Happy 8th Birthday Dai Jshon! (party details)

Today (April 30th) is my son’s 8th birthday I am so very blessed to have this little boy in my life. He is extremely intelligent and a bit too smart for his own good; he definitely keeps me on my toes.

As always, I brought cupcakes to his classroom this morning so he could celebrate his birthday on the actual day in addition to a weekend birthday party, later today we will be going out to eat to the restaurant of my son’s choice. This is a tradition for my family, we always go out to eat for someone’s birthday and while my kids are in elementary school they get cupcakes and goodie bags in class if their birthday falls on a school day. I am big on birthdays; they are a celebration of life.

We had his official party this weekend; when I plan events I like to do something outside the box and interesting, when it comes to my children I try to make their party unique and something they want to have and can enjoy. This year we had a Halo 4 themed birthday party for him.

When it was decided that he would have a Halo 4 themed party I tried to think about what would make it interesting, first I had to find out what Halo 4 was all about; I am not into video games so I was somewhat lost. After doing some research I decided that laser tag would be a good choice for his birthday.

I went online to look for Halo party supplies and I found nothing, nothing that wasn’t someone’s homemade creation and even though I love to support someone’s hustle, I too create a lot of homemade items and could easily create what they were selling and personalize it for my son.

I always create my children’s party invitations based on the theme of the party, I usually have their photo and size on the invite as well (well for my son I add his current clothing and shoe size). I have their invites printed at Wal-Mart for .10-.29 cents each. It’s worth it to customize my children’s parties as much as possible.

Since his party was at a facility that provides laser tag I only had to worry about the cake and goodie bags. Since I could not find any Halo 4 party bags I decided to create my own party bags; I bought some white lunch bags and place a sticker on each one; on the invite there is a photo of my son’s face inside of the mask of Master Chief, I thought that it would be a great idea to add that to his goodie bags as well that’s says “Dai Jshon’s 8th Birthday Party”. For the cake he wanted red velvet with cream cheese frosting; I created an image that the bakery was able to place on top made out of edible paper.

The party started at 7pm and was over by 9:30pm which was perfect because after he had a sleepover so all of the kids were able to hang out until they were tired. For breakfast they had cereal and hotdogs, chips and juice for lunch.

It turned out to be a great birthday for my lil dude! Next year I may rent a gaming truck.

If you are interested in ordering personalized invites for your child’s birthday or any other function please email me at info@reddibusiness.com

And…It Is What It Is!!

One Step at a Time

Sometimes you have to approach your changes piece by piece, you have to get a handle on one thing then add another.

When it comes to weight loss you have to set your mind into the correct position. Because weight loss is mental its important to make sure you are mentally prepared for the challenges you are about to face, if your mind isn't in the right place you will fail.

I have been working on making changes to my health since 2004 when I took pork out of my diet, after that it was a gradual process over the years removing some foods and adding others, I stopped eating beef in 2007.

Even if you aren't ready to change your eating habits I suggest that you start to become more active or vice versa, if you aren’t ready to become more active change your eating habits, but do one and stay consistent. Introduce the other when you’re ready so you aren’t always starting from the bottom having to work your way up completely every time; that can be very overwhelming and feel like an overload.

When you prepare yourself to make a lifestyle change you have to do it smart, never take on more than you can handle. Handle what you can and as you become stronger add more, before you know it you’re a completely different person and the person who once thought they couldn’t do is a far distant memory.

And...It Is What It Is!!

The Runner in Me

I wanted to post about running. I posted a few months ago regarding the C25K app that helps the couch potato become a 5K (3 miles) runner in about 9 weeks. The program is set up so that you can run 3 miles in 40 minutes by the time its over.

I started the program and it does make it a lot easier to run if you’ve never ran before. For me, I realized I can run for longer than 60 seconds at a time, also I didn’t like running outside in the cold and rain and I wasn’t too fond of having to stop at the traffic lights along the way, needless to say I didn’t finish the program past week one; before the program I would walk for 10 minutes, run for 10 minutes, then walk again for 10 minutes.

Let’s fast forward to February, I decided I would do like the program taught me and walk 5 minutes then run; my goal was to run for 20 minutes then finish with a 5 minute walk just as I did on the C25K program (which would end up being a 20 minute walk because I would go too far). I started the run at a slow speed and just jogged at that pace until I was done. When I finished I realized that I could do it again, so I did and I’ve been running ever since increasing my speed and my time along the way.

For me it was easier to start on a treadmill because I am able to control my speed better and keep it at a pace I can manage consistently; then I am able to increase as that pace becomes too easy. C25K also has a treadmill version which is great for helping you learn how to run while on a treadmill.

As the weather warms up I am preparing to run outside on warmer days, I need to be able to run outside as well as on a treadmill. I am more than ready to get out there and hit the pavement on a warm spring or summer evening.

I was speaking to a co-worker of mines this past Thursday and she talked me into joining the Color Vibe 5k race in May, I was amped and ready to go then quickly disappointed when I went to register and found out it was sold out, so I added myself to the waiting list. The good news is that at the end of the summer there will be another race called Color Me Rad and I am definitely be running that one, my co-worker has even offered to run it with me. I will definitely be ready by that time; after I have a few 5ks under my belt I may attempt a 10k and work my way up to a half marathon then a marathon, but that takes time; it may be two years before I attempt a marathon but the sky is the limit…no space is the limit…

And…It Is What It Is!!

A Healthy Mind A Healthy Body A Healthy Soul

As I continue on my journey of health I realize how I am also changing mentally, changing how I think about life and the people around me, how I enjoy time alone to think and relax, even more now than before. But it’s so much more than that, my entire aura has changed over the past year and a half.

I find myself constantly researching nutrition more than ever before, I find myself enjoying local markets and cooking fresh. I am the queen of quick meals but those meals consisted of cutting corners like buying canned tomatoes and beans. Now I am cooking more from scratch with almost every meal. I can’t lie, I will probably still buy my kidney and garbanzo beans in a can most of the time depending on my time schedule but I don’t mind chopping up tomatoes. Frozen vegetables are a great choice so there’s always an alternative.

It’s so crazy how you think you are alone on your health journey, like you’re the only person who has stumbling blocks until you read someone’s story and they are or have gone through exactly what you are going through, or how you are having a hard time in the gym and that pain is kicking in and you realize that even the people who have been doing it longer than you and seem to be in top fitness health is also fighting through the pain that you’re fighting through and at that moment you realize that you aren’t weak, you aren’t as less experienced as you thought, that pain is part of the process and what separates people is their ability to work through the pain and fight to the finish line. I know now even more than I have ever known before what “no pain no gain” means.

Wednesday night I increased my mph on the treadmill, I’ve also found myself utilizing the last few minutes to push my mph even higher so I finish out stronger. My current goal is to be able to go a certain amount of miles in a certain amount of time. I am .5 miles away from that goal. It’s crazy because at one point I was a lot further than that. I am currently 1.2 mph faster than when I started out.

For me running was my hardest thing to do, even when I was 110 lbs with a high metabolism, I hated running. I have never in my life enjoyed running even though I was always pretty fast, even now I am fast but a quick race is a lot different than running for extended periods of time. So taking my time with running has really worked for me, it has helped me build up my endurance and work on my breathing method. Last week I ran 1 mph faster than my usual mph for half my normal run time and it was intense, soon I will be running my entire time at that pace. When I find myself feeling like I am not running fast enough or I am becoming bored and handling the run too easily, I increase my speed and even if in the beginning that speed seems difficult I keep going until it becomes too easy.

I also increased my weights in the gym recently, I felt like it was time to introduce more of a challenge to my workout.

And…It Is What It Is!

Shani’s Homemade Hummus

Ingredients

1 15/16 oz can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
2 tablespoons tahini
5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup liquid from can of garbanzo beans

Directions

Pour entire can of garbanzo beans into a small saucepan and heat on medium heat until hot (trust me this makes it so much better).

Drain juice into a bowl and set aside; put garbanzo beans into a food processor or blender; add tahini and blend until most of the garbanzo beans have been chopped.

Add remaining ingredients (I added garbanzo bean liquid last to ensure I wanted to use the entire ¼ cup; I used about half)

*You can add anything to your hummus like: Roasted Red Pepper, Artichokes, Fire Roasted or Sun-Dried Tomatoes, etc

And…It Is What It Is!

Shani’s Strawberry Lemonade Mini Cakes

Shani’s Strawberry Lemonade Mini Cakes

 Cake:

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups sifted self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup pureed strawberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease and flour 2 large (6 count) cupcake tins. Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4 inches above counter, then drop it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes; remove from pan and set aside and let cool completely.

*You can also use strawberry cake mix (follow directions on package)

Glaze:

Ingredients

2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

Combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl and stir until smooth.

Frosting:

Ingredients

1 8 oz softened Cream Cheese
¼ cup of softened Butter
5 cups of Powdered Sugar
1 Teaspoon of real Vanilla Extract
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
3 strawberries

Directions

Puree strawberries and lemon juice in a blender. Mix cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in vanilla and strawberry/lemon puree, gradually stir in powdered sugar.

Place a sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet. Once the cakes are cooled; dip the entire bottom of each cake in the glaze, do not glaze the top. Place each cake upside down on a sheet of wax paper. Put the cakes in the fridge until the glaze is completely dry. Once glaze has dried completely frost the top of each cake with the strawberry lemon cream cheese frosting. Cut the tops off of 6 strawberries, slice each strawberry in half and top each cake with a strawberry.

A New Challenge!

From time to time there will be a special program on PBS aimed towards raising funds for the channel. Well, I so happened to come across a special featuring a lady by the name of JJ Virgin, she spoke about 7 foods you should stay away from. She then went on to talk about how if you stay away from these foods for 21 days you will be in better health and of course the catch to reel you in was “you will lose weight” her plan seemed fairly simple until she went in depth with two of the foods, she spoke about. I will get into them shortly.

I know you are wondering what the 7 foods are so I will get that out the way.

1. Soy
2. Corn
3. Gluten
4. Dairy
5. Sugar and artificial sweeteners
6. Eggs
7. Peanuts

So in doing some research this is what I found:

“1. Soy - Most is genetically modified (GM). Our bodies are not designed to process GM foods. Therefore, ALL GM foods should be avoided. In addition, soy has very high levels of estrogen-like compounds that interfere with our natural hormonal balance.

2. Corn - Most is genetically modified, like soy, and should be avoided. It is a grain found in most processed foods that converts to sugar in the body and contributes to chronic illness such as Type II Diabetes.

3. Gluten - Found in grains, especially wheat. It makes grain products "sticky." It interferes with digestion, especially in celiac patients who are highly sensitive and contributes to "leaky gut" syndrome. It also increases inflammation in the body due to its omega-6 content.

4. Dairy - Name an animal that drinks milk after it has been weaned from its mother. Name an animal that drinks the milk of another animal. From this perspective, dairy is very unnatural to our diet. Commercial dairy is especially harmful because of its pharmaceutical content and because homogenization and pasteurization destroy much of its nutrition, including its natural enzymes.

5. Sugar and artificial sweeteners - The average American consumes more sugar in one day than our early ancestors did in an entire year. Sugar leads to increased insulin production, insulin resistance, and Type II Diabetes. Artificial sweeteners are man-made and our bodies are not designed to process them. They are neurotoxic and contribute to a wide variety of health problems.

6. Eggs - Many people are sensitive or allergic to eggs. Follow the elimination guidelines below.

7. Peanuts - Many people are sensitive or allergic to peanuts. Follow the elimination guidelines below.

What to do:

Eliminate these items from your diet for 3 weeks and watch the weight melt off, perhaps one pound per day or more. Then, add back one of these foods at a time and notice your body's reaction. If you develop any symptom - headache, fatigue, digestive upset, congestion, mood changes, or others - you'll know you are sensitive and should continue avoiding such food. Even if you are not sensitive, items 1-5 should always be kept to a minimum in a healthy diet.

What to eat instead:

Concentrate your diet on fresh fruits and vegetables, lean cuts of meat, and filtered water.

Instead of consuming soy from tofu and processed food, eat small amounts of organic, fermented soy a few times a week - but only if you have no thyroid or estrogen related health problems.

Replace corn oil with palm fruit oil, coconut oil, sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Replace corn meal with fresh-ground flaxseed meal.

Instead of consuming gluten, replace wheat pasta with rice pasta, quinoa pasta, or spaghetti squash. Eat brown rice wraps or romaine lettuce wraps instead of tortillas. Use almond or coconut flour instead of wheat or rye flour. Substitute a slice of eggplant or Portobello mushroom for pizza crust.

Instead of dairy, use ghee (clarified butter) from grass-fed cows in place of butter. Drink coconut or almond milk instead of cow's milk. Replace other dairy products with coconut creamer, coconut yogurt, and raw and fermented kefir or yogurt from goat or sheep's milk.

Replace sugar with xylitol or stevia or a mix of the two.

Eggs may be ok but only if they are organic, free range, and raised with feed void of corn or soy.

Replace peanuts with tree nuts such as brazil nuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds, or cashews. Replace peanut butter with cashew, almond, macadamia, or pecan butter.”

So, let me get into which two foods seemed easy at first then seemed harder after she went into detail:

Dairy: Dairy was a difficult one because even though I cut milk out of my diet some time ago, dairy goes beyond milk; we are talking cheese, yogurt, etc. The good thing is that its only cow-related, which makes it a lot easier, because I love feta and I found that they make coconut milk yogurt and almond yogurt.

Gluten: At first I was like, “OK, I will look for gluten free products” that was until I realized all of my whole wheat products have gluten in them. That crushed me, this is worse than the yogurt and cheese. I am going to really have to find out ways to work around this no gluten thing. I love lettuce wraps but I want to look into the different wrap styles they offer as substitutes and whatnot.

But like with any diet modifications you make you need to do your research, so before I start this challenge not only am I doing extensive research I am also creating my 21 day meal plan so I have all of my food as well as their substitutes on hand.

I’m not a fan of diets, but I am a fan of finding better ways to eat and challenging myself. I’ve been having some digestion issues so I am more than interested in finding out if eliminating something from my diet will get my system on the right track.

So, even though I will be following this plan I won’t necessarily be following her complete plan, I will modify it to meet my own needs, the biggest part for me is the food elimination process, that’s what I will be trying for sure. She has a few other things detailed in the plan that I don’t necessarily agree with so I won’t be doing that, I intend on keeping in line with my current eating so like with this meal plan it will be tailored towards my own individual needs. This challenge will be Sunday April 7th and end on April 27th. My workout plan will remain fairly the same as it was in the last challenge but I of course will be pushing myself and modifying as I go along.

If you want more info about her plan check out JJ Virgin

And…It Is What It Is!