Beat the Back to School/End of Summer Blues

Labor Day has come and gone, marking the official end of summer. The kids are back in school, summer hours at jobs have ceased and everyone is back to the grind. It is very easy to slip into daydreams of swimming pools and yearnings for cookouts but, there is also much to look forward to now that we've said goodbye to our shorts and flip flops! I've compiled some tricks and tips to help you make your peace with summer's end and exuberant for the last quarter of 2009!:

• Plan a getaway: Planning a future getaway can help give you something to look forward to & get through your week. As you plan your vacation, visualize yourself at your destination. Whether it's with your family or friends, make it fun and interactive for everyone involved. The fun can start with the prep!
  
• Host a movie or game night: Rent a great flick and invite your friends over for some good food and drinks . The visuals will get your mind off the cold and dreary and onto the engaging storyline or tournament. Make it a recurring event that a group of friends choose to rotate each week. This way you always have a fun evening in the books to help you get through your week.
  
• Schedule playdates for your kids: Just like the movie or game night, kids need fun activities to look forward to to help them through their weeks. Especially when they are starting a new year with a new set of responsibilities. We can't expect them to be excited about homework but it's easy to get them excited about seeing all of their friends who can relate.
• Engage in Fall cleaning: Find therapy and enjoyment in putting away your summer clothes and decor while prepping for Fall & Winter. Freshen up the house with new colorful accents; go through your closets and toss out things you don't wear anymore; and open up the windows and let in the fresh cool air. You may find a ton of stuff to sell at a garage sale so a few extra bucks will definitely make you smile. Or perhaps you start to dig up holiday decorations and your favorite sweater, getting you all the more excited for the months to come.
  
• A day at the spa: Taking a little time to pamper yourself is always a great idea. We all need to de-stress, unwind and reset. If you can't afford a spa treatment, invite your freinds over for mani/pedis, facials and gossip ; )
  
• Start a new hobby or class: A great way to get your groove back is to delve into a hobby or enroll in a class. No matter what tickles your fancy: dance, knitting, kung fu or learning a laguage; starting a new hobby is a great way to get your brain excited and out of the boring routine, but also a terrific way to make new friends!
  
• Make the new routine fun: No matter if it's just you or you and your brood, make the new routines fun. Help you and your loved ones look forward to mornings and other scheduled events by starting a fun tradition. For instance, make Monday "Manic Monday" so get your family ready for the week to some fun and silly tunes, Taco Tuesday and so on ; )
  
• Goal set: Nothing gets you more pumped then working toward a goal. Writing it down and making sure it's something that is attainable in the time you have alotted, can really put a spring in your step. Looking to shed a few pounds before the holidays to make room for fruit cake? Needing to save up to buy that ring for your girl and propose on New Year's Eve? No matter what your goal, write it up and post it somewhere to keep your eye on the prize!
  
• Look forward to the holidays ahead: I happen to be a holiday nut so as soon as Labor Day is over, I'm stoked for crisp air, pumpkins in abundance and planning for my Halloween costume! If you have kids or not, look for fun activities that center around the season. Harvest festivals, county fairs and colder weather events pick up now so make it a point to gather up your family and friends and make the most of Fall.

I know it's tough to bid farewell to hot weather, carefree weekends and swim suits but Fall offers up a lot of fun too so make the most of it!

Healthy Voyager Radio - Healthy Messages in Kid's Entertainment

Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring guests Ruby Roth, author of Why We Don't Eat Animals & Musician Ari Shine:

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Next week, vegan athlete & creator of Vega Products, Brendan Brazier & inspirational extreme sports, paraplegic athlete, Aaron Baker!

Lovin' Labor Day

So summer is just about over, 1 last long weekend left to eek out some swimming, parties, camping, whatever, before fall rolls in and we say goodbye to fun in the sun. Sure fall brings crisp weather, changing leaves and the beginning of the big holiday months, but nothing beats care free summer days and relaxing summer nights. Here are a few tips & treats to make the last weekend of Summer '09 a healthy, affordable and memorable one!:

If you want an affordable, mini-getaway:

• Camp by the beach - Frolic one more time in the sea, pack sandwiches and/or bbq foods along with your camping gear. Spend the night under the stars while the ocean sounds sing you to sleep.
• Organize a hike or bike trip - Gather up your friends and find a local hiking, biking or outdoor activity park or town. Make the most of the outdoors while getting in some exercise, taking in nature and snackin' on some yummy treats. Rent a cabin if you are heading to a specific area as with big groups, it's a lot cheaper to share a house with a kitchen. Not to mention a lot more fun!
  

If you're sticking around town:

• Host a game day & movie night - Have friends pop on over for a potluck or bbq. Host a tournament day that can involve all ages like a bean bag toss or a scavenger hunt. If you start late and go into the evening, project a movie on a wall and gather around to watch a flick under the stars.
  

If you host or attend a get together and serve up some of these exotic treats. They're a great way to bring the getaway to you!:

Virgin Pina Colada Popsicles

• 1 can light coconut milk
• 2 cups Pineapple juice
• 1 banana

Pour ingredients into a blender and puree. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze at least 4 hours.

Lavender Grapefruit Martini
(c) 2008, Natalie Bovis-Nelsen The Liquid Muse

1 1/2 ounces organic Vodka
1 heaping teaspoon organic lavender-honey syrup (can be made with agave nectar as well)
2 ounces freshly squeezed organic grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed organic lime juice
1 organic edible flower

Lavender Honey Syrup: Heat 1/2 cup lavender honey (substitute with lavender infused agave nectar) and 1/4 cup water in a small sauce pan. Stir until boiling. Let cool. Set aside.

Pour ingredients into cocktail shaker, add ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an edible flower or lime wheel.

Soba Noodle Salad

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup of seasoned rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp sugar

Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Let sit for an hour.

Salad:

• 1 handful of cilantro leaves, chopped
• 1 handful of basil leaves, chopped
• 2 green onions, diced finely
• 1/2 red bell pepper, julienned
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, julienned
• 1 cup of shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup of toasted peanuts
• 1/2 lb cooked soba noodles
  

Prepare all the vegetables, set aside. Once the noodles have cooked, rinse with cold water and drain. Once the noodles are cool, add the vegetables and peanuts. Mix the dressing again thoroughly then add to the noodles and vegetables. Stir until well combined and serve.

Grilled Tempeh Peanut Satay

• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 2 tsp agave
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup tamari
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/2 lb of tempeh, steamed for 20 min
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp sherry
• 1/2 tsp vinegar
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 cup plain soy yogurt

Marinade:
Puree orange juice with only half of the agave, coconut, tamari and cayenne pepper in a blender. Cut tempeh into 2 cm cubes and add to marinade. Set aside for 1 hour.

Peanut sauce:
Blend remainder of agave, tamari and cayenne pepper together with the peanut butter, sherry, vinegar, garlic powder and soy yogurt. Refrigerate.

Thread tempeh cubes onto 4 skewers. Grill tempeh over medium-hot grill 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Brush kebabs with marinade and sprinkle with remaining coconut. Serve the tempeh kebabs with peanut sauce.

Ginger Mint Caipirinha Cooler

• 1 lime, quartered
• 1 1/2 tablespoons ginger syrup
• 1 sprig mint
• 2 ounces cachaça (or rum if you can't find cachaça)
• 1 quarter-sized slice raw ginger

Muddle lime with ginger syrup and mint. Add cachaça, shake and pour over ice. Add a raw ginger wedge for garnish.

Virgin Recipe :

• 1/2 diced lime
• 1/2 small diced lemon
• 1/2 small diced orange
• 1 sugar cube
• ginger ale
• fresh mint

Place the fruit in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add the sugar cube and a dash of ginger beer. Muddle to release the juices. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with mint.

Have a very happy, healthy and safe Labor Day!!

Healthy Voyager Radio - Green & Healthy Libations

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Next week, children's book author Ruby Roth & song writer Ari Shine!

Healthy Voyager Radio - Green Sites & Fashion

Listen to the Healthy Voyager Radio right here!! Featuring guests Jen Boulden, co-founder of IdealBite.com as well as Anna Mhikitarian & Daniel Leighton of Annatarian Eco-Effective Design:

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Next week, Natalie Bovis-Nielsen aka The Liquid Muse!

Grubbin' in Greenville

Just a short drive from Asheville & Charlotte, NC, as well as Atlanta, GA, you will find Greenville, South Carolina. I really enjoyed this quaint city as it had all the "accoutrement" of a large city without the overwhelming crowds, etc. The downtown is wonderfully charming too. Complete with a river and waterfall right smack in the center, a neat suspension bridge over the whole park ties the whole area together beautifully. Along with the pretty park, you will find some great eats in downtown Greenville, as well as in the burbs ; )

One great spot in downtown, is Cantinflas. A Mexican restaurant with an extensive vegetarian menu! I was stoked that my dinner guests where all able to find something they enjoyed while I munched on fresh made guac (vegans have to ask for it as the regular guac appetizer contains sour cream) and the Mexican chipotle vegan meatballs with rice, beans and plantains, yummmm. I really loved that there was something on their menu for everyone. It was refreshing to be able to order a "meat" with my mexi-meal that was tasty and nutritious! Visist Cantinflas Mexican Restaurant at 10 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601-2709, (864) 250-1300. Very friendly staff, good margaritas and super accommodating too!

Heading out of downtown for a taste of the east, I lunched at Saffron. Some of the best Indian I'd ever had, my lunching partners who don't normally eat Indian food, agreed. Everyone was ecstatic with the smorgasbord of food that we feasted on, tastier and tastier with every new dish. Family owned, Saffron offers up a great lunch buffet as well as a full vegetarian menu. No matter how spicy you like your chana masala, what your dietary restrictions are, or if you are an Indian food novice, Saffron is the perfect place for a great meal from Indian food nubie to connoisseur ; ) Great food, wonderful service and super helpful to boot ; )

Another great find outside of downtown is the Pita House. Another awesomely authentic, family owned eatery and market, The Pita House is the place to go for Middle Eastern in Greenville. They bake their own pita bread fresh every morning, make all of their pastries, hummus and other goodies in house. A band of brothers keeping their family food and traditions alive and well in the American south, its a must to shop as well as dine at the Pita House 495 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29607, (864) 271-9895.

Heading back downtown, Lemongrass Thai is a fantastic place for dinner. Yet again, Greenville surprises with an establishment that catered quite nicely to the veggies. A full menu, the veggie options were many and I indulged ; ) Starting with the fresh basil rolls and ending with a generous helping of the vegetarian massaman (curry and coconut milk action), I was happily stuffed. Soothing atmosphere and a delicious menu, Lemongrass Thai is definitely on my Greenville hot list!

For some good ol', casual Italian, pop over to Trio Brick Oven Cafe. The pizzas, salads, pastas and sandwiches are all tasty and easily customizable per your diet. I veganized a sandwich and salad and didn't sacrifice a bit of taste. I was even able to enjoy some dessert as they had a killer sorbet to finish off my meal. Multo Bene!

Greenville was very pretty, very relaxing and very tasty. I would be more then happy to come back soon and chow some more ; ) Off to celebrate my birthday week - see you for a fun Labor Day post to wrap up the summer!