Marilu Henner's Blog, page 191

Spirit Sunday * Say 'thank you'

It's the season of gratitude for all things good and beautiful in our lives.

Take time to thank the people in your life, too, for all the ways they've helped you become the amazing person you are today.

Not every relationship we have is easy (in fact, most aren't easy at all), but every one has shaped us. Honor that, and say 'thank you' to the people who've made a difference in your life. If you can't say it in person, write it in a letter (even if you can't mail it). Let them know you're grateful.

//www.marilu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/01 Thank You - Single.mp3

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Purchase "Thank You" by Jim Brickman (featuring Matt Giraud) on iTunes.

 

Don't forget your camera!

If you send out holiday cards, be sure to carry your camera around during the next couple of weeks.

Candid photos of your family members – and pets – will make fun photo cards or collages. Get pics of the kids going to school, everyone hanging around the dinner table, a family basketball game. If you're single, go on a photo day with a friend and take pics of each other exploring your city (someone will gladly take a pic of both of you together, too).

It's so easy to get photo cards printed at your local drugstore or discount store, or to make a collage on your computer. You just need some fun photos to make into cards!

Bonus * If you have extended family members with digital photo frames, send them the photos to add to their frame, too.

 

Say NO to news

Take a break from the news this weekend. So often we get dragged down into the negativity of what's reported in the media. So turn off the news, walk away from your RSS feed and Google alerts, stay away from newspapers and news magazines – just for a couple of days.

Live in your present reality this weekend. Create a safe and happy place for yourself and your loved ones, and enjoy each other's company. The news will wait until Monday.

 

It's enough to maintain…

Just don't gain!

Don't stress out about losing weight over the holidays; it can be hard enough to maintain your current weight. Weigh yourself today, and promise yourself that the number you see on New Year's Day won't be any higher.

 

Fitness Friday * Field trip

Take a walk on the wild side! Visit your local zoo or animal park or aquarium. It's a fun activity for the whole family over a holiday weekend, too (and more invigorating than going to a movie).

Make a day of it and plan to walk the whole park – maybe twice! Pay attention to how different animals move, and try to copy them. Look at what they eat, and compare it to what you eat. Go ahead and make the sounds they want, too, if you want.

 

Turn up the heat!

It's time to turn up the heat. Let's make sure you are prepared for the cold winter ahead.

Stay on top of all the things your house needs to keep you warm efficiently. Change your furnace filter. Get your boiler inspected every 5 years. Maybe even have your heating ducts cleaned – you can at least remove the grate and stick the vacuum hose in there. Check your water heater.

Check your windows and doors for leaks (hold a lit candle around the edges; if the flame bends or goes out (!) you need to do some caulking!). You may want to think about window shrink-wrap, too.

Make sure the damper in your fireplace is closed (until you're ready to build a fire).

Use an area rug or a "door snake" against the bottom of an exterior door to cut the draft across the floor.

Get on the budget saver plan with your utility company! Level out those payments, so you aren't afraid to use the heat!

Now that it's getting cooler and heaters are blowing, check your indoor plants and move them if they're too close to heat ducts or radiators. You can also add decorations for the holidays by wrapping a ribbon around pots.

 

Featured recipe from Marilu's table * Cranberry-pear wild rice stuffing

"Vegetarian Thanksgiving" can be a foreign concept for some families. Remember that a traditional Thanksgiving meal is a harvest feast. Focus on the bounty from the local harvest, and you'll have an amazing meal.

Today's recipe is perfect as a vegan main dish when stuffed into baked winter squash. Acorn squash is a good choice because half a squash is a good single serving, but if you have another favorite, go for it.

Don't pay for croutons or prepared stuffing cubes. Just save the heels of bread and any other slices of bread or buns as they start to get stale. Keep them in a bag in the freezer. A couple of days before making stuffing, take the bread from the freezer and set it out on clean dishtowels overnight. Then slice the bread into cubes and allow it to dry overnight again. Easy and no waste!

If you need bread crumbs, just whiz the bread in a food processor after letting it thaw and dry over one night. Keep the breadcrumbs in the freezer.

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Cranberry-Pear Wild Rice Stuffing

Green * Serves 8

2-1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

2/3 cup raw wild rice

1-1/2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 large celery stalk, diced

2 medium firm pears (such as Bosc), cored and diced

4 cups finely diced whole grain bread

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts

2 teaspoons salt-free seasoning (such as Spike or Mrs. Dash)

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, to taste

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1/2 cup apple or pear juice, or as needed

Bring the broth to a simmer in a small saucepan. Stir in the wild rice, then cover and simmer gently until the liquid is absorbed, about 35 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Heat the oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the celery and sauté over medium heat until both are golden. Combine the onion-celery mixture with the cooked wild rice and all the remaining ingredients except the apple juice in a mixing bowl. Toss gently to combine. Drizzle the apple juice in slowly, stirring all the while, until the mixture is evenly moistened.

To bake as a standalone dish: Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled, large shallow baking dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top begins to get slightly crusty.

Or bake acorn squash halves (seeded and scraped clean) halfway, then fill with the stuffing and bake the rest of the way. Garnish each serving with two slices of red Bosc pear, if desired.

 

Firm up your booty

We love this song to accompany our squats and lunges – the not-always-fun-but-always-effective moves to firm and tone that booty. The tempo keeps us from rushing through the movements, and the lyrics… well, the lyrics are exactly what's going through our head anyway, so we may as well hear them from someone with a better voice.

//www.marilu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/07 - Mercy.mp3

Here are some tips and ideas for squats and lunges *

When you squat and do lunges, make sure your knees are lined up over your ankles. If that means you need to move your feet – to a wider or narrower stance for squats, or to a longer or shorter stride for lunges – then move your feet!

When you squat, stick your booty out a bit, like you're sitting down in a chair. Don't overdo it – you should still be upright – but show what's back there, you know?

Start with some squats, then turn to the left and do a bunch of lunges. Turn back to the center and do more squats, then turn to the right and do a bunch of lunges. And repeat.

Alternate wide and narrow (feet together) squats as you step-squat-step-squat-step-squat in one direction. When you run out of space (or there's a good musical break), go back the other direction.

Try curtsy-kicks. Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Move your left leg behind the right leg, and bend, as though you're doing a curtsy. When you pick up your left leg, do a side kick to the left. Repeat a bunch of times. Then do it all again on the right.

Amazon.com Widgets

 

Sponsor a turkey

Not everyone eats turkey at Thanksgiving. If you prefer to celebrate by saving a turkey, consider Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey Project which offers a compassionate alternative for Thanksgiving.

Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary has rescued more than 1,000 turkeys, placed hundreds into loving homes through our annual Turkey Express adoption event, educated millions of people about their plight, and provided resources for a cruelty-free holiday. For a one-time $30 donation, anyone can sponsor turkeys residing at Farm Sanctuary.

Photo courtesy of Farm Sanctuary

 

Say NO to low-energy days

There's nothing worse than a low-energy day as we head into the holiday season – except maybe a string of low-energy days.

The best way to combat low-energy is by taking care of yourself. Caffeine and those chemical-laden energy drinks are a waste of money and dangerous for your health.

Go to bed at a reasonable hour. Studies have shown that getting a couple of hours of sleep before midnight is especially helpful.

Get 6-8 hours of sleep each night. Individual needs vary, but usually fall in this range.

Drink water as your primary beverage. Cut out all sodas and caffeinated beverages. Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks a day, and no more than five drinks a week. Drink a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume.

Eat a minimum of 5 servings of vegetables a day, and make at least one of those leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc.).

Cut out the sugar and sweeteners. They may give you a boost, but it's only a temporary feeling before the crash.

Exercise every day. Do something that makes you break a sweat, and then keep it up for 10 more minutes. Exercise helps you sleep better, metabolize food better, and helps reduce stress.

Cut back on animal proteins. They take more energy to digest, and you want that energy for other tasks.