Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Mindful Eating

Intermittent Fasting is gaining popularity among those who want to lose weight and burn fat. Anyone here want to burn fat?It’s a much healthier option than going full on starvation mode, and a lot easier than you think.

I’ve never been one to fast, however, without even realizing it, I’ve been intermittent fasting (IF for short) for the past several weeks and feel so much better for doing so. All I’m doing is not eating breakfast first thing in the morning and eating dinner earlier than usual. Except for maybe a weekend night, I try to finish my last meal no later than 7:00 pm and have breakfast mid morning. Makes for a much better sleep too having those extra hours before bedtime with no snacking after dinner.

As I love eating, I don’t do well with diets, however I’ve tried several diets in the past. Many diets focus on what to eat, but intermittent fasting is all about when you eat. Technically you’re fasting for 16 hours every day, and restricting meals to an 8-hour eating window. This is the most popular form of intermittent fasting, known as the 16/8 method.

Here’s a good beginner’s guide to Intermittent Fasting:

Intermittent Fasting – A Beginner’s Guide

by Brad King February 16, 2023

There is so much interest surrounding the topic of intermittent fasting or IF these days, however there is also a great deal of confusion surrounding IF. I hope to clear up much of this confusion and in the process, give you more clarity on the subject and a quick starter guide for those who wish to try it out for yourself.

IF 101

IF is a dietary strategy in which a person avoids the intake of food for many hours each day. The actual time varies depending on a person’s goals, individual needs and health profile, however research indicates that most health benefits occur during a fasting period of at least 14 hours each day, and optimally 16 hours or more. As an example, this would equate to a person ending their last meal at 7PM each night and starting their first meal of the day at 11AM the next morning. So, in effect, you would be eating for a time period of 8 hours each day.

Many people begin IF for weight loss, as there is often a calorie deficit experienced with this type of program, but the real benefits in terms of weight loss actually come from IF’s ability to control excess blood sugar levels. Every time we eat—especially high carbohydrate foods—we experience elevated blood glucose, which places our bodies into a fat storage mode for many hours afterwards.

When we fast, our bodies shift from using glucose as its primary energy source to releasing and burning stored fat. Fasting allows insulin levels to drop, and when the body is in a fasted state long enough, the body enters a state of ketosis, where stored fat breaks down into fatty acids, which are then transported to the liver and converted into ketone bodies (beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone), which can then be used as a healthy form of energy for the body and brain.

Obviously weight loss (coming primarily from our fat stores) is a great reason for many to start IF, but IF has the ability to increase our overall health in many more ways than trimming our waistlines. For instance, research suggests that IF can also improve our cellular health, and the promotion of biological longevity.

IF seems to attain better health by activating a process known as autophagy. Autophagy is the body’s natural cleansing process in which old, worn or damaged cells are broken down and removed from the body. Autophagy is necessary for optimal health, and has been shown to exert numerous health enhancing effects, help us look and feel better and even reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

Aside from enhancing ones health profile through autophagy, IF has also been shown to increase the production of one of our most powerful pituitary hormones called human growth hormone (HGH), which has documented anti-aging properties and is responsible for better skin, bone, muscle mass, enhanced sleep cycles and also fat loss.

Finally, IF has also been shown to help lower the incidence of metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and heart disease by improving overall insulin sensitivity, and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Brad’s 5-step plan for getting started with intermittent fasting

Begin slowly: It’s critical to ease into intermittent fasting. Begin with shorter fasting periods and gradually lengthen them as your body adjusts. Start by eliminating snacking between meals and not eating anything after 7PM.

Choose the appropriate fasting method: There are several types of intermittent fasting (IF), including time-restricted feeding, in which you fast for a set number of hours each day, and alternate day fasting, in which you fast every other day. Select the method that best fits your lifestyle and schedule.

Stay hydrated: It is critical to drink plenty of water during a fast in order to stay hydrated and flush out toxins. Sugary and artificially sweetened drinks should be avoided because they can disrupt the fasting process and negate any benefits by raising glucose and insulin.

Eat healthy: IF should not be used as an excuse to consume unhealthy foods. Focus on eating whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats during non-fasting periods and stay away from excess carbs—especially processed ones—as much as possible.

Consult a medical professional: Before embarking on any new dietary regimen, it is critical to consult with a doctor or a nutritionist to determine whether IF is safe and appropriate for you. Fasting may be contraindicated in people with certain medical conditions, such as type 1 diabetes.

To summarize, IF is a dietary approach with numerous health benefits, including weight loss, improved cellular health, and biological longevity. It is possible to reap the benefits and improve overall health and wellness by following a healthy and well-planned IF program.

Link to Full Article:

https://buyleafsource.ca/blogs/news?_kx=Hc2_cFwwU–X5lSQnK3gf4cqq4wfbd8sAdE7nHPSCik%3D.TqVu9R

Disclaimer: Of course there are some who should stay away from IF – Children and teens under age 18. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. People with type 1 diabetes who take insulin.

THINKAboutit

Valentine’s Day – What’s Love got to do with it?

What do rock concerts and Valentine’s day have in common?

They both begin with a spontaneous emotion but over time the performance becomes ritualized and people anticipate the expected songs/gifts and they both must deliver.

Head’s up to men everywhere – women like to be spoiled every day of the year.
Romance is natural and not something forced, and gifts should be unexpected instead of expected. So don’t save it only for one commercially enforced day of the year. Holidays imposed upon us for the sole purpose of profit making are not expression of a loving sentiment. However, it’s a not so subtle reminder to show appreciation for those we love and sometimes for those we don’t.

Having once lived in Japan I remember a few customary rituals to do with their version of Valentine’s Day.

First off, there’s White Day – the male counterpart to Valentine’s Day in Japan, where the tradition is that women give expensive chocolates to men they’re romantically involved with, and cheaper chocolates to their coworkers, bosses and sometime older brothers.

Giri-choco (義理チョコ) is a custom where woman give chocolates to male colleagues. It’s an unspoken obligation to give chocolates to your boss.

Whereas Honmei choco (本命チョコ, or “true love chocolate”) is inspired by romantic interest and given to husbands, boyfriends, or a potential love interest.

Here’s a sprinkling of some of my favourite Valentine quotes:

“It is not love that makes a relationship complicated; it’s the people in it who do.” — Unknown

“I wanted to make it really special on Valentine’s Day, so I tied my boyfriend up. And for three solid hours, I watched whatever I wanted on TV.” — Tracy Smith

“Valentine’s Day: the holiday that reminds you that if you don’t have a special someone, you’re alone.” —Lewis Black

“You can’t buy love, but you can pay heavily for it.” — Henny Youngman

“Remember, your Valentine’s card shows you care enough to send the very best, even though you’re too lazy to put it in your own words.” — Melanie White

“One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.” — Oscar Wilde”

outside a restaurant in Palm Springs

“If Christmas is considered the most wonderful time of the year, then Valentine’s Day is most definitely the LOVEliest day of the year.” – d. king

ENJOY!

Header Photo: d. king **(if you receive this via e-mail you can click on the title to get the full screen.)

News

Groundhog Day Grounding

This is a bit ~~no; a lot~~ off my usual topic path but let’s stop to think for a moment about what this day represents.

For me; whenever I think about Groundhog Day I think about the movie by the same name with Bill Murray and the déjà vu feeling of reliving the same day over and over.

While we don’t exactly repeat the same pattern every single day of our lives, our morning and evening rituals tend to be predictably the same.

Speaking of habitual habits, today I decided to break my morning routine..if only a little. I still brushed my teeth, walked my dog and had a coffee first thing after waking but then I meditated and wrote in a journal some empowering words and what I intend to accomplish if only for today. I was instructed to do so when I started the Aligned Woman Workshop Series with a group of fabulous women. As women we tend to multi-task and many times take on more than we can chew; so this workshop is about setting boundaries, creating balance and bringing more abundance into our lives, among other topics.

But getting back to today, February 2nd…

I never fully understood why people rely on a little furry creature to tell them how long winter will last instead of a regular weather person. But I go along with it like so many others. If you don’t already know (good for you if you do) and if you’re so inclined to read about it, here’s a bit of interesting information on an annual tradition that’s about as strange as anything can get.

How did Groundhog Day go from a kooky local ritual to an annual celebration even those of us who don’t worry about winter can find the fun in?

There’s a wealth of information out there if you look for it but I’ll try to break it down (which is one of the things I do best).

A group of men wearing top hats and tuxedos gather around and wait for a groundhog named Phil (always named Phil) to come out of his hole (known as a burrow), and if Phil sees his shadow (let’s assume they know he sees or doesn’t see it), the town gets six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow the town gets an early Spring.

The town is called Punxsutawney (pronounced Punk – sue – tan-ee) located in Pennsylvania. It’s actually a borough in Jefferson County, PA.

On this day, thousands of people including international media visit the town for an annual weather prediction by Phil.

But did you know…

Before using groundhogs they relied on badgers for the winter/spring update . A regular badger, not to be confused with the honey badger (the one who doesn’t give a damn about anything if you witnessed some of the videos about them on YouTube – also considered one of the most aggressive and dangerous animals in the world).

Getting back to the groundhog:

Before he was a celebrity, he was lunch. Yes; him and his family! In a terrible twist, the earliest Groundhog Days of the 19th century involved devouring poor Phil after he made his prediction. The year 1887 was the year of the “Groundhog Picnic.” Pennsylvania historian Christopher Davis wrote that locals cooked up groundhog as a “special local dish,” served at the Punxsutawney Elk Lodge, whose members would go on to create the town’s Groundhog Club. Diners were “pleased at how tender” the poor groundhog’s meat was, Davis said.

I’m so happy they stopped doing this but I’m certain the groundhog is even happier.

I have a feeling badger meat is not as tender although I haven’t tried it either. I have read that people, especially in countries such as Russia, Croatia and China, have eaten badgers for centuries.

Oh well; according to Phil they’re getting another six weeks of winter.

Art & Culture

Monday Mood – Modernism

Palm Springs is getting ready once again to celebrate all things Modernism.

Modernism Week’s signature February Event is an annual celebration of midcentury modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture. Modernism Week features more than 350 events including the Palm Springs Modernism Show, Signature Home Tours, films, lectures, Premier Double Decker Architectural Bus Tours, nightly parties and live music, walking and bike tours, tours of Sunnylands, fashion, classic cars, modern garden tours, a vintage travel trailer exhibition, and more.

The mission is to celebrate and foster appreciation of midcentury architecture and design, as well as contemporary thinking in these fields, by encouraging education, preservation and sustainable modern living as represented in the greater Palm Springs area.

Feb 16, 2023 to Feb 26, 2023

Here’s one I’m looking forward to and it’s free:

This will be the ultimate street party celebration. Dance in the street to These Boots Were Made For Walkin’ honoring Nancy Sinatra.

For general information and tickets (many sell out fast) please visit:

https://modernismweek.com/

New activities have just been added for Modernism Week!

Click to view the new activities.

photos + commentary taken from Modernism Website. I’ll be blogging about the events I go to separately. Enjoy!

Art & Culture

Out of the Crate – Art Palm Springs

Celebrating ART in Palm Springs

Joy always comes together when mixing Art along with good company, food and wine.

Last night we celebrated the unveiling of a body of artwork that was sentenced to life in a storage unit. It’s now on parole as part of Art Palm Springs.

Art by Maria Eugenia Casuso. The one bottom left sold within minutes.

The late Spanish-Brazilian artist Maria Eugenia Casuso gathered her remarkable body of work and put it into storage in 1987.

Luckily for us, her nephew Alfredo Casuso, (he curated this event) unveiled it on Wednesday at Grand Central restaurant in Palm Springs. This along with wine bar, generous food sampling from their latest tasting menu and other thought-provoking works by local artists Georgeanne Papac and Gary Paterson.

A good time was had by all who attended this extraordinary opening.

The STORY…

Taken from Palm Springs Life Magazine:

Karyn Mannix, of karyn mannix contemporary, has been intrigued with Maria Eugenia Casuso’s artwork since she first heard Casuso’s story from David Perry when they were both working art fairs. “For years I’ve been trying to get a peek at it,” she exclaims. “I had seen images, but when I saw it, it was even better than it was in photographs. I always wanted to show it, especially in Palm Springs.”

Karyn Mannix classifies Casuso’s work as postmodernism, and “…that art movement between abstract expressionism, and not that it goes into pop art,

with David Perry (David Perry & Associates, Inc.) Photo: Ramona Huth

but it’s geometric abstract.”

Casuso also became a superstar in the interior design world, and was hired at the best design firm in Caracas. She spent 10 years traveling, designing, and living her life out loud.

Photos: d. king

Full story here from Palm Springs Life Magazine:

*What time is it?* **Grand Central time!**

Grand Central Palm Springs:

https://www.grandcentralpalmsprings.com/

Art & Culture

Awakening at the Wynn

We’re so spoiled and jaded. When one goes to Las Vegas to take in a show we expect nothing but the best. It’s getting harder and harder to please everyone. We want glitz, special effects, magic, mystery, music and story. Which brings me to “Awakening” – the new show at the Wynn. It’s more than all of that combined.

Now THIS is a show! “Awakening” is a ground breaking state-of-the-art production in a 360-degree theatre where every seat has surround sound. This is the most technologically advanced production and stage in the world with a captivating story about finding the magic in a world where light & darkness co-exist. Speaking of magic, the theatre is filled with a wealth of underwater creatures, an exquisite Nymph, a world of hedonism, a realm of fire and flying shadows in this powerful artistic expression of looking for hope, harmony and love. A dynamic balance hard to obtain.

There’s never been anything quite like this before. It’s not another Cirque spectacle. “Awakening” has replaced “Le Rêve” and is only about two months old, having only opened in November/2022.

Not only do we have Sir Anthony Hopkins narrating the storyline, it is produced and directed by three award winning masters.

Baz Halpin is the mastermind behind iconic cultural moments ranging from Super Bowl halftime shows (the ~~only~~ main reason I watch Superbowl) to producing, directing and designing concerts for the world’s biggest performers (too numerous to mention here).

Bernie Yuman is a legend in the production of entertainment. He was the driving force responsible for Siegfried & Roy’s record-breaking 25-year Las Vegas engagement among the hit Broadway musical On Your Feet. He also managed Muhammad Ali exclusively.

Michael Curry is known for his brilliant work on Broadway’s The Lion King (I saw it on Broadway and loved it) and countless other global productions. He’s a sought after creator for Disney, Universal and the International Olympic Committee.

First off, the sets and costumes are nothing short of spectacular in a mystical setting. The opening line of the program synopsis states: “In a time before time, the Great Phoenix gave our world its first two beings. One was called Light and the other Darkness. Light and Darkness lived in perfect harmony, which resulted in a world full of Magic.”

“Over time, light became possessive of Magic and ignored Darkness, which made her grow cruel. In anger, Darkness struck Light and he shattered. Crystal shards of Light now resides in three different realms: the Light of Water, the Light of Earth, and the Light of Air.”

There is a lot going on here to follow however, the sets depicting Water, Earth, Air are nothing short of mind-blowing entertainment.

We follow our beautiful heroine IO and her two friends Bandit and Boo as they attempt to steal Darkness’ most prized possession: Magic.

Magic leads IO and her friends on a journey to the three realms of Light – Water, Earth and Air. They want to collect the crystals of light and place them in their settings where they belong to become whole again. Once whole, Light and Darkness may reunite.

She and Magic are confronted with an epic choice: secure your own personal happiness or risk everything for something far more powerful.

The message is a semiological feast to do with lack of fear and the power of learning to accept what life has to offer and making the most of it. Learning to live with the light and the dark. Without the darkness in our lives, we cannot fully appreciate the light.

Sir Anthony Hopkins as narrator – “The light of the sun on its own would not give rise to life. A seed in the dark earth on its own would not give rise to life. Together they create the magic that makes life possible.”

FYI – I’ve woken up at the Wynn before and it’s pretty darn nice.

See below for tickets (you can watch the trailer however it’s much more powerful by far in person):

https://www.wynnlasvegas.com/entertainment/awakening/

inspiration

Monday Mood: Fresh Start

It’s Monday. A new start to the week. And the second week of a brand new Year. A time when people wake up to possibility of new beginnings. A time for reflection and cleaning up our act, even if just a little bit.

We like to keep things fresh. From fresh vegetables to a new relationship, everything that’s fresh is uplifting. It’s just making sure the vegetables don’t go bad before eating them, and that the relationship continues to evolve instead of dissolve. A little effort goes a long way in trying to maintain a balance.

Personally I think that the main reason so many resolutions fail is that people set unreasonable standards for January 1st. Why not just pick a date and do something to improve your life, be it in business or relationships or both?

I’m certainly no expert (my plan to work out more starting in January never succeeds and I’m still not fluent in Spanish) but contemplating a little positive change can be a definite mood enhancer.

My little step forward is having joined a women’s empowerment workshop in order to set a new intention to this new year and prepare for something fresh. We’ll see what comes of it. More later…

How about you? Any intentions of making an intention?

Art & Culture

Painting Outside the Box

Artful Utility

Pretty boxes all in a row. Temecula, Ca. Photo: d. king

Can’t say I normally pay any attention to those large dreary looking electrical, transformer or utility boxes that line street corners in every city. Just part of the landscape.

But have you been noticing them lately?

Energy infrastructure is only growing and electric boxes are becoming more needed than ever. Many of these structures have been around for decades, converting power for growing communities.

Thankfully, a new form of public art has been popping up all over the country. Colourful displays by local artists have turned these plain electrical boxes into opportunities for beautifying them in public spaces and showcasing local talent.

Palm Springs Public Arts is looking for love in all the right places with traffic boxes designed to link Public Art from the north end to the south end of Palm Springs.

As you can see here, they’ve done an impressive job of making them over.

My friend Ramona painted this one at Tahquitz + Caballeros

STYLE

Style Icon: Vivienne Westwood

I design things to help people to hopefully express their personality – Dame Vivienne Westwood, who built an International brand with an eccentric edge.

April 8, 1941 – December 29, 2022

**Vivienne Westwood** attends the Vivienne Westwood show as part of Paris Fashion Week (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images)

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, SCARLET JERSEY & TULLE TUTU DRESS
Kate Moss | Mario Testino, Vogue 2009

Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. Someone else said this but I’m not sure who it was. In simpler terms Fashion is what you buy and Style is what you do with it. For example:

Here are some of my favourite fun and fashionable Westwood looks – compliments of “The Guardian” with link to original article below. Glancing back at some of the most memorable looks from the iconic British fashion designer and rebel.

Autumn/winter 2001-02, Paris
Westwood’s clothes featured rips and safety pins but were steeped in history.
Photograph: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

The reason why I am proud of my part in the punk movement is that I think it really did implant a message that was already there. The hippies told it to me, but punk made it something cool for people to stand up for, which is that we do not believe government, that we are against government – Vivienne Westwood

London 1985
A model wearing Vivienne Westwood clothes outside the World’s End boutique in Chelsea.
Photograph: Universal ImagesGroup/Getty Images

Autumn/winter 1992-93, Paris.
In 1993 Vivienne **produced her own tartan and invented her own clan,** MacAndreas, for the Anglomania collection. The Lochcarron of Scotland officially recognised the clan, a process that normally takes 200 years. Photograph: WWD/Penske Media/Getty Images

Taken from “The Guardian” – No fashion designer ever had a Paris show like the one staged by Vivienne Westwood in 1991. Although she was by then 50 and had been making clothes for sale for 20 years – and the British Fashion Council had named her designer of the year – she stitched much of that collection on her own sewing machine in her shabby south London flat, hand-finishing it in the van that transported her, and the models, to France, where the couturier Azzedine Alaïa had invited her to guest-show. Despite those limitations, the collection was a major success.

Autumn/winter 1991-92
Dubbed ‘Always on Camera’, this collection was inspired by 1930s Hollywood.
Photograph: John van Hasselt/Corbis/Getty Images

Spring/summer 1995, Paris
Supermodel Linda Evangelista in a dazzling gown on the runway.
Photograph: Images Press/Getty Images

Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody’s buying far too many clothes – Vivienne Westwood

Autumn/winter 1995-96, Paris. Linda Evangelista on the runway in Paris, France.
Photograph: PL Gould/Images Press/Getty Images

Autumn Winter 2000/01
Jerry Hall in a ready-to-wear gown.
Photograph: Pierre Vauthey/Sygma/Getty Images

Autumn/winter 1992-93, Paris. Her own designed tartan for the Anglomania collection.
Photograph: WWD/Penske Media/Getty Images

Autumn/winter 1994-95 – Paris. Carla Bruni in the famous fuzzy coat and matching underwear from the On Liberty collection. In 2007 Westwood was one of the first designers to ban the use of real fur in her collections. Photograph: Michel Dufour/WireImage.

Autumn/winter 2013-14
A model walks the runway during the Vivienne Westwood ready-to-wear show.
Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images

Autumn/winter 1995-96, Paris
When asked about her most memorable Westwood show by Another Mag, Kate Moss said: “**The one where I had a rabbit and I think I was naked** … I don’t think they’d put any top on me. I don’t know, I was wearing Crotch Minis [dropped crotch trousers] and I think some crazy hairdo by Sam McKnight – a mohawk but it was all curly …”
Photograph: Daniel Simon/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

2012, New York City.
Rihanna performs in a Vivienne Westwood gown at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show in New York City. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImageTaken from:

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2022/dec/30/vivienne-westwood-best-looks-in-pictures

FUN

IN with the New Year!

Meditating is something I’ve been wanting to do more of. We found a good spot on top of a monastery Christmas Day with a view. The monastery wasn’t open because all the Monks got covid, but we enjoyed the grounds and the peace and quiet. Also the dragonflies.

Here’s how I spent the remainder of 2022

This was in Oceanside, CA. We were on our bikes and came across the house used for filming in the original “Top Gun.” This is an exact replica of the Kawasaki motorbike that Tom Cruise rode in the movie. We felt the need to get on it.

An excellent tortilla soup and fancy french toast in Carlsbad, Ca.

First day was foggy but there’s a dreamy quality in that.

Layla met up with some tigers on a mural in Carlsbad.

Planning to get my feet wet with a few other exciting ventures this year. One step at at time.