Slow Down...

I cannot believe I'm looking at the date 12/15 right now. Wow this month has flown by for me and probably everyone based on the mood and energy I'm feeling out there in shopper land! Rushing in the grocery store, running around in the mall, bolting through Target ... don't forget the card for the mailman! I'm certainly not one of those people who are done and have their table set for Christmas which is ten days away! And if you are done - good for you. But for the rest of us, life is a bit busier than usual these days.

I really wish we could slow down this month. Instead of scheduling in all the parties, the dinners, and the shopping this season I just wish we could relax and actually appreciate this time of year. It is hard work for me to keep going at this speed when the Earth is doing the Winter Solstice thingee. Am I the only one who has trouble getting up when it's so dark out? Maybe I was a bear in a past life that likes to hibernate as the days get colder and nights get longer.

Anyway my reason for writing this post was what happened to me yesterday when my girlfriends and I went into NYC for a day of fun. We did the tree, St. Patrick's Cathedral (see picture), lunch at Eataly and some shopping. A great day of friends and enjoying the city in this holiday season. As we were heading to our bus in Port Authority (yes we were rushing as we fit in as much as we could before heading home to get our kids from school) I turned my head around to look at a sign while walking ... (keep in mind walking through the streets of NYC with my vision loss is quite a challenge but I'm thrilled to be there navigating around with my friends) I bumped into a man who blatantly yelled at me, "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!!!" Huh? Really? He just kept scrambling along on his way with a giant cloud following him down the corridor. Yuck. Maybe that doesn't sound terrible but he was just miserable. And I almost yelled out to him ... "*#@... you dumb ..... " But what is the point? He was just a troubled young man who I felt sorry for. If you are that unhappy I feel bad for you even if you just took my happy buzz away for a few minutes.

So it made me think of this: everybody needs to slow down with this crazy frenetic pace we are keeping right now. Just chill. It will get done. Write it all out if that helps or better yet if you're a post-it note freak like me start writing all those jobs you need to get done and post them on the wall. As you finish each one take it down and put it on the desk, counter, car dashboard, etc. Collect them and look at them at the end of the day. You will feel proud and a bit relieved that maybe you're not as behind as you think.

Ok ... now if I can just make time to wrap one present!
Be Well and Don't Forget to Breathe Deeply!
Krista

Sicilian-Style Orange Chicken

I told you I'd share the recipe from tonight if it was successful. So here it is for you to try out in yours ... I was so happy to have it all done before we all split in separate directions - one kid to swim and one to her basketball game. A 5:30 pm gift!

Sicilian-Style Orange Chicken

Serves 6
3 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken legs, thighs, and breasts (I like to take the skin off for better visual)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 Garlic cloves
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup of orange juice
2 teaspoons of corn starch
1 teaspoon of grated orange zest
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and arrange in a single layer in the crock pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, garlic and oregano. Add 3/4 cup of orange juice. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.

Remove the chicken to a serving platter. Cover and keep warm. Pour the chicken juices into a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1/4 cup orange juice and the cornstarch until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan and cook, stirring until smooth and thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in the orange zest. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.

FYI: I didn't have the bone in chicken so I used boneless chicken breasts. They were wonderful as well but tomorrow when I food shop I will add it to my list. I served the chicken with roasted potatoes and carrots and the family did love it. Don't you love it when you introduce a new recipe and you see empty plates? A very happy moments for us busy moms! And that picture of fresh parsley up there? Still growing in my garden! :)

(recipe courtesy of "The Italian Slow Cooker")

Dinner in the Crockpot on this Rainy Tuesday!

I am testing out this new recipe that I will share with you all after reviews come in! I will say it smells great on this dreary Tuesday! I am gearing up for the after school activity!

Between the busy sports, the Christmas season that is upon us (I am really surprised when I see the date on my phone!) and the book I have started writing (more on that later) I am feeling a bit overwhelmed! But it is what it is and I have decided to embrace it all as "good stuff!" I guess that is one good thing about getting older! It will all get done and if it doesn't, it wasn't meant to be in my opinion.

Update on my first annual check up with the brain surgeon: all is stable. The remaining tumor is not growing at this point! That is good news. He did say that these meningioma tumors are beasts! They continue to grow as we get older if there is a remaining tumor that is unable to be removed. So there are options available for those of us with this situation and I'm checking into one next month. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is actually surgery without opening you up. About 200 tiny beams of radiation are delivered to the site of abnormality without much effect on the surrounding brain tissue. This would pretty much turn the abnormal cells into dead scar tissue. Pretty cool? If you know anyone who has had experiences with this please let me know. There is no rush for me to decide on this treatment however I always love hearing from people who have experience with it.

Last week was my checkup at NYU and Bryan and I had a great time enjoying New York. We decided to transform my anxiety about seeing my doctor into a 2 night get away! Certainly a mini-vacation when the news is good!

This picture is my angel on my shoulder! I have always loved these angels since I was a kid in Rockefeller Center!

Be Well,
Krista

Happy Saturday Everyone!

The beginning of the "Christmas Season" has begun! I am just sharing these two pictures as they are last night's sunset (on the right) and this morning's sunrise. The skies put on quite a show this time of year and I love how it puts things in perspective for me. All those details of Christmas shopping, cards, etc seem to vanish for an instant when I see these colors.

Hope you find some time to be still and just observe the beauty of nature this season!
Namaste,
Krista

Cranberries!

I was making these berries last night - loving the color, the smell was awesome and when it was done (such a quick recipe and EASY) the flavor was unbelievable! Just wanted to share the recipe and then I received the John Douillard newsletter that gives us all the benefits of eating them! You can scan down below to find the information on all the benefits of cranberries.

Cranberry Sauce
1 Cup of fresh cranberries
1 Cup of water
1/2 cup sugar (use natural cane sugar if you can)
variety of extras: cinnamon (I used 1 t), nutmeg (I used 1/2 t), orange zest, blueberries (I used what I had in the freezer ... 1/2 cup), and some pecans. You can get creative and try whatever you think might work as well.

Boil the water with sugar - dissolve. Add cranberries and bring back to boil. Simmer for about 10 mins or until you the popping is done and the cranberries are tender. Add the extras and simmer until well blended. Remove from heat and cool down in refrigerator (although I put mine out on the deck because I wanted them cooled fast!).

Enjoy these flavor bursting, nutritionally packed berries with your turkey dinner this year!
Krista

"1 - Urinary Tract Support. How do cranberries protect against UTI's? The most common cause of UTI's is a virulent bacterium called e-coli. Studies show that cranberries may protect against e-coli adhering to the urinary tract wall and thus decreasing the risk and virulence of the infection(1).

2 - Gatrointestinal Protection. It turns out cranberries may protect your gut, too. They have the same anti-adhering effect on another dangerous bacterium that is linked to gastric cancer and ulcers: H Pylori. H Pylori may also be a major cause of heartburn and indigestion in America. It thrives in the stomach, particularly when the digestive acids are low. Due to their acidic nature and high concentration of proanthocyanidins (PACs), cranberries both boost the digestive fire and inhibit the adherence of H Pylori to the stomach wall, thus protecting against H Pylori-related peptic ulcers, gastric cancer, and acid indigestion(2).

3 - Heart Health. Numerous studies suggest that cranberries may contribute to the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as lowering blood pressure (3).

4 - Cholesterol. Evidence also suggests that the polyphenols, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid in cranberries may reduce LDL oxidation, cholesterol, platelet clumping, and inflammation.

5 - Immunity. According to Ayurveda, cranberries are the lymph-movers of the winter. The lymphatic system drains every cell and transports the immune system. Not surprising that cranberries have such a global effect on the body's wellbeing: better lymph drainage equals better health!

Did I mention cranberries also:

6 - strengthen the gums, 7 - protect the prostate, and 8 - help to curb the common cold!

Most of us don't think of the holiday season as promoting our health very much. So this Thanksgiving, and throughout the winter, don't skimp on the cranberries!"

Collard Greens ... not the southern version!

I belong to a local food co-op called "The Purple Dragon." We receive orders every two weeks with mostly local seasonal crops. Last Thursday the order included a good amount of collard greens. Hmm... I know these are good but what do I do with them again? I was so lucky to have my husband cook his signature chili dish for our visiting family yesterday ... and not really sure the collard greens go with chili I was hesitant to make them. But the recipe is so easy and honestly they were so good (even though I was talking too much and thought I burned the onions!) it was a nice side dish.
Collard greens are a nutritional "goldmine." These greens actually outrank broccoli, spinach, and mustard greens in nutritional value. A Cruciferous, cancer-fighting vegetable along with kale and broccoli, collard greens are low in calories, high in fiber, and rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, and B vitamins.
Collard Greens and Carmelized Onions
3/4 pound collard greens (6 or 7 cups chopped)
3 onions, sliced into thin crescents
3 cloves of garlic, minced
salt to taste
1. Wash collards, remove stalks and stack 4 to 5 leaves. Slice into strips, approximately 1/4 inch thick.
2. In a large skillet or cast iron pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 15 to 20 mins until golden and sweet. Take care not to burn. Add garlic and saute for another 2 to 3 mins until golden.
3. While the onions are cooking, bring 2 to 3 cups water to a boil in a 10-12 inch skillet with a lid. Add collards, cover, and cook over high heat for 8 to 10 mins, stirring occasionally. The greens are cooked when they are tender but still bright green. Drain in a colander and set aside.
4. Add greens to onions and garlic. Season with salt to taste and cook for another 1 to 2 mins to heat through. Serve hot, drizzled with additional olive oil if you like.
Enjoy!
(Recipe courtesy of "Greens Glorious Greens!" by Johnna Albi and Catherine Walthers)

The Meal that Just Keeps Going...

I just had to write this blog tonight since I think it's a pretty good topic! When you are a busy family cooking dinner may not always happen ... well maybe it does but sometimes it's too much work to figure out who's eating home, when and what time! This creates some serious stress on the Momma! Don't get me wrong, we all get it done somehow but over time this gets exhausting. Wouldn't you rather not have stress around the dinner menu??
If you are a family that enjoys chicken then this is the blog for you. I love this whole chicken idea because it is:
1) Easy
2) Cost efficient
3) Delicious
4) It can be cooked once and eaten numerous times!
(Mine is currently at 14 meals and there are still leftovers)
5) Healthy ... the optimal building blocks for your family and YOU!
6) So quick to throw together!
7) Easy to clean up :)
Just so you can keep track for your budget I bought an organic whole chicken for $13.50 (4.6 pounds). Now that may seem like an expensive chicken but here's how it works out: You end up getting that bird for under $3 a pound and it's organic ... you can't find that in any other organic cuts of meat. I have served a variety of it 14 times and I just froze the leftovers! That's $0.96 per meal! Can you believe it? And that chicken has not been injected with hormones, fed antibiotics, and has led a life outside a factory.
Ok you can make this a few ways but I have pulled out the crock pot again for the recipe. There is nothing like walking in the door and having this smell greet you - instant gratitude for planning ahead!
Here you go:
Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot
Ingredients:
4 tsp salt
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pound roasting chicken
1 cup chopped onion
4-5 carrots chopped in halves or thirds
4 celery stalks cut in thirds
2 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
1 lemon quartered
directions:
Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl.
Remove chicken from packaging. Remove the pouch with organs. Rinse and pat dry.
Rub the outside of chicken with garlic. Put the garlic inside as well. Rub the dry rub all over the chicken and inside. Add the quartered lemon inside.
Place the carrots, onions and celery in the crock pot. Put the chicken over the veggies and turn on low from 6 to 8 hours depending on the size of the chicken. Cook until the leg measures 160 degreesF.
Remove chicken from crock pot and place in a glass 9x13 baking dish. Put under the broiler for about 4-5 mins to crisp up the skin. Allow the sit after removing before slicing.
If you like a thicker gravy you can remove a cup of the cooking juices and add 1 T of corn starch. Mix well and add back to the sauce for a few mins to thicken.
Enjoy this meal with a nice green salad, a sweet potato, baked potato - whatever suits you that day.
FYI: We ate this for 2 nights as the above dinner then I turned the leftover chicken and remaining cooking juices into a fantastic easy chicken noodle soup! I sauteed another onion, a few carrots (was out of celery but still had celery in the juices), added the cooking juices, stirred well, added 2 boxes of organic chicken broth (BJ's has a great deal on this) and let it cook for an hour. It had all the flavors of the roast plus the comfort food of chicken soup which is so good right now in the beginning of the cold/flu season. More on that another time ...


There are so many meals like the above one that will help the busy moms and dads out there! My mantra is: "Cook once, Eat Three Times." It saves time, money, effort. This especially comes in handy this time of year where it is getting to be Holiday season. It's perfect for those families with athletes in their house who have practices, games or meets that take hours ... and I think they appreciate it more than eating frozen pizza after practice.

be well,
krista

Arm hurts but it's done!!! :)

Since this is the blog where I started my brain tumor journey, just happy to say the dreaded yearly brain mri scan with/without contrast is done! I really don't enjoy it but it has to get done and now I'm just so relieved. Not that I have even heard from my doctor as I am waiting to get an appointment but the whole process of the MRI has so many crummy memories that it just makes me nuts~!

However here is one tool I use when I am in need of it ... actually I use it every day but today I made a specific 11/7 list to get me there with a clear head.

I am in love with the website: http://www.cozi.com/family-calendar.htm
It has an app for you as well so your whole family can link up and see what's on the agenda for the day, week, month, year; what you need from your grocery list; each person's to do list and even some journal settings along with other posts that might help you organize family life. And I am a list freak! I love to cross off things! So every day I pull it up on my laptop, phone or ipad and check things off! If I can't remember what my husband asked for from the grocery store I bring up the list as he added it to it from his phone. And one of the best tricks I've learned was to put the meal of the day on it ... actual meal planning is done weeks at a time. Yes, those that know me know that I like to wing it most of the time but I have found that this is so important to keeping sanity in my kitchen, the grocery store and that time of the day you start to worry about ... WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

What a relief! Check it out!

Happy Monday! Sunshine out there and a beautiful sky! Here is a new tool I found for the kitchen and those meals that get boring. Pier One has many kinds of "tasting party"sets. I bought this with the intention to grab my kids' attention with it's colorful little compartments that are quite tiny and three little "shot glasses" (not really but about the size of one). I've used it in the morning with fruit so they can pick at it while waiting for what they really want ... at least they can get in their fiber and nutrients early in the meal. In this picture there is one cup of orange juice (smaller than her usual size), one cup of kefir (my picky eater actually loves it and being that she's on anti-biotics at the moment I've stocked up), and I juiced a big glass of beet, carrot and apple for myself and wanted to have them at least taste it ... success! I've also used it for building our own salads. I fill the compartments with whatever I have ... cut up carrots, cucumbers, edamame, fruit, seeds, and whatever else I think they'll add to a plain green salad. So far, so good. This way they are putting on what they like and it's their own creation.

Just my latest find that I thought I'd share!!
Enjoy :)

Well those are some serious words for us! What's wrong with being comfortable? Nothing if you ask me! I love being comfortable ... when things are aligned and everyone is happy! Don't you?

Especially the last few days here in the Northeast. Yes, the freaky winter storm before Halloween. We've been out of power, out of school (2 days here in Pompton Plains and from what I've heard a few more to come), out of patience! As glad as I am that our power came back last night, there are a few positives that came out of the storm. One being the realization of how lucky we are as a people as far as conveniences go. All I kept thinking of was Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House on the Prairie! They had no grocery stores, they had no tv, internet, refrigerator, and of course no lights to even see what happened after sun down except for lanterns. Ah but life was simpler. Not as much was expected to be accomplished in a 24 hour time frame ... maybe it was harder physical work but once it was done, it was done. Now I am rambling (yes, I am short on sleep this week with texts going off in the middle of the night, kids coming in because they're wigged out by the power outage, my husband checking on the generator's gas level, etc) but my thoughts on this card that I found above were simple:
Sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone for real growth to happen. Huh? Why would I want to do that? Because sometimes you have to "get off that train," and try something new. How would you ever know how good that soup was unless you tried it? How bout that photography class? Or even a belly dancing class?

Take that first step and jump! The sky's the limit!

As far as my patience? Well, my daughter is learning how to cook meals for herself this week as I've been working on some projects. That is AWESOME in my opinion! I was never comfortable letting her near a gas stovetop! But she is starting to learn and that makes me proud! If we're off from school tomorrow we are going food shopping together and it might actually be fun with some help!

Wishing you much warmth!
Krista

Chicken With Apples Dinner Recipe

Hey all you busy cooks ... hope you all had a nice dinner tonight! I've been thinking of blogging about the subject of crockpotting (is that really a word?). I never thought of a crock pot as a real cooking tool in my life till this year. Whenever I heard the word "crockpot" I thought of all those recipes that would come off a can of condensed soup or casseroles that reminded me of the 1970's and The Brady Bunch! Not very hip for the modern tastes of today but boy was I wrong! I thought it was good to keep meals warm when family members are coming and going at different hours but I have found that not to be it's only use these days.

No more heavy casseroles or unhealthy, salty meals that are just not good for ya! Here is just one recipe that I made tonight as my sister test drove it last week. It smells sooo good when you walk in the house and I have to say it totally passed the test with the kids as well! Oh yeah! Prep time is very small and the clean up is just about nothing as we only have to clean the crockpot!

Crockpot Chicken and Apples
Ingredients:
1 cup apple cider
2 T. apple cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1 T. curry powder
2 T. butter
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 boneless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste
3 Granny Smith apples, cored and thickly sliced
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 T. cornstarch

In a small bowl, combine apple cider, vinegar, nutmeg and curry powder.
In a small microwave-safe bowl combine butter, onions and garlic. Microwave on high for 1-2 mins. until onion is softened. Place mixture in bottom of 3-4 quart (or larger) slow cooker.
Dip each chicken breast into the juice mixture to coat and place in crockpot over onions. Pour any remaining juice mixture over the chicken. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours until chicken is almost cooked. Add apples and cook 40-50 minutes longer on low until apples are tender and chicken is thoroughly cooked.
Mix together broth and cornstarch in a small bowl and stir into the liquid in the crockpot. Cover and cook on high heat stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and bubbly, 10-15 minutes. Serve with some hot cooked brown rice and a green salad.

Seriously, if you don't have a good crockpot think about investing in one today! For busy families it is a fantastic tool to have! More recipes to come!

Have a great night!!
Krista

Being Brave

"You're braver than you believe,
and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think."

~Christopher Robin to Pooh

How many times do we tell our kids not to be scared to try something? To go ahead and speak up if they know the answer in class? Or to try a new activity like theater if they think it would be a good thing? Or believe they can do anything they set their mind to? I think most of us do it all the time ... but do we ever tell ourselves the same thing? Some days are not easy ... but what is great is when it's happening, when you are present with it ... you really can grow from it. All things happen for a reason and for that we need to take that opportunity and grow. Just like we tell our kids.

Whatever challenges are thrown our way.

This picture was taken on a local trail in our town a few months after my surgery. I was told by one of my healing therapists to get outside and walk a path alone. No dog, no kids. Now this sounds like a treat right? But my inner fears of something happening ... you know the bear who pops out of the woods, the stranger who looks scary or even some other little creature you'd rather not run into? Ya know what? I did it anyway. And it was a sweet success for me who was still running into trees, people and anything else over there. I took the fear and turned it into a nice feeling of completion and strength!

One more favorite:
"The best way to deal with fear is to feel it, name it, and do what needs doing in spite of it."
~Dr. Joan Borysenko

New Season

New Season it is! Holy cow it is cold out! How did it go from summer temps last week to now I'm debating putting on the heat ... shhhh don't tell my husband! I mean that was a quick change! New routines, new classrooms, new friends, new weather ... it's part of the deal with the new school year right?

I did have a great Summer season ... although it was so crazy with soccer and swim that it flew by! I love the warmth and sounds of the season. I truly will be one of those "snowbirds" who spends the winter down South!

This is a crazy pic of Sophie and I on the beach on obx in August. She truly can be present and loves life ... although her name should be Silly Sophie as she always entertains us!

But now that it is getting to be the busy season of Fall I have found myself forced to get organized again (thank God!) and use my time efficiently. I have found that the whole food thing we all are familiar with ... "What's for dinner?" to be extremely easy. How? Keeping it Simple! "Cook once and eat three times?" Yep, it is a tool that I was actually patting myself on the back this week as The Today Show had on Martha Stewart who was offering the same advice! Wow...really? I usually shake my head when I see her on tv pushing some ridiculous dessert or paella dish that I just don't have the time to make ... or even want to make ... but this one made my day!

My family is happy and I'm happy. No big deal!

You know the old quote:

If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy!

And I rest my case :)




Goodbye Summer! See ya next year!

Awesome video ... check it out!

June 13th! Really ... time is flying as so many things are wrapping up and new things starting! I am feeling kind of scatter brained ...maybe even a little ADD lately with so much to keep track of!! Anyway a friend of mine Jane posted this link on her blog and I didn't want to watch it as it was over 9 minutes long and who has an extra 9 minutes to spare these days?! But I was curious and watched it as my quinoa pasta was cooking (yes I have been told to go wheat free due to allergy). Check it out and enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZPjjZCO67WI

I happened to see a similar "LipDub" last week on the Today Show as Meredith Viera was honored on her last day on the job. So much fun to watch and amazing teamwork required I'm sure! As my kids (and so many of yours) are fully involved in team sports this time of year it just reinforces the point of how important it is to work together, talk to each other and help each other in whatever way needed. Ahh...I love aha moments that come from watching hours of my kids' games!

Now watch the video! Our favorite song in this house!
xo,
Krista

Ahhh Summer!!

So thrilled to be on the verge on Memorial Day weekend!! Summer - yes! I still have my childhood reaction when the word is spoken!

This piece of watermelon was not carved into a heart. I was cutting up the melon with my daughter and I couldn't believe it when it I sliced it and this is what happened. So sweet, so juicy and to me a true sign of summer with memories of spitting seeds up at the lake house with my family. (It seems hard to find melons with seeds these days though...)

On the benefits of watermelon ... besides just tasting good here are a few of the many good things you do for yourself when eating this fruit:
*packed with antioxidants
*high levels of vitamin C
*high levels of vitamin A with high beta carotene
*source of lycopene which neutralizes FREE Radicals
*found to be protective against a growing numbers of cancers: prostate, breast, endometrial, lung and colorectal.
*great for electrolytes ... and no artificial food coloring!
The list goes on and on ...

See: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=31 for more information.

One of our favorite drinks here at home is watermelon, ice, mint with lime in the blender for a yummy thirst buster.


Wishing everyone an awesome Summer season! Enjoy every minute - take time for yourselves!
xo,
Krista

"You're through, Soup Nazi. Pack it up. No more soup for you. Next!" ...

Ok, can you tell I am kinda tired?? We figured out the noise that woke us up at 4:00 am was the cat who batted a random key down all 15 of the hard wood stairs ... and then the birds started chirping and then my husband started snoring, and then .... I just got up! Anyway I just had to share this amazing soup experience with you:

"Chilled Cantaloupe Soup"
In a blender combine:
very ripe ... almost too ripe 1/2 melon
1 cup of Greek yogurt
a few sprigs of mint
5 ice cubes

I was about to throw out the melon as it was that too soft consistency (when the rind gets bumpy) but decided to throw it in the blender with the above ingredients ... it was like Christmas morning to us! So sweet yet filling with the yogurt and no sugar added at all. I'm sure you could do it with green melon as well! I'll keep these coming for ya!

Enjoy!
Krista

What to Eat?

I was just trying to figure out what to have for lunch today after my favorite yoga class just ended. I am not into a big lunch as it usually means I have to make it, clean it up and then fit in the rest of my afternoon before kids get out and running after school! I look in my fridge and grab a nice plate of left over chicken ... no veggies... nothing else. Hmmm. This is not going to serve me well but I decide I should eat it as it is really delicious and yes I've already juiced kale, celery and carrots today ... so I settle and eat just chicken. Does that ever happen to you? I mean who actually puts a nicely balanced meal together each time? Well don't feel bad. No one is perfect in their eating all the time!

When I work with clients in getting to their optimal happy health goals, sometimes I think society has made it so that we think we have to be perfect in our "diet plans," and not eat some things that we really desire or crave! I can remember my days in college when after exercising faithfully to lose a few pounds I would have a sweet craving and with the support of my suite mates, we'd go out and find vending machines in the middle of the night to get our peanut m&m fix! That in turn made me feel sick and mad at myself for not only giving in but eating everything in sight! Ugh! The roller coaster of being good and then being "bad" and gaining even more weight!!! I hear this from so many people today - that once you start eating the "bad stuff," it is out of their control to come back. "It's over. I lose!" Why do I even try?

One of the very important things to remember is that you can have those treats if you desire them. Allow yourself the time to savor them. Maybe portion your serving to a smaller size so that the sugar, fat, white flour (if that is what you are craving) does not throw you into that "deep, dark place!" You ultimately are in charge of yourself - not the food that you think has been put there on the shelf for you.

More on eating later ... I was completely overwhelmed by my latest trip to A & P this week!
Be Well,
Krista

Mother's Day‎

‎"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." Rajneesh

Happy Mother's Day to all of you celebrating! I love this quote for so many reasons ...

First I have to say thank you to my Mom! Without her I could never have reached this place where I am today. She was always there for me to encourage me and make me feel seriously loved! She brought me into this world and stayed with me though all the great days like the birth of my babies (... remember you were with me in the delivery room??? and that nasty giant needle in my back ... yikes!), and stayed with me in the hospital last year overnight (...remember the great breakfasts???) Grandma Andy has been a great supporter of the grandkids as well ... how many swim meets, soccer and lacrosse games can you fit into each week?! I am so lucky in many ways to have you as my mentor and inspiration!

Being a mom is like nothing you can imagine until you are one - see above quote. I am so amazed at how this job is ever changing with its challenges ranging from trying to get a few hours of sleep when they're infants to trying to figure out how to give them a bit of independence while they grow up without letting them grow up too fast! I am so grateful to so many of my friends as they have been a few years ahead of me in the mothering department. I love to hear about their experiences as it prepares me for what's next! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

These kids keep me so busy these days. I love that they have games on Mother's Day...well kind of. I cannot imagine what it will be like when there are no soccer games to watch on my "special day!" They love being out there as part of their team ... sort of like being in a family! I am proud of them and someday I know they'll understand why I go out of my way to fix them smoothies, get their veggies and some sleep before these games! I am sure that they secretly love that I am the biggest pain about remembering to do all these things! Ah yes...wouldn't that be sweet! :)

Happy Mother's Day!
xo,
Krista

Rolling...down...the...hill!

I just saw a photo of a beautiful grassy field in Ireland with kids rolling down it! That reminded me of this post-soccer roll down after my daughter's game! What a joy to be those kids! Such a simple place, no xbox games, texting or carpooling to events...just joy! I have fond memories of rolling down hills as a kid! I've decided that when this snow melts and there is a hill to roll down, I am going to do it!

Happiness is a great place that we are all in search of.

It's always available to us. Nothing needs to happen first for us to find happiness.

Yes, there are always things about us that are imperfect. Always things to be done around the house to check off the unending "to do" lists ... ok they're never complete are they?

Maybe it's time we just learn how to relax in this imperfect state and enjoy where we are?

What's good in the present moment? Here and now?

(Now if I can wholly integrate this into my day ... )

I have learned that every rose has thorns. We are going to feel discomfort. Discomfort is not fun that is for sure! However instead of constantly seeking a state where we are eternally joyful I think that all these challenges have a place for us. Sometimes it just sucks ('scuse me) to have these pain in the ... events. Big Time! But if we learn to accept them as a point that has been put there to learn from and go deeper ... well that makes it at least part of the journey. We then integrate these events and see them as "required" yet challenging.

Maybe this makes no sense to you ... lately there have been some very difficult times for people around us. I generally don't watch the news as it brings me down but lately I've seen some very inspirational stories coming out of tragic situations. Not that these situations should ever have happened, but to see individuals coming forth to be strong, brave and inspire others is true happiness and joy in my eyes.

Here's to being open to what's good in the present moment!
Cheers!
Krista

February 8th

One year ago today I went in. Never in a million years would I have suspected I would have brain surgery. Who Me? I think you have the wrong mri image?!

Well here I am one year ago still in shock that I had to have my head cut open. Not to be gross or anything as I have a tough time reading the operative report... (Don't worry I won't start relaying it now!) but it's still so weird for me some days to not think it's just a dream. I have had some great friends, family and healthy influences in the last year that have been so eye opening (no pun intended!) for me. I've learned so much that in a strange way I have to somehow believe those people who have told me that everything happens for a reason were right!

As far as the vision loss, it's taken awhile to actually just accept it and stop actively trying to find a cure (although there are some stem cell cases that have cured blindness - really). I am now researching the safest cars out there for us ... some great new options for safety that I'd never even pay attention to before...and one more... my hair grew back! Oh yeah, this time with bangs... life is good!

I am back to health coaching! I am having a ball with my latest venture of group sessions! I love helping them find their balance and providing nutritional advice! I am back into healthy experimenting with food in my house ...

To be continued. I plan on keeping this blog open even though I opened it a year ago as a way to put information out there on how I was doing after surgery. I may move the brain picts out of the way now .... One year later I am ready for the next phase!!

Enjoy your day! Even if it is miserable out! Do something fun! Make someone happy! Take a warm bath! Buy yourself some flowers to remind you that Spring is coming.

Be Well,
Krista

Limits...

Yes, here we are on February 1st celebrating the new month with the "biggest" storm that meteorologists have ever seen. Over half the country is being hit with snow, ice, freezing rain and wind! It is 3:28 pm and my kids are not only home but have been home with an early dismissal and their homework is done...yes really. Their swim practice has been canceled for tonight and I am actually making a great dinner of roasted veggies, chicken and salad - not the usual for a weeknight of carpooling, homework, wet towels and suits to pull out of swim bags, showers, clean up, pack up books, etc. So, why is it so weird? I think this season has been tough with all the interruptions with this snowy, icy, cold weather. The kids have not had a regular week of school since before Christmas. They are not happy with the words "snow day" anymore. Parents are tired of trying to work the alternative schedule into their work day.

For myself, I am posting pictures of summer, seriously thinking about decorating my house for "summer mode" and looking through catalogs with summer clothes with great excitement! But, that is something to look forward to. I hope people don't continue to complain and moan about it...it is sooo contagious! A downer attracts another downer and everyone is miserable! Ever notice how it is hard to disagree with someone who complains?! So, me being the eternal kick pessimism on it's ass is hoping more people can laugh at this and just go with the flow!

Summer will come back and boy will it be sweeeet! Start planning your summer weekends now!

Look at my guilty dog here - I just let her in as she was outside and I couldn't find her. She dug herself under our little steps to the patio where there is actual dirt ... she hid from me there! Got herself all dirty but I think she was craving Earth! "Enough of the snow!" she thought! Ok, maybe we will snow blow you a dirt path!

Be safe everyone!

A great quote posted by Dr. Wayne Dyer:
"There is one grand lie - that we are limited. The only limits we have are the limits we believe."

Winter ...

Here we are in January ... lots of snow, ice and today some rain as well. It seems like everyone has had it here in NJ with the gray skies and shoveling very heavy snow. Today the sun peeked out for a very short time and wow did it feel good! Makes me realize how lucky I am that the winters here aren't like this every single day ... just a majority of them lately. "Not another storm..." Here we go again tomorrow night.

Although the winter doldrums seem to be happening for many people (including me), I think it is a good time to really let ourselves be bored if we can. It is a time that we can go inside and start looking at what matters.

Our town is in mourning. The life of a sixteen year old was cut short yesterday. He fought bravely in his battle against leukemia. His family and friends stood by him. It is a heartbreaking loss to say the least. Another reminder to look at those in our lives with gratitude and love every single day. The positive words you speak go a long way. Your thoughts influence your actions. Your actions are passed on and good energy is shared and passed along, etc, etc. Life is short ... we know that...nothing new there but if you get the chance the great poet Rumi has written:

"The beauty of the heart
is the lasting beauty:
its lips give to drink
of the water of life."

That is all that matters. Listen to your heart...make time for yourself and those you love.
Namaste,
Krista