Saturday, February 27, 2010

 Praying for Chile 
 and all the areas under Tsunami warnings

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Winning Wednesday Winner

And the winner of this week's Winning Wednesday
A beautiful book ...
Seasons of Solace  
by Janelle Shantz Hertzler

is Martha Merritt Tousley

of Phoenix, Arizona

Congratulations Martha, please email me your mailing address.   

And if you didn't win ... do yourself a favor and order a copy for yourself to read and then share with a friend.


Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Winning Wednesday - Seasons of Solace

I am super excited about this book! I rarely read a book twice - this is one that I will keep in my living room to pick up again and again and again ... the photographs are priceless and the poems are meaningful treasures. 

Enter to win an autographed hardcover copy of -
by Janelle Shantz Hertzler

Janelle lives in my area and I've had the honor of connecting with her a couple times over the past few years. This is a woman with depth and authenticity!

In shock after her husband was killed by a drunk driver while living in Thailand, Janelle began searching for a way through the pain. Her struggle to make sense of her loss and find peace resulted in this moving collection. Told through heartfelt poetry and inspiring photography, Seasons of Solace expresses the spiritual journey of a grieving woman moving toward acceptance. - Amazon

Though I've had other losses, I haven't lost a spouse, but I connected with Janelle's honesty and clarity about the questions she asked and the emotions she experienced during her journey of grief. And I'm convinced most people on planet earth will connect with it because we all ask questions (and if you don't, you should!) and experience loss at one time or another.

Here's a few lines from her writing: 

My body feels like a time bomb;
at any moment pieces could 
fly off in every direction.
Screaming obscenities
would be a release.
I can't;
I'm not that type.
I sink deeper 
into the blackness
bottling it all.

Questions have been a big part of Janelle's journey and her autograph in this book says - Honor the Questions. Here are some lines from her poem called Questions.

Questions cause revolutions,
and reformations.
They challenge us to go deeper
into the soil of our lives.

I'm growing to see that authenticity 
is worth the risk of inquiry.

She doesn't offer answers and reasons - because life (and death)  generally doesn't offer them. As the book records her journey, you learn with her as she searches.

True Me
I know well the me I'm told to be,
but I don't know the me
that was given me to be.
The true me, the inner me,
the deepest me remains unknown.

The Mundane and the Miracle
To live in the beauty of the ordinary,
to live in the holiness of simplicity,
there is the miracle,
the treasure to be found
within the mundane.
 
Before this book, I rarely read poetry, but Janelle's writing has changed that. These poems are wonderful - the style and words she chooses makes them a pleasure to read or hear. Last year, Janelle began doing public readings and I had the honor of being a part of the first one. The event was part of ongoing monthly series where someone shares their life story - always in story form. So doing an evening of poetry reading was new. Of the seventy or so people there, most were not sure if they'll enjoy it. They were all pleasantly blown away by the evening - seeing Janelle's photos on a large screen as she read her poems. Her reading voice is very moving -her website contains information about Seasons of Solace Poetry Readings for you and/or your organization.  

Janelle is now a consultant, retreat leader and spiritual director. You can learn more about her and her work at Journey Through Grief. You can read more about Seasons on Solace on Amazon and if you aren't the winner of this one - you will want to buy yourself a copy. Or if you are local - Janelle will be at iHope on Friday evening to autograph and sell copies of Seasons of Solace.

I am so happy Janelle recorded her journey in this way and is sharing it with the world! I will be giving copies to others that have questions and/or are dealing with loss.

Leave your name before Thursday 25th at 9PM and you could be the lucky winner! Winner will be posted on Friday morning.

UPDATE: I've posted the winner:

Martha Merritt Tousley

Monday, February 22, 2010

Are You Being Kind to Yourself?

Thoughts are the threads that bind us to deeds. 
Deeds are the ropes that bind us to habits. 
Habits are the chains that bind us to destiny.
- inscription carved on the West Wall at the palace in Maygassa

It's now about 8 weeks since New Years - have you been able to change the habits you wanted to?

Some habits are good. Some habits are not good. Resolutions are generally about changing bad habits so your destiny changes. You want to be - healthy instead of unhealthy, organized instead of unorganized, unselfish instead of selfish and so on.

Reread the quote above. Be kind to yourself by seriously thinking about it. Yes, being kind to yourself is a good thing! Didn't Jesus basically say, "If you want to be kind to others, you must first be kind to yourself?"

Read the quote starting at the third line and work backwards. 
Chains - ropes - threads = opportunity for new habits
Habits - certain deeds - particular thoughts = change.

New thoughts, followed by deeds will change your destiny. So to do that - what thoughts/threads do you have to eliminate and/or change? I need to eat chocolate. I'll clean that up later. I don't have time to go for a walk. I should ...

And what thoughts/threads do you need to add? I could eat an apple. I will put this away now. I can park at the end of the parking lot. I will ...

Change a thought every hour and step by step your habits will change. Yes, it will take consistency and time, but it can happen!

Will you be kind to yourself today? What is one thought that you could change to change your destiny? 

This post is part of the blog carnival on Kindness hosted by Bridget Crumbly at One Word at a Time.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Time for Some Food

This is random ... rarely post recipes, but it's been a kitchen morning, so here they are. My husband is gone for the weekend - snowmobiling with friends. When he's gone, I generally don't cook much - don't ask me why, my two teenage sons live here and last night my college son came home and will be here until tonight. And all three opened the fridge a zillion times last night looking for something to eat - so this morning I surveyed my cupboards and fridge and made the following recipes. Had everything I needed, though I was low on cheese, but will pick some up after church and add it.

First I made this for breakfast  - I didn't make the topping, cause I didn't want the extra sugar. Actually it was the extra work I didn't want, but it sounds better to say sugar ;) 

Blueberry Oatmeal Coffee Cake - 8 Servings
  • 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup fat-free milk
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

  • STREUSEL TOPPING:
  • 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cold butter

Directions - In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat the egg, milk, oil and sour cream. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Pour into a 9-in. round baking pan coated with cooking spray.

For topping, in a small bowl, combine the oats, flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Then I put lasagna in the crockpot for lunch - this is a great recipe I found recently, I think I saw it in a post or comment at Creative Mom.

Slow-Cooker Lasagna
1 lb ground turkey (or beef)
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 tsp of dried Italian seasoning
26 oz jar chunky garden style pasta sauce
1/3 c water
8 uncooked lasagna noodles
15 oz of cottage cheese (or ricotta)
6 oz shredded mozzarella

Cook meat, garlic and italian seasoning in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat until beef is browned drain and set aside.
Combine pasta sauce and water in small bowl. Place 4 uncooked noodles in slow cooker coated with cooking spray. (break noodles to fit). Layer with half of turkey, then sauce, spread cottage cheese, sprinkle with mozzarella and repeat all steps one more time ending with mozzarella on top. Cover with lid. Cook on low for 8 hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then I made two batches of this for later and so my college son can take some back to school with him. I omitted the peppers and used spaghetti sauce instead of tomato sauce and chili powder.

Southwestern Baked Spaghetti Recipe
40 min | 10 min prep - SERVES 6
    •    8 ounces uncooked spaghetti, cooked
    •    1/2 cup milk
    •    1 egg
    •    1 lb ground beef
    •    1 medium onion, chopped
    •    1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
    •    2 garlic cloves, minced
    •    1 teaspoon chili powder
    •    1/2 teaspoon cumin
    •    1/2 teaspoon oregano                                                     •    2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
    •    1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    •    1/2 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

    1.    Combine hot drained spaghetti, milk and egg; mix well.
    2.    Pour spaghetti mixture into a buttered 9X13 inch casserole dish.
    3.    Brown ground beef with onion, bell pepper and garlic; drain.
    4.    Return drained meat to the skillet and add seasonings; Cook 2 mins
    5.    Stir in tomato sauce and cook for 2 more minutes.
    6.    Spread meat mixture over spaghetti.
    7.    Sprinkle with cheese.
    8.    Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes or until cheese melts and is bubbly.
    9.    Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And I needed something healthy to snack on - this is the second time I made Hummus and each time it's been delicious. Thankfully I had recently bought the ingredients again. Its so easy to make - I plan to make it often.

Hummus With Black Beans and Chickpeas Recipe

Easy, high protein, low fat snack. Serve with pita bread, vegetables, or in a tortilla wrap.
1 min | 1 min prep - MAKES 3 cups SERVES 6
  • 2 cups black beans, rinsed and drained well if canned
  • 1 cup chickpeas, rinsed and drained well if canned
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin 
  • 2 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  1. In a food processor purée ingredients until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Chill until ready to serve.
 Now, looking forward to the smiles when they wake up :)
 

Saturday, February 20, 2010

The Record Player

My stern, religious upbringing had many rules - only certain clothes could be worn, no TV, radio or even organized sports. All the rules didn’t work well with an inquisitive child that constantly asked, “Why?” I formed some tough views about God, seeing him as harsh and judgmental.

I rebelled during my teen years when my questions became actions and I pushed the boundaries. I not only rebelled against the rules of my parents and their church, but also against God. Because if following that God meant following a list of rules, I didn’t need God in my life.

At seventeen, a friend and I decided to go to a Christian concert. I normally didn’t listen to Christian music, but my interest was peaked, because the singer  was local girl about my age, who had just released her first record.

I was amazed - she stood on that stage with confidence about God that I hadn’t previously seen in anyone. She talked and sang about Him, like He was her friend. She didn't mention a list of rules to follow. She said He loved us “just as we were.”

I bought her album that evening. I got home around eleven and everyone was in bed. My parent’s bedroom was on the first floor next to the living room, which is where the only stereo in the house was. I knew there would be trouble if I used that stereo.

I found an old record player in the attic and brought it to my bedroom on the second floor. It had been in the attic at least five years and I wasn't sure if it would have a needle. (remember those) Thankfully, not only did it have a needle, but the needle was in good condition.


But the turntable had issues - it wouldn’t go around at a steady speed. Normal speed, then slo-o-o-w speed, normal, slo-o-o-w, I couldn't hear more than a few words at a time. Frustrated, I sat on the edge of the bed. “God, or whoever you are, I don’t normally listen to music about you, now I want to and it won't work. Here’s a deal, if you’re real and you’re really there, this turntable needs to work!” 

I was surprised at my boldness - expecting to be hit with lightening. When no lightening came, I slowly tried to play the record again. 

If you would have peeped in my window a minute later - you’d have seen a shaken 17-year old girl sitting on the edge of her bed with the words and music of the album flowing perfectly from the record player. 

I was both thrilled and scared. Thrilled it worked and that there was more to life than I could see. But I was also scared of that very fact - and what, if anything, was I going to do about it?

I’d like to tell you that I started seeking more that day. But no, I learn slowly. I pondered it. Then reason set in and I excused it - it wasn’t God or anyone else. The turntable had just needed some time to loosen up, to get the dust bunnies out of it - that's all it was.

Yet, the inner stirrings of my spirit were too real to ignore. I knew it deep within even as I went on with my life in the normal way. Slowly over the next few years, step by step, I was drawn to learn more about that stirring. It's been a bumpy path, but when confused, I come back to the confidence I had the night my creator connected with me through a dusty record player.

Is there a time/place in your life when something was stirred within you and it changed your life?

Friday, February 19, 2010

Friday!

Fridays are famous ... we all love them, don't we?   
(know anyone that doesn't?)

There's a popular restaurant named for Friday - T.G.I.F.

There are special rules for Friday:
Some businesses allow causal dress on Fridays. 
Some people get the day off, or at least leave a few hours earlier, because its Friday.
Its 'eat-out' or pizza and movie night for many people. 

People sing Friday's praises on Twitter and Facebook:

Well hello Friday!! Yeehaw, I’m glad you’re here!
I'm so excited it's Friday, I can barely contain it.
Good Morning!!! Friday is awesome! -Coffee with Marty
Friday! Yay! -Billy Coffey 
So glad it's FRIDAY!!!!  -Tara Henschel 

#TGIF is a Trending topic on Twitter - random tweets I found:
Happy its Friday, looking forward to going out for a cigar after work. #TGIF @ben_lohmann
#tgif ... wouldnt b able to handle another monday, tuesday, wednesday, or thursday !! @nekabby13
TGIF, we're just hours away from good wine and food! Hope you have a good Friday! @TOFoodie 
Fridays put that pep n my step no matter what kind of week it has been -@jcoop9
#Tgif = payday Yay ! @leeangela

Other countries celebrate Friday also - lots of tweets in other languages (I was tempted to include some tweets in other languages, but decided since I don't know what they say, probably not a good idea)

Happy Friday to you!

Winning Wednesday Winner

The winner of the second copy of Linchpin 
that I'm giving away is
Jeanne Grunert
from Prospect, VA

Congratulations Jeanne!

(You don't see Jeanne's entry in the comment section here, because Jeanne entered on Facebook - I allow entries for Winning Wednesday on both this blog and Facebook)

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Winning Wednesday - Linchpin II

A few months ago, I signed up to receive a copy of Linchpin by Seth Godin by giving a donation to the Acumen Fund. A few weeks after receiving the first copy, I received a second copy of Linchpin, with a letter from Seth Godin saying, "Here's a thank you gift for reviewing Linchpin."

Last week I gave away one copy and I figured I will extend the same graciousness as Godin did and give away the second copy also. It's a great book ... you do want to read it, so here's another chance to win a copy.

Here's a repost of my review I posted last week: 

Are you scared to try new things? Wonder what others will say?
One of the main themes in this book is that you are unique and I am unique. The footprint we leave on the world can be unique if we allow (and push) ourselves to be who we are, not who others/environment/culture think we should be.

The one area we are alike - we all find more fulfillment in life if we are truly being ourselves and doing what we are best at. That can mean being self employed, working with one or two others or working in a corporation.

He admits finding our own path can be hard - "There is no map" and "Seeing clearly isn't easy."

There's many things that stop us from even trying, like worry. "Anxiety is practicing failure in advance." Some of his thoughts on how we rationalize not doing something made me feel like he was eavesdropping on the conversations I have in my head.

Godin's writing style is sharp and easy to read. The message in this book isn't necessarily new, but it's important, especially with all the changes the internet is bringing to our world. He does a great job reminding us that we have a lot of choice in what our personal world looks like.

The book includes this piece written by Ishita Gupta,
Every day is a new chance to choose.
Choose to change your perspective.
Choose to flip the switch in your mind. 
Turn on the light and 
stop fretting about with insecurity and doubt.
Choose to do your work and be free of distraction.
Choose to see the best in someone, 
or choose to bring out the worst in them.
Choose to be a laser beam, with focused intentions, 
or a scattered ray of light that doesn't do any good.


Leave your name before 9PM on Thursday and you could a hardcover copy of this book. Winner will be randomly chosen and posted Friday morning. 

If you subscribe to this site, you'll always find out what I'm giving away for Winning Wednesday. 

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Sunday Saying

Three sayings this week ... I like this one because I constantly need to be reminded that I can't do everything in life.
You can do anything, but not everything.
- David Allen

I had to do this one in honor of the Olympics and Wayne Gretzky's role in the opening ceremonies.
You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.
 -Wayne Gretzky

I know ... this one is kind of a contradiction to the first one - but life is often full of contradictions, isn't it?

And it's Valentine's day - so here's a love one.
"To laugh often and love much... 
to appreciate beauty, 
to find the best in others, 
to give one's self... 
this is to have succeeded." 
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday, February 12, 2010

From Stubborn to Flexible

I have a stubborn foot. It has limited flexibility - it is stiff. From the front of my ankle to my toes - it is almost as straight as a board and it's mostly numb.

This is a left over issue from injuries I received in an accident. Post-accident, I did months of physical therapy - actually enjoying most of it because I could see the results of my badly injured body getting stronger with the correct exercises. But I didn't like the set of exercises that tackled my left foot. They felt awkward and uncomfortable. I tended to do them lightly, rather than give them my best effort. 

Fast forward about four years and the foot still isn't moving much. You wouldn't realize it if you saw me walk. My ankle has fairly good range of motion and it compensates for the foot, so I walk without a limp. In most of life - it doesn't affect me. But I notice it when going up steps and walking on uneven surfaces - grass, trails and sand. My ankle needs to over extend and/or rotate to keep me steady. And trying to stand on only that foot is difficult.

Over the past year, I became concerned that this extra stress on my ankle could cause more issues down the road. A time or two, I started doing exercises for this foot, but they didn't seem effective - plus they were annoying. 

My motivation to stick with the exercises fluctuated, Darn it, why didn't I tackle this more aggressively earlier? Now that it's been four years, it will never move. Why even bother trying?

Last summer after running barefoot on the beach, without the 'safe' cushioning of running shoes, I noticed some life in this foot. A nerve or two complained. I don't like pain, but this kind of pain tells me something positive is happening. And I noticed a sliver of flexibility that wasn't there before. 

I promptly told my family we need to move to the beach - now! Since I'm still in PA, you know they haven't agreed yet. 

Thanks to these strange looking shoes I can now run/walk barefoot on most any surface. (yes, you may laugh, they look funny)
As I slowly transition (it's a process, my feet/legs have to adjust) to running in these, there's more activity in my left foot. Nothing amazing yet, but step my step, I have hope for it. 

While running the other day, I found myself wondering if I have other stubborn, numb areas in my life - maybe in my emotions, mind or spirit. 

Do I avoid issues because they are uncomfortable or awkward to deal with?  Have I lived with an issue so long, I just assume it will always be that way? Do I get tired of doing exercises that would help me grow because I don't see immediate results?

And if so, does it affect other areas of my life? Do I have some unstable areas due to issues I haven't dealt with? And what do I compensate for without even realizing it?

What about you - avoiding any issues?

Winning Wednesday Winner

Last week my husband picked my Winning Wednesday winner from numbers I put in a 'hat.' Things are changing now - I learned about a new website, so Winning Wednesday is going high tech.

This week I entered a contest for free tickets to Whiteboard. That winner was chosen by Random.org (I didn't win, but I'll be there, because the founder of Whiteboard is my coach, Ben Arment) So from now on my winners will be selected by an unfeeling uncaring computer robot. 

And the winner of Linchpin by Seth Godin is
Ryan Nelson
from Olathe, Kansas

Congratulations Ryan!
I'm happy that a fellow Dream Year participant won.


Ryan, please send me your mailing address
JanetOberholtzer@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Winning Wednesday - Linchpin

Are you scared to try new things? Wonder what others will say?
One of the main themes in this book is that you are unique and I am unique. The footprint we leave on the world can be unique if we allow (and push) ourselves to be who we are, not who others/environment/culture think we should be.

The one area we are alike - we all find more fulfillment in life if we are truly being ourselves and doing what we are best at. That can mean being self employed, working with one or two others or working in a corporation.

He admits finding our own path can be hard - "There is no map" and "Seeing clearly isn't easy."

There's many things that stop us from even trying, like worry. "Anxiety is practicing failure in advance." Some of his thoughts on how we rationalize not doing something made me feel like he was eavesdropping on the conversations I have in my head.

Godin's writing style is sharp and easy to read. The message in this book isn't necessarily new, but it's important, especially with all the changes the internet is bringing to our world. He does a great job reminding us that we have a lot of choice in what our personal world looks like.

The book includes this piece written by Ishita Gupta,
Every day is a new chance to choose.
Choose to change your perspective.
Choose to flip the switch in your mind. 
Turn on the light and 
stop fretting about with insecurity and doubt.
Choose to do your work and be free of distraction.
Choose to see the best in someone, 
or choose to bring out the worst in them.
Choose to be a laser beam, with focused intentions, 
or a scattered ray of light that doesn't do any good.


Leave your name before 9PM on Thursday and you could a hardcover copy of this book. Winner will be randomly chosen and posted Friday morning. 

Subscribe to this site so you don't miss a Winning Wednesday. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Seth Godin. I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions I've expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Monday, February 08, 2010

Patience = Serenity

Patience - it's something we all need. 

If we don't have patience - we add immeasurable stress to our lives and the lives of others around us. 

Sometimes we don't even realize the lack of patience we have with certain people or in certain situations. We act or react the way we always do without even pausing to wonder if we our lack of patience could be making the situation worse. 

Other times we're aware and we say things like, "I should have more patience with him/her/it, but ...
And then we justify why we don't have patience. We justify why we complain, yell, grumble or walk away.

Patience is not a rare diamond. We can have it - seriously we can. It is available to all of us. It's a choice we make multiple times a day.

Can you teach yourself patience? Is patience like a muscle - can it be strengthen with regular use?

Yes and Yes ... because:
"Patience is not passive; on the contrary, 
it is active; it is concentrated strength."  
- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

On a day when you have time, select the longest checkout line. While patiently waiting, have a pleasant conversation with someone around you. 

Or train your patience muscle by walking behind or beside your child at his/her pace instead of in front of them.

How's this for great news - God's spirit will give us patience.

The words in the NIV Bible are familiar, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

It's a pleasant surprise to see the wording in "The Message."

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. 
 ~ Paul in a letter to the Galatians

Patience is translated as serenity. Haven't we all longed for more serenity in our lives? Between training ourselves and asking God - the choice is ours!


This post is part of the Blog Carnival on Patience - hosted by Bridget Chumbley.
Go to One Word at a Time to read more posts about patience.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Sunday Saying

All the great spiritual leaders in history were people of hope. Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Mary, Jesus, Rumi, Gandhi, and Dorothy Day all lived with a promise in their hearts that guided them toward the future without the need to know exactly what it would look like. Let's live with hope. - Henri Nouwen

Life is full of bumps/bruises and mysteries ... but in the middle of all that, I live with hope. Come to think of it ... is there any other way that is worth living?

Friday, February 05, 2010

Ask - Seek - Knock

In the ancient book of Matthew, the author mentions "Asking, Seeking and Knocking." We usually look at this as something we do to connect with God ... and/or to ask him for favors.

Have you ever thought about the fact that this could be a suggestion on how to interact with each other*
 Asking is honoring the free will of another person. When we are asking, we are not judging, controlling or manipulating them - we want to know how they feel or what they think. Can I truly listen when I ask?

Seeking shows a desire to want to learn something about the other person ... it's all about them, not about us. Do I seek to hear what others are saying 'between their words?'

Knocking means we won't give up on someone. We will continue to hang in there with them ... through thick and thin. How am I with sticking around and knocking ... for the umpthteen time?!

How can you ask, seek, knock instead of telling, showing and giving up on someone today?

*Idea from "Ask, Seek Knock" podcast by Rob Bell from Mars Hill

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Winning Wednesday Winner

I put my husband to work tonight ... I was comfortable on my recliner, so I asked him to draw a slip of paper out of my plastic deli container (yea, I'm classy like that) The piece of paper he selected said #9 on it. The 9th person to leave a comment on Winning Wednesday this week was SandyPA. 

 Congratulations!
Sandy McCombs Shealy
of Exton, PA 
You are the winner of Food Rules.


Sandy, please email your address to: JanetOberholtzer@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Winning Wednesday - Food Rules

It's February - how's those New Year's Resolutions going? When talking about resolutions or goals, almost every person mentions how they want to eat healthier ... so it's safe to assume many of you have said that. Eating healthy is something that is often on our minds, but we still have a hard time keeping unhealthy food off our lips - which of course, then goes straight to our hips! Here's a great little book with simplified rules to give you a tool in your quest.
Amazon describes the book this way ...

Michael Pollan, our nation's most trusted resource for food-related issues, offers this indispensible guide for anyone concerned about health and food. Simple, sensible, and easy to use, Food Rules is a set of memorable rules for eating wisely, many drawn from a variety of ethnic or cultural traditions. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat-buffet, this handy, pocket-size resource is the perfect guide for anyone who would like to become more mindful of the food we eat.
I knew some of the rules in this book - others were new, but either way it was good to reread them. 
Sampling of the rules: 
#11 Avoid foods you see advertised on television.
#36 Don’t eat breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk.
#58 Do all your eating at a table.

This can be carried with you all the time, since it is pocket-sized. Then when the urge/desire to eat something hits, open this first, read a few of the rules. It might be all the motivation you need to say no. Read a few of the rules before you enter the grocery store - if you don't buy the junk, you won't eat it later!  Or when you are at the drive-through to get your child something (children are generally more active than adults, so he/she needs the food) and you are only going to get a coffee or water. Then you see colorful pictures on the order board - also called the "let's suck them into buying" board. And though you tell yourself you are beyond falling for their marketing game, you find yourself rationalizing in your mind on why you NEED the burger/fries/wrap/ice cream/etc. As your child(ren) change their mind six times of what they want, you open the book - read a rule or two and  you will want to order the coffee or water :) 

Leave your name for a chance to win this book.
Do you have any food rules that help you eat healthy? If so, please share ...

Winner will be selected by random drawing from names posted before 9PM on Thursday 2/4/2010 and posted on Friday morning.