Monday, March 15, 2010

Daily Diet:

Breakfast…

  • water, coffee, 2 egg omelette with cheese, tomato and Italian herb bread with butter.

I had a 1/4 of a tomato leftover in the fridge from the other night and decided to add that to my breakfast last minute.  Had I seen it before, it would have chopped up and inside the omelette!  ;)

Lunch…

  • chef salad (lettuce, carrots, ham, turkey, bacon, etc.) and water

In Between PM…

  • coffee and 5 Greek olives before dinner

Dinner…

  • Pommes des Vendangeurs (cheese and bacon potato cake), salad, glass of red wine, slice of Blaine’s Italian herb bread with butter (made fresh), plain yogurt with pineapple chunks and raw sugar sprinkled on top, coffee with cream and water before bed – recipe for the potato cake to follow.

Goals:

At home…

  • Keeping things in order
  • Schooling for the children

At work…

  • A slight shuffle today but nothing major.  I spent most of the day at the Front Desk with some time to get a few other things accomplished – overdue calls/postcards/letters. 

I had a guy point his finger at me and call me girly because I would not let him check out dvds in another person’s name.  I had people looking at me and then him and then back at me to see what I would do or say.  I simply ignored the bad behavior.  I won’t go into all he said but glad to know we have cameras all around the library now. 

Personal…

  • Posture, posture, posture!  Have you ever noticed your posture?  When you sit down do you slump over your desk?  When you are in photographs, are your shoulders back or hunched forward?  This week, I will be focusing on sitting up straight, lifting my chin up a bit, standing/walking correctly, etc.  What got me on this kick is when I started back to my floor routines in exercising.  It is easy to forget about your form when you start to get fatigued and the old aerobics instructor in me kept reminding myself to keep everything lined up.

Today’s Outfit:

Black cami (Target)

Multi-colored blouse (thrift)

Belt (thrift)

Plum (lined) skirt (thrift)

Black shoes

Turquoise/silver drop earrings, silver necklace, silver charm bracelet, silver/gold watch and a spritz of perfume!

Conclusion:

I went to the grocery store today. 

It is getting harder and harder to find quality foods anymore at the grocery store.  Most of it has been altered or modified.  I went to pick up yogurt and all of it has either aspartame or nutra sweet in it.  Bleck!  I finally chose one that was a plain yogurt (no problem – I can add my own fruit thank you very much) but it was low fat.  There was the Danon vanilla yogurt but it had sugar snuck in there.  Sheesh!  I will have to go back to making my own again.  I try try try not to pick foods that are low fat – no flavor, not satisfying and won’t keep me from getting hungry an hour or so later.  Very key in my diet and, as with everything, in moderation.

I also tried to pick up some frozen fish fillets.  Since when did they start adding HFCS to fish?!  You have got to be kidding me?!!

Uggh!

What did I pick up at the grocery store that was good?

  • Wheat bread (w/o the c-r-a-p additives)
  • Greek olives in red wine vinegar, olives & sea salt – imagine that!
  • Tuna fish in water
  • Corn chips
  • Tomato sauce with no sugar or additives
  • Plum tomatoes, carrots, celery broccoli & lettuce
  • almonds, peanuts, etc. to snack on at work
  • apples, oranges, bananas, pineapples
  • chicken thighs
  • brown rice
  • bacon (locally grown)
  • cottage cheese & plain yogurt
  • turkey slices (no additives – supposedly)

Now, to take the above (along with what I have in the pantry) and make some healthy meals this week.

xo Cat

[Via http://catherinestaat.wordpress.com]

118 lbs. later…

Last summer, I decided it was time to get my weight under control for the first time since my early twenties, so on July 15, I went to my family doctor for a consultation. Of course, he told everything I already knew, but needed to hear: fewer calories, healthier food choices, and exercise–essentially, take in less than you’re putting out. We decided on a caloric intake that would be conducive to weight loss and set up a weight-check schedule for me to follow. Then, I went down the hall to the hospital’s fitness center and stepped up my exercise program, which had been hit-or-miss over the past couple of years.

I began by walking two miles a day on a treadmill, using the various weight machines, and cutting my calories to 1500 per day; soon the weight started coming off. I felt energized, and my walking increased to three miles a day and my weightlifting continued. By Labor Day, I was down 40 lbs. and walking at least three miles a day. When my wife and I returned from a fall break trip to visit family in and around Strasbourg, France, I’d lost 50 lbs. and had missed only one day of walking since July 15.

As of today, I’ve officially met my weight-loss goal, and I’m running three or four miles a every day and lifting weights six days a week (concentrating on different areas on alternating days). I’m officially in maintenance-mode, and I’m enjoying my forties more than ever.

[Via http://mou101.wordpress.com]

Sweet J Family . Birmingham Children’s Photographer

Meet the J family.  They have the BEST tree house.

The last of Birmingham’s snow makes for sibling fun.

Sometimes Moms do let their four-year-olds jump on the bed!

I love little girls who love books!

And I love these matching pj shots… so sweet!

[Via http://kristenstewartphotography.wordpress.com]

Alvin and Brittany ft. The Chipmunks and The Chipettes-I Wanna Know You – Rock Music Video

Alvin and Brittany ft. The Chipmunks and The Chipettes-I Wanna Know You – Rock Music Video

MissChipmunks2009 youtube

Video with song love for the Chipmunks and Chipettes relationsship. Alvin and Brittany have a hate/love relationship, but in verity, they’re really in love. Simon and Jeanette have a shy relationship, but they’re too in love. And Theodore and Eleanor have a great relationship. Everyone know this words =) But i hope you love my new video!

MissChipmunks2009
Production
All Rights Reserved

[Via http://theideagirlsays.wordpress.com]

Apollo 3 – (Halb) Neues Album “2010″

Die 3 Mitglieder der “Boyband” Apollo 3

Die Tage ist ein neues Album der Jungs von “Apollo 3” mit dem Titel “2010” auf den Markt gekommen. Der musikalische Stil ist nach wie vor im (soften) Rock-Genre einzuordnen. Zum Inhalt beziehungsweise einer Klangbeschreibung des Sounds von “Apollo 3“: Etwas härtere Gitarrenriffs und ein fetziges Schlagzeug vermischen sich mit poppigen Synthie-Klängen, das Tempo der Songs ist abwechslungsreich. Untermalt wird das Ganze von der Stimme des Frontsängers Henry. Die Songtexte beschäftigen sich mit den Problemen beziehungsweise Freuden von Kindern. Siehe dazu auch mein erster Beitrag zum Thema… !

Das “Problem” bleibt natürlich nach wie vor bestehen, fängt man überhaupt eine Diskussion über eine Band wie “Apollo 3” an. Schließlich gibt es eine Hauptzielgruppe, der es relativ egal ist wie die Musik klingt, wie der Inhalt der Texte aussieht oder ob das ganze marketingtechnisch in bestimmte Richtungen geht. Diese Zielgruppe ist natürlich auch der größte Motor in Sachen Verkauf von Cd’s und Merchandisingartikeln. Das darf ja auch so sein ! Aber bitte, bitte: nicht übertreiben, liebe Mädels ! ;-)

Alle anderen, die sich mit solchen Band auseinandersetzen, gelten oft als “nicht ganz normal”, denn soetwas “hört ja kein Erwachsener”. Und schon gar kein Mann. Ich mach es mal wie immer, und stelle mich dagegen. Was nicht heisst, dass ich zwangsläufig ein “Fan” der Gruppe bin und jedes Album besitze, und zwischen kreischenden Mädels vor der Bühne mitfiebere… ! Keinesfalls. Doch ich bin interessiert in Sachen Musik, und höre dementsprechend auch mal dem “Nachwuchs” zu. Und das kann sich ja auch durchaus lohnen, linst man mal erneut auf die Jungs von “Tokio Hotel“, die es ziehmlich weit gebracht haben. Und da gilt es ja bereits auch schon gar nicht mehr als “so uncool”, ein Album der Band zu besitzen… und ich weiss (aus Erfahrung), wieviele Erwachsene ebenfalls diese Musik hören !

Aber zurück zum neuen Album von “Apollo 3“. Und räusper, wie ist denn bitte die Überschrift gemeint… ? Nun ja, das neue Album der Jungmusiker ist (leider) einer etwas fragwürdigen Marketingaktion zum Opfer gefallen. Man nehme: ein altes Album, und möbele es ein wenig auf um es als komplett neues zu verkaufen. Gut gut, ich halte mich ja schon zurück, ganz so drastisch ist es nicht. Immerhin gibt es 5 neue Songs, die sich recht nett anhören. Wie wäre es denn zum Beispiel mit einer Kostprobe des Songs “Unverwundbar” ? Ich muss sagen, dieser gefällt mir recht gut.

Ach ja, das Album ist käuflich erwerben auf Aamzon.de, einfach auf das Bild klicken. Man mache sich selbst ein Bild von der Band und den neues Songs.

Und in Sachen Kommentare… jaja, man lästere ruhig über mich und mein musikalisches Interesse (sofern nötig)… ;-)

Andere Kommentare, die von mir nicht so gerne gesehen sind, werden wohl auch wieder kommen – ich nehme es gelassen. Doch vorab erneut der Hinweis: “Apollo 3” lesen hier wohl nicht mit. Direkte Anfragen oder Liebesbekundung werden also eventuell nicht ankommen…

MfG,

Ikarus

[Via http://ikarusvpn.wordpress.com]

Gorillaz: Plastic Beach

   

  

The title should be a dead giveaway; yes, there is a point to this album, though it’s not quite as up it’s own arse as you might think. Former Blur frontman Damon Albarn, along with cartoonist and co-founder Jamie Hewett, decided to change the direction of their third Gorillaz album Plastic Beach, after visiting the local tip. “They’ve got snakes, slow worms, toads, frogs, newts, all kinds of rodents, all kinds of squirrels, a massive amount of squirrels, a massive amount of foxes, and obviously, seagulls- this is part of the new ecology, for the first time I saw the world in a new way. I’ve always felt, I’m trying to get across on this new record, the idea that plastic, we see it as being against nature but it’s come out of nature. We didn’t create plastic, nature created plastic. And just seeing the snakes like living in the warmth of decomposing plastic bags. They like it. It was a strange kind of optimism that I felt… but trying to get that into pop music is a challenge, anyway. But important.”  

While Gorillaz back in 2001 and Demon Days in 2005 had distinctly urban sounds to them, Plastic Beach mixes that same grimy attitude with a touch cold, hard, ambient electronica, and the cartoon-life humor of Hewett’s characters. The aesthetic fits perfectly: just as life in general has become ‘pre-packaged’, so to has music, but there’s a bright side to all of this as well. Life goes on, as they say. One thing that hasn’t changed since Demon Days is the amount of talent Albarn and Hewett have managed to recruit for the project.  

We’re eased in with an orchestral introduction, again breaking tradition from the previous two albums; this is something more sophisticated, more avant-garde. At track 2 we’re welcomed to the world of Plastic Beach by none other than Snoop Dogg. Back in 93′, Doggy Style introduced an entire wave of young people to hip hop, and it seems fitting that such an iconic rapper should be holding the front door open (not literally of course- he’s pretty rich these days). It’s almost as if he’s saying goodbye rather than hello; this album represents, I feel, the genre coming full circle. Rap and hip-hop purists would likely shun Plastic as a novelty trip-hop watering down of a genre that prides itself on honesty, but I think it’s a sign of just how much things have matured artistically. It’s gone back to its roots, shunning the very materialism that made hip-hop so popular towards the end of the nineties.  

The record is a myriad of different overlapping influences and thus difficult to place stylistically. Albarn describes it as being the “poppiest album I’ve ever produced” but I’m not completely convinced. While some of that Blur-esque pop-quirkiness certainly peeks through occasionally, this record is for the most part far more abstract than the previous installments. Like a manic-depressive, it varies from moody and ambient to brightly coloured and over-saturated; blurring more traditional hip-hop from the likes of Mos Def with some slightly bizarre vocals from Lou Reed with the mass-produced but catchy sounds of any house anthem; till it all becomes virtually indistinguishable.  

Superfast Jellyfish, featuring pioneers De La Soul, (who previously worked with Albarn on Feel Good Inc.) is an example of this over-saturated wackiness. The group perform a more conventual rap, along with Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals, interwoven with segments of an advert for microwave meals. It’s about the tendency for us to not care what’s in pre-packaged food so long as we get it fast; the sort of everyday mundanity The Beatles used to sing about, made fun and exciting through repetitiveness and outright silliness. This over-enthusiastic but slightly off putting tone gives the song a bittersweet vibe.   

At the opposite end of the scale there’s Empire Ants, a duet between Albarn and vocalist Yukimi Nagano (Little Dragon). It starts slow with some gentle acoustic, a few notes on a chime and soft lyrics from Albarn- compared with the rest of the album it feels very organic, you can pretty much imagine the waves hitting the beach. At the two minute mark the pace suddenly quickens and the catchy retro-synth kicks in, with Nagano taking over on vocals. After all the buildup it’s almost deafening. Yukimi really shines during this part, the poignant, echoing lyrics combining perfectly with her Jazz vocals as part of the song rather than accompanying it. Imagine Bjork at her most entrancing and you’re almost there.  

I think this partiuclar track sums the album up very well; the music takes the centre stage, the lyrics distorted into the syncopated yet catchy dance rhythm until it’s difficult to tell one from the other. And that’s really what Gorillaz was all about in the first place too, the music rather than the musician. While that gimmicky virtual band thing might have worked for the first two albums, Albarn & Co probably realized that much like the ecosystem at the dump: adaption and is the key to survival, and experimentation is a must.  

That’s why I think that this album is likely to divide fans; there isn’t anything in here that’s going be an instant hit the same way Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry or Feel Good inc. was. It’s something you need to sit down and listen to; it needs to be matured for a bit before it’s fully appreciated. The mix of inherently retro sounds with more contemporary ones is sure to either please several audiences or none at all, I can imagine this album holding a degree of long-term critical respect, but not the same commercial success that Demon Days did. Considering the whole thing is about consumerism, it seems ironic that they didn’t go for a more conventional hip-hop, dance or electronica themed album marketed to a particular audience, rather than a more inspired yet far riskier endeavour.

[Via http://poptartmagazine.wordpress.com]

P90X + Fever = Out of commission

I was told by an athletic, workout guru friend that if you start getting sick, do a moderate workout and see how you feel.  If you feel better, then great, you shouldn’t feel bad anymore.  If you feel worse, then you probably shouldn’t work out anymore until you get over it.

So that’s the advice I followed.  The day we enjoyed our “reward”, my nose started feeling a little runny and itchy.  I knew the weather was getting warmer and pollen reeks havoc on my sinuses.  So, I started taking Claritin to knock out the allergies.  So, the next Monday, I continued with my workout schedule and did Core Synergistics (the closest to moderate as you’re going to get in P90X).  Wednesday morning, at 3:33 am, I woke up choking on the stuff that was draining out of my sinuses.  Had to go to CPR/BLS/AED training (a moderate workout) and felt horrible when I got home.

Since then, I’ve had a low grade fever and chasing mucus from my throat to my nose (it can’t decide where it wants to stop).

To get relief I have to medicate, if I medicate, I can’t go out in public – thus, I stay unmedicated so I can go to work.

So, if you’ve missed me, it’s because I’ve missed you and P90X.  But, I’m not going to try again until I fully recover and the fever is gone.  The good news is, following the P90X diet plan has kept me nourished and energized while I’ve felt bad (with a little help from Easter Reese Pieces Eggs – don’t hate!)

[Via http://cyndicated.wordpress.com]

DST + Link Love

Hello loves, how was your weekend? Mine was lazy + fabulous. Except for that stinky time change of course. Meh, don’t like that. I did finally get my curtains hung in my new room so that I can sleep all night though. That was especially nice.

I made it easy on myself this morning and used up the last of my wilted blueberries in a bowl of Barbara’s Shredded Spoonfuls with almond milk.

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I was using soy milk of late because it was on sale, but I picked up almond milk this week. I swear I have used almond milk in my cereal before, but this was disgustingly thick. Has anyone else ever noticed this or did I perhaps get a bad box of almond milk?

Oh well, I ate it anyway.

And two cups of coffee. The large ones. It is now Daylight Savings Time after all and it takes me a week to adjust. Laugh if you want to.

Lunch was so fantastic.

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Sweet potato fries are always fantastic of course.

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But the kicker was this pita sandwich I made.

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A Morningstar Farms burger with spinach and TJ’s triple layer hummus. Don’t judge if I eat this again tomorrow.

I was SO BUSY this afternoon, I barely got a chance to eat this Z-bar on the fly.

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Obviously. I didn’t even move my pen. I love those pens, btw. They always disappear on me too. :( The good ones always do.

After work I hurried home because the ONE good thing about DST [Daylight Savings Time] is that it is light outside until 7:30, so I got in a good run plus a gym session, by RUNNING to my gym, working out and RUNNING back. It felt SO GOOD to run outside again. It was like 64 degrees. PERFECT, PERFECT running weather. I have to be honest, between the HORRID burnout I suffered + my post marathon injury I had let my running slide. A lot. Today was good, because it reminded me why I love to run and why I signed up and ran that marathon. When it’s right, it’s just RIGHT.

Unfortunately, my lack of training means that I probably will not be doing the Charlotte Racefest Half Marathon. I just don’t see myself being ready for it. I am though, going to go for the 10k. I haven’t done that distance before and I think it will be a good race to get me ready for some late spring/summer half marathons.

I was in the mood for PROTEIN for dinner, so I fished [oh this is good…] some tilapia out of the freezer that I bought on sale the other week and pan fried it in some olive oil.

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I paired it with broccoli

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and some grapes that were on their last leg along with some pineapple that I picked up at TJ’s this weekend.

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Looking pretty at the table.

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But in fact eaten whilst watching old Grey’s reruns on Lifetime. I do think that eating in front of the tv is not optimal, but these days I eat by myself 95% of the time and it’s lonely to eat at an empty table. Much more exciting to dine with Dr. Miranda Bailey and Meredith Grey.

Some links I’ve been meaning to share:

CharlotteOne from last week, Legalism vs License.

My new favorite jam from John Mark McMillian. [I have his EP and adore it. It’s on repeat in my car ALL THE TIME.]

Enjoy!

[Via http://whitsgettingfit.com]

Close Encounters of the Veggie Kind

As this blog’s readers know, I recently did a 3-week vegetarian cleanse – no meat, dairy or gluten – and it was a great experience that made a huge difference in how I feel physically and in my relationship with food.  I found out I’m sensitive to gluten, for one thing, and that when I don’t eat it, I feel tons better.  More, it showed me how satisfying vegetarian cuisine can be, and caused me to re-examine how and what I eat.  I’d already given up mammal as a matter of principle, but since doing the cleanse and reading GardenBurger creator Paul Wenner’s Garden Cuisine and some of Jonathan Safran Foer’s startling new book, Eating Animals, I have come to the conclusion that I can not, in good conscience, eat poultry or seafood, either.  Not if I care about the environment, anyway.  And frankly, while I don’t think chicken or fish process emotions the way mammals do, the thought of a fish slowly suffocating to death under a pile of thousands of other fish who are also slowly suffocating to death just so that days later I might enjoy a piece of sea bass just does not appeal to me.  I’d still eat a fish I caught myself, that was put to a quick and merciful end, but commercial fishing doesn’t work that way.  (Nor do commercial poultry farmers gently pick up a chicken and soothe its fears before blindsiding it with a chopper, but I digress.)

In addition to fish slowly suffocating, commercial fishing is killing the world’s oceans with overfishing, not to mention all the other, non-fish marine life that also gets caught in nets or on lines and dies because of it.  I really like Flipper, and whales & other sea mammals, as well as turtles, and while I don’t like sharks on accounta they scare the bejeezus outta me, I still recognize them as an integral part of the ocean’s well-being, and damn it, I don’t want any of them killed just because I felt like having a tuna sandwich.  So much as it pains me to say goodbye to chicken and fish, say goodbye I must.  That’s just the way of things.  I love my planet, and I love the life forms on it – more than I like people, really – so that means going vegetarian…which poses a whole new set of issues.  Namely, how to eat food which is satisfying despite it’s lack of meaty goodness.

So while I will continue to post recipes which employ meat to this blog, I will from now on be exploring the vegetarian side of eating and food products more.  And vegetarian recipes will eventually take over, but since most of the people who will find their way here eat tons more meat than is good for them (who here only eats 6 oz. of meat in a meal – I know I didn’t), maybe my meat-lover vegetarian recipes will help introduce them to options they didn’t know existed.  Maybe they’ll experiment one or two nights a week, and that alone would go MILES toward not only improving their heart health, but in  helping the environment.  Imagine – if you ate meat one or two days a week less, you’d have the same effect on the environment as if you traded in your gas-loving sedan for a hybrid Prius (among other benefits to the environment).  So if you wish you could switch to a hybrid to reduce your carbon footprint, but you can’t afford to?  Just switch your diet up a little so that 2 days out of the week you don’t eat meat.  And pat yourself on the back for doing a good thing and contributing to stopping global warming. :)  Think of it: 2 days out of 7, you’d eat something super-filling, tasty, satisfying and warm that helped save the environment just because it didn’t have something you wouldn’t miss because of how tasty the food is even without it.  How hard can that possibly be? :)

That said, I’m not here to preach.  It’s important to me not to eat meat, but I realize that you may be as I once was, and figure there’s nothing wrong with eating meat.  It’s not my way to guilt you into eating otherwise.  I’m about posting the yummy recipes.  And that’s what I’m a-gonna do.  Just more of the veggie kind. :)

[Via http://simplestove.wordpress.com]

The Amazing People of the Hunza Valley

The Amazing People of  The Hunza Valley

The story of the amazing people of the Hunza Valley, thoroughly intrigued me, and is one of the major reasons that I became more engrossed in natural health.

 The people of the Hunza Vally, who live deep in the Himalayas, are some of the longest living people in the world. And not only are they some of the longest living people, they have virtually no heart disease, cancer, AIDS, diabetes, or any of  our well-known diseases that are now scourging our country (US).

They have tremendous healing ability, endurance and physical prowess. The men father children well into their 90’s and older! The women of 80 and 90 look half their age.

Now, before you think I’m kidding, (or you think my elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top floor), you have to understand a few things. The reason they live so long is a combination of, not only physical and mental factors, but geological and psychological factors as well.

No “Old Blue Hairs”

Being old isn’t looked down upon in the Hunza Valley, as it has a tendency to be in this country. It is revered in their country. The older you are, the more revered you become. Older people are looked at as wise sages, instead of “old blue hairs.”

The geology of the Valley also plays a huge part in their extreme and legendary longevity. It is believed that the mineral rich waters known as “glacier milk” that flow down the Himalayas are excellent for health. They also give the land rich nutrients which are transferred into the plants that they eventually grow and eat.

They work hard and play even harder. Their main diet consists of a brown bread called chapatti. It is made from buckwheat, barley, wheat, or millet flour, usually always freshly ground and baked on an open fire.

It is a chewy bread that uses the whole-grain and is high in potassium, iron, phosphorous, calcium and manganese among other minerals. Along with a few apricots, this was a complete meal for a Hunzakut.

Another reason for their remarkable longevity was believed to be their uncanny ability to relax. They always relax and pray several times a day. It isn’t uncommon to see a Hunzakut in the middle of the sidewalk meditating, relaxing, or praying.

For more of their amazing story, check out Hunza Health Secrets for Long Life and Happiness by Renee Taylor

 

Stay Natural!

Ambrose Avery CPC

[Via http://medicalinsanity.wordpress.com]