Survivor (reality, not reality TV)

I just read about survival gardens, a modern take on the "victory gardens" of World War II. These are vegetable gardens produce a high yield from a small space, such as squash and zucchini.

This concept can be modified to apartment living, in the form of a container garden.

I grow lemon basil in several pots (with only one in reach of my cat, who likes to eat it). I go the seeds for about 50 cents from one of Queens' ubiquitous Dollar Stores. and the pots for 99 cents each at some little garden shop in the West 30s by Penn Station. And the potting soil for free from a neighbor.

Now if that's not survival skills in plant form, I don't know what is.

For more ideas on how to grow different things in your apartment (and spare me the pot jokes), check out this great site:

http://lifeonthebalcony.com/

Massage for the cure

You can help beat breast cancer by booking a 50-minute massage for $49 ($15 of which go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.) The event is Sept 14, 2010.

Appointments are limited.

To find a participating spa, visit:

www.MassageEnvy.com

Sun? Slip-slop-slap!

The Australians (who live under the hole in the ozone layer) have a skin-protection campaign called Slip-Slop-Slap:

Slip on a shirt

Slop on some sunscreen

Slap on a hat.

I love Trinity Boxing!

So I just joined the Trinity Boxing gym in NYC's Financial District.

It's on Rector Street, by the 1 train, and I used to pass it twice a week around 5a (they open at 6a) because I had to open a corporate gym nearby at 5:30a.

Can I just say that the difference between the corporate gym and the boxing gym are night in Casablanca, Morocco vs day in Peoria, Illinois? I love it at Trinity!

You show up during training hours and just get to it. There are boxing trainers on the floor, and the bell that runs in 3 minute "rounds".

I started with 2 rounds (6 min) of jumping-rope. The I wrapped my hands, got some gloves and learned crosses and jabs, which I used on the heavy bag and shadow-boxing.

Each of the sessions have been different -- today I ran up and down the stairs while holding an 8-lb med ball over my head for 1 round.

There is no AC, just fans, but I think people 1) are too busy in their sessions and 2) know better than to bitch about crap around a bunch of professional boxers who are all wearing gloves and know how to knock you out.

This is so much better than working in a gym where you are told that they have a "high-end standard" to have 2 hangars in each othe lockers. WHATEVER!!!!! Like anyone has ever let a coat hangar keep them from working out!

http://www.trinityboxing.com/

Who wants it more?

A bike-sharing program, that is!

To see the benefits and to vote for a B-sharing program to come to your town, visit:

http://bcycle.com/whowantsitmore.aspx

For my zip code of 10025 (Manhattan), where there are 1,440,126 people, if only 10% biked for 30 miles,

that would be 4,320,378 miles,

with 203,056,920 calories burned,

resulting in 58,106 pounds lost

It would reduce carbon emissions by 2074 tons

and save 213,858 gallons of gas.

And that's not even counting the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn or Queens!

Or the rest of the country!

So let's get healthy, get voting and hopefully, get biking son!

Apples, Pineapples and Strawberries -- Oh My!!!

These taste great and are natural teeth whiteners.

In fact, eating a medium-sized apple can equivalent to 4 minutes of brushing your teeth, if you want to freshen your breath and do not have a toothbrush and toothpaste near by.

Strawberries have malic acid, which and can lighten surface stains to remove any discoloration.

Work out for free in NYC!

Believe it or not, there IS something for nothing out there in NYC.

You can go to a free yoga class hosted by lululemon, the yoga apparel store.

Check them out at lululemon.com/giftofyoga