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Ashley Gondek

Ashley Gondek

Realistic Holistic Wellness + Motherhood

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Ashley Gondek
Ashley Gondek
Realistic Holistic Wellness + Motherhood

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Come hang out with me on Instagram!

Where realistic holistic living meets real life.

I share what’s actually working in our home — simple swaps, clean beauty, natural remedies, and honest motherhood.

vitalityash

Building vitality at home, not in a waiting room🌿
Motherhood•Natural Remedies•Low-tox living•Clean Skincare
📍Idaho📩ashley@vitalityash.com|↓guides+favs

Comment REMEDY and I’ll send you EVERY SINGLE ONE Comment REMEDY and I’ll send you EVERY SINGLE ONE of these remedies. 

I’ve been a nurse for 14 years. The majority in the emergency room at trauma centers. I’ve truly seen it all. 

And through that journey I came to realize that true health and vitality is not found in a waiting room. 

It begins at home - in the things we do to support our children’s bodies. In the food we feed them, the sunlight and exercise we provide opportunity for, the people we surround them with, the books we read them, the behaviors we model for them, etc. 

It’s the foundational things we do in between the illnesses that truly shape them. 

But when they inevitably do get sick, because the goal is never zero illness (they NEED to get sick to build their immune systems), there are SO many things we can do to support their little bodies to create resilience and speed up healing. 

Natural remedies, whether those include old folk remedies, herbs, tinctures, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, nutrition, red light therapy, or something else — have a VERY important and impactful role to play. 

Holistic health isn’t woo-woo. It IS the only form of true preventative medicine. 

Modern medicine is not preventative care. It is SICK care. 

But that being said- Modern medicine isn’t ALL bad or evil. It can be life saving - and it is. 

BUT it shouldn’t be our ONLY method of supporting our children. 

So, in our family, we are educated and empowered and reach for natural remedies first. 

But are not afraid to use modern medicine when it’s truly needed. 

Both have their time and place. 

And they CAN and SHOULD co-exist. 

If this kind of thing is your vibe, follow along @vitalityash. Here we chat all things holistic motherhood; like natural remedies, low-tox living, kid friendly recipes, and more. Excited to have you here! 

*shared for educational purposes only. Not to be taken as medical advice. Consult with a trusted healthcare professional before taking or starting something new. 

#naturalremedieswork #holisticmotherhood #vitalityash
My daughter woke up at 3am with a fever. I sliced My daughter woke up at 3am with a fever. I sliced a raw onion, laid the slice on the soles of her feet, and covered them with cotton socks. She slept the rest of the night like that.

By 8am, the fever was gone.

This is an old folk remedy called onion socks. 

The theory goes back to reflexology. The soles of the feet are considered a gateway to the rest of the body, and onions are loaded with sulfur compounds believed to draw out toxins and help regulate temperature when absorbed through the skin.

No, there’s no clinical trial proving this works, and there probably never will be. But a remedy going unstudied doesn’t mean the remedy fails or is bogus. 

Mothers have trusted this one for generations, long before thermometers and anti-pyretic medication (Tylenol & Motrin). 

For an ordinary fever in an otherwise healthy kid, this is a low-risk, low-cost option worth keeping in your back pocket. Always trust your gut on anything more serious, but sometimes the old ways deserve a seat at the table too.

If you want to know when I use this for my kids vs. when I would reach for medication, comment ONION and I’ll send you my blog post breaking it all down. 

If this kind of thing is your vibe, follow along @vitalityash. Here we chat all things holistic motherhood; like natural remedies, low-tox living, kid friendly recipes, and more. Excited to have you here! 

Have you ever heard of onion socks? Share this with a mom friend 🌿

Some other “sock” remedies we love are cold wet socks and potato socks! Happy to break down those too! 

*Shared for educational purposes only and not medical advice. Always consult a trusted healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.
EASY 4 Ingredient Healthy Salted Caramel Dip! Co EASY 4 Ingredient Healthy Salted Caramel Dip! 

Comment DIP and I’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox! 

This salted caramel dip is literal perfection. And can be made dairy free depending on which type of milk you use! 

Most caramel dips are loaded with corn syrup, dyes, preservatives, and random ingredients that don’t need to be in a dessert.

This version is SUPER simple - Just 4 ingredients: dates, milk, vanilla, and salt. 

Clean. Creamy. Naturally sweet. ZERO guilt. 

I use it for dipping apples, cookies, yogurt bowls, toast, cheesecake topping… the options are endless.

Send this to a friend who needs to make this 🍎 

Ingredients: 
1 cup dates (soak them in hot water if they are hard, make sure to drain) 
1 cup milk of choice (I use raw, but you can use whatever milk you like!) 
1 tsp Vanilla (or meaure with your heart) 
Pinch of salt and more flakey salt for topping.

Blend in a blender and serve! 

Our favorite is for dipping apples (honeycrisp and cosmo crisps are 👌) 

If you want the recipe sent to your inbox so you dont have to dig for it, comment DIP and I’ll send it straight to you. 

Follow @vitalityash for more holistic motherhood; natural remedies, low-tox living, and kid friendly recipes! 

#lowtoxrecipes  #healthycarameldip #saltedcarameldip #naturalremedieswork
I have questions 😂 Mostly… am I actually weird or I have questions 😂

Mostly… am I actually weird or are some of you doing these things too?!

Some of these I genuinely thought were completely normal until other people informed me that apparently they are NOT.

The bagel hiccups? Every. single. time.

The cotton balls? I can barely even think about them without getting nauseous.

The sun sneezes? 😂

Please make me feel better and tell me your weirdly specific thing that other people think sounds made up.

I KNOW you have one. 👇🏼
Never did I ever think I’d be the girl drinking a Never did I ever think I’d be the girl drinking a glass of cold raw milk (or straight from the bag) but let me tell you, once you taste raw milk, you’ll never go back. 

Raw milk is a superfood 🙌🏼

Switched to raw milk 4+ years ago and won’t ever go back. 

Sourcing matters. So be smart about your farmer. 

If you want a great resource to help you find a local farmer, comment MOO and I’ll send it to you! 

#rawmilkisasuperfood #rawmilk #howtofindrawmilk
How’s this? But in all seriousness. Yes. I wash How’s this? 

But in all seriousness. Yes. I wash my cast iron pans with soap. 

I think it’s gross not to wash them and I hate the residual savory taste when I cook sweet things. 

Onion flavored Dutch baby pancakes?! No thank you. 

Shrimp flavored French toast? 🤢

Soap it is. And I’ve never looked back. 

Don’t let the stupid rules of cast iron cooking deter you from using them. They’re not fragile, you can wash them, you can season them again, and the one pan will last you your entire life. 

Lower tox swaps don’t have to be hard, complicated, or expensive. 

Curious - do you team use soap on your cast iron or are you team “keep it seasoned”??
Did you know you can MAKE baking powder at home? 👀 Did you know you can MAKE baking powder at home? 👀

It’s literally just 2 ingredients:
2 parts cream of tartar + 1 part baking soda

So for 1 tablespoon of baking powder:
→ 2 tsp cream of tartar
→ 1 tsp baking soda
Or make more and keep it in a little jar like I did! 

Mix it together and use it just like baking powder in your recipe. 🙌🏼

Such a simple little kitchen trick - especially when you realize you’re out halfway through a recipe 😂

Did you already know this one? And what other baking hack has changed your life?! Share it below because I want to know 👇🏼
Reply “DETOX” and I’ll send all these details to y Reply “DETOX” and I’ll send all these details to your inbox. (Make sure you’re following so you actually receive the message.)

When my kids start coming down with something, I want to support their bodies in gentle, non-invasive ways. 

This detox bath is one of my favorite things, and the FIRST thing I do. 

Detox Bath Recipe: (Approximate amounts)
- 1 cup Magnesium flakes – Needed for 300+ processes in the body & burned through faster when sick.
- 1/2 cup Baking soda OR 1/4 cup Apple cider vinegar – Choose one! Both help balance pH and soothe the skin
- 1/4 cup (or sprinkle) Bentonite clay – Binds to toxins & supports detox pathways (note: may clog pipes).
- Optional: Essential oils - I don’t use but I know many moms that love to add them to their children’s bath. 

Add ingredients to your tub, swirl, and relax. Obviously, supervise children. 
We soak for 15–20 minutes and rinse after. (Pro tip: don’t dunk hair when there is clay in the water.) 

*don’t overcomplicate this! Bigger tub = more water = more ingredients. Less water = Use less. 

Why I love using this:
Supporting your body = giving it what it needs to do its job.
YES, we have kidneys and a liver that naturally detox, but they still benefit from support like:
- Nutrients, minerals & electrolytes
- Hydration to flush waste efficiently
- Sweating + movement to stimulate lymphatic flow
- Red light therapy for inflammation & energy production
- Detox baths for circulation & comfort

When sick, these supports can help your body handle stress better and make recovery feel smoother, I also find their symptoms to be milder.

Drop a “DETOX” in the comments, and I’ll send the full details to your inbox! ⬇️✨

And if you’re new here - Hi! I’m Ashley. I’m an ER nurse turned holistic mom sharing realistic low-tox living, natural remedies, and clean skincare without the overwhelm. Follow along for more tools that actually fit into real life. 

#detoxbath #toddlermomlife #holisticmotherhood #naturalremedieswork  

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your trusted healthcare provider with que
The hair tutorial you guys have been asking for 💁🏼 The hair tutorial you guys have been asking for 💁🏼‍♀️

The secret isn’t really the curling iron - it’s HOW I use it.

Instead of wrapping the entire section into one curl, I use a drop → twist → slide technique that gives me those loose, lived-in waves once I brush everything out with my fingers.

It looks a little questionable before the brush-out 😂 but TRUST THE PROCESS.

Save this one for the next time you curl your hair + let me know if you try it 🤎

#hairtutorial #curlingtutorial #hairwaves #loosewaves #curlingirontutorial
From size 14 → 4 as a busy mom of two. How I fin From size 14 → 4 as a busy mom of two. 

How I finally started living a life that looked like the word “Vitality” 

This is: 
EPISODE 3: My Diet 

One of the rules of 75 hard is that you have to choose a diet that is in line with your goals 

It has to be hard, and absolutely zero cheating is allowed.

There is also no alcohol allowed. 

For my diet I chose something pretty simple. 
(Hard for me, but simple; they are not the same thing)

My diet: 
1. Absolutely no added sugar (nothing in my coffee, no honey added, no maple syrup, nothing added ever.) 
2. Completely gluten-free - but I also didn’t just replace gluten options with gluten-free options. For the majority of the time I stayed away from processed food and the gluten-free substitutes. 
3. Prioritize protein - basically every time I ate something there had to be some protein source paired with it. 

Notes: Could I have chosen something that would’ve moved the needle faster for me? Probably, yes. 
Could I have tracked every macro and counted every calorie? Also, Yes. 

But I also needed to do something that was sustainable in the season that we were in (while still being brutally honest with myself and choosing something hard). We were in the midst of moving across the country, selling a home, getting a home ready to rent, raising our young daughters, working etc. - it was insane. And I knew I’d be pulling all nighters and wouldn’t have the capacity to completely overhaul how we ate / find new recipes / track everything. Especially during our 4 day cross-country move. 

How I eat now: 
- I still eat animal based and prioritize protein 
- Going gluten free was eye opening and I always had a feeling that gluten affected me but never really knew how much until I’ve dabbled adding it back in here and there since finishing 75 hard in January. My knees hurt SO bad when I start eating gluten again. It took me a while to finally come to that conclusion but now that I notice it, I can’t unsee it. So I still try and limit gluten pretty hard. 
- I have enjoyed our summer more - glasses of wine here and there, homemade cookies and birthday cake, and most definitely ice cream dates with our girls.
Lavender Simple Syrup🪻 Comment SYRUP and I’ll send Lavender Simple Syrup🪻
Comment SYRUP and I’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox! 

This Lavender Simple Syrup is seriously SO simple. 

Takes barely any time at all and elevates your lattes, lemonade or desserts. It’s SO GOOD. 

My favorite ways to use: 
- Iced Lavender Matcha Latta 
- Lavender Lemonade 
- Lavender Espresso Latte 
- Lavender Cheescake 

The options are endless. And it’s amazinggggg. 

And stays fresh in your fridge for at least a month! 

Follow @vitalityash for more holistic motherhood; natural remedies, simple recipes, low-tox living, and clean beauty 🌺

#lavendersimplesyrup #holisticmotherhood #lowtoxliving
We got hit with the stomach flu back in May - and We got hit with the stomach flu back in May - and then a couple other rounds of upset stomachs since then. At this point I’ve had plenty of practice with my protocol 😅

I’m an ER nurse turned holistic mom, which means my approach is always natural first - but with the clinical knowledge to know when to step it up. That combination is exactly what I’m sharing here.

We used activated charcoal, homeopathic remedies, my homemade tincture, flu tea with blackberry leaf for the diarrhea, electrolytes after every vomiting episode, and congee the next morning to start nourishing our bodies back. I also share what I would have done if things escalated - because dehydration in kids is no joke, and knowing the signs matters.

The towel trick alone might save your carpet. You’re welcome.

Drop “BUG” in the comments and I’ll send you all the recipes - the flu tea, the congee, and my stomach tincture - plus links to everything I use and love for when the bug hits your house.

Save this one. You’ll want it later. 🌿

Send to a mom friend who may need this! 

*This is shared for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting something new. 

#naturalremedieswork #holisticmotherhood #stomachfluremedy
How long did you nurse for? 🥹 I weaned my younges How long did you nurse for? 🥹

I weaned my youngest back in September and it still makes me cry to watch this. I miss those tender moments that it was just the two of us. I miss our one-on-one time when she would force me to slow down. 

Motherhood is a continuous string of painful goodbyes and joyous hellos - grieving the versions of them that no longer exist but SO excited for who they are becoming. 🥹

#holisticmotherhood #worldbreastfeedingweek #holisticmama #weaning
From size 14 → 4 as a busy mom of two. How I fin From size 14 → 4 as a busy mom of two. 

How I finally started living a life that looked like the word “Vitality” 

This is: 
EPISODE 2: 75 Hard explained 💪🏼

75 hard is a mental toughness program created by @andyfrisella 
While it has obvious physical transformation benefits the entire premise of the program/challenge is to re-wire your brain and to completely overhaul your life. 

It creates mental toughness. It creates discipline. It gives you confidence in literally everything you do because you’re finally living up to your potential and acting like the person you want to be - someone who actually does what they say they are going to do. 

Everyday you have 5 tasks that you must complete. If you miss even one thing, you fail, and have to start at day ONE. 

Rules: 
1. Workout 2x a day. 45 min each. Must be at least 3 hours apart and one MUST be outside. 
2. Drink one gallon of water a day (plain. No flavor or add ins) 
3. Take a progress picture everyday 
4. READ 10 pages of a non-fiction book everyday (no audio books. Must be educational or self-development books) 
5. Stick to a diet (you choose it. It has to be structured and aligned with your goals). NO cheating. And NO alcohol. 

I had been listening to Andy’s podcast for months. I kept hearing him talk about 75 hard. In one of his podcasts he had a Q&A session. 

A guy in his 30’s called in and asked Andy a question about how to get his life in order. His story and Andy’s answer was the catalyst to actually starting 75 hard (ps. Comment 75 and I’ll send you that podcast and the 75 hard info - it’s all free). 

I knew I needed to overhaul my life, I knew I didn’t like where the trajectory of my life was going. I knew there was more for me. I knew I could live up to my potential. But I didn’t know any other way to completely change my life around - except for this program. 

So, I started it the next day. 

It took me 147 days to complete the 75 consecutive days - I’ll tell you why I failed and how I overcame the crushing weight of having to start back at day one in another video (I was devastated/pissed/heartbroken, you name it. I felt it). 

** Continued in comments **
From size 14 → 4 as a busy mom of two. How I fin From size 14 → 4 as a busy mom of two. 

How I finally started living a life that looked like the word “Vitality” 

This is: 
EPISODE 1: THE WHY. 🤍

I’ve had countless messages asking about my fitness journey and the only reason I haven’t shared it yet is 1. Because I didn’t know where to start and 2. I still feel like I’m very much on the journey! 

I doubt that I’ll share anything groundbreaking because you’ve probably heard most of it before. 

There isn’t some magic secret. It takes hard work, dedication, consistency, and showing up when you don’t feel like it. (P.s. I did this the old fashion way; naturally) 

The difference for me - and why it worked this time - was that it FINALLY *clicked* 

I got to a point where I was complete fed up with my excuses, how I felt, how I was showing up in my own life, how I continued to lie to myself and let myself down time and time again, etc. - and I was DONE. 

I knew I could be a better mom, spouse, friend, and entrepreneur. I knew there was more for me. More energy, more strength, more confidence, more vitality. 

This journey was never just about going from a size 14 to a size 4 after two kids. 

It was about BECOMING the kind of woman who could build a life that actually looked like vitality. 

It would be impossible of me to cram everything into one reel, so I’m turning this into a series. 

Over the next several episodes, I’ll share: 
✨ My mindset shifts (there were many)
✨ Exactly what I changed
✨ 75 Hard and how that looked for me + my family
✨ What I eat
✨ How I work out
✨ The habits that actually stuck
✨ The mistakes I made
✨ What I’d do differently if I were starting over today
✨ Fasting 
✨ Cleanses
✨ How I supported my hormones throughout this journey 

But — I want this series to be about YOU, too.

👇 Drop every question you have in the comments! 
Nothing is off limits. 

I’ll be answering your questions in future episodes, so if you’re wondering it, someone else probably is too.

Let’s build a life of vitality together. 🤍

#fitnessjourney #postpartumfitness #momfitness #fitmom #realisticwellness
I have a theory that the uglier the hair starts, t I have a theory that the uglier the hair starts, the better it ends up. 

Dread curls ➡️ THE perfect curls 🙌🏼

Lmk if you need a tutorial! They’re EASYYYYYY!
Honestly, I’m a really good secret keeper - but al Honestly, I’m a really good secret keeper - but also, know that I’m telling my husband (unless you tell me not to) 

Cause he won’t tell anyone and then I have room to keep every secret you need me to keep.

My lips are sealed after him. 

And he probably forgot or wasn’t listening anyways. 

If this is you too, send it to your bestie so she knows 😏
Didn’t really want to commit to ironing the WHOLE Didn’t really want to commit to ironing the WHOLE bed though, yah know? 

GENIUS.
I honestly think the worst part is knowing this fe I honestly think the worst part is knowing this feeling will never go away. 

Knowing that it will continue to feel like it’s going too fast. 

Forever and ever and ever.
But for real. Where did this URGE come from?! But for real. 

Where did this URGE come from?! 

Real question: Are we ironing sheets again?
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