Be Discerning - Know the Best Flowers to Give and Receive

It was recently brought to my attention that even fresh cut flowers can be, literally and figuratively, greener than others. The floral industry is huge in our country ( because really, who doesn't like flowers) and I guess It shouldn't be surprising that conventional growers can be very harmful to the environment for the same reasons as other agriculture where pesticides are used extensively. Species are forced to grow all year round before being shipped across the world just so we can be guaranteed a large, predictable selection wherever and whenever stopping to buy a bouquet.

Even though I have been enlightened to these facts, having the 
occasional arrangement welcome me into a living room, somehow gives me so much pleasure and makes me love the space I'm in that much more. So, as with anything else, I don't plan to give my occasional floral indulgence up completely or suggest that anyone else do the same. If you are thinking about putting the finishing touches on your holiday decor with fresh floral arrangements to invite guests into your home, or possibly have a holiday host you were planning to give flowers to for the event, it is still possible to do all of that with beautiful flowers you'll appreciate even more.

The rule of thumb (no matter how green your thumb is) is to follow the same guidelines as you do when buying fresh produce. By shopping locally, in season, and fair trade organic  when possible you will end up with great fresh flowers that will last longer and are just better for any bouquet or arrangement.

Be Green-Homemade Christmas Gifts!

My name is Carol. Ange ask me to blog about a memorable green Christmas activity. The photo coaster project immediately came to mind. I hope you enjoy it! My sister, Susan a fellow Be Lister, and I set out to make a special Christmas gift for my brother and his wife with a couple of purposes in mind. We wanted to:

1) Be Green. We achieved this by designing a gift idea that used a minimum number of raw materials and in addition, we vowed to use our existing craft supplies, buying very little new. This meant that we needed to coordinate and pool what we already had.

2) Be Connected. We wanted to meaningfully connect with my brother and his family by making a gift that shortens the distance by conveying our deep love. This family will be celebrating Christmas 1500 miles away.

Using extra scrap booking paper, extra photos, a glue stick, sand paper and some stain, we were able to achieve our goals. All we purchased was a pressed board coaster set from Whimsadoodle, a wonderfully eclectic shop in downtown St. Pete, Florida. If you are ever in St. Pete, stop by. When I step into Whimsadoodle, my creative juices are stirred and I get so inspired by their many project ideas. 

We traced the shape of the coaster onto different pieces of scrapbook paper. My sister, Susan, picked out the most fun patterns to give the project a whimsical feel. She has a great eye for patterns and colors. After tracing the pattern, we cut out the paper to fit the back of the coaster.  We then selected black and white photos to contrast with the colorful patterns on the back.  It gave us the look and feel we wanted, playful but well designed.  We traced the coaster pattern onto the photos. My sister has a practiced graphic design eye and cropped the photos well. We glued the back of the pictures, the paper and the coasters and pressed them onto the coasters, front and back. We sanded the edges of the coasters. Last step, we stained the base and the edges of the coasters. As to the success of the project, I need to mention-- It does help that children are absolutely adorable and photograph wonderfully.  This was a key ingredient! 

Anyhow, I think it will be an "awww" moment when this gift is opened. What are your thoughts? 

We packed into a box and off it went. For $8.00 plus shipping of $5.00, I think we achieved our purposes and gave a fun gift for the parents and kids to handle and enjoy. We felt very green knowing that we did not add to the consumption factor and did not just add another possession to this household.  Green is good! Be Better, Carol

Be Fiberful-Easy One Pot Lentil Meal

Lentils make for a tasty, nutritious meal that you can make ahead of time and be very creative with your additions. But first, let me introduce myself. I am Carol, Jen's and Ange's partner at TheBeList. Jen invited me to blog today about this fantastic recipe. During the joyful, but hectic nature  of the holiday season, it makes so much sense to plan ahead for dinner! One pot meals are a favorite of mine because, I can cook early in the morning (when I am full of energy and creativity) and have a delicious meal ready when I walk in the door no matter how late.

 Planning ahead allows me to be disciplined with my budget and helps me avoid eating away from home or, worse yet, rushing through an unhealthy dinner meal simply because it was easy to use processed ingredients or prepared foods. I am nearly fifty and love the way I feel and look when I consistently follow Jen's advice and guidance, eating in a healthy way that suits my body type, metabolism, and specific age needs.

I found this recipe at Recipezaar, a favorite website of TheBeList.com.  The picture to the left is the finished recipe before any meat or poultry (optional) is added.  I modified the recipe to substitute fresh ingredients for the canned and processed ingredients.  I have a meat-eating husband and son, so with this recipe, it is easy (at the end, before serving) to add cooked andouille sausage, chopped grilled organic chicken or ground turkey. Actually, I can think of many more ideas and invite you to offer your thoughts. The picture below is the dish before adding the liquid and the lentils.

After adding the liquid and the lentils, this is how the dish looks.  If this your first time cooking with lentils, don't worry, the liquid absorbs and you have a hearty dish.

1 hour to prepare/  20 minutes prep

Serves 8

1/2 cup olive oil

4 medium onions, chopped

4 carrots, chopped

3 tsp of thyme (fresh)

1 tsp of marjoram

6 cups of vegetarian stock

2 cups dried lentils (wash first)

salt to taste

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

8 plum tomatoes or 4 large tomatoes, chopped

1/2 dry sherry

Options:

grated cheese to top

1 lb of sauteed andouille sausage or

1 lb of grilled chopped boneless chicken or

1 lb cooked ground turkey

In a very large pot cook, heat the olive oil for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Then in the same pot,

Saute the carrots and onions for 5-6 minutes over low to medium heat until onions are clear

Add the stock at once, bring to a boil

Add lentils, tomatoes, salt and parsley

Bring to a boil and then simmer, covered for 45 minutes

Add sherry, cook 10 minutes more

Stop here for a wonderful vegan meal or

Add shedded cheese to top (parmesan) and/ or add cooked meat or poultry prior to serving.

Serve with a chopped salad, sliced apples, and soft bread or rolls.

Another added benefit of cooking with lentils is there is no need to soak them ahead of time. Besides the normal fun that occurs with aging (hot flashes, memory issues, mid-section weight gain), I also have been instructed to eat more fiber. This dish does the trick. Lentils, besides all the other health benefits, are a terrific source of fiber.  Lentils are a healthy ingredient for all ages.

Zero fat, zero cholesterol and look at the potassium! Be Better, Carol

Be Resourceful - A New Way to Re-gift

How do you embrace the holiday season of shopping for everything shiny and new while maintaining your green and reuse efforts? Give all the special people in your life the perfect present, beautifully wrapped, without sacrificing the Eco-friendly lifestyle you strive for all year long. Here are a few tips and ideas to keep you on the right track during the holidays and if you still need an extra incentive during this hectic month, chances are if you aren't wasting then you must be saving - time and money!

First off, when you are shopping for all of the people on your list start by getting something that is actually useful for the person you are giving it to. Buying just anything for the sake of having a gift to wrap up and put under the tree (or where ever), is where wastefulness begins. That person, I'm sure, will appreciate the thought, but can't you communicate the same thing through a nice card and maybe something home-made, like out of the ordinary healthy treats for example (which I'm sure is an area we can help you with). The fact of the matter is, if you aren't positive that the person you are buying for will absolutely love and use what you are giving them, it will most likely end up in a give away or trash pile come spring.

Probably the best and easiest way to save in the whole gift exchanging tradition is to be creative with your wrapping. I am not one to skimp on the presentation and I have found my more unconventional take on gift wrap to be even more special and hardly compromising. Just as I save shopping bags to be reused as necessary, I also save pretty, high quality paper, tissue, ribbon and boxes from other gift-giving occasions throughout the year. I keep a small basket to collect all of these found objects to be reconstructed in ways to be used to wrap future gifts. This year I am wrapping my Christmas gifts in a replica antique map that I was able to snag a few copies of for free from a museum I visited. I plan to embellish the bows with an ornament (either an old one I already have or one I would plan to give them anyway) and use cut outs from Christmas cards as the tags. Last month, I wrapped a birthday gift for my sister in the paper bag it came in, used floral pins from an arrangement I got to give it new life and a little reused satin ribbon for the finishing touch and the first thing she said when I gave it to her was, "I love this paper!"...case in point. Wallpaper samples do great double duty, too. If you don't have a stash of paper yet, that's ok. Use the gifts you get this holiday to jump start your collection.

Be Resourceful--Equip Your Body to Fight The Flu

A must read article if you want to avoid the flu! The Flu Fighters --In Your Food is a WSJ article (written by Laura Landro) explaining practical ways to equip your body to fight germs during this flu season, which by all accounts, could prove to be pretty intense. The science of nutrition is amazingly complex so, even though I devour the information provided in my nutrition classes at NYU, I really value good resources, such as this article, that provide practical nutritional advice backed up with solid science. A quick article summary to get you interested--The field of nutritional immunology is discovering the direct role nutrition plays in our immune response and is directing us to eat specific foods to fight specific types of illnesses. Just what the doctor ordered! Before you get too busy getting ready for Thanksgiving, stop, take a breath and read this article. Then, store this article on your phone or laptop so you can easily refer to it when you are food shopping or planning your weekly menus. If you are low-tech or no- tech, print the article (on post consumer paper please) and keep the copy with you to refer to as often as needed. This simple step will help you become proactive about nutrition and therefore your health. We know that not everyone gets the flu so why not work to be one of the lucky flu-free individuals. But the holidays, as enjoyable as they, do not help us avoid the flu.  In some ways, this season encourages it as many of us neglect our sleep and eat on the run, two factors which deplete our body's defenses. Choose instead to turn your ordinary eating decisions into health decisons. Happy Thanksgiving!

Be Discerning: Can We Believe Food Advertising Claims about Health and Nutrition?

No question about it--growing up with Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, and Ronald McDonald influenced my childhood eating habits as well as the habits of many other children. During the 80’s, few questions were raised about this cutting edge advertising approach which bypassed parents and provided a focused marketing message directed to children. The conventional thought was that it was clever and cute advertising, harmless, and simply designed to sell cereal, hamburgers and fries. Now, as we are learning more about how culture impacts health, some people have questioned whether advertising like this is really so benign. Yet, instead of factors such as the clear evidence of the impact of junk food on our snowballing obesity epidemic thwarting the effects of this advertising, the marketing of junk food products has just become more creative, appealing, and impactful.  These friendly and alluring figures, on the surface represent every child’s ideal world, but all of the cute characters and dynamic commercials mask the reality that junk food, especially in excess, is damaging to our health and longevity.

As an adult, the confusion continues, now we are dealing with a society that worships thinness and pushes diet products, but continues to produce ad upon ad, glorifying undeniably unhealthy food products with images of beautiful glowing people at the forefront. Not much has changed about the strategies, except that the effectiveness of the ads has simply improved as the world of marketing has evolved.  Unfortunately, the marketing industry’s very successful manipulation of its consumers, both young and old, has negatively contributed to our society’s confusion regarding food. With all of the seductive influences around in the media today, pushing unhealthy food products, consumers must develop a skeptical and discerning eye for what we buy and consume.

Even as I have consciously made choices to improve the quality of my diet and invest in my understanding of healthful eating, I know that I am to some extent influenced by the multibillion-dollar food advertising and marketing industries, like most of us are, even when we really know better.  It isn’t that marketing or advertising in any way is fundamentally wrong. My undergraduate degree in Marketing gave me a fair understanding of the concept, enough for me to know that there is an important place in business for it.  However, I think it is important for all of us to understand how marketing and advertising can affect people’s health in many areas such as cigarettes, low nutrient, high caloric junk food and simply in misrepresenting advertising touts as fact.

While the debate about food marketing to children- or anyone- is a very complicated one, definitely too involved to address in one short blog, there are a few basic principles that can be helpful in making sense of the ever-changing landscape of food “products.”  One key to my approach when making food choices, is to generally stick to the basics.  For example, if a food item grows naturally and it doesn’t have a powerful marketing department such as the carrot or a banana, it is probably better for you than the “food product” that do not have a powerful marketing machine behind it.  Many of the food products that are out on the market today are touting particular nutrient powers and make claims that most of us are familiar with but don’t really understand.  They sound impressive but what do they really do for the body? Challenged by this question, I am always on the hunt to find alternatives to the mainstream products that are either a totally unprocessed natural food, or at the least a “product” that is made organically, without the use of artificial ingredients.

I have made many life changes to follow this philosophy and experienced definite healthful results.  One of these changes was in my approach to hydration and electrolyte replenishment during my exercise routines. I made a wholesale switch from Gatorade/PowerAde/ABC sports drink to drinking coconut water. It is natural free of chemical additives and so much more effective. Sure, we all want to be as hot as the femme fatal in the commercial for the Big sports drink, mid-workout drinking her florescent yellow concoction while looking sexy and flawless, but that is just a concocted image. Does that chemicalized sports drink have anything to do with our femme fatale’s awesome physique?  I have a hunch that the multi-hour daily workouts, shiny bronze crème, professional hair and makeup crew, and technical camera tricks have more influence than the sports drink. Instead of trusting the company selling the product, I carefully researched the health benefits of coconut water and learned why it is good for our bodies instead of caring why the sports drink is trendy, popular, or even why the company selling it thinks it is great.  The natural alternative as usual was better in every way!

Challenge yourself to look beyond an expensive food marketing message specifically designed to make you feel good about this product and instead, explore the natural alternatives.  Your efforts may lead you to discover natural solutions that are better.

Be One on One: The Most Surprising Diet Tip of The Year--Gather Your Family Around the Table For Mealtimes.

The more I learn about food and nutrition, the more convinced I become that our food culture is tightly interconnected with eating a healthy diet. A disturbing trend is that cooking and eating together as a family is growing more infrequent, and in many ways, it is impacting our younger generations. Though health press is focused on calories, macro/micronutrients, specific foods that are “good” and “bad,” and new diet fads, the scientific aspect of food and how it is processed through the body is only part of the story. In fact, how we eat is just as important as what we eat. The food culture in the US has evolved from cooking from “scratch” to eating on the go, at restaurants, fast food shops and microwaveable meals—these examples are what I mean by “how we eat.”


There is no question that the myriad of alternatives to home food preparation impacts the overall quality what we eat as well as influencing the food culture that we establish for ourselves and our families.  The value in making food and eating together is multi-dimensional. It encourages families to spend more quality time together, and provides opportunities to teach children where food comes from and exposes them to a wide range of natural whole foods. When we make our meals, we are also improving the quality of what we are eating and facilitating good eating habits.  In addition, it is very important to give kids a positive reference for what foods they should eat since they are constantly bombarded with advertising persuading them to eat junk. It is much easier to counter advertiser’s influence on your children, if you involve them in the process and eat healthy, whole foods with them.** (see note below)


One time of the year we seem to do this better.  Around the holidays, our traditions bring us back together in the kitchen. Since Thanksgiving is quickly approaching--a time when many of us still prepare traditional and special dishes for each other--I have been thinking about the immeasurable value of homemade meals to our lives and to our health. Perhaps we could improve our diets year round by incorporating some of the holiday meal spirit to our eating approach.


Cooking and eating holiday meals with my family is a treasured tradition. Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the only times in the year that my family and I get to cook together now that I am living on my own-- a plane ride away. Since my first true cooking experiences were helping my mom cook ambitious holiday feasts, I give a lot of credit for my ability to cook to the lessons I learned in a holiday kitchen.


To achieve this holiday spirit all year long, try incorporating these “holiday cooking” approaches to your other meals.  Think of all of your meals as special because each and every meal provides nourishment, comfort, and health to your body.  Treating each meal this way does not mean each meal will take an unreasonable amount of time or expense. Approaching all meals as a holiday experience is simply a recognition of the importance of a meal and a priority to feed ourselves and our families well. It is an easy habit to adopt if you follow these tips:


Eat together around the table instead of in front of the television, and actually talk to each other instead of zoning out and mindlessly eating. This actually helps you enjoy the meal and reduces after dinner eating. It also keeps you in touch with your body and enables you to better judge when you are satisfied.


Make more of the meal the real way, from scratch, and use fewer processed ingredients.  This actually will improve as you experience each ingredient component, this process reinforces your desire to continue to eat a healthy meal and processed food becomes a less satisfying and desirable alternative.


Involve the family in the process, from teaching kids how to do things to letting them be a part of deciding what to make and doing it together. Just telling your kids to eat healthy because it is “good for them” isn’t enough to make them want to do it. However, if you involve them in the process and make it fun, they will be more likely to cooperate.  They may also learn to look forward to the activity and time together and exposing them to healthy choices early on will help them make better decisions on their own.


Use seasonal foods all year.  It makes sense to most of us to eat squash or winter herbs around the holidays, maybe since it is traditional, but it is also much healthier to eat food in season.  When you eat seasonally, you can eat more of your food from local sources, which has immense nutritional benefit as well as being cheaper and more environmentally conscious.


Plan ahead. Obviously it is necessary to plan ahead with an elaborate meal, but being proactive about all of your meals at home will help greatly in your ability to stick to your home-cooked approach, reduce the cost and increase the likelihood that your meals will be well balanced since you will have the ingredients you need.  If you have your ingredients ready to go and the recipe handy, it might not seem as tempting to stop at the drive through out of convenience.  


**If you are interested in learning more about the effects of advertising on our subconsious food choices, read my next blog where I discuss why we should all be aware of the power of persuasion of marketers selling food products.

Be Resourceful: Stock Your Pantry with Superfoods

It’s that time of year again, and along with holiday cheer and comes cold and flu season too. The good news is, many of the holiday activities are centered around food and eating well can help you prevent and treat illness. Since I have been nursing a cold this week with yoga and vegetables, it seems appropriate to share some natural remedies.


In the next couple of weeks, while you are stocking up on ingredients for the special recipes you are planning, consider including some extra preventative food “medicine” and a few soothing “treatments” to your list. Think of your pantry as a natural medicine cabinet, for both preventing and treating those nasty little viruses that are floating around. It is important to remember vitamins and minerals come from whole foods. When you get nutrients from eating instead of taking supplements, powders, and fortified processed foods, your body can process them more effectively.




Of course you can’t always prevent and treat sickness without a visit to the doctor, but there are many little tricks to keep you healthier during the cold season. Healthy foods are filled with vitamins, minerals and immunity boosters.


I use the following items all times of the year, but they are especially helpful to keep on hand now. As always, buy as much as you can organic and from local sources.


Honey- natural cough suppressant.
Cinnamon- can reduce blood sugar levels, cholesterol, contains antioxidant properties, aids digestion, can help treat diarrhea, helps the body get over common colds.
Apple Cider Vinegar -contains lots of bacteria fighting agents, strengthens immune system, helps to reduce symptoms of sinus infection and sore throats.
Lemons- very good for digestion. Drink with hot water early in the day. Stimulates liver to produce bile for food digestion, helps to relieve constipation, asthma, sore throat and tonsillitis.
Green Tea- has various health benefits including antioxidant.
Ginger Tea- helps stimulate digestion, settle upset stomach.
Ginger Root- Ask at your local market if you don’t know what it looks like. You can juice it or make your own tea. Great for cold and flu prevention and treatment. It works wonders to promote digestion and settle an upset stomach.
Dried goji berries- Antioxidants, vitamin a immune function.
Dried mulberries- Insanely rich in Vitamin C. Stays well preserved without refrigeration.
Garlic-high Vitamin C, incredible health benefits from antibacterial properties, cancer preventing compounds.
Guava/Lichi juice- Buy it natural and with no added sugar. Both are very high in Vitamin C and there are brands that don’t require refrigeration until you open. The only downside is that this time of year they aren’t available locally. Orange and grapefruit juice are great sources for Vitamin C as well, especially if you live in an area where you can get citrus fruit and juice it at home.


Always keep a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit on hand. For example, I love broccoli and it is another incredible source of Vitamin c and lots of other vitamins and minerals.


Check out the links included to get more information about each of these superfoods and their benefits. Stay healthy!

Be the Difference - Stocking Your Holiday Pantry

I spent the day looking in my favorite cookbooks for new, yet familiar Thanksgiving recipes I can’t wait to try. With the holiday season quickly approaching and pot-luck dinners mounting, it looks like I will have plenty of opportunities to make and share them all over the next several weeks. But before I can get cooking, I need to get shopping for all the staple ingredients I will need to have on hand in order to whip something up on the fly, and on a dime. So, for that (and a variety of other things), I head straight to the bulk bins!

Even small health food stores have a decent selection of food items you can buy from their bulk quantity. There you can find anything from Turbinado sugar to your favorite morning cereal sold by the pound at a much cheaper price than the name brand varieties. I think the value is especially significant when buying nuts and dried fruit for holiday desserts or everyday trail mixes. In addition to helping out your wallet, you can also help out the environment when shopping bulk by saving on all the packaging that would be involved otherwise. You can even bring your own reusable, lightweight storage containers and skip disposable packaging all together, but if you need the produce-like plastic bags provided to measure out your desired amount and get it home and into your pantry, don’t throw them out or recycle them just yet. These bags are the perfect size to keep in your gym or yoga bag to keep your sweaty clothes separate from everything else until you can get them in the wash. They can also double as small wastecan liners, or I hesitate to say, for all those New York dog owners who have the pleasant responsibility of “picking up” up after their pets have “dropped off.” And you don’t have to feel bad about throwing it out when you do find a second use for it because most of the stores who care enough about the planet to carry bulk items, care enough to only supply quickly biodegradable bioplastic produce and bulk bags to their customers, too.

So get inspired to try something new this year when planning your Thanksgiving menu and shop differently for everything you’ll need this, and every other day of the year.

Be Bold: Eat Your Pumpkin

During the Halloween season, the symbolic pumpkin begins to appear in markets, grocery stores and as a decorative element in public places and homes.  For most people, October 31st is the only day we appreciate this interesting vegetable and even then it is used for display on our front porches, not on our plates.
In addition to being beautiful and fun to carve, pumpkins are an exceptionally nutritious food. The nutritional benefits are impressive, not only in the characteristic deep orange “meat” whose vibrant hue indicates the high carotenoid content like bell peppers and carrots, the seeds also contain tons of vitamins and minerals.


The pumpkin is in the family of “winter squash” like butternut squash and acorn squash.  They are all high in beta-carotene which is converted into Vitamin A in our bodies.  Vitamin A is  necessary for regulating the majority of body functions and is a well known factor in eye sight. Winter Squash is also high in fiber, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, and low in fat. The high Vitamin C content is especially helpful in immune protection during the change of weather and seasons during the fall. Squashes also contain antioxidant properties and promote heart health.


Winter Squash is also very versatile to eat and cook since it works well in sweet as well as savory dishes.  Growing up I always thought pie was the only way to eat pumpkin, but it can easily be made into soup, dressings, or incorporated into pasta dishes like ravioli.  Check out ThebeList recipes for more ideas.


When you bring your pretty pumpkin in to clean it out for carving, don’t forget the most nutrient dense part of the pumpkin, not to mention the easiest to eat and prepare—the seeds!!  Pumpkin seeds are on the top of my list of favorite foods, they are super tiny, portable, don’t require refrigeration and are packed with nutrients.


To prepare, scoop out the seeds from the pumpkin and wipe them off with a clean towel or paper towel. Don’t rinse.  Just spread them on a cookie sheet and bake.  I like to bake them at a relatively low temp, like 160-180 F, for 10 or 15 minutes.  You also can sprinkle with sea or Himalayan salt or pepper for a little spice if you like.


Nutritionally, pumpkin seeds are an amazing source of B Vitamins, Vitamin E, protein, magnesium, iron, zinc and phytosterols.


*Magnesium is an important nutrient that many Americans are deficient in.  It is involved in strength and formation of bones and teeth, maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, relaxation of blood vessels, muscle function, bowel function, and improving depression, to name a few.


*Phytosterols are plant compounds believed to help fight cancer and lower bad cholesterol.


*Zinc helps to prevent osteoporosis.


*Iron is needed for your body to make the proteins that transport oxygen throughout your body.


Get in the Halloween Spirit and eat your pumpkin and seeds not only on Halloween, but for the rest of the fall and winter season while they are at their peak!

Be Light - Moving and Shaking in Manhattan

Jen and I recently moved to a new apartment not far from the area we’ve been living together for the past two years. The move was instigated by several little things, but mostly, we were just antsy for something new. This will be the third New York apartment we have shared. When I first moved to the city, we successfully shared a studio for a few months on the east side, then we moved into a converted one bedroom across town. Before that, Jen lived downtown for awhile when I was living back and forth between a couple of cities in Florida...and this is just the short list of post college residences! Needless to say, we have become accustomed to the standard operating procedures of moving. So, after navigating the summer rental market in Manhattan...again, we decided our next move would be to yet another neighborhood, and that this time, we were going to do it ourselves. It was no small job and despite the frequent fits of laughter, it wasn’t exactly fun either. Regardless, if our success can be measured on the basic level of getting all of our possessions from point A to point B (not without a little help) then we were wildly successful movers! Here are some things that we did right, which mostly derivied out of a need to be thrifty, and some other things we could do better next time... because there will be, of course, a next time.

1. Plan Ahead. We could have done a little better job of this. But as much as time permits, plan, pack, and organize.
2. Once you’ve started packing and organizing, separate things into categories: keepers, give aways/sell, recycling and trash.
3. Hopefully your trash is minimal after allocating things into the other categories, but keep in mind that a lot of things that you may want to dispose of can’t just be thrown out with yesterday’s milk. i.e. electronics, anything pressurized, chemical solutions like cleaners and paint. These all contain extremely hazardous toxins that can leech into and pollute our groundwater supply if left to the elements in a landfill. Contact your city to locate the specific resources you may need so that so don’t move anything that is unnecessary. Conserve energy, mainly yours!
4. Assess your give away pile and have a yard/garage/(in our case: stoop) sale (although, this was one of the things we didn’t do). Someone’s trash can always be another’s treasure and live a very happy second life. What doesn’t sell or if you skip this altogether, schedule a pick up with a local charity. We found out that pick up’s were booked weeks in advance, so if you can’t load up your car (like us because we don’t have one) then get to work on this ahead of time or at least think ahead and get the truck scheduled before moving day.
5. Your recycling may take a little thinking ahead as well in order to get everything able to be recycled to a place that will accept it. It’s worth the effort. It will give you loads of good moving Karma!
6. Now for the keepers. You are going to need some sort of receptacle and packing material to get everything you want to the new place in one piece. Become a “master packer” and utilize everything that already has handy compartments like luggage and even trash cans. For everything else, there is no need to buy boxes new. They are expensive, serve a single purpose and end up in the trash. Be on the look out around retailer loading docks for clean, reusable boxes, especially if they sell large hard goods like furniture. Liquor stores are the best for packing up a kitchen because they already have the separated compartments which are perfect for glasses. I’ve never had an experience where these locations weren’t happy to give them away (see, trash to treasure)! The boxes we used were from a friend who had recently moved and had saved them from a precious move. Re-used twice and then recycled - i’d say they served their purpose.
7. Bubbles are for popping not for packing. What a waste! Use your blankets, sheets, towels, pillows, old newspapers - anything but bubble wrap! And if you underestimate the amount of “stuff” you own, as we did, and you have to resort to the garbage bag packing method, as we did, save all the bags after unpacking for the future more appropriate uses.
8. Rent don’t buy. Yes, the opposite of what we are working towards in terms of equity and assets, but in this case, renting a moving truck to fit everything in one trip is much better than making several trips in your personal vehicles especially if it isn’t a relatively close move. We got a state-of-the-art smallish moving truck at a really cheap rate, rented (or as I like to call it, recycled) furniture blankets, other moving necessities like, Jen’s mattress bag (necessity is apparently subjective), and even though it wasn’t a hybrid (I inquired about one being available, they laughed. I guess that’s still a little too state-of-the-art for the do-it-yourself moving market) we did the move in two, short, fuel effiecient trips, under 8 total miles, and, you better believe, with style! (Picture the two of us in a moving van cruising around Manhattan: style can be subjective, too)!
9. Head ‘em up and ship ‘em out. Moving yourself has the added bonus of providing a pretty dynamic workout. Lift carefully and move quickly for entire body toning. You’ll especially tighten the upper arms and lower half (lift with the legs, right ladies!) and burn 100’s of calories by default. If it weren’t for all the hassle, you might want to make moving a part of your every day routine.

Whew! I’m exhausted just having to think about the moving process all over again! But this is a pretty good to do list for starters at moving all of your earthly belongings in a more earth conscious way. Jen and I, although ferociously confident, are able to admit that we are not the most experienced movers, but we’ve experienced a lot of moving together. Now that we are more or less unpacked, we are settling in and making another new place ours. Here’s hoping we won’t need to shake things up and out of another apartment for awhile.    

Be Creative - Tricks and Treats

Lately, It has been hard to deny all the signs that fall is officially here; cool, crisp air, warm, cozy sweaters, and a returning craving for apples and squashes. With Halloween being the first holiday of the season, less than two weeks away, I started thinking about how to create an inviting, festive doorstep that can be used for more than just decoration after the 31st.
The indicative Halloween pumpkin can still be the star of the show, but instead of carving a jack-o-lantern why not keep it whole so you can actually eat it later in all those great fall recipes using the ingredient (pumpkin soup, ravioli, bread pudding...yum)! You can still make them spooky by stenciling (or free-handing if you have the talent) all the creepy characters and scenes that make you think of
Halloween...spiders in a web, a black cat with a full moon, or even the same triangular shapes you'd use otherwise. You could make a cluster of all different types of squashes with different shapes, knots, and wrinkles to make a family of ghosts and goblins - use your imagination (and you'll have more to cook later since large squashes like these have a really long shelf life).
Craft stores have great stencils so anyone can get involved and it's a whole lot less dangerous for the kids than carving. It's less limiting too, you don't have to keep the design connected and you can introduce color with fast drying non-toxic paint or permanent markers (just be sure to peel the skin off before doing any cooking). Now the only thing missing is that spooky, flickering candlelight that let's all the trick-or-treaters know that you are open for business. I have an idea for that, too. Reuse those small paper lunch bags as tealight holders. You can light a path to your front door or use them around your pumpkin display. Just add sand or plain old dirt from the back yard to steady the candle and keep it from burning the paper. Now that your creative juices are flowing, why not cut shapes in the bags, too just like making paper snowflakes.
If it just isn't Halloween without carving a traditional pumpkin, you can still use the "guts" that are normally thrown out for some good eating. Roast the seeds for a delicious and nutritious snack. Here's a little secret, stencils are great tools for carvers, too!
Happy Halloween!

Be Steadfast: Angry New Yorkers in Tree Pose

No matter where we live, whether we are single or married, have kids or not, great jobs or hated ones, we all need an outlet for stress.  It is imperative, since studies show upwards of 90% of disease is directly linked to stress. Maybe it is running, sports, or great hobby that gives you a release.  Whatever it is for you, you can use the positive energy it brings to make you live better and be better. Mine is my yoga practice.

We all have those days when everything seems to go wrong, our usual ability to deal with adversity is absent, our sweet self is replaced by a crazy monster and feel like we’re bubbling with anxiety.  Some people may want a drink at the end of a day like that.  I want yoga.

Today was one of those days. A long New York Winter has transitioned into incessant rain: the windy, cold, miserable rain that renders an umbrella useless and pummels all in its path. Since we all are walking/training/busing it everywhere, there is no escape from a bad weather day.  To boot, we are surrounded by 7 million other cranky New Yorkers that desperately need a sunny vacation and a pina colata.

After I woke up late and rushed to get ready, I ran in the rain to the bus, desperately dug around in my black hole of a purse to discover my metro card expired today, and had to rely on a sweet little old lady who sympathized with me to change my two wet singles for quarters. The bus driver (one of the vacation deserving 7 mill, was certainly not taking any pity on me.) I arrived soaked and very late to work. It was an out-of-body experience and I thought “how in the world do we cope around here with days like these”? As I turned onto 1^st Avenue, I saw a little girl on the street screaming, stomping her feet, and pulling her hair out.  I thought to myself “I know exactly how you feel.” For adults who can’t have an outward tantrum, we have to find a way to woman-up and take control.  A healthy, positive outlet for stress and negative energy is key.

After work, there was an invisible force pulling me to class, telling me it would help. I knew an hour and a half of challenge and concentration would put me right again. In keeping with my day thus far, my class was at the Midtown studio, which is the most difficult to get to. After a cross town commute I was left 4 blocks away to claw my way through the Times Square tourists with several bags and my yoga mat strapped to my back. The studio is oddly juxtaposed with Midtown Manhattan, 4 floors up in building with a gritty storefront studded in neon lights, beside rowdy bars, less than sanitary looking delis, and an adult entertainment shop.  While the traffic and noise swirl around beneath, 50 focused, profusely sweating yogis try to meditate while contorting their bodies into poses. It seems fitting for NYC, there is always something above, next to, or behind you, a collage of culture and contradicting ideologies trying to coexist.  It’s just as funny that my most peaceful place in the city is perched in the middle of the most chaotic neighborhood. If I can find peace here, you can find it where you live too!

Those who are close to me are constantly perplexed by why, as over-programmed as my life is, I still make a regular yoga practice a priority.  When I have no spare time, I would rather give up most other things I would do for fun or relaxation to go sweat my booty off and struggle through a 90 minute class. Yes, I realize this makes me a bit of a freak. I give up other things to practice, make myself late to “fit it in” a class where it doesn’t fit, and the time commitment of practicing makes it certain that I don’t have much down time.

The truth is, Yoga is my serenity.  It is my battery recharge after a bad day. It is a natural high, and a stress reliever. It takes away aches and pains and makes my entire body function better. It gives me the tools to control my mind when the circumstances around me challenge me to break. It is my calm, rational friend that pushes me hard, but gives back more than it takes. She always delivers.  Even when the class is rough, it is usually a reminder that I haven’t been taking good enough care of my body.  Yoga always knows.  If I drink more than a little bit of alcohol, don’t sleep or drink enough water, overload on coffee, yoga knows. And with tough love she reminds me to make better choices.  Be better tomorrow, and you will feel better. Every day whether, good or bad, yoga gives me the tools I need to be a happier, healthier person, it brings perspective to my irrational thoughts or worries, and keeps my body healthy and strong. She is my port in a storm.

On the outside, hot Yoga might not seem like an appealing activity, but it is just like a New Yorker: dynamic, accepting, friendly and fun with an intimidating exterior and a big heart. You just have to get to know her.

Be Steadfast: The Right to Bear Snacks

After last Monday’s blog about pickiness, I had a funny experience that made me think about boundaries and challenges we are all presented with in our everyday decisions to eat better.

The other day, I was on my way to a baseball game with my boyfriend. That morning, In preparation for an entire day sans breakfast in the sun with no food options available, I reliably packed my usual survival smorgasbord of goodies: Zico (coconut water), almond butter packs, larabars, vegan muffin, banana, water. I was fully stocked and feeling great that I wouldn’t have to risk turning into a crabby, hungry witch once my metabolism started revving from my yoga class. When Brian asked me how I would make it all day with nothing available but hotdogs and beer, I proudly showed him my stash. When he mentioned the rule against outside food and drink in the stadium, I got fired up…Was this serious?? The possibility hadn’t even crossed my mind. They couldn’t really deny me access to a game over some little snacks, right?

It was bad enough that there wasn’t one thing in the entire stadium that could qualify as healthy and now they wanted my food. Unbelievable! It’s almost as if there is an unwritten code of entertainment establishments, ie: stadiums, movie theaters, and many bars, prohibiting anything that can’t give you a heart attack on the spot. It is interesting that these are the same places where it is “forbidden” to bring in outside food. Yes, I realize I am not their target audience but we have a hard enough time working to be healthier and the last thing we need are rules that almost force us to eat junk.

Just as a matter of principle, I decided to put up a fight. Since I was with a group of twenty people, I opted for the discreet approach instead of speaking my peace to the security guard while holding up a hundred-person line. And although I knew my little snacks were the least of their problems and they probably wouldn’t confiscate them, I decided to hide everything, just in case.

As I strolled up to the checkpoint with everything stuffed but my bra, I realized the lengths I go sometimes just to be healthy! By the 5th inning when my stomach started rumbling, my contraband Larabar saved the day.

Even when we attempt to have healthy food around, there are times when it is awkward, uncomfortable, and difficult to make it happen. Maybe you have a southern belle mother-in-law and a dinner at her house is filled with comfort food, or you work in an office that peer pressures you into daily mid-afternoon baked good gossip sessions. Certainly, there are times when it is not easy to go against the grain. It doesn’t have to be as hard as it seems. It just requires a little creativity and confidence in your better choices.

Aside from bringing out your inner rebel and taking food into entertainment locations, here are some ideas for tricky food situations:

**When attending anyone’s house for a social gathering, take the time to make and bring a dish. You would bring something anyway, so even though it takes more time and effort, bearing a delicious homemade item will also give you something to eat if you are hungry, and takes all pressure off of the cook, especially if they know you are discriminatory about your food. Just find out what is being served and make something to compliment it.

**Even when healthy choices are slim pickings at catered events, weddings, and restaurants, more times than not if you are really sweet about it--that part is key--it is sometimes possible to get something special made. Ask for dressing on the side, inquire about a vegetarian option, ask for steamed instead of sautéed, if you can’t control your portions, ask to have the remainder wrapped to go or just have the server take it away.

**Before going on a trip, spend 10 minutes on the internet and research food establishments in the area. Know where the closest health food store or better restaurant option is, it might be completely achievable to pick up some great food instead of eating whatever is available or just grabbing junk food from the hotel gift shop.

Be Resourceful: Positively Picky

I am a picky eater.  This realization has been a difficult concept to grasp since I used to unconsciously judge people who were difficult to please with respect to food. I assumed it was a function of being closed-minded or stubborn.  I used to eat pretty much everything, and was always more than willing to try the most exotic of foods. I still consider myself to be an adventurous eater but as my understanding and interest in nutrition has evolved, my tastes and preferences have changed accordingly. So, now, I am eating my words and coming to grips with the reality that picky can be a good thing.

More than just picky, being healthy means having standards in terms of quality and health benefits--not to the point where you become crazy and obsessive, but just being conscious about what you put into your mouth.  It is much more enjoyable to eat something less nutritionally beneficial when it is really special—like a fabulous piece of chocolate cake every now and then when you want it, instead of using your junk food budget on potato chips when you are starving just because it is the only thing available.

Of course, pickiness for the sake of health presents challenges when the preparation or purchasing of food is not completely within our control. To help make eating well practical and cheap, I put good use to food that travels well and carry a stash around with me wherever I go like a little healthy packhorse.  Along with my yoga outfit and laptop, I always have a buffet of healthy snacks with me to save me from choosing between eating junk or being hungry all day.

Here is a list of some healthy foods that I have found travel very well:

Avocato-all you need is a plastic knife and it you can eat it by itself.  It is probably an acquired taste, but is decadent and the high fat—healthy fat—content will keep you satiated for a long time.  It is an ideal raw healthy snack that doesn’t need refrigeration.

Bananas

Orange

Apple

Larabars-raw vegan bars made with dates, nuts and spices

Justin’s Nut Butters-I always have a pack of this stuff on me.  Most of the time I just eat it out of the package.  A little weird, but it works for me!

Organic Oatmeal Packs-not the sugary artificially flavored stuff, of course.  This is only great if you have a way to get the hot water to put it in, but don’t forget every coffee shop and most restaurants have it if you are desperate.