This is a throwback to one of my first summers on the Jersey Shore. I love taking strolls along the boardwalk and also taking my bike out for a spin. So do a lot of other people as you can tell from these bikes lined up along the boardwalk railing. I’m counting the minutes until I can get the bike out and take a nice long ride!
#WisdomWednesday – This is my happy place!
I don’t know about you, but the beach is my happy place! It’s where I go to relax and be inspired. Whether it’s just sitting under my beach umbrella reading a book or taking a long walk in the ocean’s wash or searching for a new shell for my collection, it’s the place where I’m happiest. Maybe it’s because I’m a Pisces, but regardless, I can’t imagine not being near the beach. How about you? What’s your happy place?
Original Beach Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Cuban Coffee How-To #TuesdayTip
I love Cuban coffee. It’s sweet and strong and I usually drink mine either with milk (cafe con leche) or with condensed milk (one of the variations of a cortadito). When my daughter asked me how to make “Cuban coffee” it turned out that I knew nothing about how to make it without milk. I especially didn’t know about the whole beating the coffee with sugar in order to get the forth that you find when you drink it straight. I guess I’m not a “real Cuban” that way. LOL! So today, a lesson on how to make “real Cuban coffee.” Thanks to SAVEUR Magazine for the video.
A Video How-To
#MotivationMonday – Inches Lost and Personal Bests
I wish I could post that I lost more pounds, but sadly I didn’t. Still at the same weight thanks to having to eat out three times last week. Tough to watch salt and calories, but I have to do better next time. Despite that, I can tell from clothes that are no longer tight that I’ve lost some inches. Plus, I did personal bests at the gym on the assisted pull-ups and my dead lifts (110 pounds!). Yeah. Also hit my daily step counts and then some, so all is good this week. Working on being better for next week. How about you? How did you all do last week?
Original dumbbell Image by Roy Buri from Pixabay
Original tape measure Image by annca from Pixabay
#FridayNight – A Night on Broadway
After 9/11 New York City was suffering in a variety of ways, including economically. My family made a point of trying to help out by coming in for more touristy things, like going to Broadway. Preview tickets back then were relatively affordable and so we went to a Broadway show fairly regularly. As things stabilized and prices started to go up, we found that we couldn’t go as often, but we still tried to go for shows that really called to us. Tonight Beetlejuice called and we answered. I can’t wait to see the show and I wonder if it will be able to capture the fun of the original motion picture. How about you? Any special plans for your Friday night?
Original Image by Ed Judkins from Pixabay
#ThrowbackThursday – RT Book Lovers Convention
Today’s throwback is to Mr. Romance and the 2012 RT Book Lovers Convention! I know, I know. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it! LOL! It was sad to see the convention come to an end, which is why I’m looking forward to the new Book Lovers Con in May! I hope it will be as much fun and look forward to seeing old friends there and making new ones. Maybe you’ll even be able to come and if so, please let me know so we can get together. For more info on the convention, please visit https://www.bookloverscon.com/.
Easy Prep Breakfast – #TuesdayTip
You’ve heard it said time and time again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast helps kick-start your metabolism, but if you’re like me, getting up super early to rush to work, making breakfast can be tough and eating out usually does not involve healthy items. What’s a girl to do? Thanks to my daughter for her suggestions on meal prep in order to eat healthy. That has me sharing with you today two easy prep breakfast items that are truly healthy and tasty as well! Plus you can mix them up to add whatever fruit you happen to love. I usually eat mine with strawberries and/or blueberries which are both excellent sources of vitamins and fiber.
Overnight Oats
Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk (or substitute other nut milk, soy milk or milk of your choice)
1 cup rolled oats (Not steel cut as these are too tough)
1 tbsp honey (or sweetener of your choice, like agave syrup or raw sugar)
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a container and let sit for at least 6 hours, but preferable overnight. In the morning top with fruit of your choice, nuts, cinnamon, or any topping of your choice. You can also mix this up by adding some yogurt to the oats or cocoa powder, peanut butter, you name it. You can also toss some chia seeds in there as well for extra protein. It’s very versatile!
Chia Seed Pudding
Your first question may be “What are chia seeds?” Chia seeds are what some are calling a “superfood.” They are a plant seed packed with fiber, anti-oxidants, protein and more. For more info, please see https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/truth-about-chia#1. Besides using them in this pudding, you can also add them to salads, etc. for some extra nutrition.
Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk (or substitute other nut milk, soy milk or milk of your choice)
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions
Mix liquid ingredients and then add chia seeds and mix. Place in a container and refrigerate, preferably overnight. The seeds tend to clump on the bottom of the container so shake after an hour or so. Like the rolled oats, you can mix in a number of other ingredients or change out part of the almond milk with coconut milk, etc. It’s all up to your own personal preferences. If you don’t like the feel of the seeds (kind of like poppy seeds), then zap everything in a blender before allowing to set overnight.
Original Chia Seed Image by Milada Vigerova from Pixabay
Overnight Oats Image by Depositphotos