Category: Uncategorized

Ultimate Date Night?

Ultimate Date Night?

Yes, you got it, I’m referring to Valentine’s Day. At least, a lot of my friends and acquaintances seem to think of it as the ultimate date night – and here I thought I was past all of that – apparently not!

For those of you feeling the pressure of coming up with yet another unforgettable evening of fun and games for the ‘big day,’ relax, here are a few affordable suggestions to help take the pressure off:

1 – Compliments!!!
Whatever you do, remember to pour on the heartfelt compliments – focus on the positive. They’re appreciated and truly do help to strengthen the relationship.

2 – Dinner after the movie.
Plan to have dinner after the movie. This arrangement makes for better conversation for those in new relationships while giving those in seasoned relationships yet another opportunity to tune into each other.

3 – Go on your first date again.
This one is especially for those in established relationships: re-enact your first date. Re-enactments rekindle the original emotions (beware of this one if the first date was a disaster).

4 – Low tech please.
Ditch the phones…enough said!

5 – Date jar.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to launch a new traditional in an existing relationship: the date jar. Put fun and affordable ‘date ideas’ in the jar as you think of them. Pick any two when it’s time for a date and go for it! This adds a bit of fun and spontaneity back into the relationship without over-burdening the budget.

6 – Handholding.
Regardless of the activity, respectful PDA turns it into a date.

7 – Make it a double.
Maintaining a friendship with another couple helps solidifies each relationship and intensifies the attraction the individual couples have for each other.

8 – Leave sweet notes for each other throughout the day leading up to the date.
Build anticipation for the date by leaving notes on the mirror, in the car, in pockets, or in the lunch bag/box. This is also nice to do in general, not just on Valentine’s Day.

9 – Make it ‘Favorite Date’ night.
Do his / her favorite thing and vice versa. For example, she loves French restaurants (he, not so much) and he loves action movies (she, not so much) so they rarely do these things together. On Valentine’s Day, they go to an action movie then out to dinner at a French restaurant. Shared experiences build stronger relationships.

10 – Not just for ‘sweethearts,’ but also for the ‘sweet of heart.’
I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a day for those who are genuinely ‘sweet of heart.’ You know the people of whom I speak. They can always put a smile on your face, even on your worst day – maybe the pharmacy clerk who never gets flustered or the librarian who can always find the right book or the usher at church who never fails to get you to the pew on time. Remember them on this loveliest of days as well.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Let’s Have a Glass Half Full

“For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use being anything else.”
– Sir Winston Churchill

What an attitude!

It’s not always easy to see the bright side when all those around you are preaching doom and gloom.

Sir Winston Churchill had a good point, there’s not much use being anything else.

What say you? How about a glass half full today?

Friday Frolic #2 – Decadent Detox Bath

Time for another Friday Frolic! This time we’re going to relax, detox and get a fresh start.

Let’s be honest, we all have those days, weeks, months when nothing is going right and we feel every challenge in every fiber of our bodies. When that happens, it’s time for a nice, long detoxing bath that’s simple and easy to do with things you probably have around the house.

Keep in mind that during and after a detox bath, it’s important to hydrate well and rest. I, therefore, recommend this as an evening activity. So, gather together a few magazines or that book you’ve been meaning to finish as well as some juice, sparkling water, herbal tea or simply some chilled water as well as a candle or two to set the mood – think of your bathroom as your very own spa and develop the ambience you expect and that delights your senses.

To put together the detox bath itself you only need three ingredients:

1 Cup Epsom salts
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
10-15 drops Lavender Essential Oil

Dissolve the Epsom salts and baking soda in very warm bath water, then drop the essential oil on the surface of the water just before entering the bath. Another, add-in to try is to add one cup of dry milk powder to soften and smooth the skin. This is especially delightful in the winter when the skin is in need of extra special pampering as the lactic acid in the milk sloughs off the dead skin allowing the new skin underneath to receive the moisturizing qualities more directly.

Soak for at 20 minutes – add more warm water as time passes, if needed, to maintain a comfortably warm temperature in the tub. When you’re done soaking, be sure to rinse off the residue of the soak in a quick, tepid shower. Pat yourself dry (no rubbing), before applying a rich, creamy body lotion or cream to seal in the luxurious goodness of this treatment. Now is the time for the coziest pajamas, fluffiest robe and big mug of hot herbal tea – preferably not a diuretic variety since you need to hydrate after detoxing. Before long, you’ll find yourself nodding off and ready for bed. Don’t fight it, you deserve an early bedtime. You’ve earned it. Enjoy!

See you next Friday for another frolic…enjoy your weekend…

Unexpected Consequences

I alluded to this blog post in an earlier post last week. A post about not wasting bananas of all things.

Over the past several years, the news media has made a bit of a fuss about a certain public figure and her opinions about nutrition in public schools. In fact, her opinions have been supported by many in and out of the field of nutrition. I, for one, will not try to argue that I personally am qualified to declare school lunches nutritional enough. In fact, I was often so hungry by lunchtime I barely took the time to identify the food, let alone consider its nutritional value.

That aside, a related quandary was why in the world were there ever vending machines selling junk food allowed into schools? In many cases, they were introduced into school environments as passive fundraising opportunities. The objections came from the quality of the snacks – junk food only. Vending machines selling even marginally healthy snacks, e.g. nuts, granola bar, juice, fruit, etc. could be argued for in some circles. Consequently, it came as no big surprise to many when they were taken out of most (if not all) schools as a result of highly public figures speaking out against them, bolstered by the cries of outraged parents and dieticians everywhere.

So far, this doesn’t sound like a bad thing, does it? Now, go to your local middle school and stand by the trash can in the cafeteria and watch what the children do to get their ‘chip fix’ now. They take the lunch directly to the trash can, keep the chips and throw everything else away – the fruit, the milk, the entrée, everything! Sure, not every child does this, but even if 20% of the children do this in 50% of the schools, there’s enough food going in the dumpsters every day to feed a good percentage of the food-insecure in those same communities.

Then, the children leave the cafeteria to find the Booster Club, Sports Teams, Cheerleaders, Science Club or some other club selling chocolate bars, popcorn, pizza, nachos or any of a myriad of junk food in the halls to raise funds for their many worthy causes. The same halls where the vending machines used to stand doing the same thing – raising funds for worthy causes at the school.

Could anyone have seen this coming? Is there anything that can be done to fix it? I certainly don’t have the answers, but I do have a question: Were the vending machines really that big of a deal when compared to kids throwing away their lunches as a means to getting a bag a chips?

Remember, waste not, want not…

February Goals

Good morning, everyone!

Another Monday morning, another new month, another opportunity to set some goals for the next few weeks. Perfect timing since I’m writing this blog now and participating in The Daily Post’s Blogging University Blogging 201 course and our first assignment is to set three goals for our blogs.

Why am I telling you this? Because I think of this blog not just as a place for me to spew forth my thoughts on the printed page but, rather, as a community of sorts where we can share thoughts and ideas. As such a community, goals affect the members since the members affect the goals. Also, as a community, I have an obligation to you to let you know what to expect from me.

To be honest, the thought of setting goals for the blog gave me pause because it felt a little ‘corporate’ but, then I thought about it and realized it’s no different than planning to do anything else. When I need to go to the grocery store, I have a plan so why shouldn’t I have a plan for this activity? Without a plan, things don’t happen so here goes with the goals for this blog for February:

1 – Write daily and publish here at least three times weekly (once will be the Friday Frolics Feature).
2 – Read and comment on other blogs at least three times weekly.
3 – Increase the followers of this blog by 50% by February 28th.

Now, that I’ve set some goals for the blog, there needs to be some follow up (accountability) as well. To that end, on the first Monday of each month I will update you (the followers of this blog) on:

1 – The previous month’s results versus goals.
2 – Recovery plan for any shortfall(s) to goal(s).
3 – The new goals for the new month.

I’m looking forward to growing this blogging community to share more thoughts and ideas as we grow.

“If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us.” – Jim Rohn

Friday Frolics #1 – Easy Banana Cake

Welcome to the inaugural posting for Friday Frolics here at EMGN Designs’ blog.

Friday Frolics will be a variety of things but the common thread will be sharing: a recipe, a DIY project, a craft project, a crochet pattern, a life hack or the like.

Today’s sharing (frolic) is an incredibly easy Banana Cake recipe that doesn’t even require a mixing bowl! That’s right, some measuring cups and spoons, a 9×9 baking pan, a fork and the simple ingredients and you are good-to-go for this delicious and well-loved delight.

The reason for this recipe is another example of ‘waste not, want not’ as in a previous post of mine. Too many bananas, not enough time to eat them. You may ask why I would purchase so many bananas. I didn’t. I will explain how I came into possession of too many bananas in a post next week – “Unexpected Consequences.”
So, let’s get on with this week’s recipe:

EASY BANANA CAKE

Ingredients:

1-1/2 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
A pinch of Salt
2/3 Cup Chopped Pecans (optional)*
2 Mashed Very Ripe Bananas
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Large Eggs

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Put flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pecans in ungreased 9×9 inch square baking pan (8×8 inch square will work too). Stir ingredients together with a fork until well-blended.
Add remaining ingredients and stir only until blended and smooth. Scrape sides and corners.
Put pan in oven on middle rack. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack. Cut into 9 squares and enjoy!

*The pecans can be eliminated or you can change the add-ins in various ways as long as you maintain the 2/3 cup ratio to the recipe when using add-ins. For example, I like to put 1/3 cup pecans and 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips for a sweet surprise or swap out the pecans altogether in favor of 2/3 cups blueberries. When I make this to give as gifts, I eliminate the nuts altogether, mix the ingredients in a mixing bowl, use loaf pans, add 10 minutes cooking time and have a more traditional looking banana ‘bread’ loaf as a result.

Remember, this is a Friday Frolic so if you have a couple of bananas lingering that are past their prime, here’s a quick and easy way to make good use of them while having a bit of a creative frolic as well.

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

Decide not to be reduced

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Maya Angelou

Rebirth of Lisa, this one is for all of us out here who struggle everyday to see the path; we shall not be reduced by the events who brought us to this juncture.

We shall rise above.

Library Card

Here’s something to think about:

Everything you need for your better future and success has already been written. And guess what? It’s all available. All you have to do is go to the library. And guess what? Only three percent of the people in America have a library card. Wow, they must be expensive! No, they’re free. Probably in every neighborhood. Three per cent!
– Jim Rohn

Don’t even get me started on the availability of the Internet.

Mystery Box

What’s this? A box labelled, “Open me, if you dare…”

Obviously, this was left here by someone who doesn’t know me very well. The best way to get me ‘off the dime’ is to dare me, so here we go! First the ribbon, now the paper and off comes the lid! What’s inside for me?

A day without pain.

That simple. No more, no less.

Just one day. Not a lifetime, a year, or even a week. Just one day without the wracking physical pain that makes every movement torture. Describe it, you say? Imagine the second or third day of the worst flu you’ve ever had. Now, increase the magnitude by fifty times and you have my ‘good day.’ We won’t talk about the ‘bad days.’ Add to that, the mental anguish of PTSD and depression and you know why I’d wish for one day’s respite as a mystery gift from the universe.

Okay, back to reality. Since that mystery box from the universe isn’t happening today, let’s move on with daily affirmations and positive activities. Get up and get going. Move through the daily routine of mindful, meditative activities that soothe the body and heal the mind. Something as simple as keeping the house orderly can help tame the chaos in a ravaged mind. Taking time for creative activities such as painting, music, crochet, knitting, cooking or other crafts on a daily basis is another way of staying physically active while re-creating positive pathways in the brain.

Thanks for your time today. Here’s to hoping for your mystery box to arrive today.

More Holidays

I know, I know, we just finished with a whole batch of holidays – the heavy-hitters, if you will, but those of us who are ‘crafters’ know there are always more to come.

In this case, some of the lesser holidays can be some of the more lucrative in terms of novelty sales. Anticipating the upcoming holidays months ahead can give you the jump on your competition. After all, thinking of Valentine’s Day in January, Easter in February, or Mother’s Day in March isn’t nearly as hard as prepping Christmas in July!

Crafters everywhere plan ahead because we need the time to, well, craft, so if you haven’t already, get busy! Time’s a’ wastin’! The world is waiting for those hearts delightful for Valentine’s Day and bunny ears so dear for Easter and candles, soaps and scents galore for Mother’s Day. Looking for another idea? Here’s one that works nicely for gifts as well as a treat for yourself:

RELAXING BATH BARS

Materials & Tools
Epsom salts
Baking soda
Glycerin
Spa or soap dye (optional)
Fragrance oil (optional)
Small soap molds
Mixing bowl
Butter knife

What to Do
Mix 2/3 cup Epsom salts and 1/3 cup baking soda in a mixing bowl.
Add five drops glycerin and just enough water to moisten the mixture. Stir well.
If using dye, add gradually, stirring between drops, until you’re happy with the color.
If using fragrance, stir in three drops of fragrance oil and mix well. You may add additional fragrance one drop at a time if you like a stronger effect.
Fill each mold with mixture. Press mixture into mold firmly; use butter knife to smooth top of mold. Remove excess from the sides of the mold.
Invert molds on a paper towel and tap lightly to remove the bath bar. Allow to dry overnight.
Package in small boxes, bags, tissue or tulle with ribbons.

To Use
Dissolve bars in tub under hot, running water. Get in and relax your cares away.