Janice Taylor, Editor: June 2008 Archives

Heat Be Gone!

This Beliefnet Blogger is too young to remember :) but ...
Once upon a time, many years ago, there were no air-conditioners.
(I can hear the gasps!) It's true. No air-conditioners! How did 'they' get through the dog-days of summer and oh... those steamy hot nights?

White Rice to the Rescue: Dense and starchy, rice 'holds' cold for a long period of time. So ... get those cotton socks out of the dresser, fill them up with white rice, tie the end in a knot and freeze for two hours before bedtime. Then ... slide them under the sheets. Oh Baby .... Cool down as you turn hot to steamy!

Catch an Island Breeze: Fill a shallow bowl with ice, place it in front of the fan and strategically stand or sit in front of it. The perfect ice melts: you cool ratio.

Thermal Regulation: Keep a water-filled spray bottle or two in your fridge. It makes for a most excellent portable cooling device; you can spritz and spray anywhere. Bring one for a loved one. Lest, they keep borrowing yours!

Send Chilling Messages: Start icing, spritzing and cooling your wrists first, followed quickly by your feet. Thus, you start cooling down the blood that flows through your veins. The blood vessels will send 'chilling' messages throughout your body.

Cool Down with Hot Stuff: Hot chili peppers (and other spicy foods) contain a chemical compound called capsaicin. This spicy devil helps us to sweat. The sweat evaporates and we cool down.

Bottoms Up: With all that sweating going on, be careful to replenish your liquids! Best sources are water (duh) and water-filled foods. Watermelon has more water content than any other food out there! (See watermelon straight-up.)

Kitchen Closed: Do not even think about turning on the oven. Opt for summer salads. They are water filled, so they keep you hydrated and they are easy to digest. And in the cool of the night, get the grill a'going. When the sun is down, grill up extra fruits and veggies for the next day!

Spread the word (NOT the icing!),
Janice

For more summertime recipes, check out these Soul Satisfying Summer Recipes.

Join the Kick in the Tush Club!

AND ... pick up a copy of the best permanent fat removal book ever, All Is Forgiven, Move On: Our Lady of Weight Loss's 101 Fat-Burning Steps on Your Journal to Sveltsville.

Be an angel, would ya'? Spread the word (not the icing!).
by Janice Taylor, Beliefnet Blogger

A Creative Act of Health and Wellness is something that we do that brings health and wellness into our lives and into the lives of others.

Once a week, I'll toss out a couple of fun things that we can do to spread the healthy word (NOT the icing).

This week's Creative Acts of Health and Wellness Menu centers around the office! Things we can do to add energy, color and fun to our work place.

STIR IT UP Happy in the Work Place

The Scoop ...
Eating one ounce of protein rich almonds per day can help to maintain a healthy cholesterol level. Calorie count: 160 (approximately 23 almonds)

The Spread ...
Buy a few ounces of almonds. Count out one-ounce portions (approx. 23). Place almonds in little plastic baggies along with "The Scoop" and keep handy for the 3 p.m. slump! You'll be the most popular person in the office.

The Scoop ...
Get yourself a whole watermelon. Leave it on the office kitchen counter for 5 days and watch the lycopene and beta-carotene levels rise by nearly 20%!

The Spread ...
Bring in a whole watermelon to work on Monday. Place a sign next to it: This watermelon's lycopene and beta-carotene levels increase 4% per day. To be cut and shared on Friday! Woo Hoo! Give everyone something to look forward to! Calorie count: 1/16 of a watermelon is approximately 90 calories.

The Scoop . . .
Inspiring words motivate. According to Psychological Science, simply reading an inspiring word can energize and motivate us to move forward.

The Spread . . .
Write up a weekly list of 'good' words and use them as often as you can in your inter-office memos. Watch the energy levels rise around you. You can share the words with others and make a game of it or just quietly add these positive words to your memos and e-mails and watch the positive energy spread!

Here are a few words to get you started!
Amazing, dream, imagine, curious, wonder, joy.

Calorie count: zero
Joy count: infinite

Please let us know how you are spreading the health and wellness word! What's your favorite Creative Act of Health & Wellness?

Spread the word (NOT the icing!),
Janice

Want to fill up on big time health and wellness - join the Kick in the Tush Club community.

If you've tried the rest and are lookin' for the BEST - pick up a copy of All Is Forgiven, Move On: Our Lady of Weight Loss's 101 Fat-Burning Steps on Your Journey to Sveltesville.

". . . . kooky genius." O, The Oprah Magazine
". . . . one fry short of a Happy Meal - and it all makes sense." Chicago Daily Herald
". . . . profound." WCBS Radio

This Beliefnet blogger was flicking through the television channels the other night - all 1,000 of them - when she came across Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in the movie Pretty Woman.

Date Night with Richard Gere ... by Janice Taylor
It was the scene in which Julia and Richard (what were their movie names?) were dining at a very fancy restaurant with the shipping magnate (played by Ralph Bellamy) and his son. Julia had no idea which fork to use, how to butter her bread, which glass was hers, much less the proper way to eat escargots. She could get away with it - after all, she's Julia Roberts.

But it got me to wondering ... how might I fare in a similar situation? I mean - if I were out to dinner with Richard Gere and I sent my snail flying across the restaurant, would he still love me?

Just in case you find yourself out to dinner with a movie star, Our Lady wanted me to pass the following etiquette tips on to you.

1. Sit Down. Not so fast ... after your host/hostess sits. Follow her lead.

2. The Napkin. Now that you are seated, you should - within seconds - open the napkin and place it on your lap. Do not tuck it into your shirt, or if you've got a tie on, do not take your tie and throw it over your shoulder. (Did I really have to tell you that?) Do not try to snap it open, either. Never leave your napkin on the table. If you need to leave the table, fold your napkin and place it on your seat.

3. The Holy Bread Basket. Take a knife and cut a piece from the loaf. Take some butter and put it on your plate, not on the bread. Tear a bite-size piece of bread from the bread that you just cut and put on your plate. Butter it from your newly formed butter pile. Eat it. Repeat if you like. One piece at a time.

4. The Utensils. Use them from the outside in. Each utensil corresponds with a course, so if you skip the first course, skip the first utensil. Never ever let a used utensil hit the table.

5. The Water Glass. It's always to your right. The dinner roll is to your left. (Hint: They're in alphabetical order. Roll / Water. Get it?)

6. The Soup. Do not put the entire spoon in your mouth. Load it - rather, fill your spoon about 75% with soup, bring it to your mouth, and sip it from the side.

7. The Meat (chicken or fish). Start from one end or the other, never in the middle, and cut one piece at a time. Have you ever seen anyone cut all their meat, potato and vegetables - put the knife down and chow down? Very gauche.

8. Sit Up Straight. Do not let your elbows touch the table.

9. Pass the Salt (and the Pepper). When someone asks for the salt, pass the two together. And don't salt your food until you've tasted it first. It's an insult to the cook.

10. Masticate Your Food. Do not chew with your mouth open. Do not talk with food in your mouth. Masticate and swallow first.

11. You're A Mess. Did you spill something? Drop your napkin on the floor? Burp? Don't make a big deal over it. Stay calm. Quietly apologize. In other words, confess and move on.

12. Finger Food. If you're not sure whether you should eat something with your fingers, opt for a utensil, but here's a short list.

Artichokes
Asparagus (only if it's without sauce)
Bacon (only if it's crisp)
Sandwiches (duh)
Cookies (duh)
Small fruits or berries with stems
Burgers, Dogs, Corn on the Cob (obviously)
Caviar
Pickles

13. The Spectacular Ending. Place your knife and fork on the plate so that they are parallel to each other and on a diagonal - pointing toward the eleven o'clock position. Do not place them in the "X" position. The "X" indicates that you are resting between bites.

When everyone has finished their meal, you may place your napkin on the table, next to your plate, loosely - not tied in a funny knot or twisted.

Got it? Great!

Spread the word (NOT the icing),
Janice

* * *

Tasty Tidbit: Escargots, the French word for snails, is an appetizer dish of cooked land snails. Typically, the snails are removed from their shells, gutted, cooked (usually with garlic butter). They are then poured back into the shells, with the butter and sauce for serving. Special snail tongs (for holding the shell) and snail forks (for extracting the meat) are generally provided.

For more tasty tidbits, join the Kick in the Tush Club community.

And pick up a copy of All Is Forgiven, Move On: Our Lady of Weight Loss's 101 Fat-Burning Steps on Your Journey to Sveltesville

Grilling Season News!
Before you uncover your grill and get your beef patties a burnin,' and your buns a toastin,' please do take a moment to ingest these hale & hearty and healthful tips from the master of permanent fat removal, Janice Taylor (55 pound big-time-loser).

How to Joyfully go Into the 'LITE' this BBQ Season!

PILE HIGH your plate with grilled eggplant, peppers, onions, corn and Portobello mushrooms... a veritable veggie feast.

LEAVE YOUR BUN BEHIND. Do a burger lettuce wrap. No kidding, it's really good.

DUMP THE SUGAR DOUSED BBQ SAUCE. Use mustard, ketchup and salsa instead.

GET HIGH ON HEALTH. A Margarita has more calories than the meal itself. Cut up a few cucumber slices, place in pitcher full of water and pour yourself a refreshing tall glass. Bottoms up!

SWAP IT. Trade in your bacon cheeseburger for a turkey burger or a veggie burger! Add lettuce, tomato, pickles and whatever else you like, plus some mustard and ketchup. Big yum.

PASTA SALAD. Go for it! Mix up some whole-wheat penne with tons of fresh zucchini, asparagus, onions, peppers.

DESSERT! Yay! DESSERT! Get your skewers ready and load 'em up with pineapple, mango and peach 'chunks.' Grill on into the night!

WHOA! That's a lot of grilling and plenty of bang for your calorie buck.

Sausage Links:
Burning Down the House

For some great summertime recipes, check out Janice's Summertime Eating Gallery!

Spread the word (NOT the icing!),
Janice

For more yum delicious recipes go to Kick in the Tush Club community!

And pick up a copy of All Is Forgiven, Move On: Our Lady of Weight Loss's 101 Fat-Burning Steps on Your Journey to Sveltesville

Watch and Whip Your Way to Stardom!
This Beliefnet blogger loves fruits of all kinds ... especially The Star Fruit! Watch this totally refreshing and entertaining TELL ALL video - whip up a bowl of Sassy Star Fruit Salad and Be the STAR that YOU ARE!

Sassy Star Fruit Salad

Ingredients:
* 1 small jicama, peeled,quartered and thinly sliced
* 2 ripe green mangos
* 1 pineapple, peeled,quartered lengthwise and cubed
* 1 green Apple, quartered,cored, cubed
* 3 star fruits, thinly sliced into stars
* 3 kiwi fruits, peeled and thinly sliced

Instructions:
Toss all ingredients in a large bowl, as you are watching Behind the Peel: Star Fruit video. Then have seconds! Seconds of the fruit; seconds of the video.

Spread the word (NOT the icing!),
Janice

For more fun and recipes - join the Kick in the Tush Club Community!

And be sure to pick up a copy of All Is Forgiven, Move On: Our Lady of Weight Loss's 101 Fat-Burning Steps on Your Journey to Sveltesville (and Janice's first book - Our Lady of Weight Loss) ... FYI - they are on big-time sale on Amazon. Woo Hoo!

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