The Things We Take For Granted

March 23, 2012

This week I realized how many things I take for granted. It isn’t intentional in any way. I think people become accustom to having certain things and you end up just thinking it is the norm, rather than realizing it is an advantage, a blessing, and something to be grateful for because not everyone has these things. Right now I’m going to take a moment to ground myself and say thanks for a few of the things I am thankful for:

  • My Eyes – Sight is probably the most dominant of our senses. How else would you be reading this post? How would you point and click your way around the internet? The Nook & Ipad would be useless to you.
  • My Mobility – I can get around independently with out the use of a cane, crutches, walker, or rascal scooter. I don’t need help or assistance to get where I need to.
  • My Financial Stability – I can pretty much take care of my self – I wouldn’t say I feel 100% secure, but I am stocking away my pennies to get there.
  • My Independence – In tandem with my mobility and financial stability is my independence. I can do what I want, when I want. Come and go as I please. I answer to no one.
  • My Health – Everything does what it is supposed to do with out the assistance of medications or machines
  • My Family – who would be there are a moments notice if any of the other items I am grateful for should start to deteriorate
  • My Friends  - who care about me and support me even when I don’t respond right away.
Have you taken a moment to give thanks today? 
Related articles

2 Comments | Self | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Souzapalooza

Spring in to Action

March 20, 2012
A view down Sunset Boulevard in Disney's Holly...

A view down Sunset Boulevard in Disney's Hollywood Studios, showing the Hollywood Tower Hotel. This sinister building houses the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well here it goes again – I signed up for a long distance, destination race. I am registered for the runDisney Tower of Terror 10K race in September. I’m super excited because I am not doing it alone; my other sister signed up to run it as well. The race takes place along the ESPN Sports Complex as well as the Disney Hollywood Studios Theme Park.

Being the sucker that I am for Disney, I am super excited to get another chance to visit. Plus, there will be live entertainment and CHARACTERS at the finish line. That’s right, Mickey or one of his cronies will be there to greet me at the finish. I can’t wait! Of course, I need to figure out how to run with my camera for photo opportunities as well.

The good people at Disney want us to be able to run the race at a 16 minute mile which I think is more than doable. plus, with over 6 months to train, I think I can work on my stamina and time.

So how are you shaking the dust off and springing in to action?

Related articles

Leave a Comment » | Goals | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Souzapalooza

Souzapalooza’s Links to Love – Great Posts From the Internet

March 19, 2012

I haven’t done a links to love in a while, but there are just so many great articles out there I wanted to share them. Here are some of the favorites I read this weekend:

Thin Mint Trifles from Pass the Sushi – It is Girls Scout Cookie season after all! These trifles look to be a tasty treat and not terribly calorie laden if you follow the sugar-free options of Jello and Cool Whip

10 Reasons Why You Do Have Time To Workout from Time Management Ninja – The TMNinja reminds us that working out is a choice and if there is a will, there is a way!

QUIT: Not Feeling Fab on a Daily Basis from Cordelia Calls It Quits – Cordelia reviews her strategies for clearing closets (channelling her inner Stacey London and Clinton Kelly of TLC’s What Not To Wear) so it is always full of clothes that are flattering, fabulous, and fits her own personality

44 Healthy Foods for Under $1 from the Greatist – This may be my favorite post. To all those who think eating healthy is too expensive, why don’t you check out this post!

Bad Body Image Day Songs from Feministing (by way of Galadarling.com) – A great little list of songs to listen to when you are having a “bad body day” – although I am sure it would be just as useful if its a bad hair day too!

What blog posts are you reading?

Related articles

Leave a Comment » | Link Love (Great Posts from Other Blogs) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Souzapalooza

I’m A Terrible Aunt

March 16, 2012

Yesterday I worked a 12 hour day, 15 door to door thanks to the off peak train. It was completely out of my control. After an incredibly challenging day with the team I support, I had to wait for data from my counterparts in other regions who were dilly dallying ( 9 in NY is only 6 in CA after all)
Frustrated and tired on my train ride home, I was reading a magazine (I can’t concentrate on a book after a long day like that). There was an ad for runDisney, a series of races in the Disney parks. It made me think of my vacation with my nieces and nephew. It makes me sad our trip seems like forever ago yet it was only 7 months ago.
Thinking of our trip, I couldn’t help but laugh thinking of my nephew. It was a rough trip for him. First ride at Disney was a Finding Nemo ride in Epcot. No one warned him about the sharks which caused him to burst in to hysterics. (I will share that a similar situation occurred with me on the Snow White ride circa 1984 in which as an adult i still refuse to ride it) This incident caused him to be apprehensive to every ride we went on.
The thing that made me smile on my ride home, was thinking about when we took him to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. There he is sitting next to me on his chair, eating his chicken fingers (or what ever they are in the rainforest – parrot bones or something silly like that) . All of the sudden I’m looking at him and almost slow motion, I watch as he falls off his chair for no apparent reason. He wasn’t rocking in it, or screwing around, one minute he was in the chair, the next he was in the floor. It was completely random. We all took a fit of laughter. My nephew was not happy at us at all. Not only was his bottom brushed, but so were is feelings cause we all laughed at him. We really didn’t mean to laugh at him bit it was just so funny.
I’m sure when he can read the Souzapalooza Blog, he is not going to be happy that his auntie shared this story about him. However, I hope he will be able to forgive me when he realizes that the best part of my day was thinking about him.

20120316-090730.jpg

1 Comment | Just for Fun | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Souzapalooza

Just Another Great Day To Be Alive

March 14, 2012

Just another great day to be alive – Mr A.

Pythagorean theorem visual

Image via Wikipedia

This sentence was announced with energy and enthusiasm during my high school math classes on a relatively regular basis. This phrase was subconsciously penetrated in to our minds along with the Pythagorean Theorem by our motivating math teacher, Mr A. Even now as adults, say this phrase to a fellow alumni, and they will respond in turn with another of his catch phrases, “Dazzle ‘em!” (or Jobin’s favorite – “Betcha Boots!”) Regardless of if it was a great day, or if it was another day full of high school turmoil, for a moment, we were reminded that it was a great day to be alive and we could focus on something positive rather than what “X” equaled.

How often do you take a minute to remind yourself that is it a great day to be alive?

So often we push through our day, bogging ourselves down with negative thoughts of what we aren’t succeeding at, what we should be doing better, what we haven’t accomplished yet. Why do we do this to ourselves? Instead for the rest of the week, when things are bogging you down, try saying this affirmation to your self:

“Self, today is just another great day to be alive. I am open and receptive to all the good and abundance in the universe. I love and approve of myself. I deserve the best and I accept the best now. I am blessed beyond my fondest dreams. Golden opportunities are everywhere.”

Lets try to keep things positive! And to Jobin, The Wizard, and West Coast Brooklyn – It is just another great day to be alive so get out there and dazzle ‘em  - “protractas” optional

Related articles

1 Comment | Self | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Souzapalooza

Dr Oz 48 Hour Cleanse – 48 Hours Later

March 13, 2012

As I mentioned on Sunday, I decided to try Dr. Oz’s 48 hour cleanse. Here are my thoughts -

  • Although I got to eat on this detox, I was still hungry. Dr Oz gives you the option to eat fresh veggies like beans, cucumbers and radishes. I didn’t get hungry till after 7pm when Dr. Oz suggests not to eat. Go figure.
  • This detox did not make me spend a lot of quality time in the bathroom – nice perk. Some detoxes have that effect on people, this was a pleasant bonus. I did have a bit of gas after dinner though (noisy not smelly – hey I have to give you guys the facts!)
  • Quinoa & Prunes were good, Blueberry Smoothie was good, Pineapple & Kale juice delicious, Veggie soup was a complete fail. It smells nasty, looks grey, and I did not enjoy it. (My mom & Stepdad tried it too – their soup was purple because they used red cabbage)
  • Surprisingly, I lost 3 pounds. Not sure it this was coincidence or detox based but it was great to see the scale slide. I wasn’t expecting a weight loss since I really didn’t feel a significant change to  my body, but it was nice to see.
Red cabbage

Image via Wikipedia

Has anyone else tried Dr. Oz’s 48 Hour Cleanse? What were your thoughts and results?

Related articles

20 Comments | Healthy Choices | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Souzapalooza

What Have You Done For Me Lately?

March 12, 2012

Well? What HAVE I done for ME lately? Let’s see….

  • I’ve signed up for an 8 week “Tone & Burn” class at the gym (it is small group training so it is like taking a class with lots of customization)
  • I’ve signed up for a Personal Trainer – I’ve done this so I can be more productive in the gym, to make sure I am doing things properly, and for a little extra accountablity.
  • I am doing Dr. Oz’s 48 Hour Cleanse to reset my system
  • I am having a massage next Saturday Morning
  • I have been working on some positive affirmations
  • I’m keeping up with my gratitude journal

 

Wow – that’s a pretty good start! What have you done for yourself lately?

Related articles

Leave a Comment » | Goals | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Souzapalooza

Internal Spring Cleaning

March 10, 2012

Since we are springing ahead today, I wanted to take note of another spring trend I have been noticing – spring cleansing. A lot of people around my office and around the “interweb” have starting doing some cleanses and detox dieting. I think everyone wants to get rid of some of the extra weight from our winter hibernation, clean out and reset their digestion, and try to feel a bit lighter over all. It is a get things started to on your way to getting beach ready for summer.

A lot of people around my office have been doing the Blue Print Cleanse. The Blue Print Cleanse is a 3 day juicing fast. They provide you with 6 juices per day. You can choose straight juicing or juicing with dinner at the end of the day. They have a few different programs that you can follow depending what your body, and goals are. You can order your juices and have them delivered directly to you or now they are available at Whole Foods per bottle (however, each bottle is close to $9 – If you have a juicer you may want to try doing it yourself instead!)

English: Photo of Dr.Oz at the Time 100 Gala.

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve decided to skip the juice fast and try Dr Oz’s 48 Hour Cleanse. What I like about Dr. Oz’s cleanse is that you actually eat as opposed to juicing all day long. For my body, I really need to have a filling feeling, juice on its own makes me a little dizzy, nauseous and way bitchier than usual. In addition, Dr Oz’s program is only two days, everything is natural, and it is pretty easy to prepare. This cleanse provides your internal detoxifying system (your liver, colon and kidneys) supportive nutrients to help do their job unlike other cleanses that can do more damage than good, by putting your body in to a starvation mode.

Dr Oz’s program starts with a breakfast of Quinoa with Prunes, followed by a lunch smoothie made of almond milk, banana and blueberries, and a dinner of a vegetable soup made of rich detoxifying vegetable such as cabbage, fennel, garlic, and onions paired with a side of sauerkraut and apples. Of course, if you do get hungry, you can snack on fresh veggies of radishes, celery, cucumbers, and green beans as well as a fresh Pineapple Kale juice full or digestive enzymes.

I’ll let you know how I feel in two days….

Related articles

Leave a Comment » | Healthy Choices | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Souzapalooza

« Previous Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 546 other followers

%d bloggers like this: