When I’m not working, how do I balance my time? Rest? Exercise? Household chores? Fun? Obligations to other people? Eating? Reading? Couch surfing? Friends?
How do I balance sanity with insanity?
Too much coffee? Not enough coffee?
Goals and Dreams vs. Work/obligations/rest?
Am I too selfish? Too generous?
How do I balance self-pity with gratitude?
Do I consider what what I think is important, or what really is important?
How do I balance healthy boundaries with the need to want to please other people?
I’m still trying to figure out how to balance my goals and dreams with everything else I have to do. I read somewhere if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s where I want to be. Where I make money doing what I love. I want to be in a place where I’ll never need a vacation.
This is a very versatile dressing that goes with just about anything, and can also be used as a marinade for chicken and fish! It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Champagne Vinaigrette – Yields ~2cups
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Champagne Vinegar
1 1/2 cups EVOO
1.5 tsp Dijon
1.5 TBS Raw Honey
1.5 oz fresh parsley, chopped
S&P to taste
Method:
Put all the ingredients in a bowl except for the EVOO and S&P
Slowly drizzle in the EVOO while whisking as fast as you can so the oil emulsifies with everything else
You can also do it in a food processor. The important thing is to drizzle slowly, and mix fast. If you use a food processor, consider adding the parsley afterwards so it doesn’t get chopped too much
Add S&P to desired taste
*If using as a marinade for fish, consider adding some lemon zest.
When I look good, I feel good. The reverse is also true. There have been many days where I know I didn’t look my best, but I felt good and it showed. Other people could see it and remarked how good I looked. I thought, “Really? I haven’t showered and I’m still in my grubby work clothes.” People notice.
On days where I don’t particularly feel good, (like when I’m stressed out, frustrated, and feeling resentful towards everyone and everything) but I manage to take the time to make myself presentable and look good, that shows too! And when I look good, it helps to make me feel better too.
The best way I’ve found, for me, to look good and feel good is to work it from the inside out. If you put a bunch of junk in your body, then junk is what’s going to come out. Same theory applies to what you put in your head. Aside from the occasional treats I allow myself, I eat healthy, whole foods. Not fast food or any pre-made microwavable stuff with ingredients I can’t pronounce.
I like to make large batches of food ahead of time to keep in the freezer so I can have something good when I’m in a hurry. I split it into smaller portions so I can pull out a little bit at a time.
A good nights sleep is key to me looking and feeling good the next day. I organize my clothes I’m going to wear the next day as well as my thoughts. I have a plan in mind for the morning so I’m not scrambling around, grabbing whatever is convenient to eat and trying to rush out the door barely in time for work.
I do something good for myself first thing. I can’t be helpful to anyone else if I don’t first take good care of myself. And when I take care of myself on the inside, I can be fully present and more helpful to others. And being helpful to others also helps me feel better!
I take deep breaths and meditate while moving my body in a fluid motion trying to become one with the universe. Ebb and flow. I do some light yoga stretches. All this gets my blood flowing to my brain waking me up and clearing out any junk thoughts that might be floating around in there.
All these things make me feel good on the inside. I think of it as building layers, kind of like an onion, from the inside out.. When I feel good on the inside, it’s easier to look good on the outside!
Then I get myself ready on the outside.
I brush my teeth, do my hair, clean up and put my fresh face to the world. I put on clean clothes. I smile at myself in the mirror and tell myself “It’s going to be a great day!” (Even if I really think it won’t, I say it anyway. I fake it til I make it..)
When I leave the house feeling and looking good, inside and out, the world knows it, and I am better able to practice kindness to both myself and others, which ultimately benefits me in the long run!
I’m also particular about what I feed my mind. I rarely watch TV because it’s mostly junk. I prefer to read. And mostly what I read is uplifting and motivating. I try to build layers of good from the inside out. It’s helped me become a more helpful, productive, and positive person.
My life isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve learned to appreciate what I do have. When feelings of anger, hurt, frustration, discontent, or just general bad-will start to set in, I practice gratitude.
I also start out my day with a preemptive strike against bad thoughts by making a list of what I’m grateful for. I try not to take anything I have for granted; not even seemingly small things like my morning coffee, or electricity and gas for my home.
I appreciate that the sun rises every morning.
I appreciate that I can breathe.
I appreciate that I continue to wake up every morning.
I appreciate my friends and family.
The more I practice appreciation in what I have, as opposed to disappointment, anger, or jealousy towards what I don’t have, the easier my day goes and the less worry I have.
I’ve discovered life really is too short to sweat the small stuff and waste time being angry at things I have no control over. I’ve learned to accept rather than expect. And my peace of mind directly reflects my level of acceptance.
This recipe contains bananas, spinach, and avocado which can help boost concentration, which can help with meditation, which can lead to inner peace, which can improve your life…
Mix all ingredients together in a blender except avocado until fully incorporated
Peel and de-seed avocado
Rough chop avocado
Add avocado to blender, blend til smooth
For Salad:
Cut a few slices of turkey bacon into squares and cook them to your desired crispiness
Chop up your favorite kind of crispy lettuce
Chop up your favorite kind of crispy apples
Chop up your favorite kind of crispy cucumber
Chop up your favorite kind of tomato
Thin slice some red onion
Throw it all in a bowl and top with Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
Enjoy!
**Tip– Save the leftover dressing in the fridge for up to 3 days to use for dipping raw veggies in for a snack. Be sure to put plastic wrap directly on the dressing to keep air from getting to it. This will help slow it from oxidizing and turning brown.
A lot people, including me, lack the ability to come to a definite decision in a timely manner. It’s something I’m getting better at, but I’m still practicing and probably will be for the rest of my life. In Napolean Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich”, it says people who can come to a definite decision quickly are more successful in their lives than people who make decisions slowly. I took that to mean I must make the decision now to change my habits and routines If I want my life to improve.
Procrastination is the opposite of decision. People who procrastinate are destined to fail. You can’t achieve anything if you don’t do anything. People who can make definite decisions in a timely fashion have a much higher chance of succeeding. It really is that simple.
Go ahead and make the decision RIGHT NOW to take back your life!
Go ahead and start taking the necessary steps now!
What are you waiting for? The best time is now.
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Keep practicing every day until you form a new, better habit.
Make the decision RIGHT NOW to lose weight, get toned, gain confidence, or whatever your goals may be.
The only thing holding you back is you. This is why I created this blog. To share my experience and give tips to help get and keep you motivated and thinking positive.
Invest in yourself. YOU are worth it, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Put them in a food processor and pulse until it resembles rice
Or you can chop it with a knife
Variations:
Whenever I make cauliflower rice (or regular rice for that matter) I never just make rice. My favorite way is to start out with a little EVOO in a pot and get it hot. Then I add diced onion, minced garlic, and diced peppers. Once the onions have turned translucent I add the “rice” and mix it up for a minute or so. Then I add a little chicken stock for flavor. (Feel free to omit this to keep it vegan)
**For regular rice, the chicken stock will be the substitute for the water you would normally cook it in.
Another excellent use for cauliflower rice would be to use it in tabbouleh.
The New Super You 
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