Lifestyle And Dreams Over 40

What do you cook when your oven explodes? Yep, my oven quietly exploded, shot some flames and sparks, and died. He'd been a part of the family for several years and part of another family before that, so I guess it was just his time to go. Now, what do I cook for dinner using only a stovetop? Of course, we know how to cook many side dishes on the stove top, but is meat any good cooked that way? I say, Yes!  I've included my favorite meat recipes below, for you to try and share. Let me know how they turn out for you AND if you and your family enjoyed them. My favorite is: Sweet and Spicy Chicken 4 boneless chicken breasts, flattened with a meat mallet 1 ½ tsp. pink Himalayan salt 1 tsp. black pepper 1 ½ tsp. paprika ½ tsp chili powder 3-4 Tbsp. white sugar 1 ½ tsp. garlic powder 1 ½ tsp. onion powder 1 ½ tsp. dried parsley 2 Tbsp. butter 1 Tbsp. olive oil Juice of a lemon In a pie plate or dish, combine all ingredients. In a pan on s...

How to survive after a toxic relationship? Yes, people have had it worse than me. Yes, there are stories straight from the bowels of hell. But this is not a competition on who has had the worst relationship in their lifetime. This is a little peek into me and how maybe it can help YOU survive after your toxic relationship. When I grew up, I knew that physical abuse was wrong. I knew that if I ever met someone who hit me or kicked me or took advantage of me in any way, it was okay to leave that person. It was not acceptable to sit there and be treated like that. But nobody ever talks about the mental abuse that you can go through in a relationship. The name calling, the slamming things around, the throwing things to scare you, the pictures of how pretty you could be-IF you lost weight; and always hearing how you're never good at anything and everything is your fault. You start to question, “Is it my fault”? “Did I do something wrong?” “Maybe I am stupid, fat, and ugly.” T...

How To Save While Shopping I love to shop! I have loved to shop since I was a little girl! I don't mean groceries. I mean makeup, skincare, clothes, thing-a-ma-bobs, and doo-dads. It has been a real problem for me, in the past, and has slowed down my savings plan. As I've grown older, I have realized retirement isn't really that far away and time moves too quickly. We need to save our nickels and dimes wherever we can and I'm going to share some tips on how to save while shopping. After all, we all need toilet paper, bread, and something to drink, don't we? 😃 As we grow older, from youth to adult, your money may have moved from a porcelain piggy to a bank account, but the importance of saving it hasn't changed. Whether saving for a new toy or bike, or for a new car or retirement, the discipline of saving money hasn't changed. Everybody has to go shopping. Although many people hate it, it is still a necessary inconvenience that must be done. In order...

As we leap gracefully into our middle years, our skin may be dragging and kicking behind us-leaving us to figure out all the changes in our skin. Where we were once oily, we are now dry. Where we were once smooth and clear, we now may have hyperpigmentation or even milia. How did this happen??! As we try to figure out our every changing skin needs, I am here to share 5 of my ride or die skincare products that you may want to try. I used to have an oily t-zone, never much acne, but rosacea and oiliness. Now, my skin is dry and dehydrated (2 different things) and I have hyperpigmentation on my cheeks; and even with the dryness-I still have oily spots on my forehead and chin. Oi vey! I absolutely, definitely, always double cleanse my face at night. That is so important in removing every ounce of the makeup I've worn throughout the day.  After using micellar water, my tried and true facial cleanser is First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Facial Cleanser. It's very creamy and hydrating and ...

Being in my 40's, I have noticed a big change in my metabolism. It's definitely slowing down with each passing decade. I remember being able to eat anything I wanted and not gain a pound. Now it seems as if one little fun night of splurging and I not only gain 2 or 3 pounds, but I feel sluggish, my face is puffy, and I usually have a headache. When many people gain weight or develop health conditions, they often believe they inherited the problem from their parents. I bet you've heard, "my relatives have it too". Although there are some fixed genetic traits such as eye or hair color, up to 80% of our genes are influenced by our environment, including our lifestyle choices. Life doesn't end in our 40's, it's just beginning again! Follow these tips and you'll see a younger, healthier you! Avoid high sugar foods and added sugar. Sugar can cause artificial dips and highs in energy and can be so addictive. Cut back on alcohol, as it has a simila...

Ever have a craving for a fish taco, but don't wanna get out of your jammies and run to the nearest yummy Mexican restaurant? This was me yesterday. So I made the quick and easy dish at home and thought I'd share the recipe with you.  Seasoned tilapia is my favorite. I've tried everything, even unseasoned tilapia, but nothing beats the seasoned or spicy tilapia which I purchase either at Fred Meyer or Costco. I cook it on the stove, with a little butter, for 12 minutes. Flip once after 6 minutes.  Chop up any veggies you'd like. I used the freshest tomato and green onion. I heat up the tortillas in a fry pan with a little oil, flipping once so it's hot and just the slightest brown. Spread with sour cream, add the fish, veggies, and some grated cheese. Roll and enjoy!  It's easy and tastes so yummy! Let me know if you try it and what you think. Also, I'd love to hear your own fish taco recipes. Enjoy!  Until next time! 😊 Follow me on...

7 Ways To Practice Self-Love Whether you’re single, in a relationship, married, divorced (like me), or anything in-between, self-care and self-love are so incredibly important. I am extremely passionate about taking care of myself, emotionally, mentally, and physically, and helping others do the same. Here’s a few different ideas of ways to show yourself a little love today (or any day): Social Media Break :  even if it’s only for a few hours, power down your phone to disconnect for a little bit. This is incredibly hard to do not only because of social media, but also because of the expectations of our circles to always be “on.” Between Facebook, Instagram, group chats, emails, app updates, our phones are constantly lighting up. I’ve found disconnecting from my phone for even a few hours is so good for my well-being.            Forgive Yourself : kicking  yourself over what you could’ve or should’ve done or said this week? Maybe ...