Chocolate For A Higher Vibration?? 

CHOCOLATE is in itself a universal language!  

No matter what race, or what language someone speaks, when you say the word CHOCOLATE, 

when you give someone a piece of CHOCOLATE or when you smell a piece of CHOCOLATE 

it immediately invites a SMILE, doesn’t it?

Indulging in it makes one feel great, and as we know, feeling good raises VIBRATION!

Part of our purpose while here on earth is simply to live a JOYful life…

I choose to have CHOCOLATE in my life every day as part of my JOYful life experience!

Life is like a puzzle of a 1000 pieces

The inspiration for this writing came from a wonderful Video Blogging group I am a part of.  

The theme was to blog about a metaphor for life...

Like the  idea of designing my dream life, to begin a puzzle of this size seems daunting, yet exhilarating!

My heart’s desires are like the borders of the puzzle--they're easy to pick out and organize as the framework or foundation for what is to come next…

Some pieces are easy to pick out—and I notice them right away and they go exactly where I expect them to.

Other pieces are more challenging to find, and require more patience, more searching, more focus…  Then, all of a sudden when I least expect it, there it is!  It’s jumping out at me and so bloody obvious! And the find was worth the effort, because now there’s a whole group of pieces that branch off from it, and go together with ease.

Sometimes when I’m feeling frustrated that it is not just not coming together, and I can’t seem to make any progress, I put it aside, forget about it, and look at it another day, with fresh eyes…

When the last few pieces come together and I look at the finished piece of art… I feel a sense of pride, of great accomplishment, and of joy for what has unfolded before me…. 

Lorraine Gambacourt  December 15th 2013

My Personal Best- A 21 day Challenge

I am blessed to have excellent health, and I take pretty good care of myself. In the summer months  I spend a lot of time outdoors, and walk for at least an hour several times a week.  I quit my gym membership because I have the equipment to do most of the same strength training at home.  However, once the temperature cools, I don’t get outside much.  In the past several weeks I noticed I was sleeping in later, having less energy, and feeling like I lost my mojo, and if I took a trip tomorrow, I would not want to put on my bikini!

Time for an energy shift…

I had stepped out of my comfort zone a couple of months ago, and joined a #videoblogging group which was started by Simon Jordan. I wanted to get more comfortable in front of a camera, because as we know videos are quickly becoming the way to build an online presence, connect with people more easily, and help you build your brand and grow your business.

FF to a couple of weeks ago.  A contest was announced by Simon to the  #videoblogging group  to come up with a “Personal Best” challenge, and video the progress or achievement of the goal. I really want the prize. J

I wondered what I could possibly do? Running is not my thing, so I would not be challenging myself to run my best time, and I am not an extreme fitness enthusiast, but did come up with something I was excited about!

I decided that my personal best challenge would evolve around creating new habits and disciplines that were simple to incorporate daily, easy to do in my surroundings, yet produce measureable results.  I also wanted to be an inspiration to other people and show them how simple ordinary actions can lead to extraordinary results!  My goal is to increase my clarity, energy, physical tone, and overall feel healthier and more fit!   Anyone can do this.  You merely need to DECIDE to want something different…and this can apply to any area of your life.

I called it “My 21 Day Challenge” My daily plan includes both physical activity and slight diet modifications.  The key strength activity evolves around push ups.  A few weeks ago, I could barely do 3 “real/proper” push ups!  Now I am up to 15 and by the end of the 21 days my goal is 20.

Why 21 days?  Because it takes 21 days to form a new habit, and the chances of continuing are much greater! Here is what my daily checklist includes:

·        Pushups-First week 10/2nd Wk up to 15/ 3rd Wk up to 20

·        10 stomach crunches/both for mid stomach and obliques

·        20 tri-cep crunches

·        10 (SLOW)  leg raises (Actually have moved to 15 now)

·        15 min walk-ideally outside for fresh air, but if weather is brutal, I have given myself permission to use the treadmill.

·        Include a juice cleanse- My favourite is Elderberry which stimulates the immune system. Unfortunately the 3 day cleanse I have used in the past is no longer available, so I have to improvise!

·        Have 1 apple a day! ( A simple thing, but have gotten out of the habit!)

·        32 oz. of water daily

·        No white bread

I am now on day 11 and the interesting thing is that I cannot let myself down! (It is definitely easier to do the physical part in the am)  I love the challenge of doing something consistently which has now spilled over into my business activity as well.  Consistency is key, and I am going to demonstrate that small simple steps yield great results!

Guest Blog by Tamsen English
Holistic Weight Loss Coach
To learn more about Tamsen's story and how she can assist you with achieving your ideal weight, visit www.TamsenEnglish.com 

Why Holistic Weight Loss is BEST!

All diets have been designed by someone else, someone who has never met you and discovered your likes and dislikes, your strengths or your weaknesses. The chances of it not being exactly right for you are very high. If it is not right, you will soon experience discomfort and over time it can result in making the diet redundant.

Think of it as buying a dress from a factory outlet and comparing it to having a dress tailor made. The tailoring is made up from: the Pattern, Stitching, Fabric and an overall Style, which can all be picked out by you. With a little time and honesty, a perfect item can be made.

I liken the pattern to the Mind. It is the predefined template that you follow. If your mind is clear of what you desire and is backed up by the belief that it is possible; it is a perfect template for you to follow

The ‘stitching’ is the specific action needed to make a fabulous dress. It is adapted to the individual’s contour. The dress will then have flexibility, durability and not to mention fit like a glove. In the same way, the Body has specific actions that are needed to be taken to look and feel fabulous. As each individual has a different contour, each body has different likes and needs that must be met.

The fabric is an opportunity to have exactly what you desire. If it is something that you really love, you will get so much use and pleasure from it. The dress will not be made redundant. When we deny our hearts desires we often turn to food for the pleasure in our lives. Honouring your Heart’s Desires will energise you to fill your life with many wonderful things and end mindless eating.

Finally, I liken the ‘style’ of the dress to your Spirit; the overall effect the garment has on how you feel and how people perceive you. Individual styles can have a direct influence on your attitude (the way you do things in life). If the style does not fit in with who you think you are, you will feel uncomfortable and out of place. In the same way if a diet you try goes against the way you naturally do things in life, it will be an uphill struggle. Holistic weight loss is discovering your true spirit and living by that energy.

In order to make a dress that will look and feel fabulous, it is essential for you to be involved in all four processes. You can’t have a fabulous dress if you don’t follow a pattern, action the stitching, love the fabric and express your own style.

Holistic Weight Loss is exactly the same process. Your mind, body, spirit and heart’s desire have to be involved in order to have long lasting success.

                  You are the defining factor in having great weight loss success!

Tamsen English, The Holistic Weight Loss Coach          

www.TamsenEnglish.com

Email: info@tamsenenglish.com

Rediscover Your Joy

I would love to share a recent "Guest Blog" that I wrote for Sandra Dawes in celebration and anticipation for her upcoming book, "Embrace Your Destiny".  Each guest blog topic related to the chapters in her book. I wish her much success!  You can find out more about Sandra here:  http://embraceurdestiny.com/

Rediscover Your Joy

In the teachings of Esther Hicks and Abraham, we learn that from the place of “noticing”   the vast contrast of experiences and emotions we encounter, we are then able to more consciously CHOOSE, DECIDE, and DECLARE to the universe, what is it that we PREFER in life…

By chance (although we know there are no coincidences!) I stumbled across a quote this morning by Kahil Gibran: “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more JOY you can contain.”  There is much truth in this, and I encourage you to explore it further.

Years ago, I felt this sense of sadness, yet I was blessed with so many wonderful things in my world. Thankfully, I did not fall into a deep depression, but it caused a stirring deep within my soul and put me on the path to self-discovery, which continues to this day.  (We are ever-evolving beings.) I began to ask myself questions like, “  Is this what I am to experience?  What is my purpose?  How do I know what my true purpose is? Are we not meant to experience great joy and fulfillment in life?”  The response I heard was a resounding YES!  JOY became my word, and I was determined to discover how I could create more joy in my life.  I guess I made this known to people around me because I began to receive little gifts to remind me.

The first was Sarah Ban Breathnach’s “Simple Abundance- A Daybook of Comfort and Joy.  Slowly I developed a sense of peace, calmness and acceptance, which helped me gain some perspective.  I began a new habit of rising a little earlier each morning, to give myself the gift of having a little time to myself. I would light a candle, enjoy my coffee,and sit in beautiful silence reading the day’s message, followed by at least 15 minutes for quiet reflection.  And so began my journey to a happier, more fulfilling life…

We are Spirit and  Human.  The spiritual part is pure loving consciousness  vibrating at the highest frequency  right up there with yoy, abundance, and kindness.  When you come from this place, and connect to that inner source energy, you can’t help but feel greater Joy!  This is what we are meant to experience in our short time here on earth…   Do I ever feel anger, resentment, frustration, or fearful?  Of course I do!  The key is to notice it, learn from it, and bounce back to a healthier energy quickly.

I PREFER JOY

How about you?  It is there for you… If you’ve lost it, you CAN rediscover it…

  Here are a few strategies and tools I use to help me stay in this beautiful space more often:

·        Quiet morning reflection and visualization time

·        Daily gratitude and appreciation

·        Meditation-A favourite is Christie Marie Sheldon’s “Heart Centre Awakening”

·        I surround myself with uplifting positive people!

·        Read positive books! Currently I am reading  The Happiness Advantage

·        Be gentle with yourself J

The World Needs MORE Everyday Imperfect Action Heros!

I was at the gym today.  (Yay for me!)   It is amazing how “downloads” flow in when you clear the cobwebs from your mind with exercise!

I caught a preview for the new GI-Joe Action Hero movie, staring Dwayne Johnson… Mmmm…Nice eye candy!  Got me smiling and then this blog idea flowed in J

I can’t take all the credit for this message.  I am always in learning, growing mode, and yesterday was no exception. While driving in my car, I took the opportunity to listen to a few interviews with some dynamic business women via Darlene Cary.  You can find them at www.HerNextStep.com

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed, frozen, stuck, fearful? My gosh, for many of us that happens every week, or even every day!  You have all these wonderful ideas and goals, but the end result is that you can’t make the next step.  Ladies, YOU HAVE TO!   It is our divine obligation to be true to our hearts desire!  If you have big dreams or goals that fuel your fire, stir your passion, get you smiling and dancing, then you need to learn how to do what it takes to make it happen! 

One of the interviews was with Erin O’Brien, a Procrastination Coach! Couldn’t we all utilize that valuable service??  Erin helps women break down large daunting tasks or goals in bite-sized manageable steps!  BRILLIANT… Here is what I learned from Erin:  When you take action, it actually releases dopamine into the bloodstream.  Dopamine is necessary in order for us to have “AHA” moments. Most people think they need to have an “AHA” moment before they take action. Isn’t it ironic that the opposite is actually true?   We must take imperfect action first and then the “AHA” moments will come after….  PERFECT 

Another lady who inspired me with her wisdom is Corrina Gordon-Barnes, who has written a book called, “Turn Your Passion Into Profit”.  Corrina shared something that really hit home… You have to bust thru your fears and make yourself visible, so people can see you, so YOU can help them…BRILLIANT. 

You have an obligation to share your gifts and talents—to be that beacon of shining light, visible to those who need a solution… because you may just the be the person who is meant to serve them…

I believe and know that the Universe is kind, loving and supportive, and corresponds to the song in our heart.  We need only take those imperfect action steps without judging them! (Your ego judges your actions, so don’t listen).  It doesn’t matter what the action may be—it only matters that you took the step, so the universe can respond back.  Inspired action is the most productive kind,  however that is a topic for my next blog!

For more information about these wonderful women and their services, visit www.HerNextStep.com     

California Adventure

What else is there to do at 4am when the wineries in Napa Valley don’t open until 10??  BLOG!!

So here is the long and short of my adventure to California with my daughter thus far….

Arrive at airport at 6am Thursday, only to find that our 8:35 am to Denver has been delayed until 10am.  That would mean we would miss our Noon connecting flight to San Jose—Not good.   I remained calm knowing they would fix it, and invoked the power of “Easy World” . (Thanks to Julia Rogers Hamrick who wrote this magnificent book, making the statement, “I choose to live in easy world where everything is easy” is now a regular part of my vocab!

Beautiful!  The United Airlines rep was so amazing and helpful, she booked us on Air Canada for a 9:10 flight which would leave us plenty of time to catch our connector! YEAH! J   We even were provided a free lunch on the plane, (very pleasantly unexpected—Nice…) I am guessing because of our inconvenience. However...

The New flight crew were late in arriving. (Come on...Really?) The plane was cold. We waited, and had to be taxied out to be de-iced, and didn’t leave ground until 10:15.  SOOO… touch down Denver 11:35, dart of the plane, still living in easy world—breathing and trying to relax!  Step off the escalator to a door that opens for us in perfect timing, to ground train to the B section of the airport. Dash to B-25 Gate and were boarding by 11:40!  Plane doors close at 11:50!  Whew!  A little too close for comfort, but we made it!   But did our luggage…?

Uh uh…and it is raining in San Jose!  The forecast showed partly sunny when I looked a few days ago!! Lol (Now I can laugh)

The good news is our bags were on the next flight out and would arrive in 4 hours, but we decided to do without, and carry on to Napa Valley, and our bags will be delivered to our hotel in San Jose the next day.  So we picked up a few things and headed out in the rain( got a nice free upgrade on our rental! J  YEAH! but WITHOUT my GPS cause it is in the suitcase!  Do you know what it is like trying to read a map and follow the signs and roads after relying on a GPS for so long!  I always put my makeup, GPS, and a few necessities in the carry on but was keeping a light load this time cause I was carrying my laptop.. Oh well… Choose a better feeling thought…it looks like the sky is getting brighter…. Yes it is!  The rain is stopping and I actually see some blue sky!! J

We managed!  We thought we missed an exit, and veered off the hwy, so I could have a two minute panic stricken almost melt down—Thank goodness for my lovely daughter, who is so practical and calm, and is happy to figure out the map lol.  We realized we were on the right road after all, and merged back onto the Hwy, arriving in pretty darn good time to beautiful Napa Valley, and it is warm!

Our room, that I booked the night before, is so lovely! as is the woman who owns the Chardonnay Lodge, who was a gem to help us plan our stay around the area, and so generously upgraded us to the “Lavender” room.   This is the most adorable Lodge!  Women will love it—men—not so much…

Madi and I ventured out to the beautiful downtown area, on this warm balmy night, and had a lovely dinner at TUSCANY, a rustic wonderful restaurant with amazing food, and ambiance that made you feel like you are in Europe.

Now it is 7am—3 more hours to wait til the wineries open…oh… did I mention I have no hair product?!