I love Miss Diana Ross...she's fabulous! I have ALWAYS loved this song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIkPH_L1JfM
It rings so true for me...this is MY house and I live here. Listen to the words...and you will understand how I feel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKwv7WH_WYQ
Monday, April 1, 2013
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Hello all!
I rarely come here and blog and when I do...it's about fashion - my passion.
I'm doing great. Walking and monitoring what I eat.
I've never felt better. Fortunately, I don't have any health problems (knocking on wood) with the exception of high estrogen (but new ob/gyn) has me on Prometrium and it appears to be working. Maybe I will even procreate again (that's a whole "nuther" story).
I eat lean meats, fresh veggies and hold the carbs down - I do the good carbs and I turn heads! I always have but now it's amazing.
I made some changes and choose to leave some things behind me that were not good for me and I really see and feel the difference.
We have a new bakery in our building and they sell these amazing granola bars. One drawback - they are $4.00 a bar. Wow...pricey. I went on the quest for the perfect granola bar and my girl smittenkitchen (at smittenkitchen.com) didn't let me down. They were amazing. I am going to post the recipe and tell you that I tweaked them the many times I made them. Playing around with corn syrup, agave syrup and even honey until I made the perfect bar. My new friend Charlene devoured them. She and her husband Erne, came to visit us and I made them a batch to take back home (simply repaying her favor of the most awesome chewy cookie/brownie/shortbread thingy she made us to eat on the road back home after spending a lovely New Years with them).
I leave you with a great recipe for "energy" bars - courtesy of SmittenKitchen.com:
Thick, Chewy Granola Bars
Adapted from King Arthur Flour
1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats (if gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free oats)
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar (use more for a sweetness akin to most purchased bars; use less for a mildly sweet bar)
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (total of 10 to 15 ounces)*
1/3 cup peanut butter or another nut butter (I used almond butter) (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, namely because I was not convinced that the flavor came through)
6 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup honey, maple syrup or corn syrup
2 tablespoons light corn syrup (see Note above)
1 tablespoon water
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, allowing it to go up the opposing sides. Lightly grease the parchment paper and the exposed pan, or coat with a non-stick spray.
Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted butter or oil, liquid sweeteners and water. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry (and peanut butter, if you’re using it) until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (A piece of plastic wrap can help with this, as you press down on the back of it.)
Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges — don’t be afraid to get a little color on the tops too. They’ll still seem soft and almost underbaked when you press into the center of the pan but do not worry, they’ll set completely once completely cool.
Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. (Alternately, after about 20 minutes you can use your parchment “sling” to lift and remove the bars, and place them in their paper on the rack to cool the rest of the way. This can speed the process up.)
Once cool, a serrated knife (or bench knife) to cut the bars into squares. [Updating to note, as many had crumbling issues:] If bars seem crumbly, chill the pan of them further in the fridge for 30 minutes which will fully set the “glue”, then cut them cold. To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container. In humid weather, it’s best to store bars in the refrigerator. They also freeze well.
I used dried sweet and sour cherries, flaxseed, unsweetened coconut, rice krispies for crunch, almonds, pecans, dark chocolate chunks and wheat germ - not the kind you get in the jar at the grocery store but from Fresh Market and it tasted quite different - good but different. Even the texture is finer.
SmittenKitchen Suggestions: Dried cranberries, apricots, pecans, sunflower seeds, coconut, walnuts, sesame seeds, pepitas, dried Apples or even chocolate chips. My mix: 1/2 cup wheat germ, 1 cup dried cherries, 1 cup walnuts, 1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup dried unsweetened coconut flakes. Because my pieces were all pretty coarse, I pulsed them in the food processor a few times to break it up a little, though this isn’t necessary if you don’t mind yours chunkier.
Enjoy!!!!
I'm doing great. Walking and monitoring what I eat.
I've never felt better. Fortunately, I don't have any health problems (knocking on wood) with the exception of high estrogen (but new ob/gyn) has me on Prometrium and it appears to be working. Maybe I will even procreate again (that's a whole "nuther" story).
I eat lean meats, fresh veggies and hold the carbs down - I do the good carbs and I turn heads! I always have but now it's amazing.
I made some changes and choose to leave some things behind me that were not good for me and I really see and feel the difference.
We have a new bakery in our building and they sell these amazing granola bars. One drawback - they are $4.00 a bar. Wow...pricey. I went on the quest for the perfect granola bar and my girl smittenkitchen (at smittenkitchen.com) didn't let me down. They were amazing. I am going to post the recipe and tell you that I tweaked them the many times I made them. Playing around with corn syrup, agave syrup and even honey until I made the perfect bar. My new friend Charlene devoured them. She and her husband Erne, came to visit us and I made them a batch to take back home (simply repaying her favor of the most awesome chewy cookie/brownie/shortbread thingy she made us to eat on the road back home after spending a lovely New Years with them).
I leave you with a great recipe for "energy" bars - courtesy of SmittenKitchen.com:
Thick, Chewy Granola Bars
Adapted from King Arthur Flour
1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats (if gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free oats)
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar (use more for a sweetness akin to most purchased bars; use less for a mildly sweet bar)
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (total of 10 to 15 ounces)*
1/3 cup peanut butter or another nut butter (I used almond butter) (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, namely because I was not convinced that the flavor came through)
6 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup honey, maple syrup or corn syrup
2 tablespoons light corn syrup (see Note above)
1 tablespoon water
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, allowing it to go up the opposing sides. Lightly grease the parchment paper and the exposed pan, or coat with a non-stick spray.
Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted butter or oil, liquid sweeteners and water. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry (and peanut butter, if you’re using it) until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (A piece of plastic wrap can help with this, as you press down on the back of it.)
Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges — don’t be afraid to get a little color on the tops too. They’ll still seem soft and almost underbaked when you press into the center of the pan but do not worry, they’ll set completely once completely cool.
Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. (Alternately, after about 20 minutes you can use your parchment “sling” to lift and remove the bars, and place them in their paper on the rack to cool the rest of the way. This can speed the process up.)
Once cool, a serrated knife (or bench knife) to cut the bars into squares. [Updating to note, as many had crumbling issues:] If bars seem crumbly, chill the pan of them further in the fridge for 30 minutes which will fully set the “glue”, then cut them cold. To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container. In humid weather, it’s best to store bars in the refrigerator. They also freeze well.
I used dried sweet and sour cherries, flaxseed, unsweetened coconut, rice krispies for crunch, almonds, pecans, dark chocolate chunks and wheat germ - not the kind you get in the jar at the grocery store but from Fresh Market and it tasted quite different - good but different. Even the texture is finer.
SmittenKitchen Suggestions: Dried cranberries, apricots, pecans, sunflower seeds, coconut, walnuts, sesame seeds, pepitas, dried Apples or even chocolate chips. My mix: 1/2 cup wheat germ, 1 cup dried cherries, 1 cup walnuts, 1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup dried unsweetened coconut flakes. Because my pieces were all pretty coarse, I pulsed them in the food processor a few times to break it up a little, though this isn’t necessary if you don’t mind yours chunkier.
Enjoy!!!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Control Freak
Obviously I have NOT received the kick in the pants, the motivation, the desire, the oopmh, the get up and go to make a change.
Change is hard.
Change sucks.
I hate change.
The only thing that is constant in life is change.
Okay already. I hate it.
I'm a bit of a control freak - in the worst sense. I'm an addicted control freak. I don't want to change my hair color or my hair style, I want to change the things I can't control. The lives of others, the emotions of others, the desires of others, the amount of time I'm given, what people think of me, the limits placed on me, the control of control. I feel if I detach - people think I don't care. SO! Yeah, that is easier said than done. I've been often accused of being detached and uncaring and that isn't the case.
The point is...I care TOO much. I care what you say, I care what you think, I care what you perceive, I care how I look to you. I care so much about everyone else that I loathe myself. I loathe myself for needing a break. A break from what? What do you do anyway? I feel guilty for asking for what I need. I feel bad asking for what I need. I shut down. I am always crying. I never feel as if I am good enough. I feel that if I don't do what others expect or want they will hate me. I don't ever think seeking out that which I need is a good idea. So I sit and stew and spin into oblivion. I cry at the drop of a hat. I don't know why, I just do. A song, a letter, an email, a call, a thought, a word...sends me into a tearful moment. Like a child...
All of these emotions and feeling keep me sick, overweight and down.
Where is that magic pill? I guess it doesn't exist and all I can do is control me
Change is hard.
Change sucks.
I hate change.
The only thing that is constant in life is change.
Okay already. I hate it.
I'm a bit of a control freak - in the worst sense. I'm an addicted control freak. I don't want to change my hair color or my hair style, I want to change the things I can't control. The lives of others, the emotions of others, the desires of others, the amount of time I'm given, what people think of me, the limits placed on me, the control of control. I feel if I detach - people think I don't care. SO! Yeah, that is easier said than done. I've been often accused of being detached and uncaring and that isn't the case.
The point is...I care TOO much. I care what you say, I care what you think, I care what you perceive, I care how I look to you. I care so much about everyone else that I loathe myself. I loathe myself for needing a break. A break from what? What do you do anyway? I feel guilty for asking for what I need. I feel bad asking for what I need. I shut down. I am always crying. I never feel as if I am good enough. I feel that if I don't do what others expect or want they will hate me. I don't ever think seeking out that which I need is a good idea. So I sit and stew and spin into oblivion. I cry at the drop of a hat. I don't know why, I just do. A song, a letter, an email, a call, a thought, a word...sends me into a tearful moment. Like a child...
All of these emotions and feeling keep me sick, overweight and down.
Where is that magic pill? I guess it doesn't exist and all I can do is control me
Monday, April 27, 2009
I will learn to change
If I feel depressed, I will learn to cheer up.
If I feel sad, I will learn to laugh.
If I feel ill, I will learn to be healthy.
If I feel fear, I will learn to plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior, I will learn to lookup to myself.
If I feel uncertain, I will learn to raise my voice.
If I feel poverty, I will learn to think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent, I will learn to think of my past success.
If I feel insignificant, I will learn to remember my goals.
I will learn to be the master of my emotions.
I will learn to change.
If I feel sad, I will learn to laugh.
If I feel ill, I will learn to be healthy.
If I feel fear, I will learn to plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior, I will learn to lookup to myself.
If I feel uncertain, I will learn to raise my voice.
If I feel poverty, I will learn to think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent, I will learn to think of my past success.
If I feel insignificant, I will learn to remember my goals.
I will learn to be the master of my emotions.
I will learn to change.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Walking as meditation
I had a full evening last night but I was willing to walk. I didn't walk as far as I normally do but that is not the point. The point is to get moving and I did just that. I worked a bit late and had a few stops to make. It was late, dark even but I still managed our block and a little further.
The night air was crisp and there were a few people out and about. A frog, the unsettling leaves rustling, street lamps lit and a few cars buzzing by. I have taken yoga for awhile and I began to recall the principles of yoga - when an area is in pain or discomfort - breathe into that area. The ball of foot has been hurting and my right hip has tightened (I know this is due to my inactive body revolting and becoming active). Instead of fighting the discomfort, I surrendered to it. Slowly breathing into those areas as I slowed my pace.
I'm a very competitive person (think Joan Crawford when swimming with her daughter: "You'll never beat me. I'm older and bigger than you") and in this respect I am always pushing myself to do better, go faster, do it harder.
Last night, I slowed my pace. There was no time limit, no one to impress or beat. All I needed to do was get moving - no matter the pace of the distance - just get moving.
I was reading my email this morninga dn this was one of my daily meditations - how appropriate.
http://www.meditationsforwomen.com/dailys/521599.html
The night air was crisp and there were a few people out and about. A frog, the unsettling leaves rustling, street lamps lit and a few cars buzzing by. I have taken yoga for awhile and I began to recall the principles of yoga - when an area is in pain or discomfort - breathe into that area. The ball of foot has been hurting and my right hip has tightened (I know this is due to my inactive body revolting and becoming active). Instead of fighting the discomfort, I surrendered to it. Slowly breathing into those areas as I slowed my pace.
I'm a very competitive person (think Joan Crawford when swimming with her daughter: "You'll never beat me. I'm older and bigger than you") and in this respect I am always pushing myself to do better, go faster, do it harder.
Last night, I slowed my pace. There was no time limit, no one to impress or beat. All I needed to do was get moving - no matter the pace of the distance - just get moving.
I was reading my email this morninga dn this was one of my daily meditations - how appropriate.
http://www.meditationsforwomen.com/dailys/521599.html
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Get "wit" the program
"Being willing makes you able." ~Rhonda Britten
Years ago, when the Steve Winwood song "Roll with me baby" was big, I was a young and vibrant woman. My mantra was "Roll with me or get rolled over." I didn't mean it in a mean way - it was just a "warning" for those to get with the program (whatever the program was) or get left behind.
I realize that I need to finish things. I need to roll with it or get out of the way. My sense of "fear" is that of commitment - the just do its of the world. My word for the month is willingness. Willingness is really nothing more than commitment. It is all about making a decision and sticking with it (as is most of the things in our lives). Now that I realize the need to make a decision and stick with it - I have to understand that my commitment is to my decision or goal or vision.
The big step in understanding this commitment to my vision is also realizing that I need to fall in love with my goal. Visualizing and feeling that this goal is extremely important. Nurturing (something I do, oh but too well).
Why is nurturing my goal so important? It is (for me) because I need a big enough "Why" to keep you motivated and willing to do what is required to get me to my success. I realize that I don't particularly do well with focusing on the steps to success. I'm outcome oriented.
As you all know I set a similar goal for exercise as my partner did. I am never excited about exercising (or anything other than shopping tobe honest). Quite frankly, I am hot and cold when it comes to exercising. But if I associated my exercise routine with a goal - that does give me a bit more motivation to do what I need to do in order to get there. As of yesterday, I had absolutely no goal or rather I had a goal to just finish the walk - which is a good thing but one should always have an expected outcome (even if it does change). I am typically motived by fear, embarassment or as a close friend of mine says, guilt (I do love how he says to "oh look, free guilt/someone left some guilt, I'll take it"). Not good motivators at all.
Willingness is key and willingness leads to action. Action AFTER visioning is what leads to results. There is one more point I want to mention regarding willingness. And this is a bit more serious. Establishing a commitment to my vision will perhaps make me willing to confront other issues that are blocking my success. I think the majority of us are sick - mentally, emotionally and spiritually because we have deep seated issues that need addressing. We (and I am included) seek to fix the SYMPTOM instead of the actual root of the problem. I remember when my partner had carpal tunnel syndrome. All the doctors attempted to get her through the pain - I opted to get to the root of her issue and deal with that (and I am happy to say - she's doing well).
So during my journey of realizing and awareness - I plan to dig deep and allow this "program" to assist me in peeling away at the layers to get to the root of things. What I am committing to is being healthy and happy and perhaps an even more beautiful body.
I've done some healing work and still am. It's painful but I know that it will be beneficial in the long run. Willingness - this one quality alone will lead to great manifestations in your life. I really believe this.
So there you have it (from me). Commit to the vision. See and feel the success of it. Be willing to take action toward your goal.
My Inspirational Wellness Affirmation: I have a willingness to change - ooooh that's rough - even for me.
Years ago, when the Steve Winwood song "Roll with me baby" was big, I was a young and vibrant woman. My mantra was "Roll with me or get rolled over." I didn't mean it in a mean way - it was just a "warning" for those to get with the program (whatever the program was) or get left behind.
I realize that I need to finish things. I need to roll with it or get out of the way. My sense of "fear" is that of commitment - the just do its of the world. My word for the month is willingness. Willingness is really nothing more than commitment. It is all about making a decision and sticking with it (as is most of the things in our lives). Now that I realize the need to make a decision and stick with it - I have to understand that my commitment is to my decision or goal or vision.
The big step in understanding this commitment to my vision is also realizing that I need to fall in love with my goal. Visualizing and feeling that this goal is extremely important. Nurturing (something I do, oh but too well).
Why is nurturing my goal so important? It is (for me) because I need a big enough "Why" to keep you motivated and willing to do what is required to get me to my success. I realize that I don't particularly do well with focusing on the steps to success. I'm outcome oriented.
As you all know I set a similar goal for exercise as my partner did. I am never excited about exercising (or anything other than shopping tobe honest). Quite frankly, I am hot and cold when it comes to exercising. But if I associated my exercise routine with a goal - that does give me a bit more motivation to do what I need to do in order to get there. As of yesterday, I had absolutely no goal or rather I had a goal to just finish the walk - which is a good thing but one should always have an expected outcome (even if it does change). I am typically motived by fear, embarassment or as a close friend of mine says, guilt (I do love how he says to "oh look, free guilt/someone left some guilt, I'll take it"). Not good motivators at all.
Willingness is key and willingness leads to action. Action AFTER visioning is what leads to results. There is one more point I want to mention regarding willingness. And this is a bit more serious. Establishing a commitment to my vision will perhaps make me willing to confront other issues that are blocking my success. I think the majority of us are sick - mentally, emotionally and spiritually because we have deep seated issues that need addressing. We (and I am included) seek to fix the SYMPTOM instead of the actual root of the problem. I remember when my partner had carpal tunnel syndrome. All the doctors attempted to get her through the pain - I opted to get to the root of her issue and deal with that (and I am happy to say - she's doing well).
So during my journey of realizing and awareness - I plan to dig deep and allow this "program" to assist me in peeling away at the layers to get to the root of things. What I am committing to is being healthy and happy and perhaps an even more beautiful body.
I've done some healing work and still am. It's painful but I know that it will be beneficial in the long run. Willingness - this one quality alone will lead to great manifestations in your life. I really believe this.
So there you have it (from me). Commit to the vision. See and feel the success of it. Be willing to take action toward your goal.
My Inspirational Wellness Affirmation: I have a willingness to change - ooooh that's rough - even for me.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
She did it
SHE DID IT! 5K!!! I am SO proud of her. My partner has followed her program to the letter for the past 11 weeks and she did it. It paid off she completed the 5K in an hour. GO SHEILA and Congrats!!!
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