What's the Dish?

Ok so here is what I am dishing up for this week: I am basically good to lay out my menu for new recipes to try for dinner each night if any of these recipes sound yummy and you would like to give them a try please do...

I love to try new recipes for my family.. All of the following recipes were pulled from bettyCrocker.com If you subscribe to there stuff the will send you e-mails that can help you better plan your menu's. I love stuff like that it minamizes my having to think about what I should make and what I need to make it. Experimenting in the kichen doesn't have to be work, it can be fun too!

So Enjoy!

South Western Chicken Fajita Wraps
1
can (11 oz) Green Giant® Southwestern style corn, undrained
1
small tomato, seeded, chopped (1/3 cup)
1/2
teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1/4
teaspoon salt
2
teaspoons vegetable oil
1
lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1 1/2
teaspoons ground cumin
1
medium onion, cut into thin wedges
1
medium green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1
package (11 oz) Old El Paso® flour tortillas for burritos (8 tortillas; 8 inch), heated as directed on package
1
cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz)
Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa, if desired
Sour cream, if desired

Savory Meat Loaf.. Light style!
1 1/2
pounds ground turkey
1
cup fat-free (skim) milk
1
tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1
teaspoon chopped fresh sage leaves or 1/4 teaspoon dried sage leaves
1/2
teaspoon salt
1/2
teaspoon ground mustard
1/4
teaspoon pepper
1
garlic clove, finely chopped, or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4
cup fat-free cholesterol-free egg product
3
slices bread, torn into small pieces
1
small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
1/2
cup ketchup, chili sauce or barbecue sauce
1.
Heat oven to 350°F.
2.
Mix all ingredients except ketchup. Spread mixture in ungreased loaf pan, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 or 9x5x3 inches, or shape into 9x5-inch loaf in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Spread ketchup over top.
3.
Insert meat thermometer so tip is in center of loaf. Bake uncovered 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until thermometer reads 180°F.
4.
Let stand 5 minutes; remove from pan.

Health Crunchy Asian Salad
Dressing
1/3
cup canola oil
1/3
cup rice vinegar
3
tablespoons sugar
3/4
teaspoon salt
1/2
teaspoon pepper
Salad
1
package (3 oz) ramen noodle soup mix (any flavor)
1
bag (16 oz) coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)
8
medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
1/2
cup sliced almonds (2 oz)
1
medium red bell pepper, cut into 1x1/8-inch strips
2
seedless oranges, peeled, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2
cups coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach leaves
1.
In large bowl, beat dressing ingredients with wire whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture is well blended.
2.
Break up ramen noodles in bag before opening. Discard seasoning packet from soup package. Add noodles and all remaining salad ingredients except oranges and spinach to dressing; toss to mix well. Stir in oranges and spinach. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 8 hours.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change

Sutffed Parmesan Chicken ( The Healthy Version)
6
boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 5 oz each)
1
box (10 oz) Cascadian Farm® frozen organic cut spinach, thawed, well drained
2
oz 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
1/4
cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2
teaspoon dried basil leaves
1
clove garlic, finely chopped
1/4
cup fat-free egg product
12
stone-ground wheat crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1
teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/2
teaspoon pepper
1
cup Muir Glen® organic Italian herb pasta sauce
1/4
cup shredded mozzarella cheese (1 oz)
1.
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick.
2.
In medium bowl, mix spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon basil and the garlic until blended. Spread about 1 tablespoon spinach mixture over each chicken breast; roll up tightly. If necessary, secure with toothpicks.
3.
In small shallow bowl, place egg product. In another small shallow bowl, mix cracker crumbs, 1 teaspoon basil and the pepper. Dip each chicken breast into egg product; coat with crumb mixture. Place seam side down in baking dish.
4.
Bake uncovered 20 minutes. Pour pasta sauce over chicken; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until thermometer inserted in center of chicken reads 165°F. Remove toothpicks from chicken before eating.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake uncovered 25 minutes. Add sauce and cheese; bake 8 to 12 minutes.

Oven Easy Enchilada's

1
pound lean ground beef
1/2
cup milk
1 1/3
cups hot water
1
package Hamburger Helper® cheesy enchilada
6
Old El Paso® flour tortillas for burritos (8 inch; from 11-oz package)
1
jar (16 ounces) Old El Paso® salsa (any variety)
1
cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
3
tablespoons milk
1.
Heat oven to 350°F. Cook beef in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Stir in 1/2 cup milk, 1 1/3 cups hot water, uncooked Rice and Sauce Mix. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender.
2.
Spoon 2/3 cup beef mixture on each tortilla. Roll up tortillas; place seam sides down and widthwise in ungreased baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Spread with salsa; sprinkle with cheese.
3.
Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until hot. Stir together 3 tablespoons milk and the Topping mix 30 seconds; drizzle over enchiladas.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) Increase hot water to 2 cups and simmer time to about 12 minutes

To detox or not? by Skinny Saturdays

Have I tried it? Yes..More than once.
What does a detox actually do and what can you expect if you try it?
Detoxing is about improving the effectiveness of your elimination organs such as the kidneys and liver.

What Is a Detox Diet?
The basic idea behind detox diets is to temporarily give up certain kinds of foods that are thought to contain toxins. The idea is to purify and purge the body of all the "bad" stuff. Toxins can come from food or water, from chemicals used to grow or prepare food, and even from the air that we breathe. Our bodies process those toxins through organs like the liver and kidneys and eliminate them in the form of sweat, urine, and feces. Signs of toxin overload can include blotchy skin, coated tongue, bad breath, feeling bloated, constipation, fatigue, poor immune function and recurring allergies. These point to the fact that our elimination organs are not functioning as well as they can. The human body is designed to purify itself. Your liver and kidneys will do the job they're supposed to do if you eat a healthy diet that includes fiber, fruits, veggies, and plenty of water. Taking care of what you put in and making sure it come out in a regular, normal way is a good rule to follow.

What Should You Watch Out For?
Detox diets can be addicting. This can become a dangerous addiction that leads to health problems, including serious eating disorders, heart problems, and even death.
Detox supplements can have side effects. Many of the supplements used during detox diets are actually laxatives, which are designed to make people go to the bathroom more often, and that can get messy. Laxative supplements are never a good idea because they can cause dehydration, mineral imbalances, and problems with the digestive system.
Detox diets don't help people lose fat. Fasting for a few hours once a month can prove good for your body. Fasting for more than that is not healthy. People who fast for several days may drop pounds, but most of it will be water and some of it may be muscle. Most people regain the weight they lost soon after completing the program.
Detox diets are for short-term purposes only. In addition to causing other health problems, fasting for long periods can slow down a person's metabolism, making it harder to keep the weight off or to lose weight later.

If you choose to detox try and look for a program that does not require you to go without food and water. The one that I have tried is from Young Living Farms called Cleansing Trio. This is a kit that contains three products that is designed to improve your health through cleansing your system and eliminating waste by specifically supporting normal liver function. Augmented with herbs that are rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, fiber, and essential oils, the Cleansing Trio will give you new energy and an improved sense of well-being. Just to warn you…don’t plan a vacation during this detox.

Have you tried a detox? Let us know what works for you?

As Seen on: Read My Story & Skinny Saturdays

Read how I lost weight in just 3 days. This is crazy. You have to try it. With this weight loss program you will shed the pounds without having to do a single sit-up or spend a second on the treadmill!

I will be honest, the cost is a small fortune but aren’t you worth it. Read my story below.

I decided one day that I was very overweight. What can be done? I needed to lose the weight fast. I didn’t have months to spend on exercising or following a trendy diet. Let’s face it, I am too lazy. After minutes of research I found a simple program that works for people all around the world. It worked for me and it can work for you too. You can lose approximately 80% of your Wight in just 3 days!

All you need to do is follow these 5 simple steps:
1. Join The Apollo 11 astronauts and be launched atop a huge Sa V multi-stage rocket from the Kennedy Space Center
2. Hurdle through space for a small moment
3. Land on the moon & step into your space suite
4. Step outside of the rocket
5. Walk on the moon
Yes it is that simple!
All moonwalks must be performed with astronauts! Success of this weight loss program depends on how long you stay on the moon.

Next on Read my story: How I send e-mails from the moon!

Writer's Workshop

What made my childhood bearable…God, horses, G.I. Joe’s and toads. No I am not a male. I just was sandwiched between brothers. We had a small family of 8 children. Dinner was quick and painless if you were quick enough to get something on your plate. With a big family you have to start with a lot of praying. Also, God saved me many times while attempting things like trying to ride a bull that was almost nice and helping me while jumping off a 2 story building with a sheet over my head. Sheets are not parachutes! I learned that early on. That being said I have never broken a bone…yet. I rode horses to get away from my siblings because as a child I could not get a drivers license. Even if I did have a driver’s license I would never get a car. Running through someone else wheat fields on my horse became one of my favorites even after they told me not to. Hanging G.I. Joes off the roof of the house with a string to teas passer byes and the dog was another one of my favorites. Collecting toads after a rain storm and putting them in the big plastic pool was somehow amusing. Well…maybe the amusing part was letting around 50 toads free at once and seeing the mass confusion. Yes we had a lot of land and toads!

DECORATING TIPS by House Work for Mortals

Simple Minds Simple Idea’s… Decorating tips for Dummies

Ok, so my husband and I have been married for 6 years. We haven’t ever had to buy furniture its all been lovely hand me downs. Now, don’t get the wrong idea here, I love hand me downs, I am a fairly thrifty person, but seriously there comes a time in ones life when it is time to upgrade. So our first piece of furniture that we had to buy was a bigger kitchen table and chairs. I proceeded with caution, mostly due to finances, ( my hubby is in school full time and works full time, I work part-time, but am home with my kids a lot) so with that being said money is tight. I looked around for a while and then decided to look on local listings online. I finally found one and spent less than 200 dollars for a larger table with six chairs. I thought then that I was pretty thrifty.

Since then I have begun to think that it is time to upgrade the couches. They are super comfy and in relatively good condition for being as old as they are. (10 years plus I am guessing) However, they are not the prettiest to look at, in all honesty I could really care less I have two little kids who are just beginning to learn the meaning of “take care of the things you have” Alas, I am also realizing that having a home that looks nice and smells nice all the time makes for a much happier environment for me and my kids. With that being said; I looked at buying new couches the cost of ouch! to my budget was too much. I then began to look online for used ones like I did with my kitchen table, nothing. I have been drawing a blank. I finally began to research the cost and how much nice slip covers would be. To say the least slip covers can be expensive, however if you can find a deal definitely worth it. I looked online and in the stores for a couple of weeks, finally to find the perfect deal. I spent 35 dollars each and with shipping and handling less than 90 dollar total. I dare you to find a better deal! Needless, to say they are wonderful if something get spilled or dropped or anything just toss it in the washer. Now, my couches are much nicer to look at and I didn’t have to spend a lot to make my home a little nicer to look at!

RECIPES by What's the Dish?

Need some great recipes for A family menu?

Try these web sites for free recipes that have been tested and rated.
http://www.allrecipes.com/
http://www.myrecipes.com/
http://www.cookinglight.com/
http://www.bettycrocker.com/
In a three ring notebook, you can save your favorite recipes and make your own cook book with menus, shopping list and recipes included.

HEALTHY THINKING:
Attitude quotes- Happiness is the object and design of our existence - Joseph Smith

24 HOUR TURN AROUND by Skinny Saturdays

This is a book I highly recommend!
The 24 HOUR Turn Around by Jay Williams, PH.D.
The formula for permanent weight loss, anti-aging and optimal health…starting today!

Sneak peek into this book:
Dare to be different in just 24 hours
Total life change 1: Mood, belief and mastering motivation
Total life change 2: Your H.E.A.R.T workout formula
Total life change 3: The ABC’s of the definition diet
Total life change 4: Healing Hydration
Total life change 5: Alcohol and the myth of moderation
Total life change 6: Sweet dreams
Total life change 7: Balancing hormones
Total life change 8: Destress with mind-body innercise
You can turn back the clock: Rewriting the rules on aging
Spa secrets
Recipes for your 24-hour turnaround
You can go to www.amazon.com and look for this book used or new. I bought mine used and saved money

CLEANING PRODUCTS by House Work for Mortals

Cleaning products: which is better Lysol wipes or Clorox wipes?
We want to know what you think.




Currently in my house I have been doing a little study on this subject. All winter last year we were on again off again sick. I wasn’t using anything specific to clean I just was making sure that trash was taken out and counters and floors stayed as clean as possible, and bathrooms were cleaned more often than not. It seemed that no matter what we ended up with something else. I would end up buying the Lysol wipes and going nuts with it throughout the house; I would open windows to let fresh air in the house for a short time. Then things would calm down and we would get well again. After using Lysol wipes for a while I began to think why am I not using these things more often? If I used them all the time instead of a dingy rag maybe we would stay healthier.
Well this winter I am currently just using a generic brand of Lysol/Clorox wipes. It’s been working very well for us. So far my daughter who is two has only had one cold and the rest of us have been healthy. I use them for virtually everything; to wipe the table after meals are over, to wipe up counters, spills, bathroom cleaning, I even use it to clean and wash walls and banisters, doorknobs. So far so good
As for how cost efficient it is I have yet to see what I spend, vs what I was spending. I know that buying them in bulk is definitely cheaper than the smaller size. I also know that Clorox and Lysol both have sites that you can also download coupons for periodically.
So now it’s your turn to try and please tell me what works for you?

Swimmers hair by All Things Beautiful!

Swimmers hair--
Clorine hair is the worst! Need to get it out??? Use a clarifying shampoo. I would recommend getting one from a proffesional salon only so that you makes sure it has enough good stuff in it to get the chlorine out. Chlorine is one of the hardest things to get out of your hair, especially once you let it build up. Everytime you are in and then out of the pool you should be washing with clarifier shampoo and then using a good conditioner. Chlorine builds up on your hair and then becomes mushy. Clarifying shampoo strips everything out of you hair, which is why it's good to get the chlorine out but its really hard on your hair and if you aren't using a good conditioner to counter that you will end up with really dead dry hair and doesn't look nice or feel nice.
Recomending: Paul Mitchell Clarifying shampoo
Recomending: Biolage Hydrating conditioner, or Redken All Soft conditioner.

DRINKING WATER FOR HEALTH by What's the Dish?

Drinking water for health

Water, is the most essential, next to air, to our survival.
Water makes up more than two thirds of the weight of the human body, and without it, humans would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water; blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration
In addition to the daily maintenance of our bodies, water also plays a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer, bladder cancer and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer.
If you're not drinking enough, your body may retain water to compensate. Paradoxically, fluid retention can sometimes be eliminated by drinking more water, not less.

How Much Water Do You Need to Drink?
A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. If you exercise you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active.
Try to avoid drinks like soda pop, lemonade, fruit drinks, coffee and tea
Some benefits of increasing water in your daily diet
· Hydrated skin cells
· More efficient digestion
· Reduced hunger between meals
· More energy and an improved mood
· Increased ability of muscles to burn fat
· Increased removal of toxins
· Reduced chance of constipation
· Water forms the fluids that surround the joints.
· Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling and heating is distributed through perspiration.

Your water intake should be spread throughout the day and evening. You may wonder: If I drink this much, won't I constantly be running to the bathroom? Yes. But after a few weeks, your bladder tends to adjust and you need to empty your bladder less frequently but in larger amounts. Now remember, don’t let your bladder stay full for a long period of time. I use to think as a young child “hey I can hold it; the bladder is like a muscle. No pain no gain, right? The more I hold it in the stronger the bladder gets.” Wrong! Oh how youth comes with stupidity. If you don’t take time to regularly empty your bladder, your bladder walls actually stretch, become thin and weaken. Your bladder may even begin to fold over to make you feel like you need to empty your bladder more often.

EXERCISE PROGRAMS THAT WORK by Skinny Saturdays

Exercise programs that work

These are some exercise programs that I have tried and loved! I really have tried a lot of workout programs. Hey ya gotta do what ya gotta do! I really do have a desire to stay healthy (except on those days I have a really good chocolate recipe). I am in no way getting paid for advertising these products or programs. Dang!

· The Tread mill: Any tread mill will do. This helps get you going on a morning you really don’t want to exercise. It is great to have when you have young children at home and do not want to go to the gym.
· Weider Total Body Works 5000 home gym: I love this home gym! You can pick it up for around $150. And fits in a small area. This accommodates over 100 body shaping exercises with a body weight resistance design. The cable and pulley system allows for greater versatility and a greater range of motion for varying exercises, so you can increase your strength and flexibility. I used it while I was pregnant with no back strain. Because of gymnastics, I now use bodyworks for physical therapy for my knees and back.
· P90X: A great program that kicks your butt! If you want a workout that is fun and challenging try P90X. The cost for this is a little high but I think it is worth the cost especially when you don’t want to get a gym membership. This is an advanced training technique called "Muscle Confusion," which accelerates the results process by constantly introducing new moves and routines so your body never plateaus, and you never get bored! Whether you want to get lean, bulk up, or just plain get ripped, there's an endless variety of ways to mix and match the routines to keep you motivated the full 90 days and beyond! I don’t use much space for this program and my kids sometimes try it with me.
· Yoga: I have to admit I didn’t want to try “sissy yoga”. I love yoga! The only yoga I have tried is in the P90X program. It is called yogaX. Wow does this help with all over muscle and mind wellness. Try it!
· Winsor Pilates: This physical fitness method uses the mind to control the muscles. The program focuses on the core postural muscles which help keep the body balanced, helps in sculpting the muscles you didn’t know you had. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles. Pilates demands intense focus. This really looks like a simple exercise but it will kick your butt in the end without you knowing it. When I used this program I become stronger and more flexible with every work out.
· Cathy Smith: I would recommend any of Cathy’s fitness programs. She has numerous fun workouts. She is not annoying and has a fun way of getting you to get fit. She is very knowledgeable about staying healthy and gives you great tips on all her work outs.
Check out http://www.beachbody.com/ for more fitness programs you may like!

HEALTHY THINKING:
Attitude quotes- Cheer on all success - Gordon B. Hinckley

Now its your turn.. Let us know what you did this week to be healthier or at least what you thought about doing.

That First CD - Writers Workshop!
The first CD that I bought was Journeys greatest hits. Oh yeah! The power of Journey baby! I was pretty poor most of my teenage life so I used to bum my music off of friends. Things changed when I opened a “special mail in offer”. You know the ones that offer to send you 50 million CD’s for only a penny. I guess it seems like a great deal if you don’t read the fine print. When I finally received Journeys greatest hits CD, I popped it in the player and…Life was good. When Journeys song Don’t Stop Believin’ came on, I really felt like I should keep on believin’! I could listen to this CD forever. Life was like a good music video you watch over and over. Steve Perry had the best voice that no one could sing to (yet you know we all try). Neal Schon on guitar was awesome and Jonathan Cain on piano made you feel the music. Unfortunately now, Journey has lost the Steve Perry effect and with the new Journey I just don’t feel the love. But when I listen to that Journeys Greatest Hits CD that I bought oh so long ago, I still feel the same. Only now I am older, married and have four children who don’t even know who Steve Perry is. Listening to music forever looking out the window daydreaming is a thing of the past but the good memories still remain… and I finally paid off my “special mail in offer” for the millions of CD’s I received.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE DECORATING by House Work for Mortals

This is a book I highly recommend!

Use what you have decorating by Lauri Ward.

Sneak peek into this book:
· The 10 most common decorating mistakes and how to correct them
· Transform your home in one hour with 10 simple design principles
· Use the space you have, the things you like the budget you choose

I bought this book online used for cheap and I used the concepts discussed. It really works!
Down side: I found that I did not want to move every single piece of furniture around a million times just to find that special spot where it looks good.
Solution: RCWilleys has a great online room planner you can use to virtually place your furniture anywhere in your virtual room.
All you need to do:
· Measure all your actual furniture you want to put in the room plan
· Measure your room you plan to change and decorate
· Size the virtual furniture with your actual furniture measurements in the room planner.
· Move your furniture around in your house without having to actually move it.

Go to www.rcwilley.com click on icovia Room planner and try it out! Let me know what you think.

WOMEN'S HAIR by All Things Beautiful

Women’s hair:

Have you ever seen the women out and about in the store with their hair in shambles, no makeup and still in their pjs? Perhaps one of those women has been you? For those of you that are reading this and are offenders stop what you are doing and believe me when I tell you that you are beautiful! Even the busiest of women deserves to spend at least 25 minutes a day on themselves. As a mom of two small children I know this can be a difficult thing, but please take the extra time for yourself you deserve it and have earned it. Looking your best contributes to helping you feel good and be better at whatever you are trying to achieve that day, whether its work in the professional world, or being at home with your kids, or doing both. Remember to keep your routine simple, a little bit of loving your self can go a long way.

What's the Dish?

Honeyed Yogurt and Mixed Berries with Whole-Grain Waffles

Yield 4 servings

(serving size: 1 waffle, 1 cup fruit mixture, about 1/3 cup yogurt mixture, and 1 teaspoon wheat germ)

Ingredients
· 2 cups vanilla low-fat yogurt
· 2 tablespoons honey
· 2 cups fresh raspberries
· 1 cup quartered small strawberries
· 1 cup fresh blackberries
· 1/3 cup sugar
· 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
· 4 frozen whole-grain waffles, toasted
· 4 teaspoons toasted wheat germ
Preparation
Drain yogurt in a fine sieve or colander lined with cheesecloth for 10 minutes; spoon into a bowl. Add honey, stirring to combine.
Combine berries, sugar, and juice; let stand 5 minutes. Place 1 waffle on each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1 cup fruit mixture, about 1/3 cup yogurt mixture, and 1 teaspoon wheat germ. Serve immediately.
Robin Vitetta-Miller, Cooking Light, JULY 2003

DIET...WHAT? by Skinny Saturdays

Diet…what?

I am always drawn to “before & after pictures”. I have seen magazines with before and after pictures that show weight loss. Although I can’t help to think how those people in the after pictures not only look fit but they have gained a shinny tan. How do they have such success with losing weight? Are they keeping it off? What would they look like in a month, a year? When you read their success stories their success was not a certain diet but a change in their life style.
What comes to mind when you hear the word “diet”? Yep…nothing good. I hate to diet. I have learned long ago that dieting is a bad idea. Why? Dieting means going without food. Going without food starves your body & mind. Diet pills don’t work! The outside-in approach is where you try to solve a problem and treat the symptoms, not the cause. It doesn’t work. You need to start on the inside first.
· Why do I not eat healthy?
· Why do I not have enough energy?
· Why can’t I find time to exercise?
Instead of dieting why not just change your diet? Change how and what you eat. Change the way you think about health.

8 easy steps to start losing weight without dieting:
1. Eat healthy. Make sure you are getting enough whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetable in your diet.
2. Drink plenty of water. Drinking water can reduced hunger between meals, give you more energy and improve mood. Stay away from soda pop.
3. Check your portions. You don’t have to fill your plate to the rim to get the nourishment you need from food.
4. Eat slower. It takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to signal to your brain that it is full.
5. Snack if you feel a hunger pain but don’t make your snack a meal. Going hungry can put your body in a starvation mode. Your body will start to store fat thinking it needs to conserve energy.
6. Stay active. This can be anything from exercising to just playing with your children.
7. Make exercise and eating healthy a habit. If you hate what you eat you will not be a happy person.
8. Don’t always weigh yourself. Muscle does weigh more than fat. Being “skinny” and being “healthy” are two different things.

We want your input each week.. What are you doing to be healthier?

Talented: Writers workshop!

A talent that I have:
This is a hard one to do for many so many to choice from and well I'm just not sure..
I have double jointed thumbs, and elbows, I used to be able to run a mile in less than six minutes.
ok ok on a more serious note, a talent that I have is probably doing hair, I used to go to girls camp every summer and braid and style the others girl's hair with practically nothing, that turned into doing my friends' hair in high school for the dances. My senior year of high school I went to beauty school while still attending college. Following that I worked at a fairly high end salon, that didn't have much walk in traffic and a boss that was Horrible to say the least. She told me that I would never amount to anything and that I would not survive doing hair for very long. I went home heart broken. I pulled my self up and nine years later here we are. I have run and almost owned my salon three times over and been in charge of a couple of salons. I have a decent clientel.And am about to start my own salon for our new home. I am really good at what I do and I am not afraid to say that. I love doing hair and love seeing people happy. I enjoy meeting new people and learning different things from each one. Its something that I have a talent at and I love sharing it with those around me!

HOUSE WORK IS LIKE FREEZ TAG by House Work for Mortals

1. 
   House Work Is Like Freeze Tag
   
   I am always looking for a shortcut when it comes to cleaning my house.
   I teach children at a gymnastics studio nearby. One night we decided to play the game “freeze tag”. If you are familiar with this game you know that it is almost imposable to freeze everyone. Once you freeze one person and diligently strive to chase down the rest of the players, you quickly notice that the once frozen players that you worked so hard to stop in their tracks has indeed been unfrozen by the one player you just didn’t get to earlier. During that game of freeze tag I felt tired and hopeless of ever freezing the whole class. Then it came to me…this is how I feel about housework. I never seem to get the cleaning done before the messing starts up again. Some like to call this the “shoveling while it’s still snowing syndrome”.
   I have a husband and 4 children. I know that trying to clean up after a family takes a lot of time and energy. Now that I have stated the obvious, what can help to make cleaning quicker and easier? I have tried many cleaning techniques from cleaning the whole house on one day a week, to doing a few cleaning jobs a day for the entire week.
   Here are some ideas that have worked for me in the past:
   Start with piles – If the mess is overwhelming start putting like items in piles. Example: Bedroom pile, basement toy pile.
   1. Get the family to pitch in – Make chore charts for your children that include household responsibilities.
   2. Have a Cleaning tote in every bathroom- For a quick clean, have all your bathroom cleaning supplies tucked under the sink. (if you have small children put tote up high)
   3. Cleaning tote for every job: For a quick “grab and go” clean. Handy wipes work great for quick jobs.
   Example: dusting tote, bathroom tote, wiping walls tote and so on.
   4. Keeping up with it. Sweeping up at the end of the day or making sure your children have done what was on their chore chart.
   5. Laundry Have a basket with each Childs name. If your child is old enough they can do their own laundry or at least put their own basket of clothes away.
   6. Keep the mess in rooms that are for the purpose of the activity- Example: Kitchen for food, toy room for toys, and sitting room for sitting or reading.
   Remember; don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t get your house clean. If your house is messy, it’s not the end of the world. Believe me, if it was the end of the world a clean house won’t save the day!
   
   If you have any house cleaning ideas that have worked for you, please share them with us!

BOYS HAIR by All Things Beautiful!

Boys Hair:

My three year old is a very busy little boy combing his hair is sometimes a challenge. But here are some things that have made styling his hair easier.

1. Right after bath time comb and dry his hair. Begin this from the time they have a small amount of hair; this way they become acquainted with getting their hair done at an early age.
2. Make it fun and exciting for them. The more excited they are to look good the more willing they will be to let you do their hair.
3. Find what style works best for them and their hair type. Experiment and try different ways to see what they like and how best to make it easy to do for yourself and for later to be able to teach them how to do it for themselves.

LIKE RATS IN A LAB by Whats the Dish

Like Rats In A Lab

So… you need to eat. How many of us reach for the first thing we see when we are feeling famished? When I grab for the oh so yummy chocolate chip cookies that are conveniently on the counter and eat the whole plate for breakfast, I look and feel just like I ate the candy tree from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Not good!
During the Christmas holiday we had a grand feast at my house. Somehow only about 30 something family members showed up. Oh the food and treats! As the night came to an end everyone helped clean, then left for the night. The next morning I faced “the left over’s”. Not the good for you kind...No, we were the proud owners of a lot of candy, cakes, cookies and pies. We had to eat them before it went bad, right? We were off our routine and on a rollercoaster of bad diets and sleep. It took us three weeks (some of us are still working on that) to undo the damage the “fun holiday break” had caused.
Being a wife and mother I periodically implement friendly experiments on the family (come on you know you do too). One day I watched as my children came into the kitchen looking for a quick snack. So what would they grab? You guessed it, the pies and candy on the counters.
I decided to hide the plates of candy, cookies and pies. In place of the “junk food” I placed strawberries, nuts, grapes, and carrots in bowls. Well, like rats in a lab my husband and kids came into the kitchen looking for a snack and grabbed for the fruit and vegetables, not even asking for the junk food. Morel of the story…you are what you eat, you eat what you serve.

SNACK TIP:
Try having a variety of fruits and vegetables available for the whole family to eat. A good way to help you and your family reach for natures “good stuff” is to wash and cut fruit and vegetables then place them in plain sight in small bowls inside the refrigerator or on the counter. Other great food ideas are boiled eggs, whole wheat fish crackers and nuts. Chances are if you are in a hunger crunch, the family will reach for nature’s good stuff first before they reach for the empty energy foods like candy and chips. One more important fact: water is very essential for the body. Drink plenty of water to maintain the needed hydration that keeps your body flowing and healthy. If your lips feel chapped, you may be dehydrated.

HEALTHY THINKING:
Attitude quotes- Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve through a positive mental attitude - Napoleon Hill