Bella Wellness

My family and I have always loved fluffy, fresh off the griddle home-made buttermilk pancakes. I usually keep at least a few vacuum sealed Mason jars of the dry ingredients pre-mixed so I can mix up a batch in a jiffy. (Okay, you guessed it: I am NOT so much a morning person!)   This morning I was glad I cooked up a pound of bacon and made a double batch - over 4 dozen - because I only had a few leftover. Speaking of bacon . .  can you EVER have enough? (And while we're on the topic of bacon I am sooooooo looking forward to making home made bacon as soon as the weather warms up enough for me to use the coal smoker that I bought, built and fell in love with last summer. And yes, I finally found a place that sells pork bellies and . .  and . . . but I digress!) I have used essential oils for at least 5 or 6 years if not more. Recently a whole new world opened up to me when I was doing some research on homeopathic or natural treatments for all kinds of maladies. You might ask

I am so looking forward to the arrival of my latest shipment of essential oils in the next day or so that I ALMOST want to sleep until they get here! (Okay, not really, but I think you can relate - I am NOT good at waiting - please God, give me patience, but hurry!). I have collected quite a few recipes that I am very excited to try, especially one for stuffy nose, pain management and one for energy.  (I will be sure to share the recipes once I perfect them and test them out.  Now that the weather here in New York is a bit more spring-like I will be mixing up a more batches of my all natural bug repellent and another blend I made especially for my Yorkie so that he is not bothered by any opportunistic fleas that think they can catch a ride with him back to our home. It works wonderfully! Happy Spring, everyone!!

I have been making, using, gifting and even selling wool dryer balls for years now and absolutely love them. I add a few drops of lavender essential oils to them and they not only do a fabulous job of keeping my clothes wrinkle free but everything smells great, too! 100% felted wool dryer balls fluff and soft en fabric, reduce wrinkles and static and reduce the time it takes to dry your laundry. They are eco-friendly, all-natural, no synthetic fibers or chemicals and last for years. They are far superior to the toxic, chemically-laden dryer sheets and noisy tennis balls. STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE WAYS YOU CAN make the REST of your life, the BEST of your life!

I have always been interested in the natural way of things and when I was expecting my first baby way back when it was no surprise that my preference was natural childbirth. I read everything I could get my hands on, we took Lamaze classes and I was firmly committed to a blissful, drug-free delivery. Two weeks after baby's due date I was admitted to the hospital late on a Thursday evening. It was quickly determined that the other party to the main event had plans not in complete alignment with mine. After many sleepless hours in the hospital eagerly anticipating the arrival, baby was showing little indication of an imminent arrival,  The doctors felt it best to try inducing labor (OH NO!). And the relentless pitocin drip accomplished . . . absolutely . . . nothing. Fast forward to Saturday and the doctors felt the best delivery for baby was a C-section. (OH NO!) Baby was late by two weeks, was estimated to be over 9 pounds and 5' 2" mama-to-be was not