by Caroline | Jan 17, 2016 | Lifestyle |
I have to share a MAJOR inspiration in my life, and that is Amanda Frances. If you haven’t heard of her yet (and are remotely interested in personal development, success, living abundantly, manifesting, making your dreams come true, or being awesome) you’ll definitely want to check her out.
I first came across her message from, where else but Facebook. The energy she exudes says “I made all my dreams and desires a reality, and you can too.” Since starting her own success and business coaching business, Amanda has the freedom to work when she wants and travels when she wants, because she works from her laptop and now makes six figures a year. Sign me up!
She began her own life-coaching business, helping young women achieve their dreams in business and life. She has also created successful online courses which generate huge revenues each month, without her doing anything. Her authenticity, and pure branding genius drew in an audience. A big one.
Working with Amanda has illuminated some habitual beliefs that hold me back. It’s drilled into so many of us to have a negative opinion of success, money and achieving our desires. When our thoughts come from a place of not enough, we stay in this cycle that keeps us feeling unworthy of success and happiness, and she’s tought me the mindset tools to get me out of negative thought patterns that limit me from achieving amazing things.
But wait the story gets better. This summer Amanda and I met up in Montauk after Gabby Bernstein’s Miracles in Montauk lecture. We grabbed lunch, hung out at the beach and had the best time! This girl is the absolute real deal. Not only do I consider her a mentor, but also friend.
Know your desires, discover your gifts, act on your ideas, believe in your value to the world, and don’t diminish your self-worth.
And for a limited time I’m so excited to share with you how you can work with her and learn how she has built her amazing life and career.
In her
Money Mentality Makeover course she is giving us some rad information on how to change our current relationship with money so that we can drop the feelings of stress, fear, and not enough around money. When you change your thoughts/feelings/vibrations around money — you can change the experience of bringing money into and having money in your life.
Learn More HERE!
by Caroline | Jan 3, 2016 | Recipes
Every year my family celebrates New Year’s Day with a delicious lunch at an old friend’s house. Our friends cook an amazing meal of traditional southern cuisine that’s meant to be eaten when celebrating the new year. We feast on collard greens, black eyed peas, pork, sweet potatoes and corn bread. These foods are meant to bring in good luck and prosperity for the new year. Black eyed peas represent coins, collard greens represent paper money, and corn bread represents gold. Whether or not you believe this will actually bring prosperity, it’s a longstanding cultural tradition, and a really yummy meal.
Being so inspired by this meal, I decided to create my own spin on it. This time of year I love cooking soups. Warm, full of veggies, and great to make in a large batch to have throughout the week. I thought this meal would be great in soup form.
What you’ll need:
- 1 can black eyed peas
- 1 sweet potato cubed into bite size pieces.
- 1/2 large onion chopped
- 2-3 cloves of garlic chopped
- 1 bunch of collard greens, chopped or ripped into small pieces
- 1 carton of vegetable stock
- Pork or Chicken for added protein *optional*
Directions:
- Sautee chopped sweet potatoes, onion and garlic in a large pot with some olive oil, or another oil of your choice, for about 10 minutes just to soften.
- Add vegetable stock, black eyed peas, collard greens, and meat. (I added some water during the simmer process as some of the stock boiled off)
- Bring to a boil then let simmer for about 15-30 minutes.
- Season with black pepper if desired.
*Note, if you are adding meat to the soup, cook it before adding it in. I used leftover pork from our New Years Day feast. This step is optional, if you don’t prefer to have meat in your soup.
It really couldn’t get much easier than that!
Please enjoy and have a happy and prosperous new year!
It really couldn’t get much easier than that!
Please enjoy and have a happy and prosperous new year!
xo,
by Caroline | Dec 20, 2015 | Lifestyle |
During this time of the year, where the days are short, and the darkness reigns, we take time to turn inward and become more introspective. Honoring the natural cycles and rhythm of the earth is innate. Compared to other times of the year, most of us prefer to stay home and be a little more still (hello Netflix and comfy couch). Going along with the earth’s natural rhythms is what many creatures this time of year do, as animals fatten up and hibernate during the long winter months, with the deep inner knowing of the return of life and light on the other side of the darkness.
Ancient Significance
For centuries, many ancient cultures celebrated the Winter Solstice as the rebirth of the light and often the birth of a god that would bring enlightenment (see the themes of light here?).
All over the world, cultures separated by time and great distances built structures that aligned with the sun on the solstice such as the Great Pyramids, Stonehenge, Newgrange in Ireland, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, just to name a few.
It’s also no coincidence that many religious traditions celebrate the birth of a god or goddess near the time of the solstice. Saint Lucia, the Goddess of Light, adorned with a crown of candles is honored this time of year in Scandinavia to carry people through the darkness. The Egyptian Sun God Horus, the Persian God Mithras, The Japanese Goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu, and the Indian Queen of Heaven Sarasvati are all celebrated during the solstice. And of course, today in modern Christianity we honor the birth of Jesus just a few days after the solstice.
Although vast differences separate these traditions, the winter solstice remains central in many spiritual beliefs, and shows us that there’a a universal significance to the timing of these celebrations.
Aside from the religious traditions, the winter and summer solstices are significant natural holidays celebrated by humans for millenia. So for those athiests, there’s still something here for you!
What is the significance in our modern lives?
Balance of Dark and Light
Depending on your beliefs, this can be a spiritual time, or the relaxing recharge you need before the new year begins. While taking more time for stillness, we contemplate the balance of darkness and light within ourselves. This time of year is about embracing the darkness, while celebrating the turning point where we will now begin to get a little more light each day. We are coming out of the darkness so to speak. The winter solstice is the time to honor the gifts of the darkness, while celebrating the return to the light.
Before we call back the light into our celestial rodeo we honor those important aspects of the darkness. For so many people the holidays and this dark time of the year can bring on sadness and depression. Create a space for the sadness and bring forth those emotions in a place of stillness to surrender them to be transformed by the oncoming light. To do this you may want to write about them in your journal or write them on slips of paper which you can burn in your Yule fire. Release your anger, regrets and resentments to the darkness.
At the same time we’re experiencing the dark and heavy aspects of the season, we also find balance in the light. It’s this time of year that we light candles, build fires, and decorate our houses with twinkling lights. With our instinct to turn towards the light in this time of darkness, it’s also a time to turn toward the light within. The stillness in nature evokes a stillness within ourselves to stop and listen, and examine our connection to spirit and purpose. What is the spark inside of you that gives you your light? How can you grow that light? When we shine our light on the world it brings out the light in others, and in a way we all add to the increasing light in the world.
Even with the best of intentions, we sometimes end up getting caught up in the movements of spending, shopping, going, eating, and rushing. Maybe, with the right inspiration and preparation, we can begin to move toward the core of what this season is about, in a more simple, natural, and intuitive way, and we can create deeper connection to the more important things in our lives.
xo,
by Caroline | Dec 7, 2015 | Lifestyle, Recipes
I am so happy to have back guest blogger Kiley from One Healthy Hamptons to share with us her picks for healthier alternatives for holiday cocktails.
There’s LOTS to celebrate this time of year! With holiday parties left and right, it’s important to be aware of what you’re sipping on. Good old champagne and wine are great options, but who can resist a tasty holiday cocktail?! Unfortunately, these festive bevs can pack more calories than Christmas cookies. Here’s a few delicious recipes for holiday cocktails you can enjoy. Your guests will love them too! “Clink” to that!
Red & Green Sangria:
- 2 apples
- 1 pear
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 large sprig of fresh rosemary, extra for garnish
- 1 bottle white wine
- 1/2 cup of white grape juice
- 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup, stevia, agave, sweetener of choice)
- 2 cups club soda/sparkling water
Mix ingredients and serve chilled.
Candy Cane Martini:
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 cup peppermint Schnapps
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon honey or sweetener of choice
- ice
Garnish with a candy cane and sip chilled.
Spiced Crock-Pot Cider: (adopted from Food Network’s Slow Cooker Hard Cider)
- 2 quarts natural apple cider
- 1-2 inch piece ginger root
- Two cinnamon sticks
- 2 teaspoons cloves
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1/2 cup sweetener (light brown sugar, honey or maple syrup)
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups gin
Put all ingredients in crock-pot and cook for about an hour. Strain solids and serve warm in mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
One Healthy Breakdown: cheers to a healthy, happy holiday season and a happy new year!
Kiley DeMarco, MSW, NLC, is the founder of One Healthy Hamptons website, community, and e-magazine for all things healthy in the Hamptons, and co-founder of Hamptons Wellness Week. Kiley is Nutritious Life Certified in Nutrition and has a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. She lives in Sag Harbor with her husband and their Swiss Mountain Dog, Sammy.
by Caroline | Nov 29, 2015 | Lifestyle |
The holidays are officially upon us! Time for cozy fires, warm sweaters, and spending time with family. It’s also time for parties, shopping and copious amounts of food. While I love this time of year for all its good cheer, I also find it a difficult time to focus on self care and feeling my best. So let’s talk balancing health and cheer this holiday season.
There’s no need to deprive ourselves, as it goes against the feelings of abundance and gratitude that the season brings. But for some of us, all it takes is a few extra cookies or glasses of wine to knock us down and remind us how important our health care routines are. Staying present and aware of your trigger areas are key in maneuvering those tricky situations.
Here are ideas for maintaining your happiest, healthiest self this holiday season. These tips help me navigate through the gatherings, and holiday meals with grace and ease. But seriously, if I follow only a few of these tips I’ll be happy.
1. Set your intention for the upcoming holiday season. Seems kind of silly, but we often forget the importance of staying present and what the season is really about. Before getting swept up in the holiday rush, decide for yourself what is important to you this season. Maybe it’s sticking to your self-care routines, meditating daily to stay present, or maintaining healthy eating habits. It could be as simple as giving back more, or starting a gratitude journal. Whatever matters to you, hold that intention for the season, to help you remain mindful of that it’s all about.
2. Make a food plan and stick to it: When you have a holiday party, plan ahead what you are willing to eat, and what you’re not willing to eat. Ask yourself: Where do I draw the line? It’s no fun to completely restrict yourself, and you’ll just end up wanting more. By planning ahead you can have what you like without going overboard. Maybe it’s no fried food, minimal sweets, or limited carbs. Or make a compromise with yourself, have the dessert but skip the appetizers. Bringing your own healthy dish to a party will also ensure that if there’s nothing at a party you feel comfortable eating, you will at least have something. Also, plan how much alcohol you are confortable drinking. I prefer to stick to just one, but I pick my absolute favorite, and slowly sip on it throughout the night to thoroughly enjoy it. If you don’t want to drink at all, a nice wine glass with sparkling water and a lime looks festive, and gives you something to sip on, but won’t give you a headache. Whatever your game plan is, deciding ahead of time, and knowing you are sticking to it will ease those difficult in-the-moment decisions.
3. Avoid over eating: Hors d’oeuvres, pass arounds, and appetizers are especially tricky because you don’t know how much you’ve had, and it’s so easy to reach out for “just one more.” If you’re at a party where there are pass arounds, set a number you’re comfortable with and stick to it. If there’s a table of appetizers in front of you, sit near the veggie plate, that way you can snack while you chat and not end up consuming 15 pigs in a blanket. With a buffet, fill your plate just once, that way you know exactly what you’ve eaten. Also, eating a light healthy meal at home before you go to a party will ensure that you don’t mindlessly snack on whatever is in front of you.
4. Take care of your immne system. With the hectic pace and over indulging, the immune system can take a beating this time of year. Take your probiotics, vitamin C, use your essential oils, get good sleep and don’t overdo it on sugar and alcohol. Simple as that.
5. Prioritize your self care routines. If you’ve already developed morning and night time self care rituals, the holidays are a time where you should stick to them the most. This time of year can be stressful, with the running around, cooking, hosting parties, shopping for presents, and going to events. Take the time every day to do what keeps you grounded and feeling your best. These routines help to begin and end the day, on a relaxed and positive note. Self care can be physical or spiritual, so decide what works for you and don’t neglect yourself.
6. Move. Yes, this goes without saying, but our workout routines tend to be the first thing to go during the holidays when we have a million other things to do. But with all of the extra food and alcohol consumed, and the stressing that inevitably happens, it’s more important than ever to exercise; not only to burn off the eggnogg, but it’s also great for the mind, and managing anxiety. I find that a regular yoga practice is a grounding and relaxing way to balance all of the movement that goes on during the rest of the day.
Whether it’s spending time with family, enjoying good food, or giving back, however you choose to celebrate this holiday season, be mindful of what matters most to you, be present to the meaning of the season, take care of yourself, and enjoy it all!
