Spring Ahead

 What a joy it has been to spend time with people that have been in my life but not on a real personal level. Sometimes it's easier to stay with old friendships than to try and build new ones. .
But during spring break week, I was able to spend some good quality time with  some of the girls that had taken the time to go on spring break.  I was able to reconnect with girlfriends on a much closer level. I was able to learn a lot more of what was going on in their lives. I felt a real connection.I am so very thankful for them. We had some really good talks, good times and of course great wine. The weather was beautiful, the food was good, and the time was right
I have found as women get older we start to change. You can blame it on age, menopause, children growing up and moving out, or just plain life. There is more  peace and serenity that we desire. Less stress, less drama and more relaxing, reflecting and recharging. We all work hard and save for these getaways. 
Many of us have come to enjoy camping life where men cook the food, get the bonfire started and we sit and enjoy this with our favorite adult beverage. We can visit or we can be quiet and enjoy the mood. The phones aren't ringing, there is no internet, TVs or game boxes.You communicate together, plan together and play together. .
People are busy with their everyday lives. They have stress from their jobs, their spouses and their family. So instead of focusing on the negative, focus on the positive.
I am thankful for the friends I have, and the time we share. Because no matter what happens at the end of the day, I know they will be there for me as I will be there for them. 

Plans

A thought came to me this past winter. What about a trip in the spring with my girlfriends? And because we own a timeshare about 6 hours away, I thought it would be a quick and easy getaway. So I started putting the plans together. I notified many girls in my circle. Put the thought in their minds. Then the new year came, and I revisited them for more information of who could go and when. Because we have the condo for a whole week, we could split the week among all of us. The condo sleeps 6 comfortably. When March 1st rolled around, I needed to get a status on who was coming and when. I then realize that I would have to have some sleep on a air mattress as the count went up. So I asked those  who are self employed if they would mind coming at the end of week. But if that didn't work, it wasn't a big deal, I stated. I know the others work for a company with other employees so there is more to arrange.  Next thing you know, 2 people had backed and  2 others couldn't make it because of work schedules. Well it looks like all the hard work and effort to make this a great spring break has left some disappointed  and upset. It looks like there will be a lot less of us. But that will be fine also. It gives us a chance to really do what we want without conflict.
So, I reflect on the plans  put together and have learned a lot. I caused myself a lot of stress and work that I didn't need in order to do something nice for my friends. The lesson I learned in this is a good one. And I won't be doing that again.
When I tell someone I will do something, I do it. Unless an emergency arises. I don't change my plans if better plans are offered. Even in my business,  I plan ahead and I don't reschedule my appointments with my clients unless absolutely necessary.

I look forward to the plans I made for Spring Break. I know we will enjoy the warmer weather, the tourist attractions which will include wineries and the relaxation at the end of the day. This week I have worked every night in order to take a week off. This also meant I was gone from my husband. He will be on spring break next week at home, at his job and with the dogs while his wife is away. Then I come back to another full week of business.  In closing I will just say that I am very grateful and thankful that I have the life I do!!!

Kathy

Printable Guides and Tip Sheets | NFCA

Printable Guides and Tip Sheets | NFCA

Life

I got a call from my son the other day. He was complaining because he didn't have enough money in his bank account and he had plans for the night. Actually he had a date. Keep in mind, that my son is 23 years old and lives in Portland, Oregon. He stated that he should have more money and that he was getting tired of being broke. I asked him what I could do about it. He then continued to rant and vent about how I wouldn't understand, that we have money etc.  Really? You think we have always had a new house, nice cars with gas in the tanks and food the frig? He doesn't know about the first Valentines day as a married couple and how both vehicles wouldn't start. How we had to pull one vehicle 30+ miles by chain to get it fixed. By the way, that is totally illegal. He also doesn't know about the time his dad was going to college and how we rolled pennies every week in order for him to have gas money. Then lets talk about the times before we were married and how I used my "tip" money from beauty school to put gas in my car. How I went to school 40+ hours a week and also worked at Target. I missed my own bridal shower because I chose work instead. What about as a kid, when our phone was disconnected.



 Or how I had to heat water on the camp stove outside in order to take a bath or do dishes. How about how I went to highschool, all the activities, and also cleaned the church, mow church yard and clean houses, plus babysat. Then in the summer I walked beans in the morning and night.  Growing up without a father. I could go on and on. But guess what? I am hereand a strong person because of it. One of the things I learned from it is that all things are possible if you put your mind to it. I could of let those things break me but I didn't. We all struggle. Each and everyday. Maybe it's a physical challange. Maybe it's a mental one. Or financial.  Or maybe it's just LIFE!

Healthy

http://m.skinnyms.com/skinny-fruit-yogurt-salad/

Gluten-free

People with celiac disease need to avoid wheat, gluten, and nonwheat gluten sources like barley, rye, tritcale, bulgur and oats. They also need to avoid cross-contamination. Getting the whole house to give up wheat and gluten really helps make  life easier those who suffer from gluten.It reduces the temptation of gluten foods, also the potential of contamination. Keep in mind  your pet foods may contain gluten. Eating outside the home can be especially hazardous. A meal at a restaurant where they forget and cook your food in a pan they previously used to saute a breaded dish is all it takes to go down the wheat reexposure path. Even fast food restaurant that offers a gluten free salad and dressing can cross-contaminate by touching a bun or cookies, or using incompletely cleansed equiptment. Cross-contamination can occur even in single-ingredient during preparation, or by slicing meat with the same knife used to cut bread. That's all it would take to invite exposure to wheat.
Last week was Valentine's Day. My and couldn't remember what chocolate I could have, so he brought me  Ferrero Rocher.. It contains wheat. I bought some Sweethearts  candies for my grandson nevere thinking they would contain wheat.  Allergy information: product is manufactured in a faciliity that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk and eggs. Ugh, I didn't read that until after I had sampled a few and had a  day of bad gut!
It is amazing what items have wheat in them. Things you wouldn't think of such as the adhesive on envelopes, salad dressings, canned soups etc. The main advise I would give is to read all the labels.

Kathy

Wheat

I started to read the book " Wheat Belly" Lose The Wheat, Lose the Weight and Find Your Path Back To Health by William Davis, MD. So I thought I would share some of the things I have learned so far.
First of all,  let's go back to the days of your parent's or grandparent's. Didn't you think everyone looked so thin? Well maybe they had a few pounds, but not obesity or overweight children. And think about it, there weren't any exercise centers, equipment etc. For that matter, they didn't even exercise.
 Today you are always seeing someone jogging or riding a bike. Something you never saw 40 or 50 years ago. But take a good look at those people. Are they skinny? Most of them are also over weight. Why is that? Well if you look at the bran muffin you are eating, you would find little to no trace of  wheat. You would find a transformed product of genetic research conducted during the latter half of the century. The increase of consumption of grains, well really it's increased consumption of the genetically altered thing they call "modern wheat" is why you see slender people of  the fifties and overweight twenty-first century people now. The wheat belly represents the accumulation of fat from years of consuming foods that trigger insulin which is the hormone of fat storage.
Studies have shown that by taking wheat out of your diet you can lose 20 to 50 pounds within just a few months as well as many other health benefits. I know, we were also told to eat whole grain foods, which has deprived us of control over appetites and impulses, which made us fat and unhealthy. Even if we did have good intentions and put forth the effort.
I am here to tell you.. Eliminate the Wheat, eliminate the problem! Really, what do you have to lose? Maybe a wheat belly, man breasts or a bagel butt!!
But how do you do that? The first thing to do is purchase foods from the outside area of the store. Meaning buy fresh organic/fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses and stay away from processed foods. Do your research and you will find many sites to help concur this project. I leave you with  a link to 20 common products that contain wheat, also the "to buy or not to buy organic" and a link to celiac disease.

Bring awareness not only for yourself, but your children and grandchildren.

Kathy

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php

http://www.3fatchicks.com/20-common-foods-containing-wheat/

http://celiacdisease.about.com/