When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and bring joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.
-Jean Shinoda Bolen

• Gift Membership to Harvest Eating; Professional Healthy Cooking Videos, Recipes and more
• Send Organic Flowers
• Restaurant.com gift certificates
  Save Up to 60% on Restaurant Gift Certificates: $25 gift certificates for only $10!Easy to search for local healthy restaurants, vegetarian, ethnic, home-cooked and more.
• Aromatherapy- organic essential oil perfume
• Organic scented bubble bath
• Special natural scented soaps
• Natural beeswax candles
• Dark chocolate covered strawberries- Recipe
  • Health Benefits of Chocolate
• Gift S ubscription to favorite healthy lifestyle magazine such as Healing Lifestyles & Spas Magazine. ( Use code mambosub to get 25% off new subscription)
• "Healthy lifestyle” book, meditation book or CD, heart healthy cookbook. Cook a homemade, heart healthy meal complete with organic wine and candles.
  • Heart Healthy Chili Recipe
• A day of pampering at a local spa or create your own 'at home spa day' with your favorite organic body products, relaxing music and wellness rituals.
  
• Plan an at home 'spa wellness party' with friends
• Sign up for a local class that you or a loved one has been wanting to participate in such as: gourmet cooking, yoga, Pilates, aerobics, tai chi, or ballroom dancing.
• Celebrate with splurging for a special event ticket: a night of dancing, hearing a favorite musical group, going to the theatre, or watching a comedy or romantic movie.
• A donation to a favorite charity, such as The Woman's Heart Foundation

Most of us have heard heart healthy tips such as: eat well, exercise, and limit stress. Here is handy list with easy hearth health and wellness tips:

1. Lowfat protein choices: vegetarian, beans, tofu, seeds, fish, lean meats.
2. Unsaturated fats: extra virgin olive, canola oil, avocados.
3. Foods high in Omega 3: walnuts, soybeans, flax, seeds, leafy greens, salmon, mackerel, halibut.
4. High fiber foods: whole wheat, oats, brown rice, fresh organic fruits and vegetables.
5. Smaller portions, lowfat meals and take time to relax while eating.
6. Eat more antioxidant, high vitamin and mineral foods: more portions of organic vegetables (including 'green leafy') fruits and berries.
   1. High nutritional value fruits and vegetables article
   2. American Heart Association article on phytochemical rich foods
7. Nuts for Heart Health: FDA research reports heart health benefits of nuts*: almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, macadamias and hazelnuts. http://westernfarmpress.com/mag/farming_fda_gives_almonds/ *for those free of tree nut allergies
8. Try to keep healthy snack foods on hand and ready to eat: fresh cut fruits and vegetables, lowfat veggie dips, nuts, seeds and organic snacks. If the healthy food choices are ready and waiting, it makes it easier to choose a healthy snack.
9. Enjoy Green Tea: it contains polyphenols, a type of antioxidant. Black Tea Benefits of green tea (article)
10. Other foods noted to be heart healthy in moderation: dark chocolate, garlic, red wine/ grape juice.
11. Remember to drink fresh clean water for heart and overall health.
    1. Mayo clinics guide to water
12. Exercise: 30 minutes daily, as approved by your doctor: join a health club, use an exercise DVD at home, take a brisk walk, try some new exercise activity like yoga, or get back to enjoying your favorite exercise activity or sport!
13. For extra motivation to stick with your exercise routine ask a friend to be an exercise buddy or listen to your favorite music while getting fit!
    1. More exercise motivational tips
14. Stress Reduction: prioritizing (take what you can off the 'to do' list), recreational activities and meditation.
    1. Meditation article
    2. Womens Heart Foundation article on mindfulness & meditation
15. Enjoyable Activities: Make time in your week for activities you enjoy and write it on your calendar. If you register for a recreational class, that will increase the chances that you will make it a priority to be there weekly, even though you may have a busy schedule.
16. Connecting: Stay connected with friends, family and community. Dr. Dean Ornish has pointed out that staying connected socially is good for heart and overall health. Try to make time to spend with loved one, volunteer in your community, meet new people and have fun during socializing activities.
17. Nature: Take time to go on a walk in your neighborhood, out in nature on a hike, or to a local Audubon Society.
18. Consider joining the American Heart Association Fundraising Walk
19. Laughter: watching a comedy show or funny movie can increase endorphins that improve feelings well-being and reduce stress.
    1. Article on health benefits of laughter