I having been dodging a craving for poutine all week. Don’t ask me why, it is not even a favourite of mine or anything. I seriously have probably only ordered it about 4 times in my entire life (I can’t say the same about fries and gravy though). So, I am not sure why I have had poutine on my brain, but I have.
I Am Only Human
We spent all day doing laundry, minor projects around the house and some cleaning and by supper time I was ready to cave and give into my craving. Because I really don’t eat poutine, I didn’t even really know where to get it. I went to good old Google and found a place just up the street from us. They advertise homemade burgers and great poutine. Much to my families surprise, I was the one in the hunt for a not so nutritious meal. I came home with “Super Boys” and Poutine. The burgers were loaded with the works, including chili.
I Guess My Healthy Eating Really Does Pay Off
It is has been so long since I ate a meal like that, I actually couldn’t do it. I managed to eat about a half-dozen mouthfuls of fries and about 1/2 of my burger, but that was it. I generally have a large appetite and can put away more food than the average female, but this was too much for my tummy. I guess that all that healthy food has made my body into a bit of a “food snob” ~ Ha! Ha! I never would have guessed it, but despite my craving, there was no way I could choke that down. The bad news is I wasted about $10 on greasy food that I couldn’t even eat and didn’t enjoy. The good news is that I didn’t bother consuming the rest of the empty calories and felt fine with leaving it unfinished on my plate.
Yuck!
The Verdict
Like I said in an earlier post, we strive to eat well most of the time, but I truly love food and have no intention of depriving myself from the things I love every single day of my life. Let’s get real! I am glad that I went ahead and gave into the craving, as it left me so dissatisfied and disgusted that I won’t be in a hurry to do that again, anytime soon. My stomach was churning and cramping in response to the shock my system got from the food. In the future, I will be saving up my indulgences for a great big piece of very chocolately cheesecake ~ guaranteed not to disappoint!
Did you know that bananas are one of the world’s most popular foods and the #1 selling item at Wal-Mart?
Over 100 billion bananas are consumed annually in the world, making bananas the 4th largest agricultural product in the world, following only wheat, rice and corn.
Are Bananas Really at Risk?
Bananas are loved for their flavour, texture and health properties, but this highly popular fruit may be on the brink of extinction. Check-out this video to learn how and why the future of bananas may be at risk.
Until the 1960’s, the bananas that were found in most stores were from the “Gros Michel” banana crops, but crops were quickly wiped out by the Panama Disease. The entire banana industry had to be re-built and the variety most consumed today is known as the “Cavendish” banana. The Cavendish crops are now in danger of being wiped out as well. Hopefully, scientists will be able to use what they know about bananas and the diseases infecting the crops to prevent extinction.
Banana Nutrition Facts
As you can see from the nutrition facts chart on the left, bananas are low in fat and provide a great source of both Dietary Fibre and Vitamin C. They also contain Vitamin A, Calcium and Iron. In addition to the above, bananas also provide us with Vitamin B6, manganese, and an excellent source of potassium. Bananas are high in carbohydrates and so if weight loss is your intent, you may want to monitor your consumption, especially in relation to other carbs you may be consuming on a given day.
Health Benefits of Bananas
The potassium in bananas helps to protect our cardiovascular system (high blood pressure and stroke) and enhances the performance of our circulatory system.
Bananas contain a prebiotic substance called fructooligosaccharide, which aids in digestion and the absorption of calcium.
Banana peels have been used for a variety of natural healing purposes such treatment of warts, mosquito bites and even pimples!
Regular consumption of bananas has also been linked to increasing brain power.
Bananas can stimulate energy and help improve your mood.
Another benefit to bananas high potassium content derives from that mineral’s role as an energy-supplying electrolyte. Since bananas also contain tryptophan, serotonin and norepinephrine, they help prevent depression while encouraging feelings of well-being and relaxation. In addition, the vitamin B6 in bananas helps protect against sleeplessness, mood swings and irritability.
Borrowed from thesecretyumiverse.wonderhowto.com. Click the image to go directly to the original site.
Delicious and Healthy Banana Bread
This photo was borrowed from The Vibrant Family. The picture links back to their recipe, which sounds delicious, but I haven’t tried it.
We love banana bread at our house. I have a great recipe that I have used for years. It is very moist and delicious, but probably not the most nutritious. Last winter, our family did a 3 month stint of eating following the Primal Blueprint principles. The Primal Blueprint is not exactly the same eating Paleo, but the two are similar in many regards. One of the recipes that we fell in love with was a grain and sugar-free banana bread recipe. It is moist and delicious and very nutritious. I don’t even feel bad when my family cobbles it up in one sitting! Follow the links to check-out the original recipe.
Banana Bread and the Date Mixture that is called for in the recipe. I do find that it tends to stick to the pan a little more than regular banana bread, so I will often line my loaf pan with parchment paper or wax paper. I also add a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter (of course!!). Enjoy!
Yesterday was a great day! I got my post written early and had enough time to finish up a little “upcycling” project that I had on the go. Repurposing and upcycling are two of my deepest passions, but unfortunately those projects can be time-consuming and as a working mom I don’t have the time or energy to do much of it during the school year. When summer arrives, creative projects are always at the top of my list. I absolutely thrive on thinking outside of the box and love trying to create something great out of a piece that might otherwise be deemed trash. In fact, if you were to walk through our home you would find that very few pieces were purchased new, directly from a retail store. Many were bought on Kijiji, at garage sales and few were even picked up from back lane “dumpster diving”. No, I am not too proud to say that…” trash to treasure projects” generally give me the greatest satisfaction. Such is the case with today’s project.
Upcycled End Tables: Step 1 ~ Spray Paint
Okay, first off, I can’t believe I didn’t take a before picture. I always do and in fact, was sure I had until I sat down to write this post. So sorry, but I will try to explain without the visual. I bought two metal end tables off of Kijiji. The lady was advertizing them @ two for $10, but when I got there she confessed that she had broken the glass top of one and in the end reduced the price down to $8 for both tables. (I actually was not going to use the glass for the project so it really didn’t matter to me except for the fact that it had a nice bevelled edge that could have been used for another project.) All in all it was a great purchase. In this photo, you can see the structure of the table (minus the glass top). At this point, I had already sprayed the metal legs with one coat flat black spray paint.
Now imagine the structure above, with speckled paint on it. The original colour was a little bit more greenish grey, but had speckles similar to the cap in the picture.
Upcycled End Tables: Step 2 ~ Sanding
Last summer, my neighbour spotted an old pallet by the BFI bin in the back lane. She helped me drag it home and it has been awaiting repurposing ever since. Finally, a use for it! I got out the belt sander and began to remove the layers of grime and graffiti.
As you can see, the pallet was in pretty rough shape. I decided to sand it while it was still nailed together. It seemed like a good idea, as the boards were stable and easier to sand. Once sanded, I took the circular saw and ran the saw along the edges of the top boards, just inside the rows of nails (and the 2 X 4’s below that were holding the top planks). Removing pallet nails is not an easy task, so I just basically cut off the rows of nails along both ends and down the middle, being careful not to cut into the plank below that they were nailed into. For the purpose of this project, the resulting planks would still be long enough to meet my needs.
Upcycled End Tables: Step 3 ~ Final Cuts of the Table Top Boards
The next thing I did was take my planks and stack them into two piles of 4. I would need 4 planks for each table top and wanted them to be cut to the same size. I placed each pile on the mitre saw, one at a time and made a fresh-cut along one end of the planks to ensure it was nice and straight. I then turned the stack and measured 20 1/2 inches from the fresh-cut end, ensuring that all of the planks were lined up perfectly. I cut them at the 20 1/2 inch mark, and with the 4 planks stacked firmly together, all 4 pieces were cut completely “square” and to the exact same length. I repeated this process with the other stack of 4 boards. Following that, I used the mouse sander to ensure that all of the boards had a smooth finish on the tops and all of the edges. I was not concerned with chips or gouges in the wood because I was going for a worn rustic look anyway.
Upcycled End Tables: Step 4 ~ Building the Frame and Top
I found some old 1 X 2’s int he basement from a previous project and used them to make a frame that would sit around the square top of the metal table. Think picture frame. I measured the outside edge of the black metal top at 17″ per side. The 17″ would become my inside cut on my mitred corners of my frame. I measured out 20″ lengths of 1 X 2’s and then proceeded to cut my boards with a 17″ inside frame length. Basically, my plan was to build a frame around the existing top and then nail my planks to the wooded frame that would sit snuggly along the outside of the square metal table base.
Once the frames were made, I nailed my planks to the tops. I set some really large bolts between each plank to ensure the spaces between the planks would be a consistent size.
You can see from the picture, that the frame was made out of scrap wood as well. This is the under side of the table tops. The frame on the bottom simply sits on top of the metal tables with the metal square on top of the base fitting snuggly inside the frame I built.
Upcycled End Tables: Step 5 ~ Staining the Table Tops
I found an old tin of stain that I have used for many previous projects and generously applied it to the tops, sides and between the planks of the table top. I love the way it looks so old and rustic. We gave it a quick coat of spray urethane and VOILA! Two new end tables for our front porch.
What I Love About Upcycling
In all honesty, it’s a bit of a rush for me. I picked up these tables for $8 ($4 each) and had all of the other materials on hand. The pallet was a dumpster dive treasure and so of course it was free. This project was no more than a few hours work and I would rate it as very easy. The best part is the finished product provides us with little tables that are literally one of a kind. When something turns out well, it gives me a true sense of accomplishment. One of my favourite bloggers is Becky from Beyond the Picket Fence. She is a mom and teacher like me, and best of all she has awesome ideas for DIY and upcycling projects. Check-out her blog and be inspired!
I come from very humble beginnings and learned at a young age how to stretch a dollar. I think that my ability to find a good deal, coupled with my knack for seeing potential in what others might deem trash, makes upcycling both fun and rewarding. Even when a project doesn’t quite go as well as I had hoped, my biggest loss is usually time not money, but because I enjoy the process, I take each failure in stride and try to learn something that can help me become more successful in future projects.
Check-out the mini slide show of the finished project!
I am a big fan of spinach and consume most of my spinach in the form of salads. Although it is considered to have many health benefits when eaten fresh or lightly cooked, some believe that nutrients can be lost when it is frozen. I always knew spinach was a healthy choice, but recently learned a bit more about spinach, its health benefits, and even a few cautions. Please read to the end of the post if you would like to check out our two favourite spinach salad recipes.
Spinach Warnings and Cautions
If you are like me, then you too probably love the idea of buying the pre-washed containers and/or bags of spinach and other greens. However, in recent years, there has been new information regarding these pre-washed packages.
It is really important to wash all of your fruits and vegetables. Don’t be fooled by the “pre-washed” advertizing on the label. Generally, rinsing really well under cool water is enough, but there are other options available. Personally, I couldn’t live with out my salad spinner to remove the excess water after washing. For an extensive guide to washing fresh produce, follow this link.
Spinach is one of the foods that was named on the ewg.org (Environmental Working Group) “Dirty Dozen” list of foods contaminated with pesticides. When considering buying organic, the “dirty dozen” list helps you to make choices that fit your pocketbook by highlighting those foods that are considered to be the most contaminated. They also provide a list of the “clean fifteen”. Again, their lists can help to guide your shopping and enable you to make well-informed choices when deciding whether to buy organic or not. Follow the ewg.com link to check out the lists.
Some cautions have been noted for those with kidney or gallbladder problems as the oxalates in spinach may interfere with the absorption of calcium and could possibly crystallize.
It has also been suggested that those with thyroid problems may find spinach more reactive (causing inflammation). This could possibly be reduced by purchasing organic and cooking your spinach.
Health Benefits of Spinach
Many deem spinach the most superior of all “super foods”. Spinach is a very nutrient dense food. Spinach:
contains carotenoids and flavonoids (which act as antioxidants)
also contains manganese, Vitamin B2 and B6, phosphorus, Vitamin E, zinc, copper, selenium, niacin and omega 3 fatty acids
You can see that spinach is jam-packed with nutrients and antioxidants. With all that spinach contains, it is no wonder that it is considered to be a super food. Some of the health benefits related to regular spinach consumption are:
its anti-inflammatory properties (asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
its ability to help protect against cataracts and macular degeneration
its importance for bone health (Vitamin K, calcium and magnesium)
its ability to help manage cholesterol damage to arteries (Vitamin A)
its properties that help protect against heart disease
3 different flavonoid compounds in spinach that not only serve as antioxidants but may also reduce the risk of cancer
The first recipe is a recipe I received from my friend Lise. I have made it many times and have also had it served by others at potlucks and dinner parties. It is a delicious blend of flavours and always a crowd pleaser. I don’t know the original source and thus can’t give credit, but here it is:
Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Poppy Seed Dressing
Spinach Leaves (organic and washed ~ please!!) Fresh Strawberries ~ washed and sliced Toasted Almond Slivers ~ toast lightly in a non- stick pan, stirring constantly until lightly golden in colour Feta Cheese ~ optional (but a very good addition)
Dressing:
Photo borrowed from The Gourmand Mom
1/3 cup of sugar 1/2 cup of olive oil 1/4 cup of vinegar 1/4 tsp. of paprika 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce 1 1/4 tsp. minced onion (optional) 2 T. poppy seeds 2 T. sesame seeds
Place dressing ingredients in a jar or other container with a lid. Shake and pour over salad just before serving. Toss and serve.
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Photo borrowed from Closet Cooking
Yum! Yum! Yum! This is one of our favourite dinner salads. The dressing is delicious and the presentation is truly gourmet restaurant style! You will love this. It reminds me of the Boston Pizza Spinach Salad. I found this recipe online at the food network. Don’t be grossed-out by the bacon drippings (fat) that is used in the dressing. Mark my words, that is the secret ingredient that makes this dressing a step above all others. Enjoy!
Although this is one of my first posts of this nature, my passion for upcycling, repurposing and homemade projects is always brewing. Life is generally pretty busy and I don’t always take the time to work on projects of this nature, but every so often I just need a “creative fix”. I find that projects that get my creative juices flowing can really consume me. My mind can become a frenzy of ideas and I have suffered many sleepless nights as a result. At times, I am frustrated by that fact that I simply don’t have the time to pursue all of the creative ideas stored in my head. Sometimes, a little project like making a card allows me just enough creativity to feed my spirit.
Homemade Cards and Gift Tags
I decided to post a gallery of some of the homemade cards that I have made. I would consider myself more of a scrapbooker than a card maker and have never really taken card making too seriously. I generally only make cards as I need them and often do so last-minute. Most are really easy and quick to make. I try to remember to take a picture of the cards I make, so that I can re-use some of the same ideas another time.
Gift Tags
Never “frog-et” how much we love you!
“We’ll Owl-ways love you!”
Gift Tags
Gift Tags
Gift Tags
Gift Tags
I tend to use primarily paper embellishments because I have a Cricut and can make most anything I want. I do a bit of stamping, but am not great at it. When I have the time, I like to combine mediums and use watercolour pencils, acrylic paints, watercolour paints, markers and glitter glue to add interest, colour and dimension to a plain stamped image. Mostly, I love to play and often end up tossing out what doesn’t work. For me the fun is in the process. I often have no idea or plan for a card, and it just kind of evolves as I muddle through. I had lots of fun with the gift tags on the bags, as I was not in a time crunch and really just took the time to explore.
Creativity and Wellness
I consider creativity to be a huge part of my own personal wellness. There is nothing like the feeling of having made or created something on your own. Sometimes my ideas are borrowed and just tweaked to suit my needs, while other times they are completely original. Either way, I know that exercising the “right side of my brain” leaves me feeling fulfilled and at the same time excited to do more of the same.
Have a great do and strive to do something creative. You won’t regret it!
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love chocolate. My favourite forms of chocolate are rich chocolately desserts such as cheese cake or chocolate mousse cake, but those decadent desserts are reserved as once in a while indulgences. On a daily basis, I eat approximately one ounce of chocolate ….sometimes a bit more! I find that by having my chocolate fix every day, I rarely feel the need to overindulge on other sweets. The key is really moderation ~ a little bit each day really is okay!
Understanding Chocolate and Where It Comes From
The first video in this series outlines where chocolate comes from. It helps to clarify any misunderstandings about what chocolate actually is and creates a clearer understanding of some of the chocolate terminology.
Understanding the Different Types of Chocolate
There are so many varieties of chocolate that the terminology can become quite confusing. This excerpt was taken from an article on bestrecipes.com outlining many of the different types of chocolate, but for the purpose of this post, we will focus on what are considered to be the three main types of chocolate:
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate has little or no added milk and is produced by adding fat and sugar to cocoa. It includes a minimum of 35% cocoa solids and is a favourite eating and cooking chocolate. Even if you don’t like the taste of dark chocolate on its own, it’s the best option for cooking as it will keep its distinct chocolaty flavour.
Milk chocolate
Combining cocoa solids and milk (either fresh milk, milk powder, or condensed milk) this is one of the world’s favourite eating chocolates. It usually includes 20-30% cocoa solids and is the most common chocolate for eating but is less widely used in cooking.
White chocolate
Purists say this isn’t chocolate at all as it does not contain any cocoa solids; however, it does include cocoa butter mixed with sugar, milk and flavourings. Be careful what you buy though, as some cheaper white chocolates don’t include any cocoa butter at all.
Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
There is ample research being done in this area and many studies are now proving the health benefits of chocolate. Studies have linked regular chocolate consumption with various health benefits, some of which are outlined in this article from besthealthmagazine.ca.
• Chocolate may improve your skin
Researchers at Germany’s Heinrich Heine University exposed chocolate eaters to ultraviolet light and found that after six weeks, they had 15 percent less skin reddening than those who didn’t eat it. “We believe the compounds in chocolate act as UV filters,” says study leader Wilhelm Stahl. After 12 weeks, the chocolate eaters’ skin was 16 percent denser and 42 percent less scaly. Concerned about it causing acne? Researchers at Australia’s University of Newcastle reviewed the evidence and found nothing to suggest that chocolate triggers blemishes.
• Chocolate checks cancer
Georgetown University researchers found that when breast cancer cells were treated with chocolate flavanols, the cells stopped dividing. The findings could also apply to other cancers.
• Chocolate helps blood flow
Dr. Norman Hollenberg of Harvard Medical School found that rates of stroke, heart disease, cancer and diabetes are less than 10 percent among Panama’s Kuna people, who drink up to 40 cups of cocoa per week. “The epicatechin in cocoa increases nitric oxide, which dilates vessels and improves blood flow,” he says. His belief is that epicatechin should be considered essential in our diet and should be classed as a vitamin.
• Chocoate boosts the brain
A brain-imaging study on healthy women at Britain’s University of Nottingham found flavanol-rich cocoa increased blood flow to their brains for two to three hours. Researchers believe cocoa could benefit older adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
• Chocolate relieves fatigue
Chronic fatigue syndrome patients who ate 1.6 ounces (45 grams) of dark chocolate daily for eight weeks were less tired than when fed placebos. Researchers think it boosts the neurotransmitters regulating sleep and mood.
My Personal History and Relationship with Chocolate
I must admit, I prefer the melt in your mouth flavour of milk chocolate over that of the stronger flavoured dark chocolate. However, as I have become more health conscious over the years, I trained myself to go for the darker chocolate, believing it was the superior health choice. Even then, for most of my life, I have considered chocolate a sometimes treat. It is funny how we establish belief systems very early in our lives and those belief systems often become the rules by which we live. I always thought of chocolate as an indulgence and would only have it when my cravings won out over my willpower. It is only recently, that I learned to look at chocolate with a new perspective. I have embraced the research on the benefits of chocolate and learned that by making it a part of my regular diet, I no longer have the intense cravings. What was most exciting to me was what I learned from Lyn-Genet Recitas in her book The Plan….she actually encourages daily chocolate consumption, but states:
My only qualifier is to please make sure that it is 65% cacao or less. Higher than that and the chocolate gets too acidic; this can trigger inflammation and acid reflux.
What? You mean I don’t have to choke down the 89% bars anymore? Yay! I have been stocking up on the Hershey’s Special Dark (available both with and without almonds). It is delicious (only 50% cacao) and my daily one ounce dose causes me no weight issues or skin problems. Best of all, I feel great because I am having something I absolutlely love, everyday. Many will recommend that to reap the health benefits of chocolate, you need to try to eat a higher cacao %. I am not going to argue this and occassionally will still by the higher chocolate values. Mark Stisson has a few great articles on chocolate and the health benefits, but definitely is in favour of the higher percentages. I guess it is more about personal preference and having an understanding that the higher percentages may cause inflammation is some people and thus be harder to tolerate.
My diet is generally about 80 to 90% great, so I am going to aim for 50 to 72% cacao, and feel great about it!! Remember a chunk of chocolate a day, keeps the cravings away!
About a year and a half ago, I was searching the net and accidentally came across a crazy cool idea. This lady had decided to perform “random acts of kindness” on her birthday, with the number of acts equalling her age. What a clever idea I thought! At this point my 44th birthday was still 6 months away, but I immediately began to contemplate the possibility of pulling this off. When I looked at the calendar, I realized that May 24th, 2012 just happened to land on my day off from work. At that point, I knew that I was going to make every effort to pull this off. Sometimes the best thing you can do for our own emotional health and well-being is simply to “check-out” for a day, and just try to not think about yourself at all.
Although this blurb below was not directly my inspiration, you can see how little things can make a difference to someone’s day. Just that fact that someone notices them or takes the time for them, carries a message of “you are special and people do care”.
44 Acts of Kindness ~ Initial Planning and Preparation
I began the process several weeks before my actual birthday. I started by doing some research to see what other people have done. I used some of their ideas and then came up with several of my own. (I must say, I was jealous that the other lady was only 30!) I began by simply making a list of things that I would like to do and then began to go through my list to see what kind of preparation was needed for each item. Some of the things that I did in the weeks prior included:
buying dollar store notepads and “upcycling” them into something unique and pretty, tied a pencil/pen on
went through my “treasure box” in the basement to see what kinds of small gifts and loot I could find to give away
went through my kids’ clothes to see what was too small and could be passed on
made some fridge magnets with scrapbook paper and glass beads
typed up my recording list and plans
The Weekend Prior to the Quest
made “pill boxes” for the fridge magnets and tags to go on them
went shopping and bought: a case of water, gum, “Silly Bandz”, small gifts, colouring books, puzzle books, clear cellophane, granola bars and a little wooden treasure chest from the dollar store
got lots of change for the vending machines and other fun activities
hand wrote some notes and cards, addressed and stamped them so they were ready to be mailed
baked 6 dozen peanut free cookies and popped them in the freezer
wrote out tags (with my daughter’s help) for the many little gifts we were going to deliver
made up gift bags for children and families at the hospital and labelled them “boy” or “girl” and indicate the age appropriateness of each gift
filled the little wooden treasure chest full of little toys and goodies that would not spoil
made up snack bags for the homeless (pull tab tuna, granola bars, juice box, package of cheese and crackers, fresh cookies and a fruit)
purchased several extra little items that I could randomly use to bless people I encountered on my route
Children’s Hospital Gift Bags
Cookies for Newspaper Delivery
Pill Box with Magnet Set
Fridge Magnet Sets
Treasure Chest for the Sandbox
Things to do in the hospital lounge
Muffin for the Mailman
Packages of Gum with Notes
Decorative Notepads
A Notepad for the Music Teacher
Snack Bags for the Homeless
Shay enjoying the fresh baking!
The Big Day! My Quest to Perform 44 Acts of Kindness in One Day
Before going to bed on the 23rd, I would set in motion my quest, by leaving out little packs of cookies for the two people who deliver our newspapers. They come very early and I knew I would miss them if I didn’t leave their little blessings out the night before. My second act would begin at 5:30 a.m. when I got up to bake fresh muffins and tea biscuits for my family and delivery later in the day. While the goodies were baking, I wrote my husband a love letter. How fun!! I also cellophane wrapped many of the cookies and muffins (as they cooled) and attached little notes before I left. I did up a few plates of baking and took some loose in a Tupperware container to hand-out along the way. By 7:30 a.m., the water was on ice and the car was loaded. I had pre-established my route so that I could make all of my deliveries and not have to do any back tracking. I had calculated the approximate timing and had a list of people who I wanted to bless along the way. I had invited my children to join me for the afternoon and thus needed to be back home by lunch time. They were thrilled to “play hooky” (this never happens at our house), but I figured the life experience of being a giver without any expectation of thanks or even gratitude would be as valuable as any lesson at school that afternoon.
As I set-out, I was on high alert for ways in which I might be able to bless someone with a true “random” act of kindness. I tried to be hyper aware of others around me and I looked for any opportunities that I could find to:
open and/or hold a door for someone
help with loading groceries
put a grocery cart away
give an extra smile or offer a compliment or some encouragement
reach something high on a shelf for someone more “vertically challenged” than I
I grabbed a clip board and my recording sheet to help me keep track of all of the “acts of kindness” completed. I set-up the sheet to show how many people may have been impacted by the one act (last column), as I only counted each item a single act even though it may have been received by many. A good example is plugging the vending machines with money. I counted it as one act, but because I left money in many, it may have actually been a blessing to several people. It was really important to keep a record of everything or it would be impossible to stay on track and know where I was at in my quest. I did most of the preparation myself and spent the morning doing tasks that were further from home and involved people from my work or friends through work. I picked my kids up at lunch and they joined me for the afternoon.
Eden and Shay helping to delivery clothes.
Please note a few typos, #21 and #43 should only count as “1” act of kindness not 10+. Oops!
I literally finished my last act around 9 pm, totally exhausted, but thrilled with the success of the day. You can see that many of the acts only counted as one on my list of 44, but may have impacted as many as 10 people.
44 Random Acts of Kindness ~ Who is More Blessed, the Giver or the Receiver?
There were several really memorable moments from the day…..like surprising Mary with the muffin and note BEFORE she had a chance to phone and sing me “Happy Birthday!” or the city worker in the park that was sweating as he worked and got choked-up with our small offer of cookies and water. It was a proud moment when my 8 year old son shared his revelation that “it really does feel good to do nice things for others!” (He said he thought grown-ups were trying to trick him when they said that it feels good to do things for other people – he finally truly understood the message from the “Bucket Book” – yay!!). It was amazing to watch my kids as they became totally absorbed in how they could make others feel good by simple, small random acts of kindness. Towards the end of the day, I observed how their behaviour became so much more considerate – with emphasis on good manners, opening/holding the door for others, more observant and in tune with those in need. It made me just want to freeze that moment in time. It was an unbelievable experience with not even a moment to think of yourself. The quest had me totally consumed with the welfare and happiness of others! Such an incredible experience, on so many levels.
I truly believe that we are blessed to be a blessing to others, and that the best way to “get over ourselves” is to think of others. Perhaps the key to emotional well being “is to spend more time thinking of other,s and less time thinking about ourselves.”
In Summary:
I basically accomplished my quest, but blew my $44 budget. I think that you could easily do it for that amount, but I got carried away with the gifts, etc. If you were to count every single act of kindness, it would be easy to stay within a tight budget. For example, instead of 4 packs of gum, do one.
It definitely was a Happy birthday to me!! By far the most memorable in my now, 45 years! I know it will be hard to ever top that.
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Tis the season. The season of love and weddings that is. I am at that age right now where I am just starting to get invited to weddings again. It seems that when you are younger, you are constantly going to the many weddings of family and friends your age. However, as you get older and begin to start a family of your own, your peers are doing the same. It had seemed like ions since my hubby and I had been to a wedding, until our cousin’s daughter got married last summer. Since then we have had two other family weddings on the radar. This post is all about coming up with a unique gift idea for that special wedding you might be attending this summer. This video is a special toast from the maid of honor to her sister. I am not nearly as creative as this sister of the bride, but wow! What a great job and special wedding gift! (Me singing to the happy couple might actually be considered an “anti-gift”, just ask my family!)
A Personalized Romantic Wedding Gift
A personalized romantic wedding gift is not always right for the intended couple, but I had lots of fun putting together my gift for the bride and groom last summer. It was personalized, unique and romantic. Since it is wedding season, I thought I would share with you what I did for their gift in hopes that it might inspire others to think outside the box when determining what to give that extra special couple in your lives.
Wedding Gift ~ Part 1
I am into card making and all things pretty.I thought that the bride was much the same and might like the wedding gift I had in mind. I ordered them a personalized address embosser. Although “snail mail” is a thing of the past, I thought that it would be perfect for her thankyou cards, if nothing else. It is also great for Christmas cards or any other special card or note you might send by mail. I ordered the embosser from tinyprints.com and was very impressed with the quality when it arrived. (Although I haven’t specifically asked her how she likes it.) This is an example of the one I got for the couple last summer. There are many styles to choose from, but I wasn’t sure if the bride was keeping her last name or not and so I went with this option.
Embossing Tool
Embossed Address Sample
Wedding Gift ~ Part 2
I went to Pier 1 Imports and bought two wine glasses from their Angled Rim Crackle Stemware line ~ beautiful! I then contacted Cheryl, from Stellar Designs Jewelry, a local gal who designs and makes her own jewelry. Cheryl always has a booth at the Springs Church Annual Craft Sale in December and I have bought several pieces from her in the past, including a few custom Graduation necklaces. I knew exactly what I wanted for this wedding gift and I was sure Cheryl could deliver! I contacted her and we chatted about my idea and she pulled it off beautifully. She created two custom-made wine charms that were personalized with “His” and “Hers”. On the back, she stamped their wedding date. I brought her the glasses and she permanently attached the charms to the glasses. The charms are waterproof, so can be washed right along with the glasses.
Wedding Gift ~ Part 3
In addition to the above, I found an idea on Pinterest (“from glitter to gumdrops“) for making a Christmas ornament for their tree. I used Christy’s instructions and made my own version by cutting their wedding invitation into narrow strips and curling them. I then placed the strips in a clear glass ornament and added a few embellishments. So cute! I am sure I took a picture of mine, but can’t find the file. I made mine very neutral as well, but the invitation itself had a bit more colour. I finished off the gift with a homemade card that tied the wrapping and theme all together!
Of course, this wedding gift could just be the spring-board for a whole basket of goodies (wine, candles, etc). There are endless add-ons you could make. A monetary gift would also make a great addition, if you are wishing to spend more on the couple. For more great wedding gift ideas check-out this link.
Happy wedding gift shopping!!
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First let me make something clear, I am not a calorie counter and don’t believe in it. However, this video is produced by Asap Science and is a great example of how to think about food and what your choices are doing for you. For example, I rarely drink juice because it doesn’t fill me up and there are often many additives I don’t need. I would rather go for a whole piece of fruit that is completely natural (minus all the junk that is added during the growing process) and will help fill me up. Even without counting calories, this can help you make better choices.
Calorie counting is way too much work for me. I believe it is more about how certain foods react with your own body to cause weight gain, rather than just counting calories. For example, through The Plan, I discovered that chocolate is a “friendly food” for me, but that 6 oz of sole fish will cause me to gain up to one pound, due to inflammation I experience as a result of eating it.
Cool and Fun Ways to Burn off 200 Calories
Asap just put out another video to follow-up on the first. It has some crazy ideas about how you can creatively burn off 200 calories. Some of the ideas are wacky and of course, you would never do, but others are quite doable. Check it out.
Exercise and Weight Loss ~ A Battle of Perceptions
There are many that believe that hardcore workouts like CrossFit, Insanity, P90X and bootcamps are the answer to their body woes. Within that group are those that truly love to push themselves through hard workouts and have great results with such programs, but there are also many people like me. I have completed the P90X twice and tried the Insanity program, but quit because I thought I might have a cardiac arrest. (Even I know my limits and when to break a commitment.) I have to be honest. I hate working out or at least those hardcore workouts in which my body is left feeling beaten up. I hate intense cardio and when I am following a program or routine like the above it is has always been with one purpose. Results. Don’t get me wrong, at the end of such a program, my body would be leaner and I would feel great about myself and my accomplishment. However, reality would soon set in. There is no way that as a full-time working mom with active kids and a very demanding job that I can continue to keep up the pace of working out 1 to 2 hours every morning. I would burn-out and be right back where I started in no time at all. This system of chronic exercise simply does not work for me and I believe there are many others out there who are like me. They do not love the intense exercise, but believe that it is the only path to get them to where they want to be.
Some experts are now saying that chronic exercise can actually have the opposite effect on our bodies and in fact cause weight gain. In Lyn-Genet Recitas book, The Plan, she says:
Overexercising puts your body through stress. If you’re exercising day after day, your body gets the message that it needs to hold on to more calories to keep up with the energetic demands. It doesn’t know how much energy it will need, so it adapts to the energy requirements you are programming into it and holds on to more and more calories for potential future survival. That is why chronic exercisers have trouble losing weight.
Mark Sisson also talks about the benefits of low-level aerobic activity along with some strength building and “sprinting” in his book called The Primal Blueprint. The premise is that we were never designed to go to the gym 5 to 7 times a week. He suggests dancing, hiking, gardening, swimming, rollerblading, ice skating, yoga, racquet sports or any other activity that keeps you active and that you really enjoy doing. He couples this low-level aerobic activity with simple strengthening activities such as push-ups and recommends “sprinting” once every 7 to 10 days.
What Works for Me
I have found that the key to my success has been the discovery of foods that react with my body. Although I am still in the process of testing many foods to determine if they are “reactive” or “friendly”, it has been so empowering to know and understand my own body. I am certain that my battle was not with the occasional sweet treat, but rather with my sacred group of “go to foods” that were part of our regular healthy menu. In Lyn’s book, she identifies 7 specific foods as “The Devil Foods”. It is not that these foods are evil, but rather that we are being deceived into believing that they are great healthy food choices when in reality they are reactive for many.
…the reason I get so worked up about these food is that people are making a concerted effort to include them in their daily diets, and
DEVIL FOODS
So what are the DEVIL FOODS?
oatmeal
salmon
asparagus
tomato sauce
tofu
black beans
turkey
Kettle Chips available at all major supermarkets.
So, if you are like me and was on the “treadmill” of life trying to eat well and exercise like crazy to get rid of those extra few pounds. Maybe it is just a matter of figuring out what works for you and your body. Here are a few other foods that were part of our regular diet and that I discovered can be highly reactive for many people: farm raised fish, corn (I already knew this one), thick crust pizza, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and grapefruit. Would you believe I used to have a protein shake and a grapefruit for lunch everyday for 6 months? 85% to 90% of the population react to the foods I mentioned above. Who would have thought that a small of bowl of low sodium (Kettles) potato chips is better for me than a grapefruit!!
I am so excited about my new blog and hope you are enjoying it. If you like this post leave a comment below.
Originally I published this post on another blog, but this recipe is so delicious, I copied the post!
Company for Dinner, but Sticking to The Plan
Last night was the first time we entertained since I started The Plan. We had friends over for dinner and served a plan friendly menu consisting of:
Roasted Vegetables (baby potatoes, beets, carrots, broccoli, zucchini and onions)
Mixed greens with avocado, apple and red onion served with a Lime Vinaigrette
Chicken breasts in a lime marinade served with Mango Cucumber Salsa
I must say the meal turned out well as all of the recipes in the book are very good.
Dessert: Chocolate of Course
The dessert was not from The Plan, but I tried to pick something that I thought would have low reactivity and be yummy too. In the end, I went with one of our family’s favourite recipes and as always, it was delicious. This chocolate cake is super moist and light. An absolute must try. It may look complicated and hard to make, but it is actually super easy and never fails, so its well worth the effort.
Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe
7 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup butter
7 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
Preheat oven to 325. Melt chocolate and butter over very low heat. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks and 3/4 cup of sugar until light an fluffy. Gradually beat in chocolate mixture and vanilla. In another bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Keep beating until stiff. Fold whites into the other mixture. Pour 3/4 of the batter into an ungreased spring form pan and bake for 35 minutes (until top begins to crack and sides begin to peel from edges of pan). Cover and refrigerate the remaining chocolate batter. Let the baked cake cool in the pan. It will shrink, so don’t be alarmed. When cool, remove the sides of the pan. Stir the remaining batter to soften slightly and spread over the top of the cooled cake. I usually pop it in the freezer or fridge to set for a bit before icing.
Ice with:
1 cup whipping cream
1/3 cup icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla or Kahlua
In a small bowl, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff. Spread frosting over the top (you may want to double if you wish to cover the sides as well). Garnish with shaved chocolate. Refrigerate. This keeps really well in fridge for several hours or even overnight. It also freezes well for a great make ahead dessert.
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