The Dash Diet

Hello dear friends.  Happy Hump Day!  Hope you are having a good week.

About a year and a half ago, I wrote a post about my friend, Cindy Kleckner, who co-wrote the book Hypertension for Dummies.  If you missed it, you can read the post here.

It was a huge success and now Cindy has co-written another book, Dash Diet for Dummies.  She was sweet enough to send me a copy.

What is the Dash Diet you ask?  Dash is an acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.  After reading a couple of chapters, the book explains that essentially the Dash Diet uses food as medicine.

Between you and me, I'd rather eat these gorgeous fruits and veggies than swallow pills.

But even if you are lucky enough not to suffer from hypertension, such as myself, this book guides you through dropping pounds and boosting your metabolism.  Boy, do I ever need this after that cruise!

Dash Diet For Dummies is also jam packed with scrumptious, easy,  healthy recipes.  Here is a sample of one that I want to try.
  

Even I could make this delicious recipe!

So if you, or someone you know, is interested in controlling their hypertension or just wants to drop a few pounds,  pick up this book.  You can order it at Amazon or it is available at your favorite bookstore.

Stay healthy!

Anyone Up For A Movie?

Hello dear friends.  I have been taking care of my Chowdah all day.  The poor guy is so miserable with that awful elizabethan collar constraining every movement he makes.  We started using the donut but Chow is very flexible just like his Mama, and managed to get to his wound.  I also feel that he is Houdini reincarnated because no matter how secure I fasten the stinkin' collar, it is off in a matter of minutes.

My kids used to give me the same look.

Anyone who has been reading this blog for awhile knows that the Mister and I enjoy going to movies.  We usually take turns choosing the movie.  After the movie, the Mister usually gloats that his choices are always better than mine.  Sounds like fun, huh?

The Hundred Foot Journey was the Mister's choice.  I have to hand it to him - it was phenomenal.  

The Hundred Foot Journey is a story about love.  Paternal love.  Maternal love.  Sibling love.  Young love.  Not-so-young love. Love of cultures. Love of cooking. Love of spices. Love of food.     

And by the way...I fell totally head-over-heels in love with this movie.  I highly recommend it.  And if you don't like it, blame it on the Mister.

And now these are the films that will be my picks this Fall. 

This Is Where I Leave You comes out next week sometime.  I think it holds all the elements of a very entertaining movie.  Tina Fey and Jason Bateman are two of my favorites.  And by the way,  Jane Fonda really looks great!  I'll have what she's having! 

I am so excited to see Gone Girl.  I adored the book.  And double bonus - Ben Affleck in the lead role!  Rumor has it that the movie has a different ending than the book.  That's fine with me - never liked the ending anyway.

The Skeleton Twins looks like my kind of movie.  I can't resist another awkward family film!  I love everything that Kristen Wiig is in and Bill Hader fits the bill as the sardonic brother.

Any movies that you're looking forward to this Fall?

Hope your day is filled with great entertainment!

Newport 2

Hello, dear friends.  We have a gorgeous, crisp day here in the Northeast.  I just got back from dropping Chowdah off for a little "altering" operation.  I then felt so guilty I stopped by the store and bought him $30.00 worth of bones and toys.  The doctor told me to take him out on a leash to relieve himself and do the best to keep him quiet for the next 10-14 days.  Poor Chow, there is nobody who loves the independence of having an invisible fence more than him.  I have a feeling that the next couple of weeks are going to be challenging, to say the least.

Anywho, if you missed Part 1 of our Newport excursion, you can find it here.

After lunch and shopping, we decided to hop in the car and visit one of the mansions.  I snapped a few pics en route.

When I was younger and visited Newport,  Rosecliff  was my favorite mansion.  It was built in 1898 - the same year, coincidentally, that our new/old home was built.  The similarities end there, though.

Rosecliff was commissioned by silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899.  It is built in an "H" shape.  My imaginary boyfriend, Bob Redford, filmed scenes from "The Great Gatsby" there.

There's some movie stars right over there!

Last time I was there, about a hundred years ago, the tours were conducted by guides.  Now they give you head phones and a radio to hang around your neck so that you can take the tour independently.  
I kind of missed a perky, control freak, tour guide pushing me around but what can you do...

We were not allowed to take photos inside but I snuck my camera in anyway.  
Only kidding!  
I got these pics on line.  Somebody else broke the rules - not me.

I wonder if this is a statue of one of the Monroes?  They must have been very popular in the 'hood.

Great yard for a barbecue!

Rosecliff can be rented out for weddings for a mere $10,000.  That's just the rental of the space - nothing included.  You better be fairly certain the marriage is going to work if you invest in a wedding here.  

  

The Mister photo bombing the movie stars' pic.

I snapped this pic for my good buddy, Judy, in McKinney.  She is a graduate of this gorgeous college, Salve Regina University.  Can you imagine going to school in such a scenic town?  Forget going to the library.  I would have been out on the waterfront lawn daydreaming that I was the lady of the manor.

  

We drove home and then went to one of my favorite places for dinner.  Scituate Harbor is sprinkled with great restaurants and shops on the water.

Aww... young love.

Guess what I bought in Newport.  Hint:  it wasn't a mansion.

Have a great day!