Mindful Living - And other things I've never thought of!

Healthy Living Class

I started a 15-week healthy living class on January 8th.  Perfect timing for New Year's Resolutions.  Today the teacher mentioned that we should live mindfully in everything we do.  So, when we do anything we should focus on that things.  The first week's assignment was to be mindful about our eating.  Think about how the food tastes instead of eating them in a hurry or with distractions.    I am always multi-tasking.  I grade papers, have facebook open, and the TV on.  My teacher suggested I do one thing at a time and do it mindfully focusing on the task at hand.  Novel thought! 

In Italy, 2 years ago, I had no problem focusing on the taste!

Healthy and Delicious!!!!!

Meal Planning for One Doesn't Take Long.

We were also supposed to plan our meals and snacks a week in advance.  The problem with this is that I am single and although my brother lives with me, he is a vegetarian.  So, it's only me eating the food. I made Chicken Tortilla Soup, froze half of it, and still it lasted me for a week.  I didn't even get to the second meal I planned for.  Lol.  So, I have a bunch of veggies waiting to become stir-fry.

Moving More

When I started this class, I decided I was going to dive head-first and follow all the directions.  I started to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.  My first day, I walked around Lake Johnson - a 3 mile walk with hills as a bonus.  (The next day I bought better tennis shoes.)  I have been doing various exercises depending on the weather.  I've been doing the Just Dance on the Wii, Wii Fit, Yoga, other other exercises.  Thanks to Barbara, Kathy, and Helen for going on walks with me!

 This video is my nieces and nephew doing the Just Dance during Christmas Break last year.  There is no way I'm going to show you me dancing!  I really wanted to show my brother Kenneth dancing, but I'll save that blackmail for another day!

Tiffany Trent's Traditions in Tennessee

We have some rather unusual Christmas traditions as I am sure all families do.  Here are a few of mine:

First Tradition - Puzzles

We seem to always do a puzzle, it always takes up 1/2 the kitchen table.  This year Mom found a puzzle that we hadn't finished. I guess when we didn't have time to finish it a couple of years ago, we folded it up.  When we unfolded it this year about 3/4 of it was finished. So we did that one in about 10 minutes, but we still haven't had our full fix, so we're going to either open a Christmas present up early or go buy another one.  

Second Tradition - Chex Mix

I am the designated Chex Mix maker.  In fact, I have a sister, Emily, who does not live close to TN, so she is rarely home for Christmas.  She says that she misses my Chex Mix, but she never makes it for herself or her family.  If I am not there, it does not get made.  Go figure.  We used to be traditionalists and make it in the oven with the original recipe.  Now we have moved on to the microwave and make several varieties, but we also have to have the original.  All the recipes are found on http://www.chex.com/Recipes/Default.aspx - we have yet to find a bad recipe!  Although, we are happily going through the recipes to see if one is better than another!

Traditional

Puppy Chow

Third Tradition - Games

We always play games during Christmas and I am very likely to get at least one game for Christmas.

This is not Christmas or TN, but whenever family gets together, the games come out! 

Personal Tradition - Animoto Christmas Cards

I am horrible at sending cards in the mail.  So, I decided to play on my strength as a technology geek and create Animoto Christmas cards.  I get to show what I've done with friends and get to play on the computer.  Here are the two I've done so far:

December 2012

December 2011