Filling your home with pieces that represent all the things you love.

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. Whether its within my own state, California or to the other side of the World. I always purchase items that I find at flea markets or really cool mom and pop shops to bring back from my travels. These items are diplayed thru my home and make great conversation pieces about past trips and evoke great memories from those trips. I am obseesed with going to the local weekend flea markets and finding really cool items. For example, whenever I go to Paris ,which is two or three times a year, I love to visit the flea makrets on the outskirts of town. It's a great opportunity to expose myself to the culture and practice my french. Your home should reflect who you are with items that you love and are unique rare pieces. I have great memories of stumbling across a really old antique shop in Singapore. I ended up having a wonderful converstion with the owner and his wife and picking up a really great piee of art which hangs in my powder /guest bathroom. I also purchased a 1920's Chinese stackable lunch box which is displayed on a counter in my kitchen. I also love going to the local flea markets and scoring great finds.

I cherish all of the great finds and memories that I have from my travels.

Artichokes are a powerhouse vegetable

This vegetable ranks among one of the most vitamin packed vegetables. Loaded with Vitamin C Vitamin K and loaded with minerals such as magnesium, folate and phosphorus. Heres how to steam an artichoke: 1.Cut off the top of an artichoke 2. Remove the small leaves at the base 3. Cut off excess stem 4. Rinse off the artichokes 5. Add about an two inches of water to a large pot. I also like to add a halfed lemon and some chopped garlic to the water. 6. Add the artichokes in a steamer stem side up. Cover pot with a lid and steam for 25-35 minutes , depending on how large the artichokes are.

The benefits of drinking pomegranate juice

Pomegranate juice is a slam dunk for all around health. This ruby colored juice contains nearly 3 times more antioxidants than green tea. the antioxidants found in pomegranate juice can protect cells from damage,reduce inflamation and help remove free radicals. Studies have found that drinking pure pomegranate daily, may lower systolic blood pressure. New research has found that pomegranate juice may help stop the growth of prostate cancer. i find my cardio performance is much better when I am drinking pomegranate juice. this heart healthy juice appears to portect your arteries and heart. This juice may be an aid in erectile dysfucntion as it increases circulation as well as possibly increasing testosterone levels.

Nutrient dense vegetables picked fresh from the garden

Making A "Mind-Muscle" Connection

Thinking about your muscle contractions while you are lifting will help you maximize your workouts.
When working out it is always important to think about the targeted muscle group that you are working on. For example, when doing a bicep curl, think and focus on the movement of the bicep as you are curling the dumbbell up. By concentrating on the specific muscle group that you are working, you will be able to isolate and develop that muscle group faster.You can practice this without weights by moving your arm in a curl or kickback by flexing your muscle as you move your arm in a concentric or eccentric movement.

Fitness is like Fashion

Fitness is much like fashion in the sense that it is always changing and evolving. Often times it repeats itself but always comes back to the tried and true classic techniques. As in fashion, there are always new fads in fitness, some work most don't. The fitness industry is always introducing new exercise programs, a majority of these programs take you over your targeted heart rate, using your muscle for your energy supply as opposed to burning fat. Other classes have you doing exercises that stress your connective tissues and joints leaving you injured.
When embarking on a new Fitness regime, make sure that the program is one that executes good form and proper technique, working with your body type and physical limitations. The workouts should be something that is safe for you and is effective in showing you the results that you want to achieve.

A Work Weeks Worth of Healthy Breakfasts

Here are some examples of what my first meal of the day looks like:

Every morning, I always start off with a large glass of filtered water with fresh lemon squeezed in it and a cup of organic coffee with organic cream or a teaspoon of grass-fed unsalted butter in it.

Two organic hard boiled eggs with 2 slices of sprouted grain toast with coconut oil or grass fed butter.
I also like to have it with some sliced tomato and avocado.

A bowl of organic oatmeal with cinnamon, organic blueberries and a tablespoon of coconut oil.

Two slices of sprouted grain bread with almond butter and sliced banana on top.

Four scrambled organic eggs with 2 yolks(I feed the other two to my dogs) with sliced avocado, salsa and some black beans.

A bowl of organic yogurt with organic strawberries and chopped raw almonds or organic granola.