Tickle Me Tuesday

Hey.. Hey! Step away from that feather, I wasn't being LITERAL about tickling! Although, a good ticklefest with your kids (or inner child/loved ones)is always a fun treat for all!

From time to time, I like to share something that will help cheer you, encourage you and/or feed your soul and spirit. It's not a commercial or anything like that. Simply put -- you know when you find something you really like and you share it with you gal pals? It's that kind of idea. This could encompass anything that tickles your fancy.

I saw this product recently and just fell in love with it. It's an acorn locket that opens to reveal a secret message. Yes, I was one of those kids who loved creating special codes that only my friends could read, and sharing secret messages (you know, "A=1, B=2...). I'm the romantic who loves to tuck a love note in that special someone's pocket, or leave a note in your child's lunch box to encourage them, etc. So how cool is this?

Imagine giving it to a friend or a special female in your life with an itsy-bitsy note nestled inside that means something to both of you? Or a favorite quote? And hey, buy yourself your own flowers and Valentine's day gift and tuck a favorite Scripture verse or love note to yourself in to wear close to your heart! Wild women don't stand on principle, you know! Are you flying solo? Be your own Valentine! Okay, that's a whole 'nuther blog....

Anywhooo, the main thing here is that I thought this was a beautifully hand-crafted gift of love to yourself or another. I also embrace the symbolism of the acorn. It can represent human potential, strength, the small idea that can grow exponentially, how something that seems to die can rebirth and flourish. The crazy side of me also is tickled by what blogger Ree Drummond of The Pioneer Woman blog (which I highly recommend - click HERE to surf over) suggested about putting in the message "I'm nuts about you!"

And since I'm nuts about all my readers, I wanted to share this with all of you. Exercise your gifting muscle today, and consider blessing yourself or someone else with this expression of love and friendship today. Click HERE to go to www.etsy.com to read more or purchase. Be sure to swing by Bella Beads Studio as well to see other amazingly beautiful creations! Click HERE to visit!

Too Much Tuesday

I’ve done it again. The second half of January through to the end of the month my calendar is so jam-packed I may not have time to shave both legs until Valentine’s Day, and all I dream about and crave is a 24-hour nap! I have a confession to make. I’m the queen of too much. I take on too much and think I can do it all and then have some time left over so I schedule something ELSE. It is a habitually problem that I‘ve been working on for years, and this month was, shall we say, not my shining moment of victory?

Between work, school, teaching, working out, going for my pilates reformer and kettle bell certifications, and finding time to dance, hang out with friends, and do the other small million or so other things that we all have to do in life, I am just exhausted. I’m burning the candle at both ends and feel like I’m about at the end of my rope.

One goal for February is to build more margin into my life. Keep a lookout for the Book of the Month I will be featuring in February on margins. That will surely be the book I will be reading in February. That is, if I ever get done of January’s book!

I know each and every one of you reading this knows exactly what I’m going through right now. Let’s all exercise our margins muscle and try to build a little time for ourselves in the coming days, shall we? Time to renew, refresh, and restore our weary wild woman bones? Well, I’m off to daydream about a lovely little nap…zzzzzzzz

Blessings,
Linda

Touch Base Tuesday

Days turn into weeks… turn into months… turn into years…

It’s been said time flies, whether you’re having fun or not! Our lives are all so busy, each with our to-do lists, our daily chores and obligations. We don’t mean to become so self-focused, but it happens. I know how guilty I am of allowing my hamster wheel to become the boundary marker for my life. And the next thing I know, all my good intentions of keeping up with friends have ended up as wishful thinking sprinkled with a healthy dose of regrets.

There’s a quote from the movie Ferris Buehler’s Day Off that says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” In the blink of an eye, the people you hold most dear can be gone. You need to make them a priority while you may, and let them know they are important to you, loved by you, treasured and cherished by you.

Before the week is out, exercise your friendship muscles and reach out to someone who you’ve been meaning to call or visit. Drop them a real live snail mail card, or an e-card, or a phone call or text or Facebook post or Twitter – but DO IT! Take ten minutes to touch base with them. As you read this, I’ll bet more than one person has crossed your mind (and heart). THAT’S the person (or people) you need to connect with now.

One of my goals this year is to be a better reacher-outter. I am blessed beyond measure with a loving family and more amazing wild women friends than you can imagine. Each person is unique and special, funny, intelligent and absolutely cherished… and I don’t want to miss one day without somehow making the time to communicate with at least one of these treasured souls. My life is better and richer and more wonderful because of their influence and love and support, and it’s time I made more of an effort to ensure they know that right down to their wild women toes! Each day this year, I will use some form of communication to touch base with one friend. I’d like to leave a legacy of love, where people would say that I made them feel special and important and loved.

That’s my goal – one day and one dear heart at a time. Life is too short – touch base today.

Blessings,

Linda

Tuesday Tips

How was your Christmas? Are you able to take a few days off, or are you right back in the saddle of juggling? I hope it was peaceful and blessed. So now begins the countdown to 2012. One of the things we always wish one another, especially as the new year begins, is good health. This is something we should never take for granted, and something that we must actively pursue through eating right and exercising regularly. Our society has a quick-fix mentality for any kind of ailment – just pop a pill or get a prescription. It’s just not that easy! So what do you do when, for example, you have pain but don’t want to just take some over-the-counter or prescription medication?

Well, I happened to come across this article from Prevention Magazine that I wanted to share with you. Mind you, I am NOT a doctor and only pass this info along for general information purposes! That being said, I thought it was interesting, especially the counting backwards technique. Imagine being able to ease pain simply by counting backwards – next time I’m giving blood I think I will try this!

Please feel free to share in the comments anything you use to help ease pain. And watch over the next few days as we share ideas on how to prepare for the upcoming year!

Blessings,
Linda


Nature's New Pain Relievers
The best remedies for arthritis, back pain, migraines, and more that have science on their side

By Jordan Lite

Finding Relief
You're in pain, and ibuprofen just won't cut it. NSAIDs don't agree with your stomach, and you're wary of stronger meds. Fortunately, you have alternatives--natural ones. From herbs that attack inflammation to techniques that leverage the brain's remarkable healing powers, nature offers many treatments for conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and even muscle strains. Here are eight natural remedies that may enhance or replace conventional antidotes, and leave you happier, healthier, and pain free.

Capsaicin
Reduce pain from arthritis, shingles, or neuropathy
What the science says: An active component of chile pepper, capsaicin temporarily desensitizes pain-prone skin nerve receptors called C-fibers; soreness is diminished for 3 to 5 weeks while they regain sensation. Nearly 40% of arthritis patients reduced their pain by half after using a topical capsaicin cream for a month, and 60% of neuropathy patients achieved the same after 2 months, according to a University of Oxford study. Patients at the New England Center for Headache decreased their migraine and cluster headache intensity after applying capsaicin cream inside their nostrils.

How to try it: Capsaicin ointments and creams are sold in pharmacies and health stores. For arthritis or neuropathy, try 0.025% or 0.075% capsaicin cream one to four times daily; best results can take up to 2 weeks, says Philip Gregory, PharmD, a professor at Creighton University and editor of the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. But research on capsaicin and headaches remains limited--and don't expect stronger versions anytime soon: "Current formulations are better suited for more acute problems, like a sore muscle or an arthritis flare-up, than everyday pain and stiffness," Gregory says.

InflaThera or Zyflamend
Help ease arthritis
What the science says: Both supplement brands contain ginger, turmeric, and holy basil, all of which have anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric (a curry ingredient) may be the best: A component, curcumin, eases inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, according to the Methodist Research Institute in Indianapolis. Researchers are now testing Zyflamend in RA patients, but some experts are already sold: "Each herb has its own scientific database of evidence," says James Dillard, MD, author of The Chronic Pain Solution.

How to try it: ProThera, InflaThera's maker, will only sell to health care professionals, so your doctor has to order it for you; that said, it's reportedly stronger (and slightly cheaper) than Zyflamend. InflaThera's suggested dosage is twice daily with food. For the more readily accessible Zyflamend, take one capsule two or three times daily, but avoid it near bedtime--each pill contains 10 mg of caffeine (another version, Zyflamend PM, is reportedly less stimulating). Buy Zyflamend at swansonvitamins.com or immunesupport.com/zyflamend.htm. Or, save money and try curcumin to start: Taking 500 mg four times daily, along with fish oil and a diet low in animal fat, can ease arthritis, says Jane Guiltinan, ND, immediate past president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Arnica
Alleviate acute injury or post surgery swelling
What the science says: This herb comes from a European flower; although its healing mechanism is still unknown, it does have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Taking oral homeopathic arnica after a tonsillectomy decreases pain, say British researchers, and German doctors found that it reduces surgery-related knee swelling.

How to try it: Use homeopathic arnica as an adjunct to ice, herbs, or conventional pain meds, suggests Guiltinan. Rub arnica ointment on bruises or strained muscles, or take it in the form of three lactose pellets under the tongue up to six times per day. Boiron (boironusa.com) is among the most reputable arnica manufacturers.

Aquamin
Relieve osteoarthritis inflammation and pain
What the science says: This red seaweed supplement is rich in calcium and magnesium. A preliminary clinical study showed that the ingredients may reduce joint inflammation or even help build bone, says David O'Leary of Marigot, Aquamin's Irish manufacturer. In a study of 70 volunteers published in Nutrition Journal, Aquamin users reduced arthritis pain by 20% in a month, and had less stiffness than patients taking a placebo.

How to try it: Marigot recommends 2,400 mg a day (two capsules) of Aquamin in tablet form, sold domestically in products such as Aquamin Sea Minerals and Cal-Sea-Um. A 60-pill jar of Swanson Vegetarian Aquamin Sea Minerals costs about $6 at swansonvitamins.com.

SAM-e (S adenosylmethionine)
Reduce osteoarthritis aches
What the science says: SAM-e is made from a naturally occurring amino acid and sold as capsules. Doctors aren't entirely sure why it tamps down pain, but it reduces inflammation and may increase the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine. Studies by the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the University of California, Irvine, showed that SAM-e was as effective as some NSAIDs in easing osteoarthritis aches; the California researchers found that SAM-e quashed pain by 50% after 2 months, though it took a few weeks to kick in. SAM-e produced no cardiovascular risks and fewer stomach problems than the conventional meds.

How to try it: Costco and CVS both carry it; a month's supply costs $30 to $60. Guiltinan prescribes 400 to 1,600 mg daily, often with turmeric or fish oil. SAM-e can interact with other meds, especially MAO-inhibitor antidepressants, so it's vital to talk with your doctor before taking it (and avoid SAM-e entirely if you have bipolar disorder). Also, inspect the packaging before buying, advises Gregory: Make sure the product carries a USP or GMP quality seal, contains a stabilizing salt, has a far-off expiration date, and comes in foil blister packs--SAM-e can degrade rapidly in direct light.

Fish oil
Relieve joint pain from arthritis or autoimmune disorders
What the science says: Digested fish oil breaks down into hormonelike chemicals called prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation. In one study, about 40% of rheumatoid arthritis patients who took cod-liver oil every day were able to cut their NSAID use by more than a third, Scottish scientists recently reported. People with neck and back pain have fared even better: After about 10 weeks, nearly two-thirds were able to stop taking NSAIDs altogether in a University of Pittsburgh study.

How to try it: Taking 1,000 mg is proven to help your heart, but you should up the dose for pain. For osteoarthritis, try 2,000 to 4,000 mg daily; for rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases associated with joint pain (such as lupus), consider a much higher dose of upwards of 8,000 mg daily--but ask your doctor about such a large amount first, says Tanya Edwards, MD, medical director at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative Medicine. (The same rule applies if you take BP or heart meds, as omega-3s can thin the blood.) Read the nutrition label carefully: The dosage refers to the amount of omega-3s in a capsule, not other ingredients. Nordic Naturals (nordicnaturals.com) and Carlson (carlsonlabs.com) are both reputable brands; for something stronger, GNC's Triple-Strength Fish Oil (gnc.com) has 900 mg of omega-3s per capsule.

Methylsulfonyl-methane (MSM)
Improve osteoarthritis
What the science says: MSM is derived from sulfur and may prevent joint and cartilage degeneration, say University of California, San Diego, scientists. People with osteoarthritis of the knee who took MSM had 25% less pain and 30% better physical function at the end of a 3-month trial at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. Indian researchers also found that MSM worked better when combined with glucosamine.

How to try it: Start with 1.5 to 3 g once daily and increase to 3 g twice daily for more severe pain, suggests Leslie Axelrod, ND, a professor of clinical sciences at Southwest. Patients in the Indian trial improved on dosages as low as 500 mg three times daily. Vendors of OptiMSM, the brand tested in Axelrod's trial, can be found at optimsm.com.

Counting out loud
Soothe brief "needle stick" pain
What the science says: Patients who counted backward from 100 out loud during an injection experienced and recalled less pain, according to a recent Japanese study. None of the 46 patients who counted complained afterward, and only one of them could remember pain from the injection at all (among the 46 who didn't count, 19 said the injection hurt and 10 recalled what it felt like). Recitation might work by distracting the brain from processing the sensation, says study author Tomoko Higashi, MD, of Yokohama City University Medical Center in Kanagawa, Japan. The trick is probably only useful for short or acute periods, she says, adding: "The degree of pain reduction really depends on how well patients concentrate on counting."

Qigong
Ease fibromyalgia or arthritis
What the science says: Qigong is an umbrella term for traditional Chinese-medicine exercises or techniques that integrate body, posture, mind and breathing to improve the flow of energy, or qi. Women with severe fibromyalgia reported 73% less pain after just 5-7 sessions with a qigong master, according to a Robert Wood Johnson Medical School study, and the benefits continued three months later. "I’ve never seen pain scores change so dramatically," says study co-author Afton Hassett, PsyD, who notes that larger trials need to be conducted to confirm these benefits. In other research, when qigong was combined with meditation, the pair helped patients reduce their pain as well as prescription drugs, according to University of Maryland researchers. And 83% of rheumatoid arthritis patients who practiced qigong for 1-2 hours a day reported greater improvement compared to 57% who received medication, Chinese doctors found.

How to try it: A skilled practitioner can help you reduce your discomfort in 3 to 9 treatments, says Master FaXiang Hou of the Qigong Research Society (qigongresearchsociety.com). Start off with a class or use an at-home video like Francesco Garripoli’s "Qigong Beginning Practice" (available at amazon.com) at least one hour a day, either first thing in the morning or right before bed. Once you’ve got the hang of it, 20 to 30 minutes a day can keep pain at bay, says Kevin Chen, PhD, who led the RWJ study. Find a teacher near you at the National Qigong Association Web site (nqa.org).

Acupuncture
Relieve arthritis; migraines; low-back, menstrual, or post-operative pain
What the science says: When pricked with tiny, essentially painless needles, your body releases endogenous opioids, its natural painkillers—but for reasons scientists are still figuring out, the benefits last longer than the chemicals’ analgesic effect. Recent research has yielded stunning results: people with knee arthritis reduced pain by 40% after 6 months of acupuncture that began as twice weekly sessions and was gradually reduced to once a month, according to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who also found it can relieve low-back pain. Overseas, scientists in Europe used acupuncture to cut medication use in half among migraine sufferers—and, in another study, ease menstrual pain. Post-surgery patients needed less morphine after receiving the needle pricks, a recent Duke University Medical Center review found.

How to try it: For acute pain, try 5-8 treatments; experts say you’ll need 8-15 sessions for chronic pain (in the UMM study on osteoarthritis, significant improvement took 14 weeks). Nearly half of employers offer health insurance that covers acupuncture, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey. Contact your state’s acupuncture board or your insurer to find a licensed practitioner. Get more information on acupuncture and how it can help ease health problems.

Glucosamine and chondroitin
Protect cartilage from osteoarthritis
What the science says: Glucosamine is a natural compound used in the formation and repair of cartilage, according to the Mayo Clinic. Chondroitin is made from shark and cow cartilage. Both are thought to help build or protect joint-cushioning cartilage—the same material that breaks down in osteoarthritis. The combination can help people with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, according to a New England Journal of Medicine study: 53% of users felt their pain decrease by half.

How to try it: Take 500 mg of glucosamine three times a day alone or with 400 mg of chondroitin sulfate. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database suggests glucosamine sulfate over glucosamine hydrochloride, though many brands contain both.
Published November 2011, Prevention | Updated December 2011

http://www.prevention.com/health/natural-remedies/natures-new-pain-relievers-0?cm_mmc=Spotlight-_-761036-_-12262011-_-Natures-11-Best-Pain-Relievers


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Tangled in the Tinsel Tuesday

Omigosh, has it really been a week since I’ve blogged? Sorry, I’ve been tangled up in the tinsel!! But I’m back on track. Are you tangled up as well? How’s the shopping going, and the parties, and the planning? Are you all ready, mid-way to madness, or haven’t even started yet? (Ummm… if you’re in the third category, may I recommend gift cards??) Are you buzzing from the combo of endless cups of coffee, Christmas cookies and candy?

Okay, let’s work our detox muscles today. Stop, take a breath. Now let’s take inventory. Where are you as of today? Look at your list, check it twice. You’ve still got a few days left, so don’t despair and feel completely overwhelmed. If you feel as if you will never get it all done, see if you can volunteer some family members to split the workload, or maybe buddy up with a few friends and work together as a team to help one another. Secondly, serious consider downsizing whatever has to be done, and give up the perfectionism that might be causing your nerves to break quicker than a fragile ornament. Finally, try to find something funny about it all – you MUST maintain a sense of humor!!!

Now about your nutrition – I know I’ve said it over and over, but just remember to eat lots of healthy foods (what I call eating clean), and eat sensibly and mindfully with all the cookies, fancy holiday meals, etc. It’s not that you can’t have it – just take it easy.

One little stress-buster I like to use is a simple breathing technique. Breath in through your nose slowly for a count of 5, hold it for 5, and then blow it out slowly for a count of 5 (like you’re blowing out birthday candles). Do this 10 times throughout the day. It will help.

We’d love to hear what’s going on – so please, write and comment on what you’re dealing with this holiday season, and how you’re coping and succeeding!

Blessings,
Linda

Tickle Me Tuesday

We all know those people who go through life with big ol’ sourpuss face – like they’ve been sucking on lemons. These are the folks that will find the negative in ANYTHING! I think of them as idea snipers, energy vampires, and wet blankets who seem to glory in find any and every inconceivable reason why something cannot be accomplished. They stand with the iron clad list of rules in one hand, and the past in the other. “Well, we’ve ALWAYS done it THIS way…” or “But this is what the rules say…” Stick to the routine, the same mundane, the path of least resistance – that’s their mantra. Oh, I don’t think they mean to drag everyone down – maybe it’s the way they were raised, or life has just been hard on them. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be a monkey wrench in a great new idea, nor take the joy out of the moment. The saddest thing is, in my estimation, is that these are the folks that rarely seem to spontaneously break out in laughter or find the delight in everyday living.

While I can be nauseatingly positive, I have also found myself with a lousy attitude of “Nope, won’t work, can’t do that, I’m just gonna sit here and look at the world through grey-colored glasses!” I can be as cantankerous and stubborn as the next gal, especially when I’m stressed and tired and overloaded.

So here’s my suggestion for today – let’s all really exercise our laughter muscles. Look at the humor in a given situation – look hard if you have to, but make a concerted effort to find something at which to smile, laugh, or give it the old bahonkin’ belly laugh! Hunt down the ho-ho-ho, honey! Find the fun. If someone is annoying you, imagine them speaking in a squeaky voice. Turn the tables on a bad situation. For example, last Thursday I was coming out of a building, walked around the back (where, thank goodness, no one could see me), and I just PLOP – tripped and fell flat on my hands and knees. The good news was, nothing was broken and my favorite gym pants weren’t ripped! I just laughed at myself, and was thankful there was no audience to see my bruised knee and ego! When I think of one person who is a professional wet blanket, and has more whine in her than most vineyards, I just think of her as Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, and then try to think how sad it must be to live like that – it helps my heart stay tender, and my brain from exploding.

Do something outrageously at home! If the hubs or kids are acting up at the dinner table, start a food fight! Okay, it’s not exactly the prim and proper way to discipline and you’ll have to clean up afterwards, but imagine the laughter and the memories – priceless! Sit down and watch a comedy movie or sitcom. Find time to laugh. Never lose your sense of humor – it is crucial to survival.

Giggles and blessings,
Linda

Top Twelve Tuesday

I am a Christmas movie freak. I unabashedly LOVE Christmas movies. There’s nothing like snuggling up on the couch, grabbing a bowl of (air-popped) popcorn (hold the butter and salt, please), and getting all sloppy and sentimental. I admit, I can sing along to any of the songs on Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (… with razzleberry dressing…). I feast my eyes, ears, and soul and just lose myself in the classics. I become 8 years old again whenever Rudolph is on, and I want to hug the humble bumble before I die.

Now I know these are fantasy escapes, and there’s usually no way to solve all the relationship and world problems within a two-hour time span. But watching George search for Mary, and hearing a bell ring knowing somewhere an angel got her wings, always chokes me up. What can I say? and who doesn't need a bit of an escape during the stress of holiday preparations?? I just love watching all the classic TV specials (Rudolph, Frosty, Jack Frost, Rudolph's Happy New Year... the list is endless).

So, here are my top 12, dandy dozen favorite Christmas movies of all times (in order). Always get the original black and white versions if possible!!! During the course of the next month, may I suggest you exercise your sloppy sentimental muscles, get together with family and friends, and watch a few? There’s sure to give you a case of the warm fuzzies! I hope this list will take you down a happy holiday memory lane walk! I would love to hear your comments as to your favorite holiday movies or TV shows, or if you have a favorite memory with one of the movies I mentioned!!!

Blessings,
Linda

1) It’s a Wonderful Life – we all have probably seen this one. George Bailey learns what it’s like if he’d never been born. Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed are great together! I even have the soundtrack!

2) A Christmas Carol – must be the one with Alistair Sim as Scrooge. Others are good, but this tops them all.

3) Miracle on 34th Street – again, must get the B/W original with Edmund Gwynne and Natalie Wood as Susan.

4) White Christmas – A staple for the holidays – love Rosemary Clooney’s dress and performance in the torch song “Love, You Didn’t Do Right by Me”.

5) The Bishop’s Wife – Now don’t get me wrong, I also can watch Denzel and Whitney in the remake over and over, but there just ain’t nobody like Cary Grant!

6) Christmas in Connecticut – Move over Martha Stewart! The premise here is that Barbara Stanwyck is the ULTIMATE homemaker/wife/mother writing a column each month for a women’s’ magazine – only to find out she can’t even cook. Then she has to host a veteran for Christmas dinner, and it’s hysterical what happens next.

7) Heidi – I have been watching Shirley Temple’s classic for years and years, and it just gets better each time.

8) Come to the Stable – a little known classic Christmas movie with Loretta Young (from the Bishop’s Wife) and Celeste Holm (the original Philadelphia Story, All About Eve) as nuns. I actually had the joy of meeting Celeste Holm once – I gushed like a teenager!

9) Mr. Magoo’s Christmas – I grew up with Mr. Magoo cartoons, and this wasn’t shown for years on regular television. When it finally came out on videotape I was overjoyed. It just wasn't Christmas without it!

10) March of the Wooden Soldiers – I can remember being a little girl, decorating the Christmas tree in my grandparent’s home, and watching this on television. It always makes me want to buy tinsel and hang it on the tree – I usually put this one on when… yep… I decorate our tree!

11) A Christmas Story – my favorite character is the father played to perfection by Darrin McGavin, and the FRAGILE line still doubles me over with laughter.

12) A Charlie Brown Christmas – I have worn out a CD playing the soundtrack over and over every holiday season. You have a stake of holly in your heart if you aren’t moved by Charlie and his little tree. This is a theological wonder – listen closely as Linus explains the true meaning of Christmas!

TV Specials Honorable mention:

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas – back in the 70’s HBO put this “muppet-y” Christmas special out, and it is just so sweet. Unfortunately, it’s fairly expensive to get now, so be sure to see if you can find it on YouTube or borrow a copy. A real cuddle fest.

The Spirit of Christmas - if you grew up in the Philadelphia area in the 60's, chances are you saw this growing up. It was originally a half-hour Christmas special put on by Bell Telephone, and features the Mabel Beaton marionettes. There are two segments - the first is the retelling of "The Night Before Christmas", and the second is the telling of the nativity (in the Bible, Luke 2:1-20). It is simple and so beautiful.

The Snowman - narrated by David Bowie, this animated Academy-Awarded nominated short film is a charming tale of a young English boy who finds his snowman has come to life, and takes him on an overnight adventure. The illustrations and soundtrack are gentle and beautiful.

Take a Moment Tuesday

Several weeks ago, as I drove home one evening, I saw at least two houses in my neighborhood that had already decorated for Christmas. I mean full-out, lights and music and all the ho-ho-ho every electric socket could muster kind of decorating. Within the same area, two other houses still had all their Halloween decorations up – bizarre orange/black lights glowing and seeping into the street. What an odd combination.

It seems we have lost Thanksgiving (on many levels). We begin getting ready for Halloween practically at the end of August, then slide right into Christmas. Even the traditional day after Thanksgiving “black Friday” has now started weeks earlier in advertising, in stores, and on the internet. We’re driven by culture and media to move faster and faster, go-go-go towards the holidays, and run that hamster wheel life into the ground. And let’s not forget, it all has to be absolutely perfect (as if Martha was going to come in, inspection ready in her white gloves).

In the 80’s a fitness motivator was famous for her phrase “STOP THE MADNESS!” Today, let’s take her advice. Exercise your put on the brakes muscles, and take a moment to enjoy the next few days. Don’t think about Christmas yet. Put aside all things Christmas and focus on your day today. Enjoy the sights/sounds/smells/feel of your immediate moment. If you are in the grocery store shopping, watch other shoppers. Look at the colors, the fresh veggies, the smells as you go past the bakery (because they’re probably fanning out the baking pie aroma to entice you). Listen to all the sounds around you, from the piped-in music to the funny conversations at the check-out line.

Purposefully cultivate a thankful spirit as you prepare your home and heart for Thanksgiving. Begin your blessings list that you can share at the table. Is there anyone else you can invite that would be blessed by spending Thanksgiving at your table? A single mom with her kids? A single person who may be alone this Thanksgiving? An elderly person you may know? As you go through your pre-Thanksgiving preparation, be hyper-aware of each moment, and be thankful for it. If it’s cleaning, be thankful for the roof over your head. If it’s laundry, be thankful for clothes to wear. You get the idea. Begin thanks-living.

Blessings,
Linda

Take It To The Next Level Tuesday

I have embarked on a new fitness regime, because I’m training for kettlebell certification in late January of 2012. I have been watching some of the other female trainers as they did their certification training, and they went from good bodies to GREAT bodies! Tight, lean and amazing. I am also going to begin training for Pilates Reformer certification about the same time, so I need to commit to getting very serious about my workout, my nutrition, and focusing on the goal.

To that end, I will be keeping you posted on what’s happening with me, and sharing details about the workout, the nutrition, and the development.

I write this to encourage you to begin a program for yourself. Perhaps you already have a regular workout and fitness routine, and you just would like to take it to the next level. Or maybe you have been playing with the idea of starting a workout, but haven’t had the motivation to get it into gear yet.

Okay, wild women, it’s time – let’s do this together. Tell me about your routine, send pix, and let’s do this as a group! It would be fun to run this race together and encourage one another along as we progress. Join me!

Get those gotta do it muscles of determination and motivation flexin’!!!

Blessings,
Linda

Think About It Tuesday

I was presented via email with a list of “the best and worst date foods” this morning. My interest was naturally peaked, but as I read down the list, all I really came up with that I would choose was chocolate! As I sat here thinking about it, I came up with my own list of worst date foods:

(1) Egg salad – seriously? For a reference, just check out the 1972 original (not the lame remake by Ben Stiller) version of The Heartbreak Kid with Charles Grodin, Cybill Shepherd, and Jeannie Berlin. Trust me, when you see Jeannie Berlin chowing down on her double egg salad sandwich, you will understand fully why this is on the top of my list! Not a fantastic movie, but the scene is hysterical and pathetic all at the same time!

(2) Spaghetti – I’m not talking about pasta like small ziti, I’m talking mile-long strands of plain old spaghetti in drippy, messy “I will find a spot to splash you even if you’re wearing a lobster bib” sauce (or gravy, as my Italian friends say). Years ago there was this very funny commercial where the man offers the woman sitting at the family table with him some spagetti, and she says, “I’m not hungry, I’ll just pick” and proceeds to spear up some spaghetti from his plate, slurping it all the way from her seat. I can’t find it on You Tube, but it is sooo worth seeing if you can find it anywhere. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the product!! Maybe Ragu? Some pasta sauce? If you know it, please write me in the comments section!!

(3) Lasagna – see Spaghetti for reason number one, but also add strands of melted mozzarella that simply won’t be cut in a polite fashion. No, the only way to snap that bad boy from the slab of lasagna on your plate it to twirl it round and round (and round) your fork, praying someday it will stop before you get carpal tunnel syndrome. Admit it – when we’re home we just grab it with our fingers! Hey, isn’t melted mozzarella considered fun finger food?

4. Onion Soup – see mozzarella/lasagna – ‘nuff said.

5. Escargot (aka snails) – see the movie scene from Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts nearly takes out a waiter’s eye with her flying snail – thank goodness he was a good catch! Love her comment to Richard Gere and table mates – “slippery little suckers!”

Honorable mention – how annoying is it to try and eat salad when the pieces are big enough to use as journal pages to write on about how good (or bad) your date went?!?! You cut and cut, and they’re still fighting to get into your mouth. I swear, they have little invisible hands and feet that grab onto your lips as they scream in little itsy-bitsy baby arugula voices, “I’m not going in – you’re not taking me!” Sooo embarrassing!!!

And the biggest rule of all that is so big it is above being listed as number one – CHEW WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED! Mom was right – NEVER a good look, girls!!!!!

So this is for your relationship muscle flex exercise today, ladies. If you want a romantic dinner with a new date, regular date, or the hubs (because the hubs deserves a little romantic dinner once in awhile – keep the spark alive), stay away from these items. And if you have items that you’d like to recommend for date night, or would like to share one of your own funny embarassing "I'll never order that in public again" moments, please add them to your comments here. Bon appetite!

Blessings,
Linda

Too Soon Tuesday

How many times have you been “surprised” that Thanksgiving and Christmas are “just around the corner”? Granted, Thanksgiving scoots around here and there each year on the November calendar pages, but Christmas is ALWAYS on December 25th, rain or shine. Yet, like a buzzing mosquito, we are aware of its presence in a back-burner kind of way until ZAP! And no matter how hard we swat and scratch, we’ve been bit!

Allow me to be the bearer of ominous tidings -- today is November 1st. You now officially have 23 days until Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 24th), and 53 days until Christmas. That also equates to 30 shopping days between Black Friday and Christmas Eve. Oh dear, I just heard a bunch of thuds, and I fear it was the sound of some of you falling off your chairs, as the rest of you join in a heartrending chorus of “Too Soon! Too Soon!” Sorry! Don’t shoot the messenger!!

Don’t be afraid – now that you are clear about timeframes and dates, you can plan appropriately. Exercise your short-range and long-range planning muscles. Get a November calendar out and highlight the 24th. Now think of the long-range plans – Thanksgiving. Imagine exactly what you need, whether you are going away, having a celebration/meal at your home, working at a shelter, etc. Okay good. Now… the next step is to think about all the things to need to arrange/get/make between now and then. If you’re going away, start looking at airline reservations, or if you’re driving, map things out, figure out travel expenses, etc. Once that is done, determine what clothes you’re going to pack, what you may be bringing if you’re cooking/baking for the event, things like that. Break all that down into bite-sized daily chores. Can you begin packing anything now, just a little each day? What can you purchase this weekend for the trip? Get the idea?

If you are the one hosting a Thanksgiving celebration, begin now by planning your menu. Can you pick up items in the next several trips to the grocery store to spread out the expense, and save on the last minute “give me that last can of pumpkin puree or I’ll hit you with my cart” insanity that plagues every market the last weekend before Thanksgiving. Can you cook this weekend and freeze any items? Again, it’s finding little things each day that won’t overwhelm you. Can you clean one room thoroughly from top to bottom over the next three weekends so that you won’t have to worry about it the actual week of the big event? Plot all this down on your calendar. Plan it so that everything that can possibly be done before the week of the occasion is completed, so you aren’t running around like a whirling dervish screaming banshee woman -- and remember to DELEGATE IF YOU CAN! I have a confession – last year I purchased my honey ham and some of the “fixins’” the day before Christmas – yes, there, I’ve said it. I may be drummed out of the “Donna Reed Wannabe” club, but you know what? It was delicious, easy to do and I spent far less time in the kitchen and more time with family and friends.

As far as Christmas goes, begin making purchases now to save yourself from charging up a storm on gifts and then spending all of 2012 paying those credit cards off! It’s NOT too soon to begin planning for the upcoming holidays, and it’s certainly NOT too late. Start today. You can do it… baby steps!

Blessings,
Linda


Oh, and P.S. – if you have any questions about cooking a turkey, click HERE the link to Butterball!

Tricky Tame It Tuesday

Today I’d like to pass along an article from Women’s Health Magazine Online that has some great ideas on tricks that will help you to tame your appetite. I have to laugh at the name of the hormone that causes us to be hungry – ghrelin. I think of it more as my hunger GREMLIN! Visually, it sort of reminds me of the little fuzzy orange creature used in the Weight Watchers ads! It lines part of the stomach and certain cells of the pancreas that stimulates hunger. Ghrelin levels increase before meals and decrease after meals. It’s the counterpart of the hormone leptin, which induces satiation (fullness). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghrelin)

About the potatoes… I recommend avoiding white sugar, white flour, white bread, white potatoes, etc. as much as possible. So while overall the whole potatoes trick is a good idea, I’d opt with substituting sweet potatoes, as long as you have no medical reason/allergic reaction to sweet potatoes. But again, that’s just my two cents!

So exercise your creative hunger-busting muscles, ladies, and enjoy!

Blessings,
Linda


Healthy Appetite Suppressant Tricks
(from Women’s Health Magazine Online by Loren Chidoni)
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/appetite-control

Rise and Shine with Protein
Nutritionists are always raving about lean protein, and for good reason: It keeps you fuller than other nutrients and takes your body more time to digest and absorb. But what you may not realize is that when you eat it also matters. A Purdue University study found that eating lean protein (such as Canadian bacon, egg whites, or low-fat yogurt) at breakfast keeps you satisfied longer than if you were to consume it at other times of the day. "Try to get at least one ounce (or 30 grams) of protein at breakfast," recommends Joan Salge Blake, R.D., a clinical associate professor of nutrition at Boston University.

Chow on Potatoes
The no-carb craze made spuds out to be dietary villains, but these starches actually have appetite-slaying superpowers. They contain a special type of starch that resists digestive enzymes. Because potatoes take a while to break down, they stay in your intestine longer, delaying the onset of hunger pangs, says Katherine Beals, Ph.D., R.D., a clinical associate professor of nutrition at the University of Utah. Have a baked potato with dinner (a medium spud is only about 100 calories) or better yet, try potato salad made with vinegar instead of fattening mayo; chilling cooked potatoes increases their hunger-busting abilities. Of course, potatoes cooked in a vat of oil (think French fries and chips) are still bad for your bottom line.

Embrace a Little Fat
Trimming all the fat from your diet can backfire. Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat found in olive oil, nuts, and avocados, helps quash hunger, according to a study in the journal Cell Metabolism. During digestion, it's converted into a compound that indirectly triggers hunger-curbing signals to your brain. Just watch your portions, warns Sari Greaves, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Unsaturated fats should make up about 20 percent of your total calorie intake. Greaves suggests snacking on two tablespoons of natural peanut butter, an ounce of nuts, or a quarter of an avocado.

Get Sweaty
Hitting the gym not only burns calories but also helps you consume fewer of them. A study published in the American Journal of Physiology found that 60 minutes of high-intensity cardio can reduce appetite for up to two hours afterward. "Aerobic exercise lowers ghrelin levels and increases the amount of an appetite-suppressing hormone in your body," says study author David Stensel, Ph.D. To maximize the hunger-dampening effect, make your cardio workout more intense by adding intervals (short bursts of speed with periods of rest in between).

Gobble Up Grapefruit
Grapefruit diets went out of style with Jane Fonda aerobic videos, but this citrus is staging a comeback. In a study at the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, people who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost an average of 3.6 pounds in three months. According to Ken Fujioka, M.D., the study's principal researcher, these yellow-orange orbs lower your post-meal levels of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar and fat metabolism.

Chew on This
A University of Rhode Island study found that people who chewed gum for one hour in the morning consumed 67 fewer calories at lunch and didn't compensate by eating more food later in the day. "One theory is that chewing stimulates nerves in the jaw that are connected to the brain region responsible for satiety," explains study author Kathleen Melanson, Ph.D., R.D., an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Rhode Island. So pop a piece of sugarless—chewing it can keep the munchies at bay and burn 11 calories an hour. (Hey, it's better than nothing!)

Take a Whiff
Smelling food can trick your brain into thinking you've eaten. One study found that people who inhaled a peppermint scent every two hours ate 2,700 fewer calories per week than they normally did—that's nearly a one-pound loss! Banana, green apple, and vanilla had similar effects in other studies. And the more often you sniff these aromas, the more weight you'll lose, says Alan Hirsch, M.D., neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. Stash some vanilla-scented candles in your snack drawer or cupboards. And if you tend to eat when stressed, hold your left nostril closed and sniff through the right one to activate the side of your brain where emotions are processed. It could help reduce your anxiety and your appetite.

Thirsty Tuesday

Water is the most wonderful elixir you can put into your body as far as I’m concerned. Water lubricates the salivary juices so that we can swallow. It transports nutrients through the body and lubricates around tissues to absorb shock, especially protecting the brain, eyes and spinal cord. Water also regulates body temperature by storing heat in the body and using evaporation of sweat for cooling. Without it, a person dehydrates. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, warm skin, sleepiness, cramps, headaches and dizziness. Severe dehydration can cause fainting, heart failure, convulsions and even death! Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water, and at birth an infant’s body is approximately 80% water. Drinking too much water too quickly (usually during periods of intense athletic performance) can cause water intoxication, but a healthy person can drink about three gallons (48 cups) of water a day.

Now while I’m not advocating 48 cups of water a day (would people hear my body slosh, slosh, slosh as I ran past them to the bathroom every five minutes?), what I am saying is that drinking enough water can do amazingly good things for your body. It will flush out toxins, help you eliminate easier, keep you from getting excessively dry skin, stimulate the immune system, and lower incidences of urinary tract infections. Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart attack. A six-year study published in the May 1, 2002 American Journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses.

So exercise your thirst quencher muscles, ladies, and drink your water! It's the closest thing we have to the fountain of youth!


1. “The Importance of Water and Human Health,” Water Education, FreeDrinkingWater.com. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-health.htm.

Fat Tuesday

No, it's not time for Lent! I'm just calling today's post "Fat Tuesday" because I wanted to pass along information I received after reading an email I received from the "Eat this, Not That!" article in Men's Health Magazine. Yes, I do keep up with men's health as well! Occasionally we all spend time eating out at restaurants, and so this is a warning of what NOT to eat when you go to some of these local eateries.


The Fattiest Foods in America

6. FAT OFFENDER #6: A BURGER : Ruby Tuesday Triple Prime Bacon Cheddar Burger 1,333 calories, 101 g fat, 1,892 mg sodium

New rule: The more syllables in a menu item's name, the more fat there's likely to be in the dish. Less than 3 percent of the beef produced in this country earns the USDA's "prime" rating, and that's not a bad thing. Prime beef, as it turns out, is the fattiest beef you can sink your teeth into. If you really want a burger, you're better off heading elsewhere. Not one of Ruby's has fewer than 700 calories. Go with the Plain Grilled Top Sirloin and earn all the beefy protein without the superfluous calories.

Eat This Instead!
Plain Grilled Top Sirloin 290 calories, 12 g fat, 420 mg sodium

5. FAT OFFENDER #5: A STEAK: Chili’s Flame-Grilled Ribeye with broccoli and mashed potatoes 1,460 calories, 106 g fat (44 g saturated), 3,700 mg sodium

For a healthy diet, the USDA recommends you cap your daily saturated fat intake at 20 grams. This meal more than doubles that, and it's only 12 ounces of meat. Sure, ribeye is a notoriously fatty cut, but it's primarily the bath of butter that pushes this steak's fat count to such unhealthy heights. Switch to the Guiltless Grill Classic Sirloin and save an astounding 1,090 calories.

Eat This Instead!
Guiltless Grill Classic Sirloin with steamed veggies 370 calories, 9 g fat (4 g saturated), 3,680 mg sodium

4. FAT OFFENDER #4: MEXICAN FOOD: Chili’s Bacon Ranch Chicken Quesadilla 1,650 calories, 107 g fat (39 g saturated), 3,450 mg sodium

Traditional Mexican food is big on seasoning and light on cheese, but with this quesadilla, Chili's takes a different approach. Trying to appease palates primed for indulgence, the restaurant layers on the fat in four ways: cheese, ranch, bacon, and sour cream. Go with the Margarita Grilled Chicken and you'll cut the overall fat content by more than 80 percent.

Eat This Instead!
Margarita Grilled Chicken 550 calories, 14 g fat (4 g saturated), 1,870 mg sodium

3. FAT OFFENDER #3: A 'HEALTHY' SALAD: IHOP Chicken and Spinach Salad 1,600 calories, 118 g fat (32 g saturated), 2,340 mg sodium

Chicken? Good. Spinach? Good. IHOP’s Chicken and Spinach Salad—downright deplorable. You'll need to i-hop for four hours to burn it off. This salad is exactly what makes restaurant food so questionable and potentially unhealthy. The name makes it sound like a paragon of nutritious eating, yet the numbers reveal it to be just the opposite. The chicken here is actually fried chicken, and the spinach is little more than a small bed for bacon and cheddar cheese. You could snarf down six pancake short stacks and still take in less fat. Save yourself the waistline damage and opt for the Simple & Fit Simply Chicken Sandwich instead.

Eat This Instead!
Simply Chicken Sandwich with fresh fruit, side salad, and reduced-fat Italian dressing 565 calories, 12.5 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 1,085 mg sodium

2. FAT OFFENDER #2: 'HEALTHY' FISH: Applebee’s New England Fish & Chips 1,930 calories, 138 g fat (24 g saturated), 3,180 mg sodium

The American Heart Association recommends eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids at least twice a week. By doing so, you lower your risk of such chronic diseases as heart disease and cancer. But if you prepare fish by deep frying it in a tub of bubbling fat—like Applebee's does with this artery-clogging monstrosity—you reverse all those benefits. Opt for Applebee's Garlic Herb Salmon instead. It offers 109 fewer grams of fat, nearly two-thirds fewer calories, and a heap of flavor that will still leave you satiated.

Eat This Instead!
Applebee’s Garlic Herb Salmon 690 calories, 29 g fat (8 g saturated), 1,460 mg sodium

1. FAT OFFENDER #1: PASTA: Cheesecake Factory Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken 2,300 calories, 103 g saturated fat, 1,517 mg sodium

Cheesecake Factory prefers to keep its nutritional stats hidden, but a law in California forced it to reveal saturated fat. Total fat is still a mystery, but this meal breaks through the 100-gram ceiling on saturated fat alone! The culprits here are the oversized portion and the thick, fat-riddled alfredo sauce. The typical restaurant recipe for this sauce relies on some combination of cream, butter, oil, and cheese, and there's no reason to believe that Cheesecake's version strays from the norm. Unfortunately, the chain offers no single pasta dish with fewer than 1,100 calories, so keep yourself safe by sticking to the new Skinnylicious menu.

Eat This Instead!
Skinnylicious Herb-Crusted Salmon 570 calories, 9 g saturated fat, 687 mg sodium

You can find this article online at:
http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/fattiest-foods-america

Think About It Tuesday

One of the most interesting and satisfying components of being a life coach is that it is a holistic (or as I like to look at it, a “whole-istic”) practice. Together we look at all the parts of a person’s life – physical, emotional, relational, financial, spiritual – and the intrinsic pieces of ourselves – our dreams, goals, creativity, ambitions. Each woman’s life is like a sparkling multi-faceted diamond of untold treasure to explore and polish to bring out its best! That’s why in this blog you will find a variety of topics that hopefully will be of interest to the many parts of you! That being said, today I’d like to touch upon a topic that has been swirling around my brain recently. I suppose it could be considered in the realm of the financial world, because it probably is your most valuable commodity: your identity and privacy.

Let me preface this by saying that I am a child of the 60’s, and the old hippie in me still leans towards conspiracy theories and will probably always question authority. It’s a blessing and a curse, believe me! But lately the growing trend of “putting it all out there” on the internet, or “in the cloud” troubles me. Now I use some of these apps, and I do have certain things residing in that ominous “cloud”. I understand that it’s simply a linking of many servers all over the world, and it will enable you to keep your hard drive free of clutter – sort of like a storage unit in the sky with instant accessibility to all your stuff from home to on the road to your local coffee hangout. I know it works for many folks, and makes life easier, and that’s great. What concerns me is the information people are sending out there for storage (even though it’s encrypted six ways from Sunday, yada, yada, yada). We put all our banking, mortgage, credit card and stocks/savings data into a free application that allows us to keep all our financial worth in one spot, with up-to-the-minute balance accuracy. We store all our medical records in another free application. We store receipts, personal data and business documentation on another app. We even put all our passwords into one master app, which will then graciously generate new strong-as-steel passwords for us. We sigh a breath of relief that all this info is safe and secure, and now we have more room on our computers and phones for pictures and to play with digital birds with a ‘tude.

Somehow, to me it is akin to giving someone all my savings, my wallet and the key to my house, and then checking in with them when I want to spend something, or do something because they’ve said, “trust me.” Call me crazy (and believe me, it wouldn’t be the first time, or I’m sure the last), but shouldn’t we be a little more careful? Should we be handing over all the details of our lives to an unnamed, faceless “cloud”? As a coach, two of the words I use most with my clients are “mindful” and “intentional”. This comes to eating, exercising, and every area of life. Again, I use some of the apps I’ve mentioned, I love technology and am a self-confessed techno geek, and I know in this digital age much of our lives are accessible with just a keystroke anyway. All I’m saying is choose with thoughtful intentionality and mindfulness how much of your life you are giving away, from social network postings (do you REALLY want to tell the world you’re going on vacation next week – why not just leave your key taped to your front door with a welcome sign?), to your finances, to your resume, to anything. Use the technology wisely, sparingly, safely - you’re potentially giving away a lot of your personal power to strangers. Be careful of the priceless information that is part of who you are – a treasure.

Think about it…

Blessings,
Linda