You're invited to...

Smart Woman Atlanta's Spring Debut & Business Mixer

When: Saturday, April 20th      4pm-7pm
Where:  Apres Diem
              931 Monroe Dr. C-103
              Atlanta, GA 30308
Contact: T. Rena Davis for more info @ 678-481-2387
RSVP @ www.SmartWomanAtlanta.com

Come out and meet our Cover Ladies.

Meet & Greet other business owners.

Make Connections!

        

 Event hosted by Tammie Bailey-Fults, CEO of NAWOSB, Inc.

 

Magazine Re-Launch Celebration & Business Networking Event

Smart Woman Atlanta Magazine 

Re-Launch Celebration 

& Business Network Reception

You are invited to attend a special evening for women professionals and business owners hosted by National Association of Women Owned Small Businesses, Inc.
NAWOSB is excited to once again partner with Smart Woman Atlanta Magazine!!
SWA is designed to feature women business owners throughout Metro Atlanta and beyond. The magazine previously had a strong following and continues to be a well sought out marketing source and directory.
You can join in on the evening fun, network, meet the former Smart Women covergirls and receive more details on the magazine by purchasing your tickets today:

• Advance ticket purchase = $20
• At The Door = $30 (no exceptions)

There will be food, door prizes, surprises, wine of course* and lots of networking!
*Cash Bar *

Smart Women (and Men) will be in attendance!  RSVP if you are.

Event SPONSORSHIPS Available~Call 678.468.7862 for details. 

For information re: Smart Woman Atlanta MagazineContact: Rena Davis, CEO/Publisher   Email:rena@smartwomanatlanta.com           
Phone: 678.481.2387

For questions re: this event or about NAWOSB Contact:events@nawosb.org or call 678.468.7862

Date & Time

Saturday, January 26 at 4:00 PM (EST)

Location

d'Vine Wine Bar & Shoppe 5486 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338

Special Edition Printed Publication!

Great News!!!!

We are bringing back the printed format of Smart Woman Atlanta magazine.
Lots of people (both women & men) have been asking for it and we've decided to meet their demands. The time is right, right now!
The Special Edition of Smart Woman Atlanta 2013 will be released in January/February.  This means there is not a lot of time to get your business included in this special issue.  Call today to get the ball rolling and to ensure placement in this edition.  Space is limited!

Who should advertise?

• Any business that is looking to target women between the ages of 25 and 55 living in the metro Atlanta area.
• Businesses that have a product or service to offer that will uplift women and enhance our lives.
• Any business that looking to increase their customer base.
• Businesses looking to be more successful in the year 2013!

 Visit our Advertise With Us page to get the current advertising prices.
To our readers, I look forward to sharing some of the best businesses in the Atlanta area with you and to our advertisers I look forward to growing our businesses together in 2013.
Sincerely, 
T. Rena Davis, Publisher

Congratulations to OUR president 

of the United States of America, 

Barack Obama!!!

I fell in love... with Shea Butter!

This is the brand of ASB I've been using.

 Shea Butter is the new cocoa butter! Well, at least in my world it is.  However, it is so much better than cocoa butter to me.  Coming from a die hard "Cocoa Butter Girl", that's saying a lot!

One of the best things that has happened to me since I stopped relaxing(perming) my hair is my discovery of shea butter.  I didn't rush out to buy it at first, but one day after spending over $80 on an expensive hair care line and still not getting the results I wanted, I decided to give shea butter a try.  Thank goodness I did! I mixed shea butter and coconut oil together and it worked wonders on my coily tresses.  I then used the same mixture on the rest of my body.  Guess who won't be spending $16 on a tub of The Body Shop's Body Butter any more?  Yeah, you guessed right...ME!  Do you see why I'm in love with this stuff?  I'm saving so much money already, but it doesn't stop there.

I also began using 100% natural African Shea Butter on my face as a moisturizer.  I wash my face with African Black Soap and then apply a small amount of shea butter afterwards.  My skin is looking and feeling better and better every day. (I will do a post on African Black Soap and my skin care routine soon because this soap deserves its own post.)

Okay, so this is why I absolutely fell in love with shea butter.  It makes a great lip balm.  I used to spend $8 a tube on The Body Shop's Vitamin E lip care stick because it was the only thing I could find to work on my very sensitive lips.  Sometimes you just have to make the sacrifice, ladies. I'm just saying! Having soft, kissable lips is a must for me.  I can't be walking around here with dry chapped lips. No Ma'am!  Of course paying $8 for a tube of lip balm was always very painful for me and I was always on the lookout for something just as good but less expensive.  I then found Chapstick's 100% Naturals Lip Butter. Now this stuff was amazing and it only cost $3 per tube.  Talking about being one happy camper!  I was happy until they discontinued it. :-(  Doesn't that make you mad?  You finally find a really good product that works for you and then the company discontinues it. Un.Be.Lievable!  So now I'm on the hunt again for a lip balm.  After buying several brands that I wasn't happy with, I found Burt Bee's Nourishing with Mango Butter.  It wasn't as good as the Chapstick, but it was the best I could find for $3.  I had been using the Nourishing for a while until one day I reluctantly rubbed some plain shea butter on my lips.  I waited and watched for a bad reaction, but I didn't get any.  It's been about 3 weeks now and I think it is safe to say that shea butter is a winner as a lip balm for my sensitive lips.  I'm in Shea Butter Love Heaven!

To recap, I've replaced expensive hair care products, skin care products (body butter), facial moisturizers and lip care products all with 100% Natural African Shea Butter.  I used the TAHA brand pictured above that I purchased at a local beauty supply store for $2.99 + tax for an 8 oz tub.  You can get it even cheaper if you buy it in larger quantities.  Check out Amazon.com for cheaper prices, too.  Shea butter is a natural product that comes from the African Shea Tree and it's so good for you. It lasts a really long time because a little goes a long way.

If you don't use shea butter already, give it a try and let me know how you like it.
If you are already using shea butter, please share with us how you are using it.  We'd love to learn more good things about this awesome product.

Make a Great Weekend!  ~rena

Fall Back

Nature's Beauty in Cherokee, NC.  

Hello, Everybody!
It's been a while since I last posted a blog entry, but hopefully this time I'm back for the long-haul.
My family & I just returned from an extended weekend trip to the Smoky Mountains in Cherokee, NC.  The mountains are so beautiful!  Seeing the leaves turn into warm fall colors and breathing in the fresh mountain air was very therapeutic. Being one with nature has a way of clearing your mind and enlivening your spirits.  It did me so much good to get away from the busyness of Metro Atlanta and to be able to sit back, relax and bask in nature's sunshine & beauty.  I am renewed! :)

While away I had a chance to really think about life and what's important to me.  Of course family & friends were at the top of my list, but helping others succeed was at the top also.  Not only do I want to help others prosper in their businesses, I also want to help others in their personal lives in regards to Health & Wellness (www.EatMostlyRaw.com).

Kale is the New Beef! (I love my new t-shirt)

You see, over the past couple of years I've been going through a transformation and I'm feeling so much better about life right now.  Everything is falling into place and seems to be working out.  My spirit is high.  I've adapted to a healthier lifestyle.  I'm focused on eating a mostly raw diet now and I'm exercising more.  I also stopped putting relaxers in my hair about 2 years ago and I'm loving my natural hair. I can wear it straightened or curly and I love it!  Another part of my transformation is that I'm learning to live with a lot less "stuff".  I don't shop as much as I used to and I'm learning to appreciate the things I already have.  So refreshing!  I'm looking forward to sharing more of the things I've been learning, doing and enjoying in my life lately.

So what am I doing now?  Right now I'm working on a Special Edition of Smart Woman Atlanta magazine.  I'm hoping to distribute the printed copies some time during the month of December.  I've put it out in the universe, so now it must be done. :)
It's time for us to re-connect with each other. Support each other's businesses. Share tips & trips that will enrich our lives.  We need to create a sisterhood of women who cares about each other and who wish nothing but the best for the next woman.  Together we can help each other live happier lives and create happier & stronger families in the process.

I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with you.  Look out 2013. Here we come!!!

~rena

Thin Mints (Eat This...Not That!)

Thin Mint Cookies

Hello everyone!

Girl Scout Cookies are still floating around town...and I want some! :-)
Thin Mints are my absolute favorites.  I used to buy at least 4 boxes of Thin Mints every year and I didn't have to freeze any of them for later because they never lasted that long.  LOL!  So this year, I decided not to purchase any GS Cookies.  As long as I don't bring certain foods into my house, I'm usually good about not eating those food items.

Image my surprise when I walked downstairs the other day and sitting on the table was a box of my all time favorite GS Cookies.  Oh no!!! How am I gonna resist the temptation to eat 1 (or some) of these cookies?!?   Well, I walked around looking at this box of tastiness for about a week, wondering and hoping that my nephew would just eat the whole box already. :)

Thin Mint Green Smoothie

Then it hit me...
Why don't you just make a Thin Mint Green Smoothie? 
Duh! (do people still say that?)
So that's what I did.  YUM!  My craving was O-V-E-R!!!

Thin Mint Green Smoothie Recipe:
2 Frozen Bananas
2 Handfuls Spinach
1 TBS Cacao Powder
1TBS Cacao Nibs
1 TSP Peppermint Oil
Agave (sweeten to your taste; start with 2 tablespoons)
2 Cups Cold Water 
Preparation: Blend all ingredients until smooth.  Pour in a glass & enjoy!

Note: adjust ingredients to suit your taste.

Question of the day:
What is/was your favorite flavor of Girl Scout Cookies?

everybody's Nuts!

 
Hey Guys!
Just wanted to share my new favorite snack with all of you.
I'm so excited about these things. I just can't stop eating them. :)
I'm telling you, they are highly addictive.  Once you start eating them, it's so hard to put the bag down.

My niece introduced me to them and I'm kinda mad that I even tried them. I can eat a whole entire bag (7oz) in one setting.  I know...that's so bad...but they are oh so good.

I found these little gems at Publix and Walmart.  So the next time you are out and about and looking for a healthier snack, grab a bag of these Salt & Pepper flavored everybody's Nuts! California Pistachios. Your taste buds will be glad you did! :-)

 




These are some large size pistachios and they are very easy to open.

Since I've been going nuts over these pistachios, I thought it would be a good idea to increase my exercise, so I bought this jump rope.  I purchased one for my niece and nephew, too.  I figured we can think of some fun ways to get in some exercise that we wouldn't otherwise.  They are very competitive so this should be very interesting and filled with lots of laughter.
I can see the neighbors now, looking at us like we're crazy. LOL!
Of course it is all in fun and all about being healthy.

I picked these jump ropes up at Walmart for under $3 each, but I heard that some of the Dollar Stores sell jump ropes that are probably just as effective for $1 each.

Okay, that's it for now. Just wanted to do a quick 'share' with you all.

Have a great weekend!

Good-4-U Smoothie

Strawberry-Nana-Flax Green Smoothie

Since the beginning of the year (January 3rd), I've been really focusing on what types of foods I nourish my body with.

I started the Master Cleanse on January 3rd and completed 10 days.  I then juiced using fresh fruits & veggies for another 10 days.   Since then, I've not eaten any poultry.  I've basically been eating lots of fresh fruits & veggies (both raw & cooked), nuts, seeds, grains and salmon.  I stopped eating beef and pork about a year ago.

I'm very surprised that I'm doing so well in choosing the foods I eat.  I don't feel deprived at all.  It's almost like my body and taste buds just switched over to a different level.  I really don't know how to explain it, but I'm very glad of the food choices I've been making lately.  If it wasn't for the salmon, I could easily switch over to being a vegan because I've pretty much cut out all dairy products and eggs, too.  I used to love eggs, but I don't crave them any more for some reason.  I don't know why, but I'll roll with that.

So, lately I've been on this Green Smoothie kick.  I've been wanting to increase my intake of Flax seed so I started adding it to my Green Smoothies.  I love it! It's nutritious and very filling.  I drink a Green Smoothie almost daily for breakfast.

For the recipe, please visit my other blog, Eat Mostly Raw (<---- click on the link <----).  I encourage you to give this smoothie a try. It is a great meal replacement for breakfast and it will keep you full until around lunch time.  BTW, flax seed is very nutritious. It helps to fight cancer and diabetes as well as helps to reduce menopausal symptons.  In addition to that, flax seed also aids in weight loss.


What ingredients do you like to put in your smoothies?

All You 'Gotta' Do Is Walk

I finally put on my new running shoes that I purchased last summer. LOL!

Walking...does a body good.
Body movement is a key component to a Healthy Living Lifestyle.  It is just as important as eating a healthy meal filled with fruits and vegetables.

If you do not currently exercise and are just starting an exercise routine, walking is a great way to get your body moving.  For starters, you don't have to pay for a gym membership. Walking in your neighborhood is FREE of charge. You are also not bound by gym hours. You have the flexibility to walk whenever it is convenient for you. If you own a treadmill at home, it is even more convenient, because you don't have to worry about the weather.

Of course the most important benefit about walking is that it gives you an overall body workout. It is less strenuous on the body so you are prone to less injuries.  You can always increase your walking exercises by adding weights to your wrists and ankles.

So, what is needed to begin a Walking Exercise Program?
Not very much is needed really.  All that is needed is comfortable clothing and a good pair of walking/running shoes.

What type of exercises are you doing to get your body moving?

Healthy Celebration

Dessert Platter

Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate Love & Happiness.
In our culture, most people like to celebrate by sharing a meal of delicious foods topped off with yummy desserts.  If you are watching your weight or just eating healthier in general, you can still enjoy delicious foods.  Here's what I chose to eat for my Valentine's Day dinner. It was healthy and quite delicious.

Dinner

For dinner, I served grilled salmon, spinach stir-fry and freshly sliced cherry tomatoes. I love tomatoes!
The spinach stir-fry and salmon were both prepared using olive oil and the tomatoes were simply sprinkled with sea salt.

Dessert (pictured above) was a raw dessert platter that included fresh whole strawberries. The strawberries were so sweet...they were perfect. So, what are those heart-shaped thingies? LOL!  They are delicious little morsels of raw goodness. I call them Brazil Nut Dateys (cookies). No sugar is added to these little bad boys making them a very healthy treat. They are made using raw organic Brazil nuts, coconut flakes, barhi dates, and a pinch of sea salt.  I added organic cacao powder  to some of the mixture to create a chocolate flavor.  After all, what is Valentine's Day without chocolate, right?  These little dateys were shaped into mini hearts using a heart-shaped mold, which created the perfect bite-size portion, in honor of Valentine's Day. No guilt there! :-)

I hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine's Day whether you are single or in a relationship. I really enjoyed my evening.

What did your Valentine's Day dinner consist of?

Guess what I did yesterday?!?!

Now Walk It Out!!!

I went WALKING!!!!

I know it is not that big of a deal to you, but it is to me.  I'm so excited!
I had been saying for months that I was gonna start walking again to get in some much needed exercise, but I never did do it. I had gotten pretty good at walking one time before, but I just stopped...for no good reason.  My legs were beginning to tone up and look sexy, too. LOL!  Now I have to start over, but at least I have enough time to bring back my sexy before the summer, right? :-)

So since I'm taking one day at a time, I decided that yesterday (Monday) was the day to get to it.  It felt really cool and breezy out for most of the day.  The weather was a little overcast, but I didn't let that stop me. It felt amazing! I walked 1 mile in about 30 minutes.

Will I walk tomorrow? I'm not sure, but I will take it one day at a time.
If I don't walk tomorrow, then there is always the next day.

Anyone want to join me?
I need walking buddies.  You can join me physically, but you don't have to.
You can join me by walking wherever you are. Just start walking!
If you are at work, you can take a brisk walk on your lunch break.  If you are at home, you can walk whenever it is convenient for you.  The best time for me to walk is in the morning.  Once I start my day, it is very hard for me to get out there.

So, if you decide to walk it out, let me know.  Leave a comment in the comment section.
We can exchange emails or something and motivate each other.
I look forward to walking with you! :-)

One Day At A Time

Hello Everyone!

It seems like the month of January just flew by. Wheeee! :)
It's now February and for a lot of people that means that those New Year's resolutions you made have been put to the wayside and all but forgotten. However, it's not to late to re-adjust your plans.
So what if you didn't stick with going to the gym 3 times a week?
So what if you didn't stick to your meal plan of only eating healthy foods?
So what???

Well, here's what! It's time to re-adjust and make more realistic goals. It may help if you set your goals not for the entire year, but for 3 months or maybe even 1 month...even 1 week.  I always tell my clients to take one day at a time, especially when it comes to eating healthy.
So whatever resolutions you made or goals you set for yourself, you can still achieve them without putting too much pressure on yourself. Just take one day at a time.

Two of the goals I set for myself was to get more exercise and to eat healthier.
I'm doing okay with the eating healthier part, but with the exercise...not so much. :(
It's okay though. I still have that new pair of running shoes that I purchased last year and never wore. LOL!  So what am I going to do? I'm going to take one day at a time and just do it. All I have to do is WALK! My plans for this week is to walk at least 3 days. I know I can do it. I've done it before and with the weather being so pleasant here lately, I really don't have any excuses.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.

So what are some of the goals/resolutions you made that you sort of let fall by the wayside?
Are you planning to re-focus and get started on them again?
Remember, you can always start over!

Enjoy Your Monday, Everyone!!!

My Chocolate Fix!

Hello Sweet Peaches!
It's been a while since I last blogged.
Here's what's been going on in my world...

Lots of lemons for the Master Cleanse

After the New Year rolled around, I decided to cleanse my body by doing the Master Cleanse.
I started my cleanse on January 3rd.
I did the Master Cleanse for 10 days and then I juiced for 4 days. On day 15, I added fresh fruit & vegetables to my juicing days.  So my entire cleanse lasted 20 days. I lost 10 pounds.
Since the cleanse ended, I decided not to eat poultry (chicken or turkey) for...I don't know...I don't miss those things so I may not ever eat them again.  Who knows! I'm taking my healthy living journey one day at a time.  I gave up pork and beef over a year ago and I don't miss those meats at all, so for me I don't think I'll miss the poultry much at all.  Lately I've been eating a lot of salads and whole fruits. I've also been making a lot of smoothies and juicing a lot.  As for juicing, my niece and nephew gave me a juicer about 3 years ago for Christmas. I used it a few times when I first got it, then I put it away. LoL!  I figured since I did the MC, I would end it with fresh juices and I've been using it almost daily every since.  I'm so glad I didn't get rid of my juicer and I'm so thankful for the goodness that it is providing my body.  I feel so good when I drink fresh green juices.  I've made juices with green leafies(collards, kale, green leaf lettuce, etc.), vegetables & fruit and I've also made juices with just green leafies and fruits.  I found that my favorite combination is a simple juice made with just 1 type of green leafy and 1 type of fruit.  The best 2 combos so far have been collards & pineapple and also kale & mineola oranges.  So simple, yet so good and nutritious.

Spinach & Salmon Stir-fry

So, what  other things have I been eating since January 22?
As far a cooked foods go, I've been eating a lot of stir-fries: salmon & spinach stir-fry and stir-fry collard greens. The recipes are in my booklet.  I've also just had plain grilled salmon with a side of cooked veggies. Yes, I've been eating a LOT of salmon lately! 
As I type this, I'm realizing I haven't eaten out but once since the beginning of January...and I don't miss it at all.  Even when I did eat out, I ordered fish & veggies and I remember thinking that I would have enjoyed it more, had I cooked my own meal at home. I'm getting better at this healthy eating thing that's for sure. :)

Wow! I just made an amazing chocolate shake. It is so delicious, I just had to share. I'm drinking it as I type this blog. Yum!!!
Just the chocolate fix I needed!
Recipe: Choco-Brazil Nut Shake
1-1/2 cups water
2 frozen bananas
1 tspn cacao powder
4 bahri dates
a handful of Brazil nuts
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour in your favorite glass and drink up! Delicious!
Notes: if you don't have frozen bananas, use 1 cup of water and a half cup of ice.
Also, you may want to start out with 2 dates and add more until you get to your desired sweetness.
That's it!

Feel free to leave a comment or ask questions by leaving a comment. I'd be more than happy to hear from you!

Goal Completed

Mostly Raw (Front Cover)

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick note to say that I completed one of the top items on my To Do List. Yay!!!

It is my first booklet on Raw Foods and Healthy Eating, entitled Mostly Raw.  I personally know how hard it is to transition over to a mostly raw diet, so I created the book to help others who are striving to improve their eating habits and make a Healthy Lifestyle change.
The booklet has been sent to the printer and I should be receiving my copies no later than the first part of next week.

My new website, EatRawYummies.com will be up and running soon. Copies of the booklet may be purchased on the website or at a local health store called Coffee Tea & A Healthy Me, which is located in Avondale Estates.
Join me in 2012 as I up my level of Health & Fitness. I would love to coach you through to success. More info to come about my New Year's Coaching Special and how you can receive a free copy of the booklet.


Have you completed any major goals this year? Please share your good news with our readers if you did.  We want to be excited and celebrate it with you.  
(Leave a comment in the comment section.)

Mostly Raw (Back Cover)

Hello Everyone!

I've been very busy working on my future plans.  I made one major accomplishment and that was completing my booklet, Mostly Raw. :)  I titled it Mostly Raw because my goal is to reach those people that want to become healthier, but end up feeling lost in the process. Mostly Raw is a beginners guide to creating a healthy balanced diet using raw & cooked foods.

Delicious Blooms

In my last post, I spoke about discovering what makes me happy.  While I loved making edible arrangements using fresh fruit, cookies, candies and snacks, my passion is all about HEALTH.  So I will be switching things up a bit. I've decided not to offer Candy, Cookie & Snack Bouquets when I re-open my business. However, I will continue to create fresh fruit bouquets and all of the chocolate dipped fruit items as I did before. 
I need to stay focused and true to my passion.  Of course it is okay to eat these things on occasion, but it will be much easier on me if I don't have them around me all day. Know what I mean? :) I just want to help others (and myself) to get and stay healthy by making small changes to our eating habits and by offering candy, cookies and snacks, I won't be able to do that.  As I stated in my last post, it is not about depriving yourself of your favorite foods. It's about making more healthier choices.

The year 2012 is only 1 month away!  During this month (December) a lot of people begin to think about changes they plan to make in the upcoming year. People make New Year's Resolutions and set goals to make a better life for themselves.  My goal for next year is to continue to get healthy and to stay that way. I want that for myself as well as for others.  Life is better, you look better, you feel better, you get more things accomplished and you are happier when you are healthy and feeling your best. You become more confident and more outgoing when you are loving the skin you are in. So let's all make plans to become a Healthier You in 2012.

Question of the day:
Are you making plans to  "Become a Better You" in the year of 2012? If so, what are some of your goals/dreams?

Future Endeavors

Hi There!
It's been a good while since I last posted (almost 2 months!).  So what have I been up to?  I've been in deep thought about my future endeavors.  Over the past few years, I've come to realize that life is not about money and material things. It's about Love & Happiness.  It is about Peace.  It's about Sharing.  With that said, I've been meditating on what truly makes me happy and what direction I should be going in, both in my personal and business life.

I've come to the conclusion that I should re-launch my company, Delicious Blooms.  Delicious Blooms provides edible fruit arrangements, candy & cookie bouquets, chocolate dipped fruit and a lot of other gifts for business & personal use.  I just love taking whole fresh fruit and making it bloom into an edible piece of art.  I do the same with individual wrapped candies and cookies, too.  Nothing makes me more happier than seeing the smile on a recipient's face when I personally make a delivery.  It reminds me that my work was not done in vain...that if only for a few seconds or minutes, my work bought joy into someone's life.  I just love it!

Another thing that has been on my mind is Raw Foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds).  Last year I began a Healthy Lifestyle Journey and it changed my life.  I did the Master Cleanse for 10 days.  I enrolled in an online Raw Food course and I also took a Raw Food Chef course at a local raw food restaurant for a week.  I learned so much in the hands-on course.  It was well worth the money I paid for it.  I've learned so much about whole foods and the health & nutrition benefits of eating Raw Foods.  I've decided to make Raw Foods a part of my business.  I want to teach people how to take control of their health simply by eating more nutritious foods.  I want to share the benefits of eating Raw Foods and how it can change your mind, body & spirit.  I want to share what Raw Foods has done for me & my body.

Banana Soft Serve N'ice Cream

As part of my sharing, I've written a guide booklet on how to incorporate more raw foods into your diet.  It a start-up guide that was written to help you save money and time when embarking upon a Healthy Lifestyle Journey.  The booklet addresses both raw and cooked foods.  Yes, you can still eat cooked foods while adding more raw foods into your diet. :)  There is no need to deprive yourself to get the health benefits of eating more raw foods.  It is all about choices.  I share with you two(2) quick & easy changes you can make right now that will help you be healthier and feel better.  There are even a few simple recipes included in the booklet.  I'm so excited about this booklet!  I'm currently putting the finishing touches on it and it should be ready for release within the next few weeks.

So that is basically what I've been focusing on over the past two months.  I'm just trying to get my plans ready and in order so I can have an awesome 2012.  It's time for all of us to make the necessary changes in our lives to be a more productive and happier...to make a positive change & impact in someone else's life.  If you are already doing those things, then kudos to you.  You are much admired and appreciated.  If you are not, however, put on your thinking caps and make something happen!  Do something you love and share it with others. 

Oh, I almost forgot...I love to blog!  So I will be back to posting on a more regular basis as soon as I'm done with my booklet and setting up the re-launch of my business.  In the meantime, I'll be sure to stop by and post about what's happening in my world from time to time.

Thank you so much for reading my blog.  It really means a lot to me...It really does.  I appreciate you so much!  Peace & Blessings! -rena

Extreme Couponing

I was flipping through the t.v. channels last weekend and came across the Extreme Couponing show on TLC.  At first I bypassed it, but then decided to check it out.  I figured, why not, I'll probably learn something from it.

The show turned out to be very interesting.  It showed how these women would spend an enormous amount of time finding coupons, cutting them out and then logging them into their coupon system.  Each lady had her very own way of doing this.  Some of them used spreadsheets to keep track of it all.  Fancy, huh?  To get all of those coupons, they actually went through a lot.  One lady went dumpster diving for Sunday papers. 

I thought, "Wow, this couponing takes up a lot of time.  No wonder I always clip a few and then end up not using them.".  So as I'm sitting there watching and seeing how much money these ladies are saving, I decided that maybe couponing wasn't such a bad idea.  I mean I spend lots of money on paper towel and tissue...way too much...and I'm always paying more than I'd like to for everything else I purchase.    One lady on the show showed over 100 rolls of paper towel and said that she always get it for free.  FREE!!!  I was jealous and amazed. :)  One lady actually purchased over $1500 worth of food and other products and only paid $51 out of pocket.  I know...amazing right?!?!  So, yes, I now think couponing is well worth the extra time and effort.  Maybe I won't go to the extreme with couponing, but I will begin to use coupons to my advantage.  There are so many other things I can do with my money.

These ladies purchased every thing from dog food to pasta to cleaning products.  One lady got 150 candy bars, 218 boxes of pasta, over 40 bottles of mustard, boxes and boxes of cereal.  Really?  How can they possibly use all of that before the expiration date?  With as much stuff that these extreme couponers where purchasing, it gave me an idea.  I'll share it with you on a later blog post.

A few tips I learned while watching the show:

• Mustard never spoils.  Really?  This sorta makes me afraid to eat mustard now.
• Pre-order if you are planning to purchase a large amount (over 10) of any one item.
• If the store is out of something, ask for a rain check.
• Use your coupons with store coupons.
• Some stores offer double coupon days.
• Everything goes on sale at least every 30 months. (I'm not quite sure about the number of months but that is what I scribbled on my note pad.)
• Coupons can be found online in addition to those found in the Sunday paper.

One thing I didn't like about the extreme couponing was that the grocery carts were filled with mostly processed foods like cereal, pasta, candy, and sauces.  Of course, seeing all of that really turned me off because I'm trying so hard not to eat a lot of processed foods.  A couple of the ladies said they were able to buy produce, but I never saw any in the carts.  Then as I thought about it I realized there are a lot of things I can get by using coupons.  Things such as toilet paper, laundry detergent, trash bags, toothpaste, cleaning products, paper towel and deodorants are good items to go couponing for.

As I said before, I don't think I'll be an extreme couponer but I am going to begin using more coupons.  The holidays are fast approaching and I could sure use some extra money.  Besides, every little bit helps.

Question:  Do you use coupons?  If so, share your experience.  If not, do you plan to use coupons in the future?

Fashion Food & Friends

 

What I wore:
Occasion: Dinner with Classmates
Location: Evergreen's @ Stone Mountain Park
Cargo Pants: TJ Maxx
Top: Macy's
Necklace (charms): Stella & Dot
Gold Chain: Kohl's
Shoes: DSW

Fashion, Food & Friends
This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of my high school classmates and their significant others for dinner. We dined at Evergreen's inside Stone Mountain Park. The food was absolutely delicious.  I didn't get a chance to take a lot of pictures of the food, but I did manage to get a shot of my favorite: crab legs.

Evergreens serves an awesome buffet on Friday nights that includes crab legs, a salad bar, a dessert bar and a hot bar. The hot bar for this past Friday had a delicious seafood gumbo, rice, catfish, collards, roasted vegetables, seafood chowder and a whole lot of other foods that I can't remember.
Alongside the crab legs (at the meat station), they served prime rib. My classmates said the prime rib was very good. It looked really juicy and moist, like it would melt in your mouth. I didn't eat any of it, but based on my observations, it must have been really, really good. :)
So if you are looking for some good food, buffet style, I suggest you check out Evergreen's on a Friday night.

Evergreen's is like a best kept secret. I don't think too many people know about it.
What are some of the restaurants you like to frequent that may be a best kept secret to others?

"To Do" List

Now that we are in the last days of Summer and headed into Fall, it is a good time for change. Let's all create a "To Do" list. Put things on your list that will help you to become a better you.

During the summer, I slacked off on doing my exercises and I allowed myself to eat a few more things that I wouldn't normally eat, like more sweets and eating out more frequently. So now that the temperature outside is dropping, I can get back outside and exercise. Walking outside is such a calming thing for me. I love just being one with nature and breathing in the fresh air. I have a treadmill, but it's just not the same.

I'm also making a commitment to get back to eating healthier. I was mindful of my eating habits all summer, but I did eat out a lot more than I had been. Traveling and spending time with family & friends will cause you to eat out more. Every one just seems to want to eat out all the time and because it is so hot in the summer, no one wants to cook (unless its a bar-b-que).  I'm proud to say that I've stayed away from eating pork and beef at the bar-b-ques this summer. Yay! No ribs for me and I didn't miss it at all.  Besides, I feel so much better when I prepare my own meals, because I know exactly what was put into them. When I cook/prepare, I eat a lot more veggies and I control the amount of sugar (if I even use sugar) and salt (I no longer use table salt, I use sea salt) that I put into my food.

I'm currently working on my "To Do" list for the Fall. Here is my list so far.
To Do List:
1. Exercise more
2. Cook most meals at home
3. Increase vegetable and fruit intake
4. Create a shopping budget
5. Get more sleep (i.e. go to bed earlier!)
6. Work on making the blog better
7. Go on a fast (juice or smoothie or master cleanse (I haven't decided yet. I may do a combo.))

I'm sure I have a few more things to add/change on there.  I'll be sure to share my completed list with you all when I'm done.  I'm gonna try to limit it to only 10 items so that it is manageable and I can complete everything listed.

What are some of the things you will be putting on your "To Do" List?