A Latter-day Bluestocking

For the love of reading

Category: Miscellaneous

January 23, 2012

Five-Fold Happiness

恭喜发财!  Gong Xi Fa Cai! Wishing You Prosperity in the New Year!

It is the Chinese Lunar New Year and I would like to share with you two books that have proved very helpful to me in understanding the Chinese part of my culture and will help celebrate this most auspicious of holidays.

Five-Fold Happiness: Chinese Concepts of Luck, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness, and Wealth by Vivien Sung and Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz, & The Children’s Museum, Boston

The celebration of the Chinese New year is marked by parades, firecrackers, and dragon and lion dances but the underlying traditions and rituals have a far more profound meaning. The holiday takes place in the first lunar month, generally falling between January 19 and February 23. It begins on the new moon and ends 15 days later with the full moon. Traditionally known as the Spring Festival, it is celebrated annually by billions of Chinese.

It is a time of throwing out the old and welcoming the new and the days leading up to the holiday are busy.

Wishing you Luck, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness, and Wealth!

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January 14, 2012

One Cannot Live By Books Alone!

Alas, this is the sad truth!  As much as I would like to be able to sit around and read the day away, it’s not possible.  There is work, childcare, and simply, LIFE.  And unfortunately, even bluestockings age and need to take certain steps at maintaining health and fitness.  So today I began acting upon one of my new year’s resolutions:  to exercise and eat better.  I went to yoga and interval trained (walk/run) for 5K.  I am tired and my muscles ache but I feel good.

In an attempt to eat better I purchased The Big Book of Low-Carb.  It is chock-full of wonderful recipes that are low in carb and high in protein; absolutely perfect for weight loss and not so over the top healthy that my son won’t eat any of it.

I am determined to meet my goal of a lean, mean, and strong body.  But because I refuse to give up the things that make me happy, once I reach my goal, I will treat myself to the purchase of Eat, Drink, and be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist’s Guide to Living Well While Living It Up because I want my cake and to eat it too!  And I will.

I’ll let you know when I can fit back in my skinny jeans and am not afraid to put a bikini back on.

4 comments
October 14, 2011
Regency reading
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