Fabuloso Friday-29 Day Giving Challenge

Submitted by on February 27, 2009 - 11:30 am

Fellow LBL member, Cami Walker, has created an amazing project called the 29 Day Giving Challenge. The idea behind the 29 Day Giving Challenge is to give one thing away each day for 29 days. Why, you ask? Because to see your world change, you have to DO something to change your world. I can tell you, from personal experience, that giving is very powerful. I joined 29gifts.org last year and have found it to be such a great thing. By giving something away (whether it be money, an item, food, or even my time) I am doing good which, in turn, makes me feel good. (That’s what LBL is all about). So please take a moment and watch the 29 Day Giving Challenge video (on the LBL main page), check out the website or join the community. Help Cami grow her project. It really is a wonderful cause. Gracias.

Tentacion Thursdays!

Submitted by on February 26, 2009 - 9:18 pm

Hola Ana!!

I love your blogs!! Thank you for helping us stay young and educating us on how to live healthier lives!! I can’t wait to try out some of these new products!

Gracias!!

Sonia :)

Tentación Thursday-Ilike Sour Cherry Gel Mask

Submitted by on - 11:30 am

I LOVE facial masks. I usually do mud masks, but recently I was introduced to a Hungarian product line called Ilike. They have a sour cherry mud mask that is AMAZING! It smells good enough to eat and once you wipe it off, your skin is buttery soft. The Ilike Sour Cherry Gel Masque is vitamin rich and full of antioxidants. It firms, regenerates and hydrates the skin. Ilike uses naturally enriched Hungarian fruit to produce a great and unique collection of products which improves and strengthens the skin and body. All Ilike products are made in Hungary with organically grown and hand harvested ingredients and they are not tested on animals. Visit www.szepelet.com to learn about the entire Ilike Organic Skin Care product line.

(Enter a comment below and you may be the lucky LBL member who wins their own Ilike Sour Cherry Gel Mask).

Buen Sabor Wednesday-Tempeh Fajitas

Submitted by on February 25, 2009 - 11:30 am

I just love Mexican food, however it can tend to be quite heavy. I found this great recipe for tempeh fajitas and thought that you might like to try it out. Click here to see recipe.

Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans. It is a great protein alternative to meat, poultry, etc… It’s fermentation process and whole bean retention give it a higher protein, vitamin and dietary fiber content than tofu. It’s also richer in texture and flavor.

¡Buen provecho!

Terrífico Tuesday-En Mi Puertorro (Loco por Mi Habana)

Submitted by on February 24, 2009 - 11:30 am

This song is so much fun. It’s one of those songs that makes me wanna move. (Not to mention it’s all about beautiful Puerto Rico). It’s by Andy Montanez from his album Salsatón (Salsa con Reggaetón). He has been playing salsa for 4 decades but knows how to keep his sound fresh.
I had the honor of meeting Andy Montanez at the 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden. He was so nice. He happily posed with me and my Pilates gift bag (which all of the presenters and nominees received).

Listen to it on the La Buena Life Music Player. Enjoy!

Maravilloso Monday-If you can imagine it…

Submitted by on February 23, 2009 - 11:30 am

As many of you know, I was a ballerina in my former life. I started dance at the age of 3 1/2 and continued on for many, many years. On my bedroom wall growing up I had a poster of a ballerina, dressed in a gauzy white, flowing dress. Underneath her pointed toe shoe it read:

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.
William Arthur Ward

I looked at that poster every day, for years and years and years. I do believe that it is true. You first must be able to imagine what you dream of. You must really see it. You must also truly believe that you will achieve it. (The mind is very powerful). That being said, I challenge you to imagine what you dream, believe in your dream, and go after it!

Fabuloso Friday-Global Nomads Group

Submitted by on February 20, 2009 - 11:30 am

Every Friday we feature a noteworthy organization or interesting project. I am happy to launch La Buena Life and Fabuloso Fridays by featuring the Global Nomads Group (GNG). The Global Nomads group believe in fostering dialogue and understanding among the world’s youth. Established in 1998, the Global Nomads Group (GNG) is an international NGO that creates interactive educational programs for students about global issues. GNG’s educational programs include (1) four types of videoconferences — The PULSE, Currents, Innovations and Rapid Response — where students learn about and discuss subjects with their peers from around the world in live, facilitated sessions; and (2) videos and learning content on a variety of international issues relevant to teachers and students.

All GNG programs are directly linked to school curricula, education standards and 21st century learning objectives, and are accompanied by lesson plans and training to teachers. Programs are broadcast during the school day and cover a range of topics in the curriculum, including civics, social and global studies, geography, world history, science, economics and politics.

“It’s a simple idea,
but as you’re about
to see, it can have
a profound impact.”
-
Chris Cuomo
Good Morning America

To learn more about Global Nomads Group please watch the video (on the left) or visit Global Nomads Group , where you can also make a donation.

Tentación Thursday-Sweet Beauty Spa Products

Submitted by on February 19, 2009 - 11:30 am

YUM! Guilt free chocolate! If you love the smell of chocolate imagine bathing in it. No joke! I was recently introduced to Sweet Beauty Love Potion. It’s a delicious dark chocolate and rose scrub. It truly smells good enough to eat and leaves your skin silky smooth, to boot.

Inspired by her desire to create gourmet skincare dedicated to making you feel beautiful, Lisa Françoise created Sweet Beauty. With a passion for skin care—and chocolate—that can be traced back to her childhood, she has united her esthetic background and chocolatier’s taste as the entrepreneur responsible for Sweet Beauty’s ever-growing premium skincare line, featuring organic, fair trade certified chocolate.niche brand to go beyond saying a product is good because it tests well in the lab.

Lisa’s philosophy is based on three simple statements:

If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t wear it on your skin.
Beauty products should be a natural way for you to feel good.
Almost nothing makes you feel better than chocolate.

So, enjoy your, guilt free, chocolate with Sweet Beauty Products. (Enter a comment below and you may be the lucky LBL member who wins their own Sweet Beauty Love Potion Body Scrub).

Buen Sabor Wednesday-Healthy Arroz con Pollo

Submitted by on February 18, 2009 - 11:30 am

On Wednesdays you can look forward to a yummy (and healthy) recipe. This week I tracked down a Latin favorite, Arroz Con Pollo (chicken rice). I grew up on this dish. Eating arroz con pollo is the next best thing to going to beautiful Puerto Rico.

Try it out and let me know what you think! ¡Que rico!

Terrífico Tuesday-BANG BANG

Submitted by on February 17, 2009 - 11:30 am

Music is a big part of my life. I studied piano, flute and ballet and grew up in a house where classical music played throughout the house, courtesy of the local public radio station (where my mom happened to work). Did I mention that my brother is a professional musician? As you can probably imagine, I just LOVE music. There is music for all of my moods. Music uplifts me, moves me, calms me, motivates me or just makes me want to boogie down. Lord only knows, I couldn’t do my daily cardio workout without it. This week check out one of my favorites, when it comes to hitting the hills with my Baby Jogger City Classic (and baby, of course). Listen to Bang Bang (on the La Buena Life music player) by Tito Nieves.

Maravilloso Monday-I am only one

Submitted by on February 16, 2009 - 11:30 am

I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
- Edward Everett Hale

With that, I begin La Buena Life. Welcome. My goal is to do what I can to make your life a little fuller, fun and fabulous! Please join me on this ride.

Each Monday morning you will be greeted with an inspirational quote. I hope that these words will lift your spirits and start your week on a positive note.

Bienvenidos a La Buena Life!

Feel Good. Look Good. Do Good.

Fitness & Lifestyle Expert Ana Caban interviewed on FindingDulcinea.com & Encontrando Dulcinea.com

Submitted by on February 13, 2009 - 6:06 pm

I was interviewed on FindingDulcinea.com (in English) & EncontrandoDulcinea.com (in Spanish), today. Please click on the links, above to read the interview.

Bienvenidos a La Buena Life!

Submitted by on February 9, 2009 - 6:30 am

Welcome to La Buena Life. I am really excited about this site and hope that you will join me on the ride through its formation. After years of teaching Dance, Spanish & Fitness and inspiring people to feel and look better I was prompted to create a place where I could continue to share ideas and inspiration (beyond the DVD box).

On La Buena Life you can expect to be inspired, commended, entertained and more. Most importantly I want you to look forward to logging in to the site, or receiving an RSS feed with a quote, song, recipe, cool product, inspiring story and more. (Subscribe to the feeds and you will be entered to win cool gifts, too).

So, please join me on this adventure! I am sure that we’ll have fun.

Thank you,

Ana Caban