Antioxidants

From Fracture to Function: My Liver’s Unexpected Role in Recovery

From Fracture to Function: My Liver’s Unexpected Role in Recovery
Two weeks after my wrist fracture was surgically repaired, I got my post‑op labs back—and honestly, I was expecting to see my bone markers doing a victory lap. Instead, my liver enzymes were flirting with the danger zone. 

Who knew that anesthesia, pain meds, and healing byproducts could turn your liver into the unsung hero (or unexpected overachiever) of recovery? It was my wake‑up call: healing isn’t just about bones knitting back together—it’s a full‑body production, and my liver deserves a standing ovation...
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Gut Health and Emotional Wellness: How to Rest and Renew Naturally

Gut Health and Emotional Wellness: How to Rest and Renew Naturally
In recent explorations, I’ve been delving into the intricate relationship between gut health, sleep, and emotional well-being. It’s fascinating how a balanced gut can influence better sleep patterns, improved mood, and overall emotional stability. Often called our "second brain," the gut produces neurotransmitters like serotonin that significantly affect our mood.

My challenging personal experiences, such as losing my mother and supporting my husband through surgery, have underscored the importance of gut health in managing stress and emotional drain. During these tough times, focusing on gut health improved my sleep and emotional resilience. This has deepened my understanding of the gut's profound impact on overall well-being.

Introducing Young Living's Rest and Renew Reset Kit, which includes NingXia Red, Super Magnesium, and Deep Night Essence. These products are designed to support healthier sleep, boost energy, and promote wellness. Combining these with the Danish practice of hygge can create a nurturing environment essential for emotional well-being, helping transform small, manageable steps into significant health benefits.
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Achieve Youthful and Radiant Skin with this "BoHo Botox" Beauty Regimen

Achieve Youthful and Radiant Skin with this "BoHo Botox" Beauty Regimen
Discover how you can maintain smooth, firm, and supple skin without injectables with this BoHo Botox Beauty regimen using Young Living's Beauty Boost Serum, Longevity Capsules, and Inner Beauty Collagen.
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✨ My blog exists because I know what it feels like to keep everything jumbled in your head — like a messy pile of clothes you can’t sort through.

 Writing it all down brings clarity, calm, and sometimes even healing answers I didn’t know I was looking for.


Honestly, that’s why I keep showing up to write — it helps me make sense of things. 

 Even if you have no intentions of ever publishing your work, I highly recommend writing stuff down. It doesn't have to be a literary masterpiece or even full, grammatically correct sentences... just dump those random thoughts onto paper... you'll see what I mean.

*This blog centers the GenX experience, simply because that’s the lens I live through—but anyone looking for connection, natural wellness, grief support, or a little real-talk in this messy stage of life is more than welcome.

Hi! I'm AJ Flanagan.

 
Hey there — I’m AJ.

I’m an empty-nester and a widow who had a wake-up call about the hidden toxins in everyday products most of us grew up using. Our parents didn’t know. We didn’t know either. But once you start paying attention, it’s hard to ignore.

Life shifted in 2018 when my husband, Eric, was diagnosed with leukemia — and again in 2023 when we faced a second cancer diagnosis. Supporting him through treatment changed how we looked at just about everything, including how we cared for our home, our bodies, and our day-to-day routines.
We didn’t aim for perfection or extremes. We focused on simple, meaningful changes — reducing toxic load in our home, choosing better ingredients, prioritizing nourishing food, and building calmer rhythms into daily life. Tools like aromatherapy, music, meditation, and intentional rest became part of how we coped and stayed grounded.

Caring for Eric deepened my commitment to living well — not as a trend, but as a way of showing up with intention and grace, even in the hard seasons.

Now I share our story, the lessons we learned, the small changes that made a big difference, and how I'm moving forward. My hope is to make wellness feel more approachable, less overwhelming, and rooted in real life — especially for anyone who wants healthier options without pressure or perfection.

If you’re here to find what actually works for you, you’re in the right place.

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