Sawdust Festival

To all my friends living in California, the Sawdust Festival starts this weekend November 21^st. If you live here … if you’re visiting for the holidays… find your way there.

Go see him.

His name is Joshua. He is a bronze sculptor, an absolute, beautiful soul, and he’s my friend.

When you visit his website http://www.joshuabchoy.com/ have your speakers on. Listen. You’re gonna fall in love with him I promise. And you’re gonna want one of his pieces. All the love he feels for the world is in them. And when it’s on your neck or wrapped around your waist, you can feel it. And because you like the feeling, you always want it on your body… which makes it conform to you even more. The longer you have it the more perfect it becomes.

This is what we need more of in the world. People that see the beauty all around, and not afraid to go deep within themselves to see what they can become. People that have found their passions and live them. You can feel Joshua’s fire in his pieces.

If you can't make the Sawdust, visit his website. Support him. He makes us all better.

I wish you an amazing festival Joshua !

The Sawdust is a great experience. You feel like you’re walking in the trees and I guess you are. You’re outside, the booths are built around the trees and you’re blanketed by leaves and branches overhead. The grounds are thick sawdust, and it feels like a big tree house filled with paintings and photographs, jewelry, glass sculptures, music and waterfalls.

And there’s food! My roommate Sallie is from Texas and recently began introducing California to the Southern fair delicacy – Funnel Cakes! She’s making her debut at the Sawdust! This is the time of year we all cheat anyway so just save a few calories to at least try one if you never have. And if you have, you may wanna give Sallie’s a go. They made the front page in Ventura County.

I won’t get a chance to go home for the holidays so I’ll use the space I was reserving for my mom’s sweet potato pie for one of Sallie’s funnel cakes.

I wish you an amazing festival Sallie !

This Made Me Cry...

Ok, I know, I'm a crybaby anyway but...



I just had to share this...



First, I apologize for the picture being so small. My computer was doing something insane and I couldn't edit the photo. But, in the center of the picture is a father and son. The little one was maybe 9 years old and daddy is teaching him how to surf!



I watched them for a while... dad would help him swim out and get him in good position to catch the next one. As the wave begins to build, dad swims with his arm extended to the back of the board, pushing his son into the surf. Who knows how many times they've done this but in and out they go.



I saw the little one jump on his board, after dad has pushed him off, and catch a long one. He even walked towards the front of his board just to milk out as much as possible. Impressive ! The wave dies and he turns around to look at his dad. It was a well deserved celebration! Even from the beach I can see an excited son and a proud dad. (In this photo he's on his own, about to jump up on his board).



I'm glad I was there... I'm better for seeing and feeling that... A father and son learning from each other. I was witnessing greatness. Whoever that little kid is ... he's a star!

my sister... Patrice..

Yes, I'm awake at 1:49am...

I have two favorite times of day... now, at 1:50am and 6am...
... they both give me a rush !

...anyhoo, i look into my closet and see these beautiful, recycle bags i bought for Patrice's birthday.

i'm such an awful sister... i'm sorry Patrice...
she's finding out now what i bought her for her birthday and i'm embarrassed to say how late ! it is...

Patrice... they are coming and you will love them...

--but,

i see these fabulous bags and they make me think of my sister... Patrice !
...this chick is fabulous all the time. from the moment she wakes up ! she's beautiful... without even trying... she just is.

i look forward to the day when we are celebrating the creation of your own line... of anything beautiful. you have such an incredible eye Patrice. it.. is going to be... STELLAR !
a friend recently used that word and i like it .. it's perfect... thank you joshua...

... i know i don't know that many people, but off all the people i've ever come in close proximity to... my whole life... i don't know anyone AS fabulous as my sister..

you would have to merge them all together .. jackie O.. lena horne... halle berry..
and my sister still wouldn't be second.

She startles you because, 'damn, she's bad', and you want everything SHE's got... then she speaks and you're hit again with, 'ok.. and she's intelligent'.. now, you're helpless..

She's funny.. straightforward.. you love her, you hate her (for half a sec)... and then you love her, always...

She's a girly girl but will give it a try... maybe...

i'm not quite sure why i'm shouting to the world that i love my sister .. but i know i'm blessed to have a sister, and to have a GOOD sister...

Patrice is incredible... She has a talent .. for creating all things beautiful ... you'll meet her soon..

Good News!

On Monday, October 26th I'll be on 'That Morning Show' on E!. If you have the ability to watch, please do and if you like my segment call them, email them, send them a message on FaceBook. If they like me they'll give me a regular spot. If you can't watch, TiVo it!

The show airs 6am -9am. I don't know where my segment will fall just yet. I'll be talking about nutrition, how to work out from home, and tricks to incorporate when you're out with the kids.

Monday, October 26th on E!

Watch it!!

Health Tip #3

Nutrition Is Key... And Easy!

As the oven is pre-heating to 375 degrees, I chop my veggies, season my salmon with sea salt, cracked black pepper, and olive oil. I set it to the side and as the oven continues to heat, I slice 1/2 an avocado and 1/2 a tomato, season both with sea salt, cracked pepper and olive oil.

Oven's ready...

It only takes 10 minutes to cook salmon so around the 5 minute mark I begin to sautee my veggies:

• A handful of cremini mushrooms
• 1/4 bell pepper
• 1/4 small onion
• A handful of spinach (I throw this in at the last moment just to slightly steam)

Total cook time for everything is 10 minutes.

Cleanup afterwards is minimal; I cover my baking dish with foil so there's no cleanup there; I use one sautee pan for the veggies; one small bowl to hold the tomatoes as I season them; one plate to eat from. Cleanup is fast and easy!

Cooking for a family understandably takes a bit more time but it doesn't have to be more difficult. Look at the picture. That's what I had for dinner last night. What on my plate is unhealthy? Nothing... everything tastes great, is good for me, and I can be sitting down to an incredible meal in 15 minutes or less with a cleanup that's over in 5.

Simple Health Tip #2

I'm constantly telling people how simple and inexpensive it is to stay fit. But for some reason, most want to make it more difficult that it is. Listen to me, please. It... doesn't... take... much! Unless your desire is to grace the stage of a fitness competition or to become an elite athlete, it... doesn't... take... much!

Since most of us simply want to be healthier, I have a simple plan that's easy to build on. We began last week, or I’ll say you should have begun last week with the purchase of your jump rope. Did you get yours? Yes? Good! No? Well, it’s called ‘catch up’ darling because now we’re adding a piece.

Each week I will give you a step. All you have to do is take it. The more you do your part, the more steps you take, the looser the waistline of your pants become.

So you have your jump rope, which is a simple way to get in some great cardio, and now we’re adding our next piece. Do you have a stability ball? Get one… Target…. $20.

Stability balls are perfect for keeping the midsection tight! Because it is a ball it’s a bit unstable and it’s that instability which makes it a perfect tool to get your abs to kick in gear. Your middle, your abs, your core, whatever you want to call it, help keep you balanced and upright. That’s they’re job. When you find yourself on an unstable surface or you’re about to fall, your abs kick in gear in order to bring you back to center. That’s what they do, with no help from you, that’s simply what they do. So if you can train on an unstable surface your abs have to tighten just to keep you upright. Make sense? Good. Now what to do with your ball…

Have a seat on the ball and walk your feet forward allowing the ball to roll underneath you until it’s in the small of your back. Don’t be afraid to fall off you’re only inches from the floor. Fold your arms over your chest and crunch. Breathe out as you crunch. Sound simple? Good ‘cause it kinda is. Don’t worry about a number just crunch until you can’t crunch anymore.

Last week you jumped rope. This week you jump rope and use your new toy to tighten your abs. It looks like this:
Quick jump rope warm-up – 5 minutes
Have a seat on the ball – crunch until you can’t
Now alternate 3 minutes of jump rope with crunches. Give yourself 45 minutes and you’re done.

Incorporate this into your week. 3 days… 45 minutes… Not a lot… Simple…

Health Tip #1

In your travels this weekend stop by Target and pick up a jump rope. After you pay for it, don’t even bother with a bag. Drop it down inside that gigantic purse of yours or walk out the store with it proudly on display in your hands. And why are you so confidant? Because it’s a freakin’ jump rope and you can do this. Forget what you think you look like and start practicing. All that practice is exercise, exercise that burns calories, and burnt off calories equal looser waistbands.

You can do it in your garage, your backyard, your deck, your driveway. 30 minutes four times a week. That’s it. How much easier you want it? That five minutes it took you to get back in the groove doesn't count.

Commit to 4 days a week and there’s no way something good won’t happen. Tell me about it…