Heritage and Legacy

Last night, my mom texted that my grandfather passed away. It took me by surprise and it has been a struggle with my emotions since.

This has hit me so hard. Not because I was very close to my Ong ngoai. His passing opened the floodgates to all my sorrow and sadness that I have been pushing down every time it tried to surface. It is making me reflect more on how I should be living. I am incredibly sad for my family. My mom, my aunts, my cousins who were close to him and had a relationship with him. Who were able to communicate with him and hold real conversations with him.

You see, I am a terrible Asian. I joke about this and my non Asian friends think it is funny. It really IS funny on any other day. Any day but the day after I find out about my grandfather.
I am a terrible Asian because I never embraced by heritage nor did I want to learn more about my family and where I came from. Actually, the want was there to learn about my family but what I lacked was the desire to push past my insecurities and the language barrier to find out my family's story.

My parents and I along with an aunt came to the US when I was two. We spoke Vietnamese and English in our home but my upbringing was pretty Americanized. My mom brought over her family many years ago and although we would have family gatherings, I always felt like an outsider. I understood maybe half of the conversations that would fly through the house. My Vietnamese was not bad when I lived with my parents but after I ventured out on my own, I slowly lost those skills. It didn't help that I had no close Vietnamese friends to converse with. At family gatherings, I would rely more and more on my mom to be my translator.

The last time I saw my grandfather was in January. His memory had been failing but he was lucid and he remembered me. He asked about my boys and we had light conversation, again with my mom as the go between. I am just glad I got to see him.

He was 95. From what I know, he has had a wonderful life, surrounded by people who love him and cared for him. But that's about the extent of what I know. I bet he had stories to tell about his childhood, his life, his work. But I don't know any of it and that plays a part in my sadness.

We no longer take the time to find out about the people around us. What are their thoughts, their feelings, their loves, their vices. We call people friends, family, soul mates, or BFFs but do we really truly know them? Know what is in their heart as well on on their mind?  Are we asking the right questions so that we can know them?

This seems like ramblings of a confused and sad soul but my point in all of this is take the time to know the people in your life that you say are important. Do this before it is too late to do anything about it. Are their people in your life that will be remembered after they leave? What is their legacy and will it be remembered, documented, and passed on so that others can know them? These people do not have to be famous or have done something Nobel Prize worthy. The people in your life, family, friends, loved ones, they are a part of your heritage and they are part of your story and their story deserves to be told and live on.

I wish I had taken the time to get to know him, to spend more time with him, talked to him more. Then I would have stories to tell my children and been able to pass down to them more than just the family nose. I love you Ông ngoại and so happy you are now at peace.

The workout adventures of Miss Fit at Vibe Fitness

I had the opportunity to try Vibe Fitness for 21 days. Considering I have not been "active" in any fitness regimen for over a year, I saw this as a kick in the yoga pants to get myself back in shape. 

Vibe Fitness in Katy is led by Ashlie Holdorf and her team of energetic instructors who thrive on positive energy. Ashlie has been in fitness her entire life and started teaching dance and tumbling at 15. From there she progressed to group fitness and personal training. During her time as the fitness manager for a fitness studio, she experienced the fitness family lifestyle and did not want to lose that vibe. So Vibe Fitness came to life! 

Vibe opened in February 2016 and since then, word of mouth has spread in the Katy community through special events showcasing local entreprenuers, "mompreneurs", and networking groups. No matter your strength, agility, or ability, Vibe offers classes for anyone and everyone. Vibe offers personal attention so you can try new things and succeed. They want to help, not just in fitness but in your community. One you join Vibe Fitness, you are in the Vibe Tribe!

Vibe Fitness offers group fitness classes and personal training. Personal training can be for the individual, students, or couples/buddies. There are currently 16 different group classes and the descriptions are listed on their site: http://www.vibewithustexas.com/. There are some classes that are consistent, for example, Zumba on Saturday morning at 9:30am and candlelight yoga on Monday at 7:00 pm. During the week, there may be some variation in the group class schedule. More classes will be added in the coming months and additional instructors have been added for children's yoga. Ashlie is currently working on a Les Mills Body Pump class coming this Fall.

Aerial Yoga

This unique format incorporates elements of yoga, pilates and barre workouts to increase flexibility, strength and relaxation. Using beautiful silks to extend your traditional practice, we invite you to a one of a kind experience.

music - relaxing instrumental

intensity - low

Instructor - Jackie

Overall - This class was the first one I took and a good intro back into working out. This was leg intensive for me as we balanced on one leg while the other leg was sequestered in the silk. The format is yoga poses incorporating the silks so it is a bit more challenging if you have a difficult time with balance however this does improve with continued practice. It is not a fast paced class so definitely one a beginner can try. 

Bollywood

Bollywood Dancing is one of the hottest dances around! It is the foundation of every great Indian Bollywood Film. The dances are a fusion of traditional and classical Indian dances with the influence of some jazz, hip-hop and modern dance.

Music - Bollywood

Intensity - Medium to high impact on legs/knees, cardio

Instructor - Divya 

Overall - Bollywood was a lot of fun. from the music to the moves. There is quite a bit of hip action going on so this helps you flex those muscles. This is another good class for beginners as Divya alternates intensities from set to set. She will ask the class how they are doing and adjust the sets based on feedback.

Soul Grooves

A mind, body and soul workout that gets your body moving to the groove. Dance through the hits of today and groove your way to better health.

Music - hip hop
Intensity - medium/high intensity, cardio

Instructor - Jodee

Overall - If you love dancing to hip hop music and really moving to the beat, this is the class for you. Very upbeat and high energy. Jodee engages the participants and encourages you to keep moving. 

Zumba

Feel the Latin beat with this fun and easy to follow dance class. This timeless classic is sure to make you move!

Music - Latin 

Intensity - Full Cardio

Instructor - Divya 

Overall - This class is a mix of Bollywood and Soul Grooves. It contains some hip hop moves fused with Latin dance moves. Divya also engages the participants and changes up the beat from set to set. Some songs are intense moves and others are slow giving you a chance to catch your breath. If you love dancing, Bollywood, Soul Grooves, and Zumba are right up your alley.

Candlelight Yoga

Wind down your day in the calming candlelight. Move through a relaxing practice designed to stretch your flexibility and center your soul.

Music - relaxing instrumental

Intensity - low impact, low intensity

Instructor - Sally and Sacha

Overall - This is one I recommend to anyone at any fitness level. Because it is low impact, it is great for improving flexibility, increase muscle strength and tone, improved respiration and energy, and protects from injury. This class helps strengthen your and the wind down is very relaxing. I cannot confirm nor deny falling asleep while in Savasana pose.

Pound

Drum your way to fitness with this one of a kind workout utilizing drum sticks. We rock out while engaging your core and lower body and hit the floor like we are drumming in a live concert!

Music - fast paced and upbeat hip hop

Intensity - intense strength training, minimal cardio

Instructor - Tiplah

Overall - WOW. This class was tougher for me because I have very little upper body core strength. This class left me the most sore because I worked muscles I did not even know were muscles. Tiplah pushes you to keep going. Even though she gives you modifications, she is really giving you the eyeball to tell you to push through it. 

Surfset

This class brings a variety of Burn, Balance, and Build to give you a full body workout that will leave you feeling ready for the waves.

Music - Low key but upbeat

Intensity - intense strength training, minimal cardio

Instructor - Ashlie

Overall - I consider this class slightly more advanced only because there is the added task of balancing on a surfset board. For those who have handle on their balance during yoga moves, this will be an easy class. At times the moves were fast-paced and I was scared I would fall off the board. I did but at least you are close to the ground so no real damage occurred. This was a really fun class and one I would recommend after taking a few regular yoga or piyo classes.

 

I wanted to try all the classes so that I could eventually find 2-3 classes I really liked. (i.e. classes where I did not pass out in the first 10 minutes.) After 3 weeks of classes, I have to say all the ones that I took were so much fun, the instructors are energetic, and I did not pass out in a single class. And when you take the classes with a friend, it makes it that much greater. 

Membership consists of a monthly plan at $55 but if you sign up for 3 months, it is $150. Personal training is available as one -on-one or couple/buddy. Vibe also offers spray tanning, massages, and aesthetician services. You can find more information at vibewithustexas.com.

My Favorite Things Party

If you have never attended a Favorite Things party or even know what it is, keep reading, This was such a fun concept for a ladies' night party and it is super simple to throw one together.
You start with a theme (no theme is also a popular theme), determine the price range for the favorite item, and how many of that item each person should bring.

My wonderful friend, M, loves all things makeup so we decided on a beauty theme. We set up an event asking guests to pick an item around $8 and bring 3 of them. We did not ask them to wrap any of them but some of them did.  For those who did not wrap, we had some brown lunch bags on hand and got a lot of use out of them.

Supplies:
Brown paper bags, ribbon, items for any games you may want to play (plastic practice golf balls, tennis balls, pantyhose if you want to play the games listed here). Printer and paper to print questionnaires, signs, and tags.

Food:
For the food, we made it pot luck and asked each guest to bring their favorite snack, appetizer, drink, or dessert. A party is not complete without Nothing Bundt Cake!

Taste testing Nothing Bundt cakes

Games:
You don't have to play games but it can be a great icebreaker if many of your guests don't know each other. Each guest filled out this questionnaire. Then we jumbled them up and each person read a questionnaire for us to guess who it belonged to.

How we picked our favorite things:
Using the brown paper bags, we numbered the bottom of the bags 1 to 9. Using the plastic practice golf balls, each person threw three balls, aiming for the bags. Whichever bag the balls fell determined which favorite things they won. If you choose this method, once a number has been picked 3 times, you will need to remove that bag. The last two people threw their balls at the same time to compete for the last bags.

The last game we played was pantyhose bowling and I gotta tell ya, that is an awkwardly hilarious game. I highly recommend these shenanigans.

Gift bags:
This is definitely not something you have to include in your party planning. Each guest will go home with some goodies already. I decided to give each guest some other favorite things in brown paper packages tied up with string: Thirty-One nail file, Scripture card, Elf lip/cheek/eye cream, chocolate, encouragement card for them to share with a friend. 

 

Get this printable tag here.

Favorite Things:
You can set the price for the item your guests will pick and determine how many of that item to bring. We went with an $8 max  price and asked them to bring three of that item. Keep in mind the total cost each guest would spend. If you want to go home with more items, you can try $5 limit and bringing 5 items to the party.

These were all the favorite things our friends brought to share: NYX Not Your Mother's Argan Oil for Hair, doTERRA Citrus Bliss Hand lotion, Dr. Jart+ Face Mask, Younique Eye Pigment, Blistex chapstick, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail polish, Pro-Pac Hair Masks, Cuticle Removal Gel, Callous Shaver, Nail brush, Moscato, NYX Soft matte lip cream.

Our first Favorite things party was a success and I cannot wait for the next one. Laughing with these beautiful ladies was the highlight of the night. The goodies we got were just icing on the cake.

At the end of the night, we supplied gift tags and encouraged each person to write a note to a friend, something encouraging or a compliment. There were the sweet tags that brought a smile to my face and chuckle in my heart.

Visit Pinterest for more Favorite things party ideas.

Summer Movie Programs for kids 2016 - Houston areas specific

For parents with children out of school for the summer, thinking of schedules and what to do with them can be stressful. Not to mention the astronomical cost of "entertaining" them or putting them in a summer camp or program. I feel like I need to take out a loan just so they aren't roaming the streets, getting juice box wasted and high on warheads. This is where low cost movies during the summer can be a lifesaver. It is two hours of quiet time (hopefully) and out of the heat. We won't discuss the possible 20 z's you might catch when you close your eyes during the previews.

I have compiled information on Houston area theaters with summer movie programs. Be sure to check with each theater's website for more details or changes to the program.

Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse

Each movie is $1 or you can buy a bundle punch card for $5 for 10 movies.

Show days are Tue, Wed, Thurs 9:00am o-9:30

http://www.cinemark.com/summer-movie-clubhouse

Regal Entertainment Theaters

Each movie is $1.

Show days are Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am. Each week both movies play on both days. Check your specific theater for start dates. 

A portion of the proceeds goes to the Will Rogers Institute.

http://www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express?

Santikos - Palladium specific

Movies are free

Show days are Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am.

Summer snack pack with popcorn and drink is $4

The movie program benefits Child Advocates.

http://www.santikos.com/promotions/freesummermovies.php

Studio Movie Grill

Each movie is $1. Movies run M-F at 11, depending on location.

Their site is a little different. Click on the link and select ALL if not defaulted. Movies are listed alphabetically. Find the movie you wish to see (it will say summer movie series at the bottom of the picture.) Once you hit select, it will take you to the available theaters. Select the theater then the date and showtime. 

https://www.studiomoviegrill.com/Movies.aspx

Updated to add 
Alamo Drafthouse - Mason and Vintage Park

Choose your own ticket price - $1-$3 and buy your tickets online to reserve your seats in advance.  100% of ticket sales are donated to local nonprofits working to make our community a better place.  Most Kids Camp screenings are ages 3 and up, but some locations are All Ages - please check drafthouse.com for local policies.  Their viewing week is different from the other theaters so pay attention to dates.
And during the summer, all movies before 2PM are $5 at Vintage Park and Mason Park!

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How I started introducing God into teachable moments

We started going to church earlier this year and the boys have been attending the kids ministry. We are a family of faith but we rarely freely talk about faith and religion. With the boys learning more at Sunday school, we are getting questions about God and Jesus. Although this makes me extremely happy, I worry how I can talk about a topic I know so little about. I am thankful these kids have an amazing dad who can discuss religion and faith with them. What I have been doing is bringing up the topic of God when disciplining the children. And with headstrong boys who want to exert their authority in a power struggles with mom (translation: acting like maniacal heathens), I get lots of opportunities to touch on God during "teachable moments".

This morning was a rough start for S. I asked multiple times for him to brush his teeth and when I asked for a 6th time, he made the poor choice of throwing a fit and then throwing an iPhone up the stairs. I was in another room when I heard the bang against the wall but I knew exactly what he did. My blood was boiling because this was not the first time he has thrown things in his rage. As soon as I walked up to him, he knew he was in trouble. I started to yell but then looked at him hoping for a sign that the talk this time would sink in. I sat down and he sat on my lap. It was 10 tear-filled minutes for Sam as I talked to him about his behavior, anger, lashing out, respect, apologizing, God's love, and asking forgiveness. He was crying hard and felt so bad that he didn't know how to ask Him for forgiveness. He finally was able to look at me and apologize, then I helped him start his own prayer, asking God to forgive him for behaving poorly, throwing the phone, and disappointing me. He hugged me tightly wanted to sit with me while he cried himself to sleep. I never get a chance to snap a photo during our tender moments because he always acts like a big goof. As soon as he heard me snap a pic, he woke and was back to his normal hammy self. I realize that teachable moments like these won't always end in hugs and kisses so I was glad to have this as proof that it is possible to hug and make up.

 

I wish parenting trials were few, talks with our children were easy, and teachable moments always ended positively. But that's not real life. The hardest job as parents is helping our kids prepare for life mentally stable, physically strong, and emotionally intelligent. I am hoping for minimal disturbances in the force as they continue to grow and that I won't ever have to bail them out of jail.


My tips for teachable moments. 

• Remain calm. If you feel your blood boiling and you need time to cool down, tell them you both need a time out. Talking to them about their bad behavior will not be effective if you do it in anger. Remember to lead by example by speaking calmly and in a low tone.
• Praise something about them, a trait that is positive or actions they do that make you proud. Leading with a positive and following with the (negative) action that is unacceptable, helps diffuse volatile emotions for both parties. Kids worry that the love stops when we get mad. 
• Keep it simple. Don't bring up past bad behavior and roll it up into a present talk. This is not your spouse and bringing up past or more incidences that may not be relevant to the current discussion can confuse them.  
• You will always love them but you don't like their behavior, poor choices, attitude, etc. God's love for us never fails, that even when we do fail, his grace forgives us. 
• Lead them in prayer. Pray over them and in their ear so their focus is on your words. Then, help them pray in their own words with minimal word feeding. A simple way to introduce prayer to your children by using the Five Finger Prayer.
• Always end with lots of hugs and kisses.

A Mother's Journey

A Mother's Journey

(Parable of a Mother's Path of Life)

The young mother set her foot on the path of life.  

"Is the way long?"

"Yes," her Guide said, "and the way is hard.  You will be old before you reach the end of it.  But--"  He stopped to smile warmly.  "The end will be better than the beginning."

The young mother was so happy, though, that she could not believe anything could be better than these early years.  She played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the clear streams.  The sun shone on them and life was good, and the young mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark.  The children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close, covering them with her mantle.  Her children said, "Oh, Mother, we are not afraid when you are near."  The mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage."

Then the morning came, and there was a hill ahead.  The children climbed and grew weary.  The mother was weary, too, but she kept encouraging her children, "A little patience and we are there."  So the children continued to climb.  When they reached the top, they said, "We could not have done it without you, Mother."  And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked past the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last.  My children have learned fortitude in the face of difficulty.  Yesterday I taught them courage, today I have taught them strength."

With the next day came strange clouds that darkened the earth--clouds of war and hate and evil.  The children groped and stumbled.  The mother said, "Look up.  Lift your eyes past the blackness to the Light."  The children looked up and saw an Everlasting Glory above the strange clouds.  It guided them and brought them through the darkness and evil.  That night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have helped my children learn to see God."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years.  The mother grew old, until she was very little and bent.  But her children were tall and strong, and they walked with courage.  When the way was hard, they helped their mother; when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather.  At last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gate flung wide.

The mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey.  Now I know that the end really is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and they will teach their children after them."

The children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her.  They said, "We can't see her, but she is with us still.  A mother like ours is more than a memory; she is a living presence."

          ~ Written for Good Housekeeping Magazine in 1933 by Temple Bailey ~ 

5 Ingredient Sweet Potato Brownies

I saw a post for a 5 ingredient, anti-inflammatory brownie recipe and I was excited to try it. I mean, how much could I possibly mess up with such a simple recipe?

I found the MaraNatha almond butter at Walmart. They have other flavors like maple, dark chocolate, caramel, and crunchy. I think I may try these brownies with another flavor or almond butter and see how they taste. The carob chips were a bit harder to locate but I did find them at Whole Foods for about 3 dollars a bag. 

Ingredients

• 2 cup mashed sweet potato (about 2-3 sweet potatoes)
• 1 cup smooth nut butter of choice (I recommend almond or cashew butter)
• 4 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2  cup cocoa powder
• 1-2 cups carob chips (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a small cake/loaf pan (I used 8x8 pan)
2. On the stove, melt nut butter with maple syrup
3. In a large bowl add the mashed sweet potato, melted nut butter and maple syrup, and cocoa powder and mix well
4. Fold in carob chips, as many as you want.
5. Pour mixture into greased pan. Optional: sprinkle carob chips on top.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through
7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan before slicing and refrigerating.

These brownies are best when cooled completely otherwise they will be too mushy and will fall apart. Store in fridge or freezer and ENJOY!

The benefits of these sweet potato brownies. 

Sweet Potatoes have a natural sweetness that can help you reduce your sugar intake, supports blood sugar management, if you have a serious sweet tooth. They have a relatively high glycemic index and can be great for those dealing with type 2 diabetes.

Anthocyanin (what makes a sweet potato orange) provides excellent anti-inflammatory benefits. The benefits of this compound are felt the most in the nerve tissue and brain.

Sweet potatoes are full of vitamins A and C, making them great for your immune system. They also have vitamin B6, B1, B2, B3, manganese, copper, phosphorus, potassium, and fiber; all of which are compounds that support the work of the digestive system, keep our blood safe and support our overall health.

Maple Syrup contains up to 24 different antioxidants that are beneficial for reducing free radical damage that can cause inflammation and contribute to the formation of various chronic diseases.

Verdict

When I pulled the brownies from the oven, the boys immediately asked me for a bite. They were saddened to learn they had to wait for them to cool. I was impatient so I went ahead and cut them while they were warm and they fell apart. Despite the fact that the texture is mushier than a normal brownie, these are REALLY good. If you like super sweet desserts, this may not be the one for you. Carob chips are not super sweet but they were perfect for my sweet tooth.

If you want another sweet potato brownie recipe, try Dr. Axe's 16 ingredient recipe. As for me, I am sticking with the 5 ingredient version.

*Post contains affiliate links

Texas Mothers of Multiples 2016 Convention

Texas Moms of Multiples conventions were created for moms to spend one weekend away from their kids. To allow us to not feel guilty about our time away to hang out with other moms who "get" you, other moms who can offer bits of wisdom, to tell you that the stage you are in with your twins/triplets/or more won't be the worst you will ever experience, and that it really does change in a matter of moments. You find out your kids are not the only ones who like to scream out "vagina" and "penis" in public places, who eat boogers, smear poop, don't eat their vegetables, and still have tantrums even though you think they are way too old to throw fits still.

This past weekend was the 2016 convention held in Kemah. The convention was hosted by Bay Area Moms of Multiples and they planned the entire convention, from the tours, classes, and meals. Putting on an event of this magnitude takes a lot of teamwork and they pulled it off quite wonderfully.  I met some pretty hilarious ladies from other clubs but best of all, I hung out with some pretty cool ladies from our club.

The weather was gorgeous and the view was spectacular.

We visited Space Center Houston and took a tram tour.

 

Lots of good food.

 

Photo booth awesomeness happened at the dinners. Every party deserves a photo booth. Certainly makes taking "us-ies" easier.

So if you are not part of an organization who meets up annually, to celebrate being a mom, start your own club and plan an annual get-together. You deserve it. And you'll thank me later.

3 Main Reasons to get a Natural Himalayan Salt lamp in your home now.

3 Main Reasons to get a Natural Himalayan Salt lamp in your home now.

As a person who suffers from seasonal threats, having these softly glowing, natural sources of fresh, clean air in my home, is almost as good as an open window on a fresh Spring day. These salt lamps come in all shapes, sizes, and displays and you can place them on your desk, in your living room, in all bedrooms, anywhere you choose to put it.  One sits in our living area guarded by a ninja turtle.

Cleanses Air, reducing allergens
Himalayan salt lamps purify air through the power of hygroscopy. The salt lamps attract water molecules from the surrounding area and absorbs those molecules along with any foreign particles they may be carrying, into the salt crystal. As the lamp warms up from the heat produced by the light bulb, that same water particle evaporates back into the air and the trapped particles of dust, pollen, smoke, remain in the salt.

Himalayan salt lamps remove microscopic particles of dust, pet dander, mold, mildew, etc from the surrounding air. By placing a salt lamp in rooms you use the most, it can help cut back on allergens and allergy symptoms. The Himalayan Salt is said to works so well for allergy and asthma symptoms, you can find them in inhalers.

Adds negativity. In a positive way
Himalayan Salt lamps act as a negative ionizer and can reduce the levels of positive ions depending on the size and placement of the lamp.  In this technological age, we are surrounded by electronics such as TVs, computers, cell phone, tablet, appliances, etc that emit electromagnetic (EM) radiation. While they may be invisible, the long-term effects of EM exposure can be quite serious. Constant exposure to EM radiation is known to increase stress levels, cause chronic fatigue, and decrease the body’s immune response, among other things. Himalayan salt lamps work to neutralize electromagnetic radiation in a short range. Even as limited as its production of negative ions, it is a great addition to the home to help:
Increased relaxation and calmness
Improved ability to concentrate, allowing you to work for longer periods
Help with getting to sleep and more restful sleep
A better overall sense of health and well-being.


Reduces Stress and increase recovery from stress
In this study on people completing a 40-minute task on the computer, exposure to negative air ions reduced stress and anxiety and improved performance. The performance for the task was slightly but significantly improved by the presence of negative air ions. These results suggest that negative air ions are effective for the reduction of and the prompt recovery from stress caused by computer operation. (Source: Effect of negative air ions on computer operation.)
"Studies demonstrate that negative ions can definitely benefit people suffering from seasonal depression (SAD), and may help other forms of depression too."

Bonus Reasons
They are beautiful conversation pieces and are an environmentally friendly light source.The base of an HPS lamp is generally carved from a sustainable wood such as neem. Some lamps use a low-wattage bulb which consumes very little energy while others are powered by a lit candle. Every Himalayan crystal salt lamp is unique and the combination of colors that makes up each one can vary. Generally, the darker shades of pink and orange are considered to be of higher quality. Very light pink, especially with black deposits visible within it, can be a sign that it was mined from a lower quality vein of crystal salt. Generally, the weight of a salt lamp is a good indication of its size and air cleaning ability. The bigger and heavier it is, the more health benefits should be noticed from it.

Use these salt lamp sizes as a rough guide:

Work area/small office/cubicle/desk: a smaller crystal salt lamp around 5 pounds is good if located close to you in smaller spaces.
For small bedrooms, up to 10 square feet: a Himalayan salt lamp around 6 – 8 pounds.
For a larger bedroom, kitchen or small lounge room: a salt lamp between 9 – 11 pounds.
For larger spaces/office environments, where there is more electromagnetic radiation: a large Himalayan salt lamp, at least 12 or more pounds is more effective.

Interested in purchasing salt lamps?

On Amazon

Himalayan Salt Shop

I was not compensated for this review. I bought the salt lamp, liked it, wrote about it.

Groupon: All Stars, iPlay, Pinot's Pallette, Showboat

Pinot's Palette

$25 for a Three-Hour BYOB Painting Class for One at Pinot’s Palette ($45 Value)

Valet at Wally Park

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Showboat Drive in

$16 for Admission to Movies for Two at The Showboat Drive-in ($23.25 Value)

All Stars Grill

$9 for $16 Worth of American Comfort Food at All Stars Family Grill

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