I was a happy kid.  I was also a fortunate one.  I had a great childhood.  I had loving parents and a family that loved me, and was more than good to me.  Being that I had such a wonderful upbringing, I have many extraordinary memories (but then again, I do sort of have an elephant’s memory) of all the amazing things I did as a young Healthy Chow.  Some of the memories are really random: sitting in the backseat of my mother’s champagne-y/green colored Volkswagen and staring at the passenger seat’s dangling seat belt while telling myself I should remember that moment for the rest of my life (I think I was about 4 or 5 years old – very random!), cutting pictures of food from magazines with my sister and then pretending I was cooking that meal as I placed those pictures in my kiddie pots and pans (the beginning of the foodie in me), and listening to Johnny Carson’s voice on the television through the shut door of my parents’ room when I was supposed to be asleep (oh yes, Healthy Chow hated to go to bed!).   But most of all, the memories were sweet, special to me, and ones I’ll keep in my mind and heart forever.

Image Credit – thelilbee.com

One of the fondest and most vivid memories I have is spending Easter with my mother’s side of the family.  I remember being dressed in a new Easter outfit (usually identical to my sister’s), attending Easter Mass, rushing home after Mass so I could see what the Easter bunny brought me, and of course, being a part of my Uncle’s Easter egg hunt.  Oh, the Easter egg hunt! My Uncle used to spend so much time hiding both those brightly colored plastic eggs (the ones that broke in half so you could stuff them with candy) and those egg-shaped candy eggs (the ones that no one ate).  Even though the only people that were actually hunting for the eggs were me and Michelle, the competition was fierce.  As Michelle would find an egg, whether it be tucked behind a rock or hiding in the bushes, I would excitedly scurry around the yard trying to do the same in order to keep up.  Finding those pastel and neon-colored eggs was such an adrenaline rush, it brought me closer to beating out my competition and of course, I got to eat more candy.  But as an adult, I now realize that it signified so much more.

Image Credit – ehow.com

As a child, I was carefree and happy-go-lucky.  While racing around my grandparents’ yard looking for the eggs, I had so much hope and excitement.  Finding each egg was an adventure in its own.  There was no recollection of the previous found egg, no worry or stress of where the next egg could be, not even a trace of apprehension that there might not be any more eggs to be found.  There was just the hope and thrill of finding that next egg.  That hope and thrill was what kept me going, it was enough to fuel my fire until the hunt was finally over and it was time for brunch.  And when all was said and done and the only thing that was left was a basket filled to the brim with those brightly colored eggs, all I could do was stare in wonderment at what I had just accomplished and be content.  I was happy with what I had succeeded in achieving, and proud of all that was in front of me.  I was surrounded by my loved ones, having the time of my life, and filled with an overwhelming feeling of optimism.

Image Credit – croneandbearit.wordpress.com

Naturally, I didn’t realize the significance of the egg hunt when I was a little girl.  Back then, I’m sure I was just psyched to get a basket full of trinkets and have more than enough candy to eat for the next several months.  But as I now reflect, I can see that often times what we seek in life, is something that we had all along.  We are all born with the dreams and desire to be and have anything we want, it’s just a matter of finding it.

(Young Healthy Chow with Michelle and Cookie in front of our grandparents’ yard)

Happy Easter!  Do you have any fun Easter memories?  Are there any Easter foods/meals you are looking forward to eating?

Those crazy kids at Megafruit are at it again!  They’re giving away 3 $100 Visa Gift Cards to 3 random Twitter followers once they reach 1,000 Twitter followers!  So, if you’re not already following them, do it now!  Follow Megafruit on Twitter today!

Namasté,
Nicole

While the weather in Boston this past weekend was beyond gorgeous (it felt like summer had arrived on Saturday), unfortunately, it’s a bit chilly and dark today.  And, a considerable amount of rain is on the forecast for today and tomorrow.  Boo-hoo! I don’t want to say that I’m bummed, but having the warm sun shining brightly on me really did add a pep in my step this past weekend.  But before I could grab my umbrella out of the closet, take out my not-so-spring-esque coat that I had already neatly packed away for the rest of the year and curse Mother Nature for teasing me, I took a deep breath.  I realized that even when the weather isn’t a ‘perfect 10′, it doesn’t mean that I have to allow the gloominess outside my window affect what’s going on inside of me.

For that reason, I wanted to share some inspirational quotes I’ve been recently admiring and bring a little sunshine (and warmth) to you…enjoy the day…

Image Source – mathresources.anderson5.net

If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.
-Elbert Hubbard

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.
-Marianne Williamson

Choose the world you see, and see the world you choose.
-Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside.  If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place.
-Eckhart Tolle

The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was.  Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.  They’re in each other all along.
-Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.
-Vivian Greene

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
-Mother Teresa

What food signifies spring to you?  Do you find that your eating habits change as the weather changes?  How?  Did you do anything this weekend to welcome spring?

Namasté,
Nicole

Remember last week when I couldn’t write one of my usual posts due to the fact that I was helping Patrick?  Well, I don’t know if you could tell, but I could hardly contain my excitement.  As I said in my previous post, the project that Patrick is launching is one that he’s been working on for quite some time, one that he had been dreaming about before he even knew it existed.  It’s not a project that has any predetermined guidelines to follow.  It’s not a project that is corporate America-related.  It’s not one that he was coerced to do.  And, it’s not a project that is simply going to be a flash in the pan.  Patrick’s project is related to two of his life’s biggest passions – internet marketing and basketball.

Image Credit – ehow.com

Ever since I’ve known my husband, he’s had quite the entrepreneurial spirit.  When he wasn’t hard at work, he was spending hours upon hours on his laptop researching and refining his business notions.  Like many entrepreneurs, Patrick has invested much of his time and energy into various ideas.  And like many ideas, not all seemed to pan out.  But nevertheless, Patrick’s inner-fire for following what was so deeply seeded in his heart could not be extinguished.  In fact, the pitfalls and roadblocks that Patrick encountered, big or small, only fueled the flames.

Tomorrow, on the first day of the NCAA basketball tournament, Patrick will finally get to have his day in the sun.  All those long nights of prospecting, planning and strategizing will finally come to fruition.  And all those days of visualizing his dream will finally become a reality.  While Patrick has many supporters and advocates, there are also those who have some doubt.  But doing what is popular was never something with which my husband was concerned.  He simply listened to what was true in his heart.  In fact, Patrick even endorses that I follow my dreams and that I do what I love.  Even while he’s pursuing his goals, he finds the time (and energy) to motivate and support me.  Yeah, to say the least, I’m pretty lucky.

Image Credit – abcpreachers.ning.com

I’ve learned that there are two kinds of people in this world: there are those that live their lives as an example, and there are those that live their lives as a warning.  I’m fortunate enough to say that I’m married to a person that does more than demonstrate exemplary behavior.  He’s a man of integrity and virtue, and it’s about time that his moment has come.  At a time when it might be easier to stick with the familiar, versus venturing out and exploring the unfamiliar, Patrick chose the road less traveled.  And the benefits from that are just waiting to be reaped.

Image Credit – tripadvisor.com

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and I can’t think of a better person to celebrate.  When you have the perseverance, drive and heart that Patrick possesses, you don’t need the luck of the Irish.  That said, Patrick, I toast to you and wish you well on your official launch.  And without further ado, let the games begin!

Image Credit – nba.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Are there any moments in your life that you would consider your ’shining moment’?  Do you believe in luck?  Are you going to be watching any of the NCAA games?

Namasté,
Nicole

In general, Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week.  I get up early and start the day with some hot yoga, have a leisurely breakfast/lunch with Patrick and the rest of the day is spent relaxing, enjoying the winding down of the weekend and looking forward to the week ahead.  But this past Sunday was a little different.  I spent the majority of Sunday hanging out with my sister doing something we both love – crafting and shopping!  When you can spend the day with one of your favorite people doing something you’re both ga-ga over, what’s better than that?

After a sweaty, yet calming yoga session, I headed over to my sister’s neck of the woods to grab some breakfast and to strategize our game plan for the rest of the morning.  I couldn’t think of a more suitable place than Panera Bread – plus it happened to be right across the street from our first shopping destination.

Me in the car after yoga – don’t I look refreshed?

No line at Panera?!  That never happens!

We ordered one whole grain bagel to share along with two cups of coffee.  While I could probably eat three whole bagels in one sitting, Michelle and I decided to opt for splitting one with a schmear of butter.  It cuts down all all those carbs and makes the belly less full for shopping.  After all, shopping is a sport!

While sipping our freshly brewed, guess who called?  MHC!  She either has ESP or has some sort of tracking device on us because she always seems to call whenever we are together.  Maybe it’s her mother’s intuition?  Obviously, we extended the invite, but MHC declined.  While she likes spending time with her daughters, crafting isn’t one of her faves.  Oh well…more bonding time for the Sisters Chow!

“Yeah Mom, I know my sister is the best…!”

Ohhh, I’m so hot like my coffee!

After finishing our breakfast, we trekked on over to our first destination – Jo-Ann Fabrics.  Holy crap on a cracker!  That store is insane in the membrane!  I’ve been to Jo-Ann’s in the past, but not recently.  If you’re crafting and Jo-Ann’s doesn’t have what you’re looking for, then you don’t need it.  Talk about oh-em-gee!

“Um, can you hurry up so we can start shopping already?”

BTW, any guesses on what we’re making?

After about an hour and a half at the crafting supply mecca, we headed across town to a place I’ve never been to before.  Fortunately, Michelle had visited this place in the past and was able to get us there in a snap.  Our next shopping destination was truly a hidden gem.  I wouldn’t have been surprised if you had to give a password to the doorman in order to get in.  It was just one of those places that was in the middle of nowhere and wasn’t in the most friendly looking of areas.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the interior of the store.  Our second shopping destination, Downstairs at Felton Antiques, was jammed pack with all things antique.  It was as if we had walked into another world.

While Michelle and I were mostly interested in the vintage jewelry, we couldn’t help but take a peek at everything this place had to offer.  There were antique art, photographs, knickknacks, furniture, glassware, pottery/china, shoes and housing fixtures.  Everything was so interesting; I could only imagine the history behind all these things that filled the store.  While I was intrigued by all the items for sale and wanted to capture them on camera, the store owner seemed less than thrilled.  I managed to snap a few photos before she inquired as to what I was doing.  While she said she didn’t mind, I didn’t want to further press her buttons and stopped my picture taking efforts.  She was a pleasant woman, but just didn’t seem to want me taking any more photos.  A blogger can understand…

After about an hour or so, we made our purchases and our day of crafting and shopping came to an end.  While we did more shopping (and chatting) than crafting (which will be postponed for a later date), our afternoon couldn’t have been better.  I’m so lucky to have a sibling that has such similar interests as me.  The synergy that we share when we’re shopping, designing, creating and of course, just hanging out, is one that can’t be matched or duplicated.  Because we’re sisters, it’s easy for us to brainstorm ideas with one another, but it’s also easy for us to be brutally honest.  I don’t think there’s any one else in this world with whom I can share these kinds of Sundays.  But then again, sharing comes natural to us.  For instance, we shared our breakfast, our crafting supplies, a bedroom and an apartment in the past, our jewelry business presently, our wardrobe growing up as kids, cooking duties and of course, a womb (thanks MHC!).  When you’ve been together (literally) since the beginning of the life, you get pretty good at supporting each other and having each other’s back (literally), it makes sense that I wish ’sister sunday’ could be ’sister every day’!

My share of the loot for the day

Do you know what we’re making yet?  Any ideas or thoughts?  Astrid, you already know, so you can’t guess !

Namasté,
Nicole

Like a good portion of the world, I’m online for the majority of the day.  I receive boatloads of emails, I read tons of blog posts, I subscribe to a bunch of newsletters, watching YouTube videos are a great way to break-up my day, I see updates galore from the people in my Facebook network and sometimes I feel as if I’m drowning in my own Twitter stream.  In other words, there’s a whole lotta information coming my way.  Most of the time I just skim through what’s in front of me, but the other day, I was stopped dead in my tracks.

Image Credit – socialnomics.files.wordpress.com

As I mentioned in previous blog posts, I subscribe to Simply an Inspired Life.  It’s a site that sends me an email filled with inspirational words, quotes, messages and affirmations daily.  If you haven’t heard of Simply an Inspired Life, I highly recommend that you check it out and urge you to sign-up.  It’s absolutely wonderful.  As I said before, it’s one of the best ways to start my day.  And the other day, I received one of the most memorable emails I’ve received in quite some time.  In fact, it was so extraordinary, I wanted to share it with you.

The Cab Ride
From Jonathan Lockwood Huie, Simply an Inspired Life

By Kent Nerburn – Excerpt from “Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace: Living in the Spirit of the Prayer of St. Francis”

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.
After waiting a few minutes I walked to the
door and knocked… ‘Just a minute’, answered a
frail, elderly voice.  I could hear something
being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened.  A small woman
in her 90’s stood before me.  She was wearing a
print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned
on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase.  The apartment
looked as if no one had lived in it for years.  All the
furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks
or utensils on the counters.  In the corner was a
cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said.
I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist
the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness.  ‘It’s nothing’, I
told her… ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I
would want my mother treated’.

‘Oh, you’re such a good boy’, she said.  When we got in
the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could
you drive through downtown?’

‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly…

‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said.  ‘I’m in no hurry.  I’m
on my way to a hospice’.

I looked in the rear-view mirror.  Her eyes were
glistening.  ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued
in a soft voice… ‘The doctor says I don’t have very
long.’  I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
She showed me the building where she had once worked
as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her
husband had lived when they were newlyweds.  She had
me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once
been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular
building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness,
saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly
said, ‘I’m tired.  Let’s go now’.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.  It was
a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway
that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.  They
were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.  They must
have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.  The woman
was already seated in a wheelchair.

‘How much do I owe you?’ she asked, reaching into her purse.

‘Nothing,’ I said.  ‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.
‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.  She
held onto me tightly..

‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said.
‘Thank you.’

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning
light… Behind me, a door shut.  It was the sound of the closing
of a life..

I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift.  I drove
aimlessly lost in thought.  For the rest of that day, I could
hardly talk.  What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,
or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked
once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything
more important in my life.

We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve
around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully
wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
- Maya Angelou

May we make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by reminding ourselves that often it is the random acts of kindness that most benefit all of us.

Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we are here we might as well dance.

Image Credit – silverlizard.spaces.live.com/blog

At first, I wasn’t going to put this on my blog.  I figured that it was one of those emails that people have already seen and that have been forwarded around.  But then it occurred to me that if I can inspire just one person, just as this email had inspired me when I first read it, then it was worth posting.  I remember reading somewhere that we shouldn’t hesitate to compliment a stranger, to do a small favor for someone or to even smile at a person walking by.  While it may seem like a small act for us to do, the impact it could have on that person could be huge.  Consider this – your act of kindness might be the only nice thing that that person experiences all day.  And that good deed you do may in fact teach you more about yourself than you might realize.  That said, I encourage all of you (and myself) to do a little good for someone every day.  Perhaps this deed won’t mean too much to you, in fact, it might just be a fleeting moment.  But for someone else, this could be a memory of a lifetime.

What’s the nicest thing you’ve ever done for someone?  What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Namasté,
Nicole

Remember this oldie but goodie? It’s the only thing I can think of as I’m writing this blog post. Being that this is the final installment of “Healthy Chow’s-a-Makin’-Some-New-Friends”, I figured that the song, “One More Time” would be appropriate.  For the past four weeks, I’ve been challenging myself to ‘meeting’ five new bloggers.  And while I’ve introduced myself to many, many have also introduced themselves to me.  It’s been so much fun!  I’ve learned so much from these wonderful people and I’ve even learned some things about myself.  For example, when I step outside of my comfort zone, it’s not so bad.  And when I constantly stay inside the lines, I never give myself the chance to grow.  And where’s the fun in living when you’re stagnant? There isn’t any!

Week 5 of Healthy Chow’s-a-Makin’-Some-New-Friends

• The Clean Eating Mama – This mama is named Tasha and when I saw her comment on my blog, I just had to check her out.  Firstly, she might have the cutest little boy ever!  Tasha lives in the Seattle area with her son, Jordan, her husband, Marc, and their dog, Lilly.  Tasha has a passion for nutrition and living well, and wants to be a good example and pass her knowledge along to her son.  I love how Tasha is starting her son off on the right foot at such an early age.  He’s a lucky little boy!  And check out her tips on getting children to eat healthy – they are simple and make so much sense.  While Tasha eats clean, it doesn’t mean her recipes are boring – take a peek at her Chocolate Banana Bread and Quinoa and Pomegranate Salad.  And if you’d like to add one of your own recipes to Tasha’s recipes page, just let her know and she’d be glad to host it.  Thanks Tasha!  You’re a mama who definitely knows her stuff!

• Vee Chats – Vee is another blogger who introduced herself to me first.  You see, when you reach out, it comes right back to you!  Vee was born in the Czech Republic and spent 2/3 of her life there.  She has also lived in England and NYC.  An avid traveler, Vee has been to places that I’ve only dreamed of – check it out! As you can see, she has a zest for life and loves to learn about different cultures and traditions.  Vee has a cat named Peri, whom she adopted from a rescue center and is passionate about animals and their rights.  As you can already tell, Vee has a big heart.  And, Vee is also quite the tennis player – she played for over three hours the other day.  WOW!  She’s also participating in the “Ten Weeks to Healthy in 2010″ – take a look at her goals; she is serious!  And like me, Vee likes her interesting food combos – chicken baked with banana and cheese. Sounds good to me!

• Vanity & Sanity – Ashley is the owner of this blog and she is a newbie.  But don’t let that make you think she’s shy; I’ve seen Ashley leaving comments all over the blogosphere, as well as on my blog.  Way to jump right in, Ashley!  She’s a bride-to-be and started this blog to document her journey in the gym, the kitchen and the wedding planning process.  BTW, her dress is gorgeous!  Ashley lives with her fiancé (also her best friend) and their new kitten.  While their kitty thinks he’s a baby, Ashley is excited to have her own kids soon (me too!).  Wish her happy birthday as she just celebrated her big day last week.  It looks like Ashley likes to bake as well – check out her butter tart.  Like me, Ashley is a big yoga fanatic, loves Lululemon and one of her goals in 2010 is to practice yoga at least once a week.  Sounds like a great idea to me!  Ashley, I think we have a lot on common.  It’s nice to meet you!

• Leftovers for Lunch – These leftovers belong to Leah.  Another bride-to-be, Leah lives in the Seattle area with her fiancé, Jodus, but lived all over the world as she was a self-proclaimed Air Force brat.  When I was reading Leah’s About page, I noticed two things: she’s like me in that she loves food and anything related to food and she’s a riot.  Just check out her picture!  I really enjoyed reading the meaning behind Leah’s blog name – it makes perfect sense and was quite helpful.  And if you want to see what Leah buys on a regular basis, take a peek at her grocery list.  Great pics!  I applaud Leah with her honesty about her weight loss journey and I admire her positive attitude.  I also admire her affection for the Whole Foods salad bar! Leah, your salads look so much like my salads!  And if you’re looking for a warm and hearty comfort meal, Leah’s recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup looks amazing!

• Healthy Twists – This lovely blog belongs to Hallie.  Hallie is 24 years old and lives in San Diego (lucky duck!) with her boyfriend, Mitch, their puppy, Nina and their fish, Phillip.  Because Hallie likes to put a healthy twist on unhealthy recipes, Mitch suggested this name.  How cool?!  I’m inspired by Hallie’s weight loss and her dedication to fitness and eating well.  She seems like she definitely has her head on straight!  And, her recipes are fantastic!  Check out her healthy recipe for Pad Thai, Barbecue Bacon Meatloaf and Fish Tacos with Black Bean Salsa.  And a big congrats to Hallie as she is the winner of Oikos’ trip to Kripalu! Hallie, if you need tips on Boston or a tour guide, look me up!  BTW, I totally loved Hallie’s post on ‘putting things out into the universe’.  She put it out there and it’s amazing to see what she got back.  Way to go, Hallie!

Phew!  That was a great challenge! And you know what?  It wasn’t really even a challenge since it wasn’t difficult at all once I got comfortable outside of my comfort zone.  After these past few weeks, I’ve learned that people will generally give back what you give to them.  Because I happily introduced myself to so many bloggers and introduced them to you on my blog, they were elated and bloggers started introducing themselves to me.  I know I’m sounding all warm and fuzzy here, but honestly, it’s a great feeling.  In this day and age, it’s easy to get down on ourselves and lose faith in humankind.  I know that I can get discouraged when someone is rude for no reason or I witness senseless cruelty.  However, this doesn’t mean that everyone in this universe is that way.  We just have to take that first step and reach out.  What one risks is so small, in comparison to what one can gain.  That said, I’m glad I started this challenge, that I completed it, that I am ending 2009 with this glorious feeling and starting 2010 with it.  It truly will be a happy new year! Thank you!

Have you made your 2010 resolutions yet?  Is there something you want to do or want to get back to doing?  Do you have any big plans for New Year’s Eve?

Namasté,
Nicole

OK, I think we all know the drill by now.  If you’ve been reading my blog for the past three weeks, you’ll know that I’ve been making it my job to meet new people online (no, not for that!).  And if you’re new around here, just to bring you up to speed, I’ve been challenging myself to meeting new bloggers every week.  Last week, I met a few new bloggers, introduced myself to them and spotlighted them on my post.  In addition, I spotlighted a few bloggers who have been doing what I’ve set out to do and introduced themselves to me.  I figured if we’re attending all these festive holiday parties offline and meeting new people, why not do the same online?

Image Credit – parkavenuebistronyc.blogspot.com

Week 4 of Healthy Chow’s-a-Makin’-Some-New-Friends

• Lucky Taste Buds! – Michelle is a 20-something foodie who introduced herself to me a few days ago.   She is funny and has such an upbeat vibe to her.  I especially love how she has a ‘food-tittude’ and loves to eat, create and experience new foods.  And she believes in economical food – just check out her ‘Faithfully Frugal’ page!  My favorite tip is knowing how long food can go for after its ’sell-by’ date.  I mean, why throw out food if it’s still perfectly fine?  And if you love breakfast, you must check out Michelle’s recipes for Hemp-ed Up Mango Macadamia Buckwheat Pancakes and Honey Apple Curry Tofu over Soba.  Ah-mazing! I love Michelle’s pictures of all the Chinese-inspired dishes she eats and cooks; they make me drool!  And, Michelle does restaurant reviews, too.  Not only is she hilarious, but she’s brutally honest.  This gal rocks and I’m so glad she introduced herself to me.  Nice to meet you!

• Nourished Fitness – Alyson is the owner of this fabulous blog, which makes sense because if you know anything about her.  She is incredible!  Just check out her fitness page and her video.  She is nothing short of phenomenal!  And a big congrats goes out to this lady as she just became a member of the 2010 class at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition – go Alyson!  When Alyson isn’t competing in fitness competitions (she recently competed in two), she’s getting her MBA specializing in Sports Business and Strategic Marketing at Arizona State University, enjoys her killer workouts, practices yoga and is constantly nourishing herself mentally, physically and emotionally.  It seems that Alyson gets pretty creative in the kitchen, too.  Check out her Stuffed Acorn, Crunchy Kabocha Delight and Chocolate Chip Pie with Rum Butter Frosting – delicious!  Like I said earlier, she’s phenomenal!

• Tri to Cook – Let’s face it.  We’ve all been super busy lately.  That said, I hate to admit that I’ve been lagging in the reading and commenting on blog posts department.  So instead of just introducing myself to ‘new’ bloggers this week, I’m getting re-acquainted with ones I haven’t caught up with in awhile.  Shannon is a fantastic person I met earlier this summer at my first blogger meet-up.  She inspires me with her dedication to training and competing in triathlons, as well as with her creativity and skill in the kitchen.  Just take a peek at her recipes for Blueberry Lavender Butter Cookies, Silken Chocolate Cheesecakes and Fig Ice Cream.  And I’m not the only one who thinks Shannon is fantastic.  Nature’s Pride was so impressed with her Savory Pumpkin Bread Pudding that they selected Shannon to attend the 1st Annual Foodbuzz Festival as one of their Bread Ambassadors.  She got to prepare her recipe during the Tasting Pavilion.  Woo-hoo Shannon!  It’s good to ’see’ you again!

• Nifty Eats – These nifty eats belong to Nicci.  Nicci is another blogger I met a few months ago and haven’t had the chance to chat with in a bit.  Living in the North Texas area, Nicci is a 20-something young woman working as an Executive Assistant for a Non-profit agency.  Her nifty eats include Spicy Salmon Patties, Easy Smashing Pumpkin Soup and On-the-Go Smoothies.  I really admire Nicci’s willingness to try new things and to challenge herself.  In fact, wish Nicci good luck as she’s training to run in a half-marathon in March.  We know you can do it, Girl!  And apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks Nicci is nifty, check out all the awards she recently received from other bloggers.  And being the giving person herself, Nicci created her own award and gave it to all her loyal readers.  She’s a riot, she sweet and if I haven’t said it enough before, she’s a blogger that lives up to her name – nifty!

• Loser for Life – This self-proclaimed, loser for life, is Marisa.  Marisa has lost 67 pounds to date and started her journey with Weight Watchers, but now has turned to a more intuitive eating approach.  Whatever you’re doing, Marisa, keep it up!  It’s working and you look great!  Not only does Marisa’s perseverance move me, but her recipes for Banana Walnut Breakfast Cookies, Chicken with Red Pepper and Artichoke Sauce and White Pizza with Zucchini and Broccoli aren’t too shabby either.  This lady does it all!  Check out her recent article on ways to relieve stress during the holidays – it’s a helpful and great read.  I love how Marisa concludes many of her posts with a ‘One Good Thing’ about her food day.  No matter what happens throughout the day, she always manages to find a positive and something to learn from to take her to the next day.  You’re an inspiration!

And yet another extraordinary group of bloggers who I had the pleasure of meeting this week and with whom I had the pleasure of reconnecting.  I’ve noticed that when you take the first step in putting yourself out there in meeting new people, not only does it become easier with time, but people start reciprocating.  I can’t tell you how many new bloggers have introduced themselves to me over the past three weeks and how many have commented on how much they are enjoying this challenge.  Many tend to think that a gift has to be something tangible or something expensive in order for it to be wonderful.  I think I’ve proved that this is certainly not true.  Inviting new people into your life and being able to reconnect with some old ones, is truly the gift that keeps on giving!

Image Credit – giftideas-365.com

Do you have any crazy last-minute gift stories?  My mother forgot to get my grandmother a stocking stuffer one year and the only store that was open was CVS.  We ended up finding some Q-Tip and cotton ball holders and she loved them!

Namasté,
Nicole

Let’s just call this an online holiday party, shall we?  For the past two weeks, I’ve been doing something I don’t normally do.  Instead of staying within my comfort zone, I’ve been stepping outside of it and doing my best to ‘meet’ new bloggers.  There are so many wonderful and interesting people out in the blogosphere and it never ceases to amaze me how many things I can learn from them.  I’m really enjoying this challenge and I encourage all of you to do the same, if you haven’t already.  Tis’ the season to mingle and be merry…so go for it!

Image Credit – laist.com

Week 3 of Healthy Chow’s-a-Makin’-Some-New-Friends

• I Have Two Feet Ten Toes – I have to confess.  Astrid isn’t someone I just met.  She actually found me a few weeks ago and we’ve been buddies ever since.  But since this is an exercise in meeting new and intriguing people, I thought I would mention her because Astrid did what I am setting out to do.  I’m so glad she introduced herself to me.  First off, Astrid is a Geology Masters student.  While she’s not spending time researching  or studying, she paints, cooks, bakes, takes walks with her dog and practices yoga.  To say Astrid is talented would be a huge understatement.  Check out her gingerbread house.  It was the very first one she’s ever made from scratch by herself.  Uh yeah, Astrid, I think you hit the nail on the head on your first try!  And do yourself a favor and check our her recipes for homemade mint oreos, pomegranate lemon tea cakes with pomegranate frosting and honey butter pork tenderloin with smashed potatoes – you definitely won’t be disappointed!  She makes her own wheat noodles, too.  Thank you, Astrid, for introducing yourself to me!

• CookinFanatic -This cookin’ fanatic is Stephanie, a CPA residing in the Richmond, VA area with her boyfriend and Black Lab/Irish Setter mix, Lucy.  Like Astrid, Stephanie likes to get creative in the kitchen and isn’t much of a recipe follower, as she likes to put her own personal touch on her dishes.  And while Stephanie likes to workout, she would rather take a kickboxing or cardio class versus your conventional running/elliptical (I agree, Stephanie!).  And who doesn’t love sugar cookies?  Well, you’ll love Stephanie’s cookies even more once you see how pretty they are – wow!  And then check out her reverse deep dish pizza – it looks mouthwatering!  I just love her recipe names and categories; this gal is a riot!

• hungry, hungry, hippie – Love this blog name!  Elise is originally from Northern California but is now living in Manhattan with her fiancé, Kyle.  She is a cardiac ICU RN, is 94.6% vegan and played soccer at a highly competitive level until college.  Fitness is very important to Elise as she feels the natural high from endorphins is the best high.  She calls herself a ‘hippie’ because she tries to be as green as possible: she recycles, uses energy efficient appliances and buys products that are all earth friendly.  This hippie is another lady that cracks me up!  Check out how she described her sauna experience!  Elise loves her music and like me, can’t get enough of Mr. Timberlake!  And how does she make homemade seitan?!

• Angela Loves Food – Angela is another nice blogger who introduced herself to me a few weeks ago.  She’s the sweetest thing; I love her honesty and her smile.  Angela is a student living in San Diego, CA and is currently balancing studying, working as a lifeguard, finding time to exercise and eating right.  I love her recipes for spelt cookies – they look delicious and so healthy!  Way to go!  Check out how she tried to make her own version of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte – so creative!  Like me, Angela has a soft spot in her heart for her newly purchased George Foreman grill.  And also like me, she can’t leave home unless it’s clean!  For such a young lady, Angela is quite profound and has experienced so much in her young life.  She has great positive energy and a wonderful outlook on life.  I’ve learned some important things from you, Angela, and for that, I thank you!  Actually, we could all learn a thing or two from this lovely gal!

• healthy, hott, housewife… - Another great blog name and another one with 3 H’s!  This healthy, hott, housewife is Therese, a newlywed (congrats!) living in Orlando, FL with her husband and their Black Lab puppy, Daisy (who loves to nibble on remote controls).  Therese works in financial services and loves running, spinning, Greek yogurt, her dog, college and pro football, a good glass of wine, cooking up healthy meals, dancing, partying and reading blogs.  Therese and her husband challenged themselves to do a three-month Body for Life challenge and they just finished.  Check out her amazing results! Congratulations!  Like me, Therese loves her oats – both sweet and savory.  I just love her spicy oats with tilapia.  Awesome idea!

Another extraordinary group of ladies that I may not have met if I didn’t take the chance to introduce myself and if they didn’t take the chance to introduce themselves to me.  Each person is so unique and has so much to offer and yet, they all share one common thing.  They share the love to better themselves, to stay healthy and to have fun doing it.  I can’t believe there are so many people like this, and I’m so glad I have all the time in the world to meet each and every one of them.  As  I said earlier, it’s like an online party.  But at this party, the night never ends and the crowd just keeps getting bigger and better.

Image Credit – tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com

Go ahead, give this challenge a try…what do you have to lose?

What’s your favorite holiday song?  I used to not be a fan of Christmas music, but now I’m starting to like it.  My favorites are ‘The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)’ and ‘This Christmas’.  Do you like holiday music?

Namasté,
Nicole

If you remember last Tuesday, I wrote about how I have a bad tendency of getting too comfortable around the same group of people and have trouble breaking free and meeting new people.  Well, I wanted to ameliorate that unhealthy habit and decided to challenge myself to ‘meeting’ five new bloggers every week during the month of December.  I’m going to list each of the five bloggers here on my blog, leave a comment on at least one of their blog posts and tell you a little bit about them.  Last week was my first try at this challenge and to say the least, it was exhilarating! I had so much fun finding new and exciting bloggers to befriend and I quite enjoyed learning something new about each and every one.  Apparently, I’m not the only one who liked this idea because a number of you emailed me saying how much you identified with me and how excited you were to participate in this challenge.  Awesome!  That makes this challenge even more inspiring!

Hi there!

Image Credit – yanda.com

Without further ado, here are the five new bloggers I had the chance to introduce myself to this week…

Week 2 of Healthy Chow’s-a-Makin’-Some-New-Friends

• Cara’s Cravings – Cara is such an amazing person!  She just moved back to Canada, but has spent the past year living in South Korea with her husband, Adrian, teaching English.  She loves yoga (can’t blame her), cooking and most importantly, baking.  Just check out her delicious recipe for blueberry oat muffins – they look scrumptious!  And, Cara has just been commissioned to make the goodie bags for her sister’s wedding that’s coming up in the next two weeks.  Cara’s making gingerbread snowflakes – a wonderful idea, wouldn’t you say?  She’s a creative cook and baker with a zest for travel and life!

• The Healthy Everythingtarian – I love the name of this blog!  Holly is the healthy everythingtarian and is a Midwestern gal with a passion for food.  She calls herself this because she doesn’t want to restrict herself to just one type of eating – some days she eats vegetarian, some days she eats vegan and she eats meat on occasion.  Holly loves yoga (woo-hoo!  More yogis!  And she got into scissors pose – crazy!) and has even run a half-marathon.  This lady is funny, upbeat and has some fab recipes.  Check out the one for tahini cookies – so cool!  I have a feeling we might just see this girl on tv some day soon…

• Just Flourishing – Janna is doing more than ‘just flourishing’.  She is in full bloom!  When I stumbled upon her blog, I couldn’t help but be drawn to its vibrancy and energy.  Janna is visiting New York City until the end of December, but is originally from Winnipeg, Canada.  She aspires to become a registered dietitian.  While Janna’s been in New York, she’s taken advantage of the sights – check out her post on the tree lighting ceremony.  And, if you’re looking for some great holiday gift ideas, Janna has that covered.  Take a look – she has some creative and helpful suggestions.  Thanks Janna!

• Graze with Me – I’d like to graze with Jessie.  Just check out her fantastic banana burrito, post-workout protein shake and baked tofu – she had all these fabulous eats in one day!  ‘Mama Grazer’ is what Jessie has nicknamed herself, but I might call her ‘Mama Baker’.  Check out her amazing recipes for cranberry nut bread and pumpkin plum nut bread.  Like me, Jessie’s not big on running.  She rides the stationary bike, speed walks on an incline, is a Jillian Michaels fan and does her own strength training moves (who needs running?).  And also like me, she hearts her bowl of oats in the morning and likes her clif bars (they’re great snacks to keep in your handbag).

• Inner Wellness – I feel as though I’ve met Haleigh before?  I think when I first started blogging, she may have left a comment on my blog.  Nevertheless, when I saw Haleigh’s smiling face on her blog, I just had to introduce myself.  Haleigh loves to travel and explore other cultures.  In 2006, she met her Swedish husband and then moved to Sweden in 2007 after they got engaged.  Now, she’s living in Charlotte, NC and will be studying communications and journalism in the near future.  What really resonated with me is Haleigh’s definition of inner wellness – it’s profound and something to which I can totally relate.  And another thing I can relate to?  Haleigh’s gooey peanut butter nutella brownies!

Wow.  I think I’m actually getting pretty good at this.  It’s so liberating to be able to just ‘walk’ up to someone and just introduce myself and to get to know another person.  Even if I am doing this via my blog, it’s a good exercise in breaking free from my comfort zone and in breaking a bad habit.  If you haven’t already tried it, I highly suggest you give my challenge a chance.  Shall I say, “shaww-llonjje“?!  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please see the clip below…

It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ladies!

I’m watching Howie Mandel right now on tv and he’s talking about germs.  I tend to be a bit of a germaphobe (not as bad as Howie). What about you?  Do you carry hand sanitizer with you at all times and are leery about touching doorknobs and elevator buttons?  Or, does this type of thing not bother you?

Namasté,
Nicole

When I was young, single and in my twenties, and going to bars and clubs almost every weekend was the norm for me, it would always amaze me whenever I would see strangers approach other strangers.  It’s not as if I think it’s weird or socially unacceptable for people to introduce themselves to others, I just never did it myself.  The thought of walking up to a big group of people I didn’t even know and not being sure if they would warmly welcome me with open arms always frightened me.  Thus, whenever I was at a crowded bar or house party, I just stuck with my friends and those that knew me.  It’s sad to say, but I never rarely ventured out and met new people.

Now that I’m no longer in my twenties, I still can’t exactly say that I feel entirely comfortable introducing myself to complete strangers.  While I am getting better at it, I’ll admit it’s not my cup of tea.  I’m not sure why, but I just don’t feel at ease with putting myself out ‘there’.  Maybe it’s a fear or rejection?  Perhaps I just like sticking with those I know like me?  Or, could it be I’m just lazy?  Whichever the case might be, I know I need to ameliorate this situation and break free from my bad habit.  It’s really not doing me any good, and it’s not healthy.  And this blog is called, ‘Healthy Chow’, right?

Image Credit – eHow.com

Whenever I receive a comment from a blogger I don’t know or from a blog reader that I’ve never ‘talked’ to, I’m elated.  I love seeing new faces on my blog and knowing that there are new eyeballs reading my words.  It always makes me smile when someone introduces themselves to me on my blog and then I find that their blog is something with which I can totally vibe.  And then I ask myself the question, “why don’t I ever venture out on the blogosphere and ‘meet’ new bloggers?”  But, silence is deafening.  There isn’t an answer.  There isn’t an answer because there isn’t a good reason as to why I don’t actively try to meet new people.

That said, I’m challenging myself to meet five new bloggers every week for the month of December.  I am going to do a post every Tuesday listing the five new bloggers I’ve encountered, leave a comment on at least one of their blog posts and I’m going to tell you a little bit about them.  Sound like fun?

Image Credit – eHow.com

Week 1 of Healthy Chow’s-a-Makin’-Some-New-Friends

• Salt & Humor – Paula is the author of this blog and she is married to Jason.  She’s originally from Reno and is now living in Portland with Jason and their three kitties.  Check out the cute little snuggie for her smoothie!  Paula also is lovin’ her some tempeh; she’s a woman after my own heart!  BTW, take a look at her freshly made juices – aren’t they beautiful?
• Giant Scoops of Joy – Lauren is the scooper of the joy and is a newlywed.  She married her high school sweetheart, Joe, and it appears they are currently doing some remodeling on their home.  Lauren is a hoot and is quite creative in the kitchen.  Just check out her recipe for “pumpkin” cheese dip and spaghetti squash with spicy chickpea tomato sauce.  Like me, the one store that she could go to over and over again is Trader Joe’s!  Love her!
• Skinny Menny – Skinny Menny is really Menden.  She got her nickname when she was a child and was in her words, “extremely thin, always the shrimpiest kid in class.”  Now, she cooks and eats healthy and is active, to say the least.  Just check out her weekly workout log: yoga, zumba, P90X, running, spinning AND weight training!  BTW, Menden’s kitchen is gorgeous!  Check out her renovations. And while Menden is in her gorgeous kitchen, she is cooking up some awesome things.  Wish her good luck as she starts her new job today!
• Fit and Fabulous Life – This fit and fabulous life belongs to Melinda.  Melinda is currently residing in a small town with her husband but has plans to finish up their house remodel and sell their home in 2010, so that they can move closer to family.  And speaking of family, Melinda just found out that she’s going to become an aunt again.  In addition to making some fabulous recipes like broccoli & cauliflower casserole, Melinda has even published a few articles.  Check out the one about how cinnamon and honey can help with weight loss – it’s food for thought!
• Life After Bagels – I love the name of this blog!  This life belongs to Morgan.  Morgan lives in Toronto, ON with her boyfriend, Brad.  She’s works over 40 hours a week as a manager in the beauty industry (and recently got a promotion) and is a part-time student – wow, I think she’s a tad busy.  I loved her post about having a choice – it’s so true and I know I find myself in that situation so often.  Thanks for the words of wisdom!  And like me, Morgan can easily take a nap on her yoga mat.  But, she’s whittling her middle and putting that mat to some great use – nice plank, girl!

OK, so that wasn’t so bad!  I thoroughly enjoyed visiting these new blogs (new to me) and introducing myself.  It helped me to step out of my norm and to ‘meet’ some cool people.  What have I been waiting for?  You bloggies are all so wonderful and interesting; I really appreciate all that you do and the wonderful things you write about on your blogs.  Who needs television? And because this was such a fun and mind-opening exercise, I challenge you to do the same each week until the end of this year.  Are you with me?! I know we can take this on! Let’s do this!!!

Image Credit – MichaelHyatt.com

What bad habit do you need to break free from?  What’s a good habit of yours?

Namasté,
Nicole