Delicious: Beer Can Chicken

One of the best ways to cook chicken is to impale it, with a can filled with beer and herbs, stand it up on the grill or in the oven, and go take a nap.  Years ago, we bought a device, which lends some support to the chicken, instead of depending solely on the flimsy can to remain upright.  It's like a round pan with a built-in can in the center, and a cone that fits over the can and into the chicken's butt.  It's the best chicken ever, and so easy and fool proof.  Here's another variety of the can, which may be worth adding to your collection.

H/T Manolo Food Blog

They're Back: The Puppy Cam

New readers of the blog may not remember the puppy cam in 2008. We had lots of fun tuning in to watch these cuties play, sleep, nurse etc. There is a new litter and here's the new time-killer stream! Enjoy!
Webcam chat at Ustream 

Soaking Up the Sun at 32℉

The shortage of vitamin D is really getting to me these days.  I braved the cold with my brand, new running shoes and did a 5.18 mile run, then a 1.5 mile walk OUTSIDE!  It was actually really beautiful after the seven minute warm-up.  I'm training for Chicago's Shamrock Shuffle in March.  Burrr!

Our Young Patriot Says the Pledge

From the start of his academic experience, a couple of years ago, young Landon proudly mastered the Pledge. Now he clearly enjoys this opportunity to lead the whole school with his recital. 



H/T Steph

Uggs Are Everywhere!

Here's the great Manolo's take on the fashion phenomena:

...if you are sixteen and super cute, then the Classic Uggs are “da bomb”. You may wear them everywhere (even with your sweat pants) and people will still think you are the cutesy cute cutey.

If , however, you are the forty-two year old woman of sophistication, then the Classic Ugg boots look silly with almost everything you try on.
Sweat pants? Sloppy!
Faded blue jeans? Trying too hard!
Shortish skirt? Trashy!

The truth is, the Ugg Classic boots, like the dirty ripped blue jeans and the whale-tail thong, are the young person’s fashion. They were designed by the youthful Australian surfers for wearing after the energetically youthful day at the beach, not for women of the certain age to slip on for the day on the town.

Happily, there are the Ugg models which can be worn by elegant ladies. For the example, here is the Gissella, the casual, wedge-heel ankle boot with the Aussie flair.

I'm not so sure I agree with Manolo on the Uggs, and I'm not so sure I agree with Lee, the blognephew's fashionista wife, on her facebook status:

"Once you're out of college, you're too old for a back pack."

Comedian Paul Epperlein Helps Raise Thousands for Haiti

New York comedian and showman, Paul Epperlein, hosted a very funny event at HA! Comedy Club to benefit Haiti.  With only two days to pull it together, Paul was able to secure a great line-up of NYC funny guys and donate over $3,000 for Haiti relief.  Big fans of Paul, and comedy in general, the teen blogson and I schlepped out in the rain to see the show in Midtown.  Knowing I would be helping Haiti by supporting Paul's effort made missing the Golden Globes an easier decision.  We sat right up front.  Big mistake.  Luckily, it was near the end of the evening when one comedian did his best to embarrass both mother and son.  He had the audience feeling a little uncomfortable, too, with an over-the-top sexy routine.  It's the back, dark corner table for us me next comedy club. 

Flo Fan

Flo, the girl on the Progressive Auto Insurance ads, is sure animated.  I have this love/hate thing going with her; but mostly love.

3,000 Crunches a Day

While I struggle at the gym with my routine, I'll be thinking of this athlete doing 3,000 sit-ups a day.

Haiti Quake: Reminding Us of All Things Important

The images of despair and destruction from the 7.0 earthquake to hit Haiti are a solemn reminder of how rapidly life, as we know it, can change in a split second.  My heart and prayers are with the thousands of people suffering pain and losses today.  Mother Nature rules, and she certainly knows how to demand attention and bring people together with the most basic of needs:  survival.  Just when I was beginning to feel sorry for myself, and the little annoyances that have been plaguing my new year, this not-so-gentle reminder of real problems awakens the gratitude for all that is my life.

Umami: Foodie Word of the Day

Vietnamese Chicken Lettuce Wraps

One really can't rest in the family until after the January 11th birthday celebrations.  Wild Willy and young Alexis culminated days of partying with a dinner in Chatham.  We are all big fans of P.F. Changs' famous lettuce wraps, so I set out to make something along those lines.  Among the millions of recipes listed under a Google search, I went with a PERDUE® recipe for Vietnamese ground chicken lettuce wraps to try to create a special appetizer.  I used my Kitchen Aid attachment and ran boneless, skinned chicken breasts through the course grinder (why simplify the process by buying PERDUE® ground chicken?).  While it looks like a long list of chopped and minced ingredients, it's nothing with a food processor.  The wraps were delicious.  I also tried Sophie Brickman's recipe for braised short ribs, but was disappointed with the quality of ribs I purchased.  Her combination of flavors were excellent, but I needed a little more time on the reduction.  I will try the recipe again.  Mashed potatoes, broccoli and two birthday cakes rounded out the meal.  Now I can get on with the year month; the blogmother-in-law turns 95 years old on January 30th.

Don't Be A Passive Participant in Life This Year

Keep the optimism and hope of the new year by exercising and practicing the discipline of positive thinking each day.  Our relationships can have a major impact on our positive thinking.  For this reason, make it a goal this year to work on your most important relationships.  At the heart of successful and rewarding relationships is the ability to effectively communicate.  From my experience, effective communication entails a few basic goals for constructive confrontation and conflict resolution:

a) Convey the truth

b) Listen

c) Preserve the relationship

Passive participation in any relationship leads to dissatisfaction.  Passive participation is helplessness.  Helplessness is a lack of control.  Lack of control in any situation leads to dissatisfaction.  You can avoid dissatisfaction in your life this year.

Facebook: The Joy and Angst

There's something so gratifying about the camaraderie of Facebook.  The dichotomy of it's usefulness verses the sheer and compelling curiosity of it all is staggering.  While only party to twenty-something friends, I am afforded myriad glimpses of life by way of friends of friends, extended family of family, and family of friends of friends.  A social anthropology in pop culture, it is.  Simply keeping up with the jargon of each generation is worthwhile.  Gaining insights from the inane prattle of teenagers also helps keep a pulse on the present.  One can't help, however, feeling creatively malnourished when pressured to update statuses and be of general interest and entertainment to their sphere of influence. 

Mysterious Fan Mail

With the proliferation of angry blog-stalkers and spam commentary, I have recently started to moderate my comments to ensure suitability for publishing (love that censorship bonus as a blog author).  Well, I know it wasn't the bloghusband, as he was fast asleep next to me at 12:30 am, but someone made my day by leaving a very nice comment on my blog.  Later this morning, another reader, made my year by also having a pleasantry about my blog.  Who knew I had two other readers?

The Astrology of 2010

Journalist, photographer and astrologer, Eric Francis Coppolino, writes about the planetary influences over humanity in 2010.

Fish Pedicure

The always delightful blogfriend, Sarah, sent an email encouraging me to investigate the I Can Do It®: The Ultimate Online Series to Nourish Your Soul seminar, which is currently being offered for $20, down from $275 for eight sessions.   Sarah is always plugged into the latest in mind and body renewal.  She concluded her email with the following postscript:

PS-went to DC last week and had Dr. Fish treatment at spa with girls. You put tootsies in tank w/ fish and they eat the dead skin off your feet. Very bizarre.

 Totes!

Friends, Food, Humorous Writing: All Things to Love

Our New Year's Eve wedding was a blast.  An article about the then-soon-to-be newlyweds appeared in The Atlantic today, and was written by Sophie Brickman, a college roommate of the bride.  It is just too cute.  The folllowing paragraph should whet your appetite for the whole piece:

"...When I saw the loving way K looked at L as she began to eat, the whole marriage thing began to lose its scariness. Plus, it was at this moment that I really started getting excited for L: Here was a man who could eat! So sue me--I quickly judge people based on their eating preferences. Anyone who thinks Power Bars or smoothies are meals in themselves, who has done the master cleanse more than once (I allow for one experiment), or turns down bacon for any reason other than religious ends up on my "questionable" list." On the other hand, demanding seconds of short ribs automatically secures you a spot on my "people who get it" list."

Heh.

A recent Australian study of 6,000 women has shown that, after 10 years, the average gal gains 15 lbs if she lives with a partner and 20 lbs if she lives with someone and has a baby.  Ruh Roh.

Girls Rules, Boys Drool

The Economist has a positive story today:

AT A time when the world is short of causes for celebration, here is a candidate: within the next few months women will cross the 50% threshold and become the majority of the American workforce. Women already make up the majority of university graduates in the OECD countries and the majority of professional workers in several rich countries, including the United States. Women run many of the world’s great companies, from PepsiCo in America to Areva in France.

Women’s economic empowerment is arguably the biggest social change of our times. Just a generation ago, women were largely confined to repetitive, menial jobs. They were routinely subjected to casual sexism and were expected to abandon their careers when they married and had children. Today they are running some of the organisations that once treated them as second-class citizens. Millions of women have been given more control over their own lives. And millions of brains have been put to more productive use. Societies that try to resist this trend—most notably the Arab countries, but also Japan and some southern European countries—will pay a heavy price in the form of wasted talent and frustrated citizens.

Read the whole story.

Blue Agave

Two people recommended this natural sugar substitute to me over the last month.  Starting the year out on a healthy note, I picked some up at Whole Check Foods today.  Here's the spin:

"Wholesome Sweeteners' Premium Organic Agave Nectar is a natural sweetener extracted from the heart of the Blue Agave plant. Agave is a Low Glycemic Index (GI) sweetener, so it is slowly absorbed into the body preventing spikes in blood sugar. It is 1-1/4 times sweeter than sugar, so you need less, and it has been consumed by ancient civilizations for over 5,000 years. The sweet mild taste is perfect for sweetening beverages, baking and as a multi purpose sweetener. Use wherever you would use table sugar."

And BTW, tequilla is made from the same plant. I'll let you know how it works.

Is It Spring, Yet?

Here's a good use for all those dinosaur light bulbs in the basement.

H/T Manolo for the Home 

That Was Then, This Is Now

The new year always brings such optimism and hope to individuals resolved to improve their lives.  On any given day, one of my favorite sappy sayings to the teen blogson is, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life."  He absolutely hates it when I say that, and we have a good laugh, and then I say it's true.  Just recently, I have taken on a new favorite expression: "That was then, this is now."  People really do get stuck in a pattern of thinking and behaviors.  If everyone just took a look around at their patterns, habits, motivations and interactions, and said, "That was then, this is now", the fallibility of pride takes on a new perspective and a definitive course.  Those six little words provide a liberating excuse to act differently, and totally reinvent the present with an open mind to the possibility that people or things have changed, and our thinking needs to change, too.  On the other hand, perhaps changes have not occurred.  Our views can still change, and by changing our views, we can change people and things.  The power of six little words can dramatically improve our new year!  Try it.

Let the Decade Begin!

Happy New Year!  May 2010 be a fabulous year for all, and the beginning of the best decade ever. 

A Snowy New Year's Eve in the East

A beautiful day for a wedding! It's all relative, but a December wedding begs for snow, and we're getting some today. With the help of my studio assistant, the bloghusband, we finished nearly 175 wedding programs this morning.

They turned out really nice, especially with the hand embellishments of metallic stars and glitter snowflakes, adding a touch of New Year's bling and pizazz. Now, I can focus on what I'm going to wear. As Wild Willy said, "the mall is open." He knows me well. Ah, the pressure. Be safe tonight. Happy New Year's celebrations.

New Year's Eve Wedding Program

While we will certainly miss the calm of our annual celebration on the vineyard, we are so looking forward to celebrating Lauren and Kevin's nuptials on New Year's Eve.  I'm making the final creative and editorial adjustments to their wedding program.

 

2010: Year of the Scalloped Potatoes

For all of my culinary accomplishments, until this week, I did not own a mandolin.  Having the time for pleasure cooking this week, I was hoping LeRoux, on Main St. in Vineyard Haven, would have one for me to purchase.  I was very surprised to see such a wide variety from which to choose at the store.  The prices ranged from $19.99 to $209.00.  I opted for the Kuhn Rikon model at $27.99.  In the last couple of days I've made scalloped potatoes and banana cream pie, both simplified by the use of the mandolin.  The potatoes were just OK, the pie was simply awesome.  It is my mission next year to make the best scalloped potatoes ever.  The mandolin is certainly one of those gadgets one can live without, but more than useful, it's fun, and gives your creations a professional looking edge!  

Boxing Day in Tisbury

The morning after Christmas is always so special.  Aside from being the blogsister's birthday, it's a day to just do nothing.  It was another magical Christmas celebration in our vineyard haven.  It's a simple life here on the island, and we had to make do with fishing lures and other island gear to to decorate our tree.  I particularly love the peace sign topper.  The gift-giving theme this year was "summer schlepping made easy."  The bloghusband and son received a beach dolly or cart with real fat wheels.  The design is supposed to ease the load on sand.  We have yet to find a solution for all the gear one must schlep to Long Point for a day of fun in the sun.  Hopefully, this Wheeleez product will do the trick.  While on that website, a similar cart, for use with a kayak, looked like an good gift idea, too.

Coco stopped by and was bearing gifts, also.  One of the many reasons to love this island is the creative and entrepreneurial people who live and work on the vineyard.  Coco's mom makes and markets yummy blends of sea salt, herbs and spices.   We were the lucky recipients of a couple varieties.

The blogson wants to grow up and be a DJ, now that he has nearly mastered his XBOX game from Santa,  DJ Hero.

The fire in the pot belly stove has been burning since our arrival.  I've been working on my needlepoint with the dogs at my feet.  We all enjoy the togetherness of one room living on the vineyard, even the teenager in our life.

A Perfect Snowman in Vineyard Haven

It was a so-glad-I-had-my-camera moment after a final round of Christmas shopping in town.

Everything Really Does Get Done

Time expands to what you need.  It was another day of scrambling to get things done, but everything really does get done.  It's been a killer pace.  In addition to all the holiday tasks and demands, I completed two major projects, the PTO January Newsletter and the graphic design and layout for Lauren's wedding programs.  It's been early mornings and very late nights.  Yesterday, while riding up to the island (still listening to Atlas Shrugged on tape) I dozed off several times.  Luckily, the bloghusband drove the whole way.  Today, we bought a tree at Morning Glory Farm, finished up the gift and grocery shopping, wrapped gifts, and cooked a fabulous dinner.  The island is very crowded, and Main Street was jumping today;  reminiscent of August, except for the tons on snow!  We're all looking forward to a relaxing week on the island.  Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Accomplished Merriment

Shop for 44 gifts; 27 hours

Wrap 44 gifts; 3.5 hours

Cater dinner for 12; 8 hours

Clean up dinner for 12; 2.5 hours

Merry Christmas:  Priceless!

The extended family holiday celebration is officially behind us.  We had a lovely, white Christmas gathering yesterday with twelve of the fourteen family members in attendance.  Jeff and Amelia were stranded in Florida; flight cancellation victims from the weekend's major snow storm.  The bloghusband's four children have not been together since his 6oth birthday, nearly two years ago.  As we head into Christmas week, and prepare for an intimate Vineyard celebration on the 25th, we are truly grateful for all of the blessings bestowed upon us and our family.  It is my sincere wish that you enjoy the spirit of Christmas, and be reminded that hard work and sacrifice has it's rewards (if only in the eyes of baby Jesus and your own sense of accomplishment).  Amen!   

Let it Snow, Let it Snow

It sure is beautiful out there.  We have about eight or nine inches of snow on our deck and it is still falling.  Good luck to all the travelers trying to get in and out of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.  Be safe.

Amelia in December

The babe is growing strong! 

From Steph:

For those of you who haven't seen her in a while just thought I'd send this out.  She weighed 17 pounds 4 ounces today and they are very pleased with her growth!!!  Almost too much, they want us back in a couple weeks to make sure she is not gaining too much!

'Tis the Season for Creativity

Creativity is not only about finding that perfect gift for a loved one, it's about simplifying meal time during the Christmas rush and still being mindful of consuming nutrients.   Dust off the 'ol crock pot and fill it with steel cut oats and water before you go to bed.  Add some raisins, cinnamon and vanilla bean to the low cook setting and delight the family with nourishing and quick comfort food in the morning.  Add something special to the dinner party menu, with little effort, by slicing up some sweet onions and putting them in the crock pot to caramelize overnight.  In fact, I cook them on low for sixteen to twenty hours.  They get mahogany brown and are delicious with just about anything.  Finally, with all the treats over the next couple of weeks, think about using apple butter in your baked goods instead of some of the real stuff.  It is said that you can reduce the fat in a recipe by one-third without really compromising the taste.

Flat Belly Diet Cookbook

Thanks to the blogfriend, Patty in CA, for introducing me to this great cookbook.  The diet looks interesting, too, but the recipes offer a healthy and delicious variety for those serious about weight loss.

Curious: The Drudge Report's Fascination with Tiger Woods

It must be a slow news weekend.  Events following the lover's quarrel between Mr. and Mrs. Woods have been headline news on the Drudge Report for days.  What's that about?  Give the guy a break already.

Week in Review

Still on my hiking kick since California earlier this month, I got the bloghusband out to Pyramid Mountain in Morris County, NJ. We forged an adventurous hike on the vineyard, too. According to my calculations, 90 minutes of walking on uneven terrain burns 775 calories. In between our hikes this week, we had some wonderful family fun.  Pictured below:  Hens on the vineyard hike, curious Billy, The water's edge, Braden's tattoo, Sweet Alexis, Close up creativity, Nanny's decorations, Pyramid Mountain hike.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Oatmeal, Coconut, Raisins and Walnuts

After eating an entire day's worth of calories in one meal on Thursday, we headed to the Vineyard for some R&R and detox. Coco, eager to see the teen blogson, was at our door moments after our arrival on island. She had a giant bag of warm cookies in her extended hand. Being ever so polite, I opened the cookies, passed them around, and took one for myself. OMG!!! This combination of flavors was unexpected and delicious. So much for the detox part of the weekend. Now, I'm left wondering, with the great name Coco Brown, what inspired her to put coconut in the cookies?

The Beauty of Procrastination

Procrastination can be the bane of existence or it can be the gentle reminder of generosity and gratitude in life. Each day I put off writing that thank you note, I am reminded of the gift, and the friendly acts of kindness, which enrich my well-being. Amy Vanderbilt would disagree, however.

Live in the Present this Holiday Season

Now that we are fully immersed in the holiday season, here's my friendly and annual reminder to readers to be ever mindful of living in the present, especially during the next month.  The proliferation of stress management advice available at this time of year is indicative of the throngs of people who are living in the past.  Strictly speaking demographics, over half the people you come in contact with are reeling from the long-term neurosis resulting from divorce, not to mention other trauma and disease.  Hopefully, you will make an extra effort to surround yourself with the people who treasure you and your contribution to their life.  For those other, unavoidable moments of togetherness with people who just can't express a genuine word of kindness, gratitude or appreciation, and have difficulty extending a sincere compliment in your direction, keep vibrations positive.  You could be the change and eventual strength these people need to rise above their own deficiencies and inability to conquer peace and joy in their life.

Love It or Hate It?

Winter wedding dresses are so awesome, but I'm not so sure about this Atelier Aimee number.

Variety is Key to Successful Dieting

One cup of instant Miso (low sodium) soup with 1/3 cup dulse (seaweed) is loaded with benefits. If you're feeling adventurous, just add 1 ounce of cubed tofu and see what happens to your protein:

It's hard to get nearly 3 grams of fiber in under 100 calories. That's a good full feeling! Lots of vitamins, too. Yep, branching out of the comfort food zone is the key! It's no wonder Whole Foods has a huge selection of instant miso soups, seaweed vegetables, and tofu.

Take a Snapshot Each Month

Day-to-day and week-to-week snapshots are rather frustrating views of weight loss effort and progress.  The scale fluctuates so much daily.  Monthly, however is a much more rewarding picture of measurement and lifestyle realities.

Good Quote

Do or do not, there is no try.  -Yoda

Air-Dried Chicken and Other Highlights from San Francisco

The blogfriend, Charlize Patty, picked me up from SFO in her spunky Mini.  Our first stop of the weekend was Fish in Sausalito for lunch.  We had the most incredible fish tacos ever.  The mound of fresh, green, whole cilantro covering the tilapia was a delightful reminder of California cuisine.  Charlize Patty made a fabulous dinner from her Flat Belly Cookbook, which consisted of Vietnamese lettuce cups and spicy shrimp to start, followed by the most amazing Vietnamese short ribs, spuds and the veggies.  Way to make a visiting friend feel special!  After some shopping in Pacific Heights the next day, we stopped at LaMediterranee for lunch, and enjoyed the famous and fabulous middle-eastern cuisine.  The blogfriend Maggie, by way of a tangled-web, introduced Charlize Patty to Danny Pudi, aka Abed, on the NBC Community TV show series.  Her boys were very happy with his personal message and autograph!  The scene at Boulevard for dinner was jumping.  Our dinner was California fresh, creative and simply outstanding.  We decided to splurge on the splurge and ordered the most sophisticated donuts ever for dessert!  Having worked up an appetite during our spiritual hike near Lake Phoenix Sunday morning, we indulged at one of California's finest dining establishments:  IN-N-OUT Burger.  After a double-double and fries we hit the Mill Valley shops before stopping for dinner groceries at Woodlands Market.  I'm not sure if it was the slow-cooked, beer can preparation, or just the best air-dried chicken ever, as described by the vendor:   

Humanely Raised on Sustainable U.S. Farms
No Antibiotics or Added Hormones - Ever
Fed All Vegetarian Feeds

It was great to spend time with Patty and her family, meet a couple of her friends and mine, and enjoy a quick visit with the blogsisterinlaw, Peggy.  
I ♥ California, but the red-eye...not so much!

 

Fitness on the Road

Just outside of Patty's front door, on the northeastern slope of Mount Tamalpais, is a trail reserved for rugged recreational hiking.  After a leisurely and scenic morning coffee klatch on her deck, overlooking eastern Marin County and the bay, we communed with nature on a 90-minute hike down the canyon to Phoenix Lake.  Sally, the family's chocolate Lab, set an enthusiastic pace.  Despite my rigorous workouts over the past month, the return climb up, about 600 feet, seemed surprisingly strenuous.  The next day, Mike joined us on another hike, which we started at the trailhead off of Lagunitas Road in Ross.  We combined a few trails, with Hidden Meadows, being one of my favorites.  We all chatted, sometimes catching our breath among the redwoods, oaks and California bays, while maneuvering around tangles of tree roots, rocks and narrow paths with death-defying edges.  I'm asking Santa for hiking boots.  What an awesome workout!  Spectacular!

Airline Boarding Pass for Mobile Device

Ya gotta love technology!  Sitting in my pjs at the kitchen counter, I just checked in for tomorrow's flight to SFO and selected the mobile device option for delivery of my boarding pass.  No paper;  simply scan the iPhone at the security check and the gate.  Now, when will they put the driver's license on the PDA?

Cher: Excuses Won't Lift Your Butt

Harlan Coben quoted Cher today at the PG Chambers School fund-raiser luncheon, Menu for the Minds. The guest speaker, and best-selling suspense author from NJ, was referring to the difficulties of writing when he said "there are no excuses for not writing,"  just before he quoted the great American philosopher, Cher.  I'm with Cher and Harlan:  there are no excuses for not exercising!

Herein Lies My Problem

And all I can say is, "Birds of a feather...."

Anyone serious about health, nutrition and weight loss should take a look at My Food Dairy. The website offers a free trial period, but the $9.00 a month is well worth the cost. It's a really time consuming approach, but research supports the benefits of keeping a food and exercise journal for increased weight loss success. Here's a snapshot of one of the many reports available to help with the constant battle of weight management.

Thinking of Maggie

And being TUBBY 24 hours a day?

Tuesday Weigh-In

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap
but by the seeds that you plant.

-Robert Louis Stevenson

Sisterly Love: Sometimes Overrated

At a shower on Saturday, my table of eight women marveled at the close relationship between the bride and her sister. A lively debate ensued on the merits of sisterhood. All the women in the group had at least one sister, and others, like myself, had as many as three sisters. Arguably, sisters are often the most important relationship in a woman's life, outside of parent/child (hope the husbands aren't reading) but sentiments varied widely depending on if the woman had only one sister or more than one sister. Women with one sister seemed to be far more attached to the relationship than those with multiple sisters. Despite the closeness among sisters, it appears that vying for the mother's attention still plays a big role in adult sibling relationships. Curious, indeed.

Thwarting Weight Gain

Thwarting weight gain. Thwarting weight gain. Therein lies the intent of mindful diet and exercise. Keep that mantra handy as you step on the scale. The pounds may not be falling off your body, but they are not piling on, either. Exercise is creating a toned physique for now, and future strength for old age. Do those squats and lunges now, or you'll have trouble getting off the toilet in the not-too-distant future.

skinny chef

I'm not sure how I found this, but I've read her mini e-book and have to say her way is pretty close to the food diary way and thought you might enjoy it.

http://ditchthediets.com/

Secret to Losing Weight? Supportive Friends

Experts agree that one of the key ingredients to long-term weight loss is the buddy system. People who buddy-up during a diet and exercise program have greater success achieving their fitness goals over people who go it alone. Hello? Anyone out there?

A New Look

Body changes are starting to occur. Amazing how you can see the same people at the gym, week after week, and they always look the same. Not me. My body is starting to take on a toner look. The butt is getting a lift, midriff is getting flatter, upper-thighs narrower, upper arms getting definition, and the face looks healthier and slimmer. I started taking a multi-vitamin to help supplement my excellent, but sometimes, iron-deficient diet. I'm beginning to feel like my 'ol self again. The blog has a new look, too.

Fraction of a Pound

Fractions add up to pounds. Don't be discouraged by what's on the scale each day. As long as you're committed to thwarting weight gain, losses may be gradual, but they are, none the less, losses. Hang in there. Fractions are good for your goal.

Simple Secret of a Healthy Heart

GENTLE exercise can dramatically cut the danger of an early death from heart disease, according to new research. Read the whole article here.

Positive Thinking Brings Success

Sometimes, all it takes for continued motivation, and a little extra weight loss, is to just visualize yourself at your ideal weight. Do this throughout the day, especially before meals and voilá!