Wheat berries with sautéed broccoli and onion

1 1/3 cup of wheat berries 
1 head of broccoli trimmed and separated into florets 
1 yellow onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of alive oil
2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
sea salt, cayenne pepper to taste

Come wheat berries with water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 50-60 minutes.
In a separate pan sauté broccoli, garlic and onions, till onions are translucent and brocoli is tender.
Add wheat berries to onion/brocoli
sprinkle with nutritional yeast, cayenne pepper and sea salt.
Enjoy!

What are wheat berries?
Wheat berries are the whole grain form of wheat - the whole complete grain before it has undergone any processing. Very versatile and high in fiber.

Drinking Sugar

Funny, but sadly so so true! If you think diet is better, think again my friends. With no calories or sugar, it's the perfect alternative for a bubbly sweet drink, right? Cell damage, reproductive issues, metabolism problems and obesity are all linked to diet soda consumption. 

Beauty in strength

Trust. Where you are is exactly where you should be.

Think about this? Physical challenges, such as running, lifting weights, push ups or squats or any other physical activity, the more we do, the stronger we become. The physical challenges we face help us become stronger. We don't just start one day and say I am going to do 30 push ups and then drop and bang them out, or hey I'm going to run 10 miles today without ever having ran a block. We work on it- it takes time, it takes sweat, it takes pain and moments of discomfort and all of this is never looked at in the negative light. We know we are taking one step at a time getting there as best we can. Should that not be the same for challenges we face in our lives? The moments of sadness, grief, pain or anger are also the times when you get to know yourself a little better. The lessons we learn are given to us as gifts, and although at times it might not feel that way- looking back, every obstacle or challenge had an equal opportunity. Sometimes we have to do a little searching to find it, other times it is written clearly. Every moment of our time on Earth is a growing experience, molding our character and the person we strive to be. Difficult times can either close you off to the world becoming cynical, bitter, and pessimistic, OR you can ask yourself how will I show up in the midst of this storm? How can I still keep my heart fully open in the midst of being vulnerable, disappointed and sad? Emotions pass, and what we are left with is our raw authentic self. So be sad, or be angry, or confused, or scared, or whatever else you need to feel, to acknowledge the reality of your current situation. Don't push things away to only deal with them at a later date (because they always come back around). But feel them and use whatever obstacle put before you as a opportunity, as the universe sending a silent message. We don't know what the future holds, we only know the present, we only know now. So feel what you feel now. Find your strength (because we all have more then we think we do) and strive on. You are not the same person that you were 10 years ago, are you? And the only way that's possible is through living, that includes the pleasant experiences as well as the situations we look to avoid. Trust that we are all moving along our own path. Find some comfort knowing where you are is exactly where you should be.

And through it all..

Let your actions, words, and thoughts come from a place of love. We are only love. Throughout the chaos of life, the ups and downs, darkness and sadness find compassion in yourself. We slip time to time and sometimes it's the challenges we face that test our capacity to act not on fear but out of the center of who we are. After all the opposite of love is not hate- but fear. Hate and anger is a brick wall built moment by moment that covers fear and keeps us feeling secure. But as you chip away at hatred and fear, yes you guessed it, there is love. Because with out it we would remain emotionless, living life as robots. So through the sadness, pain or discomfort choose not to succumb to self defeating thoughts, but to challenge it and embrace everything as opportunity. An opportunity to grow and learn, and become something you were not before. Maybe it's not what you would have chosen, but maybe you can't see the bigger picture. Maybe the plan is grandeur then we allow our thoughts to travel. Choose to live from a place of love, and even if those around you don't agree, love more. Because at the end of the day we are all doing the best we can with what we've been given to work with. The very least we might do for one another is acknowledge that, and be kind. Everyone has pain, fear, loneliness, doubt, dreams, joy, curiosity. Don't become closed off by life's betrayals. Being jaded and cynical ..that stuff is just armor and after a while can become quite heavy and way you down. Being open and vulnerable, compassionate and kind allows you to be a part of this life existing not only to make yourself happy, but contributing to others as well. There is a quote by Gandhi that is very on point, "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." Whether it be a smile, holding the door, letting someone merge in traffic, a kind word, compassion for those we feel otherwise about, a compliment, a pat on the back, a gesture or even a hug. Everything counts, every. little. thing. This world is crazy and no one really knows what it's all about, although we have some ideas. It's a trusting that things will unravel the way they are supposed to if you loosen your grip and have gratitude for each and every moment as they come. Hard as it may be, you'll find that the moments when you felt fully alive were the moments you fully loved without hesitation, without expectation.
Sending some love out- the more we share, the more we feel. ♥

Honey Almond butter bites!

Need an afternoon pick me up?

A twist on cake pops!

Ok so it's not exactly a cake pop, but  it is a MUST try! Honey almond butter bites, with a coconut crust. These little guys pack a powerhouse of protein, from the almond butter and chia seeds, while still being sweet and satisfying at the same time!  Next time your craving sweet, try one of these instead! The best part? NO baking! 

Ingredients:

4 cups rolled oats

2 cup raw almond butter

1  cup of raw organic honey

1/4 cup of chia seeds

Unsweetened coconut  (raw or toasted)

Dark chocolate 70-80% cacao (optional)

Directions:

Mix almond butter and honey together (becomes a bit messy, but so worth it!)

Blend oats and chia seeds until powdered and add to honey/almond butter mixture

Shave dark chocolate and add half a cup to mixture

Make into balls about 1/2 inch wide and roll in coconut (if you like toasted coconut better feel free to toast it first)

Refrigerate for an hour then ENJOY!

Did you know?

Chia seeds are packed with fiber, protein, and omega 3.  They are helpful when your feeling your energy levels decrease, so they make a great pick me up!

An inspiration to practice today♥

Meet yourself exactly where you are, step in between your sacred four corners. Step into the present. Breathe deep. In and out through the nose. Close your eyes. Deepen your breath. Feel your rib cage, belly, heart, and lungs expand. Exhale. Surrender and let it go. Feel your breath animate your body. Feel your heart pulsate. Welcome yourself to the present. Move through your practice with your breath as the driving force. Your breath moves you, and your movement is an extension of your breath. When you find a challenge, don't detach. deepen your breath. Knowing this will carry you through. Inhale. Exhale, let go. Keep showing up, meeting yourself exactly where you are.
Namaste ♥

Happy Monday!

A new day, a new week, a new year. Today is filled with everything you need, it has been graciously given to you, wrapped and sealed with a bow. Today is a gift, and every moment another opportunity to see that. Moment to moment life is showing up exactly how we need it to. It miraculously brings to us EXACTLY what we need to see, even if it might be icky to look at. So as "stuff" comes up day to day, remember...




We are all made of the same thing. Love.
You are Love,
and you are Loved.
and you have everything you need.

You are not perfect, and yet you are perfect, just the way you are.

No one is ever alone on this journey, you're not in this alone - if our only purpose is to share our love, and support one another.