Millions of women have experienced the news that changes their life forever. Whether you have been directly impacted or know of someone who has been—the effect that it creates is beyond anything that can be expected. 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. This effect goes beyond just 1 woman though—it affects her family, friends, and entire support system. As women, we are taught to care for one another, support each other, and uplift in times of hardship. At Neroli Salon and Spa, we believe in supporting our community, our guests, and our team who have experienced the life-altering impact that breast cancer has left behind.
Support is a gift that keeps on giving. Acts of kindness, appreciation, motivation, and love during stressful times can really make a significant impact in any situation—especially for those who feel hopeless. These acts of support can come from others around you, as well as from yourself. The effects of being diagnosed with breast cancer can leave those affected feeling unsure and uneasy about their road to recovery. It is an extremely stressful time, and here at Neroli Salon & Spa, we believe in providing a helpful hand in any way that we can.
GET CONNECTED
Neroli Salon & Spa has teamed up for another year with ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis) who provides great physical, mental, and emotional support to those who need it from trained mentors across the nation. ABCD supports through matching up patients or their loved ones with a mentor who has been in the same situation before and has experienced similar treatments, emotional hurdles, and the overall effects that breast cancer has.
For anyone who is seeking assistance, ABCD is a locally Milwaukee-owned nonprofit organization who provides national and international support for anyone in need. They use email and direct over the phone communication to ensure that assistance is available whenever it is requested. If you or someone you know has been directly impacted, please reach out to ABCD for assistance. They work diligently with doctors, physical therapists, and specialists to provide you with accurate and medically proven information all while making sure you are getting the emotional and mental support needed during this time.
The Gift of Support
Support, in any form, can provide great comfort in an otherwise negative situation. There are so many ways that support, even from yourself, can be provided. With beauty and wellness as our passion, we are focused on delivering a relaxing experience both in and out of our salon. We have provided a series of at-home care that is tailored to relaxation and wellness focused practices. These wellness activities can assist you in remaining comfortable and calm during an otherwise stressful situation.
These acts of wellness and relaxation should not take place of any medical direction you or your loved one has received from a medical professional. Rather, safely used in partnership with the medical advice that was provided to promote a state of comfort and ease.
Refresh Walks
Feeling the breeze on your skin, sun on your cheeks, and the nature that surrounds you can also be incredibly relaxing and therapeutic. Walking outside is a great way to clear your thoughts and relax your mind from life’s stressors. Not only does walking help to keep you moving and active—but it is great for staying present in the moment. Overthinking happens to the best of us, but when you are distracted by taking walks with family, friends, pets, or even yourself—you become distracted with what is around you rather than your stressors.
The Beauty of Routines
Routines are an excellent way to bring stability into your life and help you feel motivated. Small things like waking up at a set time every morning, cooking yourself a nice breakfast, brewing up a cup of coffee or tea, and taking five minutes to enjoy your morning can go a long way. Even if you have engagements such as work, school, or events that your presence is required, taking time for yourself is the perfect way to set the tone for your day.
Meditative Mornings
There have been many studies conducted on the practice of meditation and the positive benefits associated within our body and mind. Such benefits can include stress reduction, minimized anxiety, better self-awareness, and mindfulness. Daily responsibilities can weigh heavily on our minds, so taking 5 minutes for yourself can help reset your mind and body and create a more positive feeling within.
Meditation is also a great tool to use to set the tone for your entire day. Included with your routine, take 5-10 minutes each morning when you wake up to set the tone for your day. You can include stating positive affirmations, visualizing a good and productive day, and providing yourself with a friendly reminder of your strength, beauty, and kindness.
Wellness Meals for the Day
There are many meals that contain ingredients which promotes positive wellness in both the body and mind. We selected a series of recipes based on their keto-friendly nature and their beneficial ingredients. This can provide you with delicious and healthy meals throughout the day.
RECIPES
Water with Lemon and Sea Salt
Drinking warm water with lemon and sea salt in the morning can provide you with a healthy refresh. Lemon and sea salt work great together to help fight inflammation. This works to boost your immune system through adding Vitamin C which also simultaneously works as a natural detox.
2 teaspoons of sea salt (Celtic variety better than Pink Himalayan)
1 liter of hot filtered water
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice or one cup of lemon water
Gypsy Salad
Starting your morning out right with the Gypsy Salad. This salad is packed full of vegetables, herbs, spices, and fruits and is perfect for kickstarting your metabolism. The recipe not only contains healthy ingredients that are good for your body and mind, but it tastes amazing too! The salad alone is likely to fill you up, however you can certainly add hard-boiled eggs or avocado for more protein or fiber.
1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1/2 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1/2 yellow bell pepper
4 Tbsp pistachios
1/2 red onion (slivered)
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/2 cup coconut yogurt
1 handful fresh mint
1 handful Italian parsley
Juice of one lemon
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small red chili, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
Himalayan sea salt
Fresh cracked pepper
1/2 tsp sumac*
INSTRUCTIONS
Coconut Dressing
Place garlic, chili, cumin, sumac, coconut yogurt and juice of 1/2 lemon in blender and pulse until smooth.
Add salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
*I had difficulty getting my hands on sumac. If you’re running into the same issue you can always substitute with a bit of lemon zest.
Salad
Prepare the veggies: slice the tomatoes and cucumber. Juliann the peppers and onion.
Toss veggies in large bowl. Add mint, parsley and pistachios.
Drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and toss everything together.
Top with coconut dressing.
Turmeric Latte
A great substitute for coffee or soda in the morning is a Turmeric Latte. Commonly known for its golden yellow appearance, Turmeric is known for providing antioxidants and anti-inflammation properties. This super easy, and delicious morning drink is a healthy alternative to sugar-packed beverages.
350ml almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
¼ tsp ground turmeric
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp maple syrup
grind of black pepper
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and whisk constantly over a gentle heat, ideally with a milk frother if you have one. Once hot, pour into mugs and sprinkle with a little more cinnamon to serve.
Classic Chicken and Vegetable Soup
Chicken soup not only tastes great, but it is extremely comforting and tasty. Packed full of nutrients, herbs, spices, vegetables, and lean meat—this soup is a great meal that is balanced and filling. Especially during the cooler months, eating some good soup under a blanket, reading a book, or watching a movie– sounds like the perfect night!
1 tablespoon coconut oil , or ghee
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1-pound organic boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 large carrots, chopped (about 1 cup)
3 celery stalks, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans, chopped into 1-inch pieces
4 sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
2-3 teaspoons fine sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 cups of water
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large stockpot, melt the coconut oil over medium heat and gently saute the onion, garlic, and chicken for about 5 minutes, until the onion is tender and the chicken is starting to lose its pink color.
Add in the carrots, celery and green beans, thyme, 2 teaspoons of salt, a few grinds of black pepper, and 4 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Let the soup simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Season with additional salt (I usually add another teaspoon) and pepper to taste, and serve warm. Leftover soup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Keto Chocolate and Coconut Bites
Everyone deserves a delicious sweet treat at the end of the day. Staying healthy and satisfying your sweet tooth at the same time is possible—through keto chocolate and coconut bites! These delicious treats are not only easy to make, but they are the perfect desert-snack mix.
2 tbsp, Coconut oil (+ 2 tsp for brushing)
3 tbsp, Cacao powder, raw (sifted)
1 tbsp, Carob powder
2/3 cup, Cacao butter (chopped)
1 dash, Vanilla extract, pure
1/2 tsp, Stevia sweetener, liquid (to taste)
3 tbsp, Coconut milk
1 pinch, Sea salt, fine
100 gm, Coconut flakes, unsweetened
Instructions
Take a basting brush and brush silicone muffin liners, regular muffin liners or an 8×8 baking tray with coconut oil.
Heat a small saucepan filled with water over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
Combine the cacao powder, carob powder, cacao butter, coconut oil, vanilla, and stevia in a medium-sized heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of simmering water. The bowl needs to be able to hang over the water, without touching the water or else it will overheat and burn the ingredients. This also works with a double boiler.
Continuously stir the cacao mixture with a metal spoon until smooth and the butters are just melted.
Remove mixture from heat and stir in the coconut milk. Allow to cool to lukewarm, then stir in the salt and coconut flakes.
Spoon the mixture evenly into the prepared muffin liners (or baking tray) and place into the refrigerator for 1 hour, until firm.
Remove the liners from the fridge, tap the base of the liners on your countertop a couple of times, then flip over to remove the bites (or just pop them out if you’re using silicone). They should pop out easily, but if they don’t, try tapping the pan again on the countertop. For the baking tray, pop the mixture out with a knife by digging it into the sides. The whole thing should come out in one large square. From here, cut into bite-sized pieces.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
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