1. New fun gadget we’ve been using…
For Christmas, the kids got us the Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker. It has been awesome. It can make ice cream, milkshakes, sorbet, and more. The one they got us (called the CREAMi Swirl) has a soft serve option. Lana has made several types of ice cream so far, playing around with different recipes, and every one has been good. Some have been using traditional ingredients, making traditional ice cream, and some have been healthier versions using nut milk, avocado, protein powder, cottage cheese, and monk fruit for sweetener. It’s been fun to play around with, and we’re excited to get dialed in with healthy recipes that allow us to have tasty treats to satisfy our sweet tooth without using artificial flavors, high sugar, and junk. Their standard ice cream maker (Ninja CREAMi) is around $200, and the one with the soft serve option (Ninja CREAMi Swirl) is around $330. Giving up sweet treats and desserts is hard (for me, anyway), and life is too short to deprive ourselves, so we are constantly on the search for healthier versions of our favorites. There are endless options, which we plan on experimenting with… sugar-free, Keto, dairy-free, higher protein, etc. This machine is proving to be a great tool for us to make tasty treats in a healthy way… and have fun doing it. Click here to get more info on the Ninja CREAMi and here for more info on the Ninja CREAMi Swirl.
2. Stats to consider…
Approximately 23% of people quit their New Year’s resolutions after just two weeks. Fifty percent quit by the end of January. Only 9% actually follow through and successfully achieve their New Year goals. So… as we approach week two… reignite your enthusiasm and focus. Remind yourself how important it is that you achieve what you set out to achieve. The bigger the WHY, the more likely you are to achieve your goal. So, make the WHY super big! I heard this and really liked the idea of asking yourself these questions… what behaviors and actions are you taking right now that the 85-year-old you would be upset with? What behaviors and actions are you taking right now that the 85-year-old you would be proud of and thankful for? After all, it’s our future selves that we are doing all of it for. Another thought… the 85-year-old you would love to feel and look as good as you do right now. So, being more grateful, cognizant, and present RIGHT NOW is another worthy goal.
3. Book I recommend…
I recently read a book, Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking is the Beginning and End of Suffering, by Joseph Nguyen. It was VERY GOOD! Our minds are full of thoughts all day long. We must realize that our thoughts are not always true. We ruminate on them, repeat them, and believe them… but how much of what we think is factual? We cling to stories we’ve been told by family, teachers, and especially (most likely) the media. We can simply let thoughts wash over us or pass by. We can observe them, but don’t have to accept them. Nguyen also makes the point that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. We will experience pain in life… loss, failure, disappointment, challenges… but how we react to the events and circumstances in our lives is up to us. This book is pretty simple, short, and easy to read (I read it in one day), but had enough great nuggets and was powerful enough that I have gifted it to a few friends and am recommending it to you. I found myself pausing at the end of several chapters and thinking… wow, that was good. Simply put… I got more out of this book than I thought I would. Click here for the Amazon link to the book.
