PFMs Healthy Living: New Year, New Me, New You

photo credits

i have taken a posting hiatus for quite a bit and there really isn't any particular reason other than life got hectic.  it brings to mind my previous post on 2012 and what the "end" really means in all the end of world prophecies.  i stick by my concept that it really meant hard endings and change specific to individuals (for my numerology folks - 2012 = 2+0+1+2 = 5 and 5 means change).  events like Hurricane Sandy and the Newtown tragedy only help prove my theory.  while there are many still dealing with how to move on from both the aforementioned events as well as other personal upheaval, the good thing is - we are still here!  this means that we have the chance, just like in the beginning of a new day, to start all over - fresh.  

the main message that i feel sums up 2012 is learning to be grateful for the things that truly matter - family, food, shelter, warmth.  it is hard to take any of these things for granted as we move into the new year.  in an age when we have access to so much, we are being forced to recognize we only need a little to make life bearable.  ...at least that's what i got and it's what i share with you.   my goal is to be happier.  instead of focusing on what i don't have or what i "need" to have to "be happy", i am focused on being happy right now, with everything exactly as it is.  achieving my goal will mean that i am living in the moment and making an effort to enjoy the roller coaster ride called life (which will remind me that that the ups and downs are all part of it).  i'm working on my outlook and, though i have a ways to go, i am enjoying the process of learning what really makes me happy.  it comes down to the above four things; they are the pillars to my foundation on which to build my true happiness. 

i challenge you to do the same; if you are unhappy, the only thing that you can change right now is you and your outlook on life.  if you can change that, be prepared for things to shift right before your eyes.  we have to "live our best life now".  to quote Rihanna's song Right Now- "tomorrow's way too far away, we can't get back yesterday, but we are young right now, we got right now, so get up right now." tomorrow isn't promised, yesterday is already gone and all we have is today - so love and live life right now.  

best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and new you! xo sesheta

p.s. many thanks to all of our readers for visiting and reading our blog throughout 2012.  here's to hoping that we continue to inspire, encourage and provoke your best life as we strive for ours!

-the PFMs

Ask the PFMs: How to Fight Cold Season

It's that season, and I'm not just talking about the holidays. Every winter it seems unavoidable that we all get a common cold or flu, especially when stress comes into the picture. I tried my best to stay strong but something's had me feeling under the weather for the past few days. The good news is that I've been digging into my trusty stash of healthy remedies to boost my immune system and recover quickly. I've been asked to share my tips for those days when you are feeling run-down with flu or cold symptoms, so here's my routine. Please remember, I'm not a doctor! xoxo Becca

1. Sainsbury's Vitamin C Tablets are amazing, but too bad I can't seem to be able to find them for sale in the United States! One a day in a tall glass of water is all you need. My brother brought them back from a trip to England and now I'm hooked, but this version by NOW Foods is my alternative.

2. It's an Owl Mug. Better to make it a cute one because you'll be sipping hot tea out of this every morning. Try brewing something soothing like raw ginger root tea with a splash of fresh lemon juice (here's the teabag version) or just drink plain warm water to stay hydrated and keep things moving in your system. 

3-4. Be sure to avoid sugary and processed foods and get a super healthy dose of energy by mixing Green Vibrance into your morning green smoothie. We have recipes here and here. Fresh foods (veggies and whole grains) will go a long way in making your recovery a fast one. 

5. The Sinus Rinse Kit is something that I've grown to like (not love.) It feels pretty weird at first, but the results will have you coming back for more. Hint- you will be able to breathe through your nose again without taking antibiotics.

6. You know that I'm the soup queen, so there's really no reason for me to need an excuse to have soup for lunch and dinner...but being sick is a darn good one. I have a simple homemade soup twice a day like this one. And when I'm feeling up to it, I give this recipe a go.

7. Get more sleep and stay warm. I rest as much as possible with a pair of socks like these to keep me cozy.

8. The only thing more frustrating than feeling under the weather is having breakout prone skin on top it. That's usually the case with me...if I'm not feeling well, my skin bears the brunt of it. LUSH Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask contains a mix of garlic and tea tree oil which are powerful antiseptics and disinfectants. I love it- my face feels fresh, clear and moisturized thanks to the natural ingredients like honey, eggs, and grapes. If you're worried about the smell, don't be. It's pretty odorless.

9-10. Choose high quality vitamins and supplements. My multi-vitamin of choice is MegaFood, recommended by Kris Carr. It can be taken anytime, with or without food. Plus, I make sure to have zinc on hand at the first sign of sickness.

Spiritual PFM: Cricket and more: Leaping over Hard Lessons

Photo courtesy of here

the end of the summer into early fall was a rough transition for me.  i had a lot of good things going on but, at the same time, i was being faced with some hard lessons about life.  i was totally overwhelmed with all that was expected of me. ...so much so that it didn't seem like there was any relief in sight.  while some areas were moving full speed ahead, the areas that i wanted to move forward were at a complete and utter standstill.   it left me feeling uninspired, down in the dumps and just plain ol' unhappy.  then, it seemed like all of a sudden things started to move forward.  what happened exactly?  well, that's what i have been wondering so that i can create a formula so that i can repeat it for when life decides to be a pain in the a$$ (which i know is inevitably going to happen again).  here are a couple things that stand out in my mind:

1. Cricket appeared - this summer in my house, we suddenly kept finding crickets.  we had no idea how they were getting in but, they were.  it drove us insane!! there is nothing like heading to your kitchen to get a drink and being greeted by a cricket in the middle of the floor.  arrrrgghhh!! at the time, all i could do was add this to my frustration list.  now that i have had some time to reflect, i am confident that spirit was trying to send us a message.  i looked in my Animal Speak book and according to Ted Andrews, crickets are a sign of growth.  ...not just your average growth that happens incrementally, but  growth that literally jumps ahead. an additional google search on the web led me to this site that states, "The crickets’ hind legs are modified for jumping. They leap over difficult situations effortlessly always choosing to land in a more pleasing environment and can teach us how to do the same. A powerful ally that embodies the qualities of faith and trust the cricket serves us well. All we need to do is follow its lead."   all of this made total sense!!  ...not only in regards to the situation at hand, but also to my entire life.  for example, after years of  living with my in-laws and feeling like i would never move, the opportunity came up to purchase my house!  just like that, i became a homeowner!  while most people make gradual changes in life, it definitely feels like i make changes in sudden leaps.
2.  Saturn moved out of Libra - even the stars suddenly joined on my side.  the planet saturn is known as the task master, the planet that rules over hard lessons.  it takes saturn 29 years to travel around the sun and it makes its slow, painful trip taking two and a half years to get through each sign.  October 5th marked the date that Saturn left Libra and moved into Scorpio.  wooohooo! (sorry, Scorpios!)  i am a Libra and, boy, do i know first hand how hard the last 2.5 years has been for me.  i have learned a lot about myself and questioned just about everything that i believe in during this time.  although i know that i am a stronger person from it all, i am glad for a little relief any way i can get it!!
3. Working on me - once i accepted the hard fact that there was nothing that i could physically do to make my life get easier, i started working on me.  i added more juicing into my diet, upped my prayers, and started focusing on giving myself extra love.  it was super easy to focus on everything that was going wrong so i made a point of turning my focus inward.  after all, the only thing that i can control is me.
4. Enlisted my prayer warriors - when things started to get crazy, i started speaking to the people i knew had close connections with the Most High.  i requested that they add me and my family to their list when praying.  i believe in the power in numbers so, in addition to my prayers for help and breakthroughs, i knew that having others praying for me would only increase my chances of success.  i hope that you are blessed to have prayer warriors in your life; if you don't, you need to enlist them now!

though i can't force breakthroughs to happen when i want them, i have definitely learned that when i need them to, they happen.  i'm hoping that continuing to be open to signs from spirit as well as connecting to my spirit within (and to others who are doing the same) will help keep me from feeling blue the next time life throws me for a loop.  i sure hope that it will be quite a while before it happens again #fingerscrossed lol, xo Sesheta

Spiritual PFM: Little Reminders

it could have been really easy to slip into a bad mood because of the rain on my birthday (especially because that is not what the weather said yesterday, smh).  in fact, i was already on my way to that state when, one of my good friends stopped me in my tracks by saying, "you bring the sunshine, birthday girl!"  i was starting to commit to the funk but her little reminder helped to bring me back to seeing the lighter side, my silver lining.  as i sat and watched the rain subside and then witnessed the sky becoming brighter and lighter, i claimed it; i bring the sunshine!!  in one instant, my mood was lifted.  it really can be that simple - to choose to be one way or another, happy or funky.  i chose happy and i was reminded that i should be coming from a place of gratitude today and always.  ... so here goes:

Give thanks and praise for those little reminders

and for those beautiful beings that remind you.

give thanks for sunshine and rain, rainbows and clouds;

give thanks for all things sparkly, blingy, glittery, shiny; :)

give thanks for my family - blood and adopted;

give thanks for yarn, beads, crystals;

give thanks for color;

give thanks for life, for the blessing of another day of breath 

and the promise of a new year.

ashe!

xo Sesheta

Spiritual PFM: 2012 - the end of all life or life as we know it?

i hope that i am not the only one who has noticed that this year has been moving insanely fast.  it literally seems like only yesterday we were ringing in the new year.  i can't tell you the number of conversations i've had related to 2012 and the end of the world.  i, for one, have always been a big believer in the concept of "the end of days"...but as time progresses through this year, i have begun to re-evaluate my idea of what this "end" really means.  

my quest to understand may be related to the fact that i will be celebrating another birthday soon - which usually sparks reflection and contemplation.  then i start to think about the people i know and all the different situations they are going through.  2012 definitely seems to bring a trend of upheaval in many people's lives.  this has led me to start wondering if maybe "the end" is less like the catastrophic world demise we see in movies and more like personal catastrophes.  ...things occurring in everyday life that turn your world upside down and ends life as you know it.  unfortunately, for some, this may mean major loss and, for others, it could be minor.  nevertheless it all equals learning hard life lessons and it may force you to view life in a new way.  

 change is constant and inevitable and we may not always like the change that happens in our lives.  usually, the hardest changes are the ones we have no control over - unlike changing our diet or doing more exercise.  despite the chaos that change may bring, it can be a beautiful thing and it all depends on how we look at it.  caterpillars have to experience metamorphosis to become a butterfly.  well, since caterpillars can't speak to us, we have no idea if this process is painful or not.  regardless of the process though, they all become butterflies, complete with different colors and patterns depending on what they have been through.  i am learning to alter the way i view change and instead see it more like transformation.  the lessons and challenges that life brings will help my soul earn the stripes, colors and patterns it needs to get stronger, better so that i can become like a butterfly, flying free.  though it may be hard now, i am comforted to know that i will be a butterfly.

change has been on my mind lately, as you can tell from my recent posts.  this goes out to whoever is having a rough time due to the stresses and changes that life brings.  from one transforming soul to another - i get it.  xo Sesheta

Ask the PFMs: Making a Change - Step #2

now that you have established your goal (see step #1 here), the easiest thing you can do to start incorporating healthy eating is to think green.  this is Step #2.  adding more green foods (especially raw - like in salads) to your diet can help to literally bring more life into your lifestyle.  it is also the simplest way to make a change that won't leave you feeling like you are missing something, especially if the thought of eliminating foods makes you cringe and has kept you from making changes.  here are some quick ways of getting your daily dose of green foods:

1. adding a salad to every dinner - you can find salad fixings all cut-up or pre-washed in your local market, like the salads from Earthbound Farm Organics, for an easy way to throw together a yummy salad.  add your favorite dressing (we love Annie's Goddess dressing) and you are on your way! (hint - if you are trying to lose weight, eat salad first so there's less room for other stuff.)
2. veggie snacks - stick some broccoli, cucumbers or snap peas in a baggie with a side of some dressing as your dip (Goddess dressing is perfect for dipping!!). now your veggies are ready for on-the-go snacking.  
3. green food powder supplements - so you still aren't ready to eat more veggies.  start acclimating your taste-buds by mixing green food powder supplements such as Green Vibrance into a morning smoothie.  loaded with such super foods as spirulina and chlorella, this ensures you will get a dose of green energy without much effort.

as you start to get used to having more green foods in your everyday diet, you can slowly start to increase the amount of veggies (and fruits) and then begin to decrease what you are trying to eliminate.  for example, if you are trying to eliminate carbs, using salad as your "rice" to accompany protein and veggies is a stress-free way to jump start weight loss.  

questions?  remember to shoot us an email at any time if you have specific questions or need us to clarify anything you've seen here.  xo Sesheta

Ask the PFMs: Making a Change - Step #1

Photo Credits

there must be something in the air - maybe the cooler weather and shorter days - that serves as a sign to our bodies that change is in order.  i know i have been feeling the change in the air and it may be what my friend was feeling when he decided to "Ask the PFMs" for  assistance in changing up his diet.  though he isn't necessarily trying to become vegetarian or vegan, he was looking for ways to eat healthier.  he mentioned that he had started working out again and that this was part of an ultimate plan to generally be healthier.  it was also inspired by him often feeling tired.  does this sounds like you?  are you looking to make a change for the better?  well, i decided to share some of the tips that i told my friend with you, in case you have been wanting to do something but haven't figured out where to start.  

Today is step #1 and the tip for today is:

what is your goal? 

this may seem like a simple question but if you really start thinking about it more, you will see that it can really make or break your success.  take the time to examine what your purpose is for making a change.  have you been considering transitioning to vegetarian or vegan and decided this is the time?  are you just looking to lose some unwanted weight or simply would like to detox?  or maybe, like my friend, you are looking to incorporate some healthier choices into your everyday.  setting the intention for what you are trying to achieve is an important part of feeling and seeing a difference.  i challenge you to ponder this question and then write your goal down.  putting it down on paper will also make it more real for you and express your intention to the universe.  post your goal near your mirror or set a reminder with it on your phone so that you can renew your purpose to fulfill your goal every day.  once you have completed this step, you'll be ready for step #2 (coming soon). 

keep a look out for these Making a Change posts to continue gathering some easy first steps to making changes to your diet and your lifestyle. xo Sesheta

Spiritual PFM: Iyanla Fix My Life - Evelyn Lozada

i'm not sure if you took the time to watch the premiere episodes of Iyanla Vanzant's new OWN show Iyanla Fix My Life, but i did and i have to give props to both Iyanla and Evelyn Lozada, best known as a "Thug" on VH1's Basketball Wives series.  Evelyn did something extremely courageous - she not only stated to the universe that she no longer wanted to be the woman notorious for starting fights, but she did so publicly.  as she shared more about her troubled childhood and where she came from, it was easy to see that her story is the story of many young women; the only difference is, she lives her story in front of the camera for all to see her mistakes and bad decisions. i applaud her for stepping up and realizing she was doing a disservice to herself and to women and young girls everywhere.  i also want to applaud Iyanla for her powerful tough love approach that forced Evelyn to face the truth of what she herself had created in her life.  i got chills many times as i listened to Iyanla drop truth on Evelyn,  saying things like changing her life was going to "cost her" and that you can't be afraid to give up everything in order to live your truth.  i really appreciated Iyanla's closing words (see them here); it was the perfect summation for a powerful show.  she was absolutely right that i experienced a healing just watching Evelyn's process.  Iyanla encouraged us to take the time to examine where in our own lives we have accepted situations even though our instincts tell us we shouldn't.  though Evelyn appears to have "lost it all" in order to live the new life she wants for herself, she has really just cleared room for the true blessings that are waiting for her.  i wish her all the best in staying true to her new found sense of freedom and i look forward to watching the powerhouse that is Iyanla Vanzant do her thing in episodes to come. 

i encourage you to follow the links and share in Evelyn's healing too.  xo Sesheta

PFM Confessional: sesheta says, "WTF?"

photo courtesy of The Encyclopedia of Science

i don't know about you but, lately it seems like i've been sayin, "wtf" quite often.  maybe it's the lack of enough money to handle all my responsibilities, or the pressure of having three children (and keeping up with everything that entails).  maybe it's that i just turned 35 and the stress of not having achieved all i desire is catching up with me or all the above... who knows.  these are the times that many turn to their guilty pleasures, some turn to religion and others just lay on their couch lol.

the only thing that has kept me going is the fact that when i share with girlfriends, they all seem to be feeling the same way - about something or the other.  that's when i start to say it must be in the stars.  i love reading my horoscope for some tidbit of inspiration for the day.  though i don't do it daily, it can be especially helpful at times like these when it seems like nothing will turn out right.  don't get me wrong, i know that life could be a lot worse, but isn't it all relative?  anyways, just in case you are feeling the same way, i thought you might like to read about the planetary alignments for October.  it just might offer insight into the craziness of life.  it sure does help to know that it isn't just me.