Hello, Vibrant Reader!

Wow! What a whirlwind of a week! I've been putting in some hours at a local gift shop, and of course, it's all about Christmas--tiny models of Santa's village, Santas of all shapes, sizes, attitudes, and styles; reindeer galore, fancy decorative bulbs, and of course the trees--from microscopic to life size. The shop is pretty much non-stop, but the people are nice, and I especially love the singing mailman, who'll with the smallest provocation will bellow an operatic baritone version of "Deck the Halls" to the delight of customers and employees.

Despite the extra demands, we're still managing to get a tree (a little late, but we simply must do a tree), and managed to throw some twinkly lights up out front, and decorate our all-important front door with evergreen garlands. I've specialized in chocolate truffle holiday cakes for, let's see, the US Mail person, the three lovely ladies that work the post office counter, and the neighbors. I mean, if there are going to be calories, let them be chocolate!

I know it sounds a bit like a voice in the wilderness with all the running around for the holidays, BUT... I remind myself to take a moment every day (a few times), and give heartfelt thanks for all the blessings, opportunities, and love in my life. It's what it's all about--it's why we live, and how we define "a great life"!

Boyd mentioned to me today that although this is officially the first day of winter, it's really the first day of spring--as the days now become longer, and growing things begin to stir once again--the seeds of a new year of possibilities.

Until next week...

In vibrant health,

Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions

 

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10 Ways to Avoid Those Holiday Pounds

So what's the harm in a little holiday weight gain, especially if it's just a pound? According to researchers at the National Institutes of Health, most Americans never lose the weight they gain during the winter holidays. The pounds add up year after year, making holiday weight gain an important factor in adult obesity. Try these strategies (along with your enzyme supplements):

1. Never Arrive Hungry - Planning ahead can help you maintain discipline in the face of temptation. Try to have a nutritious snack beforehand. If you do arrive hungry, drink some water to fill up before filling your plate.
2. Divert Your Attention - Don't look at the party as just a food event. Focus on something other than food."
3. Pace Yourself - Chewing more slowly will fill you up with less food. Try putting your fork down between every bite.
4. Count Your Canaps - Keep track by stashing a toothpick in your pocket for each one. Set a limit and stick to it.
5. Outsmart the Buffet - When dinner is served buffet-style, use the smallest plate available and don't stack your food; limit your helpings to a single story. Watch out for sauces and dips.
6. Limit Alcohol - Avoid drinking too much alcohol at holiday parties. Drink a lot you, and won't have as much control over what you eat.
7. Be Choosy About Sweets - Be very selective. Limit your indulgences to small portions and only what is very sensual to you. It'll be more satisfying.
8. Bring Your Own Treats - Bringing your own dessert will make the more fattening alternatives less tempting.
9. Limit 'Tastes' While Cooking - Limit yourself to two small bites of each item pre- and post-seasoning. Dare yourself not to taste the dish at all until it is served.
10. Walk It Off - Make a new holiday tradition: the family walk. Besides burning some extra calories, this will get everyone away from the food for awhile. >>> MORE

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Resisting the Roadblocks to Your Success
Our resident Life Coach and Synergy Specialist, Charly Emery, ruminates on the wastefulness of guilt, especially relevant in the holiday season. Let's see, there's food, there's gifting, there's Uncle Henry--all ripe opportunities to guilt ourselves out of the good time. Charly says, "On the road to manifesting what you desire, there are so many little deterrents that can pull your focus away from creating what you want, or interrupt your ability to receive what you wanted when it comes to you. However, few things steal your dreams and your time like guilt. It is incredibly insidious as it often disguises itself as something worthwhile--like a bridge to your conscience--when in reality it serves only to prevent you from moving forward..." >>>> MORE

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Feng Shui Holiday Tips...
Feng Shui expert, Gwynne Warner, gives some useful tips for revving up and polishing your holiday "chi." This can be a stressful time of the year for many reasons, so it doesn't help to have a home working against you energetically. Says Gwynne: "During the Holy Days, the amplifying of the physical light is a shining metaphor of welcoming spiritual light. It's a perfect time to wash windows, shine mirrors, light candles and fires, and hang brilliant crystals, colored lights and shiny ornaments everywhere to raise your chi and spirits." >>>> MORE

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Chi Necklaces!

By customer demand, we are now offering our Chi Necklace with special gemstones corresponding to each chakra all together in one necklace. Just perfect for the gem lover, metaphysician, or energy medicine practitioner in your life! Makes a great romantic gift, too for men or women...

Each gem is carefully hand-selected and lovingly hung on a pure silver finding, by our talented craftsman gemstone expert, Rosemary Beam. Each necklace is strung with a thin black leather cord with a fine, sturdy, silver clip-style fastener. $110.00. >>>> MORE INFO

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FREE DOWNLOAD: WOMEN'S HEALTH
By Dr. DicQie Fuller-Looney, Women's Health is a definitive look at the relationship between digestive enzymes and hormones, and how hormonal imbalances in women can be traced back to enzyme deficiencies. This book is a logical, no-nonsense evaluation of the current medical approaches that overlook digestive enzymes as an ultimate solution. Dr. Fuller-Looney makes her case by showing that the symptoms of protein malabsorption are the same as the symptoms of menopause. DOWNLOAD HERE

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