When Cookie Crumbs Lead to Great Things

With all the talk of a New Year filled with resolutions and goals, its kinda hard to sift through the advice and come away without feeling overwhelmed or hopeless. There are so many things I’d like to do, that sometimes I have trouble getting started, so it’s the examples of people who simply take 1 action and do something that gets me to turn off my iPad and turn on my motivation.

You see, it doesn’t have to be a big deal. You can think about what you like and then take 1 step toward it. Take my friend, Lisa. She has 3 kids – 14, 13 and 13. She has spent the last 14 years doing all it takes to raise three kids and learned a thing or two along the way. One of her most important lessons to raising healthy, happy kids? Snacks. Who would have guessed? As she says, “Obviously this doesn’t mean filling them up with junk food right before dinner, it means that having appropriate snacks at necessary times can keep kids from getting hungry, which keeps them from getting cranky, which keeps them from falling apart and allows them to be their best selves and focus on whatever it is they’re doing. Interestingly I’ve found this is true for adults too (don’t get me started on naps).  A delicious “treat” can reinvigorate you and help make you more productive the rest of the day.”

With this lesson, Lisa, a self taught baker and ice cream maker, started Gertie’s Homemade Cookies.  Her cookies are all handmade with all natural ingredients and no preservatives or anything artificial; the perfect blend of cakey and chewey, chocolatey and buttery.  Yes, they contain sugar, but one cookie is the perfect serving size and will change your day.

What inspires me, besides her yummy cookies, is her journey. She started baking them at home, figured out the recipe and then found a commercial kitchen to rent for $20/hour. That’s the cost of a manicure. She then simply packaged them, with materials from a local craft shop, and started sharing them with family and friends.

And soon, she was off and running. 1 step, led to a jog, which led to a run. Inspiring.

While you are probably watching your sugar and carbs, at least til the end of January, know that a “treat” can actually help you stay your course. When we deprive ourselves fully of something, we have a harder time. If we have a “bite” or a “half” we are better able to stay our course and self –inspire.

So, “treat” yourself to a Cookie Tower. Cookie Towers are four nesting boxes filled with 4 different kinds of delicious cookies, chocolate chip, M&M, chocolate chip pecan and Heath Bar.  The cost is $40 and that includes tax and local delivery (for out of Colorado delivery, check with Lisa directly).  They are perfect for business associates, clients, kids at college (shipping is available, but extra) kids in the car after school, baby showers, wedding showers, birthdays, anniversaries, rainy days, snowy days and sunny days.

Gertie’s Homemade Cookies is a small, local company trying to change the cookie landscape in Denver. To learn more, visit their website Gertieshomemadecookies.com, call 303-366-7786 or send an email to lisagergely@gertieshomemadecookies.com.

What is one MindFULL step you would like to take toward doing something you have dreamed of this year? Let us know!

 

 

MindFULL Holiday Gifts

It is the middle of Chanukah and Christmas will be here before you know it. If you’re like me, you still have plenty of shopping left to do. The fun part is finding just the right present and lucky for us, our friend Tracey Pliskin makes it really easy to do!

If you live here in Denver, stop by her  Unique Boutique Holiday Open House #2 (12 local artists/vendors) located at  2801 east 4th avenue (4th and Detroit) on December 11th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you don’t live here, never fear. I have tried to list some of the vendor websites for you to visit. If you have any questions, you can email Tracey. She is the most resourceful and MindFULLY creative mom – she is a master photographer (keep her in mind if you need family photos – www.playfulphotography.com), sells darling jewelry, and is a non profit fundraising superstar. And, oh ya, and she is the mother of three boys…

As an added benefit, if you are feeling like you don’t know what you want to do in your life, or need a little inspiration, then simply check out the women behind the stories below! Maybe the greatest gift you will give this season will be to yourself – the gift of inspiration and “can do”.

Unique Boutique Vendors

Sydney Andrews and Tracey Pliskin — Regardless of the event, Tracey can be spotted across the room wearing a colorful Sydney Andrews necklace. Sydney Andrews is a jewelry line that started with a friendship bracelet and grew into a successful business designing and selling creations to boutiques nationwide. One can become a Sydney Andrews jewelry consultant and sell to their friends directly.  Check out both the jewelry and opportunity via Tracey’s website: Www.sydneyandrews.com/traceyp

Denver artist, Karrie McBryde and GAIA glass — Karrie makes beautiful glass objects. Why the name GAIA GLASS someone asked Karrie ~ according to Wikipedia, Gaia (pronounced “guy a”) is the primal Greek Goddess of the Earth.  This is a tribute to our mother Earth and reflects Karrie’s belief that we are all interconnected in ways we cannot imagine. http://www.gaiaglass.com/About_Us.php

The Elegant Bead — The Elegant Bead Custom Made Jewelry and Gift Collection is a unique collection of bracelets, necklaces, and home decor. Cathy created The Elegant Bead in 1995. Her jewelry design business evolved from a hobby that she started by making bracelets and earrings for herself. In 2001 Cathy was named the 2001 Entrepreneurial Mother of the Year. http://www.theelegantbead.com/

So Good Caramels — The whole thing started because Stefanie Jacobs loves caramels and her husband Garth has awesome talent in the kitchen. Together they made chewy delights and when we they shared them with friends, family and colleagues, they always  got the same response from just about everyone who tasted them: “these are so good, you should sell them.” So now, they do! Www.sogoodconfections.com

Trading 4 Treasures- Connie Stevenson — After the genocide in Rwanda in 1991, women made up 70% of the population. Forced from the kitchen into the workforce, they sought ways to generate income. Trading 4 Treasures is dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor achieve sustainable income and to work their way out of poverty. By offering hand-crafted products created by Rwandan women, dignity, pride, and resources become available for a better life. Www.trading4treasures.com

Other cool women who will be selling their wares at The Unique Boutique will be Carol Schmidt- The Rwanda Project Greeting Cards; Pampered chef -Mandy Hailpern; Take The Day T-shirts (for kids and adults) – Melissa Barnes.

Stop by. Find a unique gift. Get inspired. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon? You never know what you’ll find…

What MindFULL gifts have you found this season? Share the sites with us!