Holiday Fun: How to create memories with your loved ones

Pretty Pink Roses

Hi Lovely, 

Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year to you are yours! For many we quickly begin to think how to implement resolutions to the New Year and in essence, we look forward to create a better version of ourselves. Here are my thoughts:


New Year's Resolutions--> Change the idea of making new years resolutions once a year and make it a once a day kind of thing where you have the power to change the way you live, think, and work on your truth at your own beautiful pace. Also choose to fall in love with moments more than rushing to get somewhere away from appreciating the NOW.

 　

Unwrapping Presents

This year Christmas day falls on a full moon which hasn't happened for 38 years! What does that mean? If you recall feeling extra emotional whether happy or sad, take it in and breathe. The full moon gives us ample opportunity to appreciate the moment, expand on our individual growth, and learn how to be better, kinder people to ourselves and our fellow humans. It is a time to be grateful. Plus it was around 80 degrees in NY and my grandma flew in from Florida so we say she brought over the warm weather.

When you get together with your grandparents or any family members over the Holidays, here are some tips on how to have fun and make some sweet memories while bonding together:

-Make a homemade soup (my mom makes Russian borscht and my grandma absolutely loved it!)

Sweet Homemade Desserts

- Watch Classic Movies (check out the Turner Classic Movies Channel, my grandma's favorite) (CBS usually has annual I Love Lucy episodes on Dec. 23rd at 8pm)

- Watch old comedy movies (Funny Farm, Foul Play, Seems like old times)

- Get out the karaoke! I love karaoke but I never thought my grandma would love it too. So I printed out the lyrics for her to sing along and we started singing her favorite songs from the movie Al Jolson (April Showers, Anniversary Song)


Have a great year, keep an open heart to your emotions, and get your sweets ready with some bubbly!

XOXO Lusciously Levi
Click here to visit my Health and Wellness Website for healthy recipes and self-love tips!

Be Grateful this Holiday Season

Hi lovely,

 

This time of year can prove to be quite stressful for the majority of people, from shopping for presents to stocking up on food. We sometimes get lost in the real meaning of Thanksgiving. Thus, we end up taking things for granted. We even get greedy at times, when in reality, we might have everything we need right in front of us. There is a lot more to celebrating the Holidays than what is perceived. While the major things to be happy and thankful for are our health and ability to work, we can expand beyond that and delve deeper into the true meaning of the Holiday Season. Let us all take a step back this year and for many years to come during the Holiday season to really get back into the authentic holiday spirit that encourages unity and peace for us and our loved ones.

 

1) If you have family and friends who love you, be thankful.

Love is something so dear it should be a privilege for all. The simple pleasures can actually bring us closer together during the holidays. We get caught up during the year as we go to work, school, take care of our family, spend time with friends, and pay the bills. This cycle of busy work makes us forget the real meaning of family: spending quality time together. Sitting around the table with your loved ones is a perfect start to create that unity with each family member. We can go around the table to express what gives us meaning in life, while relishing the aroma of the scrumptious holiday pumpkin pie baking in the oven. There are many lovely stories or poems to read during the Holidays including singing hymns that are lyrically joyful that will put a smile on everyone’s face from your baby sister to your grandma. These intimate conversations will generate affirmative interminable memories that can easily be preserved and treasured for future generations to come.  

2) If you live under a roof, take a moment to be thankful for that.

Having somewhere to live means the world to people who do not. On this holiday season remember the meaning of your home, your sanctuary: a form of shelter to which you can go to at anytime. Having a home is your protection; it is something to appreciate on this holiday season, let alone on a daily basis.  This fortification can supply you with a refrigerator to store food, a faucet for clean water, and a bathroom so that you can take care of your hygiene and take showers. The next time you finish taking a shower, say thank you for the ability to be able to shower in clean water. Having a roof over your head means that you have some place to sleep, and this is another privilege to be honored by. Being grateful is as simple as it seems. It is the opportunity for all of us to truly appreciate and value all that we have, at this present moment in time.  

3) If you use any form of technology, be thankful as this genius invention helps us stay in closer contact with our loved ones.

Technology is precisely at our fingertips where we can conveniently scoop out information by “googling” any question imaginable. 50 years ago that was only a dream. Let us take a step back to fully appreciate the fact that the Internet invariably offers us solutions to which we would be lost without. We are often on the Internet, either on Facebook or some other social network. In reality the Internet provides us with so much more than viewing someone’s updated status; we find quick tips on healthy eating, how to fix things, etc. We use it to our disposal, so the next time you send an email to your friend or Skype chat with your grandmother, say thank you for this astounding capability.

4) If you are celebrating Thanksgiving as well as the whole holiday season, be grateful for the American history that has endowed us with the freedom that we continue to have to this day.

Our forefathers brilliantly demonstrate that by having almost nothing, we can actually realize that we have everything we need. There is a fine line between the two. Our progressive forefathers commenced a new tradition of sharing food and time with all people. So on a day like today, it is only the beginning the holiday season, which exemplifies Thanksgiving in a new light. The liberation of women and slaves as well as the enhancement of civil rights continues to flourish. Let us be thankful for the progress for peace, the ultimate goal. Happy Thanksgiving <3

XOXO Lusciously Levi

Click here for more self-love tips*

 

4 Apps to Help Maintain a Healthier Lifestyle

Hi Lovely!

Today's post is all about Apps! There are some great apps out there to help keep you motivated, organized, and ready for a healthy balanced lifestyle. Look on below for some unique Apps.

Daily Arm Workout- Personal Trainer for the Upper Body

Your virtual personal trainer is present! You can bring him/her everywhere! Working out is great to keep up your health and energy on a daily basis but sometimes it gets overwhelming and you just get lazy to go to the gym. This superb app has many unique features including videos developed by certified personal trainers that assist you with 5 to 10 minute upper body workouts. If you literally have only 5 minutes each morning before work, there is no more excuse, so try this app for the arm, chest, and shoulder routine. There is no Internet required for this particular app so feel free to do all the workouts in the comfort of your own home! The workout series is essentially a guide to improve your muscle strength and overall energy levels.  

Find Me Gluten Free

The Find Me Gluten Free app fundamentally assists your healthy lifestyle by providing you with directions to restaurants that serve gluten-free food! Whether you love gluten-free baked goods or even fast food, this app will be your best bet to uncover that suitable gluten-free menu in your given area. Especially if you travel for work or are always on the go, this app will benefit your preservation of a healthy daily life as more and more people are being diagnosed with a gluten allergy these days. If you are near your home or in between states, this app will be your friend of choice when deciding to eat your next gluten-free meal!  

Fit Brains Trainer

Brain trainer is an indispensable part of brain exercising. As we get older, we do not always take persistent care of our brain in an intelligently motivating way. There are so many shortcuts that we end up thinking slower and concentrating less on a daily basis. However, with this unique app, which is free to download, it can boost specific areas of the brain including memory, concentration, problem solving, and more! These customized brain-training games include puzzles and games, which challenge your ability to think, grow, and learn. In addition, you will come out of these enjoyable and valuable exercises with improved cognitive performances as well as overall brain health.

Relax Melodies to improve your sleep schedule 

If you are the type of person who does not fall asleep at the snap of a finger, consider the Relax Melodies app: Sleep Zen sounds & white noise for meditation, yoga and baby relaxation. In this app, it will aid you in your falling asleep process all the while relaxing you through the combination of sounds and melodies, all chosen by your preferences! You get to produce the mix you prefer and adjust the volume and timer, so you can effortlessly lean back to relax, listen, and sleep! This app is quite diverse as it fits almost any group of people, whether you are a parent who needs help to put your baby to sleep soundly, or if you work at a stressful night shift and you need something to help you unwind and improve your mood. Even if you are into meditation or yoga, this can contribute to your lifestyle as it provides a customization for an exclusive and individualized experience.

There you have it folks! The 4 previously mentioned Apps will uniquely provide you with positive health benefits if you take the time to commit to them individually. Your health is ultimately based on your actions, so with that be sure to sleep deeper, eat better, and relax in between! Click here to visit my health and wellness website for more healthy tips, free recipes, and more!

XOXO, Lusciously Levi 

Themed Scrabble Mania

Happy Wednesday Lovely!

Who doesn't love the infamously exciting board game Scrabble? It's great for get togethers and makes for some fun word trivia. That being said, it can get somewhat monotonous in time so I found a great addition to the game: Themed Scrabble! Pick a theme and then start the game trying to find only words that describe said theme. Its pretty awesome if I do say so myself! My sister and I played the first round of themed scrabble ever! The results are below and our first theme was "Town". I decided to write a poem with all the utilized words (bold words). Enjoy and go play some Scrabble!  

Town Themed Scrabble

In a far away town where pearls are found

And beautiful pink pigs aimlessly wander around 

Where people are kind and warm

To each mon or animal, they do no harm, with or without a heavy summer storm 

Where young children play with swag and run with their super excited feet 

Where all live happily and all love to eat

And after they eat whole foods they go out to dance outdoors in the summer deg weather

They are loved by each other, encouraging personal growth, content because they are stronger 

together

When all the dancing is done and the musical hits have stopped playing, they go to sleep 

They slumber in a peaceful state of REM without a little peep 

XOXO- Lusciously Levi

January Favorites

Hey lovely,

January is here and many new things are happening (hence, the NEW YEAR) so I thought I'd share some of my favorite things this month!

Favorite quote: 

"Tears are words the heart can't say"

Ever have one of those days where you just don't get anything around you? Either you feel  misunderstood, confused, overworked, or you may feel a bit lost inside. It happens, as we are all individual souls on very unique journeys that take us to different places and affect our heart on different levels. I love this quote for many reasons, one of them being it has been raining here today on Sunday all day, and it gives me a sense of understanding about water, tears, and rain. That whole process is really releasing. People think crying is for babies or as adults, typically "allowed" for girls. Not true. Sometimes, some days, you just have to cry and relieve all that built up stress, because let's face it, life can be stressful. There is some kind of peace within all the rain, don't you think? Once you let it out, you don't feel as angry anymore, you just feel like you got more in touch with your soul, so then you are able to grow more as a human being. The saying: And rain will make the flowers grow, totally makes sense. Break down those walls and accept all that you are, with your tears helping to guide you when your words are not able to come out.


Favorite tea: 

On a lighter note, tea is soothingly amazing! Tea is such a great kind of thing to drink. I like my teas either in the morning or before I go to bed, the latter is more likely, as it calms me down. This month I have tried this amazing combination of red tea and lemon juice. Delicious! Seriously, it is tangy fresh and also decaffeinated in case you don't feel like drinking a lot of caffeine especially at night.  

Favorite smoothie:

Smoothies are becoming so popular and I am learning more and more about them all the time. You can mix and match so many different foods to create a deliciously satisfying drink that has many nutrients as well. This month I would have to say my favorite smoothie is the Bubblegum colored one. The ingredients are: apples, carrots or beets, celery, ginger, and lemon juice. You can play around with the quantity until if fits your taste buds.


Favorite habit:

Since the New Year usually calls for a renewed kind of feeling and attitude, it is a great idea to take that concept and make a reality out of it. Look into yourself and feel what you can change to make yourself more content with yourself and your life. For me, going to bed early is an important habit to actively put to good use. It is all based on your self-discipline. Knowing you must do it makes you want to follow through it. Make it a mental thing and just get ready to go to bed at a specific time, like 11pm. Turn of all your distractions (iphone, ipad, tv, music). It gives you a chance to really and fully unwind and get better acquainted with yourself. So go ahead and recharge your body properly!

 Favorite moment:

While there are many moments that are simply beautiful and utterly magnificent, the first official snow day is pretty awesome! It happened sometime in January and that day just seemed magical. The air is crisp clear and you could literally smell the airiness scent of the pure white glistening snow. Waking up to snow that has already fallen on the ground is just one of those things you have to be grateful for to just take it all in and enjoy-and maybe have a snowball fight :) 

 Favorite meal:

January is a fairly cold month, depending on where you live of course, but still, many people get colds this time of the year so I thought I would add one of my favorite meals for January. Especially if you have a sensitive stomach either during or after a cold, try this delicious concoction consisting of: cooked oatmeal with chia seeds and a banana. If you want you can add some dried plums to the oatmeal to make it a bit sweeter!


Favorite show: 

This month I think the best show would have to be King of Queens. This hilariously entertaining show really makes me laugh as it always has a message about the unity of family life, or specifically in their case, marriage. You have a married couple that fights like cats and dogs but loves one another just as crazily. I generally enjoy shows that have a clear moral message of doing the right thing, caring for others, and just having fun along the way!

Well, there you have it folks! Hope you enjoyed some of my January favorites and the message or theme that seemed to repetitively show up: RENEWAL. Whatever you enjoy doing or eating or listening to or watching, find a way to renew yourself while doing it. It makes your life experiences that much more satisfying and you will feel lighter and brighter as a human being.


Love ya'll!
Lusciously Levi

Fall 2014 roundup

Hi Lovely! 

The fall is in full gear and that means that there is a new breeze out on the horizon. A more mellow, calm, and peaceful sentiment surrounds you if you truly tune in and focus on it. In addition, today, stop thinking about all of the things that are not right and try to limit your complaining. Smile, dance around, listen to your choice of music, and engage in goodness. 

I have written a few articles that were recently published and if you are looking for extra stress relief advice, here are the 2 links:

How to communicate effectively and calmly   (the article is on page 119*)
Tips To Calm Your Nerves When Faced With Stressful Situations

On a nice fall weekend we had some girl time and played Scrabble. Great for the brain, great for socializing :)

We are heading into the 70's, still towards the end of September!

For today's lunch here is a nice recipe:

1 tspoon Ketchup
Dash of Turmeric powder
1 tbsp Olive oil (optional)
2 handfuls of mixed greens
Steamed veggies: string beans, broccoli, carrots
Main dish- chicken cutlets (organic white meat) and cooked onion

Springtime Sublime

Spring time brings out the hungry squirrels. These guys are running to us and standing tall looking for any good they can get. Next time we are bringing some crackers!

Below the squirrels I added a nice healthy creation of egg with mashed potato picture. Tasty and fulfilling!

Here are all of the weather reports and we have had some dramatic increases and decreases in weather patterns!

Time for some chocolate cake with a white looking flower in the center! Oh the sweet tooth people get excited. Inside you have some luscious marshmallow, chocolate waffles, and cream. It's great with a hot steaming cup of tea. "No need to add sugar as cake is all the needed sugar (quote from my grandpa)"

The springtime in June is warm and sunny. Here are the yummy homemade chicken cutlets that smell spicy fresh. ( for a great extra flavor try adding turmerica dash of sea salt, oregano, onion, and eggs, along with the the white meat itself)

Remember, organic is best and healthiest*

The sky is clear and bright blue. You can see the pinkish sunset merge together with the clouds and sky, beautiful! The ocean is a prominent blue color, getting warmer with the weather and sun as well.

Generally when we feel stressed out, let's take some time to just look up at the sky, part of the beauty of the world around us. We can learn to appreciate it in all it's glory. Let's find that center within us and through the nature surrounding us, merge with it, and gain clarity and peace. 🙏

May Moments

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

May is not Mundane

1st pic: Playing fun card games over the weekend, which consisted of spit, stupid, and piggy-wiggy on a stick. I know, the titles of these games is a bit odd, but they are fun and enjoyable once you get the hang of it. Time to get pumped up, competitive, and psyched!

2nd-3rd pics: The trees and flowers and blooming beyond control, as spring is surmounting! Almost overnight we see these little buds extend into full blown beautiful wild pink flowers.

4th pic: A huge storm came out last night and today early morning, so much so that all of the pretty flower pedals from the trees fell down. There was a lot of wind and that must have blew all of the pedals off of the trees. They are so delicate and appealing, I decided to gather some images of them. There is a certain scent and feel in the air after the rain storm. It seems effervescently soothing and relaxing. Plus, we haven't gotten much rain storms here, so it was about time!

5th-6th pics: Beautiful clear blue sky with marshmallow-like clouds.

7th-8th pics: Picked some wild flowers growing in the garden and put them in a base with water to sustain their elegance and vitality. Spring has sprung with these gorgeous scented yellow flowers blooming among the green green grass from the ground.

Birthday fun, family and food!

When there is a birthday coming up, we get ready with lots of yummy homemade food, desserts, drinks, loved ones, and presents, cheers! ❤

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mothers Day! ❤

Happy Mothers Day! Today is just a reminder that every day we must appreciate all of the unconditional love that our moms keep giving us! ❤