Goodnight....sleep tight! :)

Hi here! Happy Saturday! 

Hope you all have had a nice start to your weekend. Mine begins today at 5 when I'm off work! Of course those of us in the U.S. have Thursday to look forward to as an extra "off" day. 

Yesterday, I was a smoothie freak. I just don't want heavy meals when it's humid out. I had a coconut milk, banana, frozen peach and frozen berry (with a dash of cinnamon) smoothie for breakfast. And I had my "snuggle up/sleepy time" smoothie for dinner. I have not had the tart cherry juice earlier in the day. As it does contain melatonin, I'm afraid it will make me sleepy all day. I do have to say within a couple of hours of drinking that smoothie, I do get very heavy-lidded. Not just tired but I literally cannot keep my eyes open. I can't say I've ever had a huge problem sleeping but I do seem to be getting better quality sleep. Or maybe it's all in my head! ;) I think I may kick my smoothie up a notch by adding some nutmeg and maybe a little honey on occasion. Honey contributes to the release of melatonin and nutmeg can soothe and relax muscles and induce sleep. The original recipe does call for soy milk which is high in tryptophan. I might start using that though I seem to do well with the coconut or almond milk. 

To feel more awake during the day after hopefully having a good nights sleep, eat a lot of super foods like swiss chard, kale, spinach, quinoa! Throw the greens in a smoothie with chia seeds. Voila! Along with getting fresh air when you can, staying hydrated (I mean this!! DRINK YOUR WATER!!), eat breakfast, eat better afternoon snacks (try fruit, yogurt, nuts and seeds) and make sure to eat healthy fats.  All of this can help you feel more awake and more importantly, alert. And you may not need coffee at all! 

I'm in such a cooking mood. I love to cook in general but getting inspired always helps. I eat so healthy but I do indulge and when I indulge (or even when I eat healthy), I like things to taste really good! Go figure. Flavor rules! haha! Who wants to eat sucky, boring food all the time? The great thing is with the abundance of awesome ingredients at our fingertips, we can create amazing meals, whether on the healthy side or indulging. And you don't have to feel like utter crap after indulging. I think buffalo chicken is one of my favorite things. I've often made my own version of a buffalo chicken wrap. And it tastes just like one at a restaurant but a lot better for you. And when I attend parties I bring buffalo chicken dip a lot. I often put 1/3 less fat cream cheese, 2% sharp cheddar, lighter dressing, etc...and you really cannot tell a difference. Having the ability to adjust recipes accordingly is fantastic! Especially regarding salt! 

And I love The Barefoot Contessa aka Ina Garten for recipes. All of them are amazing! I've had several people tell me her baked shrimp scampi is outstanding. All her recipes are real, good, amazing dishes. And if you are going to indulge and need a good recipe, check out any of hers! The woman has skills! :) 

Alright, time to get up and around. Gotta be all girly and wash and straighten my hair..though with the humidity and rain coming, I imagine I'll be curly again soon!! haha!! 

I was looking through old photos of J.T. Honestly, can a kid be more photogenic. I miss his crazy hair! His entire head is cowlicks and I just let them be free. I've called it "Cool dude" hair! And he's always been the happiest kid. Laughing all the time :) Can't believe he will be 7 in November!! 

"I understand about indecision, but I don't care if I get behind. People livin' in competition. All I want is to have my peace of mind" - Boston (Having a good nights sleep and energy and being alert during the day helps with peace of mind!! LOL!) 

xoxoxo
Tam

Let Yourself Arrive....and Celebrate!

Up, drinking my coffee. Ahhh, those first few sips! Heavenly! 

My friend Shellie uses the french press. And I thought I was badass grinding my own beans for my coffee in the morning. The french press kicks butt! 

Yesterday, I woke up feeling assy. It was one of those "Sleep really hard and wake up directly from a dream and head and eyes hurt all day" things. Not sure if anyone can relate. It doesn't happen often but it does kind of set the tone for the day and I'm never quite as awake as I want to be. The work day flew by though. It was crazy busy! 

I ate some good stuff yesterday. I got to work at 9 and ate there for breakfast. I had a banana and a bunch of nuts (almonds, cashews and macadamia) and jasmine green tea. There is a little store that is next to the office I was working at yesterday and they always restock the jasmine green tea for me! haha! :) Lunch, I had some broccoli slaw with a bit of lettuce in there too and grilled chicken, shredded carrots, broccoli, cucumber and an Asian dressing. A few sunflower seeds in there too. And dinner I had some rotisserie chicken and asparagus. I did make my "night time/sleep well" smoothie too with the tart cherry juice. My oldest kept asking for more chicken and blueberries. He is a healthy eater! I love it. When I'm working a long day and don't have a ton of time to cook when I get home, rotisserie chicken and veggies works! :) And my boys love popcorn so I made some of that for them to munch on later on too. 

I was thinking about what it means to arrive at a goal or to reach a specific destination regarding health and fitness. The thing is I don't think any of us ever reach a point and say "OK, that's great. I'm perfect!" lol! We are the best at picking ourselves apart and never being happy with what we see in the mirror. So many people I know are saying "I've lost a lot and my fat % has gone way down and I feel great but I'm just not happy yet". I have felt too skinny and even had people saying it for awhile. It really does seem like no matter which way you are, someone (often yourself) will have a problem with it. The key to this is realizing that perfection lies in the imperfections. I know that is a weird thought but I truly believe it. I have parts I don't like and wish I could change but at the end of the day what are you gonna do? I've accomplished a lot and proud of that and no matter what I do there will always be something I want to change. 

I think a huge part of success in health or weight maintenance is not trying to be "skinny" but rather focusing on "healthy". The number on the scale does not determine health. And it really does make so many women obsess and just miserable. And by focusing on the added benefits from being healthy...living longer with more quality of life, sleeping better, more energy, etc....you will realize that what you're doing of have done is amazing and don't sell yourself short. And please stop striving for perfection. Also, let yourself get there. Let yourself reach a goal and congratulate yourself for it. It's fine to have other things you want to accomplish but by allowing yourself to reach a goal and allow yourself to feel GOOD, it will do much more for your brain which often takes a lot longer to change! ;)

Look at this. Looks so good! Seared chicken with avocado. YUM! Here is the recipe from The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans! lol!! Seared Chicken with Avocado

Have a lovely day! Here is my oldest and I goofing off with the webcam on Monday! Love the gap in his teeth right now! :) xoxo

 He wanted me to be a Power Ranger!! haha! 

And because I miss Game of Thrones already I have to watch this. He was only on a few episodes in season 2...but I still have a huge crush on Jaqen H'ghar! Has to be one of the coolest characters! :) 

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" - Jesus of Nazareth

xoxoxo

Tam

Gotta talk about it!

Hi guys!!

It's barely 6 am. I've had my 24 ounces of water already and drinking coffee. My morning routine. I know it seems crazy drinking that much water first thing in the morning but it's one of those things that you just need to buckle down and do. And keep doing. Until it develops into a habit and routine as it has for me. You can get there with any sort of routine, you just need to stick with it. And it is a great way to start the day. Sets the tone! I am dropping my boys off and will be at work by 8:30 today. 

Hope you had a great weekend and a nice Monday. Mine was good though on Sunday, my almost four year old was not feeling well. I took my boys to see Monsters University at 1 pm. He was fine there. Later at home around 5 pm he was lethargic, feverish and eventually threw up. He was blah over the night through yesterday morning and he drank some Gatorade and water and had some food and by Noon was OK. I really have no idea what that was. Wasn't even a 24-hour bug. Possibly something he ate. My poor sweetie!! He was so pitiful! :(  He was afraid to eat or drink anything because he was thinking he'd keep throwing up. Nothing makes a mother feel worse than watching her babies be sick! 

Have you ever tried a cleanse? There are a variety of cleanses out there and I'm sure you hear about certain fad type cleanses or diets. I am not a fan of anything that brands itself as a "fast, easy way to lose weight". Sorry, that just doesn't exist. Yes, you can lose weight fairly fast by starving but it's not good for you and you won't look good by the end so it defeats the purpose. Yes, you might look like a skeleton, but is that really what you're going for?? 

Back to cleansing. I think it can be a really important part of weight-loss or even maintenance. I don't mean some weird, fad juice for two weeks. I mean whatever cleanse you choose to incorporate that can cleanse your guts out! If you want to shed some excess weight, then ingest certain foods that will help to eliminate it from your body. Old, toxic waste is not good for anything! And by cleansing once in awhile, you will help to get rid of that stuff! Nobody wants to talk about it but poop is important! haha! 

I have talked about the Sass 5-Day Fast Forward Cleanse before. I've done that one. You eat whole eggs, almonds or almond butter (raw/unsalted), plain or Greek yogurt, spinach and raspberries in various combinations for five days. You don't use any additives or salt. You can season with herbs, spices, peppers, garlic, etc...but nothing containing salt. It is four meals starting with a spinach/egg scramble with berries and almonds, then a yogurt parfait made of yogurt, raspberries and almonds (sprinkling cinnamon on that is good), and then a spinach salad using the spinach, sliced almonds, raspberries, hard-boiled eggs and using pepper and balsamic. And you finish with a smoothie using yogurt, raspberries (I use frozen for the smoothie) and almond butter. You can Google and find various blogs by people who did it and the results. I would change it up a bit. Sometimes I didn't want the salad and would just make the scramble again. 

Now is a great time for this cleanse because berries (especially raspberries) are in season. I have read that people changed it up and by day 3, they would eat blueberries or strawberries instead. I think that's OK. The author just states the study was done using the particular foods she chose however you can get results using other berries. Raspberries are nutrient powerhouses though! I have done the cleanse four times since reading about it two years ago. A really good time to do it is right after the holidays when you just feel YUCK and need to shed the yuck. haha! The only bad thing about that is there is nothing in season at that time. But the results are amazing. You shed your body of excess waste, you have eliminated salt cravings and cravings in general by excluding that stuff from your body for five solid days and you just feel great. You are a little light-headed and need to plan accordingly. And they do recommend not doing a lot of exercise during those five days as you are limiting your calories a lot. But this is solid proof that eating fats. Eggs and almonds...don't make you fat and can in fact help you shed excess waste! And lets face it, a food cleanse sounds a lot easier than only juice for days!! :) 

If you don't want to try that one then just check out various cleanses. Sometimes it can be as simple as eating a lot of fruits and veggies for a few days. Limit your starches. Just allow your body to use the good stuff in the fruit and veggies to shed the toxic stuff. Juicing can be really helpful with this too. And incorporating a cleanse once in awhile is so good for you. Just try something. Get out of the "fad cleanse" frame of mind and realize that they exist for a reason and you will benefit. 

Have a great day!! 

xoxoxo
Tam 

Never too late to start

Wooo! Made it to the weekend, we did. Well my weekend started at 5 pm last night. :)

Drinking my coffee. It's so lovely!  Snuggling with my boys. Love my mornings with them! It's the best way to start the day. They have both been extra clingy to me. Fighting over who can sit right next to me or even ON me. J.T. said "Mommy, I really missed-ed you!" (He adds "ed" on to a lot of things! haha!) I'm so excited to spend more time with him too with Summer vacation. I have Sunday/Monday off so that allows for extra time with my school boy!! He has a 1/2 day on Monday and then he is done with Kindergarten!!! 1st grade, here we come! And Sammy will start Kindergarten in September, 2014. My babies are growing entirely too fast!

Hitting the gym this morning. YES!! I so need a good sweat. And doing a few things around the home. Cleaning, laundry. BUT taking the boys to Monster University this afternoon. They have been so excited for this movie to come out for weeks! And the stores have Monsters U everything. Because you know Monsters U Cheez-its are better than regular Cheez-its! lol! 

You know the recent death of actor James Gandolfini has to have given many people a wake up call. To die at 51 so suddenly because of a sudden heart attack. So sad and so scary. With children...and a 1 year old daughter! My mother died at 50 so I know just how devastating it is to lose someone so very young. She had some health issues but also some bad habits as well which I am sure contributed. But I am sure many men especially see his death as a big sign to get their butt in gear and do something. Obviously I don't know his exact history but he was clearly overweight which contributes to so many health issues. Our bodies are just not meant to withstand that kind of weight. I should know!! :) 

When I finally had that moment of clarity of what I had to do. (from years of doing it wrong), and got my own butt in gear, it's like my body said "Yeahhh Baby!!" and it shed the weight fairly fast. Even doing it the slower, healthy way. That's what I want to stress to people. Some avoid starting because of the time they think it will take. And?? Time is the one thing that is going to continue to move day by day whether you do something or not. And it really doesn't take that long in the grand scheme of things. And it's not like you are very overweight every day and then after two years suddenly reach your goal. You are getting healthier and looking better every day and week of that process. So even well before "goal", there are significant changes! 

By losing 100 pounds you change your body's history of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. Not to mention knee and joint issues. I have so much more energy now and just feel so much better. And I have succeeded in the past but I just live a different life now. Rather than do something temporarily, I incorporate certain things every day and it really is a no brainer and no big deal. :) 

If you start now, you will see significant changes in 8-12 weeks. I know that seems like a lot but we all know how fast time flies. Everyone says it. Time goes by so fast! For some reason when it comes to weight loss we fear time. We want those changes immediately. But I actually think the time it takes is good and healthy for our minds as well as our bodies. That kind of change happening too fast won't last, is not good for our body and doesn't allow your brain to catch up to what your body is doing or has done. And you don't learn anything. By paying attention to your body and how it responds to certain foods and activities you will understand why it is working. Or not working. Why you have a ton of energy or feel exhausted by 2 pm.  You need to understand this to truly want to keep the habits in or out of your life. So stop obsessing with the time! 

On that note, I am going to get up and around for the gym here in a few. My boys love playing at the daycare there. They actually ask "Are we going to the gym today??" all excited. It's so cute! And I like that I am instilling good, healthy habits in them. 

 And some goofing off from a few days ago. Playing around with the webcam! :) 

Enjoy your Sunday!! 

xoxoxo
Tam

Paying my dues to the dirt.

Good Mornin! 

Happy Friday!!! I hope you've all had a great week and have some fun weekend plans. I am trying to figure out what I'm going to be doing with the boys. They have been asking and asking when Monsters University is coming out so I will probably take them to that on Sunday. I want to see World War Z so bad but that will have to wait for kid free nights! :)

Yesterday was a weird day. I feel like saying "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of Tami's life!" I feel like I need write a book about my life some days. It's bound to be a bestseller. It was an extremely long day and it was all for nothing as all was status quo with the important things. Some things still need to be taken care of though in this never-ending cycle. Calgon, take me away!! 

I had that green juice the other day again. I know people avoid kale like the plague. But please please try to incorporate it in some way. That kale/pineapple smoothie I had a few days ago was really good and refreshing. Pineapple is so sweet it cuts the tart of the kale a lot. 

Why is kale such a super, amazing, badass, awesome food?? I talk about it so much that people will email me that they bought some and thought of me! lol. I love that. As I've said before, I grew up with it in Oregon before it became "trendy". People have always grown it in their gardens out there. And did you know that in the Winter, that is when kale is in season?? Pretty sweet! 

It is one of the most nutritionally dense foods. Even if you have to mix it in with other foods to cut the taste, try to get it in your body somehow. It is full of vitamin E to help your brain cells and keep your mind sharp, vitamin A to help your immune system and bones and teeth, vitamin K to help strengthen the composition of our bones(especially important for Osteoporosis) and phytochemicals to lower risk of cataract and macular degeneration (something I see at work quite often!) One half cup of cooked kale meets the daily recommended dose of those phytochemicals. Amazing right? That is on top of the 45 flavonoids which are other powerful antioxidants that help protect against cancer. 

I found this cool site for some interesting ways to sneak kale into your day. Great recipes!! 
Kale Recipes

I think I posted something like this back when I first started blogging but I may post it at least once a month just to keep enforcing it! :) 

This is a good song. Puts me in a good mood for sure! :) The lyrics "Paying my dues to the dirt" seems so apt! But dirt is good. It grows kale!! ;)

Have a great day!!

xoxoxox
Tam

Lets make it last. Lets find a way! :)

Hi there! Happy Wednesday! :) 

I haven't felt very good the last few days. I woke up on Monday with a sinus cold. Pressure in my head and sneezing all the time. Good times! ha ha! I ran out of apple cider vinegar and keep meaning to get to the store to get some and keep forgetting. I stopped taking the Gingko Biloba.....so I forget! ;) It wasn't appearing to do much other than make me feel nauseous when I took it. But I need that apple cider vinegar to knock this sinus cold out! 

I've been thinking about some other supplements lately. I always read about various things. Most of what we need is in nutritious foods but supplementing is a good idea as well. A friend just told me about Hawaiian Astaxanthin. It is a carotenoid and apparently one of the badassest of the badass antioxidants out there. It is what gives shrimp, salmon and even flamingos their pink color. And the biggest result is it protects your skin from the sun. A friend was told by another friend that it was helping her age spots so my friend started taking it and notices them fading. Interesting!! I wanted to pass this on to you as well. Just make sure it's not synthetic. Apparently there can be some awful side effects with that. Hey, it's worth a shot right? If you try it, definitely let me know the results. 

I often think about how people age and what makes some age so much faster. Yes, it often has to do with genetics but I think it's more than that. I think we do have the power to reverse aging or at least slow it down..by how we choose to live. My great-grandmother Hazel had white hair as long as I knew her. It had a smidge of color here and there for a few years but was mostly white before becoming that super snowy white. I was lucky enough to know three great-grandparents growing up. 

But the point of this...is she just looked older for most of my life. And remember her sister walking in who was only two years younger. Being in their upper 80's, two years really isn't much! She had on this tailored suit, hair all perfectly coiffed and dark, energetic. I remember as a teenager thinking "Woah...why is it great-grams looks so much older than her sister??"...and I think it's all about life and how she lived. Her husband, my great-grandfather Howard was a logger (I'm from Oregon..that's what ya do there!! lol).  And he was injured when a tree fell on him and was paralyzed from the waist down for the remainder of his life, which really wasn't that long. My grandmother took care of him and he died before I was born. I think it just took so much out of her and she aged fast. And I think she let life get her down too much. 

I do think it has a lot to do with mind over matter. Living a positive rather than negative life. Keeping yourself feeling and looking younger through exercise and foods and laughing despite the "crap" that comes our way. Deciding that you have a lot to live for and be happy about. Perspective. A lot of us are just tired and need to rest. However upon retiring many people seem to die faster. Work gives us a reason to get up in the morning and creates a routine. It keeps our brain busy which allows us not to dwell on other things so much. I know we all say we'd love to win the lottery and never work again. But I don't think it's healthy for anyone. Being left alone with negative thoughts and too much time will only lead to problems. I have dealt with problems and drama by someone who clearly has too much time on their hands. It's just not good!! 

Also, smile. Smile! Enjoy the day despite the negativity all around us. That can make a difference in your life. And a smile transforms your face too! I feel for my great-grandmother Hazel. I wish I could go back in time and tell her to smile. Give her reasons to smile. And help her not feel so old! 

Have a lovely day everyone! Find a reason to smile and feel younger! 


Love this song! I love Bob Seger. He's a fav of mine for sure. Another influence my mother had on me! :) 

"How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours" - Wayne Dyer 

xoxoxoxo
Tam

Monday Musings

Good morning!! 

I hope you had a lovely weekend and Father's Day! And much love to the amazing, selfless, giving, responsible fathers, brothers, grandfathers, step-dads, uncles and any father figures out there who give of themselves and have their priorities in line. Mucho respect! :) 

I had a great workout yesterday morning, did some cleaning, ran a few errands including buying more vitamins, got a pedicure and then relaxed at home for a couple of hours before my boys came home at 6. Then it was all about snuggle time with them. We did a little wrestling and I gave Sammy a few "horsey" rides down the hallway. My knees were not overly happy with that. Gah, I'm getting old! haha!  Both of my boys get to laughing so hard they can't breathe. And Sammy always gets the hiccups. It's hilarious. Both got hiccups when I was pregnant with them and it was usually around 3am! :) 

I got a smoothie yesterday. It was called the Tropi-Kale. It was mostly pineapple and kale and was really good. The sweet from the pineapple balanced the more bitter kale and it ended up tasting similar to a tart apple. Very refreshing and so so good for you. I have talked about kale many many many times in the past!! hahaa! But I may need to try my own using those ingredients. It's awesome to know you're drinking something that is nourishing your body from the inside out! 

I'm sure we all have things we wish we knew when we were younger. Unfortunately I think it takes going through some of the trial and errors of life to get that kind of wisdom. We can pass on that wisdom to others and hope they can learn from it and maybe not make the same mistakes. That is a huge reason why I created this blog. Many people on My Fitness Pal had asked me to blog and to help inspire and so I try my best. But it took me doing it the wrong way to figure out how to do it the right way so if I can help save y'all that time and trouble it took me to get it right...then that is truly an amazing thing, my friend! 

A couple of other things I wish I knew when I was younger that I incorporate into my life now....

You are in control of happiness. If you don't like the way things are then get the courage to change it. I did that a few years ago and I am much happier and peaceful. So many people make themselves victims and don't realize how strong they truly are. You can accomplish some amazing things if your heart is in the right place. That is one thing my mother taught me. Not to wallow. I am strong and capable. Get up and get the job done. Simple as that. :) 

I have heard "this too shall pass" many times by many friends and it really is the truth. There will always be hard times and stressful situations. You can choose to rise above and just learn and grow stronger by these situations. And as I've said before, what others say and do is a reflection on them and not you. Nothing they say and do has to do with you. Ever. 

And my younger self should know that balance is the key. Deprivation is not. I wish I could go back in time and teach that lesson. Stop worrying about the number on the scale and feeling a need to be and look a certain way based on "society". Food is not the enemy. It is there to make us look and feel wonderful. We have the power to make the right choices and balance it all out. 

Ahhh, that wisdom that comes with age, life's lessons and trial and error. With so much negativity out there I choose to be positive and happy. After all, I have that power, as do you! And my boys will benefit from a positive, happy mother rather than a curmudgeon! :) 

This is how I live my life! And it does wonders! 

Time for me to get the show on the road. A very full day again. Much to do! Catch you all on the flip side! 

I think it's a good day for this song! Carry on!!! 

"Pay close attention to the particular thoughts you use to deprive yourself of happiness" -Byron Katie 

xoxoxox
Tam

Simple Saturday Stuff. And Neil Diamond.

Happy Saturday! 

I hope you all have fun things planned and if not, a relaxing weekend at home is nice too! If I had a yard, I'd be gardening! Or attempting to use the green thumb my mother had that I really don't. But I want to try! Home grown veggies, berries and herbs. Sweet!

Are you afraid of carbs?? Don't be! I know we all want to eat a certain way based on certain information out there but certain nutrient rich carbs are so good for you and really do make a huge difference in how you feel and your energy level. The important thing is not wasting calories on carbs or foods in general that have no nutritional value on a regular basis. Our bodies need the nutrients the Earth has provided. That's why the foods are there. 

Eat sweet potatoes. They are slow burning carbs and full of antioxidants. It has been eaten in Central America for thousands of years and is one of the best known sources of vitamin A which is essential to healthy skin and eyes. The ancient, tried and true foods are the ones we should not take for granted. Before there were pharmacies there were fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs and spices. 

Legumes. Eat them. I talk of using chick peas, kidney beans, etc in place of meat for protein on my salads. And I have talked of lentils before too. They are awesome superfoods. Legumes stabilize blood sugar and the fiber content helps you feel fuller longer. I truly feel that incorporating more of these awesome foods has helped me get the hypoglycemia under control.In the Winter a bowl of lentil soup will keep me satisfied for hours. 

Root veggies like beets, carrots and turnips are great sources of complex carbs to help keep sugar cravings away. They also support the immune system, digestion and healthy skin. 

Gluten-free grains like quinoa and buckwheat are excellent sources of nutrition. Quinoa is another ancient superfood that is a carb but also a complete protein. Limiting animal protein and focusing on plant based is such a great idea. I know it's difficult for some. That doesn't mean never eating meat. It just means eating the plant based versions as much as possible. I bet you feel amazing if you do. Try buckwheat soba noodles in place of pasta. Good stuff. And actually good for you and not just bleached white nothingness as regular pasta is!! :) 

Alright..time to get around. I work from 10-5 and then it's MY weekend. I was just checking out clean eating recipes. This looks so good. More for the fall!  Clean Eating Coconut and Curry Turkey Chili or Clean Eating Spicy Orange Cinnamon Shrimp. YUMM! Or Clean Eating Chicken Taquitos

See? Proof that eating clean can rock!! 

Here, have a little Neil Diamond! Cause he's awesome. :) 

"To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it" - Confucius 

xoxoxox
Tam 

Cherry Cherry!!

Good morning, my friends!

I skipped blogging yesterday too, sorry! I try to wake up and write before the boys get up or when they're happily playing with each other. But Sammy has been extra clingy lately and wakes up and wants so snuggle on my lap which was the case yesterday. I love it! He wraps my arms around him and says "My mommy. I want to stay with you foweva!" :) So that trumps me writing my blog. I'm sure you understand.

I've been a busy little bee this week. On top of my normal busy week with my boys and work, I'm prepping for something else I'm dealing with. There are those in our lives that can't leave well enough alone and have to constantly create drama. Mostly because they want their own way 24/7 and when they don't get it they tend to throw a temper tantrum. I'm sure we all know people like that. I can't stand drama and do my best to avoid it. It's way too exhausting and disruptive to my boys and myself. Some thrive on it though. I never understand that.

I have been drinking that tart cherry juice smoothie a for dinner the evenings. It's so good and refreshing. I get home about 7 some nights and that hits the spot. Along with popcorn which my boys love and we eat a ton of it. Last night I used the tart cherry juice, almond/coconut milk, half a banana and a frozen berry/cherry blend from Trader Joe's. Wow, it was SO good. And it does make me extra sleepy and I tend to crash hard and sleep through the night. I find the tart cherry juice in the "organic" section of my local grocery store which is Stop n Shop. I know they sell it at Whole Foods too and I'm sure any other organic store. 

This is the one I buy. R.W. Knudsen. It seems to be on sale a lot which is good and I will buy two at a time. You can find it on websites like eVitamins and get deals. Like a 12-Pack for a lower price overall. It is THAT good. I bet you try it and want to incorporate it daily. It is tart but not intolerable at all. Has a nice taste. There is no lip puckering. :)

This is the write-up from eVitamins. 
Organic Just Tart Cherry Juice by Knudsen has all the antioxidants you want with none of the harmful pesticides.

Tart cherries are rich in anthocyanins, a class of antioxidant phytochemical known to improve circulation, nerve function and reduce the risk of cancer. They've also been shown to lower cholesterol and protect against muscle damage and reduce inflammation. Organic Just Tart Cherry Juice has all of these benefits, plus tart cherries contain melatonin, which helps people fall asleep naturally.

How to stay "balanced" when life gets a little crazy. It's not easy but by not allowing the crazy to determine your mood, you can be very zen despite them. 

Life is definitely full these days. That's a nicer way of saying "busy" or "hectic". Full! It's amazing how just using different words can change the way you view things. Let your light shine and that which is negative will disappear. 

Sleep! Getting a great nights sleep can make or break your day and how you handle what's to come for sure. The tart cherry juice can help with that. ;) 

Use care for yourself and your loved ones by choosing to schedule things so it's not quite as hectic as it could be. Don't forget to exercise and breathe. Meditate, yoga, read a book. Whatever you need to do to be calm and collected and not feel hurried will help. Even a few minutes a day is helpful. 

Give. Do for others. Don't forget to be kind. Being kind and letting others go ahead can slow us down and open our eyes to perspective. I can't really give a ton to charities but I try to do a little bit when I can. I always give a few dollars to veterans when I see them. I did so the other day at Stop n Shop and they gave me a cool flag to put on my deck! Pay it forward in little ways when you can. Every little bit counts and can change your day. 

After I saw Les Miserables with my friends when it came out in the theater, I was singing this for about two weeks after! haha! So I will share so it gets stuck in your head. 

"When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a light about to start when tomorrow comes"

Have a great day!! 

xoxoxo
Tam

Go Nuts!

Hi there! 

I try to write every day though there are little breaks here and there. Yesterday was my early day at work and I was out the door by 7:15 to beat the traffic and drop my youngest off with my friend who watches them before work at 8:30. No rest for the weary right? I did get off at 4:30 though! That was nice! So if I don't write every single day, go easy on me, haha! 

I have a friend who is in the process of her lifestyle "change". She has said she feels great in many ways but has a vision of where she wants to be and is working to get there. She is doing a lower carb way of eating but she does eat a lot of protein and fat. It's always a good thing when there is proof that eating fat isn't what makes people fat. And it's working for her despite those asking her "You can eat THAT?" I have said many times before if you find something you can stick with that makes you feel wonderful and is working then by all means, do it. And at the end of the day, good fats, protein, veggies, etc are much better for you. And if you eat carbs, PLEASE make sure they are the whole, good, full of nutrients version and not the bleached out, do nothing but add weight kind. I love pasta like anyone else. I just limit it as plain white pasta has nothing in it to nourish your body. At least loading on a red sauce full of tomatoes, garlic, onion and herbs is SOMETHING! :) 

I don't eat a lot of carbs myself and generally focus my calories on protein and good fats. I eat an insane amount of nuts! I would rather munch on those than chips or muffins or candy bars. They do hit the spot! I feel for those that are allergic to nuts. I cannot imagine that! I keep them at my desk at work at both locations I work at. Most of my female co-workers eat them too and one of the guys who works there finally asked me last week "What's with you guys and the peanuts?" haha! We're all pretty health-conscious! One had previously been munching on a lot of chocolate covered raisins and realized almonds are a better choice. And then I explained that peanuts are technically a legume and nuts are nuts. (I eat a lot of almonds, cashews and walnuts) :p I recently read a funny post about signs you know if you're a wellness junkie. Included in these were "You could hypothetically eat all your beauty products" and "You forget in casual conversation that not everyone knows what a Vitamix is". lol. I think "Correcting someone that peanuts are a legume and not a nut" could be part of this too! Ha! 

And to look and feel your best, eat the right things. It does make a huge difference in your life. If you choose to munch on nuts and seeds and drink water and tea you will feel and look better than other options. Try it and see for yourself if you don't already do it. See how you feel a lot better at the end of a work day rather than completely run down.There are more health promoting benefits in a handful of nuts, spinach salad, sweet potato or a bowl of berries than in any drug on Earth. And by nourishing your mind, body and soul with these healing foods regularly your energy will increase and the quality of life you live will be so much better. This doesn't mean never enjoy pizza, a burger or a glass of wine. Just keep the norm healthy and nourishing. I talk about "the norm" a lot. That is where you need to focus the healthy stuff. The "here and there" is where you focus the treats. That kind of balance may very well transform your life completely as it did mine. :) 

I had a burger and a chocolate shake from the Shake Shack last night with my boys! And it was GOOD. My stomach hurt afterwards which I knew would probably happen. I had eaten a banana and nuts for breakfast and had oatmeal and an Odwalla Mo-Beta smoothie for lunch. Had my tons of water and green tea all day too. That norm allowed for a treat. But now, I don't feel the need for that for awhile. Especially with my stomach protesting! lol! I will treat it nicely today with good, nourishing food and it will say thank you. By not making horrible noises as it digests the treat! :p

I am gonna get up and around. Enjoy the day!! It's Wednesday!! Hump day and mid-week for most of the work week. WOO! You're half way there. 

My friend Shellie posted this on my Facebook wall last night. We do what we call "Video Off's" sometimes..trying to out cheese each other. haha! The problem is she and I are both cheesy and like the cheese. Ahh, it's a classic and bad that I remember when it came out. Way too old! And watching this lead to other songs like Islands in the Stream and Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue! Nooo! ;) 

"You can turn off the sun but I'm still gonna shine" - Jason Mraz 


xoxoxoxo
Tam

How Does Your Light Shine?

Good day! Happy Monday!

I hope all of you had a lovely weekend. Yesterday was gorgeous in this area! My boys wanted an "at home" day. I can understand that. I was trying to go out and do some things with them and J.T. kept saying "I just want to be at home". He's gone at school all week and busy days, homework and he had a busy Saturday soooo...he just wants to chill at home. Having a long work week, I feel you my sweet boy! :) 

Sleep and exercise are amazing things. I am telling you from personal experience, they are healing, kick ass things! Nothing makes me feel better than a great workout and a good nights sleep. And lots of snuggling with my boys of course. They all release good, healing "stuff" in the body. I am taking a break from the gym today as my lower back is a bit "tender" and one thing I've learned is to listen to my body, especially my lower back! I was in the emergency room a couple of years ago due to my piece of crap back!! It's tough though, as I love a good sweat! I will focus on stretching and some strength moves today. Maybe a nice walk with my boys this evening. Planks are my friend as I've mentioned before. They are easy on the back too. ;) 

So why is cardio so important? I know this is a "duh" type of comment. But I think many people who are trying to be healthier incorporate it knowing it's good for them and helps with weight loss but beyond that some may be stumped at what exactly it does. 

First, your heart is a muscle and with any other muscle it needs to be worked out or it will grow weaker. Mine is pretty strong at this point!! It actually takes a lot at this point to raise my heart rate up. That's why I work out for a long time at high resistance. Increasing speed and duration during your cardio can help with weight loss too. 

Also, doing a lot of cardio creates a stronger circulatory system which means more nutrients delivered to your cells all the time. The "delivery" system is large with nothing blocking the way. 

Cardio means less stress. Isn't that awesome? Despite outside influences trying their hardest to cause stress, you can sit there with a calm smile, feeling serene! :) 

Cardio keeps your brain younger. If your heart is weak it cannot transport the blood very easy and this means less oxygen and nutrients getting to your brain and it ages faster. And tied into this, cardio also helps you to think better. When we move fast and even better at intervals, our brains have to process that information at the same time, quickly. A study showed that when overweight children started to exercise, their math and thinking skills improved. Cardio helps your brain to learn to process that information. 

And ladies, cardio increases bone density!!! This is for everyone obviously but women especially suffer from osteoporosis. 

If you suffer from depression, cardio releases endorphins to help to enhance mood. I have been doing regular cardio for several years now, through a rough patch in my life and I am truly balanced out. My mood, etc..is fine. I do feel very calm and peaceful and serene on average despite life trying to create constant problems. I really think the only time I can say I was truly depressed was the year or so following my mothers death in 2000. I just wasn't quite myself. That hit me pretty hard and I made some strange choices but I came out of it. I have never been medicated for anything and I certainly don't need it. When I start to feel "Blah", I exercise!! Or hug my boys! Or talk to a friend or listen to music or watch a movie or read a good book. And I'm good! :) 

Sleep. Cardio helps you sleep. Half the world's population suffers from sleep problems. I have very rarely had this issue. Usually when I was pregnant and uncomfortable. I do have a clear conscience too though. That always helps!! haha! A study showed that people who suffer from chronic insomnia and who incorporate cardio in the evening fell asleep faster and slept longer. On cardio days it's all I can do to stay awake some nights. I have fallen asleep just before Game of Thrones which airs at 9! That's because Sundays are always big cardio days. Yesterday I burned 1551 calories. :) I did stay awake for the finale though it was tough! 

Doesn't this make you want to get up and go sweat?? Sure it does. Go sweat! A great workout followed by a nice shower feels so fantastic! One of my favorite things! Sweat, shower, yummy smelling body butter and a tank top and shorts in the evening and climbing into bed with clean sheets. Ahhh, you know you love it too!! All together now...AHHHHHHHHH!!! :) 

Alright, time to get this show on the road. Have a lovely day! It's another snuggle snuggle mommy day. Love it! 

Last night, my J.T. asked "Mommy, can I have more blueberries please?". It really warms my heart! The influence of nutritious foods I'm having on them and his use of please!! Earlier I had eaten an entire carton of raspberries. He's a boy after my own heart. Sammy on the other hand is a tougher sell with the berries. I'm working on it though!! 

Love this song. Puts me in such a good mood. Not a care in the world. Wooo!! Wash away my troubles. That's how it feels when you get a good sweat followed by a great shower! hehe! :) My light shines fo sho!! Plus it's on one of my favorite episodes of Lost. Miss that show!!! 

"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise" - Oscar Wilde. 

xoxoxoxo
Tam

So Darlin, Darlin...Stand by Me.

Hello there!!

I started the day with my coffee. Gosh I love it!! I even wrote a poem. Lets call it an ode to coffee. 

Coffee: A Haiku
Upon the first sip
Awaken my mind and soul
Get in my cup, now

Hope you're having a great Sunday. I certainly am. I hit the gym and ran some errands. Now a quick blog post and spending the day with my boys. Getting a few things done as usual. Endorphins are such an amazing thing. They really are. I feel as though I could conquer the world. I just might!  ;) 

I had a good day yesterday. I worked and then took my boys to a local Bridgeport Bluefish minor league game. Met some friends there. So much fun and the boys love it! I think I will be taking them to many more. I even indulged in an ice cream cone! Shhhhh! I save my dairy consumption for yogurt and occasional ice cream. Sometimes cheese. I love cheese though and it's difficult to stop. I'm a huge fan of sharp cheddar and my favorite is Tilamook cheddar from Oregon! If you ever have an opportunity to try some of it, DO it. It is worth a great workout! 

My original idea for today's post was quickly erased as I just thought "Ehh, not worth it". And it really isn't. Life is too precious and there is too much perspective in any given day to waste on anything that doesn't enrich your life in some way. Especially after hearing that a woman I respected and thought of as a kindred, kind spirit passed away on Friday after a long battle with stomach cancer. Nothing like hearing news like that to make you realize just what you have and the problems you have are so minute in comparison. My prayers and heart go out to her family during this very difficult time. The world is truly missing some beauty and warmth upon her passing. 

I am a big fan of Don Miguel Ruiz. He seems to be a kind, well adjusted, kindred spirit and I wanted to share his Four Agreements with you. These are simple and easy to do if we really put our mind to it. Be sure to check out his book! Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements

1. Be Impeccable with your word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. 

2. Don't take things personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinion and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering. 

3. Don't make assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement you can completely transform your life. 

4. Always do your best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment. It will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret. 


Have a lovely Sunday. Enjoy it whatever you're doing! 

My friend Katie found this while shopping at Old Navy the other day and sent it to me. It's always nice to find my name spelled the way I have it spelled! haha! Very cool! The Tami! :) 

And leaving with this song which I think I have posted before but it's one I've been singing to my boys since my oldest was itty bitty. It always had a calming effect on him. And hearing it fills me with love and peace. Enjoy. And just Stand By Me! :) 

In memory of Lila. My life was enriched for having known you. And she said I had good energy upon meeting me. Special lady! Rest in Peace!! xoxoxoxo

Have a blessed day!
Tami

How sweet it is!

Hi guys! Happy weekend. 

I work 10-5 today and then it's MY weekend! :) 

We have been deal with drought in some areas in the NE. After yesterday, that can't be possible any longer! We got so much rain. It rained non-stop the entire day. I was beginning to think we were going to need an ark to get around. Today seems like it's going to be nice! Lets hope it holds. Warm and sunny with a high of 77. I am supposed to be going to a Bridgeport Bluefish game with my boys tonight. I got the tickets through my friends sons cub scouts as a special thing. They are fun! Minor league games right down the street. Pretty great. Especially if it's a nice evening! 

I've been reading about buying fresh produce and how to properly freeze them. I don't have a ton of space but I do prefer freezing over canning. And buying frozen fruits and vegetables in general is fine and often better for you than the canned versions in the grocery store. They are often frozen at the peak of freshness and retain all the nutrients whereas the heating process during canning can kill a lot of the good stuff as well as contain a lot of added salt. I grew up with my grandparents having gardens in Oregon and they would have a huge freezer in the garage or basement specifically for frozen goods. And my grandmother would make homemade freezer jam. Honestly one of my favorite things to this day is her homemade strawberry freezer jam on a homemade biscuit!! Not the healthiest thing ever but wow...my mouth is watering thinking of it right now! At least with homemade jams, they are prepared at home. You know what's going in them. There is a lot of sugar but you can control that when you make it yourself. I would probably just put it on whole grain bread or something now. ;) This is a great article on how to properly freeze the fresh fruits and veggies you grow or buy at a farmer's market. And she talks about her own grandma and the giant freezer!! I need to get one of those one day! haha! I think it's a given when you grow up in the country. Properly Freezing Produce

And because I am all about balance and having treats, here is an easy recipe for strawberry freezer jam. One taste and you'll send me an email of gratitude!!! There is no boiling with freezer jam and it lasts up to a year in your freezer. Strawberry Freezer Jam-freezer

If you're struggling to lose weight and want some simple tips to lose it for good, here you go! 

First of all, get plenty of sleep. I will work a long day and want to stay up and do something but it's more important to listen to your body and get rest. You will feel so much better the next day and it will give you so much more energy to accomplish what you want to accomplish. Sleep really is one of the best things we can do for our overall health. 

I mentioned eating until 80% full in a previous blog post. That is a good one. Eating until satisfied but not full/stuffed. Many of us grew up being told to "clean your plate". This habit is not really helpful! Eating until stuffed during the day leaves you tired by the afternoon. Eating until stuffed before bed leaves you feeling yucky and bloated and is not great for weight loss at all! 

Try to have your meals be loaded with lean protein and non-starchy vegetables and limit the grains. Even though there are good gains, keep them to a minimum. Focusing your calories on the protein and veggies is going to fill you up and help your body to shed the weight. 

Try to keep the sugar to a minimum. Treats are allowed but having them throughout the day in the form of muffins, soda, sweetened drinks, fruit juices, etc...you are going to cause problems with your blood sugar and are going to crash. It's better to save them for dessert following dinner. I like a small piece of chocolate. Trader Joe's has this dark chocolate with caramel and coconut inside. A little of that does me just fine! I do have some during the day on occasion (a co-worker and I enjoy a piece here and there!) but I don't drink sugar laden drinks. Ever. 

Have a great Saturday folks! Maybe attempt at making homemade freezer jam! :) 

Leaving you with Mario Lanza! Ahhhhh! I was listening to Pavoratti on Youtube and this one popped up as a recommendation. I love it. Always reminds me of the movie Only You with Robert Downey, Jr and Marisa Tomei! GREAT movie if you've never seen it. :) Plus it's just a beautiful song! 

"If you do not find peace in yourself, you will not find it elsewhere" - Paula A. Bendry 

xoxoxo
Tam

Rise up this mornin', smiled with the risin' sun!

Hi guys! 

Sipping my coffee, starting the day as my boys still sleep. Yep! :) I just like to have some time to relax in the morning before work and school for my son. I don't like any of us to start the day in a hectic way. It kind of sets the tone. So I get to bed at a reasonable time and my inner alarm usually wakes me up about 6. I don't force myself to go back to sleep. I get up, make my coffee, get clothes around, breakfast, yada yada. 

I have some fun things planned with my boys this weekend. I'm excited! We have such fun together. They are hysterical kids too. Sometimes I just crack up, literally laughing until I can't breathe from their antics. I definitely birthed..or erm...."c-sectioned" two awesome kids with awesome personalities and humor. Sammy just came out with the Disney Princess crown they insisted I get a year ago and told me to put it on. haha! He says "You're a pwincess, mommy!" and calls me Wonder Woman and "Iron Girl". I love being a superhero in their eyes!! Hope it lasts!! :p

Last night's smoothie was almond milk, handful of spinach, frozen peaches and raspberries. And a little water to thin it out. Very good! I don't put any sweetener in. I like it on the tart side. I had started eliminating artificial sweeteners awhile ago. Stevia is a decent alternative or even honey but I just like to drink it as is. The more you do that the less addicted you will be to the sugar or sweetened products. That's how I got off soda too. I used to drink a Dr. Pepper once in awhile but I don't even do that now. It does take some time but you can get off that addicted and that is one item that I wish you would eliminate completely! Replace with water and herbal or green tea! I am just not a fan of empty calories much. I do indulge sometimes but I enjoy eating things like salsa, guacamole and hummus over other snacks. I am going to attempt homemade hummus in my Ninja soon! 

I love photos like this. Just gorgeous, real ingredients. Look at the color in real food. It's that simple to make homemade hummus. 

If you aren't a fan of chick peas then try a white bean hummus. Here is a recipe for rosemary, white bean hummus. Yum! I love rosemary! http://healthyjasmine.com/recipes/creamy-rosemary-white-bean-hummus/

The recipe calls for "Himalayan salt"....I'm pretty sure you can use normal, store bought salt for it! :p Like I said, don't make things complicated. As Ina Garten aka The Barefoot Contessa says "If you don't have time to travel to Madagascar and pick your own vanilla beans, store bought is fine" lol! 

I think I need to try this smoothie. Apparently it tastes like apple pie in a glass and will keep you full until lunch according to the person who pinned it on Pinterest! :) Sounds delicious! I can see why it keeps you full with the good fats in the almonds and protein in the yogurt and almonds and the potassium and other goodies in the banana! And lets not forget the kick ass apple! :) 

5 raw almonds ( you can probabl use raw, unsalted almond butter instead which I always have around)

1 red apple

1 banana

3/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt

1/2 cup nonfat milk

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. 

Every time I go to Pinterest I read my "heading" which you're supposed to fill out. I never had anything so my friend Shellie wrote one for me and insisted I put it on there. Every time I see it I laugh so much I have tears!! I always hum the theme song to Greatest American Hero! haha!! This is the heading:

Part sugar, mostly spice, I hail from the beautiful Northwest and moved to the East Coast on a wing and a prayer..who could I be? believe it or not, I'm Tami.

If you'd like to check out my boards on Pinterest, please do!! 

http://pinterest.com/tamsamjt/boards/

Have a lovely day! It's almost Friday! You can do it!! :) 

Lets end with a little Bob Marley. Cause every little things gonna be alright! :) 

xoxoxoxo

Tam