The Last Week of April....

Happy Sunday, kids!

Been a really hectic and busy month for me - sorry for being so absent.  Hopefully May flowers will bring some peace and quiet (yeah, right!).

Spent yesterday hanging out in the Hamptons.  Shopped, hung out with some friends, had the best Thai food EVER.  Visited a very old friend who, incidentally, had a Costco sized bottle of bubbles on his deck for his kids.  Bubble blowing..good friends..eating Thai food..beautiful weather..and an all around good time is what the impending summer is all about!

I stopped at an amazing farm on the way home, bought some rhubarb to make Rhubarb Cupcakes with Whipped Cream, so INSANE fresh sugar snap peas (incidentally, they make better raw TV snacks than potato chips) and a huge bunch of lilacs that make my house smell sublime.

This morning I cracked out a rough 5 mile run. 

:)  And I got the following from my Nike+ system:

Makes this weekend pretty awesome. 

Hope you have a great week, my loves!  Hopefully I'll be back to posting regularly soon.


XOXO,
Bliss

Get Moving

This isn't a politically correct post.  So, if you're easily offended, please skip the post.

Okay.  So here's the deal.  We, as a part of today's generation, are lazy.  We rely on technology for everything and own gadgets to control gadgets that control gadgets.

So what's the result?

A lot of cankles.  No, I mean it.  A lot of morbidly obese people are roaming the streets.

Now, I live in NYC, which I think ranks third in vain states (lead only by California and Florida).  So we're a place where there are gyms on every single street corner (if not two!).  If you don't look a certain way, then you are looked down on.

Come on - did you want me to sugar coat this?

Pretty people get treated better than people with extra stomachs.  It's a reality.  So!

I know (and love) people of all sizes.  But I hate nothing more than when someone complains that they're overweight......but do nothing about it.

Nobody can change your life and your lifestyle....but you.

NOW!  Let me say this - there are people with medical conditions that cannot help weight gain.  Those people have an excuse.  But everyone else.....?  What's the story?

I know busy schedules.  I know the working late..the family..the no time to even breathe life.

But here's the thing, kids.  All it takes to make yourself healthier and extend your life span is thirty minutes.

Thirty minutes of your day can make a huge change.

And my Second Life friends.....we all know how quickly a two hour gig can go by.  So....skip 30 minutes of a gig and go for a jog.  Take 30 minutes and try some yoga or pilates.  Have a little more time?  Try a dance class or a spin class.

But, for your health..take the time and take care of your body.

Small good decisions lead to big good decisions.  And you'll see the difference in your life and yourself.  :)

I'm not looking down on people that don't work out.  But why wouldn't you take every opportunity to live a longer, healthier life?

I aim to work out at LEAST three times a week for an hour or more.  In reality, I work out seven times a week .  I run, and I've added dance class into the mix.  Do I love some chocolate and cake and ice cream?  Of course I do.

But I also know that if there's a train and I need to run for it.....I need to be able to do it without killing myself.

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, don't get me wrong.  This isn't about being fat or thin.  

But there's healthy and unhealthy.  There's no two ways about THAT.

Get your body moving.  

Want some helpful links?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aerobic-exercise/EP00002

https://www.presidentschallenge.org/

Just so you know I'm not full of shit....below is my own personal goal just recently reached (courtesy of my Nike+ system).

XOXO,
B

Concerned Bloggers: Autism

In a recent CDC press release, it is believed that every 1 in 88 children are autistic.  More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined..

 

But what exactly is Autism?

According to the National Institute of Health, Autism is often known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

What is autism?

Autism is a complex developmental disability that causes problems with social interaction and communication.  Symptoms usually start before age three and can cause delays or problems in many different skills that develop from infancy to adulthood.

What is an autism spectrum disorder?

Different people with autism can have very different symptoms.  Health care providers think of autism as a “spectrum” disorder, a group of disorders with similar features.  One person may have mild symptoms, while another may have serious symptoms.  But they both have an autism spectrum disorder. Currently, the autism spectrum disorder category includes:

• Autistic disorder (also called “classic” autism)
• Asperger Syndrome
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (or atypical autism)

Some possible red flags that a parent or guardian may look for are:

● The child does not respond to his/her name.
● The child cannot explain what he/she wants.
● The child’s language skills are slow to develop or speech is delayed.
● The child doesn’t follow directions.
● At times, the child seems to be deaf.
● The child seems to hear sometimes, but not other times.
● The child doesn’t point or wave “bye-bye.”
● The child used to say a few words or babble, but now he/she doesn’t.
● The child throws intense or violent tantrums.
● The child has odd movement patterns.
● The child is overly active, uncooperative, or resistant.
● The child doesn’t know how to play with toys.
● The child doesn’t smile when smiled at.
● The child has poor eye contact.
● The child gets “stuck” doing the same things over and over and can’t move on to other things.
● The child seems to prefer to play alone.
● The child gets things for him/herself only.
● The child is very independent for his/her age.
● The child does things “early” compared to other children.
● The child seems to be in his/her “own world.”
● The child seems to tune people out.
● The child is not interested in other children.
● The child walks on his/her toes.
● The child shows unusual attachments to toys, objects, or schedules (i.e., always holding a string or having to put socks on before pants).
● Child spends a lot of time lining things up or putting things in a certain order.

The National Health Institute provides a helpful Autism Overview on their website.  But the reality is..if you feel that your child exhibits any of the red flags indicated above, you should seek professional medical advice.  Isn't that my number one answer to everyone?  Internet diagnosing is fun - but seeing your doctor is the smartest thing you can do for yourself and your child.
 
In Second Life, you can even find information and support at the Autism Awareness Center, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Western%20New%20York/118/18/2.

1 in 88 children is a lot.  And with the cause unknown...and no medical detection or cure for autism....it makes it a scary time to be a parent. 

Be aware, be prepared.

This Public Service Announcement was brought to you by the Concerned Bloggers Association.
If you would like to become involved, please contact Marleen Vaughan for more information.

XOXO,
Bliss

So..

Swept up in RL.  :)  But always missing you guys.

Here's a song that's stuck in my head.

Hope you're having a fab week.


XOXO,
B

True Love and the Modern Fairy Tale

So I've been sick-ish.  And my nights are mostly spent laying on the couch watching Once Upon a Time on Hulu.

And if you haven't watched this show, then you're totally missing out.

See, I grew up on fairy tales.  I grew up on happily ever afters.

But the reality is...that those don't truly exist.  There really are no happy endings.  True love is hard.  Finding your way to someone...over hurdles is hard.  And trying.  And some days...it all feels hopeless. 

And watching this show....kind of makes me feel better.

You see, Snow White and Prince Charming have their horrible ups and downs before they find their way to each other.  And all seems lost - hopeless even.  There is another woman involved!  Deception.  Thievery (is that a word??).  All kinds of stuff.

And yet, you just can't help but know deep down that they will, eventually, find their way to each other.  Despite the evil interceptions, despite the pain and the hardship.....you know in your heart that they will find a way.

Maybe that's the thing about me.  As much as I curse fairy tales for filling my head with unrealistic expectations...I want to believe in them so much.  I want to believe that everyone gets their happy ending.  I want to believe that *I* will get my happy ending.  And some of these hurdles in my life......well, it's just my path to my happy ending.  Because (and I've said this before) without the bad, how would we ever truly appreciate the good things?  How would we know what true love's kiss would feel like...if we'd never had a horrible kiss once or twice in our life?

I'm not completely caught up (so don't tell me anything!), but if you're like me...and like the dose of reality in this modern fairy tale series - I think you'll love it.  I know I do.  :)

XOXO,
B