Allergic Reaction

On Monday night I started to get an itchy, spidery, crawling sensation on my neck. I put some lotion on and went to bed. Tuesday morning, I woke up at 6a and headed immediately to the gym. When I wake up, I usually get ready in the dark so as to not disturb my still sleeping family. After I returned home for a shower (yes, my gym has showers, but I have a “thing” about showering anywhere other than home) that is when I noticed something was seriously wrong. I peeled off my sweaty workout clothes and discovered that the itchy, spidery, crawling sensation from the night before had blown up into a full-fledged hive-like outbreak! One look in the mirror and I was like WHOA!!!

Red spider-webby stripey splotches all over my torso, neck, and shoulders. So weird! None of it itched and I felt totally fine. Post-runner high was in full effect. Mood was great…However, I certainly looked like I had just gotten into a tussle with a tiger. I’ve had hives before, maybe 15 years or so ago and knew enough to take some Benadryl right away. I recall that the last time I had a random outbreak like this it resolved within a few hours. I am now on day #3 and this crazy condition just keeps evolving. It’s fading on my torso and neck, but now my fingers and elbows are victims.  I’ll spare you any pictures. Don’t feel like you’re missing out. There are plenty of awful ones available on the internet if your Google searching of symptoms and causes ever takes you down that path.

I did visit the Minute Clinic at my local CVS on Tuesday evening, but nothing conclusive was determined to be the cause. No fever, O2 levels good, heart rate and blood pressure were stellar. Most likely it was an allergic reaction to something, but what that could be is still TBD. One benefit of having a pretty healthy lifestyle and a chemical free home is that I can rule out a lot of possibilities. It’s not my organic-free-of-everything laundry detergent, face wash, body wash, shampoo, lotion, or cosmetics!

Current theories include a zinc supplement that I took for a few days leading up to this outbreak, ironically, to boost my immune system. Perhaps I kicked my immune system into overdrive and now it is in combat mode! Another theory is black lentils. I’ve never had a legume/peanut allergy before, and I’ve had my fair share of hummus or other lentil soups, so I’m not convinced, but on Sunday I had black lentils for the first time ever. They were SO good I had them for dinner on Monday night too. I was almost going to post a recipe blog about it, but maybe I shouldn’t! (Well, it’s still worth a mention…roasted sweet potato, black lentils, scallions, and celery tossed with olive oil, honey, and lemon juice.)

Could this be the delicious culprit??

It is such a mystery! I’m probably just allergic to work. It’s been a stressful few days. Think I could get an MD note excusing me for the rest of my, um, life?

Here’s hoping I can run tomorrow! This girl has a half-marathon to run in a few weeks! I don’t have time for this craziness.

Here’s to your health!

A.Lockhart

Oh, Baby!

Baby powder that is. I have had some in my girl’s bathroom up until this very morning. I just did not know. The product seemed so innocent…I mean, it goes on babies for crying out loud! What is more innocent than babies?! This product was literally found guilty- and Johnson & Johnson had to pay up. Check out this article from Time Magazine, Johnson & Johnson Is Just the Tip of the Toxic Iceberg, dated March 2, 2016 to learn more about the need for tougher safety standards and informed choice about safety of products in the cosmetics industry. To learn more about the $72 MILLION dollar lawsuit, check out this article from Time, Jury Awards $72 Million to Woman in Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Cancer Suit, dated February 23, 2016.

If this information disturbs you, get curious! Learn more about product safety by visiting the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit dedicated to protecting human health and the environment.

If you want to take action, join a movement in asking Congress to Hold a Hearing on the Personal Care Products Safety Act. It hasn’t been updated since 1938!!

Your voice matters!

A.Lockhart

Igniting the Fire Within

Every now and again I’m able to articulate exactly the emotion I am feeling inside. The piece I am sharing below is something I originally wrote for my friend, and co-author of this blog, to use for her business blog. During the month of February I wrote pieces for her business centering on the theme of Perseverance. I am now proud to say that I can write the word perseverance without using spell-check. This blog is the story behind the piece.

I am a runner, and I also do yoga. The two activities complement each other perfectly. A few weeks ago I was indulging in a noon-hour yoga session after having a particularly stressful morning at work. (Turns out that yoga and work also complement each other perfectly…) As I was assuming Dancer’s Pose, which is by far my most favorite asana (posture), the inspiration for this piece landed.

Later in the evening, when I found the time to sit quietly with my thoughts, I closed my eyes and visualized every action and corresponding feeling I could think of to describe the physical and emotional experience of practicing yoga. The experience of developing perseverance. Yoga is as calming as it is invigorating. It is as relaxing as it is challenging. It has helped me improve my mental discipline, which is helpful whether I’m on a long tempo run, or handling my seventh walk-in employee of the morning seeking consult on a difficult case.

With no further ado, I give you:

Igniting the Fire Within

Fire within

Focus intense

Eyes locked on the horizon

A single breath rises and falls, solid, filling her chest

Heart swells, rhythmic beating

Slow… steady… purposeful…

She will persevere.

Silent as a stalking tiger

Alert as a hungry hawk

She will not be underestimated

Goals, dreams, all within reach

One final push

The journey has been beautiful

Painful…intentional…transformative…

She has persevered.

Fingertips gracefully stretch forth

Hands open

Energy releases

Soul awakened

This is what it feels like

To risk everything

And succeed

It’s worth it

Honor…Faith…Grit…

Perseverance.

This piece originally appeared on February 29, 2016 at http://avantsynergy.com/igniting-the-fire-within/

Peace,

A.Lockhart

When the going gets tough…

…the tough go running. Every other year since 2010, I have participated in some type of running event. Here is what I have accomplished thus far:

• Fargo Half (May 2010)
• Twin Cities 10K (October 2012)
• Run for the Lakes, Brainerd (April 2014)
• Lifetime Commitment Day 5K (January 2016)

You’ll notice I have already completed my running event for 2016…but then life went and got all stressful on me and I decided I needed to turn to the only outlet that truly reduces my stress. I signed up for another race. This time it will be the Stillwater Half which is scheduled for May 2016. I’m now into Week 2 of training and have decided on a Tues/Fri/Sun run schedule. There is nothing more soothing to me in times of stress than to have ONE thing on my calendar that is predictable and necessary. My mileage. Running is my religion. It brings me peace and balance. Cupcake consumption without guilt.

Non-runners may not relate to this post at all, but those of you who do run, most certainly will. Seeing a training plan mapped out for the next 12 weeks is heavenly. My days and nights are now ordered around distance and time goals for the next day. Nurturing my body so that it can develop, perform, and recover. Sleep is now “part of the plan.” I can be more intentional about actually getting some Zs. You know, I’m in training. My pantry is quickly turning over from its supply of  winter comfort foods to the lean, body nourishing, muscle repairing, delicious foods of training season. (Cupcakes excluded.) I love everything about training.

All of the races I have completed thus far have been “fast and flat.” The Stillwater Half will add a new challenge of hills. From what I understand they will come around miles 10 and 11. Sounds fun… (yeah, not really), but at least I know in advance so I can try to prepare. When I lived in Saint Paul a few years ago, there were some incredible training hills to run on. I may have to visit my old haunts this spring.

Last Saturday night I spent some time updating my “Miles of Smiles” running playlist. If Demons, Imagine Dragons, isn’t on your playlist right now I highly recommend. When I was running on Sunday, that song came on and I got the goose bumps. Definitely gave me an extra boost of energy. I’m still looking for some more songs to add. Anyone have any personal favorites that get you through just one more mile? Let me know!

Happy Running!

A.Lockhart

Dining in Orlando, FL

Ask my kids the 4 main food groups and they will give you an Elf-style answer. Candy, Candy Canes, Candy Corns, and Syrup. Disney World is their personal heaven. Not because of the rides or characters… Oh, no. It is because it is a confectioner’s paradise. Suckers, tubs of cotton candy, candied apples, chocolate chunk cookies, chocolate covered crispy treats, ganache covered everything… Plus, it all tastes 10x better when shaped like Mickey Mouse or served up in a Disney-themed container. I wouldn’t usually give in to so much sugar indulgence, but when I pay $100/person to get into the theme parks, and know a good sugar rush will help us maximize the hours in the day or help the kids better tolerate long waits for popular rides…it seems justifiable. #parentoftheyear

I do know that kid, (nor parent) can live on sugar alone, so we have actually had some other fine cuisine. Here are the highlights:

Be Our Guest Restaurant (Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom)- a fine mix of kid and adult-friendly French inspired selections. Croque Monsieurs, Pommes Frites, Vegetable Quiche, Braised Slow Cooked Pork, Quinoa Salad, and of course, fancy cupcakes! We tried the Master’s Cupcake (“Chocolate sponge cake topped with Lumiere’s special Grey Stuff”). The grey stuff tasted like a vanilla buttercream of sorts. The ambiance of this restaurant and extra courteous staff make this a great place to take a break from the activities of the day. There are three different dining rooms each with Beauty and the Beast inspired themes. We sat in the West Wing, where the magical rose is located. Caution-if your kids are Nervous Nellies, the West Wing may not be the best seating because thunder and lightning effects take place throughout the hour it takes to dine. For some reason, my kids kept asking if the castle was going to disappear. We reassured them that many more people had reservations after us, so no, the castle was not going to blow away in a storm.

Hollywood and Vine (Hollywood Studios, Character Experience)- So.Much.Food. First, the obvious perks of doing a character dining experience is skipping long lines to get guaranteed time and photo opps with favorite Disney characters. This is a Disney Junior breakfast and I’m telling you, more adults than kids know the words to the songs. Speaking of- there are great sing-alongs, dance time, and hugs.

Second thing to know, this is buffet dining. It’s important to remember, your young children do not comprehend how much money you have paid for them to have this encounter with Doc McStuffins, Jake, and others. They will not eat their worth in food and you have to be OK with that. There certainly is more food available at the breakfast buffet than reasonable to consume- even for an adult who takes two trips back to the line. Not that I would know…but if your kids are at all like mine, they will opt for a small dish of Fruit Loops, and maybe take a couple bites from a cinnamon roll. Perhaps three or four grapes. Expensive grapes, yes, but the memories will be priceless.

Something else worth mentioning here- The Star Wars Jedi Training for kids age 4-12 is at Hollywood Studios. I’d heard that some people will make reservations for breakfast at the park just so that they can get in early and sneak over to register for the Training. What we discovered is that this is not necessary. When we arrived an hour before the park opened, we were happy to discover there was a special park entrance line designated for people who just wanted to sign up for Jedi Training. We were able to enter the park early (before 9a), without the super early breakfast reservations (ours were at 9:40a). The attendants directed us exactly where to go, and we were able to get signed up with no issues at all. You still want to get there early, as spaces fill up quickly, but no need to try and “work the system” by doing breakfast reservations. Book breakfast just because it’s a fun experience.

Not visiting any of the Disney Parks? No problem. Here is an awesome recommendation:

Cooper’s Hawk Winery (International Drive)- We first discovered this restaurant about a year ago while in the Chicago area. Award winning wines, flavorful food, and generous portions. See the picture of the child serving of spaghetti below and notice how the plate is literally bigger than my five year old. Something I really like about this restaurant is how they make a wine pairing suggestion with every single food item on the menu. They will also let you sample two wines per adult before, during, or after ordering your meal. I made reservations for 4p in order to take advantage of Happy Hour that is available throughout the restaurant. $5 wines and a great selection of appetizers, including Seared Ahi Tuna Tacos, and kettle cooked chips with Caramelized Bacon Onion Dip. the kid’s meals are finished with a chocolate dipped strawberry. I had some Lobster Bisque and a Peach Sangria. If the kids can be sugared up on this vacation, I can certainly have my fun, too!

Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation (Lake Buena Vista)- This is a buffet chain that serves health foods! Salads, soups, sandwiches, and pastas. Not many restaurants, let alone buffets, have the likes of Kale Salad, Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins, Black Bean and Quinoa Chili, and Tuna Tarragon in the line up. There are plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Finally, guilt-free buffet dining…you know…after you’ve had your fill of sugar.

To your health,

A.Lockhart

 

 

My Orlando resort uses earth friendly products!

We’ve arrived! Orlando, Florida. Two preschoolers, my husband, my mom, and me. The goal for this trip is to relax, enjoy precious time with family, and also to share my experiences and recommendations with each of you!

I booked this trip back in September of 2015, just after “Balloons in the Sky blog” was born, knowing that my friend Heidi and I would want to be writing about our travel adventures. We enjoy providing recommendations on the best places to stay while touring the world. (For example, check out one of our first posts about Cinque Terre, Italy, her recent posts on Hawaii 1, 2, and 3) and the Kalahari.)

Today, from the field, I give you my shout out for accommodations in Orlando, FL. We are staying at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort. It is a pretty large complex located within the Disney Parks, though it is not an official Disney Resort. I chose this location because it has suites available. We are staying in a two bedroom/two bathroom unit, equipped with full kitchen, and in-unit laundry facility. Perfect for families. (After being rained on for a couple hours while at Disney World yesterday and then spending the rest of the humid day in those same clothes- we were especially happy to have a washer and dryer available… There was no way I wanted to throw those clothes back in the suitcase!)

Our flight arrived to Orlando at 7:55p EST on Monday 2/22. By the time we got our rental car (ALAMO rocks!) and squeezed in a quick trip to Target for groceries (yes, I’m ambitious), it was 10p before we got to the resort. Apparently the WBC reservation systems had bad outages earlier in the day. We were later told that some guests experienced delays of up to 5 hours checking in to their rooms. I was the only person in line at 10p and the total check-in time took me about 30 min due to the residual effects of the outage. Kedo, Guest Check-in, was extremely courteous throughout the process, making appropriate small talk, and using humor, while trying to move things along. The following day we received a personal call from the resort manager apologizing for any inconveniences caused by the system outage. I thought this was a nice gesture.

The kids were hungry for a bedtime snack when we arrived. The simple act of satiating them with some grapes turned into a test of hotel responsiveness… So, I go to rinse the grapes and in true April Fool’s Day style the sprayer on the kitchen sink shoots two feet in the air and then water proceeded to spray everywhere. In a matter of about five seconds I had an impromptu shower and a good laugh. I called the front desk at 11p. She offered to send someone up right away or I could wait until morning. Since we were all awake anyway I told her to go ahead and send someone up. Within 30 minutes we had a new sprayer nozzle installed. Prompt service from Eric and Manje!

An important thing to highlight is the toiletries. I believe the quality of the hotel toiletries says a lot about the quality of the hotel. The particular brand used here is called Eartherapy. It’s made in Australia. Since I’ve been more concerned about what goes on my skin these days, I did a little research and was pleased to discover that these products are biodegradable, paraben-free, and contain EcoPure which is described as an “organic based additive.” The packaging is biodegradable and recyclable. The ingredient label does list “fragrance,” with the body lotion smelling like cinnamon. The shampoo and conditioner smell like Eucalyptus while the bar soap has a pine smell.

Another huge bonus of our resort is the Aqualine jet tub available in the Master Bedroom. This turned out to be a great way to end the day upon return from Walt Disney World. The “Happiest Place on Earth” can take a toll on the legs and feet. (According the the health app on my phone we walked just over 16,000 steps, or 7.31 miles over the course of 12 hours…oh, and because of the rain, the stroller we rented got soaked so was of little use in chauffeuring the girls around for the first half of the day which meant that my husband and I carried 40 extra pounds each for several hours.) You’ll never hear me complaining about paying for a gym membership. I use it and it comes in handy in unexpected ways!

Stay tuned for more info on our adventures in Orlando!

A.Lockhart

M is Mickey Mouse!

 

Pre-vacation cleaning

My household is getting ready for a week of vacation. In preparation, I have spent time trying to fit two week’s worth of activity into one! There is always so much to do before leaving. Maybe some people can just pack and go. I’m not one of those people. A perfectionist of sorts, I like to have the house cleaned from top to bottom before departure. This is in addition to wrapping up all my work responsibilities, packing, last minute shopping, and laundry. I absolutely love returning to a clean house.

Something you might find of interest is what I am using since going on my chemical reduction spree. My all-purpose cleaner of choice is a water-vinegar-essential oil combo.

What you need:

All-Purpose Spray Bottle (Target had a 32oz bottle in stock)

12 oz water

12 oz vinegar

10-15 drops of essential oil (lavender, lemon, grapefruit are all great choices)

Directions:

Combine ingredients and shake vigorously a few times prior to each use. Clean away as usual!

According to Livestrong.com, “Common white and cider vinegar have a 5 percent acidity, which is why they make effective cleansers and home remedies.”

When used in conjunction with baking soda (as an abrasive) I’ve found it to be very effective at cleaning and freshening. Particularly useful for attacking scum buildup in sinks, bathrooms, shower stalls, etc. It is also fun to use this combo because it is reminiscent of a 6th grade science experiment the way that it fizzes and bubbles. It’s the little things in life that bring such joy.

Happy Healthy Cleaning! So.excited.for.vacation!!

A.Lockhart

 

 

You know that feeling when you want to know the truth, but not really know…

I’ve been wrestling with that feeling ever since discovering the SkinDeep app I wrote about in How did I not know about this until recently? In sum, it’s a free App and provides information on the health & safety ratings of more than 80,000 products sold in the U.S. cosmetics industry. I’m in my late 30’s, college educated, and professionally employed. I like to consider myself “on top of things.” Yet, it was just six months ago when I learned that the beauty industry, an industry that receives a fair share of my discretionary income, is highly unregulated.

I am an avid label reader when it comes to what goes in my body. While I was pregnant with my first child I made a zealous effort to do everything by the book. After she was born, I continued the healthy habits and made the choice to breastfeed. Within a couple of days she started breaking out in little red bumps on her skin! The pediatrician recognized right away that my baby bundle of joy had a milk protein allergy. She recommended I forego dairy in order to avoid the allergic reaction, or switch to formula. I did what a sane thrifty person would do. Every bit of dairy was purged from my diet. The result?

• clear skin for my baby (yay!)
• increase in my grocery bill (maybe formula would have been cheaper?)
• the realization that “milk” is in everything (including many “non-dairy” seeming items like breads, crackers, and cereals)
• major weight loss for me (another yay!)
• my sinuses cleared up completely (didn’t even know they were problematic)
• a learning that reading ingredient labels is necessary

Even though I was (and still am) totally ept at reading labels for food items, I was oblivious to the importance of understanding and reading labels for products that go on my body, or countertops, tabletops, dishes, laundry, and the likes… I mean, we live in America right? Everything is regulated. Safe…

So, back to six months ago when my world was totally rocked when I discovered this was not the case. A friend of mine sells BeautyCounter and she provided me with a bit of education. If you’ve not heard of BeautyCounter, it is a newer (premium) cosmetics line dedicated to producing products that meet rigid standards. I’m talking well above and beyond what the FDA requires. It wouldn’t take much though… seriously. Take a guess. How many chemicals do you think are banned from cosmetics in the USA?

Here’s a cute picture of my cuddly kittens to look at while you make your guess…now scroll down and see how close you were to being right.

 

The U.S. FDA has only banned or restricted 11 chemicals from cosmetics. In comparison, the EU law  bans 1,328 chemicals from cosmetics that are known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation, reproductive harm or birth defects. Read more about that here.

Now I’m left to my own devices to educate myself and find out just what this means for me as a consumer. This is not just an issue for women’s health either. Men are using products with chemicals in them every day; face wash, body wash, shampoo, dish soap, laundry soap…well…some men use these products…right? Thankfully, I have a husband who actually does. Anyway-

I’ve been thinking a lot about how Valentine’s Day is coming up and a common gift is perfume. Now I’m like…how romantic…here’s your glass jar of sweet smelling toxin. I love you. Sorry if this gives you cancer someday. Ugh.

Here’s a couple of simple things I’ve allowed myself to learn. Like I said earlier, I want to know…but yet I don’t. I’m taking baby steps.

• Fragrance free = nothing extra added to the product
• Unscented = fragrance additive! (a scent used to mask unpleasant chemical smells)
• Fragrances = chemical mysteries. Companies are not required by law to list all the chemicals in a product. They are protected by trade secret laws and only have to list one word: Fragrance.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is working hard to provide education on exactly what all this means for consumers. As I continue to learn information, or discover natural beauty alternatives, I plan to share. Right now I understand that fragrance-free is probably my best bet, but that I still have to read the whole label. Something I pride myself on is being very level-headed and intelligent. Not a reactionary or extremist. In college I took courses where I was asked to evaluate propaganda with a critical eye and I got A’s. I don’t want to be an alarmist. I just want to make informed choices and help others do the same! If you have any specific questions, or thoughts, I’d love to hear from you. I’m not an expert, but I sure am I motivated learner.

To your health,

A.Lockhart

I spent a lot of time doing my taxes today

Therefore, I am not in the most creative state of mind. I actually enjoy doing taxes because it is so detailed and methodical. One of my favorite jobs during college was as a bank teller. Multiple transactions per shift, and no room for error. Meticulous data entry and precision. At the end of the day there were always two people on duty to verify the counts. The drawer had to be perfectly balanced or we found ourselves having to stay late until every last penny was accounted for. One of my favorite memories from working at the bank was a time when I left the intercom on for entertainment sake. A customer was in the drive up lane jamming out to a song on the radio. The best part was the song he was singing: Take the Money and Run.

Another favorite memory I have from the bank days is when someone drove off with the canister. I don’t know why it struck my funny bone so much when they sheepishly pulled around a few minutes later and dropped it back off without a word. Finally, I remember watching a customer drop the canister entirely. It rolled under the car and the person was so flustered that they opened the door of their car to retrieve it, but ended up slamming the door into the concrete post. The driver quickly pulled the door back shut and drove off. All a teller can do is watch wide-eyed as the spectacle unfolds… Anyway, taxes. Things are looking decent this year. No surprises- though I did just receive a 1099-MISC in the mail from a business I had no recollection of working for. I had to Google the payer listed and see if it sparked a memory. I’m pretty sure now it was from a modeling job I had last January. Not 100% certain, but pretty sure…I had a busy year.

Good luck and happy times to you if you file on your own- or- enjoy your free time if you use an accountant!

Best,

A.Lockhart

Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Thankful.

Can someone be overwhelmed, physically and emotionally exhausted, and yet so incredibly thankful and grateful, all at the same time? The answer is a resounding Yes. Absolutely. Most Certainly.

How can I be so sure? Because today, it is Me. I am that exact definition.

My Exhausted, Overwhelmed Self Thinks:

• I am working longer hours that I have in my entire life. My clients have huge initiatives reaching their peak.
• I flew to Milwaukee for 26 hours Friday-Saturday for a baby shower.
• My kids want to play games.
• My house isn’t picked up.
• Laundry and dishes are overflowing.
• I have Leads who need Proposals. And Prospective Clients who want to move forward on Proposals. And Prospective Jobs that need to be filled with Amazing Contractors.
• We leave for vacation in 6 days. To a tropical beach. And I haven’t found time to buy my kids sandals yet. (barefoot is the way to go, I guess!)
• We brought on a new Financial Planner for our business and personal finances – and there are so many options and things to consider – that my mind can’t even hold them all straight.
• I. Want. To Scream….and then proceed right into tears.

My Grateful Self Thinks:

• Holy Hannah – the work I am doing is meaningful, adds value, and shows my true Unique Ability. This is what I dreamed for, and I am only 30, and it is temporary. How did I get so blessed?
• Amazed – I have the ability with my finances and my support system (Helloooo Mom and Aaron!) to leave on a whim to attend a great friend’s baby shower? How did I get so blessed?
• My two, healthy, happy, kids love me. I have an amazing home that have so much food and so many dishes.
• I have business leads. Who ask for proposals. And then sign Service Agreements. I have the pleasure of offering work to those looking for it. And creating capacity to the clients they are allowed to Serve. Dream. Come. True.
• I have financial options. I have the capacity to give. I have the capacity to learn. Enough said.
• Tears of joy have been flowing lately.

Be Blessed,

Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Thankful.

(written on 1/17/16. by the time this posts – I will be in beautiful Hawaii. Stay-tuned for a Comprehensive Review of the Big Island.