Susie Homemaker

Look at my new apron! This was my surprise present from Lolly. I absolutely love it. It will come in handy for my new years resolution...

Stayed tuned to find out what my news years resolution will be!

Thanks Lolly : )

We'll B.C'n ya

My Berry Chill addiction developed 2 years ago during a summer spent in Chicago... Berry chill provides gluten and dairy free frozen yogurt with an assortment of toppings. This low cal treat and plethora of toppings left me constantly coming back for more. All my friends know of my addiction and tease me, but I don’t care. I am addicted and I am proud.

It’s a pricey habit – about $7 a cup, but well worth it!

Dont feel bad about indulging - only 20 cal/oz

Health benefits = Full of probiotics, low cal, and fruit toppings for vitamins and antioxidants

Berry Chill uses twitter and technology to market to their consumer. I follow Berry Chill (@Yogijones, their mascot) on twitter. If you tweet your trip to Berry Chill, you receive 10% off your purchase. What a great way to market your company. This summer they also promoted recycling by giving a complimentary frozen yogurt for every 10 cups returned to the store. I am embarrassed to say I think I received about 4 free ones this summer…





Today- Lolly, Andrew (our 3rd travel partner), and I stopped for a treat as soon as we got into the city.

Lolly and I were happy to partake in Andrew's first Berry Chill experience.




Andrew: Pomegranate and original blast with strawberry, kiwi, raspberry. The “Antioxidant theme” as he liked to call it.

















Lolly: Pomegranate and original swirl blast with blueberries, strawberry, peanut butter covered pretzels

Julie: Banana walnut biscotti and original with mochi, rainbow sprinkles, pretzels

Check out their website www.berrychill.com for locations

Follow them on twitter! @yogijones

Chicago Bound

Bags are packed, garmin ready, snacks in tow, we're almost ready to go! Lolly and I head out to Chicago today for a fun filled, reunion weekend. Just about all our college friends make the yearly trek to Chicago to ring in the new year. It is the best way to celebrate the beginning of 2010 - my favorite city with my favorite people.

Lolly and I must keep our eye on the prize (arriving in Chicago) because the means to the end is not always pleasant (driving through Indiana!) We've had some bad luck and interesting stories in the past. I'll be sure to keep you updated. Say a prayer for safe travels!

Last trip we were totally unprepared and resorted to Chex Mix and sunflower seeds from a gas station... won't do that again!

Quaker rice cakes - yumm
clementines - lolly's favorite
peppermints - apparently they keep you from being sleepy (thank you mom for those)
pistachios - great nut to munch on. they take longer to eat with the shell so you can't just pop back a huge handful. 50 nuts are about 180 calories. That's alot of bang for your buck!
Granola Bars - These are the Kroger brand knock off of Fiber One bars. They were on sale for half the price and have just as much fiber. What a steal!
Coke Zero and Water - Yes, I admit it. I love my caffeine... Water to hydrate as well

What's the Difference?!

One of my best friends, Lauren, asked me today "how bad are Ramen noodles?" Like a language I know by heart, my mind immediately recited that horrible nutrition label. I quickly typed.. NO BAD! Lauren gave me the perfect blog topic...

Now, I am normally preaching about never denying yourself a food. I believe all foods have a place if eaten in moderation.... But Ramen noodles may be the exception to that rule. There are so many other more nutritious, quick meals to replace this artificial meal.

So what makes Ramen noodles so bad?!

1 PACKAGE TOTAL (remember there are 2 servings in a package - important to note)
Calories: 370
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g (the bad fat)
Sodium: 1900 mg (YIKES!)
Carb: 54 g

No vegetables, no nutrients, and almost your entire days worth of salt. Is it really worth it?

So what to do? We need a quick, tasty substitute for these salt noodles.

- If you MUST have your Ramen... make the noodles and limit the amount of seasoning. Or substitute for your own seasoning full of herbs and spices. Add some vegetables to the broth.

-Amy's Kitchen makes delicious soups.

This No Chicken Noodle Soup has half the sodium, half the calories, and half the fat with an added dose of vegetables. Soups tend to be high in sodium, so read the label! If you must have soup, try to balance it out throughout the rest of the day. It will leave you less bloated.




Amy's also makes low sodium options.









- My personal favorite is Healthy Choice Chicken and Rice. Each can is 2 servings, but each serving only 100 cals, 3 g fat, and 480 mg sodium. Still not ideal in the amount of sodium, but a lower option if you must get your noodle fix.















Everyone wants to stay warm and enjoy a nice bowl of soup. Try new options and read your labels!

To soy or not to soy?

I've slowly become a soy food junkie over the past few years. It took a few trials and some time to get used to the texture but I'm proud to say, edamame, tofu, and other soy products are some of my favorite foods.

So you probably ask youself... WHY SOY?!
- Soy originates from a soybean or legume, naturally low in fat and high in protein
- Contains omega 3 fatty acids = the good fat!
- Source of complete protein (with all essential amino acids)
- Vegetarian and vegan approved

Many people frown at the thought of "tofu". Who would want to eat something with such a horrible name?! You do not need to eat raw tofu or edamame to get your fill. There are many food products that incorporate soy into their tasty dishes .

Soy nuggets were one of my staple soy products while living in Chicago this summer. If I didn't know better, I thought I was eating Wendys chicken nuggets! I preached to everyone about these nuggets and even made my boyfriend try them... he loved them, although he hated to admit it. They can be purchased at Trader Joes Grocery Store. Unfortunately there isn't a Trader Joes in Charleston, so I have been missing out. (Anyone know of another grocery store that has them?!).

The nutrition facts are:
Serving Size: 4 nuggets
Calories: 120
Fat: 2 g
Sodium: 490 mg
Protein: 12 g




Protein is digested more slowly, therefore it keeps you full longer. Combine these nuggets with a salad or some rice for a delicious lunch. Jo has a hard time with milk, so she enjoys her soy milk everyday. There are also soy burgers, soy milk, soy cheese, soy granola bars... the list is endless!

Challenge yourself this new year to experiment with new foods and give soy a try

The Feast Continues On...

After church last night, my brother and I returned to watch our home videos my mom had given to us as a present. She gave us the best present of all - memories. These DVDs kept us entertained for hours; reliving such happy times, laughing at our innocent ways, and saddened by remembering the loss of those who are no longer with us. These childhood videos were another reminder of how lucky I am to have a brother like Tom, always patient, always kind, and always the best brother I could ask for. Needless to say, we were up until about 3 AM last night which made for a late wake up call this morning.

Breakfast consisted of: homemade waffles, greek yogurt with apples, grapes, and oranges, and a vegetable egg white omelette made just for me! Yes, I am pleased to report a well balanced Christmas morning menu.

2 of my favorite presents were my pedometer (to wear around the hospital, can't wait to see that number on busy days!) and the Flexitarian Diet book by Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD. I recommend it as a great read for all those health nuts out there!

Dinner: My dad decided to try something new. We covered our beef tenderloin in rock salt to form a shell. After cooking thoroughly, we broke the shell to find a perfectly cooked, juicy, and delicious piece of meat inside! All in all, it was a success. Memories made in the kitchen with my Dad are some that I treasure most.

My sweet mother is always finding creative ways to incorporate healthy eating into our meals, which means so much to me. She wanted to experiment with this salad and it was a huge hit! I wanted to share it with you...

Fennel, Parsley, and Orange Salad
1/2 c golden raisins
4 cups thinly sliced fennel bulb
4 cups torn radicchio
1 navel orange
1.5 c loosely packed fresh flat leaf parsley leaves
1/4 c fresh orange juice
1.5 TB red wine vinegar
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
2 TB pine nuts, toasted

1. place golden raisins in small saucepan and cover with water. bring to a boil, remove from heat. cover and let stand 10 minutes. drain well.
2. place slices fennel, radicchio, orange, and parsley leaves in a large bowl, and toss gently to combine. Combine the OJ, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper, stirring with a whisk. Stir in raisins. Drizzle OJ mixture over fennel mixture and toss gently.
6 servings, 90 cal/serving

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas from J&J
May you all have a safe and blessed holiday.

Lessons from the ICU

Working Christmas Eve was a little harder than I expected. Empty staff parking lots and full ICUs are not exactly joyful, and the irony of Christina Aguilera holiday playing as a backdrop to medical emergency was hard to swallow. But I realized a few things today. First, I am so blessed that this Christmas my family is on the other side of the hospital bed, and can rejoice in health and the Lord's provision. Second, I realized this week how important it is to slow down and see people. No matter how sick, no patient is ever just a list of signs and symptoms or necessary medical interventions. Everyone needs to be listened to, encouraged, and valued. I am thankful to be part of a profession that has the opportunity to intervene in people's lives both medically and relationaly when they need it most. Such an opportunity is worth spending the holidays at work. Which brings me to my last point, ultimately, Christmas is just another day. The gift of Christ's birth and time spent with those we love are gifts to be treasured all year. So whether we gather together on Christmas, the day before, or the day after, really makes no difference. What matters is that wherever we are, we are all there. Let's not take a day for granted, or miss an opportunity to slow down and see someone in need.

Merry Christmas Eve wherever you are!

julie's favorite day of the year

Christmas Eve is without a doubt my favorite day of the year. I would pass up any holiday or holiday meal for this occasion. Every family has their own holiday traditions... for the Alessi family, December 24th surpasses the rest. In the Italian culture, Christmas Eve is the Feast of the 7 fishes, rooted in the abstinence of meat on this holy day. Ever since I could remember, my family spent the entire day together in the kitchen preparing for the feast that lie ahead. Now that there are only 4 of us, we don't always make seven fishes, but we try to get close.


Hors d'oeuvre
king crab legs (MY FAVORITE)
cold shrimp
assortment of cheeses
seared scallops wrapped in proiscuitto
home made Italian bread (compliments of my father and I)






First course
Aleeche (pronounced all-eej). This is a Neopolitan pasta dish with an olive oil, garlic, onion, and anchovy sauce. This dish makes Christmas Eve special because I cannot order it any Italian restaurants - I would need a place ride to Italy! My grandmother taught my dad and my dad taught me so I someday can make for my family. This is the only day of the year we make it.


Main Course ... I'm really getting full by this one!
Breaded tilapia and salad



Dessert
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
Christmas cookies

Holiday memories and joy are often rooted in our meals. Everyone has their own way of celebrating this day; whether it be chinese take out, a traditional meal of fishes, or a quick fix dinner thrown together by your mother who hates to cook but tries anyways for the love of her family. I hope you treasure this day with your families, around a dinner table set just the way you like it.















having too much fun with crab legs... and my brother being a good sport with my candy cane headband on

StairMaster

Today there was fudge in the RD office. I reasoned the endorphins released by chocolate consumption would probably make for a better work day so I indulged. I then decided I should probably take the stairs. So, I huffed it from the 1st to 5th floor at which point I realized, the 5th floor landing was maintenance only. So, I walked back down to the 4th floor, found a new set of stairs and walked to the 5th floor (I've heard many a person mocked for taking an elevator up one flight of stairs and was not about to be the butt of THAT joke). Once on the 5th floor I attempted to give a diet education...note to self: don't try to give diet education while huffing and puffing. It puts a damper on your credibility. I imagine the sight of a "healt professional" in a blue plastic smock and duck mask, sweating profusely also puts a damper on their credibility. It's in these moments I imagine the view from a hospital bed and chuckle.

Warm Food for "Cold" Winter Nights

The expected high in Charleston Christmas day is 68 degrees. While some Americans have found themselves running for canned goods and firewood, we on the coast have been scurrying for higher ground, fleeing from rain and high tide. Needless to say, it hasn't felt exactly like Chirstmas.

This past week was my turn to stay home alone, completing my staff relief week at the hospital, while Julie headed home for the holidays. So with warm weather and no roommate I set out to convince myself it was Christmas. I began with the Pilsbury slice and bake reindeer cookies from my childhood. Much to my dismay, you no longer have to slice them, or even break them apart! Simply transfer from box to pan and bake...or not. Next I moved on to Christmas music via a Pandora Norah Jones holiday playlist. Those who know me best may be shocked at this tidbit, but I really did enjoy my holiday tunes. Finally, I started cooking!

Over the weekend I made a large pot of homemade tomato soup courtesy of the blog I mentioned a few posts before (http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com). This was also the recipe Claire recommended, thanks Claire! The recipe:

Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic:

1 28 oz can of whole tomatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp dried basil
2-3 cloves of garlic, sliced into thin slivers




Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Strain tomatoes from juice, reserving juice for later. Spray cooking spray over a tinfoil lined baking sheet (for an easy clean up). Add tomatoes, drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the top along with the dried basil and the salt and pepper to taste. Slide the garlic slivers into the tomatoes, they will roast and soften inside as well as infuse the tomatoes with their flavor. Place in oven and roast for approximately 30 minutes. Don't over roast or they will be dry.


Soup:

1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
1 1/2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 cloves of garlic, diced or minced
2 cups of vegetable broth or chicken broth (I use homemade chicken broth)
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp white sugar
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
2-3 tbsp fresh chopped basil
1/2 cup of non fat milk

Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a dutch oven or large soup pan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and celery and cook until tender. Add garlic and stir for 30-45 seconds before adding chicken (or vegetable broth), reserved tomato juice (from canned tomatoes), bay leaf, sugar, balsamic vinegar and roasted tomatoes. Cook over medium low heat for 2-3 hours.

In a separate bowl add milk. Slowly spoon a little bit of soup mixture into milk to warm (don't pour cold milk into the soup because it will curdle). Once the bowl of milk is warm add it to the soup along with the fresh basil. Remove the bay leaf and use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Pour soup through a strainer to remove any chunks (optional). Serve and enjoy.














Tonight I made a chicken parmasean that might have made my Italian roommate proud! Unfortunately I'm not so good and measuring so I'll just give you the basics. Start by boiling whole wheat angel hair pasta. You can minimize the whole wheat texture by overcooking the noodles. Top with a slice of provolone cheese (or another chesse of choice). Place a grilled chicken breast (I marinated mine in Mrs. Dash lemon and herb marinade) sliced lengthwise on top of the cheese, and top with marinara sauce. I made my own sauce with a can of tomato puree, A LOT of minced garlic, fresh basil, salt, pepper, a pinch of sugar, and a splash of white balsamic vinegar. Served with a side of fresh asparagus grilled with olive oil cooking spray and garlic salt, it makes the perfect winter meal!

Julie's favorite Christmas Cookie

This morning I woke up to snow, my Dad baking bread in the kitchen, coffee brewing, and Christmas music playing. Nothing better than that. I immediately got to work on baking my FAVORITE cookie. It has no health benefits and too much butter than I'd like to acknowledge - but tastes of memories and Christmas time.

Russian Teacakes
1/2 c confectionary sugar
2 sticks softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 c flour
3/4 c chopped walnuts

Mix first 3 items. Stir in salt, flour, chopped walnuts.
Chill dough.
Roll into 1'' balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet
Bake 10-12 minutes @ 400 degrees
While warm, roll in confectionary sugar. Cool. Re-roll cookies again for another coat.















Hope you enjoy them as much as i do

Interns do Christmas

Q: What do dietitians enjoy best?
A: FOOD!

It's difficult to remember the holidays are upon us with our busy schedules and above 50 degree weather. The interns decided to have a Christmas potluck on Thursday as an excuse to cook, get together, and celebrate. Dana, Shelly, and Rebekah hosted the event at their apartment, adorned with lights, "leftover" decorations from Dana's mother, Angela (the infamous Christmas angel), and the ever-so-creepy Christmas Trolls.

It was the perfect way to end the first semester! WE MADE IT! One semester down. I headed back to Cincinnati for 2 whole weeks while Jo is finishing her staff relief week and will make it back to Kentucky Christmas morning.

MENU
Dana: Chicken salad on crostini and gluten free chocolate torte
Shelly: Homemade sushi (yes, she is impressive!)
Rebekah: Shortbread cookies with a white chocolate/Andes peppermint icing
Julie: Carrot, Raisin, Pineapple slaw
Jo: Filo dough cups with brie and jam
Karen: Paula Dean cake (pumpkin, cake, pecans, and BUTTER BUTTER BUTTER)
Krista: Biscuits with blue cheese

We had a wonderful time sitting around the family room exchanging stories, talking about work, and of course talking about our latest favorite recipe. Yes, we always end up back on the topic of food. At some point of the night, each intern laughed so hard they cried. I had not done that in tooo long! Jo and I also managed to take a Christmas photo... if we were going to send out a Christmas card - this would be it!

7,000 calories?!

This week I (Julie) did my Cystic Fibrosis rotation. I was so moved by this population, I had to blog about it. Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic lung disease. Sticky mucous develops in the lungs and digestive tract. This mucous blocks pancreatic enzymes secreted to absorb food. It also coats the inside of the lungs causing lung function to decrease, therefore more calories are burned to maintain daily function. These patients have incredibly high caloric needs and difficulty absorbing the nutrients. Weight gain is a major issue.

Kristin, the CF dietitian, works with patients on their "anti-diet". She promotes adding butter, oil, cream to nearly everything to add calories. There is a direct correlation between BMI and lung function. For the most part, the higher the BMI, the better function you will have, Many of her female patients "forget" to take their enzymes in hopes of keeping a very slender frame. Kristin is constantly battling with them to take their enzymes to keep a BMI within healthy range (around 20-25).

We had a 20 something year old, male patient today who lost a few pounds from his already emaciated frame. His caloric requirements are... 7,000 calories a day. It almost seems unbelievable. He receives 4,000 calories overnight through a tube that feeds into his stomach to alleviate the almost impossible caloric goal during the day. He lost weight this week because he cannot afford his grocery list. He is supporting himself in college and as I am quite familiar with, funds are normally low. I suggested Costco to buy in bulk for a cheap price. My heart went out to him. His lung capacity is at 28% and he now wears an oxygen mask. I'm praying Costco can help him out, even throw a deal his way....

I enjoyed this rotation because the dietitian works closely with the patients. CF is a lifelong disease, so Kristin forms a bond with the kids, seeing them numerous times a year. The clinical team takes her expertise seriously and relies on her to keep these patients up in their weight. I like rotations in which the RD is valued. We don't go to school for nothing!

Rinse Thoroughly

These noodles are one of my FAVORITE new finds. Well, maybe not so new, I've been eating them since summer. They are a great option instead of a high carb pasta. They are at Whole Foods, Kroger, and sometimes Publix for about $1.50-2.00 per packet. Let me save you a little time- they are found with the cold tofu normally around the perimeter of the store (I walked around Whole Foods for way too long my first trip!)

PROS
- Low carb
- Low cal (40 cals per PACKAGE!)
- Gluten free
- No cholesterol
- Vegan

WARNING
- Make sure you rinse them VERY WELL. As my very Italian, doesn't understand how or why I could EVER stray from his homemade pasta el pomodore, Dad once said, "Ew Jul those smell like feet". Don't let this scare you away!! Toss thoroughly in a colander to prevent the commentary.

WHAT TO DO WITH THEM?
- If you're in a rush, throw them in with some pasta sauce.
- Stir fry with veggies and chicken
- Try to pair the noodles with a protein to keep you full and satisfied for longer

Let us know what you think! Jo has yet to try them... I'll have her post her review

A hidden monster

Last week I had the pleasure of attending my second cousins birthday party. Yes, I have family in Charleston, but our busy lives as 20 and 30 something-year-olds has prolonged our first official get together. It is always fun to see family members I have not seen since I was an awkward looking middle schooler. As we chatted, I explained my experiences as a dietetic intern. My aunt explained her concern about her recent lipid profile, specifically her high cholesterol level. Just for a mental image... we are talking about a beautiful, size 4, energetic, athletic woman in her 50's. She is probably the last person you'd pin with high cholesterol. She is the perfect example of how heart disease can be a hidden monster. While talking, we discussed altering her food choices as a trial to see if her cholesterol can be lowered through nutrition therapy, using medication as a last resort.

I look at my own parents - both eating out of the same fridge, cooking the same meals, and eating dinner together for the past 25 years. As a future RD, I would give them an A+ for good eating habits (duh- they made me!). My dad has high cholesterol that he treats while my mother hasn't had any problems. High cholesterol can be due to a series of factors - diet, exercise, and family genes. It is easy to forget about taking care of your insides Just because you look youthful and "healthy" on the outside.

As they say - knowledge is power.
Go to your doctor. Do your research. Be proactive.

i have missed you...

well i've neglected our blog for long enough! My apologies for my absence. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind between covering the trauma unit for staff relief week, going home to cincinnati for a quick 72 hr trip, then becoming quite ill for a few days ... blogging has been placed on the back burner. I am happy to report the fever is gone, cough drops no longer needed, and most importantly - my stress level has receded.

i've spent the past 2 weeks in diabetes rotations. With the estimated health care cost of treating diabetes to triple by 2034, the role of the dietitian in prevention and treatment is crucial. The dietitians I shadowed work closely with the endocrinologist and nurse practitioners to collaborate on patient treatment. In a medical world where the dietitian can often become lost among the ranks, it's promising to find a patient population in which the RD's nutritional knowledge is valued.

On another note - Christmas is coming!! Which I have to remind myself of due to the lack of snow, mittens, or college tacky christmas sweater parties. The most festive Jo and I have been this holiday season included a 15 minute span of Christmas music while eating in the intern office. It was quickly turned off due to our headaches and exhaustion.

Fun Random J&J Updates
* Jo and I finished our case study presentations!
* Jo babysat for 2 precious, well behaved children last weekend. We now have an adorable picture of Santa hanging on our fridge... the only Christmas decoration we own.
* It was 72 degrees yesterday
* Julie's new favorite food is roasted sweet potatoes
* The Peppermint Stick tub of icecream finally make it our freezer
* Julie is babysitting for her favorite little Matthew man on Saturday. We will be going to see a movie as my Hannukah gift. Any suggestions on movies?!
* Jo is going to Anna's graduation this weekend! She is very excited to see all her college roommates (minus one that can't make it)
* UK is currently undefeated! GO CATS


Pictures from Thanksgiving.
Julie with her brother, Tom
Jo with Julia and Bethany

im a follower

also, i just started "following a blog." i don't know this woman, but after an hour of recipe perusing, i'm fairly sure i want to be like her. Check her out!http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com/

on the john

Today I was in the bathroom at the hospital, when I noticed a sign that said, "On the John Training." It then proceded to give some lesson in increasing patient satisfaction which I failed to retain. So, not necessarily effective but definitely clever enough to blog about.

Julie and I both gave our case study presentations this afternoon. Needless to say we are both breathing a BIG sigh of relief! I vote we both resist the temptation to review our planners for the next task at hand, and just take an evening to bask in the victory.

Tomorrow marks the first day of my last week of outpatient clinical rotations. The next two weeks will be filled with staff-relief prep and the actual staff relief. Julie has 2 more weeks of outpatient rotations before heading home for a looong and much deserved holiday break. Is anyone else looking around wondering when the last 4 months passed us by? It's almost Christmas? Really?!?

Wednesday Julie and I are hosting our second dinner party for the interns. It's finally cold here! Cold as in 50 degrees...try no to be jealous. Anyway, cold enough to be considered soup weather. I'm in search of a good recipe, possibly a tomato basil? All suggestions welcome! Julie will be making her mother's famous corn pudding which she refuses to call pudding, but rather "a really moist, kinds of spongy, almost bread." I'm not sure what that means, but I'm sure it's delicious!

I think that may be about it for the updates. Like I said, we both gave our case study presentations today. We've been eating, breathing, and dreaming those things, minus the large amount of time I've spent refining my procrastination skills...

Tradition (see fiddler on the roof)

Thanksgiving reflections by Johanna:

In alot of ways, my family's Thanksgiving is like the majority of American family's. We eat waaay to much turkey and dressing, we watch football, we chit chat about life's happenings since last Thanksgiving, and we all catch a good long nap. But then again, I dare say we are NOTHING like most American families. As we "watch" football, we realize this is the first NFL game any of us have seen since last Thanksgiving! When we gather around the table, instead of praying, we sing the doxology..and everyone weeps. And as we chit chat, the conversation always comes back to thanksgiving, not so much for the turkey, but for the life we have been given. This has not been an easy year for our family, yet it has been one of blessing and divine provision.

This Thanksgiving my dad had a vision and was determined to bring it to fruition. So, after dinner the whole family gathered around the piano and sang hymns(It would seem my dad has a hymnal for every year of pastoring). The tender moment made me thankful for the tradition of faith and service to the Lord's work that has always been so central in my family.

My "cousin-sister" Emily, also had a vision. Two years ago Jovan Rebolledo joined our family when he married my cousin Keely. It was rumored Jovan has some mad salsa skills, and Emily was determined not to let an educational opportunity pass us by. So, after we closed the hymnals, Jovan was kind enough (and patient enough) to give the WHOLE family salsa lessons. My sweet dad and uncle learning to salsa was without a doubt the most entertaining thing that has happened this year.

I realized in that moment that this year has changed us. Hardship and loss have a way of making you reprioritize and take life more seriously, we don't miss an opportunity to reflect on life's blessings and give thanks to our Heavely Father. Hardship also has a way of making the light-hearted moments once taken for granted so, so sweet.

(Pictures to come!)

Weekly Update

Some fun facts about our week ...

- Jo went through the weight management rotation that Julie did last week... she got jipped and id not get a bag full of bars. On the plus side, she got to counsel some awesome patients going through bariatric surgery and loved it.

- Julie had her week of "staff relief prep". She is on the trauma unit. Her preceptor was gone Thursday and Friday so she had a quick 2 day prep. The little bird is flying solo! The attending/resident are awesome, not intimidating, and are pleasant to be around. Brian the Pharm D is a 6 foot 7 in, saving grace. He is such a nice guy and a great teacher. This tall man is going to be paged more than he even knows it next week!

- Jo had her last week of Healthy Charleston Challenge

- Julie taught first graders with Shelly (another intern) a lesson about a healthy Thanksgiving. Our theme was keeping a colorful plate during the holidays. Turkey Tom was on a poster without his feather, the only way to get his colorful feathers was to eat a colorful plate! The kids got to put feathers on Tom and talk about colorful foods to give them the vitamins and minerals they need to grow big and strong.

- Our enormous bug named Sherman that lived outside our door for about a week has left us : ( We were really starting to enjoy him

- Jo headed home to Kentucky today for her week off.

- Julie is to begin a crazy, busy, stressful, under staffed week in the hospital. YAY!

14 weeks of our internship down! Time is flying...

Perfect Stocking Stuffer

I found a creative, healthy Christmas present for those who adore all things granola! Personalized granola canisters delivered right to your door. I haven't ordered any yet but hoping Santa will bring me one....

http://www.mixmygranola.com/

loving the greek... hehe

So I may be totally late to jump on the Greek Yogurt bandwagon, but I had to enlighten you with my new favorite snack. Dietitians have been tweeting, blogging, and praising this little cup for a few months now. Last week I gave into the $1.40 per cup splurge. It has been love ever since!

PROS: low calorie (100-120 cal/cup), high protein (15 g). This is A LOT of protein per serving. Protein takes longer to digest and keeps you feeling full and satisfied longer.

CONS: $1.20-1.60 per cup. A bit pricey but worth it! I've heard Costco sells it in tubs for a great price.

WHAT TO DO WITH IT?
Mix with berries, honey, almonds, jelly, granola, fruit, cereal.
Substitute for sour cream- the plain has a similar consistency and taste.
Let us know if you come up with some fun recipes!

Lolly

This is a special post for someone I love most. Throughout the past few years of transitioning into different phases of my life, growing up, gaining friends and losing friends, making mistakes, learning who i am, and realizing who I want to be, I've had a friend to stand by me. It's not often you are blessed enough to have someone in your life who is a constant. I've never had a sister but I got pretty close. I am blessed for good fortune and my good friend. I spend my days in the hospital watching people grieve over the ones they love. It is a reminder for us to be thankful of the best gift we have in our life- our friends, family, and health.

Jo and I loved the flowers. Thank you : )