Friday, May 30, 2014

Yoga Inspiration SPEAK OUT LOUD


Today was the last day of my #30DaysOfYoga challenge on Instagram. So I thought it was time to post a yoga update, and maybe a little inspiration to help those thinking about getting started on their healthy journey. 


I recently was surprised to learn that some of my friends thought I was just a naturally motivated person. This is false. I had many days, months, years, of being miserable. I was one of those people that said: "I will start Monday." Many Monday's came and went. I never started. I would go for a walk and think "okay! I moved today, good enough!". I would look at athletic people running by wishing I had that motivation. The problem is that I am really not a runner. I kept trying to be. I am not saying I can't be a runner, I am saying it is not where my passion lies. 

I cannot begin to tell you how many different club memberships I have had. I join with high expectations of going every day, then after a month or two I get so sick from all the germs, I quit. Yes I too have been a quitter. I am not any more motivated than you. The ones sitting back wishing you could get your rear off the couch or the chair and get moving. I made excuses that I was too fat to do those things. Excuses that I wasn't that bad, I would tell myself I was happy with the way I was. I wasn't. I was hopeful that a new type of food or pill would come out to make it to where I could be a lazy slob and still eat what I wanted. So sad. Looking back at that person, all the lies my mind would tell me, I can't even recognize that person anymore. 



That is why I am so thankful I came down with cancer. Without it, who knows how many more years of unhappiness would have come my way. My kind doctor seeing how I wanted to get my life back. So cancer was my "AHA" moment. That moment that changed me. 

Truth teller: I still have those thoughts. However through meditation and yoga I have learned that it is my ego talking and not me. The mind is so powerful. If you can channel all of your energy into being the person you want to be, you too can overcome those thoughts. When those thoughts come, I say OUT LOUD; "I am a lot stronger than I know, and if I set my mind to it, I can do anything." Through that, I just celebrated 6 months of yoga every day. You can do anything you set your mind to. 




A couple months ago I was sitting in my church (C3 San Diego) and the speaker spoke on the power of saying things out loud. If you are believer or not, you must still be smart enough to know that the Bible is a historical document that has been proven. So even if you are not walking with God, you should be able to take wisdom out of this book. I was SO SHOCKED at how many times the Bible says to say things OUT LOUD. It has changed my life, rocked my world, and sometimes left me in shock and awe at the power of it all. I wish I would have taken good notes and wrote down all the verses. But here is what I learned: The Lord tells us we can move mountains with faith filled words, not thoughts. Even if we have faith as a mustard seed we can move mountains. Our words are like a hose that carries the powerful substance of the water of the Word of God. In Matthew 21:21-22. Jesus speaking again says, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." NKJV

Now in this I believe the Mountain is our troubles and trials. Yes, you have the power to destroy the obstacles or mountains that stand in the way of your progress. Jesus says that with your words of faith are words of power that can remove or destroy any obstacles, difficulty or problem and give you the freedom to live fully and unhindered.
So this last month I have been doing just that. Saying things out loud. Praying out loud (in private). Asking and thanking... out loud. Sometimes my answer has been instant. Other times it comes later, and it makes me smile. 

My yoga practice is a constant conversation with God. I know everyone has their own practice. I ask God for power over my mind to to further, stick it out, and receive the blessing.  Try it, it will rock your world!

In addition to talking with God, I have been busting my rear, working hard in yoga.After 6 months of only adding yoga to my life ( I already only eat a whole food diet), here is my before and after results. 
So don't wait. Your tomorrow starts TODAY. Get up and MOVE. Ask God for strength and perseverance. Don't give up. Hit me up for inspiration and motivation. YOU CAN DO IT! 

Please remember to stay tuned for my next book out next Spring; #instafood-The beginner's guide to eating healthy and staying fit.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Dulce De Leche Cheesecake Bites


 

Dulce De Leche Cheesecake


What would you do if I told you that you could have your cake and eat it too? 
These amazing cheesecake bites are Refined Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Raw, and Vegan. 

I know, you are thinking; "So what is in them then?" If you are like me, you don't like much of the dairy substitutes. I try to limit soy products, so tofu just is not for me. I prefer God given foods. Stuff that man didn't mess with, is what I mean by God given. 

The truth is, I wish you could try them without knowing what is in them. Can you trust me? Can you please just make them and try them without judging the ingredients? If so then I will tell you. 

The main ingredients in this amazing caramel goodness: Zucchini, Cashews, and Coconut Milk. That makes these treats completely fine to eat for breakfast, or snacks, or dessert. You choose. It replaces yucky processed, high in sugar desserts that I used to eat. In fact one of my most popular recipes ever on this blog is my caramel cheesecake bites. They are full of sugar. These taste just as good if not better, and they are HEALTHY. Give them a try! I have yet to have someone try these and not gasp at their goodness. 

Now while you can make these treats with normal coconut oil. I am going to share with you a wonderful new product that I used in this recipe. Again, you can use normal coconut oil, but let me tell you why I think you might want to go out and get this amazing organic coconut oil with added nutrients. It is called QUOQUOS.


So in case you don't already know the health benefits of coconut oil, let me educate you. Extra virgin coconut oil can be beneficial for maintaining energy, metabolism and immune system health and much much more. Coconuts have special fats called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). New studies show that when these types of healthy fats are broken down in your liver, you burn energy more efficiently. Coconut oil is the most abundant natural source of Lauric Acid on earth, with about 50 percent lauric acid. Our bodies convert lauric acid into monolaurin for maintaining immune system health. It’s also high in fiber, which most of us need more of. A PubMed study found that women who consumed about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil a day for 12 weeks had lower amounts of abdominal fat. This fact is a huge factor for me, abdominal fat is always the fat I struggle with the most. 
How is Quoquos different from other coconut oils and what are the advantages
of Quoquos compared to other virgin coconut oils? Coconut oil with its high content of MCTs is great for maintaining energy, metabolism and immune system health, but some people have trouble digesting the 3-5 tablespoons a day needed to gain those benefits, and may experience stomach cramps or bloating. Quoquos solves that problem by adding just the right amount of sunflower lecithin to support digestion. 

Here is a chart breakdown of the benefits. 

So what are you waiting for? Go get yours at www.quoquos.com

Now let me tell you how to make these wonderful treats of bliss. 

Refined Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Raw, Vegan Dulce De Leche Cheesecake Bites



For the base:

1 cup almonds
1 cup pecans
4 tablespoons organic raw cacao powder
1/2 cup pitted medjool dates
2 tablespoons coconut oil (I used Quoquos Coco Choco Boost)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the filling
2 cups raw cashews soaked overnight in an airtight container
1 cup organic zucchini (peeled and cubed)
6 drops vanilla creme Sweet leaf sweet drops -or- 1 tsp stevia
4 tablespoons coconut oil (I used Quoquos Coco Lecithin Boost)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

For the dulce de leche topping:
1 can full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup honey
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Put all the ingredients for the crust in a food processor and process until a wet and crumbly texture.

Divide evenly into a lined 12-cavity mini cheesecake pan and press down firmly.

Put the cheesecake pan in the freezer to harden the crust while you prepare the cheesecake filling.

Prepare the filling:
Peel and dice the zucchini. 

Put all the ingredients for the cheesecake filling into a Blender and blend until a smooth and creamy. You want to run several cycles and scrape down the blender. Because you want it as creamy as you can get. So plan on several minutes here. 

Remove the cheesecake pan from the freezer and evenly distribute the filling on top of each crust. Place back in the freezer while you prepare the caramel topping. 

Prepare the topping: 
In a large saucepan with a thick bottom combine coconut milk, honey and maple syrup and salt.

Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium-low and let reduce for about 50 minutes, stirring every now and then. Add coconut oil and cook for further 5 minutes until it reaches a deep caramel color.

Don’t rush it. The process could be faster or slower, depending on how hot your burner is. Stir every so often towards the end, to keep the bottom from burning too much.  Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and let cool for about 5 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy.

Take out the cheesecake pan from the freezer and top with caramel. 
Place back in the freezer for a couple hours or overnight to set. You can bring them to the fridge the day you are serving. They can be served right out of the freezer or for a softer texture, at fridge temperature. 
For the full dairy, fat, and full sugar version of this cheesecake, you can find it here: 

If you like my recipes, please support my work and get my cookbook! Featuring 150 recipes, 100 of which are not on the blog. That's right! 100 new recipes! Gluten-Free Made Easy is the perfect guide to your new lifestyle! Learn dozens of tips and tricks for avoiding gluten and over 150 tasty, simple recipes. Going against the grain has never been easier!
"Gluten-Free Made Easy" is available for sale at Barnes and NobleBooks and ThingsCedar FortAmazon and many other great bookstores.

Monday, May 19, 2014

This new cooking, fitness, and yoga site is so cool. Sign up for free!


I was recently invited to try out a new site called Grokker
Grokker is the expert video network for high quality, expert-led instructional videos in three key wellness areas: Yoga,
Grokker.com

Fitness,
Grokker.com

and Cooking
Grokker.com

Grokker makes it easy and fun for enthusiasts to find the time to practice personal wellness, gain mastery of new skills, and develop authentic connections to expert instructors and other enthusiasts via our community programming.
Grokker.com
Grokker produces their our own top-quality videos in-house, featuring expert yogis, chefs and trainers/fitness instructors hand-selected by Grokker’s editorial team. There are 1000+ premium videos available on Grokker today with new videos released daily.


The video feature is so nice. Yesterday was a very productive day. My husband and I got up and went for a morning walk. We stopped in a cafe and had a nice breakfast, and then walked home. I welcomed this calm morning with wide open arms. I had just endured a very great but busy week and all I wanted was to not to "have" to be anywhere at any time. I thought I would go home and maybe take a nap, but instead I started cleaning. Before I knew it my entire weeks chores were complete and my house was completely clean. I was so pleased because my husband joined in and cleaned his corner that I have been on him to clean for months. It was a great day, but one that left me without a yoga class.  I am good at doing at home practice, but it usually ends up being balance practice and I need core. So I picked a video on Grokker to give me a good ab workout. 

 I did the Ab Intensive Pilates Workout because we are getting ready for our trip to the British Virgin Islands in July. It is my last effort to flatten our abs before they see the light of day.  Fabulous ab workout! Easy to follow and available with the click of your mouse. 

I am excited to have this site available! I hope you all check it out! 

Grokker.com

This sponsorship is brought to you by Grokker.com who we have partnered with for this promotion.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Book 1 on the shelves, Book 2 released next month, Book 3 in the works!

Hi guys! I know my posts on here have been few and far between lately. Thought I would come on here and let you all know that I am alive!  There is a lot going on. As you all know, my first book Gluten-Free Made Easy hit the shelves this week. 
You can now go pick one up at Barnes and Noble, Books and Things, or order yours at Amazon.
I have been busy doing events where I get to meet you all and sign your books. It is a lot of fun! My next event is this weekend at the big Keil's event. 
Come on out for a ton of free swag, and stop by my table to get your book signed! 

While this is all exciting and wonderful, I have even more exciting news. My 2nd book Gourmet Cooking For Two will be coming out next month. 

This book has been a labor of love. The result of learning how to cook again for just two people. There is a nice romantic tip with each recipe to help you spice up your love life in the kitchen. It is also my first 100% solo book. I did all the writing and all the photography. So it is quite an accomplishment for me! 

While this book is not labeled "Gluten-Free", there are a lot of gluten-free recipes in there. This is the perfect wedding gift, so I am super excited that it will be out in time for wedding season. Stay tuned. I will let you know when it hits the shelves. 

It may seem I have been busy enough with just those two books, but I have even more exciting news. I recently signed a contract for my 3rd book. This is the one that I am passionate about. The title is called:
#instafood - The beginner's guide to eating healthy and staying fit. 
The book is set to be released next spring. I am diligently working away on this book that is targeting 18-30 year old's. The ones that no longer have coaches, parents, and teachers telling them to get off their rear end and move. They don't have mom to cook their food and pack their lunch. They are out in this fast food world without a prayer.  This book will have all whole foods. It will teach them how to easily eat healthy and stay fit. With motivational quotes and yoga poses to help them along the way. 
I will be promoting the book on my yoga page on this blog, so stay tuned! 

So with a book released, a new one almost out, and a third one in the works, the blog takes a back seat. I am so so so excited about everything that is going on. I could not have done it without you and all of your support so thank you! I love you all and I will be on here off and on to catch up with all of you. In the meantime please enjoy over 1,000 free gluten-free recipes available to you on this blog. If you want even better ones, there are 100 recipes in my book that have not been published on this blog. The best recipes are reserved for the book. Get yours today! You can now go pick one up at Barnes and Noble, Books and Things, or order yours at Amazon.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

The book is on the shelves!

The day has finally come where I can walk into a Barnes and Noble and see my name on a published book that is for sale. Yep! They have put Gluten-Free Made Easy on the shelves. Our work has come to fruition. I hope all of you enjoy it! If you are in the area, come to my book launch party on June 7th!
Get yours today at:

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Gluten-Free Made Easy Launch Party

Recipes, writings, and deadlines, oh my! 
I have been so busy with this project, it is time to stop and enjoy the fruits of my labor. 
I want you to join me! Come on out to the beautiful new space Trilogy Sanctuary on June 7th for some food, drinks, yoga, book signing, and more! I will be there to sign your copy of Gluten-Free Made Easy as well as answer questions and just to have FUN! 

Mark your calendars. June 7th from 12 noon to 3pm. 




Friday, May 2, 2014

First book signing this Saturday and Sunday

Hi guys! I have my very first book signing Saturday and Sunday at the Living Without's Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in San Diego. If anyone is in the area, I would appreciate the support! 

WHEN
May 3-4, 2014
Saturday: 10am to 6pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm

WHERE
The Town And Country Resort and Convention Center
500 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 291-7131

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