A MOST UNUSUAL DAY
Remember that wonderful ballad, "At Last?" Well, I thought of it today.


Video: At Last by Steve's friend Alexa Goddard

I stayed home all day today and have no plans for tonight!! This Florida life style has me spinning like a top but the top has to slowdown to meet my energy level.

There are days when there are at least two activities that I participate in, like the day I play Mah Jongg, and after the game we go out to dinner.

No cooking that day!!

Just yesterday I went out to lunch with a few ladies and after lunch we went to a nearby Temple that had a delightful musical program.

Last Sunday it was a card game at my place and then out to eat.

We keep the refreshments simple but it still meant I had to go to my favorite shop, "The Boys" for their wonderful selection of fruit. And how do you go to a store like that and not buy a bunch of other goodies!

Tomorrow night I'll be going out to dinner and then to a show at my club house featuring Freddie Roman and Dick Capri. I'm sure there will be laughs aplenty!

There are many options to keep me busy, the thing is, as I get older I find that I have to be careful not to try to do more then I can manage.

For years I made a commitment to myself, "make a post every Sunday" and I did that for a very long time.

Here in Florida, one day runs into another and before I know it the week is over.

I don't visit my blogging friends like I used to and my posts happen "whenever." I feel bad about that.

Maybe when I get back to Massachusetts I'll get back to my old lifestyle.

Today I just had to stay home, pay bills, make phone calls, do laundry, sweep the floors, and make a post!!

Happy Day!!









posted by Unknown @ 5:15 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 9 comments

 
THE EASY WAY TO EAT RIGHT
There are so many articles about eating right - magazines, newspapers, blogs and books. Many times I read them and find they can be informative but they try to give too much information. I get something out of them but before I finish the article I give up because they are telling me more than I can absorb.

I recently found a clipping that I had put aside because I found it had a lot of good ideas, and suggestions that I thought were easy and clearly stated in a short manner.


Portion Perfect (Feb. 2009) [pdf]

It was called portion perfect, in a February, 2009 Woman's Day magazine issue, written by Marissa Lippert, MS RD.

Imagine that, I kept it all this time!

Here's the essential part of the article

It's About Balance


Image: Courtesy Woman's Day

At every meal, aim for 1 serving of protein, 1 to 2 servings of carbs. 2 or more servings of fruit or veggies, and 1 serving of fats. (ideally healthy ones.) For maximum staying power, snacks should include 1 serving of protein and 1 serving of of fruit/veggies. And try to work in 2 or 3 servings of dairy throughout the day,

For example:

breakfast: Tall skim latte (protein and dairy): 1 cup cooked plain oatmeal (carbs) with cinnamon, topped with 1 Tbsp pecans or walnuts (fat and protein and 1 sliced banana (fruit)

morning snack: 1 oz cubed Cheddar (protein, fat and dairy) with 2 large whole-grain crackers (carbs)and 1 cup red grapes (fruit)

lunch: Grilled chicken(protein on 2 slices multigrain bread (carbs) and a side salad (veggies) with 1-2 Tbsp balsamic vinaigrette (fat)

afternoon snack: 1 cup baby carrots and red bell peppers (veggies) dipped in 2 Tnsp hummas (protein and fat)

dinner: 4 oz grilled salmon with 1 cup couscous (carbs) and 1-1/2 cups broccoli (veggies) sauteed in 1 Tbsp olive oil (fat)

This article is about eating right, it's not suggesting it a diet to lose weight.

I would never eat that much of a breakfast or lunch but what I liked about all the suggestions was the way it specified eating a balanced meal.

Right now I'm going to hang the clipping on my refrigerator as a reminder on how to eat right. Where I need the most help is with that afternoon coffee break!! ;-)

Do you eat a balanced meal?

Links:

Marissa Lippert's on twitter: @nourishnyc
Follow Marissa Lippert on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nourish/201290346026
Here's Marissa Lippert's blog: Nourish

Marissa also wrote a book:

The Cheater's Diet: The Sneaky Secrets to Losing Up to 20 Pounds in 8 Weeks, Eating (and Drinking) Everything You Love

Lippert shows readers, in each of the eight weeks, how to shop, how to cook and how to find the best of everything within your budget. The upshot is that eating the most delicious food whether you're cheating or not, whether you're eating in or out, is the best way to stay satisfied and control your portions.

posted by Unknown @ 8:33 AM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 7 comments

 
SUNFLOWERS AND VAN GOGH
We all get those e-mails that are usually ones that if we don't read them, we don't miss much. Sometimes I just delete them, sometimes I read them and then say to myself, "why did I even bother."

One day last week I received one that I just had to read. It was about one of my favorite artists, Vincent Van Gogh!

FAMILY TREE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH

His dizzy aunt ------------------------------------ Verti Gogh
The brother who ate prunes------------------------- Gotta Gogh
The brother who worked at a convenience store ----- Stop N Gogh
The grandfather from Yugoslavia ------------------- U Gogh
His magician uncle -------------------------------- Where-diddy Gogh
His Mexican cousin -------------------------------- A Mee Gogh
The Mexican cousin's American half-brother -------- Gring Gogh
The nephew who drove a stage coach ---------------- Wells-far Gogh
The constipated uncle ----------------------------- Can't Gogh
The ballroom dancing aunt ------------------------- Tang Gogh
The bird lover uncle ------------------------------ Flamin Gogh
The fruit-loving cousin --------------------------- Man Gogh
An aunt who taught positive thinking -------------- Way-to-Gogh
A sister who loved disco -------------------------- Go Gogh
And his niece who travels the country in an RV ---- Winnie Bay Gogh

As far back as I can remember I always appreciated his work and found his life story fascinating but never really zeroed in on any particular painting.

That changed one day in July, 1957.

My husband and I were honeymooning on "Old Cape Cod."



The beaches are beautiful, the water on the Cape is warm and the sand could be hot but it was always a pleasant experience.

One Sunday afternoon it was pouring so the beach was out of the question. We decided to put on our rain gear, run through the raindrops and visit the shops on the main street.

Those were the days when the "Blue Laws" were in effect so the only place that was open was a drug store. Okay, beggars can't be choosers so we took shelter in the drug store.

As soon as we walked in I saw a large framed print of Van Gogh's Sunflowers.


Artist Vincent van Gogh
Year 1888
Type Oil on canvas
Dimensions 92.1 cm × 73 cm (36.2 in × 28.7 in)
Location National Gallery, London

No question about it, I was hooked, bought the print and it hung in our living room for many years.

As a matter of fact I have a print hanging on my bedroom wall here in Florida!! When I open my eyes in the morning that's the first thing I see.

No wonder I read that Van Gogh e-mail, it's clever, funny and brought back some wonderful memories.

Who's your favorite artist and what piece of art do you admire most?





posted by Unknown @ 11:29 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 11 comments