Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Archive for December, 2019

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Ending With A Little Chocolaty Sparkle

Posted by terrepruitt on December 30, 2019

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin YogaWith the last post of the year there are so many ways to go . . . talk about the past year and review posts; ones that were popular, ones that weren’t, ones that need follow up, ones that were favorites. Or talk about the New Year; goals, dreams, where we want to be, things we have planned. Just so many ways to go. Well, in an effort to be brief yet celebratory I am going to go with a fun little recipe to allow you to ring in the new year with a little bit of liquid sparkle.

We once belonged to a winery up in Auburn. I would love to share the story but then that would take away from the “brief” so, I will say they used to pour their sparkling wine and their chocolate port together. It was yummy.

I have since tried to find a port to make it but have not yet found the perfect port. Theirs was much more chocolaty or something . . . I don’t know, but it made a FABULOUS cocktail. When I offer to pour one for someone they wrinkle their nose and I say, “Ok, fine. You can try mine if you want.” And they do then they want one of their own.

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Chocolate Bubbly

Your favorite champagne/sparkling wine
Your favorite chocolate port

Fill the champagne class with champagne/sparkling wine then top with the chocolate port. Enjoy!

_____________________________________________

You have to experiment with the amount of port to get it to the desired chocolate flavor that you want.

Happy New Year!

Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: , , , , | 8 Comments »

Oh What A Christmas Tree!

Posted by terrepruitt on December 27, 2019

I posted this on Facebook already, but everyone thought it was gorgeous so I wanted to share it here as my Friday Photo.  I didn’t ask permission so hopefully they won’t mind.  My aunt and uncle always have a BEAUTIFUL tree.  It takes days to decorate and the ornaments are just fabulous.  This year it was just as spectacular as the years before.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  Here’s to the New Year that is around the corner.

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Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Keep That Smell Coming

Posted by terrepruitt on December 23, 2019

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin YogaI am sure many of you are busy with Christmas stuff, whether is it shopping, cooking, or just enjoying yourself and your family and friends. I will make this brief. I love candles and I am pretty sure that those of you who love candles run into the same thing I experience – sadness when the candle you are burning stops burning. I mean, “Whaaaaah! There is so much yummy smelling wax left why can’t it just continue to burn?” Ok, some candles are excellent and they burn pretty much to the end . . . but even then, I often find myself wanting more. Well, there are two ways I eek out more yummy scent from my candles and I thought you might want to try them.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin YogaWith some candles I put a tealight with a metal cup in the remaining wax. When the tealight burns the metal heats up a bit and melts the remaining wax causing is to release its fragrance. Recently one of the candles I have been enjoying this season stopped burning. The wicks are gone, there is no hope, but there is a huge chunk of wax still left in the tin. And I found some of these HUGE tealights – I am not even sure they are called tealights when they are this size – in my closet that I had purchased and had forgotten about. They are perfect for this tin of wax. It is allowing me to enjoy the fragrance from the candle even though it will not burn any more. This is the number one way I eek out scents.

The other day I was burning a three wick candle that we had inherited from a friend. It doesn’t have a scent. My current favorite candle stopped burning, but it still had a small layer of wax at the bottom of the jar and it still smelled GREAT. Well, I decided to shave the wax into the three wick. Ahhhhh, YES! Success! I was able to smell the scent by having it melt in the three wick candle. YAY! Now I can eek out some more of this lovely winter aroma until I can get to the store to get more.

Not only do I like to continue smelling the fragrance I have enjoyed from candles that stop burning, I feel like I am not wasting so much when I use these methods to get more out of the candle. With the shaving method I will be able to use all the wax, but with the other method I am not sure it will melt away.

If you are really crafty I am sure you can melt the wax from your favorite candles and give them new wicks. I haven’t gotten that determined yet.

So . . . am I the only one that wants to use up the last of that wax and keep smelling the candle scent or do you want to, too?

Remember to follow all instructions on candles and use common sense and be safe when burning candles!

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Glittering Bright

Posted by terrepruitt on December 20, 2019

I was thinking of painting some gifts this year, but I waited until the last minute.  Not smart.  Someone might see their gift here, but probably not.  I was happy how they turned out.  The glitter is especially fun.

I am sharing my hand painted snowmen candle holders for today’s Friday Photo.

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Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Give The Gift Of Air

Posted by terrepruitt on December 18, 2019

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin YogaIf you have any red wine drinkers on your Christmas gift giving list and you don’t want to actually give them a bottle of wine – again, perhaps you can give them a pretty wine aerator. When you aerate a wine you are exposing it to air which allows it to evaporate and oxidate. Some of the compounds and smells evaporate leaving the more pleasant aromas. The oxidation can actually change the taste because certain things in the wine are reacting to oxygen. According to Wine Spectator you can simple aerate a wine by pouring it in a glass or swirling the wine in the glass. Or you can use wine aerator.

This type I first saw at Big Dog Winery. It is cool because you can aerate the wine by pouring it first into the carafe, and then pouring it back into the bottle. Some people love to serve the wine from the bottle. It helps with having to remember what wine it is you are serving because the bottle is right there. If you like you can serve it from the glass carafe itself.

I believe that aerating the wine helps soften it and I find myself enjoying red wine more.

It is a fun process too! Once you become confident that the carafe and bottle won’t tip over. I still like to hold them just to be safe.

Do you know anyone that drink red wine?  Do you drink red wine?  Do you aerate your wine?

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin Yoga

 

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Christmastime 2019

Posted by terrepruitt on December 13, 2019

It’s Christmastime!  YAY!  I love the decorations.  This year our tree, while beautiful, is not a good ornament holder, so many (MANY!!!!!!) of our ornaments did not make it on the tree. But we still LOVE it.

Here is a glimpse of our 2019 Christmas tree for today’s Friday Photo.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin Yoga

Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

Paired

Posted by terrepruitt on December 11, 2019

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin YogaAs you may know I have been listening to books lately. The annoyance of having to be in the car for 50 minutes because of traffic when it actually only takes 20 to get there is lessened when there is a story that is captivating. I have an older car. I love my car.  At first I was just using my phone to listen . . . as I said my car is older so it doesn’t have Bluetooth. And my phone works sometimes . . . I mean, it is sufficient sometimes, but some readers use low tones or whispers for some of the voices and they can get drowned out by road noise. And some roads are really noisy and drown out the reading even when they are speaking in their regular voice. So my phone didn’t work for some books.  I started just having a speaker in my car, but either the aux cables were cutting out or the Bluetooth was. The place that we buy accessories from had a sale not too long ago so I decided to buy a transmitter.

Once having reached that decision I actually looked elsewhere online and found the one I was looking at cheaper elsewhere so I was happy. And while it is not great because of the light rail and other frequency interfering things around here, it is ok. Most of the time it is fine. It great when I am on the freeway. It is just mainly at stop lights and by my house – where the light rail is – where sometimes I have to turn it off because the interference is just too much.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin YogaBut the best thing about it to me is “Paired!” I LOVE that. That is the best thing. I didn’t really forget my phone that often, but I often would get in my car and wonder, “Did I grab my phone?” And I did often think I put it in my purse but then when I reached to get it I cound’t find it. Sometimes I would even KNOW – for certain – that I put it in my purse and when I tried to get it I couldn’t find it so I would begin to doubt it. In fact the other day I put my phone in my purse and pulled out of the garage and stopped to shut the garage and couldn’t find my phone, but the device just finished saying “Paired!” and that is when I realized how fabulous that it. It confirmed my phone was in my purse. Greatest thing ever.

Because I use my phone for my Nia music it is important that I have it. I also use it for music when I teach yoga, but yoga does not rely on it. If it weren’t for my music it really wouldn’t be that big of a deal when I forgot my phone, but it is a bummer to get to class and not have it.

I assume the thing works with the actual phone, as in for phone calls, but I don’t have the need to talk on the phone while I am driving at this point. I just use it to listen to Audible and to make sure I have my phone.

Does your car have Bluetooth? Do you have a device for Bluetooth?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Excited For Corpse Pose

Posted by terrepruitt on December 9, 2019

I recently taught a class where it was requested that I split the class. The facilitator wanted me to teach half of it as Nia and half as yoga. As we were getting up off of our mats at the end of class, one student said, “What happen? Why did you cut it short? Normally it is longer?” A couple of us stopped and asked, “What?” She repeated her questions and to us it sounded as if she was saying that we usually went until 1:10 because a few of us answered her with, “No, we always end at 1:00.” She clarified that she was saying that shavasana is usually ten minutes and she was asking why I cut it short. I was so happy. With the split class I thought that they would want a shorter shavasana so they could do more active yoga. I was so surprised.

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This class enjoys their shavasana. The class I teach is in the middle of their work day and so they come to get some yoga in and they love to end with shavasana. I am a real stickler when it comes to shavasana in the yoga classes I teach. I believe that for some people it is the only time of day when they might get a little rest. If I start shavasana and you, as a student, stay, then, in my classes you are agreeing to stay until the end and resolve to be still. You are agreeing to give yourself that time to relax and to rest. You are agreeing to keep the space that we created and not break it by leaving before the class is done. It could be the only time where someone isn’t making demands on you _ whether it is normally your job, your kids, your (other) family, or just life in general that is requiring your attention – shavasana is the one time for you. It is a sacred time.

I was so excited to hear that these students enjoyed shavasana. They were disappointed that it was not as long as it usually is.

After the class the facilitator and I were discussing the class and I mentioned that some people were disappointed because shavasana was cut short and she shared that the employees had told her that they really enjoy shavasana. I am so happy about that.

I often hear that shavasana is one of the most difficult poses. It seems that society has proclaimed that people always have to be busy, they have to be DOING, so it makes sense that shavasana is such a challenge. Some people have so much pain and discomfort in their bodies that is it difficult for them to lie on their back* and be still for some time. And some of us have that busy “monkey mind” so it is hard to quiet it. Often times when the mind can’t be quieted the body can’t either. If neither one can be still it makes shavasana very difficult. So it can really be a pose that needs practice. So I was excited to hear that some students actually look forward to the time we allow for it.

I am looking forward to this week and being able to give them the time they look forward to each week.

*Shavasana is done in corpse pose or IS corpse pose . . . which is lying on your back . . . I instruct students on how to do the pose, but always encourage those that have pain or who are uncomfortable to get into a comfortable position so that they can be still and enjoy the benefits of stillness of the body and the mind.

What about you?  Do you enjoy shavasana?

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Teagan – Bright Eyed Girl

Posted by terrepruitt on December 6, 2019

While looking through some photos I found this from last year and wanted to post it.  I really have so many pictures that I want to post, especially pictures of the cats, that is why I get annoyed when I miss a Friday like I did last Friday.  Here is Teagan with here bright eyes for today’s Friday Photo.

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Posted in Cats, Friday Photo, Teagan and Nessa | Tagged: , , , , | 4 Comments »

Bye Bye Bugs

Posted by terrepruitt on December 4, 2019

So it seems like not every time, but sometimes when it rains really hard or when it is really hot and dry we get ants. I am not a fan of ants and certainly not a fan of them in the house. Like I said we don’t get them all the time, but maybe every other year or so during a heavy rain. Sometimes they can be thwarted, if you see that first one you know they are scouting and the rest may be on their way. So sometimes, when you get that first one (or first few) you can stop the invasion. But sometimes you just walk into a room and it is like there is a surface moving. UGH! I am not a fan! With pets it is real pain to get rid of the ants because we want to be careful with what we use. A couple of years ago I came across Diatomaceous earth. I remember we were having a particularly difficult time with the ants so I was going to try something different. Well, I ordered it, but I didn’t get around to trying it. I was happy that I remembered I had purchased it so I could try it this time.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin YogaWe had a recent ant invasion. They didn’t come for our food they came for the cats’ food. They came to one area and I moved the food to treat that area then they attacked at the second area. Well, I remembered the Diatomaceous earth. I wasn’t sure it really worked but . . .

I am not a bug killer (I have my husband do it 🙂 ), sometimes I will rescue a spider. So normally I don’t like to watch things die, but I wanted to see if the Diatomaceous earth would work and I wanted to see if it was true. Bugs with exoskeletons can be killed with it. Ants, bed bugs, fleas, roaches, and earwigs can be killed with Diatomaceous earth yet – FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous earth can be consumed by mammals.

I wanted to verify it killed ants before I sprinkled it in the two affected areas of our house. The next ant I saw was my victim. And, yeah, he just kind of jerked around then stopped moving. So did the second one. So, I sprinkled it in the two areas I thought the ants were coming in.

Diatomaceous earth is dirt rich in silica and is made up of fossilized remains of single-celled and siliceous organisms called diatoms.  So in order for it to be safe for your pets it must be FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous earth. The FOOD GRADE kind contains less than 1% crystalline silica. The industrial or non-food grade Diatomaceous earth has levels of crystalline silica that can be harmful to pet and humans.

Now, having white powder around the house where little paws can get it is not really that great, but at least it is not poison.

And . . . so far so good, no ants.

Do you get ants ever? What do you do to get rid of them?

Not to detract from my quick, short post, but . . . . I actually asked my husband what title to give this.  I was going between the one you see, wanting people to know it was about more than just ants and this one, which I think is catchy – The Ants Stop Marching One By One, Hurrah, Hurrah.

And he came up with a trendy one – The Mandiblorian – Bug Killer and, as a fan of Bob’s Burgers – Now You See Them, Now They’re Dead – catchy phrases on the vans.

Which one do you like?

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