Pencil Thin

Preheat oven to 350 to 375 degrees. Spray baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray. Mix all dry ingredients. Mix all liquid ingredients. Combine. Mix thoroughly. Drop from teaspoon 1″ apart on the baking sheet. Bake about 8 minutes.

I have been dealing for the last two weeks with a series of billing errors by our insurance company. This is not just one claim but claim after claim that is being processed incorrectly. To lighten the mood I went in search of a managed care joke. Here it is:

Reviewing Managed Care Treatment Plans in a Timely Manner: A Technical Guide for Blue Cross Employees

* Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
* Check your email.
* Read over the treatment plan carefully, to make certain you understand it.
* Walk down to the vending machines and buy some coffee to help you concentrate.
* Check your email.
* Stop off at another cubicle on the way back and visit with a colleague. If this person hasn’t started his reviews yet either, you can walk to McDonalds and buy hamburgers to help you concentrate. If your colleague has already finished his quota of reviews, drop him.
* When you get back to your cubicle, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
* Read over the paper again to make absolutely certain you understand it.
* Check your email.
* Set up an instant message account.
* You know, you haven’t written to your mom in the past year. You’d better write that letter now and get it out of the way so you can concentrate.
* Look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.
* Listen to one side of your favorite tape and that’s it. I mean it. as soon as it’s over you are going to start working on that review.
* Listen to the other side.
* Check your email.
* Add friends, family and colleagues to your Instant Message (IM) list.
* Rearrange all of your files into alphabetical order.
* I.M. your friend on the next floor and ask if she has started writing yet. Exchange derogatory remarks about the medical profession, the state of healthcare today, and the world at large.
* Sit in a straight, comfortable chair. Have a Cherry Lifesaver. Savor its exquisite flavor across your tongue.
* Check your email.
* Check the newspaper listings to make sure you aren’t missing something truly worthwhile on TV. Note: If you are only a week behind quota, anything on TV from Masterpiece Theater to reruns of PeeWee’s Playhouse is truly worthwhile.
* Catch the last half hour of American Bandstand on Channel 46.
* I.M. your colleague in the third cubicle down to see if he was watching. Discuss the finer points of the plot.
* Sit down and do some serious thinking about your plans for the future.
* Check your email.
* Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.
* Read over the treatment plan one more time, just for the heck of it.
* Lean forward and do that review.
* Write up your comments, and while you’re at it, check your email.
* Complain to everyone that you got behind schedule because you couldn’t read the doctor’s lousy handwriting.

As you know I am a Mommy. Being a Mommy is an experience unlike anything else I have ever done. I love when a blog embraces this philosophy and No Average Mom does just that very thing. This is a blog for every Mom. The philosophy behind this blog is that “nothing about Motherhood is average” and that every Mom is witnessing firsthand the most incredible experience you can have ~ being a Mom. This blog is a bit of this and that as it relates to being a parent in today’s world. This is a fairly new blog and it will be exciting to watch it develop along with the life of the writer!

My good buddy Jimi tagged me a few days ago and well I am just getting around to responding… hangs head in shame….

The Question Posed is:

Name 3 things you are Grateful for:

Well… I am grateful for many, many things that you would expect (God, family, and friends) but I thought I would take it a step in a different direction:

1. I am grateful for the noise in my house. While the endless questions and lack of use of “indoor” voices drives me to the brink some days the noise means I have healthy, happy children.

2. I am grateful for dust balls. These mean I have a roof over my head and am leading to full of a life to spend it fussing over things that don’t matter in the big scheme of things.

3. I am grateful for snow. Lately the sheer amount of it has forced my family to stay indoors and spend a lot of fun time together.

I was out today shopping with a friend and she had the coolest Nextel cellular phone! Built into the phone was a push button walkie talkie feature she was using to talk to her husband. She explained that this enabled them to talk as much as they wanted and not use up as many precious minutes. Not only can they use this feature locally but unbelievably coast-to-coast with any of the 20 million people with Nextel phones. She said what made the Nextel phones even more appealing was the fact that they were free with their monthly Nextel calling plan. I am considering getting a set of Nextel phones to use with my children since Nextel offers a walkie-to-walkie only plan. This would limit would be a great way for our family to always stay in contact. I can see these phone being very handy for our active lives. Nextel plans are an incredible value when you consider all the built in features these phones come with that other manufacturers just don’t offer.

I found another great blog today and hope you will check it out! Melissa’s Place is a a fun read about the ins and outs of the life of Melissa. Sprinkled with humor and also insight on our world this blog will keep you coming back for more. I especially like the post about the Pantry Thief!. Give this great blog a bit of you time and you won’t be disappointed!

In honor of Valentines Day I thought I would offer a low fat treat recipe. Today is a day for love and indulgence. This recipe sound VERY indulgent and fun to make!

Chocolate Cherry Hearts

3 egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
6 oz jar of Maraschino cherries

1. Spray non-stick cooking spray on a non-stick cookie sheet with lip, set aside.
2. Beat eggs and cream of tartar in a medium-size mixing bowl until soft peaks form.
3. Slowly pour sugar into the egg mixture and mix until stiff glossy peaks form.
4. Fold in pecans, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt.
5. Spoon mixture onto prepared cookie sheet and spread thin and evenly.
6. Bake in oven at 250 degrees for about 20 minutes.
7. Remove cookie sheet and let sit for a few minutes.
8. Using a 3″ heart-shaped cookie cutter begin making cuts. Press firmly to insure even shapes.
9. Place cookie sheet back into oven and bake at 250 degrees for 20 additional minutes.
10. Remove hearts carefully and let cool on wire rack.
11. Spoon a few cherry halves on top of hearts.

Servings: Approximately 14
1 Heart per serving: Calories 90, Protein 1.5 g, Fat 3 g, Carb 12 g.

Tip: Best if stored at room temperature and eaten within 5 days.

In just about every family there is a person who has succumbed to the grip of drug addiction. My family is no different. My cousin, Bonnie,began experimenting with drugs in high school and gradually fell deeper and deeper into addiction. Try as we might it seemed that there was nothing to motivate Bonnie to get clean. There came a point when her parents washed their hands of her in an effort to protect themselves from the hurt and embarrassment her lifestyle caused them. I am can’t blame them after seeing their daughter’s name in the police blotter time and time again. Luckilly, none of us is without hope and motivation comes in the smallest of packages.

Bonnie became pregnant and in the course of her drug troubled pregnancy fell in love with her baby. The baby was taken from her at birth because of her positive drug test and placed in protective custody. It was in this lowest of low points Bonnie found her motivation. With the help of family members willing to give her one more chance she found her way to to undergo drug detoxification. This gave Bonnie the tools and the structure she needed to break the grip of addiction. Stone Hawk instilled in Bonnie the skills she needed to reenter her life in a positive way and fight the cycle of addiction. She since gotten her own apartment, a job, and is going to school part-time. Most importantly that little motivating package, we all call Marissa, is now living with her Mommy!

My experience as a health care professional has led me to be very wary of thinking antibiotics are the answer for everything. SO many people want to treat every cold they have with antibiotics despite recent pushes to educate the public about the long term risks antibiotic over use. People disregard this information and push their doctors to prescribe unnecessary medications and are convinced they made the right move when after a couple of days they start to feel better. The reality is they would have felt better anyways. Viral types of colds DO NOT respond to antibiotics. Bacterial infections DO respond. Taking unnecessary antibiotics aids in the development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria and may mean when you or your CHILD need antibiotic therapy it may not be effective. The long term consequences mean there may not be drugs to treat these developing strains of bacteria.

So BUCK up and deal with it. Don’t push your doctor to prescribe just to make you “feel better” because when you really need help there might not be any!

Vegetables contain 25 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrate.

One serving equals:

1/2 Cup Cooked Veggies – broccoli, carrots etc

1 Cup Fresh Veggies

1/2 Cup Vegetable juice like V8

The food pyramid suggests we should have 3-5 servings per day of vegetables. It sounds like an easy goal to attain but the reality is very few us actually meet this goal. It is however as simple as having a salad for lunch that is chocked full of fresh veggies and having a heaping helping at dinner. There really is no excuse when you look at it in those terms.

When vacation time rolls around this spring I will finally have everything ready ahead of time. This year I did not wait until the last minute to plan my vacation attire and have just placed an order for Reef sandals . . Reef sandals have a Synthetic padded upper with polyester lining and brushed EVA footbed for traction that make them not only comfy but incredibly durable. When it comes to spending time I can’t wait until these great shoes arrive and I can hits those waves!

These are some basic pointers to get you headed in the right direction. As always you SHOULD consult your physician before beginning an exercise program – I know I am going to to make sure I am allowed to do so!

1. Pick an activity you enjoy – if you hate it you won’t keep at it.

2. Have a reasonable goal – “the rest of us” are ready for a marathon yet.

3. Find a buddy – Motivation is contagious, find someone to share your workouts with.

4. Plan to work out – Make activity something you do. It will become routine.

6. Start out easy and build slowly – over doing it leads to injuries and that is no good!

5. Keep a positive outlook – success is the product of effort, put in the work and you will see the results.

Just a few of my favorite blog buddies. Take a moment to show them some love today!

Toil
SEO This
Simplify Every Obtacle
Pencil Thin
That Boy Ain’t Right
Candid Quips

Each of these blogs has unique topics and entertaining content.There is a little something for everyone so visit today!

I have been drinking a great many protein shakes lately simply because that is all my busy schedule affords me. These are couple of my current favorite combinations:

Banana Berry Shake

1 c. lowfat milk
1/2 c. plain lowfat yogurt
1 banana, sliced
2 tbsp. protein powder
6 strawberries, sliced
1 tsp. wheat germ
1 tbsp. honey or maple syrup
1/4 c. natural berry juice
Pinch of nutmeg or carob powder

Simply Strawberry Shake

1 can diet 7-Up

1 c. frozen unsweetened strawberries

2 tbsp. banana or strawberry protein powder

Blend in blender until smooth.

This bitter cold has taken every once once of gumption out of me. I literally dread stepping foot outside. Today was the first time I went outside since last FRIDAY! Yikes, so I really must focus on getting moving and back into the swing of being a busy person.

Setting my sites on exercise again – 3 times at least the remainder of this week!

Most of us don’t eat nearly enough vegetables. Getting in our daily requirements of healthy veggies doesn’t need to be such a challenge. When it is a problem it is important to maximize every bite of nutrition and choose prime vegetables. I am terrible at picking fresh fruit and produce. I never know what tells me about the freshness so I decide to look for tips on picking the freshest veggies:

Beans, snap: Look for small seeds inside straight, fleshy pods. If you can see large seeds through the skin then the beans are probably too old. Avoid beans with dry-looking, rusty, wilted or damaged pods.

Carrots: Look for deep orange colored and smooth skinned roots. Avoid carrots with purple or green shoulders or pale in color, or ones with forked or crooked roots. Oversized roots usually mean they are woody. If tops are still attached on carrots, they should be fresh.

Celery: Look for large, firm stalks with uniform stalk and a white bottom. Avoid spindly, wilted stalks.

Cucumbers: Look for long, slender cukes that are medium to dark green. Avoid yellowed, puffy or soft ones.

Eggplant: Look for firm, dark purple fruit with small blossom scars. Avoid soft, bronze or green colored fruits or those with a dried calyx.

Peas and lima beans: Look for firm, well-filled, bright green pods, avoiding yellow, shriveled or bulging ones.

Peppers: Look for firm, darkly colored fruit with uniform size, color, and number of lobes. Avoid wrinkled or shriveled ones or fruits that are sunburned (contrasting color spots).

Potatoes: Avoid green or sunburned, knobby potatoes or those with growth cracks.

How many carbs you should take in each day really depends on the type of diet you are following. In general the following is a good way to calculate the number you need:

About 50% of your calories come from carbohydrates. For a 1300 calorie per day diet, that would equate to about 140 grams of carbohydrates per day. A 20 gram serving of carbohydrates would be equal to 1/2 cup of whole grain pasta, 1/2 cup of higher carb fruits, 1 cup of lower carb fruits, 1 cup of starchy vegetables, or 2 cups of high fiber, low starch green vegetables.

Our oldest has started to become aware of differences in the physical health of different people. While I don’t want to promote him being obsessed with weight nor to look disapprovingly at those who weigh more than might be healthy but I do want to promote him making good food and health choices.

I am starting to become more aware of how my own Mother accidentally encourage me to use food as an emotional crutch and I strive not to encourage that behavior in my son. It is very easy to say “You had a great day at school so let’s go for ice cream” or “You had a rough day let’s bake cookies”. My own Mom lovingly did this very thing but it led to my own misuse of food.

These are some good tips to promote a healthy lifestyle in children:

* Eat a variety of foods
* Balance the food you eat with physical activity
* Choose a diet with plenty of grain products, vegetables and fruits
* Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol
* Choose a diet moderate in sugars and salt
* Choose a diet that provides enough calcium and iron to meet their growing body’s requirements.

These are the daily nutritional recommendations as put out the US government. Someone emailed me asking for more information and this seems to be the most understandable list I have found. Of course you will find differing opinions based on what dietary plan you are following. This is the general recommendations for adults.

* Whole Grain Foods (at most meals). The body needs carbohydrates mainly for energy. The best sources of carbohydrates are whole grains such as oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and brown rice. They deliver the outer (bran) and inner (germ) layers along with energy-rich starch. The body can’t digest whole grains as quickly as it can highly processed carbohydrates such as white flour. This keeps blood sugar and insulin levels from rising, then falling, too quickly. Better control of blood sugar and insulin can keep hunger at bay and may prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.
* Plant Oils. Surprised that the Healthy Eating Pyramid puts some fats near the base, indicating they are okay to eat? Although this recommendation seems to go against conventional wisdom, it’s exactly in line with the evidence and with common eating habits. The average American gets one third or more of his or her daily calories from fats, so placing them near the foundation of the pyramid makes sense. Note, though, that it specifically mentions plant oils, not all types of fat. Good sources of healthy unsaturated fats include olive, canola, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut, and other vegetable oils, as well as fatty fish such as salmon. These healthy fats not only improve cholesterol levels (when eaten in place of highly processed carbohydrates) but can also protect the heart from sudden and potentially deadly rhythm problems.(3)
* Vegetables (in abundance) and Fruits (2 to 3 times). A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can decrease the chances of having a heart attack or stroke; protect against a variety of cancers; lower blood pressure; help you avoid the painful intestinal ailment called diverticulitis; guard against cataract and macular degeneration, the major cause of vision loss among people over age 65; and add variety to your diet and wake up your palate.
* Fish, Poultry, and Eggs (0 to 2 times). These are important sources of protein. A wealth of research suggests that eating fish can reduce the risk of heart disease. Chicken and turkey are also good sources of protein and can be low in saturated fat. Eggs, which have long been demonized because they contain fairly high levels of cholesterol, aren’t as bad as they’re cracked up to be. In fact, an egg is a much better breakfast than a doughnut cooked in an oil rich in trans fats or a bagel made from refined flour.
* Nuts and Legumes (1 to 3 times). Nuts and legumes are excellent sources of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Legumes include black beans, navy beans, garbanzos, and other beans that are usually sold dried. Many kinds of nuts contain healthy fats, and packages of some varieties (almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, hazelnuts, and pistachios) can now even carry a label saying they’re good for your heart.
* Dairy or Calcium Supplement (1 to 2 times). Building bone and keeping it strong takes calcium, vitamin D, exercise, and a whole lot more. Dairy products have traditionally been Americans’ main source of calcium. But there are other healthy ways to get calcium than from milk and cheese, which can contain a lot of saturated fat. Three glasses of whole milk, for example, contains as much saturated fat as 13 strips of cooked bacon. If you enjoy dairy foods, try to stick with no-fat or low-fat products. If you don’t like dairy products, calcium supplements offer an easy and inexpensive way to get your daily calcium.
* Red Meat and Butter (Use Sparingly): These sit at the top of the Healthy Eating Pyramid because they contain lots of saturated fat. If you eat red meat every day, switching to fish or chicken several times a week can improve cholesterol levels. So can switching from butter to olive oil.
* White Rice, White Bread, Potatoes, White Pasta, Soda, and Sweets (Use Sparingly): Why are these all-American staples at the top, rather than the bottom, of the Healthy Eating Pyramid? They can cause fast and furious increases in blood sugar that can lead to weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic disorders. Whole-grain carbohydrates cause slower, steadier increases in blood sugar that don’t overwhelm the body’s ability to handle this much needed but potentially dangerous nutrient.
* Multiple Vitamin: A daily multivitamin, multimineral supplement offers a kind of nutritional backup. While it can’t in any way replace healthy eating, or make up for unhealthy eating, it can fill in the nutrient holes that may sometimes affect even the most careful eaters. You don’t need an expensive name-brand or designer vitamin. A standard, store-brand, RDA-level one is fine. Look for one that meets the requirements of the USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia), an organization that sets standards for drugs and supplements.
* Alcohol (in moderation): Scores of studies suggest that having an alcoholic drink a day lowers the risk of heart disease. Moderation is clearly important, since alcohol has risks as well as benefits. For men, a good balance point is 1 to 2 drinks a day. For women, it’s at most one drink a day.

One way I have found to keep me in a healthy mindset is to keep healthy reading material around. Even I just look at the cover with all those fit and trim people on it I am spurred into thinking about my own well-being. I have many and frequently give them as gifts to friends and loved ones. Some of my favorite magazines for healthy living are Shape, Fitness, and Prevention. There is virtually a magazine out there for any interest you can imagine. My brothers are huge outdoors enthusiasts and I recently gave them subscriptions to National Geographic Explorer and Backpacker. They loved these magazines and have requested this type of gift in the future.

I love oatmeal and eat it VERY frequently. I am a huge fan of old fashioned or steel cuts oats. I prefer a little texture to my oatmeal but am always looking for ways to spice it up. This seemed like a unique approach that I might experiment with.

Cinnamon Chocolate Low-Fat Oatmeal

(This recipe yields 1 serving)

* 2 packets plain instant oatmeal
* 1 packet fat-free hot chocolate
* 3 packets Splenda
* 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Pour some boiling water into the bowl and mix well.

Add skim-milk for a creamier consistency…Yum-o!

“Yeah, Doc, what’s the news?” asked Sam when his doctor called with his test results. “I have some bad news and some really bad news,” said the doctor. “The bad news is that you only have 24 hours to live.” “Oh my God,” gasped Fred as he dropped to his knees. “What could be worse news than that?” “I couldn’t get hold of you yesterday.”

There are two types of stressors:

* External Stressors
o physical environment
o social interaction with people
o life events which you have no control over (death in the family)

* Internal Stressors
o personal lifestyle choice
o personality traits
o individual thought process

How These Impact Us

-faster heart beat
-change in appetite
-increased sweating
-frequent colds
-cool skin
-asthma
-cold hands and feet
-digestive problems
-feelings of nausea
-headaches
-rapid breathing
-skin eruptions
-tense muscles
-sexual disorders
-dry mouth
-aches and pains
-diarrhea
-tiredness
-irritability
-heart disease
-anxiety
-seizures

Guess I am stressed after looking that list over…

Nowadays there’s a pill for everything — to keep your nose from running, to keep you regular, to keep your heart beating, to keep your hair from falling out, to improve your muscle tone… Why, thanks to advances in medical science, every day people are dying who never looked better.

Bad carbohydrate foods are those that have been refined and processed. Most bad carbohydrate foods are usually very tasteful and are packaged for easy handling. If you eat too many bad carbohydrates, you will most probably gain weight. The calories are “empty” and they have no nutritional value. An individual who eats many bad carbs will notice a spike in their energy levels shortly after consumption. Cakes, cookies, and ice cream are all examples of bad carbohydrates.

More Bad Carbs: Breads: Dinner rolls, hamburger – hot dog buns, tortillas, waffles. Starchy foods: baked or refried beans, noodles, pasta, pretzels, white rice (white, fried, Spanish), all soups, and taco shells. Beverages: all alcohol and all beverages with sugar or high fructose corn syrup ect. Whole milk, ice cream, sour cream, yogurt, mozzarella, cream cheese, cottage cheese, cheese, honey, mayo, peanut butter, raisins, marmalade, croutons, olives, blue cheese dressing. White flour, white sugar, all potatoes, white bread, biscuits, English muffins, lard, cookies, all crackers, all chips (corn potato ect), all donuts, cakes, all bagels, all sugar & corn syrup products, pancakes, ice cream sundaes, banana splits, all fudge, all candy, all soft drinks except sugar free, pies, canned pasta, products, all pastries, most breakfast cereals hot and cold, Instant rice, all alcohol (beer, wine, mixed drinks).

Wow what will I eat now?

The following are some ideas for good carbs we should eat everyday.
These food types are generally considered to be good carbs and should make up most or all of your carb intake:

* whole vegetables
* whole fruits
* beans
* legumes
* nuts
* seeds
* whole grains -Bran, Wheatgerm, Barley, Maize, Buckwheat, Cornmeal, Oatmeal

Some lists include low fat dairy but it depends on who you listen to about this. I believe it depends on how much dairy you consume.

Good carbohydrates are generally high in fiber. Foods high in fiber will give you energy over longer periods of time.

Good carbohydrates generally have a low glycemic index. Foods with a low glycemic index will not cause a spike in blood sugar.

I love carbs and my thighs don’t lie… I thought maybe I had a poem going there for a minute but that is all there is. Carbs are delicious and irregardless of what some diet plan seems to tell we need a certain amount of them every day. There are however good and bad carbs. These are the characteristics of a good carb (stayed tuned for the bad ones):
Good carbs have these healthy characteristics:

* high in fiber: helps you stay full longer (and avoid overeating), provides sustained energy, lowers cholesterol levels, helps to remove toxins from the body
* low glycemic index: stabilizes blood sugar levels and insulin production
* high in nutrients: natural vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients promote health and help to prevent chronic disease
* low ‘energy-density’ (except nuts & seeds): provides sustained energy, promotes healthy weight loss and long-term weight maintenance
* greater ‘thermic effect’: naturally stimulates metabolism and promotes fat loss

Many people have high blood pressure and don’t even know it as often it has no symptoms. Having your blood pressure screened regularly can help nut there are several preventative things you can do as well including watching your diet and exercise, limiting stress, and not smoking.

People at risk for high blood pressure include:

• Those with a family history
• The obese
• Older people
• Those eating high levels of salt
• Excessive drinkers
• Sedentary people
• Those with excessive stress

HBP is silent and deadly. With simple lifestyle adjustments you can prevent it from affecting and possibly ruining you life.