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!

Combine a Protein with a Dairy to Rev-Up Weight Loss

Studies have shown women burned more fat and calories after a meal when their diets included three to four servings of lowfat dairy daily. The amount of quality protein in your diet is the single most important calorie that influences your metabolic rate, favorably influencing weight loss. Quality protein also helps you sustain muscle during weight loss, improve muscle fitness, improve immunity, improve antioxidant function, build HDL cholesterol, and enhance insulin and leptin function – all of which contribute toward optimal weight management efforts over time.

Do Ahead: Shop, Chop, Cook

Healthy options need to be readily available when the hunger pangs strike.

21 Days Makes a Habit

Research shows that it takes 21 days to make a habit. Make each day count as you diet and exercise. In just a few short weeks, you will have developed a very good habit.

Just Do It

Nike was on to something with that famous campaign slogan. Just do it. Do it for the day. Do it for the next day. Do it for 10 minutes. Do it for an hour. Be disciplined. That is what sets you apart from others. Your disciplines during your day. Exercise. Just do it.

Don't Give Up

Don't give up. There is no quick fix to lose weight. Eat healthily. Exercise. Forgive your missteps. Keep going.

Honey and Cinnamon for Weight Loss: The Claim

The formula for honey and cinnamon for weight loss is ubiquitous.

1. Use honey and cinnamon in a 1:2 ratio (one part cinnamon, two parts honey)
2. Put the cinnamon in a cup or bowl.
3. Boil one cup of water.
4. Pour water over the cinnamon and let it steep for 30 minutes.
5. Once the liquid has cooled, add honey. Always add honey to the cooled liquid – hot liquid will destroy the enzymes in the raw honey.
6. Drink half of the resulting “tea” before going to bed. Cover and refrigerate the rest.
7. Drink the other half first thing in the morning.
8. Do not add anything to the recipe. Only drink on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning and right before bed.

Typical claims of benefits that you will find for drinking this concoction include:

1. Inches will be lost before you will notice the scale creeping downward.
2. The cinnamon and honey cleanses parasites, fungus and bacteria out of the digestive tract.
3. You may experience side effects due to the release of toxicity.
4. You may experience increased energy, better sex drive and a better mood.
5. The formula will block your body from gaining fat.

To the frustrated dieter looking for a panacea, the honey and cinnamon for weight loss cure might seem like a dream come true, but does it work? Take a look at each of the ingredients and their potential benefits on health.

20 Pounds = 5 Months

5 months = swimsuit shopping season
Lose one pound a week for the next five months and you'll be down a size or two for 2010 swimsuit season, which is right around the corner.

Make the Best of It

Make the best of it. When you make the best of whatever you're focused upon, your future will be better than your now. If each moment you're making the best of what-is, no matter what it is, you make the best of it; make the best of it; make the best of it—your future just gets better and better and better, and better.

--- Abraham- Hicks

CSI Sleepy Town

Action this morning in sleepy town. The blogfriend, Jeff, called this morning to tell me that her mass was canceled because beloved Father Ed was found dead in the rectory kitchen. According to one of the doctors at the scene, the priest had what appeared to be scratches and blood on his body. It was speculated that his dog may have tried to revive the fallen man. A sweet love story. However, the police didn't buy the endearing theory and turned the neighborhood into a crime scene. Father Ed's death is being investigated as a potential homicide. That explains the helicopters swarming sleepy town all morning long. RIP Father Ed.

Goals are Key to Success

You must have long-range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures.

~ Charles C. Noble

While the pounds aren't really falling off my body, I know I'm not gaining weight any more. Good diet and fitness really does need to become part of your lifestyle. Slow and gradual behavior modification will result in good health and a slim physique.

Trick to Weight Loss: Stay Away from White Foods

From Toothpix blog:

It may sound strange but it works. Don’t eat food that are white.

Sugar is a major trouble maker for dieters. Eating sugary foods causes the blood sugar to spike which signals the pancreas to make insulin on the double. The insulin gets the sugar out of the blood and into the organs or, more likely, into fat storage. Then the blood sugar drops which causes a craving for more sugary food. Sugar is hidden in processed foods and is used as a flavor enhancer. Brown sugar is simply white sugar with molasses added. Check the label on processed foods for sugar, sucrose, or corn syrup. You’ll be surprised to see where sugar is hiding.

Flour is just as bad as sugar, since it is easy for the stomach to quickly digest starch, turn it into glucose, a form of sugar and get it in the blood stream. Avoid white bread, cakes, doughnuts, and pastries. Whole grain bread is better for you, the whole grains means more fiber, which slows down digestion.

White rice has had the hull removed and most of the nutrients. It’s easily and quickly digested. Brown rice has much more fiber and consequently takes longer to digest so it’s okay in limited amounts.

Potatoes are primarily carbohydrates and, you guessed it, get turned into glucose fairly quickly. Sweet potatoes are a little better for you, even though they have a higher sugar content than white potatoes they contain more fiber.

Fat on beef and pork should be cut off before cooking, or only lean cuts should be consumed. And of course drain off any fat left in the pan before serving.

Mayonnaise has a high fat content since one of the primary ingredients is oil. Sour cream is a no, no as is whipped cream, and half and half.

An exception to the ‘no white foods’ rule would be low fat and nonfat milk. Calcium is important in any diet. Dieters who drink a glass of milk with every meal lose weight faster than those who don’t. Calcium blocks fat absorption. Unfortunately calcium derived from supplements doesn’t work the same way as calcium from diary products.

Stick with bright colors in your diet and you’ll lose weight faster.

Friends in Food and Fitness

The longtime blogfriend, Maggie, met me in Miami Beach for an extended weekend. While we always have a great time, this trip was particularly motivational. Maggie and I have known each other for over forty years. All through the years, we have often been mistaken for sisters because of our similar body type and, like spouses, friends begin to share a similar look after years together. We have gone from about eighty pounds to both sides of 150 pounds. Although, there are many miles between us, this weekend we decided to become partners in health, nutrition and weight loss motivation. We established a private blog, whereby we can attempt to motivate ourselves and each other by posting words of encouragement, diet and exercise success stories, recipes and results. Here we are pictured at Joe's Stone Crab on South Beach. Maggie loved her venture into the world of stone crabs... and what better a place. OMG. We splurged on the delicious basket of bread and the fabulous hash browns. So we have some work to do!

Energy Zappers and the Fix

Here's a good read by Denise Schipani:

See nine things that zap your vitality and how to get it back
It's 3 p.m.--do you know where your energy's gone? You probably expect to feel that late-afternoon drag, but you don't always have to. Turns out, some of your regular habits may be sneakily zapping your zip. Fix some or all of these energy stealers, and you just may be feeling brighter this afternoon.

Energy Zapper #1: Being Addicted to E-mail
Isn't being wired to the hilt--e-mail, voice mail, IM, BlackBerry--supposed to boost productivity, freeing up your energy? More often, the opposite is true. If you continually halt what you're doing to answer e-mail, check voice mail, and attend to a thousand other beeps and blips, your attention becomes diluted, which leaves you feeling depleted.
There are two things going on here, says John Salerno, MD, a New York City family physician and director of the Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine. "The brain needs a lot of physical and mental energy to multitask, which gets drained," he says. And continually redirecting your attention from the BlackBerry to other stimuli siphons more energy and distracts your brain further.

Energy Fix
Switch off electronic gadgets during your most productive work hours, which for most people tend to be in the morning, says Laura Stack, author of The Exhaustion Cure. As for e-mail, try to limit yourself to checking it once every hour, instead of hopping to whenever it beeps. (Hint: Turn off the beep sound.) If something pops into your mind that you need to remember--call back your mom, e-mail the soccer coach about the snack schedule--write it down and take care of it later.

Energy Zapper #2: Visual Clutter
We may be used to living in enclosed spaces with lots of stuff--a refrigerator door packed with artwork, a countertop laden with mail, a desk that's little more than a shifting pile of folders and paper--but it's not how we're meant to live, says Dr. Salerno. "Clutter signals disorder, which makes us anxious. Our brains sense that anxiety."

Energy Fix
Do your best to clear visual clutter, so when you look around, your eyes can "rest" rather than dart from mess to mess, says Janice Ash, organization expert and owner of I Declutter!. Instead of layering papers on a bulletin board, leave a small border of space around them. Clear the front of the fridge of all but the most current kids' artwork, and make a habit of leaving the kitchen counter stuff-free before bed each night.

Energy Zapper #3: Being Bored
Ever sat around for an hour or more not tackling a chore or work because it's just so darned monotonous? Mental foot-dragging, boredom and lack of motivation are draining, says Dr. Salerno. "Put simply, we like to see results, and getting things done gives us a mental energy boost." So avoiding tasks deprives you of that high.

Energy Fix
Find a partner for encouragement--a friend, a coworker--and call or e-mail to enlist her in a time challenge. "Say, ‘I'll check back in with you in an hour, and we'll see if we've gotten these reports/ organizing chores done.'" Or promise yourself motivational rewards for completing the task at hand, suggests Dr. Salerno.

Energy Zapper #4: Poor Posture
You already know that not sitting or standing straight is bad for your body. But all that hunching over a computer screen or cradling a phone on your shoulder wreaks havoc on your energy level, too, says Pia Martin, a San Diego health and wellness chiropractor. "When you sit for long periods, you tend to slump forward, leading to rounded shoulders and a tilted lower spine. Your muscles contract, and blood flow is impaired," which limits the amount of oxygen to your brain.

Energy Fix
Sit up straight! Your legs should be at right angles to the floor, your arms at right angles to your keyboard. Be conscious of keeping your shoulders down, not up near your ears. Adjust your computer screen so your eyes gaze at the middle of it. And don't just sit there--if you have to, set a timer to go off hourly to remind you to get up, stretch and get a drink of water. When you get back to your desk, do a quick posture check: Shoulders down! (Reboot your posture with these tips.)

Energy Zapper #5: Toxic Indoor Air
Humming copy machines. Cleaning products. Dry-cleaning chemicals. Synthetic carpeting. Even the desks in your office may be contributing to the load of toxins you breathe each day, because all of them release chemicals into the air. "No one knows for sure how much harm these cause to our bodies, but they do build up over time, and can drain your energy by potentially interfering with thyroid function and overloading the body's detox system," says Frank Lipman, MD, a New York City physician and author of Spent: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again. (Reduce your exposure to chemical toxins.)

Energy Fix
Get outside. If you're feeling tired, go out for 10 minutes to breathe fresh air. Indoors, cultivate houseplants, which are remarkably good at absorbing toxins. And don't wear shoes inside the house--you're dragging not just dirt indoors on your soles, but pesticides and other harmful chemicals too.

Energy Zapper #6: Eating Too Much at Once
Consuming a big meal is always something that will cause a dip in energy later, but that effect is most noticeable in the afternoon because the slump happens at that reach-for-coffee-or-sugar hour: 3 p.m. Here's what happens: You fill up on a carb- and calorie-rich lunch and, as nutrients are absorbed by your body, excess glucose is dumped into your bloodstream, and your body releases insulin to process all that sugar. "A better idea is to spread out what and how you eat throughout the day to keep energy levels steady," says Gloria Tsang, RD, founder of the nutrition website HealthCastle.com.

Energy Fix
Eat every four hours, instead of the usual six. To reform lunch, "try to brownbag more often than eating out," says Tsang. It's a fact that if you buy takeout or dine in a restaurant, you're likely to eat more. Four hours after lunch, have a snack. If you're going to eat dinner a couple of hours later, keep the snack small, such as half a turkey sandwich, or a yogurt and some crackers. Other ideas: Drink liquids (water, tea) all day. "Dehydration makes you tired, too," says Tsang. If you usually have coffee right after lunch, try it a little later in the afternoon and make it a latte. The caffeine's an obvious pick-me-up, but the little bit of fat and protein in the milk gives you a snack-like boost. (Increase your energy with a smarter lunch.)

Energy Zapper #7: Living in Artificial Light
Our natural body rhythms are keyed to the rising and setting of the sun, says Carol Ash, DO, medical director of Sleep for Life, a sleep-disorder clinic in Somerset, New Jersey. When you open your eyes in the morning and get your first glimpse of sunlight, your brain receives a signal that helps it set its sleep-wake clock for the day. Similarly, seeing sunlight during the day gives your brain a boost. So if you are awake before the sun, and/or don't see much sun all day, your body is experiencing something a lot like jet lag.

Energy Fix
Instead of hitting the coffee cart when you're flagging, hit the sidewalk--the combination of physical exercise and a shot of sunlight will energize you. You don't need much: "A 10- to 20-minute walk in the sunshine will give you a boost," says Dr. Ash.

Energy Zapper #8: Listening to Negative Nellies
You may be upbeat, but it can be exhausting to listen to complainers all day long, whether it's the fellow mom who calls to trash-talk the neighbors or the coworker who never has a positive word to say. It's not your imagination: A 2006 study at Chicago's Northwestern University found that people forced to listen to "high-maintenance" colleagues became frustrated and unfocused, and suffered a decline in the quality of their work.

Energy Fix
Insulate yourself as best you can. If a coworker loves to enumerate her complaints, cut her off with a firm but polite "I really have to get this finished," then smile and get to work. She'll get the message. If it's your own negative thoughts that drag you down, train yourself to banish them by listing, daily, the things you're grateful for, so you can pull out that list when the negative stuff intrudes.

Energy Zapper #9: Holding a Grudge
It takes a surprising amount of energy to remember whom you have a grudge against, and to continually update the faults, missteps and things you're mad about. "Resentment is a huge drain physically as well as mentally," says Dr. Lipman. "Anger, resentment, grudges--all of these emotions are toxic, and we hang on to them in our bodies especially in tense, tired muscles."

Energy Fix
It takes practice, but try to forgive old mistakes. An easy way to start is to simply be aware of the times negative thoughts about others creep into your mind, says Dr. Lipman. "Think of others as flawed humans, which we all are," which makes it easier to forgive-and free up energy.

Scale Shock

Life is just filled with reality checks. After what I thought was an excellent week of mindful eating and exercise, the scale this morning disagreed. In fact, it revealed an ALL TIME HIGH number. I'm hoping it is just a reflection of travel and water retention. Anyway, I start my day with greater resolve and realize that it will take a little longer to be this supermodel. I was reluctant to put my weight on this blog, but now, WTF? As they say about age, if you're going to lie, lie up.

home at last

There's no place like home, love, warmth, smiles, dinner with kev, my couch.
Well I broke the first rule, I ate after 7p, but it was fat free popcorn with diet root beer.
However on the positive note, I had 1/2 filet of sea bass with veggies, side salad with vinagarette, NO potatoes, one ketal.
Bought 2 work-out magazines at the airport, I'll let you know if I get anything good out of it.

Pick Your Battles and Make One Decision Now

After such a fun weekend in Miami, I woke this morning with lots of ideas for maintaining a good diet. Each one of us has certain weaknesses, and mine has to be French fries. Rather than negotiate with that whimpy little voice inside my head each time I see or smell a fry, I decided to just make an executive decision, here and now, that I will not be allowed to eat French fries until next year. That's it. Now that I know a decision has already been made, I won't have to comprise on this craving for days. MMS and I said good-bye in Sex City with resolve and optimism. We had such a memorable couple days and best of all, we kick-started a plan for health and nutrition going into the holiday season.

changes

i'm going to try to not eat anything after 7p.
i'm going to be excellant at behaving sun-thurs, then make good decisions on the wkd.
i find i eat at work when i'm bored, annoyed, busy, i'm going to replace that thinking with a glass of water.
working on tearing down my own barriers to progress.
get healthy.

Pineapple Water

Drink lots of water. Lots. It can stave off the hunger pangs and keep the appetite in check. The hotels in Miami Beach have large vats of water around the pool filled with sliced fruit for the guests to keep hydrated. The fruit adds a mild, refreshing edge to the water. Try this at home, kids. Keep a jug of water in the fridge with sliced pineapple, oranges, or strawberries. It's a good way to use over-ripened fruit, too, instead of tossing it out. Every time you go to the fridge for a snack, you'll forget you're hungry and go for a refreshing glass of water! In fact, I think many people confuse hunger for thirst.

Pineapple Water

Drink lots of water. Lots. It can stave off the hunger pangs and keep the appetite in check. The hotels in Miami Beach have large vats of water around the pool filled with sliced fruit for the guests to keep hydrated. The fruit adds a mild, refreshing edge to the water. Try this at home, kids. Keep a jug of water in the fridge with sliced pineapple, oranges, or strawberries. It's a good way to use over-ripened fruit, too, instead of tossing it out. Every time you go to the fridge for a snack, you'll forget you're hungry and go for a refreshing glass of water! In fact, I think many people confuse hunger for thirst.

Miami List

this is the start of a great mid life change for us.
this is the motivation we both need, we have great potential.

Miami Motivation

Mag and Kath started this blog while on a weekend getaway to Miami Beach. The long-time friends, while separated by many miles, believe that this blog will provide health and fitness motivation to each other, as they each attempt to lose weight and build muscle.

Miami Motivation

Mag and Kath started this blog while on a weekend getaway to Miami Beach. The long-time friends, while separated by many miles, believe that this blog will provide health and fitness motivation to each other, as they each attempt to lose weight and build muscle.

Video: A Miracle

Sarah, the blogfriend, has always been pretty terrified of her Mac. Lately, she has been taking classes at the Mac Store to help overcome her fear of computing. Sarah proudly sent me her first video yesterday. It's going viral!

Zebra Mentality

The blogson was telling us about an assembly at the high school yesterday. A fellow by the name of Michael Fowlin gave a powerful presentation about discrimination, and not just racial discrimination. He spoke of all types of discrimination, such as that among cliques at school, left-handed kids, family members, and even friends. The presentation was about how people, in this case, mostly teens, ostracize, alienate, and double-cross each other in order to be accepted. The pain of the injustice is sometimes just too much for people to take, and teens particularly, have difficulty managing these emotions. The speaker went on to graphically illustrate the grave and sad consequences for some people who carry the burdens of discrimination. Mr. Fowlin spoke about the sorry-ass people who just stand-by and watch bad behaviors and alienation in action. He called this the zebra mentality. “Bullies are not the problem,” he says, “Zebras are the problem. They’re beautiful creatures, but when one zebra is attacked by a lion, the others watch. They see these things happening and might feel bad about it, but they don’t do anything." The blogson enjoyed the hour presentation, but casually summed it up in one sentence, "People just need to do the right thing."

Gripping: Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood Crayon Factory

Manly Men Wearing Pink

It's so cool to see the NFL supporting breast cancer awareness month by adding pink touches to game apparel and fields. It almost makes watching football entertaining tolerable.

Keep 'Em Busy, Keep 'Em Broke

Good mantra for any parent of teens.

Heat's On

In honor of apartment dwellers everywhere, the good landlord bloghusband turned the heat on today. It must be October 1st!

Sappy Poem of the Day

Anyone with an email account and a bunch of friends gets a bunch of sappy emails over the course of time. Some are worth the read and others simply get the delete key. The timing of this poem in my inbox this morning is curious, and I felt it was blogworthy for a couple of reasons. First, it is a heartwarming poem, which I have seen several times before and always find truths within. Secondly, it has been circulating the Internet for over ten years and has been attributed to several authors along the way, including Hillary Clinton, Maya Angelou and Jesse Jackson. Pamela Redman Satran wrote the following poem, and it was first published in Glamour Magazine in May, 1997 under the title: "30 Things Every Woman Should Have & Should Know by the Time She's 30." It's never too late girls, enjoy!

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a feeling of control over her destiny...
how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

The More They Talk, The More They Like You

With so many people looking for employment these days, just remember this little tidbit of human nature on your next interview: The more they talk, the more they like you.

May You Be Filled with Gratitude Today

Everyone gets into a funk now and then. Over the last couple of days, I found myself slipping into a state of negative thought exhaustion. I said a prayer in the morning asking for, what I refer to as a positive-energy-thought-reversal-pattern, and lo and behold, I ended up having the most amazing day. It wasn't until I was in bed last night, did I realize how fortunate I am to be surrounded by wise, caring and loving individuals who appreciate me and the goodwill I hold in my heart. A string of events during the day blessed me with the most uplifting conversations among friends, family and even a few strangers. While it's so easy to slip into a state of depression, it is just as easy to take all the goodness people have to offer and turn your mood around. May you be filled with gratitude for all things and people in your life today.

Honeycrisp Apple Season is Upon Us

It's a long ten months without Honeycrisp apples, but, alas, the end is near. After discovering this variety last year, and looking longingly for them in every produce section throughout the world, for an entire year, I had my first Honeycrisp apple sighting today at my local grocer. My reunion with these apples brought a calm over my whole body. I held the apples gingerly in my hands, with reverence and anticipation, as I paid for my order. I felt complete. These are the best. apples. ever. Oddly, Honeycrisp apples are from a favorite Midwest destination, Door County, Wisconsin. Wisconsin? Yes. While growing up in Chicago, I ventured to Door County frequently. It's a beautiful part of the U.S. Honeycrisp apples are a relatively new variety. They were developed from a Macoun and Honeygold cross (the Honeygold itself a cross between the Golden Delicious and Haralson). The first trees were planted just north of Sturgeon Bay. Discover a Honeycrisp apple this season, and you will find yourself eating an apple a day for the next two months. Then, you will find yourself longing for September.

Your Thoughts Become You

Thoughts that bring about good feelings mean you are on the right track. Thoughts that bring about bad feelings means you are not on the right track. -The Secret

I'm always trying to get the teen blogson to understand this concept. Positive mental attitude is a challenging discipline, and must be practiced daily.

Brendan Loy's Tribute in Lights

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51629368@N00/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

One of my favorite bloggers, Brendan Loy, took this photo and writes:

A breathtaking view from Staten Island, on the second anniversary of 9/11, of the "Tribute in Light" at Ground Zero; the illuminated Statue of Liberty; the red, white & blue Empire State Building, directly in between the Tribute in Light beams; and the Chrysler building. Oh yes, and Mars, just a few weeks removed from its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years.

I took this photo from the Staten Island Ferry dock, after riding the ferry across the harbor just to see what the view of the skyline would look like with the Tribute in Light. Although many photos were taken and published of the skyline that night, I've never seen another one from this particular angle, which I maintain was the most beautiful viewpoint in the whole city that night.

The bloghusband and I both worked in the World Trade Center at different times in our careers. After the first bombing in 1993, Wild Willy's office moved into World Financial Center, just across the street from the WTC. Luckily, he was in Hong Kong on 9/11/01. Eight years ago, I picked up the blogson from his second grade classroom. It was a very sad reunion and, as we walked back to the car, I tried to remove the fear, horror and sadness in my voice, while attempting to explain that a life-changing event occurred while he was busy learning how to write. I started by telling him, "something happened today, and we will never forget it for the rest of our lives." Before allowing me to continue with the news, and in his sweetest young voice, my eight-year-old said, "You'll forget it, Mom, you forget everything." That was the one and only smile of the day. Unfortunately, it's just one of those things we will never forget. What a day to be living. What a day to be living in Greater New York.

This Should Put a Smile on your Face

Sixteen Candles

Not exactly sixteen candles, but the blogson turned sweet sixteen yesterday and, luckily, I had saved the 6 and the 1 from the bloghusband's 61st birthday cake earlier this year. It's already been a hectic September with packing up and closing down the Vineyard home, driving I95 for five hours, birthday shopping, cake baking, lobster dinner cooking and digging out the back to school paperwork. I also installed Snow Leopard on the trusty MacBook. Yeaaa!

The Holy See in Oak Bluffs, MA

The African American population grew to new levels on the island this summer, with the greatest concentration in Oak Bluffs. Demographic marketing was apparent with a fist-bumping watercolor of the first couple (sale price $1,000) impressionist oil painting of the President walking the Aquinnah cliffs with his dog (sale price $5,000) and seemingly religious artifacts of and souvenirs in honor of Obama prominently displayed along Circuit Avenue. Here's my favorite. Don't call me a racist, I'm just reporting the scene.

Presidential Motorcade Sighted in Chilmark

Woohoo!!! Having tired of sharing my bedroom with carpenter ants over the last three weeks, the exterminator kicked us out of the house for a couple of hours today. I dropped the blogson at Alley's General Store to hang out with Coco, and continued up island to Aquinnah.

On the way back, I stopped in Menemsha.


Knowing the First Family was staying off of South Road, I took that route home and was the first car stopped by the Chilmark Police about 500 yards before Blue Heron Farm. As the line of traffic grew behind me, I knew the motorcade must be approaching. Sure 'nuff. I took this video, but cowered a bit with the policeman giving the the evil eye.



The only political statement I notice throughout the day's journey was this frequent signage peppering South Road.