I make a lot of recipes with chicken. Baked chicken, boiled and shredded chicken, or grilled chicken. It’s nice to have chicken on hand and available to snack on, add to salads, sandwiches, and recipes, without the extra time of cooking it when you’re ready to eat.
That’s why I always cook a batch of chicken weekly and store it in the freezer until I’m ready to use it. I will either boil as many breasts as I can fit into a pot, seasoned with pepper, parsley, oregano, and turmeric or I will bake it. My husband also likes to grill chicken, but it’s so good, that doesn’t usually make it to the freezer!
So, this weeks What are we making Monday is all about baking and freezing chicken! Trust me, this will be a life saver! For those easy-to-make meals when you’re busy, tired, and only have time to just throw something together. Luckily, this makes it easier to eat a little healthier, rather than going for something quick and easy….and well…probably not as good for you.
Baked Chicken
Bake a batch of chicken and store in the fridge or freezer for a quick add in to any meal. Salads, sandwiches, quesadillas, pasta dishes, tacos, burritos, the options are endless and cuts down the cooking time, when you are just ready to eat NOW!
4-5chicken breastswhatever you can fit in a baking pan
3/4Cupchicken broth or bone broth
Black pepper
parsley
oregano
turmeric
Instructions
lay breasts in baking dish and pour over chicken broth. You want about a 1/4 to 1/2 inches of liquid on bottom of pan. This will help chicken come out super moist and delicious!
season moderately with spices. Use any that you love. I like these, but feel free to be creative with your own personal taste. You could add basil, garlic, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, etc. etc.
Bake at 375 for 30 min. to an hour, depending on size of breasts and if they are fresh or frozen. Follow package directions and bake until internal temperature is 165. Don't overcook! Chicken these days seems to get pretty tough and chewy if over done.
Remove from oven and let cool. Slice chicken into strips and separate into freezer safe containers or ziploc bags, according to the amount you will eat for one meal, or within 3 days.
This weeks golden child of What Are We Making Monday is Layered Taco Salad! All the greatness of Taco Salad but in casserole form. What’s also great about this, is that you can make it the day before. A great option for company, potlucks, or special occasions.
Layered Taco Salad
All the goodness of Taco Salad in a casserole. Great fo company, parties, potlucks and special occasions.
1Can favorite beans rinsed and drained wellI used refried, but black, pinto, and kidney beans will also be great
1/2Cansweet corn, drained
1/2Cup green onions, choppedRed onion is equally good
8ozof your favorite salsa
8ozshredded cheesesharp chedder, monterey, colby, mexican blend are all good opions
1Can black olivesdrained
2jalepeno pepperssliced
1large tomato, or about a cup of cherry tomatoessliced
tortilla chips for toppingcrushed
Instructions
Cook the ground beef, turkey or chicken then add in green chilies and taco seasoning and let simmer for about 10 minutes
place in refrigerator to allow to cool completely
If using refried beans spread them along the bottom of a 9X13 pan. If using other beans, layer the meat along the bottom of pan
Top with a double layer of iceberg lettuce, half the head, then 1/2 Cup Of ranch dressing, smoothing out, then beans, corn, 1/4 C. onion, and another double layer of lettuce. Press down firmly. Add the other 1/2 Cup Ranch dressing, salsa, cheese, olives, jalepenos, tomato, and rest of onion.
Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours. Although I ate immediately, depending on your purpose for this meal.
Slice into pieces, crunching tortilla chips over the top
Notes
Homemade ranch dressing link hereAnother version:3/4 Cup Mayo1/4 Cup Sour Cream3-6 Tblsp. dry buttermilk ranch dressing mix.Add gradually, according to taste and mix well.
This weeks What Are We Making Monday delight, is BBQ Chicken Salad. The flavors of this salad come together igniting all your taste buds! A little salt, a little sweet, a little tangy, a little savory…it’s a party in your mouth!!
I am an Emotion, Body, and Belief Code Practitioner. (Energy healing Practitioner).
Why do I do what I do?
Well, because…I have had many struggles in my life. Depression, debilitating anxiety, sexual abuse, health issues, food sensitivities, Diabetes, thyroid issues, digestive disorders…(so much so, that I was on a diet of chicken broth, rice and chicken for 3 years!!)
I always felt like I was looking at my life from the outside. Never connected. Always wondering why I didn’t fit in. Why did I struggle? Why is everything so hard? What was wrong with me? Every day, a symptom, an ailment, a battle, a struggle.
Doctors were of no help to me, so very early on I realized I was on my own. I was always drawn to the more holistic, natural and energetic way of doing things. Without the side effects. Trying to address the root cause of things. Somehow knowing there is more to this than can be analyzed by an M.D. in a 10-minute appointment. There are layers of stuff going on here.
When I became aware that emotions are 93% of the cause of health issues, I realized that this was a no brainer. I always felt like I was caught up in a tornado of emotions. Not knowing what they were, what they meant, or what the hell to do with them. They were a jumbled mess, comparable to the big ball of entangled Christmas lights. You just don’t know where to begin.
So, I played with and experimented with the Emotion Code. Releasing emotion after emotion, probably over 400! I also released all the emotions creating my heart wall. Honestly, I didn’t feel much at first. I would get the immediate relief, which was awesome but there was still always something else.
That’s the thing about this work. It can be profound and immediate, or very subtle. But then I looked back and saw how much my life had changed that next year. I got married, which I swore I would never do…again. I always thought the only way for me to survive was to be on my own. But somehow, I attracted to me the man of my dreams. Actually he was better than my dreams. The old me didn’t know my worth, didn’t know that I deserved to be loved and cherished and treated well. We then bought a house… I travelled overnight for the first time in 15Â years… (part of my anxiety). My digestive issues improved. Little by little, the variety of foods I could eat expanded, and now I can eat pretty much whatever I want. Holy crap! How did all of that happen?!?
Then my mom got sick, and the certification for the Emotion Code and Body Code came into my email box. A sign? Maybe. But I took it. It wasn’t about me anymore. I needed to do whatever I could to help her. I got certified and worked on her remotely, while she was in the hospital and during recovery. Releasing layers and layers of emotional gunk and trauma. Along with her medical team and this work, she is doing tremendously well, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Since then, the stories and reports back to me of the things I’ve done and lives I’ve changed because of this, is truly amazing! To be a part of such healing work is humbling and beautiful.
We develop conclusions and a belief about the world and the people in it, very early in life.
By the age of 8, we have formed ideas and beliefs about what we believe, what we’ve been told, what’s been shown to us and how we think we need to be, in order to thrive or survive.
As children, we absorbed and accepted what was happening around us, what was being said around, or to us, and what was modeled for us. We then make assumptions based on our experiences. We conclude that, “this happened, therefore, this must be true.” This creates our beliefs.
Whether it is true or not, it is true for us. The only thing that mattered to us and our subconscious mind is that we survive, that we are safe.
Although these beliefs may have served their purpose and have kept us safe, they are also the things that are holding us back now. Now, we’re afraid to do that thing, afraid to take that risk, unsure of our capabilities, and stuck in a rut.
You may have anxiety, PTSD, or feel depressed. You may feel limited on what you can do with your life.
You may never be able to get ahead, because you learned that there was never enough, there is lack in this world.
You may be overweight and can’t lose it no matter how hard you try, so you give up. Just because you always had to finish your plate, or “there are starving children everywhere.” Sometimes weight is a protection against abuse, not wanting/or feeling good enough to be ‘seen.’ The list could go on and on.
There are several different ways our beliefs can show up to sabotage our life, most of the time without us even knowing about it. We just accept it. “That’s just the way it is, that’s just the way I am. “
I’m here to tell you, that isn’t the way it has to be. We can release the beliefs you’ve formed, or were formed for you, consciously or unconsciously. Once we release them, it feels like you are able to see things better than you ever could. You see things differently, you open up to doing things differently, and a whole new world opens up to you. How great is that?
Our subconscious mind is pretty impressive…
If you think about it, not only does it automatically digest our food, make us breathe, beat our heart, it records every aspect of our life! Our beautiful subconscious mind is filtering and storing data, making sure we are safe, and everything runs smoothly.
However, it does have a few flaws; it only thinks literally, it lives off habit and repetition, and it cannot differentiate between real and imaginary.
Its purpose is for our survival. It’s constantly looking for threats or triggers. At any time of our life, that may have felt overwhelming, traumatic, scary, or just had a high intensity emotion around it, it recorded every moment and association to it, to be able to protect you and avoid further distress in the future. Even if it is faulty or distorted information.
Whatever we plant in our Subconscious Mind and nourish with repetition and emotion, will one day become our reality. ~~Earl Nightingale
Our subconscious mind is a mind map, a processing database. It connects so many things to one moment. It records what you were smelling, eating, seeing, who you were with, where you were, and what you were feeling, etc. etc.
Even the act of remembering an event, triggers the same neuropathways as when the event actually happened. The subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference! It’s like we relive these moments over and over again at the same velocity. The warning light goes on... Alert! Danger!! You’re not safe!!! We’ve been here before, we need to survive, Abort!! It’s telling us to learn from the past and not repeat any part of that experience.
In some ways that is good. Especially if you need to run away from a real threat, or not repeat a pattern that is harmful to you. Most of the time it is not good, because you stay small and afraid. You limit yourself, stay too safe, and don’t experience your full potential. Maybe you’re always stressed. Maybe you have symptoms in your body that don’t make sense. You might even react to a smell or food in a negative way and don’t know why.
A Few Examples…
Let’s say when you were 3 years old, you were playing outside with a red ball, and a big gust of wind came up. Your ball blew away, and the swing set started clanking. The metal chains hitting against the metal bars made this horrible eerie sound, you got dust in your eyes, and you were scared and sad.
From that one event, now at age 30, you get triggered by a red ball, maybe you get agitated when it’s windy. Maybe the sound of bells or certain creaks or metal clanking together, like windchimes, are like fingernails on a chalkboard to you. Maybe you have allergies now, especially to dust. Maybe you are always anxious and don’t understand why. Your subconscious mind collected all of those things as a threat, or an experience that you need to avoid.
So your assumptions and triggers (from and about that event) going forward, might be: A red ball. Dust. Wind. Sounds.>>afraid>>fear>>unsafe>>anxiety>>allergies>>hyper-sensitive>>sounds
Or…maybe when you were 10, you were eating dinner, your parents were fighting about money and bills and putting food on the table. You’re uncomfortable, don’t want to eat, and just want to get away from the table. Your dad tells you to finish your dinner, “don’t you know how many children are starving?” Or “do you know hard I have to work to give you that food?” So now there is shame and guilt and blame….
Your triggers could now be>> arguments>>being non-confrontational>>afraid to speak your mind>>Food>>overeating>>weight gain>>money>>lack>>there is never enough.
There’s a whole slew of assumptions you can create off that one event.
So now let’s say you are 16. You have to give a speech in class. You get up there and you freeze. When you do start talking, your words come out wrong and everyone laughs at you. Maybe someone even called you stupid. You’re mortified. Maybe your teacher tells you to come more prepared next time. It’s heartbreaking because you spent so much time preparing and working on this project.
So assumptions and triggers might be: Fear of public speaking>>stage fright>>avoiding job/careers that you want>>feeling not good enough>>I’m dumb>>no matter how hard I try, it doesn’t matter or won’t make a difference>>why try?>>fear of judgements>>insecure.
So you can see how certain experiences, opinions of others, judgements, and assumptions can change the way we see the world, experience the world, and the direction we take. These are just a few examples. There are so many things we experience throughout our lives.
Some things may be Big Traumas, but so many times, we experience small events, moments even, that don’t seem like that big a deal. Our parents, family, teachers, or friends say or do something, most likely unintentional, but it affects us, more than we realize. It can certainly affect the way we see ourselves and our abilities.
Just Imagine…
The great news is, we CAN change our beliefs. We CAN identify the layers of our belief systems and release them. I can help you do that. You don’t need to know what your beliefs are, leave that to me.
You probably know of a few areas where you’re stuck, can’t get past (over) something or forgive something or someone, or you can’t seem to reach a goal. These are just a few ways that tell us we have some limiting, outdated beliefs that are no longer serving us. That’s where we start.
Just imagine with me for a moment what it would feel like to live a life where you are limitless, free, unhindered, unburdened and allowed to live the life you were meant to live!!! Dare to dream. Dare to accept. Allow, and give yourself that freedom. You deserve it!! Even if a part of you doesn’t think you do, you do, and I can help you realize that.
I was thrilled when MysticMag reached out and wanted to do an interview with me.
MysticMag is an online publication that offers insightful articles on metaphysical services, holistic health and wellness, and spiritual guidance.
It’s always so much fun when you can collaborate with like-minded people, to learn and grow from each other. I don’t know why, but I am always surprised when I get asked questions from a different point of view. I am in love with what I do, but when I dig into the roots of this work, it ignites the passion of what I do all over again!!
I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to share my passion with others.
I hope you find this just as insightful and inspiring!
My hope is that you can see what is possible!
That it gives you motivation, to take that leap, to find your path, to open up to a new perspective, and to live your best life!
We give way too much credit to what other people think of us. Waaay too much power. Fact is, not everyone is going to “get” you. Not everyone is going to ‘see’ you the way you want them to. And that’s ok. They don’t have to. What matters the most, is how you see you. Do you know who you are? Do you believe in that person? If the answer is no, why not? When things don’t go right, do you abandon yourself? Do you put yourself down? What are the things you’re telling yourself? Can you trust that no matter what, you have your own back? If you don’t stand up for you, why do you expect someone else to? Why do you think they can give you more than you can? These are all very good questions to ask yourself. Check in with yourself. Remind yourself that you are the most important person in your life. One of my favorite lines from the movie “The Holiday” is, “You are the leading lady of your own life, but for some reason you are acting like the best friend.” If there was a movie about your life, would you be the lead character or would you be playing second best? Think about that. It seems like a no brainer, but for some reason, a lot of us dim our light and give our power to someone else. Just know, if someone can’t see your worth, they are not worth your time. If you can’t see your own worth, you are doing a huge disservice to yourself, and the world. You are unique and special, and you bring something that no one else can. YOU!! You are worthy.
In love and light and knowing your worth. Watch the video!
Maybe you set some resolutions or intentions this year, maybe you didn’t.
Maybe you worked really hard for a day and a half and then forgot, lost interest, stopped, got discouraged, or it was too hard.
Maybe you figured what’s the point from the get-go.
Maybe you don’t know what you really want.
What if I told you, maybe none of that is your fault?
Weekly Focus- Blocks and programming that keep you stuck.
There are probably areas of your childhood (most of our programming and beliefs are created by the age of 8) that are affecting you to this day.
Things that you wouldn’t even realize still bother you.
These things still affect how you live and even the decisions you make on a daily basis.
You made conclusions about how life works. What you’re worthy of. Conclusions about what’s possible and what is not. You observed behaviors that were modeled to you. Words that were spoken, which formed the belief about who you are.
All of these are things that could be keeping you stuck.
Do any of these sound like you?
You have trouble finding clarity around what it is you want.
You self-sabotage when things are going well.
You have trouble setting goals and sticking with them or even starting them.
You seem to repeat the same patterns.
You’re stuck in your comfort zone.
You have trouble getting or staying motivated.
You procrastinate.
You don’t think things can or will ever be different.
How many of those made you cringe a little?
If you would like some help with any of these areas, the work that I do has profound ability to address the unconscious thoughts, programs, beliefs and patterns that are silently directing your life.
What would it feel like if you could let go of all of that?
Who would you be without that?
What would it hurt to try?
Wouldn’t you like to see what could be possible?
How it could feel to break free?
If you would like to release some blocks and/or mental programming that are standing in your way and help open you up to the possibilities in your life, don't hesitate to reach out! Comment on this post or send me an email at unfilteredsunshine2018@gmail.com or go to my website to learn more.
Depression has so many faces and so many stages and factors: hormones, cycles, life stages, grief, loss, seasonal affective disorder (SAD is a real thing. It involves science behind a season with more dark and less light, messing with our circadian rhythm, among other things) From the fleeting mood that lasts a few days to the deep, hopelessness that can go on for years.
It can be debilitating.
I get it.
I see you.
You are not alone.
You think you should just “get over it” but it’s not that easy, is it?
This darkness, the shadows lurking in the corner…you know you want to be better, you know you should do something to feel better.
But that’s just it, isn’t it? In this moment, you don’t really want to feel better…
Well of course you do…But the effort…eh!
You don’t want to put forth the effort it requires. You don’t want to pretend. For now, you want to wallow in your self-destructive pity.
No judgement… that’s how I feel when I’m in it. Everything in your head, and out your mouth is negative. You hear it, but you can’t stop it. Everything seems to be going wrong. Nothing is working and nothing makes sense.
You may put on a friendly smile but there is an emptiness in those eyes.
But sometimes, in that darkness, in the stillness, you get answers. You get clarity. Be patient and listen. You may see what is no longer working in your life anymore. Things that you may need to let go of that are no longer serving you. You may get inspiration for things you can change. Inspiration to do what you’ve always wanted to do. Things that wouldn’t have gotten your attention otherwise.
You may get nothing. Just meet with the darkness and sit with it awhile. Without judgement of it, or of yourself, and just be.
In this world, nothing is permanent, not even our struggles. Acceptance and openness are the first steps in lifting yourself up and creating change.
If you need to talk to someone, reach out. I know in my moments, that’s the last thing I wanted to do. But it does help. Write it out. Yell it out! Give your feelings a voice. They just want to be heard, like everyone else.
And when you feel the shift happening, go with it.
Dress up! Make yourself feel pretty (or handsome), even if it is from bedroom to couch. Do something kind to yourself or for someone else. Go for a walk. Do something creative. Journal. Read something inspirational. Give yourself a break. Give yourself credit. Write down 5 things you are good at, and then 5 more.
And if you want additional support, the work that I do has profound ability to address the areas that are keeping you stuck in the loop of despair and hopelessness. There are probably areas of your childhood (most of our programming and beliefs are created by the age of 8) that are affecting you to this day. Things that you wouldn’t even realize still bother you. Things that still affect how you live and even the decisions you make on a daily basis.
Things that could also be contributing to your depression.
What would it feel like if you could let go of all of that? Who would you be without that? What would it hurt to try?
Comment or email me if you would like to see what could be possible. How it would feel to break free!
Sometimes we need to understand the science behind things before we can believe them. So here is your science lesson for the day! We learned in school that everything is energy. Although I’m not sure I was paying attention that day, or any day really. Science was not my thing as a kid. Obviously now I find it fascinating and wish I had paid more attention back then. So am I totally about to geek out on you right now…
So anyway, everything is energy. That energy is vibrating at different frequencies, and that frequency is what makes it what it is. Some energy is invisible like electricity, X-rays, soundwaves, wind and heat. We can’t see it, but it’s very much there. We can feel it.
Our bodies are also energy in physical form. Our thoughts and emotions are in invisible form. All of which are vibrations of energy with their own frequency. Our health greatly depends on the quality of energy that flows through and makes up our bodies.
If we have trapped emotional energy and mental programming, then that is now contributing to our physical symptoms and imbalances. We have also unconsciously built heart walls around our hearts. (93% of us have!) Thankfully, they served as our protection at the time we needed them to and relied on, for our survival!! Now, those same things that protected us then, could be numbing us from happy feelings too. Feeling closed off, isolated and disconnected. By releasing these, we can realize that life is so much better when experienced with an open heart.
There is a lot of science around the brain and the heart: Connecting the heart rate variability, negative emotions, heart coherence, the nervous system and how it all associates with disease. Chronic issues can be an indication that the healing process is stuck in some way. When I work with you, I am looking for these imbalances responsible for stagnation. Once released, your body immediately begins the healing process and starts to heal again.
I do this through muscle testing, which is a form of kinesiology used by chiropractors and doctors since the 1940’s. Our bodies are naturally drawn to positivity and pull away from negativity. Or true versus false. Just like plants grow towards sunlight. We can detect these responses by testing the shift within the muscles.
We use muscle testing to access the subconscious mind. Which is 99% of our intelligence. It’s our own personal Google search. A truth detector. It knows everything about our inner workings. It knows what is wrong and what we need, to heal. It connects all the dots. We are giving the subconscious mind a voice, so it can speak and tell its story and what it really needs.
We are finally coming back to what Albert Einstein, Hippocrates, Sir Isaac Newton and Thomas Edison already knew and could see for the future of medicine. In fact, 50% of medical schools were alternative healing schools, prior to 1910.
My goal is to help balance the communication within the body, boost the immune system and release the emotional energy that blocks you from living life to the fullest, filled with love, joy and connection. We think that the struggle is normal, but actually, we ARE meant to live vibrant, healthy lives, free of struggle!!
Creating a clean slate… This is exactly what I have been doing over the past week. We ripped up the carpet and put in vinyl hardwood flooring. It was an extensive project and I hurt in places that I didn’t even know were there! But oh how rewarding it was!!
All the dirt and the dust and the muck that accumulates over the years! It felt good to clear that out and clean things up. Giving us a new, fresh, and more open space. Which got me thinking…
Sometimes a new perspective can really open your mind. Just like the dust bunnies that gather behind your TV stand, you can clear out old patterns, thoughts and habits. Anything that gets you stuck in the same old routine.
Removing those cobwebs may be all it takes to see things differently, to ignite new ideas, or passions, or a sense of hope and possibility.
It doesn’t have to be as extensive as re-doing your floors, it could be rearranging furniture in a room, adding a plant to an empty space, putting something inspirational or beautiful on a blank wall, or clearing off and organizing your desk, work space or a junk drawer.
In doing so, hopefully you take a deep breath and see a new light. The window that was stuck, now opens freely. The mirror that was streaked and cloudy, is now more clear than ever.
Now you can see what’s possible. Now you can see what you may need to change. Now there’s room to explore, stretch and expand. Now things are new and open. Now you are free.
In love and light and creating a clean slate!
I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.
Have you done this? Are you willing to try this?
Leave a comment and let’s talk. We could all use the support of community. Like minded souls to connect with, now more than ever. Let’s love, support, and uplift each other!
The year is coming to a close. This year brought us many things. It brought us confusion and fear. It brought us stress and anxiety. It brought uncertainty. It brought change. It also brought an opportunity. An opportunity to remember to take care of ourselves a little more. A chance to look at our lives and see what really matters. It allowed us to experiment and try new ways of doing things. Exploring other options, interests and hobbies. Maybe we can take these things, the lessons learned, the hardships endured, and the new sparks of insight and interests and create a year of possibility. Set our intentions for the New Year not just as resolutions to quit this, lose that, or try this, but as a new reality. Creating a life of our dreams, not just a list of things you write down and never look at again. But as a vision, a feeling.. See your life as you want it to be, feel how amazing it is. See what steps you can take, thoughts you can think (or change) to step into the life you love and deserve.
In love and light and setting intentions
I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.
Have you done this? Are you willing to try this?
Please leave a comment and tell me what your intentions are.
You can also find my video here on this discussion. We could all use the support of community. Like minded souls to connect with, now more than ever. Let’s love, support, and uplift each other!
We all hear about self care and the importance of it.
There may be some of you, that might not know what that really means.
Self care isn’t always about getting your hair or nails done, although that can be part of it. It’s not always about indulging in a piece of chocolate or glass of wine, but those things do have their place as well.
Self Care is also about going to bed early, creating healthy meals for the week, and giving yourself a moment to breathe. It’s about having that hard conversation, letting go of toxic relationships, and creating boundaries. Self care is about forgiving yourself when you don’t live up to your own impossible standards and expectations. It’s about loving yourself exactly how you are, no matter what, and knowing you are worthy.
Self care is about having a love affair with yourself, and doing the things that make your heart sing.
Self care isn’t always about the shopping spree and material things, it’s a means of survival and a necessity to thrive!!
In love and light and giving you and the world the best of you!
I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. What is your self care routine or rituals? How do you show up for you? Comment below. You will also find my video on this discussion here.
We could all use the support of community. Like minded souls to connect with, now more than ever. Let’s love, support, and uplift each other!
