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Houston's premier web resource for moms!
Bridget Leigh Pugh is a wife, Stay-at-Home
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Want to cook healthy for your family but you're
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
"The trick is to know where the
Healthy Houston Hot Spots are and
what to get when you are there."
Healthy Houston Hot Spots are and
what to get when you are there."
Want to cook healthy for your family but you're
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
We Wish You a Holistic Christmas!
How to Introduce Holistic Living Into the Holiday Season
Christmas and the surrounding Holidays are the perfect time to introduce
Holistic practices into the busy lives of mothers. Holistic living means to
take care of the whole person, specifically the Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Moms have most likely heard this trendy new buzzword in fashion
magazines and at the gym, but holistic health has been practiced for
thousands of years. Many recent health studies have linked living a more
holistic life, by paying attention to the different facets of health regarding
the Body, Mind, and Spirit, with longer life, fewer health problems, and
overall wellbeing. During the holiday season, as Moms enter a time of
year full of Holiday paradoxes such as stress and joy, family and travel,
and overeating and starting diets, Moms especially need to slow down
and listen to what their whole self is saying. Here are some great tips on
how to receive and give Holistic Health of the Mind, Body, and Spirit during
the Holiday Season.
Mind: Moms go into overdrive during this joyous time of year, driving
stress levels through the roof. Schedules fly out the window as children
go on Christmas Break and shopping lists grow larger than Santa
himself. To top it off, the extra hours and travel may let many Moms slip
out of their healthy lifestyles, compounding the stress.
Receive: When stress seems overwhelming, think of Bridget’s favorite
new mantra, “Tend and Befriend”. From a scientific standpoint, women
naturally handle stress differently. According to www.4women.gov, in
times of stress women release a chemical called oxytocin, which has a
calming effect during stress (this chemical is also released during
childbirth). It can actually be instinctual to “Tend” to someone, ourselves
are included, and “Befriend” others, especially women, during times of
stress. Nourish your mind and take a holistic approach to holiday
stressors, “Tend” to yourself first (just close the door to the bathroom and
finally polish those toenails!) and then reach out and “Befriend” (call your
girlfriend over for a cup of holiday coffee and Christmas cookies).
Give: For the recipient who has everything, give a gift that stimulates the
mind! Games that challenge and engage the mind are scientifically
linked to boosting the immune system and delaying the onset of many
conditions, including depression and dementia. Try a reusable basket
filled with Suduku, crosswords, and other portable mind games, with
plenty of pens and highlighters.
Body: The “Seasonal Seven” weight gain is in the back of many women’
s minds. There are so many more important things to think about
regarding the holiday bulge, however. Exercise routines need to be set in
stone during the holidays, kept just like an appointment or work hours.
Workouts will stabilize tired Moms and keep a sense of order to the busy
holiday schedules. Going out of town? Enjoy a walk around the block or
call a local gym; many open doors to travelers for a minimal fee! Also,
extra cocktails and sugary desserts do more damage than just adding
calories- alcoholic drinks zap hydration, and desserts create sharp
spikes in blood sugar levels… and moods. Drink and Be Merry, but of
course, in moderation.
Receive: Cherish your health, Mama! Remember to drink plenty of pure
water. A great way to get your recommended amount: In the morning,
pour a 2 Quart pitcher full of water, stick it in the fridge, and drink the entire
pitcher by bedtime. It might seem like a lot at first, but water gives your
inside and out elasticity and a gorgeous, clear glow. Monitor nutrition by
using Bridget’s 2/3 Plate Plan: Fill a plate with 2/3 healthy foods such as
fruits and veggies (fresh if available), lean meats (think turkey breast meat
over ham). Then, fill the remaining 1/3 plate with splurge foods with a
guilt-free conscious. Enjoy meals by laughing with family and friends,
and don’t be shy to freeze hefty left-over portions quickly- there is less a
chance to overeat if it is out of reach!
Give: An awesome gift is the gift of health. A gym membership, personal
training session, or even a massage are all ways of telling loved ones
that they are worth being taken care of. Cooks can show off their healthy
baking skills by baking a fresh batch of healthy whole wheat bread,
leaving it in the pan as a keepsake, wrapping it up in decorative plastic
wrap or even foil, and including the recipe (See Beer-Thyme Bread recipe
for a great example!).
Spirit: Christmas is a celebration! Whether Christmas is the ultimate
day of joy for religious reasons or a warm feeling of respect and tradition,
the holiday season is a time for Peace, Love, and Hope. Moms tend to
forget the true core of Christmas and run overtime preparing cupcakes for
kid’s parties, handwriting 75 Christmas cards, and shopping for
everybody. Thinking from a Holistic standpoint, this season is the ultimate
opportunity to feed the spirit. And, Moms are the spirit of the home, so
their spirits must be cared for as well.
Receive: Take a moment to reflect on this magical season, and why it
brings warmth to even the most preoccupied spirit. Smell the smells of
Christmas, take an extra minute to make sure that special someone
knows that they are loved, look at each worn and tattered ornament- and
tell its story. Moms who celebrate Christmas in a church can go alone a
few minutes early- either to hear the choir or just to reflect. Take the time
to be thankful and to feel the spirit of the season. Then, enjoy church
services with family and friends. For Moms who celebrate Christmas in
other ways, take a family drive late in the evening, complete with hot cocoa
in covered cups and plenty of blankets. Go to the most beautiful
neighborhoods in Houston and marvel at the lights!
Give: While it might seem simple, giving to a loved one’s spirit is the
most valuable gift one can receive. This year, instead of spending lots of
money, replace that with time spent on creating gifts for family and
friends. Not creative? This year, there are also many places online that
center around gifts that keep on giving. Check out one of the world’s
leading holistic lifestyle sites, www.gaiam.com, for literally pages worth of
organic and handmade gifts as well as gifts that give to charity! Think
about handmade beaded wallets benefiting Vietnamese artisans for a
girlfriend or a super-soft organic cotton throw for parents and
grandparents.
Holistic living is important not only during this Holiday Season, but also
throughout the year! Moms need to listen to their Mind, Body, and Spirit
when faced with many of life’s challenges in work or parenting. By taking
the time to comfort a racing mind, care for a tired body, or feed a restless
spirit, Moms can spend more positive energy on their families. Holistic
living doesn’t have to be a time-consuming or complicated - it can be a
simple form of self-respect. Think of Holistic Living as an opportunity to
give yourself the ultimate gift of the season- Inner Peace, Inner Love, and
Inner Joy! Merry Christmas, Moms!
How to Introduce Holistic Living Into the Holiday Season
Christmas and the surrounding Holidays are the perfect time to introduce
Holistic practices into the busy lives of mothers. Holistic living means to
take care of the whole person, specifically the Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Moms have most likely heard this trendy new buzzword in fashion
magazines and at the gym, but holistic health has been practiced for
thousands of years. Many recent health studies have linked living a more
holistic life, by paying attention to the different facets of health regarding
the Body, Mind, and Spirit, with longer life, fewer health problems, and
overall wellbeing. During the holiday season, as Moms enter a time of
year full of Holiday paradoxes such as stress and joy, family and travel,
and overeating and starting diets, Moms especially need to slow down
and listen to what their whole self is saying. Here are some great tips on
how to receive and give Holistic Health of the Mind, Body, and Spirit during
the Holiday Season.
Mind: Moms go into overdrive during this joyous time of year, driving
stress levels through the roof. Schedules fly out the window as children
go on Christmas Break and shopping lists grow larger than Santa
himself. To top it off, the extra hours and travel may let many Moms slip
out of their healthy lifestyles, compounding the stress.
Receive: When stress seems overwhelming, think of Bridget’s favorite
new mantra, “Tend and Befriend”. From a scientific standpoint, women
naturally handle stress differently. According to www.4women.gov, in
times of stress women release a chemical called oxytocin, which has a
calming effect during stress (this chemical is also released during
childbirth). It can actually be instinctual to “Tend” to someone, ourselves
are included, and “Befriend” others, especially women, during times of
stress. Nourish your mind and take a holistic approach to holiday
stressors, “Tend” to yourself first (just close the door to the bathroom and
finally polish those toenails!) and then reach out and “Befriend” (call your
girlfriend over for a cup of holiday coffee and Christmas cookies).
Give: For the recipient who has everything, give a gift that stimulates the
mind! Games that challenge and engage the mind are scientifically
linked to boosting the immune system and delaying the onset of many
conditions, including depression and dementia. Try a reusable basket
filled with Suduku, crosswords, and other portable mind games, with
plenty of pens and highlighters.
Body: The “Seasonal Seven” weight gain is in the back of many women’
s minds. There are so many more important things to think about
regarding the holiday bulge, however. Exercise routines need to be set in
stone during the holidays, kept just like an appointment or work hours.
Workouts will stabilize tired Moms and keep a sense of order to the busy
holiday schedules. Going out of town? Enjoy a walk around the block or
call a local gym; many open doors to travelers for a minimal fee! Also,
extra cocktails and sugary desserts do more damage than just adding
calories- alcoholic drinks zap hydration, and desserts create sharp
spikes in blood sugar levels… and moods. Drink and Be Merry, but of
course, in moderation.
Receive: Cherish your health, Mama! Remember to drink plenty of pure
water. A great way to get your recommended amount: In the morning,
pour a 2 Quart pitcher full of water, stick it in the fridge, and drink the entire
pitcher by bedtime. It might seem like a lot at first, but water gives your
inside and out elasticity and a gorgeous, clear glow. Monitor nutrition by
using Bridget’s 2/3 Plate Plan: Fill a plate with 2/3 healthy foods such as
fruits and veggies (fresh if available), lean meats (think turkey breast meat
over ham). Then, fill the remaining 1/3 plate with splurge foods with a
guilt-free conscious. Enjoy meals by laughing with family and friends,
and don’t be shy to freeze hefty left-over portions quickly- there is less a
chance to overeat if it is out of reach!
Give: An awesome gift is the gift of health. A gym membership, personal
training session, or even a massage are all ways of telling loved ones
that they are worth being taken care of. Cooks can show off their healthy
baking skills by baking a fresh batch of healthy whole wheat bread,
leaving it in the pan as a keepsake, wrapping it up in decorative plastic
wrap or even foil, and including the recipe (See Beer-Thyme Bread recipe
for a great example!).
Spirit: Christmas is a celebration! Whether Christmas is the ultimate
day of joy for religious reasons or a warm feeling of respect and tradition,
the holiday season is a time for Peace, Love, and Hope. Moms tend to
forget the true core of Christmas and run overtime preparing cupcakes for
kid’s parties, handwriting 75 Christmas cards, and shopping for
everybody. Thinking from a Holistic standpoint, this season is the ultimate
opportunity to feed the spirit. And, Moms are the spirit of the home, so
their spirits must be cared for as well.
Receive: Take a moment to reflect on this magical season, and why it
brings warmth to even the most preoccupied spirit. Smell the smells of
Christmas, take an extra minute to make sure that special someone
knows that they are loved, look at each worn and tattered ornament- and
tell its story. Moms who celebrate Christmas in a church can go alone a
few minutes early- either to hear the choir or just to reflect. Take the time
to be thankful and to feel the spirit of the season. Then, enjoy church
services with family and friends. For Moms who celebrate Christmas in
other ways, take a family drive late in the evening, complete with hot cocoa
in covered cups and plenty of blankets. Go to the most beautiful
neighborhoods in Houston and marvel at the lights!
Give: While it might seem simple, giving to a loved one’s spirit is the
most valuable gift one can receive. This year, instead of spending lots of
money, replace that with time spent on creating gifts for family and
friends. Not creative? This year, there are also many places online that
center around gifts that keep on giving. Check out one of the world’s
leading holistic lifestyle sites, www.gaiam.com, for literally pages worth of
organic and handmade gifts as well as gifts that give to charity! Think
about handmade beaded wallets benefiting Vietnamese artisans for a
girlfriend or a super-soft organic cotton throw for parents and
grandparents.
Holistic living is important not only during this Holiday Season, but also
throughout the year! Moms need to listen to their Mind, Body, and Spirit
when faced with many of life’s challenges in work or parenting. By taking
the time to comfort a racing mind, care for a tired body, or feed a restless
spirit, Moms can spend more positive energy on their families. Holistic
living doesn’t have to be a time-consuming or complicated - it can be a
simple form of self-respect. Think of Holistic Living as an opportunity to
give yourself the ultimate gift of the season- Inner Peace, Inner Love, and
Inner Joy! Merry Christmas, Moms!