Goals, Dreams and Life- Thoughtful Thursday

Dreams are an interesting thing. Goals even. You want this or that with your life and you put in so much effort and you strive and try harder than ever and then..

Then, you hit that goal! You made your dream happen. And now what?? Now you work even harder!

Say what?

Yes. Continued effort. More trying. Harder work. More work. More time and dedication. More striving. More learning.

When you get married, for many that’s a dream. But it isn’t until after that, that you put in that time or that effort. Because now you’re not trying for that dream of getting married, you’re trying for a dream of being married. You’re trying to make your marriage the best it can be.

The same goes for a job. You work so hard to get that dream job. Whether schooling gets you there or it’s the experience you need, you do the unthinkable and you make it happen. Then you have your dream job, so you’re done right? Nope. Time to work smarter, work harder and try more.

Come to think of it, having children will likely produce more of the same. The goal is to get pregnant. For some, it’s the natural ease it was meant to be. For others, just getting there can turn into a dream. For those people it’s nonstop prayers and doing the best you can all while trying to remain patient and calm.

Then you get pregnant. Whew, what a relief. Your dream became reality. But now you have to prepare life for a big change. And then suddenly your baby is there with you, all the time, everyday. And now that you made your dream happen, what now? Well now you just want to try harder, strive harder and be the best (parent) you can be. 

And so on it goes..

That’s the thing about dreams. If you work tirelessly and manage to achieve your dream, then that’s when the work starts. That is when the efforts are needed.

This is what makes dreams, dreams. Most people can’t get there. So if you do, don’t let it slip through your fingers.

TRY HARDER, DO MORE, PROVE IT, MAKE IT HAPPEN

…and remember, this is your life.

 

Happy Thursday!thought-bubble

Nail Fun!

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Hazelnut with Niagara accent nail.  I love to follow Pantone’s colors of the season/year.

It feels fashionable and helps mix up the colors I use.

 

Happy mani!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake

This is one of my favorites. Peanut butter and chocolate make for a tasty shake and a little added oatmeal helps fill you too. Enjoy!img_20170111_100422

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake

  • 3/4 cup skim milk (water or nut milks work too)
  • 1 banana
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 3 tablespoons oatmeal
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter

Add everything to a blender and blend for about a minute. YUM

Must Try Pea Soup With Bacon

I LOVE pea soup, always have. I grew up with the stuff in a can and never looked back. That is, until I realized that canned soup is pretty much terrible for you. Too much salt and preservatives, but that taste, I just didn’t wanna give it up.

So I tried my own version and bam. Below is the recipe I created and it is so good. I couldn’t believe I nailed it on my first try but yum. Enjoy!

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Pea Soup with Bacon

  • 5 pieces bacon
  • 1 cup peas, frozen
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon celery salt
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 25 ounces chicken stock

Brown bacon to your preferred crispiness and set aside. Add the chopped carrots, celery and onion and cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat.

In a large soup pan, add the cooked vegetables. Mix in the peas and salt, pepper and celery salt. Stir and add the chicken stock and cook for about 20 minutes on medium low heat.

Using an immersion blender or regular blender, blend soup for a couple of minutes until it is a (small) chunky liquid.

Crumble bacon and sprinkle on top.

Like this recipe? Check out my other books, and watch for more to come!

Want a paperback copy? Reply in the comments and I’ll send you one!

Winter Citrus Stove Top Potpourri

Feeling chilly? Warm up with this stove top potpourri. This smell will never cease to remind me of my childhood and especially my Gram. Citrus peels are simmered with winter spices and the aroma fills the house. Best of all, it’s natural!

Stove Top Potpourri:img_20170109_094300

  • citrus peels (grapefruit, oranges, lemon and lime)
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks

Dry out the peels until they feel dry to the touch, about a week.

Add dried peels, cloves and cinnamon sticks to the pan and fill it with water. Simmer on low to medium heat and make sure to keep the water topped off.

This one batch can be used several times with the additional water.

Enjoy and stay warm XOXO

Travel Tips For Essential Oils

Love to travel? Love essential oils? Use these ideas so that you can always have access to the oils you love!

Roller Ballsroller-balls

Roller balls are hands down the best and easiest way to travel with essential oils. Using these for blends at home are great but on a plane or traveling, they are absolutely essential.

Find some easily on Amazon and make sure they are darker in color and glass.

Blends/Singles

There are several blends I cannot live without. One is my daily (sometimes more) allergy blend, another for my face “moisturizer” and a third I call “No Sick.” Blends are one or more oils typically mixed with a carrier oil.

I also make sure to have the single oils that are most important with me. Typically I travel with 4-5 blends and 3-4 additional single oils, depending on needs.

img_20170107_171158Quart sized bag

Whether traveling by plane or running an errand, I almost always have oils on hand. Instead of buying (an albeit cuter and “better” oil carrying bag) I prefer a quart sized plastic bag. You just place the oils into the bag and zip up the top. Sometimes I fold down the top if they’re in my purse for easy access.

No Sick

My ultimate favorite blend is one I call “No Sick.” 50/50 oregano and thieves, it smells of Christmas and is one of my favorite scents. I am sure to use it a couple times a week and especially when I am feeling under the weather or sick.

How to Get Through the Airport

Three ways:

Checked Bag

Checking your oils works just fine. The only downfall is that you cannot use them in flight or until you get your bag back.

X ray

X rays deal with frequencies so theoretically they shouldn’t affect the oils, though some people disagree.

Hand Check

If you have them hand check your oils, you’re likely to get further testing as well. A hand swipe and body pat down was included when I did it this way.

I personally have done all three methods when at the airport. Putting the oils through the X ray seems the most efficient way to keep your oils on you. The downside to hand checking is extra time and “checks.” Each of these worked fine and after putting them through X ray I haven’t noticed a notable difference in any of my oils. The choice is yours.

Frankincense

Frankincense is one of the most amazing oils out there and I love it for many things. Put this wonderful oil on the lower backside of your ears while your on the plane and enjoy little to no pressure and popping during take off and landing. Coming from someone with ear and pressure sensitivities, this works so great!

These are some tried and true travel tips that work fantastically and are convenient too. Good luck and happy adventures!

Disclaimer: I use Young Living Essential Oils and based on my research, I believe these are the best, safest and most pure oils on the market. PLEASE do your own research and determine which oils are best for you and your family. 

 

Cherry Lime Protein Shake

This is too good to be so healthy. My cherry lime protein shake is easy, delicious and full of healthy stuff too. These are two of my favorite flavors and this is one of my favorite shakes. Enjoy!

Cherry Lime Protein Shakeimg_20170102_162120

  • 1 banana, sliced
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 cup  cherries, frozen
  • 1 scoop protein powder
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice (2 drops lime essential oil)

Blend everything together in a blender and add couple tablespoons extra liquid if you like your shakes thinner.