Melanie's Medley Offer Top Quality Breakfast Full of Fun and Flavor

Melanie’s Medleys is changing your normal breakfast game.

With specialty and protein-filled cream cheeses, grain blends and a solid outlook on healthy, you can’t lose! 

Try the six varieties of non-GMO artisan grain breakfast bowls and eighteen flavors of non-GMO and gluten free artisan cream cheese.

They also like to partner with local businesses such as the Collegeville Yoga Bar and introduce our fun and healthy way of breakfast to those already striving for wellness.

These cream cheeses are a perfect match for tailgating dips and fall parties. 

Quintessential Style : Do's and Don't of Fashion, Dressing, and Organizing Your Closet and Your Wardrobe

This book was written for me. 

Once, a friend joked, if you die, what would you come back to haunt us in? and I said, "ooh a flowy nightgown to be all scary and ethereal."

And my friend said, "No, no you have to pick something you wear when you passed on."

oh.  "Tank top and yoga pants," says I.

Always. My uniform!

Quintessential Style will teach you to become your own personal stylist by showing you the importance of wearing color, what to wear for your body shape, the do’s and don’ts of shopping, the artistry of makeup, steps to beautiful skin, and much more. 

Combine all these steps to create your personal package and communicate your authentic, one-of-a-kind style.

“When I look in some people’s overstuffed closets, I can’t help but want to say, ‘Your closet is supposed to be a river, not the Dead Sea,’ ” says Janna Beatty, an image consultant and co-author with Sharon White of Quintessential Style: Cultivate and Communicate Your Signature Look  (www.Qstylethebook.com).

By that she means clothes should flow through a closet the way water passes through a stream – there for a time, then gone. Clothes shouldn’t be held in captivity forever.

“Both women and men add tons of clothing, shoes and accessories to their closets, but they never seem to get rid of anything,” Beatty says.

Beatty and White say that an overly extensive wardrobe actually can hinder your lifestyle. Just to get dressed in the morning you may have to rummage past apparel that should have been tossed years ago.

They offer a few tips for making that closet a more inviting and organized place:

• Use it or lose it. Nothing should be in your closet that you can’t wear right now, Beatty says. That means anything that doesn’t fit, is in need of repair or is out of season shouldn’t be taking up space. If you have extra closet space, move the out-of-season clothing there. If you plan to lose weight, do the same with clothes that don’t fit.  Mostly, though, donate or toss the excess. “Be brutal in deciding what to keep and what to get rid of,” Beatty says. 
  
• Organize your collection. Once the clutter is gone, it’s time to organize what remains, White says. Dressier clothes should hang toward the back of the closet unless you wear them often. Types of garments – skirts, pants, tops – should be grouped together and organized from casual to dressy.
• Customize your closet. Builders mostly build generic closets, using standard measures for clothing racks and shelves. People then just use whatever space is there, whether it works for them or not. Beatty and White suggest that instead of working with that generic layout, you should make your closet work with your wardrobe. That could mean bringing in more storage for shoes, or deciding whether you need more or less hanging space than what’s available.

Once you’re done organizing, you aren’t really done, Beatty and White say.

“You can’t expect to stay organized if you don’t regularly tidy up,” Beatty says. “Make sure you hang clothes back up after you wear them, or put them in the hamper if they need to be washed. Put clean laundry away promptly. If you aren’t careful, your closet will be a quagmire again.”

About Janna Beatty

Janna Beatty, owner of one of Texas’ premier makeover studios, is co-author of the bookQuintessential Style: Cultivate and Communicate Your Signature Look(www.Qstylethebook.com). She has studied in New York and Paris with some of the most respected advisers in the fashion and beauty industry. A successful business owner for more than 30 years, Beatty speaks to corporations, professional organizations, and women’s groups. She also has been a guest on radio, podcasts, and television.

About Sharon White

Sharon White is an award-winning author who lives and writes in Central Texas. She has written for New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Fashion Bible and other online and print magazines. She publishes a popular lifestyle blog (qstylethebook.com) based on her book,Quintessential Style.

Divella’s Fusilloni: Your Everyday Pasta

There is nothing more satisfying than a bowl of freshly made pasta with a simple tomato sauce, ideal for when tomatoes are in season. 

Not only is it delicious, but making Divella’s Fusilloni your everyday pasta this year can keep your wallet plump and your bikini body slim.

According to the Neuromed Institute, eating pasta as a part of a Mediterranean diet can actually aid in losing weight and at Divella Fusilloni’s price point, this is a pasta lover’s dream come true!

Through a method of pasta creation called “Trafilata al Bronzo” Divella’s Fusilloni is formed using a bronze press which creates a porous exterior.

The small grooves in each and every piece of pasta create a vehicle to hold both hearty and light sauces.

Although affordable, Divella pasta’s quality has maintained the same level of excellence for over 125 years. Beginning in 1890, Divella began producing pasta in the Apulian plains, a region synonymous with durum-wheat farming. 

Both the region and production puts Divella in a league of its own among other table pastas.

Tomato Basil Fusilloni

1 package Divella Fusilloni pasta

1 can Divella tomato basil sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 garlic cloves, chopped

6 basil leaves, chopped

¼ cup Pecorino Romano cheese (optional)

Bring two quarts of water to a rolling boil, adding a handful of salt just before the water begins to boil.

In a separate sauce pan heat olive oil.

Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, then add tomato sauce and lower to a simmer for 3 minutes.

Empty pasta into water and boil for 10 minutes until al dente, drain. Mix sauce with Fusilloni.

After plating, top with Pecorino Romano cheese and chopped basil as desired. Enjoy!

East Coast Float Spa- The Key to Zen

When I first thought about doing a story on the East Coast Float Spa, I wasn't sure what it would be like. I like water, I like soaking in hot tubs or a nice bathtub, I love pools and swimming in the ocean.

I like salt water- so how about floating in a salt water tank in darkness for an hour?

I was intrigued.

I called and spoke with Community Engagement Director Gabrielle, who invited me to the West Chester location to try it out. The difference between most salt floats and the East Coast Float is the absence of tanks- they have flotation rooms.

Upon arriving I found a white clean open space with available salts and teas, and I was first shown into a room with a short video to answer any questions.

A father and teenage son were also in there with me, and we settled in comfy lounge chairs to watch. The video address concerns such as how deep is the float, is it in complete darkness, how sanitary is it, and can you wear a bathing suit.

After the video, Gabrielle took me down the hall past the four flotation rooms to the Cloud 10 Float room. It was set up like a little locker room, with a comfy bench with cubbies and hooks and shelves for my items and clothes. There was also a tiled corner for a shower and a door leading to the float.

I was told to completely rinse off including my hair, and then I can get right into the float at my leisure. Gabrielle left, and I locked the door and disrobed, and rinsed off.

The float is full of almost 1000 pound of pure medical grade Epsom salts per float, and the salt water is pumped three times through a state-of-the-art purification system to ensure the float is sanitary and clean for each float guest.

I put in ear plugs and opened the door, I wasn't sure what I'd see, but it was a like a large shower stall with 10 inches of water at the bottom and a sloped ceiling. It was not closed in at all, and I wasn't climbing down into a tank.

There was a little shelf and I brought my water in with me (glass is not allowed, but a water carton given to me by Gabrielle was perfect). There was also an assistance button for help if needed and the light switch.

It felt a little risque getting in naked, but the salt would weigh down any bath suit or underwear.

I stepped over the threshold and onto a little step, and into the warm water. It was not hot, it was around body temperature, and a bit slippery feeling. I pulled the door shut, and gently sank down into the water.

I expected it to be deeper, but it was not, just 10 inches of very salted water, and it was a fun, strange feeling of buoyancy as I stretched out my arms and began to breathe.

The warm water was unlike the ocean or a bathtub, and felt almost silky as it flowed over my skin and through my hair.

The outside light was on a motion timer, and it switched off. Inside, I had the option to float in complete darkness, or switch on a small blue LED light of the foot of the float. 

I could stretch out my arms and gently bob from side to side, or push up with my toes and float from the bottom to the top- the entire float was about 6 feet by 9 feet, and once I explored everything, I settled in to relax.

Note- you do NOT want to get salt water in your eyes. You will float, not sink, and you must keep your face above the water. 


I love going underwater, so I thought I could bob down, and you really can't due to how heavy the salt water is and yes, it will sting badly.

However, I just rinsed my face with my water bottle and gently dried with a small facecloth also on the float shelf.

I switched the light on because I felt a mite closed in, and the blue light gave a feeling of a the light on the ocean, or a private pool, which I enjoyed. 

I slowly began to meditate on feeling free as I floated, because when in here, it is a solitary experience.

What to think about? I had the light off for a while as I drifted around and thought about the summer, a new job, vacation, being happy. It was very peaceful because there was no outside stimuli, no phone, no light, no pictures, just me and my thoughts. 
With the earplugs in, I could hear my slow, steady breathing.

It was a very cool experience. I love water, and I didn't get cold as I floated around, swishing through the water, letting it glide through my fingertips and breathing out any stress. 
It really was a unique feeling in the dark, just letting pure sensation and thoughts take over. After a while, my mind stopped zooming and settled into a relaxed state.

I did start to get slightly restless and sensed my hour was up. Just then, the lights came on, and I sat up and finished my water, and very carefully stepped out. You wouldn't think it, but salt water is very slippery! 

I showered off and washed my hair, and soap and shampoo and conditioner were provided, along with fresh towels an a small piece of chocolate to recharge. 
You must do this, otherwise you'd have a crusty film of salt on you!

You can schedule appointments at the same time (in two hour increments) but everyone floats on their own as each of the four float rooms only hold one person.

When I came out, Gabrielle offered the use of the massage zero-gravity chairs, which I settled in to and relax, as the chair titled me back slightly and massaged me all over- compression on the hips on calves (yes please) even my hands and head, it really was great and I felt even more relaxed. 



I then settled in to use the oxygen bar on the other side of the relaxation room, which is something I have never done before. I hooked up the little tube under my nose why Gabrielle attached the tube to the oxygen with different flavors- I did vanilla and lime. 

This was very subtle. I sat their with my feet up, reclining, and took a lot of deep breathes.

So try it out- I want to knwo what you thought! If you go and use this CODE- ENGCHIK10 - you can save 10% off plus other amenities. 
The salt float was truly amazing, and helped me focus and relax- why don't you try it and see what sea salt floating does for you. 

Oktoberfest 2016- September 17- Stable 12 & Uncle B's BBQ

Need something to do this weekend?

Stable 12 of Phoenixville and Uncle B's are offering up the most excellent of weekend events- kick off fall with Stable 12's Oktoberfest!

At Stable 12, 368 Bridge street, Phoenixville, starting at 5:00pm, til 7:00pm. 

September 17- Saturday- tomorrow- Brew and BBQ- this is one event not to miss!

Stable 12 will be releasing a new Oktoberfest style beer for the occasion and will have traditional stein mugs available to purchase to really make you feel like you are on a vacation in Germany.

All the latest fall beers plus 4 delicious smoked courses for just $35!  Your $35 ticket will get you a pound of sausage, awesome sides, 2 pints of beer and an unforgettable experience here at Stable 12!

This dinner will run from 5pm-7pm and include 4 different courses. Four 4oz servings of different types of sausages along with four 8oz pours of a paired beer and delicious side dishes. 

The Modern Salad Focuses on Superfoods and Protein

Bursting with bold flavors, hearty ingredients, crunchy textures and brilliant colors—the salads in this cookbook are a feast for your senses. 

Introducing “The Modern Salad.” This book is a new hard-cover, full-color cookbook serving up protein- and superfood-rich recipes that are artfully presented in a deconstructed format.

Enjoy 35+ recipes that are all inspired by Burma’s iconic Tea Leaf Salad, including the Charcuterie Board Salad with Mustard-Maple Vinaigrette, Grilled Peach and Corn Salad with Lemongrass-Shallot Vinaigrette, Summer Fig and Caramelized Onion Salad with Aged Balsamic Reduction, and Masala Chai Braised Pork and Garlic Udon Salad.

Author Elizabeth Howes is a chef, recipe developer and wellness consultant. She appeared on “The Next Food Network Star” in 2006, competing against Guy Fieri.

Howes begins with an in-depth look at Burmese culture and cuisine before jumping into the dozens of easy-to-follow recipes. Readers are guided step by step through the process of making a tea leaf salad from scratch but are also shown how to plate more modern serve-and-stir salads.

Keep this one close at hand or for the salad-lover in your life as a perfect present. 

BONUS:
Try this loved recipe from the cookbook: 
Raw Beet and Green Apple Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

SERVES 4

1⁄4 cup orange marmalade

1 1⁄2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1⁄2 cup apple cider vinegar

1⁄4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 large beets, peeled, and finely shaved with a vegetable peeler (about 4–5 cups)

2 cups tangerine or orange segments

3⁄4 cup toasted and roughly chopped walnuts

2 cups julienned green apples

1⁄4 pound ricotta salata cheese, finely shaved with a vegetable peeler

1⁄4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons whole fresh tarragon leaves

sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, plus Maldon sea salt for finishing

To make this simple citrus vinaigrette, whisk together the marmalade or jam, mustard, and vinegar in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper, and slowly stream in the olive oil until emulsified. Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate for up to a week.

Place the shaved beets in a large bowl of ice water to retain their crispness while you prepare the other ingredients. Once ready to assemble the salad, drain and thoroughly dry the beets so the vinaigrette will adhere to them well.

To assemble the salad, toss the beets, tangerine or orange segments, walnuts, apple, and ricotta salata in a large bowl with the desired amount of vinaigrette. Serve on individual plates, garnish with tarragon leaves, and season with Maldon sea salt and pepper.

Be Yourself, Be Great, and Be Happy. Guest Post by Paul Ledebur

My motto for the last year or so has been 

Be Yourself, Be Great, Be Happy. 

The photo is Guest Poster Paul L living his motto (Photo by Jim McCoy).

This phrase is instantly inspirational to some but I thought I would explain what is really behind these words. Of course, the meaning will differ from one person to the next and that is fine by me. Everyone must do what they need to do to get through life and there are as many paths as there are people on this earth. This brings me to the first part of the motto.

Be Yourself. Don’t try and be anyone but who you were meant to be. Do things that make you comfortable and in a manner in which you can manage them. Find the values that will guide and best represent you and then live by them to the best of your ability. I have found that my values revolve around being good to others. Three values that instantly come to mind are Honesty, Loyalty and Compassion. I pride myself in these values and do my very best to exhibit them as often as I can. When I reflect on a situation, I ask myself, Was I honest with others and myself? If there is another person involved I also ask, Does that person know I have their back and can count on me?

Finally I ask, Did I show others that I care about them and exhibit understanding of their situation? These to me are essential things that I try to bring to every relationship that I make and have. An easy way to find your values is to literally Google search “personal values”. Write down 20, 30 or more that you like and then each day look at this list and delete one or two until there are only 3-5 left. These are the things that have stuck with you and mean something. Trust your gut, these are your values.

Be Great. When you are living by the values you have chosen, it is important to live by them to the absolute BEST of your ability. Living by your values will help guide your personal and professional life. It may mean a change in jobs; it may mean a change in friends. That is ok. A shake up is usually first on the path to greatness. Recognizing the values that are important to you will unleash a passion that will feed you energy and resilience. As the passion grows within, so does the willpower to put in the necessary work to succeed. Greatness increases with each success and yes, with each failure. Celebrate the successes, learn from the failure and enjoy the ride along the way. There is no limit to the greatness that can be achieved when values, passion and energy are aligned. 

Be Happy. This is probably the part that you have the most control over. There are obstacles for each point that I have made. However, Happiness is a state of mind. That state of mind can be controlled with practice. Material things are not the key to happiness. A lot of people say those words but they don’t truly believe it. I have had the opportunity to travel much of this world and have seen the richest and poorest of regions. I can tell you that I have seen happiness in people who don’t have much more than the shirt on their back and sadness in people who have everything anyone could want. If you follow the first two pieces of my motto, Be Yourself and Be Great, Being Happy is a very natural progression that can happen almost by accident. Happiness is created when you are living the life that you are meant to live and achieving greatness along the way.

Being Yourself and Being Great creates the proper environment for Happiness to grow and flourish within you. The power to look at the worst situation and find the silver lining is in all of us. Everyone has hardships, setbacks and lousy days. Your attitude and state of mind, when dealing with a bad situation, is entirely up to you. Being part of the problem or playing the part of the victim will achieve a feeling of less happiness then when you are the part of the solution. Deciding that a bad situation is not going to be the end of you is a step in the right direction. Harder said than done sometimes, but you CAN do it.

Since coming up with the motto and trying to live by it, some wonderful things have happened to me and in my life in general. Not saying that there haven’t been hard times too, however, these hard times are easier to deal with. Bad situations roll off my back easier and don’t affect me as deeply or slow me down as much as they once did. 

As a Life Coach I will teach you the skills to live by my motto “Be Yourself, Be Great, Be Happy.” I will also help to find your very own motto, if that is what you want. 

Contact me for one-on-one or group sessions. 

Paulledebur@yahoo.com

       

Hot New Luggage Makes a BOLD Statement

On the road? Want to be? 

Get this amazing luggage and step out in style!

Being a mom means always having more things to carry than you have hands. This bag keeps all the necessities nicely organized and most importantly, keeps your hands free to hold the things that really matter- in two patterns.

• Lighten Up fabrication is lightweight, durable and water-repellent
• Lining is treated to be both antimicrobial and wipeable for easy clean up
• 33" adjustable straps
• Exterior features two side slips and a front slip pocket
• Interior features four mesh pockets in the main compartment and two mesh pockets inside the front pocket
• Removable changing pad in the front pocket

Hello September: Reflect, Recoup, Relax.

Hi everyone! whoa what a month august was!! It was such a whirlwind- but I know it was good! 

I got a new job, I'm working smarter not harder - well, still working but making things work for me- and welcoming the fall with open arms- but fall isn't here yet.

September is full of fun- more trips to the shore (thanks Hermine for Labor day, so I spent it at home and had a glorious weekend) 

I had this ocean-front view for a glorious week.

After a nice cool weekend, this week is heating up, and it's NOT time for pumpkin spice- instead, cool off with these hometown treats in Phoenixville.

I celebrated my 40th birthday back in June, but my best friend treated me to a full spa day at Hotel Hershey- and it was amazing! 

Best Bestie Spa Day Ever!

A wrap, scrub, soak, and massage, plus lunch and relaxation- it was wonderful!! 

Her 40th birthday is coming up, and we have a trip thought out- where to go for her 40th?!?! We have a few ideas!

My goals for September are simple:

Yoga: Reflect and meditate

Kayak: Breathe in the crisp air and recoup energy

Beach: Walk, breathe in the salt air, eat one last lobster roll, and relax. Toast my favorite bartenders and friends.
PS- end of season sales...!