I’ve begun a new morning regimen (read: walk/jog/skip/leap/hiking) that involves waking up with a conscious effort to be happy. On my walk this morning I encountered an extremely large quantity of fauna in a 15 minute period: 1 deer, 1 bunny rabbit, 1 groundhog, 3 chipmunks, 10 butterflies!! Anyone can adopt this new way of being, all you need to know is that during one’s walk, it is imperative that one shouts at the top of one’s lungs “HEY!!! I’m ALIIIIIVEEEE!! (insert BIG grin and hysterical laughter here) I’m Alive!!!”. It’s a good start to the day.
The sun was really bright this morning–this is most of what inspired me to get up early and begin the “Don’t worry be happy outlook” (Or rather, the “Only-worry-when-effective-and-absolutely-necessary Outlook”). In essence, it’s a lifestyle change. Here are the main components:
“A” Acts
Acts of appreciating the world, life and me.Acts of appreciating the world, life and me.
I am Gumbo
A conglomerate of my favorite exercises– based on T’ai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, Butts ‘n Guts, Kickboxing, Absolute Abs, and some of Cindy Crawford’s favorite moves (I feel a special bond with Cindy since we have the same beauty mark above our lip). Motivating/relaxing music is an essential component for this routine. This morning’s music of choice: Pink’s Remix of “Get the Party Started” featuring excerpts of “Sweet Dreams,” Tatu: “All the things she said,” and I don’t remember the artist but the song is called “Sex Machine”–it sounds like “Get up! Get on up, ah! Get up, get on up-ah!”
Roughage
I’m hoping to expand my appreciation of leafy greens. To this end, I would like to introduce to you Project Green!! Each week I will create (or perhaps compose is more the more accurate term) a new salad –and EAT it. My goal is that by bombarding myself with positive exposure to lettuces and vegetables, I will learn to love and even CRAVE them (crave–I know, can you imagine?!) We’ll see how it goes. Starting out easy:
Greek Goddess Ensalada
Red Lettuce
Vine-ripened tomatoes
Baby carrots
Baby bella mushrooms
Red pepper
Vidalia onion
Homemade oil & vinegar dressing (2/3 cup oil, 1/3 cup vinegar, S&P, Shake it baby, yeah!!)
Homemade crutons (Drizzle old bread you’ve cut into 1/2 inch cubes with olive oil and herbs of your choice. Bake at 350 degrees until golden)
Feta cheese
Alcohol
Although it’s not all that fun drinking alone, sometimes (especially when living the life of a hermit), it becomes necessary. I’m currently obsessed with homemade hard lemonade. You use this recipe and kick it up a notch with some Absolut vodka.
Dessert Dreams
In trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, I’ve begun having fresh fruit for dessert, rather than massive amounts of peanut butter and chocolate chips.
I’m hoping to expand my appreciation of leafy greens. To this end, I would like to introduce to you !! Each week I will create (or perhaps compose is more the more accurate term) a new salad –and EAT it. My goal is that by bombarding myself with positive exposure to lettuces and vegetables, I will learn to love and even CRAVE them (crave–I know, can you imagine?!) We’ll see how it goes. Starting out easy:There’s much more, but I’ll have to continue later as my lemonade has rendered me quite intoxicated. Night night!
It’s been a GREAT and BUSY past few days! On Thursday The Cottage Crew (Dave, Kristina and Matt) hosted a HOT summer BBQ party. Someone might have hijacked a boat, jumped off boat house roofs into The Mighty K, gone tandem water skiing, or consumed massive amounts of alcohol… pictures and more info to come soon.
I went home for a day this week and it was SO nice and cozy and warm and fuzzy. Sometimes it’s just nice to be in a safe familiar place, isn’t it? Mom and I went to Rochester to see 
Jackie and I went to Pen Yan last night to see