Name Your Poison

Outlawing Trans fat is getting all the headlines these days.  Unfortunately these synthetic bits of artery clogging gunk are just the tip of the humankind-messing-with-nature-iceberg. 

GMO (genetically modified organisms) have been an insidious part of our diet for decades.  And while we are starting to become educated, the International Food Information Council announced that only 62% of American surveyed said they knew “a little or nothing at all” about GMO.

I suppose this isn’t shocking considering the fact that the U.S. food manufacturers are NOT required to put “genetically modified” on any food labels.  Why would they, it’s only our health???

Thanks to movies such as The Future of Food, we possess the ability to become educated.  If you haven’t already done so, I highly suggest watching this video. 

Be the Change You Wish to See!

Brandi

Sorry it’s Been a While…

…it seems that every time I sit down to type someone is either sick, needs to be taken to the doctors or worse the hospital.  The things we do in the name of LOVE~

My cousin husband got home from Iraq last night, according to her she is now “ready to pop this baby out.”  I won’t be surprised in the least if I get a phone call at 1am telling me to meet her at the hospital. 

Thank you to all my readers for staying plugged in during my not so vacation vacation, I’ll keep you posted if anything changes:~)

Always,

Brandi

Can You “Catch” Obesity?

According to a Harvard Study, if one of your close friends gains an unhealthy amount of weight, your chances of doing the same increase by 57%. If your friend is the same gender as you, odds rise by 71%! 

“Having a heavyset person around appears to stretch your own notion of what’s acceptable for body size,” says lead author Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD, “allowing obesity to spread through social networks as if it were contagious.”

One of my biggest struggles with keeping a healthy mind, body and soul is trying to ignore my husband’s unhealthy habits!  I question whether or not his is deliberately sabotaging me sometimes.  I do know having his support would make my transition that much easier, but I suppose I can’t have everything!

Moral of the story, those around us can influence us in ways we don’t realize, making it important to maintain your own beliefs so you won’t be swayed by others.  If you are not getting the support you need at home, you can join a meetup group in your area to find more people with those same beliefs.  A great place to look for meetups is http://meetup.com.  

With social networking all over the Internet these days, I am certain you can find virtual support if nothing else!  Heck you can even find a virtual trainer to whip your butt in shape now! 

Who is your biggest supporter, or sabotager for that matter?   

3 Ways to Stay Cool this Summer

Today I am reminded just how fast the hot summer months are approaching as the temperature here in Colorado was well over 90 degrees…I don’t care what you say, 90 degrees here is nothing compared to 90 in Rhode Island!

None the less, 90 is hot!  Besides staying cool by the pool here are 3 more ways to keep cool while being healthy too:

1. Frozen Fruit.  Even the worst cook can’t screw this one up.  Just pop some fresh grapes, strawberries, bananas, etc… into the freezer for a bit and pop em in your mouth. 
2. Fancy popsicles.  Pour your favorite juice into an ice cube tray and insert toothpicks when the cubes start to get slushy enough to all ow the toothpick s to stand upright.
3. Smoothies.  Everywhere you look now-a-days you can find a delicious super green smoothie recipe!  It is a great way to cool down, get your fruits and veggies along with the added energy that goes along with such a nutrient dense drink.

 Have more ideas, I’d love to hear ‘em…

Enjoy!

Brandi

Are You a Rising Mango Star?

If you are between the ages 8-14, now is your chance to prove it!  Since June is Mango Month, http://mango.org is holding a contest for all aspiring chefs to show us their very best mangolicious recipe.  Since Sam is too young to participate, I thought I’d share the news with you! 

With 2 weeks left, you could be the one to win a trip to New York City to be among the finalists in a mango recipe cook-off at The Institute of Culinary Education!  Best of all, the grand-prize winner will get to cook alongside Simply Delicioso star Ingrid Hoffman.  You can find more details at http://mango.org/risingstar

Good Luck!

Brandi

Urilife Made it Across Country!

So the kids and I landed in Denver about 1:30am on Sunday and I think today is the first day we are actually feeling like ourselves again.  Well, with the exception of Sam, I am pretty sure she has a bit of altitude sickness.  We’ll take today to spruce her up a bit so we can enjoy this wonderful weather we are having! 

I just realized I never did tell you why I am out here for so long.  In case your inquisitive mind needs to know, there is something in Denver’s water supply that is causing an epidemic of pregnancies.  My friend had a little boy a few months ago, my cousin had a little girl a few days ago and my other cousin is to have a little girl a few weeks from now. 

No I didn’t come out here to get pregnant!  I came out here to support all those who were, are and are going to be mothers.  I think after a month I will have either settled my baby fix for a few more years or I will be longing to have another right this instant.  What do you think? 

I am happy to say that taking a home base business across country is easier than expected.  2000 miles away doesn’t make a difference when you have been marketing consistently on the Internet. 

Believe it or not, that work actually starts working for you.  All of the articles, blog posts, chats with friends in forums, everything…it all starts driving traffic to your site for you.  I like to think of it as “working smarter, not harder”.

Not to say you can stop working once it does, it just makes it refreshing to know that you can comfort your sick child or enjoy the day in the sun without having to worry about loss of income. 

The best part about your work is the fact that all you are doing is making friends with people.  There are no sales pitches, no hype, no lies…you get to serve people by being yourself from any where in the world, can’t beat that!

Hope you are enjoying your day!

Brandi

Got Gas Pains???

I don’t have to tell you that gas prices are close to $5 a gallon. With no end in sight it seems that these jaw dropping prices are taking a toll in every way possible. Families are now being forced to decide between putting food on their table for gas in their vehicle.

There are so many things we can do right now to battle this seemingly raging recession.  While the pinching pennies can start with your next trip to the grocery store, it does not mean you have to skimp on good, quality food!

I was astonished to find that the big box warehouse stores are thriving in this economy.  People are literally taking their rebate checks and stocking up on toilet paper, canned good and bulk products like crazy at theses places.

Thinking outside of the box, there has got to be a healthier way to save.  Since the price of gas is only going up, here are some ways to same some doe at the grocery store:

1. Plan your meals. I don’t know about you, but the few times I am tempted to pull out a boxed meal or worse stop at the drive-thru are the times I failed to plan a meal for the night.  It takes a few extra minutes to pull something out of the freezer, but saves you 15% by making the meal yourself instead of buying it at a restaurant.
2. Hit the Farmers Market. Not only will you be supporting your local farmers, but you can also save a ton on fresh, organic fruits and veggies….need I say more?
3. Plant Your Own Garden.Why not plant your own fruits, veggies, and herbs?  Don’t have a green thumb, no problem!  There are tons of books you can barrow from the library or use google to do the dirty work.
4. Shop Sales. Summer is always great time for holiday sales.  Keep your eyes open and cut coupons to save even more.
5. Get Old Fashioned. Make your own food.  For instance, spaghetti sauce, beans, mac and cheese, oatmeal, bread and salsa.  Heck, your pancakes will still come out great without the mix!

We are always going to pay for convenience in one way or the other.  Since paying outrageous amounts at the pump is inevitable, why not take a few extra steps to save on food, health, and wallets. Not to mention, most families eat healthier at home than they would eating out.  Plus you know exactly what is going into you and your family’s body because you made it!

Cheers!

Brandi

Dilemma: Taking Urilife on the Road

I am about to embark on a milestone with my Urilife home based business. On Saturday, June 14, 2008 Urilife and I are taking the kids and hitting the road for a month long vacation back home. Yup you heard me right! A month, can you believe it? It still hasn’t set in that we will be gone that long…I’m sure it will once we are there!

Where is home you ask? Colorado! We plan on staying with family and friends, all of which are pretty spread out within the state. So there will be lots of people to see and places to visit. We are quite excited, it’s been almost two years since we sold our house and moved to Rhode Island. Two years of missing family, friends and mountains!

On to the dilemma, well I think I have it under control (KEYWORD: think). The summer months are hands down the best time for building a strong business. Why? Because most people don’t realize this. They get that summer bug up their butt, forget about their contacts, and all their hard work is lost.

No competition=The perfect opportunity for you!

I am not about to lose this perfect opportunity to grow, and I hope you don’t either. Since I am going to be gone an entire month, it’s not totally a vacation but I definitely don’t want to make it a business trip either. One again, I enter the “balancing act”. Luckily as a WAHM of a six year old and a two year old, this isn’t at all new to me.

In fact, it seems to be the story of my life:~) Here are some solutions I came up with to make my trip a bit easier as well as business friendly:

1. Pack Light. Where ever ya go you’re bound to find a washer and dryer, no need to have a suitcase packed with 30 days worth of clothes. Besides you always manage to go home with more than you left with, at least I do anyway.
2. Pack Wise. When traveling with kids always make sure you have your carry on packed to the max. Bring snacks, drinks, toys (preferably quiet toys) and anything else you can think of to occupy their little minds.
3. Call ahead. Make sure your flight hasn’t been canceled for one, but they may also have a few tricks up their sleeves to making your flight enjoyable. I actually called to make sure someone from the airport can assist the kids and I on the plane. I’m as strong as any man, but carrying my 25lb boy, 30lb car seat, 20lb backpack all while holding my daughters hand without breaking a sweat is a bit much, don’t you think?
4. Locate Your WIFI. If taking a laptop, make sure you identify all of your hot spots either before or after you arrive to your destination. Most phone companies now offer a wireless plan for about $50 a month, which of course is a tax write off.
5. Locate A Computer. If you’re like me and have a hubby that won’t let you take the laptop, make sure you have a computer with Internet access where you will be staying. Isn’t it nice knowing you can build a business from any where in the world as long as you have a phone, computer and internet access?
6. Set Alarms. If the only time you have to work is before the kids get up or after the kids go to bed, do it! At home I am up before the rest of the family so I can catch up on my emails, get my schedule ready for the day or just have some me time. Why not do the same while I’m away? I will be using my cell as my alarm clock as well as a reminder for any appointments I have.
7. Eat Right. There’s nothing worse than going on vacation and gaining 10lbs. Make sure you don’t use your vacation as an excuse to eat lowzy. Yes the first meal I get will be a huge heaping green chili burrito but after that I will stick to my fruits, veggies, nuts and sprouts. Luckily The Feast comes in little packets so the kids and I can easily get our 5-9 fruits and veggies while running wild!
8. Have FUN!!! Remember to respect your family time as much as your business time and they too will respect you and your business. Don’t get upset if you have to reschedule an appointment, no one is perfect. As much as I try, I rarely have it all together! That’s the best part about working from home, you don’t have to be perfect. Aren’t you relieved?

How do you handle keeping up with work deadlines and communications while you’re on the road? I’m all ears when it comes to suggestions or even better, solutions

Always and Forever,

Brandi

Food of the Week: Mangoes

Did you know that more Mangoes are eaten fresh all over the world than any other fruit? I sure didn’t, as I recently discovered the this fine fruit just two short months ago! June is actually prime Mango season due to the wide variety of growth during this summer month.

An average sized Mango can contain up to 40% of your daily fiber requirement. Which studies show dietary fiber has a protective effect against degenerative disease, may help prevent certain types of cancer as well as lower blood cholesterol levels.

This mouth watering fruit is rich in antioxidants, potassium and fiber plus they are low in calories, fat and sodium. I can’t believe it took me 25 years to try this delectable passion fruit!

For more information I recommend visiting http://mango.org where you can find tips on How to Select and Store Mangoes.

I am still fairly new to mixing fruits with my veggies, especially sweet and spicy, but OMG you’ve got to try this recipe!!!

Mango Salsa

Ingredients

• 1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced
• 1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced
• 4 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine the mango, avocado, tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, and garlic.
   
2. Stir in the salt, lime juice, red onion, and olive oil.
   
3. To blend the flavors, refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving.

This recipe will have you eating your Mangoes by the spoonful!  Got a Raw Mango Recipe, tell me about it…

Enjoy!

Brandi

What’s Worse than going to the Grocery Store Hungry?

…Going to the Red Sox game hungry! Why the heck didn’t I eat before the game???? Oh yeah, because I forgot to take care of myself again, Oops! So besides filling up on junk last night the Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays was a real knock out!

No seriously, the game was fueling with brawls after Boston’s Coco Crisp was hit on the right hip by a second-inning pitch from James Shields. Crisp ended up dropping his bat, charging the mound and ducking a wild right by Shields before throwing a few punches of his own.

It wasn’t until we got home that we realized their was another brawl between Boston’s Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis. I guess they exchanged a few choice words in the dugout. Can’t get any more eventful than that!

With the exception of my upset stomach from the hot dog and fries, it was a pretty good night with a Final score of 7-1, Red Sox!

Have a great weekend!

Brandi

Ps. Here’s some pics of Da Brawl, Sam and I entertaining ourselves while waiting to see who will be thrown out of the game and two drunk guys entertaining Sam and I:~)