Spring Cleaning!

I spent much of the last weekend cleaning the house for Spring. Somehow Spring cleaning doesn't get me down as much as regular cleaning does as Spring cleaning promises renewal of all things. It's a great way to just shoo out all the Winter blues. It also helped that my beloved hubby was there most of the time helping out. Poor guy I must admit I was a pain to work with. And we were both so exhausted by Sunday night.

The areas that were cleaned were:
- My closet, which meant weeding out all the old clothes, jewelry, hair stuff, idiotic gadgets that seemed like a good idea to have at the time and many many things that surprised even me that they were in my closet.
- My son's room, closet and playroom. Thomas the Tank Engine was given a warm farewell.
- All bathrooms and laundry room. Deep, obsessive cleaning for those.

The Fire Festival

Charshanbeh Suri is an ancient Iranian festival dating at least back to 1700 BCE of the early Zorastrian era. The festival of fire is a prelude to the ancient Norooz, which marks the arrival of spring and revival of nature. Nowrooz, or the New Year's Day in the Iranian calendar, falls on March 20 this year. The first Day of Spring.

On the last Tuesday evening of the Winter mnight many people around the world will be jumping over fires in parks or streets. The fires will be lit shortly after sunset. The gatherings are among family and friends. They take turns jumping over the burning fire Singing a little song which will say/symbolizes that the fire shall take away the illness and instead give the person health the Iranian New Year (New Day/Norooz) begins.

Miss My Boot Camp

I miss going to my 6 a.m. outdoors boot camp. And always having aches and pains... ha ha

I realized just how much I missed it (or maybe how much "not") by looking at these particular exercises at Self.com . They remind me so much of the grueling work we did with Active Duty Fitness! These exercises will help you Burn Fat Fast!

Looking for Guilt-free and satisfying food?

Check Hungrygirl.com for lots of great information on healthy and low calorie foods. You can check either products or unbelievably easy recipes to to whip up something that will satisfy the taste buds and the tummy.

I've been following this site for a while now... I believe since November, when I joined Weight Watcher (yes, again) and I was introduced to this site.

Well I'm no longer with Weight Watchers but I get the Hungry Girl Newsletters on almost a daily basis. I hope you find what you like to eat on this site:

I'll leave you with Hungry Girl's Top Ate Calorie Saving Cooking Swaps. I encourage you to also check her Top Ate Guilt-Free Chocolate Craving Busters!!!

She also has a book now which is available through Amazon.

Heaven-Given Persia

My dear cousin, Sasan Khajavi is coming out with a book titled: Heaven-Given Persia: The Iran Not Known. It will be on sale at Amazon in March of 2009. Just in time for Norowz! (More on this in future blogs)

Sasan is a fascinating man. A genius with a brilliant mind. In his young life, he has invented many things. Many of them technical but it's his poetic mind that amazes me. He is powerful in both hemispheres of his brain. The Left and the Right!

I look forward to reading his book as I know I will be learning more about the origins of where I've come from. Sasan loves Persia and knows so many facts about that country and he always has the factual resources to backup his knowledge.

Here is a this little excerpt from his book and it will give you a big window into the mind of this amazing mind:

"I have an obligation to both countries. I came to the U.S. when I was fourteen -- old enough to have become Persian and young enough to become American. Love of Persia and America are not mutually exclusive. I love America and Persia the same way that one loves both his parents.

If I let both nations know as much about each as possible, I have given something good back to America and to the country of my birth, Persia. The aim of this book is not peace, for peace implies war. Peace is a low goal. Peace requires nothing. Peace is passive. One can despise a people and yet be at peace with them. The aim of this book is friendship -- the most beautiful relationship that exists
between two people. Friendship requires effort; it requires engaging; and above all, it requires respect. And respect requires seeking, learning, and focusing on other people's good."

I hope you give his book a try when it is available. See: http://www.heavengivenpersia.com/

From Pamela Peeke, M.D. 's Newsletter

If there are 3 things you could do this month.

Mind: When you see that cement ball of stress swingin' your way, take a slow deep breath. Just one breath. Try it right now. Feels pretty good doesn't it? When you breathe that way, you actually alter the levels and ratios of brain chemicals that calm you. Inhale for a count of three and exhale for a count of four. Enjoy that exhalation. In with the good, out with the bad. You're just a breath away from less stress!

Mouth: Track what goes into your mouth. Study after study shows that the key to reducing what goes in is to write down what you're consuming. Otherwise, especially if you are a stress overeater, you will eat more than you realize.

Muscle: Commit to 30 minutes of movement on a daily basis-you can find ½ hour. Just do it! Think of it as a crucial stress strategy.

Slumdog Millionaire Shines at the Oscars

I couldn't believe the beautiful show. So full of Indian culture. It felt as if I'm watching a show in India. It was so uplifting specially the section A.R. Rahman

http://bollywood-songs.org/slumdog-millionaire-shines-at-the-oscars/

Here is a video too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nOVggxZPL0

The only word I understand is Asaman which means sky. I'll have to look up the meaning of the song. Oh and "Jai Ho" means victorious.