{THE SKINNY RULES + GIVEAWAY}

As promised earlier, here is my GIVEAWAY for English speaking readers, since it is written in English.
 'THE SKINNY RULES' by BOB HARPER with GREG CRITSER.

Just LOVED this book; not for trying to lose weight but for EATING healthy and especially in regard to Diabetes type 2 and Pre-Diabetes.

What I learned from this book especially is Rule #18: Finish eating your meals by 8:00 PM for having a better and healthier sleep too. Makes sense! All babies are being fed on a very regular schedule, so where did we all get side-tracked?

Yes, BOB HARPER is a world-renowned fitness trainer and star of the NBC reality series The Biggest Loser, which finished its thirteenth season in 2012.

His way of writing is also full of humor!

Being Bob Harper appeared in the Costco Connection on June, 2012 (click it) on 

Pages 26, 27 and 28.

Page 27

Page 28

His book I only can highly recommend to anyone wanting to find out more about eating healthy!

The book also is full of practical, easy to follow recipes.

Harper's approach on Page 18, about going vegan...

'But after a few years, the benefits start to wane. I was fatigued. And I was getting... soft, which is not a particularly good thing if you are the trainer for a show called The Biggest Loser...

Page 55 - BE YOUR OWN SUGAR POLICE

Page 57 - We like potatoes so much we're beginning to look like them.

Page 65 - Let us now come to your pancreas and liver. Chronic eating of concentrated sugars and bad fats tells the organs to make more insulin and more blood fat, as your muscles become resistant to the insulin. This is called type 2 diabetes. 

Page 77  Salt - Puffy bags under the eyes...

Page 161 about PROTEINS

Protein helps keep blood sugar and insulin in check, making it easier to maintain weight loss and keeping chronic diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol at bay.

Guess this did give you a good insight into what type of book it is.

Very beneficial for all those that like to prevent Diabetes Type 2 or even Pre-Diabetes.

For the year 2050 it is said that one in three could end up having the disease. You can read more in my previous article, via link below. 

~~0~~

You can either order THE SKINNY RULES book at Amazon (click) or get a FREE copy as a GIVEAWAY if you manage the English language. 

How can you earn this FREE book?

Go to my website: Mariette's Back to Basics and click on my Google+ Page button and follow.

Once on my Google+ Page, leave a message there.

If you do Tweet about my Google+ Page let me know via: AngelsnRosebuds

From my website, you can have another entry when going to the top right and click on the FB Page logo. Click LIKE  and do leave me a message; making sure to do so UNDER any story that is on my Timeline.

If you again do Tweet about my FB Page, or share, let me know and that too counts as an entry.

THAT'S IT - GOOD LUCK

Ends September 30, 8:00 PM EST

Related link:
{Diabetes Type 2, & Iranian Medicine about Sesame Seed Paste or Tahini} | previous post

{Tuscan Red Quinoa Salad - Whole Foods Sarasota FL}

When we were in Sarasota, FL during our stay at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota we went shopping at Whole Foods Market for our next stay at the Hyatt House Miami Airport. That's when I did spot this healthy looking Tuscan Red Quinoa Salad. Sure enough, before we did go on vacation to Arizona, I did prepare this and want to share it with you here.

This is how it looked at Whole Foods in Sarasota, FL...

Thanks to my iPhone, I captured the 'ingredients'...

Also ribbon kale, a healthy Superfood.

Red Quinoa I found at Trader Joe's 

Let me list here the ingredients that I used:

Red Quinoa used the 16 oz

1 Onion diced

Garlic to taste

2 Zucchini diced

2 Yellow Squash diced

1 Red bell pepper diced

Ribbon Kale

Sun dried tomatoes

Pine nuts

1 Can Garbanzo beans

1 Can pitted green olives (I used black olives)

Lemon juice

Cook the Red Quinoa according to package.
Stir fry the onions and the garlic in some olive oil, than add the other veggies, pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes

Adding the halved olives and the ribbon kale and finally the cooked Red Quinoa and the lemon juice...

Your Tuscan Red Quinoa Salad is ready to eat!

Related link:

{Sarasota, Florida - Hyatt Regency} | previous post by me

{Shaved Brussels Sprouts & Tofu with Tri Color Quinoa} | previous post by me

{Our Brown Jordan Chaise & Wolford Bathing Suit Score}

Don't know about you, but things in life seldom go as planned... at least not for both of us.
After Pieter finished last year with the tiles on our balcony, we did order a Brown Jordan Chaise after we fell in love with it at the HYATT house Atlanta/Cobb Galleria during our stay of July 17.
First we had to search the internet and than order ONE.
The question over and over was; how many do you need for your resort?! 

It took all summer though... On September 24, finally we drove to Atlanta to the warehouse where it had been delivered. I came back with this very chaise on TOP of my cute ute; the now 17-year old Ravy, my Toyota RAV4!

BUT no more summer use for 2013, only this year after a LONG wait because of a wet spring and big part of the summer, I got to use our new Brown Jordan Chaise!

This is it; different color frame however.

Ours is: Brown Jordan Patio Stacking Adjustable Flight Chaise 3940-7000 in White Lite color 055 with Versatex Mesh in Latte 1079

Yep, that's me wearing my Outlet Score from May 3, when we went to The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Florida...

Just keep in mind that I am 3 x the age of your average model of 21 years young!

The sun is way too harsh to even look...

My natural gray hair; never ever used any dye...

THIS is a professional model and a lot younger!

But this triple-age girl was mighty proud for having snatched up a Wolford Forming Swimbody in Black, size Small, in cup B, with a whopping 75% Rebate!
Now that's what I call Outlet Scores; high quality for a steal.

Yep, my Egyptian feet...

Now each of us has a chaise on the balcony...

Love this new Brown Jordan Chaise & my Wolford Bathing Suit!
I had to laugh because: Wolford will discontinue its swimwear in spring 2015 (just click it)
Even though, I never will be making over–time on the balcony like this...

Related links:

{'Ravy', my Toyota RAV4 is 15 today!} | previous post by me from 2012...

{Our now WHITE Barlow Tyrie Capri Lounger with Wheels} | previous post by me

{Barlow Tyrie Capri Lounger with Cushioned Velour Cover} | previous post by me
{The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass} | previous post by me
{Outlet Scores} | previous post by me
{What Type of Feet do YOU have?} | previous post by me
{My First Trip to the City of Romance | VENICE, ITALY} | previous post by me

{Our Bonfire Prunus Persica - Patio Peach Foliage & Fruit}

Our Bonfire Prunus Persica or Patio Peach is supposed to have spectacular Fall Foliage & Fruit!

Well, it is not yet Fall here in the South East but yes, we were very surprised to see some PEACHES!

What do you think of that?!

All that, just from a Patio Peach as one of our pot plants...

This is the fall foliage what we are supposed to see later in the season.

Quite a surprising little Peach Tree!

Yep, we do honor our state of Georgia as it is called the PEACH STATE!
Picture taken, 5 days before we flew to Phoenix, Arizona for our 7-day vacation...

However small, those are real peaches.
When we got back from our vacation in Arizona, the peaches were gone...

Not all peaches made it as we did not use any pesticide... That's what you get if you only grow ORGANIC - whatever that really means!

For the time being, we enjoy it as a cute little tree that is full of surprises.
And again we look forward to its spectacular spring blossoms like you could see in a previous post via link below...

Related link:
{Our Bonfire Prunus Persica - Patio Peach} - previous post by me

{197 Countries Visited - Welcome Somalia + Update}

Once more: thank you so much for visiting my humble blog and for all your comments!

Again a new flag got added on September 14, Country # 197 visited; welcome Somalia!

We did enjoy our 7-day vacation in Arizona and you will see more about it later...
Soon there will be an interesting GIVEAWAY for the English speaking, on September 23, so please stay tuned!

Related link:
{196 Countries Visited  - Welcome Liberia} | previous post

{Diabetes Type 2, & Iranian Medicine about Sesame Seed Paste or Tahini}

It does not matter if you are Pre-Diabetes, Diabetes or even Type 2 Diabetes but we all should educate ourselves about Healthy Living by Simple Lifestyle Changes...

Sesame Seed Paste or Tahini...

NO Sugars, NO Cholesterol and low Sodium are some great Nutricion Facts!

In Vietnam, Sesame is known as the king of oil seeds and all over the Middle East it is a very popular seed.

We ALL can learn from those healthier diets in the Far and Middle East, like from Persia!

Read more helpful information here: November 2013 Archives of Iranian Medicine about Sesame seed paste or tahini as it does lower the blood sugar level in Diabetes Type 2 patients.

Diabetes-proof for life Reduce your risk with simple lifestyle changes.

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) estimates that 79 million American adults have pre-diabetes, defined by above-normal blood sugar levels. That's 35 percent of adults 20 and older, and half of adults 65 and older.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US and a major cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and blindness, so a diagnosis of pre-diabetes is serious.

For reading this on page 72 and 73 in the Pdf click here: Costco Connection November 2011 

Vitamine D is important!

Cinnamon is such a healthy spice...

Avoid low fiber 'white' carbohydrates such as white pasta, white bread and white rice.

Mayoclinic - Living with diabetes Kidney disease: No early symptoms. Just click this link to learn that unfortunately early kidney disease has no symptoms. Guess that's why I do have Chronic Kidney Disease stage II...
Being diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2, can be quite shocking, as I know from personal experience in 2007, but we can continue to live healthy!
Will share more posts on the subject as there are so many people facing this health issue.

Related links:

The Pre-Diabetes Diet Everyone Needs | Barbara Borcik (quoted in above Costco article): Pull back on portions. You still can eat many of the foods you like, just have smaller amounts of them. Borcik says, adding that this is especially true for starchy foods like white rice, white potatoes, and pasta.

Eating white rice daily ups diabetes risk, study shows | Study author Dr. Qi Sun, a diabetes researcher at Harvard School of Public Health, told WebMD that eating white rice could cause a sudden spike in blood sugar. White rice also doesn't contain as many nutrients as brown rice, which is packed in fiber, magnesium and vitamins. The researchers said not getting enough of these nutrients could contribute to type 2 diabetes risk.
Diabetes in Japan: a review of disease burden and approaches to treatment | In recent years there has been rapid growth in diabetes in Japan which now is one of the nations most affected by the worldwide diabetes epidemic.

{Cucumbers & Gherkins Explained to You}

Guess all over the world there is a lot of misunderstanding about the so-called 'CUKES'.

So why not have 'Cucumbers & Gherkins Explained to You?!

Finding these French CORNICHONS at Trader Joe's made my heart sing!

Cornichons is French and means horn, corni. In English it is Gherkins or Augurkjes from the Dutch diminutive of augurk.

Back in The Netherlands, I have picked tons of tiny Gherkins in my Parents' greenhouse, in summer time.

You had to wear gloves and long sleeves as they have very prickly spines.
We also used to grow them in the fields and Dad had to wash them in a tub. 

Before they end up in the market they have been rubbed down so they lose their thorns.

The cucumber is an annual that originated in India, where its wild ancestor Cucumis hardwickii Royale may still be found in the subtropical valleys of the Himalayas. This ancient cucumber is bitter...

link: A Brief History of Heirloom Cucumber Varieties

Gherkin. The word is of Persian origin, angārah, passing through Greek and Polish, and entering the English language from early modern Dutch, in which the diminutive gurkkijn or agurkkijn denotes a small cucumber. link: Gherkins.askdefinebeta.com

The so-called English cucumber is long, smooth and often seedless.

They mainly are grown inside a greenhouse where bees are excluded.

That is called: Parthenocarpy. In botany and horticulture, parthenocarpy literally meaning virgin fruit) is the natural or artificially production of fruit without fertilization of ovules.

The modern English cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a refinement of the original gherkins and are therefore seen in botany as completely identical. Only the English Cucumber at the modern greenhouse operations has been bred in such a way that there is no male flower present.

Only female flowers provide beautiful glossy fruit without annoying spines or hairs. The cucumber grows out without any form of pollination or fertilization being necessary, this phenomenon is called parthenocarpy. The fruits contain just what thin, empty seeds that do not need to be removed.

Pollination by bees or bumblebees, that just visited a gherkin plantation, is even detrimental. Then there will be cucumbers that form seeds. These fruits are not so slim, even rather spherical, and will be filled with seeds. Gherkins, zucchini, pumpkins, ornamental gourds, squash and patty pan squash all belong to the family of the Cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae).

Cucumis sativus - Cucumber link to read more. 

Hope this did clarify a little bit about their differences...

Related links:
{Persian Cucumbers & Slicer} | previous post by me
{Cute Cumbers 100% Mom Approved} | previous post by me

{Cute Cumbers 100% Mom Approved}

A couple of months ago we noticed a fun mini snack at Costco...

Cute Cumbers, 100% Mom Approved!

Being the daughter of a Market Gardener, I can only appreciate this kind of product!

These treats are 100% mom approved...

They really are very Crunchy!

Have you tried any yet?

Related link:

{Persian Cucumbers & Slicer} | previous post by me

{Feeder turned into Bird House}

On May 25 I did show you the special Gift Bird Feeder that we received in The Netherlands. Two sweet little kids had hand painted it for us and Pieter hung it up against a tree. There was a jar inside with some kind of peanut-butter-like bird food. It got emptied but all of a sudden some critter had tossed the entire jar out of the feeder! That happened more than once, we knew that could not be done by a squirrel so maybe a raccoon or possom did it. Pieter decided to change it into a Bird House instead!

Here it is; converted into a Bird House!

That was quite a large and heavy jar with yummy food but it got pulled out of this Feeder several times...

This little girl with her brother had hand painted it...

Pieter, being color blind himself, tried to match the artwork of the little girl and her artist brother...

In the back you can see a hand made Squirrel Proof Bird House by Pieter, link you find below post.

This was a new addition and supposed to be squirrel proof. There is a spring that shuts off by weight but the squirrels hang upside down from the roof tip and easily manage to grab whatever they like.

It does not have enough height for keeping the squirrels from reaching far enough. Too bad!

A hummingbird feeder hangs to the right.

Related link:
{Gift Bird Feeder} | previous post by me
{DIY Squirrel Proof Bird Houses} | previous post by me
{HOME SWEET HOME} | previous post by me

{Hibiscus moscheutos Luna White}

In our garden we do have a very large variety of Hibiscus; the Hibiscus moscheutos Luna White, which can have dinner plate-sized, hollyhock-like flowers up to 8 inches or 20 cm in diameter. Its flowers are white with very dark red centers...

This photo from June 30, does show the spots where rain drops fell... We had lots of rain all summer.

There obviously is also an insect eating away all the green of its leaves, see to the left!

These Hibiscus moscheutos Luna White are quite a show!

Husband Pieter took these photos around 10:30 AM...

Again, lots of pollen for the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.

Plenty of new buds shown here!

Lovely dark red center!