FocusPositives

June 2013@ Back yard, Goji berries.

April 2011@ Back yard, Goji berry flowers blooming

Fresh goji berries tastes bitter sweet. It has a bright red orange color, smaller then raisins and have shinny delicate skin. It’s addictive to eat, unlike the dried ones the seeds are not as noticeable or hard. In Chinese herbs it’s known to be good for your eyes. I’ve also been repeatedly told the same by my trusted mom. It’s great for those, like me, who stares at the computer screen, phone or gadgets almost every waking moment.

Goji berries tea benefits: Original source

枸杞子茶：枸杞子中含有丰富的胡萝卜素、维生素B1、维生素C、钙、铁等，具有补肝益肾、明目的作用，连续饮用两个月，就能起到明目、强壮筋骨、改善疲劳的作用。特别是对长期使用电脑引起的眼睛酸涩、疲劳、视力减退等问题的人，更有帮助。

Goji berries tea benefits: (Translated on Google translate)

Goji berries also known as wolf berries are rich in carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin C, calcium, iron, etc., Good for the liver and kidney, improve eyesight, continuous drinking for two months, you can brighten eyesight, strong bones and muscles, improve fatigue. Especially for long-term use of computer generated eye soreness, fatigue, vision loss and other problems, the more helpful.

For more information about Goji berrie you can read up more on the subject here.

How I make my Goji berry tea: (Super easy)

Take hand full of Goji berries and boil in a few cups of water for about 15min. Pour into a cup and add a teaspoon of honey if you like. Drink tea and eat berries.

Disclaimer:

For me this is valuable information passed on from my family and now I passed it on to you. This is what I do, you can try it if you like but I don’t guarantee anything for you. Try at your own risk.

The aim is to build a daily habit of exercising for at 30 minutes. In this challenge, do any form of physical activity for a streak of 7 days. If a break occurs, the challenge restarts until a streak of 7 days is reached.

Tips:

• Do something that’s not location or equipment related to minimize excuses for not doing it. Ex. Jump rope, dancing, jogging/walk in place, stairs…etc
• Do something you love and will not get bored with. I dance freestyle to Korean pop all over the house. I never get bored with it, it makes me happy.
• Use your favorite up beat music. Any activity will feel 500 times more fun.
• Just do something! Don’t sit! Move, wonder around the house like a zombie if you like, at least you are moving.

My records:
[wppb text=” 1 break, 7 days challenge completed!!!” progress=7days/7days color=#66CCFF endcolor=#3399CC gradient=0.2 percent=inside] Duration: 5/20/2013 – 5/31/2013
5/31: 30mins, 820 steps, dance/walk to Korean pop.
5/30: 55mins, 1690 steps, dance/walk to Korean pop. Today, I was told I dance like a robot :P.

Doodle of the day: Dancing like a robot

5/29: 40mins, 1120 steps, dance/walk to Korean pop
5/28: 45mins, 1197 steps, dance/walk to Korean pop
5/27: 3hr Hiking, 2hr Walking at to the Zoo for the very first time in the US (2nd time in my life)

May 2013@ Briones Regional Park, Felt so relaxed to just look at them.

May 2013 @ SF Zoo, The first time I went to the Zoo as a child I was most impressed with the giraffe and today they are just as graceful.

May 2013 @SF Zoo, Dreamy Bear

May 2013 @ SF Zoo, Shhh…They are plotting their escape. Reminds me of the movie, The Zookeeper.

5/26: 5hr, Shopwalking ^_^.
5/25: 30mins, slow walk around Saint Mary’s College. ” Successful people see failures as discovered ways of how not to do things” ~Alumni Speaker.
5/24: 0mins, RESTART CHALLENGE.
5/23: 31mins, 11314 steps, very slow jog to Korean pop
5/22: 50mins, 1515 steps, dance/walk to Korean pop
5/21: 45mins, 1145 steps, dance/walk to Korean pop
5/20: 0mins, Last night I didn’t sleep at all.

Focus on the basics and form simple good habits. Simple habits does not mean easy execution. Balance and regulate these habits religiously and you will see great improvements physically and mentally.

• eat = energize your body, with a healthy nutritious diet along with lots of water
• poop = detox your body, do #2 at least once a day
• sleep = rest your body, at least 8 hours a day
• exercise = move your body, at least 30 minutes a day
• play = rest your mind, form hobbies you enjoy
• work =  move your mind, use, build and improve your knowledge

🙂 Like they say “what goes in must come out” and “If you don’t move it you loose it”, that goes the same for your body and brain. As for play and work, I’d like to play all day and not have to work. My work would then be playing which mean my play would actually be work…???  Overexertion or idleness are extremes. Always have the Ying with the Yang for an even balance.

I learned this recipe when I visited my aunt in Hong Kong after college. It’s feels nice to cook for someone you love voluntarily. I am super lazy so this is rare. I’d like to do this more often. Seeing the one you love enjoy the food you cooked so much that they over stuff themselves and lay on the couch afterwards farting is just priceless. 😛

These are guesstimates of the quantities of ingredients for 2 people. You can always adjusts the ingredients as you learn. That’s how my mom always taught me cook.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 medium tomatoes (I like more tomatoes vs potatoes)
• 1-2 potatoes
• 2 eggs
• 2 cloves of garlic (or as much as you like, I love garlic, I use a whole bulb)
• black pepper, salt, sugar (to taste)

Preparation:

In a pot boil enough water to cover your tomatoes. Add the tomatoes in when the water boils and bring it to a boil again and turn off the heat after about a minute. Drain and flush tomatoes with cold water. The skin should break and make the tomatoes a lot easier to peel. Peel and slice the tomatoes into big chunks. Peel the potatoes and cut into small cubes about little less then 1/2″ wide for fast easy cooking. Chop garlic.

Cooking Directions:

Grease and heat a pan and scramble the eggs, make sure not to over cook, put the egg in a bowl. Using medium heat, I then use the same pan because I am lazy, add some oil, garlic and salt then stir in the potatoes for a minute or so add in enough water to half cover the potatoes. Lower heat, cover and cook for 5-10 minutes in a low simmer. Check on them to see if they are cooked and soft enough after 5 minutes, if not, cook longer, make sure the water does not dry out. When most of the water has evaporated add the tomatoes, stir and cook for a few minutes more, a lot of juice will come out of the tomatoes, you can either cook longer to condense the juice or you can leave it. I like to leave it, it’s great over rice. At this point you can add a bit of sugar to take away the sourness, add a little bit at a time to your taste. The same with the black pepper and salt. Last, stir in the eggs and turn off heat. Serve over rice.

For a noodle option:

I like to prepare the noodles or spaghetti ahead of time and stir it in the mixture the last minute and cook an extra 2-5mins, the extra juices in tomatoes soak into the noodle making it a lot tastier. You can chops some green onions and place them on top for more color and flavor.

It’s a fast, easy, healthy, and hearty meal that takes less then 1/2 hour to prepare. Enjoy! Share with me how it turn out.