We have the opportunity on the daily to make a positive impact on the world around us.
Whether one goes through their day searching for good deeds to be done,
or simply takes advantage of random opportunities to spread love,
every action (or inaction) has a resounding impact.
The question is: Is your impact today going to be positive, negative, or indifferent?
I have been told that one person can't make a difference.
I affectionately call these people "dummies"...
Those who actively try to hold the rest of us down,
those who would rather watch you drown than help you soar, those who can't grasp the power of positivity to create change.
Whether it's a great recipe found, or an uplifting story to share, you can be sure to find it here.
Let's start a Positivity Revolution, and drown out the dumb!




Saturday, February 6, 2016

Deep Thought Saturday

My therapist says that "Mindfulness" is the key to unlocking my past and moving forward. Yes, I go to therapy, and double yes, I freaking love it. There are some hidden gems I'd like to uncover, but mostly, it's just about staying on the path to being a better me. Therapy forces me to take a beat and listen to what I'm truly feeling, instead of just going through the motions. Like most of us, most of my days are go-go-go from the time my alarm rings until my head hits the pillow at night. There are never ever enough hours in the day, and it's so easy to put yourself at the veeeeery bottom of your "take care of" list. Oh! And I'm also crazy A.D.D., so although I might be high-energy, I also get distracted by shiny things. :)

Mindfulness is something I've been half-assed trying to get into for the past 8 months. The beginning of my Mindfulness Journey is to take time every single day to sit still (boo) for 15 minutes (an eternity) and clear my mind (nearly impossible). I just got done with my first sesh, and near the 12-minute mark, I started getting really antsy. But, I focused on four breaths in, eight out, and forced myself not to fidget until I heard the timer go off. And I feel good! I wanna run around like a 3-year old with my arms flailing about, but I feel good.

Another part of my self-care to-do's is one I made up myself (therapist approved). Everyone knows the saying that if you don't love yourself, you can't love someone else, or accept their love. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that my past failed relationships might support this theory. So, I'm starting 30 days of self-love...Not the dirty kind (haha), but taking one thing that I love about myself every day and posting it. I'm not sharing these things to brag about how great I think I am, but I need to share it to prove to myself that this is not shameful. You can check out my album on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

So, there you go. Deep thoughts for a Saturday morning.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Peanut Butter Coconut Bark

I love coconut oil; I think it is the greatest thing on Earth. You can use it for cooking, health, and beauty...How does one magical substance make my life better in so many different ways?

Right now, I use coconut oil for "pulling", which is a method of swishing coconut oil in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes every day. It is supposed to have many benefits like better hair, skin and nails. It can whiten your teeth, freshen your breath, and even boost your immune system! I buy coconut loyal for the cheap at Trader Joe's. A 16-ounce jar costs about five dollars. Plus, this gives me an excuse to go to Trader Joe's! I love their flowers, produce, and cheeses.

I met someone recently who lost 100 pounds over the past year. In addition to diet and exercise, he ate a teaspoon of coconut oil every day. I've read that this could have huge benefits in losing weight, especially in your tummy. Because of my aversion to sit ups, my tummy has always had a little extra to love. I don't mind this, except in the winter time when it turns into extra – extra. So, I thought I would give eating coconut oil a try!

If any of you have ever taken a teaspoon of coconut oil and put it in your mouth, it is not the most pleasant experience. It's oily, first of all. The coconut taste is not overwhelming, but it's more of a texture thing, and I have a hard time imagining swallowing it. Never mind that I can put a tablespoon of butter on a single piece of bread without an issue, ha! So I dug around on the Internets a little and found these adorable macaroon – looking coconut peanut butter bites. Being the bachelorette that I am, I did make a few tweaks to make it easier for anyone to follow this easy recipe, especially those who don't have fancy baking tools at their disposal. The blogger advised to use these for meal replacement, which is perfect because I have a bad habit of skipping breakfast. The coconut oil and peanut butter combination is supposed to keep you full, in addition to helping raise your metabolism and provide the health benefits of ingesting coconut oil. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Coconut Bark

Use equal parts creamy peanut butter and organic virgin coconut oil. I had about 1/3 of a container of Skippy, so I cleaned that out and matched the same amount of coconut oil.

Sweeten your concoction with honey or maple syrup, preferably unfiltered and raw.
About 1 tablespoon should do ya.

Sprinkle some Himalayan pink sea salt, about 1/4 teaspoon or to your taste.
Of course, you can use regular salt. I use Himalayan sea salt because it has no additives.

Instructions:


If you're going to oil is fairly solid, pop it in the microwave for about 10 seconds. You want to be able to easily mix everything together to a smooth consistency.

Place wax paper onto a plate and pour your mixture onto parchment paper evenly.

Pop into your freezer for about one hour.

When you take this out of the freezer, you want it solid, but not frozen hard. Lift the parchment paper from your plate, and using a knife, cut into bite-size squares.

These split into delicious candy-looking bark.
You can store these in a plastic bag or Tupperware in your fridge.
Eat these little goodies once per day in place of the meal, and share with me your results below!

Saturday, January 9, 2016

I hate being a girlfriend.

Don't get me wrong, I loooove all the things that being a girlfriend is supposed to be: I love the snuggles and texts and date nights. I love knowing that someone has chosen me to be theirs, that this one person thinks I'm better than all the rest. I love having the same person in my bed every night, and smooching the same lips every day. I love all the little habits that form, all the normal items of the everyday that become more special because you get to do them with someone you adore.

And then there's the things I hate. I am a great girlfriend, although I don't currently have a model relationship to prove it...I am the one who always compromises, whether it's dinner or where we vacation. I am the one who adopts their family as my own, and I continually make sacrifices for the one I'm with. I think constantly about how to make my partner happy, with little thought as to what I may require in return. I know this is why my relationships have failed in the past...But all I want to do is treat the other person how I would like to be treated. The truth is, it is rarely reciprocated.

It would be fantastic if that honeymoon phase could last forever: when the person I'm with can't wait to call or text or just be around me. It usually fades around the 6th month; they fall into their comfort zone, and I realize they won't love me the way I need them to. I can give and give and give, but it won't be enough to a) keep their affection, and b) make me happy.

So I leave. I start over, again and again, hoping that the next time might be different. We jokingly say I have a Black Heart that crushes others, but the truth is I will never stop trying; and I definitely won't settle. I believe in loving fully, and never losing hope that someday I might find someone to share that love with. And if that doesn't happen, I have an amazing, wonderful life. My friends and family show me what true love is every day, and they make me happier than a man ever could.