Why Are We Always SO Tired?

                                               I actually think we all know the answer to that!  We cram so much into our day that we end up struggling to get from one thing to the next.  We drive more, which means more traffic.  We put our kids in more activities and forget the same ones we can create at home with them personally.  We take on more work, projects, community events, party planning, etc.  It goes on and on. 

The cramming and making all these commitments takes energy.  If our body doesn't have it we try and produce it with artificial energy, i.e. caffeine and sugar.  It doesn't take a smart horse to figure out that this will in turn cause havoc on our bodies.  Hey, the Power Princesses fall into this role too sometimes.  It takes constant reminding and paying attention to what our body is saying to snap us out of the over committing and over planning.

The article, "Pick Yourself Up" from experiencelife.com explains thoroughly what ends up taking a toll on our bodies from this over stimulation and depleting ourselves of energy.  And honestly, most often we don't even know we are doing it...zapping ourselves dry, that is.  We don't have to be sad or in the dumps to be tired.  We can be excited about a huge promotion which motivates us to be more driven at work, or extremely motivated about the charity you are involved in.  ALL great to be active and participate in, BUT can really be draining when you are trying to raise a family, keep your house clean, make dinners, keep up with friends and family... and the list goes on. 

The Power Princesses suggest taking a second and listing what top 2-3 things are a MUST to do each day!  The next 2-3 that are important, but may have some leeway.  The rest, see where you can cut to leave time for healing and re-energizing.  Most often you will find by cutting the unnecessary activities from your schedule you will be more efficient and productive with the tasks that you HAVE to do!

A big change I made was to stay present.  Meaning, on the two days I do not work and am home with the kids, I stay away from my phone and computer.  Also, we stay close to home.  I drive 30 min to work Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the kids make the trek with me.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays we stay out of the car as much as possible.  This has allowed me to really be in the moment with my children, and not stress about what needs to get done on the computer or whom I need to talk too.  I used to feel these "things" could not wait until my next work day, but in reality it all can! 

Give it a shot!  Have any epiphonies?  Feeling better with less?  Give us your thoughts and share what ways you went about cutting the extra fat off your day ;)

The "C" Word...

It's something we hate talking about because of how powerful it is, but cancer is a disease and a reality that we all seem to "bump into" one way or another.  It may be a close friend, family member, or even yourself that's dealing with it.  Knowing the signs and symptoms of cancer is the best way to catch it early, and early detection is key to saving a life. 

Did you know that more women die of ovarian cancer than from any other reproductive cancer? 

You are more at risk for cancer of the ovaries if:

*You are over 50 years of age.

*Someone in your family has had cancer of the ovaries or breast.

*You had breast cancer.

*You have used hormones for menopause for more than 10 years.

You have less risk for cancer of the ovaries if:

*You have used birth control pills for more than 5 years.

*You have breast fed your babies.

What should you look for?  Many women have no symptoms.  Sometimes it's hard to tell that symptoms are related to the ovaries. 

Some symptoms women have:

*Pain, a full feeling, or lump in the belly that doesn't go away.

*Bleeding from the vagina that's not normal.

*Stomach problems that don't go away, like gas, nausea, or discomfort in the lower belly.

*Pain when having sex.

If you have any of these symptoms, don't just brush it off...call your doctor immediately.  To read more about Ovarian Cancer go to the National Cancer Institute website.

One day we WILL find a cure for Cancer!  Believe!

What's For Dinner? Pasta!

One of my clients just tried a great new pasta recipe from the April issue of Cooking Light magazine and absolutely raved about it!  She paired it with some grilled salmon and it turned out to be a perfect, healthy dinner that the entire family loved!  Thanks for sharing Daryl :)

Pappardelle With Baby Spinach, Herbs & Ricotta

Daryl found lemon pepper pappardelle at Trader Joe's that tasted great in the recipe.  Fettuccine will also work if you can't find pappardelle. Have all the ingredients prepped and ready to go before beginning to cook—the pasta needs to be hot when mixed with the other ingredients to create a creamy consistency.

Total: 27 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 3/4 cups)

Ingredients

• 8  ounces  uncooked pappardelle (wide ribbon pasta)
• 1  tablespoon  kosher salt
• 1/3  cup  whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 3  cups  baby spinach leaves
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh chives
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh dill
• 3  tablespoons  grated fresh pecorino Romano cheese
• 2  tablespoons  olive oil
• 1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4  teaspoon  kosher salt

Preparation

1. Cook pasta with 1 tablespoon kosher salt according to package directions, omitting additional fat. Drain in a colander over a bowl, and reserve 1 cup cooking liquid.

2. Combine 1/2 cup reserved hot cooking liquid and ricotta cheese in a food processor or blender, and process until well blended.

3. Combine hot pasta, cheese mixture, spinach, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; toss gently to coat. Add additional cooking liquid to moisten, if needed.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 329

Fat: 11.6g (sat 3.6g,mono 6.1g,poly 1.1g)

Protein: 12.2g

Carbohydrate: 45.5g

Fiber: 2.9g

Cholesterol: 14mg

Iron: 2.9mg

Sodium: 373mg

Calcium: 118mg

Looking Good is Feeling Good!

We all know that if we look in the mirror and see what we like it's a good start to the day.  It helps to have a glow on our face and nice smooth skin.  Whole Living has a great article on how to go to your cupboard and use everything from milk to oatmeal to make your skin, hair and face feel fabulous! Keeping your body young and healthy takes more then just exercise.  We need to hydrate, protect and cleanse to keep our skin looking fresh.  Try these Anti-Aging Beauty Tips and let us know how your pretty face is feeling!

May Is National Stroke Awareness Month

Many of you may already know, but last March (2010) my Mom suffered a severe aneurysm and stroke.  It turned her world and our family's world upside down.  It's a been a long year physically and emotionally for all of us, but my Mom's a fighter and she's come a long, long way with her recovery.  We are fortunate to have her here with us today.  And let me tell you, I cherish every moment I have with her, even if it's just a quick phone call to tell her I love her.  

May is National Stroke Awareness Month.  Did you know 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year and most never see it coming?  We sure didn't.  My Mom was her healthy, strong, driven self.  This came out of no where and shocked us all.  Stroke can affect anyone at any age.  Knowing how to recognize the signs and symptoms as well as your risk factors is critical to reducing the possibility of lasting damage.  By staying informed, you could help save a life - maybe even your own!

THE SIGNS.  The acronym below can help you respond FAST:

Face:   Weakness or numbness of the face, especially on one side.

Arm:   Weakness in one arm or side of the body.

Speech:   Difficulty speaking (slurring or confusing words/gibberish).

Time:   If any of these symptoms occur, call 911 immediately.

Other symptoms to watch for: severe headache, dizziness, or reduced vision through one or both eyes.

RISK FACTORS:

*Obesity

*Physical inactivity

*Drug use/abuse

*Family history of stroke

*Preexisting conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

Always stay current with your annual exams and physicals.  And never take any of these signs or symptoms lightly.  It's better to be safe...than sorry.