Sheer Goddess Skin Care

Silent Retreats; Can You Do It?

You may wonder, “Why would I want to do a silent retreat?”. Silence forces us to look at ourselves a little more closely. Being silent for a day allows us to keep our thoughts to ourselves, discover our emotional triggers, and realize our own insecurities. Plus it’s also a great test in self-discipline.

Below are five simple steps on how to successfully have a 24 hour silent retreat:

1. Choose the day you want to have your retreat. Planning ahead will make it easier to have a successful silent retreat. A day off or a weekend day would work well.
2. Post out on Facebook and Twitter and alert your friends and family that you will be unavailable to talk on your silent retreat day.
3. Set up some guidelines for the day. These may include not using Facebook, Twitter, your cellular phone, or even watching TV.
4. Consider how you’ll spend the time during your silent retreat. Will you do yoga or meditation? Will you journal to get your thoughts in order? Will you venture out or stay in your home? Thinking and planning ahead will help this part of the experience go smoothly.
5. Reflect on your experience. What did you learn about yourself while you were in your silent retreat? What did you find challenging and what surprised you? Use your last hour of your day to look back on your experience and reflect.

It’s definitely a challenge to remain silent for an entire 24 hour period. However, the unexpected insights you can gain are invaluable.

Dedi   : )
www.sheergoddess.com

Refreshing Summer Smoothies

Becuase summer workouts can take a lot of extra energy, it's nice to be able to recharge with a refreshing smoothie.

Fruit smoothie recipes are easy to make and allow you to use a variety of fruits including strawberries, bananas, raspberries, and even watermelon.

Here's How to Make Them:

• 1/2 cup of milk or yoghurt
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• A pinch of sugar (if needed)
• A couple tablespoons (or more) of ice (if desired)
• Fruit of your choice: feel free to mix and match. Strawberries and bananas make a great combination; so do cherries and kiwi.
• You can also add chocolate, peanut butter, or even flavored syrups to give your smoothie a bit of a kick.

Add all the ingredients to your blender; mix, pour, and enjoy!

Dedi  : )
www.sheergoddess.com

The Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables

Everyone knows that fruits and veggies are a great source of vitamins and minerals. But did you know that some fruits and vegetable are better sources of vitamins than others? Thanks to some great information from the CDC, below is a detailed list outlining which fruits and vegetables will give you that vitamin that you are looking for:

Fiber: Diets rich in dietary fiber have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects including decreased risk of coronary artery disease.

• Excellent vegetable sources:
  navy beans, kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, lima beans, white beans, soybeans, split peas, chick peas, black eyed peas, lentils, artichokes

Folate: Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman's risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect.

• Excellent vegetable sources:
  black eyed peas, cooked spinach, great northern beans, asparagus

Potassium: Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

• Good fruit and vegetable sources:
  sweet potatoes, tomato paste, tomato puree, beet greens, white potatoes, white beans, lima beans, cooked greens, carrot juice, prune juice

Vitamin A: Vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps to protect against infections.

• Excellent fruit and vegetable sources:
  sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, collard greens, winter squash, cantaloupe, red peppers, Chinese cabbage

Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and keep teeth and gums healthy.

• Excellent fruit and vegetable sources:
  red and green peppers, kiwi, strawberries, sweet potatoes, kale, cantaloupe, broccoli, pineapple, Brussels sprouts, oranges, mangoes, tomato juice, cauliflower

Dedi
www.sheergoddess.com