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Saturday, July 16, 2016

Colors of Joy Among Top 10 Self-Help Books for Women



Updated 8/24/19

I am a reflective person, and continually work on myself to evolve and grow. Over the years, many life skills outlined in self-help books resonated with me. I've been able to integrate them into my life. 


First two pages of Chapter 2, Colors of Joy


The books I mention below are at the top of my list of 50 great self-enrichment guides, and were written by authors I admire. Their writing has helped me change my life, because each shifted my attitude or perspective, and encouraged self-awareness. 

Self-care concepts I discuss in my book and those I learned from others enabled me and millions of others to practice taking better care of meeting our own needs as well as improving our ability to feel compassion for ourselves and others. I recommend each book on this list highly.

Nancy Andres' Top 10 Self-Help Books for Women by Women

1. The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie
2. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
3. Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom by Christiane Northrup MD
4. Colors of Joy: A Woman'sGuide for Self-Discovery, Balance, and Bliss by Nancy Andres
5. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
6. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
7. The Gifts of Imperfection and Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
8. Quiet by Susan Cain
9. One Day My Soul Just Opened Up by Iyanla Vanzant
10. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

All inspired me. Some shed light on my misconceptions. Others helped me re-program my thinking by providing methods that worked to help me stop listening to that "old internal critic" that shouted I wasn't good enough. 

Others helped me bolster my self-esteem, and speak up for myself. Some showed me how to "be still," and at appropriate times not reacting or commenting is an effective response.  

I placed Colors of Joy on my all-time favorite self-development list, because it works. In fact, the book has been so popular, it's now in its second printing.

It fulfills a long held dream of mine to help women prosper and grow. This interactive journal can make a positive change in you. See what readers say about it here and here.

Colors of Joy highlights insights I've gained from over two decades of research and investigation of color energy. It offers ideas and tips developed on the job as a health and lifestyle writer (since 1997) and wellness blogger (over 10 years), and personal experiences as a woman, wife, mother, friend, sister, journal devotee, and world citizen. 

An added feature of the journal is Kay Lesh, PhD, a family counsellor and educator, has written a section and describes the psychological aspects of colors, affirmations, and journal writing. 

Colors of Joy is designed to dispel negative energy by showing the journal owner how to write and recite affirmations including “I cherish and respect myself just as I am." 

It features ideas to nurture the journal owner, help her be more mindful of her choices, and avail herself of support and encouragement the book provides. 

Pick up a copy and let Colors of Joy guide you as its color-coded journal activities stimulates your intuition and higher wisdom through your senses, transforms fear to love, dread to hope, boredom to fun, confusion to clarity, and drabness to living color.

Enjoy Colors of Joy at your own pace, and observe how guided journal activities, color visualizations, 12 full page color-inserts, affirmations, and reflective exercises heal you, support you, and enhance daily living.

Create a sense of contentment and joy in your life, and remember to buy Colors of Joy now








See what women have discovered about Colors of Joy below



Thrilled with Colors of Joy book review from Judee Algazi

Delighted by Rave Review of Colors of Joy by Carol Murphy

Nancy Adams Rodman wrote: Who would have thought that colors could be so healing? Don’t just read the book, but journal your way through and learn more about yourself than you could have imagined. This book offers a unique self exploratory experience. I always knew that walking outdoors was a great stress reliever for me. What I learned is that it is also the uninterrupted blue sky that I feel envelops me and is more than just calming, it’s healing. When I “see red” I can temper that feeling by picturing that color as it fades slowly into a soft pink which for me is a healing through love. You will gain your own insights by working through “Colors”. Nothing heavy duty here just a gentle dawning that will comfort you and make you smile.

Sheila Bustamante wrote: Colors of Joy: A Woman's Guide For Self-Discovery, Balance, and Bliss by Nancy Andres is filled with bright, purposeful exercises to take you on a journey to find yourself. The colorful chapter covers and their themes set the stage as you ponder the questions, live the actions or simply write what’s on your mind. Journaling is a powerful tool to help you explore your thoughts or actions and then reflect further upon them. Anyone can find a little something to relate to in this book for a joyful experience.

Robin Peel wrote: Author Nancy Andres reminds me to relax and appreciate the effect color has on my mood and emotions. The affirmations guide my thoughts and reflections about who I am, and who I am becoming. I especially recommend this book for women who want to expand their self-awareness and explore the richness of their inner lives.

Minka from Tucson AZ wrote: Beautifully colored and thoughtfully written. The book is full of wonderful suggestions. Gentle ideas to help us reflect and explore our feelings. It is great light and easy to approach. I love it and use it to add richness and meaning to my everyday life. I bought this book for 2 of my dear friends.

To see more reviews go to Colors of Joy Book Review Page on Amazon


Minka with her Copy of Colors of Joy


If you already have a copy of Colors of Joy or have given it as a gift, please write a review and post it on Amazon, Goodreads, and in the comments section below. I appreciate it greatly! Please know if you have questions or comments about this post, I welcome them too.


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Friday, July 1, 2016

4 Key Reasons to Eat a Variety of Colorful Fruits and Veggies Each Day


Eat More Color-rich Fruits ands Vegetables

For optimum health, top nutrition minds advise us to eat a variety of at least 5 to 9 servings of color-rich vegetables, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, and fruit a day. 

Post updated 7/31/22

Brightly colored low-fat plant-based whole foods aren't just visually appealing. They are nature's way of highlighting a broad range of nutrients key to good health. 

In its original state, each vegetable or fruit is low in saturated fat, pleasing to the palette, fills us up, elevates mood and sense of well-being, but doesn’t make us feel overstuffed. 

4 Key Reasons to Eat a Variety of Colorful  Fruits and Veggies 


1. Colorful fruits and vegetables prevent or reduces the severity of disease. When we consume a combination of cooked (lightly steamed or baked without oil) and uncooked color rich produce daily, research shows our food choices directly influence our health. 

A whole food plant-based eating plan contributes to preventing heart disease, some types of cancer, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, stroke, and birth defects. 

Learn more about ingredients. For example, see the latest studies and check videos about vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts and seeds from Dr. Michael Greger. He's a nutrition researcher/MD and founder of nutritionfacts.org

Investigate a 
nutrient content scoring system called  ANDI scores. It rates foods on a scale from 1 to 1000, and evaluates by using an extensive range of micronutrients including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants. 

Happy Woman Eats Colorful Fruits and Veggies


2. Eating colorful fruit and veggies improves mood and sense of well-being. Research conducted by Bonnie Beezhold of the University of Arizona and Carol S. Johnston, published February 14, 2012 in Nutrition Journal indicates that "Restricting meat, fish, and poultry improved some domains of short-term mood state in modern omnivores. To our knowledge, this is the first trial to examine the impact of restricting meat, fish, and poultry on mood state in omnivores." Mood scores improved after only 2 weeks.


3. Eating colorful fruits and veggies stabilizes weight. Five to nine portions of them each day provides a sense of satisfaction after eating a meal, and reduces cravings to load up on excess calories or resort to eating junk foods and processed products. Most processed foods are high salt, high sugar, high fat, and chemically enhanced (and often contribute to weight gain and/or poor health). 💪🌿🍎🌱

See this documented guide from Kaiser Permanente for more about a Healthier Way to Eat. 

4. Eat foods that provide essential vitamins, minerals, nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants to help us function at peak levels. 

When we eat a wide range of colorful low fat whole plant-based foods daily, we please our taste buds and end hunger as we ingest plant-based protein, complex carbohydrates, water, healthy fat, minerals, vitamins, and nutrients our body needs to maintain health, energy, and even increase longevity. 

For best results, combine healthy eating with an active lifestyle. Include elements like exercise, relaxation, sound sleep, social connections, and abstention from smoking and alcohol consumption.

To maximize the variety of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and antioxidants eaten in food, it's important to consume at least two different colored vegetables and fruits with each meal. 

Shop at a nearby market, health food store, farmer's market, or pick veggies and fruits fresh from your garden. 

Select only those fruits and veggies that are in-season, unprocessed whole plant-based foods to get the most bang for your buck. 

In season whole foods are less expensive and haven't traveled long distances to get to the market and your table. 

Don't eat the same ones every day, as you need to vary your selection to cover all your nutritional bases. 

For your convenience I've listed many of the tastiest ones below (most are my favorites).

Healthy Color Rich Produce

RED tomatoes, raspberries, strawberries, beets, red grapes, red pepper, watermelon, cherries, red kidney beans, red apples

BLUE/PURPLE blueberries, blackberries, black olives, purple figs, plums, black beans, red cabbage (purple), eggplant

YELLOW/ORANGE summer and winter squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, cantaloupe, lemon, grapefruit, oranges

GREEN spinach, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, collards, chard, kale, broccoli, lentils, kiwi, dark leafy salad greens, avocado, parsley

GREEN/WHITE onions, garlic, pears, celery, arugula, asparagus, leeks, mushrooms, cauliflower, quinoa


🍋🍊🍉🍇

Eat at least two portions of a combination of red, orange, yellow, green, purple/blue, and white fruits or vegetables at each meal. 

An eating style that provides plentiful fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, and antioxidants for supports total wellness and elevates mood. 

Look at the fruit and veggie grid below for more ideas.

Fruit and Vegetable Grid

Do you have any tips for eating more fruits and veggies? What are your go-to veggies and fruits? 

Are you willing to try new ones to up your health quotient as well as make your mouth water? 

Please comment below. Don't put links in comments as they won't be published that way.

Share with others, if you like what you see and get social with me. Visit my Website and take a look see there. 

You'll find self-care and color energy tips as well resources for readers, writers, and all those who want to improve the quality of daily living.




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