Wake Up: Fruiti Freeze Strawberry Recipe

The weekend is almost here! Wake up with this delicious recipe from Fruiti Freeze!

Strawberry Smiley

Ingredients:

2 overripe frozen bananas

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

3 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt (optional) 

1/2 cup almond milk or rice milk 

Method:

1. Mix strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and yogurt in a bowl. 

2. Add one banana to Fruiti Freeze

3. Add mixture then add second banana

4, Add mixture to blender, add 1/2 cup rice or almond milk (add more if needed)

5. First pulse the blender low then blend on high for 1 minute or until smooth. 

Enjoy!

The Fruiti Freeze instantly churns frozen fruit and other toppings into a healthy soft serve treat! 

For more information on the Fruiti Freeze please visit: buyfruitifreeze.com

Spring Cleaning for the Mind: 10 Ways to Make Your Day Better

1. Make someone else smile. – Ordinary people worry today and postpone their happiness for tomorrow. Intelligent people are happy today and postpone their worries for tomorrow. Wise people only wish happiness for all, today and tomorrow. If you wish to have a lifetime of happiness, dedicate time every day to helping others smile with complete sincerity and enthusiasm. 

2. Be imperfect. – Something that is really difficult, but totally worth it, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the journey of becoming your true self. The most beautiful part of this journey is simply returning to the peaceful feeling of being. This peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be. 

3. Be enthusiastic about what you’re doing. – You’re not given a good life or a bad life. You’re given life, and it’s up to you to make it good or bad. So wake up and get motivated; not everybody made it to today. Don’t take your time for granted. Don’t waste time thinking back to what you could have done differently yesterday. Keep your eyes on the road ahead and do it differently today. Wherever the road takes you, bring your passion. Whatever you do along the way, do it with all your heart. 

4. Make the best of what happens. – More important than what happens to you, is what you make of what happens to you. The more thankful you are, the more beautiful this world appears. You must uncover the good in the bad, the happy in your sad, the gain in your pain, and what makes you 

grateful not hateful. 

5. Forgive your past self. – Sometimes, good people like you make bad choices. It doesn't mean you’re bad; it means you’re human. So get bored with your past; it’s over. Forgive yourself for what you think you did or didn't do, and focus on what you will do starting now. 

6. Spend some time simply being and breathing. – The only way to live happily ever after is one day at a time. Just be, breathe, and think not about what you’re missing, but what you've been given. Happiness is something that comes into our lives gradually through the doors we don’t even 

remember leaving open. 

7. Learn something new. – It’s important to remember that you cannot become who you are capable of being by remaining exactly where you are. If you are not willing to learn and grow, no one can help you. But if you are determined to learn and grow, no one can stop you. In the end, there are no permanent jobs on this planet; we are all interning here. Learn from everyone, evolve, remain humble, and don’t forget to have a good time. 

8. Look in the mirror, and tell yourself what you love about yourself. – What we see in the mirror is what we see in the world. Our disappointment in others perfectly reflects our disappointment in ourselves. Our acceptance of others perfectly reflects our acceptance of ourselves. Our ability to see potential in others perfectly reflects our ability to see potential in ourselves. Our patience with others perfectly reflects our patience with ourselves. 

9. Focus on the qualities you like about those around you. – Whenever we focus on a person’s wonderful qualities, we have a wonderful relationship with them. Whenever we focus on a person’s not so wonderful qualities, we have a not so wonderful relationship with them. What we focus on grows in 

our minds and hearts. 

10. Say 'YES' to a spontaneous opportunity. – Everything in life can’t be planned. Some of the greatest opportunities will knock on your door when you least expect them to. Be flexible, be spontaneous, and 

just say 'yes.' 

 {Source: Marc and Angel}

15 Things To Give Up...

1. Doubting yourself

2. Negative thinking

3. Fear of failure

4. Destructive relationships

5. Gossiping

6. Criticizing yourself or others

7.  Anger

8. Comfort eating

9. Laziness

10. Negative self talk

11. Procrastination

12. Fear of success

13. Anything excessive

14. People pleasing

15. Putting others needs before your own. 

Fit Friday: 9 Reasons You Should Drink Green Tea

1. Green tea is a superb fat fighter. Its active ingredient, EGCG, increases the rate at which fat is burned in your body.

2. It targets belly fat. Research at Tufts University indicates that EGCG in green tea, like other catechins, activate fat-burning genes in the abdomen to speed weight loss by 77 percent.

3. It keeps energy stable by balancing blood sugar levels. EGCG improves insulin use in the body to prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes that can result in fatigue, irritability, and cravings for unhealthy foods.

4. Research shows it may be helpful against lung cancer. In an April 2010 study published in Cancer Prevention Research, EGCG was found to suppress lung cancer cell growth.

5. It may halt colorectal cancer. In numerous other studies, EGCG appears to inhibit colorectal cancers.

6. In research it appears to cause prostate cancer cells to commit suicide. A March 2010 study in Cancer Science indicated that EGCG aids the body by causing prostate cancer cells to commit suicide.

7. It may prevent skin damage and wrinkling. EGCG appears to be 200 times more powerful than vitamin E at destroying skin-damaging free radicals. Free radicals react with healthy cells in the body, causing damage so lessening their numbers may help reduce wrinkling and other signs of aging.

8. It contains a potent antioxidant that kills free radicals. Because it is a potent antioxidant it can positively impact a lot more than skin cells. Free radicals are increasingly linked to many serious chronic illnesses like arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.

9. It tastes good. If you’re not wild about the flavor, try a few different kinds. Try it iced or hot. Add some of the natural herb stevia to sweeten it if you want a sweeter drink.

Read more: HERE {Source}

Work It Out Wednesday: Dance Your Way to a Leaner Midsection

One of the dangers that many Americans face today is the overwhelming epidemic of obesity.  Weight gain is on the rise, and according to USA Today, many Americans simply carry too much weight in their midsection which can cause dangerous health problems! “People with wide girths are more likely to have large amounts of deep-hidden belly fat around their organs. It might be the most dangerous kind of fat and could increase a person’s risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.” Luckily, there are solutions to this epidemic. Robert Ross, an exercise physiologist at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, says that: “People with waists that wide need to reduce them immediately.”

So what should you do? Well for starters, diet and exercise! Although these two things sound easy, many Americans have a difficult time maintaining a healthy balance between the two. I hear it over and over again, “I get bored running on the treadmill”, “I don’t like going to the gym”, or “I need something that is fun and exciting”. My solution? Ballroom dancing! And here’s why:

• Ballroom dancing encourages good posture and body alignment.This will help strengthen your bodies core abdominal muscles. Believe it or not, having a strong core can improve your performance in everyday activities and improve your health! When you have a strong core, you reduce the risk of back injury, developing heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
• Ballroom dancing is a cardiovascular exercise that will get that heart pumping and will help you burn more calories! Did you know that depending on the step, ballroom dancing can burn anywhere from 250-400 calories an hour-about the same as a brisk half-hour walk on the treadmill! So if you are someone who hates the treadmill, get on that dance floor! You can burn calories while having FUN and blast away unwanted fat.
• Exercise is about rewarding the body with endorphins. Endorphins, scientifically speaking, are neurotransmitters produced in the brain that reduce pain and give you that feeling of euphoria. In other words, they make you feel good! Ballroom dancing is a wonderful way to trigger those endorphins.
• NO MATTER HOW SLOW YOU GO-YOU ARE STILL LAPPING EVERYONE ON THE COUCH! Instead of watching re-runs on Netflix, get that booty on the dance floor!

Did I also mention how incredibly sexy ballroom dancing is? 

References:

MSNBC.COM: “Ballroom Dancing Puts the Swing in Exercise”

USATODAY.com: “Belly Full of Danger”

Ivillage.com: Endorphin 101: Your Guide to Natural Euphoria

Thankful

Not just today, not just tomorrow, but everyday of the year...

I am thankful for: 

My love, my heart, the person who makes me smile and makes me want to become a better woman.

My health and the ability to move, run, dance. 

My family, who continues to support me regardless of any decision I have made in my life. 

The lessons I have learned thus far. 

The opportunity to cherish little moments

Being able to wake up this morning and live yet another day. 

The roof over my head and the place that I call home. 

My courage. 

My soulmates; the friends that have never left my side.

Wine. 

(seriously)

&&&

The next few days off! 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Days & Risks Worth Taking

http://mo-ho-boho.tumblr.com

"There are still so many kisses and laughs and nights and days and risks worth taking and road trips and books to read and poetry to write and pictures to take. You have to believe this."

{Unknown}

5 Ways To Stay Motivated to Workout

"You'll never know your limits until you push yourself to them." 

I'm in a rut. Not a physical rut, but a mental rut. Everyday I argue with myself about going to the gym. I try to justify my workouts from the previous day as a good excuse to skip the gym all together. This inner battle goes on for about an hour before I finally agree to go. Once I am there, I am fine. I run my little ass off. 

Maybe it's the cool weather or the holiday treats lurking in my office. Maybe its the heavy sweatpants I throw on the minute I get home. Whatever it is, I am losing the mental battle to stay physically fit. 

If you too are losing motivation, here are 10 Tips To {Keep} That Body Moving:

1. Bring a friend

Sometimes all you need is a little pep talk or reminder from a friend of your fitness goals to keep you motivated. Hold each other accountable and lace up the Nike's. 

2. Update the Playlist 

Music is a very power motivator. Upbeat music can keep you moving longer and faster (especially if you are trying to crank out one more mile). 

3. Stop being so hard on yourself

I am very guilty of scrutinizing myself and my workouts. But this negative talk is actually hurting my workouts. Next time I step on the treadmill, I am going to focus on becoming a healthier person, not necessarily a thinner person. 

Even if I am running slowly, I am still lapping everyone sitting on the couch. 

4. Be realistic

Set attainable workout goals and again, don't be so hard on yourself. 

5. Do something for you, reward your progress. 

Some ideas: 

Keep a motivational money jar: Each time you lose a pound or workout, feed the money jar! Once it's filled, go treat yourself to something on your wishlist. 

Sore muscles? Treat yourself to massage. 

Happy Hour Readers: How do you stay motivated to hit the gym?