Sexy (Healthy) Food

The library offered an aphrodisiac foods information and tasting event. I signed up weeks ago!

Who does not love food? How much inspiration do we need to further see it as sexy? Just the act of eating can invigorate the senses.

Somehow I messed up when I was supposed to be where and missed the presentation. Arriving at the tail end I got a speed through explanation for all the offerings but also each of the samples. I am really liking this!

All Night Long Milkshake 

Bananas Avocado and Chocolate 

2 Cups cold Almond Milk 1 Cup Ice
1 Ripe Banana 
½ Of one Avocado 
2 Tablespoons Almond Butter 
2 Tablespoons Raw cacao powder 
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds 
2 Tablespoons of Honey or more to taste 

Usually I dislike banana added to things. Usually I dislike avocados in total.

Chocolate! Almost everybody likes chocolate.

I would never have thought of putting them all together. It is delightful to discover what I don’t like in banana is cut with avocado and that banana makes avocado palatable. 

Further experimenting is necessary.

There were more samples of food items. 

Bread with oil, raspberries stuffed with a chocolate cream of some sort and gingerbread. Oh I wish I had that recipe it was delish! 

It looked like chocolate cake or I would not have tasted it. I am not sure there was chocolate in it to give it such a rich color of if that might have just been molasses.

The last sampling the presenters left us with was for a take home project. We got little tiny mason jars and were instructed to fill them with options on the table. 

We were making a hot cocoa mix. Laid out before us was powdered sugar and powdered cocoa. The ratio for the base mix is one and a half portions sugar to one portion powdered cocoa. 

There were spices on hand and on the pamphlet that we were encouraged to mix in.
 
Ginger 
Cloves 
Cinnamon 
Chili Powder 
Cardamom 
Vanilla 
Bitter Sweet or Dark Chocolate

I opted out of add ins since I add spices to my home brewed coffee and I like my cocoa more of a pure chocolaty experience. I can’t wait to heat up some milk and try this mixture out. 

I have also turned away from the general hot cocoa mixes that can be found at regular grocery stores but once in a while I miss them. It will be nice to have a recipe I can whip up on my own.

The over all presentation was educational and not just sensory although arriving late had me focusing on the samples. 

The presenters looked into and shared with us reasons for certain foods being on the aphrodisiac list. Many are stimulants that increase blood flow. Some just taste yummy.

Others are a little messy which can be fun in a variety of ways. Natural foods keep us healthy and vibrant which is also important too when it comes to fun and reproduction.

Another concept that came up is that the mind is a large part of what makes us sexy. What we think influences how we feel.

Voting Independent

As I have mentioned in this protracted political series here on the blog, when I came of voting age I sat down to read about the parties I could align myself with.


I liked many things I saw. There were things I did not like. In the end it felt like no one party completely represented all that was important to me.

I am all for peace for instance but I am a military BRAT. Meaning both of my parents were soldiers. I also understand that the 50 united mostly connected states are a huge target. We must be prepared to defend ourselves and help others in need.

I believe there are things the government should do, handle, regulate and over see. The vast majority of things I understand that states should have control over.

Both major parties have been involved in scandals and perhaps worse, politics as usual. I might love some really new fresh non partisan ideas. I am still waiting.

So I signed on as an Independent.

I was more liberal as a wayward teen. I enjoyed being under Clinton. I also had no problem sitting under the Bush’s maybe they reminded me of the elders in my past.

I take an interest in issues represented by propositions on my ballots. I care about the officials we elect because character matters.

I try to assess them by their actions, stance and record not just party affiliations.

When new parties pop up into view I take a serious moment to look over what they represent. I am not so locked in to the two major sides that I cannot conceive of more or different.

If it seems or sounds confusing to think of contemplating multiple parties it is really not.

I know more people struggle with accepting whole party platforms. I hope they do not do it out of fear and miss information.

There are some restrictions when voting as a registered Independent but there are restrictions and implications when registering with parties as well.

I have no regrets or misgivings.

I like being free to do what I feel the country needs not just what one group expects from me. I usually run just a little off the grain and or grid. This is not collective think. We are individuals.

So I registered last month. I have moved too many times in the past four years. I finally went to vote by mail. Not because I want to mail it in. I do that so I can sit at home to fill out my ballot.

The day of I just want to drop off my signed envelope and get my sticker!
 

I hope you voted AI, D, G, I, L, P…maybe…, R or something other. We could use that write in slot to sweep the country for change one year!

For now there is plenty on the ballots to get behind. Individual issues not party affiliations.

That is the life blood of any nation. Citizens have to grasp hold of that. 

Photos supplied by http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Undecided Voter 2012

It took me until late last month to remember the reason for undecided voters. I know there are actually many. Still I am talking about why candidates stump and have debates.

All citizens in good standing have the right to vote and should exercise it. This includes being informed which is not always easy. It takes time.  

With everything that one can find out on paper or online the in public test of a candidates abilities cannot be ignored. 

Not everyone inspires admiration when they speak or draws people in with their communication. Some people do it better than others. Leaders emerge when put to the test. Those who would follow them are in receiver mode and latch on when they hear something they need, want or perceive as beneficial.

Never the less there are the non-informed coin flippers that will vote. I remember hearing “the parties are the same” a lot during previous election seasons.

For those who feel this way the issues on the table are not ones that concern them. Worse is when people get jaded and don’t think their voice/vote counts. 

The current POTUS has had these four years to present himself and his abilities to us. 

The deck was stacked against him with those who did not vote him in but there was always hope. There have even been changes here and there.  

Some were disappointing but most not shockingly so. 

I was discussing the issues with a contact who said for the first time in her various voting years she was not enthusiastically attracted to either major party candidate for president. I was a bit shocked. 

The right person for a job is not always someone you want to 'go grab a beer with'.

Having someone personally so warm, fuzzy and impressive that you might want them in your living room is gravy. What a big nation or organization needs is someone to make the hard decisions, tow the line and bear the responsibility.

This year there were a few key things so important to me the only option was to align with whoever could support them. 

Thus proving the quote “Politics make strange bedfellows.”

It is not a blind alignment. I watched all year to make sure those I was looking to did not disqualify themselves by showing fear, weakness or faltering on the things I wanted them to stand for.

Many people were waiting for this moment when basically all has been said and done.
 

There are those who dislike all the options equally.

The questions are marinating.

“Is voting non mainstream really a vote against the major party candidate they would most like?"

Video #3

Hello Again All,

I think I might be getting the hang of video blogging. I am still not a huge fan. Or if I am there is still something about the written word.

My lame camera does not help. Maybe it is helping you. It is keeping me still and calm. I would love to be more animated.

That makes things blurry however. Instead I am trying to keep still and in frame. Oh well. Enjoy!

Find Ms Munchie on her blog or on Twitter where I think I met her.

Healthy Fall Eating

Here we are going in to the fall season. The nation exploded with chatter about the Pumpkin Spice Starbucks Latte. 
 

I have never had one. The one I had from another local vendor was less than impressive. 

I am a Mocha kind of girl who adds spices to her French Pressed coffee already to achieve various flavor intensity all year.

I mention the seasonal treat for a couple of reasons. One is that issue of seasonal tastes and treats. We all enjoy food. It is half the fun of eating and many times part of the reason trying to get a handle on things, when they are out of whack in our diet can be so hard.

Certain tastes flavors and textures just lend themselves to times of the year.

One of the more problematic reasons I mentioned the seasonal latte is because drinking extra calories can be a real diet saboteur. 

The liquids we consume might be a key to weight and a host of other issues we are facing. Maybe tomorrow I will make a post on water consumption. I know it is not every ones favorite thing to drink as far as taste and flavors are concerned. Still doing what is best for one’s health is our goal.

I do not drink water because I like it. I gulp it down because it is good for me. If only ingesting vegetables was also this easy for me…

If you are dreading the season we have entered not to mention the winter months to follow due to all the delightful food temptations headed our way please take heart. 

Do not dread. Eating well does not mean you cannot have treats. It means you need to eat more balanced.

It means you need to add fiber and water. Living well will include getting moving if you are not already and weight loss will get a mighty shot in the arm if you ramp up your work out even for a few weeks.

As October is winding to a close get a food journal going. By the first of next month you should see your patterns and weak spots.

If you are not eating three or more meals evenly spaced throughout the day your body probably assumes you are in a famine and is reacting by hoarding calories.

When you are improperly hydrated (this means not drinking water) it slows down your metabolism. You want your metabolism on RED HOT and on HIGH. 

You accomplish this first by:

1. Eating 
2. Hydration
3. Less Junk Foods 
4. Less Highly Processed Complex Food 
5. Enjoying Simple Natural Whole Food Items

I am convinced a person cannot over consume for their activity level on a one ingredient natural diet. 

The great thing is by switching out even one or two meals or snacks that are usually chips or a baked good low in fiber for something easier to digest it frees up calories to purpose towards a treat or extra.

35 Blogging Prompts

I have gotten out of the blogging/writing habit. This is bad as school days come to a close and papers are due.

It is even worse for the poor little blog which just sits here.

The irony is there are things I want to write about. I just do not feel like I feel like writing if that makes any sense.

I even have a ton of blog prompts jotted down on pieces of paper. So today I help myself in a few ways.I am also helping you who need a jolt of inspiration. 

Worse case scenario you will know all about what my blog posts through the end of the year will look like.

What is more likely to happen: Life.

I write about what is going on, what has happen or whatever captures my passion when I come to the page.

Animals – Elephant

My 1^st Car

Real overnight successes

Sisters or growing up without them…

Exercise

Hair…

Independent Voters

Undecided Voters

Why I write Non Fiction

San Francisco

New York

Jig Saw Puzzles

Girlfriend Get Aways

Multiple Streams of Income

Direct Selling Adventures

Pizza Box Guitar for kids

Politics

Adoption/Foster Care

Teenagers

Being the scoop

Stories of my teen antics

Bacon or Coffee

TV Viewing Seasonal

Neighbors

Public Service

Public (Motivational) Speaking

Sustainable Living

Sugar Substitutes and Cancer risks

Job Hunting

Colds and Flu/Prevention and fighters

Movies

Attachment Parenting

Fashion

Fall

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