365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 46

I am grateful I got to get a personalized tour of the extremely cool and fun Los Angeles Environmental Learning Center in Playa Del Rey. What a great place for both kids and adults to learn about being environmentally friendly stewards of our Earth:):):)

Learn how you can make a difference!

Make a Pledge and Name a Sea Creature :)

Violin "One mans trash is another's Treasure"

Creative items made from Re Used and Recylced products

365 Days if Gratitude Rollover day 45

I am grateful to Frank for bringing us across the finish line ;););)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 44

I am grateful we got to go for a late lunch at Steamers :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 43

I am grateful it was such a wonderful day that I decided to run a mock 10k :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 42

I am grateful for wonderful people that help you out when you need it just because :):);) Thank you Kristin!

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 41

I am grateful for a terrific Christmas. 

This year was remarkable in that we did zero gift giving ….that is correct, 0.  It was spectacular!

I love gifts just as much as the next person, however, one day a year when you are trying to find things for everyone you love is overwhelming at best.

This year Christmas was so close to T Day that it truly did sneak up on us.  We all proactively made a choice for our gifts to be no gifts.

This was so incredibly liberating………….the day was about the day, the experience and enjoying each other’s company.  There was no frantically running around, late night wrapping, pre formed expectations, wondering if you bought the right thing, did you buy enough……….none of that.

We woke up early and watched the sunrise while sipping coffee, listened to the stillness and calm of the morning.

After making our yummy green drink in the Vitamix, we went for a bike ride to the top of Friendship Park where we took in the incredible views of the city, harbor and all the way down to Orange County.

We then decided we would pack up our swim stuff and the dog and head to Belmont Shores for a swim.  We donned our wetsuits and jumped in……….OMG was it cold. Our faces and heads were freezing at first but we adjusted after the first ten minutes or so ----- I do have to say, the best part was probably getting back out J Note to self, get myself one of those neoprene hoodies for winter swimming. 

My husband then went for a long run and I took the dog out for a stroll in Belmont – it was about 75 degrees and terrific. 

Afterwards we all went and got lunch at a wonderful Mediterranean Restaurant called BouBouffe  ,  eat and relaxed.

Stopped at the store to get dinner makings, came home, made some dinner (wasn’t one of my finest unfortunately) we wished all of our friends and family a  Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and called it a day.

All in all, perfect :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 40

I am grateful for this beautiful Christmas day! The wonderful winter landscape that provides fresh, crisp colors that continuously change as the sun rise sand sets. The organic oders of the freshly rained upon soil and the tremendous pink hues of the clouds as the sunset beckons.......a truly amazing and spectacular gift that nature brings us every day :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 39

I am grateful for a beautiful Christmas Eve:):):)

365 Days if Gratitude Rollover day 38

I am grateful we did improptu Sunday night sushi ;););)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 37

I am grateful for Tiny Reindeer :):);)

Apex Reindeer

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 36

I am grateful for impromptu walks on the beach :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 35

I am grateful I had green scallions (substitute for onions) so I could make my pea soup :):);)

Pea Soup

1 lb dry spilt peas green (rinse in water)
3 carrots chopped
1 cup celery chopped
1 small onion chopped (can substitute scallions :))
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste
6/7 cups of water

Saute carrots, celery, onion and garlic for 5 minutes
Add rinsed split peas and 6/7 cups of water
Bring to boil
Simmer for 45 minutes
Eat and Enjoy!!!!!!
So Yummy, tasty and easy :):);)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 34

I am grateful for beautiful sunrises :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 33

I am grateful for a claean bill of health from the dermatologist :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 32

I am grateful for the pungent aroma of arugula ;););)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 31

I am grateful for this beautiful view :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 30

I am grateful for lazy Sunday mornings :) Sipping coffee, reading the paper and surfing the web :):);)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 29

I am grateful I get to run:):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 28

I am grateful for a good nights sleep ;););)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 27

I am grateful for broccoli soup :):):)

Sauté in pot:

2 large leeks sliced (light green part) till soft

Add

1 chopped garlic clove
2 diced golden potatoes
2 12 oz bags of broccoli florets (roughly 6 cups)

Sauté for about 4 minutes while stirring

Add 6/7 cups of water

Being to boil then simmer for 30-40 minutes (stir every ten minutes)

Add salt and pepper to taste

You can eat as is or emulsify with a hand blender (Cuisinart makes a great one)

Yum!

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 26

I am grateful we worked as a team today to get things done - both professionally and personally :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 25

I am grateful for dog toys:) yes, dog toys -- it gives me great pleasure to watch my dog running around the house at full speed, playing with her toys :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 24

I am grateful we were able to sponsor a booth and runners at "Quench the Fire" an awareness run for chronic pain! It is a great cause, was a terrific event, lots of fun and we had great team support :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 23

I am grateful that my flight ran on time today :) I was able to get home by 6pm, be reunited with my husband and dog, go out to eat and be asleep by 8 pm ----- it was perfect :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 22

I am grateful when I get to recharge my batteries :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 21

I am grateful that I have been able to breathe deeply for the last 2 days :). Not sure if it is allergies or what, however, for the last couple months deep breathes were not in the cards. It feels so great to be able to take a full deep breath, hold it and release fully;););)

Yummy Mushroom Burritos:

Sauté crimini and button mushrooms in a little black truffle oil
Heat up some organic black beans
Warm some whole wheat tortillas on the stovetop

On whole wheat tortilla add

Mushrooms
Blackbeans
Avocado slices
Spinach
Sliced green onion

Fold and Eat --- easy, inexpensive, yummy and healthy !!!

(All ingredients can be found @ Trader Joes)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 20

I am very grateful I got to work with 2 chronic pain patients yesterday that reminded me of how much Spinal Cord Stimulation can change someone's life for the better.  These patients were beaming!
Both patients from different physicians pracites sharing their story of how bad off they were when they started and how far they have come. These pts had smiles from ear to eat, they are engaging in life and off their pain meds):):):).
I have always known the benefit and that is why I have worked with the therapy so long, however, it is so wonderful  to continually be reaffirmed from the patients themselves and their families :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 19

I am grateful I got up extra early to run and I discovered a new trail to investigate:):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 18

I am grateful that this Monday is wrapping up and all went well today :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 17

I am grateful we got to join together for an early dinner at Swan Thai in R.P.V.......Beautiful Sunset and wonderful food - it was a big hit. Everyone enjoyed the food and the and the atmosphere:):):)

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 16

I am grateful to be home, to hear the wind chimes, the patter of the dogs feet, and for the glorious ocean views :):):)

Catalina Sunset

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 15

I am grateful we chose to fly back home Saturday morning -- we missed all the crowds and craziness that ensues with a Sunday post turkey day departure. We got home on schedule and were able to re-unite with the home front family and the dogs and enjoy the wonderful dinnermy sister made :):):)

MB Sunset

365 Days of Gratitude Rollover day 14

Got a little distracted with all the holiday goins ons :) I am grateful that Thanksgiving was a smashing success!  All family got along swimmingly as usual, we stuck to our pescatarian ways for the second year in a row, my vegan mashed potatoes were a crowd pleaser and we got up and did a long run :):):)