Thrifty Thursday

I have to admit, financial prowess has never been the number one talent on my resume of life.  I'm the type of woman whose heart goes all aflutter and chills run up my spine at the thrill of hearing someone whisper those three little words in my ear:  “It’s on sale!”  I’ve learned (and continue to learn) over the years that on sale doesn’t mean free.  One major department store has a wonderful marketing tool – at the bottom of the shopping receipt it shows how much money you have saved.  It’s designed to make you feel like the most proud and prudent purchasing agent of the day -- “Oh look, I saved $30!”  Cool, but was the $50 you spent to save the $30 in your budget to begin with?  Honey that just don’t make cents! 

I’ve been investing in (yes, pun intended) research and study on finances  - reading, talking with financially savvy friends, and learning all I can about spending plans and matters of the pocketbook.  In fact, I just got a Coach bag yesterday at a consignment shop that originally sold for $350 and I got it for $30.  Ah, got to love those field trips about pocketbook matters!  But, that being said, I need to make certain that (a) I have that $30 in my budget to spend, and (b) that I have a cash flow that I can put in that wickedly wonderful purse.  Did I mention I got it for $30?!?!?!?   I’m still giddy.

The bottom line is - we need to step back, get a rock solid grip on our money, and put a plan into action to do everything we can to be sassy and SOLVENT wild women!  Savings are sexy!  These are some hard times for many of us, but even if you can get a mason jar and put your change in it at the end of the day, that’ s a start.  My Mom always said if you can even put $5 a week away, that’s $5 more than you had last week and at the end of the year, you’ve got $260 more than you did at the beginning of the year!  Every little bit adds up.

Today begin to exercise your financial muscles and acumen – below is a very good article from the financial website The Motley Fool.  It’s quite an eye-opener, and I hope it will catch your interest on all levels.  You can also read it at their website by clicking HERE.

And always, always invest in yourself and spend your most precious commodity -- time -- with those you love.  That’s priceless!

Blessings,

Linda

P.S.  Did I mention my fabulous new purse?  Just sayin'...

Step 1: Change Your Life With One Calculation If there were an eighth wonder of the world, we'd nominate the equation for compound interest: Your money x (1 + i)^n. (If you're not a math geek, don’t worry; we're going to decipher that for you.) Albert Einstein (or maybe it was Yogi Berra) called this deceptively simple formula the "greatest mathematical discovery of all time." We call it your ticket to financial independence. That's right, just three straightforward inputs can change your life: the amount of money you invest; the rate of return you get; and how much time you have to let your money grow. Hate math but like money? Read on. Since words cannot adequately describe the magical nature of compound interest, let's try a few visuals. Here's how a single $1,200 investment grows over time in four savings scenarios. How a single $1,200 investment grows Savings Account (0.5%) Money Market Fund (2%) Certificate of Deposit (5%) Stock Market (9%*) Initial investment $1,200 $1,200 $1,200 $1,200 5 years $1,230 $1,325 $1,532 $1,846 10 years $1,261 $1,463 $1,955 $2,841 15 years $1,293 $1,615 $2,495 $4,371 25 years $1,359 $1,969 $4,064 $10,348 30 years $1,394 $2,174 $5,186 $15,921 35 years $1,429 $2,400 $6,619 $24,497 40 years $1,465 $2,650 $8,448 $37,691 *Based on the stock market's historical rate of return. As you can see, simply socking away one lump sum and leaving it put could turn $1,200 into nearly $40,000 over 40 years. Not only have you earned interest, but you've earned interest on your interest. And all you had to do was invest your first paycheck. That said, let’s be honest: $37,691 ain’t what it used to be. So let’s make one small revision and invest $1,200 every year. Behold compound interest in a mildly caffeinated state. A more compelling table than the previous one Savings Account (0.5%) Money Market Fund (2%) Certificate of Deposit (5%) Stock Market (9%) Initial investment $1,200 $1,200 $1,200 $1,200 5 years $7,321 $7,695 $8,494 $9,674 10 years $13,596 $14,865 $17,803 $22,713 15 years $20,030 $22,782 $29,684 $42,775 25 years $33,390 $41,174 $64,200 $121,136 30 years $40,323 $51,829 $88,899 $194,211 35 years $47,432 $63,593 $120,423 $306,646 40 years $54,721 $76,582 $160,656 $479,642 Now we're at half a million. Not bad, right? Still, we think you can top it. In fact, it’s not a stretch to get near that magical $1 million milestone. Just save $2,500 a year (a mere $208 a month), and at 9% you’ve got a million dollars in 40 years. Or stick with the $1,200 annual contribution but improve your investing skills (which the rest of this series will show you how to do). If you are able to best the stock market’s average annual returns by a mere 3 percentage points, the $1 million prize is yours.   If we could, we would cue a soaring chorus of angels opening the doors to usher you into the Valhalla of investing … but we misplaced that file somewhere on our hard drive. And the best part about compound interest is that it works the same for everyone, whether you have $20 to invest or $200,000. Go ahead, tinker with this compounding calculator to see what we mean. If you don't believe you can become a millionaire with just the resources you have right now, keep reading. The amazing tale of the Mississippi washer woman Oseola McCarty was born in Mississippi in 1908. For nearly 75 years, she lived in the same simple house, washing other people's clothes for a living and putting whatever money she could into savings accounts at local banks. In the summer of 1995, Oseola made local and then national headlines when she donated $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi to establish a scholarship fund. "I just figured the money would do [scholarship recipients] a lot more good than it would me," she said. It soon came out that this washer woman had managed to amass nearly one quarter of a million dollars over her lifetime. Time -- a key part of the compounding equation -- helped turn her meager early investments into hundreds of thousands of dollars. We like this ending better As remarkable as the Oseola McCarty story is, the ending could have been a blockbuster. After she died in 1999, one of her bankers wrote to us saying: "Time was able to turn even the modest returns of her early investments into hundreds of thousands of dollars. If we had been able to introduce her to equities earlier, she would have left millions instead of thousands." Remember, the amount you save and your time horizon -- how long you have until you need the money you've invested -- are only two-thirds of the compounding equation. Oseola excelled in both. But she did pay a price for ignoring the rate of return on her investments. Typically, the more risk you are willing to take on (by, say, investing in stocks rather than bonds), the higher your potential return. But risk is a four-letter word to a lot of folks: They're happy to settle for lesser returns to avoid it. Bad idea. Stuffing all your savings into the Serta -- or sticking only with safer investments like Treasury bills or bonds -- is even more disastrous. It's not simply that they return less. It's that they barely keep up with the rate of inflation, and that means your retirement dollar is not going to go as far as you think. We Fools believe the best place for your long-term (key word … as you'll discover in Step 4) savings is the stock market. Your golden ticket to financial independence There you have it: Financial independence is just three variables away. So start saving now (as much as you can), and invest it well. Because the sooner you get the wonder of compounding working for you, the sooner you'll reach your financial dreams. And that's exactly what this series will help you do. Action: Who wants to be a millionaire? That's what we thought. Here's the magic code you need: 10,000, 8, 400, 35, 0, 0, 0. Plug in those numbers -- in that exact order -- here.

Wild Woman Wednesday

You see this picture?  Well, that was pretty much my morning, except my shoes do match.  I’m sure most of you can laugh and identify yourself as well. 

Today I’d like you to exercise your backup planning muscles.  One of the few things that helped get out the door a little less late in my daybreak daze was the fact that I pick out my clothes the night before and hang them up so I can almost jump into them in the morning.  From the inside out, including jewelry and shoes, it’s right there when I wake up.  No scrambling around, searching for the missing shoe, the lost earring, the un-hole-y stocking.  This has saved my comatose booty on more than a few occasions, let me tell you!

Another thing I try to do is to put everything I’m going to take with me near either my bedroom door or the back door.  No matter how hard I try, I seem to be the perpetual bag lady, lugging multiple bundles of stuff out the door into the car in my bleary-eyed stupor.  Have I mentioned I am NOT a morning person, by the way?  Oh, it’s on my bucket list, but ain’t happening yet, and I don’t foresee it as a short-term goal… nope, nope, nope this is a long-haul habit to achieve.  But I digress… 

I have my backpack with my schoolwork, my lunch bag, my gym bag and my work bag all lined up, and I pray I don’t fall over them as I leave.  Sometimes I add my laptop just for the multi-tasking purpose of weight training since I'm not carrying enough, you know?  Then I can always say I worked out in the morning!  Mind you, this is a work in progress so I don’t achieve these amazing feats on a daily basis – each day is a new adventure in planning.  Oh, and this doesn't take into account the various trips back upstairs to obtain the forgotten glasses, teacup, cell phone... Let's also not forget to mention the added gymnastics fun when I dash out the door and one of the bags catches onto the door handle -- yes, just call me the human rubber band as I bungee myself off the porch into the flower bed.  Would that be considered taking time to smell the flowers????  My neighbors think of me as their morning comic relief program as they watch me while sipping their coffee!

So that’s your assignment, wild women – tonight get it all ready for tomorrow.  You can do it!  Now… if I could only stop driving off with my teacup still on the roof of my car…

Blessings,

Linda

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Pininterest!

Time's a Wastin' Tuesday

Yesterday is gone.   Today is here, but not for long.  Tomorrow is hope, but not a promise.

So exactly what are you waiting for?

Stop your waitin', procrastinatin', push back the datin', excuse makin', really I'm fine fakin', belly achin'... rip up the excuses, burn them, put on your big girl panties, and GET ON WITH IT!  Seriously, girlfriend, this is your life.

Finish this sentence:  It's time for me to ________________________________,

Exercise your DO IT MUSCLES NOW!!!!

BE BODACIOUS WHILE THERE'S STILL TIME.

Motivation Monday

Take a Break Thursday

Yes, dear readers, I have been missing in action!  I needed to take a break and attend to life for a bit, but now I’m back!  Thanks for your patience. 

When life runs at the speed of insanity, sometimes you simply have to stop before you run yourself into the ground and your body decides to stop you by permitting you to get sick!  Ever notice how, after a prolonged period of demands/stressors, as soon as the deadline passes, you suddenly fall ill?  It’s like your body say, “Whew!  Okay, we’ve met that goal, now we can collapse!” 

I’m sure most of you juggle multiple roles in your life – and often those roles collide.  You have to organize and position a boatload of commitments, events, meetings, lunches, projects just for yourself.  Then there’s the rest of the family and their calendars to attend to as well!  It seems never-ending and more than overwhelming.  Believe me, been there, done that, burned the tee-shirt!

What I’d like you to do today is to exercise your red pen and scrutinize your calendar for the rest of the month, and cross out/cancel/reschedule whatever you can in order to give yourself a little breathing room.  While most of your appointments probably scream “I’M A MUST DO – YOU CAN’T CROSS ME OFF”, I want you to truly think about that statement.  Really?  Will the world come to an end if you don’t go to that place?  If you’re single, married, with or without children – what would happen if you played hooky for the day?  Or the evening?  I’m not talking about lying and taking a sick day when you’re perfect well.  But what if you took the afternoon off, and went to a movie?  Or just went home and took a desperately-needed nap?  Imagine if you and a friend or you and the hubs just opted to erase all the events from a given day and spent time together doing nothing?  Or took a drive down the shore (yes, I’m from Jersey, we say down the shore, not the beach) and walked along the ocean’s surf?  Or found a local park, packed a picnic lunch and walked in the woods, talking and taking time to rediscover your relationship?  What memories could you make if you took the kids out of school for the day and did something like this?  I’m not advocating teaching them education isn’t important – but one day out of their lives just enjoying time together unexpectedly?  Magic!

I am completely guilty of overbooking my life, so believe me when I tell you I’m not dishing out advice like some mountaintop guru!  Last week I actually took a vacation day, and you know what I did?  I slept.  Yep, I slept and slept and slept some more.  It was wonderful.  Guilt-free sleeping late, like I haven’t done in years.  My body had just slammed into that wall of OVERDO, and I realized that I needed to take care of it before it rebelled. 

If a day is out of the question, how about blocking off one evening?  One afternoon?  Grab that calendar – look for three things you can eliminate.  I promise life will not end if you reschedule those demands on your life.  Take care of YOU, so you can have the energy to attend to those things later.  February is supposed to highlight love, so love yourself enough to give yourself a break. 

Got that pen in hand?  Ready?  Set?  STOP!!!!!!

Blessings,

Linda

Thrifty Thur$day

Ah… the beginning of a new month, lots of possibilities and opportunities.  I’m currently training for my financial coaching certification (yes, it has been certification central in my life for awhile now).  One of the hardest muscles to train, as we’ve talked about in previous posts, is that money muscle, aka the “Spend It” thrust, when you give your debit or credit card to your local store owner.  Often overused, instead of giving you a lean and mean budget, this exercise (in futility) often starves your bank account and savings into a wimp with no CENTS!

Shaking your head yes?  Um-hummm… you know the pain and guilt and anxiety of not being where you want to be financially and perhaps being overwhelmed about how to do damage control and get your financial life back on track and healthier than ever.  A big part of our lives deals with money and expenditures, so let’s face it head on and start the clean up process.  It may be a little scary, but it’s better to know that to be a financial “Avoider” personality and just shoving those bills off in the corner, hoping by some miracle tomorrow they will be gone like the wind. 

Let’s begin simply.  Take a deep breath, and let’s gather all your debt information into one place so we can begin a debt elimination plan.  Click HERE for a debt elimination calculator where you can plug in all your creditor information, balances, interest rates, etc.  You will then be able to create a personal plan to pay off your debts.  It may surprise you!

I also highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University” workshops, which are a great way to learn a great deal about how to manage your money.  He’s got a very informative website as well – click HERE to surf over and check it out.  He offers tools to help you create a budget, understand debt and begin working towards financial peace.

There is something very freeing about beginning the process.  Once you have created a workable plan for yourself there is a sense of empowerment and hope.  You can do this.  You won’t be in debt forever.  Work those money muscles, wild women – you can do it!!!!!

Blessings,

Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

This past weekend I spent most of my waking hours being educated on and practicing the art of training with kettlebells, and earned my certification to teach this method of strength and conditioning.  A kettlebell is basically a cannon ball with a handle!  It originated in Russia, and is one of the most unique workout tools available – efficient, effective and a whole gym packed into a variety of sizes (ranging from about 14 lbs up to 32 kilos!).  Studies show that the average workout with kettlebells burns about 20 calories per minute – about 400 calories during a typical 20-minute workout. (Source:  Webmd - click HERE to read article.)

You may have seen kettlebells being used as the latest fad flavor of the month toy, or seen infomercials pitching their use.  Let me tell you, in order to effectively use a kettlebell, you need to understand a great deal about how to use it or you can hurt yourself (like any piece of exercise equipment).  We’re talking about swinging around about 28+ pounds of lead here, ladies!  I HIGHLY recommend that you get someone to educate you on how to use them before adding them to your repertoire.  I don’t say that as a “oooo, hire me” trainer marketing ploy – I say it because there are lots of gyms out there and trainers who are just tossing these bells around and saying, “Oh, just pick it up and swing it!”  NOT!!!!  A few years ago I did a strength certification workshop where I was given just that – I swung the bells around, and was told I was certified to use them.  That paper not is about worth the use of it to line the birdcage. 

The training I received was intense, hard-core training -- and quite remarkable.  I had the privilege of working with elite trainers from www.dragondoor.com including Senior RKC instructor Mark Toomey, Exercise Intervention and my respected colleagues at Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness.  I began personally training for this certification process back in November in order to become stronger and ready for the challenge.  I had watched my fellow female trainers go from having good bodies to stellar, strong and tight bodies – they were inspirational.  And I wanted the same thing.  I have seen my own body begin to morph and will continue to use kettlebells to train personally, and with my clients. 

I see the bells as a real wild woman workout.  Read up on them through the links provided here, and exercise your consideration of going to a qualified trainer (through Dragon Door – they are THE BEST) to begin working with a crazy cannon ball with a handle that can transform your workout, and your body!

Blessings,

Linda

Click HERE to see my profile - I was trainer of the month in January at the gym!

Tickle Me Tuesday

Hey.. Hey! Step away from that feather, I wasn't being LITERAL about tickling! Although, a good ticklefest with your kids (or inner child/loved ones)is always a fun treat for all!

From time to time, I like to share something that will help cheer you, encourage you and/or feed your soul and spirit. It's not a commercial or anything like that. Simply put -- you know when you find something you really like and you share it with you gal pals? It's that kind of idea. This could encompass anything that tickles your fancy.

I saw this product recently and just fell in love with it. It's an acorn locket that opens to reveal a secret message. Yes, I was one of those kids who loved creating special codes that only my friends could read, and sharing secret messages (you know, "A=1, B=2...). I'm the romantic who loves to tuck a love note in that special someone's pocket, or leave a note in your child's lunch box to encourage them, etc. So how cool is this?

Imagine giving it to a friend or a special female in your life with an itsy-bitsy note nestled inside that means something to both of you? Or a favorite quote? And hey, buy yourself your own flowers and Valentine's day gift and tuck a favorite Scripture verse or love note to yourself in to wear close to your heart! Wild women don't stand on principle, you know! Are you flying solo? Be your own Valentine! Okay, that's a whole 'nuther blog....

Anywhooo, the main thing here is that I thought this was a beautifully hand-crafted gift of love to yourself or another. I also embrace the symbolism of the acorn. It can represent human potential, strength, the small idea that can grow exponentially, how something that seems to die can rebirth and flourish. The crazy side of me also is tickled by what blogger Ree Drummond of The Pioneer Woman blog (which I highly recommend - click HERE to surf over) suggested about putting in the message "I'm nuts about you!"

And since I'm nuts about all my readers, I wanted to share this with all of you. Exercise your gifting muscle today, and consider blessing yourself or someone else with this expression of love and friendship today. Click HERE to go to www.etsy.com to read more or purchase. Be sure to swing by Bella Beads Studio as well to see other amazingly beautiful creations! Click HERE to visit!

Mom's Birthday Monday

Today I want to pay tribute to the most amazing woman I know – my Mom. It’s her birthday today, and I would like this opportunity to sing out her praises.

She is a VERY active member of Curves gym, and has well over 1,000 visits in the last few years. All you have to do is ask her to show you her guns, and that sleeve is up and bicep curled!

She has a heart “as big as the all outdoors” (as my Grandmom used to say). She is loving and giving, and is a tigress when it comes to her family. She is our matriarch.

Her faith in God never fails, and she is a prayer warrior.

Her life hasn’t been easy, but you’d never know it from her cheerful disposition. Mom’s sense of humor is funny, zany, warped and wonderful – I call her my “Crazy Old Broad”. She plays practical jokes on me, and sometimes we get to laughing so hard I cry.

She’s wise, and always ready to listen and not judge – I know her love is steadfast, even when I’ve messed up oh-so-many times in my life. She’s got the best Mom-hugs in the world! She is my biggest cheerleader and always supports me, even if she doesn’t always agree or understand.

She’s also an incredible Grandmother, and her nickname is “Gooma” – so of course we call her “The Goom”, The Goomeister”, “Goominator”, and I call her Momma Pajama or MPJ for short.

She’s the only person I’ve ever heard of who actually ran away and joined the circus! (Oh am I gonna pay for letting that out!) Yep... yep... My Mother IS the ORIGINAL wild woman!

I have the honor/blessing/privilege of having her with me since her home burned down about a year and a half ago. She walked away with nothing but quite literally the shirt off her back, and yet she has always looked at the bright side and counted her blessings. Mom doesn’t hold “things” tightly – her family and friends are her greatest treasures.

But let me tell you, Mom is our family’s greatest treasure. She is gutsy, courageous and strong, and is always there when we need her. She is my hero, my inspiration, and my love and respect for this woman knows no bounds. Truly, the words haven’t been invented yet to describe her.

So happy birthday, my bestest friend and Crazy Old Broad Mom. You are the absolute best Mom E-V-E-R, and I love you and thank God every single day that He blessed me with you. Here’s to another year of love, laughter, good health, blessings and all the happiness your beloved heart can hold.

Psalm 31:28-29 – “Her children arise and call her blessed; many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Trade It Thursday

Awhile back I was watching a home decorating show on HGTV, and the woman was decorating a room because two sisters were having a swap party, and wanted their room and atmosphere to feel like a high-end boutique. They had organized the party by asking each woman invited to bring 10-20 items they would like to swap. The more items they brought, the more tickets they would be given to use as “money”. Naturally, the items had to be in great condition, neat and clean and ready to be used/worn. Every item was brought to the event the weekend before so the sisters would have time to evaluate the “cost” of the item, tag it, and display it appropriately. Well, at the end of the program their room was beautiful, the women had a wonderful time, and nobody laid out one red cent!

Okay, I love this idea, and think it would be such fun. Not only could you swap out stuff like they did in the program, but what about skills? I could offer one hour of personal training or Pilates, and maybe that would “buy” me an hour of learning a new language, or personal organizing. The more I write about this, the more jazzed I get, and I think this will definitely be something on my 2012 goals. Getting together with some of the FABULOUS WILD WOMEN I’m blessed to know, shopping, swapping, laughing and just having fun for F-R-E-E! It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Interestingly, no one brought husbands or children to exchange… isn’t that nice???

So crank up those trade it muscles, get together with a bunch of your best gal pals, and have a swap party! If you do, we’d love to hear about it, so email your comments and photos!

Blessings,
Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild Woman have vision!

Today I want you to exercise your creativity, your inner spark, and your inner athlete. There was a great article about Vision Board creation on the website www.athleta.net that I’d like to share with you today.

A vision board is a collage of things you want to do, be, create and achieve in your life. It’s fun and doesn’t cost a penny! You can focus it on one specific area of your life (this article highlights your inner athlete), or you could create one that encompasses every area of your life.
There’s no rules, no boundaries, and I encourage you to color outside the lines to your heart’s content!!! Use crayons, markers, paints, anything that represents YOU and YOUR DREAMS.

Click HERE to read the article. I would love to see some of your results, so feel free to email me a scanned picture and I’ll post it here to inspire and encourage your wild woman sisters.
Blessings,
Linda

Too Much Tuesday

I’ve done it again. The second half of January through to the end of the month my calendar is so jam-packed I may not have time to shave both legs until Valentine’s Day, and all I dream about and crave is a 24-hour nap! I have a confession to make. I’m the queen of too much. I take on too much and think I can do it all and then have some time left over so I schedule something ELSE. It is a habitually problem that I‘ve been working on for years, and this month was, shall we say, not my shining moment of victory?

Between work, school, teaching, working out, going for my pilates reformer and kettle bell certifications, and finding time to dance, hang out with friends, and do the other small million or so other things that we all have to do in life, I am just exhausted. I’m burning the candle at both ends and feel like I’m about at the end of my rope.

One goal for February is to build more margin into my life. Keep a lookout for the Book of the Month I will be featuring in February on margins. That will surely be the book I will be reading in February. That is, if I ever get done of January’s book!

I know each and every one of you reading this knows exactly what I’m going through right now. Let’s all exercise our margins muscle and try to build a little time for ourselves in the coming days, shall we? Time to renew, refresh, and restore our weary wild woman bones? Well, I’m off to daydream about a lovely little nap…zzzzzzzz

Blessings,
Linda

Motivated Monday

I just came back from an amazing weekend of being trained on the Pilates Reformer. I currently am a certified Pilates mat instructor, and because I’m so passionate about Pilates (because it transformed my body), I wanted to go further and get my certification on the Pilates Reformer.

I had the privilege of being trained by Frankie Puglisi, owner and Educational Director of The Pilates Institute of America. She was such a warm, fun-loving personality – and she specializes in offering the best in Pilates teacher training. If it has anything to do with Pilates, she knows about it! I encourage you to visit her site to learn more about Pilates by clicking HERE.

The others students ranged from beginners to seasoned master instructors who were refreshing their skills, and the energy in that room helped inspire me to be the best I could be, both as a health professional and on a personal level as well. I can’t wait until the end of April to attend Pilates Reformer II.

It’s been over five years since I made the decision to begin my journey of better health, losing 50 pounds, and pursuing my passion of helping other women be their best in every area of life. If you had told me then where I would be today, I don’t know that I would have been able to envision that. But it just takes the first step. So please, start today. Work your baby step muscle and get out there to begin your own journey to the life and dreams you have in your heart, soul and spirit.

You’ll never know what’s around the corner until you take the first step!

Blessings,
Linda

For Real Friday

I am a big fan of Paula Deen. She just cracks me up with her lovable and bold personality, and I enjoy watching her on the Food Network. She’s spunky, funny and can cook up a storm. I respect her journey and think she’s got so much good goin’ on. However…

I am very sad to hear that she is not using her celebrity platform to teach people how to cook more healthfully, especially after hearing that she has Type 2 Diabetes. There is an excellent article on CNN.com today from well known doctor and health expert Dr. Andrew Weil that says it so much better than I could, and I want to share that with you today – click HERE to read it.

When I hop on the treadmill or elliptical at the gym, I always turn the telly to the Food Network – oh yeah, run and sweat while you watch Paul and Ina, The Barefoot Contessa (and get hungrier by the moment). I shake my head as they plop down sticks of butter, slather gobs of bleu cheese over a steak and use white flour and white sugar to create decadently delicious and deadly desserts. While I am a firm believer that there is no bad food (as long as you’re not allergic or have medical reasons which limit it from your menu), let’s get real, ladies. Surely you could find little alternatives here and there to design a more healthful version of these beautiful but dangerous meals. I’ve been known to stop in the middle of my stride and talk out loud to the screen, “What?!?! Are you kidding?!?!”

I love love love me some yummy divine food, believe me I do. But when you find you have a disease like diabetes, you need to take it seriously, and not simply pop a pill and figure that’s it. You need to adjust your lifestyle with better foods, more exercise and whatever you need to do to own your best heath. Life is too short not to do everything you can to keep your body/soul/spirit at your personal best. Imagine how much Paula Deen could impact, inspire and help her diabetic fans! Maybe a new show, “Dishin’ Diabetic Delights with Paula Deen!” You are an amazing wild woman of fun and food, and we love you – we want you healthy and strong and showing others how to be the same!

So, like Dr. Weil says, “It could start with you, Paula Deen.” And hey, can I get that shrimp sauté’ recipe, Dr. Weil. It sure sounds like bliss… and healthy!

Blessings for a wonderful weekend,
Linda

Tribute Thursday

Today I’d like to pay tribute to a woman I knew from my church – Daveida. She went home to be with the Lord on January 12th, and Thursday I attended her funeral, more appropriately called “a celebration of her life.” She was only 41, but had battled breast cancer for the last six years. She left behind three children, an 8-month old grandson, and uncounted family and friends who will miss her dearly.

I met Daveida about 18 months ago as she was going through a battle with this horrific disease, and even then she had so much courage, strength and faith in her Lord. She was a soft-spoken, calm woman with a great sense of humor, and there was a peace whenever you were in her presence. She rallied back from that battle – the doctors really didn’t expect her to make it through Christmas last year. But she did, and then some, living more than a year later. It was only in the last several months that yet another battle began, and it moved swiftly.

Even with the physical ravages she encountered, Daveida was beautiful and had a smile that would light up the room. Yet this beauty was overshadowed by the beauty of her heart and soul. She would reach out to others even from her hospital bed to see how they were, how she could pray for them, and what could she do for them.

There were literally hundreds of people at her life celebration service, which was a heartbreakingly sad yet joyful remembrance of this inspirational woman. We are sad and mourn for our loss, yet we celebrate her and thank God for the incredible privilege of having shared in her life. I wish I had gotten to know her better, but I will forever be changed by the moments we did have together. She taught us how to live, and how to die.

Goodbye for now, Daveida…

Wild Woman Wednesday

I was reading a health website this morning and came upon an article by health expert Dr. Mercola (www.mercola.com). In the post he said that two recent studies concluded that if you’re over the age of 25, every hour spent in front of the TV cuts 22 minutes off your life!!! (Frankly, between the reality shows, judge whoever shows and commercials I can understand how it could suck the life right out of you)! Additionally, another analysis published by the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested two hours in front of the plug in drug could raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease by 20%.

Holy TV Guide, Batman! I knew that excessive television can turn you into a junk-food munching couch potato, but these are frightening statistics.

But there is good news, wild women, so don’t despair! He also finds that exercising only 15 minutes a day can increase your lifespan by three years. So if you must watch CSPAN, be sure to exercise while you’re watching it to increase your LIFE span.

My gym has television screens on each treadmill and many of the upright bikes and elliptical machines. Take the hint – be active while you’re watching the boob tube. Get up and do jumping jacks during a commercial, walk around (and not just around the frig for a snack, either.) Run up and down your stairs. There are many ways to counteract that couch potato syndrome.

However, I highly recommend the best of all choices – TURN THE TV OFF! Go for a walk, get outside, volunteer, clean, do chores, visit a friend… whatever it takes to get out there movin’ and groovin’, sister! Take a Zoomba class! More sweating less sitting! You want less junk in the trunk? MOVE THE TRUNK! Think what a positive role model you will be for your kids or friends. Exercise your brain and read instead of zoning out in front of the screen.

Exercise your willpower – shut the TV off for 24 hours, or I double dog dare you to put a moratorium on the TV for a weekend. Imagine the positive possibilities. Go ahead, girl, grab that remote, and click O-F-F!!!! You can do it – you are a wild woman!!!!! And remember - you will NEVER see a gravestone that says "I wish I spent more time watching TV!"

Blessings,
Linda

Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/exercise-a-secret-weapon-against-disease.html?page=2

Touch Base Tuesday

Days turn into weeks… turn into months… turn into years…

It’s been said time flies, whether you’re having fun or not! Our lives are all so busy, each with our to-do lists, our daily chores and obligations. We don’t mean to become so self-focused, but it happens. I know how guilty I am of allowing my hamster wheel to become the boundary marker for my life. And the next thing I know, all my good intentions of keeping up with friends have ended up as wishful thinking sprinkled with a healthy dose of regrets.

There’s a quote from the movie Ferris Buehler’s Day Off that says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” In the blink of an eye, the people you hold most dear can be gone. You need to make them a priority while you may, and let them know they are important to you, loved by you, treasured and cherished by you.

Before the week is out, exercise your friendship muscles and reach out to someone who you’ve been meaning to call or visit. Drop them a real live snail mail card, or an e-card, or a phone call or text or Facebook post or Twitter – but DO IT! Take ten minutes to touch base with them. As you read this, I’ll bet more than one person has crossed your mind (and heart). THAT’S the person (or people) you need to connect with now.

One of my goals this year is to be a better reacher-outter. I am blessed beyond measure with a loving family and more amazing wild women friends than you can imagine. Each person is unique and special, funny, intelligent and absolutely cherished… and I don’t want to miss one day without somehow making the time to communicate with at least one of these treasured souls. My life is better and richer and more wonderful because of their influence and love and support, and it’s time I made more of an effort to ensure they know that right down to their wild women toes! Each day this year, I will use some form of communication to touch base with one friend. I’d like to leave a legacy of love, where people would say that I made them feel special and important and loved.

That’s my goal – one day and one dear heart at a time. Life is too short – touch base today.

Blessings,

Linda

Mood-Food Monday

Ah… Monday – the least favorite day of the week for many wild women. Yet another weekend has flown by, and now we are faced with … go ahead and groan while you say it…. “M…o…n…d…a…y…” You can feel yourself sinking into one of those “Monday moods” like a pit of quicksand. Here’s your lifeline, ladies – mood-boosting foods! In an article on mood-boosting foods (click HERE to read), Leah Zerbe from Rodale Press shares with us a variety of foods that contain all kinds of happy little goodies that change our brain to assist us in having better moods.

Mussels
Mussels are loaded with some of the highest naturally occurring levels of brain-protecting vitamin B12 on the planet. That makes the mollusk an important food source, considering that a significant portion of the U.S. population is B12 deficient. So what's the nutrient's mood-saving trick? Maintaining a healthy level preserves the myelin sheath that insulates your brain cells, helping your brain stay sharp as you grow older. Mussels also contain trace nutrients that are important to balancing your mood, including zinc, iodine, and selenium, things vital to keeping your thyroid, your body's master mood regulator, on track. An added benefit? Mussels are a healthy choice for you and the environment, which isn't always the case when it comes to fish. Just be sure to look for farmed—not wild—mussels raised in the United States.

Swiss Chard
This leafy green is packed with magnesium, a nutrient essential for the biochemical reactions in the brain that boost your energy levels. According to Dr. Ramsey, some of the first studies on magnesium involved its effect on depression. That could come in handy today, since the majority of Americans simply don't get enough magnesium in their diet. Green-thumb tip: Swiss chard is easy to grow in a home garden. If you plant it, harvest just a few outer leaves—not everything all at once—and the plant will continue producing all season long.

Blue Potatoes
Blue potatoes aren't a common supermarket find, but they're popping up as a unique offering at farmer's markets all over the country. The color in blue potatoes is courtesy of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that provide neuro-protective benefits such as bolstering short-term memory and reducing mood-killing inflammation.

Be sure to eat their skins, too. The potatoes' skins are loaded with iodine, a diet-derived nutrient essential for life, and one that helps regulate the thyroid, what Dr. Ramsey calls one of our "master mood regulators." And always choose organic potatoes. Nonorganic spuds usually fall victim to multiple toxic chemical sprays that are absorbed into the vegetables' flesh.

Grass-Fed Lamb
Animals raised on grass pastures boast much higher levels of healthy conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA. This happy fat beats back stress hormones protecting brain cells and erases dangerous inflammation-promoting belly fat, Dr. Ramsey explains. Grass-fed lamb is also packed with mood-promoting heme iron, the type that your body most readily absorbs. Iron is vital for a stable mood—its highest concentrations in the brain are located in areas related to mood and memory.

Dark Chocolate
Ever wonder why chocolate makes you feel so good? Sure, it tastes good, but it also provides an instant boost in concentration and mood and even improves blood flow to the brain, helping you feel more vibrant and energized. Skip the sugary milk chocolate blends and go directly for the darkest organic (highest percentage of cocoa) chocolate you can. A recent study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that just a few ounces of dark chocolate a day results in better mood. (We love organic, fair trade Theo chocolate.)

Greek Yogurt
This dairy pick is packed with more calcium than you'll find in milk or regular yogurt, and it can make you happy, too. Proper calcium levels give the "Go" command, alerting your body to release feel-good neurotransmitters. "Disturbances in calcium levels can produce anxiety, depression, irritability, impaired memory, and slow thinking," says Dr. Ramsey in The Happiness Diet. Plus, the probiotics help aid in digestion and can even ward off colds. If you find yourself nervous or agitated for an unexplained reason, try reaching for an organic Greek yogurt from cows raised on grass pastures. Pastured dairy is higher in healthy fats, and, like grass-fed lamb, often contain higher levels of CLA, the healthy fat that reduces the effects of stress on the brain.

Asparagus
This vegetable is one of the top plant-based sources of tryptophan, which serves as a basis for the creation of serotonin, one of the brain's primary mood-regulating neurotransmitters. High levels of folate also add to asparagus's happiness-promoting profile; research has shown that up to 50 percent of people with depression suffer from low folate levels. Like tryptophan, it's a necessary factor for creating neurotransmitters. It's also good to add to the menu if you plan on drinking. The enzymes in asparagus are highly effective in breaking down alcohol in your system, preventing a hangover—and that can make anyone happy.

Honey
Eating sugar unleashes harmful free radicals linked to disease—even cancer—inside of your body. Honey—although sweet like sugar—is packed with beneficial compounds such as quercetin and kaempferol that actually help clean up the free radicals and reduce inflammation. "Honey helps reduce inflammation, which is very important to maintaining a healthy brain," Dr. Ramsey explains. "Some depression actually stems from chronic, low-grade inflammation."

Cherry Tomatoes
All tomatoes are a great source of lycopene, a fat-soluble phytonutrient that helps protect vital brain fat, and a nutrient that actually stops the buildup of pro-inflammatory compounds linked to depression. Because lycopene lives in tomato skins, the best way to get it is through cherry tomatoes, whose smaller surface area means you'll eat more skin than if you eat a full-size tomato, explains Dr. Ramsey. To maximize the amount of lycopene your body absorbs, drizzle some olive oil over the tomatoes, and enjoy! Just be sure to always choose organic. Trials at University of California–Davis have found that organic tomatoes have higher lycopene levels.

Pastured Eggs
Dr. Ramsey calls eggs the perfect food. They're loaded with mood-promoting omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, B vitamins, and iodide, and they'll keep you full and energized. The problem is that these days, buying the best egg has become complicated, even for the savviest label sleuth. Egg carton claims promise all sorts of nutrients and living conditions for the laying hens, but many claims aren't even regulated. The best egg for your brain is the kind your great-grandmother probably enjoyed: hens raised on pasture, where they can exercise and eat a diet of grass and bugs, supplemented with organic grains. Look for pastured eggs from local farmers you trust, and rely less on grocery store eggs advertised as "omega-3 enriched" or "free-range," both claims that aren't regulated.

Lemon Macaroons
Sugar is a known mood annihilator, but that doesn't mean you have to completely give up on desserts. The authors of The Happiness Diet devised a citrus-rich macaroon recipe chock-full of brain-healthy coconut, a health food boasting medium-chain fats that fuel better moods. And the lemon provides not just a burst of flavor, but also brain-protecting flavonoids. Give their recipe for Mood-Boosting Lemon Macaroon:
Coconut fat got a bad rap, but that reputation is undeserved. Coconut's medium-chain fats enhance your body's fat-burning capacity and production of ketones, the only other fuel your brain can burn besides glucose. Lemon zest powers these with liminoids aplenty, plus citrus flavonoids that protect the brain.

Ingredients:

3 eggs
3 cups shredded coconut
2 tablespoons lemon zest

Make it: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Vigorously whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Using your hands, mix in the shredded coconut and lemon zest. Mold about a tablespoon of the mixture into small balls and place on a butter-greased baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden on top.

Makes about 30 cookies, serves 15

So what foods help you have a better mood? Share them in your comments!

Blessings,
Linda

Stinkin’ Thinkin’ Thursday

What cha thinkin'? That can be a loaded question, because those thoughts create your reality, and can negatively impact your day, your attitude and your health. “Toxic thoughts” lead to stress, which affects our body’s natural healing capacities – it wears down the brain and body.

Dr. Caroline Leaf has spent years researching the brain/thought process, and how the science of thought relates to thinking, learning, and renewing the mind, gifting and potential. In a November blog she wrote that much our mental and physical illnesses come from our thought life. It’s a fascinating article, and you can read it further by clicking HERE. Research found that thinking and feeling anger, fear and frustration caused DNA to change shape according to thoughts, by tightening up, becoming shorter and switching off many DNA codes.

In today’s blog by Michael Hyatt, (click HERE to read it), he spoke about keeping a positive attitude. He writes:

“'For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he' (Proverbs 23:7). Negative thoughts deplete your energy. Positive thoughts replenish your energize. Attitude is not something that just happens; you choose it. Even in difficult circumstances, you can choose to have a good attitude. And, it whether good or bad, it will have a direct impact on your energy."

The point I’m making here is that you have so much power in your thoughts. Worrying and anxious thoughts can bleed you like an energy vampire, create physical problems like indigestion, ulcers, blown out adrenal glands and much more. Have you ever gotten upset in the morning and thought, “Well, that’s just going to ruin my day - it's all downhill from here!” Tell me, did the rest of your day meet your expectations? Probably. We set ourselves up all the time by low expectations, a victim mentality and believing wrong information. Were you criticized as a child and still believe those lies? Do you assume you’re going to have a lousy day? Do you expect the worst behavior from people? Do you tell yourself there’s nothing you can do, you have no choice, you’ll never lose weight, never have a good relationship, never this, never that? Sound familiar?

You CAN choose to think better. I’m not talking about sickeningly sweet Pollyanna positive la-de-dah life is beautiful all the time fluff. Nor am I saying that when life is hard we just cheerfully sigh and say, “Oh well, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” No, not only will that be unrealistic, but you will be incredibly annoying and most people will either run from you or slap you silly. I had to laugh when I recently heard a revised version of the lemons philosophy – “When life gives you lemons, grab the vodka and make a lemon drop martini!” Hey, at least they’re thinking about positive options! You have to start somewhere!

Seriously, though, you can choose how you are going to think about (and then act upon) a given situation. You can have a great day even if it’s pouring rain and traffic was re-DUNK-u-lous. Even if the situation itself cannot change, how you think about it/deal with it is within your thought choices and your power. You might not be able to change your circumstances, but you always can choose how you are going to think about/react to them.

For example, let's say yesterday you fell off the healthy eating wagon big time. Now you may think, "Oh well, I blew it. No point in trying now, I'll start again next week." You've just given yourself permission to eat poorly through the weekend. Then Monday morning you'll step on the scale, get discouraged, and possibly give up. Your thoughts can change that scenario and give you a whole different outcome. Today instead think positively and say, "Okay, I blew it yesterday. But today is a fresh start, and I'm going to continue to eat healthy." You stay true to your goal, and next Monday you feel better when you step on that scale, and you'll probably see a physical manifestation of your positive choice to keep on track and not give up. You'll feel proud of yourself, which will give you a boost to your mood and keep you on that upward climb. Good for you!

Today, exercise the positives in your thought life (and say NO NO NO to the negatives). Think I CAN instead of I can’t, expect the very best from everyone you meet – they might surprise you! It’s your choice.

What do you think of that?

Blessings,

Linda