Tuesday Tidbits No.25

Happy Tuesday Tidbits everyone, I hope your week is off to a good start.  If you’re living in my part of the world, you are experiencing some extremely cold temperatures with loads of snow.  I heard on the news yesterday that this is the coldest February since they started recording temperatures in the 1930’s.  Brrrr!!

I don’t know about you but I’m at that time of the year when it’s hard to get motivated to cook an exciting dinner each night and the comfort foods (except soup) aren’t even doing it for me any more.  No worries – I have the answers for you!  A quick trip to bonappetit.com and I found some beautiful recipes that are super quick, easy and fresh.  They’ve all got that hint of Spring that we all need right now and they’re easy on the budget, too.

First up is this beautiful Roast Salmon and Broccoli with Chili-Caper Vinaigrette.  I’m going to have to make this.  This illustrates perfectly how you can create a fabulous, healthy dinner in minutes with just a few healthy ingredients.

Bonappetit suggests making extra grains on Sunday when you have the time so you can put together this quick and easy Stir-Fried Grains with Shrimp and Egg during a busy weeknight.  So nutritious!

Ever since Dr. Oz told the world that flounder is good for you, it’s difficult to find it in the store.  When I talked to my friend in the seafood department at my market, she said they can barely keep it in stock.  It’s also one of the lowest priced seafoods so your budget benefits along with your body.  I have only cooked flounder once when I was experimenting on my nephews.  They gobbled it up and I loved it too so for me, this Seared Flounder with Sesame Spinach is a winner!

I naturally look to seafood when lightening things up but chicken does the trick too.  This Chicken with Herb-Roasted Tomatoes takes no time to make and the rich flavors will have you adding this to your menu year round. 

Greatist has an interesting compilation of of 24 Healthy Living Hacks that will help you eat better, save money and time, exercise and meditate.  I’m a big fan of this site – they have a fun articles, innovative ideas and very useful information.

Today’s tidbits are all about things that make you happy and here’s a list of Mind-Blowing Facts to get us started.

1. Every year, hundreds of new trees grow because of squirrels forgetting where they buried their nuts.

2. There is a basketball court on the top floor of the U.S. Supreme Court Building. It’s known as the “highest court in the land.”

3. Even if they’ve never been able to witness it themselves, blind people smile when they are happy. Smiling is a basic human instinct.

4.  A group of pugs is called a grumble.

5.  A group of kittens is called a kindle.

6.  A group of hedgehogs is called a prickle.

7.  Cuddling can help wounds heal faster, due to the release of oxytocin.

8.  It also releases serotonin, which can improve one’s mood and fight depression. When paired with cannabidiol oil, it’s one of the best ways to fight pain, depression, and anxiety.

9.  Worms communicate by snuggling.  (For some weird reason, this cracks me up!)

10.  During the Christmas Truce of 1914, German and British soldiers played a game of soccer in the “no man’s land” between trenches.

11.  Seventeen-year-old Jackie Mitchell, one of the first female pitchers in professional baseball, struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1931. (You go, girl!)

12.  There have been studies that show that goats, like us, have accents.

13.  Male pups will sometimes let female pups “win” when they play-fight so they can get to know them better.

I was browsing through the site, 1000 Awesome Things and came across these – LOVE!  Best place to visit if you want to improve your day!

Flip the switch.

After touch-feeling your way past the bed frame and slow-peeling your way under the sheets you blindly slip and shiver into the cool and cozy comfort of your beautifully dented bed.

And whether you’re giggling in the bunks with your brother, whispering in sleeping bags at a slumber party, or just lazing around on a sleepy Sunday morning with your wrinkly sweetheart of fifty years… well isn’t it a beautiful moment when you’re suddenly smiling in pitch blackness and laughing in a pajama-clad moment of intimacy.

Laughs in bed are a little bonus at the end of a long day.

AWESOME!

We start as strangers.

Pushing into sweaty stadiums for the ballgame or splitting into opposites sides of the soccer pitch always feels like we’re getting ready to battle, getting ready to fight, and getting ready to cheer. Grab your flag, pump your fist, and finish that beer as we all amp up for the big game.

And that’s why it’s a beautiful moment when the national anthem hits the speakers and slices through the crowd. Suddenly we all stop for a minute and swish and swirl together …  standing beside each other, singing the same song, proud of our home country, and all just standing strong…

AWESOME!

I know we’re all very busy but I’d love it if you could take 5 minutes to watch this heartwarming video.  I promise it will make a difference in your day.  Cheers!