Add Heart Healthy Meals to Your Day

It doesn't have to be hard, tasteless or boring to add heart healthy meals to your day. It really just takes a little knowledge of what foods are best and a handful of recipes and simple tips.  These are a few of my favorites:

Oatmeal is a great way to start your day! Add some fresh berries and slivered almonds to your oatmeal for a delicious, heart-healthy breakfast.  I love this video from Randa4Health on making a delicious oatmeal trifle with lots of great health tips along the way.

Photo credit to Randa4Health

Beans are a super heart healthy food. Fresh green beans and chickpeas are one of my favorites! There are many great recipes for a hearty bean salad that makes a great lunch any day of the week. A favorite of mine is a bit more gourmet, but if you have the time and inclination, try this delicious Chickpea Salad with Tomatoes, Olives, Basil and Parsley from kalynskitchen.com. Go light on the olives to reduce sodium.

Photo credit to Kalynskitchen

Broccoli makes a great stir-fry, either as your main dish or dinner side dish. I love this recipe from SimplyRecipes.com.  It's simple and very tasty.  I also love to add toasted almonds or pine nuts to broccoli stir-fry.

Photo credit to SimplyRecipes

Fish is also a super food when it comes to heart health.  A personal favorite recipe which combines several super foods is this delicious Bistro-style Salmon with Brothy Beans and Spinach. I found it in the Chicago Tribune food guide a couple years ago and have made it twice since.  The second time was just last week.  It's hearty, healthy and comforting - a great winter dish!

For many more healthy and delicious recipes, and to learn more about heart super foods, go to goredforwomen.org. 

Have a happy day! 

Healthy Heart Month - Commit to Exercise!

How many years have you made it your New Year's Resolution to start and maintain a solid exercise plan? Was it on your list this year?  It certainly was on mine, and as of today, February 11th, I am still not solid! If I had a dime for every time I tell myself, "I should work out today," I'd have enough to hire a personal trainer - permanently!

So the story goes, for many of us.  Yet, as I have been promoting my campaign for the American Heart Association this month, I am reminded of the necessity of exercise for long term good health! It's not about being thin or having a model body; it's about living a long healthy life. And that statement right there should make it easier to stick to a plan. Why, you ask?

When we strive to have a model body, we are usually comparing ourselves to some false ideal seen in a magazine. A regular gal like me doesn't have time or money to work with a personal trainer for hours a day, which is what it would take to have a model body! I am a wife, a business owner, and a caregiver.  When do I have time to exercise?  If I strive to be healthy, it doesn't mean hours a day in the gym, but rather a simpler commitment to 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. As a wife, business owner, and caregiver, I truly can commit to 30 minutes a day.

So that covers timing and my "too busy" excuse.  The next hurdle is what do I do in that 30 minutes? Go for a walk? Lift weights? Take an aerobics class?  The best answer is all of the above - on alternate days. I choose my favorite activities, and schedule them on a chart for 5 days each week.  I put it in a prominent place where I'm always reminded to put in my 30 minutes. Like this:

If you're already committed to your exercise schedule, my hat's off to you! If you're struggling, like me, to stick to a plan, join me in creating your own schedule of the activities you enjoy, and get started!

And actually, my next week looks something like this:

And after all that snow, I'll be back to my full month schedule!

Have a happy day!

Going Red: 8 Ways to Relieve Stress

This month we're partnering with the American Heart Association and the Go Red for Women campaign to raise funds and awareness on the prevalence of heart disease. Did you know that heart disease is the number 1 cause of death in women?  More women in the United States die of heart disease than all types of cancer combined.

Although that is a somber fact, there is much we can do to improve our health and prevent heart disease. Throughout this month I plan to bring you information, tips, and more to help all of us maintain our happy, healthy hearts!

Wife, Mom, Professional, Caregiver, Daughter, Sister, Friend. Whatever stage you are at in life, you have stress. When stress is constant, your body stays in high gear on and off for days, weeks, or months at a time. Chronic stress that causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure may damage the artery walls. There are many ways to relieve stress. Many of them are as individual as you. Find what relaxes you and practice it on a regular basis.  Here are 8 ways to relieve stress that I am personally fond of - you may be too!

1. Go for a walk - It can be a little as 10 minutes or as long as 60. Take what time you can afford, go to a peaceful place such as a nature or forest preserve, and walk. Try not to think about that which stresses you. Just let your mind be at peace and enjoy your surroundings.
2. Give yourself a plant - Or treat yourself to a bouquet of flowers.  Choose your favorite plant or floral, set it in a prominent place in your home, take in the fragrance, and enjoy.  
3. Take a warm bath - Give yourself at least 30 minutes to soak in a warm, fragrant bath. Light candles, sip a cup of tea, find a good read, or just close your eyes and relax.
4. Yoga - Find a yoga class or buy a DVD to do at home.  Commit to yoga at least once a week for 30 minutes.  Yoga is both relaxing and strengthening, and its long-term effects will benefit you both physically and mentally.
5. Dark chocolate - Indulge in a bit of dark chocolate.  Dark chocolate is higher in cacao than milk or white chocolate, so dark is the healthy one.  Cacao is filled with healthy nutrients and for the chocolate lover (like me) the taste is heavenly.  Instant relaxation and longer term healthy benefits!
6. Laugh - Share a good laugh with a good friend or a good book!
7. Give yourself a spa treatment - Pedicure, manicure, facial, bath, whether you go to a spa or DIY it at home, give yourself a 30 minute treatment and enjoy.
8. Make time for your hobbies - It is easy to get caught up in our daily tasks, and we feel there are never enough hours in the day.  But it's important to make time for hobbies. Whether you're a reader, gardener, painter, crafter, athlete, cook, musician, or other; make time to enjoy your hobbies.  You will find relaxation and gratification in taking time to do something you love.

For more information on stress and your health visit Go Red for Women.

Have a happy (and stress-free!) day!

Favorite Super Bowl Party Food - Our Top Five

What's your game day food pick?  Whether you're going out to watch the game, or staying at home, make it festive with one of our favorite picks for super bowl party food.  Our selection includes a little something for everyone!

Love this football version of an empanada.  Make them with your favorite flavors, be it Mexican or Pizza style. Find details on how to create your own at PartyCity.

Here's a simple and all time favorite recipe for deviled eggs.  Add a little decor to make the football style! Use your own favorite recipe or find one here at EveryDayGoodThinking.

Everyone loves chocolate covered strawberries, and these score big with a little football decor! DomesticFits tells you how to make your own.

If patience is your virtue ;) try your hand at these little mini quarter-dogs, and you'll be a bigger hit than the commercials!  Find details here at Yummly.

And if you're not a fan of everything looking like a football, go for these fabulous chocolate bourbon toffee bars from The Heritage Cook

Have a happy day and enjoy the game!

Top 5 Puzzle Gifts...Happy National Puzzle Day!

January 29th is National Puzzle Day, and we're highlighting our top 5 picks for puzzle gifts!

If you know our store, you know we love Scramble Squares and use them frequently in our gift baskets. Scramble Squares are 9 piece squares that fit together to create a collage around a theme. There are hundreds of themes available, so they work perfectly in many of our gift basket designs.  They are great for get well gifts, travel gifts, and many more as they don't take up much space and yet provide the perfect challenge for all ages, 4-104!

Love Melissa and Doug puzzles for kids! For kids of all ages, they have wooden puzzles, cardboard puzzles, touch and feel puzzles, sound puzzles, and more!  If you visit their website, you can also shop by age. As we begin to add more gifts and gift baskets for kids, Melissa and Doug toys will be coming our way!

For a unique gift idea, create a jigsaw puzzle from any of your own photos at puzzleyou.com. You can create your own personal photo puzzle with anywhere from 200 to 2000 pieces!

Choose your own level of challenge with a Ravensburger puzzle. You'll find 2D puzzles, 3D puzzles, adult puzzles, and kid puzzles. All shapes, sizes, and subjects!  They even have the world's largest puzzle at 32,000 pieces! I think retirement could be a great occasion for one of these Ravensburger puzzles!  

Liberty puzzles are finely crafted wooden puzzles, with many styles and subjects including the ability to customize. Each puzzle includes a unique set of whimsy pieces, which are intricately designed, recognizable objects that fit together in the overall puzzle. Made in Boulder, Colorado, these artistic wooden puzzles are made in the tradition of the original jigsaw puzzle!  Meant to impress!

Have a happy day!

Thoughtful Presence Giveaway: Share Your Valentine

This year my husband, Ken, and I will be celebrating Valentine's Day in one of our favorite places - The Northwoods.  As it has been a cold and snowy winter, many will be anxiously awaiting spring by the time February 14th rolls around.  However, we love the snow, especially when it's thick enough for skiing. Living in Chicago, we have enough snow to enjoy a white Christmas and to keep in shape while shoveling, but not usually enough to bring out our skis.

To solve that problem, we head North - way north!

So this is where I'll be spending Valentine's Day this year!

 

With my special Valentine!

Go to our Facebook page to enter our Valentine Giveaway and you might win this:

Who is your special Valentine?

4 Hearty Soups for the Season

In our neck of the woods, we've started the new year with heavy snowfall and below normal temps.  I know many of you are also experiencing harsh winter weather, so this seems like a great time to exchange soup recipes.  With the busyness of the holidays I indulged in the occasional can of Progresso, but now it's time to break out the big soup pot and go homemade!

Here are 4 of my favorite winter soup recipes.  Enjoy and please share a link to your favorite recipe in the comments below!

Italian Wedding Soup

The best thing about Italian Wedding Soup takes the most effort - all those homemade mini meatballs. But it is SO worth it! And don't even think about substituting ordinary pasta for itty bitty stars or similar.  It won't be the same with bigger pasta, so make the extra trip to the store that sells mini. Delicious!

Harvested Chicken Stew

This is a simple and very tasty recipe for a winter chicken stew.  You can easily substitute other vegetables to suit your taste.  Make a double batch and eat it all week.  Great for lightening up your diet after all those holiday goodies too!

Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini

This is one of my all time favorites, and it gets included anytime I write about favorite recipes! It's a hearty winter soup that's easy to make.  You'll want to double up on this one too!

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

If you're looking for meatless or a tastier way to eat your vegetables, this cauliflower soup is the answer.  It's made a little heartier for a cold winter's night, but can easily be lightened up with a few substitutions. Very tasty either way!

Have a happy day!