Living Smart Girl

Fish for Dinner

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:58:52 +0000

From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Quick and Easy Weeknight Supper

Tilapia, a relatively plentiful fish, has the unfortunate reputation of being dull. All it needs is a spice rub, a familiar barbecuing technique that works just as well indoors. Try this flavorful dish tonight! Just remember to pick up U.S.-farm raised tilapia when possible. Find out more about tilapia at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website, a great resource to check the guidelines and sustainability of seafood.

Chili-Rubbed Tilapia With Asparagus and Lemon

2 pounds organic asparagus, tough ends trimmed, cut into 1″ pieces
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 pound tilapia, Pacific sole, or other firm white-fish fillet
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice

Preparation

Bring an inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Put asparagus in a steamer basket, place in the pan, cover, and steam until tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a large plate, spreading out to cool.

Combine chili powder, garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt on a plate. Dredge fillets in the spice mixture to coat. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fish and cook until just opaque in the center, gently turning halfway, 5 to 7 minutes total.

Divide among 4 plates. Immediately add lemon juice, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and asparagus to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until the asparagus is coated and heated through, about 2 minutes. Serve the asparagus with the fish.

Makes 4 servings.

Prep Time: 3 mins
Cook Time: 13 mins
Total Time: 16 mins

Nutrition Facts
Number of Servings: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 210
Total Fat: 10 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 48 mg
Sodium: 418 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 8 g
Dietary Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 24 g

Recipe reprinted with the permission of EatingWell.com.

Living Smart Girl ~ A Healthy Way to an Organic You ~

Sheila

Join our Fitness Challenge ~

http://livingsmartgirl.myvi.net

Wrap Yourself Skinny ~ It Works

http://livingsmartgirls.myitworks.com

Sited and Blogged ~

http://www.sitedandblogged.com

Sprinkle Me Crazy ~

http://www.sprinklemecrazy.com

Coupon WAHM Review ~ Couponizer Giveaway

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:02:56 +0000

CouponWAHM
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Or put it towards your child’s college? How about just saving money from your daily shopping to treat yourself to a spa day?
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Check us out on Facebook.

If you are like me you find yourself compiling coupons for every shopping trip you make. Well I was so frustrated one day because I would have my purse full of coupons and was so tired of always having to dig thru them, and would be dropping them all over. I tried to find myself a coupon book and all I could ever find were cheap plastic pocket book things that just didn’t work well.
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CouponWAHM has decided that we want to help one lucky person organize their coupons by giving away a brand new Couponizer.

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The Couponizer booklet – measures 8″ tall, 6″ wide, 1″ deep (before coupons), 18 pockets for grocery coupons, 6 pockets for other coupons such as Restaurants, Retail, Rewards, 2 shopping pockets (Coupons to be used this shopping trip & Checkout), 3 loyalty card card sleeves, metal spiral bind, elastic closure strap, durable plastic covers.

1 Shopping List pad – 20 tear off sheets/cardboard backing

1 CoupTracker pad – 15 tear off sheets/cardboard backing for record spending and savings by store

1 CoupStacker – pre-sorting mat used to organize coupons according to pocket when clipping

1 Carrying Bag – clear zippered vinyl bag

1 pair of scissors

Would you like to win? Now that was a silly question ~

Enter below using our Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer ~ Living Smart Girl has not received any product or money for this review. This review is based on personal purchases of the Couponizer. All prizes given will be paid for by Living Smart Girl. All opinions and reviews are 100% Living Smart Girl’s.

Pamper Yourself with Homemade Recipes

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:56:17 +0000

for the body that is.

Skin Smoothing Soak ~

Homemade bath salts will leave your skin soft and smelling good. Combine 1 cup sea salt and 2 cups Epsom salts in a bowl and mix well. Add a couple of drops of orange food coloring, if desired, and mix well. Sprinkle with five drops of orange essential oil and ¼ teaspoon glycerin (sold at many crafts stores). Stir well. Run a warm bath and add some of this mixture under the flowing water, then slip in and relax.

Candy Cane Bath Salts ~

An adorable gift for during the holidays, these peppermint-scented salts really get you in the holiday spirit.

Ingredients
2 C. Epsom salts
1/2 C. sea salt
4-6 drops peppermint oil
2-3 drops red food coloring

Directions
Place one C. of Epsom and 1/4 C. sea salt in a bowl or resealable plastic bag. Add 2-3 drops peppermint oil. Place the remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix all ingredients well. Layer the red and white salts in a clear bottle or jar. 1/2 liter water bottles work well because they have the stripes. Tie with a ribbon and some small candy canes. This makes a great holiday gift for friends.

Loofa Slices ~

This creative ‘recipe’ is great to keep around the house for you or for gifts.

Ingredients
1 clean large Pringles Potato Chip can
1 loofa sponge
2-3 Glycerine soap bars, in desired colors

Directions
Cut the loofa sponge to fit to within 1/4 inch of the top of the can. Depending upon the size of the sponge, you may be able to fill more than one can. Chop bars of soap into coarse pieces. Melt soap in small saucepan over very low heat until melted. Meanwhile, put the loofa into the can. Let soap cool down, but do not let it harden. Pour cooled, melted soap into the Pringles can. When the soap has hardened and dried, tear away the can, then slice the loofa soap into thin slices for individual gifts or personal use.

Bedtime Bath Mixture ~

This soak will help you unwind and relax after a stressful day.

Ingredients
2 drops rose geranium oil
2 drops lavender oil
2 drops chamomile oil

Directions
Mix the oils into a warm bath and soak for at least 15 minutes.

Coconut Bath Soak Pouches ~

Coconut, oatmeal and milk math this a soothing bath soak that you can make ahead of time and keep in your bathroom

Ingredients
1 C. oatmeal
1 C. brown rice
1 tsp. coconut extract
Contents of 5 black tea bags
1 C. powdered milk
Cheesecloth

Directions
Mix ingredients (except cheesecloth, of course) in a bowl, then divide in half. Cut two 8-inch squares of cheesecloth and pour half of the mixture into each square. Tie at the top with pretty string. Toss one pouch into the bath under running water.

Scented Salt Scrub ~

This gives skin a polished, moisturized glow while removing dull, dead cells.

Ingredients
1 1/4 C. sea salt
1/4 C. sweet almond oil
1/8 C. liquid hand soap with aloe vera
5 (200 IU) vitamin E capsules, emptied into bottle
.5 ml peppermint essential oil
.5 ml lavender essential oil
.5 ml rosemary essential oil

Directions
Put all into a squeeze bottle and shake well. To use, apply to skin and rub in a soft, circular motion. Rinse clean and pat dry. Follow with a good moisturizer.

Want more great recipes to pamper your body ? Check out many more at Recipe4Living.

Burn 100 Extra Caloires Now

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:20:19 +0000

Exercising daily is one of the keys to living a healthy lifestyle, but every once in a while, you’re going to have one of those days where it’s just impossible to work out. Instead of crashing on the couch, and watching television, just incorporate some of these simple actions. Not only will they burn 100 calories, but they won’t even feel like work!

1. Get out in the garden – Tending to those fruits and vegetables in your backyard does more than just beautify your yard. Actions like digging and raking are ideal ways to get moving. In just 15 minutes, you’ll have burned 100 calories, and you’ll feel accomplished too!

2. Wash your car – Giving your automobile movie star treatment with a full on wash, dry and wax for 30 minutes will not only leave it in tip-top shape, but it’ll give you a mini-workout as well. Just make sure to put on some old clothes and really work hard for that half an hour.

3. Window shop – Take a trip to the mall and browse through all your favorite shops. This trip isn’t about spending money though. In just 40 minutes of walking around the mall, you can easily burn 100 calories, more if you’re holding shopping bags!

4. Play fetch – Take your pooch to the park and play a good old game of fetch for 20 minutes. Your pet will be getting quite the workout too. Plus, if you walk to the park, you’re going to burn even more than 100 calories!

5. Laugh it off – Not only is laughing a tremendous mood booster, but you can actually help build your abs by doing it, also! Just 20 minutes of laughing per day is enough to burn 100 calories, and it’s fun too! Pop in your favorite sitcom or hang out with your funniest friend and just let loose!

6. Dance around – Get moving with your significant other for 25 minutes and you’ll burn 100 calories in no time, and that’s if you plan to dance slowly. Fast dancing burns calories quicker. So turn on some music and rock out!

Kitchen Fitness Makeover

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:17:48 +0000

Losing weight boils down to focusing on what foods you put into your body. So what better place to start lightening up than your kitchen! With these quick tips to organizing your kitchen, you’ll be much more likely to overcome those typical weight loss stumbling blocks, like grabbing junk food placed within arm’s reach! With these tips, your kitchen will transform into a haven for healthy eating.

1. Keep fewer varieties of treats. It’s okay to have ice cream in the freezer, but stay away from the all-too-tempting buy 1, get 1 free sales. Variety is the spice of life, but is can also cause you to gain weight just because it’s within sight. Pick a few of your favorite snacks and keep them in the house, but don’t let sales and buying in bulk tempt you into buying more junk food than you really need.

2. Use smaller Plates. As simple as it sounds, simply using smaller plates, bowls, cups and silverware can be the difference between staying within your calorie range and overindulging. Studies have shown that people eating from bigger plates or using bigger silverware eat more than those using smaller dinnerware.

3. Put produce towards the front. Refrigerator placement can also determine whether you grab the apple or the can of soda pop. Keep the fruits and veggies front and center so that when you open the fridge to scavenge for a snack, you see the healthy item. Healthy food at the back of the fridge often goes too waste because it is forgotten about.

4. Serve meals from the stove. Instead of placing large bowls of food on the dining table, leave them on the stove or on the kitchen countertops. This way you’ll have to get up if you want seconds. Having the leftovers sitting in front of you will increase the odds of you eating even if you’re not really hungry.

5. Prepare meals that are ready to go when you are. If you work all day and have to come home and prepare a meal, chances are you’ll snack while waiting for dinner. To avoid this tendency, focus on creating quick and easy meals. A crock pot is one great solution! You can have your dinner ready to go the moment you walk through the door. Other strategies include buying pre-cut and pre-washed veggies or making meals once a week and freezing them for easy preparation.

Managing Shin Splints

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:15:20 +0000

Living Smart Girl ~ A Healthy Way to an Organic You ~ Sheila Join our Fitness Challenge ~ http://livingsmartgirl.myvi.net Wrap Yourself Skinny ~ It Works http://livingsmartgirls.myitworks.com Sited and Blogged ~ http://www.sitedandblogged.com Sprinkle Me Crazy ~ http://www.sprinklemecrazy.com

The Benefits of a Caffeine-Free Life

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:44:31 +0000

The Benefits of a Caffeine-Free Life

A caffeine-free life is one way of embracing healthy living
and improving your daily fitness and comfort. It can seem like
a huge leap and caffeine
is highly addictive and just reading through a few substance
abuse facts will tell you exactly how damaging it can be.
Just because it’s readily available and legal doesn’t mean
it’s not damaging your health. There are plenty of healthy,
enjoyable alternatives that
you can find for reasonable prices and you’ll reap many
benefits of going caffeine-free.

Caffeine is a stimulant which can increase your heart rate and
raise your body’s temperature. In small amounts it’s not
damaging but the volumes
that the average person is eating and drinking in modern
society could have seriously damaging results. Caffeine is
also a diuretic which means it
increases your visits to the bathroom and it also causes a
rise blood sugar levels which can be dangerous in the long
term. The main problem with
caffeine is having a small quantity every day can easily form
into a physical addiction without the individual even
realising. The number of people
reliant on their first cup of coffee every day is huge.
However, there are alternatives and there are many benefits to
a caffeine free life which
everyone can seriously benefit from.

End Procrastination

This may seem like a strange benefit but too much caffeine has
been seen by many to hinder and limit their natural
capabilities. With a body pumped
full of caffeine its extremely difficult to think through
things in a logical, natural way and negatively impacts on our
ability to think and
maintain concentration for elongated periods of time. Removing
caffeine from your life means you can fully focus on the task
in hand and the levels
of procrastination you experiences will significantly decrease.

Increased Energy Levels

Now, everyone assumes that caffeine is the best way of keeping
your energy levels up and to a point this is true. For a burst
of high level energy,
caffeine seems to be perfect but then the aftermath complete
with sluggishness and exhaustion when the toxicity of the
caffeine runs out lead you
to reaching for another coffee. Embracing a caffeine free
lifestyle means you can avoid these periods of exhaustion and
you will feel naturally
more energetic, only feeling tired when you’re actually
physically ready for sleep and not when your caffeine levels
have dropped.

More Peaceful Sleep

Caffeine messes with your body’s natural sleeping patterns and
stops you from finding a natural rhythm when trying to sleep
at night. People
reliant on caffeine find themselves tossing and turning and
spending up to 90 minutes trying to drift off. With the
removal of caffeine, you can
feel the natural effects of tiredness setting in and soon
you’ll be going to bed and naturally drifting off within a few
short minutes.

Cut out snappiness and irritability

The inevitable ‘downers’ when your caffeine levels drop can
result in irritable, snappy behaviour. This is no fun for you
or your friends and
relatives so cutting out caffeine will stop these unnatural
mood swings and help you balance your body and mind more
effectively. Your tolerance
levels will soar and it’ll take a real bozo to get on your
nerves and wind you up.

Fantastic Health Benefits

Cutting out coffee and caffeine products will help you develop
a healthier, fitter body and mind. Coffee and caffeine can
become essential elements
of your diet, replacing what should be healthy meals and
snacks. With a cup of coffee as a snack, you’ll soon feel the
rush for sugary, fatty foods
and then things will just spiral from there. Caffeine also has
a detrimental effect on your skin, which becomes dehydrated.
Removing caffeine from
your diet gives you the chance to embrace healthier, organic
food options such as a fruit salad for breakfast instead of
your usual cup of coffee.

Caffeine alternatives

You may just love the flavors found in caffeine products. If
this is true there are many replacement products to help with
the switch. Herbal
coffees such as Teeccino are a great way of cutting out
caffeine or you could consider low caffeine, high flavor
products such as green, herbal
teas. Yerba mate is another flavourful option for those making
the big switch.

Switching to a caffeine free lifestyle may seem like a big
step, especially if you’re a coffee lover or a tea drinker but
as you can see, living
without caffeine is a positive and healthy experience which
everyone can benefit from.

Pace Yourself

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:26:46 +0000

From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Thursday, February 09, 2012

Pace Yourself

Believe it or not, your muscles do not get stronger during your workout; it’s after the workout that they grow and develop. Intense strength training places huge demands on your muscles. To adapt to those demands, your muscles need adequate recovery time to rebuild and get stronger. As important as it is to stay the course and not get lazy, it’s just as important to know when to cut yourself a break so you don’t burn out, and your body has a chance to process all of the work you’re doing.

Do not train a muscle group more than twice a week, and make sure it rests between training sessions. I want you to have at least two days in between training the same muscle groups. When you work a muscle, the muscle fibers tear. Given the proper rest and discovery, your muscle fibers will repair themselves and grow leaner and stronger. But if you train the muscle too soon and impede its recovery, you can damage the muscle and break it down.

Additionally, you should never exercise intensely for more than two hours at a time. When you hear some buff celebrity talking about how he trained six hours straight a day to get ready for his latest action movie, he’s talking a load of embellished bull that makes the ordinary person feel totally inferior. We have lives, we can’t possibly do that! However, spending that much time working out is not only impossible, it would be counterproductive, as it would throw the body into a state of overtraining and make it more prone to metabolize its own lean muscle tissue for energy.

Craving Butterfinger Candy Bars?

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:25:20 +0000

Stop denying yourself of the sweet treats in life and
make it yourself!!

ViSalus offers so many amazing, yummy,
low calorie shake combinations that
one will never be bored or run out of things to try.

Check out all the other amazing shake recipes
I have posted ~ click here

Are you ready to make a change for the better?
For as little as $49 (plus tax & sh) you can enjoy 1 shake
a day and be on your way to a new you.
Join the Body by Vi Challenge.
You will feel great inside and out.

Contact me for information or visit my site and watch
the video’s. Millions of people can’t be wrong ~
So what’s stopping you from taking that step?

Replace one or two meals a day with a shake and
and watch your body change right before your eyes.

7 Fast & Free Slimming Secrets!
You’ve heard all the hype, the gimmicks, the mystical ancient tricks that are supposed to be your
shortcuts to lasting weight loss success… If only it were that easy, right?
The one thing we do know is that healthy, lasting weight loss doesn’t happen overnight, but it is
something you can have if you follow the right plan. However you decide to begin your weight loss
journey, take a moment to read the tips below and keep them in mind along the way.

1DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS
Did you know that 74% of adults are dehydrated?
This can slow metabolism 3–5%, and keep the
pounds on. Another reason to drink plenty of fluids is that
37% of people can confuse thirst as hunger. So drink plenty
of fluids, including Neuro™, and you’ll have healthy energy
and help your body flush out toxins, feel fuller, and help your
metabolism too.

2EAT PROTEIN
Protein is a key way to help keep blood sugars
level, and keep you from getting hungry. But not
all protein is created equal. The Tri-Sorb™ protein in ViSalus
products were specially designed to help you retain and build
lean muscle, and burn fat. other brands use gelatin, milk
powder, or other proteins that may be great for skin or hair or
nails, but won’t help you burn fat or boost muscle like ViSalus.

3EAT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Did you know that 83% of adults don’t eat enough
fruit every day, and 72% don’t get enough
vegetables? These are critical to losing weight as they fill you
up, provide healthy antioxidants and fiber, and are low in
calories. You can ‘eat more’ and weigh less by adding fruits and
vegetables to your diet.

4AVOID THE COLOR BEIGE
Did you know that beige foods tend to be high in
carbohydrates and calories, but low in nutrition?
Bread, rice, and pasta may taste great, but they can add up
to more calories, and more fat. one cup of refried beans can
be 500 calories! You could eat almost 10 servings of fruits and
vegetables, and still not reach 500 calories. So avoid beige,
add color to your plate and you’ll lose weight.

5GET SOME SLEEP!
Too little sleep, and your body won’t function
and you’ll gain and retain weight. Maybe it’s a
coincidence, but 68% of us don’t get 8 hours of sleep per
night, and almost the same percent is overweight. Sleep, and
you’re body will de-stress, de-tox, and retain less cortisol to
make you gain weight.

6PORTION SIZES COUNT
The average plate of food is 2–3 times larger in
size and calories than just 30 years ago. Did you
know that a serving size of protein is the same size as your
computer mouse? Two cups of mixed greens should be about
the size of two baseballs. A serving of fruit the size of a tennis
ball. A serving of butter or cheese the size of a dice. Little
tricks can help you keep portions under control, and help you
lose weight.

7EXERCISE!!!
The best way to boost metabolism, boost mood,
and boost weight loss is to exercise. Simple tricks
like go for a 10 minute walk, 3 times a day can help you lose
weight, build muscle, and look better.

And Remember… It’s the inches—not the
pounds. Many people look to lose pounds, but that can
be misleading. Did you know that 1 lb. of fat is the size
of a large grapefruit? 1 lb. of lean muscle the size of a
small tangerine. By boosting exercise you’ll lose inches,
but may not lose pounds. But this is good, as muscle
burns more calories and can help keep you healthier.
So don’t focus on the scale, focus on how your clothes
fit. That’s’ the true test of weight loss.

Valentines Date Night with KY

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:11:05 +0000

A dozen roses. A heart-shaped box of chocolates. A pair of diamond earrings. No.. how about a night of passion, love making and the two of you forgetting about everything around you and just sinking into each other. Now doesn’t that sound like more fun, and way less expensive than the other stuff. Who says diamonds are a girls best friend? My best friend is my husband and I would much rather have him all to myself for a night than any of the other stuff.

So, why not light some candles, put on some of your favorite music, slip into a sexy little outfit and let yourself go. But wait.. don’t forget the K-Y. Start out the evening with a nice massage for each other. You can use the Yours and Mine Kissable or the 2 in 1 Warming Touch Massage & Lubricant. After the massage you can use any of the other great lubricants K-Y has to offer. Maybe the Intrigue or the Intense. No matter what you pick, K-Y will be a hit for your Valentine’s evening.

I was excited to open my Date Night Box I received.

It came complete with the Yours and Mine and the Warming Touch Lubricant as
well as a Seasons of Love book. The book is for your guide to a better sex life.
Many tips to keep the romance alive during the year and the different holidays.

Plus, it came with a $10 off coupon for 2 movie tickets. Hubby and I will be using those this coming weekend and pretending it is Valentines Day on Friday since he works on Valentine’s Day and I have a dentist appointment. So.. we will just have to enjoy our day a bit sooner. Not complaining at all!!

So stop at your local store and grab yourself some K-Y before your next date night. You will thank me.. and thank K-Y.