Whether you want to start off the new year with a new goal or you like to set goals year round, there are a few things you'll need to do in order to set yourself up for success and increase your chances of achieving it.
Read MoreLast night, I invited two of my friends to my apartment for a raw food dinner. I prepared a variety of wraps and fillings so they could make their own spring rolls, sushi rolls and burritos. It was fun to watch them get creative with different combinations and I think they really enjoyed it! Afterward, they reported being full, but not in a "disgusting, sick way" like they would after a heavy, cooked meal. I think they were both surprised at how satisfied they could be just on raw food alone, particularly since they're so accustomed to eating meat at dinner time.
Read MoreI'm so fortunate that there is such a large community of health coaches in San Diego. Since many of us haven't met each other yet, I decided to host a gathering at my apartment and invited everyone over this past weekend for a healthy potluck. I was thrilled to connect with old friends and meet others for the first time.
Read MoreLast night, I finished reading Eat Pray Love...FINALLY! I absolutely LOVED it. It had been on "the list" for quite a while after hearing nothing but rave reviews and finally last year, one of my friends lent me her copy so I started reading it. I was hooked from the beginning, but had to return it to her when she moved before I could finish it. I had since bought my own copy, but didn't pick it up again until just a couple weeks ago. I now realize that I wasn't meant to finish it last year when I had started it.
Read MoreLast night, I hosted an "Almost Rawluck" for six of my friends. We started having these about 2 years ago, as raw food potlucks ("Rawlucks") and have since made the dish "requirements" more flexible by including some cooked food, hence the "Almost" part in the name :) My friends and I take turns hosting and we've had anywhere from one to four of these each year.
Read MoreI am a huge fan of yoga and incorporate it into my weekly routine in order to keep myself grounded and calm. There are moments, however, when I find myself stressed or upset and yoga is not easily accessible. During these times, I turn to deep breathing exercises to renew my sense of calm. This Relaxation Breathing Exercise from Dr. Weil is my "go to" breathing exercise for instant relief. Below are the main steps...
Read MoreMarch 25, 2011 is a day I’ll never forget.
That was the day my Vitamix arrived in the mail and I proceeded to spend the rest of the night squealing and taking pictures of it.
For those of you who don’t know, the Vitamix is a super duper high-speed blender. Its 2 peak horsepower motor (1380 watts) is even powerful enough to grind avocado pits! I’m pretty sure my old blender would’ve fallen apart if I had attempted such a feat.
Read MoreIf you are like me and get cold easily, especially now that the temperatures have started to drop, you are going to LOVE this. The secret to getting a HOT body instantly is found in my winter must-have: The Hot Water Bottle :)
Read MoreSteve Jobs died today at the age of 56.
Tonight I revisited the transcript from his commencement speech at Stanford University (June 2005). Reading his words reminded me that not only was he a creative genius and innovator, but a wise man with a refreshingly honest approach to life.
Below are some of my favorite quotes from his speech. Perhaps they'll make you think about and reassess how you're living your life now.
"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."
"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: 'If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.' It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."
"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
I just heard about a brand of cookies that sounds like all the rage, but upon further investigation is a complete flop. I'll let you decide for yourself though. In the meantime, some words of wisdom...
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