Blessed

"All gifts in life come directly from above. Living in the present is the ultimate gift, full of promise and possibility. Allow yourself to be open to life’s greatest moments without taking anything for granted. Seize your opportunities and realize that you are divinely and completely blessed everyday in every moment." (Alex and Ani)

Well, its been two weeks since my last post.  I apologize for not keeping you posted with what's going on.  This post will be all about the blessings in our lives.  First let me say that I am truly blessed....and so are YOU!  The blessings that you may overlook or take for granted; and if you don't think you're blessed then shame on you :-p .  Don't be so toxic and ruin it for yourself.  Not seeing the blessings in your life, only seeing the mishaps is a NO-NO!  Did you know that many of those "mishaps" are blessings in disguise?  What you see as a mishap can possibly be God's way of keeping you from danger or God's way of redirecting your path to where you need to be.  Don't close yourself off to thinking things are going bad because you don't deserve good things or because you feel like that's just how life is.  Open your eyes, your heart, your thoughts, your ears to what's bigger (God).  Don't assume you were just dealt a whack life....it's only whack if you allow it to be that (yeah, yeah I used the word whack...lol!).  

Before anybody sees a rainbow, what had to happen? Rain.  Before anybody sees a beautiful butterfly, what had to happen? Changes.  Before anybody learned to walk, what happened? You fell & got back up.  

For anyone reading this and doesn't think they are blessed.  Here are some blessings I can say you have without me knowing who you are:

1. YOU're breathing and alive! You have been blessed with another day.

2. You can read! Awesome!

3. If you're not reading this, but have someone reading it to you.  You can hear AND you're not alone! (Not that you ever are alone if you believe).

4. You found my blog! Woot-Woot! lol!

Here are some simple everyday things that prove I'm blessed...and you can probably count them as blessings for yourself.  I have a place to call home, I have a loving family, wonderful friends, food, shower, clothes, my health, dreams, goals, freedom, choices, ....etc.  I
can list so many other things but I think you get the gist of where I'm going with this.  How are you blessed?  Let me know.  Please know that you are Blessed & God Loves you (huge blessing right there!).

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Coconut Love

Anyone that knows me knows how much I absolutely love coconut.  I love the taste and the smell and that its good for you.  NOW let me add to my love of coconut....its a great healer.  My nose boo-boo (from my previous post) healed up really nice and quick by simply applying organic coconut oil on it.

Here are some health benefits of Coconut Oil:

• Effective in healing damaged tissues and infections (just proved itself this week on my nose).
• Prevents wrinkles, dryness and flaking of the skin.
• Helps in easy digestion
• Rich in lauric acid that helps maintain blood sugar and cholesterol
• Strengthens immune system (I can honestly say that I haven't gotten sick even during that whole "stomach bug...it's going around" thing).  Thank God! Now, I don't know if its due to my love of coconut or the vitamins I take daily...either way, I'm not stopping either one.  (I like being "NOT sick").  
• Reduces protein loss and it nourishes the hair. (I have lots of hair).
• Treats pancreatitis and Alzheimer's disease. (That's really good to know). 
• Prevents diseases that affect the liver and kidney.
• Improves bone health.
• Improves heart health.

**NO Trans-Fats, Gluten-Free, Non-Toxic

Now let me Bubba Gump you Coconut Style, lol! Mmmmmm! 

• Coconut Rice
• Coconut Ginger Chicken Stew
• Coconut Macaroons
• Coconut Fudge Pie
• Coconut Ice Cream
• Coconut Smoothies
• Samoas (girl scout cookies)
• Almond Joy
• Mounds
• Coconut Shrimp
• Lemon Coconut Sorbet
• Coconut Pancakes
• Coconut Milk

• Coconut Ice Fruit Bar
• Coconut Mojito
• Pina Colada
• Coconut Cream Pie
• Coconut Cookies
• Coconut Bread
• Malibu Rum
• Coconut Butter
• Coconut Water
• Coconut Nectar
• Coconut Sugar
• Coconut Cream
• Coconut Shreds
• Coconut Flour
• Coconut Oil
• Just straight up raw coconut (all of it!)......I can go on forever, but I'll spare you my Coco-Loco-ness!

Let's see, I also enjoy my hair shampoo/conditioner to be infused with Coconut.  I love the house to smell like coconut so I get coconut scented candles or I'll make my own using the organic coconut oil.  Yes, I'm a little obsessed with all things Coconut; but the fact that it has so many health benefits makes me HAPPY (insert Pharell's Happy song here).

Another thing Coconut does for me is it keeps wonderful childhood memories fresh in my mind/heart.  As a child I spent many wonderful summers in Puerto Rico, where I would like to say my coconut love began. Aaaaahhhh! The days of true Toxic Free living....in every sense; Farm fresh eggs, freshly picked coffee, milk, beans, chicken, coconuts...etc. etc. Playing outdoors in the fresh air, interacting with all my cousins, laughing, running, talking face to face, no distractions from electronics, walking to the beach,....*aaaahhhhh, good times! I have been truly blessed to have had such an amazing childhood.

Yeah, Good Stuff! <3 ...... Thank you Coconut, for your taste, your smell, the healing and the memories!

Good Day gone Bad!

I apologize for being late on my weekly post.  I had a really rough Monday! I can laugh now but trust me I was NOT happy at all on Monday afternoon.

The day started great.  The good Lord woke me up :) I started the day as usual, by getting my little one ready for school and on the school; walking the dog and then getting my big girl to school.  So far the day is good! I head over to the gym, to get my sexy back ;-) lol!  Have to take care of yourself....if you don't nobody will.  So I took an hour Body Pump class that helps tone and strengthen the body.  As I leave, I run into a friend from church and mentions she's going to take the Sh'Bam class, so I joined her (ooooh! look at me taking 2 classes back to back; watch out Summer, I'm getting ready for you)....turns out its very much like Zumba.
Enjoyed it very much and glad I ran into her (by the way, Love my church and the wonderful people in it; spiritual health is just as/if not more important as physical health).

I am going going going! Good stuff.  Day is still on the up and up, and it's only 11:15 am.  I'm feeling GREAT! I head over back to the High School to pick up my daughter, she's a senior and gets our early everyday.  We got home had some lunch, did a load of laundry, cleaned the bathroom, swept and mopped the living room, dining room and kitchen.  I even had energy to wash and blowout my hair (I have wavy/curly hair so blow drying it straight takes a little work and I have to be in the mood).  No problems just yet! Wait for it! UGH! I get on my laptop to get some work done, answer some emails, return some calls, research information I need...etc. etc.  Day is going smoothly.  Catch up on a show with my daughter while we wait for my younger daughter to get home from school.  My little one gets home, I give her a snack and get her started on her homework.

My packages arrive, woo-hoo!  I love getting packages...especially when its stuff for events I'm planning.  Party stuff is fun to order and receive.  I drag the two big boxes into the house but before I open and go through them I have to walk Bruno (our dog).

It was Monday so the garbage & recycle bins are out front from this morning and so I have to roll them back up the driveway.  I have Bruno on the leash, I grab the mail from the mailbox, tuck it under my arm and start rolling one of the bins back up our driveway.  Let me tell you all that Bruno is a beautiful dog and looks/is very intimidating to strangers (love that)...BUT he's afraid of the rolling sound of the stinkin' garbage & recycle bins.  I'm use to him being afraid of this so that's why I decided to roll in one at a time (less rolling sound).  He normally gets really nervous, shakes and walks really slowly next to me.  I wish he would get over it, but I'm use to it and its the routine...whatever! BUT NOOOOOoooooo this time Mr. Bruno decides he's REALLY afraid of the stinkin' bins and BOLTS!!! I mean full on, with all his might BOLTS!!!  Mail goes everywhere, bin drops......and I get yanked and thrown into the MUD!  Let me paint a picture for you.  I'm 5'6" tall about 150 lbs, wearing sneakers, black sweats, black t-shirt and a white 3/4 length coat/jacket (WHITE!!); My dog is a Cane Corso, about 135 lbs & really strong; our driveway and front yard is full of mud (due to all the snow that is still melting).  Bruno stopped, I pulled the leash off my wrist, He ran back into the house and I'm laying flat on my face in MUD!  I get up and am covered, literally, HEAD to TOE in thick MUD!  Ewwwww!

If I were a cartoon I would have had steam coming out of my ears and beeping sounds coming out from my mouth.  I walk into my house (remember just swept & mopped) tracked in a whole lot of mud, entered the bathroom (remember just cleaned that too), took everything off, started to wash myself off (MUD everywhere).  I look in the mirror, after washing it and my forehead and nose are all scratched up...my hands have scratches on them also.  Ouch!  Very painful.  My house now looked like the way my face looked and felt..NOT GOOD!

So I throw all my muddy clothes in the wash, I cleaned the bathroom again and swept and mopped again! I was NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!!!  Although, oddly enough, my hair stayed fabulous.....no MUD in the hair.  How the heck did that happen?  I don't know but Happy!  For the next two days my neck, shoulders, hands and nose were very sore.  I'm healing quickly, putting organic coconut oil on my boo-boos.

That was a very unfortunate event but I do Thank God for waking me up every morning, my health, my family and that Bruno stopped after I fell...he could have easily kept running, dragged me and I could have gotten hurt really bad.  So at the end of the day I pretty much want to say that life is Good and Mud may get thrown in your face ;-) (or you fall in it) but don't let one thing ruin your spirit.  Don't let the bumps in the road poison you, derail you from your happy path, from the Toxic-Free You!  Stay happy, stay positive, stay Toxic-Free!

SICK!

NOTE: When purchasing please use my ID#504498 so I can get credit for your sale! Thanks!

ARE YOU SICK!!! Stomach Bug is going around.  I keep hearing about it going around.  So many from my family and of friends have caught the bug.  This stomach bug is causing nausea and diarrhea...yuck! and feeling light headed.   

Hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying this but I have not caught the bug.  THANK GOD!!! I actually haven't gotten sick this whole winter season.  I say this happily because as a mom I just don't have time for it.  LOL! All you moms out there know exactly what I'm talking about.  But really, NOBODY has time for it; aside from time NOBODY cares for the way it feels either.  In my home this whole winter season my husband has gotten sick a few times, my daughter's also....I'm the one constantly around them, yet I haven't been down for the count.  (Please, please, please oh God...continue to bless me with my health).  I pray for the health of my loved ones also.  I didn't enjoy seeing my girls with horrible stomach pain, not being able to hold anything down (not even water), feeling light headed and not looking bright eyed.  

Total Body Health: Removes Toxins :) YAY! 
NOTE: When purchasing please use my ID#504498 so I can get credit for your sale! Thanks!

I've been taking my vitamins.  I tried getting my husband to take vitamins but he doesn't.  I tried getting my daughter's to take their vitamins also but they don't. I choose my battles, I don't like fighting.  I will now force them all to take their vitamins & omega.  I can't say for sure that this is why but I will share with you that I've been taking a total body health-multi vitamin in liquid form and I feel great!  I also take Omega 3/6/9, also in liquid form and it doesn't taste yucky either.  I like that its in liquid form because its so easy to take each morning.  I also like it because I feel like it goes right into my body and I get it all right away; without it having to breakdown as in pill form.  I don't like taking pills. blah!  

No fishy taste! YAY!  
NOTE: When purchasing please use my ID#504498 so I can get credit for your sale! Thanks! 

Maybe, just maybe they'll listen to me or at least learn by seeing and start taking their vitamins; and take them without fighting with me.  By the way....all are non-toxic, NoGMO's, cruelty free, made in the USA & BPA free.  That's bonus for me :)