Recipes

Appetizers, casseroles, and delicious desserts all your guests will enjoy.

Party Themes

Looking to invite your friends over for a night of fun, these themed parties will entertain them till the party is over.

Traditions

Creative ideas for instilling your children with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Design

Looking to redecorate or need some inspiration. These are my favorite looks.

Gifts from the heart

Nothing is more personal than when you make a gift and share it with your loved ones. Here are some creative ideas.

Look for love

My thoughts on love and why you should always look for it. You never know when or where it will show up.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Fitness - Just Own It

My computer broke so I had no other choice than to create a new habit.  I started cleaning out areas of my home and office that I haven't dealt with in over five years (cupboards, filing cabinets, storage baskets.) I was shocked to see all the fitness items I have purchased and NEVER used.
This provided me the inspiration for September....to get fit using all the stuff I've ever been sold.  The challenge, use one thing everyday for 30days straight. 
My diet will remain the same, which is eat anything - but just control portions (serving size) and stay around 1300 calories/day. So this means NO SECONDS, NO GRAZING, and NO LATE NIGHT SNACKS.

On the first day headed to my Boogie Box Class I started to dread this challenge.  (Notice it is only day 1)  I thought of Nike's slogan JUST DO IT...so I did.  I felt great when I was done.  Then I got home and found some peanut MnM's in our candy dish. I thought of Nike's slogan again and realized if I would JUST DO IT then at least two handfuls of MnM's would have been in my belly.  
Hence this proposition: Nike changes their famous slogan to JUST OWN IT. 

Just think about how powerful JUST OWN IT is.  You are accepting responsibility for all your choices in YOUR life - Fitness, finances, food, family relationships, friendships, and failures.  (Funny those words all start with F's.)

Here's how I see it:

Fitness - Every fit person I know works for it...they follow a routine and stick to it.  They OWN their body and how it will look.

Finances - This is big one for every individual...don't spend more than you bring in or OWN - don't borrow.  The JUST OWN IT mentality would improve our accountability issues in government and the mismanagement of corporations.  

Food - You are what you eat and if you eat it, then JUST OWN IT. Do a work out or watch your next meal.  

Family Relationships - We can't choose our family but we can control how we interact with them.  If you have upset a family member than JUST OWN IT and move on.  Don't do the same thing again.

Friendships - It takes two to make a thing go right  - so when you have hurt a friend, spouse, lover, then JUST OWN IT and say sorry.  Instead of wondering what they have done for you lately...do something for them instead.

Failures - Yeah, so you messed up, you didn't finish, you hurt someone, you FAILED.  You are not dead though.  So use your time and JUST OWN IT learning from your mistakes and helping others learn too.

The only time you should NOT JUST OWN IT is when you are using other people's hard work as your own.  That means any pictures, recipes, ideas, etc. that you take off the internet or from anyone's site is illegal.  This is called copyright infringement and is punishable by law and or lawsuit. At least link to them and give them the credit they OWN.

I will be tweeting my routine and progress everyday on twitter.  Become a Fan which inspires me to keep it up. 

Monday, August 29, 2011

Spinach - Egg Noodle Casserole (inspired by Rachel Ray)

 
This dish was inspired by Rachel Ray's Spinach and Egg Casserole. What's the difference?  I just used nonfat milk instead of whole milk, Jack Cheese instead of Gruyere, and Japanese Panko instead of whole wheat.  Oh yeah,  and 5 cloves of garlic! I'm not sure what Rachel Ray's dish tastes like but this imitation is fabulous.  Add diced chicken to it or serve it as a side dish to any meal. The best part is -  if you get in the habit of making a casserole every Monday night, you won't have to cook the next day.

Here are 30 casseroles to make for dinner, dessert, or simply as side dishes. 

What's your favorite casserole to make for dinner?