Reaching Out

As humans, we need each other. Handling things alone just stinks. But when things go wrong, we often want to keep it to ourselves. Maybe it is an illness, a diagnosis, a problem, or a mistake. We all have had something that makes us NOT answer the phone. Something that makes us go into our cocoon. I've been there a few times, some longer than others. But it is so important to emerge from that cocoon and stretch our wings. We are changed in the metamorphosis of catastrophe. We are enabled to help others who will surely need our help because they are going through the same exact thing that we went through and made it through. We survive so that we can help others survive. Nothing brings peace like the person who tells you "their story". Hope emerges, and you realize that you are not alone. I know that this reaching out instinct is built into us as humans just by observing my child this week during a very stressful time. First there was a migraine that made it impossible for him to function in class. This was in my cocoon in my opinion. Then I saw him use the tool that he uses best... his phone. He called a friend. He reached out. It gave me peace that he did this without my prodding. ( I prod a lot). The past couple of weeks I have been in a cocoon because of a great pity party that I was throwing. Sorry you may not have gotten the invitation. But my son's example spoke volumes to me. This weekend I made it my mission to reach out and get out of my cocoon. In doing so, I have already had the opportunity to help people who are needing it, just like I needed help. I was able to give that help because I have "been through it". People were not meant to be alone. It makes our stress rise to be holding things in alone. ( I got a honking fever blister from it!). Let it out. Be inspired to "reach out" to others. You will be helped. Others will be helped. Things will get better when we are there for each other.

Web Page

My girlfriend recently got me hooked on a great web page that I would have never thought of looking up...Whole Foods! It has recipes, games, nutrition info and more! I will keep the blog short so you can explore it for a few. Enjoy! Www.wholefoods.com

Superbowl! Over! Now What?

Well we had a party and made it through with healthy choices. Had one crying boy because of the loss. I love that he has passion, though! I am a mother of a 13 year old today! Wooo Hooo! So thankful for my son. Love the stages of his life, even the difficult ones. Perspective is needed to see what a blessing even bad days are. But most of the days are funny. The random things that he comes up with just make me remember my randomness at that age. What he wants to be. Oh my... an ice cream man, a DJ, nothing like my wanting to be a truck driver. (now that was cool). Any woo. I am pooped. Not any healthy recipes to report. Just healthy study habbits that make me want to sleep. I'll get a boost of evergy soon and let you in on a few cool web sites that I have recently come upon. xoxoxo

Foundation Dinner Buff Challenge!

So, we have a fundraising prom type thingie in my school district. It is fun to have a goal during the middle of winter for your white arms, right! Let's hit the deck and do some major push ups, friends! I just finished with a masive cold topped off my period coming 10 days early...ugh. So, I am beginning to feel human and energetic again after much inactivity!

Try to eat just perfect: whole grains, no sugar, fat, white stuff, you know, the bad stuff! Then work out a lot including 50 push ups a day! I am wearing a sleevless dress, so I want to be much more buff than now since I've been a bit inactive these last couple of weeks.

No, it doesn't "really" matter, but I like to be strong, so I am going to go crazy until the "prom" (aka foundation dinner). Hey, a girl has to dream! I also like to dream that I am the prom queen - something that soooo didn't happen in real life.

Okay. Push up away & if you read this blog and go to the dinner dance, go ahead - feel my muscles!

Chop Chop!!!

Did your team make it to the Super Bowl? Mine neither!!! So, let's get out all of our pent up, loser team frustration! Go to the store and buy great veggies - you choose! It isn't rocket science. Then turn up the music, get a glass of wine, a knife, a cutting board, a few containers to store them in, and away we go!!! Chop until you drop! Sip a little wine in between veggies. Cut some super small for an awesome chille. Cut some long and lean for a dipping veggie. It is a great workout for the arms. Store these veggies in various containers until Super Bowl Sunday. I will give you my basic recipe for a hearty, spicy, vegetarian chille (but you can add meat if you must). I will also give you healthy dip ideas that are yummy for your veggies. Have fun chopping!!!

What cha drinkin?

Okay, Superbowl Sunday is a fun time, but beware of drink calories. Enjoy a drink of what you want be it beer, pop, juice, wine, whatever. But have control and stop after before you've had an entire day's worth calories. Don't feel that diet drinks are just perfect either. As much as sugar is the devil, so is diet stuff. I do endulge once in a while, but do the research and cringe. Sip your "good" drink and enjoy, then switch to good old fashioned water. Add a lemon! Chug it! Water is so important and good for you. Good for your skin! Good for getting rid of your icky cold. Good for digestion. Good for what ails you. Oh, a nice cup of tea is wonderful... no calories and great for us up north that are a bit too cold for a cold glass of ice water! Brrrr. But it is going to be 60 degrees here in Chi Town today, so maybe we'll be in our bikinis. More reason to not "overdoit" on the drink calories!

Brainless Superbowl Healthy Snack

Guac Baby! Get you some REAL avacados. Cut them open, add REAL tomaatoes, REAL onions, salt, pepper, hot sauce of choice to tast if you wish.

Serve with veggies... brocoli, carrots, celery, or healthy rice chips. Whole grain pita or crackers go well with it!

Super tired today... that's all I got. More tomorrow. Happy Superbowl!

Sunday Dinner Y'all!

Tonight I will make a pork tenderloin roast roasted in Italian seasonings and Olive Oil. I will have roasted potatoes with herbs. I also plan on making some nice carrots with a drizzle of honey. A green salad with cucumbers and tomatoes with balsamic dressing will be yummy, too. Whole grain bread will be a hearty winter starch, too. For dessert, I will searve warm zucchini bread with butter. Too sweet for Craig and I, so we will have fruit.

Super Foods turn into SuperBowl Healthy Snax!

Next week, instead of superfoods...I will switch to fun superbowl healthy snax! No need to bloat now is there!!! For now, I will get rid of this nasty sinus infection I got goin... the natural way. Hellloooo Nedi Pot! Okay, I used to think it was gross, but it really works! Pouring salty distilled warm water into one nostril while it flows out of the other nostril. Yeah, it is gross, I agree. Still agree. But heck! It really works! If you suffer from a packed head full of hard snot, use a Nedi Pot and feel better. Get you one at Walgreens. There... That is my recipe of the day! Good Night and I hope you all do not feel yucky like me. xoxoxo

Day #4 Super Foods!!! About Your Yogurt...

If you are trying to be "all healthy", then you have to be detectives. As my "skinny bitch" friends say...Sugar is the Devil! Well, look at the ingredients in your yogurt! Many have sugar as #1 Baby! Yogurt is great for you, especially if you are trying to up the calcium, but really, the sugar negates the benefits. Look for yogurt that has no fat and no sugar. Yes, plain! Here's the secret... flavor it yourself. It is not rocket science. Think sweet... real fruit! Who'd a thought! Super food can be added to yogurt. Think berries, nuts, chia seeds, wheat germ, honey (just a drizzle), pure maple syrup (1 tbs.), the list goes on and on and on! Today I put dates and chia seeds on my plain yogurt for breakfast. I cut 5 dates up into itty bitty pieces. I sprinkled one spoonfull of chia seeds on top. Chia seeds are sweet, and crunchy! Super food of the Aztecs - chia seeds! Have fun being creative with your nonfat, no sugar yogurt. It will blow your mind away how satisfying and delicious you can make foods taste with non-processed super foods! Yum!

Super Food Day #3!!!

So I am only human... I ate leftover super food tonight. I made some of the kale and apples - steamed from the other day, mixed it up with brown rice, corn, peas, and red beans from yesterday, added a can of tuna (I absolutely never cook with tuna!!!) and wow was it great! I loved it so much, I ate the whole bowl super fast. I also must mention that I have a severe cold and can't taste a thing. LOL My wonderful husband didn't eat much of it. :( He usually devours with me, but he doesn't have a cold. It may not have been the best best, but it was still superfood, nonetheless! My kids had pizza and I resisted. I think that is why my hubby ate so little. He probably smelled the pizza and was all excited! Then I serve him a bowl that probably smelled like tuna. Oh well, I didn't smell it. LOL

Super Food Day #2!

More about Chia seeds from yesterday...

Add to favorite smoothie.
Top your salad or blend into your salad dressing.
Enhance yogurt.
Sprinkle on oatmeal or breakfast cereal.
Blend into your favorite muffin or pancake recipe.

Here are today's Super Foods...

Salmon - Just cook it in some on the stovetop in some olive oil seasoned with garlic salt and dill. You will have a delicious Omega 3 masterpiece! In my family we like it crispy on both sides. Yum!

We ate our salmon last night with brown rice. All white foods are evil and turn into sugar as soon as they enter your body. You might as well be eating brownies. Bread, pasta, and rice should all be whole grain with no saturated fat and if possible, no sugar. It may take some getting used to, but by the time you are used to it, you will have dropped a ton of weight and have a huge Aaaah Haa moment. Oh, I get it! Brown is good and white is evil!

We also had steamed kale with apples on top of our rice. I love deep greens!!! No my wonderful, sweet southern friends... not with bacon! Just with nice tastes steamed. I usually go for the hot sauce when it comes to my greens, but it was completely delightful to enjoy apples with them!!! Kale.

Kale packs beta carotene, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin K into a powerful Super Food Punch!!! It is full of fiber and antioxidants! Try sauteing it with garlic ginger, and sweet vinegar/olive oil. Make chips out of it by rubbing with olive oil, sprinkling with salt and baking it in a single layer on a baking sheet. 300 degrees for about 30 minutes - watch it until the leaves are nice and crisp. You can also make a very healthy cole slaw out of it! Let your creativity and imagination flow!

ZLife magazine - from ZUMBA features Super Foods this month!!! It has been a huge influence in my Super Food Week! But I have to say... I really do eat these foods regularly.... weekly. I hope you will give them all a try in your food plan/lifestyle!!!

great breakfast - superfood day #1

Try some greek yogurt with chai seeds and bananas! You may sprinkle some honey on it if you wish. Yummmmmyyyyy! Here are some benefits of this amazing superfood.....It has tons of fiber - keeps you goin', omega 3 fatty acids that your heart loves, and calcium for your bones - gotta keep them strong! LOL! Yes, they are the same seeds as "Chia Pets"! They sell bags of them at Costco! Get some today!

Cholesterol Sucking Super Food Recipe Week!

Hi Y'all! I am share some yummy, healthy recipes with you this week that will be very heart healthy. Funny thing is, I just wing my meals. I throw things together until it just looks good. Today I am going to do a bit of shopping at the plain old grocery store. I think I'll choose Garden Fresh. I literally get high when I shop there. I sing my way through the store, talking to anyone who stands still for a few seconds. I don't know what it is, I love that place. I'll tell you in a later blog about the most interesting conversation I've ever had in a Garden Fresh that changed the way I eat. But let's get my ADD personality back on track now.... Super Foods!

I will start you out with a few ingredients.

Chia seeds
Quinoa,
Brown Rice
Dates
Fish - Salmon
Kale

luv turns into LOVE!!!

I always knew I loved my husband. We had a great relationship. But until I came face to face with the reality of possibly losing him, I must say I took him for granted. So scary it was... hearing that he had horrible heart disease and needed me to come home from a Mississippi trip right away. Packing up dresses that I was wearing to church, imagining the worst... hoping I wouldn't have to wear one of those dresses to a funeral - my husband's funeral. I shudder at even writing such words!!!

Since that time two and a half years ago, not a day goes by that both of us don't stop and thank God for our second chance to be a family. We live more passionately now, appreciating the preciousness of life. We care more deeply for each other. Each day seems like a bonus! A gift. Each day has always been a gift, but now we see it so much more than before.

Faith

It takes faith to trust God to protect your dad when he is going into open heart surgery and your mom is gone as well as your sister. My cousin Beth is going through that today. She is amazing with her awesome attitude. Very positive thinking! I really love that. I hope I add to it. When she calls and we talk for hours, I hope I am being her "mom" and "sister" in absentia. I wish you all faith to get through whatever you are facing today.

Just a Quickie

My neighbors and I walk every day with our dogs. We call it a "puppy walk". It is only for 10-15 minutes (quickie) around the block. You wouldn't think that much conversation could happen on such a walk, but believe me... we talk about so much. We have times of laughter, tears, and even bitching at each other. Sometimes for kicks, we walk in our pajamas in broad daylight. We walk in snowsuits all winter long. I say that I walk with my neighbors, but they are really friends. No they are really sisters. It doesn't take that long to develop a relationship with people... Just a quickie. But consistency is key.

I also realized that this pays off in my daily walk / faith with God. I started doing a Community Bible Study with my sister. I do a little "homework" by reading the Bible each day and basically spending time with God. I have found that this has been such a great investment. I used to do much more Bible study stuff, but got out of practice with the business of life. Now that I am back in tune to God's word and stronger in my faith than before, I notice a difference - a good one. I am more patient, kind, positive. Anyhoo... Quickies are good things.

Gotta go. I am going on a "puppy walk". :)

Too young for heart disease

Craig was 42 when he got diagnosed with heart disease. In the hospital there were at least 2 other people getting open heart surgery that were 42. That is young. My Uncle Bob is getting open heart surgery in a couple of days. He is older and very strong, and I believe that he will pull through. But it is kind of expected that heart patients will be older like Uncle Bob. Not so, my friends. Wake up, eat ridiculously right, and exercise tons to avoid heart disease. Take meds if your cholesterol is high. Do what you can to be there for your family so you can celebrate life for years to come. America has to stop eating like crap. Sorry, but I get on a soap box once in a while. I am passionate about heart health. Well, anyhoo... Please pray for Uncle Bob and be healthy!!! xoxoxo

Just Do It!

Our second chance living lifestyle has made us work out harder. Putting in hard working sweaty hours is so important for heart health as well as a multitude of other illnesses such as Osteoporosis like I am fighting. Today I feel like crawling into bed and hibernating, but no! I will go lift weights and do ZUMBA! I will work out very hard as much as possible so I can be there... reallly be there for my kids and grandkids when they come. Off to the gym!

Time to Thaw

I make a small swimming pool size batch of soup filled with tons of vegetables, beans, and that's about it. The main veggie is greens... a whole bunch from the garden or a huge bag-o-greens from nothing less than Wal-Mart. My secret to making it taste good is just cook it all up with a broth of V8 and water. Serve it with rice (brown of course), and HOT SAUCE! Yummmmmm!

I put it in tupperware and freeze it for the future. SoooOoOoo, every week I take a batch out for a couple meals for Craig and I. No, the kids do not eat this. They eat healthy, but not this way. I also take out my organic chicken, organic ground beef (for kids), and salmon. This gets me goin' for the week. Craig will make brown rice when he gets home a couple times a week because it takes long, and I cook fast - not slow. I need my brown rice ready for my meal. You can always buy it frozen and microwave it, but it is cheaper making it. Quinoa is also great to serve as a grain, and it is a complete protein. I haven't cooked with it in a while. I think I will this week.

I come home from work and get creative with my cooking. Dancing around the kitchen with a half glass of wine helps me come up with some doozies! I usually don't follow recipes, but I study them at night in bed for ideas. Who knows what I will come up with this week!

OMG! I picked greens today and had such a great time making my small swimming pool of soup! It is cookin up now so we can eat very healthy all winter!

Sunday Dinner - Y'all!

On the menu for tonight...
1. brussel sprouts (halved) seasoned with garlic, lightly drissled with grapeseed oil, lemon zest and slices of lemons over the halved sprouts covered in a pyrex and roasted for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
2. Pork tenderloin for the "meat" eaters with applesauce of course. Salmon for Craig and I.
3. Fresh Field Peas
4. Fingerling Potatoes
5. Strawberry Shortcake for dessert (kids and grandpa)

That all adds up to YUM!

Happy Sunday! Go Packers!!! The rest of "my teams" have up and gone, so pleeeaaassseee WIN!

food co-op

Today I started my membership in a food co-op that gets food from Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and another place. It is food that is "almost expired". Some people say "eeewww", but it is really great organic stuff that is great if you freeze it or use it right away! Times are tough for a lot of people, so it is a great way to share food with the needy. God is good, and provides for people in many ways. This will be a nice way to cook healthy, give to others, and save money. Tonight I will indulge in a fruit salad with cantelope, watermelon, blackberries, strawberries, and pomegranites. So I learned how to gut a pomegranite today. Very cool, and very yum! Toodles!

Yummy Granola

Just put nuts in a pan. Pecans, walnuts, and almonds are my favs. Add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup... pure. Add a smidge a honey and cover with a couple tablespoons of Grapenuts cereal. Cook till the syrup thickens a bit. Take off heat and put into a bowl. Great for a sweet tooth attack!

Brussel Sprouts - In Season!

I make a delish dish with polenta, sun dried tomatoes, brussel sprouts, onions and garlic! Toss all in a pan with healthy olive oil . Yum! Add beans for protein. Such a great taste from those sun dried tomatoes! Hope you try and enjoy it!