Tuesday, July 7, 2015

How I Lost 15 Lbs and Felt Better

Eliminated meat, fish, and poultry - anything that has ever walked, crawled, flown, or swam

Eliminated brownies, cake, candy and candy bars, ice cream, milkshakes, cookies, pies, brownies, and chips

Consumed homemade fruit and vegetable smoothies

Drank more water

Minimized store bought fruit juices to just orange juice

Avoided caffeinated coffee and minimized hot cocoa

Meditated

Walked for an hour or a little more at least  three times a week

Danced to fast paced music for about 15 minutes ever so often

Walked away from stressful situations

Eliminated fried foods

Eliminated white potatoes 

Salads became the main meal

Consume toddler size portions of starches including pasta

Ceased using refined sugar - agave or unrefined instead 

Eliminated any processed meals 






Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Is Your Car Included in the Recall Issued for Nearly 34 Million Vehicles?

Takata,  a maker of air bags, has determined that a defect exists in some of its air bag inflators. Takata has agreed to a national recall of certain types of frontal driver and passenger side air bag inflators used in vehicles manufactured by BMW, Chrysler, Daimler Trucks, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota.  These inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and has led to ruptures that have been blamed for six deaths worldwide. The action expands the number of vehicles to be recalled for defective Takata inflators to nearly 34 million. 

Is your car on the recall list?


Visit the Vehicle Owners Tab on www.safercar.gov (www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Owners/) to find out if your vehicle is on the recall list for the defective air bag inflators.

The NHTSA advises that you check your VIN in the SaferCar.Gov VIN search tool periodically as some recalls are not posted publicly or distributed to vehicle owners until weeks after the recall has been issued.

Be sure to check the official website of the automaker for your vehicle regularly as well.

Peace and blessings.



Source: NHTSA Recalls Spotlight - Takata Air Bag Recalls

Saturday, February 28, 2015

The Most Important Thing About Selling A Home

The most important thing about selling a home is the price that a buyer is willing to pay for it.   If the price is too high, the home may never sell.  If it is priced too low, the seller is giving the home away.  The key is to price a home around the dollar amount for what similar homes (in style, age, and condition) have actually sold.

Some things to remember if there are no offers:
  1. The selling agents, the agents representing buyers, believe the price is too high.
  2. If there are showings but no offers, the agents AND the buyers are finding homes that offer better value.
  3. If there are second showings but no offer - a minor price adjustment is in order.

Tips:
  1. There should be at least 1 to 2 showings per week.
  2. Every 10 showings should produce at least one offer.

~~~

t






Saturday, February 14, 2015

February 14, 2015

Having just watched two movies with my youngest on a snowy day with winter advisory alerts including dangerous wind chills, I relished in the moment that still all is well.

As my youngest moved on into the bedroom after the arrival of one of her best friends, I thought about how in a few hours I would have to venture out into that winter wilderness to head to the theater for the second last sold out show*.  Then I thought about how last night one of the audience members shook every cast member's hand with tears in her eyes as she expressed how the play touched her so.

It wasn't long ago when Valentine's Day was the most dreaded day to face.  But it's funny how a perspective makes a difference in feeling good or feeling bad.   Either a person can be sad that they do not have anyone in their life or a person can be glad that they are not in an unhealthy relationship.

That saying, I can do bad all by myself, just came to mind.

But if the saying was I can do good all by myself, that would be a sense of empowerment versus the defeating belief that no matter what, bad will exist.

There is a peace when self-fulfillment is not based on having a significant other.

I'm good.









*Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Karamu House


Monday, February 2, 2015

Signs A Woman Is In An Unhealthy Relationship

1.  She Does All The Planning

When a woman does all the planning of what she and "her man" are going to do for the day, the week, the evening, the weekend, their future, and their life, she is the captain (so she thinks) and the lone crewman in that relationship.  Simply, the guy is just on the boat to enjoy the cruise.


2.  She Doesn't Make a Move Until She Knows What He Is Doing

If a woman has to first check to see what a man might do before she can decide what time she will go to the store or create her five year plan regarding her education, career, and finances, she has enslaved herself.  When a woman plans her life on a man's availability, she does not have a life because she has given it over to him. 


3.  She Tosses Everything Aside to Devote Her Time and Energy With Him

A woman who tosses aside her friends, family, children, and other responsibilities is literally a woman who got her nose (and most likely her legs) wide open.  A woman's priority must be her health, her home's stability, and taking care of her family and/or other matters in her household.  When a woman gives it all up for a man for the sake of the relationship, ultimately she will have nothing when the man decides to be with a woman who he had to work for to get or when he just gets tired of being smothered.


4.  She Opens The Door

Chivalry is not dead and a man being a gentleman is not outdated.  A woman must always consider herself a lady and demand to be treated as such.
  • If the guy gets into the driver's seat while the woman opens up the door for herself to get in; 
  • If he walks behind her and waits for her to open the door to the restaurant or if he walks in before her;
  • If he orders his meal first instead of allowing the woman to first tell the server what she would like to have; 
  • If he takes the best seat at the booth (unless he needs to keep his eye on the door); 
  • If he responds to every text message and phone call while on a date; 
  • If he does all the talking about himself
  • If she puts her coat on and he doesn't assist
...then...as some folk say it... He ain't studden (studying) her.

He is either all about himself, testing her to see just what she demands or what she would put up with, or he has never learned etiquette and/or how to be a gentleman.


5.  Come Hell or High Water, She Is There

If a woman places herself in danger by traveling to his home in inclement weather; if she calls off from work or leaves her children with someone all the time to kick it at his home; if she ignores family events to sit on his couch or lay in his bed; if she takes care of things for him financially, then the guy got himself a fool for love and a fool over him.  The question comes down to...Is it love or is it obsession?


6.  Come Hell or High Water, He is Not There

Anytime a woman is not confident that the man with whom she is emotionally, financially, and intimately involved will not be there for her, then most likely she is not who he considers to be his woman.  Of course, women should be able to do things for themselves like change a tire, make a household repair, or put together a bicycle or furniture that came in the box.  But if a woman has a man that she does A LOT for, it is not unreasonable to expect that man to come when she is a damsel in distress. If a woman calls that man who is sitting at home with a way to get to her when she is stranded and comes up with a weak excuse on why he cannot come, she has given EVERYTHING to the wrong man.






These simple signs of irrational behavior are signals of severely low self-esteem.  Not only are they signs that the woman has cemented herself in an unhealthy relationship, but there is indication that she has some unhealthy mental and social behaviors and perceptions.

A healthy relationship consists of two people putting into the relationship on an equal balance.  But, a relationship is not a tit-for-tat record keeping program.  It's just about giving and receiving naturally. A healthy relationship is not when he gives her just enough of token gifts to make her think he is into her either.

Some women believe that they must do all they can to "save" a relationship or to put in the work so that the relationship will endure the rough times.  Then, some women believe that anything is better than saying she does not have someone in her life.  Although, both of these perceptions are unhealthy, the latter is definitely detrimental to a woman's time, body, mind, and soul.

My mother, widowed after happily married 53 years to my father after their several year courtship, used to tell me, "Don't you do all the loving."

When a woman does all the loving, it's safe to say she is typically loving by herself.



 tnd

Share with the women you care about - especially the ones in an unhealthy relationship and the younger females starting out.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Dating, Facebook, and 'Nem

Facebook has proven to be a gift from the heavens in rekindling old flames that have yearned for each other, reconnecting classmates from several decades ago, to keeping folks in touch about the welfare of others, and about club/group events.

Facebook can also be an unattended door into your personal life.

The definition of "friend" according to the computer dictionary is:
  • a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.
  • a person who acts as a supporter of a cause, organization, or country by giving financial or other help: join the Friends of Guilford Free Library.
  • a person who is not an enemy or who is on the same side: she was unsure whether he was friend or foe.
  • a familiar or helpful thing: he settled for that old friend the compensation grant.
  • (often as a polite form of address or in ironic reference) an acquaintance or a stranger one comes across: my friends, let me introduce myself.
  • a contact associated with a social networking website: all of a sudden you've got 50 friends online who need to stay connected.

As one can see, the definition of friend has evolved from being someone who is close to just being....someone.

In the dating world, it's easy to merge getting to know someone and social media actions into one.

I had a conversation with someone that mentioned that they recently met someone online and that they were going to be meeting that person for the first time in the near future.  I asked if they had made them a Facebook friend.  They said that they did.  I then told them that they had invited that person into their personal life and into the lives of their family and friends to know everything about what their children looks like and pretty much the timeline of their life before spending a moment with them face to face.  They mentioned that their list of friends is not visible to anyone.  I told them that the majority of the closest friends are visible if they regularly comment on posts.  (I also mentioned that most guys generally seem great and "safe" at first.  It's taking the time to get to know them better that reveals true colors eventually.)

Adding someone whom one has just met as a social media "friend" is like inviting a stranger into the home to a seat on the couch to look through all the photo albums, diaries, journals, and somewhat personal business that would not normally be privy to just anybody.  Information about the kids, their pictures, their school name and activities, their birthdays, other family members' business...all spread out on the cocktail table.  When the home will be empty while on vacation, attending to family matters, etc.

Things to keep in mind about Facebook are:

  • Facebook does have the capabilities to sort friends for easy posting of what a person would want a certain group to see OR not see.
  • Photos posted on Facebook are quickly and easily downloadable.  And folks do download other people's pics.  I was visiting with a male friend one day and they were swiping through their personal photos and the female pics they had were downloaded straight from Facebook. (People take screenshots of who they are Skyping or FaceTiming with, too.)
  • The location services in photos tell a person where that picture was taken.  Doesn't seem like a big deal at first....until after a couple of dates it has been proven that it's no longer a good idea to continue to see the person....but now they have a chronicle of your life.
I am guilty myself of confirming friend requests from those who happen to be in a particular circle that I'm heavily active in and this has nothing to do with dating.  So, note to self:
  • Remember that unless that person has been sorted out in a particular friend list, they can see what close friends can see.
Any social media is a door into the living room and throughout the rest of the house. 



Back in 2012, I posted about Online or Internet Dating.  The content is still relevant today.




 tnd

















Friday, January 9, 2015

Above All Else...Guard Your Heart

In Proverbs 4:23, it says:

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

I remember when I first took attention to this verse when it was applied to relationships.  Rule #1 - Don't just give your heart out to anybody.  To first learn the person, having them gain your trust, then gradually opening your heart to them - knowing of course there are no guarantees that it won't be broken, but at least making all efforts to extend this vital vessel in seemingly safe waters.

The heart is our emotional command center.  But it's also our life command center.  When it's broken emotionally, the body can still function.  But when it's broken physically, life can cease.

In these last couple of years I have been in the hospital several times for overnight evaluation.  Either blood pressure was up or there were symptoms of a cardiac episode.  Every single time it was during a season that I was dealing with a stressful situation.  Not because of my personal pursuits or busy schedule, but from trying to come in and be BatGirl, Cat Woman, Wonder Woman, All Mighty Isis, and Foxy Brown in times of others' crisis.  

Since 2012, I began to step back from being what others have for so long expected me to be and perform.  By the end of 2014, I mastered being supportive without forgetting to keep myself supported.  I blogged on this past New Year's Eve about behaviors and feelings that would not accompany to 2015.

I have seen too many times where people have grieved, mourned, and overextended, while forgoing all sense of their healthy self for someone else.  With all of their unconditional gift of care, love, and support, they were gravely disappointed to only find that the other's drama, foolishness, and/or crisis continued without a lull.  

Compassion is one thing, but codependency is another.

So while watching to whom your heart is given, there is a safewatch to what your heart is given.  While the heart goes off on its own, it listens to the brain, too.  Whatever or however a situation is reflecting in the mind, the heart is internalizing that as well.

Heart disease is one of the many health conditions that can be caused by stress.  Stress can be physical, emotional, or mental.

A powerful option to alleviate stress is to have a solid spiritual base.  
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
~ Attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr

Another option is to know that there are only 24 hours in a day and a third of that day must be used for sleep and rest.  

Eliminating rest and sleep is never an option.  

But the number one option is to be kind to yourself.  When you are kind to yourself, you are guarding your heart.




TND



Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Things To Leave in 2014

One of the greatest ways to make a change is to create a personal agenda.  The best way to keep in mind what is wanted is to be confident about what is not wanted:
  • Apprehension
  • Chaos
  • Detrimental Actions
  • Distraction
  • Drama
  • Foolishness
  • Going Nowhere Relationships
  • Guilt
  • Indebtedness
  • Junk Food
  • Liars
  • Lose-Lose Situations
  • Mismanagement
  • Obstacles
  • Self-Disrespect 
  • Self-Ridicule
  • Self-Sabotage
  • Thieves
  • Time Wasters
  • Unhealthy Environments
  • Users



What are you saying goodbye to....?



2015 is the year to do something radically different and better.







tnd



Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Cosigning 101

The holiday season is a time when some feel extra generous with their money and their credit. Some may even feel extra generous with their name.

Cosigning on an account so that someone who is not creditworthy (according to the lender) may obtain something is a dangerous stretch of ice to walk across.  

If a person has not demonstrated solid, sensible financial management, then that person may be a direct threat to the cosigner's good credit rating.  

Consigning should be done for someone who has demonstrated consistent improvement in financial management including stability, progressively increasing income, and verifiable steps to increase their credit so that way they will be able to open up future accounts under their own good name.

There is also a risk. Although the person has demonstrated great ability in increasing their income and proving their credit worthiness, things can happen. If that person should no longer be able to bring in income or just plain refuse to pay, then ultimately that cosigned account becomes the cosigner's responsibility. In fact, on Day One when the cosigner signs their name on the account, they have already told the world that they are responsible for that account no matter what. So if the account is never paid, it will go into collections under the cosigner's name and ruin the cosigner's good credit.

Lastly, cosigning to an account causes the debt side of the debt to income ratio to rise which may cause difficulty for the cosigner to obtain something for their own household in the future.



tnd



Graphic source: Capitol One





Wednesday, December 10, 2014

On Way to Appointment and Needed to Turn Right on Red

I'm on my way to an appointment and needed to turn right on red.  There are a couple of vehicles in front of me.

When it was time for the vehicle directly in front of me to turn, the driver hadn't yet pulled up to the corner.  I flashed my lights.  They moved up.  They took a while before turning when clearly nobody was coming.  Okay.  They finally turned.

Assumption.  Screwing around on the phone.

I finally turned right following this same hesitant-taking-too-long-to-go-ahead-and-drive driver.

It's rush hour and traffic is stopped.  That Stop-Slow-Little Gas-Stop-A Little Bit More type of flow.

Driver still wasn't driving in reflex.  Just pulling up whenever to close the gap.

Then....crash.

The driver in front of me hit the vehicle in front of them.

Just Great.   Just what was needed in this one lane road.  The driver in the vehicle hit stopped right then and there.  But lo and behold they moved up until the center lane became available so that vehicles could go past their incident. 

Whew.  Nobody was hurt.  Traffic was able to continue.

Next time, may not be so simple as a fender bender. 


 


Sunday, December 7, 2014

Blocking Traffic Does Not Cause Change

Clearly there is a call for national reform for behavior fitness certification within law enforcement. All the protests need to be put in writing for petitions and coalitions to make across-the-board changes on Election Day...the day when elected officials really listen.

It's an HR departmental issue for changes in hiring checks and controls as well as new hire to retire phased/certification required departmental training with field and/or desk performance evaluations quarterly at first, then reduced as tenure continues .

However, I will always continue to respect the police officer. It is an honorable profession...a career I strongly considered once upon a time.

I saw this video and immediately corrected my perception that it is a "behavior behind a badge" problem across all racial lines. 

Blocking traffic does not cause change. Concerted efforts in well thought out reform make change.


~~~~~~~

My personal thank you to the Maple Heights Police Department and the Shaker Heights Police Department who would answer a call if a blade of grass was in the street - always ready to protect and serve. There at the door when you hang up.  These departments may even be a start to make a national change.  I know after hearing from the Shaker Heights Police Chief this past week, he has some practices in place that ensure positive community relations and protection. 

It doesn't matter if the community is a village or a metropolis.  A major change is feasible.

Crying out no money for reform regarding this matter is unacceptable.






tnd




Saturday, December 6, 2014

So I Was Laying In The Bed Early This Morning With My Cell Phone In My Hand...

...and I was doing what I usually do when I have reached for the phone to see what time it is...

...going through the notifications and reminders of what I needed to do today. 

One of the reminders were to pay a bill.  Before I make any transaction, I check my account to view the balance and if the balance is where it should be. 

This morning it was less than what I had thought I had.

I got up, went to the desk, pulled out the registers....time for the daily reconciliation to stay on track.

Looked on the account - two transactions for a Kroger #587 - 43201.  Now, I stay in a grocery store and the first thing I'm wondering is what grocery store in Cleveland was bought by Kroger.  I hadn't seen Kroger in Cleveland since the 70s.  Looked up the store number and verified the zip - yep, in Columbus.

I called the bank.  They said that those two transactions were already flagged because they were transactions out of my ordinary mode of purchasing.  I asked the representative when did the transactions happen.  He told me the time and I told him that I was on a stage in Cleveland when these transactions occurred. 

Needless to say, all bank accounts and credit card accounts have been notified and I'm awaiting new cards for all accounts because there were times this week when I had all of my cards in my purse when my purse was not attended - albeit where I discreetly placed my purse during these times.

Minding the Benjamins is a daily task that I practice because some financial institutions do not refund your money or credit your account if the discrepancy is reported after 24 hours.

I reconcile each financial and credit account so that the financial institution and I are always on the same page.

I only bank with national major financial institutions so that matters like these can be resolved quickly with a phone call and if need be a follow-up visit to the nearest branch.

Took an hour and a half out of my morning with all the institutions, but well worth thwarting some low-life thief.

Mind your money cuz somebody else got their mind on it.








Monday, December 1, 2014

The No More Bananas Smoothie

Anything I put in the blender always has a banana in it...until I don't have anymore.

When I made a choccolate milkshake for my granddaughter on Thanksgiving she kept saying, "I taste bananas.  I taste bananas."  She kept on saying it until I finally said, "I put a banana in it."  She walked away and left the milkshake on the table.

Well, come Sunday morning I didn't have any more bananas.  I went to the store to get some more, but they were too green.  Still got them though. They'll be ready shortly. 


So for the No More Bananas Smoothie:
  • 1 seedless orange - peeled
  • 1 apple - with peel, but of course, core and seed removed
  • Handful of baby carrots
  • Little bit of water for the bottom
  • Ice cubes on top
  • No sweetener
1. Blend on low then increase speed and continue to desired consistency
It's amazing how natural food has its own sweetness without adding any kind of sweetener - artificial or natural.

Tasty, pretty, and healthy.




Time Management is a Process

Currently:
  • I am a mother of a busy high school teenager
  • I  play video games, Play-doh, and hide and seek with my grandchild every weekend
  • I am in a musical that will run for about 19 performances with possible media appointments for the month of December
  • I began rehearsal for another theater production last week that is set for January through February
  • I assist people with real estate matters
  • I am working on two new books
  • I am booking engagements and holding seminars based on my latest book
There is more to the list, but this is enough to get the gist. Let somebody tell it, they would say, "That is too much to be doing."  Let another ask, "How is that possible?"

Through the years, I have attended a plethora of time management seminars either while in Corporate America or of the self-help variety. 

I incorporated the tools from all of that training from the Gantt chart, to an iPAQ (a PDA before the smart phone and iPad and in all honesty has some functions that the smart phone and other equipment STILL lack - hint), a Daytimer or Franklin-Covey planner or system, High Performance Academy a spreadsheet, Microsoft Outlook, iCal, or just a good ol' plain notepad and a pen - all to something that would best work for me.

Of all the things out there, it may be difficult to find just one tool or system to keep a busy person on track - thus, time management absolutely requires personal customization. 

I created a thorough comprehensive Things-To-Do List to make sure that I complete at least 85% to 95% of what needs to be done to:
  1. minimize procrastination, 
  2. avoid distraction, and 
  3. avoid getting behind on any deadlines.

I found it easier for my Things-To-Do List to be broken down in the following steps:
  • Priority List - The Main Things I Must Complete Today, No Matter What
  • Call List - Organizations and People I Must Reach Out to Today
  • Pending List - Things Pending or People I'm Waiting on Before Next Steps
  • Money Matters - Daily Checklist of Things To Do To Take Care of The Benjamins (money)
  • Project List - A list of projects accompanied with a list of the five big things that need to be done to move a particular project forward
All of these things are placed in a folder that I keep with me from the office to my desk at home to sitting in a waiting room.

This information is revisited nightly as preparation for the next day.

I created a form package that seamlessly assists me in staying on track throughout the day from step to step that may help you in managing your busy day.

Visit www.ladyintelligence.com to submit your request.

Have a great productive day.







tnd

Monday, November 24, 2014

Quick Breakfast Fruit Smoothie

Here's a quick fruit smoothie to make on the run in the morning.

All it takes is:
1 pineapple
1 banana
1 apple
Ice cubes
Water (as needed)
  1. Cut up the apple and the pineapple and get rid of the core, seeds, etc.
  2. No need to peel apple.  
  3. Pull the banana in half.
  4. Put all ingredients in the blender with ice cubes on top.  

Special Note for Smoothie Making:  It is strongly suggested to put the softer and lighter ingredients on the bottom with the heavier ingredients on top.  Start blending at a low setting then gradually increase speed to high. Blend until desired consistency.

I usually don't add water or sweetener to my smoothies, but for this particular one I added just a little bit of water so that the blender was able to rotate at ease and not get jammed on the ingredients.

Got rid of seeds and core for pineapple and apple.  Leave skin on apple.

Light on bottom, heavy on top.

Add some water to avoid any jams. Start out slowly then increase speed to high.

Tasted wonderful!  :)



The First Three Simple Things A Single Woman Must Know About A Man - #2


His Residential Address and Living Arrangements

A single woman should know where a man lives before she ever invites him to her home or better yet – before she lets him know where SHE lives. 

Anytime a man opposes a woman’s question about where he lives, who he lives with, and why he never invites her to his home, but yet he is ready to come and chill at her place, she needs to keep it moving.  More than likely, he is living a lifestyle that he already knows would not sit well…at least wouldn’t sit well with any together woman.

There are five main reasons why a man would be secretive about where he lays his head.  Those being:
  • He is married
  • He is living with another woman
  • He is living with a man with whom he has an intimate relationship
  • He does not have a home and he needs a place to stay
  • He is living in a family member’s or friend’s home


“If You Don’tKnow This, You Don’t Know Jack” covers why neither of the five main reasons a man is secretive about his living arrangements would ever be acceptable.

Peace, joy, and abundance…


tnd


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


If You Don't Know This, You Don't Know Jack by Tonya Nicol Davis
If you are a woman who is single and dating or a woman who is already married and settled, this book opens the door to a discovery in areas about the man in your life that you may not have known before.

Learn more about:

*What to do, what to have, and what to look for to be in a healthy, loving, and happy relationship 
*How to save precious time from living in drama and disappointment while dating or in a committed relationship 
*What a single woman needs to know about any man whom she is introducing into her life and into the lives of her family 
*Aspects a married woman can explore to learn more about the man to whom she has committed to be in her life

This book contains adult/mature subject matter.

Available at CreateSpace - an Amazon Company





Sunday, November 23, 2014

Green Grape Smoothie

Making smoothies is great for those who are interested in eating and drinking less sugar and processed foods.  I try to have a fruit-based smoothie in the morning and a vegetable-based smoothie for lunch, with dinner, or as an early evening snack.  I also try to avoid having any dessert type smoothies or shakes after 7 to keep glucose levels down to a normal level.

I made the Green Grape Smoothie a couple of days ago.  The picture below does not give the vivid color that this smoothie really had.  The beauty of this smoothie is that no sweetener was needed as one would think when using kale and spinach.  The natural sweetness of the fruit made this delicious drink a hit.

The recipe is below.

Enjoy.




This delicious, healthy smoothie features spinach and kale—the cancer-fighting greens that keep you going—as well as sweet grapes, a pear, orange, and banana.
  • 1 cup cleaned spinach leaves, firmly packed
  • 1 cup cleaned kale, roughly chopped, firmly packed
  • 1 cup green seedless grapes
  • 1 Bartlett pear – core, stem and seeds removed
  • 1 orange – peeled, pith removed, quartered
  • 1 banana – peeled
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 cups ice

Preparation

  1. Place all ingredients in blender.
  2. Process on low speed for 15 seconds.
  3. Increase to medium speed, then high speed.
  4. Process until well blended.

Nutritional information

Makes 5 servings
Per serving (1 cup)
Calories: 80
Carbohydrate: 19 g
Sugars: 12 g  
Fiber: 3 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Protein: 0 g   
Sodium: 15 mg                       

 From:  Lucky Green Recipe from The Wellness Team of Health Hub from Cleveland Clinic.

TND



Saturday, October 25, 2014

The First Three Simple Things A Single Woman Must Know About A Man - #1


His Full Name

As crazy as this may sound and just as ludicrous to mention, everyday women are perfectly comfortable in just learning a man's first name (or just the name that he gives her). By the end of the week, the man has been in her home, around her family and children, eaten her food, helped himself to anything in the house from the refrigerator to command control of the TV remote, and has become the self-proclaimed king in her bedroom.
Then in the next few days, when he ignores her calls and she puts someone up to call to see if he answers, she finds herself devastated - wondering what happened.
The answer to what happened is that he quickly summed it up that she had no self-respect since she gave up her body so quickly and all he had to do was smile.  The least that a woman must do is obtain a man’s full legal name.

If a man hesitates one second to give his full name, then that is the first red flag and really the only flag needed for a woman to keep it moving.  There should be no reason why a grown man must think about giving out his whole name. 
Any man who is afraid to give his last name has something to hide.  If he is so-called cautious to sharing his full name to someone he has just met, then he has no business stepping up to an attractive, intelligent, lovely, classy, drama-free woman.  It does not matter whatever reason he gives in not sharing his last name. There are no second chances for a man to tell a woman his full name.
Now on the other hand, a woman should not feel obligated to give out her full name because she does not know the man from Adam.  Anyone’s full name is easily searchable on today's Internet.  By giving out your name, this is all "Jack" needs to begin digging.  “Jack” can now pull up where you live, pull up your family members' names, download family photos, and gather all kind of info about where you work from your social media sites, public court documents, etc.
If the man has a problem with you not sharing with him your last name, then that is the first sign of disrespect because he is not respecting your philosophy about not giving out your last name to just anyone who asks. 

In today’s times, you must be careful when going out.  If a man asks you for your phone number or name, it is not necessary to be flippant when you do not wish to be bothered.  Politely turn down his advances and do not give him a wrong phone number to make him go away.  

Unfortunately, there are reported cases where women have lost their lives turning down a man’s advances.

If a man shares only a nickname or street name -- that's not acceptable.  The name that you want is the name on his birth certificate, driver's license, or state ID.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


If You Don't Know This, You Don't Know Jack by Tonya Nicol Davis
If you are a woman who is single and dating or a woman who is already married and settled, this book opens the door to a discovery in areas about the man in your life that you may not have known before.

Learn more about:

*What to do, what to have, and what to look for to be in a healthy, loving, and happy relationship 
*How to save precious time from living in drama and disappointment while dating or in a committed relationship 
*What a single woman needs to know about any man whom she is introducing into her life and into the lives of her family 
*Aspects a married woman can explore to learn more about the man to whom she has committed to be in her life

This book contains adult/mature subject matter.

Available at CreateSpace - an Amazon Company





Saturday, October 18, 2014

No 'Sweetie' on Sweetest Day



A couple of weeks ago, a childhood friend (let’s call her Denise) and I met with another childhood friend (let’s call her Mariah).  We hadn’t seen each other in about four years.  After we talked for about ten minutes, Mariah broke out of nowhere, on the other side of the universe from what we were talking about and said, “And Tonya, I want you to find somebody.  You deserve somebody nice in your life.


First, I was like, Is there a sign on my forehead that says ‘SINGLE’ or worse yet, does it say ‘LONELY’? Then, I almost felt insulted that Mariah would assume that I wasn’t with anybody and we hadn’t exchanged a word in four years.



Then I came back to the present thinking I am probably the happiest single woman in the world.  I cannot remember the last time a tear dropped from my eye because of a relationship. 



Now as friends, friends know each other’s intimate drama stories and they don’t forget those stories.  Sometimes they especially think about those stories when they see their friend is still with a particular person.  I thought about those stories that day.  Although, it is a new day now in everybody’s lives especially after silly stuff happens when first starting out - however, history is history.  I walked away from that conversation settled on that folk make their own decisions on what is worth going through to get somewhere and as long as I knew the truth about me and my journey, poo on anybody else’s opinion about my life.



~~~



But, I’ll tell you a secret.



I was in church several years ago and I heard a preacher say that if a person is single, they are single for the moment so that they can concentrate on what they are called to do.  That wasn’t the first time I heard that message.  I used to take that message as one of those lines like money is the root of all evil – except it is scripture that the love of money is the root of all evil and the incorrect quote that just money is the root of all evil is what folks who don’t have money say to make themselves feel better. 



But, I just happened to be paying attention when he said that ‘you are single so you can concentrate’ message that particular day.   I slowly began doing just that.



When my second husband left (and by the way I left the first one), I rearranged my bedroom, changed the locks, called his mother to bring him over to get his car (since he was driving his company van) so I could get the garage lock changed too, and then went out and started showing houses all before going to bed.  When he was packing up, I was helping him.  That’s just how done I was.  You hear me? 



Anyway, since then I made it up in my mind that I was going to do and live out all the dreams I always had without somebody hounding me about why I was doing this and that – like going to school to obtain a professional license.  I was going to pursue that childhood dream of a career in radio, return to acting, write books, return to composing music tracks and songwriting, finish raising my kids in a calm and quiet environment…just plain handle my business.



Someone once told me that I was busy because I didn’t have a man.  They were right and then they were wrong.  They meant I didn’t have anything to keep me company so I just buried myself into activities. That was wrong. 



What was right was that I was liberated to pursue happiness.



~~



Am I a bitter lonely woman?  Child, please.  Bye, Felicia.



Do I date?  Yep. 



Do I like men?  That’s like asking fish do they like water.   (wink)



But ask me if I have time for nonsense.    No the hell I don’t.



One of the reasons why I wrote “If You Don’t Know This, YouDon’t Know Jack”, is there is always the push for a woman to have a man and if a woman does not have a man, then something is supposedly wrong with her.



There are many dysfunctional or broken households because a relationship was formed between two people who got together for superficial or material reasons and not as two people bonding in agreement with how they will grow together and handle their business.  How a woman connects with a man who is on the same page as she is by taking the time to really getting to know him – but she got to be in the right book to even get to the right page.



On this Sweetest Day (actually a day that I forgot all about it until somebody texted me), I am single with a bunch of sweeties -- my children, grandbaby, family, and good friends.



Every day is the Sweetest Day.



tnd





Luv ya, “Mariah” and “Denise”. :)