25 Amazing Summer Salad Recipes: A Fab Roundup Post!

Salad and Summer just seem to "go together." The combination of freshness and coolness makes them the perfect go to, either as a side or a main meal or even dessert.

I know I like SIMPLE. Anything easy to toss together in under 25 minutes is what seems to be on my list of tried and trues. It is part of my own self-care plan really: eat healthfully while not making myself crazy to do "just one more thing." 

That being said, I use these tricks to simplify any recipe that calls for overly complicated ingredients or ones that are just not necessary to make on the spot:

50+ Happy Notes and Affirmations

One of the things in the DHD Subscription Boxes this month was a pretty pen and a set of sticky notes. Now, I know everyone has this kind of thing but I love ones that are really pretty, pretty! Don't you?

Anyhow, I have a habit of giving my pens away so having a couple extras is always a good idea. 

 I also thought they would be a fun way to put some affirmations around where you, or those you love, will see them. Stick a couple with “I love you” in lunches, leave one on a co-workers computer screen with “You ROCK!” or stick one on your lunch check the next time you are out for the waiter/waitress saying “Thanks for being so sweet!”

Here are some other ideas for your own notes or affirmations:

• You are important
• You are enough
• You matter
• You make me smile.
• I enjoy your company!
• I appreciate you.
• You are my favorite person.
• Never forget that you are loved.
• Thank you for being you.
• I appreciate everything you do.
• Life is good
• You are a uniquely beautiful soul
• You are awesome
• You are amazing
• I honor who you are.
• You are better than sparkly unicorns!
• YOU are kick ass!
• Trust the journey.
• Cute butt!
• Trust the journey.
• You've got this!
• Be your best self.
• You can do it!
• You can do anything!
• You are beautiful
• BELIEVE
• HOPE
• The world is filled with magic!

• My body is amazing.
• I love me!
• My body is healthy.
• I am happy.
• I am grateful.
• I am joyful.
• I have everything I need.
• I am grateful
• I am no one's victim!
• I am creative
• I choose gratitude
• I am strong
• I have everything I need.
• My heart is open to love.
• Life is good.
• I honor who I am.
• I am worthy of my dreams.
• My self-esteem is HIGH.
• My life is balanced.
• I deserve to be loved as I am.
• I am unstoppable!
• I let go of struggle.
• I embrace ease.
• DREAM
• DARE
• I am surrounded by the positive.
• The universe always provides.
• Success is mine.

15 Helpful Phrases For Saying "No!"

I was taught from a very early age to be a people pleaser. I think many of us are, however, it is not always a healthy thing for us to live our lives pleasing others. When taking care of ourselves we often have to or need to say, "No" but it can be difficult, especially when we are caught off guard.

Easy Ways To Achieve The Best Autumn Self-Care

While many people love the changes that fall brings, for others it can be a real challenge. Stress on the body, as we move into darker days and colder weather, and the mental stress of the holidays combine during this time. This combination makes it necessary to have a plan for self-care in place. Taking time to plan now will help avoid stress or "not

Selfcare And Self Respect: Two Sides Of The Same Coin

Some days are harder than others. Some days we barely feel like we have time to breath, let alone take a moment for ourselves.
Some days we are struggling to just accomplish our list of MUST do's, let alone do one more thing or want for anyone, including ourselves.

Some days our budget is stretched so thin there is not even one cent left for what we need, let alone what we want. A massage is lovely-if you have the money to spare!

If you don't, know you are not alone.
You are not the only one without a spare thin dime.
You are not the only one who cannot breathe until all the "things are done."
You are not the only one who forgot to eat in your rush to "do it all."
You are not the only one that cannot even begin to think of what you need to do for anyone, including yourself.

These are the days that you feel overwhelmed, unappreciated and often like you are just not enough.

Oh, but you are; you are enough.

Instead of focusing on what you need, want or cannot get to, acknowledge all that you DO get done; all that has come up that day or week or even month. Acknowledge that you are enough, because if you were to get everything on that growing list of obligations you would need an assistant, a cook, a maid, a nurse, a babysitter, a pet sitter and a team of landscapers to get everything you want done and finished. Acknowledge yourself and that you are doing the best that you can each day.

I like to use "I did it lists" rather than "to do" lists. It flips things around and shows you what you have accomplished.

Recognizing, acknowledging, appreciating and  the world and yourself as you are right in this 
moment is self-care. On a daily basis offer yourself the deepest respect for what you have done, what you do each day and for what you give. Even on those days when it feels like you can't do one more thing remember to take part in this practice.

In practicing self-respect, (which is the most important part of self-care that ever was, is or ever shall be) you recognize and honor all that you do, even when it feels like it is not enough. 

That is enough. That is self-care.

11 Self Care Ideas for Sensitive Souls

Are you a sensitive soul?