Here We Come!!!

This is the time of year when life has quieted down a bit as we glide into New Year’s Eve. I used to take my mother and three daughters out of town during this time of year to experience New Year’s Eve in another city because our city of Sacramento always seemed so boring to me. The best New Year’s Eve was 2009. My eldest daughter didn’t want to go that year because we were headed for New York City! She does not like big cities. I arranged for us to have dinner at a restaurant in Times Square at 10:00 pm so that we would be right there to in Times Square to see the ball drop, sing, feel the confetti; experience the whole thing like we’d seen it on TV. It was difficult to get to our restaurant since they close off the streets with police and barricades. It took us an hour of running in our evening dresses, evening shoes, and fur coats from barricaded street to barricaded street until we were finally able to get through to where our restaurant was located. It was worth every moment because when it was time for the count down we ran out into Times Square and searched for “the ball”. Turns out we were to close to see it, ha! It didn’t matter because once it dropped the confetti flew and the crowd sang to a recording of John Lennon’s “Imagine”. People were crying, hugging and kissing. It was truly one of the most amazing things I ever had or ever have participated in. You could feel the eternal hope of the universe envelope the humanity in the streets of New York City.
This year I will be with my husband and our children in Sacramento. We will have a sedate New Year’s Eve. When I wake up on January 1st, I will once again feel the eternal hope and excitement for the coming year. I’ve included a list of ideas from which you can choose for your New Year’s Resolution, complete with link for more information.
Be safe on New Year’s Eve and begin to “imagine” all the possibilities for your 2012!

Here is the list of the 12 Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions: Click on the link to get information about each of the following resolutions.
• Drink Less Alcohol
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job
• Get Fit
• Lose Weight
• Manage Debt
• Manage Stress
• Quit Smoking
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
• Save Money
• Take a Trip
• Volunteer to Help Others

What Is Your New Year’s Resolution? Goals for 2012?

Christmas, the holiday with inflexible deadlines has come and gone. Whew! I know a lot of you are thinking, “I made it.” However, now we look at the bringing in of 2012, a whole new year. This idea brings with it a lot of hope that aspirations unmet in the year just passed will somehow now be attained. How seriously each of us take this mark of time’s passage is individual. For me, as I close in on my 50th year on the planet, I take it seriously. I realize I have places to go, people to see, and social changes to help make happen. Therefore, I write down my goals with the understanding that they are dynamic in nature, meaning they will change as life affords me opportunities. Even if my goals are subject to change, they still need to be written down and shared with someone I respect. Unwritten and unshared, goals have no power, no substance.

For example, when I was first starting to walk again after my first really bad episode with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999 I told my entire family I was going to run again. At the time, I couldn’t really write so I verbally committed to my goal of running. It took me about 7 years to finally be able to run again. I had many set backs over those 7 years but I just kept trying. If something wasn’t working to help me get to my goal, I’d try something else. I sought out the help of professionals when I needed assistance. I read about nutrition and the brain. I read about physical training methods. I also recognized when I needed a break and took it until I felt strong enough to try again.
I look forward to making and reaching new goals every year. In my next newsletter on January 2, 2012 I talk more about goals, how to reach them and what mine are for 2012.

Health Tip: Enjoy Life More: Increase The Quality of Life

Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that “enjoying life more” has become a popular resolution in recent years. It’s an important step to a happier and healthier you! Consider establishing a daily nutritional supplement habit with a product with a money back guarantee so you can feel healthier and more energized everyday as a step toward a balanced life. The better you feel the easier it will be to make healthy choices when it comes to managing your time. The better you are able to manage your time and be involved in activities you enjoy the more fulfilled you feel. Here’s to enjoying life in 2012!

My Holiday Traditions – Only 3 Days Until Christmas & Quick Cookies!

I am looking forward to the annual holiday traditions my immediate family has created over the years. First, Christmas Eve is spent at the home of my sister’s family. She and her husband are amazing cooks. Every year they delight us with innovative appetizers, main courses, and sides. The last 2 years we have enjoyed a “Turducken”, which is shipped from the South to Northern California. I always make dessert. A plain cheesecake is my sister’s favorite. Since I worked as an assistant pastry chef in college, I can make this one in my sleep! This year we will enjoy Persimmon Pudding with Hard Sauce and Chantilly Cream as well. YUMMY! Christmas Day is spent at my house where my husband and children all enjoy a big breakfast together. This year my Uncle is coming along with his flaky, “old school”, mouth-watering biscuits, just like my great grandmother used to make. Best part of breakfast this year is my husband has organized the children to execute all parts so all I have to do is enjoy in the meal. Christmas Day is for playing games and watching movies. Christmas dinner is my favorite, prime rib. I make it every year. It makes the house smell wonderful all day. I love, love, love it!

WOW! Only 3 days until Christmas and the fun has to start now! But wait, I forgot to make cookies to take to my favorite vendors…the dry cleaners, the UPS Store, the trainers that teach exercise classes at my health club, my hairstylist….the list goes on. If I only had a quick recipe I could make and deliver cookies to all of these great people that have helped throughout the year. But wait, I remember a friend of mine told me you could make cookies from a cake mix. I looked it up on Google and what to my wondering eyes should appear but many recipes all made clear! Here is a website and a recipe to get a start on making cookies quickly from a cake mix:


Ingredients
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in the oil and eggs until well blended. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from pan to cool on wire racks.
Nutritional Information Yields 2 dozen cookies
Cake Mix Cookies I
Servings Per Recipe: 12 (2 cookies per serving)
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 387
• Total Fat: 20.3g
• Cholesterol: 36mg
• Sodium: 297mg
• Total Carbs: 51.4g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.1g
• Protein: 4.1g

Health Tip: Eat, Drink, Be Merry!
Do not deprive yourself of deliciousness this season! However, be mindful of ingredients and serving sizes. I love the holidays and I always eat delicious morsels I would never eat unless it is the holiday season with the exception of caviar. I could eat caviar everyday but that is just me. It happens that caviar is one of the most nutritious foods for an adult and most importantly for children. It really packs a nutritional punch! I always couch my holiday dining exploits with my vitamins . No matter what I do or do not eat I know my vitamins will keep me healthy. Visit this website to learn how you can find out how easy it is to know how healthy you are and how well your vitamins are working for you to prevent disease and increase your energy. Contact me for a personal evaluation of how well your vitamins are working or for a Preferred Customer price , a 30% discount on retail, on your supplements.

Holiday Tradition - The Dice Game

Guest Posting – Julie’s Assistant Joy

For most Christmas’ while I was growing up, my family would get bundled up and drive from Southern Minnesota to Fargo, North Dakota for Christmas. The Holiday was filled with both sides of my entire family, amazing food, a children’s Christmas program (when we were really little), and lots of laughs and memories. During this event, about 5 years ago we began a tradition that I’d like to share with you for this Holiday season. Traditions are what we all look forward to at the holidays so I hope you enjoy reading about my favorite one.

To me, the holiday is not about the gifts and this is a great alternative to the gift exchange within families and creates a perfect holiday tradition you will remember long past any gift you receive.

The Dice Game – Joy’s Family Tradition
You can buy, or find in your home, interesting and cheap/free things to wrap up that are suitable for the various ages of who will be participating. This year I went to a few retailers and got things like cute recipe cards, magnets, and my husband ordered a few “guy” toys online. Each family brings about 10 items (in my case that is 50 gifts for about 15 people playing) wrapped and placed under a separate tree from the rest of the presents.  Start the Christmas music, grab a drink (hot cocoa is always fun) and  2 dice. Each person shakes the dice and when you get doubles you pick out a gift from the pile and open it.  When all the gifts have been opened, then doubles mean you get to steal a gift from someone else’s pile! This is where is gets interesting….you never know what will be the gift that EVERYONE seems to want. Then about every few minutes (someone keeps track) you stop the game and get to keep one of the gifts in the pile in front of you by placing the gift behind you. Once time is up – everyone has received a few cute small gifts and had many laughs while playing.

(Hint for an extra surprise: My mom once rolled a $5 bill into a toilet paper roll. No one knew it was there and didn’t want toilet paper! Now we check everywhere within the gift for surprises!)

My husband and I are flying to Fargo for Christmas this year and I have been looking for “Dice Game” gifts for months! Let us know if you tried out this game this Holiday and tell me what you think!
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Health Tip:  Dicey Health –Dicey Life (by Julie)
This is the time of year when we all begin to make resolutions for the impending year to come.  Think carefully about how you have felt, health wise, all year and right now.  Do you have as much energy as you like?  Do you like the way you look?  Write down all the things you eat and drink in an average week each year.  Write down how often and for how long you exercise in an average week over the past year. I believe we all have a pretty good idea of what we should be doing for our health. Write down one change you can make on a daily basis in your diet, substituting one unhealthy food/beverage for a healthier food/beverage.  Write down one change for the better you can make in your weekly exercise regime.   Next, you have to tell someone your plan.  You need to have accountability for success – we all do!  For example, I know a woman that gave up dessert after dinner for 1 year and lost 10 pounds by the end of the year!  One simple change made her feel better and her clothes fit better.  Don’t make dramatic resolutions because those are hard, if not impossible to keep.  Start with baby steps.  You will feel better about yourself and feel like you are taking control of your health and consequently, your life.  If you need support, seek out the help of a professional to get started.  Don’t leave your wellness to fate like a roll of the dice.  Resolve to take charge one tiny step at a time.

10 Days Until Christmas –Really

Here we are 10 days until Christmas!  Should be super exciting, right?  Well, I am a little freaked out because I haven’t finished my shopping and I am thinking about all the wrapping I will need to do once the shopping is complete!  On top of that in the back of my mind, I have all these cookies and sweet treats I’d like to make.  Oh, and lets not forget about the holiday cards yet to be sent and the customer appreciation gifts I need to mail once I receive what I have ordered to give my customers.  Maybe everyone would rather have New Year’s cards and gifts?  Here is my answer to that:

If you think you can’t then you will be like all the ordinary reindeer and you won’t be able to fly! Believe in the impossible.
~Unknown
Ok, after reading that quote I just took a long, deep breath.  Did you?  Sometimes I make big lists of things for myself to do because I think it will make the holidays SO special for my children, their significant others, my spouse, family members, friends that stop by…pretty much the entire county I live in…just in case.  Every year I hope for world peace.  This year I will hope for inner “holiday” peace for myself.  I think this is a great idea because my inner peace will pass through me to everyone I come in contact with during the holidays.

Health Tip:  Gift Yourself!

Give yourself a gift this year by reminding yourself that all the holiday magic is in your heart.  If you are too busy with details you cannot hear your heart.  Take some time to evaluate what is really important on your holiday list of things to do.  Scratch out the ones that would be nice but not necessary.  By simplifying your list you leave room in your brain to hear your heart.  You and your loved ones will enjoy a more meaningful and enjoyable holiday.  Peace be with you!

This Year Give the Gift of a Personalized Beauty Basket…12 Days Until Christmas!

If you are like me you probably have a small collection of baskets, boxes and tins stored in a cabinet or on a shelf in your garage. Here’s an easy way to use that basket for a fun and different themed holiday gift. How fun is this?

Instead of a pre-made gift basket, dress up your own container, add items selected just for your recipient then wrap in clear cellophane. Pick out their favorite beauty magazine, throw in any of these delightful items: NS’s Herbal Mineral Bath for hydration while soaking in the tub, Exfoliant Scrub to remove rough, dry skin to smooth the face, Lip Gloss that plumps lips or Lip Balm (with sunscreen), and a cute headband – wrap in cellophane (found in any gift supply store) and tie together with a pretty ribbon tied in a bow with an ornament or jingle bell and you have a personalized gift. Add a handmade card if you are really crafty and want to make it really special. Please contact me very soon for your gift basket/stocking stuffer needs to get a 30% discount.

Health Tip: Winter Sun Protection
Enhance your sun protection with the right foods. “In general, fruits and vegetables are foods high in antioxidants and help us fight free radicals and sun damage, while foods such as meat, dairy products, simple carbohydrates, sugar and processed foods cause inflammation and can contribute to making sun damage worse,” according to leading dermatologists.
Foods like leafy greens, peppers, squash, watermelon, blueberries and tomatoes that are rich in vitamin C and the antioxidants, carotenoids and lycopenes can help prevent sun damage.
Don’t forget to apply a sunscreen even in the winter. NS’s tinted moisturizers with sunscreen provide light coverage and protection from the sun. NS’s Body Block with SPF 30 are good for both face and body with the added benefit of being water resistant, a very important detail in sun protection.

Winter Skin and Stiffness!

Ho ho ho, Happy Holidays! I don’t know about you but I have received multiple invitations for the same date and the same time. I always hate to miss a party. However, worse than missing a party is feeling tired and not looking my very best for the party I am attending! Winter wind and cold are wrecking havoc on my skin and my body. I want to feel the flexibility of warmth in my body and the glow of a fire on my face. With these thoughts I realized I am probably dehydrated! I love a cup of hot coffee or black tea but they can be dehydrating. Put those two together with the icy winds whipping every molecule of moisture out of our atmosphere and “ta-da” you have dehydration! I haven’t even mentioned all the cocktails and glasses of wine that contribute to dehydration. Quickly, I responded by drinking hot GREEN tea and taking an extra step in my beauty regime to add a layer of hydrating moisturizer to my skin. Wow, what a difference those 2 things have made for how I feel and how I look. When you are properly hydrated you are able to maintain your energy level all day. Green tea has the added bonus of delivering critical antioxidants that protect you from colds and flus as well. Not only should you take your multivitamins (learn more about my favorite vitamins) now but add nutrient rich vegetables or cups of green tea to your daily intake.

Please do not drink the energy drinks to boost your holiday spirits. Energy drinks contain ingredients that have had many published health warnings. If you are interested in receiving those warnings, I would be happy to send you some information, just shoot me an email, julie@anuyoubyjulie.net. Think about energy at a cellular level. Really it all starts in our cells and what we give them…like our cars and the fuel we put in them to run efficiently. Without my daily Vitality, I’d be sound asleep and stiff as an old horse at my desk by 3:00pm!

Health Tip…Winter Skin Nourishment:
Start your day with a banana then have an apple as a snack. If you can have a vegetable based soup at lunch you are a super star! I don’t care if you pair it with French fries, probably not the best choice but, hey, it is the holiday season. Be sure to drink lots of water or green – black – tea because it will warm your insides and keep you well and hydrated. After all these good things you have put in your body will make you feel righteous at the holiday cocktail party as you enjoy your wine, cocktails and appetizers. To finish off your righteousness, after cleansing and toning, be sure to apply an anti-aging serum followed by a night cream. You will find these steps to be time and money well spent! (Remember, I can get you a 30% discount on all the products I mention on my blog)

Give the Gifts that Give Back This Year

During the Season of Giving, I like gifts that give back to our environment. By taking care of our environment we are taking care of our loved ones and ourselves too! I am proud to be part of an organization that strongly believes in giving back to the villages that helped them create their products. The Epoch line from NS uses traditional remedies from indigenous cultures with botanical ingredients to create helpful treatments for us.
For example, in the Epoch line, $0.25 from the sale of every Epoch Baobab Body Butter is donated to the NS Force For Good Malawi Seeds of Hope project. These funds will be used to purchase and plant a variety of important and useful trees for the people of Malawi, including baobab trees and fruit trees. Malawi –one of the poorest countries – has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world and there is an urgent need to restore and protect this precious natural resource. Read the scope of work provided by the Seeds of Hope project, which just makes me so proud. The Epoch Baobab Body Butter is made from the baobab tree which is one of the types of trees to be planted and drenches your skin with the much needed moisture during the winter months. For a full listing of the Epoch products and the communities served visit here.

Running out of time to shop? Receive a 30% discount on your products when you let me help you with your order.

This Holiday Season, help make our world a little better with every gift this year.

Health Tip: Winter Is Not Just Magical Snow Falls And Twinkling Lights…Its Dry, Chapped Skin, UGH!
Winter is the worst season for people who have dry skin – flaking, itchiness and tautness is usual and neglect of daily care can easily lead to habitual dehydration, with sensitive skins and red patches. During winter, the outer layer of skin becomes very dry therefore it is important to keep the skin moisturized. Even those who have oily skin must use light moisturizing lotions after cleansing to keep the skin soft. Therefore, going that extra step to pamper the skin with moisturizers and emollients is imperative.
To avoid “crocodile skin” on legs: Use a body was without soap such as NS’s Liquid Body Bar After bathing, apply a body lotion , while the skin is still damp. It helps to seal in the moisture.
For additional help with dry, red skin on your face email Julie@anuyoubyjulie.net

Only 24 Days Left Until Christmas… Give Yourself Permission!

I just love the winter holidays! The excitement starts for me in late August, right after my birthday. That’s when everything I do has the future goal of the holidays. I start purchasing marked down holiday décor as it inspires my vision for my decoration theme for the year. My daughter pointed out that we don’t do “Spring Cleaning” but “Fall Cleaning”. She’s right! We are getting ready for the holidays in August. This year I didn’t begin holiday preparations in August. It was then that my grandmother’s health was declining and so I spent that time with my grandmother; visiting making food to deliver to she and my Uncle, and styling her hair. So, I started in late October. By Thanksgiving, my house was not perfectly clean and decorated, with “zillions” of cute cookies made and appetizers frozen awaiting room temperature as in years before but I realized I was the only person that knew. My house looked tidy and festive. I was actually very proud of my holiday décor. Perhaps it is OK to give ourselves permission to not be “perfect”. The definition of “holiday perfect” I have created and no one else has a clue about it. I am glad I spent the time with my grandmother and not creating “holiday perfect” because I will forever remember time spent with my grandmother and “holiday perfect” is fleeting. So in the last 24 days before Christmas, give yourself a gift, the permission not to have “holiday perfect”. Gifts start in our hearts. When we are more relaxed then the gifts we give others are better with so much more meaning.

Health Tip: Holiday Party Ready, Get Your ZZ’s On – Make Time For Beauty Rest
People, there is some real science behind those “eight hours” of suggested sleep time. Maybe when you were 16, you could party all night and cover up those dark circles the next morning with a dab of tinted moisturizer, but if you’re like me and you’ve just realized you aren’t 20 anymore but almost 50, living on 6 hours of sleep just doesn’t to cut it when it comes to the skin on your face! Get some sleep and your skin will thank you. Not only does your skin require downtime to repair itself, but sagging skin and puffiness around the eyes make wrinkles look much worse. I haven’t found a dermatologist that disagrees. You want to be holiday party “beautiful”, right?