Well, here we are at the beginning of another year and also the beginning of a decade. 

I wanted to recap and highlight some of my favorite topics that were discussed in the blog posts in 2019 so they would be fresh on my mind and yours heading into 2020.

Remember the email on the best sleep ever?

I still swear by my weighted blanket. One of the best gifts I have ever received! My sleep is deeper and longer and I wake up feeling so refreshed. I turn down the thermostat at night to accommodate the extra heat generated by the blanket.  It is such a perfect gift to give on birthdays and holidays.

And then there was the post about reconnecting with friends. In this blog post I talked about actually putting in the effort to go meet up with friends face to face, not just via text or email. Pick a spot to meet with them and sit across the table and talk to each other. 

Also in this post was the science of hugging. The average length of a hug between two people is 3 seconds. But researchers have discovered something fantastic. When a hug lasts 20 seconds, there is a therapeutic effect on the body and mind. That sincere embrace produces a hormone called "oxytocin," also known as the love hormone. If you haven't consciously hugged someone for 20 seconds, give it a whirl. Not only do they benefit, but so do you. By the way, my Wednesday coffee meetup with my friends is still going on. I look forward to seeing them every week and hugging them!

And, whoa, what about the cold shower post?

If you are a new customer or you haven't read the cold shower post, I'll give you a quick recap. After you have finished your regular warm shower, turn the faucet as cold as it can go and put your face, armpits, shoulders, back and head into the shower head simultaneously. I usually turn around in it 3 times. When I started taking cold showers I used a timer and set it for1 minute. But I have done them for so long, I can gauge a minute without it. I love the way the shock of the cold shower makes me feel.......so alive, and no shampoo can make your hair shine like that.

And then there was the post on the importance of getting those Michelle Obama arms, remember that one?

I still have my kettlebell sitting on my bathroom countertop as a reminder to me.  It doesn't have to be a kettlebell, it can be a hand weight or a weighted object. My kettlebell is 15 lbs. The benefits are numerous. It reduces the risk of osteoporosis, boosts confidence, speeds up the metabolism and gives you gorgeous arms!

Last but not least is the Epsom, Dead Sea Salt bath.  I actually still do this every night. The magnesium in the salt has helped me with falling asleep faster and staying asleep. 

The salts help detox and purify the skin. They stimulate and enhance circulation and help with draining the lymphatic system. I love that the salts actually exfoliate the skin of my body and help it look brighter and rejuvenated. Cell turn over is just an added bonus. 

So there you have it. My favorite posts from 2019. 

So what is ahead for 2020?

For me, it's a universal law that I have discovered.

When I thought life was so good that it couldn't get any better.....It did. 

Happy New Year! Looking forward to the best year ever with my beautiful Real Raw Beauty family!!

xoxo