Lists & Goals & Dreams

For as long as I can remember I've been a list maker.  I'm one of those people who will make a to do list just so I can mark stuff off my list.  Over the years I've grown to really depend on my lists & this is how I function.  I remember in junior high school I used to love to buy those little 2 year planners!!!  I loved to have a clean, blank one & start filling it in with all my stuff!!  At a very early age I would always keep a little planner & notebook with me.  When I didn't have them easily accessible I would grab another notebook or piece of paper.  As I got older, I really started depending on my planner.  Now, I always get excited when it is time to buy a new planner.  I have another post planned about some of my favorite things & my favorite planner is one of the things I plan to share! So, stay tuned for that!!

I've always heard it said,  "A goal without a plan is just a wish."  The list maker in me LOVES this quote.  So, it made my day when Elizabeth started talking about the #1Step group that we started at the beginning of August!!  She had this fabulous calendar for us & everything.  The purpose of this group is to encourage & help us to realize that by making 1 healthy choice a day we can reach our health & wellness goals.    It felt so good to fill in my goals & get ready to tackle them for the month.  Now at the end of the month, I wanted to share with you some things I did to help me reach these goals that I set.

One of my favorite things to do is to fix my super healthy smoothie.  I usually have this for breakfast after my run or walk.  I use kefir, frozen fruit, YL Ningxia Red, MultiGreens, Power Meal, Ningxia Nitro, & essential oils.  This keeps me full & helps detox my body of yuckiness.  It also fuels my body with all kinds of goodness to tackle the rest of my day.

Young Living has so many products that help me reach my goals.  I use these products daily.  Have you tried the Slique bars?  They are so yummy. A very tasty way to snack.  With Young Living, because of their Seed To Seal guarantee, you can know that you are putting the best into your body.  

It also helps me to do my essential oil capsules each day.  I use lemon, peppermint, grapefruit, ocotea, & cinnamon bark.  I take these twice daily (morning & evening).  Then I also use Slique Essence & take it around lunch time.  This combination of oils keeps me feeling motivated & energized & it helps me not feel bloated.  I'm also able to crush sugar cravings.  Another thing that helps me is to flavor my water.  I do not enjoy drinking water.  But thanks to YL, my water is better than ever. The citrus oils are so yummy in water.  That makes me drink more water.  And we all know that's good for you!! 

Young Living also provides me with some amazing products to help me with my exercise goals.  I've been using the Couch to 10K app to get into running.  On the days that I don't run, I walk 3 miles.  Since school has started back, I always stop at the track after I drop the girls off.  This has made it possible for me to get at least 5 days of exercise in a week.  I start by putting En-R-Gee on my feet & Peppermint & Panaway on my knees.  On days when the air is thick, I apply RC to my chest.  Then on the way to track I have a Nitro!!

At convention a couple of weeks ago, YL introduced an amazing new sports gel, Cool Azul.  WOW!!  It is wonderful for soothing sore, tired muslces!!

Thanks to these steps, I've been able to really tackle some of goals for August.  Just last week I was able to jog for a full 28 minutes!!!  This is huge for me!!  I also, in those 28 minutes had to run this incline pictured below 6 times!!  And I did it...........WITHOUT STOPPING!!!  At the end of my run that day, Kool & the Gang were singing "Celebration" on my playlist.  I felt that was appropriate!! Another goal I've tackled this month is to lose weight......I've been able to lose 10 pounds!  I have a lot more to go, but I love being able to move these marbles over & see my progress!!!

I hope you're joining me in the #1Step group.  I'm looking forward to finishing the month strong.  And I just got word a few days ago that we have a September calendar ready to go.  So, tell me, what goals have you reached this month?  Who's in for September?

Goat's Milk Caramel Sauce.............YUM!!!!

When we bought our first goats almost a year and a half ago, we planned for them to mostly just be pets.  Our girls, Aubrey especially, had wanted goats for a while.  But we also wanted to get a breed of goat that would be beneficial for the farm in some way. We started looking into goat milk & found that there are lots of health benefits to it.  So, Jim decided to try to milk our goats. And boy was that an amazing decision.  

We don't drink a lot of milk by itself, but we do use milk to make lots of things.  We use it in baking recipes, we make kefir & yogurt, & we also started making caramel sauce.  OH. MY. WORD!!!  That caramel sauce is the best stuff ever!!  And because we made it ourselves it is so CLEAN & has only the best ingredients in it!!!  So, we first started using it on desserts, but then I used it in my coffee!!!  Let me just say that I am a coffee snob.......now more than ever.  This caramel sauce is the best coffee creamer I've ever used.  

I thought I would share with you how I make my homemade caramel sauce.  I start with 4 quarts of fresh goat milk, organic sugar, baking soda, & a large stock pot.

Into the pot I put the milk, 4 cups of sugar, & 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. I use a wooden spoon to mix it up.  Then I set the burner between 4 & 5 to start with.    I set the timer for 22 minute increments......I know that is a weird number, but it's just what worked for me.  And I have to set a timer or I'll get sidetracked doing something else & forget about my precious caramel sauce.  Trust me, that happened once & I cried when I scorched the caramel to the pot.  :'(  So, take my advice & set a timer.  This whole process is going to take 2-3 hours from start to finish.

We all know that working with raw milk can be tricky.  We have to cook it to a certain temperature to make it safe to drink.  The caramel sauce cooks for so long that it is nothing to worry about.......it will be completely safe for consumption by the time it is done.  Just to keep from contaminating things, it is a good idea after the first few stirrings, to get a clean wooden spoon to finish out the process. 

As the mixture cooks you will notice it changing color.  It will start turning to a caramel color.   After 2-3 hours, your caramel sauce is done........it will have reduced by 1/2 during the cooking process.  I like to pour my sauce into mason jars.  I let it cool a bit on the countertop & then I move it to the fridge.

Now you are ready to enjoy this deliciousness!!!!  I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a cup of coffee now!!!  YUM!!!

Salt Water & Stress Away

Okay, this post is going to be a little different than my other posts.  I'm going to get a little "deep & insightful".  I hope you'll indulge me for a bit.  :)  For most of my adult life I have been an emotional eater.  It took me until almost 4 years ago to admit that.  But it is true.  Any emotion seemed to draw me to food......and not the right kinds of food.  I would always reach for the rich comfort food.  Upset = food, sad = food, stressed = food, anxious = food, happy = food.......you get the idea.  I finally came to the realization that while it is good to enjoy food, I needed to find another outlet for my emotions.  I don't want to pretend like I have mastered this......far from it.  BUT coming to the realization has helped.  Most of the time now I can make myself not reach to food for comfort. They say "The cure for anything is salt water, SWEAT, TEARS, or the SEA."........ the older I get the truer I find this to be.  I don't know about you, but there have been a few times in my life when I have felt a NEED to be at the beach.  Of course, since we're not actually close to the sea I have to rely on sweat & tears the most. So, now I'm able to make self reach for sweat or tears (have a good cry &/or go for a power walk or run) most of the time instead of food!!  There really is truth to the healing powers of salt water.  The tears & sweat are a great way to purge out the negative emotions.  Still every once in a while the need for the sea calls. But, can I tell you something so lovely? When you can't get to the sea, you can bring the sea to you!!! Stress Away............this essential oil blend is like having that tropical paradise in a bottle.  It has been one of my favorites since the beginning of my oil journey!!! So, the next time you're having a stressful, trying day or when your emotions are raw & you feel like you need to go to the beach, pull out your bottle of Stress Away!! One quick whiff & you'll be transported to a salty way of life feeling.......and within minutes you'll begin to feel the stress & tension melt away!!! Stress Away is beautiful in the diffuser. You can also apply Stress Away topically & it makes a lovely (& incredibly beneficial) perfume or you can add it along with lavender to Epsom Salts for a fabulously relaxing bath. Did you know with its lime & vanilla flavor, Stress Away is also a great addition to your glass of water or your daily Ningxia Red? According to Young Living Stress Away essential oil blend is a natural solution created to combat normal stresses that creep into everyday life. We ALL know what that is like, right? Stress Away is the & vanilla pure. It also includes copaiba & lavender to reduce mental rigidity & restore equilibrium. Featuring powerful plant constituents, such as the cedrol found in cedarwood & the eugenol that occurs naturally in vanilla, Stress Away can help induce relaxation & reduce occasional nervous tension.

Now, can we talk a little more about salt water?  I didn't know until recently that there were so many benefits to salt water.  After doing some research & reading, I can understand why during high stress, emotional times I might feel the "need" to be at the beach.  Being near the sea (salt water) really is therapeutic!!!  In my reading I have found that salt water has a history of therapeutic use.  Historically it was used by the Greeks & Romans.  They used it in a warm water application as it could penetrate the skin more easily when it is warm.  This makes it have a very relaxing & regenerative effect on the body.  It is also known that the American Indians that resided close to the Great Salt Lake in Utah would regularly drink small amounts of inland sea water.  This practice was found to enhance their herbal remedies.  These are just a few examples of people in history that have known about the health benefits of salt water.  So, it really seems to be true that the cure for anything is salt water......sweat, tears, or the sea.

I love having these alternate, healthier ways for dealing with my emotions.  Self acceptance has been a long time coming, but I'm finally in that stage of my life.  I think.  ;)  Seriously, I think it will be  a lifetime struggle for me.  But I'm getting there.  And the more I make the right decisions to take care of myself, the more I am able to love & accept myself.  And with that comes great freedom & power.  It is a kind of freedom & power that I want to instill in my girls.

  

So, let's talk a bit about "sweat."We all know that we need to exercise.  Right?  I think we all   understand that exercise makes us healthier, but do we really understand what all it does for our body??  I know I didn't.  And after turning 40 in May, I'm just now beginning to grasp the real importance of daily exercise.  I'm sure we all realize that daily exercise will tone our body so we can wear , that favorite outfit.  And we know that it strengthens muscles, keeps bones strong, & improves skin.  But did you realize there are even more benefits of daily exercise?  How about these........ increased relaxation, better sleep & mood, & strong immune function. So, there are way too many reasons that I should be exercising daily for me to just shrug it off & not do it!!  If I want to be able to take care of my family (& I do!!)  then I first have to take care of myself.  It has taken me a long time to realize that.  Another benefit to exercising daily & taking care of myself is that it gives my girls a good example to follow.  I want them to learn to take care of themselves.  We all want to give our kids the best life we can.  I think teaching them to accept & love themselves is a great start.      

This didn't start out as a goal that I wrote down for my #1step this month.  But I do think it is a great step to take.  We all need to love ourselves & take care of ourselves. This post ended up much more convoluted & twisted, but I hope it's been helpful to you in some way!!  I'd love for your to share your thoughts with me.......leave me a comment or email me or message me on Facebook!!!

The Struggle is REAL

Good morning!!!  I hope this post finds you having a GREAT week!!!  I'm not sure how the weather is where you are, but let me tell ya.......we've got a PERFECT weather day going on today!!!  When I woke up this morning, the overnight low was 60*!!!!  So FALL-LIKE!!!  Most everyone that knows me, knows that fall is my absolute favorite time of year!!!  So, I say, bring this weather on!!!  Now, I do realize that we're about 5-6 weeks away from fall so there will be, I'm sure many more HOT, HUMID days between now & then.  But for today, I'm going to bask in the perfectness of this weather!! I hope you will too!!

Have you been following along with our #1Step group on Facebook?  I hope you have.  It is a phenomenal group full of people who just want to encourage each other to better themselves by taking just 1 health step (or making 1 healthy choice) each day!!  We have a calendar for the month of August that you can download & print to write out your goals for the month!!!  I love having this......makes the goals more real & it keeps them in front of me so I'm focused on them.  
My goals for the month are to drink 100 oz of water daily, continue my Couch to 5k program, start back with my healthy meal planning, drink 2 oz of Ningxia Red daily, lose 5 pounds, blog about my #1Step journey, & consistently take my lemon, grapefruit, & peppermint capsules to help me reach my goals!!  Well, I'll just tell you......some of these goals, I've done very well with & some of these goals are proving to be a REAL STRUGGLE!!!

I have done well with the couch to 5k program.  I am just finished week 6 today!!  And I'm happy to say that I'm doing the program 3 times a week & I'm walking on the days in between!!!  I just hope my motivation holds.  ;)  I'm also doing really well with the 2 oz of Ningxia Red.  Let me share with you how I'm doing that.  I LOVE Ningxia Red.  Have you tried it yet??  If you haven't you are really missing out!!  So, go order your some Ningxia Red right now.....I don't mind waiting!! :)  Okay, there are some days that I take the very convenient 2 oz pouch with me when I head out to run.  I'll drink it on my way to the track & then I'll chase it with a Nitro to give me an extra boost during my run.  Some days though, like today, I'll just have a Nitro on my way & then when I get home, I'll have a smoothie.  I make my smoothies with organic kefir, fresh & frozen fruits, a splash of maple syrup, & 2 oz of Ningxia Red.  Then I'll add some essential oil for a flavor boost!!  It is a super yummy way to fuel for the day!

Do you have some favorite things to use or do to help you get through a workout?  I know I need help getting through mine.  But I also want to keep in mind that a workout has to be that........WORK!! Or it will not change me like it want it to.  Still I love having these amazing products from Young Living to help make the workout a little more bearable!!  Here are some of my favorites........

I've already mentioned Nitro...........I feel about Nitro the way I feel about Ningxia Red.  If you don't have this, you really need to get some.  You NEED this in your life.  I promise you'll thank me for this later!!  Besides Nitro I also use various combinations of essential oils.  En-R-Gee is always on the bottom of my feet.  And the one time I forgot it, I FELT like I forgot it!!!  So, I make sure I have it on now!!! I also like to put peppermint on my knees....this just helps the joints feel cool & loose to handle the run.  Peppermint is also great on these super HOT summer days.  On those days, I'll apply it to the back of neck for a cooling sensation through my workout.  Last week, each day that ran required that I use RC.  Why?  RC is wonderful for supporting healthy lung function.  I've found that it is incredibly helpful to my breathing on hot, humid days!!

One of my other goals is to consistently take my lemon, peppermint, & grapefruit capsules.  I love how these capsules make me feel......the only problem is that I FORGET to take them.  So, I went ahead & made me about 2 weeks worth & stuck them in the freezer for storage.  The reason I put them in the freezer is so that the citrus essential oils don't breakdown the gel capsule.  The lemon oil works as a detoxifier.  It pulls toxins from my body to be eliminated. Who don't need that???  The peppermint oil is wonderful for supporting healthy digestion.  And the grapefruit oil is for boosting metabolism.  So, you can see that these capsules need to consistently be part of my routine.  I'm doing better with this since I've made them in advance.  But there's still room for improvement.  So, I'll continue to work on that this month!

I also need to do better with the blogging.  I'm really trying....but you know how it is.  Life keeps us busy & time gets away!!  I'll do better.  I have made other improvements along the way this month.  I am doing better at drinking my water.  I'm not getting 100 oz in every day, but I am on most days.  And I'm also consistently ordering water in restaurants!!  This is HUGE!!!  I'm making my water more enjoyable by adding some essential oils for flavor.  My current favorite is Jade Lemon!!!  So refreshing!!   I'm also enjoying healthy snacks...........lots of fresh fruits.  And I'm loving the Slique bars. They are just 140 calories!!!  I cannot wait to try the new chocolate ones they just released at convention!!!!  YUM!!!

So, tell me............are you in the #1Step group?  Want to be added?  All you have to do is let me know!!  I'd also love to hear how you're doing with your goals this month!! 

#1Step in August

So, we're at the end of the first week of August (I'm not sure how that happened so fast......time is really FLYING!!).  Most everyone that you know wants to be healthy.  Whether they admit it or not, whether they are actively pursuing it or not.  What I told you that it doesn't have to be have to HARD!  If you knew that you could accomplish your health & wellness goals easily, who wouldn't jump on board???

 My amazing Young Living leader has started a fabulous Facebook group for the month of August.  This group is called #1Step.  It is a wonderful group of people who are all striving for the same goal.......to better our health & wellness.  Elizabeth is also amazing with photography & design & she has made these incredible graphics for the group.  (I hope she doesn't mind me using them here!!)  :)

 The point & purpose of this group is to realize & encourage each other to know that we can ALL reach our health & wellness goals by taking 1 healthy step & decision each day!! How awesome is that!!!  When you break it down to 1 simple, healthy decision a day, it becomes really easy & totally doable!! 

I am super excited to be participating in this group.  So much fun & encouragement being shared.  Here is a quick selfie I snapped at the beginning of the month with my goals.  This is really going to help jump start me into a new, healthy me!!!  Can't wait to see the progress!!  And I would LOVE to have you join me!!  If you want to participate in this #1Step group, please comment on this post or email me (ericalovell@att.net), or message me on Facebook (ME) & I'll be happy to get you added.  

Now, let's talk about those goals!!  We all have goals.......we can have personal goals, financial goals, spiritual goals, work goals, fitness goals.....you get the idea.  For this group we will be focusing on health & wellness goals.  Taking our health into our own hands.  When thinking about your goals, you want them to be specific, realistic, attainable, & measurable.   Once your goals are set, you need to make a plan & get to work.  You'll be achieving your goals before you know it!!

So, I thought I'd share some of my goals with you!!  My goals for this month to have better health are to drink 100 oz of water a day (this one's tough!), continue & complete my couch to 5k program, lose 5 pounds, drink 2oz of Ningxia Red daily, get back to my healthy & weekly meal planning, blog about my #1Step journey, and consistently take my lemon, peppermint, & grapefruit capsules to help with my weight management.  Each of these goals will help me be a better, healthier me!!  So, tell me what are your goals!!!  I'd love to hear from you!!!

Back To School!!!

Who can believe that it is already time for back to school!?!?  After homeschooling last year & having a wonderfully fabulous year, we have decided to put our girls back in school this year.  So I'm right there with you all in the back to school rush to get ready.  We all know that school starting in the fall requires lots of shopping.........new clothes, new shoes, pencils, paper, bookbags, crayons, etc.  Today we're going to talk about other things that are necessary when going back to school.  

You all know that I'm all about Young Living Essential Oils.  Did you realize that there are so many amazing YL products that are needed for a super healthy & well school year!!! 

There are several essential oils that can enhance your child's learning & make the school year better!!

Young Living also has a whole line of KidScents that are especially made for kids, prediluted & ready to help with a wide array of issues!!  And now they're available in a kit AND individually!!!  I'd love to hear how you use these!!!  

We all know how incredible Thieves is, right?  Well, did you know there is a Premium Starter Kit with Thieves??  So many awesome products!  I just recently placed my monthly order & have all things Thieves headed our way!!  We will not start the school year without being prepared with Thieves!!  Don't you agree??

And let's not forget all the teachers & grown ups going back to school!!  We have a lot of must have products for you too!!!  Check out our work survival kit recommendations!!!  

So, tell me, what all do you have ready to go for Back to School???