Blueberry Tuesday: Blueberry Cookie Pizza

Blueberry Tuesday:
Hello there!  It's Blueberry Tuesday, and I remembered to post a recipe.  I love making single serving homemade veggie pita pizzas.  They are easy, healthy, and so quick.  So when I saw this recipe I thought it would be a really great dessert for pizza night.  It's also easy to prepare leaving you more time to spend with your family!

Blueberry Cookie Pizza

Positive Attitude & Banana Benefits & Odd Uses

Motivation for Monday Fitness Tip: 
Benefits of a Positive Attitude
As humans, it's so easy for most of us to automatically think with more of a "Glass half empty" attitude first instead of having a positive perspective.  Today, Bob & Caroline Scott of the Louisville Athletic Club shared some ways in which staying positive can benefit our physical health.


Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick."

Benefits of a Positive Attitude

• Increased life span

• Lower rates of depression

• Greater resistance to the common cold

• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress.

"Negative thoughts can obviously increase stress levels, which as we have talked about before, is extremely bad for your health.  On the other hand, staying positive can benefit your health in the following ways.  Another good verse in the Bible that I think is fitting for this topic comes from Proverbs 16:24 and says, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones." -Caroline Scott


Bob Scott's advice is:
"Try to eliminate negative self-talk or thoughts.  If they start to creep in, replace them with more positive thoughts like the following examples (you can even write these down to help remind you).

"I know I will succeed"
"God is always there to help me"
"I am not a failure." 

A few things to think about when it comes to squashing negative talk and thoughts are: Don't say anything about yourself that you wouldn't say about someone else.  Surround yourself with other positive people, and be open to humor.  You will probably find that with practice, being more positive will also help you become less critical and judgmental to to those around you.  Remember that the Bible says in Philippians 4:8, "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are admirable, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things."

For more health and fitness tips, check out Caroline's Blog: carolinescott.org

Bananas: Benefits & Uses
Bananas are one of the most amazing foods on the planet.  Here are a list of some of their benefits and some surprising uses.

Health Benefits: (Source Chiquita Banana Site)
Stroke Prevention: Bananas may keep strokes away according to a Dutch study published in the journal Stroke. Bananas’ concentration of B6 and potassium—which can boost your mood and help your heart, respectively—make them a great healthy food choice.  According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Packed with Vitamins: Bananas are one of the few foods to contain the 6 major vitamin groups including B vitamins.  Bananas are a very rich source of vitamin B6 containing 20% of your daily recommended value, which your brain needs to function properly and make you wise.  They are also a great good source of potassium, dietary fiber, manganese and contain 15% of recommended daily dose of vitamin C.
Hearth Healthy: Bananas are a terrific, heart-healthy food when included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. While many factors affect heart disease, diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of this disease.  Bananas are naturally fat, cholesterol, and sodium-free.  The fiber in a banana may also reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers when eaten as part of a diet low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and rich in fiber-containing foods like bananas. 
Reduce Cancer Risk: Low fat diets rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors. 
Replenish: Serious athletes need to replenish the essential vitamins and minerals, in particular the potassium, that are lost during exercise and performance training. One banana can help replenish the potassium, and other vitamins and minerals, lost during one to two hours of intense exercise.
Energy: Bananas combination of carbohydrates, simple sugars and dietary fiber provides energy needed for physical activity.  The Vitamin C and B6 in bananas contributes to the reduction of fatigue.
Red Blood Cell Formation: Vitamin B6 also contributes to red blood cell formation, the reduction of fatigue and transporting iron through the body. 
Bone & Skin Health: Vitamin C in bananas helps develop and maintain skin, bones, cartilage, blood vessels, gums and teeth, while reducing free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative damage.  Bananas also contain 15% of the Daily Value of Manganese. Manganese helps maintain healthy bones and protects cells from oxidative damage.
Maintain Norm. Blood Pressure: Bananas contain 13% of the Daily Value of Potassium. Potassium helps maintain a normal blood pressure (already within normal limits) and muscle function.
Digestive Health: A single serving (one medium-sized banana) also contains 12% of the daily-recommended dietary fiber intake for a normal adult. Fiber has been shown to improve digestive function. The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralises over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Help Anemia:  High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Brain Power: 200 students at an English school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Reduce Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin - known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart-burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
PMS: The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.


16 Surprising Uses for Bananas: (Note: I have not tried all of these)
1. Treat Damaged Hair. Here is a detailed description of Dr. Oz’s quest for the best damaged hair treatment out there. The results? Bananas! Click here to read Diana’s step-by-step guide treating your hair with bananas.
2. Whiten Teeth. Rub banana peel on your teeth for about two minutes every time you brush and you’ll be well on your way to that perfect smile.
3. Prevent Wrinkles. Check out this recipe for a banana anti-aging mask!
4. Treat Insect Bites. Rub some banana peels on the bites to alleviate the itch.
5. Treat Warts. Bananas are rich in potassium, which is said to help treat warts.
6. Treat Bruises, Cuts, and Scrapes. Potassium also helps with the healing process for cuts, scrapes, and bruises.
7. Get Rid of Splinters. Can’t get that pesky splinter out of your skin? If you press banana peels onto the splinter, the fruit’s natural enzymes will work to get it out.
8. Exfoliate Your Skin. Check out a great banana body sugar rub recipe here.
9. Attract Birds & Butterflies. Like humans, birds and butterflies just love the taste of bananas. If you’d like to watch birds, leave a banana out.
10. Fertilize Your Plants. Dried ground banana peels make a fantastic mulch for seedlings and new plants.
11. Polish Leather & Silver. No need to invest in pricey, and often toxic, leather and silver cleaners. Instead, rub banana peels on the surface and buff with a cloth.
12. Combat Aphids. Nobody likes a damaged plant. Bury some cut up banana peels 2-3 inches deep around the base of the plant.
13. Dog Treat. Bananas are a safe and healthy treat for your beloved pooch!  Mitzie loves them.  :)
14. Purify Water. OK, this is perhaps best left to the professionals, but research has suggested that banana peels can actually absorb toxins in polluted rivers. But, if you ever find yourself lost in the woods with only a banana peel, you’ll be prepared!
15. Make “Ice Cream.” Craving the sweet stuff but don’t have the time, calories, or budget to spare? Simply blend a frozen solid banana in a food processor or blender. You’ll be surprised how much it tastes like soft-serve ice cream! For more info on frozen banana ice cream.
16. Polish Shoes:  You can use the inside of a banana peel to polish patent leather shoes

Blue Ribbon Winners and Tips for Perfect Layer Cakes

On today's show I shared some of the Blue Ribbon winning recipes from the Kentucky State Fair.  The photo is a banana and black walnut cake perfect for Autumn gatherings.  Enjoy a slice of summer by trying out these Blue Ribbon Winners.  Here are four recipes your family will love:


Phyllis Martin's Autumn Memories Cake
Marolyn Smith's Peach Pie
Trina Amos' Coconut Cream Pie
Kandace Kanzler's Tuscan Crust Pizza

How to: Perfect Layer Cake
This morning I shared that I have trouble with layered cakes.  One Thanksgiving I tried making a layered carrot cake from my mom's recipe that we've used for years.  It's fabulous by the way and I shared the recipe [here].  The cake turned out moist and delicious, and I painstakingly worked with the frosting, assembled the layers, and even inserted dowel rods.  The thing that I didn't consider was that I needed to transport it on a windy road for several miles.  Needless to say, it didn't hold up well, and I haven't attempted a layer cake since.  While no layer cake would probably stand up to the transportation horrors that I put my poor carrot cake through, here are some expert tips I found to help with everything else.

How to: Make the Perfect Layer Cake

Friday Morning Show

Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Walnut Apples

Hello there! I've been neglecting you just a bit, and I'm very sorry about that.  It has been a wonderful week, but a busy one.

Today is Waffle Day!  So in honor of all of that goodness, I found & pinned some recipes on Pinterest this morning.  Here's one of them: Pumpkin Waffles with Maple Walnut Apples!

Monday was 88.5 WJIE Day at the Kentucky State Fair featuring the Newsboys and Sanctus Real.  The concert was incredible!  Both bands did a tremendous job!  If you would like to check out the amazing pics that Carrie our photographer  took, visit our Facebook.

Friday Favorites: I thought I would try something new and begin to share some of my favorite things from this past week.
Here's my top 5:

 1) Favorite Quote: Confidence - I'm loving this quote I pinned this week. It's a great reminder that we are unique for a reason.  Everyone has purpose.  God intended for you to be your exact, lovely self.

2) Favorite Product:  Loving the OrganizHer products offered by Mead!  I found this Fridge Filer the other day and I think it's a brilliant idea for making Fridge clutter a little easier to manage...hopefully.

3) Favorite Recipe: This one also can be found on my Pinterest page.  It's Old Fashioned Pull-Apart Rolls!  I've pinned a lot of great recipes this week, but this one is my fav. because fluffy restaurant-like rolls have always been on my must learn list.

4) Favorite App:  This week I'm liking the Free 1000Memories App which lets you "scan" and touch up old photos or any photo that you don't have a digital copy of by snapping a pic of it with your phone.  Technically you could do this with other apps, but the auto crop suggestions and touch up capabilities make this one a bit different.  When I tried it with one of my favorite photos, the auto crop lined up nearly perfectly on it's own which kind of impressed me.  There aren't any filter or creative editing options; this basically just is a classy scanner.

5) Favorite Energy Booster:  My energy level has been running low this week, but my schedule is still packed so I've been using Gatorade's G Series Energy Chews in Fruit Punch for an extra boost of energy before a workout, etc.  They taste great and seem to work well so far.

Motivation for Monday Fitness: Lack of Will Power

A major obstacle to successful weight loss is a lack of will power and temptation.  Everyone who is serious about getting healthier will run into road blocks at some point.  Today, Bob & Caroline Scott of the Louisville Athletic Club shared some tips for staying on the right track.

Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

"My first suggestion would be to write this verse down and post it on your refrigerator and your pantry door.  Read it every time you are tempted to open that door and reach for something unhealthy that is going to sabotage your efforts.  Trying to lose weight can be very overwhelming.  So think, "One day at a time."  Even the Bible says in Matthew 6:34, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today."  Stop thinking, "I have to lose twenty, forty, or sixty pounds" and start thinking: "Today, I need to eat healthy.  Today, I need to exercise.  Today, I need to set my sights on losing that first pound." - Caroline Scott

"Also, as you take one day at a time, keep in mind that you are not alone.  Others just like you have been down this road before and emerged with a healthier body and lifestyle.  Most importantly, however, you are not alone because you have Jesus who loves you just the way you are today and will be right beside you on the journey to weight loss.  If you are struggling with will power and temptation right now regarding a weight loss journey, pray for the strength to break your unhealthy habits.  Lay the burden at the feet of Jesus.  In your prayers ask for patience and endurance, and keep your eyes fixed on Him.  He wants you to succeed more than you can ever imagine."  - Bob Scott

For more health and fitness tips, check out Caroline's Blog: carolinescott.org

10 Tips for a Fabulous Workday

Tips for a Fabulous Workday:  Thursday I found an article for tips to have a Fabulous Workday, and I loved it so much that we've been talking about it today.  These are some great ways to keep your work week more positive, but these would be great for any day or even for students.  If you would like to read the full article, check it out {Here}


1. Start with 15 minutes of positive input:
It's easier to achieve and maintain a positive attitude if you already have a "library" of positive thoughts in your head.  This will give you a lot of great inspiration to draw upon throughout your day.  Start each day by reading your Bible, an inspirational book, or an positive thought.  Also listen to encouraging music as you get ready for your day and on your commute.

2. Tie your work to your life's goals:
Always remember that there's a deeper reason why you go to work and why you chose your current role. Maybe it's to support your family, to change the world in some way, to help your customers, to make a difference: Whatever the deeper motivation, remind yourself that today is an opportunity to accomplish part of that deeper and more important goal.

3. Use your commute wisely:
Most people waste their commute time.  In fact, your commute time is the perfect time to get yourself pumped up for the day, and there's no better way to do this than to listen to music that truly inspires you and gets you in the right mood.

4. Put a smile on your face:
I've mentioned this one before, but it really works.  Even if you're not completely feeling it, stick a smile on your face anyway.  It doesn't matter if it feels fake or silly.  Research has shown that even the most forced of smiles genuinely reduces stress and makes you happier.

5. Express a positive mood:
When most people are asked questions like "How are you?" or "What's up?"- they typically say something neutral like "I'm OK" or maybe even something negative, like "Hangin' in there."  Instead we should say something positive and enthusiastic, like: "Fantastic!" or "I'm having a wonderful day!" This will help program your brain for positivity.

6. Do the important things first:
If you will go ahead and do the important things on your list first, you'll get more done, get better results, and reduce some of the stress you feel by putting those things off until later.

7. Avoid negative people.
You may not be able to avoid all negative people, but you can try to find something else to do when they start complaining.  Surrounding yourself with negativity will only bring down your own mood; so start surrounding yourself with positivity and watch your week improve.

8. Don't work long hours.
Working long hours, after a short burst of productivity, actually make you less productive.

9. Wind down and relax.
Once you're done with the workday, fill the remainder of your hours with nonwork-related activities that bring you joy and help you relax.

10. End your day with 15 minutes of gratitude.
Exercising your "gratitude" is the best way to make certain that you experience more success. Before you go to sleep, record everything that happened during the day about which you are grateful.
You'll sleep better and be ready for tomorrow--which will probably be even more fabulous than today.

Fire Dept Tips on How to Store 9V Batteries

I realize that this sounds like it would be a no-brainer, but apparently the toss them in a plastic baggy inside my junk drawer method isn't a great idea.  According to an article on Yahoo! News, a family in Amherst, New Hampshire experienced a house fire that was started by a 9-volt battery in a junk drawer.  The New Hampshire Fire Marshall is warning people to re-evaluate what they keep in their junk drawers.

"The potential is there," Londonderry, New Hampshire, Fire Chief Kevin MacCaffrie told CBS News in Boston. "There are a lot of things in a normal junk drawer that do burn, and apparently the ignition source was a 9 volt battery." 

The fire in Amherst was started because of a 9V Battery stored inside a plastic baggy filled with other batteries.  The family said the junk drawer had just been reorganized and also contained spare keys, a lighter, paper clips, eye glass cleaner, and other things that could either cause the battery to spark or the fire to spread.  Thankfully these home owners did not lose everything, but the fire could have been much worse.

"The 9 volt battery rubbed against another battery and ignited the fire," the statement read. The fire spread to Post-It Notes, paper, and other flammable items in the drawer and "produced smoke throughout the first floor of the home." 

The Fire Chief says that if you must keep your regular, rectangular 9 volt batteries in your junk drawer, the best way to prevent them from sparking a fire is to either wrap the ends in electrical tape or keep them in their original packages.  Here's a quote from the article

"When it comes to those regular, rectangular 9 volt batteries, the problem is that both the positive and the negative contact points are on the same end. If those contact points touch a paper clip, a key, or the clip on a pen, it can generate heat; leave it there long enough and it could start a fire.   Chief MacCafferie demonstrated how a paper clip touching the contact points of a 9 volt battery could scorch a square of tissue in minutes. A wad of steel wool glowed orange and set paper on fire in just seconds when it rubbed up against a 9 volt battery." 

Here are a few other reminders from the Los Angeles Fire Dept about several other common household items that can turn into fire hazards:

• Electrical outlets, when overloaded with extension cords
• Lithium batteries, when stored in the same place as clothing
• Clothes dryers, when too much lint gets caught in the vent or filter
• Space heaters, when placed too close to curtains, sheets, or other flammable materials
• Overheated laptop computers, when left on soft surfaces (like a bed or a tablecloth)
• Extra gasoline cans, when stored near dirty rags in the garage
• Fireplaces, when there is too much soot build-up