Gonnas be'GONE!

What I am writing about is not unusual for most of us when we make changes in our lives wanting to do things differently, see things differently and act accordingly.  It is part of a very flawed humanity, where people often in a need to level a playing field if they feel threatened or insecure, to diminish someone else worth when they see change. We do not have to look far to see that happening.

You do not have to be famous, wealthy, beautiful, highly skilled, educated or intelligent or skinny for it to happen. Just shift a hair and see what happens...

I just for once, was curious as I've entered my 6th decade, to understand without wasting too much time or energy, into comprehend why people, especially when it comes to engaging into a healthier, fuller life, why it seems to make others uncomfortable.

In the last several months, I have released over 60 pounds doing it realistically, holistically & carefully.

I still in order to reach my goal, have another 30-50lbs to glow; but it shall be done.  I am now looking to incoporate light weights, take a dance class and other things over the next several months...


  I am not doing it to catch a man, that I was ashamed of myself before or that I want to be out of plus size clothes.  And I thought that my doing this was about me, for me.

It is...

I am not running a race.  I am not trying to compare myself to anyone else nor trying to prove anything to anyone.  I thought I was a pretty cool mama before I began...Competition has never been my forte', I dislike it intensely.

But since the appreciable weight is being noticed also come the what I call the "gonnas" who are always gonna do something but never do & then they have to find fault with you because I did, not going to.  I had to get to a place in myself to accomplish this and I will be doggone if I will let the gonnas stop me.

 I more then proud of myself that I've held my ground...

I've learned that the sun was going to rise as it did so beautifully yesterday & the rain will fall as it did today nourishing my organic garden, no matter what the gonnas said or did.

And I am not going to be any less then the sum of who I am no matter what the goonas, gonna do.

Someone commented to me today that some jealousy could be involved; that some took my ability to speak well, my (as he put it) formidable strength, that if some one comes to me "they better have their A game ready" that the sum of who I am might scare some.

And you know what? They better (have their A game ready).

I am more then pleased with myself that after a very long time and struggle, I've gotten to the point where I came to know no matter what you do, even if you laid down and whine (or not) be passive or not having a learned helplessness wringing you hands to and fro in essence saying "Please like me,please like, I am not threat to you". it will be of no avail.

Cause the gonnas are gonna get you no matter what. It is never about you.

I bring this up because as we all reach hard toward our goals, there will be one or two (or more) gonnas. Live long enough and a gonna could come & get ya. People do not like their world disrupted or patterns shifted. When you release what has weighed you down it WILL cause a paradigm shift in others apart from yourself.

And if one doesn't like it rather using the awesome energy to change themselves, will use extraordinary means & lengths to put you right back where they want you to be, whether it is healthy for you or not.

Or whether YOU want it or not. 


So what did I do?  I wrote this poem:



Anyway
 By iiammoon©11

They are gonna laugh anyway...

So I might as well go out and play…

With all the life & vigor I can display

For...

They are going to laugh anyway...

Roll their eyes…

Smirk...

Wave their hands to & fro

So... I might as well sing loudly…

That song no matter how off key

Because that song  is  for me...

'Cause...

They gonna laugh  anyway...

Since I can't seem "to act my age"

I might as well jump in, Jimmy Choo's  & all...

in a puddle as muddy & messy as it wants to be…

It will wash off once I finish...

After I had a ball.

Because they are gonna laugh anyway...

All Rights Reserved JHM ©1-30-11

Weigh to Grow, Show, Know

c

 Mustard Greens photoJHM ©10

 Brussel SproutsphotoJHM ©10

 Thai Basil photoJHM ©10

Okra Pods photoJHM ©10

I read in our local paper that the Lower 9th Ward's Sankofa Community Development Corporation announced the opening on November 20th,2011 of their Sankofa Farmers Market!  I strongly encourage people to support their effort since in the Lower 9th ward Community there is no supermarket & the pioneers who have come back to re-establish their homes in this community have to travel great distances for simple things we take for granted.

I see an irony for me as I am fortunate in the sense that I can leave my home & in 5-7 minutes can access 5 supermarkets and in 10 minutes the local Wal-Mart and yet 20 minutes away the residents of this community have to travel great distances for the aforementioned markets.

So as the adage goes: "If the mountain won't come to Muhammed, then Muhammed must go to the mountain".  I say way to go to this group in still yet another venture forth by creating this farmers market so the Lower Ninth Ward + their neighbors, Bywater, Arabi,Upper 9th Ward, St. Bernard Parish,Fabourg Marigny, & Treme + others could access fresh produce and other products locally grown.

I personally plan to support them with my dollars and volunteer in whatever way I can,some of which will mean traveling past the supermarkets I have easy access to and going downtown to do my part.

Kohl Rabi photo JHM ©10

About Sankofa Farmers Market: 

www.sankofafarmersmarket.org 

The Sankofa Farmers Market was developed in response to the requests of community members for access to fresh vegetables and fruits for sale at the market. You have asked for a farmers market where you can have direct access to home grown produce. The farmers market will operate every Saturday and will offer seasonal, nutritious produce and locally caught seafood. We will accept the EBT/SNAP benefit card, credit cards, debit cards, and cash. We hope to build a viable market for both vending and shopping to thrive with healthy nutritious food. 

This farmers market will be a year round outlet for local farmers and fishermen to vend their goods in accordance with state and national goals, as well as to provide a social outlet and neighborhood meeting place for families and seniors. We are working in peer partnership with marketumbrella.orgfor consultation with technical information, regular evaluation, and the appropriate market management trainings. We believe that adding EBT access, along with a strong marketing campaign and weekly retail outlet presence, will accomplish the following: increase fresh food accessibility to low-income customers, increase sales for our farmers and fishermen, increase economic and community development in the Lower Ninth Ward. 

The Sankofa Farmers Market will be the 2nd farmers market in the city to have EBT access. This market will also be the only farmers market, not only in the Lower Ninth Ward, but also in communities adjacent  to the neighborhoods, including the Upper Ninth Ward, Gentilly, Arabi and St. Bernard Parish.

If it is to be, it is up to me. Author Unknown 

Weigh to Grow~ Eating from your harvest...

What a delight I had when today after finally a full night of restorative sleep, to, very carefully, get out & walked in to see how my garden grew despite my neglect due to the surgeries & convalesing.

Much to my delight I found an abundance of eggplants and 3 okra pods! Okra. At this size I will let them go to seed for next years crop. I was simply amazed that I got some since when I got the plant it was near death.



Eggplants~I harvested a dozen "Casper" eggplants to use and had to toss about 6 in the compost.


Cantaloupe

Green Bean plants w okra leaves


To the seasoned gardener it may not seem like much, but I had resigned myself that I had completely lost my container garden between the New Orleans heat, my neglect etc. Even my watermelons seems to have, no pun intended, taken a life of their own and started growing!

I manage to have saved one cucumber & squash plant respectively & the bell peppers seem to be trying to revitalized. My greens, brussel sprouts, kohl rabi & tomatoes are raring to be transplanted.

Not unlike me right now.

Although there wasn't a whole lot I could do, I can stand there to water, pluck away dead leaves & photograph.

And that is exactly what I did. Enjoyed the cool early morning breeze, the silence and my garden.

Tis' good!

Fare-Thee-Well

The groundwork for all happiness is good health.
- Leigh Hunt

How your body influences your emotions

www.sparkspeople.com

There is an undeniable link between feeling healthy and feeling happy. When was the last time you had the flu, a migraine, or heartburn and felt joyful at the same time? While many of us would agree that there is a relationship between our internal workings and our feelings of happiness, many of us don't take active steps toward living a healthy, positive life. How can we meet our goals when our body isn't feeling up to par? Tiredness, aches and pains, and feeling under the weather can all be big hindrances to our goals. It is very important that we nourish our bodies with adequate amounts of the right foods, condition ourselves to maintain and build strong bones and muscles, rest properly at night, and generally adhere to a healthy regimen if we expect to feel positive emotions.

For cardiovascular relief...

Do what you Wanna! A la New Orleans second line!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E1VBCcA76E

Cha cha Changes in Style!

Read full article at http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/stage_3overview.asp


Why is the weight loss industry so successful? Because of two reasons. First, people are desperately searching for answers. Industry insiders know that millions of people want to be told the secrets of weight loss, but don’t believe they can figure it out for themselves.

Second, most programs drop you off at the most critical time: once you’ve seen results. Weight loss without a lifestyle change is a temporary solution. That’s how the industry can thrive on repeat customers.To break out of this cycle and take back control of your health, Stage 3 helps you transition from “dieting” to a “lifestyle change.” The key to making a shift to a new lifestyle is developing the skills and confidence to stand on your own two feet. Listening to a sweaty, spandexed group leader telling you to do 100 lunges is not a lifestyle change.

Crash dieting with water and grapefruit for a wedding in 10 days is not a lifestyle change. On the other hand, knowing how to get yourself up in the morning with a positive outlook - that’s a lifestyle change. Knowing how to forgive yourself for mistakes and steps backward - that’s a lifestyle change. These are things that only you can do.You are your only shot at making a new lifestyle happen.

A lifestyle that relies on other people or programs for motivation and confidence disappears once those sources of inspiration leave (as often happens with typical dieting). If you want to build a new healthy lifestyle that’s around as long as you are, it has to start with self-reliance.Does it mean you have to do everything by yourself? No. Does it mean you need to have all the answers? No. To change your lifestyle, you simply decide to take responsibility for your own weight loss, and then work to make it happen. If you always rely on others for answers and motivation, or for some magic secret, you’re giving up that responsibility and control.

You learn to take responsibility for your health and look inward for solutions. Even while you’re growing closer to other community members and fitness buddies, simply knowing that “I know what I’m doing” is a huge boost. There’s a big difference between wanting input and feeling like you need help.This confidence - this know-how - is what will keep your new lifestyle around for good.This is every bit a “transition” stage. It’s the bridge that carries you from dieting with healthy habits, all the way to spreading the spark to other goals and other people.

Other programs may talk in vague terms about lifestyle, but don’t help you learn how to make the transition in real life.If you can pick up on this transition and make it happen in your life, you many never have to diet again. The Lifestyle Change gives you a chance to learn to live with your collection of new habits. Even more importantly, it also teaches you how to stay motivated and consistent. Persistent motivation, when coupled with your nutrition and fitness know-how, is the key to keeping momentum alive and making it different this time.

The most exciting part of an adventure is the point where you start to break new ground.

Discovering new traditions, seeing something for the first time, enjoying new experiences - these are all thrilling rewards of taking a new journey. The weight loss adventure you’re on right now also includes a time of facing the spine-tingling unknown - and that time is now.One of the first things you’ll notice about Stage 3 is that it doesn’t feel like normal dieting. That’s good! Because you may be doing things in this stage that no diet has ever asked you to do. You may be covering new ground.

From practical and mental strategies to emotional issues, you’ll cover more ground than an African safari.Most likely, you’ll learn something about yourself that you didn’t know before.

The bonus is that the changes you’ll make in the process of an overall lifestyle change will be fundamental transformations that can easily impact life beyond the scale. If you can stay motivated to stay healthy, for example, you’ll know how to stay motivated at work.The key to changing a lifestyle is consistency. The key to consistency is motivation. The key to motivation is to know where to look.

Motivation is the (often) missing piece that drives Stage 3. You can learn all you want about fitness and nutrition, but without self-motivation, that knowledge could end up as useless as a forgotten phone number. Over the past several weeks, you’ve laid a healthy living foundation that has produced results and built several new habits. Now it’s time to take it to the next level and add the motivational finishing touches.

If a lifestyle could change overnight, there’d be no need for the self-help aisle at the bookstore. We’d all be charming, self-employed, well-dressed, organized people living meaningful lives with plenty of chicken soup in our souls. A Lifestyle Change takes some time, but there are deliberate steps you can take right now to make it happen. Continuing to weave healthy habits into your life is one step. Learning how to keep yourself motivated over the long-term is another step.


Just by pursuing your goals, you’ve done more than you realize. Go into this stage knowing that you can do it, while knowing that you may still have some things to learn about personal motivation. Confidence in yourself and in your habits will make a Lifestyle Change a lot easier.

On a practical level, pay attention to your healthy habits. Make sure that they’re still around and regularly check your calorie goals. If you’re committed to making these habits stick, you’re already halfway to a new lifestyle.If you remember anything, remember to be prepared to change more than your gym membership or what’s in your cupboard.

Be ready to change something about yourself or your life that will clear the way to reaching your full potential. (Now, that’s something to get excited about!) Keep an open mind, and most of all, don’t be hard on yourself.

Be your own #1 fan instead. Give yourself permission to be imperfect, but at the same time, give yourself permission to be wonderful.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/stage_3overview.asp

E I E I O~Making Your Garden Grow...

There are many benefits to growing your own food in a backyard garden. Early in the summer, many of us are able to keep up with what our gardens produce as we take our precious products from the garden directly to our tables. As the summer goes on, keeping up can become a challenge. We check the garden before heading out of town on vacation and realize there are many things that are ripe and ready for use but we don't have time to do anything with them.

Or, perhaps our green thumbs have produced more than we can keep up with at the table and our storage space is already filled to capacity. What are we to do?

Here are 3 creative ideas to help you put your extra garden produce to good use.

There comes a time in almost every gardeners summer when there is more produced than can be used. Making salsa or properly storing, freezing or canning the extras are certainly a traditional and recommended option. However, if you are short on time or storage space, here are 3 creative ideas for your extra produce that you may not have thought of.

Give them away – Tough financial times may make fresh produce hard to afford for some of your neighbors. Offering your surplus provides the perfect opportunity for those that might really have a need or just a desire to include fresh produce in their diet a reality with dignity still in tact. Place your extra produce by your mailbox with a large sign that says "FREE" and see just how fast your surplus disappears.


Donate to a nearby food pantry or homeless shelter – Most community food banks or food pantries offer canned vegetables if any at all to those that come in need of food. Drop in shelters rarely provide fresh vegetables as part of their meal offerings for those that come in search of a cool and dry place to stay and receive a meal. Making fresh produce available to outreach opportunities like these in your community will get your extras in the hands of those that need it and will put a smile on your face at the same time because you were able to make a difference.

Check with local outreach organizations and churches in your community to find a local food pantry or drop in center. Feed America is the nation's leading domestic hunger relief charity and their website can help you find a food bank that serves your community.

Use your social networking connection – Send out a "tweet" or post a status update letting your local networking friends know you have fresh produce to spare. Encourage those that are interested to come by and pick it up. Better yet, invite them to come and pick it for themselves which saves you some work! What a great and creative way to socialize AND provide your extra produce to a local friend or acquaintance. What other creative ideas do you have for garden surplus this summer?

Yum

Photo: Kate Sears Now pull out your prettiest bowl and silverware add candles and flowers and indulge!

Caramelized Nectarine Melbas Recipe

By Woman's Day Kitchen from Woman's Day; June 16, 2009

http://www.womansday.com/layout/set/print/Recipes/Caramelized-Nectarine-Melbas-Recipe

Nutrition Facts

Yield 4 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 342

Total Fat NA

Saturated Fat NA

Cholesterol NA

Sodium 1mg

Total Carbohydrates 87g

Dietary Fiber 5g

Protein 1g

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 (10-oz) package frozen red raspberries in syrup, thawed

1⁄4 cup sugar

2 Tbsp water

2 ripe nectarines, halved and pitted

1 pt peach sorbet

1⁄2 pt raspberry sorbet

Garnish: fresh raspberries

PREPARATION
1. Purée raspberries in syrup in blender. Scrape through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl to discard seeds; set aside.

2. Combine sugar and water in small nonstick skillet and place over medium-high heat. When sugar is dissolved and it starts to boil, add nectarines, cut side down. Continue to boil sugar mixture until it starts to caramelize and turn a deep golden brown, about 6 minutes, swirling pan occasionally. Remove from heat; carefully turn nectarines over and spoon caramel from skillet over cut sides.

3. To serve: Place a scoop of peach sorbet into each of 4 dessert bowls; nestle a nectarine, cut side up, on top of sorbet. Place a mini-scoop of raspberry sorbet in pit cavity of each nectarine.

Drizzle with raspberry sauce and fresh raspberries if desired.

Happy People are Happening People;Gail Hayes, SA

Be Happy

Courtesy of Sandra Garth, Fitness trainer & World Class Chef

www.onebodyonelifetime.com

Are you still waiting for your circumstances to change before you’ll allow yourself to be happy? Most of us have preconceived ideas of what would make us happy, and we refuse to be satisfied until those things happen.

The problem is that even once specific things happen in our lives, we’re rarely satisfied with them. Instead, we shift our focus to something even bigger and better, believing “it” will make us happy (or happier). We never allow ourselves to reach a point of contentment. Have you done the same thing?

The good news is that you can decide to be happy NOW – even if everything in your life isn’t perfect. Below you’ll find 3 easy ways to start:

Be grateful. Gratitude is one of the most powerful states of mind that you can adopt. Not only does it make you feel good, it shifts your focus from what you don’t have to what you DO have, and keeps it there! As you focus more on what you are grateful to have in your life (even the really small blessings), you worry less about anything that may be lacking. The result? A more persistent sense of happiness!

Take time to smell the roses, coffee or grilled chicken. If you spend most of your days feeling rushed and scattered, it’s hard to feel happy and content. In order to be truly happy, you need to make time for yourself to relax, dream, and take pleasure in life’s simpler moments. Beginning today, make sure to spend time doing things you love on a regular basis. Read books that stimulate your imagination; listen to great music; take long walks, and generally make an effort to enjoy your life as it is right now.

Love the journey. This may be the most challenging. Many of us make the mistake of pinning all of our expectations on some vague, far-off result, like the completion of goals. We believe that once we “get there” everything will be perfect and we’ll finally be happy. However, there is much to be gained from enjoying the journey TO your destination!

Make it your mission to revel in every moment that you’re working toward higher goals. Enjoy the sense of self-mastery and accomplishment you gain with every goal you achieve. Make it a worthwhile journey and you’ll savor the end result that much more.

The most important thing to understand about happiness is that it is largely a CHOICE you make from moment to moment. Though certain serious situations make it difficult to feel happy at times, most often we allow the little things to bother us and block any happiness we would otherwise feel.

Embrace happiness, and it will grow to monstrous proportions in your life!

Essay & Lemon Boat recipe are from her website www.onebodyonelifetime