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Hi Everyone, I decided this week to write about balance. I don't mean standing on one leg and not toppling, but balance in our lives. Sometimes I feel many of us operate on one leg, in a metaphorical sense, and it may not be supporting us in a healthy way.
So here's what I'm talking about. Our lives get out of balance in many ways, and we may not even notice most of them. One way is to be very focused on our family, our job, our external responsibilities, to the exclusion of self care. So we cook and shop for our families and forget to buy the foods which support our needs. Or we work insane hours and do not schedule time for physical activity. Sound familiar?
How about that balance between work and play? How many of us actually have active social lives and fulfilling recreational activities on a weekly basis, but we also get the job done as expected? I am guessing many of you reading this find yourself working more than you'd like, missing out on fun events, or maybe never getting invited to them because you have not taken the time to develop the relationships which open those doors? Or maybe when you get to the party, or whatever, you have worked so hard to get there, cook for it, etc, that you do not really have a great time.
And then there is the balance of our values. Many times we find ourselves in relationships with our significant other, our kids or our co-workers, which tests our values. You may have a strong value towards kindness, but your boss could care less about others. You may feel that nature feeds your soul, but your spouse wants to spend weekends watching sports on TV and never walking out the door, and you go along with it because it is expected of you.
So why am I writing about this? Because I feel it is really important to notice how in so many realms it is possible to be out of balance with who you are and the journey you envision yourself taking. Every time we diminish ourselves and favor others we make ourselves a little less worth putting energy into. And isn't that the vicious cycle for those of us with weight issues? Many many of us feel we are not really important enough to make an effort improving. Now how out of balance is this concept?
This week I challenge all of you to explore the places where you find yourself not fully committed on two solid legs. And where there is hesitation, doubt, anger, frustration, or exhaustion ask yourself how can you feel a bit more balanced in this situation. Every one of us is a gem which needs cleaning and polishing to shine. It doesn't happen by staying buried in the ground, or left on a shelf to be discovered some day. Today is the day to make your life the one you dream of having. What is the first step?
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The meetings are doing great. This past week saw a substantial increase in numbers (it pays to do a cooking demo...) and people are enthusiastic and enjoying the discussions, education and activity. I am grateful that so many of you have come and at least checked out what I am doing, and hope to see many more of you as the season roles on. Remember there are no weigh-ins, and no numbers, so this is a good environment for taking stock of the health aspect of the journey towards a better you with no pressure to be a certain weight. Come for the education and the support.
MEETING DATES/TIMES/TOPICS:
The meeting topic is the same for all locations.
The week of April 8th: VEGETARIAN / VEGAN FOOD SAMPLES This past week we discussed the vegetarian/vegan diet, and although I am not a vegetarian and am not telling you that you should or shouldn't be, I do feel it is smart to begin introducing more plant-based meals into our diets. There are a myriad of products out there which are surprisingly delicious substitutes for meat, dairy, etc. So I thought I would bring you my favorites to sample (yep, yummy foods to try!), and if others want to bring packages or samples please do!
The week of April 15th: EXPLORING THE POLITICS OF FOOD
So much has been written about being "Localvore" (eating from local sources only), staying away from GMO foods, big agri-business and the controversies in that realm that it is an interesting topic to open to the group. I will bring what I know and believe to be true but if all of you come with information or questions it will make it a richer meeting. My aim in bringing issues like this into the meeting room is to give members enough information to make smarter choices, and maybe to feel some wariness towards certain food manufacturing.
ACTIVITY GUEST INSTRUCTORS
Friday, April 13 9:30 am
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Depot St Sebastopol
KRISTI BOWMAN DEMO-ING YOGA 
Kristi Bowman is a Certified Yoga Instructor and Co-Founder of the Center for Sacred Movement. The Center offers Free Hikes & Walks, Yoga Classes, Wellness Coaching and more to support greater health and well-being. For info, please visit www.sacredmovement.org
Wednesday, April 18th
4:30pm
Lomitas Schoolhouse
2421 Lomitas Ave Santa Rosa
LIZ SINNA DEMO-ING STRENGTH TRAINING
 Liz Sinna is a Personal Trainer certified by ACE and AFAA. She enjoys helping people make fitness a part of their lifestyle and reach their personal fitness goals through strength training. She enjoys cycling and running in her leisure time.
Tuesday, April 24th
9:30am
Lomitas Schoolhouse
2421 Lomitas Ave Santa Rosa
ALI QUATTROCCHI DEMO-ING ZUMBA
Ali Quattrocchi grew up in a large Hispanic family, and her parents introduced her to their love for Latin music at a very young age. Growing up to her native Mexican music and then on to dancing salsa, merengue and other Latin styles made her fall instantly in love with Zumba. What Zumba has brought to her and her students is not only a passion, but an addiction.She has designed her class for everyone - of any fitness level and any age. The music, steps, class, the feel...are like no other." Please visit her website for additional information: www.zumbawithali.vpweb.com
Friday, April 26th
9:30am
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Depot St Sebastopol
JO BADEN DEMO-ING PILATES AND BELLYDANCE
 The demo will combine Pilates conditioning with Bellydance drills to give a comprehensive and fun workout!
I'm just a Mama that loves Pilates and dance, and I want to share my passion with you! I teach weekly Pilates + Bellydance classes, Pre/Post-Natal Pilates classes, and Pilates classes and private trainings. I am also available for workshops, and often teach when I travel. Come work out with me and have fun!
Pilates + Bellydance
Wednesdays 5:15-6:30 PM
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
MEETING SCHEDULE:
MONDAYS 9:30 AM
PETALUMA COMMUNITY CENTER
320 NO MCDOWELL PETALUMA
MONDAYS 5:30 PM
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
275 E SPAIN ST SONOMA
LOMITAS SCHOOLHOUSE
2421 LOMITAS AVE SANTA ROSA
WEDNESDAYS 9:30 AM
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
275 E SPAIN ST SONOMA
WEDNESDAYS 4:30 PM
LOMITAS SCHOOLHOUSE
2421 LOMITAS AVE SANTA ROSA
FRIDAYS 9:30 AM
SEBASTOPOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS
6780 DEPOT ST SEBASTOPOL
$10 / per meeting. Hope to see you at a meeting!
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RECIPES FOR THIS ISSUE
Because we talked about vegetarian and vegan meals in the meeting this past week I thought I would post a couple of recipes which sound yummy.
For my favorite recipes
CLICK HERE FOR MY WEBSITE RECIPE PAGE
SUNDAL
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
- 3 cups water
- 2 tsp cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 2 dried red chile peppers
- 2 green chile peppers, halved lengthwise
- 1/2 mango, grated
- 1/2 cup fresh grated coconut
- 1 tsp curry powder
- salt to taste
- fresh lemon juice
Directions:
- Place the chickpeas into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; allow to soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain.
- Combine the chickpeas and 3 cups water in a large pot over medium heat; cook until the chickpeas are tender, but not yet mushy, 30 to 45 minutes. Drain.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the mustard seeds, and dried red chile peppers in the hot oil. When the seeds begin to splutter, add the chickpeas, green chile peppers, mango, coconut, curry leaves, and season with salt. Mix well and cook until completely heated, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 264
Total Fat: 8.8g
Sodium: 15 mg
Cholesterol: 0
Carbohydrates: 39g
Protein: 10g
Sugar: 12.1g
Fiber: 10.8g
MOROCCAN STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tsp butter, melted
- 2 large acorn squash, halved and seeded
- spray olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1/2 cup garbanzo beans, drained
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
- 3/4 cup uncooked whole wheat couscous
Directions: - Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Arrange squash halves cut side down on a baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes, or until tender. Dissolve the sugar in the melted butter. Brush squash with the butter mixture, and keep squash warm while preparing the stuffing.
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, celery, and carrots, and cook 5 minutes. Mix in the garbanzo beans and raisins. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper, and continue to cook and stir until vegetables are tender.
- Pour the chicken broth into the skillet, and mix in the couscous. Cover skillet, and turn off heat. Allow couscous to absorb liquid for 5 minutes. Stuff squash halves with the skillet mixture to serve.
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 352
Fat: 3.5g
Carbohydrates: 72g
Protein: 11g
Fiber 9.5g
Sodium: 31mg
Sugar: 10.2g
Cholesterol: 5mg
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LEARN TO COOK THE HEALTHY WAY!
 A unique cooking experience with Janet Ciel!
Saturday, April 21st, 2012
1 - 5pm
Lomitas Schoolhouse
2421 Lomitas Ave
$35 before April 15 $40 after that date
includes recipes, product sampling, healthy cooking tips and yummy food!
(Another Julia Child photo montage...Just for a laugh!) |
IS SUGAR TOXIC?
This 60 Minutes piece puts out a pretty convincing argument on the potentially toxic effects too much sugar can have on our systems. From heart disease to cancer, it looks like sugar is a much more dangerous substance than once thought.
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DID YOU KNOW...
Thank you to Craig in Sonoma who sent this great list of all the cool stuff we can do with common items in our home. Very enlightening!
You can turn your toaster on its side and make a grilled cheese sandwich! CLICK HERE
You can rest a wooden spoon across a pot of boiling water and it will not boil over! CLICK HERE
Stuffing a dryer sheet in your back pocket will repel mosquitoes! (Now if I could only remember to bring one with me when I go to Costa Rica!) CLICK HERE
You can dye plastic buttons! CLICK HERE
HERE ARE SOME OTHER AMAZING THINGS YOU CAN DO!
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold! (But you can scrape off any mold and still eat the cheese without changes in flavor!)
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and stronger flavored.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if you want a stronger taste of garlic.
Reheat leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, on med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.
Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag, seal, mash, add remainder of ingredients, keep mashing, mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw the bag away!
Reheating refrigerated bread:To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Newspaper weeds away:Plant your plants in the ground; work the nutrients in your soil. Then wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go, cover with mulch, and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper.The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant: squirrels won't come near it.
Flexible vacuum:To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip or slacks to eliminate static cling.It works; you will not have a clingy skirt or dress, or slacks when wearing panty hose; ... Ta DA! ... Static is gone.
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water.Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
De-fog your windshield:Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Get Rid of Ants:Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
Drop a small object on the carpet and can't find it.Place panty hose over the end of the vacuum hose and start vacuuming. The panty hose will keep it from getting sucked into the vacuum. |
FRIENDS OF IRONY
JoRene from Santa Rosa sent these hilarious ironic images.
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WOOD CARVING THAT IS FOR THE BIRDS!
Jim in Sonoma strikes again with some very unique wood carving images.
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COME WALK THE LAKE WITH US!
There is a nice group of us walking the 3.8 mile loop around gorgeous Spring Lake every Thursday at 11am. We meet at the Howarth Park trailhead. Many of us will do the Human Race on May5th, so are getting in shape for that, but you do not have to be planning to do the race to join us. Come for the exercise, the companionship and the glorious gift we have of this very special park right in the heart of Santa Rosa. Hope to see you on Thursday!
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LUMINARIS
This stunning short film showed up on Facebook and I had to share it. Clever and beautiful.
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LIFE COACHING
Most of you know I am a certified life coach. Although my new weekly meetings incorporate life coaching it is not the same as one on one help. If you are challenged in your life to make change: to make things happen, this is a path towards fulfilling your dreams.
I always do a free half hour sample session.
Hope you'll check it out!
EMAIL ME FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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