The Pulse: Keeping Fitness Fun (January 2014)

Happy New Year, Y’all!

Zannie's Black-Eyed Pea Dip
From The Pioneer Woman (yummly.com)

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Servings: 12

What You Need
1 can (14-ounce) black-eyed peas*
1/4 whole onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup sour cream
8 slices pickled jalapenos
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
3 tablespoons salsa
hot sauce, to taste
salt and black pepper, to taste

How to Make It
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain black-eyed peas and partially mash, leaving some whole.
2) Add all other ingredients, stirring to combine.
3) Spread into a 1 ½ quart baking dish and bake for 20 to 30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Serve with tortilla chips.

*Note: If you can find them, use the canned black-eyed peas and jalapeno mix (they're canned together). If you do this, omit the sliced jalapenos.

Book Bit
From Divergent by Veronica Roth

“There,” she says when she pins the note in place. Her eyes catch mine in the mirror. It is too late to look away, but instead of scolding me, she smiles at our reflection. I frown a little. Why doesn’t she reprimand me for staring at myself?

“So today is the day,” she says.

“Yes,” I reply.

“Are you nervous?”

I stare into my own eyes for a moment. Today is the day of the aptitiude test that will show me which of the five factions I belong in. And tomorrow, at the Choosing Ceremony, I will decide the rest of my life; I will decide to stay with my family or abandon them.

2014: Year of the Horse

Characteristics:
Good communicators
Like the limelight
Clever and talented
Enjoy entertainment
Popular and enjoy crowds
Active at work

Lucky numbers: 2, 3, 7

Famous Figures:
Jackie Chan
James Dean
Ella Fitzgerald
Janet Jackson
Halle Berry
Sean O’Connery
Ghenghis Khan

Predictions: Financial fortunes will be unstable in 2014
Avoid unexpected injuries with sharp objects

Playlist: Changes (on AFM's Spotify)

Man in the Mirror — Michael Jackson
Changing — The Airborne Toxic Event
The New Year — Death Cab For Cutie
Everybody's Changing — Keane
Changes — David Bowie
So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday — Boyz II Men
Wind of Change — Scorpions
A Change Would Do You Good — Sheryl Crow
Feeling Good — Michael Buble
Things are a Changin' — Gary Clark, Jr.