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April 29, 2016
Julie Yuccas

4 comments

My Sabbatical for Treatment

My precious friends, I have lots of truth and recipes I still want to share with you. However, for the months of May and June, I am taking a sabbatical from writing to focus on my health.

Jesus promised me, “I have taken away your sickness and removed your disease.” Thank you for all your prayers on my behalf!

Please keep investing in your health. You are worth the investment!

P.S. If you see someone around town without makeup that looks like me—please say hi. It will be my new look for a while.

Blessings to your health!

April 22, 2016
Julie Yuccas

no comments

Impact of Our Words – Sneak Peek Chapter 2

The words we speak are important in this healing and life-changing process. What is on your mind always comes out of your mouth as a positive or negative verbal expression. My husband and I attended a class on Sunday mornings for seven years called Biblical Principles of Success. This insightful class taught us if we want success, we have to speak success. When we speak success, our actions gravitate towards successful behaviors. Say that seven times real fast!

The same principle applies in the opposite direction. When we speak failure, we believe failure, thus produce failure. If we continually say, I’m fat, and I will always be fat,” we will not produce anything different. Declaring “I am fat” mentally keeps me overweight and prevents me from keeping the pounds off permanently. It is the same principle as the concept self-fulfilling prophesy. Stop criticizing yourself and start loving yourself with your words.

Julie, you don’t understand. At one point in my life someone basically told me I am not good enough or I am fat. I do understand, because it happened to me. People do not realize the impact of their insensitive words. Arrows of verbal condemnation or criticism have pierced our hearts, causing injury to our minds and emotions.

No matter the source of condemnation, we have the power to choose. You have the right to reject garbage words spoken to you. That does not negate the fact those words hurt, but why would you want to take ownership of words that are destructive to your well-being? You have the power to set healthy boundaries for yourself. Boundaries are a form of protection. Determine in your mind and by the words of your mouth to set positive boundaries that protect and enhance your well-being and generations to follow.

As We Continue to Speak It, We Believe It
Transformation occurs by repeating productive behaviors over and over. If we want different results, we need to change our current situation and thought patterns. Importantly, the words coming out of our mouth should be in line with the positive results we desire. The words “I’m fat,” should never escape our lips again! Out of habit, those words easily slip out of our mouths. Here is the challenge: If negative comments try to escape your lips—stop it mid-sentence. No more trash talk. We must set a positive, productive standard for ourselves in order to beat this weight/food/mind game issue.

Breathe new life into your soul by choosing nurturing and uplifting words. No more negative, critical, and condemning comments! No more crushing the value of your self-worth and spirit. If you feel you are not worthy to say positive things about yourself just yet, please let me say—you are worthy. You are a very important human being. At the very least, please choose to not say anything negative about yourself. It is a step in the right direction.

You can do this! As you speak life into your mind, body and spirit, success is inevitable.

Blessings!

April 15, 2016
Julie Yuccas

1 comment

Juicing Segment From: The Truth About Cancer

Last week, I wrote about how you and I are “worth the investment.” I suggested an easy first step is to start juicing or making smoothies. I am thrilled to see the YouTube video “Truth About Cancer – episode #3” promoted significant health improvements with juicing.

Rather than read a blog today, may I encourage you to watch this video. Here is the link: https://go2.thetruthaboutcancer.com/agq/episode-3/

I care about you greatly, and the state of your health and that of your family. You are worth the investment!

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Blessings to your health!

April 7, 2016
Julie Yuccas

no comments

I Am Worth the Investment

As I sat in my van after my PET Scan, the thought came to me. Julie, will you still eat healthy and keep juicing once you are healed of cancer? I started to cry. If I received the precious gift to be healed of cancer, I would respect and continue to tenderly care for my new healthy body. I am worth the investment.

Looking from a mom’s perspective, we nurture and tend to every need of our infant when they are born—even for years to come. We respect the gift of life, our little ones, and take care of them to the best of our ability. We only want the best for them. They are worth the investment.

We have to look at ourselves with the same love, respect, and care. You are worth the investment.

“Too many people experience unnecessary physical ailments, which could be avoided with intentional dietary and lifestyle habits. Every stage and every age of life need nutritious foods. From a cancer patient point of view, it is easier to eat a healthy balanced diet, than repair the damage from cancer.

I was taken aback by a passenger’s comment at one of my departure flights from LAX. It was so busy they rerouted many of us to pass through security in another area. A woman who looked to be five or six months pregnant, I’m sure eager to reach her destination, said in reference to having to walk through x-ray, ‘We’re all going to get cancer anyways!’

Yikes! Only six months into my own cancer diagnosis, I thought, woman you do not know what you are saying! I never want to hear the devastating words, ‘Your child has cancer.’ Nor do I wish anyone to experience the anguish of telling your children you have cancer. The state of our health should never be taken flippantly. We are the ones that have to live in our body for the rest of our life. We deserve to finish strong and healthy in this race we call life.” (Excerpt from Chapter 26, Vitamins and Minerals: The Invisible Heroes)

Do Not Be Fooled

I hate drug commercials. I appreciate the reveal, however, the long list of possible side effects so casually spoken amongst nice pictures—humph! “Possible side effects may include lymphoma or other cancers.” Cancer is not a casual side effect. Do the drug companies want us to ignorantly think so?

Don’t be fooled and think disease or cancer is a pleasant walk in the park. Disease costs you wasted hours thinking about symptoms, test results, treatment, rehashing what the doctor said, and playing worse scenarios.

Disease costs you hard earned money. Including, those who so graciously give gifts to relieve some of the financial burden. Disease costs you money for treatment, drugs, and getting well.

Disease costs you time, a big waste of precious time, running to doctors visits, tests, and treatments.

Disease steals from your family and friends, as they worry on your behalf or the time they lovingly sacrifice to go to appointments with you.

Disease and cancer suck!

You and I are worth the investment!

On a positive note, the investment to stay healthy costs you less money and precious time. Plus, no head games to contend with, which equals peace of mind.

I recommend, love on yourself. As you love yourself, this spills over into indirectly loving your family and friends.

May I suggest taking the easiest first step? Make fruit and vegetable smoothies or juicing. It is the best investment for your body. You can pack so many life-giving nutrients into one glass. It is quick and convenient.

Ask God for wisdom and strength. If a positive thought keeps returning to your mind and gives you peace, trust it is God leading you. You have the strength to do this. You are worth the investment. Tell yourself, “I am worth the investment.”

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Blessings to your health and your family!

March 24, 2016
Julie Yuccas

1 comment

Easter Season Gift – Freedom to Forgive Yourself

As Easter season is here, I am briefly reminded what a mess I used to be. However, my past doesn’t matter because of the gift and sacrifice God made for you and I. So much to be thankful for, I’m re-posting Freedom to Forgive Yourself. May you receive God’s unconditional love and forgiveness—now forgive yourself. ♥

My future husband held my hand as we walked into the clinic. “9-20-59, 9-20-59” repeated over and over in my head as I checked in. I was only sixteen and had to be seventeen to get an abortion without my parent’s consent. I lied about my age, and they did not ask for identification. IMG_9418_2The nurse brought me into a room to consult with me before the procedure and told me I was six weeks pregnant. She showed me a poster with four sketches of what the fetus looks like.” Two cells, then two cells divided into four, four cells divided into eight…there was no harm in that. Several years later, I found out a six-week old baby has a heartbeat and is developed much further than a bunch of dividing cells. I lied to them; they lied to me.

I have a long list of guilt and shame, if I allow the memories to creep back in. Disobeying my parents, cussing, lying, stealing, drugs, drunkenness, pornography, sex, aborting my first baby…guilty as charged!! An accuser of my soul does exist. “…Satan the Accuser came with them.” (Job 1:6b NLT) However, no wrongful act or thing done in secret surprised my Heavenly Father. Nor were these things too great, too small, or so horrible that I could not be forgiven, because of the sacrifice Jesus made for me.

HPIM2844If I let my guard down, the accuser attempts to put thoughts in my head to steal, kill, and destroy my well-being. He reminds me of my wrong choices, to make me believe I am still an unworthy person. I could agree like I used to and carry all this guilt, condemnation, and self-loathing, but I won’t do it anymore! To help me remember God’s unconditional love for me, I post scripture verses on my bathroom mirror. Every time truth is revealed, more of me is set free. It is a moment-by-moment choice to focus my thoughts on God’s truth.

My Mistakes Are Erased! So Are Yours!

God sent His son to die on a cross to erase the ugly mistakes you and I have made. It is written that there is a book up in heaven called the Book of Life. After we ask God for forgiveness, our name gets written in that book. It is a sealed agreement that when we die, we pass onto the next life to lovingly be with our Heavenly Father forever.

IMG_1519If God can forgive you and I for all our mistakes and still adores us, we must also choose to forgive our self and let it go. God does not condemn us, and we need to follow suit. “There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 GNT)

Since God hears all our prayers spoken and unspoken, listed below is a prayer to help you walk in freedom:

My Lord, please forgive me for all the wrong choices I have made. I thank you that You promise to forgive and forget all the junk in my past. Please help me to do the same. Give me strength to reject the thoughts that remind me of my past and stir up shame. I only want to hear Your voice, and I choose to not listen to the voice of the accuser. Thank you for your unconditional grace, mercy, acceptance, and love. Tenderly teach me to treat myself the same way. I love you too! Amen.

Blessings to you and yours this Easter!

March 18, 2016
Julie Yuccas

4 comments

Enjoy the LA Fruit Cart Experience in Your Own Kitchen

If you are ever in Los Angeles, you have to stop at a street fruit cart. It is an inexpensive, tantalizing nutrition experience. When I went to visit my daughter in LA last fall, she introduced me to the street vendor fruit cart. For only $5, plus tip, we received a 9×9 clear carryout box full of fresh fruit. New to me, the extra surprise was the lime and fruit spice sprinkled on top.

The vendors offer many tropical fruits to choose from and expertly cut them as you view. Then comes the delight! We were offered with lime and/or spicy. I’m game, and we started with lime and mild spicy. Oh my gosh! I didn’t want to stop eating. A whole lot of yummy is stored in my memory bank.

With spring in the air, I was craving another fruit cart experience. I’m in the wrong state, so what’s a girl to do? To my pleasant surprise, I saw Tajín fruit spice at Aldi’s supermarket. I snatched a bottle up and proceeded to go to one more grocery store to get melon, papaya, and jicama.DSCN9959Starting at 12:00 and go clockwise, I cut up pineapple, papaya, mango, oranges, Honey Dew melon, strawberries, and fresh coconut. I wanted jicama, but it wasn’t available in the store. In LA, watermelon, cucumber, and cantaloupe was also offered.

DSCN9969Squeeze fresh lime juice over cut fruit.

DSCN9985Enhance your taste bud’s experience and sprinkle Tajín fruit seasoning. Once I took my serving, I added more seasoning than what is shown. Yummy!

LA Fruit Cart Fruit Salad

 

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♥  Ingredients  ♥

– 1/3 to 1/2 fresh pineapple, chunks
– 1/2 papaya, chunks
– 1 mango, chunks
– 2 to 3 oranges, chunks
– 1/2 Honey Dew melon, chunks
– strawberries, whole
– 1 fresh coconut meat, slices
– 1 or 2 limes, to taste
– Tajín fruit seasoning, to taste
Can also use: watermelon, jicama, or cucumber.
I bet halved grapes would taste good too.

Tips:
– Cut fruit, sprinkled with lime, lasts about three days.
– Any extra unseasoned fruit can be used in smoothies or juicing.

Who says eating healthy isn’t fun? Enjoy!

Blessings to your health!

March 11, 2016
Julie Yuccas

no comments

Savory Garlic Kale Chips

I am all about Quick, Easy, and Flavorful. I love my Sun Dried Tomato Basil Kale Chips, but I don’t always have the ingredients. I created an alternative that is super easy and robust in flavor. This blend is a hit with all my guests. Hope you like it too!

Kale chips is a great way to increase your snacking pleasure using plant-based foods. They have a wonderful flavor like a chip, minus the calories. Enjoy this guilt free, tasty treat knowing each bite is packed with nourishment.

 

Savory Garlic Kale Chips

  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

 

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♥ Ingredients ♥

2 bunches of kale
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1½ teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ancho pepper (also called ground ancho chile powder)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

– After washing kale leaves, dry off excess water. Tear 2″ pieces off the spine of each leaf. Please note if the pieces are too small, once dried, they shrink into little crumbs.

– Massage olive oil evenly onto kale leaves.

– Blend garlic powder, cumin, ancho powder, and salt together.

– Sprinkle dry mixture on kale leaves coating evenly.

– Load coated kale leaves close to each other onto dehydrator trays. Dehydrate until crispy, approximately 4 to 6 hours. Delicious!

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Ancho Pepper has a sweeter flavor.

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Tear leaves into 2″ pieces.

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Massage olive oil evenly onto kale leaves. Sprinkle dry mixture, coating evenly. Place kale leaves on dehydrator, snug together, but not overlapping. Dehydrate 4 to 6 hours.

Store kale chips in a sealed container. Maintain crispness by first adding 1 tablespoon of uncooked rice in the bottom of your container—same concept as drying out a wet cell phone.

I hope you enjoy the flavor of these chips.

Blessings to your health!

March 3, 2016
Julie Yuccas

no comments

Feeling Sexy, A Woman’s Allure – Sneak Peek Chapter 43

Women who struggle with their body image too often take those issues into their bedroom. Women naturally want to feel attractive, especially during intimacy. However, our self-conscious inadequacies deter us from physical affection. Think about it, when it comes to intimacy, we open ourselves up to vulnerability. I mean, for the most part we are full blown naked! If we focus on our imperfections, we squelch the true sexual creatures that we are and hinder the gift of intimacy.

Don’t Let Self-Sabotaging Thoughts Get in the Way

Let’s go back to an important principle: Take control of your thoughts. It is natural to want to be attractive. Do not gauge your attractiveness and desirability based on what the scale says or to the digitally-enhanced beauty queens. Stop wrestling with fictitious images of women, illusions vs. reality. When we focus on feeling like we weigh too much or feel big, we allow those thoughts to create inhibition.

Conquer the Mind Games

Little enhancements, such as lighting or strategic lingerie, can be used during intimate times giving you more confidence. Your husband will never know you are doing it to make yourself feel better. He thinks it is for him. Enhancing your sexuality lessens the focus on physical insecurities, and frees you to enjoy the gift of intimacy God created for you and your husband.

“Kiss me again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine. How fragrant your cologne…Bring me into your bedroom, O my king.”  Song of Solomon 1:2, 4b NLT

That’s in the Bible! A whole book in the Bible is descriptively devoted to letting us know attraction, courtship, marriage, and intimacy is natural and a blessing.

Do not forget our mind is a powerful tool. We have the power to readjust our thinking to benefit our marriage, not divide it. We think our men are looking at us under a microscope, when in reality they are looking for the prize. And yes, there are men out there that think if they point out areas for improvement, their comments will motivate us to make changes. I wish they knew their comments make things worse for us, and for them. Keep it to yourself men, and compliment our strengths. Giving a woman tender compliments transforms her into a loving, sexual creature.

Never let bodily insecurity in your bedroom.

Blessings!

February 26, 2016
Julie Yuccas

no comments

Small Steps to Cultivate Your Soil For Success

What is the condition of your soil? Do the seeds of truth I speak land on good soil or dry soil? Do my words seem like niceties and fall away by the end of the week, or do you cultivate them with expectation of a harvest in your life?

As you continue to feed your mind with truth, this strengthens your belief system. Strong belief systems, help maintain a sound mind and success.

Here are some helpful hints to keep your soil rich with nutrients, so those seeds of truth flourish in your life:

Thoughts of, “I wish I was stronger in my faith,” is a start. With easy access through smart phones and the internet, it is easy to enrich your soil further with sound teachings via podcast. These are three that I listen to weekly to enrich my faith, Mosaic.org Los Angeles, CA, iBethel.org Redding, CA, and JosephPrince.org

Thoughts of, “I should start making smoothies,” is a start. Check out my, Quick and Easy Bursting with Nourishment Smoothie, or Winter Blend Smoothie blogs to get the recipes and suggestions for your grocery list.

Thoughts of, “I should eat better,” is a start. Sit down this week and look up one or two recipes that you can add at least two vegetables per recipe. Then write yourself a grocery list. This prepares you to cook two healthy meals, plus leftovers, for next week. Don’t be afraid to create more ways to eat vegetables.

When your mindset is focused on, ” How can I eat healthier?” Look at your next meal, one meal at a time, and ask yourself, how can I improve this meal with an extra fruit or vegetable? Don’t try to figure it all out for a week, month, or for life. Start with one meal at a time. Focus on feeding your body high-quality fuel.

When you take life in little bites, this gives you more opportunities for success. It reinforces your “I can do this!” ability. As you continue to cultivate the soil of your mind, body, and spirit, your belief system strengthens. Again, strong belief systems, help maintain a sound mind and success.

Take ownership of them and incorporate them into your life. Don’t allow doubt and impatience to rob you of good health. These are nutrients and practices that keep your soil rich.

Blessings to your mind, body, and spirit!

February 11, 2016
Julie Yuccas

1 comment

Step It Up A Notch Orange Juice

During the winter months, a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice to build up the immune system sounds delightful! Since oranges are currently in season, it is easy on the budget to buy a couple bags a week. Especially if you were to compare the cost of fresh squeezed orange juice at a restaurant. Besides all the nutrients, I can have a little Florida or California right here in my home!

I always have to step up the nutrient content. These four ingredients go nicely together without losing the flavor of the oranges.

DSCN9871Just in case you were wondering, I make this orange juice separate from my morning smoothies. The orange juice is a bonus later in the day or on weekends.

I grab a large handful of carrots when I juice for my husband and I. Which weighs about  3/4 of a pound. If you only want approximately two cups of juice, reduce the amount of carrots slightly.

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Step It Up A Notch Orange Juice

  • Servings: Approximate yield: 1 serving - 2 ½ cups, 2 servings - 3 ¾ cups
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

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♥  Ingredients  ♥

3 oranges, peeled (For two people, add three more oranges)
1 handful of carrots
1 apple
3″ piece of sweet potato or yam

– Juice as usual.

Tips:
– If you are making juice for two, add three more oranges. Three oranges per person.
– If you have grapefruit available, add one grapefruit per person.
– If you want more nutrition, add one small beet and/or one leaf of kale.

This juice is rich with vitamin C and orange carotenoids—healing vitamins to your body. Plus, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Enjoy!

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Blessings to your health!