All posts by Deidre

A child of Colorado, Delaware, Oregon, and California – where she obtained her first college degree and became a Nursing Home Administrator – Deidre Edwards now resides in North Carolina. While helping her husband start a video production business and raising their two children, Deidre returned to college to earn her nursing degree. A teacher at heart, she soon applied her nursing skills and knowledge to helping high school students expand their medical career interests through the Health Science Program she established. After retiring from teaching, Deidre wrote her first book – Toolkit for Wellness – as a response to the health issues she witnessed while working. She witnessed both students and staff had struggling with excess weight, diabetes, poor food choices, and stress issues – yet everyone shared the desire for a healthier life. Her easy-to-understand explanations of body functions and how foods break down, clearly show her passion for teaching others. Deidre’s dual passion in learning about habits and habit formation is expressed in her books and regular blog writings so others can learn how to make big improvements through daily small changes. Life took a dramatic turn when Deidre’s husband became confined to bed under Hospice care at home for over two years. With all of her nursing skills on board, and a deep love between them to sweeten the moments, she provided the loving, quality-of-life care he needed. Still the teacher at heart, Deidre realized there was a huge need to light the way for others as they walked the path of caregiving for a loved one. Hence, she wrote Toolkit for Caregivers and Love Lives Here, Toolkit for Caregiver Survival. Together, both books address the caregiving processes, skills, and issues for before, during, and afterward. Deidre continues to be involved with her community through choral singing groups, volunteering for the North Carolina Symphony, Chamber of Commerce, church functions, and activities with friends and family. She also enjoys the time she spends promoting her books and speaking with others about health and caregiving.
Blogging for good health!, Exercise, Stress Reduction

Flora From A Walk

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Wrapping up our extended stay here in Kona, Hawaii, we continue to marvel at the sights and sounds of the area.

We will sorely miss the sounds featured in last week’s post, when we return home on the mainland, along with the daily eye candy of flowers seemingly constantly in bloom.

The main reason for visiting here is family – gathering around a beautiful new life and marveling at the daily changes – so, we are not going on long-walking or hiking treks about the area.

Strangely enough, however, the motivation of closing those circles on our Apple watches for standing, exercise, and movement have given us reason to walk back and forth on the long, slopping driveway where we are staying.

Back and forth. Down the hill and up the hill.

Boring?

Hardly.

It’s hard to keep our pace on these walking exercise laps because we want to stop every few steps to admire yet another stunning flower. Even what must be weeds, appear glorious and dignified in their splendors.

Cascades of berry-like structures on the fishtail palm, morph in their curious appearance as different clusters mature – we are advised not to eat these, despite their cranberry-ish appeal.

Hibiscuses thrive here and inspire me to try growing one back home to enjoy, even if only for the summer.

Cinnamon gardenias delight our senses with their long, drooping petals and soft scent as we pass.

Who among us is not in love with Bird of Paradise?

Plumeria – the flower of choice for ladies’ hair – are everywhere and in assorted colors and scents.

Rosemary bushes not only provide visual appeal in their texture, but taste in our cooking; and, in Hawaii at least – a significant source of beautiful flowers.

Exotic fruits growing high up in the trees.

Tiny flowers almost hidden in the base of large red and green leaves.

Not on our daily walk, but there’s a giant flowering cactus at my daughter’s home – it blooms only at night!

We feel like kids in a candy store!

Upon our return home, I’ll be heading to the nurseries to see what I can plant to create a little bit of paradise – North Carolina style.

We love hearing from you! What are you planting to create your own garden oasis?

Aloha!

In health –

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Exercise, Stress Reduction, This -n- That

“Tiny Bubbles, Make Me Feel So Fine” – Sights and Sounds From Hawaii!

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Sounds and their sources … 

Isn’t it fun to experience different sights and sounds as we travel?  

Whether we are gazing at magnificent buildings and structures, admiring sunsets from new perspectives, or hearing the deep sounds of the ocean liner horn, new venues fascinate. 

Visiting my daughter, son-in-law, and their beautiful newborn, we are trying to absorb, not only the love of family and the miracle of new life, but also the sights and sounds delighting our eyes and ears in Hawaii. 

Sure, it’s a tropical paradise – especially to the eyes – but we marvel equally at the sounds. 

Oh, the sounds! 

One may think of typical tropical birds – such as green parakeets and parrots – but our days start around 5:15 am with the forte sounds of cock-a-doodle-do, from numerous wild roosters around our semi-countrified, suburban neighborhood! 

Simultaneously, the requisite broods of hens join in greeting the day along with the chirp-chirp of their young – numbering in the double-digits, right outside our open windows, but hidden from sight by the bushes. 

Not to be left out are the turkeys! Wild Tom turkeys, their hens, and their young are excited to vocalize as they stroll about, pecking for breakfast.  

Zebra doves wake up to join the chorus with their familiar cooing – Hawaiian style. 

Not to be out-done, the invasive species of Puerto Rican Coqui frogs end their night-long LOUD chorus with final blasts of “co-KEE” – only to resume at sunset as they destroy the relative calm of night – once owned only by the crickets. 

Take a listen to a Coqui frog:

Myna birds fill the air with their distinctive calls. 

It’s all so fascinating! 

Need a rooster’s help to get you up and going? Listen carefully. Here it is!

Anyone who grew up watching cartoons will tell you that roosters crow at dawn. Ha! They start at dawn and continue until it’s time to roost in the evening! Having not grown up on the farm, I didn’t realize that fact – it took a trip to Hawaii to become enlightened. 

Locally grown fruits and vegetables have their own flair – offering deeper, truer flavors. So, we listen to the backdrop of bird conversations, while our morning papaya bowls satisfy our tropical tastes – complete with Hawaiian granola! 

May your day fascinate wherever you are. Sheree has attached soundtracks I recorded for your enjoyment and relaxation.  

I left the best for last – a melodious song from our feathered friends of the Hawaiian Islands!

Aloha, in health –  

Deidre  

Blogging for good health!, Recipes, This -n- That

Putting Your Best Bite Forward – Pinwheels!

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A blast from the past 

Our new neighborhood is geared towards many social gatherings. There’s another one tomorrow night and we all bring an appetizer along with a bottle of wine. It is the monthly meeting of the Cork and Vine Wine Club after all! 

The theme is the Kentucky Derby – which brings zero visions of wine … only Mint Juleps and fascinators – oh, and a very famous horse race. 

Not only am I digging through unopened moving boxes for my fascinator, but I am digging deeper into my recipe files for an appetizer I had not recently made. I rediscovered an old friend.  

Hello pinwheels! 

Just click on the download button and this free recipe is yours!

Pinwheel-Hors-doeuvresDownload

I shared this one with you a few years ago, but felt it was worthwhile to bring it out again, this time with a downloadable version for your convenience. 

Since the advent of gluten-free, tortilla-style wraps, pinwheels are once again on my menu. Easy to make with few ingredients, pinwheels check many boxes and deliver tasty fun.  

I mean, who doesn’t love a pinwheel that harkens back to seeing children running through the yard to make their pinwheels spin!  

In fact, here are three websites you can use to craft paper pinwheels: 

FIRST PALETTE 

KITCHEN TABLE CLASSROOM 

KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG 

This would be a fun activity even for wine drinking adults!  

Enjoy the world of both edible and paper pinwheels. 

Remember to subscribe to foodtalk4you so you can get every post delivered to your inbox each Tuesday. Scroll to the bottom of your device or to the upper left of your computer screen to fill out the subscribe box.  

In health –  

Deidre 

Blogging for good health!, This -n- That

Don’t Forget To “Colour My World”

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Is your closet color coordinated? For instance, do you group your clothes by color?  

There is a lot of black in my closet.  

I prefer to think that black goes with everything, and I can add splashes of color at will – which I do, thanks to a diverse collection of scarves. 

But black is not my favorite color. 

I didn’t realize the natural depth of how much I liked my favorite color until we were making color selections during the design selection phase for our new house last year. 

When holding ceramic tiles of assorted colors, examining each color one-by-one, I was not getting excited about any color I held in my hand.  

One after another.  

Meh. Meh. Meh. 

Then, when I picked up a certain tile, an unsolicited smile spread across my face! Bingo! 

TAUPE! 

I knew I had a bent for taupe years ago, when going through the throws of changing out carpeting in my former home. My daughter and I laughed at the endless array of shades that taupe could offer.  

We were going Looney Toons with the shade differences.  

“Taaaauuuuupe!” 

But last year, when a deep peace and happiness immediately descended upon me upon seeing – and experiencing – the color of taupe, I was struck at my response.  

“What’s your favorite color, Deidre?”  

“Taupe …”  

I wanted to keep that a secret. Sounded nuts. Milk toast. Dull. Unimaginative. 

Until our editor, Sheree, did a bit of googling and shared COLOR PSYCHOLOGY. 

There, I found out that, “people who favor taupe are dependable, classic, and down to earth … that taupe lovers fit in with just about anyone and their warmth makes others gravitate toward them.” 

When I added a dash of my other favorites, chartreuse and periwinkle, I found my enthusiasm, positivity, and enjoyment of challenges – along with ease of friendship, fond memories, and innocence. 

So, just for fun, take a trip into the color wheel to see how your favorite colors play into your personality. 

This could be a fun family or group activity to break the ice and learn about each other. 

Have a color-filled day in health –  

Deidre 

Editor’s Note: Taupe is definitely Deidre – or should I say, Deidre is definitely a taupe?  

Hmmm. Things I ponder here at FootTalk4You.

Bottom line: She’s a terrific gal, partner, and bestie – with or without color. *smile*  Sheree

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Blogging for good health!, Habit Building, Stress Reduction, This -n- That

Shhhhh! Cascade – Pass It On

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Cascading.

The extent to which we control our health is the subject of my recent deep dives in reading.  

As a culture, we have come to understand that controlling factors in our external environment – along with what we put into our bodies – has a direct correlation to our health and longevity.  

Nicotine, for example, is bad for our lungs and cardiovascular system. The link of cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke to cancer and heart disease was eventually accepted by our society, and policies to restrict its use and exposure to bystanders are now the norm – although that process took decades. 

Not so for other countries around the world who think we are unreasonably possessed and controlling in our zealous quest to stop smoking. They light up whenever and wherever they please, thank you. 

So, it’s easy to see it’s going to be a harder ‘sell’ to shine a light on how influential our inner environment – created by how our thoughts change the chemistry in our body – is on our health. 

Even when I am learning about the influence of positive or negative thinking, the application of my knowledge is spotty. 

Sigh. 

But we learn from our mistakes, right? 

I know that everything I think is my choice. Sure, I may have been conditioned by circumstances to respond to situations in a certain way, but as a reasoning adult with access to the latest information, I can gain tools to think and respond differently.  

One of my new tools is, You Are the Placebo, by Dr. Joe Dispenza. This book is broadening my understanding of what is physically happening when we think and how thought can change so much relating to our health. 

So – returning to last week’s mention of an exploding glass dish that sprayed tiny shards all over my kitchen and beyond – I had a choice to make. 

Explode like that glass bowl – or not. 

After the initial reaction of dismay – this was a marvel in glass breaking, I must admit – I was immediately disheartened at the extent of the damage.  

An open dishwasher with clean dishes exposed to breakage. Open deep drawer of dishes sprayed with glass shards. A just-cleaned floor littered with glass and carpet nine feet away with glitters of glass. 

Everything in sight had to be cleaned, recleaned, and cleaned up again. Broom. Gloves. Vacuum. Wiped. Over and over.  

Surely, I deserved a meltdown or just a bit of rage. You think? 

I knew I was in control of my reaction. My mantra is, after all, my mind believes what I tell it. I needed to be careful how I related to this inconvenience. Really, it was not life-altering, after all. 

The slow burn of discouragement of having all my earlier work wiped away came to a crescendo when I was asked, “What happened”? 

Then I chose to let loose. I chose to label all the negative things directly and capped it off with how ticked off I was.  

So there! 

Probably even a little dramatic. 

I thought venting would help. Wrong. A wave of negativity physically flowed through me even hours later.  

I was emotional earlier in the day. What I was feeling that night was physical. 

Examining why I had chosen to be as emotional as I was at the time, has proven to be helpful. Sometimes there are subplots to our outbursts. 

I am not advocating ignoring emotions – but a few messages were driven home for me.

1) I could have chosen to laugh at the absurdity of my predicament.

2) I could have asked for help.

3) I could have measured my verbal response to be less dramatic.

It was a matter of choice. I am here to tell you that I physically felt the ramifications of that choice hours later. 

We’ve heard, “you are what you eat.” I can add another aspect to that, “you are what you think.” 

Continue the conversation by sharing using the options under the MORE button below. 

Right there learning with you –  

Deidre  

Blogging for good health!, Exercise, Habit Building, Stress Reduction

Embrace The New!

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New.  

It’s such a short word. 

To some, it inspires excitement and adventure. To others, it terrifies. 

There have been times when I longed for the comfort of sameness. No surprises. Just wind me up and let me go unimpeded.  

I would have loved to just routinely put my dishes away this week. However, a glass bowl virtually exploded in my hand – raining down shards over an open dishwasher filled with clean dishes, and even into an exposed open drawer and beyond! Of course, it then flew over freshly cleaned floors. (More on the aftermath of that next week). 

That was taxing enough, but day-after-day repeats? 

Even good repetitions can be suffocating for me.   

Why? It’s not a matter of being a thrill seeker, but I have a deep desire to not live the same day repeatedly. (Remember the movie Groundhog Day?)  

Why would I want to paint the same picture on every new page? 

My young adult self was very unsure about the concept of the future, setting goals, change, new beginnings, and anything unknown. There was a struggle within between ‘going with the flow’ and ‘being the master of my own ship.’  

As I have aged and have watched and experienced the unpredictability of life for everyone, there is no desire to lather/rinse/repeat with my time. 

Knowing I am the only one in control of my life, even when visiting the same restaurant, I want to branch out from my location-specific choices of old to discover something new.  

Taking a walk this morning saw us on a new path through the neighborhood. Discovering more houses being built inspired us to walk around the build sites, where we observed new interesting home features.  

Even while doing the familiar, there is something for us to discover that is new. We must actively look for it.  

Need I add, it takes us looking away from our cell phones to really see the world around us? To experience something new, we must be present in the moment. 

How are you experiencing newness? Can you do, think, learn, and create something unique or distinctive right now, today, and tomorrow? 

Can you find the blessing in your new experience?  

Speaking of blessings, happy birthday to our editor, Sheree Alderman, who is not only starting a new year, but charting several new courses! It will be a grand ride, Captain! 

In health –  

Deidre  

Blogging for good health!, Stress Reduction, This -n- That, Titles Worth Reading

And Now – The Holistic Angle on Caregiving

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For certain, there’s more than one way to tell a story!  

As a practical, roll-up-my-sleeves author who reaches out to caregivers with a skills-oriented how-to approach, I was delighted to become aware of Ilene Nathanson’s book, Caregiving Confidential: Path of Meaning, because of her different style and message. 

Weaving true story vignettes that walk the reader through the unfolding of several common pathways to caregiving, Dr. Nathanson’s passion for the holistic needs of caregivers and care recipients is evident on each page. 

I was immediately drawn into her narrative style that cleverly brought me through the broad range of circumstances that will, ultimately, confront us all – maybe several times in our lives. 

There is no escaping the issue.  

We are all aging.  

Our needs, and the needs of our loved ones, are going to evolve – and most of us are unprepared. 

As a retired chief administrator of graduate social work at Long Island University, with a strong passion for gerontology, her guidance and teaching skills continue in this book and in her co-founding of the New Aging Partnership.  

Did you know that the phrase “aging in place,” is the buzz word not only for longings of the heart, casual conversations, and policy makers, but is also the focus of dozens of new and old industries? 

Retirement communities have been with us for decades, but now there are real estate agents focusing on senior needs, downsizing specialists, senior service agencies, and more – who are all swooping in to meet the unfolding needs of this growing niche market.  

Sandwich generation families are rewriting the book for taking care of parents/grandparents, while juggling the demands of their own children, plus full-time jobs in or outside of the house.  

The dynamics of multi-generational households are different than in previous years. 

This is why Caregiving Confidential is a beautiful place to start. Enjoyable to read and laced with poignant humor – Ilene Nathanson’s book is always spot on. Like me, you will not want to put it down. 

I consider it to be the perfect flashlight for us to use as a primer for this timely topic and a great place to start the aging conversation in our own families. 

We are all about sharing here at foodtalk4you. Please share this post using the options under the MORE button below. 

In health –  

Deidre  

Blogging for good health!, Stress Reduction, This -n- That

Happy 9th Anniversary! So, What’s Your Type?

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Marking major passages of time seems to naturally cause introspection.  

Another year passes – what went well, what could be improved, what is needed? 

A funny thing happened as I cleaned up the remains and results of tax preparations this past week. Not only was I vacuuming up the tiny, spilled scraps of ancient tax documents, now shredded, but I was also filing random papers that had not found their proper place in my new home. 

My office floor was covered with files, papers, articles, notes taken – heaven help me, I am a consummate note taker – and one last bundle was in my hand.  

I was holding the results of the personality test I took a couple of years ago, and strangely enough, it was the topic going around the table the other night as we dined with friends. Everyone knew their alphabet soup of personality types the same way they knew their astrological signs!  

Well, except me. It seemed like such a jumble of letters. ENFJ just doesn’t roll off my tongue. 

But reviewing the 18 pages of explanations helped my understanding of what makes me roll.  

Coupled with today being the 9th anniversary of foodtalk4you, I am more committed to continuing my natural bent to guide, teach, and mentor – both here, and in my books and presentations. 

As we go forward with conversations about lifestyles – including exercise, food, and positive thinking – I do realize each of us is coming to these topics from diverse backgrounds, start points, and experiences. 

My promise to readers and listeners is to maintain a thoughtful approach that will uplift and encourage everyone, sharing tools and skills that can be adapted to our unique situations.  

Above all, we will collectively move forward with healthier thoughts, a greater appreciation for all that does our body good and sharing helpful information. 

There are many avenues to taking an online Myers Briggs type test. The TypeFinder Personality Assessment test I used was free to take, but I recall a slight fee to have the results fully explained. It was totally worth it. 

It’s illuminating to read about how we tick. The section, “Your Personality at Work,” discussed the work environment best suited to my personality followed by my own leadership and teamwork styles.  

How cool it was to see my career and life experiences span 1/3 of the 45 good fit recommendations tailored to my personality type.  

LOL! I may be onto something!  

Our foodtalk4you anniversary gift idea to you is TypeFinder – check it out. 

You may share this post using the options under the MORE button below. 

In health –  

Deidre    

Blogging for good health!, Stress Reduction

It’s Electric – With Mind Over Matter

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It’s just a thought.

What’s the big deal? We think lots of thoughts.

No harm – no foul, right?

Nothing hurtful was spoken. No punches were exchanged.

“I can think anything I want!”

Well, not so fast, grasshopper.

Turns out, even our most fleeting of thoughts has significant consequences inside of our bodies.

I have written about the effects of negative self-talk before in foodtalk4you, and my new book, Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions, (out this summer) has a section about managing the inner dialogue as well. The more research I do about the power of our thoughts, the more I want to practice, learn, and share with you.

The most recent foray into this science of the mind, stemmed from an article my daughter shared with me: Somatic Movement Center – Placebo Effect, which has started a cascade of reading – and well, thinking.

Please read that article. Copy and paste it into a word document. Reread it. Highlight it in a rainbow of colors. Reread it again. Add italics. Underline. And reread it again. Absorb its meaning and the implications to you.

Here’s a glimpse of what I have gleaned:

“Only about two percent of diseases, can be blamed on single genes and can be considered truly unavoidable.

The vast majority of us are born with genetics that can allow us to be healthy throughout our lives—given the right environmental conditions.

Research shows that only 5% of an adult’s genes are unchangeable; the other 95% can be turned on and off by environmental factors.

What exactly is the environment? The environment that affects our genes includes factors outside our body that we may have limited control over, and inside our body that we potentially have total control over.

Genes do not randomly turn themselves on and off. The majority of genes are inactive until an environmental signal tells them to turn on. And once they’re turned on, they require an environmental signal in order to be turned off.”

Do you wonder what the environmental signals are?

We create those environmental signals inside of our bodies.

How?

By the nature of the thoughts we think. Our thoughts generate electrical signals that course along the nerve cells in our brains, which direct what kind of a protein, called a neuropeptide, is released.

As those neuropeptides are swimming around our bodies, our individual cells pick them up through receptors:

“The input that the receptors receive affects the behavior and structure of the cell. So as we have thoughts and experience emotions, the activity and structure of the trillions of cells throughout our body are affected.”

Eventually, the genes found in the cell’s nucleus/brain are influenced to start a cascade of events that will turn on or off the expression of that gene. In other words – you may have inherited genes for XYZ disease/condition, but you are in control of creating the environment that will turn those genes on or off.

This is a lot to take in.

There is rock hard science behind people getting out of wheelchairs, fighting the odds, or beating diseases. We will be revisiting this topic in future posts.

For this week, let’s practice running our inner dialogue through the parameters of what this article is revealing to us.

Remember: Our mind believes what we tell it. We, alone, can reprogram our thoughts to generate better outcomes within our bodies.

Thinking health in all things,

Deidre

Sometimes it’s a recipe; sometimes it’s an idea or an exercise. You never know what’s coming up next; but you can be assured it’s something that’s good for you. Scroll to the bottom of your device or to the top left of your computer screen to subscribe to foodtalk4you today. No gimmicks. No hype. Thanks.

Anti-Inflammatory Foods, Blogging for good health!, Recipes, This -n- That

Under the Sea – Under the Sea-ee …

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A recent trip to my old hometown and one of its beloved art stores, Carolina Creations, put me in such a nautical mood.

Suspended from the gallery’s lofty ceilings were various sizes of hand blown glass sculptures of manta rays – bringing back memories of a tour through the Atlanta Aquarium this past fall. There I was, watching these amazing creatures gliding through the water overhead as I stood below, gazing through the Plexiglas above.

While in the art gallery, I fancied making a serious investment in creating an under-the-seas theme – perhaps in the master bath – with the glass replicas of manta rays, jelly fish, and sea horses floating around the high ceilings overhead.

Ahhh.

Instead, I found a new home for an existing piece of art featuring an ocean wave, and I might put some conch shells on the ledge of the narrow shower window. The giant, graceful rays will have to be in my imagination.

Keeping in step with our seaside vibe, a recipe I use year round for gatherings is my Hot Seafood Salad. Since the main ingredient is imitation crab meat, I don’t like calling it a Hot Crab Salad, but one could.

Back when imitation crab was first introduced to the grocery stores, I did not like it – plus it contained wheat. Now, most packages of imitation crab proudly display their Gluten-Free label.

Hurray!

With just a little prep work – “mise en place” – this hot hors d’oeuvre is always a crowd pleaser, which frequently brings requests for the recipe.

The secret is in turning the solid, leg style pieces of fish into crab-like stringiness. To do that, just place the intact contents of the package onto your cutting board. Using a sturdy, wide-tined dinner fork, comb through the long pieces of fish.

This is so much fun!

Following the long grain of the meat, the tines of the fork separate the fish into delightful crab-like wonderfulness. You may need to turn the fish over to “comb” the other side.

After that, you’re ready to cook. In no time at all, the mixture will be slightly browned and ready to eat.

My spices of choice are:

Old Bay

Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Seafood Magic

Crushed Red Pepper

The concept recipe below is easily adaptable to ingredients on hand. I usually use some colorful bell pepper – red, orange, or yellow – frozen green peas, frozen corn, and some fresh grated carrot to go along with the thinly sliced onion.

Check out the downloadable recipe here:

Hot-Seafood-Salad-by-Foodtalk4you.docxDownload

I can even see a finishing ingredient of some cream cheese to melt and “glue” this loose salad together. Appetizers are often so cheese-centric that I am happy not adding any with this recipe.

Whether you eat this Hot Seafood Salad on a cracker or simply by the forkful, you can be assured of a tasty treat that’s actually good for you – fish and veggies.

What could be better?

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In health –

Deidre