Happy Martin Luther King day!!!!  I have been trying to sit down all day to write this post but the day really got away from me.  I am so excited about today’s book club choice.  It has been on my list for a while and I am just getting around to reading it, The Last Mrs Parrish: A Novel by Liv Constantine.  I am telling you this is just what we need for these dreary, cold January days!!!!  It has been called spellbinding, Mr Riplyesque, and there is a shocking twist at the end!!!  Woo Hoo!!!!!   Here is the summary:

For more information or to order the book click HERE.

image amazon.com

Today I went with a group of readers to see the “once in a lifetime” Michelangelo 6 room exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  We hired curator, Emily McElwreath of of Sidel and McElwreath to give us a tour of the incredible pieces that depict Michelangelo as a supreme draftsman and designer.  Emily explained to us that this show was 10 years in the making.  All of the pieces are from 54 private collections throughout the US and Europe.  They even needed approval from the Queen to show some of the featured works.  Because of the age of the pieces, the exhibit is under dim lighting and after this all of the art will “rest’ in storage for 3 years.  Most of these drawings and sculpture have never been on display.  There is a reproduction of the Sistine Chapel, with the actual drawings of the images prior to them being painted.  This was our favorite part of the tour.   We stayed in the Chapel room wayyyy tooo long in awe of how amazing it was.  The exhibition runs until, February 12th…run don’t walk!!!!!  Maybe you will see me there because I am definitely going again!!!!!

Around here we make tons of soup for the long cold winter days.  I recently saw an article about making homemade bread and how easy it was and how well it pairs with a bowl of winter soup.  I did some research and found a really easy recipe for making homemade bread.  Just a few ingredients, a bread pan and hot oven and voila!!!  Last weekend my son had a bunch of college friends come and stay with us.  We had just made 2 loaves of this bread.  OMG!!  They could not get enough…they LOVED it.  I did feel a little like Little House on the Prairie and that we might be churning our own butter next!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HA!!!  But honestly, the bread was a total winner!!!!  Give it a try this weekend!!!  Bon Appetit!!!!!!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 2-1/4 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 6-1/4 to 6-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

I recently received an article from Sarah Davis of Body Balance 365 about Staying on Track after the holidays.  I absolutely love her suggestions and thought I would share them with you….I am really going to try to share more wellness posts in the New Year!!!  Here is an awesome start………

1. Take a class! It really is that simple. Not only is it a great workout, but it will give you more energy for the rest of the day, and also lift your spirits. Added bonus—exercises that are weight bearing, will boost your metabolism for a full 24 hours, so maybe you can even have a second cookie?  2. Hydrate! As temperatures drop, and we no longer feel “hot” during the day, we often forget to drink enough water. The temptation to have an extra coffee at 4:00 as it begins to get dark, only further increases your need to drink more water. Throw in a cocktail or two, and you are officially dehydrated. While cold water may be less appealing this time of year, sipping hot water with lemon and herbal teas throughout the day is a great way to stay hydrated. Keep your water pitcher or Brita on the kitchen counter so water stays at room temperature, and always bring a water bottle to class. Even if you don’t feel like you are “sweating”, your muscles always perform better when you are well hydrated.

3. Watch the sugar! And I don’t mean cookies…Sugar is everywhere—it is in bread, yogurt, condiments, marinades, and even salad dressings. Always be sure to read labels. While some sugar is absolutely fine, it is easy to overindulge, which leaves you feeling puffy and with low energy. Taking a class will help you sweat out the toxins and eliminate further sugar cravings. You can’t argue with that… 4. Cook more! Or at least eat more meals at home. Making a smoothie before a morning class gives you the perfect balance of protein, fats, fiber, and “plants” to survive anything else the instructor can throw at you! Make a big salad for lunch or a pot of soup, and then no matter where the evening takes you, your body has had two nourishing meals of whole unprocessed foods–and a great workout. Even at the “healthiest” restaurants you still cannot control what you are putting into your body. 5. Get outside! Living in Rye, I often see women walking to and from the Go Figure studio, walking their dogs after class, or meeting a friend from class to talk a long walk later in the day. Such a perfect compliment to strength work—and the vitamin D and oxygen to the brain cannot be found on a treadmill! It may be hard to rally during the cold winter months, but the benefits of exercising outdoors, combined with the socialization of seeing a friend are so good for our health. Put down your To-Do list and take a fast walk around the block to clear your head—extra credit if you call a friend to join you. See if you can incorporate all five of these tips into your week. The combination of a healthy diet and exercise  is your best weapon to not get sick and feel your best.

Today’s Book Club Monday choice is A Gentleman In Moscow: A Novel.  It is by Amor Towles, the author of another of my favorite books, The Rules of Civility!!!  The story is of a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel….Here is the summary: