Better Than Coffee!

Pain pushes you until vision pulls you. - Michael Bernard Beckwith

Years ago I was told the pain of Fibromyalgia would never leave my body and that I would have to take medication for the rest of my life. Though I respected my doctors, this was not something I truly believed and I decided I could do something about it. That something began with changing my diet.

Along this path of self-healing and more conscious eating I've discovered recipes that have helped me not only feel good, but taste great. Even my husband likes them and has felt the positive effects of this nutrition in his body!

With that I share the first All Good Things - Food Edition! Today's recipe: Morning Mint Chip Green Smoothie. We both LOVE it and it fuels us better than coffee! Coming from two coffee lovers that says a lot!

Here's how to make it:

• Add 6 large ice cubes to blender
• Cover ice with milk, about 1 cup. ( I prefer almond :)
• Add 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder (this has the same effects of coffee, but way better!)
• Add one teaspoon honey
• Add 3 heaping tablespoons of yogurt ( I use Fage 2% Greek yogurt)
• 20 fresh mint leaves (or 1 drop of mint essential oil)
• 2 squares of dark chocolate bar (65% cacao or more)
• 1 banana
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup baby kale

Blend all this goodness together and voila! You're set to have an awesome day!

This makes 2 large servings. :) Perfect for sharing with a friend you're meeting at the gym or anywhere else early in the morning!

Added bonus - It tastes like dessert!

So, whaddya think? Could a morning mint chip green smoothie be the way you start your day tomorrow? Or, do you already have a delicious, energizing go-to for the a.m.? If so, let me know! Share it in an email or the comments below! I'd love to hear from you and try out some new recipes!

Cheers to good food, good eating and great health!

Here's to enjoying your life & ALL GOOD THINGS my friends!

Xoxo,

Mary

P.S. - Next week's ALL GOOD THINGS includes F R E E yoga! Yep! Stay tuned.

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Journey to Joy

"Close your eyes and imagine the BEST version of you possible. THAT'S who you really are. Let go of any part of you that doesn't believe it." - Chris Assad

 

If you’re like me, you’ve got some big plans for the new year! Or, you wish you did. At least that’s how I felt last year. It took me a while to figure out what I really wanted to do. I wanted something more than just creating another goal to accomplish. Something different than adding to the never ending to-do list. I wanted something that would continually inspire me. I wanted to make a real change that would connect to my heart and shift my life into greater fulfillment. I can proudly say I’ve accomplished that. . . and you can too!
Here’s how I did it:

#1 Decorate a journal.

Allow yourself to make something beautiful. Something, that when you look at it empowers you. I found the words I AM to be very helpful. Since my drawing skills are limited, I stuck with words. They are very powerful after all. Like Dr. Maya Angelou said,
“I believe that words are things. . . They stick on the walls. They go into the upholstery, they go into your clothes, and finally in to you.”
This is the same power behind vision boards and other manifesting tools. It’s great stuff and it really works, so I encourage you to give it a try.  
A helpful tip: You're more likely to use your journal if you love it. So take your time and make this what you want.  I added words slowly for about two weeks 'cuz life is busy and I wanted to pick words that were just right for me. Words that remind me of what I wanted to feel and become. You can see a picture of mine below.

#2 Create a to-do list to keep life fun

Allow yourself to write anything you want down. Anything at all. Don’t worry about the practicality of it or about accomplishing all of the to do list. Remember, this one is different. It’s okay to pick and choose the ones that make you feel good and let the rest go even after you've written them down. The point is they’ll still be there if you ever want to work on them. They'll still be there to cross off too if that's what you determine you want to do with them. You’re the boss here. Again, you can see a picture of my list below.
Funny fact: I haven’t accomplished the practical items on my list yet like learning to speak another language or play a musical instrument.  And, I'm not sure when I will. Life has been happy and full working on the other items on my list. It's about enjoying the journey.

#3 Schedule it.

Get at least one item from your fun list on your calendar & keep that appointment with yourself. No. Matter. What. Give the pleasure in your life the same amount of respect & attention that you give your work. You may not have the same amount of time to give it. After all, we all have busy lives and need to make a living, take care of our homes, etc.. But, changing the quality of attention you bring to your pleasure can change the experience you have with your pleasure itself and your overall satisfaction of life. So make it & yourself a priority and watch your joy rise!

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One final rule with all this: BE FIRM & GENTLE WITH YOURSELF
Keep this journal in a place where you can see it everyday. Write, draw, paste whatever you want in it. Promise yourself to pick it up daily, or at least once a week. Get yourself into a routine. This is a place to keep what makes you YOU alive.

So, whaddya say? Will join the journey to unleashing your joy this year?
If so, share your pics & stories of your journals in the comments below or email me. I’d love to see them and cheer you on!

Here’s to enjoying your life & ALL GOOD THINGS my friends!

Xoxo,
Mary

P.S. - You'll probably need some extra energy to keep you going on your dreams this year. Check back next week for All Good Things very first food addition - "Better Than Coffee!"

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New Year Inspiration

"Your playing it small does not serve the world." - Marianne Williamson

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Ending the year with a renewed sense of belief is powerful. Not just any kind of belief, but the kind of free, faithful belief a child has.

In an effort to maintain the childlike belief of Christmas & progress into 2017 with that amazing energy, I look back at a post I wrote at the beginning of 2016. It was one of the best pieces of writing I did and something that refueled me over and over throughout this year. A line from it also inspired the name and focus of this blog: ALL GOOD THINGS. With that, I share with you again my New Year’s Dare and nudge you to tap into your dreams with childlike abandon and ask. . .

What will you dare to do in 2017?

2017- I DARE YOU.

I dare you to make a change, or not. I dare you to take a step, or not. I dare you to do exactly what is right for you. Whether you move or stand still does not matter. I dare you to not be burdened by what you "should" do, but instead live in the space of what you are meant to do. I dare you to get quiet enough each day to listen to what your heart is whispering and bravely obey that. I dare you to trust so much in yourself and have so much belief that you say thank you before you can even sense blessings are coming. I dare you to completely accept yourself for who and what you truly are & honor your deepest desires - one small step or maybe one huge leap at a time. I dare you to do this without concern for the results or attachment to the outcome. I dare you to be fully immersed in the joy of just dreaming your dreams and trusting all will work out just as it should because it always does. I dare you to find fulfillment in new & surprising ways. I dare you to allow yourself to explore & enjoy each moment of life. I dare you to stay open, be soft & flexible & trust so that when outcomes do not look the way you expect them to you can still see the beauty in them & learn, grow & be thankful. I dare you to believe that everything will be okay, maybe even be better than okay. I dare you to believe that life might even get so fabulous it completely blows you away. I dare you to believe all good things are coming your way. Yes, all good things. I dare you to believe each and every moment of your life is beautiful. As U2 sings: "It's a beautiful day! What you don't have, you don't need it now. What you don't know you can feel it somehow." I dare you to trust that feeling. Cheers to each beautiful day of 2017!

Here's to enjoying your life & All Good Things my friends!

❤️Mary

P.S. - Creating change begins with taking action. Take the first small step towards the life you want to have in 2017. Begin writing down what you dare or maybe just what you dream to do this year. Get really brave and even share it in the comments below. I'd love to know what your dreams are and cheer you on! No ideas yet, no worries! I'll be back next week with tips to help you get started in small, manageable, invigorating ways. Believe me, the world wants to see what's in your heart come out into reality!

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Year In Review

"Find time and space to reflect, look forward and create a self-love and confidence in yourself that will carry you through all of the good and bad days; it will truly be one of the best things you do for yourself."

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2016 was a year that strengthened my happy muscle. Not because it was easy. No. 2016 was full of surprises. It threw a whole bunch of stuff my way, good, not so good and all sorts of things in between. No matter what it has given me, I've tried my best to make the most of it and focus on the good. After all, it is my belief that our lives truly are full of All Good Things! That's why I'm dedicating the final All Good Things post of 2016 to moments that made me smile.

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Even the unpleasant moments, as hard as they can be to go through ultimately lead us to lessons and positive transformations if we allow ourselves to truly change and learn. Creating and keeping a positive outlook can be one of the most comforting and empowering uses of our minds. When we practice this perspective we feel happier, more alive and soon we notice life opening up in the most beautiful ways.

In order to enjoy our life we have to be wiling to do the work to make ourselves feel good. A fun way to do this is through remembering the good times and trusting there will be more to come.

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 Just gathering these moments in one place makes my heart soar. And, I hope it'll inspire you to do the same thing for yourself.

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So I encourage you to practice this outlook for yourself as the year ends. Go back through your year and write down one thing each month that made you feel happy. It can help to have your phone close by. It may have some fun pictures you've taken that can jog your memory. I promise you this will be better than anything Facebook can put together for you.

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The moments that have meaning matter because of the meaning we bring to them. Allow yourself to see all the good things in your life this year and more will flow to you into 2017!

Wishing you a Merry everything and Happy always!

Here's to enjoying your life & ALL GOOD THINGS my friends!

Xoxo,

Mary