6 Tips to Make Traveling Easier with Kids

July 25, 2023 by Lori Leave a Comment

Essential Oils enhance not only daily living but are also handy to have everywhere you go. Especially when I travel by plane, essential oils make it a calm and pleasant experience. Fill the air with diffuser recipes too. When you read the travel tips, recipes are included. Go here to get the ‘ingredients’ you will need…

It’s summertime here in the United States. Are you planning a vacation? Whether you’re taking a road trip by car or RV, going by train or plane, Young Living shared these tips that make traveling with kids easier and more fun. Click here to read more…

Message me with any questions. Share your journey with me. I look forward to hearing from you.

5 Ways to Fill Your Cup

April 20, 2023 by Lori Leave a Comment

Self-Care is Essential

What comes to mind when you think about self-care? Spa days and soaking in a deep tub surrounded by bubbles? Those are lovely options, but wait, there’s more. Self-care and self-love are more than just occasional pampering.

Creating regular routines and practices are a sustainable way to a happier, healthier you.

Why is self-care important? Let me count the ways. First of all, it’s been proven that the benefits you can reap are more happiness, confidence, and productivity.

Love Yourself First

Neglecting self-care can lead to feeling anxious and burned out. Have you ever heard the phrase “You can’t pour from an empty cup?” It’s nearly impossible to run a home and a business, take care of a family, or even be a great friend if you are running on empty. Taking care of yourself first gives you the energy and love to be able to best support your kids, your partner, your friends, and your colleagues.

Anything you do to nourish your physical, emotional, and mental health is considered self-care.

5 Self-Care Strategies:

1. Be your own best friend

If you’ve ever found yourself saying or thinking things about yourself that you’d never dare say about another person, it’s time to implement positive self-talk. Replace negative thoughts about yourself with positive ones.

Easier said than done, right? To help you get started, write down a few things you love about yourself and read them every day; several times a day, in fact. Add in words of gratitude. Speak those words out loud and smell or diffuse an essential oil, like Believe, Valor, Transformation, Gratitude, Grounding, or Motivation, for example. Explore your options here.

2. Choose Good Nutrition

Feeling good about yourself and caring for yourself starts from the inside out. Your daily eating habits have a long-term impact on everything from your immune system and gut health to the quality of your sleep.

Keep your nutrition simple by drinking plenty of water, eating the rainbow, and getting in some good fats and lean protein. If you feel like you’re still not getting the nutrients you need, I can guide you and make recommendations! Also, get the extra nutrition support with the right supplements.

3. Give your brain a break

With endless to-do lists and demands on your time and attention, it can put your brain on overload. Take a few minutes to stop, pray, and meditate on God’s Word. Let God fill your heart. Allow His peace, strength, and love flow in and through you. Taking time for this has many benefits, you will be anxious for nothing, which will boost your mood and reduce stress. Even if you find it difficult to calm your racing thoughts at first, just sitting and taking a few deep breaths will do wonders to help you relax physically and mentally.

4. Make movement a priority

Whether it’s a walk around the block, a dance party with the kids, or a powerlifting session at the gym, the health benefits of moving your body, and negatives of sitting all day, are too great to ignore. If you’re out of practice with movement, start small with 10 or 15 minutes a day and pick something you love or something easy to work into your schedule. Walk the kids to school instead of driving, dance while you cook dinner, or do a 15-minute video before winding down for the evening.

5. Embrace the art of slow travel

Vacations are an important part of self-care, but have you ever come back from one and felt like you needed another vacation to recover from it? If you often experience travel fatigue, then slow travelling may be just what you need. An alternative to traditional tourism, slow travelling is all about pacing yourself for a more immersive experience.

For example, instead of cramming your itinerary full of tourist spots, slow down and get a taste of what day-to-day life is like for the locals. Stay in a home with character; eat at small, family-run restaurants; and spend time exploring your surroundings without feeling pressured to document it on social media. When you let mindfulness and self-care guide your itinerary, you’ll come back from your vacation more refreshed and ready to share your best self with your friends, family members, and the world.

As I write this, I will be travelling to Cancun soon. If you want to know how to travel better without breaking the bank, including daily, local perks, check out this wholesale affiliate option.

No matter what you do, take time for you.

Let me know how I can help.

(*Note: This blog was inspired by partner company, Young Living, and my own experience. Also, tech challenges – even if the hyperlinks look crossed out, they do work when you click on them.) Thanks for reading.

Much Love,

Living The LORI Factor kayaking in Outer Banks NC — Lori Kayaking in Outer Banks NC

Eat the Dessert First: Start Living Life on Your Terms

August 8, 2022 by Lori Leave a Comment

Bread Pudding Dessert @drdepot photo by Lori Bruton

I agree with this Helen Keller quote, “Life is short and unpredictable. Eat the dessert first.”

In my book, The LORI Factor: Live the Life You Were Born to Live, there is a chapter called, Lifestyle: Start Living Life on Your Terms.

Are you living life on your terms?

I know I wasn’t, until I made different decisions. As a result, I stopped letting life happen to me. I stopped allowing other people’s opinions become my reality.

I remember when somebody mentioned something my mother said. I said I hadn’t talked to my mother that day. He said I meant your mother’s voice that’s in your head. Whoa! He was right. I loved my mother, but many words she said were not the truth. A phrase I kept hearing from her was, “You can’t do that,” and “Your sister would be the one to write a book.” Hearing that repeatedly programmed me to believe it.

Note: Be careful who and what you believe, or you will be deceived.

Thankfully, I learned to tune into a higher voice of the One who taught me my voice matters and that I can do anything that I put my mind to, like writing books. Renewing my mind, changing, and upgrading my thoughts and words were the beginning of living life on my terms.

The Serenity Prayer says: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

It does take courage.

These powerful words made a big difference, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9 NLT

Focus on the things you can control. You can’t control the past. Be present. Get unstuck. Instead of resisting change, embrace it.

That doesn’t mean accepting everything being dictated around you. Stand up for what’s right. Unmask yourself. Let your voice be heard.

I used to feel invisible and was taught to be quiet and not to interrupt until I got a LARGER vision of myself beyond what people told me and beyond my circumstances. It’s time to speak up and let my voice be heard because you need to hear this message of hope, encouragement, and empowerment.

By the way, it’s not a coincidence that you are reading or hearing this right now. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD, “They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Paint a picture in your mind of what your best life looks like. Hold that vision, write it down, and make it plain, as it says in the living Word of God in Habakkuk 2.

Keep it before your eyes.

When you can visualize the life you desire, it puts you in the driver’s seat. Visualization is a powerful tool. What do you love? Where are you? What are you doing? Who is with you? See it, hear it, taste it, smell it, and feel it.

Engage all your senses.

Be specific. Picture your dream vacation or dream car, for example. Soon your dreams become reality. Take action. I put myself in the driver’s seat on a boat recently. I have been writing more and getting articles published. I am a travel writer and am stepping into that lifestyle.

Start where you are. Take yourself places in your mind first. Do things in your own backyard that are local.

Explore. Take a road trip.

I live in the “gorges” Finger Lakes region where there are beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and parks. Watkins Glen is a must-see place. From Canandaigua to Ithaca NY, I got to experience accommodations, adventures, relaxation, and amazing food including:

Capt. Bill’s Dinner and Sunset Sightseeing Seneca Lake Cruise

Summit to Stream where I took out an ocean kayak on Seneca Lake

Keuka Watersports at Champlin Beach in a kayak on Keuka Lake

Bed & Breakfast at Oliver Phelps was the first B&B in Canandaigua

Rogues Harbor Inn is a lovely historical B&B near Cayuga Lake

Corner Pub at Rogues Harbor Inn has great food and service at the Inn

Ciao! Was had authentic Italian food with Tuscan flair and delicious dessert

Ithaca Massage Station was a relaxing, pampering experience

NaturLuxe & Stars is where I had my first glamping adventure in style

Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza Co. has salads, Italian food & more

Nickel Pit’s BBQ has tender, tasty barbeque with warm service

True Love where I swooned over the schooner and talked to the Captain

Come sail away on the True Love Schooner on Seneca Lake Watkins Glen NY — Sail True Love

I made a decision. I found a way no matter what my bank account or circumstances looked like. No matter to those trying to set me up to fail or making assumptions. No more putting my life on the back burner and taking care of everyone except myself.

Commit to your goals and dreams. Create your life by design. Writing, speaking, wealth, wellness, travel, and more are possible. Get on the road, on the plane, or on the boat to wherever you desire to go.

Tiramisu dessert at Ciao! Ithaca NY — Tiramisu at Ciao!

Eat the dessert first.

Can you see the person you are meant to be? Take the Journey to Hope and Transformation (which I talk about in my first book).

Get my book, The LORI Factor: Live the Life You Were Born to Live, for more ideas on how to live life on your terms.

Tell me the actions you took. The first action was you read this blog. Thank you and congratulations. What spoke to you the most?

Let’s celebrate each step together. Let me know how I can help. Choose life and live life to the fullest.

Refresh & Revitalize Yourself

June 12, 2022 by Lori Leave a Comment

Refreshing Lavender Lemonade photo courtesy of Young Living

It’s summertime here.

That makes me thirsty for a cool drink and time to think. Let’s start with the drink.

Mix these 5 ingredients for a refreshing summer Lemonade with a unique twist that’s ready in minutes.

Put on a sun hat, grab your favorite book, journal, pen, and find a sunny spot.

Settle in and sip on this Honey-Lavender Lemonade.

Ingredients

6 lemons, juiced
1 lime, juiced
½ cup honey
2 drops Lavender Vitality Essential Oil
Ice water, about 10 cups
Lavender sprigs, optional

Instructions

Combine lemon juice, lime juice, honey, and Lavender Vitality in a large glass pitcher.
Add water to taste.
Stir until well mixed.
Garnish with sprigs of lavender.

Here are a couple variations:

3 cups Lemon juice, 3/4 cup Lime juice, 2 cups Agave, 3 drops Lime Essential Oil, 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil, 10 drops Lemon Essential Oil, 16 cups water.

OR use pineapple juice instead of honey, for example.

Your surroundings and sipping this refreshing drink will stimulate your senses. Our senses connect us to awareness that communicate with our brain. Look and listen and be present in the moment.

What does it feel like when you plant your bare feet in the grass? You are literally grounded which creates a calming effect.

The same is true for our sense of taste and smell that evoke feelings and memories. Create new experiences and learn new things.

The benefits of essential oils are powerful for deepening focus and promoting relaxation, for example.

This specific brand of essential oils has added quality to my life. They can for you too.

A super simple way to get a quick lemonade without using the recipe is to squirt Lavender Lemon Vitality drops in a glass of water. Voila.

For more fun and more variety, the best place to start is the Premium Starter Bundle. Now you’ll have lavender, lemon, and many other oils to explore.

It’s been worth it for me. I haven’t looked back. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

There is so much more I want to teach you, but I’ll refrain for now. Enjoy your Lavender Lemonade. Let me know which option you chose.