The Best Well-Good Choices

Gratitude and a cup hibiscus tea.

2016-01-15T00:06:00.001-08:00

"Gratitude is the biggest mental muscle of the worlds happiest people"

I just had a cup of gratitude, that's what I experienced, early in the morning, holding the warm cup in my hands, gratitude. Being aware of what this modest cup of tea can provide of coziness and comfort, feeling well. The beauty lies in the smallest of things, in the simplicity. And if we want to be at that lovely place called happiness, gratitude has proven to be the key.

We misunderstand the reality all the time. In particular, when we are stressed, when we hurry, multitasking, chasing something we even no longer remember what it was in the beginning, forgetting what life is all about. We lose touch with ourselves and reality. We get tunnel vision, looking more negatively on our environment and run around as we are chased by angry bees. We become vague in our language and get stuck in the "yes, but ..." argumentation. Life gets messy and noisy, and we suddenly, when we have some free precious moments, think that the entertainment from an Iphone is the meaning of life.

But out there the sun is shining at times, and the wind sweeping through the trees and you don't have to bustle and hustle all the time. Stop, breath and remember the taste of life, touch, feel, look around, and remember what it feels to be present and enjoy a cup of tea.

We can feel happiness, it is possible to align ourselves with life. You and I we can stretch the time, fill it with meaningful commitment and memories. Sort the true challenges and unnecessary stress. Yes, it requires practice, by practicing gratitude you will soon reach the place of happiness. Starting from a place of gratitude happiness will brighten your days .

As the science says; when the brains activity studied in scans it shows how #gratitude is sheer shortcut to happiness. In therapy research it's proven to be a sustainable intervention.

How to practice then?

Start by buying a block and make a habit writing every day, in the morning or when you go to bed, at least three things you are grateful for that day. Feel what you write, experience the event no matter how small. Was it a peace of a juicy sweet fruit or the smell of brewed coffee, perhaps a smile or a hug from a loved one or maybe a sunny day, or that you breath. What ever it is feel it while you write in your book of gratitude.

For more content for happiness go here

Enjoy wonderful moments and Thank you for sharing!!! :)

Happy New Year

2015-12-31T09:36:00.001-08:00

Happy Healthy New Year!!!

May the new year bring you joy, energy, adventures and all the beauty you wish to have in your life. I wish that you will enjoy your moments achieving your goals, no matter how small every little piece of good counts, and create wonderful memories to treasure.

I also want to bring a toast and cheer with you in your success on creating the year you want. And if you want you can check my post from last year on how to Plan Your New Year as a guide and use all or some of the tips there.

You are also welcome to get inspired on my Instagram, you can see here on my blog at the right, where I share motivation and inspiration for you and what I know can be a source for you as well as for me to do better and grow.

Cheers and love to you for a better tomorrow!!!

Happy New Year & The blessing of luck in everything

Thank you for sharing :)

Kolak Biu - Balinese Delicious Banana Pudding (cooking around the world)

2015-05-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Welcoming drink, lemonade

A good way to get to know a new country is through it's flavors. Food is bound to so many different aspects, furthermore than taste and flavor. Food is culture, tradition, location and belonging, so I decided to besides eating, to take cooking classes, learn at place .

I want to explore with as many senses as possible, be more familiar with each place and the art of cooking the food of the country I visit. And I have to say that my first experience was real good. I recommend it warmly if you have the time in your vacation to do so and of course the money. If you do you will hopefully have fun and also get to know knew people while you learn authentic cooking and have a nice meal too.

There is of course the chance to being involved in the wrong cooking classes but do your homework read reviews in travel websites and see what others have to say, for example and you can always ask me, though I just started with cooking classes I will answer in what I know, or check my videos about cooking around the world list on YouTube and see if there is any information.

My intention is also to make my own versions eventually, improve the recipes when I feel is needed or just give them my personal touch. As I am interested and credited in wellness, healthy living and nutrition I may want to replace ingredients, though that will be when I recreate the recipes I like most. Meanwhile I will serve to you the recipes as I receive them for you to try and enjoy without costing you a dime for the pleasure that is to share. I love that!!!

Back to my Balinese cooking class!

In my cooking class in Bali we made 9 recipes and I was just able to record this one as the only one we didn't do by our selves. However I Do have the recipes and enough pictures to recreate all the Balinese dishes.

Kolak Biu - Banana Pudding

Serves 2 (for more just add up)

Ingredients

2 bananas

2 Tbsp palm sugar

2 Tbsp coconut cream

5 pieces jack fruit

1 pandan leaf

1 Tbsp corn flour (optional)

a pinch of salt

2 cups water

Garnish

1 tsp grated coconut

1 Tbsp palm sugar

How to:

1. Slice the bananas, grate the palm sugar and cut the jack fruit into thin slices.

2. Boil the water and add pandan leaf, banana slices, jack fruit, palm sugar and coconut cream. Meanwhile, add corn flour to about 2 Tbsp of water and mix thoroughly. Let the banana mixture cook for about 2 minutes, then add the corn flour liquid, stirring gently, to thicken it.

3. Stir for less than a minute and remove from heat. Serve on a dessert plate.

4. To make an optional syrup, boil 1 Tbsp palm sugar in half cup of water until it becomes thick. As a garnish, drizzle the syrup over the dish and top it with grated coconut.

Enjoy a healthier alternative to banana pudding desserts with a lot fewer calories than the traditional, baked with flour and fat.

After the meal we had with many dishes to enjoy this easy banana dessert was just enough to end our lovely flavorful lunch.

The Host

I haven't decided yet how I want to use my material of my pictures and recipes so I hope you will enjoy this recipe for the moment. I will maybe create a slideshow or keep them to create a book in future or I will make videos or all of the choices, remains to see :)

And reviews about the specific classes may be added then as well if there is interest for that.

If you are ready for more adventures in the kitchen and otherwise welcome to follow me on YouTube, Instagram and/or here and I would be happy for your feedback and support :)

Please Share and Spread the Joy :)

Organic farm in Ubud Bali

2015-05-17T08:43:00.001-07:00

https://youtu.be/5cZ8fQ4ria0

How To Plan a New Year

2015-01-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

" If You Want to Achieve, Then plan"

-I.J

For five years ago at this time, and the beginning of January in 2010, I begun to follow a plan I designed on the latest part of December 2009. That was a decision after a review of my life, which was on the edge of total disaster. The deep insight I got, when I consciously made the decision to work through very tough emotions and situations, was that I can change my life to the better if I choose too and were willing to do what it takes.

That realisation was naturally followed by the understanding that I needed to create a plan to follow, an overall outline for the next year but also a more detailed plan in what I wanted to achieve, which for that year had to focus on my health. At the time I had been sick in fibromyalgia for many years, was depressed and overweight as a part of it,, been through a difficult divorce, and I've had lost my dad to name some of my struggles, I was literally dying.

As you can see my decision, wasn't a matter of new years resolutions, I've never been the kind of person who believe in that. I believe we can make a change at any time we choose to. I believe that everyday and every minute is there for us to start in what ever matters to us, and when ever we realise we need to change or want to achieve what ever it is, we should start as soon as we possibly can. With that said, nothing helped me to a better life more than this decision. It turned out to be one of the best years I've ever had and that plan helped me to make my goals a reality.

I decided once again, almost the last week in December 2014, and again after a review of my life, that I needed to rerun a similar plan as I did before to have a fulfilling life. This time I realise how important it is to have a plan and decided to formalise the process of the annual review. To do so and since I am a person who put value in other peoples experiences as well as my own, I did my research and read many ideas, I also listened some lifestyle coaches, as Tony Robbins. And eventually with my own experience of what worked before, and with my extended knowledge from my research, I came up with with how I was going to proceed.

What I propose here is not a fixed plan written in stone, life isn't predictable in all it's phases, things happen, sickness, an injure that may change your schedule. There shouldn't be any problem to change your plan to suit your current life situation for any reason, it's your plan and you are the creator. When something happen, just be flexible and adjust your plan.

In your goal setting be sure to make measurable and specific goals if you want to succeed.

Devote time for this exercise and decide to make it over a weekend for example, without interruptions, take your notebook and get on with your plans, do the thinking, explore your wants, your expectations, what you want from the year to come. If you are in a serious relationship then beside your individual goals and plans make ones for your relationship and your common goals.

Since I started late on this process I am still working on my personal more detailed plan, but how to proceed is clear and ready and if you want you can use my plan as a tool to plan your year too. Here’s an overview of what I plan to cover with questions to answer in each category.

Starting up with a review of the previous year and give importance on events that you have control over. If there is a storm going on and you couldn't make that trip, well you can't change the weather so don't bother to count that. Looking the year in review may surprise you of everything you actually did accomplish, and if you take the goal setting seriously and plan well, the next year can be your best one .
What didn't go well is an important question to answer and gives very valuable lessons on how to proceed and plan better in future.

Review the previous year

What went well?
What didn't go well?
How did we match up with our goals?
How did the year go overall?
Did I reach my goals?
What could I have done better?
Did I reward my achievements?

Next years planning is the next step and it's exiting looking towards the future taking the steps that matters to me, to YOU, in the areas You want to develop for a fulfilling life by defining measurable, achievable goals for each chosen area. Here are the areas that I chose:

Health, Relationships, Writing, Video making, Learning, Travel, Service, Spiritual, Financial

My Health goals 2010 was

Loose 30 kg (66 lb)
Consistent Scheduled plan for training
Conscious eating and meal planning
Attend to my first spring run
Weight 65 kg at the end of August (not the final weight in the plan)
Journal my daily meals and activity
Loose 3-4 kg monthly (6-9 lb)

I achieved my goals earlier than planed, already in June,and the final weight changed to a more suitable for my body. I was thrilled, energetic and felt better than ever before. I was in an euphoric state of mind actually, as when I completed my first 10 km or about 6 miles, and a two hour jogging/running/walking, spring activity attendance, i felt high, I was high with all the endorphin running like a galloping horse in my veins. That was the best feeling ever, what I've had accomplished in just three months was amazing, but it came with dedication, persistence, and the willingness to follow through. I became a champion!

Define your Goals and Plans

What do I want to achieve?
What do I want to experience?
What do I need to complete?
What do I want to learn?
Where do I want to go?
What is my number one destination?
What do I want to do more of?
What do I want to remove?

Required Actions to make the goals a reality
Make sure each goal is achievable, in other words what is needed to achieve the goals.Find support and someone to be accountable to the goals, a friend, someone in your gym, a relative, your spouse. Remember that the goals need to be measurable, that's the key of success.
Set deadlines for each goal
Establish an overall calendar for you as a follow up
Determine check in dates to measure progress
What support will I need? Identify people/resources needed to achieve any of the goals as suggested above.

Decide on the topic and do your research on what you need, write down a first draft and get feedback. My feedback was a ton of books and magazines in the subject.

I also had a theme for the three years I used my plan. First was obviously the year of well-being and getting strong, next year was the year of learning and preparations, and the third came to be as the year of transition. The following two and a half years with a move to a new country and totally different life circumstances became the years of exploration and travel but also of abandoned plan and lost of focus, that I reclaim now. I'm not sure about this years theme yet since I'm still working on my plan, I will soon figure it out.

Starting my new year planning by reviewing the previous year, the ups and downs and the lessons, that brought me to this decision and realisation of the importance having a plan, is vital. During this exercise I become more aware to value my self, my time, and what I want from my life which helps me to more realistically plan for the year ahead.
This is a process that brings up emotions, there is big questions to deal with that can be pretty tough emotionally, but are also liberating when you are ready to take the leap to claim your place in life in what ever matters to you. It is both calming and exiting a feeling of strength and control. You can choose to follow my plan or make your own using this as a foundation, I want to remind once more to be flexible and find solutions if anything changes, but continue with your plan.

Feel free to share your feedback, I would be pleased to hear from you and will answer as soon as I can.

please share with your friends, thank You!!!

Happy New Year & The blessing of luck in everything

2014-12-31T10:49:00.001-08:00

HAPPY & HEALTHY

NEW YEAR

2015!

And a New Years Story!

It's about the traditional new years cake with a coin hidden inside - the coin posses the "magic" power to give luck to the one who will be blessed with the good fortune to find it, and therefore enjoy a yearlong favor from fortune herself, wealth and abundance. The cake is cut in equal pieces, one for each person in the family and any visitor present at the happening. The blessing of luck in everything, you can imagine, everyone wishes to have that coin. If you want to know the winner of the year the story behind the tradition and the recipe scroll down. :)

New Year Cake. Photo source: cookoo.gr

'The lucky happy winner of this year is tatatataaa the precious home, which means that all living in my nest will be blessed with abundance. That is the best winner in my opinion and I'm very pleased with that.

This may not be the best start on the health road by eating cake, however it's a wonderful tradition that I cherish and if you like to try you have the recipe bellow. You can do the same and enjoy the fun while eating the Sant Basils cake wondering who will be the lucky one. Do you have any tradition that you wouldn't change easily or simply decide to keep?

The Story of the New Years Cake - St: Basils cake

This cake is made in honor of a beautiful act by St. Basil for his tax burden flock.

One year, during a time of terrible famine, the emperor levied a sinfully excessive tax upon the people of Caesarea. The tax was such a heavy burden upon the already poverty stricken people that to avoid debtors’ prison each family had to give up its few remaining coins and pieces of jewelry, including precious family heirlooms. Learning of this injustice upon his flock, St. Basil the Great, the archbishop of Caesarea, took up his bishop’s staff and the book of the holy Gospels and came to his people’s defense by fearlessly calling the emperor to repentance. By God’s grace, the emperor did repent! He canceled the tax and instructed his tax collectors to turn over to St. Basil all of the chests containing the coins and jewelry which had been paid as taxes by the people of Caesarea. But now St. Basil was faced with the daunting and impossible task of returning these thousands of coins and pieces of jewelry to their rightful owners. After praying for a long time before the icons Christ and His All-Holy Mother, St. Basil had all the treasures baked into one huge pita (bread). He then called all the townspeople to prayer at the cathedral, and, after Divine Liturgy, he blessed and cut the pita, giving a piece to each person.

Miraculously, each owner received in his piece of cake his own valuables. They all joyfully returned home, giving thanks to God who had delivered them from miserable poverty and to their good and holy bishop St. Basil the Great! In remembrance of that miracle from God as a result of St. Basil’s love and defense of his people, Orthodox Christians have observed the tradition of St: Basils new years cake (vasilopita) each year on January 1st.

New Years Cake

Ingredients

1 cup butter (226 gr)

1 tbsp butter, for greasing cake pan

2 cups white sugar

2 tablespoons white sugar, for sprinkling

3 cups flour

6 eggs

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup warm milk

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 orange (the zest)

1 tbsp fresh orange juice

How to:

Sieve the flour and baking powder together in a bowl. Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, so that each egg is fully incorporated before you add the next. Add the vanilla and grated zest. Finally add the flour and the milk, a little at a time.

Grease with butter and line with greaseproof paper a 30cm (12 inch) baking tin. Empty the mixture in. Add the traditional coin. Bake in a preheated oven at 170ºC (340 F) for about 1h and 10 minutes. Garnish with sieved icing sugar.

Bake and have fun with the coin, and who knows this year may be miraculously more wealthy in what ever you need.

I wish you all the best and hope the new year will be filled with abundance and success for each and everyone of You, besides the health that I consider be the true wealth!

For that reason, to be healthier, and to create a better year ahead I will be sharing a How I/we if a couple, Plan a New Year which is something I decided to start again with as a tool to be focused and reach my goals. More about that in my next post.

posts connected to the new year intentions

thank you for sharing!!!

I would love to hear from you and your thoughts :)

Good Morning Habits / September Health Challenge

2014-09-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

"When we strive to reach our goals we have to create good habits that support our journey to fulfillment!"

- I.A

September 1st and the challenge to adapt Good Morning Habits has started. Lately I have been doing challenges, a new for every month. I found the idea very rewarding, easy to follow while exploring or renewing new and old health habits trying new food or adapt a new exercise regime, make life more fun and try new ways to improve and enjoy a better life whilst others also can be a part and benefit as well.

The whole idea started with my first challenge, which was to commit a month to gym, that gave me the idea of doing a monthly challenge which sounded fun, and if needed research about what I want to know, besides my own experience I already have. My second challenge, made in august, though more a challenge for my instagram followers, was to add more fresh greens into the daily diet, most people don't do that and eat to little fresh greens, fruits and berries, it's significant to our health that we do so.

The following Good Morning Habits challenge will inspire, motivate and give ideas for fitness, nutrition and mind to start first thing in the morning. I want to make it easier to create a rejuvenating routine in the morning for those who want to feel energized and to have improved health and by having something to follow. Starting healthy in the morning even if it just means to adjust our thoughts with positive thinking, can make a tremendous difference and change our life on directions where we are going to experience success. Many times we need someone to lead and show or be there as a source and inspiration with their knowledge so we can achieve our goals, or a group who encourage and that's what this challenges is about, to reach our potentials and do it together. Essential is to have fun on the way and enjoy the new adventure, we all do the best of our ability, the main thing is to progress.

There will be many different suggestions that will help you find your Good Morning Habits during this month. We are all different and have to adjust our life according to our abilities while challenging ourselves to go outside our comfort zone and be adventurous, at the very least You will be inspired about what you can do to improve your health. There is many ways to add health, wellness and well-being in our life, the number ONE most important matter is to ACT, to actually start doing something.

It's not as hard as we think to start living healthier when we apply new habits gradually over a period of time. It is actually what we can do daily to improve, we have to concentrate on, no matter how small the effort, and not what we can't, the benefits will come and the more one practice the faster you will see the rewarding result.

A few days ago I posted my morning habits to inspire on my social network and that was the start of this idea. As you can see when you want to inspire you get inspired and grow and that's another great result by doing these challenges to improve life, we grow when we want to help others to grow and see their potential.

Before I go to September months 1st fitness challenge I will share my own morning routine bellow! These habits are highly beneficial and you can begin to adopt to your own morning routine, eventually I will share the hows and whys. The challenge is build with those as base so you can choose to do whatever you find more attached to you from my list. You are also welcome to visit my instagram account for daily inspiration, just click on the instagram picture on the right corner and you are in, exploring. I will also explain in a coming post why it's significant with good morning habits, what I already can say is they are great mood boosters when giving the time to make them and will enhance your quality of life!

My Good morning habits for a Star ;0

☆ A kiss and a hug
☆ Cat-stretching in bed
☆ Smile
☆ Freshening up
☆ Drink lemon water
☆ Yoga, power-walk, workout
☆ Breakfast

☆ Green tea, coffee

Good Morning Habits September Challenge

First out is the challenge to strengthen your whole body with this 4 basic moves doing them well yes in the morning You can skip the 4th exercise, the crunches, the other three will all engage your torso which you need to keep strong and tight through the exercises. If you want to work a bit more then add the next exercise as well, and for an even better result do the bicycle variant instead - hands behind the head, legs 90° crunch and let right elbow meet left leg, repeat the opposite side, that's 1 move.

Repeat each move three rounds and warm up before you start for 3 minutes. Give the workout the time you can spare in the morning, as the movements increase in number you need more time but you don't have to do more than 15-20 minutes, you can make the rest later in the evening. What you need here is to start to workout in the morning for at least the time described above. At the end of the month you will be amazed how strong you have become.

I challenge you to look back at this month and feel amazing!

What is your morning habits, what is it you would like to add?
I would be happy to hear your wishes and ideas about this challenge. Jump on and have fun.

Thank You for sharing :)

Special Dad's & The Father behind Fathers Day!

2014-06-14T23:40:00.001-07:00

" Any man can be a father but it takes a SPECIAL to be a DAD! "

The above statement is what I truly can relate to as my dad, who is no longer among us, is someone who was this special DAD! What made him that was that he wasn't my biological father though bounded by blood as he was my grandfather a gentleman and kind-hearted man and raised me and his children in absence of another wife when his wife, my grandma died of a heart-disease at a the young age of 42. He didn't dare to bring another woman as he wasn't sure we would be treated well!

"[He] adopted a role called Being a Father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a Protector.

I'm not going to reveal more of my story for now anyway as it is another true story that I found and want to share with you. Although I wanted to mention my hero and that he gave me the love of a good father and was, what I was taught to call him as long as I can remember, my wonderful DAD! A most gentle person and one I miss very much.

That said I want to encourage you to take care of your Special Dad and take time to show your love before you continue the reading to the story about the father behind the fathers day!

" Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes."

The story about the Fathers Day

The all started in United States by Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington who was inspired by Mother's Day and wanted to honor her own father. You can read the story here or go to My heritage blog where it's originally written.

The idea for Father's Day originated in the United States with Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington. She was inspired by Mother's Day, the special day to honor our mothers, and felt it would be right to create a day to honor fathers. She wanted to honor her own father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran. William had single-handedly raised his motherless children on an eastern Washington farm.

Sonora described her father as “both mother and father to us for 21 years.” He had five children with his first wife who died, six with his second wife who also died, and raised three stepchildren from his second wife's children from a previous marriage. He was a real family man!

Through the years, William provided for his large household and cared for his children with and without the help of a spouse. In the following record from the 1880 US census, William, 37, was married to his second wife, Ellen Victoria. There were 12 people in the household: William, Ellen Victoria, five children from William’s first marriage (Mary, Martha, William, Susan, and Annie) and three children from Ellen Victoria’s previous marriage (John, James, and Liuary. William's sister Marthy was also living with the family, along with her daughter Dora. Sonara was born two years after this census record, in 1882, and was the only daughter of William and Ellen Victoria. When Ellen Victoria died in 1898, William continued to raise their collection of children, by himself.

In 1909, Sonara asked the Spokane Ministerial Alliance about creating "Honor Thy Father's Day." She originally intended that Father's Day would be celebrated on June 5 - her father's birthday. But there wasn't enough time for the clergy to prepare their first sermons. So in 1910, the first Father's Day was held on the third Sunday in June. On July 19, 1910, the Governor of the State of Washington proclaimed the nation’s first “Father’s Day.”

The holiday did not have much success at the beginning, so in the 1930s, Sonara Smart Dodd enlisted the help of retailers, saying that they would benefit from the holiday, being able to sell gifts for fathers, such as neckties, tobacco pipes, books, and more.

Americans perceived Father's Day as an attempt by merchants to achieve the same commercial success as Mother's Day. The public did not embrace Father's Day, and it was a few decades before Dodd and the trade groups finally succeeded in making Father's Day something special. In 1972, US President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation honoring Father’s Day as an official, nationwide holiday in the United States.

Father's Day celebrations in other countries were inspired by the original American custom of Father's Day. In Canada, the UK and the US, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. Many other countries, such as Argentina, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Venezuela, Australia and New Zealand celebrate Father's Day in June, as well.

******************************************************************************

" I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection."

My loving brother and his heart

" It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. "

thank you for sharing!!!

I would love to hear from you, your thoughts and reflections :)

LOOK UP - a sensational message for life

2014-05-05T01:14:00.000-07:00

" Love the life you live, be adventurous and out in the world creating and living your dreams "

- Irenee Alma

The message Gary Turk gives engage powerfully and are one of the most sensational and vital messages You are going to hear. It is about You or someone you know, it IS about Your LIFE a message you need to hear.

I want to have Gary's message on my blog so more people can benefit from his relevant and vital message to us from as many channels possible!

Written by Gary Turk

I have 422 friends, yet I am lonely. I speak to all of them everyday, yet none of them really know me.The problem I have sits in the spaces between, looking into their eyes, or at a name on a screen.

I took a step back, and opened my eyes, I looked around, and then realised that this media we call social, is anything but when we open our computers, and it’s our doors we shut.

All this technology we have, it’s just an illusion, of community, companionship, a sense of inclusion yet when you step away from this device of delusion, you awaken to see, a world of confusion. A world where we’re slaves to the technology we mastered, where our information gets sold by some rich greedy bastard.A world of self-interest, self-image, self-promotion, where we share all our best bits, but leave out the emotion.

We are at our most happy with an experience we share, but is it the same if no one is there. Be there for your friends, and they’ll be there too, but no one will be, if a group message will do.

We edit and exaggerate, we crave adulation, we pretend we don’t notice the social isolation. We put our words into order, until our lives are glistening, we don’t even know if anyone is listening.

Being alone isn't the problem, let me just emphasize, that if you read a book, paint a picture, or do some exercise, you are being productive, and present, not reserved or recluse, you’re being awake and attentive, and putting your time to good use.

So when you’re in public, and you start to feel alone, put your hands behind your head, and step away from the phone. You don’t need to stare at your menu, or at your contact list, just talk to one another, and learn to co-exist.

I can’t stand to hear the silence, of a busy commuter train, when no one wants to talk through the fear of looking insane. We’re becoming unsocial, it no longer satisfies to engage with one another, and look into someone’s eyes.

We’re surrounded by children, who since they were born, watch us living like robots, and think it’s the norm. It’s not very likely you will make world’s greatest dad, if you cant entertain a child without using an iPad.

When I was a child, I would never be home, I’d be out with my friends, on our bikes we would roam. We’d ware holes in our trainers, and graze up our knees; we’d build our own clubhouse, high up in the trees.

Now the parks are so quiet, it gives me a chill to see no children outside and the swings hanging still. There’s no skipping or hopscotch, no church and no steeple, we’re a generation of idiots, smart phones and dumb people.

So look up from your phone, shut down that display, take in your surroundings, and make the most of today. Just one real connection is all it can take, to show you the difference that being there can make. Be there in the moment, when she gives you the look, that you remember forever, as when love overtook. The time you first hold her hand, or first kiss her lips, the time you first disagree, but still love her to bits.

The time you don’t need to tell hundreds, about what you’ve just done, because you want to share the moment, with just this one. The time you sell your computer, so you can buy a ring, for the girl of your dreams, who is now the real thing. The time you want to start a family, and the moment when, you first hold your baby girl, and get to fall in love again. The time she keeps you up at night, and all you want is rest, and the time you wipe away the tears, as your baby flees the nest.The time your little girl returns, with a boy for you to hold, and the day he calls you granddad, and makes you feel real old The time you take in all you’ve made, just by giving life attention, and how you are glad you didn’t waste it, by looking down at some invention.

The time you hold your wife’s hand, and sit down beside her bed you tell her that you love her, and lay a kiss upon her head. She then whispers to you quietly, as her heart gives a final beat, that she’s lucky she got stopped by that lost boy in the street.But none of these times ever happened, you never had any of this, When you’re too busy looking down, you don’t see the chances you miss.So look up from your phone, shut down those displays, we have a finite existence, a set number of days. Why waste all our time getting caught in the net, as when the end comes, nothing’s worse than regret.

I am guilty too, of being part of this machine, this digital world, where we are heard but not seen. Where we type and don’t talk, where we read as we chat, where we spend hours together without making eye contact.

Don’t give in to a life where you follow the hype, give people your love, don’t give them your like. Disconnect from the need to be heard and defined Go out into the world, leave distractions behind. Look up from your phone, shut down that display, stop watching this video, live life the real way.

Written, Performed & Directed by Gary Turk.
you can find the same video on YouTube

thank you for sharing!
What is your thoughts?

How to Be Well Naturally & a Caffe Macchiato

2014-05-04T02:52:00.002-07:00

" Stay Happy Be Healthy "

As you have seen on my network places,( haven't been active on my blog lately) I practice the way to be well naturally with fitness, good food, travel, being outdoors which is a true happy pill, and finding healthy ways to live a good life beyond the fads - even if some of them, the fads, can actually help and boost our will to do better and find ways to our best self, they are motivators. In that way fads, if not harmful, are most welcome, but then I will tell that that's a motivator not a fact.

I also love as every woman feminine things to feel good with, as fabulous sun glasses (not necessarily expensive ones), nail-polish or a luxurious massage for instance. It is about enjoying time with things you love to do which will do you good even when done a short while, the action will create the happy hormones you need to strengthen you. That's why I decided to write this post and because I've hard so many times how people wait for the big moment to make them feel good, be well and happy, luckily that's wrong.

Some of the things I found have great value to practice and be well naturally isn't any new ideas, but hard for many to grasp, it is the very common everyday life pleasures, and not as people like to believe expensive things or big adventures that keep you well. Be well Naturally is about the daily things that will enhance your health, it is by creating daily magic that increase your happiness since happiness is a trigger for overall health, some of those are the small things you can do in small doses. It's actions that take just a small amount of time and therefore can be done often during your day. It's like taking a natural happy pill several times a day, this actions have the same impact and is also supported by science!

10 easy ways to be well naturally

listen to music

dancing to a song you love

hug a loved one

dream about a place you would love to be

practice saying 10 things you are grateful for

enjoy a good cup of coffee

make 10 minutes yoga

buy flowers to have on your kitchen table, great mood enhancer

talk to a friend

buy that lipstick you want and put it on immediately ;)

All those are really simple things to pay attention to, appreciate and add to your daily life. The small everyday pleasures are the queens and kings of be well naturally because they are doable and everyone can have their own be well naturally daily enhancers. Of course as you all know a good daily routine that support your health is of greatest value, as daily activity and eating well habits but it's important to put value on the small things as well!

my favourite ,coffee macchiato

Caffè macchiato most good restaurants have coffee macchiato and if you want to order one at a chain coffee shop you have to say espresso macchiato, ordering only macchiato will give you one with caramel-syrup added. Real macchiato is an espresso coffee drink with a small amount of foamed milk added. In Italian, macchiato means stained or spotted so the literal translation of espresso macchiato is stained coffee or coffee with a spot of milk.

I always loved the smell of espresso, from the first moment I felt the scent of espresso coffee on a trip through Italy, I fall in love, but could never drink the coffee. The coffee was to strong for my stomach and I felt quit annoying not being able to taste this heavenly fragrant drink. Imagine how happy I was when I found out about macchiato.

So espresso macchiato is a good option for me and those who can't tolerate a strong espresso but find a cappuccino to be weak and milky, which happens to be my opinion.

thank you for sharing!

I would love to hear your thoughts, what is your favorite be well naturally pleasures :)

Easter Inspiration - Food + Love & Deviled Eggs

2014-04-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

Settle the table with the most important main ingredients - Food + Love & Deviled eggs :)

Easter holidays, celebration and gathering in good friends company, special loved ones and family. A reason to meet with family members we perhaps don't have time to see in our daily busy life, an opportunity to reconnect have fun and sometimes also have the chance to correct misunderstandings. It is after all a celebration of rejoice, forgiveness, deviled eggs and the chance to practice love :)

It is a great moment to swift bad moods and negativity to loving and positive by taking action and be ones best self, bigger than the righteous ego and let heart and soul celebrate and enjoy the taste of the most satisfying health and healing goods, food and love!!!

And of course on the Easter table the most ordinary and a treat with numberless ways to make and recipes, the famous deviled eggs which are a good conversation subject among the quests. This time I choose to make my deviled eggs as salad inspired from a recipe on the recipe.com. It's no secret that I love eggs you can read previous posts about more egg delights . I choose to makee this recipe because of the wonderful dill vinaigrette which take the salad to a new level. I changed some ingredients to my taste and created my own version of the recipe.

Don't wait for Easter time to enjoy the delicious salad, make it at any time as it is great fit, delicious, healthy food filled with loveliness, mmm ;)

Deviled Eggs salad with Dill vinaigrette

Ingredients

6 to 8 servings.

7 hard-cooked eggs

2 tbsp mayonnaise

1 tbsp yogurt

1 tbsp chopped fresh dill

1 clove garlic, minced

5 dashes hot pepper sauce

1/8 tsp salt

6 cups lettuce

2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

1 red sweet pepper, chopped

4 slices turkey bacon

3 spring onions, sliced

Dill Vinaigrette

1/3 cup olive oil

2 tbsp tarragon vinegar or vinegar and a dash of tarragon-spice

1 tablespoon snipped fresh dill

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

bottled hot pepper sauce + salt to taste

How to:

1. On a platter arrange lettuce, tomatoes, sweet pepper, turkey bacon and green onions.

2. Halve hard-cooked eggs lengthwise and place yolks in a small bowl and whites aside. Mash yolks with fork, add mayo, yogurt, dill , garlic, hot pepper sauce, salt and stir together. Stuff egg white halves with yolk mixture and place on the prearranged platter with salad.

3. Drizzle with Dill Vinaigrette.

Dill Vinaigrette

In a top jar combine oil, vinegar, dill, mustard, garlic, salt, and hot pepper sauce. Cover and shake well.

Let's eat :D

sharing is caring, thank you!!!

I want your feedback and sharing ideas please do so :)

On the menu - Shakshuka

2014-04-09T04:56:00.000-07:00

Paprika Tomatoes and Poached Eggs – Shakshuka

If you aren't familiar with Shakshuka, I’m happy to introduce this culinary concept to you! It’s a healthy, delicious dish that is easy to make, easy on the wallet and a simple, go-to meal that works as a breakfast/brunch, lunch or dinner. It is also a vegetarian one-pan meal that is easy to make and can be served directly in the skillet. Many reasons that make shakshuka to one of my favourite dishes and I always have the ingredients on hand for an easy to make nutritional meal whenever.

Traditionally Shakshuka cooks in Tunisia and Middle East but use a lot of olive oil when making this one-pan tomato and egg dinner, but this is my light healthier version that still has enough healthy fat to help free the tomatoes lycopene which is fat-soluble so the oil help absorption .

Consumption of tomato sauce and lycopene is in general connected with better health thru studies in vivo (living organisms and humans), and research indicate possible cancer protection and associated with a reduction in risk of overall cancer mortality or incidence. The Mediterranean-type diet in particular, which has a higher intake of tomato products is very beneficial and promote health, studies has determined.

This is a basic, simple recipe spiced just the way I like it. This is also a versatile dish and never gets boring. For variety you can easily add different ingredients to the tomato base - green chillies, jalapenos, bell peppers, parsley, red pepper flakes, also mushrooms, spinach and anything that sounds tasty to you. Use your imagination and find inspiration in your pantry.

Bon appetite!

Shakshuka recipe

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

1 tsp. coriander

1 tsp. cumin

1 1/2 tbsp. hot or sweet Hungarian or Spanish paprika

1/2 medium onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 poblano pepper or bell pepper

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 ½ pounds or 700g tomatoes, chopped

4 large eggs

Freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste

Pinch of sugar (optional, increase the taste)

How to:

1. In a frying pan over medium heat, cook poblano pepper and onion in olive oil stirring often, until lightly browned, add garlic and stir a couple rounds until soften.

2. Add spice mixture stir around then tomato paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant for about 1 minute. Stir in 3/4 cup water and tomatoes. Cook stirring occasionally, until softened about 10 to 15 minutes, if mixture starts to get dry - you should see juices around tomatoes, add more water, 1/4 cup at a time .

3. With a wooden spoon, make 4 depressions in tomato sauce, crack an egg into each and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook until eggs are ready as you prefer, for runny yolks cook about 5 minutes and 10 minutes for well cooked. Keep an eye on the skillet to make sure that the sauce doesn't reduce too much.

Tips

When you make Shaksuka for dinner, serve with a green side salad and you have a light healthy meal. For breakfast, serve whole wheat bread or pita bread that can be dipped into the sauce and sop it up (if you’re watching for your waistline or are gluten intolerant, skip the bread) it’s great as it is.

thank you for sharing

I wouldd love to hear from you :)

On the menu - Delectable Baked Salmon

2014-03-22T02:50:00.002-07:00

" One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dinned well "

One of my very favorite dishes is baked salmon, actually I love most fish dishes and seafood overall. A great plus cooking salmon is that it's easy to prepare and very beneficial to health, a real good fit-food.
Well it's not new knowledge that fish is healthy food and salmon one of the kings but if women understood the great impact fat fish has on the skin, to have and maintain a smooth and youthful appearance they would eat fish much more often. And of course the same benefits goes for men as well!

More good news is that by adding salmon to your diet you get iron, zinc, niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, in addition to a whole host of other nutrients you need for good health. Salmon is also a complete source of protein and 3 ounce (90 gram) salmon provide about 22 gram protein. And there is a big dose of those magical Omega-3 coming your way!

Enough talk! Let's eat ;)

Delectable Baked Salmon Recipe

Ingredients
4 salmon cutlets 6oz (175 g)
4 lemon slices
1/8 cup olive oil (30 ml )
3 tbsp lemon juice
Garlic gloves
Salt and freshly milled pepper

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450° F ( 230 C ) and line a baking dish with foil.
In a small bowl, combine olive oil with the fresh lemon juice. Mix well. It smells amazing!
Lay the cutlets onto your lined baking dish and brush all sides of your salmon with the mixture of olive oil and lemon, season with salt and pepper.
Add the whole garlic gloves unpeeled and toss with salt, pepper and olive oil, they develop a wonderful soft and sweet flavor.
Top with fresh lemon slices and bake at 450°F for 12-15 minutes or until just cooked through. Don’t over-cook or your fish will be dry.

Delectable and easy dish, perfectly well combined with as here a warm Mediterranean style potato salad for the more hungry ones and a romaine salad.
Voila ;)

Notes about Salmon!
Wild : Available fresh varieties of wild salmon you will found May through October and frozen throughout the year. Wild salmon are typically Pacific coast varieties such as coho (silver), sockeye (red), Chinook (king), pink, and chum.

Farmed : Atlantic salmon is usually farmed and are grown in pens near ocean shores. Salmon farming has increased availability substantially and allows for salmon at a cheaper price. Consider though that it is the wild salmon which has the most health benefits in fatty acids.

thank you for sharing!
I would like to hear from you :)

20 Simple but Powerful Ways to Create a Loving Nest!

2014-03-20T01:50:00.000-07:00

The most important for us humans has always been to be loved, give love, feel the happiness in a loving family and feel secure. Basic needs actually that so often aren't catered. When I saw this beautiful gif I decided to make this post as a reminder that we need to take care of our selves, our nest and nearest surrounding. The power in these simple steps is that they are easy to do by everyone but the impact is immediate positive response on many areas of ones life; health, happiness, fitness and social!

Feed you and those in your surrounding with love, care and precious time <3
That's the cheapest health prevention, the best happiness pill ever and the greatest way to create a peaceful environment!

Say I love you!
Hug your kids!
Give a kiss!
Eat right!
Be active!
Read a joke!
Tell a joke!
Take a brisk walk!
Buy fruits & offer to your companions!
Take the stairs!
Go out in the nature!
Have family dinner!
Eat more greens!
Go for hiking!
Shop at the local farmers market!
Play with your kids!
Visit one in need!
Smile!
Dance like no one is watching!
Have silly family time!

Do what makes you and others happy often, that doesn't include eating on McDonald's or other fast food options to often though ;D
Just take care and create a loving nest <3

thank you for sharing!

I would love to hear from you :)

Get Started / Stay Motivated - Weekly Inspiration / women

2014-03-10T00:40:00.000-07:00

Good news you are mastering your life, how great isn't that! Well Einstein and many others keep saying the same thing to us. You create your reality it's in your imagination, what ever is your aim - Imagine + Act = Create

Start creating your plan to what you want to accomplish, then take action and give time to the lifestyle changes you need to do but start now. There is articles ready for you in the blog, you will find ways to help you start apply the new and motivate you to continue. I did it you can too! If you intend to be healthy and loose excessive weight there is a 30-day weight-loss & to shape goes challenge for more specific guidance and how to develop and incorporate healthy habits in your life.

"Reclaim Time For Yourself"

One of the most important decisions for you to make is, specially if you are woman and a working mother, is actually to understand how valuable it is to reclaim time for YOU!

You are to significant not to. It is your responsibility as a mother to be well, to be there for your family, healthy and leading by good example so you also can keep your loved ones in their best. Reclaim time to be strong and healthy. A good article to help you easily prepare good healthy food for all the family is the Flat tummy food for fridge !

You need to keep going forward keeping your goal in mind and you will make it and continue making what will be your best life and the way you suppose to be and live. Because the greatest beauty besides the beauty of the heart is the look of a healthy woman, a salubrious man and a wholesam happy family! Just keep doing what you are suppose to do :)

TRANSFORMATION

ISN'T A

FUTURE EVENT

IT'S A

PRESENT DAY ACTIVITY!

The above is good suggestions in changes you can make to achieve other results in your life than those who brought you to the situation you are in! You can also read various articles for more adequate ways to achieve what you want in my archives, take a look around and see what there is for you.

Make Things Happen

It's Up

To YOU!

thank you for sharing!

I would love to hear from you :)

Week Inspiration - The Secret to Health & healthy body-weight

2014-03-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

On the other hand you need to decide what's easier, to feel drained, without energy, overweight and overtime sick? With that background I believe it's easier to improve your lifestyle and become the star you are. But you need to love yourself enough, I hope you do. It doesn't need to be too hard, small steps make a long mile!

It's simply really, but doesn't mean easiest, eat right and exercise that's it!

But You need to actually do the work and be willing to be your best or simply do your best.

To be realistic is a good start, losing those lbs or kg off you need to stay on, and no matter the falling downs you need to jump on the ride again and again and again if needed until you make it. It's done when it's done, do not quit but also don't take the promises to yourself to easy. You need to be able to relay on you, seek those who can give you strength and inspiration, as my page and thousand others.

Stop wishing quick fixes, they are quick and last for as long as it took to fix, a quick period of time. If you want to get in a bathing suit you need to make life changes suitable for you and your lifestyle !

Action and a smaller plate take the "fluff" away :)

All you need to do is to read bellow ;)

Ya that's right there. But anytime is a good time just get it done!

Just a good suggestion to a workout and yes you can do it at the evening too :)

If you are a newbie start with one round and develop to 3x all the days of the week if you want, but then change the biceps to dips every other day. And by the end of this week you will be stronger. Aren't that great!

Last but most important is the above statement.

Have fun and good luck!

thank you for sharing

I would love to hear from you :)

There is pictures from around the net in this post if anyone can claim as their and don't feel comfortable to see the pictures on this post please do contact me and I will immediately remove the object. Thank you!

Tzatziki - Appetizer / Yogurt Dip (sauce)

2014-03-01T01:17:00.000-08:00

" WE ALL EAT & IT SHOULD BE A SAD WASTE OF OPPORTUNITY TO EAT BADLY "

Tzatziki

I like to introduce to you one of my Mediterranean and loved Greek yogurt appetizer called Tzatziki. Tzatziki is a healthy, delicious, nutritious way to spruce up your meal, and to enhance the flavor in many of your foods.

Tzatziki is tangy with the fresh flavor from yogurt, cucumbers, wine vinegar, olive oil, and fresh or dried herbs as dill, oregano, thyme or mint depending on the flavor you want to intensify and is more suitable to the food you serve. Perfect as dip sauce, as fit-food owing to the rich and high quality protein, also good for a healthy tummy due to the probiotic in yogurt. Together with the garlic and herbs this appetizer or dip becomes a true health treat. Tzaziki makes perfect to use as sauce and replace other more fat, salty and sugary unhealthy condiments and works well as a low-fat substitute for mayonnaise in sandwiches and burgers,.

It is relatively easy to make Tzatziki sauce at home, you have the best result using greek yoghurt, it is thicker than other yogurts. Many stores sell pre-made Tzatziki sauce but I hope you take the time to make your own, it is cheaper and you avoid the additives.

TZATZIKI RECIPE

INGREDIENTS
serves 4
1 ½ - 2 cups or 340 - 440 gram plain yogurt (any type will work, preferably Greek)
½ large cucumber or 1 small, grated or in chunks
1-2 garlic cloves, grated
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped or mint thinly shredded (or 1 teaspoon of dried herbs)
1- 1½ tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (adjust to your taste or squeeze lemon to your like)
Salt and white pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Can be served immediately, but it is even better if you let it sit for a few hours or overnight before serving.
Bon appetite ;)

Tzatziki

Try a fresh tzatziki sauce with your next salad or steak!

thank you for sharing :)
I'll be happy to hear from you....

Inspiration/Motivation Quote -Dreams to be true

2014-02-26T05:49:00.000-08:00

" If you want your dreams to be true you have to become your dreams "

- Irenee Alma

a dream in reality

I realized for quite a while ago that if you want something really bad then you will do what it takes and find a way to manifest your wish.

That means you don't wait for the right time because that will maybe never come, but you create the right time and pursue to achieve your dream!

You can say dreams do come true if you want to. Sometimes you need to change the direction and choose another way to approach your aims and achieve what you want.

Dreams doesn't have an expire date but they can change form!

Your dreams are always there for you to achieve and they aren't negotiable but the way to get there is, be willing to negotiate with you to find what's the best way to make your dream come true!

Be willing to become your dream if you do want it to be true.

Are you willing to do what it takes?

Do you know what your dream need to become reality?
Are you there for your dream?
Are you there for you?

Do you want that dream bad enough or are you just growing your wish bone!

thank you for sharing!!!

what does your dream need to come true?

Healthy "Green Glow Miracle" for health & the 2 in 1 weightloss meal

2014-02-22T02:17:00.002-08:00

" Health and intellect are the two blessings of life."

Green Glow Miracle Juice

My Green Glow Miracle juice is the second green juice and in this case also smoothie, I like to introduce to you as a healthy complement to a nutritional diet. This juice or smoothie is full of the goodness you need to maintain a healthy strong and alkaline body.

The juice/smoothie provide a richness in phytonutrients, vitamin C, E, A, omega 3 acids, folate, calcium, fiber, flavonoids, is anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidaant and an anti-aging energy booster, well I call that pure LOVE ;)

The juice is more mature in taste and not as sweet as my other juices and a very good weight loss drink since the chili or/and ginger also activate the properties needed for that (thermogenesis). You can enjoy the drink with out the spices though as a healthy drink that will rehydrate your body and give the necessary nutrients to maintain health plus a glowing skin, turmeric is a great ingredient to fight inflammation and helps to have a clear skin besides other benefits.

You can also choose to blend the ingredients and make a healthy smoothie to enjoy preferably 15 minutes before your meal, a good smoothie which add digestion too. By making the smoothie part of your meal you will eat a smaller amount food and feel satisfied, have all the nutrients and fibers you need for a healthy meal besides the fact that you will get a bigger amount nutrients having a juice or a smoothie than just having a salad. You can even enjoy this smoothie as a healthy energy booster between meals.

Recipe Green Glow Miracle Juice

Green Glow Miracle Smoothie

serves 1

Ingredients

1 Apple

1 pear

1 cucumber

7 romaine salad leafs

3 stalks parsley

2 pak choy

1/4 lemon

1/2 tsp turmeric (curcumin)

ginger as much as you like or chili (optional)

for smoothie add;

pure/plain/mineral/coconut water

How to

Wash everything very well cut in suitable pieces and start juicing or put all in the blender with a small amount water and blend, adjust how thick/thin you want your smoothie by adding more water.

Serve and drink immediately or eat!!

Cheers ;D

Green Glow Miracle Smoothie

My 2 in 1 smoothie weight-loss meal

2 in 1 drink+smoothie, how you can do that is to make the juice and have it as juice, that will give you the immediate benefits of the nutrients into your bloodstream and then consume the remains as smoothie. Prepare the smoothie-meal by adding the appropriate amount water squeeze if you like more fresh lemon + a pinch salt and enjoy a perfect, light, fresh smoothie-meal at anytime, perfect!!!

It's said health is wealth and everyone that has lost health know the truth in that saying, so take care by adding vegetables and fruits in your diet, that will make a huge difference!!! <3

Green Power nectar juice

Golden-treasure Juice

thank you for sharing :)

what is your favorite green juices or smoothies?

What's Possible

2014-02-18T00:42:00.001-08:00

" I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible. "

- Oprah Winfrey

First time captain from my trip in Cambodia

Don't let your dreams stay dreams. Explore what you need to know and do to make them come true! And that's how it's possible to make the dreams be true!

-Irenee <3

thank you for sharing :)

Monday Inspiration & motivation / fitness - drill workout

2014-02-17T03:28:00.000-08:00

Get Inspired & motivated

Great help to my health and fitness journey and to keep me motivated is always all the engaging and inspiring quotations and sayings. A daily dose is needed for me and I know the same goes for most people at least it's what studies shows. That is why I decided to share with you more inspirational posts that can help you on your way to reach your goals along with my other posts with tips in fitness/workouts and nutrition which besides experienced I also research and write about.

I was thinking to start and share my daily workout and/or meals/recipes as well as my own video clips I would like to make - I love to cook by the way, make salads appetizers and dips or juices and smoothies - as an open journal to inspire. I think a mix of all these aspects is a good idea for the richness I want to be able to provide to help you on your way to achieve your personal gorgeousness.

Starting with a motivating and very true saying is the above statement. Do something everyday that will keep you fit and healthy, maintain a good body and lose excess weight. So well put since even if you do that something 10 minutes daily will generate the difference you need to start wanting to do more, and that's where the magic start!

I make diverse workouts to engage as many different muscles as possible to get as much benefits as possible. In that way the body is forced to develop continuously. Below a suggestion to a workout I do, some times I need to modify because of my knee problems as for the jumping jacks, I may do them sitting on the chair or do mountain climbers, jumps is not so kind to knees.

Drill work out

make 3 sets of each 3-4 times a week

run one American mile or 1.6 km every day

10 jumping jacks

50 sit ups

25 crunches

50 push ups

30 second plank

25 burpees

20 high knees

I did a bit more abs workout today and no jumps or burpees but Pilates inspired moves for flexibility and balance as I did the advanced Taebo workout yesterday you can find in my YouTube channel or try the workout I have on the side of my articles here on my blog!

10-healthy everyday activities
30-day weight-loss & shape challenge

thank you for sharing :)
what does inspire you?

On the menu - Fragrant Tomato Curry Sauce for Delicious Healthy Light Stews

2014-01-31T03:33:00.000-08:00

"eat real food to enjoy real good life"

A simple, budget friendly, versatile and quick curry recipe to prepare and make dinner in no time with a rich and delicious taste. In this recipe I used chickpeas but i love the variety of dishes you can make with this sauce as base. I use the same recipe to make chicken curry from chicken leftovers, fresh chicken breast is perfect too or with white beans, which is a staple food I have either in my pantry, cans, or homemade in the fridge. You can also make a vegetarian dish with cauliflower or bell peppers.

This is the kind of food you want to have on your menu repertory either because you want to eat a real home cooked meal done in less time or you have friends over and they stay for dinner. This recipe is a sure card to use as long as you have your staples as tinned tomatoes, canned legumes or frozen veggies. It is a light recipe and a great add to a diet plan.

Simple to make with great results, home cooked light delight!

Fragrant Tomato Curry Sauce for Delicious Healthy Stews

Fragrant Chickpea Tomato Curry Stew

Ingredients
3 -4 serves
25-30 minutes prep

1 onion medium-sized
4 medium- sized tomatoes +1 tbsp tomato paste or use tinned tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 garlic cloves,
1 tsp ginger powder or 1 inch 2,5 cm shredded fresh ginger (optional)
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp red chili flakes (optional)
1/2-1 tsp cumin powder
1/2-1 tsp curry powder or garam masala
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp brown sugar (for best taste)
2 tsp olive oil
Salt to taste
1 -1,5 cup water or stock or 200 -300 ml

options of main ingredient
2 cans chickpeas or beans about
chicken leftovers, shredded or 2 fresh chicken breast file thinly sliced + green bell peppers
2 bell peppers or a small cauliflower in pieces + veggies you like

roughly chopped coriander or parsley for garnish (optional)

How to
Grate the tomatoes if you use fresh and keep aside.
Chop onion and the garlic cloves.
Heat oil in a pan add the chopped onions, garlic and the sugar .Sauté till onions is transparent. (if you use bell peppers add those too)
Add the dry spices except the red chili flakes and stir a minute to bring out the fragrance and taste of the spices.
If you use fresh ginger then add the fresh grated and stir around a couple times.
Then add the grated tomatoes or the tomato paste along with salt, red chili powder,
Add 1.5 cups of water and let the curry sauce boil for 10 minutes.
Then add the chickpeas or your main choice and let everything simmer for another 10 minutes on medium heat or until the sauce thickens to the desired consistency.

Serve with a click of plain yogurt sauce if you like, adds freshness specially when mixed with grated cucumber and a pinch of salt. And cooked rice!

Bon appetite ;)

Note; you can easily adjust this recipe to your taste and play with the spices to create a more personal dish of your like!

Mediterranean chicken breast & green bean stew.
Health-supporting powerjuice.

thank you for sharing!!!
I would love to hear from :)

On the menu - Mushroom Omelette & mixed salad

2014-01-26T06:07:00.000-08:00

" Omelettes are not made without breaking the eggs"

- Robespierre

A most satisfying meal can I say, if omelettes and mushrooms aren't already in your menu I hope you will try this easy made and delicious meal. It's a perfect meal really, I explain about how to make a super-meal in that post. This is a tiptop meal when you are hungry, after an workout or just want to eat good budget friendly food made with less effort. You can cook this tantalizing meal in less than a half hour. Bon appetite :)

Mushroom Omelette & mixed salad

Mushroom Omelette & mixed salad

serves 1

Ingredients
• 2 large eggs,
• sea salt, freshly ground pepper
• 3-4 nice mushrooms ( I used button style)
• a small knob of butter
• olive oil

Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl, add a pinch of salt and pepper and beat well with a fork.
Quarter or slice the mushrooms and add to a frying pan on a high heat with a drizzle of olive oil, a small knob of butter and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Fry and toss around until golden, then turn the heat to medium, add the eggs and spread the mixture out evenly by moving the pan around.
Use a spatula to ease around the edge of the omelette, then fold it in half.
When it starts to turn golden brown underneath, turn off the heat and slide the omelette on to a plate.
Serve with a salad and enjoy a delicious meal!

Tip
If you want a more protein-rich omelette or are concern about cholesterol, then use 1 whole egg and only the egg white from the second.

for the Mixed salad

In this salad I used half half arugula and half spring mix, but you can use any greens that you love actually. Personally I adore arugula for its peppery flavor, I love to spice up my food as it is a good thing to do to sped up your metabolism. But I understand if everyone isn't as enthralled by it. You can simply use a spring mix blend or a 50/50 (half spring mix, half spinach) blend of greens if you aren't into the arugula as I'm but if you can give it a try and mix a small amount your body will thank you as it's very healthy. And make a huge bowl to enjoy!!!

Ingredients

50/50 half spring mix, half spinach or/and arugula
celery
tomato
parsley
red onion
sea salt, fresh cracked pepper, to taste
extra virgin olive oil
lemon or apple cider vinegar, to taste

make a huge bowl of salad, after thoroughly washing everything, slice the celery, tomato and onion, hack the parsley and toss drizzle slightly with extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, salt, pepper and mix the deliciousness together :)
Serve with your omelette or any other day.

Good food for tummy

thank you for sharing..
cook, taste & tell me how it was would love that ;)

My Green-Power Juice - Green Power Nectar

2014-01-25T21:45:00.001-08:00

" A green juice a day keeps the doctor away!"

Fresh juices is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and living enzymes. Green juices says to be extra beneficial and with highly potent because of the high concentrations in nutrients!

After introducing some of my delicious "Golden Treasure" juices and i did so because I found it easier to start with carrot juices as their taste is more gentle to the palate for beginners. Now it's time to introduce you to my "Green Power" juices and my first one is such a green deliciousness, unbelievably tasty, my juices are tailored to be pleasing as I strongly believe nourishing is and should be pleasurable for the best results :)

This juice taste as nectar and is very kid friendly and if you do have a tricky child that don't want to eat the greens on the plate a perfect way is to make fresh delicious juices. With these juice you will need to make more as they will love it and finish it up before your eyes blink!

Green Power Necta

1 large red apple

1 romaine lettuce & stalk

1/2 cucumber

1 piece ginger - try out *

1/2 tsp turneric

1/4 lemon

How to:

After washing cut the ingredients in pieces and juice in your juicer. Serve with a slice of lemon (optional) and enjoy immediately!

Cheers ;D

* I like to have a good piece of ginger but if you are not used of the taste then either take a small piece and increase slowly or just leave it out . If the juice is for children leave the ginger out if they are very young, eventually add small quantities.

Tip
For a more filling and thick juice add some of the pulp and stir together in that way you have the benefits of the fiber; to keep good bowel movement and a healthy tummy :)
some of the Benefits are;

Cucumber - Cucumber is a very cooling fruit and the inside flesh can be up to twenty degrees cooler than the exterior skin? Cucumber – Minimizes joint swelling, strengthens bones and ligaments.
Turmeric - Anti-inflammatory, relieves inflammation and pain. Destroys mature cancer cells, so they can’t spread through the body.
Ginger - Reduce inflammation, excellent for people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Apple - Maintenance of healthy teeth, skin and tissue. Additionally, vitamin A can improve your vision and promote reproductive health. Prevents oxidation.
Romaine - High levels of the provitamin A and K says to relief anxiety and has painkilling properties.

The nutritional benefits of drinking a glass of fresh homemade juice far outweigh that which you get by drinking packaged juice. Make the effort to go for fresh juice and make juicing a part of your nutrition. It is a good way to add health in your and your family's life.

Taste so good

you got to have more ;)

thank you for sharing...
I would love to hear from you :)

Guest blogger Frances Flannery - Nutrition Tips, Potatoe

2014-01-24T21:04:00.000-08:00

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." – Albert Einstein

Today I post an article from guest blogger Frances Flannery which is a Nurse Trained Therapists. Frances found interest in my blog because of the good content I provide for a good and healthy lifestyle. She wanted to be a part and share information that is beneficial to my readers and give the opportunity to connect with her working place and I loved the idea . Sharing good knowledge is high priority for me as my goal is to give you good information to live a good life!

Frances article tell us how a simple food as the potatoes, which people may over look today, has amazing benefits for health. What else is that this edible tube is available for most and all the year and is a budget friendly food!
Enjoy the reading.

- Irenee Alma

Article by Frances Flannery

WHAT HAS THE POTATO EVER DONE FOR US?

Today I wanted to take some time out to give you some top tips on nutrition. Here is a focus on the common potato, a food which many take for granted. But despite being an excellent source of carbohydrate, which we all need a little of, what else has the potato ever done for us?
For anyone planning to get healthier and improve your nutrition this year, I wanted to take time out to discuss the health benefits of a top and tasty favourite superfood. Its I'm going to take you through the benefits of eating of one of the very best providers of Vitamin C in the natural world. You can bake it, chip it and even juice it and its one of the best sources of fibre around. You guessed it, the humble Potato!!

Potatoes – Raw

80 calories per 100g, Potatoes are high in fibre, B Complex vitamins and enough Vitamin C to fight scurvy. Raw potato contains less energy than other raw cereals and legumes. Raw potato is less well digested compared to cooked potato. This is due to its starch content which is readily digested by adult humans and begins as soon as it makes contact with amylase in the form of human saliva. Ingesting raw potato on its own is therefore unusual except for health reasons. The most palatable way to digest it would be to combine it with more pleasant tasting vegetables in the form of juicing.

The benefit of eating raw potato appears to relate to its ph level. It has the ability to neutralize acid conditions such as arthritis as it is alkaline. Naturopaths have identified raw potato as a super food which is highly successful for the treatment of stomach ulcers and osteoarthritis. They are also rich in fibre and vitamin C.

Potatoes – Cooked

As before cooked potatoes contain 80 calories per 100g and are high in fibre and vitamin C and even when baked or boiled contain good levels of vitamin C. Potato protein can be compared to soya bean which makes them a beneficial to any diet. They often mistake to be a “fattening food” but that ultimately boils down to how they are presented or cooked. Baked potatoes are considered nutritionally superior as they contain

important nutrients in their skins. One such nutrient to note is potassium. Another is for their fibre content which keeps the bowel moving and ultimately protects the body against colon cancer and constipation. Another is for their vitamin C content which is one third of the RDA. Cooked potatoes are very easy to digest due to their start content. This makes them ideal for anyone who has digestive issues, anaemic, chronic fatigue and for weaning infants .

For more information on nutrition, health or detox see
www.dublinvitalitycenter.com