Archive for the ‘Food and Drink’ Category

Tropical Fruit Parfait

In a small glass — or a jar with a lid, if you’re on the go — layer 1/2 cup fruit cut into 1/2-inch cubes (kiwis, mangos, and pineapples are nice) with 1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt. Top with 1 tablespoon toasted sliced almonds. Makes 1 serving (100 calories).

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Snacks Under 200 Calories – Healthy Eating and Recipes – Whole Living

Four healthful “superfoods” – soy, blueberries, yogurt, and orange make this a nutrient-packed breakfast. For an extra boost, blend in a handful of spinach leaves.

In a blender, combine 3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup ice, 1/2 cup plain low-fat regular or Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons soymilk, 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice, and 1 tablespoon honey. Blend until smooth, scraping down sides of blender as needed. Serve immediately. Serves 1

per serv: 222 cal; 3.7 g fat (1.6 g sat fat); 12.4 g protein; 39.4 g carb; 3.5 g fiber

As a business owner, it is my responsibility, and serious duty, to leave my office, meet others, and lunch often with strangers. Networking is the only way I know to make friends and build resources.s

Weekly I’m off on a quest to meet with my networking group. I enjoy this time because we share business ideas, resources, referrals, and most importantly we are moving forward to building relationships. One other aspect included in networking, is being with individuals of similar profession/passion/interest. Definitely we all come together for the same reason, to build our resource pool, and to expose others to our businesses.

About a month ago, a nice lawyer reached out to me because he liked what he read on my website. He and I chatted, and instantly found ways to promote each other’s business. Over the course of time, we’ve been exchanging referrals and resources. He forwarded me an invitation to his exclusive nonprofit networking group, and I’m writing this post on the subway on my way to the first event. I am moments away from meeting not just one new business ally, but at least 20. I would say lunching with strangers definitely has its rewards.

So, do you have plans to lunch with a stranger anytime soon? Consider the possibility for the growth of your business.

I saw this timely tip in my December issue of Women Business Owners of Prince George's County.

A Friendly Communication
Reminder to Women Business Owners

How many times have you attended an event, only to run into
someone whose face you remember but name you couldn't?  What do you
do?  Do you call them Honey, Sweetie, Girlfriend, or nothing at all? 
Suffice it to say, it's embarrassing.  So let's help each other out. 
If we're not wearing a name tag and we've drawn a blank, here's what we
can do:

• If you're with someone, tell them
  this, "If I don't
  introduce you to the person with whom I'm speaking, introduce
  yourself",
• Re-introduce yourself and give
  the other person an opportunity to introduce themselves; or
• Graciously ask for forgiveness
  and admit you can't remember their name.

Have you ever been on the other side and felt that the
person you're talking with doesn't remember you?

• Do not say, "You probably don't remember
  me." (You're right they don't, that's why we're writing
  this).  Just say, "Hi,
  I'm Jane.  My company is XYZ.  It's good to see you." 
  (Make conversation). 

We
all have full plates.  It's the overload factor.  We are trying to remember
the laundry list of things we have to do to keep the business going.  We
don't need one more thing to add stress.

Let's start practicing now so
we'll be flawless in 2010!

 -Doris McMillon,
Sponsorship Director

I went to lunch with my friend Deborah Crimes owner of Lessons from Abroad. We
met
at my favorite restaurant, Ledo's, for a delicious pizza, salad, and business
conversation.

We chatted about the importance of growing personal skills useful for business.
We talked about the importance of professional exposure: using press releases,
marketing tools, seminars, etc. Then we talked about personal health. Deborah
exercises every day. I, on the other hand, think about it every day. Yet, I
always talk about doing more.

Then Deborah said the dreaded words that confirmed my true heart, “Oh, I see, you're
not serious.” She said it in a way that conveyed it was fine that I wasn’t; so,
she just wasn’t saying any more about that subject. She switched the
conversation, and started talking about all the bible studies I attend.

Wow! I love that most about Deborah, she cuts to the chase.
It reminded me of Proverb 27:6a “Wounds from a friend can be trusted…”  Do you have someone in your life that gets to
the point with you? I highly recommend that you find that person. It was very
beneficial for me to have had that conversation with her, because I immediately
came home and started exercising. I’m not consistent. Yet, I know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that before my lunch with her next month I will be more
active.

I also take this approach with her when it comes to business
advice. Deborah is a very savvy business woman. She has successfully launched
her language programs for children throughout the region. Yet, the most
important lesson that I’ve learned from her is the giving of herself to help
someone else get ahead. However, that person must be ready to take action; as
you can see my friend is not into wasting time (yours or hers)!

So, I hope you find someone to invite alongside you in your
business that will be honest with you, and challenge you to move forward.

I lost my heart to Savannah! I can’t remember going anywhere and feeling more comfortable. I didn’t feel
like a stranger in Savannah, and yet it was my
very first time ever setting foot in Georgia. One
thing I learned about me, while I’m from the District of Columbia, I’m
definitely not a southern girl; I’m city through and through.

Savannah
is a quaint place full of ghosts.
Every house tells a tale of a haunting, or the prevention of such a thing.
There’s one house that is said to have been mailed ordered, and was assembled
with every single window installed upside down (see picture). This was done to ward off evil
spirits.

I took the trolley tour
around town several times, and spent hours hearing different renditions regarding
the same historical sites. Each trolley driver had their own unique way of
telling a story. The St. Patrick’s Day
was my favorite. One driver said, “The St. Patrick’s Day parade is the
second in the country to New York.
Everything in Savannah
turns green: the river, the water fountains, the beer, and the next day the faces
of the people turn green.”

The food in Savannah
was by far the best I ever had! I ate at the Olde Pink House,
Lady and Sons, and I
cooked my favorite meal at the 700 Kitchen Cooking School.
We made Low Country cuisine, and it was further proof that I’m not a southern girl. Every other dish started with
biscuits and grits both yuck in my personal opinion. Yet, when in the South one
must try it out. So, I ate enough (a very little) to at least be able to say
that I tried them. I know my former mean coach would’ve
been proud of me!

However, I do love fried green "tamadas"!

A few weekends ago Ryan and I drove to New York City to
visit Noel and Sonja Chevere who were there from California to visit
family.  So, in essence we imposed on
their family time for the weekend, and I don’t reject a moment.  

Noel, my friend I used to like, walked me through the
streets of New York City until my legs were about to fall off. I still look at
the map to trace all of our steps and it amazes me that while we were walking for
hours, we only walked a couple miles at the most a day. I experienced the New
York subway, did all the touristy things: Time Square, Ground Zero, Rockefeller
Center, just to name a few. 
 

My most memorable stop was to Grand Central Terminal,
affectionately known to me as the place where the animals emerged in the movie
Madagascar. I was in awe at this beautiful train station. I marveled at the
clock in the center, and the stairs that came up from every direction, and the
beautiful chandelier in the station; things that seemed out of place in a train
station, but yet completely fit in here with the hurry and bustle. 

Anyway, we rushed to the Grand Central Terminal because
it was the closest place to where we were, in Greenwich Village, to get Junior’s
cheesecake. Now, let’s talk a little about cheesecake, you have cheesecake, you
have Jello like stuff they call cheesecake, and then you have CHEESECAKE. I
mean baked, creamy, stick to the fork, cheesecake. Oh my! I wasn’t disappointed
with Junior’s at all. As a matter of fact, I was delighted to hear that they
ship cheesecake, as it was absolutely worth all the trouble we went through to
get it.

Next time you're in New York, please stop and have some Junior's cheesecake. And be sure to let me know what you think. Next month, I'm in search of a Philly steak n' cheese!

One of my favorite poems from childhood is by John
Greenleaf Whittier is an excerpt from "Maud Muller" The Saddest Words.

…of all sad words of tongue or pen,

The saddest are these: “It might have been!”

I’m sure you have had some moment of regret in your life.
You look back at a situation and wonder how you could have done it better,
differently, or perhaps you shouldn’t have done it all. Then you utter these
words to yourself.

Well, I have those same feelings every time an ice cream
truck comes into my neighborhood. I can hear the music from miles away. As the
truck gets closer, and the little jingle gets louder, my mouth starts to water,
and then the truck is turning the corner onto my street. The saddest thing, I
usually never have a dollar nearby, and am forced to watch the ice cream truck
go by.

Yet, I’m saved by not adding the calories, or fat, to my
diet by not having that delicious ice cream. So, there really is a silver
lining behind every cloud!