Dreaming

Just a few of my dreams...

Creating a "Dream Board" is a great way to inspire yourself and keep you focused and motivated.  Basically, it's a poster/collage of all the things you want most in life.. things you are willing to work for.  Things that make even the tough times worth struggling through.

My board contains just a smattering of things I'm dreaming of.  More recreational time with Kirby... fun vacations... having the money to pamper myself at a day spa once in a while. :)  Being able to spoil the "kids" with nice things while we RV around the country.  I even included smaller dreams, like finally getting that Kitchen-Aid stand mixer I've been dying to mix up a batch of homemade artisan bread in!  And of course, being the computer geek that I am, I did my dream board in Photoshop instead of on a poster-board.  At least this way, I can post it on my blog, right?

Speaking of... how did a new computer not make it onto the board?  Well, at least more free time to game did. *grin*

Never forget to dream.. And don't be afraid to help manifest your dreams by putting them out there for the Universe to see.  Remind yourself every day what your looking forward to and always remember to be grateful for the things you already have.  

Live Healthy. Live Happy.

Healthy Recipe of the Week ~ Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken & Vegetables

Colorful, quick and easy!  The veggies can be mixed and matched to suit your taste, or try Asian rice noodles in place of the pasta.  And you can simplify this dish even more and still keep it healthy by substituting leftover rotisserie chicken!

Peanut Noodles with Shredded Chicken & Vegetables

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chile-garlic sauce, or to taste (can be found in the Asian food section of your local mega-mart)
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1 12-ounce bag fresh vegetable medley, such as carrots, broccoli, snow peas, bell peppers

Preparation

1. Put a large pot of water on to boil for cooking pasta.
2. Meanwhile, place chicken in a skillet or saucepan and add enough water to cover; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, shred into bite-size strips.
3. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, chile-garlic sauce and ginger in a large bowl.
4. Cook pasta in the boiling water until not quite tender, about 1 minute less than specified in the package directions. Add vegetables and cook until the pasta and vegetables are just tender, 1 minute more. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Rinse the pasta and vegetables with cool water to refresh. Stir the reserved cooking liquid into the peanut sauce; add the pasta, vegetables and chicken; toss well to coat. Serve warm or chilled.

Nutrition

Per serving: 363 calories; 12 g fat ( 2 g sat , 0 g mono ); 44 mg cholesterol; 36 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 29 g protein; 7 g fiber; 348 mg sodium; 287 mg potassium.

Originally published in “The EatingWell Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook (2006)”

Clearing the Clutter

Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to get motivated on an overcast, rainy day?  Or has tackling a pile of dirty dishes or a heap of laundry ever left you feeling like you could tackle the world?  That's because our state of mind is closely tied to all aspects of how we live our lives.  It's not just what we put into our body that matters... the environment we surround ourselves with has a huge impact on the quality of our lives.

For me, clutter is my nemesis when it comes to maintaining an environment that enriches my own sense of personal well-being.  When I'm surrounded by clutter, I find it hard to focus.  I feel frazzled, anxious and short-tempered.  And right now, my house is CLUTTERED.  So much so that I'm finding it extremely difficult to even finish this blog entry.

So my challenge to myself and to my readers is to take a look around your home, your office, your car... anyplace you spend a significant amount of your waking time.  Take a look around and see what your surroundings say about your state of health and happiness.  Are they an accurate reflection of how you feel... of how you WANT to feel?  Or like me, is there room for improvement?  And remember, even small accomplishments can have a huge impact on your sense of well-being.

The timing is perfect for some spring cleaning,  so over the next few days, I'll be clearing out some clutter around here.

Live Healthy.  Live Happy.

Monday Meditation ~ Learning to Soar

"A toddler will fall down many times before learning to walk. I will fall down many times both in my own eyes and the eyes of others during my life's journey.  But it is only when I let go of those limiting opinions and expectations of myself and look skyward that I will learn to fly."

Learning to fly, as a person, was one of the most important things in my life a few short years ago.  I practiced daily meditation, I fed my curiosity daily and nourished my mind and my body with things that were good for me... and was willing to let go of any limiting ideas that came my way.

Then the one thing I had never expected to happen did.  I found myself in a new city without a job and unable to find a new one.  So much of my self confidence and self identity had been tied to my career that when I found myself suddenly without one, I fell.  Hard.  Actually, truth be told, I did more then fall. I self imploded.     

The year that followed that was one of great trials.  Culminating in a devastating auto accident that left me in chronic pain and robbed me of my mobility for months.  I lost all faith in myself.  I let all of the limitations of my situation, my own shattered confidence and the opinions of others taint my vision.

They say that when you hit bottom, the only place to go is up.  Well I was there.  But I was never one to give up easily.  So I once again looked skyward.  I remembered the beautiful soul that was still inside me, filled with passion and creativity and potential.  I had been holding her back, holding onto limitations that were not part of who I was, only part of what had happened to me.  It was hard, but I decided to let go of all of the things that were holding me back and start over.  It hasn't been that long since I made that decision... but even in such a short time, it has been life-changing. 

Maybe that's why I wanted to share this particular meditation.  Because that one small decision, to let go of all the limiting ideas and expectations that we hold onto, can make such an overwhelming change for good in our lives. 

What limiting opinions and expectations are keeping you from soaring?

Live healthy.  Live Happy.

Shake up your Weekend with Cookies & Cream!

This shake is so good it should have a warning label, "Caution.  May cause Brain Freeze from slurping it down too fast." And it couldn't be easier to make!


Ingredients:
2 scoops Cookie and Cream Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix
2 tablespoons Personalized Protein Powder
1 cup plain soy milk, rice milk, or nonfat milk
4-5 frozen low-fat yogurt cubes*

Directions:
Place all ingredients in the blender and mix thoroughly until the ice cubes are completely crushed.

* To make frozen yogurt cubes, scoop 1 pint of plain or vanilla nonfat yogurt into an ice cube tray.  Freeze overnight, then transfer the the cubes to a freezer bag to store.  You can keep the yogurt cubes in the freezer for up to 3 months, though you'll probably use them faster then that. :)  They're great for making smoothies and shakes!

Healthy Inside and Out ~ Healthy Hair

There was a time when I had 80's hair.  Yes, that's me in that picture -- 20 years old when I still had big (REALLY BIG) hair.  I tell you, getting that kind of lift was an art!  My hair was always fine so hair gel and extra hold hairspray was a must, but I had a lot of hair to work with.  But something happened when I hit about 25.  I started to lose my hair.

I used to joke that it was my hairs way of getting back at me for all of the hairspray and blow-drying I put it through in my pursuit of big hair.  But the truth is, most women experience thinning hair at some point in their lives.  Mine just started early.

You see, women don't usually lose hair the way that men do.  Instead of distinct  hair loss patterns, women lose their hair all over.  You might notice more hair in your brush. You may start seeing bits of scalp where you couldn't before.  Your hair might just seem flatter and less full.  Lot's of things can contribute to it.  Aging.  Environmental factors like over-styling, hard water, and harsh chemicals.  And poor nutrition.  

By the time I was 30, I had noticeable thin spots.  I tried those vitamins made specifically for "healthy hair and nails".  I tried hair growth treatments designed specifically for women.  They helped halt the damage... kept me from losing more hair.  But I was still left with thin, limp hair where there was once a full mane of beautiful chestnut waves.

Skip forward to a few days ago.  I had just gotten out of the shower and was combing through my freshly dried hair.  Even without any styling products, it was fuller and shinier.  I primped a bit, admiring it curiously.  Then I got up close and personal with it, scrutinizing my known thin spots only to find that I was having trouble finding them.  What I did find was tiny little new hairs starting to grow!  I was perplexed, but had a busy afternoon planned and didn't think much more of it.

Until later that night.  That's when my husband, out of nowhere said.  "Wow.  You're hair looks great tonight. Did you do something different?"  He noticed how good my unstyled, unprimped hair looked.  Because it did look good.  Better then it's looked in a while.  And the only thing that had changed was what I've been putting in my body.

So I did some focused research on the new Herbalide products I had just started taking.  I found an article by Dr. Luigi Gratton that specifically mentioned two of the nutritional supplements I was taking.

Formula 2 Multivitamin Complex is a great way to obtain the vitamins and minerals needed for healthy hair. It contains over 20 essential nutrients such as Zinc which builds hair protein and vitamins B and C which support strong, supple strands of hair. It also includes Iron, which prevents hair follicles from being starved of oxygen and Beta-Carotene, an essential nutrient for hair growth. Herbalifeline® contains Omega-3 fatty acids necessary for healthier, shinier looking hair. These essential fatty acids help to condition and lubricate the hair.

Better nutrition, better hair. WIN!  I knew being healthy means healthier hair too... I just never imagined could be so noticable in only a few weeks time.

I'm so impressed with the improvements I've seen with my hair that I'm getting ready to start using Herbalife's Moisturizing Aloe Shampoo and Conditioner as well.  I'll keep everyone updated!

Live Healthy.  Live Happy!

This Week's Featured Recipe ~ Tabbouleh Salad

Tabbouleh makes a great side dish choice for your healthy, colorful meal!  It's quick and easy to make and is full of flavor.  It also makes a wonderful meal on it's own, especially when you toss in some grilled chicken and serve with fresh baked Naan (flatbread).  Or try it as a wrap with some sliced roast beef and a tablespoon of feta cheese for a healthy lunch.

 Tabbouleh Salad

• 1 cup couscous* (I like using tri-color couscous)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup chopped green onions (or young white onions)
• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
• 3 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cucumber - peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Combine couscous and boiling water in a large bowl. Cover, and set aside to soak for 5-10 minutes.
2. Add oil, lemon juice, onions, parsley, mint, tomatoes, and cucumber; toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 

* I use couscous for my tabbouleh because I always have some on hand in my pantry.  For more traditional Tabbouleh, use 1 cup bulgur wheat instead of the couscous.  Soak the bulgur wheat for about 30 minutes or until al dente' before adding the rest of the ingredients.