french onion soup

French Onion Soup

2-3 large yellow onions, peeled, sliced

2 T Vegetable oil, margarine

Vegetable Stock

Worcestershire Sauce or Soy

Salt, Pepper, Thyme, Rosemary, & Sugar (if not using sweet onions)

1-2 T barley flour

water

Whole Wheat French bread

Cheese (white)

Caramelize onions in a pan of oil over heat. Add sugar, barley flour, then de-glaze pan with broth and Worcestershire sauce. Transfer soup to a pot. Add the spices and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for one half hour. Taste. If you need more seasoning add to your taste.

Toast a slice of french bread. Ladle soup into a ramekin or oven safe bowl. Place french bread on the surface and sprinkle cheese. Place ramekin on a baking sheet or pan, broil until cheese is melted. Sprinkle parsley for garnish. Serve. Enjoy.

90 day abs...fire!

Let's go! stop talking about it and make it happen. For those who have been on the journey with me, let's make it a little more challenging. I'm increasing my weight from 15 to 17.5. Don't be a baby...work it!

3 miles a day run to start and take it to the head! 

Eat clean and drink plenty of water. Don't let the holiday put you out to pasture. Summer bodies are made in the winter.

professional looking budget friendly french manicure

You will need: at least one base and/or top coat, clear label or tape, white and nude polish of your choice

Suggested use: fine grade quick dry & no chip top coat. Sally Hansen #110, #120

Cut label or tape to make nail form.

Remove old polish.

Buff and file nails to your desire.

Apply base coat and allow it to dry.

Apply nail form to each nail.

Polish tip with white polish and allow it to dry before removing strip. Seal upper edge of white tip with a slightly thin coat of base polish. Allow to dry before applying a thin coat of nude/neutral pink polish. Allow to dry. Seal with no-chip top coat. Wait a few minutes, and then apply your dry fast top coat.

Your dry-fast will allow you to resume activity without blemishing your beautiful nails.

If you take your time you will surely be pleased with the results. Protect your beautiful French manicure with a thin layer of top coat every 2-3 days to keep it looking professionally finished.

Wear it well!

30 days of thanks challenge

"In all things, give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
I am often told that my attitude is always a positive one. There are times that I can recall that I may not seem to be positive. I strive to be positive. The energy is pleasant and it helps to have a clearer mind, open heart, and an obedient self.

My glass is always half full. I chose this a long time ago. As a teenager I discovered for the first time that people will not always be true. They will lie, cheat, and steal. Their behavior should not change you or what God has in His plans for you. Those around you will appear to be living life abundantly, but their spirit is haunted. They live in a perpetual fear. This is not the same as receiving discernment. Living a facade is living but it's not a happy existence.

I am thankful each day for the good and the bad. I have learned from it all. This month as Thanksgiving is designed to reflect on our blessings, I challenge you to find at least one thing each day to give thanks.

phase II : 60 day abs

yes! Here we go. In the grand tradition of P90x, let's reboot the 30 Day Abs. It was met with measurable success so let's keep it going. A lot of people started the challenge and fell off when the going got rough. I predict they made it to the first day off and couldn't swim upstream to resume the challenge on day 5.

That's okay! We're moving and we're losing you, literally. Your weight will not stop this train from rolling. We're taking the party all the way to the end of the year. The holidays will not keep us from tightening our guts and rocking the sexy right into the New Year.

Do what you can...get in where you fit in.

Now...for the winners who built an enormous base, we're taking it up a notch. I call it Abs on Steroids. Last month, I used a variation of 8-10 lb. dumb bells for the sit ups. This round I'm rising to the challenge of a 15 lb. dumb bell. Also:

25 + scheduled repetitions
60 + seconds of plank time

We can do it! Let's go!

30 day ab challenge...check in!

Day 24...this was meant to be an encouraging word for those who followed the 30 Day Ab Challenge, either by commenting or actively participating. 

Many have asked about the results. This is not a sprint to the finish. It is a marathon. If you don't use it, you lose it. The work stops when your heart stops.

Exercise is a physical task, and physical tasks make up a very small portion of what makes changes take place...20%.

Yes. Abdominal/s are formed in the kitchen. 80% of the effort resides with what you put into your mouth.

Many of us still believe that a little effort will produce enormous results, and then you don't have to do it anymore. This is the Chewbacca defense. In other words, it is totally illogical to think that way.

What did I already know? A strong core improves your posture.

What did I observe? It's a work in progress. My back (which I strained 3 months ago) is stronger and functions like a new back. The range of motion has returned and this is partially due to the challenge, but mostly due to pressing through the recuperation phase, post-injury.

Why bother? This was an exercise in 'training' effort. That is what a challenge does. It's a high dose of medicine, like a booster shot. You get out of it what you put into it. Like running, weight training (upper and lower), cycling, skiing, swimming, yoga, zuumba (just an example, I don't do zuumba...it's boring to me...rather dance naked at home), they are a part of your physical exercise program. They work different parts of your body.

Learn it, apply it.

Was it a struggle to get through it?

I started out on target, then doubled up because realized I needed to do more. The challenge was intense, but it's a guideline. If you can do more, you do more, so I did more!

Sometimes, it’s about working it until failure! It does get boring and mundane, but music makes it worth it!

What was the recovery like?

Like most recoveries. I feel it for a few hours after, but the next day I’m ready to go again. Hydration and nutrition speeds up recovery.

In conclusion, I’m not dead…I lived to see another day…so get up…suit up…boot up…and keep moving.

7 days to go, and preparing for the next.

69 kettlebell exercises for a better body

This guy is a beast! You must try even if you don't have kettles, a dumbbell modification will do!