Category: Uncategorized

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

Are you scared to be happy?

January 26, 2019January 23, 2019 Emy Minzel

No, it’s not a trick question. I am honestly wondering if I am the only one with this fear or not? I was standing in the kitchen this afternoon. I just had a couple of clients. I blew off the snow in the driveway and now I am jamming out in the kitchen to Bruno Mars and cooking dinner. I have had a most lovely regular Tuesday that I have had in a while.

As I stand, stirring dinner on the stove top, singing to the dogs and dancing a bit. I realized just how genuinely happy I was feeling! Isn’t that wonderful?

Except, just as quickly as I recognized this feeling of joy, I was like “Oh this is scary. I better not get to happy, I might jinx myself.” Then as I began to recognize this joy sabotaging behavior, I had just put myself through, I stopped. Thinking to myself some more. “What the heck am I doing?! No. I choose to take this joy back, right this minute.” So, I did. I allowed myself to be really gosh darn happy as I cooked and danced.

Then I thought to myself. “Am I the only person who does this? How many of us sabotage our own joy out of fear of being let down? What IF bad news comes later? That’s life. For this exact moment in time, it is okay to enjoy your life!” I am thankful that I noticed this behavior as I could have easily slipped into wondering thoughts of ‘what ifs’ instead of appreciating the moment of joy I had been blessed with.

It’s not like I don’t have any problems, but at this moment, I don’t have anything ‘bad enough’ to derail my well-deserved peace. It was almost as if this feeling of joy was uncomfortable! I never have thought of myself as an unhappy person. I like to stay positive. Yet I have not been allowing myself to truly feel free of worry or concern for some reason or other!

It’s as if I had been so stressed out that I just accepted this thinking as my way of life and “this is just how I feel now.” When my moment of happiness came out, my inner worry wart was quick to smashed it like a mosquito that had just disturbed my summer hammock nap.

I want to know, does this happen to you too?

Now that I have seen this peculiar behavior, I fully intend to change it for the better. This is what they mean by living in the now. Now just happens to be a perfectly lovely ordinary day in which all is okay in my world. I am so thankful for this blessing and the relief that I feel when I allow this joy to flood into my soul.

This big ol’ full moon must have allowed me to release the block/barrier I didn’t see that I had. I can see now that it was preventing me from truly allowing joy into my life. I am thankful for the opportunity to see so clearly and now this should allow me to grow in a positive way. As an energy worker I know that if you are scared to allow joy in, why would it show up for you?

I must not allow myself to associate happiness and joy with and uncomfortable feeling of panic! (Insert high five to my face… Duh.) But like they say, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. I am hoping to allow my happiness to flow so large that it becomes contagious to everyone I encounter.

Let’s try an experiment together, shall we? Just how long can you and I hold on to the feeling of joy and happiness? How many hours will we allow ourselves the indulgence? Do me a favor and do not be scared that your joy may shine in some one’s eyes. If they are your friends and love you; they will be happy for your happiness. Also, they may just be scared to be happy too?!

I love it when life sends me lessons through joy!

Please post and share your smile with the Adventure Sisters in the comments down below! We would love to see our comment section full of joy today!

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings with no strings attached!

Love to you all Adventurer’s!

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

Hooray for Hemp!

January 24, 2019January 24, 2019 Emy Minzel

I am a girl who is in love with Hemp products and I want to tell you why! First off, hemp is great for our environment. It is naturally resistant to insects and pests. So, it requires no harmful chemicals that pollute our soil and groundwater to grow. Hemp actually pulls pollution out of the soil!!!

Hemp is so diverse that there are literally thousands of uses for this eco-friendly plant. I am so looking forward to the days when America gets on board with Hemp Production that can produce sorely needed biodegradable packaging to replace plastics that are leaching toxic chemical into our land and water.

When I was running for State Rep, I advocated for the Industrial Hemp production here in Minnesota. I wanted to help bring awareness of the benefits that hemp has to offer and the employment opportunities it could bring! An Industrial Hemp Manufacturing Facility could put a whole lot of people to work here in central Minnesota. Farmers could grow a crop that does not pollute the water and a local manufacturing facility would support all sorts of workers from office personnel to drivers and machine operators. I hope one day I get to see this dream realized!

Did you know that the human body is equipped with cannabinoid receptors that allow us to process the medicinal uses of the hemp plant? But what about it being a drug to get you high, people ask. Even if you ate a whole Hemp plant, there wouldn’t be a mind-altering high. Yet Hemp is very medicinal in so many ways! Hemp is not marijuana. Hemp has been proven safe and effective for many uses. I have a friend who is a Hemp farmer and he suggests being sure you are using pure organic hemp products that have not been grown with pesticides. You do not want to ingest any of those!

Hemp products I have used that really work!

CBD – CBD comes in many forms, I have been using it in lotion, as it helps when my hands are aching from overuse. According to the Canabo Medical Clinic website; CBD drops that have been proven to have a positive effect on pain, seizures, anxiety and sleep issues.

Hemp oil – You can use in cooking, beauty products or skin care. I’m thinking Hemp oil will become the new coconut oil. Both be used effectively for multiple things.

Hemp seeds – Are full of nutrients that the body needs! Just add them to a salad or smoothie. They are full of protein at 9 grams per tablespoon, unsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that help our bodies function better. They are high in Omega-3 and that promotes heart health. They are also known to reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Hemp-based Shampoo and Conditioner – I recently tried a local Hemp artisans, beauty products out of curiosity. I must tell you that the one product I am over the moon about is the shampoo and conditioner. I have been having a problem losing my hair at an unsustainable rate. I was very concerned actually. By divine guidance, I was led to this hemp product that has slowed my hair loss by at least 75%. My scalp feels healthier and I am actually growing hair again! My head is thanking me for not subjecting it to all the added chemicals commercially manufactured products have! (This is my personal experience anyway.)

Hemp Fiber – This is one of my favorites! As an environmentally aware person, I am truly ecstatic about the prohibition of Hemp being reversed. Hemp fibers can be used to supplement and replace many of the uses and reasons we cut forests down for! Hemp fibers can be used for building materials, paper, textiles, paint/stain, biodegradable plastic, biofuel, food, animal feed and so much more!

I hope this blog has helped inform you a little more and made you more open to trying Hemp products! I am so excited about the extraordinary possibilities for the health of our planet and ourselves that Hemp has to offer.

*This is not a paid ad, just a girl sharing what I love!

Wishing you an abundance of magical blessings!

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

This is nuts! Did you know squirrels plant our forests?

January 20, 2019January 18, 2019 Emy Minzel

You may not know this about me, but I am a huge animal lover. Of course, I love dogs and cats, but I love all animals. Even gators, lions, tigers, bears and more! I often sit at my kitchen table to write. I have a wonderful view of the wildlife that surrounds our house. I choose to feed the birds and critters all year long; because they bring me peace while I watch them out my window. I get to enjoy seeing wild turkeys, possums, raccoons, deer, squirrels and lots of birds! It’s like my own wildlife reality show.

Raccoon

Heard of deer

Possum on the porch

Not long ago I was reading an article, on the National Wildlife Federation blog spot, that stated a great many of the trees in our forests are planted by squirrels! I suppose it makes sense. If a squirrel does not dig up the acorn, they hid in the Fall by that Spring, that it would probably sprout. I never put the two together before but knowing this has brought a much greater appreciation for squirrel shenanigans than I have had previously.

Every place the Adventure Sisters camp, the squirrels are always the first to visit us. A couple of years ago while my husband and I were camping with Stacy and Marty, we were all woken by a feisty red squirrel throwing pine nuts onto our kayaks we had stored under his tree. I am sure the squirrel was just throwing them onto the ground, so it could more easily gather them for safe keeping later. Each time it dropped one, it sounded like a small firecracker going off at 6 am.

Marty called out to my husband from his tent. “Is that you Jay?” my husband replied; “Nope. It’s the squirrels pelting us with pine nuts.” Jason had woken up early and was reading a book in his camping chair, just watching the whole situation go down. At the urging of our campsite critters, we all decided it was just time to get up and enjoy the morning too.

Squirrels make me laugh as they hang upside down raiding the bird feeders, no matter where I try to put them. They will chase each other and do acrobatics all over the porch and in the yard. Squirrels have also learned to communicate with me through the windows. I swear they peak right into my window, holding their little paws together as if they are praying. Then look at me with their big adorable eyes and seem to say; “Excuse me Mama, but the feeder is empty, and we would all like some more.” As I imagine them speaking in a Tiny Tim voice.

It just goes to show, that all animals on this planet have a purpose. From the pollinating bees to the eagles in the trees. The squirrels that reside in the live oaks of the south or the mighty pines of the north; are all a huge asset to our forest environment. Our forests produce oxygen that keeps us alive, provides shelter, prevents soil erosion, filter groundwater, and give us beautiful views. Squirrel should probably be every environmentalist mascot if you ask me!

I fully believe that all animals are sentient beings with thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Any animal that can show fear, can also show affection. If cats and dogs can express their selves, then so can any other animal. If you take time to observe them, you can see it too. I like to respect all animals, as I do any other living being, because we are all here for a reason.

By giving the squirrels the space, they need to feel safe and help them put food in their bellies; I feel like I am doing a small part to help keep our little piece of forest alive and show my appreciation. They are giving me way more than I give them. I hope this blog helps you see the magic in all the critters we have been blessed to share this planet with. They are helping us and the planet!

Wishing you an abundance of magical blessings!

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

*pictures taken at my home in Princeton, MN.

Divine intervention that gives you Goosebumps!

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 Emy Minzel

Have you ever had something bad happen, only to realize that it was a good thing in the end? I have a story, I’d like to share, that is just this way. As a lone practitioner Massage Therapist, I like to get to know my clients and we often become friends. Clients will spill their hearts out on the table, releasing mental stress as I help them relieve their physical stress at the same time. I love that I am able to offer the comfort and feeling of safety to do so. My clients leave my office feeling better and I take great pride in that.

After almost a decade of being in business, I have picked up some regular clients that come to see me like clockwork. I do my best to make sure that these clients get in as soon as possible, because I know they need it. I had this one client whom I will call ‘Fred.’ (*) Fred was a regular client who was very active, in fact, Fred enjoyed working as a fitness instructor. When Fred called one day, telling me about an ache in his leg that would not go away, I wanted to help.

We made an appointment for the very next day, but when morning came, I woke up very sick. I had come down with the flu! Oh man, I had to call and cancel Fred’s appointment and I felt horrible about it. I was so sick with fever and other flu symptoms that I had later forgot to call Fred back to reschedule. As time does, it flew by and before I knew it, more than a month went by before I heard from Fred again.

Fred made an appointment and came in, he told me a story that made me ‘very thankful’ that I had come down with the worst sickness I’ve had in a long while that day.

Fred came into the door and said, that night we canceled his appointment, the pain in his leg got so bad he decided to go the Urgent Care. While at the clinic, the doctor immediately sent him to the hospital emergency room. The doctor was concerned the pain was from a blood clot and the hospital confirmed this. This blood clot broke loose and traveled up to his lungs. Fred nearly died! He had to be hospitalized for a long while but thankfully pulled through!

What made my heart stop was the realization that; had I NOT been sick that week… I know for a fact I would have done my best to help my dear client! I would have done all I could to relieve his leg discomfort. So, that he could get back to living pain-free. But, if I had tried to help Fred that day, it would have been very likely that I would have moved the blood clot and my client could have died right on my massage table!

Can you imagine?! I’d like to think that there are forces in this world that help us on our journey through life. Had this gone differently, had I not gotten sick, I would have most definitely been a changed person and Fred would no longer be with us. I have never, in my life, been so thankful to be struck down with the flu!

I know in my heart that this was divine intervention at its best.

So, the next time you are stuck waiting for a train, your car breaks down, you get sick and miss an event or even if you miss your flight. Remember to relax, it may be divine timing helping you steer clear of some unfortunate event you just do not see yet. I have learned a lot from this experience and I hope my story has helped you too.

Do you have a story of divine intervention that gives you goosebumps? I’d love to hear it!

*The names and identifying information in this story have been changed to protect client privacy.

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister