Fun Smoothies!

Smoothies Give You Energy

A few weeks ago, I had a great conversation with my wonderful doctor. You see, I had been feeling a little sluggish and struggling to find energy to keep up with my busy schedule. My dear husband and I wake up before the sun wakes to pray together and read the Bible and then he heads off to work and I get to work in my home office! My doctor quickly identified why I was feeling so sleepy – she's so smart! She said that I need more protein in my diet and suggested that smoothies are a tasty way to do that! Protein smoothies are so easy to make and they are affordable if you make your own! I love how diverse they can be too!

Since our conversation, I'm having a blast blending all sorts of yummy ingredients in my blender! And I have more energy to keep up with my work! Here are some recipes that I enjoy and I think you will too! I always start with a scoop of a vegan protein powder by SunWarrior. This amazing raw super food is gluten free, dairy free and soy free which fits perfectly with my healthy lifestyle. I also like how it's very low in sugar! (Seriously, there's only 1 gram per scoop!) The 16 grams of protein are exactly what I need to boost my energy and keep me full till my next meal. To my protein powder, I add rice milk and fruit! A handful of frozen blueberries made this mornings smoothie just perfect! Yesterday, I used a 1/2 cup of fresh mixed fruit instead of the berries! Tomorrow, I can't wait to try some canned fruit that's sitting in my fridge right now. It's going to be perfectly chilled and just delicious! Have some fun trying different fruits that you like, whether fresh, frozen or canned. This simple smoothie is sure to fill you up and put some pep in your step!

No… “You” Inspire me!

Jan18

"No… 'You' Inspire me!" By Nancy Alexander

Notes & Letters from Customers…

I have been receiving emails, comments, and notes from my customers for many years. They are becoming more and more frequent now. They mean so much to me touching my heart and my life in ways I cannot explain – inspiring me to do more, teach more, and film more to help you reach your life's goals and dreams. Many of you say that I am an inspiration to you, but, it is just the opposite! YOU are an inspiration to me!

I am feeling led today to quote just a few of these in my blog…these notes and emails mean so much in my own life! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for having so much confidence in me! You give me inspiration, strength and purpose to put smiles on your faces as I encourage and teach you a hobby that has done so much for me!

Nancy,

"I just stumbled upon your website and am inspired by your story. I also have fibromyalgia and also have a talent for floral arranging that I haven't used in years. I've begun to feel useless because of the aches and pains of the fibromyalgia and feeling like I can't even keep up with my housekeeping much less try to start a business. I am asking that when you think of this email, please life me u in prayer. I too, am looking for God's guidance in my life now and your story sounded so much like mine. Thank you for putting your story out there. Praying for your health also. Blessings" (J.A.)

Dear Nancy,

"First of all, "Warmest Holiday Wishes to You and Yours, and may the "New Year be Blessed With Much Happiness!" You have been blessed with a God given talent…the wreaths are truly a 'creative masterpiece' of the talent that you possess…one more lovely than the next. I admire you and your creativity. The health issues that you have been faced with truly have been a long journey, but with God's help, all things are possible and I know you are and have been an inspiration to many! Thank you for the work that you do, and I am looking forward to receiving information on how to become a "member" so that I can be on my way to, hopefully, establishing my own business. Blessings and Smiles!" (CW)

Dear Nancy, "I know you are crazy busy getting ready for the holidays, but I want to Thank You so much for the continued help and support you give through "Best of Nancy"! I have purchased most of your videos and have learned so much through them. May God continue to bless you and your precious family in the year 2012. Please keep my family in your prayers. Thank you for your boldness and proudly proclaiming you are a Christian. What a testimony you have through your business! As of today, my few sales have been through family and friends, but I pray God will allow me to develop it in 2021. I am looking forward to hearing from you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sweet spirit, ALWAYS wearing a smile and always being such a positive influence. Merry Christmas and may God Richly Bless You and Yours". (JC)

Dear Nancy and team. "I'm thrilled to know that you know the Lord as your personal Savior. That is the most important part of this amazing adventure in expressing your gifts. I've always enjoyed either crafting or copying beauty but your expression has given me more freedom of expression to go outside the lines. May the Lord Bless You beyond measure in every area of life, health, finances, family emotions, and Your Spiritual walk with the Lord"!

Hi Nancy "Just finished watching your how to wrap presents video and wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. With each video you make it seems like I am having a wonderful visit with an old (not age wise), dear friend. I too, cannot seem to get rid of my odds and ends, and bits and pieces left over from wreath making. Now, I know what to do with them! I loved each package you wrapped and embellished! Did you notice that your outfit coordinated with almost every package you wrapped? I am so glad you used your teeth to tie the bows (I do too). When the giggling started, my Grandmother would say "you girls have your tickle box turned over…"Glad to see yours got a work out during the video. It was just you being you – kind, friendly, heartwarming, and so helpful. I really, really enjoyed browsing your web site and seeing your new and beautiful creations and using all the helpful tips and hints you so graciously post for all of us to take advantage of. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing what you come up with in 2012. Your friend," (DF)

"Nancy, once again you have inspired me to do what I love! Thank You for sharing these free videos with us, they are just wonderful and a joy to watch! I have learned so much from you and love your beautiful designs! Blessings…."

"I have learned FINALLY, how to make a bow. I have tried for years to make one and I finally know with your instructions how!! Thank you, and God Bless you and your family. and have a very Blessed Merry Christmas!"

"I was astounded to see how beautiful and abundant a wreath could be with only ribbon! You are truly an artist. I am so excited to keep learning more and more of your techniques. It is so generous of you to share your knowledge!" (A)

Nancy, "I thoroughly enjoyed watching your new video! The wreath is beautiful! Every time I watch your videos, I pick up another hint, or there is just something that you do that makes me say, aha… so that's how that's done. What a nice gift! Thank you, Merry Christmas!" (JM)

"Nancy, You and your wreath making videos have literally brought me back to life. It's been so long since I've had a desire to do anything creative. Your beautiful smile and your gift of presentation are so inspiring. God Bless you as you continue to inspire others.
Sincerely", (MA)

Dear Nancy, "Thank you for your video gift for all of us who anticipate each and every video you make. This is yet again, another wonderful video resulting in a beautiful wreath at the end. I feel like I am visiting with you and it's just the two of us talking and I am learning to make a wreath out of fresh greens. Your style and grace and loads of Southern Charm make me feel right at home and confident enough to try making my own wreath. I am always sad when the video ends but I know you will come up with something else just as wonderful. I love exploring your web site and hope you will continue with more exciting and beautiful things in the coming year. A very Merry Christmas Wish to you and your family". (DF)

Nancy, "This was by far my favorite video, although all have been wonderful! You have been such a blessing to me. I have been making wreaths for years and selling them. I feel like I have been to a wreath seminar… I have really learned a lot from you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart and for the 'Christmas Gift'! God Bless, and Merry Christmas." (SP)

I want to thank each and every one of you ladies for your kind words and inspirational remarks. This always affirms to me that I AM doing exactly what God has led me to do!

I wish each of you God's Blessings, and a very Merry Christmas… Nancy

Honored by Women Owned Business Club Magazine

Nov1

"Honored by Women Owned Business Club Magazine…" By Nancy Alexander

Chosen as the "Cover" of their Holiday/Christmas Issue…

I just wanted to thank the Women Owned Business Club for the honor of being the "cover" of their Popular Online Business Women's Magazine!

And, my dear customers who have contributed to making Ladybug Wreaths the resounding success it has become, I can't thank each of you enough! You are all so very special to me… We are now being nationally recognized!

For Women in Business, this online club has the success of Women in Business at heart. So, if you are wanting to grow your business, and draw customers to your site, this is the place to be!

Be sure to check out WOBC here: www.wobcmagazine.com/7678/54089/a/wobc-magazine-holiday-cover-2013

Writers Conference at The Cove

Feb5

"The Cove…" By Nancy Alexander

Writers Advance Boot Camp…

Steve and I just returned from an inspiring, jam-packed weekend at The Cove. We walked halls covered with pictures of Billy Graham, his family, and many important figures who know, love and respect him. We attended classes taught by many well known authors and teachers, as we got to talk to famous authors who give God all the credit for their work and their inspiration. Steve and I were inspired as we knew that we were exactly where we were meant to be — as we felt we were walking on Holy Ground. .

If you have never heard of The Cove, it is the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC. This truly is an amazing place – a place of peace, safety, and retreat from the outside world. We attended a Christian Writers Retreat with my unfinished book in hand. If you haven't heard me mention the book of my life, the name is: FIBROMYALGIA: RUMORS, RAVAGES, AND THE RESCUE.

We were there to "pitch" my book to an editor. This particular editor, Eddie Jones, is the owner, and Acquisitions Editor of Lighthouse Publishing. The time we spent with Eddie was enlightening, exciting, and inspiring. He basically said: "your book is the type we are looking for, because it can help many women suffering from chronic illnesses similar to the ones I have — or had." Yes, I did know this, because this was my main reason for hiring a published writer to help me in this, often painful, writing process. He also said: "Go home and write quickly! We need to get this story out as soon as possible. Even after you're finished writing, it could take a year for them to do what they need to do."

We learned that Lighthouse was a great publisher to go with — they care — they are concerned about their writers, which is SO important. We took a class from him later, comparing the smaller publishing houses to the larger publishers. As a matter of fact, we also met with Diana Flegal who is an agent specializing in getting manuscripts in front of some of the larger publishers. She basically said the same thing. I have a VERY STRONG platform, meaning that I already have a following of, mostly ladies, who are waiting for my book — for my help. They need and want this help and encouragement.

These ladies are suffering just as I did. I can help them by telling the story of the path I walked for over 30 years which included self-doubt, pain, and suffering. I can also tell them how I now experience the freedom of knowing I can and do now live strongly! I am finally able to reach my dreams for the first time in my life. I am finally able to feel self-confidence which is sorely lacking when you have chronic illnesses. And I am finally able to dream my dreams with a sense that they can and will come true. And last, but certainly not least, I can attest to the fact that God IS with them always — as He was with me always – even when I didn't see or feel His presence.

He IS always there. He IS always looking after each of us as we travel the journey He has for us which molds and shapes us into His children — the ones He put on this earth to become.

We really enjoyed this experience with my co-author, Laura Poole, as well as friends from Anderson.

We will continue working on "my story". There is a lot yet to be done, but to know that it could make a difference in one life, two lives, three lives, or hundreds (it's worth it, no matter how many lives God wants it to reach).

My Story…

Jan23

"My Story…" By Nancy Alexander

I Filmed a Video of Me Talking About My Story…

I just filmed a short video about "my story" that went out in my newsletter on Tuesday. You have probably heard me talk on this blog about my story of fighting Celiac and Fibromyalgia before. Some days I am speechless when I look at how many emails I still get from women who are suffering and going undiagnosed every single day. I got sick when I was twenty-nine years old. That was thirty years ago! Wouldn't you think by now, that a diagnosis and the correct medical care would be easier to get?

My partner, Linda Joseph, and I have a new website, www.PassionIntoProfits.com. This site is set up to be more intense workshops in my home studio than we could offer in www.BestOfNancy.com, as well as more intense group coaching. So, in announcing this new website, Linda and our personal coach wanted me to film this video. We want to let women, who are just like I was thirty years ago, know that they CAN dream, and they CAN learn wreath-making as well as any other craft, and they CAN learn to sell online to bring in extra income. In other words, there is help out there to makes their lives fuller, and more joy-filled!

If you watched my video, I must tell you that was very hard for me to film. I have felt led by God for such a long time to get my story out there in hopes that I can help those of you who have chronic illnesses, or other issues you are having to deal with. I am sixty-two years old!! And, I am now able to do more than I have done in the last thirty years.

I feel as though I went through so much, so that I could feel your pain — and I CERTAINLY do!

Please don't EVER give up. Please don't EVER accept a doctor telling you it is all in your head, when "you" know that you're really sick. Keep searching, keep looking, find a good nutritionist like I have who can help you with diet, allergies, which foods you can eat, as well as which foods you cannot eat — and so much more.

Do you know that just this week, I found out I had another problem? Have you ever heard of high histamine? Well, the normal number should be around 20. I was just tested, and mine is 134! This leads to another group of foods that I cannot and will not eat — but that is okay! In some ways it is comforting to know that, yes… I HAVE really been sick all these years when no one believed me. But, at the same time, it makes me very sad; sad to know that I spend those years searching and searching and never finding an answer.

I then remind myself that without having a chronic illness, I would NEVER have been right here, today. I would not be talking to you right now. I don't think I would have ever made it this far if it were not for the fact that God's reason was for me to be able to love and encourage each of you!

"God has a perfect plan for us. He never does it all at once, just step by step because
He wants to teach us to walk by FAITH, not by sight." ~Author Unknown~

Thank you for visiting today. I continually pray for each of you! Smiles… Nancy

Nancy's Ramblings

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