Posts by Bekah Banihashemi
Gratitude is the Best Attitude
As part of our Fit for Fall Challenge, we are going through the Healthy Mind and Body program. I have done this program before and I learned so much great information. It was designed to teach different methods to help you become the person you want to be – physically, mentally, and emotionally! Throughout my first sixty days of consistent 10-15 minute coaching, I was really challenged to work on what I focus on daily, especially mentally. These points have really pushed me to establish new patterns of thinking in my everyday life!
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them.” – Albert Einstein
After reading this quote, it is important to think about and realize the high impact that YOUR FOCUS has on you! Here are the Four Laws of Focus:
- What you Focus on you Find
- What you Focus on Grows
- What you Focus on Seems Real
- What you Focus on Ultimately You Become
What you focus on either supports your goals or challenges your goals – but it is all part of your growth! Really think about what you focus on. Think about how your focus influences your everyday life patterns or habits.
Do you have patterns or habits you need to break?
How do you interrupt a pattern or habit that is not pushing you toward your best self?
In our program, we are reminded that I CAN BREAK ANY PATTERN OR HABIT AT ANY TIME THAT I CHOOSE!
In addition to Focus, here are 3 other disciplines to create patterns in your life that will support your goals:
- Focus
- What You Say to Yourself
- Your Body Language
- Gratitude
–WHAT YOU SAY TO YOURSELF–
Improve your Self-Talk! Give yourself confidence through the thoughts about yourself. Tell yourself things like I …
Read MoreTurning Worry Into Worship
A sweet friend sent me an unexpected gift a couple weeks ago- a book called “Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet with Jesus” by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk. We all need friends like that, right?! This friend is not yet a mother but has such discernment to the strong need for a short pause from the chaos to turn my mind toward Jesus. What a blessing!
Here are a few excerpts to share with you from my first devotional from the book!
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25
“I think I have the worry gene, and I’m sure I got it from my mother. She passed down to me her aqua-blue eyes, her slightly crooked smile, and her tendency to worry.
……………..
Over time I’ve noticed something about worry: 99 percent of my past fears never came to pass. However, I spent oodles of time fretting about them. How I wish I could redeem that time and do something productive instead! What if I had turned my worry to worship?
Contrast my attitude with the woman in Proverbs 31:25: ‘She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.’ There’s no weariness in her thoughts and actions. She laughed at the days to come – not in a careless sort of way, but with a confidence that came from God.
Because she wore strength and dignity due to her faith in God, she had a smile on her face and laughter in her heart when she considered the future. She trusted in God, whose faithfulness in the past assured her He would work out circumstances in the future.
God can use or tendency to worry to grow our faith. As …
Read MorePumpkin Cinnamon Rolls for the Start of Fall
We LOVE pumpkin! And, what better way to start the official beginning of Fall (it’s tomorrow!) than with a Pumpkin Recipe!
I like my healthy breakfasts- Protein shake, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, homemade granola. But, every once in a while, I really like making a “Fun Breakfast” aka not as healthy but still delicious 🙂 So, I figured fall would be the perfect time to try making pumpkin cinnamon rolls! They taste really good, and, also have a great consistency! I cannot always find healthy alternative ingredients, so I will give you the ingredients I used, but also include a few healthy alternatives to try if you want!
INGREDIENTS (Adapted from Chocolate-Covered Katie: The Healthy Dessert Blog) Makes approx 12 cinnamon rolls …
Read MorePumpkin Bread – A Fall Favorite!
As fall gets closer, I’m getting all the pumpkin feels 🙂 This is one of our fall favorites- an original Mom recipe that I now make throughout the autumn season! Mmm just thinking about fall gets me so excited for all the pumpkin deliciousness!
When the fall leaves start changing color and the nights start cooling down, we LOVE to begin our Autumn baking traditions. I absolutely love PUMPKIN everything-pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin butter, pumpkin soup and even pumpkin yogurt. so this year I decided to try my hand at modifying my favorite pumpkin bread recipe to make a healthier version. …
Read MoreRecharge Your Summer with a Bucket List
We have made it through the holiday weekend of summer! What are you going to do for the rest of your summer? Here’s an idea to recharge your creativity for fun summer plans!
Have you made a summer bucket list? Have you been working through it? If you have, look back through it and add activities that you have thought of or heard of from friends that you haven’t done yet. If you haven’t made one, do it now! There is still plenty of time to do all the things that you have always wanted to try – fun activities in your community, trying new restaurants, free summer events, crafts, home adventures and more!
Here is a fun way to put up your Bucket List to see what activities to plan for the rest of summer!
All you need is…
1. Your Summer Bucket List
2. A Magnetic Strip
Find it on Amazon for a great price at the link below!
Three by Three Magnetic Strip Bulletin Board, White
3. Fun Paper
Try JOANN Fabric, Michaels, or your local craft store for packs of scrapbook paper…
…Paper Source…
…Amazon, too!
Fancy Pants Designs Burlap and Bouquets Decorative Tags, Large
4. Colored Pens or Sharpies
Sharpie 75846 Fine Point Permanent Marker, Assorted Colors, 24-Pack
5. Paper Punch to make shapes like the one below- Optional
Uchida – Clever Lever Xtra Giga Craft Punch-Merchandise Tag
And, it’s so simple! Write out your Bucket List activities on your paper. Use the magnets that come with the Magnetic Strip to post up each bucket list item. Mount your strip in a place where you will see it everyday and often! Then, get working on your list! You will feel so accomplished at the end of summer with a lot of fun memories and recharged …
Read MorePacking the Hospital Bags
I’m 38 weeks pregnant today and after my doctor’s appointment yesterday, we were instructed to have our bags packed to be ready any day in the next couple of weeks! They are mostly packed with a few more odds and ends that need to be thrown in at the last minute. I am usually quite the extensive packer, feeling like I would rather have too much than too little but I tried to find a good balance for this trip – packing for the ideal situation while also keeping reality in mind of what can happen throughout labor. So, I am going to give you the list that I came up with after looking at plenty of other lists to pack our hospital bags. However, I am sure that I am packing more than I will actually need, so in a few weeks I will write another post on what I actually used and/or what I wished I had included!
For Baby:
- Going home outfit (including Socks, Mittens, and Accessories such as a headband)
- Swaddling Blanket
- Nursing Cover
- Cute toy or prop for first photos
For Mommy:
- Comfy clothes (remember you will still look pregnant!)
- Toiletries (including shower supplies, lotion face wash and creams)
- Extra rubber bands and headbands to keep the hair out of your face
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Contacts and glasses
- Slippers and flip flops for shower shoes/room shoes
- Robe
- Socks and underwear (Granny panties…)
- PJs
- Sweater or sweatshirt with no front zipper
- Nursing tank top or bra (buy a size up if purchasing before milk comes in)
- Essential Oils
- Nursing Cover (when you have to feed with guests in the room)
- Chapstick
For Daddy:
- Clothes (1-2 days worth)
- Socks and underwear
- Sweatshirt
- Comfy shoes – he may be on his feet for many hours
- PJs
- Toiletries –
Baby On The Mind Part 2
I decided to repost this from a few months ago after having a great customer service experience with BabyList! I was recently gifted one of my favorite and most anticipated items off my registry – my Tula Baby Carrier! However, when it arrived it was not the right pattern from my registry. I contacted BabyList and, within one day, I received a response apologizing for the mix up. Included in the message was also a shipping label to send back the item with simple yet detailed instructions on how to begin the exchange! Good customer service makes all the difference for me when there are so many options of companies and products to choose from! Don’t forget to always take an extra second to kind and courteous – you never know what it will do for someone or how it will make someone’s day!
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November 2015
You may not think that it is baby season but to all the mamas who deliver in the Spring (what is often known as Baby Season), Baby is definitely on her mind. We just finished our Baby Registry and it was quite the feat. I love researching, but there are so many options when it comes to baby it was hard to find the “right” answer for a lot of items. I also love supporting small, creative businesses -their products can usually be found online and not always in stores so it was important for me to find an online registry that I really enjoyed using so I could add that creative touch to our registry. And, I did!
We are using BabyList Online Baby Registry – www.babyli.st – and here are a few reasons why I have liked it!
- Easy to Use — As overwhelming as registering for baby can be, a
Valentine’s Day Chex Mix
Valentine’s Day is such a fun holiday for crafts and recipes! I have definitely been in a baking/want to be creative in the kitchen mood (I think I am officially nesting) so this was really fun to create! This mix would be so cute bagged up for a little gift and is a fun way to give a sweet treat that is different than candy!
Valentine’s Day Chex Mix Ingredients:
2 Cups Cheerios
2 Cups Rice Chex
3 Cups Pretzel Thins (break into pieces)
One Package (Approx 9) Honey Graham Crackers (break into pieces)
1 Cup Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Valentine’s M&M’s
Red & Pink Sprinkles
Directions:
- Place the Cheerios, Chex, Pretzels, and Graham Crackers in a large bowl. You want the bowl to be large enough to mix.
- Put the 1 cup of chocolate chips into a glass bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave for 15 seconds and stir. Microwave another 15 seconds and stir. You want the chocolate completely melted, but you need to be careful not to burn the white chocolate.
- Pour the melted chocolate onto the chex mix and begin stirring right away. While the chocolate is still hot, pour the sprinkles and M&M’s into the bowl and continuing mixing.
- Spread the coated chex mix onto a lined baking sheet and allow to cool. Place the chex mix into cute Valentine’s bags to gift or in a Ziploc to keep fresh.
- 2 Cups Cheerios
- 2 Cups Rice Chex
- 3 Cups Pretzel Thins (break into pieces)
- One Package (Approx 9) Honey Graham Crackers (break into pieces)
- 1 Cup Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips
- 1 Cup Valentine's M&M's
- Red & Pink Sprinkles
- Place
Simple, Delicious Homemade Guacamole
This weekend is Super Bowl Sunday which means lots of yummy food! Chips, salsa, and guacamole are staple football game foods – so this year, WOW your friends with this delicious homemade guacamole that is sure to impress! And, you don’t even have to skimp on your New Year health goals with this recipe! Avocados have so many health benefits – check out a few here from Best Health. If you are devoted to stay committed to your health goals, try this recipe with your favorite veggies instead of chips!
Now, I have to give credit where credit is due – I always have my husband make this recipe because it is so delicious when he does! However, tonight was the first time we actually measured out the ingredients together (I’m a recipe follower and he’s more of a wing-it kinda guy in the kitchen), and it was the best guacamole we have ever had! He likes adding more kick to his (see the optional ingredient below) but he knows I like it better without so he usually won’t add it if he knows I want some.
If you are making this recipe for a larger group, I would definitely double (or triple) it, as I’m guessing it will go fast 🙂
Ingredients:
4 Large Avocados
1/4 Cup Pace Salsa
1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
One Lemon
(Optional) Tapatio Sauce (Add to taste)
Directions:
- Cut open avocados, remove pit, and add insides to a large bowl. Mash up.
- Add all other ingredients to the mashed avocados, except for the lemon, and mix together.
- Cut the lemon in quarters and squeeze one quarters worth of juice into the bowl (Make sure no seeds fall into the guac). Mix and add more to taste but do not add
Get a Jump-Start on Your Spring Cleaning!
Clutter can be a real negative influence on the health of our minds and bodies. During the fun activities of the holiday season it becomes so easy to put many important aspects of life on hold (especially cleaning and organizing) until the busyness calms down (or should I say IF the busyness calms down). This year, don’t let that happen! Let’s be more prepared and not wait until Spring to free ourselves from the stress of clutter. There are fun ways to clean and organize your home and I am going to share one of those ways with you today!
ThredUP is the name of my recommendation for de-cluttering your closet and/or improving it on a budget.
“thredUP is the easiest way to save money on great Women’s and Kids’ clothing brands and sell clothes for cash. We’re like a consignment store, but simpler. On thredUP you can refresh your entire wardrobe online without ever leaving your house.”
Browse thousands of like-new clothing items, which we’ve hand-selected and certified for quality. You’ll find all your favorite brands discounted up to 90% off, year-round.
And, when you’re done with clothing, simply fill up a thredUP bag and put it on your doorstep. thredUP covers the shipping, and pays you for every item we can sell to other families.
Our goal is to make your life just a little bit easier.
- We eliminate the stress of deal hunting by offering consistent discounts every day.
- We take the hassle out of bringing your kids into a store by allowing you to thredUP online.
- We relieve that recycling guilt by helping you lighten your family’s carbon-footprint with every order.
Ready to give thredUP a try? We think you’ll love what you find.
I was ready to try! It is so simple! Once I …
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