#35 My March Favorite Things

I know I sound like a broken record but "Where Did March Go???!!!!""  We are getting ready to enter into April and we have 11" of snow on the ground here in my neck of the woods!  Too funny!

Here are some of my pictures that I captured of our Winter Wonderland!

It was beautiful watching the thick snow fall while enjoying the warmth of my cozy home!

Here are a few of my favorite things for the month of March.  I know there are a lot of people who tell me that they read my blog at work and are unable to go to videos while at the office.  I do understand that BUT PLEASE don't forget about them when you get a chance to get to them either at home or on break.  I include them because they are AWESOME, in my opinion, and they shouldn't be missed.  So read what you can at the office and don't forget to watch the videos later on over the weekend!  You WON'T regret it!!!!

Speaking of videos -- EVERY MOM -- AND DAD, for that matter, needs to see this video.  Get your Kleenex and get ready to thank God for giving you this wonderful privilege of being a parent.  Lord knows parenting has it's ups and downs but I wouldn't change a thing with my boys (maybe some of the teenage years -- I'm just saying -- keeping it real!!) :-)

  

The Gift of An Ordinary Day a Mother's Memoir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSyCLJU3O0
 Click on the blue link under the picture

  

YOUR LAUGH FOR THE DAY!!!

 

 This lady reminded me of a family friend we called Miss Josephine.

A man and his ever-nagging wife went on vacation in Jerusalem. While they were there, the wife passed away. The undertaker told the husband, "You can have her buried here in the Holy Land for $150 or we can have her shipped back home for $5,000.  The husband thought about it and told the undertaker he would have her shipped back home.  The undertaker asked him, "why would you spend $5,000 to have her shipped home when you could have a beautiful burial here, and it would only cost $150????"  The husband replied, "Long ago, a man died here, was buried here, and three days later, rose from the dead.  I just can’t take that chance!"

My Favorite Homemade Salad for March!!!

This salad consist of:

1. cut up spinach leaves (Costco)
2. shredded carrots (Diebergs)
3. frozen corn -- refrig. temp. (Blue Diamond)
4. walnuts for crunch (Diebergs)
5. 1/2 box of raisins (Aldi)
6. low fat feta cheese (Trader Joes)
7. green olives (Aldi) and
8. sprigs of fresh dill (Diebergs) 

I made my own "Mock Ranch Dressing" out of three quarter cups of water, one cup of soaked pine nuts (for about 30 min.), onion powder, garlic powder, dill, salt and juice of one lemon.  Blend in a blender and you have a healthy version of Ranch Dressing.  The spices where to "taste."

I got this dressing recipe from Primitive Mommy on YouTube.

As you know, you can get these ingredients at one place, I just happened to remember where I got them and listed it.  Get yours from anywhere -- JUST ENJOY!!!!

Until next time...

 

Please leave a comment on the left.  Thanks for visiting.

#34 Some of My Favorite Internet Sites For Health!!

I would like to share some of my favorite Internet sites for health.  Grab a cup of water and sit back and click on the links below and be inspired! 


YOUTUBE:

Hey Fran Hey!

Natural From The Inside Out - My Clean Eating Grocery List (Part 1&2)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsGnx0l6rRc #1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGjk2yATvFE #2

Blogilates!

The Best Diet:  Eat Clean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8784JC75Zbw&list=UUAMKnXQz5AH9iohPsXB6_CQ

Learn Organic Gardening at Growing Your Greens!

Vertical Garden Planter, Plant Clips & other Gardening Supplies for only $1 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qms_61RACA

RawRadiantHealth

How To End Sugar Addiction, Cravings & Withdrawal, Ep111

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiugCvHtN60

Check out these channels and if you are so inclined subscribe.  Be inspired to continue on your healthy lifestyle!!!

Until next time...

Please leave a comment on the left.  Thanks for visiting.

#33 New Things To Come!!!

I love this thing called "blogging."  Why?  Well I would love to say -- it all started with my favorite movie Julie & Julia.  This young lady who felt her life was pretty much "Good for Nothing" decides with the help of her husband to do something worthwhile.  She enjoyed nothing more then cooking so she decided to start a blog going through Julia Child's cookbook and doing every recipe until she finished the entire book -- while blogging about it.

BUT -- I can't say that my blog started because of that movie...

It's miraculous how the body stretches...

It actually started with me hating the fact that I had been yo-yoing up and down with my weight.  I was never obese -- but for me finally reaching my goal weight and then turning right back around and gaining all my un-wanted pounds all over again -- that to me was madness.  I in turn got tired of it and decided that I needed some accountability and decided to do a journal of sorts (that's how this blog came about).  It started off as just a diary that I opened up for the world to read -- thinking that perhaps it would inspire and help someone else on their journey.  I started my blog in August, 2012.  I have been blogging consistently every Friday since then.



Well, has it helped me?  It sure has.  I am no longer doing the yo-yo thing with my weight.  I have been able to stabilize my weight ever since I started my blog.  PRAISE GOD!!!   Not only did it work, I found that I loved writing.  Who knew!!??

I tried to find a before picture -- I guess I don't take many of myself

I have always believed God put me here to be an encourager.  I enjoy helping people be all that God is calling them to be.  I consider myself as one of Gods cheerleaders!!!  I desire to be His spokeswoman -- and what better way to do that then with a blog.

My goal for my blog now that I have reached my goal is to continue to encourage others to do the same.  I find that when I encourage others I'm encouraged to stay on track.  I want this to be a place where you know you can come every FRIDAY to get encouragement pressing forward with your fitness goals.  The name of the blog changed awhile back.  It was Yo-Yo Eating No More.  It is now called Yo-Yo Eating No More and So Much More...  Why so much more -- because I want others to know that healthy living is not just about what you eat and how you work out -- we each have a calling on our lives by God.  Your is different then mine -- we need to have the right mindset, spiritually, physically and emotionally to fulfill that call.  So look forward to this blog touching on all of those different aspects.

Future Updates. In upcoming blog posts, I have some FABULOUS things in the works.  I will be paying it forward by showcasing simple, ordinary people doing extraodinary things in our community.  People going out of their way to help others achieve their Whole Life journey for greater health and wellness.  A blog is a great way to showcase them and let others know what they are doing and that they are out there.  There is so much bad news being displayed everywhere -- I want to share some good news!  We are blessed to have so many wonderful people doing great things here in the St. Louis area -- and why not show them off.

Last month I posted about one of those individuals, Kim Lebbing with Healthy Tummies -- Check out that post here if you missed it: (http://yo-yoeatingnomore.blogspot.com/2013/02/31-make-your-own-probiotic-soda-braggs.html).
She and her family were helped by changing their entire diet with probiotics among other things.  She was so impressed with the outcome that took place within herself and her family that she wanted to share what she learned with others.  She had classes at Whole Food Market and she decided to offer those classes in her home.  Lots of people are not familiar with fermenting your own food and probiotics -- and are learning so much from Kim.  Like the old saying goes:  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.  The more knowledge you have the better decisions you can make for your body.  That's wisdom.

Next month -- I will be blogging about The Tower Garden --You will not want to miss this!!!  This is for those who want to grow organic vegetables but feel like they "KILL" everything they try to grow.  You need no dirt for this people!!!!  I went to a presentation on it (Kim Lebbing as well) and it was AWESOME.  So she will be bringing this presentation to my home and I will blog all about it -- so look for that post in April!!!


 

So yes, blogging for me is a blessing and from the response of those reading my blog -- you enjoy what you are reading.  So Share it with your friends and family.  And if you know someone out there in the St. Louis area that is doing great things with health and fitness -- share them with me -- you just may see them posted in a future blog post.

Until next time...


Please leave a comment on the left.  Thanks for visiting.

#32 What Are You Doing For Spring Break?

What Are You Doing For Spring Break???

Today is March 8th and the first day of spring is March 20th.  With that being said, I'm getting prepared this year for not only my flower garden -- but I'm going to try my hand "AGAIN" at creating a vegetable garden.  Only this time -- Organic!!

What is pushing me this way is the high cost of organic produce.  I want to eat organic fruits and vegetables but how many of you, like me, can't get pass the EXPENSE of organic food at places like Whole Foods Market or Trader Joe's (or for that matter ANY place)?  I know it's suppose to be "better" because it's not sprayed with pesticides and shot-up with steroids -- and yes, that is reason enough to buy organic!  But my goodness -- take advantage of me already -- it's like gas prices!  What's a person to do?  And of course the obvious -- organic comes in smaller quantities for what your getting and the selection is smaller.  Yes, I know, you get what you pay for and I've seen the quotes like the one below:

So with no further ado -- FOR SPRING BREAK --  I'm preparing for vegetable planting.  How??  Well I've been checking out YouTubbers that are helping me prepare.  One of my favorites is:

Learn Organic Gardening at Growing Your Greens

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Y6AzIeAAs

Click on the link above and check out his take on Whole Food Market's pricing of Organic items and what he has done about it.  Be prepared, he's a little excited (lol) -- like a car salesman -- but he's pretty good at his hobby (gardening).

This is what my garden looked like a couple years ago (picture from Google images). 

I enjoy growing vegetables fom containers instead of in the ground.  

I found it difficult for the rabbits to bother.

Last but not least -- there is a "Dirty Dozen" list floating around the Internet on the 12 things that you should buy "organic."  http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214  These have the highest pesticide residue.  They are:

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Pears
9. Grapes (Imported)
10. Spinach
11. Lettuce
12. Potatoes

The least contaminated are:

1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn (Frozen)
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas (Frozen)
8. Kiwi Fruit
9. Bananas
10. Cabbage
11. Broccoli
12. Papaya

If you, like myself, are tired of the high prices of organic produce -- do something about it -- try your hand at growing some of the dirty dozen for yourself.

Until next time...

Please leave a comment on the left.  Thanks for visiting.