Cooking Lean for Family & Friends with Mario Lopez

It’s tough for working moms to find the time to cook meals that their kids will eat.  Many moms may give in to children’s pleading for fast food or may rely very heavily on processed foods when cooking at home.   Yes, it’s easier to give in and go “the take-out route”, but with childhood obesity rates on the rise and kids getting less exercise than in the past, it’s more important than ever for moms (or dads) to cook healthy meals for their family.  Drawing on principles from his first book, a New York Times bestseller titled Extra Lean, Mario Lopez wrote his new book Extra Lean Family to provide an easy to follow guide for parents to take charge of what their family eats. 

While many long time fans may remember Mario from his acting role as highschool heartthrob A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell, his more recent work include his hosting roles on entertainment show, Extra, as well as MTV’s Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew.

VIVE Katerin met with Lopez during his book signing event at Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ.  He was gracious enough to interview with VIVE Katerin (see video below) despite the long lines of fans eager for an autographed book and a chance to meet Mario.  He's fit and muscular, and looks like he lives by the advice he doles out in Extra Lean Family.  It’s clear this first time dad – his daughter Gia Francesca was born in September to girlfriend Courtney Mazza – wants to ensure his family stays and healthy and fit as he is.  Extra Lean Family is more than just a recipe book.  While it does provide over 40 recipes for meals that can be prepared in less than 20 minutes, Mario’s book centers around meal planning guides, that make it easier for readers to follow, and stick with, the Extra Lean Family approach.   It also provides ideas for snacking; alternatives that will keep your metabolism rate up and still taste great.  Mario even includes some “extra lean” versions of Mexican recipes that he modified from the high calorie, high fat versions he loved in his childhood.

Pick up a copy at Bookends or a local, independent bookstore near you.

Kicking Bullying to the Curb

Bullying has been around for generations, and many Americans had experience dealing with a bully in their school years.  In recent years, the impact of social media technologies has magnified the impact of bullying and extended it beyond the schoolyard and into childrens' and teens' homes.  Cyberbullying, as it is known, has been in the spotlight of some high profile cases in which children who were bullied committed suicide.  Bullying in any form can be psychologically and physically harmful and parents, educators and lawmakers are finally starting to take notice.

In New Jersey, a state law was recently passed that sets zero tolerance policies for bullying.  Other states followed closely behind and still others are now considering legislation to increase penalties, as well as generate greater awareness about bullying and what can be done to recognize and prevent it.

The Rocky Marciano World Foundation helped launched the "Bullying...We're Kickin' It" national campaign to help drive awareness and provide resources to help combat bullying and provide assistance to victims of bullying.  Many celebrities and politicians have become involved with the campaign and have loaned their time and experience to promote the cause.

Watch VIVE Katerin's video of the "Bullying...We're Kickin' It" event by clicking the thumbnail picture below.

A Soulful Evening in Brooklyn

VIVE Katerin attended the performance by singer/songwriter Esnavi at the BAM Café in Brooklyn.  An independent artist whose first single “Unexpected Love” has already reached the Top 40 on the Urban Adult Contemporary Charts, Esnavi has a sound that draws comparisons to other soulful, leading ladies such as Lauryn Hill, Norah Jones and India.Arie. Yet, Esnavi has a style which is uniquely hers. The rich, deep breathiness of her singing voice is the vehicle in which she connects her audience with her inner self. Her songwriting is honest and from the heart; there are no gimmicks, ulterior motives or over-thought lyrics – just memories or musings which she then captures in words.  She has a stage presence which is rare for a young artist. She is open and aware of herself and her band, but of the audience as well. She had perfect control of her powerful vocal ability and she approached each song with confidence.  Esnavi was genuinely having a great time on stage and this resonated into the audience.  Speaking with her after the show, it was clear that this young lady is equally as poised and balanced in life offstage as on. She praised her family for their love and support and indeed her parents as well as her brother (who flew in from Wisconsin) were in the audience.

Look for Esnavi’s new single “Morning Dew” which will be available starting February 28th. Her current album, “Exit E” is available for sale on iTunes and other music retailers. Visit her website at www.esnavi.com to learn more.

The BAM Café provided an intimate performance venue for Esnavi, and was a refuge from a rainy, windy evening in New York. The space, originally opened in 1908 as the ballroom of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, went through many other uses over the years. It was renovated in 1997 and is currently used both for dining as well as live musical performances on Friday and Saturday nights. BAM is currently celebrating its 150th year anniversary.  Visit their website www.bam.org to see a calendar of upcoming exhibits and performances.

Tango Impromptu

Tango is a folk music style and dance typical of Argentina.  The music accompaning the expressive tango dance is most often played on guitars.  It is for this reason that Leonardo Le San may be considered atypical.  Le San is a Colombian born composer who learned a love of the tango from his father.  Leonardo started his musical journey playing guitar, but when he discovered the piano, he knew he had found his true calling.  Though he trained in the classical style, and he studied the work of Rachmaninov, Mozart and Beethoven, Le San continued to return to his love of tango.  Many of his compositions, such as "Tango Impromptu" reflect his passion for this style of music.

Leonardo moved with his family to the United States from the Eje Cafetero region in western Colombia, known as "the crossroads of coffee" as much of the nation's leading export is produced there.  He continued his formal musical study at the University of Delaware. His collegiate experience, in which he interacted with peers in different areas of study such as philosophy and science, contributed to the shaping of Le San's worldview and ultimately influenced his composing style.