Motivational Monday - "Let Them GO! - by Madea"

This is such an AWESOME clip but it has been blocked by Youtube due to copyright - I'll keep searching and see if there's a way I can go about it the right way and get it back up!

This is a POWERFUL clip full of humor and Truths that will bring a new perspective to your relationships. Watch the first 5 minutes and I bet you will view things in a fresh, new way.
If you're viewing this on Facebook, CLICK HERE to see the video on my blog



I can't believe that after years of emotion, regret and sleepless nights over broken relationships that it took a man dressed as a granny to get through my thick head and LET ... IT ... GO! It feels so good to LET IT GO - forgive - and accept people for who they are.

Here are a few questions to think about and answer:

Leaves are people who move with the wind. When the seasons change, they whither, die and fade away. Some take all they can from the tree, only willing to give shade now and then.

Who are the leaves in your life?

Do you need to let those leaves wither and blow away?

Are you willing to let a leaf be a leaf without any expectations?

On whose tree might you be a leaf?

Branches seem strong and supportive until you step out on them for support and then they crack and break.

Who have you leaned on for support, or taken a risk and stepped out on, only to find there was no real strength or stability?

Can this branch be grafted back onto the trunk, or is it firewood?

On whose tree might you be a branch?

Roots may be few, but they’re strong and provide nourishment and life. Roots go deep with no agenda other than to hold and support. Without a strong root system the tree would topple in the storms.

Who are your roots?

What do they bring to your life?

What are the qualities that make a strong root?

Are you a true root on anyone's tree?

Wellness Wednesday - "Is salt really bad for you?"

The fluids in our bodies are like an ocean environment. Salt is essential for life - but our bodies cannot make it so it must come from an outside source. Most often it comes from meat or regular table salt.

The problem is that our bodies don’t really know what to do with processed salt. Processed salt is stripped of all the good stuff we need AND things are put in that are not good for our bodies. Years of processed salt intake can damage almost all areas of the body such as the heart, kidneys, muscles and bones.


Here are some interesting facts about NATURAL SEA SALT:

* Pure, natural, unprocessed sea salt IS NOT bad for you! In fact, it is GREAT for you - our bodies need it to work properly. So if you use natural sea salt, you don't have to feel guilty about salting your veggies or potatoes!

* 100% natural sea salt maintains its integrity. It is still harvested the same way it was done 2000 years ago - hand raked and left in the sun to dry. Nothing is processed out of it and nothing is added to it.

* Manufacturers of sea salt typically do not refine sea salt as much as other kinds of salt, so it still contains traces of other minerals, including iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and iodine. These are all good things - you want them in your body.

* Natural sea salt has minerals that retain a lot of moisture and are grey in color. If your sea salt from the health food store is white and free flowing then it is processed and should not be used.

* Natural sea salt immediately works with the saliva in the mouth and starts the digestive process. The more minerals present in the mouth the more digestion takes place. This is good - you want to digest your food efficiently - it helps everything work right.

* Natural sea salt has been known to lower blood pressure and decrease water retention. It enables the liver, kidneys and adrenals to work much more efficiently.

* It can boost the immune system, provide renewed energy, and balance alkaline/acid levels (which is very important, you can read about that HERE)



Facts about TABLE SALT (or Sodium Chloride):

* Commercial salt is highly processed and full of aluminum, chemicals and additives which are toxic to our bodies.

* Table salt is normally rock or ocean salt that is mined, heat blasted, chemically treated, and then anti-caking agents and iodine added to it. What you have left is table salt that is basically dead. It is now just dry sodium and chloride.

* Processed salt is devoid of all the essential minerals and macrobiotic nutrients that our bodies need to survive

* Years of processed salt intake can damage almost all areas of the body such as the heart, kidneys, muscles and bones and it is processed salt that bloats us and causes water retention. Processed salt can put a body out of balance. That's why almost every time you have medical problem the Doctor tells you to cut down on your salt intake.


Do your body good and get natural grey sea salt. It won’t pour like table salt because of the moisture content, but the health benefits can be significant. It's an EASY FIX!!

Motivational Monday - "Paper Airplanes - Think Outside the Box"

Imagine the possibilities when you think outside the box!

Click HERE to view a movie from Simpletruths.com that will inspire you to get out of your standard thinking, change your perspective and think outside the box!

If you're viewing this on Facebook, you can view the blog post and movie here: http://www.lanetteonmission.blogspot.com

Great advice from my good friend Donna

My good friend Donna Houghton wrote this. Read it 2 or 3 times and let it really sink in. Print it off and read it at the dinner table or hang it up on your bathroom mirror. I couldn't have said it better myself - It's great stuff - Thanks Donna!

"I don't know why bad things happen to good people. I don't know why faithful, hardworking people are losing their jobs, their retirement, their security. I know it appears as if there are no answers, but I do know this......There is one plan, one Creator, one heart, one source of everything....and He is not surprised by any of this.

We've all heard the saying when God closes one door, he opens another. I believe we will soon know what the other door is. It may not look anything like the door we're used to, but there will be another door. What's behind the new door may be less than what we had before, it may look alot different, we may not initially like it as well as what we had before, but then again........What if it's better??

What if we learn to view our friends and neighbors differently? What if we remember how hard we struggled, and now remember to help others? What if we spend less and save more? Maybe now we won't take things for granted. Maybe what we have IS, actually enough. Maybe we don't need the latest....everything.

We may learn it is ok if our kids don't get everything they want, the minute they want it. I have a feeling our current WANTS, will not necessarily be our NEEDS. Maybe we all need to clean house a little bit and give some of our excess to those less fortunate. It is not a time to hoard, it is a time to give.

Giving doesn't have to consist of money. Give a smile, a wave, a text msge to a friend who needs encouraging, a job referral, a dinner, a prayer. Instead of blaming the banks, the goverment, a former employer, let's help each other.

We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth. Has there ever been a better time than now?"

Motivational Monday - "What's Possible?"

Here's a truly INSPIRING story that I stole from my friend Corey's blog (thanks Corey). I think it will make your day! Show it to your kids tonight around the dinner table and use the questions below to spark some great dinner conversation!
Imported from Blogger - Facebook users click HERE to view video

What's possible?

When we believe the best about others, instead of focusing on what we think are "limitations"?

When we don't give up after the first missed shot and we take a second or third chance?

If we were like Sam Thompson, the starting player who gave up his spot so Patrick could play? What if we sacrifice what WE might want and help someone else instead?

What if we intentionally surrounded ourselves with positive, uplifting people who "chant our names" in the 4th quarter to get us off the sidelines and into the game?!

What have you done lately that is worthy of being "carried off the court"? What could you do? What would you want to do? What is possible?

QUOTES:

"For Patrick, just stepping out on the court was as important as winning"

"It was the chance to be on the court with his peers that make his dreams come true"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Thrifty Thursday - "Chinese Take Out . . .or In"

Here are a couple of quick, easy and inexpensive Chinese Take Out subsitutes. The advantage of making your own is saving lots of $$ PLUS it's a little healthier!

Easy Beef Lo Mein - $4.00/4 servings

1/2 lb Ground Beef
1/2 Onion - chopped
2 1/2 cups water
2 Bags of beef flavored Ramen Noodles
2 cups frozen broccoli florets, thawed

- Brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Drain.
- Add 2 1/2 cups water bring to boil.
- Crumble in ramen noodles and add seasoning packets
- Add thawed broccoli florets.
- Simmer covered 3 minutes, then uncovered another 3 minutes until liquid evaporates and evaporated noodles are tender. Serves 4


Easy Pork Fried Rice - $5.00/4 servings
1 box Rice A Roni - chicken flavor
1 medium onion
1/2 green pepper
1/2 can carrots - chopped up (optional)
1 cup leftover chicken or pork (optional)
3 eggs

- Cook Rice A Roni as directions on box.
- In large skillet, saute onions, peppers, and pork.
- If using carrots, gently mix those in after onions are cooked.
- Add Rice A Roni to skillet when all is cooked
- Break eggs into mixture and scramble all together.

Asian Style Wontons - $5.00/24 wontons

24 square wonton wrappers
1 can (5 ounces) chunk white chicken, drained
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons Asian Seasoning or teriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon ginger powder (or 1-inch piece peeled fresh gingerroot)
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
Soy Sauce to taste
Optional: 1/4 cup grated carrot, 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper, 1 tb fresh cilantro

(Note - You will need a mini muffin pan for this recipe)

- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Press one wonton wrapper into each muffin cup of mini-muffin pan.
- Lightly spray wontons with vegetable oil or Pam.
- Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Remove from pan to cooling rack
- In a bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Fill each wonton cup with chicken mixture. You can pop it back in the oven for a few minutes - be careful not to burn the wonton wrappers
- Makes 24


Adapted from a Pampered Chef recipe

Wellness Wednesday - "Tips For Beating The Workday Blues"

In winter's gray and cold days, the midday work blues can hit hard. If you feel tired or unmotivated during the day, try these pick me up tips from GoodElements.com

1. Drink some green tea - it's small amount of caffeine will give you a boost AND it's antioxidants will help protect you from some chronic conditions, like heart disease and diabetes.


2. Take a walk to get the blood pumping to your heart and brain. A walk outside will also activate Vitamin D in your body and improve mood.


3. Munch on a snack rich in protein, NOT sugar! A sugar high comes with a subsequent sugar low, so try something else like a slice of whole wheat toast with honey, a handful of nuts and raisins, yogurt and granola, or hummus.


4. Take a moment to stand up and stretch. Focus on the muscles in your shoulders, neck and upper back. Breathe deeply as you stretch, inhaling through your nose and exhaling slowly.

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Doubtful that these healthy tricks work? I PROMISE you they do!

For one week put these in place instead of grabbing a Starbucks or eating a candy bar and you will notice a HUGE difference in your mood, your energy level AND your pocket book!

Take the challenge and just try it for a week!

Live Happy! Lanette

Motivational Monday - "Get Up"!

Imported to Facebook from Blogger - to view video, click HERE
Here's the incredible story of an amazing man - Nick Vujicic.

He is proof that EVERYONE has a purpose and that even when things look like they couldn't be worse, you can always choose to "get up"!



Did you see the way the teenagers Nick was talking to responded to him? Do you think he made a difference in their lives that day? It be so sad and such a great loss if he (or his parents) would have chosen to end his life or just give up? He has something HUGE to offer, even though his circumstances are tougg . . . so do you!!

Sooo....

Are you going to choose to get up and finish strong, or lay there and give up?

You CAN find the strength to get back up! !