Birthday Post!

Hi Everyone,

It's my 41st birthday today so I thought I would start it with a new blog post!

It's a gorgeous sunny, blue skied day out there with icy snow on the trees. It is truly a

winter wonderland today!

So many thoughts on what I hope this year brings, but most of all, I hope I can keep in my

mind the contentment of being happy with where I am. I always receive a quote daily from a group called "Gratefulness.com" that my dear friend Bobbi shared with me. The quote two days ago read something like "to be spiritual is less about being godly like and more about being "deeply human". I love this quote! So, this year, I will do my best to not shut down in a hard moment and keep myself open and deeply human.

I am so happy to share that I made it to the gym last night. I know that doesn't sound like much of an accomplishment but I have been having neck trouble which has caused me not to exercise. There also have been a bunch of snow days which has kept me home with the kids, etc, etc. Anyway, it is excellent to feel great in my body this morning. I want to encourage you all to do something physical today. Even it's stretching, or doing 10 squats while you are cooking in the kitchen, lift some weights in between emails, do some lower belly squeezes while in your office chair, just use some muscles and connect with your body today.

That's it for today, enjoy it. Here's another beautiful quote that is an old native american prayer "get out your rainbow colors and make today a beautiful day"! be happy and well, Lysa

On again off again cleanse!

Hi Everyone,

It's been a bit since I've blogged so thought it was high time for me to get writing!

Well, I need to admit that this round of no sugar/no alcohol was a bit harder than the spring round. Perhaps it's been harder because my neck has been out of sorts so I haven't been able to exercise which really helps me feel good in my body.

I haven't hard such a hard time with sugar as much as missing a glass of wine. However, what I have noticed is that when I let myself have the wine, then I want the sugar. So after all these years of self experimenting and figuring out what works for me and what doesn't. I have finally realized that for me, alcohol and sugar are partners in crime! Now of course I need to decide what I want to do this info. For now, I will tuck it away since I am back on my sugar/alcohol cleanse after a three day weekend of letting myself have a bit of wine and some cake.

A friend introduced me to a gentle vegetable cleanse that I think I am going to play with a little next week that I will share with you. Just focusing on baked and steamed veggies and some veggie broth. Seems like a nice way to cleanse and rejuvenate in the winter.

I received my Feb. issue of O magazine, which is my favorite. The cover reads "Imagaine, Yes, You Can Have... Your ideal body, A Better Job, Extra Energy, More Love, Less Stress, A Fresh Outlook: The New You Begins Here!

So many great things to think about...

What would you like to focus on this year?

I am always working on my ideal body, which to me means being as strong and fit as I can realistically be. Working on building my practice and of course most of us would love more energy, love (although I must admit love is something I have plenty of in my life) & less stress. All sound great.

My belief is that if I keep coming back to the areas in my life I want to focus on, even if I only have a little time to deal with a particular area, it makes a big difference.

So again, I ask you: what would you like to work on this winter? Write it down and plan what steps you will need to take to manifest the change you want.

Cheers!

Lysa

Muffin splurge

Hi Out There,

Well, I started my New Year's cleanse on January 2nd ( avoiding alcohol and sugar). The week went fine without any cravings. Yesterday, my husband brought home my favorite muffins (Morning Glory) from a great local pancake spot. Not thinking about the cleanse, I took a bit out of the muffin and immediately remember as I was swallowing its deliciousness! So, wanted to share that. There was a part of my mind that said, "since you had some muffin, you might as well as have a glass of wine tonight". Lucky for me, I know that voice, it's the one that says, "since you had a cookie, you might as well have some ice cream". It's not a voice I listen to often and it's one that leads me to feeling not good in and about my body. So I ignored it and continued on the rest of my day.

My husband who is a wine lover, has joined me this week. It hasn't been easy for him, but he is happy he has been doing it for this temporary period.

Here's a thought to ponder: What are you ready to cleanse from your life even temporarily? What new thing, thought, feeling are you ready to try?

Patience and perseverance are on the top of my list along with courage. Patience with myself and my children. Perseverance with my business, personal fitness goals, computer skills, getting my house organized, getting my kids to school on time, and the courage to face the variety of fears I typically like to hide from. That's what I would like to try.

Foodwise, I would like to add trying a new recipe once a week. I will share with you! What's on your list? Write in and share it with me.

All the best,

Lysa

Holiday Detox/New Year Cleanse!

Hi Out There!

Happy New Year to you! I did a decent job this year of not eating too many holiday sweets but certainly indulged more than I had planned. Also found myself having a glass of wine or so each night over the 10 days that I spend with family during the holidays.

So for me that means that by the end of it I wasn't feeling like myself. Sluggish, and puffy, not good! That prompted me to think about what I wanted to feel in the New Year. Here's what came to mind: energized, strong and clear! So, I am on my third day of no alcohol or sugar and feeling like I am returning back to my spunky self again.

I invite you to do a 3, 7 or 21 day cleanse with me. Give your body a break for a bit.

Start with these simple steps:

1. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.

2. Get 1/2 hour extra of sleep per night (it's winter, you need it)

3. Move your body as often as you can: take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further away from wherever you are going to get the extra walk. Go to the gym, dance at home, take a zumba class (which I did today for the first time, very fun and sweaty). You get the point.

4. Try eating 1/4 protein, 1/4 starch and 1/2 veggie on your plate.

5. Avoid alcohol and sugar this week or couple of weeks.

6.Make the effort to spend some time reading, writing, meditating.

Feel free to write in, would love to start a healthy New Year's trend!

Cheers to your healthiest self!

Lysa

Healthy Holiday Treat!

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all are having a fun filled December despite the holiday madness!

I went to a friend's birthday party the other night and she had some "Crispy Kale" on the counter for snacking on. This inspired me to go home and make some for the Board of Education meeting held at our school. It was a great success. All who attended had a bunch and loved it (even those who didn't think they liked kale).

I thought I would share it with you in case you would like to bring it to a holiday party. With kale's cool dark green color it is actually quite a festive dish!

The curly kale seems to work best for this recipe.

You will need one or two bunches of kale (depending on how many people you are making it for)

salt

pepper

olive oil

Preheat oven to 350

1.Wash kale thoroughly and dry well.

2. Remove leaves from stems.

3. Break into large pieces (they will shrink when baked).

4. Place in large bowl.

5. Coat kale leaves well with olive oil.

6. Salt and pepper to your liking.

7. Mix well.

8. Place on baking sheet and put in oven.

9. Let cook between 15-20 minutes. Should be crispy but not over crispy or will get bitter.

I hope you enjoy it!

On another note, now that we are at the end of the year, it's good to take the time to reflect on the past year.

Have you taken the time to nourish yourself with healthy food ( when I say this I mean food for your body, your mind and spirit)?

Everyday is a new opportunity to treat yourself and those around you well.

As we wrap up this year, think about what you feel good about it in your life and what what you might like to improve. Let this be your guide for next year goals. Keep them focused and real.

Wishing you an excellent holiday and a healthy, wealthy, joyous 2011!

Lysa

Thanksgiving

Wow, it's been a long time since I've written.

We've had a busy fall. It started off rough with needing to make the decision to put our 12 year old Golden Retriever to sleep. I miss him and still feel him near us often. It's been a season of feeling our sadness and loss while being able to pick up the pieces of our family and keep on living.

Getting back to the blog. I am renewing commitment to write as weekly as possible. Today, I will share a healthy version of Candied Yams. Sorry, no photo yet. It's on my list of to do's for next month (learn how to take a photo and put it on my blog!). I know it's bad but a gal of technology I am not!!!

Here is the recipe for the yams, I hope you enjoy it!!!

Candied Yams

2lbs garnet yams or sweet potatoes

3 strips of orange zest, white, spongy pith removed

2 cinnamon sticks broken in half

1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tsp peeled and finely chopped ginger root

1/2 tsp sea salt

Preheat oven to 375.

Peel and halve the yams crosswise. Cut each half lengthwise into 4 wedges.

Place the yams in a baking dish that will hold them in a snug single layer.

Tuck the orange zest and cinnamon sticks among the yams.

In a bowl, whisk together the orange juice, maple syrup, oil, lemon juice, ginger and salt. Pour the mixture over the yams. Bake for 1 1/4 hours, basting every 15 minutes, until the yams are tender and glazed and the pan juices are syrupy. Remove the orange zest and cinnamon sticks before serving.

This recipe is taken from Peter Berley's "The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen".

Wishing you a heart full of content and peace of mind for this Thanksgiving!

with my love,

Lysa

Beautiful October

Hi Everyone,

I have not written since July! That's a long time. I have to say life was just super busy over the summer and then September came and knocked me off my feet. It started with lots of PTA tasks (I am in my 3rd and final year as PTA President) that were all consuming. Then our very much loved 12 year old Golden Retriever named Mars fell suddenly ill and we were faced with making the decision to have him put to sleep. Since then I have been in a quiet place of needing more time for myself and family. The house is a little lonely and melancholy. I have realized through this that loss is loss. I kept thinking "what's going to happen when you lose a person you really love"? The answer that came back clearly is that loss is loss, don't judge yourself. Mars gave us so much and we loved him dearly. He was a wonderful part of our day. I will miss him always.

So healing wise, I have let myself cry when I need to. I make it a point to pet every Golden I see on the street. That is comforting. Sometimes as a family, we get down and smell where Mars used to like to hang out on the carpet. It faintly still smells like him. We smell his leash and look at photos of him. One of my daughters writes poems to Mars.

I have just in the last week started listening to music again when I cook. I am starting to feel a little more relaxed and centered again. Tonight I made a delicious beet salad and a chick pea kale one as well. I will send photos tomorrow.

Here is a question to ask yourself: What nourishes you? What brings you comfort? What do you seek refuge in?

In health and healing,

Lysa