Out 'N About This Weekend!

If you live in the twin cities area, you know that the main event going on this weekend is the Great Minnesota Get-Together ~ the state fair! It's always a great time with food that you can only find here (I ask where else can you find hot dish on a stick?), and that you probably should only eat once a year!

Rides are always a hit, and of course all the other fair-ish features like the birthing place, master gardener demonstrations, the Grandstand performances and more, more more!

This weekend at the Grandstand:

• Friday night - Jason Aldean, country music star (She's Country, Amarillo Sky) performs with the Eli Young Band. You'll hear a mix of modern country with solid rock...a great show.



• Saturday night - Lynyrd Skynyrd, rock legend performs....enuf said!
  

. . . two shows that will be worth every dime you spend for the tickets. Speaking of tickets, you can purchase them here.

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If you are feeling the crunch of the economy and are looking for some free musical events this weekend, check out a couple of concerts happening at the Lake Harriett Bandshell:

• Friday night - The Melvilles (Rock/American/Country) 7:30pm


• Saturday night - Reign Dancers (Soulful Rock) also 7:30pm

Both are part of the Free Concerts in the Park series that sponsors free concerts nearly every night in the summer! Parking is free around the lake and in nearby neighborhoods, the concerts are free, so there's no excuse to sit home! Show up early if you can to get the best spots.

Have a good one!

Cheryl

Mediterranean Heaven!

I think I should have been born in Italy. Or Paris. At least on THAT continent. I have a hankerin’ for casual cafés, small homes, and the food and flavors that the Mediterranean region is famous for . . you know, tomatoes, peppers, olives, broccoli, fresh herbs, whole grains, good wine, spinach, almonds, and cheese. Is your mouth watering too? Bet you're surprised that one of my favorite foods is pizza, aren't you? I think I've had a little too much of my favorite, I'm afraid.

I learned that over in Italy they enjoy pizza too, and often with every meal. Wait…WITH every meal?? You mean it’s not THE meal? Nope…they enjoy a small slice of pizza much like we enjoy a piece of garlic bread. What a concept! This means if I plan well, I really can have heaven on earth nearly every day, right?

And, so often, that’s exactly what be healthy is all about….moderation. I know what I need to moderate. What about you?

Transition ~ Could It Be A Good Place To Be?

This morning my husband and I met with a financial advisor to help us figure out how to navigate this transition that we find ourselves in due to the loss of my job. There are so many things to consider! As we left their office an hour later, we started talking about the options that we have, and sensing that we are at a very significant cross-road. What we decide to do right now could end up affecting our lives for many, many years down the road.

So, we're asking ourselves what kind of life we really want. Sometimes I think we humans take on so much so quickly that we lose our way, we lose touch with what we were really going after in the first place. We lay our head on the pillow at night and ask "what's it all mean, does it matter and whose it for?" For me, I started seeing a disconnect between the kind of life I feel called to lead and the one I'm actually living. Anybody else aboard that train headed for nowhere?

Although we haven't made any final decisions yet, my heart seems to want and gravitate toward simplicity....that hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning out on the deck, flowers and herbs that fill the patio with the essence of nature, time to give to help others through difficult things, good conversations about things that matter, daily walks in the neighborhood, meaningful work that makes a noticeable difference, and good health to enjoy it all. The question is, can I have all that and still pursue the American dream? And, what if MY American dream is exactly what I described instead of a big house, a luxury car, exotic vacations and fine clothes? What if?

It'll take some time for us to figure out what the right questions are and answer them. But, in the meantime, I am grateful for the opportunity and eager to share my Vemma story (it just keeps getting better and better ~ cholesterol down another 28 points!) and help as many other people as I can to feel their best so they can pursue whatever kind of life they are called to live. Besides all the amazing nutritional support that Vemma gives, there's also an opportunity to build a business that you can be proud of. Vemma is turning out to be at least one of the answers for what kind of life my husband I really want!

So, what kind of life do YOU want?

Do you sense you could feel better than you do?

Do you have enough money to retire?

Could you use a little extra cash to get you through these tough economic times?

Vemma can help.

• Click on the links at the bottom of this page and check out Vemma and Verve (same formula in energy drink form!) for yourself.


• Watch the 9 minute video at the top of the Vemma page.


• Read about what makes this nutritional product different from the rest.


• Prepare to be personally amazed!

It's all worth your time and consideration ~ and, the empty-bottle 100% refund guarantee if you aren't completely satisfied means there's nothing to lose . . . except maybe a few things you don't really want to hang on to anyway.

Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments!

as ever,

Cheryl

What's Passion Got To Do With It? Part 2

When we are doing what we love and putting our whole selves into it, amazing things happen ~ not just for the thing we're doing but for our whole being. There's a spring in our step, an enthusiasm for the day to begin and the creative juices flow freely! It is life at it's very best. Problems still come, but somehow they are just more manageable. Pressures mount, but they don't seem insurmountable. Living with passion and focus, no matter what personality style you are is simply THE best life there is!

While everyone may not go about pursuing their dreams the same way, there are some practical steps that all of us share that serve as a beginning point to get us from where we are today to where we want to be:

• It starts with taking a long hard look at how you currently spend your time. Ewww. I know. But, do it anyway. No judgment here, you are just evaluating the use of your time.
  


• Decide which activities are optional and that perhaps are consuming precious time that could be used otherwise. This doesn't mean cutting out everything enjoyable...on the contrary, we all need a little down time. Decide how much and when.



• Start re-arranging your schedule to weed-out activities or lessen the time spent on things that don't get you closer to your goals.



• Then, with the time you have gained, do what matters most to you!

Little steps, one step at a time in the right direction count way more than huge steps that we're still thinking about. It's not easy to do this . . . it's going to mean sacrifice, giving something up. But, it is going to be worth it!

Now, regardless of what's on your list, health and vitality are going to be the mainstays of your success. Whether regaining your health IS your passion or is the foundation to pursue your other passions, we all agree that you simply can't skimp on your health. It is just too precious.

You may need to see your doctor first. You may need to study up on nutrition (keep coming back here, I can help with that!) and improve your diet. If you aren't exercising, with your doctor's approval you need to work this into your new slots of open time. Start slow, but start. As you progress, you will be able to do more in less time and the momentum will be rockin' your world.

Does all this sound great, but frankly....just the thought of doing more , of pouring your whole self into anything is, well, exhausting? Or, can you already taste the delicious flavor of passionate living but see the obstacle of not-enough-money standing in your way? I've got great news for you ~ this is your lucky day!

Consider the Vemma option...it involves both a product that is a powerful liquid nutritional supplement, doing amazing things for millions of people (including yours truly), AND a business opportunity that won't interfere with your full-time job. And, if like me, pursuing health and sharing in the journey IS your passion, you are going to fall in love with this company!

You can make up your mind today to stop wasting time dreaming about your dreams, and instead set your mind and start living them, one beautiful day at a time.

What's Passion Got To Do With It? Part 1

I was thinking the other day about how powerful our minds are . . . that even the most excruciatingly difficult problem or challenging endeavor can be tackled, worked through or accomplished when we set our minds. And, because of how we're put together, setting our minds requires passion, it involves how badly we want something and why it's important to us. Not for the faint-hearted for sure. No surfacey shallow living involved. No, you need real, honest-to-God deeply felt reasons for real change.

I saw this video through a tweet from one of my friends at the magnet company (with a pretty awesome wedding blog too!). . . and for all of you music lovers out there, this is gonna make you smile! Watch it clear through to the end, ok?

WOW, did you see their faces? The happiness, the peace, the intensity . . . the passion? Hard to miss. And, the background story for the music at the end brought tears to my eyes! Obviously, this performance required hard work, but the work was deemed worth the effort because of who it was for, and what it stood for. I don't know about you guys, but watching that makes me want that same passion when I do what I love!

And I think being and/or becoming healthy requires this same kind of passion. For some of us, health challenges have kicked our butt and made us re-focus our health management . . . susceptibility to infections, severe colds and flu, or high blood pressure, cholesterol, unexplained ailments and a general malaise . . . it all has a tendency to make you wonder what you could do differently to improve the situation!

For me, it became pain-stakingly obvious through the number on the scale, the way I felt when I got up in the morning and my doctor's glare that my priorities needed some adjustment. Why? Because I value my health . . . I value the years I have left and the experiences that I haven't had yet. Because without my health, without the energy I need to do the things that matter most to me, well, what do I really have left? Life without passion can get pretty depressing.

So, before you start thinking about changes you need to make to improve your health, think about what you're passionate about. Make a list of the things that matter most to you. Get the passion rising in your heart! Feel the intensity. Then take some practical steps.

Tomorow I'll share some practical ideas to get us going and what it could mean for the future. Until then, work on your passion list.

as ever,

Cheryl

Healthy Weekend Fun

It's Friday and time to highlight a couple of events going on in the Minneapolis area. Each Friday I'll share local events going on that are healthy, fun and AFFORDABLE. Today's list has two events, both related to healthy, happy kids.

First up . . .
Raising Healthy Children and Super Nutrition
Event is Saturday, August 22 from 11am - 1pm. And, it's FREE!
Dr. Brianna Tivy from the Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center will talk about common childhood health issues like food sensitivites, ear aches, fevers, bed-wetting, etc. and new ways to treat them. She'll also share with you the secret about how to know if it's really ADHD or not!
Registration required. Call 612-927-8141 (pre-registration officially closed on Thursday, but call anyway to see if you an squeeze in.)
Put on by Whole Foods Market

Second . . .
Healthy Homemade Popsicles!
Event is Saturday, August 22 from 12noon - 1pm. Cost is $8.
Chef Ani will show you how to make all-natural refreshing popsicles and fudgesicles from your own mix. You'll have some cold, sweet treats to take home...and enjoy while you're there!
No registration required. Ages 4-15. Call 612-927-8141 for information and location.
Put on by Whole Foods Market

Have a great weekend!

Cheryl

Time Sweetly Passing By

It's not a healthy habit, I admit.

I was wandering around Target the other day, looking for nothing in particular and saw this simple yet elegant hourglass sand timer. I'd always wanted one of these, so I picked it up to check the price (something I'm doing a lot more of these days) and...it wasn't marked. So, I put it back down, imagining it to be somewhere in the $40-50 range, very minimum $35ish. Too much for me right now.

I made a couple more passes through the artsy aisles, looking at cool picture frames, interesting artwork and of course the clearance section, and found myself passing by the hourglass timer again. Hmmmm. Picked it up a second time, flipped it upside down, and stood back and admired the irony of the timelessness of this time-measuring device ~ nostalgic, a bit old fashioned and possessing that clean, uncomplicated look that I am so drawn to. But, again, I walked away leaving it on the shelf, thinking 'better not'.

Determined to find what I didn't know I was looking for, I kept shopping. Dangerous, I know, and a habit I must break. And, surprise, somehow I found myself walking down that same aisle a third time. Not sure how it happened really. But, this time I held the hourglass in my hand a little longer and almost without thinking, promptly carried it over to one of those scanning machines to check the price. $14.99!! I was sold.

So here it sits on a table in my living room ~ and serves not so much as a time measuring device (although I do now know that it measures exactly one hour ~ so hourglass-like, isn't it?) . . . no, I didn't really buy it to time anything in particular as much as to have a reminder that time, ever so sweetly and quietly, passes by. Gone. Forever. And, did I spend or invest? And what do I have to show for this gift I'm given every time I take a breath?

As a middle-aged woman, I do have some regrets over the time I've wasted pursuing the wrong things, indulging my senses in excessive relaxation and in not taking my time or myself serious enough. Yeah, I know, there's something to be said about not taking ourselves too seriously, but really, once in awhile we need to SERIOUSLY think about how we're living these lives we've been given. We only get one chance.

I, for one, am determined to do better, because time is not a renewable resource. And, now I have a very cool looking visual reminder to keep me on track. What do you guys do to remind yourselves that time is ticking away?

'til tomorrow,

Cheryl

Helping Kids Stay Healthy

If you've got kids (ages 2-12), this amazing, great-tasting liquid supplement will make sure they stay healthy. Here's some of the details:



Vemma NEXT contains:

• 12 full spectrum vitamins


• Over 65 major, trace and ultra trace plant-sourced minerals.


• Enhanced vitamin formula to super charge your child's immune system.


• Targeted nutrients to support growth and healthy development of children ages 2 to 12.


• Balanced nutrition with 14 different organic fruit and veggie extracts


• All-natural vegetarian DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid known for brain and eye support


• Quercetin (a group of flavonoids that give many fruits and vegetables their coloring, for additional antioxidant protection of growing bodies.)


• GREAT TASTING, KID-APPROVED ORANGE BLAST FLAVOR!!!


• Preservative free, no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.


• Hypoallergenic for sensitive systems.

Coming September 1, so stay tuned!



Best,

Cheryl



P.S. Tomorrow read about how Vemma NEXT is giving back and touching the poorest kids around the world! See you then.

Help for High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is very common here in the western world, but still, I was HORRIFIED when I was diagnosed last year with it...and was immediately determined to discover the cause and make whatever changes I had to. It really scared me. I also HATE taking pills....have never taken much over-the-counter stuff, not even vitamins, and hardly ever even tylenol. I did not want to take the prescribed medicine for my high blood pressure, but was too scared not to.


I worked on making some lifestyle changes, such as exercising daily, eating healthier food, and yet I was so tired all the time that I soon gave up. I sure wasn't looking forward to going back to the doctor, but knew I needed to do something.

I paid my doctor a visit in May, and much to my continued horror, my blood pressure numbers (as well as several other blood values) were NOT at all good. I shouldn't have been surprised . . . I was exhausted. I knew I wasn't well. Something had to give, something had to change.

About this time I heard about a relatively new liquid vitamin supplement through someone at work. The liquid part was attractive, given my aversion to swallowing pills, so I checked it out online and placed my order that evening. It came with a money-back guarantee so I knew I couldn't go wrong. The stuff arrived about 5 days later and I began taking it immediately.

Within the first week, I started waking up in the morning BEFORE the alarm, ready to get up! Normally the snooze button got a good workout, but now I was turning off the alarm before it went off! Also during the first week I was able to discontinue a medication for gastric reflux! I was very excited! This stuff was really working!

With more energy than I had possessed in many years, it was now me who was getting a good workout, not my snooze button! I started exercising in the morning . . . nothing terribly strenuous, just a 30 minute walk before work. Within two weeks of starting this nature's miracle, I began to see some hope at the end of the dark health tunnel I had existed within.

The blood doesn't lie. Four weeks from my May visit, I went back to the doc for a follow up. He ran the same blood tests, and the results literally astounded both of us! In just four weeks time, my blood pressure dropped 20 points, and get this, my cholesterol dropped a full 80 points! With this incredible grin on his face, he asked me what I was doing because the cholesterol lowering medicine he prescribed does not produce this much change in just 4 weeks.

My answer? Vemma ~ this liquid vitamin that combines 12 full spectrum vitamins, more than 65 major trace and ultra trace minerals, mangosteen fruit, aloe vera and green tea. My body was thanking me a million times over in every way it could think of....I have the lab results to prove it.

Do you have health challenges or know someone who does? High blood pressure? High cholesterol? Do you suffer from digestive problems? So many of us do! I urge you to consider Vemma. The company guarantees the product, so the only thing you have to lose is nothing that you'd want to hang on to anyway! If for any reason you are not satisfied, you can send the empty bottle back and they will give you a FULL refund.

Everyone gets different results, but you can be completely confident that this vitamin/mineral formula is all natural, and it's liquid delivery is 98% absorbed (compared to just 10-20% from vitamin pills). That means you get all these very, very good things exactly where you need them ~ in your bloodstream, feeding your cells with what they need!

Your body will thank you with renewed vitality...and what could be better than that? Check it out for yourself here.


til next time,


Cheryl

Lake Superior ~ Isn't She Just Amazing?

There is something quite awe-inspiring about gazing out at a large body of water...the expanse, the resource, the personality, the power! Although I know that scientific theories exist to explain how the tide rolls in and out ever so predictably, when you watch the waves doing their thing it's almost as if they have a mind of their own ~ how big they're going to be, where they will take you should you decide to ride one of them, and exactly where they will crash into white foam on the shore.

Many of you have had this very same mesmerizing experience, sitting at the same waters edge as shown here ~ Lake Superior. I just love watching each unique ripple, listening to the quiet roar of one of God's amazing pieces of creation. Somehow it quiets my soul, teaches me to be still.

This past weekend I drove two hours to the north shore of Lake Superior on the Minnesota side. The city of Duluth sits at the southern edge of this amazing natural resource, complete with the hustle and bustle of a port city . . . while everything north of Duluth clear up to the Canadian border is, shall we say, rural, quiet, and just gorgeous.

I went to the Two Harbors Lighthouse, not so much to see the lighthouse as incredible as that is, but more to find a spot to call my own {if only for the afternoon} to ponder and listen to my life's call. Taken from my camping chair, this photo is the place where I sat for a few hours just soaking in the beauty and peace of the lake (and eating my peanut butter sandwich).

It was an amazing day, so much so that I decided to find a place to stay the night...just didn't want it to end quite yet. A super place to stay if you're up that way is the Inn on Gitchee Gummee. They have, I don't know, maybe 8 total rooms, each decorated with the charm of the rustic woods and in spirit of the shining Big-Sea-Water. The room I stayed in was called Dreamcatcher...here's a shot I took.

Butch and Julie own and operate this Inn, and one of the most distinct parts of this place is the handmade furniture in each room and the beautiful gardens in the front. I've stayed here twice and although it's very difficult to get a room last minute, I totally lucked out.

Although it's not stated on their website, Butch prepares each guest a custom omelet, spicy or not-so-spicy along with a blueberry pancake and some fruit. It's just a little extra thing they throw in that reveals how very hospitable they are. And, there's always fresh coffee put out on the front deck to be had where you can welcome the day with the lake in full, up-front view....just stunningly simple and beautiful. If you stay here, you will NOT be disappointed!

That's all for now . . . tomorrow I want to share about what's happening on the home business venture I'm about to embark on...I'll share about a product call Vemma that has, LITERALLY, changed my life!

til tomorrow,

Cheryl {aka storygirl, and do I have a story to tell you!}

A Brick

In the last 10 days I've experienced both the highs and the lows of life . . . situations where I was dancing and giggling clear down to my soul, and others that made me wonder if my sad, sad heart would ever feel light again.

Emotions, wow, can they ever take me for a ride! Whether from happy times or not-so-happy times, my emotions really do make me feel alive. I'm thinking it's best not to ignore them (tho I'd really like to sometimes), but at some point wisdom says to engage my mind and ask, "What's my take-away from this?"

This brick is from the demolition that took place in my front yard this week. I was thinking it might be a cool souvenir to use in the garden, a piece of history left to color the landscape of the future . . . kind of like my own little tangible takeaway after watching branches de-limbed, roots dug out, and the earth excavated ~ all in preparation for something new.

And, this is exactly the process I'm in right now with my work life. As I figure out my next steps and what I want my life to be about, I've been gathering my takeaways from the years at my last job. I was fortunate to be at a place where I could learn tons of new things and carry with me transferrable skills. And, some of the struggles and challenges, things that are a part of every adventure have served to make me a stronger person.

I'm still processing it all, but I am convinced that what feels like a dark cloud right now most definitely has a gorgeous silver lining that one of these days is going to require sunglasses. I think there's always something worth keeping from tough circumstances, always a brick to pick up, to take along that will somehow make the future more beautiful and meaningful. It's requiring effort right now that I don't always feel like putting out, but I think the effort will probably be worth it in the end.

Demolition!

Today the landscape crew from High Profile came to my home to remove some ailing crab apple trees, and to tear down a brick planter bed/wall that was falling over. I had a front row seat to see it all happen, though I'm pretty certain the workers weren't planning on it being a spectator event. Sorry, guys. Sitting right on my patio, drinking my coffee with my camera all poised, I had a perfect view of their every move and got all kinds of very cool shots.

If you've ever seen Extreme Makeover-Home Edition on tv, you know that demolition can sometimes be pretty wreckless. It appears that they find the quickest way to take down a structure so they can get going on the new one. Not so with this crew outside my door today. And, I suppose for very good reason. They had several other structures which needed to be saved ~ the brick pillars that support the awning, the sidewalk, a lightpost, etc.~ most important of which was my patio with all my still-growing herbs, etc. etc. and the rest of my home!

So, they took their time, removing limbs in such a way to make them fall where they wanted them without harming other living things (me and my plants, mainly). They stopped using machinery when they got close to the brick pillar so as not to damage it. The hostas were dug out carefully and put in a safe place with a sprinkler gently watering their little souls so they could be replanted in the new landscape. I'm happy to report that there were no mishaps as all this demolition, this tearing down, was done. Good job guys!

It IS very exciting on Extreme Makeover when the wrecking ball swings wildly or the bulldozer just dozes right over everything. But, when it's called for, when there's something worth preserving, there's something to be said about being careful...taking care in how we tear down, even when the tearing down is necessary. Because, even though structures, patios and even living, still-growing herbs can, essentially, all be rebuilt, exercising a little care is the kindest, gentlest way to handle our work . . . and probably our lives, too.

Telling the truth is sometimes kind of like demolition. Lies need to be torn down, and their roots need to be dug out. But, do we always need a wrecking ball or a bull dozer? Maybe a shovel would be the better choice. I don't know, what do you guys think? Does the truth always have to hurt so much?

Cheryl

Reflecting Back

I lost my job last week. The economic downturn slid sideways into my driveway as my position and that of 4 others were eliminated. With no warning other than the negativity of the 6 o'clock daily news, I'm reeling with questions, charged with dealing with the uncertain days ahead, and challenged to pull myself and my future together. But, before the future comes in, I'd be remiss if I didn't use this time-out to reflect on the last many years of my life at this company.

Have to say, it was a good run. I learned a lot about a lot . . . about myself, my strengths, weaknesses, what I can do and what I can't, what I want to do and don't want to do, how to dig in and do things I've never done before. I learned about people and why they do what they do and the best thing to do when it's not what I would do. And now that I'm not doing any of it there anymore, I must figure out where else it can be done. There's a lot I don't know, but one thing I do is that this time hasn't been given to me to spend being angry (tho I am a little), nor to wonder about details I'm not privy to (tho I do). No, the time is given to reflect and gather some take-aways for the future. So, reflect I will.

Of course there were successes and failures along the way, and all kinds of bright spots to see on the old landscape. But, my biggest hope is that somehow, someway, my 5+ year presence at this company made a difference...not just for the bottom line of the organization, but mostly in the lives of the great people who work there. I am just a middle-aged woman, living this life the best way I know how, learning new stuff and meeting new people, and seeking to make it all worthwhile. Hopefully in some small way, as the song says, I've brightened the corner where I was.

You're going to see some changes coming to the blog....all 1 or 2 of you out there who might actually read this! It's time, definitely time, to ramp up. I've got some new stuff, and it's a really strong, REALLY strong possibility that something brand new will begin. I'll keep you posted and how to access it all.


But, for now, you will do my heart good to just be grateful where you are, wherever that is...employed, unemployed, married, single, rich, poor, good-looking or unique in your own way, 8+ months pregnant or dealing with death. Take a time-out with me and reflect. Smile. Resolve to make the most of each day. And, reach out to the people around you. Because, you never really know what a day will hold for you or for anyone else . . . or what news someone just got, or anything else really.

Signing off til tomorrow!

Peace,

Cheryl