Something I've begun to implement into my daily regimen of stuff I do to try to keep healthy and shed a few pounds, especially fight the water retention thing (which I'm highly sensitive to...) . Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar. I'm calling it a "super juice" because there are so many healing things this vinegar is good for. Now, just a side note. This particular brand is the brand that is made "with the mother". That's the one … [Read more...]
Sweet Mexican Salad
As I hosted my women's networking luncheon today, the main course on the menu was my Green Chili Enchilada Casserole I featured HERE. I needed a side dish or salad to go with it. So, as I do with so many things, I pulled this one out of you know where! HA! Throw this with that and voila.... here is my Sweet Mexican Salad: The goods: Bag of mixed greens Yellow and orange bell peppers, sliced Grape tomatoes Doritos, crushed Pineapple … [Read more...]
From the Archives: Healthy Living Manifesto
Next week marks the beginning of a round of holidays coming up. I thought this post would be great to "re-share" as we are going to be seeing LOTs of food and opportunities to be unhealthy in front of us. A little reminder never hurts, right? via Now I know ALL of these things can't be done, but it's a great thing to shoot for as many as you can, right? … [Read more...]
4 Ingredient Mexi Chicken
Ok, 5 including the taco seasoning. Now, lemme just tell you guys, I've said it before and I'll say it again. The way I cook, I just throw stuff together, keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. Most of the times it comes out pretty good (I think!). And know this too... I come from an UBER traditional Greek family, where I did not have "casseroles" or anything with "pre made" or processed in it. This isn't a huge processed meal, but it … [Read more...]
Tomato Mushroom Capellini
Most of my cooking I do, I do these throw together, eyeballing dish and taste testing. Thanks to my mom being the most amazing teacher ever to me in so many things, this is how I learned to cook. Because that is how she cooked. So throwing a few things together, I whipped up the yummiest topping for our pasta EVER! (Like so good I can just eat it in a bowl by itself!) I think it's fairly healthy because I'm using fresh ingredients, nothing … [Read more...]
I’m losin it…Again.
Well, you can call this a "semi- from the archives" post. But I think this topic is something so many of us ROUND and ROUND we go. That whole four letter D word.... YOU know what I'm talkin about .... So lemme just divulge some personal information here to you. To the WHOLE world I bear all. So I weighed myself the DAY I leave for this 6 week long vacation across the big pond. The whole time FEARING I would come home a blimp. Quite the … [Read more...]
Winner and a Treat
Hello lovies! There is NO better way to start the week than to announce a winner. Usually I do this on Fridays, but this time I thought I'd change things up a bit and I'm thinking how FUN is this to be told YOU WON something on a MONDAY! Right? Well, first, thank you to all who chimed in on this super great giveaway hosted by The Fleuriste. See more fab things from them to come... Excited to have them part of The OP Life! So, down to … [Read more...]
Show me my goal.
There is something to be said about SEEING what it is you are reaching towards. Goal setting. For anything you're trying to achieve or become, having a visual reminder of what that is in front of you all the time will greatly help you get there. And I need a visual NOW! Case in point, weight loss. It seems I feel like I yo-yo the past several winters, and this one being no different. Am I packing on a built in winter coat??? I have no … [Read more...]
Ribs, Greek Style
What's for dinner? A highly requested main course in my house, ribs, GREEK style! It's finger lickin good and OH so easy. Ready? Here's what you need... Pork baby back ribs Olive Oil Fresh Lemon Jane's Crazy Mixed Up Salt Cavenders Garlic Powder I first season the underside, then flip it over and do the top, and stick it in the oven like this. I do not use oregano as most Greeks do for this particular recipe just because the … [Read more...]
Lose it.
Oh yeah. I need to lose it. I have gotten some junk in the trunk that I am needing to lose. And I'm bearing all and totally telling you this very personal thing for several reasons. In less than 30 days (actually tomorrow the high is 89, so tomorrow qualifies..) it will be time to reveal myself to the world (or my backyard and whoever is the unlucky one to be in my company) in a bathing suit. Now, let me preface this by saying I know I … [Read more...]
Strawberry Shortcake
It was time for my monthly networking luncheon today that I host at the hacienda. And being that I'm trying (keyword TRYING) so hard to stay on purpose with the healthy, low cal, low fat diet, I came up with a few healthy choices on the menu. One is my super easy "Sandra-Lee" style Strawberry Shortcake. I take a store bought angel food cake, some fresh strawberries, fat free cool whip and lemon yogurt. I wash the strawberries, … [Read more...]
My Simple Sweet Potato Fries
I LOVE LOVE sweet potato fries, and it makes me happy to know that they are also a healthier alternative than regular french fries made from regular potatoes (so that means I can eat more, right?? HA! I wish!). So I make these as a great side dish for our family dinners and they are super duper easy. All you need, is your sweet potatoes. Peel them and slice them pretty thin (not TOO thin, but not too thick either). Then I toss them in a … [Read more...]
Armed and Ready
This is one of my all time favorite sayings because it can apply to every aspect of our lives, but I love it when it comes to health and weight goals.... I shared this statement all the time with my Weight Watchers members when I was a leader and it's SO true. If you're not "armed and prepared" when hunger or meal time strikes, you can very easily eat something thats not as good of a choice because you're STARVING, you don't feel like … [Read more...]
Launching Honestly Margo
Today is a special day. I'm officially coming out with it. And I'm SO proud and excited.... Meet Margo! 12 year old dreamer, fun girl, driven, passionate, and entrepreneur. Margo is the creator and founder of Honestly Margo, a new beauty brand offering all natural lip balm. (cute video you might like by the way!) From a young girl, she has always been pursuing SOMETHING. What that SOMETHING was was yet to be discovered, at least until … [Read more...]
Healthy Fancy Snack
When I'm trying to be "health-concious" (that's a nice way of saying "on a diet" but I hate that phrase), it always makes me feel better mentally when I'm not "depriving" myself of goodness. I want to eat fancy foods, I want foods that don't taste like cardboard, I want foods with flavor and "curb appeal" if you will. Well, being the salt person that I am, and hors d'oeuvers person that I love, I whipped up this little number just for myself … [Read more...]
A Super Balance
Superbowl Sunday. Seriously, I think there are MORE people at the grocery store and preparing for this FEAST day then maybe Thanksgiving? Christmas? What do you think? I mean for REAL, it is like an official holiday when it comes to food and entertaining and parties. The SUPERBOWL is like a SUPER "BOWL" of you name it..... what ever comfort food, snack food, junk, all goooooood stuff you can think on. And libations, of course! Here is … [Read more...]
Commercial Time
I know there are LOTS of great hot shows we all are addicted to, and if we don't record them on the DVR and watch them live, then we have to go through all the commercial breaks. If you are short on time to get a workout in, but can manage to get in your BRAVO tv time, then here's a solution.... the TV Commercial Workout. Now, you don't have to do these EXACT exercises for those ads, but you get my drift. Maybe for one entire 3o minute … [Read more...]
Shake It Up
Here we are, the start of the week, going to get RE-focused. Right? From whatever damage we did this weekend, time to MANAGE the DAMAGE. Well the more we simplify our life (believe it or not, yes you heard this from moi!), the easier life gets and the more happy we are. Well same goes with meal planning and trying to shed a few pounds or maintaining a perfect weight. How about having something SUPER simple to fix, something that is … [Read more...]
Guacamole Sisterhood
I hardly ever talk about what I do for a job, but after tonight's meeting, I couldn't help but share what a great environment I'm in and a part of. Tonight I had the pleasure of getting together with the ladies that I work with. We've known each other for about 7 years are like family. The "feeling" of work is the farthest thing from our minds when we're together. Our "work" lifts us up and supports and nurtures. It's non-competitive, … [Read more...]
I resolve to…
Good morning all! Today is the first Monday of 2013. Monday's usually mean, "Today, I'm going to start ______." Right? And being the FIRST one of the year? Means really buckling down if you are setting resolutions for yourself. That is, IF you are setting resolutions ... you don't have to! The number one New Year's Resolution people make is to lose weight. And yet about 80% have failed by the end of January. Isn't that crazy? I will … [Read more...]
