South Korea Bound…
Posted: May 22, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Thoughts | Tags: chris freytag, face book, Fitness, food matters, Fruit, Inspiration, Organic, South Korea, strength train, travel, Twisted Twins, vacation, Vegetables 1 Comment »NEWS
Good morning everyone! Just a quick note to inform you that I’m leaving for a 12 day trip to South Korea to visit my daughter (she teaches English there). I won’t be posting during this time unless it’s a quick picture and/or if I come across something I have to share with you. Wish me luck on the 18-hour flight! 
*Today, because I’m in vacation mode, I’m sharing some of my favorite, most informational and inspirational charts/pictures.
FOOD
The chart below is from “Food Matters” and it’s a quick guide to know which vegetables and fruit to buy organic.
BEAUTY
Have you ever wondered how many chemicals you put on your body everyday?
FITNESS
At one time in my life, I thought weight training would make me look bulky but thankfully, I’ve learned otherwise.
Information: Chris Freytag
INSPIRATION
happinessinyourlife.com
BONUS
I just want to take a minute to thank everyone that has signed up to receive updates from the blog my sister and I created www.twistedtwins68.com. Your support means the world to us and per request; we just recently launched a Twisted Twins face-book page. You can find us at http://www.facebook.com/twistedtwins68. There, you can find our blog updates and random tidbits, but don’t forget to click on the LIKE button!
M, see you soon! :)
Avocado’s & Pit’s
Posted: May 20, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Pasta, Potatoes and Quinoa, Thoughts | Tags: Avocado, Basil, garlic cloves, Inspiration, Lemon juice, Olive oil, pepper, Pit Potion, Sea salt 9 Comments »FOOD
One of my Vitamin De face book friends (Kristy), suggested the featured recipe and I’m not even exaggerating when I tell you that it’s delicious!
15 minute Creamy Avocado Pasta
Ingredients
1 medium-sized ripe Avocado, pitted
½ lemon, juiced
2-3 garlic cloves
½ teaspoon sea salt
1-teaspoon basil
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Your choice of pasta
Black pepper to taste
Directions
- Cook pasta according to directions
- Meanwhile, make the sauce by placing the garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil into a food processor. Process until smooth. Now add in the pitted avocado, basil, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy.
- When pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse in a strainer and place pasta into a large bowl. Pour on sauce and toss until fully combined. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.
*Note: This dish not reheat well due to the avocado in the sauce. Please serve immediately.
- Original recipe (and picture) by Angela Liddon. I’ve revised the recipe a little bit.
BEAUTY
If you have tried natural deodorants in the past you know that it’s not easy to find one that really takes the place of your everyday ordinary one’s. I’ve gone through several and finally stumbled across one that works for me. What does it smell like? Nothing. Not even at the end of the day. You stay fresh but it seriously smells like nothing. I can’t explain it. All I know is that when I read the ingredients, I can understand every single one listed and I like that.
Pure unrefined shea butter**, pure unrefined cocoa butter**, corn starch*, baking soda, kaolin clay, rice bran oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba, glycerin, wheat germ oil, rosehip seed oil*, tea tree oil*, 100% organic essential oil blend*, and Vitamin E.
PIT POTION ROCKS! :) http://www.natureofbeauty.com/pit-potion/
INSPIRATION
Crock-pot Quinoa Stew
Posted: May 17, 2012 Filed under: Crock-pot, Thoughts | Tags: Basil, Black Beans, Black pepper, Celery, chili powder, Cumin, Garlic, green pepper, Inspiration, kidney beans, Olive oil, Paprika, Quinoa, Red Pepper, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, Tomato Sauce 4 Comments »FOOD
I love healthy food but I don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen preparing it so when I come across a crock-pot recipe with nutritious ingredients, I get a little excited. :)
*This recipe may look like it has a lot of ingredients but most of its seasonings which makes this dish DELISH!
Quinoa Stew
Ingredients
1-tablespoon olive oil
3-4 garlic cloves, pressed
2 handfuls of chopped up celery
2 handfuls of chopped up mushrooms (any kind is fine)
1 red or green pepper (or half of each), diced
————————————————–
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1-teaspoon cumin powder
1-teaspoon paprika
1-teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon chili powder
1-tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)
Black pepper to taste
————————————————–
½ cup uncooked quinoa
3 cups of water
8 ounce unsalted tomato sauce
1 can (15 ounce) kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can (15 ounce) black beans (drained and rinsed)
Directions
- Sauté garlic, celery, mushrooms and pepper in oil for 10 minutes on medium.
- Add spices, herbs and soy sauce to mixture and stir in for a few minutes.
- Combine water, tomato sauce, quinoa and beans in a large crock-pot.
- Add mixture from step number one. Stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.
*If you like it hotter (sounds a little personal) add more chili powder or red pepper flakes.
This recipe has been revised from original.
INSPIRATION
mom, Mom, MOM!
Posted: May 13, 2012 Filed under: Thoughts | Tags: Beauty & Hygiene, Chocolate, Dark chocolate, Fitness, Inspiration, Mom, Mother's Day, motherhood 2 Comments »I love my Birthday, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Quite uncommon, I know… but I have serious legitimate excuses for enjoying all three of these days. First, being an adoptee, I’m lucky to have been born at all so I celebrate my birthday for at least 7 days each year. It’s a big “whew I made it out alive” celebration. Second, I’m a romantic and who doesn’t love chocolate? Last but not least, I’m lucky to have a mom that gave me everything a child could ask for and I’m also quite proud of the mom I turned out to be. No matter what I do in life, being a mother is my greatest accomplishment. Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
FOOD
Since it is Mother’s Day, I’m giving myself a break from writing and decided to post a delicious chocolate recipe I shared last October. Make it for your mom! :)
http://devitamin.com/2011/10/18/chocolate-turtles/
BEAUTY
It’s Mother’s Day; take your mom to get a mani/pedi or a massage. :)
FITNESS
It’s Mother’s Day; take a nice relaxing walk. :)
INSPIRATION
Below is a post that has been swarming around face-book and I printed it out as a gentle reminder to myself, now that my own mom is getting older.
Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: “My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day… the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you… my darling daughter. “
BONUS
I would like to take a minute to promote a new blog created by my sister and I.
Irish Twins born 353 days apart.
Their biological mother isn’t the only thing they have in common…
Warning: May contain adult content not suitable for children under 18.
Weird Fish Tales
Posted: May 10, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Fish & Seafood, Fitness | Tags: Balsamic vinegar, Coconut oil, Fish & Seafood, Fitness, Flounder, Lemon juice, Olive oil, Oregano, Salmon, Sugar, Trout 4 Comments »FOOD
My dad loves to fish and most likely he’s fishing as I’m writing this article. With that said, I don’t really understand why my first memory of eating fish was at Red Lobster. It must have been a bad year. Anyway, I remember eating fried flounder (luckily, The Little Mermaid wasn’t out back then) there for the first time. As an adult, I’ve ditched the fried part, but I still love flounder. Another fish to try for first time fish eaters is Rainbow trout. Some say salmon (say that 3 times in a row) is a good one for newbie’s and although I love it, I think it may have too strong of a fish taste for those just starting out.
GREEK STYLE FLOUNDER
Ingredients
¼ cup lemon juice
1 ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 ½ teaspoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8-teaspoon black pepper
4 flounder filets
Non-stick cooking spray
Directions: Combine first 6 ingredients. Place fish in a 13x9x2 baking dish coated with cooking spray; pour lemon juice mixture over fish. Bake at 350F for 12 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with fork.
Recipe: www.cdkitchen.com
BEAUTY
My friend Jayme makes her own body scrub and was kind enough to share some with me. (She seriously spoils me.)
One cup Sugar
½ cup Coconut Oil
Mix it up.
How easy is that and all natural! I rate it 5 hearts. Hearts for love, get it?
Although, if you live in the Lakenheath/Mildenhall area (England) and you don’t feel like whipping it up on your own, you could order it from her. See below how pretty she packages them!
JAMS Sweets & Treats (jamssweets@gmail.com)
FITNESS
I honestly would rather practice yoga everyday but my friends (who are personal trainers; you know who you are) continually tell me that I need to strength train. As many times as I’ve tried to be a gym rat, I’m just not comfortable in that environment so I have to rely on my own creativity or just pop in a DVD. Below is one that I’ve been using for a couple of weeks now. It’s a good place to start (hence the name) if you are just beginning to workout, just getting back on your feet from an injury or illness, post-pregnancy or you are just strapped for time. Dumbbells required. I would tell you what weight I use but one of those personal trainers’ above will yell at me to pick up heavier ones and I’m JUST NOT READY YET! :) I love you guys.
INSPIRATION
Belated Mexican Recipe
Posted: May 8, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Fitness, Least Amount of Ingredients Recipes, Mexican Food, My own recipe creations, Thoughts | Tags: Avocado, Cinco de Mayo, clove of garlic, Coconut oil, Fitness, Garlic, guacamole recipe, Inspiration, jump rope, Lime Juice, Mexican Food, Salsa, Teeth 1 Comment »FOOD
I have no idea how I missed Cinco de Mayo. It’s a little embarrassing, one because I love Mexican food and two, because I’m part Hispanic (not in any particular order). I deeply apologize and to make up for it, I’m sharing my quick guacamole recipe. I wish I had exact measurements for you but I don’t. It’s one of those recipes you just have to eye-ball it. That is the weirdest saying. Eye ball it? Really?
Ingredients
2 avocados (scoop out the inside)
Salsa (maybe a cup?)
Limejuice (maybe 2 tablespoons?)
One clove of garlic
Directions
Place all ingredients in a food processor, blender or mash and mix by hand. Mix until smooth.
*Seriously, it seems you can never make enough of this stuff!
BEAUTY
As you know, I’m addicted to coconut oil as a multi-use beauty product. Did you know you can brush your teeth with it? I’m not lying. It’s crazy, but true. Just put it on your toothbrush and get to it. It’s supposedly helps gum sensitivity, heel gums, brightens teeth and is naturally deodorizing. I’m going to try using it for a week straight, but I’m kind of a freak when it comes to my teeth so the minute I feel like it’s not making me feel fresh, I’m bailing out.
FITNESS
Below is a picture of the amount of space (5.5×8.5 feet) I use to workout everyday. Granted I have a treadmill and a jump rope when I feel like branching out a little but you don’t need a lot of space to get in a good workout.
INSPIRATION
The Gentlemen’s Club
Posted: May 5, 2012 Filed under: MEN | Tags: erectile dysfunction, Feet, Fitness, Gentlemen's Club, Guys, libido, Maca, Malcolm Gladwell, Men, military, Pull up, Sleep, Testoserone, The Outliers, Viagra 3 Comments »FOOD (supplement)
Maca is a root vegetable that provides many health benefits (with no known side effects) and is nicknamed “Spanish Viagra” even though it’s not really Viagra. It benefits men and women but today, it’s all about the guys. :)
Benefits
Increase energy
Athletic performance
Promote restful sleep
Reduce stress
Fertility enhancement
Erectile Dysfunction
Hormone balancing
Increased testosterone levels
Treat low libido
Boost immune system
http://shop.myvega.com/sequel-estore-us/MacaSure_2/macasure_organic_gelatanized_maca_120caps_2
*Ladies: If your man already has high testosterone levels and tries Maca, prepare yourself. That’s all I’m saying. 
BEAUTY
I hate feet. I especially despise looking at feet that have crusty dried out heels. So guys, I’m not telling you that you need to spend hours pampering yourself, but you can take a little time to file your feet and lather on some lotion. You can even do it while you are watching the game. Some of you may need a regular old foot file while others will need a chain saw or this…
http://www.amazon.com/Telebrands-Ped-Egg-for-Men/dp/B001BHAFCY
FITNESS
I don’t claim to be a fitness expert; I leave that up to the professionals but I can tell you what works for my family and me. I have three main men in my life, my father, my husband and my son. Two out of three tend to be drawn to the contraption below. All three served in the United States military and two of them are currently active duty, which is most likely why they insist on using this thing. I’ll be honest; I hang from it every morning (Once, I broke my thumb doing it. True story.) Why you ask? Well, I hit 5’7 in 8th grade and by the time I turned 35, I was 5’6. So according to my calculations, I shrunk one inch in 21 years and by the time I’m 98, I will only be 5’3. I don’t want to have to buy all new pants.
INSPIRATION
“A man does what he must — in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers, and pressures — and that is the basis of all human morality”. -JFK
BONUS
My husband cannot stop talking about the book “The Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell.
“In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of “outliers”–the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.”-amazon.com
You can learn more about the author at http://www.gladwell.com/outliers/index.html
Have a GREAT weekend guys!
Crock-Pot Stock and Edible Flowers
Posted: May 1, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Crock-pot, Fitness, Thoughts | Tags: Beauty & Hygiene, Edible flower arrangements, Fitness, Foam roller, Friends, lip repair, Lips, Vegetable broth, Vegetables, veggie stock 4 Comments »FOOD
By now you probably know that I’m a big fan of quick easy meals with the least amount of ingredients. I also like to take as many short cuts as possible in the kitchen and while grocery shopping and still stay true to my healthy lifestyle. With that said, when my friend Wendy e-mailed me a recipe for homemade vegetable stock, I was a little hesitant at first even though I’ve been skeptical of store-bought broth. Then I noticed the words “slow cooker” and instantly jumped on board. Below is the exact message she sent me.
I came across an easy recipe for homemade veggie stock. You make it using your own left over and older veggies. Just keep the parts of veggies that you don’t use while cooking (i.e. first layer of onion, ends of carrots and celery, cucumber peels, ends of lettuce, etc.) Keep a large freeze bag and just put all the scraps in the bag. When the bag is full, put them in your slow cooker and cover with water. Cook for 8 or more hours. Strain well. Done. I just did this and got about 8 cups of veggie stock to use for other recipes. It smelled so good; we almost ate it like a soup!
I started “collecting” my left over veggies on Sunday, so hopefully this coming weekend; I’ll be able to try it. Thanks, Wendy! :)
BEAUTY
Aquaphor Lip Repair is rated (goodguide.com) 7.5 (out of 10) overall and a 10 for health, which means this product doesn’t have any ingredients that raise health concerns. I’ve been using this for a couple of years now and wear it almost daily. Have you ever noticed that some lip balms actually make your lips drier? Not this one. Aquaphor keeps your lips kissable.
FITNESS
Have you ever tried using a foam roller? http://www.amazon.com/Foam-Roller-6-x-36/dp/B000Y4W9VA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1335812083&sr=8-5
A foam roller is a long cylinder made of foam that is usually three feet long and six inches in diameter. Your body weight is used to provide pressure when lying or sitting on the foam roller. Rolling your muscles along the foam roller help break up adhesions that form on your muscles, much like a massage would typically do. The foam roller, which is ideal for using on hard to reach areas, provides more relief and benefits than simple static stretching might. –livestrong.com
When I injured my hip (IT band) one of the personal trainers at the base gym recommended I use one and it became a lifesaver. Here are a few examples of how you can use a foam roller.
http://www.shape.com/fitness/foam-roller-release
INSPIRATION
My friend Jayme (see more about her below) bought me this awesome plaque. I have it hanging in my kitchen and it seriously puts a smile on my face every time I walk in there. It’s nice to have friends that accept you for exactly who you are. I’m fortunate enough to have more than a few of these friends and hopefully, you do to.
BONUS
If you live in the Mildenhall/Lakenheath (England) area, JAMS Sweets & Treats (Jayme) makes beautiful edible flower arrangements, cookies, cupcakes, breads, pretzels, donuts, whoopi pies and is available for party planning and decorating. She is so creative, talented and all her work is done to perfection. For more information you can contact her at: jamssweets@gmail.com
