This is a sponsored post on behalf of Mom It Forward and the Council for Responsible Nutrition. All opinions are my own.

New year…new and improved me?! YES, I’ve made a promise to myself that 2017 is going to be my best year yet and that means focusing on an area I really struggle with: being healthy.

Like most people, I want to play a proactive role in my own wellness. On a daily basis, I aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water and “eat the rainbow” by including fresh fruit and veggies in a variety of colors at every meal. Despite my best efforts, it’s very difficult to get enough essential nutrients from food alone. There is no such thing as a perfect diet, after all, and I admit that I sometimes give in to junk food cravings!

One of the ways I try to compensate is by taking a high quality dietary supplement. According to a survey from the Council for Responsible Nutrition, I’m in good company: More than 170 million Americans take dietary supplements each year. The most popular are multivitamins (75% of users take these), along with vitamin D, vitamin C, calcium and vitamin B/B complex. 

Some common reasons to take supplements include:

• Joint health
• Digestive health
• Skin, hair & nails
• Healthy aging
• Bone health
• Immune health
• Heart health
• Overall health
• To fill in dietary gaps

There are lots of choices when it comes to dietary supplements, so it’s wise to talk with a doctor or other health care practitioner about what’s right for you. Through routine blood work, I found out that I was severely vitamin D deficient. A lack of this particular vitamin can cause many unpleasant side effects. Taking the correct dose of vitamin D daily for 3 months, based on my doctor’s instructions, made all the difference!

Dietary supplements can play an important role in good health, but they are meant as supplements to, not substitutes for, other healthy habits. Making sure we are exercising regularly, sleeping enough nightly, and combatting stress are equally important.

Want to learn more about the health benefits of taking supplements? The Council for Responsible Nutrition has many resources to help you make an informed decision.

Imagine a closed society that controls every move you make. A frightening world where people are brainwashed, beaten, sexually abused, financially drained, separated from loved ones, coerced to have abortions, children are denied schooling, and family members are encouraged to rat on each other to fake authorities.

Sounds like a horrible throwback to the Communist era, right? Guess again! It’s happening right now, here in America and around the world, according to actress Leah Remini. In an extremely courageous move, she is exposing the truth about what life inside Scientology is really like for those who are willingly involved and those who are trapped against their will. (Spoiler alert: it’s a living hell!)

Scientology and the Aftermath is truly riveting. Without fail, every episode that I’ve watched has made me cry. Seeing grown men hysterically sob about things that a so-called church has done to them is just heartbreaking. What could be even more despicable than the crimes committed? An organized terror campaign intended to smear anyone who dares to leave or speak up about what’s happening!  

“Church” officials are constantly retaliating, with lies relayed to the media and more sinister things done privately. Leah and others are being harassed, stalked, denied housing/jobs, ostracized from former “friends” that they’d known for decades, and sued. By coming forward, they are suffering, yet their bravery and willingness to warn others makes it worth the pain.

Let’s be clear: those who do evil in God’s name are not righteous; they are monsters! This sort of manipulation occurs far too often, hurts far too many, and will continue on indefinitely if good people stand by and don’t act. Leah Remini is doing her part by drawing worldwide attention to the problem. If one uninformed person watches the documentary and then stays away from a Scientology Center, it will be a blessing!

Calling out the criminals is the first step, but that alone will not stop Scientology. The government must intervene to break up and bankrupt this cult, specifically the IRS who need to remove the tax exempt status and the California and Florida Attorney Generals to prosecute the many documented instances of credible abuse.

I am praying the victims will get the justice they so rightly deserve. Nothing can undo the damage, but having their good names restored and being financially compensated is a huge part of the healing process.

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is “Getting Healthy.” While that’s an excellent goal, something so vaguely defined makes it difficult to apply. Personally, I need things to be much more specific. Instead of making a general statement, I want actions.

Right now, I am testing some samples of Newport Skinny Tea (look for an upcoming product review in the near future). A Quick Start Guide was included as part of the kit. These healthy tips are so good, they’re worth sharing:

• Start each meal with a low or no-calorie beverage like tea or water
• Eat a large salad or veggie soup before meals
• Include quality protein with each meal
• Include quality fat with each meal
• Finish meals with low-glycemic fruit
• Green smoothies help increase veggie intake
• Gradually phase out wheat, grain, sugar, trans fat, and most oils
• Investigate the possibility of food allergies/sensitivities
• Walk 30 minutes daily
• Sleep 7 Hours nightly (minimum) in the darkest room possible
• Improve mindset – try to stay positive
• Do 3 High Intensity workouts weekly
• Choose least toxic options in life: relationships, work, food, etc.
• Find a supportive community
• Accept your past; take responsibility for the future
• Believe in yourself – you deserve the best!

Whether you apply every step or even just one or two to start, it can make a big overall improvement. The most important step for me is always sleep since I struggle with insomnia and chronic pain. My goal for 2017 is to be in bed by 10:00pm, wind down for an hour, and fall asleep by 11:00. I can’t guarantee it will happen, but I am going to do my best to try!

Besides sleep, the other tip that spoke loudest to me is about community. So many people these days are living alone, far away from family, are disconnected from friends, and basically have no support at all. If you are in that position, please know that TJL can be your community! Readers are welcome to post anything that’s bothering them in the comments or email me directly (thejewishladyblog@gmail.com). If you need to vent, need someone to care, or have a prayer request, don’t be afraid to speak up. TJL is a blog, of course, but it can also be a warm and safe forum for ladies to communicate and help each other.

This post is sponsored by Blue Buffalo™ and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I’m being compensated for helping spread the word about Blue Buffalo’s extensive product offering for cats and dogs available at PetSmart®, but I only share information that’s relevant to readers. Blue Buffalo is not responsible for the content of this article.

Every year, I look forward to Hanukkah and try to create a wonderful celebration for the entire family, pets included. (Even though they’re spoiled on a daily basis, I still think they deserve extras!) After the decorations were arranged, I focused on the edibles—lots of cooking for the humans and buying special prepared goodies for the pets.

While I want my critters to enjoy what they eat, it’s also vital that they’re only feasting on the best wholesome nutrition, which means NO by-products, corn, wheat, or soy. (Junky stuff that’s full of chemicals, preservatives, and other additives can hurt their health and vitality). Instead, I look for a high-quality food like BLUE Buffalo™ .

Full of antioxidant-rich, whole ingredients, BLUE wet and dry food is regularly enjoyed by my cats and dogs, so I was eager to surprise them with some limited edition treats.

Cyrus went crazy for the Santa Snacks. Baked with oatmeal, pumpkin, and lots of spices, they offer an irresistible crunch in adorable shapes like gingerbread men and stars. He also liked Wild Bits, a trail treat from the Wilderness line.

Charlie, Scamp, and Snowball were also curious. (Of course, I wouldn’t leave them out!) Hard snacks are very difficult for Charlie since he struggles with a lot of dental issues. A soft food that’s easy to chew works much better. Santa Stew contains a nice mix of turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes and cranberries. He devoured the entire can by himself! 

Because the kittens are grain-free, Freedom food is perfect. Made for those with special dietary needs, it’s an excellent blend of chicken, berries, carrots, sweet potatoes and peas. Both boys ate a bunch.

If you’re like me, you consider pets a part of the family, and if you love them like family, you’ve got to feed them like family this holiday season with #BestofBLUE.

Visit PetSmart to check out the extensive line of BLUE Buffalo products for your cats and dogs. Not sure which product is right for you? Every weekend BLUE sends their Pet Detectives to your local store to help you make the best decision for your family.

Connect with BLUE Buffalo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of BLUE. The opinions and text are all mine.