You Are Who You Surround Yourself With

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You are who you surround yourself with.  I used to not understand how much this could impact my life until I started surrounding myself with the right people more often.

My husband and I arrived in Maui yesterday for an annual seminar that always reminds me how true this is.  The people who get invited on this trip are such amazingly positive people who are hungry for life and you can feel it in their energy.  That positivity builds momentum more and more as the week goes on and it's an amazing thing to witness.

Positive, optimistic, happy, motivated people will help YOU become that too.  BUT... the opposite is also very true.  Negativity can bring you down.  When you learn to recognize this... you can have better control over how it effects your life.

So what can you do if you encounter someone in a negative state of mind?  Lift others up to your level of positivity and happiness instead of meeting them down at their negative level.  Help them see a different perspective.  Be so happy and positive that other people are drawn to you and want to be that too.  If this is not possible and it's apparent they want to stay and dwell in negativity, you might need to distance yourself from that individual.  There's a lot to be said for "choose your friends wisely" because it can affect your life.  It's up to you.  Now I'm not saying that if someone is having a hard time, you need to distance yourself, because everyone has those moments.  Normally positive people will always find a way back.  It's those that thrive on negativity, drama and gossip that you have to watch out for.  They will try to suck you in.  Just remember this if nothing else... a negative mindset attracts more negative things in your life.  A positive mindset attracts more positive things in your life.

I always get so excited to feel the positivity and encouragement from this group of people we get to surround ourselves with for this week.  The positive energy is palpable.  It's not about competition when you surround yourself with positive people.  It's about learning from one another, encouraging one another, being truly happy for one another... and how to be a better individual.

This is one of the greatest things I've learned in my life... you are who you surround yourself with.  Choose to surround yourself with the kind of person you want to be, and you can become that kind of person too.

Make a Change Because You Love Your Body, Not Because You Hate It

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Maybe you are reading this right now because you want to make a healthy lifestyle change.  Maybe you want to eat right.  Maybe you want to exercise more.    I think it's wonderful anytime someone chooses to make a healthy lifestyle change...but I don't think it should be because you hate your body.

When we focus on what we dislike about ourselves, it can be destructive.  It tends to lead to disappointment.  Instead, try focusing on what you love about yourself.  As women we criticize ourselves and we tend to see the stuff we dislike, or what we would change... instead of the stuff we love.  It's time we start seeing the good things.  Make an effort to acknowledge the things you love about yourself.

I've talked about Health vs. Vanity before because I think it's so important for women to make lifestyle changes for the right reasons.  It's wonderful to want to improve our health by eating right and being active.  When we do it for the right reasons, we will be happier and achieve our goals more easily.  It will also last longer.  So how do we do that?

Come from a place of self-love.  Look in the mirror each day, smile and acknowledge at least 3 things you love about yourself.  Everyone can come up with at least 3 things.  As you go about your day and catch yourself saying (or thinking) something negative about yourself... remember those 3 things and change your focus.  If you hear a friend doing the same thing...compliment them! :)

Think about the reasons why you want to make the changes you want to make, but state them in a positive way.  Instead of saying, "I want to make a change because I hate my thighs", say "I want to make a change because I want to... improve my health,  gain more confidence, or be strong!"  It's okay to want to improve yourself, that's healthy.  It's okay to love yourself now.  Change doesn't happen overnight, so remember that you are on the right path...right now.  

Don't wait until you achieve your goals to feel happy and proud.  Feel proud along the way.  Each step in the right direction is an achievement.  It's a process.  Feel happy now...while working toward your goals!  :)  Make a change because you love your body, not because you hate it.

10 Things I Would Tell My Younger Self

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Happy Frenchie Friday everyone!   ...and Happy Birthday to Meeeee!  "Stella" thinks I brought her something, but it's a little treat for me...

Today I am 43 years young and all week I've been feeling so grateful...

Grateful for all the wonderful things in my life.  Grateful for my health.  Grateful for my husband.  Grateful for my stepsons.  Grateful that I am happy.  This week I've been thinking about 10 Things I Would Tell My Younger Self, if I had the chance.

I've felt a sense of calm in my 40's that I didn't feel in my 20's or 30's.  I've heard other women say the same thing.  Some have excellent guidance from elders...but I didn't have that.  I used to be angry that my parents didn't give me much guidance, encouragement, or even attention as a child, but I'm not angry anymore.  One day I just decided that it doesn't serve me to carry that anger around.

I've learned a lot about myself in my 40's.  Would I go back to being a younger age right now if I could?  No, I wouldn't.  I'm happy right here.  Are there things I wish I would have known when I was younger though?... Sure.

10 Things I Would Tell My Younger Self

1. How to set Goals....and set them high.  I put this at #1 because it's that important.  When I learned about setting goals, my life changed.  Everyone should be setting goals, at every age.
2. Don't worry about what other people think of you.  I spent a lot of wasted time worrying about this as I didn't have a lot of confidence when I was younger.  Now I know that most people don't care as much as you think they do.  Most people are worried about themselves.
3. Know what you want and don't settle for less.  Many women don't know what they want.  The best way to figure out what you want... is to figure out what you don't want.
4. Save at least 10% of all money you make...always.  Don't touch it unless it's for an investment that will create passive income.
5. Happiness is a choice.  It doesn't happen to you.  It doesn't come from outside...it comes from inside.  Don't complain.  Look for the good in everything, be grateful and focus on the positive.  If you're unhappy, make a change.
6. Don't worry about anything you cannot control.  It's a waste of time.
7. Let it go.  Don't let something that happened yesterday affect today.  It's never as big a deal as it feels at the time.
8. Be yourself... not anyone else.  Know yourself.  Lead by example and follow by choice.
9. The best time to do something you want to do...is right now.  Enjoy each moment, be present.  It's never too late.
10. What you think about you bring about.  How to be aware of your emotional guidance system and how the Law of Attraction can help you create the life of your dreams.

What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance?   Life is such a ride, a journey... I'm so grateful to have learned what I have along the way.  I look forward to all that I have yet to learn.  What I know for sure is I want to spend my life doing good things, enjoying life to the fullest, and not having regrets.

Bring on 43!!  :)  You're as young as you feel.  Be proud of your age.  The number doesn't define you.

Crispy Sweet Potato Chips & Fries

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I am obsessed with these crispy sweet potato chips & fries!  I have been trying to make both versions for a while and couldn't seem to get them to crisp up enough... until now!  :)

I had tried baking them in the oven and they tasted good, but were too limp... they just didn't have that crispy texture I was looking for.  I heard about "frying" them in healthier oils like olive and coconut oils... Well, I gave it a go, and... success!!  Crispy sweet potato chips and fries!

I grouped this blog post together because the method works with both chips...or fries.  They are only slightly different.

First of all, if you make the chip version I highly recommend slicing your chips with a mandolin slicer.  Trust me, it will make your life a lot easier.  If you don't, it's difficult to get your chips thin enough with a knife.  Here's the one I have....

From one potato, I got this many perfectly thin (1/32") slices in about a minute!...

Fries are easier to cut with a knife into matchsticks...or you can also use a mandolin with a julienne blade...I think fries are great with the skin left on.

Prepare a bowl of ice water and soak the cut sweet potatoes for at least 1 hour.  This step is essential for crispy fries, I've skipped this step with chips and it's still good, but I still recommend it.  Longer is fine, even overnight.  This will help remove some of the starch from the sweet potato so they will crisp better!

When done, drain your chips or fries...and dry them off well.

Here's the fry version...

For fries, especially thicker fries, it's best to soften them a bit first.  It helps them get that perfect soft inside, crisp outside texture.  If your fries are very thin like shoestring fries, skip this step. (I skipped this step for the thin fries in these photos.)  Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, does this by frying them twice...once at a lower temperature of 300 degrees to soften, then draining....and again at 400 degrees to get them crisp and golden.  This is just too involved for me.  I like Martha Stewart's easier version of microwaving them.  Put the fries in a microwave safe container, cover loosely, and microwave for 1-2 minutes.  Stir around gently and repeat until pieces are pliable.  Let them rest for about 5 minutes.

Ok, now you want to get your oil ready.  I use a 5 quart pot and filled it about 1/4 full of light tasting olive oil (about 2-3 inches of oil).  I used this oil because I have it in large containers of it from Costco for making homemade mayo so I have plenty.  Get your oil hot over medium high, if you have a deep-fry thermometer, 375-400 degrees.  It's ready when you test it with the tip of a fry and it starts to sizzle.  You'll also want to get a slotted spatula, spoon, or spider skimmer (in pic)...which is perfect for frying.

Fry your chips or fries in batches, not crowding the pot too much.  Flip them around a bit.  Fries will take about 4-5 minutes per batch.  Chips won't take quite as long.  Watch both closely and remove when they start to get golden in color.  Watch closely, because they can get overdone and burn quick!  They will crisp more as they drain.

Drain on paper towels...if you want to keep them warm while frying additional batches, you can place them on a baking sheet in a 200 degree oven.  In my house, they don't last that long!  These chips turned out so perfectly crispy!...like out of a bag!

Sprinkle with sea salt and serve immediately.  Chips are wonderful with a sprinkle of cumin too, great smokey BBQ flavor!

Dip your fries in your favorite homemade dip like my Non-Dairy Ranch or Pesto Mayo!!  YUM.

Enjoy!  I think these crispy sweet potato chips & fries will be a family favorite for sure...they sure are with mine!  Sprinkle your fries with a bit of dried or fresh parsley for a pretty presentation... :)

Frenchie Friday - How I make my coffee these days...

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Happy Frenchie Friday everyone!  "Stella" is taking a vacation day... just kidding.  She's actually fighting with my laptop right now for space on my lap;)

Today I want to tell you how I take my coffee these days.  No dairy and no sweet creamers doesn't have to mean you have to drink your coffee black...which is what I used to think!

I loved Bulletproof Coffee as soon as I tasted it...but these days I'm doing no dairy, so I've tweaked it a bit and it's so tasty I want to share it with you...

Depending on the size of your mug and how much coffee you're making, you can adjust these ingredients to your liking...because I make smaller cups of coffee than most;)

I started using an immersion blender or stick blender because the coconut oil can separate and cause oily droplets in your coffee... so by blending it and emulsifying it, it makes it creamy and frothy instead!  Don't freak out about putting coconut oil in your coffee... it tastes amazing and adds a healthy fat that will help you feel full longer!  Healthy fats do NOT make you fat.  Period.  Try it;)

A mason jar works perfect for blending... you just want to get the right size that's large enough so it doesn't splash out.  Once you get your amounts down, it'll be quick and easy.

Put these ingredients in the mason jar:(adjust amounts to taste, I put the amount I use for an 8 oz coffee cup in parentheses.)

• brewed coffee (6 oz)
• coconut oil (~1 tsp)
• raw honey I left this out while on the Whole30...still tasted amazing (~1 tsp)
• coconut milk unsweetened, canned, full-fat (~1.5 oz or 3 tbsp)
• cinnamon or Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice (sprinkle)

Put the immersion blender all the way to the bottom of the jar and turn on high for 20-30 seconds.  Pour coffee in your favorite mug!  Sprinkle with extra cinnamon and you're done!

This might sound involved to make a cup of coffee, but it's not.  Once you get your routine down... it's super quick.  I keep my designated mason jar with my coffee cups and the immersion blender is so easy to clean...just rinse it off!  Way easier than using a blender.

I hope this enhances your "non-dairy" coffee experience!  :)

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

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I want to tell you about this new make up I got recently.... bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream with SPF 30.  Why?  Because I hate liquid foundation... until now.

First, let me tell you about how I stumbled upon this amazing product... I went into Ulta yesterday looking for some self tanner because I am going to Maui soon and every year I look for a new, better way to get a natural "glow" before I go... as I don't bake in the sun anymore like I used to when I was a teenager.  I've tried many different ones including Mystic spray booths and professional airbrush tans.  I'm still on the hunt to the perfect one.

The young lady who helped me told me about bareMinerals Faux Tan Body Sunless Tanner.  She told me that many self tanners actually have the same ingredient in them as Cheetos that turns them the orange color... the same ingredient!  Yuck.  No wonder some self tanners make you look like a freakish orange color.  She said this one does not contain harsh ingredients and gives a more "natural looking tan".  Ok, sold.  I decided to try it.  They have one for face too... but I told her I don't really like the look of self tanner on my face.  I hate liquidfoundation.  I hate a heavy feeling powder foundation because it's too matte.  I've tried BB creams and tinted moisturizers and I like the coverage, but even those look too heavy for me and feel thick and sticky going on,not moisturizing.  I end up making my own concoction mixing them with moisturizers!  I asked her what would she would recommend...  She knew just the thing...

I sat in a chair and she color matched me for bareMinerals Complexion Rescue.  Out of the 10 colors, she tried 3 different shades on me before we decided on the right one.  "Tan" which was too dark.  "Natural" which was too light and a little yellow.  "Suede" was perfect.  She put it on with a brush that felt very light and moisturizing.  She explained how this unique brush's bristles apply this product lightly and correctly and how you can layer it for more, or less, coverage.  It felt like she'd mixed it with water, but hadn't.  It gave great coverage... without the heavy feel.  It left a really nice dewy finish, without being shiny.  It's $29, but considering she did my whole face with a small pea-sized amount...this is going to last forever!  The smoothing brush is $28, so they get you there...but worth it in my opinion;)

Since I had mentioned my upcoming trip, she also recommended the veil powder in "medium", just to touch up shine because of the tropical weather there.  She put it on me and it was very light and didn't make me look too "matte", perfect for just touching up T-zone shine in humidity.  Then she showed me what the bronzer could do.  When I saw "The High Dive" color... it scared me because it looked way too dark, but when she applied it lightly and sparingly in just the right places... Wow.  I looked sun kissed!  Way better than face self tanner that looks dark all over my face!  It looked great.  I didn't see the make up like I've always seen when I've had it put on by someone else in the past... I saw me, just better!  The sheer to medium coverage was fantastic, not thick.  The bronzer would add the perfect glow for Maui.  

So you've heard what I have to say about Complexion Rescue... here's what the company has to say about the product...

What is it: The best of a BB, a CC, and a tinted moisturizer, bareMinerals Complexion Rescue is a whole new way to think about makeup! This Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30 formula offers skin-care benefits infused with naturally radiant color--in one easy step.

Who is it for: Formulated for all skin types and complexions, especially anyone looking for lightweight, sheer-to-medium coverage with skin-care benefits and broad-spectrum SPF 30.

Why is it different: Introducing a multitasking genius where hydration meets radiant, healthy-looking coverage. This lightweight, skin-quenching gel cream smoothes on effortlessly with just the right amount of coverage. Instantly, your complexion appears dewy with a healthy-looking glow.

The new dual-fiber Smoothing Face Brush provides control and diffusion for a soft, smooth application.

In a clinical study, 100% of women experienced improvement in skin texture after one week, and again after four weeks, of product use.

In a clinical study, 100% of women experienced improvement in hydration after one week, and again after four weeks, of product use.

How do I use it: Squeeze a pea-size amount onto the Smoothing Face Brush, and apply onto clean skin in a gentle buffing motion. Layer for additional coverage at home or on the go. You can also use fingertips to apply to the skin.

About bareMinerals® Now considered one of the leading prestige cosmetic brands in the United States, bareMinerals offers a full line of makeup and skin care. Every product is designed to bring out your true beauty. They only use the finest-quality ingredients to give you everything you want without any harsh chemicals your skin doesn't need. Their proprietary formulas represent the ideal mix of makeup and skin care. It's makeup so pure, you can sleep in it.

I hadn't tried bareMinerals since they introduced their "mineral" powder foundation years ago...I'm loving their products again.  I hadn't realized they'd expanded with so many make up and skin-care products.  The fact that their products contain no oil, no silicone, no parabens and no fragrance...I love that.

This short Complexion Rescue Tutorial video helps you see how it appears on the skin and also the difference between the fingertip application and the smoothing brush application...

http://youtu.be/D4wV4MhlREc

Watch this short video about the difference between Complexion Rescue and other tinted moisturizers...it's pretty cool.  I feel even better about putting this on my skin after watching this.  :)

http://youtu.be/bj47Q5aMi0o

I am turning 43 years old in less than 2 weeks and I'm not one to hide my age from people.  My 40's have been the best years of my life yet!  I think we, as women should be proud of our ageand not try to hide it.  But we do need to update our arsenal of beauty "tools" every so often that enhance our natural beauty... to give us confidence!  These products are helping me do just that.  I would definitely recommend this Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue to keep your skin hydrated, to provide a broad-spectrum SPF, for sheer to medium coverage with added skin-care benefits... and mostly, to obtain a "natural", healthy look.  :)

P.S.  If I love the Faux Tan Body Sunless Tanner as much as I loved this product... I'll be sure to let you know;)