Joanna's Blog
A native of Lockport and a graduate of SUNY Fredonia, I never wandered far from Western New York, and that's fine with me. I love it here. It's my home, and where my husband and I are raising our girls. We wouldn't have it any other way!
Do you know what your cholesterol numbers are? What about your blood pressure? When was the last time you had a yearly check-up with your doctor?
If these questions stump you, it's time to make some changes. No matter how old you are.
February is Heart Month. A time when the American Heart Association raises awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of men and women in this country.
The AHA also kicks off its Go Red For Women Movement. A campaign to educate women about heart health. A woman suffers a heart attack every 60 seconds in the United States, and it can strike at any age. Many of these women don't know their risk factors and often ignore symptoms.
What puts you at risk for heart attack or stroke? High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, family history, inactivity and obesity.
Almost all of those risk factors can be prevented or treated. So, what's stopping you? Learn your numbers and take care of yourself. Put an end to the staggering statistics and lead a heart healthy life!
For more information, head to the American Heart Association website: www.heart.org
You would think the editor-in-chief of a health and wellness magazine would have the typical new year's advice. You know, eat right, exercise more and see your doctor. Not the case for Dave Zinczenko of Men's Health.
Yes, while snooping in my husband's magazine that arrived today, I was surprised to read something that made even more sense.
Zinczenko's advice for 2012: Nothin' Stupid.
The phrase comes from his college wrestling coach whom he said always made the comment when he needed Zinczenko not to necessarily win a match, just not lose one by getting pinned.
Great advice.
Zinczenko mentioned some of the people who made news in 2011 doing stupid things. Politicians who tweeted inappropriate pictures or as we experienced in Western New York, a congressman who snapped shirtless photos of himself. (Remember Chris Lee?) He also brought up Arnold Schwarzenegger and the child he fathered with his housekeeper.
All reasons he says that our most important resolution this year should be not to do anything stupid.
While I am pretty sure I won't do anything as stupid as the people Zinczenko mentioned, I think it's some advice that can apply to all of us.
Yes, eating better and exercising more are good, but perhaps the best favor you can do for yourself in 2012: "nothin' stupid!"
Yes, while snooping in my husband's magazine that arrived today, I was surprised to read something that made even more sense.
Zinczenko's advice for 2012: Nothin' Stupid.
The phrase comes from his college wrestling coach whom he said always made the comment when he needed Zinczenko not to necessarily win a match, just not lose one by getting pinned.
Great advice.
Zinczenko mentioned some of the people who made news in 2011 doing stupid things. Politicians who tweeted inappropriate pictures or as we experienced in Western New York, a congressman who snapped shirtless photos of himself. (Remember Chris Lee?) He also brought up Arnold Schwarzenegger and the child he fathered with his housekeeper.
All reasons he says that our most important resolution this year should be not to do anything stupid.
While I am pretty sure I won't do anything as stupid as the people Zinczenko mentioned, I think it's some advice that can apply to all of us.
Yes, eating better and exercising more are good, but perhaps the best favor you can do for yourself in 2012: "nothin' stupid!"
In television news, we're used to hearing the bizarre. In fact, it can happen several times in one day.
You would think nothing could surprise me, but a story about creating a Christmas registry really took me aback.
The network report was on a proposal to create a "Christmas Registry". It would work just like a wedding registry. You would register the gifts you'd like to receive for the holiday.
Sounds practical, efficient, even somewhat appealing, being that I have received a few duds at Christmastime myself!
What it doesn't sound like is Christmas.
It works for wedding gifts because the main purpose is to support the new couple by helping them start their lives together.
Christmas is a lot deeper. It's a religious holiday, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a time to celebrate life, reflect on the human condition, our love for God and for others.
You can't find that on a Christmas registry.
Sure, it may mean some people may not get the "perfect" gift every year, or even something they like, but I take pride knowing that each gift I pick out comes from the heart, not a list.
Some colleagues and I were having some fun on Twitter last night, tweeting about our favorite holiday foods. Eating is a big part of my family's Christmas celebration. We start talking about the meal we'll be preparing for Christmas Eve and then Christmas Day sometimes even before Thanksgiving!
We don't have the traditional fish dishes on Christmas Eve like most Italians because my Dad was never a fan of fish, so we usually have Italian sausage. On Christmas Day, we serve some kind of sauce, like spaghetti, lasagna or even a baked macaroni Sicilian dish that came from my Mom's family.
But for me, nothing conjures up memories of Christmas more than cut-outs. Making these sugar cookies was a family affair! My sisters and I would whipped up several batches every year.
My older sisters would mix the sugar cookie batter, cut out the shapes and cook them until they were lightly brown. They were always the same four shapes: the bell, the Christmas tree, the Santa and the star.
I would lend a hand frosting the cookies and decorating them with candy sprinkles. I loved mixing the food coloring, making red, green, yellow even blue frosting!
Of course, the making is just as good as the eating, and they were pretty yummy! Cut-outs at Christmas are still my favorite! What's yours?
We don't have the traditional fish dishes on Christmas Eve like most Italians because my Dad was never a fan of fish, so we usually have Italian sausage. On Christmas Day, we serve some kind of sauce, like spaghetti, lasagna or even a baked macaroni Sicilian dish that came from my Mom's family.
But for me, nothing conjures up memories of Christmas more than cut-outs. Making these sugar cookies was a family affair! My sisters and I would whipped up several batches every year.
My older sisters would mix the sugar cookie batter, cut out the shapes and cook them until they were lightly brown. They were always the same four shapes: the bell, the Christmas tree, the Santa and the star.
I would lend a hand frosting the cookies and decorating them with candy sprinkles. I loved mixing the food coloring, making red, green, yellow even blue frosting!
Of course, the making is just as good as the eating, and they were pretty yummy! Cut-outs at Christmas are still my favorite! What's yours?
I had been preparing the big meal for weeks. I planned my menu and picked up items at the store when I could, so I wouldn't be stressed trying to get everything at once and then leave something out. Anyone who knows me knows cooking may not be my forte, but organization is!!! Sadly, my lists couldn't save me from this year's boo-boo.
The trouble began first thing in the morning when I was cleaning my fresh bird. It's a job that truthfully grosses me out. I was focused on getting the neck and the bag of stuff out of the cavity of the turkey when someone in the kitchen turned on the oven.
What I wouldn't realize until about six hours later is that the oven was on BROIL and not bake. WHAT?!! I must have checked the oven temperature a handful of times, even checked to see how the bird was cooking. I never noticed.
My worst fears were confirmed as my husband started slicing what appeared to be a cooked turkey. The top, cooked. The bottom, not so much. Ugh! I peered out into the dining room and saw nine people staring back at me, waiting to dig into their Thanksgiving meal!!!
Luckily for us, the cooked breast meat on the top of the bird was enough to feed my hungry family, and dinner went off without any more problems, just a little less dark meat.
It was sheer panic at one point and not the perfect meal I had envisioned, but we shared Thanksgiving anyway. A few lessons learned this holiday, but I was truly thankful it wasn't much worse!
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