Brought to you by
August 2026
Tori McGee, Holistic REALTOR®
Why Schools Are Bringing Back Shop Class
How hands-on learning benefits today's students.
10
Design Strategies Every Homeowner Should Know
Healthy Home
Recognizing the Signs of Burnout in Students
When "I'm Tired" Means More Than a Busy Week
Compliments of
Tori McGee, Holistic REALTOR®
Tori McGee
Holistic Realtor®
The Good Neighbor Podcast
As summer comes to an end and a new school year begins, this month’s issue is all about creating a smoother, healthier transition for the whole family. Back-to-school season brings new routines, new challenges, and new opportunities to create spaces that support learning, growth, and well-being.
Inside, you’ll find practical tips for navigating college move-in, recognizing the signs of student burnout, and creating a home environment that helps everyone feel grounded during times of change. We’ll also explore how schools are bringing back hands-on learning and why thoughtful nursery design matters.
Whether you’re preparing a student for their next chapter, refreshing your home for a new routine, or simply looking for ways to support your family’s wellness, we hope these pages inspire you to create spaces that help everyone feel comfortable, connected, and ready for what’s ahead.
Recipe of the Month
Bahn Mi Pizza
Heather Christo, Deliciously Allergen Free Recipes
It is all of the amazing fresh flavors of a bahn mi pizza (flavorful pork, fresh cilantro, pickled carrots, cucumbers and spicy delicious sauces) on a crispy golden crust. Dinner tonight anyone?
Photo Credit: Heather Christo
Organization
College Move In Guide: Packing, Planning, and Preparing for Dorm Life
By Jolene Nannette
Moving your child into college can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience. To make the process smooth and stress-free, careful planning and organization with your new college student are key. Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate this important transition.
Feng Shui Essentials
The Transition Home: How Your Space Can Anchor You Through Change
By Dee Oujiri
The long light has begun its withdrawal. Imperceptibly, at first a few minutes earlier, each morning, than the morning before. But the body knows. It knows before the calendar announces anything, before the school supply displays appear in stores, before any official signal of transition. The body knows because it has always been in relationship with the season, and the season is changing.
Featured Article
Healthy Home Realty with Tori
Staff Writer
Check out my interview on The Good Neighbor Podcast! 🏡
Here are the details:
Starting out as a nutrition specialist in 2008, I never intended to become a real estate agent. But in 2003, I made a conscious decision to remove all chemicals from my family’s life after my young daughter was diagnosed with ADHD.
From that point, my mission was to do whatever I could to help my daughter.
When I began to look for a home to buy in 2013, I quickly realized there was a need for holistic real estate agents.
“No one really cared,” she says. Most traditional real estate agents acted like mold and other toxins were no big deal…
In 2015, I received my Realtor’s license and felt the need to create wellness for homes.
I am a certified Building Biology Advocate & am very excited to use the knowledge and skills I’ve learned to educate others in this increasingly vital area of public health and well-being.
I believe real estate is the next frontier that will be radically transformed by the wellness movement. Our homes, communities and surrounding environment directly affect our daily behaviors and lifestyles, and together these determine up to 80–90 percent of our health outcomes. Since our homes are typically our most important personal investment and expenditure, it is only logical that they should also be an investment in our health and well-being.
Wellness Design
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The Off-Gassing Effect
How Heat Wakes Up Toxins in Your Home
By Cassy West
For most of us, "climate change" conjures images of melting glaciers or stronger storms — not something happening quietly inside our own living rooms. But new research is connecting a dot that deserves more attention: as outdoor and indoor temperatures climb, so does the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the everyday materials that make up our homes.
Back-to-School
Recognizing the Signs of Burnout in Students
When "I'm Tired" Means More Than a Busy Week
By Sabrina Aguilar
The school year often begins with excitement. New teachers, fresh notebooks, and the promise of a clean slate can make September feel full of possibility. But as assignments, extracurricular activities, social pressures, and packed schedules begin to pile up, many students start carrying a weight that isn't always easy to see.
Why Schools Are Bringing Back Shop Class
How hands-on learning benefits today's students.
By Lucy Chatman
Growing up, I remember hearing stories about the classes my parents took in school. My mom learned to cook and sew. My dad spent time in the woodshop, building projects with his own hands and learning how to use tools that would stay with him long after graduation.
Back-to-School
Healthy Home
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The Biology of the Nursery
A Science-Based Guide to Designing a Toxin-Free Nursery
The Pinterest-worthy nursery of your dreams is often a beautiful disguise for an environment that can be biologically stressful for a newborn. As a building biologist, I view the nursery as a complex ecosystem. Your baby will spend nearly 70% of their first year in this one room. During those hours, their body is doing the intensive work of neurological development, cellular repair, and immune system mapping.
Architecture
10 Healthy Home Design Strategies Every Homeowner Should Know
By Kate Hamblet
Designing a healthy, sustainable home starts long before construction begins. The biggest decisions aren't choosing paint colors or countertops. They're the early planning choices that affect comfort, indoor air quality, energy use, and your family's well-being for years to come.
