My first "Mood Board"

So, I've been an insomniac for as long as I can remember. I am also super busy like ALL.THE.TIME.

Often, by the time I'm rolling into bed, I'm exhausted but not sleepy. I historically have lain in bed for sometimes hours before falling asleep and that's really not good. 

What can a person do? Besides actually getting OUT of bed until such time one is ready to sleep, there are a couple of things I have found work for me. These things are the subject of my first "Mood Board". Mood boards are also called Inspiration boards and can for just about anything! 

So, what IS a Mood Board? According to Oxford Language, Mood Board is a noun that means: an arrangement of images, materials, pieces of text, etc. intended to evoke or project a particular style or concept.

Businesses use them to envision their branding, interior designers use them to create a colour wheel for a particular room. Why can't WE use them to inspire us, or even just to remind us of things that help our well-being? We CAN!

This mood board seen above is my first one. It is a small collection of the things I know have helped me in the past with my sleep issues. Having this printed out near my bed helps me remember... instead of being frustrated when I can't sleep, get up and make some tea, smell some lavender... hold my amethyst for a few minutes while calm breathing, put on my water soundscapes. 

But, couldn't one just remember what works without the help of a mood board? Sure, maybe some could, maybe you could sometimes, but... when we get into that "nothing is working" mindset, it is so easy to overlook pretty much EVERYTHING in order to wallow. The mood board close by is a VISUAL FOCAL REMINDER to get out of that "can't do" attitude and take care of your mind/body/soul WELLNESS!

It's easy to make and Canva (where I made mine) has a number of free templates to get you started, just search "mood board"! I would love to hear about yours, comment and tell me about them!

Crimson [&] Clover

Crimson and Clover was one of my favourite songs as a child. I spent a lot of time listening to it on 45 with the help of my Hollie Hobbie record player. I used to wonder why my mother, such a straight laced lady would have this somewhat psychedelic sounding record in her collection of mostly Jim Croce, Captain and Tenille, and Neil Sedaka. I never did figure that out. 



St. Patrick's Day is approaching and one of the big icons we see is the four leaf clover. I've never found one, but what I do have is a yard full of red clover (Trifolium pratense).
This flowering plant may be considered a weed by many, but it has some super awesome health benefits! All of this information can be found in numerous places on the internet, so ALWAYS do your own research into the best ways to use red clover (or any herb) and remember, too much of a good thing can be bad! 

CONSULT your health practitioner before beginning any kind of treatment, including herbal.


Red clover can help maintain estrogen levels in women, reducing mood swings, menstrual pain, and hormonal shifts. The leaves of the red clover contain Vitamin C. You can make a tea with them to boost your immune system, which can also help prevent infections. Red Clover tea can help reduce hypertension and improve blood circulation. It reduces inflammation, including in the blood vessels, which can help those with cardiovascular difficulties.

Red clover leaf tea contains antioxidants. Antioxidants can neutralize the cause of degenerative diseases. It can help detoxify with it diuretic properties, helping rid your body of excess water and toxins. There are even more health benefits than those I mention here.




What is YOUR favourite health benefit of Red Clover? Sound off in the comments! 





Namaste & Latcho Drom!

Self-care for Daylight Saving Time

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring is on the way. While the weather in some places-like where I live- doesn't reflect this (it snowed three days in a row this week EDIT: AND again overnight!), the beginning of Daylight Savings Time (Sunday March 10th this year) says otherwise. "SPRING forward" and all that.

According to timeanddate.com, "Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the fall, in order to make better use of natural daylight."

Benjamin Franklin first proposed the idea of DST all the way back in 1784, but the modern version was suggested in 1895. In 1916, Germany became the first country to implement DST nationwide. But, enough history...

The act of changing the clocks, in this case forward an hour can wreak havoc on people's sleep and mood. A little self-care during the transition time may help alleviate the effects. We're going to lose a whole hour of sleep. To some -like myself, who has never had anything even closely resembling a sleep pattern- this may not be a big deal... my husband on the other hand can be "off" for a week or more after. So what can you do? 

1. Go to bed an hour early on Saturday, and get up an hour earlier on Sunday (yeah, I know it's the weekend, you want to sleep in -unless you have to work- but getting up early on a day you won't get in trouble with the boss helps you adjust without jeopardizing your job). If you can't handle the whole hour, do 30 minutes early to bed, 30 minutes early to wake. Try not to nap on Sunday! (If you have time, try starting off tonight at 15-30 minutes early and get up the same amount of time early in the morning.)

2. Avoid caffeine at night, opt for a cup of soothing chamomile or mint tea, or drink water.  Turn your electronics off earlier for the transition. The artificial light can trick our minds into thinking it is earlier than it is. Instead, if safe, light a scented candle and put on some ambient music while enjoying that tea. 

3. Go all out with a therapeutic bath! (I love these!) While drinking your relaxing tea, and listening to ambient music by candlelight, why not take it a step further? Draw a warm bath and put in some lavender herb (in an organza bag if you have one to avoid having to scoop the herb out before draining the tub), lavender oil, or your favourite bath salts. Jasmine oil is also considered a great sleep scent, or if you have a personal scent that you find especially soothing, use that!

4. Even if you don't have to get up early to work or go to school, do so anyway and get some sun! Weather permitting, a brisk walk, yoga or light exercise will go a long way in getting that morning energy up and get your mind and body on the new schedule. If you have kids, get them up for a little early morning movement with you. It will help them transition better as well. Plus, sun = good for you! If you can't get out into the sun, sit near a sunny window and soak up some rays.

5. It's not all about sleep... our mood can be affected by the time change, so pamper yourself on Sunday. A mani-pedi, some dark chocolate, a day out with friends, meditation, family movie matinee with healthy snacks... whatever lifts your spirits, make it a point to do soul and psyche uplifting activities.

Great Morning Yoga Poses to get going:

The Cat-Cow Pose

 Warrior (1) Pose

 Warrior (2) Pose














Check out this article for 5 more Morning Yoga poses.


What are ways YOU help yourself transition during the Spring time change? Comment below!






Namaste & Latcho Drom!