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Martini Break!!!


Mango Pineapple Martini

Inspiration is an interesting thing. You can find it anywhere at any time, so I wasn’t surprised when my inspiration for this week’s martini recipe came from another summertime drink from McDonald’s. As you may recall, a few weeks back, McDonald’s Frozen Strawberry Lemonade provided inspiration for the Strawberry Lemonade Martini (get the recipe HERE!). Well Divas, they’ve done it again!

This week, I saw a commercial on television for McDonald’s new Mango Pineapple Smoothie…automatic inspiration! I instantly knew how to transform this smoothie into a martini that my fellow Divas would love. You would tell me if you hate it, wouldn’t you? And now, without further adieu, I present to you the Mango Pineapple Martini!


Ingredients

3 oz of Your Favorite Vodka
½ Cup of Fresh Mangoes (You can get them already prepped at the supermarket)
½ Cup of Pineapple Juice
Frozen Pineapple Chunks for Garnish
Ice

Recipe
 
1. In a blender, puree mangoes and pineapple juice. Mixture should be smooth and easily pourable.
2. In a shaker, combine vodka, mango pineapple mixture, and ice. Shake!
3. Drop 2 to 3 frozen pineapple chunks in a chilled martini glass.
4. Strain mixture into martini glass.

Now, don’t get this mixed up with McDonald’s smoothie….the Mango Pineapple Martini is more potent! Enjoy and Drink Responsibly!


Hot App Alert!!



Good Evening Divas! I hope that your week has gotten off to a great start. Tonight, I want to share with you the fabulous new app I found for my iPad. As I mentioned last week, I recently purchased the Whole Living Smoothies App by Martha Stewart….and I LOVE it! I love it so much that I have had a different smoothie for breakfast for the past 2 weeks. The recipes are fun and easy, and they taste really good! Now, I’ve noticed that many of you Divas have been avidly working towards achieving better health and fitness…this app is perfect for you!

The app costs $1.99, and can be purchased on the iTunes App Store. For that price, you receive 12 Essential Smoothie Recipes, 12 Meal-In-A-Glass Smoothie Recipes, and 12 Allergen Free Smoothie Recipes. In addition to these recipes, you also have access to How-To videos, a food glossary detailing the health benefits of a host of smoothie ingredients, and nutritional information for each smoothie. The app also gives tips on buying organic and detoxing. You can even send a smoothie recipe to a friend via email or share it on Facebook.  And, for an additional $0.99 a piece, you can purchase 12 Weight Loss Smoothie Recipes and 12 Detox Smoothie Recipes. Do I sound like an infomercial?

The truth is, I really love this app, and I would be remiss if I did not share it with my fellow Divas. If you decide to check out this app, please let me know how you like it. Enjoy!


7 More Ways to Start Saving Money......NOW!!!



A few months back, I present 7 Quick Ways to Start Saving Money…Now.  I received a plethora of positive feedback from you Divas…so much in fact that I decided to present 7 More Ways to Start Saving Money…Now! These are just a few more things that are sure to save you a few dollars, and allow you to add to your bank account. So no more excuses! Start saving….NOW!

1. Skip the Coffee Shops – I recently read an article on My Thirty Spot that shared an easy way to prepare the perfect iced coffee (Get the Article Here!). It got me to thinking just how much money us Divas spend in coffee shops each year. If you cut your visits to the coffee shop in half, you’d be surprised at how much you can save. Not convinced? Then check this out: Let’s assume that a Short Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks costs $3.50….that’s $17.50 per work week….and $910 per year! If you cut your visits in half, you can save $455 each year. Did I do my math correctly? In any event, that $455 would look really good in your savings account!

2. Do Your Own ‘Do – Growing up I was one of those Divas who’s accustomed to visiting the hair salon once a week for an old fashioned shampoo, deep conditioning, and roller set. That was until I went away to college, and needed to hold on to the money my parents would send me every month. I always had a talent for doing my own hair. In college, I used this talent to do my own hair…and many of the women on my campus. 

As I entered Corporate America, I fell back into my weekly visits. Needless to say, a weekly visit to the hair salon isn’t the most frugal activity. As such, I recently ventured into the beauty supply store, and purchased a new hard top hair dryer, rollers, and setting lotion. Instead of going to the hair salon every week, I go every four weeks. In between time, I do my own hair. My initial investment in supplies: $70. Amount saved: about $90 per month….or $1,080 per year….need I say more!

3. Skip the French Manicure/Pedicure – And while we’re talking about beauty savings, let talk about our spending habits in the nail salon. In the Summer, many nails salons run a special where you can get a mani/pedi for one low price. This special flies out the window as soon as you start adding "extras" to your tab. The most common “extra” is the French Manicure and Pedicure. Isn’t it amazing how that little white line across your nude nail polish can add up to $20 to your Summer special. How do you save money? Skip the French Manicure and Pedicure. Pick a solid, yet pretty, color, and ride it out until your next visit. Amount saved: approximately $40 per month.  

4. Be a Circular Stalker – This is an easy one. Check out the weekly supermarket circulars before you do your grocery shopping. I usually stalk the weekly deals for Stop & Shop, Pathmark, and Shop Rite (as these are the supermarkets in my neighborhood). Whichever has the better deals that week, I’m there! A very simple thing to save a few bucks.

5. Reuse Your Grocery Store Bags – When you’re on your way to the supermarket, grab some of your previously-used shopping bags or reusable canvas bags. Many supermarkets offers instant rebates for each bag you reuse. Some offer as much a $1 per bag! This is a no-brainer! And eco-friendly!

6. Walk – Summer is here, and the weather is warm. Leave your car in the driveway and walk to you nearby destinations. I like the “1 Mile Rule,” which encourages you to walk to any destination within 1 mile of your starting point, if reasonable. Not only will this save gas money, but it’s also great exercise!

7. Have a Yard Sale – While people are out walking to their destinations, wouldn’t it be great to entice them with your some of your old treasures? As I mentioned in my previous article, we all have an abundance of items in our home that we do not use, nor do we intend to use them. As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Have a yard sale, and catch those walkers!

And there you have it! Some of these tips may work for you, and some may not. Pick and choose as you please. Also, feel free to share some of you money saving secrets below. Happy Savings!


The Incomparable....The Finale!

Now, I don't know if this is technically a "video," but it is still worthy or sharing! Picture it....Motown Records 25th Anniversary special.....a young Michael Jackson....Billie Jean....the Moonwalk! If you've never seen this performance, check it out below. I'm willing to bet you that Chris Brown and Usher have seen this video dozens of time. After all, Mike is the ORIGINAL! Enjoy the video....you can thank me later!



And there you have it! My favorite Michael Jackson videos. I am, and forever will be, a Michael Jackson fan!


The Incomparable.......Part Deux!

Here is another one of my favorite Michael Jackson videos. I remember exactly where I was when Remember the Time debuted on national TV. I also remember videotaping this video so that my cousins and I could learn the all the dance steps. Just another MJ memory!





Did Remember the Time make your list of favorites?


The Incomparable!

Good Morning Divas! I hope that your weekend has gotten off to a great start...mine certainly has. Why? I woke up this morning, grabbed my iPod and my running gear, and clicked on my Michael Jackson playlist. It's only been two years since he left this world, but the effects of his music lives on. Regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, or religion, Michael Jackson has touched us all in ways cannot reasonably count. 

He was a phenomenal, over-extraordinary entertainer. He was talent personified. He was a world class philanthropist. He was admired and imitated. His music made us dance, laugh, cry, sing, and think. His music videos were EPIC! He is incomparable...and he is missed. On this day, the Martini Chronicles pays tribute to the man, the legend, Michael Jackson. Rest in peace!



Here is one of my favorite videos from Michael Jackson. Look forward to seeing 2 more before the end of today! Enjoy!


10 Questions...


1. How many of you watched this year’s NBA Draft? (Get The Play By Play Here!)


2. Is Kyrie the new Lebron for the Cavs? (Kyrie = Lebron?)


3. How stupid is Weiner for thinking he wouldn't get caught? (Weiner Resigns)


4. Do you really care if Kim K’s butt is real or fake? (Real Booty vs. Fake Booty)


5. Is New York really going to pass the gay marriage bill? (I Do?)


6. And should the gay marriage debate really be left to the states? (What Does President Obama Think?)


7. Did you really think Hugh was going to marry that Playmate? (I Don't?)


8. How crazy is it that a woman died at her own funeral? (Say What!)


9. Metta World Peace? (Huh?)
10. If the NFL Owners and the NFL Players Associations were run by women, would we be facing a lockout? (I'm Just Asking!)



Martini Break!!!

Blueberry Pomegranate Martini


Over the past few weeks, I have been experimenting with smoothie making. I found a great app for my iPad that provides tons of healthy smoothie recipes. I was excited! So excited that I jumped in my ride, headed to Target, and purchased a whole freezer full of frozen fruits and vegetables. 

Since that day, I’ve been a blending fool! I’ve made orange-mango smoothies, raspberry-blueberry smoothies, strawberry-peach smoothies…..all kinds of smoothies. I’ve approached smoothie making the same way I approach martini making: mixing and matching a variety of flavors to create different variations of a great drink. I think they called it permutations in math class...


In any event, I really enjoy experimenting in smoothie making, and it has helped me to craft new and exciting martini recipes. As such, I hope that you will enjoy the Blueberry Pomegranate Martini, which is a variation of the delicious blueberry-pomegranate smoothie that I concocted in my kitchen last week. It's really good! Let me know what you think!


Ingredients
2 oz of Your Favorite Vodka

1 oz of Pomegranate Juice (100% Juice)

1 oz of Pomegranate Liqueur

1 Cup of Fresh Blueberries

Fresh Blueberries (for garnish)

Ice



Recipe

- In a blender, puree blueberries. Mixture should be smooth and pourable.

- In a shaker, combine ice, juice, liqueur, vodka, and blueberry mixture. Shake!

- Strain mixture into a chilled martini glass.

- Stack 4 blueberries on a cocktail toothpick, and lay ever so gently in your martini.


Voila! Interested in the smoothie recipe? Combine 1 cup of pure pomegranate juice, 1 cup of frozen blueberries, and ¼ cup of nonfat plain Greek yogurt in a blender, and blend! For an extra healthy kick, add two tablespoons of wheat germ. Enjoy your martini….and your smoothie! Drink Responsibly!


My New Obsession!


Divas, I have a new obsession that I want to share with you. Last Friday, a friend and colleague of mine were discussing our workout routines. We both have recently adopted a “get healthy” platform, and were trading war stories on our escapades at the gym. After a few minutes of discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly of becoming physically fit, my colleague invited me to join her on Saturday for Hot Yoga. I initially looked at her like she had three heads! She then began to tell me more about the classes she attend, her instructor, and, more importantly, how good she feels after the class.

Hot Yoga, which is quickly becoming a popular in the U.S., has many health benefits, including improved flexibility, detoxification, and stress relief. Additionally, Hot Yoga can aid in alleviating muscle and joint pain, and improving mobility. Sounds good right? I was intrigued…so intrigued that I agreed to accompany my colleague to the class the next day.

The Transcendent Yoga Center
I arrived at the yoga studio, and was greeted by a very pregnant instructor. She was sitting outside the yoga studio, and informed me that the room was already 103 degrees (Yikes!). She advised that I wait in the hall with her until class was ready to begin. Needless to say, I was two seconds away from running out the door, down the stairs, and back into my car. I have never been a fan of the heat, and here I was volunteering to do physical activity in a heated room…for an entire hour! I immediately reminded myself that a true Diva never runs away from a challenge, and I considered Hot Yoga a challenge. After all, it was something I had never done before in an environment in which I was not comfortable. But so what! I resisted the urge to run, and decided to go through with the class.

The second I stepped in the room, I instantly began sweating…..everywhere! The air was thick, and I found myself wondering if I was going to make it out alive. I laid down my yoga mat, took a big gulp of my lukewarm water, and pat myself dry with my new towel that I had purchased from the Rite Aid 15 minutes prior to my arrival at the studio. The instructor turned on smooth and soulful music, and the class began.

After the first two poses, I honestly considered throwing in the proverbial towel. After three more poses, however, my body seemed to miraculously adapt to the heat.  I began to relax…yes, I said the “R” word….I was relaxed! Anyone who knows me knows that relaxation does not come easily for me. But I was actually there! Now don’t get me wrong, I was definitely sweating bricks, and my hair had succumbed to the humidity. Additionally, I was sliding all over my mat due to the excess moisture that had formed on the bottom of my feet. The instructor came over to me several times, both to correct my poses and to ask if I needed to step outside and get some air. But I was honestly okay!

At the end of the hour, the instructor opened the door and the windows to let the air in and the heat out. I breathed a sigh of relief, but not just because the room was getting cooler. My body actually felt good! My muscles actually felt good! I felt good! Hot Yoga was a success! It was so successful that I am going back this Saturday for another class. I guess I’m hooked!

The moral of my little tale is twofold. First, Divas should NEVER be afraid to try something different and new. You may just miss a blessing by shying away from those things that make us uncomfortable, even if that discomfort is a result of venturing into the unknown. Second, Hot Yoga turned out to be an excellent stress reliever for me, which is something that many Professional Divas experience on a regular basis. It worked for me…maybe it will work for you!

As always, you should always check with your primary physician before embarking on any exercise routine. This is no exception….safety first! So, who’s going to try Hot Yoga?


 
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