November 22, 2013

Gratitude This Holiday Season

As the holiday approaches, the month of November reminds us about focusing on gratitude and things we are thankful for. We all know that we need to focus on the positive, but sometimes we don’t realize what we have until its gone. How many of us ever say to ourselves that we take someone we love for granted, whether its our spouse, parent, child or friend.

It’s usually when something bad happens, that it reminds us of being present and appreciative of the people in our lives. A friend posted this sad story on facebook today and I felt called to share this with you. You can read more of the details in the link below, but a friend of mine just lost her two month old cousin this week.

http://www.youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/zachary-s-legacy/108335

Death is not easy for anyone, but when it involves a small child, in this case a young infant, it totally breaks my heart. My heart goes out to the family. When I spoke with my friend yesterday she mentioned that the little boy was in the hospital and was just about to be released, when he took a turn for the worse. He was in his car seat still in the hospital. The parents were excited to take their son home from the hospital, and then God had other plans for this sweet little boy. I can’t even begin to imagine what this family is going through. What I can do is stop and take a look at my own actions and remember what is important in life and also encourage others to do the same.

Go home and hug your kids. Tell your spouse that you love them. Give your mom a call if you haven’t talked to her in a while. Let people know how much you mean to them. It is relationships that really make a difference in the world.

Love and Peace. God Bless and have a great weekend

November 15, 2013

Wheat Belly “Cliff Notes”

I attended a webinar recently presented by Denise SanFilippo, a Gluten-Free Chef & Industry Consultant who supports the SHAPE organization. (Supporting Health as Partners in Education).  During the call someone suggested that Wheat Belly was a great book.  I mentioned that I have what I like to call a “Cliff Note” version of the book and wanted to share with my subscribers.

A local professor in town Dr. William Davis had one of his students write a review of the book.  This 2 page overview really gives the hightlights of the book and how wheat has been found to be a culprit in many of the health issues that we face as a society today.  If you haven’t already heard the details, you will be surprised to find that the wheat grown in our country is NOT the same wheat that our grandparents were fed.

The book gives loads of examples and stories of people who have come forth and said that their ailments were cured after removing wheat from their diets.  People with diabetes, MS, neurological issues, heart disease, acne, and many others.  If you need to see more facts for yourself, I suggest reading the entire book, but if you are just intrigued by learning a bit more about the buzz around this book check out this book review.  If you are seriously thinking about reducing or eliminating wheat from you diet, and are looking for some additional advice or support, feel free to reach out.  I have been focusing on reducing and eliminating wheat from my diet for the past couple of years.Wheat Belly 1

 

 

 

 

Wheat Belly 2

November 15, 2013

Wheat Belly "Cliff Notes"

I attended a webinar recently presented by Denise SanFilippo, a Gluten-Free Chef & Industry Consultant who supports the SHAPE organization. (Supporting Health as Partners in Education).  During the call someone suggested that Wheat Belly was a great book.  I mentioned that I have what I like to call a “Cliff Note” version of the book and wanted to share with my subscribers.

A local professor in town Dr. William Davis had one of his students write a review of the book.  This 2 page overview really gives the hightlights of the book and how wheat has been found to be a culprit in many of the health issues that we face as a society today.  If you haven’t already heard the details, you will be surprised to find that the wheat grown in our country is NOT the same wheat that our grandparents were fed.

The book gives loads of examples and stories of people who have come forth and said that their ailments were cured after removing wheat from their diets.  People with diabetes, MS, neurological issues, heart disease, acne, and many others.  If you need to see more facts for yourself, I suggest reading the entire book, but if you are just intrigued by learning a bit more about the buzz around this book check out this book review.  If you are seriously thinking about reducing or eliminating wheat from you diet, and are looking for some additional advice or support, feel free to reach out.  I have been focusing on reducing and eliminating wheat from my diet for the past couple of years.Wheat Belly 1

 

 

 

 

Wheat Belly 2

November 15, 2013

Don’t Throw Away your Confidence

I have been participating in a class where the theme has been on on accentuating the positive and focusing on the blessings in our lives as opposed to the fears that we all have. Fear shows up for each of us in many ways. Many times we tell our selves stories, like the ones you see below. They are not the real truth to our own authenticity, but rather lies we tell ourselves. We have a tendency to downplay the abundant blessings that we all have and allow fear to get in the way of being who we were meant to be. FEAR is really False, Evidence Appearing Real.

I will NOT throw away my confidence, it will be richly rewarded. I will persevere so that when I have done the will of God, I will receive what he has promised. Hebrewes 10:35-36

Here is an except from Renee Swope’s book, A confident heart. When we find ourselves in a situation where we are discouraged and say some of these things to ourselves, it is important to know that God encourages us to focus on the Truth. He says: I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. Lean on him and find the truth in our beings. It does us no good to focus on the stories we tell ourselves. Be confident in who you are and always look to your higher power when you get stuck and He will lead your path.

When I Say… What God Says Truth I hold Onto
What if I Fail? I will give you victory But I thank God who always leads us in victory because of Christ (2 Cor 1:14)
I don’t have the courage Be strong and do the work Be strong and courageous and do the work, Don’t be afraid or discouraged for the Lord God your God is with you (1 Chron 28:20)
No one sees me I see you You are precious and loved vby me You are precious and honored in my sight and… I love you (Isa 43:4)
I feel overwhelmed Let my love and faithfulness guard your heart Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lam 3:21-23)
I don’t have enough confidence I will be your confidence For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught (Prov 3:26)
I am not good enough Your royalty to me You will be a crown of splendor in the Lords hand a royal diadem in the hand of your God (Isa 62:3)
I am nothing special You are a masterpiece For you are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Eph 2:10)
I am not strong enough I am your strength God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Ps 73:26)
I don’t know what to do I will give you wisdom If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5)
November 15, 2013

Don't Throw Away your Confidence

I have been participating in a class where the theme has been on on accentuating the positive and focusing on the blessings in our lives as opposed to the fears that we all have. Fear shows up for each of us in many ways. Many times we tell our selves stories, like the ones you see below. They are not the real truth to our own authenticity, but rather lies we tell ourselves. We have a tendency to downplay the abundant blessings that we all have and allow fear to get in the way of being who we were meant to be. FEAR is really False, Evidence Appearing Real.

I will NOT throw away my confidence, it will be richly rewarded. I will persevere so that when I have done the will of God, I will receive what he has promised. Hebrewes 10:35-36

Here is an except from Renee Swope’s book, A confident heart. When we find ourselves in a situation where we are discouraged and say some of these things to ourselves, it is important to know that God encourages us to focus on the Truth. He says: I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. Lean on him and find the truth in our beings. It does us no good to focus on the stories we tell ourselves. Be confident in who you are and always look to your higher power when you get stuck and He will lead your path.

When I Say… What God Says Truth I hold Onto
What if I Fail? I will give you victory But I thank God who always leads us in victory because of Christ (2 Cor 1:14)
I don’t have the courage Be strong and do the work Be strong and courageous and do the work, Don’t be afraid or discouraged for the Lord God your God is with you (1 Chron 28:20)
No one sees me I see you You are precious and loved vby me You are precious and honored in my sight and… I love you (Isa 43:4)
I feel overwhelmed Let my love and faithfulness guard your heart Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lam 3:21-23)
I don’t have enough confidence I will be your confidence For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught (Prov 3:26)
I am not good enough Your royalty to me You will be a crown of splendor in the Lords hand a royal diadem in the hand of your God (Isa 62:3)
I am nothing special You are a masterpiece For you are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Eph 2:10)
I am not strong enough I am your strength God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Ps 73:26)
I don’t know what to do I will give you wisdom If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5)
November 9, 2013

What is Your Story about Money and Abundance?

So I attended a networking event last week and the presentation was around understanding your perspectives around money and abundance and the story that many people have created for themselves around money.

It started with a quote from Albert Einstein……. “Everything is energy and that is all there is to it, match the frequency of the reality you want and you can’t help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”

The speaker then described the functioning of the brain and how we train and wire the brain into patterns that are repeated over and over. If we want to make a change, we need to consciously retrain and wire the brain ( like a new habit). Here were 3 tips I wanted to share with you.

Tip #1 – Discovery your money story – Do you recall any of these comments in your life? Money doesn’t grow on trees, we can’t afford that, I don’t need to spend the money on X… These amongst other thoughts have become part of the story we defined for ourselves around money and abundance. God wants abundance for us. He wants to do great things for us in this world. Many of us hold on to these “stories” which in essence create negative energies around abundance. We need to believe that we are WORTHY of abundance. However, if we don’t believe and have faith, then we close our minds to the possibilities of what could be.

Tip #2 – Operation Affirmation – We need to put good thoughts and energy into our lives. They say what comes around goes around. If you put out negative energy, then that is what you get back. If we are constantly saying I can’t afford that, or complaining about something, then those are the things we attact more of to ourselves. If you generate good prosperous thoughts, then postitive energy is what you get back. When trying to think about abundance in any area of life it is important to focus on an intention and positive affirmation. Here was an example that was given. “I easily and effortlessly accept money and abundance into my life in expected and unexpected ways.” This doesn’t mean you are going to win the lottery and become a millionaire, but it opens up the pathway for abundance to flow through to you in however, God or the Universe chooses to provide.

Tip #3 – Promise to Self – Consistent intention to be deliberate and diligant. It’s one thing to say we want something and another thing to REALLY want it. How many people say, I want to lose weight and don’t. It is one’s belief and then the actions that follow the belief that lead to the outcome. If you truly BELIEVE it will happen. Live as if you are where you want to be and the written or spoken words will begin to manifest.

I challenge you to think about your own personal beliefs and story around money and abundance. I truly do believe that the universe and all living things are made of energy. Energy surrounds us and helps to create our futures. I have personally seen a variety of examples on how BELIEVING and having FAITH enables amazing things to happen.

If you are looking for a good book on energy and how it really does make a difference in our lifes, check this out. http://pamgrout.com/e-squared/

November 1, 2013

Pumpkin Seeds – More Protein than a Hot Dog?

It’s fall so that means its pumpkin season. One sure fire way of becoming a good cook is to use all of the elements of produce. So if you are carving pumpkins with your family, don’t forget to use the seeds.

They are a crunchy tasty treat and are aslo packed with lots of nutrients. Pumpkin seeds are great for lunchtime or an afterschool snack. One ounce of roasted pumpkin or squash seed kernals (about 85 seeds) contains approx 8.46 grams of protein, 163 calories and 1.8 grams of dietary fiber. Not to mention a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and zinc. While not the best source of omega-3 it does contain 0.1 g of omega-3. And yes if you look at the chart below a serving of pumpkin seeds can provide more protein than a hotdog. Who knew? In addition to that, you don’t get all of the nitrates that they put in hotdogs. So the next time you are running to grab a quick snack before running out the door, think about the benefits of pumpkin seeds.

Compare this to some other quick snack foods and their approximate protein intake:

1 Hot Dog 5.0g
1 Egg 6.5g
1 Cup Whole Milk 7.6 g
1 oz pumpkin seeds 8.46g
1 Cup Plain Yogurt 8.5g
Beef Jerkey 9.0g
4 slices Bacon 11.85g

You can store raw, baked or roasted pumpkin seeds for up to two months in an air-tight container. To preserve the most nutritional content, including omega-3, store in a cool, dry place that is not exposed to direct sun light. Omega-3 fatty acids dissipate after a few weeks, so for the most nutritional benefit try to eat the seeds within a few weeks from the time of harvest.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds – Vegan, gluten-free

  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic salt/ seasoning salt
  • 1 tsp onion powder

Or for some added flare, try adding some of these seasonings of choice

  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • Dash of cayenne pepper
  • Dash of cinnamon

Directions

  1. Clean out your pumpkin.
  2. Wash the pulp from the seeds (soaking the seeds in warm water for an hour will help this process).
  3. Allow the seeds to dry for 24 hours. (for best results)
  4. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
  5. Combine all ingredients and place in 8×8 pan or cookie sheet coating the seeds with the seasoning mixture.
  6. Bake for 25 – 35 minutes (There are many different recipes that change the baking time and the temperature, so check periodically to ensure they are just right for your liking.)
  7. ENJOY!!!