33 Ways to Stay Creative

Supplement-Me

There are so many supplements on the market today, which are right for you? You workout, you’re eating right, now time to go out and purchase some supplements to optimize your performance and metabolism.

First get a good multi vitamin..and then power up with the following:

Calcium: Its probably the most important supplement for a woman. Calcium is essential for bone development and can help alleviate the symptoms of PMS. On top of that dairy foods high in calcium have been shown to play a role in energy metabolism. Women age 19 - 50 should get 1000 mg of calcium per day.

Whey protein: is second must have supplement on your list, is isolated from dairy milk and is considered the highest quality protein available. WPI provides the richest content of amino acids all in a convenient powder format. Whey protein can be used as a source of protein for a quick meal or can be added to almost any food to supplement your protein needs. Try a peanut butter and chocolate whey protein shake!

Fish oils: Fish Oils are derived from the fat of cold water, deep-sea fish and is a source of Omega-3, which is an essential fatty acid that contains DHA and EPA. They are essential for your body to make new cells, particularly brain and nerve cells. Omega-3 fatty acid is an important nutrient for maintaining a healthy heart, brain and nervous system, as well as helping to reduce inflammation in joints and maintaining flexibility - something all active people need. Use a minimum of 3g daily.

Antioxidants: Work to decrease the harmful effects of free radicals produced by the body through a process of oxidation. By binding to active receptor sites on free radicals, antioxidants act like scavengers, neutralizing free radicals damaging effects in our body.  Common antioxidants can be found in the foods we eat, however supplements such as grape seed extract, green tea extract and lycopene isolated from tomatoes offer potent and concentrated forms of antioxidants without the added calories.

Arginine: An amino acid that the body cannot make naturally is involved in many processes including hormone secretion, the removal of toxic waste products, improving sexual function and immune defense. But perhaps the best use of arginine is its ability to produce nitric oxide, through the property of vasodilatation. Supplementing with arginine can help increase vasodilatation of blood vessels resulting in better transfer of important nutrients to the muscle, and ultimately aiding in growth and repair. Arginine can be found on it's own but can also be found in many popular pre-workout products.

Glutamine: Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid, found in abundance in the human body. Glutamine has been shown to aid in recovery, reduce protein catabolism and increase protein metabolism. Its presence is found in the blood, gut and the skeletal muscles and is used as a main source of fuel for the immune system. Glutamine is considered by some as being conditionally essential, particularly in states of injury or compromised immune function. After training, injury to the muscle cells occurs, causing our immune systems to induce the recovery process to help repair tissue damage to muscles.

Green tea extract: An extract of green tea has been found to significantly increase energy expenditure and have an effect of fat oxidation. This exact extract was found to increase overall energy expenditure by 35%! The catechins in green tea extract, especially one known as ECGC (Epigallocatechin Gallate) protect your body against respiratory and digestive infections, short circuit the reproduction of cancerous cells, help lower high blood pressure, reduce the levels of LDL and total cholesterol in your blood, and – believe it or not – helps fight cavities.

Vitamin B12: is one of the top ten health supplements because it strengthens the immune system and helps relieve the effects of physical and mental stress on the body.

Co Q10: Since its discovery in 1957, CO Q10 (ubiquinone) has been widely studied. It’s a component in the mitochondria in every cell in your body, where it seems to function as an antioxidant. Among the benefits associated with taking health supplements containing CO Q10 are fewer and less severe migraines, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increased energy and heightened immune system.

Dirtiest Surfaces in U.S.

Barf right?

A new study that analyzed "germ hotspots" in six U.S. metropolitan areas identified which commonly touched surfaces are teeming with the most illness-causing bacteria.

For the study—which was conducted by the University of Arizona —hygienists swabbed 350 of the most frequently touched surfaces in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia.

The researchers then tested the swabs' ATP levels, which indicate contamination by animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast, and mold cells. Objects that had an ATP reading of 300 or higher were deemed to have an increased risk of illness transmission.

The results showed that the following surfaces had high levels of contamination:

• 71% of gas pump handles;
• 68% of mailbox handles;
• 43% of escalator rails;
• 41% of ATM buttons;
• 40% of parking meters and kiosks;
• 35% of crosswalk buttons; and 
• 35% of vending machine buttons.

Keep it clean and keep it classy people. Winter flu season is coming up and that ish is unforgiving. Do yourself and the rest of humanity a favor and carry around some anti bac hand cleanser. Thanking you.

Pear and Blood Orange Martini

Be the hostess with the mostess with this cocktail from one of my fave restaurants in LA. RED O.

The mixologist there stirred up this bad boy and let me tell you what...he is tasty.

Pear and Blood Orange Martini Makes uno

Ingredients

2 oz. pear vodka
2 oz. Italian blood orange soda
½ oz. St-Germain elderflower liqueur
4 drops Fee Brothers rhubarb bitters ( or leave em out)


1. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake well and serve in a glass.
3. Receive compliments.

Day of the Dead Blood Orange Margarita

Few things make me happier than a margarita. Why not have tequila bring people together? So without further ado...

Blood Orange Margaritas

makes 8 stiff drinks

2 1/2 cups silver tequila

1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

1 cup freshly squeezed blood orange juice

1 cup cointreau

1/4 cup simple syrup

Stir all ingredients in a pitcher. Put out glasses, a bowl of ice and lime & blood orange wedges, for garnish. Let guests pour over ice and enjoy.

We like an especially tart margarita, if you like something sweeter, increase the amount of simple syrup, up to 3/4 of a cup.

Bottoms up!

Gyro Jalapeno Poppers

Appetizer of my dreams ( where is the man?? )  — gyro jalapeno poppers, stuffed with red onion, oregano, and ground lamb. My stomach made the ultimate vote. Boom.

Prepping jalapenos for poppers can be a bit gnarly. By the fourth chile or so, I could feel it gripping the back of my throat and olfactory system. But the end result is so very worth it...ahhh...as is everything in life. Just gotta go through a little pain to get there..this one's no different baby.

Ingredients

12 jalapeño peppers
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup cooked ground lamb
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt


Directions

1. Heat the oven to broil and arrange a rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
2. Lay a jalapeño on your work surface so that it sits flat without rolling. Make two cuts forming a "T" by first slicing down the middle fo the chile lengthwise from stem to tip, then making a second cut perpendicular to the first about 1/4 inch from the stem, slicing only halfway through the chile (be careful not to cut off the stem end completely). Carefully expose the flaps to expose the interior of the chile, and, using a butter knife or a small measuring spoon, scrape the inside to remove the seeds and ribs. Repeat with the remaining peppers; set aside.
3. Place the cream cheese, lamb, onion, oregano, and salt in a medium bowl, season with freshly ground pepper, and mix until smooth and evenly combined. Transfer the mixture to a quart-sized resealable plastic bag, cut one bottom corner off to make a 3/4-inch-wide opening, and squeeze the mixture into the chiles until just filled (be careful not to overfill). Insert a toothpick widthwise through each chile to secure the flaps and filling. Place the filled chiles on the prepared baking sheet in two evenly spaced rows of six.
4. Broil for 4 minutes, rotate the pan, and continue to broil until the peppers are starting to char and the filling is browned and bubbly, about 4 minutes more. Remove from the oven, and remove the toothpicks if desired. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Tinsel Tips

I love twisting a good classic. Makes me wanna put on some lipstick, a dress and rock these nails.