Fabuloso Friday- Stay Tuned-Coming Soon La Buena Life TV!

Submitted by on April 30, 2010 - 6:30 pm

Please check back for more updates, or join my mailing list, (here or on www.anacaban.com).

Tentación Thursday- What Next?

Submitted by on April 29, 2010 - 4:37 pm

Hola mis amigos,

I want to thank you again for all of your support of my adventures, with this website and in my life. I am excited to say that I have several projects in development, as we speak. Get ready for some changes, in the next few weeks.
Gracias,
Ana

Terrifico Tuesday- BeChicMag.com

Submitted by on April 27, 2010 - 10:30 am

I’ve been busy in NYC. Catch a glimpse of my mat class at Yamuna Studio and some of the beautiful Prancing Leopard Organic apparel, from their trunk show there.

Maravilloso Monday- Catching Up With Friends & Family

Submitted by on April 26, 2010 - 1:55 pm

The best part about coming to NYC is getting to catch up with my friends and family. Over the past few days I have been able to see my parents, brother, sister-in-law and nephew, plus friends. (I am actually about to go out to lunch with another friend). I have also had time to chill out with my son and just relax. Recharging my batteries is so important.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

Terrífico Tuesday- One More Day and I’m Off to The Big Apple!

Submitted by on April 20, 2010 - 3:00 pm

I’m looking forward to broadcasting to you from New York City!

Maravilloso Monday- Pre-Race Pasta Dinner Winner!

Submitted by on April 19, 2010 - 10:30 am

Ana announces the winner of dinner with her, in NYC, the evening before her first half marathon.

Fabuloso Friday- When a Child Is Adopted, a Mother is Born

Submitted by on April 16, 2010 - 10:30 am

19 months ago my husband and I sat outside of a hospital nursery waiting for our child to be born. You see, my son, Vincent, was adopted at birth. And it’s true, “when a child is adopted, a mother is born”.


A dear friend of mine just sent me an email announcing the launch of her friends’ website AdoptingKnowledge.com. I loved this video, (the first in a series of webisodes), and wanted to share it with you all. There really is no love greater than that of a mother for her child. And as one of the mothers in the video states “Love trumps biology, any day of the week”.


I hope that you enjoy this video. Please share it with those who you think would benefit from this website. For more information please Click Here.

Tentación Thursday- Pilates Core Challenge

Submitted by on April 15, 2010 - 3:11 pm


¡Buenos días! I am off to the gym to do cardio and PIlates. So I decided that I’d gift one of my favorite Pilates DVDs, my Pilates Core Challenge. What I love about this programs is that 1. it was shot in beautiful and mystical Sedona, Arizona and 2. it offers you the opportunity to, (and challenge of), performing many of the Pilates exercises usually performed on equipment without the equipment. You use your own body weight as resistance. Get ready for a tough workout!

Here’s what one user had to say about it:

“I have been doing pilates for at least 5 years now and I was sick of doing the same tapes over and over. I recently discovered this workout on exercise TV on demand…then I ordered the DVD from Amazon. I LOVED IT! I am pretty in shape and I found this to still be challenging and a really good workout… It not only works your abs and core but your whole body…Ana Caban is a great trainer and I would recommend her beginner and intermediate pilates DVDS to start off.”

Danielle, Upstate NY

ONE Lucky La Buena Life Member will win this (autographed) DVD. For your chance to win please leave a comment in the box below. (Please submit comment by 7:00AM PDT, Thursday, April 22, 2010).

¡Buena suerte!

Buen Sabor Wednesday- Lentil Soup

Submitted by on - 6:30 am


  • Lately, I have been on a soup kick. I just love soup! One of my favorites, (and one of the ones that my son has no allergy to), is lentil soup. I had a great bowl today, at a Greek restaurant. I particularly loved how much tomato it had in it, (which not something that I usually find in lentil soup). So I tracked down this recipe to share with you all today.
  • The ingredients are:

  •
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups dry lentils
  • 8 cups water
  • 1/2 cup spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste

For cooking instructions Click Here.

What’s your favorite soup?

Terrífico Tuesday- Tips and Tricks to Getting & Staying Trim

Submitted by on April 13, 2010 - 10:30 am

Yesterday I was thinking about the tips and tricks that I used to stay fit and I thought that I’d share some of them with you.
  • Burn more calories than you ingest. (In other words, workout! Cardio is the best way to burn your fat reserves. So kick up the cardio!)
  • As a general rule, stick to eating lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Avoid processed and packaged foods.
  • Drink lots of water. (You should drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces each day, more so if you are doing a lot of exercise. For example: a 150 pound person should drink 75 ounces of water daily = about 9 glasses of water).
  • Limit your alcohol intake. Cocktails are usually loaded with calories and have no nutritional value.
  • Limit the snack food in your house. Fresh fruit, sliced veggies & salsa (not fatty dip), nuts, reduced fat cheese and things like this are better choices than packaged items that: #1 could live on a shelf for longer than you would like to know, #2 contain ingredients that your body cannot digest.
  • Plan your meals and snacks for the week and make a weekly trip to the supermarket. (Don’t forget to do this! If you do, you’ll end up grabbing things, “on the go”. These are usually the items that are packed with sodium, sugar and fat).
  • Before you eat anything ask yourself this question, “Will this food build me up or tear me down?”
  • Your body is your temple. Treat it accordingly.

Maravilloso Monday- Parenthood

Submitted by on April 12, 2010 - 10:30 am

I’ve found a new show to watch (when the day is done and there are no more diapers to change, sippy cups to wash, nor my 19 month old boy to run after). It’s Parenthood, on NBC (Tuesdays at 10:00PM). This video gives you a glimpse of what parenthood is and why a show about parenthood could be so much fun to watch, after a long day of playing a parent in real life.
I know that some of you out there are parents. Why don’t you finish the phrase, Parenthood is…

Fabuloso Friday- I am now a Spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation!

Submitted by on April 9, 2010 - 10:30 am

26 Million American adults have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and millions of others are at increased risk. The kidneys are vital organs, responsible not only for the removal of waste and fluid from our bodies but also so many other things such as: regulating blood and water levels in the body, removing drugs and toxins and releasing hormones into the body, which help with making red blood cells, promoting strong bones and regulating blood pressure. All that said, I am very excited to announce that I am now a Spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation. I am looking forward to doing what I can to increase awareness and prevention of CKD and to stress the need for organ donations.

On Saturday, June 19th I will participate in the Orange County Kidney Walk at University of California, Irvine. Join me for the Kidney Walk “Warm Up” and then walk with hundreds of others, each doing their part to raise funds and attention to the prevention of kidney disease.
To learn more about the National Kidney Foundation Click Here. To Join (or support) MY TEAM at the Irvine, CA Walk Click Here.

Tentación Thursday- The Secret

Submitted by on April 8, 2010 - 10:30 am

Last week a friend reminded me of the movie The Secret. I guess that I just really needed to be reminded of my own power. I saw this movie for the first time, several years ago, when I was going through a tough period of my life. Three friends, over the course of three consecutive days suggested that I watch this film. I did. I loved it! I recommended it to anyone that would listen to me. I bought a copy for myself, (which I have watched numerous times). And then I put it away, (for a long time). This week The Secret was just what the doctor ordered. That’s why I’ve decided that my gift to one of you lucky La Buena Life members this week is the DVD of the movie The Secret.

For your chance to win The Secret please leave a comment in the box below. (Please submit comments by Thursday, April15th, 2010 at 7:00AM PDT).

Buen Sabor Wednesday- Italian Meatloaf with Carrot

Submitted by on April 7, 2010 - 10:30 am

My poor son has all of the food allergies that you would never want to wish on a toddler. He’s allergic to dairy, soy, wheat, egg whites and nuts. What can he eat, you ask? Well, for a long time I resorted to grilling a piece of meat or fish and steaming some vegetables. Boring! It got to the point that even I was tired of making the same thing everyday. I was sure that Vincent was sick of seeing the same thing todos los días. So I broke down and bought a couple of cookbooks (para ninos) on Amazon.com. One was an “allergy” cookbook, however the other one wasn’t. It was Jessica Seinfeld’s Deceptively Delicious. (Yes, she’ Jerry Seinfeld’s wife). Since Vincent is allergic to wheat I had to find an alternative to traditional bread crumbs. Well, I did. I got them at Whole Foods and they are made from rice bread. I also used rice milk and I skipped the parmesan all together. (Although I am sure that I could have found rice parmesan, too). My point is that I was able to make a dinner that was something other than a piece of meat and some veggies and it was really good, good enough for my husband and I to enjoy, too!


Here are the ingredients:

  • 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs (seasoned)
  • 1/2 cup nonfat skim milk
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 onion , finely chopped
  • 2 stalks celery , finely chopped
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 cup carrot puree
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup bottled tomato sauce
  • 4 slices turkey bacon

For Cooking Instructions Click Here

Buen Provecho!


Does anyone else out there suffer from food allergies? How do you cope?

Terrífico Tuesday- Gratitude

Submitted by on April 6, 2010 - 2:30 pm


“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

William Arthur Ward

Over that past couple of weeks I have had a lot on my mind, both personal and professional. By last Friday I felt completely overwhelmed. You see, like many of you, there are things in my life that are out of my control. Lately, however I had been feeling like most everything was out of my control. (I am a planner, so not knowing if or how something was going to pan out would normally drive me nuts. Well, it was driving me nuts last week). The other day a friend of mine reminded me of the movie The Secret, which not only have I seen, but I own. She mentioned the story of the man with the gratitude rock. This man kept a simple little stone in his pocket and each time he felt it he would think of something that he was grateful for. I’ve been carrying that notion with me for the past few days and I feel so much better. I am continually reminding myself what I am grateful for, (people and things like my beautiful home, my safe, reliable car, my loving pet…). In doing so I am much calmer about the things over which I have no control and I am feeling a sense of abundance, not lack or uncertainty. Today I am going to purchase a little stone to keep in my pocket. In addition to being reminded to feel gratitude, I am going to express it. People need to know that they are appreciated. It’s silly that we think highly of someone and don’t share it with them. So let me start by thanking you all, once again, for joining me on this endeavor. I am grateful for each and every one of you.

Please share your gratitude for your friends, family and loved ones today, and everyday.

Fabuloso Friday- Will You Have Dinner With Me?

Submitted by on April 2, 2010 - 10:30 am


WIN DINNER WITH ME!

The evening before the race MORE/Fitness Magazines will be having a Pre-Race Pasta Dinner at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square. I am looking forward to attending and getting psyched for the race, the following morning. I’d like to invite ONE of you* to join me for the pre-race pasta dinner. If you’d like to have dinner with me on Saturday, April 24th, at the Hard Rock Café please leave a comment, with the reason why, below. ¡Buena Suerte!


*Please note: This contest is for residents of the Greater NYC area. (You must live within 25 miles from Manhattan to participate). The winner will be chosen on Saturday, April 17th, 2010.


Tentacion Thursday- ADD MORE ing TO YOUR LIFE: A Hip Guide to Happiness

Submitted by on April 1, 2010 - 10:30 am

I was just turned on to this book by La Buena Life Member, (and blogger), Carrie Writes. She actually blogged about positivity and this book yesterday. According to one review I read on Amazon.com, this book really is amazing and we should ALL read it. ADDING MORE ~ing TO YOUR LIFE has received 5 star review by almost all reviewers. Here’s what one woman had to say about it:

5.0 out of 5 stars
Exactly what I needed…,
By (New York, NY) – See all my reviews
 (REAL NAME)
This review is from: ADD MORE ing TO YOUR LIFE: A Hip Guide to Happiness (Paperback)

I am so grateful that I was guided to this book. “Add More ing” is unlike any other self help book I have read and I have read my fair share! Gabby presents the material in a way that is easy to understand and lovingly guides you on this amazing, life changing journey. I read the book straight through and now I am revisiting each chapter for about 30 days. I have already noticed positive changes in my life since starting my “ing journey”. If you commit to the work, you to can change your life and find that happiness and a sense of peace that you desire. Stop listening to the nasty stories your ego is telling you and “Add More ing to your Life”!
Thanks for writing this book

I’m going to trust Carrie Writes and Amazon.com and offer this book as my Tentacion Giveaway this week.

For your chance to win ADDING MORE ~ing TO YOUR LIFE: A Hip Guide to Happiness please leave a comment in the box below. (Please submit comment by Thursday, April 8th, 2010).