I can’t believe that I am already into my 7th year of clean eating! MacMillan Dictionary defines clean eating as “a diet that is based on eating whole foods and avoiding processed and refined foods.” If you were to tell me even 10 years ago that eating clean would be a way of life for me today I would’ve called you crazy (smile)…
Backstory: In June of 2011, I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer so (post-surgery and during chemotherapy) I started my journey of clean eating. I have to admit that it has not always been “easy breezy” and, as a matter of fact, it has sometimes been a real struggle because it takes both time and effort to think and eat clean…
Also, I work on 100% commission in Media Ad Sales so I am on the road alot – that being said, I sometimes don’t have time to eat a healthy, clean lunch. The quick and easy option (junk food) is not only plentiful, but very appealing to the eyes. From time to time I give into those temptations…
And I have to admit that oftentimes when I am stressed I tend to go crazy in the “snacky” foods department…
Plus every now and then (mostly weekends) I’ll have bacon and eggs (not exactly clean eating) but certainly comfort food…
Late night eating is never a good thing but occasionally I can’t help myself and I give into those delicious satisfying cravings in the middle of the night…
Thank God for my daily workout regime at the Edge Fitness Club in Hamden, CT…
And that (God willing) there’s a tomorrow to start over with to try and eat clean, once again (smile).
Whether I am travelling to a new city or town, or just socializing in or around Greater New Haven, anyone who knows me knows I love me some sushi! And It doesn’t take long to get me in a “sushi mood” where I like to check out a new sushi restaurant. However, an old fave will get me every time (smile).
What I enjoy with my sushi is one or more of the following:
edamame with sea salt
miso soup
iceberg lettuce salad with ginger dressing
super hot green tea
And usually when I crave sushi it involves a date of some sort. Whether it’s me and my S.O., me and a client, me and one of my relatives, me and one of my good friends or me and a co-worker, a sushi day usually turns into a good sleeping night (smile).
So here are the sushi restaurants I have eaten in once, twice and some even more than three times. These are my faves,not necessarily everyone else’s faves…
For all-you-can-eat, I like Sushi Palace in Orange, CT. The sushi and sashimi is always fresh so it never tastes like it’s been sitting out all day…
Sushi Palace, Orange, CT
For specialty rolls, I prefer Dozo Asian Bistro and Sushi in the Westville section of New Haven, CT. The sushi looks as appetizing as it tastes plus it’s big, juicy and delish!
Dozo Asian Bistro & Sushi, Westville, CT
For those exotic looking specialty rolls, I like to go to Pink Basil in Mystic, CT. They never disappoint and the outdoor seating in the Summer is a big plus.
Pink Basil, Olde Mistick Village, Mystic, CT
Although pricey, the sushi rolls at the Summer Shack in the Mohegan Sun Casino are to die for.
Summer Shack, Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT
Me and my S.O. spend alot of time in Lewes, DE, especially as the weather gets warmer. Last Summer we went to The Cultured Pearl in nearby Rehoboth Beach for the most delicious and colorful sushi in town. It’s expensive though, especially during “the Season.”
The Cultured Pearl, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
When my niece Dimitrica was traveling from North Carolina to Massachusetts for business last year, she stopped in Connecticut to visit me. She too is a fan of sushi so I couldn’t help but treat her to one of my local faves: Tokyo Sushi II in North Haven, CT. The interior may look like a pizza parlor but the sushi is out-of-this-world good!!!
Tokyo Sushi II, North Haven, CT
Social media is a great avenue for a new restaurant to post food pics and I must admit that Soga Sushi’s awesome food pics on FB got me there! It’s located right in North Haven, CT so me and my S.O. stopped in last weekend after a long day of running errands. The sushi did not disappoint and the complimentary tasty orange slices afterwards were a nice touch (smile).
Soga Sushi, North Haven, CT
Me and my S.O. recently went to see Office Hour at the Long Wharf Theater and afterwards headed to one of my super faves: Kumo New Haven where the sushi is always fresh, always good!
Kumo Sushi Hibachi, New Haven, CT
Me and my S.O. love to go to the movies any time of the year so we headed over to Iron Chef after a Saturday matinee at Holiday Stadium 10 Cinemas in Wallingford, CT. This restaurant was well recommended by a “sushi friend” and it truly was delish!
Iron Chef, Wallingford, CT
It’s no secret that Olde Mistick Village is one of my favorite shopping destinations in Southeastern Connecticut so when I’m down that way, Go Fish is one of my two fave sushi restaurant Go-To’s…
Go Fish, Olde Mistick Village, Mystic, CT
So whether you are stuck on Sushi like me, or just craving something uniqely different for lunch or dinner, Japanese is the way to go!
I am sooooo excited because I’m about to turn 56 years old next week andmy braces are coming off – wait, what?!? Really?!?
Like I have mentioned before in previous blogs, I do almost everything backwards (smile) so its’s only fitting that I would be sporting braces during my middle aged years (double smile).
As it turns out, I am in good company…
As a matter of fact, more and more Adults are sporting clear braces (or Invisalign) now than ever before. In most cases Adults are comprising up to 50 percent of Ortho patients today! And, according to the American Association of Orthodontics,any age is the right age for ortho care.
By the way, insurance usually does not cover orthodontics for adults over the age of 25…I found that one out the hard way…
However the good news for me was that my braces are light and clear, unlike back in the day when they were heavy metal. Eeeck!
And I’m proud to say that I only have 8 of them – all on my upper teeth – (4 on each side) which is what my orthodontist suggested.
So here are the top 2 reasons why I decided to get braces (besides my regular dentist, Alan Friedler, DMD recommending them):
Looking to close the gap between my two front teeth
Looking to decrease my overbite.
My Orthodontist told me it would take up to one year to achieve these goals so I figured: ‘I’m not getting any younger’ and ‘Now is as good a time as any…’ (smile).
Me, before my braces…
Me, sporting my clear braces…
Here are some helpful tips if you are an Adult considering braces:
Daily Maintenance:
Good news: you may brush with an electric toothbrush – it doesn’t get in the way of the braces at all.
You need to rinse out your mouth and brush after each and every meal.
You need to floss daily and often…
You need to use the wax they give you in your “kit” on a regular basis to keep the wire from the braces from cutting into your cheeks.
Monthly Maintenance:
You have to make appointments to visit the Orthodontist at least once a month for check-up and tightening – look for an orthodontist that first of all comes highly recommended and secondly is convenient to where you live and/or work as those 4 week visits come up rather quickly!
Watch what you eat:
Here’s what I truly enjoy eating but have a tough time with now:
Sushi
Pizza
Grilled Chicken
Steak
Popcorn
Here are foods the Orthodontist recommends you eat with braces:
Seafood – fish without bones, tuna, salmon, crab and crab cakes
Cost:
It cost me around $3700 but again that was just for a total of 8 braces on my upper teeth…most Ortho offices do offer monthly payment plans which helps…
Post Braces:
When my clear braces are removed next week I have to wear a thin wire removable retainer for up to 8 weeks (full-time) and then another 4 weeks (part-time).
That brings me smack into Summer – free of braces and ready for my next adventure~ Yay!
It’s officially Winter in CT which for the most part makes me feel low-keySAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) as it means the weather is extremely cold, the days short and the nights, super dark on my drive home from work…
To compensate, I try my darndest to look for fun, free, enlightening and/or educational things to do just to keep me from participating in my favorite pastime, i.e., sitting in my La-Z-Boy to watch TV and eat snacks (smile).
So here (in no particular order) are some of the ways (in the past) I have kept myself occupied (and far, far away from the snacks) during the dark, dreary days of Winter in CT:
Ice skating – Since I enjoyed this activity so much as a child growing up in Groton, CT I figured I would try it out again as a full-grown adult – I must admit it was easier said than done (smile).
Northford Ice Skating Rink
This is a fun and easy activity, especially in the Winter: taking a hot bubble bath after a long day of work: Put your slippers on…
My bathroom 🙂
Visiting a local museum – this free activity is not only educational but truly enlightening.
The New Haven Museum
Relaxing in a salt cave. This was such a unique activity I had to write a blog post about it: Cave Girl
Saltana Cave & Spa
Going to a live taping of The Viewin NYC – a truly magical day from beginning ’till end: The View (from Lajeune)
ABC Studios in NYC
Spending the day enjoying a special exhibit – educational for sure: Harlem for Days!
Yale’s Beinecke Museum – the Harlem Renaissance exhibit
Going to see a free lecture at the local university. I recall this event quickly becoming “standing room-only.” To me this proved the staying power of the written word…
Quinnipiac University featuring Margot Lee Shetterly, the author of “Hidden Figures”
Spending a relaxing Day at the Spa – this never gets old…
Norwich Inn and Spa – Spa Day with my “Sisters in Christ”
Skiing in the month of February – Super fun and exhilarating! SkiDate
Mount Southington Ski Resort
Spending time (and money) at the casino…
Mohegan Sun Casino or Foxwoods Casino
So whatever activity you choose to participate in this Winter in CT, do try to make it memorable 🙂
I was chit chatting on the phone with my girlfriend Christine the other day and we (two middle-aged women with highly stressful careers) were discussing different ways we relax. Here’s what we came up with:
Full Moon Yoga once a month at the Community Yoga Center
Zumba classes at the local community center
Monthly back and neck massages at the local massage center
Drinking green, black or Chamomile hot tea
Listening to relaxing music
Reading books, magazines, etc.
Cooking and/or Baking
Playing with our canine pet(s)
Meditating
Coloring with crayons in Adult coloring books
True story: I recall about 17 years ago watching a Paid Program on TV one sleepless night and the next thing I know a Softubarrives at my front door. I ordered the Softubbecause I was still working in the same highly competitive stressful industry I work in today so I figured it would be nice to come home from a super long day of work and soak in a tub that’s not in my bathroom (smile). I enjoyed my Softub for about 5 years and only sold it because I was selling my home in Westville and looking to downsize…
Here are some of the reasons why I initially purchased it:
stress relief
affordable price
simple portable unit with easy set-up
the simple Hydromatic unit uses a standard 120V outlet (no high electric bills!)
hot water is therapeutic
exterior of tub is weather resistant (withstands all 4 seasons)
Aesthetically pleasing to the eye – in 7 designer colors (I chose dark blue)
Everything is included in the price (Softubhot tub, Hydromatic Power Pak, Sealed High-Density Insulated Cover, Underwater Illumination, your choice of exterior decorator colors, and a 5-year limited warranty).
A basic 2-person spa Softub (the one I ordered) comes with four Hydrotherapy jets, Hydromatic motor unit, security straps, an accessory bag including a foam connector cover, matching exterior cover, filter, owner’s manual, warranty card, large assembly sheet and water treatment kit. It costs about $3500.
However, I checked online, and you can get a GoplusPortable Inflatable Bubble Massage Spathat seats 4 for just $319 from Wal-Mart! That’s with free shipping and no tax! Here’s what a Goplus looks like:
Not too shabby (smile).
So if you, like me, are looking for ways to relax, the options range from a simple Adult coloring book and crayons to a SoftubHot tub…
