Thoughts on Relationships

Reversal

Reverse the golden rule:
Treat yourself as you treat others.

 

   

Ab Workout

Rib-Cage Reach

Helps stretch and lengthen the sides of the body, opening up the muscles around the solar plexus.  Stand with feet 2 to 3 feet apart, toes turned slightly out and knees bent. Extend arms to your sides. Keep your shoulders down. Inhale, and then exhale as you reach right with your arm and rib cage. Inhale as you come to center, and then reach left as you exhale. Repeat 16 times (eight on each side).

 

Toe Reach

Works the upper portion of the abdominal muscles, building heat and strength in the solar plexus. Start on your back. Lift your legs straight up. Breathe in. Lift your shoulder blades and reach your right arm up and across toward your left foot as you exhale (your other arm should be relaxed, but not resting on the floor). Inhale as you come back down to start, with shoulder blades still raised.

Exhale as you reach your left arm toward your right foot. Keep your hips still. Alternate arms for 20 counts.

 

Quiet Your Mind: Solar Plexus Meditation

Quiets your mind and hones your focus so you are fully present in this workout. Because the solar plexus is associated with the third chakra, you focus on the color yellow, which is linked to this energy center of the body and believed to inspire confidence, will, and personal power.  Lie back in Corpse pose, palms facing up. Picture a yellow flower, its petals fully open, at your solar plexus. With eyes closed, imagine it floating up with each inhalation and down with each exhalation, riding a slow, gentle wave. Focus on your breath and the flower for two to five minutes.

Fish Pose

Releases and opens the solar plexus; also opens the body and facilitates breathing. This pose gives you the invigorating experience of a back bend without an actual back bend. By countering the ab contraction from the prior exercise, this pose helps to open and stretch the core muscles while relieving tension.  Start by lying on a mat. Sit up on your elbows, bringing hands underneath your buttocks, palms down. Slowly arch your back, pressing your weight into your elbows and buttocks (not your head), until the crown of your head touches the ground. Breathe through your nose, with eyes open, for 30 to 60 seconds.

 

 

Pilates Saw

Aligns the body and helps with posture; strengthens and stretches the back muscles, also pivotal to core strength.  With your feet 3 to 4 feet apart and slightly turned out, extend arms to the sides at shoulder level. Take a breath; on the exhalation twist your torso to the left, and then reach down and across to your left foot. Inhale as you return to center and repeat on the other side, being careful not to round your back. Alternate right and left. Repeat sequence 10 times (five on each side).

 

  Hula-Hoop

Using a Hula-Hoop may seem like child's play, but it requires coordination, drawing on all the dynamic muscles of your core, particularly ones you don't regularly use.  Stand with your feet firmly on the ground and the Hula-Hoop around your waist. With the hoop up against your back and your hands holding on to the sides, throw the hoop to the right and catch it with your hips, rotating your hips to keep the hoop circling high around your waist. Aim to keep the hoop going for about three minutes. And have fun!

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Thoughts on Success

THRIVING

Just as a seed contains all it needs to sprout, so are you already equipped to thrive.

 

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Bench-Based Workout

“It’s one of the most versatile pieces of equipment you’ll find outside the gym,” says Jenna Speicher, a personal trainer at the Grand Del Mar resort, in San Diego. “Plus, every playground has one.” Most of us probably run or walk by a dozen benches every day without even thinking about it.

“Look for a bench that’s stable and not too high,”Speicher says.“Most park benches are ideal.” Rainy day? A sturdy living room ottoman makes a fine backup.  Speicher designed this bench-based routine, which takes advantage of body weight to both elevate heart rate and provide a total-body workout. Try the 20-minute series of exercises a few times a week to get your body into starting shape.

 

 

 

  

 

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Apple Chips

Nothing but fruit: These thin slices will need a couple of hours in the oven to dry out and firm up, but it's a mostly hands-off affair -- you'll just need to flip them halfway through.

 

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Ingredients

• 2 apples, sliced crosswise 1/8-inch thick, seeds removed

 

Directions

1. Heat oven to 225 degrees. Arrange apple slices on two parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
2. Flip, then continue baking until crisp, about 1 hour more. Remove and let cool completely. Chips keep, stored in an airtight container, 1 week.

   

Thoughts on Relationships

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is more than a one-time choice;

it's a whole approach to living.

       

Roasted Squash, Apple, and Cipollini Onion Salad

This colorful salad is a cinch to make -- the oven does most of the work -- and is loaded with nutritious vegetables and fruit.

 

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Ingredients

• 2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
• 8 cipollini onions, peeled, trimmed, and sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rings
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 medium butternut squash or sugar pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3 cups)
• 4 cups watercress
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
• 1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss apples with onions, 3/4 teaspoon oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; spread onto a rimmed baking sheet. Toss squash with 3/4 teaspoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; spread onto a separate rimmed baking sheet. Roast apple-onion mixture, tossing halfway through, until apples are tender and lightly browned and onions are just starting to crisp, 25 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, roast squash, tossing halfway through, until tender and browned, 40 to 45 minutes.
2. Toss watercress with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and the vinegar; season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Transfer salad to a serving platter, and top with apple-onion mixture, squash, and walnuts.

 

Someday in Seattle

One place that I would like to visit is Seattle. It is definetly a change from Texas.  The thought of getting away to an unknown place sounds even better when I think of going with someone special.  I like the idea of being in a new city where I can wonder the streets and hang out at local coffee-shops.  Someday I will get to Seattle.

 

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Portland

Flying Fish Company (pictured). Once just a roaming truck, now a seafood shack adjoining a produce market as well, Flying Fish has existed in some form since 1979. Today, Lyf (pronounced “leaf”) Gildersleeve runs his own branch of his father’s Idaho company with a commitment to good sources. Fish like Oregon albacore tuna and halibut cheeks are fresh right off the boat, never frozen. Our pick: Live Oregon razor clams, along with Gildersleeve’s tips on how to prepare them. 2310 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.; flyingfishcompany.com

 

Seattle

Taylor Shellfish at Melrose Market. No one knows oysters like Taylor, Washington’s premier producer. At the Seattle storefront, which doubles as an oyster bar, shopping is often more show-and-taste than pick-and-pay. They also carry live mussels, scallops, clams, and crabs. Our pick: A few dozen small, jewel-like Kumamotos. That gorgeous frilly edge makes them the perfect appetizer. 1521 Melrose Ave.; taylormelrose.com

   

Bake My Way to Heaven

Do you ever wish you could give up your day job and just do something totally different.  There are times that the day seems to throw things into the mix and gets my footing off kilter.  Well today is one of those days.  I wish I could leave the office politics behind and enjoy a the aroma of sweet pastries in the oven.  My hope would be to find tranquility and happiness, with a mix of creativity to brighten my day. 

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Culver City

Platine Bakery. The cookies stacked in this tiny bakery span the spectrum. There are classics (chocolate chip, Mexican wedding), but take a chance on pastry chef/owner Jamie Cantor’s flights of whimsy (kalamata olive–dark chocolate chip). At just a dollar apiece, you can bring home a dozen or two for a dinner-party dessert tasting. Our pick: The platino, a fluffy sandwich cookie oozing rich vanilla cream filling. It’ll ruin you for run-of-the-mill Oreos forever. 10850 Washington Blvd.; platinecookies.com

Los Angeles

Proof Bakery (pictured). This place feels likes the heart of the Atwater Village neighborhood. The morning rush comes for black sesame financiers; in the afternoon, it’s the flourless chocolate torte topped with cocoa nibs. Our pick: A buttery croque monsieur tartine on fresh-baked brioche. 3156 Glendale Blvd.;  proofbakeryla.com

Pacific Beach

Sugar & Scribe Bakery. In a hipster-meets-surfer neighborhood, Maeve Schulz’s bakery is a charmingly Old World surprise. You’ll be greeted at the door by her pug before entering a haven of cupcakes and quiche, scones, and soda bread—served on delicate Irish dishes. Our pick: Schulz’s dense, buttery Guinness Porter Cake, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, and packed with raisins and cherries. 1420 Garnet Ave.; sugarandscribe.com

Santa Monica

La Monarca Bakery. For real-deal Mexican sweet pan dulce, grab a metal tray and tongs and serve yourself the traditional way. Everything in the bakery—from dulce de leche–filled croissants to vegetarian chorizo molletes (open-face sandwiches)—is made with all-natural ingredi-ents, including dairy and eggs from California, and guava, agave nectar, and organic coffee from Mexico. Our pick: A light and creamy caramel flan. 1300 Wilshire Blvd. (also in Commerce and Huntington Park); lamonarcabakery.com

 

Chicken Enchilada Nacho Bowls

 

Gorgeous foods are very much apart of my Latin culture. We have a passion for spices and flavors that are bold and fierce.  The diversity of foods in the Latin culture are vast and colorful.  The foods differ from regions, yet they all have on commonality; bold flavors.  From simple dishes made in the average Hispanic kitchen to elaborate 5 star restaurants in LA or Miami, there are endless versions of the traditional nacho bowl.  Make a basic dish of these nacho bowls including chicken in a spicy sauce, tortilla chips, lettuce, and a squeeze of lime.

 

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Exercise

 

I choose to exercise my way to feeling happy every day!

 

 

 

   

Love the Coast

A perfect place, a perfect sunset, a perfect romance. 

   

Daily Workout Plan

 

     

Thank God for Football

Have You Accepted Tim Tebow

as Your QB and Sunday Savior?

 

 

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Savor New Mexico Chiles

Green Chiles Stuffed with Almonds and Raisins

recipe
 

This dish softens the chiles' heat with raisins, nuts, spices, and a slightly sweet tomato sauce.
To experience chile season in New Mexico, you could head to the Hatch Valley, near Las Cruces. The world's single-largest chile crop ― about 18,000 acres ― is grown in the fertile valleys of southern New Mexico, and the annual Hatch Chile Festival draws about 30,000 heat-seekers every Labor Day weekend.

Strong, Healthy, Happy

I started a new health revolution on January 27, 2012.  A lot has changed since then, starting with appreciation I now have for the life I have been given.   To life an unhealthy life by choice is simply foolish and irresponsible.  Today I choose to take care of myself, my body, and my emotions.  I want to be sure that I do my part in maintaining a healthy body that will sustain my life and give hope to my family.   I don't want to be careless about my meal choices or exercise regiment.  I want to lead by example and follow people who mentor my way.  It is my hope that I will be around to see the grandchildren I might have some day.  This world is majestic and I want to experience it.  When we choose to be strong, we are saying to God that we embrace his blessings.  To be happy starts within us and our inner self manifests outward.  Today I choose to be Strong, Healthy, and Happy.

 

 

 

For more Reasons to Be Fit, click here.

 

 

Perfect Pumpkins

 

A staple for autumn festivities, the pumpkin makes its way into a multitude of dishes this time of year. Enjoy this versatile squash while it's fresh—the flavor is vastly superior to canned.  To select, look for pumpkins that are small, about 5 to 8 pounds, with tough skin. They are prized for their concentrated flavor and sweetness.  source

 

 

 Pumpkin and Yellow Pepper Soup with Smoked Paprika

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 1/2 cups chopped yellow bell pepper (about 2 large)

1 1/2 cups chopped carrot (about 2 medium)

1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)

1/2 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika

2 garlic cloves, chopped

5 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 (15-ounce) can salt-free pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons unsalted pumpkin-seed kernels, toasted

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, carrot, and onion; cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add paprika and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add 3 cups broth and black pepper; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
2. Place one-third of vegetable mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid spills). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining vegetable mixture.
3. Return pureed vegetable mixture to Dutch oven; stir in remaining 2 cups broth and pumpkin. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in juice. Ladle 1 cup soup into each of 7 bowls; top each serving with about 1 teaspoon pumpkinseeds and about 1/2 teaspoon parsley. Serve immediately.

Jackie Mills, Cooking Light
NOVEMBER 2006

 

Such a Handsome Boyfriend

Sofia Vergara puts a tennis-ball-sized rock on full display Thursday while attending the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y., where she and beau Nick Loeb watched Angelique Kerber upset Venus Williams during the second round of women's singles matches.