LifeShine Nourishing Newsletter: December "Cut the Chaos Tips"

Up Coming Events

Laughter Yoga Classes!
**Free** First Saturday of the month January - June 2008
12 noon, at Wake Up Yoga, 2329 Parrish Street, Philadelphia
Led by, yours truly, Kelly Mashu, now a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader!

Holistic Health and Weight-Loss Information Sessions *Free*:
Sat. Jan. 12, 1pm, Curves Gym, 1100 S Columbus Blvd.
and Mon. Jan. 14, 6:30pm, Curves Gym, 2115 W Oregon Ave.

Dear Friends,

Season Greetings!

This month I gave a few workshops about how to stay healthy and happy during the holiday season. Here are a few of my favorite tips. Hope you can find one that you'd like to try this season.

Wishing you very happy, healthy, peaceful holidays,
Kelly

Article: "Cut the Chaos Tips"

3 Party Tips:

Make time for a stress reliever before the event. Create good cheer before you even get there!

Choose quality over quantity.
Make a plate with just a little taste of everything, try a bite of each, discard the rest. Then make a meal plate of only what is truly delicious.

Chew gum after dinner to avoid picking. Try mint-flavored to refresh the palate or fruity for an extra dessert!


3 Stress Survival Tips:

Don't sweat the small stuff.
Look at the tasks that most stress you out and find ways to cut them down to manageable size, or cut them out altogether. Learn to enjoy the mantra, "It doesn't have to be perfect."

Move your body every day.
Doctors, Psychologists and Health Counselors agree, exercise is a proven stress reliever, mood enhancer and physical motivator.

Laugh!
A burst of laughter is a huge stress relief. Try a laughter yoga class soon to learn ways to laugh, even when laughing seems like to last thing you feel like doing. Laughter Yoga will change your life!


My favorite Gift Tip:

Give a gift that isn't stuff.
Some suggestions are: a gift certificate for a session with a holistic health counselor, a session with a personal trainer, a massage, yoga classes, dance classes, or tickets to a show, sporting event or museum.


Recipes of the Month


Christmas Salad

Arugula (or mixed baby greens)
Dried cranberries (sweetened with apple juice)
Clementine sections
Chopped pecans

Mix all (proportions to your liking). Dress with unrefined olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or try a quality store-bought raspberry vinaigrette. Colorful, sweet, healthy, yum!



Simple Squash 2

Butternut Squash
Water

If the squash is organic and you don't mind a bit of chunkiness, leave the peal on. There is great nutrients in the peel. Cut squash in half so that the bulbous end is separated from the long end. Place bulbous end, cut side down and cut in half from top to bottom. Clean out seeds. Cube the entire squash and place in large saucepan. Add about ¼ inch of water to the pot, cover, boil 15-20 minutes, until squash is very soft, mash till creamy.

Notes:
Check the water while cooking to be sure it hasn't evaporated and the squash isn't sticking to the bottom of the pan.

It may take a few tries to discover the perfect water to squash ratio that creates your perfect texture.

For fancy flavor you can add a little butter or sprinkle a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg and swirl the spice over the top.



Baked Pears

3 Pears
1/3 cup Dried Dates
1/3 cup Pecans
2-4 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
Water

Cut pears in half length-wise. Place in baking pan, add ¼ of inch of water to pan, cover with tinfoil. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes until pears are very soft and the water has turned into a golden syrup. While the pears are baking, blend dates, pecans and cinnamon in a food processor until small and crumbly. When pears are cooked, remove the seeds and core with a spoon. Make a packed heaping tablespoon of the date mixture and stuff the core area of the pears. For extra sweetness and flare, drizzle the pear syrup over the stuffed pears. Serve hot or cold.

Testimonials
"The first class was very inspirational, and I am doing a lot more cooking for myself. I am actually eating 'real' dinners now, about 5-7 days a week, which is a huge feat for me! If I was so inspired after one class, I know I'll be eating much healthier after two!"
- Alane Benson

"Kelly suggested herbs that help me sleep and that virtually eliminate monthly cramps, as well as a vegetable juice fast that helps regulate my digestion and my blood sugar. Kelly is not just a health counselor, she is an 'artist of being alive.' "
- S. Miria Jo, Singer/Songwriter

"Thanks to Kelly, I have satisfied both my appetite and my incessant need for energy! She taught me how to cook nutritious and delicious food, and gave me very helpful tips to sustain energy in order to cope with my busy lifestyle."
- Eynat, Fashion Designer

What LifeShine Holistic Health Counseling can do for You!
- Reclaim your health and happiness.
- Learn to understand cravings and how to disarm them without will-power.
- Lose weight normally and naturally.
- Increase your energy.
- Disease-proof your body.
- Discover delicious health-promoting foods.
- Plan simple, quick, delicious, power-packed meals, even if your time seems limited
- Create a joyful, successful lifestyle with step-by-step goal setting and support
- Become part of a fabulous community of people dedicated to living well
- Let your life shine!