Broccoli Chips?? YES!

Isn't my recipe card the CUTEST! I love writing on these cards :D. 

Yum Yum Yum!!! Have you ever had broccoli chips before? No? Omg, you absolutely have to give this, my favorite recipe for them to date, a try! I'm not going to blab too much at all because I know what a pet peeve it is to have to scroll all through the blab to get to the recipe lol :). So here you go!

Roasted Broccoli Chips! (AKA THE BOMB!)

What you need:

• 1 head of broccoli or the equivalent amount broken into florets. 
• 1 tsp olive oil (the good kind so Extra virgin if you can splurge)
• Salt and pepper to taste

And here are the easy as pie directions:

• Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Place the broccoli into a bowl
• Drizzle the olive oil and shake the salt and pepper over the broccoli and toss to coat all the broccoli
• Spread out on a baking sheet in one layer.
• Bake for 25 minutes, checking on it after about 15 minutes or so every 5 minutes give or take. The reason is that the broccoli browns pretty quickly and though you want it really crispy, you don't want them burnt ;-). That being said, I left them in for the entire 25 minutes, even though I heard it sizzling and the tips got *really* brown. They turned out soooooo freakin' good though! Absolutely worth it! 

Go on and make it right now! (ok, go buy some broccoli and make it tomorrow ;-)). 

Sick Last Week! Slippery Elm to the Rescue!

Hello lovlies! Omg, I missed a week of connecting with you! Trust me, I agonized about it until I finally let myself off the hook with the realization that life happens :-D. Most of my reason had to do with feeling way under the weather most of last week so that when I did have time to write, all I felt like doing was resting. Ugh! Ever get that feeling? In any case, I did get a chance to do a quick video for you all about Slippery Elm Bark Powder - this has been a favorite herb of mine for ages - though it is by no means the best tasting or easiest to take, lol. Any of you have experience with Slippery Elm? The powder turns into a gel when mixed with water - imagine trying to drink that lol - not fun. However it's very worth it and I tell you some key points about why in the video. Check it out :). 

Btw, you may be wondering how I pulled of a cute outfit and fly makeup in that video while feeling so under the weather ;-). Well I recorded on Sunday, the same day that I was a featured guest on the Jerrell Hardnett Show, a local tv talk show that is going to launch on CW Arkansas in March! Exciting right?! So I figured, ought not waste a pretty outfit and makeup day lol. As soon as I know the air date, I will definitely pass it on :). Ok, on to the video! 

All about Lemongrass Essential Oil! 3 Uses

Hey everyone! Hope it's been a lovely week for you! It's been an especially awesome one for me since my birthday was Wednesday - yay :)! Sort of because of that, I decided to do a video for you all instead of a written post. I tell you why in the video :-). Soon however, I'll make sure to write everything out like I promised to in the video ;-). Enjoy!  

Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help you Lose Weight?

Hello Dears! How is life feeling 14 days into this new year? I’m hoping that you are still feeling energized and excited about all the awesomeness coming for you this year ;-) (You’ve got to believe it to see it right?!).

I know that one of the things most of have on that New Year to do list is to finally get around to toning up and losing weight. While I have some thoughts about that in general that I’ll share in my next post, today I’m going to share with you one thing that made a difference for me a few years ago and that I’m committing to doing again in this new year. It’s something really simple. It’s drinking a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar a day. Yep, that’s it. When I tell you that it made a huge difference, believe me! I hadn’t made any real changes to my diet or my routine and after a few months of drinking it faithfully, people began to ask what I was doing to lose weight. I couldn’t think of one thing except for the daily habit of taking that ACV! I believe it really helped my body to slim down and ultimately lose a few pounds as well. What it definitely did was rearrange the weight that I did have into a healthier, more fit frame. To say I was grateful is an understatement lol.

Last year, I wrote a detailed article about it in the Toombs Country Tribune, a local to Georgia newspaper where I served as the Wellness Columnist. I’ve shared it with you below so you can have the how and the why about ACV for weight loss.

Check it out!

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Apple Cider Vinegar, have you heard of it? You might know it as an appetizing addition to your favorite salad or a part of tantalizing marinades. Did you know, however, that it can be a wonderful addition to your everyday health routine as well?

Apple cider vinegar is one of the world’s oldest anecdotal remedies for almost everything. It’s been used for all types of ailments throughout the years, often times with such repeated success, that testimonials abound.

In recent years, it’s also been studied in academic settings and some of the claims from these years of use worldwide have begun to be substantiated by scientific data as well.

Today’s topic of Leah’s Natural Minute is going to focus on how Apple Cider Vinegar can help you lose weight. Yes, you read that correctly! Apple Cider Vinegar can be a component in your journey to shed those pounds and slim that waistline.

There is plenty of anecdotal data that suggests that Apple Cider Vinegar helps with weight loss. I even have my own experience to support this belief, which I’ll share a little later. Scientists have begun to look into this to try to figure out what could be responsible for this effect. There are two theories.

The first has to do with Apple Cider Vinegar’s ability to block the digestion of some starches. Blocking this starch breakdown is thought to decrease the amount of calories being produced through digestion. Starches typically are very dense and so add up to lots more calories that need to be processed and converted to either energy or fat. If you aren’t using that energy, then those calories are going to be converted to fat. Less of them in the blood stream means less of them needing to be used or “glued to your waistline”.

The second theory, concluded from a study conducted in Japan, hypothesizes that Apple Cider Vinegar may have an effect on certain genes involved in breaking down fat. This studied showed that obese patients taking Apple Cider Vinegar over the course of a few months experienced better vital signs and a measurable decrease in weight compared to the control group. Source: link to ((2009). “Vinegar Intake Reduces Body Weight, Body Fat Mass, and Serum Triglyceride Levels in Obese Japanese Subjects”. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 73(8): 1837–1843. doi:10.1271/bbb.90231. PMID 19661687)

So this information, coupled with my own experience, is why I think it’s a great addition to your routine. I myself take Apple Cider Vinegar most mornings. For a while, it was the only change I made; I didn’t change my eating or lifestyle habits. Within months, people began asking what I was doing to lose weight and slim down. That right there was proof enough for me to continue.

When looking to add Apple Cider Vinegar, the easiest way that I’ve found is to take a tablespoon in room temperature water once a day, usually in the morning. There is anecdotal data and some scientific research that supports the belief that drinking this before a meal can help to curb your appetite and make you feel full faster.

I’d always suggest taking it with water or some liquid to dilute it because of its acidic nature. It can burn going down the throat and for sensitive people it can actually damage your esophageal and throat linings. It’s also not advised to take more than 1 to 2 tablespoons a day.

I would always advise as well to run everything you are planning to do by your primary care physician if you are currently being treated for any type of ailment. It’s always best to get an expert opinion and be safe. Just make sure it’s a physician that is open to the natural way.

I hope this helps you on your journey! Remember, there are no quick fixes but with the right combination, you can achieve what you dream! Be blessed!

#7daysforme Challenge Day 4,5 and 6

Hello Dears!

Instead of posting for each day of these last 3 days, I decided post all 3 of them together, since they all were about writing out how your word applies to different aspects of your life. Here go my thoughts...

Day 4 - How does your word relate to your home life? 

For me when I think of having courage for my home life, I not only think about courage to be the type of person that creates a comfortable, loving home – I’m also thinking about the tangibles too. What is it going to take to have the dream home? What is it going to take to decorate the way I want and purchase the furniture and accessories I want to create a home that feels good and comfy and right? The next step is deciding that I will have the COURAGE to take on whatever it takes. I choose to be the kind of person that dreams big and takes action - and though I may not always make my mark, my big dreams and the COURAGE to do what it takes to reach them are what will get me closer than anything else.

So what about you? What are your insights regarding your Word for the Year and your Home life?

Day 5 - How does your word related to your work life?

This one is super easy for me :-). I can even lay out specific examples of courageous acts I’m going to take!

I do believe that this aspect is what prompted this word for my year. I know that there are opportunities that I could have created for myself that I didn’t because of fear. Simple fears like being afraid to make a phone call or being afraid to send an email have held me back from potential yeses.

And the real fear is a fear of rejection, the fear of a no.

Somehow in my mind, I translate that NO into “No way, you worthless person. Hahaha, silly you – how did you ever think I’d say yes to you.”

Now think a minute…doesn’t that sound like something straight out of a pre-teen chapter book. When you say it out loud it sounds pretty silly and unbelievable. And that’s why Courage is my word.

I don’t want to be ruled by pre-teen drama lol, especially the kind that I create all on my own in my own little subconscious fantasy world. Instead, I’m planning to step into the real world of real life adults that are just as kind, interested (or even busy and uninterested) that I am J. And even if there aren’t kind – how many times has the pre-teen drama ended up showing that the mean teen really had her own issues to begin with and all that meanness had nothing to do with anyone else, least alone the person she was shunning. Something to think about right? :-).

Day 6 - How does your word relate to your personal self - care? 

Applying my word to my self-care is another easy one. Again this is all about the mental dramas that subconsciously get set up in our minds. For me, it’s the mental drama that says “oh Leah, you don’t have the time to do that. Silliness like “you don’t have the time to take a relaxing bath” or “you don’t have the time to make this new mask and try it out for yourself. You don’t have the time to plan a vacation let alone the money.”

I create all these little stories to keep myself from spending time with me and prioritizing me.

This year is already set up to be different. I am going to have the courage this year to say NOTHING bad is going to happen if I spend 30 minutes in a relaxing bath. The theoretical roof won’t fall in on my business and my big dreams if I actually plan a vacation. I don’t have to think that I have to be working every second of every day to actually be something. I have the courage to believe that smart work and less work are ok, better even. I have the COURAGE to take a break. I have the COURAGE to plan a vacation and believe that the energy, finances, and free time will manifest. That takes true courage and that is what I am intending for this year! 

So how about you?? How is your word going to impact your Home life, your Work life, and your Personal Self-Care life? Let me know in the comments!  

Tomorrow is the last day of our Challenge - it is the day that you write out your mission statement/personal promise to yourself regarding your word for the year. Spend some time tomorrow and do this for yourself!

Keep Peeling the Layers Back

I want to tell you all a story, not to stir up sympathy for me, but to instead stir up inspiration and self-confidence for you. I’ll admit, that sharing this story is a challenge that I don’t know that I would have taken had it not been for someone prompting me to be less afraid and more vulnerable. It’s just beautiful how it fits right in with my word for the year COURAGE.

So here it goes :-).

Some of you may know that I lived in North Carolina for a year or so about 8 years ago. I can probably count that as one of the worst years of my life. Hands down :-). In that year, I had so many loses, particularly at a time where I couldn’t really afford loses, mentally or literally.

I moved there to pursue my dance dreams of performing with a partner and finally making a distinguishable name for myself as a separate entity from my dance team. I’d tried to pursue these dreams in my hometown of Chicago but never quite achieved what I wanted. I felt like moving was the only option I hadn’t tried.

I did my best to make the decision of where to move in the smartest way. I looked for a job first and when I found one, I thought everything would run smoothly from there.

Wow was I wrong. The downhill spiral started with the job. I was an esthetician at the time and what I thought was going to be a steady hourly rate of pay, turned out to be fully commission based. Imagine sitting at the spa for 7 hours in the hopes that you get some walk-ins. The only guaranteed money you see is a 30% split from the one booked client of the day and that’s if she/he doesn’t cancel. And with most days like this, it was tough to say the least.

At the same time, the dance dreams that I moved there for were quickly falling apart. I realized that I didn’t really know my new partner and we inevitably did not end up getting along well enough for the partnership to last. Then I found myself in the middle of a long-standing feud between two other teams, eagerly wanting to dance with someone, but not really gung-ho about joining a team again anyway. On top of that fact, I had friends in both courts, so choosing was that much more difficult.

And all this time, I was STRUGGLING to make ends meet and often falling way way way short. For instance, for months I didn’t have a reliable car in an area where you absolutely have to have a car and then I lost my license because of a friend, a ticket, and my own fear-based inactivity. Too many months went by where I couldn’t pay my $200 rent, let alone buy food. I spent many a Wednesday at the local food shelter gathering groceries for the week.

And there were tons of things that looked like they would work out and then just dramatically didn’t. For example, I was almost a regional rep for Eminence, my absolute favorite skincare line at the time. I spent a weekend shadowing the PRESIDENT of the COMPANY and do you know what he told my recruiter afterwards – that he didn’t believe that I actually had a chemical engineering degree – that he was sure I was lying. Maybe he doubted that a black girl could have a Chem E degree. Or maybe it was because I was too shy and too quiet to make the kind of impact he expected. Who really knows. All I know is that it was one more thing that didn’t happen.

North Carolina was a string of disappointments and setbacks. I lost so much in that year and a half and hit absolute rock bottom to the point that I didn’t feel like trying anymore. And I could have given up then but I chose not to. All the dreams that are coming true now though, I had back then. I just had a lot of things to work through to stop blocking those dreams and those blessings from coming through. If I had given up in that time when everything seemed impossible, I wouldn’t be here today, figuratively or literally.

What I’ve come to realize is that all of that struggle was necessary for the walls of my resistance to my blessings to be broken down. You never know how many layers there are for you to work through to ‘get out of your own way’. The thing to do is to keep working. Keep peeling off layers. Keep rooting for yourself, even if no one else is and even if you can only muster a small rah rah. My life is testimony to the fact that you can be buried in resistance and you can absolutely peel your way to freedom. I’m getting closer and closer and everyday (just like I know you are too) I’m getting to somewhere better. 

:).

#7daysforme Challenge Day 3

I guess being able to be your authentic self and stand in your truth despite fear of anything. ~ Karen C.

Today I was able to do DAY 3 of my #7daysforme Challenge.

My Day 3 task was to ask a good friend what they thought about my word Courage.

The interesting thing is that it took me most of the day to build up the COURAGE to ask someone. Surprising right? That’s precisely why I put this challenge in I believe. Often times it’s easy to keep things in our mind and profess and share them only with ourselves. However, I know that we gain so much more when we share it with others. And I also know that it can be scary to share it with others. At least for myself, I know there’s a tendency for a fear of ridicule to pop in. And precisely because that fear is so far from probable reality, this year is about working consistently to challenge that fear every chance I get :-).

So my good friend’s words above are even more insightful. Being able to be my authentic self and stand in my truth, despite fear of anything. YES!

#7daysforme Challenge Day 2

I just completed my 5 minute meditation for Day 2 of my #7daysforme Challenge :).

5 minutes may feel like nothing at first thought, as though there’s no benefit that can be had from just 5 minutes. However, I believe that any amount of focused, quiet time listening for your answers can benefit you. 5 minutes is a good place to start.

So our task today was to focus on our word for the year for just 5 minutes of quiet reflection. Since my word is Courage, I spent my time with that word. Out of my reflection, I received beautiful insight. The phrase that kept coming to mind throughout the time was “I have the Courage to be the vision I see of myself.”

In reflecting on this, I believe I know what it means for me. It means that I want to have the Courage to move *into* the visions I see of myself living the life I want to live, doing things I’ve wanted to do, and having the impact on others that I want to have. It’s me believing that the vision of myself that I see is me seeing the future, not just me seeing something intangible and improbable. The reason why Courage is so important here is because it’s so easy to become afraid when I begin to think of all the steps towards the vision of myself that I see. It’s easy to let the nagging naysayer in my mind chide in and say things like 'oh that’s too much to do and will never work anyway. It’s just going to take too much energy to even try.'

And I'm done with letting the naysayer win. I’m done with letting it throw molasses in my path and slow me down with doubt and indecisiveness.

It’s my time to step fully into myself even more.

With Courage, I will.

:).

And how about you? What has your meditation brought you by way of insight?