Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Vanilla Chai Latte

This recipe sounds so good, I could use one right now!

Ingredients

2 black tea bags

2 cups full-fat coconut milk

1 tsp. raw honey

1 tsp. pure maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cardamon

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

How to make

 Steep both tea bags in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Remove and discard

Meanwhile, warm the coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat to your discard bags

Pour the warm milk into a high-powered blender and add the brewed tea, honey, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla extract. Blend until the latte is combined and slightly frothy, about 1 minute

Pour into two cups and enjoy.

Melinda

Reference:

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.

 

 

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Shame: The Invisible Weight We Carry By Guest Blogger My Mind Strength

You have to read this post, she hits the nail on the head. 
 
Melinda
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Recharge Smoothie

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.

I am so impressed with her cookbook, she covers every meal, snack, and smoothie. You don’t have to be living a Gluten-Free life to enjoy the recipes, they sound delicious. Several followers have made comments about how good the recipe was.

Ingredients

1/2 avocado

1 tbs raw honey

1 cup almond milk

2 tbs raw cacao nibs

1 cup frozen cauliflower florets

1 big handful of fresh spinach

1 tsp brain octane oil (she likes Bulletproof)

1 tbs bee pollen

1 tbs hemp seeds

1/4 cup chopped or sliced blueberries and blackberry

How to make

Place the avocado, honey, almond milk, cacao nibs, cauliflower florets, spinach, and brain octane oil (if using) in a high-powered blender and blend until well combined, about one minute.

Pour into glass and top with the bee pollen, hemp seeds, and berries.

Enjoy right away.

Serves 1

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Coffee Kick Smoothie

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s book True Comfort.

This smoothie sounds so good I’ll have to try it. I like how easy it is to make and you can double the recipe to make two lattes.

1 tbs. ground coffee or instant coffee granules

1 tbs. raw cacao powder

1 tbs. coconut cream

1 cup frozen cauliflower florets

1 1/2 cups almond milk

1 frozen banana

Serves 1

Place the coffee, cacao powder, coconut cream, cauliflower, almond milk, and a banana in a high-powered blender and blend until well combined, about 1 minute.

Pour and enjoy!

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Why Budgeting Helps Your Mental And Physical Health

Personal budgeting is a powerful tool, but few know its value. You see, most people get upset when they hear that they have to make a budget for their expenses. It is associated with discomfort and headache. Just as it is linked to diet to hunger and limited food, this is because most people only resort to budgeting when things get tough and there are difficulties, just like with someone who, because he has gained a lot of weight, decides to lose weight. But this is not precisely the case. A personal budget is a necessary tool that we must learn to use in our lives. Its mission is not to make you limit your expenses but to help you set aside more money or spend it more efficiently. 

Most people who do not have a budget end up spending more than they need each month. But this exaggeration has significant implications as it limits their future economic power. The result is that they have less money left, but also create more fixed costs if the purchases are made with installments and credit cards. But when you plan how much you will spend each month and know in advance where they will go, it is easier to restrain yourself and realize when you are overdoing it. For this reason, make your own personal budget so that you know where you are. If you have types of subscriptions, then look at reassessing them. If you have car costs, then look at honest car service to ensure that you are always keeping the necessities at a lower price.

Helps you achieve your goals

A personal budget is essentially a plan that helps you prioritize where you spend your money. This means that when you create an account, you are shifting your focus to the things that matter most to you. This can be repaying a loan, raising enough money to get a home, or starting your own business. The budget essentially creates the plan that you will follow and allows you to monitor your progress. 

Helps you save

People who do not use budgets will not have as much money in savings. Also, planning how you will spend your money each month helps you to avoid infringing on your existing savings. By doing things this way, you can gradually increase the money you have set aside. And the more that you save, the more you will start to feel more comfortable with your finances and of course your future. This will assist you with your home too.

Helps you be flexible

Budget work is to help you be flexible. By recording the income and expenses in detail, you can see how you can transfer money from one expense category to another. It also helps you identify issues that may arise and make the necessary adjustments.

Helps you stay in control

If you feel that you do not have control over your finances and you are always wondering where your money and salary have disappeared, your budget will help you to recover it. By setting your financial priorities and seeing on paper how you spend your money during the month, you better understand habits and patterns that hurt you. This way, it is easier to know where to stop. Having a definite plan for the month, you know what to do and what not to do, and it is easier to think about the future. Make your plans and prepare. The budget is probably the most essential tool you need to change your financial future and gives you the power to make changes right away.

It’s simple

Personal budgeting is not difficult to set up. We are not talking about a budget drawn up by a multinational or a state, where the responsibilities are significant, and the variables are many. We are talking about the account that will help you maintain order in your finances.

So if you start using it regularly, you will see that it is something simple. You can make it even easier and instead of using pen and paper, take advantage of technological advances using a corresponding application. As with anything new, you may be skeptical or feel that you do not have to bother analyzing your finances. But try it for a few months. As you apply it, you will see that you will become more familiar and it will be easier for you to manage your money properly.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Just Pondering

What little things have you accomplished lately?

 

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share-Kansas – Carry on Wayward Son (Official Video)Awesome Throwback

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.

Have a great weekend!

Melinda

Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.

Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

My Life Now

This is my reality and it’s hard to swallow when I look at my life 20 years ago. No doubt many people with Chronic Illnesses face similar problems. It’s not that I miss my younger self, I miss being capable and independent. 

In December, I was writing my 2024 goals, and my health and limits on driving make going to new places or getting a smoothie require my husband to be available to drive me. It sucks! 

I’d love your feedback and any ideas you have. 

My Life

I have no family except my husband 

No friends

The only people I see are doctors and my hairdresser

My hobbies

Blog

Photography

Bird watching

Green Thumb

Ancestry

Reality

I can not drive anymore 

Agoraphobia

Memory Impairment 

Balance problems have returned

Severe Anemia

It’s difficult to bring joy to your life when you sit at home day after day. If you’re housebound, how do you add joy to your day?

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

60 Year Round Gift Ideas For Your Chronically Ill Friends

Buying a gift is deeply personal and can get complicated when trying to buy for a friend with a chronic illness or for one who has chronic pain. I have a few chronic illnesses of my own and thought it would be nice to put together a list of year-round gift ideas.

Ideas

Silk pillowcase
Ultrasonic diffuser
Lavender essential oil
Weighted blanket
Scented candle with a pretty box of matches
Light Therapy Lamp
A handmade card or scrapbook
Audible subscription for a year
Footbath massager
Pack of foot masks
Luxurious foot cream
A wellness basket that includes body cleaning towelettes, dry shampoo, hand conditioning treatment, a box of Camomile tea bags
A journal with motivational sayings, or Scripture
Maid service for a deep clean
Car detail that comes to them
Walk their pet for a week
A gift certificate for a manicure/pedicure
A gift card to their favorite store
Lumbar pillow
Picture frame with a lovely photo you’ve taken
Insulated (non-sweating) water bottle with a flip-top
Assortment of coffees along with a mug
A pretty faux plant for the plant lover
Flowers in a pretty vase with a bow tied around it with a personal message
Singing Gram
Magazine subscription for one of their interest
A book that is special to you they may enjoy with an inscription in the front
Nice writing pen
A wreath and hanger for their front door
Bath and shower bombs
Assortment of food goodies like chocolates or gluten-free items 
Pack of face masks
Homemade potpourri with or without scent
Pretty adjustable cane
A walker attachment bag
Subscription to Itunes
Subscription to streaming service
A Fire TV stick
An annual subscription to Amazon Prime
Wireless Earbuds
Cook dinner for them
Pay for a meal delivery service for a month
Walk in the park with a camera to capture the moments
Silk eyemask
Metro card
Scented hand wash with matching lotion
A luxurious assortment of soaps
Travel-size hand sanitizer
Travel-size hand lotion
 A Silk mask with a place for a filter insert
Certificate for a back massage
Matching dish and hand soap in a dish
Electric toothbrush
An assortment of flavored toothpaste
Wool throw
Hand warmers
Heating pad
Sunrise clock
Reusable grocery bags
Alexa enabled lightbulb
Slip-resistant socks

I hope this sparks some ideas of your own. Shopping for someone who has a chronic illness isn’t as complicated as it feels, just think from a different perspective. 

I know whatever you decide to give your friend or loved one, they will appreciate it and you very much.

Melinda