Too bad my "date" with Tony was with about 300 other people, but it was a delightful day in which I had some great workouts, met fantastic people and learned a lot. And, of course I am very happily married so I only have a fitness crush on Tony anyway.

For those of you who may not know Tony Horton, he is a trainer to the stars who lives in California and has become famous through his creation of the P90X training system in partnership with Beachbody. In fact, P90X is the number one infomercial in the US. I even have a little cameo in the latest version which was redone for 2010. Here is a photo of my results.
Luckily, I happen to live in an area where Tony's sister lives. She and a friend coordinated Super Saturday with Tony Horton. It was an all-day event with workouts, lunch and seminars. It was truly a terrific day. The agenda was as follows:

Introduction
I wish I had this on video. Tony's sister and her husband did a terrific skit about making a decision to buy P90X after living an unhealthy life. Then, the man himself came out to give some opening comments. Tony, who is nearly 52, looks about 40 (at the most) and is in the most amazing shape. It was great to finally see him in person.

Opportunity Presentation
In case you did not know it. Beachbody (makers of P90X, Insanity, Turbo Jam, Shakeology and much more) is also a business opportunity in which you can make money coaching others and serving as a distributor for the programs. It's what I do as well. In case you have an interest in this yourself, there is great information at GetPaid2GetFit.net. If you'd like to join my team, stop by my personal Beachbody Site and click the Coach Button.

Cardio/Strength Workout with Tony
I was so lucky to snag a front row spot for the workouts. It was a lovely day and we worked out in the grass under a large tent. Tony did what he called UCML, which stands for Upper body, Chest, Middle (or core) and Lower body. I love that this is a workout you can do anywhere and with no equipment. He included some new moves that I've never seen in any of his videos. Because it was a hot day, Tony also reminded us to work at an 8 out of 10 at the most so that no one got over-heated. I was pleased that it was not a totally insane workout. After an hour, we were all ready to take a break for lunch.

Lunch and Q&A with Tony
This was a nice opportunity to get to know Tony a little more personally. He answered questions like "Who would you like to workout with?" (Jack Lallane), "What did you eat when you were a kid?" (lots of junk food), "What are some of your goals for the future?" (hold a handstand for a minute, do a back flip on skis).

Tony's Presentation of the 11 Laws of Fitness
This will likely be it's own article. This was an entertaining and informative presentation. Tony has a no-nonsense approach to fitness. Being out of shape is only the fault of each individual. It is up to us to make a difference. Some of his point included:

• Variety is the spice of fitness - Mix it up, Change it up, Turn it up! Do what ever you can to keep things interesting, ever-changing and ever-challenging.
• Consistency - The more you do, the better you will get. Show up for your workouts, be patient that it won't happen overnight and follow through 5-6 days a week.
• Intensity - You are tougher than you think. This is one of the things I loved about P90x, it really did prove to me that I am so much tougher and stronger than I ever thought possible.

How To of Clean Eating
This next presentation was put together by Tony's personal chef Melissa Costello of KarmaChow.com. She had some really great tips on how to move toward a cleaner eating style. She hosts fully coached cleanses as well. I'm not sure that I'm ready to take that step, but I did learn a lot. I'll post another article with more details on this as well.

Yoga with Tony
First, Tony threatened anyone who dared to leave before this workout. Some Tony fans are nortorious for hating and skipping the yoga workout included with P90X. I for one love the yoga and really looked forward to this workout. On a hot afternoon, I thought it would be fun and relaxing. Well, it was fun, but there was no relaxing. It was one tough yoga workout. We were all dripping with sweat by the end.

Wrap up and photos - After a few party words from Tony, we all had the opportunity to have a photo. As you see above.

Next, I drove home and nearly collapsed from exhaustion and elation. It was one healthy, informative and rewarding day. Should Tony Horton ever come to your town, I highly recommend going to see him. If you can't meet him in person, I highly recommend any of his workouts including P90X, 10-Minute Trainer and Tony One-on-One. Check out this page for more info on all. 

All the best in health and fitness

Coach Jenn

of PersonalFitCoach.com and free fitness coaching at Team Beachbody too.

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Road Trip... The thought of the word strikes fear into the hearts of parents and kids alike.  The parent fears the arguments, the constant "How much further?" and the "I'm bored"... not to mention the smell that wafts from the backseat.  Kids dread the long hours sitting with not much to do - being forced to count cows, colors of cars or keep track of the states on the license plates of passing cars.  Each generation has something that might make them hesitant to depart on a long driving trek - but there is one thing that both groups of passengers hate.... getting lost.  Sure, sometimes it can lead to a really neat discovery, but most times it only leads to Mom getting mad because Dad won't stop and ask directions - or even worse, you could end up in an unsafe area - lost.

Wouldn't it be great if there was just one little device that could keep you on track and keep you safe?  Well, wish no more because Motorola has introduced the MOTONAV TN700 and TN500 navigation devices. 

When the folks at Motorola heard that the fam and I were planning a road trip, they asked if I would like to try one out and see how I liked it.  I received a Motorola Motonav TN700 series device and, although I've never used a PND (personal navigation device) before, found it fairly easy to figure out.  I read the instruction manual, charged the unit up and we were ready to head out.  Entering the destination information is pretty straightforward, using the touchscreen - hit enter and you're on your way!  The device mounted easily to my windshield in the position of my choice using the provided suction cup mounting device (be sure to check with any local regulations regarding the placement of your device for your specific area) - plug the unit into the power outlet (or cigarette lighter - do cars even have those anymore?) and you're ready to roll. 

Along the route, our PND (who we nicknamed "Marge") guided us through our trip, turn by turn with voice navigation so the driver never had to take their eyes off from the road to see where we were going next.  We were amazed by this tiny device - it knew how fast we were going  (and when we were even a mile or two faster than the speed limit, outlined our speed limit in red so we would know to back off on the gas).  It knew where photo-enforced intersections were and even warned us if we were coming up on a dangerous intersection.  If we missed a turn for any reason, the device recalculated our route and immediately got us back to where we needed to be.  Even better yet, just as the box promised - it "Played nice with my phone" - meaning it is bluetooth enabled so with a quick setup, it talks to my cellphone anytime I turn it on and allows for hands-free calling! (which in some states is mandated - but definitely a great idea even it it's not a law where you live)  A couple of quick clicks and my cellphone's phone book was downloaded to the device for hands-free outgoing calls too!  The device also accepts voice commands for the navigation portion so you'll never have to take your hands off from the wheel to navigate either.

The MOTONAV can also help you make better driving decisions with MotoExtras, a service that displays local search results so you’ll always find the places and things you need. MotoExtras also displays other helpful information such as streaming traffic updates for your specific route, local fuel price comparisons, weather forecasts, and flight status updates. You can search for the things you're looking for with voice-prompted search powered by Bing. Just one touch and you are connected to stock quotes, horoscopes, travel information, sports, movie times, and more. The MotoExtra service is enabled by Bluetooth and do not require a separate data plan, but a subscription fee is required after the initial 90-day free trial.

The device unclicks from the suction-cup mount quickly for easy storage in the glove compartment or you can take it with you if you're going to be on foot (although the battery life was rather limited).


We were thrilled with the MOTONAV TN700 series PND and can definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a navigation device for their car.   For more information on the Motorola MOTONAV devices, pop over to their website and take a virtual test drive to see all of the great things the MOTONAV can do.
 
Just think, a road trip without the worries - of course, we still can't help you with the smell from the backseat...
 
 
- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade was given a Motorola MOTONAV TN700 series PND device for review purposes and Motorola generously allowed us to keep the device after the review period.

I wrote about this topic about a year ago and thought it was a good time for an update. Do you realize that about 50% of people have given up on their New Year’s Resolution by the middle of the year. How about you? Did you set a goal that is strong enough and important enough for you to stick with it? Or, are you letting other things get in the way. Are you letting yourself get lower and lower on your priority list? It is easy to do for so many mothers. I did it myself for a few years after my children were born.

An honest self-assessment is a good place to start. How many of you know exactly what you want to achieve? Where are you now in your progress towards that goal? What is your plan to get from here to there? How many of you will settle for less or “good enough?” To be honest, I found myself there early this year. I was just settling for “so-so.” I had an injury last fall and put on weight over the holidays. I found it really difficult to motivate back to my former “best shape of my life” goals.

Luckily, early this spring, I made a change. I re-challenged myself to make sure that I was not going to settle for less that what I wanted or what I deserved. I reminded myself that a great way to re-spark my passion for fitness was to seek out people who can help. I happened to be invited to a site called iChange.com. It helped me get back on track in terms of diet and nutrition.

For exercise, I found another season of The Biggest Loser as perfect inspiration. The Biggest Loser folks always inspire me with their will and their drive to succeed. What inspires you? Seek out people who are better than you, fitter than you, stronger than you (this can be emotionally or physically). For example, Keep an open mind and learn from others. These people may be a your neighbor, someone at your gym, someone you meet online or even an instructor on a DVD.

You might find being exposed to superior discipline and fitness levels will drive you to work harder than you thought possible. In time you’ll overcome your self-imposed limitations and make progress you didn’t think was possible. My challenge to you for this week is to find someone who inspires you to meet your fitness goals.

If your personal fitness is important to you, work as hard as you possibly can. It won’t be easy, it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen. Today, I am serving as your personal cheerleader. Yes, YOU! I know that YOU can do it! Check back and let me know how it goes.

- All the Best in Health and Fitness

Coach Jenn

of PersonalFitCoach.com and free fitness coaching at Team Beachbody too.

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Cabinet hardware is like a woman’s jewelry. It finishes off the look or it can even take the whole look in a completely different direction. It can dress it up or down quickly.

You can make a simple ensemble look glamorous fast with the right accessories. You don’t need granite, custom cabinetry and top of the line appliances to make your kitchen pop. Add some zip with some fun knobs that you can easily switch for the seasons or just when the mood strikes you.

As my family looks at houses for sale it always surprises me to find a very plain, nondescript knob on the cabinetry when the rest of the house has such pizzazz.

Houses with bold colors almost seem to cry out for the more artistic types of knobs. The country décor makes me almost expect a pretty little basket weave knob or the painted ceramic ones. The houses full of the Scandinavian, minimalist types of furniture always conjure up the vision of stainless steel bars that make me think I should hang a dish towel on it. If your couch is embellished with all seashell pillows I can almost bet that you’ll have seashell knobs on either your cabinetry or one of your pieces of furniture.

Think about how your personal clothing and jewelry styles are also reflected in your home. You wouldn’t go out for “date night” or a formal evening without your jewelry

So why not finish your house’s ensemble too. If you need to change things up a bit; easy changes like paint colors and cabinet hardware can breathe fresh life into a stale room.





Mary

Posted by Mary of Illuminate, Decorate and Fascinate

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) A new study confirms what many discovered long ago – strength training plays an important role in ridding the body of extra weight. My own experiences certainly support this research as well. I lost more weight once I added strength training into my regular routine.

Sure, aerobic exercise burns calories, but the body’s metabolism quickly returns to pre-exercise levels, usually within 30 minutes or so. Resistance training, according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins University, leads to increased calorie burning for up to two hours after the workout is over.

Carol A. Binzen and colleagues recruited 10 moderately trained women to perform three sets of 10 exercises at 10-repetition maximum with a one-minute rest period between each set. Researchers found that fat oxidation was significantly higher after the strength-training session.

Unfortunately, because weight training often results in a corresponding increase in weight (at least at first) due to increased muscle mass, many women abandon their strength-training efforts, opting instead for strictly cardiovascular activities. However, researchers suggest combining aerobic exercise with regular strength training for maximum benefit.

So, remember to work strength training into your weekly routine. I recommend 2-3 sessions of strength training per week. My favorite blend of strength training, cardio and yoga is the P90X series.

All the best in health and fitness

- Coach Jenn

of PersonalFitCoach.com and Team Beachbody

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Dating can be scary. If you've just come off a divorce or a serious breakup, you may be wondering if it's all worth it, or if you'll just end up in the same place again. If your'e a single parent, you may be hesitant to start bringing someone new into your family's life. If you're newly on the scene after not having dated for many years, the thought of online dating can seem intimidating. For whatever reason, if you're not sure how to approach the whole dating game, try these tips:

*Put your most important foot forward. If you start out with "sexy" then that's what people will value most about you.

*Dating is not a sales pitch. Who you are is a sacred gift, it's not a product.

*Know that the single people around you are not your rivals. Smile, we're all in this together! There's enough love to go around, you don't have to fight other people for it.

*When you feel that spark of chemistry, ask yourself some questions. Is this excitement, or fear (they feel similar, but not the same)? Do you find yourself questioning your values and action and feeling insecure, or does this person really bring out the wonderful things in you, leaving you feeling invigorated and glowing?

*Gently press the brakes. It's okay to slow down, and it can keep you from making a desperate move that could end in disaster. If this person is really the right one for you, then they'll be patient and let things happen in due course. There are 1.45 million potential partners out there for you - you don't have do drastic things with this one right this second in a desperate bid to hang onto them. Just take a step back and think things through before making any big decisions.

*Learn about this person and what they have to offer. The last thing you need is to get into a situation where its give-give-give on your end and take-take-take on theirs. You want someone who balances you, where the give and take are equal.

*Don't try to find people who would be attracted to the person you think you should be - go for the ones who like you for who you actually are! I used to put so much effort into making myself less high-maintenance because I thought people wouldn't be attracted to my big nature. Turns out, my husband loves my big nature exactly the way it is!

*Resist the urge to drop your drawers until you're sure this person shares your relationship goals, and that they feel the same way about you! The day after you have sex is not the time to find out they just want a casual fling, if you're looking for marriage.

*Prepare yourself for your new relationship with a daily clearing ritual. Let go of old items or photos that only bring back painful memories, or you can do what I did and have a wedding ceremony with yourself so that you make the most important commitment of all!

*Stick to your guns when it comes to deal-breakers. Perhaps you won't tolerate a drug-user. Or maybe you can't stand to be with someone who's into porn. We all have areas where we draw the line - make a list of yours so that you aren't tempted to bend those lines. You can learn more about deal-breakers by getting a copy of Hindsight, What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers.

*Never compromise your safety or integrity - trust your true instincts, and don't set yourself up to fail!

But if you want the best piece of advice ever… it might take you a long time to get in etched in your mind, and to put it into practice, but here it is: Great relationships begin within!®

If you want some “inner-viewing” tips, go to http://www.maryannelive.com/ and sign up for Maryanne's new webinar series starting June 14. You can watch her doing one of the things she does best, asking the IMPORTANT questions of six live bachelors, one per week, real people, real time. You can choose to simply listen, to ask questions, or to be eligible for a date with the bachelor of your choice. Learn how and when to ask the essential questions, and build your Relationship Toolbelt so you can craft healthy, fulfilling, sustainable relationships!

- Maryanne


by Maryanne Comaroto of Maryanne Live

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

You’re buying a television on picture quality not the sound; keep in mind the flatter the television gets the less room there are for speakers. The fact is some manufacturers are now making televisions without speakers (this is where we want to do our research). It stinks to bring home a $2,000 TV, plug it in turn it on and say “how come there isn’t any sound?”

Those add on sales might not be an add on

Imagine you bring home your new High Definition Flat panel television, the family gathers around ripe with anticipation, you put in the latest “must have” movie, movie starts; there’s no sound!! Then it starts, “turn it up, I can’t hear it”. Sadly, you will not be the first or the last person this happens to after buying a new TV. As we trend towards ”the flatter, the better” in TV’s, one of the items being sacrificed is the audio / speaker portion of the TV’s!!! Who would have thought that TV companies would take out the speakers? A flatter TV has a great, super flat picture but no speakers to generate sound to accompany this awesome picture!! Remember you are usually buying a TV on picture quality which most manufactures bank on now and not the quality of the TV’s audio. It would be too easy if it was all a package deal like it was back in the old console TV days.

Next time you visit your local retailer take notice that most of the TV’s don’t have the sound on or in some cases not even hooked up. The reason for this is that they want to take you into the speaker area to hear the audio portion; thus add on selling begins! Don’t be alarmed!! They aren’t trying to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge cheap. Take a few moments to listen; let your guard down and let them educate you. They are trying to teach you and make sure that you are not disappointed with your purchase. Trust me having known a few different TV salesmen; they’re passionate about their TV viewing so listen to their advice and you’ll experience incredible TV viewing. It will be like going to the movies each time you turn on the TV.

It might be confusing but if speakers are being installed into these flat panels they’re only about the size of a quarter; which can only produce enough sound to replicate that of head phone speakers. While they sound great in your actual ear and do produce sound it will never be enough to fill the living room for family movie night. Items like a center channel, subwoofers and surround speakers might seem confusing but there is an added value to these items. So don’t think of it as a sales associate trying to make more commission by getting you just to purchase something else. They are educating you and trying to understand your TV needs to make sure that you are not disappointed with your purchase. Tell them if you like to play Xbox, Wii or Play station for hours or if you have 800 movies in your video library; it helps them find the best fit for your viewing pleasure.

Technology changes and grows with great picture quality, thinner TV’s, gravity defying brackets to hang TV’s and speakers that make you think an airplane is landing on your lap. Speakers can easily be forgotten or dismissed during the purchase and it’s often not very frequently discussed when doing your research prior to purchasing a Television. Tough economic times have resulted in some people cutting back on family movie outings and caused them to stay home more often. If you have a rocking surround sound system to accessorize your life-like TV picture; simply eliminating one movie night a month for a family of four could potentially pay for a great investment in surround sound speakers. Who doesn’t want to feel like they’re at the movies every night but get to lay on the couch in your pj’s right?

Mary

Posted by Mary of Illuminate, Decorate and Fascinate

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

They're known by such labels as Stage Parent, Sports Parent, Pageant Parent - you know them as just plain pains. Now, I'm not talking about parents who have their children in a sport or activity and who support their children as any normal parent would... I'm talking about THOSE parents - the ones who are constantly pressuring their kids to get the starting spot, land the part or win the biggest trophy. The parents who are obsessed with their child being the best at whatever it is they do - at any price - even if the price is their child's own childhood itself.

I spend a fair bit of time at the gym with Little Miss Lauren, watching her every move at gymnastics... cringing whenever a flip lands wrong (usually resulting in a face plant or a head-first landing on a trampoline). I'm always encouraging her, smiling, giving her the thumbs-up and occasionally telling her to behave - just so she knows I'm paying attention and that I'm proud of her... but there is another set of parents (unfortunately usually sitting right next to me) who feel the need to take their "loving encouragement" to the next level.

Their little girl (just turned 6, so she's still really young) is on Laurens team at gymnastics apparently the above mentioned parents are living vicariously through this poor child. She's a beautiful little girl, always happy and smiling - but it is obvious that she is pushed quite hard. Both parents (and little brother) sit up in the viewing area four nights a week analyzing every move she makes - "she needs to do (fill in the blank) to fix that round off" or "She just needs to push a little harder to make that (fill in the blank) better". They've got their laptop up there inputting who knows what data, analyzing every move this poor kindergarten child does. Of course she's not in just one class, that meets two nights per week, but two classes two nights per week - that poor child, at six years old, is at the gym four nights per week until after dinnertime. All the time her parents pushing her to climb the rope a little higher or land that back handspring - it's really quite sad.

The really sad thing is that she will not make a move unless she is positive her parents are watching - maybe the only praise she gets is when Mumsy and Dad feel she's put in a good enough effort - who knows? It's obvious she's under a lot of pressure as she's constantly causing trouble with the other girls when the coach (and parents) aren't watching.

It seems that there are these types of parents everywhere, I see parents who push their kids at seven years old to be the quarterback at pee-wee football - positive that their performance now will mean a scholarship when college comes. The parents whose children are in twelve different activities because they're grasping at straws, hoping one of them turns out to be the one thing the child is a prodigy at. I just watched a show the other night Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC following a few girls through the process of a pageant. It was amazing how the parents pushed a two year old coaching her to learn to say "I love pageants" and "I want to win trophies" even though she had no interest in any of it whatsoever.

When do kids get to just be kids? What happened to roller skating on the sidewalk or playing kickball in the field with your friends. When do they have time to get bored so they can think up fun, imaginative ways to play new games? Do they always have to be the best and brightest at everything - or do some things get to just be for fun?

I am sad to say that the little girl at gymnastics left our gym yesterday. I'd love to tell you that it's because her Mom and Dad decided to let her just be a kid - no, quite the opposite. She's now going to be schlepped 45 minutes away four or five days a week to another gym two counties away that is more prestigious - where she can reach her "full potential" - yeah, right. Poor Kid.

- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

The smell of the barbecue grill, the sounds of children playing and the feel of warm sun on the skin are all signs of summer. With increased outdoor activities, there also comes a list of precautions you should take to keep your family safe and healthy.

"We know women are usually the caretakers of the family," says Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, a registered nurse and executive director of HealthyWomen. "Summer brings lots of great opportunities for family fun, but also requires some special planning to keep kids and adults safe and healthy in the sun and heat."


Limit sun exposure

Because exposure to the sun causes most of the skin changes associated with aging, protecting the skin from the sun is the single most important skin care practice you can adopt and impart to your children. Significant exposure to the sun will wrinkle and dry the skin. Uneven pigmentation - from freckles to small or large brown spots - is another side effect of frequent sunning.

The most serious consequence of sun exposure is skin cancer. Most sun damage occurs before age 18, but skin cancer can take up to 20 or more years to develop. Children who experience just a few serious sunburns are believed to have an increased risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Protect children by applying sunscreen at least an hour before heading outside and frequently reapplying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Also have them play in the shade and wear protective clothing. Babies younger than 6 months should never be in direct sunlight and should always wear a hat and clothing that protects them from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.


Keep an eye on your vision health

Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when you're in the sun. These two simple steps can reduce your exposure to eye-damaging UV rays up to 18-fold. And, if you wear contacts, ask your eye care specialist about contact lenses with UV protection. Don't forget your children and their eyes. If you are going to be in the sun, make sure your children are wearing hats that provide coverage. Use your stroller hood when out for a walk and pay attention to the sun's direction. When out for a walk with your stroller, try to walk so that the sun hits your back. You may also want to consider purchasing children's sunglasses.


Practice water safety

Before you start splashing, remember safety first. Take the time to enroll your kids in swim instruction classes, and teach your children to take precautions before diving into the water. Make sure to read the safety and warning labels on all children's toys, inner tubes and water wings so that you understand their safety capabilities. And remember to reapply sunscreen every few hours after being in the water.


Avoid foods exposed to excess heat

During the summer months, many people enjoy going for a picnic. Before packing your basket this summer, think about how long your food will be exposed to the outdoors. Avoid packing meat, dairy and egg products that may spoil if not kept cold. If you decide to bring these types of food products, pack them separate from each other in a cooler, and keep the ice in a sealed container to avoid a soggy sandwich.


Stay hydrated

Increase fluid intake as appropriate based on the weather. High temperatures or humidity outside, heated indoor air and high altitudes all cause you to need more fluids.

When exercising, drink one cup of fluids every 15 minutes, advises Dr. Werner W.K. Hoeger, a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Boise State University.

Add more for big events. If you're going to be in a race or charity walk, make sure you drink enough to be well hydrated the day before, Hoeger adds. Also, drink a glass of fluid, such as water or a sports drink, an hour before the event.


Watch out for overheating in vehicles

Even on a relatively mild day, the temperature inside your vehicle can quickly escalate. These temperatures can put both children and pets at risk for heat stroke, dehydration and even death. Never leave your child or pet unattended inside your car, even to run a quick errand.


For your sun safety checklist, visit www.HealthyWomen.org/summersafety. For other health and wellness information, visit www.HealthyWomen.org.


Courtesy of ARAcontent

Now, San Francisco area snackers can enjoy two servings of real fruit in the convenience of a portable 8 oz. bottle. The new Chiquita Fruit Crushie is a 100 percent fruit snack that tastes as satisfying as biting into a ripe piece of whole fruit.


The naturally sweet Chiquita Fruit Crushie is made from the highest quality and freshest fruits available, with no artificial colors, preservatives or added sugars. It will satisfy your cravings with four juicy blends, including Strawberry Banana, Blueberry Banana, Mango Banana and Pineapple Banana.

Here's a challenge: get rid of all your attachments. I don't mean you should quit your job or disown your family or move to another country for a fresh start. There's a much easier way to do it, though convincing yourself can be quite difficult. All you have to do is let go. Let it all go. Your ideas about things, your perceptions of others, your perceptions of yourself. It sounds easy on the surface, but attachments are everywhere, in every aspect of your being. Here are just a few of the things you'd have to watch fade into nothing if you really want to practice letting go:


Your past - your stories about how great or how awful your childhood was. Your ideas about whether or not your parents did a good job of raising their kids. Your ideas about whether your teachers at school helped you become the person you are, or held you back from becoming the person you could have been. Your most embarrassing moment, your proudest moment, your saddest moment, your most frightened moment. Let them all go.


Your ideas about who you are - your personality, your zodiac sign, your marital status. Your IQ, your job title, your highest level of education. Your job history, your job prospects. Whether you're a leader, a team player, a scientist, an artist. That you think you've gotten so far because you're lucky, or that you've gotten so far in spite of being unlucky. That you're a success, or that you haven't found success yet. That you even know how success could be measured. Let all those ideas and attachments go. All of them.


Your preferences and opinions - Your favorite restaurant, the best place to get your oil changed, the fastest way to get from the office to your house. That the person you see in the mirror is not tall enough or thin enough or young enough. That being nice to people will make them like you, or that being aloof will make you mysterious and attractive. That your political party is a better choice than the others. That God will take care of you before others because you pray harder than they do. Let it all go.


Your ideas about the world - That money makes the world go round. That money is the root of all evil. That love is all you need. That it makes a difference whether you have love or money. That there's a soulmate out there for you. That there are places you have to see, things you have to do, and people you need to meet. That you have plenty of time. That time is running out. That things are looking up for everyone. That things are going to spiral out of control. That global warming is going to be the end of us, if the terrorists don't kill us all first. Gather up all your ideas about the world, and let them go.


That you need to hurry up and start getting on with your life before it passes you by -That you need to slow down and take things easy and enjoy your life. That eventually you'll find the person out there who will complete you, and that you won't be complete without them. That you'll drive them away if you don't do the things they want. That nothing is as good as it used to be. That everything is better than it used to be. All these fears and hopes and worries and expectations… let them all go.


Then, once you have nothing else to let go of - let that go, too. So what's left, who would you be then? Fantastic! Now, let that go! Get the picture? Now, let that go, too...


- Maryanne


by Maryanne Comaroto of Maryanne Live

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Maryanne will be teaching a live video webinar on how to “inner-view” potential dates or mates BEFORE you agree to a date or relationship. She'll be featuring a very eligible bachelor and showing participants the best questions to ask and how to respond, live, on the fly, in real time! Sign up here

When the weather heats up, you're looking for ways to keep your cool. Incorporating new dishes that don't require a lot of heat to prepare and leave you feeling cool is a great way to survive the summer heat.

Rice, a staple ingredient in many tasty recipes, is a great item to keep in your pantry.

To keep kitchens cool when temperatures rise, Deborah Locke, product manager for RiceSelect, producers of Texmati Rice, the most widely recognized brand of aromatic rice in the United States, advises cooks to put their microwaves or rice cookers to work, rather than cooking rice on stovetops.

The Summertime Shrimp and Rice Bowl recipe is a one-dish entree that is quick, convenient, wholesome and tasty.
"If 'You can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen' is your summertime motto, this dish will bowl you over," Locke says. "Prepare rice in advance, then, when dinnertime rolls around, simply toss some shrimp on the grill and your meal is ready in minutes."

For those pinching pennies, watching weight or who have little time to cook, it is the perfect answer to what's for dinner - especially during the summertime. "Schedules are busier than ever. It's too hot to prepare elaborate meals," says Locke.

Preparing homemade rice bowls is limited only by your imagination. If you love to cook, but don't like to follow recipes, original rice bowl creations can be made in a matter of minutes. Texmati long grain American basmati rice, available in white, light brown and whole grain brown varieties - as well as organic - has the appetizing aroma of popcorn and a subtle nutty taste that elevates the flavor profile of your dish. Simply toss cooked Texmati rice with a small amount of meat, seafood or poultry and some fresh vegetables. Season to taste and you've got a healthy dish ready in minutes.

Below is a list of foods from the pantry or fridge that serve as great mix-ins for quick and easy summertime rice bowls.


From the pantry

* Beans

* Nuts

* Olives

* Sauces

* Vinegars

* Spices and extracts


From the fridge or freezer

* Fresh vegetables

* Fresh fruit

* Fresh herbs

* Prepared salad dressings

* Rotisserie or grilled chicken

* Eggs, meat, seafood cheese

* Deli meats - ham, turkey, etc.  



Summertime Shrimp and Rice Bowls

Makes four servings


Ingredients:

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

3 cups hot cooked Texmati Rice

1 11-ounce can corn, drained

1/4 cup drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil, reserving oil

1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon slivered fresh basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt



Directions:

Thread shrimp on skewers. To broil in oven, place on broiler rack coated with cooking spray. Brush shrimp with oil reserved from tomatoes. Broil four to five inches from heat for four minutes.


To cook on outdoor grill, brush shrimp with reserved oil from tomatoes. Cook skewered shrimp over hot coals four minutes. Turn and brush with additional oil. Grill four to five minutes or until done. In large bowl, combine rice, corn, tomatoes, cheese, basil and salt. Spoon into individual bowls. Top rice with shrimp.

Courtesy of ARAcontent