Happy Valentine's Day

It's that time of year again, VD day!

Have you remembered to celebrate your sweetie today?

Were you planning on acknowledge your union in some special way?

Romantics have been planning for well over a week, making restaurant  reservations, ordering flowers and fruit baskets, scenting cards, downloading mood music and spreading the love over the entire weekend through today, Monday the 14th.

Don't be left behind, get on this love machine and have a great Valentine's Day.

Benefits of Citrus

It's January and the sneezing, coughing and runny noses are all around us. My advice, short of hibernation, is too wash your hands frequently and eat more fresh fruit. Sending one our fruit baskets to a sick friend will do more than just brighten their day.

For instance, citrus fruits are not only low in calories they are rich sources of vitamins and minerals.

While oranges and red and pink grapefruit are all excellent sources of vitamin C, they are also a good source of vitamins A, B1 and B5. Grapefruits and oranges are also good sources of folate and potassium.

It’s recommended to eat your fruit fresh, in frozen or juice form rather than using them in cooking and baking. Remember that citrus fruits lose much of their nutrients when subjected to heat 350 degrees Fahrenheit and above.

Remember, delivery is free thoughout most of Savannah and surrounding neighborhoods.  Baskets start at $35 for approximately 12 lbs. of fresh, seasonal fruit sprinkled throughout with wagon wheel mints; all packaged in a vertical display and topped off with a beautiful two toned sateen bow.

Order online at www.Too-Fruity-Gift-Baskets.com or call 912 547-6060 and leave a message. 

Focus and Meditation

Made a resolution to pay more attention to what's going on right now than what needs to be done next or what could've been done differently.

There's a lot to be said for attention to detail; must be why I enjoy jig saw puzzles, crossword puzzles and sudoku so much. On some level I have always understood that focus and meditation are very much related. I never was able to get into chanting or traditional meditation techniques. I was never able to settle down enough without falling asleep!  Does this mean I'm shallow?

Always interested in controling my bio-rhythms in an attempt to maintain good health and counter the effects of daily stress.  Must be what's meant by "taking the time to stop and smell the roses", the key here is to "stop" whatever you're doing that is toxic, as often as is needed, to maintain the right balance for you. You'll know when you're in balance when the acid reflux dissappears, when you're able to sleep through the night and generally speaking you are less worried, calmer and more optimistic.

I am soo lucky. As I am tooling around town everyday, doing what I do, I have the opportunity, almost everyday, to pull into one Savannah's many natural wonders.  I tend to gravitate wherever there is water and trees to draw energy from.  There are so many places one can escape to all over town, boat ramps, city squares and public parks. Lake Mayer and Ft. Pulaski are just two of my favorites. If you're stuck in an office, find a window with a view or a courtyard to sit in on your next break. If you work in a store, run to your car for lunch and face the treeline, or nearest landscape, lean back and look up if you have to. Ipods and mp3 players are great if you aren't driving or walking into traffic, they can literally put you in a room of sound when you close your eyes.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about then you need to eat more fruit, read more and watch a little Oprah. 

For some reading suggestions visit this site http://bit.ly/kdgf8 .

Happy New Year 2011!

If you are reading this then you have made it through another all you can eat holiday frenzy!

I must have gained 10 lbs. and I wasn't even trying.  The problem is that I really enjoy cooking.  If you're cooking, you're tasting and that means you are eating through out the day!

I love to try new recipes and make dishes that I don't ordinarily make during the year.  Who has time to make quiche, or bake traditional family pies, or roast anything for over 2 hours.  It takes time to clean and peel or chop and slice fresh vegetables, it's a lot easier to open a can or box.

But around the holidays, it's all I want to do.  My gift to myself is the time and luxury of planning and preparing meals I think are special for the special people in my life.  It's one of those things that just floats my boat.

What makes you happy?  When you figure it out, do it more often.

Eating My Way Through The Holidays

When I was a child all big eyed over anticipated gifts from Santa, it really was all about the gift getting.  I know we were supposed to be celebrating the baby Jesus' birthday, but I was admittedly all caught up in my own birthday on Dec. 26th!
As an adult with a family of my own it turned into the worst time of year for me.  At that time I was working 9-5 for the "man", climbing that career ladder, trying to balance that with the demands of friends and family. Everyone expecting 100% attendance, 100% participation, 100% all of the time. I just couldn't keep up with the math! I wanted out, but that liberation without guilt literally took years to achieve.
Now all grown up and an empty nester, I no longer suffer that kind of holiday stress. Gift shopping is now something I do throughout the year whenever I happen upon something that makes me think of someone else. I don't mind buying something I know a loved one needs or would appreciate and I don't need to wait for a holiday or birthday to give it to them.
I took myself out of that last minute race to buy as many senseless gifts for as many people as I can name along with their children and pets. Sorry, but I've given myself a new meaning for Christmas; to me it's a time to express my appreciation and love.  It's a time for sharing what I have with some who may have less. I do this primarily with food.  Bringing food, preparing food, cooking food, sharing food and eating food is a real expression of love. The holidays, for me, should be a love fest.
Over the years I have expanded this hedonistic approach and now it's grown to include the weeks before and after Christmas right through the New Year. That's right, I am eating my way through the holidays and loving it.  Fruity, Fun and Fabulous get togethers where everyone brings something fun to eat, drink or whatever.Fun, Food and Spirits for all, just remember to be responsible. Don't drink & drive, don't over eat and don't over stay your welcome.