Nuts about Nuts!

http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-and-nutrition/0406/why-you-should-go-nuts-for-nuts.aspx?xid=nl_MyCalorieCounterNewsletter_20110919#/slide-2

I have always been one who is crazy about nuts.  When I started doing some research during nutrition classes, I came to find that nuts are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on this planet (seeds are as well, but that'll be another post...).  Many diet-conscious people seem to stay away from nuts because of their high calorie and fat content.  The fun fact about nuts, though, is that the fats (mainly mono- and poly- unsaturated fats) that nuts are comprised of can actually lead to weight loss!  Research has shown that these healthy fats can actually lower blood pressure, reduce HDL (or "bad" cholesterol), and raise LDL (or "good" cholesterol) levels!

The link posted above gives some of the recent research that dietitians have done to prove how amazingly beneficial nuts are to your health!

Personally, walnuts, almonds, and peanuts are among my favorites; but in all actuality I love them all.  Ask anyone who knows me and my eating habits and they will tell you that there is not one day that goes by in which I do not eat either nuts or seeds.  I believe in getting most of my protein and fat from plant sources (like beans/legumes, nuts, seeds, and oils like olive and grape seed...one small tangent- you can get a lot of the healthy fat benefits of nuts by substituting nut oils for other fats/oils in a recipe.  Just keep in mind that nut oils go rancid quickly, so keep them in a cool dry place, use within 6 months, and do not over-heat.  It is best to use nut oils in baking or dressing salads or to foods after cooking.)

Luana ola!

Reading in the Sun

With my busy schedule, I am just not finding the motivation to work out.  I walk a lot during the day and I occasionally practice yoga, but I am content with that for now.  I would like to be more active again, but I get stressed really easily about sticking to a schedule.  For me, exercise is incorporating bouts of physical activity into your day every chance you get.

Today, I walked to my "thinking spot".  I haven't been there since last winter when I took Andrew there for the first time!  And boy has it grown (well, I guess there would be no doubt considering it's the end of summer...)  I read some of my Tests and Measurements book until two teenage boys walked by and interrupted the silence. By that point, I got up and continued my path back home where I have been sitting and working on a bunch of stuff.

On the way there the breeze was making the tall grass gracefully wave in the air.  It was beautiful!

 Looking down from the top of the hill:

 My actual spot is covered with brush in the summer, but it is the middle of the right side of the picture:

I couldn't figure out how to turn the picture...this is looking up from where I  came from.

Looking directly at my spot.  I sit right against that larger tree in the center.

The other side of the hill

There is a small creek that flows only during the summer months around this spot.

Overall, it was a beautiful and productive day!  I hope everyone is enjoying this weather as I am!!

Question of the day:  What is your favorite part about the September/October months?

Luana ola!

Almost the weekend!

First day of football season!!  Packers vs Saints; I hope the Saints win...

I found out that I don't have classes On Thursday afternoons, so I took a walk with a friend to the local coffee shop (Common Grounds) and we did some homework by the harbor:

 This is the local hotel (Best Western) where some of the students of Carthage reside.  This picture is for Andrew!!

Got a lot done today and found some good healthy recipes for football season!  Now, watching the game and  getting ready for my birthday weekend (which begins at 1PM tomorrow...that's when my last class ends!)  And enjoying some popcorn :)

Luana ola!

First Day of Senior year!!

Tomorrow is my first day of my last year at Carthage.  I am so excited, but it's kind of scary to think that I am graduating.  It seems to have gone by so fast!

When I got home, I had a quick bite to eat and decided to prep for this busy week.  I made kidney beans and a wild rice blend (wild and brown rice).  I also made some home made pasta sauce because some of the tomatoes that my grandpa gave us were getting a little too squishy to eat.

I have also been doing a lot of Halloween planning and fall-recipe searching on www.tasteofhome.com (it is officially my favorite place to look up recipes...besides cookbooks of course).  I will use the beans and rice as a side dish and lots of veggies for the week.

Oh, and since fall is my favorite season, I just set up the fall table-escape (above).  I don't think I have ever set it up this early, but I love it!!

Luana ola!

Weekend!!

It's Labor Day weekend! Today was a day of work and catching up on class work before the real classes start.

Andrew and I went out tithe mall to look around and I remembered that my parents' 25th anniversary is coming up soon! I think I am going to get them a cute picture frame.

Tomorrow, I'm moving back home so I can commute to school. My last year of undergrad! I can't wait to be able to bake and cook all this yummy fall food!!! It's my favorite time of year! I can't get enough apple and pumpkin picking, corn mazes, hot cider, hot soups and stews, fresh bread, and cool crisp air! There is nothing like it! I will miss it in Hawaii next year, but I think I'll be able to get over it considering there won't be any freezing cold winter either!

Going to Cabela's

Luana ola!!

Pinch of love

I read an article from an old Irish folklore.  It was a story about the people who lived in Acorn Trees.  There was one woman who always put a pinch of something from her special jar in everything she made; whether it was breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drink.  As the years passed, the old woman continued her tradition and none of her family knew what was in the jar.

When she passed away, her husband decided to look in the jar to see what she had been putting in her cooking all those years.  When he opened the jar, he found nothing but a piece of paper.  When he opened the neatly folded paper, it read, "Love".

The woman had been putting a pinch of love in all of her dishes, which is why they tasted so good.

This is such an inspirational story and can be incorporated into life as a whole.  If we put a pinch of love into even just one person every day, our day and that person's day will be much better.

Luana ola!