Would you like to win $100?  Read on!

Staying healthy does not always mean focusing on your body alone. Rather, your emotional health needs some attention as well. If you feel good emotionally, chances are you feel physically better too. But can your emotional health truly effect your physical health?

Personally, I say yes. Yes, yes yes!

Case in point. I suffer from gastroparesis, or a slow emptying of the stomach. This is a clinically diagnosed chronic illness for which there is no cure. Some days are good and some are bad. But the bad days can easily be triggered by stress or neglect. If I drink too little water, don’t get enough exercise or eat an unhealthy diet, my stomach can begin a series of somersaults that are soon replaced by physical pain.

My daughter has a mild form of reflux in which she only needs medication a few times in the summer, at best. But the minute school begins, she starts to need her pills daily for the first two weeks. Why?  She is stressed, which causes her stomach to contract and become painful.

Emotions are powerful things. If you feel elated, your body often feels strong and healthy. Whereas if you are overwhelmed or overworked, your body will probably show signs of weakness. This is when you are most susceptible to catching a cold or other illness.

Don’t you think this is as a perfect reason to get a massage this weekend? Or perhaps a pedicure, haircut or blow dry? Men, this means a big screen TV game is in order! Because your emotional health indeed effects your physical heath.

Surprisingly, my regular exercise in turn effects my emotional health. Every other day I power walk with my daughter in tow, ending with more than 100 crunches, weights and lower abdominal exercises. Some days it takes everything I have to start the process, but once I do I am happier, less stressed and feel both emotionally and physically better. So remember that physical fitness doesn’t just stop at exercise, but carries over to your mental health. Take time for yourself. Indulge.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my four week review series sponsored by Crystal Light. In all honestly, I am now a regular customer – purchasing the To Go packets of Green Tea Peach Mango Metabolism (and yes, I am losing weight!) and of the Energy series as well. Drinking a bottle of the Peach Mango Metabolism is a little way I indulge myself towards the end of the day. It gives me a bit of a kick to make it through the late afternoon and prepares me for a good evening workout.

This is your last chance to win a $100 Visa gift card on Agoosa, courtesy of Blogher and Crystal Light. I wish everyone could win!

To enter the Crystal Light Water Your Body $100 Giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post. For a second chance to win, tweet the following and post you have done so in an additional comment:

Win a $100 Visa gift card from Crystal Light and Blogher!  Visit Agoosa & leave a comment to win! http://agoosa.com/?p=1666

Be sure to read more from six other fabulous bloggers, and enter to win on their sites too!  Just click the link below!

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Crystal Light

Find out how to win $100!

Was I taught at a young age that a slim figure is the best figure? After all, who can forget watching Tinker Bell gazing into the mirror with a critical grimace at her hip size? But honestly, who wouldn’t kill for those curvy slim hips? Yet the message was quite clear… skinny is best.

I don’t know what it was that made me view my body image in such a negative light. “My hips are too wide. I have a big butt. I’m not thin enough!” Was it the super slim women on television? Or the few cheerleaders who turned up their noses at me as they walked by?

For all of you loyal Shoot-Me-Now readers, this is the ONLY time you will see me in a bathing suit.  Positive body image or not!

As an adult I look back and understand just how good I actually looked. Three babies later, my hips are wider and my stomach four cans shy of a six pack. But I have come to appreciate who I am and what I look like. My body image? It is forgiving and accepting.

Will my daughter follow the same path? Just last week she was gazing at herself in the mirror. “Mom? I want to be pretty. Can we get some new clothes? And a haircut and pedicure? Won’t those make me pretty?” Alarms rang in my head at these innocent words.

Throughout my daughter’s life I have done everything I can to nurture a positive self image in her. I’ve explained that beauty comes from within. I am sure to point out “beautiful things” about people who don’t resemble anything you would find on the cover of a magazine. But somewhere, somehow she must have begun to believe beauty is only skin deep.

I think she will be a work in progress, as are all little girls as they peek into the future. For now, she sees I am comfortable in my own skin, despite what society may consider my many flaws. She enjoys participating in my exercise program and watches me eat healthy low-fat food.

We’ve discussed staying hydrated too. She is always asking for a taste of my water, which is sometimes flavored with Crystal Light Green Tea Peach Mango packets. Crystal Light’s “Water Your Body” campaign has inspired me to drink two extra bottles of water a day. And delicious bottles they are!

Although I’ve come to accept who I am, I’ve stepped up my exercise program in the last six months. My daughter doesn’t have to know I’m getting a little help with Crystal Light Metabolism +, does she?  There are some things you just have to learn with age.

Do you have a positive body image? If so, what do you attribute to your success in being happy with whom you are?

Now for the fun part!

To enter the Crystal Light Water Your Body $100 Giveway, simply leave a comment on this post.  for a second chance to win, tweet the following and post you have done so in an additional comment:

Water your body and line your pockets with green! Find out how to win $100 from Crystal Light!  http://agoosa.com/?p=1642

There are also six other amazing bloggers who are participating in this exciting Crystal Light event.  To find them and get even more chances to win, visit the Blogher Crystal Light Roundup Page below!

BlogHer.com CLB exclusive offers page

Official Rules

Crystal Light

Could you use some extra cash in your pocket?  Then read on and find out how you can enter to win $100!

Hot enough for ya?  Recently our temps reached a whopping 105 degrees.  I know, you folks from Texas are laughing at me, I can hear you!  But no matter how hot your summer gets, it is important to stay hydrated.  Not with sodas or lattes (well, maybe a few of those), but with w-a-t-e-r.  Simple, plain, healthy and free.

Plain.  Did you catch that word?  When I’m overheated, nothing tastes better than an ice cold glass of water.  However I am often inside at my desk where I don’t feel quite as “desperate” for H20.  During those times my bottle of water often sits untouched for hours, despite my good intentions.

That is, until I discovered Crystal Light’s Enhanced Metabolism “On the Go” packets.  When I find myself avoiding water but in need of hydration, I will treat myself to a tall glass of green tea and peach mango mix.  Crystal Light’s campaign to have people “Water their Body” has honestly helped me to drink more water.  It tastes so good that I have to hide it from my 9 year old!

Another time I drink water consistently is while I take my evening walk.  This is one of my favorite parts of my exercise program, but in 100+ degree heat it can be rough.  I wait until late in the day, fill my water bottle and add a To Go pack and ice.  When the power walking gets rough, the treat in my water bottle makes the pain a little less… well, painful.

And speaking of painful, check out just how hard my trainer is on me.  My NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TRAINER!

My Workout with the Next Jillian Michaels from shootmenowblog on Vimeo.

My water style used to be, “Put a glass of water in front of me and let it sit for a while.  Then forget to carry water with me on my long strenuous walk.”  Now my water style is, “Fix a bottle of water with Crystal Light Enhanced Metabolism and drink it immediately.  Then fill my water bottle before my walk and never EVER forget to bring it!”

Do you fill a large container with water and drink it throughout the day?  Or do you keep a case of water bottles under your desk to remind yourself to stay hydrated?  What is your water style, and how do you stay motivated to keep hydrated?

Now for the BEST part.  You can win $100 RIGHT HERE from Blogher and Crystal Light!  Just leave a comment to be entered to win $100!  And for an extra entry, Tweet the following and then leave a comment on this post with a link to your tweet.

Find out how Katherine at @shootmenowblog is drinking more water w/Crystal Light & enter to Win $100! http://agoosa.com/?p=1603 #giveaway

There are six other fabulous blogs you can visit for more entries.  Simply go to the Blogher Roundup page to find these great blogs. And guess what else is on the roundup page?  Information on how you can win ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS!

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Crystal Light

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.

Are you ready to win $100?  Then read on!

When I was in high school – and we won’t say how long ago that was! – my parents built a beach house in the beautiful Outer Banks.  The house served as a summer rental cottage until two years ago when my mother decided it was finally time to stop.  No more renters means an empty beach house calling my name on summer weekends.  It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it!

Every Friday night I load up the kids, the dog and surfboards for an hour and 45 minute drive to Corolla for a two day stay.  Going to a beach house every weekend is indeed a blessing, but it has its challenges as well.  Packing, meals, and hours in the car which has to be loaded and unloaded in the summer heat.  So how do we stay healthy during our weekly excursions?

The first health challenge I face is Friday night’s dinner.  It would be so easy to zip through a fast food joint for a quick meal on the go.  But that means loading the kids up with french fries, fatty burgers and soda.  Do they really need that every seven days?

My solution is to pack healthy sandwiches and snacks for our road trip picnic, as well as several bottles of chilled water.  And my water is the best of all, because it now contains an On the Go packet of Crystal Light Enhanced Metabolism+.  Imagine ice cold green tea and peach mango in place of a bottle of plain old water.  YUM.

I have to say that reviewing the new Crystal Light Enhanced line was no great chore.  On the contrary – the Metabolism+ is absolutely delicious.  The metabolism benefit is simply icing on the cake.  Since I am finally off of my weight loss plateau and am now in the “you have lost so much weight!” mode, I am happy to carry my single serve packets everywhere.

Another tip for staying healthy on the go?  Skip the convenience foods no matter how cheap they are and easy to pack.  Instead, head over to your local warehouse store and purchase a big tub of fresh fruit.  When we are away I keep a large container of cherries or strawberries on the counter for snacking.  Surprisingly, the kids go for the fruit over everything else, especially after a hot few hours on the beach.

And speaking of the beach, remember to carry water with you as you travel.  Every night I pour a bit of water out of a new water bottle and place it in the freezer.  When I’m ready to head out the next day I refill the empty space and take my bottle along.  The heat slowly melts the ice, keeping my drink nice and cold.  Remember, reusable bottles are a green way to stay healthy too.

This past weekend brought a heat wave like no other.  We sat on the beach as the thermometer clocked 105 degrees.  Next to me?  My trusty bottle of water and Crystal Light To Go packet.

The sun, the ocean and plenty of fresh water.  Pure heaven!

How would you like to win $100 during from Blogher and Crystal Light?  Simply leave a comment here and you will be entered to win.

And even better?  You have six more places you can visit to enter.  Be sure to check out the Blogher Roundup page to find these great blogs.  While you are there, read about how you can win $1,000 too!

BlogHer.com CLB exclusive offers page

Official Rules

Crystal Light

I need more wellness ideas.  How do you stay healthy while you are on the go?

Are there stains in your dishwasher?  Or is the inside of your dishwasher less than sparkling?  Then we have an easy fix for you.  And a surprising one!

To clean your dishwasher, put Kool-Aid Lemonade mix in the detergent compartment the next time your washer is empty.  Then run the dishwasher on a full cycle.

After one full wash with Kool-Aid Lemonade mix, your dishwasher will be bright and clean again!

I was recently approached by an owner of Editingg about holding a contest for free premium photo edits in addition to reviewing their work.  I liked what I saw on the site and agreed to give it a go.

He told me how to upload two pictures of my choice for free editing so I could see their work.  But what to choose?   After narrowing it down to three I was told to send the additional one along.  They already scored a point in my book for that!

Editingg states, “We want to help people turn their home photos into memories that they will cherish, and we’re starting out with an affordable home photo touch-up service.”  Rather than use words, I will use pictures to show you their work.

Rather than send them recent photos from my digital camera, I challenged them with old scratched pictures that had been scanned in to my computer.  The first is of my grandmother seated in the middle of several family members during a reunion.  The edits applied were basic adjustment, cropping, facial touch-up and minor object removal.  The final picture is brighter, crisper and more defined.

Before:

After:

My second picture is of my grandfather and grandmother.  This picture was sent to them grainy, blurred and scratched.  I love the way the edited picture brings out the details of the motorcycle.  The faces of my grandparents are also brighter and more defined.  As a side note, she would sneak out to ride with my grandfather before they were married.  Shocking!

Before:

After:

And finally, my favorite picture.  This is of my mother and father on their wedding day.  I asked if they could remove the person to the right of my father.  When I opened the final result I caught my breath.  They did an amazing job editing the background.  Furthermore, my mother’s dress is more defined and both of my parents are brighter and easier to see.  The blurring in the background makes them stand out, changing the photo from nice to beautiful.

This weekend I surprised my mother by showing her the before and after pictures of her and my father.  She choked up, with me to follow.

Before:

After:

Can you think of five pictures you would love to have edited?  Then be sure to enter this exciting giveaway!  For your first entry, simply leave a comment below.  For another entry, follow @Editingg on Twitter and tweet:

I just entered to win $75 worth of free professional home photo touchups from @Editingg at http://agoosa.com/?p=1534

Once you have done this, please come back and leave a second comment.  This is an important part of the entry process because I use random.org to select my winners.  You need to have one comment for every entry.

And the best part?  There will be TWO winners!

I am very impressed with Editingg’s work, with their customer service and the ease in which you can upload and purchase your edits.  Don’t forget to enter!

AND THE WINNERS ARE!

Tina and Debbie.  Congratulations!

You can buy harvested quinoa seeds in organic markets or in many local grocery stores.  The seeds contain up to 18% protein, are gluten-free and easy to digest.  Because the seeds contain a balanced set of essential amino acids they are basically a perfect protein.

Quinoa has a similar consistency to couscous and has a rich nutty taste.  It is cooked like with a ratio of one cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid.  If you soak the quinoa prior to cooking, the mix is one cup soaked quinoa to 1 ½ cups liquid.

I purchased a large bag of quinoa at Costco last week and made a delicious dish from a recipe included on the back of the bag.  The dish is a quinoa cranberry almond salad that tastes good both hot and cold.  And OH BOY is it GREAT.

Quinoa Cranberry Almond Salad

First, soak one cup of quinoa in water, draining after ½ hour.  Heat ½ teaspoon oil in a pan and add ½ cup slivered almonds along with the drained quinoa.  Toast until both are a golden color.  Place the quinoa and almonds in a pot with 1 ½ cups chicken or vegetable broth, ½ an inch of a cinnamon stick, 1 bay leaf and ½ cup dried cranberries.  Bring to a boil and then put the heat on low.  Cook for about ten minutes or until the quinoa has soaked up the liquid.

The result is a delicious dish of quinoa, toasted almonds and cranberries that can be used as a main dish or a side.

There are lots of wonderful quinoa recipes on the internet, from curried quinoa to vegetable quinoa salad.  Quinoa is extremely versatile, served in both sweet and savory main dishes and sides.  It is healthy, full of protein and tastes great too!

First, rinse off your rib and chicken pieces, pat them dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix together ½ cup of brown sugar with two tablespoons smoked paprika. Regular paprika is fine if you don’t have smoked.

You can also add garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard or hot pepper flakes to taste. My rub only contained the brown sugar and paprika. Once you’ve mixed your sugar and spices, rub the meat down and wrap the pieces tightly in foil. I even put my rub underneath the chicken’s skin for extra flavor.

Place in a baking pan and cook the ribs or chicken at 225 degrees for 2 hours. “Low and slow,” as they say.

Start your coals as the 2 hours of slow cooking are almost up. If you are using gas, heat up the grill. When the coals are ready, coat the ribs and chicken with your favorite barbecue sauce. I used Sticky Fingers Memphis Recipe.  This was the only barbecue sauce that did not have high fructose corn syrup and MSG in it.  High five to Sticky Fingers!

Now, place your ribs and chicken on the grill. Don’t put the meat directly over a flame or you will be eating tender burned chicken! When I took my chicken out of the oven it was not quite done. So when I put it on the grill I covered it to complete the cooking process.

Halfway through I turned the chicken and coated it with more barbecue sauce. The ribs only needed a bit of grilling so they came off the Weber before the chicken did.

I used a meat thermometer to be sure the chicken was cooked all the way through. NOBODY wants pink chicken, at least in my house!

The result? Tender juicy grilled chicken that was cooked all the way through. And the ribs? They were “restaurant good,” which for me is a huge achievement. I plan to grill again this weekend, and the family can’t wait!

I had this piece a little too close to the hottest part of the grill, causing a portion of the skin to char.  My grill was so full I had no where else to put it.  If I find myself in that same situation I will put a bit of lightly oiled foil under the chicken.  This chicken breast was thick yet turned out to be the most tender piece of the batch.  Low and slow worked better than using a brine or simply placing whole raw pieces on the grill.

Do you have a spice rub you love to make or use?  Or a favorite barbecue sauce, whether store-bought or homemade?

Researchers from the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University queried shoppers as they entered the grocery store about how they used and cleaned their shopping bags.  Of the people queried, 97% did not regularly clean their bags.  Furthermore, ¾ admitted to not keeping meats and vegetables separate while 1/3 use their bags for books, papers and other non-food items.

The researchers then tested 84 bags, finding that all but one contained large amounts of bacteria.  Twelve percent of the bags harbored E. coli.

Fortunately it is fairly easy to prevent illness when using these green reusable bags.  Keep one bag soley for raw foods and another for fruits and vegetables only.  Hand washing or laundering reusable bags bring the bacteria level to nearly zero.

No, really, how DO you grill tender pieces of chicken?  This time I’m asking all of you!

As you may have read in my last post, I can make some amazingly tender grilled chicken strips.  But when I try to grill full sized pieces of chicken, it turns out a bit dry.

I never throw whole raw chicken pieces on the grill.  If I do I end up burning the outside before the inside is cooked.  So last night I did something a little different.  I boiled a whole chicken until it was done.  Then I cut the thicken in half lengthwise and smothered it with olive oil, garlic and rosemary.  I placed the chicken on the cooler side of the grill and covered it.  Once it was on long enough to have grill marks and to capture a smoky flavor I flipped it, let it cook for another minute and then brought it to the table.

The flavor?  Absolutely delicious.  But the breast meat was dry.  Next time I might try to boil it until it is almost done, finishing the cooking process on the grill.

How do you grill your chicken pieces?  I need some help over here!