Happiness Is

     Happiness can be elusive yet everyone continues to search for it.  The journey is idiosyncratic and never ending and the methods by which we hope to attain it are infinite. Here are some thoughts to ponder from those fellow travelers who consider happiness in various ways:

• Sweetness, in whatever form, helps to make challenging times bearable.
• I don't drown my sorrows, I suffocate them in chocolate.
• Coffee keeps me busy until it's acceptable to drink the hard stuff. 
• Life is short.  Buy the shoes.

   In line with some of the above thinking,  I would like to provide you with one of the ways I seek a little bliss.  Some favorite recipes serve me well  when life challenges every fiber of my being and I need to take a time out.  How about something that satisfies a sweet tooth?    Happiness is a state of mind, so change you mind and indulge in  guilt-free goodies that have some redeeming value.  I try to add something healthy to a decadent snack.    Below are two samples of my "time out goodies".  The first is a simple blueberry jam but you can substitute whatever berries you like should you care to improvise.

             

                                         Raw Blueberry Jam

                                          4 cups blueberries

                                          2 tablespoons raw honey

                                          2 teaspoons chia seeds

                                        

Soak chia seeds in 4 teaspoons of water for 10 minutes.  They will begin to gel in the water and provide a thicker consistency for the jam.  Blend all ingredients and refrigerate for at least an hour or more then enjoy on some really good artisan bread or whatever you heart desires.  I love it on Quinoa pancakes with a few dark chocolate chips!

     My second recipe takes a little bit more time and some effort but totally worth it.It is a chocolate brownie made with black beans but you'll never know they're there--seriously!  The upside is they are very satisfying, the downsides are the  baking times and the thickness of the batter.  The solution are: 

 Make them while streaming your fav movie, series or exercise class ;-)

Use a heavy duty food processor to mix the ingredients really well.

 Canned beans are softer and easier to blend than fresh but the choice is yours.

                                              Clean & Fudgy Brownies

                                              2 cans of black beans

                                              1 1/4 cup pitted dates

                                              2 teaspoons raw almond butter

                                              1 teaspoon vanilla extract

                                              1/2 cup organic cocoa powder

                                              1 teaspoon ground chia seeds

                                   

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.  Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Start with one ingredient at a time and process each until smooth.  Most ingredients are very dense. Use a well oiled 8"x8" pan.  Bake for 90 minutes and you will be rewarded. I sometimes use parchment paper which makes removal from the pan a bit easier.

Bottom Line:  Never say diet! Improvise your way to health and happiness in a tasteful way!

What Wood Refinishing Can Do

     Unless you eat out in restaurants all the time,  kitchen cabinets take an awful beating.  Food preparation and overzealous cleaning can wear away the finish.  Unavoidable accidents can leave scratches and dents  causing an unseemly appearance and/or a dull finish.  You can opt to replace the cabinets.  This may be an expensive proposition, especially if your cabinets need to be custom-made.  If your cabinets are sturdy and made of solid wood there may be a much better and less costly option.  The answer to your prayers is professional furniture refinishing to restore and refresh the look of your kitchen.

      There are the master carpenters who will evaluate the quality of your wood cabinets before they will commit to a project.  Upon mutual  approval, the doors will be removed and taken to a workshop to be stripped, sanded and refinished based upon your preferences.  A sample will be made using one door so that you can approve or make adjustments to the color and finish before all the doors are refinished.  After several weeks, a crew will come  to your home to redo your cabinets to match the doors which will then be reattached. This may take two or more days.   Abracadabra!  Your old cabinets look like new and you saved yourself a pile of money.  Now that should put a smile to your face.  

     Now if you want to put a smile on a master carpenter's face,  give Frank Tedeschi a call or email at The Refinishing Company.  He is a craftsman with heart who takes pride in his work.   He  wants you to be totally satisfied with the finished product.  I know you may be skeptical about such an outstanding endorsement.  I am not a relative, nor have I received any monetary gain  by recommending his services.  I am a very pleasantly surprised by his due diligence to make me the satisfied customer which I haave become.   I merely  enjoy  paying  it forward.  

Bottom Line:  Getting what you paid for can be a source of great happiness.

Paws and Enjoy Life

     Expressions like fifty is the new thirty inspires me to make optimum health a lifestyle priority. Good health enables me to enjoy life and have the energy to inspire others. Continuous maintenance is an arduous task  but defaulting on exercise, living on fast food, or forgoing meditation is not an option.    
     Here is a compendium of my discoveries:

•  Different types of exercise work in tandem.  
• Taking supplements fortify the body. 
• Eating organic food lessens toxins in the body.
•  Learning new skills sharpen the mind and ward off dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
• Meditation quiets the demons in your mind. 

     Continuous self-reinvention is key to being  happy, vibrant  and in harmony with our spirit.
The goal is on-going transformation much like clay being molded in the hands of an artist.  Be inspired by a young child's laughter, a walk in the park or by some wisdom in my words.

Bottom Line:  Be inspired not only by who you are now but by how far you have come!
                     Life is a journey!

                      Enjoy the ride!

   

                                               

                                                Are these  inspirational or what?

Inspiration

     Expressions like fifty is the new thirty inspires me to make optimum health a lifestyle priority. Good health enables me to enjoy life and have the energy to inspire others. Continuous maintenance is an arduous task  but defaulting on exercise, living on fast food, or forgoing meditation is not an option.    
     Here is a compendium of my discoveries:

•  Different types of exercise work in tandem.  
• Taking supplements fortify the body. 
• Eating organic food lessens toxins in the body.
•  Learning new skills sharpen the mind and ward off dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
• Meditation quiets the demons in your mind. 

     Continuous self-reinvention is key to being  happy, vibrant  and in harmony with our spirit.
The goal is on-going transformation much like clay being molded in the hands of an artist.  Be inspired by a young child's laughter, a walk in the park or by some wisdom in my words.

Bottom Line:  Be inspired not only by who you are now but by how far you have come!
                     Life is a journey!

                      Enjoy the ride!

   

                                               

                                                Are these  inspirational or what?