A Few of My Favorite Things - Volume 2

In some ways, it's been a challenging summer, and I have certainly struggled to keep up with my blog. I keep telling myself that there is a time and a season for everything, and sometimes we have to adjust our expectations and desires in order to work through the unexpected challenges and opportunities that have emerged in our lives. 

Often it seems that things come into our lives in waves. When we are faced with learning experiences, it sometimes seems like related ideas keep popping up everywhere as if the universe is trying to teach us something and repetition is the only way to get our attention. 

The themes that are resonating with me right now have to do with gaining a new perspective or seeing things in a new light. A related theme is that of letting go of constraining expectations and embracing simpler approaches to everyday problems. 

This is a lengthy introduction to the topic of this post which is simply things that are making me glad. As I engage in personal reflection, I find myself feeling an abundance of gratitude for the opportunities and resources and blessings I enjoy, despite the losses, so I thought I'd share what's tickling my fancy, making me think, motivating me, and bringing me joy. It's a bit of a copout as far as topics go but also surprisingly cathartic. I hope you find something that peaks your interest and enriches your life. 

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. This just means that there are product suggestions included within the text. Should you click on one of the links and decide to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I only suggest products I love and have experience with that are directly related to the content in this post. You can view my Disclosure Statement for more information. Thank you for your support! ​

Adjusting My App-etite

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You've probably heard of or seen advertisements for Noom and come away confused. The adds are cryptic to say the least. After seeing them for more than a year, I decided to check it out and ultimately ended up joining, and I'm so glad I did.

​What is Noom? Simply stated, it's a weight loss program, but it's really so much more than that. Most of us understand the basics of nutrition and what it means to eat a healthy diet, but in my experience knowing and doing are not the same thing.  Noom helps people create and maintain healthy lifestyle choices, particularly (but not exclusively) dietary choices, in  a number of ways:

• Daily lessons on a variety of topics that help learners understand the psychiatry as well as the phisiology behind eating. It explores everything from hunger related hormones to emotional and environmental triggers to psych tips and tricks for overcoming thought distortions and so much more.
• Participation in a group forum where participants share experiences and offer encouragement.
• Access to group and individual coaches.
• An easy-to-use app that allows you to track your weight and log meals, water intake, exercise, and more. This is also where you access your lessons and group content. 
• Tons of recipes. 
• An easy to follow "stop light" approach to eating in which no food is off limits. Instead, foods are categorized according to their caloric density. While there is no limit to the amount of green foods (i.e. foods with a low caloric density) one can consume, yellow foods should be eaten in moderation, and red foods (foods with a high caloric density) should be considered a treat. 

I'll be honest, I haven't lost a ton of weight on Noom, at least not yet. I am, however, on a consistent downward trend, and more importantly, my overall health is improving. I sleep better. I have significantly less joint pain. I'm excited about preparing and eating healthy foods, and the changes I'm making feel sustainable which I believe is the single biggest indicator of long-term success. 

I'll Drink to That!

My daughter recently introduced me to the Owala Twist Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, and it's my new favorite thing. I carry a water bottle with me pretty much everywhere. I prefer using a straw to slurping, but the straw cups I was using were poorly insulated. The Owala bottle can be both sipped or slurped, and the straw is the coolest I've seen. As a matter of fact, you can't see it from the outside! This bottle is easy to open, well insulated, has a nifty carrying loop, and comes in fun colors. I have the 32 ounce version, but it comes in a 24 ounce size as well. 

Reframing My Questions

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I'm referring here to Wendy Watson Nelson's book Change Your Questions Change Your Life. There is another book by the same title written by another author which I have not read, and therefore cannot recommend. Wendy Watson Nelson has thirty years of experience as a marriage and family therapist. Her deep personal spirituality combined with her professional insights give her a unique approach to getting the answers we seek in life. This is a super easy read filled with experiments for the reader to try. I'm actually working on reading it for the second time and getting even more out of it this time around.  The book is aptly named. The author demonstrates the power of questions and how reframing questions can open the door to new insights, greater self-worth, improved relationships, and the ability to overcome personal stumbling blocks to progress. 

Listening to Learn

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My husband was introduced to The Great Courses in 2005, and we have been loyal customers ever since. A product of The Teaching Company, The Great Courses include an ever-increasing collection of college-level lecture series on an expanding array of topics. Categories include:

• Economics & Finance (29)
• History (239)
• Mathematics (48) 
• Professional & Personal Growth (121)
• Travel (30)
• Food & Wine (22)
• Hobby & Leisure (80)
• Music & Fine Arts (69)
• Programs for Young Learners (37)
• Health, Fitness & Nutrition (53)
• Literature & Language (116)
• Philosophy & Religion (168)
• Science (200)

The numbers inside parenthesis indicate the number of courses currently available on each topic. As you can see, the selection is vast. The Teaching Company hires award-winning professors from top-notch universities and other experts in their fields to provide the instruction for their lectures. Courses can be anywhere from 12-96 lectures in length.  Most lectures are 30 minutes. Lectures are available in DVD format or for immediate download. Prices seem steep at first sight until you realize that they have dozens of courses on sale for 75-80% off all the time. If you find a course you're interested in, but you don't want to pay full price, just wait. It will be on sale soon.​

Recently the company began offering a streaming service known as the Great Courses Plus (now Wondrium) as well, and that is what we now use. Our annual streaming fee paid for itself in less than a month because of how much we use it. I listen while I work around the house, while I drive, and while I'm walking.

My personal favorites are the history courses, but we have sampled a wide variety of topics and rarely been disappointed. Which brings me to another point - customer service. The Great Courses has the best customer service I have ever experienced anywhere. If you break a disc, they will replace it, no questions asked. If you lose a disc (or even a set of discs) you can purchase individual discs or sets without having to buy the whole course again. If you decide you don't like a course, you can send it back for a refund no matter how long you've had the course. Their representatives are friendly and helpful, and their service is speedy. 

The Great Courses recently changed their name to Wondrium and expanded their services to include educational television series, documentaries, and more. This company just keeps getting better!

Easy Listening

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If you're going to listen to lectures (or podcasts) while you work, I recommend getting a good speaker for your phone. I use the OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Speaker, and I love it. In fact, I had to buy one for my husband because mine kept disappearing! Because I listen while I'm cooking and doing other household tasks, I also like having a cell phone stand to cradle my phone. It makes it easier to see and interact with what's on the screen and gets my phone up off the counter where it may encounter moisture and other hazards. As a bonus, it's also handy if you use your phone for Zoom calls. 

Happy to be Hands-free

I'm a scarf wearer. I love having a pretty scarf to match my outfit or dress up a simple solid colored top. I first encountered Infinity Pocket Scarfs at a local bazar. It's a simple concept, but it kind of blew my mind. Since I don't love carrying a purse with me everywhere I go, I knew I had to have one, and I love it! There's plenty of room in the pocket for keys, cell phone, and/or a small minimalist wallet. I keep a slim credit card holder in my purse, then if I want to leave my purse in the car, I just pull it out and slide it into my scarf and head off hands-free to my destination. 

Simple Suppers

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I love to cook, except when I don't. I seem to go through phases. At times I am highly motivated to plan and follow a menu. Then at other times  nothing sounds good, and I don't feel like putting in the effort to cook. Can anyone relate?

I have developed a cheat that allows me to throw together soups, stews, casseroles, and other seemingly elaborate meals with relative ease. In place of raw chicken, which has to be diced and cooked, I use frozen grilled boneless chicken breast strips or dices. They're precooked, so all you have to do is thaw them. I use them to whip up some of our favorites in a manner of minutes. This includes chicken fajitas, chicken salad, casseroles, and soupls like the delicious Chicken Pot Pie Soup recipe that I shared in my last Favorite Things blog post. 

A Final Thought

It will come as no surprise to anyone that the last year and a half have been turbulent, both at home and abroad. When I listen to or read the news I sometimes feel as though there is little hope for the future. Then I venture out into my little community and encounter countless good people striving to show kindness to those around them and generally do the right thing, and I feel better. 

My husband and I are working on a book about the war in Afghanistan. As a result, we have met some amazing people who have broadened our perspective and given us an appreciation for what it means to serve and to sacrifice. As I write this post, my thoughts are on them and their families. Some, I know, have made it to safety outside that wartorn country. Others are desperate to get word of their families whose lives are in very real danger. 

While there is little, if anything, that I personally can do to help my newfound friends on the other side of the world, there is something I can do to make the world a better place. I think Thierry K. Mutombo said it best in a recent address: "When we choose to follow Christ, we choose to be changed."  If I can truly strive to emulate the most perfect example of kindness, love, generosity, and grace the world has ever known, I can make a difference within my small sphere of influence. I can make someone else's day better, ease someone else's burden, or just spread a little sunshine in a world that so often seems dark and intimidating.