Today is the one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Guess where I am?

At the airport baby!

Partaking in the delays, lines, attitudes, and horrible east coast weather.

I really don't mind days like this. I love adventures, I love meeting new people and I love to travel, I'm 3 for 3 right now. The weird thing is I'm flying from Washington DC to Cleveland Ohio, it should be an hour and a half flight, but what it should be and what it is doesn't matchup at all.

There was a mechanical plane delay in DC which made me miss my connecting flight in Philadelphia. When I checked in with the flight desk I was told my connecting flight in Philadelphia was already canceled, and I was rebooked on a flight at 6:15pm. That turned a 3 hour travel day into a 7 hour travel day. Good thing I'm a positive person. I giggled when she told me, I think the lady was ready for me to go bat shit crazy on her; but that's not my style. Instead I'm spending my extra time reading, studying, blogging and eating.

I know thanksgiving is tomorrow, but I getting started today. It's nearly impossible for me to eat healthy on travel days. Especially when I'm traveling alone, no one is here to judge me or keep me in line. So far I'm keeping it mild, but that could change any minute.

I started my day off with my regular unsweetened, unflavored oatmeal with flaxseeds. As soon as I arrived at the airport I ordered a classic breakfast that consisted of eggs, potatoes, toast (of course I declined the meat product that usually comes with the meal). I happily devoured the scrambled eggs and avoided the over fried tasteless potatoes, and soggy toast. To finish off my eating adventure I ate half of a mini Cinnabon. I used to love Cinnabon, but this one was slightly disappointing. I wasn't surprised, food that I used to go crazy for doesn't really satisfy me anymore.

As soon as we landed in Philadelphia, 2 hours behind schedule, I promptly found a restaurant that I could get comfortable and waste a few hours. The plan is to eat enough to fill me for the rest of the night, since I'm arriving in Ohio so late, and I know it will be almost impossible to find a salad that my body will most defiantly be craving. The first round was a yummy chopped salad with arugula, apples, toasted pumpkin seeds and feta cheese, dressing on the side, of course with a nice big mug of hot chocolate.

All in all my travel day has been pretty cool. I love blogging and it's pretty time consuming, so I get to waste another hour and a half.

Alrighty enough about my travel day...

Let's Talk Healthy Thanksgiving Eating Tips

It's easy and familiar to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of all the delicious and decadent holiday foods.

How do you enjoy yourself without completely killing your diet.

I hope these tips are helpful

Dark meat is ok

dark meat has slightly more calories than white meat, but it also has more vitamins and minerals. Cut the calories by avoiding the skin... If you can

Go easy on the gravy

Roasted turkey is a smart bet for the holidays, just don't get carried away with the gravy. It'll cost you about 20 calories per ounce. OUCH

High-Cal Calorie Casserole Alert

The base of these casseroles contains vitamin packed green beans that are smothered with cheese, cream and butter. Cut 50 calories by avoiding those yummy fried onions

Take control of the Mac and cheese

It's hard to avoid this gooey dish, but with several types of cheese, milk, and sometimes breadcrumbs, it's a complete diet fail. If you do indulge just take a small spoonful

Eat breakfast

Thanksgiving dinner is usually eaten in the afternoon, it's common to forget about breakfast since the threat of a massive meal is a sure thing. To battle the urge to fill your thanksgiving plate over and over again, make sure to eat breakfast.

* I suggest oatmeal since it expands in your stomach and keeps you fuller longer

All in all tomorrow is turkey day, you will probably over endulge and that's ok. This is the one day out of the year where that is ok. We wait for this day all year. Enjoy the day, eat to your hearts content, and be ready to sweat it off in the next few days.

Blessings friends

Mary

 

 

Hello All!!

Sorry I haven't been posting as regularly as I usually do, but I've been traveling, and weirdly internet access hasn't been available. So you guys get two blog postings today.

Let talk Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Fresh Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds fresh green beans trimmed

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon dry ranch salad dressing mix

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

1-1/2 cups fat-free milk

nonstick cooking spray

1 cup chopped onions

2 cloves garlic minced

1-1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1 cup soft whole wheat or white bread crumbs (1-1/3 sliced bread)

Directions

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

-In a covered saucepan, cook green beans in a small amount of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes or until crispy-tender, drain and set aside

Meanwhile for white sauce

-In a medium saucepan, melt butter, stir in flour, dry dressing mix, and white pepper until combined.

-Stir in milk, cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly; remove from heat

-Coat an unheated medium nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat over medium heat.

-Add onion and garlic, cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Remove half of the onion mixture, set aside

-Add mushrooms to skillet and cook about 5 minutes or until tender. In a 1-1/2 quart casserole, combine mushrooms mixture, beans, and white sauce.

-In a small bowl, stir together reserved onion mixture and bread crumbs. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over bean mixture over bean mixture in casserole. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Makes 10 (1/2 cup) side-dish servings

Nutrition Information

Per Serving: 107 calories, 3g fat, 1g saturated fat, 7mg cholesterol, 14g fiber, 3g protein, 4mg sodium, 1.5 carbs,

http://www.recipe.com/fresh-green-bean-casserole/

Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free Low Fat

Apple Cider Gravy

Ingredients

1 cup vegetable broth

1 cup apple cider

2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Pinch pepper, salt and seasoning, optional

Directions

-In a saucepan combine the broth, cider, cornstarch, and pepper and turn heat to medium-high

-Bing to a boil whisking continuously for 2 minutes. Taste and season with salt and/or your favorite Holiday flavors

A mouth-full of a title, but all true, no butter, no pan drippings, no sugar added, a true vegetarian broth gravy recipe.

Don't worry, there is plenty of flavor my friends!

Try it and see! To make it really special, look for Clyde's Cider to get the freshens most authentic apple cider I could find.

http://www.savoringthethyme.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-recipe-vegan-

vegetarian-gluten-free-low-fat-apple-cider-gravy/

Spiced Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

3lbs sweet potatoes

1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoon orange juice concentrate

2-2/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 large eggs

1/4 chopped pecans

Direction

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Pierce potatoes with a fork; arranging potatoes after 8 minutes

-Let stand 5 minutes

-Cut each potato in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp into a large bowl

-Discard skins

-Add sugar and next 5 ingredients (sugar through nutmeg) and neat with a mixer at low speed until combined

-Add eggs, beat until smooth

-Spoon mixture into a 1-1/2 quart caking dish, sprinkle with pecans

-Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until thoroughly heated

Nutrition Facts

170 Calories, 40 calories from fat, 4g fat, 2g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 10mg Cholesterol, 240mg Sodium, 460mg Potassium, 33g Carbohydrate, 4g dietary fiber, 12g sugar, 3g Protein, 350% Vitamin A, 15% Vitamin C, 6% Calcium, 8% Iron

http://www.food.com/recipe/spiced-sweet-potato-casserole-41988

Stuff It!

"Stuffing has long been a staple of Turkey Day meals. Traditional 

stuffing is a dish made from crusty bread(or a packaged mix) veggies,

eggs, and aFREAKISH amount of butter. Most recipes call for an entire 

stick of it! The result is a 1-cup serving that contains close to 20 

fat grams. Yikes! And as tasty as this stuff maybe, there'sno WAY 

we'd waste all those fat grams on glorified bread. Save the day with 

this version instead."

Indredients

6 slices Wonder Light Bread any variety (or another light bread)

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped mushrooms

1 cup fat-free broth, chicken or vegetable at room temperature

1/4 cup Egg Beaters, Original

1 tablespoon LAND O LAKES Whipped

Light Butter

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme

Directions:

-For best results, leave bread uncovered for a night or two, until 

slightly

stale

-Otherwise begin by lightly toasting bread

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees

-Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes

-In medium-sized pot, combine broth, celery and onion

-Cook for 8 minutes at medium heat

-Remove for heat and add mushrooms and garlic

-Season mixture to taste to taste with salt, peper, rosemary and 

thyme

-Spray and place bread cubes in it

-Once veggie-broth mixure has cooled slightly, add Egg Beaters and 

butter

-Pour mixture evenly on top of bread. Mix gently with a fork. Bread 

cubes should

be moist, but not saturated

-If necessary, add 1-2 tablespoons of water. Cover with foil and 

cook for 20

minutes

-Remove foil and fluff/rearrange stuffing. Return to oven (uncovered)

 for 10-15 minutes, or until top is golden brown

Serves 5

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 cup

Calories: 88

Fat: 1.5g

Sodium: 305mg

Carbs: 16g

Fiber: 4g

Sugars: 4g

Protein: 7g

**Nutritionals may vary depending on the bread you use.

Fifty percent of American say they put their Thanksgiving Day stuffing inside the bird, while fifty percent perfer cooking it on the side

http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/643

These mini sweet potato pies are perfect for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

2 cups mashed sweet poatoes (approx. 3 large sweet potatoes)

1 tsp ciinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1 tspvanilla

1/4 cup butter room temp

2 egs, 3 egg whites

1 cup low fat milk (or whole milk if you want it to be thicker)

1-1/4 cups sugar

Mini Marshmellow

Directions

-Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

-Wash your 3 large sweet potatoes & while damp wrap in foil & bake 

sweet potatoes for 1 hour until fork tender

-Remove skin and mash in bowl. you will only need 2 cups of this

-Pour batter in muffin tins lined with paper liners. Bake in oven for 

20 minutes or until not lumpy

-Turn oven to broil, immediatly place mini marshmallows all over the 

tops of the sweet potato pies

-Place in oven under broiler for 30 seconds until tops of marshmallows 

aregolden brown.

**This literally takes 30 seconds so watch carefully or the will all 

burn!

http://www.lilyshop.com/mini-low-fat-sweet-potato-pies

Low-Fat Sweet Potato Pie

Ingredients

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

4 egg whites

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

2 cups canned pumpkin, about 2 cups

1-2/3 cups fat-free sweetened condensed milk

1/2 tsp salt

1 (9-inch) frozen pastry shell

Direction

-Preheat oven to 425 degrees

-Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, except pastry shell

-Mix well and pour into pastry shell, bake 15 minutes, reduce oven 

temp to 350 degrees F.

-Bake 35-40 minutes more, or until knife inserted 1in from edge comes 

out clean

Nutrition Facts

130 calories, 6.3g saturated fat, 0.8g Poly-unsaturated fats, 

0mg cholesterol,

15g carbs, 2.3g dietary fiber, 2.1g sugar, 3.8g Protein

http://freehealthandwellness.com/lowfat-pumpkin-pie-recipe/

Enjoy all thse recipes. I plan on trying all of them.

Let me know how it turns out!

Blessings!

Mary

 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Yesterday was my birthday and it was one of the best birthdays ever. Before we dive into it, let go back to Tuesday. This year I wanted to do something different. Instead of throwing a party, gathering my friends for a bowling tournament, or planing a grand dinner, I decided to spend all that time, money, and effort on myself.

I woke up on Tuesday and did something I never do, instead of rushing out of bed and heading straight to the gym, I slept in and relaxed. My first pamper appointment was at 12:15pm. I made my way to Zaza Modern Nail Solan and proceed to get the best manicure and pedicure I've ever had.

www.zazanailspa.com

It was also the most expensive Mani-Pedi I've ever had, but in the end, it was 1000% worth it. I tried shellac gel nails for the first time. Now that I've come over to the dark side, I don't know what took me so long to convert. Not only do these nails last up to 14 days, withouto damaging your nails, they also look flawless, shiny, polished and refined.

Check me out!

Hot paraffin wax treatments soften hands and feet while restoring moisture and drawingout impurities. This was a $15 upgrade and worth every penny.

I love my nails. They are so glossy and smooth, I'm hooked on Shellic nails now, there is no going back.

Next Stop...

Next was a Triple Oxygen Facial at Bliss spa, in The W Hotel. I've always wanted an oxygen facial, they are supposed to take 5-10 years off of your apperance. What a perfect 31st birthday gift, making myself look as young as possible.

"The Facial that made us famous, this classic radiance reviver includes a target peel, an energizing enzyme pack and threee forms of skin brightening oxygen, including an oxygen wrap and vitaminized O2 spray. It's like a breath of fresh air for your face-litterally"

The Facial did not dissapoint. I felt pampered and special all at the same time. I also added a tight and toned wrap to my adominal area.

"Tight on target

Give your treatment a bluge-battling boost with a seaweed tast mask that pinpoints your pudgier parts (choops hips and thights, torso or arms), plus a slathring of three slimming creams"

I enjoyed all of my treatments to the fullest. My skin is now smooth, glowing, and stubble, and my nails are flawless. What more could the birthday girl want?

Bliss had an riduclous spread laid out in the womans waiting room. I snacked on gluten free brownies, smoked guoda and sharp chedder cheese, and sipped on hot tea after my 75 minute treatment. I felt like the Queen of Sheba when I left Bliss.

www.blissspa.com

After my facial I was supposed to get sugar waxed, but decided I'd spent enough money for the day. I went shopping at Westfield mall in downtown San Francisco instead. I picked up my favoirte lotions and body wash sets from Bath and Body works. I also purchased a few new shirts that I desperately needed from my favoirte store.

I made it an easy night, grabbing a salad and some patatas bravas from Bocadillos, a great tapas spot in the financial district and called it a night.

www.bocasf.com

I woke up on Wedesday excited to be that much closer to the big day. I completed a quick cardio session and got a thai message at Kinnaree in Mill Valley. I've been going to Kinnaree for the last 2 years and they always make my body feel like a million bucks. The massage is only a dollar a minute, you can't beat that deal.

I promplty came home and packed for an overnight getaway to Saint Helena, about 15 minutes outside of Napa. I planned the pamper part of my birhtday, and my boyfriend planed the traveling part. He did a outstanding job.

We staid at the Harvest Inn, the best hotel the Napa area. Each room is equipped with its own fireplace, we had a jacuzzi overlooking the vineyard.

www.harvestinn.com

Somebody loves his Mary!!!

On the way to Saint Helena

 

Check out the room. Super duper Sweet.

Birthday outfit

Who knew 31 would look this good. I know I didn't

We went to Farmstead for dinner, one of the best restaurants in Saint Helena

The next day we slept in then went to Cindy's for lunch, a local institution for Home Cooked food. After lunch and some shopping at the Napa Outlets then came back to the Bay Area and had some sushi for dinner.