beyonce puts a ring on it

ok this is what i am doing today while i should be doing other productive things like getting out of my pajamas.

start a band. yeehaw.

Just thought i would spice up your life with a couple
of my favorite country stars!
They sang a duet together
called
"start a band"
it was great and it is good to see
two people who usually compete
team up together.

I love country music
and of course Zumba (latin dancing)

As an artist... I am allowed to like many genres of music.

Thank god for ipod... and also XM/Sirius Merged radio which
i have and therefore am musically happy 24-7

mui caliente!

ciao

Marisa:)

I prefer Chanel...get me a real dressmaker!

I just thought this picture brought me a lot of joy today.
My thoughts are this...
If you want a pink dress then why the hell dont you
just wear it?

Where the heck am I going with this?
Um I do not know
except
I love Cinderella and I would have
loved some glass shoes.

I do have a prince charming though.
(and he knows my shoe size...thank god)

(written after a night out on the town involving some Hendricks Gin
and some good old Patron XO.)

footnote: this picture was sampled for artistic reasons from Cupcate UK

bibbity bobbity boo!

Marisa:)

YEAH THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!!!!!

HI all.
Its been awhile since I posted. Its sort of like how I was pretending to be the NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK(hence I will refer to them as NKOTB) as they are known here in Boston and around the world.

This band was the ORIGINAL BOY BAND and do not ever forget it. My brother and his new wife Kate gave me and my husband Dave the opportunity to go to this concert last night at the Garden. Boy did it bring me happiness. I danced to every song and it made me remember all the craziness and fun this band brought to my teenage life. This was one of the first concerts I was ever allowed to go to. These boys are really now hOT men... they aged well.... just like me ahhhhh.

They come from Dorchester originally and that gives me a sense of pride. I grew up in dorchester when everyone else in the state of ma thought it was ghetto. I never thought that way and I am PROUD TO BE FROM DOT! Thank you soooo much to my brother and Kate who gave us truly one of the best nights out in a while.

We are all so lucky to have these guys back on the block.
It only took 15 years to convince them that we needed them back.

Now armed with my old albums and their new albums I can once again
dominate the world with my old school NKOTB lip synching

YAYY
POWER TO NKOTB
and HOTTER THAN EVER

(i am sure my husband enjoyed it too....even though our ears are still ringing from the DEAFENING screaming.)

Oh happy day!

Marisa:)

Are you there God? please move my office for me..

OUR ENTIRE OFFICE IS MOVING TO THE NEW LOCATION
THIS WEEKS END

maybe i should consult with this book afterwards
and during?

ha ha ha

just kidding

Back from the land of my ancestors
ITALIA
IT was wonderful and just what i needed

and then maybe i need this book

ciao

Marisa:)

NO FOULING

we need more signs like these
i found this on
fitarella's site

ha ha ha

Marisa:)

Women are Blessed with Beautious Bodies...

Headline of the Day Women everywhere with some junk in their trunks can rejoice now when the answer to their question, "Does this make my ass look big?" is "Why yes, darling — but it means you have a lowered risk for diabetes!"

this is an article I read in Womens Health Magazine:


STRESS-BUSTING FOODS
Eat to Beat Stress
Nine foods that will keep you calm


Forget everything you've heard about stress-eating being a bad thing. If you put the right foods in your pie hole (i.e., not pie), noshing when your nerves are jangling can actually calm you down. And that's great news, because the last thing you need is more stress, which over time can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity -- and the odds that you'll go ballistic on Mom when she asks, for the third time, what your unemployed fiancé does for a living. These yummy, easy-to-find foods soothe stress and can counteract the damage that chronic pressure does to your bod. Stock up on the lot of them so that when the tension rises you can eat instead of freak.

Almonds, Pistachios & Walnuts

When all hell breaks loose, reach for a handful of almonds. They're bursting with vitamin E, an antioxidant that bolsters the immune system. Almonds also contain B vitamins, which may help your body hold up during seriously unpleasant events (like getting a year's membership to Match.com as a present). About a quarter cup every day is all you need. Another easy way to get a fix is to switch from traditional PB to almond butter on high-tension days. (We like All Natural Barney Butter Almond Butter, $7, barneybutter.com.)

Sick of almonds? Shell pistachios or crack walnuts. Both will help keep your heart from racing when things heat up. "We experience immediate cardiovascular responses to stress because of the 'fight or flight' response," says Sheila G. West, M.D., associate professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State. When stress strikes, the hormone adrenaline raises blood pressure to boost energy -- so you're prepared to run like hell if you need to. But because we seldom need to fight or flee (dodging your annoying aunt doesn't count), it's better to blunt the strain on your heart. A 2007 Penn State study led by Dr. West found that eating one and a half ounces (about a handful) of pistachios a day lowers blood pressure so your heart doesn't have to work overtime. Walnuts have also been found to lower blood pressure, both at rest and under stress, West says. Add about an ounce to salads, cereal, or oatmeal.

Avocados

The next time stress has you hankering for a high-fat, creamy treat, skip the ice cream and try some homemade guacamole -- the thick, rich texture can satisfy your craving and reduce those frantic feelings. Plus, the green wonders' double whammy of monounsaturated fat and potassium can lower blood pressure. (For a healthy recipe favorites in under 20 minutes, check out the WH Recipes homepage.) One of the best ways to reduce high blood pressure, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is to get enough potassium -- and just half an avocado offers 487 milligrams, more than you'll get from a medium-size banana. To whip up your own avocado salad dressing, pure a medium avocado with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a dash of cayenne.

Skim Milk

Science backs up the old warm-milk remedy for insomnia and restlessness. Turns out calcium can reduce muscle spasms and soothe tension, says Mary Dallman, Ph.D., professor of physiology at the University of California, San Francisco. A glass of moo juice (preferably skim or 1 percent) may also reduce stressful PMS symptoms such as mood swings, anxiety, and irritability. According to a 2005 study from the Archives of Internal Medicine, women who drank four or more servings of low-fat or skim milk per day had a 46 percent lower risk of pre-period misery than women who had no more than one serving per week.

Oatmeal

Carbohydrates make the brain produce more serotonin, the same relaxing brain chemical released when you eat dark chocolate. The more slowly your body absorbs carbs, the more steadily serotonin flows, according to Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., a former MIT research scientist and co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet. The result: a less-likely-to-snap you. Because thick, hearty oatmeal is high in fiber, few things take longer for your stomach to digest, says Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Food & Mood. Wurtman also recommends topping it with a swirl of jam for a quicker release of serotonin. When you know it's going to be a doozy of a day, avoid heavily processed varieties (e.g., the sugary kind that come in packets meant for the microwave), which are digested more quickly, and take the time to make thick-cut old-fashioned oats, like McCann's Original Steel-Cut Irish Oatmeal ($6 for 28 oz, amazon.com). But if two minutes for breakfast is all you have, you can still do your mood a favor by opting for instant oatmeal over Cocoa Puffs.

Oranges

Fretting over a job interview or presentation at work? Pour yourself a glass of Florida's famous juice or peel yourself an orange. The magic nutrient here is vitamin C. In a study in Psychopharmacology, German researchers subjected 120 people to a public-speaking task plus a series of math problems. Those who took 3,000 milligrams of vitamin C reported that they felt less stressed, and their blood pressure and levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) returned to normal faster. "Vitamin C is also a well-known immune system booster," says Amy Jamieson-Petonic, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. So don't be bummed that you got a fruit-of-the-month-club gift instead of the video Nano -- you're going to need all those oranges and grapefruits.

Salmon

Stress hormones have an archenemy: omega-3 fatty acids. A 2003 study from Diabetes & Metabolism found that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids kept cortisol and adrenaline from geysering. Omega-3 fatty acids also protect against heart disease, according to a 2002 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "Eat a three-ounce serving of fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, and light tuna, at least twice a week," Jamieson-Petonic says. Not a fish eater? For another omega-3 punch, buy foods fortified with DHA (you'll find this particular fatty acid in eggs, yogurt, milk, and soy products); but don't go out of your way for products that boast booming levels of ALA, another fatty acid, which may not work as well.

Spinach

Magnesium was made to calm holiday insanity. First, the mineral can help lower your stress levels, keeping your body in a state of relative ease as you kick off yet another round of small talk at the company party. Not getting enough magnesium may trigger migraine headaches and make you feel fatigued. (And almost seven out of 10 of us don't get enough of the stuff. No wonder we're cranky.) Just one cup of spinach provides 40 percent of your daily value -- so try subbing it for lettuce on sandwiches and salads. (And now you have an excuse to indulge in the spinach dip!)

Last updated: April 12, 2008 Issue date: December 2007

Free to be Gluten Free

Hi there
I am reading this book currently
and I am highly enjoying the fascinating science behind
cooking gluten free

While i am not afflicted with the celiac disease
i am greatly inspired to make these recipes i read about.
I highly reccomend trying out this book
Read it and learn about it.
Make yourself healthier! I love cooking healthy!
You just feel soooo much better!
You look better too!


You can also check out her blog.
I have linked it in my Linkaliscious Column
(look to your right)

I am going to try her Summer Beet and Walnut Salad this weekend
SO i will post back on its success this weekend or monday
Stay tuned!

Have a nice day!

marisa:)

drag queen much?

yeah....enough said

watch ANTM on cw tonight!

WELCOME IPI ORIICCO GNIEWAK

IPI (pronounced ee-pee) is our friend Kara's new hedgehog
His brother is UNI which i have featured on my blog before

HAPPY NEW OWNERSHIP To you KARA!

peace out

and

zumba !!!!!


Marisa:)

N.K.O.T.B DORCHESTAH REPRESENT!!!!

Hey you
Its the fabulous return of NKOTB.
YEAH
I can think of many days and nights obsessed with this band
I lived walking distance from Danny Wood and my teen years
were spent living the love of New Kids.

Dorchester Power!
( um joey mcintire is from JP so he is not true dorchester)

Can you understand how happy i am that they are getting back together
Its like FIERCE.

i can remember the sleepovers with my friends
where we would listen to the tapes over and over
NOW where the heck are those tapes? i need them NOW!

peace out
hangin tough....we're rough!

Marisa:)
proudly from DOT

Crazy for COCO-NUT WATER

NOT ONLY DO I LOVE COCONUT BUT I AM CRAZY FOR COCONUT!

taken from vitaljuicedaily.com

Whether you’re a brisk walker, a Bikram yogi or an Iron wo-Man, if you’re breaking a sweat then you’re at risk for dehydration. In fact, most people can lose as much as 4-8 cups of fluid in just 1 hour of exercise (that’s a lot!).

For post-workout hydration skip artificial sports drinks and opt for one of nature’s purest treats: Vita Coco. Made from pure coconut water (not to be confused with coconut milk), Vita Coco is packed with electrolytes, alkalinizing minerals (tons of potassium, magnesium and calcium) and natural healing properties.

Available in 5 flavors: natural coconut water, passion fruit, peach-mango, pineapple and the brand new tangerine (our personal favorite!), Vita Coco is made of pure coconut water with no preservatives, added sugars, juices, water or coloring. To make the flavors, they’ve simply added fruit puree (heads up: there’s pure cane sugar in the pineapple flavor). So go ahead and hydrate, you (sweaty) nut!

Drink of Champions!

Doppio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Doppio in espresso is a double shot, extracted using a double filter basket in the portafilter. This results in 60ml of drink, double the amount of a single shot espresso. More commonly called a standard double, it is a standard in judging the espresso quality in barista competitions. Doppio is Italian, meaning "double".

This is my new favorite drink. I feel like a winner when i drink it
and my breath could light fires!

ciao tutti!

marisa

Bunnies in Turmoil- an easter laugh...

ok this is so uncouth for the usual graphic style of my site
BUT
one of my favorite people sent it to me
and i just had to share

Happy Easter early!
may you eat lots of PEEPS

Marisa:)

shake yo tail feather!

hi there
i am still alive. been dealing with a stomach thing.
but it will go away sometime soon...god i hope

my friend Kara owns birds. Yesterday she came home
from work and her bird "ernie" who she thought was a BOY
had LAID AN EGG....so now her name is ernestina
ha ha ha

Happy spring

-marisa:)

Chocolate & Zucchini

(picture courtesy of amazon.com)

NOw if this is not the coolest cookbook in the
world....I do not know what is.

This woman, Clothilde is a fabulous blog writer. I have followed her Blog. You can read her blog at chocolateandzucchini.com. Now you can even buy her New Cookbook on amazon.com or your local favorite bookseller.

I have to give props where they are deserved.
You can bet this is on my Amazon wishlist(hint hint)

xoxo

Marisa:)

A rose by any other name...

Hi there
Its been a little while. I am still alive.
Very great week so far. We have a NEW car so the
world of Volkswagen Hell has come to an end.

We have gone Japanese
and its the greatest!

Here is a picture of a lovely rose
that I received from my lovely husband
and Valentines was so wonderful!

ciao for now

Marisa:)

Hail to Julia Child...my idol

On today's date, February 11, in 1963 Julia Child's "The French Chef" cooking show first appeared on national television.

Isn't that a beautiful way to start the new week?

I thought so.

-marisa

this is why i love editorial design....

a page can mean a thousand words.
good design like this sends chills up my spine.
seriously

this could not have been phrased better.

-marisa

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries...frozen or fresh

Yes. I am from New England. Yes. I am bummed about the
Patriots losing. I still love the Patriots and mr #12.
It was an upset but there were plenty of factors that contributed
to their demise.

But its a GAME. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose.
Its no big deal.

Today is a new day. A day to hope for a better season next year.
I am just glad i did not bet a million dollahs on the game.
:)

So to cheer you up....Lets talk about the benefit(also a cosmetics co)
of the lovely fruit....Cherries.

Fitsugar.com had a great article and since Fit sugar seems to be my new
favorite pasttime.....read on.

Discover the power of eating heart-healthy red foods during the first-ever

National Eat Red Week, Feb. 4-10, 2008

in support of Heart Health Month.

Why? Well, studies from the University of Michigan suggest that the pigments that produce the red color in many fruits and vegetables like fresh cherries and tomatoes, are actually powerful disease-fighting antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation associated with atherosclerosis — hardening of the arteries — and reduce certain risk factors for heart disease.

To learn more and to donate $1 to the American Heart Rate Association by simply clicking a button (no cost to you) visit Choosecherries.com.
Have you eaten any red foods today? I know i put some frozen cherries in
my yummy smoothie for breakfast and its a wonderful thing.

I am curious so tell me in the comments section below.


-marisa:)

GYM ETTIQUETTE--from FITSUGAR.com

HI all......i took this picture from another website. I am really enjoying more advanced yoga at my gym. I am aiming to somehow get into this pose at some point.
SPEAKING OF THE GYM.. I saw this article and thought it would be nice to share.
taken from FITSUGAR.com 01/31/08

Happy Birthday to Christine D...My sista in law! woot woot!
ok read the article.....

January is a crowded time at the gym. Lots of people are working out to fulfill their 2008 resolutions, which is truly great. I thought it might be a good idea to review a few key elements of gym etiquette. If you are new to gym life, or just need a refresher course please read on.


Some gyms make you sign up for machines, so ask before hopping up on one that you see is empty. You don't want to upset someone who's been waiting a half an hour for a turn.
Clean up after yourself. Always bring a towel with you to wipe down machines and the pool of sweat you might have created. Likewise, put equipment back where it belongs. Even if you found a set of free weights in the spinning room, put them back where they belong so others know where to find them.
Don't hog the machines (especially if it's a busy time). Some gyms have time limits and it's up to the person using the machine to get off on time. Don't be one of those people who cover the display and pretends like you have no idea you've been on it for over 30 minutes.
What else should you know? To find out read more

Set machines back to the standard position after you're done. It's annoying when you go to use the leg extension machine and some guy has set it to 80 pounds.
Be respectful of your fellow gym members. Keep the chatting to a minimum and if you must have your cell phone with you, put it on vibrate. If you get a call, find a private place to talk.
Don't stare at other people working out. If you have a question for them, go ahead and ask, but staring is impolite!
Even though you're in an all girls locker room, be a little modest. Nobody wants to see you walking about in your birthday suit (even if you are proud that your hard work is paying off).


xoxox

marisa:)

GO GO GRAPEFRUIT!!!!!!!!!!!

I am on a kick ass new way of life. I am feeling pretty damn good about it too.
I have since lost almost 2 pounds in the past week. Thats great. Only 30 more do i need to lose....ha ha ha

i am actually enjoying this new portion observing crazy workout life of mine.
i am not denying myself anything. i am just so excited that this new way of life seems to make me feel so much better than i ever thought. My blender was possibly the best appliance we ever bought.

Now...here is an article on FABSUGAR.com that I think you should read.

Remember the Grapefruit Diet from that wonderful decade the 80s? I just read a new variation of the diet – a half grapefruit with every meal, and I am not quite sure how I feel about it. While this new take on the diet is not nearly as extreme as just eating limitless portions of grapefruit and a few hard boiled eggs to keep you from fainting, it still seems a bit overboard.

A 2006 study found that beginning every meal with half a grapefruit can help shed unwanted pounds. In a 12-week study, participants who had half grapefruit starters at every meal, lost on average 3.6 pounds compared to others who were not eating the large citrus fruit and only lost on average one pound. Researchers think that plant compounds help to lower insulin levels and the smaller the amount of insulin in the blood after a meal, the more efficiently the body uses food for energy rather than storing it as fat.

I don't know about you, but the thought of starting every meal with a half a grapefruit for four months sounds unappetizing to me, and I love grapefruit. Grapefruit is in season right now though, so the fruit would be extra tasty and cheap. What about you? Tell me about it in the comments section below.

xoxo
Marisa:)

Tokidoke I love YOU

Its 1am in boston but here i write a special prayer



God
If you are out there
please give me $200 dollars so i can buy this bag
ha ha ha

Its a Tokidoke LeSportsac
and its sooold out all over the world

but bag....


you will be mine someday.

ok goodnight

Marisa:)

Get your Butt back on the Bike !!!!!!

i would like to obtain these spin shoes
but i am not sure if i can afford the price tag.

but i can keep it in mind by posting it on my blog....

xoxox

marisa:)

Happy New Year 2008!

Darling
its gonna be a fabulous year!