No, it’s not a coffee-maker.

No, it’s not a bracelet charm.

No, it’s not a trip to a spa (ok, I personally wouldn’t turn that one down.)

But let’s take a break from guessing for a second and talk about Mom and everything that she does.

(Not a Mom but looking for a present for Mom? Skip to the bottom to see the ultimate gift that every Mom deserves.)

• The job of a Mom is a 24-hour commitment that can’t be measured with flowers, kitchen appliances or chocolates.
• Being a Mom means giving yourself to the ones you love the most without expecting anything in return (okay, maybe a clean room and a little help with the dishes could be expected at some point.)
• It’s the most demanding job in the world. At the same it’s the most satisfying one too, don’t you agree?
• Mom is the most WANTED person in the world because:
  -newborns want to be fed and held,
  -toddlers want to be played with and have to be watched constantly!
  -school-age children want help with their homework or money for a new gadget that everybody in their class already has;
  -husband wants at least a couple of minutes a day to cuddle and to “reclaim” his wife (not a feeding, cleaning and cooking machine.)

But what does it all leave Mom with? Exhaustion. Feeling of inner chaos. And of course immeasurable love for every person in her household.

Work-life balance is the topic most searched for by the readers of BalanceInMe. But is there work-life balance for Mom?

• Doesn’t she deserve to grow as a person?
• Doesn’t she deserve time to take care of her body and health?
• Doesn’t she deserve to spend at least 15 minutes a day doing what she enjoys without any interruptions?
• Doesn’t she deserve to be fulfilled as a person who can share her passion and enthusiasm for life with her family?

Being a Mom is a tough job, granted, but I personally wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world. And I am sure that every mother out there who struggles to keep her days straight (you know, that “mother’s amnesia” when you lose track of days and time because of the constant sleep deprivation), to keep her house clean or to spend 15 minutes in the shower alone, in silence when she can finally hear her thoughts without being interrupted; every one of those mothers considers motherhood the biggest blessing and joy.

The Best Gift for Every Mom

I think every mother deserves a very special gift that she can enjoy not only this Mother’s day but every day.

• A gift of appreciation from the loved ones.
• A gift of “me”-time at least for 10 minutes to help Mom remember that she is a person with her needs and interests.
• A gift of sanity to help Mom maneuver daily minefields of family chaos while running errands, cooking dinners, working as well as carving out time for each member of the family.
• A gift of Balance. Every Mom must be a Balance Queen to help her stay sane while taking care of the family without days-off, vacations or sick leaves.

What does it take to keep your balance as a Mom?

• it takes learning to say “no”,
• it takes forgetting about Mom’s guilt,
• it takes some serious prioritization,
• it takes finding time for yourself,
• it takes learning to take it easy and to give up perfectionism.

Give yourself a Gift of Balance this Mother’s Day because you deserve it!

If you need help becoming a Balance Queen then I am here for you. And I have a special guide created just for you to help you along the way: The Reclaim Your Life course. This Mother’s Day you can get a 20% DISCOUNT on every package in the Life Balance Store. It’s the last time that I am running this promotion.

You might be tempted to go just with the Reclaim Your Life course (which has proven its value over that last two years) but consider investing in yourself a little more. You deserve a Personal Approach to life balance and I can help you create this life balance strategy if you sign up for the Life Balance Blast Off package.

You can choose to have four 45-minute coaching or Pilates sessions with me (and of course you can mix and match.)

Why add Pilates to life balance training? Because every Mom deserves to feel (and look) good in her body and Pilates is the best way to do it! Proven by a mother of two sets of twins (a personal announcement is hidden in the P.S.)

Let’s recap.

• The best gift for every Mom is balance.
• For the Moms who want to become Balance Queens and stop being hamsters on a hamster wheel there is a special proven-to-work guide: the Reclaim Your Life course that will take only 15 days to transform life from chaos into harmony.
• Until Monday, May 13th use the code BALANCEQUEEN to get a 20% discount on all packages in the Life Balance Store.
• It’s the first and the last time you can get a 20% discount on the Life Balance Blast Off package (and the number of those packages is limited to 10 only) to create a personalized life balance strategy. It’s my gift to the Mothers who are ready change their lives!

Click here to view pricing and become a Balance Queen.

P.S. As a Mom I know a thing or two about keeping my personal balance (after all, this is the reason why I started BiM 5 years ago.) On April 8th I earned a new “degree” in motherhood when I delivered my second set of twins. This Mother’s Day is very special to me because this year I am Mom times 4 (still not used to the sound of that ) Now I am a Mom to 4 precious healthy girls (ages 5 and 1 month) and I have never been happier in my life. Thanks for sharing this joy with me!

When entering into adulthood, you find a catch: not everything that you learn at school is useful. Hard working is not a sign of good work, and it’s almost useless to learn from the mistakes of others. Success often reaches people going against the rules. So, today I provide you several non-standard principles of achieving success, which are not taught at school.

7 Non-standard rules for achieving success

1. Fears are useless
Just imagine how much energy and emotions you spend on pointless worries about something that will never happen. Let’s be honest: you can not prevent everything. And your anxiety is certainly not going to help. If you are afraid of exotic flu – get vaccinated, you are afraid of accidents on the roads – use a subway.
Remember that anxious people are more susceptible to diseases and more likely to feel miserable – even when there are no real reasons for worries.

2. Laziness is useful
There’s no laziness at all. There is either a lack of motivation – and that means that you are facing the goals you’re no interested in. Then why do you need them? Or there’s the lack of energy – in this case, you have to go on a vacation or to the doctor. Everyday laziness can be anything from the need to rest, because the brain is overloaded and can not operate effectively, to the symptoms of illness.
Laziness may be a signal to your brain that it needs a rest in order to solve a problem. When your brain is released from all tasks for a while, then it will work much better. So, sometimes healthy laziness isn’t as bad as it may seem.

3. Mistakes and failures are fine
Unfortunately, as a kid your parents taught you that mistakes are bad. Why “unfortunately”? Because mistakes are just a collection of the necessary experience.
How to find out what’s wrong or right, if you don’t make a mistake? Mistake is just correction of a route on the way to your goals, and not a disaster. If you make a mistake you receive and understand the experience and now it’s easier for you to find the shortest path to the solution. Fear of mistakes, however, paralyzes and interferes with achieving your goals.

4. Don’t forget about your dreams
In your everyday life you easily forget about your dreams. For example, early in your career you’ve been dreaming to have a rest at the seaside. And now you’re working in the office, it seems that everything is good… But when you have the opportunity to go on a vacation, your first thought is: “How can I leave my work?” “Who will do all this instead of me?”.
Maybe in a few years, your goals have changed, and now you want a career growth. Or maybe you just forgot about your dreams. The man who forgot his dream is becoming like a squirrel in a cage. If you don’t seek for anything, then why should you run?

5. Specify your desires
Put down your dreams in a diary. If your desire is material, list the budget: how much money is needed for its implementation? Let it be a huge sum for you right now, just don’t panic and don’t worry. Now you just have to specify your dreams.
With the help of this method you imagine your desire in detail and help your brain to visualize it. And as you already may know, visualization is a powerful tool for achieving goals.

6. Communicate
A sense of friendly support is indispensable. In addition, any new acquaintance can be potentially useful for your business. Don’t be afraid to meet new people. Throw away unnecessary shyness: experience shows that each person thinks a lot more about themselves than about you. Show the person that you are glad to be in his company. Be open and friendly – think of anyone as if it were your best friends. People who have been comfortable in your presence, won’t forget you.

7. Stop comparing yourself to others
This is the waste of time, which takes away your power and energy. We are not equal from birth – according to our possibilities, economic status, physical appearance. Whether you like it or not, but you can’t change it. So it makes sense to compare your present and past. How you have changed in the last two or three years, what you have achieved or lost. Such a mental exercise is much more useful than endless torment “Why I’m not like her?”

Conclusion

Remember that no matter where you are from, what your nationality is, what parents you have, you still can achieve your success. Everything starts within your mind. First of all you should change your mindset, your habits and attitude to life. Just believe in yourself and don’t forget to act.

Roman Soluk is the author and editor of Optimistic Life blog. He dedicated his personal life and work to positive living and optimism. Get in touch with him on Google+.

Have you been seeking a “fountain of youth?” If so, you will be pleased to know it lies within you, just a breath away, with a breathing technique to balance your brain.

My story

Some years ago I was a passenger in my boyfriend’s car when he rear-ended the car in front of him, and we were immediately struck from behind.

The force of the impact propelled my body so hard into the shoulder belt it literally knocked the air out of me, leaving me gasping for breath.

My boyfriend, trying to take the focus off his having caused the accident, decided it would be a good idea to make fun of my distress and started making pretend gasping sounds himself.

Needless to say, I was neither comforted nor amused.

Eventually my breath came back; and not long after, the boyfriend was gone.

Until one has an experience like that, it’s easy to take the miracle of our breath for granted.

I spent the first 45 years of my life not being aware of my breathing at all. As I became more involved with yoga, spirituality and health practices, I learned that correct “abdominal breathing” is one of the keys to a healthy life.

Children do abdominal breathing automatically until, around the age of seven, they start to breathe shallowly just like most adults.

In fact, I’ve come to view abdominal breathing exercises as the fountain of youth. Let me explain why.

The secret life of breath

Perhaps it’s the simplicity of breathing that leads to forget its magnificence. We don’t have to think about it; it just is.

But just as we know that walking around the office or the house isn’t really enough exercise for a healthy body [hence gyms, running shoes and bicycles], breathing exercises help counter our relatively sedentary lifestyles and purge the body of toxins.

Each day we breathe about 20,000 times. In fact, the human body is designed to release 70% of its toxins through breathing! So it’s important to get it right.

If you’re not breathing fully [and most of us don’t], you’re not ridding your body of all of its toxins. The result is that other systems in the body must work overtime to do so. This in itself can lead to illness.

We can survive weeks without food, days without water, and almost no time without breath. Yet the typical person uses just 20% of their lung capacity!

We knew how to do abdominal breathing as children, but as we grew up and became attuned to the stress of modern life, our breath got shallow.

It is estimated by Andrew Weil, M.D. that 80% of the population is breathing incorrectly and don’t know it. The good news is that it’s easy to learn to breathe correctly.

What is “abdominal breathing”?

In abdominal breathing, the abdomen expands on the inhale. This expansion allows the lower portion of the lungs to fill with air.

Then the abdomen falls along with a slow exhale.

This movement of the abdomen gives your internal organs a massage as the diaphragm moves, too.

Inhales should be slow and through the nose because:

a. it moistens the air as it goes through the nostrils and,

b. the little hairs inside your nose act as a filter to keep out dust and bacteria.

If you don’t have a meditation practice, focusing on slow, deep breathing is an excellent place to start because it slows down the body and creates a sense of inner peace.

Also, 75% of illness is stress-related, so we need to learn to relax and breathing exercises help us do just that.

The benefits of deep breathing

Best-selling author and oncologist Mitchell Gaynor, M.D., who teaches breathing exercises to his cancer patients, says, “Breathing is the basis for all our cellular functions, our energetic well-being, even our emotional health.”

Each inhale brings in oxygen and starts the process of transforming our nutrients into fuel. Each exhale is a detoxification, releasing carbon dioxide.

Good Breathing also:

• Purifies the blood

• Increases energy

• Lowers blood pressure

• Improves circulation

• Cleanses the lungs

• Calms the mind

• Beats anxiety disorders without drugs

• Helps digestion

• Helps improve sleep

• Helps the nervous and respiratory systems function more smoothly

• Reduces pain [The Lamaze technique teaches expectant mothers slow abdominal breathing in order to reduce the pain of childbirth]

The science

Numerous studies have directly associated respiratory capacity with longevity. In fact, researchers have determined that the greatest predictor of health and longevity is respiratory capacity.

Over our lifetime, our respiratory capacity naturally decreases unless we are consciously working to maintain it. The average person reaches peak respiratory function and lung capacity in their mid-20s, after which they start to lose up to 9 – 27% of their lung capacity each decade of their life.

Diminished respiratory capacity is one of the reasons the elderly so easily succumb to pneumonia.

Dr. Otto Warburg received the 1931 Nobel Prize for proving that cancer cells are anaerobic, meaning they cannot survive in an oxygen-rich environment. Germs, fungi and bacteria are also anaerobic.

Lack of oxygen reserves is also a risk factor in heart attacks.

In a nutshell, the better you breathe, the longer and better you live.

Alternate nostril breathing: Nadi shodhana

Yogis consider Nadi Shodhana to be one of the best techniques to balance the mind and nervous system.

Doing alternate nostril breathing exercises helps to balance the right [feeling] and left [thinking] hemispheres of the brain, which:

• optimizes both creativity and logic/verbal ability

• stimulates the brain, bringing alertness

• calms the nervous system

• activates intuition

I have practiced alternate nostril breathing for over 10 years on a daily basis and truly believe it has helped me to become calmer and more balanced.

The technique:

Sit in a comfortable position with a straight spine and follow these steps:

1. Use your right thumb to close the right nostril

2. Inhale slowly through the left nostril

3. Release the right nostril; close the left with your right ring finger

4. Exhale through the right nostril

5. Inhale through the right

6. Close the right nostril with right thumb

7. Exhale through the left

These seven steps make up one cycle. Sit quietly for a few moments after you have finished.

This technique should be done no more than three complete cycles at one time at the beginning. Too much oxygen to the brain when you’re not used to it can cause light-headness, so build up the number of cycles gradually.

Daily practice is ideal; add one round a week and make your breath as slow as possible. However, don’t do this breath if you have a cold or your nasal passages are blocked.

Breathe deeply and slowly. The average person breathes 12-15 breaths per minute; this means they’re breathing shallowly. Aim for doing 5-6 cycles per minute of Nadi Shodhana. That’s slow, deep breathing.

I do 10-15 minutes of deep breathing exercises each morning, and this one is my favorite. Give it a try and experience your life becoming more balanced.

Molly Larkin is the co-author of the international best-seller, “The Wind Is My Mother; The Life and Teachings of A Native American Shaman.” Download her free ebook of inspirational quotes. And read her inspirational posts at Ancient Wisdom for A Life in Balance.

Photo credit

Note from Anastasiya: I hope you will enjoy this excellent article but also won’t miss the chance to win a free copy of Robert D. Smith’s book 20,000 Days and Counting. You can read my honest review as well as the giveaway rules at the bottom of this post.

Keep reading!

20,000—that was the number that stared back at me after I typed my birth date into a countdown clock widget a little over three years ago.

Something moved in my spirit. I jumped out of the chair, threw some clothes in a bag, and pulled out of the driveway with no particular destination in mind.

When the time felt right, I stopped at one of The Leading Hotels of the World and booked a room with one objective in mind—planning my next 20,000 days.

Why Counting Your Days Will Make You Insanely Productive

Most of us measure our lives in years without ever really stopping to think how that might affect us.

We celebrate yearly birthdays and anniversaries.

We make New Year’s resolutions.

We divide each year into financial quarters.

But we never really stop to measure the power of a single 24-hour period of time. So often we TOTALLY overestimate what we can do in a year…while drastically underestimating what we can accomplish in the next 15 minutes.

Daily, you are creating a life book. Today might not even be a whole chapter. It could be just a few paragraphs, maybe only a single sentence. It is critical that you craft that sentence with on-purpose intention.

Since this exact moment is the only thing you are guaranteed, it’s in your best interest to learn how to get as much out of it as you possibly can.

3 Steps for Getting the Most out of the Next 24 Hours

1. Count your days.

Start by finding out how many days you’ve been alive. If you want a quick and easy way to do it, just enter your birth date into the Days Calculator we built on TheRobertD.com.

This experience may not cause you to do something as crazy as jumping in your car and leaving town with now destination in mind, but I guarantee it will be powerful moment for you.

2. Contact important people.

Who counts in your life? What relationships do you need to honor? What value can you add to your loved ones’ lives?

Pick up the phone or write out an email to one of these people. Tell them you’re grateful that they are in your life. Then tell them why. Simply celebrate all the positive things they are doing. Very few people receive an actual standing ovation in life. This is your chance to give them your version of one.

When you express gratitude to someone who is meaningful in your life, your entire perspective will change for the rest of the day. Your mind will be operating on a different level than the majority of people around you. Gratitude has a habit of helping you refocus on the things that matter most—purpose, relationships, love, etc.

If you’re unsure of where to start, there is one simple exercise anyone can do that can be an incredibly freeing, magical experience: write a letter to your parents and thank them for having you. This is something we often overlook. Without our mothers and fathers, regardless of whether they’re alive or dead, a positive or negative influence on our lives, we would not be here. It’s a bond that can’t be duplicated.

The amazing part about this is that you don’t even have to send the letter to get value from the experience. The value is in the act of actually writing it.

3. Recalibrate your life’s mission.

You may think you have your mission in life figured out; you may not. Regardless, it never hurts to do this quick exercise that will allow you to either discover or recalibrate your true purpose in life.

Believe it or not, 20 minutes from now, you can actually have tremendous certainty as to exactly what you should be doing with yourself. Before you roll your eyes, here’s the #1 rule—be open to this. Expect it to work and it will. Here’s what you need to do:

• Get out a blank sheet of paper or open up a blank document on your computer. Title it “My Purpose in Life.”
• Start writing and do not stop. Write whatever crosses your mind. Words, phrases, complete sentences, incomplete sentences…it doesn’t matter. Get it all on the page. When you think you’re done, keep going.
• Keep writing until you can look at the page and see something that either makes you cry or jump for joy. Take the whole document and piece together one sentence that encompasses your purpose.

I had no agenda when I sat down in that hotel room over three years ago to plan my next 20,000 days. In fact, I’m absolutely not guaranteed another 20,000 days. James Dean, who was famously quoted as saying, “Dream as if you’ll live forever; live as if you’ll die today,” only lived for 9,000 days…on the dot!

What I came to realize is that it doesn’t matter whether we live for another 20,000 days, or another five minutes. There are no guarantees. All we can do is simply live with intensity and intention with every single passing minute of every single day. When you live each day like that, the years take care of themselves.

Stop living year to year. Number this day, and keep counting UP!

From Anastasiya: I had a chance of reading the new book by Robert D. Smith 20,000 Days and Counting (aff link.) When I first got the book I started flipping through the pages trying to figure out if it was something I really wanted to read or if it was just another self improvement feel-good pep talk with no practical benefit.

The giveaway winners will be announced on April 18th, so you have two weeks to comment and share. The more you share, the higher your chances are to win 20,000 Days and Counting.

Robert D. Smith is the author of 20,000 Days and Counting, a crash course in living each day with maximum purpose and intensity. He also writes about personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more at TheRobertD.com.

I confess: Juicing has never been on my list of things to do in life.

It takes too much time.

There is too much cleanup involved.

These two factors are enough to turn me away from anything.

However, about a year ago a blogging friend of mine Farnoosh Brock asked me to read her new book about Green Juicing. I was a little skeptical but it never hurts to learn something new, I thought. I’ve been doing green juicing on and off after that (more as a hobby than a serious nutritional approach.)

Today I want to present to you Farnoosh’s new printed book (congratulations, my friend!) The Healthy Juicer’s Bible: Lose Weight, Detoxify, Fight Disease, and Live Long

If you’ve been following BalanceInMe for a while then you know that I am in the last stages of my second twin pregnancy. To give my little ones the best start in life I needed to make sure that they were getting enough vitamins and nutrients. I can’t take any prenatal vitamins (it’s a long story) so juicing seemed like the best choice.

Of course I like eating fresh veggies and fruits but there are only so many apples and carrots I can munch on during the day while still getting an adequate amount of calories to support the babies’ growth. This time around juicing was a no-brainer for me. Thankfully, I had Farnoosh to answer all of my questions and steer my on the right road to healthy juicing.

I’ll let her answer the most common questions about juicing that you might have and I hope that you will decide to give this healthy habit a try.

1. Farnoosh, how long have you been juicing and what inspired you to start this healthy habit?

You know, I started juicing in 2007 after watching a Jack Lalanne commercial. I got totally inspired by returning to basics – fruits, vegetables and herbs, which I knew so well – and by consuming more of them in a form that gave my body total nutrition and potency. It was total serendipity that I watched that commercial. I was so ready for a transformation in my life, and for a change that would be beyond what I was doing, such as exercise and eating well. I needed to go deeper. I needed a purification or deep cleansing and juicing gave me that and so much more.

2. Do you recommend “juicing” all your meals or is it just a complementary practice to a healthy nutrition plan?

Good heavens, no! I eat solid foods, and hot meals and salads and so much else, but I juice just about every day! When you first start, juice either to add extra nutrients and calories into your system if you are not eating enough nutrients or use it to replace one of your snacks or maybe even one of your meals. The best time to juice is either for breakfast or after a long workout to rehydrate and rejuvenate. The more you do it, the more you will crave it and you may be surprised what changes in your diet and nutrition you might make as a result.

3. A lot of people associate juicing with a weight loss strategy. Is it just a fad diet or is it more than that?

Juicing is not a fad diet. Juicing is the most natural form of food – fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, in juice form. It’s been there for thousands of years and it will be there for another few thousand. It’s nothing new, invented, formulated in a lab or created by a corporation. It is pure, simple, and delicious. It is straight from Mother Nature. So nothing fad about juicing.

Now it is absolutely a great way to lose weight, and the way that it works is by enhancing your digestive system. When your digestive system can get rid of accumulated waste in your body faster, then you lose weight. When your body is no longer carrying and holding on to what it does not need, then it gets in shape. Juicing simply lubricates the wonderful digestive system in your body to do what it is supposed to do but may have slowed down from years of abuse or neglect. A juice fast or detox is a fantastic way to reset and reboot your system and shed stubborn pounds.

4. What’s the difference between daily juicing and a juice fast? What re the benefits of both?

With daily juicing, you are adding juices to your regular diet while at the same time also consuming your other foods. Of course, you will most likely start to lean toward healthier juices with daily juicing but you are still eating solid foods too. That’s one benefit of daily juicing. Another is amazing energy and a feeling of rehydration and rejuvenation. It also increase your focus and gets rid of fogginess in your head. And over time after doing your daily juicing, you will notice that your cravings for bad food start to go away.

With a juice fast, you are giving up solid foods for the period of the fast. You are consuming just fruit/vegetable juices, plus water. On some fasts, you can have black tea or coffee if you wish. No solid foods. During a fast, your body goes into a rest mode for your digestive system and your mind goes into a beautiful zen state. You will be hungry for the first 24-36 hours but then your hunger goes away. You will be drinking as much green juice as you like but just limiting your fruit juices to keep the sugar level in check, even though it’s natural fructose. The benefits of a fast are enormous. You will gain health, lose weight, detox, get rid of accumulated waste, energize and rehydrate your body, improve your internal systems, and reset your body like it’s never been reset. It’s a phenomenal experience even for a juice fast of as short as 3-5 days.

5. What do you need in your kitchen to start juicing? Buying expensive juicers and blenders is not always an option for many people, what minimal appliances do you recommend?

You need a juicer. You can get a juicer for under $100 these days. I’m seeing them everywhere. You do not need an expensive one but you do need one. A blender or food processor does not juice. They blend. They do not extract fiber from the fruits and vegetables, and hence you need a machine that does this.

With a juicer at hand, you are set. You need a cutting board, a knife and your fruits and vegetables. You should also have something good to store your juices in – although I recommend only storing for 24-36 hours and only to store the juice from a masticating juicer. Use tight-lid glass jar containers for your storage.

6. What is the benefit of juicing over eating raw fruits and vegetables?

With juicing, the body immediately absorbs all the nutrients whereas with raw fruits and vegetables, your body has to digest the fiber and chew the food and it takes time for the nutrients to reach your cells. Also, with a glass of juice, you get a ton of nutrients and minerals whereas to get the equal amount, you’d need to eat a huge portion of vegetables and fruits.

7. Farnoosh, in your opinion, what will make anyone fall in love with juicing?

You know, I believe that all the science and logic does not make us fall in love with anything. It is our feelings that tell us what to fall in love with. And for juicing, it is the taste. There is nothing more delicious than a glass of green juice or fruit juice made right and fresh. When you know that it can taste this good, you start to crave it and the love starts to happen naturally. Then you can affirm the feelings of initial love that is caused by such great taste with the pure logic that this is so unbelievably good for you and for your body. It’s easier to fall in love with a happy conscience. Don’t you think?

8. To finish our yummy conversation, could you please share with us your favorite green juice recipe?

Here, I give you one of my favorites. Enjoy!!!!

Lola Dreaming

• 8-10 strawberries
• 
1 lemon, unpeeled
• 
2 kiwis, mostly peeled

• 4 Persian cucumbers
• 
2-2 1/2 cups of baby spinach
• 
A handful of fresh mint
• 
1 small yellow apple

Do you want to find out more about juicing (I hope you do!)? Click here to get all of your juicing questing answered or join the Green Juicing Clinic.

If you are ready to start sipping your way to health then go ahead and order Farnoosh’s book The Healthy Juicer’s Bible: Lose Weight, Detoxify, Fight Disease, and Live Long from Amazon (they have the best price, as always.)

And of course don’t hesitate to ask any of your questions in the comments below. Farnoosh will be happy to answer them!

Keep it balanced!

(Note: some of the links in this post are referral Amazon links which means that I will get a small commission if you decide to buy something by following the link. However, this article is not a promotional post and the links in it lead only to the resources that in my honest opinion might be helpful to you.)

The world is a fast-paced, noisy place; so much so that we often don’t realize how over-stimulated we are until we get home, turn off all the noise and just sit for a minute. Doing this, however, is often harder than we think. There’s dinner to make and family members or even a pet demanding our attention, leaving us no time, it seems, to take a minute for ourselves.

This just isn’t healthy.

Everyone needs to wind down, even if it’s just for a few minutes, and if you don’t remind yourself to do it you’ll just get swept up in the chaos until something snaps; usually your sanity. How can you remember to do this? By creating an environment in your house that is dedicated solely to rest, relaxation and recuperation.

There’s always room for peace

In my home we have a closet in the spare bedroom that’s about six feet by eight. It’s close quarters, but from the day we moved in I knew it would be my place for escape. I didn’t do much — I painted the walls a soothing blue-gray, added a comfortable chair and side table, and bought a docking station for my iPhone so I could listen to my favorite music.

Even if you have a small, 400-square-foot apartment, it’s possible to create your own rejuvenation station. All you need is:

• A place to recline
• Soft lighting
• Easy access to soothing music or a relaxing activity such as reading
• A visible divider

The spot can be tucked in the corner next to your bed or it could be a part of your living room, but the most important part of the above list is having a visible divider; something that indicates to you both mentally and physically that you are entering a place of peace. Again, this doesn’t have to be something as permanent or space-absorbing as a door. It can be as simple as a side table, a curtain or a folding room divider.

Designate your space

If you can’t keep your quiet space in place at all times, you can create a removable wall that can go up or down when you need it. A curtain divider, for example, could be put into place with just the following items:

• Ceiling hooks
• Shower or standard curtain rod
• Curtain

Simply attach the ceiling hooks to the ceiling and hang the curtain on the curtain rod, taking it on or off as needed.

A room divider is also a fun, easy project and takes up very little space when folded up. To build a quick divider, all you need is:

• 2 hinged shutters, approximately five feet tall (two panels hinged together for a total of four panels)
• Two patio window hinges
• Screws and screwdriver
• Paint and/or sandpaper (optional)

To build, lay the shutters next to each other lengthwise and screw them together with the two patio window hinges. Once attached, stand the panels up and decorate as desired. If you want to sand old paint off the shutters for the natural look, however, unscrew all of the panels and sand off the paint first before building.

Room dividers can be as simple or complicated as you like. You can build your own panels with five by two foot frames, using an industrial stapler to stretch the fabric of your choice within the frame, or you could even reuse thin strips of wood such as wall lath and either stack them in the panel, or weave them back and forth around a central dowel rod. No matter how you approach it, building a room divider could be almost as fun and relaxing as the space they’re being created for.

Find your peace

Last but not least, take some time to discover what activity, or non-activity, will help you relax the most in your new space. Try listening to music that relaxes you, reading, gentle yoga, or just kicking your feet up and staring at the ceiling. Whatever it is that helps you wind down from a busy day, use this room to indulge yourself with a few stolen moments of peace.

Once you start making it a regular practice you’ll find that you feel much more relaxed, invigorated, and at peace with yourself during the day. You might even find that you’re more excited about work than you’ve been in a while. It’s amazing what a little rest – and a little time on your own – can do for your overall spirit. You can find more tips on finding your inner peace here.

What are some ways you’ve found to relax during the day? Do you have a place to wind down in your house? What aspects of your quiet space do you like the most?

Garret Stembridge is a member of the Extra Space Storage Internet marketing team. He contributes regularly at blog.extraspace.com.

Photo credit

Do you want a magic guide to achieving the ultimate life balance?

After 5 years of writing about all different areas of life balance, about all the strategies of finding this balance, about all the obstacles that need to be overcome to discover this ultimate equilibrium I am ready to give you the blueprint that you can use every day. It might not be 100% complete (and it will never be because of the differences in our lives) but it will give you everything you need to find that inner feeling of peace, harmony and balance that all of us are looking for.

Digest it slowly, savor every piece and come back to it daily.

To keep your life in BALANCE:

#1. B – Be present and mindful

Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.
~Eckhart Tolle

New research on the brain in the past 10 years has explained a lot why we tend to focus on negative experiences. Our brain is designed to help us survive and stay away from any painful and dangerous situations. As a result of this survival mode we tend to pay 5 times more attention to negative events than we do to positive ones.

Of course, staying balanced when you are bombarded with negative events (even if it’s just your perception of the world) is impossible. That’s the main reason why learning to be mindful and present in every moment is a vital skill for life balance.

Recent research on mindfulness reveals that practicing the “Being in the Now” skill helps to change the way our brains process information. This change helps us focus more on positive experiences and eliminate the destructive effect of negative thoughts.

Click here to learn 10 practical ways to practice mindfulness anywhere

#2. A- Appreciate your life and your blessings

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~Melody Beattie

This morning I came into my girls’ room to start getting them ready for preschool. One of them immediately ran up to me saying

“Mama, mama! I want to show you something beautiful!”

She asked me to help her open the blinds and then pointed her little finger outside. She was admiring beautiful sunrise, its first gentle rays of sun just breaking the fluffy blanket of silver clouds.
What could be better than starting a day with a small moment of appreciation like that?

A recent study asked participants to write down 5 things they were grateful for once a week for 10 weeks, another group was asked to write down 5 hassles or problems a week. At the end of the study the “appreciative” group was feeling more satisfied and optimistic. They had fewer headaches, spent more time exercising and taking care of their health. Overall the grateful group felt happier and more balanced (reference: research by Sonja Lyubomyrski.)

Our daily lives are full of errands, chores and nuisance events. We rarely take time to stop and appreciate small things that we have in life whether it is a beautiful sunrise or the fact that we have a device to read our favorite emails and articles on.

Gratitude is one of the cornerstones of life balance. Today spend some time appreciating your life. You will feel calmer and more content immediately, I promise.

#3. L- Love

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.
~Oscar Wilde

Life balance is impossible without love.

My twin girls are infatuated with Lion King these days. And every time that I think about “love” I get a soundtrack from Lion King stuck in my head “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” If it were a video post I would have tried to sing it to you. On the other hand, it’s good that it’s not a video post because musical talents completely skipped me, so you are in luck!

But in all seriousness of it, Love is not limited to romantic feelings. Love is an all-encompassing attitude towards the world around us. Just think about all these meanings:

Love for your family.
Love for your spouse/partner (of course!)
Love for your friends.
Love for people around you.
Love for every little thing around you.
Even love for yourself.

Sometimes it’s hard to feel love towards people around us, especially if those are difficult people. My grandmother is one of those people and some days loving her feels like the heaviest burden. A while back I wrote a post about dealing with difficult people that might come in handy for you.

Inner balance and peace are impossible without learning to love (even the most difficult people around us.)

Today (and every day) show your love to the people around you. And don’t forget to show yourself some love by giving yourself a little “me”-break.

#4 A – Act and think positively

Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.
~Earl Nightingale

Life balance and positivity go hand in hand. A recent meta-analysis of more than 200 studies found that positive attitude helps create success in all areas of life by making a person more effective and efficient at nearly everything they do (including career, relationships and physical health.)

Numerous studies have also proved that positive attitude is a common trait among centurions. Optimists are less likely to die from heart disease; the longevity and quality of their lives is also considerably improved compared to pessimists.

But let’s forget about all these studies and research and use our common sense. Think for a second of a person that you know that always seems happy. Is this person a pessimist or an optimist? I don’t even need to hear the answer.

Are you wondering how positive you really are? Take this free two-minute quiz to see if you need to work on your positivity muscle.

And here is something to boost your positivity levels immediately – 9 ways to be positive even if circumstances are against you.

And don’t forget to smile. Genuinely

#5 N – Nurture your relationships

You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.
~Epicurus

Relationships are an important part of our daily life. We meet people, we talk to people, we get mad (sometimes), we forgive, we miss people…

Do you remember the old classic Robinson Crusoe or a modern video interpretation of it Cast Away? Being cut off from civilization and any relationships didn’t go well with those guys. The truth is that even on days when we are frustrated with our family members, colleagues or friends we are still better off than being alone.

Close satisfying relationships are an integral part of life balance. Yes, sometimes these relationships require work and nurturing but what we get in return (love, support, inner calmness, sheer joy for something wonderful that is happening in the loved one’s or friend’s life) is well worth it.

Take a look at your life and the relationships that you have with people.

• Are you happy with how you treat people around you?
• Are you being supportive and positive?
• Are you genuine and sincere?
• Do you communicate honestly?
• Do you show your appreciation?
• Do you think about your loved ones’ needs and priorities?
• Do you treat people around you the way you want to be treated?

Give yourself some time to ponder on these questions. And once you are done come back to them the next day. Sometimes we need time to find answers to these questions, so don’t hurry.

Nurturing relationships takes time and love. Don’t rush but rather enjoy the process.

#6 C –Commit to contentment

Happiness is self-contentedness.
~Aristotle

I gave this point a lot of thought. When I was thinking about a life balance key starting with letter “C” I first thought about “coping with challenges.” Yes, the ability to deal with life’s challenges is important but it just wasn’t it.

I kept thinking and thinking.

And then one of my girls asked me to give her a snack. Sure, it interrupted my thinking process but I was happy to help her.

I am a mother first of all, and only then I am a blogger, writer and everything else.

I stopped for a second to thank God for my family and for everything that I had in life. I felt inner peace and contentment.

Yes, contentment was definitely the word I was looking for.

Contentment encompasses gratitude, self-realization, and appreciation of your world. When you are content you are happy with what you have and who you really are (I borrowed this phrase from Leo Babauta)

Contentment doesn’t mean that you stop growing or that you get stuck in a small box created by your limiting beliefs and unrealized goals and dreams.

Contentment is a road to self-discovery that brings you inner peace (read my simple guide to inner peace) and true happiness that comes only from knowing yourself and making decisions based on this knowledge.

#7 E – Exercise your body and your mind

A strong body makes the mind strong.
~Thomas Jefferson

About two weeks ago doctors put me on strict bed rest as I entered my third trimester of a twin pregnancy. The biggest challenge of bed rest for me is the lack of exercise. However, even while following doctor’s strict orders I was able to design a short daily Pilates program for myself to keep my back from aching, my muscles from tightening and stiffening and my mind from going crazy.

Exercise has been an integral part of my life for over 10 years now. And while I appreciate what physical activity does for my body I also know the effects of exercise on my mind and mood.

I can think clearer, stay in better mood, keep my energy levels up and overall feel better when I stay active. Exercise for life balance is not about having six pack abs or running a marathon; it is about creating a balanced connection between mind and body.

Exercising your mind is equally important. Keep your mind healthy and active through clean thoughts, new plans and goals, creative decisions and of course positive attitude.

All of these life balance keys will work ONLY if yu work on them daily. So let’s review:

Life balance is the work that you do every day to be a better person and by being your best, most content and authentic self to contribute to the blossoming of the world around you.

Keep it balanced!

(Note: some of the links in this post are referral Amazon links which means that I will get a small commission if you decide to buy something by following the link. However, this article is not a promotional post and the links in it lead only to the resources that in my honest opinion might be helpful to you.)

We all know that our diets have an enormous effect on our long-term health. But did you know that what you eat this morning can make all the difference in how happy, energetic, and pain-free you feel this afternoon? Here are five foods high in specific nutrients that can make you feel better today, and every day.

1. Eat Beans for Good Digestion

Yes, beans have been the subject of many a digestive joke. But in reality, beans — especially black beans — create a climate of healthy bacteria in the intestines that keep everything moving smoothly. Beans are one of the best sources of probiotics, the “good” gut bacteria that aid digestive health. Some research even suggests that black beans may aid in preventing colon cancer. If you’re prone to getting gas from beans, a few drops of the natural enzyme alpha-galactosidase (brand name Beano) can make beans easier to eat in public. Soaking beans longer in water (and then replacing that liquid with fresh water) before cooking also helps eliminate the natural sugar responsible for the gas problem.

2. Drink Green Tea to Ease Arthritis

Green tea has received a great deal of publicity for its anti-inflammatory capabilities and potential to prevent cancer relapse. But the same antioxidants responsible for those health benefits, known as catechins, can also calm the inflammation associated with arthritis. In fact, some experts believe that daily consumption of green tea can protect the cartilage in joints from the long-term breakdown that occurs with osteoarthritis. It’s effective against rheumatoid arthritis as well; a specific compound in green tea that goes by the abbreviation EGCG is now thought to block the inflammatory chain reaction that causes the severe joint damage common to RA. Researchers are studying the potential of EGCG to be used as a treatment for RA.

3. Eat Eggs for an Energy Boost

Mom knew best when she used to serve you up a plate of eggs before school. Eggs are a natural energy booster, and research shows that they wake up your brain as well as your body. Eggs are rich in tyrosine, an amino acid that triggers the brain-stimulating hormones epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They’re also one of the best sources of choline, which has recently gotten a great deal of publicity for its potential to boost memory and concentration.

4. Snack on Brazil Nuts to Lift Your Mood

Grumpy? Irritable? Out of sorts? Grab a handful of selenium-rich Brazil nuts or sunflower seeds to get back on your sunny side. Odd as it sounds, research has connected lack of selenium with irritability, anxiety, depression, and other mood issues. Selenium is also essential for thyroid function, which regulates overall metabolism and keeps you feeling up and energized. Our diets used to be plenty high in selenium, a natural mineral found in the soil. But agricultural depletion has sapped some of the selenium from modern diets, and selenium deficiency is more common than it used to be. Brazil nuts are so high in selenium, though, that just a few will do. (Too much selenium and you can feel nauseous.) If you’re not a nut-lover, try a tuna sandwich or enriched whole-grain cereal.

5. Try Guava for Maximum Flexibility

Guava isn’t one of the best-known fruits here in the U.S., but it’s getting new attention for its ability to protect joints from degeneration and offset the oxidation damage that can lead to blocked arteries, cancer, and other serious health conditions. Guava is far and away the richest source of the antioxidant lycopene, the one you always hear about in connection with tomatoes. However, while tomatoes need to be cooked to release their full dose of lycopene, the lycopene in guavas is readily accessible. In addition, guavas contain tons of heart-healthy potassium — more, even, than bananas. Research has shown that eating guava regularly can lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides, and it’s associated with lower rates of prostate cancer, breast cancer, and other cancers. Note, though, that guava juice doesn’t do the trick; it’s high in sugar and doesn’t contain the same level of beneficial antioxidants. If fresh guava simply isn’t available where you live, you can eat cooked tomatoes and tomato sauces instead, or take a lycopene supplement.

Melanie Haiken is a senior editor at Caring.com, the senior care directory and leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. Melanie has written about health and family-related issues for numerous magazines and websites and has worked for San Francisco’s renowned Center for Investigative Reporting.

Photo credit

What will you do differently in 2013?

Are you ready to start a new chapter in your life; a chapter full of balance, contentment and harmony?

You are probably sick of hearing about New Year resolutions. And who isn’t? And yet at the beginning of every year we think about all the things that we want to do differently. I am not an exception from this rule.

This year I am focusing on my family and my health. It was a natural decision for me considering that we are expecting our second set of twins and I need to be physically and mentally prepared for this blessing.

How about you? Do you feel that it’s time to focus on your health?

Health has always been the #1 challenge for the readers of BalanceInMe. It’s hard to find time to exercise, to cook healthy meals (on a budget!) and to overcome the daily stresses of life. I understand these struggles completely!

After many years of searching for life balance I discovered one ally that always helps me feel better mentally and physically – Pilates. Some of you might think of Pilates as just a fancy workout popularized by some Hollywood stars while others might not even know what it is (the second group is probably much larger.)

Let me tell you what Pilates is:

• Pilates IS a Smart Body Workout that teaches you to move efficiently and safely no matter whether you are playing sports or sitting behind a desk.
• Pilates IS focused on moving with ease no matter whether you are 5 or 85. Do you have those pesky tight spots, little aches and pains that bother you in the morning or after a long and stressful day? Pilates is a way to take control of your body and start feeling great again.
• Pilates IS a stress-relief workout. Two of the core principles of Pilates are Breathing and Concentration. These principles help you take your mind off whatever stresses you out and get in an almost meditative state that relaxes your mind and loosens your body. Many clients that I work with start taking Pilates because they have had certain stress-related pains in their bodies (tight lower back, tension headaches, neck and upper back pain. Sounds familiar?) But soon they realize that Pilates does more than just stretch them out, it helps them to rejuvenate mentally and emotionally.
• Pilates IS a posture-correcting workout. It has been shown to help significantly with functional scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis (spinal curvatures) and reduce discomfort and pain associated with those conditions. By strengthening your core musculature and teaching proper movement techniques Pilates helps to correct your posture and muscular imbalances.
• Pilates promotes contentment with your body. Did you ever sustain an exercise injury because of overtraining? Or did you wish you could do something that simply doesn’t come naturally to your body (like running sprints or doing a split)? Pushing your body into unnatural ranges doesn’t only injure you physically but also emotionally causing inner imbalance and discontentment. Pilates teaches you to be comfortable with whatever range and strength level you have today and to focus on making gradual and safe progress that is beneficial to your body.
• Pilates is a “special population” workout. Many people turn to Pilates because they are in need of a special and personalized workout. Many of my clients have arthritis, have had knee and hip surgeries, suffer from back pain of any sorts or fibromyalgia (and are advised by their physicians to do Pilates) or are going through transitional stages like pregnancy and postpartum periods etc. Basically if you feel that a cookie-cutter gym workout is not beneficial to your body then Pilates might be just the right method for you.

Right now I am looking for 3 students who would like to do private virtual Pilates sessions with me. If you feel that it is something you are interested in, please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

What does a virtual private Pilates session look like?

• Virtual Pilates is a one-on-one session that focuses on your body. During the first session I will assess your current postural imbalances, talk to you about your discomforts and goals and create a program that will strengthen your body and teach you move with ease.
• A webcam is a must for our sessions since I will be watching you like a hawk to make sure that you are performing all moves with proper form. Injury or pain are not an option for us.
• Each of our sessions will be recorded so that you can work out on your own on the days when we don’t have a session scheduled. You will also have “homework” to make sure that you are getting the maximum benefit from the sessions.
• We can discuss your nutritional needs if it’s something you are interested in.
• If you’ve never done a private Pilates session before then you might be surprised that I will be mostly talking you through a workout. You won’t be following my moves like you would if you were doing a DVD workout or taking a Pilates class at a gym. This approach helps me focus on YOUR movements and correct you whenever you are going into the unsafe range or when you need to put a little extra effort and focus into the workout.
• You won’t need any special equipment for our sessions. A good Internet connection and a webcam are the only “musts” for our sessions.

Are you wondering what Pilates can do for you? Let my clients tell you about their experience:

What does it cost?

The packages are very flexible and we can make them suit your lifestyle and schedule.

You will see the biggest benefit of Pilates if you do it twice a week but even a weekly session (if you are diligent about the homework that I am going to give you) will be life-transforming for you.

Please note that at this time I can take only 3 students.

What if virtual Pilates doesn’t work for me?

I am positive that 5 sessions of Pilates are transformational for anyone. You just need to give it a try.

However, if our personalities just don’t click I will give you a full refund after our first session. No questions asked.

For right now enjoy a bonus Pilates workout (it was recorded last year for the Active Lifestyle Retreat.)

“In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you’ll see the difference, and in 30 sessions you’ll have a different body”.

~Joseph Pilates

Do you have questions? Ask them in the comments below or contact me personally.

Keep it balanced!

With 98% confidence I can say that as a reader of a blog about balanced living you will be making resolutions this year or at least think about them.

Why? Because YOU CARE about your life and you want to improve it.

Did you know that only 8% of people are successful at achieving their resolutions?

In terms of the BalanceInMe community, 5474 readers won’t be able to improve their lives in the upcoming year. That’s a very saddening thought, isn’t it?

I feel it’s time for the Resolution Revolution! It’s time to finally make those lifestyle changes happen no matter what they are. Are you ready?

Just the other day I came across a list of the most popular resolutions (according to the University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology.)

1. Lose weight (no surprise here )
2. Getting organized.
3. Spend less, save more.
4. Enjoy life to the fullest.
5. Staying fit and healthy.
6. Learn something exciting.
7. Quit smoking.
8. Help others in their dreams.
9. Fall in love.
10. Spend more time with family.

From this whole list “falling in love” is the only one that we have no control over.

Did you notice something amazing about this list? All of the goals on it are parts of a balanced lifestyle!

If we had to summarize all New Year resolutions into just one it would be “Live a more balanced life!” Isn’t it what we are here for?

The Resolution Revolution

This year I encourage you to make a once-and-for-all change towards a more satisfying, happier, fuller and more balanced lifestyle. Are you with me?

Sometimes we need just a little extra help to push us and keep us motivated to reach our goals. Let’s make this push together.

The best way to keep your resolutions is to use a proven and easy-to-follow resource that will guide you through all the changes and inevitable obstacles. Reclaim Your Life in 15 days is just that type of a resource. It will help you to:

• beat procrastination;
• stay motivated to finish a project or bring your marvelous idea to life;
• break your bad habits once and for all;
• become more positive without the “think-happy-thoughts” nonsense;
• exercise your “no” muscle and take control of your time;
• learn polite and yet effective ways to deal with difficult people and negative situations;
• find time for things you REALLY want and are meant to do (and if you don’t know what those things are – how to discover them);
• stop overextending yourself and start living in balance.

Does it sound like something you need in your life?

Even though the course has been very successful and helped dozens of people transform their lives there was one part that was still missing from it – a chapter on how to live a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Weight loss and health top the resolution list every year, however it’s so difficult to find time and a program that will fit your lifestyle.

I understand the necessity and challenge of an active lifestyle more than anybody else. My husband and I had sedentary lifestyles because we work mainly behind the computers.

At the same time, I am a Pilates and fitness instructor (with over 10 years of experience) and staying active is a passion and a priority of mine. I work with a lot of clients of different ages (the majority of them being between 30 and 65 while my oldest “student” is 75.) When I ask them what they would have done differently 10-30 years ago they all say the same thing “Started being active as early as possible!”

An active lifestyle has a lot of benefits; however certain numbers speak louder than any words:

• Did you know that men and women who sit more than 6 hours a day and are physically inactive are 94% and 48% (respectively) more likely to die earlier than their peers who are physically active and spend less than 3 hours a day sitting?
• About 80% of people will see a doctor at some point of their life because of a back pain. The main cause of back pain is sedentary lifestyle.
• Exercise and an active lifestyle are as effective in treating depression as drug therapies (the success rate is about 60% for exercise and 65% for drug therapy.)
• Are you convinced that it’s time to change your lifestyle?

For the first time ever, you can take advantage of a special Life Balance Bundle: The Reclaim Your Life course that will give you practical tools to balance all areas of your life and The Active Lifestyle Course that will help you make exercise and physical activity an integral part of your lifestyle.

The Active Lifestyle Course includes:

• 18 downloadable workouts that you can do anywhere;
• Over 270 minutes of video workouts;
• 7 printable worksheets that will help you succeed with the lifestyle change;
• The Active Lifestyle Guide that covers the following topics:
  how to find time for exercise;
  how to keep your energy during the day;
  the best workouts to lose weight;
  daily no-exercise activities to stay physically active;
  a personal active lifestyle plan to ensure your success.

If you want to make this year different and finally succeed at your New Year resolutions then I invite you to join the Lifestyle Revolution.

Click here to see the price of the Lifestyle Revolution: The Reclaim Your Life in 15 course and The Active Lifestyle Course.

Win the Bundle for Free (and news about my Bundle)

Last week I announced exciting personal news: I am pregnant! For the past few days we’ve been running a fun guessing game to see whether it’s a boy or a girl. Yesterday was the big day when we found out the news. Are you ready?

We walked into the Ultrasound Room excited and a little nervous. Our family and friends, my Pilates clients, as well as readers of BalanceInMe have been sharing their guesses for the past month or so. We already have twin girls so most people were hoping for a boy (I guess to balance out the female influence in our family )

So, here we are, in a dark room. Ready to see the baby. Excited. A little worried and praying mostly for the health of the baby.

The Ultrasound Technician puts a little gel on my pregnant tummy and we see the first glimpse of the baby. Here is the head and lots of all other stuff.

“Merry Christmas!” –says the Ultrasound Technician. “You are having twins!”

The tears of joy, confusion and slight unbelief started building up in my eyes. My husband’s eyes got really big at first (I am sure mine did too) but then also got clouded with tears of happiness.

At the moment of the ultrasound I was 20 weeks pregnant, half-way through my pregnancy. It was (and still IS) a HUGE surprise.

Once we got hold of ourselves (the best we could) we proceeded with the ultrasound.

“Baby A is a girl,” said the Ultrasound technician.

“Baby B is … a girl too.”

“You are having identical twin girls. Again!”

What are the chances of that happening?

If you guessed that I was having a Baby Girl then you were right. You can see the winner of the giveaway on the BalanceInMe Facebook Page.

I don’t want to make my other (surprise!) girl feel left out of course, so I decided to extend the Lifestyle Revolution giveaway. You can win a free copy of the bundle if you follow these steps:

1. Share this post on Facebook, Twitter or simply send a link to your friend.
2. Like the BalanceInMe Facebook page – click here.
3. Leave a comment below sharing your resolution for 2013.
4. The winner of the giveaway will be announced on Saturday, December 22nd.

(Note: if you purchase the course and win the giveaway then I will simply refund your money. If you feel that this course is just what you need to balance your life then don’t hesitate and purchase The Lifestyle Revolution.)

Keep it balanced!

P.S. Do you love to receive presents? I do, and I think that two little girls growing inside of me would love those presents even more. Let your holiday present to the girls be spreading the word about the Lifestyle Revolution and about BalanceInMe. Share a gift of Balance with those who need it the most right now.