Supporting Students with Reading Difficulties in the Educational System

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Haiti

Haiti: the world banding together... what an incredible reminder of the importance of thinking globally in our everyday lives.

There have been so many phenomenal gestures of love, humanity, and care signifying unity of all humankind. We are all connected and sometimes it unnecessarily takes a devastating tragedy to remind us of our connection with each other, no matter our race, continent of origin, beliefs, or cultures.
Examples of heroism in this tragedy (in North America):

• Canadian government matching all donations to a maximum of 50 million dollars to go toward Haiti relief efforts
• Fundraisers in schools and other various institutions across the country
• Hope for Haiti (American- raised over 66 million and Canadian- raised over 58 million)
• Red Cross relief efforts (78 million raised- 70% going to food and water (enough water to provide 300,000 people with water everyday)- 100 relief specialists on site working with over 600 international Red Cross volunteers and 2500 Haitian volunteers)
• Volunteers from across North America helping collect materials and/or traveling to Haiti to help
• Text Haiti relief (32 million raised)
• Radio telethons
• Musical artists creating and dedicating songs for the people of Haiti and donating the profits of all sales to Haiti relief
• Families from all economic statuses making generous donations
• Speeding up adoptions of Haitian children across the world
• Many more volunteering, monetary, and material donations
• Prayers and positive energy filled with well-wishes and messages of strength from across the globe

There have been so many beautiful acts of kindness to help those suffering from this devastating earthquake, and because of advanced technology and global communications, people all over the world have seen the devastating effects of this natural disaster. This has most likely aided in relief efforts, because we have seen with our very own eyes the suffering that these people are experiencing and it is more difficult to "move on with our lives" and forget about it.
Now that the media has moved on to other things such as the Olympics, and other news in our communities, it will be easier to forget... it will take billions of more dollars, volunteer hours, and aid materials to even partially recover from this disaster whether the media is covering it or not. It is our choice to remember the unity that we have among all humankind. We are collectively responsible for our species’ success or failure and it is time that we take responsibility.

Let’s begin not only to focus on help in Haiti, but all beings that are suffering.

Let’s remember! All-days, all-ways!

Lots of Love,

Chanel and Heather

Idea

Now congratulations is in order for Heather and the newest member of her family!

A quick idea for showers, if you're having them once your baby is born: Heather did a wonderful thing, recognizing that she already had everything she needs for her and baby, and asked people to bring donations for a local charity, the Saskatoon Crisis Nursery. What an incredible amount of donations she received, along with some gifts for herself! So many families will benefit from your generosity Heather and all of those who donated!

Tryin' to make the world a little better,
Fighting Footprints

Resolutions Shmesolutions?

Now that we are a few weeks into the New Year... has anyone kept their resolutions? If you are the "making resolutions" type, always trying to better yourself and this universe, good on ya! There's a famous struggle that many people who commit to resolutions encounter... failure! Sometimes the plan to carry out the resolution may have a few characteristics that lead to "falling off the wagon" and leaving it to next year :)

A top ten list compiled by About.com of the most popular New Year's Resolutions:

1. Spend more time with family and friends- always a great goal to have when starting the New Year!

2. Fit in fitness- getting rid of the "I'm too busy to exercise" theory is a tough thing to kick!

3. Tame the bulge- yes, their words!

4. Quit smoking- definitely a goal in need of an effective plan...

5. Enjoy life more- a lot of das go by without appreciation and enjoyment! But how??

6. Quit drinking- after the holiday season it would be fitting for most... :P

7. Get out of debt- a strong goal to tackle in one year for most people, but productive habits can arise from this one!

8. Learn something new- always important to stretch your mind!

9. Help others- something this world needs a lot more of!

10. Get organized- once tackled, this can be INCREDIBLY rewarding!

New Year's resolutions are usually intended to be SUSTAINABLE and LIFE CHANGING... but when taken on with a whole bunch of other changes, without a plan, or cold turkey... they can become quite daunting, stressful, and lead to failure... failure leads to self-loathin,g self-loathing does NOT lead to anything productive! So how can we make these goals achievable? Let's explore!

The New Year always sneaks up on me some time after Christmas right before going back to work, and I am never ready to make a meaningful resolution and create a practical action plan. I never end up creating a resolution at all... this year I may be a bit late, but better late than never, right? And maybe his time, I will be able to carry out this resolution... we'll see.

LET'S MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE! Starting with our lives!

How can we keep resolutions? Ahhh... the age old question... For decades, studies, theories and programs have been developed to help people keep resolutions and stick to a plan, especially when attempting to achieve difficult goals. In North America, I would associate the aforementioned top ten list with the most difficult goals to achieve. Today we are taking helpful pieces from several recommendations to compile a helpful tool for us all to stick to goals that are important for us to achieve!

What can we do to make our plans more successful?

Really important from my experience: WHY are we trying to achieve this goal resolution? What are the consequences of failing to achieve this goal? What are the benefits of overcoming this challenge? It is much easier to attain a goal when the benefits of successfully im[plementing the change into our lives have been comsciously examined and contemplated~

Planning ahead helps us prepare physically and mentally for executing and successfully creating new habits and kicking old nasty ones! Throughout the busy holiday season, try taking some time to think about this! Or... if you're a "plan ahead" type of person, try thinking about it earlier!

When planning, setting short term goals and "checkpoints" may be helpful in actually creating habits that become part of our daily life.

When creating a plan, making sure that small steps are introduced into our existing lifestyle may help in creating a long-asting plan to achieve your goals as well! It has been discussed often that it's easier to make small changes at a time when trying to implement long term changes!

Track progress frequently... integrate some sort of appropriate progress method into your daily or weekly life in order to keep track of your sucesses and areas that you need to improve.

It takes at least 21 days to create a new habit in our lives, so if the first month is a little rocky, we need to understand that our body/mind has not learned the habit yet! Once in the habit, it is MUCH easier to maintain! Giving ourselves rewards or positive reinforcement for sticking to the plan will help us associate the successful development and implementation of our new habit with positive things and encourage us to keep going!

If this spring you have found that you have not kept on track... try again! Spring is a good time to do cleaning in your life! There's no RULE that bettering yourself can only happen at the signal of the New Year! Keep hope!

And a little encouragement from Fighting Footprints... please always consider your footprint on this beautiful earth when doing so!

Wishing you all the best in twenty ten,

Chanel and Heather :)

Photo from: Edgewater Technology Weblog

2010... Make a difference!

Let's make a difference in the ways we think and act this year, are you with us?
Which would you choose? (click on image to enlarge)



Ready to Change...

Heather and Chanel

Christmas Christmas Blessings!

Sorry it has been so long! Christmas season can change our priorities sometimes! For the better?? Let's think about it...

What an incredible time of year! Magical, really... tis the season where we can get together with the ones we love and let them know how much we appreciate them. What an incredible opportunity! I am sure many of you are stuffed to the max like moi, and feeling blessed to the nines with love and material goods. Well, I hope so. If not, you are not alone. There are SO many people struggling this year and in need of love and support. It is so important that during that this season the focus is on giving more than receiving, contrary to popular belief, but crucial to keep focused on others and giving our gifts to help others: other families, countries, family members, loved ones, strangers, etc.

This year, here are a few things we can all do to help the people in our world out:

- Donate time to organizations, assembling hampers, organizing charity events

- Give away excessively acquired material goods from Christmas that you don't need... the new definition for "re-gifting" to Community Living, Salvation Army, other community organizations... let's be real... how many of us need everything in our home and all of the gifts that we received this Christmas season? This can be a good time for house cleaning... I know I did and now my house feels a heck of a lot cleaner and I feel like I was able to give a little while feeling good about it!

- Go through your cupboards for excessive dry goods... we went through ours this holiday season and found some canned goods and other unopened non-perishable foods and donated it to an organization that our local grocery store promoted this year... all it took was us dropping by the grocery store to drop them off! Or... buying one small thing per grocery trip to donate to the organizations that your grocery store supports is also a great way to promote the spirit of giving without stressing about breaking the bank... a little at a time we can make change!

- Closets of clothes that are not worn... anything you have not worn in over 6 months... Community Living, Salvation Army or another organizations. Just do it... it will feel good, and someone will be able to make MUCH BETTER use of the items than you are!

Remember: giving doesn't always have to be material... there are MANY other ways, sometimes better ways, to show people we care.
Also: what was your give/receive ratio this year? Did you give more than you received? Can you imagine if we all gave more of ourselves than we received... what would the world look like??

Find a little way to spread some cheer!
Chanel and Heather

Before Leaving...

A lot of offices and places are closed over the holidays, and then is the time to begin making change when we start leaving the office! So many times electronics are left on, lights on, heat full blown, computers still running.... let's leave for the holidays with a conscious effort of leaving on a minimum amount of energy-sucking appliances on! Here are a few tips to check before shutting down for the holidays (if you're so lucky :P):

1. Turn off your computer AND monitor and unplug before leaving the office!
A PC left on over the holiday will use enough energy o produce 13kg of CO2 – equivalent to 3 inflatable garden Santas (which is another thing to think about before inflating them on your lawn...:P)
2. Make sure the kitchen hot water/coffee machine is turned off. The energy
needed to keep a water tank just under boiling point for hot drinks during the
break could be using enough energy to emit 240kg of CO2.
3. Switch off your office light, desk lamp, display lights and any
decorative lights as you leave. This is good practice and can save 33kWh
of wasted energy – especially if ceiling and desk lamps are not compact
fluorescent lamps - as well as removing a potential fire hazard in the form of
decorative lights.
4. Unplug any non-essential items rather than leaving on standby.
Appliances such as televisions left on standby still use energy – a 20watt
residual energy use equates to 2.5kg of CO2 emitted over the holiday period.
5. Turn off stand alone electric or wall mounted radiators at the
socket. A 3kW electric heater going flat out during the vacation can use
enough energy to produce CO2 for 77 inflatable Santas!
6. Turn off printers and photocopiers at the socket. It is good practice to
turn appliances off rather than leave them on powersave mode. A photocopier
on powersave can still require 90% of the regular standing energy
consumption, translating to 14kg of CO2 per machine over the vacation period.
7. Shut all windows and office doors. Open offices can allow fire to
spread, thefts, and thermostatically controlled room heaters to heat the rest
of the building.
8. Turn the thermostats a bit below room temperature while away... your space will warm up quickly when you return, and you will have saved a whole lot of energy!

These, and many others, could be performed daily when leaving the office... so let's start over the Christmas holidays! And possibly set a few New Year's resolutions for the world... environmentally conscious is the way to go!!

Have a great holiday season, keep your hearts warm!
Chanel and Heather

Red and GREEN, this Holiday!

Well there is only 16 days left until Christmas, and while we hope many of you are THINKING about what/where you are buying in the first place this year there are a few more things we can do to help keep this holiday as GREEN as Christmas CAN be…

Yes traditionally the Christmas colors are GREEN and RED, so let’s think of RED as LOVE, for family, friends, strangers etc. but also our WORLD… stay GREEN!

So let’s enjoy those beloved traditions and celebrations without harming the planet.

One great idea is cut down on the amount of wrapping paper you use. Gift bags, or better yet a reusable bag which is PART of the gift can be used to wrap the items. OR try using things life tea towels, wrap the item in un-used fabric, recycled paper (even the wrinkly stuff… wrinkle it more, it’s a great effect).

Think outside the box when it comes to sending Christmas Cards, although it is really the ONE time of year people do send cards (these days anyhow) to cut down on paper, try using OLD cards re-made into new ones, or… perhaps hit up a great free e-card site and send your wishes that way, no stamp, no paper!

As we are all lighting up out yards, trees, homes etc. with Christmas light make sure you look into getting new energy efficient lights, or LED, which not only cut down on your bills but also on your energy consumption. Try putting the lightning on a timer as well, so you are not leaving them on when no one is around to view their splendor.

As for the Christmas tree itself, what about investing in a GREAT artificial tree this year? They have some a LONG way over the years and there are many VERY real looking trees which don’t require being cut down. And if you’re like me and really love the smell of the real pine, you can always buy some boughs or a wreath. I know many of you will debate the fact that which is really more environmentally friendly, the real tree or the artificial one, but we’ll leave that up to you!

If anyone else has any great tips send them our way!

Otherwise, we hope you are all having a wonderful time this holiday season!

Red and GREEN pals,

Chanel and Heather

What are the things that consume you?

Merry Christmas~ We are huge fans of Christmas at Fighting Footprints~ During the holiday season, we love reflecting on what's important in life, spending time wisely, showing gratitude and love to those we may neglect throughout the year, and most importantly, truly celebrating life!
This holiday season what are your priorities? Will you be stressed about getting all of the presents ready for exchanges, meals prepared, and outfits picked out for parties, or will you focus on re-evaluating your priorities, thought patterns, and life habits? Now is the PERFECT opportunity to take a true look at our lives and how we spend our time, and make some modifications to improve our quality of life, and how we spread life and love to others!

Jack Johnson said it best:
Are there things that consume you... more than your time? Gone going..

It truly got us thinking... many conversations and thoughts are surrounded by the lack of TIME, especially around this time of year! Let's make an effort to change that, and truly be concerned for the well being of others and their families as we enter into this season that can sometimes be polluted with Christmas bears, candy canes, toys, games, A LACK OF TIME, busy stores, and of course, shopping. We can change the conversation toward things that really matter, showing other people we care, and giving back to the world instead of taking from it. Let's make that our challenge this season, and hopefully we can continue it throughout the New Year.

Another great Jack Johnson quote:
You can't blame me says the media man
Well I wasn't the one that came up with the plan
and I just point my camera what the people wanna see
man it's a two way mirror and you can't blame me...

It's supply and demand... if we stop asking for it, it will no longer be produced, we just need to take a stand and think about the true meaning of Christmas... in its raw, miraculous, and joyful intent.

Small changes, one at a time revolutionize the world!
Chanel and Heather

Global Warning Reminders!

So I was just out getting some ideas for Christmas gifts, and I was at Ten Thousand Villages and saw these great posters, one was "How to Build Global Community", another was "How to go Organic", and also "How to End Global Warming"! They are a fantastic reminder for people to have up in their homes, work or classrooms and it is from Ten Thousand Villages which we LOVE to support.

Check out what the "How to End Global Warning" poster says...

How to End Global Warming:

Get excited about an energy revolution
Visualize our Earth from space
Know that it’s fragile
MAKE YOUR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENT
Don’t drive, unless you have to
Walk more * Cycle more * Skate more
Switch to energy star appliances
Turn off lights when you leave a room
Avoid drive-thrus
Install Solar Panels... They Work
Build political will for local change
DEMAND BETTER MASS TRANSIT
Use buses,trains, and trams
Share cars * Carpool
Avoid fast food * Eat Less Meat
Share what you have * Buy Less Stuff
Reuse Before you Recycle
Dig up the concrete
PLANT TREES * SAVE FORESTS
Buy eco-certified or re-used timber
Put your hot water heater on a timer
EAT LOCALLY GROWN ORGANIC FOOD
Don’t fly, unless you have to
Support climate friendly politicians
Support neighborhood businesses
Take Pride in being Resourceful
Put on a sweater
Turn off the air conditioner
Buy tree-free or post-consumer paper
Use a clothsline instead of a dryer
Dream of a solar-hydrogen economy
Close down coal-burning power plants
BUY GREEN ENERGY
Slow down * Find your voice
DON’T BELIEVE WHAT THE AUTO
AND OIL COMPANIES SAY
Support the Kyoto Protocol
Demand Strict Emission Controls
And Fuel Efficiency
On All Vehicles
Kiss the carbon years goodbye
Our world will be whole
And Healed Tomorrow
If We Pay Attention Today.

Pretty awesome hey, Check out other GREAT gift ideas at http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/

Poster Pals

Heather and Chanel

Canned Goods

Something I learned today: BPA isn't only found in plastic goods.... it's also found in METAL CANS.... yes, that's right, canned goods, foods stored in metal containers..... might be at risk for containing BPA. That was a huge shocker to me because I assumed that they were only found in plastic goods. Check out Jillian Michael's website at this link to get more info:

http://www.jillianmichaels.com/fitness-and-diet-tips/BPA-free

Canning considerations,

Chanel and Heather

Flu Flu FLu

It sounds like all we have been hearing about lately is the FLU. What have been some steps that you have taken to prevent contraction of the flu?

We have become much more aware of how the spread of disease occurs in our society. We know a LOT of people have become SICK of hearing about this hype, including ourselves at times. Fighting Footprints always attempts to find something positive in every situation, so what did we decide to do this time? Find something good about this hype!

There's always something to be learned from every situation. Sooo..... here are some things we have learned throughout this media frenzied situation:

The importance of simply washing our hands! (and the art of washing our hands WELL)

Awareness of the frequency in which we touch our faces, bite our nails, lick our fingers, fix our hair, rub our eyes, etc.

The use of hand sanitizers!

Awareness of touching objects such as door knobs (the place on door handles where they are most frequently touched to open and close doors in public), sink faucets, elevator buttons, bathroom doors and toilet flush handles, computer buttons, etc.

Shaking hands with others... always necessary? Where were their hands?

When using debit machines... we punch the numbers with our card instead of our fingers!

Multivitamins and looking at our diets... are they supporting or inhibiting healthy function of our immune systems?

What quantity of fluids are we drinking? And importantly... WHAT KIND of fluids are we putting into our bodies?

It has also made us question whether we need to be out and about as frequently as we are! Do we reeeally need to run erands? Or could we wait until we have a few things to go out for?

There are soooo many more little tricks that other people are doing to prevent contracting the flu or a cold lately... what are you doing?

Please post your tricks for all to see!

Let's learn from one another and live healthier, happier lives!

Healthy and happy,

Chanel and Heather

No Flyers, PLEASE!!!

So many of us have put stickers and notes on our mailboxes for years "No Flyers, PLEASE" and depending on you mail carrier, you mail box may or may not be still filling with flyers, unwanted mail and other junk you neither WANT nor want to be printed off in the first place!

So according to the Canada Post "Action Plan" here is the best way to have your unwanted mail properly vanish...

Canada Post "Action Plan"

1. Leave a note for the mail carrier "No unaddressed ad-mail. Please mark this address with a red sticker for future reference." This should work for anything unaddressed with the exception of House of Commons, election info and community newsleters!

Fact - They MUST deliver anything with you address ON it!

2. Stop most addressed ad-mail by filling out a form here
http://cornerstonewebmedia.com/cma/submit.asp


Next...
How to have your unwanted Flyers properly disappear as apposed to the flyer carriers throwing them away afterward so they are still paid for the numbers they deliver etc.
Fact - They will print and deliver flyers until you call to be removed from their list

Flyers and the Sunday Sun - Action Plan

1. Call 657-6320 to be removed from the list and to report any troubles with flyer delivery. Do this even if you are not currently recieving flyers so they stop PRINTING them for your home.

2. Place a sticker on your mailbox as a courtesy reminder and to promote flyer reduction. Stickers are available for FREE at "The Better Good" - 640 Broadway Ave. Saskatoon

One more thought... if you enjoy the Starpheonix but do not want flyers... please consider the online version.

AND, consider most flyers are also availabel online!

Flyer Fighters,
Heather and Chanel

In Remembrance,

Today is a very special day, let's focus on remembering those who have fought, those that are currently fighting, and those that have lost their lives for our freedom.

It can sound like a cliche, or an overused corny statement, but truly, it is important to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy in Canada. Today, and all-days after, let's silently thank those who have gone to war for the freedom of our country, whether we agree with war or not.

Let's remember those who valiantly fought or fight for our country!

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Remembering the soldiers,

Chanel and Heather

Christmas Craze!

So the thought of Christmas is now upon us, and as I think of all the people I need to/want to buy gifts for; our HUGE family and some friends, I am already beginning to feel OVERWHELMED!
Why you ask… there is lots of time left…. Well yes, however, when you start to do the math… 28 people x approx. $20 (or MORE) per person= $560 plus!!!
YIKES…. And then when I begin to think about “What does anyone really NEED anyhow?”… I mean my Nephews and Nieces seem to have every toy imaginable already, and I certainly don’t like ADDING to that… so what should I do?
What can we all do differently which will still fulfill our need for gift giving, without breaking the bank, or adding to our already clutter filled lives?

Here are a few ideas:

1. Have a “Make or Bake” Christmas! Personally make a gift or Bake something for your friends and family!


2. Time is often a bigger gift then money! Make coupons for your time with family members; whether its babysitting time, or housecleaning, neck message etc.
3. On behalf of different family members, sponsor a child overseas or give locally to various causes and charities.
4. A great idea for teaching children to reach out to others is by buying (on their behalf) soccer balls, or a chicken, school supplies, clean water etc. for other children who are less fortunate then them through organizations like Ten Thousand Villages (Living Gift 2009), or PLAN (plancanada.ca)


5. Offer to teach someone a skill you have… music lessons, pie making, computer skills etc.


6. Give FAIR TRADE items which not only act as gifts, but also provide income to artisans, farmers etc. in countries who truly need it.
7. Give a “FAMILY” gift instead of individual gifts, perhaps something that will bring the family together eg. a game
8. Have a recycled Christmas, give gifts that are PRE-loved by you and your family, but someone else may enjoy! Eg. Jewelry that was your grandmothers that you don’t wear may be adored by another family member, an old tackle box filled with lure for your nephew, a purse with FUN makeup for you young niece etc.


9. Have a “Salvaged” Christmas, buy pre-loved gift from thrift stores for you family and friends but at a fraction of the cost! And have fun doing it, hunt out cool ONE of a kind items which you can’t BUY in the stores anymore!
10. Framed photographs or custom family calendars are great keepsakes and at a low cost!
11. Consider giving a living gift, a beautiful potted plant with a pretty pot is a great gift for an individual or a family.



OK so I’m sure there are MANY more great ideas, and I’d LOVE to hear them, so let us know what YOU do to keep costs down and still feel GOOD about what your giving instead of the uggg… consumerism feeling many of us get while walking the malls in search for STUFF to give.

Good luck, and remember it really IS the thought that counts!

Gift Gatherers,
Heather and Chanel

Guardians of BEING!

Oh my I have just been introduced to the New book by Eckhart Tolle (art by Patrick McDonnell) called “Guardians of Being”! This amazing story takes form as almost a children’s type book, however is for the young and old to enjoy. I just bought my first copy (I’m sure I will buy many more for gifts) and wanted to share just a few excerpts so you to will be intrigued to go and check it out…

Guardians of Being:

True happiness is found in simple,

seemingly unremarkable things.

But to be aware of little, quiet things,

you need to be quiet inside.

A high degree of alertness is required.

Be still. Look. Listen.

Be Present….

Look at a tree, a flower, a plant.

Let your awareness rest upon it.

How still it is, how deeply rooted in Being.

Allow nature to teach you stillness.

It is so wonderful to watch an animal,

because an animal has no opinion about itself.

It is.

That’s why the dog is so joyful

And why the cat purrs.

Most of us live in a world of

mental abstraction, conceptualization,

and image making – a world of thought.

we are immersed in a continuous stream

of mental noise. It seems that we can’t

stop thinking.

I have lived

with many

Zen masters,

All of them cats.

And so on…

It is a beautiful book and a great gift idea for someone who perhaps needs to

Be still. Look. Listen…. Be PRESENT! And for any animal lovers as it makes many comparisons with the natures or own common house pets and what we as humans can learn from their behaviors.

So pick it up from the Library, or head to the book store. The illustrations by Patrick McDonnell are amazing too!

Just Being,

Heather and Chanel

Tips!

As I was browing through a local magazine, The Neighbourhood Express, I came across an article of interest to this week's topic of food. So many people in our society struggle with the idea of food... food addictions, food allergies, overindulgence (especially when fall hits, the weather cools off, it becomes darker at night, and holiday season is upon us!)... all of these factors lead many of us to crawl up on our comfy couches and indulge in things that make us more COMFORTABLE. Food provides many of us with a level of comfort...
Today let's think: what ELSE in our lives could comfort us???? Are there more healthy outlets that we can be reaching to other than "comfort foods"? Seeing as comfort foods usually are not the healthiest choices, and they usually are eaten in larger quantities to relieve an emotional hole in our beings... lol... too deep? Too deep, most def. But here are a few tips to keeping the eating for the purpose as NOURISHMENT FOR OUR BODIES, from The Neighbourhood Express:


Fast eating- completely swallow each spoonful of food before lifting your spoon to get another spoonful- use smaller utensils- consciously take time to eat, chew, and saaaavour your food!-

Eat only while sitting in ONE area of your house- avoid eating in front of the tv- set 1 room for eating, and only eat in that room!

Take time to eat- sounds like too much work? Take time to eat, and see how it not only changes your eating habits for the better, but most likely your family life, and your perspective on life!

Chew gum while cooking!

Brush your teeth early at night to tell yourself that you are finished eating for the evening!

Some tips for you- they may not come right away, and may require some work- but in the end, you will be grateful you implemented these changes! And if you already do these things, cheers to you! Keep it up! Write us to let us know how it's going!

Eating and Loving,

Chanel and Heather

Good Eatin'!

Hey there.... food food food!

Some of the people in our society exist in massive excess of material goods.. including the big struggle: food.

Can I ask you a tough question?
When did the purpose of food deviate from nourishment for our body?

Our tastebuds have completely turned into the governance by which we choose what goes into our bodies.
Training your brain to recognize the nourishment it NEEDS instead of CRAVES is a difficult task in this world of ours... it requires a great amount of discipline and conscious effort. But, like many things.. with hard work... IT IS POSSIBLE!
Let's examine the things we put into our bodies... not solely because it is the newest trend... but because we care to make the effort!
Or.... will we wait until cancer, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles become more important?
Let's take a proactive approach: read labels, pay for quality versus quantity, support local businesses doing good work, portion control, and get off of that couch!

Take CARE,
Chanel and Heather

Breathe!

Yes, yes we are always breathing, but sometimes we need to take that extra time to stop and consciously BREATHE!

Whether it is to calm yourself… just BREATH, put things in to perspective … just BREATH, refocus… just BREATH, when you are discouraged… just BREATH, feeling overwhelmed… just BREATH etc. You get the point!

By stopping to…“ just BREATH” it allows us to be present in that moment of our life… as Oprah once said… “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

“Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which units your body to your thoughts.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

“Smile, Breathe and Go slow.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Breathing Buds

Heather & Chanel

HOW ARE YOU????????

Helloooo! How are you? How many times a day do you think you ask that question, or are asked that question? I've never counted, but I can imagine that it is a large number.

Number 1: When you ask this question, what is your typical response? What response do you expect? DO you reeeallly care to know the answer or are you just asking out of habit or because it's the polite thing to do?
So many times throughout our day, many of us overuse these words... I usually expect "I'm fine, and you?" after I ask the question, and that is most typically the answer I get.
Would you be surprised or put-off if someone answered truthfully?
I am going to make a conscious effort to ask this question only when I care to get an honest answer, and listen to the truth!

Number 2: What is your typical response when somebody asks you this question? Do you answer truthfully, or do you have a robotic, thoughtless answer as well? Next time someone asks you... try and think about delivering an honest answer!! It is unusually refreshing!

There are so many socially acceptable conversations that do not reflect our true thoughts or feelings, next time think about it!

Together, let's put meaning back into the phrase: How are you? In order for us to foster closer, more honest and supportive relationships with those in our lives!

Sincerely honest,

Chanel and Heather