How a Ringtone Saved My Life

(on our evening walk – leaving the blahs behind!)

I believe Spirit wants us to be the best people we can be in this life, and the nudges to stay on course can come from unexpected sources.

Christmas Eve Day was light-hearted and fun.  I went to a girlfriend’s house to visit and wrap gifts, where there was room to spread out and pretend to be organized about the whole process.  She made a delicious sandwich for a lite, healthy lunch and when she offered seconds, I ignored my brain as it warned I probably ate enough.  It tasted so GOOD, it was HEALTHY, and we were having such a GREAT time together! So I suggested we split one.  She whipped up another sandwich and while it looked suspiciously like a full serving, I ate it all up. After all, it was so GOOD, so HEALTHY, and I wanted the FUN to continue!  (For those wondering: a turkey burger on toasted apple bread with avocado, horseradish and mustard – yummy!)

The presents wrapped, it was time for us to split and continue our celebration with others in our life.  I helped out another friend with a quick errand and headed home.  It’s been a few hours since lunch and my tummy is feeling a little too full, starting to agree with my brain.  As good as it was, I really didn’t “need” a second serving.  So even tho it was early in the evening I snuggled into bed with my Cockers and thought I’d nap off the fullness.

I’ve been such a slug, physically, for the last two months.  Not sure why.  Maybe it’s that “fall” bleh that I used to get when I lived in the Northeast.  Maybe it’s some more trying times I’ve been dealing with lately.  I am sure it hasn’t been helped by my running out of my fabulous supplements (from doTERRA) which are a wonderful support for both my physical and my mental baselines. Whatever the reason, I haven’t been a good example of moving at least one step more every day.

So, there we are, the Cockers and me, doing absolutely nothing, with so much of the day still remaining! I ventured a peek at my fitness tracker and saw that I was close to my absolute minimum – it wouldn’t take much to hit that goal for the day . . . other than actually getting up and moving! I was letting the ugly lack of motivation hold me back, keeping me from enjoying the day and taking actual steps to being healthier and feeling better.  The GI tract was still full from my overeating and as I was starting to sink back into the pillow, another friend texted me a Christmas Eve greeting.

And everything started to shift.  This friend is an inspiration to me in many ways, and because of that the song I chose for this texting ringtone is one that also inspires me.  “I can’t wait one minute more, the sun does shine! The sun does shine!” Reminding me to “make hay while the sun shines” and NOW is the time to enjoy everything about my life.  That is what I needed to look those blahs straight on and say “not today! You are not taking me away from the JOY in life today!”

Indie (the bossy one) must have sensed my change, because that was when she decided she was done with lazing around and demanded to be let out (and when she demands, I must obey). While I was up I reached for my resources and gave myself a bio-scan. No surprise – the top three products that showed up were all digestive related (for inquiring minds: Peppermint, a digestive supplement and Coriander). I popped two peppermint beadlets into my mouth and applied a drop of peppermint oil to the back of my neck.  By the time I slipped into my jeans and sneakers my discomfort was already gone (note to self: scan sooner!) and it was time to harness up the Cockers for a short walk to hit my goal for the day.

The rains held off, the Holiday lights in the ‘hood were glowing and the three of us had a great walk. We hit my minimum goal and even reached  my next-level goal. The physical movement was good for us all!

So, did a ring-tone *really* save my life? While that may be a bit of a dramatic way to put it, I do believe that anytime we can take even one step more than we did the day before, we are taking a step closer to health and a longer life. Will I keep those autumn/winter blahs at bay? Only time will tell.

The song: One Minute More by Capital Cities

The oils: doTERRA – learn more at one of my Monday night classes or online at www.mydoterra.com/SanteeOils

Share with us in the comments below where you recently found some inspiration . . . or what your current challenge is!

 

Follow Your Dreams …

“Follow Your Dreams … they know where they are going!”

I saw this phrase on a child’s t-shirt today while I was out playing with a couple of my girlfriends. I just knew it would pair up nicely with this stunning image I had on file.

The Purple Washcloth

If you are one of my followers, you are likely doing some personal development each day – reading a motivational book for 10-30 minutes every morning, doing 10-60 minutes of physical improvement, maybe your focus right now is practicing moments of gratitude throughout the day.

Manifesting your desires into reality is another exercise that you might find beneficial. The Secret, The Law of Attraction, practicing Affirmations – these are just a few of the ways you can learn how to bring your desires into thought, into action, into reality. However as you are getting starting with manifesting your desires and abundance, it is easy to get distracted and discouraged. This blog post is to share my slap-the-forehead reminder that this DOES work and YOU CAN DO IT!

The Purple Washcloth – inspiration for manifesting the life you desire!

Last month I was dog-sitting for a client. The first night I was there, one of the family members was still in the house. I arrived to a wonderful bedroom in the gorgeous house, and one of my favorite four-legged clients there to greet me. On the bed were two sets of towels laid out for my use over the weekend. A pretty green and a beautiful purple that just spoke to me. The green set included the matching washcloth, but the purple set was missing the washcloth. I really wanted to use the purple, but I also wanted to “treat” myself to a matching set. As I carried the towels into the bathroom I was looking at the purple towel, feeling it in my hands: the texture, the weight, the color, even the smell of it fresh from the laundry. I wasn’t conscious of any of these observances, they were just happening naturally. There was a small tug inside me as I wished I had the matching washcloth. But I turned my attentions to my furry client and didn’t give the towels another thought … after all, it was JUST a washcloth!

Less than 20 minutes later, Jeff (the remaining family member getting ready to leave) came downstairs to let me know that a towel was left in the dryer and he put it on my bed for me.

It was the purple washcloth that I had wanted!

THAT is how manifesting your desires works and THAT is how fast it can happen!

As you practice your exercises of bringing desires to reality, use all of your senses. FEEL, SMELL, TOUCH, TASTE, HEAR all aspects of what it is you are wanting. Be as specific as possible. I didn’t realize how specific I was being as I held the matching towel. It is easy to leave pieces out – but keep practicing and remember the Purple Washcloth. And come back to tell me in the comments of YOUR successes!

Blog being revamped …

Good Morning Folks!

I am in the process of updating the past blog posts to remove the brand name of my chosen Essential Oil line (to be FDA compliant). Don’t fret – all the great kitchen recipes, EO tips and healthy lifestyle hints will return, along with new ones to help you through the end of 2015 and on into 2016!

In the meantime, if you have any questions – like what brand of oils have I decided on after my 11 year search as a massage therapist and why this one (grin) then just use the contact form below.

Thank you for following and visiting – I will be at my EO convention for all of next week learning new science and new products and will be back to teach it all to YOU!

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Ginger Chicken Stir Fry – the perfect solution!

I’ve been making a conscious effort to add more fruits and vegetables to my food intake recently (and less processed foods). There are even more organic items in my kitchen, but that is for another blog post). But how does a non-cook who works too many hours find the time or the knowledge to do this? Easy. Simple. No-brainer. Those are a few of my must-haves when I look for inspiration. Last night the answer came to me as I was thinking how to use the last of the chicken breasts waiting in my ‘fridge. Stir Fry! How perfect a match is that?! There is no real recipe to follow, you can use almost any veggie and it will taste delicious.

Want to be sure you get the most pizazz out of your Stir Fry without a hassle? I used a base of frozen “Asian Medley” veggies and added a couple of fresh choices for more variety in the dish (for me, the more flavor in each bite means I can go without the noodles or rice). And my crowning touch: I rubbed 1 drop of Ginger Essential Oil (from my favorite brand line) on each side of the chicken breast before I sliced it for cooking. I topped the whole beautiful dish with sesame seeds and everything came together perfectly for me. YUMMM!

Ginger Chicken Stirfry

Hints: stir fry chicken first with 1:1 soy sauce/water mixture (I used about 1/8 cup each). The water will reduce off during the cooking and allow for better soy sauce flavor. Once cooked, remove the chicken and wipe out the pan before starting the veggies. Cook on high and a regular skillet is a bit thicker than most woks, providing better heating. Cook with another 1:1 mixture. Start with the veggies that take longer to cook and add the softer veggies near the end. Once cooked, reduce heat, add the ginger chicken back to the pan, mix thoroughly. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy your creation! Easy, fast, simple and healthy!

Share with us in the comments below how YOURS turned out!

Eating Healthier: 10 easy steps

In this article, James helps us to remember 10 simple (really!) ways to eat healthier … without really trying. All backed by science. It truly DOES help the mind and the stomach when you eat on a smaller plate! Take it a step further and use a smaller fork as well. Check out his full article HERE: http://jamesclear.com/eat-healthy-without-thinking . And take a moment to subscribe to his newsletter/blog. He consistently delivers great content, worth the read!

©2012 Peggy Mundell

How Do You Welcome Change?

©2014 photography by Peggy Mundell

Why do we seem to give the word “change” such negative connotations? When one door closes, another one we haven’t noticed before inevitably opens up to us. And the other side of that previously unnoticed door often has riches we could never have imagined waiting for us. But why take the chance? We can guide the direction of the changes ahead, with just a little forethought. “Have you ever stopped to think how powerful your thoughts are? What if you could transform something about your life simply by mindfully inviting change into your life? I’ve done it. It works. All you need to begin is a pad of Post-it Notes.”

So starts Kee Kee’s journey in 2013. Read the rest HERE … and tell me below how your new journey is going for you!

Amazing Things Can Be In YOUR Life

photography ©2014 by Peggy Mundell/SanteeOils.wordpress.com

One of my mentors sent me this in an email today. It was too good to keep to myself and I hope it inspires you as well!

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I have some amazingly successful people in my life and they will all agree that there was a pivotal point in their life and their career where a major shift occurred.

The shift began to take place when they began to join forces with dynamic individuals who helped take them to the next level in their life. It is said that you are the medium of the top 5 people that you associate with the most.

If you are spending time with people who complain about their lives, who are stuck in Eeyore mode where there is always something negative to focus on, and who just find contentment in being discontent about life and not do anything about it … you will NOT grow or succeed.

But when you spend time around people who are doing GREAT THINGS in their lives, investing their energy into pursuing their passions, focused on the good in their lives, pouring their hearts into the lives of others, ensuring their health, giving back, making money — moving toward success in life … amazing things will begin to happen in YOUR life, too.

When I began to surround myself with people who were seeking to be healthier, wealthier, wiser, and happier in their life- I began to make those same shifts in my own life.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****
And like my mentor Alicia, I want these things for you as well! Think about the 5 people you spend the most time with each day. What do you admire about them? What do you wish was different about them? Which of those two questions had more answers? Surround yourself with people you admire and feel the shift happen in your life! I’d love to hear of your experiences with this in the comments below. Your story may just inspire another person to greater heights!

Mock Lasagna Dinner (made with my favorite Essential Oils, of course)

Mock Lasagna – a delicious way to stay on your 2014 weight loss goal path!

No recipe posts since November? Where has my head been?! Time to dish the dirt about a delish dish that doesn’t taste like dirt … you with me on this?

I am going preface this recipe by tossing a challenge out to you. The challenge is: don’t click out of here after the next sentence. I have to be blunt here and tell you straight away … the noodles are replaced with … kale. Did you pass the challenge? Are you still here with me? I don’t know about you, but I’ve been put off of kale (until now). Everything I read made me think “not for me!” In my green smoothie recipes, I seem to always read “you can substitute kale for spinach if you don’t mind the taste”. Other places have similar things to say and it worked for me. I stayed f.a.r. away from this leafy green!

And then I saw the recipe that inspired me to make a couple of tweaks and take the leap into giving it a try. It is easy to make, looks yummy and my tastebuds were VERY happy with my efforts! This one is a keeper for me. Take a look at my version, give it a go, and let me know what YOU think of this!

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Mock Lasagna Dinner
serves 9; 207 calories per serving; recipe by Peggy Mundell
based on a recipe by Kalyn

Ingredients:

2 medium sized bundles of kale
1 tsp salt
2 tsp olive oil
1 pkg (20 oz) ground turkey
1 24 oz jar of low-calorie/low-sugar pasta sauce (I used Safeway Select Tomato and Basil sauce)
1 drop Basil essential oil
1 drop Fennel essential oil
1 drop Rosemary essential oil
4 TBLS finely grated Parmesan cheese (divided into 2 portions)
2 cups grated reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (divided into 2 portions)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F/190C.

Spray a 9″ x 12″ lasagna-type glass or crockery casserole dish with olive oil or non-stick spray.

Add the salt to a large pot of water and bring to a boil.

Trim stems from the kale, then cut the kale into ribbons about 1/2 inch wide (perpendicular to the direction the stems run). Add kale stips to boiling water, lowering heat so the water is gently boiling.

Cook kale 5-6 minutes.

Drain kale into a colander in the sink and let it continue to drain while you prepare other ingredients. (Kalyn suggests using a salad spinner to gently spin the water from the cooked kale and then let it continue to drain – note to self: put a salad spinner on my wish list!)

While the kale is cooking, heat the oil in a large heavy frying pan

Saute ground turkey until it is cooked through and nicely browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.

Add the pasta sauce and basil, fennel and rosemary essential oils. Stir to combine and let the sauce simmer 20-25 minutes, or until it’s thickened and the liquid is reduced.

In the casserole dish, layer 1/2 the drained kale, sprinkle 2 T Parmesan, 1/2 the sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of kale, Parmesan, sauce, and mozzarella.

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake another 15-20 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling and cheese is starting to brown.

Let the dish sit for about 5 minutes before you cut it. Serve hot.

ENJOY!

Diet Tips:

I cut my mock lasagna into 18 sections (6 columns across and 3 rows down). Two sections equals 1 serving. In eating casually at home, I put 1 section on a small serving plate (delicious with a small bowl of salad on the side!) and make myself go back “for seconds” for my other 1/2 serving if I am still hungry. If I were serving this for a more formal gathering, I would place both sections on my guests’ plates at once – guests look funny at me if I don’t use full-sized place settings!

When doing portion control at home, I don’t place the serving platter on the dining room table – I make myself get up and go back into the kitchen to serve my other half – this makes me less likely to eat without intending to while I visit with family/friends at the table.

After the meal, I prefer to use smaller containers in the ‘fridge and put one serving in each container – this helps me not eat too much when I dive into the leftovers.

Like Kalyn, I suspect this would freeze up nicely!

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Contact me to find out more about my favorite line of Essential Oils!

Basil EO 15ml = approximately 250 drops
Retail Price: $26.67
Wholesale Price: $20.00

Fennel EO 15ml = approximately 250 drops
Retail Price: $20.00
Wholesale Price: $15.00

Rosemary EO 15ml = approximately 250 drops
Retail Price: $18.67
Wholesale Price: $14.00>/LI>

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OnGuard+ … Added Protection Against Colds and Flu

“The flu rate in San Diego County is up about 150 percent compared to last year …”

This has been the headline for numerous news stations and newspapers this past week*. I’ve made it through the end of 2013 without a winter cold (a first for me!) and attribute this to my regular use of the doTERRA products (I love them so much I started distributing them). My next big test will be making it to Spring without that annual cold bug hitting me. I use the essential oils regularly with my massage clients and take the Lifelong Vitality Pack daily at 1/2 dose. Lemon EO (from doTERRA) in my water (when I remember …) also helps me to keep my immune system boosted.

With that headline circulating, our newest member to the OnGuard family comes to mind. Before OnGuard+ was released at convention last October, those of us who use the products would talk about our home made “flu bomb” – a select grouping of EOs in a veggie cap to keep the flu away. doTERRA has made this added protection even easier (and cheaper) to use by creating OnGuard+ … their name for that flu bomb!

These vegetarian softgels make it easier for even pill-haters like me to swallow with their smaller size. Packed with CPTG essential oils of On Guard, Black Pepper, Oregano and Melissa you can get the immune support your body needs when facing winter threats or elements that can weaken your immune system.

Retail Price: $32.67
Wholesale Price: $24.50
Shop for OnGuard+ at http://MyDoterra.com/SanteeOils by searching under “NEW PRODUCTS”.
(doTERRA ships to USA, Canada, Australia, Central America, Costa Rica, Europe, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and United Kingdom.)

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Save approximately 25% off your doTERRA orders for a full year! From Shop for OnGuard+ at http://MyDoterra.com/SanteeOils click on “JOIN” in the upper right corner and choose the first option “Join as a new Independent Product Consultant”. There are no monthly purchasing requirements to save money and the sign-up fee is only $35.

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*Read one of the articles here: Santee Patch article about SD County Flu rate