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Category Archives: health

Meeting recap 10.24.13 – Preparing for the unexpected

Posted on October 27, 2013 by ridgemops

by Diana

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

This week, the dynamic duo of Erin Matherne and Jennifer Young spoke to us about being prepared for tribulation – practically, financially and spiritually. Erin and Jennifer call Austin Ridge home and are both former MOPS moms.

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First, Erin shared her story of fighting breast cancer at only 37. She spoke of the support from friends – prayers, meals, comfort, help with her two young boys – over the nine months of her treatment and recovery. This life-threatening experience prompted her to compile some legal considerations for others to be prepared for serious medical situations. The benefits of prepared documents include protecting family, providing peace of mind for yourself, and making decisions in advance to clearly evaluate options.

Erin’s Essential Estate Planning Documents

Will

  • advantages: establish who will inherit property, set a guardian for children, establish a trust, name an executor
  • if you don’t do these things, the state court will

Power of Attorney

  • gives a person legal authority to make binding financial decisions
  • includes specific powers, and the person must act in your best interest

Medical Power of Attorney

  • names someone to make medical decisions when you are unable

Living Will

  • advance directive
  • describes your wishes for types of life-sustaining medical intervention you do or don’t want
  • gives you a voice when you cannot communicate

Then Jennifer shared the story of the life changes that took places when her husband was involved in a serious car accident. She realized there were many important financial things they had not discussed. She spoke for the majority of us when she said, “We spend more time planning our vacations than planning our lives and talking about these things.”

Jen’s Top Ten Conversations You Need to Have

  • money management
  • list of accounts and passwords
  • know your debts
  • life insurance
  • disability
  • safe or safety deposit box – who has access, where are the keys
  • worker’s compensation
  • general emergency plan – fire, natural disaster, etc
  • power if attorney
  • plan for your kids

She also shared her spiritual learnings from facing adversity as a family:
desperate dependence – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
eager expectation – “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.” Isaiah 45:3
humble heart – “First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. It’s better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous. It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God.” Proverbs 16:18-20, The Message

Erin and Jennifer have a passion for helping families prepare for unexpected times. They have personally experienced life-changing circumstances and want to be available for those who have questions while compiling essential documents and having serious conversations. Feel free to contact them, information below. And check out Jen’s playlist of songs for the storm.

All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming.
Helen Keller

Erin Matherne
Of Counsel
Levatino Pace
1101 S. Capital of Texas Hwy.
Building K, Suite 125
Austin, TX 78746
erin@lpfirm.com
(512) 637-1581 ext. 4

Jennifer Young
Stylist at Edit By Lauren
http://www.editbylauren.com/
jennifer@editbylauren.com
(678) 772-9975

Posted in health, Meetings 2013-14, speakers | 1 Comment |

A Healthier You

Posted on February 11, 2012 by ridgemops

A Healthier You

by Jen Brinsmade

God has given each of us just one body for this
life.  We all realize the importance of
taking care of our bodies but often times make poor choices that keep optimal
health in the distance.

Did you know that every 30 days our blood cells are renewed? Every 3 months 60%-90% of our body’s cells are replaced and built from the food that we eat.  It stands to reason that the healthier we eat, the greater our chances for healthier bodies.  Unfortunately, many of us make choices that are so far from real food.  We enter the grocery store and are faced with foods that are stripped of their natural goodness, are filled with man-made color, taste and nutrients and many that can last on the shelves for months.  So what are we to do?

I believe that if most of our choices are from “clean foods” which are minimally processed, our bodies will get maximum nutrition and will function more efficiently.

Last month Laine wrote about the importance of adding fruit to your diet. This month consider the vegetable family which has the most diversity and the largest range of health benefits. Below is the vegetable family divided into groups.  If you consume a variety of veggies then you will be getting a healthy combination of nutrients.

Dark Leafy Greens- Loaded with vit.C & E, rich in calcium, chlorophyll & iron greens are the most beneficial to our health and not eaten enough by Americans.  Greens lift our mood, heal our organs & counteract the damage that stress causes our bodies. Try kale, spinach, mustard greens, dandelion greens, collards, watercress and romaine lettuce.

Add greens to your diet daily.  One of the easiest ways to add lots of greens are green smoothies.

Kale, Blueberry, Banana
Smoothie
(makes2-3 servings)

2 bananas

2 T hulled hemp seed (superfood that is a great source of protein and Omega 3 & 6)

1 c frozen blueberries

2 ½ cups purified water

5 leaves of kale

Put all ingredients in a high powered blender & blend until smooth

*Can be kept in fridge up to 12 hrs.

Cruciferous Vegetables- Packed with antioxidants & cancer preventing nutrients, these veggies also dissolve fats to help eliminate toxins.  Try: broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbages, bok choy, daikon, red & watermelon radishes

Roots & Tubers– Provide beta carotene, vit. A, minerals, fiber & antioxidants and a natural sweetness to our plates. Try: Sweet potato, parsnips, turnips, beets, rutabagas, ginger, burdock & lotus root   Also closely related: carrots, celery, fennel & celeriac

  • Think you don’t like beets, try roasting them. Roasting brings the natural sugars out of
    the beet. Yum! http://whatscookingamerica.net/vegetables/ovenroastedbeets.htm

Bulbs- Heart healthy & known for their ability to dissolve fats & excess mucus Try:
garlic (known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial & anti-viral properties) leeks, onions, shallots & scallions

Squash- Blood alkalizing properties Try: butternut, acorn, pumpkin, dumpling & buttercup

  • Roasted Butternut Squash & Shallot soup- www.myrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-butternut-squash-shallot-soup

Herbs- Herbs have been known to heal illness, cleanse the blood & raise your spirit not
to mention enhance the flavor of your food. Try: basil, oregano, thyme,
tarragon, turmeric, cumin, dill etc. Experiment with flavors to add interesting tastes to the foods you eat.

Sea Vegetables- Offer  loads of easily absorbable iron, calcium, vit. B, vit. A, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous,
iodine, zinc, selenium & copper.
These vegetables are highly alkaline forming, they help to reduce tumors & bind to heavy metals to help remove them from our bodies.  Try: nori, kelp, wakame, arame, dulse

I hope that you are encouraged to add more vegetables to your diet.  Try a new vegetable each week. Your body will thank you for it.

To your health, Jen Brinsmade (silver table)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in health | 1 Comment |

Back to the Basics

Posted on January 17, 2012 by ridgemops

Back to the Basics

It’s a New Year.  With that brings change, resolutions, etc.
For most individuals, a new diet, a new exercise routine and many other
goals related to health and fitness are right up there.  Well, for the next 12 months Jen and I hope to provide you with Basic tools that will help you adopt a lifestyle change for you and your family.  We believe there is no quick fix, no special diet or pill.
We believe with God’s grace and forgiveness to yourself, there CAN be a
continuous healthy journey – just as you build your relationship with God.  Each month we want to help you build a healthy relationship with food and fitness.
There is no one package that works for everyone.  God made us all different shapes and sizes
for his purpose and reason.

Jen and I would like to provide you with simple steps to make a permanent change.  Nutrition and
Fitness can be extremely overwhelming; there are so many pressures from our
society, the media, magazines, etc.  Our goal for you is to make your journey with us SIMPLE.  This month let’s begin with 2 simple steps.   Are you ready?

Step 1:

Make a mental picture of your plate. Got it?  Now imagine that same plate with more FRUIT on it. To keep things simple, that’s the only aspect we’re asking you to change.   Please visit the following website www.choosemyplate.com  for valuable information on Fruits.

Remember we are not here to measure, weigh or calculate.
This needs to remain simple or we are going to lose you. However, the following chart can help regarding what a serving size looks like.  This is a great chart to print out and put on your fridge.   Continue to take a snap shot when you are preparing  a plate and have fun with it!  Get the kids in involved.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/fruits.html

STEP 2:

Water

eau (French), acqua (Italian), agua (Spanish, Portuguese),
wasser (German), water (Dutch) mizu (Japanese), apa (Romanian)……………I
think you get the point.

Increase your water intake.  Water is your body’s principal chemical
component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in
your body depends on water.  For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, and provides a moist environment for the proper functioning of ear, nose and throat tissues.

Everyone has heard the advice, “Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.”  That’s about 1.9 liters, which isn’t that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations.  Although the “8 by 8” rule isn’t supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it’s easy to remember. Just keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as: “Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day,” because all fluids count toward the daily total.

So there you have it.  TWO simple steps to get you started in making
a lifestyle change.

If this month’s topic was simple for you, congratulate yourself and keep it up.  If this month’s topic is new to you, no worries, change is hard.  It’s not meant to be easy.  In the end, it will bring healthy results and you will begin to feel good about your choices.

Stay tuned for next month as Jen will talk about Alkaline
Foods with an emphasis on greens and raw foods.

 

Mayo Clinic Staff (n.d)
Water: How much should you
drink every day?  Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283

 

In him,

Laine Tvrdik & Jen Brinsmade

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in health | Leave a comment |

Got Stress Relief?

Posted on November 30, 2011 by ridgemops

By Terri

I actually bought myself some flowers the other day and saw this article online and laughed out loud thinking:

“Am I that stressed that I needed to make a special trip to the store and buy 20 dollars worth of flowers for myself?”

ABSOLUTELY YES!!!!!

And you know what?  It totally worked.  I walk through my kitchen everyday and take in the beautiful smell of lilies and they make me smile.

Here are some tips for reducing stress, which I think we can all be mindful of this holiday season. I love these techniques and already use most of them.  If they don’t work right away….REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT!

1.  Add something beautiful to your life on a daily basis (e.g., flowers).

2.  Do some enjoyable activities whenever possible.

3.  Walk, work, and eat at a relaxed pace.

4.  Take a short break after meals to relax.

5.  If possible, go outside at least once per day and notice the simple things such as the weather, scenery, etc.

6.  During the day, whenever you remember, notice and tension in your body (jaw, neck, diaphram, shoulders, etc.). Breath deeply and gently stretch and relax any tense areas.

7.  If you notice your mind racing or worrying about the past or future, take a minute to breath deeply and gently focus on something in the moment such as your breath, scenery, birds.

8.  Take breaks during the workday to relax.

9.  Wear comfortable and loose clothing when possible. Take off your shoes when you can.

10.  Avoid holding in feelings day after day, but instead, find a safe place to feel, express and embrace them.

This article is from holisticmed.com

Please share with us what works for you to reduce stress by commenting on the post.

Posted in health | 2 Comments |

Chris Freeman-L.E.A.N.

Posted on September 20, 2011 by ridgemops

By Terri

 Notes from Chris Freeman on September 15, 2011

Lean Life Web Notes

 **Her overall message was that JESUS is our spiritual nourishment-without Him all our knowledge of what to eat, how to take care of our bodies, etc. doesn’t amount to anything.

The Freeman’s life verse is Romans 12:1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.” (NIV)

L-lifestyle (how we live)

E-exercise (how we move)

A-attitude (how we think)

N-nutrition(what we eat)

We should strive to be:

Spiritually lean-fueling the spirit, reading /teaching the Bible, praying, spending time with the Lord.

Nutritionally lean-fueling the inside

Physically lean-fueling the outside

Our goal is to eat 75-80% “whole” foods-live a healthy lifestyle for the majority of the time so that you can occasionally indulge(ie. go to fast food, etc)

Think PROGRESS NOT perfection!!

When discussing body image in front of children-be mindful of terminology. Always say, “heart healthy” (not skinny). Do not talk about “dieting” or “losing weight”-express your interest in being HEART healthy-want to fuel body spiritually, mentally, physically.

Unfortunately, bad eating habits are learned early. ( America counts french fries and ketchup as top 2 vegetables!)

Interesting fact: taste buds are developed in utero!

Stoplight analogy of healthy eating:

Green light– GO- all fruits and vegetables in raw form

Yellow light-SLOW-not necessary foods, don’t need as much

Red light-STOP and THINK-small portions/make a different choice

Go Green-Whole Food Nutrition

(vitamins, minerals, fiber, complex carbs, phyto nutrients) are some benefits

*there are 10,000 nutrients in each fruit and veggie! (think of one apple)

Chris is a big fan of Juice Plus-several health benefits including academic and athletic participation

What else do we need in our diet?

PROTEIN– fistful for each person(your size fist is appropriate for you. A child’s fist is an appropriate serving size for them. A man’s fist is an appropriate size serving for him. It is individual!)

CARBS– stay away from simple carbs-empty calories.

OMEGA 3 FATS– boosts brain development and energy

Omega 3 Fish oil-increases energy levels.

When buying, look for:

-no mercury/contaminants

-no fishy smell/taste

-she recommends orange cod liver oil for children-can hide in foods

-nordic naturals: www.nordicnaturals.com or www.chrons.net

 

Nutrional advice for children…

Minimize white sugar in diet! On average, kids consume 5 lbs of sugar per week…uck!

Also avoid chemicals in foods…red dye #40, yellow dye #7

Avoid words you can’t pronounce!

Check out Dr. Sears website for fun tips on how to eat healthy/stay active as a family.

Some suggestions: fill a muffin tin with green light foods. Challenge kids to eat snacks in each compartment.

-Make whole wheat pizzas on english muffins

-Be on the lookout for the “dirty dozen”

-DRINK WATER, WATER, WATER!!! (Try and drink half your body weight in water…if you weigh 120, drink 60 oz/day)

Activities: Be active as a family-model for your children the importance of FUN and exercise!

-karaoke

-Wii fit

-Just Dance 2

-hula hoops

-baby boot camp

-simon says

-yoga

-pool time

-freeze tag

-biking

-playground

Check out this great website called imom.com.  It talks about what to eat and what not to eat for mom and for child: click here to go straight to the article:

http://www.imom.com/espresso-minute/2011/09/16/what-to-eat-and-what-not-to-eat/

Artwork above is by Triciarobinson.com

 

 

Posted in health, speakers | 1 Comment |

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