Treat Allergies Naturally with Orange Naturals Seasonal Allergies Homeopathic Treatment-Giveaway #ONatural

April 18, 2016 by Kathryn 76 Comments

After one of the warmest winters I can ever remember in my 35 years of living in Saskatchewan, I’m blissfully enjoying an equally warm spring. The grass is green, the birds are chirping and for the entire week, temperatures will be in the high teens and low twenties…my favourite temperature range! There’s not much that could put a damper on the enjoyment this weather gives my family. But when I noticed my oldest son’s puffy eyes and sniffling yesterday, I remembered the one thing that I don’t love about spring: seasonal allergies!

Zackary and I both suffer from seasonal allergies and while our symptoms are usually quite mild, we both occasionally have those days when we’re struck with uncontrollable sneezing, itchy and swollen eyes and a constant runny nose. But thanks to Orange Naturals, I’m always ready to treat and prevent our allergies with gentle and natural homeopathic formulas! [Read more…]

Handle Spring Fever Restlessness with 3 Easy Tips #ONatural

March 17, 2016 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

In less than a week, the first day of spring will be here! And as a confirmed lover of sunshine, green grass and warm temperatures, I could not be happier. But at the same time, I’m also finding that I’m a little more restless than usual and have a much harder time getting to sleep each night. It’s a feeling that I think of as spring fever, and from the way my boys are acting lately, I’m not the only one that’s feeling it! But getting through the changing season is a lot easier with a few simple tips! These are the three ways I make sure my family is as calm, cool and relaxed as possible through the first few energy-filled weeks of spring!

1) Run it Off

In Saskatchewan, springtime doesn’t necessarily mean the snow has melted and the grass is green. In fact, there’s been snow on the ground until almost May for the last few years! This year we’ve had unseasonably warm weather, which means getting outside is easier. But even when the weather is nasty, burning off some of that extra energy with a brisk walk or jog does wonders to keep me calm and relaxed. On a nice day, I’ll take the boys outside and we’ll explore the neighbourhood together. When the weather is too cold and miserable, I’ll just put on some relaxing music, hop on the treadmill and walk for 30 minutes. But either way, I feel happier, healthier and much more relaxed when I’m done. [Read more…]

Make 2016 the Best Year Yet with Orange Naturals-Giveaway #ONatural

January 14, 2016 by Kathryn 82 Comments

I’ve never really been one to make New Year’s resolutions because I find that so often they’re approached with an “all or nothing” mentality. Instead, I set a few goals that I can work towards throughout the year, then evaluate my success when the year ends. I try to set goals for all the different aspects of my life: career, family, travel and health.

This year, with my 35th birthday just a few weeks away, health is a big focus for the upcoming year. Since moving to a city townhouse, my daily walks to run errands and take my boys to school have been eliminated. And that means my exercise level has gone way down. Plus, with takeout places now just minutes away, I’ve been eating out a little more than I’d like. So the new year is the perfect time for me to take charge and improve my health once and for all!

First off, I’m committing to exercising three times a week. As much as I’d prefer to set the goal of exercising every day, I think that trying to do too much too soon is likely to lead to giving up on the entire idea. But three days of doing a half-hour walk on the treadmill followed by half an hour of yoga is an easier commitment that I know I’ll be able to maintain. [Read more…]

Fight Off a Kid’s Cold Fast with These 4 Tips for Fall Health-Giveaway #ONatural

September 17, 2015 by Kathryn 88 Comments

Here in Saskatchewan, we went from glorious sunny autumn days to cold, rainy ones almost as soon as school started. If anyone was in any doubt as to whether or not it was fall yet, the weather has certainly settled that! And between the colder temperatures and the exposure to so many more kids (and germs) every day, my boys’ health is at the top of my mind.

Luckily, a few simple tips, tricks and techniques help me treat those inevitable sniffles quickly and efficiently when my boys show signs of getting sick. These are my top four methods for fighting off the first stages of a cold:

Tea and Honey

My boys are both huge fans of tea, and since a hot cup of green or herbal tea is full of antioxidants and also helps sooth a scratchy throat, it’s a great choice for fending off a cold. Add a bit of raw honey for its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and I have a delicious drink that also helps my boys feel better fast. [Read more…]

Treat Summer’s Bites, Bumps and Bruises with Homeopathic Remedies from Orange Naturals #ONatural

August 2, 2015 by Kathryn 30 Comments

I love almost everything about summer, but it does cause some extra challenges when it comes to keeping my kids healthy and happy. Days spend outdoors are fun but they result in plenty of bug bites, bruises and scrapes as well! This year, I’ve been turning to products from Orange Naturals to help treat my boys’ minor injuries and with the brand new Orange Naturals creams, it’s easier than ever to get back to outdoor fun!

The new topical creams feature a nourishing base of coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax, and are offered in Bites and Stings, Joint Relief, Pain Relief and Burn Relief formulas. Personally, I love the Pain Relief for treating the many bruises that both my boys and I seem to constantly collect. Knowing they’re receiving some tender loving care calms down my boys immediately, and the cream then minimizes pain over the next few days as the bruise heals! [Read more…]

Keep Kids Healthy While Travelling This March Break #ONatural

March 19, 2015 by Kathryn 18 Comments

Many families across Canada are celebrating March Break this week, a time to celebrate the end of winter and head off on an adventure! My boys and I are no strangers to travel but even so, keeping healthy on the road can sometimes be a challenge. Both boys occasionally have stomach troubles when they’re sampling the cuisine of another country. And my oldest is prone to carsickness even if we just make a quick day trip to a nearby attraction. It can definitely put a damper on the fun when my boys aren’t feeling their best!

Luckily, about a year ago, I discovered that probiotics are a great solution for stomach health, especially when travelling. I first heard about the importance of probiotics from a food writer friend of mine. She had been on a food tour featuring a multi-course meal of incredibly rich dishes. At the end of the meal, another tour participant gave her probiotics to help her stomach digest the heavy meal. The next day, the two ladies were fine while everyone else was feeling rather ill.

[Read more…]

Try These 3 Ways to Minimize Stress During the Holidays #ONatural

December 12, 2014 by Kathryn 58 Comments

As much fun as the holiday season is for families, it can also be stressful and not just for adults. I’ve noticed that for the last week or so my boys have had shorter tempers than usual as they prepare for Christmas concerts at school, rush around to their final activities before the holiday break and create crafts, cards and gifts for loved ones. And honestly, I have just as much trouble staying mellow lately. Between cleaning the house for the holidays, planning visits from family and friends and cooking up treats, I feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. But I do have a few simple methods for minimizing stress, and these are my top three!

Aromatherapy

There’s nothing better than a soothing scent to help minimize stress. My personal favourite aroma when in the mood for relaxation is lavender but since it is the holiday season, I tend to favour more festive relaxation at this time of year! Vanilla, cinnamon and orange are all aromatherapy oils that are used to help reduce stress, and all are also common aromas during Christmas! When the entire household is feeling irritable, I’ll combine a few drops each of vanilla and cinnamon essential oil in a diffuser to fill the whole house with the peaceful, soothing scent. And when I just need a bit of balance myself, rubbing a drop of essential oil on my neck just behind my ears lets me enjoy the benefits of the aroma all day long. [Read more…]

Keeping the Family Healthy with Tangy Yogurt Fruit Shakes

September 27, 2014 by Kathryn 2 Comments

With both my boys in school for full days this year, we’ve embraced the back-to-school routine pretty happily. My oldest, between extra-curricular activities and playing with friends, is often out of the house more than he is in it during the week. And my youngest, despite some worries on my part, absolutely loves Kindergarten and can’t wait to get there on his school days.

But while everyone is enjoying most of the things the busy fall season has to offer, it does have a downside and that is germs! In fact, I’ve almost come to expect that both my boys will catch some type of cold after starting school, because going from a fairly solitary summer to a class of twenty or more kids just seems to make that inevitable. Sure enough, this year was no exception. I returned from a recent trip to find Zackary with a fever and a hacking cough. The next week, Benjamin had the same symptoms.

My boys are naturally hearty and colds never keep them down for long. This year, though, I’m ready to help them get over those sicknesses even faster thanks to the fabulous products from Orange Naturals. From nutritional supplements to tinctures and homeopathics for specific symptoms, the company has everything I might need to help my boys feel better. [Read more…]