create the life you love

Metabolism Boosting Drink

 

Dr. Oz’s Tangerine Weight-Orade Recipe…It contains: green tea, shown to boost metabolism 12% by drinking just one cup; tangerine, with a chemical composition that increases sensitivity to insulin and stimulates genes that help to burn fat; and mint, a calorie-free flavor enhancer.

In a large pitcher, combine: 8 cups of brewed green tea / 1 tangerine, sliced / A handful of mint leaves / Stir this delicious concoction up at night so all the flavors fuse together. Drink 1 pitcher daily for maximum metabolism-boosting results.

 

Made this tonight and trying tomorrow!

Recipe!

I made this tonight and it was delish!

At least I thought so .. and very healthy, of course ;)

 

 

White Bean Stew with Swiss Chard and Tomatoes

(Master Chef Judge Joe Bastianich)

INGREDIENTS

1. 2 pounds Swiss chard, large stems discarded and leaves cut crosswise into 2-inch strips
2. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3. 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4. 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
5. 1 26 oz canned tomatoes, chopped (I used seasoned with basil, etc)
6. One 16-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (I used seasoned black eye peas since I didn't have cannellini beans on hand)
7. Salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add the chard and simmer over moderate heat until tender, 8 minutes. Drain the greens and gently press out excess water.
2. In the saucepan, heat the oil. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook over moderate heat until the garlic is golden, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add the beans and simmer over moderately high heat for 3 minutes. Add the chard and simmer over moderate heat until the flavors meld, 5 minutes. Season the stew with salt and serve.

NOTES

One Serving 274 cal, 16 gm fat, 2.1 gm sat fat, 13 gm carb, 11 gm fiber.

 

Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure

Please support Meghann Mulbarger (my niece) and Deb Orenic (my sister) as they take an amazing journey in the fight to end breast cancer!

Their team name is 'Cubbies for a Cure' ... both my sisiter and niece are from the Chicago area (as am I) and love the Cubs! 

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure is a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. Net proceeds from the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure™ are invested in breast cancer research and community programs. 

 

Breast Cancer is all around us....Most likely there is someone in your own family or a close friend who has died, currently fighting or is a survivor of breast cancer. The statistics are scary, however, if we continue to fight one day there will be a cure. Donate on behalf of that family member or friend who has never stopped fighting for the cure. 

 

Statistics on breast cancer..

~ Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of death among women worldwide

~ More than 1.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year.

~ More than 465,000 die from the disease each year.

~ Somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer every 68 seconds.

Please consider donating to this important fight against breast cancer.

This cause is very dear to me and my family ... many, many thanks!!!

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day----Tampa Bay October 29-31st.  60 miles in 3 days

 

 

Donations can be made through Meghann & Deb's Susan G. Komen page:

Donate to fight for the Cure!!

 

And .. I haven't mentioned this yet, but I am hoping to join my sister & niece on the 3 day walk  :)

More Soup

Here is another 'soup that slims you' soup, created by Christine Avanti.  I made this yesterday. I think it is just as good as the Sicilian lentil soup and only 80 calories per 3/4 cup serving. 

I did add a bit more spices again to this soup (more chili pepper, cumin and kosher salt), and I didn't include the carrots since I am not a big fan of cooked carrots. Next time, I will add more diced celery, since I really like celery in soups and the 'crunchiness' ... and I may even leave out the chicken or cut it up or shed it into much smaller pieces. I just don't like chicken all that much anymore and for some reason, especially in soups - Weird. I do need the protein though, so the chicken should stay. Also, I left off the tortilla chips, but most definitely add the lime juice and cilantro (I love cilantro & lime together).

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/4 tsp and 1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp and 1/2 tsp chili powder

28 oz canned, crushed tomatoes (I used the seasoned with basil type)

1 large diced onion

5 minced garlic cloves

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 diced celery ribs 

2 diced carrots

20 halved grape tomatoes

1 qt low-sodium, low fat chicken broth

1/2 cup frozen corn

1 lime, cut into wedges

1/4 cup cilantro

24 crumbled baked tortilla chips

Cut chicken into small pieces and coat with 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp chili powder. salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Puree crushed tomatoes, onion and half of the garlic. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add other half of the garlic, celery, carrots, grape tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper and saute for 5 minutes. Add tomato puree. Stir frequently for 10 to 15 minutes. Add corn and chicken; boil until cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes. Pour soup into bowls, squeeze lime wedge over each. Garnish with cilantro and chips. makes 16 3/4-cup servings.

Current Foodie Favorites

I get many questions about my diet and what exactly I eat. Although I do eat often (usually 6 times a day), I do not eat a lot, and mostly the same foods every day. All very 'clean' eating.

Lately, these two items have become favorites. I eat these both a few times a week, or more.

I absolutely love this V8 Tomato Herb Soup and eat it often for lunch.

90 calories per cup (2 cups in box), 0 fat, 19g carbs, 3 g protein, 3 g fiber, 14gsugars (a little high for me, so I need to watch my intake!). 480mg sodium (again high, but I do not have any blood pressure issues, it is actually very low).

Crazy for these also (actually my entire family likes these), Murray's Chicken Burgers. I just grill them in a pan and eat them with lots of mustard - plain French's yellow mustard - I love mustard.  

132 calories each, 4.4g fat, 0 carbs, 22g protein, all natural and gluten free

 

They also come in mini slider burgers. Both seem to be hard to find though. I can usually get them at one of my local Publix grocery stores. I buy a bunch when I find then and freeze them. 

New Hairstylist

 

   

Yesterday, I went to a new hair stylist for a consultation. I know a few women and one good friend that have started going to this stylist and the difference in their hair and overall appearance is amazing ... and they look much younger.  So, I though I would see what she could do for me.  I am all about looking younger ;). I had no idea my hair was in such bad condition, but was told that yes, indeed it was - told in detail for about 10 minutes all the bad things about my hair (over processed, damaged, dry, broken, wrong color for my complexion, wrong cut for my face shape, and my eyebrows have major issues too!). I have very fine, thin hair, which unfortunately has become even thinner as I have grown older. I also lost a bit when I went through my weight loss. I was 'prescribed' hair products by Kerastase that with regular use will help repair and add volume to my hair. The products alone cost more than I normally spend for my highlights, cut & styling with my former gal! I scheduled an appointment for next week (the soonest I could get in) and am scheduled to be there in the salon for over 4 hours! I am expecting to come out looking fabulous (!!) ... well see ;) 

Oh ... and today, I have my bottom braces put on. Now, with both upper & lower braces, I am a total brace-face ;)

Thanks for all the kind words about Griff. I can't believe my 'baby' is going into middle school! We are very fortunate that he will be continuing on at his same school, that we love. Hopefully, he will be there through high school.

This and That

 

 

{ Backyard Cardinal }

I was able to get up close to this fella. He stayed in the same place for the longest time until Griff came out yelling 'caw, caw' and scared it away :(

Thank you all for you thoughts and prayers. I am going to try another treatment before I turn to surgery (anterior cervical discectomy). The doctor prescribed a pain medication that should give me some relief and I will be starting physical therapy two times a week for 4-6 weeks. Not so sure if the PT will help since I do pilates 2-3 times week and it is basically about strengthening the core, back and neck muscles. The PT of course will concentrate on the neck muscles since my herniated disc in in this area (C5-6). I have to say that between pilates, cardio workouts and weight training, I am quite strong already! But ... I am willing to give it a try, and possiblyhave another serious of epidural steroid injections when I am able to (there is a 6 month interval time before you can have the injections again). I'll be honest here, although I have had many surgeries throughout my life, the thought of this cervical surgery frightens me tremendously. I pray that I can avoid having it!

For those of you that have inquired about Griff's German costume, I am going to try to make something up myself. This won't be easy since I can not sew! Those darn ebay listings all sold for over $100 with lots of bids on many different lederhosen. Crazy! Who the heck is wearing these fashion statements?! And it's not even October Fest! I also called a local costume store and they charge $55 to rent a costume. Jeez - he only needs to wear it for an hour at the most! So, my friend Lisa gave me a few ideas (thanks lisa!) and I found a pair of suspenders and am going to attempt to sew them on to a pair of shorts. He can wear a pair of knee highs and be done with it ;). BTW, my friend's son's report is on France and all he is wearing is a beret with his school uniform, so I guess my 'put together' lederhosen isn't all that bad.

 

Braces

Not one of my boys this time ... but me. Hard to believe at my age (I did have them when I was younger), but I have had some shifting of my front teeth in the past few years and was really unhappy with how my smile appeared ... so today was my big day, braces on my upper teeth. Next month they will place the lower braces and I will be a 'brace face' for 6-8 months. I had to laugh at the tee shirt I was given. I remember the same shirt with my two older boys and my husband also (he had braces about two years ago). Now, to round out the family - Griff is next. He is not ready yet though. He still has quite a few baby teeth, so 6 months to a year away for him.

You all don't make fun or laugh at me now, I'll get enough of that from my own family ;)

This and That

:: I had my first epidural injection this morning and although I wish I could say that I am finally pain free, it is not so :(. I was told that my pain may even be worse for a day or 2 and this seems to be true - ugh. The procedure was a bit painful also, but fairly quick. Depending on my pain, I may return next week for a second injection. I can only have 3 injections total in a six month period, so it's best to have another only when the pain returns. Of course, this is if I get some pain relief (I am hoping and praying for this to happen and happen soon).

:: I've changed my blog a bit. New header, with a new name, and not pass word protected. When I started blogging 4-5  years ago, my blog was called 'mcc - me and my boys' since it was mainly about my boys. Now that the two oldest are away at college, I really don't have much to say about them since Lord knows they don't share much! And as for Griff, he is almost a teenager  (yikes, how did that happen) and his life consists mainly of sports and ... well sports is about it. And while I love seeing my boys play and excel in sports, it's the same thing over again, 3rd time around!  So ... I am having fun posting  more about  a lot of my favorites and things I enjoy; decorating (I added a list on my sidebar of some decorating/design blogs I like), shopping  finds, books, 'pink' things, and even a few craft projects. (Just don't call me 'crafty', for some reason, I loath that word!).

:: And, I just had to share this lemon  (not a grapefruit) that Dan brought home. A client of his gave it to him, from his tree in his yard.  It was huge, about 6 inches!  We used some on our fish last night and Griff made a glass of lemonade, with about a full cup of sugar added. He kept adding and adding to get it 'just right' ...

 

   

A Pain in the Neck

... which is understating my little problem. I don't think I have even mentioned it here on my blog,  but I have had terrible pain in my neck, right shoulder (and now down through my arm) for over 2 months. It started in November and has continually become worse. For the most part, I have been able to keep the pain in check with tylenol, etc. but it really wears on me and I am taking way too much tylenol/Advil. Chronic pain is no fun :(. I finally was able to get in to an orthopedic doctor 2 weeks ago (he specializes in the neck and shoulder), and was prescribed pain meds and muscle relaxers (both of which I can not take during the day - they wipe me out - so I take them at night and crash!). I had an MRI this past Monday and a follow up visit for my results on Friday.

Sure enough (I was almost positive this is what was wrong although I have no idea how this happened, could just be age or maybe all my weight lifting) ... I have a herniated disc in my upper spine, neck area (c4-c5) which is causing the cervical nerve to be pinched and inflamed which causes lots of pain. My next step is to have a series of epidural steroid injections in my upper spine for pain management. They are trying to work me in next week for my first injection. I hope and pray these injections take care of the pain, if not surgery is an option :(.

So ... I just carry on and thank God that it is me rather than my husband. I have a very strong threshold for pain and have endured it before with surgeries, etc. ... but Dan on the other hand just about checks himself into the hospital when he gets a cold! Seriously, the man is such a baby when it comes to being sick (aren't most men?) - talk about a 'pain in the neck' ! ;)