Step 2: Tackling that List!

You'll need to look over yesterdays blog entry before you move on to today. Otherwise you won't have any clue as to what I'm talking about here. We'll get this wrapped up today and move along.

SO- how was the list making? Did you get it done? 100 items???? If not, consider this a work in progress. If you were able to complete your lust, way to go!!!! The next step will be to take action on that list! If you have never been a list maker before, what you hold in your hands is a powerful tool! It will give you a sense of accomplishment. Here we go.

De-Cluttering Your Life

• Make your list of 100 items (yesterday)
• PRIORITIZE the list. (today)

1. Today you will begin by giving each item on your list a time value. Right next to the item, write down how long it will take you (approximately) to complete that task. Sewing a button may take you 10 minutes. Write that down. Cleaning out an entire closet may take 90 minutes. And so on.

2. Go through your list and pick 10 items that you will do this week. You know your schedule, so you'll want to pick things you know you can accomplish. Maybe you have 2 extra hours today, maybe on 15 minutes.

3. Begin each task, one at a time. Complete the task from beginning to end.

• Example, sew the button on: put away the thread, scissors, needle, and put the shirt away as well.
• Example, closet: have a get rid of pile, trash pile, "fix pile" if need be. Take everything out of the closet. Go through each item, and place in the appropriate pile. Get rid of the stuff you no longer need. Do it NOW. (*if you are going to have a garage sale, this is the time to put a PRICE tag on the items!! Makes sale day much easier!!)
• CROSS THE TASK OFF YOUR LIST!!!!
• Now, here's the best part. Stand back and enjoy the moment. Look at that clean closet. Celebrate it! Feels good, doesn't it? No worries, you have more on your list, lets find another item....

Really, it is that simple. As humans we tend to "over think" things too much. We know we have a mess, and at times it just seems too overwhelming to even begin. Try this method, I'm sure you'll see results. Cleanse your life!!

3 Areas that Many be Holding YOU back

Yes, this is me, zip lining in Mexico. Something I never knew I wanted to do, until we signed up to do it! And boy was it a blast! Yes I'm "afraid" of heights. I think most of us do have a healthy fear of heights.

What is it that's holding YOU back? Is it inside your mind, body, or is it in your physical space? This subject has really gotten into my core the past three years and has become a HUGE part of what I coach.

For me it was all three, as I'm sure it is with most. I'd like to take you on a little journey of "de-cluttering". Getting rid of the "things" that are holding you back. For today, we are going to start with your physical space. No worries, we'll get through this together.

First and foremost, you need to know why YOU would want to de-clutter your physical space. For me it's simple. Living and working in a place of physical clutter creates mental clutter. And when your mind is cluttered, productivity can not flow to it's full potential. You may find it silly, but something as small as a button that needs to be sewn back onto your favorite shirt, or a book that's sat on the kitchen table for a week can take up space in your mind. Each time you pass that book or see that shirt, you are reminded that there is a task needing to be accomplished. Never mind the mess in the closet, or the fact the car has never seen the inside of the garage!

So what to do? Make a list. Not a list maker? Maybe your a list maker, but you've never checked items off the list before. I'm going to help you break it up into easy steps. Ready? Here we go.

1. Get a note pad and a pen.
2. Enter one room of your home or office area
3. Make a short description of each item that needs to be taken care of. Example of a home office:

• clean out junk drawer
• clear mail
• organize files
• clear junk e-mail
• sharpen pencils
• clean out closet

The list could be very long, or very short. The POINT here is that each task be listed out separately.

Once you fish with a room, go to the next. Your first assignment is to make a list of 100 items that need to be done. Remember that button that needs sewing? I'm more then sure you can find 100 things. Check back tomorrow for the next step!

70 Trillion Cells

Did you know that your body is made up with approximately 70 trillion cells? Each of these cells changes over at least once every 7 years, and in most cases hundreds of times.

If you feed your body with GREAT NUTRITION for 7 consecutive years, when those cells turn over that nutrition will give your body the best it can be.

Your mother was RIGHT!! You ARE what you eat. Are you "Ding Dong"?? Good things happen to your body when it has the proper fuel. All your vital organs including your liver which is the main detoxifier in your body will start functioning better and your body will just work at a better level because it's in balance.

Fish Tacos

12 fillets of cod, pollack or other white fish, 1 1/2 ounces each
12 corn tortillas, as fresh as possible (Idaho- good luck! I make my own)

Beer Batter:
1 cup flour
1 t garlic powder
1 cup beer

White Sauce:
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup plain yogurt (can also use sour cream in a pinch)

Salsa:
1 clove garlic peeled and minced
6 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 onion, minced
2 T cilantro, chopped (I recall you don't like. Maybe parsley?? Less flavor)
salt and pepper to taste

Cabbage, shredded
4 limes, cut into wedges

Mix flour, garlic powder. Stir into the beer and mix until well blended. Be sure fish is completely dry before dipping into the batter. Fry at 375 degrees. Best in a deep fryer. I use only "grape seed oil" which is a VERY healthy oil, even when heated. (Canola oil is very bad, they lied to us. )
Cook until crisp and golden, just a few minutes. Drain on paper towels.

Mix mayo and yogurt together for white sauce. Put aside.

Steam or heat tortillas slightly on the stove, wrap in a towel to keep warm.

To assemble: On each tortilla, layer the following: fish, white sauce, salsa, cabbage. Top if off with a squeeze of lime. Fold over tortilla and serve.

Summer Shrimp Toss

After posting this on my Facebook page today, many requested the recipe. Because I do not cook by recipes, I'll try to recreate this for you.


Summer Shrimp Toss
1 pound large shrimp, shelled and cleaned
1 lemon,
1 onion, sliced
1 red pepper, cut into strips
4-5 good sized mushrooms, sliced
5 stalks of asparagus
oilve oil
white wine
basil
fresh mozzarella

Using a large skillet, saute onion over hot fire for a few minutes. Add in red pepper. Cook until onion is transparent. Add in mushrooms and asparagus, cook about a minute or two, just enough to add a little color. Remove to a serving bowl. Add about 2 T olive oil to pan and 2 T butter. Stir fry shrimp for a few minutes. Add chopped garlic and cook another minute. Add in wine and squeeze lemon over. Toss veggies back in and remove from heat. Sprinkle pinenuts over top, snipped basil and diced mozzarella. Perfect served as is, or over pasta or rice.

A Fresh Start to Summer

Could 2009 really be half over already? It seems like we're just getting started! We are about to enter a new season. I look forward to summer just as much now as when I was a kid in school. I love the way summer feels. Warm, slower pace, and FRESH. Growing up in San Diego it was not difficult to find fresh fruits and vegetables year around. Now that I'm in Idaho I have learned to appreciate fresh local produce in the limited months it's available.

The photo shown is a recipe I've developed for a quinoa salad. Until recently quinoa has been difficult to locate. I'd love for you to share your quinoa recipes as well! Here are a couple of quinoa facts:

• A ancient grain grown at 12,000 ft above sea level
• Classified as one of the best sources of vegetable protien
• Gluten free
• Low glycemic index
• Provides 8 essential amino acids

Fresh Quinoa Salad
1/2 cup quinoa
juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup feta cheese
1 Tablespoon pinenuts, toasted if you wish
dice small the following vegetables: English cucumber, 1/2 onion, red pepper, handful of cilantro.

Preparing the quinoa. First, you must rinse the grain, or it will be bitter! Combine with 1 1/2 cups water. I add a small amount of orgainic chichen broth. Simmer for 15 minutes. Let cool to room temp. Squeeze lime over, toss in other ingredients. Chill until serving time. Best eaten fresh, so don't plan on making more then you can eat in the next day or two.

This is also wonderful served over a small bed of mixed greens and drizzled with a bit of basalmic vinegar mixed with olive oil.

Enjoy!