A New Blog, A Healthy Guidebook... the TO-DO list I've always wanted

Howdy!

Hmm... I don't think I've ever greeted with "howdy" before since I know all of you lovely readers aren't necessarily from Texas, but I just felt like it was a "howdy" kind of night!  Maybe it's because I'm in a great mood... although very busy and stressed, it's the type of busy and stress that I've always wanted!

So, what's going on over here?  You know about the new job that I'm absolutely loving, but I've also been up to a lot of other exciting things that I want to share with you.  They have been keeping me busy and unable to blog as often as I would like these days... but it's all for good reasons that I hope you will like! 

This is what my TO-DO list is looking lately...

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1.  Go to work at lululemon athletica and love every second of it.

The Fort Worth store is opening in 10 days!!  There is a lot to do in order to having it looking sparkly, but all fun stuff of course!  

Yes, I'm sporting a lemon costume... it's my new fav look! 

2.  Finish getting my NEW BLOG and NEW WEBSITE with a NEW NAME up and running! 

I am so excited to share this with all of you!  I've been working with a great designer at Alt Coast to come up with a brand and a blog that is more organized, reader friendly, functional, appealing, and basically just more "me."  Can't wait to share it with you!

3.  Finish writing my healthy guidebook, Busy But Healthy: Tips for Staying Healthy in Your Everyday Life.  

The guidebook will be making it's debut at Replenish Retreat, which begins in two weeks!! I can't believe it! I started writing this little guidebook because I will be facilitating at the retreat and teaching about how to stay healthy in the real world.  I wanted to be able to give something to the retreat guests that they could take home with them, especially once they have left the retreat where only healthy food has been prepared and made available.  It's little tips I have found that work for me for staying healthy even when things get busy.  It's all about making healthy easy and fun!  The book isn't complete yet, but I'm getting down to some serious business and hoping to have it done this week! Ahh! 

Retreat Location: Hotel Seven4One in Laguna Beach, CA

4.  Finish outlining and selecting music for the exercise/stretch classes that guests at the Replenish Retreat will be going through to assist with their healthy detox.  

I'm really excited to facilitate this class because I believe there is nothing like moving the body to help flush out the toxins that we take in everyday (even when we don't know it!). 

5.  And last but not least, squeezing in some time to cook a few healthy dishes, workout, spend time with Sam, family, and friends, and maybe even a little de-stress time.  

Sam is finishing up his second year of law school right now, and it's finals time... which means busy wife AND busy husband.  So Sundays have been spent grocery shopping and preparing a few lunches and dinners ahead of time to help us get through the week.  I'm finding that to be so helpful!  

I'm also really working on doing something everyday that relaxes me and is de-stressing...even if it's just for a minute.  If I don't take time for this, my body will force me to by getting sick, and then I have no other option but to slow down.  De-stress time comes in all forms... whether that is taking my dog for a walk, sitting out on the patio without my phone or computer, just taking a moment to do nothing, whatever it may be.  

When things get busy, I find it extremely hard to stop and do this.  But I've found something that really helps!  

My parent's gave me these "Power Thought Cards" that were on my wish list for Christmas (thank you Mom and Dad!).  It's a collection of inspiration cards with powerful thoughts or quotes. 

They give me a reason to take time to stop and reflect, because I'm always curious what my card will say each day.  I read one every morning before the day or if not in the morning then before I go to bed, and I take a minute or two to reflect on it.  I keep them in a box on my nightstand. 

It's so crazy how much they speak to what is going on in my life at the moment.  Here are a few of the cards that I have pulled over the past week, and they couldn't be more perfect for right now.  

Who knew you could ever have a TO-DO list that you actually enjoy!  So with that, I'm off to work on my healthy guidebook for the rest of the evening before I wrap it up with my "power thought" of the day of course. 

With Love, Health, and Happiness,

Cami

Thought of the Day:  What's your TO-DO list looking like these days?  Have you considered including things you actually enjoy? What about some "me" time? 

Ponder this while you eat your PBJ Quesadilla

"Until one is committed

there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,

always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) 

there is one elementary truth

the ignorance of which kills countless ideas 

and splendid plans:

That the moment one definitely commits oneself

then Providence moves too. 

All sorts of things occur to help one 

that would never otherwise have occurred.

A whole stream of events issue from the decision 

raising in one's favor all manner 

of unforeseen incidents and meetings

and material assistance

which no man could have dreamt

would have come his way.

Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it. 

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. 

Begin it now."

~ William Hutchinson-Murray 

This quote sums up my entire story of leaving my financially comfy job as an auditor to follow my passion.  Before I committed... there was hesitancy.  Once I committed... it was like destiny.  From there, like the quote says, a whole stream of events occurred that I could never have dreamt to happen.

And now, after my first official day of "work" at lululemon athletica,  I can honestly say and believe that "Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it... Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.  Begin it now."  

For me, it has begun... and it couldn't feel more right.  This is only the beginning and who knows where things will go from here, but all I know is... I have found the path for me.  And that makes me happy! 

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You might be on the fence about something right now.  It could be something big like changing your career or something as small as wanting to start a garden or run a 5k or simply to start exercising.  It doesn't matter what it is, but if it is something that you are passionate enough about or something that brings you joy, happiness, or even a little fun challenge... then you are meant to do it!

So think about it, choose whether or not you want to commit, and if you decide to commit... just flow with life and let the pieces of the puzzle come together.  Don't be afraid.  You may not succeed, but you will never know if you don't try, and that is why I love the words used in the quote: "Whatever you can do or dream you can BEGIN it."  Nothing is stopping you from starting something... so give it a whirl!  

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I know that was super deep.  So now for a little fun.  Life always needs fun.

Today, I packed my lunch.  We didn't have much around the apartment, and I needed something quick, easy, and filling.  We had brown rice tortillas, raw organic almond butter, and unsweetened jelly.  

HELLO PBJ QUESADILLA!!! 

(actually this would be an ABJ Quesadilla - almond butter)

I put the almond butter and a light spread of jelly on half of the tortilla (they are big), folded it in half and cut it into three little triangles.  I felt like a little kid eating them.  Sometimes you just gotta be a kid again... the only thing missing was a juice box with a bendy straw.  But water worked just fine. 

A PBJ (or ABJ) might not be the healthiest thing in the world, but it's something you just can't live without.  So with that in mind, I try to make them as healthy as possible.

1.  Healthy Bread - Ezekiel bread/tortilla or a gluten free bread/tortilla

2.  Healthy Nut Butter - Organic raw nut butter (Raw isn't a necessity, but it provides all the good digestive enzymes that roasted nuts lack).  I like to mix it up. 

3.  Unsweetened Jelly - This jelly was just fruit and sweetened with Xylitol (a natural sugar substitute much like stevia).  Too many jellies have added sugar. I just don't get that, the fruit is already sweet!  If I don't use jelly, then I just use the real thing and slice up strawberries and other berries instead. 

I didn't take a final picture of the quesadillas, but I wish I would have!  These would also make a great snack too! 

Well, that's it for me today.  Some deep thoughts and a little food fun!  Can't wait share more with you as I begin down my new path filled with even more health, happiness, and oodles of fun! 

With Love, Health, and Happiness,

Cami 

Questions of the Day:  Do you have a quote that inspires you? What's your favorite to-go lunch or easy snack?