Hey Hey Holidays! 

Happy “Holidays-Are-Coming” time! I don’t know about y’all but this time of year I almost always feel like I am bracing for a holidaze-hurricane. This year, I am stoked to pop to the western part of the state with the kids and visit Mom! As a mom of young adults, it’s such a relief now to only manage MY calendar and let them schedule their own comings and goings. I’m also super stoked to attend a brunch with fellow high school classmates. Wow. I can really see in writing this note to all of you that I am actually relaxed about the holiday season and eagerly anticipating CONNECTION with loved ones. I’m hoping the same for all of you. In fact - my last podcast will help you do just that! (To watch click here and to listen click here.)

Here’s to simplicity, and gratitude, and LOVE. May you find them now and all through the season.

Amy

Thriving in the Holiday blitz? 

Is it possible to have some peace through the holidays?? Positively - but it likely ain’t gonna just fall in your lap! You’ve got to pull it into existence!  “What??” you might ask? DUDE! You gotta make your holidays what you want. They’re not going to make themselves.

Here are three questions to START getting clear on the ingredients you’ll need for the “most peaceful Holiday ever!”

• What are the top priorities for the holiday - general to specific. List 5. Think of this list as the most essential ingredient. It’s the meat of the menu. Without these things, there is no peace to be found,

• What are the top niceties for the holiday? List 3. Think of this list as the side items. They are nice to have but even without them your belly is full and you feel satisfied and content.

• What MUST you put in place to create the space for your top priorities to appear? List out 3 - 7 actions. Plan when you will do them. Only AFTER this has been done, repeat question 3 with the niceties. 

Here’s a short version of what mine look like: 

Top Priorities: Meaningful Family Conversations; Self-care time

Niceties: A clean house, work totally tucked away

Actions to Create:

1. Ask the kids and mom what cards/games/puzzles they’d like to do.

2. Ask everyone to think of a holiday memory that makes them laugh to share during said cards/games/puzzle time.

3. Find a recipe to cook with each family member.

4. Let everyone know I’m available daily after my morning devotional readings/journaling.

5. Practice saying, “I’m going to take some me-time for an hour or so. Can we catch up after?” If all that is going well, I’ll do a mid-holiday-family-visit day to sweep up the dog fur and do a super quick sink-toilet wipe down. Two days before everyone comes, I’ll ask for help from my VA to make sure the business is tucked away appropriately.

What’s on your lists?? After you check them twice, 😉 🎅🏻 Share your lists with us by replying to this email!

Happy Holiday Making!! 

Cool Tool or Resource

I love Fanny Slater! This Food Network Kitchen Host, Cookbook Author, Food Writer & Recipe Developer, not to mention Winner of Rachael Ray's Great American Cookbook Competition is also just an all around down-to-earth-open-book kind of person who is Fun (with a capital F!) 

Fanny is very open about her sobriety journey so I knew exactly who to ask for non-alcoholic festive options for anyone looking to abstain this holiday season. She was so lovely to send me her “Bold Fashioned” recipe (for those Bourbon lovers) to share in our newsletter. (Follow Fanny on Instagram here.)

So here it is - Fanny’s Turmeric Maple “Bold Fashioned” with Rosemary & Blood Orange. YUM.

Thanks so much FS!

Turmeric Maple “Bold Fashioned” with Rosemary & Blood Orange

Yield: 2 cocktails

Maple Turmeric Simple Syrup

2-inch piece peeled chopped fresh turmeric root (gently smashed to release the flavor)

1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric powder

1 sprig fresh rosemary

1 cup maple syrup

3/4 cup water

Cocktail

4 ounces bourbon (or non-alcoholic bourbon like Spiritless Kentucky 74)

6 dashes Angostura orange bitters

1 tablespoon maple turmeric simple syrup, plus more to taste

2 tablespoons blood orange juice, plus rounds for garnish

Fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Ice

In a small saucepot over medium-high heat, bring the fresh turmeric root, ground turmeric, rosemary, maple syrup, and water to a boil. Remove the pot from the heat, steep the mixture for 15 minutes, and then strain out the turmeric and rosemary. Cool the syrup to room temperature before using.

Add the bourbon, bitters, and maple turmeric simple syrup to 2 rocks glasses. Fill with ice cubes and gently stir to combine.

 Top with the blood orange juice and garnish with the blood orange rounds and rosemary sprigs.

Notes: The maple turmeric simple syrup will keep, refrigerated in an airtight container, for up to 1 month.

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12 Steps & Your Health!

A health coaching group based on the 12 steps, starting January 15th, 2024! If you are familiar with the 12 steps of AA, used widely in recovery groups, then you know that one goal of the steps is to “practice these steps in all of our affairs”. After working the steps myself this past year, I began to see how applicable the steps are to healthy behavioral change. I began to use the steps with clients familiar (they had some knowledge of the steps, even if it was through a friend) with the framework and found success.  This year long group coaching experience will focus on one step each month; it is NOT intended to replace recovery or sobriety programs, but instead to apply an effective framework to your thinking about your health. Limited to 12 members for the 2024 cohort! Want to learn more? Click here to schedule a complimentary consultation to see if this program is right for you.