"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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Sheeee's baaaack! Sweet Mister has been a poster child for successful rehabilitation after his knee replacement surgery earlier this month. He's even driving now. Life is slowly returning to normal...or as close to normal as we come. I've missed you tremendously the last three weeks. This past Saturday, I was blessed to host a baby shower and brunch for the daughter-in-love of one of my closest friends. Since it's February, I planned to serve our meal buffet style. Everyone would dine inside the house. When I arose early Saturday morning, I caught the weather report for the day and learned that we were expecting a 70º day with no more than a gentle breeze. This was too good an opportunity to squander; it's the middle of a brutally cold winter out here on the prairie! I immediately grabbed my flip-top tabletops and headed to the back porch. My precious friend and co-host, Cindy, arrived early to help with last minute preparations, and the two of us proceeded to set three tables for twenty-four guests.
Come on in...it's a great day for a party! The central foyer table was dressed in a toile tablecloth with an antique lace topper that belonged to our sweet Nana. Guests were offered orange and cranberry juice, with or without champagne, in my hand painted flutes. The cocktail napkins were printed with the name of the eagerly awaited baby boy, Asher.
The tablescape featured a monochromatic design in shades of blue. The Dorothy Thorpe crystal bowl and under plate held mixed berries and fruit. They were served with sides of Greek yogurt and a delicious granola. If you haven't tried the combination, I highly recommend it. It was a hit!
Quiche Lorraine was served in Nana's silver chafing dish. I adore this piece. I use it quite often, and I regularly repurpose it. The Williams Sonoma linen tablecloth features a Blue Willow motif...such a lovely cloth...an eBay acquisition.
This coordinating piece to the chafing dish was originally intended to serve fish. Today, I used it for mini-cupcakes topped with tiny cookies...baby bottles, baby buggies, and booties monogrammed with the letter "A" for Asher.
The Coalport Willow centerpiece bowl was the perfect anchor to the gentle, quiet centerpiece design.
Meanwhile, out on the back porch, there was not a single plant blooming, and the grass had a decidedly brown cast, but not one person cared a whit...
Simple centerpieces featured posies with a wild flower tone...placed in square blue and white export jardinieres from Nell Hill's in Kansas City.
As of today we are headed for single digit temperatures again. Just about every guest commented that our day was a blessed gift from our loving God. We relished every minute visiting and dining al fresco as we celebrated the quickly approaching birth of a precious baby boy. Asher and his mommy have been covered in prayer since his conception. We can hardly wait to greet him when he arrives in April.
This week I'll be joining:
February Al Fresco
Throughout history, sugary treats have been the staple food of happiness in America. Could it be that it is now the root of our misery? Since 1950, America’s sugar consumption has increased by 39%. American’s on average consumed 52 teaspoons of added sugars a day in 2000. The USDA recommendation of sugar consumption is 40 grams or 10 teaspoons per day. That means a person would consume 52 teaspoons of added sugars a day! Some added sugars are: sucrose, corn sweeteners, honey, maple syrup, and high-fructose corn syrup.
How is Sugar Harmful?
Studies have identified various ways in which sugar negatively effects our bodies.Negative effects are:
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Aging of the body or wrinkles in the skin
- Increased risk of cancer
- Increased risk of diabetes
- Increased risk of obesity and weight gain
- Increased risk of pancreatic cancer
What you can do about your health:
It is important to know your baseline of ‘free’ sugar intake. To do this, keep a sugar log for seven days to find your daily average sugar intake. If you are over the recommended sugar consumption, make it a goal to reduce your intake to 40 grams or 10 teaspoons.Here are some helpful tips to help you overcome your sugar cravings:
- Clean out your cupboards of tempting snacks and treats.
· Eat 4-6 cups of colorful vegetables daily.
· Drink 8 cups (64oz) of water throughout the day.
· Exercise at least 2-3 hours per week.
· Practice stress relieving exercises such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing 4-5 times per week.
· Develop a healthy sleep schedule (7-8 hours per night).
· Surround yourself with people that support your sugar reduced lifestyle.
Don’t put yourself down if you struggle. This is a change in lifestyle that will take time. After a few weeks you will surely feel healthier and happier. With perseverance, you won’t even miss having sugar!
The Truth About Sugar
February is the month of love, but you don’t have to be in a relationship to enjoy it. Take this time to learn to love yourself, regardless of your relationship status. With the media bombarding women about their imperfections and what perfect really is, many of us struggle with loving ourselves as we are. Learning to love yourself involves setting goals. Some of these goals could be eating more vegetables, enjoying more fruits, or walking to campus instead of driving. These are all things we have the ability to control that make an impact on your health. Below is a list of ways in which we can love our bodies by Margo Main, a Ph.D. from the University of Santa Clara.
“20 Ways to Love Your Body” by Margo Maine, Ph.D.
Think of your body as the vehicle to your dreams. Honor it. Respect it. Fuel it.
1. Your body is extraordinary--begin to respect and appreciate it.
2. Create a list of all the things your body lets you do. Read it and add to it often.3. Become aware of what your body can do each day. Remember it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament.
4. Create a list of people you admire: people who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Consider whether their appearance was important to their success and accomplishments.
5. Walk with your head held high, supported by pride and confidence in yourself as a person.
6. Don't let your weight or shape keep you from activities that you enjoy.
7. Wear comfortable clothes that you like and that feel good to your body.
8. Count your blessings, not your blemishes.
9. Think about all the things you could accomplish with the time and energy you currently spend worrying about your body and appearance. Try one!
10. Be your body's friend and supporter, not its enemy.
11. Consider this: your skin replaces itself once a month, your stomach lining every five days, your liver every six weeks, and your skeleton every three months.
12. Every morning when you wake up, thank your body for resting and rejuvenating itself so you can enjoy the day.
13. Every evening when you go to bed, tell your body how much you appreciate what it has allowed you to do throughout the day.
14. Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. Don't exercise to lose weight or to fight your body. Do it to make your body healthy and strong and because it makes you feel good.
15. Think back to a time in your life when you felt good about your body. Tell yourself you can feel like that again, even in this body at this age.
16. Keep a list of 10 positive things about yourself--without mentioning your appearance. Add to it!
17. Put a sign on each of your mirrors saying, "I'm beautiful inside and out."
18. Choose to find the beauty in the world and in yourself.
19. Start saying to yourself, "Life is too short to waste my time hating my body this way."
20. Eat when you are hungry. Rest when you are tired. Surround yourself with people that remind you of your inner strength and beauty.
Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3agBWqGfRo
Love Yourself and Your Body
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