Wednesday, December 20, 2017

HOTEL REVIEW: Our stop in Downers Grove, IL - Comfort Inn by Choice Hotels

Comfort Inn, 70 Gore Rd. W, Morris, IL 60450


It's the middle of January and we stopped in Morris, IL for a night as we continued to travel for our business.
Although I frequent Peoria quite a bit, this was the first time that I visited this particular Choice Property. As most of you know, I am a Diamond Elite Member with Choice and stay with them at least once a week during my business travels. I really like Peoria. It's the birthplace of Richard Pryor, the largest city that sits on the beautiful Illinois River, the headquarters to Caterpillar, Inc. (and their museum) and The home of "The Spirit of Peoria" paddle wheel riverboat. My favorite place is the Riverwalk that is the location of local festivals, restaurants, shops, and museums.


See my review of the hotel below:

PARKING:


EASE OF CHECK IN/CHECK OUT:


CUSTOMER SERVICE:

REWARDS STATUS PERKS:


CLEANLINESS:

DECOR:

LOCATION:

BREAKFAST:

WI-FI & TECHNOLOGY:

EXTRAS:

VALUE:

Have you ever been to the third largest city outside of the Chicago Metro?

What's your favorite thing about Peoria? Any recommendations on "must try" things to do while there?

Also, let me know if you've ever been to this Quality Inn and your thoughts!

Where are you in your corner of the world today?

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

HOTEL REVIEW: Our stop in Mifflinville, PA - Comfort Inn Mifflinville/Bloomsburg by Choice Hotels

Comfort Inn Mifflinville/Bloomsburg, 488 West Third Street, Mifflinville, PA 18631


This past week, I had the pleasure of staying at one of the choice properties that really lived up to the reviews online. I always check out reviews at Google, TripAdvisor, and Choice before making a selection on which properties I'll stay at while traveling for work.

I left the snow filled streets of Atlanta, GA for the snow capped mountain tops of Pennesylvania and I couldn't have been more elated to walk into the warmth of the Comfort Inn Mifflinville - Bloomsbur.
I was greeted by a friendly and chipper young lady at the front desk and such a beautiful and grand Christmas tree that caused me to smile with the Christmas spirit that we all share.

After checking in, I headed to my room which was conveniently located right there on the first floor, near the front entrance. I am usually skeptical about rooms with this placement because there tends to be more noise but during my stay, I wasn't disturbed one bit by any foot traffic or other noise event though the lobby and breakfast area was right outside our rooms door. That was a pleasant surprise that earned this property some brownie points. However, what did wake me up a few times during the night was the noise from the highway.
Had the most amazing stay here!! Rebecca and her staff treated us like family, the room was clean and spacious, check in and check out was seamless, shower was hot and had decent pressure, breakfast was good, they were able to accommodate a late check out request, there was plenty of well-lit parking, and they even had pumpkin spice waffles!! Also, the beautiful holiday decor was such a nice and homey touch. It's also super close to the highway and plenty of gas stations. I wish I could come here often!! It was so nice!!

See my review of the hotel below:


PARKING: This property has plenty well lit parking and it's all in the front.

EASE OF CHECK IN/CHECK OUT:

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

REWARDS STATUS PERKS:


CLEANLINESS:

THE ROOM:

DECOR:

LOCATION:

BREAKFAST:

WI-FI & TECHNOLOGY:

EXTRAS:

VALUE:

Have you ever been to the Mifflinville/Bloomsburg area of Pennsylvania?

What's your favorite thing about Pennsylvania? Any recommendations on "must try" things to do while there?

Also, let me know if you've ever been to this Comfort Inn and your thoughts!

Where are you in your corner of the world today?






Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Check Me Out!! I am a featured guest on The Elite Society of Ambitious Moms Summit

Hey there Corner Clique!! I am so excited and honored to share with you that I am a featured guest on The Elite Society of Ambitious Moms Summit!! I became familiar with the summit earlier this year, in February, as it is a bi-annual event and the value that I received during my experience pushed my business goals into overdrive!! The information shared was so valuable and motivational that it was just what I needed to push my to-do list into overdrive so that I could start achieving some things that I'd set out to do during the year. Check out the description below to see how the creator explains the experience! If you think this is something you may be interested in, you can get your free virtual pass at bit.ly/MomsSummitTameka 


bit.ly/MomsSummitTameka



The purpose of the Ambitious Moms Summit is to help women intentionally design a life of happiness, abundance, freedom and everything else their heart desires.  
This mega bi-annual online conference has brought together 25+ of the most influential women in the entrepreneurial space. They’re diving deep into specific success strategies that have allowed them to have the business and life of their dreams.  
The featured interview segments, presentations, Q & A Sessions, and training materials have been designed to inspire and educate two types of women:  
1.) On the fence about starting your own business doing what you love because you're not sure what to do or where to begin.  
OR
2.) Who already have businesses but not getting the results they desire.

Please find below the message from the Summit Founder Stacie Walker, regarding the encore for the summit!! She's giving away some awesome goodies!!


Whenever I'm overflowing with gratitude, I want the people I'm connected with to feel the same way.
The word has already gotten out that I'm giving away money, $1,000 worth of private coaching, and other surprises.
I've decided to run a 72 hour encore of the Ambitious Moms Summit on December 9th - 11th.
AND
I'm launching the Ambitious Moms Summit Instagram Hashtag Contest & Refer A Friend Contest. (December 6th - 11th)
>>>> http://bit.ly/MomsSummitContest
Contestants will be entered into a drawing to receive one of the following:
🎁1 winner receives $100 cash prize (who doesn't like money?)
🎁 3 winners receive a full featured article in The Huffington Post (ready to get more exposure and increase your credibility?)
🎁 2 winners receive 30 FREE Days of Private Coaching ($1,000 value - do you want to scale your business and income?)
Who is disqualified from the contest? Summit speakers and existing clients that I coach privately or in a group program.
Would you like to help spread the word about the 72 hour encore happening over the weekend?
Sign up for the Ambitious Moms Summit Instagram Hashtag Contest & Refer A Friend Contest.
>>>> http://bit.ly/MomsSummitContest

Friday, December 1, 2017



Have you heard of this amazing service from Amazon called "FreeTime Unlimited" for kids? It has been a God-send in our household, is much better than television time for our daughter, and has helped with her learning and keeps her entertained. I absolutely love it and don't know what we'd do without it! Check out some of the cool features below and click on the graphic if you'd like to try your first month absolutely FREE!!!

Amazon FreeTime Unlimited is an all-in-one subscription for kids that offers unlimited access to thousands of kid-friendly books, movies, TV shows, educational apps, and games.

One thing is for sure, it definitely beats downloading individual apps, games, and episodes, one-by-one!!


Books, apps and videos for kids of all ages.

• A world of content for kids to explore within a completely kid-friendly environment
• Promote reading and math with educational apps and thousands of books
• Best-in-class parental controls - choose what content each child sees, and set educational goals and time limits
• Personalize each kid's experience with profiles, and let them watch where they want to - on Fire Tablets, Kindle eReaders, Fire TV, or Android phones and tablets
• Great for kids between 3 and 12 years old

FreeTime Unlimited offers unlimited access to over 13,000 kid-friendly books, educational apps, games, movies, and TV shows from top brands like Disney, Nickelodeon, PBS, Amazon Originals for Kids, and more.



Amazon FreeTime: Best-in-Class Parental Controls
Amazon FreeTime Unlimited is delivered to your children within Amazon FreeTime, the best-in-class parental control suite included on Fire Tablets, Kindle eReaders, Fire TV, and available for download on Android phones and tablets.

Built for kids
In FreeTime, the background color changes to blue, letting parents know at a glance that their child is safe. Kids only see titles that have been selected for them. Younger kids can search before they know how to type by using Characters - for example, tap on "Frozen," "Dinosaurs," or "Puppies".

No surprises
While in FreeTime, kids do not have access to social media and can’t make in-app purchases without parental approval.

Time limits
Limiting your child's screen time can be challenging without the proper tools. FreeTime lets parents set daily limits, or restrict certain categories - like games and video - while leaving unlimited time for reading.

Smart Filters
FreeTime Smart Filters ensure that your child sees age-appropriate content within FreeTime Unlimited. We use input from Common Sense Media and from parents like you to ensure that pre-teens don’t get the baby stuff and little kids don’t see the scary stuff. Parents can also adjust Smart Filter settings to tailor the experience for each child.

Learn First
With Learn First, parents can block access to games and cartoons until after educational goals are met. Using Bedtime, parents can control when FreeTime shuts down for the day.

Individual profiles
Parents can create up to four individual child profiles, customize each child’s access to content from the parent’s library, and decide which FreeTime Unlimited titles will be viewable in each profile. It's like giving each kid their very own, personalized tablet. A password helps keep kids in FreeTime.

Fire on the go
Download your child’s favorite videos, apps and books for access even when you don’t have wifi. When an Internet connection is unavailable, your child will automatically see available content that has been downloaded to their FreeTime profile.

Discover & Connect
Amazon Parent Dashboard lets parents discover the books, videos, educational apps, and games their kids enjoy in FreeTime. Discussion Cards help parents start conversations and make connections with kids about these titles.

Child-safe camera
On Fire Tablets, kids can take pictures and edit them by adding stickers, drawings, and more. Parents can view photos and videos taken by their children in a separate photo gallery, and have the option to auto-save to Amazon Cloud Drive.

Watch videos, read books and play where you want
Amazon FreeTime Unlimited is available on Fire Tablets (books, videos, apps), Fire TV (videos), Kindle eReaders (books), and Android phones and tablets (books, videos).



Amazon FreeTime Unlimited is an incredible deal. Kids get access to thousands of titles for a low price - starting at just $2.99 per month for Prime Members. And because there are no ads and no in-app purchases, there are no surprises and no extra charges.


Tameka's AVON Product Of The Day - Anew Power Serum

Tameka's AVON Product Of The Day

Anew Power Serum


Take your anti-aging skin care routine to the next level with the Anew Power Serum. This firming and smoothing serum is based on Nobel prize winning research which resulted in the product to detect and repair visible skin damage. Advance boost technology works to hydrate your skin, smooth visible roughness and wrinkles, and return firmness to your face. It's so effective that 93% of women agree that it dramatically improved skin's appearance.* Anew Power Serum is a great complement to your current skin care routine and works well with moisturizers. 1 fl. oz.

BENEFITS • Anti-aging serum complements moisturizers to hydrate, smooth, and firm skin
• Advance Boost Technology helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles while increasing skin's natural radiance
• Dramatically improves skin's overall appearance
• Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic
• Allergy-tested and dermatologist-tested
• Suitable for sensitive skin

TO USE • Apply daily on clean, dry skin in the morning and evening, use two pumps of the serum, smoothing it evenly over your skin with your fingertips. Once it is absorbed, follow with your favorite moisturizer.

Why a serum?A serum can boost the benefits of your moisturizers. Concentrated yet lightweight, it's ideal for layering under your day and night creams. Anew Power Serum has been shown to maximize the performance of your current anti-aging regimen and it also delivers a high concentration of active ingredients.*

*Based on a 7-week consumer perception study of women who used the serum alone for 6 weeks, and the serum with their moisturizers for 1 week.

Made in USA

http://www.YourAvon.com/TamekaHorton

BLOGMAS Day 01 - 10 Women-Owned, Minority Small Businesses to support during the holidays!!

Happy December Corner Clique!!!

I can't believe that the year is almost over!! It's like 2017 flew right by us. It's been a year full of ups and down, curves and loops, and thankfully growth and blessings!! This was my second full year in business for my newest business venture and it was a doozie. They say that it takes about 3 years to really get a brand new business off the ground, so I'm looking forward to next year being the charm and hitting m sweet spot in that venture. My other businesses are moving along well, but I must admit, I've neglected them a bit in order to give my full focus to my less established venture. But luckily, they can pretty much sustain themselves, for the time being.

Speaking of business, I decided to make my first Blogmas post about some of my favorite Minority, women-owned businesses. They are listed in no particular order and all offer something very special to the world. They all have products and services that are the best in their industry and they all are provided with quality, excellence, and purpose! Check the links down below and you will surely understand why I love these businesses so much!!

Trishnard Cards is a boutique that began as a card line but in the last few years they have added various products to their product line. They now offer a classy line of bow ties to fit the needs of every gentleman in your life, regardless of age and style. Everything is hand made and hand crafted offering you a unique and distinctive product that will put you on the cutting edge of current fashion trends. Best of all, the products at Trishnard are affordable and made with quality materials and excellent craftsmanship.
This soap has been a blessing to my skin and those in my household for annoy 10 years. It's made with locally-sourced, raw goat's milk and "made by hand" by one of the best to ever do it. They have various recipes to choose from. My favorite is the lavender soapsicle. I also like the oatmeal bar shaped like a heart, and even better, it comes in many hears also!! Another great thing about this brand is that they have a monthly subscription box, as well as gift sets that encompass different items so that you can try them out find your favorites. The soaps are also great for adults and kids with excema!!

As if the products in this line were not perfect enough, the back story on this brand warms the heart. When I first began purchasing Jolie Bloom products, it was a natural, hand made,  eco-friendly beauty brand that was marketing towards women who needed self care. Three brand was started in honor of the founders daughter, Jolie. The products are amazing!! They smell great, moisturize to perfection, exfoliate to the heavens, and feel as smooth as butter!! There is also quite a bit of variety in the products so there's literally something for everyone!!
Recently, Joile Bloom did a re-launch that created a community that caters to Moms who have experienced to baby loss, and focuses on the healing process.
There's nothing like a powerful, experienced woman teaching you how to brand a growing business. Connecting the Dots can be difficult, right? There is often so much to think about and so much to do with a business, organization, ministry or just walking or living out your purpose and vision. Ashby & Watts consulting is committed to making the process of marketing, branding, strategy and management simple. With strategic listening and input, they help individuals, organizations, ministries and businesses find their voice and use their resources to thrive and grow. Lee Watts, has worked with a wide variety of clients in a ton of different business segments. For that reason, I am so blown away with her vast amount of experience and ability to help ANYONE with their clarity and marketing goals.
Having dolls as a little girl is one of life's fondest memories. It's as ingrained in our culture as American Apple Pie. I was so tickled pink to meet Sugar, one of the newest educational dolls created by Daddy's Little Girls. Her cute curly hair and beautiful, impeccable skin will be joy and pride to the hearts of your favorite young girl! Each doll incorporates fun with learning, through their songs, language content and educational accessories.
Dubbed as the "Best Sweet Potato Pies in the South," these desserts are everything that you dream Sweet Potato desserts to be.
One thing that I have always admired about artwork in homes and work/event spaces that I frequent, are pieces that are personally commissioned by unique artist. The art by Tavia Stewart from NonVerbal Articulation, includes pieces that bring out that type of emotional response in its viewers. Her pieces are colorful, thought provoking, and masterfully created. 
I have loved all things Eeshes Peices for quite some time now.
I try my hardest to stay away from these cupcakes but for the life of me, I just can't. Talk about making you weak!! These cupcakes are E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G!!

Last but not least, I must say that as the holidays near, I tend to indulge in a little holiday shopping from my own AVON business!! Avon has come a long way done i first became a rep. We now have an amazing housewares line, vitamins for skin and wellness, the newest, cutting edge fashions and shoes, along with our tried and true make up and skin care collections. 

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Tameka's AVON Product Of The Day - Skin So Soft Bonus-Size Original Bath Oil

TAMEKA'S FEATURED PRODUCT OF THE DAY:

Skin So Soft Bonus-Size Original Bath Oil

It's America's favorite bath oil*, and sure to be yours, too! Pamper yourself with Skin So Soft Original Bath Oil. This jojoba infused luxury bath oil helps your skin and mind with its uplifting botanical and herbal scent. Stay radiant by using our moisturizing bath oil during your bath and shower. Take your skin from dry to soft, smooth, and touchable with Skin So Soft moisture locking formula. Keep your skin hydrated longer with the larger 25 fl. oz. bottle!

BENEFITS• Luxury bath oil leaves skin feeling amazingly soft
• Smoothes dry skin without irritation
• Fresh scent awakens and soothes your mind and body
• Contains jojoba oil
• Fresh herbal scent

TO USE • Add a small amount of oil to full bath and allow to disperse or apply to arms and legs, or wherever needed after bathing

GLAMOUR says:
"This bath oil smells wonderful, and after adding a tablespoon to my bath, I was instantly relaxed. The light oil left my skin feeling ultra soft and velvety smooth. Best of all, it locks in much-needed moisture, so bath after bath, my skin stays nourished and looking healthy."

*Based on mass-market sales.

Made in USA
http://www.YourAvon.com/TamekaHorton

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Tameka's AVON Product Of The Day - Anew Clinical Eye Lift Pro Dual Eye System

TAMEKA'S FEATURED PRODUCT OF THE DAY:

Anew Clinical Eye Lift Pro Dual Eye System


Eyes need a lift? See a dramatic lift in 7 days. With upper eye/brow bone gel and under-eye cream, eyes feel tighter and lifted, and under-eye shadows are visibly reduced. Formulated with injectable-grade arginine* and other skin tightening ingredients. 0.66 total fl. oz.

BENEFITS • Makes eyelids feel weightless and younger
• Keeps eyes looking wide awake
• Reduces the appearance of crow's feet and the look of eyelid sagging
• Reshapes the contours of the eye area
• Upper Eye and Brow Bone Gel: Infused with Injectable-grade arginine* and firming Polymer
• Hypoallergenic
• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Allergy-tested, dermatologist-tested, ophthalmologist-tested

TO USE Twice daily, apply gel to eyelid and brow bone area; apply cream to under eye area, including upper cheekbone.

*This is a cosmetic product for external use only. Follow usage instructions on product packaging.

Made in USA
http://www.YourAvon.com/TamekaHorton

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Tameka's AVON Product Of The Day - Moisture Therapy Bonus-Size Intensive Healing & Repair Body Lotion

Tameka's AVON Product Of The Day

Moisture Therapy Bonus-Size Intensive Healing & Repair Body Lotion

Treat your skin the way it deserves with Moisture Therapy Intensive Healing & Repair Body Lotion. This bonus size container holds 33.8 fl oz of relief for rough or dry skin. Hydraboost Technology supplements your skin's natural oils to moisturize sensitive skin for 22 hours. If you suffer from red or irritated skin, this non-irritating body lotion reduces the effects.

BENEFITS • Non-irritating body lotion reduces redness, smoothes roughness, and moisturizes skin
• Unscented lotion is ideal for sensitive skin
• Fragrance-free
• Hypoallergenic
• Dermatologically tested

TO USE 
• Pump desired amount into hand and apply liberally over body when needed

Made in USA

Monday, November 27, 2017

Tameka's AVON Product Of The Day - Avon Beauty To Go 8 piece Gift Set

Tameka's AVON Product Of The Day

Avon Beauty To Go 8 piece Gift Set


Not home for the holidays? No problem. Pack your favorite beauties to go in the train case for effortless looks while traveling.

Avon Beauty To Go 8-piece collection includes:
• Festive train case
• Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 25
• Anew Ultimate Multi-Performance Night Cream
• Anew Ultimate Supreme Advanced Performance CrΓ¨me
• Avon True Color Nourishing Lipstick in Berry Sangria
• Avon True Color SuperExtend Nourishing Mascara in Black
• Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quad in Mocha Latte
• Rare Pearls Eau de Parfum

http://www.YourAvon.com/TamekaHorton

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Plant Based Eating Plan - Day 2 (11/21)


I started off my morning with my Detox Tea!! YYYYYEEEEAAAA for making it to Day 2! LOL Hey, celebrate the little victories. :-)

I was a little bit more cautious this morning because yesterday, I got a slight headache between breakfast and lunch. I am trying to determine if it's the natural process of the detox (I'm on Day 3 of drinking detox tea, even though it's only Day 2 of the eating plan) or if it's the plant-based diet. It wasn't anything that inhibited me from going about my daily activities. I still went to the gym and did some work from home for my business. It was actually more annoying then anything. It wasn't painful like how headaches typically can be so we'll see how it goes today.

I had some meetings this morning so I prepared my travel cup and jumped in the car to start my day. 
Today was also a horrible water day. I didn't get started on my water until well into the afternoon and that is never good. Drinking your daily allowance of water is one of those things where once you fall behind, you can pretty much forget about catching back up. It's like a bad Saturday College football game. That's exactly what happened to me today. SMH.

Since I enjoyed my salad so much yesterday, I went ahead and made that for lunch again today. it was just as yummy, if not better. I may stick to these for a good part of the duration of this plan.

For dinner, I whipped up some green beans and sweet potatoes. I also sliced some tomatoes to go on the side. I absolutely love sliced tomatoes. So much so, that sometimes when they come on a cheeseburger, I take them off and eat them separate from the burger. I also tried to be responsible and place the remaining sweet potatoes in a storage container so they'll be ready tomorrow if I have to travel for work.







Also, just for laughs, I wanted to show you all the torture that my family wanted me to cook today... my absolute favorite dish, Macaroni and Cheese sprinkled with bread crumbs!! I couldn't believe they did that to me. If you missed yesterday's "lifestyles of the Tempted" episode, you can check it out here. Anyway, I am happy to report that I did not touch one single morsel of that Mac & Cheese! Even when some cheese fell on my hand and it started to tremble with excitement and anticipation of licking it off my hand, I quickly washed my hands and kept it moving! I am so very proud of myself for resisting that today!!

Lastly, I just wanted to share with you all that I bought a new, little, manual lemon juicer that I so enjoy using. I know that it's 2017 and there are electric contraptions these days but this was just so cute sitting up on the IKEA shelf and it's so much fun to use!! I just love it!! Here it is in pics with the teas that I am alternating at the moment.

TODAY'S LESSON:

Social Media is a life saver when it comes to changing to a new eating plan and having never made the recipes before. I was scrolling through pinterest yesterday on the treadmill and every last one of those vegan deserts had me about to jet out of there just to head home and whip up some of those scrumptious blessings!! No more pinteresting at the gym! Period!



 MY 3 CENTS:
~ It's time consuming to make the veggies fresh, instead of from frozen. But it's worth it in cases where they try to hide sugar in the veggies. (See pic from my Day 1 post)
~Drinking detox tea with my plant-based eating plan has helped me immensely to avoid hunger cravings
~ Staying up too late at night while on a eating plan is the devil. While there are multiple benefits to getting 8+ hours of sleep, one of them is that you are not able to raid the fridge.

What I Ate Today:
  • Breakfast - 12 noon
    • 1 Whole Navel Orange
    • 1 Bananas
  • Lunch - 3:40 pm
    • Salad with Green Leaf Lettuce, Black Beans, Corn, Cucumbers, Tomatoes.
      • Salad Dressing: Pomegranate Infused Red Wine Vinegar and Olive Oil
  • Dinner - 7:40 pm
    • Small Baked Sweet Potato
    • French Style Green Beans
    • Sliced Vine Tomatoes with Garlic and Pepper Herbs
WATER: 81oz, GYM: no. Did a cardio DVD at home. Hoping to hit the gym for a morning and evening session tomorrow.

To follow the other days of my Plant-Based eating journey, click the links below:
Pre Journey Prep - Nov. 19th
Day 1 - Nov. 20th

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Plant-Based Eating Plan - Day 1 (11/20)

So today, I felt pretty good and pretty optimistic. It's Day 1 so I felt prepared and ready to do this!!

I woke up and had my detox tea. I used some "Sugar In The Raw" but I plan to head to the store today for some Agave. Although I've never bought any personally, I've heard such wonderful things about it. I'm looking forward to seeing what my agave choices are.

After getting some work done, I decided to make me a salad for lunch. I've always been a fan of salad so I don't have any problems eating them multiple times, and for multiple meals. See the ingredient list below to check out what I put in today's salad. I hate having to use canned beans but I just don't have the time to soak my beans and such. But I did make sure to get the "no salt added" variety. I also was not too sure if I could have those olives but I tore them up anyway, LOL.


What you don't see in this picture is that the rest of my family in my house decided to come downstairs and make turkey sandwiches in the kitchen while I'm preparing my lunch. So, I'm sitting over here washing cucumbers and sweet potatoes in my vinegar/water mix ........ and next thing I know, I smell BUTTER melting in a skillet... REALLY? Then I hear the sizzle of turkey breast in that same skillet.... followed by the sight of MELTING CHEESE...... {insert side eye} The ding on the toaster of that fresh bread smell was the last straw!! I had to leave the kitchen at that very moment. I tossed those cucumbers back in the water and dropped those sweet potatoes like I was playing the childhood version of "hot potato!!" I'm out of here!!!

Now, I wish I would have gotten a picture so you could feel my pain, and see how tempted I was. SHEESH! MY SENSES WERE GOING CRAZY!! The sight, smell, and sounds were too overwhelming. LOL On the other hand, I did snap a nice pretty picture of my finished salad. YUM! I was pretty proud of what I had created! It tasted super yummy too! I even made my own salad dressing. I'd bought a set about a year ago that included the carafe that you see in the picture. I've used it several times and I absolutely love that thing!! The best $4 I've ever spent. It has the indicator lines n the side to ensure that you pour the right about of each ingredient. It's fool proof!! And that pomegranate vinegar was superb with the olive oil!

For dinner, I just had some brussels sprouts and some left over salad because I made too much at lunch time so I divided the portions. I was so upset when I turned over the package and noticed that there was sugar in the brussels sprouts. For the life of me, I just can't understand why they felt the need to add SUGAR to brussels sprouts. It freakin' says "Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper." It doesn't say anything about sugar. This is why reading the labels is so important. And I knew when I was out shopping that I should have just gotten the fresh ones or the frozen bag without the fancy title, SMH..... But I was completely suckered in by the marketing and name. I literally felt like all of the effort was kicked out of me because now I had to eat some brussels sprouts with sugar in them. I know, I know, I'm over exaggerating but I was so very disappointed. However, I did bake some sweet potatoes tonight and they have the house smelling divine!! I can't wait to through some cinnamon on those bad boys and satisfy my sweet tooth craving tomorrow.


I'm grateful that after all of that, I still made it to the gym. :-)

TODAY'S LESSON:
When you are trying a new eating plan, beware of our friends and family. I'm not saying that they won't be supportive but sometimes, they don't get it. God bless their hearts, they have good intentions, but they may not be as committed to your change/challenge as you are.

MY 3 CENTS:
~ Get a good grip on your mindset (My Momma taught me that!)
~ Prepare the day before because preparation is the key to success (Thanks KeKe)
~ Drink enough tea and water. Often times, you may think you are hungry but you really may be lacking enough water.


What I Ate Today:
  • Breakfast - 12 noon
    • Whole Navel Orange
    • 2 Bananas
    • Small bowl of Steel Cut Oats 
  • Lunch - 3:40 pm
    • Salad with Green Leaf Lettuce, Black Beans, Corn, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Carrots, Olives, and Slivered Almonds.
      • Salad Dressing: Pomegranate Infused Red Wine Vinegar and Olive Oil
  • Dinner - 7:40 pm
    • Small Baked Sweet Potato (Saving it for tomorrow)
    • Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Brussels Sprouts
    • A smaller portion of the lunch salad
WATER: 88oz, GYM: yes, SLEEP: 8 hours

To follow the other days of my Plant-Based eating journey, click the links below:
Pre Journey Prep - Nov. 19th

Monday, November 20, 2017

Plant-Based Eating Plan - Meal Prep (11/19) - 1 Week Trial

Hey Corner Clique!!

So it's mid November and while Thanksgiving and Christmas are still approaching, I have my eyes set on another upcoming holiday....... New Years Eve!!


Living away from my family means that there are some years when I am unable to go home for the holidays. This usually happens especially if it's the holiday season before our big family reunions, which happen every three years. This coming summer, we will be headed to Sacramento, California for our big gathering!!

I guess that brings me to my why..... I hope this doesn't sound shallow but..... I really want to wear (and look good in) a sequin dress for New Years Eve. Not just this year, but year after year, after year, after year, after year..............................Let's be real, sequin can be very unforgiving, it's just not one of those fabrics that everyone loves. But it can be so beautiful and festive during this time of year. Sequin makes me happy!! :-) Therefore, I'm going to work hard and try my best to ensure that I look good in my sequin dress.

Obviously, aside from feeling and looking good in my clothes, I'd like to try some variations of food to see how hey each affect my body. While I have grown to pay close attention to my body, my health, and how I feel, I have rarely cut out certain things and do a detox, of sorts, to see if I feel any different. I look forward to seeing which foods agree with me more and which eating lifestyle will give me maximize results in feeling great, having great skin and hair, and achieving overall wellness. I've heard so many great things about plant-based eating so I am going to try that for a few weeks and see how I feel and how it affects me.

Right now, It's Sunday Night, I just finished grocery shopping, washing my veggies, steaming, roasting, peeling, chopping, meal prepping, and having a cup of detox tea. This starts tomorrow and my good friend Keonna told me that being prepared is the key so I'm taking tonight to do just that.

I am also incorporating intermittent fasting into the eating plan mix. I've been doing intermittent fasting for about 3 months off and on, so that part will be a little easier for me. I've seen amazing results with IF and of course "results = motivation!!" You can check out my IF experience in a future blog post that I plan to write over the holiday break. Intermittent Fasting is an eating pattern where you have an eating window with is usually 8 hours of time (some people do 6 hours) and then you allow your body to rest from food for the remaining 16 hours of a 24 hours day. (I know you wish there were more than 24 hours in a day but........ I digress, LOL) Now, of those 16 hours that are remaining after your eating window closes, you should be sleep at least 8 of those. And that, my friend, is what makes IF so easy to follow. One of my favorite YouTubers to discuss IF is Dr. Eric Berg, DC. I'll post one of his videos below.

Of course I still have a ton of questions about food, nutrition, and Plant-Based Eating but you have to start somewhere. I'm sure I will make mistakes along the way. I'll have to find substitutes for my favorite foods, I'll fall off the wagon, and get back up. I'll have to take vitamins to make sure I'm getting a better balance of nutrients. I'll be confused. I'll be elated with results.................. So many questions and doubts, but so much hope and fun experimentation!!

I AM SO EXCITED and happy that you will be following my journey to New Years Eve!! Let's see what happens!!!







A FEW OF MY GOALS:
~ Commit to trying out 100% plant-based eating
~ Drink half my body weaight in water every day
~ Go to the gym at least 3-4 days a week
~ Drink a cup of detox tea every morning
~ Incorporate more prayer and meditation with my Intermittent Fasting

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{Below is the video with Dr. Berg ,DC, that I referenced above}







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