In the Land of Internet…

…there once lived a day where good writing skills and elegant penmanship were critical when confessing enamored thoughts and affections to friends and family whom live miles away.

Now letters are all but obsolete.The hours once spent obsessing over just the right words to express our heartfelt emotion have been replaced by text messaging, emails and phone calls.

But to some, our high tech society can not take away that special something we feel when we receive a letter in the mail. Is it the hand addressed envelope that calls out to you from between the bills and mail order catalogs?

To me, it’s the thought that went into each sentence, each word, each letter. It’s finding the envelope, the address and the stamp.

These things all take time, which in this day in age is hard to come by. Letters show me how much the person cares about my family and I.

My mom was a pro when it came to sending letters and cards. I remember visiting her in Colorado after moving back with my father during their divorce. While she was teaching me how to drive stick shift, we stopped in the post office parking lot.

She went in and told me to get out. It took me all of 45 minutes to get out of that darn parking lot that day. I was so mad that I hadn’t even payed any mind to what she was doing in the post office.

Once I returned home, there laid a card on my desk telling me what a wonderful daughter I was, how much our time together meant to her and how she already missed me. This same card remains on my desk, 10 years later. As for every letter she ever wrote me, I keep them in a box inside my dresser drawer.

Life has a way of taking us away from the people we love most. Thanks to my mother, I try to keep in touch with friends, family and clients the best way I know how, by writing a thought provoked letter.

Who have you been meaning to write?

Until Next Time,

Brandi

http://anewfeast.com

Quote of the Day: Who Would You Be Without Your Story?

“All my life I used to wonder what I would become when I grew up. Then, about seven years ago, I realized that I was never going to grow up…that growing is an ever ongoing process.” ~M. Scott Peck

As a child I remember being in such a hurry to grow up. The trouble is I became more of an adult than my parents. By age thirteen, I probably had more “real life” experience than most twenty year old’s.

Looking back, I can honestly say that I don’t hold an ounce of regret nor do I possess resentment towards my parents and how they chose to raise me.

On the http://thework.org, Byron Katie asks “Who would you be without your story.” I would be nothing, all of the life’s struggles have led to triumphs. Triumphs that have molded me into who I am today; a strong, confident woman, whom is wise beyond her years.

My parents have given me an excellent foundation to continue to grow upon. After all, growing is an ever going process.

Love,

Brandi

Office: 401-714-2462

http://anewfeast.com

What a Difference a Day Can Make!

After an exhausting day on Wednesday, we decided to take Thursday to rejuvenate ourselves with some fun in the sun, cold drinks and plenty of raw fruits and veggies.

THE RESULT: I felt so alive that I had trouble sleeping last night. It must have been all of the live whole foods in Urilife’s The Feast!

I hate admit that I ate absolutely horrible while in Colorado, but I will because I am an honest person. 33 days of bad eating, not good! It was the darn Mexican food I tell ya!

Even though I didn’t gain any weight, I felt miserable. I had no energy, was bloated, and I won’t even begin to tell you about the nasty thoughts that entered my mind each and every time I looked at myself in the mirror.

I recall a friend telling me a while back about an episode on Oprah. Dr. Oz had mentioned that everyone has a drug of choice when it comes to how we handle life’s ups and downs.

If you know anything about me, you know that my drug of choice is food. Whether sad, happy, stressed, excited or bored I turn to food. Well I use to anyway!

After coming to terms with the fact that, yes I have an eating disorder, I made some drastic changes not only to the foods I turned to but more importantly how I looked at myself. Because I now value myself, I have chosen to eat to live, instead of living to eat.

Unfortunately, I do slip up from time to time and when I do the thoughts come seeping their way in as well. But when I do get back on track I feel that much better. I’m excited to be back in the drivers seat when it comes to my family’s nutrition. Eating healthy makes for a healthy business too!

Yours Truly,

Brandi

Office:401-714-2462

http://anewfeast.com

The Beginning of the End

The kids and I are heading back to Rhode Island after a month long trip. While we are sad to leave our family, friends and beautiful views, we are excited to get life in order once again. Too bad we cannot fit it all in our suitcases to bring home with us!

We should arrive in Boston tomorrow around 5am. Talk about a red-eye flight! I am nervous to see how Riley does. Either he will sleep the whole flight or he will cry the whole flight, pray for me

This is a photo I shot today of Standley Lake in Arvada, Colorado.

What a way to end a wonderful vacation!

Love,

Brandi

Office: 401-714-2462

http://anewfeast.com

Quote of the Day: Falling in Love

“When it comes to love, you need not fall but rather surrender,surrender to the idea that you must love yourself before you can love another. You must absolutely trust yourself before you can absolutely trust another and most importantly you must accept your flaws before you can accept the flaws of another.“ ~ Philosophy: Falling in Love

Relaxation…

…what’s that??? I looked at the calendar today and realized that we have been going none stop for the last 25 days!!! Vacation…hmmmm, might need another one just to recover from this trip!

While we have been busy, we are having tons of fun too. We finally made it up to the Rocky Mountains on Saturday. There, we enjoyed the fresh mountain air with its views galore. The kids had a blast riding on the tractor, playing ball, fishing and to end the trip we went 4 wheeling in my uncles jeep.

Once we got home I received a call from my cousin who was on her way to the hospital to deliver number 3. So I got the kids to bed and rushed to the hospital just in time. I am so grateful I was able to be here for her.

You see, both of our mothers passed away unexpectedly 6 months apart from each other. It happened 5 years ago, but seems like yesterday. Her and I are more like sister, and I can’t help but feel that given the circumstances, my presence made a difference. Any how, the delivery went very well.

The last two days were spent recuperating. Let me tell ya, it was needed! Tomorrow we will drive up to Erie to see another uncle. On our way back I plan on driving through Estes Park to catch some more gorgeous views. I can’t wait to get home just so I can download all my pics to show you!

I’m trying really hard to see all of my friends, family, keep an eye on my Urilife business, visit all of the beautiful sites Colorado has to offer and drink The Feast so I have the energy to do so, but I am wondering…where did the last 25 days go??? Hopefully, I won’t lose anymore!

Love,

Brandi

Office: 401-714-2462

http://anewfeast.com

Exercise Less, Smile More!

Huh?  Yes, you read that right!  While it takes fewer muscles to laugh or smile than it does to frown, it has been well documented that both are not only fun, but also play an important in your maintaining optimal health!

My mom always told me to stick with a man that could make me laugh over one that was pleasing to the eye!  Of course in my teens I thought she had a screw loose, but now I am forever grateful for her wise words. 

Let’s face it life sucks sometimes, and well, sometimes you just need to drink The Feast and have a good laugh to make it through the day!  While Urilife’s The Feast tastes great, research shows that laughter actually protects the heart.  When we are stressed, the endothelium (protective layer in our blood vessels) decreases, allowing cholesterol to build up in our arteries.

Laughter can lower the risk of this hardening of the arteries.  It has also been linked to lowering the risk of diabetes, increase antibodies to help fight disease and increase blood flow.  Not to mention laughing 100 times is equivalent to 10 minutes on a rowing machine or treadmill!

Need I say more?  It seems that we have many choices throughout the bulk of the day, but I believe our most important is our happiness.  You can either be wrapped in bondage by negativity and stress or you can seek out the positive and humor in any given situation.

Flood your mind with thoughts that make you smile.  And we all know how contagious a smile is so be sure to pass it on, so they too can achieve True Optimal Health:~)

Make it a Day to Remember!

Brandi

Office: 401-714-2462

http://anewfeast.com

Can You “Catch” Obesity?

According to a Harvard Study, if one of your close friends gains an unhealthy amount of weight, your chances of doing the same increase by 57%. If your friend is the same gender as you, odds rise by 71%! 

“Having a heavyset person around appears to stretch your own notion of what’s acceptable for body size,” says lead author Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD, “allowing obesity to spread through social networks as if it were contagious.”

One of my biggest struggles with keeping a healthy mind, body and soul is trying to ignore my husband’s unhealthy habits!  I question whether or not his is deliberately sabotaging me sometimes.  I do know having his support would make my transition that much easier, but I suppose I can’t have everything!

Moral of the story, those around us can influence us in ways we don’t realize, making it important to maintain your own beliefs so you won’t be swayed by theirs.  If you are not getting the support you need at home, you can join a meet up group in your area to find more people with those same beliefs.  A great place to look for meet ups is http://meetup.com.  

With social networking all over the Internet these days, I am certain you can find virtual support if nothing else!  Heck you can even find a virtual trainer to whip your butt in shape! 

Who is your biggest supporter, or sabotager for that matter?

Always,

Brandi

Office: 401-714-2462

http://anewfeast.com

Urilife Made it Across Country!

So the kids and I landed in Denver about 1:30am on Sunday and I think today is the first day we are actually feeling like ourselves again. Well, with the exception of Sam, I am pretty sure she has a bit of altitude sickness. We’ll take today to spruce her up a bit so we can enjoy this wonderful weather we are having!

I just realized I never did tell you why I am out here for so long. In case your inquisitive mind needs to know, there is something in Denver’s water supply that is causing an epidemic of pregnancies. My friend had a little boy a few months ago, my cousin had a little girl a few days ago and my other cousin is to have a little girl a few weeks from now.

No I didn’t come out here to get pregnant! I came out here to support all those who were, are and are going to be mothers. I think after a month I will have either settled my baby fix for a few more years or I will be longing to have another right this instant. What do you think?

I am happy to say that taking a home base business across country is easier than expected. 2000 miles away doesn’t make a difference when you have been marketing consistently on the Internet.

Believe it or not, that work actually starts working for you. All of the articles, blog posts, chats with friends in forums, everything…it all starts driving traffic to your site for you.

I like to think of it as “working smarter, not harder”.

Not to say you can stop working once it does, it just makes it refreshing to know that you can comfort your sick child or enjoy the day in the sun without having to worry about loss of income.

The best part about your work is the fact that all you are doing is making friends with people. There are no sales pitches, no hype, no lies…you get to serve people by being yourself from any where around the world, can’t beat that!

Hope you are enjoying your day!

Brandi

Office: 401-714-2462

http://anewfeast.com

Quote of the Day: Two Life Paths

“Two roads diverged in a wood

And I took the one less traveled by

And that has make all the difference.”

~Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

Have you ever reached a crossroad in your life? If so, which path did you chose to walk?

Always,

Brandi