LAZY WOMAN

Rumi Speaks to Procrastinators

2012-03-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been craving Rumi, reading it voraciously. I got a new book yesterday "The Book of Love" (translated by Coleman Barks, of course) and I finally got to open it today.

It's always perfect when things arrive. In the last few days I have spoken to not one, not two, but three people who have worn their procrastination proudly. We have a section in "The Lazy Woman's Guide to Just About Everything" about Procrastination and definitely are proponents of using it as a tool, unless it causes more stress, which in many cases it will.

When I hear people bragging about procrastinating, it's always a bit of a funny thing, as they often betray themselves, and accidentally admit the pain it causes them. We all procrastinate at one point or another.

I just procrastinated on my taxes more than I ever have. I always get it all handled by the beginning of February. I just got my stuff together last night for my "Tax Lady." So, I have a very recent experience with it, which did, indeed, cause me a bit more stress by putting it off.

Monday through Friday, I get on a call that my friend, Mel Austin, invented, a "Power Call" where several of us say a few things that we want to accomplish that day in three or four areas of our life. Sometimes it's 11 p.m. and I have to pull all three things out of my ass! I have to say when I realized I haven't done even one of them and I've just gotten out of a hot bath and I'm ready to lay my weary body down to rest, I am pissed. But, then when I do it, I am even more proud of myself. I had it in me. We usually have it in us. We just don't request it. "Dear Me, do you think we could pull this one last big effort out of this day?" And, I respond, "Well yes, thanks for asking so politely!" LOL!

Well, Rumi says it so much more sweetly ... Here is one stanza of "The Polisher":

I swear by the one who never says tomorrow,

as the circle of the moon refuses to sell

installments of light. It gives all it has.

So, there is the key: imagine you are the Moon, or the Sun...imagine that undying energy. We have so much more than we think. The Moon and Son simply don't question what they have. They just are. We can just be...our most powerful selves.

Leap Day Sheds Light on Death and Birth

2012-03-02T22:35:00.000-08:00

How cool is it that I got an extra day between me and 50. But, the most precious gift I received on February 29th was the entry for that date in Mark Nepo's book:

The quote at the top of the page:

"Who's to say
the effort to be real
isn't the beginning of wings?"

And, then the entry begins with:

"Who's to say that the budding of wings from the ribs of small birds doesn't begin with the impulse within them to live?" The entire entry is gorgeous. But, I don't take it lightly that it was only a few hours after I read this entry that I heard a loud bang on the big picture window in the kitchen. I knew what it was immediately. It was a bird. I prayed and prayed and prayed as I hesitatingly made my way out to the garden. There he lay, in all his gorgeousness: dark black, white white, a gorgeous bit of gray and one brilliantly gorgeous orange tail. He was truly exquisite. He looked so soft and just so perfect. Somehow it was so hard to see. I immediately buried him, right near way he lay under a beautiful bush, just under my kitchen window, praying that his soul would guard against other birds crashing into the window. He is the guardian angel of birds now.

Between reading Nepo's entry and burying the sweet fallen one, I had to go into town to mail something and witnessed the sad tearing down of an equally exquisite specimen of nature...a lovely pepper tree. Apparently it was dead inside and could fall at any time so they needed to take it down before it hurt someone.

God's plan I suppose. Death. Life. Aging. Our time with each other is precious.

Every morning when I meditate and read Nepo's entry for the day I usually stop for a few minutes to listen to the birds who seem to herald the meditation with their song just outside my living room. Now, when I listen, I realize we have no idea how long we will sing, how long we will be sung to, or how long we will stand tall.

The February 29th entry ends with "In truth, every effort that is allowed its full beat within will ripple as a birth of some kind in the world."

That is reassurance I can accept. allowing as many moments as I possibly can to have their full beat, so as to be a birth of some kind.

Thank you, Oprah for turning me onto Mark Nepo.

Everyone: Buy this book. I promise you will be grateful:
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Awakening-Having-Being-Present/dp/product-description/1573245380

Turning 50: "Ma'am We Can Either Do this the Easy Way or the Hard Way"

2012-02-29T19:33:00.000-08:00

In my meditation today I had a thought swing through my consciousness. I have been having mixed feelings -- well, mostly negative mixed in with a drop of enthusiasm -- about turning 50. In my meditation those fears were revealed to me when I felt like a comic from the world of Spirit showed me the image of two cops on either side of me, one of them saying "Ma'am we can either do this the easy way or we can do it the hard way." I had to laugh.

It's so true. I can either fight it, or I can ease into it. It would have been like trying to stop adolescence, or stop that wonderful time in my 30's where I started feeling more powerful in my own skin, or in my 40's when I really sort of met myself head on and said "Well, nice to meet you."

Fighting nature, putting on the brakes, saying "no" to one chapter being over....well it really is as silly as the little image I was shown in my meditation.

I'm now going to pretend the cops were hot guys who were pretending to be cops who were about to take me on the adventure of my life: the second half.

RIP Dr. David Simon - The Legacy of Connecting to Our Essence

2012-01-31T12:16:00.000-08:00

A great man has left the earth in body only. He touched so many thousands of lives. He was a doctor, a spiritual leader, and co-founder of the Chopra Center with Deepak Chopra. If you've never heard of him, click on this link: http://www.lovefordavid.com.

I heard about his death and wanted to immediately connect with his wisdom and found this (which you will see at the above link, among other pearls). From Dr. David Simon:

Here are a few practices that can help you deepen your connection to your own essence and purpose:

I cultivate inner stillness through my meditation or yoga practice, which then allows me to hear the quiet messages that emerge from the deepest level of my being.

I connect to my life’s purpose by asking someone I know truly loves and cares about me, “What do you think is my best quality, trait or talent?”

I ask myself, “How could I bring more creativity, passion, or joy into what I am doing?”

I nurture a shift in my internal dialogue from “What’s in it for me?” to “How can I serve?” I notice how when I am doing what I love, I am able to bring joy and inspiration to those around me.

I look for opportunities to do one thing for another person that brings a smile to their face.

I consider what I would like most to hear from someone and I say these words to another person.

I take the time to do something that I love and share my enthusiasm or creation with another person.

The Kindness of Strangers -- A Natural State of Being

2012-01-30T20:29:00.000-08:00

I went to help a friend yesterday. She has had a tragic turn of events. Her previously athletic, supremely-able-bodied 19 year old son, was in a terrible motorcycle accident in November. Now temporarily --we are all asserting and knowing -- disabled, her son will be making his way from rehab back home, paralyzed from the waist down.

After 3 months of my friend and her husband being at the hospital nearly 24/7, their home is in some disarray. So, neatening and rearranging are in order. Wheelchair access must be calculated, new apparatuses the likes of which they've never touched, let alone had in their home must be brought in.

So, a few people came to help my friend yesterday. I arrived and three volunteers had already been there for a while. The task at hand: clear out the garage to make room for big brother to actually live, since the bedroom the two brothers previously shared will house only the one adjustable bed, wheelchair, etc.

It was a daunting task, since many things over the course of three months can easily find themselves shoved quickly into the garage to be dealt with later. Eventually, you have what we discovered, a slightly knotted mess of things to be untangled, reorganized and cleared out and about.

My friend wanted to do it right, of course, going through all the boxes, shedding pieces of the past, but that wasn't what was needed, nor was there anywhere near enough time to do that pristine a garage clearing. When I arrived the three volunteers were so sweetly trying to organize and clean around the indecision and stops and starts.

I wondered why no one was putting their foot down. Why wasn't anyone saying "No, we can't look at every item in every box and decide if we are keeping it or giving it away!" Well, that's a hard thing, especially if you've just met the person whose stuff you are organizing.

That's right, two of the three people in the garage when I arrived had recently met my friend and one had just met her less than an hour before my arrival. Even though not much was getting organized before I arrived, things were getting cleaned. These sweet strangers were already covered with dust, already had sleeves rolled up, and energy intact for the long haul.

The volunteer who just met my friend told me today she is inspired to organize a fundraiser. Her husband, an accomplished well-known musician -- one of the three kind hearted volunteers --- will play guitar at the fundraiser. Overflowing kindness.

I recently read in Mark Nepo's book (previously featured on this blog) that it is our natural state to be kind. It is certainly this couple's pure and natural state.

When we aren't naturally kind there's just a bit of gunk on the gears that are keeping the Engine of Kindness running smoothly, that don't allow the doors to the heart to open with grace and ease.

I am blown away and inspired by these two. May we all keep running into these examples of The Kindness of Strangers. May we all keep working on cleaning the gears, putting gas in the engine, and keeping the Kindness Machine going.

Einstein Genius Warms Heart -- Thank you Mark Nepo!

2012-01-24T15:13:00.000-08:00

I can't recommend this book more highly. (Thank you Oprah for recommending!) Starting the day with Mark Nepo is like starting the day with sunshine in your heart mind and soul!

(Easy to find on Amazon or visit http://www.marknepo.com/books/awakening.htm)

The book has a different "lesson" which starts with an inspiring quote. I haven't read an Einstein quote I haven't loved, but today's lesson in Nepo's book has the best one ever:

There are two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

It's truly LAZY to live as though everything is a miracle. It's easy on the heart. In a nutshell, it causes us to have less stress and more joy.

Here's to being Lazily Einsteinian, no matter how damn smart we are!

Trader Joe's Virgin is Virgin No More!

2012-01-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

The most glorious news has just been received. Peter, my glorious friend from London, who has been reading about the wonders of all things Joe, has finally arrived in the U.S. to be de-flowered. Only he can describe this very important day in his life, as a man, as a foodie, as a chocoholic:

It's happened. After all these years of reading and swooning over your blog,

I've done the deed and lost my virginity...

Trader Joe's was n't quite what I imagined; I was expecting a boutique style

supermarket at boutique style prices. Half right: boutique style supermarket but

at very attractive prices. I was amazed and to be honest more than a little

overwhelmed by the selection, the obvious quality and the fact that everything's

so very reasonably priced.

And they don't sell food that's been grown on steroids either. The strawberries

I bought tasted like strawberries, so did the blueberries.

Chocolate? Well, I had a little wander down the aisle of cocoa cornucopia. If I

ever do that again then I'm going to have to either be wearing boxing gloves so

I can't pick anything up, or better still under some form of supervision. Eyes

out on stalks, endorphins firing like flares over a battlefield, I could not

help but buy, buy, buy.

Their dark chocolate Mint creams are the handiwork of the devil. Truly, Satan's

children. I now no longer have any will power since downing a tub of them.

Correct, an entire tub, and that on top of half a packet of ginger, cinnamon and

molasses soft cookies I effortlessly scoffed on the uptown number 6 train. To

everyone on the same carriage as me, I apologise...but once I start, there's no

stop button.

I've actually been to two of their outlets today: union square first, then the

mother ship in Chelsea. I know I'm going to be rolling back to at least one of

them tomorrow. No self control any more.

They've clearly got the edge over whole foods: much better range of foodstuffs

and groceries; spot on pricing ; quirky, compelling in store ads; along with

staff who really seem to enjoy their job.

Viva Trader Joe's !

Best wishes and regards

Peter

90 Seconds....That's It!

2012-01-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

Rewatching an Oprah interview with Jill Bolte Taylor, the neuroscientist who had a stroke herself and wrote about it in "Stroke of Genius."

This is what she says about emotions thrilling through our brains and bodies, that we ALLOW, that we CHOOSE to experience:

"Pay attention to how things FEEL in your body. Because you know how it feels like in your body when you get angry, and you have a choice when you get angry of either BEING angry or of PAYING ATTENTION to what it feels like in your body when you ARE angry. Abd, when you have that kind of physiological response, when you get angry, it only takes only 90 seconds -- it takes 90 seconds from the time that you feel that trigger happen and you feel yourself starting to get angry for the chemicals to flush through your body and then completely flush out of you. 90 seconds is all."

Dr. Taylor suggests that the next time we start feeling angry, we start timing it, and within 90 seconds it will be gone. She says "And you can say, great I just dodged that one."

If you keep running the same loop, you can keep the anger alive. She says that people who stay angry (or whatever negative alternate emotion), they are "consciously or unconsciously CHOOSING to rerun the loops, the circuitry."

I love this. I know that some days when I'm working out a muscle in my Bar Method class for 90 seconds, it can be forever. This is very similar. I think 90 seconds will feel like a very long time at first, when the muscles aren't strong. As I strengthen this muscle, though, the 90 seconds will not be very long at all. And, definitely it is much preferable to the alternative, of minutes, days, hours, months.

I'm excited to just watch the emotions. I have some experience doing this over the years, having been taught how to do it by many meditation teachers, gurus, etc. But, somehow Bolte Taylor's reminder that I am CHOOSING to run the circuitry and that it is only 90 SECONDS -- well, both of those factors combined give me a little battery pack on my emotional back in my journey to master my negative emotions.

This is a very Lazy Tip from Bolte Taylor: Watch the emotions for 90 seconds.

Here is the link to Bolte Taylor's TED Talk: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Dr-Jill-Bolte-Taylors-Famous-Talk-on-Experiencing-a-Stroke-Video

Here is the link to Oprah's interview (Part 1 of 12) with Bolte Taylor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2KpDmRmZJw

Everything is PERFECT: How Learning Italian Told Me So!

2012-01-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

My plan, intention, goal is to be in Italy for my 50th birthday with friends. I'm working on the plans right now, and hoping we are getting closer and closer to reality each day.

In line with that intention I am studying Italian every day. I got the 24/7 Italian Tutor App on my iPad and iPhone so I have no excuse to not do at least a lesson a day.

The other thing I've done is put my Italian dictionary from college in my bathroom. It's hilariously old, reminding me that this is, after all, my 50th birthday, so I should stop being shocked by things aging, including my luscious body! LOL!

So, every single time I go to the bathroom (and I drink a lot of water) or take a bath, I get to open my dictionary up to a random word. Whether I want to learn the word or not, I learn it. Usually after learning the word, my eye wanders to words I already know. Actually, I am desperately seeking them. I used to speak the damn language, one would think I would remember SOME of these words! Again, aging, lovely delicious aging.

When I take a bath I get to learn or re-learn a ton of words. Today I got two back to back that I had to write about, two words that I was excited I already knew, but that held little gems for me:

First Page of the Bath:
Word: MOUNTAIN
Translation: MONTAGNA....
And then, the phrase "to make a mountain out of a molehill"
TRANSLATION: fare d'una mosca un elefante
Which translated back to English is "Make an elephant out of a fly."

Is that not the most hilarious phrase? The Italians just do everything better. It's so superior to our phrase.

Very next turn of page: PINK
Translation: ROSA...
And then, the phrase without an English equivalent, just flying out in the middle of the paragraph for no apparent "English reason"...CONDIZIONE PERFETTA!

This you can likely translate yourself: Perfect Condition

I have been so present to the perfection of every little thing these days. Every mishap, every loss, every death (there have been several in my world in the last month), every fuck up on my part or someone else's....it's ALL absolutely, unequivocally perfect.

Even my turning 50, dare I say it, is
CONDIZIONE PERFETTA!

Lazy Condizione Perfetta to All!

2012 Manifesto -- Fun Way to Start the Year!

2012-01-04T20:08:00.000-08:00

Check out this super coolio blog "Glitter is My Favorite Color" I just found! I love it, and I love what she created in her last entry: a fantabulous "2012 Manifesto": http://www.glitterismyfavoritecolor.com/

What a BRILLIANT idea...I created one super fast...will work on this and create a painting around it later tonight or tomorrow -- but this is my first draft. I love it. Will post on my wall so I see it every day, hanging proudly and loudly to remind me of what I'm creating this year!

Starting the New Year with Power -- with a Jet Pack on Your Back!

2012-01-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

My New Year's Eve was a smashing fun frolicking time. But, there was impact on my January 1, i.e., I had no energy to do anything but slowly, over the course of the day, clean up the debris! LOL!

Yesterday was about cleaning out the garage, the last task for vacation. It was a huge success and it truly energized my new year. I'd been working on getting things in better form and order for the last two weeks, but that was the icing on the cake, the piece de resistance. Getting things into integrity always, always, always, is like a jet pack on my back.

Today, I could sit down with energy and clarity to do my lists -- "Acknowledgments + Intentions." At the party we all wrote down on paper what we wanted to let go of for 2011. Then after the new year hit, we wrote all the things we wanted to create for 2012. It was so cool to let things go and create anew.

Last night, though I read Kris Carr's blog (http://crazysexylife.com/2011/2011-the-highs-lows-what-i%E2%80%99ve-got-planned-for-2012/?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Crazy%20Sexy%20Life&utm_content=NL+123011) where she acknowledged herself for all she accomplished in 2011 and wrote the intentions after that. So, I did the same thing for myself today and I feel like I now have a jet pack firmly attached to my back to powerfully start my year. Letting go of things is one thing, but genuinely acknowledging yourself for how you dealt with those same items perhaps -- and more -- is a really good thing to do. We all deserve credit for something we did last year for ourselves, for someone else, in response or reaction to something, etc.

I encourage you to write your lists. Give yourself some kudos. Maybe some of the things you wish you'd handled better can be intentions for this year. For instance, 2011 seemed to be fraught with horrible dealings with Customer Service people. Some I couldn't understand, some couldn't understand me, some just didn't want to help. All in all, there was frustration on both ends, or just on my end. I wish I had dealt with all of those better, and I intend to do so this year.

I also lost weight and gained some back when I got sick for 4 months. So, I'll be losing that. I'll also be meditating every day -- even when I travel, and don't have my meditation couch with me! LOL!

Get out your jet packs, everyone. Let's vroom vroom vroom into 2012!

New Year's Eve Celebration is Yummalicious!

2012-01-01T22:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I had a New Year's Eve party. I knew there would be 8 to 12 people coming so I wanted to make sure almost everything was done prior to the party so I could really have fun. I decided I wanted to try two recipes I had been waiting to try, and made one of my all time favorites. It turned out it was three different pastas, which is something I wouldn't normally do, but it worked because all the flavors were very different.

Here is the menu:

Lemon Spaghetti (served on thin spaghetti -- not cappellini, just a nice thin spaghetti)
Portabella Bolognese (served on egg fettucine)
Artichoke Pesto (served on narrow penne with roasted chicken added for meat eaters) Salad - Butter Lettuce, Cucumber, Toasted Almonds, Shredded Parmesan, Vinegar (red wine + balsamic), olive oil, salt + pepper
Hot Fudge Sundae Bar (several ice cream flavors and a table full of toppings -- nuts, cookies, cookie crumbs, strawberries, bananas, candies, Salted Caramel Sauce from Trader Joe's, and homemade hot fudge sauce)

I also made a special festive punch for 10:

Fresh Tangerine Juice -- about 3 cups
Pomegranate Juice-- about 3 cups
Orange Liqueur (I used Patron Citronage) - about 1/2 cup
Vodka -- about 1 cup
Lambrusco - 3 bottles

I made this up for a Christmas gathering, but added the Vodka this time which really gave it some more depth and less sweet. But, you can play with the amounts to fit your own tastebud whims.

Here are links to the best of the recipes for the night. I'm not posting the Portabella Bolognese because I had to totally manipulate it, and it never got to be the proper thickness. Though it was great in the end, I can't tell you how I did it, because I worked on it over two days.

Lemon Spaghetti -- I doubled the recipe, but tripled the lemon zest and added an extra half cup of lemon juice because I like it super-lemony.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/lemon-spaghetti-recipe/index.html

Great Hot Fudge Sauce-- II've tried a lot of recipes over the years and this one has a lot of depth. I really liked it. My guests did too.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Hot-Fudge-Sauce-109144

This is unbelievable. I had no idea where I got this recipe until I searched for it to give you a link. It's a Weight Watchers recipe! Wooohooo! It is unbelievably delicious. BUT, please note: I screwed it up. How? I tossed it with the pasta about an hour before the party started (and covered it well with tin foil), so about 3 hours before we ate, and it turned from a lucious light minty green color to ugly dark brown, and it turned from creamy to nearly crusty and dry. I have actually never had a sauce change texture so radically. It is stunningly good when served fresh. You can make the sauce the day ahead (which I did). You just can't toss it with the pasta until you are ready to serve. Lesson learned. But, this is one of my favorite pastas now. Ever.

http://www.weightwatchers.us/util/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=1&RecipeID=283931

As I face my new year having gained some of my weight back, I'm thrilled to know this recipe is WW friendly. Woooooooooohooooo!!!!

Buon Anno Nuovo Appetito!

Yummy Christmassy Dinner Party

2011-12-22T14:13:00.000-08:00

The table was beautiful, as were all the dishes before we dug into them, but oh my god I forgot to take pics so, here are the "morning after" (aka leftover) pics of the Tomato Goat Cheese Tart and the Salted Caramel Pie (with peanut and chocolate additions):

This Tomato Goat Cheese Tart is amazing. The crust is fantastic, and I think I'll use it for other things. Crunchy, flaky, perfectly cheesy and seasoned. Next time, instead of Italian herbs, I'll use just rosemary to see. Couldn't more highly recommend this recipe. I couldn't find my mini-tartlet pans for the life of me so I made a large one. It turned out great, but next time I will do the minis, because I think it will work better with the goat cheese filling. Either way is great: http://www.takeamegabite.com/?p=3646

To start the meal I made this Mario Batali Pappa al Pomodoro -- Tomato & Bread Italian Soup. It's more thick than most soups, so I gave everyone smaller portions so as not to fill them up too much: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/tomato-bread-soup-pappa-al-pomodoro-recipe/index.html. I actually made the tomato base -- pre water and bread additions -- the night before so as to fully steep with flavors.

Then for dessert, this great Food & Wine recipe for Salted Caramel Pie. I added peanuts (Salted Blistered from Trader Joe's) to crust and stirred in a big handful of semisweet chocolate chips into the caramel at the end also. Then I added chopped nuts and chocolate to decorate. I served with Salted Caramel and Chocolate Ice Cream. Also, I hardly put any sugar in the topping because the pie is so sweet. It offset the sweetness well. Finally, I whipped 3 cups of cream instead of 2, as recipe states: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/salted-caramel-pie

So, the full menu:

Cocktail -- Prosecco, Orange Liqueur, Juice of one Tangerine, and Pomegranate Juice Cocktail (slices of tangerine in glass) -- all to taste
Italian Tomato Bread Soup
Tomato Basil Goat Cheese Tart
Salad with Parmiggiano and Toasted Almonds (balsamic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and juice of one tangerine)
Green Beans sauteed with garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, yellow tomatoes, lemon juice
Warm Sourdough Bread
Salted Caramel Pie + Ice Creams

Buon Yummy Natale!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do You Know a Trader Joe's Virgin?

2011-12-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

My lovely friend Peter lives in London and my constant postings about Trader Joe's have been driving him crazy for a long time.   But, he need suffer no more. He is going to New York and wants some guidance on how to approach his first Trader Joe's visit. So, this one's for Peter.... and Tara who is in Canada, too, who I think is equally frustrated with my darned Trader Joe's ingredient lists.

Peter took me for a lovely walking tour all over London a couple months ago. When I think of embarking on the Trader Joe's tour, I find it almost as daunting as a city tour! There are so many hidden gems, off the beaten path, and so many areas you might accidentally miss due to other bright and shiny things being right near by.   So, I'll break the store up into sections:

1. Fresh Flowers -- Really inexpensive here. I suggest making your own flower arrangements. For instance, they often have tulips and gerber daisies and some sort of lily. Mixing these all up is lovely. They also often have calalillies -- purple, white, pink and yellow...lovely.
2. Fresh Veggies and Fruits -- Gams you might miss are Broccoli Slaw which is broccoli stems and carrots mixed together in the crunchiest, yummiest mix.   Just throw vinegar and olive oil on it, some salt and papper, and a few toasted nuts. They also have a bijillion kinds of lettuce. My current favorite combo (sold separately) is butter lettuce and arugula. Also, they always have regular green beans, but you want to get the Haricot Verts in little plastic bags. These, as well as several other veggies sold like this, have bags that can be snipped and thrown in the microwave for quick veggie treat. Bottom line: take your time in this aisle.
3. Cheese -- Trader Joe's Started with nuts, chees, and wine, so they know how to choose 'em. Trust them. Current faves are the Aged Gouda, and for the holidays, the goat cheese logs rolled in Cranberry or Blueberry -- both are amazing. The Blueberry is a little sweeter.

All the goat cheeses are incredible. Another daily fave is the Whipped Goat Cheese (look for little blue and white tub). You can't go wrong with anything that draws you...OMG like the Baked Brie they already
4. Nuts/Dried Fruits -- My faves: dry toasted almonds (two cuts available), toasted salted Pepitas (OMG what an amazing snack or salad spicer upper), dried cranberries with orange flavoring (must try, great on salads in this season especially), and the very best peanuts on planet Earth:

Old Fashioned Blister Peanuts. Just literally don't leave the store without them.

5. Chips/Crackers -- Current favorite cracker is the Pita Crackers -- they are so thick and crunchy and exquisitely salted. The Low Fat Cheese Crunchies (a cheeto rip off that is so much better than the original, much cheesier and yummier) are hard to put down. Every chip I've ever tried was absolutely delish. They have a bijillion potato chips and a bijillion tortilla chips to choose from.

6. Frozen Foods -- The pastas in a bag are remarkable good. Throw a handful of fresh spinach or other lightly sauteed veggies to just kick them up a little and they are spectacular. New favorite the Bento Box -- gloriously spiced and balanced, a lovely light supper. Something you will ALWAYS find in my freezer -- Jasmine Rice. Each box has three bags. Pop in the microwave and miraculously perfectly cooked rice is ready to bless any dish! The frozen thin pizzas are my faves in that section.

7. Chocolate and Cookies -- Peter-- YOU WILL BE IN HEAVEN -- you will need a while to slowly linger down this aisle. The chocolates and cookies, by the way are all above the frozen foods. So, dress accordingly, as you will be here for a while. My most favorite new thing at TJs are these unbelievably brilliant Chocolate Mint Wafers. Imagine this: ice cream cone wafer about an inch in diameter, covered with divine dark chocolate and sprinkled with teeny tiny candy cane bits. Two different kinds of crunch and lots of richness. Also, I'm sorry but TJs food creators are GENIUSES:

The other aisles are Coffee/Tea, Dry Goods (pasta, canned foods, etc.), Liquor, and Dairy... all things delicious found in all of them, but I think I've hit all the "stars" of Trader Joe's that are must-visits, or must-buys if you can fit them in your suitcase!

Everyone else: free to pass this on to all the "Trader Joe's Virgins" you know.

Buon Joe Appetito!

Tangerine Dreams & Chocolate Orgasms

2011-12-12T19:25:00.000-08:00

I will tell you right now that people's Facebook updates affect me. The media genius, lovely, wonderfully talented Summers McKay, was posting about her recent trip to Mexico. Therefore when I opened up my latest Food & Wine magazine I was SUSCEPTIBLE to the following three recipes that I simply HAD to make for friends:

Now, why do I only have a picture of the table the day after? Well, because I had to taste the first inspiring recipe before my guests arrived and was pretty damn drunk after only 1/2 a TANGERINE MARGARITA! I highly recommend adjusting this recipe by adding maybe twice as much fresh tangerine juice: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/tangerine-margaritas. Oh my God were they delicious once I added more tangerine juice. I should say -- if you are a lightweight like me, you may want to adjust the recipe. But what is more delightful a task than juicing wondrously ripe and wonderful tangerines? Nada!

Next, inspiring dish by the same chef: Crunchy Cabbage Icebox Salad. And, for those of you on Weight Watchers -- it's only 4 points a serving. YUMMALICIOUS, crunchy, healthy: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/crunchy-cabbage-icebox-salad.

Then, in my inimitable Lazy Way, I just threw on the counter for the guests to make their own taco or quesadilla the following: roasted chicken (from Ralphs, who one of my guests said makes the best roasted chicken -- being a vegetarian I was happy to hear I hit the mark!), grated cheese, olives, three kinds of salsa, chopped cilantro, chopped chives, beans, sliced avocado with lime juice to preserve them during cocktails, and two kinds of tortillas.

For dessert, another Jenn Louis genius recipe from the same Food & Wine spread: Honey Roasted Pineapple: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/honey-roasted-pineapple. So delicious and for maybe less than a point, especially since I halved the honey.

To go with the light dessert, I found -- also at Ralphs (you never hear me mention anything but Trader Joe's but today they are the stars!) -- CHUAO CHOCOLATE! I had no idea they were in stores now. I have been to their boutiques a few times always for multi-chocolate-orgasmic experiences. To find them in stores is nothing short of a Christmas miracle -- and it turns out they are EVERYWHERE NOW -- http://www.chuaochocolatier.com/retailers.htmlhttp://www.chuaochocolatier.com/retailers.html http://www.chuaochocolatier.com/retailers.html.

To end the Mexico-inspired evening I chose my two very favorite blends that both have some good heat. FIRECRACKER is a must, must, must, must, must -- did I say MUST? I'm not kidding you must try Firecracker. I make people close their eyes when they first try it because it's literally as if fireworks are going off in your head when you eat it! OUTRAGEOUS!

So, thank you Summers McKay for an evening of deliciousness and dreams galore.

June Cleaver is a Lazy Woman!

2011-11-26T22:03:00.000-08:00

I had a very un-lazy day on Wednesday, when my washing machine caused a huge flood, and ensuing six hour clean-up. But, I had a very lazy Black Friday when I walked into a brand new electronics store, famous here in Southern California for having good deals. Recommended by a friend, I went over there after searching for the best deals online, stopping at Sears. I walked in and there was hardly anyone there because it's a brand new location for the chain. I was helped immediately, and realized I could actually have my dream washer and dryer.

I did my first load of laundry in it today and I may just sleep outside with it tonight, I love it so! It's gorgeous and so efficient and my clothes haven't been this clean in year. I think I should apologize to anyone I even brushed by in the last two years because I realized my clothes haven't really been clean for that long.

I was so excited by my new appliances, I cleaned out the utility room where the washer/dryer are, then went to the garage, cleaned and organized even more, and brought in all the Christmas decorations.

And, then, what did June Cleaver still have energy to do? Bake a birthday cake for my friend's 92 year old mom who is in the hospital recovering from a hip operation. I googled "Best Chocolate Layer Cake Ever" and found this well-reviewed recipe. It truly is fantastic.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gale-gand/chocolate-layer-cake-recipe/index.html

The only change I made was to cut the sugar in the frosting by 1.5 cups -- so 4.5 cups instead of 6. I also chopped up about 10 Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Crisps and put them on top of the frosting between the layers to add some very dark chocolate and for some extra texture.

I got to taste it because I had enough batter to make extra cupcakes. Yummalicious!

Buon Lazy Chocolate Appetito!

Seriously People...Best Carrot Cake Ever in History of Mankind -- with CHOCOLATE CHIPS!

2011-11-20T13:08:00.000-08:00

I had a very big cooking challenge on my hands this week. I was throwing a birthday dinner party for my friend who looooooooooooooooooves Carrot Cake. He told me the best carrot cake he ever had was at a restaurant in Kansas City that no longer exists. I tried tracking down the recipe to no avail. I was even in Kansas City recently and hunted around a bit. No go. It turns out my friend paid the chef for the recipe many years ago and makes the cake, but I didn't want to cheat and ask for it.

So, I then did the next best thing: I googled "best carrot cake ever" and found this recipe from Southern Living 1997. http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/best-carrot-cake-10000000257583.

My friend is from the south so I thought that might do the trick, and it called for something I had never seen before -- a buttermilk glaze that you put over all the cakes prior to the cream cheese frosting, thus locking in the moisture. Super creative, plus adding another level of flavor with the buttermilk. I then thought "hmmm.....what about chocolate chips mixed in?" So, I put chocolate chips in just one of the three layers -- to test it out. I know it was risky for an important Birthday Carrot Cake, but it turned out amaaaaazing. I put chocolate chips in only the top layer, and then.....drum roll....I put crushed the Chocolate Crisps between only the bottom two layers.

The verdict? This cake recipe is so divine, it definitely doesn't need chocolate, but it really adds a supercalifragilisticexpialidociousness to it. You don't need a lot. I'd say 1/2 to 3/4 cup for the whole thing so each layer is "dotted" with them.

But, you could also just do the crushed Crisps in between all three layers -- I'd say crush up 10 to 12 crips for each in-between layer spot.

Also, I made two alerations to the recipes -- I cut the sugar in all three elements -- cake, glaze and frosting -- by 1/4. AND, I added about 1/4 cup -- maybe 1/3 (needs to remain spreadable, so be careful) -- buttermilk to the frosting. It made it particularly creamy, and gave it an extra kick to offset all the sweetness.

Buon Sweet Carrot Appetito to all!

P.S. Sorry I didn't take a photo fo the cake all purdy and decorated...it looked amazing I promise!

Winter Yum Soup

2011-11-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

I am in the middle of a 3 1/2 day meditation retreat that I am participating in remotely, via phone and web. It's fantastic, especially because I can do things like I just did! We had a 15 minute bathroom break, an hour prior to the two hour lunch break. Already hungry and craving a warm vegetable soup, I threw this soup together in just about 8 minutes. All of this can be found at Trader Joe's, but all stores have all of these ingredients, except possibly the broccoli slaw, which could actually be replaced with normal ol' cabbage slaw.

Ingredients
2 - 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
2 - 15 cans pinto beans (or whatever your favorite bean is -- this happens to be mine)
1 - 32 oz vegetable stock (or other stock if you prefer -- I'm a vegetarian)
1 - 28 oz can of water (i.e., when you empty it, fill it with water and throw that in!)
1 - 10 oz bag of sliced mushrooms (I chopped them up further)
1 - 13 oz bag of broccoli slaw
1/2 cup red lentils (I just threw them in for texture and color)
2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
2 Teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes
2 Dashes Lemon Pepper
Salt to taste

After 1/2 hour it was actually ready to go, but I turned the heat very low and let it simmer for a full hour. It just gets better and better over time. And, super miraculously the broccoli stays crunchy!

Obviously you can add all kinds of yummy extras that meet your taste wishes and needs.

Buon Cozy Appetito!

When You Have Your Health....

2011-11-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

All those adages about how lucky we are when we have your health, always knew they were true, but this last year was the absolute proof. I have been sick for just over a year, with the last four months being nearly intolerable, and boy was it a difficult journey.

Last week, though, I finally found a doctor who prescribed the right medicine! I was trying homeopathy, naturopathy for 8 months and then it go so much worse I sought out Western medicine. Four doctors later, and I am finally taking the right meds! Hallelujah. I feel like I am born again! It's a whole new world having my health back. I'm not even at 100% yet, and I'm so blissed out.

I have always had deep compassion for people dealing with long-term pain or illness because I have had brief experiences in my life with both and I know how intolerable even a month or two month long flirtation with either can put a dent in your life force. Fighting pain or illness takes it all out of you, leaving little bandwidth for things like creativity, love, giving, and expressing all that you want to express in your life.

I look back at the last year and I can report that my productivity and creativity have been gravely affected. Projects that were born but never grew to fruition, dinner parties cancelled, parties missed, relationships waning as I couldn't give them proper attention, and even, in the last couple of months, lost hope of ever being well.

One day I was speaking to a doctor on the phone and he said "We will figure this out." As he spoke those words I watched a hummingbird poise itself right outside my office window at the bottle brush only feet away from where I sat. I dared to have hope when I saw that sign. My heart lifted for a moment, and then my mind said "why hope?" and then my heart won and I held onto that hope, clinging to it like a vine Tarzan would grab to cross the jungle. It was the next day that I met the doctor who would prescribe me the winning solution.

I am blessed. I was blessed when I was sick and I am blessed now that I have my health again. I feel prarticularly blessed to have the energy to express myself. I will write more here, and give back a whole lot more than I have been, and live, live, live....with extreme gratitude.

Lazily Dealing with Loss

2011-09-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't expect 9/11 to hit me so hard. It feels like NPR and the news shows were running stories for weeks. Trickling tears leading up to the floodgates.

9/11 was also the six month mark since my break-up, a kind of marker that I had been looking forward to so that I could take my dating temperature. Synchronistically I had one of my first dates the day before, almost like God said "See, you're doin' good!" I am doing better than good, I think, fully healing mind, body and spirit after a tough relationship ending. I feel more whole and ready for a whole and healthy man.

Yet, this little anniversary marker of a loss, an ending was also poignant and touched my heart. It's never so easy as just one loss. One loss drips into your heart and touches off the river of another loss that runs even deeper, and so on, and so on.

I have many people around me dealing with loss right now, and their losses are touching off my own. I wrote about a couple of losses that are perhaps once removed from my life, but still touched many people deeply. Here are the links to The Morton Report stories of two extraordinary men, one bravely battling brain cancer, the other recently taken shockingly without notice:

http://www.themortonreport.com/home-away/life/looking-for-mr-morgan/

http://www.themortonreport.com/home-away/life/looking-for-mr-morgan/

These two men are bright shining stars...forever. The thousands we lost on 9/11, more shining stars forever.

A friend posted this on Facebook yesterday in honor of 9/11 and I think it is worth reposting here:

"There are stars whose light only reaches the earth long after they have fallen apart. There are people whose remembrance gives light in this world, long after they have passed away. This light shines in our darkest nights on the road we must follow." - The Talmud

Lazy Summer Ice Cream Recipe

2011-09-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

Usually when I make ice cream I do it the old fashioned way, making a custard base on the stove, etc. But, I found a most miraculous recipe that really tastes almost exactly like ice creams that you slave over with very little effort at all.

And, guess, what, when I did my one stop shopping at Trader Joe's, I found that the strawberries were not up to snuff for making ice cream the same day (yesterday), so I mozied over to the frozen fruit section and got a bag of frozen strawberries because I knew those would be very ripe, and heck they were going to be frozen in the end again anyway, right?

Here's the recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/strawberry-ice-cream-like-ben-and-jerrys-122151. I made this very easy recipe even lazier -- use frozen strawberries. I just used a pastry cutter to chop them all up in a bowl, instead of cleaning, hulling and chopping fresh ones!

The other two variations I made were at the end of the freezing process I added probablhy 1/4 cup of Cointreau....and the piece de resistance....I took a normal grater, i.e., large holes, like if you were grating a big hunk of cheddar cheese, and grated a 3 oz. bar of deep dark chocolate. I added the shavings of the entire bar into the ice cream for the last couple of minutes in the ice cream maker.

If you grew up in Southern California you may remember Thrifty's Ice Cream. They actually still make it and you can buy it at most Rite Aid stores. Rite Aid took over the Thrifty's chain, but the ice cream is made in same factories apparently with all the same recipes. They make my favorite mint chip ice crea because the chocolate chips are more like thin shavings and they are very dark chocolate.

I was inspired to mimic those shavings, so that every bite of the creamy strawberry ice cream had a dark chocolate edge to it. My guests say I succeeded!

Where Has the Lazy Woman Been!!??

2011-08-31T19:36:00.000-07:00

I was asked to write for The Morton Report in June, and because I moved in July I've been mostly spending my writing time over yonder, but I wanted to pass on the links to my most recent articles, just in case you want to know what the heck this Lazy Woman has been up to....

Looking for Mr. Morgan

http://www.themortonreport.com/home-away/life/looking-for-mr-morgan/
My Dogs Would Do That
http://www.themortonreport.com/home-away/life/my-dogs-would-do-that/

Laziest Dessert of All = Tiramisu
http://www.themortonreport.com/home-away/food/laziest-dessert-of-all-tiramisu/

Lazy Technology: ClamCase is Pearl in the Sea of iPad Cases
http://www.themortonreport.com/home-away/gadgets/lazy-technology-clamcase-is-pearl-in-the-sea-of-ipad-cases/

All My Children: Lifelong Fans Become Part of a TV Family
http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/television/all-my-children-lifelong-fans-become-part-of-tv-family/

You Have Exactly What You Need

2011-08-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

I have received a great lesson in the last couple of days, as I have discovered repeatedly that I have exactly what I need.

I am still getting settled in my house and put a bunch of pots around an area where I'm creating a "moment" -- a lovely little spot to view from afar that will just make me happy. I thought I needed to get about 10 plants to fill up the arrangement of pots. But, because I didn't have the energy to get to the Farmer's Market this weekend, and I decided at 8 p.m. last night that I wanted to get it done, I found that I had exactly what I needed in terms of plants for the pots. I had plants that were too big for their pots. I had plants sitting around here and there that were just waiting for my attention. In 15 minutes of pillaging and re-purposing, I made a beautiful arrangement of potted plants.

I finally decided to put art up on the walls yesterday also. I was waiting to finish configuring my rooms, but decided I was putting way too much focus on what a few inappropriate nail holes would do to the house! My God, Bridget, get your priorities straight!

Usually I like to have a second opinion when hanging art, but I just went for it, and while I imagine things will change over time, I am very happy with my results and because I was in the flow of things I was able to hit the mark on my first nail hammering. All are hung in the perfect spot! And, boy do I feel more settled with the art up.

I thought what I had wouldn't be right for this space, but again, I have exactly what I need for this space.

I tend to think "I want this, I want that...more, more...I want more!" I really am so much more content when I live with what I have. Not that I haven't bought new things for the new space -- new lovely mid-century furniture to match the house from an estate sale that fits the space perfectly -- but overall I have exactly what I need.

Whole and complete as we are....just as we are.

Lazy Woman Cooks - Even Right after a Move!

2011-08-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

I had the gall to have people over for dinner only one week after I moved, but I did the usual Lazy Woman trick -- an Italian spread. Meats, cheeses, a big salad, and a super easy pasta. The only cooking I did was cooking the mushroom and artichoke ravioli while I sauteed up some mushroom, artichoke hearts, asparagus and herbs. And, for dessert, I threw together another Strawberry Tiramisu: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/strawberry-tiramisu-for-two/detail.aspx. I always put way more sliced strawberries in it than listed, and I also put it in a glass vase instead of on a serving plate as pictured.

Tonight, though, I'm taking a Tiramisu to a dinner party and offered several options to the host. He chose Chocolate-y, Crunchy and Nutty Tiramisu. So, I made up this recipe...it's DE-FRICKING-AMAZINGLICIOUS and so incredibly easy to make.

http://www.themortonreport.com/home-away/food/laziest-dessert-of-all-tiramisu/

Buon Appe-Lazy-Tito!

Grandma's Message

2011-08-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

Moving is annoying and cool for one reason: it makes you purge. Because I only had a couple weeks to prepare for my move, I didn't get to go through everything I needed to get through. I did a whole helluva lot, but now as I set up my new house, as I unpack, I am purging even more now. I now have several more give-away boxes.

Along with trash and donations I am also finding little gems like the one I just found that prompted this post. A nearly illegible note that I had scrawled on an envelope several years ago. It was a note I had taken during a conversation with my grandmother at the end of her life, when she was in and out of clarity, and seemed to be spending a good deal of her awake time in a very happy, though not earthly plain.

I remember grabbing the envelope and pen as if it happened only hours ago. She had just made me laugh really hard. I remember thanking her for always making me laugh. She replied:

"I had to make you laugh. It's not from me, you know. It's from somebody you love. I'm talking about God."

I very nearly threw this envelope away. I'm glad I was really taking my time and going through this lot of stuff with a fine tooth comb. Sometimes quiet and calm pays off big. And, sometimes the pain of moving has many hidden gifts.

Figs: God's Gift to Planet Earth + Me

2011-08-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

I am always shocked to hear that people don't like figs. My friend, Christina, was in town last weekend with her sweet 11 year old daughter, Gina.  I had expected Gina would be a kindred foodie given her vegetarianism. Yes, she has been a vegetarian since she was 9 years old! Pretty cool if you ask me.

Anyway, I was showing them the bounty of foods I had bought in their honor and was about to pull out a big bowl of figs when I exclaimed, fully expecting a resounding cry of agreement, "Gina, do you like figs?!!!!!" She was trying to hide her disappointment in having to disappoint me. It was a 1/2 second round robin of guilt, as I put the figs on the counter.

Then she saw them and said "Those are figs?" These were fresh green figs. She had only had the deep purple mission figs. I suggested she might want to try the teensiest bit of the green fig. I had just made her a piece of toast with goat cheese on it. I asked if I could put the tiniest smidgen of green fig on her goat cheese lathered toast and she said, courageously and with a twinkle in her eye "YES!"

Well, folks, she LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED it! Who knew that the two figs would taste so differently to her young, acutely-tuned palate. The next day we actually all three did a taste test. Gina still hated the missions. Christina and I took our time mulling over the delicate differences between the two. Missions are definitely more woodsy to me. I love them both, but I think if I had to be caught on a desert island with only one I would choose the green figs.

After they left I was missing them a little so I made a little snack for myself with both kinds of figs. I swear I can't not be happy when I'm eating figs.

The memory of Gina really made me smile too. I love kids who are open to tasting anything.   It's so brave, and their taste buds really are so very sensitive. I especially love kids who are open to having their minds. What a delightful young lady we have on this planet. And, now the sweet green figs of this planet are lucky to have her love.

I Love Me Some Free Stuff!

2011-07-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

I love free stuff and in the case of Weight Watchers, all fruit and most veggies (potatoes, avocados and a few other things excepted) are ZERO POINTS which to me means FREE! FREE! FREE!

This was my breakfast this morning, as it is most mornings -- a huge bowl of delicious fruits. In California we are blessed with having watermelon and blueberries almost all year long. The flavors of these fruits now are even more spectacular, of course, in the summer. So, this bowl of deliciousness made with one stop shopping at Trader Joe's. This isn't even all the different fruits I have in the fridge that I picked up yesterday, but these work so nicely together, and they make a purdy picture, eh?:

Watermelon
Blueberries
Black Figs
Green Figs
Honeydew Melon
White Nectarines

Yummalicious! Yesterday I actually had a big fruit salad twice before I had a late lunch at 3:30 p.m. I was so in love with the flavors and really craved it again! Today, my hunger level is higher, so I needed some protein earlier, but especially in the Summer, I like to start my day with a big bowl of free stuff!

I'm Dating A House

2011-07-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

My very smart friend, Kathy, has been a great guide for me through the rocky, slippery, muddy, dusty landscape of the hills and valleys of my recent break-up. She yanked me out of cavernous dark and humid depths on the days that I found out about yet another betrayal and was saying "How could I not have seen that?" She pulled me up to the tops of insurmountable mountaintops and would proclaim, as if planting a homesteader flag in my heart: "You deserve better!"

Thanks God for good, honest, down to earth friends!

Currently, Kathy is leading me through the hills and valleys of yet another landscape: finding a house. I found out a couple weeks ago that I need to move in the next couple of months because my landlords are going to renovate this rental house and move into it themselves. So, I'm running around Planet Los Angeles trying to find a quick sale or a good rental house. The best of houses on the market for sale are short sales, which are not appropriate becuase the time it takes to complete a purchase of a short sale is anything but short and cannot be done in time. Rentals, unfortunately, are hideously overpriced (more than mortgages if they are decent).

So, I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off searching for a decent house to rent or buy. When I found out today I lost a house that I adored -- as most first time buyers do -- I was devestated.

Kathy reminded me: It's like finding the right guy, you got a date a lot o' losers until the right one comes. And, sometimes you think he's the right one, and you find out that indeed there is a far better one, which is a much better fit, just around the corner.

So, for the moment, while my soul readies itself for men again, I am dating houses.

I hope these houses don't lie like my last boyfriend. I hope the one I find truly is "what you see is what you get, no sneaky hidden termites, nothing swept under the foundation, just plain and simple: Honesty, Integrity, Light, Happy House.

I'll dress up nice and purdy to see if I can catch me one o' dem good houses.

WWgasm = Wearing Goal Dress!

2011-07-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

I finally had an excuse to wear my "goal dress." I bought this Size 4 Trina Turk dress at Nordstrom Rack in January. It now fits perfectly, and even though I'm still losing weight, it will fit even when I get to my goal, so I'm very happy.

This was the premiere of my friend's movie, which I will actually be posting a link about later today.

In the photo I'm with friend Elisa B., who has the most amazing dress store in Pasadena -- Elisa B.! Must go if you are ever looking for a hot dress, outfit, jeans, or jewelry in Los Angeles. We are with our "line friends" Bob and Frank. We met them in line and it turns out they know the director, my writing partner, as well. Now they are our friends too!

Magic, magic, magic.

Lazy Blueberry Thursday - With Figs!

2011-06-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me? Figs are ZERO POINTS on Weight Watchers! I would have assumed that their deliciousness level, not unlike the scrumptious heights of avocados, would cost me some points! But, no, this bowl of crunchy, juicy blueberries plus several sweet, ripe, soft figs cost me a big zippo in points.

And, it really filled me up too!

I am down 22 pounds in 23 weeks. Very exciting! Five pounds to go to my real goal but this is my Weight Watchers Lifetime goal. Yep, I did it, I made it to my Lifetime goal today! Fruits like these are making it very easy for me to stay within my points.

I bow to nature for giving us such colorful, sweet goodness.

Woooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooo!

Lazy Blueberry Monday: It's a Berry WWgasm Day!

2011-06-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Seriously, it's like eating candy! What is more fun than a bowl of cherries? A bowl of BLUEBERRIES!

For those of us on Weight Watchers, it's like they're paying us to eat them when it's ZERO points!

This is a major WWgasm! But, man even if weight loss is not your deal, run out and grab a couple cartons of blueberries. Their flavor, texutre and pop just went up several notches this week! Wooohooo!

Berry Beautiful Day to All!

Lazy Blueberry Sunday!

2011-06-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

Oatmeal + fresh yummy blueberries -- stewed together with a tiny bit of brown sugar. Delightful breakfast that will stay with me through Bar Method class and up to late brunch with a friend.

I took a photo because it was such a bright purple against the green bowl, it looked shockingly like a deep purple hydrangea -- one of my favorite flowers. It really does make such a difference when your food is beautiful. We taste with our eyes too.

So, don't forget to scoop up some beauty for the pleasure of your eyes at every meal. It will raise the yum factor by 1000!

Never Ever Ever Ever Ever Give Up Your Favorite Foods in the Name of Weight Loss

2011-06-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

It happened again! I was looking for a Weight Watchers friendly chocolate chip cookie recipe and made my own twist on it to create one of the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had!

If you are attached to any food, there is an alternative out there for something just as tasty and delicious -- if not more delicious -- than the original recipe.

I refuse to make anything with fake butter, sugar, or anything even slightly other than whole, clean, good ingredients. I don't want to forfeit taste, and I also want ingredients that are as close to what comes out of the earth or nature as possible.

So, I found a recipe that used real butter, real sugar, and lots of other really groovy stuff that I knew would give it good texture, like rolled oats. I added toasted almonds and instead of chocolate chips I used the Scharffenberger Semi-Sweet Chocolate bar I got at the BlogHer Food Conference and chopped it up in varied shapes and sizes.

These cookies have the best crunch and texture of any chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. Just the right amount of crunch with the right amount of soft, and not too sweet, and not at all heavy even with the whole wheat flour.

INGREDIENTS

DRY:
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
WET:
1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
FLAVOR:
1 cup of chopped fine chocolate - I used Scharffenberger
1/2 cup finely chopped toasted almonds
POSSIBLY NEEDED/OPTIONAL:
2 Tablespoons to 1/4 cup coffee

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Take the first 6 dry ingredients and put them in Cuisinart for a few seconds to make sure the oats are pretty finely ground. It will all look roughly like the texture of brown sugar after just a few seconds.

In another bowl, beat the butter until fluffy with a mixer. Then mix in the next three wet ingredients until smoothly blended.

Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until blended. Add the chocolate and almonds.

If it's too dry to form little balls, add coffee as needed (a couple tablespoons will probably do it!) to give texture you can work with to roll into balls about the diameter of a quarter. You will end up with roughly 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Bake for about 15 minutes.

Enjoy!!!

Lazy Loss: Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

It's only my second Father's Day without my dad, but somehow this one hit me much harder than the last. Last year I was distracted by focusing on my boyfriend, celebrating him as a father, so I simply moved my attention to something else. I tend to do that with pain -- look at a bright shiny object nearby so I don't have to deal with the dark feelings.

Today, I innocently went to Starbucks. A lovely elderly man was ordering a latte, and just behind him, in front of me, was a rather dashing man of about my age. At one point the younger man turned to me and I asked "Father's Day?" and he nodded yes. Right in that moment, in the midst of my heart being so full and happy for them and their little outing, I got nailed by a huge sense of loss that I wasn't in line with my dad. His dad was paying and the younger man said "Senior Father's privilege" saying that even though he too was a father, the senior dad won. My dad always paid for me too. I would have to do acrobatic sneaking around with waiters to get to pay. My dad would laugh proudly at my ingenuity, but I could also see the glimmer of "Well, that won't be happening again."

I started quietly crying right there in the middle of Starbucks. It's been a while since I cried about my dad. Mostly I've been appreciating a joyful relationship with him, in my dreams, meditations and even just in daily life hearing him whispering advice to me - particularly when dealing with the business he left me.

He's helped me a lot with the recent ending of my relationship of two years. Even as I edge toward what I think is the tail end -- hopefully, please God -- of mourning this loss of love, he has been quite light and playful with me in my dreams. Just the other day, my dog thankfully barked at some creature in the back yard around 3 a.m. It woke me from a deep sleep where I was dreaming about my dad and my ex. My dad was showing me with a bit of hilarity how grateful he was that I hadn't gotten engaged - as my ex had promised him -- to a man who told so many slightly frightening lies. I woke up, albeit groggy, with a smile on my face.

My dad was unmarried most of his life. Two marriages - one about 6 years and another about 10 -- do not fill up a lot of years. So, he learned to love to cook for himself and for guests. He really did love to cook, and he was good at it too. He had all the best cookbooks and experimented with them all regularly. He had an ultimate passion for cooking soup, and toward the end of his life he passed this passion on to me.

He also liked to bake from time to time. And, he loooooooooooved him some bacon! He would carefully stow away every bit of bacon grease he could get after cooking a rasher of bacon. He always gave him a weekly treat: big Sunday breakfast. He went to his favorite diner most weeks but loved to cook up a big American cholesterol rich breakfast. This morning as I was thinking about baking some muffins to cure my recent craving for a good warm hot out of the oven muffin I thought "Wow, I wish I had made my dad big corn muffins with bacon grease and big chunks of crispy bacon in them while he was alive."

In his honor I made corn muffins. Being a vegetarian, I added corn and toasted almonds instead of the bacon. He would be laughing very, very heartily at that pathetic substitution! I toasted my dad with yummy food, which is appropriate. He'd approve of a toast with gin too, but muffins will have to do today.

I miss him so much today, but taking time out to honor him seems to make it a little better.

Happy Father's Day Dad. You were literally the best dad I could have ever had. Had I ordered you up on a menu, you couldn't have been any more perfect.

love, love, love,
your Lazy Daughter

Take 5: The Lazy Woman's Road to Meditation

2011-06-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

One of my Lazy tricks I play on myself is "Take 5." I make myself commit to just five minutes of some action that I don't want to do, just to get myself doing it. Sometimes I'll commit to 15, but if it's something I really don't feel like doing I commit to just 5 minutes.

Recently, when I decided I needed to start meditating on a daily basis again, I just started with 5. I very quickly moved my minimum to 10. And, usually I go way past the minimum I set up for myself. Within just a few days I was actually craving my meditation, and wouldn't even think of doing less than 10. Now, first thing in the morning when I get out of bed, I'm in the habit and wouldn't think of not giving myself those quiet moments to start my day in peace and power. It's better than orange juice -- to start my day out right! I am far more centered for my entire day because of my practice and I'm grateful that I started.

Whenever people tell me they want to write, or they have a book idea, I say "just take 5!" I tell them to start with a bare minimum commitment: 5 minutes each day. If they really are a writer or their idea for a book really has merit, they will WANT to write more than five minutes each day. They will be pleased with their writing, with the process and will naturally move their minimum commitment up, up, and up, until soon they are inching toward their goal of having a book written. And, they will be happy doing it. It's like I wouldn't even think of only meditating for five minutes. It's too delicious. I want to do it longer.

If my desk is a mess or my garage has an area that has gotten out of hand, I'll commit to a minimum of 15 minutes. To protect myself, I set a timer for the 15 minutes. If it rings and I want to keep going, I do. But, if I don't want to do anymore, I maintain my integrity to myself: I gave myself my word that I only needed to do 15 minutes, so I keep my word to myself. It's important that you keep your word to yourself. It goes the other way too. If you are about to fall asleep and you remember you didn't do your 5 minutes, get up and do it: keep your word. Otherwise what you are saying to yourself is "That goal, that dream, that idea, etc. isn't that important." Honor yourself, your brilliance, your ideas: Keep your word.

And, be gentle with yourself. If 5 is too much, start with 2 minutes. As my pilates teacher says "you can do anything for just two minutes!" She's usually saying this at the mid-way mark of a 4 minute plank! LOL! But, seriously, if 5 minutes is too much pressure, do 2! In being gentle with yourself to start, you can very gingerly move yourself into realms you know you want to go, but where you have some hesitation or psychological barrier.

So, give yourself a break and have a breakthrough: TAKE 5!!!!!!

Giddy Lazy Woman

2011-06-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

I've been buying clothes to "grow" into -- aka grow thinner into -- for the last couple of months. I haven't needed to buy much because I have a thin wardrobe, but when I've been in the mood to reward my losses and celebrate my renewed shape, I've bought some new items.

I was at Anthropologie a couple months ago returning a Christmas present and tried on a dress. I could sort of shove myself into it. The sales lady swore it fit, but she wasn't my breasts. I knew breathing would become increasingly hard and fainting or perishing due to the constraint would be quite possible. I loved it, though, and knew it would be cute when I shrank myself some more.

I wore it today for the first time and oh my god it was so fun. I was giddy all the live-long day wearing it. It's fun to wear clothes that make you feel good. Wearing clothes that make you feel good that you know didn't fit until this week: priceless, giddy priceless.

WWgasm = TWENTY POUNDS DOWN!

2011-06-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't weighed this little since my last decade, i.e., my 30's!  I am thrilled beyond belief! And, my god the journey has been so steady and effortless. I've lost just under a pound a week, and have even had trips where food was a major focus during this 5 1/2 months. I didn't deny myself a whole heckuva lot along the way. I tasted everything I wanted to, and definitely overindulged at a few several course meal events. But, other than those few occasions, I pretty much stayed the course.

Being perimenopausal, though, I had my fair share of weeks where I gained even though I knew I had synchronistically done more working out, etc. But, my hormones didn't care about my weigh-ins. Weight Watchers does a really delightful thing on their site, where you can see the chart of your weight loss in graph or list form. I love the graph because I can watch the ups and downs, hills and valleys that lead me to this point. It was very steady, ups roughly every four weeks, followed by a bigger down.

On the up weeks, I won't lie, I still felt like I'd done something "wrong" or that I had accidentally not logged something, etc.    I had to keep remembering that if I just stick with it, the loss will continue. My body will catch up. It always did.

The biggest coup is that I did almost no emotional eating over these months, even though several weeks into my loss I broke up with my boyfriend. Normally, this would have been a grand excuse to indulge. In fact, I had gained half of the weight I just lost after my father died because my childish mantra was "I get to do anything I want! My daddy died."

I give full credit to Marianne Williamson's "Course in Weight Loss" for taking away all the childish mantras, and for teaching me how to truly take care of myself. Also, I give her credit for this 20 pounds. My original goal when I signed up for Weight Watchers on January 5th was 13 pounds. Marianne's book really got me to see that that would have been my "as good as it gets over 40" weight, not my ideal weight.   I got that I have been denying myself my ideal weight since my 30's.

The truth is I didn't want to do the work to unveil all the conversations in my head that were keeping me from my ideal weight. "It's not safe -- bad things happen to me when I'm thin." "I can't, it's too hard over 40." "This is as good as it gets, Bridge!" "This is good: keep some weight on so you have an excellent excuse for not having the man you want!" If you are struggling in any way, shape or form with your weight, I recommend this book more than anything I've done on this journey.

My goal is 7 pounds more. My Weight Watchers leader suggested just 2 more. I'll be looking at this over the next few weeks to see where I land, but I will say I am very happy to say I am feeling great, liking what I see in the mirror for the first time in a very, very long time, and am very proud of myself.   I don't remember the last time I said I was proud of myself. It's fun.

I will say, though, that this has been one Lazy Ass Weight Loss process because I did the full court press: body, mind and spirit. I needed to deal with all of them to get these results, and I found the laziest solutions for me in all those area. You need to find the tools that work for you. But, I do recommend you hit all three areas to get to the bottom of all that is related to your not being your ideal weight -- or for not having whatever you want in your life that you don't have.

Lazy Weight Loss Tip = Eat Like a Baby!

2011-06-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

I recently found these wonderful little olive bowls at Crate & Barrel. At first I was drawn to them because when I do Italian dinners I always put out bowls of olives, and it's nice to have matching little bowls for the olive pits, right? But, I bought several of them because I realized they were also a weight loss tool. Small bowls and dishes are your weight loss friends.

I made another yummy Trader Joe's find this morning: Country Choice Multigrain Hot Cereal. The single serving is 1/2 cup and fits perfectly in my sweet little bowl. (By the "weigh" for you Weight Watchers peeps -it's only 3 points for this 1/2 cup serving. If you add agave or sugar, a couple toasted almonds, it's only another 1 or 2 points). I savored it and it filled me up. There's something about the psychology of having an overflowing bowl of warm yumminess that is so fulfulling!

When I was at the BlogHer Food Conference a few weeks ago, the Barilla company was showcasing their new line of PICCOLINI pasta. Oh my god, they are adorable. Not being a mom, I wasn't thinking about how much kids would love all the fun shapes. I was thinking about how much more balanced a dish of pasta is with pasta and sauce, and how you can feel more satiated with far less when it's small bites like this. They had samples out and it was fantastic.

Later, when I read their materials I saw this is being marketed to moms who are cooking for little kids. Well, today, I'm marketing it to anyone who wants to stay trim! This is the perfect solution: smaller, healthier, more balanced portions with all the bang for your taste buck!

I highly recommend the Piccolini line...try it, even if you're like me and don't have a kid nearby. If you do have a kid in your house, they will love all the fun, tiny shapes, and your body will love it just as much.

Buon Piccolini Appetiti!

Lazy Transformative Workout = Bar Method

2011-06-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'm hooked. Yes, I am officially addicted to the Bar Method.

I had been hearing about tales of its virtues hailing from New York for a few years, but it finally made its way to Pasadena (http://pasadena.barmethod.com/), and I FINALLY caught wind of it being here several weeks ago.

I've been doing it for about 3 weeks now and I will tell you that it is the quickest body transformation I've ever seen. I saw fast, great results with pilates and HIIT (high intensity interval training) but nothing that effected all parts of my body equally, causing so swift a Michelangelo-like sculpting.

People often paraphrase Michelangelo when he was asked how he sculpted the David. He said he took away everything that wasn't David. I think the Bar Method is taking away everything that isn't Bridget.

I had my teacher take a picture of me about 10 days ago, roughly 5 classes in, because I am going to do my darndest to fit 30 classes into my schedule over 30 days. I have a lot of travel, so I may not hit 30 in 30, but we will take a photo at the end of the month and I'll post the comparative pix. I am already very happy with how much more toned I am. I don't think the mirror is lying, or that I am having bar-delusions of a non-alcoholic type. But, you will be the judges in a few weeks.

In the meantime, if you have a class near you, I highly recommend giving it a try. Many gyms are now offering bar/ballet barre classes. It is a great comprehensive workout.

And, honestly, as always, I love it for one very big reason: it's LAZY! If I can get cardio and sculpting in one hour instead of having to spend 1.5 to 2 hours to get the same results, that is one Lazy workout solution.

People! People! Plantscription is Pretty Pricking Pantastic for your Peau (translation from French = skin)

2011-06-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

I'm not kidding. This stuff is pretty miraculous.

I am literally surrounded by women my age, younger, and older who are paying big bucks to manage the aging of their skin. Even the least likely suspects are getting botox or are having intense laser or chemical burns. The most likely suspects have met the knife.

This is the LAZIEST skin care solution for fine lines and sun damage. I think I've been using it for three weeks now and there is a marked difference in the sun damage on the left side of my face, a reduction in fine lines all over my face, and overall my skin is just so much softer. No kidding. I don't get anything out of this, people. I'm just telling you because it's LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZY! So, check it out!

You can even order it on the website, get free shipping AND two sample size products right now. Run, don't walk, your fingers to the Origins site: http://tinyurl.com/3q3ojap.

It's so damn Lazy...and it smells good too! Pure Plantscription bliss!

Lazy Livin' Life -- Great Advice from Deathbeds

2011-06-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

One of the purposes of many spiritual traditions is to prepare us for death. The guru of my guru in India apparently on his deathbed simply exhaled on his last breath the mantra "So-ham" which means I am that. The lesson was that his final moment of life was as pure and peaceful and in the moment as possible as he had spent so many of his life's moments present to the fact that he was indeed "so-ham."

A friend just posted this link to an article about people's regrets on their deathbeds. I think it's stellar Lazy advice.

http://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/2011/05/31/the-top-5-regrets-people-make-on-their-deathbeds/

We never know when, where, how...so might as well get your proverbial ducks in a row and live in this moment to the fullest, eh?

WWgasm = George (Forman) + Joe (Trader)

2011-05-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

When I was going to acting school in NYC in the 80's my friend Fran and I would often pop into the diner around the corner from The Neighborhood Playhouse before school and get one of our favorite breakfasts: grilled corn muffin with peanut butter on the side. It would come to the table with those beautiful black grill marks blessing it with charcoal goodness and the peanut butter would melt creating a gooey-crunchy-cakey filling and fulfilling breakfast that stuck to our ribs.

Well, just now I went into the fridge looking for a post baked potato/pea shoot salad dinner (yes, I am absolutely, unequivocally addicted to this meal!) dessert and I found that I had some leftover Trader Joe's Triple Bran Muffins (made from mix). I cut one in half and put it on the George Foreman grill, made it nice and toasty with the proper grill markings, and slathered on 1 teaspooon Almond Butter just for a little twist.

WWgasm = only 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus! OMG

So, find yourself a healthy muffin and try it for yourself with the nut butter of your choice!

Buon Skinny Appetito!

Lazy Memorial Day -- Very Berry Ice Cream + Broccoli Slaw

2011-05-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

On my way out the door, but wanted to quickly post pix of two of the three things I made today.

It was time to make ice cream and the berries looked lovely today so I used raspberries, strawberries and blackberries to make this:

Guess who licked the heck out of this:

And then I decided to make Broccoli Slaw...

INGREDIENTS
Servings: 6 to 8

Two bags of Trader Joe's Broccoli Slaw
1/3 bag of Trader Joe's Toasted Almonds (either cut you wish)
1 package of Trader Joe's Chives (chopped finely)
1 package of Trader Joe's Flat Parsley (chopped finely)
A few splashes of Red Wine Vinegar
One splash of Rice Wine VInegar
One splash of Balsamic Vinegar
A couple drizzles of Olive Oil
Salt
Pico De Gallo Spice (See previous post for a picture of this dry spice found in Mexican Food stores)

DIRECTIONS

Toss it all together to make delicious spicy crunchy yumminess!

No time to write up the recipe for ice cream right now but SUPER EASY! Email me if you want it. So so so so easy and scrumptious...creamy and not too sweet!

Buon Memorial Appetito!

Lazy Spring Dinner = Pea Shoots + Baked Potato + Haricots Verts

2011-05-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

It's Spring! It's Spring! It's Spring! We are having literally the most delicious day in Los Angeles today. Bright blue skies, white fluffy clouds, a sweet breeze to balance out the warm sunshine make it really hard to not keep a big smile on your face. I stopped in the middle of my trip to Bar Method Class to pull over and put my top down (convertible top that is) because missing any part of this day would be a shame.

When I got home I popped a baked potato in the oven so it would be nice and crispy by the time I got home from walking the dogs. When I got home, I took out the Pea Shoots I got at Trader Joe's! Yes, Trader Joe's has Pea Shoots! It's a miracle! They are so profoundly delicious, and their season is so short, I decided to just toss them with fresh lemon juice, a tiny bit of oil, salt and pepper.

Then, I pulled out the baked potato and put my new secret weapon on it -- 1 serving of the Trader Joe's Creamy Goat Cheese -- only ONE Weight Watchers Points Plus!

Then I sauteed up a package of Trader Joe's Haricots Verts with just a tiny bit of oil, garlic salt and some red pepper flakes. Throw them over the potato and ....Yummarifico!

Buon Springtime Appetito to all!!!!

BlogHer Food Conference Take-Away -- One White Curtain Makes All the Difference in the World!

2011-05-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I picked up this cute little white voile curtain at World Market. I didn't have a use for it but I just had to have it and knew one day I'd want to cover one small window with it! I just knew it! Well, in the middle of my BlogHer Food Conference Workshop on photography, Sarah Amelar showed a photo of her home studio in her kitchen where she put up a simple white curtain to diffuse the directional light. Brilliant!

So, I got it out today and it works!

I hammered a couple of brads above the window and haphazardly hung it because it will just go up temporarily when I shoot in there. I threw it up in seconds!

And voila, my new obsession with Kale and Mushrooms...this time with more garlic and Italian spices....and much more beautifully lit than my last Kale-Mushroom posting! LOL!

Buon Well-Lit Appetito!!!!

BlogHer Food Conference -- What I Learned in Blogging School Last Weekend

2011-05-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

There was such heart at the BlogHer Food Conference, so much generosity, sharing, wisdom, genuine caring about each other. It was loverly! And, it was delicious and fun. Great food every where we turned, good fun to be had in any moment. I posted pix the other day, and my more heartfelt post, but wanted to post my notes for people who couldn't go to the conference,or who missed a session I might have attended.

My notes look lovely in a 7 page Word Doc, but inserted here they just look so...well, like a whole bunch o' words! So, if you would like my notes, email me: bridget@lazywoman.com and I'll shoot it out to you!

WWgasm = 4 Points Plus Lunch Deliciosa!

2011-05-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

Trader Joe’s does it again – making my Weight Watchers dreams come true, giving me yet another WWgasm. I had only a couple minutes between calls to whip up a good-for-me-beyond-delicious lunch. This literally took about three minutes.

INGREDIENTS

½ cup Trader Joe’s Frozen Jasmine Rice
1 tsp Dark Sesame Oil
½ bag of Trader Joe’s Kale (it’s pre-chopped – roughly)
1 bag of Trader Joe’s Sliced Mushrooms
Rice Vinegar - to taste (I do about 2 tsp probably)
Red Wine Vinegar- to taste (I do about 2 tsp probably)Water -- about 1/8 cup

Red Pepper Flakes
Garlic Salt

DIRECTIONS

Pop the frozen rice in the microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes.
Put Dark Sesame Oil in big sautee pan. Warm it up on a fairly high heat.
Add everything else in the ingredients list.
Cook it up! I kept mine on a medium high heat the entire time and it was deliciously inflused with all the flavorings by the time it was all done, which was just a few minutes.
Put 1/2 cup of rice on your lovely salad plate. Yes, all this food fits nicely on a small dinner plate! Add the veggie mixture.
Have your own WWgasm!

Buon Skinny Appetito!

A Three WWgasm (Weight Watchers Foodie Bliss) Day = A Very Excellent Day

2011-05-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

Just had to quickly post about this because I've been in WWgasm heaven for 24 hours. And, all of this comes from Mecca, aka Trader Joe's. So, we're hitting all the Lazy markers: easy, inexpensive, simple, healthy, and delicious!

Lazy Ass Delicious Potato -- I believe in butter -- used sparingly. I would never dream of using substitutes, though I know I am in the minority on that one. But, I think if you want butter, just have it -- in moderation. I allow for the points for it. But since getting on Weight Watchers, I actually have not used as much as I used to. I'm not a butter freak. I am not a fat person, I'm a sugar person. So, I have always used oils and butter sparingly for my taste buds' sake. The only item that I have always put more butter on is the Almighty Baked Potato. Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, I found a most divine substitution for buttering said Almighty on. I wasn't even seeking a substitution. I have gotten very used to less butter on my potato, and frankly have enjoyed the flavor of the potato even more. But, I accidentally ran out of butter yesterday. So, I whipped out the Trader Joe's Creamy Goat Cheese and took just 1/4 of the container -- which is only 1 point -- yes, ONE point -- and slathered it in the potato. Add salt and pepper and you are in potato heaven. Sometimes I grill up a portobello mushroom (on George Forman Grill with no fat added) and slice it on top of the potato. Wowza Potato WWgasm Bonanza! ONLY FIVE (5) POINTS PLUS (if medium sized potato)!
Triple Berry Bran Muffin Peanut Butter Bliss -- The Triple Berry Muffin mix is unbelievably easy -- add two eggs and a cup of water, pop in the oven for 30 minutes. Done. And, they taste so homemade! Then, it says let them sit for about 20 minutes. Well, when they came out of the oven, I got way inspired. I popped the top off of one of the muffins and put a teaspoon of peanut butter (1 point) on top and put the lid back on. Do you understand what that means? It means I had a WWgasm coming! I had just created hot peanut lava in the middle of the warm cakey deliciousness. Are you kidding me? WWgasm Maximus. FOUR (4) POINTS PLUS!
Crunchy Filling Snackalicious -- Trader Joe's scored even more points with me when they added Lundberg Rice Cakes to their menu of items they carry. I just tried the Lite Cheddar Sliced Cheese for the first time this week -- just to check it out, not expecting much. Well the texture of this super-crunchy rice cake with the perfectly chewy and surprisingly rich for a lite cheese, is divine. It's very tastebud fulfilling and tummy filling. THREE (3) POINTS PLUS!

Buon Lazy Lite Appetito to All!

BlogHer Food Conference 2011 in Atlanta: --- Sweet Deliciousness!

2011-05-24T22:03:00.000-07:00

There was so much much that was DELICIOUS about the BlogHer Food Conference:

1. Sweet Peeps! The speakers, the attendees, the organizers, the hotel staff -- everyone was so generous! People shared, supported, nurtured, attended to, cheered, and inspired each other. Magic was happening around every corner. Two of the highlights for me were Laurie David (author "The Family Dinner" and producer on "Inconvenient Truth") and Molly O'Neill (formerly of NY Times and now, check her out at onebigtable.com) who were genuinely, unequivocally generous with people who were asking for support and/or inspiration. I witnessed each of them taking such care with people to give them what they needed -- in a most humble way.

It was mostly women at this conference and it was truly women showing up as their most powerful, generous selves. A true inspiration. I give major credit to the organizers for creating such an amazing space for everyone to step into with love and generosity.

2. Sweet Auburn Market -- I'm sorry but for a vegetarian, there is nothing more orgasmic than a Farmer's Market. This is a fun and funky one and full of all kinds of veggies and legumes that we don't get to see here in Los Angeles. And, they had a penchant for wrapping foods in plastic so it was fun to photograph the wrapped jewels.

But the biggest vegorgasm of my trip was the veggie burger at Grindhouse Burgers at The Sweet Auburn Curb Market. It won "Best Veggie Burger 2010 in Atlanta" and it totally deserves it. If you're not a vegetarian please go and get you some o' dat meat burger stuff because you will LOVE it. They have a million creative toppings too. I chose the homemade slaw which was so incredibly light and inspired, and sauteed mushrooms and onions! OMG! Again Vegorgasm Galore!

3. Sweet Wisdom -- I got so much wisdom from this weekend that I actually typed up all my notes on the plane home late Saturday night. I will post soon the best tidbits I got throughout the weekend.

4. Sweet Lovin' -- My wonderful friend, Salle (who came with me to the conference) and I met the Tuna of Our Dreams...isn't he handsome?

Lazy Summertime

2011-05-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

The lazy days of Summertime are a-comin' and one of the laziest most impressive desserts you can make is homemade ice cream or sorbet. You guys, I'm not kidding it's LAZY to make ice cream. Even the fanciest of ice creams are relatively easy to make.

For instance, if you are making something like a rich vanilla bean, peach or other fruit, or deep dark chocolate ice cream, the most complicated thing you do is make a quick custard on the stove and let it cool. But, you can make sorbets and easy ice creams with very few ingredients and one or two steps. It's so easy. Seriously. Please try it. You'll be happy. You'll make other people happy. And, isn't that what makes this Lazy world go round?!

So, first step: buy an ice cream maker. The reason I'm even bringing this up today is that I got the latest Crate & Barrel catalogue and they have the Cuisinart Ice Cream maker on sale -- great deal -- $49 instead of $90!!!!

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/specialty-appliances/cuisinart-ice-cream-frozen-yogurt-maker/s676864

I have had a few different kinds of ice cream makers over the years but my very favorite is the one I have which is probably synchronistically one of the least expensive on the market. But the genius reason I bought it is that it is the LAZIEST to clean, store and manage in every way. It is just two pieces. I keep the frozen canister always in the freezer in the garage so it's ready to go when I am. The rest of the ice cream maker is the paddle/electronics. So, I get the canister, throw the incredients in, pop the paddle in, turn it on and go away for about 25 minutes, and voila: YUMMINESS!

http://www.amazon.com/Rival-Gel-Canister-Cream-Maker/dp/B0012UZ3D6

Happy Summery Deliciousness to all! I'm off to a hotter zone -- Atlanta -- for the BlogHer Food Conference. Muy excited! Will report!

Lazily yours,
Bridget

Best Lazy Tip of 2011 = Smile, Smile, Smile!

2011-05-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

"I will never understand all the good tht a smiple smile can accomplish."

Mother Teresa

Good Morning Gorgeous Lazy Men and Women!

Please take 7 minutes to watch this video - http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_gutman_the_hidden_power_of_smiling.html

It will:

1. Inspire you.

2. Be fun to just watch.

3. Make you go "Wow" or "Aaaaah" or something in betweeen.

4. Have you realize something about yourself.

5. Make you smile!

6. Show you that smiling is the laziest way to a long life!

And, one of my favorite songs just popped in my head. I thought Charlie Chaplin wrote this but it turns out he wrote the music (which is lovely) but the lyrics are by Turner & Parsons.

SMILE

Smile, though your heart is aching

Smile, even though it’s breaking

When there are clouds in the sky
you’ll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You’ll see the sun come shining through

for you

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness Although a tear may be ever so near

That’s the time you must keep on trying

Smile what’s the use of crying

You’ll find that life is still worthwhile

If you’ll just

Smile

Are you ANTI-Aging or PRO-Aging?

2011-05-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry but I think it's fairly hilarious that we are so ANTI-aging! It's like we are ANTI-nature!

I find it almost as hilarious that I just last week posted about my grandma's skincare regime that I love and follow has kept my skin relatively wrinkle-free and healthy.

Well, the very next day after I posted that I went to my friend's beautiful store -- ELISA B. in Old Town Pasadena. If you ever need a special dress, a unique lovely piece of jewelry, or a clever gift for a special woman in your life -- go to Elisa B.

At one point I popped out of the store to run across the courtyard to Origins for one of my favorite lip glosses. As I was checking out someone behind me asked "Have you ever tried Plantscription?" I turned around and heard the story about how people are raving about it, that it's being featured all over the media as a skin rejuvenator. She said it reduces wrinkles and skin discoloration.

There were a couple of women there who were also extolling its virtues, so I sort of, kind of, well, you know, I had to get it!

And, boy oh boy am I happy because after just over a week's use, the sun spots on the left side of my face are absolutely lighter. The fine lines around my mouth are also reduced. This stuff seriously works. And, it smells divine, is so light and lovely in feel, so it's a joy to apply twice a day. I put it on, leave it for a few minutes and then go back to grandma's moisturizing secret! (if you missed it scroll down in the blog posts)

With Lazy tricks like Plantscription around we can be PRO-aging, eh? It's good to be positive!

Lazily Finding My Best Self

2011-05-14T23:22:00.000-07:00

Last night I went through my closets yet again, culling out more old stuff that I never wear or don't really like. I was slightly ruthless. I am clearing out the old, making more space almost every day.

I'm doing it on every level. A couple days ago I had a divine Reiki/Shamanic session that lifted the weight of pain from my recently discovered betrayal that happened in my last relationship. It had been tearing me apart for weeks. But, this session lifted it and cleared my heart...just like one of my closets! The very next morning I realized I woke up genuinely happy (a smile on my face, no less) for the first time in a few dark months.

Today, I was filling the house with fresh flowers, clearing out the old ones -- right now as I look up from my computer I have two huge tulip bouquets in my sights -- and I am literally so happy just looking at them. I've made sure to have as much beauty around me as possible these last few months, but now I can fully take it in. That's really something.

Today was also weigh in day at Weight Watchers and I am lighter than I've been in probably 12 years. My goal weight that I thought was "as good as it gets" was 5 pounds higher than I am now. My new goal is 10 pounds lighter than I am now. And, I honestly don't know how I thought my previous goal was acceptable to me. I really get that in many ways -- including in my relationships with men -- I was stuck in the "as good as it gets" mode.

Part of the mechanics of keeping that mode alive was a conversation I had with myself about hard work. With relationships I think I was way too willing to work way too hard. Yes, relationships are work, but not as hard as this last one! And, I had a conversation about weight loss that said getting to my ideal weight would be too hard. I heard myself saying on several occasions: "I'm not willing to work as hard as it would take to have my ideal body."

The bottom line: neither has to be hard. When you are whole and not looking for food or love to fill up the holes, it's not an obsessive treadmill. It's easy, drama-free, an easy flow of energy.

I am declaring right now that my next relationship will look like my weight loss journey: stress-free, flowing, and truly honoring myself.

Now that, my friends, is LAZY!

Ch-ch-ch-changes....dealing with change the Lazy Way

2011-05-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

Our world is transforming and if we are lucky we are transforming too, moving forward to more peaceful, loving and happy lives.

I had a rough couple of days being berated by feelings of betrayal. "Was it all a lie?" was my mantra-like response to unveiling lies that had been told to me during my relationship of two years. I wanted to sift through every memory and deem it "truth" or "lie" like I was on my own little game show.

Last night, though, I had the pleasure of listening to the recording of Marianne Williamson's talk from Monday night: http://bit.ly/l8lfyi. Marianne speaks every Monday in Los Angeles, and I always miss it. But, we are all blessed because she records it. This Monday the talk was about our external and internal reactions to the Osama Bin Laden news. I highly recommend the talk, especially if you are struggling or wrestling in any way with the news.

But, it's also applicable if you have anything like a "war" going on in your own life. For instance, the war I'm having in my heart with my ex is not a pretty one. I am my own terrorist in the dangerous neighborhood called "my head!"

Two amazing quotes I gleaned from her talk were promptly typed up and posted on my wall as a reminder. I put some pretty graphics on them to make them easy on the eyes -- actually pretty enough to draw me into them. Here are the divine quotes I am clinging to now, which I share with you, thanks to the Divine Miss Marianne...if not solace today, perhaps you can use them in the future or send them to someone in pain, in the midst of their own battle:

God, lift me above the battle.

My job is to see beyond this illusion.

I can seek to dwell in love.

Wo ho ho! I feel like a Woman! (thank you Shania Twain)

2011-05-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

"Every death is a wake up call to live more fully, more presently right now."

Oprah Winfrey

Yet another synchronicity in my life. Today, I felt like I took several steps back in my healing from the break-up with my boyfriend of two years. The recurring theme of my day was "betrayal." I remembered the gorgeous flower arrangement he sent to me whose card said very simply "Never doubt." He always claimed he never wanted me to doubt his love, and that he had never had a single doubt that I was "the one" for him. And, yet he was courting someone else when we were together. The card maybe should have said "Always doubt me." LOL!

I had a day littered with icky flashbacks to the time of the betrayal. It was not a LAZY day. Again, Lazy = less stress and more joy.

But I just sad down to watch my taped Oprah from earlier today and lo' and behold it's an interview with Shania Twain who was betrayed by not only her husband, but her best friend. That I don't actually understand surviving. But, Oprah uttered the quote at the top of this post, and it's so true: every death -- and there is no doubt that the end of a relationship is a death -- is a WAKE-UP call to LIVE fully right now!

It's funny. I always have live flowers all over the house, but since the break-up I have even more....three bouquets in my bedroom alone almost always, and literally every room has at least one bouquet. Life! Life! Life my soul is shouting.

But, when I slip into the past and run the old tapes with new revelations about lies that were said, I go back into the Death Zone. That doesn't feel good. And, honestly, my LIFE cannot afford it. Back to the flowers, back to the love I do have in my life, back to POSSIBILITIES, back to the new body I've created for myself, back to the PRESENT.

The new anthem ringing in my head after the Oprah episode is Shania's breathtaking...

"I feeeeeeeeeeeeel like a WOOOOOOMAN! Wo ho ho!!!!"

To Thine Own Princess Self Be True

2011-04-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

Royal Wedding Day around the globe....One report says that 2 billion people watched. That blows me away. But what blows me away even more is that the newly wed Princess/Duchess/Future Queen was so wonderfully, beautifully in her own skin. Never mind the gorgeous dress, her grace and beauty started so deep down. She just seems to be someone who is to her own self very true.

The good news is that when you are not true to yourself, you will get all kinds of signs to get you back on track....like I did today. I came home late last night after three extremely hard and long days of a business trip where I had to keep my mind sharp and my spirit up and sociable from dawn each day until late at night -- with no downtime for myself. I had no choice and had to push through it. I pushed, but when I woke up this morning and was finally off the adrenaline rush that kept me going those three days, I nearly collapsed. I think my brain literally turned the lights completely off in some of its rooms.

So, what happened? My body couldn't function. I was trying to fix the little doggie barrier between the living room and my office that had clearly come down while I was away, and somehow this heavy metal thing with sharp edges went flying into me -- gouging my shin into a bloody swollen mess. This jab caused me to fall flat on my face and land on top of said gouging gate -- but not before I had -- on the way down to flat on face --knocked my head very hard on the bottom corner of the half door (I have one of those split doors that leads from my office into the back yard). The bump is huge and rose in a cartoon-like way, i.e., fast, colorful, and revealing stars.

I cleaned myself up and thought to myself "Maybe I should NOT go to the gym today since my brain's coordination quadrant is clearly down." Sounds so reasonable. But, later in the afternoon when I thought I was going to perish from exhaustion and knew I needed to get more done, my non-Princess self said "I didn't get to work out more than 50 minutes total over 3 days! I really need to get to the gym PLUS I know I'll feel better afterwards!" The hope of feeling better got me. So, I got myself together and got in the car to go to the gym.

Dead battery.

God speaks in mysterious languages. Hit hard on head (as if with frying pan). Stabbed in leg to thwart movement. Dead battery.

I actually knew my battery was going to be dead. Some weird electronic quirk happened in my car so that two of the four screens in my car dashboard would not shut down when I turned the car off. I tried everything I could for 45 minutes but had to give up, and submit to the fact that my car would be dead today. Well, by late afternoon it was quite deadish.

Ironically, or perhaps not so ironically, I had the car towed to my mechanic who could not replicate the issue. It's like God literally made this flukey weird thing that has never happened before happen so I would not go to the gym today.

Suffice it to say I'll be resting all weekend. To mine own self and body I shall be true.

Lazy Ass Car Wash

2011-04-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Part of this will sound unlazy, like this part: at 6 a.m. tomorrow I'll be parking my car for three days at LAX, so why in hell would it matter that my car is rain-stained and icky looking? It finally stopped threatening rain yesterday, Easter, so I thought I'll wait until I'm back and my car is good and filthy from having been at LAX for three days.

But, I just literally couldn't bear it another minute. In our book "The Lazy Woman's Guide to Just About Everything" we have a whole section on PROCRASTINATION, and in it we make a very important point -- if putting something off is causing you stress, then DO NOT PUT IT OFF -- make it a priority. If it lessens the stress, then go for it, procrastinate the hell out of it!

In this case, even though I was waiting for the weather to shift before washing my car, like most of LA, it wasn't really me procrastinating, it was me not wanting to waste a shiny car at a parking lot!

But, I got home from the gym, and was hot and sweaty, so I ran in the house, got a bucket full of clean rags, ran out, and sprayed a really hard jet spray on every inch of the car. That took about 2.5 minutes -- seriously no more than 2.5 minutes. I whipped around that car.

Then, I put a bunch of rags in each hand and whipped around the car two times, and dried every inch. It literally looks like it was professionally washed and this whole process took no more than SIX MINUTES.

I call this a Lazy Woman Victory for Mankind. And, I saved money which is also a Lazy Woman passion. Why waste money. This will definitely be my every-other-wash technique. Every other, I'll have it done so they do the vacuuming, etc. for me -- something I have no interest in doing. And, that too is Lazy -- I pick my cleaning battles.

Lazy Victory. Yummmm.

Easter Inspiration

2011-04-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

I was being particularly LAZY on Monday. It was raining and I just didn't feel like driving. Well, my loss. I missed Marianne Williamson's amazing evening. Luckily they taped it. Lucky, lucky me...and you, if you find her as inspiring as I do:

http://www.marianne.com/passover-easter-audio.htm

May you be having a stress-free, love-filled holiday weekend.

Trina meet Tina -- This is my MIRACLE Day!

2011-04-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

It's a wonderful day! I knew it was going to be good because I woke up remembering my Tina Fey dream (see blog post below this one!), but I had no idea that today would be the day that my "Weight Goal Dress" would FIT! I bought this Trina Turk lovely Spring dress in January to shrink into. I had never been to Nordstrom Rack before and delightfully this gorgeous thing was sitting on the rack waiting for me at $19.97!

It's a Size 4, but I knew it was a big 4, more like a 6. And, I knew that when I met my goal weight I'd fit into it, and today I thought "Hey, let's try that on!"

Thanks to Marianne WIlliamson's "A Course in Weight Loss" I actually know that I am actually not at my goal weight. I'm at just two pounds past what previously was my "This is as good as it gets" weight. I am still happily losing, and I'm doing it with lots of grace and ease -- again thanks to Marianne in major part!

Now, off to have a wonderful baked potato and salad, another delightful moment in my Tina/Trina Day of Miracles.

Tina Fey Helped Me Clean My Kitchen

2011-04-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

Blessed I was to see Tina Fey and Steve Martin on Tuesday night. Even though it was the Nokia Theatre at LA Live, because it was just the two of them having a chat on the stage, it felt like I was just watching them in my living room. The friend I was with didn't want to stay for book signing so I didn't get to meet her. I was a little sad about that, and Tina must have felt it because she came over for a cup of cocoa last night.

Yes, indeed, she came over for a cup of cocoa in my dream. But, the coolest thing she did was reveal to me that all this cleaning I've been doing, organizing, getting rid of old stuff, clearing out of every nook and cranny....well, the kitchen cabinet that has the cocoa in it, Tina very sweetly pointed out, was in need of cleaning and organizing.

So, as soon as I could this morning I opened that cabinet, and took care of it. She also pointed out -- when in search of something to go with the cocoa -- that there were two other kitchen cabinets that could use my attention. So, those I'll be handling this evening.

I'm so lucky to have a "dream friend" like Tina Fey to have a late night cocoa with, and to just have that kind of relationship where when she points out my flaws she does it with such love and support. Tina only wants the best for me!

And, what am I always saying as one of my Lazy Woman anthems -- get help! Enlist support wherever and whenever you can. Or swap support. I'm expecting a "dream call for support" from Tina any night now. I'll probably end up babysitting...not my fave, but anything for a "dream friend."

Spring Cleaning = Jewels Uncovered

2011-04-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled by my instincts at the end of this relationship. I am cleaning out the old, getting rid of the past that no longer serves me. Clothes that I haven't worn in ages, that don't fit, that I know I will never wear again -- it all goes! Everything that doesn't work -- it's out! Every closet, every corner of the garage, every cabinet.

I'm cleaning and clearing to invite new, vibrant, loving, beautiful energy --- and a man -- to come in. In clearing out the clutter, fluff and excess I am uncovering jewels of many sorts-- pieces of clothing that I adore that I forgot about (what a clear sign of having too much, eh?) -- and books like the Rumi book I re-found.   Another gem of a book unveiled was one I read in the early 90's - Harville Hendrix's "Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples."

I know, I know, I'm not in a couple anymore, but man this is one bad ass book. I re-read half of it very quickly this weekend. It all started flooding back. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever struggled in a relationship. And, honestly, who hasn't ever had a struggle, eh?

What I get from this book every time I read it is the reminder that I grow so much more as a person when I am in relationship.  Relationships are the grains of sand to my pearl....polishing me, making me better, looking deeper, doing better, being better. Relationships are God's offering to us to heal more deeply than, well, just about anything else.

And, when both people are willing to look at their childhood wounds, they each have the most extraordinary opportunity to pour love on each other's wounds --yes, it stings, sometimes it hurts deeply, but in the end it is soothing, nurturing and heart-opening.
Harville quotes Jung who said it so eloquently: "Seldom or never does a marriage develop into an individual relationship smoothly without crisis. There is no birth of consciousness without pain." But on the other side of the pain is unbelievable freedom and the deepest, most fulfilling love.

The key is both people have to want to look at the cages the past has built to get to the freedom. Huge honkin' key.

So, I'm on the road to taking down the cages around my own heart, so I can draw that guy in who has taken down his cages.

It's a brave new world...sparkling with jewels.

Lazily Dealing with the Death of a Relationship

2011-04-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

I have been recently committed to clearing out the old to make room for new abundant, loving energy to sweep into my life. One of my projects is my garage. Today, the task at hand was to go through about 20 boxes of books, with the intention of donating most of them to the local library. It's LIBRARY WEEK so I think most local libraries are accepting donations for the next few weeks.

One of the divine books that I found that I will be keeping is a book of Rumi poems. I'm keeping all my Rumi books, and I'm delighted to have refound them to bring them in the house. I sat down with one for a few minutes because there is nothing more nourishing to me during a breakup than Rumi. And, since I just found out that the betrayal that caused my breakup was even more profound than I had imagined, I was drinking this Rumi in like it was a magic elixir. And it was.

During this breakup I have been having pretty regular messages from my dad who passed away a year and a half ago. I feel like he is holding my hand walking me through healing my heart, preparing me for the biggest, greatest love of my life -- a man who will hold my heart and my love and cherish it. I know my dad is getting him ready to bring to me.

So, this poem I found spoke to me on many levels today - the death of my father and my relationship. If you -- or anyone you know -- is dealing with a death of a person, a relationship...you may want to share this with them. And, isn't it something that it is titled "911"...

911

Rumi - Translated by Coleman Barks

On the day I die, when I'm being

carried toward the grave, don't weep.

Don't say "He's gone! He's gone!"

Death has nothing to do with going away.

The sun sets and the moon sets,

but they're not gone. Death

is a coming together.

The tomb looks like a prison.

but it's really release

into Union.

The human seed goes down in the ground

like a bucket into the well where Joseph is.

It grows and comes up full

of some unimagined beauty.

Your mouth closes here

and immediately opens

with a shout of joy there.

Lazy Yummies + Lazy Losing = WWgasm Bliss!

2011-04-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Just weighed in and I'm down 15.2 pounds!!!!!!!!!! Woooohooooo! I'm particularly excited because I'm not eating my feelings through my heartbreaking break-up (two breaks in one sentence! OY!).

But, I'm even more excited because I am literally feeling no denial. First, because of Marianne Williamson's "Course in Weight Loss" I have truly reconfigured my relationship with food. I don't go to it for comfort anymore. Once in a while I get a chocolate craving, and I ask myself what's going on, and let myself have it -- no matter what's going on. If I want it, I want it. But, I only have a little bit and I'm completely satiated.

I'm really taking care of my cravings. The other day while at Pilates class, I smelled what I thought were freshly grilling pancakes. I remembered there was a Weight Watchers recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes that looked awesome, but I couldn't find the recipe online on the way to Trader Joe's, so I picked up their Multigrain Pancake Mix. It turns out two five inch pancakes are only 4 points. Oh joy! Oh joy!

I took out the Trader Joe's Superfruit All Fruit Preserves, put one tablespoon on a plate, put it in the microwave and it makes a wonderful syrup. So two pancakes with "syrup" is only 5 points. I made a regular batch and used it over 3 days to make my pancake treats.

If you don't take care of your cravings and find alternatives for yourself, you won't stick to it. That's EXACTLY what the Hungry Girl says too. She has come up with 100's of recipes for comfort foods, snack foods, YUM foods galore that are weight-LOSS friendly while making you feel very full and satisfied.

Again -- if you are on a weight loss journey -- run, walk, skip to a bookstore or toodle your fingers over to amazon.com to get one of the Hungry Girl books. Her website: hungry-girl.com.

WE CAN DO IT!!!!

Weight Watcher Foodies ALERT: "Hungry Girl 300 Under 300" is here!

2011-04-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

Hear Ye Foodies! Hear Ye Weight Watchers Peeps!   Run, don't walk -- or perhaps walk briskly with weights in your hands -- to your nearest independent bookseller to buy yourself a copy of "Hungry Girl 300 Under 300." (Or, move your fingers briskly to Amazon, but I always want to encourage everyone going to local bookstores first!)

I had the most delicious pleasure of meeting Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien who was signing her new cookbook -- top of the New York Times Bestseller List right out of the gate --"300 Under 300." Lisa is delightful -- just like she appears on TV -- humble, sweet, and clearly loving her life spent inspiring women to enjoy scrumptious food while they lose weight. Her cookbook is as light, fun and happy as she is in spirit.

And, it's LAZY too -- really easy recipes, beautifully laid out so it's unbelievably easy to read and follow. She has great tips, and cute little bits of inspiration dotting the pages.  It's laid out in such a way that your eye is drawn to read every little thing...like they are yummy candy jewels!

It's so funny because I wasn't immediately drawn to this book since it's calorie counting, but it turns out that she has all the PointsPlus listed on her website for all her recipes. Yippppeeeee! Lisa actually partners with Weight Watchers, and blogs weekly on their site (never mind the fact that I never caught that!). And, she even said at the book signing that she reveres WW more highly than other weight loss methods.

My favorite thing about the lovely LIsa is she is a true foodie, who adores creating deliciousness in ever form, fulfilling all our greatest foodie dreams -- but with low cal alternatives.   She is a GENIUS!

Check her out. She loves you and all your crazy cravings and you will love her for fulfilling them!

Buon End-of-the Hungries Appetito to you!

Lazy Garage Clean-Up = Ask for Support!

2011-04-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

I had a fairly miraculous day. After break-ups, one of the depressing factors for me is the struggle to regain my social bearings. I spent all my free time with my love, who was also my buddy, my best friend. So, I've been feeling sorry for myself lately. Most of my friends are married, others busy with kids, and others, well we've just fallen out of regular social contact.

While I enjoy spending time with "me" I also wanted to have some fun this weekend, but had no plans. As if angels were listening to my prayers yesterday, this morning I got a call inviting me to a last minute Dim Sum feast - yummalicious even for this vegetarian! And, then I got a call from a friend who also wanted some company. I made her a late lunch and she helped me clean out my garage.

I swear I have angels listening to me because I knew I was going to clean my garage today but I was wishing I had someone to just sit and keep me company while I did it. I always recommend getting a buddy to just even sit with you (if they aren't the helping kind) and just be company for you when you are doing something tough, stressful, or sad. It's just easier!!

I was so grateful she was willing to sit with me! But, she never sat down once: she kicked my Lazy Ass! And her helpful mantras of the day were exclamations of "You do NOT need that!" "You will NEVER use that again!" or "That's a NO!" I made huge progress with her there, and it was really absolutely stress-free. It was actually fun to laugh at myself and all the crap I have in there!

I am a lucky lazy girl! I needed support and I got it. Sometimes you just gotta ask!

Lazy Peace o' Mind -- With a Little Help from Nature

2011-04-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled. I just heard that a friend of mine took the advice that I posted last week on this blog. She started taking Ignatia Amara and feels really great. She was having a tendency toward anxious thoughts. Ignatia Amara is for that (like the repetitive negative thoughts I was having after my breakup) and for grief (like my losing a great love). If you know of anyone dealing with repetitive anxious thoughts as a result of a situation that they happen to be in -- or perhaps in the case of my friend (and possibly myself as well) -- is perimenopausal or menopausal, where hormone changes incite brain chemistry changes -- please tell them about this:

And, if they are dealing with the level of grief I was dealing with -- loss of any kind, depression, extreme sadness, etc. -- please tell them about Sweet Chestnut, which I give due credit as well. The Sweet Chestnut is a flower essence. It is gentle, safe, and yet powerful. I can't more highly recommend it:

Please pass this blog on to anyone who may need some support during a difficult emotional time. I promise you gratitude will be coming your way. I have a friend who got divorced last year and both she and her son are still very depressed. I think she'll be taking my advice soon, and I can't wait to report her findings as well.

And, FYI, my symptoms shifted within hours, and within 24 hours, I was back on track -- no more repetitive anxious thoughts, no more of the exhaustion that comes from depression.

Peace, peace, peace...there is just no substitute for peace of mind. Finding it lazily, well, that's just divine peace.

Lazily Grow Your Business: "The Thank You Economy"

2011-03-30T23:20:00.000-07:00

I just got home from the airport. On the 3 hour plane ride I finished Gary Vanderchuk's "The Thank you Economy," I can't more highly recommend it to anyone who:

1) has a business
2) knows someone who has a business
3) might one day have a business
4) might one day meet someone who has a business

So, run -- don't walk -- to pick it up. Or go to amazon -- I'll even give you the darned link: http://www.amazon.com/Thank-You-Economy-Gary-Vaynerchuk/dp/0061914185/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301551821&sr=8-1

I read Gary's first book "Crush It" which I also couldn't recommend more highly, where I really got the message: social media is not just for personal fun, it's a force that must be reckoned with professionally. I loved that book so much that I was dying to meet Gary when he came to KPCC/Drucker Family Forum last week. What a thrill to meet this force of nature, and a true inspiration.

When I stood in line to get my books signed, I watched him. Most people were big fans like me. But, I saw there were a few in the line had no idea who he was. It was starting to irritate me when I saw that Gary was being just as I imagined he would be: GENEROUS. It really appears like he tries to "give" something to each and every person he meets. The woman right before me literally -- unbelievably -- seemed completely disconnected and uninterested, even though he was signing her book! He tried engaging her, first with his eyes, then his body (leaning in), then his words. Nothing: she would not RECEIVE! I love him for trying. I really love him for trying. He lives his life in a context of gratitude and generosity.

"The Thank You Economy" shows that every business -- from the local burger joint to dentists to corporate lawyers, and beyond -- needs to live in the context of gratitude. The flow of life, money, and energy from customer to business -- and back again to customer -- is based on a genuine appreciation of the customer's needs and wishes.

I am so inspired and have a new fire in my belly that was lit by the Vanderchuk torch! I inherited by dad's business when he died a year and a half ago. While I got in new management and worked on "righting" the ship, I was always very moved by the hearts of our customers, their undying loyalty to my dad, their sticking with us through thick and thin (i.e., when management didn't care about them). I have been wanting to personally go up to Alaska and thank each and every one of our customers -- to give them ALL a hug!

As I read the book I came up with tons of ideas of how I am going to honor them, my staff...and my dad's legacy. I am thrilled, and even though I've already had an 18 hour day, I am still full of vim and vigor!

I hope you feel it!...and pass it on!

It's What's for Dinner = It's What's in the Fridge

2011-03-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

First, Full Court Press of yesterday is absolutely working. The dark cloud that lifted last night appears to be nearly gone today due to the remedies I mentioned yesterday. I suppose I need to give the whole plan credit, but I do think the remedies are due special thanks.

Just made yummalicious dinner that I wouldn't have made were I not leaving in the morning for a business trip. I had a potato, tomatoes, portobello mushrooms, and chives.

Here's what I did to make it extra fulfilling, flavorful and Weight Watchers friendly too:

1. Baked potato at 450 for about 30 minutes.
2. After potato was in for 15 minutes, I chopped up the two big portobellos and two big tomatoes and tossed it all with Truffle Salt (Birthday present from friend, Karen!) and a teaspoon of olive oil.
3. While that was finishing I chopped a bunch of fresh chives, got out a Tablespoon of butter and a couple Tablespoons of Trader Joe's Creamy Goat Cheese.
4. When out of the oven, cut open the potato and throw on the butter, goat cheese and chives.
5. Scoop up all the roasted veggies and throw them on the prepared potato!

Buon appetito!

Lazily Dealing with Depression -- Full Court Press

2011-03-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I broke up with my boyfriend in a way that we both understand that it wouldn't be good for us to talk until he figures some things out. I may never speak to him again which is the sad reality that hit on my birthday a few days ago: no communication at all. It was, I'm sure, a blessing that he didn't contact me because it's been unbearable to be separated. But it still hurt like hell, particularly since I made his last birthday the birthday of a lifetime and had an absolute blast creating it for him. When you love someone you love to celebrate them and give them as much joy as possible, eh?! There is nothing like the effort your love will make to give you joy.

Cut to: last night. I slept 12 hours. Unheard of! I didn't "need" it...except, I guess my psyche did...endless dreams of him, his family, my old boyfriends, and endless painful scenarios. When I woke up and saw the time, the "depression" word popped in, and I realized I am now in a full blown depression.

So, I started my full court press to deal with this depression:

1. To Do List. I am making myself "do" things but I have to truly make myself. I write out lists: 1) read "Thank You Economy" (amazing book by the way! as was "Crush It" -- must read if you are in business of any kind!) for 15 minutes, 2) read "Spiritual Divorce" (another amazing book -- must read if you are going through a divorce or major break-up) for 15 minutes, 3) write thank you cards, etc. I gave myself smaller goals, but goals nonetheless because if they aren't on paper, I won't do anything, because I don't "feel like it"!2. Whole Foods. I am blessed to have a Whole Foods that has incredibly knowledgable people working in the vitamin/supplement/herb section. I found literally the perfect person to guide me to two things that truly are making a difference (and today I'm being diligent about regular doses): Bach Flower Remedy Sweet Chestnut and Boiron's Homeopathic Remedy Ignatia Amara. The first is for depression and the second for anxiety. I told him I didn't feel at all anxious but I had just told him that I couldn't stop the negative thinking, so he actually was right on. Regular doses are making a difference -- undeniably.

3. Running. I started running again. I have never stopped working out but ironically I had an achilles injury that stopped my running right about the same time the achilles heel of our relationship stopped our relationship. I gave running a shot again today even though it's not 100% and I was absolutely fine. And, the endorphines really helped.
4. Friends. I enlisted a few friends to call when I felt like calling my ex. It happens a LOT so these friends...well let's say if I was really rich I'd probably buy them each a car. I keep reaching out. I think they all have confidence that I will get better since depression is something I don't normally deal with, but still I'm sure at some point I will owe them each a home in Tuscany.
5. Doctor. I happened to have a regular doctor's appointment on Friday and I asked her to write me a prescription for anti-depressants -- just in case I couldn't turn this all around naturally and with all the tricks and tools I have in my bag. I can't imagine filling it, especially since I'm in Full Court Press mode BUT getting the prescription really was part of Full Court Press mode. It's there if I need it.
6. Taking Responsibility. There are things that I can work on for myself that were brought out by this break-up. The more I take responsibility for me the better I feel, because "me" is something I can control and change.

On the road to recovery, one moment at a time...

lazily yours,
b.

Lazy Exquisite Dining -- Hours of Deliciousness in Carmel

2011-03-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

In 1993 I had a several course meal at a tiny fairy-lit, tree filled outdoor restaurant located on a cliff off a winding road outside of Naples, Italy.   At that time, it was what I considered the best meal of my life. To this day I have not tasted a boccoccino (baby mozzarella...in their case probably as local as down the street) that would even vaguely rival what exploded in my mouth that night. Unbelievable. Every course was flawless and burgeoning with flavors I had never experienced before. I had tasted food that "tried" to be this great, but my god, it was perfection.

I have had many truly great meals since because I have been very, very lucky.   A home-cooked meal in Morocco of roasted sardines and vegetables....right up there.

And, now, there is my new love, Casanova. I was supremely blessed last weekend to have been taken to Casanova in Carmel (http://www.casanovarestaurant.com/). We were in town for my friend's 50th birthday and her brother, sister and sister-in-law took us there as it is one of their favorite spots.   They know their food and they really know their wine, so they helped with their Casanova-expertise.

After the table was graced with perfect olives, tapenade, fresh baked crackers and breadsticks, they ordered Spinach Gnocchi as our first course.  They were literally the best gnocchi I have ever eaten. I haven't even tasted anything in the same league before this.  They were soooooo light...like little pillows, and full of spinach flavor, swimming in a rich -- but not too heavy -- cheesy sauce.

My next course was mussels in a just spicy enough wine and tomato sauce. I've eaten a LOT of mussels and these were the best. No kidding. The best. The french fries it came with were fried in some kinda yummy oil and sprinkled with course salt.

No need for me to go on and on about the other photographs below...I didn't even photograph everything ordered for the table. Each and every morsel was divine. The desserts featured -- and I didn't even photograph my lemon tart because I was too busy eating it -- are Lavender Flan, Profiteroles and Mushroom (yes mushroom) Ice Cream.

The wine that our amazing hosts ordered with the help of the brilliant Sommelier were outrageous. This was my favorite restaurant wine pairing experience ever. This Sommelier is nothing short of inspired.

We were a large group and it was a joyous event, but they tout themselves as the most romantic restaurant in Carmel...and they really are. It is an jewel of a spot for a romantic date. I cannot wait to share this with a love...if you are ever in Carmel with a love, you must go. It will probably catapult your relationship to new heights -- no matter how long you've been together!

And, if you aren't in a relationship, go anyway. You will be impressed and will have fun. The staff literally delights in serving each and every guest, creating an unforgettable celebration for every taste bud and soul that graces their gorgeous European country house in the middle of California!

And, if you love Van Gogh, then you are even luckier as they have a room set aside in honor of a table they have from Van Gogh's home. More magic.

Dealing with Loss the Lazy Way

2011-03-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

Fighting all the uncomfortable emotions in life really doesn't work. The majority of my life I just wanted to run away from sadness, anger, jealousy, etc. When I'm sad especially, my M.O. is to judge the sadness, try to get rid of it. My dad and a few great friends would say "It's OK to be sad, just let yourself be sad."

This is one of the jewels I got from the Debbie Ford Shadow Process. I'm not saying I'm expert at staying in the sadness, but I am finally seeing that "what you resist persists." When I fight the darkness, it really does stick longer.

And, I can also take action -- the Lazy Way -- not over-doing, over-exerting, just taking some actions that will make me feel better. For instance, I'm going away today for 4 days. I return the night of my birthday. I am flying into LAX in time for what was going to be birthday dinner with my boyfriend. So, I called a friend and set up that we will go out for chocolate layer cake instead. And, so that I don't come back to a depressing house, I filled the house with flowers that will still be lovely when I return. And, I got myself a huge new orchid plant that is gracing the table next to my front door.

But, some preparations cannot be done alone. I received my first birthday card yesterday which is literally the most perfect card for me. It's adorable, makes me smile and laugh, and it has a dog on the cover that looks just like my dogs looked when they were babies. So, when I come home that card will be right in front of me as I walk in the door.

My dad always sent me flowers on my birthday, and showered me with love. My boyfriend would have probably given me some as he did last year. So, I covered the flower front. And, my incredibly thoughtful friend covered the best card on the planet front, so that I will know I am loved no matter what the circmstances on my birthday when I walk in the door that night.

We are all loved no matter what. Dealing with the loss of the love you WANT and can't have is hard, so one of the Lazy Ways to deal with it is focus on the love you HAVE right here, right now, and take some little action to remind yourself of what should be quite obvious.

We are all very, very loved...no matter what.

Trader Joe's Tuesday (a wee bit late) - Roasted Veggie Dinners

2011-03-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm in the throes of the finality of a break-up right now so I'm running a little slow, a little ragged, a little behind. I'm trying to deal with my grief in a lazy way, i.e., feeling it, not pushing it down like I normally do, or busying myself beyond belief so that I don't have time to feel. So, it's just plain depressing time now.

But, since listening to Marianne Williamson's "A Course in Weight Loss" and also doing Debbie Ford's "Shadow Process Workshop" I am not eating my feelings or busying myself to get away from them. In fact, instead of eating lots of chocolate through the grief, I find myself forgetting to eat and then being very weak. And, I'm not particularly in the mood to cook, so I'm thankful more than ever to my Mecca, Trader Joe's.

In the veggie section there are wonderful bags of cut up vegetables that are super easy to steam in the microwave, but my favorite thing to do with them -- sweet potatoes, butternut squash, green beans, mushrooms, etc. -- is ROAST them.

So here's what you do:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Depending on the veggie you'll roast at this temperature for 15 to 30 minutes.
Throw the contents of the bag onto a cookie sheet.
Take 1 teaspoon of olive oil (yes, that truly is all you need!), drizzle it over the veggies and toss so coated.
Sprinkle with all your favorite herbs, salt, pepper, spices, etc. Two of my favorites are Garlic Salt and Pico De Gallo:

For those of you doing Weight Watchers -- a big bowl of green beans is only ONE POINT -- the olive oil! Sometimes I sprinkle fat free feta on top for a total of TWO POINTS!

Buon appetito!!!!!!!!!

Best Lunch on Planet -- Lazy Weight Watchers Version of a Rubio's Favorite

2011-03-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

A couple months before I decided to finally stop my grieving-for-my-dad-eating-everything-I-feel-like-eating regimen, I discovered a new favorite at Rubio's. I, like my dear friend Beanie, am a fiend for fish tacos and everywhere I go -- even the Kansas City Sheraton that I used to go to a few times a year -- I try fish tacos.

In Los Angeles, the best fast food fish taco -- for my tastebuds -- is found at Rubio's. So, it took a lot for me to one day order something different. I am mostly vegetarian but about once every couple weeks I have fish. So, anything vegetarian will definitely catch my eye, so when I saw the sign for a Grilled Portobello and Poblano Soft Taco I simply had to try it. It did not disappoint. It was all kinds of gooey, crunchy, warm, yummy deliciousness, with just the right amount of kicky spice.

Today, I had a craving for it, and happened to have all the right ingredients -- except the poblano. Next time I'm out I'm buying poblanos, but even without the poblanos, my healthy version of the Rubio's treat is DIVINE!

So, for the Healthy Portobello (and Poblano!) Quesadilla..here's what you do:

1. Heat up your George Forman grill.
2. Throw on a portobello mushroom -- mine was really huge so I ripped it into a few pieces. This is where you would also grill up the poblano.
3. While it's cooking, chop up fresh herbs. I used flat parsley and chives, but if you have cilantro so much the better!
4. I made two quesadillas because I was hungry. So, while still cooking the portobello/poblano, get out four small corn tortillas and one slice of cheese. My favorite is Trader Joe's Jalapeno Yogurt Cheese. Put 1/2 of a slice on each quesadilla.
5. When the mushroom/poblano is done, take it off and chop up with the herbs.
6. Put quesadillas on for a minute or so to get them going. Then add the mushroom/poblano/herb mixture.
7. Cook until YOU say they are done. I like mine crispy on the outside, but you may prefer them soft.

8. I whipped up a salad to have it with -- lettuce, tomato, 1/4 cup Lite Mexican cheeses (Trader Joe's), a couple tablespooons of salsa, juice from 1/2 lemon and 1 teaspoon of olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss it all together and serve with piping hot quesadillas.
9. If you like spicy, throw some salsa or hot sauce on the quesadilla at the end.

Buon Appetito!

Yet Another Lazy Treat at Trader Joe's ...and Lazy Lemons, to boot!

2011-03-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

I remember the days when I prayed for more veggies and fruits at Trader Joe's, and soon they started appearing. Then I had to pray for lemons because somehow they left them off their wish-fulfillment list, so I had to pray extra hard, and they came.

Well, it's been a while, and I'll admit I wasn't praying quite as hard as my lemon vigil, only because I literally use a lemon a day, but I have been consistently praying to the veggie Gods to provide me with popcorn so I wouldn't have to stop at another store on nights like tonight when I had a craving.

Well, tonight, on the "New Items" shelf at Trader Joe's, 'lo and behold, was organic yellow popcorn. I came home immediately and put it in the air popper and boy did those kernels pop up so big and fluffy! Then I drizzled about a tablespoon of melted butter all over it, salted it up, and voila....DINNER! Seriously, this was one inspired dinner.

Now, can we go back to my previous lemon prayers? I can't say enough about how Lazy lemons are...here are just a few ways I suggest you seize the lemon day:

Lemon Water -- If you are trying to kick a soda habit, start with Perrier/Soda Water/Calistoga and add fresh lemon, fresh orange, or a splash of your favorite juice. Or, if you just can't bear drinking all the water you should be drinking during your day, sometimes this is just the little kick you'll need to make the transition. Whatever you have to do to drink more water -- DO IT! It is the key to great digestion and lovely skin. I promise you this.
Most Healthy Salad Dressing in History of Mankind -- Simple: fresh lemon juice and olive oil. You'll find your own personal taste balance, but you gotta know both of these ingredients are very good for you for many reasons, too long to list here. And, you will be literally blown away by how the flavors of all the veggies pop, including the most simple of greens (arugula, for instance, really shines under the glistening mixture).
Roasted Veggies/Sauteed Veggies - I learned this trick in Italy. There is nothing like roasted potatoes drizzled with fresh lemon juice. Also, there is literally nothing like fresh spinach lightly sauteed in olive oil, or roasted veggies of literally any kind (oh my god roasted broccoli!) with a squeeze of lemon.

Buon Lemon & Popcorn Appetito!

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Lazy Deliciousness to Start the Day!

2011-03-08T18:07:00.000-08:00

This is my new favorite breakfast that is Weight Watchers friendly. It's crunchy, it's creamy, it's sweet, it's savory. It's all that is good in life all wrapped into one.

Two pieces of Sprouted RYE Bread -- any sprouted bread would be good but rye adds the savory kick that makes this such a balanced treat = 4 points
1/4 of the Creamy Goat Cheese -- you can even do 1/2. The 1/4 serving is 1 point and 1/2 is 2 points.
A couple teaspoons of the Superfruit All Fruit Spread = 0 points

Toast the bread. Spread on the goat cheese. Then on top of that spread the Superfruit!

So for 5 or 6 points you will have a wonderfully balanced, delicious and FILLING breakfast.

Buon Weight Watchers Appetito! And, anyone else -- it's just good and good for you! You don't have to be watching your weight to enjoy it, that's for sure!

Lazy Home Improvement: I LOVE SPRAY PAINT

2011-03-07T14:55:00.000-08:00

I got this table and chairs about a year ago. They were rusty and dirty and somehow when I looked at them the whole deal just looked like a lot of work. I finally said "This is NOT Lazy!" Procrastination can be lazy, but if every time you look at the thing you are procrastinating about you feel icky, then that's just not Lazy. Less stress and more joy is the goal!

So, this weekend I got the spray paint. There were too options -- one limey, one appley. The limey one looked truer to the original color so I chose it. I came home, sanded and cleaned it -- in no time! What I thought would take hours, took less than one hour all tolled! Then I painted it which took about 25 minutes. I did it while I talked to my friend Fran on the phone. That's how stress-free it was. And, I did an excellent job.

The only problem was that when it was all done, the color was blindingly neonly bright. So, on Sunday I went back to get the appley color and repainted it -- all 5 chairs plus the table seriously in about 15 or 20 minutes! I loooooooooooooooove spray paint.

Now this table is good and painted and coated to prevent rust!

And, I am officially addicted to spray painting because the transformation is so satisfying. It's like it's reflecting the transformation that is happening inside me. Very exciting.

So, next project is my antique metal kitchen work table. I'm going to get the paint tonight. Yipppeeee!

Some addictions serve the world...in this case, the world of home improvement.

Lazy Vacation: Rumi's Guest House

2011-03-04T23:41:00.000-08:00

I am in love with this poem and have grown accustomed to reading it every day since Debbie Ford gave it to us in the Shadow Process Workshop last weekend. I love thinking of joy, depression, meanness, jealousy, sadness, anger and each and every other feeling as a GUEST...

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture, still,
treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks

Lazy Weight Loss Full Court Press is Slam Dunk

2011-03-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

I have always been an "all out" kind o' girl. I just got that the reason I'm losing weight so easily right now is that I am doing an "all out" kind o' plan. It's the Full Court Press mentality that is working for me. That way, if one of my moves/techniques/shots doesn't work one day, I've got a lot of other moves/techniques/shots to pick up the slack.

Some people aren't all out/Full Court Press. Everyone has their own way. Some people need to ease into a plan. I saw someone tweet yesterday that she is just cutting out sodas to start her plan. After that she's going to start walking. She knows herself. She knows what she needs. If you don't help yourself feel nurtured during the process, you just can't expect to stay on your plan. You need to figure out for yourself how you need to do it, and then come up with a plan, and start. You can even give yourself dates/deadlines -- if that works for you. March: Quit Soda; By April 15th: Join Gym and start workout; by May 15th: start meditating, etc.

My Full Court Press Weight Loss Plan is three-fold: body, mind, and spirit.   I actually feel confident saying that if I don't address all three of these elements, I will not succeed. That's me. I always work out and have since I was a young teenager. Not an issue for me. But, the food going in, that's an issue. I've also been working on the issues behind the weight since I was in my early 20's, and made some progress but it came back. So, for me, the Full Court Press is:

1. Exercise -- creative new options to change it up for my body, so I start HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) as a new ingredient in my work out recipe.
2. Eating -- My deal is not binging or late night eating. My deal is just a little bit too much food at each meal, eating to fullness, etc.   So, Weight Watchers is the plan that works for me, causing me to stay conscious of what goes in my mouth all day long!
3. Sugar/Salt Cravings -- These are usually based on emotion. Sugar was sometimes an after dinner habitual craving, but largely I would crave sugar, salty/crunchy things when I was angry or sad. So far I can say that the Shadow Process Workshop I did last weekend has brought those cravings to a firm halt because I am now so much more at peace and dealing with my emotions in a much more even-keeled, healthy way. I am more comfortable and at ease in my heart.
4.  Mind & Spirit -- Marianne Williamson's "Course in Weight Loss" playing over and over and over in my car was a godsend. Her meditation CDs also a godsend. Debbie Ford's Workshop was an enormous godsend. Over the last couple of months embracing both of these fine women's wisdom has proven a coup in terms of mending mind, spirit, and bridging the gap I had between the two.
5. Gratitude/Acknowledgment -- These two practices I have done on and off over the years but now thanks to both Debbie and Marianne, I have an active daily practice. I can't tell you how these two practices have added to the peace and joy in my life. I start my day with gratitude, listing all I am grateful for -- from my comfy bed to the fresh flowers around the house. I end my day acknowledging myself for everything I did -- from doing the load of laundry I didn't want to do to giving my dogs an extra love walk, from the tiniest to the most significant thing.

The bottom line for me is that when I am peaceful in my soul, I do not want to overeat. I do not crave foods that make me high or jittery or off-kilter or fat.   I love the taste of red wine and while at dinner the other night wanted the flavor of the wine, but realized I had no interest in numbing myself at all. I already was relaxed so I didn't "need" it to relax me. So, I chose to have water.

I'm not saying I won't have sugar or alcohol once in a while, but I am getting very accustomed to the wonderful freedom that comes from not needing them as a "fix" of my uncomfortability.

So, for me LAZY weight loss = full court press. We all need to find our Lazy Way -- aka the way of less stress and more joy.

The Ever Shrinking Lazy Woman

2011-03-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

I am down 11.2 pounds which is the idyllic 1.5 pounds/week loss. I am very excited. And, realizing I want to move my goal weight down a couple more points, so want to lose 8 more pounds and see how I feel, reassess, etc.

One of the other delightful things that happened at the Shadow Process Workshop this weekend was my sugar cravings ended. We weren't allowed ANY sugar...or coffee (which was possibly harder) -- and I literally do not have the daily sugar cravings I used to have. In the afternoon and after dinner -- the two times that I would find myself in search of all things chocolate -- I crave fruit or tea. I know it sounds insane but it's true. It's because the anger and anxiety that drove the cravings are delightfully peacably quelled.

The other embarassing -- really super embarassing -- craving that I no longer have was for an addiction that I kept largely hidden: Diet Coke. It started a few weeks into Weight Watchers when the fact that it was 0 points, i.e., free. I spent my teen years and early 20's addicted to Tab. I dropped that and probably 5 or 6 times in my life since I picked up Diet Coke to just have a "treat" that wouldn't cost me anything. I really love the flavor. But mostly in my adult life, if I wanted a soda, I would have the real thing: a Coke with sugar, i.e., seemingly less toxins.

All this, even though I know that it is literally like drinking liquid chemicals, that it makes me feel wacky and crazy inside and out, and I really have an inkling that it actually hinders my body from losing weight, has me hold on to weight.

And, I love water. I drink water all day long -- unless I'm drinking Diet Coke. And, my skin suffers madly. When I drink my yummy water all day long my skin and digestion are literally perfection. Why would I want to look and feel worse? Cause it makes me high!

So, I'm really happy to not have that "high" in my life anymore, happy to be blissfully back in the arms of H20, and definitely delighted to be as peaceful as I am, no longer needing to alter my emotional state.

Peace peace peace. Yummy peace.

Lazy Transformation aka the Road to Less Stress & More Joy

2011-03-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

Since beautiful Tara commented on the last post because she resonated with what the Shadow Process with Debbie Ford gave me this weekend, I wanted to post an amazing offer that one of Debbie Ford's coaches has for everyone.

First, I highly recommend reading Debbie's books. If you are going through a divorce, I have heard over and over for many years about her book "The Spiritual Divorce." And if you are interested in the shadow process she has a few amazing books, including "The Shadow Effect" which just came out. But you'll see...just check out her website: debbieford.com.

And, if you find you resonate with the work and want to delve in deeper, I highly recommend the Shadow Process Workshop. Find one, do one, be free!

And.....if you can't get to the Workshop and/or you want to make a leap into the work sooner and get your life jump-started, my amazing brilliant friend Fran Fusco is now an Integrative Coach for Debbie Ford. Ever since I met Fran in 1985, I have said she is one of the most compassionate people I have ever met. She is extraordinarily brilliant with a huge open heart --- a combo you don't often find in people. She is rare and is an extraordinary coach. She is offering one free session of coaching to show you what the coaching process can offer people and introduce them to the work. Here is a link to her bio and contact info: http://www.thefordinstitute.com/Fran_Fusco_s/325.htm

And, if you are outside the U.S., there are coaches all around the world!!!! From Dubai to Denmark to the Dominican Republic!!!

Happy Lazy Transformation to All!

So Lazy I Followed the Speed Limit and Ate My Words!

2011-02-28T21:27:00.000-08:00

I had the honor and privilege of taking a life-transforming workshop this weekend: The Shadow Process with Debbie Ford. It's a little Landmark (which I have done for several years), a handful of Jungian psychology, and a big fat smidge of spirituality all rolled into one weekend where you literally get to unload years of crap. I can honestly say I look younger today.

We were asked to be in silence for the three days -- no cellphones, no computers, no texting -- and silence when we were not in an exercise where we talked. That means we had silence in every meal. Have you ever eaten with over 120 people in a big ballroom in silence. All you hear is clinking silverware. I wish in retrospect I had taped some of the clinking because it was so cool.

Eating in silence is incredible. I ate a lot slower, as you'd imagine. I enjoyed my food much more, as you'd probably also imagine. And, I just really enjoyed not "eating my words." And that means I didn't eat my emotions either. You know how eating out is such a fun past time with friends -- food, drink, laughter and chatter. And it is literally one of my favorite things to do. I love throwing dinner parties and I love going out with friends too -- in that order. "Breaking bread" is good stuff. But, man, sometimes I end up overeating and eating my words and emotions --- swallowing far more than nutrients.

I loved that this retreat was silent because in most transformational work I've done, during the breaks people let go of all the chatter that's been in their heads during the workshop -- judgments, tales of dis-ease with the process, complaints about how they are feeling or others are making them feel, etc. Instead Debbie asked us to just do our own process and not engage with anyone -- ever! "Free to just be you and me" as Marlo Thomas would say.

I got so many things out of this Workshop but I will say that one of the most extraordinary things is that I feel like I do when I would go to live in the ashram in India for a month of meditation, chanting and seva. I feel so peaceful.

The 24 hours before I left town for a business trip and the retreat I was breaking something every couple hours. I was literally completely off balance. I feel unbelievably balanced, in my skin and at peace. And, here is some proof. I live in a tiny town that has no stop lights, only stop signs. It's a sleepy little town. And, the speed limit through most of town is equally sleepy. My entire time living here I don't think I have ever followed the 25 mph speed limit in town. I found it unbearable, stupid, and truly unreasonable and unrealistic. Today I followed it, and I was more than happy to follow it and take my sleepy time.

Now, that, my friends, is transformation.

Lazy Transformation

2011-02-23T22:27:00.000-08:00

I am very excited. The Shadow Process Workshop with Debbie Ford starts on Friday. And, you know how it is with these things, once you register you have started. So, this has been working on me since December, flipping life upside down and inside out.

I can't wait...Many stories to come next week.

I'm also STEEPED in listening to Marianne Williamson's "A Course in Weight Loss" which I have running in the car, which is just fertilizing the ground.

The most inspiring thought of the day was that our parents are "containers" of our emotions when we are children, and if they didn't model how to "contain" our own emotions, then we have trouble doing that when we grow up.

I can't believe that this simple thought was so eye opening for me. I still to this day of my 48th year bristle when I have uncomfortable feelings. I feel like I can't contain them actually....still! Shocking! I'm looking forward to the challenge of containing them ....all by my lonesome.

Marianne talks about her teenage daughter losing a friend who very tragically committed suicide, and she said "Sometimes the worst possible thing you can actually think of ...happens." And, she gave her daughter all the permission in the world to fully experience her grief, and gave her the power to contain these emotions, i.e., let them just flow through her.

This is a key to weight loss for me. When I get stressed I want sugar and/or salt. I need to just be stressed...or sad or angry and contain these feelings with no judgment, and no need to push them down with food.

Here's to Lazy Transformation, i.e., with the support and love of the likes of Marianne Williamson and Debbie Ford.

Weight Loss Inspiration: Trina Turk Dress

2011-02-19T11:48:00.000-08:00

[Post-posting edit...just made this up...Treatspiration...when it's a treat that not only rewards you but also inspires you to lose more. Treatspiration = Trina Turk in this scenario! LOL!]

I think it was the first week of this losing-my-grieving-my-father-passing-weight-gain weight loss journey that I found myself at Nordstrom Rack in front of the most incredibly cute Trina Turk dress. And, not being able to pass up a deal, I sneaked a peek at the price tag and was jaw-droppingly shocked that it read $19.97. What?

Then I checked out the size -- size 4. Now at that moment I was a 10. But, I looked at the dress and decided that it was actually much more like a 6 for most other lines of clothing. A 6 is what I will be at my goal weight.

It has a zipper on the side. So, I put it on over my head and pulled it down over my body. I didn't expect the zipper to close at that moment, but I wanted to see how far away I was from closing it. Pretty far that first day.

But, each week I try it on -- even the weeks where the scale isn't matching up what I see are major changes in my body. Like this week the scale only showed a .2 lb. loss but this was a week where my body really shifted and kind of settled into reflecting major changes in my tummy fat particularly. So, I know the .2 isn't real. And the proof was in the Trina Turk!   I am definitely within a few weeks of closing this zipper. My birthday is 3/22 and my goal is to be able to wear it on my birthday.

It looks cuter and cuter on me each week. This week my collar bones are finally visible for instance.  With a nice deep v-neckline that looks a lot nicer than it did 5 weeks ago.

I love trying on the dress every week. I really do. You'd think it might be depressing but it's not at all. It's inspiring.   It was the best $19.97 I ever spent.

Takin' Care o' Business

2011-02-17T00:10:00.000-08:00

The Marianne Williamson book on tape I'm listening to, "A Course in Weight Loss," is really working on me. And, transforming my body is working on me. It's making me want everything to work better. So, I'm starting to make things WORK! Or should I say I am now open to lots of possibilities of things working better. I think some of the pounds coming off were blocks, ounces of barriers...just dropping off.

First opening: I can see! I can see! It's a whole new world having a perfect prescription. I actually thought that I wouldn't be able to get a prescription since the last one was so incredibly off. I feel like I've had a medical miracle. But, what I had was a great optometrist finally! I love him. If you are in LA and looking for a great one -- Dr. Vipapan on Lake Avenue is yo' man!

How did I find him? YELP! Thank you Yelpers for that recommendation.

I also thought it might be impossible to get the haircut that I wanted, but in fact I got better than the haircut I wanted. Her name is Amy Edwards, daughter of the famed stylist Allen Edwards. She works in Beverly Hills and Studio City.

How did I find her? My friend Liz who literally time after time has had the most artistic haircuts. Each time I see her it's something different and each time I think "Now THAT is my favorite haircut!"...Truly Amy is an artist. She works with your face shape, coloring, best features, worst features, etc. and makes your hair just lift it all up and make you as purdy as possible.

So, I am continuing to be open to possibilities, and letting the barriers continue to fall, fall, fall...

Lazy Weight Loss = Body + Mind + Spirit

2011-02-15T18:58:00.000-08:00

Put on running shorts that previously used to always hike up on me and be annoying. Why? Because they were actually too small. I was in denial. Oy denial and the body, an endless story!

But now they fit, because my legs are slimmer AND my stomach is flatter. And, I just realized it's really because of this full court press I'm doing -- unintentionally it all just fell into place that I am dealing with the body, mind and spirit of my weight loss.

Was it UNintentional though? Not really. I went to a Debbie Ford/James Van Praagh workshop on December 4th, came home and printed up two beautifully laid out, colorful affirmations up: "Abundance flows into my life in surprising and miraculous ways every day" (Thank you Debbie Ford for giving us those exact amazing words!) and "I love loving my body" to which my boyfriend handwrote "Me too! Me too!" in pen. My ex ALWAYS told me how much he loved my body -- no matter what it looked like! How lucky was I?

I digress. I put up the affirmations and then three things came into my life: 1) Two friends reinspired me to join Weight Watchers which had worked marvelously for me in the past, 2) I came upon Marianne Williamson's book "Course in Weight Loss" with the supporitng book on CD and meditation tapes...I actually didn't crack the book, I just have been listening to it in the car (I'm on my second round), and 3) My accupuncturist mentioned for the second time her research on High Intensity Interval Training (aka "HIIT"). It is no mistake that these things came into my life, but I just got today that they are dealing with every level of weight loss I need.

I'm super impressed with all of them but today I'm geting an extra kick out of HIIT because I really see that my legs and stomach are visibly slimming -- faster than with normal Weight Watchers weight loss.

Intentions are very powerful and VERY LAZY! Use them, abuse them. Debbie Ford suggests you put the ones you need most across from the toilet -- that's where my body love one is. So you see it repeatedly. My other one is in the window across from my bed so I see it every time I look up. I made it very pretty too so it would pleasing to look at.

Lazily yours, a little less of me...

Lazy Lovin' on Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T22:19:00.000-08:00

One of the most valuable things I got out of doing the Landmark Forum many years ago (thanks to Beanie!) was the idea of creating possibilities. I do it now on a daily basis, and actually have a call each weekday morning with a few other people where we create possibilities for our day and set up a few intentions.

Today, I created the possibility of being LOVE because today was the day we delivered scarves to the City of Hope. I started The Love Scarf Project (see lovescarf.blogspot.com) several years ago and today was Love Scarf Project 2011 Valentine's Day delivery to patients of all ages, shapes, sizes, backgrounds, religions. We hand out handmade scarves, hats (and a few booties too!) to the patients so that they can be reminded that they are very loved even when they are alone.

Everyone's hearts were so full of love. My pilates teacher, Melanie came to help deliver -- and later her daughter, Riley, came too. The second woman above is Carrie, who is responsible for 100's of scarves being knitted over the years, for a project starting in Salt Lake City and Chicago, and for helping the NY Love Scarf Project. And the couple on the right are Perry and Nancy. Nancy knitted FORTY FOUR -- yes that is forty plus four -- scarves!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were escorted around by the two head nurses of the floors we visited and a with a wonderful Recreation Director, Edwin, who just made the adventure even more love-filled.

The patients -- even the most exhausted and weary -- were so grateful it was breathtaking. We just wanted to shower THEM with love and yet so much love came back to us -- even as, in some cases, they struggled to just keep their energy up enough to receive us.

It really puts everything in perspective. It's just all about love isn't it. What else matters? Nada. Zip.

It's always a great reminder - if you aren't getting what you need, give it -- whatever it is that you are complaining about not having or not getting enough of....take a moment, and give it out and you will see it come right back to you. It's the laziest way of all to get exactly what you want..and need.

Happy Lazy Valentine's Day to all.

Celebrating Weight Loss = Spa Day for the Lazy Woman!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

Most important thing for me: celebrating the losses. I'm about halfway to my goal of 17 pounds, and it's Valentine's Day time and I wanted to give myself some extra love too.

My favorite regular LA Spa, i.e., it doesn't break the bank every time you go is Olympic Spa: http://www.olympicspala.com/.

For just literally $15 you can soak in the tubs, steam, sauna to your heart's content -- literally for hours upon hours!

I get the $70 combo of scrub + massage. You get scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed so all the dead skin layers are gone, gone, gone, and then they massage you with oil, honey and milk (yes real honest to god honey and they finish the treatment with warm milk all over your body). They also put grated fresh cucumber all over your face while they massage your scalp, shampoo and condition your hair. It is as luxurious as it sounds.

If you want a little added luxury and about 20 minutes more treatment with Bumble & Bumble products you can go up to $100 or $120. I do those every once in a while too, but honestly for $70 you get a lot of luxury. The treatment is an hour long and very nurturing and refreshing.

And, before the treatment I soaked in the hot Mugworts Tea Bath, in the icy cold tub, sat in the Oxygen Stone + Jade Walled Steamroom, and the Himalayan Salt Sauna...and then I took a luxurious nap for about 45 minutes on the warm jade floor -- yes, very warm jade floor. They give you pillows and blankets. There is nothing like napping on a very warm floor.

Everyone is naked at the spa. You actually aren't allowed to enter any of the baths with a bathing suit. So you get to celebrate ALL the different shapes and sizes, and take a moment to just love your own body, love your body moving in and out of the water, steaming it, taking care of it, nurturing all of you, inside and out.

I thanked my body for working so hard, asked for forgiveness for overeating in the past, and for all my negative thoughts -- like it was a bad friend. In fact, my body has been my loyal friend, giving me very little grief. It wasn't doing anything to me. I was doing something to it.

If you are losing weight, definitely check out Marianne WIlliamson's "A Course in Weight Loss." I am really getting a whole new relationship with my body and food out of this course. Thank you Genius Marianne!

Loving you, loving my body, loving losing, and loving CELEBRATING the loss!

It Takes a Village to Lose A Pound

2011-02-12T00:35:00.000-08:00

Ten days after break up it's clear that the ex is doing some serious soul searching and is on the brink of some possible huge transformation. Don't know how this will all pan out, only know that we started talking about potentially seeing each other. Within a couple hours of this talk I decided I needed popcorn. My favorite these days has been Orville Redenbacher's Salt + Pepper. It is divine and couples nicely with light beer. But, this mini-"meal" = 8 points.

So, I thought I'd do air-popped popcorn with a couple teaspoons of melted butter and salt. Yummy.

But I haven't used my air popper in a while so I ended up with a huuuuuuge bowl of popcorn. I didn't go so far as to it eat it all, but I will say I ate more than I normally would and I saw it was definitely unequivocally emotional eating. I watched myself doing it, was conscious of what was really going on, and took myself to the bathroom where I made myself take a hot bath instead. I still ate more than I should have, but at least I got it together, and identified the real issue.

Next time, I am committed to cutting off the emotional eating faster. And, the time after that even faster. Pretty amazing that this was the first time in 5 weeks that I've had an emotional eating outburst.

I think this is in large part due to Marianne WIlliamson's book on tape that I've been listening to....and the meditation keeping me centered. It takes a village. It takes a full court press -- spirit, mind and body -- to lose weight.

Thank you Marianne Williamson for being part of my village.

Lazy Woman Loses Weight But Remains Foodie

2011-02-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

I've lost 8.4 pounds in 5 weeks. That's a good, healthy pace. But, the most important thing to me is I have not forfeited one iota of my foodie-ness.

The amazing thing about Weight Watchers is that you can literally fit any craving into your plan. My favorite sandwich on the planet right now is LA restaurant, Mendocino Farms' Veggie BLT Melt. It has veggie bacon, jalapeno cheese, crunchy organic arugula, tomatoes..all on crunchy toasty chewy yummy sourdough bread. What does it cost me in Weight Watchers points? 15 points out of the 29 I'm allotted each day. Everyone also gets 49 extra weekly points to use over the course of a week. But, the bottom line is that I can work my way around the plan to fit every single thing that I want to eat into my plan and still lose weight. I've been to two of my favorite restaurants a few times over the weeks and I still lost weight. It can all be fit in.

So, for those of you who are NOT trying to lose weight, you can still find yummy food ideas here. Also, even though I mention Trader Joe's a lot, I promise there is an equivalent in everyone's grocery store or health food store, so if something strike's your fancy, you can google it, i.e., Trader Joe's Creamy Goat Cheese and see the nutritional counts, etc. Everything you can find at TJ's is somewhere on the net.

This morning I was craving something cheesy and fruity and crunchy, so I toasted up a Josef's Sprouted Wheat Bagel and slathered the TJ's Creamy Goat Cheese on it and then added the Organic Superfruit Spread (preserves).

Those Superfruit preserves are incredible. It has Morello Cherry, Red Grape, Blueberry and Pomegranate. I really don't like sweet jams so this is the perfect balance of sweet and tart for me, and you get nice bites of whole or nearly whole berries too. Combined with that goat cheese...Oh My God!

How many points for this #WWgasm (foodie orgasm for she who is on Weight Watchers) = 11. But, for me it is absolutely totally worth the 11 points AND it will keep me filled up for a good long while today.

Buon WWappetito!

Lazy Transformation Amidst Emotional Chaos

2011-02-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

If you didn't read "The Celestine Prophesy" in the early 90's when it came out, you probably heard about it. It was on th NY Times Bestseller list for quite a long time, and it was transforming lives left and right. It changed my own. I was reading it while on vacation in Venezuela. It was going to be my last vacation in a long time as I was about to start -- from the ground up -- the first drive though cappuccino place in Los Angeles. Starbucks, I learned from an insider, had it in their 5 Year Plan so they weren't even on my heals, and I had raised the $400,000 it would take to get it going. It was an exciting time.

We arrived home from vacation around 1 a.m. Four hours later the Northridge earthquake hit and the two houses across the street from us went down the hill, so the neighborhood gathered together to save, support and comfort. It was a life-altering event and, in fact, it became crystal clear to me that I didn't want to be working with hot coffee, food service employees, etc. I think reading the book combined with such a dramatic thing as being situated at the end of a fault line (confirmed by geological maps a few weeks after the earthquake) made me wake up and truly pay attention to the synchronicities in my life. And, the magic ensued!

I'm pleased to say I pay attention to synchronicities to this day but it is second nature now. Every once in a while though you have a series of dramatic synchronicities that are beyond your imagination. One was that I met James and Salle Redfield -- for a second time -- at an event I produced in 2006 and we realized we had something in common -- they had a Coton de Tulear dog who they wanted to possibly mate and I had a Coton de Tulear girl dog who I was dying to mate so I could have another girl puppy. Our "families" have been intertwined since.

And, I've been reading his books ever since -- including his latest "The Twelfth Insight" which I read over the evenings of last Thursday, Friday and Saturday -- during the culmination of the Egyptian conflict. Outrageously, the book also culminates in the midst of a strife in Egypt. And, equally stunning, the book mentions the exact strife that occurred in our country after the Giffords shooting. Talk about synchronicity!

But, on a personal level, I gained many things from this book. First, I take a couple minutes each day to simply send love to Egypt. They need so much, but I think we can all agree that sending love their way cannot hurt. "The Twelfth Insight" shows how love, that purest, highest, ego-less love, that comes from us here on this planet, as well as from the "other side" is healing beyond our wildest dreams, has power beyond our knowledge, and that we are vastly under-using our love everywhere in our lives.

The book also had me become clear upon reading one pivotal page that it was as if my dad (who died 10/10/09) were sitting next to me saying "Put down the book and talk to me!" There is wonderful guidance in the book about listening to the wisdom of our friends and family who have passed before us. I did put the book down and did listen to him, and I found that it created an opening for action with my break-up. That opening has lead to a ray of hope, a light that my ex has stepped into with great courage, embarking on a brave, brave journey that may lead to our getting back together. I have no idea how things will end up, but the opening I found would not have been possible had I not read this book.

Not every book is for every person, but I am profoundly grateful to have read this one.

It also, synchronistically, lead me to read about this blog: samonearth.blogspot.com which I highly recommend for real time, real life account from the ground in Egypt from an American living there currently.

In the midst of chaos finding whatever peace you can find is good, but tapping into love in all its many manifestations is supremely healing.

Grateful am I.

With love....

samonearth.blogspot.com

Lazy Healthy Eating Amidst Lazy Grief

2011-02-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

Really what I want to do is escape from the world right now. I just broke up with my great love, and it is a sad, sad, sad time. So, I took mostly to my bed for a few days, but realized it's time to start stepping outside.

You can tell I'm depressed when you see I'm not eating. I always eat. I love food, as you know. So, for me not to eat, you know I am hurting. Today I knew I had to eat something with protein and goodness.

The deliciousness above is fit for a good WWgasm -- only 7 Weight Watchers points for a lot of flavor and bang for the point buck.

Two slices of Sprouted RYE Bread -- toasted

Creamy Goat Cheese -- about an ounce -- This one is from Trader Joe's, of course

Sliced Olives -- the equivalent of about 5 olives

Baby Heirloom Tomatoes -- several sliced

A sprinkling of Pink Himalayan Salt...but any salt and/or pepper will do.

I made myself take it out to the sun to eat and photograph. We may be the only sliver of the country that isn't dealing with ice, snow, or rain. I acknowledge everyone dealing with the inclement weather. I wish you warmth in your cozy homes.

With love in my heart,

lazily yours,

bridget

Trader Joe's Tuesday -- Instant Hot out of the Oven Chocolate Brownies!

2011-02-01T08:21:00.000-08:00

Please forgive me for not taking pictures of the pre-baking and post-baking! But, the item you are looking for at Trader Joe's is the Gluten Free Brownie Mix. It comes in a brown bag with orange writing on it. You only have to add an oil, water and an egg or two.

I had left my 8" square pans at my boyfriends so I baked them in muffin tins and they were so cute!

The key is taking them out soon enough. They still look pretty "wet" when they are done, so pay attention to the timer.

They are so fudgey and so good for you. And if you are on Weight Watchers they are only TWO -- yes TWO -- points. It's a lot of yummy -- HEALTHY -- goodness with very little effort!

Buon Choco-appetito!

Lazy Cold Cure

2011-01-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

I think everyone on the planet knows someone who has had this nasty cold/flu that is going around -- the one that threatens to -- or indeed does --- worm its way from head to chest, and makes people miserable for weeks on end.

Well, I am surrounded by people who have been sick over the last three months. It's been hopping around from body to body, friend to friend, and I've almost caught it twice. Yes two times I have narrowly escaped its clutches. Each time at the onset of symptoms I have started taking this herb that my accupuncturist gave me a few months ago -- Astra Isatis: http://www.holisticchineseherbs.com/healthconcerns/astraisatis.html. I take a few tablets every few hours and within 24 hours each time I am symptom free. This time I was out of town so I didn't start taking the remedy until I was about 24 hours in but it worked again! I am almost symptom free about 30 hours after starting it.

Not every remedy works for every body, but whenever I find something like this I like to share it because most of us can't afford to get sick -- there's too much life, too much fun to miss if we get sick, right?!!!

On the other hand, one very Lazy thing I do to stay well and avoid flu seaso is I give myself old movie days in bed. When I know that I am going to get sick just to get some alone bed time, I circumvent the process and give myself the bedtime. These days are priceless because they allow me to hop back into action after the soul and body nurturing is done.

It's important to know what you need to give yourself to avoid having to stop your life by getting sick. A lot of times, we get sick to just stop life. So, what do YOU need to GIVE to yourself, to nurture you, so that you don't have to make your body suffer? It's very Lazy to get a handle on this stuff. But, if you don't catch it in time -- try Asta Isatis!

Happy Healing Lazy Days!

Trader Joe's Tuesdays -- More WWgasms (Weight Watchers Foodie Bliss)

2011-01-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

One of the most delicious, divine, wonderful, amazing things about Weight Watchers is that you can have as much (probably within reason of course! LOL!) fruit as you want!

When I was in my 20's I read a lot about food combining, and was a huge fan of Harvey and Marilyn Diamon'd book "Fit for Life" because it really made me feel so good. I was full of vibrant energy and thin when I followed their plan.  One of the habits I cultivated after reading the book was starting my day with fresh fruit. The book talks about breakfast being literally what it says a breaking of the fast that occurs while you sleep. It says that your body needs things that are easily digestible, like fruits which don't need much help to move their way through your digestive system.

Weight Watchers really doesn't demand me changing much about my eating except remaining accountable for the amounts that I eat when I sit down to eat!  Having the fruit being zero points, i.e., FREE!!!!, is just fabulous.

And, having Trader Joe's makes it so easy. My favorite combo for the morning is watermelon, pineapple and blueberries. Generally all three of these items are in TJ's too. But, Trader Joe's has a plethora of fruits to choose from -- mango, several kinds of apples, at least a couple melon choices, oranges, at least a few berries, etc.

So, do yourself a favor -- even if you are the most perfect weight -- give your body the gift of fruit in the morning, break your fast gently, take in the many vitamins and nutrients...and have a delicious meal! If you need protein in the morning, add yogurt and/or nuts!

And, while you are stocking up, grab a bunch of bananas, peel them, break them in half and throw them in a big baggie, for a sweet frozen treat any time of day or night!

Buon Fresh Appetito!

Laziest Workout in the World! (No Joke, No Hype)

2011-01-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

I have to tell you, my brilliant amazing genius Accupuncturist, Marsha Connor (she cured me of a year long battle with plantar fasciitis in one session!) literally has never let me down with her advice. The last couple of sessions I've had with her she has mentioned INTERVAL TRAINING as an effective, quick weight loss solution.

I heard her but I didn't really listen because:

1. I'm scared of running because I seem to always get injured.
2. I feel like I work out as hard as I can/want/etc. already.
3. I have never "felt" like a sprinter -- like only athletes to that kind of stuff!
4. I thought -- it's not the workout I need to change, it's the food going in!

Well, last week I was on a website that had a link to an interval training sample workout. I clicked on the link and found a super cool 42 minute workout that started at 3.5 speed and went as high up as 7.0. I thought I'd give it a shot, but didn't know if I would succeed. It was incredibly fun!

I've done the workout every day since because it makes me feel so good. Today, though, my calves were so sore -- the soreness didn't start until yesterday, oddly -- that I didn't push myself as hard, and I only had time to do 30 minutes.

But, I'm actually going to be working toward just doing 20 minutes of interval training a day. If you google interval training you'll see that lots of workouts are just for 10 or 20 minutes. Twenty seems to be the average. And this is precisely why my accupuncturist suggested it -- it's a quick way to get powerful results.

I will tell you at 48 years old I have literally never in my life had more dramatic results in a one week span of time. Interval training is touted as a belly fat buster and I can literally see the belly fat melting away -- in a very different way than I have seen in the past. Yes, I'm on Weight Watchers, but healthy weight loss (up to 2 pounds a week) doesn't usually cause dramatic body changes in two weeks. This training HAS.

Listen, you don't have to be super fit to do interval training. I have pretty much always worked out 7 days a week (except when injured or ill) so I am pretty fit. You can start at whatever level you are comfortable. You can start slow and increase gradually as you see where your limits are. The bottom line is you have short periods of working at your maximum capacity (push yourself very hard) and then rest, push-rest, push-rest. It's the least boring workout I've ever had, and I always feel so proud of myself at the end of the workout.

If you want fast results, a fulfilling workout, in a minimal amount of time -- give interval training a shot.

Lazy Weight Loss

2011-01-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

Weight Watchers works! I've lost 4.2 pounds in two weeks and have had many, many WWgasms, i.e., foodie-gasms while on Weight Watchers. I even ate at two of my very favorite restaurants -- Indian and Italian (cornmeal crust pizza oh my god) -- and simply didn't over-eat which is what I tend to do when sitting in front of a lot of amazing food. And, I literally NEVER felt deprived in these two weeks. If I had a craving for something I got it -- either in a less-egregious form or in smaller quantities or just as it always was.

I only just now -- minutes before writing this -- had the first thing I've eaten in these two weeks that didn't truly please my palate. The Weight Watchers Chocolate Caramels -- only two points -- and I bought them because they come in individual cute little packets and are far fewer points than their mainstream candy equivalent, and I thought they might be a good thing to put in my bag or car if I had a burning sweet tooth. But, they have an undercurrent of protein bar flavor. I can't bear that flavor. So, that's a no starter.

But, this is a great reminder of the wonder and magic of Weight Watchers - that I don't have to compromise my foodie palate. I can have a piece of fine dark chocolate or even a tablespoon of yummy chocolate chips. (I love gourmet chocolate chips!) In other words, I'd rather have a small portion of the real thing -- or even a big portion and use my extra Weekly Points -- than not have my foodie WWgasm.

I can be a FOODIE and lose weight on WEIGHT WATCHERS. And, I definitely don't need to give up literally any food on the planet. I just fit it in and make it work.

I hadn't had Spicy Tuna Rolls in a while. I was trying to stay away from tuna for several reasons. And, I only need to eat fish about once a week. But, this morning I knew I had to have TWO spicy tuna rolls for lunch. That's 13 points which is nearly half of my daily points but I can absolutely -- with great ease and LAZINESS -- accomodate that in my day's eating.

For me -- Spicy Tuna Rolls -- give me a major WWgasm with their spiciness, texture, a bit of crunch from cucumber (at the sushi place I go to), creaminess, chewy seaweed and perfectly cooked rice.

I couldn't even finish two rolls even though I wad been ravenously hungry. I took 4 of the 12 pieces home and had them as my afternoon snack.

I don't have a good track record of leaving food on my plate. I rarely leave a morsel on my plate. And, I wasn't even told by my mom as a kid that I needed to clean my plate in honor of the children starving worldwide! I simply have an aversion to wasting yummy food -- as if the trespass of overeating and hurting my body is better for me and the world than throwing away some delicious food.

I am really getting how being overly-full -- being anything other than satiated -- hurts me and my body. Somehow I have equated overly-full with comfort, but it is anything but comfort-able!

People who overeat don't love food more than people who eat to satiation. People who overeat -- WE -- ME included -- love food more than we love our bodies and the pain, dis-comfort, dis-ease, dis-tension, dis-orientation that overeating-food-coma-bloating-craziness causes.

Lazily losing weight is more than adjusting the intake (food) and the outtake (exercise). Lazily losing weight is working through the inner and outer layers of fat-producing thoughts and behaviors.

Putting boundaries on my eating with Weight Watchers is opening up lots of layers. Also, Marianne Williamson's CD "Meditations for Weight Loss" is spectacularly loving and supportive and eye-layer-opening.

Lazily lovingly losing weight...

Bridget

Lazy Baked Treat -- WWgasm #342

2011-01-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

I loooooooooooove to bake, and because I've been baking since I was a little kid none of it seems daunting to me. Some recipes are more complicated than others, of course, but even the most complex baking tasks are fun to me.

I've actually always pooh-pooh'd baking mixes. Never understood why another five minutes wasn't worth it and/or had a major judgment that it would never be as good as the real thing in terms of flavor. But, recently when BBIW (Best Boyfriend in the World) and I were going to Los Olivos to stay in a guest house for the New Year's Weekend, I thought it might be fun to have something hot and freshly baked one cold morning. When I was doing the final Trader Joe's shopping I happened to pass by the mixes and one caught my eye: Triple Berry Bran Muffin Mix. I looked at the ingredients which looked great and then the instructions. I just needed two eggs and one cup of water. I thought "That's worth trying!"

Well, I ended up making a different egg, potato, toast extravaganza on New Year's morning and the mix sat in the cupboard until I thought "Let me check how many POINTS that is on Weight Watchers." Lo and behold it is only THREE -- yes 3 -- that would be one, two, THREE points. So, I made them last night and they are DEEEEEEESCRUMPTIOUS!

They really taste pretty darned homemadey, have a great texture. I had fresh blueberries to throw in but decided to make the first round without to test the mix, but next time I will do blueberries and maybe banana too. But, they are truly fabulous just in their purest form.

BBIW who is definitely NOT on Weight Watchers and usually is not a bran muffin kind o' guy really loved them too! So, it's a win-win-win-low-points-treat!

Buon Bran Appetito!

WWgasm #234 = Rockin' Quesadilla

2011-01-13T18:22:00.000-08:00

I know I've talked about both quesadillas and Mr. George Forman but oh my god I just have to mention them both again.

First, the George Forman Grill is the best LAZY tool for your kitchen for the following reasons:

1. It is FAST -- it heats up fast and works fast -- without overcooking.
2. It takes NO FAT -- you literally put no fat on it!
3. It gives you TEXTURE -- for instance if I want a crunchy quesadilla I leave it on longer ...if I want a warm, soft, gooey one, I take it off sooner.
4. It's SUPER EASY to clean -- super easy to take the grills off, super easy to clean.
5. It's CHEAP -- look around for best deal but it is never going to be an expensive proposition.
6. They come in all SIZES -- Teeny tiny to family size. Name your size, he done got it!!!

LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZY! Super LAZY.

Now, I'm on Weight Watchers, as we all know now and the best thing about WW is it's not a diet. You get to eat anything you want -- WITHIN BOUNDARIES. I need boundaries. If I don't have them I run wild.

The new WW Points Plus System is slightly irritating to me because it's clearly a low carb plan. As a vegetarian, I tend to do a lot of carbs. I'd rather count calories, which always works for me. But, the calories boundary has its own pitfalls -- eating stupid food being the biggest! LOL!

I had a craving for a quesadilla last night, went to Trader Joe's and started calculating the points for my favorite quesadilla ingredients -- Yogurt Jalapeno Cheese, Ezekiel Tortillas and/or Corn Tortillas. The total with one slice of cheese and two corn tortillas was going to be 6 points. So, I started looking around and found a LITE cheese and a LOW CARB tortilla. I brought them home, made a quesadilla and while it was totally fine to eat. It wasn't DELICIOSA which is important. I refuse to eat sub-par food to lose weight. I have to be having WWgasms at every meal.

So, tonight I made the real deal and made my new favorite salad:

A few cups of Lettuce
Pearl Tomatoes (the big deep red ones)
2 tablespoons of Bob's Big Boy Lite Blue Cheese Dressing
4 tablespoons of Salsa (my new favorite is Trader Joe's Serrano Fresh Salsa)

It has the perfect mexican-y salad to go with a quesadilla!

This is one fulfilling WWgasm meal -- at only SEVEN (7) POINTS!

Yeeeehaaaaaw!