The Zen of River Rock Stacking

I've searched the web and cannot get a concrete answer as to why people stack rocks. I've learned that people do it all over the world. Some stack rocks for religious practice, some stack rocks for relaxation and a part of meditation, and then there are some that are artists who stack rock sculptures that are absolutely beautiful to see.

If anyone knows the tru meaning or other meaning of rock stacking, please let me know. As of now the river rocks that I've gathered while tubing in the river are going to be used as a decoration in my home, and a wonderful remembrance of the fun I had with my family that day.









Above is a photo of my river rocks.

Tubing Down Esopus River Is Awesome!!!!

Theres nothing more fun than planning last minute trips. Last night my husband told me and Raymond to set the alarm early, because we were going to take a trip upstate and go tubing down the Esopus River! I have to admit that I was nervous because I've heard that you could get hurt if you flip over and hit the rocks. Needless to say, we got up this morning and started our drive.

The weather was absolutely perfect for tubing, and the views of the trees and mountains were absolutley breathtaking. It would have been worth the trip just to drive up there to sit and just look at the views. We get our tubes, put on our life jackets...and yes, I wore a helmet and a wetsuit. I looked absolutely hysterical, but after standing there and hearing the long list of things that your head could possibly bang into, you would wear a helmet too. The wetsuit I could have done without, but it also would prevent me from getting scraped by the rocks if I fell in the water...so this was the first time in my life where I would sacrifice looking good for safety!!!! Lol

The bus drops us off on a path where we have to carry our tubes in the cold water. Ugh!!!! Here we go! In the first 2 minutes, my husband was the first to flip over into the water. Lol The water was choppy in some sections and calm and peaceful in others. We had a blast as we were flying down the choppy parts. There were times where we got stuck between rocks and had to push our way around them, while water was gushing around us. Omg, we couldn't stop laughing!

At the end of the river, we walked back up a rocky path. I stopped and picked up some river rocks, so I can stack them at home. (I will blog another post about stacking stones.)

This experience was so special to me. I couldn't thank Bobby enough for taking me and Raymond there. It's a perfect way to end the summer and start school on Tuesday.

The Great Egg Debate

Finally I found an article on Livestrong.com that agrees with me that eating a whole egg, not just the egg white, is actually healthy for you...and you won't gain weight!

EDITOR'S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING POST IS BY LIVESTRONG.COM NUTRITION ADVISOR MIKE ROUSSELL, AUTHOR OF "THE 6 PILLARS OF NUTRITION." FOR MORE GREAT INFORMATION FROM DR. MIKE, VISIT HIM AT MIKEROUSSELL.COM.

Myth: Eggs make you fat

Truth: Eggs are a great food for weight loss

You may have heard that eating eggs will make you fat as 60 percent of the calories in eggs come from fat. However, eating fat doesn’t make you fat and eggs are a calorie-controlled food designed to maximize weight loss not prevent it. One egg is only 70 calories, with a great balance of 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat. The protein/fat combination of increases satiety hormones (the ones that tell your brain you are full). The protein in eggs also causes your body to release the hormone glucagon, which encourages your body to release and use stored carbohydrates and fat.

To prove the point, compare eggs to rice cakes—a timeless “diet” food. Two rice cakes also contain 70 calories, but with no protein or fat. Those calories come from 14 grams of high glycemic, fat-cell stuffing, refined carbohydrates, which makes it a much less desirable choice. 

Myth: You should only eat egg whites

Truth: Enjoy the entire egg (yolk included)

The ‘egg white only’ movement was birthed out of the mass movement to remove as much cholesterol and fat from the American diet as a way to fight heart disease and obesity. An egg white contains all protein (3.5 grams per egg); the rest of the nutrients, protein, and fat are hiding in the yolk, which means the yellow is the most nutritious part. Egg yolks contain 240mg of leucine, the amino acid single handedly responsible for flipping your genetic muscle building switch. But egg yolks are much more than just a muscle building nutrient. They also include choline (essential for cell membrane function), cholesterol (which serve as the molecular framework for multiple hormones in the body), vitamin A , vitamin D, and vitamin E. You can also get eggs that come from chickens who were fed omega-3 rich feed, the omega-3s in their feed enriches the omega-3 fats in the yolk, giving you as much as also contain 150mg of the long chain omega-3 fat DHA . Enjoy the entire egg to take advantage of all the nutritional benefits.

Myth: Eggs raise your cholesterol

Truth: Eggs don’t impact cholesterol levels

Reducing blood cholesterol levels has been a major public health mission for decades. It would make complete sense that if you wanted to decrease the amount of cholesterol in your blood stream then you should reduce the amount of cholesterol that you are eating. That’s why eggs have typically been touted as dangerous, as it contain approximately 200 mg per serving. 

The problem: Dietary cholesterol doesn’t actually raise cholesterol as much as you might think. In fact, only 30 percent of people experience significant increases in cholesterol levels following a diet high in cholesterol. Researchers from Harvard looked at the dietary habits of more than 100,000 people and concluded that daily egg consumption in healthy individuals didn’t increase risk of coronary heart disease. What’s more, a study from the University of Connecticut found that eating 3 eggs per day as part of a low carbohydrate improved HDL (‘good’) cholesterol without any negative health effects.

Dolphins In The Ocean!!!!

I went to the beach yesterday and as soon as I found a spot to plant myself down, I saw everyone running towards the water, yelling, "Look at the dolphins!!!!" so of course I got up and ran towards the water also. It was such an amazing sight to see. They looked as if they were playing with one another, or putting on a show for us.
Although this excitement only lasted about 5 minutes before they were long gone, it put me in such a better mood than I already was.



(I stopped on the side of the road and took a photo of the beach from a distance)

Sometimes little unexpected surprises can make huge changes in our lives. I never saw dolphins swimming at any beach I've been to on Long Island, so this was a real treat.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Support of Family and Friends

There's no better feeling when you have support from your family and friends in life. Going back to school after I've just graduated a couple of months ago, is not the easiest decision to make. Its hard to believe that in a couple of weeks I will be reading, studying, and being tested again. However, my friends and family have already started to cheer me on and I'm getting even more excited to start my new adventure.

I know I'm making the right choice about going back to school again, and will be so proud of myself when I'm finished with the program and receive the certification.

Life is too short to focus on the excuses we make as to why we shouldn't do something. I have to keep focusing on how many people I will be helping, and how good that will make me feel!!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Certified Life Coach

Well, here I go again. I'm back in school! A year before I graduated this past June, I've been putting a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to continue on to grad school. The thought of going back full time, for at least two more years, was hard for me to swallow at that moment. After much research, I've decided to check out only accredited schools, and go back for life coaching. I start on September 4th.

With my schooling in psychology and the education I will get from coaching, my only hopes are to work with women who are "stuck" in their lives and need coaching to get them to the next level they should be and watch them live a happier life. I've had some rough patches in my life, but I always managed to keep going and not blame the past or my present situation as an excuse for me not to join something, travel some where, change jobs, or meet new people. Staying stagnant in ones life, to me, is like being suffocated. That's why there are so many people walking around out there that are confused or stressed out. They're still sitting in the same place, breathing in that stagnant air.

I have an amazing supportive husband who would love nothing more than for me to stay home for a while and do the things I love to do, but never had the time to do when I was working full time and going to school for my bachelors. So even though I'm getting to do yoga every day, practice the change of my lifestyle of eating, read more, bike more, lay on the beach and relax, visit friends and family members during the day when the warm sun is on my skin, and be the loving mother and wife I can be, there's still that part in me that is not complete...and that's the ability to help someone who needs me. (Note that I purposely mentioned every enjoyable thing on purpose, not to make the working moms sick and want to hunt me down and clock me over the head with envy, lol, but only so you can see that if someone like me can still want to go further with school at this point of my life, then I must be truly driven to achieve the next level in my education so I can help someone in the future)

Wish me luck everyone, cause I'm going in!!!!! Lol

Chia Pudding

I was talking to my girlfriend this morning about chia seeds, and I'm going to have to share this recipe that I just found with her.
I have all the ingredients in my kitchen, so I'm going to have to make it and try it!!!!!! This chia craze is insane. I was in the vitamin section at CVS today, and there were chia seeds in a bottle!

Chocolate Chia Pudding

Chocolate chia pudding is very light in flavor and not very filling, so I advise adding fruit for extra flavor and heartiness. You can use up to a cup of any fruit you like, but cherries and raspberries are my favorites.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (I used soymilk)



• 1/2 teaspoon double-strength vanilla extract (or 1 tsp. regular)



• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder



• sweetener of choice, to taste (I used 2 scoops of KAL pure stevia powder)



• 3 tablespoons chia seeds



• 1/2 to 1 cup raspberries, cherries, or other fruit, plus additional for garnish

Instructions

1. Place the milk, vanilla, and cocoa into the blender and add sweetener to taste (about 2 servings worth). Blend until cocoa is completely incorporated.



2. Pour milk mixture into a bowl and add the chia seeds. Stir well, making sure that all the seeds are moistened. Leave out on the counter and stir periodically (about every 15 minutes or so), breaking up any clusters that form. Allow it to stand until the pudding has thickened and all liquid has been absorbed, at least an hour.



3. Refrigerate. Just before serving, stir in fruit. Serve topped with additional fruit.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s) | Cooking (standing) time: 1 hour(s)

Number of servings (yield): 2

Nutrition (per serving): 123 calories, 52 calories from fat, 6.2g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 17.9mg sodium, 243.3mg potassium, 12.2g carbohydrates, 8.8g fiber, 2g sugar, 7g protein, 3.8 points.