Measupro Digital Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

I have a short list of health based technology as I become more health focused. First was my Vivofit for fitness tracking, along with gadget two, a waterproof heart rate monitor strap to track workouts. Another was a blood pressure monitor as it turns out high blood pressure can be a silent killer. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to review the Measupro digital wrist blood pressure monitor for free.

As a woman, and now mother, my two of the major health risks are heart disease and stroke which can be tied to high blood pressure. On the other hand, low blood pressure can be indicative of diabetes or other heart disorders. All of which can be caught early with regular at home monitoring instead of just relying on annual physicals.

How to read your blood pressure readings:


This chart reflects blood pressure categories defined by the American Heart Association.

Blood Pressure Category	Systolic mm Hg (upper #)		Diastolic mm Hg (lower #)
Normal	less than 120	and	less than 80
Prehypertension	120 – 139	or	80 – 89
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1	140 – 159	or	90 – 99
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2	160 or higher	or	100 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis (Emergency care needed)	Higher than 180	or	Higher than 110

(From heart.org.)

Readings that are lower than 90 mm Hg systolic or 60 mm Hg diastolic are considered low and should also be checked out.

I really like the Measupro digital wrist blood pressure monitor. It takes less space than older blood pressure monitors, stores 3 readings at a time, also providing the averages for those readings and store data for 2 users (perfect for my husband and I. It also gauges whether your reading is excellent, good, normal, poor or emergency level with a marker on the left hand side of the screen. It is also very easy to use and accurate. I'm very happy to add this to my health arsenal. Despite the fact that worrying about blood pressure makes me feel sad and old. 

What other health numbers should I be thinking about?

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Chicken Tikka Masala with #myQuorn

Yesterday, I was craving some Chicken Tikka Masala but with #nospendfebruary, I couldn't go to my favorite local indian place to buy some quick and tasty take out. Instead, I remembered that the nice people at Quorn had sent me a few coupons for free product and I had a bottle of Patak's simmer sauce in my cupboards. With a few tweaks and a hot pot of steamed rice, we had a yummy vegetarian meal that would have fooled even the most die hard of carnivores.

I picked up two different Quorn chicken products. The Chik'n Tenders and the Chik'n Nuggets. The nuggets were quite good, with a great chicken like texture, flavorful breading that was a good consistency. I bet it would fool many kids into thinking it was a non-vegetarian product. It stacks up much better nutritionally too with lower fat calories, lower saturated fat, lower cholesterol and higher dietary fiber.


The Chik'n tenders were also very good. My husband, ever the critic, tried some and noted that the Quorn product was actually more tender and juicy than regular chicken breast meat. He's not a fan of white meat so that's quite a compliment. Personally, I liked that it was so convenient, closely priced to regular chicken and easy to use.

Here's my on the fly recipe.

Chik'n Tikka Masala

Ingredients:
1 bag Quorn Chik'n Tenders
1 jar Patak's Simmer Sauce Tikka Masala
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 cup frozen peas

Directions:
1. Saute the Chik'n Tenders in a sauce pan with olive oil until little brown toasted parts start to show.

2. Pour in the entire jar of simmer sauce, adding water if too thick.

3. Add in sour cream and frozen peas. Bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Serve with white rice or naan bread. Enjoy!



How do you eat your Quorn?

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Celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year (or Tet) in Southern California

Ever since having a child, I've realized how important preserving my cultural traditions are so this year, I thought I would share how my family usually celebrates Chinese New Year. We're part of the Chinese who fled China into Vietnam when the communists came to China and then fled Vietnam when the communists took over Vietnam so many of our traditions reflect both Chinese and Vietnamese and Buddhist custom.

Leading up to the Lunar New Year

Cleaning the house. Since sweeping on the first day of the new year is not allowed, and many will likely have visitors during the first days of the new year, everyone spends the days leading up to Lunar New Year's Eve cleaning their homes. This is basically the Chinese version of spring cleaning.

Preparing the altar.  This is part of cleaning the house but it's so much more. All year round, we're lighting incense on the altar to pay respect to ancestors and Buddha and Bodhisattvas and often they get dusty with the ashes. Before the new year, the altar must be cleaned and prepared for the abundant offerings for the near year. Usually the offerings include lots of fruit, a Tray of Togetherness (dried fuits and nuts), a sticky rice tamale filled with various savory goodies, and many goodies you can only get during the new year. 

Buying flowers. Flowers are such a huge part of the new year. If you live in a densely Chinese or Vietnamese populated area, you might see floral shops filled with branches of peach, plum or forsynthia branches that bloom beautifully or orchids, chrysanthemums and peonies. Flowers are a must during the new year festivities.

Getting groomed. Everyone flocks to get their hair cut and ready since it is bad luck to get a haircut during the new year and in China, the new year period lasts 15 days!

Buying new clothes. Along with getting our hair done, looking ones best in new clothing, preferably in red, is typical. New year, new threads. In red for good luck. Ya dig?

Decorating with lanterns and posters. When I was a kid, I remember making paper lanterns in school to celebrate Chinese New Year. As I got older and the Chinese design, manufacturing and importing become more sophisticated, I noticed that the lantern game really on point. All the decor items are blinged out in gold sparkles and Chinese characters for happiness and prosperity making everything so much more festive.

Cooking. The particularly talented, like my aunt, spend days coming up to the new year cooking the goodies mentioned before. Though currently I buy all the food or receive it as gifts, I'd like to learn how to make some of the traditional foods in the future. But I always seem to be so busy cleaning right up until 11pm, when I have to hop in the shower before midnight strikes!

Washing hair. Among the long list of superstitions related to the New Year, not washing one's hair is a big one. Washing one's hair during on the first of the year is like washing away the luck of the new year. I hop in the shower right before midnight so I don't have to worry about washing my hair until after the first of the new year.

Opening the windows and doors. At midnight, to let the good luck of the new year in, we open our doors and windows. It's actually quite refreshing because it pushes all the stale air out of the house and leaving a fresh energy.

On the New Year
Family Gatherings. Many families get together on New Year's Eve. In the US, because we all have to work during the weekdays, many families put off the large get togethers for before or after the new year. No matter what day, this is a major holiday where extended family comes together from far and wide, kind of like Christmas or Thanksgiving for Americans.

Taking the day off work. In China, everything shuts down for 2 weeks for the New Year celebration. One might argue it's the only vacation many Chinese get. But in the US, if you're lucky enough to be able to take the day off, many people do.

Behaving well. It's most important to have a harmonious day that isn't filled with anger, fighting or negativity as the first day of the year sets the tone for the rest of the year. Children are told to mind their manners and everyone is on their best behavior.

Visiting the temple. For those who are Buddhist, we try to head to the temple where we get our zodiac predictions for the year, light incense and think of our purpose for the coming year, shake sticks for guidance, support the temple and have a vegetarian meal. Many lay Buddhists only eat vegetarian food on the first day of the year.

Red envelopes. Adults, defined as those who are married, give those who are younger and unmarried red envelopes filled with money after a greeting of "Gung Hay Fat Choy" which means "Best wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year." Some places decorate their trees or blossom branches with hanging red envelopes, some also filled with money, others filled with candy.  This is what the children really look forward to.

Gambling. Since many people have red envelopes and are cash flush, there are many popular games of chance played from old to young. I'm not a big supporter of this tradition as I believe it is the reason that the Chinese and Vietnamese community have such problems with gambling addictions but I am often told to hush and stop being a debbie downer.

Food. I could get into the food in detail, but as I mentioned, I eat only vegetarian food on the first day of the year. I do usually get a noodle dish in (for longevity) and have Buddha's food (a delicious medley of vegetables and tofu) and egg rolls (the temples make perfectly crispy ones) but this is a great list of non-vegetarian foods.

Lunar New Year Festivals and Parades. Growing up in Southern California, there was only one New Year Festival and it was in Chinatown. Now, with many booming Chinese and Vietnamese communities, there are festivals and parades all over Southern California where attendees can watch Lion Dances, see the firecrackers and immerse themselves in celebrations so populated, they might feel they are actually in Asia. Even amusement parks like Disney's California Adventure and Universal Studios have opened up Lunar New Year celebrations that are a little more American friendly.

Where are some authentic places you can go in Los Angeles and Orange County for the Lunar New Year 2015?  Here are some suggestions!

The Golden Dragon Parade and Chinese New Year Festival
Central & West Plazas
943-951 N. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.lagoldendragonparade.com
February 21, 2015


Alhambra Lunar New Year Celebration
Valley Blvd. from Garfield Ave. to Almansor St.
www.alhambranewyearfestival.com
February 21, 2015

UVSA Tet Festival
OC Fair & Event Center
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
www.tetfestival.org
February 20-22, 2015

Little Saigon Tet Parade
Bolsa Ave., Main Stage at Magnolia St.
Hanoi Plaza
Garden Grove, CA
www.tetparade.org/
February 21, 2015

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Fluffy Wheat Biscuits and Baking Powder Recipe

 I'm doing this #nospendfebruary challenge, and after the doozy of November, December and January of no holds barred spending, it's a welcome change. And it's getting me back in the kitchen more often which the Hosh is definitely enjoying.

On the first day of the challenge, we ran out of dish washing detergent and it seemed silly to go to the store on the first day so I gathered up materials from around the house to make my own (I'll share the recipe in another post.) Turns out, lots of things in my house can actually be made from other things! My pantry is about to get so decluttered.

Did you know that baking power is actually made up of two things that you probably already have in your house? Mind blown.

Here's the recipe:

Baking Powder Recipe
Ingredients:
1 part baking soda
2 parts cream of tartar

Directions:
Mix well. Store in airtight container for however long the first ingredient to expire lasts.

I know that it works because I made fluffy biscuits with it. And DIY baking powder is gluten free, unlike some baking powder on the market.

But enough of the baking powder talk, let's move on to the delicious biscuits. One of the keys to not spending is apparently pre-planning. Before making these biscuits, the fats (butter and shortening) must be frozen or at the very least, very very cold. Otherwise, these are a fantastically quick bread to make since it requires no rise time and a short bake time.

My only real tips when it comes to fluffy biscuits is the use of shortening or lard (lard is better but I had none), handle the dough as little as possible and do not twist the cutter when punching out the biscuit circles. Straight down and that's it.

I am calling this a wheat biscuit recipe but the flour is relatively interchangeable between bread, all purpose and wheat. Use what is on hand in the spirit of the No Spend February Challenge.

Fluffy Wheat Biscuit Recipe
Adapted from The Purple Spoon
Ingredients:
2 cups bread flour
1 cup whole wheat all purpose flour
1  1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter cut into 1/4" pieces
3 tablespoons cold butter flavored shortening cut into 1/4' pieces
1 1/4 cup cold milk
2 tablespoons of melted butter (for brushing on top)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2. Mix the dry ingredients well. Then using a pastry cutter, fork or very quickly as to not melt the fats, your hands, cut in the butter and shortening pieces. The resulting flour should be somewhat sandy with the largest pieces of remaining butter and shortening no larger than a pea.

3.  Add the milk and mix until just combined. Again, the key is to handle this as little as possible to prevent toughness. fold the dough over on itself a 3-4 times as this is what helps create the delicious layers.

4. Lightly flour a surface and place the dough on the surface under a sheet of parchment paper. Try not to add more flour to the dough as the biscuits will be harder the more flour is added. Roll the dough out to 1/2" thick.

5. Use a lightly floured round cutter to cut out the biscuits, pushing directly down with no twisting. Place onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or silicone mat. The biscuits will not spread out very much when baking but they will rise. Brush tops with melted butter.

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with butter and jam, or in my favorite way, with a fried egg and a slice of bacon. Yum.

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#FrostyVoxBox Reviews

The awesome folks over at Influenster sent me this free Frosty Vox Box full of winter goodies that I've been using for the past month. It was such a variety of products, I was impressed that they were exactly what I needed this winter!

Boot's No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Serum: This product was actually reviewed on the Doctors Show and already has a very loyal following for such an inexpensive product. I used it alongside my morning and evening moisturizer and immediately noticed results though I have heard that dramatic anti-aging results are seen closer to the 4 week mark. Highly recommend.

NYC Expert Last Lipcolor - Sugar Plum: I don't tend to like lip products that claim to be long lasting because they tend to be drying or result in an unflattering matte finish  but this lip color was actually moisturizing with a slight sheen. Very nice.

Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane: Since I'm still nursing my baby, this decaf green tea was perfect. The flavor is a perfect Christmasy replacement to my typical peppermint mocha.


Ecotools Styler and Smoother Agility Hairbrush: This was my favorite item in the entire Vox Box. I have used this everyday to simply brush or style my hair with a blow dryer. It is so well made and eco friendly to boot. Highly recommend.

McCormick Gourmet Collection Thyme: This thyme is extremely fragrant and perfect in soups, stews and spice rubs. This actually came in perfect time for a few dinner parties. Keeping new dried herbs is so important as the effectiveness of the herbs weakens over time but the McCormick containers definitely keep dried herbs fresh longer.

Fruit Vines Bites: I'm not the big candy eater in our family but my husband really loved the flavor and texture of this candy. It's the perfect texture for licorice, soft but with a good bite, and the flavor is intense instead of waxy.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Liner: This is an amazing waterproof liner. It doesn't smudge, applies creamy smooth, great staying power with a dark saturated color. Highly recommend.

Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover: Goodness, you need this remover if using the Scandaleyes waterproof liners! The product is not gentle on skin, however, and doesn't remove all makeup brands equally.

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Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Having a toddler, a corgi and a couple of cats really means that we are in a constant battle to keep our floors clean in the Nass household. Here are a few items that are particularly handy in our house.

Bona Hardwood Floor Spray Mop.  I really love Bona Hardwood Floor cleaner. It doesn't leave a sticky residue like the Swiffer Hardwood cleaner does and dries pretty quickly with no streaks. I like that this uses a resuable microfiber cleaning pad which is more cost effective and environmentally friendly than constantly having to use disposable pads. The problem with this mop is that it seems to not actually pick anything up in the middle, so when looking at the cleaning pad, there's dirt that forms a circle and the middle is clean. Otherwise, it is a great buy.   

Bona Hardwood Wet Cleaning Pads, 10-pk. I received a pack of these for free to try. As you can read above, I was already trying to get away from disposable cleaning pads. These Bona pads have all the benefits of the Bona floor spray but the ease of Swiffer pads. While I wouldn't recommend these for everyday, all the time cleaning, as they are a little on the flimsy side, they are really great for spot cleaning. The old adage about cleaning up the little messes before they become big hairy messes is so true and these cleaning pads are perfect for those little messes.

iRobot Roomba 770 Vacuum Cleaning Robot for Pets and Allergies.  We have had a number of Roombas over the years and this one is fantastic. It goes off based on a timer, goes around picking up all the animal fur and then docks itself. It just needs to be emptied once a day but that's a small price to pay to cut back on at least one sweep a day. The only downside is that the Roomba moves around by bouncing off of surfaces which means it's not that great at getting under tables surrounded by chairs. Also, I've noticed that in the places that Roomba tends to bounce of very often, the furniture and cabinets are getting scuffed/worn down.

O-Cedar Power Corner Large Angle Broom. I never thought that there was such a big difference between brooms but there is. There really, really, really is. I've bought cheap brooms and fancy brooms with foam in the middle and dry swiffers and sweepers and this is the broom that had me stop and say, "Wow, this is a great broom." It just gets to all the dirt. Dirt that for some reason wasn't getting picked up by other brooms. It gets into corners and doesn't hang on to dirt and fur which makes a huge difference when throwing things away.


BISSELL Powerfresh Steam Mop. This is my husband's favorite floor cleaning tool. Yes, it is super effective in cleaning the floor because it steams up all the junk and leaves the floor feeling like it just went through the dishwasher. You know that warm dish feeling? It's like that.  Downside is that if you have real hardwood or engineered hardwood, improper use of a steam mop can strip the polyurethane surface of the floor. The steam mop was left in the upright position after use, unplugged but still hot, and it damaged the floor by leaving a mop head sized grey area where the finish is stripped off the floor. I also think it dulls the floor a little so I only use this once a month between Bona cleanings since Bona leaves a shine. If used on a laminate floor, I think there would be no issues. Just happy, clean, sanitized floors.

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Fit Girl Lunch Gear

I've starting brown bagging my lunch, which is to say I am packing my lunch in an adorable lunch bag from Sachi with a few other adorable items.

Sachi Speedy Insulated Lunch Tote: This bag doesn't even look like a lunch bag, but it's huge and holds a lot of food containers. That way, I don't look like I'm carrying food which makes me automatically look thinner. Am I right?

To-Go Ware RePEaT Reusable Bamboo Utensil Set: Instead of trying to track down disposable utensils, I picked up this adorable bamboo utensil set which makes me feel green and fit. 

Ball Mason Jars Wide-Mouth: I'm trying to move away from plastic and started buying glass containers which were not perfect at holding in fluids. I happened to see a case of these wide mouth canning jars that were the perfect size for a cup of soup, holding fruit, even cereal and a separate container for milk. Yes, they are heavy, but they're so cheap and have a homey charm to them.

Orla Kiely Bamboo Glass Water Bottle: I have written about this bottle twice now because I love it in every color. I find that if I like my water bottle's looks, I tend to tote it around with me more. 

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