Seasonal skin

As the season changes into Fall, our skin can appear dull, parched, and breakouts occur. We’re transitioning into colder days, which means less moisture in the air. and turning on the heat. 

Invest in a humidifier! 

Start adding a Retinoid back into your routine. Start slow, with so many brands out there you can get a really good over the counter Retinol. Or speak to your dermatologist about a prescription.
Starting slow, using it at night 3x a week for a couple weeks, then 4x , etc. getting your skin acclimated . This will start creating a cell turnover.

Add a purifying cleanser to your routine. Hydropeptide has a great cleanser with salicylic acid and tea tree. It’s creamy, and I don’t feel like it dries me out. I’ll use it every other day when I start going through this cycle. Putting a light layer on like a mask, then I go in the shower and rinse it off. It can also be used as a spot treatment!

Start using an exfoliator, like an enzyme or fruit peels. They skate gentle on the skin, and dissolve away old skin cells.

Serums and boosters like Hyuraluronc acid, and ceremides help to keep the hydration in.

Schedule your FALL Facial or PEEL! Now is a good time to wipe away summer and get that fresh glow back!

gift giving obsession 

My idea of gift giving, goes something like this.  If I would like that for myself, someone is getting it!
I love experiences, gift certificates and shopping local! 

​Gift Certificates
Massage, Hair, Nails. Why not gift a loved one a certificate for a little self care. A lot of times people don’t like to spend money on themselves. So having a gift certificate on hand to your favorite spot is lovely.

Experiences 
Horseback riding, The Adirondack Railroad, dinner at your favorite restaurant, movie tickets, The Rail Bike, a Tarot card reading or Chakra Balancing Service with Rebecca at Holistic Harmony is also on my list .  

Gifts
I recently went to a craft show and found some really cool gifts. Check out their pages for some one of a kind gift ideas.

Half Baked Potter
Maed by Mini
Retro Sorrento

FACIAL OF THE MONTH

Glow from Within
Skin to Soul Reiki Facial
Combining my esthetics, Reiki, and my love for good beauty vibes, this relaxing and results driven facial will have you glowing from within.  Starting with aromatherapy to quiet the mind and body. This facial includes a pumpkin enzyme treatment to dissolve old skin cells, and a Vitamin C infusion to brighten and stimulate collagen.  During the setting of a crystal infused mask, Reiki will be performed to bring harmony and balance, as well as clearing the body of emotional blockages, and negative energy.
This transformative treatment leaves your skin hydrated, plump and bright. Your spirit will be connected with your higher self, leaving you with a feeling of peace and well being.

What is Reiki
Reiki is a simple relaxation technique that activates your body’s natural healing response, restores your physical and emotional well being, and returns you to your true nature.  

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Power Lux
This is my new favorite product and it stays on my nightstand. 

This deeply rich, ultra restorative creme powerfully fortifies skin with lasting hydration while delivering a luminous sculpted and firmed appearance.  
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The clinically proven retinol alternative, Bakuchiol, pairs with four layers of hyaluronic acid along with anti wrinkle peptidedto, providing collagen support and restores youthful glow.  

giving thanks

"Gratitude for the present moment and the fullness of life now is the true prosperity"
Eckhart Tolle

When I recognized that everything great was a practice, it became such an Ah Ha moment. Yoga, meditation, and my morning gratitude. I lost the pressure of having to be my version of perfect. I've been able to expand my gratitude practice, and what I like to call, my mindful moments. Each day my eyes get wider and the world shows me just how much I have to be thankful for.

Last year at this time, my Dad had been in the hospital for 5 months, and it was uncertain if he would make it every day. I had just opened my business, it was COVID, and school was about to go remote again.  
It was a struggle, but with friends and family, a home, a business, and my clients, those were the things I was grateful for. Everyday became better than yesterday.
This year, he’s home, Ryders is in school, everyone is healthy, we have a home, we have each other, and the sun is shining.

My Grateful practice
As I’m opening my eyes in the morning, I go through a list of things I’m grateful for.  I take each and every one and smile at it, hug it, and give it its own glory.

It’s the little things, when I go through my day, that I’m most grateful for. I call these Mindful Moments. Stopping, and looking around in my surroundings. I’ll take a breath and say "Thank You!"

Like the sun, sunsets , sunrises, crunchy leaves, hot sand on my toes, the way Bella says my name, Ryder going for a bike ride, the fresh air I get to breathe, coming into work and seeing a friendly face. Turning on to my road, a snow day, a walk with my daughter, survivor nights with Ryder, phone calls from my Dad, and hugs from my grandmother.

Like this moment, when I wrote this, that became a Mindful Moment.

If you find the time, enjoy this little read on Ways to Cultivate Gratitude.

https://blog.miravalresorts.com/2019/08/26/10-ways-to-cultivate-an-attitude-of-gratitude/ 

What does wellness mean to you?

Back to school wellness is different family to family. Ours is pretty straightforward. 

*The kids always have water in their locker and lunch. 

​*I like to give them a half hour reset after school. This can be a game of around the world, or lounging on the back patio, anything that is not school related...then it's on to the studying/ homework/ extra-curriculars.

*At dinner we always discuss key points of the day - something I learned - something I was happy/ proud of - a goal for tomorrow.

*College kids...I encourage you to utilize all resources available from counseling, fitness centers, clubs, intramural sports, and getting real with your time management skills! All that combined will set you up for success beyond your school years.

Overcoming Meal Planning Demise

If you are like me you need some inspo. My family eat is largely gluten intolerant and my kids were never really sandwich people even before we knew.  Their favorite lunches are scaled down charcuterie kits, or bento styled snacky meals. Here are some of of our go to's:
*Bentos: I'll make vegetarian rice balls (usually sticky rice rolled up with shredded carrot, cucumber, diced pepper), with a side of gluten free spy and berries.

*Mini charcuterie: I'll go for crackers (Van's are amazing gf crackers), cheese, turkey roll or turkey pepperoni stick, along with veg, grapes, and cocoa dusted almonds.
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*Brunch: Sometimes they want a breakfastier lunch. Then we do yogurt, egg "cup" (so good as a make ahead breakfast or lunch), fruit, and granola bar.

Five Mindful Methods

Combat Stress and Create More Joy Throughout The Holiday Season

While the Holiday season is one of recognizing and appreciating the many blessings in our lives, and spending extra time with family and friends, it can also bring some added stress for all of us. That stress can distract us from being present in the beautiful moments that are available to us.

The five methods: energy cleansing, setting intentions, getting centered, getting grounded, and being present with gratitude and compassion.

Prepare your space; cleansing energy
This can be done a few different ways, but what works best for me, is to smudge
the house both before and after the holidays (I like to use white sage and Palo Santo).

Smudging is a way to intentionally clear out any stagnant or unwanted energy from your home. It’s important to do this throughout the year, but especially when there are going to be more people coming into your space.

We want to cleanse our space before people come over, because energy can build up, just like dust or any other residue- and smudging is a way that we can create a specific atmosphere or “vibe” in our homes.

If, for example, there has been a lot of frustration, sadness/grief, or arguments within your space, it makes sense that you would want to release any of the remains of that energy before inviting other people in. Take a moment to think about it- have you ever gone to a friend’s house or a party and when you walk in, the energy feels “off”? There can be several reasons for this, but the important thing to realize is that energy is all around us and we are always interacting with it, whether we realize it or not.

Why smudge afterwards? Well, hopefully, all the holiday gatherings will be wonderful, but either way, we can smudge after all the hustle and bustle simply to reset the energy of our personal space.

Setting Intentions
Setting your intentions can look different to different people, and it’s an important part of creating the atmosphere you want in your home. These intentions can sound like a prayer or can simply be statements created from your heart space.

As I smudge, I set intentions to request that all negative, stagnant and unbeneficial energies be cleansed and removed from my space, and that the
highest Divine frequencies of love, joy and compassion come into my space. This is a great way to begin creating an inviting atmosphere for yourself and your guests. * A little bonus that I also like to include is to play some great music before guests arrive, to raise the vibration/frequency of the space. How do you know if it’s high vibe music? If it makes you feel joyful and uplifted or calm and at peace, then you’re on the right track!

Ok - so what if you’re not hosting at your place, but you’re still feeling overwhelmed and stressed?
You can also do a smudging/cleansing on yourself (in fact, it’s recommended whether you are hosting the party or not), and you can also set the same
intentions from above - to remove what you don’t want in your energy-field and to invite what you do want, into your energy-field.

I also do a prayer to protect my energy, which is important for everyone, but especially important if you are an empath or highly sensitive to the energy of other people. There is no wrong way to pray, so you can come up with your own wording, but it might sound something like “I do not allow any negative or harmful energies into my energy-field. I am shielding myself so that I will not absorb anyone else’s energy, and so that no one can take my energy from me.” I actually do the prayer part of this as a daily routine, not just on special occasions. I think of it as spiritual hygiene.

​Combat stress by getting centered & grounded, with a side of gratitude & compassion

Center your energy
This one is simple- you take a few minutes each day, maybe 3-5 minutes in the morning and 3-5 minutes in the evening, (or maybe during the party) to breathe deeply. This automatically helps to calm your body and bring your energy back into balance and centeredness. One technique I love, because it helps to quiet the mind, is to inhale through your nose to the count of 4, hold it for a moment, and then exhale through your mouth to the count of 8. When your brain is focused on the breathing and counting, it quiets your other thoughts. You can use that breathing technique 5-10 times, (or however many you need to feel centered) and then just let your breathing fall into a more natural pattern.

Ground your energy
Visualize roots extending from your feet all the way into the center of the earth, connecting with the calming, life-giving energy of Gaia (Mother Earth). Visualize the energy moving up through the roots, through your feet and up to your root chakra (base of your spine). Then send the energy back down the roots and create an energy circuit of bringing up new energy, and releasing unbeneficial energy into the earth to be transmuted into whatever the earth is in need of.

Find gratitude & compassion
For the remaining time, think about the blessings in your life, and truly feel into the emotion of gratitude. The energetic frequency of gratitude is very powerful,
and when you make a habit of using this technique- through the law of attraction, you will continue to attract more things into your life that give you reasons to be grateful.

I hope that utilizing these methods of mindful living helps you to combat stress and bring more joy into your life throughout the holidays, and beyond!

May your life be filled with infinite blessings, Rebecca Percacciante

Psychic Medium & Energywork Practitioner
www.holistic-harmony.org

coming soon... buti yoga

Ellie Barretta - Instructor (200HR RYT​)
Buti yoga utilizes dynamic asana infused with primal movement, tribal dance, cardio HIIT and a spiral structure technique to activate deep core muscles. Paired with intentional shaking and vibration to help release stored trauma and stimulate cellular reorganization.

The beat blended movement FORCES YOU OUT OF YOUR HEAD and INTO YOUR BODY.

Buti, an Indian Marathi word, a cure that has been hidden or kept secret and the practice of Buti helps strip away the layers that hide this cure and bring about total transformation. All levels and people
welcome! Music may be explicit for young ears.

Ellie has been a licensed funeral director for 20 years, a certified celebrant, and an essential oil educator, always loving to help people, which led her to a toxic free lifestyle and back to her dancing/sporty roots. Newly certified Buti Yoga Instructor as of June 2021 and 200HR RYT certified October 2021. She loves to workout and was looking for something new & fun every time, not the same old as routine.

Ellie has been practicing Buti Yoga, on & off, since fall of 2017 and after having her first child, Ronan, in Jan. 2020 decided it’s time to switch careers for her family. It has brought so much alignment in her life and opened her soul to inner peace and healing that she decided to share her passion with others. Buti finds you!

CALL FOR APPOINTMENT
315-982-MUSE