by bringmebliss | Nov 2, 2016 | Fun Food
A Hearty, Healthy Dish!
If you want an easy, time-saving dinner that has a lot of oomph, try this crock-pot dish on a crisp Fall or Winter day. It’s kind of a cross between chili and stew and is super flavorful!
You can prep the veggies the night before, then in the morning, add everything to the slow cooker before you leave for the day. I didn’t add hot sauce to the recipe, but I almost always add it to my finished dish. You can also add some Parmesan cheese just before serving. I tried this very recently and it was delicious!
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 & 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
1 & 1/2 cups diagonally cut carrot
1 cup chopped, peeled turnip
1/2 cup diced celery
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 (15-oz.) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
2 (4-oz.) links fully cooked hot Italian sausage (you can use chicken or turkey sausage for a healthier dish)
1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
3/4 cup chicken broth/stock
2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 bay leaf
Directions
- Saute vegetables together in olive oil until tender – about 5+ minutes.
- Place veggie mixture in a 5-quart crock pot. Add beans, sausage, tomatoes, chicken broth, thyme, salt, pepper and bay leaf. Cover and cook on LOW 8 hours or until veggies are tender.
I found a lighter version of this recipe in Cooking Light (magazine). You can use low sodium everything and substitute the Italian Sausage with sweet Italian sausage links.
by bringmebliss | Oct 9, 2016 | Nature's Way
The Oil of Intention
I’m all about living intentionally and this oil is ready to assist you in getting prepared for the future. Dill essential oil is unique because it can be used for a variety of ways in addition to cooking! I have used this oil in making dips and salads. I’ll share a recipe with you below. But first, let’s learn a few things about this amazing plant.
Dill has a Latin name: Anethum Graveolens. It is steam distilled from the whole plant.
Here are some potential ways to use Dill Essential Oil:
- Supports digestion and overall GI health.*
- Purifying to the body’s systems.*
- Diffuse with Bergamot and Lemon to lessen stress and anxious feelings.
- Add to marinades, soups and salads to enhance flavor.
- Promotes healthy digestion.*
- Use when canning to help preserve garden vegetables.
- Add one to two drops to an herbal tea before bedtime to promote a restful sleep.*
- Provides important antioxidants.*
Not all essential oils are created equal. To learn more about 100% Pure Certified Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils, Click Here or fill out the form below:
Dill Dip
1 cup sour cream
8 oz. package of cream cheese
1/2 tsp garlic powder
5 Tbsp. minced onion
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1/4 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried dill
2 drops Dill Essential oil
Mix, chill, serve with your favorite crackers or bread. Enjoy!
by bringmebliss | Oct 4, 2016 | Self-Care Strategies
It all comes down to what you really want.
For me, I want FREEDOM. Freedom to move quickly, bend over, touch my toes, go upside down and do practical chores like making the bed without hurting my back. I want to be free from disease and over toxicity and I want to have energy. So before you read the rest of this and you think that you only want to lose some weight, please give your reason for losing it some more thought.
So many people say they want to lose weight, but they don’t really want to change their habits. I’m talking about the bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle so many of us have grown accustomed to. I love to eat…just ask anyone who knows me. But I’ve learned to trade certain things that I don’t need for the things that I really crave.
See the picture above? That plate of food might look like it’s missing something – which it is – the food that I actually ate. What’s on the plate is what I left behind. I left behind half the carbs this dish offered. I ordered an egg sandwich with bacon and avocado, some cheese and arugula. The bottom half of the bun was pretty small, so I ate that along with the rest of the sandwich. After one cup of coffee, a glass of orange juice and my sandwich, I was pretty full. I didn’t need the bun and potatoes that would only make me more full and add over 100 calories to my meal.
Here’s the trick…either cut your meals in half or eat only the things that are going to fill you up with nutrition but not extra calories. Here are some ideas for you to consider if you really want to lose weight – for good. It requires thinking a little differently about food consumption, how much you really need and how to be satisfied in the long run. But it’s habitual…keep it up so it becomes part of how you live.
Five simple tips to move towards your goal of dropping those unwanted pounds.
Tip #1: Order half of what you normally order when you go out to a restaurant. My husband and I do this all the time. The question comes up at almost every restaurant meal we encounter…”do you want to split something?” Usually, we can agree on what we both like and then share that meal. If one of us is hungrier than the other, we order an extra salad or side to go with the meal. My daughter and I do this also. We often share fajitas because there’s usually so much food and it’s more than enough to feed the both of us. We might also share an appetizer, so it’s not like we are starving ourselves. One of the benefits of doing this is saving a bunch of money. It has gotten so expensive to eat out and I always feel good about spending half of what we would normally spend on two full meals AND drinks!
Tip #2: Eat only the most nutritious part of the meal and leave the junk food behind. This would include the top of a bun, any extra bread or toast, potatoes, french fries or other side that would mainly just fill you up and make you fatter. (I love French Toast, but never order it because it is so full of carbs and sugar.) Once in a blue moon I will have one piece if it’s part of a buffet or something. Fill up on the healthier stuff like salad, vegetables and protein.
Tip #3: Skip dessert. My husband and I NEVER order dessert – unless we are on a cruise or we get one for free and I just have to have it because it’s creme brulee or something equally as delicious. Stash up on dark chocolate or fruit and yogurt for when you get home and have your dessert there. That will also save you money. If you are someone who must have sweets or dessert, try to eat lean protein for dinner and a salad – no extra carbs.
Tip #4: Drink one extra glass of water per day than you are now. I’m not telling you to drink 6-8 glasses a day; however, you’re probably not drinking enough as it is. This tip includes eliminating soda from your diet almost completely. Treat yourself once in a while until you realize how bad this is for you and you just don’t want it anymore.
Tip #5: Move more. You knew that was coming, right? You should move well and by that I mean doing physical activities that you enjoy. Join a softball team, take a yoga class, walk, run, hike, go to the gym, rock climb, go dancing…whatever it is you enjoy doing…just make more time to do it. Your body needs to eliminate waste and toxins from the body and it needs your help. As you get older, the body has a harder time doing all this, so you must prepare for this time and get moving now.
I have been able to feel physically free and healthy by following the tips above. I’m not perfect at this. Sometimes I struggle with what I want to have versus what I know I should have. I enjoy certain “bad foods” and mainly I just keep those at a minimum so I can enjoy the things I really want to have – like chocolate and certain breads. Know that you are not alone in your desire to have what you want. We all want what we want, but in the end…it’s what we REALLY want that matters. What do you really want?
by bringmebliss | Aug 12, 2016 | Nature's Way
The Oil of Clarity & Vision
Clary Sage essential oil has a unique and herbaceous aroma.
Using Clary Sage is simple:
*During your menstrual cycle, apply to abdomen for a soothing massage.
*Combine with Roman Chamomile and add to bath water for a stress-relieving bath.
*Apply one to two drops to the bottom of your feet or pulse points.
*Apply one to two drops to your pillow for a restful night’s sleep.
*Add three to four drops to shampoo or conditioner to promote healthy-looking hair and scalp.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Not for young children. Avoid during pregnancy.
Clary Sage can be applied neat (directly on the skin with no dilution). You can apply to reflex points and/or directly on area of concern. Diffuse, or inhale the aroma directly. You can also take in veggie capsules.
Not all oils are created equal! For 100% Certified, Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils, CLICK HERE or fill out the form below for more information.
by bringmebliss | Aug 6, 2016 | Inspiration
Discover Your Bliss Business!
Have you ever wondered how to build a business on the internet that will be enjoyable, profitable and manageable? Are you intrigued by the online business world, but not sure what you would sell?
If so, you are among thousands if not millions of people who have an entrepreneurial spirit but maybe aren’t sure how to go about making your dream happen.
One resource you’ll want to start with is DeAnna Kennedy, a business expert and online sales mentor who can help you identify your “Authentic Core Talent” and inspire you to take the necessary steps to fulfill your dream potential and make money online.
DeAnna recently wrote a book titled, “Find the Talent Within You & Sell It! – Turn Your Talent and Experience Into Cash!”. In her brief but power-packed book, she gives you the steps to building your BLISS Business. In fact, there are 10 steps she teaches that will allow you to:
discover your core talents
develop your unique identity
tell your story
become an expert
create your platform
and much more!
There are at least 5 reasons to get this book now:
1) DeAnna is a rare, intelligent and heart-centered person who has your best interests as her motivation. She is sharing her talents after years of honing her skills and passing them on to future generations so they can experience the same joy of creating, building and being successful. This is so fulfilling for her because it’s the natural progression of life – to pass down what you know as part of your continuing growth and development. DeAnna hasn’t stopped growing and learning and now she is serving a greater community who really needs her expertise!
2) Because she has experienced business from the core talent side AND having to do things that are counter-intuitive, she can see the benefit of going with the “path of least resistance”. This means that she will help you hone in on what you enjoy and are already good at so you don’t spin your wheels doing things you aren’t good at. Many people venture into businesses that don’t align with their personality or their passions; therefore, they find it difficult to be in the “zone”. Being in the zone means that your work is more like play – you love it so much, you can’t do anything else. Also, it means that you find meaning and fulfillment in almost every minute of your “work”.
3) Because of her extensive retail experience, DeAnna knows how to make a store look enticing – where people want to walk in and browse around. But she knows much more than that. Just because someone walks into your store, doesn’t mean they will buy. You will need to learn the steps to building a relationship with your potential customers and make sure they enjoy every step of your “marketing” process. You have to have a servants heart – and DeAnna will teach you how to go beyond just capturing emails and having a list of prospects for your business. She will give you step-by-step guidelines and teach you how to build customer loyalty.
4) DeAnna is FULL of creative ideas. Just reading her book will give you lots of information for marketing your business. In this book she will guide you into becoming a “thought generator” and “thought leader”, drawing from your own experience. She will also teach you how to find your story and “emotionally charge it to trump all other marketing pieces.” She’ll teach you how to convert information seekers into hot shoppers and how to make the most of your copywriting skills. She intelligently gives you “12 Terms You Should Be Familiar with to Get the Most from Your Email List or Customer Database”. This section alone is invaluable for someone serious about building an internet business.
5) I LOVE how DeAnna uses her own quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Almost every other author uses other people’s quotes. This is a testimony to the creativity and bold confidence that she has within her. The cool thing is that she REALLY believes YOU have that same creativity and confidence. She knows you have it because she has seen it over and over again. You will see what I mean as you read the stories she shares of other people she has helped. Here is one of my favorite quotes – right at the beginning of the book:
“Find what sparks a light in you, and you will illuminate the world.”
DeAnna is one of my mentors and is responsible for helping me develop my brand and expertise as a mind/body coach and self-care strategist for the insanely busy woman. What I enjoy about her is the enthusiasm she has for other people’s talents and ideas and she is so good at helping you identify your own gifts. Do not pass up this book! If you have any interest in building an online presence, this is a must-read!
Order your copy today on Amazon!
http://amzn.to/2aC8x5o
You can also find DeAnna at www.theonlinestorefront.com
