Frozen

Substitute a night of comforting double double chunk cookie dough ice cream for a sweeter, healthier frozen treat!



Save the triple chocolate chunk for tomorrow night. I think we all know frozen grapes won't suffice for my sweet tooth or yours. Make new friends but keep the old ones (dark chocolate).

Lips & Chocolate

Take care this winter, especially my fellow Midwesterners. Cracked lips always visit during January and hot coffee is my go-to in the morning, Tide (to go) for Teeth? Despite the cold temperatures, smile! You'll be flashing those pearly whites, smooching with luscious lips after some of this and a little of that.



Teeth and Lips

• Pronamel Toothpaste


• Epicuren Lip Balm


• Listerine Whitening Strips


• Floss

Smile

• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon


• Chocolate

Simply Better

A while back when the whole foods, plant based diet took flight I had to figure out just how I was going to survive. No cheese. The first meal I made was a veggie soup: kidney beans, carrots, roasted tomatoes with a dollop of kale pesto. Later in the week my girlfriends and I made the kale pesto once again on whole wheat pasta. It's worth a try! Fresh squeezed lemon takes it over the top.



Grocery list for kale pesto:

• Tuscan kale


• Lemon


• Basil


• Parsley


• Pine nuts


• Red pepper


• Olive oil

In a food processor combine the chopped and stemmed kale with zest and juice of lemon to taste, olive oil, basil, parsley, pine nuts and red pepper for more flavor.

Cheers!

The Ron Fletcher Work

Ron Fletcher, a man who I never had the pleasure of meeting but remains someone who I would high five, has changed my life. As most of you know I am a sophomore at the University of Arizona. I have met great people, grown as an individual, appreciate a sunset, a hike and have been introduced to the Ron Fletcher work at the Bodyworks Pilates Central Studio in Tucson. Ron past away nearly a month ago but his work continues to breathe within many of us in the pilates world today.

Pilates made its mark in my life when I was a freshman in high school. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 18-months old and Kyphosis, a curving of the spine when I was 13. By no means is this an invitation to a pity party. I couldn't be more grateful towards the plastic, screwed, metal back brace I sported in middle school. My orthopedic referred me to pilates as my physical therapy. A back brace I was prescribed to wear for 2 years, 20 hours a day ended up in my closet under some old sweatshirts after a year.

Here I am, almost 20 years old, learning the good stuff from a few of the most inspiring and talented teachers in the pilates world. I can only hope to continue my education and work with them in years to come. But for now, I am simply enjoying the benefits and knowledge gained from the beautiful gift Ron Fletcher has given us.

For me and for most of us: "It takes courage to move." Thank you Ron for motivating me to move with intent and breathe to move.

One of my favorite movement pieces from Ron you can work at home is the Towelwork.

DVD's are available through Fletcher Pilates: Fletcher Towelwork

"Movement should be approached like life-

with enthusiasm, joy and gratitude- for movement is life, and life is movement,

and we get out of it what we put into it."

Ron Fletcher

Bruschetta

Grocery List: Choice of bread, basil, parsley, pine nuts, cherry tomatoes, onion, dried chiles, lemon, olive oil, pepper and red pepper to taste

In a saucepan saute chopped onion in olive oil until translucent. Mix the basil, parsley, pine nuts, dried chiles, lemon and pepper(s) in a food processor. Add the cherry tomatoes in halves to the saucepan. Once the tomatoes begin to shrivel add the pesto from the food processor coating the onion and tomatoes. Spread the mixture onto slices of bread and broil on high until bread is golden. Use any extra basil for ribbons of color on top of the ready to eat Bruschetta.



For cheese lovers we can melt mozzarella on top!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! The last night in 2011 sparkled. Sydney M. Stein made her debut at Harold's Corral for New Years Eve; all was left on the dance floor next to a rose and a tiara during a Honky Tonk twist on Usher classics. I didn't think it was possible either. No where better than the stage to spend 2012 singing Sweet Caroline with people who know the song gets good after the first 57 seconds. I think we may have done the hustle?