Author Archive
Home Security Tips
Home security is an interesting topic. It’s something we all think about, but don’t usually talk about much. Generally it’s not that hard to safely secure your home. Burglars have a few simple things in mind when checking out a potential break-in. Is the house easy to break in? Is it private? Is there anything [...]
Home security is an interesting topic. It’s something we all think about, but don’t usually talk about much. Generally it’s not that hard to safely secure your home. Burglars have a few simple things in mind when checking out a potential break-in. Is the house easy to break in? Is it private? Is there anything worth stealing?
One of the best and most obvious home security tips is to always lock your doors before leaving. Windows and sliding glass doors should also be locked. Doors should be metal or have a strong wood core with hinges placed on the inside. A deadbolt lock that extends at least an inch into the door jam can deter the majority of thieves who do not want to take the time to mess with it. A blocking device, like a sturdy piece of wood or a steel bar to hold your sliding glass door shut is a wonderful extra safety measure.
Next is to make sure you have an alarm system. A motion detector light is helpful too. A robber does not want to call attention to what he or she is doing. Anything that disturbs secrecy, like a loud dog, a bright light, or an alarm system can deter them. Even if you don’t actually have a dog, you can put up a sign in your yard that says “beware of the dog”.
Do not leave your computer, amusement system, or additional valuables where they can be well seen through your windows. The less temptation you give robbers, the less probability that they’ll make you one of there targets.
Fashionable Canvas Shopping Bags
We recently had a discussion on the forums about what type of shopping bags we all use. It seemed that although not many of us do, the majority of us are interested in making the eco-friendly switch to canvas. Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags every year and these mountains of refuse can [...]
We recently had a discussion on the forums about what type of shopping bags we all use. It seemed that although not many of us do, the majority of us are interested in making the eco-friendly switch to canvas. Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags every year and these mountains of refuse can last up to 1000 years.
Check out these stylish “bring your own bags”:
You can get 5 for $35 at Envirosax. If you spend $20 on Method products, you can get their cool canvas bag for free. Yansny has some really chic ones, although a bit on the pricey side. Then of course there is reusablebags.com and I’m sure if you ask your local supermarket, they have them available as well.
Stay Young by Eating
Who doesn’t want to stay young? We all do and if there is anything we can do to help feel and look our best, we’ll try it, right? Well, here are some very easy ways to keep yourself young.
Olive oil
Olive oil contains mono-unsaturated fats which are largely responsible for low rates of heart disease and [...]
Who doesn’t want to stay young? We all do and if there is anything we can do to help feel and look our best, we’ll try it, right? Well, here are some very easy ways to keep yourself young.
Olive oil
Olive oil contains mono-unsaturated fats which are largely responsible for low rates of heart disease and cancer. It also contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that may help prevent age-related diseases.
~ I always cook with and use olive oil
Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off osteoporosis and contains “good bacteria” that help maintain gut health and diminish the incidence of age-related intestinal illness.
~I try to eat a low-fat yogurt every day as a snack
Fish
Fish is an abundant source of omega-3 fats, which help prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries and protect against abnormal heart rhythms.
~I’m definitely improving in this area. I love fish and try to eat at least 1-2 servings per week. I should up it though.
Chocolate
Cocoa is unusually rich in flavanols that help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowers risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.
~Yum! I can easily consume a piece of chocolate per day.
Nuts
Those who eat nuts gain, on average, an extra two and a half years. Nuts are rich sources of unsaturated fats, so they offer benefits similar to those associated with olive oil. They’re also concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, including antioxidants.
~Nuts are an excellent snack. I take a tiny handful with a big glass of water and I’m good to go.
Wine
Drinking alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease, diabetes and age-related memory loss. Any kind of alcoholic beverage seems to provide such benefits, but red wine has been the focus of much of the research. Red wine contains resveratrol, a compound that likely contributes to its benefits—and, according to animal studies, may activate genes that slow cellular aging.
~I’m not a big drinker, but when I do drink, it is almost always a glass (or 2) of red wine.
Blueberries
Compounds in blueberries (and other berries) mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, which are associated with age-related deficits in memory and motor function.
~I do love berries and try to eat a few servings of blueberries and strawberries every week.
So, you see….I’m doing my best to stay young without even realizing it. How are you doing?
Menu of the Week: November 12
I’m still following the South Beach Diet way of life, but not really doing the set meal plans or anything like that. I’ve just eliminated almost all of the sugar from my diet and limit the amount of carbs, making note to pick healthier choices.
Here’s our dinner plan for the week:
Monday
chicken curry
brown rice
steamed broccoli
Tuesday
baked tilapia [...]
I’m still following the South Beach Diet way of life, but not really doing the set meal plans or anything like that. I’ve just eliminated almost all of the sugar from my diet and limit the amount of carbs, making note to pick healthier choices.
Here’s our dinner plan for the week:
Monday
- chicken curry
- brown rice
- steamed broccoli
Tuesday
- baked tilapia with chermoula
- zucchini and yellow squash
- green salad
Wednesday
- chicken quesadillas (w/ whole wheat tortillas)
- fresh salsa and avocado
Thursday
- mini greek meatballs
- greek salad
Friday - we are going to a rehearsal dinner at an Italian restaurant so I’ll probably have a chicken entree with a salad and small serving of pasta
What’s cooking at your house this week?
The Bachelor - who will Brad pick?
So it is down to three women on the bachelor! Jenny, Deanna, and Bettina. I usually never have a clue who will be there until the end, but this season the connections seem way more obvious. I pegged Deanna from the beginning, but obviously I have no clue. I can see him picking the other [...]
So it is down to three women on the bachelor! Jenny, Deanna, and Bettina. I usually never have a clue who will be there until the end, but this season the connections seem way more obvious. I pegged Deanna from the beginning, but obviously I have no clue. I can see him picking the other two girls as well. What do you think? Who will win The Bachelor’s heart? 
South Beach Diet menu for a week
Today is Day 7 that I’ve been on the South Beach Diet so I figured I’d post my menu from the past week. I know the food choices are quite small or at least not what I’d normally grab for, so I figured it might spark some ideas for others on this diet. I am [...]
Today is Day 7 that I’ve been on the South Beach Diet so I figured I’d post my menu from the past week. I know the food choices are quite small or at least not what I’d normally grab for, so I figured it might spark some ideas for others on this diet. I am also drinking tons of water, which helps keep you feeling full.
Day 1
B: a chunk of 2% cheese, 2 hard boiled eggs
S1: vegetable juice, celery
L: salad, string cheese
S2: nuts
D: turkey chili
D: fudgsicle
Day 2
B: 1 egg, lowfat cottage cheese, vegetable juice
S1: cucumbers and hummus, string cheese
L: leftover chili
S2: peanut butter and celery
D: Salmon, veggies, salad
D: fudgsicle
Day 3
B: 2 veggie sausage patties
S1: tomato juice, string cheese
L: salad with chickpeas and avocado, boca burger
S2: string cheese, cashews
D: salad with grilled chicken
D: fudgsicle with peanut butter
Day 4
B: 1 egg, 1 veggie sausage patty
S1: celery with laughing cow cheese
L: cottage cheese with almonds
S2: celery and hummus, cashews
D: salad
D: fudgsicle/peanut butter
Day 5
B: 1 egg
S1: celery and laughing cow cheese
L: caesar salad, tomato and mozzarella, poached salmon
S2: nuts and cottage cheese
D: salad, 2 boca burgers
D: sugar free jello
Day 6
B: veggie and cheese omelete
L: cottage cheese with nuts
D: salad with chicken and beans
D: 2 fudgsicles
Day 7
B: plain yogurt with nuts
S1: string cheese, vegetable juice
L: salad with chicken
S2: celery with peanut butter
D: tilapia, salad, veggies
Pretty boring!!!! I can’t wait to get past this phase and move on to the next when I can introduce some fruits and whole grains. I hardly ever feel satisfied. I’m just eating to eat. blech!
Menu of the week: October 15
Monday
Crispy Fillet of Fish (tilapia)
Mashed potatoes (yukon gold potatoes)
String beans
Tuesday
Chicken with Black Bean Sauce
Rice (brown rice)
Broccoli
Wednesday
Ground Turkey Enchiladas
w/ spinach and all the fix-ins (lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream)
Thursday
Pasta (any suggestions???)
Shopping List: (I’m pretty good on ingredients so it shouldn’t be big)
tilapia
cream of wheat (for fish)
tarter sauce
potatoes
string beans
chicken
black bean sauce
ginger
brown rice
broccoli
ground turkey
tortillas
[...]
Monday
Crispy Fillet of Fish (tilapia)
Mashed potatoes (yukon gold potatoes)
String beans
Tuesday
Chicken with Black Bean Sauce
Rice (brown rice)
Broccoli
Wednesday
Ground Turkey Enchiladas
w/ spinach and all the fix-ins (lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream)
Thursday
Pasta (any suggestions???)
Shopping List: (I’m pretty good on ingredients so it shouldn’t be big)
tilapia
cream of wheat (for fish)
tarter sauce
potatoes
string beans
chicken
black bean sauce
ginger
brown rice
broccoli
ground turkey
tortillas
sour cream
cheese
lettuce
tomatoes
frozen spinach
onions
pasta
What’s cookin’ in your neck of the woods this week?
Restocking the cook book shelf
So I’ve been on this cooking kick, as some of you may have noticed if you keep track of my menu plans each week. I’ve realized, though, that I am ready to kick it up a notch and I am totally bored with all of my current cook books. I love cook books though so [...]
So I’ve been on this cooking kick, as some of you may have noticed if you keep track of my menu plans each week. I’ve realized, though, that I am ready to kick it up a notch and I am totally bored with all of my current cook books. I love cook books though so I am looking for a few good suggestions.
I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Jessica Seinfeld’s new one called Deceptively Delicious. Wouldn’t it make more sense being called Deliciously Deceptive? That’s besides the point. The book looks really good and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Currently my staples are Barefoot Contessa, The Healthy Cook, and a collection of printed out recipes from the food forums here. I have a few Williams Sonoma and other random books, but none of them do much for me.
What’s on your cook book shelf?
Menu of the Week: October 8
Each week I’ve been making a plan, but things come up and it’s been hard to stick to my menu exactly. I still find it to be very helpful to have an idea what I’m making and if it doesn’t work out for that week, I can push it forward to the next week. We’re [...]
Each week I’ve been making a plan, but things come up and it’s been hard to stick to my menu exactly. I still find it to be very helpful to have an idea what I’m making and if it doesn’t work out for that week, I can push it forward to the next week. We’re eating pretty simple this week. Here’s the menu:
Monday
- Italian style tilapia
- Garlic broccoli
- Salad
Tuesday
- Grilled chicken
- Corn on the cob
- Mashed potatoes
Wednesday
- Turkey bolognese
- Salad
Thursday
- Spinach quiche
- Soup
Friday
- Pizza
- Salad
What’s your plan this week?
Menu of the Week: October 1
Happy Monday, everyone!
Here is my meal plan for the week. I am trying to work around what I have in the house, for the most part, and only buying minimal ingredients such as fresh produce at the supermarket.
Monday
Apricot chicken
Asparagus
Potato pancakes
Tuesday
Chicken quesadillas
Salad (lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado)
Corn
Wednesday
Spinach quiche
Butternut squash soup
Thursday
Asian-style Tilapia
Mashed potatoes
Salad
Friday
Sesame chicken
Garlicky broccoli
Happy Monday, everyone!
Here is my meal plan for the week. I am trying to work around what I have in the house, for the most part, and only buying minimal ingredients such as fresh produce at the supermarket.
Monday
- Apricot chicken
- Asparagus
- Potato pancakes
Tuesday
- Chicken quesadillas
- Salad (lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado)
- Corn
Wednesday
- Spinach quiche
- Butternut squash soup
Thursday
- Asian-style Tilapia
- Mashed potatoes
- Salad
Friday
- Sesame chicken
- Garlicky broccoli
