Hello! Today we're welcoming guest writer Paula of Whole Intentions! Paula's blog is a great mix of faith, healthy living, and real food recipes. Pay her site a visit! Guest post by Paula of Whole IntentionsFood.Water.Isn't it strange how these two seemingly simple aspects of life can become our worst enemy? It doesn't happen to everyone, just like becoming addicted to nicotine doesn't happen to everyone, but there are some of us who think about food far more than others. . . Food, cravings, and declining health We think about food. We worry about the fat content. We worry about the carb content. We avoid it. We crave it. We ... Continue Reading
21 Healthy Snack Ideas for Pregnant Mamas
I've always enjoyed eating, but my appetite became positively hobbit-like just weeks after becoming pregnant. I read that pregnant women don't typically gain a lot of weight in early pregnancy, but my body certainly needed the energy from calories to start building a human from scratch!Now into my third trimester, I'm not eating ginormous meals like I did during the first five months or so. My doctor explained that my stomach doesn't have much room to expand right now. I still need plenty of calories, but I eat smaller portions more frequently, rather than packing it away in one meal.These have been my go-to healthy snacks during ... Continue Reading
Greatest Hits of 2014 (My Top 10 Posts)
This past year was a biggie. My husband completed his Master's degree in Kalamazoo, Michigan (where that snowy picture was taken!) and in July we headed south to Alabama for a new job and new living quarters. A week later, I found out I was pregnant with our baby boy! In the months since then, we've been settling in to new routines, enjoying time with family, and getting excited about the future!Blogging has continued to be a rich experience for me, as I write about what I love and continue to get to know my readers and fellow bloggers.I checked out my blog stats for 2014, and these are the posts that ranked in the top 10. These ... Continue Reading
How to Get Started with Natural Skin Care
Let's say you want to cut back on the toxic chemicals you put in your body.Let's say you're already avoiding those Red #4 maraschino cherries, as well as many of the other cancer/Alzheimer's/ADD-inducing ingredients in common foodstuffs.What's next?Skin care. While you're probably not eating them, those products are going into your body, too. Your largest organ is absorbing them!Just like with your food, when it comes to skin care you want to look for items that have as few ingredients as possible. Make sure you know what those ingredients are, and what purpose they serve in the product. If you see one of these 5 ingredients ... Continue Reading
The Busy Girl’s Guide to Staying Healthy
I've learned that you have to take your health one day at a time. That means that you don't worry about your health six months or six years down the road. And you don't wreck your health today thinking you can rebuild it in some future tomorrow.Daily health maintenance is the way to go--and it doesn't have to be hard. You may lead a busy life, but if you work a few simple habits into the fabric of your day, you can can enjoy a healthy normal. When sickness hits, you can pull out all the stops and go crazy with your natural remedies. But day-to-day? Find your maintenance mode and stick with it.Here's mine: 1. Drink LOTS of water A ... Continue Reading
Strawberry Lemonade Foot Scrub (Get Your Feet Ready for Summer!)
Who's ready to break out their flipflops and sandals? After a loooong Michigan winter, I am quite ready for summer. Actually, spring isn't even in full bloom yet here in the northlands.My box of warm-weather clothes waits to be unpacked. Sophie-cat sharpens her claws on it while I watch the rain and check the forecast and browse for sandals online.Whether you're waiting like me, or already walking barefoot to check the garden, now is the perfect time to pamper your feet and get them ready to be on display a bit more. A foot scrub is a great way to exfoliate your feet and slough off dead winter skin. I whipped up this batch of ... Continue Reading
20 First Steps to a Real Food Diet
If someone told me that they wanted to eat a real food diet but didn't know where to start, this post is what I'd tell them.These 20 first steps to a real food diet aren't hard or esoteric, but they do require new habits and a mental shift. As you implement these steps, your appreciation for food is going to go miles deeper than it is now--and you will love the way you feel when you eat real, unprocessed food!Two things before we get started: 1.) This list isn't exhaustive. Maybe I'll do Part 2 sometime! 2.) There's a free printable for you at the end of this post! 1. Learn Before you begin changing up what you eat and buy, dig in ... Continue Reading
A Year in Review, and My Most Popular Posts of 2013
This blogging year was rich with God's blessings! Admittedly, blogging has taken up far more of my time, creativity, and emotions than I ever thought it would, but it's been exciting.Remember how this blog was called Back to the Source last year? When I migrated from Blogger to Wordpress, I knew I wanted a fresh look and a more focused name. The look is evolving, but so far I love where it's gone. (That gorgeous hand-drawn header picture isn't me, though! I have an artist sister to thank for that!)The name Richly Rooted is one of Eric's ideas. "Is that too much alliteration?" I questioned at first. But five minutes later I thought it ... Continue Reading
20 Ways to Induce Sleep Naturally
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.We're going to talk about sleep this month on Wellness Wednesday. I debated doing a Christmas theme, but then I decided: sleep is entirely relevant to this season.Because we're busy, and we need more of it.So here are 20 ideas to implement for getting better sleep, and getting it naturally:1. Keep your bedtime and wake up times consistent2. During the day, get outside and soak up natural light3. Exercise each day4. Get more magnesium in your diet (through seeds, nuts, dark greens, beans, molasses, etc.)5. Avoid caffeine from the afternoon on6. Don't eat ... Continue Reading
Moisturizing Honey Vanilla Body Polish
Our Wellness Wednesday theme for November is safe skincare. Previous posts this month were Is Your Skincare Safe Enough to Eat? and Top 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare Products. I have an early Christmas present for you today. There is some assembly required, but not too much(:Treat yourself to this deliciously luxuriant sugar scrub the next time you take a bath! The ingredients are safe, and it only takes a few minutes to mix up a batch.Want to create a special stocking stuffer for your mother or sister? Make extra, mound it into jars, and tie a creamy-coloured ribbon around each.When using, scoop the polish with your fingers ... Continue Reading
