Sunday, October 11, 2009

A reason, a season, a lifetime

Hello friends!

I must say that I'm feeling a bit reflective about the relationships I've created and managed somehow to maintain in my life lately. To be honest, I'm really feeling a bit melancholy about the relationships I haven't been able to maintain for one reason or another; hence, the title of this post, a reason, a season, a lifetime.

In order to be true to my intentions, I've decided that I want to be a bit more aggressive in 'putting things all out there' or as Ms. Cormier and Lady Nadine would state it, 'go all in'. That way, hopefully (aside to my writing teachers, I know I should never use hopefully :), I will come out of my reflections with something tangible to help me move forward, confident that the next time, I will be more successful at whatever it is I'm trying to accomplish.

I've been reflecting a lot on relationships that I wish I could have held on to but, they slipped through my fingers. When I first started out on this topic, I was referring to familial relationships that aren't as developed as I'd like and try as I might, I can't seem to become that person that this side of my family wants to be close to so, I guess I have to content myself with being that person who shares the same blood line and that's about it. My door will always be open but I know they will never knock; they are a force unto themselves and I must admit, I'm a bit envious of the bond they share for it is strong, strong, stronger than gale force winds beating against the sh0re in an attempt level everything in its' path.

Who wouldn't be envious of such a bond? Even those that think they have a bond of this nature would be hard pressed to top this unbreakable family of God-fearing, generous, loving individuals. Of course being on the outside, you never know what is really going on in any inner circle that you are not a part of but, something tells me, that what is going on is exactly what I've witnessed (even though it is from afar). What I think I've seen is, strength, loyalty, love, intelligence, generosity and resilience all wrapped up in one cohesive unit of a family. It's amazing to behold. Even more amazing is that this is what holds true even when no one is watching. I can only hope one day when I'm settled with my family, to pattern the strength of our bond after the example set by this family.

Now, onto the other relationships. I guess I started with the 'lifetime' relationship because even though I'm not in their inner circle, they are still family so, our relationship will last a lifetime, no matter what.

The relationships that have been harder for me to put behind me out of them all are definitely those that are categorized as 'a season'. With 'seasonal' relationships, you never know when that season will end. Letting people into my inner circle has never been something I did easily but when I do let people in, I tend to hold them tightly. Maybe too tightly. I can be the virtual burning flame of a relationship be it a friendly one or more intimate. In other words, I guess you could say that I love hard. The hard part is, you never know if this is a relationship you will have to let go of before you're ready. Until recently, letting go of a relationship before I was ready was a foreign concept to me. I was always of the mind that I was ultimately in control of who was in and who was out of my life. It never occurred to me that someone wouldn't want me in their life as much as I cared to be there. I'm being authentic when I tell you that truly never occurred to me.

I don't know if I was being naive, cocky, or some other adjective I can't name but, having the choice removed from my hands about who is in or out of my life was never something I spent any time contemplating. The only time I felt I didn't have that control was if someone died. That's it.

Now, I know that death comes in many forms. A seasonal relationship is one in which eventually, there will come the death of the relationship. The season has ended; it has died. You can't control the end of the season because it will come regardless of what you want, just as winter or summer comes to certain parts of the world.

I have to say, I still struggle with the seasonal relationship much more than I do with relationships that exist for a reason. Sometimes, a reason and a season can become mixed up but, I find, from my own personal experience, relationships that have existed for a reason reveal the reason pretty quickly. Whether the reason was to help me move forward or to help me get to my next destination, a relationship that had a reason behind it never seems to have a difficult end to it, from my experience. Do you think that is because I knew in some way that I was to benefit from this relationship? I do. I believe that to be true for anyone that has been a relationship for a reason; even if the reason was for you to be of assistance to someone else, there was still a reason. And, just because you were the obvious benefit to someone else does not mean that there was absolutely no benefit to you. Helping someone else and getting nothing physical back in return is often that beautiful reminder that God really does use us to do HIS work.

That's all I have for now, thanks for sharing this with me and don't take your relationships for granted. Cherish every moment you have with the ones you love and strive for stronger bonds with those you wish. I welcome comments because they help me work through my struggles as well. Thanks in advance. Don't forget to check out my Soul Purpose/Youngevity website with over 500 vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements for the body from the inside out! http://youngevityonline.com/rhondae

Thursday, October 1, 2009

October is breast cancer awareness month!

Add 1000 iu (international units) of Vitamin D to your daily diet for protection/prevention against breast, prostate cancer and many other cancers. Even Dr. Oz - and I know everyone knows who he is - recommends adding Vitamin D to your diet.

It is very simple to do. If you take a daily multivitamin, you can expect to add about 750 iu (international units, which is the rate or unit of measurement for some vitamins and minerals) to your diet by this simple process alone! There's no reason everyone, I mean EVERYONE cannot take 25 seconds out of their daily life to pop a multivitamin that will take care of this very important need your body has. 25 seconds could end up saving your life so think very hard before you decide you don't have time to pop a vitamin.

After you take your multivitamin, you only have to get 250 iu more of Vitamin D in your diet to satisfy your daily requirement and shore up your defenses. You should be able to get that in with your daily food intake, if you're eating the right foods.

Are you eating the right foods? Are you eating any salmon? It's delicious when bought fresh and seasoned with a bit of garlic powder and cajun pepper. What about your milk intake? Are you drinking milk? Can your body even tolerate it? You know that having the right amount of Vitamin D is the only way your body can even absorb calcium? Yep, they go hand in hand so you can take all the Calcium you want but, without Vitamin D to convert the Calcium into a useful supplement, all that Calcium will be for naught.

One last thing I want to touch on as a reason to ensure you take your daily dose of Vitamin D. With our stress levels skyrocketing due to the pressures of the economy as well as issues in other aspects of our life, it's no surprise that high blood pressure has gone on the rise as another silent killer. Some people don't even know they have medically emergent high blood pressure ratings until it might be too late. Vitamin D has been known to help reduce high blood pressure so there's just one more reason to make sure you get it (Vitamin D) in people.

I have some Vitamin D in various forms on my website. Take a look here. http://youngevityonline.com/rhondae I am currently loving the Ultimate Tangy Tangerine. It's a vitamin/mineral in liquid form which is the best for fast absorption by the body. That way, you drink it down and it gets to work for you right away vs pill form that has to go through the system, be broken down and then appropriated to the right parts of the body. It's listed in the 'Youngevity Liquid Nutrition category' .

Til next time!


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Friday, September 25, 2009

Potato Potahto!

Yum! Yum!

Some people love bread, some love cake, some love candy but me? Oh no, bread, especially warm crispy bread that is served as appetizers in Leona's, for example, with some nice garlic butter is quite delicious that's for sure. But, if it wasn't there, I wouldn't miss it, unlike some of us who are practically crack fiends for some freshly baked, warm buttered bread. Then there are those that don't feel as though their meal is complete unless they have a piece of cake at the end. I can understand wanting, needing dessert but again, if I don't have something sweet at the end of my meal, I'm alright with that.

But baby, I have to tell you, I am a 'crack fiend' when it comes to potatoes. Oh how I love my potatoes! I have to say, if ever there was a food that I'm a slave to, it's the mighty spud!

Potatoes have gotten a bad rap because they are a carbohydrate but; did you know that the potato actually has 0 (zero) grams of fat. Carbohydrates in general have gotten a bad rap but the fact is, we need carbohydrates for energy. The problem occurs when people overuse carbohydrates. While it's true that carbs have the ability to become fat if they're not used properly, that only happens if you eat carbs and then go park yourself on the couch like a bump on a log.

Potatoes actually re-energize your body, especially after a grueling workout. Potatoes may be your best friend because not only do they give you the good kind of carbs, potatoes have been known to soothe ruffled nerves and elevate your mood. Isn't that great? A get happy spud! I'll take one of those any day of the week vs all of the unhealthy alternatives.

Ever wonder why those french fries make you feel as if all is right with the world? Even though that isn't the ideal way to get your potatoes for the optimal benefits they provide, there is a method to the madness. Potatoes are packed with Vitamin B6, which is needed to boost serotonin which is actually the natural brain chemical that makes you feel so happy. Get this, potatoes are also a great source of potassium. Better even than the banana! That's something I was elated to find since I really don't like bananas. If you have the right amount of potassium, that will help you beat high blood pressure too.

Alright, even though I've given up my beloved potatoes for lent, there's no reason you should suffer. Try this recipe I've been indulging in far too often and you'll soon be getting your potassium, Vitamin C and B6 in all at the same time! It's for Garlic Crisp Potatoes and it's sooo much better for you than those fast food french fries you're addicted to.

Garlic Crisp Potatoes

1 large baking potato (scrub it really good but don't peel it)
2 teaspoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed
1/8 teaspoon of fine and freshly ground white and black pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Farenheit. Thinly slice the potato crosswise, using a knife. Brush the slices with the oil. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with the garlic, dillweed, and pepper. Bake for about 10 minutes or until crispy. Using a thin spatula, transfer them immediately to dinner plate. This should be enough for at least TWO people. Happy Eating people! Let me know how you like it! :)

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Vitamin D

Oh wow!

That is what first comes to mind.

Lately, I've been reading on twitter and facebook so many people posting about the pain they are feeling. With the state of the economy today, it is no surprise that many people are depressed. I totally understand what it feels like to be depressed. I'm no longer ashamed to say that I, too, suffered with depression for a period of time. The pain I felt was almost unbearable. At the time, I had no idea what was wrong with me. I just thought I was unhappy with the state of my life at the time, until I was made to realize that no, this was a chemical imbalance that caused my state of depression.

Since then, I've studied the symptoms of depression, almost to the point of immersion to try to find out why I succumbed to this state of being so completely. When I think about how far gone I was back then, it's a bit scary. I am glad that I was brought through that period.

I suppose that is why I'm so passionate about informing people about the various ways to treat the disorder. That is what it is. It is a disorder. People, you are NOT crazy! There is literally an imbalance in the makeup of your body that can cause depression.

If you or anyone you know of suffers from depression, the very first thing you should do is have your Vitamin D levels checked. I'm telling you, it can be just that simple. Instead of having doctors put you on all these mood altering drugs, first request that your levels of Vitamin D be checked. If your levels of Vitamin D are low, this could lead to depression. Additionally, without adequate levels of Vitamin D, you can't even absorb calcium, no matter how much milk you drink.

Simply put, I'm passionate about Vitamin D because it can literally save your life! It's that serious!

The regular consumption of Vitamin D also helps to lower blood pressure. That just makes sense considering that milk, which is high in Vitamin D, is recommended to help calm you down and aid in the pursuit of a good night's rest. You know that's always the first suggestion whenever someone says they have trouble sleeping, 'drink some warm milk'.

So, not only does Vitamin D aid in treating depression, calm your mood and help guard against Osteoporosis (as we all know); studies have discovered that Vitamin D protects against breast cancer and prostate cancer. Did you hear me folks? By taking better care of yourself and making sure you consume Vitamin D, you are literally doing something proactive to save your life!

You want to make sure you get your Vitamin D in but don't have time to read every label and search the internet for foods rich in Vitamin D? I have the answer for you. Because I care about your well being plus, I don't want to be here on the earth all by myself because I'm the only one protecting myself by taking my Vitamin D, I'm going to share my secret with you. It is called, 'A Sip of Sunshine'.

A Sip of Sunshine, is a dietary supplement fortified with Vitamin D and it is a product created by Suzanne Somers. That's right, the health and fitness guru herself. Y'all saw her on Oprah recently didn't you? I know it was a re-run but, I missed the original airing of the show. She takes all those vitamins to stay healthy, she depended on natural remedies to treat breast cancer and now she has created a product that she takes on a daily basis to protect herself from another recurrence! Now you know if Suzanne Somers is standing by the product, then it must work. She looks fabulous and she wouldn't be wasting her time, money or endorsements on products that don't work. Remember the thigh master? See how good she looks? She's 62 years old! Who do you know that looks as good as she does and is 62 years old in your life?



Need I say more? Oh yeah, here's the website where you can purchase that Vitamin D drink that is absolutely delicious, by the way, in a strawberry lemonade flavor! http://tinyurl.com/dlw3a7 Click on 'order now', look on the left side of the page and find 'Suzanne' in the green column, click 'Suzanne', and 'A Sip of Sunshine' should be the first product you see. If you don't want to order multiple boxes right away, it's okay. Just scroll down the page till you see the 30 package box. That's enough to last you for one month. It's only $92.85. That is a very small price to pay to save your life when you think about the suffering some of your loved ones have endured that battled cancer and lost- or even those that have won the battle. Wouldn't you want to do just a little bit more to ensure that you don't have to fight the battle at all? I know I sure am.

Until next time, take better care of you. I want the same thing for you that I want for myself. Live Younger, longer...and prettier! :)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Your Sexual health is your wealth too!

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Lightly massage contents on clitoris and surrounding area prior to intimacy. Continuous massage of product enhances desire and effectiveness. For optimal sexual health, use daily in addition to use during intimacy.

Order from the youngevity website, http://tinyurl.com/dlw3a7 , click order now and enter the Item number: P20033 in the 'search product' box located on the left hand side at the top corner of your screen.

After all, your sexual health is just as important as your physical health! You deserve to have whatever is necessary to live a full, well-rounded healthy, happy lifestyle. Nu O is just one more way to make that happen so cheers to your sexual health!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Mangoes

I can't let the "Mango thing" go just yet.

I've been reading up on the nutritional value of the mango and let me tell you...the benefits are endless!

The mango is loaded with vitamins A and C first off. As we all know, vitamins A and C help protect us from certain cancers and heart disease. What I didn't know (and learned through my recent studies) is that the mango is so powerful that just one half of a mango provides 40% of the daily value of vitamin A that is required by the body for one day's supply. So go ahead, eat the whole mango! You'll really be ahead of the game then!

You certainly don't have to feel guilty about eating the whole thing either because it's only 70 calories for a half of a mango and not even a whole gram of fat (0.5g)! Now that is something to smile about. Something that is good to you AND good for you? Oh yeah! Eat up people!

They're usually in season from February through September and they actually come in four varieties: There's the Harden, which has a yellow hue w/a red-orange blush when it's ripe. Then there's the Keitt, that is green and may have a slight yellow blush when it's ripe. The third kind is called the Kent, that is greenish-yellow in color with the possibility of a red blush when it's ripe and lastly, the Tommy Atkins mango is red when it's ripe and incidentally has the highest fiber content of them all.

They are multi-use, multi-delicious and I do believe I'm going to get some mangoes in my life today.

They're also good if you have a stomach ache. Why? They contain an enzyme that may act as a digestive aid. Scientists are still working that part out but hey, it's worth a try right?

So eat some mango, put some delicious Malaysian Mango (http://tinyurl.com/cbl8u4) on your body, simply delight in it! It can only be good for you!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Persian Pomegranate Mango Body Scrub

Can I just say how happy I am that the new body scrub from Soul Purpose has arrived?! The founder, Nadine Thompson, has really put her foot in this one!

Persian Pomegranate Mango body scrub, is formulated with lush, moisturizing oils, shea butter and pure cane sugar. There is an exclusive antioxidant blend used by Soul Purpose that contains, green tea, Oregon grape, red wine and Acai berry.

Now, on to the Mango. Not only do we have the Persian Pomegranate Mango body scrub, we have the Malaysian Mango line expansion. It's available right now! http://tinyurl.com/cbl8u4

Mango is a delicious fruit that tastes wonderful but now, Soul Purpose has taken Mango to a whole other level of good! We already had the Malaysian Mango perfume essence in our Fruits & Passion collection. Because it received such rave reviews and requests for expansion, your wish has been granted! We now have the Malaysian Mango body lotion and shower gel to further ensconce you within the Soul Purpose experience! It is truly divine deliciousness going on here. Nadine Thompson has been in the lab working it out and look what we have to offer you as a result! I can't wait until my Food for the Soul and Senses Celebration! It will be so amazing to have the Persian Pomegranate Mango scrub and Malaysian Mango collection in the house!

I can only imagine the pandemonium that will erupt once we get the candles for these fragrances! I'm going to be placing my order for 10 of my very own!

I hope to see you there so make sure you contact me for further details.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Dreams

Recently, I've realized just how important it is to have dreams. Dreams are what truly feed you. Having a goal is what wakes you up everyday in addition to our God. Dreams inspire you to be better than you are today. Having goals inspire me personally to improve my current circumstances, even when it seems impossible to do so.

Just yesterday, my dream took on a whole new dimension. I feel as though yesterday, I saw my dream, in the flesh and now, I have no choice but to pursue it harder than ever.

Yesterday, I saw the dwelling where not just one, but 3 of my dreams will become a reality. Yesterday, I found out that the building I would like to purchase is actually available for purchase. Can you believe that? The place I thought was lost to me is available to purchase. It has three floors where I can have my business, my community area, and my living space. Could anyone ask for more? I don't think so.

When I saw the building, and the for sale sign on the front, my heart filled up to capacity. Right there, within my reach, is the place that will be my home, my business and my heart's desire. So, now my next step is...how do I get it? Without the financing, you can't pursue anything, as we all know so, the dream continues...and guess what, with this living, breathing, picture of my dream waiting for me to come and claim it, I am up to the challenge in a way that I've never felt before. This is huge for me people...really huge. I need your prayers and encouragement to keep going and not give up because as we all know, when you hear a succession of 'nos', it can get tough to keep moving toward the 'yes' you know will be there if you keep pushing. So, with that, I say, wish me luck and you keep going for yours. Together, we will all reach our dreams and in doing so, ultimately make our world a better place. Yay us!