"Happy Christmas" (War is Over)

So this is Christmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas

I hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Christmas

For weak and for strong

For rich and the poor ones

The world is so wrong

And so happy Christmas

For black and for white

For yellow and red ones

Let's stop all the fight

A very merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Christmas

And what have we done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas

I hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very merry Christmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

War is over over

If you want it

War is over

Now......

John Lennon & Yoko Ono, October 1971

Until Next Time.......

Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Good Health to All!!!

Christmas Date Pudding with Kentucky Bourbon Sauce

Do you want something with an off the hook “YUM-O factor?” Something VERY sweet... VERY sinful and decadent? Something special with a VERY HIGH “WOW-factor” to impress the family or friends Christmas Eve or for Christmas dinner? Well... this is it! Let me warn you... IT IS SWEET...SWEET..SWEET! Yummy Sweet!!

I took this traditional bread pudding that my Mom used to make and modified it for us Vegans and Vegetarians..... But let me warn all you meat eaters... this will rock your world, too!!

Traditionally this pudding, as well as other bread puddings, is made with eggs, butter, cream and white sugar. So, with a few changes here and there......tah dah..... I came up with this little holiday delight. I did manage to keep the most important ingredient..... the Kentucky Bourbon... there is NO sub for that!

Ok..ok... had some emails regarding my use of "fake" eggs... and if you have followed my blog or if you know me... I don't favor anything fake or processed.... including tofu, but, for this.... egg sub was the best thing that I came up with that would work.

As Always... I DO Organic as much as possible.

I hope you enjoy it!

CHRISTMAS DATE PUDDING
3/4 c. Agave or Brown Molasses
3/4 c. Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 c. Oat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 T. Mexican cinnamon
1/2 c. chopped dates
½ c. dried cranberries
3/4 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
1 c. brown sugar
1 T.Coconut Oil
1 T. Mexican vanilla
1 c. boiling water

Mix flour, baking powder & cinnamon with Agave or molasses and milk. Add dates, dried cranberries and nuts. Pour this mixture into either a greased 9" square pan or into little individual pudding dishes....Ok, just thought of the name for these little guys...Ramekins. Then combine brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla and boiling water and carefully pour over batter mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. A little less time for the individual pans. Keep an eye on them and test for doneness with toothpick Turn off heat and leave in oven for 8 to 15 more minutes.

Dip out bread onto dessert dish and drizzle with Kentucky Bourbon sauce. Or, if baking in dessert bowls, drizzle sauce over each bowl.


KENTUCKY BOURBON SAUCE
¼ cup Coconut Oil (preferably flavored)
1 c. Agave
1/4 c. water
¼ c. Egg substitute
2 T. to 1/4 c. Kentucky bourbon whiskey
In a medium-size saucepan over LOW heat add coconut oil, agave and egg substitute whisking to blend well. Cook, STIRRING CONSTANTLY, until mixture thickens.

Until Next Time......

Wishing You a Very Peaceful, Safe and Healthy Christmas Eve!

Bless the Beasts and the Children Event... A Success!

Saturday the 12th of December the Vision Voice Veg*n’z for the Brazos Valley hosted the 1st annual Bless the Beasts and the Children holiday donation drive thru. The event was held in the parking lot of VILLAGE FOODS. JIM LEWIS, owner, so graciously allowed us to utilize a perfect spot for this drive thru endeavor.

The spot may have been perfect, but that is not the word to describe the horrible, rainy, misty, foggy, windy, cloudy, cold day. When I awoke at 4am that Saturday morning and heard the rain.... I knew it was going to be a very tough day. Hubby Bear and I arrived around 6:30am to start setting up. We had 3 tents donated for use and I cannot tell you how very, very grateful I was for those tents. They sheltered the dedicated volunteers from the weather and kept the donated goods dry while waiting to load into the trucks.

To read all about the fun we all had, the great food we ate, and all the wonderful donations.... check out the blogsite.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Soups....ON!!

Hello first day of winter!!! I welcome you because the Texas summer of 2009 was HOT AS HELL!!!! 60 plus days of triple digit temps and 90 days of NO rain!!!

Cold weather always makes me want HOT soup, HOT oatmeal and HOT tea. This is the only reason I could never go 100% raw...... I gotta have HOT in the winter!

I just finished up a weekend of cooking up two of my favorite soups, Off the Hook Split Pea and Sweet Potato AND Humble Vegan Clam Chowder. Then I cooked up one of my favorite soup stocks, Garlic and Leek, to use as the base for future soups. And to finish all this off... I “crocked up” a big batch of garbanzo beans and saved the stock from the beans to use for future hot soups. All in all, I froze up 9 quarts to help get me thru December and January.

Check out my recipes for Off the Hook Split Pea and Sweet Potato soup and Humble Vegan Clam Chowder on my blogsite. I changed up the Split Pea and Sweet ‘Tator soup a little. Instead of the fresh dill and oregano, I added LOTS of curry and a "good size dash,” remember, I dig things HOT n SPICY, of cayenne. YUM-O!!!

The Garlic n Leek stock is just a change to my Humble Veggie Stock, in that I used a ton of leeks, you know those veggies that look like green onions on steroids! And I used a ton of garlic and no other vegetables, kept the thyme and added fresh rosemary. Another flavor-town winner for sure!!! Great for all soups, and to cook rice, beans, quinoa or pasta in.

Hope you are enjoying this first day of winter and can have some of your favorite soups to help keep you warm and comfy!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Holiday Dinners

FINALLY! This part of Texas is seeing some sunshine after endless days of none. YAY!!!

I know it has been a whole week since my last post. I have been buried, swamped, overwhelmed, and over extended..... as all of us are this time of year.... with holiday parties & dinners, decorating, cooking and preparing for house guests during the next couple of weeks.

I finally have all of the pictures gathered up that were snapped from last Saturday’s Bless the Beasts and the Children event. I am working to put that blog together and will post it soon.

We are in full swing of holiday celebrations and gatherings......all complete with glorious buffets and settings of fabulous food and drink. In some ways, those buffets are easier to maneuver (see my blogs on Making it Thru the Holiday.... and Oh Those Holiday Parties that can be helpful) then the holiday family dinners that you may be facing over the next week or so. A lot can be useful in my past 2 blogs about making it thru the holidays and applied to the holiday dinners.

The thing about these dinners..... they are usually sit down, formal or not. Where food is passed from person to person.... and you may not have a lot of choices. Everything will be delicious, fattening, and overwhelming. So, in addition to taking a few dishes of your own that you know are healthful and will make less of an impact on your caloric bank, taking your own teaspoon for little bite servings, and not showing up to these dinners hungry... here are a few more helpful hints on how to make it thru those holiday dinners without increasing your pudge factor!

TWO STRATEGIES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS

A. Toss all sanity aside & just pig out. Not a wise choice. You WILL be sorry & feel nothing but regret, bloating, enormous guilt, & tighter pants

B. The smartest choice: One hour before your party/meal, eat a large vegetable salad or a peanut butter and banana sandwich, bowl of soup or a piece of fruit.

When seated and ready to start passing the food, try and start out by filling your plate with raw veggies. Then steamed or baked or grilled or roasted veggies. Then beans and or rice if served. Add 2 to 3 oz serving of animal flesh. (If not veg*n ...i.e vegan or vegetarian,) then a small serving (teaspoon size) of traditional foods (dressing, yams, gravy, cranberry salad, mashed potatoes..etc…)These foods will have TONS of sugar, fat, sodium and calories… so go easy. Try and limit your serving to one.

Dessert is next on the agenda. Be careful: don’t inhale everything in site. At this point, you should feel full & satisfied, so choose ONE medium sized serving of ONE dessert (about the size of a ½ deck of cards) …or use your teaspoon and choose a very small bite of each favorite dessert.

As a personal fitness trainer for many.. many years... I have seen tons of clients suffer thru each holiday season. This is the hardest and most difficult time of year for them... more so then any other time of year. One of the reasons? WE ALL LOVE TO EAT! And boy the food choices during the holidays are endless and have a very high “YUM-O” factor, for sure!!! Very hard to resist.


If you follow these guidelines, you won’t see that belly pudge the next day and regret what you ate today. And... you’ll be ready to hit the gym, the park, or the track that next morning!





Until Next Time.....


GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Bless the Beasts and the Children Today, Saturday the 12th 2009

VISION VOICE VEG*N’z for the Brazos Valley is hosting Bless the Beasts and the Children holiday donation drive thru in the parking lot of Village Foods, 1716 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan, around the corner from Bryan High School. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Today, the 12th of December. You can drop off donated items and people will be there to unload them.

Bless the Beasts and the Children benefits these great organizations:

BRAZOS FERAL CAT ALLIES

GOD’S LITTLE CREATURES

GREAT PYRENEES RESCUE SOCIETY

IMPACT ANIMAL FOUNDATION

SCOTTY’S HOUSE

Here is a wish list for each organization:

* Brazos Feral Cat Allies -- Wet and dry cat food and kitten food, kitty litter and money for medical supplies and care for the foster and feral cats.

* God's Little Creatures -- Stainless steel feeding and water bowls, puppy feed pans, new or gently used blankets and towels, dog food and money for a new bath house.

* Great Pyrenees Rescue Society -- extra-large wire crates and dog beds; dog treats; adjustable collars and leashes; a portable, retractable tent; and money for vaccinations, spaying and neutering, medicine and surgeries for sick Pyrenees.

* Impact Animal Foundation -- New or used crates and kennels in good condition, cat and dog treats and toys, kitty litter, carpet cleaner, paper towels, cat "trees" and scratching posts, and leashes.

* Scotty's House -- individual juice drinks; snacks; coloring books; tempera and finger paints; bandages; alcohol swabs; basic office supplies such as folders, pens and pencils; socks and underwear for boys and girls; action figures; Play Station games; and money for medical supplies.

Our AWESOME Sponsors for this event:

VILLAGE FOODS

COPY STOP PRINT AND POSTAL

LITTLE CAESERS PIZZA

VILLAGE CAFE

GOBBLE GREEN

BRAZOS NATURAL FOODS

Thank you for helping children and animals in need.

Until Next Time....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

Oh.. Those Christmas Parties

Dips, chips, Hors d'œuvres, queso, salsa, Swedish meatballs, wings, cheese and crackers, cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, Christmas cookies, pastries, pies and cakes....... and beer, wine, cocktails, soda... and on and on and on..... The selections are endless!! And so is the F A T that you can gain during this holiday season.

Ah... the office holiday party...and those cozy, warm holiday evening cocktail parties... a chance to kick back and dive right into that buffet and open bar...pork down several plates of food and guzzle down too many drinks. It's like you give yourself a license to just let it all go. Just the stress and rush and crunch of the season can make you want to take solace in food and drink. Be careful.. you can do more damage then you want to spend time, energy and sweat trying to undo.

Between Halloween and January 2nd... a person can gain up to 15 to 18 pounds! You know how it goes... buying candy for the kids or the trick or theaters or for the office and you just happen to have bought a few more bags then needed..... And where were they? At home... very handy to get to. So you finished off all the candy and before you know it..... it’s Thanksgiving holidays. Food.. and more food... and now, here we are in the midst of the start of Christmas holiday season. A cup of good cheer....deck the halls....fa la la..la..AaaH!

Ok, so here’s some hints on how to survive those parties. The best thing I’ve found to do is... bring a couple of dishes that YOU like and that you know are healthy and won’t break your caloric bank! Yesterday, I posted about surviving the holidays and not increasing your pudge factor. Ya might want to take a look at that before you read further.

When I go to these parties, if I think there might be some food there that I could eat (as a strict Vegan, usually there is not so much for me,) but just in case, I always take my own teaspoon with me. And this is what I use as a portion size.... literally.....”just a taste.” I use the salad plate for my food and I eat very slowly.

Remembering that alcohol is VERY high in sugar and calories.... a glass of wine or beer anywhere from 85 to 150 calories per serving. A cocktail from 100 up depending on what you put in it. A frozen rita.... well that will cost you as much as 150 to 250. And watch out for those creamy dreamy drinks... a whopping 365 per drink! YIKES!!!!

The best way to drink alcohol and avoid more calories then you need... is to spread your drinking out over the evening. Have one regular drink... then, for your drinks there after..have some seltzer or club soda (tonic water has high fructose corn syrup.. not a wise choice!) with lime or lemon and a sprig of mint. This looks festive and gives you the feeling that you are enjoying “a drink” with everyone else. You can also, have a wine spritzer. This is a shot of your fave wine with seltzer, garnish with a cherry or lemon or lime.

Try these easy to fix dishes to bring to any party:

*Garbanzo-Garlic Hummus with crackers

*Black Bean-Corn-Jalapeño Pico with Blue Corn Chips

3 cups of black beans (no salt or fat added)

1 cup frozen or fresh corn

Chopped Jalapeno to your taste

1 cup fresh chopped mango or pineapple

1/2 cup chopped red bell

chopped red onion is great... but maybe not for the party scene LOL!

Mix all together and chill for a couple of hours

*Horseradish Hummus/Tabouli Tortilla Roll ups

Use my Garbanzo-garlic hummus and add REAL horseradish (NOT horseradish cream) in place of the garlic. Use your own taste discretion!

Use my Tabouli recipe

Ok, now take flour tortillas and spread them with the hummus. Spread the Tabouli on top of the hummus. Roll up the tortillas and slice rolls into 1/2 inch slices. Serve chilled This is really good and tickles the taste buds with the hot spicy horseradish, the sour from the lemon in the tabouli and the fresh mint flavor from the tabouli.

Ya better make up extra... cuz these 3 items are always a big hit at parties!

Now you know how to drink and eat at these social gatherings. Enjoy them, knowing you can keep your pudge factor under control!

Until Next time....When I'll get you thru the family holiday dinners.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Making it Thru the Holidays & NOT Adding to Your Pudge Factor

WOW!! Another Holiday season is here. This has been a fast and busy year for sure. Each year MILLIONS of people say "January 1st, I am going to start a healthy lifestyle, lose X amount of weight, start exercising, and eat "better.""

Why wait till then? Here are a few hints and some guidelines to keep you from piling on the pounds as you pick up that plate and pile on the food.

How will YOU choose to maintain control of your good habits during the holidays? Looking back at my blog, "Are You Ready," will offer some assistance on ideas for gifts and managing your budget.....which is usually a major stressor for the holidays. Remember: Not only are the holidays fun-filled & exciting; but also, they are stress-filled & exhausting! Sleep & rest are minimal & are very precious commodities at this time. To maintain healthy habits, plan ahead, don’t get trapped in a corner.

if you fail to plan....... you plan to fail!

During these holidays, try and maintain your weight. Don’t stress over counting calories or trying to lose weight. Have a small bite of your favorite high calorie foods and enjoy this opportunity to cheat a little. BUT.... watch your portion sizes!!! Keep them small.. the size of a bar of soap or deck of cards.

The MOST important nutritional habits to maintain:
1. EAT BREAKFAST EVERY DAY
2. DRINK 2 LITERS OF WATER DAILY
3. KEEP A SNACK MIX WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES
Snack mix: raw almonds, raw walnuts, raw pecans, raisins, unsweetened coconut and unsweetened chocolate.
4. GET AT LEAST 6 HOURS OF SLEEP EACH NIGHT

These 4 ideas can save you from over indulging during the holiday parties/dinner(s)!

The MOST important fitness habit to maintain:
1. DAILY CARDIO for 30 minutes @ a high rate of intensity See my 30 minute Fat Melt Muscle Building workout or fast walking, jogging, swimming, treadmill, elliptical. (walks in the neighborhood, beach, or the park do NOT count)

Don’t let your cardio slide. Once you break this habit, it is THE most difficult to cultivate again. It is like starting from the beginning. Remember how difficult cardio was & how much your quads & butt hurt when you first started?

By eating breakfast, drinking water, & doing your cardio DAILY, you will be amazed how well you will sleep. And when you sleep….. your stress hormones are controlled. The more stress hormones controlled, the less likely you will fall prey to emotional eating, thus increasing that "pudge factor."

DO NOT GO TO HOLIDAY PARTIES/MEALS HUNGRY!
YOU’VE JUST LOST YOUR CONTROL & have set yourself up for FAILURE!

Have a salad, bowl of soup, piece of fruit, or smoothie before you head out. If your tummy is already full, you won't eat as much.

So, go... enjoy yourself knowing you armed with the ammunition you need to maintain control!

Tomorrow’s blog....hints on making it thru the Holiday office party.

Until Next Time......

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Curry Ginger Rice with Raisins & Pine Nuts

Hmmm, after grazing on my Vegan Clam Chowder and my Yam and Split Pea soups the past 10 days or so, I was ready for something a little different. I am pretty muchily 80% raw in the summer...maybe a little more then that cuz I don’t like cooking in the LONG HOT Texas summers. But when things finally cool down in DECEMBER..... I really enjoy cooking up some nice warm comfort foods.

I don’t eat a lot of grains, but I just had this craving for some rice... not just rice in another stir fry or rice with beans... and not just “blah brown rice.” But something different. I cook with SPICES.... lots and lots of SPICES!!! I LOVE SPICES!!! .... ok.. we get it. But the possibilities are endless. Why people rely on salt to “enhance” flavor is beyond me.... how DULL and B O R I N G!!!

I played around with this dish and it is full of flavor and aroma. You walk in the house and you know something different is a cookin’ in the kitchen, for sure! Now the spices in this dish need to be monitored by your own taste buds.... mine? Well the hotter the better, baby!

Ok, let’s get started!

As Always... I DO as Much Organic As Possible!

This is what you will need:

Oven preheated at 350 degrees

Wild Rice
Black Rice
Basmati Rice

About one cup, cooked of each. Steamed in veggie stock and dished out in a baking dish

1 cup Mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 cup Red onions, thinly sliced
4 cloves or more Fresh garlic, chopped LOTS AND LOTS
1/3 cup Pine nuts
¾ cup Raisins
Veggie stock or filtered water

2 T. Green Curry paste
1 T. Ginger Root, thinly sliced
Dash of Ground Cinnamon
Dash (or more) of Cayenne Pepper..

I highly recommend you start with ½ the amount of these spices, taste, then add more if you like. Remember I LOVE spicy... HOT!!

Sliced Avocado
Chopped green onions

In a preheated HOT skillet add:
Chopped garlic (stir!)
Red onions
A dash of veggie stock or filtered water
STIR.. don’t let it stick
Now turn down the heat to simmer
Add mushrooms
½ cup or so of veggie stock or filtered water
Simmer for one minute
Remove from heat

Add:
Curry paste, stir
Ginger root, stir
Cinnamon, stir
Cayenne, stir

Pour this over rice and mix well. Mixture should be nice and moist but not juicy or runny. If it is too dry, add a bit more liquid.

Place in oven for about 20 to 30 minutes (keep an eye on it)

The last 3 minutes, add the raisins and the pine nuts, mix well.

Remove when time is up.

Garnish with sliced cado and green onions

This, and some LIGHTLY steamed asparagus, is what’s for dinner tonight!

Until Next Time.......

GOOD HEALTH ALL!!

30 Minute Fat Melt & Muscle Gain

Are you ready for this?

Ok, so it’s been a full week after the Thanksgiving weekend blowout. Did you get back on track last Monday? Did consume fewer calories each day then the 4 days of gluttony? Did you return to your daily work out program? Or did you just finish off the last of the dressing, sweet tators, pumpkin, apple, buttermilk, coconut cream pies and chocolate cake from last weekends holiday feast and say.... “I’ll start back "tomorrow"....?”

Well, put down that fork and get off your duff... cuz “tomorrow” is NOW, my friend!

You are now in a month that is filled with parties, social events, office gatherings, family get-to- gathers, "all day munch-a-thon" on goodies that are brought to work and lie waiting.. calling your name.. in the “office break room." See my blog on the scariest room at your work place. Before you know it... you are gonna munch, eat, drink, pork down, and feed your way to an extra 3 to 12 lbs during this month of December!! (that can be as much as one pant or dress size, folks!)

HOLY COW!!! That is scary! Have no fear. Cuz this week I am going to give you some tips on how to survive the holidays, starting with a grueling 30 minute work out.... that if you will do it everyday, you can pretty muchly eat whatever you like. YAY!!! YOU like the sound of that, right? Ok, then let’s get started!

30 MINUTE FAT MELT AND MUSCLE GAIN

As always, if you have health issues, are deconditioned, have not worked out in awhile or lead a sedentary life check with your doctor before starting any exercise program

*4 to 5 times (or more) weekly. Keep in mind the more you do this work out... the faster results!! *GOAL: shoot for NO REST, if you must take a break... 10 SECONDS only. You've only got 30 minutes... get the most from it!
*designed to build muscle and burn fat together for the full 30 minutes, thus no need to do a separate weight and cardio program
*takes the place for HOURS of exercises!
*there are (3) separate circuits, 10 minutes each 30 MINUTES TOTAL
*You will succeed ONLY if you follow the directions.... DONT CHEAT.... DO the WHOLE 30 minutes 4 to 5 times (or more) weekly
*You will need two 3 lb hand weights, two 5 lb hand weights and two 8 lb hand weights, jump rope and one floor mat
*It would be helpful if you had a watch with a second hand for timing
*SUCK IN THAT GUT.... AND SQUEEZE THOSE BUTT CHEEKS TIGHT TOGETHER!


CIRCUIT ONE
-push ups 1:00
-squats (legs together or apart) w/ shoulder presses 1:00 (use 3 or 5 lb weights)
-push ups 1:00
-squats with shoulder presses 1:00
-jump jacks 1:00
-jump rope 1:00
-jump jacks 1:00
-jump rope 1:00
-basic crunches 1:00
-reverse crunches 1:00

TOTAL 10 MINUTES

CIRCUIT TWO
-Bent over two arm Dumbbell Rows (palms facing, pinch that scapula together tight) use 8 lb weights 1:00

-Static Lunge with bicep curls (alternate legs..be careful of knees... pain? don't lunge deep) 1:00 (Use 5 or 8 lb weights)
-Bent over two arm Dumbbell Rows (palms facing) use 8 lb weights 1:00
-Static Lunge with bicep curls (alternate legs) 1:00 (Use 5 or 8 lb weights)
-Butt Kicks (run in place, kick your butt) 1:00

-Sink down to a slight squat and PUNCH hard across the body alternating arms 1:00

-Knee ups (run in place with high knees) 1:00
-On the mat....knees bent, arms behind head and come up and crunch across the body.... arm pit aims for knee 1:00
-Do other side 1:00
-Reverse crunches 1:00

TOTAL 10 MINUTES

CIRCUIT THREE
-Lie flat on mat.... chest flyes. slight bend in elbows. Hands & arms over the chest 1:00 (use 5 or 8 lbs weights)

-Stand up, wide stance on floor, upright row (weights come up to eye level) with slight side lunge 1:00 (use 3 or 5 lb weights)
-Lie flat on mat.... chest flyes. slight bend in elbow and hands arms over the chest 1:00 (use 5 or 8 lbs weights)
-Stand up, wide stance on floor, upright row (weights come up to eye level) with slight side lunge 1:00 (use 3 or 5 lb weights)
-Jump jacks 1:00
-Butt kicks 1:00
-Slight squat with punches 1:00
-Jump rope 1:00
-Bicycle crunches 1:00
-Oblique twists 1:00

TOTAL 10 MINUTES

Did ya do it? Ok, hit the shower and go for it again tomorrow!

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

KAMU TV Pledge Night with Us Vegans and Vegetarians

This past Wednesday night our group, VISION VOICE VEG*N'Z for the Brazos Valley, was invited to man the pledge bank phones for our local PBS affiliate, KAMU TV. Located in a small community..... around 200,000 when the Texas A&M is in session and less then 150,000 when students leave....KAMU TV has been on the air since 1970. Along with KAMU FM, KAMU TV is located on the Texas A&M University campus in the Joe Hiram Moore building.

Four times a year, the great folks at KAMU TV come into your home via television to ask for help by pledging your $upport so that they can continue to air great programs like NOVA, Nature, Masterpiece Theatre, Sesame Street, and Clifford the Big Red Dog (to name just a very few programs.) I can remember watching the French Chef (aka, Julia Childs) and the Frugal Gourmet on PBS. These 2 programs were inspirational in motivating me to get in the kitchen and start cooking!

PBS and local programming on KAMU are all COMMERCIAL FREE! YAY!!! (I am so tired of endless commercials and all the propaganda they spew!) This is a blessing , but with a catch. Because they air no commercials, they sell no advertising. And with no advertising, they bring in no money to support the station and its programming. So the PUBLIC... as in PUBLIC broadcasting (PBS) .... is truly their salvation. Without the dollars from community support all PBS stations around the nation would cease to exist. Image this.... your only viewing choices on television would be COMMERCIAL or broadcast COMMERCIAL TV! How irritating, boring and time wasting!

I encourage each one of you to make a call... make a pledge to your local PBS station the next time they hold their Pledge Drive.....and step up... volunteer to help out with the phones!

Look how great the set looks! Very festive and full of holiday cheer. We had 6 members from our group and 2 guests that took time from their busy schedules... (Hey, I mean.. everyone is super busy, right?) to come and have salads provided by the Village Cafe, meet John Bennett, Station Manager, Elaine Hoyak, Development Director, and Vicki Holloway, Marketing Manager, chat it up with one another and spend a few hours taking pledges from callers.

BIG THANKS to:

ADRIAN COLE

JUDGE CHARLIE ELLIS

CHARLIE LINDAHL

FRANNIE DEGELIA

FRANCHESCA GARZA

TRACIE COLE

TUXEDO MASK

SLYCK PECENA

KAMU allowed us to promote our group's big event on the air. Bless the Beasts and the Children, Saturday the 12th of December from 8am to 5pm in the parking lot of VILLAGE FOODS. YAY!!! Thank you so much for that opportunity!

It was a fun night and it felt GREAT to share our time by volunteering for the KAMU TV pledge drive.

Until Next Time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

Texas Furniture Makers Show

I meant to post this sooner but had misplaced the pictures. Last week I blogged about our trip to Fredericksburg and while we were there we took a side trip to Kerrville. We went specifically to see the Texas Furniture Makers Show at the Arts and Crafts center. This was a showcase of all the beautiful custom made furniture pieces from woodworkers around Texas.

As you can see from the pictures, there is much talent, creativity and skill in each custom made "jewel." What a true art and gift.... to take a simple piece of wood and carve it, press it, turn it and finish it into something so original and so unique as these custom made items.

I hope you will enjoy looking at these pictures as much as we enjoyed viewing these awesome works of art and skill!

This is a working ferris wheel. All the little baskets and all the little people are carved and molded into shape

There was so much from which to choose..... took tons of pics.... and chose some of my faves.

Just look at this gorgeous pottery. You would not think they were made from wood.

I was in such "awe" and admiration of these talented woodworkers. Until I married the Hubby Bear.... almost 27 years ago.... I never took the time to appreciate the true depth and meaning of custom woodworking. Each piece has its own story. Each piece was a moment's idea in the artist mind... and thru much design and hard work.. came to fruition.

I invite you to google Texas Furniture Makers shows and find out when there might be another show somewhere in Texas... make plans to go.... and see for yourself.... this is truely an eye opening education into the world of custom made furniture!

Until Next Time

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!

It's OUR Responsibility

I sit here with ice packs on both shoulders and right groin after a grueling 3 hour work out: [which I highly recommend icing the “hot” spots (shoulders, knees and lower back) after a work such as this one.] 60 minutes on my personal spinning bike, 60 minutes on the punching bag with core work and 60 minutes of total body weight training. (It was a rough Thanksgiving!)

I was reminded of the intense workouts on the Biggest Loser. Speaking of which, this past weeks show was extraordinarily special because my fave financial goddess was on, Suze Orman. She brought with her some of the latest stats on OUR costs of being overweight or obese.

Each year just continues to get worse.......Here you can check them out:

*147 BILLION dollars is spent annually in the U.S on obesity related health illnesses like high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, type II diabetes.

*Obesity increases the expenses for the things that are essential like $500 to $1000 dollars per year for life insurance.... as well as health insurance.

*Obese employees earn 7 THOUSAND dollars less per year then their peers. If you are overweight or obese, you miss work because you are sick. This costs your employer money.... you lose money, especially if you have run out of sick days.

*If a family of four can swap one meal of eating out for eating at home, they can save $8760.00 in one year. Eating at home, one meal daily, you will save $24.00 per day above the cost of food.

*4.4 BILLION dollars is spent yearly by Americans on gastric bypass surgery.

*220,000 Americans get gastric bypass surgery a year and it costs them approximately $20,000.00 for each surgery. (and this is now covered by most insurance companies)

*We spend 90 BILLION dollars on cancer treatments yearly; and 57 BILLION more on obesity related treatments annually.

*If you lose back to your ideal weight, you can save up to a MILLION dollars over a 40 year period.

Let’s face this..... over weight and obesity costs everyone BIG money! Seriously BIG money.

As a health and fitness professional in the health industry for 30 years or so, I get asked my humble opinion on the VERY HEATED topic of the health insurance situation all the time. I don’t speak out on it much at all because it is futile and nobody wants to hear my position.. Because nobody wants to take responsibility for their own health.

It won’t matter what type of health care is finally decided upon and adopted if we as a nation continue to ignore our own personal health and the responsibility WE have for it... NOT the government and NOT the insurance companies. You read the stats above...... poor health is costly to you, your family, your employer, the insurance companies, and to those of us that are healthy.

In my humble opinion......We are entering thru the back door of this health care issue. We are taking a REactive stance and not a PROactive position. The focus for the people of this nation is to work at getting healthy by stopping smoking (for God's sake!) losing weight, partaking in daily exercise and stopping devouring fast foods and processed foods... which in themselves are billion dollar industries..... bound to keep us all driving thru and porking down nothing more then high trans fats, sodium, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, high calories, & nutrient deficient “crap!” Instead of promoting the gastric by pass surgeries as a solution; money should be spent instead on educating people & teaching them how to “bypass” unhealthy eating habits and to subscribe to healthy eating void of fast “food,” “food” in a box, a jar or a can.

Ok, so I understand... we are all human. We naturally are driven to these high calorie, high dense, high fat foods and it is tough as our bodies become truly addicted to fats, sodium, fake sweeteners and sugars.....everything found in fast foods and processed foods. So, why not offer an incentive to all of us to get healthy and to stay healthy?

Corporate and government employers could give out end of the year bonuses, raises, time off, & extra vacation time if you, as an employee, have worked hard, lost the blubber and maintained your healthy weight, healthy blood sugar levels, healthy cholesterol levels and healthy blood pressure over the past year. Provide in-house fitness centers, offer gym memberships and sessions with personal trainers to help your employees achieve optimum health. In the long run, by providing the tools, access to education and offering incentives, this will save billions of dollars in sick days taken, insurance premiums, doctor bills, Rx costs and every other cost related to being unhealthy.

Get the people healthy.... keep them healthy..... and the only need for insurance will be if you have a car accident, fall off the roof, break your arm skiing, or for your annual checkup.

This is too simplistic, I realize, only because we are dealing with industries that make BILLIONS of dollars off the sick, the over weight and the obese. And there are a few exceptions as well. But.. because of this, sadly.....nothing is going to change. We will continue smoking, not exercising and eating and eating and eating until we become 50... 75.... 100.... 200.... 300 plus lbs over weight. We get sick, we need insurance. We get high blood pressure, type II diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer medications, we need insurance. We get gastric bypass or lap band surgery, we need insurance.

This is the reason I rarely voice my opinion when asked what I think should happen with the health care disaster...... no one wants to hear that in order to resolve this issue....we MUST take responsibility for our own health.

Ok, now that the ice has melted.... it’s time to hit the shower!!

Until next time.....

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!!