Guilty Pleasures & Self-bodywork

I’ve been treating myself to a new evening ritual. It starts with my latest guilty pleasure – my pandora Christmas jazz station. I know I know — super cheesy. I won’t make any excuses.

What’s next in the ritual is self-bodywork with my Yoga Tune Up® balls. If you haven’t tried bodywork with balls, I highly recommend it. Self-bodywork offers a method to unload the muscles and nervous system. This counteracts the loading that daily activity and holiday buzz create. I love the Yoga Tune Up® balls that I received as a gift, but any kind will work. You can purchase lacrosse balls at your local sporting goods store for under $2 a pop. Once you have your toys, pick an area of your body and get rolling!

I can only describe self-massage with therapy balls in one way: It hurts so good. Play around to find those sweet spots that crave attention. Focus on breathing to facilitate a sweet release. You can view instructional videos from the link below to learn exercises that target specific muscle groups.

YOGA THERAPY BALL EXERCISES 
by Yoga Tune Up® – Yoga Therapy

No guilt about what’s burning below! This candle is calorie-free but and oh so sweet. The aroma of gingerbread fills my home and heart with delight.

Whatever your guilty pleasure, let love be your holiday treat of choice this season. Read Holiday Guide to Balance for strategies to nourish yourself from the inside out all season long.

Guide to Holiday Balance

xoxo, Rita

Warmest Season & Performance Art

There is a light dusting of snow on the ground and yet this is still the warmest season. This time of year inspires me to get cozy with layers, laughter, and love.

There was plenty of love to go around at last week’s family gathering in honor of my grandparents’ 55th wedding anniversary. Layers of seasonal courses prepared by the the chef du cuisine at The Herb Lyceum showed the dynamic impact of farm to table cooking. The carriage house of the herb farm was converted to an intimate country restaurant seating venue. Red wine filled our glasses and we filled a private dining room with our raucous discourse and laughter. This was a truly memorable way to celebrate the love that spans through such tremendous people.

“When designing menus I find inspiration from the rhythms of the seasons. I feel it is important that each course is performance art for the palate.” - Chef Will Gilson of The Herb Lyceum

Speaking of performance art… I’d like to introduce you to my latest creative affiliation with the Aqualillies. 

“Aqualillies is America’s hottest water ballet entertainment company, reinventing the classic art form for the new millennium”.

Aqualillies New York

Aqualillies are turning up the heat in pools all over the country. The LA based company, founded by Mesha Kussman in 2008, has recently expanded to Miami, New York, and Las Vegas. I am thrilled to be performing with the NYC ‘Lillies in 2013. Check out the Aqualillies holiday highlights and watch out for upcoming pool parties near you!

Wishing you warmth and cheer,
Rita

Never Too Late for Pumpkins

Halloween has come and passed, but it’s never too late for PUMPKINS!

A couple of weeks ago I enjoyed white water rafting in Maine with some dear friends. The ride down the river was almost as cold as it was exhilarating. In between the rapids, we picked out all our favorite trees and fiery leaves on the river banks. The drive back home was full of winding roads and mountain towns. We passed by farm after farm, enjoying the peak of Maine’s foliage. We rounded out our ultimate fall weekend with hot apple cider rum drinks, apple picking, and my very first PUMPKIN carve! This was a nice alternative to last year’s construction paper jack-o-lantern project, also very fun.

Thanks for letting me geek out about arts and crafts, but I promise this is going somewhere. When it comes to PUMPKINS, there is more than cutting them up and turning them into pie.

Here’s a summary of the PUMPKIN nutrient profile:

It is a good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Potassium, Copper and Manganese. This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. Data from USDA.

Read More: COMPLETE PUMPKIN NUTRITION FACTS (via SELF Nutrition)

Below are a few of my favorite PUMPKIN recipes:

1. TURKEY PUMPKIN CHILI (via Whole Foods)
This is seriously yum! I’m not a huge meat-eater, but I love the way lean turkey comes together with the creamy pumpkin in this recipe, pictured below.

2. HEARTY LENTIL PUMPKIN CHILI (via yours truly)
If you dig a hearty vegetarian chili option, you’ll love this recipe I created.

3. SPICED PUMPKIN SEEDS (via Whole Living)
Be sure to keep your pumpkin guts! These make for a crispy and delightful snack.

What are your favorite pumpkin recipes? Leave a comment and share your favorite recipe links!

Be well,
Rita