“It is nearer to spring than it was in September”

Earth is here so kind, that just tickle her with a hoe
and she laughs with a harvest.
-Douglas William Jerrold, playwright and humorist (1803-1857)

Beta-carotene for free!

Beta-carotene is a natural chemical compound that promotes healthy eyes, healthy skin, boosts immunity, and is believed to play a leading role in preventing heart disease and some types of cancer. And you can get it anytime by eating orange and yellow fruits and vegetables. It's also found in leafy greens, including spinach and kale.

Google's Virtual Pedometer

Google Maps can now be used to track mileage and calories on your exercise route with the Virtual Pedometer. Just choose a location, and start recording a "walk," double clicking on points along the way to determine how far you've gone. Enter your weight to get an accurate calorie count.

FIBER ALERT!

This is from today's Hungry Girl:

Fruits, veggies, and legumes are the fiber sources that are best for you. Nutrition experts agree that fiber that comes from foods found in nature is better for you than processed foods that contain added fiber. So toss 1/2 cup of chickpeas onto your salad and add 7 grams of fiber. Eat a cup of strawberries and get 3 grams. How 'bout some broccoli? Each cup has 2 grams. And a single cup of raspberries packs in 9 grams. The bottom line is, if you eat your 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables a day, no matter which fruits or veggies you choose, you'll likely be taking in a fair amount of fiber.

Lunch at Sweet Tomatoes

Delicious and colorful.... salad, baked potato, and chicken soup. What a yummy lunch. And such good company!

The PocketMod

Oh, what a cool discovery! A free disposable personal organizer. The PocketMod is a small, custom-designed booklet that you fold out of one piece of paper. A clever way to keep yourself organized.

Chicken Tostadas

An easy recipe... just spread some refried beans on crisp corn tortillas and top with chicken and grated cheese. Decorate each tortilla with chopped fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, scallions, avocado, sour cream, chiles, and salsa.