Oh Happy Day!

"The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things."  Henry Ward Beecher

I've been reading a book about happiness.  At first, I thought 'how silly' to read about happiness.  Just go find it.  But sometimes it seems elusive.

However, I was reminded that we don't have to have "excitement" all the time to feel happiness.  We all see the images on TV and movies where people are over stimulated by various products from cars to soap.  But the one thing to remember is that we don't have to live in that "WOW" world created by marketeers.

But we all need to remember to not take all supposed happiness we see in commercials so seriously.  Instead, I know that happiness is available to me in every moment. Wow.

Zumba with the whippets

Today, I thought I'd try some Zumba.  I ordered a DVD to try it in the comfort of my own home before venturing to the gym (and to avoid that humiliation).

Since I have 2 larger dogs, it was not the most efficient way to exercise when two whippets decide to step on to my "dance floor" aka "living room"!  It was quite a site and I didn't get much done.  But now I think that Mickey knows the meringue...but the zumba wore him out!

The Best Skin Care Tip I've Heard

Do you wonder what you should do with that bit of leftover red wine sitting on your counter?  It's not good to drink but here's a new way to be good to your self:  slather it on your face!

The antioxidant polyphenols found in red wine help fight free radicals, stimulate blood circulation, promote elasticity, smooth wrinkles, detoxify, and hydrate, rejuvenate, and brighten your skin.

Here is an easy recipe for your face that not only will make you look good, but also save you a few dollars!

-Try whipping one cup plain yogurt (use plain Greek yogurt for a thicker mask), two tablespoons of honey, and four tablespoons of red wine together.  The honey and yogurt will help nourish, smooth, and soothe your skin.  

-You can also add an egg white (a great toner), aloe vera gel, cocoa powder, or green tea to this mixture.  Green tea in particular is a powerful antioxidant and when combined with red wine becomes an anti-aging force to be reckoned with.

Don't Mess with My Martini!

I receive many newsletters via email, assisting me with healthy living ideas, recipes, etc.  I received one today that went too far.  It touted a recipe for a vegan chocolate martini....

Now, I'm all about health, but when I saw the martini ingredients, I was shocked and dismayed:

-Organic vodka, vegan hot chocolate mix and soy milk...come on now!

From time to time, I believe that one should splurge just a little and a chocolate martini should not contain soy milk.  So, to be fair, I've included a real chocolate martini recipe to enjoy for the holidays.  Enjoy and savor it well!

Ingredients

• 4 fluid ounces chocolate liqueur
• 3 fluid ounces vodka
• 1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate, grated

Directions

1. In a cocktail mixer full of ice, combine chocolate liqueur and vodka. Shake vigorously and strain into 2 chilled martini glasses. Garnish with chocolate shavings. 

"Quinoa??!!?? Oh good, I thought it was rice"...

This was a phrase uttered recently by my husband (a big carnivore).  How delighted I was to hear those words!

When one spouse is a vegetarian and the other eats meat, it's sometimes hard to please all the palates in the house.  It's a daily challenge to make the vegetarian meals taste great so that my meat-eatin' hubby will partake.


Quinoa is one of those "miracle" foods that is a protein which also contains balanced amino acids.  So, it tastes great and is good for you!

For those of you who want to try a great recipe, I've included my favorite:

Zucchini Quinoa Lasagne - serves 6

• 2 large zucchini, cut lengthwise  into 12 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
• 2 Tbs. nondairy cream cheese, such as Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese, optional
• 1 25-oz. jar marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded nondairy cheese, such as Daiya Mozzarella, optional

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place zucchini slices on bed of paper towels. Sprinkle with salt, cover with paper towels, and let stand to release moisture while preparing quinoa.

2. Bring broth, quinoa, tomato sauce, onion, and oregano to a boil in saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 25 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, and stir in basil, parsley, and cream cheese, if using.

3. Spoon 1/3 cup marinara sauce over bottom of 8-inch square baking dish. Blot remaining moisture and salt from zucchini slices, and lay 4 zucchini slices over marinara sauce in pan. Spoon half of quinoa over zucchini, and cover with 1/3 cup marinara. Repeat with 4 more zucchini slices, remaining quinoa, and 1/3 cup marinara. Top with remaining 4 zucchini slices, remaining marinara, and shredded cheese, if using. Bake lasagna 30 minutes, or until zucchini is tender and top is bubbly.

Nutritional Information

Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 213, Protein: 8g, Total fat: 4g, Saturated fat: <1g, Carbs: 39g, Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 735mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugars: 15g

What do you with do your time?

My occupation is "housewife".  Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would not always have a career.  Instead, I stay at home right now.

I worked for the same company for 25 years.  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, I traded that in to stay at home.  Of course, I've experienced 7 surgeries, chemotherapy and fully deserve some time off for good behavior.  But what will my future bring?

Many still ask me:  "What do you do with your time?"
"I'm busy!" is my response.  It takes time to "take your time" living, being well and taking care of oneself.  It's something I never did when I worked.

I think that everyone could learn from staying home, eating well, cooking healthy meals, exercising when you want and taking that cat nap from time to time.

Slowing down is not always a bad thing in our fast paced world.  I enjoy my time right now and cherish everything I can do for myself, husband and dogs.

What's next for me?  I'll think about it after I'm done with my baking....

MissB

When it's all new

Today, we picked up a rescue dog to add to our home.  Her name is Lea and she is a white whippet.  She is a little afraid of her new surroundings, but slowly, you can see how she begins to trust us.

I imagine that dogs, like people, adapt to their surroundings.  But watching Lea sniff around, hesitate about jumping on the couch and generally wonder what she was supposed to do next, is akin to how humans adapt in situations.

It's hard to jump right into a situation and just give pure love like a dog.  But watching her made me wish that us humans were more amenable to new situations and wish they too, could act friendly and loving to new people.  I suppose it's the old adage of "why can't humans be more like dogs?"

I admire Lea's ability to love us up without hardly knowing us.  She seems appreciative of her toys and her soft bed.  She may be a little shy, but she sure knows how to settle into a cuddly comforter.

I think I will try to learn to trust myself a little more and thereby, trust others.  Thank you Lea, for the rich lesson today.

MissB