california

new design template!! i couldn't help myself. honestly, you would think i was more interested in the look of my blog than the actual content of it. well sometimes i am.

i just got back from an amazing trip to california with my mother. it was sensational. first, a recording of two scenes from a new opera, which made this trip possible. then an unprecedented amount of sight-seeing! san francisco, santa barbara, the cliffs on hwy 1, the vineyards of hwy 101, spanish food, california shopping, you name it!

and now i'm back and full of life and memories and total contentment. everyone should take a vacation. every year. twice a year. and everyone should see hwy 1, along the coast. it is unreal. the picture i've attached is a tiny introduction to the grandeur of this place. you have to see it in person, preferably in the driver's seat. scary, but exhilarating. (i had to google the spelling for that word. i'm ashamed.)

i have one more gig, this weekend in oklahoma with my trio. but i feel like the hardest work of this year is all behind me. so now i am going to start working on new recipes for the PIXYWAGON, which i am starting up again in the fall!!! i have 8 interested clients. yay! so this summer i will test new ideas and tweak their contents until they are as healthy as they can possibly be. i also have new ideas for the PIXYCAKES that i am dying to try.

i read an article at the gym tonight that had some great weight-loss food tips. thought i'd share them with you:

1. healthy dip ~ plain yogurt with ranch seasoning packet. how freakin' easy is that?
2. healthy nuts ~ take peanuts or almonds and toss them in a tiny bit of olive oil and some cayenne pepper. cayenne pepper is a major health booster, and also makes you drink more water. i think you can toast them in the oven, but i don't remember what it said.
3. frozen bananas ~ i love this one and am definitely going to try it! slice bananas and toss them in cinnamon and maybe a little cocoa powder. throw them in a bag and freeze. the magazine says they taste like ice cream when frozen. cool!

love those!