Good Living with Aprilanne

San Francisco, CA - Mount Livermore (at the top of Angel Island State Park) is the absolute BEST place to take in the sights during the Blue Angel’s Fleet Week happening October 7 - 12 in the Bay Area.

Views from the top of Angel Island State Park's Mt. Livermore are out of this world!

Getting there:  For the most scenic route and your overall convenience, head to Tiburon, CA and take a ride with the -  Angel Island Tiburon Ferry to Angel Island State Park, where you can hike up to Mt. Livermore (approximately a 2 hour round trip - moderate intensity adventure) or arrange to take a tram ride to experience the incredible sights this “top of the world” destination delivers!  Please call Angel Island Company for tram tour information at:  415.897.0715, or the Cove Cafe @ 415.435.3392.

CA Insider Aprilanne Hurley, CN takes in a specialty cruise on SF Bay with Captain Maggie and the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry Company..."now this is the life!"

Make a great day of it - and reserve your tickets for one of  Angel Island Tiburon Ferry’s Fleet Week Specialty Cruises scheduled on Saturday October 9th and Sunday October 10th for the best seats on SF Bay for viewing the Annual “Parade of Navy Ships” and Blue Angels Air-show taking place in Northern California!  Both cruises will offer a stocked bar with beverages and snacks for purchase.  Appetizers and a complimentary beverage are included with Angle Island Tiburon Ferry’s Saturday, 10/9 Blue Angels Fleet Week Cruise which runs from 11:30 - 4:30 PM - Tickets are $100.00/Adults, and $$75.00 for children ages 6 - 12.

HURRY - space is limited and will sell out quickly!  For more info. and to reserve your tickets please call 415.435.2131 ext. # 5  - and/or visit:  CaptainMaggie.com

A ferry ride with Angel Island Tiburon Ferry also offers some unique health benefits thanks to the fabulous negative ions present in the ocean and bay air!  For more information read my post on “The Positives of Negatives - Ions that is” on this site and Enjoy!  Aprilanne

Aprilanne Hurley, CN, is a Certified Nutrition Professional specializing in Public Nutrition Education and Weight Management in the Lifecycle. To pre-order Aprilanne’s dynamic new diet and lifestyle book (title to be announced October 2010) coming out on Amazon.com and book outlets globally November, 2010 contact Hope Gilmore @ pr@insidelooktv.com.

When it heats up outside use our healthy living guidlines when cooking on the grill!

When things starts heating up outside it’s our cue to fire up the grill and start cooking outdoors!  Now while I’m not aiming to be a total killjoy here - it is important to report that the process of cooking meat, poultry and fish on the grill has been proven to cause the formation of carcinogens known as HCAs (Heterocyclic Aromatic Aminies) and PAH’s (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons).  We all love to BBQ, and cooking on the grill is a quick, easy, and fun way to prepare meals - so here are a few steps you can take to decrease the cancer risk when grilling:

1. Use fruit marinades such as orange, lemon, lime, etc., and anti-oxidant rich herbs and spices such as cumin, rosemary, oregano, etc., and marinating meats and poultry at least an hour before cooking to reduce carcinogenetic damage up to 90%!

2. Using fresh foods such as garlic, onions, rosemary, tomatoes, etc. that contain antioxidants to protect one’s DNA from the carcinogenic damage caused by the Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines HCA’s and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons – PAHs formed when grilling meats, poultry, and fish.

3. Cooking in tinfoil to prevent the fat drippings and subsequent production of PAHs that are deposited back onto the food by smoke and flare-ups.

4. Using smaller cuts of meat so they take less time to cook; flipping frequently to promote faster cooking and prevent HCAs from forming.

Ultimately you are in control when it comes to the foods you eat and prepare for yourself and your family so do take a few extra moments when grilling to include some of the ideas above to protect yourself and loved ones from the carcinogens created when grilling meat, fish, and poultry.  Carcinogen byproducts are not formed by the way when grilling vegetables - so be sure to include lots of great roasted veggies such as colorful peppers, onions, tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini and enjoy them all completely guilt free!  Enjoy - Aprilanne 

This information is offered to provide general good living tips and guidelines and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or illness.  Please check with your doctor or health care provider before starting any new heath  regimen.  Yours in good living, Aprilanne

Aprilanne Hurley, CN is a Certified Health Professional specializing in Public Nutrition Education and Weight Management in the Lifestyle.  Please forward your personal health and nutrition questions to Aprilanne @ info@insidelooktv.com.

Aprilanne’s Grilled Pizza Recipe
 

Check out CA Living’s Insider’s Guide to Paring Wine and the BBQ on CAInsider.com NOW!  And try marinading your meat in the Olive Salsa Verde

Authentic Italian Meatballs and Spaghetti can be yours!

A little background on this recipe:  Grandma Rose’s generation did not use measurements in recipes, but rather cooked with their senses, how the food looked, tasted, and even felt, adding more cheese, or spices etc., to perfect the texture, consistency, and flavor of a dish. With this in mind, the following recipe is the official recipe known as  “Grandma Rose’s Authentic Italian Meatballs,” compliments of Joe Mack, Grandma Roses’ eldest son, who recommends tasting one as soon as it’s cool enough, “because that’s when they taste the best.”

Get in touch with your “Inner Italian” and give it a try…Buona Fortuna!

2 pounds of chopped beef, veal and pork
2-3 eggs depending on size, slightly beaten
1/2 cup plus of finely chopped onion
3 slices of white bread or 2-3 hotdog rolls, chopped finely - About 1/2 cup of skim milk or more - Very big bunch of Italian Parsley chopped fine/leaves only
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Heaping tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

1. Soak chopped bread in milk till it is nice and mushy

2. Add eggs, parsley, onions, cheese, salt and pepper and mix well

3. Add chopped meat and mix well using your *hands; there is no alternative

*Fun Fact # 1 -Grandma Rose would never wear nail polish when cooking for fear that it may chip into the food she was preparing..

4. When thoroughly mixed, form into meatballs by rolling in your palms. You should make 18 to 24 meatballs.

5. Place meatballs in lightly oiled, olive of course, cookie tin and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Do not overcook. The meatballs may be browned in a frying pan; however, the baking is easier and probably healthier.

6. When cool remove meatballs from pan and scrape off any fat that has formed. Did you make more than you need or want to freeze some to enjoy at another time? Try Joe Mack’s Freezing Trick - by laying them out on a cookie sheet and covering to freeze for later use. Check back periodically for additional “Authentic Italian,” Wine Country Cuisine, and “California Living” inspired recipes to try out!

Watch  “Making Meatballs with Aprilanne” now On-Demand on Aprilanne.com

“Get Glowing” with Milk & Honey Bath you make at home…

California Insider Aprilanne get's the Insider's Guide to a Beauty Regimen that goes back to Cleopatra times.

There is one beauty regiment that goes back as far as the times of Cleopatra - Ancient Queen of  Egypt - the Milk and Honey Bath, and women have been indulging themselves with milk and honey baths for centuries since.

There is something very  relaxing and therapeutic about taking a bath, and while the though of going to a spa to indulge in one is appealing, this is one “spa treatment” you can easily prepare to enjoy in the comforts of your own home!

Combine the ingredients below in a large bowl and then transfer to a decorative jar to keep in your bathroom.  You can simply scoop out a few cups of it to dissolve in a warm bath anytime you want to relax with a skin softening experience…ENJOY!

1/2 cup liquid honey
3 cups powdered milk
lavender buds (added for color and fragrance)

Why it works:  The lactic acid in the milk - which is an alpha hydroxy acid exfoliates the dead skin cells off while you soak as the  emollient properties of the honey sooth and soften the skin resulting in a wonderful 2 part skin revitalizing experience.  The lavender buds add a relaxing aroma, and you can substitute or add other fragrances such as rose or gardenia, etc.,  depending on what scent you are in the mood for.

In addition to soaking in a relaxing emollient bath formula that was customized precisely for me during my spa day at the Oceano Coastal Spa for California Living,  I also received a dry brush application, which has additional skin purifying and exfoliating effects and was treated to an anti-aging Acai Body Facial to further soften and moisturize my skin - it was pure heaven folks…check it out:

Watch Aprilanne;s primetime look at the Oceano Coastal Spa Now On-Demand!

What is Circuit Training?

Everyone complains about time these days - the lack of it, that is. Getting in shape and shedding pounds takes precious time, which can be at a premium. Circuit Training may be just the answer. It’s defined as the execution of a selected number of exercises in a determined sequence and time.

Circuit Training provides a one-stop total-body exercise session, combining strength training and cardio in a single workout. It can reduce body weight and inches, burn fat, and build lean muscle. It can also improve your overall strength and endurance and add variety.

Safety Guidelines:

1. Always check with your doctor or health care provider prior to starting a new exercise program.

2. Keep well hydrated during your routine and throughout the day.

3. Stop immediately if you feel pain, or experience shortness of breath and call your doctor.

4. Start each workout with a few minutes of low impact cardio, cool down and stretch afterward:

Performing a Circuit:

Choose three exercises to perform as a circuit. Beginners - perform once with a 2 minute cardio blast such as jogging in place after the second exercise. Add additional cardio blasts (see Intermediate/Advanced below) and add additional circuits as you progress in strength and endurance.

Intermediate/Advanced - Perform a 1 minute cardio blast after the first and third exercise and a 2 minute cardio blast after the 2nd exercise. Repeat your desired circuit (3 exercises - 3 cardio blasts) 3 times.

Your circuit can consist of a total body workout, or upper body, lower body, or core exercises. You can vary the program to add variety.

Do your circuit training 2 - 3 times a week, and remember to schedule a day off between each session to allow the muscles to repair and rest.

CA Living’s Beach Body Workout On-Demand™ offers a Total Body Workout in just 20 minutes with Circuit Training - no gym or fancy equipment required!

Cardio Blast Options: Run/Jog in place, Jump rope, mountain climbers, etc. (see video on right)

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Aprilanne Hurley’s Fitness Career began in the 1980’s, working as a Fitness Specialist with the Elaine Powers Figure Salons (East Coast) teaching “American Yoga,” and “Total Body Fitness.” As she progressed, the role of fitness in her life evolved into a passion for making fitness practical, accessible, healthy and fun for others through TV segments such as:

-”Mission Stay-Fit” - A comprehensive look at ways to get and stay fit.

-”The Stress - Fat Connection,” - A look at the effects of too much cortisol (a stress hormone) in the body, and how exercise counteracts the negative effects of this “stress hormone” on the body.

-Breast Cancer Prevention Special Report” - In Part - 2 of Aprilanne’s Special TV Report on “Breast Cancer Prevention” the focus was on the connection between stress and Breast Cancer, empowering viewers with ways meditation and exercise can be utilized to combat the negative effects of stress, and reduce their risk for diseases such as cancer.

We are looking forward to bringing you more Health & Fitness Special Features in the months to come - after all - “Good health is a big part of good living - California Living.” Aprilanne may be contacted at: info@insidelooktv.com

Keep the "Honeymoon Period" going when it comes to your health & fitness goals!

Beware of what in the “fitness world ” is refered to as the “Honeymoon Period” - this is the 6 week time period between New Years Day and Valentines Day. Similar to that blissful period of the Honeymoon in a marriage, in committing to a healthy lifestyle - the beginning is when there is a great deal of energy and enthusiasm.   The gyms are bustling, and we are diligently trying to eat right. So what happens? According to numerous studies - by Valentines Day, many people have fallen back into old habits, and the enthusiasm dies down.

The good news is - it only takes about *4 - 6 weeks for something to become a habit and probably less time for us to integrate something so totally that we are no longer aware of it. *Some sources indicated it can take as little as 21 days for an action to become a habit.

So how can you make your fitness commitments last beyond the “Honeymoon Period?”  Below are 3 easy Guidelines for Health & Fitness Success:

1. Keep Your Expectations Real:

While it would be nice, there are no magic pills or exercises that will whip us into shape overnight.  that said we do have the CA Living:Toned -By -Tonight Workout that will make your muscles look more defined for a big night out On-Demand, and the CA Living Beach Body Workout - a terrific 20 minute total Body Workout On-Demand for you to check out when time - or a lack of it is a factor in reaching your short term fitness goals.  

Keep your expectations realistic - aim to loose 1-2 pounds a week. You may experience more weight loss early on - which is natural - yet the healthiest weight loss plans will not shock your body into shedding large amounts of weight in an (unhealthy) short amount of time.

The secret is balance - your fitness goals are just one part of your life - and should not consume your every waking moment - nothing should - that would be a terribly unbalanced and unhealthy way to live. Most of us have jobs, families, and many other daily commitments beyond working out. Sure there are celebrities that lose weight or “get buff” for their next film who work at it 24/7 - but unless your planning to audition to be the next “Rambo” give it a rest! Your results will come - in time! By understanding this and keeping things in perspective you will be able to work towards your goals over a longer period of time.

2. Set up a Goal and Reward System:

It is important to have goals like - “I want to be in a bikini this summer,” - or I want to run a 5K or 10K this spring.” By setting up intermittent goals along the way and rewarding yourself for reaching these goals you will keep your enthusiasm high and have mini-milestones to look forward to achieving.

For example, going 30 days without eating junk food, or going down a size in your jeans are reasons to celebrate! By setting up non-food related rewards such as a day at the spa, a shopping spree (please don’t blame it on me), or a movie night out with your friends (hold the butter & salt please!), you will feel good about your progress along the way and be less likely to throw in the proverbial towel.

3. Work in that Workout!

What happens when we say to ourselves “I’ll get to it - right after I do this…or - I’ll do it tomorrow” - the “it” usually never happens because we did not consciously plan it into our daily or weekly routine. Create a schedule that works for you - three days a week - every other day, 30 - 60 minutes everyday - Making exercise a part of your life means making it work with the rest of your life.

The beauty of exercise is you can combine it with things you love, hiking, biking, rowing, walking - I know it’s easy to say and harder to do - but seriously, try scheduling an activity you love once a week. While the winter weather presents some challenges you can swim indoors, shoot hoops, or even play a game of tennis indoors - in Cali anyway!  You can also work with a trainer and create a kick-butt workout at your local gym and combine it with a fun spin or dance class to keep it interesting. Try adding kick boxing, yoga, or Pilate’s to your routine - you’ll challenge your mind and body in different ways and meet new people who share similar interests - a great fringe benefit!

All the best with your goals - Enjoy! Aprilanne

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness - please check with your doctor or health care provider prior to starting any new health or fitness regimen.

Make it a "Green Getaway" at the Oceano Hotel & Spa, Half Moon Bay, CA

While the Oceano Hotel & Spa’s “walk everywhere” location, chic guest suites, and new Coastal Spa are everything you could want in a vacation getaway on the coast - an impressive feature of this Half Moon Bay, CA resort property is that they are the “only full service hotel in San Mateo County to be certified by the San Mateo County’s Green Buisness Program.” 

Now “being green” does not mean one needs to sacrifice luxury - in fact some of the “eco-friendly”  touches such as the Oceano’s organic Bamboo bed linens and all-organic custom spa treatments  made me feel quite indulgent!  Get the CA Insider’s Guide to Princeton-By-The-Sea and the Oceano Hotel & Spa now On-Demand below -which recently aired primetime Bay Area wide on California Living:

Want to see more?  Check out the show clip of my custom milk and honey bath and Acaci Anti-Aging body Mask and Massage treatment I received during my spa day at the Oceano Coastal Spa below for the Insider’s Guide to the Bay Area’s hottest spa destination on the coast:

There are few things more breathtaking than the beauty of California’s expansive coastline, and no better way to see it than on a Bay Aerial Helicopter Tour!  While I recommend you experience a helicopter tour with Bay Aerial first hand yourself - definitely check out California Living’s Season 7 show Finale since  that’s exactly what we’ve done to show you the sights and get an overview of “Princeton-By-The-Sea” - a phenominal getaway spot on the California’s Coast.

The “sky’s the limit” in this CA Living travel special of the season delivering the “Insider’s Guide” on where to Stay & Play in this “park your car and walk everywhere” Bay Area hotspot - which is a convenient 45 minute drive from anywhere in the Bay Area and a quick 20 minutes from SFO.

Now while the annual Mavericks Surf Competition is usually referred to as being in Half Moon Bay, CA - Mavericks is actually located in Princeton-By-The-Sea” - which was discovered by Big Wave Rider legend and Mavericks Surf Competition Founder  Jeff Clark.  We interview Jeff Clark at his Mavericks Surf Shop in this show and hear first hand about his unique story of how Mavericks all began.  Then - we hit the beach with Clark for a Stand Up Paddle Board session on one of his handcrafted SUP’S and have just a ton of FUN!!!  Be sure to catch it all Saturday @ 7 PM!

In Food & Wine - we meet with Paul and Julie Shenkman Co-Owners of Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay, CA for the inside look at how Sam’s offers both great oceanfront views AND great food - a winning combination that’s hard to beat! We also spotlight the authentic Italian cuisine at Mezza Luna Restaurant in “Princeton by the Sea”  - and to top off all the fun and excitement…

We check out the Oceano Hotel & Spa where I indulge in a decadent spa treatment reminiscent of Cleopatra’s famed beauty regimens - and of which I am sure if she were around today would be quite envious of…but I’m not going to give it all away here - you’ll just  have to tune in Saturday @ 7 PM on The Bay Area’s TV 50, Comcast Digital 199, and Channel 50 on Direct TV and The Dish to find out more!  Enjoy!  Aprilanne