Year of the Rabbit

Year of the Rabbit Year of Water

 💫1/22/23:  Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year)💫

There was a stillness in the air that was crisp and winery yet still and quiet. I was inching methodically and with great gentleness inching towards this beautiful creature. This intelligent creature was basking in the moon lite glow of the soft slushy like snow. The kind of snow that makes you want to put an empty cup outside just so some of the quietness can be collected. Then cover this fluffy snow with a bit blue dye number god knows what, just the best flavor at any bodega as a child. If only you could taste the excitement in the air!

It was an incredible moment that I will never forget! I am so grateful to have taken the time to go outside and take a look at the beautiful moon. The cute little rabbit was the icing on the cake for me that evening. I just had to share my experience with you all!

I am so very thankful for the experience that I was able to have. I will always remember the feeling that I got as I looked into the eyes of this small little creature. Its eye wide to the moon and the glow from the moon was so effervescent that it created a cascading of start like twinkles on the snow. 

This was the most exciting thing that has happened to me in nature in my whole life. 

Because of this I am not going to be the only one that will be the one to know about this. I had to talk the world. The world will not believe me but I will have to talk about it anyway! Never take what you do for grant. Never Underestimate the situations in your life. Don't let the little things pass you by and go un-noticed. 

Take the time to look around and be the person to slow down and take the time to just be. 

Just being will allow you to see the usual things that may go my you and not be seen. Life is too great not to look up and see what truly around you. 

I am so grateful that I did! 

Sending love and light with one little story at a time. 

How Spiritual Awareness Help to keep You Grounded

Hello My Lovely’s! 

I have been working on my spiritual growth and wellness a lot over the past few months. I have been focusing on getting back into a daily routine of reading more scripture, soulful books, and spirituality based  articles. I have notice such a beautiful difference that I just had to share the love!

I am also opening up my blog to everyone that would like to share both triumphs and struggles in this area as well.

I have always been a God fearing (respecting) person and from a very young age I have praised His name. I thank my parents for instilling this in me and leading by example. 

However, over the past few years I have found myself falling out of my conscientious daily routine of reading the Bible or something spiritual and keeping God in the center of my gratitude for life. Also, taking the time to thank God for all He has done for me and continues to do for me no matter how big or small. 

I have been implementing this back into my mornings while I have my coffee/ tea, before starting on my emails for the day. It has truly been amazing to see the peace that carries me through the day when I start off my day with such an intentions! I have been then, sitting quietly and reflecting on the day before and my goals for the day ahead. This as become a practice and a simple habit in my life. I can see the positive outcome in areas of overthinking and even decision making as I keep consistent with this practice. To pray on things and meditate on my intentions has really helped to keep me grounded and focused as I go through my day!

Give this a try to see who it can help you too! Find a quiet place to pray, journal, or just be still for at least 30 minutes each morning. If your day starts out right way on the go and you only have even 10 minutes for this practice, make the time and work your way up to a full 30 minutes.

Reflect on how you feel after and how this practice carries you through your day. Our lives are always full of choices and emotions. When you lift up your thought and elevate your mind on things above there is a weight that is instantly lifted. An absence of calm and understanding will fill your heart and mind. No matter the book or the spiritual path that you wish to take I encourage you all to take that time for yourself and God. Knowing that when there is joy in your life you can thank God and when there is hard times you may reach out to Him for help is so comforting and grounding. 

So enjoy the peace, empathy, and compassion that this daily habit will bring you. Have fun exploring your relationship to something higher then yourself, my Lovely’s.

 If you would like to share how this practice makes you feel I would love to hear your thoughts as well.  

I Love you all! 

What can weigh us down mentally and how to keep these stressors in check

Hello My Lovely’s,

What is weighing you down today? 

Many things in life can weigh us down and overwhelm our minds and thoughts.

Past mistakes (the if only’s)

Past Failures

Emotional baggage 

Childhood issues

family issues 

Etc.

Try a few or all of these things to keep your mind accountable and in check. This will help to shift your   perception. A positive mindset often results in productive and positive outcomes.

Keep a mental diary for 7 full days to start. If you find it helps you to put things into perspective keep it going! 

Write down every activity you did after each major activity or meeting.

What did you enjoy about that activity?

What would you improve on  in the future?

Journal your thoughts and ideas. When you feel yourself overwhelmed or overthink write it down and let it be. Getting out your thoughts and seeing them written down will help keep you accountable to act on the decision you choose. This can also help to visually see that the thought or decide is not as difficult as you are making it out to be. You know what is best for you in your own life and acting on your decision is so empowering!  

Create a mental “diet plan”:

A healthy lifestyle is not just about what you put in your body but also what you put in you mind.

What do you listen to? 

• Decide on a 30 minute pod cast, advanced learning course

What are you watching? 

• Kept it calming, funny, and relaxing

What are you read?

• Subscribe to a daily or weekly mantra, read articles that are filled with positive and affirmations, how to books or feel good books

What music are you listening to?

• Keep to a positive listening habit. Think about what music moves you in a positive direction or reflection. Make a “Mindful” playlist and listen to that when you feel stressed or anxious.

Who do you surround yourself with?

• Who do you speak to that after your conversation has you feeling drained? Try to limit you talk time with them for a period of time. When do you feel driven and mentally stimulated after a conversation? Make time to talk with them and interact. Who makes you feel peaceful and calm during and after your conversation? Those who have that affected over your emotions keep them close and be sure to share with them.

 

Do your best to reduce your self-loathing. The vibe you give off to others can mentally hinder your growth. Do your best to love yourself. You cannot control the actions of others but you can control your own actions and thoughts.

Complaining, Comparing, and Criticizing can lead you down a mental rabbit hole of negativity.

These things can often distract us from what’s important and meaningful in life.  

Give this mental workout at try:

Mantra for the Present: repeat this 3 times and breath in your nose and out your mouth  

“I am exactly where I need to be.”

Be physically present. Set in a quiet place and focus on each of these things, one at a time.

5 things you see

4 things you can touch

3 things you hear

2 things you smell

1 thing you can taste 

Calm down your breathing and breath from your belly and keep your shoulder relaxed and done. Breath out from the mouth or nose softly and with intention. 

Check in with yourself, How am I feeling?

What can I do to feel healthier, what can I stop doing?

How to stay mentally active?

Keeping your mind stimulated and creating new synapsis in the brain which can be great for your mood and self-esteem. 

•  Learn something new
• Debate with you friends or have a challenging discussion 
• Listen to calming music with no multitasking
• Do a puzzle
• Play a strategy video game
• Play trivia based game or Pictionary 
• Read a book

Life can be challenging and is not always full of sunshine and rainbows however, your mental health matters. Shifting you perspective to those things that are positive, supportive, loving, and kind can do wonders for your life! Try being more mindful of what you are surrounding yourself with and how it makes you feel. It matters and when you put into practice keeping positive and productive you will see the changes take place!  It just takes one day chance to create that chain effect of one more day of thinking that way. Then before you know it you will be living on the sunny side of life. 

Summertime Snacks

What a year 2020 has been thus far! 

So, I will start by saying WHAT!!!!!?????

That just about sums up my outlook on this year and on the events that have taken place in our country and around the world. 

Now, back to the important things: peace, love, family, and of course Food.

With summer in full swing here in New York I would like to ask this question. What do you crave most in the summer?

For me it’s fruits and veggies. The stove is not my friend during the summer months.

My most recent summer time “snack” and sometimes lunch has got to be broccoli salad.

I have been playing around with recipes and have decided on this one to share with my blogging family.

Sweet and Tangy Broccoli Salad

1 head of fresh broccoli ( raw not cooked or frozen ) 

Cut the steam off of all broccoli florets and shave steam with box grader 

Add 3 large carrots (raw & shaved with box grader)

Add 1/2 cup cran-raisins

Add 1/2 cup slivered almonds (I like the salted)

In small bowl add

8 tbs apple cider vinegar 

4 tbs agave honey

1 tbs plain Greek yogurt 

1 tsp crushed rd pepper flakes 

Salt and pepper to taste

Combined dry and wet ingredients together & mix well

Let sit in the fridge for at least four hours, overnight is ideal.

This allows all of the dressing to soak into the broccoli and other ingredients.

This is a great grab and go snack, lunch, or side for a summer cook out.

I have also been very into trying new flavors with deviled eggs. They are quick to whip up and simple to make unique with just a pinch of this and a topping of that. 

I most recently made Pastrami on rye and Martini deviled eggs and they we a hit!

I started with the basic deviled egg recipe which consists of boiling water and then placing eggs in pot and covering and trying to medium heat for 20 minutes. Letting them cool and cutting the eggs in half. Then, add the yolks to a bowl with a few tbs of mayo and add whatever flavor combos you like.

Think outside of the box, it is a great way to get creative in the kitchen with your kids or friends.

Those were just a few of my go to’s. 

Let me know what your favorite summer time snack or party “must brings” is.

Let’s all get in the kitchen and try something new. Let your creativity shine! Live in Love.

Stress: Life is full of it, how do we handle it?!

 Hello Blog Family,

So, here is my question...

Stress is something that we as people always struggle to keep at bay right, or is it just me?
On a serious note however, I have been straining myself in the stress department for some time now. As I age I feel that the stresses of life get to be very heavy. I have been managing the ebb and flow of life for some time now so its not the " world that overwhelms me", for me it's the little things.
Such as, relationships with friends, family, and Co-workers that get to me the most lately it seems. I have lived my life on the upswing so far so I guess that there has to be a point in life's pendulum that falls downward. I am excited about this new chapter in my life but at the same time it Stresses me out for sure.
As my life changes my body feels the burden of the stresses I place on myself. My mind is working very hard so my metabolism feel like it is also.Now lets get this out of the way, I am no dietician only speaking from personal experience but it seems that my body physically reacts to the effects of stress. Do you feel the same? If so, tell me how? If not, let me know how it effects you and how it manifests itself.
In the past 10 years my body has reacted and been affected by stress in the following ways:

• My face becomes dry, break-outs form, and/or advanced short term aging of my skin
• Eczema flairs up or becomes very serious
• Between the ages of 18-25 stress would play a large factor in my weight gain 
• Between the ages of 26-and current stress has no longer effected my weight in a gaining way but rather in the way of aging and becoming less elastic in nature
•  My appetite increases for the foods I don't normally like, I get unusual cravings
• I become more easily fatigued 

I'm sure there are others I could include but those are the major ones that have affected my life. Something that I have found very helpful with managing these things are as follows:

• eating 6 to 8 small amounts throughout the day
• staying away from processed/ pre-made foods
• stay as organic as you can: when it comes to veggies, fruits, meats, things from nature that should be non-GMO, no hormones:like with poultry/ cows milk
• staying active and keeping your body guessing by doing different things through out the week/month

I have found that making these few changes helps in my daily life. It helps with my energy level and my stamina throughout the day. I have also noticed a significant improvement in my skin clarity. Most of all I feel less stress and more positive vibes seem to "flow my way" as I stay healthy on the inside. What you put into your body can make all the difference to a person mentally, physically, and emotionally.  I've noticed eating healthy and staying active has improved my life positively.

I hope that my friends in the blog world and beyond can take from my experience and self reflection.
Live to Give & Live in Love.

Back In Action! Taking Back My Health

Hello Everyone! It's been a while since I've posted, two years to be exact but I'm so happy to be back. I have been working hard on improving both my mind and body over the past 24 months. It has been a rollercoster of a journey that has not all been easy or fun! However, I have discovered some wonderful things about myself and gained some tips and tricks along the way. I am busting at the seems to share what I have gained though out this continuous journey. I am looking forward to hearing from everyone along the way.
So let's dive right in!
My health journey has been a very long and continuous learning experience. I have come to find over the year's that there has been 4 constant keys to feeling your best. One, fresh and whole foods are the way to go. Two, processed sugars are the kiss of death for ones body. Third, water should be your best friend. Fourth, keep your body moving!
I have found that keeping these 4 things in mind while going through your daily routine helps your body function at its best.
Let me give you an example of how these 4 keys helped me in my life not just 1 year ago.
So, around December of 2017, I found myself 85 pounds over weight, constantly fatigued, and miserable.
I knew I had to do something about it because it seemed like my body had begun to have a "mind of it's own", at this point. I was eating the wrong foods but not alwsys over eating. I was eating heavy foods late in the evening. I was not very active in my professional life along with personal. I was sleeping too much or not enough.  Also, I had content awhile as extreme stomach pains and skin irritation.  Etc...
So for New Years, I set out to change my short term habits. Also, figure out what I need to keep my body the healthiest while also keeping me happy.
I say this because I love trying new foods and experience excellent places. Whether, it's out at a new local place or just simply in my kitchen.
In fact, that's one of my favorite places these days. My kitchen is my play ground. It has always been a place to be creative. Also, it gives me a sense of completion each time I stepped foot in my own kitchen. It's a judgement free zone. The kitchen, in my opinion, should be a Zen and free place to express and keep sacred Your Temple.
I have found, through my mother, nutritionists, my life and sensitivities that what you eat is everything!
I have been putting together so great dishes that show eating well can also be healthy. I have found Some pretty simple recipes and life tips thought my life. Some gluten free. Others, will be full family dinner, I will also be talking about green juices and the important in eating whole foods as much as possible. Just for so examples that is.
Aside from the food, I want to open up a chat about life. Questions, uncertainties, victories, and exciting moments. I will be talking about my life as well. I will be 30 January 8th 2019 and I want to talk about that too. 🤗 also, stop by my Instagram @kris10skitchen.
I am hitting some small milestones in life and I am struggling in others. But isn't life that way?
Let's talk about life, friends!
Let's talk about health living!
Let's talk about consous living!
Let's talk about living abpositive lifestyle!
And so much....!!!!!
I hope you all enjoy it. However, you are welcome to not. No worries.
Thanks for listening. Live to Give, friends & always Live in Love!

Let's talk Green Drinks!

Hey everyone! Let's talk Green Drinks! I am in love with this concept and I can honestly say it works. It keeps my energy level up and makes me feel great throughout my day.

With Spring finally here in NY State and Summer not far from arrival I am excited about the Sun Shine. I look forward to the great weather. I love nothing more then having fun in the sun with friends and family outside, doing yoga or running outside on a beautiful day, along with other outdoor activities. However, along with that comes dehydration.
What I love so much about the Green Drink and a healthy dose of water through the day, is that it keeps you hydrated and is great for your body both inside and out.
The combo of antoxidents, detoxifying fruits/ herbs, vitamins and nutrients makes for one awesome start to the day. Or even a great drink for an on the go lunch!

Recipes for this and may other tasty  options will be short behind in the
"Try it" section of the blog.

Thanks so much for reading and please comment and let me know what you think and your ideas too!
Have a beautiful day

"Live and Help Live. Live and Give" 🌞