UTAH - Zion National Park

Zion is only 2.5 hours from Las Vegas, Nevada so it was easy for my friends and I to drive from Los Angeles to Vegas, stay at the Hard Rock Hotel for the night, have a relaxing dinner, a swim, a bubble bath (for me) & a good night of rest before lots of hiking & camping. I may have slept the best I ever have in my life at the Hard Rock Hotel because between the bubble bath & night of rest, I felt like so relaxed & motivated the next day.

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ZION NATIONAL PARK

In that photo where I’m looking up while hiking The Narrows, that’s the face of pure gratitude & absolute bliss. Up until that point, I had never been enveloped by such breathtaking natural beauty. As I looked up & smiled, tears just came streaming down my face. It was such a natural response to be surrounded by such majestic surroundings. I had never had a reaction to nature & a place that way before. Zion is truly on another level.

We really forget sometimes that our planet truly is Heaven on Earth. I highly recommend making a list of national parks to visit with Zion & Bryce Canyon at the top of that list! It truly humbles a person. They are both truly magical, epic & make you feel like a tiny little ant amongst its beauty, stature & light.

Southern Utah is full of outdoor activities with sunshine year-round. Historically this area has been rich in agriculture and now has the added benefits of great hotels and vacation rentals, excellent restaurants for all types of dining, and a wide array of annual events.

Zion National Park is a southwest Utah nature preserve distinguished by Zion Canyon’s steep red cliffs. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive cuts through its main section, leading to forest trails along the Virgin River. The river flows to the Emerald Pools, which have waterfalls and a hanging garden. Also along the river, partly through deep chasms, is Zion Narrows wading hike which my friends and I did over a few days.

Springdale, located just outside of Zion National Park against a backdrop of the most breathtaking mountain panoramas you will ever see. Springdale is home to locally managed hotels, B&B’s, restaurants, farmer’s markets, art galleries, tour guides, outfitters, gift shops, hiking, bike trails and more.

LODGING

My friends and I stayed at the Zion Crest Campground & RV Park where we camped in the pines on the plateau above Utah's Zion National Park on land that literally borders the park boundary. They have bathrooms, showers & laundry facilities. Reserve your RV space on the east rim of Zion National Park & explore the dramatic scenic terrain of Bryce Canyon National Park in the distance.

Below are more places to stay near Zion National Park:

The Dwellings

Watchman Villas

Bumbleberry Inn

Driftwood Lodge

Hummingbird Villa

Under Canvas Zion

Cable Mountain Lodge

Flanigan's Resort & Spa

Cliffrose (Curio Collection by Hilton)

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort Cabins

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort Glamping

Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn & Suites

My friend Jessica along with her husband & daughter stayed at Under Canvas Zion which she said provided a very luxurious glamping experience.

"We booked a “suite tent” which had a king bed, pull-out couch, and private bathroom. The food at the camp was quite good too. We had breakfast and dinner both nights."

WHERE TO EAT

My friend Jessica suggests: Lunch at MeMe's Cafe in Springdale + a late afternoon drink & snack in Springdale at Oscar's Cafe.

6 HIKES YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS

THE NARROWS

RIVERSIDE WALK

ANGELS LANDING

WEEPING ROCK

What is The Narrows?

The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. This gorge, with walls a thousand feet tall & the river sometimes just 20-30 wide, is one of the most popular areas in Zion National Park. You can see The Narrows by hiking along the paved, wheelchair accessible Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava. If you wish to see more, you will be walking in the Virgin River which my friends and I did. This can involve wading upstream for just a few minutes or it can be an all day hike.

How can I hike The Narrows?

A hike through The Narrows requires hiking in the Virgin River. You must get your feet wet since there is no trail. Most people choose to start their hike from the Temple of Sinawava via the Riverside Walk & then walk upstream before turning around & hiking back down to the Temple of Sinawava which we did.

Bottom-Up Hike From the Temple of Sinawava (Wilderness Permit not required)

Hiking in The Narrows upstream as far as Big Spring does not require a permit. Doing the hike this way allows you to see some of the most spectacular and narrowest parts of the canyon. You can hike in the river for an hour and have a great experience, or you can hike as far as Big Spring, a strenuous, ten-mile round trip, all-day adventure.

16-Mile Through-Hike from Chamberlain's Ranch

(Wilderness Permit required)

Permits are required for this 16-mile through-hike of the Virgin River Narrows from Chamberlain's Ranch to the Temple of Sinawava. Those who choose this option must arrange their own transportation to the Chamberlain's Ranch trailhead.

When should I hike The Narrows?

Most people hike The Narrows in the summer & early fall when the water tends to be at its warmest & the water level drops. However, this is also the time of year that storms can cause life-threatening flash floods. Obviously check the weather, but we ended up going end of July/August.

What should I wear & bring to hike The Narrows?

Close-toed shoes & a hiking stick are recommended for hiking on the slick, uneven rocks in The Narrows. High canyon walls & water create cooler conditions than anywhere else in Zion Canyon, so wear & bring seasonally appropriate synthetic layers. Click here for more: Equipment and Clothing Recommendations

I can't speak on the hike for Angel's Landing since we chose to hike The Narrows + Riverside Walk instead & because of time, we also wanted to visit & camp at Bryce Canyon National Park as well. Click here for more information about Angel's Landing.

Suggestions + Notes:

Enter Zion from its East Entrance. I recommend you do this as it shortens the drive & is a very scenic introduction to the park with overlooks & pullouts. You can also do the Canyon Overlook Trail if you want to get a hike in as well.

The parking lot in Zion fills up early (by 9am) but we paid for a spot walking distance from the Springdale entrance. If you don't want to pay for parking, you can park further away in Springdale & take a free shuttle into the park. Once you are in the park you must take the shuttle to explore the canyon.

We got off the shuttle at Zion Lodge and did the full Emerald Pools hike (lower, middle, upper) & the Grotto Trail. We got on the shuttle back towards the Visitors Center & hopped off at Court of the Patriarchs to take in the scenic views.

My friend, Jessica suggests that if you drive past Under Canvas & through the Kolob Canyon portion of Zion you can check out Kolob Reservoir. You can take a very refreshing swim at Kolob Reservoir. It’s about 20 degrees cooler here so it was a nice break after the hot morning!

INFERTILITY Awareness

With all this talk about Mothers & Mother Figures Day, I'm extremely sensitive to the fact that there are many people who struggle with infertility. In fact, 1 in 8 couples struggle to get pregnant or sustain a pregnancy, making it a more common issue than people realize. As you scroll through social media, remember this statistic - you know someone battling infertility. For many struggling to conceive, the hope to one day realize the dream of parenthood is what keeps them on their fertility journey.

I always 100% thought that I would have children. I'd meet the man that I manifested after learning about myself and spending a couple years nurturing myself and my needs as a woman. Don't get me wrong, I still have hope though as I'm not the only fabulous and forty single gal out there! There are so many of us, plus we're in good company....Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron....I can go on. And look at Charlize, she adopted! That is something I've always considered as well.

The thing is....I don't even know where I stand as far as how many "good eggs" I have left. But, that honestly doesn't affect me personally or rush my in any way. I would be more than thrilled to adopt as well. But, I am curious about the "good egg situation" so I may find out on my next OBGYN appointment just to see where I am with that. The other thing I debate is that I'm not sure I should have kids so late in life as I will be 44 this summer. So with that, this decision is to be continued.....

As I ponder this idea and decision, I also think about those struggling with infertility so I started reading more about it and I wanted to share some information and resources that I've found.

Diagnosis + IVF

There are many medical conditions that impact both men and women's fertility. 1 in 5 couples are diagnosed with "unexplained infertility", meaning there is no straightforward cause to infertility. While sometimes we want to explain away and define cause, unexplained infertility is in fact a medical diagnosis. While there are many ways to treat infertility, IVF statistically offers the highest success rates. Read more via RESOLVE

What is The Stork Foundation for Infertility?

At The Stork Foundation for Infertility, they are committed to not just raising awareness for infertility, but also raising their collective voices to break through the stigma. The Stork Foundation empowers others to start and change the conversation surrounding infertility.

Every single dollar donated to The Stork Foundation for Infertility makes a difference. No path on this journey is straightforward. The cost of infertility is HIGH, which is why the support of others is critical to their existence.

Anyone who has faced infertility knows that this breakdown is an oversimplification of the actual intricate medical costs. The average cost of an IVF cycle can range from $12,000 - $20,000.

Every patient is unique so every care plan or "protocol" varies significantly. This breakdown does not list every procedure or medication that are part of this long, arduous process to becoming a parent.

Fertility Benefits Coverage

The National Infertility Association celebrates one million covered lives through its Coverage at Work program. This free program empowers people, whose health insurance is provided by their employer, to talk to their HR benefits managers about adding benefits & coverage that help them build their family.

This program launched in 2016, and since then RESOLVE has tracked more than 45 companies who because their employee used RESOLVE’s program, have added family building benefits, the biggest being insurance coverage for medically necessary treatments like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The total number of these employees with new or expanded healthcare benefits for family building options reached 1 million in April 2022.

“Adding family building benefits is a win-win for employers and employees. Employers often don’t realize there is a gap in benefits until their employees point it out. Satisfying employee requests is a top reason cited by employers for adding these benefits. RESOLVE looks forward to working with employees and employers alike to welcome the next one million employees with new or improved family building benefits, but let’s not wait another 6 years to reach that milestone, as family building can’t wait,” said Betsy Campbell, Chief Engagement Officer for RESOLVE.

The 2021 Survey on Fertility Benefits from Mercer and commissioned by RESOLVE, found that 97% of employers who added coverage for IVF did not see a significant increase in costs. In fact, this report finds this highly valued benefit is both affordable and beneficial to companies in terms of attracting and retaining talent, being recognized as a family friendly employer, and supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts.

2022 Stork Foundation Fertility Grants

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I need to submit medical forms?

Yes. A medical evaluation form must be completed by your doctor.

Can I submit an application for someone else?

No. You cannot submit an application on behalf of another individual.

Is there an age limit on who can apply?

Yes. Applicants must be 18 or older.

Can I reapply next year?

Yes. The Stork Foundation reviews each application individually each cycle. You are welcomed to re-apply then.

Is a paper application available?

At this time The Stork Foundation does not offer a paper application, but they are willing to make accommodations for those needing assistance. You may email them at: Stork@storkfoundation.org

What type of information should I include in my personal story?

The Stork Foundation would love to learn more about your personal fertility journey. Feel free to include past treatment, your own personal sentiment about your journey, and a little about yourself and partner if applicable.

Stork Foundation Board Member Spotlight

Meet Maria Braham. Maria is a founding board member who resides in Chicago, Illinois. The Stork Foundation for Infertility means so much to Maria, as the mission so deeply resonates with her own experience. Her strength and resiliency is awe-inspiring after experiencing six miscarriages during her 6+ year journey to become a Mom.

Maria is a certified financial planner by day and enjoys vacations with her husband and family. She truly celebrates women and works to empower them in her involvement. Maria is a member of many organizations including National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), National Association of Female Executives (NAFE), Professional Women's Club of Chicago (PWCC) and many others. The Stork Foundation is very lucky to have Maria and her pure dedication to their grants committee.

Maria never gave up her fight and never takes for granted that two sweet boys call her Mom.

Source:

The Stork Foundation For Infertility

LITTLE WORDS PROJECT

Both the founder and VP of Marketing at Little Words Project had their own experiences with infertility, and were brought together by openly sharing their journeys with each other. The more stories like these are shared, the lesser the stigma becomes.

I am very honored to be collaborating with Little Words Project. LWP aims to inspire and encourage people to be kind to themselves and to pay that forward, one bracelet at a time.

During World Infertility Awareness Month, 25% of proceeds from Little Words Project will benefit The Stork Foundation, helping to provide financial assistance for low resource individuals needing infertility treatments.

Choose from their best sellers or custom bracelets with a word of your choice to start a conversation surrounding infertility. Get 15% OFF and start creating your Little Words Project bracelet HERE.

If you do happen to get a bracelet for you or a loved one, let me know in the comments what word you chose and the meaning behind it too!

INFERTILITY RESOURCES

Pregnantish

Founded by Andrea Syrtash, Pregnantish is the first online magazine + storytelling platform focused on infertility + modern family building. This wonderful platform helps others to navigate the realities of infertility and fertility treatments. Original content, patient advocacy + more.

Fertility Centers of Illinois

FCOI have made it their life’s work, their mission, to help people become parents. Providing compassionate and comprehensive fertility care, surrounding themselves with leaders in the field, pursuing advanced medical education and research, and teaming up with industry partners to offer their patients many possible advantages.

Each person or couple is unique so they tailor each treatment plan to the individual circumstances, including emotional, physical, and financial needs. Whether you are beginning your journey or have exhausted many of your options, they will work with you to help you realize your dream of building a family. There is nothing that gives them greater fulfillment.

(Fertility) Rescripted

Rescripting fertility, together. As seen on The Today Show, BBC News, Wall Street Journal and more. Be sure to also check out their podcast called, Dear Infertility.

Podcast: Dear Infertility

Dear Infertility is the first-ever podcast that doubles as an advice column for those dealing with infertility and pregnancy loss. From coping with pregnancy announcements to what to expect during IVF, join Rescripted Co-Founder Kristyn Hodgdon as she, along with various fertility experts, answers real questions from real fertility patients related to the physical and emotional toll of infertility. To learn more about how Rescripted can help you feel more empowered and less alone on your fertility journey, visit Rescripted.com

If you have more resources to share,

please do so in the comments below.

If you would like to learn more and/or donate to

The Stork Foundation

you may do so

HERE.

Sources:

The Stork Foundation For Infertility

Resolve

4 Common Causes of MIGRAINES + TIPS To Relieve The Pain.

I've been getting headaches and migraines a lot recently and I wanted to find out more about what possible factors could be bringing them on. I learned that there are usually 4 common causes of migraines:

1. Food Sensitivities

2. Hormonal Imbalances

3. Magnesium Deficiency

4. Bowl & Gut Imbalances

Migraines are a big problem. In fact, they are one of the most common reasons people end up in the emergency room. And here's the truth about this painful issue...the root cause of your migraine may not be in your head at all; in fact, it may be caused by many other factors.

Food Sensitivities

A common trigger of migraines are food sensitivities, the top one being gluten - the protein found in wheat, barley, rye, oats & spelt. This special kind of food allergy creates a lot of inflammation.

For those that are sensitive to gluten, Dr. Mark Hyman recommends an elimination diet. I've been thinking of doing an elimination diet and also doing a Food Sensitivity Test by Everlywell. If you do opt to do an elimination diet, Dr. Hyman suggests getting rid of gluten, dairy, eggs & yeast for 3 weeks and then introduce each one individually for 3 days, then stop and take note of any symptoms.

Hormonal Imbalances

Many women get premenstrual migraines, which are often caused by imbalances in estrogen and progesterone - too much estrogen, not enough progesterone. (....Ah the joys of being a woman!) This can be caused by stress; by consuming too much alcohol, sugar, flour and starches; and by not getting enough exercise or sleep.

Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium is the relaxation mineral. If you're deficient in it, you can often get headaches and migraines. Dr. Mark Hyman suggests taking *magnesium glycinate, citrate, oxide or aspartate in doses that relieve symptoms.

*If you have kidney disease of any kind, do this ONLY with a doctors supervision.

Bowl & Gut Imbalances

Identifying and treating bacterial imbalances or yeast in the gut can also be helpful. Getting the gut healthy with enzymes, probiotics and omega-3 fats is important. I take Ora Organic probiotics which you can check out here.

Natural Remedies That Can Help

Work with your physician to help get to the root cause if you are getting a lot of headaches and migraines. In the meantime, here are a few natural remedies that I do to help ease the pain....

EAT PLANT BASED - Or if that's too extreme for you, at least stick to eating quality grass fed meat a few times a week.

If you are looking to try eating more plant based, you may want to check out Sakara organic meal delivery which is a revolutionary program that cleanses and detoxes your body the way nature intended. No powders, no juices, no starving yourself. Just fresh, delicious, thoughtfully-prepared fresh (not frozen) meals that are nutritionally designed to give your body what it needs so that it can let go of whatever it doesn't (toxins, excess weight, etc. yuck!). Learn more about Sakara + try it out here.

CUT OUT REFINED SUGAR - If you need a sweetner, stick to honey or my favorite, Date Lady products here.

Forget drinking sugar filled cavity inducing sodas & try all the delicious sodas from OLIPOP! Their flavors are incredible: Strawberry Vanilla, Vintage Cola, Classic Root Beer, Ginger Lemon, Orange Cream, Classic Grape, Tropical Punch & Blackberry Vanilla.

OLIPOP is the healthy alternative to soda you've been searching for.... All the flavors are wonderful and sweet, despite only sporting 35 – 45 calories per can. It's also Vegan + Gluten-Free.

Instead of unhealthy additives & hard-to-pronounce chemicals, each OLIPOP can is packed with 9 grams of fiber, and between 2-5 grams of sugar. They have created delicious sparkling tonics made with prebiotics, botanicals & plant fiber for a happy, healthy gut. It's the first clinically backed digestive health beverage that meets consumers' real-world taste preferences.

Life is too short not to enjoy it, and too long to spoil it. We can have our sweet cravings without sacrificing our health. Soda is a shortcut with no long term benefits. OLIPOP is an off ramp to a healthy & delicious experience. Give OLIPOP a try & use my 15% OFF coupon code: DEROSA15 on their website here.

CUT OUT GLUTEN - I love gluten free sourdough bread & rolls.

MEDITATE - Check out the blog posts I wrote about relaxation & meditation below:

• FLOATOPIA SPA - My First Experience with Float Therapy

• MEDITATION - Cue Controlled Relaxation

• MEDITATION - Loving Kindness For Beginners

MOVE YOUR BODY MORE - Check out my fitness blog posts below that include FREE workout videos you can follow along and do at home!

• At Home Fitness with Melissa Wood Health

• At Home Fitness with Tasha Franken

• Fun Exercise Videos To Do with KIDS

• Fitness Motivation Q&A with Me

• At Home Fitness with Amanda Lee

• At Home Fitness with Kale + Krunches

• My Dad Talks About His 50 lbs. Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle Journey

• At Home Fitness with Shannon Nadj

• At Home Fitness - 7 Day Lean Challenge with LEANSQUAD

• 10 Foods To Boost Your Brain Health & Stretch Out Your Exercise

• At Home Fitness with BOWFLEX - 3 & 6 Minute Standing Abs Workout

Essential Oils + Diffuser

I love my Saje Natural Wellness essential oils which you can get here. I also love my POOSHxSaje collaboration diffuser which is chic, minimal & super easy to clean.

Rub peppermint or lavender essential oil on your forehead and temples. I have found this to be just as effective as taking 1,000 mg of Tylenol for tension related heachaches.

Give yourself or have someone give your head a nice massage. Relax and close your eyes and take deep breaths.

Facial Tools

And lastly one of my all time helpful migraine, headache, stress, self care tips is to get yourself some facial tools. Facial tools are a GAME CHANGER. I absolutely LOVE to use my ice roller, gua sha tool and jade roller which you can get from Skin Gym here.

Gua Sha is a facial massaging tool which is a modern take on an ancient beauty ritual, a gua sha sculpt tool is also the perfect addition to any beauty routine. A good pro tip is to apply serum or oil to give your skin a little lubrication for massage. You can use the gua sha tool to relieve stress along your jawline, chin, forehead, cheeks, under eye, brows and neck.

I also love my Skin Gym "IceCoolie" Ice Roller and Jade Roller which are lightweight and travel-friendly. I keep both of them in my freezer. Cold therapy is nothing new; Hollywood stars have been dunking their faces in sinks full of ice water since the days of black and white film. It’s a convenient and almost instant way to reap the benefits of cold therapy without the hassle. You can roll this over your face, neck, and décolletage. It feels so good when you have a migraine, headache, tension or soreness and the bonus just happens to be that it's great for your skin too!

Do you have any more tips to share?

Leave me a message below!

I love hearing from you!