Yes, if you've lived in Colorado for any amount of time, you know that March can be one of our snowiest months. With that said, we have a great and easy crock pot soup recipe to keep away the chills at night that still lay ahead for the next month.
Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
INGREDIENTS:
3 Packages (12 ounces each) frozen cooked winter squash, thawed & drained OR about 4 1/2 cups mashed cooked butternut squash.
2 Cans (14.5 oz each) chicken broth
1 Medium Golden delicious apple - peeled, cored & chopped
2 Tablespoons minced onion
1 Tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 Teaspoon minced fresh sage or 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1/4 Teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 Cup whipping cream or half-and-half
PROCESS:
1. Combine squash, broth, apple, onion, brown sugar, sage and ginger in crock pot.
2. Cover; cook on LOW about 6 hours or on HIGH for about 3 hours - until squash is tender.
3. Puree soup in food processor or blender. Stir in cream before serving.
Makes 6-8 servings.
Note: For thicker soup, use only 3 cups of chicken broth.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Dear Just Be: I'm in a rut...can you suggest any new work out tips or activities?
So you've started off the new year with a bang and gotten into an exercise program. Thats great! But after 2 full months are you getting bored? Spice it up with different activities...you don't always have to lift weights, use the treadmill, etc. Eventually you will plateau with your workout if you don't change it up. Here are some thoughts:
If you belong to a gym or a public recreation center, grab a swimsuit and swim some laps, run in the swim lanes or lift "weights" in the pool.
Take up a new exercise class and get out of your comfort zone. Zumba seems to be all the rage lately and spin classes are a hit as well. Look into kick-bocking, belly dancing, tai-chi, step aerobics and yoga or pilates.
Not into classes? Pick up a jump rope or a hula hoop for a solo activity. When was the last time you did a set up jumping jacks? Or grab a basketball or tennis racket and get a game started for a more social scene. There are indoor soccer leagues around the Denver area as well.
Want a complete change of scenery? you can get plenty of exercise outside of the gym as well. Take a walk along one of our many trails in Denver (or go into a mall to avoid the cold and snow) or go snowshoeing in the high country. Pick a night with some friends and go bowling (even Wii bowling at a friends house burns calories!) or find an indoor skating rink (ice or roller). Dancing- any kind- is also a great way to get fit.
Hope you can add some fun into your exercise program!
If you belong to a gym or a public recreation center, grab a swimsuit and swim some laps, run in the swim lanes or lift "weights" in the pool.
Take up a new exercise class and get out of your comfort zone. Zumba seems to be all the rage lately and spin classes are a hit as well. Look into kick-bocking, belly dancing, tai-chi, step aerobics and yoga or pilates.
Not into classes? Pick up a jump rope or a hula hoop for a solo activity. When was the last time you did a set up jumping jacks? Or grab a basketball or tennis racket and get a game started for a more social scene. There are indoor soccer leagues around the Denver area as well.
Want a complete change of scenery? you can get plenty of exercise outside of the gym as well. Take a walk along one of our many trails in Denver (or go into a mall to avoid the cold and snow) or go snowshoeing in the high country. Pick a night with some friends and go bowling (even Wii bowling at a friends house burns calories!) or find an indoor skating rink (ice or roller). Dancing- any kind- is also a great way to get fit.
Hope you can add some fun into your exercise program!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Dear Just Be: I come from a warm climate state and don’t know how to drive in snow and on ice. Do you have some advice for how to drive safely?
Even for those of us who have grown up with the snow and ice, we all need to be reminded how to drive in these inclement conditions.
When driving after or during a snowfall keep these points in mind:
• Keep your speed low, at least 5 miles below the posted speed limit, and keep headlights on low.
• Don’t use cruise control in icy, snowy or even wet conditions.
• Drive in the lane that was most recently cleared.
• Avoid changing lanes to decrease your risk of losing control when driving over built-up snow between lanes.
• On an icy road, focus your attention as far ahead as possible (at least 20 to 30 seconds). One of the greatest mistakes people make is thinking that because they drive an SUV or truck they can break faster and are not susceptible to the ice. This logic is completely false. An SUV or truck weights much more than a car and so it will take longer for a vehicle of that size to stop.
One of the scarier situations you can find yourself in while driving in snow and ice is when your car begins to skid. Below are step by step processes for handling a rear-wheel or front-wheel skid.
If you find your car in a rear-wheel skid continue to look down the road and steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go. Take your foot off the brake and ease off the gas if the rear wheels lose traction due to powerful acceleration (rear-wheel drive). Continue to steer to avoid a rear-wheel skid in the opposite direction. As the car/SUV straightens out, shift to the gear appropriate to your driving speed (if applicable) and/or accelerate gently.
In a front-wheel skid, again continue to look towards where you want to go. Take your foot off the brake and ease your foot off the accelerator. If the front wheels have turned previous to the loss of traction, don't move the steering wheel. As soon as traction returns, you will be able to steer the vehicle again. Steer gently in the direction you desire and accelerate slowly to a safe speed.
For more safety tips and tricks for driving in inclement weather look into AAA Colorado. Their monthly magazine and website (www.aaa.com) are full of helpful tips on driving, car maintenance, and even travel ideas.
When driving after or during a snowfall keep these points in mind:
• Keep your speed low, at least 5 miles below the posted speed limit, and keep headlights on low.
• Don’t use cruise control in icy, snowy or even wet conditions.
• Drive in the lane that was most recently cleared.
• Avoid changing lanes to decrease your risk of losing control when driving over built-up snow between lanes.
• On an icy road, focus your attention as far ahead as possible (at least 20 to 30 seconds). One of the greatest mistakes people make is thinking that because they drive an SUV or truck they can break faster and are not susceptible to the ice. This logic is completely false. An SUV or truck weights much more than a car and so it will take longer for a vehicle of that size to stop.
One of the scarier situations you can find yourself in while driving in snow and ice is when your car begins to skid. Below are step by step processes for handling a rear-wheel or front-wheel skid.
If you find your car in a rear-wheel skid continue to look down the road and steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go. Take your foot off the brake and ease off the gas if the rear wheels lose traction due to powerful acceleration (rear-wheel drive). Continue to steer to avoid a rear-wheel skid in the opposite direction. As the car/SUV straightens out, shift to the gear appropriate to your driving speed (if applicable) and/or accelerate gently.
In a front-wheel skid, again continue to look towards where you want to go. Take your foot off the brake and ease your foot off the accelerator. If the front wheels have turned previous to the loss of traction, don't move the steering wheel. As soon as traction returns, you will be able to steer the vehicle again. Steer gently in the direction you desire and accelerate slowly to a safe speed.
For more safety tips and tricks for driving in inclement weather look into AAA Colorado. Their monthly magazine and website (www.aaa.com) are full of helpful tips on driving, car maintenance, and even travel ideas.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Dear Just Be: I purchased a new computer and want to make sure it is safe. Any suggestions?
Many of us are aware of viruses that can harm and damage our computers- taking away precious work hours, or recreational time. At our offices we don't normally need to worry about such things as there is an IT department doing much of the work behind the scenes - setting up firewalls, protecting our computers with anti-virus software, and automatically backing up our information.
In addition to having sufficient security for your computer; anti-virus and malware programs running, you should also back up your computer routinely. In the event of a virus, power failure or hard disk problems, you will be glad you saved your files!
What should you back up? Your important files, folders, photos, videos, and Outlook contact files.
How often should you back up my computer? Most experts agree to back up your computer weekly. However, if you use your computer daily (for important work), it is best to back up important files daily and other data weekly.
How do you back up my computer? There are several options here. First you can purchase an external hard drive and they typically come with back up software. You can also back up to a flash drive. Before buying either of these items you should check to see how many Gigabytes are on your internal hard drive, add a few more to be safe and then buy an external hard drive or flash drive to meet that capacity.
You can also choose to back up your computer off-site. This is a good idea in case there is a fire or water damage or a burglary to the home you are in and the physical computer and back up system are destroyed or taken. In this scenario you will have 2 external hard drives or flash drives and you store one somewhere safe outside of your home.
The last option is to back up your computer on-line. There are a number of companies all over that offer this service and for a nominal fee, such as $1/GB per month (usually with a minimum GB.)
We hope this helps and keeps your computer safe and working!
In addition to having sufficient security for your computer; anti-virus and malware programs running, you should also back up your computer routinely. In the event of a virus, power failure or hard disk problems, you will be glad you saved your files!
What should you back up? Your important files, folders, photos, videos, and Outlook contact files.
How often should you back up my computer? Most experts agree to back up your computer weekly. However, if you use your computer daily (for important work), it is best to back up important files daily and other data weekly.
How do you back up my computer? There are several options here. First you can purchase an external hard drive and they typically come with back up software. You can also back up to a flash drive. Before buying either of these items you should check to see how many Gigabytes are on your internal hard drive, add a few more to be safe and then buy an external hard drive or flash drive to meet that capacity.
You can also choose to back up your computer off-site. This is a good idea in case there is a fire or water damage or a burglary to the home you are in and the physical computer and back up system are destroyed or taken. In this scenario you will have 2 external hard drives or flash drives and you store one somewhere safe outside of your home.
The last option is to back up your computer on-line. There are a number of companies all over that offer this service and for a nominal fee, such as $1/GB per month (usually with a minimum GB.)
We hope this helps and keeps your computer safe and working!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Dear Just Be: I want to go on a spring break trip but don't want to spend a lot of money, do you have any tips?
Starting to plan for your spring break trip now in February is a great idea! Planning in advance can save you time and money. First tip, decide why you are getting away. Is it to relax, see and do new things? Second tip, set a budget for how much you are willing to spend on your trip. Make sure to include every little detail into your budget calculations. Gas money, money for snacks or a bottle of water, money to tip servers, taxi drivers or house keeping - these little details can add up quickly and catch you off guard. Third tip, don't go over your budgeted amount. A great way to stay within your budget is to pay everything with cash! The fourth tip, vacation in uncommon areas (i.e. not touristy). Due to the recession, many people have discovered that staycations are a great way to get out, relax, see and do new things without spending a lot of money. If you have the privilege of living in Colorado, there is a plethora of places for you to go. Hot or cold, it is all relatively close by.
If you want to get away from the snow and cold that we have received lately, go down to Arizona to warm up. Phoenix is approximately 585 miles from the Denver metro area and the temperature this time of year is 60 to 70 degrees. Also, with current fuel prices the cost in gas for you to drive to Phoenix would be $121 round trip - currently the cost of a round trip airline ticket. The difference between flying and driving is that the price of gas and driving won't go up as dramatically if you wait as opposed to purchasing airline tickets.
If the cold and snow don't bother you then plan to visit one of the many unique areas that make up Colorado. For instance, visit Colorado's wine country on the Western slope. Visit Colorado's casino towns, or relax at one of Colorado's hot springs. If you enjoy taking in great artwork drive to beautiful Salida, Colorado. This little mining town has artwork that could be seen in big metropolitan areas like New York City.
Whether you decide you are getting away to rest and relax, or to see and do new things, you don't have to travel across the country or around the world to find it. Do your homework, and you will discover what you are looking for is in your own backyard.
Below are some great sites for you to check out and get ideas on what to do and how to save money on your spring break trip this year.
http://www.colorado.com/HotDeals.aspx
http://www.travelmath.com/
If you want to get away from the snow and cold that we have received lately, go down to Arizona to warm up. Phoenix is approximately 585 miles from the Denver metro area and the temperature this time of year is 60 to 70 degrees. Also, with current fuel prices the cost in gas for you to drive to Phoenix would be $121 round trip - currently the cost of a round trip airline ticket. The difference between flying and driving is that the price of gas and driving won't go up as dramatically if you wait as opposed to purchasing airline tickets.
If the cold and snow don't bother you then plan to visit one of the many unique areas that make up Colorado. For instance, visit Colorado's wine country on the Western slope. Visit Colorado's casino towns, or relax at one of Colorado's hot springs. If you enjoy taking in great artwork drive to beautiful Salida, Colorado. This little mining town has artwork that could be seen in big metropolitan areas like New York City.
Whether you decide you are getting away to rest and relax, or to see and do new things, you don't have to travel across the country or around the world to find it. Do your homework, and you will discover what you are looking for is in your own backyard.
Below are some great sites for you to check out and get ideas on what to do and how to save money on your spring break trip this year.
http://www.colorado.com/HotDeals.aspx
http://www.travelmath.com/
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