I thought it might be fun try doing a regular feature on here with all the recipe ideas I have to share, rather than just throwing them on hit-and-miss as I have been. So here's the debut of Menu Idea Monday - let's see if it works out well!
One of my favorite new recipes is Cinnamon Bun Popcorn which I found via Pinterest.
I won't copy the recipe here, because you should absolutely hop over to the site that originally posted it and check out their yummy pictures, but here are my recipe notes:
Opinion:
This stuff is AWESOME. Also, since popcorn has practically no calories, it's a guilt free dessert or snack food.
My Modifications:
I skipped the pecans and almond bark entirely, both because I had none on hand and because they would significantly raise the calorie count.
I reduced the brown sugar to 1/4 cup, subbed 2 tbsp honey in place of the karo syrup, and reduced the butter to 4 tbsp. Using roughly the recommended 12 cups of popcorn, these reduced amounts were still plenty to coat and flavor the popcorn into decadent, crunchy deliciousness!
Dietary Mod Friendly?
Diabetics who can tolerate corn should do fine with this recipe is they sub splenda brown sugar and reduce the karo to 2 tbsp.
Gluten Freers should be able to rock this one, with the standard caveat that all commercial products like baking soda, karo syrup, etc. should be checked for GF compliance before using.
Monday, January 9
Sunday, January 8
Real Marriage Book Review
With courage and a delicate touch,
Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife Grace tackle the tough questions,
sticky issues and most embarrassing questions Christians have about
marriage. The size of this book is deceiving – an incredible amount
of seriously life-changing information is crammed into this modest
package!
Tackled topics include:
*What marriage is and should look like
*Dealing with the baggage of our pasts
*The effects of abuse on individuals
and marriages and how to handle it
*Friendship as spouses
*Sex in marriage
*Reverse engineering your marriage for
success
This book was different than any I have
ever read on marriage and I strongly encourage everyone to read it,
whether you're single, newlywed or have been married for years. There
is a tremendous amount within these pages to think about – whether
you agree with the authors' conclusions or not. Information is
presented in a clear format and grounded in efficiently sited
Biblical references. It definitely kept my attention and I was
impressed with the authors' rare ability to state their own position
firmly without bashing, insulting or dismissing other opinions or
ideas.
A brief word of warning: this is not
one of those books you probably want to take with you on the bus or
to the gym. With provocative or easily misinterpreted section
headings, it could lead to some blush-worthy conversations in the
wrong company!
Friday, January 6
Tip of the Day
Do you ever realize in the middle of doing something that it's dumb and you totally know better?
That happened to me recently, and I was (unsurprisingly) rather annoyed with myself. So in case you find yourself doing the same thing, here is one of the best organizing/ simplifying your life tips ever - handle everything in your inbox only once.
Obviously this tip originally was designed to address paper clutter, but I'm a paper clutter Nazi so that's not really a problem for me. It's my email that bites me. I'll sit down to skim through it when I don't have the time or energy to really deal with it and then let it pile up in a frightful, towering avalanche... which is entirely unnecessary because I know better!
If you find yourself in the same situation, here are a few things I do on my smarter days that work really well:
1. Grab your planner/ calendar/ sticky notes - whatever you use to keep track of life - before you open your email. As you open messages you can write yourself reminders, check your schedule and respond to inquires right away and jot down event information promptly. Barring the few exceptions where you have to check with a spouse or do research on something, this should allow you to handle most emails only once before deleting or filing them in the correct electronic folder.
2. Don't check your email constantly. Studies have proven we waste obscene amounts of time checking our email, so seriously consider getting in the habit of leaving your computer off or in sleep mode when not actively working on something so you will check your mail less often. As a bonus, when you do check it you'll be more likely to have time to handle it properly.
3. Don't be afraid to print stuff. Sometimes I am very grateful for the paperless world. Other times, a printed email filed in the right place or clipped into my planner for future reference is worth it's weight in gold. It saves time, prevents anything from being lost and shifts one more thing from my piling up inbox to the trash folder.
Do you ever find yourself forgetting good habits you thought you had down?
Obviously this tip originally was designed to address paper clutter, but I'm a paper clutter Nazi so that's not really a problem for me. It's my email that bites me. I'll sit down to skim through it when I don't have the time or energy to really deal with it and then let it pile up in a frightful, towering avalanche... which is entirely unnecessary because I know better!
If you find yourself in the same situation, here are a few things I do on my smarter days that work really well:
1. Grab your planner/ calendar/ sticky notes - whatever you use to keep track of life - before you open your email. As you open messages you can write yourself reminders, check your schedule and respond to inquires right away and jot down event information promptly. Barring the few exceptions where you have to check with a spouse or do research on something, this should allow you to handle most emails only once before deleting or filing them in the correct electronic folder.
2. Don't check your email constantly. Studies have proven we waste obscene amounts of time checking our email, so seriously consider getting in the habit of leaving your computer off or in sleep mode when not actively working on something so you will check your mail less often. As a bonus, when you do check it you'll be more likely to have time to handle it properly.
3. Don't be afraid to print stuff. Sometimes I am very grateful for the paperless world. Other times, a printed email filed in the right place or clipped into my planner for future reference is worth it's weight in gold. It saves time, prevents anything from being lost and shifts one more thing from my piling up inbox to the trash folder.
Do you ever find yourself forgetting good habits you thought you had down?
Thursday, January 5
Celebration
This is last in my trio of challenges for this year, and perhaps the simplest: celebrate more.
I am a pretty happy person and quick to toss up prayers of thanks for blessings in my life. I'm always glad to hear good news in the life of a friend, and have never struggled with envy or anything like that.
I am also a type A personality. Success? Awesome! Good job - now let's swinging on that next project! I've always got multiple irons in the fire and my sights set on the next goal. There's nothing wrong with that; in fact, it's a trait God has given me to accomplish the tasks I'm given and to use as a blessing to others.
But did you know that the Bible actually tells us to celebrate? Not just toss up a quick prayer of thanks either - to take time to really share joy and success with one another? (Yeah, I didn't know that either.)
I don't know about you, but I think celebrating good times and happy events more often with the people I love sounds like a great way to Pygmalion the world around me and improve my Losada Line ratios! So this year, I will pause after saying a prayer of thanks and before jumping back into the game just to celebrate.
What are your favorite ways and reasons to celebrate?
I am a pretty happy person and quick to toss up prayers of thanks for blessings in my life. I'm always glad to hear good news in the life of a friend, and have never struggled with envy or anything like that. I am also a type A personality. Success? Awesome! Good job - now let's swinging on that next project! I've always got multiple irons in the fire and my sights set on the next goal. There's nothing wrong with that; in fact, it's a trait God has given me to accomplish the tasks I'm given and to use as a blessing to others.
But did you know that the Bible actually tells us to celebrate? Not just toss up a quick prayer of thanks either - to take time to really share joy and success with one another? (Yeah, I didn't know that either.)
I don't know about you, but I think celebrating good times and happy events more often with the people I love sounds like a great way to Pygmalion the world around me and improve my Losada Line ratios! So this year, I will pause after saying a prayer of thanks and before jumping back into the game just to celebrate.
What are your favorite ways and reasons to celebrate?
Wednesday, January 4
The Pygmalion Effect
There has been a story going around the Internet for years about two new students who approached a janitor to ask what the school was like. When he asked about their previous schools, the first replied that everyone was mean and horrible while the second spoke enthusiastically of good friends and great teachers. To each, the janitor then gave the same reply: "you'll likely find the same here." A third student inquired how his curious answer; the janitor explained that our experiences depend much more on attitude and expectations than the actual situation, so each was likely to find exactly what they expected.
I usually brush the story off as a trite reminder to be a positive thinker, delete the email and move on. But it came back to me recently as I read about The Pygmalion Effect - the phenomenon by which we shape the world around us through our expectations.
It's more than just the idea of a self-fulfilling prophesy - our unconscious and unspoken actions and attitudes actually shape the behavior of others around us! This is no flimsy New Age nonsense either - it's scientifically proven and explainable. (There's a simple, rather boring, diagram here but the case studies are fascinating!)
Like yesterday's challenge, this one really grabbed me - how many of the things I struggle with from day to day are related to or caused by faulty or poor expectations on my part? How many of the difficult people whose doom I'm plotting are largely the result of my own sublimated attitude or assumptions?
Although the world does not revolve around me and a positive attitude certainly won't fix everything, I feel that it is an appropriate challenge for me this year to be intentional about my attitude and critical of my mind-set or expectations when they are low or negative.
The best part about this challenge? Even if nothing else changes, I'll get the perverse enjoyment every day of knowing my good attitude is annoying some gloomy curmudgeon. :)
I usually brush the story off as a trite reminder to be a positive thinker, delete the email and move on. But it came back to me recently as I read about The Pygmalion Effect - the phenomenon by which we shape the world around us through our expectations.
It's more than just the idea of a self-fulfilling prophesy - our unconscious and unspoken actions and attitudes actually shape the behavior of others around us! This is no flimsy New Age nonsense either - it's scientifically proven and explainable. (There's a simple, rather boring, diagram here but the case studies are fascinating!)
Like yesterday's challenge, this one really grabbed me - how many of the things I struggle with from day to day are related to or caused by faulty or poor expectations on my part? How many of the difficult people whose doom I'm plotting are largely the result of my own sublimated attitude or assumptions?
Although the world does not revolve around me and a positive attitude certainly won't fix everything, I feel that it is an appropriate challenge for me this year to be intentional about my attitude and critical of my mind-set or expectations when they are low or negative.
The best part about this challenge? Even if nothing else changes, I'll get the perverse enjoyment every day of knowing my good attitude is annoying some gloomy curmudgeon. :)
Sunday, January 1
Drawing A Losada Line
When I was in high school, I worked at a hotel restaurant. We didn't see the general manager much, but we preferred it that way. If you did fifteen things perfectly and one thing wrong, he'd comment on the one wrong thing. When I went into Hospitality Management myself, I vowed never to be that kind of manager.
In college, my classmates and I learned how to use "praise sandwiches" - one comment about something to improve between two items of praise. In training seminars as full time managers, we learned fun little tricks like keeping five pennies in your pocket to remind you to pay at least five employees a compliment before the end of your shift.
It was only recently, however, that I learned about the Losada Line. I can't help but think how much more I would have gotten out of those classes and trainings if they'd included this one powerful truth.
In order for a team (or relationship) to function well, it must have a minimum of 3 positive interactions for every negative 1. Achieve this ratio, and you are above the Losada Line. Fail to hit the Losada Line and you have a constant struggle.
Ready for the scary part? For a relationship to really flourish, the ratio must be 6 to 1!
As I read this last month, it struck me as a timely challenge going in to this new year: if it is entirely within my control to cause relationships to flourish, what am I intentionally doing to positively invest in others?
(Of course, that begs a comment on the reverse side of the equation as well: if one negative interaction is worth six positive ones, how often can I achieve a positive ratio simply by keeping my mouth shut and unhelpful things unsaid!)
This challenge really speaks to my heart and aligns with my other self-challenges for the year (which I'll tell you about later), so I've begun to sketch out some ideas on how I can intentionally bring my relationships consistently above the Losada Line.
What about you?
In college, my classmates and I learned how to use "praise sandwiches" - one comment about something to improve between two items of praise. In training seminars as full time managers, we learned fun little tricks like keeping five pennies in your pocket to remind you to pay at least five employees a compliment before the end of your shift.
It was only recently, however, that I learned about the Losada Line. I can't help but think how much more I would have gotten out of those classes and trainings if they'd included this one powerful truth.
In order for a team (or relationship) to function well, it must have a minimum of 3 positive interactions for every negative 1. Achieve this ratio, and you are above the Losada Line. Fail to hit the Losada Line and you have a constant struggle. Ready for the scary part? For a relationship to really flourish, the ratio must be 6 to 1!
As I read this last month, it struck me as a timely challenge going in to this new year: if it is entirely within my control to cause relationships to flourish, what am I intentionally doing to positively invest in others?
(Of course, that begs a comment on the reverse side of the equation as well: if one negative interaction is worth six positive ones, how often can I achieve a positive ratio simply by keeping my mouth shut and unhelpful things unsaid!)
This challenge really speaks to my heart and aligns with my other self-challenges for the year (which I'll tell you about later), so I've begun to sketch out some ideas on how I can intentionally bring my relationships consistently above the Losada Line.
What about you?
Dreams, Wishes & Plans
Happy New Year!
With the dawn a fresh new year many, if not most of us, have big dreams and bold resolutions in hand. (Which radio commentators like to cheerfully remind us we're likely to break within just a few weeks.)
With that in mind, I'd like to share a few simple pieces of encouragement with you (and as a reminder to myself) as we embrace the promise of our clean slates:
1. A dream without a plan is just a wish.
Wanting something to happen is never enough. We have know where we're going and how we intend to get there. If you don't have a clear plan mapped out to help you get where you want to go, consider taking a few minutes to sketch it out somewhere and put it where you'll see it. Ask for help if you need to!
2. Accountability is crucial.
Get a buddy. Share your dreams with people in your life who will support you in trying to reach them. Start or join a support group - even introverts are significantly more likely to reach big goals when they pursue them with others.
3. Use the 20 second rule.
A helpful tip gleaned from several books (most recently The Happiness Advantage). Making an activity more or less accessible by as 20 seconds can be all you need to easily pick up a constructive new habit or to change a bad one. Move the candy dish off your desk to the top of a filing cabinet across the office and watch your snacking habit fall off dramatically. Put your guitar on a stand in the center of your living room instead of in the corner and marvel at how much quicker you are to pick it up. The power of this is amazing - give it a try!
4. Remember that it won't always be a struggle.
I can't remember who originally said this, but the human brain is essentially a collection of habits. When you change habits, you are literally remapping your brain chemistry, which is why it can be so hard! The great news is that once you power through the initial struggle of carving out those new neural pathways, they will become your brain's default mode and what once seemed impossible will be second nature.
5. Be kind to yourself.
Management theory has long proven that working on more than three goals at a time, as an individual or a team, is pointless; there just isn't enough time, attention or energy to go around. Are you trying to do too much? Do you beat yourself up or get depressed when you slip up? You are human, you know! It's bound to happen, and it's okay. Be gentle with yourself and try again. God has given us a new year - don't give up the right to embrace and celebrate it over small mistakes and setbacks!
With the dawn a fresh new year many, if not most of us, have big dreams and bold resolutions in hand. (Which radio commentators like to cheerfully remind us we're likely to break within just a few weeks.)
With that in mind, I'd like to share a few simple pieces of encouragement with you (and as a reminder to myself) as we embrace the promise of our clean slates:
1. A dream without a plan is just a wish.
Wanting something to happen is never enough. We have know where we're going and how we intend to get there. If you don't have a clear plan mapped out to help you get where you want to go, consider taking a few minutes to sketch it out somewhere and put it where you'll see it. Ask for help if you need to!
2. Accountability is crucial. Get a buddy. Share your dreams with people in your life who will support you in trying to reach them. Start or join a support group - even introverts are significantly more likely to reach big goals when they pursue them with others.
3. Use the 20 second rule.
A helpful tip gleaned from several books (most recently The Happiness Advantage). Making an activity more or less accessible by as 20 seconds can be all you need to easily pick up a constructive new habit or to change a bad one. Move the candy dish off your desk to the top of a filing cabinet across the office and watch your snacking habit fall off dramatically. Put your guitar on a stand in the center of your living room instead of in the corner and marvel at how much quicker you are to pick it up. The power of this is amazing - give it a try!
4. Remember that it won't always be a struggle.
I can't remember who originally said this, but the human brain is essentially a collection of habits. When you change habits, you are literally remapping your brain chemistry, which is why it can be so hard! The great news is that once you power through the initial struggle of carving out those new neural pathways, they will become your brain's default mode and what once seemed impossible will be second nature.
5. Be kind to yourself. Management theory has long proven that working on more than three goals at a time, as an individual or a team, is pointless; there just isn't enough time, attention or energy to go around. Are you trying to do too much? Do you beat yourself up or get depressed when you slip up? You are human, you know! It's bound to happen, and it's okay. Be gentle with yourself and try again. God has given us a new year - don't give up the right to embrace and celebrate it over small mistakes and setbacks!
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