Happy New Year!

This shot was taken of Malaga Cove Plaza in the cover of darkness with a full moon and the blue Christmas lights. It looks like fireworks and therefore, thought it was apropos for ringing in the New Year.

My new motto? 2008 is going to be great!

Happy New Year!

May Your Days Be Merry & Bright - Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks

Last Sunday, I learned something new. Manhattan Beach throws one heck of a Christmas party! I'd seen the holiday fireworks advertised in prior years but had no idea what a great event this was. Throngs of families and friends come early in the afternoon to stake out their slice of real estate on Manhattan Beach Ave facing the hub of activity toward the pier. That's where the fireworks take place, there's life music, and nearby it's hard to miss the long line of kids waiting to talk to Santa in his sleigh. The Neptunian ladies sell homebaked goods and lyrics to Christmas carols are distributed to encourage singing. This was such a happy, cheerful, sincerely merry crowd of well-behaved holiday revelers. Joy to the world!

Babycakes Opens

I was curious to know what type of bakery was hiding behind the brown paper taped across the storefront window. Cheerful pink and white striped singage announced the coming of "Babycakes". http://www.babycakesshop.com/ Weeks turned into months and curiosity continued to build. One day, as I was driving "up the hill" (as the locals refer to the stretch of road heading into Palos Verdes), I was suprised to see Babycakes open. I had a hankering for something sweet, so I stopped. Finally!

The inside is so cutely decorated and harkens back to 40's or 50's type of decor that just puts a smile on your face. It's cheerful and upbeat. Plus, who can resist daily made, fresh cupcakes? I went in to order one cupcake and ended up walking out with half a dozen! Ooolala.Oreo cookie, Meyer Lemon, Nutella, Herb, and Italian Orange (my personal favorite) Babycakes is our own version of Sprinkles (for those of you who don't know, Sprinkles is a famous cupcake store in Beverly Hills.)

I enjoyed meeting the owner behind Babycakes, (sorry but her name escapes me). She was so gracious and friendly and took the time to describe each of her creations and their ingredients.

Photo Opportunity on a Sunday Drive

This is one of my favorite views in my neighborhood and it appears after a series of twist and turns. On a clear day you can see the city of Los Angeles. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I've always enjoyed taking snaphots. Recently, after a few friends encouraged me to pursue my hobby more vigorously, I had my first "sale". One of my friends now calls me a professional photographer. Stay tuned. You never know what life has in store for you!

10,000 Steps - Be Kind to your Achilles Tendons

You've probably heard the health recommendations to get moving and complete 10,000 steps per day. I started wearing a pedometer last February and was astonished at how sedentary I had become. I was recovering from a bad injury but still thought of myself as the athlete 20 years ago who thought nothing of an 11 mile day hike. Or just 10 years ago a rollerblade before work, and a spinning class after work was routine.

Well, reality hit. Shock! Dismay! I was far, far away from 10,000 steps and sometimes I just wanted to chuck the pedometer and forget about fitness. But not really. So slowly I started working my way up. Last month I was particulary happy with my progress, hitting nearly 300,000 steps. But alas, Achilles Tendonitis put me on the sidelines. Ouch. I never thought I had to stretch out my calves to go for a walk! But oh contraire! When walking for fitness, it is important to take a few precautions that will set you up for success rather than set-backs.

What Can Cause Achilles Tendon Injuries? (from WebMD)

Overuse. (I thought I was working my way up to 10,000 but realized I more than doubled my steps within 30 days)
- Stepping up your level of physical activity too quickly. (Guilty!)
- Not stretching enough before exercise. (Didn't think it was that important for walking!)
- Wearing high heels, which increases the stress on the tendon. (N/A)
- Flat feet, also known as fallen arches or overpronation. In this condition, the impact of a step causes the arch of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons. (Didn't know this! But I have fallen arches)
- Muscles or tendons in the leg that are too tight (True)

To speed the healing, you can:
- Rest your leg. Avoid putting weight on your leg. You may need crutches. (Not if I can help it!)
- Ice your leg to reduce pain and swelling for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days, or until the pain is gone. (Brrr...am doing this) .
- Elevate your leg on a pillow when you’re sitting or lying down. (Making good use of my ottoman)
-Take anti-inflammatory painkillers. (Motrin)
- Use a heel lift. It will protect your Achilles tendon from further stretching. (I purchased new stablizing sneakers after having a professional evaluate my gait and feet.)
- Practice stretching and strengthening exercises (Definately)

Well, lesson learned. I am on the road to icing, stretching, massages, new stablizing sneakers and sticking my feet in the jaccuzi. I want to get back to the 10,000 steps per day and right now I have Jimmy Buffet's "A Thousand Steps to Nowhere" rummaging around in my brain. I found a good website that has a wealth on info on starting a walking program http://www.thewalkingsite.com/10000steps.html

Embracing the Nike Goddess in Me (Just Do It!)

I've been thinking about starting a website or a blog for months now. Having "ideaphoria" was a liberating, creative process - however, later it became more of a barrier to starting this blog as I began to over analyize the purpose, direction and goal of my endeavor.
Originally my blog concept was to provide first hand experiences and insights into spas, wellness centers and general well-being (as spa consulting has been my livelihood, this was/is a topic I feel confident to write about). Soon after, I began to conceptualize casting a wider net to include unique aspects of my neighborhood, my love for travel, writing and photography, my interest in social responsiblity, cooking... Why limit myself?
With the passing days, weeks and months of deliberating which direction, what name and which software to use, I decided to embrace the Nike Goddess in me and "Just do it"! http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Nike.html
And so here it is. There is something very gratifying to see your work in progress grow. I hope that you enjoy reading my blog as much as I am enjoying getting started!

Malaga Cove Plaza in Palos Verdes is spectacular and features a reproduction of a fountain called "Fontana del Nettuno" or Neptune's Fountain which was installed in the main square in Bologna, Italy during the 16th Century. Neptune, the god of the sea, is surrounded by cherubs and mermaids. The one in Malaga Cove was dedicated February 16, 1930 and repaired and restored in the late nineties. Since my parents lived in Bologna and two siblings were born there, this holds a very special place in my heart. The plaza itself harkens back to classical, beautiful architecture of days gone by and is very Mediterranean. Stop by the local grocery store/deli and you will be surprised at the offering in the deli - home made hummus, dolmas and tabouli that is quite delicious! Recommendation: Buy some of these goodies and sit on the steps of Neptune's Fountain like the Europeans do!

Napping: The Art of Rest

The Europeans do it. We hear of siestas and snoozing. What about power napping? On cold, grey days, napping is especially pleasant. Take a load off, lie down on the sofa, make sure there is no ancillary noise like music or the TV, cover yourself with a blanket and close your eyes and breathe deeply. Aaaaaaaah. A twenty minute nap can help restore your body and give you a second wind without relying on a caffine jolt or a sugar rush. For more info on the benefits of napping and different types of napping, click on the following link from the Men's Journal. Try it. You might like it. http://www.mensjournal.com/healthFitness/0601/napping_power.html

Booty from the Farmer's Market

Being in the holiday season with all the glorious food and sweets, I'm seeking refuge in vegetables! With a treasure trove of freshness courtesy of the the Palos Verdes Farmer's Market, I walked away today with bags of red and yellow peppers, yellow squash, zuchhini, cauliflower and broccoli, heirloom tomatos (the last of the season!), garlic, green beans and orange persimmons. Abundanza! The great thing about displaying all the goods on one platter in the kitchen is - you feel healthy making the items on the platter disappear one by one during the week! I've been making batches of soup by steaming vegetables and pureeing with chicken stock and throwing in a few herbs. It's quick, easy and healthy.

3 Surprises about Tai Chi

I recently started taking Tai Chi and I would not have imagined that 1) I would be sweaty after class 2) it's harder than it looks 3) it's fun.
What I like about it is it requires 100% concentration. Being in perpetual slow motion, our mind can absolutely not wander like it can when working out on the treadmill or precor. The moves feel slightly unnatural in one respect as you pivot to a pidgeon toe or heal-toe position, and yet the actual flow and rhythm of movement feels completely comfortable and familiar. Arms and legs are constantly in controled motion and the required focus provide a sense of accomplishment and grounding. This is a two-for-one group exercise which has physical benefits as well as providing a sort of active meditation which is good for the mind. Three suprises and and a two thumbs up!