~Breaths You Take~

Breathe.  Let go.  And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.  ~Oprah Winfrey

I came across this quote this afternoon.  It stopped me for a second and I had to think.  Today is a Monday and Monday’s are always hectic.  We are always trying to catchup from the weekend and sometimes it just makes my head spin!  I don’t like it that I spend the good part of every Monday chasing my tail and failing to enjoy the world around me, espassialy this time of year.  I want to have a chance to enjoy the holidays and spent time just living in the magic of Christmas. 
I think that many of us business owners forget to take a second to just take a deep breath but, at least for me, those deep breaths are what keep me alive- litterally.  I need those few seconds to regroup and unwind.  Those deep breaths clear me head and energize me to keep going.  This time of year the breaths are full of cookie baking, pine trees, and hot apple cider.  We have to take the time to “Breathe” those things in and “Breathe” in the moments we have because the breath we have now is the only one we can say we have for sure. 
To me a breath can be as simple as actually taking a deep breath but is can also be having coffee with my mom or stepping away from the computer to take a phone call from my dad.  It can be coloring with my 6-year-old cousin or playing a hockey game on the lake.  Some breaths may mean more than others but each one is important so, I challenge you to take more ”Breaths” this week.  Seeing that Christmas Eve is Friday and Christmas Day is Saturday, I challenge you to do one thing every day this week that makes the day, the season, or this Christmas your most memorable yet.  I will do that same and tell you what “Breaths” I take this week.
found at: http://xandrepress.wordpress.com/ 

Strengthen Your Immune System

Ward off illness naturally this cold and flu season:

1.     Get at least seven hours of good quality sleep nightly

2.     Engage in regular exercise (three or more times per week)

3.     Avoid sugar, it suppresses immune system function

4.     Eat a nutrient-dense diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables

5.     Manage stress

Massage is proven to enhance immune system function…schedule a session to feel better and to stay healthy!

Wishing you a healthful winter,

Mary

Mary's Crockpot Oatmeal

Sunday mornings are always special. Here is one of my Sunday morning recipes.

8 cups of pure water

2 cups of steel-cut oats

Combine ingredients and cook in a crockpot on low for approximately six hours.

Makes 8+ servings.

This is a super easy way to prepare healthy steel-cut oatmeal.  Great for a cold winter day’s brunch -- maybe before a cross-county ski outing.  I eat mine with a large amount of cinnamon (which has many health benefits including the regulation of blood sugar; it’s also a strong antioxidant and powerful anti-inflammatory), and a sprinkling of raw almonds bits.  These act to lower the glycymic load of the oatmeal.  I also add up to three teaspoons of chia seeds, even better for you than flax seeds! 

Tip:  After the cooked oatmeal cools, put individual servings into freezer bags.  You can have prepared oatmeal quickly by reheating a portion.

Enjoy!