Posted by Maria on March 24, 2010 under Esthetics School, Fitness, Green Living, Home spa, Ingredients, Newspapers and Newsworthy, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Wellness | 
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
Did you know that in 1993, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as the World Day for Water? I didn’t. I just found out from Dr. Phil that March 21st to 27th, 2010 is World Water Week and the funny thing is, I was already going to write about water on this post anyway. There must be something in the air.
Everyone knows that water is the universal spa ingredient. It works on the inside of your body as something you can drink and it works on the outside as something you can bathe or swim in.
But today I want to write about bottled water and how I don’t recommend it for your home spa or your home gym. I must admit though that I am guilty of buying bottled water on a regular basis. I buy it mostly for my Jazzercise classes because it’s a convenient way for me to hydrate myself while I’m exercising and I also like to have some on hand for my earthquake emergency kit.
But last year, one of my co-workers forwarded this PowerPoint presentation to all staff in my office and it really opened my eyes: water-disaster1. What a wake up call. From watching this slideshow, I was shocked to learn the financial, health and environmental costs associated with bottled water:
- Financial: Apparently, the average U.S. citizen spends over $400 a year on bottled water. As someone who is about to become a student again, I need to save money wherever I can.
- Health: Because of temperature changes (which can be extreme) during shipment from the warehouse to the store to you, toxic chemicals from the plastic bottles can leach into the water and therefore into your body once you drink it which can cause serious damage to your health.
- Environmental: Producing cases of bottled water and transporting them by the truck load and then disposing the empties all have a significant (and often unnecessary) impact on the environment.
What really got me was the part about keeping the bottles of water in your car. I’m not doing that anymore.
The case for tap water
What happened to good ol’ tap water? Somewhere along the line we stopped trusting it. But as someone who lives on the west coast of Canada surrounded by majestic mountains, flowing rivers, vibrant lakes and the Pacific Ocean, I am blessed to have lovely, wholesome water delivered straight to my home whenever I want at the twist of my tap. So why am I buying water from France? It’s ridiculous if you think about it and one more point for the 100 mile diet.
You’ll be happy to know that ever since I saw the above presentation on water bottles, I have started bringing a refillable metal container full of tap water to class.
Access to fresh, clean water is a big deal for our planet but we take it for granite 
(as it’s often pronounced). But I think the tide is turning and people are becoming more and more appreciative of this resource every day. Even AVEDA, my esthetics school, has a policy of not allowing bottled water in the classrooms.
If you want to learn more about World Water Day and related events and how you can contribute, check out the UNICEF Tap Project.
And from now on, I pledge to drink tap water instead of bottled water. Right here, right now, I’m going to take a page from Oprah’s handbook and start my own pledge drive.
Homespunspa’s No Bottled Water Pledge
I, ____________, when given the choice between tap water from a healthy source and bottled water, pledge to choose to drink tap water. And, if I happen to buy and drink a commercially-made bottle of water, I will return the bottle for recycling and will get the deposit back. Every lit bit helps. Cheers!
If you would like to sign this pledge with me, please fill in this form below. THANKS!
Posted by Maria on March 17, 2010 under Aromatherapy, Green Living, Hair, Home spa, Homespunspa, How to throw a home spa pajama party the Homespunspa way book, Ingredients, Photo gallery, Pop-Psychology, Recipes, TV Shows, Uncategorized |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
As it tis St. Patrick’s Day today, I thought it would be fun to talk about beer as a home spa ingredient.
Body on Tap Shampoo plus Irish Spring Soap equals Magically Delicious
Before you go out on the town tonight to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, why not get into the spirit with some home brewed spa treatments. If only they still sold Body on Tap Shampoo. It was made with real Budweiser beer! Personally, I’ve never actually used this particular brand because I was underage at the time. I remember the ads from a lot of the shampoos from the 1970’s that don’t exist anymore like, Breck (“and they told two friends and so on and so on…”) and Gee your Hair Smells Terrific and “Squeeze and go from flat to fluffy, squeeze, with Prell Concentrate.” Good times. Good times. Hey, another 1970’s throwback!
With ingredients like green tea and silk amino acids, shampoo has come a long way in 30 years, (how much do you pay for a bottle these days?) but the idea of putting real beer in shampoo isn’t complete flimflam. What may seem like marketing shenanigans to us in 2010 actually has some validity. Not only does beer bring out hair’s natural shine and highlights, it also adds body and volume too. And some people may consider beer’s unmistakable scent as aromatherapy at its finest. So, if you’d like to make your own beer shampoo, here is a recipe.
St. Patrick’s Day Beer Shampoo
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles of Guinness beer — adds shine, body, volume and fragrance to hair
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar — astringent vinegar restores the natural pH balance of skin and hair
- 2 TB honey — has moisturizing and antiseptic qualities
- 1/4 cup regular, as unscented as possible, shampoo (optional)
Method:
- Pour the beer from one bottle into a glass mug and take a swig.
- Pour the other beer, apple cider vinegar and honey into a saucepan and reduce over medium-high heat to a half cup in volume. Keep your eye on the pan and stir occasionally. Adjust the temperature if necessary. Within 20 minutes, the mixture should start looking like thick syrup.
- Once the liquid reaches the desired consistency, take the pan off the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- If you want, you can keep this recipe as it is (as a hair rinse) without adding extra soap. You can also combine the beer mixture with pre-made, unscented shampoo and pour the mixture into a recycled shampoo bottle. Make sure to label it so you don’t forget.
Manner:
- Massage the beer shampoo into wet hair. Lather, rinse and repeat. Follow with a conditioner.
- Tell two friends about this recipe
Storage:
- The alcohol, honey and shampoo base should act to preserve this recipe without refrigeration for at least a couple of weeks, but you’ll use it up by then, anyhow, right?
Cheers and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Posted by Maria on March 11, 2010 under Green Living, Home spa, Stress Management and Relaxation, TV Shows, Uncategorized |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
As you may already know, my Homespunspa Ewesletter blog is all about living a home spa lifestyle. To me, “home Spa” is an umbrella term that covers everything from making homemade spa treatments for sleep and beauty to topics like wellness, nutrition, fitness, stress management and green living to name just a few.
Design is another branch of the spa world and designing and decorating a space that encourages people to feel calm and relaxed is one of the pillars of a successful spa. Some spa spaces just have a way of melting stress from a person even before they receive their first spa treatment! With this in mind, I want my home to be my sanctuary, a quiet haven where I can rest and relax and I want it to feel and look more like a spa. I’m doing everything short of installing a water feature — because that would be over the top. Maybe next year.
So, I’m in the throws of a massive spring cleaning campaign. At first I was just going to paint many of my mismatched pieces of furniture a shade of white that most closely resembles cream cheese but now that I’ve pulled that thread, I’m also in the process of cleaning all of the nooks and crannies that I normally gloss over in my regular housekeeping routine. I’m also de-cluttering stuff from my junk drawers. Why I keep half of the trinkets and t-shirts I do, I don’t know.
There’s No Clutter In Spa Land
Every now and then, I watch an episode of Hoarders — to let’s face it — light a fire under my butt to clean up my act — before things get out of hand. While I don’t have “mountain of things” like in the Tracy Chapman song, there is an ever so slight tendency towards pack-ratiness in my family and I must admit I do collect a few odd things. Like when I went through all of my cosmetics, toiletries and medicine cabinet while I was painting my vanity, I found 3 brand new Secrets. Not that kind of secret — I’m hoarding antiperspirant. I can understand having a spare — but three? I also have at least 10 mini shampoos and soaps from hotels that I never plan on using, but like to have, and tons of expired cough, cold and flu medicine, just in case.
I can understand how hoarders, when confronted with the questions, “stay or go” and “keep or toss” freeze at seemingly useless items. I picked up a broken key chain while I was sorting my things into “like with like” piles and I shutter to say that even after holding it in my hand and recognizing it’s flaws and thinking about it for a minute or two, I kept it. I like to scrapbook and I have a box filled to the brim with things that might eventually look good in a collage. So that’s where it went, probably never to be heard from again, because, surprise, surprise, I don’t scrapbook much these days.
Like Watching Paint Dry
How is the painting going, you ask? Painting furniture is posing it’s own challenges for me. Picking paint colour is one thing. Picking the type of paint is another. (I went with a greener solution — a special primer and acrylic-based paint combo because I didn’t want to fuss with oil-based paint, which is going to be outlawed in 2012, anyway). And then there’s a little thing called patience. I’m discovering I’m not as patient as I think I am. I have to remember that patience is a virtue and painting anything, whether it’s a piece of art or a wall in my basement, can be quite a meditative and zen-like experience. I’m learning I end up doing a better job if I take my time with all of the steps and don’t rush the brush strokes. So far, I’m really happy with the results I’m getting and I think this huge project will be well-worth the effort.
Over to you. Are you in the midst of spring cleaning your homestead? Are you having trouble getting rid of clutter or picking a paint colour? While you’re on a break waiting for the paint to dry, write a comment. I’d love to hear from you.
Posted by Maria on February 18, 2010 under Books, Magazines, Music, Newspapers and Newsworthy, Photo gallery, Stress Management and Relaxation, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
I know it's blurry but there's Steven Colbert. Photo by Maria Koropecky
*SPOILER ALERT — UPCOMING EPISODE OF THE COLBERT REPORT*
Laughter is the best medicine and on my lifelong quest to beat stress, I took advantage of an open invitation to participate in a live taping of the comedy tv show, the Colbert Report, during the Vancouver 2010 Winter (more like Spring) Olympic Games.
Add a song to a laugh and you’ve got a recipe for a golden day.
I’m so glad I went even though I was in pretty rough shape from the night before. I had spent the evening with some Ukrainian musicians and we sang and talked and I drank way too much red wine. Still I persevered the next morning and after a bus ride and a walk in the park in uncomfortable shoes, I was thrilled when I learned the special guest on the show was Michael Buble.
Michael Buble is one of my faves. When I first heard his new song, “I just haven’t met you yet,” I thought he was talking to me. I still haven’t met him yet but I got closer.
The taping was supposed to start at 9:15 am and I got to Creekside Park next to the Telus World of Science, the temporary home of the Sochi House, just before 8:00. It was a beautiful blue-skied sunny morning. There were already what seemed like thousands of people there by then — some had even camped overnight.
In true Canadian fashion, we lined up along the cement bike path to get into the park. We’re so polite and well-behaved. But that step was unnecessary. Who lines up to get into an open space? Eventually and all of a sudden, the line broke and everybody ran up the muddy hill to get as close to the stage as possible. Refusing to stand for hours on muddy grass, I ended up right behind the speakers on cement.
As we were listening to the sound checks, an eagle glided by. That was poetry in motion if you ask me because I think it was Stephen Jr. saying hello to his old friend. The message, unfortunately, went over Mr. Colbert’s head but the audience noticed and cheered.
My first spot was a good spot but my patience and the chill in the air got the better of me and I had to go to MacDonald’s to grab a cup of tea. When I came back a half hour later, I still managed to stay on the bike path but was much farther away from the stage and couldn’t see squat. All of these heads were in my way. I had to take my photos blindly and in spite of that, I still managed to get some good shots.
Stephen Colbert interviews Michael Buble in Vancouver. Photo by Maria Koropecky
The actual taping didn’t start until well after 10:15 am. Even though I couldn’t see anything, I still enjoyed being part of the audience. We opened the show by singing O Canada, an Olympic moment for sure. It took Mr. Colbert three or four tries to deliver the opening jokes of the show and for one of the takes, he “borrowed” an Olympic torch from somebody in the audience and threatened to not give it back. I love behind-the-scenes stuff. Someone from the audience yelled out “We love you, Stephen” and he said, “I love me too.”
I like how Stephen Colbert pronounces his last name the French way (unlike Ellen Degeneres who in my opinion pronounces her name incorrectly) and I think he secretly wants to be Canadian.
The intensity builds as Stephen Colbert volleys questions at Michael Buble. Photo by Maria Koropecky.
Instead of doing his regular bit, “Better know a District,” he Canadianized it to “Better know a Riding” and interviewed Ujjal Dosanjh, MP for Vancouver South via satellite. Although the interview started off light and breezy, I think Mr. Colbert pushed it a bit too far and the interview will be severely edited for broadcast. But pushing buttons is part of his job, so we’ll see.
Stephen Colbert sings O Canada with Michael Buble. Photo by Maria Koropecky.
Finally Michael Buble (another guy who pronounces his name the French way) came on stage but he wasn’t formally introduced to us and the interview didn’t start for quite a few minutes because Stephen Colbert wasn’t there. Michael Buble just sat there on his chair twiddling his thumbs. I guess he started feeling a bit silly up there in the fake living room, all eyes on him, so like the true showman he is, he sang, “Good ol’ hockey game.” And we sang along. And now I can say I’ve sung with my favourite crooner.
Stephen asked Michael, “Why does the United States need Canada?” and off the cuff he answered, “You need our flag to stick on your suitcase when you travel.” Good one, Michael.
The interview ended with a song. For all of you improvisers out there, this is a great exercise. Stephen challenged Michael Olympic style to sing a duet with him. He said, “Let’s sing O Canada to the Star Spangled Banner tune.” Can it be done? As Stephen said, “This has never been attempted before” and sure enough, with the help of the lyrics on cue cards, they made it work. Fun, fun, fun. I think they should each get gold medals for their impromptu performance.
I have no idea when this episode will air on the Canadian Comedy Network or what happened on the show after that because I had to leave to catch my ferry back home. I’m so happy I went and I have a new appreciation for the city of Vancouver.
Michael Buble and Stephen Colbert sing O Canada with a twist. Photo by Maria Koropecky.
Posted by Maria on February 12, 2010 under Books, Magazines, Music, Fitness, Gift Ideas, Home spa, Pets, Photo gallery, Pop-Psychology, Sleep, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, Weight Management, Wellness, Yoga |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
The Olympics are here! The Olympics are here!
Yesterday, while I was in the midst of running on the treadmill (24 minutes non-stop — a new record for me), I was chatting with my personal trainer and she was telling me her plans for re-decorating her studio. I was surprised to hear that she has been planning to install a tv near the treadmill for quite some time.
I suggested now is the perfect time to set up her tv because in the past, I’ve found watching the Olympics while exercising myself to be a lot of fun. It just gives you an extra boost of energy and somehow you end up increasing your speed and your enthusiasm. She agreed wholeheartedly and said “It’s a great motivator” and “thanks for the reminder!”
Here I am after one of my workouts with my trainer.
If you’d like to add a home gym to your home spa, here are my suggestions. Start small and build as you can. And don’t just admire it, use it!
- Dedicate Space: Where will you workout? Do you have access to a spare room or is your living room multi-purpose like mine is? If you’re going to be setting up shop in your living room (I don’t recommend your bedroom because the equipment and the activity will interfere with your sleeping environment), then you’ll want to choose equipment that you can store and access easily. I have a treadmill that folds and stands upright against a wall and that works for me. I keep it next to the tv so when it’s time for a walk/run, I just move the coffee table and extend the platform and I’m off to the races.
- Big Equipment: I’ve already mentioned a treadmill because that’s what I use. I highly recommend getting one. They can be quite expensive and keep in mind that the cheaper ones will be noisy (which will annoy the rest of your household) and will not have a lot of extra bells and whistles, like built in heart-rate monitors or a cushy running base, but even a cheap one is good to have. If you prefer some other equipment or have a lot of extra room, you can look into buying an elliptical trainer, a stairmaster, a stationary bike, a rowing machine or a strength-training machine. You might even consider installing a pole which will work your abs like nothing else once you get past the hanging upsidedown part. Your home gym will be really high end if you also have access tennis courts and swimming pools and saunas. I have a friend you had a squash/basketball court in his house which was really cool, I always thought.
- Handy Equipment: There’s a ton of great equipment that you can use in your home gym. Start with a yoga mat for your stretches. Hand-held weights are useful to have — start with low weights (two each of 1-, 2-, 3- & 5-pounders) and work your way up to 7’s, 8’s, 10’s, 12’s, 15’s, and 20-pluses. There are also adjustable weights you can strap on to your legs. For more resistance, get some tubes or bands that come in green, red, pink and purple depending on their strength. Suzanne Summers’ Thigh Master is still a winner. There are also inflatable pilates balls that are very versatile but only buy the ones that say “anti-burst.” You can also buy a mini trampoline or a low-tech jump rope that will really save space. I also have a plastic step from the 90’s which I’m planning to use again one of these days. Remember to use the built-in stairs in your house, too. My trainer has a Bosu (that half-ball in the picture) and last week on the Biggest Loser, I saw an Olympic athlete balance on one foot while doing the hoola-hoop on one. It looked fun and hard to do at the same time. I wonder if you can buy those speed skating gliding strips that they also used on the Biggest Loser for home use? My trainer told me that those are way harder than they look and are great for building endurance.
- Extra Features: To make your home gym more enjoyable, design it with care. If it’s a dark and dingy room in your basement, you won’t use it. To brighten things up, install a large, full-length mirror so you can see your form while you’re working out. Also, having a tv within sight that plays your favourite workout videos will add variety to your exercise routine. A stereo is also good to have. I have a few playlists on my iPod that I listen to while running. Also hanging posters with inspiring quotes and photos of fit people also help with motivation. And have a place for your bottle of water. Remember also to plug in some fans to circulate air. Even though I always seem to forget this, have a clean towel handy. You might also like to buy tools like heart-rate monitors and pedometres to track your progress.
- A note on safety: Make sure your home gym will give you an effective workout and will also be a safe environment for you. I advise getting pets and small children out of the room while you’re exercising. Also, make sure the room is clean and uncluttered and there aren’t any tripping hazards or electrical overload concerns with your equipment. Read the safety manuals and use the equipment as intended. Clean your equipment regularly with disinfectant wipes, especially if many people are using the facilities.
I hope you use your home gym for many years to come. Invite your friends and workout buddies over from time to time so they can enjoy your gym too. Leave a comment and tell us about your home gym. And have fun working out while watching the Olympics — that’s what I’ll be doing for sure.
Posted by Maria on February 2, 2010 under Fitness, Ingredients, Photo gallery, Pop-Psychology, Sleep, Stress Management and Relaxation, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, Weight Management |
Dear Olympic Athletes:
If you’re angling to win a medal in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games — which are starting with or without snow in Vancouver/Whistler British Columbia in just 10 short days (gasp) — listen up for some homespun advice: Eat salmon the night before your competition to get a better night’s sleep.
The meal you choose the night before your event(s) could make the difference between hearing your national anthem or someone else’s. After all of your months and years of intense training, getting a good night’s sleep and fueling your body with optimum food, will give you a winning advantage. I suggest eating wild salmon while you’re here in BC.
Why Salmon?
- Wild salmon is a golden source of omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce pain and inflammation, improve memory and focus and contribute to cardiovascular health — all vital priorities for high-caliber athletes;
- DHA, a healthy fat in salmon, may fast-track levels of melatonin, a key sleep-regulating hormone;
- Salmon contains magnesium which helps us sleep. Low magnesium, on the other hand, is associated with things like muscle-cramping, anxiety and fatigue;
- Wild salmon is also fresh and local in these parts — or as they say, well-within our 100-Mile diet; and
- Salmon’s tenacious spirit has “Olympics” written all over it.
A fresh salmon fillet on the grill.
Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to your success. Shoot for at least seven hours of solid sleep every night. Remember to give yourself enough days to get over your jet lag and to adjust to Vancouver time. Also, keep your body temperature on the cool side while you’re sleeping and keep your room dark — thank goodness these are the winter games!
If you don’t sleep well, the resulting fatigue can affect your judgment and increase your risk for accidents. Does anyone out there remember the vintage “agony of defeat” ad for ABC’s, the Wide World of Sports? I think I’ve made my point.
Sushi anyone?
Sincerely,
Maria Koropecky
Homespunspa, Recipes for Sleep and Beauty
http://www.homespunspa.com
Posted by Maria on January 18, 2010 under Home spa, Ingredients, Pets, Photo gallery, Pop-Psychology, Sleep, TV Shows, Uncategorized |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
How do you like your eggs? Your answer may say a little something about your lifestyle, attitude and your sleep.
Today I thought I’d lighten things up with a cheaky eggspose and write about eggs and bring some yokey yellow to the January blues.
Without further adieu, let’s get cracking. Here is a list of a dozen egg dishes for you to eggsplore.
If you prefer your eggs:
- Poached – The word “coddled” comes to mind. So does “soft-in-the-middle” like in Paul Simon’s song, “You can call me Al.” Life is easy for you. You have a gentle nature and rarely lose your temper. You’re a regular at the local day spa because you love the mani’s and pedi’s. And breaking a nail means you’ve over-eggzerted yourself. But before you get spoiled from all of this pampering, I suggest turning the tables and returning the favour to someone else. Maybe open your own spa?
- Egg-Salad Sandwich – What could be better than boiled eggs mixed with mayo, celery, and green onion nestled between two pieces of white bread? The mayo, which adds extra eggy goodness, binds all of the ingredients together making sure everyone is together and tucked in under the covers. There’s lots of eggstra stuff on the bed like pillows and pets, but you don’t mind, the more the merrier. Your happy family is snug as a bug in a rug.
- Sunny-Side-Up – Obviously, you’re the glass is half-full type. Your positive attitude makes sleeping at night a breeze. You enjoy fun-filled flying dreams and haven’t had a nightmare in ages. You wake up refreshed and optimistic. However, since fast-frying is the quickest way to cook an egg and you have no time for fussing with any extra techniques, the down-side is, you may be a little impatient.
- Hard Boiled – I hate to break it to you but you’re a bit of a curmudgeon. You’re a stubborn yet immensely practical know-it-all. You sleep like a rock on the firmest mattress between crisp, clean, ironed, white, 5-star-hotel sheets. Maybe you should consider learning some new relaxation techniques and get a massage every now and then.
- Omelette – I recently watched the late Julia Child make omelettes on tv and it was hilarious. She jokingly said she’d give the one with the liver to her mother-in-law. With all of the egg flips, the omelette station that she set up was a circus act and that’s why I think the omelette lovers are the comedy geniuses of this group. Underneath that sophisticated and harmless poker face, you have a keen sense of humour and are full of surprises. And you like to watch the late night talk shows to put yourself in a funny state of mind before hitting the hay.
- Soufflee – When you show up, people are very happy to see you and when you go to the spa, for eggsample, you get the deluxe, Hollywood celebrity treatment. But you’re also what they call “high-maintenance” and are an eggstremely light sleeper. People have to tippy-toe around you day and night. Any uneggspected noise will wake you up and your sleep will be wrecked till morning. Just remember, if you lighten up, the rest is easy.
- Scrambled – By morning, the sheets and blankets on your bed are disheveled and twisted from all of your kicking and flailing and tossing and turning throughout the night. Your chaotic sleep leads me to think there’s too much stress and drama in your life and you need to go on a vacation to a spa on some tropical island soon. Like now.
- Over-Easy — You start on your back and flip over right before you wake up. You have an easy-going attitude and have more patience than the average bear. You like to sleep in on the weekends and learned the word “snooze button” at an early age. “Just 10 more minutes” is your mantra.
- Free-Range Organic – No pajamas for you. You’re footloose and fancy free. On any given night, you don’t stay on your side of your king-sized bed. You like to travel across the landscape of the bed and maybe even down the hall. A naked sleepwalker? Oh dear :>
- Benedict — I always think of Benedict Arnold, the infamous American traitor, when I see Eggs Benny on the menu. Now I get the connection. You’re a clever pillow and blanket hog and you hide under the cloak of the Hollandaise sauce.
- Quiche – You speak with an accent (maybe a fake one?). You’re pretentious and flaky at the same time, like an actor. You enjoy the finer things in life but are on a limited budget. If that’s the case, home spas are a good way to go.
- Devilled – A party favourite, you get snatched up pretty quick. Whoever heard of left-over devilled eggs? Even if they’re bad they’re good. You have a twinkle in your eye and a prankster nature. You were the one who short-sheeted the beds at summer camp. Your A.D.D. makes it difficult for you to fall asleep for long so you may be prone to taking sleeping pills as a quick fix solution. Try breathing exercises instead. Yeah right.
I hatched this list out of my own imagination so there’s no statistical validity at all. I’m curious if I’ve ruffled any feathers or if I’m on to something here. Have I cracked the case wide open or am I just full of B.S? Let me know what you think.
Posted by Maria on January 11, 2010 under Homespunspa, Pop-Psychology, Sleep, Stress Management and Relaxation, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Yoga |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
Last week, I caught a few minutes of the Dr. Oz show and he was talking about insomnia, one of my favourite topics. As you may already know, Homespunspa is all about sharing information on how to relax, take care of yourself and get a good night’s sleep and I thought I’d tuck in a tip I learned from the Doc into my blog today.
The segment on the show covered many aspects of insomnia including the definition, possible causes and consequences of sleep deprivation. If you are interested, go to Dr. Oz’s website and get the rundown on the discussion here: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/secrets-behind-your-insomnia.
One tip I learned and have tried in the last couple of nights myself with some success (which isn’t specifically mentioned in the above article) involves counting backwards from 300. The guest Doctor, whose name I didn’t record unfortunately, who said he uses this technique himself, put a new spin on the old counting sheep advice. He said to count backwards from 300 in three’s. Picture three sheep walking away from the herd at a time.
He said a lot of people who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep often say they just can’t turn their mind off. They feverishly and anxiously replay the problems and events of the day, and can’t seem to turn off the switch. Counting backwards in three’s acts as a distraction and takes your focus off of your unsettling thoughts but keeps your mind busy.
These are the numbers you should hit along your countdown but if you make a mistake, who cares. I ended up at negative one the first time I tried.
Countdown from 300 to zero in three's.
Counting down is relaxing. (Counting up, on the other hand, is energizing). Have your ever wondered why anesthesiologists ask you to count backwards from 100 when you are about to go under for surgery? It’s common practice because it lets them know if the anesthetics are starting to work and because it helps you relax and get into deeper, more restful brain waves.
On occasion in my yoga class, the instructor had us count each full breath backwards from 25 (for example, 25, breathe in and out, 24, breathe in and out etc., etc.,) and if we lost our place, we were supposed to start from 25 again till we got all the way to zero. You’d be astonished to hear how often that happens. He also joked that if we fell asleep during this meditative breathing exercise, that was a good thing because we probably really needed the rest. I’ve heard snoring more than once!
So next time you find yourself tossing and turning in bed with no relief in sight and the clock is ticking toward sunrise, try counting backwards and let me know the next day how it goes. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Posted by Maria on January 4, 2010 under Books, Magazines, Music, Fitness, Photo gallery, Pop-Psychology, Self-Care, Sleep, Spirituality, Stress Management and Relaxation, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Weight Management, Wellness |
by Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
It’s already day four of the new year — how are your new year’s resolutions coming along? In 2009, I managed to reach some substantial personal fitness goals and I would like to share what I’ve learned so far in case getting in shape is one of your new year’s resolutions for 2010.
While I don’t clearly remember making a specific new year’s resolution last year to lose weight, my personal trainer has been keeping track of my progress and told me I have lost 24.5 inches (that’s 2 feet!), 20% of my body fat, 3 dress sizes and 40 pounds since July 2007.
Late December 2009 extended cardio Jazzercise class.
There I am front and center (what a keener!) at my last chance workout before Christmas. Yes, those are reindeer ears!
I still feel I have a ways to go before I hit the maintenance stage and I plan on sticking with my current exercise schedule as best as possible. I also have to figure out how to get my emotional eating under control.
The best advice I’ve heard lately is: “Move your body more and feed your body less.” Aside from that wisdom, here are some tips as they come to mind that have helped me get this far. I know they’re not rocket science, but they’re helpful none the less.
- Write down your goal. Writing things down makes things happen.
- Find an accountability partner or buddy. This person can be a professional or a friend. Having someone to talk to about your ups and downs really helps. If you’d like, you can contact me.
- Have someone weigh and measure you once a month. If you don’t know where you started, how can you brag later?
- Join a community. I’ve made lots of friends through Jazzercise and their support has been so vital to my success. I’m so thankful for all of their smiles and pats on the back.
- Drink lots of water throughout the day. Drinking water helps flush out toxins and will make you feel more full so you eat less.
- Get enough sleep at night. Studies show that regular sleep patterns have an effect on weight management.
- Memorize a fitting affirmation and repeat it to yourself often. Under the heading of “overweight” Louise L. Hay suggests in her book, You Can Heal Your Life, published by Hay House Publishers in 1999: “I am at peace with my own feelings; I am safe where I am; I create my own security; I love and approve of myself.”
- Cut your carbs in half. When I went from a whole English muffin to a half an English muffin for breakfast and from a whole sandwich to half a sandwich for lunch, it made a huge difference in my weight.
- Take the bus rather than your car whenever you can — it makes you walk more. Even those extra steps to the bus stop add up!
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
- Drink a cup of green tea or white tea before working out. According to Dr. Oz, this will help you burn an extra 17% to 19% fat while you move your body.
- Eat less sugar.
- Eat less salt.
- Eat less flour.
- Avoid commercially processed foods.
- Avoid carbonated beverages — even diet sodas.
- When you want to eat something and it’s not a mealtime, ask yourself how you’re feeling. Maybe you’re an emotional eater like I am and maybe you’re not really hungry. If whatever you eat doesn’t satisfy you and you’re still hungry afterwards, it may mean you’re trying to deal with an unpleasant emotion.
- In his cd’s, I Can Make You Thin, Paul McKenna advises people to chew their food at least 20 times before swallowing and to put the knife and fork or sandwich down between mouthfuls. I definitely agree that eating conscientiously is the way to go. Deliberately think about your food as you’re eating. Try to describe how it tastes, smells and feels in your mouth.
- Buy a treadmill and use it often. I know they’re expensive but I swear my treadmill is one of the best investments I’ve ever made.
- Put exercise on your daily schedule and do it. Don’t argue with yourself about whether or not to go to your class or the gym. It will only make things harder.
- Celebrate your small victories!
- Watch tv shows like “The Biggest Loser” and “X-Weighted.” They are so inspiring.
- Start today. Most people naturally gain weight in the autumn and winter months and lose weight in the spring and summer. Last year my co-workers started noticing my weight loss in April after very slow progress before then and I’m convinced my persistence really started paying off at that time of year because I was already in the habit of exercising regularly. It’s all in the timing. If you aren’t seeing results, don’t worry. Just keep at it week after week and eventually you’ll notice some improvement.
- Find exercise you enjoy. If you’re not the “Private Benjamin” type, try something other than boot camp.
- Have fun while you’re exercising. Once your endorphins kick in, you’ll feel great!
I think that’s all I have for now. I’m sure I’ll think of more later but I have to go to Jazzercise class now. It’s true!
By all means, leave a comment with your 2 cents on this topic. And happy new rear!
Posted by Maria on December 8, 2009 under Ingredients, Recipes, Self-Care, Stress Management and Relaxation, TV Shows, Uncategorized, Weight Management, Wellness |
By Maria Koropecky, Homespunspa owner
It’s always a challenge to come up with a quick and easy recipe to bring to a potluck party and after I was invited to a party last week, I really had to think about my options.
I love watching the TV show, Top Chef. I marvel at the contestants’ hot creativity. Each week during the “quick fire challenge” the players have to brainstorm a recipe concept and then somehow deliver a finished product in minutes — all the while keeping in mind details like, taste, plating design, specific ingredients, technique, originality and — and — while using tools like sharp knives and burning fire. Now that’s stress.
In my case, I had a few things to consider. The first involved my personal trainer’s specific dietary requirements. She has severe allergies to preservatives and that includes, but is not limited to, canned goods, commercially-processed foods and a few wild card ingredients like iceberg lettuce and grapes. She also gave me a bit of a lecture the night before the party on my own nutrition and strongly suggested I not eat anymore cheese or more than one piece of bread in a day. On top of all of that, the hostess of the party was completely off sugar.
I wanted to bring something everyone at the party could eat and would enjoy. I also wanted the dish to be healthy in the midst of all of the seasonal indulgences. And of course, the recipe had to be portable.
Let’s recap — the recipe for the potluck must be:
- tasty;
- healthy;
- without preservatives;
- without sugar;
- without gobs of fat;
- unprocessed;
- easy to make;
- easy to eat with one hand; and
- easy to move from point A to point B.
That’s a tall order. My first idea was to bring one of those shrimp platters because it’s basically lean protein. But, that’s too easy and has been done to death. It also occurred to me that someone at the party might have a shellfish allergy. So no go on the shrimp-o.
Then I thought about mushroom caps but I had no idea what to stuff them with (bacon? crab? artichokes?) and then the next morning as I was waking up, the radio station said something about “spinach.” That was my answer. I love it when that happens. I quickly leafed through several cookbooks and found three recipes that were close to what I wanted, but not quite. I had to come up with my own recipe and here it is:
Homespunspa’s Spinach-Stuffed Mushroom Caps
Homespunspa's Spinach-Stuffed Mushrooms.
Ingredients:
- 20 – 25 fresh whole mushrooms, preferably organic.
- 1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed with stems removed.
- 2-4 cloves of garlic, minced.
- 1 TB extra virgin olive oil.
- 1/3 cup no fat cottage cheese, drained.
- sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
Method:
For this recipe, you can make everything ahead and leave the baking for the party.
- Cut off the stems of the spinach leaves and rinse under cold water, checking for bits of soil that may be stuck to the leaves.
- Measure out a 1/3 cup of no fat cottage cheese and let it drain through a sieve.
- Pour a tablespoon of olive oil into a large skillet. Add minced garlic and cook on medium high heat.
- Quickly add the spinach and cook for 5 minutes or more until all of the spinach is uniformly cooked. Stir and make sure all of the spinach touches the garlic oil. The spinach will turn into a different consistency and will reduce in volume. Salt to taste and to brighten the green colour. Remove the cooked spinach from the heat into a separate medium-sized bowl.
- Meanwhile, clean the mushrooms and remove the stems by twisting and pulling or with a knife. Finely dice the stems and set aside the caps.
- Using the residual garlic oil from the spinach, pan fry the diced mushroom stems separately, about 1-2 minutes, to release some flavour. Now is a good time to add some freshly cracked black pepper because mushrooms and pepper really get along well with each other.
- In a medium bowl, combine the spinach, mushroom stems and cottage cheese. Spoon the mixture into each mushroom cap.
- (Note: If you’re planning to serve these right away, you can skip this step and go to step #8). Put the finished mushrooms in a re-sealable container. If your container is really big like mine is, I suggest putting something in between your stuffed mushroom caps and the lid so they don’t bounce around during transport. As a last minute burst of genius, if I do say so myself, I placed a small ceramic cooking dish over my stuffed mushrooms and not only did my mushrooms arrive in tact, I had a convenient cooking vessel at the party.
- Once you’re at the party, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the mushrooms on the baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes and voila! Serve while hot.
Please pack your knives and go?
I bet you’re curious to know what happened. How did the mushrooms turn out? “Did I pack my knives and go?” “Was I chopped?” “Did my cuisine reign supreme?” The jury is mixed on the results of my own Top Chef challenge. On the one hand, everyone who tasted them, loved them! They raved and raved. And there were no leftovers to take home. On the other hand, mushrooms, are a no-no on my trainer’s list, so she couldn’t eat any after all. It didn’t matter if they were organic and fresh and not canned. It didn’t matter how much love and thought I put into them. She just plain can’t eat mushrooms. Another one of those wild card ingredients. I was so bummed to hear that. I guess it’s back to the drawing board for me.
You be the judge
If you decide to try this recipe, let me know how it worked out for you. I would love to hear your comments and your feedback.
