Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild Women Take Risks!

That's both a statement, and a directive!  Are there dreams in your life that you've not achieved because you are afraid?  Do you tend to think, "Well, if I do this, then THAT could happen, and then it might turn out to go THERE....", etc., etc., etc., until you have created a picture that completely defeats any chance of you every going there?  Yeah... me, too.  I come from a long line of women who, as I call it, "project" -- worrying about what could happen 5, 10, 20 years from now if you make this decision today.  And unfortunately, while it's important to positively project long range goals (and count the cost), we are talking about negative projection here -- all the many reasons why something won't come to fruition, or all the bad things that might transpire.  It's deflating, to say the least, and can completely derail you in minutes.

Instead... think of all the positives as to why you should move forward - what great things could happen?  What will your life look like 5, 10, 20 years from now when you have achieved that goal?  

This month I am highlighting Margie Warrell's book "Stop Playing Safe" as our book of the month.  I'm in the process of reading it, and it's a real butt-kicker in the best sense of the term!  (Hmmm... isn't it amazing how certain things can have both a positive and negative side?)  I am reading/listening to it via audible.com, a wonderful way to "read" when you can't actually sit there with a book.  I can conquer the victim mentality of being stuck in traffic because I'm doing something productive with my time - reading!  (A total side note here - did you know that the average person commutes between 1,200-2,400 hours a year?  Which equates to approximately 1-2 university semesters?  Which means you could turn your car into your own personal education center on wheels!)  But I digress...

Ms. Warrell writes a column for Forbes Magazine, and here is the article about being too tentative and taking risks that got me to thinking about today's blog topic.  It's a must read (and I recommend subscribing to her column, and read her blog and get her email by going to her website at http://margiewarrell.com/)!!!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2014/04/22/too-cautious-for-your-own-good/

So today, wild women, exercise by pulling up your boot straps, gathering up your courage and get moving in the direction of your dreams!  And remember I'm here to help coach you along - never more than a phone call or Skype/FaceTime away!  Get out there and do it, Wild Women - IMAGINE how AMAZING your life COULD BE 5, 10, 20 years from now - ROCK IT AND GO GET YOUR DREAMS TODAY!

Blessings,

Coach Linda Bush

Try, Try Again, and Keep Trying Thursday

Thanks, www.moneysavingmom.com!

Today's message is simple - keep trying!  Don't give up on your goals and dreams.  As a life coach, and as a health & wellness coach, I often see my clients hitting a roadblock, an obstacle or a plateau.  Those are the rough spots that will always challenge you to give up.  But hang in there and think about all the blood, sweat, tears, energy and possibly financial investment that you have already put forth.  This isn't wasted effort - each step is another brick on the golden path of your life... so keep traveling it, one step at a time.

One of my favorite web/blog sites is www.moneysavingmom.com, and in her email today Crystal Paine wrote about refusing to give up.  It was inspirational and a real "shot in the arm" (as Grandmom used to say) because I, too, get tired sometimes of the pursuit of my own goals and dreams.  Here's the link:

http://moneysavingmom.com/2014/04/1-reason-people-fail.html

So today, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and as the old song says, start all over again.  Remember - a coach comes alongside you to help you put feet to those dreams and craft a plan of action to get you there and encourage you along the way.  I'm here, and would love to partner with you.  Just visit my website, give me a call and let's get you started or renew your passion and let 2014 be the year you achieve your heart's desires!!!

Blessings for a wonderful day!

Coach Linda
www.coachlindabush.com
linda@coachlindabush.com
609-331-9833

Wild Woman Wednesday

My favorite - Spectrum Organic Virgin Coconut Oil!

Wild Women try new things!

In the last several months I have been discovering the benefits of coconut oil.  It is now my go-to product for skin cleanser/moisturizer, the base oil for sugar scrubs, oil pulling for dental/oral hygiene (click HERE for details and yes, it has made my teeth whiter), hair conditioner (itsy bit for me on the ends only), leg shaving oil, some cleansing around the house and all kinds of odd things!  Plus, it’s thrifty as well!  It is a solid oil than becomes a liquid when warmed, even by the heat of your skin.  Rather than list all the wonders of this natural oil, let me direct you to a few websites that will give you more ideas on the umpteen uses of coconut oil:

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/blog/natural-health-tips/using-coconut-oil

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/11/18/coconut-oil-uses.aspx

http://www.sunwarrior.com/news/50-of-the-best-uses-for-coconut-oil/

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2013/09/no_author/160-uses-for-coconut-oil/

Note that there may be duplication of suggestions, and ALWAYS ALWAYS take or use any of these ideas at your OWN RISK!  Because coconut oil does contain a substantial amount of saturated fatty acids (fats), which are known to raise low density (bad) cholesterol, I don’t use it much internally, although I have also read that it can have positive effects on increasing HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering triglycerides.  CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST BEFORE USING IT!!!! 

I would love to hear how you use coconut oil as well and your results!  Please email me at linda@coachlindabush.com or add your comments here.

By the way, the photo I used is the actual brand of organic coconut oil I use by Spectrum.  You can buy it in a glass or plastic jar.  I prefer the plastic jar, as it can get oily and I’m a bit of a klutz sometimes.  (I’m not a paid promoter, by the way, I just like the stuff!)  Also, when I smooth it on after my shower before toweling dry, I let it soften up by sitting it at the bottom of the tub and letting the heat of the water soften it up – not something I’d recommend doing with a glass jar!  I’ve listed it as my “product of the month” for April! 

Go wild (or should I say nutty) with your coconut oil, ladies!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Thrifty Tuesday

Well, the sunshine left with Monday and now it’s gray, muggy and pouring rain.  But… April showers bring May flowers, or so they say, which makes me think of gardening.  Now while my Grandmom instilled in me a passion for all things related to gardening, my pocketbook usually doesn’t have anywhere near enough in its dusty little corners to afford all I’d love to do with the garden, be it veggies, herb or flowers!  So what’s a girl to do?

One thing is to begin with seeds.  But even that can be an expensive endeavor, so here’s a few ideas I’ve come up with to help ease the financial burden and increase the pleasure of growing something with my own hands from seed!  Thanks to many articles and Pinterest posts that have helped me get creative!

• To make little mini-seed starters, cut up paper towel and toilet paper cardboard rolls, fill them with dirt and plant your seeds in them.  They transplant easily into the ground as well – EZPZ!
• Wash out your cans from canned goods and use them as planters.  Fill with dirt, seed ‘em up and go!  Be sure to poke some holes in the bottom for drainage (hammer and awl or screwdriver to make the holes).
• Start making cuttings now – got any herb plants in your kitchen that you’d like to grow outside, like basil?  Cut them, put them in a jar of water, let them grow roots, and plant them.  This can be done with many herbs, and carrot tops, too!
• Do you get take out or bring home food from a restaurant?  Instead of tossing it, wash it out, poke some holes in the bottom, fill it with dirt and start your seeds in it.
• Rinse out those eggshells, gently fill them with dirt and put your seeds in them – again, easily transportable into your garden!  You can also use the egg cartons as individual pots – be sure to purchase paper crates so you can plant them directly into the ground.

Here’s a great blog posting by www.gardenbetty.com on how to make paper pots from recycled newspaper:
http://www.gardenbetty.com/2011/03/how-to-make-recycled-newspaper-pots-for-seed-starting/

She’s also got a great post on how to start seeds indoors:
http://www.gardenbetty.com/2011/03/the-no-brainer-guide-to-starting-seeds-indoors/

And if you prefer watching a video, here’s a link on making newspaper starting pots:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4t_6dTAvA

If you are an origami fan, make a box-shaped newspaper seed starter at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dlGQP81yfo

• Get together with friends and exchange plants.  Spring is a good time to thin out the gardens, so have a plant exchange!  And, if you are so inclined, put your baby plants/seedlings in a handmade pretty paper pot by using either the comics and following the above-mentioned square seed box video, or some pretty scrapbook or thicker tissue paper!
• Once the season has begun, check out your local garden centers (like Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) for clearance plants.  They make look a bit droopy, dry and wilted, but you’d be surprised by how just a little TLC and water can perk them right up again!
• Generally, I try to buy perennials when I do cough up cash for plants to get the most long-lasting season-after-season bang for my hard-earned buck!  Then keep a glass jar and will it with spare change for the occasional “I need annuals for color splash!” splurges! 

For more ideas go to my pinterest page on “How Does Your Garden Grow?” at

http://www.pinterest.com/kre8tv4him/how-does-your-garden-grow/

Also at Pinterest, be sure to visit this site: 

http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=thrifty%20gardening

And let’s not forget that gardening is WONDERFUL exercise not only for your spirit but your body as well!

Here’s to starting your own bit of paradise in your backyard – how will your garden grow?

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Mindful Monday

Happy Monday, all!  It was just beautiful weather here in NJ over the weekend.  I just love watching all the spring flowers stretching and reaching for the sun, opening their blooms to the warmth.  Mondays are a great time to revisit your goals and take a step closer to your achievement of them. 

One thing I am trying to learn how to do more effectively is to eat slower.  I tend to “wolf my food down” (as my Grandma used to say) – not exactly mindful eating patterns!  Before I know it, I’ve eaten too fast, too much and enjoyed it too little.  Since it takes 20 minutes for your stomach to register “I’m full” to your brain, it is especially helpful to eat more slowly, plus it gives your body a little more time to digest what you’re eating!

So… as I work on my long-term goal of optimal health for my lifetime, I will begin practicing more mindful eating, taking smaller bites, chewing a little bit longer, putting down my utensils between bites, and savoring each mouthful.  

This will also work towards my goal of being more aware and thankful for all the blessings in my day.  Food – something that is so easily taken for granted, is truly a blessing!

Exercise your goal-seeking muscles today and start the week off well!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Step away from the sugar - the sequelL

Last week’s Wild Woman Wednesday blog post was about sugar.  Click HERE to see it.

Well, it is so important that I want to create a part two this week, especially since I found a posting on Rodale News entitled “7 Surprising Reasons to Give Up Sugar.”  Let me tell you, it gives some VERY COMPELLING REASONS to step away from this toxic ingredient!  Here's the link:

http://www.rodalenews.com/sugar-health-effects?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-1655970-_-04102014-_-7SurprisingReasonstoGiveUpSugar-hed

Not only does it provide insight into how sugar negatively impacts our bodies in a variety of ways, but it also reveals areas where it surprisingly infiltrates foods that we eat (salad dressings, breads, tomato sauces, for example).  And if you are worried about looking older as you age, check out the fact that sugar accelerates the aging process.  Oh baby, that’s enough for me right there!  About the only sugar I would recommend at this point is a sugar scrub!

So, sweeties, read it and judge for yourself, wild woman, but do consider stepping away from that sugar bowl.

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Mix It Up, Manage It and Make It Happen Monday

Found on theberry.com and posted on Pinterest

It’s Monday.  I’m tired.  I can’t afford a gym membership.  It’s rainy.  I don’t have the time.  I don’t have equipment at home.  It’s too hard and complicated.  Groan.  Whimper. Drone on.

Okay,  are we done of the excuses?  Any more reasons you'd like to argue for staying out of shape and unhealthy and unhappy?  I didn't think so.

Get off your justifications/defenses and go sweat.  NOW!!!  You can find SOMETHING in one of these fantastic workout diagrams that I found on buzzfeed: 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/fitness-diagrams-that-make-g?sub=2278573_1234125

It’s time to quit complaining and moaning and groaning and make excuses – take that time and energy and turn it into something positive that you can be proud of when you look in the mirror a month from now and when you begin to feel more energy and healthier than you have in a long time.

Remember – you are a wild woman, and wild women get it done. 

It’s that simple… and that hard…

Blessings,

Coach Linda Bush

Found on Pinterest - via backonpointe.tumbler.com

Wild Woman Wednesday

Step aaaaaawwwaaaayyyyyy from the sugar bowl!!!!!

Wild women are the sweetest women in the world - but... they need to be aware of their sugar intake!

Think those night sweats are the onset of menopause?  Blaming your mood swings on hormones?  Before you assume your body is going through “the change” (cue the music – DAH DU DAHHHHH!), check out how much sugar you are consuming. 

I have the worst sweet tooth in the world, but I know that if I consume sugars and artificial sweeteners like Spenda (generic name – sucralose – POISON STAY AWAY FROM IT) I will get an emotional drop and depression quicker than a junkie coming off a fix.

I want to share a blog posting that I found VERY informative on sugar and depression.  It’s from www.psychcentral.com, and it’s entitled “Why Sugar is Dangerous to Depression”, written by Therese J. Borchard, Associate Editor.  Click HERE to link over to it.  There is some great info and several links to other resources, including Kathleen DesMaisons’ book “Potatoes Not Prozac.”  Sugar sensitivity could be affecting your moods.  For example, last night I was making some chocolate-covered pretzels for an upcoming event.  I have been fairly careful about eating any candies, chocolate and sweets as I try to eat as clean and healthy as possible.  I popped about 4-5 dark chocolate Hershey’s kisses during the preparation process, justifying it as “quality control” (yeah… right).  Well, gals, lemme tellya what – I am certainly feeling the after-effects now with a sugar hangover mood lower than a whale’s belly.  I have a wicked bad case of the blue meanies, the funk, whatever is your pet name for feeling crummy.  Tired, blue, irritable… and for no reason.  Otherwise, I’m logically feeling especially blessed.  And boy, do I hate this feeling.  So I’m drinking lots of water to try and flush my system, and am sticking to a veggies and protein food intake to cleanse and replenish myself.  I don’t like this yucky feeling at all!

I hope you will glean some good info from Borchard’s blog entry and begin to consider eliminating sugar from your system. 

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Think About It Tuesday

Guess the size of your spaghetti!!!!!

Food for thought, thought for food… if you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I am a HUGE proponent for mindful eating.  Any healthy eating plan requires that you think about what you put in your mouth (and subsequently in your body).  That’s one of the reasons why those who keep a food journal have a higher rate of weight loss success – they are keeping track of every morsel that sneaks past those lips!  Otherwise, it is ever so easy to come down with a wicked case of “food amnesia” that can prove terminal to the best laid eating plans out there.  “Oh yeah, I forgot that I ate those three cookies at 10am, or that half a brownie that was sitting there in the break room at 3pm… and I was so sleepy I just HAD to eat it to keep my blood sugar high!”  C’mon now, you know we’ve justified ourselves into the next size up too many times, am I right?  And the truth is, it truly IS easy to forget what we eat sometimes, especially if you’re racing around and you “pop something” just to stave off a mean case of the hungries.

But today I’m thinking about a different take on food for thought, thought for food that makes me shake my head and laugh.  Just this morning I saw an ad for “pot-sized spaghetti”.  Yes… this company is branding a whole new “breed” of spaghetti engineered specifically to fit in your pot.  Ummm… guys, our mom, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and beyond have solved that earth-shattering dilemma for centuries now… JUST BREAK THE SPAGHETTI IN HALF!!!!!!  Can I get a collective DUH??? From our wild women readers???!?!?!  Seriously?  Shorter spaghetti to fit in the pot?  And let me guess, I’ll bet this new “innovative and creative design” will cost more money as well, won’t it?!?!

I can’t help but think about the old story of a young bride making her first roast for the visiting family’s Sunday dinner.  She cuts off the end of the roast before putting it in the pan.  Her hubs asks why she did that, and she says that’s because her Mom always did it.  Well, when Mom shows up for dinner, her daughter asks her why she cut off the end of her roast before going into the oven, and Mom says, “Well, honey, that’s because my Mom did it that way.”  They go to the phone and call Grandmom to find out what the secret is to cutting off the end of a roast.  Flavor?  Letting the juices escape?  What? What?  As they wait with anticipation as they ask the question to Grandmom, she reveals the family secret.  “Well, dears, my pot was small and the roast never fit, so I just cut off the end to get it in the pan and into the oven!”

Like I said, thought for food… be mindful and intention about what you eat, and WHY you are preparing it, and WHY you need to spend extra money to get spaghetti that is shorter when you can just break it in half.  Things of puzzlement…..  

Exercise your brain cells today!

Blessings,

Coach Linda Bush

Mindful Money Monday

From the time I was knee-high to my Grandmom's apron I've been a craft-a-holic.  I love all the latest ideas and colors and possibilities.  It's come in quite handy over the years when money was tight and I needed to provide gifts and additional income here and there.  It's also fun to be able to repurpose and recycle items into other functional items.

That being said, today is just a little fun way to save a bit of money and craft a common item into something new... the good old cereal box!  While a few of the ideas may be a bit far fetched, there are some that I found quite cute and useable (the mini-notebooks and mail organizers were my favorites, along with the ages-old idea of using a cereal box as a magazine storage bin).  A bonus is that you can do most of these crafts with your kids... always a good thing! You can make a mini-notebook as a food journal or weight/inches loss booklet since tomorrow is April 1st -- the beginning of a new month and new quarter!

So grab a few empty cereal boxes, grab some inexpensive contact paper, stickers and wrapping paper from your local dollar store, and join in the fun as you exercise your crafting muscles!  Here's the link, and thanks to Pippa Armbrester at www.buzzfeed.com  for this crafty and money-saving article!

Thirty-One Things You Can Make Out of Cereal Boxes:  http://www.buzzfeed.com/pippa/cereal-box-diys-5ocb

Blessings,

Coach Linda Bush

Fun Frugal Friday

Ahhhh… it’s almost the weekend, and you and your family/friends have been working hard all week.  Time to relax, kick back and enjoy your life a bit.  So on this first weekend of Spring (after an excruciatingly looonggg winter), what can you do that doesn’t involve a screen or a lot of money? 

How about planning a weekend picnic?  Gather family or just meet up with friends and do a pot-luck picnic in the park.  Nothing elaborate, just some sandwiches and salad – toss around a football or baseball or Frisbee, go for a walk/hike, bring the dog.  If you are blessed to own a grill and have a deck or patio or yard, grill up a yummy meal to start off the season – oh won’t it smell just grand?!?!? 

Start to look around your favorite home store like Lowes for spring flowers, bulbs, herbs.  You don’t have to buy anything – just think about what you’d like to put in a garden or flower bed and begin planning it out.  Maybe get one small little pot of daffodils or herbs to brighten up your kitchen.

Check out local activities in the newspaper or online.  Libraries, museums, zoos, nearby places of interest.  Any Spring festivals going on? 

Have an impromptu night with the girls.  Choose someone’s home, pot-luck the food, maybe do a vision board together (check out my posting on vision boards – click HERE).  You could even do it as a family, or with the hubs.  It could be a lot of fun.

If you are blessed to have a fireplace, snuggle up and make s’mores and put on some background music and just… gasp… talk!  Imagine that!

Do an old-fashioned game night with family, friends, neighbors - cards, board games, etc.  When was the last time you played Monopoly or Scrabble or gin rummy?

Make plans for lunch with friends after worship service – or invite a single person/student over to your place.  Reach out and get to know someone new and find ways to bless them this weekend.

Take your journal, a devotional book/Bible/inspirational reading, and go spend time outdoors in the local park and just “BE”!  Write down all your blessings, your hopes, dreams, prayers, goals.  Write down what you see around you – birds chirping, the flowers peeking out from their winter slumbers, new buds on the trees… be mindful and intentional of the sights, sounds, scents around you. 

Take a drive “down the shore” as we say here in New Jersey.  Walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the ocean.  I love walking along the ocean when it’s still cold, with a big cup of tea in my hand.  Ahhhh…. Let those negative ions sooth away your tension.

Whatever you choose, make it a point to be outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation this weekend, and spend time with those you love.  Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal and restoration.  Celebrate this season of new beginnings this weekend by loving on yourself and those around you.

Be blessed and be healthy,

Coach Linda Bush

Grateful

Recently I was honored to be recognized by URS Corporation in Princeton, NJ, along with some amazing and wonderful colleagues, during the International Women's Day Week celebrations.  It's very humbling and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to bring health and wellness awareness into the everyday work environment!

Twist It Thursday

Woo-hooo we made it through the winter!!!!!!  What a reason to celebrate!!!!  IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!!!

And you know what that means, don't you?!?!?!

SPRING TRAINING!

That's right, wild women, shorts and sleeveless tops and tanks and bathing suits are right around the corner, so let's get out there, stretch from a winter of gray cold dreary hibernation.  Breathe deep, face to the sun, and start movin' that body!!!

Here's a quick but powerful little Pilates move that you can do anywhere, anytime!  It's called the Standing Twist, and is demonstrated in this video clip by Brooke Siler, Pilates expert and author of Women's Health Big Book of Pilates.  As she says, it helps release and rotate the spine while challenging your core, back, inner thigh muscles and balance!

Here's the link: http://bcove.me/tyyyom2j

So start movin' and groovin and GET YOUR SPRING ON!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Of course it doesn't grow on trees - it magically comes out of ATMs!!!!

Wild women DO NOT purposely financially handicap their kids!

When's the last time you created a long-term action plan on teaching your children how to deal with money?  Been awhile?  Ever? Still trying to figure it out for yourself?  This article in Forbes Magazine was quite informative and provided a lot of great ideas on how to teach your children well the value of the dollar!

Here's the link: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2013/10/15/the-5-most-important-money-lessons-to-teach-your-kids/

It is crucial to educate your children from toddler on up about how to manage money.  There are soooooo many kids out there that have no bloody clue about how much it takes to earn a dollar, thanks to parents who have abdicated their role as parents and instead become friends who placate/reward/spoil rotten their kids with expensive toys, clothes, gifts and whatever instead of teaching them to save, or get off their sweet little dupahs and earn the money with chores, babysitting, a part-time job, etc.  You are doing SUCH a disservice to your children - you are handicapping them for life!  If they have everything handed to them, they will never feel the satisfaction/personal accomplishment of working hard for their paycheck. They will instead have a sense of entitlement to whatever tickles their fancy and all too often will expect you to provide it for them.  Or they'll just charge it (either on Mommy or Daddy's card or their own) and not realize the consequences that can mount up over that bad choice!

I want this... I want that...  Well guess what?  We ALL want things, but we ALL have to learn to wait until we have the money for it - and not join the bandwagon of all those folks who are now in debt over their heads because they racked up horrific credit card debt for instant (and not long-lasting) gratification.  Do you really want to teach THAT skill to your kids?  I think not!

So read this article from Forbes, and put it into practice - you will help your child, yourself, and the economy over the long run!  Raise financially responsible and frugal children - and be the first and foremost example to them as well!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Tox Not Tuesday

Maybe you can't cleanse your crazy schedule and life all at once, but here's a little something that can help you healthfully detox your bod!  The editors over at Prevention Magazine posted a great article about a diet detox that isn't crazy or unsafe.  They recommend the following ingredients:  lemon, blueberries, ginger, mango, orange, parsley, peppermint, pomegranate and thyme. 

And did you know that peppermint is a natural appetite suppresant?  Hmmm... think I'll grab my essential oil of peppermint and do some pounds-dropping aromatherapy this week as I sip away at some smoothies made from these ingredients.  Yummy and fragrant!  I may even make some peppermint tea.  

Here's the link: 

http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/9-essentials-diet-detox#.

Now if only it was so easy to eliminate some of the other toxic elements in life, yes?????  Enjoy!

Blessings,
Coach Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild women are sweet... and they LOVE their sweets!!!!

Unfortunately, sugar cravings are NOT always a good thing.  I'm the first to admit that the words "that's too sweet" have never as a phrase dropped from my lips.  And while I can easily pass the slice of cake (even cheesecake) and most cookies, I'm a GONER when it comes to brownies, Italian pastries, and anything "goopy"!  Over the holidays I overindulged my ravenous sweet tooth (trust me, bigger than the Grand Canyon), and I am still paying with a few extra pounds that I'm working off and those awful cravings.

Today I read a blog posting by Stephanie over at the blog site "Keeper of the Home" dealing with the topic of sugar cravings.  I think it addresses the subject well, and so I'm sharing the link with you here today:

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2014/03/how-to-deal-with-sugar-cravings.html

Additionally, www.fitbie.com has an article entitled "The Best Sugar-Saving Restaurant Swaps" addressing the high added sugar content in much of our food.  Here's the link:  

http://www.fitbie.com/slideshow/best-sugar-saving-restaurant-swaps?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-1620632-_-03052014-_-TheBestSugarSavingRestaurantSwaps-hed

My body always tells me when I've had too much sugar.  I get a sugar "hangover" where my head aches and I am utterly lethargic the day after, as if I were walking through a pool of gray Jell-O!  It's not pretty...  and it's not worth it.  When I look at a brownie now, I remember the old addage "a moment on the lips, forever on the hips."  I calculate - if I scoff this bad boy down in the normal three bites, the moment of indulgence will less than five minutes.  Now how long will it take me at the gym to work it off?  30 minutes?  45?  An hour or more if I reach for the second brownie?  Is it worth it... really?!?!?!

Today, exercise your "step away from the sugar" muscles, consider how much sugar you are loading into your body, and reconsider options that will get rid of most of it!  You will truly feel soooo much better!!!

Sweetest of blessings,

Coach Linda Bush

Thrifty Time/Tracking Techniques 'n Tools Tuesday

Most busy wild women are always keeping an eye out for the holy grail of time management tools.  I admit it, I've been through a number of ways to try and management my time, tasks and life... generally always taken by the glitter, sparkle and wooing of the latest gadget or app. I remember toting every imaginable Franklin Planner -- I usually wound up breaking the spine because I crammed everything in. 

Right now I've been fairly comfortable using a combo of my Google calendar and Evernote.  Years ago I learned a very simple and functional organization/filing method from legendary time management specialist Brian Tracy.  It's called a 45-file system. This is a tickler file that lets you plan and organize your activities and callbacks for the next twenty-four months. This is how it works.

First you get a box of forty-five files with fourteen hanging files to put them in. The forty-five files are divided as follows: There are thirty-one files numbered one through thirty-one for the days of the month. There are twelve files for the months of the year. January through December. The last two files are for the next two years. This is a wonderful system that you can also use with hanging files in your desk drawer. 

Another blogger described it well - here is her blog posting: 

http://organizedlife.blogspot.com/2006/09/creating-and-using-tickler-file.html

About a year ago I was introduced to a simple and frugal method called a "Bullet Journal".  Here is the link:  

http://bulletjournal.com/  

All you use is a notebook and a pen - imagine that!  It's a beautiful thing and I encourage you to check it out.  I actually blogged about it last January!  Click HERE to read it.  I tucked it away in my memory banks, and would like to try it out, but right now I literally am juggling so many balls in the air that I'm just not ready to sit back and try to revamp my organizing methods!  I think I would like to take a mental health day this summer and steal away with just myself and my laptop and a journal/pen -- and rework my life!  

But, in the meantime, I invite you to try these recommendations in your own jugglefest called life, and do please comment or email me and let me know how it works for you, or what methodologies you find successful in your own time and life management!

Blessings,

Coach Linda Bush

Marriage-Minded Monday

You may be asking yourself, where has Linda been? 

You may have been swinging by for tips, tricks, communication and a few giggles to find the same old-same old from a week ago Thursday.  

My apologies.  I have a good reason - I have been in shock. What?  Did something bad happen?  No, no... not at all.  In fact, just the opposite.  I have become engaged to be married to my wonderful future hubs! After a lovely dinner with his family, I opened my fortune cookie and - BAM - there it was, a little piece of paper with the words, "Linda, will you marry me?"  BIG points for creativity!  Talk about being ultra-oober-surprised!!! I have been in a two week flurry of frenzied fun!  And with the wedding coming up in just sixteen short weeks, you can bet your booty that I will be featuring LOTS of workout info - because I am designing my very own "Linda's Lollapalooza Wedding Workout"!!!  

As I create my program, I am also searching the net for the best of the best.  Naturally, there will be LOTS and LOTS of pilates involved, and speaking of booties, today's video clip is a great ten minute "Bootie Barre" exercise segment that will get you kicking your own booty!  After all, when you're walking up the aisle, all eyes are on you and with your back to your family and friends, you want to be sure everything is "in place"!

So enjoy this workout -- here's two separate links that should each take you to the same video clip:

http://youtu.be/1OTZ7mMNnss

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/93660867224986720/

and have a fantastic day starting your week off right with some new exercises!

Blessings,

Coach Linda Bush

Thankful Thursday

I want to dedicate this blog post to my dear and trusted friend, Judy Craig, and my Mom who love me enough to tell me the truth when I need it, even when it hurts and kicks my butt.  Love you both!!!

I like to think of myself as being a fairly optimistic person, a little south of Pollyanna most of the time.  Like the old Monty Python song says, “Always look on the bright side of life… do do… dah doot... de doot dah doot!” 

However…

Lately I have chosen to let loose the Negative Nelly in me – she’s a bit south of Darth Vader.  Nelly is the little voice that lives to point out the bad side/points of everything in my life – from people to places to every little nook and cranny.  You gotta give her props for creativity, because she can find the down side to anything.  Some of her favorite lines usually include the words, “it’s not enough… you could do better… look at what the other person has…  it's not fair...”, and similar words that are the termites to my thankfulness.  She’s the daughter of that snake in a garden long ago that hissed doubt in Eve’s ear… and thus Negative Nelly was conceived.  She is the voice that breathes life into discontent, dissatisfaction, disgruntlement and displeasure.  Yep… she is the part of me that is the “Diva of Diss”!!!

It’s easy to allow yourself to become influenced by the circumstances of life – complex things like the economy (and how it affects you personally), the behavior/outlook of others around you... right down to the weather (she writes as yet another dreary NJ snowstorm rages outside).  It’s kind of like being a non-smoker in a room full of smokers.  You may come out a non-smoker, but the smoke has permeated your hair and clothes, it’s internalized in your lungs, and you carry the stench with you - until you choose to change those clothes, toss them in the laundry, and take a shower.  Negativity (and what we do with it) is a lot like that, isn’t it? 

It takes someone who really cares about to you have the courage to verbally hit you upside the head and call you on your “never satisfied” and “pity party thrower” sad self, and to encourage you to stop playing that same old tune and change the station! How grateful I am to have some treasured people like that in my life.

One of my favorite quotes about attitude come from Chuck Swindoll (see frame).  

So today I choose to change.  Today I will wipe the “diss” off my lenses, own my ‘tude, get down on my knees to ask God (and my longsuffering loved ones) to forgive me for being such a self-focused crabapple, and get on with the business of being grateful and thankful for the incredible life I have… right this second.  I’d rather wear a bit more rosy lenses, tinged with realism, but nonetheless more likely to see that for which I can and should be appreciative.  My blessings overflow, and it’s time my ‘tude, words, countenance and life reflected just that.

It’s like the old hymn said, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your blessings, see what God has done.”

Won’t you join me today?  Together let’s duct tape shut that Negative Nelly voice within, exercise our grateful muscles and work them out till we drop with thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Are you kidding me?  Shut the front door!  Get outta here!  For real?

Wild Women Share!

How great is it when you get together with your besties/gal pals and share information on any and everything?  Last Friday night I had the privilege of going out to dinner with three fantastic friends, and we talked for hours about finance, travel, food, careers, motherhood, retirement options… concepts, notions, laughter and inspiration flowed!

Then just this morning I was chatting with two coworkers and we were discussing finances and how to save money, etc.  It’s amazing the ideas you can come up with, and how one good idea will spark another.

So here’s my frugal “friend find” to share with my Wild Women readers today as we continue in our “Frugal in ‘14” theme…  

I love my Kindle, and I love recipes, and of course the two just go hand-in-hand when you think of how many wonderful cookbooks are out there.  However… it’s all too easy to rack up debt faster than a bunch of good recipes.  What’s a cook-and-book lover to do???? 

I found a great website over at www.moneysavingmom.com, where she lists all kinds of FREE KINDLE BOOKS ON AMAZON!!!!  Oh yeah, woo-hoo, I hit the motherlode!!!  So far this year I have saved over $300 on free books.  Yep, three Benjamins and change!  How great is that?!?!?!  I’ve gotten a variety of different books, and today I snagged several cookbooks.  Here’s the link (which also does include some books for a minimal cost as well):  http://moneysavingmom.com/tag/free-ebooks.  One thing – you have to snatch up these savings quickly over at Amazon, because the free price tag isn’t forever.  If you don’t get it that day, it might go up to full price next time to click. 

I hope this will get you saving and reading today.  Go wild!  And do email me at linda@coachlindabush.com with all your tips and tricks on how you are saving money this Frugal February!  Best ideas will be posted here on the blog!

Blessings,

Coach Linda