You guys DO NOT have to stop eating things you love! I promote a healthy journey, but I don't promote people starving themselves or cutting out everything they love just to reach their goals. Where is the fun in that?!
You can reach your goal and still enjoy things you love eating. No wonder less and less people can commit to their goals.
Its all about doing it smart. I love donuts, but just because they aren't the best for me doesn't mean I'll never eat one again! It also doesn't mean I'll be eating one at every meal either.

Now, I'm not saying eat whatever you want and your goals will come. You have to do the work to get there. However, a burger over a wrap at lunch wont kill you! Usually I am the person at the table who orders the healthier dish on the menu, but if I'm craving a burger guess what I'm eating.. A FREAKING BURGER! Eat smart and eat mindfully, but also HONOR YOUR BODY! Listen to your cravings, but do it with your health in mind. If you're craving something sweet, maybe fruit can settle that craving. Which is better then shoving a candy bar down your throat. Try to be thoughtful with what you put in your body because your body will always tell you what it needs!

You can swap out pretty much anything for something more on the healthier side &still have the same great taste! If you don't like my swap choices try something else!

Frozen Red Grapes
Cucumbers + EV Olive Oil + Lemon
Rice Cake + Mashed Avocado + Boiled Egg
Banana + Coconut Oil + Cinnamon
​Celery + PB + Chocolate Chips
​

Put some oil in a diffuser &prepare your space. 
​Good Essential oils for the New Moon:
Cypress
Myrrh
Frankincense
Tangerine
Ginger
Cardamom
​Jasmine
​

​

• Find a place to sit create a sacred space. You can turn on some relaxing music &place crystals around you &other special things you may want to have.

​

• Clear your energy by lighting a candle, burning sage to clear negative/low energies, &light some incense to tune into your scenes. Close your eyes &imagine yourself covered in white light &allow all negative energies to be washed away.

​

• Become fully present in your body by bringing awareness to your breath &sending each breath into the body from the top of the head to the tip of the toes. Honor your thoughts but allow them to pass through your mind.

​

• Set your intention.  Grab your journal &reflect. What have you learned over the last moon cycle? What challenges came up? What worked well? What would you like to manifest over the next moon cycle?

​

• Meditate. Spend as much time as you need in meditation visualizing each step you’ll need to take to turn your dreams into reality. Allow images, feelings, &ideas to spring up from your intuition to help show you the way.

​

• Feel your intentions in your body &then be open to how this feeling transpires. The feeling is important.

​

• Release your desires to the universe. State your desires out loud for the universe to hear. Feel your desires in your body. Breathe gratitude deep into your heart knowing this desire will come to fruition &declare “I am ready to receive. And so it is.”​

How many of you want to start meal prepping but have no idea how or where to even begin?!
YOU'RE IN LUCK!
Meal prepping doesn't really have to be about calories, or portion control. Although I encourage counting macros, meal prepping for you can simply be about saving time and making better eating choices. Before driving yourself crazy trying to learn how to count macros, learning to prep meals and portion control all at once.. start slow. Teach yourself how to prep meals first. Once that's down you can dive into other things. Now.. 

Think about this:
– What does your week look like? Think about when you have the least amount of time, or when you normally resort to eating out, and prep for THAT.
– Prep for only what you need. You don’t have to prep every meal.

I usually have breakfast at home, prep my lunches &cook dinner when I get off work.
I don't usually prep my breakfast because it is always something simple. However I cook my lunches for the week in advance and put them in containers and heat them up at work. I prepare my dinners but I usually cook them the same day.

I'm goin to give you the best break down of meal prepping I have &hope it helps to get you started!

​It's important to get a balanced meal. You need to have a little of everything in your daily meals to make sure your body is getting its proper nutrients and vitamins from different foods.
​

​How you are cooking your items is just as important as choosing them over other things.
We should be practicing better cooking methods because we want to keep as much of our foods nutrients and vitamins as possible. We loose these when we cook carelessly. 
For example:
Steaming our veggies over boiling them. Instead of frying our meats try baking or grilling them. When seasoning our foods we should use more fresh herbs and make our own sauces. This all sounds difficult and time consuming. However, if we prep all of this in advance we save time, money AND we are eating SO MUCH BETTER!
Bare with me guys and I promise I will educate you in a way that you can appreciate.

Iv been freezing my veggies and fruits as well as my cilantro and other herbs for some time now &its worked WONDERS for my cooking and meal prepping needs!
Plan your meals &then make a grocery list. Head to the grocery store &buy the things you need while being mindful of storing time for your produce &grains, such as breads.
DO NOT GO TO THE STORE HUNGRY!

Make sure you have the proper containers, freezer bags and things you may need for your meal prep storage. I have endless Tupperware and Ziploc bags of all sizes including freezer friendly and room temp. It's ridiculous really, but necessary. Air sealing containers will be your best friend when meal prepping because they keep yours meals freshness longer.

Iv learned over time the way this process can go smoothly for me is by doing it the same day I grocery shop. I enjoy prepping for the week on a Sunday. I consider it my "get sh*t done day".
Prepping after the grocery store can be a bit much for some people. However, I personally would rather take advantage of my meats already being unthawed. I also would rather pack my freezer and fridge AFTER everything has been broken down into meal size. This leaves room for the lunch containers I prep after cooking.
​

You've probably bought the same meats and veggies for two different meals. SO, why not cut them up, season &store them separately so that you can pull them as needed.
For example:
Instead of unthawing three pounds of chicken only to refreeze the meat you don't use, why not take already unthawed meat and separate it into separate freezer bags so you're only pulling what you need? You might as well throw your seasoning or sauces in as well and save the time later.
Veggies and fruit can last longer when you freeze them. If you don't need a full pepper for one meal but you'll be using it in another, slice up your pepper and freeze it for later (freezing veggies works well if you're cooking them later, keep them fresh if you are using them to dip in hummus or sauces). Fruits such as raspberries &blue berries hold up as a whole in the freezer compared to strawberries which id recommend slicing before freezing unless you plan to use them in smoothies, then they can be frozen whole. 

Bouquet of roses..
(I like white or pink, but you can use any color.)
Distilled Water
A Pot w/ a Top
A Cup &a Bowl
Something To Store Your Rose Water In
Glycerin &Ice (optional)
- I personally also needed a funnel.

• Remove all the pedals from their stems. I usually only need 7/8 roses.
• Place your cup upside down in the center of the pot, then line the pedals around the cup.
• Begin to add your distilled water into the pot. Don't over fill the pot. The water should be just below the top layer of rose pedals.
• Place your bowl on top of the cup. Note* This is to catch the distilled water.
• Bring your stove to a medium fire/setting. When the water is near boiling lower the heat &put the top on the pot, upside down. Note* The water should NOT come to a boil.
• Allow the process to continue until pink/red roses loose their color or white roses turn clear in color.

*I like using ice on top of the pot to help the condensation process go faster.
*Let the water cool before draining and storing.

Hello sweeties!
Please don't forget I have all kinds of spring "bath recipes" in my herbal healing link!
You all requested a video so here it is! It isn't anything fancy but eventually ill get better at this. I also did this right before bed so excuse my speech &I'm sorry I couldn't really get the audio higher. However, I truly hope this is helpful & that you use this as a guide to help with your bath at home!
Keep in mind these baths are for YOU!
I made a very simple bath that doesn't call for much at all but can still do a great amount of cleansing! You can use hot water and Epsom salt and be done in 10 minutes. You can keep it simple or go all out &soak for an hour. Just make sure this time is set out for you!

Rose Water - Known to lift your mood. It brings emotional strength &is said to improve your ability to love as well.

Florida Water - Its known for cleansing, clearing unwanted energies as well as bringing peace, positivity &love.

Pink Himalayan Bath Salt - Its energetically purifying &rejuvenating your personal energy field &aura. It promotes balance spiritually, mentally and emotionally. It also regulates sleep &relieve stress.

Rosemary &Sage - Known to have healing properties &assists with healing and clearing. Drives away negative energy.

Lavender Essential Oil - Lavender is known for its aid in sleep, with anxiety &its ability to calm the mind.

Flowers - They bring sweetness and beauty to your bath.

Trader Joes :
Avocados, Red Apples, Pineapple
All Berries(your choice but I eat them w yogurt or oatmeal)
Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus
Spinach/Romaine Lettuce
Vegan Mexican Cheese Blend
Bell Peppers, Red/Yellow Onions, Roma Tomatoes, Broccoli, Cucumbers
Cilantro (I use cilantro in pretty much everything I cook)
Dimond Blue Original Almond Milk
Trader Joes Beefless Ground Beef
Jiffy's Peanut Butter

Walmart :
Dave's Killer Bread - 21 Whole Grains
Morning Star Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie Burgers
Red Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes
Brussels Sprouts
Limes, Lemons, Baby Carrots
​Quaker Oats Select Starts w Protein - Cranberry Almond Or Banana Nut
So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Yogurt
Goya's Brown Rice
Goya's Sweet Corn
Goya's Sazon
Goya's Garbanzo &Black Beans

Extras (Usually Target) :
Everything But The Bagel Seasoning
​Red Pepper Flakes, Rosemary, Parsley
Love Crunch, Dark Chocolate &Red Berries Granola
Trail Mix - any trail mix of your choice.. this ALWAYS changes for me.
O'Dang Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing
Sejoyia Coco Roons (these are vegan, grain &gluten free chewy cookies, WAAAH!)
​
Most of these things you can get in one place for real, however I like to price compare &if I can pay $1 for something vs. $2-$3 then I'm going to do that. Like I said, I got a few lists! This is my most recent &most used list &where I got everything this shopping trip. Truth be told though I spent around $125 or so this trip. However consider that prices change weekly in most places, I really like fresh produce &I eat more organically then most. I easily got 7 different meals out of this list &I can eat for about two weeks and a couple days. Anyway, everything you need to make what I listed below is on this list!

 For Breakfast..
I usually prep breakfast the night before. I personally am not a fan of breakfast. I just don't like waking up and shoving food down my throat. With the goals I have though, breakfast is an essential part of my diet. There are certain things I can tolerate for breakfast and most of it is hard to prepare a week in advance so I usually just do it the night before.
Through the week for breakfast I switch between oatmeal, granola &almond milk(like cereal) or yogurt &fruit.
-For my oatmeal I usually mix one pouch of my Quaker Oats oatmeal & 3/4 cup of almond milk and store it in the fridge overnight and its good to go. The one I buy is already pretty sweet but you can add whatever you want to yours. I also like mine cold but you can heat it up. Everyone's different!
-For my yogurt and fruit I usually cut up all my fruits (usually 3 or 4 strawberries & half a banana) the night before &place my So Delicious yogurt in a container with the fruit on top. Boom, ready to go!
-Granola &almond milk are pretty much the same process as making cereal. Its your choice on how much to use.

For Lunch..
I like something light but filling. I don't like getting to full before dinner because then I wont eat much come dinner time. I usually have bread &smashed avocado or a small taco salad.
These lunch meals are super simple. I just store the smashed avocado or salad in meal prep containers for up to a week and that's super convenient when meal prepping.
-For my Dave's Killer Bread &avocado spread(the picture above).. I cut up one avocado &some fresh cilantro. Put it all in a container and add 1/4 teaspoon of pink salt & 1/4 teaspoon pepper &mix it up. I like my two slices of bread toasted &on one slice I put the spread &some Everything But The Bagel seasoning or red pepper flakes on top &a little of fresh cilantro. On the other slice I like the spread &some fresh Pico De Gallo(I make this myself) or you can just add some tomato slices.
-In my taco salad I usually mix up spinach &romaine lettuce. I like to put the Trader Joes Beefless Beef in a skillet &I add a teaspoon of adobo &that's literally all it needs bc it's already full of flavor. I add a can of black beans &1 cup of water to a pot &half a packet of Goya sazon. Bring it to a boil then drain them. Dice up 2 roma tomatoes &mix everything into your salad &top it with your desired amount of Oh'Dang hummus dressing. I also add the juice from one lime.
My salad I keep simple but you can add onions, cucumbers or anything you like to have in a taco salad.
*Pico De Gallo - If you google this recipe, everything you need is already on this list.

For Dinner..
I don't know why but dinner is absolutely my favorite meal! I usually have a veggie burger with sautéed peppers &onions &sweet potato fries, or I have what I call burrito stuffed peppers .
-I make my sweet potato fries in the oven. I usually cut up 3 &add a few drops of extra virgin olive oil & a 1/2 tsp each of parsley, rosemary, salt and pepper. Then bake them on 350 for 25 minutes. Turning them once half way through. For the sautéed onions and peppers I cut them thin &I usually use a light amount of extra virgin olive oil just so they don't stick to the pan &just a dash of pepper. DONT GET CARRIED AWAY WITH YOUR OILS! &In a skillet I flip my veggie burger until its brown on both sides. You can top your sandwich with whatever you want but I keep mine light and just do the peppers and onions. If you toast your bun a little it gives it some extra GREATNESS.
-For the burrito stuffed peppers I use 4 bell peppers, brown rice, black beans, and corn. I usually make brown rice with 1 cup of rice and two cups of water. Add 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil & 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix it &bring it to a boil, then lower the heat &cover it for 20 minutes or until it fluffs up. In another pot I add one can of black beans, half a can of sweet corn &1 cup of water or enough water to just cover your corn and beans. I also add one packet of sazon, &a table spoon of sofrito(a veggie based sauce I make at home, but you can buy the Goya brand). While everything cooks I cut the tops off of the peppers(these can be any color peppers) &wash them out. Once the rice is done I mix in the beans and corn and only SOME of the sauce it boiled in(it shouldn't be runny). I then fill the peppers with my rice mixture. I don't like to fill them all the way because I like to put the tops of the peppers back on, but you don't have to do that. Then place them on a baking dish and bake them for 10 minutes. You can top your stuffed peppers with cheese before you bake them, I do it as soon as I take them out of the oven. When you're ready to serve them you can add cilantro, lime juice or sour cream.. whatever really! &ENJOOOOY!
*Sofrito - This recipe calls for a few more vegetables that aren't on the list but its totally worth the few extra dollars. If you never used it before, ask your Spanish friend about it! Haha!

For snackaaage..
I usually don't snack much, but sometimes between meals we all get a little taste for something or even a little hangry. This is why I put the Coco Roons on my list and the trail mix. Those two mainly because when I get a sweet tooth I tend to get a little crazy, so I try to control it by making my SMALL snack something on the sweeter side. However I also have hummus &peanut butter on my list because other times all I really need to get by are some veggies &dip or apples &peanut butter. In the morning I drink green tea for my energy &throughout the day I aim to drink a gallon of water. I use to drink coffee and juice but I've tried to make better choices and its working out just fine for me.
​

New Month!
New Beginning!
New Mindset!
New Focus!
New Intentions!
NEW RESULTS!

To often we tell ourselves "I'll start tomorrow" or "I'll start Monday". How often do we actually start? Well, start today! Today is just as good as any day. The problem we face is procrastinating! So just do it! Start writing, start eating better, start exercising, start that new project you've been putting off! 
You can start writing today by putting a post-it note w a nice message/saying on your mirror or at your desk. You can start eating better by skipping the soda at lunch and have some water instead. It doesn't have to be drastic guys!
Begin Today, right now! Something simple. Try this today.. Think Positive!
That's not a commitment that is so drastic its hard to stick with. However it is challenging to do. I'm not saying just think happy thoughts. I'm saying instead of thinking negatively in a negative situation, think positively. Instead of why is this happening to me, try how is this going to benefit me. Instead of loosing your temper, try thinking of ways to control it. Then realize, dude you just controlled the situation instead of letting it control you! That's power.
Start today, with a friend or by yourself, document it and how it effected you.
Happy April!