Blogging for good health!, Stress Reduction

I Did A Thing

Leave a comment

There’s a new mindset in town.

In my town.

Where I live.

Inside my brain.

Yup.

I’ve switched from dabbling, dreaming, and hoping to full-on commitment. The thought process that kept me in a hobby, pastime, or side hustle has been jettisoned.

The message of health that is possible for everyone, and the caregiver support tools that have been gifted to me through hard-earned, insight-giving life experiences, are what drive me.

If people can’t access my books and presentations, then my efforts are in vain.

Therefore, I am taking my authorship and speaking events to a full-time business level.

Yes, I recently relaunched my moderately successful, Toolkit for Caregivers, and have put, Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions, on pre-order status on Amazon; but, I am now aiming for something even better that will get the expertise I offer into many more knowledge-seeking hands.

There will be a new look, feel, and additional tools of support for readers with more helpful follow-up. Professional landing page, podcasts, social media – the whole package.

Details of what this will look like will be shared in coming posts; but what I am learning in this process, is transformative. With over 30 hours of training to help me in this process thus far, my head is exploding with information.

Whatever the project, starting with boosting the mindset, is key – and that is the segue into today’s message for you!

Seems that I write about a positive mental attitude all the time but – hold on. Even tweaking what I already knew and believed, has helped me so much that I must share.

Remember the movie, “The Help”? What a beautiful message of hope and self-worth! Consider the following quotes from the main character played by Viola Davis:

“… and that’s when I get to wondering, what would happen if I told her she something good, ever day?

Ever morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision. You gone have to ask yourself, am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?

That’s the way prayer do. It’s like electricity, it keeps things going.

You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”

When I viewed this movie in the theater, we almost joined in the chant: “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” – because we knew that the little girl desperately needed to hear that message deep down inside her heart and soul.

The little girl eventually declared to Viola’s character, “Aibee, you’re my real mama.” Why? Because she was being nurtured, loved, and accepted by her.

When each of us starts the day, we need to nurture ourselves.

I’ve learned that by creating a personal identity and affirmation statement and reading it aloud to ourselves each day, we can transform the path we take and the results we can achieve.

Here’s how some people create their identity/affirmation statement:

Possibly start with your name and research its meaning. The speaker who taught me this was named Aaron – meaning mountain of strength, exalted, and strong. Wow! His approach didn’t work for me because “Deidre/Deirdre,” died of unrequited love. Geez.

Embrace your positive qualities and how you currently, or strive to,reveal those characteristics.

What are your positive beliefs and how are they being expressed in your life?

Declare who you are. Think about the quote from Viola to the little girl.

Tenderly and superlatively remind yourself of all the good that is in you, how you want to move forward, and include how, “You’ve got this.”

Pen on paper. Edited as I put the ramblings into the computer. Printed out. Put into a protective sleeve. Read aloud every morning to myself.

Better than a double shot of espresso.

Take a picture of yourself holding your statement.

This is powerful stuff.

In health –

Deidre

If this post gave you a boost – you know what to do. Share! Use the options under the MORE button below – and let me know what you think.

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

Oh, That Soup Du Jour … 

Leave a comment

Ever wonder about soup and soup recipes?  

We were waxing philosophical the other night, while trying to follow a recipe for soup. There may have been wine involved. 

Anyway – there were issues with not having the exact ingredients. We were using some leftover grilled Hawaiian Kanpachi to create a fish chowder. 

What we had on hand did not totally match up with what was required.  

I mean – this was soup – how precise did we have to get?  

What was soup, anyway? Throw a bunch of veggies into a pot, add fluid, cook, stir, serve. Right? 

Chowder usually calls for corn. Check. Celery. Check. Carrots – meh – ate them last night in the salad. Onions. Check. We did have the required fresh thyme – felt really good about that. 

So, our mirepoix, (sauteed onions, carrots, and celery often used as a base for soups), lacked carrots.  

Oh, well.  

We pressed on to making the roux and added the fluid ingredients, which we adjusted to using some leftover chicken bone broth along with the thickest, yummiest heavy cream I have ever seen in my life – and eventually, we had lovely fish chowder. 

Chef Dennis’s recipe for fish chowder can be a springboard to your own version. It’s all good.  

After all – it’s soup! 

Oh, and don’t forget a spoonful of dry sherry to float on top of each steaming bowl! 

Just sayin’. 😉 

The Blue Ocean Mariculture in Kona, Hawaii is a fascinating place dedicated to eco-friendly, sustainable, deep-sea aquaculture, blazing the way to feed people in a healthy way. That’s where we bought our fish. Kanpachi is super-rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and is simply delicious! 

In health –  

Deidre  

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

Thoughts, Memories, and Eats

Leave a comment

What the camera never saw –

Do you take pictures of your food at restaurants?

I’ve tried to stop doing that all together, except to share pictures with family based on some special aspect significant or meaningful to us.

Sometimes, there’s such a wow factor to a meal’s presentation, a picture seems appropriate to remember that special moment.

When my arms were not full of my beautiful new grandson – okay, gorgeous – I had been helping in the kitchen whenever possible during our recent trip to Hawaii.

I try to stay camera-ready at home during food preparation – what’s that term? “Mise en place” – in anticipation of sharing recipes with you, but not so much this past month.

Great recipes.

Great meals.

New ideas.

Old favorites.

No pictures.

No worries. Sheree will scour the internet for pictures, I am sure, that will help with visualization. (Sheree: Of course! And I’m late today. Forgive me!)

Still open on my phone are several recipes we have used recently that may inspire you as well.

When we were seeking comfort food, my daughter requested the, “meatloaf of her youth.” It was not hard to Google: Ann Lander’s Meatloaf, which I have tweaked to eliminate the Accent seasoning and the bacon on top. Here’s your downloadable recipe right here:


Ann-Landers-MeatloafDownload

My sweetheart inspired a quest to buy some Tapenade while we were perusing the grocery stores, but – alas – none could be found. Not to be outdone, we acquired the necessary ingredients to make our own, which we have done twice. Once using knives and cutting boards in tandem, and once using a food processor.

Here’s how we did it:

TapenadeDownload


The Moroccan Roasted Chicken using ‘preserved lemon’ will have to wait for another post – there’s much to tell and share with you about creating a sauce out of paper thin sliced onions, a tasty marinade rub, and slow roasting magic.

Returning home will herald a new commitment to focused planning, writing, and learning as I am entering a new phase of creating a more professional polish for and launch/relaunch of my Caregiver Book Series.

New books and supplemental materials that complement current publications are on the drawing board to help serve the needs of those who purchase my books.

There will be much to share that’s applicable to all foodtalk4you readers in daily life (how to rock a 90-day plan), and for current and aspiring authors looking for direction.

Sharing this post is easy – just use the options under the MORE button below.

In health –

Deidre

Blogging for good health!, Exercise, Stress Reduction

Flora From A Walk

4 Comments

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!

4 Comments

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!

Leave a comment

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”

Leave a comment

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

Click on the subscribe box below on your device (scroll way to the bottom) or up to the left on your computer screen so you will get foodtalk4you delivered right to your email each week. We do not share your contact information. Thanks. 

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

Shhhhh! Cascade – Pass It On

Leave a comment

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!

Leave a comment

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

2 Comments

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  

Reclaim your health one meal at a time