Sometimes you just have to move it, move it!

Whew!  We are finally moved!  I have never been so happy to be done with anything in my life! We moved from a 2 bed/2 bath condo in South Denver to a 4 bed/2 bath/2 living room and a bonus room house North of Denver and I for the life of me cannot figure out how we got all of this stuff in there!  Anyway, it is done and we are here, nestled into the wonderful little town of Wheat Ridge, CO, population somewhere around 30,000.  It's right next to Arvada and the heart of Denver, but you would never know it.  The neighborhood is quiet and established and the house, well it's a gem. It was build in the 50's. It has an awesome front and back yard, garage and carport and a fully fenced yard with 2 sheds!  Our neighbor, a neat lady in her mid 60's says the first four houses on the block were build by the developer and have upper end finishes, including the really cool ceilings in the photo here, beautiful original hardwood floors and all kinds of detailing.  We just LOVE IT and the best thing of all?  My son's commute went from up to 2 and a half hours a day round trip to less than 30 minutes.  Life is good!

Scrolling

I guess the day I am able to scroll through this blog and not cry my eyes out is the day they will bury me.  I absolutely love life and all that it entails, but the ending of life is something that I have a really difficult time dealing with and today is no exception.

Yesterday I drove from Denver, where my son, Emily and I are living, to Montana, to visit my brother.  On the way, I found out that my son's paternal grandmother had passed away.  My son hasn't been very close to his dad's side of the family for the past 13 or 14 years, and he hadn't seen her for at least that long, but there's no denying when you lose your last grandparent, it's difficult.

Wolf is doing alright, he says, but I know it's hard.  I just wish I could take the pain away.

Now here's a cute picture of Emily and my son's cat Willow to remind us how awesome life is.

Something from Nothing!

I think this is really cool!  This billboard located in Lima, Peru, produces around 100 liters of clean water a day (about 26 gallons) from nothing more than humidity, a basic filtration system and a little gravitational ingenuity.

Drinking Water out of Air,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FWwii1dX4v8

167 Toxins

On January 1, 2011, everything about my life changed.  Up until then I had been walking (gingerly) on a treadmill of pain and misery.  Because of the debilitating joint condition I had suffered with for over 25 years, my body was in a very bad state.  I was extremely, EXTREMELY overweight, I was sad all the time and I could barely move because every joint in my body was swollen, twisted and angry. I was desperate for a solution because the medical model I was following had not helped me at all.  

All seemed lost when a friend introduced me to these products.  Within a few days of starting the 30 day system, I felt better...much better.  The pain had subsided for the first time in forever, I was sleeping well, a real treat after 25 plus years of poor sleep despite meds, and my mood was, for lack of a better word, positively sunny!  By the end of the first month I had released 27 pounds, six months in I was down 104, and by the end of the 9th month, I was 165 pounds lighter, which I am to this day!  I am happy, healthy, active and feel 30 years younger than my actual age!  Why did this program work so well for me and why will it work for you?  It's because it's a cleanse and replenish system!  Today I will talk about the cleanse portion.

The Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Working Group (EWG), in collaboration with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, conducted a study to assess the levels of 219 industrial chemicals. One of the people tested was TV personality Bill Moyers. The people tested did not work with chemicals and did not live near industrial facilities. They came from 5 different cities. A total of 167 chemicals were found in the blood and urine of the study's participants, including 76 carcinogens, 94 chemicals known to be toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 79 that can cause birth defects or abnormal fetal development. (Note that these numbers do not add up to 167 because some of them cause all three problems and are included in all three numbers.)

Should you be alarmed? YES!  The studies are showing these chemicals to be endocrine disrupters (thyroid problems, diabetes, anxiety, depression, PMS, etc.), cancer causers (breast, colon, prostate, brain, bone, lung, pancreatic, etc.), immune disrupters (autoimmune antibodies/diseases, allergies, viral/fungal infections), cardiovascular toxins (heart disease, blood pressure problems, stroke, etc.) and neurotoxins (brain function, nerve function, memory decline).

Do you work around chemicals? These people do; pet store employees, florists, hairdressers, nail techs, dry cleaners, farmers, fuel industry employees, airport workers, police, firefighters, food service, mechanics, truck drivers, landscapers/lawn care, photo developers, painters, construction workers, repair men, exterminators, nurses, garbage men, housekeepers, hardware store employee, etc.

Have you used antibiotics, received vaccines, taken pain medication in your lifetime? Do you use cosmetics, colognes/perfumes, shampoos, nail polish/removers, lotions, hair dyes? Do you eat out at restaurants at least once a month? Or at fast-food restaurants? Do you eat food from packages, with ingredients you can not pronounce? At home do you microwave plastics, eat processed foods, drink non-organic milk products, eat non-organic vegetables/fruits, eat pork products, use non-stick pans, drink bottled products or drink unfiltered tap water? Do you use any type of air freshener, burn candles, or use cleaners. Do you fertilize your lawn, use weed killers, spray for bugs/spiders? Do you use a laptop, a cell phone, or a wireless home phone? Do you live in a newer home, have new furniture, have you replaced flooring in recent years or drive a newer car? As you can see, most of us have multiple exposures in our lives.

It all seems impossible to avoid, doesn't it?  We do the best we can, but in the end, we really can't stay away from all of the toxins we are exposed to.  The solution, therefore, is to help the body get rid of the toxins, or to cleanse.  What do I mean by cleanse?  First off, it's not a poopy cleanse.  You won't sit in the bathroom for hours.  Toxins are released in the body's urine.  Our cleanse is an all natural, safe, doctor recommended product that's designed to assist in cleansing and de-junking the body by drenching it with life giving nutrients. It is a catalyst to vibrant health and well-being, and I am living proof of that!   Our products come with a money back guarantee and free coaching!  One on one!  

As a cleanse coach it is my job, duty and pleasure to coach you through your cleansing system. Detoxification is essential for ridding the body of toxins and preventing their “health robbing” effects. Although all cells have the ability to detoxify, the most important organ for detoxification is the liver–known as the body’s filter and purification system. Toxins enter the liver as either water- or fat-soluble molecules. Water-soluble toxins are rather easily metabolized and excreted into the urine. In contrast, fat-soluble toxins can be stored in fat cells where they are protected from the body’s detoxification systems.

Excess fat stores, especially organ-bathing visceral fat, are linked to several diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction. The addition of toxin exposure to an overweight or obese individual may only serve to increase these risks. As the world's first & ONLY "total body, deep cellular nutritional cleansing and replenishing system" our program delivers many unique and diverse benefits for EVERY single cell and organ system from athletes to non-athletes. Being such a comprehensive system adaptable to ALL ages and goals it is difficult to simplify too much beyond this. The results you can expect are; more energy, better sleep, more lean muscle, faster recovery, stronger performance and less body fat!!

Thanks to Gina Mote, my amazing coach, for the verbiage on cleansing and the incredible support over the last 2 and a half years. Without her, I am not sure I would be here today. 

Coming soon, I will talk about the replenishing portion of the products that, literally, saved my life.  If you have any questions for me, give me a call 406-839-6999!  

Monday, one of my seven favorite days of the week!

I hope that you all had an amazing Mother's Day. This was the first Mother's Day I have spent with my son in many, many years. I have always had a "job" which didn't allow me the freedom to travel when I wanted or needed. That, of course, has all changed now! I get to live my life on my own terms and it feels SO good! My son and I went out for brunch, then a few of his friends came over for a pool party and BBQ. I was hugged and wished Happy Mother's Day by my son, of course. and also Timber, Blue, Salem and Derek! I feel like the luckiest person in the world. I am so very blessed in life.

In other fun news...Queen Emily has decided that she likes to walk on a leash and it is SO much fun!  Here are some photos of our recent adventures.  

Despite being tired, she didn't want to go back.  So we stopped for a few more minutes right by the condo.

It's true!  I AM Batman!  

And even though she has already had a walk that lasted OVER an hour, she wants more.  She goes from room to room meowing (another new trick she has learned, she never used to meow, only squeak) and then goes and waits at the door.  And of course, I will take her out again, because that is how I roll. 

Have a fabulous Monday, folks!  Be blessed and stay well.  

Gina's Roasted Cauliflower~Yum!

This is one of my BFF's favorite recipes.  She is an incredible cook and and amazing human being.  I love her like a sister.

Posted here with permission.

Gina's Roasted Cauliflower

Ingredients:

1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets, about 6 cups
3 tablespoons garlic infused olive or grapeseed oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup fresh, finely grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a bowl toss cauliflower with oil, season with salt and pepper.  Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until tender.  Carefully "stir" 1-2 times while baking to make sure it's evenly roasted.

Immediately upon removal from oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Makes 4 side servings.

The most amazing, superfine, awesome day!

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my life?  Probably not because I am such a slacker blogger, but I am here now to tell you I SO LOVE MY LIFE!  Two and almost a half years ago everything was a struggle. I worked 40 hours a week, made very little money, felt like (just being honest here) CRAP and even getting out of bed was an incredible struggle.  I was sad and sick and tired and sick and tired if you know what I mean.  Then everything changed.  A friend told me about the products I have been using since 1-1-11 and everything about my life has transformed!  Anyway, the reason I am telling you this is because I am now living each day to the fullest and enjoying every moment.  Yesterday, was NO exception!

My son and I decided to take the day off and we drove to the Colorado Springs area for the day.  We toured the Garden of the Gods and he took a plethora of awesome photos!

Moi!  

As you can see, it is a gorgeous place and one I highly recommend seeing!  After we finished our walk, we went to Manitou Springs for lunch!  We found an amazing little place called Adam's Mountain Cafe! It's right by a the creek and the food is not only healthy and organic, it is AMAZING!  I had the daily soup special which was turkey chipotle vegetable, a wonderful spring salad with chicken, cashews and balsamic vinaigrette dressing and it was all to die for!

All in all it was a most beautiful and fun filled day!  I hope you are enjoying every minute of this amazing season we call spring!  Live life to the fullest!  Go out and SEIZE the day!

Christmas every day!

Last night in my dreams I received two HUGE boxes of  the products that changed everything about my life.  I sat on the floor and opened them up like it was Christmas!  I brought out each item and oohed and awed over them like they were precious gems, but truth be known, they are much more valuable than that to me.  I started using the products a little over two years ago, at a low point health and otherwise in life that I hope none of you ever see.   I started to see improvements to my health within a few days, and as time went on I felt better and better!!  It wasn't long before I was able to tell the medical field I no longer "needed" their assistance after 25 years of "need" and by the end of six months I had released over 100 pounds and felt better physically and emotionally than I had in over 25 years. 

Now, 2 plus years later, I am 165 pounds lighter and healthier than I ever remember being.  I am happy to the very core of my being and I smile for absolutely no reason ALL THE TIME!  And it's not just my physical health that has improved, my financial health is BETTER THAN EVER!  I share the products with my family and friends, coach them in all aspects of product usage and help them build a wonderful business with the products if they choose.

I have made amazing friends in this amazing company and my life is better than I ever imagined it could be. I said goodbye to my demanding, demeaning and depressing job in education after seven months and now the only limit to the amount of money I can  make is the limits I place on myself, and trust me...I HAVE NO LIMITS! 

So you see, it really is Christmas, every single day. 

Thank you Isagenix, for giving me my life back.

Who needs prozac when they have purrzac?

We all know how in love I am with Emmy, my furchild.  She is the yin to my yang, my furry soul mate and the spice in my Szechuan-style shrimp.  She has been with me, literally, through thick and thin, feast and famine, hell and high water and I don't know how I would have survived the trials and tribulations of life without her.

I know that some day I won't have the benefit of  her love and affection (on her terms and in her time, of course), but until that time comes (and she's in excellent health), I am going to spend every possible minute with her that I can and that is one of the many MANY reasons I love being self-employed!  When she wants affection, I give it to her.  She gets the best treats and food available and to tend to  her health care needs, I have a vet (almost) on retainer.  The first thing I did when I came to visit my son was to ask the pet owners in the complex who the very best vet in the area was and after checking his references online, I have his phone number on speed dial and directions there in my navigational device.

 ~ long pause here because she draped herself across the keyboard making it impossible to type~

She has a cat tree, a heated cat bed, a ton of cat toys, a catio (think large, full sized window box that has been screened in and has two beds in it), and we are in the process of fully screening in the balcony at my son's house so she can really live it up in style while we are visiting in Denver. 

Of course, I'm not the only one that lets her have her way or dotes on her.  Here she is with my son's dear friend Salem.  She is helping him surf, as you can see.  

And here she is with most of the "gang".  I call this one The Cat and The Hats.

She is the life of the party, until she is tired.  Then she's just stick a fork in me done.

A day in the life...

 This is Emily.  My few fans will remember her as she is usually the star of my posts.  Today is an incredibly beautiful day.  The sun is shining, there's a very light breeze and the temperature is around 70F.  I have the patio doors and windows open and apparently Emmy decided she was tired of being indoors (she's an inside only cat) and decided to make her escape.  Lucky me, I caught it on camera.

OK, first one down...  

 
                                                   Hmmm, I think this is how they do it.

 Had to put some muscle into it, but GOT IT!

 

  

One more lock and I will be free!!

This would be so much easier if I had thumbs!

Forget it. Outside is over-rated. I'll just lie here and soak up some rays.

I just let it flow...

I'm my own boss, so I work from home.  Usually I rock out  with my Emmy kitty on my lap, listening to Pandora Radio on the smart TV.  The surround sound makes it an almost surreal experience. I find I go through a whole range of emotions as the music changes and I know it's because certain songs remind me of the people I love and I have lost.  Today is no exception.  I was giggling and chair dancing while listening to Bonnie Raitt and Bon Jovi (don't judge me), and then Louis Armstrong "What a Wonderful World" came on and, sure enough, my eyes started to leak.  Cousin Dale LOVED jazz and he absolutely adored Louis Armstrong.  It made me miss him more than ever.  It's so hard to believe he has been gone for almost six years.  Do certain songs remind you of people you have loved and lost?  If so, do you avoid listening to them or do you turn them up loud and let the emotion flow?

No longer a thinner version of the same old miserable me

I have promised to tell my story for a long time.  My life has been crazy busy, and it still is, but it has been suggested to me that it needs to be told as it will help others who are now, as miserable as I was then, and helping others is what my life is all about, so here goes.  I am baring my soul, so please be kind in your comments. 

This photo was taken as I prepared for my dad's Celebration of Life in 2009.  I was nowhere near my heaviest, but I had not allowed any photos to be taken of me for a long time, and this one was taken in secret by my son.  

My story:  I struggled with many health conditions for decades.  I was on various remedies provided by my doctors and nothing was helping, in fact, things were getting worse every day.  I could barely walk due to a debilitating joint condition, I was wider than I was tall, in part from the many, many MEDS I was on and in part because the pain from the condition made it very, very painful to do any kind of exercise at all.  I tried every kind of "diet" known to man and I lost a significant amount of weight, many times over, but never kept it off and it never really made me feel any better.  I was just a thinner version of a miserable me.  Christmas 2010 was bleak.  Very, very bleak.  I was at my zenith weight wise, topping the scale at well over 300 pounds.  My son couldn't come home for Christmas and I drove the 450 miles from Idaho to Montana in abject misery.  I spent almost a week at home, wallowing in my sadness, and drove back to Idaho on New Year's Eve.  Little did I know how radically my life was going to change the very next day! 

To be continued...