Good Morning everyone!!

I am fresh off of a long weekend spent with my wonderful boyfriend down in Charlotte North Carolina and I am pumped and ready to finish out this week. It is very hard to get back into the routine here when you spend time having so much fun somewhere else but alas it is what I have to do! This weekend was perfect because of the fact that I got to relax and take some time away to enjoy the warm weather and spend some quality time with my boyfriend. I think that sometimes taking into account your mental health and wellness is just as important as physical. It is important to take a minute out of your day for yourself.. even if it is just to listen to a favorite song or perhaps theres only enough time to take a few deep breaths.

The weekend was wonderful and was filled with seeing old friends, meeting new friends and seeing some new places I hadn't yet in Charlotte. (pictures soon to come once they get off the camera!) One of the best parts was that I was able to be there with my other half to watch the season premier of Madmen! Did anyone else get a chance to watch it? What did you think?

Click here to create a MadMen themed Picture of yourself: )

Alrighty, now that we have had our update.. lets get down to the nitty gritty of what this blog is about. I love reading blogs by other, usually more established nutritional and fitness bloggers. It helps to give me recipes, ideas about exercise classes and also helps me to get a feeling for what I want my blog to be.. What do I like about the set ups I see? What do I not like? How can I use the things that I do like and make them more my style? Today I was reading one of the posts of one of my favorite blogs to read and saw that there has been a string of comments that were accusatory and mean. Preaching to the blog writer that they were a terrible human being because they dont shop strictly at local farmers markets and that they dont take up the human rights issue? Ok, slow it down here.. this is a friendly blog about her healthy lifestyle.. not CNN.

It made me mad because this person was saying that bloggers dont have real facts and basically have no real purpose because they arent living in the woods, foraging for berries. So I wanted to set the record straight for all of the nutritional and fitness bloggers out there.. I blog because I have a real interest in leading a life of balance. I want to live a healthy life by eating well with small indulgences, exercising just like the rest of my blogging friends.  Nowhere in any of our writings do we claim to be Doctors, Hollywood personal trainers or part of the barefoot running brigade. I have found that there is a network of young (20-30 years old) bloggers who like to share their lives with people who will read, converse and support. We are simply people who want to share our experiences and to have an outlet for our interests, we want to share with people that it is possible to live in a healthy balance and enjoy our lives with boyfriends, friends, husbands, fiances, houses, careers, school and anything else you can think of.

In the spirit of true balance in the world.. I decided to use my blog to share with my readers some of the best bloggers that I enjoy reading under the umbrella of a healthy lifestyle. These people are interesting, funny and keep your attention while offering good information through their experiences.

Please check them out

This is called Sweet Tooth Blog written by a 26 year old woman named Courtney

http://sweettoothsweetlife.com/2010/07/27/pancakes-on-the-brain/

PBFingers

A blog about healthy living and an obsession with Peanut Butter

http://pbfingers.com/2010/07/27/strawberry-oatty-yogurt-bowl/

CarrotsNCake

A blog about a healthy lifestyle between veggies and sweets

http://carrotsncake.com/

How Sweet Blog

A young woman and personal trainer writes about her love of food

http://www.howsweeteats.com/

A wonderful blog by a women named Ann Gatty.. she helps people discuss how to deal with stress

http://www.stress-management-4-women.com/

So please check out these writers and see what you think.. and please remember that comments are always loved and appreciated as long as they are supportive. Its hard enough to maintain a healthy balance with all the other stressors in everyones lives. Women should support women in whatever it is they want to do to improve themselves. Maybe that will be my next blog... a personal health piece on women keeping women down... hmmm.. what do you think??

Good Morning Everyone!

So yesterday was a super long day for me with work, 2 hours in the gym (Push up and abs day plus a good solid run from downtown through the north shore) and then I came home to do laundry and clean up my apartment because I am leaving for the weekend. I am heading down to Charlotte after work today to spend some time with my honey, Dwayne.

Here we are at the beach.. pretty cute looking couple, ay?

But anyway,

back to the point..After that busy night and that hard work out I was pretty tired and I had to have a dinner made entirely of vegetables because I had so many to eat before I left so I didnt come back to spoiled veggies. (Gross!) I decided that I needed some kind of sweet pick me up in order to make it through my night. One of my downfalls is sugary treats and pastries.. I try so hard to do half portions or make substitutions and last night was no different. I realized that I had most of the ingrediants to make cookies but I didnt want a huge batch of sugar cookies staring me in the face so I decided to run to the internet and look up a healthier, smaller portioned cookie recipe.

Well within a few minutes the recipe Gods had smiled on me because I stumbled upon the most simple and really tastey recipe for peanut butter cookies that are healthier than regular peanut butter cookies but still have a lot of the taste! This recipe only has 5 ingrediants and as we know..if a food has few ingrediants and you can pronounce them all.. you are in business!

Ok, so for this recipe all you need is:

- Natural Chunky Peanut Butter

- Vanille extract

-1 Egg white

- Natural Oats

- Organic Cane Sugar

preheat your oven for 375 degrees F

Start by mixing a 1/4 of a cup of organic cane sugar in with a 1/2 cup of natural chunky style peanut butter. Once those are all mixed add a tablespoon of vanilla extract and 1 egg white.. mix until all blended together. This could take a minute.. when I made these it seems like it took some work to get everything to blend but after a minute or two it all came together. Then I realized that the mixture was a little liquid-ey ( I know thats not a word) so I reached for my handy dandy natural oatmeal. The recipe didnt call for oatmeal but you buy it in a huge container so I have to use it everywhere I can! haha I dont know the exact measurements but I would have to say I threw in about a small handful and mixed it in to thicken up the batch.

Once everything was mixed together and was thick enough, you put 6 small spoonful onto the pan. My batch made about 6 cookies because I didnt want a few dozen peanut butter cookies staring me in the face when I got home. So baked these cookies for about 8 minutes but make sure to keep an eye on them while they bake. Let them cool for a minute and dig in! The chunky peanut butter really adds some texture and you are getting some good fats, oats and protein. I had two of these cookies with almond milk as a bedtime treat and they were delicious! The oats and peanut butter mixture made them very filling also and you could really taste all of the natural flavors.

I would definately recomend this recipe to anyone that is just looking for a small sweet pick me up during their day with out going overboard on the fat and calories. Remember that you can make some really great treats healthier by doing a little bit of research. The internet is a great tool for searching blogs and websites to mix and match recipes you will like. Plus, a trick that I use sometimes is making a healthy dessert and taking it to dinner parties, cook outs, etc with me. That way I know that there is something tastey but still relatively healthy waiting for me as a dessert. I dont have to deprive myself of something sweet while everyone else is eating cake but I dont have to eat white sugar and white flour either! Plus baking is just plain fuN!!

Question of the Day : )

Did you try out this recipe and did you like it? Do you have any other recipes that you use substitutions in to make it healthier? What is your favorite healthy recipe you might want to share with others?

Have a great day everyone! Tell me what you think! : )

Good Morning folks!

I wanted to use today's blog to tell all the Yinzers out there (Aka those natives of Pittsburgh) about the wonders of farmers markets! Do you take the time to look for local farmers markets in your area? Have you noticed that their prices are usually lower than the super market? Also, you can help local growers support their families instead of grocery store chains? I love farmers markets because you can never get fruit or vegetables quite as fresh as those that have been grown on a local farm.

My mom and I spent a lovely day together in the sunshine looking at 2 of the farmers markets that are closest to her new house in Wexford. One of them I had been to before and the other I had not. I loved them both (one is considerably bigger than the other) and I think that they deserve a little bit of free publicity here for what they offer.

The first place is a local families business called Sorgeols. Sorgeols is located in Wexford and is filled with fresh homemade/ organic foods and hand crated trinkets. They have a bunch of different types of foods to offer including a barn completley dedicated to Allergen and Gluten Free foods. Yes folks that's right.. they have a barn completely dedicated to Gluten free foods! (Sorry for the picture quality.. Im only working with a blackberry here lol)

 Anyone that knows me knows that I love looking at trinkets and I also love good healthy foods! So this combination was perfect. My mom wanted to go into the gift shop first and it was great! Three stories of hand crafter childrens toys, candles (that I spent 20 minutes smelling because I loove scented candles) and wooden folk art. It was a really neat place with lots to look at but one of the things that I wasnt expecting was live bees! My mom called me over to a bee hive that they have inside the store (dont worry folks..behind glass or I wouldve been running for cover) You could see the bees producing natural honey combs behind the glass and it was so neat but I was still a little freaked out.. give me spiders, snakes.. anything but bees!

I had come here before a few years ago with friends around autumn and had such an amazing time. They offer really inexpensive hay rides that will take you up to a pumpkin patch and you can search their huge field for the best pumpkin you can find! They served delicious warm apple cider and places to take your picture. It was truly an awesome experience and a perfect activity for the fall. Here are a few of my favorite pics from that experience.. you can see how much fun we are having! and one of my favorite people is in these photos who I miss dearly! My college room mate and one of my best friends, April.. since graduation she has moved to New York City to pursue her dancing career and is doing so well! I am so proud of her and I think she has so much strength to move on her own the the big apple! Love and miss her!

...and then of course there is me in my senior picture in the sunflowers moment

Or how about the one where I am being a huge camera hog on the hay ride?

The best part was that I found homemade apple butter in one of the stores there! It was a huge jar and it was soooo good! And the best part was it had a total of 3 ingredients- apples, apple juice and spices. You can't beat that kind of purity in your food! Put it on whole grain toast and you have yourself a breakfast of champions!

The second time around I was on a mission to find that apple butter again because it was so good and I lucked out! I couldn't even resist breaking it open in the car on the way home and taking some because I remember it being so tasty!

I think my favorite part of the whole day was that the offered roasted corn! This corn was so good that my mom and I both had to try a piece of it and definitely could have gone for seconds. Soergels is a great place to spend a few hours and get some healthy food and sunshine. There is plenty to do and see and it even has a petting zoo to keep the kids entertained so look it up!

The second farmers market that we went too was much smaller but only about 3 minutes away from the first called Shenots Farm. The best part about this Farmers market was that apparently they are known throughout the area for their home made fudge recipes... and believe me there are so many to chose from you wont know what to eat first! They had probably 30 different kinds of fudge that ranged from raspberry chocolate to turtle or mint. I could've eaten them all! But unfortunately I was so full for Soergels that I did not partake but trust me it looks delicious : )

!                     

 They also offered a lot of very inexpensive fruits and vegetables... even had bushels of peaches that were straight off the tree! and a hay play area that the kids could play in while you were shopping. I, of course, could not leave without getting my picture taken with this lovely cut out... did you guys know I am 5'1! and apparently 8 years old at heart : )

Before I end this blog I also wanted to let those who frequent the downtown area know that there is a farmers market every Thursday around lunchtime in Market Square. Local vendors set up their stands with fruits, veggies, homemade pies and even wine! If you have a minute on your lunch break you should check it out! if you go onto the website for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership they will give you a lot of information on this Farmers market and what vendors are there.

Farmers markets are a great way to make sure you are getting fresh organic produce and that it stays relatively inexpensive. Plus, it is a great reason to get out and about on the weekends when it's nice and take the family out for some family fun time. I know that picking pumpkins and fruit for jams/preserves were some of my favorite memories when I was growing up. Not to mention last fall when I had to help navigate myself and my mother through a 3 mile corn maze! Good thing one of us can read a map! Ha

I hope to one day take my family for a hay ride with some apple cider in hand! Every child should have a memory like that to look back upon.

 What farmers markets have you been too? Where are they located? Did you enjoy the experience? Do you think they are better than going to the grocery store?

Please take some time to Google search some farmers markets that may be near you! Get out and enjoy!

Dangers and Effects of Obesity You Didnt Know About

Good Morning Folks.. I have run across quite a few articles lately that pertain to the effects of weight gain and obesity that I have never heard before. Everyone knows that being over weight can lead to severe health issues such as heart disease, diabetes,  high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.. but did you know that being over weight can also effect your memory and motor skills? Did you ever think that your weight and eating habits could be linked to cancer?  I wanted to share with everyone a few interesting facts that I have run across about the effects of weight on health in different ways than you would normally hear about and hopefully this will help anyone who is struggling with their weight to have a little bit more motivation to take control of their life and get healthy.. or if you are already on the path to a healthy lifestyle.. hopefully this will inspire you to keep going and continue to do great things for your health and future!

•1.       A recent student has shown that obesity in post menopausal women has a direct link to their memory function.  The "Womens Health Initiative" study was conducted using 9000 middle aged female volunteers.  On July 14 2010, the findings from this study were released to the public and it showed a direct correlation between brain function and weight. The women were measured by their BMI (Body Mass Index) and waist/ hip measurements. Studies were conducted on their cholesterol and BP levels and it the doctors made sure that there were no pre existing signs of dementia or brain abnormalities. 70% of the women used in the study were considered over their ideal weight and it was these women that had a direct correlation between the speed of brain function and triggers for dementia.

•2.       Where you store your extra weight effects your health in a different way. Ever been told youre a pear shape? Or perhaps an apple? The same study that showed the correlation between weight and brain function also showed that women who are obese and apple shaped (round carry weight evenly through their upper thighs and stomach)were more at risk for heart disease, diabetes and dimensia symptoms then women who were obese but pear shaped( Women who carry their excess weight in their hips and upper thighs).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20100714/hl_hsn/excessweightinolderwomenlinkedtodiminishedmemory

•3.       Obese at 20? Men who are obese at 20 years old take an average of 8 years of their average life span in comparison to the average healthy male. A women by the name of Esther Zimmerman took a look at those who were  in the military and discovered that the death rate for men who are obese at the age of 20 is consistently 8 years less than that of men who were a healthy weight at 20.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100713/sc_livescience/beingobesecancostamaneightyears

•4.       Fewer hot flashes? Dr. Alison Huang of the University of California states that there is real evidence that middle aged women will have less hot flashes during menopause if they  are not overweight. These hot flashes will also be reduced if you lose between 7-9% of their excess body weight  while going through the process of menopause.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20100713/hl_hsn/fewerexcesspoundsmaymeanfewerhotflashes

•5.       Weight v Cancer. No one likes to talk about Cancer.. it has affected my family quite a bit on both my mother and my fathers sides unfortunately. However, what if there was a way in which you could cut your risk? You can because a healthy diet and exercise plan will help reduce the risk of cancer. A study done in Hong Kong showed a direct correlation between obesity rates and cancer related deaths. Obese people were found to be 21% more likely to die from cancer than people of a normal weight.  in  I have recently read a book called \"In Defense of Food\" by Michael Pollan explains the process of how food production and diets have changed through out history and he proposes a theory that struck a real chord with me. Our bodies need food in order to continuously create new healthy cells to replace those that have died or been damaged.  If we continually over feed our bodies or feed our bodies unnatural foods.. then they have too much fuel to create new cells or inefficient fuel.  Our bodies, being the marvels that they are, then create more cells because they have the fuel to do so and what is cancer folks? The rapid reproduction of cells. Makes sense?

I really suggest you check out Pollans books \"In Defense of Food\" and \"The Omnivores Dilemma\" because they are simply wonderful reads.

•6.       Last but not least.. what about your sexual health?  A recent study has tied obesity to a reduced want or sexual activity and poorer sexual health in general.  Obese women have shown within this study that they are 4 times as likely to have unplanned pregnancies despite having fewer partners. For men, impotence became much more likely in men that were obese. Nathalie Bajos did a study in which she did research using 12,000 French men and women recording their weights and sexual behaviors.  Obese men were 2.5 times as likely to experience ED and obese women were 30% less likely to have had sex in the last year.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20100617/hl_hsn/obesitycantaketollonsexlife

Now, keep in mind that these are just studies and articles that I have come across in the last few days. I have attached all of the articles for you to read for yourself the full information but with all the health risks that unhealthy lifestyles create, why not choose to do something good for yourself today? Go to the store and buy yourself a new healthy food you haven\'t tried before.. or perhaps go to a new fitness class that you haven\'t tried before. Remember that even small changes can have big effects on your health in the long run.. that extra ½ mile or 2 more pull ups. Even just leaving the house for a walk!

Hello everyone!

So I had the pleasure of spending the last week involved with an organization that I think everyone should check out. The Organization is called PFEW: Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week. This is a week long summer camp where HIghschool Juniors and Seniors can learn about business while staying on a college campus. The summer camp runs four times through out the summer from the beginning of July to the beginning of August and it brings in kids from all over the state. They get to learn about business through the use of a computerized simulation of the market, hear nationally known speakers, and make friends that they otherwise never would have met.

I have the pleasure of being a "Company Advisor" which is basically this camps version of a counselor. We are assigned a group of 15-20 students out o the 300-500 that come in our week that dont know each other and its our job to teach them about the simulation, the business world and make sure they get along and interact. This was my second year serving as an advisor and I have loved every minute of it. These kids are amazing and it really shows just how impressive the future can be if we let these kids shine. I have already had so many of my students tell me it was the best week of their lives and they became friends so fast! Plus, its great for networking and putting on a resume and college application. Check it out http://www.pfew.org

One of the best aspects of this organization for me is that my boyfriend also volunteers his time (its how we met last year.. how cute huh?) so that means that we get to spend a week and a half together : ) I was soo happy to be able to return to be an advisor with him.

The only beef that I have with this program is that I came back from that week feeling so run down and with my pants a little bit tighter than I would like them to be. The reason for this? Well, the program runs literally all day and so that leaves very little downtime and so I have to admit that I didnt exercise. The thought of running or going to the gym after getting up at 630am and not being done until 9 or 10 was just to tiring to think about. Also, your meals are usually provided for you which is awesome in the cost department but not so awesome in the controlling what you are eating department.

Every meal was heavy and offered dressings, butter, white rolls and the dreaded dessert counter for lunch and dinner. (Who needs dessert with lunch?) Breakfast was a variety of while flour bagels and muffins or sugary bananas. Delicious yes.. but good for you to start off your day? no.  Not to mention the hospitality room at the end of the day that was filled with chips, pretzels, and my downfall.. cheddar chex mix..du duh duhhhhhh. You were constantly surrounded by bad foods and not given much of an opportunity to exercise and because of this folks..yes I failed to control myself and ended up coming back to some tight pants and some very lethargic feelings. When I am on top of my game and eating right, exercising regularly.. I feel good emotionally, physically and mentally. I really feel like I need to get back into that and soon.

Some of the lethargic feelings may come from the fact that I had to say goodbye to my wonderful boyfriend this morning after 9 days of getting to see him. (We are long distance until I am done with my Masters degree) We celebrated our one year anniversary! Hold your applause! Of course it makes me sad to say goodbye which leads to feeling tired and having less energy. Hopefully getting back to the gym and getting back into preparing my own food will help me to drop the unwanted flabbiness again. Anyone who has had this happen probably knows what I mean when I say you feel uncomfortable in your own body or clothes..and no one should feel like that!

So I just wanted to share with my readers what I am thinking right now , on this dreary Pittsburgh day which is.. Its ok to let yourself have a little fun every once in a while. Never get down on yourself or think badly.. you never fail.. you only have reasons to improve! : ) So if today you are feeling a little bit under the weather or perhaps a little less than energetic.. do something good for yourself! Go take a yoga class and just relax, go get a massage, go to your favorite sports bar and watch a game, get some clutter out of your life.. whatever it is that will make you feel good today.. do it!

I hope everyone ends their day on a happy and healthy note! I sure know I am going too : )