Happy For No Reason

Greetings:

I have to share with you an e-zine that featured one my mentors Marci Shimoff. Marci Shimoff is the person behind the Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul series and is one of the leading motivational experts in the world. Her newest book, Happy For No Reason, is soon to be released. In the e-zine Marci outlines the steps for manifesting what you want in your life. The three steps are:

1. INTENTION – Be clear about what you want

2. ATTENTION – Experience the thoughts and feelings of already having what you want, AND take the action steps to manifest your intention.

3. NO TENSION – Let go. Relax. Shift from being tightly focused on your specific desired outcome to being wide open to all possibilities. Trust that your highest good will come to you, and feel the happiness of that.

Marci points out that there has been a lot written about steps one and two, but not so much about three. As I have told Marci several times, step three tends to be the most challenging. Letting go and trusting takes courage and a knowing that what you want will be given.

What Marci says about that is:

"The problem is we haven’t taken the last step. We haven’t let go. Surrendered. Said, “Okay, this or something better.” The third step, “no tension,” frees our minds, opens our hearts, and, most importantly, lets us be happy in this moment. If we skip this step, it’s like having a closed fist; how can we receive anything when our hand isn’t open? In our “gotta-get” culture, this is the step most people miss or dismiss.

When we let go and trust that all is ultimately working out for the best, we feel happier. And happiness attracts more happiness."

I would highly recommend reading this issue featuring Marci. It will support you in practicing the art of being happy for no reason.

Rachelle

Seven Whole Grains on a Mission

Greetings:

Who doesn't love good tasting food that is good for you. The people over at Kashi understand that if it doesn't taste good you won't eat it and if you don't eat it, it won't do you any good. In addition to there great tasting food Kashi also have a wonderful website. I found a recipe for Haystack cookies that sounds almost too good to me true. I will let you know how they turn out.

If you are interested in lots of fun articles about staying healthy, going green, and just living a great life check out this fun and informative website. As I recently wrote in a day, Health is the great asset you have. Invest in it wisely.

Rachelle

Secrets of Personal Success

Greetings:

What I know about most secrets are they really aren't. But the word secret is a fun one to use and seems to be a favorite buzz word right now. I came across The 9 Inner Secrets to Personal Success on Yanik Silver's blog and they are right on! Of course I love them because it is all the stuff I am always talking about but Yanik has distilled them and pulled it all together. A must read!

Rachelle

What is a Tiny URL?

Greetings:

I have had several members ask me about my Tiny URL's that I sometimes list in the announcement section of the Day. Well a Tiny URL is just that. I use a program that takes a long URL, you have seen them they have 50 characters in them, and makes it smaller. Okay so what is the program? The great news is that it is easy and free. Just go to the website tinyurl.com and enter a URL that you would like to shrink. That way when you share the URL in your e-zine or e-mails or wherever it won't be some gigantic thing that people have a challenge with.

Rachelle

The Wisdom Trifecta

Greetings;

Well I have hit the jackpot. WisdomTips.com is featuring three of my tips this week. Whew! That is a lot of wisdom.

Here are the topics. Check them out.


Discover Your Calling

Create Your Perfect World

Everyone Plays the Fool Sometime


Enjoy the wisdom!

Rachelle

Hawaii 50

Greetings:

My friend Kathryn celebrated her 50th birthday with a Hawaii 50 Party. Lots of fun and festivities. My husband Adrian and I had matching outfits (the ones in the red), as did Chuck and Jackie.

I love parties and if I were not doing what I am doing I would be a party planner. Theme parties are great because they allow the guest to participate and make the decorations and food easier.

If you have a birthday coming up pick a theme and plan a party. One should always celebrate the special events in their life.

Rachelle

PS - Here is a day I wrote several years ago on celebrating your "Birth" Day.

Happy "Birth" Day

I love birthdays. I believe they are the best holidays because they give me an opportunity to celebrate my life with my friends and family. Birthdays are a time to reflect, plan and enjoy the great life we were given.

Coaching

I have a few friends who don't celebrate their birthdays because they don't think that the day is all that special. I believe it is the most special day of all, and we should take the opportunity not only to celebrate ourselves, but the people who have supported, cared for and, most of all, gotten us here. However you choose to celebrate your day, include the special people who have helped support you through the years.

Coaching Question

When was the last time you celebrated just being you?

Coaching Challenge

Whenever your birthday, plan to celebrate it. There is a trend for people celebrating big on their special days, so you might need some time to plan the big event. However, until the special day arrives, make sure that you take time each day to celebrate the special person you are, and acknowledge those who have helped you become that person.

Devotion

Greetings:

Today's Day was entitled "Devotion" and if the emails I received are any indication, it touched a lot of people. The Day was about Team Hoyt, the father and son team that participate in sporting events. The twist here is that Rick, the son, is disabled. The story is amazing. I have been deeply touched by their devotion, love and commitment.

One of our members sent a YouTube video to me. The video tells the story of Team Hoyt. It you watch it, just be warned, you should have a box of tissues near by.

What are you devoted to?

Rachelle

Cast Your Vote

Greetings:

I am so excited. I have entered one of my articles into a contest on Searchwrap and would love it if you would cast your vote! There are other articles that are entered as well so you can check those out when you visit the site. The article is entitled "Life Has No Meaning." This was a recent day that I wrote and I thought it would go nicely in the contest that Searchwrap is currently running.

Rachelle

The New and Improved

Greetings:

I recently had new pictures taken which I actually didn't realize I had not done in a while. Well that was until someone sent me something to proof and they were using a picture that was taken eight years ago. I know exactly when the picture was take because it was the first picture I had taken with my new puppy who is now eight years old! Times flies!

I have the most wonderful photographer and she does amazing work. The pictures are getting rave reviews and Trisha, my photographer, has even asked if she can use them in some of her marketing materials. How cool is that, I will be a model of sorts. Check out Trisha 's work, you will be amazed.

I am sharing a few of the pictures she took of me here. This is just another hint of things to come. Notice the orange jacket? That is all I am going to say.

Rachelle

Real Home E-Zine

Greetings:

I always like to share resources and I have a great one for you. My friend and colleague Katie Weber has launched a great new e-zine, Real Home E-zine. As a Feng Shui expert and home cleaning guru Katie combines her skills, talents and passions in this e-zine and shares how to live a great life without driving yourself mad. According to Katie,

"Real Home E-zine features home-related articles that anyone can relate to. Articles ranging from gardening to jewelry, from cooking to shopping, cleaning to decorating will all be covered in this newsletter. The newsletter is focused on providing tips and information that real families are looking for. It features columns written by experts that are approachable and knowledgeable in their fields." (just a hint I will be one of the experts)

If you would like an e-zine that will help you maintain a beautiful home and life this is the one for you.

Rachelle

A clue to what the future holds

Greetings:





There are so many changes happening with my business that it makes me dizzy when I think of it. I will be announcing two great products in the near future that I have been working on for months. I am so excited about sharing these because I have had so many request to release something like this that I know it will benefit a lot of people. Don't worry you won't have to wait too long to find out what I am talking about. Just a couple more days!


So what do girls with inner tubes have to do with me! Well change is in the air and these girls hold a hint of things to come!

Stay tuned. It is going to get exciting.

Rachelle

Articles galore by Yours Truly

Greetings:

If you would like to view a collection of my articles check out iSnare Articles. There are actually two pages of articles written by me!

Rachelle

The Best Dog Food Ever

Greetings:

Since many of the wet dog foods have been recalled I have been trying to find a dry food my fur children would eat. Although I was feeding them what our trainer said was the best food on the market, they didn't want to eat it. After reading an article in Dogs & Cats Colorado Style, "Meet Evy Serpa, President of Kumpi, Colorado's Own Dog and Cat Food Company!," I ran out and bought a bag of this all natural dog food. My dogs LOVE it! My little one Surrobbie ate it right down and begged for seconds. The food is called Kumpi, I found it at my local Vitamin Cottage. The company also produces cat food. For more information about the company check out the website. And keep your figures crossed. I have asked the owner Evy Serpa to be a guest on my radio show. I am so hoping she says yes.

Oh and check out the Kumpi blog, lots of good information about how to take care of your dog or cat.

Live the Day,

Rachelle

Mind Over Mattress

Greetings:

The recent day I wrote about Mind Over Mattress was a popular one. Seems I am not the only sleepy head in the bunch. However I did receive a few comments from those who wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed. Susan writes:

Hi Rachelle- I'm a "Lark" so I'm pretty much always bright and ready to go in the morning . I call it 'claiming the day' and love the early hours before work, when I often walk, meditate or just have a quiet cup of tea and review my plans.

I threw away my alarm clock years ago, as my body clock just naturally wakes me. If I have to get up extra early, I use a clock radio with soothing classical music to ease my way out of sleep. I find it so much better than waking to an "ALARM" clock!

Susan isn't the only one that told me they have gotten rid of their alarm clock! Several other readers shared they no longer use one, they just get up naturally. Now, I am pretty good about waking myself up from a nap, but I know that I would never naturally wake up in the morning. I just don't have that much Mind Over Mattress, but I applaud those that do.

Live the Day

Rachelle


Mind over Mattress

No matter what time I go to bed, I never want to get up in the morning. I have been this way since I was a child. I can remember my grandmother cheerily coming into my bedroom singing, "Rise and shine - time to be bright eyed and bushy tailed." I wanted to be anything but bright eyed and bushy tailed. Although rising and shining isn't my strong suit, I do understand the value of getting up and getting started. Some mornings are easier than others, but for the most part I have conquered the mattress.

The concept of Mind over Mattress was introduced to me years ago when I was studying the work of Stephen Covey. In his seminal book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," he mentions the power of the Mind over Mattress concept and how it can support a person in getting control of his or her life. According to Covey, "If we put mind over mattress and arise early in the morning, we will earn our first victory of the day (the daily private victory) and gain a certain sense of self-mastery." I believe he is right. By getting up on time, we start the day off in control and ready to go.

I know that when I get up on time and get my day started, I feel happier and less stressed. On the days I hit the snooze button too many times, I feel rushed and stressed all day. I also feel like I have more time when I get up on time. It just starts the day off right and, although I am still not that bright eyed and bushy tailed, I shine more when I rise on time.

Coaching

Get out of bed on time and your day will have a better start. Make it a habit to set your alarm 15 minutes before you need to rise and shine. This way you will have time to gently enter the day and create a strong start for the morning.

Coaching Question

Have you mastered mind over mattress?

Live the Day

Tomorrow, set your alarm 15 minutes earlier than you want to get up and gently enter the day. Take time in the morning to create special rituals that allow you to start the day off in control and ready to shine.

Resources

Three Resolutions by Stephen Covey

Quotes

"Some people talk in their sleep. Lecturers talk while other people sleep." Albert Camus

"True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment." Sir William Penn

"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Benjamin Franklin

I am a Totally Savvy Woman

Greetings:

Well at least I am a monthly contributor to Total Savvy Woman, a new website dedicated to supporting boomer women in taking action and making their goals come true. I love the concept of the site and the creator of the site is amazing. Silvianne T. Steinbach is the brains behind the concept of Total Savvy Woman and the author of a new book, Life's an Amusement Park. Great concept and really a fun read. Make sure you check out my July article Don't Settle and check out the new pic!

Rachelle

Who could resist a Donut Peach

Greetings:

I am still very much in love with my White Peaches. I had one today that was so sweet it was like eating candy. However when I saw the Donut Peach featured on one of my favorite Food Network Television shows, Throwdown with Bobby Flay - The Doughnut Show, I just had to try it.

According to the Hormel Foods website:

"A variety of white Peach that originated in Asia. The name was derived from the appearance, which looks like a cake donut. The Donut Peach is approximately 1 to 2 inches in height and 2 to 3 inches in diameter. The outer skin has a pale yellow and red color that covers a white inner flesh that is tender, juicy, and sweet tasting, similar to a nectarine. This Peach has a low acid to sugar ratio, so it is sweeter than the orange flesh variety. It is an excellent addition to salads, desserts, crepes, and other dishes requiring fruit. When selecting Donut Peaches, seek those that are not too green, but are beginning to show the yellow red coloring. Store in a refrigerator for no more than 3 to 5 days."

The verdict - the Donut Peach is good, but not great. It was actually very similar to the White Peach, but not as sweet and juicy. I am glad I tried it but it isn't one of my new faves.

Hey not everything you try is going to become a new favorite.

Live the Day,

Rachelle

Lavendar Soda

Greetings:

I don't usually think of Lavender as something one would consume but when my friend Alyson told me about a new Tea and Champagne Restaurant Tres Jolie Tea & Champagne Lounge that had opened up in our area I was thrilled to get a chance to try it. As you know I encourage trying new things so I just dove right in and I must say, the Lavender Soda was yummy. Not to mention it is a pretty blue which makes it really fun to drink.

Tres Jolie makes their own Lavender soda, how exactly I am not sure. I searched the Internet for a recipe for Lavender soda but didn't find one. Although I am happy to report that a few companies do bottle it. On the Oh Joy blog there is a review of the Lavender soda that is bottled and information on how to order it on-line.

I also found a Lavender Festival where one can enjoy Lavender Soda among other things Lavender. Unfortunately we missed the Festival for this year but it appears to be an annual event, so you might want to check it out and mark your calendar for next year.

Before you decide if you like something or not give it a try. You never know, you might just find a new favorite.

Live the Day,

Rachelle