Supernatural Botanicals

Bell jars make backyard gardening so easy.  Positioned on top of sunken pots of lettuces, they create a greenhouse-like effect for accelerated growth of plants, and also do double-duty by protecting young growing plants from frost.  They also look beautiful in your garden, making your backyard garden aesthetically more appealing to the eye.

I buy vintage garden bell jars any time I find them.  Although they are glass, they are made of very thick, very hard to break glass.  They are also very heavy, so you won’t have a problem with rabbits or squirrels knocking them over.  They give your garden instant “wow” factor.  It turns a backyard garden into an English garden look-a-like in seconds.  Perfect for lettuces.  Talk about a garden salad!  Super-fresh and delicious.

Working out does more for you than boost your sex appeal.  According to a recent study by the University of Bristol in England, there are serious perks to exercising before or during your workday.  They found that 72% of people improved their time management, 74% managed their workload better, and 79% were sharper and more focused.   Switch your workouts to early morning or midday to gain the added benefits above.

   At 540 calories a pop for Wendy’s large fries, an average person weighing 125 pounds would have to vigorously (10-12 mph) bike for 87 minutes in order to burn those fries off.  Is it worth it?  Only you can make the call. 

   We’re all guilty of the occasional fast food meal, some of us more guilty than others.  Luckily, we don’t have to write off fast food completely.  If you make better choices, fast food can be relatively healthy. 

The Guide To Healthy Resaturant Eating lists restaurants by name, providing a step-by-step guide on healthy choices, from entrees and appetizers.  This book is perfect to keep in your car for those sudden munchie attacks.  Do quick research before you pull through that drive through.  Learn how to snack and eat wisely and commit to it for a bikini body by 4th of July! 

Recessionista Tip:  Don’t throw those bananas out just because they are starting to get brown spots on the peel.  You can throw the bananas in the freezer in their peel until you are ready to use them.  The peels will turn black in the freezer, but the bananas will be delicious and ripe on the inside.  Thaw bananas before using to make numerous recipe such as banana bread, banana nut muffins, banana pancakes, smoothies, chocolate dipped frozen bananas, etc.  Utilize everything that you have on hand and become a Recessionista Diva!  In this economy, no wasting is allowed.

   Having an herb garden means having easy side dishes for dinner.  Take a bag of baby carrots or new potatoes and place on a baking sheet, drizzle them with olive oil, and generously sprinkle with fresh herbs (I used Rosemary, Sweet Lemon Thyme, and Parsley here.)  Throw them into a hot oven, 475, for 15-20 minutes until completely roasted.   How easy can that be?  Healthy, fast and delicious and it looks great in a serving bowl on the table. 

Did you know?… Drinking a glass of room temperature water with a squeeze of lemon first thing in the morning helps you to burn more calories all day long.  Lemon acts as a blood pressure stabilizer, which revs up your metabolism and burns calories every step of the way.

   Whether you need a quick bite for friends who suddenly show up on your door step, or if you just want to look like a rockstar to your kids and their friends, you can make this in seconds with zero effort.

Grab a great serving platter, then put rinsed strawberries on one half of the platter, Oreo cookies (low fat, double stuffed…whatever you like) around the other half of the platter, and Fat-Free Cool Whip in a bowl in the center (not the bowl that it came in, please.)  (editorial note….Fat-Free Cool Whip tastes just as great as regular.  It’s one of the few foods on the market that you can’t taste the fat-free-ness in the product.  It’s delicious!)

It’s all in the presentation.  Great serving platter  + Great center bowl + Display beautifully = Big results for little effort.  Perfect for a picnic (keep Cool Whip in the cooler on ice until ready to serve.)

   Think about your end game.  Did you know, you’d have to walk far longer than it’s worth  9 miles to burn off one Cinnabon?  At 730 calories and 24 grams of fat, this thunder-thigh-inducing treat may cost more than you’re willing to pay. 

Latest obsession…South Beach Living Chocolate high protein cereal bars.  Insane!  Totally delicious.  Only 140 calories, 10 grams of protein, and 10 vitamins and minerals.  Protein keeps you full for hours (and 10 grams is good!)  Great for in between meals.  Perfect for chocolate cravings.