Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Treats on Tuesday
It's Tuesday so here is another sweet freebie from My Memories. My Memories offers digital scrapbooking software and oodles of fresh and creative digital scrapbooking kits. At My Memories, you can find Word Art kits, calendar templates, quick pages, cluster frames, and more! For the frugal shopper, My Memories also offers free digital scrapbooking kits and a dollar store. Sweet! You can even create your own online photo books or calendars.
You can still get the 10% discount on the My Memories software (which can be downloaded immediately!) by using the code STMMMS1473 at checkout.
Have fun!
Monday, November 14, 2011
12 Ways to Keep From Gaining Weight During the Holidays
picture courtesy Hoosier Homemade
Oh, no the holidays are fast approaching! I've been seeing pictures and recipes for pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin bars, pumpkin bread and the list keeps going! And this is just for Thanksgiving! I think we all need some help to keep from gaining weight over the holidays.(Most Americans don't lose the weight they gain over the holidays, even with good intentions.)
So here are 12 ideas for you to try to keep your svelte girlish figure or in my case, to still fit into my jeans after Christmas!
1. You Are What You Eat
Read labels and think about what you are eating. If you're going on an all day shopping spree at the mall, consider bringing along your own healthy snacks. Offer to bring a healthy dish if you are a guest. If you're the host, you'll want to prepare some healthy dishes for your guests.
2. Watch Your Portion Size.
You've heard it before--portion control. Use smaller plates or visualize only filling your plate 1/2 full.
3. Outsmart the Buffet.
Use a small plate and don't stack your food. Limit your helpings to one of each food. Choose veggies, fruit and the shrimp cocktail. Watch the dips and sauces.
4. Shift the Conversation Away From the Table.
When you are done eating, move to another room. Sitting around the table after the meal is over just invites trouble.
5. How Much to Prepare?
Figure out how many people are expected to eat and then prepare enough food to satisfy them and have a few left-overs for the next day.
6. Choose Your Sweets
Be selective. Only take the ones that you really, really can't live without. (anything chocolate!) Limit your portions again.
7. Cheat A Little
After all, it is the holidays. Sticking to a strict diet and not having any fun can sabotage your diet later.
8. Divert Your Attention
When at your holiday festivities focus on something other than the food. Find someone to chat with away from the food.
9. Limit Alcohol
Lots of calories in alcohol. If you feel left out without a drink, sip water or Club Soda so that you have something to carry.
10.Never Arrive Hungry
Have a snack before you leave home. If you arrive hungry drink some water first to fill you up before you start eating.
11. Don't Skip Meals to Save Calories
'Nuff said.
12. Exercise
After you feast-walk! Get moving and burn off those extra calories. Start a new tradition the "Family Walk". Get everyone involved and it will be more fun.
Anything to add to the list? Ways you've found to keep the pounds off during the holidays?
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A Day Late...Still Remembering Our Veterans
I was thinking about my dad and trying to imagine what it must have been like for him. He left his home and family at a young age (he had just turned 18)and headed off to be a part of the army. He got his draft letter in the mail. HIs dad accompanied him to see if he could get out of being drafted. (They lived on a farm and his help was needed.) A neighbor boy went with them. The neighbor boy got out of it but my dad didn't.
At that time you had to be 19 to touch foreign shores so dad was sent from Fort to Fort--sort of killing time until he turned 19. While he was at Fort Mead, he got an APO number (to get mail). The APO number was associated with New York City. Dad and the rest of the soldiers he was with were happy. This meant they were going to Europe or so they thought.
They boarded a train, which supposedly was headed to New York City. The train stopped for water. One of the soldiers looked out the window and said, We aren't going to New York City". The others soldiers said, "How do you know?" He said, "We are stopping in my hometown." It was Scranton, PA. They were heading west. This meant fighting the Japanese.The train took them to Camp Adair, Oregon.
Dad went on to Camp Spotten, CA. While at this Camp, dad was loaded on a ship. He knew for sure that the ship was headed to the Pacific. Dad was still 18 when he got on. The ship went to Hawaii, but he wasn't allowed to get off the ship. They had just stopped to pick up mail.
The ship sailed on the Phillipines near Clark Airbase. He stayed on that base for about 10 days. The ship was loaded up with tanks and trucks. They sailed on to Seoul, Korea where the ship was unloaded. While in Seoul, Dad was in the 60th infantry division. Here he was classified as a scout and reconnaissance. After the war ended he was classified as a light truck driver of small trucks.
Dad spent 11 months there. They were offered a choice to enlist at a higher pay with a choice to go to any country. But once re-enlisted the soldier would serve another three years. Some did that to get a chance to go home on furlough because they were homesick and then they went on to serve in Europe.
My dad got shipped home early. The Army was sending in replacements, so Dad got to go home. On the way back there was a big storm on the west coast. Dad landed up going to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. He made it to CA and eventually got on a train to Fort Sheridan, Illinois. There he got his discharge papers and money to travel home. He said, "A bunch of us hired a pilot to fly us back. Big ol' plane. No seats--just a wooden plank on the sides." (I'm guessing they didn't care as long as it got them home!)
My dad's older brother was also drafted a year earlier. He saw a lot of action in Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He came back a very changed man and would never talk about his war experience.
My dad's younger brother also served in the Korean War.
I'm glad that my dad told us about his military experience. We got a little glimpse into what it was like for him and the soldiers he was with. I'm very proud of him and all who are brave enough, strong enough, driven enough to protect and defend our country and those who aren't able to protect or defend themselves. Happy Veteran's Day a little late.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Treats on Tuesday
You can still get the 10% discount on the My Memories software (which can be downloaded immediately!) by using the code STMMMS1473 at checkout.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
A Thank You A Day: Gratitude Enhances Health
The health benefits of gratitude are an amazing example of just how sturdy the bridge is between the mind, body, and emotions. Research shows that heart-centered feelings associated with gratitude, appreciation, and caring enhance health. When you find one thing, however small to be thankful for, and you hold that feeling for as little as 15 to 20 seconds, many subtle and beneficial physiological changes take place in your body. For instance:
*Levels of the stress hormones cortisol and norepinephrin decrease, creating a cascade of beneficial metabolic changes, such as an enhanced immune system
*Coronary arteries relax, increasing blood supply to your heart
*Heart rhythm becomes more harmonious, which positively affects other bodily organs, and lifts your mood
*Breathing becomes deeper, increasing the oxygen level of your tissues
Other studies found that gratitude makes people healthier, smarter, and more energetic. People who practiced gratitude daily, such as by writing in a gratitude journal, reported higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, and energy than those who did not. If all of this happens when you focus for just 15 to 20 seconds on something that brings you pleasure, joy, or a feeling of gratitude, imagine what would happen to your health if you were able to cultivate thoughts of appreciation on a consistent and regular basis.
Here's a good way to start: Get a piece of paper and list your blessings. List the tremendous wealth you have in the 7 different areas of your life: Family, Career, Spiritual, Financial, Physical, Social, and Mental. How many people miss things or appreciate them more when they are threatened? Try opening your eyes NOW and seeing how you are blessed. The more you give thanks for what you have, the more you'll have to give thanks for. Focus on and see what's good around you!
Thinking with your heart takes practice, but if you faithfully learn to start thinking with your heart and pay attention to areas of your life that bring you joy and fulfillment, over time you will evoke biochemical changes in your body that will recharge your batteries. Not only does it enhance your energy levels and reduce stress, but recognizing and appreciating life's many blessings is one of the most powerful ways I know to enahnce the immune system, balance your hormones, and promote heart health. This exercise can literally change your life.
I kept a gratitude journal for many year. I'm not sure why I stopped writing in it. I'm going to find it and start listing my blessings again. Do you have a gratitude journal?
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