Not only do we celebrate Valentine’s Day in February, but it is also “American Heart Month.” So be kind to your heart this month (and every month!) by enjoying some of the following heart healthy foods:

Seafood, esp. Salmon and Tuna
Ground Flaxseed
Oatmeal
Almonds or Walnuts
Red Wine
Black or Kidney Beans
Colorful Veggies, esp. Spinach, Carrots, Broccoli, Red Bell Peppers, Asparagus, Tomatoes, Acorn Squash, and Sweet Potatoes
Vibrant Fruits, esp. Papaya, Cantaloupe, Oranges, and Blueberries
Whole grains, such as brown rice
Soy, esp Soy milk and Tofu
Tea
Dark Chocolate (my favorite!)

Try this quick and easy heart friendly breakfast meal for starters:
Mix 3/4 cup old fashioned Quaker oats + 1 1/2 cups vanilla soy milk + 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon + 1 tsp ground flaxseed in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 1 minute, stir, and repeat for a total cooking time of 3 minutes. Let stand 1 minute. Top cooked oatmeal with 1/4 cup each sliced almonds and blueberries. Wash it down with a cup of hot green tea. Your heart will thank you!  (And thank you Janice for doing this every month!)
 
Healthy Regards, Janice Holm, MPH, RD, CHES
Registered Dietitian & Health Educator
Owner, SoCal Nutrition & Wellness
janice@socalnw.com    310.270.8985

Cheryl Hoy from The Sweet Studio is such an artist and can create magical remembrances of your day. Wedding & Event Favors – starting from $2.50 ea. beautifully packaged and delivered.

Wedding and Event Favors-Using beautiful ribbons, exquisite papers and lovely presentation, The Sweet Studio can design and deliver the perfect favor that reflects the style of your event.  With our eye for detail and passion for creating beautiful things, we can create something truly special for your occasion.

Artisan Cookies and Confections-Beautifully designed cookie favors are edible works of art that are uniquely created for your wedding, special occasion or corporate event to reflect custom details, coloring, theme or monogram.  Made with real butter, unbleached flour, organic sugar and vanilla beans, they are delicious as well as beautiful.  

Gift Baskets/Welcome Gifts/Event Takeaways-From sophisticated to whimsical, The Sweet Studio can deliver the perfect welcome bag, specialty confection, promotional item, gift basket or event takeaway for your special guests or corporate clients.

Photos Courtesy of: The Sweet Studio Website and Jennifer Berg Photography

Did you have your Cup of Joe Photo? I took this off of Joe’s blog….Joe writes “There is no doubt that Jessica and Chris like to have fun. Chris keeps it really interesting with an incredibly wide variety of expressions. They are easy going and easy to photograph. We spent a few hours last week shooting through San Juan Capistrano (my hood) and the Mission grounds. Enjoy!”

Jessi and Chris are from Cold Boston (It was 20 degrees when they left and I didn’t think they were going to make it on the plane with the snow storm) and they are getting married in beautiful Newport Coast at The Resort at Pelican Hill. When Jessi asked about the weather, I said shorts and dresses…she brought her Christian Louboutin heels and even climbed a fence with them.  Joe where did you take them? In the woods?  It does look amazing though.

Photos courtesy: he said I could take it from his blog Joe Photo

Blue Magpie to me is synonymous with great customer service!  My definition of that is: getting quotes out quickly, responding within 24 hours, sending paper samples, sending fabric swatches, pdf, photos of mock up so clients can see the progress with the invitation. Thanks Jeannine…it’s been a pleasure working with you last year and this year on our out of state brides.  Ok Blue Mapgie really means this: “Jeannine Pao Brown was inspired to make her first set of fabric-enclosed invitations when she couldn’t find that perfect invitation for her own wedding—one that was elegant and truly blended the beauty of her Chinese culture with a more modern aesthetic.  

The magpie is a bird that holds a special place in Chinese folklore. It is said that on one day out of the year—Chinese Valentine’s Day—flocks of magpies build a bridge across the sky, allowing a heavenly maiden to be reunited with her beloved husband who had been banished to a faraway star. The beauty and romance of this story have stayed with Jeannine ever since she heard it as a young child in Taiwan, which just happens to be home to the blue magpie.

For more photos: www.bluemagpieinvitations.com

Aren’t they a good looking couple? Natallie is model tall too! Drew B writes:The day of Natallie and Amar’s engagement session was the perfect California winter day.  Sunny and 83 degrees.  Love it!  Nat and Amar loved it too because they are from Vancouver.  They don’t get too many 83 degree days during the winter up there  Thanks to these two I spoke with a Canadian accent all weekend!  I was waiting all day for one of them to say “eh?” and Natallie finally did right at the end of the shoot.  I was so excited because I am one of the dorks who actually bought a t-shirt that said, “eh?” when I visited Canada a few years ago!  By the way, did you know that they call Bachelorette parties Stagettes in Canada?  Yeah, I didn’t either!

Natallie and Amar are getting married at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach in April.  I’m SO excited because their wedding is one of the first wedding at the venue since it was remodeled.  Natallie and Amar, I had so much fun with you two!  Thanks for the special homemade goodies!  That salsa is awesome!  See you in April and here’s your slide show!”

Photos Courtesy of: Drew B Photography

Shelly and I enjoyed talking with many bride’s and vendors at the Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza bridal show last Thursday evening.  It was a great turn out and a lot of fun.  Here are a couple pics…

BIG thanks to Nisies Enchanted Florist for the gorgeous flower display, thanks for making it match so perfectly!