The On.a.Whim Heating Sachet: "Like a Pecan Pie Wrapped Around My Neck"

Even though the temperature is hovering over 90, I'm unable to keep these in stock! Filled with rice and either lavender or chamomile tea, these natural heating sachets provide moist heat for aches and pains of all sorts. They are $15 a piece and come in a variety of fabrics.

JUST IN: My dear co-worker Beth is an avid gardener and has offered some of her fresh lavendar to me for the sachets! What a treat.

I would also like to share this delightful and descriptive testimonial by Mrs. Edna Grable with you:

It's been a bit warm lately, so I haven't needed [the heating sachet], but I decided to heat it up today anyway. (Didn't need it, but wanted to test drive it.) WOW!!! Not only does it feel wonderful as it is sitting on my neck and shoulders as I type, but the scent is absolutely scrumptious!! It's like having a pecan pie wrapped around my neck without the stickiness!! I know it was called a "sachet," but I hadn't expected the absolutely delicious scent...it's making me hungry for a scoop of vanilla ice cream to go with it!

I can't wait for winter, when I can "crank it up" in the microwave, and maybe put it under my covers just before bedtime. It will be like a bedtime snack in bed!

Thanks again!
Edna Grable

Let me know if you'd like to order your own heating sachet. They make lovely shower, Christmas, summer or anytime gifts!

***The On.a.Whim product website will be up and running by the end of Summer 2010!***

Mindful Eating

My sweet friend Whitney has taught me a new term: Mindful Eating. Following the Farewell Fatty post, she gently reminded me to not make food something you have to control, cut out, or limit, but rather something you enjoy, use for nourishment and understand. I am still chewing on this concept. With this thought in mind, I made a jambalaya recipe from college days for the first time in five years and LOVED it. The creole dish took me right back to good times with my sweet college roommates and more carefree days.

This week has been super-busy: a new baby, a move, a work seminar and housesitting/dogsitting through the weekend. Besides lugging all my earthly possessions up and down stairs, there hasn't been much time for exercise, but I'd like to share with you a recent On.a.Whim meal of wahoo, asparagus and sweet potatoes:

A new trick I learned for "cutting" asparagus: hold each end of asparagus and apply pressure. It will break where it is naturally good to eat.

Have you ever had wahoo? I hadn't. It's a delicious, mild white fish. We seasoned with garlic salt and pepper and olive oil then baked on 350 for 20 minutes.

I recently figured out a quicker way to cook sweet potatoes. Cut into "coins."

Ice with coconut oil.

And bake alongside the fish on 350 for 30 minutes.

Delicious!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend remembering the courage and sacrifice of our military, past and present.

Rollins Ford Jones

Rollins Ford Jones
May 25, 2010
6 lbs & 6 oz.

First child to Hank and Kat Jones

Welcome to the world little man. I'm already crazy about you!

~Your Fairy Godmother

Good Fruit

Good morning friends! Spend a few moments taking the below message in. I hope it will encourage and challenge you as it has me. So often I'm eating and living out "rotten fruit" in my life, but I ask Father to replace the bad with His good.

For the next 12 hours, I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love.

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. No I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy.

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.

I choose peace.

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience.

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who take my place, I'll invite him to do so.

I choose kindness.

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness.

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.

I choose faithfulness.

Today I will keep my promises.

I choose gentleness.

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.

I choose self-control.

I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I will be drunk only by joy.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindess, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

~Max Lucado

Farewell Fatty: I'm Fed Up with You!

Winter 2010 did not play nice with me.

Extra hours at work, stress and the dark, cold months have left me with little motivation to workout and scarse time to plan a healthy diet. I've gained at least 10 lbs., destroyed my cardio capacity, am struggling to fit my booty into my jeans, and feel overall UNHEALTHY!

Well, all that nonsense is about to come to a screeching halt! Get ready for the all new On.a.Whim healthy lifestyle plan!

The organization I work for and promote provides exercise, fitness, recreation and competitive athletics to individuals with chronic illnesses and physical disabilities. How in the world can I promote something I'm not living out personally!

I'm hoping to lose 10, gain muscle tone and feel better overall by the end of June.

To do so, I'll need to eliminate meals like this:

And start incorporating foods like this:

and this into my everyday diet:

The good news is that the Pepper Place Farmer's Market is now in full swing, so I'll get to have fun and be creative with new healthy recipes and fresh fruits & veggies.

I'm also going to need to do a whole lot more of this:

My plan starting out is to do:

-at least 30 minutes of cardio 6xs a week

-weights once a week

-at least one yoga class/week.

I will not be purchasing any new clothes until the end of June or eating any fast food.

I'll be posting weekly blog updates about my progress.

Any best practices, encouragement and success stories would be greatly appreciated.

Here's to good health!

Summer Song

On my morning run today, I was delighted with the sweet fragrance of honey suckles and pleasant chirpings of little birds. How beautiful creation is this time of year! I passed by my favorite flower shop, Leaf ‘n Petal, and took mental snapshots of all the beautiful flowers, herbs and plants for sale. I ran past bleary-eyed humans being walked by their eager dogs, bursting into the new day. And, I was reminded of the gift of summer, of new birth, sunshine and creation. This passage from Job is so true. How can any of us look at creation and not believe in the Lord and His great power?

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”