Making the choice

I now am two months free of no coffee.  I feel much healthier just having eliminated caffeine. I want to set a healthier example but lets face it after three kids, a husband and a dog oh yeah and work oh and everything else, finding time to focus on me is hard.lol

I decided to start detoxing in Jan with fresh juice and now eating things like seafood, no meat and lots of grains, I feel better.  I have to make better choices when I go out to eat. For one, unless im cooking with wine I dont drink. My husband detoxed and now doesn't drink either.

Juicing has really helped me refocus and prioritize my daily life. My girls stop drinking sugary drinks almost six years ago. The secret is cooking from home everyday as often as you can. They now to ask for water first. Its become part of our daily lives. Read up on tap water...best thing for you is to drink filtered water.

On cheat days like on this day we ended up at Elly's...we discovered they had a fresh juice bar. I also found a vegetarian eggs benedict with artichokes spinach and mushrooms.  It was good.

What I have also discovered is that everything is in moderation. I found it easier to implement one change at a time.

So now I feel more disciplined and feel ready for step 2 which involves physical activity. 

Im going to start posting pictures soon. I hope I inspire you to start changing your way of eating.

Single Mom

Having been a single mom I know how hard it is.  I know the fear that sinks down into your stomach when you look at the little you have and wonder if you will ever rise above the storm. I get it, I've lived on ramen noodle soups, spaghetti, bologna and cheese. I remembered how my parents raised us with the little we had and I kept saying to myself, there has to be more to life then living this way.

I didn't get thrown into the life of a single mother.  I made the choice to remove myself from the life I was living and became a single mother because I knew it was the only way I was going to give my daughter a better life.

So many people wanted to see me succeed I had so much help from friends, teachers and managers.  So  you can see going into Human Resources was only natural for me.  I wanted to help people see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and there is always a way out if you are willing to accept help.

We must be humble and put our pride aside and take the God given opportunities that are put right in front of us and not hold back. God doesn't give us anything that we cannot handle, he is preparing us for great things.

Today I had an employee come up to me and say, Maritza, in the short time I've been working here you have taught me so much about never giving up and there is always a way. See, he decided today to take the 52 Week Savings Challenge, as so many of my other employees.  I shared with them how being a single mother showed me how to be frugal and not to take for granted that even saving $1.00 a week will amount to something big.

It's Week 6, throw $21 into a pot and start your savings.  Take a shoe box, duct tape it, wrap it up again and then slit a whole on the top and throw in all your extra change and dollars and see what you get at the end of the year.

Both my little ones are doing it and I'm sure they will be happy with the results! Don't give up, you will overcome whatever obstacle you are facing right now. Don't be afraid to reach out to people for advice. Be strong and most importantly have faith!