Sometimes it's hard to know what to get your husband for Christmas.  He always says he doesn't want anything, and it seems like everything he does want is already taken care of.  What do you do when you don't know quite what to get him?  I've been looking around to find that perfect gift, but what is a perfect git, anyway? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best gift for a husband who has everything will vary depending on his specific interests and hobbies.  But it's more about how he feels than about the gift itself. Really, when it comes down to it, you want to make him feel loved, appreciated, and cared for.  I found some gift ideas for my husband that are thoughtful, practical, and unique and I hope he feels my heart as I give them!  

10 gift ideas for the husband who has everything

1.  If your husband is like mine, he loves to make shredded chicken or pulled pork.  These Bear Claws meat shredders are perfect.  No more bent forks! And these will make perfect stocking stuffers!

2.  The right trash can is important, whether in the house or the garage.  This stainless steel trash can is just right for the job.  The hands-free design is great without the electronic component of an automatic trash can that breaks after awhile.     

3.  Every man needs a good pair of work gloves.  These are high performance plus easy care - they are machine washable!  Protect your man's hands with comfort and durability.

4.  When my husband walks by and I smell this on him, I swoon!  This is the real deal for bringing the togetherness that all men desire!  The scent is so attractive to women that I won't let him wear it anywhere but home. This will make you both happy!  Might want to lower the lights, and put on some music, too!

5.  My friend who owns a construction company swears by DEWALT cordless tools.  My husband has had his eye on the 20V MAX reciprocating saw.  Have you got anything on the honey-do list?  This will help knock out some projects in no time without having to worry about extension cords!  Only the best for your husband!  

6.  Here's another great DEWALT toolset. The DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill Combo Set.  These tools will set your man up for the long haul!  The quality on these is amazing!

7.  #4 helps with getting in the mood, while Multigreens helps all the mechanics to work happily.  This combines bee pollen with nutritious greens like barley grass, spirulina, eleuthero root, choline, alfalfa, kelp and a blend of essential oils to boost vitality by supporting the glandular, nervous, and circulatory systems.  Are you ready for this?

8.  Men wear out their socks so fast, they are a perfect gift anytime - I like to let my kids wrap the socks separately just for fun!  These are best sellers for a reason, comfortable with arch support for the men who are on their feet a lot.

9.  For the man who has everything, I'll bet he doesn't have this!  The WavWatch brings self care to a new level.  Let him choose from over 1000 sound frequencies across common health categories, then let the frequency run to gently harmonize with his body.  This self care tool uses the power of sound therapy to help with problems and imbalances in your body.  From emotions to pain to immunity, this is a great support!  Use the code ERIKA100 to get $100 off!

10.   Personalize this key ring for your husband and he will carry a piece of you with him every time he leaves the house.  

 It is stainless steel, and you can even add a picture!  He will love the daily reminder of your love.  

It can be tough to find the perfect gift for a husband who has everything, but don't worry!  Your intention to find that perfect gift, along with the love you freely give will make whatever you choose heart-warming.  (But let me tell you from experience - #4 is both my husband's favorite and mine!)

Looking for the best Christmas gift for a health-conscious mom this year?  You've come to the right place!  Check out the list I've created that are great gifts for your mom or loved one - these things have all made my Christmas list at one time or another!  I thought I would share, as there are many other moms who I'm sure would like the same gifts!  Whether you will shop for yourself (nothing wrong with that) or are shopping for a loved one, I hope that this blog post will help you find the perfect gift!  I'm all about holistic health, and this list includes a wide range of items that will up your health game, help you in the kitchen, or just keep you warm & stylish!

These are my top 8 Christmas gifts for a health-conscious mom!

1.  Ningxia Red This is my favorite drink of all time.  I get this all year round and at Christmas,  I need more energy than usual, therefore, I need more Ningxia!!  This exclusive antioxidant drink is clinically shown to increase physical energy levels, improve sleep patterns, and reduce daily stress.  It does so much more - and what mom doesn't need more energy?  This is a must for any overwhelmed, exhausted mom.

2.  WavWatch  The benefits of healing sound frequencies are many.   Let your mom choose from over 1000 frequencies across common health categories and let it run to gently harmonize with her body.  This watch will be an amazing addition to any mom's self-care arsenal.  Use the code ERIKA100 for $100 off!

3.  I love a good scarf!  I wear them all the time!  This winter, give your mother this Chenille scarf, which is luxuriously soft and available in many colors!  She will stay warm and stylish all winter long.

4.  I like practical gifts, too.  I use light jackets in the spring and fall and this is my favorite.  I like the cut on this jacket and there are good colors to choose from. My favorites are the quilted jackets - they seem to give an extra layer of warmth without being too hot.  More style with practicality as a bonus for mom!

5. For moms who are trying to solve health issues, one thing I have found helpful is this food sensitivities test.  It can help identify some food triggers so you can avoid them.  It's amazing what food can do to both prevent and cause problems.    

6. These stainless steel mixing bowls have great lids and the bottom has a silicone non slip coating.  This is for any mom who likes to be in the kitchen.  They are so versatile!  And with a large family, a large bowl,  is crucial!  Nothing says "I love you" better than chatting in the kitchen while mixing up a batch of chocolate chip cookies!  (You can make healthy cookies, too!)

7.  I have had some fun with fermenting and trying different types of lids.  This gallon fermentation jar with airlock is my favorite! The airlock works so well, I highly recommend it. For a health-conscious mom who wants to try her hand at fermenting, this is a great place to start!  For a smaller start, try these with mason jars.

8.  This diffuser is a great way to combine aromatherapy with sound therapy.  It is a premium diffuser with bluetooth capabilities:  Essential Oil luxury at its finest.  Diffusing essential oils has incredible benefits for both mental and physical health, so gifting a diffuser with the most elegant design is a perfect way to show your loved one how much you care.

Holiday shopping can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be.  For a health-conscious mom, there are plenty of great gifts that don't involve unhealthy food or products.  In fact, they will elevate and enhance your loved one's life.  What do you want for yourself this Christmas, moms?  

Can smells trigger trauma?

The short answer: yes.

Can you do something about it?  Yes, again.  

It’s taken me a bit to process what happened a few nights ago.  We were all in bed and it was nearing midnight.  Suddenly my husband and I smelled burning plastic.  We were immediately out of bed searching the house.  Appliances, outlets, the garage, the attic, each room.  We pinpointed the smell in our teenagers’ room and when we turned on the light, it was smoky.  Although I appeared calm on the outside, I was fighting panic and had to grab my Peace & Calming essential oil while I prayed for safety and to find the problem.  We checked everything we thought it could be - the fan/light, anything plugged into an outlet.  I was having flashbacks from my youth that were extremely emotional, but kept my focus on finding the issue. There were no flames.  

With the girls groggily awake, one pointed to the mini camera sitting on the rug next to the outlet (not plugged in).  Sure enough, it was hot, self combusting, and melting into the rug.  We removed it from the house quickly, but there was no way the girls could sleep in there, so we sent them downstairs to sleep.  The smell was so strong, and we were wide awake, on high alert, wanting to make sure we got the true cause.  We kept checking for awhile as we got fans going, blowing the smoke out the window

 Upon returning to our bedroom and feeling like we could finally sleep, my guard went down, and the tears flooded out.  My husband comforted me and I cried out to God for peace and the ability to sleep (and added more Peace & Calming). You see, when I was in high school, my house burned.  We lost pretty much everything, and it was extremely traumatic for our whole family.  I remember it so vividly.  And that smell - that burnt house smell is one I will never forget.  Through an amazing church and community, the Lord blessed our family and we saw many miracles as we worked to rebuild our lives that would never be the same.  As the years passed, I thought I was past the trauma simply because I didn't think of it often.    

Then a few years ago, my sister’s house burned.  That brought up emotions I hadn’t felt in a long time, as I cried for her loss and tried to give what little support I could from far away.  When I went to visit and she took me through her burnt shell of a home, the smell triggered my past trauma, and I felt like melting into a puddle of weeping tears as I was transported back in time seeing flashes of my burnt teenage home - but I couldn’t break down there - it wasn’t my house, and there she was living a nightmare for a second time, this time as a mom, with repeat trauma herself that was much worse than mine.  I consciously stuffed my feelings.  But these kinds of things seem to keep coming back so that we can deal with them.

So this time, as I am still reeling from panic and anxiety, I’ve decided to take the time to process and deal with the trauma triggered by the smell and situation of the other night.  Prayer is always my first go-to, as God is mindful of all of His children.  And combining prayer with essential oils is powerful.  The thing is - I already know how to release trauma and heal emotions as I teach classes on emotional healing with essential oils - but I have not ventured near this specific trauma myself - it was buried deep.  So with this incident as a reminder that I still need healing, I am now open to letting it go through techniques I have used with success in the past for both myself and others.  I am ready to heal. 

Do you have emotions or trauma you have buried deep that you are in need of healing?   Have you been triggered by smells?  

You are not alone.  The sense of smell is the most powerful sense we have and the only one that goes directly to the seat of emotion and memory in our brains.  If you smell baking bread and it takes you back in time to your grandmother's kitchen, that pleasant memory is one of the ways the sense of smell works.  We can see and feel where we were when we smelled that scent, especially if strong emotions were felt at the time.  With trauma, it is not so pleasant. In fact, it can be debilitating for many, who struggle to heal.  

There is hope.  I will share more on overcoming trauma through smell in Part 2.