Fab Finds Fridays : My Weekly Inspiration

Greetings All!

I hope you have all had a great week! I'm elated with joy that the month of June is almost here. Summer is almost here! As the warm air starts to settle in, so does my motivation to be more inspiring to other people through my words, my actions, and most importantly, my heart. I'm also seeking inspiration from various sources and will be sharing some of those with you very soon.

Most recently, I've been closely examining my heart, where I want my writing to lead, and what I want to convey through my words. While this blog is what some would call "a recipe blog", I've decided I want it to be much more than that. Occasionally you will see recipes, but more often than not, you'll be reading my writing and experiences about life, my experiences with health, and more motivating pieces than just what I'm eating at the moment.

So to kick things off in a positive direction , today's Fab Finds Fridays is all about inspiration and positivity.

Let's get started, shall we??:)

Favorite Quotes of the Week: 

1.  "There's a place in you that you must keep inviolate. You must keep it pristine. Clean. So that nobody has a right to curse you or treat you badly. Nobody. No mother, father, no wife, no husband, no­­­—nobody. You have to have a place where you say: 'Stop it. Back up. Don't you know I'm a child of God?”"

— Dr. Maya Angelou

2.Inner beauty is cultivated by kindness, patience and love. Remember you will always have an inner child.So no no matter how beautiful you look on the outside, unless your inner child feels your love...you will never believe in your own worth and be happy.

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8.  Favorite Article of The Week : What I Would Tell My 20 Something Year Old Self  by Christine Hassler

   

Christine Hassler

Life coach, professional speaker, author and Gen Y expert

This article is a must read for women.  I'm not out of my 20's yet, but wish I had read this at age 22 when most of these things applied to me! In fact, this article would be great for ANY woman of any age to read. READ it. It will inspire you and change you!

9. Favorite New Book : I'm No Angel by Kylie Bussuti

I'm really excited to share this find with you and you're going to hear more about this book, and my latest experience hearing Kylie's amazing story very soon. If you haven't heard of Kylie, she's a former Victoria's Secret runway model who left the industry out of conviction she was living a life that didn't please God. This book is her story and I'm becoming so inspired by her story. You'll hear more about this amazing woman from me soon! For now, feel free to check out her book!

10. Favorite Inspring New Protein Powder Find : Philosophie Superfoods Green Dream and Cacao Magic

This new blend of superfoods was created by a woman named Sophie ( hence the name Philosophie) who has created a line of 100% pure, nothing added, vegan superfood blends. My socks were BLOWN away by the tastes of these two items. They do NOT smell like regular green powders, nor taste like them. Instead they smell like sweet, vanilla and chocolate blends that don't even have added flavorings! Seriously check these out. 1 tbsp. of Green Dream has 10 grams of protein. You'll be hearing more about these amazing protein blends very soon when I conduct a review. I'm so inspired by Sophie's story and her idea to spread the love of superfoods to people everywhere. Check out her website The Philosophie here. 

I hope you all have an excellent weekend<3 

What did you all find this week?? Share it with me!:)

Blessings, 

Heather

My Take Thursday: How to Deal With Negativity

More often than not, I'm a stickler for letting negativity from outer sources effect my inner state of happiness and contentment. I've been this way since a child, and I soak up other people's emotions like a sponge, letting them affect my internal peace, pride and ultimately, my joy.

Now, when others are happy, this is a quality I love about myself. I find I get happier just by being around others who are.

Yet, when I'm not around people who are very happy, I find myself  wondering what I did wrong, often asking if I did something wrong, blaming myself, or my brain starts to go a hundred miles an hour trying to figure out how to fix it, even if it has nothing to do with me.


For  years I found "outlets" to remove this negative inner energy I took upon myself to feel. When someone was mad at me, left me, hurt my feelings or was just generally in a bad mood with me, I often would get in my car and just drive, trying to clear my head. Other times, I would go shopping for hours, often blowing my entire paycheck to take my mind off things. Other times, I binged, and when I started eating healthy, I usually turned to exercise.

In a bad mood? Hit the gym.

Depressed? Hit the gym.

Someone was mad at me, hurt my feelings or made me angry? Hit the gym.

You see my point. 

I took my energy out through exercise to an excessive point, and that was the hardest thing for me to learn to stop doing. After all, exercising may not seem fun at first, but once those endorphins start flowing, it's hard to be upset about anything, plus its free!

All the while, while I was finding an outlet to turn to, I pushed away emotions that I didn't allow myself to feel or acknowledge, which landed me in a pretty bad place with myself and other people.

I've never been able to just acknowledge that other people are allowed to be negative, and most of the time, it has nothing to do with me.

This is a huge growth opportunity I'm glad to say I've taken advantage of.

Now, I can make a healthy choice when I'm around negativity, and so can you.

Often, I literally tell myself, " I will not let this person's negativity affect how I treat myself."

This has not been an easy thing to do, but one to say I'm proud I've mastered.

I have always been a highly emotional and sensitive person since I was little, but I've had to teach myself how to be concerned about others without letting their energy affect mine.

There is a huge difference. 

After all, negativity is always going to be a part of the world around us. We can either accept it and acknowledge it without letting it affect us, or we can take it upon ourselves to let it steal our joy, rob our emotional energy and lead us to unhealthy "outlets".

I had a friend tell me that women who have had anorexia are more likely to let others emotions affect our inner emotions more so than others due to specific personality traits that women with eating disorders seem to have.

 I never knew this, but it makes perfect sense to me. Since she told me that, I've been able to know that although I'm not anorexic anymore, I will always be tempted to take other people's emotions to heart because it is part of a personality trait I happen to have to do so.

So if you're dealing with negativity from other people whether at your job, in your home, or at your school or inner social circles, remember that you do have a choice.

A negative person may create a negative environment for you, but only YOU have control of your inner emotions. Practice compassion, but also practice control over letting other people steal your joy.

Blessings,

Heather

Fab Finds Fridays

Hi Friends!

It is finally Friday again! I don't know about you, but I'm sure glad the weekend is here. It is sunny here in the south, finally warming up a bit, and I'm just aching to go on a long walk outside in the evenings after work!

Since Mother's Day is this weekend, I have a fun recipe find below for the special holiday, which is one of my favorites of the year, thanks to my beautiful Mom.
Somehow, each year, I just never feel like what I get my mom for the holiday measures up to what she deserves. Each year I find myself trying to find all kinds of ways to make her smile. She does so much for me and I'm so grateful. This Mother's Day also marks three years since my Dad passed away and I feel so grateful to have her in my life and am so grateful to her that she picked such a wonderful man to be my father. My parents were very special to me my entire life, rocky roads or not.

I hope whether you all have a special Mom in your life or another special adult you look up to, that you'll cherish them as much as I cherish mine. Life is so short and each day, I'm reminded of that more and more.

So, that being said, live up this weekend, and this holiday however you can.

Oh, and be sure to enjoy my favorite finds of the week too while you're at it!:) Have a fabulous weekend!:)

*To go to each source, just click the link in the title of each find.

1. Favorite Mother's Day Recipe: Strawberry Banana Oatcakes



Of all the healthy recipes I find, I think my mom would actually love these. She loves these flavors and these lovely cakes look so simple to make!


2. Favorite Summer Outfit Idea



I have always loved a classic white top with light jeans combo. This look is so my style and perfect for summer! Plus, I just love her hair!:)

3. Favorite Healthy Food Tip: How to Hide Veggies in Recipes




I've been putting fruits and veggies in all kinds of recipes for years, but this is a great list for someone not accustomed to "sneaking" healthy foods into common recipes. It is great for parents, but I use these tips all the time. Definitely check it out!:)

4.  Favorite Health Article : Hemp Oil Cures for Cancer Studies




Well, let's talk about controversial! This article is full of it! I learned so much from reading this, and honestly, was dumbfounded with confliction.  Check out the article and let me know what you think! I love hemp oil as a salad dressing, but had no idea how powerful this stuff was.

5.  Favorite Recipe To Make: Chocolate Covered Coconut Stuffed Dates



Oh wow ! I am so trying these. Just snagged me some raw coconut butter to try this with. YUM!:) Have you guys ever had those coconut covered date rolls at the supermarket? They are nothing but pureed dates and coconut, but they are so good!:)


That's all my finds for the week: ) But if you're looking for some more of my healthy tips and tricks, please check out all of my health and nutrition articles on All Women Stalk!





I would love to have you see what I'm writing elsewhere on the web, especially from my favorite website ever!!:)

Have a great weekend and if you're a mom, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!: )


Blessings,

Heather