Springtime in South Florida…

When I say that, people often ask, “How do you know its spring?”  To the untrained eye, it’s always green, sunny and deliciously beautiful here. Well, that’s true too, but we do have one, you just have to notice. When you pay attention, you fully experience the subtle transition from winter to spring.

While we don’t have the obvious signs like the absence of snow and subsequent thaw, we do have lots of clues that the vernal equinox is upon us. Like the abundant golden yellow bloom on the Tabebuia trees and the sweet-smelling flowers of the Frangipani, both of which are relatively bare in winter. Then there’s the remarkably fragrant Datura tree with long, hanging flowers that look like its common name, Angel Trumpets.

Every day I’m welcomed home with the scents of jasmine and gardenia, the bright colors of impatiens, petunias and pansies. It’s truly a “sense-sensation.” Spring has sprung and I’m sick with the fever. The next time you’re feeling down, take a walk outside and notice spring. It’s everywhere and it’s beautiful! Anyone want to join me for a walk in the garden?

Why is it that the things we get the most joy from are labeled “bad for you”? Sometimes I feel like a player on the game show, “You Can’t Win!” I know you can relate…

It’s been cold. No, really cold. Snow is falling in places it doesn’t normally fall, warm, sunny locales are bundled up with the heat on for the first time in eons, and the only way I can get warm is with a long hot shower. Oh. Hot showers are bad for you? C’mon, you’re kidding me, right? I am cold to the bone and covering up with clothes doesn’t do it. Yes, I’m all layered up: t-shirt, shirt, sweater, jacket, hat, gloves, scarf, you name it – I’m wearing it.

And a long hot shower always does the trick. Warms me all the way through, makes me feel finally comfortable. Then I turn on the news and what do I see? Hot showers are bad for your skin, hot water causes you to age more quickly, causes dry, itchy skin. Hmm…itchy, dry skin or freezing cold to the bone? Such a dilemma.

So I go make a cup of coffee. That’ll warm me up. No wait, caffeine is bad for you. I’ll have decaf. No wait, they decaffeinate using a chemical process that’s linked to cancer (What isn’t linked to cancer?)  Fine. I’ll heat up some soup. OMG, the soup has sodium and all kinds of preservatives.  What to do, what to do?

As I rub my eyes to clear my head, my husband says, “Don’t rub your eyes, it’s bad for you.”  I think to myself, “Again?”  I’m bristling now. “What do you mean, it’s bad for me to rub my eyes? Have you ever done it? It’s nirvana to give your eyes a good rub.”  “Yes,” he says, “but it also causes wrinkles. If you wanna look older, go ahead and rub away.”

OK. I give up. I’ll just go have a smoke, a drink, watch some mindless television and eat cheese doodles. Oh, wait…

Ever wonder why despite the ups and downs you continue doing what you do? Why you continue the daily grind, sometimes seeing little in return? Me too. Sometimes I think, “Why am I busting my a** doing this?” Where’s the reward? And then something magical happens to remind me…

It’s our big, annual event, the Prosperity Conference & Expo, a two-day coming together of like-minded, positive, success oriented people joining forces with the express purpose of building our businesses and building our lives. A lineup of success speakers, millionaire mentors and victim to victory triumphs meant to inspire, educate and motivate. And the ultimate goal – to change lives.  Marianne Williamson, author of “Return to Love” among other “Course in Miracles” based books said:

“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

That’s the goal of the Prosperity Conference – to demolish fear so that we embrace our power and use it to make our world not just better, but the best we can make it.

This year was the pinnacle. This year the breakthroughs were extraordinary. People sought me out the entire weekend to share their Ah-Ha Moments, the perfect partnerships they created, their epiphanies, that one thing they needed to see, hear, feel that’s now taking them to the next level. It was magical. Really, magical.

They reminded me that the time, effort, energy and work required to make the conference happen was beyond worth it. Putting on an event for hundreds of people is a major undertaking:  selling tickets, managing speakers, enrolling volunteers, on and on and on…it was easy to get lost in the details and forget what I was working toward.

I’m changing my world even though I don’t always see it right away. So are you. In every person you touch, you change your piece of the world. You may not have a big annual event to provide immediate testimony, but you are changing your world nevertheless. What’s your vision, your dream? Look right now at your day to day, remind yourself of your vision, your passion, your dream. Keep going. There’s no feeling in the world like accomplishing what you set out to accomplish. It’s magical, it’s powerful and it’s joyful!

I love to eat.  That “Eat, Pray, Love” lady has nothing on me.  I can eat with the best of them and I don’t have to go to Italy to do it.  I’ve always been one of those people that “lives to eat,” rather than, “eats to live.”  I know people like that, eating simply to live, they actually forget to eat. Can you imagine? Forgetting to eat?  I don’t know about you but at breakfast I’m planning lunch…and usually dinner too.

For the last 4 weeks I’ve been on a weight loss program where I eat only one meal a day and replace the other 2 with nutritional shakes. I’ve never been a meal replacement fan, I always preferred to eat my calories rather than drink them.  Unless you’re talking ‘adult beverages,’ those are OK to drink rather than eat calories. But this time I needed a good jump-start so I tried it.  And I’m glad I finally gave in and did.  The shakes, which on day one tasted barely palatable, today taste like Dairy Queen!  It’s amazing what we can train ourselves to believe. Talk about being joyful! I get Dairy Queen for breakfast every day!

And my meal, my one meal a day, is the best food I’ve ever eaten. Really. The BEST food I’ve ever eaten. See, since I’m only getting one meal, I’m making it myself and I’m making it like Martha Stewart would — cloth napkins, fine china, beautifully plated, with lots of colorful organic veggies, scrumptious grilled fish, and a bountiful green salad.

Another side benefit, my taste-buds have experienced a re-birth. For the first time in a long time, I not only can taste the food I eat, I know what “satisfied” feels like. And it doesn’t take as much food as I thought it did.  So I’m doing great, losing weight, feeling energetic, exercising and enjoying the ride. Will someone please remind me of this when the Holidays are here???

Any day at the beach is a joyful day. I’m so lucky to live in South Florida, where the weather is conducive to lots of beach days!

Last Sunday, my husband Dan and I had a joyful, rare experience just steps away from our chairs and umbrella…

It was the perfect sunny day, white puffy clouds; blue, blue sky…the water was cool and flat, almost like a lake, and crystal clear, just like the Caribbean where you can see everything.

It’s wonderful to walk in the water knowing there’s nothing I can’t see lurking under there. As we stroll out we notice it’s really shallow, and I mean knee-high shallow, for a long way out.

We see this weird, dark cloud in the water and suddenly out of nowhere, we’re surrounded by little, itty, bitty guppy fish. Hundreds, maybe thousands of them, making the water bounce above them.

I thought, “This is so cool! These little fish just swimming around us as if we’re some kind of plankton…maybe they’ll give me one of those new fish-biting pedicures?!?”

As soon as we walk through one school, there’s another up ahead. Only following this flurry of fish is a smaller school of bigger fish. “What are those?” I ask Dan, knowing he’ll love having a forum to feature his Discovery Channel knowledge. “Those are ‘Blue Runners.’ They’re chasing the little bait fish who are camouflaging by gathering ‘round bigger things – like you and me.”  “Cool. Hey, this is the ‘Lion King’ and we’re a part of it!”  The sun, the ocean, nature…talk about feeling Joy!

This fish symphony plays all around us for about an hour when we head back to shore. We continue to see fishes all the way back — walk through one school, see another up ahead, walk through one, see another up ahead — only this time, following behind the   bait fish and the blue runners there’s a much bigger fish.  “Uh, Dan, was that a…?”  “Yes ma’am,” he says, “Circle of Life, where you have little fish, you have big fish.”

Alrightee then, aren’t we joyful that it’s following them and not us! And aren’t we happy we’re back on the beach with a joyful, one of a kind, tale to tell… 

The secrets to financial success are finally at your fingertips! No longer will you have to wonder about how other people do it. No longer will you have to deal with financial failure time and time again.

Read this article and find out the keys to financial success!

Secret to Financial Success # 1: Make Sound Decisions.

Hasty decision making rarely ever does anybody any good. It robs you of the ability to look at a situation sensibly.

If a genie were to suddenly appear before you offering three wishes but under a time limit, you would probably end up wishing for something that will only make you happy short-term, like a million dollars perhaps.

But if you had all the time in the world to think of what to wish for, you would be able to ask for something that could sustain you for a lifetime.

Secret to Financial Success # 2: Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket.

One of the keys to financial success is to invest wisely. There have been far too many stories of people putting their savings or their retirement money on the line for a chance to win big in the stock exchange market, or in a business that promises huge returns.

It’s a fact that nothing in this life is certain. A good hunch is still a hunch. I’m not discouraging you from following your instinct. But make sure you dip your feet into the pool first instead of jumping right in.

Secret to Financial Success # 3: Manage Debts Properly.

Debts can very easily pull you down if you are not careful with your planning and decisions. But not all debts are bad.

In fact, credit card debts can be a good thing because you can pay for things without having to shed money immediately, and instead have that money earning interest in the bank for the time being. Plus you get to earn some points! Just remember to pay them when they’re due.

These secrets to financial success have been used time and time again by individuals who want to expand their wealth. You don’t necessarily have to have a lot of money to begin with in order for you to win it big in life.

You only need to use your common sense. Don’t decide on anything without even doing proper research. Don’t bet all your money on one horse and manage your debts properly.

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No vehicle can ever be immune from the need for car repair. At various periods of a vehicle’s service life it will invariably need auto AC repair, brakes repair, transmission repair and engine repair. Adding up all those car repair needs can bring you to quite a huge sum. In this time of financial crisis, all vehicle owners would appreciate any possible way of lessening the need for, or frequency of, car repairs. The implementation of proper automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures at the right schedules would be one effective way to achieve this. Vehicle owners can save even more if they can do some of these procedures on their own rather than always paying an auto service mechanic for even the simplest task. This does not mean discarding one’s trusted auto service mechanic, though, because he will still be very much needed for the more complicated automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures and, of course, for car repair. Following are some steps to remember on automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures and car repair.

Foremost on the list is learning what is written in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. The vehicle owner should know the contents of this document from cover to cover. Of course, it does not have to be memorized. It should, however, be kept in a safe place that is easily accessible. This is important because the owner’s manual contains all of the necessary automotive maintenance procedures for the vehicle based on its manufacturer’s recommendations, as well as the schedule of frequency for such procedures. This has to be complied with to the letter.

The vehicle owner is the best person to do certain automotive diagnostic procedures because he or she knows how the vehicle performs in normal circumstances. He or she will therefore be the first to notice even the slightest change in the vehicle’s behaviour, including handling, acceleration, deceleration, steering and braking.

The vehicle owner should take gauge readings daily in order to track changes in fluid levels and gas mileage. He or she can then spot abnormal spikes in usage or depletion. Regular inspection of the vehicle’s tires, hoses and belts should be done to monitor wear and tear and damage.

Any strange noise, weird odor, leaks or vibration of the vehicle should be seen as signals of trouble. In fact, certain signs mean there is an emergency that should immediately be attended to. Smoke is one of these signs. Upon seeing smoke from the vehicle, it should promptly be pulled over and it should not be restarted before it is seen to by an auto service mechanic.

All of the vehicle owner’s findings should be documented in a logbook every day. This will ensure that nothing is forgotten and everything is reported accurately. The logbook should be submitted to the auto service mechanic periodically. If there are signs of an emergency, the logbook should also be submitted immediately. It will be used as an important reference as the auto service mechanic makes a diagnosis.

Ask for an official written copy of the mechanic’s diagnosis and repair recommendations from the auto service shop. Also ask the auto service shop to provide an official written quotation with details of the services to be done, parts that need replacement and the time schedule for the job.

A vehicle owner who faithfully complies with all the recommended automotive diagnostic and maintenance procedures and schedules based on the manufacturer’s instructions will surely be rewarded with much less need for car repair. This means less frequent auto AC repair, brakes repair, transmission repair and engine repair from the auto service shop, resulting in overall cost cutting and savings.

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If you are also intending to buy a new car for yourself, but are confused regarding the selection of car dealer and the model, then internet can prove to be quite helpful for you. Apart from providing you latest information about the all new cars in the market, internet can also help you ascertain the credibility of the dealer. Even if you are looking for used cars for sale, then also you will find several options with online car sales dealers.

However, it is advisable to perform thorough research on the internet regarding the authenticity of the dealer, and the prices of the car of your choice on different websites. But you should beware of fraud car dealers who might try to lure you with extra low prices. You need to keep your eyes open for all specific details regarding the car, and use your mind to not fall prey to false claims and inconceivable high discounts. Be realistic and judge the value of the car, as no one will give you anything for free and incur large losses. If some one is providing you extremely low prices then there will be a hidden catch that you need to figure out.

At the same time, make sure that you know each and every detail about the car that you intend to purchase, like exterior, interior, features, specifications, pricing, accessories provided with the vehicle by the manufacturer. For example, if you are looking forward to own one of the latest models from Subaru cars, then you need to know about all the furnishings, services and accessories that are provided with a new car by other manufacturers, like cushions, woofer system and others.

One more benefit of doing extensive research is that you will have a better chance at bargaining if you know what other dealers are offering before hand and you can choose the most beneficial alternative for your self. If you are tight on budget as well as time, then it is recommended that you opt for online car sales dealers. Moreover, if you are on a lookout for great deals and wide variety then consider dealing with Australian online car sales companies, as this country is considered as the epicenter of the entire online car sales business. You will find numerous big and small online dealers for car sales Melbourne, Adelaide, Victoria, Sydney, and other parts of the country that offers exciting deals on new as well as used cars for sale all over the world.

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Over the years, the word “antioxidant” has been infiltrating the food and health industries as doctors agree that eating a diet high in antioxidants is critical to staying healthy. We all know that antioxidants are essential to our bodies, but what exactly should we be eating? Which foods contain the highest levels of antioxidants?

According the the USDA, antioxidants help prevent damage done to cells by removing free radicals from our bodies. If we eat foods packed with antioxidants on a regular basis, we will be prepping our bodies to deal with the numerous life processes that have potential to damage our bodies and our health.

So what foods should you eat? Stick with fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and spices. If you make a decision to try and live a healthier lifestyle, including these super foods into your diet shouldn’t be too difficult. If your eating healthy, you’re probably already eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. This guide will outline the foods you need to eat to make your body a free radical-fighting machine!

Here are the top 5 antioxidant foods! Remember to eat a variety of these antioxidant-rich foods and not just the top few. In general, the darker the color food, the higher levels of antioxidants it contains. The USDA recommends consuming at least 3,000 ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) a day.

Type Food Serving Size Antioxidant/Serving

Beans/Legumes Red Beans 1/2 Cup 13727

Berries Wild Blueberries 1 Cup 13427

Beans/Legumes Red Kidney Beans 1/2 Cup 13259

Beans/Legumes Pinto Beans 1/2 Cup 11864

Berries Blueberries 1 Cup 9019

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Every night when you go home, you have to make a decision about what to have for dinner. For the most part, we would like to eat nutritious food, but many of us didn’t grow up learning how to cook healthy meals. If you’re watching your health, eating out is not the best option, so most people look in their cookbooks for recipes. This isn’t always the best solution, because recipes lie. But, if you know the right way, it’s very easy to cook nutritious food every night of the week.

This is the process that many people go through:

1. You come home from work, and have to start planning dinner.

2. You’ve already cooked the 5 things you know how to cook this week.

3. You need more ideas,

4. You look through the pantry, consider calling for pizza…

It’s not only exhausting, but you have to re-educate yourself every single night. It’s not going to get you the results you want or deserve for yourself and your family. If you’re looking to cook more nutritious food at home, save time and have endless cooking ideas, you’re in the right place.

There are 5 simple steps to cooking with fresh ingredients.

Step 1: Get Fresh Ingredients

• The first step for using fresh, seasonal ingredients is to actually GET some.

• This could be the most difficult step for many of you that are used to the huge mega-mart grocery store.

There are alternatives. My eyes were opened to more alternatives during my trip to Paris, France. The food culture in Paris is so much different from where I live in the US. There were very few corporate “chain” restaurants there.

Many of the restaurants were small, 10 table places where there were three people on staff, the chef, the maitre d’ and the dish washer. They had their service each night and went home. Each time I asked why their food tasted so good, they all had the same answer. And, not a single person bragged about their recipes.

Instead, I was told that I needed fresh, simple ingredients. I discovered that I needed to examine where my food is coming from. This doesn’t mean simply the store where you shop, but what is the country of origin for your food. Think about how you feel about your money going to another country when there are farmers in your community that need your help. Now think about how long ago that vegetable was harvested in the far away country, and what happened to it during its travels.

It might be inconvenient to drive past dozens of mega-marts to find a farmers market. But you may find that there’s a local produce roadside stand near you that you’ve avoided. In my case, I signed up for “The Produce Box” which delivers fresh community supported agriculture to my doorstep. Fresh is important because fruits and vegetables degrade as soon as they’re picked.

• Nutrients are lost

• They become visually unappealing

• Harder to cook successfully

• Loss of flavor!

Step 2: Select the freshest ingredients when you shop

Be aware of what you’re choosing, even if you shop at the local produce stand or farmers market. Some items may still be fresher than others and the most nutritious, healthy food is the freshest. You have to be even more aware if you shop at the local mega grocery.

In understanding how to cook healthy, you need to be able to understand the difference between fresh food and food that has been ripened artificially or is not ripe at all. Do you know how to tell a fresh orange or grapefruit? Did you know that color is NOT an indicator of freshness in peaches?

Step 3: Storing Fresh Ingredients

For maximum shelf life, nutritional preservation and budget savings, there are three issues in storing fresh ingredients:

1. Moisture

2. Air circulation

3. Temperature

Not everything can be thrown in to the drawer in the refrigerator and preserve their freshness. In fact, some things will suffocate in a plastic bag. Other produce will need to be wrapped tightly to retain moisture. Other items will need to be kept cold, while others will degrade under the cold.

Step 4: Master a few basic cooking techniques

At the very least, master the following techniques:

1. Understanding the transfer of heat

2. Saute method

3. Know how to make sassy sauces

But there are so many more. All of the basic methods in cooking are covered in my live cooking classes. Giving you the tools to understand these basic methods is what makes my approach to teaching cooking so unique and why people rave about my Web Cooking Classes. Web Cooking Classes empowers you with a thorough understanding of basic methods which allows you to cook and create without a reliance on recipes. Pure freedom!

Step 5: Finishing the Process with Fresh Herbs

This is the number one question I get during my live cooking classes:

Q: “Which herbs to use and how much to use?”

A: “Use the ones you like.”

Seriously! Use your nose to see what it reminds you of, use the ones that you like and use as much as you like.

You want to know my number one herb secret? Herbs go last! Fresh herbs should not be cooked. In fact, just the heat of the finished dish is enough to release the aromas of fresh herbs.

These are the secrets that chefs know about how to cook healthy which are so easy to incorporate into your every day cooking. You can cook nutritious food that you want to eat for your health and for how wonderful it tastes.

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