The Garden (Bodeci) Party

My sun tea, from left: white pomegranate, black mango and "Duchess Grey".  Trader Joe's

Simple flower arrangement on the food table.  Pretty hand towels in ceramic holder (a birthday gift from Adrienne.  I loved one of her first blogs about them) beautifies my bathroom.  

My flowers were all dead-headed recently, so I welcomed my girls with this cute little sitting area near my front door and a painting I did years ago depicting Sonoma Valley lifestyle.


(As you sing my song, please sing it to the musical score of "Garden Party" by Ricky Nelson)

I had a BODECI party to reminisce with my old friends

a chance to share old memories and talk 'bout our kids again.

 So, I went to the veggie garden to harvest stuff to eat.

Then I washed, sliced, grilled, seasoned and created a wonderful treat.

Grilling my harvest is easy with one of these vegetable grillers.

But, it's all right now, we've learned our lesson well, 

"If you can't please anyone then ya got to please yourself!"

I tossed my grilled vegetables with olive oil, vinegar, fresh ground pepper, sal de mer, fresh basil and shaved Parmesan Reggiano.  Served in my grandmother's 1950's salad bowl.

Christina's white bean roasted pepper casserole,  Kathy's chicken lettuce wraps,

Amy's arugula, fig salad and the sun tea brought major claps!

Deborah's sliced tomatoes vinaigrette and steamed green beans from the vine
with Ellen's stuffed mushroom caps, Oh! it was quite divine!

 Easy party trick: keep a Bodeci basket nearby to toss those papers, notes and stuff
you always have on your counter top. (My laptop fits in nicely, too!)

But, it's all right now, we've learned our lesson well, 

"Ya see we can't please everyone so we got to please our self!"

The girls arrive!

Donna made this awesome vegetable farrow (sp?) salad, a highlight of our day
We were getting ready for desert  along with a bit of Chardonnay.
Then April's oatmeal/ coconut cookies and Trisha's soft brie & grapes
We knew to enjoy just a bit cuz we want to keep our shapes!

From left background: Christina, Kathy, Amy, Deborah, Donna
Foreground:  April and Ellen

But, it's all right now, we've learned our lesson well, 

"Ya see you can't please everyone so ya got to please yourself!"

Said hello to Seamac, our "pool guy" and good friend,
he said, "Have fun and take a dip, just gotta give it 'bout ten.
So Donna, April, Amy and I stripped down to our swimsuits
then jumped into my warm, aqua pool with giggles, hollers and hoots!

Amy, Donna and April splash  and play!

But, it's all right now, we've learned our lesson well, 

Ya see I can't please everyone so I got to please myself!

Stay tuned for my scarf tying competition modeling show!

Asked to model my Hermes scarf, (Oh, I'm such a ham!)
Everyone had a chance to try and make me a bit more glam!
We can show those photos another time cuz I'm sure you want to take
a little time off (Well, it's Labor day, so, go take a break!)

Rocky and Boomer share a bit of insight about us girls.

But, it's all right now, I've learned my lessons well, 

Ya see we can please everyone as long as we please ourself!

The End (for now!)

B stands for: Begin! Then Believe!

"What does BODECI mean?"  I have been asked this question a lot lately.  It's time to share the secrets behind BODECI!  "B" stands for begin, or at least it did.  After today, it stands for believe.  So, let's begin!

We’ve all heard the statistics…more than half of Americans are overweight or obese, not to mention unfit. We also know that a sound diet and regular exercise can make a huge difference in regard to changes in the body. Exercise has many benefits such as strength and endurance, better appearance, better quality of life, stress reduction and weight management, to name a few. Now, with all these fantastic benefits, why is it so hard for so many to make the commitment to exercise and to eat nutritiously for weight loss?  I can think of three reasons: 

1) Low priority in hectic day/week

2) Bombarded with too much diet/exercise information

3) Misinformed about diet and exercise

I want to focus on number two for a moment. How many diet books do you own or have you purchased? There are so many “experts” out there, it is no wonder you might be confused as to how to lose weight and/or get in shape. Some of the latest “diets du jour” contradict each other; The Skinny Bitch, My Diet Diva, The Perfect Ten, The Biggest Loser, Dr. Siegel’s Cookie Diet Book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, Quick Weight Loss Action, Super Fast Weight Loss For Women and the list goes on and on. There are over 100 selections in diet book best sellers right now on Amazon.com!  (Notice the negative connotations in most of these title's?)

Though finding the ultimate “thruth” about diet and exercise is nearly impossible to uncover, what I know for sure is that everyone begins at a different place. I love this word, different, and this is where the CASH COWS (the diet industry) make big money with the diet books they are throwing at you.  How dare they suggest that you eat according to their dictate.  STOP the cycle!!  Get off the diet bandwagon!  (Eat food!  Just eat less of it if you want to lose weight.  Always eat MORE vegetables, though!)

One of my favorite breakfasts:  the bodeci fistada.  

You must know what you really want.  Do you ever think about how much better your life would be if you were only this or that?  (“I’ll go hiking when I get in shape,” or “I won’t wear a swimsuit until I’m a size much smaller than I am now.”) What is needed is a desire to change your body because of very specific reasons. It could be for health reasons or simply to look better in your clothes. Desire for change compels us to reach out and at least try. So ask yourself, “Do I really want to make physical changes?” and “Am I willing to change the way I think in order to make those changes?”

It may be you need to go from having a diet mentality to one who enjoys delicious food judiciously.  Or, it may be you need to stop thinking exercise is having to go to a gym or jump on a treadmill for an hour (boring!) to that of moving for a simple purpose (cleaning  your house) or that of joy (dancing,hiking, biking playing).  

Bodeci means moving with purpose!

When beginning to create your authentic body, your attitude is very important. There is no use for those old pitiful or angry thoughts, for they will only serve to derail you while you are shifting away from "I need to be deprived and overworked in order to have the body I want!"   An attitude can be adjusted quite easily by understanding what your true motivations are for getting healthy, lean and fit.  Never forget the years of negative thought and pain you have endured until today.  Are you ready to stop the cycle of self loathing and confusion?
  

Because there is only one of you, there is only one plan. The one designed for you with your lifestyle in mind; one that you can live with, because it’s not just a strategy to get you somewhere; it’s one that you will live with for life. 

Now, go explore!

Bodeci Fristada

Saute' veggies in a small frying or omelet pan.  (I used onion, zucchini and mushrooms).

Crack an egg in a bowl, add a tablespoon of water and whip until just blended.

Pour egg mixture onto veggies and turn heat down to cook slowly.

In about a minute or two, add a small handful of shredded cheese of your choice.

Cover another minute then top with a corn tortilla.

Cover for another minute then flip the whole thing over and cover again.

A minute later, flip the fristada over onto a plate.  Optional:  add a dollop of  sour cream and salsa.

Bodeci means live life with joy and enjoy a lifestyle that keeps you moving and eating well!