Steamy

On this hot and humid night, I learned two new things:  I made my first Craigslist buy (thanks Liz) and then actually used what I purchased!  So the steamer I bought for $25 only retails for $59 (maybe I should've bartered more?  I was petrified as we pulled up at this stranger's house) but it is brand new and this young couple told me that his mother gifted them with this steamer and they needed the twenty-five bucks way more than pressed clothes.  It was a win-win no matter the angle and when I saw how the intersection of wrinkles and steam, I knew this night would go down right for me.

Freedom and Power

"Freedom is actually a bigger game than power. Power is about what you can control. Freedom is about what you can unleash."

                                                                                                                                               Harriet Rubin

Back the (Filtered) Tap!

Yes, I like the Summer Shandy and the Peach Moon is a recipe I'm eager to try, but really, the beverage that really does it for me in the summer - the simple, eternal solution - H2O!  We cleanse, we recharge, we need it!

Proper hydration is key to having the energy you need to be active and focused. Dehydration is a major factor in fatigue and weakness. The only way for me to keep my energy, activity and productivity up is to stay hydrated.

Also, this is what Dr. Frank Lipman has to say on water, relative to hangover help:

"The reason why one gets a hangover is that your body - your liver in particular - is not able to process and metabolize the break down products from the alcohol quickly enough. In addition to needing enough enzymes, the liver also needs water to process and get rid of the toxins. When supplies run low, it takes water from other organs, including the brain. This is why alcohol is so dehydrating, and why you can wake up with a throbbing headache (and a dry mouth) from drinking too much."

"It is thus essential to drink a lot of water while drinking and before you go to bed... it can prevent a hangover or at least lessen one."

Good to know!

 

I'm currently competing in the Burst Your Thirst campaign, and I'll pass on their tip:

 

TIP: There are endless possibilities for fun, outdoor exercise this summer! Take the kids to the park and while they're climbing on the jungle gym you can bust out this calorie blasting circuit workout from Blogilates that will leave you feeling strong and sculpted.

 

"Every step toward your dream today

is a step away from your regret tomorrow."

- Dr. Steve Maraboli

Happy birthday, America!

Watermelon cake!  It's the best!  All you do:

Find a seedless watermelon and cut off both ends and then cut off the rind so it resembles a double-layer cake.

1. Pat the sides with paper towels (please don't use the cheap ones!) to remove excess moisture.
2. Place on a favorite dish (I like a light color dish so the berries show off better).
3. "Frost" the cake with non-fat Greek vanilla yogurt (16-24 oz) and then chill for 30 minutes.  Oh, and put the "cake" in the frig so it chills, too. (You can even put in the freezer for a few minutes.)
4. Prior to serving, touch up any areas that are in need of more yogurt.
5. Decorate with berries.  You can also add flaked cocunut.
6. Cut the first piece so your guests see up close the guilt-free experience that awaits!

Strategy

Thought for the day:  Small things done consistently in intentional places create major impact.

What's your strategy?

LSD

Bike the Drive 2013

We had the opportunity to bike Lake Shore Drive on Sunday morning of Memorial Day weekend - as in, bike in the middle of the road, both northbound (to Bryn Mawr) and southbound (turning around at the Museum of Science and Industry).

Yes, it was a while ago, but I'm behind on all-things-life, and I just want to capture this so I don't ever forget it.  Being with two of my best life friends, Shawn and Kate, and mostly just being on my own as I cruised the drive, with the secure knowledge that, while we focused on riding more than visiting, they mostly were ahead or behind me.  It was an exhilarating way to spend a Sunday morning.

I kept thinking of Einstein, who, they say, was riding a bike when he came up with e = mc².

Nothing that profound came to me on my bike that morning.  Just the usual:  It's great to be here.

Special Steil

Everyday Love

Do you do what's required to maintain a relationship or do you do more?  Are you selfish and self-centered or do you constantly put the needs of others before your own?

I'm hoping you're somewhere in the middle, like me, where the giving and getting are fuzzy, in the delicious reciprocity of real life, real love.  Where it's just good and no one is compromising very much at all.

I'd been sitting all day at a conference in Chicago, so later, we walked.