YOU are more important than a number!

A few weeks ago I went to dinner with a few friends.  At one point during this dinner, I remember making note of my butter knife and imagining what it would feel like to slice my veins open with it. Thinking that it had to be better than enduring this entire dinner conversation. This is literally what I envisioned as I sipped my alcoholic beverage and listened to this discussion go down. This hasn't been the only time. In fact, I've been brewing a post like this since January; if not before. I just feel like lately, I keep having the same dinners over and over. So much so, that I've finally decided I'm going to say something.

So, the ENTIRE 3 hours spent over dinner revolved around weight and the number that reflected back to them on the scale. Sure, at times I may have felt super uncomfortable during these conversations because I was definitely bigger than the rest of them, and if they thought that about themselves just what did they think of me?

But listen, if exercise and getting healthy is what you’re into; by all means! And Kudos to you for working on your health. Seriously. Losing inches and pounds is HARD work and you most definitely deserve to be congratulated and applauded for each pound lost and the dedication it took you to get there. It's inspiring! It truly is! But if your entire dinner conversation revolves around a number on the scale; THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG! If you’re holding yourself back from dating or from taking a trip because the number on the scale doesn’t reflect what you, in your mind, classify as “perfect”; then THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG! Regardless of what that number is, you are BEAUTIFUL!  

No, I’m not just saying that. You are so much more than that number. You see, were put on this Earth to make a difference regardless of how big or small you are. That number, small or large, DOES NOT define you as a person and quite frankly I hate to break it to you, but changing that number will also not define you as a person either.

It’s not going to magically drop off a man at your doorstep… It’s not going to magically make everything okay. You’re going to get where you so desperately want to be and the unhappiness isn’t going to magically go away.

By now you’re reading this, infuriated with me and thinking “Well Miss Know It all, what should I do then?” My answer to that is, well, I’m not exactly sure. I don’t know all of the answers. But what I do know is that from the moment you begin to look within yourself your life will begin to drastically change.  If someone walking down the street taunting you about your body and the way you look isn’t okay; then why is it okay for you to be doing the same thing to yourself over and over like a broken record? Those flaws or imperfections you’re focusing on day in and day out are YOU. In all retrospect, they aren’t really flaws; they’re what make you a person. A beautiful, living, breathing person with beautiful insight and valued opinions appreciated by the world and the people like me that reside in it.

It’s time to focus your attention in and become comfortable in our own skin! I know it's easier said than done. Of course, even the most positive person has their days where the self-negativity arises. But I promise you that if you remind yourself over and over that YOU'RE WORTH IT, that you are more than a number, that you're more than the size of your calf, arm or your butt and focus your attention on the positive; that negative self talk will go away. It might come back... Matter of fact, I'll warn you that it most definitely will.  Just because I say that it’s okay to tune into your body and accept the way it is doesn’t mean you can’t long for change. It’s okay to want to change your body!  To work towards a healthier you. It’s okay!

What’s not okay, and what I won’t just sit by and watch, is you tormenting yourself over the way you look or the number that reflects back to you on the scale. Of course I’d like to work on my own body and improve my health by shedding some of the excess weight that I carry. But do you know what I don’t want to do? I don’t ever want to lose ME! Because big or small, I am still me and I’m not going anywhere... and neither are you.

All the love in the world,

M

Welcome to Mindfully Savvy!

Now that we've completed our Mindful March, I'm guessing you're wondering what's next? I am so happy to have been able to put together a program with such amazing content and such wonderful and inspiring people! This all started with one small idea to get back to being mindful. So, now that we've finished the month, I've decided to roll Mindful March into Mindfully Savvy. We will still keep the group; the name will change. There won't be as much content thrown out to you, though right now it may be a good thing since there is so much to sift through. I will be working on getting see new things together for you to continue to bring mindfulness into your routines, but you won't see a post every day.

As for me? I am going to be diving into the content myself actually. I'll be working through this the entire month of April!

I know that there were a TON of things thrown out at you. So if you need to take some time and work on the prompts separately (like all of the mindful eating at once, the mudras, or the mediations, etc.) then over the next few months or weeks then I encourage you to do so! Participate along with me through our Mindfully Savvy/Mindful March group.

Please continue to post questions and share with me how you are doing with the content. We will also still use the hashtag #mindfullysavvy

Our last Mindful March giveaway ends in a few hours. You can enter the giveaway here!

Meditate on Nature

My favorite thing about Spring is the beauty in life being reborn.

The trees are budding, the flowers are blooming.

Today I challenge you to take some time for you. Whether it’s on your lunch break, before or after work or in the midst of running errands; take the time to meditate on nature today.  Whether it’s on your lunch break, before or after work or in the midst of running errands; take the time to meditate on nature today.

This type of meditation can be done while sitting, standing or even walking. My favorite thing to do on my lunch is head to the forest preserve and either sit and eat my lunch or take a little walk through the paths of the forest. Once I find a great spot I’ll stop and just take in all of earth’s beautiful glory.

You can choose to meditate on the earth itself, the trees, flowers, animals or simply feeling the nice breeze as the sun peeks through the trees.

To deepen the experience, allow yourself to experience not only the sights but the sounds and smells. Close your eyes; what do you hear? Simply take notice of the sounds surrounding you without labeling them or giving them name. Just experience the colors, shapes, sounds and movements.

Experience everything with an open awareness, as if you’ve never seen anything like it before. Whenever the mind begins to wander, humbly bring yourself back to where you are.

Bonus: Share a picture of your meditation. After you've practiced your mindful meditation on nature, snap a picture of the beautiful sight you used to transpire your inspiration.

Be sure to use the hashtag #mindfullysavvy with your post on Instagram or Facebook. You can also post in our Mindful March group! 

Mindful March Collaborators: Meet Krissie!

Krissie Bentley (RYT 200, Curvy Yoga, Yoga for All) is a
non-practicing therapist turned yoga teacher and life coach. Krissie
completed her training through Curvy Yoga in Nashville, TN, directly
under Curvy Yoga founder, Anna Guest-Jelley. She has also received
“Yoga for All” certification through Dianne Bondy and Amber Karnes.
Krissie believes it is possible to create a world where we are at
peace with our bodies. With kindness, we can care for our bodies
through movement because we love them, not because we want to change
them. Krissie will help you find YOUR unique style of yoga that works
best for YOUR body. She is also available for coaching, private
sessions, and online classes.

You can learn more about Krissie and see her daily practice on her
various internet homes below;

or send Krissie an email at;
krissie.bentley@gmail.com

Mindful March Collaborators: Meet Joy!

Joy Love Bernstein, Structural Alignement Bodyworker of 18 years, started her yoga and spiritual journey since the age of 6. 2008 trained with Judith Lasater Relex and Renew (restorative yoga). In finding her teacher she received her 200hr Vinyasa Certification with Malochana Ananda at San Antonio Yoga Shala and also that same year she received her Curvy Yoga Certification with Anna Guest-Jelley. At this present time she is working on a 300 hour advanced studies in Alchemy of Flow with Christina Sell.

Mindful March Collaborators: Meet Caitlin!

Caitlin Quigley is a graduate of the Healing Yoga Foundation’s 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training for Yoga Therapy. Being plus-sized herself, she’s living proof that Yoga is for every body!

“I won’t be small… that’s just NOT how I was made.” she continues, “I used to feel imprisoned by my body; I thought, if I can’t physically do the same poses and activities as my neighbor, I shouldn’t be doing them at all. But through the process of my Yoga Teacher Training, I felt enlightened to learn that Yoga is all about FUNCTION
over FORM, and anyone can do it with the right instruction and focus.

I’m very blessed to be in good health, and I truly believe that God gave me this body for a reason. Instead of looking at it as a burden, I am learning from it and am using it as a tool to help myself and others grow beyond what is and to realize what can be. I want to help people who may be hesitant about yoga because of their body size, and let them know they are not alone. You are beautiful just the way you are, and I want you to have enough confidence to participate in your life and enjoy new activities without fear of judgment. I believe that all people–big and small–deserve good health and happiness, and I want to share my philosophy in order to help you reach your physical and spiritual goals.”

It’s this desire to reach others that led Caitlin to practicing yoga as an instructor.

Caitlin’s style of teaching is directly under the lineage of TKV Desikachar, which teaches that Yoga is a holistic, healing discipline that offers a broad range of tools for supporting health, healing and personal transformation.

Mindful Mondays: The Power Of The List

Do your list of TO-DOs ever make you feel like this?

I think the moment I realized I was doing this was when a friend of mine called me out. “There she goes, making her lists again…” It’s just what I do, and no matter how unorganized it may look – for the most part, these things actually do help me. Seeing it all in front of me and having the power to cross something off after it’s completed is my absolute favorite part.

But what happens when the list takes over your entire life? What happens when we become so enthralled in those tiny little pieces of paper?

Today, I’m asking you to ditch the to-do list.

Alright, alright. Don’t all go shrieking in horror and unfollow me. Take your to-do list for the week, or even the month and tack it on the fridge. Leave it in the open, where it doesn’t get lost. (or do, because God, do we love making lists!) But, it doesn’t leave the fridge – got it? (I know you just added a bunch of stuff to it because I told you that you couldn’t touch it… I’ll let it slide for now!). 

I want you to know and accept that you will NEVER get EVERYTHING done.

There will a l w a y s be something to do. Extinguish your guilt!

Now I want you to try condensing your to-do list; even if it’s just for today. Pick the top 3 things that absolutely HAVE to get done. Organize them in order of priority and do your best to get them done.

There is however, one small little catch;  b e    p r e s e n t ! In anything you do today, and especially from that list, take notice in what happens. Notice your frustrations and your advances. Notice your annoyances and your satisfactions. Notice the people you greet, the stress you feel and the relaxation that comes after.

At the end of the day, I want you to express gratitude to yourself for getting the things that you did done, and making a dent into your list. No matter how small, it’s still a dent. Be proud of that!  If there was something you just couldn’t get to; that’s okay. Add it to the top of the next day’s list. Don’t beat yourself up over it. The most important thing you can do is be present, and even if you didn’t get everything done; you were present.

Bottom line;

I know how important tasks and deadlines are. But they shouldn’t consume our entire life. If you’ve got to get something done – do it beautifully.

Mindful March: links and loves

One of my favorite things to share here on the blog are the things that I am loving at the moment. I figured I would carry that concept over to Mindful March and share with you the places I've found true inspiration in not only creating this course, but diving deeper - and them some!

In researching for the content I’ve written to share with you throughout Mindful March I came across a website called The Mindful Morning by a blogger named Joanne Poon. Joanne has some GREAT Mindful content on her site! The thing that caught my eye, as I am sure will you is this Weekly Mindful Planner. If you sign up on her website you can download yours for free (in black and white AND color). I don’t use it every week, but during those times I’m really looking for some inspiration or a pick me up, I will bust this out and work my way through the week a little more mindfully.

Find The Mindful Morning here;

I also came across Mindful.org which has some pretty awesome meditation and practices centered around mindfulness.

The Little Book of Mindfulness has tons of amazing 10 minutes (or less) prompts to bring in a little more mindfulness to your life. I ordered a few of these to giveaway also throughout the month just to be able to share with you all. I’m loving that it’s pocket sized and I can take it anywhere for a little inspiration!

Speaking of books, The Mindfulness Coloring book is PERFECT for on the go. It’s a pocket size coloring book for adults with images to help support your life being less stressful. Throw this in your bag with a few colored pencils or markers and you’re set for a car, plane or train ride.

I am loving this sweater from Fat Girl Flow. It is the perfect warm & comfy oversized sweater to get me through the remainder of Spring and cool nights. I also can’t wait to wear it as we sit around the fire this summer. I found Corissa on Instagram and she has been nothing but a true inspiration! Her work against fat shaming and body acceptance is simply amazing and I am truly grateful to have such an amazing person to look to for support & motivation!

Find the sweater and her website here.

If you follow me on social media, it’s no surprise that my family has been loving Hello Fresh!

I’ll be posting an in depth review of our Hello Fresh experience soon! If you’re interested in trying, I’ve got a coupon code for $40 off of your first box!

Use the code HQNLTJ at checkout for $40 off of your first box!

This stuff works beautifully! I am truly fascinated by how this hides my ends and makes my hair soft and smooth! I WILL GROW MY HAIR OUT DAMNIT! ^_^

Meet my new HOLY GRAIL go-to eye palette. Usually by the weekend I’m craving something more bold and dramatic. BUT for those days where I need to look put together and am in a rush, this just makes sense. All the colors are so blendable!

THIS CD! (I know, I'm late to the party, don't judge!) Click to purchase!

I should probably warn you that this palette is for those ‘no make-up” makeup looks. You can get some smoke out of it, but not much! So if you’re looking for something that’s going to pack a punch; this isn’t it.

Using products from this brand of greatly improved the integrity of my hair! I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I am still so impressed!

This playlist on Spotify!

Crispy Chicken Parmigiana Salad; so tasty! Click for recipe!

and last but not least; THIS CRISPY CAULIFLOWER RECIPE!

DIY: Green Tea & Peppermint Bath Soak

You Will Need:

• 3 cups Epsom salt (unscented)

(I chose to use a 1:1 ratio of Pink Himalayan Salt and Dead Sea Salt after the yoga studio I attend starting carrying it at a fairly reasonable price!)

• 1 cup finely ground sea salt
• 3 Tbsp loose green tea or 9 green tea bags
• 4-6 drops of peppermint essential oil (I also used a couple drops of eucalyptus essential oil)
• 6-8 drops Fractionated coconut oil or Almond Oil

 Combine the 3 cups of Epsom salt and the 1 cup of sea salt in a medium mixing bowl and stir well to make sure they’re fully mixed.

If you’re using green tea bags, cut them open to remove the tea. Add the tea to the salt mixture and stir again to make sure they’re mixed very well. You want to be sure that you have a pretty even distribution of the tea.

Add the peppermint oil and either the coconut or almond oil and stir it well to combine. If you’re skin is dry, use the coconut oil. If your skin is oily, go with the almond oil. You can use a bit more than called for if it doesn’t go far enough, but you shouldn’t have to when you’re adding the essential oil to it as well.

Stir very well to make sure the oils get distributed.

When mixed well, cover with a paper or kitchen towel and let sit for an hour or so to absorb the scent and oil.

Store in an airtight container in a dry place.

To Use: Mix (1/2 – 1 c) into warm bath, set your playlist to Zen & enjoy!

Original recipe courtesy of;  http://sixdollarfamily.com/diy-green-tea-and-peppermint-bath-soak