Happy 2012!

On the last day of any year, I start to think of everything that has happen in my own life over a year, and everything that has happen throughout the world. When you think about it, it has been a pretty big year. Some of the big things for me have been starting up this here blog, adding two adorable fuzzies to our family, donating more of my time to others' needs, and getting to travel to some pretty great places! But, I do not think I have seen anything that sums up the world's 2012 quite like this video. It is pretty epic what we can do when we come together. I hope you enjoy this sum up as much as I did... You may need a tissue or two, just to be sure :) 

Have a wonderful rest of the year and a fantastic next. The years only get better!

New Years Resolutions

2013 is only a few days away! I am getting very excited about what the New Year will bring, and am creating some great goals to go along with it. Goals are definitely important to me and are uber helpful in making sure I continue a habit, even when scrolling through the internets with a bowl of frozen yogurt sounds better.

Goals are more tangible than a resolution, and they are much more likely to be accomplished. There are a few methods I use for making sure I get a goal down, and stick to it until it is done.

The best goals are a combination of physically evident results i.e. Kill all cellulite, easy to measure goals: run a mile, and some goals that will keep me on track ex. a one sweet thing per day rule. This goal cocktail seems to be the best way to stay on track with an endgame in mind. It is also vital to put all goals in the present tense. This is important for when we look back at the goal. It is better for our mind to see them as already accomplished than "will be" or "by this date". If you are really serious about obtaining a goal, write it down, read it at least twice a day, out loud, and into a mirror. The visualization is key. Being constantly reminded of a goal, both visually and audibly, makes it more of a reality and more likely to happen.

Remember, a dream is not enough to make things happen. There needs to be a plan to go along with it. Make sure that all goals have a way to be accomplished. This is, sometimes, done through another goal. Running a half marathon is a big goal, it will take jogging at least four times a week. To make the half marathon more likely, working out at least four days a week has become another goal. The daily goal of working out will make the end goal less hefty, and also give daily progress. Little steps every day towards a goal are better than giant leaps every once and a while.

If you ever need encouragement, get a good quote and think of it often. Mine is from one of the most creative minds of our age, Walt Disney.

Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work it until it's done and done right.

Yoga For Illness

Flu season is here and in full swing. Aches, fevers, and painful joints, and nausea are all part of the process of the flu. If you are going through any of these symptoms, hopefully some of these yoga positions will help you as much as they have helped me. Light exercises, such as theses poses, will help relive joint pain and increase antibodies that will help fight the flu and it's symptoms. Just remember to stay bundled and not push yourself too far- this is to help with the feeling of illness, not get in an extra workout while bed ridden. For more information and how-to's on any of these poses, check out Yoga Journal.

Poses to Stretch the Hips

• Reclining Bound Angle pose- Like the butterfly stretch, but you lay back.
  
• Rock and Roll pose- Hold legs into the chest, then move from left to right. Hold, legs to the left and look to the right and visa versa.
  
• Eye of the Needle pose- Rest right foot on left knee and pull left knee towards your chest, holding the back of the left leg with one arm going between the hole made with the right and left legs. Thus, "eye of the needle". Complete with left leg rested on right as well.
  

Poses for Back

• Child's pose- Lay with legs tucked under the chest and head resting on the ground (or bed).
• Rabbit pose- Start in Child's pose with hands wrapped around each heel. Tuck the head under so the forehead and knees are touching. If you prefer, you can stay here, or lift the body upwards. The goal is to have your legs bent at a 90 degree angle and the back bowed.
  
• Cat/Camel pose- If you can, get onto all fours. Curl the back up while bringing the head in towards your navel. Hold, then bring head up towards the ceiling and arch back towards the ground.
  

Poses for Legs

• Savasana- While in resting pose with legs relaxed and arms (palms up) to the side, alternate pointing and flexing the feet.
• Happy Baby pose- Wrap the index finger around each big toe. Flex feet and bend knees, making sure that legs are spread apart. 
• Extended Leg Twist pose- Keep the left leg straight and resting on the ground. Bring the right leg up and over the left side of the body. The right leg should be straight out with only the foot resting on the ground and hips as even as possible. Rotate the body to the right so you are looking to the right while your leg is resting to the left. Try to get a 90 degree angle between the legs. Hold, then complete with the left leg.
  

Christmas Brunch

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My first Christmas :)

It has become a tradition in the Ross family to wake up Christmas morning (late), open gifts, watch a Christmas movie or two, and eat an amazing brunch. Every year I search for just the right meal, and, although it is not all vegetarian, I thought you may enjoy knowing what it will be this year!

We are keeping it a little more simple this year with three main dishes- the first will be a salmon Benedict on bagel with smoked salmon, fresh dill, capers, poached egg, and a lighter hollandaise sauce. I am super excited about this, mainly because of the poached egg! In an episode of The F Word, Gordon Ramsey shows how to perfectly poach an egg. Ever since then I have been dying to try his method. Next up will be a light salad with mixed baby greens, sliced pear, blue cheese crumbles, sliced almonds, and a blue cheese vinaigrette. Then, to bring in the starchyness, we will be adding potato pancakes or rosemary red potatoes. I have not decided yet. The potatoes are a recipe I came up with a few months ago that is very easy with rosemary, salt, pepper, olive oil, and quartered red potatoes. Put them in a saute pan and cook over medium heat. So simple. The salad is something I came up with in the produce section of Publix yesterday, and the Salmon Benedict is a derivation of a recipe I found on Martha Stewart's site.

The Christmas breakfast sounds uber yummy (to me) but is ridiculously easy. Toast a bagel, put salmon and poached egg on bagel, poach egg, add pre-made hollandaise (cheater, I know), top with capers and dill, mix a salad, and cook some quartered potatoes in olive oil and a ton of dried rosemary, a bit of salt, and a dash of pepper. There are no real recipes here because everything is sooo 1-2-3. If this turns out, there may be an "how to poach an egg" article in p+k's future! For now though, have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful Christmas Eve!