Overwhelmed?!

I am a student.  I do not know if many of you know that, and right now I am overwhelmed with the semester coming to an end in the next three weeks.  I have papers to write, finals to study for, and still work and do household 'chores'.  When I get overwhelmed and stressed, I tend to get anxious- and I really dislike that feeling.  So I have tried some techniques to help me bring some balance into my life and help me get through this stressful time.

1.  Deep breathing-  I do not meditate. I never thought breathing and relaxing my eyes for a few minutes would help me.  But I was wrong.  When I feel my head about to explode with endless lists piling up, I take a time out.  Move away from my computer, relax my eyes, and take a few deep breathes.  Sometimes just a few breathes help, and sometimes I find myself like this for more than a few minutes.  But it works.  It relaxes me, and helps me accomplish the rest of my day. So next time you feel like you're ready to burst, just relax and breath, deep, and clear that head!

2.  Lists-  This is also something new for me.  I have never felt the need to write everything I have to do down.  I always thought I would remember everything.  Well, that's not so true.  Age is a funny thing when it has to do with memory- as I do not have one, or my memory is not as good as it once was!  I have to write everything I want to accomplish for the day down. Once I complete a task, I cross it off.  And it feels so good to cross things off that long list!

3.  Do not try to get everything done in 1 day-  It is impossible for anyone to get a weeks worth of work done in 1-2 days.  This is why the list will help as well, you can designate days for certain tasks.  Give yourself time, whether morning or night, to get some things done- the pile of laundry can go in this morning, and you can do the dishes when you get home that night-  there is no rush! If the laundry is not done today- it is ok, you do have tomorrow!

These are just a few techniques that I believe can change your whole day!  Life is about balance, and sometimes you need help to get the right balance in daily.  You can not make your whole day about work, or school,  without a little break,  just like you can not spend your whole day in front of the TV doing nothing.  We need a little bit of both in our life to keep us healthy!

Seasonal Cleanse- WITH food!

Now that the weather is finally warming up, I have started my running routine again (which I semi-stopped when the colder weather was upon us!) and I have realized I am a little run down and slow!  I began thinking about the causes of it, and why I am having such difficulty running when I am a RUNNER!  After some thought, I decided it must be from all the toxins I have allowed into my body this winter.  The caffeine, some dairy, meats, and other's have all entered my body and it is time to detox the winter choices I have made out.
Starting on May 1, I decided to do my own seasonal cleanse, and I am hoping to make it last for at least 30 days.  I will crowd out certain foods, such as meats and coffee, while adding in more clean, fresh foods that are now starting to pop to life- such as more dark leafy greens and delicious fruits.

Summer is coming, and coming fast I might add, so now is the perfect time to get rid of the winter blues and feel energized once the sun is out past 8 PM!
Join me in my cleanse. It is not about losing numbers, it is about feeling great, and when you start eating the right foods for your body, your body will thank you!

If interested in starting spring off with a kick, contact me today! 

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups!

                                                          

After watching post after post of everyone's candy yesterday, I decided I wanted some too.  However, I was not going out to the store to get my favorite- Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, because now that I know what is in them, I have a hard time allowing myself to put it in my body!  So I made them instead-  and let me say, they were so easy to make and so DELICIOUS!

Ingredients-

                    Chocolate Mixture-

                                                  1/2 bag of Organic Dark Chocolate that you can melt

                                                  1/4 cup Organic Coconut Oil

                                                  1 Tablespoon Vanilla flavoring

                    Peanut Butter mixture-

                                                  1/3 cup Organic Peanut Butter

                                                  1.5 Tablespoon Local/Organic Honey

                                                  1/8 teaspoon Coconut Oil

                  Other items needed-

                                 Mini cupcake tin- mine held 12, and this recipe was perfect for that amount

                                 Mini cupcake liners

                                 Double boiler to melt chocolate and peanut butter- I do no have one, so I used a soup pot and two stainless steel bowls which fit in the pot, that are also ok with heat. 

1.  Line cupcake tin with liners.

2. Chocolate Mixture-   

 Allow water to boil in bottom pot. Place pot or other bowl on top and add coconut oil.  Once melted- add chocolate and stir constantly.  You do not want to let it burn.  Once most of it is melted- add vanilla and continue stirring.

Once melted, add bottom layer of chocolate to the cupcake liners.  Place in freezer for about ten minutes.

While in freezer- 

remove chocolate mixture- you will reheat and use the rest in a bit.

2.  Peanut Butter Mixture- 

With water boiling-place second bowl or pot and add coconut oil.  Once melted add peanut butter and honey and stir constantly until melted and smooth.  

Once bottom chocolate later is frozen, add peanut butter layer- about a spoonful/

Place in freezer for another 10 minutes.

3.  After 10 minutes, take out.  Reheat chocolate mixture.  Should only take maybe 5 minutes to re-melt it.  Add top layer.  Place back in freezer and let cool for another ten minutes, if not longer.

                                                         

ENJOY!

Always eat for your body- and do not deprive yourself of something you are craving.  There is always another alternative- you just have to find it or create it!