You've Been SNIPPED!

We are 5 days away from the NEW year and most of us do not feel very new in our bank accounts nor the value of what we have. Maybe we did not save as much as we said we would on January 1^st, 2013. Maybe we had random events that required more attention, time, and money. OH MY GOSH, NOT MORE MONEY!  For the sake of time, let’s stick to the fact that money comes and money goes. The turnaround time of money is hard to completely control, BUT we can totally control where and how we invest the money that we know will go at some point after it comes. Living alone and not having as many responsibilities left me open to extra cash as a successful stylist, owner, and woman that loves to shop! As I began to grow each year, and added in pets (my first children), a husband, and a child, I realized that this girl had to control those dollars moving out of my fingers.

My first set of children are true to form in their random booboo’s and play time that sometimes takes a left turn. My husband and I are very smart, but we like what we like and we try to tackle having all of those things…..on some type of a budget. My sweet baby girl is growing into a woman and let’s just face that she is her mother’s child! WE LOVE TO SHOP!  We also love to give and inspire. So what do you do when you love to shop/give, yet you must not ignore your bills and future expectations? You put on your big girl shoes and… you COUPON!!! You may laugh now, but a dollar saved is another dollar you can play with, save, or smile at later. It is a huge part of your wellness package for life! Work, money and the economy are the biggest cause of Americans' stress, according to research released by the American Psychological Association (APA). Here’s a neat little fact about the green eyed monster: Our "fight-or-flight" system evolved as a way to physically deal with a physical danger. The problem is now that same response gets activated by everyday encounters. One of the bigger things that activate it is when people see trouble in their finances. "If people don't know how to deal with this higher adrenaline level, then the levels of stress can build and build. This can cause real physical and physiologic changes in the body that can account for people feeling poorly" (webmd, 2013).

Stress reliever: COUPONING!

Pros:                                                                                        Cons:

-It’s smart                                                                                -Attention to detail

-Save money                                                                           -THAT’S ABOUT IT!!!

-Money management skills heighten

-Lots of retailers participate

-Printable coupons

-Mobile coupons

-Deals and steals (without jail time!)

Here is where you begin!!!

Couponing Starter Kit:

-3 ring binder

-Photo sleeves with various photo sizes to hold the coupons

-Separation tabs

-Sharpie (label tabs and make reminders)

-Aloha Monkey Wellness Couponing Journal (email me for details)

-Plastic baggies on hand in case you find coupons and can not get into your book right then (never leave a coupon!)

-2-3 hours a few days a week (times may vary according to your schedule and knack for couponing)

-Gas or transportation (there’s coupons for that too!!!)

-A couponing buddy (optional)

-Extra pockets (for all the cash you will save!)

With this starter kit, you will be on your way to a healthier new you and a bigger bank account. This is only the beginning dears! You have to get into the lingo of couponing and all the neat ways to see if your skills really have grown from start through all of your checkpoints. When I started I was not interested in percentages and how much I saved, I just wanted a few dollars off. Now, I have this thing down to a science and you can too!!! For more, email me at Alohamonkeywellness@gmail.com with the subject “I want more money in my pocket!”

Aloha!

Jill

  

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Your Best GF: What qualities do you look for?

Gluten free, gluten free, gluten free!!! Every one is saying GLUTEN FREE!! ARGGGH!

Gluten free foods sound so YUCKY! We would like to think that gluten free foods look like sticks or trees and taste like cardboard.  Then, if they aren’t trees or sticks, they must be something like chunks of soy that are gummy and not the least bit enticing. Gluten free diet choices also involve our health, allergies, and demographics. Most often we grow up and are healthy as ever. Then we get older, choose to move to a different region to settle and have a solid more productive career in. We begin to realistically learn just the way our surroundings and the foods we usually consume affect us in different regions than we are used to. Ever wonder why you lived in California, had no allergies,  and could eat anything you wanted, but when you moved to Delaware that you began to have itchy eyes, more upset stomach when you ate, and were more tired after eating all those foods you were used to? It is all in our diets! WOULDN’T YOU THINK GLUTEN FREE WAS ONLY FOR HEALTH NUTS WHO WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING?  Well let’s pop all those bubbles!

Fact: a diet is more than our actions to stop certain foods. It is most effective as a noun not as an adjective.  Let’s make an example:

       

(adjective)  I’ve dieted all month and only lost one pound.

                       

             (noun) My diet consists of vegetables, lean meat for protein, and lots of water.

Myth: Gluten is when you eat and eat and eat until you can't lift another finger. Jeez!!!

Fact: Gluten is protein found in wheat, rye, barley and sometimes oats.  Because of the processes used in making baked goods and other consumer goods, there is a concern of the sensitivities that heighten sickness in those with celiac disease and digestive conditions.

Myth: Chelsea Clinton’s wedding cake was gluten free and it was gorgeous! I have to be gluten free!

Fact: Gluten free eating is NOT a new fad to jump into. If and when you decide to become gluten free, you have to understand the effectiveness of your decision. (keyword today is EFFECTIVE)

Myth: It says gluten free, so I should eat it!

Fact: A benefit of going gluten free is knowing that you will counter the void with PROTEIN. Plain chicken breasts, turkey, tuna, beans, eggs, nuts, nut butter, yogurt, cottage cheese and milk are all naturally gluten-free and may, therefore, become staple foods when following a gluten-free plan (Gluten-free, 2013).

Fact (bonus): Many commercially produced gluten-free foods are highly processed and can be

quite low in nutrients. With many processed foods, we may avoid the main ingredients our minds told us to while consuming other not so great ingredients such as high amounts of sodium, sugar, and additives.  You can determine whether a food is processed by looking at the ingredient list. The longer the ingredient list, the more processed a food is likely to be (Aglee, 2012).

Myth: Eating gluten free will make me fine and skinny.  I can eat anything that says “gluten free” in any portion! YES!

Fact: A shift to incorporating lean protein in your meals and snacks can help you achieve a more balanced diet with the amount of protein needed to help keep you satisfied throughout your day. Avoiding gluten is not an excuse to load up on gluten-free breads, cookies and cakes.

For a starter list of great gluten free options, check the list at: http://www.glutenfreegigi.com/resource/no-thought-required-gluten-free-food-list/

Want more information on gluten free living? Email Aloha Monkey Wellness: Alohamonkeywellness@gmail.com  I have so many more options for your best lifestyle! Stay tuned on all of our pages!

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References:

Gluten-free: Is it for everyone? (2013, Feb 07). The Guelph Mercury. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1284746591?accountid=32521

Gupta, Sanjay (n.d.). Gluten May Be Making You Sick. Retrieved from http://www.everydayhealth.com/sanjay-gupta/gluten-may-be-making-you-sick.aspx?source=dlp-pdr

Jacobs, Aglaee (2012). Processed Food Definition. Retrieved from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/processed-food-definition-2074.html