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Encouragement: Make January the Month You Start to Live Your Life to the Fullest!

1/26/2018

If there is one thing I have learned in my over 50 years, it's that to never put off what I want to do. If the opportunity presents itself, take it then, don't make excuses. Do it. If the opportunity doesn't present itself, then do it anyway.

If you put off something you really want to do, you may put it off to a point where you are no longer able (physically, emotionally, or financially) to do it. Be brave, be forward thinking, and live each day to the fullest.

When I was younger, I put off some things I wanted to do. I had good reasons to put them off – I have children, I need to save fore retirement, I don't have time, I am tired, and on and on. Now that I am retired and my children have left to live their own lives, I am ready to do those things. Unfortunately, there are a few things I may not be able to do now...but that is not going to stop me from doing what I can and want. I have a list as long as my arm of things I want to see, to do, to learn, to accomplish, and one by one, I am doing them.

I encourage you to not put off the things you want to do. If you can't do everything on your list, do the ones you can. Make even the smallest of accomplishments big deals. Celebrate life. Please don't make the mistake that so many do and sit wait for the reaper (the undertaker). Make him come look for you. Keep moving so much that he has trouble keeping up with you. (LOL) It can be as simple as reading every book that you have wanted to read and never had time to learning to kayak. Just do something...learn something...accomplish something.

ENJOY YOUR LIFE WHILE YOU CAN! You will stay healthier and happier than if you just sit and wait.

MAKE JANUARY THE MONTH YOU REALLY BEGIN TO LIVE!

Do you have a 'bucket” list? Are there things you have wanted to do but for some reason you haven't done them? Make the list. Look at the list. Pick the easiest thing on the list and do it first. You will see how it encourages you to do more and you will feel good.

XOXO

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Product Review: ZEVIA - A New Kind Soft Drink (Soda)

1/19/2018

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For a long time we have heard and read that soft drinks are bad for you. Recent research has shown that soft drinks are harmful not only because of the sugar content, but also certain additives used to compose the drink and keep it shelf stable.

For years "diet" soft drinks were considered the answer to the negatives of soft drinks. Now we are learning that artificial sweeteners are unhealthy and even dangerous.

So, do we give up soft drinks all together? The answer for me was "yes!" That is until a new drink was developed and sold that solved all the problems of the soft drink dilemma.

ZEVIA is a soft drink (soda) that is sweetened with a leaf - the Stevia leaf. Stevia has no negative effects on our health and it sweetens extremely well. I have been using Stevia for a few years in a variety of recipes and drinks. I have used it in place of sugar in my apple pies and sweetened my tea with it. No calories - no bad after taste - no negatives.

ZEVIA also doesn't contain any artificial colors or chemicals. My cola was actually clear in color, but tastes like a cola. I loved the cola and root beer flavors. The Dr. Pepper dupe, however, didn't win me over. It is the only flavor that I didn't love.

Coca-cola makes a Stevia sweetened coke, but they still use the same chemicals as regular sugar coke to stabilize the rich caramel color. While it tastes good, I won't drink it because of those chemicals.

If you're looking for a good replacement for your normal sugary soft drink (soda), try ZEVIA. I like it, it's healthful, and it satisfies my cravings for good soda.

Did you give up soft drinks? Do you have a favorite beverage that you go to when you want something sweet but healthy? Have you tried ZEVIA? If so, did you like it? Have you tried Stevia? What do you use Stevia for?

XOXO

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Book Review: The Mediterranean Diet for Every Day

1/12/2018

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For several years the Mediterranean diet has been proclaimed by many health professionals as the gold standard of diets. It is a simple diet with big advantages. The basics of eating the Mediterranean way are rather simple and yet we as Americans, still make other choices.

The Basics:

Here are the food to include:

Extra-virgin olive oil
Fresh fish and seafood
Fresh, frozen, and canned fruits
Fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables
Fresh herbs and spices
Nonfat Greek yogurt
Nuts and seeds
Part-skim milk cheese
Olives and Avacados
Potatoes and legumes
Poultry (chicken, turkey, etc,)
Skim milk
Whole-grain bread and pasta
Whole grains (brown rice, cereal grains, etc,)

Foods to limit:

High fat dairy products (whole or 2 percent mile, ice cream, etc,)
Natural sweeteners (raw sugar, honey, maple syrup, stevia, etc,)
Red meat (3-4 servings per month)
Wine (one glass per day with meals)

Foods to avoid:

Fatty cuts of meat
Fried foods and fast food
Processed snacks and prepared foods
Refined sugar and flour
Saturated fats (butter, margarine, etc.)
Sugary desserts and candy

This book is full of easy and delicious recipes. Recipes that even I can follow. It also offers a sample grocery list to help you stock your pantry and refrigerator with what you need. Chapter 2 introduces an easy to follow meal plan for weight loss, weight control, and improving overall health. It provides four weeks of meal plans, grocery lists, and recipes for those four weeks.
Appendix A is a list of snacks that are under 50 and under 100 calories each. This is a big resource when trying to follow a diet plan.

This is a little book, but it is packed full of good information and
written in an easy to read and follow text.

YES! I would recommend this book! I love the recipes!

You can purchase this book at these links and other bookstores, as well:
www.amazon.com/Mediterranean-Diet-Every-Day-Recipes/dp/1623153050

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mediterranean-diet-for-every-day-telamon-press/1117886726#/

https://www.ebay.com/p/The-Mediterranean-Diet-for-Every-Day-4-Weeks-of-Recipes-and-Meal-Plans-to-Lose-Weight-by-Telamon/177926781

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mediterranean-diet-for-every-day-4-weeks-recipes-meal/id789876068?mt=11

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Telamon_Press_The_Mediterranean_Diet_for_Every_Day?id=51Z0AgAAQBAJ

Are you following a specific diet or just fly by the seat of your pants (lol)? Have you tried or do you follow the Mediterranean diet? If you have, did it help you reach your weight and/or health goals? Was it easy to follow? What was the hardest thing for you to follow about the diet?

XOXO

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Life: Expand Your Knowledge – Anyone who keeps learning stays young!

1/5/2018

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No one is too old to learn something new or do something new. If we stop learning we become stagnate. If we stop progressing we are digresssing. If we cease to move forward we are either standing still or we are going backwards.

"Anyone who stops learning is old,
whether at twenty or eighty.
Anyone who keeps learning stays young.
The greatest thing in life is
to keep your mind young."
- Henry Ford -

Henry Ford had it right. Almost every day I learn something new. Some things I learn are small but many things I learn are major. I love to learn. According to Ford learning keeps us young.

Sometimes as we get older, we tend to think that we have seen and/or heard it all. We tell ourselves that we know everything we need to know and a lot of stuff we don't. In reality, we don't know everything we need to know. The world changes - progresses - and if we don't keep up, we will be left behind. We will find ourselves outdated.

It doesn't matter when we pick up the learning bug, it can come at any stage of life. It can come after years of thinking we know it all...the important thing is, we catch it - catch that learning bug.

This may require you to step outside your comfort zone. It may require you to step into the unknown. Some new activities or interests may be complicated and require a lot of preparation, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. That only means that when it's all said and done, you made a huge accomplishment. Other new activities or interests may be quite simple and all you need to do and get up and do them or learn them.

Examples of Complicated Challenges that may require a lot of preparation but have huge pay-offs are:

Acquire a new hobby such as:

- Clothing design and construction (make your own clothes!)
- Needlecrafts such as cross stitch
- Writing (Poetry, Short Stories, your memoirs, etc.

Develop a part time career that you really enjoy doing such as: Personal Chef; Personal Shopper; Sit with a home bound elder a few times a month; Teach someone a second language; Tutoring (reading to elementary or illiterate adults; Life Skills (balancing bank accounts; planning a menu; creating a livable budget;
Kayaking
Sky Diving
Run a Marathon
Learn how to swim
Teach a Skill that you already have (Reading to those who can't, art, swimming, etc.)
Learn Ballroom Dancing!
Join a Travel club or travel alone to a state or country you have always wanted to visit.
ANYTHING you have ever wanted to do but didn't have time or your fear prevented you from trying...DO IT!

Examples of Simple Challenges that may only require the effort to get off the couch and do them are:

Acquire a new hobbie such as:

- Learn Quilting
- Learn Oil Painting
- Learn to Draw
- Learn Photography
- Learn Culinary Cooking
- Learn ANYTHING! Either by reading books or taking classes or just experimenting!

Start Hiking (Short ones at first then increasing in length and difficulty)
Volunteer! Volunteer at a local school, assisted living or nursing facility; become an advocate for children, animals, or the elderly; Pink lady at your local hospital (Pink lady where I live are ladies and men who assist visitors to the hospital and run the gift shop); serving at your local soup kitchen; Deliver Meals on Wheels a few days a month; etc.
Take a class at your community college and learn a new subject such as: Computer Technology (using and repairing); Literature Course; A course on some type of social media (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, twitter, etc.); etc.
Purchase a healthy eating cookbook and cook one new recipe from it everyday until you have prepared every recipe in the book. Change your eating habits to healthy and learn new recipes at the same time.
Join a gym and actually GO!
Join a book club at your local library. Read and discuss books with other people (you benefit on many levels). If your library doesn't have a book club, START ONE!
Join or create a game club. It can be cards (Hearts, Canasta, Uno, Rook, Bridge, etc.); Jenga; Board Games; Monopoly Club; Trivia Club; Movie Club (pick and watch movies together and alternate locations); ANYTHING you think would be fun to do with others, join a club and if one doesn't exist, start one!
ANYTHING you can imagine or think of....give it a try. Learn something new either alone or with others.

The important thing to remember in this new year is that you are never too old to learn something new! NEVER!

Start small or jump into the major challenge right from the beginning. Once you learn one thing, go to the next, learn multiple things at the same time,
DO NOT BECOME STAGNATE!

Stay engaged and always learning and trying new things. Make 2018 the year of I CAN and I DID, instead of I WISH. THIS IS THE SECRET TO KEEPING YOUR MIND YOUNG!

Is there something you have always wanted to do but never had the time or you said to yourself I don't think I can do that? Give it a try. If you succeed, you have gained knowledge, if you fail, at least you tried and you still have gained knowledge. Do you make it a goal to learn something new every year? Every month? Every week? Every day? Look around you, experiment and learn something new!

XOXO

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Encouragement: Make January the Month You Start to Live Your Life to the Fullest!

Product Review: ZEVIA - A New Kind Soft Drink (Soda)

Book Review: The Mediterranean Diet for Every Day

Life: Expand Your Knowledge – Anyone who keeps learning stays young!

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Encouragement: Make January the Month You Start to Live Your Life to the Fullest!

Product Review: ZEVIA - A New Kind Soft Drink (Soda)

Book Review: The Mediterranean Diet for Every Day

Life: Expand Your Knowledge – Anyone who keeps learning stays young!

My mission​

Categories

Archives

About

Blog

Contact

My mission