Motivating yourself to exercise can be so darn hard sometimes! There are a
million things you want to have on your priority list, and you can’t find time
to fit them all in. Why make exercise a priority when you would rather spend
your time doing something else?

In my own life, exercise balances me out physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When I make time for exercise I feel at a powerful equilibrium. Exercise makes me feel as though I can more easily operate optimally in all areas of my life. Ironically it takes a devotion to exercise in order to fully achieve all that you are capable of being.

There are lots of times I don’t feel like exercising! I could list 1000 other things I’d rather be getting done, but in my heart I know and feel the importance of exercise not only to my physical well-being, but to my overall well-being. The important things in life are worth fighting for, and sometimes you have to fight with all your might to keep excuses and reasons not to exercise from taking over.

It is fortunate that my husband and I work out together. There are days
when it feels as though the only reason I’m making myself exercise is because he is doing it too. Asking a spouse, partner, or family member to exercise with you can provide the essential support and motivation you need to keep going.

We all need someone in our corner sometimes, especially when it comes to things we find challenging in our lives. Your support doesn’t have to be under the same roof. Have you ever tried working out and skyping with a long-distance friend?

Let’s live a healthy life together and keep each other going!


To being all you can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually!

Let that feeling of ease overcome you. That is your inner happiness,your place of peace. It is important to reconnect with that feeling and let your stress go. Remove the tight grip you have on everything and allow your stress to be released out of your body.

When we let stress build it is harmful to our mind, body, and spirit. If you’re
not careful and mindful stress can take away the joy of living. The inner
feeling of peace and happiness is always there. It is a part of you. You just
need time to connect with it. For me, the time to connect with my inner peace comes every day during my meditation practice. How you connect with your inner happiness is not nearly as important as you do!

You need time, not a lot, but a few minutes each day to allow yourself to feel
your inner joy. To remember what is truly important to you in life. Stress is
not what is important, so pay attention to how much energy you are allowing it to take up.

Let go of stress and connect with the happiness and ease that lies within you.

It is almost the end of our 8 week goal to exercise consistently 6 times per
week! We feel great (not while Jillian is kicking our butt) but afterwards it is
amazing! 3 days of Jillian and 3 days of yoga seems to be the perfect balance for us. Exercising together as a couple really helps keep us motivated.

We don’t plan to stop exercising at 8 weeks, we just wanted a date to
re-evaluate and change things up to keep the workouts interesting. Our Transform Your Body with Brooke Burke DVDs have arrived (whoot!). Next we are planning on doing 3 days with Brooke, and 3 days of yoga. Originally for yoga we were using Elena Brower’s Element: Am and PM Yoga for Beginners DVD. LOVE, by the way. I highly recommend that DVD for beginners. Elena’s voice is so soothing and relaxing. Elena please make an intermediate DVD!! Next for yoga we are moving onto Daily Yoga with Rodney Yee.

We’re actually really excited to change things up because listening to the same words over and over again starts to drive you bananas (at least me
anyway!).  Also, I think it helps to change your workouts up so it stays
interesting and less boring.

Although I’m no superstar athlete and pushups are still a stretch, I do feel a
lot stronger than 7 weeks ago. The yoga is incredible in-between our other
workouts because it really helps me to get my head in the right place. Not only do you get a great stretch, many of the moves really increase your strength. I strongly recommend incorporating yoga into your exercise routine. If my husband can (be talked into it) anyone can! His exact words are, “It’s OK. I think it would be better if it was quiet in our house while doing it.” Our children like to try and join in sometimes :-). Have I mentioned before they are a tad noisy?

Having this blog really helps keep me motivated. Thank you for your support!!


How are you doing so far this year friends? Have there been any challenges or successes? I love hearing from you! Let me know how you’re doing.

Meditation is a gift. It renews the mind, body, and soul. If I could give one
gift of love to everyone that is what it would be. It has been a little over a
year now that I have been meditating regularly and its impact continues to amaze me.

Being a Mom is the toughest job on the planet! It requires everything you’ve got all-of-the-time. We need a break from the magnificent chaos of our lives. Our minds need a chance to be silent. Our bodies need a break to be still. 
Meditation is the most rewarding way to ‘just be’ that I know of.

You are capable of infinite possibilities. You are capable of living a life of
kindness and love no matter what human challenges you face, but you need a tool, a key that always unlocks the door to your divine true self. Meditation is that key you are looking for.


Often during meditation I will find the answers I am searching for within.
When there is a question I need answered I will start my practice by asking,
then becoming quiet and still to listen. In addition, meditation is a fantastic
way to spark your inner creativity. Walking away from my meditation practice, I feel kinder, more loving- to myself, to my loved ones, to everyone.

Meditation works best as a daily habit. It takes practice to center yourself and to get what you are hoping for out of it. 10 minutes each day is enough time to nurture your meditation practice.

Personally, I love soothing music without words playing in the background while I meditate. Soundscapes are my music of choice. The dancing light of a fire is also nice if available, but not a necessity. All you really need is yourself and an open heart. Allow your heart to be refilled with light. You can even imagine that process happening within you if it helps to clear your mind. Commit to doing meditation daily for 30 days so that it truly becomes a habit, and so you give yourself enough time to learn from within what meditation is really all about. 

Even though meditation is the gift I wish I could give you, it is a gift only you can give yourself.

You deserve it!

Meditation is the key to your authentic self. 


With love, my friends

Weeks ago, I overheard that if you wake up tired it may be because you are not getting enough protein in your diet. I believe it was on The Dr. Oz Show, but don’t quote me on that.

The statement sunk in and I wondered if there could be a lack of protein in my diet. Or maybe the tiredness was directly related to having children. Parent = Tired. I’m pretty sure that is in the dictionary somewhere. Anyway, I choose to eat a Vegan diet so making sure I get an ample amount of protein is something I am conscious of.

A few days later, when I was reading the blog Notes on Adding Kindness
& Health to the Daily Grind (by stellar family members of ours!), in the article Thrive they were discussing how they felt noticeably better when they included plant-based protein shakes in their diet. The bells went off in my head again.

To top it off, 2 weeks ago I read an interview that my friend and collage buddy, Tina at Carrots-n-Cake did with Bob Harper, where she specifically asked Bob about protein.


Tina: How much protein do you think the average active person needs in their diet?  

Bob: Protein is crucial for muscle repair and building and it also keeps you satiated.  I recommend getting in AT LEAST half of your body weight in grams so if you weigh 150 lbs., get in 75 grams.

*Read the full interview here: Bob Harper on CrossFit, The Biggest Loser & His Last Meal on Earth


At this point I’m thinking- OK universe I get it! Thanks for the messages! That very day during his lunch break, my husband went to the health food store and picked up some vegan protein powder.

Protein shakes are now a part of my diet, especially in the morning when I start my day. I can honestly say that I too feel noticeably better. Less tired (not 100% though because remember parent=tired), but enough that I feel the protein powder is worth the investment. And it is an investment! You’ll see if you check out the prices.

My personal feeling is your health is worth the investment. You never know if taking care of your nutritional needs now could save you big bucks in health care in the long run. Basically, I feel the same way about taking certain vitamins. They don’t replace good eating habits, but as Dr. Andrew Weil says, I think of them as a little insurance policy.

If you are waking up tired no matter how many hours of sleep you get, you may want to try adding a protein shake to your day. It has helped me. Not to mention, it is also a great opportunity to mix in a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables.

To your good health!

For the first 2 months of this magnificent year (2012!), my husband and I aim to do 6 days per week of exercise, with a day of rest on Sundays. Three days per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) are devoted to cardio/weights and 3 days for yoga (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday), intermixing the two.

For the cardio/weights we are following Jillian Michaels DVD Ripped in 30. We both think it is a great at home DVD and are happy with the results it is giving us. Ripped in 30 is meant to be a 4 week workout, but because we are doing it 3 times per week we decided to extend it over 8 weeks. That means doing each of the 4 routines for 2 weeks before moving onto the next.

Yoga also produces incredible benefits to the body and soul. It feels invigorating interspersed throughout our workout routine. Already I can feel my body becoming more and more flexible with a greater ability to hold poses using core muscles, simultaneously achieving a wonderful stretch.

The intense and rewarding workouts of Jillian Michaels mixed with the soulful side of yoga feels like a perfect balance of yin and yang. 

Although I am currently focusing on these 8 weeks, I already have
my eye on what I’d like to try next. Modern Mom’s Brooke Burke has a new DVD out – Transform Your Body with Brooke Burke. I’m excited to get my strength up and move onto that next because I’ve heard good things, and for those of you that workout often, it will kick your butt!

If you are feeling ready, or are looking for a new workout routine, we would
love for you to join us!

There is greater energy in numbers. Together we can do this, and become healthier versions of ourselves!

This is YOUR year!

Namaste

Life can wear on you. Stress builds, and you find yourself exhausted. You’re caring so much for others, but what about yourself?

When sleep deprived, I get cranky and sometimes feel down. I don’t handle situations, especially with the kids, the way I would like. When a lack of sleep builds for too long I start to feel stuck in a rut.

As parents we put so much effort into bed time routines with our children to ease them into sleep, but adults can benefit too! Bedtime routines are not just for kids. Try a quiet evening bath, or a caffeine-free herbal tea such as Nighty Night. Turn the lights down low and relax. Lull yourself to sleep with a routine that brings you comfort.

Sweet dreams & Happy Sleeping!

Your body + soul will feel revived.

Suze Orman was lots of fun to watch at the O magazine conference- O You! She has a lot of personality and is quite funny. Even though she was speaking on such a serious topic – money, she brings out a smile in you and reminds you most importantly of your real value.

At 30 years old Suze was still making $400 a month at a cupcake bakery. She assumed she would be in the restaurant business because that is what she knew. It wasn’t until $50,000 of money from investors for her to start her own business was lost that she got into the financial business. She applied at a financial firm and was hired to fill the women’s quota, which she was happy with because it paid better and she wanted to repay her loans. That is when a feeling of “I love this, I love this” came over her. Now she is a world renowned money expert! 

When will the economy turn around?

Suze believes 2015 is when things will start to turn around.

That is hard for a lot of us to hear, but I honestly believe there is a silver lining, and that silver lining is we all have a great opportunity here as a collective to learn from our mistakes with money and get back on track! We can help motivate each other to halt the spending on wants that are not needs. This is hard and much easier to do as a group. See if you can get together with your friends and give each other ideas of ways to cut down on spending. What I have learned from Suze is that we should NOT be afraid to talk about money. Our self worth isn’t in dollars and it is time we start really acknowledging that!

Suze says that the key to living well is to live below your means.

“Live below your means but within your needs.” ~Suze Orman

How many of us actually live below our means these days? The thing about money is- the more your make, the more you spend! It seems in today’s world we are really lucky if we manage to live within our means. Below your means- that is a whole different ball game! Together we should all strive to help each other join in.

Suze says, “Stop trying to impress others with money you don’t have.”

This really got me thinking about how crazy it is that we spend money to try to impress one another. Let’s stop this!

“Stop saying yes out of fear about what others will think about you and say NO out of love for yourself!” ~Suze Orman

This really has me thinking about the upcoming holiday season. To me it is a classic example of a time we spend money to impress one another. A time we spend too much money on things we do not need- gifts, decor, holiday parties, holiday outfits! My husband and I are already thinking long and hard about what we want to do in terms of our holiday spending this year, and ways we can apply Suze’s advice to our own family.

Suze talked with the audience about the importance of saving. She urged us, “Do everything you can to save money.” Even though she can afford a new car if she wants, Suze keeps her car for a minimum of 10 years because cars are one of the biggest waste of money there is, and she encourages you to keep your car for that long too. I couldn’t help but think of how much better it is for the environment to kick this bad habit we as a society have of constantly upgrading.

Another important note Suze made- if your company has a 401k matching plan you should absolutely make sure you max out the contribution. You cannot afford to be missing out on ‘free’ money!

If you are managing to save properly for yourself first- minimum 8 month emergency fund & retirement, she also mentioned a 529 education savings plan for your children.

Remember “When you undervalue yourself, the world will under value you. You are passing the message of less.” ~Suze Orman

YOU are more important than stuff!!!

When Should You Buy a Home?

Suze’s answers to this is ONLY when you can afford to!

How do you know you can afford to?

·         You can put at least 20% down

·         You have a minimum of an 8 month emergency savings fund

·         You can afford a 30 year or 15 year fixed rate mortgage

·         You have a secure job

·         The home must be a STEAL OF A DEAL!! Suze says this is so important! She gave us an example of condos in Florida that many people thought were a great deal at $150,000 that are now worth $5,000!

Suze does not believe the real estate market is going anywhere until 2023!

That means you should not be in a rush to buy, and only do so if you can afford to by meeting the above criteria.

So many of us have fallen out of touch with what it means to live well with regards to money. We are hurting ourselves, our families, and our society with over spending, and buying things we cannot afford. Most of us are not saving properly, and it’s time to help one another to change the way we live.

Let’s be a positive influence on each other with how we handle our money. Let’s start talking about money!

First, I have to start out by saying Dr. Oz is a great speaker. If you ever get the chance to see him live, DO IT! His genuine care for the health of our nation and each individual is very evident. The empowering and positive energy he exudes is contagious.



The biggest message I walked away with from Dr. Oz at O You! was that we can take control of our health and aging. 

“70% of how you age is lifestyle.” ~Dr. Oz. 

That means only 1/3 is genes. The way we live has a huge impact on whether or not we turn on certain genes that influence our health. So the next time you are starting to feel down about your health, remember your lifestyle- which you can control, is the biggest factor to turning your health around.

1.       Blood Pressure – know your numbers!

2.       Abuses to your body– what are you doing that harms your body? The #1 example here is smoking. Make changes in lifestyle to cut out abuses to your body.

3.       Diet that you love, crave & adore. Basically it comes down to this – if you don’t love your diet you’ll never stick with it.

4.       Physically Activity – vigorous physical activity is what keeps your body going strong. For example, if you go for a walk, do it with some speed so you’re breathing heavier and your heart is pumping.

5.       Stress – how you cope with stress has a big impact on your health. Stress is a part of all our lives and how we deal with it makes a difference. When feeling stressed try deep belly breaths. What is important is that you find a way to deal with and calm stress that works for you, whether that is meditation, breathing techniques, yoga, or walks.

Dr. Oz highly recommends having a strong connection with your doctor. This enables you to feel comfortable talking with them about all kinds of health concerns. Here are Dr. Oz’s suggestions for connecting with your doctor:

1.       Write down questions before going into the appointment. Give your doctor a copy of the questions so he/she can make sure to go through them with you.

2.       Push back against medical advice. This makes the system better. Ask questions. Especially, what medicine can I get off of? With 3 pills there is a 30% chance of an interaction complication. With 5 pills there is a more than 50% chance!

3.       Bring a tape recorder. Doctors know that half of what they tell you is forgotten by the time you leave. If you record your doctor’s advice and instructions they will most likely speak more clearly and slower for you to understand.


*One interesting fact that Dr. Oz shared with us that stood out to me was that obesity leads to 100,000 cancer deaths per year. He believes for 90% of Americans loosing waist size is the way to go. For example, too much belly fat squeezes the organs such as the kidneys.

1.       Blood Pressure

2.       Cholesterol

3.       Blood sugar

4.       Waist Size – “Your risk of dying prematurely nearly doubles if you have a large waist line...belly fat is the most dangerous fat.” Hear more about waist size from Dr. Oz here: Why Waist Size is Important

5.       BMI – calculate your BMI here: 
Doctor Oz Videos- Calculate Your Body Mass Index



The take away message from Dr. Oz is that you have tremendous power and control over your health! It’s never too late to get started and make changes for the better. Your lifestyle accounts by far (70%) for your health. You can do it!

What one change can you make today to positively impact your health in order to live your best life?

In a perfect world we would get all the vitamins and nutrients we need by eating a healthy diet. After all, it’s nature’s tender way of taking care of us. Although I try my best to live a healthy lifestyle, it is far from perfect. Especially the weeks our cupboards are filled with on-sale twizzlers!

At the end of August, when I took my children in for their yearly appointment with the doctor, he sent us home with a list of his recommendations for children and adults. I thought I would share the list with you, as I would love to get your opinion!

For Kids:

1.       Multi-Vitamin

2.       Vitamin C 250-500mg (in flu season)

3.       Calcium/Magnesium Vitamin D 400 units/day (if poor milk drinkers)

4.       Omega 3- children’s chewable 1/day

*Eat 7-8 servings of fruits and vegetables daily

*Drink Pomegranate Juice daily


For Adults:

1.       Multi-Vitamin (Female/Male- different)

2.       Vitamin C-500mg

3.       Calcium/Magnesium Vitamin D 800-1000 units/day (2:1 ratio Cal:Mag)

4.       Omega-fish oil (3-9) or flax oil-(3) (DHA+EPA= at least 1000)- 2 pills per day

5.       Co Q 10 (for heart)- (for 40 yrs & older)

6.       Glucosamine (1 pill) (for joints) – for athletes or all older than 30 years

7.       Probiotics – (for everyone) 1 tab/day

8.       Flax Seed (grind in coffee grinder and eat with cereal

*Eat 7-8 servings of fruits and vegetables daily

*Drink Pomegranate Juice daily

Currently, I personally am taking a multi-vitamin and vitamin D. I’ve had my vitamin D level tested and it is low. To tell the truth, I wasn’t all that surprised my vitamin D level was low living so far north. Our family loves to buy the big bottles of POM wonderful juice from Costco. Although I don’t drink juice often I might consider drinking a small glass of Pomegranate juice daily.

A week later I took this list to my doctor to get her opinion. The impression I got from her is that she thought they were all a good idea and it depended on the commitment you wanted to make. Taking 8 can be overwhelming for some. Her top 3 picks were the Multi-Vitamin, Vitamin D, and Omega-3.

As I sort through my thoughts, to figure out what direction I want to take, I would love to get your opinion.

Do you take vitamins and supplements? Do you give them to your children? Do you think they are a good idea, or something we are better off skipping?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below!