Tennis Elbow Anyone? - Miracle Cure Thera-Band Flexbar

Earlier today, I ripped the pillow case off a pillow.  Why is that shocking?  Because it didn't hurt.  I've been battling tennis elbow for several weeks now.  The only thing that was causing me any relief was taking days off.  But, it was effecting how I was playing, and believe me, I'm not good enough to have a handicap! It was also effecting how I moved about in the world, and what I grabbed for, reached for, etc.  I've even been using my left arm a lot more as a painless alternative, and I'm right-handed.

A Facebook friend, who also happens to be one of my high school mentors, suggested the Thera-Band FlexBar, saying that it cured his tennis elbow almost immediately. Other friends piped in that it was, in fact a miracle cure.  I googled it: same reports.

When I tell you how quickly this worked, you will understand the level of miraculousness.  I received my Thera-Band Flexbar YESTERDAY!  I did the exercise a few times last night. Usually, in the night I tweak my elbow in such a way that it gets a little angry.  Not once last night!

And, I have been tentative with my right arm since the injury started.  I don't jerk things toward me.  I definitely don't go ripping pillow cases off of pillows.  I did it unconsciously this morning, and for a split second I thought "Oh my God that was stupid! That's going to hurt!"  And, it didn't!  

If you know people who play golf, or kayak, or do any other sport where the elbow can get tweaked, pass this on!

I got mine on Amazon -- The red one was perfect for me:
http://www.amazon.com/TheraBand-Y0A2THBFLXRL-Thera-band%C2%AE-FlexBar%C2%AE-Red/dp/B00067E4YU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342992614&sr=8-1&keywords=flexbar+theraband

Making Babies the Lazy Way -- Cactus Style

In honor of the ultrasound I had today, I thought we should talk baby talk. 

You, dear reader, may be aware of this, but most of my visitors, aka friends, don't know  how incredibly easy it is to create little cactus worlds out of the cactus you already have. 

Cactus are constantly having babies.  They must be very busy at night when we aren't looking.

This is how easy it is to create your own little cactus world.  Take a baby off of a burgeoning cactus plant you have, like this one. 

You can literally just snap off one of the flowers and stick it in the soil.  It doesn't even have to be special soil.  Any soil is perfect for these babies.  I remember hearing years ago that it had to be a special cactus starter, or some such un-lazy crap.  So, I didn't try it until I moved into this house, where there are wildly prolific cactus that were just begging me to try to plant them elsewhere.  The first ones took to their new environment immediately.

This is how I used my favorite bowl from Deruta that I held in my lap on the way home from Italy 10 years ago like it was my new baby, speaking of babies.  It got a crack in it so it is now a lovely planter.  Ever single cactus in her was a cutting from another plant.

Yes, even those Kalanchoe plants that you can always find at Trader Joe's, your local grocery store or nursery.   You just snip off a branch and stick it in the soil.  Done!

These started as little tiny babies because I wanted to highlight the cool pots.  Now the pots are nearly obscured because they grew so fast.  They aren't unhappy but I'll be moving them soon.

Happy Lazy Summer Gardening to you!

A NY-LA Simultaneous Taste Test: Chocolate, Almonds & Pears, Oh My!

My dearest oldest friend Beanie and I are dark chocolate fiends.   We were buoyed in our fiendish daily fix of a bit o' dark chocolate by a doctor Beanie turned me onto who told us that our Type A blood, supported our addiction.  A little dark chocolate every day is actually good for us!  So there!

In March, when we were traveling in St. Maarten, we stopped at a roadside store for water.  I hopped out, ran in and saw a big display of chocolates.  I found the darkest of chocolates I could find, with the fanciest, prettiest labels in the hopes they would meet our standards.  They were hideous, but we ate them anyway -  for our health, of course.

We both always have an eagle eye out for the newest dark chocolate creations.  Last week I ran into Whole Foods for five seconds to grab two things and this unbelievable creation screamed for me to stop and look it in the eye.  Are you kidding me?

DARK CHOCOLATE

and

PEAR

and

ALMONDS????

Too much bliss.  And, FYI, all of these are good for our Type A blood health.  Beanie and I happen to both be almond and almond butter fiends as well.  And, we both love a good pear, Beanie having perhaps more of a pronounced appreciation for all things pear (including Juicy Pear Jelly Bellies), me with a more limited love of the good juicy ones in the Fall (if their skin isn't too woodsy for me), but still an appreciation for all things pear including the perfectly colored Jelly Belly.

As I exited Whole Foods, I texted Beanie (too late to call her in NYC) and told her to run to Whole Foods and pick one up so that we could both taste it at the same time.  Horror of horrors: her local WF was sold out!  Finally, days later, she located a bar at the Columbus Circle Whole Foods.  And, we have just now completed the simultaneous taste test:  she in NYC and me in LA.

Beanie put on her headset so as to not encumber her hands in the unveiling.  Great idea. I ran and got mine too.  We discussed the best way to open it and agreed to follow the instructions and pulled the "OPEN HERE" tab.  It didn't help much.  As Beanie said "You still need to crane your fingers under to get it out!"   So, unless you are having a simultaneous taste test, there is no need to go to such lengths as following packaging directions.  Simply rip it open as quickly as possible.

A few hilarious frustrating moments later, we were both delicately pulling back the thin foil sleeve to unveil the darkest of chocolates.  Beanie took a square off first and due to the extreme NY heat it instantly started melting on her fingers, at which point she started to lick them.  A cheat of course, which I ignored for fear that she would actually tell me what it was like.  Quickly I grabbed a square and counted aloud to three and we both bit into the square. 

We
were
NOT
disappointed.

Rich.  Crunch. Waft of pear.  The almonds are sliced and toasty, layered on top of each other. You breathe in pear...as it little fairies are spraying the "Aroma of Pear" onto your back delicate tastebuds...a perfume of pear dusting your mouth as the deep velvet chocolate swirls and the almonds crunch with delight.

It's a Chocolate Almond Pear Party for your mouth.  Get one.  Soon.  Your mouth and soul will love it.

Buon Chocolate Appetito to all!

Best Lazy Healthy Spicy Summer Slaw Ever!

I will admit it.  I have been brainstorming about all the wonderful things I can do with my new Trader Joe's find...the Yogurt Cilantro Chive Dip. 

I used it a couple days ago spread on the bread for my Mahi Mahi Burger.  I stand by that yumminess.  It has a little bit of a kick to it that makes the fish just jump off your tastebuds into a sea of flavor bliss.

Today, though, while in Bar Method class, I was appropriately hungry, it being 12:00 and all I'd had was a protein shake...so, when my hot dog craving came on, my mind wandered.  I'm a pescatarian so I haven't had a real hot dog since I was probably 19, BUT I love me a grilled Veggie Dog.

Contemplating my "dog" made me remember my stepmom, Patsy. It was her birthday two days ago so she has been on my lovin' mind.   Before she came into my life, I always just had my hot dogs with mustard, maybe a little pickle or relish sometimes.   Well, she turned me onto tastebud bliss when she showed me how to lob on a few spoonfuls of cole slaw.  YUMMALICIOUS!

This slaw is PERFECT on a dog.  But, it would also be perfect in a fish taco.  Tortilla, cut up the Mahi Mahi Burger, add slaw and voila FIsh Taco Extraordinaire.  Seriously, perfection for a Fish Taco.

I took half a panini, toasted it, slathered on mustard and then added my grilled veggie dog and slaw! 

Spicy Healthy Summer Cole Slaw

2 Packages of Trader Joe's Cole Slaw

1 carton of the Trader Joe's Cilantro Chive Yogurt Dip

1/4 cup (or to taste) of Salsa (your choice of spiciness -- mine had good kick)
Some splashes of Red Wine Vinegar -- to taste

1 package of fresh chives -- chopped up
A little salt

Mix it all up and add it to all your grillin' summer fun!

Buon Summer Appetito!

Best Lazy Lunch in 5 Minutes Ever! - Another Trader Joe's Lazy Home Run!!!!

Where have I been?  I missed two new products at Trader Joe's.  I am mostly vegetarian, but when my body isn't at top energy, sometimes I crave fish.  Today, I had a hankering for he who comes from the sea....And lookie, lookie what i found!

These Trader Joe's Mahi Mahi Burgers in the frozen food section are not like most frozen fish burgers.  They are JUICY and not fishy either.  YUM.  And, this Cilantro Chive Yogurt Dip is the perfect thing to slather on a toasted Rustic Roll.

I really wanted to check out the flavors of these two new discoveries so I kept it nice and simple, so I only added lettuce for a little crunch to the above three ingredients.  In the future, I'll add other stuff, like maybe coleslaw one day, tomatoes another, pickles..etc.  Please your palate with whatever you wish.  But, I highly recommend this stripped down version.

1.  Throw the frozen Mahi Mahi Burger on the George Forman Grill.
2.  Cut the Rustic Roll in half and throw it in the toaster.  I highly recommend these rolls or any roll that has sourdough in it.  Sourdough is perfect balance for the fish.
3.  Make yourself a refreshing drink, and grab lettuce (and/or whatever else you wish to accompany your sandwich out of the fridge).  Practically by the time you are done, you will have a toasted bun and the burger will be done.
4.  Slather some Yogurt Dip on either side of the bun. Throw on lettuce and the sizzling burger. 

Have a napkin ready because the burger is good and juicy!

Buon Lazy Livin' Appetito!



Happy Father's Day Dad -- Pie LOVE!

My dad's favorite pie was Strawberry Rhubarb.  He always had rhubarb growing in his backyard.  In Alaska, due to the short season, but long sunny days, the were big and gorgeous, vibrant beautiful red. 

I was so excited when I found out that my friend Bob wanted Strawberry Rhubarb Pie as his birthday "cake."  He also wanted Key Lime Pie, which my dad also loved, so the couple of days that I was working on these were filled with thoughts of my dad...so I made these pies with so much love.  Not only do I adore the birthday boy, but thinking about my dad through the whole process made it even all the more love-filled.

At one point, while the pies were in the oven, I took a quick break to walk the dogs

and I was in a moment of deep thought about my dad and how I feel still connected to him, perhaps even more so since he passed away because I feel he is always there.  In real life I don't even remember a time I couldn't reach him.  He was ALWAYS there for my calls, but somehow it's different now.  I feel like he's not far away in Alaska.  He is right by my side.   

Having these thoughts up came a beautiful butterfly. It looks like a white monarch.  It was huge and gorgeous and it came up to almost touching my face and then circles me as we walked several times.  Literally circling me!    Magic.  Dad magic on Father's Day.

Here are the unbelievably perfect magical recipes I used from the best food blog ever -- Smitten Kitchen.  I always go to her site to see what she does when I'm searching for recipes, because she is always experimenting and working on making the recipes better and better all the time.  Deb, the Queen and Creator of Smitten Kitchen is really diligent AND inspired....and fun!  These two recipes are literally perfection:

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie -- http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/06/strawberry-rhubarb-pie-improved/

Key Lime Tart -- http://smittenkitchen.com/2006/09/in-praise-of-the-pocket-sized/

I used to make pies and tarts for restaurants in New York when I was in acting school in the 80's, and the crust recipes I used were either exactly what she uses or incredibly similar.  You want to read her recipes word for word, becuase she gives fantastic tips. 

For instance, with the crust for the Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie, which was DIVINE, with the exception of my user-error.  I worked the trim crust a little too much so it was tougher than I would have liked.  But, the rest of the crust was perfect.

And, I had to bake the pies twice because they weren't done in 50 minutes, and I had to go to my Bar Method Class I had to come back an bake them more.  I've never had to do that before -- hilarious, but thank God it worked!

Also, FYI, I cut up the rhubarb and strawberries the night before I baked them, when I did the crusts.  I just kept them overnight in sugar to preserve them, because I knew I wouldn't have time to do that work in the morning, and they didn't get too sweet.  Worked out fine, even though it was a gamble.



The Key Lime Tart was awesome too. I couldn't find my mini tartlet pans so I just did regular tarts.  Also, I added fresh whipped cream and berries on top as decoration, and to cut the richness.  The tart shell and filling are really rich and wonderful, but I think the whipped cream and berries really added a little lightness to the recipe.

If you are wondering what the heck is in the middle of the tart -- it's a little branch from my blueberry push. It looked better in real life than it does here.  Also, I decorated one tart for Birthday Boy Bob, but this one was in honor of all our dads.  We lit candles and made a little wish for our dads, whether they were there or not.

So, you can never go wrong with Smitten Kitchen.  Check Deb out...you will love her blog and her recipes!

Happy Lazy Summer Bakin' to All!

Compassion -- It's the Lazy Thing to Do

Compassion is not my forte, and therefore God is being super good to me by showering me with lessons re: compassion.

A couple days ago I was listening to a recording of the workshop "To Love and Be Loved" by the brilliant Stephen Levine and his wife Ondrea.  You too can get the recording at soundstrue.com!  I highly recommend it. 

He made a most hilarious and moving comment when he was speaking about what a hard time we have with our emotions, and that generally we don't have compassion for our own emotions or other people's.  He said we would probably all be far better equipped "If we had 'Compassion' class in third grade..." 

It's so true.  It's hard to be with someone else's sadness or anger.  I want to make it better or fight against it.  And, I am even less compassionate with my own sadness, anger, frustration, impatience, etc. 

Mark Nepo's entry for today, May 22 says:  "[C]ompassion asks that we open like mountains to the sky, like mountains that can withstand every kind of weather."

That is an image I will cling to in the future, like a vine I can use to swing through a jungle of emotions.

We can withstand any kind of emotional weather.  We do it consistently.  Life deals us funky emotional weather all the time -- even here in sunny LA. 

I loved Robert Thurman's book "Circling the Sacred Mountain."  I'm going to try to imagine the mighty Mount Kailash weathering the constantly changing weather tides the next time I am flipping out about my emotions or someone else's.  

It's a new muscle, the Compassion muscle, nestled deep in the heart.  Thank God I have masters like Mark Nepo and Stephen Levine to remind me of the need to work it out to stay emotionally fit, and just be a good citizen of the planet!

Heavenly Weight Watcher Friendly Deliciousness

Hardly any points.

Hardly a way to not be in heaven while eating.

Hardly any reason on Planet Earth to not try...unless you hate peanut butter, bananas or the amazing Dark Chocolate Crisps from Trader Joe's.

By the way, many other companies are starting to do these Dark Chocolate Crisps...they are shaped like Pringles and have great quality chocolate PLUS a little crispy factor, i.e., rice crispy-ish thing throughout.  OMG!

For this I used two broken up Crisps and 1.5 teaspoons of peanut butter. 


12 crisps = 6 points
6 crisps = 3 points
3 crisps = 1 point -- ONE!

So, this whole amazingly delicious treat is TWO POINTS!

For those of you not watching your points or weight, well, have a few!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

Buon Lazy Chocolatey Appetito!

Lazy Prevention

The recurring theme of the week is a phrase I have heard in about 15 different instance -- mostly in conversations, some from TV, some from books.  The phrase is:

It'll catch up with you.

I have a girlfriend who just turned 51 who has never worked out.  The most she has done is take walks around her neighborhood.  Her husband works out like a fiend, always has, and is drop dead gorgeous.  He also looks far, far younger than his years.  He has been encouraging his wife for years to join him in his workouts, go for even longer walks with him, meditate with him every morning, try taking the supplements he's taking, eat healthier like he was, etc.  She didn't want to be told what to do. 

I understand.  I know some things are very difficult to hear from our loved ones.  So, I'm here to say it as a complete stranger and/or slightly familiar blogger:  IT WILL CATCH UP WITH YOU!

My girlfriend's body was not exhibiting the wear and tear she was putting on it until the last couple of years.  Then, it hit her like a Mack truck.   It caught up with her.  Now she is asking for my advice on exercise and meditation.  I have been doing both of these, like her husband, since I was a teenager, so it's just a very natural part of my life.  I feel for her that she is now trying to create new habits. 

If you are in her boat, though, you can do it too. New habits can be created.  It can be done.  You just have to find the workouts that turn you on, the meditation techniques that speak to you and transform your state of mind.  We all have a different key to unlocking our peaceful and passionate selves.  Look for your key.  It will come.  Then give your word to yourself -- or perhaps even to someone else --- that you will stick with it, even for a certain time period.  Then you can reassess at the end of that time period.

Because, if you don't....

My other friend is over 300 pounds.  Her husband was around 400.  They have both been this heavy for many, many years.  The husband had a major cardiac event which lead them to discover that his previously "healthy" heart is not in congestive heart failure.  Yes, doctors were telling him his heart was healthy for many years and then BAM, he hasn't been the same since.  The bottom line all the years of being extremely overweight caught up with him.  It caught up with him, and they are both in disbelief that his body finally gave out.

So, what am I personally looking at?  My misuse of sugar.  Sugar is so hard on our bodies, hard on many of our systems, organs, moods, brains, etc.   I have had more than my lifetime share of sugar, and I need to pull it way back.

Becauase, if I don't....it will catch up with me.

Yesterday, I found out a friend I had been trying to support in quitting smoking for years, now has mouth and throat cancer.  His entire life, apparently, he was very cavalier in his attitude about smoking saying that he loved it and he was fine.  And, for many years he was absolutely fine.  But, it caught up with him.

Please, before it hits you like a Mack truck, take an inventory of what you've been setting aside doing for your body to ease the load. 

Our bodies are so generous.  They give and give and give and give.  At some point if you don't give back and support all that allows them to give, they break.  It's just a matter of wear and tire, like your car.  If your car has no oil, the engine breaks.

Please take care.... a little Lazy Lovin' of your body can go a long way toward prevention.

Lovingly, Lazily yours,
Bridget

Vim and Vinegar --- Lazy Woman Tool!

One of my grandma's cleaning secrets was cleaning her beautiful hardwood floors with Vinegar + Water.  Yep, that's it.  She told me after I asked her what she used to keep them so incredibly beautiful and shiny.  They were always gorgeous.   I tried it a few times, loved it, but somehow fell out of the habit.

Well, yesterday I learned a tip that vinegar and water softens the skin on your feet, so I was soaking my feet in the magical softening elixir.  It really does work!  While remarking how incredible it was, I knocked a little onto the wood floor.  I thought, "My God, Grandma!!!  I'm so sorry I forgot!"  I got up and washed the entire floor and boy does it look gorgeous.

What else does vinegar do?  Well about a year ago I had a manicure.  I'm a pedicure girl, but rarely get manicures, because I'm not really a girl to that level!  In this manicure, I apparently got a nail fungus on my several fingers.  I've been trying to get rid of it with home remedies, and it is almost gone, but I wanted to get rid of it completely.  Well, soaking in vinegar my fingers in vinegar just a couple times a day even has improved it in just two days. 

I noticed when I was soaking my hands in it that the new sterling silver ring I got at an estate sale this morning was getting clean!  So, I plopped it in the vinegar and it is now gorgeous! 

My dad was the master of home cures having grown up in a little farm town.  Vinegar is great for soothing sunburns, and he would have me drink vinegar when I had a cold.  He had other uses for it that I can't remember, but check out this awesome website for more tips:  http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/

Vinegar is certainly a Lazy Woman tool that will now be a staple in my cupboards!

Spring Purple Madness

What could be better than waking up to brand new beautiful Jacaranda blossoms that made their way to open under the moon's shine?   This called for a purple celebration. 

My brilliant accupuncturist, Marsha Cooooooooooooooooooooooonnor (that's how I say her name, to which she replies Bridget Fooooooooooooooooooonger), turned me onto a wonderful new whey powder.  She says the purist whey is coming from New Zealand.  Her whey powder of choice is Xymogen Fit Food Light Whey.  Her fave flavor is chocolate so I trusted her and oh my god it's really dark chocolate rich goodness.  I add a frozen banana and mixed frozen berries.  It comes out the beautiful purple tone you see below.

Then, because I was hungry and had a several hour stretch to get through, I made the Trader Joe's Steel Cut 5 Minute Oatmeal with about a cup of blueberries.  Check out the purple-osity. 

This was the most yummalicious, healthalicious, Lazy breakfast ever. 

Happy Purple Spring.  It's raining Jacaranda blossoms in honor of Prince.



Lazy Reset Button -- UPDATE

The Divine Accupuncturist Marsha Connor shared with me some corrections.  When I didn't remember EXACTLY what she had told me I had done some online research to fill in the holes, but here is the correct way to do this:

1. Lightly pinch all 5 fingers together
2. Point to a) THIRD EYE, b) ADAM'S APPLE, c) JAW LINE and d) TEMPLE

This particular method has a source: "The Healing Code" by Alex Loyd.

And, while I found it labeled as resetting the limbic system.  He calls it a technique to reset the Autonomic Nervous System. 

So, now you have more reasons to try it again!!!

Happy peaceful LAZY resetting to you!

Lazy Reset Button

My genius acupuncturist, Marsha Connor, shared a most divine trick with me last Monday.  I've been doing this technique since last Monday and I have to tell you it has been most amazing.

I now crave doing it, because of how it makes me feel.  It is instantly calming.  I also use it to clear my head before I do something important.    I have no perimenopausal symptoms, leveled out emotions, and overall peace.

What does it do?  It resets the limbic system.  I suggest you Google it.  I'm not going to go into the physiology of this system, and I would never be able to guess how this simple technique resets this very complex system, but it has really worked for me.

Dr. Connor recommends doing this technique twice a day.   Here's what you do:

On each hand, take your thumb and pinch together with your first two fingers (like you are pinching some salt). You are going to keep them like this the whole time.   You are going to go to four different points for about 30 seconds each (Dr. Connor does 4 breaths) with your fingers grouped like this.  I pretend I'm a superhero and I am shooting healing energy from my fingers, so that I keep them pointed in the right direction.  Here's where you will point.

1.  Together, point them toward your throat.

2.  Separate them and point each to either side of your jaw line.

3.  Still separate, move one up to each temple.

4.  Back together, move up to your third eye.

Then repeat the process, starting with your throat and moving back up:  throat, jaw, temples, and third eye.  Dr. Connor recommends doing it for 6 minutes twice a day, for a total of 12 minutes a day.  

My favorite thing is to do it during my bath.  I also do it before I go to sleep.  But, it feels great wherever or whenever i do it.  Dr. Connor says she does it when she wakes up and before she goes to sleep.  I love to do it before sleep, but I usually don't take the time in the morning.  What a great way to start the day, though.  Need to work it into my morning!  

Until then, though, this technique is having a wonderful, grounding, peaceful effect on my life. 

To me it's Lazy...hopefully it will be to you as well.  

Potato Chips of the Sea

Two things I crave fairly regularly are potato chips and french fries.  I seem to always get into elevators after someone has just exited with a bag of french fries, leaving morsels of their lunch wafting around my head.  That makes me NEED to have french fries.  

What I do to cure that craving is make baked fries:

Preheat the oven at 450.  Slice up a potato in whatever french fry shape you wish.  Toss with one or two teaspoons of olive oil.  Salt and/or season as you wish.  In about 30 minutes you will have brilliant "french fries."  (Weight Watchers peeps -- this is only 5 or 6 points depending on how large the potato and how much oil you choose to use. I only use 1 teaspoon myself.)

And, now my substitute for potato chips that I am certain you will not believe.   But for Weight Watchers people, this is worth trying, I promise, because one package is only ONE POINT.  Yes, folks ONE.

They have crunch, they have that little bit of greasiness -- not in the bad icky way, in the good, "make you feel like you are doing something bad" way.  And, my god seaweed is so good for you!  Try them.  Even if you are someone who doesn't like seaweed or greens of any kind.  I challenge you: try it.  You are very likely to love it!

Buon Seaweed Appetito!

Sunday Yum Brunch: Peanut Butter Banana HEALTHY Pancakes

On Weight Watchers, I'm constantly making decisions about where I spend my "points" aka "calories."  It turns out that, for instance, one tablespoon of any oil is 3 points -- and so is a tablespoon of peanut butter.  One tablespoon of oil is a lot of oil, but it's really not a lot of peanut butter, eh?!


So, when I started to whip up some of my fave (when I don't have time for scratch and man, oh, many really almost as good as from scratch) Trader Joe's Multigrain Pancake mix, I  realized i could fulfill my current peanut butter craving.  


I halve the recipe, which means -- 1 cup mix, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 egg...and today, instead of oil, 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter.  I like to chop up banana or green apple in them ...today was Peanut Butter & Banana day, so I used 1/2 banana.  I decided it might be yummy to do honey instead of maple syrup....it was.


I took a plate and drizzled it like this and then popped it in the microwave for 15 seconds.

By the time I was done with that, the pancake was ready to flip! 

Yummalicious with just the right amount of peanut butter and banana, still maintaining the great multigrain texture.


Buon Breakfast Appetito to all!

Skinny Skinny! Bang Bang!

I am back on track with losing weight again.  Finally!


So, I'm back on track with sharing Trader Joe's gems that have a lot of bang for their calorie and taste buck.  The two I've been using a lot in the last few weeks are:

Dark Toasted Sesame Oil -- It's with all the other oils.  But, it's genius because it adds so much flavor with just the tiniest drizzle.  It is so flavorful -- it's incredible!  I use it for salads, rice -- everything.  I have been craving Asian flavors.  Seriously, I usually use 1/4 teaspoon...it's that heavy and flavorful that that is all you need!


Tilapia -- It's in the frozen fish section these days, and it is clearly flash frozen because when you thaw it out it doesn't smell or taste at all fishy.  I throw it in the fridge and let it thaw overnight.  Then, I throw in a baking dish and bake at 450 for 30 minutes:


1.  Take all three filets in package and one package of mushrooms and put them in the dish.
2.  Drizzle with rice vinegar, soy sauce, and just about 1/2 teaspoon of Dark Toasted Sesame Oil.  Seriously, that is the most you need.  
3.  Toss it all gently together.
4.  Bake for 30 minutes.
5.  Take out and toss with fresh chopped chives. 
6.  Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.  (These you can't get at TJ's yet...)


For Weight Watchers peeps, each filet is only 4 or 5 points.  The sesame oil is not even a point because it's less than 1/2 teaspoon.  One teaspoon of sesame seeds is only one point. 


I usually serve this over salad tossed with the same mixture as above, which tastes completely different when not heated, and 1/2 to 1 cup of rice, depending how hungry I am and how much fish I'm having.  Yummalicious!


Buon Skinny Appetito!

Lazy Doggie Owner Alert: Tis Bee Season!

My precious little Lucy stepped on a bee today -- or at least that is our best guess.  I was working outside and the girls were laying on the lawn near me, getting up from time to time to sniff a bit here and there.

I noticed her sit down quickly and start gnawing on her paw.  I assumed it was a bee and looked immediately for a stinger.  I didn't find one.  I looked for the Pet Emergency Care card.  Apparently, I moved the card from its normal several-year-long spot to some place more clever -- wherever that might be!  I know it has bee stings on it!  So, I called the vet and they told me to bring her in immediately.  

They gave her a shot of benadryl and put some Lanacane on the paw.  But, now I know what to have on hand! The vet recommends StingEze and 25 mg of Benedryl (Lucy is 14 lbs.)  

At one point Lucy started shaking a lot, so I was concerned, but apparently that was just a pain response.   The vet told me that the main concern is their heart rate.  But, if they had asked me about her heart rate, I would have said it was racing!  So, go figure, but the Benadryl probably would have calmed her pretty quickly.

My first instinct was to put cold water on it.  That apparently was a good instinct.  Ice is good for short periods too.  I was just assuming she wouldn't let me do that, but you gotta do what you gotta do to make them feel better!

Springtime in New York

Are you going to New York?


Are you thinking of going to New York?


Go read this: http://www.themortonreport.com/home-away/travel/springtime-in-new-york/

Rumi Speaks to Procrastinators

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

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