5 Signs You Should Consider A Cleanse

Do You Need To Reset Your Body? 

At one point or another, all of us need to reset in a restful, intentional way. You can take back control of your health and lifestyle! In quick, concise terms, I'll help show you a few ways that your body might be telling you that you need to cleanse.

First Things First 

Let's define cleanse. When we are talking about resetting your body, certainly there are many, MANY ways to go about doing so. In this case, we are keeping it simple. This means that we are not concerning ourselves (for the moment) with fancy and expensive cleanses in a box pertaining to certain organs, and draining your bank account. PRAISE.

Did you know that, left to its own devices, your body will naturally and automatically cleanse itself? Pretty nifty to consider that we truly are beautifully and wonderfully made that way. Our bodies know what to do, and helping it to cleanse and reset is more of offering a helping hand, rather than a forceful push. (Keeping in mind, of course, that we are discussing normal situations with no pre-existing, serious health concerns or conditions. As always, if you suspect something more troubling to be present, consult your chosen family physician.) 

With that settled, let's look at what it means to give your body a little nudge in the right direction, to help it reset itself in a restful and healthy manner. 

Fire Up That Blender 

If we are to give ourselves the best high five possible, we must start with food. Diet is the first adjustment to be made, and often the most challenging. Why? Food is powerful. It was designed to be so, however, processed foods, in many cases, were designed with the dollar sign in mind, rather than nourishment. To nourish your body is to give it fuel, and truly nourishing foods begin in the garden and in the produce section of your local grocer. 

To begin a restful cleanse, start with smoothies. Blending up raw ingredients, rather than juicing, gives your body the direct nutrients WITH the fiber, allowing your body to process everything effectively. It also requires a bit of "chewing" which, in turn, activates the digestive juices in your body, allowing for more effective consumption of nutrients. 

Did You Know: Just moving your jaw in the chewing motion causes the digestive juices to start flowing? 

You absolutely cannot get too many greens into your diet, so toss in the lettuce leaves and Kale, along with chia seeds, hemp seeds, and some raw fruit. Frozen berries are great, or a diced apple and banana. There are many recipes to choose from, depending on the benefits you're after. My Raw Pinterest board has some great ideas that I'd love to share with you! 

Bottoms Up 

It is absolutely imperative to consume half of your body weight in ounces, (of water, not wine), every single day. Do whatever it takes to make this happen. I have found that purchasing a water bottle, (BPA free or made of glass), that has the ounces marked on the outside, is a great way to keep track. 

Check out this one I found! 

Additionally, adding freshly-squeezed lemon juice to your water alkalizes your body, which is very important for your overall pH levels. You can read more about that here. Bottoms up! 

Kick Junk To The Curb 

We all saw this one coming, but it merits another mention. Your body was not created to handle processed foods, and feeding it too much of the 'fake stuff' results in many health problems-- some of which you may not even be aware of. (Foggy brain? We'll get to that in a minute.) 

The most effective way that I have found to support your decision to cleanse is to systematically go through your kitchen and remove anything in a box or a bag. (Rice and beans aside, of course.) A good rule of thumb is this: if it isn't raw food, if it isn't whole food, throw it out! (ie boxed and frozen dinners, anything pre-made, cereal, chips, crackers, etc.) This can seem harsh, but it definitely works!

theberry.com

If you need a little inspiration, check out my Clean Foodie board for lots of inspiring, whole food ideas for every meal of the day! Everybody can use some inspiration in the kitchen. If it's helpful, create your own board that you can go back to for new ideas, and saved recipes for the dishes that you love! 

5 Signs You Should Consider A Cleanse 

Drum roll please... 

Now you know a bit more about what a restful cleanse looks like, ie raw and whole foods, smoothies, lots of water and no processed junk. This is a great way to allow your body to begin resetting itself in a big way! But what if you aren't sure that this is for you? (Hint: it's for everyone, but you might need a bit more convincing.) Here are 5 signs that your body might be begging for a little help: 

1. You Don't Sleep Well. 

If you are going to bed at a decent hour, but have trouble falling and staying asleep through the night, this is a sign that changes need to be made. There are many things we can do to prepare our bodies for sleeping, but once asleep, you should be able to enjoy a deep rest all night long. (Barring any young children in the house, of course!) High levels of the stress hormone, Cortisol, are caused by insufficient rest. Cortisol can result in weight gain, hard-to-control cravings of sweets and salty foods, and diseases, just to name a few. Yikes! 

2. You Have Foggy Brain. 

You are getting decent amounts of rest, but feel as though you're walking around in a coma. Could someone please turn the lights on? Lacking energy and the ability to focus will fracture your quality of life, not to mention your productivity levels, relationships and memory. Also? You'll be buzzed on the gallons of coffee you consume. 

3. You Have Been Trying To Lose Weight, But Gained Instead 

It is incredibly frustrating to be making intentional efforts to lose unwanted, excess weight only to see your scale move in the opposite direction. While this is often a sign of even deeper issues, such as adrenal fatigue or hypothyroidism, it can also be your body asking for a little help. If it feels unsafe, it will hold on tightly to extra fat stores, due to stress and fatigue, caused by poor diet and lifestyle. 

4. You Feel Depressed For No Reason 

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If everything in your life is flowing relatively smoothly, and yet you feel sad or lackluster, this could be your body signaling that something is off! (Again, Depression can be a much deeper issue, and if ever you feel that you need personal help, contact someone you trust immediately.) More often than not, that feeling of, "Meh," is caused by poor diet and lifestyle, and can be handled, reduced and reversed just by listening to your body, and giving it the right tools! You have more control than you think! 

5. You Are Bloated And Uncomfortable 

Let's face it, people-- it happens. But no one wants to walk around with that 'heavy' feeling all the time. It's gross, it's frustrating, and it doesn't feel good. When your body doesn't 'feel' energized, and you're walking around, sucking it in because you're terrified that your pants may fly open at any moment-- you can take that as a hint over a loudspeaker: HELP! Your body should not be carrying around excess bloat, which is caused by inflammation in the body. Can you guess where inflammation comes from? Yep, the diet you consume on a daily basis either fights off inflammation, or invites it over for drinks. 

A Good Place To Start 

We've discussed the immediate diet changes, but before that, get your "why" in front of you. Whether it's just tucked into your thoughts, or more dramatically spelled out and taped to the fridge, you need to know the why behind the changes you would like to make. Your "why" is what will hold your feet to the fire when you feel like quitting. Maybe it's your kids- you'd like to set a better example for their futures. Maybe it's your career- you can only go so far in poor health. Whatever your reason, it's good enough, and so are you. 

Make the hedgehog proud.

What is your why? Sound off in the comments below, or on Facebook! I would love to hear what is motivating big change in your life! 

How To Set Your Goals And Stick 

Have you ever made up your mind to do something amazing, and then failed? This post is for you. 

Brilliant Ideas - we have all had them. The kind that make you rush to your phone or laptop, scrambling to get to Pinterest, because you must.pin.all.of.the.things. relating to your beautiful, amazing genius idea. This is the one. The one that will change it all. 

Fast forward two weeks. 

Your feelings toward your genius idea are mostly grumpy at this point. Who has brilliant ideas, anyhow? Not you. Obviously. 

Now, I don't actually buy into that last bit. If you have breath in your lungs, then you are percolating brilliance somewhere inside, whether or not you realize it. I read a great article just yesterday about unearthing your passions, and the solid truth is that everyone is passionate about something. You have greatness inside of you. The hard part is fostering the perseverance that will give life and substance to your ideas and desires. 

It's time. It is time for you, and me and your neighbor down the street, to rush into the spare room of I-just-can't, or I'm-not-good-enough, or I-don't-have-the-time, yank those dusty dreams off of the shelf and get after it. Had enough word pictures? Good. Let's get started. 

Do You Even Own A Pen, Bro? 

Have you ever seen a fresh notebook with a crisp, blank page just laying there? It taunts you. You know to what I refer. 

No? (Yeah, me either.) Awkward analogy aside, there really is truth to the old adage, "Write it down and see it happen." No matter the goal you wish to pursue, getting it down on paper, physically, virtually or otherwise is your first order of business. 

Decide whether you're going to keep your goals and ideas inside of a notebook, on your phone, laptop or carved into stone. Whatever you decide, dump them from your brain into your tool of choice, and get a clear picture of where you're headed. (HINT: Making these simple and attainable is a great place to start.) 

Take Inventory 

I am a runner. So far, I have run 4 half marathons, along with a handful of 5k's and 10k's. Eventually, I have a goal of running several marathons and ultra races. It is the understatement of the year to say that I have to prepare for these. Duh. Also? I'm not going to run any of these races in heels. 

Once you know the goals you are heading toward, you take the next step of knowing what tools and preparation you will need to accomplish them. This sounds simple enough, however, it tends to be a step that we sort of brush over without much thought. You will not reach your destination without a vehicle and fuel. What makes you think you will reach a goal without the how? 

Some of us need to get healthy for real. (Not just subbing Special K in for the Cocoa Puffs.) Some of us need to take charge of our emotional health. Some of us need to finally start pursuing dreams that we've tucked inside because we're scared. All of us have stuff to do that matters. What do your specific goals require, in order to accomplish them successfully? What will you need in order to avoid dropping out of the race, half way to the finish line? Write that down too. 

Clear Your Schedule 

There is a big difference between the glorification of being busy, and the hard work it takes to fulfill a dream. Do not get caught in the net of just being busy with the trappings of false importance. Time is precious, and we must spend it on the preparation that will take us to our goals. 

Social media is a brilliant example of what it looks like to successfully waste your time, but it is not the only item on that list. Are you being intentional with your time? Or, conversely, are you wasting your time doing things that will lead you nowhere? 

Some things that will suck your time into the vortex of nothing: 

•  Social Media
• Binge-watching Netflix 
• Sitting on your ass
• Creating 'important' things to do that have nothing to do with your goals (I just need to run to the store for this one important item.) Nope. 
• Allowing yourself the luxury of thinking that you'll have time later (HINT: You won't.) 
• Saying yes to things and people too often, over-committing your time elsewhere 
• Always putting other's goals above your own 

There will come a day when all of your time will be spent, and you will look back on your life. Saying no to things that waste your time now is essential to creating the highlight reel of your dreams. Make every single moment count. Be intentional. 

Be Flexible With The Route 

In the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the entire city is built on a grid. Everything is a square mile, and there are literally too many ways to get to any one destination. For those of you that are directionally challenged, this is a beautiful thing. It really does make a lot of sense. 

Let's say you take a wrong turn on your way from point A to point B. (Also, let's make point B coffee.) It isn't the end of the world because there will be an alternating route that will still lead you to your point B, and coffee. (Let's be honest here: all roads should lead to coffee.) You could pull over on the side of the road, leap from your car in a flurry of frustration, and wail and sob that you are a failure and you will never EVER get your coffee. Really, you could. After all, your original route is screwed up, and you have failed. 

OR. 

You could take a couple of extra turns, and still get to coffee. It's that simple. Do not make the mistake of disqualifying yourself because you fail. YOU WILL FAIL. The more you persist, the more you will fail. From your failure, you will learn. So yes, you can drive off the road, and quit. That is always an option. But why would you do that when you just need to make a few adjustments? 

Setting goals means taking a journey, and on any journey there are always unforeseen obstacles from a thousand different directions. Can you plan for these? Definitely not. Can you successfully prepare yourself to continue after a failure? Absolutely. Be willing to adjust your route in persistence of your goal. Keep going, and keep your eyeballs on that prize. 

Ask For Help 

If it takes a village to raise to raise a baby, then we adults need a civilization. You will never reach your goals by yourself. This is not a one-man show, and you are going to fail miserably if you cannot ask for help. Period. Over and out. Surround yourself with people that are further down the road than yourself, and watch them. Learn from them, and ask them for guidance. Intentional living requires relationships, whether you like it or not. (Sorry not sorry.) 

It is quit possible (and highly probable) that these mentors that you seek out will be the very people that scrape you up off the road and help brush you off after you crash and burn. They will also be the ones to give you that kick in the pants to get going again. Why? They have been there. Likely, they also had someone in their lives daring them to give it another go. We cannot do any of this alone, so stop trying. If you want to be alone, go on a hike. Then, come back and get yourself some people. 

Celebrate The Victories 

History shows us that centuries ago, when something significant happened in a group or individual's life, they would stop wherever they were, and erect an altar or a monument to signify that something happened there. When you are farther down the path, and you turn around, you should be able to see how far you've come, but you should also be able to point out the places in the journey where you had success. 

"See that pile of rocks there, over to the left? That was when I accomplished such-and-such." 

"That smaller stack of sticks and mud? Yeah, that was a good day. I will have another one of those." 

"See that flag over there? That's where I finally found the coffee." 

When you reach a goal on your list, conquer something of importance along the way, you must recognize it. Celebrate it. Get really, really excited. These moments are proof that you are doing what you set out to do! Does it look anything like what you thought it would? Maybe, but probably it looks much different than you ever anticipated. The way that it looks has nothing to do with the fact that you are chasing down a dream and seeing success! You will see success. So, build those altars, erect your monuments and take the time to remember what it took to get there. Then? Keep going. 

Like what you're reading here? Find The Brave Hippy on Facebook to stay in the loop! 

Tiny Home Love

How To Love Living Tiny 

I hope that you have checked out my last post all about how our family lived tiny. It was a chosen adventure, and one that we would do again in a heartbeat. 

It was not without its challenges, but none were too terrible to overcome. Especially if you enjoy a bit of problem solving. I wanted to share with you a few photos from our sweet tiny home to give you a better idea of what it looks like to go tiny in real life. (No romantic notions here!) 

So without further ado

I have begun with a photo from the outside, facing our little front porch. We were surrounded by huge trees, so our Fall season was not short on leaves. 

As you stepped through the front door, you were immediately in the living room. This view is standing in front of the couch, looking toward the kitchen. 

I loved this room. The front window was large, and offered lots of light for plants and sunshine. Just off to the right (not pictured) is a small wood stove that stole my heart. 

From just inside the front door.

This view is just inside the kitchen, with the refrigerator to your left. Even though the footprint was very small, it had ample storage, and also housed our washing machine! 

This was our sweet Littles' room. Plenty of space for both beds (regular twin size), as well as floor space to play. The warm yellow wall color made it extra cozy. 

The master bedroom was also very cozy with two windows and lots of light. In a tiny home, you utilize every storage idea possible, hence the hanging bags on the wall! There was room for the dresser, as well as a small closet. (Not pictured) Additionally, we took advantage of the room beneath the bed for extra storage space.

Here is a fun shot of the large living room window. You can also get a glimpse of the front door, which was original. (1942) I geek out about things like that!

I am the gal that is constantly moving furniture. We spent two Christmases in this house, and had room for great trees both times. Being in close quarters just means quality family time, and we enjoyed that during the Holidays, as well as the rest of the year.

The backyard had another large tree, plenty of room for gardening, a fire pit and room for the kids and our dog to run. I spent many a summer's night sitting on that vintage back step, enjoying a glass of wine and the sound of crickets. 

Be Brave. Always. 

Tiny living was a step toward redirecting our family's values, priorities, and also a way to simplify. It was not always easy -- and learning to not worry about what others think is part of the journey. We were told many times that we were crazy. Tiny living isn't the solution to anything specific, but it is an adventurous way to break out of the normal mold that most try to fit around themselves. For our family, it was a way to shed the sensical and try new things. 

Whether you are looking at tiny living, or considering a brave new move for your life, I would encourage you to go for it! 

Want to connect? Follow The Brave Hippy on Facebook! 

Once Upon A Time, We Lived Tiny

Have You Ever Thought About Simplifying? 

lifehack.org

It started out innocently enough. 

My husband and I, along with our two adorable kiddos, owned our own home, with plenty of room and in a great suburb. Being the geek of organization and simplification that I am, I found tiny living online and suddenly, I was hooked. This was at the beginning of the tiny house movement, mind you. There were only a handful of examples to read about, and I poured over those pictures and tales of bravery. I loved the idea of being free and living simply. Off grid? No problem. (Okay, that part was a tad unrealistic for us.) But I began to dream. 

The Seed Was Planted 

Many cups of coffee and tiny living articles later, I began to notice some things about our life that could use improvement. Our home was a four-bedroom house, with two and a half bathrooms that hung out on a quarter of an acre. All that space meant that my husband had to commute an hour to and from work every single day. It also meant that we had more space than we were really using. (You're probably thinking I am nuts already, but hang in there.) 

If I was being completely honest, I did not need the entire fourth bedroom for an office. Nor did I relish the idea of cleaning two and a half bathrooms every single week. (Here is a great moment to let you know that I like my house clean, and so not cleaning was simply NOT an option.) To frost the cake of curiosity, I began to imagine selling a lot of the 'stuff' that tends to dwell in all of the extra closet space, nooks and crannies that come with too much space. When you begin gazing at certain items in your home and thinking, "Do we really need that?", then you can be absolutely sure a purge is not far behind. 

What If? 

Suddenly, that little tiny seed sprouted a leaf, and I was asking questions: 

What if we got rid of everything we don't need? What if we sold our house? What happens if we are brave enough to do something crazy? 

clipzine.me

Not that I think any of this is crazy, mind you. But in much of today's society, if you are not after the next big bone, you aren't doing your due diligence. This idea of downsizing allowed our family to toss the idea of 'keeping up with the Jone's' right out the window, and we were ready. Following our decision to move closer to my husband's job, we put our house up for sale, and began looking for a property that was much smaller than most people's idea of a good time. 

672 Square Feet Of Awesome 

Our search led us to many different places-- different houses, condos and apartments all over the city. None of them seemed quite "it" until the Custer House. When I first walked through the door, I knew I was home. It was everything we were looking for, without anything extra. That sweet little house held just two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen and a living room. The crowning jewel was the corner gas stove that I would enjoy for the next two Fall and Christmas seasons. Pure bliss. 

A giant garage sale, several trips to the Salvation Army and a moving van later, we were in! We had done it! We decided to not give one ounce of feeling to what others thought we should do, sold our house and began living tiny. A family of four, accompanied by a dog and a cat, we were off on a new adventure. 

We Learned What We Didn't Need 

The freedom that came from this decision was immeasurable. Before we sold our house, my husband was working 12+ hour days, at two different jobs, just to make ends meet. We would only see him in the evenings, and he was completely exhausted from working and driving. Activities on the weekends were limited because he needed to rest to prepare for the next week. (This sort of scenario is very typical of a lot of families today, because living expenses are just that-- expensive.) In our perspective, our freedom and time as a family was more important, in this season, than all of the stuff we were working so hard to maintain. 

Additionally, a smaller home meant smaller monthly payments, less to maintain and more time as a family. It gave my husband the freedom to quit one of his jobs and start his own business. (Huge plus!) We were also able to take several trips as a family. Choosing to believe that there is another way to do things opens up a world of possibilities. For our family, we knew that this was only a season, that would own a home again in the future, and we absolutely believe in working hard to achieve your goals and dreams. None of that was affected by our decision to simplify. What was affected was learning to live without lots of excess in our life-- less stuff means more living! 

Tiny Living = Big Success

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We lived in the Custer House for 18 months, and enjoyed every single minute. Every last inch of that 672 square feet was used, and in the best possible ways. To this day, David and I still say that we have zero regrets about the decision to go tiny, and if we had it to do all over again, we would! When you choose a different path, you are able to discover what you are truly capable of learning and doing-- things that others would say are impossible. You will find that indeed, they are not. 

In a follow-up post, I will share some photos and organizational tips from our tiny living adventure, so stay tuned! In the meantime, if this encouraged you to accept a new challenge in your life, big or tiny, I want to hear about it! Comment below, or share this post on Facebook!  

Change Is In The Air!

GreenBean Is Now The Brave Hippy! 

A lot of change might be scary, but a little bit of change is okay. 

Image credit bloglovin

HI! After a significant absence, some life changes and a bit of goal-setting goodness, I have returned! In the past, GreenBean was my little outlet, full of writing and all things Life. With this fresh start, I hope to build on that original idea with more conversations, real life struggles (can someone say home organization and clean eating?), and a gaggle of inspired ideas for authentic wholistic living. (Um...what's a gaggle?) It's time to get real. 

Image credit thedeliberatemom.com 

You might be passionate about Paleo. (Hello, bacon.) You could be a mom of littles with dreams that are bigger than vacuuming. You are also probably more capable, strong and brave than you've ever thought possible. I want to connect with every single one of you, and connect you with others! Finding community can be hard, no matter your stage of life, but blessed be the little thing we call the internet, because it really does have a way of bringing people together. What about a gathering of souls around ideas and dreams that they are passionate about? This is where change occurs, my friends. (Woot!)

More Coffee = Better Blogs 

I am thrilled to be revving this engine, and plan to jump into lots of different topics. Some that I am passionate about sharing are: clean eating, DoTerra oils (no, this is not a sales pitch), fitness and brave new adventures. Take a risk and follow along. You may even find yourself joining in on the conversation from time to time. The door is open, and the mat reads, "Welcome!" 

You might want to share these posts on Facebook-- I would love that! Share with those that you would like to include! You also might want to have that second cup of coffee-- by all means, people. By all means.