New Year And It’s Time To Smell The Coffee

Took A Short Break To Refresh And Renew

You have not heard from us for a while and we are hoping to have more time to dedicate to keeping you updated on all things Luxe du Jour.

Those of you that have been following along with us over the years know that we have a 93 year old Dad that lives close to us. Until recently, he was doing so well and enjoying life. Well, we had a little reminder that things can change in a moment. Dad had some health challenges recently, but fortunately he has recuperated well and will resume his active lifestyle. WHEW!

I guess sometimes life gets in the way and we need to refocus on what is important. Our focus has been managing Dad’s health. It makes you reflect and determine how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle.

And Life Goes On In The New Year

Since we are not fans of New Year resolutions, we prefer to take a look at our lives and determine how we can make things more enjoyable. Literally, we are taking time to “smell the coffee”. Every morning we get up and look forward to spending some time together, catching up on the news, checking our social media and enjoying a delicious cuppa coffee. Quiet time is good for the soul.

Why Not Make Your Mornings Special

When we moved here 2 years ago, we invested in an Italian made espresso machine by Gaggia. Let me tell you, this little machine makes the best espresso, cappuccino or latte you could ever wish for. The initial investment is a bit steep, but think of how much we will save in the long run by not getting our coffee at a coffee shop. AND THE ENJOYMENT!

And, we often use our handy machine to make affogato for dessert. This simple dessert is just a scoop of good quality vanilla ice cream or gelato topped with a shot of espresso. Add some whipped cream and chocolate shavings and you have a delicious treat.

No Official Resolutions, But Focusing On Health And Wellness

As things are improving and are getting back to a somewhat normal schedule, we are staying focused on healthy living and taking time to relax. One of our favorite ways to destress is to head to our dock on the Colleton River. This has definitely become our “happy place”. We usually take a book, something refreshing to drink and sometimes breakfast or lunch “to go”. When we are at home, we tend to always being involved in a project or two (or three). When we go to the dock, we can “unplug” and just enjoy the simple things…like a nice breeze, good book or simply the warming sun.

Meal Planning And Prepping Featuring Healthy Options

In addition to taking more time to enjoy life, we are concentrating on being even more organized in planning meals and eating healthy. We plan our menus each week and buy all of the ingredients necessary to prepare our selections. This enables us to always have a delicious set of menus to choose from. Here is a sample of what we are having this week:

• Eggplant Parmesan Stacks with Italian Salad
• Chicken Fajitas, Black Beans and Yellow Rice
• Lasagna Soup with a Small Salad
• Asian Egg Roll Bowl with Sautéed Snap Peas
• Cast Iron Pork Chops with Acorn Squash, Ricotta and Maple Apple Slaw
• Grilled Lemon and Garlic Chicken Breasts with Tuscan White Beans
• Shrimp Dijon with Herb Rice and Sautéed Spinach

We do not have specific meals on a set day, but decide what sounds good to us and get the ingredients ready for our yummy meals. I do most all of the cooking and tend to prep everything early in the evening and usually eat at around 7:00 or 7:30.

As far as fitness, we are not people that enjoy going to a gym for workouts. I typically opt for brisk walking and trying to get 10,000 steps in per day. Also, adding in some weights to keep firm and strong. The hubs walks 18 holes of golf a few times a week and is active with garden and lawn maintenance. Although everyone in our neighborhood hires this work out, he enjoys being outside and this also keeps him active.

Our Unpredictable Lowcountry Is Perfect At This Time Of Year

This time of year in South Carolina is beautiful, however, the weather is very unpredictable. Some mornings are pretty chilly and some days the temperatures can be as high as 70 degrees later in the day. We actually love the cooler weather and definitely enjoy a roaring fire to keep things cozy during those cool mornings or evenings.

What are you doing to make your life more enjoyable and to stay healthy this year? At Luxe du Jour we wish you happiness and fulfillment everyday. Stay strong!