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updated 30.12.04 11:12 PM 1.jan.04 a new year's overhaul! so you wanna make some changes in 2005? let the mtbchicks help you get on the right track with the chicks' new year's resvolution!
15.oct.04 at the movies... What the BLEEP Do We Know? Do you remember how electrical currents and 'unseen waves' were laughed at? The knowledge about man is still in its infancy. - Albert Einstein Part documentary, part fictional story, What the Bleep offers up a new paradigm for living. The concepts of quantum physics are presented to the movie goer in simple terms, with simple illustrations aided by the fictional story line. We join Amanda on a journey of discovery- from the depths of depression and dependence on anxiety drugs to a life of her own creation. The story itself is inspiring, and for the cryers-at-movies, you will be shedding some tears of joy at the end. A highly diverse group of 17 PhDs and MDs- from Physicists, Philosophers, Healers, Neurologists- discourse (with the movie goer) about the basics of quantum physcis and the mystery therein. Concepts such as, a basketball is more air than it is basketball, seem to make us understand the concepts, but like a Zen koan, Dr. Fred Alan Wolf says if you think you understand this, then you haven't even begun to understand. This film shatters the very myths that hold us together as a culture, and brings together seekers of all walks of life. Very few people have seen this movie only once, and many have seen the movie 3 times or more in order to continue to learn and discover the subject. It is much like sitting through a college lecture, just more exciting than usual. Discussion groups, lectures, seminars, retreats are popping up all over the country in order to bring people together to explore these ideas. More than a cult film, this is a cult-ure shift film. If you're looking for inspiration, this film is for you. Check out the web site for more info and to find out when it is showing in a theater near you. -tonya
1.sep.04 Homemade
Facial! Yum! Orange-Oatmeal
Mask
21.jul.04 Food: Frozen Waffle Review While we all try to eat only fresh foods, the lure of convenience often gets the best of us. One food i have found in my freezer on a fairly regular basis is frozen waffles. They are a great snack food- but can often be packed full of hyrdogentaed oils and preservatives. After a little hard looking- however- we have discovered some great frozen waffles that are a little healtheir than your Eggos. These two waffles deserve a test ride in your mouth:
Van's Natural Organic Frozen Waffles- very yummy and so good for you- meets USDA Organic Standards. Eat with fruit or spread some peanut or almond butter and top off with honey for a perfectly delicious and healthy snack. Or breakfast!! Van's waffles are also available in Vegan, Low Carb and good flavors like blueberry!
Kashi GoLean All Natural Frozen Waffles if it's protein you're looking for, go for GoLean! Kashi's line of GoLean products include the cereals, and my personal favorite, GoLean Crunch. But the waffles are also delish and have 8 grams of protein per serving. If you can't find these products in your local grocery store- ask the management to bring some in for you! -tonya
16.jul.04 when in Harrisonburg, Virginia, get some coffee at the Artful Dodger Coffee house! the artful dodger (new site coming soon) get your caffeine boost here, as well as lots of choco desserts and great lunch foods! Most importantly, check out the clock collection- it is notable. All 50s and 60s clocks... very cool. Also local artists display their works. you can also get online here...
31.may.04 boob toob: The Office The BBC's comedy series on life in the corporate world. These people never work, and the boss is insecure, thinks he's PC, but he's not- at all. Office romances, harrassment, management Dilbert style and everything else about the corporate world - and for once- you can laugh about it! It's British humor, but I think it's more universal than say, Monty Python. It's funny, it's sad, and you'll thank me for the recommendation! Come along with Tim- the "lifer" (meaning he's there for life), David- the insecure manager, Finchy- the annoying prankster and the rest of the crew on an epic corporate-world adventure. The first 2 series are available on DVD from Netflix. tonya
7.may.04 movie time He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not with none other than Audrey Tautou. This is a mesmerizing tale of love and affairs and reality and fantasy. I hate to give it away, once again, you'll have to trust me. This is a French film, available on Netfilx. Not as fun as Amelie, by any stretch of the imagination, but a good movie without a lot of violence, which is always good! -- tonya recipe Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas 1.5 cups water 2.5 cups whole wheat flour (i use High Altitude Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour- 100% natural) .5 cups white flour (unbleached of course!) 1/4 cup brown sugar (or about 1/8th cup honey) 3 cloves of garlic pressed (or finely minced) some olive oil salt Mix ingredients, with Kitchen Aid if you have one, you want the dough to be a little moist. Grab enough dough to fit in a loose fist and roll into a ball. Flour a nice rolling surface. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough as thin as possible into a nice round shape. With a non stick skillet on medium heat, cookthe tortillas one at a time, allowing the dough to bubble on the first side, then flip. Cook another minute or two, watching the heat... Then voila- a lovely homemade tortilla! Homemade tortillas are so much better tasting than store bought, well worth the time investment! Cooked tortillas may be kept for a couple of days, but are best used right away! If you make the dough ahead of time, be sure to allow a couple of hours for the dough to warm up before rolling the tortillas. tonya
9.mar.04 Yoga: keeping it real by Steph I don't know about you, but the new age music played in most yoga classes makes me sleepy. So I keep it relevant with a funky rendition of downward dog to the techno beat of MTV Yoga, available on DVD and VHS. Donât let your yoga practice get stale. As a post-ride stretch or part of the morning routine, this fresh take on power yoga will stretch you and challenge you. The beat by renowned dj BT will keep you moving surprisingly smooth between poses too. The workout includes a few series of sun salutations, then warrior poses, some standing poses, then a short series of balancing poses followed by a final relaxation. There are all kinds of yoga disciplines out there. And for the yoga purist, MTV Yoga might not satisfy. But for you forward, progressive thinkers, if you can appreciate the very tolerable pulsing track; this routine might move your practice to an expression of your artful you. Shot in the famous NYC yoga studio, Man Ray, MTV Yoga is well worth your best Warrior I, II, AND III. 4.jan.04 Books: Downhill- A life story of a Gravity Goddess. By: Marla Streb review by Cindi Hansen It seems like every great athlete has overcome some large feat or obstacle before their love of a sport becomes their career. The same can be said of Marla Streb. Although, she didn't have to battle with cancer or injury, she did have to fight the pressures society place on women to stay thin and beautiful. As well as the need for her parents to accept and respect the choices she made. In a sport dominated by men like John Tomac and Ned Overend, Marla had to fight the stereotype that biking was for men, and women weren't supposed to sweat and get dirty. This book tells how a woman fell in love with mountain biking and the risks she took to be the best. While on a bike touring retreat to Europe, Marla discovered a whole new world, one that required small gears and high cadence. Once back in the states, she picked up her life and traveled cross-country to the West coast to pursue some sort of biking career. What was supposed to be an attempt at cross-country greatness, took an unexpected turn toward downhill racing. Marla recounts her sweetest victories and agonizing defeats as well as the many sacrifices that helped her ride to the top of her class and become a gravity goddess. Movies: Mona Lisa Smile. review by Kristi Henne several weeks ago i went and watched mona lisa smile and i thought it was one of the best movies i had seen all year! in the 1950s at wellesley college, the women are well educated, but they are encouraged to marry and raise a family instead of pursuing their own personal goals. the college's strict code changes when a new art history teacher (julia roberts) comes to teach at wellesley. she tries to show the girls that having a family and going to graduate school is possible. the way this movie showed the progression of women in society was incredible. it's definitely a chick flick, and i recommend to everyone! Eggplant Lovers! Super low-cal low-fat Eggplant Parm: If you love eggplant, then you love Eggplant Parm. And because the eggplant is usually fried for this dish, and there is an excessive amount of cheese- it is a typically very high fat dish. But now, if you crave Eggplant Parm, and are watching your fat and overall calories- try this healthy rendition! Works best ona George Foreman grill, or on a regular grill. You need: 1 or 2 Eggplants, sme Olive Oil, fresh garlic, some pasta sauce (Prego is the best grocery store brand- has no HFCS), some fresh basil, a block of fresh Parm. 1. Turn on the grill! then Cut eggplant into 1/2" thick slices. Salt both sides. 2. Measure out 1 TBSP of Olive Oil and put in a small dish. 3. Using a pastry brush, brush *small* amounts of oil onto each side of your eggplant slices. 4. using a Garlic Press, mash the garlic and spread onto both sides of the eggplant slices. More garlic for mega garlic lovers! Place on grill! (Turn once during cooking, keep track of the garlic) 5. Heat your pasta sauce. Try to use about 1/4 cup for each serving of about 3 slices. Keeping in mind that one serving of sauce is 1/2 cup- and that the sauce is high in calories and carbs! Grate the Parm. Slice the basil. 6. When Eggplants are finished cooking, arrange on a plate, spoon on some sauce, sprinkle with some Parm (again, Parm is high in fat! so sprinkle lightly) 7. enjoy! A Mighty Heart, by Mariane Pearl: a book review by Shaina Maytum Daniel Pearl, South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, amazed those who knew him with the unblinking way he looked at the world and his irrepressible zeal for life. In the journalistic world, he was renowned for his dedication to work that was factual and honest. On January 23, 2002, Pakistani terrorists kidnapped Pearl while on his way to an important interview. They executed him, leaving behind his wife, Mariane Pearl, and their unborn child. Mariane Pearl, a trained journalist and documentary filmmaker, is a captivating writer. Her book, A Mighty Heart, offers a tribute to her husband and his ideals. She details their relationship, their travels and work, and finally, their painful separation. If read from the viewpoint of one interested in Middle Eastern politics, the tale can be looked at as a didactic work which explains the inner-workings of a region very much on the world stage. From an emotional viewpoint, the tale is involving, beautiful, heartbreaking, and amazingly, hopeful. Hopeful? How can a story with a known ending: the bloody murder of a brilliant American journalist, be hopeful? Mariane Pearl makes it so. Her story, even through the most harrowing ordeal, instills faith in the human spirit and the overwhelming power of kindness. A brilliant person herself, Mariane Pearl discusses in intimate detail the international search effort she spearheads from her home in Pakistan. Even as the search team encounters frustration and hatred, Mariane Pearl's writing conveys the expertise and love the team showed, along with a strong sense determination and refusal to give up. To give up would be to give in (a terrorist is only as successful as the terror he instills), thus compromising Danny and all that he stood for. A Mighty Heart is a very important book to read in a world of war and terror, corrupt journalism, and senseless suffering. To follow Mariane PearlŐs journey through the Middle East with and without her husband, and to see her emerge hopeful, still burning with the passion of an ethical and truthful lifestyle and journalistic approach, proves that Danny PearlŐs legacy is still very much alive. Living in a Winter Wonderland by Mary Carlson Recent winters in Spokane have been pretty mild. Not much snow, not much sun and a whole lot of BLAH. This winter has been an exception. We are supposed to get 5-9 inches of snow tonight and the temp outside right now is 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Needless to say I spend a lot of time on my trainer in the winter which can get boring really quick. After our previous dump of snow my husband, Josh, decided we would go cross-country skiing. I hadnŐt cross country skied in a long time so I thought what the heck, I will give it a try. We rented skis and boots from our local REI for $12.50 a pair for the entire weekend. We live pretty close to a golf course so we headed off to create our own tracks. The day was gorgeous; sunny and very cold so we bundled up. There was a good 6 inches of untouched, fresh powder calling to us, just begging us to muffle its surface. Josh made the first tracks, I was next cutting an even deeper trench for our new puppy, Luke to run along behind. The snow was taller than Luke so when he got cold or tired we put him in a pouch and he just enjoyed the ride. We had such a wonderful time, breathing in the fresh air, enjoying nature and living. So try cross-country skiing if you are unfortunate like me and are stuck riding on the trainer for months of the year, it is a great cardiovascular workout. Mary is a member of the 2004 mtbchick.com Expert Team from Spokane, Washington. The Holidays are Over: Coming Back to Food Reality by Tonya Cakes, cookies, chocolate, candy, roasts, potatoes, pies, muffins, bacon, pasta... it's all a part of the holiday cuisine we all enjoy. And of course after over indulging in our favorite foods, we all come back to reality a few pounds over weight. Not only are we overweight, but our pockets seem to be a bit more shallow. So how do we get back on the right track for eating, while not spending a fortune? You probably already spend too much money eating out at lunch. And not only that, you probably also eat too much. When eating out, it's hard to eat right. The best way to avoid any of the many pitfalls of eating out is to not eat out. But when your work colleagues all go out together, how can you sit at your desk and eat another peanut butter and jelly sandwich? You don't have to! The best way to satisfy your cravings for good food is to find something that has very few calories and a lot of taste. Something that falls under that category is vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is great, or even Balsamic Vinegar with it's rich, gourmet taste. Here is one idea for a great, healthy, balanced lunch you can make ahead and enjoy- it's better than a restaurant! Gourmet Chicken Salad 3-4 ounces of chicken, cooked and sliced or diced. (Cook on a non-stick pan on low heat. In order for the chicken to cook evenly, pound it flat to a consistent thickness with a kitchen mallet) Prepared lettuce- your choice: romaine, euro-mix, spring mix 1/2 bell pepper diced- remove the pith and seeds, your color choice- i prefer orange 1 orange, slices cut into pieces 1/4 cup black beans 1/2 ounce of fresh grated parmesan cheese Place lettuce then other ingredients in a plastic container, and use one you don't mind losing. dressing: crush one garlic clove, place in a small bowl and salt. let sit for one minute. Wisk in balsamic vinegar (however much dressing you want) and then mix in a small amount of olive oil, rosemary and pepper. Put into small container to take with you. Now you have a salad worth $9.00 in a restaurant made for a fraction of the cost, and prepared by your own hands! It is so easy to make the salad the night before, and even make enough dressing that will last about one week.
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