Quote of the day

"Home is the heart of life...Home is where we feel at ease, where we belong, where we can create surroundings that reflect our tastes and pleasures... Making a home is a form of creativity open to everyone"

Terence Conran

My love of "beach hair"

Happy Friday to all!

One thing that I love is the beach, I love walking on it, I love being in it, I love just sitting and looking at it. But my all time favorite is how my looks, acts and feels t the beach. Now since I live about 60 miles from any beach out in the Inland Empire. I have found a product that helps me have my "beach hair" everyday. It is from my favorite skin care line Babyface called Ocean Water sea salt texturizing spray. I use after I use my gel on my wet hair, blow dry and scrunch it up. I have that beachy, sexy hair anytime I want.

Here is the link: http://www.babyfacestore.com/product/ocean-mist-hair-texturizing-spray-with-sea-salt-moisturizers

So check it and trust me, you will love it!

Summer Succotash

Wow, time has flown by and I have been traveling and busy around the house. I have to get back to blogging and sharing the new things that I love.

Here is a recipe from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone, it is light and full of flavor.

1 T of Earth Balance Butter
1 t olive oil
1 c diced red onion
1 garlic cloved, minced
1 (10oz) package of frozen baby lima beans, thawed
1 c fresh or frozen corn
1 c cherry tomatoes, halved
2 T chopped fresh parsley
2 T chopped fresh basil
1 T red or white balsamic vinegar

Heat the butter and oil together in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and saute' for 5-7 mins or until onion begins to brown. Add the garlic, and cook 1 min longer.

Stir in the beans, and saute' for 5 mins. Add the corn and tomatoes, and saute' 1 min longer or until just heated thought. You don't want the tomatoes to collapse just release their juices. Remove from heat, and stir in the parsley, basil, and vinegar. Served warm or chilled.

Today in So Cal the sun is shining and a wonderful 88 degrees, this was the perfect lunch for such a beautiful day. Enjoy

The Last Battle (a poem given to me from the Vet

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what you must be done?
For this - the last battle -- can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hands,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so,
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me until the end
And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree,
It is a kindness you do it for me.
Although my tail its last has waved.
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you,
Who has to decide this thing you do.
We've been so close --we two--these years.
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author unknown

Today, I picked up Ed's ashes, and I am so so sad. I re-read this poem that the Dr Z sent last week and I do feel comfort that he is no longer suffering. But that is about it.

My sweet sweet Ed

Today, is the day after that we said goodbye to our sweet Ed. Ed (Edison) who was named after my father's middle name, was a mini schnauzer that would have been 16 on July 8th. I got him when he was 6 weeks old, from my BFF Lisa who had his father Max and Lisa's mom has his mom Miss Molly.

He has been through thick and thin with me, the good and the bad. He was with me during one of darkest period of my life with my ex. I was so thankful that he got to see me in one of the best times of my life with my family that I have came to love with Mike and his kids.

When I couldn't have children and had to have a hysterectomy, our bond got even stronger. He was there with the most unconditional love at all times.

When he had a bad stroke at 2:30 Monday  morning and things were not good, Mike and I knew what we had to do. He fought the good fight, he was on 6 pills a day for heart and Alzheimer's, but the time had come that to put my selfishness away and do what was best for him.  After he was gone, Dr Z said that dog had a fabulous life and we agreed. I realized that he probably had a better life than unfortunatly some children out there. 

His loveseat is empty and so is our hearts. But we know he is running with his sister Betty that we lost a year and half go.

Quote for today!

As we were on our walk this morning and picking up trash that is thrown out, we were talking about doing the right thing. I pick up the trash because it is the right thing to do for the planet. I told Mike that everyday I try to be a better person today than I was yesterday. This morning I came across this quote and I thought how ironic it goes with what I was saying.

"As simple as it sounds, we all must try to be the best person we can; by making the best choices, by making most of the talents we've been given."  Mary Lou Retton

Have a wonderful day!
Kecia

Simple Saying today!

I know it has been a while but have had surgery and now recouping nicely.

"Character is what we are in the dark"  Old Saying

This speaks volume's, I will be back tomorrow with another one of my favorite things!

Have a great Monday!

Babyface items that I love

Hi all,

sorry so long between blogs, but was just so upset with things happening in the south not been in much of a mood.

Here are two products that I love from the skincare line that I use called Babyface. http://www.babyfacestore.com/.

First one I will talk about is: Pure Protein, this stuff is magic in a little bottle. My hair feels soft, but strong and healthy. It is also helping my hair grow, especially my bangs after I regretted cutting.  After you wash was a clarifying shampoo, you mix a capful in with your favorite deep conditioner, comb through and wrap in plastic or what I use is a shower cap. I leave on for about 20 mins, the rinse and style as usual. I do this 2 weeks.

While I am doing this use the Blueberry Oxygen Mask Antioxidant Cream. This smells good enough to eat, (but please don't):). I leave this on for about 10 mins and I do this once a week.

 I like to multi-task and this helps me do things that are good for me at once.  Like right now I am writing this will having both on, I will spare all of you a picture!

I have use high end skincare lines and I have used organic one also, I can honestly say this is the best one I have used to date. So go the website and check it out, these two products you will not regret. As time goes by, I will be featuring more from this line.

Have a beautiful and love-filled day!

What I love today is my home state of Alabama and the South

Today my heart is full of sadness and gratitude for my home state of Alabama and the entire South.

Sadness for ives that have been lost, the damage that has been done and gratitude that my immediate family and friends are safe. 

Please today say a prayer and donate if you can to the Red Cross.

Much love.
Kecia

My Favorite Breakfast

I hope that everyone had a beautiful and love filled weekend.

Most mornings, I have the same breakfast, it's fast, tasty and packed with protein. It is my smoothie and it contains the following:

Almond Milk ( I use the 60 calorie one) 1.5 cups
Life Time Life's Basic's Plant Protein Powder with Greens
1 T of Organic Peanut Butter
1/2 t of  Royal Maca

I blend all together and then add a couple of ice cubes.

What I love about the plant protein powder is the greens already in it. It has barley grass, barley juice, spirulina, wheat grass, chlorella,, alfalfa, red beets, broccoli and chlorophyll. I know, I know, if you think that all this "green" will taste bad, you just have to trust me it doesn't.  2 scoops has 135 calories and 23 grams of protein, which is 46% of daily value.

Got it backwards! This should have been my first blog!

This is really what I wanted to say, regarding what my my blog will be about. But since we are only allowed 500 character's I had to do the Reader's Digest version.


With so many things around us that often seem negative -- imagine how fun it could be to have a place to explore all of the little positives that surround us too…

My vision is to offer you that place. I am a 46 year old pescetarian who lives with meat eaters (who I cook for but always organic). I love yoga, Pilates, fashion, shoes, handbags and wine just to name a few. I am also Fitness Coach for www.marilu.com where I work with people from all over the world to achieve health and fitness results while building a healthy attitude to support the journey.

This blog is designed to share with you positive reviews of things I am passionate about. Please feel free to look around and I look forward to building connections with you. Check back often as I will continue to share with you my reviews on different products, recipes, health related topics, restaurants, books, exercises, and other things that I love and hope you will too!

My road to health & sanity!

The first thing that I want to share that I love - would be www.marilu.com . I have became passionate about health & fitness. Below will give you insight on my own journey to health & sanity.

Let's just say like it is - I was a fat kid and I have been on ever diet in the world. I have used every meal replacement, diet pill "natural" or not. I have been super skinny and super fat, I have binged and I have purged and  I hated to exercise most of all.

 In Sept 2000 is when I picked up a book called Total Health Makeover by Marilu Henner. I started reading and I had that light bulb kind of moment where I thought I could do this. I could get healthy and not feel guilty about eating,  to enjoy food who would of thought that was possible not me.

I really understood the idea of food combining, eating fruits alone, proteins/veggies, grains/veggie. In the book it talks about dairy, so I gave up milk that moment. I also made the choice for me to give up , meat, poultry & pork and  this is what works for me, now cheese was a different story.  I pretty much ate this way for the next 7 years, some good years, some bad years. On January 3, 2007 I realized that my health wasn't were it should be, that is when I gave up cheese and eggs. Low and behold, my allergies are a 1000 times better, and within the first month I lost 8 lbs. I started to exercise  walking, pilates, and yoga, this has became a passion with me. In the fall of I think of 09, I was asked to the coach on Marilu's website for the Get Moving thread - and exercise and support thread. Me, the fat kid who always picked last in PE.

So over the last 4 years, I have lost 24 lbs and the best of it all have learned to love myself. So check out http://www.marilu.com/ and see what a great community this is. There are classes, recipes and a support group that is 2nd to none! I hope to you there!