Entre Nous.

I Sweat Glitter

The Color Run has been on my "must do" list for the last several years. Unfortunately though the closest venue has been Seattle (90 minutes away from the island on which I reside), and it always seems to fall on my Birthday weekend (not ideal). So the stars never seemed to align for me to get my Color Run on. 2015 must be my year for crossing items off the must do list; because not only has the Color Run also morphed into the Shine Tour (did someone say glitter?!), but it's also taking place practically in my back yard. The date is also pretty ideal, a weekend in August.

So it looks as though the training is about to commence. I have a goal to strive towards, which is always helpful on the motivation front. And the end result of said training, is that I'm covered head to toe in colorful glitter. A win-win.

The only other run I've participated in was the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure about 5 years ago. Now even though that was a nobler run, I certainly wasn't as motivated to run the entire time. It was more of a walk/jog affair.

I'm throwing this out there in this public forum, that by August I plan to at least jog the entire 5k. Oh the pressure.

Dial a Cliche

This latest take on "sh*t ________ say" is beyond brilliant! I think it's all the more hysterical due to the fact that I'm about to become a January cliche myself tomorrow. I'm tackling a one day juice cleanse.

I've done my share of cleanses over the years. The longest I've gone without solid food (intentionally) was a whopping (not really) three days. I've done the master cleanse more times than I can count and BluePrint Cleanse three or four times. BluePrint is superb, it's also unfortunately super pricey. I've always managed to snag their cleanses when they're offering a too good to be true discount.

This go round I picked up a couple of BluePrint and Evolution juices at Whole Foods. Unfortunately BluePrint juices are still on the pricey side, even when purchased individually at WF. Evolution juices are less pricey (say the equivalent of a tall flavored latte at Starbucks), but they also don't taste as palatable as BluePrint.

Obviously depending on where you live you'll have more access to purchasing individual juices rather that committing to the three day+ regime.

One helpful tip I took away from BluePrints suggestions is to chew your juice. It oddly does produce the sensation of consuming solids.

Anyone else juicing this month?

#EARLYBIRD

The change in seasons always brings on reflection along with feelings of a clean slate or fresh start. With this weekend being just the "unofficial" end of summer, I still officially have a few more weeks to check a few things off the summer to do list. Though soon I'll be attempting to tackle some subtle changes.

This year I'm all about getting more focused and productive in both health and career. Getting up earlier seems like it will be beneficial for both. Here's to starting sloooowly though.

Now you know

On the Get Crafty website they have a running thread on their message board called "Things I Wish I Had Known 10 Years Ago".  As I read through the advice I thought most of it was so pertinent to where I am currently in life.  So I decided to slim down the list a bit and now share with you my favorite 67 "Things I Wish I Had Known 10 Years Ago".

 

1. Always wash your face every night and apply moisturizer and eye cream. 2. Invest in your 401K at work. 3. If you have a dream job in mind, begin to work towards it now. 4. Keep a journal or blog. 5. It is important to schedule vacation time. 6. Keep learning. Read the newspaper, read non-fiction, take classes, attend lectures, ask questions, and travel. 7. Keep up with technology. Learn how to use the popular programs and some of the more obscure ones, depending on your interests. 8. Pay off your debt. 9. Try to always have a "get out of Dodge" fund. Save first months rent, last and deposit for an apartment and enough to live off of for as many months as you can squirrel away. 10. Take extremely good care of your back and teeth. 11. Wear sunscreen daily, even on your hands. 12. Live within your means. 13. Stay in touch with friends and family. 14. Take vitamins daily. 15. Pay off your credit card every month. 16. Take compliments gracefully. 17. Volunteer your time and talents. 18. Floss daily. 19. Wait until the other person is done talking to speak. 20. Give donations to your favorite charity. 21. Keep a spending diary. 22. Buy a house as soon as you can. 23. Send people surprise packages. 24. Drink 64 oz. of water a day. 25. Start therapy. 26. Laugh and be silly often. 27. Learn something new every year. 28. Get a passport as soon as you can. 29. Always have some savings set aside for emergencies. 30. Read anything and everything. 31. Have creative hobbies. 32. Get a pet. 33. Get over-educated. 34. Have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. 35. Travel alone. 36. Buy your own tools and know how to use them. 37. Ask for help. 38. Invest early and often. 39. Learn other languages. 40. Spend time out of doors daily. 41. Don't preset requirements for the people you can be friends with. Befriend people of a variety of ages and with a variety of interests. 42. Improve your posture. 43. Learn how to cook one thing really well. 44. When depressed, go for a long run/jog/bike/walk/swim, and then come back inside and have a long hard sob in the shower and go to bed early. In the morning you'll feel better, even if the situation itself isn't exactly better. 45. Avoid people who are rude or condescending to service and wait people. It implies either a superiority complex or a lack of respect for hard work. 46. Tell everyone that you love that you love them on a regular basis. 47. Exercise everyday, even if it is walking from the back of the parking lot. 48. Wear a nude color bra under a white shirt. 49. Bare your soul to your dogs and cats. 50. Make and keep friends of all ages. You will learn so much from older and younger people. 51. Hold the door open for other people. 52. Order a glass of water with every alcoholic drink. 53. Learn to read maps and follow directions. 54. Treat yourself to expensive haircuts. 55. When you need help, ask for it. 56. Don't be afraid to turn 30. 57. Read everything. Reading fills in the gaps in your life experience, and gives you a wider view of the world. 58. Beauty doesn't last forever, so you need to cultivate your mind. 59. Always have some money that belongs to only you. 60. Don't be so serious. 61. Do what you love. 62. Take care of yourself first. 63. Stay in touch with friends from High School and College. 64. Don't date a man less intelligent than you, or one who does not have an intelligence you appreciate. 65. Trust your instincts. 66. Really listen to people when they are talking to you. 67. Relax and indulge when you can.

[This is a copy of post which originated on November 5, 2006, was republished on January 17, 2011 and is still just as pertinent today.]

Energizer

 

 

For the past few weeks I've been incorporating Jorge Cruise's recipe for what I deem "energy muffins" into my breakfast repertoire. These muffins are designed to provide sustainable energy that lasts through lunch, thanks to coconut oil - a healthy fat that’s good for your brain, fiber-rich flaxseed and egg protein. The brilliance of these muffins is the manner in which you make them.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup ground flax, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp coconut oil 1 egg, 1 packet stevia (makes 1 serving)

Directions: Mix all ingredients together in a mug and microwave for 50 seconds. Allow to cool to a safe temperature.

These muffins are the easiest thing to whip together and are surprising filling. Incorporating dried or fresh fruit into the muffin would be a another way to mix things up if you tire of them in their traditional state. I also substitute a sweetener by Wholesome Sweeteners called Zero, as I prefer the flavor to Stevia.

Enjoy!