"How do you live your dash?"

I was deeply touched by the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. I had followed her battle with breast cancer and all the difficult times that played out in her life with her husbands affair and scandal. Elizabeth handled herself in a classy loving way looking positively despite all that she had been dealt and in the end was able to forgive. I can't imagine knowing your life was coming to an end, knowing that your young children would soon be motherless and having a failed marriage that was played out in the media in a humiliating way. She was able to hold her head up and fight the fight which is truly admirable. May she rest in peace and be greeted in Heaven with her son who had passed away back in 2006. May we all learn from Elizabeth that no matter what difficulties we have in our lives we can chose to keep going with a positive outlook and leave a legacy in this world.

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the date on her tombstone, from beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth, and spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years (1934-1998)
for the dash represents all the time that she spent alive on the earth
And only those who loved her, know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars...the house...the cash,
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough, to consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy's being read with your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say; about the way you spent your dash?

Pretty in Plaid

I'm really loving plaid for this winter. Anything plaid from button up shirts, jackets, hats, shoes, skirts, etc. It's a bit rustic, a bit masculine which is why my favorite look is a casual plaid long sleeve with a fancier skirt. Take a look at some of the favorite looks!

Healthy Holidays!

Now, I'm not writing this post to be a Debbie Downer but rather just so that we keep our health and food consumption in mind over the Holidays. There are many contradictory studies that state the average weight gain during the Holiday's range from 1-7 lbs. Regardless, weight gain can and often does happen. As a Wellness Consultant I am constantly working with clients to avoid weight gain from occurring during the Holiday season and here are some popular tips I cover.

1. When at a Holiday gathering take a look at all the appetizers provided. Choose which one's look the best and you feel would be worth the calories. When people mindlessly keep grabbing from the appetizers they can eat as many as 800 calories even before dinner, dessert and drinks! If plates are provided place the chosen appetizers on the plate and don't go back for seconds. We have a tendency at parties to eat mindlessly while chatting so, by putting a certain amount of food on a plate we can help combat the never-ending chip and dip habit.

2. Cocktails come along with Holiday parties and I'd by lying if I said I didn't indulge. Go ahead and drink up but be conscious of the cocktails you choose. A lot of drinks that contain fruit juices or pre-made mixes are high in sugars and calories. If possible make yourself a vodka soda with a splash of cranberry juice for extra flavor or a Mojito if it's made naturally without the pre-made mix. Keep away from drinks such as eggnog, White Russians and Margaritas.

3. When eating your main course only place the amount that you intend to eat on your plate. We have a tendency to fill our plates which tricks the minds to think that we must finish it all. Instead place a moderate amount on your plate and you will be satisfied without that uncomfortably full feeling.

4. Now on to desserts, my favorite part. Again like the appetizers, scope out what kind of treats they are offering and decide for yourself which to splurge on. Instead of grabbing a little bit of everything, only choose the one thing that you feel you can't leave without and stick with that. This in turn may save you up to 500 calories!!

5. Exercise is crucial and something that often takes the back seat when life gets hectic. People are the most successful when they workout early in the morning before work because they are able to get the workout done leaving no excuses for the evening time. Treat your workouts as a work meeting or a doctors appointment that you must attend. You wouldn't just skip a doctors appointment or work meeting would you?

6. Drink water!! We drink coffee, we drink diet sodas and tea throughout the day but forget to drink our water. Caffeinated drinks act as diuretics which actually dehydrate the body leading to fatigue, loss of concentration, and headaches. For every caffeniated drink you have it is suggested to have an extra glass of water to make up for this. You should have approx. 64 oz of water/day however, for those who workout intensely or have a bigger build it is suggested to drink up to 80 oz.

7. Watch your stress. Stress levels seem to rise as the Holidays approach, from getting your shopping done to work deadlines we seem to be a bit more tense. When you feel your stress levels increase, take a 5-10 minute break and practice deep (diaphragmatic) breathing, or do something you know to be effective for you individually (listen to music, draw, write, call a friend, read, go for a walk).

Hope these tips help to ensure you have a fun and healthy Holiday season!

Maya Angelou

I have always been deeply touched by Maya Angelou's work which is focused on women's power and beauty among many other life lessons. In a sea of many authors and poets, Maya Aneglou in my opinion is the most extraordinary; she speaks from her soul and is able to perfectly reflect her insights in a way that is clear and meaningful to the outside world. She will be a remembered as one of the most talented, open poets of our time and so eloquently writes about issue that are near to everyone's heart. Her writing continue to be a great encouragement and way to strive to be a better person.

Phenomenal Woman
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

45 Best Maya Angelou Quotes:

1.If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.
2.Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at it destination full of hope.
3.If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don’t be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning ‘Good morning’ at total strangers. – Maya Angelou
4.If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.
5.Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time.
6.The honorary duty of a human being is to love.
7.Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage. –
8.I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.
9.My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.
10.One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. – Maya Angelou
11.The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. –
12.The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.
13.Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
14.I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. – Maya Angelou
15.I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. – Maya Angelou
16.Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
17.My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.
18.You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you. All the other tangible rewards will come as a result.
19.A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.
20.I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
21.Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud. – Maya Angelou (Letter to My Daughter)
22.We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
23.You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.
24.Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.
25.The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise
26.Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.
27.You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise!
28.I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.
29.Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.
30.I sustain myself with the love of family.
31.I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. Maya Angelou
32.A Woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.
33.The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.
34.The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don’t know my story…
35.A woman who is convinced that she deserves to accept only the best, challenges herself to give the best. Then she is living phenomenally.
36.The sisters and brothers that you meet give you the materials which your character uses to build itself. It is said that some people are born great, others achieve it, some have it thrust upon them. In truth, the ways in which your character is built have to do with all three of those. Those around you, those you choose, and those who choose you. – Maya Angelou
37.Living well is an art that can be developed: a love of life and ability to take great pleasure from small offerings and assurance that the world owes you nothing and that every gift is exactly that, a gift.
38.Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.
39.You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
40.We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.
41.When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.
42.This is my life. It is my one time to be me. I want to experience every good thing.
43.I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
44.We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.
45.You rose into my life like a promised sunrise, brightening my days with the light in your eyes. I’ve never been so strong. Now I’m where I belong. – Maya Angelou

Heartfelt Homemade Gifts

I think we can all agree that looking for the "perfect" present for someone can be a bit overwhelming! I live directly across the street from a mall (literally) and yet I can't bear to walk over there and fight the crowds.So, instead I headed to a slightly less populated store, Michael's Craft Store (my 2nd home) and I decided to search around for something I could make.
I wanted to be able to be creative while still watching my budget and I found the ultimate idea! I know that all my girlfriends adore jewelry just as much as I do so, I found some very inexpensive small unfinished wooden boxes. I figured that I had all the necessary supplies at home so instead of looking through all the isles I decided to put my blindfolds on and hightail it to the checkout line. 4 boxes for a total of $9 now that is an all time record and should be bragged about on well, this blog !! I will take you through the steps I took to accomplish my final product. I plan to fill the boxes with either a pair of earrings, necklace or bracelet depending on the particular friends individual style.

1. I was silly and forgot to take a picture of the box before I started painting and of course Michael's website is never up-to-date but I found a picture of one similar just to give you an idea. 2. I painted the boxes white and the inside a teal blue color. After this dried, I cut out a small piece of paper and hot glued it into the center section of the box that shows through to the front. 3. Next, create a flower to hot glue on the center of the front of the box. Put a a coat of clear laminate over the box to seal the paint and also to make it shiny and pretty! 4. Next, distress the box using a nail, hammer and screw to scratch up the surface for a weathered look.
ALL DONE!!!

Whimsical Weddings!

Yes, you may think this is a silly post since well, I'm already married but I'm one of those girls that just loved the whole wedding planning process. Beginning to end it was all so much fun:)In fact, I enjoyed it so much so that I had contemplated a career change to become an event planner but instead opted out of this idea and decided to fill this void by helping my girlfriends who are engaged plan their weddings.
Besides the beautiful celebration of a wedding it is always so exciting to see every couples unique style; from the color scheme, to the table arrangements, to the music, to the bridal attire, to the first dance, wedding cake, invitations, etc. All this is a direct translation of either the couple together or for those guys that just don't care about the planning, a direct translation of the brides style and personality.
It seems to me that weddings are becoming more and more creative over the years as brides experiment with different headpieces in place of a traditional Vail or choose to have an outdoor barn-type wedding instead of a traditional ballroom reception. This is what makes weddings so beautiful in my opinion, anything goes and it makes it even more exciting as guests to arrive at an event that we guess will appear a certain way but surprises us in a completely nontraditional gorgeous way.
If your in the middle of your wedding planning or wish about getting married in the near future my suggestion to you is to enjoy it all. Enjoy sharing time with your family in the planning process, and enjoy being creative to plan a celebration that both fits your style and an event in which you have always dreamt of. You only get married once so, you might as well do it right!

Delicious Low Calorie Cranberry Sauce

Low Calorie Homemade Cranberry Sauce

I love cranberry sauce on my turkey during Thanksgiving and leftover turkey sandwiches but I know how much sugar is added to canned cranberry sauce. This year Ryan's stepsister made a delicious cranberry sauce using splenda sugar substitute instead of granulated sugar and it was amazing! It didnt have that artificial processed flavor and texture that the canned cranberries have and I loved the fact that she used real cranberries which kept it's whole fruit form when cooked. I look forward to making this recipe not only during the holidays but throughout the year on top of Halibut and Chicken to add some extra flavor without all the extra calories!!

6 servings
Ingredients

1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granular
1/2 cup water
3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 medium orange, peeled and sectioned

COMBINE: cornstarch, SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granular and water in a medium saucepan, stirring until SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granular and cornstarch dissolve. Stir in cranberries and orange sections; bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often, 5 minutes or until cranberry skins begin to pop and mixture begins to thicken. Set aside to cool. Cover and chill at least 3 hours.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1/4 cup
Calories 50
Calories From Fat 0
Total Carbohydrate 13g
Dietary Fiber 3g
Sugars 4g

as compared to canned Cranberry Sauce
Calories 86
Dietary Fiber .6
Sugars 22g

World Vision-The Ultimate Christmas Gift

As we start to brainstorm our wish lists for Christmas this year let's try something new! Instead of asking for that extra pair of shoes or iPhone that isn't really necessary, let's consider giving a gift to someone in need and really making a difference. World Vision is an amazing organization whose mission is to offer a variety of different ways to give to the less fortunate. You can sponsor a child, provide emergency aide, donate products among many other options. The website is very easy to use and there are so many different options to give that your sure to find something that you feel is important.

As I get older the "things" in my life become less significant and doing something that benefits others becomes more important. My family has donated the last few years to World Vision both sponsoring children and also donating money for water and sanitation, money for education, and even donating animals such as goats and chickens for food and for the ability for others to make money.

World Vision is a great way to give back and before you ask for items that aren't needed browse around the website and make this Christmas unique by giving the gift of help which will be guarenteed to warm your heart.

Healthy Pumpkin Pie

If your like me then your a HUGE fan of pumpkin pie! All these years I had imagined that pumpkin pie was a pretty healthy alternative in comparision to many other dessert options however, after I was informed of the calories and fat I became less intrigued with this pie. Pumpkin Pie you have failed me!!! In an attempt to satisfy my pumpkin pie love during the holidays my mom and I came across a crustless pumpkin pie recipe which we tried and found to be absolutely DELICIOUS.

You use splenda, egg whites, and non fat milk subsitutions to make the pie low fat and by doing so you get a delicious dessert at only 64 calories for 1/4 slice of a 9'' pie and 0 grams of fat compared to 320 calories for 1/8 slice of a 9'' pie.

Regular Pumpkin Pie Nutrition Facts
Pumpkin Pie (1 piece (1/8 of 9" dia))
Calories 320
Fat 15 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Carbohydrates 40 g
Cholesterol 65 mg
Protein 7 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g

Crustless Pumpkin Pie Recipe
• 3/4 cup splenda sugar substitute for baking
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 4 egg whites
• 1 can (15 oz.) 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 12 oz. skim milk

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into eight small ramekins and place the ramekins on a baking sheet. Pre-Heat oven to 425 degrees. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Serve with a small dollop of whipped cream or cool whip.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Being grateful means recognizing and appreciating all of the abundance in our lives. We acknowledge our means and give thanks for them. Living in a state of gratitude means not only acknowledging those material and tangible things, but also acknowledging the intangibles as well. Those are the things we most take for granted because we cannot readily see and touch them in our lives. It is not until tragedy strikes that we begin to really see those things that are unseen to the naked eye."

"When we live from that place of gratitude, then I can witness to the abundance in my life"

Being thankful opens us up to receiving all kinds of wonderful blessings. When in a state of gratefulness, we acknowledge our true selves & radiate this energy to others

Sassy Sparkles

So, my great friend Amy just did an amazing blog about sparkles this season and I decided to kindof copy her (bc she is brillant) and also do a blog on sparkles. I'm a girly girl so I've loved sparkles for some time but this season it seems to be especially in.

I started thinking about sparkles more seriously after I had watched Oprah's favorite things yesterday and she featured the sparkly new eddition of the Ugg boots. They are a bit to much for me personally but I know that sparkles are in this winter and uggs tend to be very successful so, I figure there are many people out there that will snatch them up this holiday season. Sparkles add a statement to any outfit and nail polish companies as well as shoe companies have also tuned in to this growing trend. I especially love the 3 nail polish colors below that I have pictured (copper, mauve and black). Also, many shoe designers are making sparkly pumps that you can wear out for a fun look. I especially love a classy outfit such as jeans and a blazer with a pop of sparkle on the feet. It's unexpected and will be sure to catch everyone's eye.