What I Am Most Thankful For.

Here are a few of the things I am thankful for. I have so many, but I would be here all day writing them, so I narrowed it down to the top few.  This is a good time of year to reflect on what God has given us.

• I am thankful for my husband, for the joy and complete and utter insanity he brings to my life. Where would I be without him? I love him even when he drives me nuts.

• I am thankful for my children and their spouses and my step son, for all the happiness and yes, craziness they bring to my life. I love each of them. They are the reason I was put on this earth & They are the reason for my being. They are the light in my life.
• I am especially thankful for my new granddaughter this year. I am thankful for all the unconditional love she gives, and how her smile and giggle lights up the room. What could be better than that? She is all that is good in this world. She is pure bliss.
• I am thankful for my business and how it keeps food on the table but also a roof over my head, at the same time I get to enjoy the sound of children laughing and playing, growing and learning. Even if it is only for a short amount of time in their life. It’s an honor to care for children and I am thankful to be in the business of Childcare.
• I am thankful for my father and his good health, despite his recent hospitalization. I thank him as well as my mom (God rest her soul) for the gift of life.
• I am thankful for my sister; she is my best friend and the person I can tell anything to, she is my go to person. I love her.
• I am thankful for my pets; they can entertain me for hours and make me happy even on days that aren’t going so well. They are funny little creatures.
• I am thankful for my health, as I continue on my quest towards being the best person I can be, in all aspects of my life.  I thank you God for giving me the strength to get up today and breath in the fresh air around me.  I thank you for the gift of Life.  I am truly blessed.

I am thankful for all my Diva Girls……we all need to stick together.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

GOBBLE, GOBBLE!

Fresh Foods, It's What It's All About

Since the time I have spent with the nutritionist, I have developed a new relationship with food and nutition. It is so refreshing now to look at nutrition with a whole new perspective.   It's easier then most people even know.  You just have to learn what goes with what and why?  Then you have to figure out when and how to do it. (More on that for another posting) To be quite honest…society has made it so hard. There is a lot of money to be made in the weight loss business, so I do understand the reason for it. But for me…..well, I feel like a weight has been literally lifted off my chest and I thank god for it.  I just wish I had been ready to develop this relationship earlier in my life, but for whatever reason it just wasn’t the right time.  Getting here was not easy, I will tell you that.  In fact it was hell. So, I may tell you that my relationship with food is easier now may be true, but the battle with food was truly hell, so I do not want to mislead anyone. I still have a few battles but they get fewer and fewer.  My choices I make are getting better and better. 

It’s really all about fresh foods and good choices and adding in some exercise of your choice into the mixture. That’s it. No more counting points or calories. Everyday is a good day. No one can tell you otherwise. It’s all about putting good fresh foods into your body and you can’t help but feel healthy.

You can’t do it all at once, so you take baby steps. I wrote about how I changed my milk choice and I recently went back to making my homemade pasta sauce. So, I am going to talk a bit about that. I used to make homemade pasta sauce when I was married to my first husband (he was Italian) every Sunday. It was expected and I didn’t mind. My second husband is Pennsylvania Dutch and he likes pasta but doesn’t need it every Sunday. Maybe once or twice a month. Plus, he likes a famous jarred sauce. He always said, "Honey, why make it and spend all that time in the kitchen when we could be doing something and then all you have to do is just heat up the sauce right before the pasta was cooked?"…..so, I got lazy and all but stopped making my sauce.

Have you ever looked what was in that jarred sauce?  Since we don't make it ourselves we truly don't know what they put in it. Plus I miss the taste of my fresh pasta sauce.  Yes, it does take time and effort, but it's worth it.  All fresh ingredients with fresh herbs, spices and cheeses...I figure I will make enough to freeze for two meals.  So, for now I am back to making my own, just not every Sunday. Ha, Ha! :)  

 Like I said before baby Steps!

WOW !

“Wow, you really look great! “ It’s amazing how powerful these words make you feel when someone says them to you and how fast they can make you smile. It’s good to know that whatever you’re doing must be working. Whether it be working out or coloring your hair, maybe that new make up line you purchased looks perfect on you or the new clothes you bought fit and look just right. Maybe you just opened your heart to the Holy Spirit and now have a new relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Whatever it is, it’s showing on the outside and you’re looking great.

It also feels good to say it to someone that has made a change in their life and you notice a difference, such as a new hair color or maybe just a new attitude about their life in general. The thing is you notice the difference and you made a point to let the person in your life know that. That person is feeling real good inside after you told them they look great, even if they are trying not to show it.

Positive feed back is a great motivator and it helps you to keep doing, whatever your doing.

When someone says these words to you without you actually asking them, you know it comes from a true and honest place in their heart. Don’t be afraid to tell someone that they look great and if someone tells you that….accept it and just say “Thank you”.

Keeping Yourself Healthy this Winter

10 Natural Tips to Keep Colds and Flu at Bay

WASH YOUR HANDS– This is the best way to get rid of everyday germs. Remember Hand Sanitizer is not a replacement for washing your hands with good old soap and water, it’s just incase you are unable to wash your hands. Wash them as soon as you are able. 

Get enough rest - Sleep plays a crucial role in the body’s recovery and repair cycle: when people don’t get enough sleep, they compromise their defense system.

Think clean – Clean surfaces shared with others. to avoid hand to hand spreading of germs.

Freshen the air – Open the windows a few times per day to circulate fresh air. Yes, even on cold days.

Think food first, rather than supplements - Eating healthy and naturally, provides a whole nutritional package. It’s what your body needs and wants. Supplements can be hard on your digestive track. Have you ever felt nauseas after taking them? Sometimes they even pass through your system unabsorbed.

Use garlic when cooking – Garlic has antibacterial properties and help detoxify the body. This is a wonderful reason to add an extra touch of garlic to that pasta.

Drink herbal tea – Teas containing Echinacea and licorice root boost the immune system and help inhibit viral and bacterial growth. “I am going to try to drink one cup of tea a day. Herbal teas taste like flowers to me but it’s worth a try.”

Drink plenty of fluids- It’s good to keep hydrated even when it’s cold outside.

No Hands touching face – Most cold and flu viruses enter the body, through the eyes, nose, or mouth. “I am always putting my hands on my face so I really need to work on this one.”

Exercise with gusto – Aerobic exercise speeds up the heart and makes us breath faster, supplying the body with more oxygen, which in turn, helps increase the body’s amount of natural virus-killing cells. “I suppose this is a good reason enough to get out there and move.”

Keep all of these ideas in mind now and maybe you may not even get sick this winter.

Take care of yourself and you will have a happy and healthy Holiday Season too.