You Take Your Vision for Granted?

 

Think about it for a moment. What if you lost your sight? What if you couldn’t see your spouse, your kids, or your grandkids? I know I would be heartbroken to lose my vision and not be able to see my grandbaby.

Every year nearly 10 million Americans go blind due to Age-related Macular Degeneration. Age-related Macular Degeneration is an eye disease that causes the loss of central vision. AMD causes degeneration of light sensitive cells in the central portion of the retina which enables us to perceive fine visual detail.

 

There’s a man in my town that has been legally blind (not from AMD) for over 50 years. Thanks to new technology, he was recently able to see his wife, kids, and grandkids for the first time ever. What a miraculous gift!

 

If you, or someone you love, have Age-related Macular Degeneration, there is help for you, too!

 

Ending Blindness

 

 

The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a non-profit organization, has been funding research on cures for blindness, specifically AMD, since 1971. Thanks to their research, there are new treatments to stop, and in some cases even reverse, retinal disease.  Medical technology is repairing vision and helping people to see again! This is great news for people over 55 and their families.

 

 

Want more information about AMD, symptoms, causes, treatments? How about an invaluable list of 14 questions to ask your eye doctor? I have never seen a list like this for the eye doctor before! For all that, an at home test to see if you have AMD, and more, download this Guide to Age-related Macular Degeneration PDF packet.

 

*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): I was compensated for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” My opinions are my own.

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