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Recipe: Ham, Green Beans & Potatoes in Sauce

This recipe is one of my family's favorite cold weather meal.

It is so simple to make and if you make a lot of it you can freeze it for a quick meal on those hectic days when there's no time to cook.

What you need: 

(1) Package of cubed ham

(1) bag of frozen green beans or two cans

(4-8) raw potatoes cubed

¼ cup onions

1 tsp each of salt, pepper, garlic powder, Mrs. Dash table blend 

(add more of each seasoning to taste or if making a bigger batch)

2-4 tbsps. butter

2-3 chicken flavored bouillon cubes 

What you do: 

Put all into pot filled ½ - ¾ full of water.

Boil for 15 minutes or until beans and potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.

Mix up a few forkfuls of cornstarch with milk in a cup, mix well. Make it a consistency thicker than milk, but not as thick as paste and add to boiling pot. This makes the sauce. Stir well. 

It should thicken right away. Remove from heat. 

If sauce is too thick, just add a little water and stir. Too runny and do a mix of cornstarch and milk in the cup again and add till desired thickness.

Serve hot with favorite bread. 

Freeze the remainder for a quick meal. I freeze mine in individual servings by putting them into quart sized zippered bags then all the small bags are added to a large baggie and labeled. Put in freezer. Make sure the food is cool before adding it to the bags as you don't want to melt the plastic.

Then if a family member wants a quick, hot meal, they can just run the bag under the faucet for a few moments, break into chunks and add to a bowl to microwave or add to a pot on the stove with a little water in it and reheat.

It sure hits the spot on those cold evenings.

Science Talk: Breastfeeding Support

Do you know someone who is interested in breastfeeding their baby?

When my son was born I remember the challenges we faced and I am so happy I sought help and was able to nurse him into the healthy child he is today. I naturally had a ton of questions and I’m sure you did, too.

The subject of breastfeeding and support for moms who want to breastfeed is really popular. Many new moms have so many questions and while there is a ton of information out there, it’s nice to have the answers in one place and delivered to you from medical professionals who understand the benefits and the challenges.

We have a wonderful audio recording this month that discusses some of the most frequently asked questions about breastfeeding with additional suggestions.

Here is the link to Science Talk:Breastfeeding Support

This short audio is packed with some great information and it can be listened to on any device or as a podcast. I think you will really enjoy it.

Feel free to share this with a new mom or mom-to-be you know! Knowledge is power and a new mom will soak up all the good info they can get.

Want to know more about having a healthy pregnancy? Shaklee’s blog, Naturally has several wonderful articles on how to have a healthy pregnancy.

Just click this link to see the list of articles and pick your favorites: Naturally HealthyPregnancy

I hope you enjoy this information on breastfeeding. 

Do you have more questions? Feel free to contact me by clicking the "Contact Us"tab up top and we will talk more.

The Trek Across the Store Aisle to the Big Kid Clothes

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5 Easy Ways Moms (& All Women) Can Get Healthier

1 - Kick the Stress

Most of us experience stress every day. Daily stress and anxiety wreak havoc with our sense of well-being and the impact of prolonged stress can have severe consequences on our health.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control estimates 75-90% of all visits to the doctor's office are stress related. One key to good health is to keep levels of stress in check.

Get started by:

• Identifying Your Stressors — Whether it's money issues, traffic or the piles of laundry, the first step to managing stress is knowing what is causing the most stress in your life. Once identified, you can begin to figure out how to overcome stress or manage it better. So what’s bugging you?

• Setting Priorities — Take stock to determine what's really important and learn to say "No". This can be one of the biggest favors you can do for yourself. You can’t do it all, so choose what is most important to you and learn to let the rest go. It’s OK if you start singing, “Let it Go, Let it Go…”

• Delegating Responsibilities — You don't have to be "Supermom", learn to ask for help and assign tasks to other family members. The best “managers” are those who know how to delegate. Teaching kids about responsibilities is also good for them, not just to help you out. You are not helping them any by doing everything for them. One of the best lessons a mom can teach her children is how to take care of themselves.

• Relaxing and Meditating - Research has shown that taking time out of each day to relax and meditate can help reduce stress. This is so true. Taking just a few minutes a day to just sit and relax; breathe deep and empty your overcrowded brain can do wonders for your mood. Even if it means locking yourself in the bathroom with earplugs.

• Exercise – Don’t forget the benefits of exercise. See our tip on exercise below.

*Try Shaklee’s Stress Relief Complex*, a botanical combination which includes a powerful stress reliever from green tea to help promote relaxation, alertness and concentration, and help relieve everyday stress in as little as 30 minutes.* This stuff works great. A Mom’s best friend during trying times.
2 - Get Enough Sleep 

Emerging scientific evidence indicates that insufficient sleep can be harmful to our health.

Sleep Well and Re-energize - Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule; establish a relaxing bedtime routine; and try not to eat a meal, drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages or exercise within a few hours of bedtime. 

There is nothing like a good night’s rest to help with your day. It can be hard though when there are so many things on your mind. Try meditation, reading and hey, here’s an idea! - talking with your spouse! Just keep the talks light, nothing stressful.

*To contend with occasional sleeplessness and to help you get a good night's rest, try Shaklee Gentle Sleep Complex* which uses natural botanicals to promote a calm and restful sleep.
3 - Eat Right

Good nutrition is essential to health and poor food choices contribute to health challenges including weight gain. Start by improving your diet by eating a variety of foods, choosing whole grains, beans and legumes and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Don't forget to include some lean protein from fish, chicken, soy and nonfat dairy and select heart-healthy omega-3 fats from fish, avocado and nuts.

*It’s hard to eat right and who has time to cook a big meal every day? So to help fill in the gaps don’t forget your vitamins. Shaklee’s Vitalizer is a complete daily vitamin regimen in a convenient easy to take pack. Just toss them in your purse or pocket and off you go – with energy! Plus we guarantee you will feel better in 30 days or your money back!

4 - Exercise 

No brainer here. We all know that exercise is a healthy habit and it's never too late to start. You don’t have to train for a marathon to feel good. Just a 30 minute workout can boost your mood and you can literally kick stress out of the way. Walking is a great activity for everyone, too. Start with a 10 or 15-minute walk, especially if you haven't been exercising regularly and build up from there. Lifting light weights 2-3 times a week is a must for strong bones and keeping muscle. Do your best to be active every day. Exercise helps lower stress, lose weight and increase strength, which helps our stress level too.

*Shaklee can help your exercise program with their weight loss program and sports nutrition products. 

Lose the weight & keep the muscle with Shaklee 180

Stay hydrated with Performance Maximum Endurance Sports Drink in orange or lemon lime flavors

5 - Take a "Timeout" with Friends

A landmark UCLA study suggests that hanging out with friends can actually counteract the kind of stress most women experience on a daily basis. When women engage in this 'tending or befriending' with children and other women, studies suggest that the hormone oxytocin is released, which further counters stress and produces a calming effect.

We always knew that friends made us feel good and now there is actual evidence that they are good for our health!
So the next time you need a lift-me-up or simply want to relax, call up your closest group of girlfriends for a fun gathering.

*And why not make money while having fun and sharing with your friends? We can show you how: It’s Time to DreamAgain

Watch our fun, short video of Moms and what we do here:Moms Making a Difference

Take care of yourself so you can continue to take care of those you love.

Wishing you all the best,

Julie

Want to learn more about how Shaklee helps to keep you healthy with products that come with a 100% money back guarantee?

Visit our website: ToBeHealthy.MyShaklee.com

Mom Who Doesn't Have a Car, But Has a Dream

Meet Mary - 
No car? No problem! Find out how Mary Bias is building a business from home with no transportation and working towards her Shaklee Dream Car bonus!


Tell us a little about yourself.
I am married to my college sweetheart Joseph Bias (insert Christmas Joke here).  We have three beautiful little babies; Brooklynn 6, Garrick 4 and Ananias 18 months.  I am a nurse by training, with my masters in Nursing Education.

How did you learn about Shaklee?
I learned about Shaklee through a friend. At the time my husband and I wanted to start trying again for another baby.

What made you decide to join Shaklee?
I was taking an organic whole food supplement, and was shocked to find it had one of the highest lead counts on the market, so joining Shaklee was a no brainer for me. When my husband and I joined, we did so with the intent of just using the products and maybe making a few referrals.  I was working on my master’s degree at the time and never thought I would really pursue Shaklee as a career.

What kinds of changes have you experienced since using Shaklee products?
Our whole family has had a health transformation.  I myself have lost 22* pounds! Right now, our Shaklee income covers all our supplements and some of our bills!

What is your goal for your Shaklee business?
My goal is to have sufficient income to start making new experiences for our children.  Right now, my husband commutes over an hour each way to work – so the children and I stay within walking distance of the house every day.  By May, we are hoping to have another car and enough income to start going to the zoo, aquarium and other fun experiences.  My daughter would love to take ballet.  We would love to be able to put our children in choir or piano lessons.  Little things like that are next on our list!

What are some of the intangible things you’ve experienced with Shaklee?
Shaklee has helped me to be a better wife, mother and friend.  You can’t truly explain to others what the personal growth aspect is like – it is something that has to be experienced.  But the fact that you can’t be successful without caring for others forces you to learn to love people in a way you never have before.  I have had to learn to truly serve other people, and it is life changing.

What are some of the specific things you’ve been doing to grow your business?
Since Cleveland, I have spent time writing my vision and my why and creating affirmations to help me with my mindset.  I love participating in the many different training opportunities that are offered in the Shaklee Family.  The weekly upline calls, and the Shaklee Mom’s Calls with Kristen Cunningham have been instrumental for me. Right now, I have one Director under me, and multiple distributors that are earning enough to cover the cost of their products.  I love looking at my bonus statement each month and seeing the different families who have their product cost covered!

What one piece of advice would you share with your fellow Distributors?
Don’t give up!  Keep your head up!  Keep your vision and your “why” handy.  They will keep you motivated.  Be willing to change your thinking when you need it.  Any activity, no matter how small is a step in the right direction!  If I can do it, anyone can!  I love to show other moms and young people that it is totally possible to build a business without a car, from your home, during the day with little kids running around!

**Would you like to learn more about what Mary does?
We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
We can send you a no obligation info packet in the mail or via email. 
You can also talk with us. Click the "Contact Us" tab up top, tell us what you are interested in and how best to contact you.
You can learn more about what we do by visiting our website: ToBeHealthy.MyShaklee.com/whyshaklee

*Results and experiences from the Shaklee 180 Program are unique to each person, so results may vary. In a preliminary 12-week clinical study, participants on average lost 15.4 pounds and 6.7 inches in 12 weeks.
blog_bias_03242016
*The average annual income in 2015 for the Business Leader ranks ranged from $10,217 for Directors, $13,672 for Senior Directors, $21,646 for Coordinators, $48,367 for Executive Coordinators, $95,867 for Key Coordinators, $211,018 for Master Coordinators, to $614,200 for Presidential Master Coordinators. Average annual income is based on the monthly amounts reported on Form 1099-MISC for all Business Leaders at that rank.  The sum of these monthly averages is the figure reported in the income disclosure statement. Results will vary with effort. Shaklee Corporation does not guarantee that any particular income level will be achieved.

When Your Child Doesn’t Need You As Much Anymore

I was reminded of this today at the bus stop. My son fell on the concrete while running and scraped the palms of his hands. I could feel the sting and knew it must have hurt, but it was my heart that stung worse as he got to his feet, rubbed his hands together and went on instead of coming to me for comfort.

He wasn’t about to let his friends see he might need his mom. I understood his not wanting to need me, but it sent my mind reeling back to the days when a little boy would fall then come running to me with red scraped hands outstretched for mom’s gentle kisses.

We long to teach our children to be more independent. We start out with simple things like how to sit up, to crawl, and to hold a spoon. Then it’s on to dressing themselves and tying their shoes. Later it’s to making their bed and their own lunches.

They may balk at first at them having to do the things you used to do for them. You hear yourself telling them how they are old enough now to do it themselves. We feel the burden ease off of us just a little as they learn to do more on their own.

Then comes the day where you feel the sting of when they don’t need you like before. When you feel the distance growing between you there will come a day when you reach out to do something for them just to be helpful, only to have them stop you and say, “I got it, Mom. I can do it myself.”

You weakly smile and back off softly saying, “OK”, but inside it hurts. And that’s when you feel a longing. A longing for the days when your little one giggles as you pulled the shirt over his head and said peek-a-boo. When he needed you to fill his sippy cup and tie his shoes. When he desperately held your hand not wanting to let you go on his first day of school. You will suddenly find yourself longing for when he couldn’t do it by himself.

Why? Why do we work so hard at teaching them to do it on their own, only when they finally do we wished for the days when they needed us to do it?

Our job as mothers is to teach our children to be independent – to grow up and learn to take care of themselves.

Oh sure, they will always need us. To find that lost lucky shirt, to borrow money for that date, to listen when their best friend lets them down. Then later they need us for advice on a job offer or when their own children have a temperature. Their needing us never truly ends, it just changes.

Isn’t is strange how we can’t wait till they are potty trained, but the sight of a cute potty chair in the store years later makes us wish for those days back?

As moms we may always wish for the days when they were little and their lessons were little, but oh dear mom, just know that though they may need you less in the ways of chores and duties, their need for you grows in matters of more importance as their life grows.

So go on and make their bed for them once in a blue moon, not that they can’t or shouldn’t do it on their own, but more of a way to satisfy your need to do it for them just one more time.

We know you want them to think you are just being nice when they are overwhelmed with their super busy lives, but us moms secretly know it’s because you may miss the days when they needed you to.

Julie

Interested in children's health products? Check out our whole line of supplements, daily care, safe household cleaners and laundry products: ToBeHealthy.MyShaklee.com

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An Easy Pork Roast Recipe That Also Saves You Money

Here is an easy pork roast recipe that saves money because we cook the roast now and get a couple of meals off of it later when I don’t feel like cooking or when I am short on time.

Pork is a leaner meat than beef and provides a nice break from the chicken we usually eat.

Our local supermarket on occasion has pork roasts on sale for half off or more every few months. They may offer a partial sale in between, but I usually wait till they are half off.

There are websites out there that can show in your area what products tend to go on sale and when. The sites may charge a small fee, but if you have a lot of mouths to feed they could save you a lot of money and save you time, too.

We don’t have a large family anymore, so I usually will only buy 2 of the largest pork roasts I can find. You can ask the meat guy to bring you the largest and freshest if you want.

Why buy the largest you can find?

You are already going to be taking the time to prep and cook one, you might as well get the largest to save time and money by making it go farther.

I cook one roast at a time. I preheat the oven to 375°. Some people like to cook them at 400°, but I have found 375° keeps them really juicy and still has them cooked in about 2 hours depending on size.

Get your pan ready. Make sure your pan is at least an inch or two deep and long enough so that your roast doesn’t hang over the sides. I also use a wire rack in my pan so my roast is sitting just above the water. I add the water to just below the rack.

You want plenty of water so it doesn’t run dry. If this is your first time, make sure to periodically check to make sure you still have plenty of water in your pan. Add more if need be.

But I don’t want my roast “sitting” in a puddle of water either. Then spray non-stick spray on the rack to make it easier to remove your roast once cooked.

Get out all your spices so they are ready to go. Here are what I use:

• olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• Mrs. Dash table blend

Sorry folks, I do not measure my seasonings. I go by taste and the, “That looks good” method. Don’t be afraid to play around with seasonings. There are much better cooks out there who could recommend many other and even better seasonings than I do. Do a search on the Internet for what seasonings go with pork and experiment.

I cut open the plastic surrounding the roast in the sink and let the juices drain out. I do this because I like to rinse off my meat. 

If we were ever at a meat processing plant I know we would never eat meat again, so washing it off I feel gets some of the dirt off. Yes, I know it doesn’t wash germs and bacteria off, but there is plain old grime on it that does rinse off.

Be sure not to run the water too fast as you do not want raw meat juices to be splashing all over everything. 

I then spray everything down with a good, but safe disinfectant to kill any bacteria that may be in the sink, on the faucets, counter, etc. I like to use Basic-G as my disinfectant. It is safe, easy to use and much, much cheaper than bleach. Plus it kills more bad guys and longer than bleach.

I do not pat the roast dry, but transfer it right to the pan. I then brush a generous coat of olive oil on top and shake on the seasonings.

Then I cut up carrots, celery and onion and add to the pan around the roast. This will help flavor your gravy later. I also sprinkle the seasonings in the water.

Then I make a tent of foil by taking 2 long pieces of aluminum foil, wrap around top edge of pan to meet in the middle, then lightly wrap the top pieces together so it looks kind of like a pup tent over the roast.

Pop it into oven and set the timer for 1½ hours. That isn’t long enough, but you will want to check the temperature after that time to see how far you have to go. Ovens vary and you don’t want to overcook it, so if you are getting close you can re-set your timer in 20-30 minute intervals and re-check as you go.

I remove the foil about 30 minutes before done to brown it just a bit and check the temperature of the meat.

I cook to 170° because I like my meat thoroughly cooked. Make sure to check in the thickest part of the meat and remember after it sits a couple of minutes the temperature will rise a few degrees.

I like to cut my roast into slices and freeze them to eat later in the week on one of those crazy nights when you have to take your kid to practice, etc.

I will let the roast rest a short time while I get my paper, foil and bags ready to freeze the slices.

I then transfer the roast to a plate and begin to slice approximately ½ inch thick chops off. (I do this after I peel a corner off to taste – yum! You do this, too, right? lol)

I transfer these slices to a plate in a single layer to cool a bit. I can sometimes get 10-12 chops off of one roast. If you try and buy 12 boneless pork chops at the store you will spend a lot more for them then cooking and slicing them yourself.

I take parchment paper and tear off the exact many sheets I need, one for each slice of meat in a size that easily wraps around each chop without leaving it exposed. I then will also tear off the same amount of aluminum foil pieces.

I tear the pieces of paper and foil off first as this makes it go faster rather than cut, tear, wrap, cut, tear, wrap, put in bag. I like to work faster and more efficient.

Wrap each slice by itself in a piece of parchment paper, then wrap it in a piece of aluminum foil.

You want to wrap in parchment paper first so when you go to pull it out of the freezer to warm up, you won’t be spending all your time trying to peel foil off your pork chop. If you ever had to do this then you know what I mean. The parchment paper releases real easy.

The foil helps to keep freezer burn out so make sure your foil piece wraps the chop entirely with no gaps.

Then put about 6 chops in a gallon size plastic freezer bag. Fold over the bag before sealing to get out all the air you can. Make sure to write on the bag what it is and the month/year. They should keep for up 3-4 months, but ours never last that long!

You can also use those food saver devices if you have one. I think you can find them here: Food Savers

Now pour off the juices with the veggies into a bowl and begin your second roast if you have one.

I like refrigerate the bowl of juices to cool it first, then later I skim off the fat that came to the surface and take a large spoon and spoon it into smaller freezer baggies to use as a gravy or cooking juices later.

The best way we like to re-heat our cooked pork chops it to take a non-stick frying pan, (I love those T-Fals) add the chops, and then add the frozen juices you poured out of the pan after cooking the roast. Do this by opening and peeling the plastic baggie off, then add the frozen chunk of juice to the pan. Add just a little water to help keep the chops from burning till the juices melt. 

Cover with a lid and cook on medium to heated through.

All your seasonings are right there so all you have to do is heat and eat! 

You can steam some veggies to go with it or eat the cooked carrots, celery and onion in the juices.

You can also shred the pork and make your own pork barbecue by adding barbecue sauce instead of pork juices to your pan.

To make an easy gravy, right before you remove the pork chops from the frying pan that have been heating in the juices, add a forkful or two of flour or cornstarch (your preference), stir well and often till the thickness is how you like it.

Some people may say, “Well, I don’t have 2 hours to cook one!” I understand that with jobs, homes, kids, and everything this can seem like a big chunk of time. 

You can do this on a day off while you are doing other chores like laundry, cleaning, etc. Once prepped and veggies chopped (you can also buy pre-chopped veggies, but they cost more), it cooks by itself for that time. Then it only take a short time to slice, wrap and throw in the freezer.

You will be oh so glad you did this on that one night you are too tired or too short on time to cook. And it keeps you from having to go through the drive-thru!

I am fortunate that I work from home so I can do this on the days I choose. That’s the benefit of having your own business. :)

If you have ever dreamed of having your own business you can work from home, contact me and let’s talk. I will explain what I do and you can look into it and see if it’s a fit for you. You can also visit my site and look around first:
Project M.A.H.M.A.

I hope you enjoy this simple easy pork roast recipe and if you spend some time cooking it ahead of time you can have a wonderful easy meal later in the weak when you don’t have time to cook one!

Save money. Save time. Yay! :)

Julie