Check out our NEW products this week!
Tag: wellness
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RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 4/10/19
Acure: Seriously Soothing Solid Serum 3in1 Basil Bandwagon: Algae Based Calcium (180 tablets) Basil Bandwagon Bone Broth Protein Powder: Vanilla & Chocolate (1lb & 2lb) Earth Mama Sunscreen: Mineral Lotion, Baby Face Mineral Stick, Baby Mineral Lotion, & Kids Uber-Sensitive Mineral Lotion Flackers Toasted Seed Crisps: Quinoa and Black Sesame Seed & Black Pepper Good Paper Cards Helps Teas: Digest, Breathe, & MORE! Hydro Flask: Spring Colors! Madecasse: Sea Salt & Nibs Dark Chocolate MIXT Studios: So many new bags! No Cow Protein & Energy Bars: In so many flavors! UPrise Foods: Nooch It! Purely Elizabeth Grain-Free Bars: Banana Nut Butter & Chocolate Sea Salt Rise Relief: Dark & Salty SmartyPants: Kids Probiotic Complete Gummies Solar Recover: Every Day Moisturizer Spero Foods: Chevre & Scramblit Worthington: Plant Powered Sausage & Deli Slices -
RECAP: NEW PRODUCT THURSDAY 3/28/19
Check out our NEW products this week!
ColorKitchen: Easter Egg Coloring Kit 
Desert Shadow: Habitat Shampoo & Conditioner 
Enzymedica Fish Oils: Classic Strength, Digestive Relief, Maximum Strength, Sports Performance, & Meriva Curcumin 
Essential Baking Company: Fremont Sourdough & MORE! 
Haven’s Kitchen: Red Pepper Romesco & Herby Chimi-Churri 
Kite Hill: Mushroom Ravioli 
Pili Hunters Activated Pili Nuts: Raw Cacao & Himalayan Salt 
Probulin: Facial Serum, Night Cream, Cleansing Gel, Day Cream, & Marula Eye Cream 
So Delicious Dairy Free Oatmilk Ice Cream: Oatmeal Cookie & Caramel Apple Crumble 
Starseed Bakery: No Sugar Added Grain Free Chocolate Cupcakes -
Dry Skin? Moisture Up!
Everyone knows when the seasons change from the harsh, cold winter to sweet, fresh spring due to their skin. Since we’re stuck inside all winter long or we go outside to shovel the snow from our driveways and off of our cars, our skin tends to dry up and crack. Which is never fun to deal with. We all have our parents voices engraved in our minds telling us to put on lotion before we go out in the snow- but most of the time we forget anyways. Thankfully, there are always new products coming out that help our skin when we forget.
Even better news- we have lots of those products on our shelves just for you!
Booda Butter’s All-In-One Moisturizer is made with organic shea butter, fair trade cocoa butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil. If you’re tired of feeling your skin crack all winter long, this “butter” will help prevent that! Bonus- it comes in a full and travel size so you can have it stocked in your house or in your bag.
“Booda Butter has helped keep my hands “crack free” this entire winter. This moisturizer is a definite staple I use year round.” -Susan H.
This skin care company uses a variety of homeopathic ingredients. Their Intensive Skin Repair Salve contains arnica montana which helps relieve itchy dry skin, calendula to help heal wounds, echinacea augustifolia, and sambucus nigra to help decrease swelling and soothe the itch. Their Baby Skin Salve should be in every diaper bag. Not only does it contain sambucus nigra and calendula, but it also has cocoa butter and olive oil to help a baby’s skin stay soft and young!
“My poor baby suffered from bad diaper rash and she couldn’t stop crying. Once we put this salve on, the tears finally stopped and it helped her rash significantly!” -Lynn I.
Earth’s Care is all about the Earth and your body- they are even a 1% for the Planet member! Their Dry & Cracked Skin Balm dives deep in your skin to moisturize at the source. With shea butter, arnica, and cajeput oil, your skin is in good hands! People who suffer from eczema will love their Eczema Lotion. Their improved formula contains colloidal oatmeal which helps protect the skin, along with aloe and almond oil to help soothe itching due to eczema and rash.
“I LOVE the Eczema Lotion. Not only does it help the itch, but it also smells great and doesn’t feel too heavy on my skin.” -Kaitlyn A.
This family owned company specializes in organic topical products. They come in all shapes and sizes- especially in tiny tins for relief anywhere you go! Their Cuticle Care Balm gives you cuticle relief with shea butter, castor seed oil, olive fruit oil, and more. The Badger Balm for Hardworking Hands smoothes and softens your rough and dry skin. Perfect for after long days in the harsh winter weather.
“My cuticles get so much wear and tear that they never look nice during the winter holidays. But now with Badger’s Cuticle Care Balm, my nails look great and they don’t hurt anymore!” -Jennifer M.
This new brand of herbal salves is a great addition to your body care routine. Most of their natural ingredients are grown on their family owned farm in Millersburg, PA. Their Arnica & St. John’s Wort Salve can help relieve the itching and pain due to wound healing. The Calendula Salve helps decrease the unwanted redness and dryness from the winter weather. It helps soothe and nourish for the appearance of healthy looking skin.
“I use the calendula salve everyday on my cheeks to help with the dryness from the ‘winter wind.’ I no longer have red or dry patches on my face and I love it!” -Lindsey S.
Regardless of which product you use, make sure you tell us how much you’re in love with your product! Leave us a note, email us, or tell us in person! #basilbandwagoncares
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RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 9/19/18
Check out our NEW products this week!
Maddalena’s KETO Cheesecake
Lake Champlain Halloween Chocolates
Forager Project Coconut Cashewgurt
Califia Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk
Basil Bandwagon Elderberry Syrup & Ginger Rescue
Aunt Patty’s Brown Rice Syrup
Anita’s Plain Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative
Essential Baking Take & Bake French Baguette
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Stolen Sleep: How to Get it Back with Three Self-Reminders
By Jenna Kohler, Certified Health Coach
Daylight Savings Time is in action and we’re “sprung ahead” this past weekend. How are you doing on sleep? Still missing that hour? Put down that extra cup of coffee and read on…
Don’t Compare Your Sleep to Others
First of all, your body is different than anyone else’s in this world. You’ve been told that before, right? Yes, you’re special. Your system responds uniquely to the unique set of biological, emotional, mental, and physical circumstances that life throws at you. So, if your neighbor, coworker, or gym buddy seems to be full of ten times the energy you have and remarks of “sleeping like a baby”, don’t get frustrated. Your zzzzzz’s will come.
Give Yourself a Sleep Hygiene Makeover
You shower, you put on deodorant, hopefully you even brush your teeth! Some of you take this a step further and put on make-up, tame your hair, and dress to impress. So, start seeing your sleep hygiene as you do your personal hygiene. You don’t expect to roll out of bed looking like a million bucks, do you? Then you can’t expect to feel great and get amazing sleep if you don’t put in some effort. Effort? Here’s what I mean:
1. Set the mood:
Ditch screens a reasonable time before bed. Especially if you were watching the latest action-packed, adrenaline-spiking series on Netflix. Mist your pillow with some calming essential oils. Take a quick hot shower to loosen tense muscles. Switch your radio station to something more calming. These are easy fixes. Quit the excuses and just do them!
2. Don’t fill up your belly right before bed:
Your body requires energy and focus to fall asleep, believe it or not. Don’t complicate things by making it digest food at the same time. In particular, stay away from alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine (including chocolate!) and sweets. If you need a cup of nighty-night herbal tea, be my guest.
3. Bring the right attitude:
Stressing out about trying to fall asleep or how late (or early) you’re hitting the hay is only going to reroute your brain in the wrong direction. Give yourself permission to fall asleep. A few minutes of inner dialogue with yourself may be useful to shush the critic and harness some positive brain waves to kick sleep into action. Then, focus on your breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth…
Be Aware Of What You Put In Your Body
Artificially giving your body the boost you may feel it needs to get through the day can throw off your chemistry. I’m talking about energy drinks, multiple cups of coffee, sweets, excessive or low quality “energy-producing” supplements. Using these, especially later on in the day, is bound to throw off your body’s natural rhythm of sleep. True quality sleep should not be artificially enforced, but naturally reinforced. If you must rely on substances to help with sleep and wake cycles, try to minimize them and choose only the natural, highest quality. And, once again, think hard about snarling down the sugar-laden snack after dinner, or the third cup of coffee at 4:00pm. Being dreadfully tired for a few hours one day may lead you to get the sleep you need to reset your cycle for the next.
Happy zzzzz’s!
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Let’s Talk Flu-Prevention
Maybe you have the flu, or you’re getting the flu- or maybe everyone around you has it. Think you’ve tried everything? Jenna and Carolyn talk about what they turn to amidst all the coughing and fevers popping up all over the place.
Here’s the products:
Basil Bandwagon Brand Elderberry
Gaia Quick Defense
Urban Moonshine Immune Boom
Fire Cider (Unsweetened)
X Clear Nasal spray
Neti Pot
Boiron: Oscillococcinum, Cold Calm, Throat Calm
Zach and Zoe’s Ginger Honey (local!)
Oranges!
Yum Earth Vitamin C pops
Renew Life Ultimate Flora or Basil Bandwagon Brand Suprema Dophilus
Emergen C
Four Elements Tea: Minus Sinus
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Guest Post: Journaling to Nourish the Spirit by Matt Maszczak
”The storm has subsided. The snow, now ankle deep, crunches beneath my feet. I’m trying to remember to, ‘…arrive with every step…’ like Thich Nhat Hanh teaches. Orion stands between the clouds above the corn field behind our house. I feel like I understand him. He was so many people, so many stories. Many of them disjointed and incongruent, but Zeus saw fit to place him among the stars. I too have been many people, incongruent and disjointed. It is time to write my own story among the stars.” -Journal entry from January 4, 2018
Beginnings
A new year brings new ideas. Or does it? It seems natural to take account of our lives with the changing of the calendar. We look at what was missing from our lives the previous year and make a commitment to change it in the new year. Resolutions rarely make it past the middle of the first month. Why is that? Are we just replaying the same loops in our heads? Are we forever stuck on the treadmill of life, running, but going nowhere?
What if there was a way to turn the treadmill off and begin walking through the world, aware and engaged? What if we could see the truth and beauty of reality and live our lives awake and on purpose, rather than trudging through the day hoping the future will be better without any reassurance that is possible?
The loops that play in our minds are difficult to see in the dailiness of life. They are our own personal operating system. All other thoughts and manifestations emanate from these loops. Journaling has the power to help us identify, understand, and change them. Journaling has the power to nourish our spirit and give us a better understanding of reality, our place in the world, and that awareness and understanding can offer us a more present and fulfilling life.
Change the Loop
”…we, as human beings, think that we’re thinking. Not true. Most of the time, we’re remembering. We’re reliving memories. We’re running familiar patens and loops in our head.” -Kamal Ravikant from Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It
When you begin to record the patterns in your head, you can identify them. That is the first step in creating a better life and nourishing your spirit. Journaling has the power to help you rewrite those loops of thought that run through your head, often subconsciously.
We are all familiar with scenes of children being punished by repeating written lines on a blackboard. I have good news: it works. Pick a thought that you want to play in your subconscious. Perhaps, “I Love myself.” Repeat it enough in writing and your mind will start to play that loop in your head. You may not believe it at first, but eventually, that loop will become so ingrained that it becomes a default thought. Our thoughts become our reality.
Arrive With Every Step
”Life is not about getting to a certain place. Life is a path.” -Thich Nhat Hanh
The practice of journaling is dangerous. It is playing with fire. It has the power to give warmth and beauty, but it also has the power to destroy. We need to approach a journaling practice with the same respect and responsibility we give fire.
I have journaled most of my life, but as I look back over them I notice that very few of the entries were about the present. There are hundreds of lines bemoaning the past or wishing for the future. Many of the later ones are bemoaning the fact that the future I had envisioned had not come to pass in the present and those led to speculation about the future. This kind of journaling is perpetuating the loop.
The best way to get out of the loop is to stop reliving our perception of the past and to stop speculating about the future. Instead, we should focus on the present and understand what is happening, now, in this moment. Who are we here and now? That is arriving with every step.
The beauty of this type of journaling is that it will eventually show us how we have changed. Days, weeks, or years from now, we can look back at who we were at a particular moment and understand how we have changed into who we are now. That gives us the ability to rewrite the present and affect our future without wild speculation.
Building a Journaling Practice
“We have all the light we need, we just need to put it into practice.” -Albert Pike
A journaling practice is like any other practice. There are tools and exercises to get started. There are others to grow from beginner to something else. On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, I will be presenting at Basil Bandwagon Natural Market on Journaling to Nourish Your Spirit.
I will be telling my story and how I have built a journaling practice that has added peace and growth to my life in ways I had never imagined. I will be offering you some free tools and exercises to begin building your journaling practice into a life-changing and soul-nourishing experience. We will laugh and learn together and leave prepared to arrive with every step. I hope to see you there.
Matt Maszczak is a writing wanderer. His blog, Wander Doctrine, explores the spiritual side of travel and wandering as a means to presence. He can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Medium
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS TALK
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Nourish 2018
Every year, we strive to make a change in our lives and ourselves. This is often things that will improve our lives, like exercise, diet, or getting more sleep. Maybe you are looking to start painting again, or traveling more- all these things are a part of what you hope will eventually give you the life you dream of.
These notions are statistically known to fail. Only 8% of people will stick to their plan- the rest of us try to pretend we never said anything.
So, should we NOT strive to make goals for ourselves in the new year?
Perhaps there’s an idea out there thats broader, and more likely to bring success.
NOURISH yourself this year.
Instead of resolutions, goals or challenges- how about an outlook that will feed your entire life? This is where the word “nourish” comes in.
Here’s 3 ways to Nourish yourself this year:
#1 Feed Your Body
Instead of simply forcing yourself to choose salads and cutting out cupcakes, look to increase the nutrition of every single thing you eat.
Nutrient dense choices aren’t always the easiest foods to grab, but they are out there. Here’s some easy swaps:
• Spaghetti Squash instead of Pasta
• Mashed Avocado in stead of mayo on a sandwich
• Kombucha instead of Soda
• Cauliflower in place of potatoes.
Check out this months Featured Smoothie, aptly named “Nourish Smoothie”– featuring a superfood ingredient that takes this simple, fresh smoothie to another nutritional level.
Also, take advantage of this month’s supplement sale! See our favorites here.
#2 Feed Your Mind
Look at your life and find places where you can engage that amazing brain of yours. Seek out new skills and subjects: browse bookstores, sign up for e-classes and step out there. Your brain needs exercise as much as your body, and getting your mind flexible will give your whole world to expand.
#3 Feed Your Spirit
Carve out time to connect with something spiritual. This can mean anything from meditation, to mass, to a long walk along the ocean. Write down your thoughts, light some incense- make it feel spiritual even if you don’t know how. This kind of practice can go a long way and help cement all the good you are doing in the rest of your life.
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Pack For Wellness: Our Travel Favorites!
Check out this extensive video on what we love to pack to stay comfortable, relaxed and WELL.
Here’s our List:
Ghana Market Basket
Mount Hagen Instant Coffee
Dr. Tung Sanitizing Disks
Giovanni Sanitizing Towelettes
Incense Matches
Stainless Steel Shaker Bottle
Vega Protein Packets
Urban Moonshine Bitters- Chamomile
Enzymedica Digest Gold
Green Goo First Aid stick
Renew Life Ultimate Flora shelf stable packs
Super Lysine Immune Support
RX Bars
Beef Sticks
Nut Butter Packets
MyChelle Sun Shield Coconut Sunscreen
Astaxanthin
Urban Moonshine Joy Tonic
Urban Moonshine Sleep Tonic
Monq Inhalers
Dégagé Gardens Sleep Mask
XClear Nasal Spray
Pill Keeper
Smarty Pants Gummi Vitamins in Packets
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Guest Post: Developing Your Personal Health Plan
A Chiropractor’s Guide to Creating Health & Happiness This Fall & Beyond
By Dr. Michele Gardner of Gardner Family Chiropractic, Flemington, NJ
Have you ever attempted to program your GPS and found it searching for satellite? It won’t show your travel route until it first knows where you are… Finding your way in life is incredibly similar! You cannot get to where you want to go without first knowing where you are. In helping you develop your Personal Health Plan, we’ll talk about where you are on your journey to health, different philosophies of health, and actions to ensure your future wellbeing.
Because we are all at different places on our journey to health, we will each have a different plan. You will tailor your own program to suit your lifestyle. The idea behind a Personal Health Plan is that it is a decision to stay healthy and take steps toward insuring your future success. (Madeira, 2006) My favorite definition of health is one that includes physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing – not merely the absence of disease. (WHO, 1948) Health is a lifelong journey and requires a bigger picture view of life to be in view at all times. With this in mind, know that you are building awareness here. You are defining your interpretation of yourself and getting specific about what you want.
Some of us are healthy and want to stay that way. Some of us are facing a health challenge or crisis that is new. Some of us are managing chronic illness. Whether you have survived a health crisis and want to insure it never comes back, or want to take your current health to new heights, a Personal Health Plan will help you succeed. No matter where you are on your journey, I want to encourage you to make your choices from a place of self-love. A frantic push toward a desired end with a rigid list of to-do’s will not serve you and is not sustainable. Plus, you’ll miss out on the gifts you have the potential to receive – even while in crisis.
If you owned a million-dollar race horse, what would you feed it? Would you exercise it? Would you keep its environment clean? Would you give it plenty of rest, sunshine, and fresh air? Of course you would! The reason you would is because this isn’t just any horse… this is a million dollar race horse! (Madeira, 2006) Have you guessed it already? Yes, you are the million-dollar race horse! Why would you do any less for yourself? For the parents reading this, I know you want the best for your children and you know they learn through observation. Lead by example. Love yourself enough to treat yourself as you would your children so they can learn to do this for themselves. Our ability to love is infinite. I promise you, if you love yourself more you won’t be taking anything away from them. You’ll be giving them more than you can imagine.
For some of you, the following will be a big ah-ha moment. There are three different philosophies of health.
- Mechanistic Philosophy: This is the one our culture is most familiar. The belief inherent in this philosophy is that living things are like complicated machines, composed of many parts lacking any intrinsic relationship to each other.
- Holistic Philosophy: This is the one most familiar to Eastern cultures. This philosophy values the idea that living things should be viewed as wholes- not as collections of parts. Functioning cannot be fully understood solely in terms of component parts.
- Vitalism Philosophy: The basic principle of this philosophy is that living things have an innate intelligence which animates, motivates, heals, coordinates and inspires them. (Glassey, 2010)
Our culture’s medical model is based in the mechanistic philosophy. It is the most beneficial in emergency scenarios. If your kidney if failing or you’ve broken a bone, this is the approach best utilized. However, when faced with chronic illness, the modalities steeped in holism may fair better. And vitalistic philosophy can help us choose to add actions and traditions to be utilized whether we’re sick or well. There really isn’t necessarily one right answer. It is what is right for you right now. And, that may change too. Life and growth are a dynamic evolution.
Directions for Creating Your Personal Health Plan:
Once you’ve chosen your primary philosophy of health, you’ll develop your personal health wheel. Some examples of a health wheel are shown here along with a blank one you can print to create your own.
You’ll notice there is a center circle on this wheel.
Out of your health philosophy, choose up to three traditions that support your philosophy.
Some examples are: Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Biofeedback, Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic, Energy Medicine, Faith Healing, Feldenkrais Method, Functional Medicine, Gestalt Therapy, Herbalism, Homeopathy, Hydrotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Iridology, Kampo Medicine, Massage Therapy, Meditation, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Polarity Therapy, Pranic Healing, Prayer, Qigong, Rebirthing, Traditional Medicine, or Yoga Therapy.
Next you’ll choose facets of health that are important to you.
The most common are physical, spiritual, recreational, professional, social, emotional, mental, financial, romantic, creative, relational, environmental, and family. Within each category you can get specific and detailed.You have the ability to know what area of your life needs your attention to reach health goals. Simply evaluate yourself on the wheel. There is an example wheel that is multi-colored with tick marks to help quantify the level of health achieved in that category. (Baker, 2013) What do you want your life to be?
After you have chosen which areas to work on, you can decide what or who will help you with your action steps.
You are not meant to do this alone. Find practitioners within that can walk with you along your journey. They will help hold you accountable while giving you the support you need.
Get started right now:
Print one of the sample wheels. When thoughts come to you about what you want for yourself, journal them or use a voice recorder on your phone. You’ll build upon this with time and allow the specifics to unfold.
If you’d like support from me, don’t hesitate to reach out. Visit my website for more information on how to reach me. I can help you find a practitioner you are looking for or guide you through some choices. Lastly, I’ll leave you with a quote I like:
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn
No matter where you are on your journey toward health, you can make choices today that will lead you where you want to go. Surround yourself with people who help you passionately move toward self-actualization!
Works Cited
Baker, B. (2013, September). Retrieved from http://www.startofhappiness.com/wheel-of-life-a-self-assessment-tool/
Glassey, D. (2010, September). The Vitalistic Healing Model. Retrieved from Pathways to Family Wellness: http://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/Holistic-Healthcare/the-vitalistic-healing-model.html
Madeira, J. (2006). Developing Your Personal Wellness Plan. Setting Things Straight (p. 1). Madeira Success Strategies.
Duke University (2014). Retrieved from Duke Integrative Medicine: http://triadintegrativehealthcoaches.com/
Unknown. (n.d.). Retrieved from Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11892386492434313/
WHO. (1948). WHO definition of health. Retrieved from WHO International: http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html
Wikipedia. (2016, August). Holism Philosophy. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holism
Wikipedia. (2016, June). Mechanism Philosophy. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanism_(philosophy)
