CRAZY. WILD. LOVE

My Crazy Wild Recipe Guide

by Alexis Meads

TO LOVING YOURSELF AND

Y O U R L I F E

CRAZY. WILD. LOVE

Sound familiar? If you have big dreams but don’t know how to accomplish them, then I’m glad to meet you. I’m Alexis and this is my Recipe to Loving Yourself and Your Life. Your own personal roadmap to self-love

for creating an amazing relationship, fit body and a life that is fueled by fun and purpose.

In here you’ll learn my secret sauce to loving yourself and building an a awesome life to boot. Plus healthy, delicious recipes and action steps straight from my Crazy, Wild, Love Signature Program.

“I want to have it al l, but sometimes I don’t even know

what that means. I just want to feel happy.”

Why don’t I feel happier?

Women in our generation are faced with a lot of options and expectations. We live in a unique time where social roles

haven’t been totally shattered, yet we have more opportunities and experiences open to us than ever before.

Great, right? It is great! We can design our lives in whatever way we want!

However, when we’ve been told that we can “have it all” and that “we should never settle”, we often feel overwhelmed and may not know what it is we really want. We are faced with images of women role models who seem to have it all. The rockstar career, crazy sexy husband and super slim bodies. But we don’t really know them. We don’t know their pains and hopes, their anxieties and joys, their loves lost and found.

Many of us emerge from college in our twenties ready to take on the world! We get new jobs, are on our own for the first time, maybe move to a new city. After the excitement wears off we’re left with a feeling of, “Is this all there is? Is this the right choice for me?” Left on our own devices not quite sure how to take care of our lives, our bodies and ourselves.

Women ask themselves 3 main questions:

1. Who am I?2. What do I want?3. How do I get what I want?I am here to answer these questions for you. I believe that every woman deserves to fall madly in love, feel healthy and energized and do something that gives them purpose.

The answer lies in self-love! When we learn to truly love ourselves, that magical relationship, dream career and fit body seamlessly falls into place.

You in? Awesome. Let’s get started.

Be Positive

It’s time to change the way you think. Most women compare themselves to others, judge other women and criticize their own bodies.

Thoughts go through our heads like, “I’m not good enough”, “Ugh, I hate the way I look in these jeans!” or “she’s so lucky, she has a nicer car than me, what a bitch”.

We feel that criticizing and judging ourselves is motivating, or perhaps we’re just repeating what we heard when we were children. But, you’re not a child anymore. You’re an adult who can make your own decisions and who is responsible for your own life.

Why is that a good thing?

Because you have choice! You don’t need to stay stuck in the same self-defeating patterns. When we learn to change our thoughts, we finally can break through these habits and cycles.

Self-criticism causes your body loads of stress. And stress creates unhappiness, poor health and weight-gain. NOT good! Plus negative judgment of others actually keeps you from attaining the things you want in life. On a subconscious level, if you’re judging someone for having a nice car, being thinner than you, or whatever it is...you’re actually telling the universe that you don’t want that for yourself. And the universe listens.

This is what I know; thought-patterns and lives can be changed in an instant. The decision to step-up and take action happens in a moment.

So how do we start getting what we want?

1. Surrender.If you find yourself repeating these thought patterns don’t try to stop them. Simply be willing to let them go. Ask for help and guidance in allowing yourself to surrender these destructive thought patterns and be replaced with higher, loving thoughts.

2. Create an Affirmation.I use new affirmations every day. An affirmation is a way to state something positive, about yourself or something you’d like to manifest. A great affirmation to start with is, “I love and approve of myself.” Say this to yourself as often as possible. Hundreds of times a day isn’t too much. Any time a negative thought like “I’m so lazy, I’ll never lose weight” creeps into your head, replace it with “I love and approve of myself.”

See how easy this can be?

Be Positive Tomatoes and Mozzarel la

Ingredients: • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

(I use multicolored)• 1 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into chunks• 5 fresh basil leaves, torn• Good olive oil • Coarse salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:Arrange tomatoes, mozzarella and basil on a plat-ter. Drizzle with good olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Perfect for summer!

Get Strong

Our bodies are the most important resource we have. We all know the difference between a morning when

we wake up feeling rested, eat a healthy breakfast and go for a quick workout. We feel energized, happy and excited!

What a difference to a morning where we’re practically crawling out of bed, reach for a cup of coffee and grab something sugary for a quick energy fix when we get to work.

Health is everything. Creating a strong, fit body is the very foundation to change your life.

It only takes 3 simple steps:

1. Create a beautiful relationship with food.

2. Get acquainted with a daily routine.3. Make time to relax.We’ll cover all of these steps in my Crazy, Wild, Love Program. Let’s start with my favorite: food!

• Creating a beautiful relationship with food starts with appreciating what you eat. Realize that your food is the building blocks of your body, and what you eat, matters. Start to notice what foods feel good to your body? What foods make you feel tired, bloated or nauseas?

• Be thankful for your food. A lot of hard work went into what you eat. First, the earth had to nurture and grow it, then someone had to harvest it, then it gets distributed to you, and finally it had to be cooked or presented in some way. Phew! Living in Hawaii, I learned to give thanks to my food for every meal. I literally said something like, “I am so grateful for the food in front of me that is nourishing my body.” This one simple step will change your entire relationship with food.

• Eat in a happy mood. Sounds weird, right? But many of us eat on the go, when we’re stressed out, or in front of a computer. This causes us to overeat and makes it difficult for our bodies to digest. Instead, create the time to sit down and enjoy your meal. Be in a calm atmosphere, savor every bite and concentrate on your food. This creates a more enjoyable experience and actually helps us to lose weight.

Get Strong Portobel los with KaleIngredients:• 1/4 cup apple cider or rice vinegar• 1 tablespoon honey• 2 cloves garlic, chopped• 3 tablespoons good olive oil• 4 Portobello mushrooms• 5 cups kale, thinly sliced• 1/4 cup water• Coarse salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:Combine vinegar, honey, 1 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil in bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange portobellos in a large baking pan. Drizzle with vinaigrette, cover and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

In the meantime, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 clove garlic, kale and water. Cook until bright green, approximately 3-4 minutes.

Roast mushrooms until tender, approximately25 minutes, flipping once. Serve topped with kale. Enjoy!

“Our deepest

fear is not that we

are inadequate. Our deepest fear

is that we are

powerful beyond

measure.

– Marianne Wil liamson

”

Let’s Design Your Ideal Life

Now that you’re thinking more positively and feeling strong and healthy, it’s time to design your life.

I graduated from college with big plans and dreams. I took two amazing trips with my parents, and then moved to Boston to start my new life. Tailing on my college boyfriend, already set up with an apartment and my first job as an entry-level finance administrator, I knew that life had big things in store for me.

But I broke up with my college boyfriend convinced that there were “better” guys out there, found myself excessively partying like I was still in college, wasn’t taking care of my body, gained 15 pounds and felt bored in my new job.

Blah...

FOMO set in. FOMO means Fear of Missing Out. It is particularly prevalent in our twenties, when we have so many options and limitless pos-sibilities available to us, that anything we choose (whether its a relationship, job or place), we feel like we might be missing out on something bigger and better. This only leaves us feeling unhappy and unable to make a decision.

I want you to know that when you’re feeling stuck in a rut, it doesn’t last forever! Listen carefully, you are perfect exactly the way you are, and are in the perfect place right now. When things are confusing and shitty, the only way to go is up.

It’s time to try something radically new and different. So let’s start designing your life right now.

Let’s do an exercise together: What do you really want?

Pick four main areas of your life that are important to you. This can be different for each person, but I chose: health & body, home, career and relationship. Think about four statements of desire in each category.

Follow each statement of desire with reasons why. Here’s a short sample from my list.

Healthy & Body:

• I want to feel strong and f it.• I want to get my hair trimmed and highlighted.

Why?

• Because I want my body to look and feel good.• Because getting my hair cut gives me a fresh

new outlook.

Home:

• I want my apartment to be more clean and organized.

• I want my apartment to be f il led with positive energy.

Why?

• Because it is easier to f ind things and I work better in an uncluttered environment.

• Because I want my home to be a sanctuary for me and my family.

Career:

• I want to have my own business.• I want to feel excited about what I’m doing.

Why?

• Because it wil l give me the freedom to create my own schedule.

• Because work is a big part of my life and being happy with it is important to me.

Relationship:

• I want to take more trips together.• I want to go out with other friends together

more often.

Why?

• Because both of us love to travel.• Because we love being with friends and want

to be inclusive.

Take Action

This list means nothing without action behind it. Choose ONE thing on your list to make a commitment to today. Commit

to it for a week and see how much better you feel.

Cheers to designing your new life! When you start with statements of desire followed by action, it can be easy and fun to create what you want. It starts with small steps that we make each day, and grows into something larger than you can imagine.

Cheers to a New You Tri-C olored Potatoes

Ingredients:• 2 pounds multicolored potatoes (red, purple,

yellow)• 1/4 cup good olive oil• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced• 4-5 sprigs fresh rosemary (pulled off sprigs)• Coarse salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash and halve potatoes. Toss with olive oil, garlic and rosemary. Spread on baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until crisp and tender inside (approximately 40 minutes). Drizzle extra olive oil if necessary. Personally, I like to mash mine!

Self-Love

Making yourself your first priority is at the heart of self-love. As women, we have a tendency towards guilt. Usually,

I don’t get angry, I get guilty. We are so used to taking care of everyone else’s needs and taking on every commitment because we’re afraid to say no.

If you only learn one thing, I want you to learn this. Taking care of yourself is not selfish.

I’ll repeat, “taking care of yourself is not selfish.” You have my permission.

In my earlier twenties, I said yes to everyone. I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings and I thrived so much on being busy that I often attended three different parties in one night.

This left me feeling depleted and full of anxiety. A night to myself might be watching TV with a pint of ice cream in hand. I had no idea what I liked to do for fun on my own.

Here’s what I do now:

• Go to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant for a solo date once a week

• Take a daily hike with my dogs with no phone and no distractions

• Sip tea in bed while writing in my journal

• Take a bubble bath once a week

• Bought a meditation cushion and sit silently for 15 minutes each morning

• Blast music in my apartment and dance around by myself

Here’s what I want you to do:

Think about how you can make yourself your #1 priority. This will be different for each person, but here are my suggestions.

• Take a mental health day from work. Use the day just for you and only you.

• Go for a walk around your neighborhood by yourself.

• Sit quietly alone for 20 minutes. Enjoy the sound of silence.

• Choose a recipe from this book and enjoy a beautiful dinner. Light candles, put on music and pour yourself a glass of wine.

• Practice saying “no” to someone today. “No, I can’t stay late at work today.” “No, I’d love to meet you for dinner, but I’m going to have a me-night.”

Ahh...isn’t that a breath of fresh air? The reality is that if you don’t make time for yourself, no one else is going to do it for you. When we give ourselves what we need, we have more to offer the world.

Self-Love Perfect Roast Chicken

Ingredients:• 1 Whole Roaster Chicken (approximately 4 lbs.)• 3 tablespoons good olive oil• 1 tablespoon fresh Rosemary, plus sprigs

for garnish• Coarse salt and ground pepper to taste

Preparation:Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange chicken on a rimmed baking dish. Coat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt, pepper and rosemary. Roast, turning once, until golden brown and the inside loses its pink, approximately 50 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Life is Beautiful

You are beautiful, exactly as you are. I don’t care what you look like, what size clothes you wear or what color your hair is, you are

unique and beautiful.

To create a beautiful life, it takes a matter of tending to. Just like a garden, we can tend to and nurture it, or let it become overrun with weeds.

Beauty starts from within. Having a positive, radiant outlook is the key to beauty. However, it gets to be reflected on the outside. If we’re walking around in a dirty old tee-shirt and living in clutter, that inner-beauty isn’t going to shine through.

Think about how you feel when you get dressed up in the morning, take time to do your hair and makeup, and leave the house feeling great?

What about when you take the time to make your bed, put your clothes away, and put some fresh flowers next to the bed?

I know this isn’t always easy. Working for myself, I could roll out of bed, throw on sweatpants and sit at my computer all day. But I made a decision early on not to let that happen. I’d pick out a new outfit each day, take a shower and do my makeup and get out of the house if only to the local coffee shop. I organized my desk, bought a gorgeous bed set and bought fresh flowers weekly.

Beauty is everywhere, you

just have to uncover it.

Here are my signature steps to making your life a thing of beauty:

• Donate any clothes that you no longer wear or that don’t make you feel beautiful.

• Buy at least one pair of amazing jeans, fabulous shoes and a dress that fits you perfectly. These are extremely versatile and can go a long way.

• Invest in sexy underwear. Even if no one is seeing it, just knowing you have it on can give you a huge boost.

• Give yourself time each morning to take a quick shower and do your makeup. This doesn’t have to be anything crazy, even just lip-gloss and mascara to highlight your best features.

• Commit to making your bed each morning and putting away your clothes.

• Organize your home or apartment so that every-thing has a place and you can find things easily.

• Decorate with things you love. Whether it’s flowers, pictures or some fabulous art. As my mom says, “I choose to spend my money surrounding myself with beauty.”

Our body is a temple. Feeling beautiful isn’t vein, it’s honoring ourselves. Similarly, our home should reflect a place that makes us feel calm and happy. Fill it with beauty.

The Beauty Boost Smoothie

Ingredients:• Juice of 1 lemon• 2 cups baby spinach• 1 cucumber, chopped• 2 apples, cored and chopped

Preparation:Put all ingredients into a Vitamix or juicer. Get your beauty on!

Get Inspired and Supported

As women, we are social creatures. We crave conversation with others and do our best in groups.

When I first made the decision to create change, I’d walk around listening to self-help books on my iPod. I tried numerous programs and got excited about every one of them. I’d swear that I’d take action, but nothing I did stuck.

I didn’t want my friends to know the anxiety I was feeling, that I thought I may have a drinking problem and everyone got sick of hearing my boy drama. Every time a book I read or a workshop I attended had me saying, “Yes! I can do this! This will change it all!” My life pulled me back in.

This is because I tried to do it alone. If you’ve tried to create change but are afraid to ask for help, you aren’t weak.

I made excuses not to get help. I told myself that when I had more money, felt more ready or quit my job that I’d finally get the support I needed, lose weight, create balance and live a life I love.

When I decided to take action, I enrolled at Harvard University in a graduate program I felt passionate about. I moved to Hawaii for four months for some soul-searching with groups of women. I became a Reiki Master and a Wellness Coach. I joined a book club to make new friends. Most importantly, I hired a fabulous business coach and confidante who guides me along my journey.

Every action I took got me a step closer to living a life I love. The worst thing is inaction. Keep moving forward. Keep taking steps.

Today, everything looks different. I have a busi-ness I love, am preparing to get married in Greece, have two adorable dogs, lost 15 pounds and give myself time to meditate, cook and exercise daily. I have wonderful friends and family that support me.

I created my program so that women like myself, going through the same ruts I’ve been stuck in, can have a safe and inspiring community to cheer them on.

We all need support and the encouraging, loving advice from someone who has stood in our shoes. I truly care about my clients and am here to keep them inspired, accountable and cheer them on along their guided journey.

Whether you choose to join my interactive group program: Crazy, Wild, Love or not - I encourage you to find or create a support group. You can find many like-minded women on my Facebook page.

Stay inspired and keep taking action! Before you know it, you’ll wake up one day with the life you’ve imagined.

Stay Inspired Yummy Sweet Potato with Greens

Ingredients:• 2 Sweet Potatoes• 2 tablespoons good olive oil• 2 cups Swiss chard, chopped• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper• 2 slices fresh lemon• Sliced avocado for garnish• Kosher salt

Directions:Heat oven to 450 degrees and bake sweet potato until tender.

In a large pan heat olive oil over medium-low heat, add swiss chard and add about 2 table-spoons water. Stir until slightly wilted but still bright green.

Cut open sweet potato, drizzle with olive oil, cayenne pepper and lemon juice. Add greens on top.

Serve with extra lemon wedges and avocado slices.

Make the LeapAre you feeling inspired but maybe a little scared? Is there a voice inside of you saying,“OK, can I really do this?” “Am I ready to step into my most-loving, amazing self and life?”

Yes, you are. And I want to congratulate you for taking the first step! Hells yea!

Let’s recap on a few things before we move on.

• You are amazing, beautiful and wonderful just as you are.

• It’s time to tap into your infinite power.

• You deserve an awesome life! You deserve to have it all.

• Get strong and fit as the foundation for every-thing else in your life.

• Beauty starts from within. But it’s reflected on the outside. Take care of yourself and your things.

• Take time for you. Create dates with yourself, learn how to say no, ask for what you need.

• Stay inspired and keep taking action.

• You are loved.

There’s so much more I want to teach you! I know that you can learn to truly love yourself in order to fall head-over-heels in love or rekindle the fire in your relationship, do what you love doing, and feel healthy and energized each day.

If you enjoyed this guide I know that you’ll love my program Crazy, Wild, Love. We’ll do some deep soul searching, learn how to apply these principles and more to your life, and have a blast in the process. The program opens once a year and has limited availability, but you can get on the list to be the first to know about it by clicking here now.

I know that you have the power to transform yourself and your life. It just takes a decision. I am here to cheer you on and guide you every step of the way.

With love,Alexis

is the reward of love

– Italian Proverb

“

”

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