Not an official post. I'm trying to figure out how to add an ad. Because I want to be a DHC affiliate. Let's see if the Linkshare link works.
LinkShare Referral Program
Good luck to me.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
adding
Hi:
Not an official post. I'm trying to figure out how to add an ad. Because I want to be a DHC affiliate. Let's see if the Linkshare link works.
LinkShare Referral Program
Good luck to me.
Not an official post. I'm trying to figure out how to add an ad. Because I want to be a DHC affiliate. Let's see if the Linkshare link works.
LinkShare Referral Program
Good luck to me.
4/18 post: should
Hi Friends:
Last week, we had a retreat for my department at work. Now, except for the free food and snacks that traditionally accompany a work retreat, I usually don't like them because everyone wants to talk about one of my least favorite subjects: work. However, this retreat was, in fact, pretty awesome. Instead of boring you guys silly with the whole thing, I'll give you one part I enjoyed (plus, I have to keep some for if/when I'm not prepared for another Monday's email).
The woman who led the workshop, Dayle Spencer, spoke about the word "should." When people use that word, it's often in a critical, unconstructive way: "You should have done it this way," "You should have thought about that before you did it," etc. Instead of helping, people are heaping on criticism about the past, something someone can't change. Or they will just be bossy, saying, "You should do it my way." Dayle said that, when you do that, you are "should-ing all over them."
I'm completely guilty of this. There's a fine line between giving a suggestion and giving criticism, and "should" straddles that line.
Dayle says, "Don't should on people!"
To which I add, "Don't should on yourself, either!"
I hope you have a great week, and are gentle with others and gentle with yourself. See you Thursday!
-Meredith
Last week, we had a retreat for my department at work. Now, except for the free food and snacks that traditionally accompany a work retreat, I usually don't like them because everyone wants to talk about one of my least favorite subjects: work. However, this retreat was, in fact, pretty awesome. Instead of boring you guys silly with the whole thing, I'll give you one part I enjoyed (plus, I have to keep some for if/when I'm not prepared for another Monday's email).
The woman who led the workshop, Dayle Spencer, spoke about the word "should." When people use that word, it's often in a critical, unconstructive way: "You should have done it this way," "You should have thought about that before you did it," etc. Instead of helping, people are heaping on criticism about the past, something someone can't change. Or they will just be bossy, saying, "You should do it my way." Dayle said that, when you do that, you are "should-ing all over them."
I'm completely guilty of this. There's a fine line between giving a suggestion and giving criticism, and "should" straddles that line.
Dayle says, "Don't should on people!"
To which I add, "Don't should on yourself, either!"
I hope you have a great week, and are gentle with others and gentle with yourself. See you Thursday!
-Meredith
4/11 post: hitting the moon
Hi Friends:
Last August, I started using a pedometer, to keep track of how active I am, and see how I could add just a little bit more exercise into my daily routine.
Generally, the articles that I’ve read said that you should walk 10,000 steps a day—roughly 3.25 miles. (The average American walks less than two miles a day, according to “Super Size Me.”) So, I tried it—I wore a pedometer (my lovely iPod Nano) from about August to about mid-February.
To be honest, it was hit and miss, especially when the weather was bad, or I felt lazy, or I wore the wrong shoes, or if I was running late and instead of catching the bus I made my husband drop me off. Overall, I did about 8,000-9,000 steps a day. I was pretty disappointed with myself, so for my new year’s resolution, I decided that I would change my 10,000 steps a day goal to 9,000. That way, I would meet my goal almost every day, and then when I met that goal I increase my steps. Sounds doable, right?
Well, I just checked my pedometer, and you know what? My average steps a day went down to 6,000-7,000 steps a day. Ack!
Lowering my expectations for myself made it too easy for me to slough off. Sometimes you should build toward a goal, but in this case I deprioritized my original goal, and it backfired badly.
My friend has a phrase, “Shoot for the stars and land on the moon.” In other words, aim big, maybe bigger than you can accomplish—even if you don’t meet your original goal, you’ll still get pretty far.
So I’m aiming for 11,000 steps—and 10,000 should now seem like cake, right? Well, I still have to put the steps in. : )
Have a great week,
Meredith
Ps. This Saturday is the Zumba flash mob I mentioned earlier. When I get more details, I’ll send them out. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it, because
Pps. I start teaching at Kalihi YMCA this Saturday, 9:15-10:15a.m. You have to be a Y member to come, and if you’re already a Y member, I hope to see you there!
Last August, I started using a pedometer, to keep track of how active I am, and see how I could add just a little bit more exercise into my daily routine.
Generally, the articles that I’ve read said that you should walk 10,000 steps a day—roughly 3.25 miles. (The average American walks less than two miles a day, according to “Super Size Me.”) So, I tried it—I wore a pedometer (my lovely iPod Nano) from about August to about mid-February.
To be honest, it was hit and miss, especially when the weather was bad, or I felt lazy, or I wore the wrong shoes, or if I was running late and instead of catching the bus I made my husband drop me off. Overall, I did about 8,000-9,000 steps a day. I was pretty disappointed with myself, so for my new year’s resolution, I decided that I would change my 10,000 steps a day goal to 9,000. That way, I would meet my goal almost every day, and then when I met that goal I increase my steps. Sounds doable, right?
Well, I just checked my pedometer, and you know what? My average steps a day went down to 6,000-7,000 steps a day. Ack!
Lowering my expectations for myself made it too easy for me to slough off. Sometimes you should build toward a goal, but in this case I deprioritized my original goal, and it backfired badly.
My friend has a phrase, “Shoot for the stars and land on the moon.” In other words, aim big, maybe bigger than you can accomplish—even if you don’t meet your original goal, you’ll still get pretty far.
So I’m aiming for 11,000 steps—and 10,000 should now seem like cake, right? Well, I still have to put the steps in. : )
Have a great week,
Meredith
Ps. This Saturday is the Zumba flash mob I mentioned earlier. When I get more details, I’ll send them out. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it, because
Pps. I start teaching at Kalihi YMCA this Saturday, 9:15-10:15a.m. You have to be a Y member to come, and if you’re already a Y member, I hope to see you there!
4/4: thinking 'bout friday on a monday
Hi Pals:
so, i don't know if you've ever heard of this song called "friday," sung by rebecca black. it's really, truly bad--i think it was recently voted the worst song on the internet. and you know that's saying something, when you think about all the crap on the internet. aside from her monotone, the lyrics are just awful:
"Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday
Today i-is Friday, Friday (Partyin’)
We-we-we so excited
We so excited
We gonna have a ball today
Tomorrow is Saturday
And Sunday comes after...wards
I don’t want this weekend to end."
anyway, stephen colbert and jimmy fallon recently did a version of "friday" on fallon's late-night show, and frankly, i loved it. not because it was sung or arranged better (though it was)--i loved it because they really sold it. they really got into it, had the NY knicks dancers, taylor hicks, props, and most importantly ENTHUSIASM. here's the colbert/fallon version for your viewing enjoyment:
and i think that's the difference between crap and a good time: enthusiasm. may your cheerfulness and moxie turn all your irritating and perhaps junk situations into (to take a line from "friday") "fun fun fun fun"!
-meredith
so, i don't know if you've ever heard of this song called "friday," sung by rebecca black. it's really, truly bad--i think it was recently voted the worst song on the internet. and you know that's saying something, when you think about all the crap on the internet. aside from her monotone, the lyrics are just awful:
"Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday
Today i-is Friday, Friday (Partyin’)
We-we-we so excited
We so excited
We gonna have a ball today
Tomorrow is Saturday
And Sunday comes after...wards
I don’t want this weekend to end."
Although i don't recommend it, if you want to watch the poor girl, here you go:
anyway, stephen colbert and jimmy fallon recently did a version of "friday" on fallon's late-night show, and frankly, i loved it. not because it was sung or arranged better (though it was)--i loved it because they really sold it. they really got into it, had the NY knicks dancers, taylor hicks, props, and most importantly ENTHUSIASM. here's the colbert/fallon version for your viewing enjoyment:
and i think that's the difference between crap and a good time: enthusiasm. may your cheerfulness and moxie turn all your irritating and perhaps junk situations into (to take a line from "friday") "fun fun fun fun"!
-meredith
3/28 post: webbiness
Hi Friends:
The thing about Zumba instructors is that we try to use our powers for good. We will dance for any reason, but a good reason for Zumba is an even bigger party. Case in point: April 23rd Zumbathon to raise $$$ for Japan disaster relief. Here's the website:
http://www.zumbaforacausehawaii.com/index.html
You can get tix from me, I guess. Kehau, one of the organizers, is my friend, so I'm probably going to get shanghaied into helping. I might do a couple songs, or I might just be someone's backup dancer. Here is your chance to see other students, and other teachers (if you were in the market for another teacher--ahem).
Happy dancing,
meredith
The thing about Zumba instructors is that we try to use our powers for good. We will dance for any reason, but a good reason for Zumba is an even bigger party. Case in point: April 23rd Zumbathon to raise $$$ for Japan disaster relief. Here's the website:
http://www.zumbaforacausehawaii.com/index.html
You can get tix from me, I guess. Kehau, one of the organizers, is my friend, so I'm probably going to get shanghaied into helping. I might do a couple songs, or I might just be someone's backup dancer. Here is your chance to see other students, and other teachers (if you were in the market for another teacher--ahem).
Happy dancing,
meredith
3/14 post: Aid
Hi Friends:
As you all know, Japan was struck by a tsunami (and earthquake aftershocks) on Friday. My heart goes out to everyone there, but truly, my heart is not all that useful to them. So, here are some ways to donate. Please forward, so that people who want to contribute will know which ways are the most useful (for example, clothes and food are ok, but money gets there the fastest):
-Salvation Army:
* Text “Japan” or “Quake” to 80888 to make a $10 donation
* Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY
* Donate online at http://www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/
* Send a check, marked “Japan earthquake relief” to:
The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-072800
-The American Red Cross:
The Red Cross has already launched efforts in Japan. Visit Redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone.
-Save The Children
Save the Children has also responded.
The organization is currently organizing efforts and donations to its Children’s Emergency Fund will support outreach. Also, buying digital crops could help children affected by the earthquake.
Zynga, known for its effective social good campaigns, has partnered with Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake Tsunami Emergency Fund to get its users to donate money through the purchase of virtual goods in CityVille, FrontierVille, FarmVille and its other games.
100% of the proceeds from the purchase of sweet potatoes in CityVille, radishes in FarmVille or kobe cows in FrontierVille will go towards Save the Children’s efforts to provide relief in the Pacific. The world’s largest social gaming company is shooting to raise $2 million for relief efforts.
- International Medical Corps
To donate or learn about other ways you can contribute to its medical response, visit Internationalmedicalcorps.org. Also, text MED to 80888 from any mobile phone to give $10.
- GlobalGiving.org
The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund was launched at GlobalGiving.org to garner funds that will be given to a variety of relief organizations helping victims of the earthquake. It has already raised over $100,000, particularly from concerned Twitter users around the world.
- Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is sending two three-person teams to the Iwate and Miyagi prefectures in Japan.
To learn more about the organization’s efforts or make a donation, visit Doctorswithoutborders.org.
- Operation USA
Along with an appeal for monetary donations, Operation USA has also announced efforts to collect bulk corporate donations of health care supplies. If you are interested in donating bulk medical items, visit OpUSA.org.
- PayPal
Judy Chang, head of PayPal’s nonprofit group, announced that transactional fees incurred by money transfers to US 501(c)(3) organizations (or charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency) between March 11 and April 10 will aid relief efforts in Japan.
- AmeriCares, ShelterBox and MercyCorps
Other relief organizations are also sending representatives to disaster sites, including AmeriCares and Shelterbox.
MercyCorps is gathering donations for its overseas partner, Peace Winds Japan, which currently has personnel on the ground distributing emergency relief in Japan.
- iTunes
I can't find the page, but iTunes has a set up for donations that will go to the Red Cross.
-Lady Gaga
She designed a rubber bracelet for people to buy. It doesn't say exactly where the money will go or how it will be spent, but it's the Gaga: she's all for truth, beauty, and self-expression, so she wouldn't cheat us, right? http://ladygaga.shop.bravadousa.com/Product.aspx?cp=14781_42444&pc=BGAMLG88
Finally, if you are searching for a loved one, check out Google. Along with a tsunami alert posted on its front page, Google has launched the Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake to help connect people that may have been displaced due to the disaster. Google has also launched a crisis response page filled with local resources and emergency information.
Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202 647-5225.
Take care and be well,
meredith
As you all know, Japan was struck by a tsunami (and earthquake aftershocks) on Friday. My heart goes out to everyone there, but truly, my heart is not all that useful to them. So, here are some ways to donate. Please forward, so that people who want to contribute will know which ways are the most useful (for example, clothes and food are ok, but money gets there the fastest):
-Salvation Army:
* Text “Japan” or “Quake” to 80888 to make a $10 donation
* Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY
* Donate online at http://www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/
* Send a check, marked “Japan earthquake relief” to:
The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-072800
-The American Red Cross:
The Red Cross has already launched efforts in Japan. Visit Redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone.
-Save The Children
Save the Children has also responded.
The organization is currently organizing efforts and donations to its Children’s Emergency Fund will support outreach. Also, buying digital crops could help children affected by the earthquake.
Zynga, known for its effective social good campaigns, has partnered with Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake Tsunami Emergency Fund to get its users to donate money through the purchase of virtual goods in CityVille, FrontierVille, FarmVille and its other games.
100% of the proceeds from the purchase of sweet potatoes in CityVille, radishes in FarmVille or kobe cows in FrontierVille will go towards Save the Children’s efforts to provide relief in the Pacific. The world’s largest social gaming company is shooting to raise $2 million for relief efforts.
- International Medical Corps
To donate or learn about other ways you can contribute to its medical response, visit Internationalmedicalcorps.org. Also, text MED to 80888 from any mobile phone to give $10.
- GlobalGiving.org
The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund was launched at GlobalGiving.org to garner funds that will be given to a variety of relief organizations helping victims of the earthquake. It has already raised over $100,000, particularly from concerned Twitter users around the world.
- Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is sending two three-person teams to the Iwate and Miyagi prefectures in Japan.
To learn more about the organization’s efforts or make a donation, visit Doctorswithoutborders.org.
- Operation USA
Along with an appeal for monetary donations, Operation USA has also announced efforts to collect bulk corporate donations of health care supplies. If you are interested in donating bulk medical items, visit OpUSA.org.
- PayPal
Judy Chang, head of PayPal’s nonprofit group, announced that transactional fees incurred by money transfers to US 501(c)(3) organizations (or charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency) between March 11 and April 10 will aid relief efforts in Japan.
- AmeriCares, ShelterBox and MercyCorps
Other relief organizations are also sending representatives to disaster sites, including AmeriCares and Shelterbox.
MercyCorps is gathering donations for its overseas partner, Peace Winds Japan, which currently has personnel on the ground distributing emergency relief in Japan.
- iTunes
I can't find the page, but iTunes has a set up for donations that will go to the Red Cross.
-Lady Gaga
She designed a rubber bracelet for people to buy. It doesn't say exactly where the money will go or how it will be spent, but it's the Gaga: she's all for truth, beauty, and self-expression, so she wouldn't cheat us, right? http://ladygaga.shop.bravadousa.com/Product.aspx?cp=14781_42444&pc=BGAMLG88
Finally, if you are searching for a loved one, check out Google. Along with a tsunami alert posted on its front page, Google has launched the Person Finder: 2011 Japan Earthquake to help connect people that may have been displaced due to the disaster. Google has also launched a crisis response page filled with local resources and emergency information.
Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202 647-5225.
Take care and be well,
meredith
3/7 post: food for thought
Hi Pals:
Happy Monday! Hope your week is getting off to a good start. I'm swimming along, in the way that I do.
For those of you who have been reading along/coming to class (ahem!), Saturday was the official last day of our elimination/discernment diet. Now, we slowly reintroduce the foods that we have taken out. Yesterday we reintroduced chocolate/coffee, and to be honest, I feel really junk. My head aches and I feel very jumpy. Yuck! So maybe I have to think about a chocolate-free future. : (
Here are a few things I learned on this diet:
7. Good eating takes planning. I had to read labels and cook just about everything from scratch. Which means I had to learn how make everything from scratch. It's, like, hours of cooking every night. So you really have to plan ahead, or you're eating dinner at 9:30p.m.
6. You CAN live without coffee, chocolate, and cookies--but at first, you may not want to.
5. If you cut out gluten, meat, eggs, soy, peanuts, eggs, and dairy, everything else is pretty much high in fiber. Again, you need to plan ahead.
4. You should be honest about your eating habits. The chocolate in the freezer didn't run away from home. "One or two" pieces of candy=half the bag, which is bad, but not as bad as lying to yourself.
3. No matter what the packaging or the cookbooks say, there is no way something that is not cheese or meat will taste exactly like cheese or meat, and anyone who says they do clearly has not had meat or cheese in so long that they are delusional. So, instead of trying (and failing) to recreate meat taste, you should:
2. Appreciate food in its own right. A carrot may be a failed substitute for bacon, but it is a perfectly good carrot. Let it be what it is... After all, we like to be accepted for ourselves, instead rejected for not being something else.
1. Finally, I learned more about humility. It's all fine and dandy for me to be all philosophical about cooking from scratch and loving veggies, but when we went to a bbq that had, fresh from the oven, homemade mac and cheese with BACON, I had to eat my words--and that's all I could eat while everyone else dug into that cheesy dish of goodness.
Have a good week,
meredith
Happy Monday! Hope your week is getting off to a good start. I'm swimming along, in the way that I do.
For those of you who have been reading along/coming to class (ahem!), Saturday was the official last day of our elimination/discernment diet. Now, we slowly reintroduce the foods that we have taken out. Yesterday we reintroduced chocolate/coffee, and to be honest, I feel really junk. My head aches and I feel very jumpy. Yuck! So maybe I have to think about a chocolate-free future. : (
Here are a few things I learned on this diet:
7. Good eating takes planning. I had to read labels and cook just about everything from scratch. Which means I had to learn how make everything from scratch. It's, like, hours of cooking every night. So you really have to plan ahead, or you're eating dinner at 9:30p.m.
6. You CAN live without coffee, chocolate, and cookies--but at first, you may not want to.
5. If you cut out gluten, meat, eggs, soy, peanuts, eggs, and dairy, everything else is pretty much high in fiber. Again, you need to plan ahead.
4. You should be honest about your eating habits. The chocolate in the freezer didn't run away from home. "One or two" pieces of candy=half the bag, which is bad, but not as bad as lying to yourself.
3. No matter what the packaging or the cookbooks say, there is no way something that is not cheese or meat will taste exactly like cheese or meat, and anyone who says they do clearly has not had meat or cheese in so long that they are delusional. So, instead of trying (and failing) to recreate meat taste, you should:
2. Appreciate food in its own right. A carrot may be a failed substitute for bacon, but it is a perfectly good carrot. Let it be what it is... After all, we like to be accepted for ourselves, instead rejected for not being something else.
1. Finally, I learned more about humility. It's all fine and dandy for me to be all philosophical about cooking from scratch and loving veggies, but when we went to a bbq that had, fresh from the oven, homemade mac and cheese with BACON, I had to eat my words--and that's all I could eat while everyone else dug into that cheesy dish of goodness.
Have a good week,
meredith
2/28 Post: Stealth
Hey Friends:
So, I don't know if you know this, but Zumba is an international phenomenon. Zumba enthusiasts do lots of crazy things together--like those Red Hat ladies but with dance moves. Here's a new song, "Zumba He, Zumba Ha," being performed in a flash mob* somewhere in France:
So, I don't know if you know this, but Zumba is an international phenomenon. Zumba enthusiasts do lots of crazy things together--like those Red Hat ladies but with dance moves. Here's a new song, "Zumba He, Zumba Ha," being performed in a flash mob* somewhere in France:
And you thought *I* was crazy...
If you love this song, then let me know and we can do it in class. We can even copy these guys, if you like, or Ian make up something... special.
Hope you have a good week,
meredith
P.S. This week is FREE ZUMBA! 530-630p! Come on by! Bring your friends to class! Leave your wallets at home! Shake your bon bons!
P.P.S. Here is a flash mob bonus, Hit and Run Hula courtesy of Patrick Makuakane and Halau Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu:
If you love this song, then let me know and we can do it in class. We can even copy these guys, if you like, or Ian make up something... special.
Hope you have a good week,
meredith
P.S. This week is FREE ZUMBA! 530-630p! Come on by! Bring your friends to class! Leave your wallets at home! Shake your bon bons!
P.P.S. Here is a flash mob bonus, Hit and Run Hula courtesy of Patrick Makuakane and Halau Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu:
*According to urbandictionary.com, a flash mob is "a group of people who are organised via various mass communications to come together at a specified place and time, perform some (typically whimsical) action, then disperse." Dancing, pillow fights, singing, hula, Zumba.
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