Food Makeover: Creating a Menu To Retrain Your Palate

Welcome to part three of the Keys To Weight Loss in 2011. We have determined that diets don't work and your pantry is cleaned out. Now what? Now you begin the process of recreating new dishes to help train your palate. If you have a taste for junk food or sugar, your palate cane be retrained so that you no longer desire those foods. Please keep in mind that this is a process and it is helpful to keep things in perspective. You can't do it all at once nor can you change overnight but it will require self-restraint and control. Today's post is building on your new shopping habits that you have become aware of from last week.

Let's sum up what we have learned so far:
1) Good food comes from good ingredients
2) No one needs processed food, fast food or soda
3) Small changes or modifications add up to big differences
4) Yes, you can enjoy food that is good for you

The key is balance. In the process of retraining your taste buds, bring color and balance to your dishes. The prettier it is, the better it tastes by default because you have subconsciously already decided that it is going to be good. How can it not be when it's beautiful?

Bring balance to your dishes by including lots of vegetables of all colors, lean proteins or legumes, and whole grains. The following are dishes that we have had in the past. Notice how there is a wide range of colors in the dish and the plating is just as important as the flavors.

Going forward, create dishes with balance and color. Be conscious when shopping of ingredients that can add color to multiple dishes. Enjoy and as always, email me if you have questions at sugarlipslifestyletips@gmail.com 

Find Your Perfect Fit With Fit Finder from Target

I found this today and thought about how much time and energy this will save you. Enjoy! Cyn

Target Fit Finder

First you choose which body best resembles your own. Then you choose where you like your pants to sit on your waist. With that information, it is determined which pant styles will suit your tastes.

Shoe Dazzle Review- Blue Wedge Plus an Invitation From Kimberlee!

January has settled in, and amid my burst of treasures I have recently acquired my third pair of electrifying footwear from Shoe Dazzle. The absolute most dreadful thing I can detect as I dissect their every feature is that they seem to have a bit of a squeak when I walk in them.  Although, to be perfectly honest, it’s not actually the shoe that is singing my theme song as I walk down the street. It’s simply that there is a comfortable smidge of breathing room between the shoe and my foot which creates just enough space for my foot to wiggle (not rub) when I step.  One Dr. Scholl’s insert later, and again I have fallen into eternal infatuation with my Shoe Dazzle purchase!

Click here for invitation from Kimberlee! http://www.shoedazzle.com/invite/1rhd1et5d

January’s experience left NOTHING to be desired.  Trendy, colorful, and thoroughly tempting my showroom was stocked with pumps galore.  It’s a captivating virtual shopping trip that’s been streamlined to a reasonably sized window of options that feel extremely personal.  I am beginning to find that I recognize which stylist is recommending which selections upon first glance in some cases, which adds an even stronger air of validity to the whole process.  Kim’s choices are typically bright, bold, and right up my alley.  Jamie has something of a super star trendy edge to her suggestions, and the feminine styles usually come from Anya or Merika. 

As I did in December, I sent back round 1 requesting another group of choices.  Why?  Because I wanted to be SURE I had seen every option, it’s just what I do.  This month, the replenishment process was much more expedient than last, and I received the follow up email within hours of my request telling me that round two of selections were already on display in my showroom.  Each design was as seductively charming as the last.  Being that I am in the midst of preparing my wardrobe for the coming of 2011 http://www.sugarlipslifestyletips.com/kimberlees-fashionable-forecast-for-spring-2011, I tried to keep my new color palette in mind as I deliberated over which hypnotizing pair would grace my toes.  In the end, I chose Ciji, a Navy Blue sky high wedge with a dark brown heel recommended for me by Miss Jamie Crowley.  They summon the sincere 70’s vibe I am beginning to sprinkle into my closet, and will pair perfectly with my new flare leg denim.  I hope.

Within days, my shipment arrives, and as I enthusiastically fling open the perfectly packaged pink box, I am astounded at how Shoe Dazzle has again managed to knock my socks off.  Another high caliber sensational shoe that is worth at least twice the price that I paid.  Ciji feels solid when I remove her from the box, and when I slip my foot inside she feels extremely supportive of my body weight.  I feel perfectly at ease and comfortable walking in them, no heel slipping or balancing acts involved.  Oh, and have I mention that they look amazing?  The style is a serious head turner with its slightly scalloped edge and dainty thin lady like wedge heel. 

Yet again, I find myself….dazzled.

http://www.sugarlipslifestyletips.com/fashion-friday-with-kimberlee-shoe-dazzle

http://www.sugarlipslifestyletips.com/once-again-i-am-dazzled-this-months-shipment-from-show-dazzle

Build Your Social and Professional Networks To Get The Job You Want

We all are feeling the effects of the economy and losing confidence and faith making it difficult to remain motivated. Take this opportunity to build your social and professional networks to help you find your dream job. Here are ways to build your network and your resume.

Social Networking

***SUGAR TIP: When creating a professional network, remember that it is just that. Professional. Keep personal rants and comments to other social networking programs and edit your feed accordingly. 

Get Connected
Linked In
This is a very reputable and powerful website that helps you network professionally with others in or outside of your industry. You can connect with other professionals, find jobs, and ask industry experts questions. It is convenient and accessible making it easy for you to share and receive information. I highly recommend that you create a profile and start building your network. You never know who will connect you with someone who can hire you. There are discussion panels, groups that you can join and resources for you. Join today for free and add me to your network.

Community Resources

• Find local interest groups that are led by industry professionals. This is a great way to not only build your network but your resume. You can become involved in events and mingle with the best. For example, I joined SFFAMA (San Francisco's Fashion and Merchants Alliance) and have built a network from attending events and was invited to speak on a panel as well.
• Local papers and magazines are always a great resource for local events that you can attend. It also is a great way to find out the "Who's Who" of the community. Some of my favorites are 7x7 magazine, 944, SF Chronicle, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, WWD, San Francisco Business Times, Harvard Business Review, and Diablo Magazine.
• Mingle. That's right. Get out there and mingle. Grab a friend or go solo but get out there and meet people. Exchange business cards or contact information and add them to your network. ***As always, use your best judgment when sharing personal information with strangers. Put safety first!

Online Resources

• Be in the know by signing up for daily emails or RSS feed from other professionals in your industry. It will take some research but can be very motivational.  I like Copyblogger,  Business Ideas, and of course SF Indie Fashion
• Find out who is out there and what they are doing better than you. Learn from them and keep your eyes and ears on what they are doing next.
• Be an industry buff. Find resources for products and services that are of relevance to what you do.  Start creating contacts with these companies. We like Swirl, Daily Candy, The Zoe Report, Refinery29, and Barneys.

Increasing your knowledge and building your network will ultimately build your resume through experience. The more information that you have and the more people that you know helps increase your chances of finding the job that you really want. Good luck!

Sunday Supper: Pantry Clean Out- Ingredients To Live Without and Basic Recipes to Replace Common Pre-made Foods

Welcome to the first segment of the Keys to Weight Loss in 2011 Series that I began last Sunday. Part of the transition requires a pantry clean out to rid your pantry of processed foods and modified ingredients. You will feel better and your food will taste better. I want to tell you that my transition has been a work in progress and is something I work on everyday. I began my journey almost five years ago and I started out small and realistically making it easy to keep the resolution for more than a few weeks. I began with two goals:

1) Cut out all fully or partially hydrogenated oils
2) If I want it, make it. From scratch.

Number one was as simple as reading a label to determine if the ingredients included this little devil. If it had it, I didn't buy it. Easy as that. Number two was a commitment. No more spaghetti sauce out of a jar, crackers, frozen pizza, pre-made desserts or Starbucks frappy drinks. It took more planning and definitely cost more but the results were amazing; it was worth every effort. My food tasted better than ever and my waistline shrunk...by 20lbs.

Cleaning out your pantry can be a phase. I don't believe in wasting food because there are plenty of people who go hungry. I recommend donating the food or eating it up and not replacing it. Here are a few ingredients that you can live without.

Read the labels. If any of the following are listed, get rid of it. Check your bread, yogurt, baked goods, pop, ketchup, boxed or pre-made meals, salad dressings, sauces etc.

No Partially or fully hydrogenated oils of any kind.
No Modified ingredients such as modified corn starch
No high fructose corn syrup
No MSG (Monosodium Glutmate) aka hydrolyzed soy protein or any hydrolyzed protein or free glutamic acid, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed pea protein, carrageenan, sodium caseinate, enzymes

To make it really easy, just make it yourself with real ingredients. If I don't know how, I guess by reading the flavors in what I like. I did that with salad dressing. Here are a few staples that you may find useful. 

Basic Balsamic Dressing
equal parts good olive oil, good balsamic vinegar, dash of salt & pepper and a drop of honey (optional)


Vinaigrette Dressing 
good olive oil, Dijon mustard, finely minced garlic (easy does it), a touch of water, dab of honey, apple cider vinegar, salt & pepper.

Caesar Dressing
salt, minced garlic, anchovies, olive oil, pepper, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire, Dijon mustard, mayo and one organic fresh egg yolk. Mash the anchovies, salt and garlic into a paste. Add egg yolk and whisk together, add olive oil, whisk, add remaining ingredients and combine.


Bleu Cheese Dressing
2/3 c. sour cream, 1/2 c. mayo, 1/4c. buttermilk (more if necessary), juice of 1/2 lemon, 3 oz. bleu cheese crumbled (Point Reyes) and kosher salt.

Buttermilk Pancakes
1 c. buttermilk, 1 egg, 2 T. melted butter, 1 c. flour, 1/2 t. soda, 1 t. sugar, pinch of salt. 

Crepes
2 eggs, 3/4 c. milk both at room temp, 3/4 c. sugar, 1/16 t. salt, 1/2 c. flour.


Pizza Dough- I recommend buying this from Trader Joe's but if you want to make your own here are the ingredients that you will need:

1and 3/4 c. warm water, pinch of sugar, 1 package rapid rise active dry yeast, 2 t. salt, 4.5-5 c. bread flour, 3T olive oil and cornmeal to sprinkle in the pan.

Minestrone Soup and Basic Vegetable Broth (click for both recipes)


Indian Tomato Soup
1 16oz. can crushed tomatoes, 2 t. olive oil, 1 med. white onion, 1 T. Sambal or one green chili pepper seeded and chopped, 3 cloves of garlic minced, 1 t. tomato paste, 4 c. veg broth, 1/2 t. curry powder. top with fresh cilantro chopped. 

Spaghetti Sauce  
Saute yellow onions in a pan, add 1 can of crushed tomatoes (San Marzanos), minced garlic, oregano, salt & pepper and let simmer on low for as long as you can to let the flavors come together.