Sweet Surprise!

I took one of our dogs, Bo, to the Vet last week. While waiting in the reception area for our turn, I was browsing through a People magazine. I think it was one of the February 2013 editions. By coincidence, I opened the magazine on a "great ideas" recipe page, a sweet surprise. There it was: These pretty, pink hearts made of pie crust! I immediately fell in love, looked over the recipe quickly and decided I wanted it! I took a picture of it with my cell phone and made it into a weekend project to make with the kids! The recipe is from Catherine McCord, cookbook author and food blogger.

The small, crusty and flaky tarts have a sweet & tart taste and just melt in your mouth! Great for when guests come over for coffee & tea, or to give as a gift (great hostess gift)! Or, just as we did here today, eat them up while playing! The girls loved it, and let me tell you, my 5 year old is a very picky eater!...

Well, we didn't have a large heart-shaped cookie cutter, just small ones, so I used a wine glass to cut out rounds. It worked just as well. There are no artificial colors in this recipe, which I love! The bright pink color is truly achieved with delicious raspberries! Here is a photo and the recipe follows:

RECIPE FOR RASPBERRY TARTS:

Equipment you will need:

• large, heart-shaped or round cookie cutter
• A cookie sheet
• parchment paper
• strainer / sieve
• spoons and whisk
• measuring cups & spoons
• fork, toothpick
• 2 small bowls
• a bit of flower 

Ingredients you will need:

• 1/2 cup plus 10-12 fresh or defrosted frozen raspberries
• 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
• 1 tbsp. Agave Nectar (I used light, not amber) - recipe says you can also use honey
• 1 pkg. (14oz.) refrigerated pie crust
• 1 tbsp. water
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a bowl mash together, 1/2 cup raspberries, cream cheese and agave/honey until mixed well.
3. Unroll pie crust (2 rounds) on a very lightly flowered surface and cut out 20 shapes with your large cookie cutter.
4. Top 10 shapes with 2 tsps. of the raspberry mixture, leaving a 1/4 inch border.
5. Lightly brush border with some water.
6. Cover these 10 shapes with remaining 10 shapes.
7. Using a fork, gently press down on edges to seal.
8. With a toohpick, poke about 3 holes in each tart.
9. Place tarts on parchment-lined baking sheet.
10. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool completely. 
11. Meanwhile, place the 10 remaining raspberries in a strainer set over a bowl. Press down on raspberries to release the juice. Whisk in water and powdered sugar until icing is very smooth.
12. Spread on completely cooled tarts.
13. Icing will set and be glossy on tarts. 

We loved these over here!! They were super easy to do, and are truly yummy! I hope you and your family can enjoy them too!

So what's wrong in thinking "I want to be a princess"?

Many little girls, including my girls LOVE anything and everything that has to do with being a "princess".

To be a princess, in their little and young world, means pretty much having a happy life, filled with love, laughter, living in a big pink, purple, glittery castle with a handsome Prince, singing and dancing all day long and going to castle parties at night, having lots of loving pets that may even speak to you and beautiful dresses. It's a fantasy world, and one that completely fascinates them.

While this maybe unrealistic view of what it's like to be a princess is spread all over movies, cartoons, toys,  books, theme parks (all of which I love, by the way), it often serves them as a starting point to many games and activities. I truly don't believe this is bad at all.

January 2011

This creative, imaginary, fantasy play is not always supported by everybody, and just listen around, as many parents, caregivers and educators say things like "Don't be silly! This is just make-believe!" or "Sorry, honey, but there's no such thing as prince charming. One day you'll understand.." or even "Let's get back to reality and do something useful!". I am not a child educator, nor am I a child psychology expert. But, I'm a parent, and have 2 little girls at home. I don't need to feed them any negativity, really.

What makes me believe there is something wonderful about this princess fantasy is that it brings them a "certainty" there is GOOD in life, that if you believe in your dreams, yes, they can come true. It makes them believe that good always wins over bad. Don't you see? It's a very early way of teaching them that what you believe will make your life, and that you have the absolute right to believe you deserve nothing but the best. It's a very early way of demonstrating that doing good things in life pays off. The noise we adults create just shatters their innocent minds, little by little destroying their expectations and creating a much more negative view of life they end up carrying with them through their teens and adulthood.

In my opinion, let the little girls believe in their dreams, let them play princess dress-up and talk to their pets. There is nothing but goodness in their hearts and they nurture their little happy world like that. Granted, some little girls don't like to play with dolls,  watch princess movies and so on. That's perfectly fine, too. I just say, if they love it, nurture it. Nurture the thought that dreams can come true when you believe in them and when you act upon them. Help them understand that it is our duty to create a happy and fun life and that we do create our life. Playing princess and nurturing the good in life is fantastic and can bring to your little girl nothing but happiness. Let them feel these feelings as often as possible!

And when my little Nati tells me that "Rapunzel" bought her new shoes at Target, I go along with it, answering "Wow, Nati! This is very special! Now, did you go with Rapunzel? What else did you buy at Target? I bet you had a lot of fun!..." She giggles and there's nothing but happiness around.

Pack on the building blocks!

An Instagram picture I posted on a Qunioa Salad and a talk I had yesterday with my husband gave me the idea for today's post: Protein!I'd like to talk about protein, its importance as building blocks for our bodies and the deliciousness it can be!

First of all, let me briefly tell you I grew up a total meat-eater. Hamburgers were my favorite food, and my Mom's Ham & Cheese Lasagna was also always a hit at home! I loved a succulent filet and loved dining at Brazilian Steakhouses. That all changed in my 20's. I'm not here to preach anybody on Vegetarianism, mostly because it is a personal choice (my children aren't even Vegetarians) but, after long admitting my passion for animals and silently "suffering" with them, I started cutting back on eating meat. It hasn't happened too long ago and not all at once! In fact, in 2009, when I was pregnant with Nati, I craved and ate hamburgers from "Five Guys" every single week. Last year I decided I was ready to become a full Vegetarian. After 5 months on it, I decided to change and become a Pescatorian, or Pescetarian - I went back to eating fish (Salmon, Tuna, Sea Bass). That's it for meat. No other meat. Needless to say, my protein intake in that half year dropped immensely. Although working out a bit, I still didn't have the muscles I had in 2010 and 2011.

In 2010 I did a wonderful 12-week program called "Body for Life". It was by far the best exercise and nutrition program I had ever done in my life. Not only did I drop 10% of my body fat in only 12 weeks, but I also gained so much lean muscle mass. I kept it up a bit in 2011, but didn't maintain it properly, and now I am back to it again. I started the program 2 weeks ago, and so far, it's been awesome. Weight lifting and high intensity cardio are part of the program. Nothing impossible to do. And you get a day off! BUT, the biggest secret is the nutrition factor. And I saw it happening; I saw the magic happening in 2010. Muscles growing and strong Denise appearing!

The program and my personal Trainer (Brad Minns) taught me the importance of eating enough protein. Basically, to put on muscle, really, you gotta eat 1g of protein per pound (not Kilo!) of body weight. Right now I weigh 125 pounds, so, I should consume 125g of protein every day to increase my lean muscle mass, decrease my body fat and become lean. I have long been the "fake skinny", having low body weight but no muscles - which was the case when I first met Brad in 2010, weighing in at only 117 pounds. But my body fat % then was 28%!!! Wow! Super high body fat % with no muscles. Something was wrong. I changed that around and at the end of 12 weeks, I weighed 121 pounds with 18% fat - for my height, the borderline from normal to lean. I looked and felt so much stronger.

Without the higher intake of protein, I would have NEVER achieved those results. Eating clean along with it was a must, of course, so, cutting sugars and white flour, pasta, too much bread,...all that was minimal. Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated was a daily task, while eating every 3-4 hours became the norm. I was never hungry!

My point on protein is this, and this is what I've been reading all long: To maintain your muscles while casually working out, at least 0.8g per pound (not Kilo!) of body weight. To increase muscle mass, you must up this. You must fuel your muscles! You must give them the building blocks to GROW. I've done it, and I know it works. 1 to 1.5g of protein per pound of body weight!

Now, doing it again, I'm taking it up a notch, including supplements for exercising and adding protein shakes, which, oh my goodness, have SO much protein (30g!) and taste so great! Protein keeps you full and satisfied for a long time. Variety is key! Be creative!

Here a picture of a few great protein sources I use on a daily basis, low in fat, low in sugar, low in calories overall (I didn't take a picture of eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, smoked  salmon, quinoa, tofu, soy, brown rice, beans, but all of these I consume as well!):

This Muscle Milk protein shake is DELICIOUS. 

Both "Oh Yeah" and "Power Crunch" bars are packed with protein and SO yummy.

Almond Butter is a great substitute for those with peanut allergies! 

I hope you enjoyed this post and hope you share the passion for a healthy lifestyle! One more secret: Don't be paranoid! The occasional "treat" is totally OK! Pizza, chocolate, ice cream, fries...we all have those faves!

WHY?

A questionnaire of honesty between your mind, your heart and your soul. Give it a try.

Why buy a pair of shoes that hurt you as soon as you put them on?
Why eat something that you don't really like?
Why dress to make a fashion statement when it's not actually your style?
Why date someone who doesn't make you laugh?
Why take a job because "at least it's a job"?
Why not *ask* if the worst that can happen is to receive a "no"?
Why drink or smoke just because others are doing it?
Why not try something new?
Why accept things the way they are because "that's the way they are"?
Why not fight for what you truly believe in?
Why give up and think "there's nothing I can do.."?
Why undermine your own power and abilities?
Why not believe you are indeed very talented?
Why attend a gathering you're not interested in?
Why buy something to make the sales person happy?
Why not ask for help when all you really want is help?
Why insist no advice given to you can ever be good?
Why believe you simply can't?
Why befriend someone who doesn't add value to your life?
Why not forgive?
Why choose negativity over positive thoughts?
Why do something you don't want to?
Why live in uncertainty?
Why not believe your dreams can come true?
Why not make decisions just because others have made them already?

Why settle for less when you can change all of this around? Why?   

We are fully responsible for our lives. 
At any point, we can say "No more". At any point we can start doing what is right for us and for our loved ones. At any point, we can ask for help. Don't accept it just the way it is. If you even think you should go against it, why are you not?

What is holding you back to BE the best human being you can ever be?

(Image found on Google Images)

Pure, Essential, Therapeutic and Kind!

Our sense of smell does wonderful things to us...From creating a cozy-yummy atmosphere in your home when the smell of a delicious home-cooked meal emerges from the kitchen, to your favorite perfume that inspires you to feel powerful at work or sensual at night...From the warm smell our little babies have to clean sheets or the fresh flowers in the park...You get the idea! What would we do if we weren't able to use our sense of smell to create a better life?

I have long been a fan of this amazing Aromatherapy company called "Aura Cacia". Aura Cacia was founded in 1981 and uses nothing but pure essential oils of high quality combined with a strong belief for ethical environmental sustainability, giving back, no animal testing and minimal animal by-products (just beeswax).

In a nutshell, Aromatherapy is the healing through the use of essential oils extracted from plants. Essential oils exist in leaves, blossoms, roots and seeds of plants. Usually, these oils are massaged on the skin or scalp or inhaled. Different oils are used for different purposes, and a combination of oils can be even more effective. Some can promote relaxation, while others help reduce inflammation or energize you and make you happier. Some make a small place become more welcoming and others help purify the air. From my understanding the key is to realize that essential oils are not the same as synthetic fragrances, which will not have the same effect. High quality essential oils will usually cost you more, however, they last for a long time. If you'd like to learn more about Aromatherapy, follow this link here.

These small spray bottles in the 2 photos I took are some of the Aura Cacia essential oils I have and use at home. I love them all, and it's impossible to choose a favorite one, as each serves a different purpose. If you read the labels, you'll understand what I mean.

I find they have worked well on my pets, as well. I spray (with "Chill Pill") the area they sleep in a bit before we all go to bed, and not only does it smell very pleasant, but it seems to calm them down. I do the same in our room and it works well for us and the kids.

At the office, I find myself using "Pep Talk" a lot, as it motivates and inspires me to focus on positive thinking.  You see, our sense of smell can be healing! And here a great travel tip: "First Response" purifies the surrounding air/area. It can be used in hotel rooms, meeting rooms, cars, rental cars and can even be used to purify your hands, and anything you touch, like a telephone, door knobs, remote controls! Isn't this great? I use it in my car all the time. Once a week, my 4 dogs "bombard" my car, and I often have a little mess from the kids in the back seat. This essential oil mist comes in very handy all the time!

Do something good for yourself and others and positively impact your surroundings. This is just an example... I have long believed and used Aromatherapy. It's wonderfully healing. Everything always smells so great!

Last but not least, there is something I love even more about Aura Cacia! It has a "Giving back" program, where they give 1% of their sales back to organic farmers around the world in order to help them build their small communities. You can find out more about the company and its giving back program by clicking here.

Oh, by the way...Aura Cacia products can be bought online through their web site, and at other retail stores. I bought mine at my local "Vitamin Shoppe"! It makes for great gifts!...

Make it special...

This weekend, make sure you make it special!

Make coffee time special and play with your senses. Have coffee outside in your garden, on the porch or by the lake. If it's cold, have coffee by the fire and play soft music. Sit on the floor with your pets or look at old family pictures. If the kids are around, have coffee while you color or while you watch a great family movie.

Make it special.
Start noticing more and more how each minute counts. Don't rush.

This is here at the house. My Brazilian Melitta "extra forte" coffee truly smells delicious! Did you notice the detail on the coffee mug? 

And if you don't like coffee, no problem...enjoy a great cup of tea! This reminds me...oh, how I'd love to enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea one of these days again!

Happy Saturday morning and a beautiful weekend to all!

Little girls' nails deserve the BEST!

Little, tiny fingers deserve what's best out there!

My girls love getting their nails painted and we usually do this on the weekends! My biggest worry is not a matter of an early onset of excessive vanity (honestly, I came to the conclusion that little girls are born with a nice healthy dose of vanity!), but the toxic chemicals present in nail polish.

Let's be realistic here: Kids put their hands in their mouths all the time. I truly don't want them to be ingesting all of the bad stuff.

So, I came across 2 companies that make beautiful nail polish with less toxic chemicals than other well known brands.

I often use them on my nails as well, after all, hey, we deserve good stuff too, and you can see them in the picture below: Zoya and Butter LONDON

Zoya's natural nail polish doesn't contain toluene, formaldehyde, camphor or DBP (phthalates). This is GREAT! They have over 300 colors to choose from, and I wish Ulta, the store I purchase them at here in Florida, had a larger selection. Please note, Ulta's web site is not showing they distribte Zoya. I don't know if they will discontinue carrying the line, so I suggest you either look at their web site or try different local nail salons.

Butter LONDON follows a "3 free philosophy" and the nail polish they sell is also free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP. The great thing about Butter LONDON is that they also have beautiful lip glosses.  You can find them all at Ulta as well!

Again, as I had mentioned in previous posts: I have no affiliation with either Zoya or Butter LONDON. I simply love the brands and enjoy showing them off here! Good things deserve to be mentioned more often!

My point is: If I'll be spending money on my girls, I'll do so wisely. That doesn't mean "expensive". It means being conscious of what I'm paying for. In this case, I'm looking for less harmful health impact combined with fun and the possibility to create wonderful memories together!

I know what we'll be doing tomorrow morning after breakfast!... :)