Helping to plan your daughter’s wedding is a significant rite of passage in your life.  Tune in to share in the up’s and down’s of wedding planning ala MOB (Mother of the Bride) and learn some powerful strategies to deepen and enrich your bond as mother and daughter through this life changing time.  A daughter is a magical thing – if you are blessed to have one, recognize this blessing.

Challenge:

Remember the 4 C’s: Be your daughter’s Cheerleader, Complimenter, Confidante, and Champion!

 

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Instead of always wishing your life were different, what if you had the power to change what you dislike in a snap? All it takes is the right spirit and attitude, sprinkled with some daily gratitude. Start enjoying the ups and downs of your life journey by applying a few simple but revolutionary habits into your daily round. Learn what Deb, Carolyn and Heather have tried that truly helps make each day a bit of heaven. And don’t forget the chocolate!

Challenge: Start of daily Gratitude Journal. Get a beautiful notebook and a pen you love to write with and jot down a few things each day you can be grateful for. This simple task will change your life.

Recipe:

Brookies- by Leslie Knecht

Fudge Brownie Mix
Sugar Cookie Mix
Caramels
Milk

Mix up the brownie and cookie mixes in separate bowls. Grease a 9×13 pan. Pour in the brownie mix. Drop the cookie mix by big spoonfuls over the brownies. Bake following instructions on brownie box. Unwrap and melt caramels, mix in 2-3 T milk and stir until smooth. Pour caramel over cooled brownie/cookie mix. Serve alone or with ice cream. YUM!

Resources:

‘Little House in the Ozarks, A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler, The Rediscovered Writings’ edited by Stephen W. Hines.
‘Finding Joy in the Journey’ Ensign November 2009, Thomas S. Monson.
‘Simple Abundance’ by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

 

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Deb and Heather teach you how to walk emotionally with others when they bring their problems to you.  Learn the two words to avoid and the three magic words that will help people in your life feel listened to, understood, and supported.  It’s that easy – in five words you can open up lines of communication that may have been shut down for years, deepen your relationship with loved ones AND show your support and confidence in their ability to find the solutions perfect for their own lives.  Totally Win/Win!!!

Challenge of the Week: When anyone brings a problem to you this week, be most eloquent and respond with “Oh”, move on to “Hmmm” and end with “Wow”.  See how much more understood everyone will feel in your presence.  And remember:  NO “Buts” about it and never ask “Why”.

Recipe:  Chocolate Fondue – warm chocolate brings out the flavor even more!

For a really fast chocolate fix, break a bar of good quality chocolate into pieces and put into a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup (a small Pyrex bowl is great). Melt the chocolate completely, stirring periodically until it is smooth. You can dip strawberries, apple or banana chunks, cubes of pound cake, brownie chunks, pretzels, or marshmallows into the chocolate for an impromptu fondue.

Books:

I Don’t Have To Make Everything All Better, Gary and Joy Lundberg

 

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Vacations are vital to your health and emotional well-being and you are worth it! Stop waiting and start balancing work and play–vacation now! Learn how to take care of yourself with vacations and time to relax and unwind. Special guest Travel Guru Leslie Knecht shares her favorite tips on affordable travel.

Challenge: Set up a travel account, sign up for travel websites, make a travel vision board and PICK A DATE!

References: citydeals.com, cruise.com, google.com to look for coupon codes, marriott.com, southwest.com -download the ding deals, about.com, AAA card

 

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Do you fit everyone into your schedule – except you?  Remember the oxygen mask instructions on the airplane – put your mask on first before you help someone traveling with you.  Why?  You are no good to anyone passed in the seat next to them!  You can’t pour from an empty pitcher.  God never meant for you not to get any of your own birthday cake.  He’s watching with great interest to see how you enjoy the blessings he creates for you every day – blessing for you, not just blessings to channel through you to others.  Just for you. Time for you, solitude to enjoy being born to this fabulous life.

Challenge of the week: Plan and carry out a 10-15 mini-vacation just for you several days this week.  Observe how your day goes.  The unexamined life is not worth living.  Examine yours today!

Recipe:

Personal Mug Triple Chocolate Cake   123 Calories and 2 Weight Watcher Points

2 TBSP Pillsbury Moist Supreme Reduced Sugar Devil’s Food Cake Mix
2 TBSP Cool Whip Free, thawed
1 TBSP FatFree Vanilla Yogurt
1 TBSP FatFree Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup

Stir Cool Whip and ½ the syrup and place in the freezer.  In a mug sprayed with cooking spray, mix cake mix and yogurt until smooth.  Microwave on high for 1 minute.  Cool for 5 minutes.  Spread chocolate mixture from freezer on cake and drizzle the rest of the syrup on top.  ENJOY!!

 

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As a woman you play many roles each day. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and lose yourself in the attempt to juggle them all. How do you balance all your many roles, and is it even possible? Is balance in life a myth, or can we achieve peace? Learn specific ways to add depth to your time and enjoy the simple and stolen moments of happiness. Join your host Heather as she shares ideas about how to take back your power and find that elusive balance in your life.

Challenge: Today concentrate slowly on completing one task at a time, every hour of the day, until the day is over. You will gain the inner peace that comes from living fully in the present moment. I promise you will accomplish all you set out to do and need to do with much more ease, efficiency, pleasure, and satisfaction when you merge mind, body, and spirit with the task at hand.

Recipe: Yum Yum Brownie Muffins-Hungry Girl Cookbook (Listen to the show to get the recipe)

References: The 5 Laws That Determine All of Life’s Outcomes, Flylady.com, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

 

 Confessions & Chocolate Episode 007 [27:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you are not yet, one day you’ll be an “Empty Nester”. Tune in as Deb shares her experience of renegotiating marriage after the kids are grown. Listen as the hosts talk about ways to prepare now by getting better acquainted with yourself, your partner, your interests and hobbies, and deciding to embrace whatever season of life you find yourself in right now.

Challenge: Write a letter to your husband or partner telling him all the wonderful things he does to make your life better. Really think outside the box and include everything you can to be grateful for about your spouse. Then give it to your partner and watch the sparks fly!

Spray the inside of a mug with cooking spray.  

Combine well in mug:

2 TBSP Fat Free Brownie Mix

4 TBSP Water

Cook on high for 1 minute in microwave.

Let cool.

Top with Fat Free Caramel or Chocolate Syrup and Cool Whip.

 

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Find the joy in your relationships with the men in your life when you come to realize the power you have to change your attitude and your camera lens on life. Learn how to stop feeling like a victim and choose the happiness that is in front of you.

Challenge: Fill your basket with the Easter Eggs of life, and look for the good things your partner does. Choose the life you are living and find the power that comes with that choice.

References: ‘The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands’  and ‘Woman Power’ by Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Landmark Education

 

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Don’t make the kind of resolutions this year that 30 percent of us break by the end of January.  Listen and learn how to make the doable kind like:  go to a movie once a week, gain weight, eat more ice cream, have friends over every month. Hear Carolyn’s story of losing herself in the “perfect life” and finding herself again as she creates a life of joy not perfection.

Challenge: Choose something significant to do for yourself each day for at least 15 minutes to create the life you envision. These may be things like writing, playing piano, going for a walk, meditating. Evaluate each night how well you did—but don’t beat yourself up if you only got in 5 minutes or none at all. Your goal is to take action! Start today!

 

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Welcome to C&C. Hear the hilarious story of how Confessions and Chocolate was named and meet the hosts, Deb, Carolyn, and Heather. Listen to Deb White’s inspiring story. Laugh and cry with us about her struggles and triumphs with weight-loss and how she discovered the power within, and how you can too.

Challenge: Who are you, really? Write down WHO YOU ARE. You can not identify yourself in relationship to another person (ie: I am Bobby’s Mom). Really explore who you are—this can be very revealing and help you define who you want to become.

 

 Episode 001 - Powerhouse Women [32:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download