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Christmas Gifts For You


This holiday season I began to take a good hard look at my life and actively began seeking more peace. I began by going away the day after Thanksgiving and re-prioritizing my life goals. You see in the hustle and bustle of working my day job, running my dance company, planning a wedding, and trying to make people happy, I forgot the most important thing in life: self-love. I forgot to love my inner being and allow myself to experience the things I truly value in life. Since Thanksgiving I've actively cut back my schedule to allow myself time and space to work on me. This Christmas morning, I wish to give you the same gift. Here is how you can create and experience the life you deserve.


1.  Make affirmations and mantras a part of your everyday life. I've been reading Louise Hay's book You Can Heal Your Life for a little over a year now. This Thanksgiving I gifted myself the workbook journal that goes a long with it and finally began doing the exercises. WOW is all I can say! I now tell myself everyday that I love myself and begin my days writing out what I want the universe to bring me. In addition I recently participated in a fitness challenge by Erin Stutland and her entire workout program uses mantras to keep you motivated. I've incorporated mantras and affirmations into my everyday life and I feel much more confident, peaceful, and in control. I am now a believer that you can change your thoughts in an instant and that the universe will manifest whatever you tell it to. Today I want you to do the same. Here is my favorite affirmation: 

I am open and willing to change. I now accept all the joy, love, and peace the universe has to offer me. I deserve all good things.

Write this, say this, think this whenever you feel the chaos creeping in. You deserve nothing but happiness this Christmas morning!

2. Take it back to the mat! I will admit, I took a huge fall off my yoga practice a few months back and let me tell you I have felt the effects both physically and mentally. My yoga practice keeps me flexible both physically and mentally and gives me the time to really focus on how my body is feeling. Now I know what you're thinking, "I'm not good at it! I could never move my body like that!" Refer back to #1, what you put out to the universe is what you get back. I have found yoga to be the best way to center myself, reduce my stress levels, and truly find peace with my body. Try out a few different teachers and places and find a class that feels good to you. I also love the video series Namaste Yoga for those days where I don't have time for a full 1 1/2 class. Even if you start with just 1 class a month, I encourage you to find your inner yogi and take the time to honor your body and mind.

3. Surround yourself with people who support you. Take a good hard look at who you spend your time with. How do you feel when you're around them? If you're feeling anxious, self-doubt, depressed, or really crummy then I suggest you spend less time with these people. I promise you won't be alone. I have found that making more time for the people who make me feel good improves my quality of life 150%. I smile more, I laugh more, and I enjoy life more. If you need to find that support online, go for it! I belong to a few online communities where I can interact and find inspiration and support when I need it. Open the door to new friendships and allow the love to flow.

4. Nourish yourself everyday. Find 1 thing that you can do for yourself everyday. Maybe its writing in a journal or cooking a super yummy healing meal or taking a nice warm bubble bath. The more love you give yourself, the more love you will get. You deserve a happy life so give yourself a present everyday!

My last gift to you this Christmas is a recipe for homemade, organic chocolate! It's gluten free, dairy-free, nut-free, and sugar free. This recipe is Body Ecology Diet friendly, Paleo, and Vegan. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!



Ingredients (All Organic):
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
2 scoops raw maca powder
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil, melted
1 tablespoon alcohol free vanilla 
A few dashes of cinnamon

Directions:
Line a mini muffin tin with mini muffin liners. In a medium sized bowl combine all ingredients and mix until combined well. Using a tablespoon, pour the mixture into the molds. Place in the freezer to set (about 20 minutes). Store in the freezer or fridge in an airtight container.

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