Brought to you by
December 2025
Cassy West
What 2025 Taught Us About Homes That Actually Make Us Healthier
Bathroom Remodel Ideas for a Truly Non-Toxic, Healthy Space
Compliments of
Cassy West
Cassy West
Holistic REALTOR® & Wellness Real Estate Expert
Your Home Environment Matters
This month we step into the holidays with intention, focusing on celebrations that feel joyful, sustainable, and centered on what truly matters. Instead of rushing, we can slow down, enjoy meaningful traditions, and create home environments that support well-being during one of the busiest times of the year.
We also reflect on what 2025 has taught us about creating healthier, more balanced homes, from mindful energy use to small design choices and daily habits that make a real difference. This issue offers ideas to carry with you through the season and beyond.
Here’s to a December that feels lighter, clearer, and full of purpose. Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!
Recipe of the Month
Blackberry Pomegranate Ginger Moscow Mule
Heather Christo, Deliciously Allergen Free Recipes
I love a good Moscow Mule, and so that’s where the blackberry and pomegranate juice comes in-plus the flavor of both with the ginger beer is fantastic.
Photo Credit: Heather Christo
Organization
Holiday Harmony: Balancing Family Traditions Without the Overwhelm
By Jolene Nannette
The holiday season is a time for warmth, joy, and cherished family traditions. However, it can also be hectic and overwhelming. Balancing time efficiently while keeping those beloved traditions alive is key to enjoying the holidays to the fullest. Here’s how to streamline your holiday preparations without sacrificing the joy of family gatherings and rituals.
Feng Shui Essentials
Conscious by Design: How the Future of Home Energy Begins with Intention
By Dee Oujiri
The afternoon light has changed. It’s softer now, filtered through bare branches and gold-edged clouds that stretch like silk across the sky. The air outside feels quieter, and so do we.
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.
2025 Home Trends
What 2025 Taught Us About Homes That Actually Make Us Healthier
By, Sheila Alston
Here are ten wellness-centered design ideas and lifestyle upgrades that gained real traction in 2025—and are expected to grow even more in 2026.
Gardening
Winter Yard TLC: Protect Plants, Trees, and Landscaping
By Lucy Chatman
Winter can be tough on outdoor spaces. Frost, heavy snow, and harsh winds can leave your yard looking tired and, worse, cause lasting damage to plants, trees, and landscaping you’ve invested time and care into. The good news is that with a few intentional steps, you can protect your yard through the cold months and set the stage for a vibrant spring.
Aromatherapy
Frankincense: A Sacred Gift Across Continents
By Debbie Pullens
Few botanicals carry the weight of history, reverence, and healing quite like Frankincense. Known as one of the precious gifts brought to the Christ child, Frankincense has been treasured for more than 5,000 years—burned in sacred temples, used in royal beauty rituals, and applied as a powerful natural remedy for the mind, body, and spirit.
Holiday
Clutter-Free Stockings: Thoughtful Gifts Everyone Will Actually Use
By Sabrina Aguilar
Stockings are a cherished part of holiday tradition, but too often, they’re stuffed with tiny toys, plastic trinkets, or novelty items that end up forgotten or discarded. This year, let’s rethink the approach. By choosing sustainable, consumable, and meaningful gifts, you can fill stockings with items that are appreciated, used, and kind to the planet. Practical and mindful, these ideas create joy without adding clutter.
Healthy Home
Bathroom Remodel Ideas for a Truly Non-Toxic, Healthy Space
By Amanda Klecker
If a bathroom remodel is on your to-do list you have to read this blog post first. Most conventional building materials are loaded with VOCs, formaldehyde, and other highly toxic chemicals....
Architecture
The Overlooked Essentials: 10 Design Details That Make Everyday Living Healthier and Happier
By Kate Hamblet
When I talk about designing or renovating a healthy, high-performance home, I usually start with what I call the non-negotiables: things like proper orientation, airtightness, high-quality insulation, and balanced mechanical ventilation. These are the big systems that set the foundation for comfort, efficiency, and indoor air quality.
