Green Tea.

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Don’t worry, I’m a coffee lover too, so before you start thinking I’m about to ask you to give up your morning coffee, I’m not. All I’m asking is that you add in a cup or three of green tea a day or whenever you can – early morning, midmorning, with lunch or even as an afternoon pick me up.

So why would I ask you to ditch the sweet tea drink more green tea? Let’s take a look at this weeks Tip of the Week.

Some research has linked tea consumption with all of the following health benefits: heart health, cancer prevention, oral health and even weight loss.

Flavonoids, antioxidants found in both green and black tea, are responsible for the heart benefits linked to green tea. Some research suggests that the polyphenols, another antioxidant compound found in tea, may play a role in preventing cancer. Other research links tea and oral health due to it’s role in decreasing bacterial growth in the mouth. And what about weight loss? Those same polyphenols have been said to increase the metabolism helping us burn more calories throughout the day. Pretty awesome, right?

What else?

Tea is calorie free – assuming that you don’t add sugar and order it unsweetened – so it won’t contribute to your calorie intake for the day. My favorite way to ensure that I drink enough tea throughout the day is to make a large pitcher of tea and keep it in the refrigerator. That way it’s ready when I am. With a little bit of caffeine, green tea is the perfect pick me up, without interrupting my sleep at night.

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Ginger Mint Lemon Tea

  • Boil a quart (four cups) of cold water
  • Cool the boiling water for about ten minutes (to avoid scorching the tea bags)
  • Add eight to 10 green tea bags
  • Steep the tea according to directions
  • Remove the tea bags
  • Add one tablespoon of fresh minced ginger, juice from half a lemon, a few mint leaves, and stevia to taste (optional)
  • Drink hot or allow to cool and place in the refrigerator for a refreshing, healthy beverage that’s ready when you are

Easy enough! Are you already a green tea drinker or do you only reach for coffee or the sweet stuff?

Today I’m joining the hub back on the road for a long road trip, including a visit to my brother and sister-in-laws town as well as a trip back to the beach. I couldn’t have planned it better myself. ;-) I hope you have an awesome Tuesday!

Good health!

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Surround Yourself with Positive People

by Ashley on May 20, 2013

Good morning and happy Monday! I hope your weekend was wonderful. Coming home from the beach is never fun but necessary at some point I guess ;-) .

I returned yesterday from the perfect beach weekend getaway. Continuous fun especially  since the theme for the weekend from the mouth of the bride was “do what ya feel.” A pretty awesome bride to say the least.

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We enjoyed dinners out, dinners at home, long days on the beach, lots of laughter, lots of fun and very little stress, just as the bride wanted. It was absolutely great.

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After coming home yesterday, I spent a little time thinking about what I wanted to talk/write about today. I thought maybe a Meatless Monday post would suffice but then I decided there was something more than a recipe that I wanted to share.

Throughout the past seven years, Dustin has been the preacher and my rock when it comes to the power of positive thinking. I mentioned to you a while ago that he read and then encouraged me to read The Secret, and if you ask him (and I certainly believe it), it truly changed his life. It took him from questioning why baseball didn’t work out to understanding that baseball didn’t work out for a reason. It took him from doubting to believing, regardless of the topic.

On that same note, this weekend I spent a lot of time thinking about the power of surrounding yourself with positive people – people that lift you up, make you happy and bring out the best it you.

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Yesterday, as my sister-in-law and I were were driving home, we listened to our live church sermon and our pastor was talking specifically about leadership. He said that in order to be a good leader and lead like Jesus did then the people that you are leading have to know that you have their back – that you care about them like you want them to care about you. I think the same is true in all walks and relationships of life.  There is nothing greater than surrounding yourself with someone that brings out the best in you – someone that brings your gifts to light, challenges your weaknesses and encourages you to be the best you. By being the type of person that always lifts others up, the act will be contagious- those that we encourage will respond in a similar way. Like attracts like, remember? They too will encourage you.

So often we allow worldly things to get in our way of loving, treating and lifting up others the way we should – jealously, envy, entitlement, etc. A few years ago I was reminded of something that really changed the the way that I loved and respected people. I was reminded that there is enough of everything to go around. There is enough success, enough beauty, enough happiness, enough joy, enough power, enough whatever it is that you are looking for everyone. Not one person is able to take it ALL. By lifting each other up and being the encouragement that someone needs we can not only help them be their best but also help us be our  best as well – we can change everyday, every moment, every life.

Today, I encourage you to do both. Not only surround yourself with people that lift you up and bring out the best in you but also be that for someone else. Bring out the best in them and they will do the same for you – glorify their talents, help them with their weaknesses and encourage them to their best them. We all love to feel our best, regardless of which arena of life, encourage someone and they will return the favor. It starts with you.

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Do you notice that the people that you lift up the most, lift you up the most? I certainly do.

Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful Monday! I am going to the airport to pick of the hubby from a weekend work trip to Seattle. So excited to see him!

Good health!

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Easy Yet Delicious Blueberry Pancakes

May 17, 2013
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Good morning! Happy Friday from the beach! I thought I was in Destin, FL but apparently I’m not. A friend and local to the area informed me that I’m actually about thrity minutes from Destin. Oops! Where ever I am, it’s gorgeous (Grayton Beach actually)! So far the trip has been awesome. Lots of yoga, [...]

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Back to the Beach!

May 15, 2013
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Good morning! Happy Hump Day! Loving this awesome weather. Today started with a “Breakfast in A Cup” smoothie – literally everything you could imagine went in the blender and a killer leg workout with the hubby. I dislike leg workouts the most – for some reason it NEVER gets easier … might have something to [...]

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TOTW Tuesday: 6 Minute Corn

May 14, 2013
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Hello Tuesday. Another lovely day! Today’s post is short and sweet. I’ve told my mom before that sometimes I feel like this blog should be called, “Mom Does. Daughter Writes.” So much of what I share, I learn from her. She assures me that’s how everyone learns, so today I am going to share (with [...]

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Natural Detox II: Oil Pulling

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Good morning! Monday again? The weekends sure do fly by! If you are a mom, I sure hope you had an awesome Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to spend the day with my mom, but according to my mom, “any day with my kids makes me happy, not just Mother’s Day.” Hopefully, she wasn’t [...]

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Foods To Help Detox Your Body, Naturally

May 10, 2013
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  {aPhoto Source} With summer right around the corner, the word “detox” seems to come up quite often in conversation. We tend to want to spring clean our bodies as we would spring clean our homes this during time of year. “I need to do a detox.” “What are your thoughts on this detox?” “I [...]

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It Comes from Within

May 9, 2013
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Hello! I hope it as beautiful where you are as it is where I am. Nothing makes me happier than this incredible weather. I hope summer really is here! As I mentioned a few days ago, at the Alive Expo I talked with the people from Dahn Yoga and signed up to do an individual [...]

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Birthday Love and a Beginners Green Smoothie Recipe

May 8, 2013
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Good morning or actually afternoon! Half way through the week already! Thank you again for all of the birthday wishes yesterday. I had an awesome day! I didn’t do much throughout the day, worked a little and went for a short run to enjoy the weather that is hopefully here to stay and then enjoyed [...]

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Help Your Mom Get Healthy This Mother’s Day

May 7, 2013
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This picture was the header of the lululemon website a few weeks ago and I just love it. I’m sure that most of you would agree, really, everyday should be Mother’s Day. Moms are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Moms make life go round. They turn a house into [...]

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