When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Gluten-Free Pie

As seems to run true to form, I have been woefully neglectful in blogging, having been swamped by a monstrous amount of work and too little time taken out to do anything but.  Which means that almost two weeks has ticked by since my last entry. Tax day has, mercifully, come and gone––which means that's one less thing breathing down my neck and giving me the beady eye. Fortunately, I paid (literally) due diligence in getting estimated tax payments to Uncle Sam last year and escaped the rude awakening that sometimes comes at the end of the year when you find that you owe the IRS for your lack of prudence. 



Still, aside from that daunting task of first preparing my piles of papers for the tax guy to sort out with me, I seem to have had a never-ending list of assignments and various other tasks that have pushed my workdays to their limits and shot through the hours of my days. Which, serendipitously, brings me to a perfect jumping off point to tell you, my faithful readers, about something designed to make the mealtimes of such over-scheduled days as mine a little easier and more convenient––even if you're one of the many who have re-worked their diets to become gluten-free. 

It stands to reason that, when you're considering foods that would first among those to be banished from gluten-free kitchens, pizza would top the list. Fortunately for all the pie-lovers out there, Freschetta Pizza has developed their Gluten Free Thin and Crispy Crust Pizzas, a tasty new line of thin crust pizzas made sans gluten. Perfectly ooey-gooey and cheesy, the 4 Cheese Medley flavor is so good you'll never notice what's missing; and the crust is light, airy, and crispy––which means it fully delivers on both taste and texture. Piled with a premium blend of cheeses including mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, and Asiago, the 4 Cheese Medley is great for any cheese-head; and the Signature Pepperoni Pizza loads it up with bold and meaty pepperoni. It's a slice of gluten-free heaven. (www.freschetta.com)

Selfie-ish

I recently read an article that said the 2013 Oxford Dictionary word of the year was "selfie." Interestingly enough, it seems to say something about the zeitgeist, as we become a culture increasingly obsessed with being our own publicists. Even those among us who really don't have anything momentous to report seem to be pinging Instagram and Twitter with selfies that put us on full display. 
     
Maybe I should modify the pronoun of "us" to one which excludes me, as I've never had the desire to put my pic out there. In fact, I usually have to be threatened under penalty of death to let anyone take my picture; and I absolutely abhor the results of pretty much every picture I've ever had to take of myself. Unlike all the seasoned selfie snappers out there, I haven't perfected the art of the pose. I always come out looking less-than-glam, but that could simply be due to the fact that I'm not photogenic.
Whatever the case, my own camera blunders are not the point.

The point is that the article, in that one simple declaration, highlighted a very sad fact about the way people think. The importance they place on their own desire for recognition. A selfie is––in many cases––a shameless display of selfishness. It's the assumption that every little thing you do must be documented and seen. It's the desire to make others notice you and envy you.

Granted, there are certainly times when pictures are appropriate; but the onslaught of random shots pinging through the air at every moment, unseen in their journey to social media sites, is generally unnecessary. 

Maybe we should stop taking time to snap so many selfies and look around to see what other people are doing. To see what they need. And maybe, just maybe, there will actually be a camera-worthy moment in there. Create a memory, rather than a perfect pose. 

Things will be a lot more real, and a lot less selfish.

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

I don't generally read sci-fi novels; but when when I ran across this one, I have to admit, my curiosity was definitely piqued. I mean, come on––the whole idea of this story is that people live on different planets where everyone eats strange foods that don't really have any kind of caloric impact, and gravity is a moot point. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill jaunt through outer-space and an off-the-wall bit of humor penned by a creatively-minded professor who obviously thinks outside the box, Chocolate Chocolate Moons is great for anyone who wants a break from reality and loves some sci-fi fun with a mysterious twist or two thrown in. Round out your reading list and satisfy your sweet tooth with this debut book from Jackie Kingon. Visit http://www.jackiekingon.com/ 

Sweating It

Anyone who really knows me knows that I love to read and that I'm a gym rat. All of which means I've read my fair share of books and been in my fair share of gyms. In fact, I do more than my fair share of reading while I'm in the gym, with my nose buried in pages and pages of words––which might be precisely why I might not be completely aware of my surroundings...And, according to Max Hawthorne, whose resume boasts more than 20 years of experience working in the health club industry, there are plenty of things to be aware of. In his book, Memoirs of a Gym Rat, Hawthorne candidly shares some horror and humor about all the things that may be going on behind the scenes at your gym. Every page is packed with odd stories and insights into the seemingly simple culture of the health club and fitness center industry; and by the time you're done reading, you just might find yourself thinking twice about how you conduct your workout...and where. Written with a great sense of humor and the perfect blend of information and observation, Hawthorne manages to get his point across in a book that makes reading about gyms interesting and funny, rather than dry and matter-of-fact. A great read! For more info, visit http://www.MemoirsOfaGymRat.com/ 

Tell Me a Story

As a writer, I'm naturally inquisitive...Or maybe, I'm naturally inquisitive, which is why I'm a writer.

Whatever the case may be, I've always been a people watcher, a listener, someone who loves to hear other people's stories. Personally, I think other people are fascinating. You never know who the seemingly ordinary people next to you really are, where they come from, what they've seen...until you start listening. 

And when you start listening, people certainly seem eager to tell you their stories.

At least, they do with me...Which would make me a really great bartender, I guess, if this whole writing thing doesn't fly. (So far, so good...)

Anyway, I'm constantly reminded how much people want to be heard. They want to know that they matter, that they're not alone, that they're special. They want to know that, in the millions of people out there, they are still important.

It's actually one aspect of my job that I love––making people feel heard. Even if I'm just quoting women I've met randomly in the mall when I'm out trawling for sources to use in my articles––like what they look for in a mate, how they find the perfect pair or jeans, or what they have on their bucket lists–-the look of absolute joy that creeps over their faces is rewarding for me. It's amazing to see how transformative it can be, how excited they get at the idea of seeing their words and their name in an actual magazine. I love it, and it reminds me why I do what I do.

People find out you're a writer, and they come to you for all kinds of things––the company they work for is throwing a big to-do, would that be something the magazine would want to cover? Or the more personal––emotional stories about what they've been through with a spouse or a child. Potential human interest pieces that they just want to have someone hear, to have attention brought to whatever issue they feel so deeply about. They don't have the words, but they know that you do. You're a writer, someone who can give their voice life. 

For me, their trust in my abilities is a gift in itself. Hopefully, I pay it forward in ways that matter.
After all, we all deserve to be shown that our lives have meaning, that we are special, that our stories are being told.

Take a look at the person next to you, and when they start talking, listen.

You might learn something. And you'll both end up reaping the rewards.

What Do You Shea?

Moisturizing skin and maintaining that healthy balance is a constant struggle for many people; and with so many options in the marketplace, it's hard to know just what's going to work and what won't last past the time it takes to read through the ingredients list.

Just as easily as adult skin dries out, even that oh-so-touchable and soft skin on a baby can become dry, itchy, and uncomfortable. The harsher formulas of even some of the most "gentle" lotions can irritate a baby's delicate skin, so finding a solution can seem almost impossible––especially when you want to steer clear of chemicals and dyes. Thankfully, the experts at Shea Moisture have put their skincare geniuses to work to formulate the perfect product line, offering parents a worry-free way to soothe even the most sensitive baby. Long recognized for their dedication to quality and use of natural and certified organic ingredients, Shea Moisture's new Baby Extra-Mild Wash & Shampoo and Baby Healing Lotion are gluten-free and fragrance-free, making them perfect for babies with allergies and intolerances to gluten and fragrances.  


The Extra-Mild Wash & Shampoo offers a safe, healthy way to lather your baby from the tops of their tiny heads to the tips of their ticklish little toes. Hypoallergenic and pediatrician-tested, this cleanser is free of sulfates and contains organic shea, cocoa, and mango butters; aloe vera; and vitamin E. ($9.99, 13oz.)

The Healing Lotion will deeply moisturize, heal, soften, and protect your baby’s skin without any of the irritation caused by synthetic dyes, fragrances, or gluten found in many other product lines. Made with organic shea, cocoa, and mango butters; aloe vera; and vitamin E . ($9.99; 13oz.)

Available at Target, Walgreens, and www.SheaMoisture.com

Gimme a Break

More than a tiny gasp of shock and horror escaped me when I saw the date of my last posting. And though this should, in all reality, not come as a shock to me anymore, it always seems to hit me with a tidal wave of guilt and then a smaller wave of absolute amazement at how quickly time passes. Ironically, I seem to spend inordinate amounts of time lamenting the loss of time. 

I know well by now that even with my best intentions laid out for the week ahead of me, blogging generally falls to the bottom of the list and gets a bit lost in the shuffle of things that seem more important and actually pay my bills. I also know that, as a non-bill-paying part of my day, I can "afford" to let it slip through the cracks as a frivolity. 

After all, this gig doesn't net me anything beyond a few minutes with my own free-flow of creativity, right? But who's to say that isn't just as valuable? No, it may not be bankable, but sometimes the ROI (return of investment) of taking a few minutes to focus on something that makes you feel a little more in tune with yourself, with what makes you tick and what makes you happy––a little bit of a vacation for your brain––is worth it.

Heck, there are even scientific studies to back it up. Taking a break for your frazzled brain's sake is a good thing, not something to feel guilty about. Taking a break isn't an indulgence––it's a necessity. And it's one that I seem to have forgotten how to do lately. I'm allowing deadlines to dictate far too much of my day, and I often feel like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. Though I may not always have the clearest picture of just what very important date I'm late for, I'm late! Late, late, late! Or maybe I'm about to be? The sound of a clock ticks loudly in my subconscious, a constant warning of...something. 

Obviously, I'm not the only one who feels this way, so driven as a culture are we by our schedules. We run ourselves ragged with work and unnecessary commitments, busy, busy, busy. But we have 581 "friends" on Facebook, and everyone knows what we had for breakfast because we send out Tweets with the speed and frequency of an eye-blink.

But really, no one knows you...and not even you know you, because you're too busy to find out. Who are you? What makes you happy? What makes you feel relaxed and fulfilled? Take a break––let your mind wander. Make the next peek at the calendar a little less-gasp inducing.