I'm a little sick, but a lesson has been learned!

I am under the weather today. I woke up to the sound of my alarm having only slept 6 hours! (Why do I do this to myself??) As I drank my 2 cups of warm water with lemon, I felt so tired and sleepy...I thought I needed more sleep and I went back to bed...I woke up around 9am -- with a sore throat and a headache. I did not take any medicine. I refuse to put chemicals, drugs and toxins in my body.Food is the best medicine; and today I focused on eating well to help my body recuperate.

The whole day my body's been aching a little and the headache was throbbing whole day. I had little appetite and took a nap by 12pm. Bret's love and encouragement got me to go to the gym for a cardio and short shouler workout.

I had just enough energy to workout. I thought moderate exercise today was good making my weak cells push hard and pull energy anywhere they could. A stimulus for my help them change their state of being. Working out and not thinking for a few minutes that I am sick pushed them to different levels. It was a state of mind.

Stuff like this makes my body age! Now that I'm in my 30's I think most about the aging process and how I want to age wisely. I want to be wise about the choices I make to have a healthy lifestyle and age well. With that said, I am going to bed now. Good night!

Love,

Bea

At Esther's and Cheng's Wedding

 

"All you need is Love." He is all I need. 

Saturday, June 23, 2012

 

Our wedding is 27 days away! In four weeks today, we will be in Yosemite! That morning I'll wake up early, for for a jog and have a blasting workout!

An in preparation for that special day, I have many things to do! I was very stressed a couple of weeks ago (and I still am, but) I've re-assessed my priorities, and my wedding is first. I'll be marrying my partner, my best friend , my lover: the most important person in my life. Other things in my life are in the backburner, but it doesn't mean they are not important. Since my wedding is a few days away, I decided to enjoy planning the little things about it, and patiently wait for that day.

Of course, I still need to be on top of my responsibilities, like working 2 part-time jobs and doing my best in both. I've been studying my statistics book little by little and need to complete a draft by mid-July. But the thesis itself, has less priority right now. (I'll write about that later.)

I am excited today to have lots of fun things to do!

1. I work our Sanos y Fuertes: Healthy and Strong intervention with 10 Latino parents in Paramount. I'm teaching the Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Parental Role Modeling sections of the curriculum.
2. Bret and I are going to his co-worker's, Esther's wedding! She kindly offered to be our wedding photographer! 
3. After the wedding, we'll be driving from Moorpark through the 101 freeway passing by Woodland Hills, where my sister Laura lives. My parents are baby sitting her kids this weekend, so I'll get to see them and the kids!
4. I get to pick up her wedding gown, try it on and bring it home! This is what my wedding dress will sort of look like, I love it! ---------------------->>>

Today will be a great day! I just need to jump in the shower, get ready and drink a green smoothie (for breakfast) to fuel me! I hope the smoothie makes me feel better. Honestly, I feel a little tired, I think I needed more sleep :( Oh well. I need to be my best today. Two cups of coffee will do :)

Love,

           Bea

Vegan Sandwich Au Jus & Orange and Mango Kale Salad

As I was driving home this evening, I realized that Bret and I did not discuss what we'd have for dinner, so I called him.

Bea: "Hey, babe, how are you?"

Bret: "I'm fine, babe, how are you?"

Bea: "Good. I'll be there in a  few minutes. What shall we have for dinner tonight?"

Bret: "Oh, I'm already making it."

Bea: "Really? Oh wow, what is it?!"

Bret: "You'll see , it's a surprise!"

Bret always does and/or says something that amazes me. What a lucky woman I feel to have a man in my life who will surprise me when I get home having a warm dinner for me....I told him, "You know what? My husband to be is amazing."

Can I just say I have an awesome fiance? This is what he made for dinner tonight: 

Vegan Sandwich Au Jus &Orange and Mango Kale Salad

 

I told Bret that some veggies were missing and he said, "No, we have kale."

Bea: "That's a leafy green."

Bret: (Pointing at the cabbage) 

Bea: "That's a leafy green, too."

Bret: "Tomato, avocado!"

Yup, he was right, those are veggies, but we needed some green veggies. Truth is that we did not have any. (It's Friday night and by this time of the week we are out of food. Tomorrow is grocery shopping day.) I also didn't make huge deal because Bret was so sweet enough to prepare dinner, so I did not complain and thanked him instead.

The Au Jus we had was just a little of Bragg's Amino Acids, but we found that it's too salty. Bragg's Amino Acids are better used in cooking or massaging raw kale, not really as a Au Jus, FYI. 

What was in our sandwich? 

(1 serving)

2 slices of Ezekiel Low Sodium bread

4 slices of Tofurkey

2 curly cabbage leaves

1/2 roma tomato

1/2 avocado

Yummy!

So this was my dinner tonight! Love it, but I mostly loved the person who made it.

Love,

Bea

Quinoa and Kale Salad Recipe

A friend of mine asked me for my quinoa and kale salad recipe. I was so happy she's going to make it! Kale and quinoa are some of the world's healthiest foods! Here it is, enjoy!

Quinoa and Kale Salad

(serves 4)

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and toasted
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¼  teaspoon sea salt
• 2 cups water
• 1 bunch fresh kale, cut into bite size pieces
• ¼ raw sunflower seeds (or nuts, chopped fruit, etc.) – to be used last

Dressing:

• Juice of 1 lemon or lime
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon agave syrup or honey
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• As much black pepper as you desire
• Add all ingredients and whisk together

Cooking the quinoa:

1.     On a hot pan heat coconut oil for 30 seconds or until melted

2.     Add the minced 3 medium garlic cloves and cook for 30 more seconds

3.     Stir in the quinoa and toast for about 1 minute

4.     Add the turmeric and salt

5.     Add the water and bring to a boil, then bring down the heat and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes.

6.     Remove from heat and let it cool for 10 minutes

Preparing the kale:

1.     Wash the kale well and pull leaves away from the stem

2.     Cut the leaves into bite size or small pieces

3.     Add 2 teaspoons of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (http://bragg.com/products/la.html). This will make the kale easier to chew and digest – at the same time it adds some taste close to being salty but with the high sodium.

4.     Massage the Aminos into the kale and give it lots of love J

5.     Let it sit for a few minutes and you will notice that the kale will shrink to half its original size. 

Quinoa and Kale Salad:

Toss quinoa and kale together; add the dressing and top with seeds/nuts. Enjoy!

Love,

Bea