HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. It can turn an existence into a real life, and disconnected situations into important and beneficial lessons.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Gratitude makes things right. Gratitude turns negative energy into positive energy. We can start with who we are and what we have today, apply gratitude, then let it work its magic.”
~ Melody Beattie ~

FOOD GRATITUDE

Did you know that 11/24 was National Sardine Day??? Good news for you! I don’t have any sardine recipes to share…but I am sharing recipes for my Easy Praline Yams & Super Easy Crock Pot “Stuffed Pepper” Soup

Also find strategies for managing holiday foods, reasons why you need a back brush and the beauty of Dolly Parton.

Self – Care

BACK CARE

INSTEAD OF LOOKING BACK…TAKE CARE OF IT!

Guys and gals, while many of you may be super limber…let’s face it, unless you’re with Cirque du Soleil some areas of your back are probably tricky to reach.

WHY DO YOU NEED A BACK BRUSH?

Guys and gals, while many of you may be super limber…let’s face it, unless you’re with Cirque du Soleil some areas of your back are probably tricky to reach.

Your back needs love too!
  • Your back needs to be well cleaned like all other areas of your body.
  • Normal bathing/showering just doesn’t get all the hard to reach areas clean.
  •  Your back accumulates grease and dead skin just like other parts of your body…which may lead to clogged pores, acne, and itching.
  •  Using a back brush regularly can help remove sweat, dirt, eliminate fatigue, release toxins trapped inside the body, improve sleep quality, and improve the skin’s metabolic function and disease resistance by cleaning and exfoliating the skin.
  •  A back brush is a small investment that can assist in making your back and many other aspects of your life a bit healthier.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING FOR A BACK BRUSH?

handle
  • 14.2” length is ideal for me…but might not be right for you.
  • Find the right length for you by taking a ruler and trying to reach all areas of your back. It’s an easy way to see if you need more or less than a 12” brush.
  • Look for a non-slip grip for better grip strength.
  • Choose a high quality and sturdy handle that will not easily break.
bristles
  • Look for gentle, dense, and soft nylon bristles.
  • Choose nylon verses natural bristles to avoid mildew issues.
wet and dry use
  • Find a brush that you can use wet and dry.
  • Use wet – moisten and use as a full body brush for exfoliation to remove dirt and dead skin
  • Use dry – dry brushing boosts circulation and promotes skin health
I purchased the brush pictured above from Walmart.com for $8.02 a few months ago. I absolutely love it. Got one for my hubby and he loves his too!
Unfortunately, they are currently out of stock. However, you can sign up for in stock alerts or look for a similar brush.

Food

mj’s easy praline yams

You may have figured out by now…I am a HUGE fan of potatoes!

click here

mj’s super easy crock pot “stuffed pepper” soup

click here

Weight Management

6 EASY STRATEGIES…

to manage holiday food a bit more successfully!

EAT

Don’t be tempted to start your day on an empty tank or skip meals and snacks!
  1. Regardless of the time you plan to enjoy your holiday meal… keep your regular food schedule for meals and snacks.
  2. People often “skip” meals in order to “save up” for a huge holiday meal.
  3. This idea always backfires making it easy to overindulge and then feel overstuffed!

WATCH THE BLT’s
Bites, Licks & Tastes! 
  1. BLT’s add up to extra calories…that just don’t “seem” to count because they are not part of a planned meal or snack.
  2. Be mindful of your BLT’s.
  3. It’s very easy to have a full meals worth of calories when prepping, cooking, and taste testing.
BE PICKY
Peruse the entire food and beverage offerings before making your ultimate decisions.
  1. You can have “store bought” items almost any time of the year you would like.
  2. Choose things that are homemade, different, or made only during the holidays.
TAKE 10
Wait 10 seconds…or better yet, 10 minutes before having a second helping.
  1. It takes a few minutes for your stomach’s “I’m getting full” signal to get to your brain.
  2. So, hold off before diving in!
PACE YOURSELF
Slow down.
  1. Holiday meals are not just typically tossed together.
  2. Take your time to enjoy the flavors and love put into the food.
ENJOY
Fully enjoy your food and beverage choices.
  1. Eat and drink without guilt or shame.
  2. Remember, if you go off track, you can get right back on with your next meal or snack!

Health and Wellness

DOLLY PARTON

Even if you’re not a fan of country music, you’ve just gotta love Dolly Parton.

In my eyes, she is a real life SHE-RO!

She has her very own super powers that come from her very humble upbringing and rough road to stardom.

She doesn’t let much get her down and her optomism is infectious. She’s a fierce entrepreneur.

The 74 year old spitfire continues to work tirelessly to do good with her life and her money.

A long history of philanthropy…
In 1995, Parton launched and founded the Imagination Library to boost literacy among children. The initiative has mailed more than 133 million free books to children.
Her My People Fund gave $9 million to people who lost their homes in fires that took place in 2016 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Her long-time friend, a phyician and professor of surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center treated her after her car crash in October 2013. He has been involved in research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for many years.
They talk frequently about current events and science. So, earlier this year Dolly donated $1M to the center to support research efforts for CV19.
The show must go on…
Dolly continues to entertain.
He new “feel good” Christmas movie musical is on Netflix.
She also launched a new holiday CD.
DOLLY’S RECIPE FOR LIFE
1/2 cup of love
1 teaspoon of caring
a dash of humilty
topped with compassion
Now that’s a healthy recipe we can all indulge on every day!