Girl Crush - Stevie Nicks and Rachael Ray

All of you who lived in the time of "Rumours" know that Stevie Nicks is the one and only Gold Dust Woman. Beautiful, mysterious, unique and talented beyond description, Stevie Nicks is my first and only lifetime girl crush. I wanted to look like her, move like her, sing like her - I just wanted to BE her. There she was up there in front of that band and surprising her bandmates by taking all the attention away from the men - she personifies female power at it's finest. They didn't even initially want her for Fleetwood Mac, the wanted Lindsey and he wouldn't join without her. Well if it were not for Stevie Nicks, you and I wouldn't even be talking about Fleetwood Mac. I don't sing or play in a band but inspired by Stevie, in my own career I showed all those men who underestimated me, who didn't think I was good enough or smart enough, who thought that I'd never move beyond a low level position that I was a woman who knows how to get exactly what she wants. Just like Stevie.

Well after all these years I am also inspired by another woman - who is completely different than Stevie - Rachael Ray. You're thinking "WHAT?" right now aren't you? Well, here's the thing - she is also the personification of a woman who knows how to get what she wants. She has no formal training, she started working from the ground up and she has created a multi-million dollar empire. Best of all, she spends every day of her life doing what she LOVES - and it shows. My daughter Rhiannon (yes named after Stevie's signature song) has learned to cook not from me, but from Rachael. (Thanks Rach!) And while Rachael doesn't say this (she should!) I have learned from her that quality food is the key to staying thin. If you take the time to whip up one of Rachael's recipes with fresh ingredients and sit down to savor it with your loved ones I guarantee you will not need to consume as much to feel satisfied - as opposed to sitting down to something you pulled out of a box or a drive thru sack. After trying a million different times over the last 8 years, I finally lost 10 pounds this summer. Not by exercising, not by cutting back on food, not by depriving myself - simply by eating only fresh whole foods I prepared myself - with the help of Rach.






So in tribute to Rachael, we're starting a weekly Rachael Ray night at our house. Rhiannon and I will take turns prepping once of Rachael's recipes and sharing it with our family. I'll post here about our experiences and tastes. I'm sure we'll have some hits and some flops. Rachael may be a food goddess but I have learned not EVERY recipe is spectacular - but hey that's just part of the fun. So check back for more.






I think my food connection with Rachael was meant to be. When I first heard the song Rhiannon back in 1976 I knew right then and there that I would name my daughter Rhiannon. I do love the song but the reason I chose it is that II think it is just the most beautiful name I have ever heard. Up until that point I had a different name chosen for my daughter - one I never got to use. That name was Rachel.






Best wishes to all of you on your weight loss and healthy goals!