30 healthy habits that every #girlieboss should have...

30 Healthy Habits that EVERY #girlieboss should have!  As always, if you have something to add to the list, struggle with anything on the list, or just want to connect - click HERE!

1. START FRESH every single day!👊🏻
2. Understand that exercise doesn't have to be a big time commitment.🏋🏼
3. Cut back on (evil) sugar.😿
4. Use a RETINOL if you're starting to get wrinkles.🙄
5. NEVER grocery shop on an empty stomach.🙅🏻
6. STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP.🙌🏻
7. NEVER let Google diagnose you.😷
8. Learn to take constructive criticism.👌🏻
9. Count to 10 when angry.😡
10. Eat WHOLE FOODS as much as possible🍏
11. Don't skip your yearly check up!🌡
12. Don't overdo the booze.🍸
13. Don't snack if you're not hungry.🍪
14. Use SPF, and wear a hat in the sun.☀️
15. Water is your best friend. Drink up!💧
16. Safe sex, ALWAYS💑
17. Make your home a place you want to be.🏠
18. Drop loose change in the same jar everyday.💰
19. Stand up for yourself.💃🏼
20. Avoid tanning beds like the plague.🚫
21. Take medication seriously💊
22. Listen to your body.👂🏻
23. Don't skimp on sleep.💤
24. Don't do drugs...period. End of story.☠
25. Do mental health checks.💆🏻
26. Read labels on everything. 👀
27. Always wear a seatbelt, especially in a taxi.🚕
28. Check your bank account and credit card balance regularly.🏪
29. LOVE yourself!!! ❤️
30. BELIEVE in YOU!! You CAN!👊🏻
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Please feel free to share and tag your girlfriends 👯

Prep for SUCCESS, #girlieboss

Prep For Success!! Sundays are my prep day!! I prepare different meals for the week and schedule my workouts!  Do you prepare for your week or just tackle it each day as it comes?  I've learned that the more I am prepared and have things scheduled, I am more focused, driven, stay on track, and have an amazing week ahead!




Here are some ideas to prepare for a successful week:
1⃣ Create a list of goals for the week and keep it on your smart phone. That way you can refer back to it when you need motivation.
2⃣ Prep your meals ahead of time and separate into separate containers for grab and go convenience.
3⃣ Always have quick and healthy snacks handy for when unexpected hunger strikes. Almonds, apples and protein bars are great options!
4⃣ Schedule your workouts as if they are appointments.
5⃣ Put your gym clothes on first thing in the morning. Or have a packed gym bag in your car.
6⃣ Surround yourself with like-minded people who will support and encourage your healthy goals.

And my favorite tip of them all?
Believe in your life. Believe in your capacity to make right decisions, to do the right thing, and to be the best you possible. Believe that you CAN, you WILL, and that you DO deserve it. Trust the process and the journey. 

Why you need to eat breakfast!

Let's talk about breakfast. I ❤️ breakfast!! How many of you eat breakfast? 
Studies show that eating a HEALTHY breakfast (as opposed to the kinds that include donuts ) is linked to many health benefits, including weight loss. You may have heard the weight loss tip before but how about the others?

Did you know:
1. Eating breakfast can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes? Very simply put, people who skip breakfast experience insulin resistance, a condition in which you need more insulin to bring your blood sugar into a normal range. Chronic insulin resistance is a major risk factor for diabetes.
2. Improved memory! Giving the nutrients that your body and brain need is important for memory. Increasing the nutrient intake provide your brain and neurotransmitters all the elements needed to properly function.
3. Heart health. Studies show that those who skip breakfast have a higher risk of a heart attack or coronary disease! Experts say that not eating breakfast will lead to a greater chance of eating MORE calories later which can not only spike your blood sugar but clog your arteries.
4. Lose weight! If you skip breakfast, your body is in starvation mode - and conserves your calories, storing them instead of allowing them to burn. Eating breakfast boosts your metabolism and gets the digestion moving! "Fun" fact: sumo wrestlers typically skip breakfast for this very reason! They don't want to kick start their metabolism but rather want it stored. Who knew??

For more information on metabolism, eating clean recipes, and #girlieboss talk - connect with me on Facebook!  I have monthly free groups on metabolism boosting tips, clean recipes, and more! I'd love to have you!

Calling all chocoholics!

Calling all chocoholics!!! This recipe is to die for!!!  SO good!  If you would like more recipes, health/fitenss tips, etc - be sure to connect with me on Facebook!!!

-1 1/2 cups raw cashews
-1 1/2 cup dates, pitted and roughly chopped
-1/2 cup almond butter
-1/2 cup maple syrup
-1/2 cup coconut flour
-1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
-1/2 teaspoon almond extract
-1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
-1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil

Grind the cashews to a very fine meal in a food processor. Add the dates, almond butter, maple syrup, coconut flour, shredded coconut, and Almond extract and pulse until you have sticky ball of dough.

Line a small sheet pan with parchment paper and press the cashew mixture out on the paper, making a rectangle 1 inch deep. Refrigerate the mixture for 6 to 8 hours, until it's firm.

Meanwhile, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in the stainless steel or glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water (make sure the water doesn't touch the bowl). Stir the mixture until it's just melted, remove from the heat, and pour the chocolate mixture over the cold cashew mixture.

Return the bar to the fridge and let it cool until the chocolate coating is set, at least one hour. Using the parchment, lift the bar out of the sheet pan and cut it into rectangles.

Enjoy!!!
(Recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow)

Recipe alert - and don't let the name fool you, it's clean and healthy! Creamy Mexican Chicken

Happy Monday!!!

And it's the last Monday in January!!! I feel like this month FLEW by! How is everyone doing with their New Years Resolutions!?? Did you know that only about 8% of people actually keep their resolution?? IF your resolution was anything to do in health/fitness, then this recipe will help keep you on track but provide a 'cheating' feel....

Creamy Mexican Chicken is not only delicious but it is super easy and nutritious! Let's face it, usually when you hear "creamy", you think that the dish can't be all too clean and healthy? NOT this one! So, if you struggle to stay on track, this meal may be perfect for you....plus, with all the time saving benefits of a crockpot, you have extra time to get that workout in! ;)

CREAMY MEXICAN CHILI

Ingredients:

-4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts (may be frozen)

-15 oz. can black beans, drained

-7 oz. canned chopped green chilies

-1 cup frozen corn

-1 large onion, diced

-3 bell peppers, chopped

-15 oz. can diced tomatoes

-Salt and pepper, to taste

-1 tsp. paprika

-1 tsp. cumin

-1 red container plain Greek yogurt

-Fresh cilantro

Directions:

Add chicken breasts to slow-cooker. Top with remaining ingredients, except for Greek yogurt and fresh cilantro. Cook on low for 8 hours, until chicken breasts begin to fall apart easily.

Remove chicken and shred. Add back to crockpot. Add Greek yogurt, cover and continue to cook on low for 30 minutes. Stir well, top with fresh cilantro. Serve with tortillas, or over quinoa or rice.

21 Day Fix approved:

This makes 6 servings, and each serving counts as 1 RED, 1 GREEN, 1/2 a PURPLE, and 1 YELLOW. Count additional YELLOW for tortillas and/or rice and quinoa. Top with avocado or cheese with your BLUE container!

P.S I read that you shouldn't put frozen foods into a crockpot -- I've never had a problem with doing it but have you heard that?? For more tips like that, benefits of using, and over 40 crockpot recipes (all clean and healthy) be sure to join my FREE 5 day crockpot group that starts next week! JOIN HERE!

#ThankfulThursday

Thankful Thursday!! I am so grateful for my workout partner! Today especially, I needed a little kick in my booty...and she always provides it! Who is your workout buddy? Do you have one?? Be sure to Tag & Thank your workout buddy! 

Why you love your workout partner:

1. You'll Actually Show Up! Half the battle in a workout can be just getting there! Having an accountability partner will guarantee you show up! 

2. You'll Work Harder! It's proven that when you work out with someone, you are more likely to push yourself harder! The motivation and even competition with another person will kick up your workout!

3. You'll Score a Free Therapy session! Not only do you get a workout but you can talk and vent and laugh with a good friend! That's a priceless bonus!

4. You'll Learn New Tricks. Having another person to workout with means two brains versus one! Tired of boring bicep curls? Your friend may have a different move that works your biceps in a new way! Or, you can't master that Piyo flip? Your friend can help you dissect the move! 

5. You'll Burn More Calories. In fact, you'll burn, on average, 41 more calories per session exercising with your plus one than you would solo, studies prove.

Not to mention, it is just more FUN!  Why go thru a workout alone when you have someone by your side cheering you on and supporting you?  You can grab a cup of coffee after your workout and plan your next gym sesh or just catch up, too.  It's good for the body AND soul!  

**As always, you can connect with me on Facebook -- speaking of which, I am doing a FREE 5 day clean eating ROCK your CROCK POT challenge there starting February 3rd.   You should grab your workout buddy and join in the fun!  CLICK HERE to check it out!

My set of daily rules - and WELCOME!

Welcome, officially!, to my new blog!  Although I have been blogging and posting for a while now, doing it 'officially' on a blog site is new with me!  I hope you enjoy the reads -- and I would love to hear from you, so never hesitate to reach out and connect.  My goals with this blog is to inspire, motivate, and SHARE with you.  I plan on posting often about LIVING with cancer; sharing about Darren's story with brain cancer and our story with it, #girlieboss tips, health/fitness motivation and tips, and recipes.  If there is a subject you are interested in, you can find me on Facebook!  I am sure that I'll sneak in information about vertigo (anyone else battle with this!??) and my skin cancer treatments, too.  I have LOTS of stuff to share so I hope you join me in this journey!!!

1.  TAKE CARE OF YOU!: It is SO important to take time for yourself. Mom’s lives can get so busy with cleaning, cooking, running errands and playing, all while trying to deal with finances, kissing boo-boos and singing songs. Do something you love EVERY day.
2. LIFE IS BETTER WHEN YOU’RE LAUGHING: Learn to laugh. Nothing is going to be perfect – there are going to be days where you actually just want to cry! But learn to laugh. We all make mistakes – but everything works out. I find it helpful to laugh in some of the most stressful situations.
3. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SCHEDULE: I find that my most successful days as a mom are the days I wake up early and get going quickly. Find a schedule that works for you!
4. FOCUS ON FAMILY: Family should always come first. Your spouse and your children should be your very first priority. 
5. GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN…AND THAT IS OKAY: Not only is it okay, but it is a good thing! Leave the kids with your husband, mom, friend, babysitter – and have a little Girls Night Out! 
6. CREATE A HAPPY, HEALTHY HOUSE: That sign that says, “Please excuse the mess, my kids are busy making memories.” I LOVE that! Although it is so important to have a clean house, I am a big believer in creating a happy house too.
7. DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE JONESES: Always remember we don’t see EVERYTHING. Just because someone’s life looks flawless on Facebook, doesn’t mean that is truly how it is. Everyone has trials. Everyone has bad days. Stop comparing and just do your best.
8. CALL FOR HELP: I have learned that it is okay to ask for help. In fact, we can’t do it alone. If you don’t have a husband to call – call your mom, call a friend, call a neighbor. We all need support. 
9. LEARN HOW TO SAY “NO”: This is a hard one for me, but I am slowly learning how to say it. I can’t help with everything and be the best Mom to my family. 
10. DO WHAT YOU CAN DO, IN THE BEST WAY YOU KNOW: Lastly, just do your very best! No one is perfect!

And remember;

Be crazy.
Be stupid.🤓
Be silly.😝

Be weird.🤠

Be whatever.🤗

Because life is to short to be anything but happy!🙌🏻

Which of the habits above are you going to incorporate into your daily routine? Share below!