More Tools To Help You Prevent Diabetes

 It is much easier to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes than to manage it. Did you know that Type 2 diabetes is genetically predisposed? Yes, if you have one or more family members that has diabetes, be careful! You can be active, be at a normal weight, and a healthy eater, BUT if your genetics say diabetes, you should be even more vigilant about your healthy lifestyle! Because my father has type 2 diabetes, I am very much aware that my chances of getting the disease are increased significantly. 
Pregnant women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes also have a greater risk of contracting Type II Diabetes when they are older. (For more facts, see my earlier post, here)

Not sure if you are at risk? Take this easy Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test! It will help you make wise choices to help you delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes!
If you know you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, eat as well as possible (avoid processed food!) and be active. Surround yourself with people who will support you and understand the changes you need to make. Healthy food tastes better than processed food, but it takes just a little more effort. Don’t feel like you have to explain or justify how you eat to people. Take back your life and know it's time to take control!

 There are plenty of success stories from people who have beat the odds and have come up winners in the fight against diabetes. If you are unsure about how to start, try this starter diabetic prevention kit, with free recipes, a free glucose tester, and free samples! Or subscribe to Diabetic Living Magazine (get it for free here).  If you're serious, start now!
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This site accepts product samples and/or compensation.Affiliate links may be used to support this site. Text and opinions are 100% my own and are not swayed by any sponsor affiliation.

Wasted Roller Blades + #MotivatingMonday Link-Up

Thanksgiving was a huge success! That is my assessment, overall, of the holiday that is filled with food, fun, family, and fraught with indulgences, inordinate weight gain and innocuous conversation (we hope so anyway). The turkey was moist, the mashed potatoes creamy (except for the crumbled bacon and herbs throughout), the punch bowl cake tasty and sweet, and the pies plentiful! It was so much fun to watch the guys play a friendly after-dinner game of Risk!

Of course, I could always go on about how we thawed a frozen 20-lb. turkey for 10 straight hours via the sink method, because we didn't get it until Tuesday from our supplier (my son), then determined that said turkey didn't have a giblets pack because we didn't see any sign of it. I told everyone within earshot that I felt that the turkey people had finally figured out that no one uses the giblets anymore and have dispensed with the disgusting practice of putting packaged pieces of the turkey inside the bird. How wrong that statement was I later found out, when I pulled the huge buttered bird out of the oven and started preparing to carve it. Lo and behold, the missing pack of giblets! Apparently we hadn't dug around deep enough to find what I now saw plain and clear. I quickly tossed the evidence in the trash and went on like nothing happened. I received accolades from our guests about how moist and flavorful the turkey was. I don't imagine myself going on a cooking show anytime soon, but if I do, I will do a full demonstration of how to cook a moist and tasty turkey using the giblet packet method! 

In other news, the Christmas shows are now in full swing and I have already got Home Alone 1 and Home Alone 2 under my belt! Bless you Macaulay Culkin, there will always be a place in heaven for you because of those movies! For me, those movies are as much a part of Christmas as stockings over the fireplace! 

This year I loved the dialogue between Kevin and the eccentric Pigeon Lady. She says, "I'm just afraid if I do trust someone, I'll get my heart broken." Kevin then talks about his roller blades and how he was afraid to ruin them so he never used them, but then he outgrew them and he couldn't use them anyway. Essentially, he wasted his roller blades. He tells her, "If you won't use your heart, who cares if it gets broken? If you just keep it to yourself, maybe it'll be like my rollerblades. When you do decide to try it, it won't be any good. You should take a chance. Got nothing to lose."  How did this kid get so much wisdom? 

It's not wise to do as the pigeon lady did. There are so many people who need to be loved, so many people who need our best humanity. This is a great time to exercise our hearts and I'm not talking cardio here. Have you been hurt in the past? Put it to rest and move on. You'll be better off for it! Don't wait until your heart is healed. Giving love is the way to heal your heart!

Image by Paul Marto

Today is Motivating Monday!  We all need a little motivation!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for motivating, non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, but I also love non-sponsored posts because they are all about the person and less about a specific brand! If I happen to find a great non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MotivatingMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase! (Affiliate links OK)

A Reality Check + #MotivationMonday Link-Up

I'm so mad at myself, so I'm punishing myself and posting a reality check photo. I should have gone to the dentist to take care of my offending tooth a year ago, when I was aware that I had a tooth going bad inside a filling. But no, it wasn't hurting me, and my finances were such that I had other things to do more important. I don't have dental insurance, I'm one of the many Americans who don't.
Here it is almost 16 months later and finally today, I went to the dentist and hope against hope, had to have a root canal to save the now almost ruined molar in the back of my head. And what was the catalyst, you might ask? (Or not, but I'll tell you anyway!) I was chewing a piece of chocolate that had been in the refrigerator. It broke a big chunk of my tooth off, a big, honking piece! So you want a sign? There's your sign! You need to go to the dentist, pronto! Are my finances any better than they were a year ago? No, indeed! With the holidays coming up, they are possibly tighter than ever. 
That, my friends, is called procrastination! Don't do it! It never works out! But I'm the world's best at it! So here are my favorite memes on the subject! Oh, and my reality check picture. Stare at me, judge me, the misery, the regret, pain, and the cold, hard, reality of someone who is a procrastinator!!!

Today is Motivating Monday!  We all need a little motivation!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for motivating, non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, but I also love non-sponsored posts because they are all about the person and less about a specific brand! If I happen to find a great non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MotivatingMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase! (Affiliate links OK)

To Not Ask Why, Ask What + #MotivatingMonday Link-up

This week has been so sad, in a lot of ways. First of all, the Paris tragedy. I am so blown away, and I can't understand how such hatred can exist in a group of people to do this kind of cowardly warfare on innocent people. But the one thing that impacted me is the young boy who was spotted in Paris, at one of the memorials, writing a simple phrase. "Love Will Always Win."  I totally agree, even though at times it just doesn't feel like that. Sometimes I'm tempted to throw in the towel and join in with the rest of the haters. But what good will that do? It just gives them more validation, more ammunition to continue. Love is also contagious and you never know what a kind word or act will do for someone.

Also today after months of surgeries and suffering, Baylee Hoaldridge, a 15-year-old local girl, was taken off life support and passed away. She had been burned over 65% of her body when her family RV tipped over and trapped her as she was buckled in her seatbelt. This happened on July 4th, and over these past months she endured 27 surgeries and was scheduled for her 28th. She was so strong. At one point was even walking, but soon after had to have her legs amputated because she got infection and went into septic shock. The only daughter of 4 children, her parents are absolutely heartbroken. But the community came together for her and so much good came out of it.  Her grieving mother was buoyed up when her brother wrapped her in his arms and whispered, "Don't ask why. Ask what" To me that means that there are things that God knows that we don't, and instead of asking why, we can ask 'what is it that I need to learn, or what can I do to make this a stepping stone, what can I do to make this experience draw nearer to Him? Read more of her story here.

Today is Motivating Monday!  We all need a little motivation!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for motivating, non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, but I also love non-sponsored posts because they are all about the person and less about a specific brand! If I happen to find a great non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MotivatingMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase! (Affiliate links OK)

'Satin Dreams' 2-Winner #Giveaway Featuring Savvy Sleepers

Did you know that sleeping on satin pillowcases is a beauty booster? It prevents hair breakage, and it prevents sleep creases that over time would become permanent! Savvy Sleepers satin pillowcases are the best because they are made from the highest quality polyester blend and are the perfect texture--not too slippery yet silky smooth.

Guys love Savvy Sleepers too! With the patented pocket, you can store things you want to have close to you during the night. And the colors are wonderful. With names such as Pinot Greige, Zinfully Blue, Vintage Rosè, White Russian, Nappuchinno, and Black Truffle, you can only imagine how beautiful they are! The pillowcases are machine washable, so they are very easy to care for! Read more about it at A GAL NEEDS...

 Discount Code: Savvy Sleepers is celebrating their 3rd Anniversary this month and they are excited to offer a 15% discount code on all purchases! Just enter AGALNEEDS at check-out to claim your discount! Expires December 2nd!

Giveaway: Welcome to the Satin Dreams Giveaway, where 2 winners will win their choice of a Savvy Sleepers satin pillowcase! ARV is $39 each + free shipping.  

Open to U.S., Canada, and UK. age 21+, and one entrant per household. All entries are optional! Remember the more entries you complete, the better your chances are for winning! This is a Rafflecopter Giveaway. Winner will be selected through random draw! Also, many thanks to the great bloggers who are participating in this giveaway! Please consider liking all participating bloggers on Facebook. Sponsor is responsible for delivery of prizes, not participating bloggers. This blog received no compensation for the facilitation of this giveaway. Enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below! Giveaway runs from 11/14/15 - 12/02/15. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Anti-Aging Pillowcase + #DiscountCode to Savvy Sleepers!

This site accepts product samples and/or compensation. Affiliate links may be used to help 

support this site. All text and opinion are 100% my own and are not swayed by any sponsor affiliation.

If I had 15 minutes to grab a few things before my home was destroyed, I'd take my dog, my phone, my small make-up bag (vs. my big make-up bag), some water, some food, and my pillow! 
I must have my pillow with me wherever I go because it is my link to comfort and security! If I don't have my own pillow in a new or strange place, I won't be resting well.  It's just the way it is.  But my pillow preferences have evolved. It used to be that I slept with one pillow. Then it became necessary and normal to sleep with two. Now I feel like 4 pillows surrounding me is the best. I try to make due with 3, but 4 is optimal. Of course I can't take 4 pillows with me wherever I go, but my favorite pillow, the one that is next to my skin, has to go with! 

The most recent change I've made is that I sleep on a satin pillowcase. Satin is so smooth and comfortable. It keeps my hair from going crazy bed-head, and it also helps prevent sleep face (sleeping on face and waking up with creases from where you slept).  My satin pillowcase of choice is a Savvy Sleeper.  It's a pure satin pillowcase, of the highest quality poly-blend, with a little pocket for any incidentals--earrings, earplugs, lotion, lip balm, etc.

Founded in 2011 by Dale Janee, a San Francisco fashion columnist, Savvy Sleepers is now celebrating their 3rd Anniversary! It is the world's first uni-sex line of anti-aging pillowcases for skin and hair. 
Benefits of Sleeping on Satin: Sleeping on satin has been a celebrity beauty must-have and anti-aging secret for decades. Why? Satin is dermatologist recommended as  smoother against your skin preventing facial wrinkles, especially if you sleep on the same side for years. For hair, top stylists urge clients to sleep on satin to protect locks from friction and breakage often caused by sleeping on cotton pillow cases. Satin also prolongs the life of pricey salon blowouts.

So I need to add one more thing to my emergency "must-take" list--A Savvy Sleepers Pillowcase!
If you haven't yet experienced the benefits of sleeping on Satin, and especially the amazing feeling Savvy Sleepers satin with the patented secret pocket, I suggest you do so! And what a perfect gift for the princess in your life! 
  
Discount Code: Use agalneeds at check-out and get 15% off your Savvy Sleeper order!

Keep Track of Savvy Sleeper and the Savvy Spice Blog on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!

Romantic Winter Wedding Ideas and Dresses

This is a post brought to you by myself and sponsored by:

The winter months are the 2nd most popular season for weddings! Aside from May and June, this is the perfect time for family and friends to come together and celebrate new unions.  And what a beautiful picture it makes, if you're lucky enough to have fluffy whiteness in the backdrop for a photo shoot! I love the photo below because the bride is in white, but she isn't afraid to stay warm, despite being photographed.The look is fitting, warm, and savvy! Staying warm in the winter is, and should be, a top priority.  Make sure to include a warm wrap of choice to go over the wedding and bridesmaids dresses! Jackets, shawls, and sweaters can all be very pretty!

You'll want to differentiate from the normal summer colors and floral arrangements. Fall has just receded and some of the rich browns, oranges, reds, and golds are still in our memories. Do include more warm browns, reds, berries, and golds in the thought process for winter wedding decor. 

Berry tones dominate this centerpiece

Remember that warm and inviting is the perfect backdrop to the cool and stark white of winter. It can be a most beautiful and romantic ambiance. 

Evening weddings are also very popular because they contribute to the warm and inviting atmosphere of being inside when it is cold outside! The photo below shows how large halls can be lit with low lights and the colors absorb the warmth and make it a very comfortable atmosphere to be in. 

Having some cute added features like a hot chocolate bar or drink bar with cute captions celebrate the season and make drinking hot chocolate seem like a well-deserved treat! In summer, it's all about light eating and drinking. In the winter, foods can be more comforting and substantial.  

If you have a warm and inviting winter background, the white dress can be breathtaking. Picked Dresses has some amazing dresses for $150 or less for their winter Flash Sale! View my 10 favorites below! I would recommend visiting their site, where they have the largest selection of exquisite bridal gowns in many types of fabrics and styles. In-house designers work to create dresses that reflect the most current trends at prices that your budget can handle! Picked Dresses is a one-stop wedding shop because not only do they offer a huge bridal selection, but they have a stunning selection of bridesmaid and flower girl dresses in a palette of 20 colors to spoil them, helping them to help you make your wedding day truly unforgettable! Also check out the Wedding Dresses Toronto collection! (Click to start slideshow)
 

Expectations and Reality + My Post Monday Link-Up

The life you live is never the one you expect....even if you are a master of affirmation, positive-thinking and yoga. The twists and turns of life are very strange indeed. Granted, the more passive you are, not seeking to rock the boat of your existence, the  more predictable your life will be. But even then, something will always come up that totally throws your life into upheaval and interrupt your attempt to just be status quo. On the other hand, there are the fearless ones, those who dive into life head-first, and just want to experience all of it, to the fullest. Death is but an interruption. If they died experiencing the ultimate adrenaline rush, so be it. They die doing what they do best--living life as if there were no tomorrow. I'm somewhere in between. I've done some crazy things, where people just say, "wow, you're the most spur-of-the-moment person I've ever seen!"  Like the time I married my first husband with only 2 months of dating, without consulting anyone, and without a wedding reception. It was a very impulsive decision, and even though we were together 10 years, it didn't end well. (I did basically the same thing with my current husband, but we have been married going on 15 years, with no plans of separating!) And there are the times when all I really want to do is curl up with a great book and hibernate for days, safe in my own space.

Image by trminatr

I have had some incredibly disappointing and sad times. Things happened, sometimes because of my own actions, sometimes because of the actions of others, that I didn't ever expect to happen, didn't want to happen and didn't understand why they had, in fact, happened. Regardless, clawing my way back up after falling, being dumped, or left at the bottom of the symbolic canyon, I've found that I can indeed find happiness again. And the funny thing, when I do, it's even sweeter than before! So my friendly, non-judgmental and possibly unsolicited advice is don't lay down and give up. If all you can do right now is move a pinkie finger, just do that. Do a little more each day until you can start moving forward! In time, you'll see that things are much better, maybe even better than you ever imagined!

Today is "My Post Monday!" It's all about original content from bloggers who care to share what is on their minds--from Crafts to Camping, Wellness to Wealth, Fashion to Food, and whatever else is on the brain!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for original, non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, I write them myself! But this linky is for non-sponsored posts because they are all about what the writer thinks, believes, and knows. It's not about a specific brand and what it compensates the blogger to promote! If I happen to find a great original, non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MyPostMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase! (Affiliate links OK)   

"I and Love and You" Wholesome Pet Food #Giveaway {ARV $145}

My stinking cute border collie, Evee, is an integral part of our family, as I'm sure your pets are in your family! I love posting about her because first of all, she has no problem being captured on camera or being paraded about on the internet. So here is my latest pic of her (and me, because I am her human mom) when we went disc-golfing this weekend!

She is going on 7 years old and since I want her to be around forever (probably not going to happen, no matter how hard I wish), I really should start thinking about getting her onto the healthiest food I can get.

I was very happy to learn about I and Love and You Pet Foods and Treats. (ILY for short) They are truly some of the healthiest pet foods and treats I've ever seen. I was thrilled to be able to try the above 3 varieties! 
Venison & Lamb Jerky Bites - Made with 95% meat, these treats not only taste good, but are great for your dog!
Ultimate Dry Dog Food - Made with whole de-boned meat with real fruit and vegetables and gluten-free!
Raw Homemade Dog Food - A 100% raw meal that you mix with water. Leave for 15 minutes while it absorbs and it becomes a meal that your dog was meant to have, long before the days of domestication. 
 It is recommended that your dog be introduced gradually--over 10 days--to this diet, since it is not like normal dog food. It is richer, is not artificial, is more nutritionally dense, and is gluten-free. And so much better for them!

Evee looking alert when she sees her ILY dog food!

It is my hope that Evee will be around for a good long while, and I want her quality of life to be really good as well! So far she loves this whole food switch routine and I'm very optimistic that she will continue to thrive!
ILY Pet Food's can be found at Smith's, Whole Foods, Petco, and Sprouts. They can also be ordered from Amazon! Who knew you could get such great quality foods, formulated by holistic veterinarians with the highest standards, right in your local grocery store!
Giveaway: 1 lucky winner will receive their choice of one ILY dog or cat trial package, ARV $145, open to U.S. only, age 21+, and one entrant per household. All entries are optional! Remember the more entries you complete, the better your chances are for winning! This is a Rafflecopter Giveaway. Winner will be selected through random draw! Sponsor is responsible for delivery of prizes. Enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below! Giveaway runs from 11/7/15 - 11/23/15. Good luck!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Success And Influence + #MotivatingMonday Link-Up

I found this quote with no attached author. At first glance, it felt really warm and fuzzy. But now I am wondering if this statement has 100% truth in it, or if there is some gray area. First of all, is it wrong to want to make an honest living? I'm not talking about doing it subversively or illegally--but doing an honest day's work for a sum of money. No, it's not wrong, obviously. AND doing an honest labor and doing the best you can, does influence people around you. It is showing that you don't take things for granted, that you value work, that you are honest. That, in and of itself, can and does influence those around you and influences others to do the same. 

So right there, is a difference you are already making, by choosing to work for pay in an honest occupation. And that is where the truth of this statement does come in. Whether you work as the CEO of a company or as something more obscure, it doesn't matter, as long as you do it to the best of your ability and are happy and well-meaning. Providing for yourself is a necessity, but your attitude and how well you do it is your gift to the world, it becomes an honorable thing! 

Work is honorable, no matter what kind it is. Developing the capacity to work helps us contribute to the world in which we live. It will bring us an increased sense of self-worth. It will bless you and your family, both now and in the future. 
  
Yes, I think that true success comes from hard and honest work and through that hard work, you will see that not only are you making a living, but you are making a difference in other people's lives by your good example. 

Today is Motivating Monday!  We all need a little motivation!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for motivating, non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos! Sponsored posts are great and I appreciate the information from well-written and authentic sponsored posts, but I also love non-sponsored posts because they are all about the person and less about a specific brand! If I happen to find a great non-sponsored post, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MotivatingMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  I can miss some amazing posts, but I don't want to!  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase! (Affiliate links OK)