SERACUSE PARK...

Yes, you read that correctly, but I'm not the particular Seracuse for which this park is named.


This particular park is named for my DAD! Today is his 78th Birthday (which by the way you would NEVER guess) and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to brag about him a little. I mean how many people do you know that have their own PARK? I only know one:

Jerome Mario Seracuse FAIA (those fancy letters stand for Fellow of the American Institute of Architects)

Because my dad is not only an amazing Architect with fancy letters after his name, but also an amazing man, he was given this little pocket park in the middle of the Denver Technological Center, a complex he helped create and continues to preserve as a member of the Architectural Control Committee.



Not by coincidence the park looks directly at one of his buildings!



We took a little trip to the park when Jay & I were home in CO for Christmas, which is why all the trees are a little bare. I can't wait to go back in a few weeks when I am there for the Fitness & Health Bloggers Conference, so I can take some pictures with everything in bloom!




Here is a close up of the placard:

This site is dedicated in recognition of
Jerome M. Seracuse's service to the Denver
Technological Center. As a member of the
DTC's Architectural Control Committee he was
instrumental in the planning and development of this
entire area, including the extensive network of parks
and landscaping throughout DTC.

Pretty cool huh? If you know my dad you know how special he is, and also how deserving he is of this recognition of his talents & efforts to preserve the beauty of nature in all of his projects. If you don't, then you'll just have to take this totally biased Daddy's GIrl's word for it. ;) I really could not be more proud! Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!

TWO YEARS AGO TODAY...

Jay asked me to marry him in Montauk.
Being the clever devil that he is, he got it all on video.
Some of you have already seen this, but I felt like sharing it on the blog, and also reliving one of the best moments of my life.
So here it is, the proposal I never knew I always wanted... Enjoy!

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE...

Ok, now that I have that, may I have your UNDIVIDED attention please?
I don't know about you, but the latter is a difficult thing for me... For most of my life I have been a chronic multitasker. It's not uncommon for me to be on my laptop, with the TV on, taking on the phone and playing fetch with my cat, Charlie (yes, I have a cat who plays fetch, he rocks). Often times, I feel a little something like this...


Now, I know it is much more effective to do one thing at a time and do it 100%, believe me I do. After all, if I am doing 3 things at once and giving each thing about 30% of my attention, I can't expect to get much more than 30% out of them. I think this mug (which I need to have) says it perfectly:
So what is a girl, who has to do 10 things at a time, to do???
PILATES! That's what.
I know you're probably thinking, "Wait, what? How did we get here?" but just hear me out...
The whole philosophy behind Pilates, is bringing the Mind and Body together, thus the only thing the mind can be focused on during a successful Pilates session is the body.
One thing at 100%- Are you with me now? Good.

There are Six Principles of the Pilates Method:

1) Breath- Properly connecting breath to the movement, which enhances circulation and helps remove toxins from the body
2) Centering- Initiating movements from the core or "powerhouse," and using these muscles to control the rest of the body
3) Control- controling of every aspect of every movement, so you are "in control of the body, rather than at the mercy of it." (I absolutely LOVE this quote by JP)
4) Fluidity- Flowing seamlessly from one exercise to the next, creating a dynamic series of movements and building strength and stamina
5) Concentration- Connecting the mind to the body, and knowing exactly where it is in space and what it is doing.
6) Precision- Proper form is essential to ensure you gain the most benefit.

As you can see, there's really no room to think about anything else, for it to be effective... And I don't know about you, but when I step into a session (or workout of any kind) I want nothing less than 100% of the benefits. Now, I am using what I know about Pilates and working to bring that kind of attention and focus into my everyday life tasks... I can honestly say I have gotten better! So, if you are like me, do yourself a favor, and try engaging in something that it is impossible to turn into a multitask. You will start to find it easier to give your UNDIVIDED attention, and also very rewarding.

image 1: mindcafe.org
image 2: buzzaboutscience.com

THE GSMtm...

worked for me! My lovely -and very smart as you will see- friend/walking buddy Jen is the mastermind behind the GOAL SETTING MATRIX(tm) and she was kind enough to share it with me on one of our walks back in September and I am now passing it on to you!
First, I want to give you a little background and tell you about my own personal GSM. As I have been hinting at, I am making some big changes in my life that have been a long time coming and are now actually happening!
Some of you know that I got my college degree in Musical Theater. After school it was Broadway or bust- in other words, find a restaurant job. And that is exactly what I did. I started bar tending right when I moved here (completely by accident by the way, I didn't know a margarita from a martini). It seemed like I perfect gig... and it was. My days were free to audition and I only worked 3-4 nights a week.
Fast forward 4 years... I had done some regional shows and also a tour, and every time I came back I start another bar job, and at this point, despise them all. I was also in an awesome relationship, and could see myself marrying this man and quite honestly don't have much interest in leaving for another tour or anything. I needed something more stable. There had to be another way... which brings me to PILATES and the joy of finding something that I love AND can make money doing! Heaven.
Fast forward 2 more years (this past September to be exact)... I am MARRIED- just had our 1 year anniversary! A certified and working Pilates instructor! And still bar tending... : \ I realized this was necessary in order to get my Pilates business off the ground, but right now, if I am not teaching I am bar tending and I would like to have a life and maybe even see husband every once in a while. So the time had come. I was ready to take the plunge into being a full time Pilates instructor!
Enter, Jen with her GSM. It was unbelievably helpful to me and I hope it will be for you too:


JEN's GSM(tm)

"So the Goal Setting Matrix or GSMtm...after reading a lot of self-help/goal-setting/be an effective person type books, I figured out a way to boil down goal-setting into a one-page reference.

Take a piece of paper, turn it horizontally and draw a rectangle covering the whole page. Draw a cross so that the rectangle now has four boxes in it. Each of these boxes is a quadrant in your GSM:

Quadrant #1 (top left): Write what you want your goal to be. Use the statement "I will" so that the universe knows you mean business. For example, "I will become a pilates instructor."

Quadrant #2 (top right): Write down the date you want to complete your goal. You have to have a "finish line" in order to know if you've crossed it!

Quadrant #3 (bottom left): Write down the people you will tell about your intended goal, along with your date. The reason for this is threefold: some or all of these people can support you and encourage you to complete your goal; some of these people can actually help you achieve your goal; by telling other people you make your intention real -- no backing out now.

Quadrant #4 (bottom right): Break down your goal into manageable steps for achieving your goal (you can also make individual GSMs for any of these steps if it helps you), preferably with target dates to keep you moving along."

And now, I give you my GSM:



You'll notice the date is November 1st, which is NEXT WEEK! It feels so good to be so close to the finish line! Here goes nothing...

**** VERY IMPORTANT: I, in no way, want anyone to think I am knocking or judging bar tending as a profession. It is a great and valid job and requires a lot of skill. It has given me so much in my 6 years of doing it- including my husband. It just isn't for me anymore and in order to move forward with my Pilates career it was time to let it go.

I HAVE FOUND FOOD HEAVEN...

and it is Joseph Leonard.
Jay and I happened upon this West Village gem quite by accident a couple of months ago. We just had drinks there then, but last week we finally went back for dinner, and I am already dreaming of going back...
Everything about this place is PERFECT as far as I am concerned. There is even a chefs counter you can sit at and watch the magic happen! We almost sat there, but it was a little warm, so we opted for stools at the bar (in fact, the exact spot in the pic below), but near to the chefs counter so we could still watch a little. ;)

The decor is amazing! Check out all the mirrors... Plus there's this:

I was in love right away... Thank God the food lived up to the decor (nothing worse than awesome atmosphere and not so awesome food).
I love sitting at the bar! We had an awesome bartender who was super helpful with the menu and the WINE LIST. It was hot, so we knew we wanted something white and refreshing. They didn't have our usual go to Marlborough Sauvigon Blanc, so we were a little unsure. He recommended a Muscadet... New wine to add to the love list for sure! So now that the evening was off on the right foot, we were ready for food.
We started with oysters on the half shell and octopus. Oysters are my FAVORITE, so that was a no-brainer. Jay and fell in love with Octopus when we were on our honeymoon in Positano, Italy, so there were some huge shoes to fill. The chef nailed it! I am still getting used to the whole taking pictures thing, so I didn't get a pick of it. But seriously, trust me and try it.

I DO have a pic of the pan roasted chicken I had for my entree...

It was served with golden beets, spinach and a spicy-onion relish.
I'm telling, there is nothing better than perfectly cooked chicken... lucky for me I found the recipe online on the Village Voice Blog. Score!
Jay had a New York strip steak with fingerling potatoes and a jalapeno relish.
Our bartender also sent us a complimentary side of "summer stuffing." What's that you say?? Stuffing in the summer? That's crazy...
Crazy good!

And as if that wasn't enough... then came dessert. Oh the dessert... We definitely felt like splurging so we each got our own! I had the salted caramel pudding.

There really aren't words to describe it's goodness. It was topped with whip cream and crumbled sugar cookies... need I say more? Jay had Carrot Cake.

I only had a bite (or two) because I was very busy with my pudding, but it was delicious! Both were a perfect ending to a perfect meal!
What it all boils down to is, Joseph Leonard is my kind of place.
Amazing fresh and seasonal ingredients+ awesome decor+ super friendly and knowledgeable staff+ a VERY handsome dinner date= Heaven!

food photos:serious eats NY
interior photos:Sam Horine

NYC IS HOT, HOT, HOT...

and I have a cold! Ugh.
The only comfort of a summer cold is how awesome icy treats feel sliding down a sore throat, so it seemed like the perfect time to let you all in on my new favorite frozen treat.

BANANA SOFT SERV!

This is some I made yesterday

I found this gem of a "recipe" on Choosing Raw on a post entitled "This Post Will Change Your Life." I had to try it! I use the term recipe loosely, because literally all you do is stick 2-3 cut up bananas in the freezer- I put them in a tupperware- for a few hours and then throw them in the food processor. Process for a about 5 minutes and I kid you not you will have super creamy banana soft serve! It has to be a processor, not a blender, otherwise you'll just have a banana smoothie.
Once you have the base you can mix it up with melted dark chocolate, chocolate chips or peanut butter (Jay's favorite). I kinda just like it plain though.
This definitely fits into a Lean Body Lifestyle... It's a great way to enjoy a sweet frozen treat without the guilt.
IT'S BANANAS!
Sorry for the pun... I think my husband is wearing off on me. Enjoy!

COOKING LIGHT...

is probably my favorite magazine at the moment. I swear, it's like Christmas when it comes in the mail every month! I was particularly looking forward to this months issue, because I was in a serious food funk. Over the past several months, I have developed a true love of cooking, but lately I have been feeling totally uninspired by food... which for anyone who knows me is TOTALLY CRAZY. Enter the September issue of cooking light to save the day... I read it twice and am totally back on track!

Last night I made salmon* and a Golden Corn Salad with Fresh Basil from the magazine. It was soooo good and totally easy! I got the ingredients from this AMAZING (but super expensive) grocery store on the Upper East Side called Eli's. They have the most beautiful produce! I snapped a pic of the heirlooms in my basket to send to Jay.


It is right across the street from my Thursday night mat class, so I tend to find myself in there after I teach. I am glad I am only in that neighborhood one day a week or I would be broke!

So, here is the magazine version:


and mine (Jay's plate turned out to be prettiest):


Not too shabby, right?? I wish I had better lighting and composition, looking at it now, but we were hungry and anxious to dig in... I swapped the regular cherry tomatoes for heirlooms- my favorite- and bought white corn, because it was fresh and local. To quote Jay, "This is one of the best meals you have ever made!" It will definitely become a staple around here. Thank you Cooking Light!
Oh and, as a bonus, this issue also has a great article about Pilates! It's good for anyone thinking of giving it a try for the first time...

*We just really wanted Salmon. You could serve the salad on it's own or with almost anything really.

TURNING WEAKNESS INTO STRENGTH...

How I went from this:

to this:

Long before I became a Pilates Instuctor my life was centered around my core. In 2001 I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. For those of you who may not know what that is- I certainly didn't- it is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the GI tract, especially the colon. Lately I have been thinking about how far I have come in the last (almost) 10 years since that diagnosis. I was 18 years old, and it was devastating. It would have been very easy to allow my disease to control my life and defeat me. In fact, I did for a little while. I let it win at first. I stayed in bed for a whole month straight, and I could have easily stayed there forever. The word "chronic" felt so final and hopeless. I felt horrible and sick and was totally depressed. There were a lot of "Why me" moments. Until, finally, there came a moment when I had to say- "What do I want my life to be?" and the answer was not "Crohn's Disease," so I got out of bed. Did I feel like a million bucks right when I made that decision? Not even close, but I had a life to live, and that wasn't going to happen lying in bed feeling sorry for myself.

Fast forward (not forgetting that it took a lot of time and patience to get here) to now, which brings me to Pilates... honestly, if on the same day I got my diagnosis the doctor also told me I would be teaching Pilates in 10 years, I probably would have laughed; but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense... Maybe it was because of the "weakness" in my middle, that I was so attracted to the core strengthening of Pilates... And now, here I am actually earning a living from it; and feeling happier (and healthier) than I have in years! How beautifully ironic... I am so grateful for my "weakness", because it showed me how strong I really am.


For those of you who, like me, have been dealt a less than desirable hand, that's no excuse not to do and experience everything you want to. There don't have to be boundaries, obstacles maybe, but that's what makes us who we are.
Instead of "I can't do this because...", say "I can do this...(period)" Who knows, maybe you will find your calling... ;)


**All of that being said, I can not stress enough that you know your own body better than anyone. Please listen to it. And if you are seeing to a doctor, listen to him/her. If rest is what you need, then rest. It's not only about pushing yourself physically, it's about pushing yourself mentally. What I am encouraging you to do is not let your brain dwell on, and get overwhelmed by the negativity that can come from bad news - whether it be a poor health diagnosis, a death, a break up/divorce, a lost job... the list goes on and on. Take the time you need to cope (remember my month in bed?) and then get up. I promise it will be worth it.

Photo 1: Getty images
Photos 2&3: Jay Sullivan

TIS THE SEASON...

Tomato season to be exact!


Being an Italian, I am naturally tomato obsessed, and I feel like this obsession only gets stronger every year as tomato season rolls around. In fact, this year, Jay and I decided to grow our own! So far the venture has been mildly successful. We are still semi-patiently waiting for the abundance of lycopene deliciousness we fantasized about. However we were able to grab a handful of sun gold tomatoes off the vine......and were inspired to make our favorite tomato-centric recipe: Tomato Basil Bruschetta. We discovered this particular recipe from watching the movie Julie and Julia and basically drooling all over ourselves as she fries up (yes fries up- I know, I know) peasant bread and loads it with all different colors of our beloved tomatoes. Seriously drooling. I am drooling now as I write this... Get the recipe direct from the food stylist on the movie here.
Obviously our small handful was not going to do the trick, so we took a field trip that I have been DYING to take ever since seeing this Martha Stewart Episode. We headed out to the Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Yes, you read the correctly ROOFTOP FARM! It is a real working farm up above it all with a killer view of the Empire State Building, and I have the pics to prove it.

Definitely more impressive than our "Patio Farm in Queens". Baby steps...


The farm has a store that is open every Sunday from 10am- 4pm where they sell whatever popped up that week. Lucky for us they had tomatoes. We stocked up and headed back (the farm is a good 2.5 mile walk from our place, so it makes me feel less guilty about the whole frying in olive oil thing... wink. wink.) to make our bruschetta!



With the farm tomatoes, our tomatoes and not to mention basil from our "garden" it was pure heaven!

BRAVO! BRAVO!

I am a big fan of clapping at the end of my classes. Why do you ask? Well, it's simple, who doesn't like a little round of applause?? I want my students to feel awesome about what they just accomplished for their bodies and minds. It feels good to clap and say "Great work!"
Now obviously, I would be lying if I said I didn't benefit from the applause as well... I feel like I have done a great job when I look out and see my students smiling and clapping their hands. It ends the class on a such positive note.
Not a clapper?? That's ok... it's not required, but next time you take a class, just try it. I bet you feel good. :)

SUMMER SUPER FRUIT...

Cherries!!

These little red gems are definitely on my list of top five favorite things about June. I decided to do a little research on my summertime snack of choice, and found that on top of their sweet yummy goodness they are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and anti-inflammatory properties, providing powerful pain relieving benefits. Score! Go to choosecherries.com to learn all the ways cherries can help you live a healthy life... not to mention make an awesome Cherry Chocolate Recovery Drink. Yes please!

SAN FRANCISCO...

A city I can get behind... and by that I mean: get a "ROCKIN" behind!


I recently took a trip there for the first time, and I was lovin' those hills! It can be hard to find the time to sqeeze in exercise on vacation, so it helps to go somewhere where the workout is built in...

LEAN BODY LIFE ESSENTIAL #8...

Patience!

I have been thinking about this a lot lately,and noticing a great lack of it in people- from waiting in line at Starbucks to getting on and off the subway... to weight loss. As much as would like to use this opportunity to vent and rant about the impatient woman at starbucks or the man who pushed me on the trian, I shall refrain (kind of). What I want to address is our impatience with our bodies. This is something I myself have been struggling with lately. Some of you readers know that I had abdominal surgery in November of last year. Before the surgery I was in the best shape of my life. Now am in good shape by any standard, but I can't help but wanting to rush the process of recovery and restrengthening, and get right back to where I was before. I finally had to remind myself that I didn't get into the best shape of my life overnight in the first place, so why should getting back into it be any different? I have been much happier and able to focus on my body as it is right now. I'm doing my best to take care of it and strengthen it and the rest will fall into place. If you are looking for a way to tone and strengthen your body for life, Pilates is definitely for you. If you are looking for a way to drop 10lbs in 2 days... I believe there is some sort of "cookie diet" you can try...

Riiiight.

I'M BACK...

on the BLOGwagon! I am slightly ashamed of the amount of time that has passed since my last post. Which I suppose added to it, because when I am embarrassed or feel bad about something, I tend to avoid it... not my best quality, I admit.

That being said I have a confession to make... In my quest for a healthy body, mind and overall life there is something that I have been neglecting- my teeth! I brush twice a day and floss- sometimes, but I have been avoiding the dentist like the plague, mostly out of fear and shame that I hadn't been in so long. I know. I know. Ridiculous! Yesterday this neglect came back to bite me in the you know what.

I was in so much pain that I was forced to swallow my shame, and fear and call a dentist (who had been recommended to me about a year ago, by the way). Long story short, he was super- absolutely not to be feared- and I had to have a root canal due to a broken filling. Not the best day of my life, and it could have TOTALLY been avoided had I just gotten routine check ups like a good girl.
It doesn't matter how much you work out or how well you eat, if you are not taking care of your teeth and gums, you can't have a completely healthy body. I recently read a quote from Sarah Silverman: "Death creeps in through your gums." I will remember this next time I am too tired to floss, or avoiding the dentist. A little maintenance goes a long way. It can save you a world of pain and stress, and not to mention, a lot of money. Plus... IT'S YOUR SMILE, why wouldn't you take care of it?

So I am out of my blog funk and done avoiding things. Expect to hear from me again soon...

WELCOME TO THE WORLD...

Violet Ruby Zugel!

One of my best girlfriends gave birth to this amazing little lady on March 15th and I couldn't help but show her off...
Plus this picture is just amazing and will surely make anyone who sees it smile! I love her.

WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME...

And they're always glad you came!
You all know how it goes, but I say: Why does this familiar tune only have to refer to your neighborhood bar? What about your neighborhood Pilates class ( or any class for that matter but I am slightly biased)...


One of the greatest reasons for taking a group fitness class is community. You are surrounded by people who, like yourself, are trying to incorporate fitness into their lives. I have a strong group of "regulars" in all of my classes, and we all delight in seeing each other week to week. Many people shy away from classes because they are afraid for one reason or another:
-everyone will be better than they are
-they are not in good enough shape
-the instructor will judge them
Rubbish! Having other people around you when you exercise can be a very good thing... And it's not just the teachers who may motivate or inspire you, but the other students as well. In fact, I had an experience in a class of mine that was the inspiration for this post...
A connection was made between two women who were new to my class (and Pilates in general). After class one women said to me "I am a woman on a mission... I just quit smoking, and I am trying to lose weight and get healthy." The other woman chimed in "I haven't smoked in 13 months... I promise you it gets easier!" This led them into a deep discussion, and they were still talking when I left the gym. It was so wonderful to see these women form that bond after my class. And I am confident they will be back (and maybe even be regulars), because now they know they are not alone. So don't feel shy or apprehensive about taking a class. You never know who will be on the mat next to you and what they might have to offer.

SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS...

Makes me happy! It is truly a BEAUTIFUL day in the neighborhood! It's amazing what some sunlight, blue sky and about 15 degrees can do... I have been feeling the negative energy-zapping effects of those cold, gray February days. Last week, I cringed at the thought of leaving my house. I wanted to hibernate on my cozy couch. Today I suddenly feel rejuvenated and motivated! Not only was I excited to get out of the house, but I RAN to teach my class... and then I RAN home! It was glorious to breathe in the outside air and sweat with the sun on my face (SO much better than trudging to and from the gym in clunky winter boots, down coat, hat, scarf and gloves, fighting wind and rain or snow). I also noticed that my students were working extra hard today. They must have caught the sunshine bug too! If you are like me and let the winter get you down, take advantage of a day like this, and go out and DO something. Let the sun work its motivational magic and MOVE you!

MY APOLOGIES...

I've been a bad bad blogger. Hopefully, when you see my newest Life Essential- and the reason I have been so absent lately- you will forgive me...

Ladies and Gentlemen, LEAN BODY LIFE ESSENTIAL #8:

Charlie Bird Alouicious Sullivan

This little 3 month old Silver Bengal kitten has brought so much joy into our lives! My husband and I have only had him for a week, and I already can't imagine life without him! They say pet owners live longer, and I can feel the years adding on. In fact, there are many health benefits to pet ownership- they can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, encourage exercise, fight depression, etc. Check out this article for more. Those of you who have animals know what I am talking about, and for those of you that don't... I strongly encourage it!

LEAN BODY LIFE ESSENTIAL #7...

CARDIO!

Doing Pilates is amazing for your body, but cardio must be included in your fitness routine! And please don't confuse me with someone who runs 10 miles every morning, or can ride a stationary bike for an hour every day. I most certainly am not. I have to trick myself into cardio (and if there's no music, forget about it); if you are like me, you can too. There are so many options out there- there's even something called Cardiolates! Remember, it's not what you do but how hard you work. The goal is 30-60 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic activity most days. This doesn't have to be done all at once... do 20 minutes here and 20 minutes there, and make little changes- like taking the stairs! Check out this Calorie Burning calculator from Fitness to find out how many calories you are burning doing anything from aerobics to vacuuming.

image by Jay Sullivan Photographer

LEAN BODY LIFE ESSENTIAL #6...

H2O baby!

I know... I know... You hear it all the time, but it really is so super important! Here are my favorite reasons for drinking water:

* If you feel hungry, you may in fact just be thirsty... so drinking a sufficient amount of water can help keep you from overeating. Obviously you do need to eat food at some point, but I'm talking about combating the mindless and unnecessary snacking. Next time you are thinking about grabbing some pretzels, chips, cookies or whatever your snack of choice may be... drink a glass of water first, and then see how you feel.
* Chances are by choosing to drink water you are choosing not to drink something else like soda or juice. Most people don't realize how many calories a day they are DRINKING! By sticking with water (which also includes seltzer, for those of you not wanting to give up your bubbles), you may be saving yourself hundreds of calories... and unlike diet drinks that have no calories and no benefit, water has no calories and tons of benefits. The choice is yours, but for me it's a no brainer.
* Drinking enough water keeps your energy up. One of the main symptoms of dehydration is sluggishness and fatigue- not to mention a splitting headache- all of which make it very difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and get the exercise you need on a daily basis. So drink up, wake up and get moving!

(In case you are new to Lean Body, I am beginning my new Lean Body Life Essentials segment with #6, because my top 5 can already be found here).

Photo by Jay Sullivan Photographer