NYR Organics

Today I had the pleasure of gathering some friends over at my house for an organic skin care party! I had been interested in this line of skincare after hearing some talk about it and then found out that someone I had known for years was selling it.

I immediately wanted to try the products, so I held a girls afternoon of pampering.

We started out by exfoliating our hands, followed by our own facials. We were introduced to so many products, but the beauty sleep concentrate was definitely my favorite!

Many people do not realize that the products you use on your body is just as important as what you put inside your body. For those of you who know me well, know that I am a huge advocate for organics. If I could buy everything organic I would, but that takes a lot of funding :)

There has been so many links between parabens leading to cancer and this is what is in most of the "average"skin care products. NYR, Neal's Yard Remedies is free off all things articifial and I will gladly support this brand. I cannot wait to start using these awesome products!

Word of the Year

In the beginning of each year, my pastor at First Baptist Orlando, tells us his word of the year and asks that everyone have a word of their own to live by. Most of the time I have to think about it awhile, in order to come up with a word that means something in my life.

This year was different, it came to me so quickly and I knew it was something I have been struggling with in the past. My word is Commitment. In the past, commitment was a problem for me. I always had great intentions of doing things and I would WANT to commit to, but never followed through. I am not sure exactly why I am like this and my procrastination with some things drive me nuts, and I am the one doing it to myself!

So, this year I am making a COMMITMENT. A commitment to everything I do.

* to my sunday school job

* to the Magic

* to my students

* to cooking at home instead of eating out

* to my new eating lifestyle

* to pilates

* to my schoolwork

* to paying off my debts

* to spending time with friends

* to spending time with family

The list goes on and on, but these are the most important for right now. What are you commited to this year?

New Years Eve Glam

New Years Eve was fun and tiring this year! I never do much on New Years Eve, because I don't like being out on the roads. So this year I packed my bags for the weekend and headed to hang out and babysit some of my favorite kids! The night started out with fireworks on the golf course and then the girls and I went inside because they wanted to make a music video! I was chosen to do makeup and hair....

"More lipstick please..."
Things started getting super silly the later it got!
We were up at 1:00am making cake pops! (Note: I can't stand these "makers", they cook weird. I like old fashion oven baking!)
The next morning, we played on this...a crisp 80 degrees on New Years Day!

Starch and Sugar Free What?!

About 2 months ago I had a whole set of bloodwork done, just for wellness purposes. It came back great other than above average triglyceride levels. So my doctor very casually said that "without starch and processed sugars, it will be back to normal in no time". Excuse me? You mean I cannot eat potatoes, or bread, rice, or PASTA?! No pasta?? No SWEET TEA?!! I live off of sweet tea! I sat there thinking what I could possibly eat! I loooove pasta and rice and eat it too much. No wonder my starch level is high :) I always try to eat healthy and eat a lot of organic foods, but just because it's organic doesn't mean it's healthy for you. I take a food based multi vitamin every day, along with Vitamin D supplements.

Soooo with this new eating style in place, my daily menu looks like the following:

Breakfast- organic egg whites and coffee with only half&half. I tried substituting sugar with Stevia, but yuck! So I am going sugarless. On weekends, I will add turkey bacon to the mix

Morning Snack- organic fat free yogurt (I love Stoneyfield Farms) and string cheese and a banana or some other type of fruit. But I like bananas in the morning.

Lunch- spinach salad with turkey slices. I add green peppers, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, carrots, onions, etc. depending on what I want on that day. With the salad I will have fruit.

Mid-day Snack will consist of fruit, cottage cheese or a Starbucks skinny drink :)

Dinner- Fresh fish, chicken, etc. Sides will be an assortment of vegetables. I also love chili and cauliflower soup!

I know with this new eating lifestyle, I cannot have candy or sweets in which I love..and no more ice cream. But I will be just fine...because I know I will be healthy and see a whole new me!

New Year, New Opportunities!

HAPPY 2012!! It's only the 3rd of January and I am already feeling some change coming, along with a packed BUSY schedule. I am starting to take two classes for grad school until I graduate in September. Doubling up on my classes will allow me to graduate much earlier than I originally planned, yayy!!! This September I will have my masters degree, and I am super excited!

I also will be starting two new jobs, both part time. I will still be teaching full-time during the day of course.

The first one relates to what I do everyday... behavior! I will be teaching sunday school in the Special Friends ministry at church. This ministry is for children with special needs. I am excited for what God has planned for me in this area of my church!

The next one is working for the Orlando Magic on game nights and special events. Let's just say it has something to do with Stuff the Magic Dragon and a bunch of children (of course). I will definitely be all over the place, and this does not include my tutoring and babysitting that I do on a regular basis. I am already exhausted thinking about all this!

With that being said, this year is already starting out great and I am excited about these new opportunities!

A Winter Wonderland Weekend

There is something magical about NYC at Christmas. It's cold, the decorations are beautiful, and Rockefeller Center looks like a winter wonderland. The hustle and bustle of NYC gets a little crazy and you feel like you are on a roller coaster most of the time, but it's always so much fun.

As I sit here and write this on my last day here in NY/NJ, I think back on the past few days I have had here in this wonderful place.

Last night I went to see the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Not to mention that across the street was the Red Carpet premiere of Mission Impossible 2: Ghost Protocol. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes walked the red carpet and the paparazzi were all over the place. I just wanted to get into Radio City.

When the show started, it felt like I was dreaming. Was I really sitting inside Radio City watching this show?? Some people dream of the day they can do this, and I have the opportunity to enjoy all these great things now. Thank you God for all these things you have given me.

Besides seeing the Rockettes, my favorite thing we did this past weekend was go into FAO Schwarz. What an awesome place. Real toy soldiers greeting you as you walk in the door, stuffed animals galore, and every Madame Alexander doll you would want.

I will miss NYC, because this past weekend definitely has been a Winter Wonderland...

Rosie the Elf

The Elf on the Shelf. The most amazing Christmas behavior plan and cutest idea ever invented. I have introduced this Elf to many families this year, I've held "Elf How-To" mini courses and given many ideas on where this Elf hides each night when it comes back from the North Pole.

Last night was one of the cutest experiences I have had with the Elf on the Shelf. This family has two kids, a boy and a girl, who are over the age of 7. They still believe in Santa, and really are in to this Elf. I introduced the Elf to them a few days ago, telling them that there is an Elf you can adopt from the North Pole, and the Elf watches over you during the day and then reports to Santa each night. When he comes back to your house before you wake up in the morning, the Elf is sitting somewhere in your house and it's your job to find him. BUT...don't touch him or he will lose his magic!

They were so excited to find two of their very own elves in the seats of the car when they went to school yesterday morning.

Last night, the kids and I named the Elves and "registered" them online through the North Pole. After they were officially adopted, I told them that they must carefully place the box they came in on the couch, opened, and the Elf would come out of it's box once they were asleep and report to the North Pole. I have never seen these kids go to bed faster in my life.

Their dad also bought a special skirt for the little girls Elf. I sure hope that Elf remembered to put it on...