Merry and Bright

May your days be

Merry and Bright

and may all your

Chritmases be white!

I'm a desert girl, by choice

but white Christmases are lovely!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

**R.F. info coming soon!**

When I Say "We"...and FIT TIP (#149)

We just returned from a wonderful weekend with my favorite Texans.

When I say "We", I am referring to R.F. and myself.

When I say wonderful weekend, I am referring to:
---a Silly String "war" with my 2 little Texans
R.F. won Emerson over at this point...helping her spray me **and Stone** with her pink can of Silly String.

---watching/helping my little Texans play "fetch" with Jake, the dog
I'm not sure if they wore him out or he wore them out...which is not an easy task, either way. We were laughing so hard, watching the kidlets outsmart the dog.

---yummy, authentic Mexican food
R.F. is not afraid of jalapenos! He does spicy very well!

---a search for blue slushies
Even though it was super cold, that is the afternoon snack Stone requested.

---playing in the cave
One of the best collection of toys, according to Stone and Emerson...located in my brother's home.

---hanging out @ my brother's home
Got to spend fun time with my mom, brother and sister-in-law and their son Josh.

---hanging out @ the Jessup's
Got to introduce R.F. to Cliff's parents and the Navarros.

---Kendal & Cliff got to meet R.F.
Two thumbs up...going both ways!

After hearing the words Kendal used to describe R.F. to another family member...I decided that is exactly what I will do on my next post. Since I have been accused of being "vague" regarding R.F. **and other personal things** on my blog---my next post will include how I have described him to people, maybe a few pictures, and...

...well, tune in!








FIT TIP (#149): Fight Fat with Flavor
Savoring strongly flavored foods can help you feel more satisfied with less food.
Say bye-bye to bland, without adding creamy sauces or sugary glazes, by using one of the following:
---Chinese five-spice powder
---Fruity balsamic vinegar
---Wasabi powder
---Sriracha sauce
They lend zest with fewer than 10 calories!



Words for the Week
{12.19.2011}

A Thing for Bing...and FIT TIP (#148)

This time of year **as long as I can remember**I love me some Bing.

I have already **along with RF** watched Bing in White Christmas and Holiday Inn.

Did you know he was born Harry Lillis Crosby?
Although he was known as Bing from a young age...
his other nicknames included The Old Groaner,
El Bingo, Le Bing, and Der Bingle.

Have you heard his Little Drummer Boy
duet with David Bowie? Brilliant!

Christmastime just wouldn't be the same without El Bingo.



FIT TIP (#148): Relaxation Response
One way to foster the relaxation response is to engage in pleasant repetitive activities. Those that involve easy concentration and lulling repetition, like knitting, swimming, even petting an animal, calm the mind.



Words for the Week
{12.12.2011}

Baby it's Cold Outside...and FIT TIP (#147)

**our Chloe, who turns 4 this month!**

Brrrr, only 36 degrees in the Valley of the Sun this morning!
One of the best things about chilly weather **in my opinion** is hot chocolate.
So many fun and yummy options, and **if you're not pumpkin-ed out** this is one of the best...

Hot Pumpkin White Chocolate

--4 cups whole milk
--1 (15oz) can pumpkin
--1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
--1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
--8 ounces finely chopped white chocolate
optional: whipped cream & pumpkin pie spice for garnish

In large pan combine milk, pumpkin, condensed milk and pumpkin pie spice, whisking well. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate, whisking to dissolve. Ladle into mugs and garnish. Serve immediately. Heaven!


Another **quick & easy** option for coconut lovers...delish!


After stoking your sweet tooth, I now offer you another FIT TIP, because I'm thoughtful like that :)


FIT TIP (#147): You Can!




Words for the Week
{12.5.2011}