Meatless Monday: Cranberry Orange Punch

It’s holiday party and pitch-in season and you’re in need of something to bring. Well look no further. I’ve got a super simple and delightful punch that will liven up any holiday gathering. If you bring it, they will drink it!
Cranberry orange Punch. It’s made with one of my favorite seasonal beverages- Sierra Mist Cranberry. Whoooooosh! It’s tangy, sweet and pairs well with so many dishes. This recipe will become your go to during the holiday season. *note, this version is made with Champagne or Sparkling wine, which can totally be omitted. Recipe below!

Ingredients

1. Half Gallon Orange Pineapple Juice
2. Half Liter Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash
3. 2 Cups Rose Champagne or Sparkling Sweet Wine
4. 1 Cup of Ginger Ale
5. 3/4 cup Fresh Cranberries (frozen cranberries will alleviate the need for additional ice)
6. 1/2 orange Sliced in Wedges
7. Ice (optional if items are chilled)

Instructions

1. Combine Orange Pineapple Juice, Cranberry Soda, Ginger Ale and Champagne
2. Stir lightly to combine
3. Add Cranberries
4. Garnish each glass with an orange wedge
5. Serve and Enjoy!

Notes

1. This recipe is made with Champagne or Sparkling wine, which can be omitted.
2. For additional spark without the alcohol, stir in sparkling or seltzer water.

The Myth of the Superwoman

As I sit here in pain, unable to participate in the activities I’d planned, I had an epiphany.  The shame and guilt I feel are ridiculous.  Those feelings cropped up because I started comparing my life to my friends’ lives.  Somehow sitting on the couch was making me falling behind as if we were all in some competition.  

I also started thinking about other friends who pushed themselves until they ended up in the hospital.  They too have chronic medical conditions.  They too have Superwoman Syndrome.

What is Superwoman Syndrome? 

It is the belief that we as women have to do it all.  If we don’t do it, fix it or handle it then the world as we know it will cease to exist.  I’m using dramatic language, but this condition requires it.  Ask for help?  No, that’s a sign of weakness.  Superwoman doesn’t ask for help!!

Times have changed

When I was younger, the women in my community helped each other.  The kids would congregate at a different house on the weekends.   In retrospect, it was probably to give each other a break.  They planned events together.  They carpooled all the time.  There was always some sort of interaction between them.  Positive interaction. 

This sense of community is needed now more than ever.  The information age has brought with it a need to be everywhere and everything to everyone.  However, we can take control of our lives.  What are some of the ways we can learn to lean on each other?

Self-care is self-love.  You have to take care of yourself first.  If you aren’t 100%, then you can’t truly give to others.  Find time to recharge doing the things you love whether it is reading, taking a walk, exercise, etc.  You may find that the first step is to rediscover your passions.

Respect one another.  Honor each other as women.  This is our common ground.  From there, get to know each other.  Listen and share your stories.  Our lifestyles may be different, but at the end of the day we all want to be understood.

Resolve conflicts.  You want to be considered mature and wise?  Learn how to resolve conflicts in a productive manner.  It is important to understand different perspectives.  The result may be that you agree to disagree, but this is possible without harboring resentment and bitterness.

Look for ways to serve others.  A small gesture can go a long way.   Maybe you notice someone appears weary.  Make an extra portion of dinner and deliver it to them.  You could send them flowers or a hand written note.  Most times, we just need an empathetic ear and someone to reassure us that it’s going to be alright.

These are just a few ideas off the top of my head.  Share other ways that we can build a stronger community or how you have achieved this yourselves.

Help, Please!

I admit it!  I have a difficult time asking for help. I view it as a deficiency on my part although we have all received help at some point in our lives. No one was born with infinite knowledge and resources. It had to be learned; given to us. Somewhere, at some point, someone gave us a helping hand.  On the flip side, I also don’t want to be a burden to anyone.  You know, people rolling their eyes or sighing when you walk in a room.  

However, I’ve been talking to some very wise people and doing a lot of soul searching.  I’m proud to announce that I’m experiencing a change of mind and heart.  There is no shame in asking for help.  I still have to fight feeling like a burden or failure, but those thoughts don’t equal reality.  Asking for help is OK!  A sign of wisdom AND maturity. 

This new revelation also diminished the Superwoman complex.  I wouldn’t mind being Wonder Woman with the fancy belt and invisible jet, but that’s another post.  Chronically speaking, I’ll even ask for help when experiencing a lupus flare.  Sometimes I need help running errands or moral support.  Many times I need the help to avoid having a flare in the first place!  My life coach called it proactive care and flare care. (catchy, huh?) 

Need examples? 

Proactive care:  Instead of climbing up the shelves at the grocery store, I’ll ask someone taller if they can get that box of cereal for me. 

Flare care:  Instead of trying to be “productive” at home when I’m having a flare (tripping, stumbling, dropping things and hurting myself in the process), I’ll call a friend for a lively chat.

Radical concepts!  In conclusitory*, think before you say “call me if you need anything,” because your phone may ring!

(*I know conclusitory isn’t a word, but it sounds good.)

 

Meatless Monday: Sweet Potato Pecan Bread

The Sweet Potato is one of my favorite vegetables. I love that can eat it all year long in a variety of ways.. steamed, roasted, baked in a pie, chopped in a hash for breakfast, the possibilities are endless for the sturdy vegetable. In honor of Fall, I decided to whip up this cake, instead of my usual Banana Nut Bread. I’m so glad I did.. I mirrored this recipe after my Granny’s Banana But Bread, only this one is Eggless and Milk-free. Yep, it is quite possible to bake a moist bread without eggs or milk. I dare you to try it!

Check out the recipe below.

Eggless. Milk-Free. Delightful. This almost Vegan recipe is moist, hearty and full of the flavors of Fall. This one bowl recipe is sure to please!

Total Time

1 hr 15 min

Total Time

1 hr 15 min

Ingredients

1. 1 Large Sweet Potato (Cooked and Mashed) ( to yield 1 cup )
2. 1/2 stick of Melted Butter
3. 1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
4. 1/2 Cup White Sugar
5. 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
6. 1/3 Cup unsweetened Applesauce
7. 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
8. Pinch of Salt
9. 1 and 1/2 Cups AP Flour
10. 1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon
11. 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg
12. 1/3 Cup Chopped Pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven to 350
2. In a large bowl combine Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Sugars, Nutmeg, Cinnamon,& Applesauce
3. Stir gently to combine
4. Add Baking Soda, Salt, Melted Butter, Vanilla Extract
5. Add flour and stir well to combine all ingredients
6. Fold in Chopped Pecans
7. Add mixture to a prepared loaf pan
8. Bake on 350 for one hour or until a toothpick inserted in middle of bread comes out clean
9. Let Cool and Serve along side your favorite milk.

Candace Boyd Wylie is an Indianapolis, Indiana native who believes in the power of a good meal.  She is the Recipe developer, Content creator and Recipe slanger at FoodLoveTog. FoodLoveTog is a food blog that is dedicated to sharing good eats and food for the soul. Candace is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and CWUW supporter. She can be found on the web at FoodLoveTog and at BoydWyliePhoto

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF ALOE VERA

HAPPY NEW YEAR LIVE LIFE WELL READERS/CWUW COMMUNITY!!!

     ON YOUR NEW YEAR'S JOURNEY TO BE A HEALTHIER YOU...I WANTED TO WRITE A BLOG ABOUT THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE ALOE VERA PLANT.  NOW, THIS HAS BEEN A PLANT THAT I HAVE BEEN VERY FAMILIAR WITH SINCE A LITTLE GIRL.  I WAS A TOMBOY; I WAS ALWAYS RUNNING BEHIND MY OLDER BROTHER AND HIS FRIENDS.  I GOT A LOT OF SCRAPES, BURNS, CUTS, ETC. THROUGH OUT MY CHILDHOOD YEARS AND THE ONE THING MY MOM SWORE BY TO HEAL MY WOUNDS WAS...THE ALOE VERA PLANT.  MY MOM ALWAYS KEPT ONE OF THESE PLANTS IN OUR HOME...JUST FOR ME, LOL.  NEOSPORIN HAS NOTHING ON THE HEALING BENEFITS OF SOME ALOE VERA.   I BARELY SEE A BLEMISH FROM THE WOUNDS BECAUSE OF THE HEALING POWER OF THIS ALOE VERA PLANT.  

     JUST GO GET A PLANT FROM THE STORE, TREAT IT AS ANY OTHER PLANT.  WHEN NEEDED, BREAK OFF A PIECE OF THE PLANT, SQUEEZE THE PIECE TO MAKE SOME OF THE ALOE VERA GEL OOZE OUT, CLEANSE THE WOUND WITH SOAP AND WATER, AND THEN APPLY THE ALOE VERA GEL STRAIGHT TO THE WOUND.  DO THIS AT LEAST TWICE A DAY UNTIL THE WOUND IS HEALED.  NOW, UPON GETTING OLDER AND THROUGH RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS PLANT JUST DOES NOT HEAL WOUNDS....BUT OUR BODY, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.  I FOUND SOME GREAT INFO TO SHARE WITH YOU ON ONE OF MY FAVORITE INFO SITE, NATURALNEWS.COM.  SOME OF THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE PLANT ARE:  STOPS TUMORS FROM GROWING, HELPS WITH CONSTIPATION, HYDRATES SKIN, HELPS WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, STABILIZES BLOOD GLUCOSE, AND MANY, MANY MORE.  SOME OF THE WAYS YOU CAN TAKE ALOE VERA IS BY BUYING THE ALOE VERA DRINK (WHICH IS PRETTY TASTY), TAKING THE PILLS, OR JUST SCRAPING OUT THE INSIDE OF THE LEAF AND PUTTING IT IN A SMOOTHIE!!  THERE ARE MANY WAYS YOU CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF AN ALOE VERA PLANT.  OH, IT IS GREAT FOR HAIR TOO!!  ALOE VERA SHOULD BE A STAPLE PLANT IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD.  MY PERSONAL SUGGESTION IS TO GO OUT A GET YOU AN ALOE VERA PLANT TODAY!!


DANICA J.

CHECK OUT THE LINK AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE: http://www.naturalnews.com/021858_aloe_vera_gel.html

CWUW has a new phone number!

CWUW has a new number!

If you need to speak with a CWUW member, please give us a call at 317-520-CWUW (2989)

A little bit helps....

You may think there's not much you can do with just $5 but CWUW can think of many things.

As we move into 2009, CWUW has many programs and activities planned for women and their families to start making healthier choices. Your $5 can help with printing, mailing, food, and more.

Just $5.

Giving is a part of total health.

Just click on the PayPal button to your right and go from there.

If you're on Myspace, our CWUW page also has means for you to donate.

$5

Help CWUW move forward and change the lives of women and their families in 2009!!

CWUW supports "Going Local Week"

Hoosiers Encouraged to Participate in

GOING LOCAL Week by Eating More Local Foods

Event supporters’ long term goal is "eating of Indiana locally grown and produced foods will become the norm, not a novelty at Hoosier dinner tables across the state".

An increasing number of individuals are rejecting well traveled food items in favor of more locally grown and produced ones. They call themselves "locavores". The term refers to individuals who choose only to eat foods that have been grown and/or raised within 100 miles of their homes. Locavores pride themselves on finding and using ingredients that are locally available and in season. While few can realistically adhere to the extreme "rules" of a locavore diet, more and more individuals are expressing a desire to eat fresh, local, and in season food. In fact, the trend toward eating local food is the number one culinary trend in the United States. The supporters of GOING LOCAL Week in Indiana hope to encourage Hoosiers to follow that trend and eat more locally grown and produced food for a number of reasons.

Why Eat Local?
Depending on whom you ask, people have different reasons for wanting to put locally grow food on their tables. Some approach it by promoting the pure pleasure of eating freshly harvested food, the availability of varieties of food that are not normally stocked in grocery stores, and getting back in touch with the seasonality of their food. For some, it’s about food safety and the ability to trace a product back to its producer. Many note that locally grown food doesn’t sit on the shelves for a long time before it is consumed and is more nutritious. Others have an economic view reminding us that some experts point out over 200 farms per day in our country are closed or incorporated into larger enterprises. And there are those who voice concern for our environment and the use of fossil fuels in food transportation quoting the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s statement that the average tomato travels 1,569 miles from the field to the grocery store.

The Economic Impact of Local Food Purchases in Indiana
Whatever the route, the conclusion is still the same. Eating local food is good for us, good for our environment, good for the strength of our Indiana farms and statewide food system, and good for the Indiana economy. The collective economic impact of each individual shopper who makes a choice to buy local food is astounding. If half of the over 2 million families in Indiana would spend $25.00 a month on local foods, the annual immediate economic impact to our local farm economy would exceed $300 million dollars. That number is further enhanced by the fact that a dollar spent on local food will "turn over" a number of times in the community so the initial dollar may actually generate an economic impact of several more dollars as the producer spends his/her dollar locally and others who then receive those dollars do the same. A recent study on the impact of local food dollars spent in the Seattle area demonstrated that for every $100 spent on local food, the local community benefitted by $200-$500 in economic impact. If we use that calculation for the aforementioned $300 million, then the economic impact to Indiana local communities could be in excess of between $600 million and $1.5 billion dollars per year!

GOING LOCAL Week
GOING LOCAL Week is a one week "challenge" to Indiana citizens to eat at least one Indiana locally grown or produced food at each meal during the seven day event which is scheduled for August 31-September 6th, 2008.

The objectives of GOING LOCAL Week are to:
Create an appreciation for the abundance and diversity of the Indiana food shed.

Make Indiana citizens more aware of the availability of local foods in their own communities.

Provide support and recognition for Indiana local food producers.

Increase Indiana residents’ consumption of locally grown/produced foods in a long term effort to encourage them to regularly purchase more locally produced items for their weekly meals so that "eating of Indiana locally grown and produced foods will become the norm, not a novelty at Hoosier dinner tables across the state".

According to the GOING LOCAL Week event supporters, when you buy local food, you are making a conscious choice to better your families’ eating habits, protect the environment, and improve the local rural economy. How do you start? It doesn’t take a tremendous effort--small changes can make a big difference.

Do some of your weekly shopping at local farmers’ markets, farm stands, and farm markets.

Visit an orchard or U-Pick and harvest your own produce.

Ask your local market if they sell locally grown food. Find restaurants that do the same. Support these establishments.

Participate in a CSA.

Take a farm tour in your area.

Research special foods that may be local to your area and seek them out.

Take a cooking or food preservation class which features local foods.

Encourage others to join you in this effort during GOING LOCAL Week. Host a pitch-in picnic or covered dish party and ask everyone to bring something made with local ingredients. Spend the evening talking about the food’s origins and learning about what’s available in your area.

Indiana Local Food Resources
Information about Indiana food and producers, listings of local food events and farm tours, as well as recipes featuring Indiana’s fresh, local, and in-season foods can be found on the GOING LOCAL site (www.goinglocal-info.com).
To find local foods and food producers, individuals are encouraged to use Indiana Market Maker which is a searchable data base of Indiana food and food producers (http://in.marketmaker.uiuc.edu/).

GOING LOCAL Week is supported by the GOING LOCAL site, Purdue University New Ventures Team, Office of Building Better Communities at Ball State, Indiana Cooperative Development Center, and the Purdue Extension.

CONTACT for GOING LOCAL week:
Victoria Wesseler
GOING LOCAL
victoria@goinglocal-info.com
www.goinglocal-info.com
Phone: 765-325-1000
Contact for Indiana Market Maker:
Dr. Maria Marshall Purdue University inmm@purdue.edu www.inmarketmaker.com Phone: 765-494-4268

CWUW online

We just wanted you to remember there are a number of ways to stay up to date with CWUW!!

Of course, Subscribe to the blog! We will try to provide information you can use for optimal health and well being.

CWUW is on Myspace! We're there to network with other organizations and individuals who are concerned about health and wellness.

Visit our organization's website to overall info about CWUW!! Learn how you can volunteer and become a part of the CWUW Crew!

And visit us at the 50 Million Pound Challenge - Join Team CWUW!!

CWUW Health Focus Group

Center of Wellness of Urban Women (CWUW) will be conducting a health focus group assessing the health and wellness needs of women living in Indianapolis.

This group will take place on Saturday, August 23rd from 11am-1pm at the North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian, Indianapolis.

We need women 18 and over living in Indianapolis (Marion County only) to participate.

If you are interested in participating in this focus group, please RSVP by August 20th by calling 317-329-8496 or emailing us at info@cwuwonline.org. Leave your name and phone number.

CWUW empowers women and their families to become proactive in their health by improving their mind, body, and spirit through education, advocacy, care, and prevention. We want women and the families to LIVE LIFE WELL.

Help us to design an organization that fits your needs.

Thanks Again,

Rhonda L. Bayless
http://www.cwuwonline.org

Go Red!!

CWUW Supports the "Go Red for Women!"

Heart Health Campaign

With heart disease being the number one killer of women, its important that CWUW supports organizations who provide information and tools for women to remain heart healthy.

"Go Red for Women" is a campaign sponosored by the American Heart Association.

Visit their site!

CWUW is looking for volunteers

The Center of Wellness for Urban Women is looking for volunteers to help in the development of the organization.

For me information, contact CWUW at volunteer@cwuwonline.org or at 317-329-8496.

CWUW: Guest Bloggers

CWUW is excited about having guest bloggers here on Live Life Well: Dimensions in Wellness!

Stay Tuned!

7 Dimensions of Wellness

CWUW believes the 7 dimensions of Wellness are a focal point in achieving optimal health and well-being.

These dimensions will be taken into consideration in all aspects of CWUW program development.

Below is a description of each dimension take from the Fisher Institute of Wellness and Gerontology.


The Physical Dimension

The Physical Dimension of Wellness for an adult includes all aspects of keeping your body functioning at its maximum capacity over the entire lifespan; delaying the onset of disease or dysfunction until the last stages of life is the ultimate goal. Exercise, nutrition, weight management, self-care habits, stress reduction, sleep, and prevention behaviors all contribute to keeping the body moving adequately to fulfill its daily requirements. Physical wellness enables us to remain independent and stay fully engaged in a movement oriented, lifestyle integrating social, vocational, and environmental tasks.

The Environmental Dimension

Environmental Wellness for an adult encompasses acknowledging the interdependence between man and the earth and other living beings. Maintaining and replenishing the resources we need to support current and future life is the goal. Caring for the animals and places that are entrusted to you in a way that ensures continued viability for all life forms demonstrates environmental maturity. Designing work and play spaces that enable full healthful function while maximizing usability is desirable. Cultivating an appreciation for the beauty found in nature and surrounding yourself with rejuvenating, comforting, and affirming places and people contributes to your ability to refresh and revitalize yourself and enhance full capacity wellness capabilities.

The Intellectual Dimension

Intellectual wellness for adults involves embracing lifetime learning. The realization that learning doesn't end once you have completed a formal education is key to growing and changing in order to continually respond to the world around us. Maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity and staying intellectually stimulated helps sustain a vital existence long into the lifespan. There is a constant human need and desire to be creative and innovative. Also, a constant need to explore new and exciting subjects to expand our collective knowledge of our environment and of the unknown. Finding a way to express these qualities is life affirming. Using knowledge effectively in all aspects in your life, with friends or family, in work or volunteer efforts is a never ending process. An intellectually mature person seeks to discover and understand many divergent points of view, even if they conflict, in order to develop an informed personal point of view. Acquiring new skills, developing new ideas, having the ability to interpret and articulate what you think about what you've learned contributes to being intellectually well.

The Social Dimension

The social dimension for adults includes being able to create and sustain relationships with, family, friends, peers, and acquaintances over time. Developing appropriate levels of intimacy within those relationships is key for establishing mutual nurturing, feelings of support, camaraderie, and friendship. These are the things that sustain us through life, in good times, and bad. Exhibiting an awareness that relationships are dynamic and changing things, that many interests are involved and that successful relationships often call for compromise can help establish trust in a mutual benefit, a ground stone of intimacy. Having the ability to communicate well, address issues that invariably arise within relationships and being able to work through them with friends, family, or significant others represents maturing social behavior. Accepting and giving support, nurturing others as well as letting other people support and care for you can also demonstrate social maturity. Also, realizing that there is a legitimate need for fun and leisure time to reconnect with people, recharge the psyche, and invigorate the spirit is very important for our social well-being.

The Emotional Dimension

Emotional Wellness for adults includes experiencing and expressing a wide range of feelings, developing abilities to cope with life's occurrences through giving and receiving support and learning to trust and rely on one's ability to deal with any situation. Emotional maturity allows us to develop meaningful connections with other beings and to acknowledge a level of interdependence. Emotional balance allows for diverse reactions to life events while maintaining an ability to function within cultural societies. Emotional wellness enables us to live fully engaged lives that can be shared intimately with others who are important to us.

The Vocational Dimension

Vocational Wellness for adults includes being able to identify your skills, abilities, and interests in order to incorporate them into your life's work. Being willing to continually learn and explore many career options keeps you flexible and able to respond to different economic cycles. Becoming a lifelong learner opens new possibilities for finding talents, interests, and passions that may develop into a career. Being able to work at a job that you feel passionate about enables you to obtain a higher job satisfaction. Putting your skills and abilities to use, you gain a sense of purpose and meaning and enrich your life. A vocationally mature person seeks to find a healthy balance between social and work life and has examined many different interpretations of success to define what it may mean for him or herself. A vocationally well person sets goals and outlines ways to attain them.

The Spiritual Dimension

Spiritual wellness for adults involves reflecting upon what inspires and motivates each individual intrinsically. Spiritual wellness encompasses exploring the meanings found in life and uncovering truths, as each person knows them to be. Spirituality is highly individual and can be expressed in many ways. The wellness journey is about discovering how you choose to explore and express your individual self. Often times this journey involves questioning existence, connecting with people and animals in meaningful ways, developing relationships of faith, sharing one's beliefs, and exchanging energy through thought and deed with other entities within the Universe. Spiritual maturity enables us to find a peaceful co-existence with others who do not share our belief systems. Spiritual commitment encourages us to look for common threads in our beliefs and to celebrate what joins us. Spiritual wellness enables us to come to terms with our existence and order our experiences around our beliefs and goals.