Jazzercise!

I know we all have our own ways we like to exercise. Some hit the gym and do the treadmill, eliptical, bike and weights with their favorite tunes on their iPod. Others like to run, run, run. I am a fan of neither, but I love good updated music and I love to dance. Jazzercise combines cardio, strength and stretch in one workout to the best music. I workout to the likes of everyone from Michael Buble, Mary J.Blige, Beyonce, Nelly Furtado and the list goes on and on.

The best thing about Jazzercise is that I have fun and don't feel like I am working out, but boy can I feel it the next day! It is a good pain that lets me know I worked all of my muscles.

I highly recommend Jazzercise. It is a fantastic and fun workout.

If you are in the northwest Houston area and would like to give it a try. Stop by http://www.jazzfitnesscenters.com/ or call 281-855-FITT(3488). This particular franchise was ranked #1 Jazzercise franchise out of 8000 in 2006, 2007 and 2008. I promise you will love the instructors too!

Whatever you choose for your fitness routine today, have a fantastic workout!

While many reviews are created as a result of receiving a complimentary product, the above content was provided by Lanie J. and Co. because it is a product that I believe in and purchase regularly. The item reviewed was purchased on my own and was not compensated in any way for a review. Disclaimer/Terms of use.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Whole Grain Cookies

I have been wanting to try a baking recipe with agave nectar versus white sugar. I found this one in Delicious Meets Nutritious by Stephen Richards.  Mr. Richards is the developer of Xagave brand agave nectar. I bought a bottle a while back and we love it! Check out their website for more information at http://www.xagave.com/.

Ingredients:
1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted
1-1/2 cups Xagave
1 tsp. vanilla
3-1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup rolled oats

Preheat oven to 325. Mix pumpkin, eggs, butter, Xagave and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and mix with pumpkin mixture. Add chocolate chips and oats. Drop 6 large cookies per cookie sheet (2-3 in. apart). Bake for 18 minutes.

These are really good. What is your family doing to cook, bake and eat healthier?

Tear Soup

With the recent loss of my mother, the book Tear Soup was recommended to me. I must say what a moving story it is and the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. It is written by Pat Schwiebert who has been working in the area of bereavement for over thirty years.

The main character is Grandy. The story is about how Grandy has suffered a loss and makes her tear soup to get through it. The loss she suffered is left to our imagination, but grief can be caused by any loss. Not just the loss of a loved one, but a divorce, miscarraige, job loss or the loss of a lifelong dream. We all make tear soup at one time or another, but not everyone wants to share our tear soup. Sometimes the pot is bigger than other times, but it is important we all use our own recipe to make it and take our sweet time consuming it.

If you or someone you know has suffered a loss lately I highly recommend this book. It is perfect for all ages.