We all end up feeling better when we go outside or see plants, but did you know part of that is to do with the colours? Green specifically, which naturally gives off good vibes.

The colour green/ vert/ grün helps relax the body and mind. That can come from natural green colours or a green you’ve purposely added in somewhere. It’s also been discovered that seeing something green every day promotes happiness. 

Here are some ways to green up your life:

House Plants: take a stroll through your local plant shop to check out the greener they have and pick yourself up something illuminating. Even the walk-through and seeing all of the plants will be a good green experience.

Accent Wall: a green accent wall is a perfect addition to any space. This could work as painting the wall completely a shade of green you love or add paintings, wall hangings and mirrors to create a cute aesthetically pleasing view (start with a second-hand store first to raid their supply of green-coloured stuff)

Nature Walks: this is something you can never get enough of. The green mixed with the outdoors is the perfect combo to make you feel extraordinary. Soak up the benefits of green and even just sit and think for a while.

There are so many benefits to seeing green daily and tons of ways to see it. What are yours? Let us know on our Instagram @ageoflalpin

We’ve all seen, felt or heard them in some way. A sign from a loved one who is no longer with us, just checking in to say hello. These signs come from those on the other side who have been watching over us and embracing those moments with us, the good and the bad. When you see it you’ll know. Maybe you’re on a de-stressing walk you’ll look up to see your grandma’s favorite bird flying past you. Or your new pup brings you to your and your first one’s favourite place by chasing a butterfly.

It can be super emotional seeing these and you should embrace every single part of that. When you do, pause for a minute to embrace and enjoy it. Even let out a smile if you’re feeling strong enough, who and whatever is giving you that sign would want you to be happy. If you don’t see them for a while, don’t fret. Just like our Angel Numbers, it just means you’re good on your own for a bit.

Keep your eyes, ears and heart open!

We’re about a week into the New Year and how are we all feeling? Motivated, enthusiastic, nervous? There are endless things we could be, let’s just make sure we’re being self-aware! As we step into 2022, Age of Lapin is wishing everyone good vibes to come.

Year of the Tiger  

Tuesday, February 1st marks the Lunar New Year, with the tiger being this year’s Chinese Zodiac sign. Lasting until January 23rd, 2023, we’ll be facing all things with strength and bravery. One of the main colours for this tiger-based year is blue, which brings a sense of tranquility. Add Eye of the Tiger by Survivor to your playlist and work 2022.

From Our Followers!

New Year vs Birthday Reset Poll

We asked our Instagram followers through a poll that feels like more of a reset to them, New Year’s Eve or their birthday. The answers: 55% NYE and 45% B-days. Here are what some followers had to say: 

• “Neither. I feel like September is the reset – I still get those back-to-school vibes despite having been out of school for over 10 years. I also find September to be a time to slow down and resented and dig into projects after the flurry of activity that is summer.”
• These are essentially the same for me! Lol! My birthday is today Dec. 30th. For me, a trigger for reset is more within rather than an external date.”
• “For me, New Years is Halloween where the Pagan calendar resets. So for me it’s I have two or three times a year that are kind of a reset so my birthday is it in my bond and spring that’s the opposite of Halloween and then Halloween which is Samhain.”

Some Thoughts: 

New Year’s Eve could be looked at as a globally bigger reset as it’s something that people in every country experience at the same time. Birthdays perhaps take on a more personal approach. Whatever the day or vibe is for you to reset, remember to take the time to do it! 

Thank you so much to everyone who participated! We love getting to chat and interact with you. 

Stay connected with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Feature Image by Ian Dooley

We’ve all experienced when time stood still and everything around us seems to be exactly what we want and need. These are glimmer moments and something we need to take advantage of more often. We spend so much time hustling to get to the next place and the next task is done that rarely do we stop and smell the roses.

Glimmers are micro-moments of ventral vagal experience. And the ventral vagal is our autonomic nervous system. So when we experience glimmer moments, we allow our body to relax and recharge because in these moments we push aside the negative to purposely see the positive. By choosing to experience these moments of peace and happiness, we can reshape the way we look at our life. Maybe those things you thought were horrible to get done aren’t so bad after all. Taking these times in gives us a fresh perspective that allows us to take a slowed-down look at life. 

Find some glimmer moments in your day today. You’ll be thankful!

Cover Image by Thais Andersen

The menstrual cup: An item that’s loved by its users and a curiosity to those you don’t. This period product is made of body-safe silicone designed to sit comfortably at the base of the vaginal canal without damaging and drying it. The tampon alternative holds about 1 oz of blood and can be left in for up to 12 hours, depending on the heaviness of your flow. When it’s filled you dump it, clean it with fragrance-free soap and submerge it into a pot of boiling water for 5-10 mins or use a designated cleaner if you’re out. It’s an environmentally friendly option that leads to less plastic going into landfills and switches up the typical single-use items we see with periods. Just like any product though, it’s not going to be right for everyone so if you are inserting for the first time, be gentle with yourself and watch an instructional video if you need to.

We know it can be helpful to hear a friend’s story so we asked Age of Lapin’s Instagram followers to anonymously tell us their experience with using menstrual cups. Here’s what they had to say:

One: “Yes! Love it! I love that I can have it in all day and just forget about it. It’s so comfortable.”

Two: “Yes. Currently using a Diva Cup. Overall, it works well but sometimes leaks.”

Three: “Yes! Love it, don’t know how I ever lived without it. Changed my flows and period for good.”

Four: “Used to use a cup & LOVED it. After using it for about 2 years, it wouldn’t sit & always leaked. I’m guessing it might have something to do with some uterine polyps I recently discovered I have. It’s so frustrating because I absolutely loved the cup. Loved the freedom, the lesser environmental impact and less chemicals coming into contact with my body. It just got to the point where the leaking needed me to be wearing a pad…which is counterproductive.”

Five: “At first, I was a bit hesitant to try the product, not knowing how easy or difficult it would be to use. A few friends of mine had told me it was a great change and once you’ve put it in you couldn’t feel it.  After using a menstrual cup for about a year now I definitely agree. It’s a lot easier and smoother than I thought it would be. As of now, with covid, I’ve only used the product at home, but since sustainability is so important to me, I want to continue using the product in everyday circumstances. It takes a bit of getting used to, but after a few tries I would highly recommend it!”

Menstrual cups created in Canada:

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Image from Lise Savard

Our Indigenous communities have been reaching out for a very long time and as we continue to see more unfortunate events in the news, it’s critical we’re hearing from the voices of those who have been fighting all along. We’ve created a list of some of the Indigenous advocates teaching their culture in modern ways and focus on amplifying Indigenous voices. They’re inspiring resources for information on current affairs and past teachings of the Indigenous culture. These individuals are just a small showing of the large number of Indigenous Peoples who have brought the much-needed awareness to our communities. We stand with the Indigenous communities and hope for a more just future for us all.

Sarain Fox | @sarainfox

Image from Sarain’s Instagram

The Anishinaabe activists has been a major contributor to the movement of portraying Indigenous culture in unique ways, especially through film. The multi-talented actress and singer is the host of RISE and Future History, highlighting Indigenous culture in modern ways. This year, she’s started a new journey as a mother, to a sweet baby girl, who she’s paving the way for. In 2021, she was also nominated for CAFA as digital fashion creator of the year, works with Sephora Canada to further the conversation on representation and will continue to pave paths for this generation of Indigenous Peoples and the ones to come.

Nikita Elyse | @nikitaelyse 

Image from Nikita’s Instagram

The trendsetter, makeup artist, brand ambassador and more uses her platform to showcases various Indigenous artists, designers and shops to her followers while explaining cultural teachings. She pays tribute to her beautiful home of Mohkinstsis – Calgary, with photos in the environment with inspiring and educational captions. She uses her voice to showcase her family’s cultural practices that have been passed on through generations from food, beadwork and more. As a creative who’s also an environmental scientist, she has a passion that makes her super strong and who has already become a role model for so many.

Sante Siouxx | @santeesiouxx

Image from Sante’s Instagram

Sante uses her platform as an educational tool to powerfully teach intro and advanced knowledge in Indigenous history and culture. The Odawa First Nations mom from Toronto has continued the family teachings to her daughter, who like Sante, practices and performs traditional dances. You can find her wearing traditional Indigenous clothing like her jingle dress to honour both her culture and identity. This year, the Toronto-based activist started to work with the David Suzuki Foundation and became the first Indigenous woman to open up the meeting with a prayer.

Shina Nova | @shinanova

Image from Shina’s Instagram

The Inuk legend has taken the world of social media by storm from throat singing with her mom @kayuulanov, a tradition that has been with their family for centuries. The duo launched an album this past June, with the help of Inuit artists to make the cover and write meaningful songs with the mother-daughter team. This year, Shina was a part of Sephora Canada’s Indigenous History month campaign, where she modeled and shared her story to bring awareness and honour to her accessors.

Michelle Chubb | @indigenous_baddie

Image from Michelle’s Instagram

With a plan to inspire the next generations of Indigenous youth to come, Michelle Chubb is making her ancestors proud and sharing knowledge from her Cree heritage. She’s hand created her own regalia and jingle dress, which journey you can watch on her socials. Michelle makes on-trend videos with an Indigenous twist and regularly answers questions her followers have through in-depth video responses. She also recently joined Sephora’s team to model alongside Sarain and Michelle where she spoke about being a new inspiration to her younger self and being proud of who she is.

Indigenous-owned brands you’ll love: 

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The bath, it’s one of self-care’s staple items and is sometimes just the escape you need when you want to chill or feel better. Think about your tub right now filled with warm water waiting for you to slip into with your favourite book/ show, drink and candles. Do you feel some ease? There are so many positives to taking a bath. It’s a beautiful practice, which is why we want to tell you all about the loveliness of getting wet.

Benefits of Baths:

Time For You:

If you grew up with siblings, baths seemed to always be a group event and in romantic comedies, there always seems to be room for two people. But they’re actually the perfect opportunity to do you. Laying there by yourself gives you a relaxing spot to think or maybe not think at all, while you soak in good vibes. Plus seeing your body glow as the water shimmers on your skin will always bring out your inner goddess.

Helps With Colds and Aches:

Warm baths take a much-needed gentile approach to healing when it comes to feeling under the weather. When we sink into a warm bath, we get the steam from the water right under our nose that fills up the room and helps us decongest. It also helps removes the aches and pains that can come from having a cold by removing the pressure on our body.

Better Sleeps:

Putting your mind and body into a relaxing state before bed is essential for a good night’s sleep. So, taking a bath is a great self-care ritual add-in. The warm water soothes you while the ambiance of the room let’s you unwind because you’re laying there cozy. Doing things like playing calming music, setting the lights low and not looking at your phone while in the bath can help get you in a sleepy state of mind.

Mindful Bathing

Every day we should strive to make the world a better place by taking care of our planet. So, we just need to make sure we’re always mindful when we’re taking a bath to ensure we’re appreciative of the water element that Mother Nature gave us for healing.

Make it Your Own: Items You Can Add to Your Bath

Essential Oils: adding a few drops of your favourite blends into your tub is a super easy and enjoyable way to reap in the benefits of essential oils. The water acts as a dilution so your body can relax as you waft in your favourite oil aroma.

Fresh Citrus & Flowers: this takes the beauty of baths to a whole new level by garnishing it with freshly cut citrus fruit or your favourite flowers. Plus you’ll be soaking in the benefits of the ingredients picked straight from nature.

Balt Salts: ease your body aches from the natural healing properties of a mineral-filled salt bath soak. Sprinkling some into your tub will have you getting up feeling flowy and loose.

Bath Bombs: in the need of some colour? Watch the bath bomb disappear while it releases ingredients to heal your skin and colours to brighten your mood. There are so many amazing scent options out there for you to pick one that best matches your mood.

Bubble Bath: if you’re ever in need of some fun just add some bubbles into your bath and watch the smile come to your face. What’s amazing is there are bubbles with benefits that use ingredients to help with anxiety, and release muscle tension and the list continues.

Post-Bath Body Care

Make sure you keep the TLC going once you’ve dried off with a moisturizing session. It’s important to lotion or oil up as soon as you can when you get out of the bath to ensure the most hydration possible. Most importantly putting on your cream is another chance to be your inner goddess from feeling your every inch of skin.   

Here are a few products we love for a bath night: 

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Waking up and tired is definitely a frustrating feeling that can put a damper on the start of your day. When we don’t get enough sleep throughout the night, we end up searching for something (usually not the healthiest option) to boost our energy, which usually then ends up making us feel more tired. This could mean it’s time to switch up some of your habits to make sure you get the best night’s sleep possible.

The essentials to remember every night are:

• To get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep per night
• The sooner before midnight you get to sleep, the better
• Use a pillow and mattress that you like

Here’s some other ways we like to get as cozy as possible before bed:

1. Journal: writing down all of the thoughts running through your head et’s you get out everything that’s could keep your mind up racing when you’re trying to go to sleep. It also gives you some time to reflect on how your day when and write down a few things you’re grateful for that day. 
2. Meditation: clearing your mind before bed lets your mind and body be at peace throughout the night. Give yourself a 10-20 minute meditation session before bed to let yourself be free of your worries and for proven benefits to a better sleep. 
3. Bedtime Stretch: throughout the day our bodies go through so much wear and tear that if we don’t release it, we can become tense when we’re sleeping. By stretching out your body with a relaxing stretch session, you’re getting the blood flowing through to help with lymph drainage and making sure your muscles are feeling flowy for bed rather than stiff. 
4. Calming Scents: whether it’s from an essential oil diffuser or a lovely soy candle, putting on a nice scent before sleep makes you feel relaxed and makes a beautiful ambient of the room. Picking natural candles and essential oils come with benefits that physically make you feel better and get you in the perfect sleepy state.  
5. Beauty Routine: having a self-care routine at the end of the night let’s your body go to a mini spa and makes you feel fresh before getting into your sheets. Including products to help you sleep is awesome for getting your sleepiness started. 

Below are some products we love for bed:

Magnesium Spray

Sleep Like Buddha

Sweet Dreams Votivo Jar Candle

Haven Mattress

Lymphatic drainage massages are super gentile, light pressure massages that drain our lymph systems. The massage can take place in multiple areas of your body like the back of the neck, face and/ or legs, which is some of the places you’d find lymph nodes. That being said, the massage targets really specific spots of the body part in order to get right on the node to drain it. The treatment works by very lightly massaging the nodes to drain them, getting them back to their regular size flow without interruption. 

Our entire body is filled with lymph nodes from literally our heads to toes. They’re used to help our bodies filter out toxins but they can sometimes get backed up from things like a cold, stress or internal irritation. This is because our body uses our the lymph system to fight it, and our lymphs typically swell in areas that we feel the most pain, since they’re working extra hard in that space. These massages are an extremely non-invasive and relaxing way to target and reduce the amount swelling that can take place by super lightly massaging the nodes, rather than pressing hard like a typical massage. 

Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massages:

• Reduced Swelling: it helps reduce inflammation in the overall area that the massage is being done, from lowering the swelling of the lymph nodes.
• Detoxifying: especially if our lymphs are enlarged, the massages helps to keep a healthy lymph flow, while clearing out everything that’s been built up. 
• Immune System Help: since our bodies look to our lymph systems for support, when they’re cleared, we can fight through a sicknesses easier. 

How do you make a hot shower on a cold winter day even better? A fresh hanging eucalyptus bouquet. While we usually hear about eucalyptus essential oil being put into diffusers or products such as creams, placing a eucalyptus bouquet in the shower will cause the steam warm up the plant and release its essential oils, bringing out tons of health and wellness perks. It’s a really easy way to enhance your shower while bringing added benefits for your mind, body and soul.

Benefits of Hanging Eucalyptus in Your Shower:

• Treat Colds: Eucalyptus is a power plant that drains and clears your sinuses to help reduce congestion from stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and headache to help you breathe a lot easier in times of need.  
• Ease Pain:  Its anti-inflammatory and cooling properties help to reduce irritation that comes from things like sore muscles, cold sores and arthritis. The steam helps to cover your body from head to toe to soak in all of the benefits.
• Stress Reliving: Not only does it helps clear your sinuses, but eucalyptus will help clear your mind as well! Every time you step in the a eucalyptus shower, you’re soaking in benefits such as helping to reduce anxiety, boost positivity and increase productivity.
• Fantastic Scent: There’s nothing like the fresh smell of minty/ herby eucalyptus to awaken your senses and bring you into a new world. 
• Beautiful Aesthetic: Hanging eucalyptus in your shower ads a really pretty look that’ll make you feel like you’re showering in a vacation destination. Check out our article 5 Items To Eco-Up Your Bathroom for more ways to enhance your bathroom.
  

How to Hang It, 3 Simple Steps:

1. Buy Some Fresh Eucalyptus: find this at your local grocery store or flower shop
2. Make Your Bouquet: with anywhere from 3-10 stems, depending on how intense you want the scent to be. Tie the ends together with some wire or string to connect them.
3. Hang Under The Shower Head: Using a wire or string, place your eucalyptus bouquet

Maintenance:

The plant is hanging in a moist environment which will increase it’s hydration, so they will typically need replacing every 2-3 weeks. Listen to your inner planter and if you see it’s dying, use your judgement on when it needs to be composted, or dried to be used as decor and fresh eucalyptus bouquet needs to be started.