Morning Joe

Hilarious :)  BP Spills Coffee

Good Morning Everyone:

As I sit here drinking cup 1 of my 2 cup coffee routine every morning,  I had a thought...

Probably one of the hardest things about taking my stand against Refined Sugar is having to drink black coffee.  If you're like me and love your morning coffee, you probably understand this issue.  Black coffee is like beer to me; it is an acquired taste.  I am used to having half my cup filled with coffee creamer in order to mask the bitterness that comes with black coffee.  Recently, I decided that the creamer wasn't good for me (because of all the fake additives in it), and I have been drinking it with plain white sugar.  That made the coffee taste REALLY good :).  But now that I have promised to go refined sugar free for 30 days, I have to give up all additives in my coffee.  It's been okay so far.  It forces me to drink the coffee at a slower pace (because it doesn't taste like I am drinking a candy bar), and I drink less as a result.

I know what some of you are thinking "why drink the coffee at all?"  The truth is that I love it.  I have been drinking coffee since I was 6-years-old.  Seriously, that's not an exaggeration. When my cousin Brittany and I were young, we loved the coffee creamer that my grandma had in her refrigerator.  My grandma just couldn't justify letting us drink plain coffee creamer, so she would brew some De-Caff coffee and give us one small cup of coffee,extra creamer.  We loved it!  We felt so grown-up drinking our coffee with grandma.  It is one of the best memories I have of my childhood.  I am sure Britt can say the same.

There have been many times in my life that I have tried to quit drinking my morning coffee.  Just like you, I have heard nothing but bad things about it.  I have heard that drinking tea is much better for your body, and that the caffeine is really bad for you.  WELL, it turns out that drinking black coffee is actually GOOD FOR YOU!! Yes coffee drinkers, you read that correctly, and you can rejoice!  Studies have shown that drinking 1-2 cups of coffee per day has significant health benefits when compared to those who don't drink coffee at all.  According to WebMD.com, the health benefits of drinking coffee are the following:

Coffee Drinkers (compared to non-coffee drinkers) are

1)  Less likely to have Type 2 Diabetes
2)  Less likely to have Parkinson's Disease and Dementia
3)  Have fewer cases of certain cancers
4)  Less likely to have hearth rhythm issues
5)  Have fewer cases of strokes

There is no evidence showing  that drinking caffeinated coffee is better than decaffeinated or vice versa.  You must also be aware that the studies being conducted are considering coffee alone, not with the other additives like sugar, milk, creamer, and syrup.

Not only is coffee good for your body, it's good for your mood!  According to an article on philstar.com entitled "11 foods that can make you happy", coffee made the list.  A study in Brazil showed that those who drink a cup of coffee in the morning were less likely to suffer from depression.  It also says that the caffeine in coffee helps improve your mood, make you more alert, and improve memory.

Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, as we all know.  Too much coffee consumption can cause anxiety, lack of sleep, heart problems (because of the increased blood pressure), and occasional irregular heart beat.  All of these problems come from OVER CONSUMPTION of coffee, so just stick to your 1-2 cups per day to stay safe.

So, the next time you reach for your morning joe, be happy that you are making a healthy, mood-improving choice.  Try drinking it black...you may be surprised at how much you like it!

My 2nd cup of coffee is gone, the cup is on the table, and there is a smile on my face.  What a perfect way to start the day!

Sugar Update and Soda Addictions

Hey All,

I took a couple of days to myself because, well, I GOT A JOB!  I am really excited to say that I am the  new Account Administrator at Lockton, Inc. in their risk management department.  I am not sure when I start yet, but  I cannot wait!

Here's an update on what I like to call my "Refined Sugar Strike."  This is my third day without having any refined sugar in my diet, and I am actually surprised with the results.  I was expecting to be having all these crazy cravings for cookies, cake, brownies, ice cream, and all the things I usually reach for when I feel the urge to eat something sweet.  Here's the surprising thing, I haven't had the cravings like I thought I would!  Last night was the first night that I wanted something sugary after dinner (probably because we had a really savory meal).  Instead of reaching for the cookies or baking something sweet, I made a healthy sweet treat for myself.  I took one banana, one tsp of all natural/local honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, a very small amount of vitamin D milk (just to help the consistency), a couple of frozen strawberries (which have the SAME nutritional value as fresh strawberries), and some ice cubes and blended it all together in my blender.  Voila!  I had a healthy ice-cream treat that satisfied my sweet tooth and was good for me!  When I was done, I wasn't feeling bloated, too full, or guilty about my choice.  It was great, and I urge you to try this too when you are craving something sweet :)

Now, there may be some plausible reasons why I am not getting the sugar cravings like I thought I would.  One, I am eating more often and writing it down.  I am not counting calories or dieting or anything like that, but I am eating 6 small meals per day instead of three large meals per day and writing down what I am eating. Why?  Well, I want to see how many servings of fruits and vegetables I am eating per day.  I try to eat 7-8 servings of V's and F's per day because I am training for a marathon, and my diet requires a lot of carbs from fruits and veggies.  There are two reasons why my cravings are stomped out with this diet.  One, I am not as hungry.  When our bodies are extremely hungry, they naturally crave things that are high in calories in order to satisfy them faster.  That's why we crave sugary things later in the day, because our metabolism is faster in the morning and we are therefore more hungry by lunch (if we haven't had a morning snack).  The second reason is because I am eating natural sugars that are in fruits and vegetables.  Just by increasing my F&V intake, I am  increasing my natural sugar intake and therefore becoming both less hungry throughout the day and satisfied with the sugar in the natural foods.

Another reason why I may be decreasing my cravings is because I am exercising in the morning.  Studies have shown that people tend to make healthier food choices after exercise, as opposed to those who do not exercise. So, since I am working out in the morning, I am more likely to make healthier eating choices throughout the day and squash those sugar cravings as a result.

I can already tell that my mind is more clear, I am happier throughout the day and have more energy to do what I want to do. I feel great!

One last thing, I usually don't watch The Dr. Oz Show, but for some reason I did today.  It was actually pretty good.  Apparently, we are not only addicted to sugar as a nation, but we are addicted to soda (or, pop) too!  I know it is harder to quit a soda habit than a sugar habit, trust me.  I know you get headaches, I know you get moody, and I know you get really tired.  But, that's because you are trying to quit cold turkey!  Trying to stop drinking soda completely only sets you up for failure meaning you go back to it just as quickly as you quit it.  Your intentions are good, but just like any addiction, it needs to be done at a slow pace.  Dr. Oz has a 28-day-challenge to help you kick that soda addiction for good!

WEEK 1

Quitting any addiction cold turkey is hard to do and it increases your chance of relapse. This week, switch from all regular soda to diet soda. Add foods high in L-glutamine, like eggs, beans and fish, to your diet. L-glutamine is an amino acid that helps to reduce sugar cravings.

Go Sugar Free

During the first week of the challenge, you will break the addiction to sugar. Switch from regular soda to sugar-free, diet soda only. If you only drink diet soda already, you're one step ahead of the game. Try to consume 1 less can per day.

WEEK 2

As you tackle the second addictive ingredient in soda, remember that headaches are a common symptom of caffeine withdrawal. Add foods rich in vitamin B to your diet, like chickpeas, spinach and whole grain cereal.

Go Caffeine Free

Switch all sugar-free, diet soda to soda that is sugar-free AND caffeine-free.

WEEK 3

As you cut your soda consumption in half, find other fizzy drinks to replace the sodas you've cut. Try carbonated water with a splash of juice or a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime. Try adding coconut water to your carbonated water, it's low in sugar and high in potassium.

Cut Your Consumption by 50%

No cheating. Whatever amount of soda you are currently drinking, cut it in half. If you drink 6 sodas a day, decide which 3 are the most important to you and eliminate the other 3.

WEEK 4

The 4th week of Dr. Oz's 28-Day National Soda Challenge brings total cessation. You are no longer drinking any soda; no sugar-free, diet, or caffeine-free soda. At the end of the week, use the money you would have spent on soda to treat yourself to something that is good for you.

Go Soda Free

If you experience a craving, try chewing sugar-free gum.  Additionally, if you find yourself fixating on soda, find a method of distraction, like taking a walk, doing 10 push-ups or cleaning.

http://members.doctoroz.com/challenge/28-day-national-soda-challenge

All of that was pulled directly off of the Dr. Oz Show website under the URL above.  You can sign up to take the challenge on his website as well.  If you do this, give me updates on your progress!!  I will be sure to keep updating you on my "Refined Sugar Strike" 

Without sugar and soda, our bodies function properly, our brains are fully functioning, and we are generally happier throughout the day!!!  I know my mood has greatly improved, and I hope yours has too :)

Have a blessed day!

Dolce Veleno

I am not sure if any of you know this, but I have a little bit of a sweet tooth.  By that, I mean I could eat an entire medium sized bag of m&m's by myself in one sitting. I figured out yesterday that having a sweet tooth is not something to be proud of, especially if sugar is something you crave.  Once it becomes a craving, it becomes an addiction and therefore, potentially lethal.

Did you know that sugar is actually toxic to the body?  It lacks the natural minerals that your body needs to operate.  So, ingesting it is just as bad for you as ingesting poison in very small doses.  Your body actually goes into survival mode if you eat too much sugar causing calcium to be taken from your bones and teeth in order to protect the blood.  As a result, your bones and teeth decay much faster than they should causing early aging and weakening of the bones.  That's not all.  According to globalhealingcenter.com, sugar effects all organs of the body:

Initially, [sugar] is stored in the liver in the form of glucose (glycogen). Since the liver's capacity is limited, a daily intake of refined sugar (above the required amount of natural sugar) soon makes the liver expand like a balloon. When the liver is filled to its maximum capacity, the excess glycogen is returned to the blood in the form of fatty acids. These are taken to every part of the body and stored in the most inactive areas: the belly, the buttocks, the breasts and the thighs.

When these comparatively harmless places are completely filled, fatty acids are then distributed among active organs, such as the heart and kidneys. These begin to slow down; finally their tissues degenerate and turn to fat. The whole body is affected by their reduced ability, and abnormal blood pressure is created. The parasympathetic nervous system is affected; and organs governed by it, such as the small brain, become inactive or paralyzed. (Normal brain function is rarely thought of as being as biologic as digestion.) The circulatory and lymphatic systems are invaded, and the quality of the red corpuscles starts to change. An overabundance of white cells occurs, and the creation of tissue becomes slower. Our body's tolerance and immunizing power becomes more limited, so we cannot respond properly to extreme attacks, whether they be cold, heat, mosquitoes or microbes.

Excessive sugar has a strong mal-effect on the functioning of the brain. The key to orderly brain function is glutamic acid, a vital compound found in many vegetables. The B vitamins play a major role in dividing glutamic acid into antagonistic-complementary compounds which produce a "proceed" or "control" response in the brain. B vitamins are also manufactured by symbiotic bacteria which live in our intestines. When refined sugar is taken daily, these bacteria wither and die, and our stock of B vitamins gets very low. Too much sugar makes one sleepy; our ability to calculate and remember is lost.

Taking refined sugar daily is something that I have been doing for a while now.  I always thought that having something sweet after each meal is okay as long as it is a small amount.  But, as you all know, sometimes that "small amount" can get out of control...and the next thing you know the entire bag of M&M's is gone.


So...how do we fix this problem?  According to a lot of forums online, the best way to cure a sugar addiction is to quit it cold turkey.  The reason?  Your body responds better to the sugar not being in your body.  Sure, the cravings will be very strong in the first week, but after that it should go away.


My personal goal is to go 30 days without refined sugar, and see how it goes.  Since I am training for a marathon, it will be a lot easier for me to stick to the plan since I run better when I don't eat sugar.  I will be posting daily updates on my progress, feelings, mood, and running endurance without the sugar.  Wish me good luck, and let me know if you would like to join me in the fight to quit sugar!


Remember, sugar is poison.  It's not okay in small, medium, or large amounts because your body doesn't NEED it.  Don't put anything into your body that it doesn't NEED, and it will be happier :)  You will be amazed at how great you feel.


Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!! 

Happy Meals

Hey All:


Since I am on a nutrition kick these days, I feel it is only appropriate to talk about fast food.  I know you are totally aware that fast food is bad for you, bad for me, and bad for society.  So, why do we keep going through the drive thru?  Why is it okay to feed our kids fast food just because it's the "only" thing they will eat? I'm sure all of us have an excuse...and they are probably pretty good because hey, the fast food joints are still in business right?


Well, it might not be completely our faults.  Although we have to take on some responsibility for our choices, and we must admit that we are the ones actually walking into a fast food place and ordering the 1,200 calorie dinner, I am here to tell you that your choice may have been skewed.   According to Tom Philpott on Grist.org, the fast food industry spent a total of 4.2 BILLION dollars on marketing in 2010.  $4.2 Billion!!  Just to put that into perspective, the USDA spends about $6.5 million promoting healthy eating in the USA.  So, for every dollar the fast food industry spends on bringing customers in, the government spends 1/10th of a PENNY educating people about healthy eating.  No wonder we are the most overweight nation in the world.

The largest portion of this money goes toward marketing to children and teenagers.  Hence, the Happy Meal. I know the Happy Meal is just a marketing ploy to get kids to ask their parents to go to McDonald's, not just because of the name, but because they also get a cool toy included in their meal!  To be honest, the toy is probably the only thing "happy" about the Happy Meal.  The chicken nugget happy meal with the small fries and milk at McDonald's has a total of 520 calories, 26 grams of saturated fat, and 650 grams of sodium.  That is WAY more than the average ADULT should be eating for a meal calorie wise, not to mention the fat and sodium intake is too much for a single day...let alone a single meal.


That got me thinking, what are the true "happy meals" in our diets?  What kind of food should we eat to be happier?  It's obviously not the Happy Meal from McDonald's.  That would make you feel that guilt that we talked about the other day, and therefore unhappy.  The best mood boosting foods (according to bettyconfidential.com) are the following:

Tryptophan-Rich Foods:

Tryptophan is one of the ten essential amino acids and helps our brains produce serotonin, which makes us feel relaxed and in control. Food that has tryptophan can help fight depression, insomnia and anxiety. Foods containing tryptophan include:

-Milk (Vegan? Drink hemp milk- hemp seeds contain all ten essential amino acids!)
-Cashews
-Sunflower Seeds
-Pumpkin Seeds
-Bananas
-Avocados

For the full effect of tryptophan, it is best to eat these items uncooked.

Fruits rich in Antioxidants & Vitamin C:

Fruit like blueberries and oranges are known to contain a high amount of antioxidants and vitamin C, both are helpful for reducing feelings of stress.

Vegetables Rich in Antioxidants & Folic Acid:

Spinach, broccoli and kale are full of folic acid which help produce serotonin (just like tryptophan does).

Chocolate:

Contains anadamine, a chemical naturally found in the brain that is known to brighten our mood and make us feel happier. Enjoy in moderation as the sugar in chocolate might contribute to other issues.

Nuts:

Nuts are rich in minerals, protein and omega-3 fats. Omega-3 is not only good for both your heart and brain, large doses of it have been used to treat clinical depression. Nuts also contain vitamin E, an antioxidant that combats stress. Brazilian nuts such as cashews, almonds and pistachios have been proven to lower blood pressure and calm our nervous system.

So, if you're feeling a little moody, down, depressed, lethargic, or sad today...don't think that just running through the drive-thru on your way home will relieve your stress.  We all know that doing so might make you feel better at first, but the guilt you feel later is much worse.  Instead, turn to one of these mood-boosting foods!  You will most definitely feel better physically and mentally....and as a result...happier :)

Thanks for visiting...and as always, have a blessed day :)

Excuses, Excuses

I know eating healthy isn't the easiest thing to do.  Want to know why that is?  It's because that's what we are supposed to do.  Honestly.  We are supposed to eat our vegetables. We are supposed to stay away from those cookies that Jan brought into work for everyone to share.  We are supposed to watch how much we eat.  And on and on it goes.  We are so worried about the right thing to do that the "wrong" food becomes all too attractive to us.  And that my friends, is sssooo dangerous.  Why?  Well, because the next thing you know you are on a binge.  You are making excuses; convincing yourself that it is okay to stuff your face.

But we all know how we feel when we are done:  guilty, self loathing, and disappointed.  Sure, you might feel good while you are eating that bad food, and there is a scientific reason why.  While you binge eat or indulge in that bad food, your brain releases dopamine:  the "reward system" of the brain.  Your brain is telling you that you are being rewarded at the time--and believe it or not, dopamine is also released when someone is getting a drug fix.  So, you are not only binge eating, you are technically riding on a high.  That explains why when you are done, you feel guilty--it's because your high is over and you've sobered up.

The best way to avoid this:  stop making excuses.  Did you know that there is a holiday in every single month except for August?  January has New Years Day, February has Valentines Day, March has St. Patrick's Day, April has Easter, May has Mother's Day and Memorial Day, June has Father's Day, July has the 4th of July, August (nothin'), September has Labor Day, October has Halloween, November has Thanksgiving, and December has Christmas.  That don't even include all the birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, family reunions, family vacations, concerts, BBQ's, weddings, and sporting events that you attend throughout the year.  Now think, is there a single one of those holidays where you don't go out to dinner, bring a bunch of bad food to share, drink alcohol, or indulge in the food you love?   I don't know about you, but I find it easier to indulge when I a celebrating something.  I find myself saying "Well, it's the Fourth of July, so it's okay if I have a brat" or "It's Amy's Birthday, so it would be rude if I didn't have a piece of cake"  and my favorite "Everyone eats like this over Christmas, I will just workout extra hard tomorrow."  Sound familiar?  I thought so, because we all do it.  I find that this makes me unhappy all year, because there is always an excuse to eat like crap.

There is something to be said for this.  Maybe this is why people find it hard to find happiness.  It is so difficult to be proud of yourself when there is always an excuse to be made.  There is always something to celebrate...and we celebrate by stuffing our faces only to be unhappy later about it.  Is that celebrating?  I don't think so.

So, the next time you find yourself making an excuse, think about it.  Remember how unhappy you will be later if you indulge.  Instead, walk away.  Be happy that you don't have to make an excuse.  You will be so proud of yourself for being strong.  Remember, if you are celebrating something, you don't have to do so by eating the house.  Find other things to do like play a board game, tell stories in the living room (not the kitchen where all the food is displayed), watch a movie (without the buttery popcorn), etc.  You will have so much more fun celebrating this way!  As a result, you won't have the dopamine telling you how happy you are.  You will be truly excited, which is the best feeling of all.

You Are What You Eat

This post is inspired by Mary Jo Brugger (my future mother-in-law)  Thanks MJ :)

You've heard it a million times from your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles,and cousins.  It's said on the radio, tv, and in the movies.  It is even the commercial slogan for Pediasure Sidekicks at the moment.  It's the phrase "You are what you eat", and it's never been more true.

Now, before I get going with this, I want to make something clear.  I am NOT promoting a diet program.  In fact, I am a firm believer that no one should diet.  In my experience, diets make people less healthy not only physically, but emotionally and mentally as well.  I believe that your body gives you cues as to what it needs including hunger, what you're hungry for, and how much to feed it.  So, again, I am not writing this because I feel as though everyone should diet.  I am writing this piece because I believe good nutrition and happiness go hand-in-hand.

Think about your eating habits.  Are they good, bad, or average?  Let me give you a little guideline.  A "good" diet means you are eating 60% carbs from fruits and vegetables, 30% protein (lean protein like eggs, chicken, salmon, turkey), and 10% good fats (from almonds, olive oil, and fish oil).  You should be eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and a very little amount of your carb intake should be from wheat/grains.  You eat refined sugar in extreme moderation, and your caffeine intake is moderate as well (one-two cups of coffee per day).  You rarely drink soda or sugary drinks and never consume fake sugar.  An "average" diet is if you get about 2-3 servings of vegetables per day and try to eat healthy.  A "bad" diet is if you are not even close to following this guideline.

Now that we have classified how you eat, now think about how you feel.  Do you feel tired after you eat?  Are you sluggish, have trouble focusing, unmotivated, and irritable throughout the day for no reason? If you answered yes, chances are that you are not eating the proper diet.  Even if you are an "average" eater, you probably still experience a good amount of these symptoms.  It's no secret that Americans don't eat the best, but what I don't understand is just because it is the norm, why does that make it acceptable?  The fact is, we are poisoning ourselves, passing on these eating habits to our children, and are miserable because of it.

So, with that being said, I want to conduct a little experiment with you all.  If you classified yourself as a "good" eater, I want you to eat horribly one or two days this week.  Don't by any means binge eat, but just choose unhealthier options ( an example would be pop-tarts for breakfast, pizza for lunch, chicken strips for dinner).  By the end of the day, I want you to write down how you feel.  Write down everything from your mood to your physical feelings (stomach, head, heart).  Now, if you are an average to bad eater, try eating by the guidelines I gave you, and do the same thing at the end of the days.  Post your results on the blog, and we will talk about why you are getting those results later in the week.

I also think it is not only "You are what you eat", but "You are what you consume."  What do I mean by that? Well, I mean everything that you put into your body including soft drinks and prescription drugs.  Below is an article about Aspartame:  The fake sugar they put into Diet Soda, low sugar cereal, yogurt, ice cream, gum, sports drinks, crystal light, jello, or anything you can think of.  Many of us believe that if the label says it is good for you by saying "no sugar", "zero calories", or "lowered sugar", then it will help us lose weight.  The fact is, however, that your body has no idea how to digest the ingredients in these modified foods because they are being made with unnatural substances like aspartame, corn syrup, and natural/artificial flavors.  As a result, ANYTHING that your body cannot recognize as a substance to digest will be stored as fat.  So, these products literally puts more fat onto your body which causes stress, weight gain, lack of energy, and exhaustion.  And, it is sneaky.  The side effects that aspartame gives you disguise itself as other diseases such as Grave's Disease, and can be lethal.  Not only does it give you negative side effects, your risk of having a child with birth defects is higher! Enough to make you to read the labels? Well, if I can't convince you, maybe this article can: http://aspartame.mercola.com/

Lastly, I want to talk about medicine.  Don't get me wrong, I believe medicine has its place, and if you are taking and antibiotic to get rid of an illness by all means please continue doing so.  I am talking about medicine that we take to suppress pain, prevent pregnancy, and lower our blood pressure.  The fact is that by taking this medicine we are messing with the body's natural function.  We are allowing the drugs to control our bodies and preventing the body from do its thing.  As a result, the body lets the drug take over and it quits doing things naturally like releasing hormones, healing, digesting, lowering blood pressure, and balancing our brain chemistry.   As a long-term result:  we are sicker, depressed, and are more susceptible to brain disorders.  Don't believe me?  Read this:  (Focus on #4):  http://www.feelgoodbuzz.com/tag/prescription-drugs

It is no secret that I believe it is only when our bodies are balanced out that we can start being happy.  That cannot happen without proper nutrition all around.  Putting the right things into your body will allow it to function properly.  I think we sometimes forget that our brains are in our bodies, and it is our brain that releases the "happy" hormone.  Feed it right, and it will make you happy.  It's that easy.

Remember what your mother told you: "You Are What You Eat."  Try my experiment, and let me know the results!

Thanks for visiting!  See you tomorrow :)

Ellen Degeneres is truly "Generes"

As all of you know by now, I am unemployed at the moment.  I'll tell ya, looking for a job is time consuming!  It has now been 2 months, and thank goodness I am going to hear from a couple of jobs this week because I don't know if I can take being at home anymore!  Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the time off and I admire people who stay at home.  For me, however, it is not working out.

One of the best things that has come from me being home is the amount of TV I can watch!  Sure, the daytime television gets old, but it has been nice to just sit back, relax, and watch a meaningless show.  Now, having a blog about seeking happiness while watching TV all the time seems contradictory since there is so much negativity in the media.  It's not so obvious, this negativity, but it's there.  Whether it's a news anchor telling you a tragic story about a death, tornado, flood, kidnapping, etc. or a show portraying the false-perfect life of the model-woman-police officer with the perfect family, or a Doctor Show telling you that you have symptoms of a fatal disease and you'll be dying tomorrow, or all the commercials with the false-perfect looking-people, or whatever.  But, just like most of you, I understand that the media is what it is and laugh at the negativity.  It's sad, really, that our entertainment has to remind us all the time how perfect the world could be in our imperfect worlds.  Why can't the media be real?  Well I guess it wouldn't be as entertaining that way.

There is one show that I have found to be the biggest relief of my day.  That show is Ellen.  Ellen Degeneres has her own talk show similar to all the other talk shows out there.  The difference I have found with Ellen, however, is that she truly cares about people.  There was a re-run of her show on the other day that was pretty cool.  It was the week before her birthday (January 26th--just like me!), and a fan had made her a beautiful birthday cake decorated with her name on it and some characters from her movies.  Ellen had this cake displayed on her coffee table set right in front of her interview chair, so people could see it throughout the show. She also had the woman who decorated the cake on the show so she could help promote the woman's business!  Also, on every single show, Ellen dances with the audience.  It is so cool that she just goes right into the stands and busts a groove with the people who came to see her show. That got me thinking, would other celebrities do this?  Would they take the time to thank their fans for their generosity?  Would they take the time to realize that they may motivate us to succeed in life?  Would they take the time to help, make sure the world is happy, and take the time to just dance?  I'm not sure, but Ellen does.  She brings a little happiness into my unemployed world everyday, and gives me hope that life can be good no matter what.

They say laughter is the best medicine.  I agree to an extent.  Ellen makes us laugh (because after all she is a comedian). But she brings so much more than laughter.  She brings us back to our happy places by dancing, playing games, making a fool of herself, giving, thanking, and truly appreciating the support she has.  So, maybe it's not just laughter that makes us feel good.  Maybe is it truly seeing the good in the world that is the best medicine.  I believe we all have the capability to see true goodness, meaningful generosity, and sincere compassion.  When we see it in ourselves we feel fantastic, but we expect it because it is within ourselves.  It is when we see it in unexpected places like on TV or in the grocery store do we really feel great.  There is just something about seeing others do good that makes us more content that the world is a happy place, and that God is everywhere.  I see a little bit of that generosity in Ellen everyday on her show, and it makes me happy that a person with such great status can use it for good instead of her own personal gain.

I hope you go out and record an episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show this week just to see what I am talking about!  She really is fantastically funny.  If you don't smile at least once throughout the show than you can e-mail me and tell me I am wrong.  But I doubt that will happen :)

I also hope you stop and look around this week.  Sure, there is negativity everywhere, but there is also good everywhere.  Stop and focus on the good that is going on around you instead of the bad.  It takes some work, but you might just feel a little  better about your world, if only for a brief moment.  I found little breath of fresh air in the negativity that is TV, and I hope to see more of it this week as well.

Here's a little clip from You-Tube that highlights the funniest moments of Ellen's first 1000 episodes:  Enjoy :):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHKxE7opwBU

Have you seen random acts of generosity recently?  If so, where?  How did it make you feel?  Let me know!  I would love to hear your stories!

Thanks for visiting! See you tomorrow and have a blessed day :)

"Faith Makes Things Possible, Not Easy"

Good Morning Everyone!

I am in a great mood today because it was the first time that I ran 9 miles since training for my half-marathon in April!  Our team ran around Creve Coeur Lake, which is about 20 minutes from my house.  Not only was this the first time that I ran 9 miles in a while, it was also the first time I ran with my Team In Training group who is raising money to fund cancer research.  I joined this team for a couple of reasons.  One, I wanted to raise money for a cause since it is a lot easier to train if you are doing it for a good purpose.  Two, I wanted to meet new people since I am working on making more friends (hence, the blog post yesterday!).  Three, and probably the most important, I am proud to run in memory of Deb Olsen, who loved to run and was sadly taken from us in June due to cancer.  Team in Training (or TNT for short) raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help fund cancer research, and helps athletes train for events like marathons and triathlons.  Everyone on the team runs in honor or in memory of someone they know who has suffered from cancer.  The stories I hear everyday are unbelievable, and keep me motivated to keep fundraising and running.

This morning, I met a guy named Chris, who has lived in the St. Louis area his whole life.  He caught up to me and asked if he could run along side me.  As we ran we had some small talk about where we were from, the competitions we have done, what our significant others do, etc.  Coming up on the 9 mile mark, Chris finally broke the ice and asked why I was running for TNT.  I told him all about Deb, the Olsens, and having the challenge of running a full marathon.  Then I asked him why he is running.  He slowed down a little, put his head down, and took a long deep breath.  At first I thought he was just tired from running and talking, but then I realized that he was fighting back tears.  After about a minute of preparation, he told me that his 4-year-old son's friend in preschool was diagnosed with Leukemia in November of last year.  4-years-old.  He is going through chemotherapy now and will be done with treatment by the time we run the marathon in October.  After he told me the story, we ran in silence for about five minutes.  It was like a little moment of silence for the people we were running for, for all the people who suffer from cancer, and to remember why we were training.

Chris and I said our good-byes and see-you-next-weeks, and went back to our lives.  I was feeling pretty good about the fact that I had just ran 9 miles.  Anybody driving past me on the road was probably laughing at me because I was singing at the top of my lungs and smiling like a fool.  I didn't care, I felt great!

I was almost home when I saw my inspiration for today.  On a sign of a little bitty church there was a phrase saying "Faith makes things possible, not easy."  I thought this was a perfect way to summarize a lot of things in life.  Right now, I have faith that I can train hard and run this marathon in October.  I have faith that I will meet new friends throughout this journey.  I have faith that Garrett will get through school.  And, I have faith that I will find a job (even though it seems like it's taking FOREVER).  Absolutely none of these things that I have faith in are easy.  Also, these things I have faith in are not even close to the faith other people need to have.  Chris has faith that little Avery will survive cancer.  There are children who are starving that have faith they will have a meal soon. Having faith in all of these things means that we trust that things will turn out, and that it is out of our control.  God has other plans for the outcome sometimes, but that is where having faith and trust will get you through.

My point here is that sometimes people get confused with faith and ease.  Just because you believe in a higher power, and have faith in God (whatever God you believe in), doesn't mean that your life will be carefree and easy.  Having faith gets you through the hard stuff.  Having faith reminds you of endless possibilities, and how hard we have to work to get there.  Without faith, there is nothing to look forward to, nothing to strive for, nothing to believe, and really nothing to live for.

My message to you today is to have faith!  If you are going through a hard time at the moment, I am so sorry that you are suffering.  I ask you especially to have faith that things will get better.  If you are the happiest you have ever been in your whole life, I ask you to have faith that it was a hard road to get there, and although you are proud, you did not do it alone.  In the middle people (that's me!), have faith in yourself, in others, and in love.

Without faith, we are nothing.

Thanks for visiting!  If you would like to donate to my fundraising page, please visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/gat/rnrstlou11/kfuchskjza .  I am only about 20% of the way there, so every little bit counts.

Make sure to comment on the page and let me know what you think!

Have a blessed day :)
Kelli

I'm Back Again

Hello Again Friends,


I am so sorry that I haven't posted a blog in a long time!!  I have been busy with interviews, going home to see family, and babysitting.  It's not a bad reason to be away I guess, but I did miss talking with you guys every day.  Here is an update on what is going on with me (if you care!)  
      1) I hear today if I got a job at a place called Lockton.  It is an insurance brokerage company that helps corporations with their insurance benefits and risk management.  I would be working in the risk management department which handles their largest accounts (I'm talkin' Budweiser big).  I am really hoping to get that job, but if I don't I have an interview on Monday for a local bank.
     2)  I am selling my car!!  I was a little concerned about this at first because I love that car.  However, it will be better to get rid of it now so someone else can appreciate it more than I could.  They only made the Monte Carlo Supercharged for 1 year, so it's pretty rare.  (Let me know if you're interested....I am selling it for a really good price just to get rid of it!)



    3)  I am running a marathon in October.  My training is going well, but my fundraising..not so much.  I have to raise a minimum of $1,400 by the race just to run with my team and so far I only have $275 raised.  I am selling Macy's coupons for $5 and doing a bake sale soon. Hopefully those will help.  Here is my fundraising page if you are interested: http://pages.teamintraining.org/gat/rnrstlou11/kfuchskjza


Anyway, that's enough about me...let's get back to the good stuff.  Summer is a good time to talk about being happy because it seems as though everyone is a little more chipper from June to August.  The number one reason:  the sun.  My mom told me one time that they often tell depressed patients to go outside for at least 30 minutes a day.  It makes sense.  Vitamin D is essential to our overall health...and especially important for our happiness.  Since it lighter for longer in the summer, it is no wonder why everyone is so happy!  I don't know about you, but I am more willing to go out with friends during the summer months.  There is so much more to do when the weather is nice, and we can hang out in that good weather all day instead of having to hibernate by 5pm like we do in the winter months.


That got me thinking...do I have enough friends?  In the past couple of years I have been working on making as many friends as possible, and to get out of my comfort zone.  I have been doing okay, but I also could be doing a lot better.  The thing is, close personal relationships are the key to being happy.  Seriously, the science proves it!  According to an article written by Gretchen Rubin, writer for Good Housekeeping, "Studies show that if you have five or more close friends with whom to discuss an important matter, you're far more likely to describe yourself as 'very happy'".   Not only can having close friends make you  happier, it can lengthen your life, decrease your risk for depression, and boost immunity.  This makes perfect sense to me because I am strong believer that if you are happy, your body will naturally balance itself out.  


So, what does that mean for us?  Well, stop and think for a second.  How many close friends do you have?  If something is going on in your life, who do you talk to?  If that number is less than 5, you're not necessarily unhappy, but you're not as happy as you could be.  To be perfectly honest, my number is less than 5, but I have the power to change that and so do you.  I think the biggest problem here is that we (especially me) don't like to bother people with our own lives because we feel we are intruding.  But, how do you feel when your friends share something personal with you?  Pretty good right?  So, that number can be easily increased by simply sharing more with our friends.  Now, this doesn't have to be our deepest darkest secrets, and it is more than saying "I went to the grocery store today."  Truly make an effort to share.  You'll find it is easier than you think.  And best of all, you will feel better :)


Also, make an effort to show up.  If one of your friends invites you to a BBQ, out for drinks, or out for lunch, SAY YES!  This increases your relationship bond because that friend realizes that you are willing to put your busy life aside to meet up with her/him.  Plus, what's the worst that could happen?  You have good conversation?  Trust me, it's worth it.  This is something I will be working on in the next month, and I hope you will too.


Visit http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/emotional/five-secrets-to-lifelong-friends to read the entire article by Gretchen Rubin.  She gives great advice on how to make new friends and maintain good relationships.  It is a very short article and worth the read!


Thanks for visiting.  Please feel free to comment below or send me an e-mail.  Have a happy day :)


P.S. The Sparkling Grapevine was inspired by the phrase "I heard it through the grapevine".  We often associate this with gossip, but that's not what I am here to do.   I am here to spread happiness, and I hope to do that "through the grapevine."  When something sparkles, it is beautiful, bubbly, pure, and full of light.  It is not dark, manipulative, or shameful.  So, I am hoping to spread the beautiful, pure nature that happiness is.  Hence, The Sparkling Grapevine.