Grow Lashes Grow! - My Super Weapon For Long Full Real Lashes

I almost hate to share this secret because it's already hard to find in stock around me, but I love you all so dearly and want everyone to enjoy lush peepers.

Wah bam, Rimmel lash accelerator serum, I have been using it for 3 years! I used to wear fake individual

Man Approved Healthy Living Recipe - Chocolate Protein Balls BananaGluten and Dairy Free!

If you're like me I've been looking for an easy, fast, but protein packed on the go snack that both my husband and I can enjoy, and I keep seeing this recipe on Pinterest far too many times not to give it a try. 

Mmm mmm, these bad boys are so delicious, and man approved! I love that there's no added sugar, flour,

Endometriosis - Is It Your Secret Pain?

Do any or all of the above words describe what you feel on a more often than not basis? Have you been tested for EVERY possible illness or disease in the handbook? Has NOTHING worked to make you feel

What's This Team Beachbody Shakeology Stuff?- My Non Coach Review

I'm sure you have at least heard the very popular words by now, shakeology or shakeo, it's probably all over your social media with pictures of shakes and before and after weight loss pictures. The meal replacement shake from Team Beachbody has taken on the modern day slim fast craze, but the real question everyone
wants to know, does it really work?

My very honest, unpaid, non coach, 100% unaffiliated opinion....yes, it 100% does do all it says.

Let's do a quick run down of me for real life stats. I'm 28, with a true 40-50 pounds to lose, I have health issues and medication that makes losing weight hard such as; depression, fibromyalgia, IBS, low back injuries, and endometriosis. With that lovely list I think it's needless to say exercising is a very challenging and limited event for me, and energy....well that's non existent. 

I have zeeeeero energy, and due to hormones and medications have serious hunger and craving issues...well, I bounce between that or not being hungry at all so my body goes into caveman super saver mode.

Quick rundown on Vanilla:

Taste - tolerable but find your right recipe and it's delicious!

Energy - Yes! You will get this the first drink! It's long lasting and natural, no jitters.

Cravings - Gone! Every time I had one in my day there was no desire at all for salt, sugar, or carbs.

Satisfying - Sure is, my husband and I both got from meal to meal with no snacking desire.

Weight loss - Yep, but read below on why.

Digestion - no bloating after meals, indigestion, or heart burn issues 

Price - This one hurts, without shipping 30 servings cost $130

Bottom line - it's worth it, at least for one round of the 30 servings. I only have 1 to 2 shakes a day, and honestly have missed a day and regretted it, but lived. So you don't, and really shouldn't, have it for all 3 meals, you're suppose to use it to help change your lifestyle to a healthier cleaner one, it should not replace all real food in your life. 

More about the goods.

*small disclaimer, I'm currently working to bring my allergies down and have been able to tolerate the small amounts in the shakes for a good week now so I did not get the vegan option.*

Why are these shakes such a big deal? Well, unlike many other protein powders or meal replacement options shakeology has taken advantage of super foods, vitamins, amino acids, phyotnutrients, pro and prebiotics, adaptogen herbs, digestive enzymes, and protein! Even my beloved juicing can't squeeze ALL of that in one drink.

We all know how much I love maca powder, flax, chia, spirulina, spinach, goji, acai, green tea, grape seed, quinoa.....and it's ALL in there! Those are your big super foods, the main ones that are full of protein, antioxidants, mood boosters, metabolism boosters, and the vitamins and minerals your body craves. This is why this shake is different and why it really does do something. 

Our experience:

Day 1 with the vanilla shake; my husband and I had to experiment to find our flavor combinations, but once we did we enjoyed them, and I actually look forward to them. I prefer fruit and coffee recipes with almond milk, and hubby likes more variety like the apple pie, berry/spinach, or just vanilla almond milk recipes. I have yet to try peanut butter or chocolate almond butter (aka better than nutella), but those are on the list!

Shortly after drinking them we both had wonderful gradual boosts of energy, and on days we were even short of sleep and should have been groggy. Such great energy to the point we were happy to workout, and for me that's a huge thing. We both also had more focus and an overall happier stress free mood that also took us through the day.

As far as weight loss, yes, we both lost weight and yes without exercising being a factor (that one day didn't cause a 2 and 3 pound loss). The loss came from the dietary changes of craving control and portion control and no snacking. We also had the great benefits from the antioxidants and had zero bloating, and neither of us had a desire to eat anything unhealthy. I'm really happy about that because with all of the good that is in these shakes I'd be angry to defeat the purpose of drinking them. 

So in all this shake offers:

Better digestion

Energy

Brain function (hello brain fog)

Healthy skin, hair, and nails

A low glycemic index

Ideal blood sugar levels

Build/repair muscles

Weight loss/Cleaner eating habits

Craving control

Positive mood

Strong immune system

Anti-inflammatory responses

Ideal Alkaline state

Hormone balance

Healthy libido

Stress protection

Promotes regularity 

....and I'm out of breath!

If you ask me that's offering a lot, and now that I've tested it out for myself I can honestly say it is a real product that is worth your time and money. If you're going to jump on a "bandwagon" I'd pick this one. If it makes you feel better I didn't even try this until a handful of my closest real life friends had amazing success with it first hand, and I'd like to thank them for sharing!

Where can you get it? Online, remember I'm not a coach, I'm not promoting anything, and can only refer you to shakeology.com!

Don't forget to like and share!

Man Approved Healthy Living Recipe - Grilled Chicken Mango Flatbread with Allergy Substitutions

You know, one of the hardest tasks I find to having a healthy lifestyle or just any particular lifestyle, is living it while living with people that don't share in it.

For me I avoid dairy, gluten, soy, and have a general dislike of meat. I also attempt to be gmo free, organic, and dye/additive free....while living with a man that has the taste buds of, well, a typical man.

My husband loves meat, cheese, and bread. Luckily he doesn't have a sweet tooth, but he does have zero appetite for vegetables, which is our hurdle. So, my solution; I just take his likes and I edit them a little, always leaving room for substitutions that are easy for me! 

Yes, this lifestyle is asking a lot of anyone, especially children, guys, and anyone that still scoffs at today's health trends. 

Not everyone cares to be picky in what they eat or buy...you know those that say, "since when did bread kill anyone" or "in my day we drank straight from the cow." Well, our soil is different today, our meat sources eat and live through much different circumstances, and our immune systems don't have the same natural defenses because our soil is depleted of vitamins and minerals, and our pollution is a whole new mess ....and well, GMO.

So how do I not cook multiple meals and shop for each person that has to eat in my house?

Easy! I stick to basics, which by the way is SO much easier in the summer when local produce is easily accessible. You can't try to get too fancy, and I add a little at a time as taste buds change. It was getting too inventive and specialized that had me defeated and hurting my own diet.

Here is our latest successful full on veggie dinner, husband approved! I hope you enjoy, and look forward to more man and diet friendly recipes! 

For my dish I just removed the flat bread.

Grilled Chicken Mango Flatbread

One grilled chicken breast seasoned with garlic, onion, pepper, and cumin

Thinly sliced mango

Tomato thinly sliced

Avocado thinly sliced

Green pepper thinly sliced

Baby spinach

Shredded red cabbage

Top Greek flatbread or whole wheat tortilla, or even corn tortilla with choice of:

Lime juice

Cream cheese

Ranch dressing

Apple cider vinegar (good with the lime juice!)

If you're not short on time smash the avocado, add lime juice, and a little pepper and salt and you have your dressing.

These are all items I have chopped in containers in advance and just grab from the fridge! I do all the chopping during a meal when I first use these ingredients, I don't even carve out a "prep day." Ain't nobody got time for that!

Have A Little Faith....Big Changes Ahead!

I feel that we all get callings, signs, and messages that direct our lives, and I feel like I have been getting my signs as a brutal beating lately. A beating so apparent that I can't pretend that I don't hear it. 

I have been busy for as long as I can remember. I have also been stressed, moving, anxious, and worried my whole life. 

In just 28 short years I truly believe I have succeeded in burning myself out. I have achieved "the false American dream." 

I have worked up a ladder that I don't want to be on. I have a house that doesn't truly fit my life, and I have a lot of plastic money, a 401k, and a 9-5. 

I am ever so grateful for all of my blessings, oh boy am I ever! I am lucky, beyond blessed, and grateful. These things have made me strong, proud, and experienced. The thing is, none of it has made me happy, fulfilled, or content. They feel like lessons or stepping stones instead of pieces of who I am.

Maybe that's the thing though. I have achieved through hard work and self education, and lots and lots of prayers, the things that I wanted....or thought I should want.

I never asked for or thought about what I really desired, what really filled my love cup. Now, I have it all and am nothing but fried... like a green tomato but less tasty.

I have felt lately like God has been telling me to slow down. Well "telling" is a nice way to put it, more like forcing me to slow down. That my fulfilling time in life can't and won't be met until I step back. 

Easier said then done right? Step back, ha, how do you do that? I have bills, responsibilities, commitments, and goals. How do I keep moving forward while stepping back? 

Faith. I know I have to take a big trusting leap of faith, that God will always and forever provide, as he has done.

I have never been without what I need; somehow I have always been provided for. All these years God has let me chase what I wanted, and opened doors for me, but now I feel like he is saying enough.

It's time to follow the path intended for me. I can't say that I have walked alone all this time, but I have definitely taken a lead, and walked in silence.

Sure I wonder if I'm crazy, miss reading something, or making the wrong choices, but the choices I've been making have left me empty, unsure, and lost in myself.

A dear friend made a similar decision a while back. She packed up her desk and without looking back said adios. There were no plans, no back up job, nothing....except the sheer faith she had in God and herself. She deserves happiness, better, and she knew it. You know what, she made it. Life just keeps getting better, and she is always taken care of, and now more connected to God and herself worth.

At this point if I'm unhappy already then I might as well chase happy, not more unhappy on my current course.

I feel like all of this has come from a developed relationship with God. A relationship that is no longer private, a relationship with Jesus, and full of trust.

Whether you're religious or not you need to have full faith and trust that following your happiness and your instinct will lead you to a fulfilling life.

If that means cutting back, taking risks, and creating new goals that may feel like they are taking you backwards, just trust and do it.

What's really stopping you? Doubt, social status, struggle, or even the risk of more unhappiness? Well, yes, but you need to first decide that you will not fail. It's not a choice. Your attempt at happiness will not lead to failure. And you likely already feel like you're failing....because you're not happy.

I'm not saying quit your job, run away, be crazy! I'm saying don't fear tuition if you want to take a pay cut of a dream job. Don't worry about money if you need to work part time or 4 days a week instead of 60. Don't second guess that application to a new company or position, adopt that baby single or not, take that trip overseas alone, take the meetings, open that business, have the conversations, and just follow your instinct.

Nothing great can happen if you don't try, and take a leap of faith.

My Favorite Spring Things

Spring has sprung, and with the freshness of the season I'm itching to throw everything I own out on the curb. I'm not sure why but I feel the need to find some new favorites to add to my life. Out with the old in with the