SLOW....DOWN....

Slow down 
Man in the mirror slow down
You're running too fast to see what life's all about 
This world ain't a fire for you to put out
The best times are here and now 
Slow down

~Kenny Chesney

This past Saturday, my husband and I had an easy morning and then took the day slowly.

That is basically where our life is at right now... slowed down, and I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT!

This is a health blog, so if you are here, you are probably look for some info on how to be healthy, right?
Well, here it is:
SLOW DOWN

That's it. Just slow down! I can not tell you how important this is to us right now.

Throughout my life, I have been thinking about the next step, and while it is not a bad idea to plan for your future, the past has taught me that often times, the future doesn't usually turn out how you planned it would anyway.

So what does that mean? Well, for me, it means that I need to stop thinking about what I want to do next and enjoy where I am at right now, because I have noticed that when I think back on my life, I never really too the opportunity to enjoy the phase that I was in. I was always pushing for bigger and better, but that trained me in such a way that when bigger and better came to me, I didn't take the time to savor my success. I was instantly ready for the next bigger, better thing and that made me a really unhappy person. 

I was going WAY TOO FAST to really enjoy what life is all about. 

I may not have reached the best part of my life yet, but I have had some pretty great times. My only regret is that I didn't take the time to enjoy them to the fullest while they lasted. 

I am only 23 years old, though, and there is time to change. I am counting my blessings that Andrew and I have the jobs that we do. We knew what we wanted in life, and we have created a space for ourselves where we can choose how fast or slow our days go by. I know that is not a blessing that a lot of people have, especially when you are working for an employer and have to bend to their rules and expectations, but it doesn't mean you can't control other aspects of your life.

 Think about when you are in the car driving to or from work. Look at how rude people can be and how hurried everyone seems. I challenge you to create time for yourself to slow down and enjoy some quiet time to yourself. Turn off the radio and just enjoy the view you have. When you get home, don't turn on the TV. It is a time killer! Seriously! So many lives are wasted away in front of the TV.

If you want to enjoy life, spend the time you would normally spend in front of the boob-tube working on some type of hobby you enjoy, or playing with your family/friends.

I guarantee you will start to forget about TV and realize that you aren't missing anything by turning it off! 

Just slow down and soak in the beauty of life that is all around you!

Don't rush through your life. It is not healthy. It causes stress and fatigue, and death bed regrets. No one ever says on their death bed, "I wish I'd hurried more." or "I wish I could have worked more hours." or "My life was too long, I am just ready to get through this next phase."

So back to our Saturday, Andrew and I were talking about how nice it was to drive through town with no where to be at any particular time. We ran some errands at our leisure then checked out a new part of town. I learned somethings about my husband that I didn't know before, but most of all, I just enjoyed feeling alive, and happy. It was a great day, and we decided that we were going to work on creating that slow feeling for everyday. 

Slow down.

This life's not a fire you need to put out.

The best times are here and now.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I can hear some kiddos and my husband laughing down the hallway... I'm going to go spend some time with them!
Enjoy your life!

Drew and I taking some time to enjoy our lives together in St. George in January. I am so grateful for those memories!

Velv... I mean, "LIFEeeta" Cheese!

Football playoffs are upon us, and I am excited to watch the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks. 

With the Bowl comes some of my favorite treats, like dips, pizza, (boneless)wings, and more!

Have you ever tried Rotel Cheese Dip?

I could eat that ALL DAY LONG and be perfectly happy, but considering that I don't want all the hard work I have been doing to go down the drain in one day of vegging out on goodies, (the Holiday's were bad enough, but we aren't even going to talk about that, OK? hehe) I have been playing with recipes looking for ways that I can fortify the recipes I already love to make them fit more easily into a healthy lifestyle!

Thus, "Lifeeta Cheese" was born!

I made this a few nights ago and it was great with broccoli and boiled 'new potatoes'

I wouldn't recommend eating this often. While it is way healthier than the original soft-yellow-loaf that you buy at the store, it is still pretty high in calories. 

Recipe:

2 cups milk (I used whole because that's what we drink)

2 tbs cornstarch

Dash of salt

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (can add more to taste, we thought this was fine).

Directions:

Add milk to cold saucepan. Add cornstarch, and whisk. While whisking, turn up heat to med-high, closer to high, but watch closely. You do not want the milk to boil, and you don't want the starch sticking to the bottom of the pan. 

As milk heats, continue stirring. It should start bubbling. At this point, you can add the salt and half of the cheese, keeping it on the heat. It should start thickening quite rapidly. As it does this, add remaining cheese and continue stirring until melted. 

Viola! Isn't that easier than walking clear to the back of the store to find this stuff? hehe... I always seem to have to search for it, but now I have it in all the ingredients in my pantry, and I can eat it with less guilt!

This makes about 3/4 of the amount you would get with a store-bought loaf. We haven't tried to store it, but if you aren't going to use it right away, it should be fine to put plastic wrap or tin foil in a bread pan, poor the mixture in and refrigerate until hardened. It should keep for about two weeks like this.

Happy Super Bowling! May the best team win!

www.facebook.com/teamfindyourbestlife

www.beachbodycoach.com/cheltzey

New Year, New Start!

I live in the center of the Rocky Mountain range, and when we drive, it seems like you are just 'waiting to get over that one mountain' but as soon as you crest over the top of it, you see how many more mountains you have to cross or travel around before you will make it to your destination! Life is very similar to this metaphor. When you think you have made it, you realize you actually have quite a ways left to go! This rings especially true with health and fitness, so even though I reached the goal that I had set in August, I am excited to continue my journey, and will be starting Les Mills Body Combat on Monday, January 13th, 2014.

I will be tracking my progress daily, and sharing tips and tricks, and more to help motivate YOU in your personal journey!

So to begin, I am posting my before photos today. These were taken this morning, January 10, 2014. I will also be sharing my current weight and measurements in my post tomorrow!

Wish me luck! If you'd like to join me in a 60 day weight-loss challenge, I have one starting on January 20th! Comment below, or visit www.facebook.com/teamfindyourbestlife for more information!