Finding Your Purpose

Every once in a while I stumble across this picture of me at 2 days old. I was born 4 months premature, weighed just over 1 pound, and had to fight like hell to beat all the odds doctors believed were against me. I am incredibly thankful I don't remember the time I spent in the NICU, but even more so for His love and devotion at guiding the hands of the incredible team of doctors and nurses who took care of me. For my parents who were always there to cheer me on with each and every milestone.

Two and a half years ago, one of my biggest dreams was ripped out from my grip. Stomped on with negative talk about why I'll never make it. Told I was clearly skipping class, not studying, and to find something else. Something easier. At first, I was relieved. Like a thousand pound weight was lifted from my shoulders. I pushed all thoughts of pursuing it further under the rug. Convinced myself what they told me was true. Let go of working at the one place I always imagined and started down a new, winding, bumpy path... that's seemingly leading me in circles.

A few weeks ago, I was working at my desk and an image popped into my head of me working in the NICU. It was so real. So vivid. In the days that followed, every time I found myself contemplating my future, it would pop back in. I tried to ignore it to no avail. I have no doubt this was His work. Guiding me back down the path He wrote out for me from the start.

After much discussion and prayer with the support of those closest to me, I have made the decision to look back into nursing. Different school, different program. Hopefully more support. The idea has brought on a whole slew of emotions, but I am trusting my heart and excited to see what comes of things this time around. 🙏🏻❤️👩🏻‍⚕️

Recipe of the Day: Vegetable Egg Cups

Good Morning!

Who can relate to It's always nice not to stress over what you're going to eat for every meal. I am not a pro at meal prep (yet!), but I am working on becoming better at it. With a tight budget, it's a huge hit to always eat out. So, yesterday I whipped up these delicious egg cups for a quick, nutritious breakfast on-the-go. I literally did this in less than 30 minutes (including chopping up the veggies), in between my workout, a shower, and getting ready for work!

I am a huge fan of quick and easy recipes since we always seem to be on-the-go or time just flies by and before we know it, it's 7:30pm and we have yet to eat dinner. These following recipe will surely be a staple in my diet.

Note: I switched up the recipe a bit and added in chopped kale and cilantro, in addition to the red pepper and mushrooms. You can really use any variety of veggies that appeal to you. I even topped mine with salsa, Cholula, and avocado when it was time to eat.

get your copy of the Fixate Cookbook with more amazing recipes, here.

Vegetable Egg Cups.
Serves 6 (2 each)
*for all my fellow Fixers: 2 egg cups equal 1 red container

What You'll Need:
Nonstick Cooking Spray (I used coconut oil spray)
12 Large Eggs
Salt and Pepper to taste (I used a dash of pepper and Himalayan salt)
1 Cup Chopped Mushrooms
1 Medium Red Bell Pepper, finely chopped
2 Green Onions, thinly sliced (I didn't have these on hand, so I substituted. see note above)
Salsa (optional)

Recipe:
1. Heat Oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Lightly coat a twelve-cup muffin tin with spray. (My egg cups stuck to the pan a bit once cooked. I'd suggest using a little extra to save you time scrubbing the tin afterwards. It took me a solid 20 minutes to get that thing clean!)
3. Place eggs in a large bowl; whisk to blend. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.
4. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, and green onions (or whatever combination of veggies you'll be using); mix well.
5. Evenly pour egg mixture into muffin tins.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Top each egg with salsa, if desired.

Tip: be sure not to overload the egg cups with veggies. I'm not saying skimp on them, but mine seemed to overtake the amount of egg and didn't set quite right when cooked. The bottoms fell apart really easy, while the top seemed to be where most of the egg sat.

If you try this recipe out, let me know if you enjoyed it, in the comments below!

Have a great day, everyone!

The Last Day of My 20's.

It's been quite a while since I have sat down to write anything on this blog. I miss it. Last December, I set out on a quest to find myself, figure out my passions, and dig deep into what I really want out of life. So far it's been quite the experience. A lot of reflection, smiles, tears, Ah-a moments, and everything in between.

As for today, I knew it would come eventually... it just arrived a little quicker than I anticipated.

You might have gotten from the title today officially marks the last day of my 20's. Thinking back on the past 9 years, it has been a wild ride. From college to graduation, heading out into the "real world", job searching, a break up, long nights, early mornings, finding my soulmate, raising the cutest pup in all the land, a few moves, nursing school, no longer being in nursing school with no other plan because that was supposed to be my "thing", a few different jobs, still trying to figure things out, buying a house with my little family... and here we are. The last day I will ever be 29.

I will say it feels different than past birthdays. Going from a teenager to my 20's seemed pretty seamless. It's not so much about the number, but about where I thought I would be by this point. You know... married, kids, my dream career. The reality is, there is no timeline to accomplishing all the amazing things we want out of life. I will get there one day. I am trusting the process and enjoying the view along the way.

Six years ago I set sail on a path towards becoming a nurse. It was an uphill battle and I did not prevail. I do not regret my choice to chase that dream for a single minute. I grew immensely as a person and a professional. I am grateful for all of the experiences I was able to be a part of throughout each clinical, and for all of the wonderful lives I was able to make an impact on. But it does not stop there. Today, my ship is sailing on a new course and I cannot wait to see where the journey will take me.

Thankfully, I stumbled upon an incredible opportunity three years ago that has taught me the beauty in living for the moment, enjoying the small things, working on myself not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. The tribe of people I have come to know and look up to because of the decision to say "Yes!" has changed my outlook for what is possible for my future.

I may not be where I thought I'd be at this point in my life, but the journey is just beginning. A new chapter is about to start, and I am over the moon excited to write it's pages.

A Confession and How I Overcame My Excuses

I have a confession...

I haven't worked out in SEVEN months!!!

You might be thinking, "But Danielle, You're a Beachbody Coach!"

That is exactly why I am being transparent and writing this blog post for you to realize we are real people, just like you. We backslide, make unhealthy choices, and skip workouts, too.

The backstory on that is I was dealing with a lot at the beginning of the year. I was supposed to be entering my second to last semester of Nursing school, but that obviously didn't happen. (You can read about that here.) I was sad, lost, confused, yet elated to have the weight of school off my shoulders, and a whole other slew of emotions that I didn't know quite how to process. It was a lot to handle, but I tried my best to hide the feelings of defeat and failure.

It was May 23rd, and I was leaving in the morning to head to my brother's wedding 10 hours away. That was the last day that I worked out consistently this year. I blamed the non-existant wifi during our week's vacation, and the fact that it was just that... a vacation! I started eating whatever I wanted after we got home, and the healthy food choices slowly went out the window. The hill was steep, and I was sliding down faster than I could comprehend. Summer came and I hid behind tee shirts and pants. Fall was here and I promised I would start working out "on Monday"... I must have said that five or six weeks in a row. Winter slowly started approaching, and I thought "Oh, I can just wear sweaters".

Then reality hit.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. I went to the Chiropractor for a consultation. It was my first time ever going. I have been suffering from a long list of symptoms from anxiety, brain fog, stress, not sleeping through the night, moodiness, joint pain in my knees and hips, lack of energy, and so fourth. They asked a lot of questions, took some pictures, had me do some exercises and did some muscle and nerve testing. Basically, my results showed I have really poor balance (which the trainer was surprised at), I have a handful of spinal issues from my neck to lower back, and my posture is poor. I plan to return to get these issues taken care of.

In the meantime -

Last night, a friend messaged me and I realized it was time to change things, once and for all. I am sick of my clothes fitting so tight and not feeling like myself, in general.

This morning... I woke up and had the same recurring thought that I could start tomorrow... Sunday... Monday. So, I got out of bed, picked up my weights, and pressed play on my first workout since May.

It started out and I was in the zone. Seven minutes in, I felt so nauseas I had to sit down for a few minutes. I thought about stopping, but I pressed play and continued the entire 30 minute workout.

There were times when I had to modify the modifier!!!

The moral of the story is, you just have to START. It doesn't have to be perfect, you don't have to jump all the way in your first day. Ease into a healthy routine day-by-day, week-by-week. Add in a light workout and slowly build up to more intense ones. Try one new healthy meal a week, and start adding in healthy snack options throughout the day.

 Check out my "Clean Eats" page for some inspiration on delicious, easy-to-make meals and snacks. If you need guidance or accountability, send me a message on the right side of this blog.

Let's work together to live healthier, happier lives!

The Health Benefits of Almonds

*This post is in partnership with nuts.com. All opinions are my own.

The truth is, we're all busy. We have 100 things going on in our minds, places we have to be, to-do lists a mile long. Some of us are parents, some of us have pets, some of us spend more time at work than home with our families. This is what I call the "rat race" of life. We wake up rushed to get ready, get the kids off to school, and make it to work all while balancing the million other things we did forgot, but need to remember to do later.

So why is it that so many people are struggling with their nutrition and their weight? Well, the answer is simple. Convenience. Time. Energy. It's so much simpler to drive through a fast food restaurant for a meal or a "snack" that often has more calories than we require for one day. Yet, there are a lot of people out there that are afraid to eat certain things. Some including carbs or fat -- healthy fat, that is.

I am writing this post to let you in on the little secret that is ALMONDS!!!

This deliciously nutritious snack packs a serious punch, without the guilt that comes with most packaged, processed snacks we find on our grocers shelves and in our cupboards. I researched some of the benefits of almonds here.

Benefits of Almonds {in a nut shell}

Good for your brain

Promote bone health

Good for your heart

Regulate cholesterol

Strengthen your immune system

Improve the complexion of skin

Reduce inflammation

Regulate blood pressure

Increase energy

Prevent colon cancer

Regulate glucose

Good for pregnancy and weight loss

Prevent constipation

I like to enjoy 8-12 almonds as a mid-day snack. It gives me the protein and energy I need to make it until lunch without feeling hungry or deprived. There's no one way to eat them, and various flavor and types of almonds to choose from! You can find the perfect types and flavors of almonds to fit your palate and lifestyle, here.

Would you give almonds a try by adding them to your current routine? I'd love to hear different ways you add nutritious and tasty almonds to your meals and snacks! Feel free to post in the comments below.

No Bake Shakeology Energy Bites

This afternoon, I was craving something sweet. I thought about running to the store for some ice cream, but let's be honest... that would counteract my workout from this morning and leave me feeling yucky afterwards.

So, I settled for something healthier that is sure to satisfy my sweet tooth just the same--and without all the guilt. I chose this healthy little pick-me-up, and it sure was a great choice!

Minutes to Prepare: 15

Minutes to Cook: No Baking Required; Freeze for 2 Hours

Number of Servings: 25

Ingredients:

1 c. Oatmeal

1/2 c. Natural Peanut Butter (may use other nut butters)

1/3 c. Honey

1 c. Unsweetened Coconut Flakes

1/2 c. Ground Flaxseed

1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together as you go. Use a spoon or ice cream scoop to form the mixture into about one inch balls. Place them on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper and place in the freezer for at least 2 hours. These can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Enjoy!

the nutritional information was found here

Chase Your Dreams

Last night I had a dream I was back in nursing school. Needless to say, it made waking up a little rough when I realized it wasn't reality.

So this morning, I had a long chat with my Dad about my future. Although I'll admit I didn't want to listen to him, he did bring up some good points about DREAMING BIG and going after what you want. I've been searching for something to fill a void that's overcome me these last few weeks since nursing school didn't work out. Feeling lost, emotional, and scared, I began jumping from one idea to the next, exclaiming how "happy" or "fulfilled" it would make me if... "x-y-z" happened.

WHO WAS I KIDDING?!

I kept thinking if I had a different job, more money, this or that... I would be happier and fulfilled. What I failed to come to terms with is that MY HAPPINESS depends on myself. Not on another person or thing.

Through some tears, it finally hit me about an hour ago. I realized my future and the success I do or don't have, will only be a result of my hard work and dedication to the task at hand. It's not hidden anywhere, but in the burning passion I have for helping others live happier, healthier, more fulfilling lives. This is my avenue for pursuing happiness and fulfillment in my daily work. This is my PASSION.

I am READY to create a life of success and financial freedom through something I love and enjoy. Therefore, I am making it a personal goal of mine to help FIVE women each month get healthIER... AND to get certified in personal training and nutrition by the end of Summer 2015.

Whatever your dreams are {big or small} CHASE THEM and don't stop until you're where YOU want to be. Don't let society dictate where or what they think is "right". I know it took me a lot of trial and error over the years to figure out what I truly want. I was too busy searching for something that would make others proud of me, rather than focusing on what I would be proud to do.

Follow your heart. Dream BIG. Believe in yourself. Success will follow.

Best Wishes in all your future endeavors.