Sun Tea

4-6 tea bags
1.5 quarts cold water
ice
lemon slices

Place tea bags in a 2 quart clear glass pitcher, add water.
Let stand in sunlight 2-3 hours.
Remove tea bags and serve with ice and lemon slices.

Breakfast Shake

Try this awesome shake as a breakfast meal replacement!
It's sooo good!

1/2 cup low-fat plain or vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup chopped cantaloupe
1/4 cup berries
1/2 banana
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1 tsp honey
1 tbsp wheat germ
2-4 ice cubes
Blend together!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Holidays are such a great time to
share with family and friends, but also make it difficult to
stick to our healthy lifestyles. This Easter, make it a goal
not to go overboard with the treats. Allow yourself one
treat or dessert and hold yourself to that. If you allow
yourself to over-indugle in everything that is being offered,
you will only feel disappointment. Remember, it never tastes
as good as you think it will anyway! You have to walk an
extra hour just to wear off a small handfull of jelly beans!
Is it really worth it?

Coming Soon!!

In the near future I will be hosting wellness retreats!
I have been working on this project for a while and am
getting closer to being ready to take it on! Happy to announce
I will be offering several different retreat options! Stay tuned!

Healthified Burritos

Here is my "healthified" version of a classic burrito!
No-one will no the difference!

*whole wheat burrito shells
*1 lb lean hamburger
* 1 can fat-free refried beans
*1 small onion-chopped
* 1 packet burrito mix (I use McCormick)
*Reduced fat shredded taco cheese
*Reduced fat sour cream
*Lettuce and chopped tomato

Brown hamburger in a skillet with chopped onion. Add in refried
beans and burrito seasoning. Fill burrito shells with meat mixture and
add 2 tbs of the shredded cheese--roll up burritos and place in a baking
dish. (Secure them with toothpicks.) Pour remaining meat mixture and
shredded cheese on top on the burritos and bake in oven just long
enough to melt cheese. (15-20 minutes @ 350)
Serve topped with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato and sour cream.
YUMMY!!
Healthy, low fat and high fiber!

Plan Ahead!

The biggest issue I hear from my clients is that they don't
have time to eat right and exercise. Well, the key is to plan
ahead! My last post was a quick and easy way to get in a work
out during the work day. Today I am going to suggest you
plan ahead when it comes to your diet too. This may take a
bit of planning and preparing, but it is well worth the effort!
First of all, plan your meals each week. Write down what you
will be making for dinner each night and post it on the fridge.
Each evening as you are cleaning up the kitchen after dinner,
take out whatever you are having the next night out of the freezer.
Put it in the fridge so that it will be thawed for the next night. This
way you will never get home and say "Well...I was going to make
chicken for dinner, but it's still frozen! Guess we have to order out!"
No more!! Also, take a few minutes each night to pack a lunch bag.
Having healthy food options with you during the day will make
it much easier to follow a healthy lifestyle. Pack things such as
fruits, veggies, low fat string cheese, yogurt, whole grain crackers,
almonds, sandwiches on whole grain bread and water. Make
sure you pack enough food to enable you to eat lunch and a healthy
snack during your day. Even if you are just taking a shopping trip
to town, be prepared. Don't allow yourself to get hungry and
have to go through the drive-thru because you didn't bring any-
thing else with you. It may take some time to get used to packing
and preparing ahead, but soon it will become your new, healthy
habit!

Workday Workout!

Here is an easy way to get in a workout during your 8 hour workday!
Do each of these moves once per hour:
5 pushups
10 crunches
15 squats
At the end of an 8 hour day that equals 40 pushups, 80 situps and 120
squats!

Self-Discipline

Life is all about self-discipline. Each movement is a choice we make. Each day
what we chose to eat, read, do not to do, go or not to go. Self-discipline is something
we need to work at. It doesn't come easy for most of us. In order to be our best, we need
to be disciplined. We can't always do what we want, eat what we want or go where we
want. We have to make the choice each day to eat healthy, exercise, think positive
thoughts, be around positive people, and live an overall healthy lifestyle. It takes work...
and discipline. Be consistant with your daily actions. Soon what feels like hard work
will become your new healthy lifestyle. Set a goal today. Choose one new action to
be disciplined with. Maybe it will be to add a veggie to your lunch every day or to to
10 minutes of stretching each night. Don't let yourself give into the temptation of not
following through. You can do this!

Sunday Soup Day!

Soups are a great way to get in a healthy, low fat meal. Add lots of
veggies and lean meats and you've got a great meal! Here is the
soup I made today. It's easy to make and everyone will eat it!
Make Sunday your "soup day" so that you have leftovers for
Monday night! No one wants to cook on Mondays!
Beef Vegetable with Barley:
1 pound round steak-trimmed lean
1 cup barley
8 cups water
1 chopped onion
chopped carrots-as many as you want
chopped celery-as much as you want
1 cup frozen lima beans-thawed
2 cups sliced white mushrooms
salt. pepper and garlic powder to taste
2 beef boulion cubes or other beef flavor of your choice
2 tbs Benefiber powder
Combine steak, barley and water in large pot and bring to a boil. Skim
off any foam with a slotted spoon. Add all veggies and seasonings.
Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes or until veggies are tender. If soup
is too thick, slowly add more water to your liking.
Serving size: 2 cups   Calories: 180
Enjoy!

Face Lift!

Thinking of getting a face lift? Before you go under the needle, first try
an eyebrow wax. Getting a professional wax will open up your eyes
and make you look younger and fresh instantly! Come into my salon
and try it for yourself! Only $5! You'll love the results!
For your appointment call me @497-4408.

That Darn Scale!

Why is it that the darn scale can make or break our entire day?!
We get on there first thing in the morning hoping to see a miracle
loss overnight and when we don't see the number we want...our
day is ruined. We realisticly know that we can not lose 10 pounds
overnight, but if we even gain 1 pound from the day before we are
devasted and ready to eat everything in sight!
Want to stop this craziness? Start taking body measurements instead.
Only allow yourself to get on the scale once a week and try to make
it the same day each week at the same time. Do a series of measure-
ments...hip, waist, thigh, chest. Check these every 1-2 weeks. If you
are eating a balanced diet and exercising at least 30 minutes a day, you
WILL lose inches. The number on the scale will come down in time,
but as long as your body is getting smaller, you know you are on the
right track. Remember, a bottle of water can weigh a pound! If you
drink it and then weigh yourself, you will be heavier...but not bigger.
Save yourself the morning grief and enjoy your day! Don't be a slave
to that number on the scale!!!

I'm Back!

I'm back to the blogging world! Yes, I fell out for a while, but here I am! Sometimes
life just gets in the way! (Or strep throat)
So...as the seasons change, so do we. I have been a hairdresser and nutritionist
for years now and the one thing that is consistant is that every season, my clients
want change. They want to lose weight and get a new hair style! The two things in
life that seem to make us smile! The same goes for me. No, I haven't cut off my hair,
but I do have exciting new things underway! First of all, my book. I started writing my book
about a year ago and am now almost to the end of the writing process. Then comes the
publishing and marketing and so on, but I am just excited to get it finished and to be
able to have others read my work! It's my story...about my struggle with weight and
the highs and lows of having children with health issues. I think alot of moms will relate
to my story and I can't wait to get it out to you! Another exciting thing coming about
is that I will soon be hosting wellness retreats! This is something I will talk about in the
near future in more detail, but I am anxious to be able to spread my nutrition knowledge
to others and hopefully inspire positive change in peoples lives!
I hope all of you are happy and healthy! Be thankfull for all you have been blessed with.
Today's Tip: Eat fish 2 a week. It's low fat, low calorie and good for your skin and hair!

Winter Hydration

If you are like me, you feel that all of the moisture has
been sucked right out of your body! Your skin is dry and
itchy and your lips are parched and flaky. So attractive.
The most beautiful thing about us women is our skin. Healthy
skin is what makes us look young and vibrant. During these
long winter months, take extra time each day to moisurize.
Here are some tips.
*bathe is warm-not hot-water-use moisturizing body wash
*apply a lotion or body butter while skin is still damp
*re-apply to hands after washing through out the day
*keep lips covered in a lip moisturizer...chapstick!
*drink tons of water!!
*apply lotion to hands and feet before bed and cover with socks
*apply conditioner to hair and wrap in a warm towel for 30 minutes
or even sleep with it on.

Monday Blues

Yes, it is Monday and for some of you that means it is the day you
are going to start exercising and for others it is the day to skip because
it is MONDAY:(  Well, putting it off is how we get ourselves into these
moods in the first place! If you haven't already, get up after dinner and
get in a workout! Get on that treadmill or do situps and lunges. It doesn't
matter...just get started. You will thank me tomorrow!!

Healthified Pancakes

These are so good and good for you! I guarantee your family will eat them up!

1 packet sugar free instant oatmeal (any flavor you want)
1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup egg beaters
1/8 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth. This recipe makes 1 serving (4pancakes).
Serve with low sugar syrup and fruit for a great breakfast!

Inspiration

We all are looking for that one person or thing that will inspire us to make
the best decisions about our body and looks. We hope to find that miracle
product that will make us irresistable! Sorry to say, but that product does
not exist. Inspiration does however! I hope by following my blog you will
find the inspiration you are looking for. Chances are, if its out there, I have
tried it! As I get more involved with my blogging, I plan to bring you great
tips to help you become the best you! Recently I read the book "Chicken
Soup for the Soul, Shaping the New You". This is a great book and helps
you to realize you are not the only one struggling with body issues! I highly
recommend this great read!
Tip for the day: Never go to bed with your makeup on! Take 5 minutes each
night and wash your face. Then apply a moisturizing facial self tanning lotion.
You will start the next day with a light tan and feel great!! Especially during
these winter months. Having some healthy color is a great thing!

Be Positive!

Ok Ladies...I know you have all made that new year resolution, now stick to it!
It's almost lunch time! Plan ahead, make sure you are including a veggie with
lunch and dinner daily! Don't allow yourself to give into that temptation of
fried foods or junk! You know you will regret it later. Keep your goal in
mind and stay positive! Also, take an extra 5 minutes after your lunch to
go for a quick walk or do some squats. I have faith in all of you!

A new day!

This is such an exciting new thing for me! I have been wanting to do this for quite a while and am
finally getting started!! Please stay tuned to me each day for great tips on health, nutrition, fitness
and beauty advice! I will also be posting some great healthy recipes I have come up with over
the years. I have so much to share!
Today's Tip: It's never too late to get started! Whether it be a new career, a new workout
or a new hairstyle! Start a notebook and write out your goals! And don't forget to drink your
water! It's good for health and beauty!