Non-Toxic Choices

Hi Friends, I rarely post about this part of life, because I want this blog to be primarily a place of beauty and encouragement. But if you've followed along for some years, you know how years of chronic illness helped our family find ways to cut out unnecessary (and even harmful) toxins from life.

If that interests you, read on...

One big way we cut toxins was by switching to clean and non-toxic skincare, haircare, makeup, and lotion products from Lemongrass Spa. We soon used enough of them that it was beneficial for me to join for the discount. 

This means I can also offer perks to my friends, like you!

One of those perks is occasionally sharing the host rewards from a month of orders with one shopper! To be entered in my drawing, make sure to place orders through the event currently running here: Mystery Host Event

Besides all the current specials, catalog clearance, and new catalog launch featured in the menu at the link above, we are enjoying an extra 10% off sitewide until 9 PM central on July 31st. Make sure to enter coupon code JULY10 for this savings.

And if that's not enough, I am personally offering free shipping to any first-time customers! Just send me your wish list (or questions), and I will be in touch. My text-only business number is (218) 271-8677.

For more information and other natural living topics, text INFO to me at (218) 271-8677.

Note: Lemongrass Spa only ships within the USA. Sorry to my readers from other countries!

I also have a variety of videos - from gardening to cleaning, and from online groceries to Lemongrass Spa information - on my natural living YouTube channel: Purely.HannahMary

Next... back to regular programming!
~ Hannah

Hard Work

Before...

...and after shoveling the deepest drifts and frozen layers from the roof.

This was my first time to work on the roof in many years. Then I hauled a bunch of wood from shed to garage and house for the wood stove in the basement. 

How amazing to be able to put in 2 hours straight of hard physical labor again, and end up feeling a "good tired" like I did in my teens and twenties!

A Year of Rehab

My sister Elsa and I have realized that we are in a major "rehab regimen" in many areas of life after chronic illness. The most recognizable of those areas would be rebuilding strength and balance in our muscles and joints.

After years of chronic fatigue and debilitating pain, my body needs careful training out of harmful, weak postures into healthy and strong positions.

Just as the daily practice of brain rewiring to heal the nervous system is a slow but steady process of forming new, healthy pathways which we want to become automatic, so regular exercise with WholyFit trains the body out of unhealthy patterns and into those that benefit all of life!

Why I Choose WholyFit

I love how WholyFit is a Christ-centered stretching based system built on scientific principles that equips us with holistic practices for wholeness and healing. It even strengthens 5 times faster than other exercise modalities! 

Plus it is a safe way to get back into movement and fitness after years of inactivity and weakness, as proved by the fact that my sister got certified to teach WholyFit last year and has since been helping women through online classes.

NOTE: WholyFit has nothing to do with Yoga beliefs or practices. God created movement and the ways our bodies can strengthen and stretch. WholyFit methods and routines are carefully developed based on safety and effectiveness (unlike some traditional Yoga poses). They are also built to help us memorize and meditate on the word of God as we do our best to take care of this "temple" of our bodies He has given us.

For more info, hear from WholyFit founder Laura Monica: “Why I Quit Yoga and Started WholyFit” 

Does a moderately paced workout for all fitness levels - done on your own schedule from the comfort of your own home - sound interesting to you? If so, read on!

Current Class Details

• On-demand workout video access: September 1 - December 31, 2025

• Includes 16 workouts safe for pregnancy and diastasis recti (20-30 minutes each)

PLUS 6 workouts safe for the general population (1 hour each)

• $60 USD for 4 months total (Sept. - Dec.)

Have more questions? Want to sign up? Or can't make this class work, but want to know of future class offerings? 

Learn more and sign up for email updates on Elsa's webpage HERE.

Or email Elsa at elsa.wholyfit@gmail.com

Exercising Muscles & Spirit through WholyFit

 I just attended the last of 8 live WholyFit classes with the late winter group of ladies gathering for weekly encouragement and instruction. It is amazing how many of my muscles went "dormant" through a decade of chronic illness and the years of chronic pain before that. But I can feel them waking up bit by bit and helping me better move through all of life!

This would be a sad "last"... except that another class is scheduled to start next week! Do you want to be a part of it?! For those who cannot make it online at the time of the live calls, no fear. Video replays are promptly sent out to every class member and are available for use on-demand through the duration of the class. That way we can all exercise with them several times a week, if wanted!

The best part is that WholyFit is a Christ-centered stretching based system with scientific methods that equips us with holistic practices for wholeness and healing! It even strengthens 5 times faster than other exercise modalities!

Does this moderately paced, half-hour workout for all fitness levels sound interesting to you? Read on for class details. I'd love to see you next week!

NOTE: WholyFit has nothing to do with Yoga beliefs or practices. God created movement and the ways our bodies can strengthen and stretch. Even though some stretches may look like those of other programs, WholyFit routines are carefully developed based on safety (unlike some traditional poses) and effectiveness. They are also built to help us memorize and meditate on the word of God as we do our best to take care of this "temple" of our bodies He has given us.

Questions? Contact WholyFit certified instructor, Elsa at elsa.wholyfit@gmail.com

Upcoming Class Details

• March 11 - April 29, 2025 (8 weeks)

• 30 minute sessions

• Live on Zoom every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. CDT

• Replay videos available from date of workout through May 6, 2025

• Pregnancy and diastasis recti friendly

Want to sign up? Click HERE, and fill out the simple registration form.
Can't make this class work, but want to know of future class offerings?  Click HERE to get Instructor Elsa's occasional newsletters.

Elsa's WholyFit Exercise Classes - Starting Soon!

Photos are coming soon of our July camping trip full of exciting wins! 

But first, let me share how my sister Elsa has completed a huge goal that would have been impossible for her a couple of years ago...

Elsa has become a Certified WholyFit* Instructor, and she is now offering online exercise classes for women!

For those women who know they need some exercise in a safe, Christian, and core-strengthening way, but don't know how to fit in trips to the gym... Elsa is offering weekly WholyFit classes online (with a video replay you can use all week) starting soon.

Click HERE for more information or to get on her email list to hear of upcoming classes.

I had the privilege of being in Elsa's test group this year [along with some mothers looking to rehab after several pregnancies], and it was so encouraging!

Want to join us next month?! I'd love to exercise and grow in strength and grace along with you!

~ Hannah

* WholyFit's mission is to provide a Christ-centered stretching based system that equips instructors and participants in biblical holistic practices for wholeness and healing. To learn more, visit wholyfit.org.

Brain Rewiring Newsletter & Encouraging Phone Wallpapers

 I have only mentioned Brain Rewiring a few times on this blog, but it is still a daily focus in this healing journey. So much so that I am just starting a newsletter for those who are interesting in learning more about healing the Limbic System and lowering the Chronic Stress Response from a Biblical perspective. 

This monthly [at most] offering contains:
- Mindset & Brain Rewiring Tips
- Biblical Encouragement
- Free Phone Wallpaper Download

You are welcome to sign up here: Hannah's Newsletter

As it says at the above link: 

Nearly a decade into her chronic illness journey, Hannah was led to Brain Rewiring to begin to heal her Limbic System which was stuck in the Chronic Stress Response. Due to the intricate brain/body connection, this focus on healing at deeper levels is having positive physical impacts and helping Hannah get back to LIFE!

Chronic Lyme and Stress

My family and I pulled ticks off ourselves countless times every year growing up here on the prairie, but back then our immune systems were so good that our bodies naturally kept any infections under control.

It wasn't until a wide range of stressors (physical, environmental, and more) came to the overflowing point that our Limbic Systems (part of the nervous system control center deep in the brain) couldn't handle it, and we crashed physically.

With years of supplements, protocols, and avoidance of all the things we were suddenly sensitive to helped somewhat, it wasn't until we started addressing the Limbic System dysfunction that we could even hope to get to the root of all the issues stemming from our bodies being stuck in the chronic stress response.

Want to learn more? There is a free workshop going on this week with so much helpful information! You can join here if interested: 

https://www.limbicsystemrewire.com/sensitivityworkshop

[Replays are available during the event even if you do not have a Facebook account to watch it live.]

~ Hannah

P.S. - Know anyone who could find this information helpful? Feel free to share this post!

Live & Learn Event - This Week!

Hello, Readers!

You may have noticed that some of my post graphics are labeled "@Purely.HannahMary"... such as in the previous "Be Still" post. That is because they are also posted over on my Instagram account with the theme of:

NATURAL LIVING made SIMPLER
▪︎ Clean Thinking ▪︎ Clean Gardening ▪︎ Clean Personal Care for the Whole Family

If any of this interests you, feel free to find me on Instagram @purely.hannahmary or the Facebook Page of the same name. And read on for a special opportunity for a Free Learning Event this week!

Also, I don't think I've mentioned it on this blog before (because I do not mean to make this a place of advertising), but if you are interested in help finding clean and non-toxic products for personal care for all ages, as well as clean hair care, skincare, beauty products, spa-at-home, and more - including thoughtful gifts for those going through cancer or other health struggles...

Please text my Lemongrass Spa number with the word "info". (To try avoid unwanted messages, my number is split up on the lines below.)

(218) 271

... 8677

Just before explaining the learning opportunity, I have a quick question for you: 

What do you think when you hear the words “Live and Learn”? 

Rather than the negative connotations often attached to that phrase, I love the fact that as long as we Live, we can continue to Learn!

And so I am offering a free, three-day texting event centered around Enjoying Life & Learning Together! With the goal of featuring new topics every other month, each “Live & Learn” event will include 2 days of exclusive video content I record on a variety of topics, with Day 3 saved for catching up and wrapping up.

Here is some feedback I have received from private texting events in the past:

Would you like to join one of these events?
You are invited to the first "Live & Learn" this week! 
• Wednesday–Friday, September 27^th – 29^th 

This month’s topics (shared via videos, under 10 minutes each) are:
• Why Ingredients Matter + Clean Swaps for the Whole Family
• What to Read for Fun & Growth at Any Age (including FREE book lists!)

Of course every texting event also has a giveaway! And those who choose to order any products through this event will be entered to win all the event's Host Rewards of free and half-price items from Lemongrass Spa!

TO JOIN, simply text "LiveAndLearn" to me at the number above!

• No purchase necessary to join the event or win the giveaway.
• Lemongrass Spa and I can ship to US addresses only.
• The Host Rewards winner will be drawn from points earned according to order sizes.
• Event messages and video links will arrive by text so you can watch at your convenience and have the option to opt out at any time.

Have more questions? Text them to me at the number above.

I'd love to "see" you there!

~ Hannah

3 Tips to Stretch Safely

3 Tips to Stretch Safely

1: Always warm up muscles before deep stretches. The simplest way is taking a 10 minute walk.

2. Keep muscles activated (strong) around the joints to protect them.

3. Stretch only as far as is comfortable. Activating muscles also signals to your brain that it is safe to stretch further.

Thanks to my sister Elsa for these tips from her certification courses with WholyFit Wellness! See Elsa's beautiful blog here: https://reachingtotheskies.blogspot.com/

Work is a Gift!

Physical work is a gift! This fact becomes very clear when more than a decade of chronic pain and debilitating fatigue (along with a myriad of other symptoms) has kept one from it. 

What a joy to once again work as a "Gardener" in my Creator's huge, beautiful creation!

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."

• Genesis 2:15

👉🏽 What physical work brings you joy?! Comment below!

Take a Deep Breath...

Take a Deep Breath! And another...

You may already feel more relaxed!

Studies show how purposely focusing on taking deep breaths can not only reduce stress and anxiety - helping the parasympathetic part of the nervous system to override fight/flight/freeze/fawn reactions of the sympathetic system. But deep breathing is also shown to lower blood pressure and improve the symptoms of COPD!

Why not do it more often?! A couple easy methods are:

- Breathe in fully through the nose (expanding both the gut and chest), then breathe out slowly through the mouth to a count of 8 or more. Repeat for several minutes whenever possible.

- Breathe in 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds, breathe out 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds; Repeat for several minutes.

And let me know how it helps you!

Smile!

SMILE!! 😊

Why?!?

Because smiling and laughing (even when they feel fake) sends signals to our brain that all is well. Our brain then releases "happy hormones" that make us feel even better! 

Rather than staying stuck in the stress, pain, fear, anger, anxiety, or whatever tries to steal our joy (and starts a vicious cycle by releasing stress hormones that hurt us even more)...

Let's choose to smile! 😄

If someone catches you with a smile plastered on your face for no reason, just explain that you are practicing to send healing signals to your brain.

And your smile may just be contagious! ☺️

Meanwhile, remember what God's word says in Nehemiah 8:10 — "the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Activated Charcoal for Detoxing

Did you know charcoal is good for health?! 

I don't mean the kind used in grills... but Activated Charcoal made from natural sources such as coconut hulls.

Why take Charcoal internally? Because Activated Charcoal is a "Binder"!

According to Dr. Josh Axe: "The porous surface of activated charcoal has a negative electric charge that causes positive-charged toxins and gas to bond with it. These nooks and crannies that enhance toxin elimination inside the body are the result of a heating process, which is what allows the charcoal’s 'activation.'" *

This means that a good quality capsule taken daily can help attract and carry out toxins from our bodies. This includes a wide variety of mycotoxins which come from toxic molds in our homes, foods and environments.

"In addition, activated charcoal can be used in cases of food poisoning when nausea and diarrhea are present." *

G.I. Detox (the charcoal capsule I take) also contains Zeolite Clay - another binder effective for a variety of toxins. And at the same time I take Chlorella Pyrenoidosa to bind yet more toxins.

The main tips to keep in mind when taking binders is to drink lots of water, keep them at least an hour away from any foods and three hours away from medications. 

Foods waste the binders, and binders waste the medications!

Why bind anyway? Well, my family has a genetic detoxification issue (and many of you likely do as well). When our crippling symptoms prompted integrative MDs to run mold tests - mycotoxins were at very toxic levels in our bodies.

But we were unable to handle the prescription drugs used as binders as they made us so much more ill. Instead we take natural binders as many days as possible.

In treating chronic illnesses, the old adage rings true: Slow but steady wins the race!

Have you taken binders? What for? Chime in below!

*https://draxe.com/nutrition/activated-charcoal-uses/

Charcoal Photo by Adrien Olichon on Unsplash

Why Eat Fermented Foods?

In December Dad found time to start a new years' supply of sauerkraut. The storage cabbages he grows are so large that it doesn't even take a whole one to make over a gallon of kraut!

See a short video of his sauerkraut-making process by clicking HERE.

Now we wait for the good bacteria to do its job.

So... Why Eat Fermented Foods?!

- For the variety of good bacteria they provide
- To fight bad bacteria such as candida overgrowth
- Promote overall gut health
- May even help prevent allergies

Do you eat fermented foods? 

Let's share our favorites in the comments!





Facts Source: Earthley Wellness

September 2022 Recap Video

While my last Summer Recap post only brought us to the end of June, here is a jump ahead to the month of September. But this time in video form!

Click HERE for a brief overview of September's:

· Life on the prairie
· Garden Harvest
· Applesauce & Salsa Canning
· Cleaning
· Composting
· Drying Herbal Teas
· Healthy Personal Care Products
· Handknits
· Homegrown Meals
· House Projects [following professional mold remediation]
· Watercolors by Elsa & Me
· Health Hacks
· Reading Recommendations
· Flower Gardens
· and more!

Brew yourself a cup of tea or coffee, get cosy under a blanket, and enjoy!

Summer Recap: Where Do I Continue?

Even more weeks and months have passed since a real update on life here on the prairie. For the beginning of catching up, see my June 28th post: Where Do I Start?

Today I will attempt another pictorial overview of this intense summer.





Near the end of June we moved out of the house again for several days while our attics and basement were spray-foamed with a special, low-VOC product developed for chemically sensitive people like us: Ultra-Pure SPF Systems.



The spray-foam crew was amazing, plus a couple of men from the development and distribution branches of the company arrived from PA and TX to help with quality control and documentation on this specialty project. See a short video describing this product with some footage from our project HERE.



These knowledgeable guys love their jobs!



While the place was throbbing with machinery, the distributor interviewed Elsa and me to hopefully be of help to others with chronic illness who are in the process of rebuilding their homes (and lives). That interview is still to be released.



After coming back for more air samples the next morning, the foam-developer's assistant (with a PhD in the science side of the job) gave us a little piano recital by memory on my 100 year old Baldwin.



Then after yet another day of highly ventilating the basement, the local foam-company owner came back to pick up his high-powered fans and make sure we were doing okay.



He was thrilled that even Elsa and I could be in the basement by the new foam!



Now Dad has to hook up an air-exchanger to keep moisture from building up in our well-insulated house.



We moved back into the house in time for Dad's birthday a week later. (Though Elsa and I still slept in the camper until our bedroom could get a deep cleaning.

Dad's birthday always includes garden tours.

Summer recap to be continued...