There’s no denying that chocolate is especially abundant in store displays every February. Ever wondered where these nougat-, nut- and liqueur-filled delicacies came from?

Drinks made from ground cacao beans were important for ceremonial purposes for both the Mayans and the Aztecs, and the beans themselves were so highly valued that they were often used as currency. The Mayans and Aztecs were the first civilizations known to cultivate and regularly use the cacao bean, beginning at least 1,500 years ago. Spanish tongues had difficulty pronouncing Aztec words, so early explorers changed the Aztec drink “xocolatl” to “chocolat.”

Xocolatl was a bitter drink not well liked by the Spanish conquistadors, but by adding sugar, the drink became an instant hit in Spain and throughout Europe. As European colonies in the New World grew, so did chocolate production; by the 1700s, powdered cacao beans were finding their way not just into drinks, but also into cakes, pastries and sorbets as well. In 1828, methods developed by Dutch chocolate maker Conrad J. van Houten for separating the fat of the cacao bean and treating the remaining “cocoa powder” with alkaline salts like sodium carbonate allowed for more diverse applications of the ingredient. Joseph Storrs Fry, of England, produced the first edible chunks of modern chocolate in 1849 by combining cocoa powder with sugars and then reintroducing the cocoa butter.

By the last quarter of the 19^th century, chocolate making was dominated by the Swiss who made a series of advances to improve the quality and the versatility of chocolate. In 1867, Henri Nestle created powdered milk and Rudolph Lindt developed the process known as “conching,” which makes chocolate smoother and more easy to use in a variety of ways. Another Swiss chocolate maker, Jules Séchaud, developed a mechanized process for creating filled chocolates.

How chocolate became the treat of choice for sweethearts on Valentine’s Day is a highly debated topic. Regardless, it’s a sweet that’s enjoyed almost everywhere throughout the world, and one with a history as rich as its flavors.

The Global Genes Project (GGP) volunteer team is collecting blue jean/denim inspired bracelets for families living with rare disease, the campaign is called “7,000 Bracelets for Hope.”

To help raise awareness we’re asking 7,000 jewelry designers, volunteers from the craft community and various artists to donate one bracelet to this campaign to show their support for kids living with rare disease, disorders or conditions. These bracelets will then be distributed to participating families in December 2012.

I sent in these two bracelets. Go HERE for more information.

Happy Hump Day,

Last week I was out of town teaching.  I’m a health and fitness educator for the masses.  I was having a conversation with someone when I realized about two sentences in I had this same conversation with her last year.  At the time I had given her some advice and steps to help her move forward, but I know she did not hear a word I said.

So today I want to talk about incremental changes.  How often do you reflect on changes and growth in your own life? Do you make choices today that you wouldn’t have four years ago or even three weeks back (just prior to making those new year resolutions)? Can you hear yourself singing a new tune?

Often these incremental changes aren’t apparent until we’re put to the test. It’s just about this time in January, that our resolve can be tested as well. For example, over the past three weeks, you may have decided to improve your health, by eating well, getting adequate sleep, and exercising more often. Then the ultimate test comes, you have major work demands & deadlines (as new projects come in), your team requires you, someone or something in your family or relationships needs your help, you get a cold….you hear that voice saying I don’t have time to do anything that is required to stay healthy!! YES your resolve will be tested until you are firm and committed to doing and being your best self!

 Baby Steps

It’s vital to see the small, incremental changes you have made and not to sabotage your intentions and plans for a better life.  In every step and positive change, you will have embodied (whether you realize it or not) something new, entering your consciousness, informing your choice and actions. It may show up as resistance or tension, the whole time feeling a little out of sorts.  It’s time to acknowledge what you are coming up against and move on despite it and possibly tweak your plan, keeping the big vision or goal, in mind.

Experiencing life with a new-born and generally having children teaches us one thing for sure, change is constant, life is somewhat unpredictable, and just when you have a plan, they will make you adjust, tweak, and find a better way to manage, cope and learn! Children are like mini bosses!

So for all of you who have decided to make a change this new year, new life awaits. New challenges will emerge, opportunities will show up, and “teachers” will enter your life in various ways.  Give permission to make a few mistakes and possibly fail on first attempts. If you truly are meant to learn something, and if your change is intentional, then be prepared to dust off from the temporary set-back and get moving again. Learning anything new and worthwhile takes time, repetition, and some risk. Kids are a great example to us, they take risks everyday and thank goodness they do – as every new step brings new learning and life.

Tell me, which circle are you?

Join me Wednesday for the kick off of the Echo Creative Club Blog Hop.

Phones are addictive, but not for me, I HATE them.  I hate everything about them.  Some of my friends can’t put them down and it bugs the S*** out of me.  I have a cell phone that is five years old.  I don’t care about the latest and greatest, never have.  Trends bug the S*** out of me too!

I don’t even like talking on the phone.  It’s one of my pet peeves.

What I hate even more is people constantly snapping pictures with them.  Right now it’s just makes me……can’t say, this blog is rated PG.

So I have a new rule that my friends must abide by when we’re out together; phone stacking.

Rule: stack your phones on the table when you’re out with friends. First person to pick up their phone, picks up the check. That should be a pretty strong incentive to keep your attention on the real people in front of you, not the ones that aren’t there with you.  Think of it as an adult “time out.”

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

It started last year when we sat down and I told them all to hand over their phones to me or leave…yes leave.  I don’t mess around.  If you want to be with your phone…GO, be with your phone.  I hope you two will be very happy together.

I implore you to start this with your friends unless you’re one of the offenders.

Stack’em up Baby,

Join me tomorrow for a look into my website and blog plans for 2012.

It doesn’t take a lot of time and effort to feel better: what it does take, is a positive mindset and action.  Connecting with your body and moving into action brings energy and confidence.This ripples into all aspects of your life.

Many of the clients and people I meet have a litany of excuses for not making the change they want to see in their lives. The problem is, these excuses tend to have more power and influence than necessary. If you say, “I don’t have time” then you live as if you don’t; constantly getting caught up with what’s urgent and not necessarily important. We tend to want instant gratification; although, it’s more rewarding and real to focus on what’s important and bring continuous improvement and meaning to our lives.

I’m not saying that excuses aren’t somewhat legit, but when excuses start running your life, you’re likely to receive more of what you don’t want! Why? You have lost courage and stopped focusing on what you want;  taking a back seat, rather than the driver’s seat. Take charge, respect yourself, and receive the gifts waiting for you to accept!

To help you move forward into 2012 and achieve your resolutions, I have 10 easy steps.

1. Get Clear – what is it I want? And why do I want that? Why is it important to me?  Why important now? Is it adding value to my life today? Get to the  heart of the matter.

2. Focus – aim at one positive change that will positively affect other areas of your life – create a ripple effect!

3. Commit To One Decision – decide on what that is. Something that can change your life or move it forward. If there are multiple things – pick just one.

4. Write it down – Journal the experience and reflect on it every day, every week, every  month – this has a positive, affirming quality, and keeps you on track.

5. Speak it – add voice to your resolve, talk about it.

6. Be it – be it as though you already are, test out new actions.

7. Engage others – buddy up, make your change / resolution with others; people succeed when working together towards a shared goal

8. Say no to excuses and distractions – see them for what they are – take responsibility for your life and choice – recognize what’s stopping you.

9. Steps – create a step, take a step. Change happens in small increments.

10. Envision – dream-up, vision and manifest the best possible outcome – where you want to be!

Every day, every moment you have an  opportunity to reinvent or recreate your life. I made a positive move this morning and encourage you to do the same. This is your year to shine and change the status quo! Be amazing!

Many of us in our early stages of development sat on the floor playing with blocks & stacking rings. Over time the towers grew taller and more sophisticated; and yet, there was great pleasure in knocking them down and starting all over again. This action tells us something about our capacity for creativity, development, and change. As a child you engaged in this capacity quite naturally, with no strong attachment to the outcome – unless of course a sibling came along and knocked it down before you could!

As adults, we still design or build models to describe or better understand our experience; often in the form of mental models.  We can get stuck in these, our ego says, “it took years to create this, how dare you come along and dismantle everything I know!” The great undoing may be treacherous; and yet, powerful and freeing; not unlike building blocks tumbling and crashing to the floor.

There is something so satisfying (for me) by designing and constructing a concrete representation of ideas and processes. They take form and structure yet still malleable to be infused with new insights and variables. While coaching and facilitating teams or groups of people, it’s quite clear to me that although I have a structure or process, the parts within it are moving or adapting to the context in which we are present. I’m also aware and rather intentional about the co-creative and collaborative experience underway.

It’s even more fascinating when I start to notice other models coming into play. Will one supersede and crash the other? Will one aspect of a model; a moving part let’s say, alter and change the flow? Will another model be created? Will it transform and bring about new possibilities?  Whether models are used to describe our process or experience, one must be prepared to let go and allow room for other structures to take it’s place; for when we hold on, we stop co-creating and growing. Sure a little repetition is okay, that’s a big part of learning but when the model or process becomes too fixed or inflexible – then we get caught up in being right!

For today, consider what you are building: a relationship, a project, an appreciation for something or someone, a business plan, a team, a strategic plan…it doesn’t matter so much as to what it is, but rather your approach and attitude.  Be Flexible.  What are you willing to keep, tweak, demolish, or add? What will be transformed? Who might just come along and crash your model and if someone does you can say, “thank you, I’ll start anew.”

With Love,

jeannie

I’m going are you? I have my dress and heels all picked out.

Sign – up’s start tomorrow

January 7 – 9

What is a Bead Soup Blog Party?

Here’s how it works!

First, you must have a blog!

Second, NO, you do NOT have to make your own beads!

Third, YES it is open to International beaders!

This is NOT a competition.

This is open to ALL skill levels.

Did you know Lori is writing a book?  The book about the Bead Soup Blog Party, published by Kalmbach, will be out October 2012!