I had some lofty goals of reinventing myself this year! (HAD being the operative word!) Everything started off all healthy and wholesome with new year resolutions to drink green juice everyday and plant a garden and get back into doing meditation… Then, in typical “me” fashion, the wheels came off the bus!
Yep, I’m back to donuts and drinking but trying to keep it in moderation and still eat healthy in between. (#whatev) In case you missed out on all of the healthy tips we kicked off the year with, here’s a recap that includes refreshing fruits, tips on gardening even if you have a thumb that’s not remotely green, new ways to unwind, and how to blow it all up (like me!) and go back to partying!
BEST OF ALL… We’re giving away a FREE Party Guide! Keep reading!
Start Your Day With Fruit!
Shots for breakfast, anyone? Look, I know I’m a boozehound, but in this case I’m talking about juice shots! Drinking fresh pressed juice from fruits and vegetables helps you make the most of the nutrients they contain. Why should you care? All those vitamins and minerals that fruits and vegetables are filled with help boost your immunity during the rotten cold and flu season, which, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, we’re in the middle of now!
Do you need a fancy extractor or Ninja-Bullet thingy? Well, yeah, they kinda help. Otherwise you’re going to be chopping and squeezing and squishing and muddling and you’ll give up because it takes too long! If you don’t want to invest in such a contraption (although I highly recommend you do because I absolutely LOVE mine!), there are all kinds of fresh pressed juice shops where you can buy made-daily juice blends. Even grocery stores like Whole Foods have juice bars where you can custom create your own exotic fruit juice. Never juiced before and wondering where to start? Here are a few recipe options from Dr. Oz to get your started:
Total Body Restart Green Juice
This sounds good for a new you, right?! Blend spinach, cucumber, celery, parsley, ginger root, apples, lemon, and lime.
I’ve Had Way Too Much Booze This Holiday, Detox Juice
Okay, it’s not really called that, but it should be! Kale, pineapple, cucumbers, lemon, mint, and ginger root give your poor liver a reset from all of the martinis and champagne you consumed in the month of December!
When I think tropical cocktails I absolutely DON’T think cruciferous vegetables! I mean, seriously, what evil genius thought this one up? But, lo and behold, guess what? This sneaky little smoothie recipe totally disguises the cauliflower and spinach in the blend and all you have left is sweet island yumminess! Check it out and thank me later!
Create Your Own Farm-To-Table
Some of our first experiences with vegetables probably relate to our mothers telling us to eat them and us not wanting to! Thankfully, as we get older our palates change and veggies become something we look forward to eating. But, eating is one thing. Planting and farming quite another! I totally hear ya! That’s where a windowsill herb garden comes in! Hey, I’m all about baby steps!
The Ridiculously Simple Herb Garden Kit
If you’ve never planted a garden before and typically murder house plants, this herb garden kit is a good place to start. And, bonus! This kit is actually designed with cocktail lovers in mind because it grows the most popular herb varieties needed for your favorite adult beverages. Seriously, how cool is this? Each kit features six packages of seeds, including Thyme, Lavender, Thai Basil, Mint, Lemon Balm and Blue Borage, starter soil, cocktail recipes, wooden plant ID stakes, growing instructions and pencil – all in its own planter! It’s a great hostess or birthday gift, even for people with zero green thumbs.
Aren’t Gardens Supposed To Be Outdoors?
Think you’re too good for a small windowsill herb garden? Then, let’s get dirty! Backyard gardens can be tricky. Besides the dog traipsing through and either snacking, crushing and/or digging up your plants, you’ll still have to contend with birds, deers, raccoons, rabbits, rodents, and snails who are much harder to contain even if you have some sort of fence! The unpredictable nature of your ground soil is also something to consider. If your soil isn’t rich in nutrients or doesn’t drain well, you’ll have to put more effort into farming. That’s where raised gardens come in handy!
This beautifully designed raised garden makes farm-to-table backyard gardening easy by creating a decorative fortress that protects your precious vegetables from pets and pests. Don’t want that kind of investment or even have space for something that large? Home Depot offers these cute 3-tiered jobbers that are compact enough to fit on an apartment balcony and still supply you with salad fixings!
In Search Of Balanced Living
I’ll admit, event planning is not a job for the faint of heart. It’s a stressful job, which can sometimes make for a stressful life! That, and, well, I run two businesses. Oh, and did I mention the three kids?! So, yeah, balanced living sometimes eludes me. Normally, I unwind with a libation or two, which may or may not contain refreshing fruits! But I’ve discovered that if you want a REAL wellness day, you have to forego the booze (can you believe I’m saying that?!) and use other techniques to soothe the mind, body and soul.
Put Your Mind At Ease
There are plenty of meditation tapes out there and you probably have a few faves. I’m a fan of Deepak Chopra’s Gift of Love II: Oceans of Ecstasy. If you’re not into meditation through music and voice, then go with nature sounds. Calming Rain offers a nature soundtrack developed by a certified music therapist (bona fides is good, right?!). Spend 30-60 minutes really trying to clear your mind and inviting your body to relax.
Relaxing Body Work
After you’ve centered yourself and eliminated all anxious thoughts, it’s time to focus on your body. Yoga is designed to promote well-being on every level—mind, body & soul. If you’re out of practice (or you’ve never even tried it!) first start with restorative moves. DoYogaWithMe is a great site that offers hundreds of programs for free.
Body Work That’s Actually WORK!
Pole Dancing??!! While not the most relaxing type of body work I’m including it here because it will “renew” your body as in make it look totally toned and hot! Pole Dancing and Aerial Silk Dancing engages all of the core muscles, improves balance and utilizes your own body weight for the workout of your life! Plus, it looks super sexy!
Feng Shui
Balanced living also comes from the placement of items in your home. When things get a little stuck in my world, I love turning to Feng Shui! I don’t give two hoots that a lot of people think it’s just hocus pocus—the Chinese have been practicing it for, like, 3,000 years! I’m absolutely convinced that every time I Feng Shui my dining room (prosperity center), things start to improve in the money department. January and February are the slowest months in the event planning business so I always like to do a quick pass through in the prosperity department to get things tuned up! This often works wonders. I have tons of books on Feng Shui, but my favorite is Karen Rauch Carter’s Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life.
Finding Inspiration In Gratitude
As you may or may not know, I run another company as a business coach. It’s called… wait for it… The Profit Goddess because, yes, I’m a goddess of all things! Anyhoo, every week on social media we offer up inspiring quotes and sayings. Staying positive is another critical part of balanced living and I’ve always found inspiring messages help keep me on track. (Better than a kick in the pants, right?!) In a world where the media tends to focus on violence, it’s easy to become troubled and negative. Reflecting on the good in your world and all you’re grateful for helps lighten the spirit and restore a happy heart!
Health-Schmealth, Let’s Party!
Come on, people, who do you think you’re dealing with here?! To hell with hydrating, where’s the booze? Three weeks of meditation and lemon water calls for a drink! (And some sugar!) So, this week we’re getting crazy. Yes, refreshing fruits are still involved, but we aren’t putting the strawberries in the water, we’re putting them in a pie! And those lemons? Yeah, we’re sending them back where they belong… the rim of my martini glass!
Fruit infused cocktails remind me of summer. Which, if you’re someplace snowy right now, might be a good thing! Last year for Cinco de Mayo we tried out a Granada, which is a tangy fruit cocktail made with mezcal. Check out Mez-You-Up Mezcal Recipes for instructions and learn more about this amazing liquor known as the “nectar” (see, fruit related!) of the gods.
Refreshing Fruits and Vegetables For Dessert
Fruit is a natural for pies and tarts, of course. Imagine getting your antioxidants AND enjoying a satisfying dessert! Now you can with this Fresh Blueberry Tart from Pinch of Yum! There’s practically no fruit that won’t work well in a pie or tart. But what about vegetables, you ask? No problem!
Opt for Carrot Apple Zucchini Bread! Seriously, you’re going to want to have this recipe handy in the summer when all of that zucchini you planted is ready for harvest! This masterpiece comes from Mom On Timeout and is made even more decadent with icing, but that’s optional #notreally
Healthy Looking, But Not So Healthy For Parties!
Faked From Scratch Donuts are a plated dessert I do for parties when I want something that looks sophisticated and scrumptious but are really just store bought cake donuts I frost and garnish with fresh berries and edible flowers! Amazing, right?!
Coming In February…
Next month we’ll be dishing about love (and lack thereof!) In fact, we’re putting together the best, most comprehensive guide (in all of the universe!) to Dating Women Over 40! Be sure to check in next week to get your FREE download! In the meantime, we’re giving away gifts (just like Oprah!), starting with our 65 Super Secret Party Tips that will save you at least $200 and 2 hours of your time on your next event!
You’re welcome!
xo
Marley
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