vQh

Still

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 19:25:00 +0000

I decided to jump on the bandwagon this year and have a word instead of a ton of resolutions.

my word for 2014 is :

still

more info on the one word thing is here:

http://oneword365.com/

http://aliedwards.com/shop/one-little-word-2014

http://aliedwards.com/2014/01/one-little-word%E2%84%A0-2014-the-list-the-reading-of-the-words.html

Diet, exercise, and trying to live "well" while pregnant - Episode #1

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 15:42:00 +0000

I will admit right off the bat that the first 12 weeks+ of my pregnancy were less than perfect. Some days were down right horrible.. McDonalds for breakfast, bagels for lunch, cereal in the afternoon and PB&J for dinner. I was drinking more lemonade and Hi-C Orange than I want to admit and trying to drink water whenever I could. I still made it to spin class at least twice a week, but I haven't lifted a weight since I was 5 weeks pregnant.

I've learned a ton about myself and have really had to "let" go. I can't make it to the gym most days, walking is all I have the energy for.

The other things I've learned:

A visit to the Chiropractor will change your life!
If you think you need a nap, you probably do!
If you can't drink water, Gatorade is better than nothing.
You're never too old to have a poptart for breakfast.
BLT sandwiches are a lifesaver.
The gummy prenatal vitamins are pretty awesome!
My husband puts up with a LOT!

Here is a picture from 13 weeks! (yes, I'm two weeks behind!)

The Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 21:27:00 +0000

The announcement went out, and we're so excited!!

Professional Headshot session

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:06:00 +0000

Here are some pictures from the professional headshot session we had at work recently.

This post isn't to show off my face, but to plug the photographer that did these pictures - wow! She was a pleasure to work with.

Here is a link to her website! I hope to hire her again soon for something! Cortney Heintz Photography

Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 17:23:00 +0000

Recently I've been *blowin"* up my Pinterest Fall board! It's almost time.. it really is only a few days away!

Something about fall gets me in the mood to bake.. to make chili, buy boots, wear puffy vests & scarves. It really is almost here! This year feels extra comfy-coosie! I'm ready for more football! More baking! More socks! More Chili!

If you're interested here is a link to my fall inspiration board.. it's growing everyday ;0 Pinterest - vQh - inspiration- fall

{To the me that almost misses the train but runs & catches it}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:39:00 +0000

Be happy that you were able to RUN & catch it. Think of how many trains you've missed because you couldn't crutch fast & hard enough.

{For days when you don't wanna workout }

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:09:00 +0000

Remember the month you spent laid up. In the stupid cast. You'd give everything to walk, stand, dance or run. Remember how helpess you felt when you couldn't even drive. So go for a walk, hit the gym even though you're tired! Because you can & you'll feel better that you did!

{Letters to my future self}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:46:00 +0000

I'm going to start writing letters to my future self.

The future self needs to remember the process, the plan & the struggling to where we are now. Remember how we felt on some nights, wanting some things so badly it almost physically ached.
But remembering the joy in dreaming, in hoping.

My future self may take advantage of the place we are now. She might be tired & scared & worry if this was the right plan.

My future self should remember how many times we wished we could make changes today. That no matter the "sacrifice" of self, time, money & body.. it will be worth it!

My future self should look back and see God's wonderful plan & design.

{at the right moment}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 01:32:00 +0000

it's amazing how God brings the right words to you.. at the right moment!

The words from this post speak to me.. wow..

Gracious Uncertainty

. . . it has not yet been revealed what we shall be . . . —1 John 3:2

Our natural inclination is to be so precise—trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next—that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life—gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God—it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “. . . unless you . . . become as little children . . .” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “. . . believe also in Me” (John 14:1), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in—but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.

{Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:39:00 +0000

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind ?

I did some "research on Auld Lang Syne" this morning, I guess I'm in a reflecting kind of mood (who isn't, right?!) I didn't know all the uses for this song, pretty cool.

I'm heading off to start my new years' day cleaning, organizing, shopping and workout and I wanted to "de-brief" 2012. I am proud of the things I accomplished this year, most importantly, accomplished because of God's grace and plan for my life..

In revue:

Read the Bible the whole way though!
Trained and Completed my first Sprint Triathlon in June
Took 21 mins off my 2012 Bolder Boulder running time in May
Did my first organized bike race in June, the Elephant Rock, 34 miles
Rode 51 miles in the Venus de Miles ride in August
Logged a lot of miles on my bike this year (in the hundreds)
Read 26 books

For next year:

Read the New Testament, at a slower pace with a reading guide.
Bike my way through "Great Road Rides Denver" by Jay P.K. Kenney
Take classes towards my International MBA at DU
Remember to take my vitamins
Read 24 books (I went less because of goal #3)
Maintain my goal weight
Not sleep with my smart phone by the bed

That's all I can think of now. Found this great quote on another blog this morning:

“If we desire to fulfill His kingdom agenda for our lives, we must resist the tyranny of the urgent, choosing to slay dragons rather than merely kill houseflies.” -Nancy Leigh DeMoss

{preparing for the end of 2012 - start of 2013}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 17:34:00 +0000

There are always a couple things I like to do at the end of the year to "get ready" for the start of the new year.... this year I'm kicking it "into high gear" as I'll be starting my graduate program eight days after the new year starts...

Here's my list for end of the year:

Make a list of "quick meals" and stick to the fridge

These are first meals we have everything for in the pantry or freezer and can be assembled easily or I can have my hubby start them for me. If it required a canned food, I using write the name of the recipe it's for on the car with a sharpie; this is easier for me (when creating a grocery list) and my hubby (he can just pull the can(s) out)
There are a few meals that need a couple things from the store. On my quick meal list, I write out what they need and how much. This way I don't have to sort though the pantry!

Clean up the Junk Drawer.

Those things can get crazy out of control! After I read "unclutter your life in a week" I learned that we really don't need to have things (or groups of things) in more than one place.. Example: in my house there were batteries in 3 different places.. I overbought on a couple types because they weren't in the same place. Same thing goes for sticky notes, lotion, body wash, etc. the book said "a place for everything, everything in it's place"..

Clean up the office/desk/filing and desk drawers
Add my "starred" items on google reader to pinterest. I read my blogs on my kindle and forget to add stuff to pinterest.
Finish up the book I'm on..

Its nice to start the year fresh and then I can get a good "books read in year count"
I'm reading the bible cover to cover this year.. almost there. I should finish today.

Clean up around the house.. Its just nice to start the year clean!

What do you do for the new year? Am I the only one that does this?

{Top 7-Favorite Christmas CDs}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:16:00 +0000

I do love the traditionals and listen to Kosi 101 and KLOVE for their holiday selections.. but here are my Top 7-Favorite Christmas CDs

1. Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan

Favorite song: River.... ( put this song on repeat, for hours....)

2. The Hotel Cafe Presents...Winter Songs

Favorite Song: Winter Song (with Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles)

3. A Very She & Him Christmas by She & Him

Favorite Song: I can listen to The Christmas Waltz over and over...

4. Christmas with the Rat Pack

Favorite Song: I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams) by Frank Sinatra

5. Elf: Music From The Major Motion Picture

Favorite Song: Christmas Island by Leon Redbone

6. What A Night! A Christmas Album, by Harry Connick Jr.

Favorite Song: Santariffic

7. Christmas with the Chipmunks

Favorite Song:
All I want for Christmas

What are your favorites?

“The Skinny Rules”

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:57:00 +0000

I recently listened to “The skinny rules” the new book by Bob Harper, the personal trainer, known most from the Biggest Loser. I was surprised that I actually took notes on the 20 rules in this book. I think there are some good ideas and some that feel like a punishment. Here’s what I thought…

These are very paraphrased… my notes are the things in unbold text....

1. Water – drink it right when you wake up and before and with every meal. Make sure you’re drinking it all day every day, period.

2. Don’t drink your calories… this one is hard for me! I really enjoy a yummy latte or misto.. He doesn’t go into too much detail here.. I assume Milk is ok, just no juice, soda, etc.

3. Have protein at every meal. It will keep you fuller between meals.

4. Limit your refined flour

5. Eat 30 to 50 grams of fiber a day

6. Eat apples and berries every day.

7. No Carbs after lunch. Ouch Bob.. That’s a hard one….

8. Learn to read food labels.

9. Stop guessing about portions, used forced portion control. I agree completely with this one. I bag my snacks, fruits, veggies, hummus, snacks, etc. It helps! It makes it grab and go! I also use a food scale for my meats.

10. No more added sweeteners. No artificial sweeteners either. He means no more baked goods bars with sugar, etc.. this is hard.. I like chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, scones, etc (in moderation!) way too much..

11. Get rid of white potatoes

12. Go meatless / animal protein-less at least one day a week – more if possible.

13. No more fast or fried food. I heard once that you can’t eat fast food and be fast!

14. Eat a real breakfast. Before you leave the house if possible. This will limit the trips to McD or Bagel joints.

15. Make your own food. Eat at least 10 homemade meals a week.

16. Bash Salt. We only need to consume 1 teaspoon a day

17. Eat your veggies. Duh.

18. Go to bed hungry. You’re burning off your dinner. Stop eating at least 3 hours before bed.

19. Sleep right. Stop drinking caffeine after 3pm.

20. Have one splurge meal. One meal, not one day of meals. Do this after 2 weeks of following the other 19 rules.

:EDIT:
I found this graphic after wrote all that :)

5 things - Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:57:00 +0000

5 things for today...

1. I really want this bag...

This is the Retro Metro Tote in Patchwork Paisley.. It's just adorable! If anyone reading wants to get one too, let me know.. I know a Thirty-One girl ;)

2. I think I need to make this:

It's a project by Heidi Swapp! So cute! Which means I'll need this:

3.I want this bad boy!

We R Memory Keepers Cinch

There is also this version... Ring Ring Binding System

4. The first snow in Denver was today - Yay! Which means I'm looking at more of these...

Eddie Bauer Women's Paloma Boot
or these...

Bare Traps Brandlee Boot

Bare Traps Cabalina Boot

..Hard Decisions around the corner....

5. The trip to Oahu is getting closer! Third week of December! I'm looking at some "Boardshorts" for some of the water sports....

Thank you Athletica for putting these Amrita Boyshorts on sale!

Happy Friday!

Things haven't gotten any easier...

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:07:00 +0000

Yesterday I was grounded.. by my doctor. No working out for 7-10 days.. ouch. that puts a hitch in my git-along. (however I am allowed to do my bike race on Saturday).... I was told it's ok to walk, unless my legs or body start to hurt.

the reason I'm grounded? I went to the doc last Thursday with some shooting pains in my lower legs and general soreness.. he did an exam, found nothing but called in a round of blood tests. I got the results back on Saturday night. Things look ok.. I do have really really high Ferritin (regular is 13-150.. mine is 262) and Creatine Kinase or CK (regular is 20-200, mine is 521).

Seeing as I got these results on Saturday night, I wouldn't hear back from the Doctor til Monday at the earliest... I went to my best devises.. google..

What is Ferritin?
Wikipedia says: Ferritin is a ubiquitous intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion. The amount of ferritin stored reflects the amount of iron stored. The protein is produced by almost all living organisms, including algae, bacteria, higher plants, and animals. In humans, it acts as a buffer against iron deficiency and iron overload.

When its Elevated....
If ferritin is high, there is iron in excess or else there is an acute inflammatory reaction in which ferritin is mobilized without iron excess. For example, ferritins may be high in infection without signalling body iron overload.
Ferritin is also used as a marker for iron overload disorders, such as hemochromatosis or hemosiderosis. Adult-onset Still's disease, porphyria, and Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis are diseases in which the ferritin level may be abnormally raised.
As ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant, it is often elevated in the course of disease. A normal C-reactive protein can be used to exclude elevated ferritin caused by acute phase reactions.
According to a study of anorexia nervosa patients, ferritin can be elevated during periods of acute malnourishment, perhaps due to iron going into storage as intravascular volume and thus the number of red blood cells falls.

What is Creatine Kinase or CK?
Wikipedia says: Creatine kinase (CK), also known as creatine phosphokinase (CPK) or phospho-creatine kinase (and sometimes incorrectly as creatinine kinase), is an enzyme (EC 2.7.3.2) expressed by various tissues and cell types. CK catalyses the conversion of creatine and consumes adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to create phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). This CK enzyme reaction is reversible, such that also ATP can be generated from PCr and ADP.^[

When its Elevated....
Injuries to the skeletal muscles often trigger high levels of CK-MM. These muscles are the type that most commonly comes to mind when we hear the word muscle. These are the "voluntary" muscles that you are able to control -- for example, the biceps and triceps. Damage to these muscles can occur for various reasons, including muscular dystrophy, direct trauma, strenuous exercise, immobility, certain drugs, muscle injections, nerve conduction studies, muscle infection, seizures or surgery. Strenuous exercise frequently triggers a rise in CK that peaks 16 to 24 hours following a workout, then stays elevated for 72 hours before falling back to baseline. Those with muscle diseases typically experience chronically elevated CK-MM. In fact, those with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy may have levels that are 50 times greater than normal.

I'm sure you can see that I was FREAKING OUT on Saturday night! What in the heck is wrong with me! I emailed the Doc on Monday saying I was freaking out and I needed some help/guidance.. He said not to worry.. (HAHAH! ya, right!). He called me on Tuesday afternoon (I guess I wasn't dying - took him a couple days to reply).. and this is when I was grounded.. After the 7-10 days of rest, we will do more blood tests.. if they're not normal, he'll start other testing. I'm not really good at this waiting game.

On Sunday at church we had a sermon called " Before I die" (I'm not saying I'm going to die! hear me out!) It was about learning to Trust God. I think it was speaking to me, right now. I'm at a place of un-rest right now over this. I'm not sure what's going on inside me but I need to TRUST God. Trust that he has this under control (he does!)

So that's what's going on.. even though I'm not doing boot camp, things haven't gotten any easier.. this time it's emotional and spiritual.. not physical.

yesterday was a bummer.. sorry

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:47:00 +0000

I'm sorry that last night's post was such a bummer.

I found the things I need to work on for sure and the Lord knew I needed to hear some truth.. a few hours ago Dashing Dish posted this post Dashing devotional ~ what are you thinking about. I won't repost the entire thing here, but a couple parts that hit me pretty hard.

"one of the greatest areas of discouragement generally relates to our image. Whether it be about a body part that we wish we could change, ‘wishing’ we could look better, or even more like someone else…"

Yes, yes, this is how I feel!

"We must realize that these types of thoughts are a strategic way that the enemy tries to get us distracted from our purpose and to steal peace and joy from our daily lives."

This is exactly what is happening to me!

"Don’t believe me?!? Just stop for a moment and think about the type of ‘thoughts’ that play in your head when you think about your body or appearance. Now imagine if you never had a thought like that again. EVER. Do you realize how much joy, peace, and freedom you would have knowing that you would never have to waste another moment of another day worrying about that thing that used to plague you."

I can't even imagine a life like that!

"Now, hopefully after taking a moment, you can see that these thoughts are nothing but a tool satan uses to steal from us. He is out to steal our joy, peace, and time by placing our attention on negative thoughts. The Bible tells us that “Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came so we could have life and life more abundantly.” (John 10:10) "

I never put things in this content before!

"I encourage you to free yourself today! Make it a priority to take those thoughts that are meant to distract and steal true life away from you ‘prisoner’, and replace them with the truths of God’s Word that will set you free! It won’t be long before you realize how much time, peace, and joy you have gained once you choose to focus on the abundant life Jesus has provided for you (Philippians 4:8)."

Wow- thank you Lord for this words from Dashing Dish!

Workout 1

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:22:00 +0000

I survived...

It was hard & I did take take a couple breaks & try my shoes tighter (hoping not to flare up the plantar).. I did have to rest during push ups (darn tennis elbow).. At the end I was winded, red faced & tired, but I was also proud!

I'm writing this from bed.. Really tired & starting to get sore. I've put on some compression socks (yes, at 27 years old) hoping to keep some of the soreness at bay.

I was spot on with my tracking today & even enjoyed some tea & a few nilla wafers (tracked those too!) while watching Parenthood..

I didn't start made to crave yet.. I will tomorrow. Rome wasn't built in a day!

Last Hoooorrraaahhh! At least for five weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Tomorrow I'm starting a five week boot camp... am I crazy? Call me, maybe..

I signed up for this challenge in the first week of August. I knew I needed a new goal & after meeting my other goals, I need something new.. I need to push myself mentally & physically.. Push myself to a place I thought I couldn't before.. (But who am I kidding.. I've done that before!)
Goal 1. Lose lbs..
*I tried to do that for years! I've struggled with my weight & body image since high school & in October of 2010 I started my weight loss journey. «enter weight watchers & working out 4+ days a week» I reached my weight watchers healthy BMI & lifetime status in December of 2011.. I never thought I'd be the weight I am or the clothing size I am. Ever. In junior high I was a size 7 (juniors) & in high school I was a 10 or 12.. Now I'm a size 4.. (usually).., I cant believe it & that's at the tippy top of my Healthy BMI range.. Goal reached!

Goal 2. Enjoy working out
*Ha! Does anyone enjoy working out.. Yes, the answer is yes. I didn't, but I do now! In the fall of 2010 I started cycling (2 to 3 days a week), weight lifting ( in a barbell group fitness class 2 days a week) & walking or doing the elliptical the other days. This might seem like a lot, but I had a really stressful job, that I needed to leave behind & working out was the best way ( or drinking wine! Hehe! ) Now I really really like working out.. Goal reached!

Goal 3. Triathlon
Not until about a year ago did I think I'd do a triathlon.. I didn't think about them, didn't really care... I set a goal to do the Tri for the Cure in August 2011... Then I was in a walking boot for 13.5 weeks. Wow.. Who saw that coming. That sucked! My dreams of triathlons were put on hold for about a year but in June of 2012, I did it! A week before the race I did my first open water swim.. Yikes! I'm not a really strong swimmer.... Brrr... I need to kick harder.. Put your face in the water... Brrr... This wet suit is really too big... Brrr... The week before the race was really a week of struggling mentally with the idea I could do it! I can swim ( even if I didn't look pretty & I'm not as fast! ) The morning of the race was hard too.. They almost called it off due to wind & the high park fire... ( bad bad air conditions, which made the bike & swim hard!) With all that.. Goal reached!

Other goals I've reached:
Learn to like to run ( cute running skirts & good music needed)
The many races of 2012... Bolder Boulder, Elephant Rock, venus de miles (51 miles)..& the upcoming rock n roll bike race...

Ok so all of this to say... I'm still not where I want to be.. Physically ( +/-few lbs since ending weight watchers, not as toned on legs, belly & arms as I wish), mentally ( I still feel like I'm as large as I once was & I feel guilty for eating certain things & I generally have bad self talk), emotionally ( I'm sometimes wreck), spiritually ( I think I can do it on my own, not! )

So I made a plan (below) & I'm going to document things here ( usually on my mobile, so please forgive typos & grammar)...

Today... We're in Seattle & I'm going to enjoy my brunch with my hubby, this almond latte & whatever else comes our way because tomorrow..it's on!

The Plan:
Boot camp class (Monday - Friday, 1 hour per day, 5 weeks)
Counting WW points, 30 per day
Not counting or using activity points
No alcohol for duration of boot camp
Reading Made to Crave
Walking, Elliptical or Zumba on weekends/nights to keep mind & body busy.

Thank you anyone who is reading & praying for me on my journey!

{on smashing}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:43:00 +0000

I know I'm not the only one addicted to Smash books and the art of "Smashing". Today I felt like writing a post on this subject..

This is what I know about smashing and how I smash…

1. I know I'm addicted to my smash book and smashing because I think "I should smash this" or I need to BUY things to smash..

2. I keep a ziplock bag in my purse of "Things to Smash".

3. I've cut up all the magazines in my home (other than Women's health and Simple & Delicious - these don't get cut up!) and smashed the clippings based on theme, color, etc.

4. I printed items from my pinterest on cardstock to smash...

5. I went through all my desk drawers, old binders, memory boxes, old cards, etc and smashed all that stuff...

6. I carry my smash books and scissors with me (almost everywhere).

7. I own two of them (Black and Pink) for now... I have my eye on a the blue, orange and green one....

Other Smash Retlated Links:
Smash Stories Blog
My pinterest board for smash
elizabeth kartchner - a smashing good time
project do what you love

{Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:50:00 +0000

Here's a yummy and super easy recipe for Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup

Perfect for those nights when it's cold outside and you need something quick and warming! ENJOY!

Six Can Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (10 ounce) can chunk chicken
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, drained

Directions

Open the cans of corn, chicken broth, chunk chicken, black beans, and diced tomatoes with green chilies. Pour everything into a large saucepan or stock pot. Simmer over medium heat until chicken is heated through.

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:34:00 +0000

Vinnie Woolston by Olivia Hemus for The Superette Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:26:00 +0000

{Healthy Snack Ideas}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:27:00 +0000

This isn't my list, I stole from somewhere on the net...

Healthy Snack Ideas
1. Frozen Grapes
2. String Cheese
3. Banana
4. Frozen Banana 5. Low-fat Yogurt
6. Sugar-free or fat-free pudding
7. Apple dipped in Peanut Butter
8. 100-calorie bag of popcorn
9. Applesauce
10. Raw veggies with hummus
11. Almonds
12. Apple
13. Skinny S'more (two graham crackers with one roasted marshmallow and one small square dark chocolate)
14. Smoked Beef Jerky (about 1 oz- low-sodium!)
15. Chocolate Milk
16. Hard Boiled Egg
17. Sunflower Seeds
18. Cottage Cheese
19. Sliced Cantelope
20. Raisins
21. Pita Bread and Hummus
22. Rice Cakes
23. Sugar-free Jello
24. Dried Fruits
25. Frozen Yoplait Whips Yogurt
26. Air-Popped Popcorn
27. Pistachios
28. Clementines
29. Fruit Smoothie
30. Handful of olives
31. Pickles
32. Handful of blueberries with 2 tablespoons fat-free Cool-Whip
33. Ants on a Log (celery with peanut butter and raisins)
34. 1 cup mixed berry salad
35. Peanut Butter and Bananas on whole wheat bread
36. Trail Mix
37. Orange Slices
38. Cherry Tomatoes
39. Graham Crackers
40. Small Green Salad with light dressing
41. Mango smoothie (frozen mango, mango Greek Yogurt, and a small amount of orange juice)
42. Kabobs (thread low-fat meat, low-fat cheese, pineapple and cherry tomatoes onto a stick)
43. Cinnamon-Raisin bread with peanut butter and banana slices
44. Grilled Pineapple (throw them on the grill or a skillet on med. heat for two minutes or until golden)
45. Baked Apples (apple, cored, filled with 1 t brown sugar and cinnamon, and baked until tender)
46. Animal Crackers
47. Strawberries dipped in fat-free Cool Whip
48. Low-fat tortilla topped with egg salad, shredded carrots and cucumber slices
49. Parfait (build your own with Greek yogurt or plain yogurt, fruit, and granola)
50. Bowl of bran flakes with 1/2 cup skim milk and berries
51. Guacamole with veggies
52. Triscuit's Thin Crisps dipped in cottage cheese or hummus
53. Cashews
54. Pretzels
55. Sun Chips

56. Cheesy Breaded Tomatoes: 2 roasted plum tomatoes sliced & topped with 2 t breadcrumbs & parm
57. Sugar Snap Peas
58. Steamed Veggies (steam non-starchy vegetables in a micro & sprinkle with 1 t parm or pasta sauce)
59. Apricots
60. Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges
61. Any 100 calorie pack
62. Snack/Granola bar
63. Baked chips (about 7-10) with salsa
64. Soy Chips
65. Protein Bar
66. Sweet Potato Fries (sweet potato sliced, tossed with 1 t olive oil, & baked at 400° for 10 minutes)
67. Wrap (turkey, swiss cheese, baby spinach leaves, and cranberry relish wrapped up in a tortilla)
68. Pumpkin Seeds (2 T pumpkin seeds, sprayed with oil & baked at for 400° for 15 min, Sprinkle w/ salt)
69. Bean Salad
70. Broccoli Florets
71. Peaches and Cottage Cheese
72. Chopped Red Peppers (dipped in fat free ranch)
73. V8 Vegetable Juice
74. Tuna with Triscuit crackers
75. Cooked and Cubed Chicken Breast
76. Homemade Popsicles (puree watermelon, strawberries, mango, banana, etc & freeze in popsicle molds)
77. Dates with almond butter or rolled in coconut
78. Quesadilla (whole wheat (or corn) tortillas w/cheese (or not) melted in microwave - adding on tomatoes, beans, corn, olives, avocado or guacamole or whatever sounds good)
79. Watermelon
80. Cubed Apples and Cubed Cheese (this was my husband's favorite after-school snack when he was little)
81. Craisins (I love to eat these with almonds- it's a good combo)
82. Goldfish Crackers
83. Edamame
84. Cheesy Roasted Asparagus (spears (spritzed with olive-oil spray) & topped with 2 T parm, baked for 10 min at 400°)
85. Turkey Roll-Ups (Turkey rolled, dipped in 2 t honey mustard)
86. Strawberry Salad (1 cup raw spinach with ½ cup sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon balsamic)
87. Oatmeal
88. Banana Smoothie (½ cup sliced banana, ¼ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt, and ice blended until smooth)
89. Lime Sherbet (1/2 cup serving) with sliced kiwi
90. Apple Chips (dehydrated apples- they are so good!)
91. Black Beans (mix 1/4 cup black beans with 1 T salsa and 1 T Greek yogurt)
92. Lettuce wrap (Ham with 2 t honey mustard rolled in lettuce leaf)
93. Pecans (try five pecans roasted with 2 teaspoons maple syrup and 1 teaspoon cinnamon)
94. Chocolate Covered Strawberries (dip 5 strawberries in 2 squares of dark chocolate)
95. Honeyed Yogurt (½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt with a dash of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon honey)
96. Blackberries (so good mixed with plain yogurt)
97. Frozen Mangos
98. Tropical Juice Smoothie (¼ cup pineapple juice, orange juice, and apple juice, blended with ice)

{Date Night}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:01:00 +0000

I recently stumpled on The Dating Divas & spent more time on this page than I care to admit! I'm a firm believer in dating your spouse! This site gives so many wonderful ideas for dates: cheap dates, couple dates and dates at home! Here's a list of my favorites:

Scavenger hunt
The Date Wheel
Jungle safari

I took their button & put it in the side of my blog; check out the The Dating Divas!

A couple other date night ideas from my Pinterest board.....

{How Whole Foods "Primes" You to Shop}

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quinn) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Here's a interesting article I found from Fast Company:

Have you ever been primed? I mean has anyone ever deliberately influenced your subconscious mind and altered your perception of reality without your knowing it? Whole Foods Market, and others, are doing it to you right now.

Derren Brown, a British illusionist famous for his mind-reading act, set out to prove just how susceptible we are to the many thousands of signals we're exposed to each day. He approached two creatives from the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi for the "test." On their journey to his office, Brown arranged for carefully placed clues to appear surreptitiously on posters and balloons, in shop windows, and on t-shirts worn by passing pedestrians.

Upon their arrival, the two creatives were given 20 minutes to come up with a campaign for a fictional taxidermy store. Derren Brown also left them a sealed envelope that was only to be opened once they'd presented their campaign. Twenty minutes later, they presented and then opened the envelope. Lo and behold, Derren Brown's plans for the taxidermy store were remarkably similar to the ad campaign, with an astounding 95% overlap.

An interesting experiment, you may say, but hardly a trick you'd fall for. But bear this in mind — it's more than likely you were well primed the last time you went shopping.

Let's take for example Whole Foods, a market chain priding itself on selling the highest quality, freshest, and most environmentally sound produce. No one could argue that their selection of organic food and take-away meals are whole, hearty, and totally delicious. But how much thought have you given to how they're actually presenting their wares? Have you considered the carefully planning that's goes into every detail that meets the eye?
In my new book "Brandwashed," I explore the many strategies retailers use to encourage us to spend more than we need to — more than we intend to. Without a shadow of doubt, Whole Foods (Nasdaq: WFM - News) leads the pack in consumer priming.

Let's pay a visit to Whole Foods' splendid Columbus Circle store in New York City. As you descend the escalator you enter the realm of a freshly cut flowers. These are what advertisers call "symbolics" — unconscious suggestions. In this case, letting us know that what's before us is bursting with freshness.

Flowers, as everyone knows, are among the freshest, most perishable objects on earth. Which is why fresh flowers are placed right up front — to "prime" us to think of freshness the moment we enter the store. Consider the opposite — what if we entered the store and were greeted with stacks of canned tuna and plastic flowers? Having been primed at the outset, we continue to carry that association, albeit subconsciously, with us as we shop.

The prices for the flowers, as for all the fresh fruits and vegetables, are scrawled in chalk on fragments of black slate — a tradition of outdoor European marketplaces. It's as if the farmer pulled up in front of Whole Foods just this morning, unloaded his produce, then hopped back in his flatbed truck to drive back upstate to his country farm. The dashed-off scrawl also suggests the price changes daily, just as it might at a roadside farm stand or local market. But in fact, most of the produce was flown in days ago, its price set at the Whole Foods corporate headquarters in Texas. Not only do the prices stay fixed, but what might look like chalk on the board is actually indelible; the signs have been mass-produced in a factory.

Ever notice that there's ice everywhere in this store? Why? Does hummus really need to be kept so cold? What about cucumber-and-yogurt dip? No and no. This ice is another symbolic. Similarly, for years now supermarkets have been sprinkling select vegetables with regular drops of water — a trend that began in Denmark. Why? Like ice displays, those sprinkled drops serve as a symbolic, albeit a bogus one, of freshness and purity. Ironically, that same dewy mist makes the vegetables rot more quickly than they would otherwise. So much for perception versus reality.

Speaking of fruit, you may think a banana is just a banana, but it's not. Dole and other banana growers have turned the creation of a banana into a science, in part to manipulate perceptions of freshness. In fact, they've issued a banana guide to greengrocers, illustrating the various color stages a banana can attain during its life cycle. Each color represents the sales potential for the banana in question. For example, sales records show that bananas with Pantone color 13-0858 (otherwise known as Vibrant Yellow) are less likely to sell than bananas with Pantone color 12-0752 (also called Buttercup), which is one grade warmer, visually, and seems to imply a riper, fresher fruit. Companies like Dole have analyzed the sales effects of all varieties of color and, as a result, plant their crops under conditions most ideal to creating the right 'color.' And as for apples? Believe it or not, my research found that while it may look fresh, the average apple you see in the supermarket is actually 14 months old.

Then there's those cardboard boxes with anywhere from eight to ten fresh cantaloupes packed inside each one. These boxes could have been unpacked easily by any one of Whole Foods' employees, but they're left that way on purpose. Why? For that rustic, aw-shucks touch. In other words, it's a symbolic to reinforce the idea of old-time simplicity. But wait, something about these boxes looks off. Upon close inspection, this stack of crates looks like one giant cardboard box. It can't be, can it? It is. In fact, it's one humongous cardboard box with fissures cut carefully down the side that faces consumers (most likely by some industrial machinery at a factory in China) to make it appear as though this one giant cardboard box is made up of multiple stacked boxes. It's ingenious in its ability to evoke the image of Grapes of Wrath-era laborers piling box after box of fresh fruit into the store.

So the next time you happen to grab your wallet to go shopping, don't be fooled: retailers for better or for worse, are the masters of seduction and priming — brandwashing us to believe in perception rather than reality.

Martin Lindstrom is a 2009 recipient of TIME Magazine's "World's 100 Most Influential People" and author of "Buyology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy" (Doubleday, New York), a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-seller. His latest book, "Brandwashed: Tricks Companies Use to Manipulate Our Minds and Persuade Us to Buy," will be released in September.