December 11, 2011
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Healthy Thoughts/Healthy Actions
Newsletter #105
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Hi Everyone!
Because the next issue will come out on Christmas Day, I consider this one my official holiday issue, so the topic here is gift giving.
Every year it seems like we go through the same dilemma. What do I buy my brother who is into sports when I know nothing about that, and my teenager whose tastes are a complete mystery to me? How do I find something for the person who has everything? And why do we need to give gifts anyways?
Well, on a superficial level gift giving at holiday time is what we all know it is: a way for our economy to have one giant woo-hoo before the doldrums of winter. It is commercial, often crass, and for many of us a huge pain in the you-know-what. But I think it is something else.
Each time we write someone's name on a list and begin to think about what to get them, we are thinking about them: who they are, what they like and don't like, and how easy or hard they are to buy things for. We might go back in our minds to holidays prior, when we got them something they loved or hated, or they got us something we loved or hated. But no matter what, we are forced to think about them. And thinking about someone in our lives moves us closer to them. They may be in North Carolina or Timbuktu, but our minds can put us in the same room, because most often times the people we are buying gifts for are loved ones we have many shared experiences with. Remembering those times, good and bad, is part and parcel of this process.
So as we go out to the malls (or maybe the art festivals, or small local stores) to do our shopping, and we look down at our list, before you buy that calendar, bottle of wine or lavendar scarf, visualize the recipient and a time when you and that person shared a moment of true meaning. Visualize their face, their joy, their essence, and hold that in your heart. Make giving them a gift as meaningful as possible. With this perspective gift shopping might actually take on a whole new feel: even if we do have to buy them that XBox that will challenge our pocketbook, but we know they want.
And my greatest gift this year is all of you. What is it Joni Mitchell once sang "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til its gone"... Well, not seeing all your faces each week is really hard. But knowing how loved and supported I am makes me feel anything is possible. So thank you all, and may your holiday season be overflowing with joy!
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EXCITING NEWS!
I have big plans in the making! I cannot give away too much here, as everything is still in the beginning stages, but I am working on creating a program and weekly meetings which will revolve around truly getting healthy: inside and out. Nothing like it exists anywhere. I hope to begin this by mid-late January and will keep you all informed via this newsletter. I am also working on learning Facebook, so I can use that to truly get the word out. In fact, if any of you reading this happen to understand social media and would be up for giving me a tutorial, please contact me!!
So stay tuned and I hope to be seeing many of you early next year!
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RECIPES FOR THIS ISSUE
This is the time of year for entertaining, and pot lucks. Instead of bringing the standard vegetable tray to the gathering, how about wowing them with yummy crab-stuffed mushrooms, or these colorful and delicious corn fritters.
BECAUSE THIS IS NO LONGER A WW NEWSLETTER I WILL NOT BE PUTTING POINT VALUES ON MY RECIPES. TRUST THAT THEY ARE LOW AND DO THE MATH ON YOUR OWN IF DESIRED..
CLICK HERE FOR MY WEBSITE RECIPE PAGE
CRAB STUFFED MUSHROOMS
Ingredients:
- 1 pound fresh mushrooms
- 7 ounces crabmeat
- 5 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground savory
- ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
- 1 Tbl grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a medium bowl, combine crabmeat, green onions, herbs, and pepper. Mix in mayonnaise and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese until well combined. Refrigerate filling until ready for use.
- Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp towel. Remove stems. Spoon out the gills and the base of the stem, making deep cups. Discard gills and stems. Fill the mushroom caps with rounded teaspoonfuls of filling, and place them in an un-greased shallow baking dish. Sprinkle tops with Parmesan and paprika.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and serve immediately.
6 servings
 CONFETTI CORN FRITTERS
1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk
1 large egg
1/2 cup minced scallions
1 jar pimento, drained and patted dry
1 (14 oz) bag of frozen corn (try the Trader Joes Roasted Corn...truly delish!!)
3 egg whites
Olive oil, and spray oil
DIRECTIONS
1) Mix dry ingredients together in a medium bowl.
2) Beat egg and mix in buttermilk, pimento and scallions. Add the dry ingredients and the corn.
3) In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, whip the egg whites until peaks form.
4) Fold in the egg whites and mix just until blended.
5) Drop from rounded tsp into large non-stick fry pan, coated with oil for the first batch, and spray oil as need for the subsequent batches. Yields: 24-30 fritters,
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CLASS RECOMMENDATION
RAULY DUENAS ZUMBA
at Lomitas Schoolhouse
My wonderful friend Linda has been talking about this teacher for months, but because I was working I could never go to his classes. Being unemployed has its benefits...I finally went and am completely sold!
I go to his Thursday morning class at 9 at the Lomitas Schoolhouse, which is walking distance from the shopping center at Steele and Mendocino Ave, on the street paralleling Mendocino. If you are looking for a fun, butt-kicking, excellent music and Zumba class come check it out! Click below for his schedule at the Schoolhouse.
Hope to see you there!
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DRAW A STICKMAN 
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Val sent this moving piece to me and it was just so appropriate to my life right now, I thought I would share it. Alan Cohen is the author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" and many other inspirational books. Here is a link to his site:
Click Here
EMBRACED OR SPIT OUT
Alan Cohen
"I discovered a wonderful book, A Little Book about Believing, by Cash Peters. In the book, Cash describes 12 days he spent with Brazilian miracle healer John of God, and the huge changes that occurred in his life after the visit.
While interviewing Cash on my radio show, Cash was telling me about his life in Hollywood, where he moved as a journalist many years ago. "If you're meant to be here, all arms will open to you," he explained. "If not, the place will spit you out." I concurred, as that's what I observe on Maui. Some people come and stay for a lifetime. Others try to make a life or a living, but just can't.
Yet there is perfection in the process, whether you are embraced or rejected. At all moments life is guiding you to be in your right place. If you are in your right place that is a match to your energy, vision, and purpose, events will click and you will feel as if you are being guided and protected. If you are not a match to your current job, relationship, or living situation, you will be moved out of that place so you can be where you belong.
Rejection is protection. If you are rejected, the universe is telling you that you do not belong with the person or in the situation that rejected you. Rather than complaining or fighting to keep it, be open to where you would rather be. There are people, jobs, and living situations that will love, accept, support, and provide for you. Be with them. Never accept struggle as a requirement to keep something. You do not have to struggle for what is rightfully yours. Be where you belong, and all that belongs to you will find you."
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 Life is Not a Dress RehearsalA WORKSHOP ON IDENTIFYING THE PLACES YOU
ARE STUCK IN YOUR LIFE AND LIVING YOUR BIGGEST DREAMS! Saturday, January 28, 2012 1-5pm Lomitas Schoolhouse 2421 Lomitas Ave Santa Rosa WHAT THIS WORKSHOP WILL GIVE YOU: 1) INDENTIFYING YOUR DREAMS Many of us have a vague idea of what we REALLY want. I will help you truly name it.
2) LOCATING THE SABOTEURS
Oftentimes we tell ourselves we "can't do that", or "have no time" or "not enough money", etc. We have all sorts of reasons why we cannot have what we want. But if we really want something we make it happen no matter what the obstacle. Uncover the ways you keep yourself from manifesting your dreams.
3) SEEING THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY I will show you the unique methods life coaches use for altering the way you perceive your world and your options.
4) A FULL UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW CO-ACTIVE LIFE COACHING WORKS AND CAN BENEFIT YOU.
You may come away deciding you could use a coach to help you make changes in your life, or not, but you will understand how coaching works, and will be able to use tools I give you in your life every day. $25, INCLUDES YUMMY SNACKS Please email me at jciel@sbcglobal.net to register or for more information. |
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