Luminosity

Stay Luminous!

2011-07-11T07:51:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking about this post for a while now (it's been nearly a month since I've posted), but I really don't have a definitive reason for closing up shop here at Luminosity. It's more like a feeling...after 745 posts since May 24, 2008, I'm ready. I have loved writing each and every post, but when it's time, you just know it. Perhaps I'll return to blogging in a new persona down the line, but right now I'm at a standstill. And I have to go with that. I hope this is just enough closure, with a crack in the door for new beginnings! Be well (very well), and illuminate!

My Second Set of Eyes

2011-06-02T07:27:00.000-04:00

I wish it wasn't such a crazy busy time of the year. Today should be a day for reflection -- fourteen years ago I gave birth to a little munchkin who makes me look at life with both a telephoto and a wide-angle lens. I try to teach him that life is in the details, but the older he gets the more he makes me look at the bigger picture to see all of life's wonderful colors...and not sweat the small stuff. I wish I could carry him around in my pocket all day long.

Two

Three

Four

4 1/2

Five

Ten

Thirteen

Happy 14th! (last night's eighth grade play)

He may be 6'1", but he'll always be my baby...!

Skyping Coast to Coast with Clean Program's Dr. Alejandro Junger

2011-05-22T22:01:00.000-04:00

Do you ever finish a book and wish you could wrap up lost threads with the author? Occasionally you have that opportunity at book readings, but you're lucky to squeeze in one question, along with a roomful of other hopefuls.

Yesterday I happily joined four women at a local yoga studio for a casual Saturday morning Skype chat with Dr. Alejandro Junger, author of Clean and founder of the CLEAN detox program. We had all recently completed the 21-day Clean detox (read about my cleanse here), and were anxious to hear more about how to make the "gut repair" tenets of the Clean program a part of our long-term health plan.


The Skype session was led by acupuncturist Allyson Nevard, who I had seen to alleviate migraines.

Dr. Junger's own videos on the Clean website are relaxed and never preachy, so I shouldn't have been surprised at how wonderfully laid back and intimate the hour-and-a-half Skype session progressed. Dr. Junger "met" with us from his L.A. home, so it was an early 7:30am wake-up call for him, in the privacy of his own kitchen. We were also introduced to his two charming daughters, (the elder five-year-old kept begging Papa to play with her instead of talking into a computer with far-away strangers).

Dr. Junger

We started out talking about how senseless it is to try and force fat out of our bodies on short-term diets that leave the body unbalanced -- "without detoxification, fat loss is dangerous". Of course, we'll all exposed to toxins in the modern world, so you have to pay attention to your digestive system on a daily basis for the rest of your life. Some easy ways:

* Give your body a 12-hour window between dinner and breakfast.
* Have sufficient fiber every day.
* Dry brush your skin before showering.
* Breathe deeply
* Exercise....sweat!
* Watch what you eat (have the least # of foods from the program's 'not allowed' list)

Basically, Dr. Junger said that the program is all about common sense. If you take care of your body, eat properly, and cleanse as needed throughout the year, you shouldn't worry about the chronic amounts of supplements that so many people take regularly, etc. After listening to Dr. Junger, I thought about how much time Americans spend taking care of their cars, and how they should expend that same energy on themselves! If your body is humming along like a well-tuned car, and you're cleaning it, fueling it properly, and taking it in for regular check-ups, it should give you a long and smooth ride!

In speaking about colonics, Dr. Junger said that they're a useful tool only if you have a certain health objective (e.g. constipation issues) and see a highly qualified operator. In other words, you shouldn't use them as a crutch or for the wrong reasons (e.g. not unlike a bulimic).

We also talked about:

Natural Calm -- it's good for stress, nervousness, high blood pressure, constipation, and helps you sleep better, but once your gut is working naturally, you should be able to treat those conditions with the foods you eat.

Get some Vitamin D naturally -- go out in the sun!

"Dairy is poison when it comes from cattle versus cows". You might (or might not) want to read this.

Functional medicine -- See a functional MD if you're interesting in personalized medicine that deals with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of symptoms for serious chronic disease. Here's the Facebook link for the Institute of Functional Medicine.

NOTES:

In the top picture, you'll see a jar by Allyson's elbow. She brought in "How Now Brown Cacao" for us to try, a yummy emollient full-body cream that leaves you smelling like a delicious box of chocolates. Afterwards, I kept asking everyone to smell my arm! Check it out here.

You can "like" Dr. Junger on Facebook here.

Agave is no longer part of the Clean program -- it is not a natural sweetener. The agave starch is subject to an enzymatic and chemical process that converts the starch into a fructose-rich syrup. It actually has more concentrated fructose than high-fructose corn syrup (thanks for telling me after I enjoyed it on my oatmeal all winter...)

If you recall, I first got hooked on the notion of detoxifying after a stay at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires. Here is my post about the lecture I attended there, given by Dr. Mark Liponis, MD, Canyon Ranch's Corporate Medical Director. Dr. Mark Hyman, MB, used to be affiliated with the Ranch, and is one of the top functional medicine/ultrawellness authorities in the country. Follow him here.

Dr. Mark Hyman, MD...Clean program testimonial here.

I would like to thank Dr. Junger for taking time out of his busy life to speak with us! It was a treat, and a great way to keep me going down the Clean path.

BTW, he's busy writing his second book, on Maintenance. Yea!

Garden Toys

2011-05-10T08:52:00.001-04:00

I love a little whimsy in the garden. It should be a happy spot! Let's take a little walk...

Here's the newest member of our garden family...a weathered granite bird bath. Can't wait for a good splash!

Picked up this humble armillary at the Brimfield Fair years ago. It's a good support system for the swamp azalea. I think it might look nice on a little pedestal, for a focal point in this shade garden. Not as tall as the armillary below, but just enough to peek over the plants. Hmm...

I don't have a symmetrical garden, but I'm drawn to this photo...

A meditating little fairy...

Who knows how old this guy is... He was left behind in the garden of our previous home, covered up under the plants. When we moved, I just couldn't leave him behind again. He greets people at the back door.

This little guy keeps an eye (or two) on things...

This stainless steel pinwheel was the inspiration for today's post. For $11.78, why not add a little sparkle to your oasis?

I stumbled (most appreciatively) on the Gay Gardener website, and unearthed this "to do" list for the month of May. Holy Hollyhocks, Batman. Pick a few from the list and call it a day!

• Add materials used as winter mulch to the compost pile, and turn pile over.
• Apply mulch to evergreens, shrubs and trees to keep down weeds and conserve moisture.
• Avoid spraying fruit trees with insecticide until after the petals have dropped.
• Begin staking tall growing perennials.
• Broad leaf evergreens such as Rhododendrons and Azaleas should be planted in early spring.
• Cut back and repot Hydrangeas that have bloomed in the house, then sink pots in the ground outdoors.
• Cut faded blooms from Daffodils and Tulips to prevent seed formation, but leave the foliage until it browns.
• Clematis and other vines should be retied after pruning.
• Dahlias can be planted now until the middle of June.
• Don't overdo it these busy gardening days, work steadily, but know when to stop.
• Fall blooming plants such as Chrysanthemums, Asters and Japanese Anemones, can now be put in their permanent places.
• Finish planting annuals, vegetables, and shrubs.
• Flowers should be removed from newly planted strawberry plants, to encourage development of runners.
• For bright, fragrant flowers at dusk, plant some moonflower seeds.
• For larger flowers on Peonies, pinch off side buds.
• Get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful spring weather.
• Give Peonies a dose of manure water to help their flowering.
• House plants can be moved outdoors and sunk in the ground, up to the pot brim.
• If bulbs are naturalized in lawn areas, delay mowing until foliage has browned.
• Keep up your weekly spray program for Roses.
• Last call to plant new rose bushes.
• Make manure extract by hanging a gunny bag of fresh manure in a barrel of water.
• Most spring blooming shrubs can now be pruned and shaped.
• Move caladiums to a shady spot.
• Now that the danger of frost is gone, tender bedding plants like Cannas, Geraniums and Begonias can be planted outdoors.
• Open season for slaughtering weeds is upon us, keep hoe and cultivator going.
• Pieces of Poinsettia cut from old plants can be rooted for next years bloom.
• Plant Gladiolus corms now, repeat plantings every 2-3 weeks for extended flowering.
• Prepare beds now for Dahila tubers.
• Prune and repot house Geraniums, make cuttings from any healthy pieces removed.
• Prune Pussy Willow, Forsythia, Quince, Corylopsis and Witch Hazel.
• Regales, Auratums and other spring planted Lilies should be planted now.
• Remove suckers from fruit trees, Lilacs, Maples and Magnolias.
• Salt hay can be tucked under strawberry plants to prevent fruit from being spattered.
• Seeds of tender annuals such as Asters, Cornflowers, Larkspurs, and Shirley poppies can be sown outdoors now.
• Set tomato stakes before putting your plants in the garden.
• Start sowing seeds of perennials in cold frame this month.
• Stem cuttings can be taken from Chrysanthemums and rooted in a sand-peat mixture.
• To ensure berries on hollies, females can be sprayed with hormone spray when flowering.
• The deadline is nearing for planting evergreens, dormant trees and shrubs.

Lobsta!

2011-05-06T08:34:00.001-04:00

Growing up in a coastal New England town, you had to live and love lobster. Had to. Walk a block and you were at The Lobster Pot --it was in our blood!

View from The Lobster Pot, Bristol, RI

Then I went and married a guy who was born and bred in a land-locked Southern town -- he won't touch it. So sad. Luckily my son shares my love of all things "lobsta" (especially scrumptious lobster rolls from Post 390, lobster ravioli, and good old fashioned boiled lobster fests).


Lobster Ravioli from Hampshire House

Jasper White's Summer Shack in Cambridge is a favorite spot

I'm allowed to embarrass them and wear the bib once a summer...(this was last summer, at Chatham Bars Inn)

Honestly, I'm a sucker for anything with a lobster on it. Here are some cool lobster finds on Etsy:

18th Century lobster illustration on a vintage dictionary page

Martha's Vineyard Trading Company Lobster original graphic art collage on canvas 18 x 36

For your sea dog: Lobsta Dog Collar 1 inch wide

New England supper -- 11x14 matted print of the original handcut paper

Sea Creature pillows (made in any size)

I've got this little guy on my charm bracelet, to keep the memories alive!

My Favorite Time Suck

2011-05-04T19:37:00.000-04:00

Everyone needs a break (or a few) during the day. Pinterest is one of my faves -- nothing to read, just a chance to sit back and enjoy.

Currently on view:

Nice spring look

Silver gray wedding dress...I know someone who would rock this...

Butter London 'All Hail McQueen' nail varnish.

Anthropologie, natch

Hammered silver, from Sundance


Super cute

Awww...

Liv is inspiring!

You never know when you'll needing these...

Verona, Italy...getting me psyched for our trip!

Just in time for summer: Mango Coconut Fizz

How easy is this?

Ta-ta for now! Gotta get back to WORK!

May Check Point

2011-05-02T09:14:00.003-04:00

Time for my 4-month check in, and happy to report that I'm

down 20 pounds total (5 pounds in April); BMI down 3.3.

I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe, but more importantly, I'm happy that as a family we're moving along a path toward better health. My annual physical last November (which finally forced me to step on a scale), the visit to Canyon Ranch in February, and completing the 21-day Clean detox program last month has really rearranged my priorities and changed the way I look at food. Now it's all about what food can do for me -- if there's no value-added, there's no place for it in our fridge or pantry. Which is not to say that you don't want me at your next party! We're not going wacky over here or anything, but the mindset is positive and the goal is long term.

Speaking of goals, I need to try and put them down...so why not right now? Hmmm...

1.) Complete a specific Wellness Plan (concept from the Clean program). That means, what will my days look like food-wise, fitness-wise, and health-wise -- and not just "exercise more".

2.) Start each day with a healthy smoothie. Here are some Clean smoothie recipes. I'm also expecting delivery of this book today...The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker, and thinking about supporting that with her Smoothie Bible, too.

3.) Make every Friday a liquid-only day. It's like a mini de-tox to keep me on track. Any combo of green juices, smoothies, and pureed soups. Here's a Clean Green Smoothie recipe (belnd together until smooth):

1 1/2 cups almond milk (dairy-free)
1/2 cup coconut water
2 leaves dark green kale or swiss chard, coarsely chopped
1/4 avocado
1/2 cup mango chunks (frozen organic are easiest)
1/2 cup ice

100% natural O.N.E. coconut water -- good anytime!

4.) I would actually need to lose another 14 pounds to get to what is considered my ideal medically-recommended Body Mass Index. While I don't think there is any way in hell that this can happen, I would like to see if I can get half-way there!

5.) Use that 5-yoga class gift card that I received at Christmas 2009! It's still valid and I have to start scheduling classes. I'm hoping that when I've completed five, I'll want to make it part of my ongoing plan.

6.) Keep going with the elliptical, but supplement with bike rides (now that the sun is finally here to stay)!

7.) Get a weight training routine going. Unwrap the Strong Body, Ageless Body cd, which has been sitting in my office for eva...

I think this should keep me going for the next month... If you have any ideas to pass along, I'd love to hear them!

Dry Skin Brushing -- New to Me!

2011-04-28T08:56:00.001-04:00

Dry skin brushing was a new one for me! I read about it on the Clean website (exfoliating the body is an effective and easy way to eliminate toxins), and as I prepare my "wellness plan" following my cleanse, I'm adding it to my list. Plus, summer is coming and it's time to unleash the bod!

I knew all about loofah mitts in the shower (but haven't used one in years and years). And I'm on again off again with exfoliators in the shower -- a great way to rejuvenate your skin. Rub thoroughly all over your wet, clean body in circular motions (or use on loofah). Don’t rub so hard that the skin gets irritated -- over exfoliating can seriously damage your skin. Twice a week max. This one by Decleor is my fave:

Decleor Body Exfoliating Cream to remove impurities and stimulate the cellular renewal process

Dry skin brushing happens before you step into the shower. Before getting into the steps, did you know:

The skin is the largest most important eliminative organ in the body and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day?
The skin eliminates over one pound of waste acids each day in the average adult, most of it through the sweat glands?
That the skin is known also as our third kidney?
That the skin receives one third of all the blood circulated in the body?
That the skin is the last to receive nutrients in the body, yet the first to show signs of imbalance or deficiency?

Whoa. I think about my facial skin, and my feet, but take everything in between for granted!

Here's a link to the LiveStrong website, explaining the difference between exfoliation and dry skin brushing.

Dry brushing is a way to stimulate all the organs of detoxification because it provides a gentle internal massage. But there are many other benefits:

1. Removes cellulite

2. Cleanses the lymphatic system

3. Removes dead skin layers

4. Strengthens the immune system

5. Stimulates the hormone and oil-producing glands

6. Tightens the skin preventing premature aging

7. Tones the muscles

8. Stimulates circulation

9. Improves the function of the nervous system

10. Helps digestion

You need a soft natural fiber brush with a long handle. I bought this Aldo Vandini body massage brush at Marshall's yesterday for $8. Before you shower, use long sweeping strokes starting at the bottom of your feet upwards, and from the hand toward the shoulders, and on the torso in an upward direction to help drain the lymph back to your heart. Never stroke away from the heart.

Begin with your feet and brush vigorously in circular motions.

Continue brushing up your legs.

Proceed to your hands and arms.

Brush your entire back and abdomen area, shoulders and neck.

Use circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen.

Lightly brush the breasts.

Brush upwards on the back and down from the neck.

For complete directions, including switching from hot to cold water in the shower, click here.

Korean Bath Massage Towels are the ticket...

One more tip that I picked up from the Clean blog...I just ordered the above "Korean's best kept secret for beautiful skin" from eBay -- $2. Search for Korean Bath Massage Towel. Use it on wet skin to feel super soft and clean -- and it helps get rid of cellulite. They're called Ddeh Towels or Korean Italy exfoliating towels. You literally see the dead skin come off. Make sure they are made in Korea for the real thing.

Follow your shower by a great moisturizer and you'll be glowing!

The 21-Day Cleanse Ended Today...But it's Just the Beginning!

2011-04-26T21:53:00.003-04:00

Note: I bought the 21-day cleanse package to save time, but you can follow the program from the book and make all the meals yourself.

You may have read my post from twenty one days ago, as I was beginning my 21-day de-tox cleanse offered by Dr. Alejandro Junger's CLEAN program. Well, it's a wrap! I've loved every minute of it (truly), and am ready to take my commitment to good health and fitness to a new level.

I thought a lot about this post...how could I possibly share all my thoughts when, even though the program has "officially" ended, I'm in such a state of flux? So much yet to do..to learn...to share! Living clean is going to be a gradual, life-long process, but I've decided to take my time (pretty novel for me, no?), and, not unlike tending a garden, understand that I'm a living thing that needs constant attention and care. That thought alone is mind blowing to me -- I've always put myself last (family and work first). But since the beginning of the year I've carved out time for me -- exercise, diet/meals, health -- and finally see that I can tend to others and to me, and everyone wins.

Here's the only way I can capture the CLEAN experience for you -- snippits that will evolve into future posts (let me know if you have questions; I'll be happy to try and answer them):

* I did the Renew Cleanse vs. the Rebuild Cleanse, because I didn't have the typical bad habits to break (junk food, coffee, sugar), and was eating fairly well. I just wanted to de-tox and help me get past a weight loss plateau. The Renew Cleanse includes a shake for breakfast, a regular lunch from an approved list of "real" foods (many raw), an afternoon shake, and a light meal for dinner. Plus three Clean supplements three times a day. No dairy. No bread or white flour. No sugar. No coffee. No alcohol. No strawberries, which are the most fumigated with toxins. Here's a 3-page list of all the wonderful foods that you can eat. Plenty of great choices.

Shake at breakfast and 3pm

* I started each day with a blueberry shake -- frozen blueberries (so no need to add ice), almond milk (it's all we drink as a family anyway, so that was easy), water and two powders: "Nourish" a rice protein base with vitamins, minerals, etc. to support detoxification and "Move", a fiber supplement designed to support healthy intestinal movement. Plus 3 supplements -- "Clear One" (1x/day), "Ease" and "Balance". {These reduce the workload of your digestive system and focus on elimination, and providing nutrients necessary for repair of the gut.} This was a change from my standard heavy oatmeal, and for the spring and summer, I'm going to continue with a fruit shake for breakfast (there are loads of CLEAN shake recipes to mix it up). In the fall, I'm going to give Quinoa Porridge a whirl!

Mangoes were a vital part of my cleanse; so were avocados.

* At about 10am I had almonds, walnuts and pepitas (same as those nut bags that Kevin makes for us every day, but we excluded the dried fruit from Whole Foods that have a little sugar, and no healthy dark chocolate bits).

* Noon was my "big meal"...a smorgasbord of foods that I typically have for lunch anyway, less the whole grain wrap. These included avocado or homemade guacamole, beets, broccoli, kidney or navy beans, mango or mango salsa, a little chicken or salmon, blackberries, brussel sprouts, sometimes pea soup, sometimes a great salad from Whole Foods. I even had "dessert" -- celery with almond butter. And my supplements. {Some people choose to cook fab meals with all the available choices; I was happy to keep things simple and not make a big deal of meals.}

Salmon on puree of peas

* At around 3pm I had another shake, just like breakfast. This "shake break" has been a huge eye opener for me. It was healthy, tasty, and filled me up so that I wasn't ravenous at dinner time. In fact, I really didn't need much for dinner, and it has became far less important to me.

* Dinner was light -- some version of the lunch menu above. Plus supplements.

Garlic + extra virgin olive oil = all good

* One of the cornerstones of the plan is that you have to have a 12-hour window at night that is food-free. I typically don't eat at night, so that wasn't a pain for me. The 3pm shake filled me up, so I was able to eat a light dinner at around 6 or 6:30, then breakfast at 7am.

Well, that's pretty much a round-up of the mechanics of the program. Here are some thoughts about my own personal experiences:

* I was restless at night during the second week. I thought it was because my tummy was getting accustomed to the new, lighter menu. But once I took the time to register on the CLEAN website and watch all the helpful videos, I saw that I was not alone. Detoxification is turned on to its maximum strength during the night -- the body is using all its energy for detoxification (because you're not moving).

No eating for 12 hours at night for max detox

* Great support from my de-tox cyber-buddies on the CLEAN blog, and am learning so much here. People connect via discussions, blog entries, journal entries, videos, etc. It's a great community and I love discovering new ideas here, and will examine them on the blog as I learn more (e.g. dry skin brushing, because our skin is such an important organ for elimination -- bought my brush today!).

My Clean Program page

*While the program isn't designed for weight-loss, a lot of people do it just for this reason. No doubt you'll lose weight, depending upon which version of the program you use, and how much you eat (my goal is to eat normally, but better -- it takes longer, but I'm not looking for a short-term "diet". I lost five pounds. Had I not been "dieting" since the first of the year, it would very likely have been much more. But it certainly helped me get through the plateau in my weight loss (now a total of 20 pounds over the last 4 months).

* We're exposed to an unbelievable amount of toxins every, and they're coated with mucous in our tissues and stuck to the walls of our intestines. I felt great about eliminating them every day and restoring the good bacteria in my intestines. I won't get graphic here, but you drink water and pee all. day. long.

* Heavy breathing is key to move more air out of your lungs. And we can finally open the windows and breathe in fresh air! {Note to self: do more work on breathing techniques.}

* Exercise and sweat! One crazy thing I noticed by the third week was that my sweat didn't smell after my elliptical workouts. Wild. I was never too tired to exercise -- just the opposite -- I was energized.

* Lemon, garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper promote elimination. Drink water with lemon, eat raw garlic, grate ginger on foods...

* Massage is a great way to detox. Oh yea.

Detox massages promote lymph drainage.

* I went out to eat a couple of times for business, and it wasn't a problem -- just no alcohol or foods from the no-no list.

So even though my 21-days are over, it really is just the beginning. I've been elevated to a new and better place. My relationship with food has changed -- not just my taste buds, but how I see it. This has been a great opportunity to start over with a great foundation for a wellness plan for life. I found out about the CLEAN program from my husband, who read the book and then was ready to start a cleanse. I just jumped in. But I've just bought the book and will backtrack to learn more about the benefits of "restoring the body's natural ability to heal itself". Detoxification causes a significant improvement in the power and function of the immune system, and (without sounding like an ad) the CLEAN program really is an easy way to give your body a jump start.

Are you with me? (C'mon...even Martha is on board!)

Dr. Junger wows Martha

Easter Memories

2011-04-23T08:56:00.000-04:00

England, 1936

My childhood Easters took place in the sixties. For me, they were magical -- all about my new outfit, egg coloring, the Easter egg hunt, the Easter bunny who I believed made his rounds on an oversized tricycle, discovering my beautiful basket, the deliciously fresh bread with eggs peeking out baked by my parents the night before, and a painfully long morning church service spent admiring a fragrant lily-covered altar and, most especially, my shiny shoes (the year I was allowed to wear white fishnets was monumental).

Betsy McCall does Easter in the sixties

A little-known fact about me and Easter features Girl Scout cookies. An avid scout with badges up the wazoo, I knock knock knocked on neighbors' doors, anxious to fill in every line on that order form. When the boxes were at last delivered, it was Lent, and that meant that the reward of all of that selling had to be delayed until Easter...I gave up sugar each year during those interminably long forty days.

Every night, while my family snacked on their mint, peanut butter or shortbread cookies, I would stash my fair share in a plastic bag and hide them under my bed. The bag was bulging with cookies, when upon waking on Easter, I would slide my hand under the bed and grab it with ferocity. Right there, right then, I would dig in. I had to get the deed done early, because we weren't allowed to eat for an hour before receiving Communion. Such deceitful planning for an eight-year-old!

This year I've put out the familiar Easter decorations, and have the basket nearly ready for my teenager. Even though he hasn't received stuffed bunnies and lambs for years, his basket tomorrow will include an awfully cute (albeit grown up) stuffed zebra perched among the other goodies in the faux grass -- the mascot at his new school this coming September. And so the magic continues...

A Happy Easter, friends!

(Almost) Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Olive Oil

2011-04-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

I received an email from The Full Yield on one of my favorite healthy food products, olive oil, and thought I'd pass along a few of their tips (as well as a few others) to set the record straight:

Olive oil is health-supporting -- one of the best sources of monounsaturated fats. By ingesting more olives, you can even help prevent certain kinds of cancers, such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and skin cancer.

You just need to know how to correctly use olive oil in order to reap the benefits.

Look for extra virgin olive oils that have been cold-pressed, which means that the olive oil has come from the first pressing of the olives, removing about 90% of the olives' juice and producing a low-acidity oil. This press does not use chemicals and high heat, which preserves more nutrients.

Heating olive oil can be toxic. You never want to let olive oil get hotter than 200-250 degrees. When you first put room temperature olive oil into a pan, it's green and vibrant, filled with vitamins and anti-oxidants. But as the temperature rises, all those nutrients are literally burned out of the oil, along with the color, and toxic fumes rise from the pan.

Some health experts recommend using safflower oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil when heating, although Full Yield says that lower-priced, good-quality extra-virgin olive oils (like Colavita or the Whole Foods line) are good for sautéing, frying, roasting, and other cooked preparations. Just watch the intensity of the heat.

The healthful compounds in olive oil are sensitive to light and heat, so steer clear of olive oil that comes in a clear glass bottle or has been sitting in a sunny shop. Store all of your oils in a cool, dark place, refrigerating them if you use them slowly.

Drizzle olive oil on just about anything! Use estate-bottled oils, the high-quality, higher-priced extra-virgin olive oils, for salads—green, bean, or grain-based -- as well as cooked vegetables as well as for garnishing foods. After cooking meal, put it on fish, salad, vegetables, whatever you make- it's like adding a handful of nutrients and vitamins to every dish.

Aim to use up your olive oil stash within three months of opening because after that the health-supporting fats begin to oxidize and the oil becomes rancid.

Full Yield suggest inviting friends over for an olive oil tasting, which could be a fun way to start a dinner party! Each guest brings a different extra virgin olive oil from a different region. Try them drizzled over steamed potatoes or simple whole grain bread, to take in the distinct flavors and scents, and develop a taste preference.

Like wine, olive oils have flavors and aromas that reflect the olive variety and region the fruit was grown. Olive oil gets its green-gold color from the chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments in the olives. The types and amount of phenolic compounds in the oil determine its pungency and flavor. Olive oils can taste and smell citrusy, fruity, nutty, earthy, grassy, herbaceous, or even like apple. Here's a taste primer:

Australia: Oils from Australia often use barnea olives, which make oils with a little spice and pungency.

California: Arbequina olives are a favorite of California producers and give these oils a fresh, almond-like profile.

France: The French olive oils often use picholine olives, which make balanced oils without bitterness.

Greece: Olive oil from this region tends to be a vibrant green hue and have a robust flavor and aroma.

Italy: Frantolo oils are peppery with undertones of grass and are great for drizzling on cooked vegetables and cooking. Leccino oils produce mild, sweet oils. Moraiolo oils are fruitier. Taggiasca oils are also fruity and excellent used as a drizzling oil on fish and vegetables.

Spain: These oils are typically golden and have a fruity, nutty flavor.

Gustare's tasting counters

If you find yourself on the Cape this summer, make a road trip to Chatham. At the flagship store of Gustare Oils and Vinegars (425 Main Street) you can sample imported extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world. Sample from over 40 varieties to create your own favorite pairings of delicious olive oils and balsamics. Their infused oils are delicious -- I love the subtle lemon flavor of their Whole Fruit Lemon Fused Extra Virgin Oil for fish, shellfish, veggies and in a vinaigrette for a summer salad.

Click here to subscribe to "the pour", their e-newsletter for news and great recipes.

Happy dipping!

So Many Products; So Little Time...

2011-04-11T14:51:00.000-04:00

One of the things I use this blog for is to keep track of some of those inspirational wish lists we're all bombarded with in mags and blogs. Online mags have become increasingly hot, and I love the way you can just click a product and zip over to its website. Plus, they never pile up in baskets all over the house... I think I've mentioned Matchbook before. Their third issue {April} featured a Top 50 list of classic beauty tools and products. Definitely worth bookmarking (and there's a link on the cover so you can read it on your iPad)!

One item from this spread that has me on the hook is fresh's Rose Face Mask. Women rave about it!

This spread includes the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer...am I the only living gal not to have tried this?

If I had to try something on this spread, it just might be the Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System. Has anyone tried it? If it comes in nine colors, it must be good, no?

Which online magazines to you read? Lonny? Rue? High Gloss? Any others?

April Check Point

2011-04-04T08:43:00.000-04:00

A pattern has emerged here -- another three pounds down this month for a total of fifteen since Jan. 2. I was going for five, but with some vk time and another week of no working out thanks to the world's worst cough/virus, I'll take it (that nasty chest cough still lingers so workouts are intermittent...). This leaves me with six pounds to goal 'til the end of April.

To mix things up a little, beginning on Wednesday I'm going to join husband Kevin on a 21-day light cleanse from the CLEAN program. Kevin just finished reading the NYT bestseller "CLEAN: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself" by cardiologist and detoxification specialist Alejandro Junger, M.D., and got hooked. I'm just tagging along.

You may have heard of the detox cleanses offered by Junger's company, CLEAN (offered since 2009). You actually get to eat real food! 'Renew' (our program choice) is the 21-day "light" cleanse, consisting of a protein-rich shake for breakfast, lunch from an approved list of foods, another shake in the afternoon, and a light meal for dinner {all which allow your digestive system to focus on driving out toxins}. Throughout the day you take three Clean supplements to quell hunger and encourage gut-friendly bacteria. You're allowed most fruits and veggies, fish, chicken and nuts. And unlike juice fasts of the past, you can still work out.

I don't have a lot of toxicity in my diet to begin with, but I am motivated by a boost in the weight loss department to get to my goal, and am especially attracted to the focus of the Clean lifestyle as a launching pad for the long term. When you're finished with the cleanse and have a "clean canvas" and add foods back to watch the results -- e.g. am I sensitive to gluten? For me it's just another step in hammering home the fundamentals of "clean living".

I'll report back on my own CLEAN adventure soon, including recipes and more info on how it all works. Time to dig out the blender...

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Summertime Bookmarks

2011-03-30T11:51:00.001-04:00

I bookmark a lot of stuff. Mucho grande. Then I weed it them so that I'm left with my best "go to's". As you can imagine, I have a "fairly organized" bookmark filing system -- both for the Mac's Bookmark Nav Bar and the Bookmark Files. It is a huge time saver, and after all, our computers have just about replaced the stacks of files and articles that used to pile up on every free surface of our desks and offices. Now it's out-of-sight, but not out-of-mind.

I keep the professional stuff completely separate, with only the best and the latest info at-the-ready for clients. Then there's the requisite personal stuff -- boy, dog, finances, photos, car, etc. But the fun stuff is everything else -- all those tips from blogs, website surfing, etc. These files act like custom magazines on topics near and dear to me -- travel, books, health, food & dining...and, er...retail (broken down into 9 different files -- such as clothes, shoes, house, jewelry, and the all-important "buy" folder -- to make shopping easy and FUN!). Too many bookmarks in one file makes me hyperventilate.

With summer fast approaching (oh, come on, it has to come!), I've searched through my bookmarks for some appropriate warm-weather pix. After all, what's the point of bookmarks if you don't get out from under your laptop and DO something!

ONE. This summer I'd like to take Walker on some local road-trips. Historic New England is a great site for places to explore. This picture is Beauport, a national historic landmark overlooking the harbor in Gloucester, MA. Of course he'd never care to tour it, but Gloucester itself and a nearby beach would make a great day.

TWO. Bailey's Beach in Newport (at the intersection of Bellevue Ave. and Ocean Drive). Much smaller than the popular Newport beaches, referred to as 1st, 2nd and 3rd, it's accessible only by foot or bike. I long to see Ten Mile Drive again, a favorite spot growing up, especially on wild and woolly days when the surf was full of fury and drama.

THREE. Lipstick Queen is supposed to be the perfect shade of lipstick/gloss to complement your jeans. Go figure. It looks like a great summer pink.

FOUR. The delightful Catherine Fitzsimmons of Rikshaw Design has added some new beauties to her repertoire for women. Isn't her anchor kurta the perfect summer uniform for above road trips?

FIVE. Looking for a summer read for your beach bag? Are you a Jackie or a Marilyn sounds like the perfect choice (especially if you're pouring over it in Newport, Jackie's hometown...). Check out author Pamela Keough's take on her new book:

SIX. Love love love the simplicity and lines of these bags by LouenHide. White = Summer.

SEVEN. The perfectly chic summer flat, ala the vibes in photo 6 -- the easy, comfortable, go-anywhere shoe. This one's by Anyi Lu and it's called Harmony. Nice arch support and cushioning.

Sooooooo, hope you're enjoy a smidge of my bookmarks for the summer. Nothing too heavy lifting...it's summer, after all! Time to lighten the load.

Beet Salad: Perfect for any Meal

2011-03-29T19:50:00.000-04:00

Sure, you can buy beets already prepared, but half the fun is making them yourself. I love a beet salad with any meal, and here's one I'd like to try soon, from Self mag. It's easy -- you bake the beets. Don't you love the way they've mixed and matched the golden and red beets?

Serves 4 (but I'd make extra and eat them cold the next day...)

4 medium red or golden beets (4 ounces each), stems and root ends removed
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon sunflower-seed oil
2 ounces goat cheese

Heat oven to 400°F. Wrap each beet in foil. Roast until soft, about 1 hour. Cool slightly; remove foil. Rub off skins; cut into wedges. Toss with nuts and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Add oil; toss. Divide among 4 plates; crumble cheese on top.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 167 calories, 11.4 g fat (1.7 g saturated), 13.2 g carbs, 3.8 g fiber, 5.3 g protein

That's How I Roll...

2011-03-25T08:15:00.000-04:00

Do you remember what year Thriller came out? 1983! And I still love every song. I remember many hours moon walking with my friend's sons, they bedecked in red leather zipper jackets, hair slicked back, dad's aviators falling off their noses. Maybe I'm just feeling nostalgic, but in just a few days, I'm going to recreate those memories when the UPS man drops off my very own Michael Jackson dance dvd for Wii Fit. Laugh all you want, but I love his music and it's another fun way to burn a few calories on my own time. Just look at the babe in the promo...she's rockin', Wii controller in hand! I hear if you pick your tracks carefully, you can get quite a nice workout. I'm willing to give it a try...

Looks like I'll be moving the furniture out of harm's way, and getting in the groove. What's the worst thing that can happen? A neighbor spies me partying by myself (with one glove) and calls Social Services? Most of the songs allow you to choose between Jackson’s parts of the routines, or his backup dancers, or a female partner. Oh yea.

I'll let you know how I fare against the King of Pop...28 years later.

Face Forward

2011-03-04T08:59:00.000-05:00

Remember when the words "low fat" first began to pop up everywhere? Now, thanks to all of us Baby Boomers, "anti-aging" is the new mantra. So when I saw "the ultimate anti-age treatment for the face" in the Canyon Ranch brochure, I signed me up tout de suite.

My esthetician Kate plied me with products that contained vitamins A, B5, E and F, combined with natural extracts of white willow leaf, ginkgo biloba, sunflower, soya and wheat proteins to "reactivate the synthesis of lipids and plump up the dermal layer" resulting in visibly diminished fine lines. No doubt about it, my skin looked hydrated and radiant - so much so that one woman commented that she would never have guessed I had just had a facial (you can look pretty scary).

Afterwards, Kate and I met to discuss the best skin care regime for my face and time commitment to said face. We reviewed a regime using the same products she wooed me with during my dream facial, all by Sisley of Paris. Tres chic, but tres cher! Sensing my discomfort (and picking me up off the floor), she very discreetly slid over a second paper, with a more "moderately priced" regime by Environ. I'm pretty lucky in the skin department, so there was little-to-no need for daytime products. It's mainly a nighttime "anti-aging" regime for me. (Which is tougher said than done, as I get lazy at night. This regime puts the onus on me to get it all done at night, waking up with a clean palette.)

Here's what I happily brought home:

C-Quence 1

C-Quence 1 is a vitamin A, C & E serum to be used both day and night to soften the appearance of fine lines. The low concentration of vitamin A combined with vitamin C in medium doses is intended for sensitive skin and people who have never used vitamin A creams. It speeds up the restoration of skin cells, and improves skin complexion, tone and texture.

Alpha Hydroxy Toner Mild

Alpha Toner (mild) is for nighttime only (for me, which is a switch, because I typical tone in the morning). This regular strength toner is ideal for normal or combination skin, and encourages gentle exfoliation of the skin - resulting in a more refined appearance.

Original Debut Cream

Debut is a light vitamin A cream that includes several moisturizers and is designed to promote hydration of the skin without making it oily. It is ideal for even the most sensitive of skins, as it contains the lowest amount of vitamin A.

C-Quence Ionzyme Eye Gel

C-Quence Eye Gel should be used night and day for use on the delicate eye area, particularly where crow's feet and deep lines are visible. An effective alternative to Botox, it's safe, mild, and injection-free! To get scientific on you, it contains three peptides which have been proven to combat the appearance of wrinkles. They work in synergy with vitamins A, C, and E to give firmer, smoother and healthier skin. It also contains soybean and rosemary extracts to complete the full brigade of powerful antioxidants.

Kate's last bit of advice: anything you do to your face, do to your neck...

If you can take any more, here's the back story on Environ and Vitamin A in general:

"In 1990 plastic surgeon Dr. Des Fernandes was the first in the world to introduce the use of vitamin A in effective levels in a skin care cream with the introduction of Environ. Their skin care products contain vitamin A in varying levels of concentration. The creams have been formulated to combat and relieve the harmful effects of the harsh climatic changes of today’s environment – pollution, stress, poor diet and the ever-increasing dose of irradiation from the sun.

Today it is well recognized that the rejuvenation of skin can be achieved by applying vitamin A to the skin. While there are various types of vitamin A, the most common form is Retinyl Palmitate, which is the form that is normally found in our livers and the liver of fish like halibut, cod and sharks.

Vitamin A has an effect on the genes of the cells so that the cells grow and look more normal and it increases the growth of the basal layer of skin cells which may be the predominant reason for the thickening of the skin. One of the most important uses of vitamin A, therefore, is as a basic normalizing function that is essential for every single cell.

Over consumption of Vitamin A can cause liver damage and also skin problems. Therefore the safest way to supply vitamin A to the skin is to apply it topically. Only minute doses are necessary and so the topical application of Retinyl Palmitate is usually without reaction. Even the creams with relatively high doses are still much too low to produce any effect on the body. Retinyl Palmitate should be introduced to the skin in its weakest form and then gradually increased to acclimatize the skin to its effects until the maximum dosage is easily accepted by the skin."

The good news is that vitamin A is readily available from numerous food sources.

The bad news is that alcohol, coffee, or excessive iron can all deplete your body's supply.

Here's a list of the top ten vitamin A-rich foods:

Think orange!

liver
sweet potatoes
carrots
mangoes
spinach
cantaloupe
dried apricots
milk
egg yolks
mozzarella cheese

March Check Point

2011-03-02T07:32:00.001-05:00

I'm not quite sure how to report my monthly weight loss progress this month. On one hand, it's good -- down another three pounds for a total of 12 pounds lost since Jan. 2 (BMI down 2.4). On the other hand, I can't believe how hard I've had to work for it! The payback isn't quite up to my expectations, but I'm going as long as it takes to get to my goal of 21 pounds (9 to go!). End of April? Of course, that's when the hard part really starts...maintenance.

The new muscle tone is much appreciated, though, and I assume that's accounting for some of the small pound progress. I'm religious about my 45 minutes of interval cardio training on the elliptical six days week, and try to mix it up as much as one can. One song very high resistance, one song pretty high resistance pedaling like a bat out of hell. Sometimes hands on, pushing the handles for arm toning, sometimes hands off for core work. Pedaling forwards and backwards for quads, hamstrings, calves and glutes. Unlike a lot of people, I love my time on the elliptical. I think it's because it's MY time, a luscious 45 minutes to put on the headphones and have some fun. I've even grown to like it at night, washing away the debris of the day and preparing me for a good night's sleep.

The foam roller has arrived, and it's a killer! I suffer from muscle tightness, particularly my IT band, and this little guy really works those knots and adhesions to loosen the fascia, improving range of motion and flexibility. I have to wash the tears off my mat...

I also did a yoga session from Kevin's P90X, and plan to continue with that (or yoga classes), and hopefully some of the other P90X sections as well. Right now I just curl up on the couch with Tucker and watch Kevin curse and curse and curse...

But there's little I can do better food-choice wise, so I'm just going to keep on keeping on in that department. Hopefully, better weather will be on my side. More walking, biking, and outdoor time in general = less time on the computer and a boost to the metabolism. I swear, you hit the 5-0 mark, and your metabolism just shuts down..."Ciao, baby, I'm heading to Mexico."

See you on April 2 for Progress Report #3.

Valentine's Superfoods Dinner

2011-02-23T21:00:00.000-05:00

I've gone out for more romantic Valentine's dinners, but none as fun as the Superfoods Dinner at the Canyon Ranch Demonstration Kitchen last Monday evening. The weekly planner said nothing more than "Enjoy a great tasting meal rich in antioxidants and featuring a special chocolate dessert." Little did I know that Chef Billy Boudreau would be far more entertaining than violins and champagne, and that the food would dazzle the senses and trim the waistline.

The meal consisted of a spinach-pear salad with a scrumptious rosemary vinaigrette, vegetarian chili, and orange-glazed salmon served with Screaming Ginger Salsa. Sides includes pomegranate couscous and steamed broccoli. Yes, all that and dessert too. That "special chocolate dessert" was a lucious chocolate chai cupcake with Chocolate Ganache (made with evaporated skim milk to cut those calories).

Tip One: He likes to roast pears with a little bit of apple cider at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes to an hour. Don't peal them!

Tip Two: Pre-sear the salmon fillets for 3-5 minutes on each side in canola oil (never use olive oil for hot cooking), then bake them in the oven. This way you can sear them the day before you're entertaining and refrigerate.

Tip Three: Chef Billy recommends Israeli couscous -- it's large grain, made with wheat flour (for an extra dose of fiber). We loved it, and were thrilled to find it (in bags) at Costco! Very smooth, nutty and delicious (and "neater on the plate")!

Tip Four: During dinner Chef Boudreau mentioned that he loves this book, available here:

Here are some of the recipes. There are loads of CR recipes HERE.

Rosemary Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

2/3 cup red wine vinegar
2/3 cup champagne vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 tablespoon minced shallots
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 teaspoons white miso paste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1. In a blender container, combine all ingredients except for oregano and rosemary and blend until smooth. Add herbs and mix by hand.
2. Pour into storage container and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Pomegranate Couscous
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons minced shallots
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
pinch freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup couscous
2 teaspoons minced fresh mint

1. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, sauté shallots in olive oil until shallots are softened.
2. Increase heat to medium high. Add water, pomegranate juice, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Add couscous to pan and bring back to a boil. Cover, turn heat off and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Stir in mint and serve.

Ginger Salsa (this one is with chicken; substitute salmon if you prefer and cook same way)
Note: Leftover glaze may be used to baste while cooking.

1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
1 tablespoon minced ginger root
2 tablespoons diced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced scallion
1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
1/4 teaspoon low-sodium tamari sauce
1/3 cup frozen concentrated orange juice or 1 T fresh lime juice
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup low-sodium tamari or soy sauce
1 teaspoon five-spice powder (equal amounts of ground cinnamon, anise, cloves, fennel peppercorns)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
4 skinless chicken breast halves, boned and defatted (or a pound salmon fillet, cut into 4 equal portions)

1. In a medium bowl or food processor, combine all ingredients for salsa and mix well.
2. Combine orange juice concentrate, honey, tamari sauce, 5-spice powder and minced garlic in a medium bowl. Brush glaze thoroughly over chicken. Place on grill and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until juices run clear when pierced with a fork. Serve chicken with 2 tablespoons ginger salsa.

Ganache

1/3 cup evaporated skim milk (or coconut or soy or almond)
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Heat milk until just before boiling. Stir in chocolate chips and remove from heat. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes, and whisk together.
*also great with pineapple, fresh figs, clementines, strawberries (above), etc....Or, you can turn it into truffles! Or dip and then coat with chopped nuts. Here is some of the ganache with dried cherries and crystallized ginger -- place in fridge for about an hour and then roll into balls with chopped nuts. Double yum.

We had such a great time with Chef Billy that we signed up for the Demo Kitchen the next night as well -- "Taste of the Berkshires". If you'd like, I can post that menu and some recipes as well.

Fitness Begins with the Feet.

2011-02-22T22:15:00.001-05:00

One of the women at "the ranch" told me that the daily "Yamuna Foot Fitness" class was a fave. At just 25 minutes, I had nothing to lose, so I tried it out. As soon as the class began, we were all educated about Yamuna Body Rolling, a craze in NYC and a central component of the fitness program at Canyon Ranch...

Yamuna Zake is a "master body therapist" and the creator/principal educator of Yamuna Body Logic, Body Rolling, Foot Fitness and Body Sustainability, and founder of Yamuna Studio in NYC. She is continuing her successful partnership with the incomparable Canyon Ranch® Resorts, personally training the Fitness Staff so that all in attendance at The Ranch can truly experience Yamuna’s work firsthand and as it is meant to be.

Not unlike the foam roller I posted about a couple of days ago..."the beauty of Yamuna Body Rolling is that it takes you from the origin of the muscle at the tendon, elongating the muscle while stimulating the bone and soft tissue. Working with the body's own gravity, the exercises ease movement in the muscles to the point of relaxation, offering one of the finest weight-bearing exercises, with the benefits of a deep self-massage." --Ms. Fitness Magazine

Her flagship studio is in Greenwich Village, but you can attend classes all over the country. Check out the website for locations. Here are the Massachusetts studios that offer Yamuna classes:

The Foot Fitness class was 25 minutes of routines that strengthen your feet, and improve function, alignment and flexibility -- allowing for greater ease of movement. We used the Yamuna "Foot Wakers", and the instructor was trained in her technique. We worked every part of our feet, pressing into the Foot Wakers (designed to help prevent or alleviate plantar fasciitis, Morton's neuroma, bunions, flat feet, hammer toes, and fallen arches).

"Foot wakers" wake up your feet!

Once you can easily do the Foot Waker routines, you graduate to Foot Savers -- plastic half-spheres—smaller and harder than Foot Wakers—that are an intense tool for improving foot function and preventing your feet from restricting you at any time of life. They improve gait, alignment, and muscle tone, stimulate reflexology points, strengthen arches, increase range of motion, and stimulate and elongate the muscles of the calves, thighs, hips, and lower back.

We also practiced walking "the Yamuna way", which I am trying here at home (when I remember...). Try her test here:

Who knew there was so much to feet?!!

P.S. Here's a product I use nearly every day on my feet:

At just $8, it's a keeper.

And here's one of my fave Credo foot products that I bought years ago in Santa Monica and still swear by (especially because they can't use razor blades for pedicures at the salons any longer)...These two products (for a grand total of $14) are the next best thing to a pedicure...well, better, actually. Except I'm too sloppy when it's time for the polish. Say bye bye to dead skin...

A whopping $6

"Fitness begins with the feet."

Hodgepodge of Tips and Tricks

2011-02-22T15:34:00.000-05:00

I could post daily about everything I learned while at Health Heaven, aka Canyon Ranch. I thought I'd just run a little grocery list with things that caught my interest from two separate talks on Ultralongevity and Beauty Secrets.

Sleep is key. Try not to turn on, or look at, any white lights during the night -- they disrupt the cycle and it has to start all over again. Use blue baseboard lights if you absolutely need to use the bathroom at night (don't drink in the evenings). Wear earplugs if your partner snores. Exercise during the day helps you sleep better. Seek loving connections, as anxiety, anger and depression really mess you up at night. Candles before sleep slow you down and get you ready...for sleep!

Sunlight exposure is good -- great source of Vitamin D, which plays a role in healthy immune function and reduces inflammation, a risk factor for numerous diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Try for 10-15 minutes a day, 2-3 days a week. Avoid the face -- get it on your back! Vitamin D is manufactured in the skin following direct exposure to sunlight.

Wine is good -- 5 oz/day -- for its resveratrol from the skin of red grapes. Not a drinker? Try red and purple grapes (muscadines), cranberries, peanuts, balsamics, and fresh purple grape juice from organic grapes.

It is imperative to know your CRP {C-Reactive Protein) level and strive to get it below .7. Produced by the liver, it's a protein found in the blood, the levels of which rise in response to inflammation. If anything is happening in your body, this will rise before you even know about it. Ask your doctor more about it, and to give you a simple blood test for it during your next physical.

Get more dietary fiber. -- A good way is through oatmeal -- use steel cut oats. Eat quality whole grain bread (read the label -- fiber has to be more than sugar).
Eat the peels on fruits and veggies.
More smaller meals through the day will keep you from binging.
Take your vitamins a half hour before your largest meal.
Limit yourself to fish 2x/week -- only the small oily fish for their Omega 3's (anchovies, sardines, mackerel, salmon). OR

Take fish oil supplements (I take Natrol Fish Oil + Vitamin D3 -- ProOmega is also a good choice.) 1,000 IU's per day (Make sure it has both DHA and EPA)

Eat loads of organic berries and beans, nuts, seeds, edamame (I saw these referred to as the "thinking woman's beer nuts"!). Ak-Mak crackers with hummus is an excellent snack. Split pea or lentil soup = A+.

Switching to the beauty talk...

Visit the Cosmetics Database on ewg.org to see if your products pass the safety test (there's also an excellent sunscreen guide).

Jane Iredale makes a great brush cleaner.

Use the concentrator nozzle that comes with your hair drier -- faster airflow means quiker to dry and direct air flow means a smoother, sleeker result. The narrower the vent, the faster the airflow.

If you're into hot rollers, get the kind with the velvet covers, and put them on with butterfly clips. The magic secret is to place them vertically, not horizontally. Apparently Bed, Bath & Beyond sells a good set for about $20-$30 -- Conair CHV14IV Jumbo Hot Rollers.

Use a brush with boar bristle, or a bristle that you can bend without it hurting. No combs. They recommended Denman for $17.

Don't use products with sulphates -- they strip color.

Use gel-based mascara, not waxed-based. You can Google a bunch of them. Here's one from Sephora.

In this order for a daily skin regime: 1.) purifying water 2.) Serum 3.) Daily Face Shield w/ spf 40 4.) Primer 5.) Foundation (put on with wet sponges). {If you use a sun block, don't put product over it -- it won't set. The Laura Mercier face shield is the only one of its kind -- it has an SPF of 40 but you can put product over it. A few ladies in the room swore by it.} Who'd have known that? A bunch of these steps were new to me, but it's worth hopping onto Sephora or other website and seeing what's out there and what it does vis a vis protection. (For example, serums "re-energize the skin and protect against the effects of seasonal changes and environmental hazards that can lead to visible signs of aging" -- i.e. they help to make skin look younger and brighter!)

Ok, I have to admit that one of the reasons I'm chronicling all these products is to have a good list at the ready. I think we should have a guided tour of Sephora -- it scares me!

Detoxify!

2011-02-19T22:09:00.001-05:00

One of the less glamorous things I did at Canyon Ranch was attend a lecture called "Detoxification: How to Live in a Toxic World". Canyon Ranch has an impressive cadre of doctors, and this particular MD cautioned a nervous audience to listen, and then adhere to, the "80-20 Rule" -- do the best you can to identify the 20 percent that you can actually do something about. He then taught us about the science of detoxification, how and why toxins affect us, where they come from, and how to best assess and address health issues that may be the result of a toxic burden to the body. Phew.

There are two types of toxins: Exogenous (environmental; outside the body -- you want to minimize exposure to these) and Endogenous (internal). We take them in through the nose, mouth and skin. Toxins can lead to cancer, dementia, arthritis, joint aches, headaches, insomnia, and difficulty losing weight.

Here's the Cliff Notes version of reducing your exposure:

Eat organic (70% at best), and make sure it has the certified USDA label. The "Dirty Dozen" foods that have the highest levels of pesticides: peaches, apples, strawberries, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, potatoes.

We need to eat lots of fiber so that toxins go out via the intestines. "Optimize bowel health and elimination."


"Support and increase antioxidant reserve." Eats lots of cruciferous vegetables to boost immunity: brussels sprouts, raw broccoli and cauliflower, cabbage kale, etc. Garlic is great! Eliminate trans fats.

Reduce stress -- it shunts blood flow.

Ensure adequate hydration, but don't drink out of plastic. Make sure all water bottles are stainless steel and BPA free. Klean Kanteen is a good line. Drinking enough (about nine glasses of fluid daily) and consuming the recommended minimum of 25 grams of fiber a day will prevent constipation. Don't use laxatives or colonic irrigations that promise to "flush" the body. These can be very dangerous (risks include a perforated colon and infection) and have no proven benefit.

Use Pyrex glass containers for baking and storage.


Use 0-VOC products at home -- Benjamin Moore's Natura paint line is excellent.

Ventilate and aerate your house!

Don't use lipstick with lead. One lead-free choice: Tarte Inside-Out Vitamin Lipstick. Lead is a substance that builds up in the body over time, so small amounts applied daily can add up and stay in our bodies.

Forget bottled waters -- 40-50% come from municipal sources anyway. Install an under the sink drinking water system, like Multi-Pure, that is NSA certified with changeable charcoal cartridges.

Sweat! Most toxins are stored in fat. Exercise!

Go to www.ewg.org/health to check all your cosmetics, pesticides and products to see what's good and what's bad. Other good websites are www.ehponline.org and www.ourstolenfuture.org.

If you like tuna, make it chunk light for the lowest mercury. Not more than once a week. Raw sushi tuna is the biggest offender. Children under six, as well as women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, are the most vulnerable to mercury's harmful effects. Albacore or solid white tuna is most likely to have higher concentrations, and chunk light tuna, lower concentrations. Also not good...swordfish.

I hope this isn't too scary. The little things do add up...

Foam Rollers = Self Massage

2011-02-18T09:04:00.000-05:00

Photo from here, with info on foam rollers.

One of the first sessions I had at CR was with a trainer to devise a stretching program based on my own unique aches and pains. My "Achilles heel" is my IT band -- I have suffered from Iliotibial band syndrome over the years thanks to all that "healthy" running, squash and tennis. The IT band runs down the outside of the thigh to just below the knee. The area can become inflamed and cause knee pain and stinging sensations just above the knee joint, on the outside of the knee or along the entire length of the IT band. It can also occur in women during pregnancy as they gain weight and add more pressure, and is common among the elderly.

The IT band is not a muscle, but we do have muscles that attach to this band of connective tissue that can be worked for increased flexibility and injury prevention:

Quad (front)
Hamstring (back)
Gluteus Maximus (butt/upper back)
Tensor Fascia Latae (upper front)

I told my fitness instructor, Lori, that I was looking for a stretching routine to alleviate the stinging sensations in my thigh (sometimes pretty severe during the night). Intense kneading during a massage really helps, but I can't be running for a massage every day, now can I?

Lori handed me four packets of stretching routines -- a floor program, a chair program, a yoga program and another special yoga program for a good night's sleep, and said they'd all make me feel good, but that stretches would not get to the root of the evil. Instead, she introduced me to a 3' foam roller.

Here's one video from YouTube. If you're interested, there are loads more -- just put IT band and foam roller into the search box. Or just plug in IT band and see how you can use it for so much more than the IT band.

Thing is, the treatment itself can be very painful! When you roll along the foam roller VERY SLOWLY and hit a sore, tight area, it hurts! Lori told me to linger there for about 20 seconds, very slowly rolling back and forth over it to release the knot -- a tiny patch, not big rolling motions. She showed me how to cover every inch of both thighs (you can use it for arms and back stretching, too) -- we did IT Band, quads, glutes, hamstrings, inner thigh and back of torso. Do NOT roll past the knee when you're on your side -- (if you look at videos, the best technique is when the opposite leg crosses over the one you're working on -- for support and to move you up the roller).

The key to proper "self myofascial release technique" to stretch and massage the thigh IT Band muscle using a foam roller is SLOWNESS. It's a killer, believe me. You might have tears in your eyes from this little guy, but the looser the tissue becomes, the less it will hurt. The more it hurts, the more you need it! (the more you do it, the easier it gets...)

You want to buy a decent high density 36" roller, as the poorer quality ones break down quickly. I just ordered this one:

A final note: one of the women I met at CR also had a session with a trainer, who recommended a foam roller for a different issue -- an excellent chest stretch:

Read about how to use the roller to open up the chest here.

So Much More than a Spa

2011-02-17T08:49:00.001-05:00

I really didn't have much time to prep for our getaway to Canyon Ranch. It had been on my bucket list for years, and why I didn't get my butt there sooner (it's only 2.5 hours from Boston), I will never know. It took me a while to come to grips with a "gift to myself", but come on, it's so much more important than a new sweater and a pair of shoes! We're talking about good health, baby.

Tote bag stuffed with my program book and water bottle...good to go!

I learned so much, and I'll be breaking it all down into posts for the next several days (at least), but for now I just want to share a quick tour with you because I am hell-bent on putting together a ladies-only getaway this fall and want to whet your appetites!!

There is truly something for everyone here, and it is so much fun. I felt as though I was in a glorious camp that offered me everything I care about to live a long and vital life. Sound mind, sound body -- loads of fitness classes, spa treatments, health lectures, cooking demonstrations, time for contemplation, and great community experiences. It's a chance to try lots of new things, and to see old things in a new way.

Here's a brief glimpse into our stay:

View from 7am breakfast -- you don't have to start this early, but we couldn't wait to get going.

It's not hard to start each day with meditation and stretching classes, when you're surrounded by natural beauty.

The pool looks calm here, but my "Power Hour" had me exclaiming, "How can I sweat so much in a pool?"

Looking into one of the gyms -- I bypassed the machines and tried all new things.

Morning gym offerings -- lots of options.

Afternoon gym offerings -- all levels.

See that white "bolster pillow" in the right corner -- had a solo killer stretch session with that (more, later). Ouch!

Kevin did some Pilates. Not me...

Lots of natural light as you work your way around the buildings -- beautiful!

One of the wings -- for the yoga studio, gyms, spas, skin care, salon, tennis, basketball, etc.

Art collections everywhere add another dimension of beauty to your day.

Part spa, part art museum.


Remember that spa treatment I blogged about? This was part of it -- omg.

The Library. Magnificent spot to relax after a long day.

Tired feet!

The food was excellent, plus fruit and health drinks at every turn.

Delish!

You may choose to spend lots of time on the outdoor trails, alone or in a group -- solo cross country skier here.

There are two hot tubs in both spas (men's and women's) -- hot and hotter!

Stay tuned for more on the lectures I attended -- Ultralongevity, Science of Weight Loss, Detoxification, and Beauty Secrets! Plus recipes from two Demonstration Kitchen meals we so enjoyed -- Taste of the Berkshires and Superfoods dinners. Plus posts on Yamuna foot fitness, foam rollers, skin care, and whatever else I can remember! Let me know if you're interested in returning to "the Ranch" with me this fall!

Winter Weekend Recipe

2011-02-11T07:50:00.001-05:00

I realize that this iPhone photo doesn't look particularly appetizing (especially if you're not a meat person), but I needed proof that I finally made beef bourguignon (Ina Garten's, to be sure). Lots of steps, but worth the time. I prepared it a day ahead of time, and served it over noodles -- your call.

Ina Garten's Filet of Beef Bourguignon

Ingredients

1 (3-pound) filet of beef, trimmed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, for seasoning plus 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 to 4 tablespoons good olive oil
1/4 pound bacon, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups good dry red wine, such as Burgandy or Chianti
2 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 sprig fresh thyme
1/2 pound pearl onions, peeled
8 to 10 carrots, cut diagonally into 1-inch-thick slices
3 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced 1/4-inch thick (domestic or wild)

Directions

With a sharp knife, cut the filet crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Salt and pepper the filets on both sides. In a large, heavy-bottomed pan on medium-high heat, saute the slices in batches with 2 to 3 tablespoons oil until browned on the outside and very rare inside, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove the fillets from the pan and set aside on a platter.

In the same pan, saute the bacon on medium-low heat for 5 minutes, until browned and crisp. Remove the bacon and set it aside. Drain all the fat, except 2 tablespoons, from the pan. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Deglaze he pan with the red wine and cook on high heat for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add the stock, tomato paste, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered on medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Strain the sauce and return it to the pan. Add the onions and carrots and simmer uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes, until the sauce is reduced and the vegetables are cooked.

With a fork, mash 2 tablespoons butter and the flour into a paste and whisk it gently into the sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes to thicken.

Meanwhile, saute the mushrooms separately in 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil for about 10 minutes, until browned and tender. Add the filet of beef slices, the mushrooms, and the bacon to the pan with the vegetables and sauce. Cover and reheat gently for 5 to 10 minutes. Do not overcook. Season, to taste, and serve.

My niece and her two munchkins were on board for the BB premiere; their daddy enjoyed it the most! I must disclose, the little papoose has a very discriminating palette...

How Many Days 'til Spring?

2011-02-09T20:32:00.000-05:00

Nanook the Inuit

I'm trying very hard to enjoy this overlay of snow and frigid temps, but it ain't easy. I'm tired of dressing like Nanook of the North every time I go outside, and miss walking the dog for any legitimate length of time (his paws quickly sting with salt- or freezer-burn).

So let's think about sun-kissed items for warmer temps ahead...

ilSandalo customizes sandals. If you like this design, but want another heel or color, so be it.

A sleek black wedge...?

Rikshaw Design Taj Paisley gold kurta...Blog here (a breath of fresh air!)

Sweet nautical ballet flats...

Loving this pink lace kaftan from Calypso...white cami and jeans?

Bone bangles, also from Calypso. Knew it had to be Rebecca Norman. Why does she torture me so?

Peasant top!

I am a sucker for polka dots!

Ah well. Back to reality.

Canyon Ranch Agenda

2011-02-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

CR asked us to pre-register for any of the "signature services" we'd like to ~~break the bank with~~ indulge in during our upcoming stay. Ooh la la, and yes, please. I wanted to experience just a touch of spa decadence. How do these babies sound?

#1 DETOXIFYING RITUAL
Retreat into a ritual of heat and pure scent for an intense therapeutic transformation. In this five-step ritual, you’ll be intensely cleansed with Moroccan mint tea and silt purifier, and vigorously scrubbed with coffee, olive stones and fresh lemons. A rich rhassoul clay will then be applied to your body to draw out impurities. You’ll recharge with quince and orange blossoms and then have all this goodness sealed in with the warmth of curative essences of cardamom, jasmine, bergamot, amber and clove. Concludes with a massage. 100 minutes.

Impurities be damned! And what the heck is rhassoul clay and why isn't it part of my daily regime?

Orange blossoms...aaahhhh.

#2 TOTAL ELEGANCE AGE-MINIMIZING FACIAL
This indulgent facial delivers the ultimate anti-age treatment for the face. Your skin will receive targeted messages to restart the natural mechanisms and reflexes of young skin. Ingredients such as vitamins A, B5, E and F, combined with natural extracts of white willow leaf, ginkgo biloba, sunflower, soya and wheat proteins, will reactivate the synthesis of lipids and plump up the dermal layer. Your skin will receive an immediate boost, resulting in visibly diminished fine lines – skin appears rested, less stressed, luminous, firmer and more hydrated. The results are spectacular!

Reactivate my lipids? Sign me up!

Wake me up in about eight hours, s'il vous plait.

There will also be lots of work-outs, seminars and cooking classes, too. I want to sign up for a night of Bingo...hubs doesn't share my fond memories of Mt. Carmel bingo nights in the school hall... Solo!

February Check Point

2011-02-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

Today is February 3rd. If you recall my January post "On the Road Back", I fessed up the need to take ownership of my body and get back in shape. One month later I'm checking in to say, "It's working!". As of this morning, I've lost 9 pounds (1.42 BMI). How did I do it? No secrets here -- just watching what I eat and slogging it out on the elliptical (45 minutes), along with some Wii Fit weight training and yoga.

My home away from home -- the Precor in my basement.

Funny thing is, I really like doing the Elliptical. I have good tunes, and it takes me away to wherever I want to go. I also find I'm sleeping a lot better, which pleases me to no end, and generally makes me feel better. And as this particular winter has curbed long walks with the dog, I need to move!

As for my daily menu, there isn't a lot of variation (we all have our styles, and I keep it simple). Breakfast is oatmeal with agave and a little flax.

Breakfast

Morning snack: a homemade nut sack

Walnuts, almonds, pepitas, dried strawberries or cherries, dried cranberries, and teeny pieces of bittersweet chocolate

Lunch: yogurt (Fage Total 0% or siggi's plain) with a small banana and 1/4 cup Bear Naked low-fat triple berry granola

Dinner: multi-grain wrap with some combo of: healthy homemade chunky guacamole, roasted red pepper hummus, beans, mango salsa, etc. Whole Foods is great for options in this department.

Of course I'm not always home to pull this off, but I try my best. And I cook for my son, so I'll snitch from him, too (last night was whole wheat pasta with homemade meatballs -- I greedily snarfed a meatball for another hit of protein). I keep lots of cut veggies around for pre-dinner snacks (celery with a tad bit of homemade peanut butter, or carrots, eg). And there are always salad fixings around. Plus vitamin supplements. During the weekends I make good soups or Full Yield recipes we can all enjoy.

I know that this sounds a little limiting, but it's necessary for me to walk the walk during this phase, in atonement for prior laxness!

What's the goal? I'd like to lose 13 more pounds (yes, 22 total)...and then we'll talk about keeping it off (this is where the rubber hits the road).

So thanks for listening. On March 3rd I hope to have access to my full wardrobe -- oh how I miss it!

Boston-Area Artists

2011-02-02T19:32:00.000-05:00

You may recall that back in December I went to the South End Holiday Market with pal Tracy. We were both pretty impressed at the range of goodies available right in our own backyards. I scooped up some business cards of the artists I was particularly drawn to, and thought I'd pass along their websites for your viewing pleasure (if we're all going to be snowbound until spring we might as well enjoy ourselves...).

Karen Kemp:

Nuthatch etching

Margaret Elizabeth:

Freshwater Pearl Ring

Rutilated Quartz Bezels

Stella Marie:

Awesome Natural Soaps (just ask my son...)

Sara Danielle Designs:

Shine Upon You Necklace

Pretty Penny Earrings with Green Amethyst

Zeal

Cool selection of trays

Angela Gerhard:

Red Dapper Pendant

Red Circles Pendant

Vintage by Crystal:

Spun Cotton Beauties

Vintage Inspired (just in time for Valentine's Day...)

Isn't there something special about supporting handcrafted items?

Taking Control of Our Health

2011-02-01T10:16:00.001-05:00

I can't remember when I first crossed paths with the work of women's health care expert Christiane Northrup, MD, but it was many years ago. Over the years I've collected several of her books (the iconic Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom was completely revamped last year) and sporadically checked her website for insights on women's health. Today I've bookmarked her site as one that I need to refer to ~~regularly~~ daily, as I take a more active role in managing the next stage of my health and well being. Her particular approach of fusing the mind and the body is one in which I need to become more comfortable.

Hailing from Maine, Dr. Northrup is internationally recognized for her empowering approach to women’s health and wellness. "Following a career as a practicing physician in obstetrics and gynecology for over 25 years, Dr. Northrup has dedicated her lifework to helping women learn how to flourish on all levels by creating health, prosperity, and pleasure in their lives. She says, “I’ve spent the first half of my life studying and footnoting everything that can go wrong with the female body—and figuring out how to fix it. I’m dedicating the second half of my life to illuminating everything that can go right with the female body, including teaching women how to truly flourish.”

Christiane Northrup, MD

Here are a few areas to explore on her website:

1.) The heart of the site is the Health & Energy Centers section. Here Dr. Northrup discusses how to proactively prevent illness, or heal it quickly if it occurs. There's also an incredibly comprehensive section on health conditions and advice, and one on the stages of life, from coming of age to menopause. She also explores the seven chakras (our energy centers) we all hear so much about during yoga class.

2.) Womens Wisdom Circle -- A $4/month membership in Dr. Northrup's interactive online support community for living a positive lifestyle would be a very cool gift for yourself or a girlfriend or relative. (weekly podcasts, blog, online seminars, Q&A's, discounts...) I'm signing up for a year when I finish this post! I need to support my nutrition/fitness work with BALANCE -- my word for the year.

3.) Her "Daily Inspiration" is a great mantra for the day. Here is yesterday's:

4.) Flourish -- click this box to link to HayHouse Radio ("radio for your soul"). You can listen to Dr. Northrup's show on your computer every Wednesday's from 12-1.

5.) You can friend her on Facebook here, and keep up with what's on Christiane's mind.

6.) Her "Health Store" is a great resource for high quality vitamin supplements, body and skin care, fitness products, etc.

I listened to a video on DHA/Omega-3 last night...need to research.

7.) "Bookstore" features all of her work, as well as the recommended works of others.

I have to say, I'm really intrigued by this one...

"What you believe in your head is what becomes true in your body and your life, because energy follows thought."

ER Finder

2011-01-27T07:36:00.000-05:00

A shout out to friend Susan for telling me about a free iPhone app developed by Mass General Hospital that I immediately downloaded but hope I never need. It's called EMNet findER, and it locates the closest emergency room with just one click. I tried it from my desk and it worked perfectly. (It's compatible with the iPad and iPod touch, too.) You can find the app on iTunes.

This is the screen shot from iTunes

I think this would be great for travelers, and for parents and coaches at away games...

Treat!

2011-01-25T17:40:00.001-05:00

Hubs and I are spending a few days at Canyon Ranch Spa in Lenox in February, and I am beside myself with anticipation. I have always wanted to round up some girlfriends and do this, but life (read children and work) got in the way. No more!

I've been hard at work on a healthy turnaround since the beginning of the month, and I hope this excursion solidifies good habits and fuels me for the future. That's a lot to ask from a mini getaway, but I am already mentally lining up to buy the Kool Aid.

I'm trading in Cosmo's for prune juice...

Bathing suits in February aren't my thing, but this will do the trick.

Take me to your planet...

There won't be much time for reading, but that fireplace better be lit every night.

I promise to share all the great ideas I collect during my escape. In the meantime, to prep myself, I "liked" their FB page...

...and downloaded their 2 iPad apps -- "everyday fitness" and "360 well-being":


Check them out here, then go to the App store on iTunes -- $4

Soup's On!

2011-01-23T08:47:00.000-05:00

I've been sidelined with a cough/cold, but not too down and out to make some soup (enough to last me for many days!). On Friday night it was the Orecchiette with Rapini and Goat Cheese I blogged about on Thursday (so so good). Last night it was Tuscan Bean Soup -- another keeper. They're both from Saveur.

My mom used to chase us around the house with that wooden spoon when we were little!

Tuscan Bean Soup Ingredients:

2 cups dried cannellini beans, soaked overnight (they quadruple in size!) Note: you can use canned beans, but it's not as much fun!

2 medium carrots, roughly chopped

1 rib celery, roughly chopped

1⁄2 yellow onion, roughly chopped

3⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 cloves garlic (3 minced, 1 halved)

10 oz. squash, such as butternut, peeled and cut into 1⁄2" cubes (about 2 cups)

4 large kale leaves, stemmed and chopped (I substituted broccoli rabe)

1 medium waxy-style potato, peeled and cut into 1⁄2" cubes

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1⁄2 tsp. crushed fennel seeds

8 thick slices country-style bread

1. Drain beans and transfer to a 3-qt. saucepan along with half the carrots, the celery, the onions, and 5 cups water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low; simmer, covered, until beans are tender, 40–45 minutes. Set 3⁄4 cup beans aside; transfer the remaining beans and their cooking liquid to a blender and purée. Set puréed beans aside.

2. Heat ONLY 2 tbsp. of the olive oil in a 5-qt. pot over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add reserved bean purée, along with the remaining carrots, the squash, kale, potato, and 1 cup water (or 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup chicken broth). Season with salt and pepper, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the crushed fennel seeds and reserved whole beans.

3. Meanwhile, toast the bread and rub it with the cut end of the halved garlic clove. Drizzle each toast with 1 tbsp. oil. To serve, place 1 to 2 pieces toasted bread in the bottom of soup bowls and ladle soup over the top. Drizzle soup with remaining oil.

Serves 4 – 6

This isn't my pic, but I get credit for using wooden bowls just like it!

This soup is just what the doctored ordered and is sure to keep those frigid temps at bay this coming week...and it is an ingenious way get my son to eat beans (except for a few for "show", the beans are pureed, so he never really gets it...).

Feed a cold and starve a fever? Sounds good to me!

Ten from Pinterest

2011-01-21T13:35:00.000-05:00

I've talked about Pinterest before, but I'm loving it (the very coolest recipes and quirky stuff). Here are 10 things that tickled my imagination or my funny bone this week:

Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry

White velvet soup

Oh boy.

For The Office fanatics...

Sleepover Cake!

From Isaac Misrahi's style guide

Enough said.

Another reason we are a cat-free household...

Great advice.

Key Lime Colada...yes, please.

Have a wonderful weekend, whether hunkered down in snow or not (I think at least half the country is turning up the heat...)!

Weekend Directive: Make This!

2011-01-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

When it comes to recipes, I'm all about the pictures. This one has struck a chord with me, and I'll be trying it this weekend (more snow means more time at home, which is a good thing). Maybe you'll try it to, and we can compare notes. Looks easy and yummy.

Orecchiette with Rapini and Goat Cheese

Kosher salt, to taste

1 bunch rapini (about 1 lb.), roughly chopped (broccoli rabe)

1⁄3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

6 cloves garlic, crushed

3⁄4 tsp. crushed red chile flakes

12 oz. orecchiette

2 tbsp. lemon zest

4 oz. goat cheese, softened

1. Bring an 8-qt. pot of salted water to a boil. Add rapini and boil until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer rapini to a large bowl of ice water; chill. Drain, pat dry, and set aside.

2. Heat oil in a 12" skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes. Add chile flakes and cook, stirring frequently, for 30 seconds. Add rapini, toss, and remove pan from heat; set aside.

3. Meanwhile, bring a 6-qt. pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain pasta and transfer pasta and lemon zest to reserved skillet over high heat. Toss to combine and season with salt. Divide pasta between bowls and add a dollop of goat cheese to each.

SERVES 2 – 4

The recipe comes from Saveur -- something tells me you'll bookmark it...

Made in Canada

2011-01-18T19:00:00.000-05:00

Meet Virginia Johnson, Toronto textile designer. Full of color with nature-inspired designs. Her lightweight merino wool shawls are to die for, and are now.....on sale!

Her collection is carried in Calypso, Barneys, Takashimaya, Net-a-Porter, etc. She paints all of her gorgeous prints with watercolors and then they are silkscreened onto fabric in India and Toronto.

Don't forget to visit her blog!

Stowe Lite

2011-01-17T14:53:00.000-05:00

Stoked, for sure.

Back from 3 nights at Stowe with great friends...just what I needed to not dwell on last night's game. The downside of the vk was that I neglected to pack W's ski jacket, so I gave him mine. What's a girl to do with so much free time? The incredible spa and fitness center, natch. Great deep tissue massage, elliptical workout, and total relaxation going from steam to sauna to"rain forest". Not too much of a sacrifice...

Picture me in here...with the jets buzzing. ahhh

So much for getting back on skis this season...

On the Road Back...

2011-01-13T07:40:00.000-05:00

No pretty pictures, just the grim truth!

Sorry to be off for a bit, but I've been reallocating my free time to getting back in shape! I was forced to get on a scale for my physical, and all I could say was, "I've hit a new high". Not a good thing, but it was just what I needed to get my head in the game. And so, on January 3rd I began my epic journey back to the shape I was in when I slid oh-so-quietly off the wagon.

I cringed stepping onto the Wii Fit after all this time, and it was worse than I thought. Her first words were "I haven't seen you in 419 days." Jeez. This was going to be one long crawl back. Good news: 11 days later and I actually feel a lot better. I'm in the zone, as they say. Every day I commit to two things: Wii Fit yoga or strength training with some balance work, and 45 minutes on the elliptical. (I know the Wii Fit sounds lightweight, but you can really turn it into something very worthwhile.) It wasn't pretty those first few days...I was pretty worried that I had passed the point of no return, fitness wise. I was even starting to feel lower back pain when I pulled on my winter boots, and that was a new no-no. But I slogged through, and although only 4 pounds lighter, I feel worlds better. Really. It's going to be ok.

The downside of aging (dare I say the "M" word) is that it takes so much longer to drop the pounds, especially for the female species. But let's not go there. We all know the wall we're up against. I just want to crawl up and over it, no matter how long it takes. Or at least get a glimpse of the other side! My goal is to lose 15+ more pounds, and to feel light on my feet again. There's a gala at my son's school on the last day of April, and I'd love to buy a pretty dress.

So that's where my head is at these days. I'll fill you in periodically, but in the meantime, wish me luck!

My New Years Resolution? Be Resolute.

2011-01-01T13:38:00.001-05:00

res·o·lute/ˈrezəˌlo͞ot/

Adjective: Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering

I think I'm ready for the new year. The boys went skiing last week, giving me sorely needed time after the holidays to re-org and clear the decks for the year ahead. I don't typically make a list of resolutions (and don't worry, I didn't do it this year either), but I've gone lax with myself this past year and need some attention. The better parts of me were focused on my son, my work, and running the house -- not on myself or the life I lead in tandem with my husband. Ding, ding, ding! Wake up call. Not good.

I miss the bounce in my step and need to lighten my load -- physically and mentally.   My pattern seems to be to let myself slide (aka "cutting myself some slack") until I can no longer put the blinders on. A good look in the mirror revealed not just extra pounds but a dimness in the eye that I haven't experienced before. Unacceptable on both counts. Time to get my groove back.

The holidays have actually been a help, not a hindrance. I loved the whole nine yards -- decorating, entertaining, baking, family time. I paced myself, didn't set unrealistic work goals for the month, and enjoyed myself.   It became a microcosm for the year ahead -- you can do what you have to do, and have fun, too!

So my only resolution is to become more resolute -- try to live life with purpose, and not fritter it away.   Oh, and lose twenty pounds.

Christmas 2010, Part II

2010-12-27T10:09:00.000-05:00

"Though I've grown old the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe."

...still cried at the end of Polar Express.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-23T17:21:00.001-05:00


December 23, 2010

May your holidays be bright, and the new year full of light...

The Cutest Rats You've Ever Seen...

2010-12-21T09:01:00.000-05:00

Stumbled on these adorable Flickr albums by 19-year-old Jessica Florence, an amateur photographer from the UK. Yes, the rats are her pets. Can you feel the love?

This is Jess...and Henry.

She has a book!

She takes wonderful photos of her dog, Chester, and people, too...

Meet Bug.

Gingerbread Men -- Straight from Nantucket

2010-12-20T19:18:00.001-05:00

Well, it's the week before Christmas and here is my fourth post in a row about food... (guess what my New Years resolution is going to be?).

Here's the backstory on these little guys...For many, many years (pre-baby), my bff Katie and I would head to Nantucket for the annual Christmas Stroll weekend. We'd stay at girlfriend Elle's on Main Street and have a classic girls' weekend. Lots of laughs. Lots of wine. And lots of shopping. One of my favorite stops was the Joan Vass shop. Elle's friend ran the little boutique, and she always added a friendly touch to our (rather long) pit stops there, winter or summer. During the Stroll she served homemade gingerbread cookies that I swore were the "best ever". One year she dictated her recipe to me (from memory), and I've been making them ever since. They're delicious plain, but my family has gotten used to my kicking them up a notch with "chocolate booties."

Hope you have a little time to add these to your holiday repertoire!

Joan Vass Gingerbread Cookies

Preheat overn to 325 degrees.   *Makes ~52 (3") cookies.

1. In large bowl: 2/3 cup butter, cut in smallish pieces

2. In a medium large saucepan, bring to a low boil:

        2/3 cup molasses
        2/3 cup brown sugar
        1 T cinnamon
        1 T ginger
        2 teaspoons cloves or allspice

3. Add 2 teaspoons baking soda (this is the science experiment -- watch it rise, volcano style)

4. Add this molasses mixture to melt the butter, then add 1 beaten egg and 3 cups of flour.

5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. If you let it stay longer in the fridge, let is soften up before trying to roll it out (I zap it in the micro for a few seconds -- but you don't want it soft, either.)

6. Roll out your little guys and bake for 8 minutes.

7. If you're going for the chocolate, let the cookies cool and then dip in melted chocolate (chocolate bits and butter or shortening over a bowl of simmering water).

Many thanks to my assistant...

Always have a good taste tester at the ready!

Happy Christmas to all!

Chocolat Chaud

2010-12-19T18:30:00.000-05:00

If you haven't tried hot chocolate the way the French make it, the holidays are a perfect excuse to splurge. Although some French hot chocolates are made with water and melted chocolate, Chocolat Chaud is a creamier French drinking chocolate recipe made with milk and water.

Version #1 -- the Standard

Note: For a different flavor, use chopped bittersweet or white chocolate. Choose a premium chocolate for the best chocolat chaud. (Four servings)

6 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons hot water, divided
3 cups hot milk
Sugar, to taste
Whipped cream
Chocolate curls

Using a double boiler or a heat-safe glass bowl over simmering water, melt the chopped chocolate into ¼ cup of the water. Stir in the 3 tablespoons hot water and milk until the chocolate mixture is smooth. Pour the hot chocolate into cups and add sugar as desired. Garnish each cup with a spoonful of whipped cream and a few chocolate curls.

Almond Variation

Version #2 -- Almond Variation

Use almond liqueur for an adults-only treat, or add a bit of flavored extract for a dessert that can be enjoyed by all. (Four servings)

6 oz. semisweet or milk chocolate, chopped
¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons hot water, divided
2 cups hot milk
1 cup hot half-and-half, or light cream
2 tablespoons almond liqueur (OR, substitute 1/2 teaspoon almond extract)
Sugar, to taste
Whipped cream
Chocolate curls
1 tablespoon finely chopped, toasted almonds

Using a double boiler or a heat-safe glass bowl over simmering water, melt the chopped chocolate into ¼ cup of the water. Stir in the 3 tablespoons hot water, hot milk, and light cream until the chocolate mixture is smooth. Remove the chocolat chaud from the heat and stir the almond liqueur into the mixture.

Pour the almond hot chocolate into cups and add sugar as desired. Garnish each cup with a spoonful of whipped cream, a few chocolate curls, and a sprinkle of toasted almonds.

Version #3 by François Payard of Payard Bakery in New York, is so rich that you may want to serve it for dessert!

2 tablespoons high quality cocoa powder (such as Weiss)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup whole milk
Granulated sugar, to taste

Bring chocolate powder, fresh cream, and milk to a boil; stir; and pour in a cup. Add sugar if desired.

(For a lighter version, use 1/3 cup fresh cream and 2/3 cup skim milk. )

Version #4:
1-4oz bar of Ghirardelli bittersweet baking chocolate
4 cups of whole milk
3/4 to 1 cup of Half & Half or whipping cream
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
1 tsp of pure vanilla extract

Over low heat, melt chocolate in 1 cup of milk, stirring constantly. Gradually add remaining milk and cream. followed by remaining ingredients, except extracts. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until completely heated. Turn heat to low and stir in extracts. Serve topped with whipped cream and sprinkle with a bit of nutmeg.


The famed Angelina's on Rue de Rivoli, founded in 1903, is well known for its signature hot chocolate. The thick, frothy beverage is served in a pitcher, accompanied by a bowl of whipped cream to complement it and a glass of ice water on the side, which seems to acknowledge you'll need a chaser to offset the richness.

Williams Sonoma's hot chocolate is inspired by the famed Café Angélina's velvety hot chocolate: "intensely chocolatey, rich and smooth".


Version #5...what could be easier...?

Ooh la la. Enjoy.

Book Club Yankee Swap (Recipe Alert)

2010-12-14T19:41:00.001-05:00

Disclaimer: this post is a bit of a mish mash -- multiple story lines and a recipe to boot. Blame it on the Bellinis...

I chose to host the December Book Club Yankee Swap because, hey, the house is decorated and good to go! We meet at 9:30am, so coffee was plentiful, but so was the prosecco -- dry, lemony and bubbly. Prosecco has no sugar, so if you're prone to champagne headaches, this is the ticket for you. We mixed it with pear juice for a nice morning pick-me-up! (OK, so I fell asleep in carline at 4pm, but let's not go there...)

All lined up in the fridge and ready for duty.

There's nothing like a champagne flute to get your party on...

The table runner was set with vintage-inspired spun cotton figures from this past Sunday's South End holiday craft fair:

Nibbles included an old family cookie recipe I simply call "Aunt Jo's Tadales" -- passed along through the generations. It's doubtful you'll find this exact recipe anywhere (there are a very few variations floating around the internet), but these are a must-have for our holidays to keep the family traditions alive. I'm happy to pass it along here, in hopes that it will be preserved in cyberspace forever.

First, allow me to introduce you to my Aunt Jo (the eldest of my father's four sisters) in a few old photographs that include the two of us:

Here I am in the late fifties -- that's Aunt Jo at right, in her kitchen.

Family reunion 1964: Aunt Jo is center; I'm sitting just in front of her, my parents are behind her, grandfather and little nephew to the left, Aunt Dot to the right, cousins all around me, and sister hiding in the back row.

1965? I'm about 8 here. Notice I'm wearing the same barrette as the photo above! Aunt Jo is at the head of the table, my parents at right. The extended family spent endless Sundays around Aunt Jo and Uncle Andy's dining room table. There was always a choice of two indescribably delicious desserts -- one of tho two pictured here is her infamous cream pie (I can see, and nearly taste, the lattice crust, confectioners sugar and cut cherries on top). The fashionista in me must point out that I loved my coat -- a navy and dark turquoise wool tweed, with navy sphere buttons, a slit breast pocket, and a matching tweed hat (with attached ear muffs that I folded inside and refused to use). My short term memory may be slipping, but my long-term memory is impeccable!)

Aunt Jo lived eight houses away from ours in Bristol, RI -- a short hop, skip and a jump that I made almost daily throughout my childhood

Aunt Jo's days started in her kitchen (well before 6am), and you might very well have caught her preparing perfect batches of these cookies for her loved ones:

Tadales (as dictated by Aunt Jo many years ago)

Ingredients are shown for both small and large batches -- they freeze very well! The smaller batch makes about 5 dozen cookies.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix together and make a well in large bowl with:

5   (7)   cups flour
3   (7) teaspoon baking powder
1 1/8   (1 1/2) cups sugar
1/4   (1/2) teaspoons salt

3. Add:

5 (7) XL whole eggs -- beaten
3/4 (1) cup oil (I use canola)
1/3 (1/2) cups whole milk
1/2   (1) Tablespoon lemon extract
1/2 grated lemon rind
1 t. vanilla

4. Mix together just until blended and refrigerate dough in smallish batches (wrapped in Saran Wrap):

The small batch makes two balls of dough.

5. Refrigerate dough overnight.

6. With lightly floured hands, break off a piece of dough and roll like a short cigar (~4"). Make a loose knot. Tuck ends in and put on greased cookie sheet (I use Silpat, so no greasing necessary). These expand while baking, so err on the side of smaller.

In the oven...

7. Bake for 12 minutes. Remove and put on cooling racks.

8. Icing: Sifter confectioners sugar with whole milk or orange juice. (Start by putting a cup of the sugar in a bowl and adding liquid a little at a time, until the icing is not too thick and not too thin!)

After a slight cooling, dip the tops into the icing for a lightish coating -- flip over and let dry on the cooling rack (with waxed paper underneath to catch drippings). Let dry completely before storing in fridge or freezer.


Here they are at today's table...

Let the festivities begin! Yes, first order of business was donning "crowns" found inside our English Christmas poppers!

What have I left out? Oh yes, we discussed One Day by David Nicholls (mixed reviews), and in the spirit of the holidays, showed each other how much we loved each other by ruthlessly swiping each other's hot new books during the swap. But no one was disappointed for long...

Oh well...gotta run...to buy Cleopatra: A Life and Unbroken...(slipping them under the coffee table didn't quite do the trick).

P.S. Martha et al: here's the link to my recent post about the book I'll be pitching at our January meeting: http://tricia-luminosity.blogspot.com/2010/12/must-read-alert.html

New Find

2010-12-08T09:17:00.003-05:00

Have you discovered Pinterest yet? It's a great way to unwind and waste a little time (in a good way)! All you have to do is "Request an Invite" with your email, and you're in. Once a member, you can enjoy other people's endless great ideas and images, find recipes, follow links to buy cool stuff, catalog the things you love for a rainy day, or just sit back and enjoy some pretty gorgeous photos. The site is still in beta mode, but I'm sure it will be buzzing along in no time.

Here are a few of the great images that captured me today:

I want to go there.


"I'm melting..."

Pretty pendant lamps

Parmesan crumbed asparagus

I want to be there.

What kid wouldn't love this?

Fair Isle hoodie with a twist

Nice 'n Slouchy

Fun invitation idea

omg...


Oz cupcakes!

'Must Read' Alert

2010-12-06T09:45:00.000-05:00

The story I've been waiting for...

I have been waiting for a book that really spoke to me. I haven't been enjoying reading the way I used to. I think it's because I've been a wee bit too overbooked in the brain to relax. But I'm making headway in that department, and foresee good things in the future.

Today, however, I was struck down by a book that I know isn't going to disappoint. It is not only speaking to me, it sounds like everything I believe in and live for -- that only you are responsible for your happiness and only you can make it happen for yourself. That's not a selfish perspective. Far from it. That's giving others the opportunity to not feel responsibility for me. It's an emotional equalizer.

In my neglect of so many things over the past year, one of them was the hoopla over this book. Have you heard about it already? Read it? Like me, your plate is likely overflowing with life's odds and ends, and you may have missed this little gem, too (Published in April 2010). I raced over to Amazon and downloaded it onto my Kindle after reading the first few lines of Laura Munson's blog, which I had earmarked months ago and never returned...until today.

"Hi, I’m Laura Munson and I’m a writer. I wrote an essay for the Modern Love column of the New York Times (published on August 2, 2009) called “Those Aren’t Fighting Words, Dear .” The reaction stunned me. It was the number one most read article on the New York Times website for the days following the essay’s publication; the top searched for two months. It crashed the New York Times website comments section, and created a firestorm all over the internet, around dining tables, at offices, and book groups across America and internationally. It was reproduced in The Week and on Oprah Online, and in many newspapers. I am the face behind that essay.

MY BOOK:
The essay was the short version of a memoir I wrote during a rough time in my marriage because I needed that book on my bedside table—one which would speak to me from the trenches, letting me know that I could be powerful and even happy, especially in a crisis. Mine could be a different reaction than what we see so often in our society. I didn’t have to be reactionary. I didn’t have to play victim. I didn’t have to suffer. But I couldn’t find a book like that—a simple story of a woman’s journey that wasn’t specifically spiritual or self-help, but like sitting with a gentle friend who is willing to be vulnerable and share her world so we don’t have to feel so alone. I couldn’t find that book, so I wrote it. That’s what we writers do. We write what we know. We write for ourselves and we write to provide relief for others. We write our way through life, and in some cases, we write our way to life. That’s how it happened for me during that challenging time."

Strike any chords? At next week's book group we're presenting book options for the first half of the year -- guess which book I'll be ~~pushing~~ promoting?

If you have a little time, jump over to Laura Munson's website, which also has links to her Facebook page and the NYT article that jump started the mania -- a must read. Please, let me know what you think.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Meg Carter: "The Perfect Little Indulgence"

2010-12-04T18:50:00.002-05:00

Audrey

In the spirit of the holidays, I met my college besties today wearing my "Audrey's" with a cozy green wrap sweater. These little green sparklies were a particularly successful Christmas present from hubby last year (okay, so you know who planted that seed...). One of the gals immediately spotted them as a Meg Carter design. Another, not yet in the know, said "Hey, why haven't you put her on your blog?"

So here's full disclosure on Meg Carter Designs. Meg's website showcases her handcrafted treasures in two collections -- "Inspired by the Sea" and "Town". In the summer, I'm partial to the Sea collection, which I pore over at Midsummer Nights in Chatham. In the winter, I lean to Meg's Town collection, which I find online and at NRO on Charles Street in Boston. A growing list of shops is on her website. You may Friend Meg on FB, too, here.

So much for the small print. Now on with the show...

Have these. Love them with everything.

Don't have these. Would love them, if I did.

Have these. Great fun in summer.

Don't have this...yet. Would bring a little bit of Chatham into my life all year 'round.

Ooh. Blue.

Great color.

This one's called 'Chatham'. A no-brainer.

Sa-weet.

I think these are perfection.

Remind me of snowflakes!

Tres chic.

I laugh just looking at it! This color is outstanding.

So, now the cat's out of the bag, and you know where to go to get started on a Meg collection of your very own!

Enough with the Pointsettas!

2010-12-02T21:07:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd take a little time and get inspired to try some new floral arrangements this year. Luckily, we practically live in the woods, so evergreens are plentiful. Yes, I sneak out on quiet cold afternoons with my shears. A snip here and there, and presto -- the foundation for green, lovely-smelling touches all around the house. Add some berries from the local nursery, a pretty container, and maybe some fruit or ribbon or lights and you are right up there with Martha.

That being said, I also like to take a special silver wedding basket (from my parents) to the florist, along with four pretty ornaments, and ask them to make up an arrangement with white roses, freesia and interesting greenery. I'm always surprised at how long this lasts, and how special it makes the simplest meal feel.

Another standby arrangement for me is white tulips with evergreen and red holly berries. Yum.

Let's start off the month with some good intentions, spurred on by holiday eye candy. If I have any luck with new arrangements, I'll post pictures...

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.

The Perils of Shopping Early

2010-11-29T08:35:00.000-05:00

I imagine that, for some, last minute holiday shopping is all about the thrill of the hunt. I typically like to have the dining room table covered with holiday booty by Thanksgiving, ready to wrap and roll. But the downside of having your list checked off is that there's time to tempt yourself with all those catalogs jamming the mailbox. Three-quarters never make it past the recycle bin, but those last 25%....

If I had a secret Santa, I would tell him that I've been a darn good girl this year (self-admittedly a TINY bit of a biatch when hormones surge...), and cozy up to the man in red for these faves:

♥ Cozy lambs wool poncho ♥

♥ 3 Birch Tree Panels -- I'd spread this out more for an elongated look.♥

♥ I keep revisiting this lovely organza/mohair scarf...of course it's Italian. Meow. ♥

♥ Doesn't this wool hat look snug as a bug? ♥

♥ Yummy wool throws. ♥

♥ Sweet ballet flats♥


♥ Mom wore a boucle sweater in this color through the winter; here's a contemporary version!♥

♥ Cheerful mudroom rug...♥

♥ Last, but so not least...have the hat; wuv the boot...♥

♫ Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do...believe in you,
Let's see if you believe in me...
Boo doo bee doo ♫

Buy Local for the Holidays

2010-11-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

{Click to see the 80 artists and designers from around New England}

Lots of holiday markets happening in the next few weeks. I love supporting local vendors. And regional vendors. And national vendors. And international...

Anyway, the 7th annual SOWA Holiday Market in Boston's South End has been on my list for a while. Gotta make this happen this year. Click here for details -- or just to watch the pretty falling snow!


{There's a second one at the Hingham Shipyard this year.	}

Here's a sneak preview of some of the goodies:

See you there?

{10am-6pm}