Thought Spots

Holiday Gingerbread Fun!

2010-11-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

Last holiday season, we decided to have an Open House and thought it’d be fun to make a Gingerbread House as a family project. Ironically, it was my husband who took the lead and created a masterpiece far beyond any of our expectations. His idea was to personalize the Gingerbread House by making it a replica of our own. Now, I’m not saying this was an easy feat – it involved first creating a cardboard model of our house, dismantling it, cutting the gingerbread dough to the template; cooking all of the pieces, re-assembling, and then adorning with candy. There was at least 2 cups of laughter involved, a few teaspoons of frustration as some pieces teetered and a pinch of anger, but in the end, the experience served up the perfect recipe for some family bonding and the most beautiful centerpiece (and conversation piece) you could ever showcase at a party! So, if you have a few spare hours over the holidays and are looking for a challenge…whip up some Gingerbread House Dough and roll up your sleeves. Happy holidays - enjoy!

“No soup for you!” So…make your own.

2010-10-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

People love soup and there’s something about the fall that makes us all crave it…need it. To point, everyone I know remembers and relates to watching the Seinfeld episode where George is denied soup by The Soup Nazi – hysterical! And, how about when Elaine gets her sweet revenge - after many denied attempts to get soup – and produces the recipes that the Soup Nazi holds dear, and boldly claims “I’ll make my own soup!” Watch them on YouTube.

Following Elaine’s advice, I’m going to agree and urge you to start making your own soup because it is seriously the easiest thing to do and the taste is divine. It’ll make canned soup a thing of the past in your home – guaranteed. I began making soup shortly after receiving a copy of Ken’s Soup Krazy. I have about five soups that are staples from that cook book – Leek & Potato, French Onion, Brocolli & Cheddar to name a few…but my favourite of them all is a Curried Butternut Squash Soup – see the recipe below. All of these soups are made in larger batches so there’s left overs and freezer ready helpings, plus they are packed full of vegetables and flavourful seasonings. I add my own twist to each recipe – switching up some ingredients like milk for cream or doubling up the veg – and that’s the beauty of soup, you can’t really screw it up!
So…give it a go and when your family is begging for seconds, have a little fun and shout out “No soup for you!”

CURRY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP by Ken Kostick
6 cups vegetable stock
3 cups chopped butternut squash
1 small onion
1 large potatoes
1 bay leaf
1 tsp each of brown sugar and curry powder
½ tsp each of dried basil, oregano, cinnamon, salt and pepper
¼ tsp of ground nutmeg
1 cup table cream (or milk)
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or other garnish

Bring stock to a boil in a large soup pot. Add all the ingredients except the cream (milk) and parsley. Boil on medium heat for approximate 30 minutes, or until squash and potato are tender. Remove bay leaf. Puree the soup with a hand blender. Fold in the cream (milk), garnish and serve.

Summer Brews

2010-06-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Loose leaf tea has exploded in the marketplace over the last five years, which is good news for me since I’m a big fan! I discovered the superiority of loose leaf tea nearly a decade ago during a stay at Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta – a “throw-back to the 50’s” kinda place with rustic mountain-side cabins, food that I can still remember and wildlife abound. A similar feel, I would say, to Kellerman’s in Dirty Dancing. It was there that I had my first cup of Earl Grey loose leaf, brewed in a French press…I had never tasted tea that good! I came home from that trip, bought my own French press and found a tea shop at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, the only supplier of loose leaf I could find. Back then, Teaopia and David’s weren’t at the mall and even the big grocery store suppliers like Tetley hadn’t clued in to selling tea loose leaf and in a multitude of flavours and varieties. More recently I discovered that a woman named Kerri, in my very own neighbourhood, sells tea from her home-based store, Lee Middleton Gourmet Tea and on-line at www.completelytea.com. So, I’ve been sampling a lot of new flavours and dabbling more in Green Tea lately.

With summer now here, I’ve switched over to more iced tea for a nice, refreshing change. Let me tell you, making iced tea is dead simple – you must give it a go!

Here’s the how-to:
1) Put 4-6 tablespoons of any loose leaf tea variety in a pitcher
2) Fill with water (filtered is best)
3) Put it in the fridge overnight
4) Strain in the morning
5) Taste it and decide if you want to add any additional flavours
6) Add at your discretion – juice from freshly squeezed lemons, limes or other citrus fruits
7) Dissolve at your discretion – natural sweeteners like sucanat (raw cane sugar), agave nectar or honey
8) Stir well, pour and enjoy!

My current favourite is Iced Mint Green Tea – no sweetener or add-on flavours necessary – just fresh and crisp. It’s a perfect alternative to a lot of sugary beverages that can make their way into your home. The beauty is that you can mix and match tea varieties and flavours to experiment with different tastes – last night I blended Pink Princess Tea with Cherry Rose Green Tea…yum! If you’re on the road this summer, you can also try Starbucks Iced Teas – opt for no sweetener of ½ sweet – and enjoy a nice taste of real brew!
Visit www.completelytea.com to pick out some loose leaf tea varieties to taste both hot and over ice. If you enter coupon code thoughtspots and you’ll get $5 off your order too. Cheers and happy brewing this summer!

The Power of Sharing a Thought!

2010-06-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

I received this e-mail from a woman recently and thought is was pretty cool. Never, ever underestimate the power of sharing some inspiration or a new perspective with someone!

Dear Lynn,
I wanted to share my experience with you. In January of 2009 I was in a Women's Addiction Treatment Center. Every morning before everyone else got up I would put a Thought Spot on the bathroom mirror...words of encouragement.

It was amazing the impact it had on the women in the center! It got to the point that other women from the other floors would come up to see what was on the mirror. Everyone actually look forward to seeing them and we always ended up talking about them at breakfast. It was extremely therapeutic and reminded us all about the choices we can make each and every day.

I continue to have them on my mirror at home and I also do vision boards which I have used them on also. What an amazing idea, I love my Thought Spots!!

Sincerely,
A.R.

A.R. inspired other women with messages from the Motivation! Thought Pack and Inspiration Thought Pack.
A.R. - Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring women who needed it! Here what I have to say to that...
.

Motivation & Mindset for Exercise Success

2010-05-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Really excited to share this article with you...it was just published nationally for CanFitPro, a leader in fitness and wellness education in Canada, in both their Consumer and Fitness Professional newsletter. I am on a personal mission to encourage as many North Americans as possible to get active so that we can stamp out this crisis on inactivity that is affecting our children and our quality of life...please join me in this quest and help someone you know get inspired to get moving and commit to regular exercise. Hopefully you'll find some of the tips in this article will help you and others to make it happen!

MOTIVATION & MINDSET MATTERS!
By: Lynn Petruskavich ● B. Kinesiology ● Fitness Trainer, Trainer of Trainers and Leader for the past 15 years. Currently teaching Cyclefit at the YMCA of Oakville Friday 6am (if you care to join me!)

A strange paradox struck me the other day. We know more about exercise than we’ve every known. We have better equipment and trainers. We have gadgets to count heart beats, calories, RPM’s and steps. And yet, inactivity is still on the rise – with more than 50% of Canadians still considered inactive. More kids are obese. More people with diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other diet and exercise related illnesses. It just doesn’t seem to make sense, unless… you consider for a moment that motivation and mindset just might be a larger factor.

At first glance some people seem to just have an abundance of motivation (picture Lance Armstrong) while others just don’t (picture your friendly neighbourhood couch potato). A friend of mine gets up at 5:30am daily for her morning run while other people I know drop on and off fitness programs like the changing of the seasons. What makes one person able to stick with a regular exercise program and others, not?

Even though we know how to train the body to achieve results, we really haven’t given a lot of attention to how to train the mind to support exercise success. Sports Psychologist, Gary Mack, in his book Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence explores the mindset that is necessary to build “mental muscle” just like building “physical muscle”. Working with hundreds of professional athletes, Mack has observed that one key to achieving success “is to learn how to focus on the task and not let negative thoughts intrude”. So, perhaps my runner friend has just learned how to talk back to the voice in her head that says “it’s too early/cold/dark to run this morning…” while the others succumb to the voice that says “I don’t have enough time/energy/desire to do this workout”.

What struck me about Mack’s account of these high level athletes is that EVERYONE experiences a “mind game” of sorts. We all have moments where we think we are “too tired/short on time/short on cash” to invest in our health. Even myself, having exercised for the vast majority of my adult life, will still get hit with “I don’t feel like it” thinking. The difference is that I’ve been exercising long enough to know that my thinking is flawed; that while I may not “feel like doing it now”, if I just press on and do it, I will reap the rewards.

While motivation is arguably self-directed, we can help it along by teaching our brain the desired mindset. Here are a few tips taken from the world of Sports Psychology to create the most effective mind set to support exercise success. If these techniques can work for professional athletes, I vote we all give them a try!
• Make a mental commitment – decide on a fitness related goal and mentally commit. Write it down. Remind yourself often. Decide then and there that you will honour this commitment – even when you don’t feel like it – because you know it is the right thing to do. Use the Motivation Thought Pack as a tool.
• Create a mental catch phrase or word that you can consciously say to yourself when your mind tries to sabotage your exercise intentions. For example: If you start thinking “I’m too tired, I think I’ll skip this workout”, then recognize the negative thought and immediately counter it with a catch phrase like “I can. I will!” Consciously turn “off” your thinking and just go do it! Write your catch phrase on a sticky note or use a Thought Spots message on your mirror or waterbottle.
• Practice mental rehearsal and mental imagery. Picture yourself doing the exercise, following through on the commitment, overcoming set backs, and achieving success with your fitness goals.
• Build a mentally tough attitude. Perspective is everything – look at the exercise goal as a challenge to rise up to as opposed to a threat to beat. Every action you take to move towards the goal is a good one.
• Identify your self-defeating thoughts and behaviours in advance. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Decide how you will face them so that when they come – and they will come – you will feel confident and capable to overcome them.
• Cultivate self discipline and believe in yourself. There’s a famous saying that goes “If you think you can - or can’t - you’re probably right.” Develop an ability to do what you have to do when you need to do it, whether you want to or not. Choose to believe in yourself with positive, “can-do” thinking.

So, when you’re planning your fitness program, take some time to think about your mindset so that you can increase your chances of success. Making exercise a lifestyle habit takes commitment – both physically and mentally. Decide now that you can…you will!

The JOY Project

2010-05-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited about formally launching The JOY Project.
What is it? It's all about sharing joy with other women to brighten their day or inspire them to be their best.
How does it work? I am giving away Thought Packs and Big Thoughts to spark some sharing and moments of joy. There are two ways this is happening: 1) Every time someone orders Thought Spots, I will give them 3 free Big Thoughts. Their job is to share them with other women who could use a kind or motivating thought to bring joy to their day. 2) I will seek out community groups and organizations who would benefit from a JOY Project donation and make sure they get to the right people - kids and women alike.
When did it start? I launched The JOY Project at the Children's Trunk Show on May 12, 2010 and gave away over 70 Big Thoughts that will be shared! So cool! And, even though this was the formal launch of the The JOY Project, there was already some sharing going on last year when I gave Halton Women's Place over 100 Thought Packs to share with the women at the shelter who could really use an inspiring thought and a new perspective.
Why The JOY Project? Because the world can always use a little more joy! And, truth is, like a lot of women, I love to give. It's a bit selfish I admit, because giving and feeling like I can help inspire or motivate someone gives me - in return - a rush of excitement and joy! So, The JOY Project ends up being a win-win: joy to the recipients and joy to me!
How can you get involved? Tell me about a group of women or kids who could really benefit from a JOY Project donation by emailing me at joyproject@thoughtspots.ca . Join me at other community events where I'll be handing out FREE Big Thoughts to share. Order Thought Spots on-line and participate in the sharing. Or simply, write a note to a woman you know and share some joy!

It's all about paying it forward. Never underestimate the power of sharing a thought with someone!

Children's Trunk Show - Wednesday May 12, 2010

2010-05-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

If you live in the Southern Ontario area...join me and a host of other mom's who make cool stuff at the CHILDREN'S TRUNK SHOW in Toronto on May 12. 9:30am-4:30pm at The Distillery (55 Mill Street, Toronto)

50+ Vendors geared towards kids and families.
Come support local mom entrepeneurs!
Happy Shopping.

Date Night with "Date Night"

2010-04-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

We used to go to the movies all the time…that is, before the kids came along and made movie rentals more of a reality for us. So, in my mind, when we do go to a movie, it’s got to be a winner. For me, that usually means it’s Oscar worthy…which all but eliminates the entire genre of “funny films”. So, it was a bit of a break from the norm that I found myself asking my husband to go see Date Night with me on opening weekend. With lead actors, Tina Fey and Steve Carell dishing up some humour I figured it was worth the gamble. And…it did not disappoint! It’s been a long time since I’ve heard an entire theatre of adults belly laughing!! Whether it was the “pole dance scene” or the “undercover restaurant” scene that caused the most laughs is debatable, but what wasn’t debatable is the fact that every married couple in the audience could relate to the sometimes monotonous moments of married life. They’re part of marriage. But so is the comfort of a familiar smile and a warm embrace. Date Night is a great reminder that all married couples need to spice things up once in a while – try something new together, generate some excitement and fall in love all over again! Make a date night with your partner now – enjoy!

Workouts and Good Tunes!

2010-03-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

Music will literally move you! Yes, it's been shown in many studies that people exercise harder and longer when they have some good tunes to guide them. Since I've been teaching cycling and other fitness classes for 15+ years I can tell you, without a doubt, that this is indeed true.

Here's my playlist from the cycling class I taught this morning. Get the songs on your iPod and use them for your next work out on a bike or any other piece of cardio equipment!

Live Like We're Dying - Kris Allen (warm up)
Breakeven (Falling to Pieces) - The Script (rolling hill set)
Turn It Up - Stereos (standing aggressive climb)
Whip It - Devo (seated climb) *throw back song from the 80's
Down - Jay Sean & Lil Wayne (alternate seated and standing climb)
ChaChing - Hedley (road sprint)
Hot n' Cold - Katy Perry (seated climb - 40 sec baseline; 20 sec intense, REPEAT)
Give Him Up - Faber Drive (flat road)
American Honey - Lady Antebellum (cool down)

Try a spin class. Get out for a walk...or a run. Sign your kids up for a TriKids Triathlon or other kids sporting event in your area. You might event want to try a new sport that is emerging in Canada - stair climbing. Here are a few events that are showcasing stair climbing - 1st Annual Climb Off in Hamilton, ON and a Stair Climbing Workshop held in Oakville, ON.

Whatever your sport...get some tunes playing, get out and have fun!

Free Range Kids!

2010-03-08T11:03:00.001-08:00

With a lull between the Olympic and Paralympic Games, many Canadians - like me - have been left with a whole lot of time on our hands!! The TV is getting a rest at my house and so I was able to finish off a book that I've been keen to read for quite some time. Free Range Kids by Lenor Skenazy, is her investigative report on the state of our North American society and useful suggestions about how "we can give our children the freedom we had without going nuts with worry". The book chronicles the fears of this generations "Helicopter Parents" and helps bring a realistic perspective to what most parents fear are the many dangers lurking out there! This is a MUST READ for all parents - it'll calm you down, make you assess risk more effectively and above all, remind you about the real goal of being a parent that we sometimes forget: TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN TO BE CONFIDENT, INDEPENDENT, CRITICAL THINKERS who can one day leave the proverbial nest!

Lenore's research is compelling and two points really stand out in my mind:
1) CRIME RATES/ABDUCTIONS - they are at an all time LOW yet we have more fear around them than ever. This causes us to limit or eliminate kids walking to and from school or playing outside. She advocates the buddy system and teaching kids about safety, but not getting caught up in the notion that every kid is just moments away from being abducted. LET YOUR KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL IN A GROUP when they are in Grades 2 and up - they can handle it...they need the exercise and besides, the odds are higher that they'll be injured in the car you drive them to school with!
2) FEAR CULTURE - this is reality of our current society which can support the likes of 24 hour news stations that bring the latest doom and gloom into our living rooms daily. Reality check - we are living in safe times with a lot of safeguards, laws, and medical advances that have made childhood less dangerous than at any other time in history. So, we all need to loosen up a little.

It's a great read...and by trying out a few of her suggestions it will certainly help make your kids a little more free range! Pick up your copy at a local library or at Chapters-Indigo.

SPOTTED

2010-02-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

I met Emma at a Fundraising event in November...she just couldn't get enough Thought Spots!! Her mom, Linda tells me she loves using them around the house. Here's to being a great thinker Emma!

Olympic Fever

2010-02-12T07:22:00.000-08:00

I've got it...and I'm sure most Canadians do!! There's something so thrilling about having your country host this world renowned sporting event...and in one of my absolute favourite Canadian cities! So, here's my little rant and rave about the Olympics:
1) Host an Olympic inspired party - make your guests work a little before they indulge. My family is having a winter road hockey game (adults and kids) followed by chili, hot chocolate and maple leaf inspired desserts. It's all about enjoying time together, getting active and celebrating our Canadian pride.
2) Do tell your kids that Olympic athletes DO NOT eat McDonald's as a regular part of their energy intake. This is a BIG pet peeve of mine...I mean, are you serious??? The commercials I've seen from McDonalds would have you believe that their food is the fuel choice of champions. If you haven't seen the documentary SUPER SIZE ME...now is the time. I look forward to the day that when "Clean Eating" magazine can sponsor the Olympics. Educate your kids, please!!!
3) Use the Olympic spirit to inspire everyone in your family to commit to trying ONE NEW ACTIVITY this year. My family just tried Dog Sledding - which you may not know was a demonstration sport during the 1932 Olympics. I've committed to doing the Iditarod next year...okay...not really...but what an adventure that'd be!

Only 8 hours till the opening ceremonies begin...make it a must see at your house.
TO THE "ATHLETE" IN US ALL - CHEERS!

" ___________" Time

2010-01-22T08:06:00.001-08:00

Fill in the blank..."family", "alone", "girl", "party", "one-on-one mom-kid" Time. Whatever "time" it is...MAKE IT HAPPEN, mix it up and enjoy it often.

I just got back from a short adventure to the Bahamas with my husband and enjoyed some really nice "COUPLE" Time! I'm gonna put it out there...every married couple needs to carve out "couple" time...especially when you are also parents. You don't want to be the couple who drives their last kid to university, pauses, looks at one another and doesn't even recognize the other person. Couple Time gives you the opportunity to a) remember what it is you actually love about the person b) forget, for a moment, what drives you crazy about the person (LOL!) and c) allows you to keep getting to know one another...because we're all changing, all the time.

I've decided that I definitely want to have an annual "couple time" getaway with my spouse...sometimes farther, sometimes just an hours drive away. Decide what you want or need for your relationship, make it a priority and then, enjoy. Another bonus - your kids will enjoy seeing you swoon over one another! :)

New year...fresh thinking

2010-01-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

Ah, after a nice holiday we're all getting back into the swing of things for another year. I'll keep this post short and sweet as I've got a lot of planning to do...'cause it's the time of year to get organized and set some goals into motion!

My JANUARY 2010 STARTER PLANNING LIST
swipe any, swipe them all, or make your own list

1. Do set a health related goal for yourself this year - lofty or otherwise. Use Lululemon's FREE Goaltender Site to write and track your health and other goals to keep them top of mind. My goal - Muskoka Sprint Triathlon completion.
2. Clear out your closet - new items in = some old items out. Donate gently used stuff.
3. Eat Clean - pick up Tosca Reno's Eat-Clean Cookbook and subscribe to Clean Eating magazine and try putting better fuel in your body and notice the difference. My goal - eat clean, only one "dirty treat" per week.
4. Pull your kids for a ride on a sled - you'll sweat, they'll laugh!
5. Have a FAMILY MEETING - get everyone to think about their year ahead and their goals so that everyone knows and can support one another.
6. Book a financial review with your banker - make sure you're on track to realize your goals and create your Future By Design
7. Make time for 1 or 2 of your most favourite indulgences. My goal - carve out some free time to read for leisure at least 1 hour a week.
8. Do pick up a Wear With All Jacket from Lululemon...even if it may seem pricey, save up for it...on a cost per wear basis, it'll cost you pennies over the next few years for sure!
9. Join Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution and "pass on" some recipes to help people make simple, affordable, home cooked meals more attainable. I'll post his POT ROAST MEATLOAF next week.
10. Smile...yes, now...and be grateful for all the great people, places, things in your life!

All things GINGER!!!

2009-12-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

It's the season to BAKE up a storm, even if there's no storm brewing outside (although my oldest is just chompin' at the bit for a BIG SNOW STORM to get here - come on SNOW!!) I'm not much of a baker really...I prefer the freestylin' that happens in cooking and the precise measuring required to bake just doesn't quite do it for me. But, there are a couple of "too good not to bake" recipes in my list that make me pull out my measuring cups once in a while...and they both involve GINGER!

GINGERBREAD COOKIES
Everyone who's tried this recipe loves the fact that these are soft and chewy gingerbread cookies...not rock hard like so many other Gingerbread Cookies I've tasted. So yum - give it a try!

3 1/4 cups all purpose (this year I'm gonna try using 1/2 spelt flour)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 cup salted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsulfurized molasses

Combine flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves - set aside. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar together with mixer. Add egg and molasses and beat until smooth. Add flour mixture and beat on low until combined. Separate dough into two equal parts - roll into a ball and then flatten each one. Put in a ziploc bag or wrap in plastic wrap and then refrigerate for at least an hour (I typically make my dough the day before so it is ready to go on baking day). Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out dough on floured surface to approx 1/4 inch thickness, cut with cookie cutter and place on baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake 9 to 11 minutes. Cool and then decorate as you like.

GINGER-BANANA WAFFLES
I love these waffles because they are different and taste great. They cook up in a large batch and freeze really well. I've even started making these as part of a care package I give to moms who've just had new babies - they get rave reviews! I'll be making these a couple of days before Christmas, freezing them and then simply warming them in the oven on Christmas morning - simple and mmmm... good!

3 cups all-purpose flour (or try spelt and all purpose flour 1/2 and 1/2)
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
4 large eggs
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 medium bananas, mashed

Preheat waffle iron. Lightly brush with oil. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg and salt. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with a mixer until sugar is dissolved. Beat in milk, molasses, butter and bananas. Combine dry and wet ingredients and blend until dry ingredients are moistened. Put about 1/2 cup of batter into waffle iron. Bake and then serve warm with Maple Syrup and fresh fruit - delish!

And...here's a few tid bits on GINGER that you might find interesting:
1) Fresh ginger can be substituted for ground ginger at a ratio of 6 to 1, although the flavours of fresh and dried ginger are somewhat different
2) Gingerol, or sometimes [6]-gingerol, is the active constituent of fresh ginger and has pain-relieving, fever-reducing, calming, anti-bacterial and healing properties.
3) Ginger has been shown to have ANTI-NAUSEA effects - which explains why my mom and many others made me drink Ginger Ale when I was hit with the flu. A better option than popular soft drinks is to choose Santa Cruz Ginger Ale for a more natural, organic treat - give it a try!
4) If you haven't tried ShaSha Ginger Snaps - they are are great lunch box treat for kids.
Or read more about Ginger on Wikipedia

Happy Holiday baking (and don't forget to let your kids get in on the action - messes can be cleaned up, it's not the end of the world!) Have fun :)

A Saturday stroll that got me thinking...

2009-12-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite things to do is just indulge in a little bit of ALONE TIME! I've begun to really enjoy hanging out with myself in fact...there's something about getting older, wiser and more confident in yourself that makes you comfortable about doing things solo once in a while. So, this past Saturday I booked myself in for a day with ME! I headed to downtown Oakville, hit a coffee shop and my favourite bakery and then checked in for my appointment at the Spa (a very special treat from my FAM that I recently got for my birthday - thanks guys!).
After enjoying a wonderful massage and facial, I was feeling pretty relaxed and mellow so I decided to stroll along Lakeshore Road, a scenic section of Oakville filled with lovely boutiques and restaurants.

When I'm alone, I tend to ponder things. I feel grateful for my family and friends, my health...my life. And I notice stuff. Stuff that I might normally pass by without really "digesting". As I walked along, a couple of things caught my eye and got me THINKING! The first I spotted outside a little furniture store I like... Perhaps it really is that simple and we don't need to beat ourselves up when we try and well...miss! Saw the second one on a coffee shop window.

How true is that??? A great thing to keep top of mind as we head into the holidays.

This last thought I saw on my recent trip to Chicago, it was enlarged on a glass window at the University:
"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people." Eleanor Roosevelt

I've been thinking about those poignant words for the past month now...what kind of mind do I want to have?? Now, your turn to get thinking - enjoy!

...and the WINNER is!

2009-12-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

ANDY EVANS - you are the winner of the Thought Spots Care Package Contest! I hope you enjoy taking someone special out for a Starbucks treat with your $25 Gift Card, maybe dancing with them after you download some music with your $15 iTunes Gift Card...and of course, putting a Big Thought on their mirror that will make their day!

Andy, you can thank my 4 year old daughter for pulling your name out of the hat today (nothing but high tech stuff here at my house...and a whole lot of karma I think!). Drop me an e-mail and I'll get your package to you this week.

To the other folks who are following my Thought Spots blog AND to those who aren't following because they haven't set up a Blogger account (you technophobes know who you are and I know there are a lot of you!)- thank you for reading...let me know what inspires you most, what you'd most like to read about and drop me an e-mail anytime to SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!!

Flippin' out!

2009-11-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

Something very cool happened in my home town last weekend...I mean, seriously, Oakville girls were literally flippin' out! One of the most inspiring, passionate businesses I've seen in a long time - founded by two uber-awesome Canadian moms! - opened up shop in downtown Oakville. It's called Triple Flip and they specialize in outfitting pre-teen girls in active wear that makes them look and feel good. And since co-founders Linda and Mona Rae (whom I had the pleasure of meeting!) have five daughters between them, they know a thing or two about what girls like - so the shopping experience is pure girlie heaven with funky changerooms and colour blocked displays. My two ladies were pumped that they could finally buy clothes that look like the clothes their mama wears (yes, Lululemon clothing is my FT mom uniform ...more on that in another post). Once we had our flipwear washed up, my girls set up an impromptu fitness centre in their playroom and invited me in to do a yoga class (your kids will do half the poses better than you), swim class (yes they made me change into my bathing suit!), stability ball "workout" (if you call rolling around on it a workout) and the grand finale, dancing in the dark with flashlights (now that's a gym!). Needless to say, I'm SOLD. Put people of any age or gender in clothes that match their personality and lifestyle and you've got a recipe for empowerment, confidence, esteem and joy-filled living!
It has me wishing I was 8 years old again...Linda and Mona Rae - can I be a flip girl?! :)

Smooth Mornings

2009-11-16T17:44:00.000-08:00

Cereals rule for breakie these days – they’re fast, tasty, easy and unfortunately, too often loaded with a whole bunch of sugar that will have your energy level crashing well before 10am. So, what’s a girl to do? My solution is quick, easy and ah, smooth(ie)! Yup, I’m talking about those blender delights that can be whipped up in 2 minutes or less, contain a lot of energy rich nutrition and taste…mmmm…good! I’ve been working at perfecting my smoothie recipe for a long time…trying to get the right balance of sweetness, fibre, protein, and all that other good stuff. I’ve been enjoying this one for over a year at least a couple of mornings a week and it’s a hit with everyone who tries it. My secret ingredient – pitted honey dates (lots of fibre, lots of taste!). Admittedly, I’m not one who likes to measure but I’ll do my best to steer you in the right direction…but know this…it is very, very difficult…no, almost impossible to screw up a smoothie! Place all but one ingredient in the blender, stir for a minute, liquify for a couple more minutes, pour into your favourite glass or grab and go container…and enjoy!

LYNN’S "SMOOTH MORNING" SMOOTHIE
Serves 2…or more, depending how much of it you want to part with!
2 BANANAS (ripe, over-ripe, really over ripe…doesn’t really matter)
1 part PLAIN YOGURT (no fat, 1% or 2%...your choice)
1 part FROZEN MANGO PIECES
1 part FROZEN STRAWBERRY PIECES
2 parts FRESH, NOT FROM CONCENTRATE ORANGE JUICE (I like Tropicana OJ)
5 or 6 HONEY DATES, pitted
1 tbsp (a few shakes) GROUND FLAXSEED
1 tbsp (a few shakes) WHEAT GERM
1 SCOOP VANILLA PROTEIN POWDER (add this at the very end and stir to mix)
GARNISH WITH A FRESH FRUIT SLICE

Training for....LIFE!

2009-11-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

A lot of people ask me what I'm training for...and the truth is that I'm training my body so that one day I can RUN with my grandkids in the park, DANCE with my kids at their weddings, CLIMB a mountain with my husband when we go on a retirement adventure, SWIM across the lake at the family cottage (when we someday get one!), BIKE along a serene road in wine country, WALK with a friend who needs to just talk out something when life throws a curve ball, SKI with a new friend who has never experienced the thrill...and the list goes on!

So, every week, when I choose what activities I want to challenge my body with, I think of this. Then I throw in the odd short term goal, like my intention to do a Sprint Distance Triathlon next summer (uping it from the Try-a-Tri distance this year) and I've got enough motivation to get moving each and every day. If you need a little help with your goal setting...check out Lululemon's Goaltender site which is a terrific, free tool to get you started and help you stay on track.

WE ARE ALL ATHLETES!!
What are you going to do today to get your body moving? Commit and DO IT!
Cheers
L

Thought Spots Care Package Contest Countdown

2009-11-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

There's only a few days left to enter my Thought Spots care package contest. Just for signing up to follow my blog (which really just means that you'll be notified when my weekly post is live), you could win a Care Package of some of my favourite things - a $25 Starbucks gift card, a $15 iTunes gift card and some Big Thoughts that really motivate and inspire me!
To enter, sign up by November 15, 2009...then share my blog with a friend and get inspired!

My kinda town...Chicago is!

2009-11-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

My Spontaneity Rocks post struck a chord (no pun intended) with a lot of people it seems...and apparently there are a lot of people doing some pretty fun, last-minute adventures - thanks for sharing them with me!

So an update on the trip for all who've been wondering...as expected, it was awesome! The Miley concert was a lot of fun...my girls were definitely bug-eyed and enthralled with the theatrical show performance. But, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the highlight of the trip for them was not the concert, but rather the trip to the American Girl store! We spent over 2 hours looking at all the dolls, clothes and the attention to detail that is this "girly" empire...complete with a restaurant, doll hospital and hair salon. Whoa - hang on to your wallets people!! :)

The food in Chicago was nothing less than outstanding - Maggiano's served up meatballs that anyone's Nonna would be proud to call her own and the Cheesecake Factory had us all tasting unique, flavourful fare - once you made it through the novel-like menu! I decided to try to re-create one of my favourite dishes that we ordered and it was a hit at home. So, I'm sharing this healthy, super-yummy recipe with you all - enjoy!!!

THAI LETTUCE WRAPS
All you need is:
1 head of Boston Lettuce
2 or 3 grated carrots
2 handfuls of Sprouts
1 package soba noodles (cooked for 2 minutes as per package instructions)
2 or 3 chicken breasts; cut in long strips (baked in 350 degree oven until cooked)
Presidents Choice Szechuan Peanut Sauce (or your favourite brand)
Renee's Tangy Thai Sauce (or your favourite brand)

Dead simple. You put all the ingredients out on a plate in the centre of the table and then, just like you would stuff a taco, you take a piece of lettuce and fill it up. Choose one of the sauces, add a teaspoon or two, then fold and eat! Repeat with the other sauce. Ah...perfection!
And with that, I'm ready to eat dinner myself...so as my 3 year old niece would say - Bon Appetit, let's eat!!!

SPONTANEITY ROCKS!!!

2009-10-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

I've already blogged this week but I'm just tooooo excited not to share this!! Last week, my hubby and I decided that it was time we did something fun, adventurous and exciting. So, we booked an impromptu trip to Chicago and got tickets to see Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana for our girls! We decided to make it a surprise for them so all week we've been leaving clues in their rooms - the first one was attached to their suitcases. Every morning they awoke to a new clue (talk about easy peasy getting them up from bed this week!) We're all pretty pumped about our road trip - we're gonna do "all things Chicago" - eat pizza (did you know deep dish pizza was invented here!); fish-watch at the Shedd Aquarium (did you know it is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world!); hit the American Girl store (every girl loves this spot!) and check out Filene's basement (where the ultimate shopper in my family - my husband - will be in heaven!). The Grand Finale will of course be the concert featuring Hannah and Miley plus Metro Station! And if you're thinking that Miley is oh, cheesey or tweenie...how about these lyrics to have your kids grow up with..."nobody's perfect - you live and you learn - again and again till you get it right", "life's what you make it - so let's make it rock!", and my fav "ain't about how fast I get there, ain't about what's waiting on the other side - it's the climb!"
In other words, this 16 year old is singing about the essence of living well - enjoying the moment, learning from mistakes and making life a joyful ride!

And, if this song doesn't make you want to groove I don't know what will! Gather your kiddies and listen/watch Party in the USA!

Now it's your turn - when's the last time you did something spontaneous? Plan an adventure with the people you love spending time with - on any budget, with just a free afternoon or many days to spare and HAVE SOME FUN!!!

Endorphins - gotta love 'em!

2009-10-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

People are always talking about a magic pill for this and that. Well, if you're looking for a sure way to pick yourself up...and feel a little happier, nothing beats endorphins.

You've heard of the "runners high" right? Well it is a literal high! After a good bout of exercise your body releases these naturally occurring neurotransmitters produced by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. They are nature's pain relievers and they leave you with a feeling of well being, relaxation and ah, peace! Which means that they are great "medicine" for tackling stress and helping you live a life that feels more joyful. So, for those who aren't yet on the exercise bandwagon, here's yet another great reason to get your body moving...not that you needed another one! So...don't think about it...just do it (as Nike says)!

Get up, get going and get your endorphin kick TODAY!!!!

If you want to read more about endorphins enjoy Endorphins 101 and High as a Kite!

And with that...I'm off for a run on this beautiful fall day before I have to pick up my ladies from school!
Cheers!

SPOTTED!

2009-10-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

I love hearing great stories about how creative women are using their Thought Spots to motivate, inspire, teach, praise and share!

Karen from British Columbia surprised her daughter Reegan with a Happy Birthday Thought Spot placed on her water bottle, tucked neatly into her school lunch! Karen told me that her nine year old daughter just loves getting little messages in her room from mom. "The inspiration from Thought Spots are wonderful!" she said. Thanks for sharing, Karen and Reegan! As a little surprise to both of you, I'm sending you a Thought Spots care package to say thanks :)

I want to hear your stories, see your creativity and get your pictures! So, send me a photo and tell me your story and you might just see yourself SPOTTED! Please send all submissions with your contact information to lynn@thoughtspots.ca - you will be contacted before any post goes live!

WHAT COULD YOU LIVE WITHOUT – EVEN FOR A SEASON?

2009-10-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

WHAT COULD YOU LIVE WITHOUT – EVEN FOR A SEASON?

So, I decided to do a little experiment over the summer that got me thinking. Living the suburban lifestyle means that I’ve chosen to trade proximity to buildings for proximity to nature – and so, it’s not unusual for most suburb dwellers to find ourselves in the car on a regular basis to get to where we need to go. And yet, I wanted to discover what most people I know couldn’t imagine doing - going without a car for the entire summer! The timing was perfect - my car lease expired at the end of May, I would be a full time mom to my two kids during the summer school break, we’d be doing the family vacation thing for at least a few weeks of the summer and I was on the ParticipAction Walk or Wheel Campaign bandwagon – so I was ready. Now, I still had access to my husband’s commuter car when he was home but I challenged myself to use it minimally and adopt a new strategy for entertaining my kids over the summer. I coined it “the summer where we return to simplicity”. I imagined myself using my home as I would a cottage…you get there and you stay…you go into town only when you need to…you stock up…you enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Could it be done in the burbs? The first step was getting my kids on board – we’d be walking or biking just about everywhere we wanted to go and we would be on the move! While there were a few grumbles as they got used to it, soon they knew no other way and it was a non-issue. We chose programs and activities all within walking or biking distance and discovered some amazing gems in our own backyard! We spent more time together – enjoying the journey – and less time focused on the destination! My 6 year old was biking 5-10 km with ease while I enjoyed my own workout pulling my 4 year old in the bike trailer. We hit every local park…we had lots of playdates with friends in the neighbourhood, the kids took tennis lessons, soccer, skateboarding…we burned calories to get to the ice cream store…we bird watched, splashed, drew incredible chalk mazes on the driveway – we laughed and most of all, we loved the freedom. Isn’t it ironic that by giving something up we were able to get more freedom in return? So…it got me thinking that once in a while I think it’s good to break out of the norm…change up something from your routine and get a fresh new perspective. What could you live without – even for a season? Try it and see what you discover!

My kind of dinner party!

2009-10-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you enjoy entertaining but don't always like the way you get stuck in the kitchen while you listen to all of your guests having a good belly laugh in the room next door. The truth is that being a host can sometimes be a downer when you're guests leave and you don't recall having more than a 30 second conversation with anyone ! A lot of people just don't throw dinner parties anymore...but there's something pretty cool about a night in on your own turf - it's laid back, informal and certainly not as pricey (especially if you go through wine like a lot of my pals!).

So, that's why I decided on a new version of dinner parties at my house. They're fun, relaxed, less stressful for the me and everyone, yes everyone gets involved and takes part in creating a good time! The formula is simple really: invite 2 or 3 couples with a little sense of adventure and a variety of interests (some common, some not), create a menu theme, assign each couple to bring the ingredients for one of the dishes (keep it simple) , set up cooking stations, mix and match cooking partners and throw a good' ole kitchen party! As a host, most of the prep work is in planning a good menu that is simple and relatively easy to assemble in a short time. Then you get to spend your time doing the fun part of entertaining - setting the stage for a great night in.

This past weekend, two couples joined us to cook up this Fall Festive Menu:
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Brie Salad
Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Root Vegetable and Balsamic Kale
Apple Delight

After getting a beverage in hand, the soup was underway and cooked up in 20 minutes or so. Everyone chipped in to chop veggies and mix up seasonings. All the while telling stories and sharing a laugh or two. The creative juices were flowing as everyone tried to plate their food just so. Since each cooking pair prepares, serves and cleans up after their course...everyone gets a chance to linger at the dining table AND get up and moving - so, it's a great experience for all!

We made an extra large batch of the soup so that there were leftovers, which meant a relaxed Sunday meal for moi. The following day I packaged up a couple of servings of the healthy puree and delivered it to the couples so that they could enjoy it too - it is a simple, easy way to thank your guests for coming and let them enjoy the fruits of their labour too!

The soup was such a hit that I must share the recipe with you that I modify slightly from Ken Kostick's "Ken's Soup Krazy" cook book. His book inspired me to try out a number of soups over the years and discover how healthy, easy and wholesome soups can be - they're a fall staple at my house! So, enjoy the soup...host a party and get everyone to share in the fun (& the work!)

Curried Butternut Squash Soup
8-10 cups of vegetable stock (I like McCormick's bouillon cubes)
1 good sized butternut squash (peeled, seeded and chopped into 1 inch cubes)
2 small onions, chopped
2 large potatoes, chopped
2 bay leaves
2 tsp brown sugar
2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 cups half and half cream (or simply use milk for a healthier alternative)

Throw everything in a pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until squash is cooked through. Discard bay leaf. Puree with a hand blender. Stir in cream/milk. Garnish with a bit of parsley and serve with a piece of flat bread. Yum!

You can also freeze this soup...but I recommend not adding the cream/milk before freezing - instead, add it when you heat the soup up for serving.
*Note: you can be generous with some of the seasonings to intensify the flavour (I always boost up the curry and the cinnamon)

Ode to the Muffin Lady

2009-09-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

What's "back to school/work" season without some easy-peasy breakfast yummies that don't come from a cardboard box. My neighbour, whom we affectionately call the "Muffin Lady", is always experimenting with those warm, tasty treats and shared this recipe with me a while ago.

They're called Sunshine Muffins. I hadn't made them in a long time, but I did last week and man were they tasty! The best part is that you make the entire recipe in your Blender so it's a simple prep and clean up for such a zesty treat. My kids are not all that into nuts inside muffins, so I baked up 1/2 the batter with just raisins and the other 1/2 with raisins and walnuts. A little trick to separate the nut ones from the nut-free ones - use different colour muffins liners - e.g. yellow for the walnut ones, pink for the raisin only. And the liner helps save on clean up and then they can go right into the green bin - so they're earth friendly too. You can even try substituting some of the white flour with spelt flour for a more wholesome choice.

Give 'em a try and enjoy - thanks "Muffin Lady"!!

Back in the swing of things!

2009-09-28T09:19:00.001-07:00

I suppose it's fair to say that summer is over and it's time to get back into the fall routine. While the end of September may seem to be late in the "back to school/work" month to be saying this, it all makes sense when you realize that my youngest daughter is in Kindergarten. The grrrraaaaaaddddddduuuuuaaaaaaalllllll entry program for "kindies" takes nearly the whole month of September!! She was bummed..."there's no friends to play with mom"...and so I did my best to be as entertaining as another 4 year old - Barbies and Webkinz anyone?

So this is the first week where I've actually had a chance to sit down and type away - so I've got lots of neat stuff to share - and hopefully entertain, perhaps educate, and maybe even, on the odd chance, enlighten! I'll be serving up weekly posts and a few surprises along the way. Read and enjoy!

Canada Day with Kids

2009-06-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

We've got a lot to celebrate in Canada and my family is just moments away from piling into the car so that we can celebrate the big day in the nation's capital! For all those unfamiliar with it, that's Ottawa, ON ;) - a mere 4 1/2 hour drive from the Toronto area on this wet, drizzly day here.

Where ever you'll be, don't forget to make it a special day for you and your kids. Here's my Canada Day tips:

• Do get festive! Get your kids dressed in RED, little girls can paint their toes with RED nail polish (if you can draw a maple leaf then all the power to ya!), get some temporary CDN FLAG tattoos from the dollar store - make it an event!
• Show some pride! Have your kids make a Canada flag or buy one at the Dollar Store, talk about our country (how many provinces and territories do we have now anyways??), make a list of all the things they love about being a Canadian kid!
• Celebrate with fireworks! There are firework displays all over the country - find out who's putting on a display near you and be there - it's okay to keep kids up late a few times a year, eh? And, for thesqueamish little ones, pack some ear plugs to soften the sound - then everyone will enjoy the show!
Stand tall and proud, it's a once a year celebration of this great country we're all pretty fortunate to live in - OH CANADA! Now, I had better get in the car and get movin' - maybe I'll even see you on the parliament lawn!
Lynn

Wedding Season - r u ready?

2009-06-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

With the vast majority of people getting married in the summer, there’s a good chance your anniversary is just around the corner like mine. My husband and I are celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary this June - how did that happen!? And since I’m one of those people who thinks that I’ve got to invest as much time in my relationship with my husband as I invest in my kids and myself, I’ve got some big plans. Let’s face it - long after my kids have grown up and gone off to school, it’ll be him and I looking at each other across the kitchen table and I don’t want to be one of those people who has to decide then if I still like him. Instead, I’m opting to keep our relationship at the forefront and continue to evolve and learn how we’re staying the same and becoming different as we go.

Last year, I started this really cool tradition with the help of my kids. I reasoned that it simply wasn’t okay to pay all that money for a dress that you wore one day…so, once I year I bust that baby out of the preservation box and put it on. Yes…I put it on!! Other than the absolute rush of nostalgia (which is indeed well worth it on its own!), I also get to see how my body is changing over the years. You can imagine my delight (when the waist fit like a glove) and shock (when I realized that breastfeeding two children really had changed my physique!) So, with a little tissue adjustment and a twirl…I was catapulted back to THE BIG DAY! My girls were ecstatic to see “mama as a bride” and the whole event made for a day full of activities - we picked wild daisies for my hair, set the table “special”, prepared a delicious meal and picked out their outfits for the celebration. We practiced our entrance in anticipation of his arrival home from work…everyone was lovin’ it! My husband came home and was surprised to see his 3 and 5 year old “flower girls” introduce mommy! His smile said it all. We had a wonderful evening celebrating one of the best days of our lives and the best part was that our kids got to enjoy it with us.

The plans are underway for this years celebration. My girls are picking out their outfits, planning the meal and can’t wait to flip through the pages of wedding pictures. They say that reminiscing about great moments from the past can let you relive the same emotions all over again…and I know that to be true!

So, ladies…rummage through your closets (or dare I say, the basement or attic), find the dress, put it on and share a great moment with your kids and husband. You won’t regret it! At the very least, you’ll have a good laugh!

You can also celebrate summer love by trying some of these ideas:

* Invite your spouse to a date night at home. Prepare an invitation and set a table for two. Cook a special meal together and enjoy a nice bottle of wine. Relax and talk while you linger over your food!
* Go on a date night out and re-visit a special spot that you used to frequent when you were dating.
* Have your kids help you make a “what I love about you” list for your spouse - they’ll enjoy seeing you swoon!

Cheers!

Lynn

Think...think...BLOG!

2009-06-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Thought Spots Blog! Enjoy a weekly dose of inspiration on everything from good food, exercise and parenting to fun adventures and tips for living really well!

The world is evolving – people now recognize tea in "coffee" shops, yoga as part of a balanced fitness program and kids as young as 3 years old can sign up to do triathlons! Sounds strange – maybe yes…but my six year old daughter is officially registered in her first TriKids triathlon in July and is just brimming with excitement about the challenge that lies ahead.

So, it got me thinking that I’d been procrastinating about living out one of my own goals – completing a “Try-a-Tri” Triathlon. I had arbitrarily decided that it was a must do before I turned 40…and with my 37th birthday coming up this year and my daughter’s willingness to try something new, I thought “Why not now?” So, I summoned up the courage, ignored the nagging thoughts (you know…Will I make an *** out of myself? Lose my bathing suit somewhere in the lake? Be the only person on a mountain bike amidst road bikes? Trip over my own feet during the run?) and registered. I’ve got a little over three months to train and an official reason to say NO to Skor Bar Blizzards with extra Skor (my unofficial DQ franchise quality control days are over!). Even though the hours of training will far outweigh my time on the course, I can already feel the adrenaline and excitement that you get from challenging yourself, feeling like you’re in unknown territory and pushing through anyways – because I can! And, more precisely…I WILL!

On September 6th my daughter and I will toast each other over lemonade (and maybe even a DQ Blizzard!) for an accomplishment well earned.

Ask yourself…

What health and wellness goals have you been putting off? Why not now? It’s as easy as making a decision that you can and you will!

Cheers,

Lynn