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