Labor Day Weekend and a New You

Labor Day typically marks the end of the summer. The end of neighborhood and family barbeques, weekends at the lake, lazy days of sleeping in in the morning and staying up late at night. Kids are back to school, sporting activities are in full speed and the days start to get shorter.

I was just talking to my son this morning about the things we didn't do this summer. Not that we didn't have the time, but maybe more that we didn't make the time. We drove past our community pool and I think I recall only twice that I took the time to venture over and relax with a good book and my music. We talked about the beach. Last year I was shuttling kids to and from the beach each day. I think the kids spent 5 of the 7 days at the beach last summer.

What changed this summer? We had a great summer. We had another awesome vacation with the Lickley family to Lake Tahoe. We also spent a wonderful weekend with the Storebo family in ND for my nieces wedding. Was this summer not as good as last? No, I think it was just as good but different. I think I will find that will all the summers to come, my kids are growing and changing. Their interests are changing and therefore their summer vacations are changing. Change is good, right?

Speaking of change... tomorrow starts the beginning of a new me. A new you for all of you that have decided to commit to the next 60 days. 60 days of eating clean, working out, and making changes for a more fit and healthier lifestyle. I love that our lives allow us the opportunity to have a "do over" or a "reset" when needed. If we take advantage of our "do overs" or "resets" now, when we are in the preventitive stages and being proactive in our own health and future, we won't be sitting here months or years from now saying, "if only I had changed a few things back then..."

"60 Days to a New You" begins tomorrow. If you are interested in joining a group that will provide you with support and encouragement, in a non-threatening environment, please let me know. I will be happy to send you the invitation to join.

Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day! Remember, what you do today will impact how you feel and who you are tomorrow!

Cheers to you in health and fitness,

Rachel Lickley
www.beachbodycoach.com/rlickley

The Albertson's Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 (12 ounce) packages chocolate chips
walnuts, if you want them

Directions
Cream together sugars and butter until light and fluffy in large bowl. Add eggs one a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla, beat well. In a smaller bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Add gradually to wet ingredients until completely combined. Stir in entire package of chocolate chips and nuts if you desire.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto a greased baking sheet (or just drop in your mouth).

Bake at 375 F until browned, about 12 minutes.

Why are there no cookies allowed?

It seems only natural for me to begin my very 1st post with an announcement, "today, I am cookie free!" And that my friends, is a beautiful thing!

I chose the name for my blog as "No Cookies Allowed". It seems to be the perfect segway into what my goals are with this blog; what my hopes are for the future of this blog; and what are ultimately my own personal goals. That of course is to be cookie free! Ok realistically, do I want to be cookie free. No! Would I love to enjoy the occasional Albertson's, freshly baked, melt in your mouth, chocolate chip cookie. (Which we just recently started microwaving for 10 seconds and OMG... seriously, it is almost as good as sex!)

With that being said, we may not allow cookies on this blog, but I am hopeful that the other items I will allow, will be of some use to you today and in the future.

Cheers to you for a cookie free kind of day!