Tuesday, August 16, 2011

"The ancestor to every action is a thought" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

What if everything we thought came true? Really...no movie plots here...think on this for a minute... What IF every thought that went through our head actually did come true? We’d be amazingly careful about what we thought of wouldn’t we!!

You ever have those days when you think of someone, and they call, or you bump into them at the mall, or see something about them on facebook, in the paper...whatever it is. Or in a fit of dismay you yell at the moon, just give me a sign, and the next thing you see is a street sign, or a traffic sign that says something that makes you go, yeah...ok. I’m a little tripped out right now. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard my husband say “I hit every red light”, and sure enough...he does. I laugh. He doesn’t think it’s so funny. I’m still trying to convince him he’s just getting what he’s asked for.

It makes me think. What if our thoughts control much more than what we think they are. It’s like “they” say, if you call someone something long enough, they tend to become it! If you call a kid stupid long enough, they’ll probably believe they are stupid. What about you...What are you saying to yourself? Or aren’t you listening... I dare you to pay attention! You’d be shocked how many times you criticize yourself, or get down on yourself. Then you wonder why you are stuck from achieving or getting what you want.

Yes, there is a ton of material about the Law of Attraction, or other new age information that will challenge your thoughts. But no matter what you believe, the basic truth is the more you create your positive thoughts, the more you will be attracted to things that you’ll naturally start to line up with those thoughts. The more you think negative thoughts, the more you will naturally lean to things that line up with those. To me it seems a little like oil and water. The oil seeks out the other oil. After all, misery loves company.

Let me pick your brain for a minute...Picture you are walking into a wedding dance. There is always a group of people dancing and having fun, a few people mingling or hanging out at the bar, and there is usually a table at the back of the room, counting down the seconds ‘til midnight lunch so they can leave right after, usually saying something about the crappy weather, how hot the church was, how the bride is to fat for her dress, taking bets on how long the couple will last. Notice that the fun people wanna hang out with other fun people? And the only ones hanging out at the misery table are the ones who are on the same wave length. They aren’t attracting much are they, except other yappers and moaners.

It’s just plain old human nature. If you are uplifting, outgoing, fun, and generally nice to be around...people want to hang out with you right? You are naturally attractive to others. If you are miserable, the only people who want to hang out with you are other people who want to argue for their misery too! I LOVE the quote...”If you argue for your misery, the only thing you will win is your misery...” –Dr. Wayne Dyer.

So, even if you think the law of attraction is something someone made up to make millions, you'll likely agree on the basic premisis "Misery loves company" and therefore it would seem to be true that positivity would have no company in a room of misery. It would seem basic that positive forward thought grows you toward a more positive outcome. Just like an urge creates an action to get what you yearn for, or a hunger makes you go out and hunt, so does a positive thought make you go out and create positive results while in the same, a negative thought draws you to fulfill the same as your thought.

“The ancestor of every action is a thought.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson.


So what’s on your mind?


Monday, July 25, 2011

This just IN...

Hello BLOG Followers and THANK YOU for you continued support! I BLOG today with an exciting announcement, a new door being opened on my path of self-development. You may have waiting to read the next blog and keep up with what has been developing lately, and I sit down tonight in a quiet house about to turn in and felt ready to share.

HAVE U GOT "IT"? Is expanding!... Almost two years ago now, I enrolled into an little known company called It Works! Global, distributing body slimming aplicators. Having regained my own body image, I was now on track to start helping other women do the same! I loved the products, the health and wellness aspect of the company and started noticing it flourish. Who knew that I could regain such self-confidence by participating in home-based business. For the first time in a long time, I felt aligned with something that fit! I found myself helping others and coaching others on how they too could follow what I had done. It felt right. So I followed along and I found myself personally growing and developing as I taught others, and the rewards came more than monetary, but with fulfillment.

Which leads me to where I am today. And I gladly announce, that Have U Got "IT", opens its doors to welcome a new adventure.

I now have completed a Certified Coach Practitioner Program, and welcome my new field. I'm excited to grow and develop myself as Rhdonda Hattum, CCP, Certified Life & Personal Development Coach.

Thank you for support as I continue to grow and share my experiences with you!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I'm so excited...And I just can't hide it...

Yup, the lyrics are running through my head a little today. LOL. And I'm putting on my BUSINESS Hat today!

This little thing I do called "It Works!" That you might have noticed (LOL) has a few exciting things "Up IT'S sleeve"...so to speak!

I not only did I get a great confidence boost by being on a Conference call with the CEO yesterday (with a small group of leaders in Canada by personal invitation) which in itself felt extremely satisfying to be a part of... so maybe not really such a big deal, but felt good to me! I was honored just to be able to listen in and call myself a part of such a WOW group of women. Yes...a little mini-brag confidence boost and shout out to some great women there--but as if that wasn't enough, I got a few hints about some exciting announcements coming up, and great door-busters that are going to be amazing, coming very soon this fall.

I am excited about the opportunity this will create this fall for everyone involved. In fact, I think I'm even more excited for all of you who are considering coming on board with this right now, just came on board, or those who ready to jump in again after a little spring & summer break. This is definately a different company than the one I started with just coming up on 2 years ago, and I know that if I could build a business with what I started with then, compared to what we have now, that I will be seeing so many successful peers find IT for themselves. The tools are there, the coaching is there, the products are first-to market. It's a TRIPLE THREAT! ;)

I MAY, just MAY even have another little step in my journey to announce as I celebrate my 2 years working-from-home, that I will get to share with all of you soon too! I am reaching out to make myself a better person, and a better coach to everyone who supports me and believes in me. I want to pay it forward by helping anyone else who wants to embody change into their lives, whether it is simply to supplement your health, fit into a favorite pair of jeans, or to add a second stream of income, big or small, into your life, or even completely change it!

If you want to get ready, get in!

The business is only $199. And for just a few more days (until July 15 you can save $100). I can show you how to turn that into at least $240 immediately and with only 4 customers how to turn it into over $700 in just 30 days. There is actual return on that initial fee, no, it's not just paperwork. You get actual wraps! EIGHT!!!! That's enough to wrap you and anyone else you want and actually find out for yourself what IT is all about! After that it's up to you! Really. It is your business to build your way, with someone available to help encourage you along the way.

This is the best way to get into the business at the lowest cost to you. I encourage you to take the next step. There is only 4, and one is enrolling! The rest are as easy as the first!

There, now, I'll put back on the MOMMY Hat and I'll BLOG you soon! I have more MOMMY tricks to share soon! (Until then, I added one of my favorite tricks at the bottom of the blog to tide you over!)

Thanks to all my BLOG supporters! I love that you are reading along my crazy life and I am so encouraged by all your supportive feedback!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

How Toxic are You?


Lighten up your toxic load. Limit tanning, smoking, carbonated beverages, and alcohol. Consider substituting chemically-based cleansers, shampoos, and deodorants with natural products. (It Works! Global has an array of naturally-based skin care products, including cleanser, toner, and anti-aging creams.) Also, minimize the use of chemically-based household cleaners.

Avoid stressful situations. Confianza can help reduce the effects of stress on your body, which will slow down the detoxification enzymes.
Use the Ultimate Body Applicator regularly to aid in ridding excess toxins from your body. For optimum results, try to wrap 72 hours apart as often as possible.
Continue feeding your body with healthy nutrients. The supplements from It Works! Global will provide your body with all the vitamins, enzymes, phytonutrients, and minerals it needs on a daily basis.

Did you know that the tightening, toning, and firming results you see with the Ultimate Body Applicator are actually a side effect of detoxification? It’s true! When you use the Ultimate Body Applicator, you are actually detoxifying your body!

Detoxifying means you are nourishing your body from the inside-out by removing and eliminating toxins. By continuing to feed your body with healthy nutrients, you will renew your body’s ability to maintain optimum health and make it easier for your body to fight illnesses.


The hard truth is, we live in a world where our food and atmosphere contain toxic chemicals. The scariest part—we do not yet know what effects these chemicals and toxins will have on our long-term health. Detoxifying your body of these potentially harmful, or life-threatening toxins is critical to your overall health.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

20 Days ONLY!






Bills, mortgage payments, credit card debt...getting sick of the same old money troubles? And where has the time gone? What happened to your dreams?

It's time to start your new financial future with the It Works opportunity!
The earnings potential is clear--check out the graph below to see what our distributors at every rank make on average each month. What are your goals? Pick a rank that matches your price, and we'll show you how to get there.

It all begins with one life-changing, first step, and this month you can begin your journey to financial freedom with It Works for only $99!

It Works continues to be an up-an-coming company in the industry as we break new records each month. Our most successful month to date featured this special deal on business builder kits. We thought, what better way to celebrate our distributors’ achievements than to bring it back!

Ever wonder how much you could make as a distributor? Check out this chart of our distributors’ average monthly earnings!












It’s also easy to earn cold, hard cash with every party!








This discounted kit offer only lasts for 20 days, so take advantage of the $100 savings while you can! We look forward to welcoming you into the It Works family!

For more information, contact your It Works Independent Distributor and get started TODAY!www.haveugotincome.info for more information or www.haveugotincome.biz to enroll. Or EMAIL me at haveugotit@live.ca

*Earnings are based on distributor averages and are not guaranteed. Individual earnings may vary. Prices are in U.S. Dollars.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

45 MINUTE SLIMMING SENSATION: Gimmick or Gold?


If someone were to tell you that you could put a piece of cloth on any part of your body, leave it there for 45 minutes, then take it off and reveal an astonishingly tighter, firmer, and more toned physical appearance in that area, what would you think?

That's crazy comes to mind, for one…

Or you might at least think it's yet another one of those too-good-to-be-true, instant-gratification gimmicks promising unbelievable results in even more unbelievable speed.

But what if it works... Imagine the possibilities! To be able to tighten, tone, and firm wherever you choose…

We understand why it's easy to be skeptical about the Ultimate Body Applicator. So we figure the best way to share our excitement about this naturally based wonder is to show you what fabulous results some of our other customers have achieved.

We give our word that none of these photos have been retouched (other than the usual cropping and brightness adjustments). The differences in skin tone, firmness, and improved body appearance aren't Photoshop magic—they're Applicator magic!


The Ultimate Body Applicator not only produces amazing results, but it's also:

• easy to apply at home
• a mess-free, simple application
• made with all natural active ingredients

North America, select countries in the European Union, and Australia are the ONLY areas in the world where you can find the amazing Ultimate Body Applicator.

To take advantage of this secret body contouring sensation, contact your It Works Independent Distributor today! www.haveugot.itworks.net

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Stop Drop and Roll !!

Tuna Twisties...As Promised!

Since I'm on this grab n go treats kick, might-as-well share one more perfect little food craft. These I love, they freeze great, and I just pop them in the microwave. It's one I don't mind serving adults too.

Here is the recipe! Hope you are enjoying these easy treat ideas!

You'll need:
Cooking Oil, Fresh White Mushrooms, Chopped Celery, Chopped Onion
Flour, Dry Mustard, Tuna, Cheddar Cheese (Or your favorite-I use TEx MEx), and a Loaf of Frozen Whole Wheat Bread Dough (Thawed overnight-again, cover it in saran wrap that's been greased with cooking spray, then cover with damp cloth)

Heat 1 tsp of your favorite cooking oil (I use olive oil) in saucepan over med. Add 1/2 C Mushrooms, 1/4 C Chopped Celery, 1/4 C Finely Chopped Onion and sautee til soft.
Add 1 tbsp Flour, and 1/4 tsp dry mustard (u could use regular mustard too, but double it at least) and stir for about 1 min. Transfer to small mixing bowl.
Add can of tuna, drained & Stir. Let stand 10 minutes to cool slightly then add 1 C grated cheese. Your mixture is ready. Now for the rolling...

Roll bread dough out to approx a 10x14 rectangle. Spread mixture over douth and ROLL! Cut into 12 slices and place spirals, cut side up, about 1 inch apart on baking sheet.

I sprinkle a little extra cheese on top for garnish and who doesn't love extra cheese!! Or even seeds like sesame or sunflower! YUm!

Grease plastic wrap with cooking spray again and cover spirals with wrap letting stand at room tep for about 70 minutes until they double in size, then remove plastic wrap and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes.

My next experiment is going to be to try these with other fillings, maybe just cheese, or Pizza stuff, jam or jelly to make my own "Nutri-Grain" slash Jelly-Roll UP twisties, or maybe peanut butter and jelly, or almond butter...maybe even an easy cinnamon bun...little butter, cinnamon, brown sugar or agave syrup even, few raisins and pecans. hmmmm...that has me thinking, wonder what other kid friendly things I could experiment with?

Saturday, June 25, 2011

A Thank you Note to my Friends!


The closest friends are often the furthest away...

My life is blessed with people who love me. The people who have to put up with me and see me at my worst and love me the most despite it, the people who politely listen to my stories and pretend to be pleasantly amused by me on the small occasions they are with me, and those that are with me everyday even though they don’t know they are. Those are the friends that you see less and less, but still always mean the most. They hold a special place in your heart although you accept that they are miles away physically or miles away in life’s busy times.

To my friends that have been by me always and who I treasure always, Thank you. I am grateful for you.

You know who you are.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The Unmeltable Ice Cream Cone...PT 2

Yesterday, I blogged about some "Unmeltable Ice Cream Cones" that I made in an effort to make quick snack for a kids event I was attending and had promised to bring a little something to. I'm sure many moms have had that "what am I going to make" or "dang I was supposed to make" moment when it dawns on you it's your turn to bring the snack!

I was digging around in my pantry to use what I had while still hoping to take something somewhat healthy and I had a package of ready to make low fat oatmeal muffin mix...Not bad, but how can I make it better? Kids won't find oatmeal muffins from a package any fun...what can I do to make it fun, and still hide some "health" in there...And Viola! The memory of seeing ice cream cone cupcakes online popped into my head, and I figured, well...now is as good a time as any to give it a try, I guess it'll be with muffins though! And what can I do about the "healthier" thing...

Here is what I ended up coming up with, and they really turned out pretty good!



Oatmeal Sweet Potatoe Crumble Cones

Here is what I used...
½ Cup Applesauce
½ Cup Sweet Potatoe Puree
Low Fat Oatmeal Muffin mix but I added in some more Quick Oats

Here is how easy it is...
Place ice cream cones in mini muffin tins, drop mixture into cones, filling ¾ full and top with crumble! Bake according to package.

In the Crumble:
¼ Cup Whole Wheat
¼ Cup Brown Sugar
¼ Cup Quick Oats
1 TBSP Margarine/Butter
1 Tsp Vanillla
...I usually like adding Almonds to my crumble, but didn’t this time.

I was going to make a cake mix, instead of muffins to make a little bit more of a treat out of them, but didn't have icing to make them presentable, which I suppose I wouldn't have needed...then I realized that a squirt of whipped cream or some icing sugar sprinkled would have worked too. Just as well, someone else had brought chocolate cupcakes anyway.

I think next time I will try a chocolate cake mix (everyone usually has a chocolate cake mix) but to keep it a little bit on the healthier side, I'm going to try adding Beet Puree, after all It'll be just like Red Velvet cake! Or, I'm thinking maybe spinach and canned bing cherries or cherry pie filling...mmmm... with the whipped cream it'd be just like black forest and you'd never detect the spinach in that!

I hope with my little recipes and tips that I start you brainstorming in your kitchen too. Cooking can sometimes seem like a neverending chore, as often as you do it, it's still there...it never stops, and if it gets "stale" or unappreciated it becomes even more a chore. So doing a little experimenting is refreshing and if I can help to lift your "I'll try it" spirit a bit then I am grateful I could share!

Enjoy your Unmeltable Ice Cream Cones!

(PS, My kids ate most the leftovers of these right after the party, so I know they went over well with them. They are 2 & 4, and at that age I think they still figured they were getting a treat...And I wasn't about to correct them!)

Bouncing and Unmeltable Ice Cream Cones...Perfect!

What a great afternoon! Today was a perfect day, even though yes, came home with a little bit of pink on the top of the shoulders. Opps, note to self: When the kids get sunscreen, so does Mommy!

I met with a group of women in my local area that have come together on Facebook to Network, thanks to the spearhead thought of one forward-thinking woman. The group of women truly is a fantastic group of people and I'm excited to be able to be one of them. It has been a great way to get to connect with other Moms who all have similar goals to be there for family while still operating their own business of some sort. I really have learned how much work it takes to do it all, and have so much appreciation for the working mom. Women who really do it all! Runing a Family, a Home and a Business is no small victory. It's truly a remarkable one! It is great to make connections and see yourself a little in each individual, to feel that you are not alone. The more we can share with each other the better, I think, that life gets for each person. I know that I sure appreciate when I hear someone else who either has a great tip to offer, a great recipe to share or even appreciates a tip or shared recipe I have to offer, someone who has the same dreams for their family, or someone who has had a problem just like yours or who is a positive light to someone else. Feeling a sense of connection is such a wonderful gift as we all spin through this chaos that is everyday life. To be in companionship of great women is a blessing.

Today was extra fun, as the meetup was focused on being kid-friendly. It was a great day with snacks, face painting, a yard full of toys and all the things a kid could want out at our hostesses family friendly and beautiful acreage, and of course...the favorite of the day...BOUNCING!

Thank you to the ladies that made this happen for all of us!! From bringing yourself and snacks, to our wonderful administrator, our fabulous hostess and definately the woman of the hour who shared her wonderful business with the Big BOUNCING Giraffe for the kids!

I'm excited to make wonderful new friends and acquiantances.

Oh right...about the "Unmeltable Ice Cream Cones". I woke up this morning with no snack ready to take with me, (how many times does that happen as a mom...yup!) and although I'd promised to make my pretzels that I had blogged about a couple days ago, I hadn't got around to it but I was not about to go empty handed.

So it was crunch time this morning as I was rushing around the house to get ready, and I had to put on my thinking cap... and have to say I was pretty satisfied with the outcome.

Who knew you could bake a muffins in an ice cream cone?! I had heard of it, and decided to give it a whirl today. My kids I think ate most of them. At least I know they had a new one in their hands every time I turned around.

They made an easy party treat for that last minute "Opps I have to bring something moment!" But I'll post the recipe in a seperate blog and just sign off this one by saying "Thanks for a great day!"

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A Pizza Pop I can live with...

I always lived under the theory that a pizza pop was barely food. There is likely very little you could do to convince me otherwise. Until now.
I now make my own at home! My son LOVEs helping me make pizza pops, I stuff them with whatever I feel like, so I know what's going into them! It is another great craft and a healthier and easy grab & go meal solution all in one!



Here's the how to:

Buy Frozen unbaked whole wheat dinner rolls, and thaw covered, overnight. I spray saran with cooking spray to cover, keep moist and keep crust from sticking to cloth, then cover with a damp cloth.

In the morning, roll out each piece on lightly floured surface into a 5 inch circle and stuff with your favorite mixture!

Here is what usually goes in mine:

I mix my favorite ingredients in a bowl with pizza sauce and CARROT Puree for extra veggies!

My ingredient list includes pineapple, chopped peppers, cheese and chopped deli meat or grilled chicken. I use grated Italian cheese blend, or fresh grated parmesan plus a little of whatever other cheese I have in the fridge, usually Tex Mex. (When I choose Deli meat, I usually pick chopped ham or salami since I found Schneiders Country Naturals since they are prepared with real and natural ingredients like lemon juice, sea salt, vinegar. No MSG, No nitrates, No preservatives, additives or fillers.)

Whisk together 1 EGG White & 1 TSP water.
Scoop your stuffing into the centre of the circle, brush one edge with the egg mixture, then fold dough over filling. Press edges together with a fork to seal, and brush egg mixture on top of pocket.

Grease baking sheet and arrage pockets about 1 inch apart. Pierce top to release steam and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes until golden. Cool and serve or freeze.

I can live with these pizza pops for the kids. Even my husband gave the approval on them.

I also make a tuna twist sandwich (kind of like a jelly roll) that are equally great and I'll post those in the next blog, but I mention those because I think you could do pizza pops like that too! Just instead of using buns, use frozen, risen bread dough and roll it out flat, spreading the mixture over it, then rolling it up and slicing it into twistie buns. They might be even better that way! Check back for the Tuna Twist recipe and try both Pizza and Tuna Twisties too!

These recipes and lots more Kids baking ideas I got from the Company's Coming Kids Do Baking Recipe Book and I use them almost regularily now! They have proven themselves in my kitchen and at my table!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Pretzel Bun Softies-Perfect Summer Snack!


Want a great grab and go summer snack, plus a fun Kids craft for a rainy spring day?

I made these up a while ago with the kids and threw them in the freezer. They kept great and I'm loving them today! We just came in from the sprinkler and wanted a snack, and of course in the summer, I want easy! So I grabbed them freezer and warmed them in the microwave for 30 seconds while I put a little fruit on a plate and we had warm parmesan pretzels and fresh fruit. Mmmm. What a great summer snack! They are the perfect munch on the move hand-held snack to throw lunch bag or in the cooler that doesn't come from a store shelf. (well, not entirely) and they are a fun thing to do when it's a little rainy. Definately do a couple batches and freeze them ahead of time!

Here is the recipe: (It's so easy)

Buy FROZEN WHOLE WHEAT BREAD DOUGH (OK so that's the cheat) and let it rise overnight. I spray saran with cooking spray and cover so the dough stays soft and does not get a crust or stick to the towel, then cover with a warm damp towel.

In the morning you are ready to craft some pretzels with the kids!

Divide dough into 12 equal pieces.

On a slightly floured surface, roll each piece into 14 inch long rope.
Shape each into a loose knot and pinch ends to seal.
To make it easy. Shape a U shape, then twist each end over each other and then fold those ends up and over to the bottom of the U and Whoila! Pretzels!

Arrange them at least an inch apart on baking sheet. Cover again with saran (sprayed with cooking spray) and let that stand for about 45 minutes.

In 45 minutes, remove saran, and preheat your oven to 350.

Whisk together 1 tsp WATER with 1 EGG White, and brush each knot. Then sprinkle the top with your favorite topping. Our favorite is Parmesan cheese for a cheezy version, or use coarse sea salt or Tex-Mex seasoning. Try this: sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, & sesame seeds with a little parmesan for a tasty, but little healthier version. I'm sure you could try so many things!

Bake for about 20 minutes until golden. Remove and cool on cooling rack.

Dang these are yummy! Maybe so good I'm nibbling off the kids plates...Gotta love tasty and easy and kids craft all in one, not to mention a little healthier option for snacks!

HAve I Blogged about my homemade Pizza Pops yet?...Those are a fun family favorite with all the love of taste, health, easy and crafting too!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Magical Creation Box

So when you look back on the 80's what trend do you remember? The 90's? Well, when we look back on 2010 I think we will all remember The SECRET, The Law of Attraction...DREAM Boards. Who doesn't have one yet!! If you don't, you probably should. But today I ran across another great idea, a neat, slightly different take on the DREAM BOARD...

So I thought I'd share it, seems like a great idea to me. I like window shopping in magazines...so I think I'll start ripping out pages at Doctors offices and tossing them in my own little Magical Creation Box!

Here you go..enjoy!



A Magical Creation Box that delivers!


Do you want to give the Universe more specific information about the things that you desire most to attract them into your life? Then it’s time to create the Magical Creation Box.

To begin the Magical Creation Box process, find a nice-looking box, one that is pleasing to you when you see it. On the lid, in a conspicuous place that you will easily notice, write the words: Whatever is contained in this box—IS!

Next, gather magazines, catalogs, and brochures, and leisurely look through them for whatever you would like to include in your experience. Then clip out pictures of anything that exemplifies any desires that you hold: pictures of furniture, clothing, landscaping, buildings, travel destinations, vehicles; images of physical characteristics; photos of people interacting with one another . . . if it feels appealing to you in any way, clip it, and drop it into your Creation Box. And say, as you drop it in, “Whatever is contained in this box—IS!”

When you are away from your box, continue to gather more pictures, and then drop them in when you return home. If you witness something you would like to experience, write a description of it, and drop that into your box. The more things you find for your box, the more the Universe will deliver to you other ideas that match them. And the more ideas you drop into your box, the more your desire will be focused. And the more your desire is focused, the more alive you will feel—for this Energy flowing through you is what life is.

If you have little or no resistance—in other words, if you have no doubt that you can achieve these things, the experience will feel invigorating to you. The more you clip, the better you will feel, and you will begin to see evidence of these things moving closer and closer into your experience. Doors will begin to open to make it possible for many of these things to easily come in right now.

If you are usually a good-feeling person who has not established strong habits of feeling unhappy about not having the things you have put into your box, you will experience the immediate positive result of feeling more focused and more excited about life, and the things you have put into your Creation Box will begin to manifest in your experience right away. In other words, for someone who has not been practicing thoughts of resistance, this process will be all that you will ever need to create a wonderful life: You ask; Source answers; you let it in. You ask, and it is given.

If you are enjoying this process, it is serving you in a powerful way; it is helping you focus upon the things you desire; you are practicing the attainment of a consistent vibration that matches your desires; and you are experiencing Deliberate Creation. And, most important, your good-feeling emotion is telling you that you are in the receiving mode right now. Your attention to this process is helping you maintain the vibrational frequency that is required for you to allow what you are asking for into your experience—you are practicing the Art of Allowing.

You could play this game as a mental game only, but it is so much more fun if you actually get a box and drop in things that represent your desires. You will begin to notice that when you put something in your Creation Box that does not have a pattern of resistance, the Universe will bring it to you right away. The things you drop into the box where you do have patterns of resistance will take more time in coming.

As you deliberately put things into your Creation Box, you will be more aware of when you are thinking about something that you would not want to experience. Your relationship with this Creation Box will help you recognize the power your thoughts hold.

We want you to feel the fun and joy of the process. Often, when you get something that you have been wanting, your feeling of elation is very short-lived, but this game will give you the opportunity to savor the things that you desire longer. And then, the thrill of the manifestation, even though short, will be all the sweeter.

Once you begin this process, you will just be knocked over by the effectiveness and efficiency of the enormous Non-Physical staff that responds to your vibrational requests. When you ask, it is given, and as you play with this Creation Box, you will learn to let it in.


Esther Hicks is an inspirational speaker and author. She co-authored eight books with her husband, Jerry Hicks. Together, they have presented Law of Attraction workshops for Abraham-Hicks Publications in up to 60 cities per year since 1987. Visit: www.Abraham-Hicks.com.

FILED UNDER: esther and jerry hicks | abraham | law of attraction | creation box | manifesting | deliberate creation | art of allowing | vibrational energy

Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Enlightened Parent




HAPPY FATHERS DAY! I read today's blog by WAYNE DYER, known to many as the "Father of Inspiration" and as my husband and I read it together I thought to share it. Whether you are a parent, leader or teacher, I hope you enjoy it as well.

The Enlightened Parent

Who’s in charge here?

Published: June 18, 2011



By Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Doing the Tao of leadership.


The great leader speaks little.

He never speaks carelessly.

He works without self-interest

And leaves no trace.

When all is finished, the people say,

“We did it ourselves.”




The lesson in this 17th verse of the Tao Te Ching asks us to change how we see authority—which means viewing great or enlightened leaders as those who don’t actually lead anyone! Through the perspective of the Tao, such individuals create an environment where everyone feels that they have a personal responsibility to, and are a part of, the process. By adopting this model of an enlightened leader, you’ll be more than likely to alter the ways you criticize and admire captains of industry, government, or religion, as well as the way you guide others.

The advice in this 17th verse is directed toward leaders of all kinds; in fact, you can personalize it by substituting the words parent or teacher for leader. Examine the ways you view your own tactics, and then make the changes that are necessary in order to be someone who makes an enlightening difference in the lives of others. First, you must stay in the background and become an astute observer of what’s taking place; then ask yourself how, without interfering, you can create an environment that will help everyone act responsibly.

The Tao advises making yourself as invisible as possible if you truly wish to be an effective leader. Thus, perhaps your best strategy would be to actually leave the room and allow everyone else to act without feeling that they need to impress you. Maybe you should offer a slight suggestion and then an immediate departure. A knowing smile or gesture that conveys to the group that you trust in its ability to figure things out might work best. Possibly what’s needed is for you tell a quick story of how others have resolved similar issues. Or you could simply meditate and send positive conflict-resolving energy to all the individuals present.

Whatever your decision, you’ll be well aware of the need to create an environment where everyone will be able to say, “We fixed it ourselves without the need for any interference from anyone—we really don’t need a supervisor.” This approach, of course, involves suspending your desire to be seen as a strong authority figure.

Truly inspiring leaders get results by their own example: They encourage others to be responsible and do the right thing, but not by proclaiming and bragging about their unimpeachable management. They create space for others to be inspired and to achieve their own greatness. When the time comes for receiving accolades, they dissolve in the background, wanting everyone else to feel that their accomplishments arose from their own leadership qualities. The supreme Taoist leader always leaves people to choose and pursue their own way of life, their own conception of the good. The view of a self-styled authoritarian is not the way enlightened leaders see themselves; rather, they raise the energy of an environment through a viewpoint that elevates lower inclinations.

The Tao offers three other ways of choosing to be a leader. One option is to make a difference in the lives of others, resolving conflicts through love. By being an instrument of love and making an effort to praise others, this leader stays in harmony with the Tao. Those who are praised are inclined to become self-loving and act in a cooperative rather than competitive fashion. The drawback is that using the approval and affection of a leader for motivation means turning control of one’s life over to that leader. But if you see that the choice is between love or fear, the Tao always sees love as superior.

The ineffectiveness of fear as a leadership style is obvious: If I can get you to do as I desire by using that weapon, then you’ll only behave in these ways as long as I have the power to threaten you. When I leave, my influence over you departs as well. Studies have measured the effectiveness of teachers who were considered strict disciplinarians. Students in this setting were well behaved when the feared individual was in the room, yet when he or she departed, the classroom turned chaotic.

The opposite was true of instructors who viewed education as an opportunity to praise and encourage students: Their presence or absence from the room had almost no noticeable impact. This is a great thing to keep in mind if you’re a mother or father. That is, do you want your children to behave only when you’re around, or do you want them to have the self-discipline to conduct themselves wisely whether you’re there or not? I’ve always believed that parents are not for leaning upon, but rather exist to make leaning unnecessary.

The least effective means for managing others is to use tactics that will encourage them to despise you, for the moment they leave your sight, they’ll defy all that you say and stand for. Dictators almost always find this out the hard way, when the people they’ve abused rise up to threaten them in the same intolerable fashion in which they’ve been treated. Children who despise a parent similarly tend to emulate the hateful tactics to which they were subjected, or they detach themselves completely from that dictatorial adult and spend years attempting to heal the scars from the terrible treatment.

The enlightened leader trusts those whom he or she is in a position to govern. This view results in trust, as he or she who has faith in the people will be trusted by them in turn. Consequently, they’ll be able to say, “We did it ourselves.” So raise your children to be self-sufficient, to make their own decisions as soon as they’re able, and to feel pride in the decisions they do make. See yourself as an enlightened leader, and show the world a new type of leadership. Children who grow up with such a view will be the next generation of great leaders that Lao-tzu describes.


Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development. Wayne holds a doctorate in educational counseling from Wayne State University and was an associate professor at St. John’s University in New York. Visit: www.DrWayneDyer.com.

FILED UNDER: wayne w. dyer | lao-tzu | tao te ching | leadership | parenting | trust | enlightenment | management | self-reliance | personal responsibility | teaching

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Sharing some VITAL advice...

Just the other day as a friend and I discussed why I love my GREENS, she asked if Greens would help with more than just feeling better but if it could help her loose weight too. So for her, I'm sharing an Company article with all my BLOG followers.

Tips from Dr. Don Verhulst - Health Consultant for It Works Global

Many times, people are overweight because they're eating the wrong kinds of foods that lack vitamins and minerals. Often times when people feel junk food cravings, it is actually because the body is hungry for minerals, also called a mineral-deficient state.

If you are not eating 2-3 fruit, 4-6 vegetable, and 5-11 whole grains servings 365 days a year, then it is very likely that your body is deficient in one or more major vitamins or minerals. Aside from helping control cravings, you need nutrients to maintain ideal weight and help your body function optimally. That's why I take It's Vital every day.

It's Vital is a unique formula that you will not find anywhere else. First, it's highly bioavailable, which means that it is easily absorbed by the body, unlike many products that simply pass through and aren't actually absorbed.

You can actually put a tablet of It's Vital in water and see it begin to break down as it would in your stomach. Try that with other popular multi-vitamins on the market today, and you may be surprised by how many sit there like a rock. With It's Vital, we know that its patented dissolve technology helps for better absorption in the body, which means better nutrition for you and results you can feel.

So what does that have to do with weight management? With 77 different forms of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, and antioxidants derived from premium ingredients, It's Vital can help you control junk food cravings and nourish your body to help you get and stay healthy naturally.

Plus, using It's Vital can help you see better results with the Ultimate Body Applicator. The nutrients it contains will allow your body to remove toxins more efficiently, helping our detoxifying body contouring formula in the Ultimate Body Applicator produce more dramatic results. Do you know your body's pH level? Probably not. Chances are, if you eat like most people, your pH level tends to be acidic.

Processed foods, fast foods, and packaged foods all contribute to your body's acidity level. Your body responds to acidic molecules by wrapping them in tough-to-lose fat—something we would all like to avoid.

The solution? Eat alkalizing fruits and veggies! It sounds so simple, right? But 8 full servings of fruits and vegetables are tough to fit into a day, which is why I highly recommend Greens.

Greens is a blend of 38 nutrient-rich superfoods and gives your body vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes in a naturally occurring, bio-active, bio-available form. This tasty orange-flavored powder can be mixed in either water or juice, and each serving contains the nutritional value of 8+ servings of fruit and veggies. By far, this is the simplest, most effective way I have found to get the phytonutrients and antioxidant benefits of veggies and fruits to your body each day.

Want to really amp up your Ultimate Body Applicator results? Drink Greens on the days you wear the Applicator. Because of its alkalizing and detoxifying properties, Greens can help your body be able to let go of that stubborn fat and will help amplify your body's ability to flush out toxins. Did you know that your body can store 8-10 meals in your distended colon if you aren't "going" regularly? That extra waste not only affects your waistline, it affects your health as those toxins build up in your body.

Regular contains detoxifying and pH-balancing herbs for an ongoing colon cleanse—yet another life-changing product from It Works that can also boost your Ultimate Body Applicator results by aiding in the detoxification process.

This Article was taken from April 2011 Issue of Living It Up Newsletter
For more company-provided information please use the LINKS on the Right-Hand SIDE to link to my Company Replicated Site!
If you want more information regarding the products or the business, Click on the TABS above and submit your email. You will recieve the monthly articles for you to enjoy.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Letting yourself live out one little dream at a time...

Wow! I'm so excited! I am actually going to see Dr. Wayne Dyer in Calgary tomorrow! Might not seem like much, but for me another little dream gets checked off my list. I’ve followed Dr. Dyers work for 7 years, and always wanted to see him, but I almost didn’t get there! And it was all because I didn’t believe I would. But, something changed, and sure enough, thanks to all the cards falling exactly into place, I am going after all!

At first I figured I just probably wasn’t going to be able to go. I had heard about the event, but I guess just assumed it would be sold out by that time. So I didn't even try... WHY the heck not? Why wouldn't I have at least checked if there were tickets? Here I had basically assumed I wasn't going to get to go without even considering it. Why wouldn’t I believe that I would get to do something that I’ve always wanted to do? Why is that I would automatically assume it wouldn't happen for me? It was as if an old feeling that “I don’t get to do what I want” was sitting in my head, or maybe it’s that “MOM” thing where we put what we want last over the family, whatever it was, I didn’t believe that something I wanted could actually happen.

Then...I came across a flyer at a trade show this weekend for this exact event and, even as I looked at it, I thought... “In no way do I have the time, there is no way could I get tickets, there can’t be any seats available and I probably shouldn’t spend the money”. Sure enough, as I read on...right there it said...”Tickets still available...from $59.00”. Ha-ha, WOW, it was like something was saying...“Excuse me, but I couldn’t help but overhear”. OK, so now I’m paying attention... maybe I should at least go as far as to look into it.

So I did at least, at this point, start to look into it. I looked and sure enough there were seats available, but when I looked at the seats available, and told myself...”Well, they aren’t that great of seats...” I know... Trying to still squirm out of it! And the next day, although I was still on the fence, I started poking around the internet and sure enough, I ran across a site that gave me the promotional code to get an additional 10% off.

Ok, so far...the signs are all pretty clear are they not? There are seats; I have all the means and an extra 10% off. Isn’t that enough to tell me, “Just go already”! But still...I waited another day yet.

So I logged on one more time today to look for seats and sure enough, by some miracle, there was a set of 2 AMAZING seats centre stage, 5th row that weren’t there yesterday... definitely WEIRD! (But they were more than the $59). At this point I should’ve known I was meant to go, but I still figured I’d see if I could do better. Yup! I still wasn’t convinced I was supposed to go. REALLY?! I picked up the phone and I phoned Ticketmaster, just wondering if there was something better? Something better than 5th row center with a discount to listen to someone I have followed for 7 years that rarely comes to Calgary? What the heck was holding me back...every sign so far is pointing to JUST GO ALREADY! And sure enough, the Ticketmaster agent told me, he couldn’t even do any better than that set of seats for that price, and the closest he could get me was the upper balcony at the same price. So you’d think I’d be convinced by now right...still not quite yet...

Then I proceeded to tell myself..."well, I probably can’t get a babysitter". So I sent a text message to our sitter, who we haven’t seeing in months, as we have been so busy, knowing full well she is usually busy with school, work and extracurricular activities, usually one of which I was sure fell on a Tuesday and I wondered if I would even get a text back in time before those tickets were gone, sure enough... she text me back almost instantly, and was available!

OK. So now I have absolutely no reason that I wouldn’t go right? WRONG...One last thing...better check with the husband...He’ll most defiantly say no right? WRONG! He was all for it and told me I should defiantly GO!

Um, so I guess as hard as I tried to sabotage doing something I know I wanted to do, to find some reason I couldn’t go, I was undoubtedly told this was going to happen! If ever there was divine intervention pushing you to do something...this was it.

It just goes to show how many little things all have to fall into place for a busy mom to take time to do something for herself and I hope that if you ever find yourself dragging your feet to do something you know you want, need or would love to do you take a moment to just say YES to giving back to yourself, to go for those little dreams, and realize that you have something in your corner, encouraging you to do it. If it’s in your greater good to do it, I know you will get a little glimpse of some divine intervention helping you to do those little somethings for yourself, checking off your little dreams. It's just your job to accept it.

So today I accepted the signs to go for it, and tomorrow, despite my little efforts to sabotage my way out of going and doing something that I love, I’m going to see Dr. Wayne Dyer Live in Calgary and live out one little dream of mine.

If you want to become a follower of Wayne Dyer, I definately recommend his works. Here is his website:
You can also find him on HayHouse or searching the web.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

You just can’t mess up a muffin!

When camping season hits, out come the frozen bananas, and the baking begins! I happen to have some self proclaimed infamous banana chocolate chip muffins that always get brought the May Long weekend, so as camping season approaches, I set out to make the batches that I knew would get passed around the campsite. But I decided to do a little experimentation with one batch...yes, no panicking... I will make the usual... but one batch I made a little different for me and the kids. And sure enough...more Kitchen Magic!

I decided to test out my new NINJA food processer (which by the way...LOVVVVEEE IT!) and, using my old recipe with a few twists & turns created some amazing muffins that passed the kids and husband test!

Mixing it all in the Ninja making it super easy....as follows: I kind of threw together stuff, so the recipe is FAR from exact...Here are my guesstimates...

First I crushed some fresh pineapple I had in the fridge, in the small attachment, that came to approx 2/3 cup I then added it to a lunch kit size organic applesauce cup, around 2/3 cup butter, and about 2/3-3/4 cup organic agave syrup and 2/3-3/4 cup organic raw cane sugar into the largest mixer and blended it well. Then I blended 4 eggs separately, again in the small attachment and 6 bananas separately, in the medium attachment and added them together to the big blender with the mixture.

In a large bowl I stirred together 1 cup whole wheat flour & 1 ½ cup white flour, 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp baking soda, sprinkled in about ¼ cup organic ground flaxseed and made a well in the centre.

I added the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirred until well mixed and added about ¾ cup of chopped pecans and poured into lined muffin pans. (No greasing the pan here!) I sprinkled a few pecans on top for visual and a little extra crunch and baked them at 350 for 18 min.


YUP! New Ninja + Old Banana muffin recipe + Healthier mindset = Kitchen Experiment perfection!

It made 2 dozen muffins, and you could definitely do this with a hand mixer and canned crushed pineapple I’m sure would be just as good. Pureeing the pineapple and banana just left for a smoother texture and blended the fruits into the muffin beautifully.

and WOW!... They turned out great! Yup! I’m impressed with myself...a little self-pat on the back for me today thank you very much! Mind you, I’m of the belief that you can throw just about anything in a muffin and rarely ever mess it up. It’s my favourite way to pack extra nutrients into the day since the kids love baking and it is a treat for them. I soon realized these had passed the kid test as my son snuck a second one before they were even cooled, yes, he eats anything...but I couldn’t resist either as I ate TWO warm out of the oven with my afternoon latte. They have great flavour, are very moist and have a nice crisp crust. Not bad for a baking experiment, and I can feel better knowing that my family is getting less sugar, more whole grains, extra fruit packed into their snack and healthy nuts instead of chocolate chips. I’m sure that walnuts would be great too with all the healthy omegas, so maybe next time I’ll try walnuts, or even half n half with the pecans. Mmmm. You just can’t mess up a muffin!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Today’s Kitchen Experiment...

Well, it's that time...Time to make up burgers for the summer! I always make a couple batches for the freezer at the start of the season to have burgers on hand throughout the summer. Of course burgers make perfect quick meals for summer time and it is always a neccessity for camping and for summer gatherings.

By the end of last season, I was so tired of hot dogs and hamburgers, I was welcoming winter just to get a break from the food! Now that summer is on it’s way, I’m definitely welcoming the sun, and looking forward to the BBQ again to rescue me from my humbug supper routine.

But as I thought about summer coming up, I also thought about my bathing suit... and the thought of all those heavy summer favourites and junk foods... about all those hot dogs, smokies, hamburgers and steaks for some reason were just not as appealing this year. Maybe it was in having kids and eating those foods more often that it has become less of a “treat” to have the “summer favourites” that has finally was starting to turn me off, or maybe it has a little to do with aging and my appetite changing, or maybe it has to do with wanting to take care of my body a little better,or maybe it is all of that on top of staying trim for bathing suit season, but it was all kind of making me nervous just thinking about it.

So...getting to the point... I ran a little kitchen experiment looking for an alternative to burgers this year... Turkey Quinoa Veggie Burgers! I found a Turkey Quinoa recipe online, and then added a little of my own style to it...

Here is the experiment:

I combined and blended 1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs, 8 baby carrots, a few mushrooms, a cup of spinach, about ¼ of an onion, and a ½ cup of cauliflower puree in a food processor then added 2 cups cooked quinoa and blended this with the mixture until well combined in the processor, added some sea salt, fresh ground pepper, cayenne pepper and garlic powder, then mixed this in a bowl with 2 packages of extra lean ground turkey. I formed into balls and pressed them between wax paper and plates to make them perfectly flat. They stick together great and made perfect patties!

It made 12 burgers. I left them pressed in the wax paper and froze them individually on a cookie sheet, then transferred them into a Ziploc for summer storage, so I could just take out one at a time for myself or the kids if my hubby still wanted to make beef patties for supper, then at least I could have something different when I want.

I’m guessing from the recipe I based this on and the info on the turkey and quinoa packages that this would run around 4-7g of Fat, 225-250 Calories, 2-4g of Fibre and around 20-25g of Protein and low Cholesterol around 65-70mg. Where a standard burger runs anywhere around 25-35g of Fat, 350-425 Calories, .5g of Fibre and a only a little more Protein while usually around 160mg of Cholesterol.

Next it’s on to making the beef patties for the summer... But I won’t be making them the old-fashioned way, no, I’ll be hiding a little bit of “healthy” in those too!

Here is how I make beef patties:

I add ½ cup broccoli puree, ½ cup carrot puree, chopped onion, 2 eggs to lean ground beef, and in place of bread crumbs I’ll use half whole wheat bread crumbs and half all bran buds ground finely. Because the all bran is soluble fibre, it will help prevent some of the fat from the beef from being absorbed into your body. I often add minced mushroom as well, and then season with seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder.

Making turkey burgers was no harder than making beef burgers, maybe even a little easier as they formed so well, and I wondered why I was so hesitant before to think that making something different when it was so easy to make that change, to step outside the box and try a different style of cooking...I guess I thought it’d be difficult, and was not in my skill set, or that I’d miss out by not having beef so I just made the same tried and true recipes over and over again, but I was wrong. It was not so hard after all. But the test to pass was surely going to be the taste...so I actually decided to test one out for myself for lunch before I attempted to serve them to my family...

They cooked up beautifully on the BBQ, did not shrink much at all in size and did not stick or fall through the grates. So they passed the prep test, and now they passed the cooking test...so next...to taste...

I added some mozza cheese and served on whole wheat with cucumber, tomato and a little mayo. . and YES...I was pleasantly surprised, I actually liked them! I even think that if next time I tried them with some BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, slice of red onion, and a little mustard & relish they would even pass to feed to my husband...

There are tonnes of great online recipes for all kinds of burgers! Let this be the summer you step outside the box!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Those old-wives tales just may be a whole lot smarter than you think! …

Well, I will say, yes…it’s been awhile since I’ve blogged. And although I’ve written multiple… they have yet to pass proofreading and fine-tuning to make it to posting. So before I go run my bath and wind down before a busy Easter weekend, I thought I’d post at least one more blog for you to enjoy until I’m back in full-swing. So here is one about the good old Epsom Salt Bath.

Those old-wives tales just may be a whole lot smarter than you think! …

You’ve heard a glass of warm milk before bed is really true, because the calcium helps you to sleep…well, now it’s back to good old Epsom salt baths for me…

So here is my story… after a visit to a natural-path to find out that I was low in magnesium and that THAT could be the cause of my chocolate cravings, I was intrigued to say the least!

Did you know that Chocolate is extremely high in magnesium? And that’s why so many women crave chocolate, especially around that time… Well I sure didn’t! I sure could’ve used that information sooner. So now I share it with you!

This put me on the magnesium-information-highway now! I wanted to know more!

I proceeded to search out articles on the internet, and suddenly I was hearing everywhere about magnesium, and here I had never heard a thing before! Well. I’ll be!

I was so interested in the information I found! Did you know that majority of people do not ingest even the recommended daily intake of magnesium! And, that magnesium absorption is significantly worsened by: Excess calcium intake, High phosphate intake (meat, pop), High intake of sodium, protein, fat, High potassium intake, Alcohol, Sugar, and Caffeine. As if we don’t all load up on those every day!

Of course, there is a definite emphasis on calcium, and calcium exists in ample food sources while the importance of magnesium is completely overlooked. While magnesium is actually very depleted in our food sources as our food soils change, then only to be depleted by a diet that actually worsens what little we are getting.

I also learned that the calcium-magnesium ratio that is so important, not JUST calcium! It is in delicate balance in our body, but yet magnesium still gets overlooked. THEN I learned that when the body is low in magnesium, it will actually start to leach the mineral out of our muscles and vital organs, and that one hit even closer to home.

I EVEN proceeded to learn that taking a magnesium supplement, as so talked about in many articles, could take 6-12 months to restore deficiency as it is often not easily digested and absorbed and that it could actually be better to use a magnesium lotion…WOW! Now I’m really paying attention and out to find some magnesium lotion!

BUT, then while watching Dr. Oz one day I was reminded of taking Espom Salt baths for muscles due to the magnesium being absorbed through the skin. Well DUH! Lightbulb! As if I didn’t get that one. EPSOM salts are Magnesium Sulfate. So I went on to find out more about the value of an EPSOM Salt Bath and found a good article for you to enjoy, that I posted at the bottom.

So in honor of our elders: Well “I’ll be!” Maybe our Grandparents actually knew a thing or two about what they were talking about before we all came along with our “fancy schmancy” ideas!

So on to draw my bath and soak in some Epsom salts! Have a Great Easter weekend, and I look forward to posting a backlog of blog articles I’ve been collecting in my highatis…

There is a vast amount of information on the web regarding the often overlooked value of Magnesium. Here are a few links to do your own research.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/08/07/miracle-magnesium.aspx
http://www.mbschachter.com/importance_of_magnesium_to_human.htm
http://behealthyandrelax.com/2007/12/the-importance-of-magnesium-in-your-body/

Health Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/health-benefits-of-epsom-salt-baths.html#ixzz1Jdz2r8hV
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/health-benefits-of-epsom-salt-baths.html#ixzz1JdzDgmGv

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Humility & Empathy...The GIFT of Parenthood

Today, as I giggled at my daughter turning up her little nose and muttering her favourite works...”Ewww, disgusting” I got thinking...

I guess I must say “Ewww disgusting”, alot! You would too if you’ve been a parent of a toddler, or even a temporary care-giver long enough to get a glimpse of parenthood, you’d say it too!

But then, I thought for a moment about the little minds of those toddlers. That just maybe when we say “Ewww, that’s disgusting” that maybe they interpret that differently, that maybe their little minds don’t separate themselves from that which is “disgusting”. That maybe they think THEY are disgusting. OUCH. OK, I am going to STOP saying that! And, just maybe, I’m watching too much DR. Phil...

I guess, in trying to be the best parent I can, it does make me continually self-aware of my parenting in pursuit of always wanting to do the best job possible. And those little things do actually cross my mind....” Is saying "Ewww Disgusting" or something I do going to put my kids in therapy one day...trying to figure out why their mom thought they were disgusting!?” Well, most likely! I giggled about this with my sister on the phone, that I’m sure something we do will haunt them in some way, shape or form. Funny as it is, the sad truth is that I probably won’t be far from wrong.

Is it so wrong to try to be a good parent? To raise kids with good basics...know right from wrong, that are considerate, giving, respectful and not selfish, self-centered, entitled kids that hate me. There is so much controversy and mis-givings about the “right” things to do, and we are in constant judgement of each other as society as a whole or from other parents. Or worse, the opinions of people who aren’t even parents! Ugh! Do you ever go shopping with your kids and think “Oh I wonder what they think of my screaming kid”, or make your own judgement , like...“Someone quiet that screaming kid!”? So we remain part of the judgement either giving it or receiving it.

“ Self-actualized people are independent of the good opinion of others.” – Dr Wayne Dyer

In other words...“Other peoples good opinion of you are none of your business”.

Because the truth is it doesn’t matter what we do, we aren’t going to be perfect. The best we can do is have empathy and support each other as parents, and learn to be humble and allow mistakes to make us better for growth. Otherwise if we stay in the assumption that we are perfect, when do we allow the opportunity for growth? Being a parent has given me the give of humility, and the gift of empathy.

Right now I’m humming“Oh Lord it's hard to be humble, when your perfect in every way....Oh Lord it's hard to be humble but I'm doing the best that I can. We're doing the best that we can...”. Who sings that again? LOL

Adopting a little humility, since we are all in-fact “HUMAN” can’t hurt! We just “do our best” instead of taking the “I know best” position when it comes to our discipline and guidance to our children. It is when we decide “we know best” in either comparison with other parents, or as the authority figure to our kids that we open up the door to challenge from both, disappointment and debate. It is only when we accept that we are not perfect that we allow opportunity for better. Then as long as we continue to pursue self-development, we always have opportunity to do better, and better... Admitting we are human, before we have a nervous breakdown fighting to be perfect, might not be such a bad thing.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

I think I’ll adopt an “I know BETTER” attitude, than a “I know BEST” attitude when it comes to my kids. And then at least, hopefully my children will have only minimal therapy, and I’ll be able to say “I wasn’t perfect but I did my best”.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the supporters of my BLOG so far! I have so loved sharing my thoughts and life with you, and have had incredible support and positive responses. I am proud that sharing my life with others has made an impact, and it is unbelieveably rewarding for me to share! It's nice to know "I'm not the only one".

As you notice...I have added new features, put some love into the site and prettied it up! And I've added more information about my internet-based business as requested!

But be sure, that the BLOG is to remain true to me. I love writing about my experiences in daily life and sharing tips and moments of enlightenment that we all need in our lives, with you. My goal is an enrichment, not just riches. It is so fulfilling to share with you and I hope the positive feedback will keep pouring in!

--It is in giving that you receive, In order to recieve inspiration you must be willing to give it away, and vice versa. - Dr. Wayne Dyer

I hope that if this Blog inspires you in some way, becuase when I am inspired, it reminds me that sharing it with others is the best thing that I can do for myself, and for someone else that it reaches. I hope that you will share it with others too.

And Thank you for READING!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

I'll be more GRATEFUL...

 
As I lay in bed, with a big jug of cucumber/strawberry water (yum) and a big glass of my green drink on the nightstand, watching cartoons with my sick son (and my not yet sick daughter propped between a her sick brother and sick mom) after being up sick with him all night, I'm surprisingly reminded to be grateful. 

First of all, I am SO Grateful that I found supplements I love when I did. Because when it all started last night at 3 am with  my son, I immediately took 2 extra vitamins and made it through the night, sick yes, but managed to avoid the lovely throwing up part! WooHoo! 

And now I sit here, drinking green drink and feeding it to both the kids too...to get one back on his feet, and to the other to avoid the rath of being in bed between the two of us. I can't imagine not having found greens. What would I have done? 

Anytime I start feeling something coming, or the kids start first and I get that dreaded feeling of "OH NO...here we GO! I'm reminded why I need to take the greens, why I love them and I up the stakes! A little extra greens is any sick moms BEST FRIEND! How many exclamation marks can I put there!!! They are always what get me through the sick days. I give full credit to being "throw-up free" to my greens! If i ever feel nauseous, out come the greens. 

Anyone who has been sick and taking care of a sick family can relate, and I want EVERYONE to know this secret, because it is the absolute worst thing in the world to be sick and try to function enough to take care of a sick family too. It's actually kind of amazing, that maternal instinct that kicks into high gear when you know you have to gear up to take care of everything. But it sure kicks your "butt" after! I know at least the greens are helping my body while i get through it, and give me the energy to "get the job done". 

Secondly, WOW, am I ever glad I work from home! As I tucked my son in with his favorite toy, stuffed animal and "blankie" into "mommies" bed with his strawberry water (with a little ginger ale and hidden greens) and told him he got to get lots rest, cuddle and watch cartoons ALL day with all his favorite things, and drink "special pop" all day "because thats what we get to do when we are sick". I got a little smile inside, sick or not, that I get to do this. There is a really indescribable feeling that comes from taking care of someone you love and know you make a difference to that little someone special, and knowing that being home with them, although hard sometimes, is worth being thankful for. 

And even though I knew today was the last day of the $99 special, and there was no getting out of "work", I was grateful that i could grab my laptop (ipad actually, with my favorite new gadget, the ZAGG keyboard, thanks to my husband for a well thought Valentines gift) and crawl back into bed with the kids. 

It is very easy to forget to be grateful. Yesterday as I was grumbling about who knows what...the kids into everything, stealing snacks and getting into trouble behind my back, one instigating the other while i tryed to get a little work done was infuriating me, and i felt somewhat a failure to productive society as I watched my house fall apart around me and seeming to get absolutely nothing done that I wanted to, I was sure feeling sorry for myself and trying to keep remind myself that I still love my life.  I think it's pretty easy to forget that "grateful" thing sometimes! 

So I guess waking up sick, with a sick kid at 3am is a pretty good reminder. 

Funny how we always seem to get the message we need. I feel like singing that Rolling Stones song..."You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need". I guess I needed to get my butt kicked so I'd stop griping and be grateful for what I have! Opps! I get it, THANKS. 

I hope that by sharing today, that you can be reminded to be grateful for something!  

Now I've got a sick son, with his head on my lap watching cartoons, to take care of...

Thank you for sharing with me today! 

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Wondering if "IT" is for you?

Are you wondering? And you need a few questions answered?

You’re ready to try something different, to go for something more than what you have right now, for something new, you’re stepping it up a notch, or you’re thinking about a plan B...but you still have the case of the “Yeah...buts...” for some reason.

Well, you have TODAY to find out the answers to some of the questions in your head, so that you can still take advantage of this $99 opportunity, because it’s time to make the decision. So let’s clear up some questions for you right NOW...

What are you afraid of?

Are you afraid it won’t work out?
What IF you fail? Ok, lets’ say you do. So WHAT! Really?! You spent $99 and got 8 wraps which are worth $240 retail. What was the last thing you spent $100 on? And now, you get to say “At least I tryed”! Good for you, because most people don’t, they just sit and point out what everyone else is doing wrong, instead of trying something right! Do you want to be able to say, "I gave it a try"? Yes! You know what’s worth $99? Being able to say “At least I tryed”. If that's the only thing you risk, then it's time to start thinking about what you have to gain from this instead.

Are you afraid of what someone else might think? So WHAT!
What IF, instead... someone else thought you were amazing for going for IT!? OR What IF ...just maybe you inspired someone else to step outside the box?

Are you afraid it’s too good to be true?
Um, well I’d rather be part of something to good to be true!

Are you afraid it’s a pyramid scheme?
Where do you work? Is there a CEO at the top making the most money? Aren’t you part of a pyramid?

Are you afraid it’s a scam?
A company that has been in business 10years, is debt free and promotes health & wellness, fun, friendships and freedom only gets to where it is through honesty and perserverance, one person at a time, it would not be able sustain it’s success otherwise. It has the security of 10 years in the US, but it is still so new in Canada (only 2 years) that there is huge opportunity for growth all over the world where it is brand new!

So now what are you afraid of? Nothing! And truthfully, what are you really risking? Nothing.

So what COULD you gain? A better body image? Sure! A chance at change? Sure! A chance at something better? Sure! A chance at meeting new friends? Yes. A chance at making yourself better? Yes. A chance at growing your dreams? Yes. Have I made my point yet?

You have opportunity. And it's $99. What was the last thing you spent $99 on? Because I spent $199, not $99 on this opportunity, and I would not have paid a dollar less for what "IT" has done for me.

WHY do I do this?

After my daughter was born, I tried this crazy “wrap” that was supposed to show results in 45 minutes. Yeah right, I thought. But If they did work, then I knew I wanted to be a distributor and not just a customer, so before even trying a wrap, I signed up. Thinking WHAT IF they worked? WOW! I want to be a part of this! Was I reluctant? Yes, I had all the same questions in my head. ..Well...2 1/2 inches later and I’m look where I am today...a year and a half later and here is what “IT” did for me..

"IT" gave me something for me when I was "just a mom, made me feel like a contributing member of my home, and of society again. “IT” gave me extra income to contribute and gave us that extra breathing room to relax and to enjoy a few luxuries. "IT" gave me the push I needed to get out and meet new people, when I was swallowed up by my house and kids, busy being a mom and a housewife. "IT" gave me self-confidence when I was forced to “get over myself”, to face my fears to make my business a success."IT" brought new friends into my life that had dreams just like mine, that understood me, that connected to me with common interests, common goals. "IT" gave me pride in my accomplishments, no matter how small. "IT" gave me the realization that I have to be the one to "give myself a pat on the back" once and awhile. Now ask me if my $199 was worth it. What do you think?

Is a $99 investment in YOURSELF worth it? I think so.

( CLICK ON the TABs above to START YOUR OWN BUSINESS)

Monday, March 28, 2011

Dinner TONIGHT...

So, just made the yummiest Creamy Parmesan Vegetable Quinoa and Baked Guacamole Cod and I guess the consensus after posting that on facebook is that I needed to share them...LOL

So here they are:

The QUINOA:

I just threw it together and I didn't use measurements... I stole a recipe from allrecipes.com and just sort of used what I had in the fridge...

Prepare the Quinoa as recommended, using vegetable broth in place of water (I just added a tablespoon of Epicure Vegetable Boullion to the water) and when it is almost done, add some frozen peas, cover and leave on minimum.
In a separate pan, saute onion in a little butter and when the onion is soft, add to the Quinoa.

This recipe actually calls to sauté celery with the onions, which I imagine would taste super! But like I said...improvizing... The recipe also calls for wine baked diced tomato as well... I will SO be trying that next time! (To do that, toss diced tomatoes in a little white wine and bake on a lightly oiled baking sheet at 400 for 15 minutes.)

Then add about ¼ cup milk, and 2/3 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese, to the mizture and warm through to melt cheese. It was very basic and easy, but really tasty side dish, and I usually always have these ingredients on hand so it's perfect quick recipe. I can’t wait to try it with the wine-baked tomato and sautéed celery!

The COD:

Preheat oven to 400.
Melt about 3 tbsp-1/3 cup butter.

Warm a frying pan on the stovetop brushing a little butter into the pan, and add cod to hot pan but then remove from heat. You just want to sear it a little and not cook it too much or it will overcook. (I have seared both sides previously it probably helps keep the moisture in, but I am NO Chef so who knows...HAHA)

Brush the top of the cod with the rest of the melted butter and sprinkle Epicure Guacamole Dip Mix over the top.

Put entire pan into oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes depending on how thawed the cod is...‘til Cod is cooked through, but not overcooked. I leave mine a little on the frosty side when I make it to keep it more moist.

This was a super flavourful, healthy and SIMPLE supper!
This recipe is on the website www.epicureselections.com . If you need a hook-up I will see who of my friends are Epicure reps...

(The Guac mix has chilies, cilantro, coriander, cumin, garlic, onion, parsley, red bell pepper if you want to attempt your own flavors, but I love the Guac mix so just buy it and make your life easier!)

Jeff don't laugh at my bad culinary skills and lingo here...you could probably correct me on most of it! LOL!

Become your own HEALTH CARE ADVOCATE!

Today, my mom sent me an article from Dr. Oz. pointing out that we should all be asking for the NECK guard portion of the CHEST Guard that is used when we go for Dental Exams and Mammograms. That this important guard protects the Thyroid Gland, however practitioners only use the chest part of the guard and often do not use the neck guard portion that is detachable. I had actually seen this episode and getting the email this morning was a good reminder that our health care is really our own responsibility.

We have to remember that the current health care system has always been, and is more-so than ever, an chronic care institution. That it exsists pretty much only to perscribe (often just covering the problem, not dealing with it) and to fix something that is already broken! Lets not break it in the first place!

It is SO important for us to be not only our own advicators, but more so, it is important for us to take care of ourselves in the first place. To be responsible for taking care our ourselves FIRST, rather than getting FIXED later! More and more people are taking care of their health to AVOID disease care.

I feel like not a day goes by that I don't have a conversation with someone that revolves around health & wellness in some form. Either they are a practioner of disease-care or preventative care, or the conversation is around someone who is an advocate for one or the other, or a normal coffee talk conversation leads to someone who is sick, or a sharing of stories of maintaining our health.

I love that so many of these conversations are just about the good old basics, the old wives tales to drink your warm glass of milk before bed, a little tea and honey for a sore throat and maybe a little vitamin c or "good for you" supplementation rather than taking a "poision with a desirable side effect". (How many times do we laugh at drug advertising that concludes with the laundry list of side effects... yes, POISON with a desirable side effect!)

I think we are all starting to become more aware, more educated and we challenge something that just doesn't seem right. We know better than to believe everything we hear, or just "trust" someone has your best interest at heart. We are open to suggestions, and follow our intuition as to what is right for us, with guidance of caring therapists and choosing more and more, alternative & natural care to give back to our bodies!

I'm proud to say that I think that this generation is listening to their moms, taking care of themselves, advocating for better health and teaching it to our children. That we demand better food stuffs by supporting local markets and organic farming, and understand why supplementing is now so important. I think the pharmacitical companies should panic as we all educate ourselves a little better!

It is your life, and it is in your hands. Stay educated, stay in tune with your body and take care of you! You are your best care-giver! Support your preventative care practitioners and develop that old fashioned open and comfortable relationship with your good old family doctor! Let them get to know you and be comfortable to ask questions!

I'd love to share with one of my favorite natural nutritional supplements that helps to restore and maintain your body's natural balance, provides you with the nutritional value of your 8 servings of vegetables a day, and is a great start on a road of health!

And If you are standing up on your chair, giving the thumbs up to this article, then you need to share with me on my path to self-development and why I chose to get involved with a health and wellness home-based business!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Where is inpiration?

There are definately days that it seems hard to look around and find what moves us. This is when we need to remember that there is inspiration in life all around us, everyday. Things that give us joy, and things that make us remember how joyful we really are. It’s easy to miss, but it’s not hard to find if we look.

We have family that love us for who we truly are. Friends who support us when we are down. Acquaintances who are there to make this path of life interesting or a happy stranger that smiles and makes a day.
Life is full of events that give us joy, recognition that gives us a moment of pride and milestones that remind us how far we’ve come, and mistakes that remind us what we still need to learn.

It could be as simple as that morning coffee or that evening tea, that morning shower to refresh us or the evening bath to calm us. Maybe it is opening your eyes a window pane of frost, raindrops, or a bright ray of sun that warms your cheek. Or what about a fresh cut lawn or a freshly assembled snowman?

We fill our lives daily with exercise that our body thrives on, food that sustains us and fills our senses, and a laugh and a glass of wine that we share with a friend. We can always reach to that book on the shelf to fulfill our soul, teach us , help us to grow or entertain us, a photo album that reminds us where we’ve been, or a good movie that fills our imagination and make us chuckle.

We have moments of love, appreciation, a simple thank you, or a tear that cures us of our pain. Someone to kiss us good morning or good night, and a warm blanket to cuddle us when that kiss is far away from us.
And for me and all moms everywhere... our KIDS ...that are both test us and teach us.

Your life is full of inspiration everywhere. I hope today you feel joy and inspiration.

I find inspiration in sharing with others. To sharing what inspires me with others reminds me to appreciate my own simple joys and is fulfilling if I know that someone else feels good because of something I’ve said. Hence the blog...

I want to know... what inspires you?

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Are you part of a Pyramid Scheme?

I was the first person to shut the door on Network Marketing, and turned my nose up at party based businesses! YUP, I was the biggest sceptic when I first enrolled in It Works! My how the tables have turned!

It turned out, I actually fell in love with the products (the WRAP was my first love!!!), and couldn't help but be a part of this. I wanted to share them! When you find something good you share it with everyone! So why not get paid for it!? Even Real Estate and Car dealerships, pay you for referrals right? But do you get paid if you recommend your favorite restaurant, or your favorite pair of shoes, chiroprator, nail technician or hair dresser?

Network Marketing can sound like such a bad word for something that we actually all do every day!! So why is it that only Network Marketing gets a bad rap? What about the Pyramid Sceme you work at?

EVERY organization is set up in a Pyramid shape, you work so someone at the top gets the big paycheque right? So you right now work for a pyramid company... one that tells you what to do, and when to do it, and how much of your life you are free to live OUTside your commitment there.

I LOVE It Works, because: FIRST: I LOVE the products, & SECOND: I LOVE this OPPORUNITY! I LOVE the opportunity to do run my business in MY own way, work MY OWN hours, take MY vacations whenever I WANT, to set my OWN paycheque, and IT fits into MY life, not scheduling MY life/my work hours around someone ELSEs idea of when I should work! My kids don't have to fight for my attention when I'm exhausted from working all day, I don't fight traffic to get to a job where I fight to get noticed, or fight with staff to get things done. I'm free.

Don't get me wrong... it's not for everyone. The truth is that self-motivation is equally hard to find when you hit a obstacle, but what I can share is that the fulfillment you get is far more worth it when your successes give back directly to yourself!

I get to feel passionate about something, and proud of something, and not just taking home a paycheque in exchange for alot of stress. My work fits into MY LIFE, not MY LIFE life around my work. It's just how it SHOULD be.
I wanted to share this today. Don't sell yourself short by missing opportunities becuase of what other people have led you to believe. Do what is right for you, and if that is It Works, then I'll be excited to share it with you!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Teaching KIDS to Eat Healthy...

Here I was, sitting with my kids after finishing supper and noticed on facebook that our very own DR. Don has been featured in the Grand Rapids Press in regards to his childrens book "Count to 10 and be Healthy". I of course have "MY" version of this, the version for US to read, and didn't think to much of it when the KIDS one came out, til tonight when it dawned on me. DUH! Its so simple we overlook it sometimes...but here I am trying to ensure I'm raising kids that eat healthy, teaching them that eating healthy is important, going as far as to be sneaking purees into their food, and NEVER even thought of sneaking it in to their bedtime story! Kids will believe anything from a book, but listen to mom? NO WAY! It took me about 5 minutes to order a copy. I can't believe I missed this one. HAHA!
I'll be excited when it gets here! I know I'll read it to my kids, and steal it away from them to take to parties to show other moms!
Thanks Dr. Don!
You can get your copy from my website too!
CLICK BUY PRODUCTS above. Look under SUPPLEMENTS.
Enjoy tricking...I mean teaching...your kids too!