Brought to you by
December 2024
Cassy West
Winter Wellness Routines to Beat the Cold Weather Blues
Home for the Holidays
How to Create a Relaxing, Wellness-Focused Space for Family and Guests
Moisture Mitigation for a Healthier Home
Creating a Spa-Like Bathroom
Compliments of
Cassy West
Cassy West
Holistic REALTOR® & Wellness Real Estate Expert
Your Home Environment Matters
772-643-4460
Welcome to the December issue of WellnessRE™ magazine! As the holiday season unfolds, we're celebrating the joy of togetherness and the cozy comforts of home. This is a time to not only enjoy festive moments with family and friends but also to create spaces that nurture relaxation and wellness amidst the winter bustle. In this issue, we share ideas to help you transform your home into a haven for the holidays. From creating a spa-like bathroom and tackling moisture mitigation for a healthier environment to mastering simple steps for stopping window condensation, we’re bringing you practical tips for a cozier, healthier home.
Wishing you a holiday season filled with warmth, wellness, and meaningful moments in the spaces that matter most.
Recipe of the Month
Tiramisu French Toast
Heather Christo, Deliciously Allergen Free Recipes
So this ridiculous, carbalicious, eggy, sugar filled recipe is the last of it’s kind around here for a while (I will elaborate next week) so please soak up every last syrupy drop of goodness! This is a little riff on one of the best breakfasts ever: French toast.
Photo Credit: Heather Christo
Organization
Simple Holidays: How to Downsize Your Holiday Decor for a Clutter-Free Celebration
By Jolene Nannette
The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and often, an overwhelming amount of decorations. While it’s tempting to go all out with elaborate displays, many people are now seeking ways to downsize their holiday decor for a more streamlined, less cluttered home. If you’re looking to simplify your holiday decorations without sacrificing the spirit of the season, here are some practical tips to help you downsize effectively.
Winter Wellness
Winter Wellness:
Routines to Beat the Cold Weather Blues
By Lucy Chatman
As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, many of us feel a shift in energy, mood, and motivation. Whether it’s the lack of sunlight, the post-holiday slump, or the cozy temptation to hibernate on the couch, winter can be a challenging season for maintaining our well-being. But with a few intentional practices, you can boost your energy, nurture your mental health, and stay physically strong all winter long.
Featured Article
Living Well
Staff Writer
When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, we often focus on diet and exercise. While these are certainly important factors, they're not the only ones that contribute to our overall well-being. The truth is, the environment in which we live can also have a significant impact on our health and well-being.
Research has shown that the home environment can affect everything from our mood and energy levels to our immune system and sleep patterns. Factors such as air quality, natural lighting, and green spaces can all have a positive impact on our health. On the other hand, exposure to environmental hazards such as chemicals and mold can have negative effects.
Creating a healthy home environment can involve a range of actions, from choosing homes with healthy features to making modifications to existing homes. This might include investing in energy-efficient appliances, improving air quality with proper ventilation, and minimizing exposure to environmental toxins.
By taking steps to create a healthy home environment, we can improve our overall well-being and lead happier, healthier lives. After all, our homes are where we spend the majority of our time, and the environment we live in can have a significant impact on our health and happiness.
Family
Unplug & Unwind: Making Tech-Free Zones Fun for Kids This Holiday
By Sheila Alston
With all the screens kids are used to, setting up tech-free spaces at home has to feel exciting and rewarding. These tech-free areas should feel like new adventures, not a “break” from something they enjoy. Here’s how to create inviting, interactive zones they’ll want to return to again and again:
Feng Shui
Celebratory Spaces:
Feng Shui and Biophilic Design for Holiday Joy
By Dee Oujiri
The holiday season transforms our homes into vibrant centers of joy and celebration. Integrating Feng Shui with biophilic design can turn these spaces into more than just places for festive gatherings—they become sanctuaries that uplift and inspire. Imagine a holiday setting that combines the timeless elegance of a vintage Chanel jacket with the vibrant flair of modern design. This is the essence of blending the ancient wisdom of Feng Shui with the nurturing qualities of biophilic design.
Healthy Home
Ten Simple Steps to Stop Condensation on Windows for Good
By Amanda Klecker
One major symptom of an unhealthy house is high levels of humidity in your space. And a big contributing factor to your indoor humidity is condensation on windows. While condensation on windows can stem from other root causes like your climate, your home’s thermal barrier or insulation, there are really practical ways to manage condensation on windows. By doing this, you’ll start to create a healthier space by lowering the humidity levels inside your home.
Green Building
Creating a Spa-Like Bathroom: Moisture Mitigation for a Healthier Home
By Andy Pace
When I’m involved as a consultant to help build or remodel a home, I spend a lot of time discussing moisture. Everyone knows that the reduction of moisture in a home contributes to a lesser chance of mold growth. What you may not know, is that lower moisture in a home also reduces the off-gassing of chemicals coming from the building materials. So moisture mitigation is one of my top focus points.
Holiday
Home for the Holidays: How to Create a Relaxing, Wellness-Focused Space for Family and Guests
By Lucy Chatman
The holidays are a perfect time to reconnect and unwind with family, but hosting can feel overwhelming—especially when trying to create a space that’s cozy, calm, and welcoming. With just a few thoughtful touches, you can set up a wellness-focused home that makes everyone feel at ease, turning your place into a true holiday haven. Here’s how to make it happen.
Eco-Design
Photo credit: AerCon
Rethinking Building Materials
The advantages of building with Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or AAC
By Cassy West
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) was introduced in the United States in the 1980s, primarily as a lightweight, energy-efficient alternative to traditional concrete masonry or CME. The technology originated in Sweden in the 1920s and gained popularity in Europe before making its way to the U.S. market. It is made from a mixture of cement, lime, water, and a small amount of aluminum powder. The aluminum reacts with the other ingredients to create tiny air pockets, resulting in a porous structure that gives AAC its lightweight and insulating properties.
Wellness Architecture
Cozy Corners:
How Designated Areas for Daily Routines Enhance Calm and Ease
By Kate Hamblet, Wellness Architect
Routines may sound boring, but they are so necessary for a stress-reduced day! Routines help create structure, and designating spaces specifically for these routines can enhance calm, efficiency, and joy. From a cozy corner for morning coffee to a well-organized mudroom that makes morning departures smoother, creating “routine spaces” can transform how we experience everyday moments. Here’s why dedicated spaces for daily routines are worth the investment and some ideas on designing these areas into your new home or renovation to bring more calm and ease into your day.
