A pain in my side.....

For the last few days it has felt like I had a pulled muscle in my side. Sleeping was uncomfortable. Last night I did something about it. I didn't put heat on it, I spoke to it. Once I got into bed last night, I pictured all the people that could be causing the pain in my side and spoke to them one-to-one in my mind. This morning the "pulled muscle" is gone. This speaks to the power of mind over matter and the importance of a good night's sleep.

What a mountain today.

Today I did battle with a mountain and the mountain won. I was supposed to trek into some ruins, but some riding lessons, backpacking in my youth and gym workouts weren't enough preparation. I should have thoroughly researched the trek. Over 20 years ago I did battle with another mountain and lost. Today I learned as I did then to stop while I was ahead and head back to a bed. Today, I also learned that mountains and I aren't friends and that is all right. In life, it is important to be thoroughly prepared and know your limits. My limit is riding a horse down a winding narrow path. Tonight I will sleep in a bed. My traveling companion, more prepared then I, is still on the trek and I wish him a journey of health and good weather.

What's in spirituality?

I have spent this weekend with my best friend and her family experiencing Easter. I went to church for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The services have been moving and reminded me of the services I attend at Synagogue. It has been wonderful to experience the spirituality of Easter and relate it to my Jewish upbringing and current practice as a Jew. And as always I love being with my friend and her family. It always reminds me of the importance of friendships and maintaining them.

Now I do it...

Today is March 8th and I just sat down to write out my personal, family and business goals for 2016. I used last years goals as my template and they were done on March 8th too. Freaky! As a personal productivity coach, I know first hand about setting goals and why it is important. I preach this to my clients. Yet, it took me this long to do mine. Why? Simple I hadn't made it a priority. Next year I am committing myself to having my goals done by January 8, 2017. I just ask my community to hold me accountable and email me on January 8th to make sure I have done it.

I finally did it

I have wanted to learn to make Linzer cookies, so a few years ago my mom gave me the cookie cutters and I found a recipe in a vintage cookbook a friend gave me. Well, the phot below shows that I have learned. So my advice, keep learning and growing.

As a time management coach.....

"But Time... You can never lose time and get it back again. You can't spend time and go earn more of it. You can't buy it, rent or borrow it." — From 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse

Thank you my ex for gifting me this book; it is a page turner. Sorry to my ex, some friends and former clients who might recipe this book as a gift in the new year along with my nagging you to read it immediately.

Shout outs are due....

I have been recovering from surgery and tomorrow will be the two week mark. So some gratitude should be given out. First, to my mom who has taken care of me —finishing unpacking after our renovation, cooking dinner and giving me sponge baths, until I was allowed to take a shower. I remember loving sponge baths as a kid, but  not so much as an adult. Second, to my daughter who reminded me everyday that laughter is the best medicine (keep it up). Last but not least, to my extended family and friends, who sent well wishes in the form of cards, food, flowers and healing energy. At two weeks out I am rested, energized and ready for life in my new body thanks to all of you. At this time of year it is important to count our blessings and not the number of presents we get.

Wise words.....

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give" —Winston Churchill

In the kitchen on Thursday.. A recipe from a friend.

Last night I made Chicken and Rice from the Family Plate Cookbook by Marie Isner and my family loved it.

Full Disclosure: Marie is not only my health coach but also a dear friend. My hat goes off to her for writing a cookbook.

To purchase the cookbook at Amazon, click the link below.
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Plate-Cookbook-Real-Families/dp/1500147273/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429219452&sr=8-1&keywords=marie+isner

(P.S.I made the Italian Meatball recipe too and thought it to be better than the one in the Joy of Cooking.)

In the kitchen on Thursday: Decadent Mac n' Cheese

1/4 C. butter

1/4 C. flour

1 lg. can evaporated milk

1/3 C. milk

1/4 lb. each of American, Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Colby Jack cheeses

2 boxes elbow noodles

Cook the noodles according to the box. Melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Then add the milk. Cook for 3-5 minutes until mixtures thinkers. Add Cheeses and stir constantly until they are melted. Toss with the cooked noodles until they are all coated. Makes plenty for a Superbowl get together. Serve hot.

Wednesday's words from Eeyore

"A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference." — Eeyore

In the kitchen on Thursday: Clair's cabbage salad

My friend Clair made this when she came over and cooked dinner.

1 medium head of green cabbage
1/2 medium onion
2 small limes
1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
2-3 Tbsp. olive oil

Cut cabbage in quarters and remove the core from each cabbage. Slice into strips on the short side and place in a bowl. Slice the 1/2 onion in strips and add to the bowl. Add the juice of the two limes, the honey and the olive oil and toss well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy.

(Thanks Clair and Sean for an awesome dinner and a great time with good friends.)

Wednesday's words from Winnie the Pooh

"Always remember, You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think and loved more than you know." —Winnie the Pooh/Christopher Robin

Season's Greetings.....

From Life Management Pros and it's founder, Mali List Mayer....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

In the kitchen on Thursday: Healthy Latkes

Baked Sweet Potato and Apple Latkes*

Preheat oven to 400. Grate 2 medium sweet potatoes (aka Yams). Peel half a granny smith apple and grate into the potatoes. Add 1/3 C. oat flour and 2 beaten eggs. Mix all the ingredients together. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and grease with olive oil. Shape mixture into large "meatballs" and flatten on cookie sheet. Brush tops with olive oil. Bake for 15-25 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 12. Latkes can be refrigerated overnight.

(There is no picture because I forgot to take one before I served them and they were devoured.)

What is family?

Yesterday, I attended the birthday party of my mother's boyfriend and every family member of his had the same last name except for a cousin (and his wife) on the boyfriends mother's side and it made me wonder what is family, so I answered my own question when I though about my close friend and her husband that my daughter calls grandma and grandpa and came to conclusion that family is what you make it.

(P.S. So Marco [our Havanese puppy] welcome to the family)

Tuesday's Tip: Reheating rice or pasta

If you are reheating in the microwave, place a wet paper towel on top to keep it moist.

(I learned this from my best friend, Melissa and my mother swears by it.)

Goals then and now.....

I wrote these goals for a trip back packing through the US Rockies with the National Outdoor Leadership school and now fast forward nearly 20 years and I am a productivity coach helping others achieve their goals.

(P.S. I should note that some of the goals on the list were not achieved because I was sent home after three weeks with knee problems that prevented me from continuing and despite this, I still consider this trip to be one my best life experiences.)

Tuesday's Tip: Gift Cards

Don't toss out those unwanted business cards you got at the networking event, recycle them by using the blank side as a gift card. If you want you can glue the printed side to some paper and cut it out to make a fun gift card.

(P.S. For paper, I use glossy spreads in the newspaper or pages of a magazine.)

Age is relative

Over the weekend I met a neighbor's daughter and recognized as some I went to high school with (graduated a year ahead of me) and I was pleased to know that after all these years of not seeing her, I looked just the same so she could recognize me and on the flip side a site visit at an elementary school, the kids talked to my mom and when one asker her age, she asked the kids how old they thought she was and a little girl responded. "85" (which is more than 10 years too much).