Sunday: Beauty Day and Blessings

The BEST parts of today:

🕂 Church: I FINALLY made it to church. It has been forever since I've been there, and it felt really nice to get back on track and see everyone again. Numerous times I've been told the power of a church group and how much it can offer has positive benefits in your life.

🏃 Exercise: Night-time walk again. It's so beautiful outside. Along with a sauna experience for 45 minutes; it took everything I had because the last 5 minutes were brutal. I'm happy with the results. Down another 6 lbs AND my resting heart rate is dropping into a normal range again... Yay! 

💸 Wallet: Cannot say THANK YOU enough to PANERA BREAD STAFF on Gull Rd. They are so nice- as well as the customers. Sure enough, I left it when the coffee was too hot next to all the coffee pots yesterday. A nice customer turned it in. NOTHING was stolen all day long. What a blessing and miracle to pick it up today. Thank you God and everyone else for helping.

💔 Relationships: It's important to NOT beat yourself up. I finally figured out why the pain hurt so much this round. I liked him. I REALLY LIKED HIM! I thought I found the most genuine connection yet-to-date. The cool part: we went to high school together. I knew of him! Our interests, how well we got along, the way he made me feel just being near him. I truly thought he was a good man. Now, I realize I'm mad at myself because everything I didn't want to happen, it did! Unintentionally, seeing the good in someone, believing IN them, allowing myself to truly be me while with them, to actually be happy... to find out their words and actions were all a lie. Applause: what an amazing actor! I fell hook, line, and sinker. I actually believed him and his words! I know there was trauma from his past relationship(s) and he said he shouldn't put the prior faults of others on me (true), but I never thought he'd just shy away and walk. He never faced me. He never talked. He was just "gone." Fool me once, shame on you, but I let him back again, so fool me twice... shame on me. I'm devastated because I allowed myself to get hurt. His true colors finally came out; sadly, I learned too late. And I know it was fast but the connection felt so real. (Usually my instincts aren't wrong. That's what makes this even more confusing and difficult.) Who needs romantic relationships anyway?! Waste of time and space! Time to move forward and focus on what's really important. 

💀 To make it even worse, the identity theft was even worse than what I thought from last year. Voice modulations, opening up bank accounts, deleting important personal information right from underneath my nose on email and phone, putting my information on the dark web... and I found out last night that they got me banned from the only dating app I'd chosen to use. Get this, I'm banned for life! Seriously??? Do I even want to know what they did! I guess it's best to move forward anyway. Most dating apps are filled with fake people with bad intentions. Welcome to modern dating.

🎜 Piano: I started playing piano again. Even if it's only 15 minutes a day, repetition daily is a big deal for improvements. Plus, I love the sound; it's one of my favorite instruments. 

✏ 📔 My biggest focus right now is discipline! Take what is most important to you and make it happen. Prioritize, focus, and ensure the most important parts are developed to get to where you choose and need to be. 

🍀 As of late, I have had the WORST luck ever. It is really hard to try and turn things around. "BABY STEPS!" I have been told these words so many times at nauseam. In this case, I need to listen. One step each moment, each hour, each day, to get back to positivity and quality results. 

TIPS FOR TODAY:  

  

The main topic of the day is Beauty Day! It's the day where you pamper yourself. Take 1-2 hours and make yourself feel glamorous. Self care is just as important as controlling stress, eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Mind, Body, Spirit: do it right! So, how do you do a proper Beauty Day? This is what is involved:

* grab a good book and make an Epsom salt bath (20 minutes)

* then take a shower, shave, lavish the soap all over your body, and feel refreshed when getting out

* facial: 15 min of a steam bath on your face. Then wash with a smooth, easy cleanser. 

* basic bathroom activities: brush your teeth, brush your hair, if female- do your makeup and put on jewelry, wear a nice outfit, and put your favorite scent (perfume/cologne) on.

* cut your nails and take care of your cuticles 

* quality lotion on your body and good facial cream for great skin

* If you want to take the time, do your hair, and make it look cute. (This is about pampering yourself so you shine; personal confidence is key!)

* include a foot massage

* maybe a body massage

* then relax. Does relaxing include a good movie, a good book, a nice long deep sleep? Choose your favorite activity. 

* If beauty Day has time, ensure to clean and organize your personal space. A clean space leads to discipline and focus for the most important upcoming tasks at hand. Also, an organized space makes everything else easier in life.

* If you need to write your schedule for the week, include it

* Don't forget to add your exercise routine

* Meditate/Zen/Pray for your mental clarity

* Spend a little time outside and get grounded in nature. Maybe garden. If you have a pet and want to include your favorite-furry-animal into this space, it's a great way to add them at this special time.

* Make sure to eat healthy and clean. It will make your body feel good. 

* Stay hydrated with healthy fluids as well

*If there is anything else you want/need to add to your personal list, add it to the list! This is just a start to ensure you do a spa/health day (aka: Beauty Day) for yourself.

For years, I have completed this basic type of list every Sunday. Not only does it help you feel and look youthful, it will add a personal glow. On top of that, you'll feel amazing. Try it, I dare you. 😊 

Have a great day and blessings.

Positive quote: Write it on your heart! Today is a great day and nothing can stop you from reaching your goals, your dreams, your destiny. Don't ever give up on yourself. Each moment is always your time to shine. 

Healthy Eating with the Daily Flow

Have you ever had those days where it just doesn't work out as planned?

I haven't been able to sleep at night- so waking up when I want has been nonexistent. (Some day I'll wake up for morning exercises again!) 😆 Anyway, detox will begin Monday; I'll share the bottle looks and recipes when I begin.

In the meantime, you can never go wrong with a beautiful salad. (Yes, salad is extremely difficult to digest for anyone with stomach issues.) A cold, nice, salad is refreshing and hits the spot sometimes.

Don't forget to try and accomplish some sort of exercise. If you can add in sauna time, that will be beneficial as well. (I'll explain with the detox information.) 

Anyway, swim completed. Walk completed. Yoga stretches done. 35 minute sauna. Check.

Apologies for a later post than expected. Yesterday turned out to be very interesting. Banana breakfast. Cucumber snack. Lunch was soup. Apple snack with nuts. Salad was for dinner. 

I turn around to pay a bill and realize my wallet is missing at 11pm. I had this nagging feeling since 7pm to go buy something. So I finally get up to pay a bill. WHERE'S THE WALLET? Come to find out I'm pretty sure it's at Panera Bread. 

Identity theft has been an issue for me for 20 years. Went to check a dating app and someone got me banned for life. ??? Ok, this is shaping up to be a horrible night. Looking into it; we'll see if Administrators help or not. It also makes me wonder what else was hacked...

Then there was the realization that dating stinks. (I'll discuss later.) Heartbreak isn't for the faint of heart. 

If only I could stop stressing. 🥺 Off to bed it is.

Have a great night and blessings for tomorrow.

 

Evening walk with a few of the pets. 

Positive quote: In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity. - Albert Einstein

Begin with a Body Cleanse (Detox)

 Welcome back to the blog! 

 

It's been far too long since I last wrote. Let's change that (hopefully starting today). However, there has been much that has been learned in the process, especially health related. 

My new experiment has involved a new type of detox. It involves juicing three fruits and three vegetables. A small amount for nutrients goes into a 20oz bottle filled with water. So at least six juicing bottles. Then I've been adding two extra bottles of bone broth for the protein. The goal: for three days straight drink your food. 

This will be the third time round this year I have completed this detox. I'm telling you, I've never felt better, and I'm not hungry. At all! Your body will love and thank you. The benefits? Healing your body from the inside out. If there are any types of internal complications you are trying to heal, this can help. 

Next, make sure to do a small exercise. Make it light! Whether walking outside, going for an easy swim, mild lifting weights, something easy for the body is perfect.

It's also important to get enough sleep. 7-10 hours of sleep is best. 

Well, you can guess what I'm starting tomorrow. :) I will document my experiences with recipes so you can follow along and try at your leisure. 

There are a few more health experiences I have to share within this next month. And exercise videos will be coming soon. Yay! I should be Barre certified by the end of the month- if all goes well. 

If you have any exercise or general health questions you'd like answered, please ask. I'll do my best to help- just like I do in my classes. I do need to clarify, I am not yet certified as a Personal Trainer or nutritionist. So the information I have to share is based on years of personal research, experience, doctor's conversations, speaking with others, etc. It is personal experience to share in a public/ safe space to learn and grow together. (If you have any health concerns and questions, always consult your doctor.) 

Well, let's get to it! Buckle in because we are finishing this year strong. 

Do you have a specific health goal you are trying to accomplish? If you'd like to share I'm happy to cheer you on. Let's do it together. 

Quote of the day: A great attitude leads to positive actions. Continued positive actions leads to an amazing year. 

#2: Relatability, Enjoying Life, and Recommended Helpful Apps

 It takes minimum 60 days before something becomes a habit. 

I cannot tell you how many times I've started and stopped my health routine within the past seven years. It definitely is a journey! The first three years, I still had an injured back from the car accident. So even when I exercised hard for a month, I ended up being down for another two months due to massive pain. One step forward, two steps back. 

Weight loss drugs and surgery: I've tried almost every weight loss drug. Saxenda was the one that massively helped! And then it didn't one day; it just stopped. It was a helpful tool. But I will admit I was sick all the time- from all the drugs. My personal opinion, I wouldn't recommend them in the long run. Also, for personal reasons I am not a fan of weight loss surgery. I've been an athlete my whole life. Life happened, my body had health issues, the car accident injured my lower back, and years of fighting for my personal health until a doctor took me seriously, here we are today. I can walk again. In fact, I'd like to train for a half marathon in Spring 2026 officially. So my goal is to do it the healthy way, again. 

There was a story I read this morning. It made perfect sense. Not only is this mom an inspiration but how she started is very similar to my motivational start. Woman, 29, Loses 240 Pounds by Sticking to 1 Simple Daily Habit She just opened up the door and made the decision to start running, and the life changes have been incredible for her.

My reasoning: I'm tired of talking about it! I've always been a doer; so let's get it done! 

• I want my body back
• I want to run a half marathon
• I want to have self confidence and self love again

It's that simple. So I just started. 

For years I've heard the saying "life is a journey" and "everything happens for a reason." I cannot tell you how aggravating those sayings are. Maybe there is some truth. Time will tell. In the meantime, what I can tell you is life is short. We need to embrace the time we have while we have it. Because in the blink of an eye we can lose it all. Nothing is promised and nothing is guaranteed. (Also, nothing is fair.) We need to give our all every chance we can with what we deem important in our life. 

A few weeks ago I started using two apps: Fabulous and Gratitude. 

• Fabulous is in essence a checklist of getting things done each day with motivational speeches morning, afternoon, and evening. 
• Gratitude is a journal you write in talking about experiences that you are grateful for. It helps remind you of all the positive in your life. (A few sentences a day keeps your heart and mind in a gratitude-like-state-of-mind.) 

These have been helpful getting me started. 

In the meantime I'm still playing tennis, working with a personal trainer, working at the fitness center daily. (Can you tell fitness is kind of my life?) But it hasn't been enough. Something is missing. So I tried two more apps: 

• LazyFit (workout in your bed)
• Pilates Workout (quick, easy, effective stretches)

These are both fantastic. It requires roughly ten minutes a day of exercise. That's it. Your body will feel the results with minimal effort and impact. (The bigger issue here is minimal impact.) Honestly, working out is becoming FUN again. The secret: if you enjoy what you are doing then you will want to do it again. It reminded me the other day when I went home to my roots what I'm missing: ENJOYMENT. I've been pushing through the motions for so long that I've forgotten how to enjoy the small things, especially regarding exercise. 

Find the enjoyment in your life! Are you ready to make today a new beginning? If so, let's go! 

#1: Talk the Talk AND Walk the Walk

Wow! It's been 13 years I've been attempting to write on this blog on a regular basis. 

Have you ever gotten to the point you are so frustrated it's time to finally make a difference? Yea, that's where I'm at. I've never been a person to just talk. Usually I do what I talk about; I've always taken action. As of late I dream. But dreaming is not action. I'm so tired of talking. Let's finally get it done.

- Fitness in the morning

- writing everyday

- prayer and meditation in the evening

These are the new daily goals. I'll leave this post for starters and report back tomorrow. It is my understanding that writing everyday is the beginning of starting a new process. Let's make these actions a new habit. 

New Beginnings (Prayers Answered 12+ Yrs Later)

 Another incredible day! 

    * Started the day with Dog Bathing for the first time; it was more fun than I would have imagined. Loved working with the new team, and the pets are lovely to help bath, dry, and prep. (What's funny, I wanted to get my grooming license over 10 yrs ago but for certain reasons- not due to lack of trying- I was unable to do so in the SW MI area, even though there was a massive grooming shortage.)

* Next stop basic needs. Surprisingly had time to stop home and feed the pets, get changed, and off to work. Note: roads are still solid black ice, and temperatures are icy cold.

* Off to the full-time job. Arrived on scene to find out the building had been hit by a snowplow truck and everything has been dealt with accordingly. Needless to say everything has been interesting and will hopefully be finalized and resolved in a timely manner- like maybe by tomorrow! We shall see what miracles await.  

     - Then there were some very interesting conversations throughout the day: positive, helpful, inspiring. When people work together we motivate one another!

* Which makes me think about: why is it so important to remain focused and positive at all times? (I keep receiving this message over and over for the past two weeks.) To stay positive is to think clearly, to receive higher messages of inspiration, and to make choices and changes with the best of intentions for the higher purpose of ourselves. Note: always best to listen more than we speak too; that is another way we continue giving back to others. 

* Left work to take care of low pressure tires during these very cold days/nights. Enjoyed speaking to a friend. Then got home and briefly spent time with the animals while taking care of basic house chores. Then left to enjoy time with the boyfriend which then turned into washing dishes and picking up his bedroom/living room briefly. 

* Now, here I am sitting back finally reflecting on the day. Taking a moment to breathe. To prep for study time. (test next Friday) And go to bed for a few hours, to do it all over again. (Another long day tomorrow.) 

I think we forget how blessed we are in this world as Individuals. We always look to someone else to say how lucky they are or we see how special they are. Sometimes we need to stop and realize how special WE are. Look in the mirror and take note of our own unique abilities. Everyone is going through something; everyone has it tough right now. But each of us contributes with something special. 

Today, I studying and learned that the people who have harder struggles tend to have greater rewards. They appreciate what they have earned in the long run vs. what someone has been given (example: studying and failing a test multiple times before finally passing with flying colors; you learn to appreciate, value, and give back to those with difficulties.) The greater reward with the most advanced skills struggle. Don't get me wrong, the struggles are NOT fun in the moment. (Personally, I'd like to know when the struggles subside.) But apparently, there is a larger rainbow at the end of the path if we keep pushing and pursuing our goals that we are told we will never achieve. 

Find happiness. Trust inner wisdom. Never give up!

Arctic Blast & Not Giving Up

The polar freeze has swept through SW MI. As wonderful as it is to have a normal winter and January again, the roads are extremely icy and the temperatures are downright frigid. In fact, local schools have been closed for three days straight. Yay for kids and snow days; the excitement for a random day off! Boo for such cold temps, bad driving on black ice, and getting through the daily grind.

Other states have the cold temps too. Some snow.. some rain. May we all stay safe and warm.

Today has been a challenging day. Trying to obtain goals and succeeding at nothing can be beyond challenging. It puts things in perspective. So I'm reminding myself to stay positive. I survived driving to GR and back in these crazy conditions. I spoke to like-minded people. Found new-found inspiration. And will try again. (Trying to improve career success and the ability to help others.)

For now, good night; I will type more details later and include pictures at a different time when I gain access to a better working computer. 

Stay positive and until next time.