January 7, 2016
Boost Concentration with Focus @ Will
Music has the power to soothe, to create energy, to relax but did you also know it can help you concentrate?
One of the hardest things I find at the office is drowning out the constant conversations, requests and noise from others around me. But somehow I have to as my works depends on it. The skill of concentrating on the task at hand is extremely important to ensure my job is done and done well. While naturally I want to think I am great at concentrating on the task at hand, this is not always the case. Neuroscience and psychology have looked into ways that we can help boost our concentration levels to produce higher quality work and Focus @ Will uses this to help boost your concentration in the best way possible – with music!
Science has discovered that after about twenty minutes in a crowded, loud environment that individuals were able to concentrate on their work while drowning out the outside noise (see there is reason behind those coffee-house study dates!). So the trick for Focus @ Will is to find something that will occupy your brain just enough to allow the other part of your mind to concentrate on the task at hand. But not all music is created the same as they found, lyrics can be distracting to workers as well as music that the listeners perhaps liked or disliked.
Focus @ Will has developed an array of music collections to suit your every need (I personally enjoyed the classical and focus spa). I found they helped to calm my anxiety, allow me to relax and focus on the task at hand. They did not feel distracting and the music did not bother my co-workers at all, as I kept it playing on my computer while working throughout the day. I did take recommended breaks and you can even track your focus during your session.
So if you are ready to get your concentration on while listening to scientifically formulated music, head over to Focus @ Will to sign up for your free trial now!
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January 6, 2016
Complete Family Nutrition Book Review
Keep your family healthy with Complete Family Nutrition, your ultimate guide to nutrition and recipes geared towards the busy family.
About Complete Family Nutrition
Keeping our families healthy and nourished can be difficult in today’s fast-paced, eat-on-the-go lifestyle. It can be confusing to figure out who in your family needs-and doesn’t need-which nutrients as they grow.
Complete Family Nutrition is here to help. It is a one-stop visual guide to the best, most-balanced diet for every family member, from infants to adults. Ideal for busy parents and families concerned with eating healthy, Complete Family Nutrition explains how nutrition can promote healthy weight, optimal memory, growth and development, digestive health, and balanced moods. It discusses the essential nutrients (and serving sizes) that each family member needs, and includes details on proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, and salt.
Fifty easy-to-follow recipes are included so that you can help keep your family on track.
My Thoughts
A fantastic resource and recipe guide for the whole family. Each section is broken down by need (children, babies, prenatal, diabetic, etc..). It also includes helpful suggestions on the important nutrients, actual serving sizes (which is super helpful for someone who grew up in an Italian family!) and helpful tips and ideas. I love her background and she writes honestly and full of explanation. This is not a book that will leave you puzzled about proper nutrition but instead leave you inspired and ready to tackle your New Years resolutions! Jane truly lives nutrition and healthy living and this shines through her book. I love her statement that “food nourishes your life, not just your body” and have tried to embody this saying.
Her recipes are incredibly easy to follow and delicious. All of the ingredients are simple, healthy items you should be able to find in your pantry or refrigerator and if not head out to the grocery store to stock up! You will not be disappointed as they are full of flavour and taste.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Jane Clarke, BSc (Honours) SRD, is Britain’s most trusted Nutritionist
and a trained Cordon Bleu Chef, whose belief is grounded in the simple statement that: ‘food nourishes your life, not just your body’.
Jane’s mission is to change people’s lives through the power of nourishment and she has pursued this ambition through her extensive writing, TV presenting, personal appearances, charity work and private practices, which she has run for over 15 years.
Jane continues to inspire and inform the great British public by writing for a variety of publications. She has written for, amongst others: The Daily Mail, Observer, London Times and The Mail on Sunday. Jane is one of the most influential Health Writers in the UK and Europe today.
Also a qualified Dietician she continues to spearhead Nutrition and Dietetic practices in London and Leicester advising some of Britain’s leading professional sports people and many of the world’s biggest music and media personalities whilst also continuing to treat young children, teenagers and adults with health problems such as Diabetes, IBS, Dementia, Depression and Jane runs a specialist Cancer and Dementia Nutrition practice in Marylebone, just around the corner to the major London Oncology Centres and hospitals. You can visit Jane on her website.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Complete Family Nutrition in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 4, 2016
Kubo and the Two Strings
Get ready for a thrilling adventure and mystery, as a young boy must save his family in Kubo and the Two Strings.
Kubo and the Two Strings features some of your favourite celebrities including Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, Rooney Mara and Ralph Fiennes. The film, slated to open August 19, 2016, is brought to us by Laika whose film roll also includes The Boxtrolls and Paranorman.
About Kubo and the Two Strings
Kubo and the Two Strings is an epic action-adventure set in Japan. Clever, kindhearted Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson of Game of Thrones) eke out a humble living, telling stories to the people of his seaside town including Hosato (George Takei), Hashi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) and Kamekichi (Academy Award nominee Brenda Vaccaro). But his quiet existence is shattered when he accidentally summons a spirit from his past that storms down from the heavens to enforce an age-old vendetta. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey), and sets out on a thrilling quest to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known. With the help of his shamisen – a magical musical instrument – Kubo must battle gods and monsters, including the vengeful Moon King (Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes) and the evil twin Sisters (Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara) to unlock the secret of his legacy, reunite his family and fulfill his heroic destiny (no small task there!).
The Trailer
Watch out for more information coming to you later this year!
January 4, 2016
Energy Bites Book Review
Welcome to the new year! Many of you may be already making resolutions to eat healthier, lose weight and to get active. I know many of these are on my on long-term goal lists. Eating healthy is a long-term commitment, that sometimes we can find ourselves unsure of where to start and what food choices to begin with. Energy Bites turns snacks into protein packed and energy fueled nutrition for your body and overall health.
About Energy Bites
15 flavorful recipes for high-protein, bite-sized balls of balanced nutrition to increase vitality and wellness.
Keep your blood sugar steady and your energy levels high with the ultimate snack for active lifestyles: protein balls.
Energy Bites features 15 bake and no-bake vegetarian recipes for sweet and savory bite-sized balls to feed your need for a healthy treat. A core of protein-rich ingredients combine with low-GI carbohydrates and healthy fats in frozen avocado balls, yellow lentil seed balls, kale and seaweed balls, and more. Step-by-step photography, explanations of cooking techniques, and a special infographic feature will have you building and creating your own recipes in no time.
Whether you are looking for a post-workout refuel, an intense immunity boost, a healthy midday pick-me-up, or a nutritious on-the-go treat for kids, Energy Bites has a super snack that will help you achieve your goal without having to compromise on flavor.
My Thoughts
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this extremely helpful recipe book. It was easy to follow with clear directions (and substitutions you can make) along with bright, bold and delicious looking photographs. The ingredients I did have to pick up as some were not ingredients that I commonly stored but it was well worth it. I tried out the Banana Peanut Butter bites, Spicy Sweet Potato bites and Fruit bites. My personal favourite was the fruit bites and I added in some Goji berries! They were delicious, it was actually hard to stop eating them. I made several batches and kept them ready in the fridge to go as a snack. They made the perfect snack for work (easy to pop out for a quick break at the desk and not messy), late night snack or an early morning bite with my coffee. The book also includes the caloric breakdown for each item to help you with your meal planning. Energy Bites will be the perfect addition to your recipe book collection!
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Kate Turner is a biodynamic gardener, forager, home chef, author of the popular blog Homegrown Kate, and mother of three. Annie Nichols is a respected culinary writer, home economist, photographer, and stylist.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Energy Bites in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 4, 2016
Dare to Dream with Disney On Ice
Disney On Ice has been a long-standing tradition not only in my home but throughout my childhood. Every holiday break marked our yearly trip downtown to Toronto to watch magic come alive with Disney On Ice. My parents would take us along with their close friends and their children to watch Disney come to life through music, dance and lights.
We would hop on the subway and our poor parents had to ensure we were at the front of the subway line to get the best view for our trip. Nothing beat watching the ride out of the front window and sometimes getting lucky and the conductor allowing you to view the inside of the controls. We all still have fond memories of hopping off and heading to the Sky Dome, which I still call it by this name to my children’s annoyance as they like to remind me that is now called the Rogers Centre!
Disney on Ice was magical from the moment you stepped inside the stadium. The vibe in the air is full of excitement (sometimes we dressed up in our costumes), the smell of popcorn and the areas marked off for souvenirs and programs. To think this is just the prelude to come! I can still remember the magic as the skaters brought the Disney story to life through dance, music and props.
This is what I couldn’t wait for my children to experience when we headed to Toronto for Disney on Ice Dare to Dream. Sharing these moments with my own children to me has been one of the highlights of parenting. I now know why my parents loved taking us year after year! The look on their faces as the stadium dimmed and the first sounds of music started and out came Mickey and Minnie was priceless. As the show evolved, we found ourselves singing and dancing in our seats. My children and husband were quite impressed with my Disney song knowledge (my personal favourite being all of the songs from The Little Mermaid). I won’t even lie our trip ended with us coming home for a Disney movie marathon! We watched the classics (The Sword in the Stone and Beauty and the Beast) and newer classics like Mulan. This made our whole experience memorable beyond compare. My children are already talking about what the next Disney on Ice should be!
What are your favourite childhood Disney memories? Keep up to date with all things Disney Junior, videos, games and more by visiting the Disney Junior website.
Disclosure: I received tickets to attend this event but was not obligated to post, all opinions expressed are my own.