Celebrate Life · Family · Friendships · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Holiday · Men & Womens Health · Music

New Year’s Eve Music Warm Up

Let’s see what type of party music I can curate at 61 years old, don’t expect current music because I don’t know any. Maybe we’ll call this an oldies music party. :)

Commodores – Brickhouse (Live)

Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It

Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (Official Video)

Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive (Official Music Video)

Rocky – Eye of The Tiger

Flashdance – What A Feeling (S.Martin Remix 2019)

Enjoy New Year’s Eve, have a great time but don’t drink and drive.

Melinda

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

How to Make a Positive Start to the New Year

Do you make resolutions every new year but rarely manage to stick to them beyond the end of January? Research shows that just eight percent of people manage to stick to their resolutions, with many people abandoning their good intentions around mid-January. But, it is crucial to remember that although your previous attempts may not have been successful, you can still achieve your resolutions in the future; you just need to know how to do it. Getting your new year off to the most positive start possible is an excellent way to get on the path to success in the new year. Here are some tips to help ensure your 2025 gets off to a positive start.

Focus on Your Health

Good health is the foundation that enables people to achieve their goals. If your health is poor, it is challenging to focus on other areas of your life and how you would like to live. Making your health a priority in the new year is a great way to start on a positive note. 

When deciding to make health a priority, it is a good idea to begin by focusing on habits and behaviors that are damaging your wellness. Getting the proper support to overcome addictions is an excellent way to get started and break free from the control these habits have over your life. Seeking professional support is a big help, and you can do this by taking a look at Rehab List to find the treatment you need more easily.

Reduce Your Stress Levels

Feeling constantly stressed can take its toll on your well-being and impact your mood. It is hard to feel positive when you have constant stress weighing you down. Taking action to reduce the stress in your life and changing the way you respond to it is an excellent way to get your new year off to a positive start. 

Stress can be beneficial in some situations, and the stress response plays a crucial role in keeping people safe in potentially dangerous circumstances. However, having your stress response triggered regularly can impact both your health and your outlook on life. Playing an active role in dealing with your stress is a valuable way to manage it. Identifying the root causes of your stress and addressing these is beneficial. Mindfulness techniques to prevent you from becoming caught up in unhelpful thinking patterns.

Nurture Your Wellbeing

Giving your well-being the attention it deserves is another excellent way to start the new year positively. Channeling your efforts into activities that nourish your body and mind rather than harm them will ensure you feel at your best as you start the new year. Focusing on nurturing your physical and mental health to become as strong as possible will provide a firm foundation for a positive start to a new chapter in your life.

One important key I learned several years ago is to focus on the goals that mean the most to me. I write only a handful of goals and then focus on making them happen. If needed I can always rethink and add a couple more. There’s nothing like having a list of 25 and accomplishing nothing. That doesn’t do much for your self-confidence.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Self-Care

I’m Having Hand Surgery Again

This surgery is completely different than the one earlier this month. He is doing Carpel Tunnel surgery on my right hand which is a piece of cake. Technological advancements make the procedure less intrusive and allow for a shorter recovery time.

I hope to be out for a few days, we’ll see how it goes. I don’t like taking pain medication so that can delay blogging for a day or so.

Thank you for all the love shown to me during the last surgery, your words filled me with joy.

Take good care and I’ll see you next year.

Melinda

 

 

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

Fan Favorite! Gluten Free Coffee Energy Bites

“These are great for a morning or afternoon snack when you just need a little pick me up. I like to take them to the office with me.” Kristin Cavallari from her cookbook True Comfort.

All recipes are Gluten-Free and free of Refined sugar.

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

Makes 14

1/4 cup finely chopped raw almonds

2/3 cup almond flour

1/2 cup creamy raw almond butter

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

1/4 cup vanilla protein powder

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 to 2 teaspoons almond milk

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

To Make

In a large bowl, combine the almonds, almond flour, almond butter, coffee granules, protein powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and almond milk.

Roll the dough into golf ball size balls and place them on a baking sheet.

Place the shredded coconut in a shallow dish.

Roll each ball into the coconut and then return to the baking sheet.

Place the baking sheet in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour for the bites to firm up before you eat.

These bites keep well in a ziplock bag in the fridge for up to 14 days.

Here’s a great Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. My archives contain many Gluten Free recipes. 

Enjoy!

Melinda

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

Healthy Mocktails For Your Year Round Celebrations

As we approach several holidays mocktails are great for those who chose not to drink. 

Here are a few great recipes

 

Photo by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto on Pexels.com

 

Lemongrass Ginger Mockito

INGREDIENTS

  • 3/4 lime – halved lengthwise then cut into 6
  • 1/2 lemongrass – finely sliced
  • 1 tbsp ginger syrup
  • 1 tsp soft light brown sugar
  • 2 mint sprigs
  • 80-100ml apple juice
  • crushed ice
  • mint sprigs
  • lemongrass slices
  • 2 straws

DIRECTIONS

Add the lime pieces, lemongrass slices, ginger syrup, and sugar to a sturdy highball glass or a cocktail shaker. Muddle until the sugar has dissolved and the aromas are released. Add the mint leaves and muddle a bit more.

  1. Add half of the apple juice. Stir.
  2. Fill up with the crushed ice and the rest of the apple juice. Combine until well mixed.
  3. Add the straws, mint, and lemongrass slices.
  4. Enjoy!

Jasmine Ginger Iced Green Tea Recipe

1 wedge lime
4 ounces *brewed jasmine green tea, chilled
4 ounces ginger beer, chilled (I used Gosling’s)
Garnishes: Fresh sliced strawberries and additional lime wedges

Fill a glass with ice cubes. Squeeze the juice of a lime wedge over the ice and drop the lime wedge into the glass. Add the chilled green tea and ginger beer; stir gently. Garnish with strawberries and additional lime wedges.

Makes 1 drink

Virgin Pina Colada

Here are the ingredients in a virgin piña colada recipe: 

  • Frozen pineapple
  • Coconut milk
  • Maple syrup

Throw these in a blender, and you’ve got a tasty signature drink in no time. Except you need one last required item…drink umbrellas!

Green Russian

Brilliant green matcha makes this healthy mocktail creamy and comforting. Plus, it’s packed with antioxidants and features a little caffeine kick.

We recommend using plant-based milk as the foundation for your Green Russian. This renders the drink accessible to those not consuming dairy, but it also allows the matcha to shine; milk proteins can block the absorption of matcha’s beneficial compounds.

Ingredients – makes 2 mocktails

2 ½ cups plant-based milk

Tip: Use a richer, fuller plant milk, such as cashew, macadamia, or barista-grade oat milk.

1 ½ tablespoons matcha powder

2 oz cold coffee

Tip: Try to use cold-brew coffee. Since we’re only using a little bit, you’ll want your flavor to be as full as possible. Alternatively, mushroom coffee can be used to achieve an earthy taste and add nutritional benefits.

2 tablespoons sugar or other sweetener

1 pinch cacao powder (optional)

1 cup ice

Directions

Warm 2 cups of your milk over low heat. Add the sugar and stir. Next, add the matcha powder and stir until fully dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.

Next, add ice to your glasses. Once the matcha mixture has cooled, pour it into the glasses. Add a quarter cup of the remaining milk to each glass. Pour a splash of cold coffee on top of the milk for a beautiful combination of colors and flavors. Dust the mocktail’s top with cacao powder for added glamor (and superfood power). Serve and enjoy!

Melinda

References:

Culinary Nutrition

A Couple Cooks

Martindales Nutrition

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Celebrate Life · Cooking · Fun · 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

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

Gluten-Free Peppermint Mocha

Coffee drinks give me a chance to stop & relax.

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

What you need

1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk

1-2 shots of expresso

1 TB raw cacao powder

1 TS pure maple syrup

1/4 TS teaspoon peppermint extract

How to make

Warm the coconut milk to your desired temperature over medium to high heat in a small saucepan.

Pour the warmed milk into a high-powered blender and add the espresso, cacao powder, maple syrup, and peppermint.

Blend until the drink is combined and slightly frothy, about 1 minute.

Pour into a mug and enjoy it immediately.

Serves 1

Double the recipe to make 2 servings.

Enjoy

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Music

#Weekend Music Share-Van Halen – Can’t Stop Lovin’ You (Official Music Video) [HD]

WOW!!!!!! Sing it, Sammy.

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

 I’m glad you 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 · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

January Awareness Months & Days

National Blood Donor Month

Cervical Health Awareness Month

Glaucoma Awareness Month

National Eye Care Month

National Stalking Awareness Month

Self-Love Month

Walk Your Dog Month

New Year’s Day – January 1

Martin Luther King Jr. Day  3rd Monday of January

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day – January 11

International Holocaust Remembrance Day 1/27/25

NASA Day of Remembrance – January 27

If you would like to see the complete list, click here.

Thank you for the positive feedback on this monthly post.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/january-awareness-days-months