'secrets of the world's healthiest women'

'secrets of the world's healthiest women' is a great article with some pretty simple tips on living a healthier lifestyle from our counterparts around the world.  many of the tips i've heard before, but definitely worth revisiting.  hope you enjoy!

ray charles- 'i got a women'

have a great weekend!

more water love & pretty things to put it in

i was speaking with a co-worker of mine about my new love for cucumber lemon water and she opened my eyes to the world of fruit infusion pitchers.  these pitchers have removable infusion rods that you place your fresh fruit into.  open slots on the infusion rod allows the water (or tea) and fruit to mix, creating a tasty and refreshing beverage.

target

the combination of fruits and herbs are endless.  here are just a few that i have come across and am going to try.  *strawberry and basil.  one of the recipes i came across for this recommended starting out with fewer basil leaves and then adding more to your taste.  

*mint on it's own or mixed with frozen strawberries/raspberries, lemon, or cucumbers. 

*orange and rosemary.  

*peach and sage. 

cucumber lemon water

i recently started drinking cucumber lemon water and now i can't get enough of it.  it's crisp, refreshing and easy to make.  i actually bring a little 'flask' of it to work with me.


i slice a medium lemon and a small cucumber and place in the bottom of a one-liter water carafe.  i then pour filtered water over the top and let steep in the refrigerator for at least an hour.  the longer it has to steep the better the flavor.  i refill the carafe two to three times a day with fresh water and on the third day replace the lemon and 
cucumber.


the size of lemon and cucumber you use will depend on the size of your pitcher and your taste.

'get off the couch'

my sister annoyingly pointed out to me recently, annoying because it's true, that i have a wonderfully inspirational board on pinterest titled 'get off the couch' yet i never get off my couch.  i can spend hours in my 'nest' with the t.v. on, the computer open on my lap surfing the internet 'pinning' fitness tips, but i can't find 30 minutes to walk downstairs and get on the treadmill.  yes, it's embarrassingly that easy for me to work out.  i just have to walk downstairs. 

my husband and i are heading into our forties and it's important to me that we don't spend the last half of our lives with health problems associated with living a sedentary life.  i have finally surrendered to the fact that there is no quick fix, no pill to take and that talking about being healthy isn't necessarily going to make me healthy.  i have to work at it.  let the end of the love affair with my couch begin.... 

"the reason that i can be 38, have two kids and wear a bikini is because i work my (expletive) ass off.  it's not fairy dust, it's not good genes.  it's killing myself for an hour and a half five days a week. what i get out of it is relative to what i put into it." - Gwyneth Paltrow

'the joy of quiet'

my sister posted a great article today from the new york times that i feel compelled to share.  'the joy of quiet'  reminds us to slow-down, turn off and unplug.  it reminds us to 'be in the moment', to stop and to think.  i absolutely loved this article and am going to spend some time with it.  i hope that you find it to be just as interesting as i have.

the joy of quiet

Charles Bradley- 'the world (is going up in flames)'

happy 2012!