My actual job title is "Stress Management Specialist".  My credentials are Yoga Therapist C-IAYT.  I teach people who are ill or have been very ill to manage stress. You know why? Because the mind controls everything. Your nervous system, the brain, spinal column, and nerves are connected to every organ in your body. If you are stressed out your heart rate rises, your gut slows down, your pancreas reacts, your respiration increases to a fast rate, your blood pressure rises and long term this can cause serious health issues. The problem is many of us stay in this state on a regular basis from every day worries and concerns. If you are predisposed to disease then you are likely to get it if you stay stressed. If you live a life of eating bad and not caring for yourself on top of stress...well things are grim. 

How in the heck does this impact frugality, financial independence or simplicity? 
When one "thinks" or "visualizes" the life one wants to have rather than living on auto pilot then that person is likely to live a life more in tune with their values. It's a known statistic that when people get out of debt they often lose weight and get healthier. When people retire earlier they often get healthier because that is often one of the reasons people want to retire earlier, so they can spend more time on their health and well being. 

My job includes five facets of practice. Visualization, Postures, Breathing Exercises, Progressive Relaxation, and Meditation. All of these promote health, however they also slow the mind down enough to help the individual stop and think "Where am I today?", "Is this the life I want?", "What do I need to do to make my life better?". I am not going to go into the details or the weeds on how I teach this because there is a ton of info on this out there, you can check out my YouTube or other website where I will share this post for the "How". Simply start with asking these questions to yourself and giving it some thought and jotting down some ideas. 

How to improve your life with some visualization techniques:

1. Decide what kind of financial future you want. Spend some time day dreaming about it and write down your ideas. For instance "Where do I want to be in 10 years?". Now write down at least three or more steps to get there. Identify one action step to take this week and see yourself doing it. Put it on your calendar.

2. Think of the relationships you want to have in your life. Visualize what you want them to look like. How do they look now? What can "you" do to change it or manifest it? If you want a partner but don't have one and none in sight simply visualize and write down the qualities you would like in a partner and visualize what that would look like, focus on shared values not necessarily physical qualities as you might then overlook someone. If you had told me I would marry someone 12 years older who was  a Cowboy and a Martial Arts Master...yeah I probably would have laughed. I wouldn't trade him for the world though.  Keep a list and get out there and do things you like to do and be active in your community. I've never done a dating app but some people have had success there, remember though that you should only meet people in public places and be careful. Otherwise be open when people suggest fixing you up with someone or get out of the house and do things you like to do. Get in some groups that interest you. 

3. Think of how you want your health to be. Some physical but overall health. What does that take? Visualize it in detail. Now right down some of those ideas and write down a realistic and easy goal and put down one thing you can do this week to take action. For instance I  want to lose a dress size. I will exercise 3 times this week for twenty minutes. Then put it on your calendar. Visualize yourself doing this and plan when and where it will happen. Get your exercise clothes out and prepare. 

You can apply this technique to anything. Specifically if you have an illness, for instance I have two tumors in my neck that appear to be benign but I have to watch them. I visualize them going away, disappearing as sunshine comes down through my head cleansing them away. Fanciful visualization if great. I also study about how to get rid of them and so I have made lifestyle changes slowly to help my body heal. I think, I visualize, I write it down, then I take an actionable step slowly, then repeat. 

Hope this has been helpful. Yoga means to Yoke, to bind the body and the mind. EVERYTHING IS YOGA.

Love,
​C

 My current opinion on this throw back 12 years ago when my kids where 14, 12, 11,& 10.

This doesn't seem like quite a lot of food but I remember always making homemade goodies for my kids and they would trade for packaged foods. Cole was known to sell his lunch. Now when I see their friends they tell stories of the great peanut butter balls they would trade their packaged granola bars for. Despite our early food struggles I am happy to report my kids are all concerned about eating healthy and two of them cook quite a bit. No one is really picky anymore either. Looking back as a mom of a now 26, 23, 22, and 22 year old here is my advice to you moms out there, relax, do your best, they won't starve and they won't die if they trade or sell your homemade lunch for processed crap. And teach those kids to pack their own dang lunchbox! 


Snacks and lunch box options for the frugal. Weekends can be tough around here with four kids. Mondays are always welcome. The house looks like a tornado came through but it is quite now after the storm. 
Weekday mornings make me wish my kids ate school lunches. I understand the desire to buy overpriced juice boxes and Lunchables. Packing lunches is time consuming and difficult on those of us who aren't morning people. My kids are picky. I am always looking for new and easy ideas for lunch boxes. 
Today's lunch bag.
Nutty Bar: On sale so I made an exception
Juicy Juice box : These are an example of my falling off the wagon.
Homemade Peanut Honey balls
Orange Slices
Refillable bottle of water.

Today's frugal tips (also environmentally friendly) include a lunch box, snack recipe.

1. Peanut Honey Balls:
1/2 C. Honey
1 C.Peanut Butter
1 C. Dried Milk
1/2 to 1 C.Oatmeal (Quick or slow cooking) 

Options:
You may add chocolate chips 
Roll in dried coconut or sunflower seeds.

Mix first four ingredients add chocolate or carob chips if using. Using wax paper or a plate roll in coconut or sunflower seeds if you choose.
We like them frozen served with milk.

2. Avoid individually packaged anything as often as possible. I cave occasionally but for the most part buy very little processed food. Use plastic ware or yogurt containers to pack food. Throw in a cloth napkin.

3. Ideas for lunch boxes:
Homemade cookies or muffins
Sliced fresh or canned fruit
Sandwiches that won't spoil try using bagels, tortillas, and crackers
Pretzels, popcorn, rice or popcorn cakes
Raw veggies
Homemade pudding, jello or yogurt 
Cheese
Homemade bread or bread sticks, fruit and/or nut breads
Milk, juice or water in a reusable bottle