Marilu Henner's Blog, page 204

Make cleaning fun for everyone

There's nothing worse than a long weekend (or even a short weekend) of resentful faces because it's time to clean the house or yard. So make it fun for everyone, and remember to plan lots of free time and play time, too.

Here are some ideas to make cleaning into a game.

How many minutes? * Whether you're alone or working as a team, take a look around the designated room and decide how fast you can clean it. State it as a challenge: "I/We can clean this room in 10 minutes!" Then set a timer ...

New class starts Wednesday

"What Would Marilu Do?" is the next class at Marilu.com starting Wednesday, September 8th. This is a totally new class offered exclusively to members of Marilu.com!

If you've ever been faced with a choice in your eating, exercise or lifestyle habits, and wondered What Would Marilu Do?…

this is your chance to find out.

Marilu will be sharing the details of her life: her health and beauty routines, her food and exercise choices, the responsibilities of her career and her personal and family ...

Fitness Friday * Work that booty

Work that booty (glutes) and the backs of your thighs (hamstrings), too.

Kneel on the floor with your elbows and forearms flat on the floor. Keep your elbows directly below your shoulders, and your knees directly below your hips.

Straighten your right leg behind you, toes rested on the floor. Keep your back flat, your abs tight, and your hips square. Keeping your right leg straight, use your buttocks to lift the entire leg up. Slowly lower it back to the floor and repeat twice. Do not arch...

Featured recipe from Marilu's table * Oatmeal coconut squares

Make these bars for the holiday weekend and save some for your brown bag lunches.

Freeze the bars individually after they've cooled if a whole pan is too many at once.

It's easy to make the bars vegan with egg replacer, and you can substitute dried cranberries for the chocolate chips if you'd rather skip the chocolate. The maple sugar is expensive, but worth it. Look for it in bulk bins and just buy what you need.

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Oatmeal Coconut Squares with Chocolate Chips
Yellow * Makes 16...

Plan ahead

What's your plan for Labor Day weekend? If you're in the US, the traditional marker of the End of Summer is coming up with this three-day weekend.

What will you be doing?

Taking a short vacation! Three-day weekends are the perfect opportunity to vacation in your home town (see what draws in the tourists!), or go a short distance to another tourist area. Quick getaways can be refreshing, since there's not too much packing or traveling required. Don't forget your sunscreen and water...

Flower power

Here's a simple yet effective way to raise your spirits and brighten your environment.

Select an assortment of flowers, or purchase a couple of the inexpensive bouquets at your local florist or supermarket.

Take your time arranging the flowers just the way you like in a vase. Mix and match them, put them in several vases of different sizes. Then choose a special location where you'll see the flowers – the kitchen windowsill, perhaps? – or spread them throughout your home.

Enjoy!

 

Photo by

Run away

Run away from irresponsibility.

Run away from laziness.

Run away from wasted time.

It's the last day of August, so get out there and celebrate the "almost-end" of summer. Enjoy the day, enjoy your ability to move, and enjoy your opportunity to move.

//www.marilu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/01 You Run Away.mp3

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Amazon.com Widgets

 

A good egg

Yikes! With all the bad eggs in the news recently, we thought it would be good to remind you about a couple of options.

The first option is to get to know a farmer who has chickens for their eggs. Go to your local farmer's market, and find someone (or more than one) selling eggs. Talk to them. Ask about their chickens – how they're raised, what they're fed, how often they go outside. Ask to visit the farm – this might be impractical for you, but chances are good that a farmer who is...

Featured recipe from Marilu's table * Roasted red pepper sandwich

Some days we just want a sandwich. This is one of our favorites.

If you're cutting back on nightshades (potatoes, peppers, eggplant) replace the pepper with thick strips of grilled zucchini or portabella mushroom (we like both of those best when marinated for 30 minutes or so in a simple vinaigrette, then grilled).

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Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich

Purple * Serves 1

2 slices flourless, whole-grain bread, lightly toasted (we like Food for Life's Ezekial 4:9 bread)
Nayonnaise or...

WWMD

"What Would Marilu Do?" is the next class at Marilu.com starting Wednesday, September 8th.

If you've ever been faced with a choice in your eating, exercise or lifestyle habits, and wondered What Would Marilu Do?, this is your chance to find out.

Marilu will be sharing the details of her life: her health and beauty routines, her food and exercise choices, the responsibilities of her career and her personal and family activities.

Do you think you could benefit by spending a few weeks...