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Maxine Denise’s April Ho down Entry
Published April 14, 2009 | 
Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Blue Cheese
This months Ho Down is being hosted by a wonderful blogger, http://dlynz.com/ and the entry that I made was so DAMN good. The second I ran across this recipe in Better Homes and Gardens I knew I had to make it. This is one that I will make over and over again.
Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Blue Cheese
Ingredients:
2 Large Sweet Potatoes – Peeled and cut lengthwise into thin wedges
1 Small white onion either cut into pieces or diced and mixed in
1 Tsp Butter
1/2 Cup pecan pieces ( I used 1/2 cup)
1 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
4 Tsp Cider Vinegar
1.5 tsp Honey
1 Clove Garlic – minced
4 Tbsp Crumbled blue cheese
1 Tsp Salt or to taste (will be divided)
1/2 Pepper or to taste
Here’ s how to put this baby together
Preheat oven to 375 degrees – in a baking pan combine sweet potatoes and onion pieces. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and Salt and pepper to taste. Toss gentley to combine. Spread the mixture in a single layer and bake for about 30 – 40 minutes or until tender. Stirring once.
Meanwhile in a small skillet melt butter over medium heat and stir in pecan peices, brown sugar and salt (to taste). Cook for a couple minutesor until pecans are coated in the brown sugar mixture – Remove from heat.
For dressing: in a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, honey, garlic, 1/4 tea salt and 1/4 tea pepper. Slowly whisk in remaining olive oil until combined. Whisk in 2 tbsp of blue cheese.
To serve, transfer potatoes and onions to serving plate drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle with pecans and remaining blue cheese. Serve immediately.
Thank you to Noble Pig and Evil Chef Mom: The creators of Potato Ho Down
100 Day Challenge: Wrap Up
Published December 22, 2008 | Tuesday is the last day of our 100 Day Challenge. I’m so impressed at everyone who took part. As Jody said–we may not have reached our ultimate goal but we are moving in the right direction. It was fun for me to think each week about not only what I could write about that would motivate me but would help others.
So what did I learn? I learned that it is good to have goals that excite you but it is also good to be able shift your attention when needed. I learned that my frustrations are better shared because someone else may be experience the same and we can laugh about it or cry about it together.
So here is your chance to say what you got out of the hundred day challenge. Did it help? Would you want another one? Come on–spill!
And with that I will say–Happy Holidays everyone. I’m taking off the 100 Day challenge leader hat and going to have a glass of wine!
xoxox
Carol
100 Day Challenge: What can you do?
Published December 19, 2008 | I realized today that there were only 4 days left in the challenge and I thought to myself, “what can I do with only 4 days left?”
Obviously those 6 pounds are not going to fall off in 4 days nor can I finish the draft of the book. So the question is, “what is the best use of my time today and in the last days of the challenge?”
Perhaps the answer has nothing to do with the challenge. The best use of your time might be holiday preparation or it might be just slowing down and enjoying the day.
In this busy holiday time, it is good to look at the list we’ve created for ourselves and ask, ”Is all this really necessary?” I remember as a child my mom making herself crazy trying to work and have the house be perfect for the holidays. As she got older, she decorated less but the holidays were more fun and meaningful because she was more relaxed. She said, “I realized that the holidays weren’t about whether the lights were up but whether I was going to enjoy the holidays with my family.”
So from now until the end of the year, ask yourself, “Is this really necessary and what can I do so that I and everyone around me enjoys the days left in 2009?”
For me it is about really being present and I finish my holiday preparations. Bringing the holiday spirit with me to the Post Office, the Grocery store and the last few shopping trips I have. I want to be peaceful and of good cheer even when the line is long and people are acting frazzled.
What can you do?
xoxo
Carol
Posted in 100 day challenge | 
100 day challenge, best use of time, holiday cheer, letting go, priorities | 
3 Comments100 Day Challenge: When You Can’t Get It Together–Surrender!
Published December 14, 2008 | 8 Days Left! I have been struggling for the last couple of weeks to ‘get myself together’ and get back on track with the challenge, get things ready for the holidays, and do some needed year end things for my business.
I came to the conclusion that the river of life had different ideas for me than I had for myself.
I was struggling to get things done and I kept having things get in my way–an infected spider bite, two sprained ankles, a day with a fever, people who I needed to complete part of a project not available, etc. So I finally came to the conclusion that instead of struggling and feeling like I’m swimming upstream in the River of Life, I was going to surrender and go with the current. Hence my Christmas cards have become New Years cards with the hope of having them out within the first week of the New Year. I was supposed to write a post on Friday for this 100 day challenge and I didn’t. So I decided to call this a combo post. It is going to do double duty for Friday and Monday’s post.
As I surrendered, I got my energy back. I was enjoying life more. I know that many times it is only my expectations of myself that make me unhappy. So what if I am not keeping up! Who said there was anything to keep up with anyway? If my expectations of myself are making me grumpy–create new expectations!
This post I’m asking you, “Are any of your expectations making you miserable?” If so, can you let them go? Surrender?
Congratulations to Deb for winning our $10 Amazon gift Card! You only have one more chance to wine by posting on this or Friday’s post! (If I post on Friday–who knows? I may surrender that too!)
100 Day Challenge: The Paradoxical Commandments
Published December 8, 2008 | 13 Days Left. I have to admit right now that I am not going to meet either of my 100 Day challenge goals. I am not going to have lost 15 pounds and the draft of my book isn’t going to be completed. (Although I have a really good draft in process on the book. The weight loss–umm–can we not talk about that?) However, I know that participating in and hosting this challenge has kept me moving in the right direction. Isn’t that what it is all about anyway?
So if you signed up for the challenge and are a little embarrassed that you didn’t do what you wanted, that’s okay–just look right now at where you are. Are you moving in the right direction? If not, you can begin to change course. One of the most wonderful things about being human is the opportunities to course correct. I also know there are some folks out there who actually achieved their goals early. Good for you! I’m soooooo happy for you! (Really I am!)
The other day I was reading the Huffington Post and there was a blog post about the Paradoxical Commandments. I can’t find that post today as I wanted to link back to it but I found the original essay by Kent Keith on the ‘net and wanted to share it with you.
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith © Copyright 1968, renewed 2001People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
To this I would like to add: You will get lost on the way to your goals. But have goals anyway. The way to accomplish things is not how many times you get lost on the way. But how many times you course correct and get back on track. So whether you are celebrating that you have used the first 85 days of this challenge to your advantage or kicking yourself for not being where you want to be. Remember the power comes in staying on or getting back on track and taking the next step anyway!
xoxo
Carol
100 Day Challenge: Do you believe in signs?
Published December 5, 2008 | 16 Days Left. Monday, I saw the doctor for antibiotics for the infected spider bite (which is starting to look less scary–thank all of you for your good wishes). Yesterday in the middle of a presentation to 100 medical students at Western University, I missed a step, fell and sprained both of my feet! Just call me “Grace!” I managed to recover, gracefully finish the presentation and get to my car. I thought I had a mild strain in each foot. But as the adrenaline wore off I realized perhaps strain is too mild of a word.
I iced each foot all night long–until my toes felt like Popsicle’s! However today, I can barely stand on them and any flexing of the foot causes pain. I’ve had worse sprains before but I’ve never sprained both feet/ankles at once! Right now I’m doing the Tim Conway little old man shuffle to get from on room to another. On the bright side, I might be able to eliminate in between meal snacks as contemplating the pain a trip to the refrigerator will entail might just keep me on the couch!
Maybe God wants me to slow down and be still. After all, I keep getting these leg injuries that need to be elevated. Seems like a good plan. I don’t want to know what He will send as a message next time if I don’t pay attention! And if it isn’t a message from God, it is a good excuse to curl up in bed with a good book!
So here is the 100 Day Challenge question: Do you believe that accidents and other events in your life happen for a reason? Do believe in signs? What signs have you noticed in your life recently?
Congratulations to Diana for winning this week’s $10 amazon gift card! Remember to comment on the 100 day challenge posts and you are entered to win in our Friday drawings.
100 Day Challenge: Back to Childhood Wisdom–a question for you!
Published December 1, 2008 | 20 Days Left. Today, I had to go to the doctor to get antibiotics for a spider bite that has now turned into cellulitis. I have a nice huge red patch on my leg about the size of a saucer from around the bite area! I knew it was time to head off to the doctor! So I’m taking my antibiotics regularly and watching my leg to make sure that it doesn’t spread anymore. Fun! I have so much to do but what I’m really supposed to do is keep my leg elevated and put hot compresses on the red site. A skin infection like this isn’t anything I want to mess with. So in the spirit of doing what I can and letting the rest go. I’m turning this 100 day challenge post over to the WMDA/Live Well Stress Less readers.
What do you tell the children you know about how to get things done? What’s the best advice ever told you as a child? What do you wish someone had told you about creating your life?
I bet there’s a lot of wisdom and quite a bit of humor to be tapped into among our great readers! (At least I’m hoping there is!)
Posted in 100 day challenge, The Damn Question | antibiotics, cellulitis, childhood, question, wisdom | 6 Comments100 Day Challenge: Family stories
Published November 28, 2008 | 23 days left! I’m coming out of my Thanksgiving food and wine coma to write the Friday check in post for the challenge. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and didn’t think about my goal of losing weight while I tasted my way through an abundant table of everyone’s best dishes. A small spoonful of each item was a huge plate! I hope you and yours are having a great Thanksgiving weekend.
Holiday time is a time we remember all the past family celebrations good and bad whether we visit family on the holiday or not. This got me thinking about how our family stories can help us or hinder us when we are going for a goal. It is interesting how things we are told as children can help us, spur us to action or stop us.
One of my family stories is being raised by a mother and father who were great sports spectators and fans but not so much into participation in athletics. Every time I’d strike out at softball my mom would say, “Don’t worry dear–everyone has their talents. We are just not athletic people–but fortunately you are smart!” I went a good portion of my life believing that I was a klutz and not athletic. Until in my early 30′s I started taking golf lessons and my pro said to me, “you are really athletic!” I laughed and said, “No I’m smart!” I think he thought I was crazy. I explained the joke to him and he said, “You may be smart but you are athletic too!” I thought about my mom’s comment and know it came from love from a mom who knew nothing about how to coach someone at a sport trying to make me feel better. I wondered what kind of athlete could I have been, if instead, she was able to say, “That’s okay next time keep your eye on the ball or swing level.” I also asked myself else have I bought into that is keeping me from exploring my potential? I found that simply asking that question opened up a lot of possibilities for me.
Lest you think I don’t appreciate my mom telling me I was smart–I do. I often hear myself saying, “There has to be a way to figure this out–you are smart–you can do it!” And you know what? Most often I do figure it out. So there is the gift my mom gave me. And for that I am grateful!
So my question to you this week is : Do you have a family story that helps you or one that holds you back?
Congratulations to Philly for winning this week’s $10 Amazon gift card. Remember to post on this or Monday’s post to be eligible for this drawing next week.
Posted in 100 day challenge, The Damn Question | athleticism, family stories, smart, thanksgiving, you can do it | 6 Comments100 day challenge: The Right Side of the Bed
Published November 24, 2008 | 27 days left. Have you ever noticed that some days you get up on the right side of the bed and everything goes well? You get a lot done. It is 12:30pm on Monday. Monday is a weekend day for me as I see clients on Saturday so I don’t schedule clients on Monday. Today is shaping up to be a really good and productive day. I’ve already: been to the gym and worked out with my trainer, taken a 45 minute walk with the dog, showered, cleaned up the dining room table which is the place I drop stuff when I come back into the house, changed the linens on my bed, done two loads of laundry, and am now sitting down to write. It feels good to get that much done in about 4 hours time!
What I’m trying to determine is why some days I can get up on the “right side of the bed” and get a lot accomplished in a little time and other days I get up on the “wrong side of the bed” and have a hard time getting anything done. I know one thing that I had going for me today was a good night’s sleep last night. I love this time of year in LA where the days are warm but the nights chilly. I sleep better when the bedroom is a little cool. I also know that getting the gym early in the day sets the tone of my day and gives me energy to get more done. But I realize there is something subtle in my attitude that is different on days when it feels like I’m in the flow. The thing I’m trying to figure out is how to replicate the good days and get up on the “right side of the bed” more often.
So do you know what helps you get up on the “right side of the bed” and be in the flow with what you want to accomplish in your day? What makes you feel like it is going to be a great day? I’m curious to hear what all the WMDA gals and readers have to say.
Remember people who post their comments here are eligible for Friday’s drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.
xoxox
Carol
100 Day Challenge – Where’s Your Thermostat Setting?
Published November 21, 2008 | Here we are with 30 days left on the challenge! What a nice round number. What are you going to get done this last 30 days? Spend a couple of minutes today thinking about that and let us know.
Yesterday I attended the Association of Women Entrepreneurs luncheon here in Valencia, and we had a great speaker, Jennifer Cummings. She spoke about lots of great business reminders, but what was really valuable was her focus on what she called “mindset”; the way we think about things.
She used an analogy to have us each consider what our mindset might be in different areas of our lives, and I want to share that with you. Think about the job of a thermostat. It exists to keep the temperature in a room exactly where it has been set. If the room gets warmer, it turns on the air conditioner, if the room gets colder than the setting, it turns the heater on until the room returns to the pre-set temperature.
The subconscious mind is like a thermostat for our lives. We have settings based on our experiences, our beliefs, and our thoughts in many areas of life. It is interesting to take a look at where some of your set points are.
If you don’t consciously work on changing your set points, your mind will ALWAYS work to get you back to them. I seem to have one around 185 – 90 for weight. I have twice in the last couple of years gotten down below 175, and returned to this range. You can tell where your income set point currently is by looking at your last couple of months of paychecks or bank statements. The mental set point for how much money a person can have is the reason most lottery winners do not keep their winnings. They simply spend back down to the comfortable set point. We probably have set points for relationships, for the number and type of friends, for our jobs, for the grades we can get, even for things like how much happiness we allow ourselves to experience.
What are some of yours in relation to your challenge goals? Are they set where you want them? You can mentally turn your thermostat settings up or down by working on mindset, as Jennifer says. Focus on where you want them to be. Choose a new setting, don’t just take the one you have been living with by default. When you do, you’ll find that actions that support these new settings can and will follow.
Here’s to turning up the heat (or cool, as the case may be)!
Karen
PS – Our winner this week is Michelle – thanks for your regular participation!
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