Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: It's time to start taking care of the earth.

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: It's time to start taking care of the earth.: We have always recycled everything from clothes and shoes to bottles and paper but more recently in the last couple of years I started makin...

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Make every day count this Christmas

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Make every day count this Christmas: Christmas is a time of joy!  Make every day count.  Christmas it's also a time of stress for a lot of people. Start every day with the b...

Make every day count this Christmas

Christmas is a time of joy!  Make every day count. 

Christmas it's also a time of stress for a lot of people. Start every day with the best breakfast you can whip up to give yourself that much needed energy to do everything on your list. A quick egg omelet with tons of spinach and other veggies does the trick. See this recipe and more on FB's Syl's Cocina Criolla.

Christmas decorating can get familiar from year to year. This Christmas let your creative juices flow and make it your own by adding some DIY projects. You'll be surprised at how much pizzaz you can infuse into your decor with a little imagination, a couple of dollars spent at the hardware store, and a little extra time.

Christmas may be a great time to take that trip you weren't able to take this summer. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a happy place then make it happen. Some airlines offer great last-minute deals around this time. Think of sunny Florida or Puerto Rico and then just do it. 

Christmas is a time to get together with friends and family you didn't get around to seeing on Thanksgiving. Bring out your favorite family recipes but don't be afraid to experiment with new dishes. It's all about having a jolly good time with your favorite peeps. 

Christmas is a time to get out of your comfort zone to get out--do some caroling with local parishioners.  Or take time off to bring a little cheer to a shut-in, light a child's face with a toy at the children's ward.  Maybe donate a couple of hours at a soup kitchen.  You can ooh and aah at the many tree lightings all over the state or just in your own town. Our family loves the holidays in the Hamptons because all the business establishments go all out with decorations. They can probably give Fifth Avenue a run for their money!  In Southampton, as a prelude to the tree-lighting they have a Xmas parade with all the bells and whistles and the kiddies get free candy. 

 

This is the time to spend a little more, maybe even splurge on a special item for a loved one or for yourself. Century stores have unique clothing and gifts at reasonable prices. Hit the outlets at Bergen Mall.  We guarantee you will find something special for everyone on your list. 

Remember, make every day count. 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a great cheer!  Also bear in mind that Jesus is the reason for the season. 

It's time to start taking care of the earth.

We have always recycled everything from clothes and shoes to bottles and paper but more recently in the last couple of years I started making regular compost with kitchen refuse such as egg shells, vegetable peels, and coffee grains. I'm so excited and cannot wait for spring to see the difference in our yard. When I was a little girl growing up in Puerto Rico I remember the barrio refuse collector going from house to house collecting kitchen leftovers to feed to his pigs. Housewives would leave the refuse out back in a big metal can and he'd swing around and pour the contents out into a big container he carried in a wheelbarrow.  So recycling kitchen refuse is not new to me.

Recently also we have traded vinegar and baking soda for commercial products that are not so good for the environment.  I find that this enviro-friendly way of cleaning is much cheaper, and easier on your hands and lungs. Speaking about your hands we use coffee grains for all-over body exfoliating, as well as oatmeal for soaking and bathing in, just mix a little body wash into the mix for a one-step treatment. Your body will thank you in kind--you will immediately notice the smoothness and suppleness in your complexion when you look in the mirror and see a more vibrant and youthful you smiling back at you.

Recently I started oral rinsing with peroxide. This works well for whitening teeth and healthier gums. Add a tiny bit of baking soda for good all-around oral care. And on the subject of good health a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda mix in to a glass of fresh lemon water does wonders for your colon. This is not to say that you should skip your annual doctor visits. 

There are endless ways in which we can contribute to protecting our Mother Earth and our pockets as well and also look beautiful and stay healthy in the process. Don't forget to check out Syl's Cocina Criolla on FB for delicious boricua inspired recipes and more health conscious ways to eat and stay healthy. If you like this article, write and let me know. God bless everyone. 

For more tips visit: www.neefusa.com

What will be your last thought before .....

What will be your last thought before you take that last breath?  Will it be, "Will I be worthy to see God's face?"  "Did I live enough of a Christ-like life?"  Who will I see up there (or, down there?!)?"  

Not everyone believes there's a heaven and a hell; but if you believe in God and consider yourself a Christian, what question will come to your mind? And if so, will you be able to answer without hesitation and with peace in your soul?

Last week at the 8:00 o'clock Mass, our pastor started the homily by asking himself how will he react when he's on his death bed seconds before leaving this earthly home--will he be out-of-this-world elated? will he feel worthy? will he have doubts (or guilt feelings)?

He asked we each consider what we will ask ourselves on that last second. 

These are deep questions that we should be asking ourselves now, so as to make our journey into the light easier--so that when our time comes, we can go acceptingly and in peace. 

What will be our last thought?  Seriously think about this. Our time may be closer than we think. Through Christ our Lord, God wants all his children to enjoy his heavenly home.  Amen!

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: My Adventure on El Tren Urbano de San Juan

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: My Adventure on El Tren Urbano de San Juan: I can visit the island of Puerto Rico a thousand times and always find something new and different to do.  On my last 'busication' (...

My Adventure on El Tren Urbano de San Juan

I can visit the island of Puerto Rico a thousand times and always find something new and different to do.  On my last 'busication' (business/vacation) I was fortunate to hop on the Tren Urbano.  Thank to my sister Kimi and her hubby Machy for making it possible!  As I've oftentimes expressed on this blog, I am a trainophile—in order words, I love trains and anything that has to do with them.

Martinez Nadal Stop

Partial view of the Milla de Oro, Hato Rey

El Tren Urbano of San Juan was a most pleasurable experience.  I was pleasantly surprised at the rare opportunity given me to ride the rails of the tiny island's metropolitan area.  I never tire of saying that "God works in mysterious ways."  Out of what could have been a sad time, God turned it around to make every day of my two-week stay practically blissful.  That day, it happened to be the San Juan Urban Train ride.  I paid for roundtrip tickets for the three of us, riding from Rio Piedras to Bayamon and back on just the departing tickets.  We never descended the train because we just wanted to experience the pure pleasure of riding the rail.  I left the tickets with my dear Kimi and Machy, for whenever the bug bites to ride the train again.

If you happen to be visiting, by all means hop a ride on El Tren Urbano—you won't be disappointed.

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Who loves train travel?

Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: Who loves train travel?: I love to travel by train. When we were gallivanting through Europe years ago, we went from country-to-country and fr...

What makes you happy? Go find what it is and do it.

We are all here on borrowed time, some more than others but we all agree, no one is getting out alive. So why not make the most of our time here. 

When my best friend, partner and father of my children went home to the Lord, it was an awakening for me.  You know how you never think you're going to die and much less a beloved family member. Well it did happen with the one person I never thought would go because of his positive outlook on life, his bubbly personality, and his ability to befriend everyone, among so may other great qualities. So when Victor passed, after the initial shock of losing him I decided to relish life, to 'grab the bull by the horns'.

I started traveling more than ever, I wrote two books and a third one is about to be published so I can start working on the next one. I bought a third property out on Long Island.  I lost all fear and started enjoying life once again. 

Find out what makes you happy and make a commitment to follow it through. It doesn't matter if you're 16 or 86, there is no better time to do it than now. So go ahead.  Do you enjoy traveling, but afraid of going solo?.. Entertaining, but don't qualify as Martha Stewart? Want to get the degree you've been wanting but haven't because of lack of money. Well there are always going to be obstacles but God has given you the resources to do whatever it is you want to do. 

Don't waste another second, none of us is getting any younger and don't forget to pray to God to guide you. Everything turns out better when God is in your life. 

Third Space Medical

The only time I got a little relief from fibro-myalgia (FM) was when I took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and that was pretty much all the time. Yet in spite of taking ibuprofen, I was always in pain. I rarely slept, as the pain was so intense it would keep me up all night. I also worried about what the ibuprofen would do to my stomach. 

One time over dinner with friends, with tears in my eyes I was emboldened enough to tell them about my condition.  As to be expected my friends were very sympathetic but at a loss as to what to reply. After all FM is like a slow death sentence.

But lo and behold the next day I received an email from one of my friends telling me about Third Space Medical and how they had helped her with a debilitating pain she'd suffered as a result of an accident. I kindly thanked my friend for her suggestion and promised to give them a call.  

That was a Monday. I went in on Thursday and I was seen by Dr. Jonathan immediately. He took the time to listen to me, and followed up with a thorough evaluation of my condition. For some reason, I trusted Dr. Hartman when he promised to do everything in his power to get me up and moving again. 

The following week I started therapy at the TSM clinic in Ridgewood Ave. I would see Lisa the PA for muscle relaxants containing all natural drugs. After which I would follow with chiropractic manipulation by Dr. Jon, and thirdly with physical therapy in the adjacent room. 

Wow, this clinic offered everything I needed to get better and all departments within walking steps of one another. I was mostly impressed with the kind and friendly staff who did their best to make every patient feel special. Not only do they treat you as part of their family, they always do so with a kind word and a smile on their face. 

It's been two months that I've been going to TSM and I can't say enough good things about this place and their highly professional staff. I recommend this place to anyone suffering from any type of pain. In my case TSM was Godsend--I had altogether given up and resigned myself to whatever years I had left on earth in pain and misery.  I cried in silence whenever I thought about my 'death sentence'. But thank God the staff at TSM gave me a new lease on life. 

Thirty-three-year-old Dr. Jon explained that FM is basically pain which doctors haven't been able to identify its source.  Pain can stem from any number of things: celiac from gluten foods, glucose intolerance, long-term injury that hasn't been treated properly (or not treated at all), and/or a host of other triggers. TSM's aim is to get to the root of your pain through the use of all-natural muscle relaxants and up-to-the-minute chiropractic care, in conjunction with highly trained physical therapists who work closely with their patients to attain optimal health. 

I feel 75 percent better than when I first came to TSM. I'm experiencing much less pain, much more mobility and flexibility, and about a 50 percent increase in energy levels. But more importantly, I don't see my condition as a death sentence anymore. I have renewed hope that with the right diet, continued exercise, and positive outlook, I can achieve a long and healthy life.

Who loves train travel?

I love to travel by train. When we were gallivanting through Europe years ago, we went from country-to-country and from city-to-city by train. As a matter of fact that trip was where I got the idea for my latest novel, a travel thriller titled Destination: Unknown.  This one is sure to be a crowd pleaser, so be on the lookout for its release this fall.

My love of trains and train stations started as a young girl in Hoboken.  My siblings and I would walk down to the tracks and watch as car-after-car of the Erie Lackawanna trains, went by along  the hill that separates Hoboken and Jersey City.  I would be mesmerized by the amount of cars, sometimes as many as 100 or more, as the train hooted, the engines puffed, and the clanking sound of metal over metal was heard. I guess you could say it was music to my ears.

To this day, I am still excited at the sound the trains make, especially since I live just blocks away from the railroad--the train goes past our town along the Hackensack River.  On occasion, I will hop on it into Hoboken's Path station.

I also enjoy visiting my sister in Jersey City because I get a chance to watch the Light Rail in action. Iris lives in the Heights, just three blocks away and an elevator ride down the hill to the train stop, again in Hoboken. 

Some of you may already know about my love of trains from a post of several years ago in which I talk about the Light Rail --a bittersweet time when my late Mami was visiting from Puerto Rico--another subject very dear to my heart.  I could write an entire book on Mami, but for now I will have to be content with sharing my love of locomotives.

The most fun I've had riding the rails, was five years ago when we went to Europe and visited 11 countries and over 22 cities, most of them by train. The ones that struck me the most were the old trains in the Czech Republic.  They are a trainophile's delight!  For your viewing pleasure I've posted some pictures.

My latest train adventure was just two weeks ago en el Tren Urbano de San Juan.  Through God's grace I found myself taking care of personal business/vacation on the sunny island of Puerto Rico.   Running from Rio Piedras to Bayamon with innumerable spots, this rail line is every trainophile's dream—clean, modern, and speedy.  Call me a railfan, rail or train buff.  Any way you cut it, that's me.  Cross another one off that bucket list.  Yeah!

Are you feeling like you're on the verge of losing it?

Do you ever feel like you're on the verge of losing it, seconds away from throwing it all in?

Now more than ever the world seems  a scary place to live in. Yet for people who have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussions, it may seem much worse.  In addition, They may experience any number of odd symptoms.  Sometimes, however, they may not realize that these symptoms may be the result of a TBI, simply because not all injuries will appear in certain tests or brain scans. 

Most concussives (ones who've suffered concussions) have the inability to plan ahead. Because I am a concussion sufferer, I can only make plans within a week at most. And sometimes, not even then. I do most things on the spur of the moment.  The saying, "living in the moment" is very true in my life.

Concussives have very little or no visual/spatial concept. I can drive down the same road a couple of times in my lifetime, yet one day the familiarity of the road will be lost on me and I will see the road in a totally different way as if I were approaching it from a different angle or for the first time. 

Concussives have continuous repetitive thoughts. These can be a one word, a phrase, or whole sentences.  They may have repetitive dreams--a same dream may show up various times at any given time with any length of time in between. It may be within hours, weeks, months or even years.  I suffer from both of these conditions. I also dream in color, though not as much as when I was younger. I have had dreams of flying high above utopian countrysides and deep green/oceans, also in vivid beautiful colors. More research has to be done on repetition of thought, to determine if it is concussion-related, although I'm not complaining about the part of dreaming in color. 

While on the subject of dreams, concussives have more nightmares than regular people. The nightmares will be harder to wake from, harder to forget; and they may recur if you fall asleep again.  I suffer from this as well. 

Concussives have periods where they feel like they are levitating--sort of like experiencing periods of enlightenment.  I have experienced such episodes on several occasions.  There have been times where I have felt deep out-of-body experiences, especially as a child and later as a young girl.  At times, I would be swinging so high on a swing, so as to almost touch the sky; or my hand would be so big, as to wrap itself around the earth.  As Clark Elliot says in his book, The Ghost in my Brain, these out-body-episodes may be mystical gifts to a young brain; or they could be the result of a small perturbation in the brain's posterior parietal cortex.  As Elliot goes on to explain, it may be some oddity in the brain, which allows me to recall and note all the above, even while suffering from the effects of a concussion. 

A concussive may lose cognitive and analogical abilities--they may have deep, deep thoughts, such as to question, "how is it that my husband is married to me? How is it that my children are mine?" Many things that are second nature or normal to most people, may be questioned by the concussive--not in a logical way as normal people would question, but in an irrational way of thinking. 

As a concussive gets older and enters into their senior years, life becomes a hundred times harder. 

To shed some light on my problem, I will go as far back as I can remember. I was four-years-old and living with my mother and siblings in a barrio of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Our father had left to the States to start the transition of moving our family there.  My earliest recollection is falling off a donkey and losing my two front teeth. Obviously, I was too young to recall if I suffered a concussion.  It's quite possible it was so traumatic that my brain blocked it out. For years, I only remember the joy of that ride.  Yet the shock and impact of falling off the donkey and hitting the compacted dirt road are not as clear. My mother, may she rest in peace, filled in the blanks for me. However, she never mentioned taking me to a doctor to follow up.  Which begs the question, how many of us have suffered concussions as children and have gone through life totally unaware of the repercussions of such an accident?

Later in life I would have experienced  other TBI's, such as a near strangulation as a young adult at the hands of a jealous boyfriend; and years later, in an almost fatal car accident. Other life-altering events such as a divorce, the lost of my beloved husband, and later the loss of my mother, may have added to an already damaged brain. 

The more obvious result of all the above trauma is a deep muscle and nerve pain that is known as fibromyalgia.  We can add sleep apnea, anxiety, and a host of other ailments to the list.  I have been living with these for the last 14 years.  But after suddenly losing Mom three years ago, the symptoms have started to really manifest themselves in many other ways.  

Below is a list of symptoms most of which I can identify with. The one I don't see listed, one of my biggest, the need to sleep constantly. 

Cognitive Symptoms:

• -  Decreased concentration, reduced attention span

• -  Difficulties with executive functioning (goal setting, self monitoring, initiating,

  modifying, and/or bringing to completion)

• -  Short-term and/or long-term memory loss

• -  Decreased ability to solve problems and think abstractly

• -  Difficulty thinking straight

• -  Difficulty displaying appropriate emotional/communication responses

  (laugh during serious conversation, shout when everyone whispers)

• -  Difficulty in learning new information 

• -  Difficulty making plans, setting goals, and organizing tasks

• -  May appear disorganized and impulsive

• -  Difficulty spelling, writing, and reading

• -  Difficulty finding the right words and constructing sentences

• -  Difficulty understanding written or spoken communication

• -  Difficulty interpreting verbal and non-verbal language

• -  Decreased functioning of speech muscles (lips, tongue)

• -  Difficulty feeling initiative, sustaining motivation

• -  Depression

• -  Memory distortions

  Behavioral Symptoms:

• -  Changes in behavior, personality or temperament

• -  Increased aggression and/or anxiety

• -  Decreased or increased inhibitions

• -  Quickly agitated or saddened

• -  Changes in emotional expression (flat, non-emotional, inappropriate or overreactions)

• -  Avoidance of people, family, friends

• -  Difficulty sleeping

• -  Increased irritability or impatience

  Physical Symptoms:

• -  Hearing loss

• -  Headaches, neck pain

• -  Nausea and vomiting

• -  Changes in vision (blurred, sensitive, seeing double, blindness)

• -  Ringing or buzzing in ears

• -  Dizziness, difficulty balancing

  • -  Decrease in, or loss of, smell or taste

  • -  Decreased coordination in limbs

  • -  Loss of bowel or bladder control

  • -  Increased sensitivity to noise or bright lights

  • -  Seizures

  • -  Weaknes and numbness 
    

  Reprinted with permission of the Empire Justice Center, Building Bridges: A Cross-Systems Training Manual for Domestic Violence Programs and Disability Service Providers in New York, 2006 

I am happy to report that this last year I have found ways to not just survive but thrive with the help of Dr. John Hartman and his chiropractic team at Third Space Medical in Ridgewood, NJ, through physical therapy, and changes in my diet.  From reading Elliot's, The Ghost in my Brain, I am learning so much more about concussions and their long-term effects and how you can get help.  I strongly suggest this book. If you or someone you know has had a concussion or traumatic brain injury there is help out there. 

Comments are always welcome.  Please feel free to sign in to Google and leave a comment.

Have your cake and eat it too!

If you have a sweet tooth that needs soothing, but are afraid of piling on the calories on your otherwise beautiful temple of God, we have good news!

Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too with this delicious and rich recipe for gluten free cake with fruits and cream. 

So go ahead and go crazy and impress everyone with your culinary talents.

Here's the long-awaited recipe. 

For the cake:

• 2 cups Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend (I used Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (one stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1¾ cups sugar
• 4 egg white, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoons vanilla
• ⅔ cup milk
• ⅔ cup plain Greek yogurt

For the strawberry filling:

• 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
• 1-2 teaspoons sugar (or more, depending on how sweet your strawberries are)

For the whipped cream:

• 1 pint heavy cream, well chilled
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 9 inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl and set aside.
3. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, in a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar on medium speed.
4. Add egg whites and vanilla and beat for about 30 seconds.
5. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture, milk, and yogurt. Beat until combined.
6. Beat on high for an additional 30 seconds.
7. Divide the batter evenly between the pans.
8. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until lightly golden and toothpick comes out clean.
9. Cool pans on racks for about ten minutes, then remove cakes from pans and cool completely.

For the strawberry filling:

1. Combine the strawberries and sugar in a small bowl, and set aside to allow the juices to release.

For the whipped cream:

1. Place the bowl and whisk attachment for your stand mixer or a metal or glass bowl and beaters for your hand mixer in the fridge or freezer until they are cold.
2. Add the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to the chilled bowl, and beat on medium-high to high speed until soft peaks form. Do not overbeat.

To assemble the cake:

1. Place one layer of the cake on a plate, and spread with about a half cup of the whipped cream. Layer on about half of the sliced strawberries.
2. Spread about another half cup of whipped cream on top of the strawberries.
3. Top with the second cake layer. Again top this cake layer with about a half cup of the whipped cream, the remaining berries and another half cup of whipped cream.
4. Top with the final cake layer, and spread the remaining whipped cream over the top and sides of the cake to cover completely.
5. Garnish with the whole and/or sliced strawberries, as desired.

 

Don't turn up your nose at non-gluten foods until you've tried these...

If your doctor has diagnosed you with sensitivity to or intolerance to gluten (celiac disease), don't despair. Think of it as a challenge, to not just survive but to thrive. 

Once you accept that this illness is totally manageable, you may just find yourself embracing your healthy lifestyle and the new lease on life that will come with it.  Because that is exactly what you will have found--renenewed energy, a leaner you (a flatter tummy), as well as a younger, more vibrant self. 

No one is paying me to say any of this. I speak from experience here.  The best thing to have happened to me was to be diagnosed with sensitivity to gluten--the number one zapper of energy, the source of most bodily pain including gastric pain, and the biggest ager of all time.  Yes, gluten (for the gluten intolerant) will take everything out of you and render you lifeless. 

But we can rejoice.  There are so many choices of gluten-free foods to have you shouting for joy while doing the victory dance.  Here are just a few.  Enjoy!