Eating Cheap, Eating Smart, DIY Refried Beans and Acupuncture

Have you ever looked at the sodium content in refried beans???  Well, I have, and I can't eat 'em, but I miss my mexican food!
Here's something I came up with recently...

1 bag of pinto beans
Soak in water overnight
Cook the next day in a pot, simmer with a lid for about 2 hrs
If you can tolerate salt, add to taste

BOMB salsa... of all place, WALMART?!?!

I can't tolerate the sodium, and at first I was super disappointed in the bland taste but I added some other fab ingredients and spiced it right up!


Heat the beans in a pot.  Add a couple big scoops of sour cream and some low sodium salsa to taste.
YUM!  So serious. Even my family who can eat "normal food" likes this dip!  I eat it with no-salt tortilla chips from Henry's.  I WISH we had Trader Joe's out here.  Anybody listening?  I think it's time to start a petition.

Another tip: Salt-free Kettle Chips with your own seasonings added in.  How nice is it to know you aren't eating all those chemicals and weird ingredients?!  I like to know what I'm eating... being able to read the ingredients is a plus!
My fave seasoning right now: Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime


Now I'm last minute planning for my trip to Cabo.  I'm a lil nervous about eating away from home because of my sodium limitations, so I'm packing a suitcase of food.  No joke :)  My hubby can eat all kinds of anything he wants, so he gets some ramen noodles, mac and cheese and chips for snacks.  Plus tons of bottled water!  I'm not spending $14 a bottle, I'll tell you right now!  I also found brown rice in microwavable containers for me, granola bars, almonds, cashews, cereal, microwave popcorn, and noodles.  Yay!  Still looking forward to some nice dinners out, but not every meal.  Gotta keep the sodium intake in check


Have any of you tried acupuncture?  I just did today!  My Meniere's/vertigo issues have been on high alert this summer.  I'm pretty sure the heat is ruining me.  Since the last two days I've been about 50% functional with a couple dizzy driving scares, enough is enough!  I went to the acupuncturist today!  Exciting!  It was a bit uncomfortable at first, but then I ended up falling asleep on the table :)  
When I come back from Cabo I'm going to be back every other day for awhile.  Fingers crossed it solves some of my issues! 


Cheers my summer friends :)  Take a nice long walk, cook something healthy, and relax on your porch with a glass of wine.  Ahhhhh... summer

XOXO
Andrea

How Do You Get Cute For Summer??

I love summer... cute dresses, breezy evenings on the back porch with  glass of wine and the occasional tanning and beach action

AHHH....
Plus I'm a teacher so HAYYYY I'm off work lol  Can't complain!
I'm off to Cabo tomorrow, so besides buying several new swimsuits this year and overflowing my bikini drawer, I've put a little thought into what makes up my summer cuteness routine.

Yup...I'm wearing this in Cabo!

If you're anything like me, days off mean grubby workout clothes, messy hair, no makeup and dirt under my fingernails from yardwork. 
And that's just not cute.  It's Anti-Cute

So what's a girl to do when there's a trip just around the corner and her scraggly hair, jacked up nails and grubby clothes just won't cut it?

Quick Fixes to the rescue!!! 

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze ProPerfect Salon Airbrush


Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Steel Grey on mah toes!

Lightening my hair and getting a trim - Yup DIY job on that one.  I used a dye specially formulated for dark hair so I wouldn't end up with bright orange hair.  I recommend it!  Although I have gold tones, it's not clown looking.  Always a danger for us brunettes! 
Garnier Nutrisse B3 Cafe con Leche

Lots of thrift store shopping and the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon - if you haven't been there, GO NOW! 
Get on the 10 East from LA and watch for it.  On the way to Palm Springs... Totally worth the drive.  Check out the selection of stores here:  http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=6 

And what about exercise?  All those little outfits you want to wear this summer?

My word for the summer is STRUCTURE - Every morning I'm getting up and walking my doggies before is gets hot, then working on my yard a bit.  It keeps me active and stops me from lounging around in bed all morning and being completely de-motivated for the day.  So far so good! 

Do you have a schedule?  Workout time won't appear out of thin air.  Find something you like to do... How about a fun dance class?  My friend Tanya got back into working out by going to a Richard Simmons aerobics class!  It inspired her to try yoga, dance, weights and hiking!  So keep it interesting and just DO SOMETHING.  You'll be so proud of yourself!

XOXO

Andrea