Strawberry Mango Banana Smoothie with White Tea

Strawberries, mangoes, and bananas top the list of my favorite fruits. Here is an excellent replacement for a breakfast that might be too carb-heavy or too time consuming. You can fix this smoothie quickly before leaving for work in the morning. With the added Greek yogurt, this delicious  smoothie is packed with antioxidants and protein. It  both fills you up and provides an energy boost. This smoothie recipe has enough natural sugars to wake you up, as well as protein and fiber to sustain you til you break for a healthy mid-morning snack.

(The best Greek Yogurt EVER)

Brown Rice Pasta with Eggplant Recipe

Since I seem to be hooked on eggplant these days, (it seems I go through phases on having favorite things to eat, and then I tire of them and move on to a new temporary favorite) I was on a mission to find another dish in which to use eggplant.  Eggplant Parmesan is my all-time favorite but is very labor intensive, and I wanted something a little less so.

I came across this recipe in an old Cooking Light Magazine, and as usual, made a few changes to it to suit what I had on hand.

Eggplant Mini Pizzas

On my weekly grocery shopping excursion, I always try to stick to my usual shopping list, which consists mainly of fresh vegetables, fruit and  whole wheat pastas and breads. I always search, though, for something a little different as well. This time the eggplants looked especially nice, so I got one. The next day I  realized there was no way I was going to have time to make Eggplant Parmesan. I decided to get creative and came up with these Eggplant Mini Pizzas. I think these would be a great healthy item for kids too, and they might even enjoy helping to make them.

Best Childrens Laptop Computers - Educational Toys for Toddlers

Educational Toys for Toddlers -  Best Childrens Laptop Computers

I am convinced that children can start learning reading, writing phonics, and the like much sooner than society allows them. Granted, I'm not saying kids should be sent off to school sooner than we do, but I am saying that the time they are still at home could be used to allow them to advance more quickly, and be ahead of the game when they do enter school. I also think that with the importance of computers in the world these days, it is equally important to introduce children to computers at an early age as well.

Alaskan Crab Salad with Grapefruit and Avocado

I found this Alaskan Crab Salad with Grapefruit and Avocado Recipe in a local grocery store magazine. It was originally posted in FoodandWine.com.  It is healthy, light, and refreshing. I made some changes to the original, as noted.

Honey Mango Smoothie Recipe - Yes, Another One!

Here's another yummy Mango Smoothie I whipped up the other day with variations to one I posted a few months ago. I made this one without my usual addition of plain low fat Greek yogurt, so maybe it could be classified more officially as a slushy  but, call it what you will, it was delicious, very refreshing, and low in calories.

Honey Mango Smoothie Recipe:

Basil Pesto Veggie Wrap Recipe - My Favorite Lunch

This Pesto Veggie Wrap is a great refreshing, light recipe for lunch or even dinner, especially appealing for a hot day. Healthy, and low in calories you could even eat two of these for dinner and would not be going overboard on calorie intake, as long as you've been practical about your other meals that day.  I love this wrap, but knew I had really created a winner when I served it to a bachelor friend of mine who is normally a meat lover.

Successful Deer Repellent Solution

I think I've found a winning combination of tactics to keeping the deer from eating my plants and flowers!

In a previous post I was venting that the deer had made a meal out of my hostas, newly planted impatiens, and daylilies, and had asked if anyone had some suggestions for solutions. A well-meaning (?) Facebook friend suggested a gun. Not a reasonable solution. I went on search for a better alternative as I had just ordered 50 day lily plants from Smokey's DayLily Gardens, and was not looking forward to losing my investment.

Kiwi, Banana, Honey Mango Smoothie Recipe

Here's a great fruit smoothie recipe that requires no extra sweetener, and is therefore low-calorie in addition to it being healthy and delicious!

The beginning of June and it's already July-hot and August-humid out. After a 20 minute bike ride today and then going straight into the Ab Ripper X workout DVD from P90X, I was hot and sweaty (or perhaps "perspiring" is the proper ladylike term).  After drinking a big glass of water, I still wanted something else to reward myself, so I decided to whip up a smoothie, and relax for a few minutes.

Frittata with Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Herbs

I discovered a new magazine that looks like it will become another often-referenced source of information for me.It is called "Whole Living - body + soul in balance". There are plenty of healthy recipes and I found one that I decided to cook for dinner tonight. Once again, it seemed fairly simple, had ingredients that are healthy, and that I already had on hand. I modified it somewhat and halved the recipe. I will post the original version and include the changes I made.

Basil Pesto Chicken over Angel Hair Pasta

Last night I had a friend over for dinner - a rarity for me, and decided  make this recipe that I'd been meaning to try and was just looking for a good excuse. I liked all of it's ingredients, though I don't eat chicken often (I am "mostly vegetarian"). Best of all, the recipe seemed pretty simple, and not too time consuming.

Awesome Anti-Aging Skin Cream - Source Naturals Skin Eternal DMAE Cream - A Review

As much fun as it is to talk about (and eat) food, and as much as we might try to eat the right foods, we often need supplements, i.e. vitamins and minerals added to our diet to assure it's complete. Eating the right foods can also help our skin, (the largest organ in out body, by the way) but supplements also come into play here as well.
There is a great facial skin cream that I love, that contains necessary "nutrients" to keep skin healthy and younger looking. This is the stuff: Source Naturals Skin Eternal DMAE Cream.

Skin Eternal DMAE Cream

DMAE is for dimethylaminoethanol, a nutrient that is coincidentaly found in salmon. DMAE acts as a building block for neurotransmitters which communicate with the muscles. These neurotransmitters decline as we age, resulting in decreased muscle tone. Additionally, DMAE acts as an antioxidant, stablizing cell membranes and protecting them from free radical damage. As cell membranes deteriorate, the skin starts to age. DMAE helps the skin cells to be renewed and restored.So much for technical explanations.

I like Skin Eternal DMAE Cream because I feel my skin has more elasticity while looking firmer - if that makes sense. It seems to have a plumping effect and has improved my fine lines and wrinkles. I use it all over my face and neck before I go to bed at night, and in the morning I put it specifically on my crow's feet, under my eyes (be careful not to get it in your eyes) and in my nasolabial folds (smile lines).
It seems a little greasy at first when you apply it, but absorbs quickly into your skin. It is a buttery yellow color with very little smell. A little goes a long way, and a jar will last you several months. I really think that using this religiously has improved my skin and given it a younger appearance.

Source Naturals  carries a whole line of products, many of which I haven't tried, because I like to switch things up and give other product lines a try as well. But I would feel confident purchasing other products in their line as I am so impressed with the results from this  DMAE Cream.

 I will be blogging in the future bout some other products  - from different companies that I also love.

If you would like to read up more on DMAE, as well as other anti-aging topics, I reference this book often, "The Perricone Prescription".

Please always remember that it is important for your skin to stay hydrated. Drinking eight or so glasses of water a day is a simple habit not just for your skin, but for your body in general.