Recipe: Refried beans

Well, now you can have your beans at eat 'em too!

Get recipe HERE.

Nutrients per serving (1/2 cup):
Calories: 147, Total Fat: 2 g, 
Sat. Fat: 0 g, Carbs: 25 g, Fiber: 9 g, Sugars: 1 g, Protein: 8 g, 
Sodium: 22 mg, Cholesterol: 0 mg

Hello South Carolina!

Hola Ms. Myrtle and Sir. Charleston!

This weekend le boy, the ladies and moi will be flying our human [and canine] butts to South Carolina, YAY!!!!

The trip was intended to be Myrtle Beach only, but after short consideration I realized that there is not much to do at Myrtle in early October, sooooo I decided to add a car rental to our reservations and now we are going on a Sunday day trip to Charleston and I cannot be more excited! WOOOHOOOO!!!!

So here's what our vacation looks like [and I will update accordingly, after the trip]:

Friday:  The Boardwalk

This one should be fun to walk around on an early Fall afternoon... into the night.

UPDATE:  Cancelled.  Fucked up by storm floodings. 

Saturday:  California Roots Concert

The reason for our trip!  We have become 311 concert goers, so when mah man found out that 311 was going to perform at the California Roots concert, well, things were booked and now we both can't wait!

UPDATE:  Cancelled.  Fucked up by storm floodings. 

Sunday:  Charleston, S.C.

I would be lying if I said I never cared to come to this city.  I've seen how beautiful it looks on TV and I have been wanting to visit for a while now.  I am so so so excited we will get the opportunity to walk the streets of Charleston.  I, of course, jumped on the opportunity of going as soon as I realized there was not much of interest for us in Myrtle Beach after California Roots all day concert was done and over with.  It is only 2 hours away from Myrtle so a day trip on a Sunday seemed feasible and stupid to not do.  I did my lil research and since we will only get a few hours in Charleston, I wanted to make the most of it, so I found this Free Tours By Foot guided tour (which I have already used their amazing tour guide services when we went to NOLA) and booked us a Historic Charleston tour.  The tour is two hours and I'm SURE it will be very informative and amazing and a great way to learn the most about this city.

UPDATE:  Cancelled.  Fucked up by storm floodings. 

Some of the areas visited during the tour are:

The French Quarter:  Four Corners of Law a/k/a the courthouse:  "Known as "the Four Corners of Law" because the intersection hosted buildings from each level of government: the Courthouse (state law), City Hall (municipal law), the Federal Building and U.S. Post Office (federal law), and Saint Michael's Episcopal Church (canon law)." Thanks wiki!

UPDATE:  Cancelled.  Fucked up by storm floodings. 

Rainbow Row:  "Rainbow Row is the name for a series of thirteen colorful historic houses in Charleston, South Carolina. It represents the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States." Thanks again wiki!!!

UPDATE:  Cancelled.  Fucked up by storm floodings. 

Charleston City Market:  A Place where you can shop your little heart out...  plus music entertainment.  Day market opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m.  Night market opens at 6:30 p.m. and closes at 10:30 p.m.

UPDATE:  Cancelled.  Fucked up by storm floodings. 

Pineapple Fountain:  This interesting looking fountain is located in the Charleston Waterfront Park.  I am assuming a place to go for a stroll and relax.  From what I've read so far,  pineapples are a thing in Charleston and represent hospitality. 

UPDATE:  Cancelled.  Fucked up by storm floodings. 

Skytop Adventure Center: UTV

Happy belated barfday to my dear Crees!

I am always fishing for Groupon and LivingSocial activities to do with my loved ones.  Who said one can't have a good time on a budget!?

My friend's birthday was in August so the planner that I am, I ended up buying the Skytop Adventure Center's online deal, and scheduled a birthday outing for my friend.  Sadly, even though I scheduled this thing for the RIGHT day, I received an email from Skytop canceling the adventure.  Of course, I reschedule and well, today was the day!

This thing was fun.  I let my boy drive since this was his b-day present and I went along for the ride.  We got a lil muddy and a whole lotta dusty but all in good fun.

The one thing that freaked me out about this was that later at night when I got home and had to blow my nose, a whole bunch of black crap came out of my nostrils.  Freak-out galore in the shower!

I can't say I'd do this again, but I sure am glad I gave it a try and I'm happy I got to experience this with a good friend of mine.

Head to the supermarket!

Note to self:  Always have at least 5 of these in the fridge... ready to go..  ready to grab-prep-eat!

To read more about Health's slimming #superfoods, click HERE.

The world of Yoga mats.

I was thinking of buying my own yoga mat (even though my gym provides them) because it's just gross to me to put my bare arms or partially bare back, and bare hands on a what I can only assume to be a very dirty gym mat.  People step on it, sweat on it and only God knows what kind of stuff has found "home" on the mats...   #CRINGE!!!

So I started to do some yoga mat research and it just proved to be too damn complicated.  Having to choose between thickness, material, texture, stickiness, price range and colors/style among other factors, proved to be too much of a hassle to think about... and then having to carry it every so often...  No thanks!  So I have decided to just use the "dirty" mats, and simply put a long towel over it.  Problem solved!  Hand sanitizer in tow!

For my non-readers who might be interested in learning more about this yoga mat jiggamathingy, click on links below.

[Info/Source]

Recipes that fight fat.

All hail getting healthy... or at least trying.  I honestly don't know how long this "health kick" is going to last, but until then, I'll keep getting my read on and educating myself on things I might enjoy eating and not feel I'm dieting while ingesting them.

Recipes HERE.

Gym: Day one

OMG!

So today was my first day at the gym since January 2015.  I went today to take a 30 minute Total Body Circuit class.  Here's Maximum Motion Fitness' description of this class:  "A 30-minute workout for the entire body using tubing, physio balls, medicine balls, handweights, and balance equipment.  Good for all levels of fitness including newcomers and Seniors.  A great way to ease back into a regular workout program.”  Well, I've been feeling like a senior for the longest so I guess I took the right class, lol.

30 minutes.  Sounds like a short class, but boy do they work you out or what?!?  We all went through 12 stations doing different movements, some with weights, some without (I'd love to mention the stations' names but I know nothing about this shit yet so...), even a trampoline was involved in the mix.  There were absolutely NO BREAKS in between stations or in between loops.  Needless to say, I feel like death right now.  Everything hurts and it's only been a few hours since I left the gym!

Regardless, I’m looking forward to my Zumba class tomorrow!

RECIPE: Black Bean, Avocado, and Lime Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups (two 15-ounce cans) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups corn kernels
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon lime zest – optional
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh minced cilantro or 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
1 teaspoon onion powder or granulated onion
1 teaspoon salt - see note
3 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 Hass avocado, peeled and diced

Instructions:

Stir together all ingredients except tomatoes and avocados in a large mixing bowl.
Add tomatoes and avocado and gently mix.
Serve immediately.

Notes:  The amount of salt needed depends on the amount already in the black beans.

Make Ahead Tip:  Mix together all ingredients except tomatoes and avocados and place in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Add tomatoes and avocados immediately before serving.

Variation:  Add 1 bell pepper, seeded and diced, along with the tomatoes and avocado.

[SOURCE]

Thanksgiving is on its wayyyyyy.

Well, Fall is on its way and with it, my yearly trip to Puerto Rico.  YAY!!!

So looking forward to this as I not only get to spend time with my dear mom, but I will also get my baby B to see her grandma again, and for my baby P to meet her grandma for the first time!  I can't wait to see B and P's reaction to my mom's three lil creatures.

Adventures also await!  I rarely ever took time to get to know my country when I lived it in, but for the past few years, I have made it my duty to learn more of it, and to have actual fun (outside of a bar) with nature!

On schedule on this trip is Flyboarding (which is in my bucket list) and Caving.  Oh and lets not forget the Thanksgiving FEAST mom and I will be preparing.

This shall be yet another trip back home to remember.

Gyms

Why is it so damn hard to find a gym that's (1) affordable, and (2) provides all the services you need?  After a few hours and a few years of looking for a "gym" that offers what I want and what I need, I finally bit the bullet and ended up having to fork out what I believe is a LOT of money, just to "get fit".  I had to figure out what my priority is right now:  (1) get in shape, or (2) save money?   Getting in shape won the debate.  It came to mind fitness programs should be available for free!  Just like frigging healthcare, and higher education.   But since we live in a world where money apparently is what counts, then, shouldn't all this shit be at least somewhat affordable?  I am lucky enough to have a good job that allows me to pay over $100 per month for a damn place to exercise, but what about those who don't?  In a country where fast food and meals high in calories and fat RULE, something's gotta give, right?  I know what some might be thinking: "If someone wants to lose weight they can diet and workout at home."  But it isn't that simple.  Sometimes people need a lil help from others.  A little motivation.  I am one of those that has the DVDs and the weights and the ropes in the comfort of my own home... collecting dust.  I am just not good in exercising on my own.  That's why my go to thing when it comes to "getting fit" are fitness classes.  There's something about being in a group, and having a trainer telling you what to do, that makes you go that distance.

Anyways, I am glad I found Maximum Motion Fitness!  They have classes GALORE that appeal to me, and hopefully, I'll become a regular at their establishment.  Now THAT's on ME.  I think they are pretty great.  Even though the price is a little high for my taste (I went for the $104 per month which included unlimited classes), Maximum Motion Fitness does NOT charge initiation/maintenance fees, does NOT make you enter into any kind of contract so it's month to month, it is close to my home and has classes every day at convenient times.  Convenience for me, is imperative when it comes to having to do hard work and commit to something you don't really "need" to live.  I mean, being fit is important, but in my book, it's not really a priority or even a necessity.

Hopefully, I'll stick to this.

Trying to get my "healthy" on

For those who agree with the fact that drinking water is BORING...

Skinny Detox Cucumber Water

Blackberry and Orange Detox Water

Raspberry and Mint Scented Water

DIY Detox Aloe Water

Sassy Water

Flavored Strawberry Fruit Water

For more tasty waters click SOURCE.


To make em "sparkle" just substitute water for seltzer water.

Labor Day weekend 2015

Oooooooooooooh Labor Day weekend.  How I love thee.  You represent (to me) the end of an uncomfortably hot Summer and the beginning of one of my favorite yearly seasons… Fall!  You are also great because you give me an extra day of rest.  Gotta love my three day weekends! WOOOHOOOO!!!

So this year I decided to go visit my dear friend, in Salem, MA.  She did her duly research and got us running around all over the town doing all the touristy things I love to do.  We went to way too many places, but these are the ones I enjoyed the most:

The Burying Point is oldest cemetery in Salem. Judge John Hathorne’s body, a judge in the Witchcraft Court, is buried here.  Actually… tons of people are buried here! It is a cemetery after all!  Worth a walk and a stroll through the graves.  The best part of this, besides the history, is that it’s FREE!

The Witch Trial Memorial is adjacent to The Burying Point.  It looks like a little park with benches to sit on, but… on these “benches” are the names of the “witches” that were accused, tried, convicted and executed.  This memorial was created in “honor” of the 20 “witches” that were executed in 1692.  Visit this for FREE!

The Witch House is not what it sounds like or what you might imagine.  Here lived no witch!  This was home of Witch Trials Judge Jonathan Corwin and is currently the only structure in Salem that is directly tied to the 1692 Witchcraft Trials [VIDEO].  In this little house I learned that a man accused, tried, and convicted was sentenced to be pressed to death.  Now… that’s a gruesome way to go!

The Bewitched statue is one of those things you either wanna go because you were a fan of the show (which I never watched), or you just find it curious and decide it would be fun to take a picture of/with it.  So… if you happen to be driving through Salem, MA… make a quick stop and snap that selfie!

What is a visit to Salem if you don’t take a picture with a freaky scary looking creature?  We were strolling around going from shop to shop and I see this scary thing that looked like was floating on the ground as it moved from side to side.  So I did what any tourist would do, I have him a dollar and took a selfie with him.  Later in my trip, I found out he was knows as Vampire Steve and apparently, Steve has been causing lil troubles for some people.  Whatever!  He was nice and very patient with kids and he’s earning a buck honorably – which is more than I can say of some people in this world.  Good job Vampire Steve!

Pickering Wharf is the place you want to go if it’s nice out.  It’s simply something to do located near the water with quite a few restaurants/bars and shops there.  If you want a nice little drink, strong, affordable and pretty, I suggest you go to Finz and get the Finz Cocktail for $9 (Disclaimer:  Where I come from, $9 for a drink is on the cheap side).  The drink is blue and refreshing and tasty and STRONG – or maybe I’m just a light weight.  But whatever, head over to the Pickering Wharf and hop on a cruise, tour The Friendship of Salem, or just visit the shops and drink your little heart out and just have a good time.

The Salem Trolley is one of the things we decided to do.  Tickets can be bought right by the sidewalk of The Visitors Center – which is also the area where the tour starts and ends.  The tour is split in two loops and both loops start and end in the same spot by the Visitors Center.  The Trolley operates like a “hop-on/hop-off” bus.  There are stops where no hopping off is allowed, but you can definitely “flag stop” the trolley in quite a few areas of interests like Pickering Wharf, The House of The Seven Gables, Winter Island, Salem Willows, and the Salem Witch Museum, among others.

Last but not least are the spooky tours.  You’d be a fool to come stay in Salem and not go on one of these ghost/paranormal/witch/creepy tours. It is fun, and enjoyable, and sometimes educational.  We did the Candlelit Ghostly Tour.  I cannot say I regret doing this tour cause I really enjoyed walking around Salem with a lit candle while the Tour Guide spitted out historical facts about certain structures and points of interest, but, the Tour Guide didn’t have the equipment necessary to tour around with a big group of people (no microphone) so it was very very hard to hear all the “facts” to the point where I just stopped listening and watched my candle wind breaker a/k/a plastic cup catch fire and melt. The other tour my friend and I went on was the Paranormal Salem Investigation Tour.  This one was a different kind of tour.  The guide met us by The Witch Trials Memorial and whipped out quite a few gadgets to read paranormal activities in the area.  I am a skeptic, but I do have to say it was pretty interesting.   Next time I go on a Salem spooky tour, I will make sure the tour guide is one of those that wears a costume and gets in character.  I am sure that will make it even better.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot!  While walking around Pickering Wharf's hood, I stumbled upon a lil box with a bunch of books, so I came out with winnings!  #SCORE!!!!

Looking forward to my next visit!

Until then....

South House

This Mint Julep has me jonesing!

Ever since I had this drink last Saturday, I've been craving it!  I was my first time drinking Bourbon and it hasn't been the last since then, but that first time was the only time I TRULY enjoyed Bourbon in my drink.

DAMN! I never thought Bourbon could taste so damn good!

I will surely get this drink on my next visit to South House, but nothing else (South House, your menu/chef needs CRITICAL HELP - and so does your website!)

So until the kitchen help arrives, I shall visit South House exclusively for its libations.

CHEERS!