National Months - February

 Here we go....fun national months for February!

National 

Fasting February 

Intermittent fasting does not require any changes to your diet, just the timing of your food and beverage intake.  Switching from burning fats to burning sugars can reduce our risk of metabolic disorders like diabetes and other conditions of aging.  Regularly refraining from consuming any calories for 10-12 hours can: 

improve heart health

lower blood pressure

promote weight loss

improve sensitivity to insulin

  

How to Observe:

Choose a fasting schedule that works for you and practice it all month long.  Don't worry if you can't make the 12 hours at first.  Start slow and work your way up.  You can also share on social media #NationalFastingFebruary

Let's see if we can get RT on the fasting train this month.

Hot Breakfast Month

What better way to start your day than a nice hot breakfast?  It's easy to just grab something and get going in the morning.  Why not get up a little earlier and enjoy a nice hot breakfast?  Need some ideas?   How about:

 

Toast with a peanut (almond, cashew, sun) butter, banana slices and chia seeds

Oatmeal with raisins, walnuts and some ground flax seeds

Avocado toast

Egg(s) and toast

Sweet potato and black bean burrito

You can share your breakfast on social media using #NationalHotBreakfastMonth or #HotBreakfastMonth 

Bake for Family Fun Month

With February being one of the colder months, why not warm up the house by doing a little baking?  Families that bake together have fun together.  Along with having fun, children can learn how to follow a recipe, practice their reading skills, all while learning a little math and chemistry.  After baking and cleaning up, you can enjoy your treats as a family.

How to observe #BakeForFamilyFunMonth ?  

Choose a kid friendly recipe.

Assign everyone a task

Invite grandparents to join you. 

An Affair to Remember Month

I think this goes along with Valentine's Day and February, the month of love.  If you haven't watched, "An Affair to Remember," I suggest you put it on your movie list.  I won't go into detail because I think it's best if you view it on the screen.  It's a tear jerker so have a box of tissue at your side.   Use #AnAffairToRememberMonth on social media.

Snack Food Month

Not just any snacks.  Grab a healthy snack!  This month was created to raise awareness about snacking and the importance of a healthy snack.  So, grab some trail mix, apple slices, carrot sticks, yogurt with granola or a protein shake.  You get the idea.  And make sure to snap a picture of it and post it on social media using #NationalSnackFoodMonth or #SnackFoodMonth.

Hope you have a great month!

The Cupcake

 I was finishing up with a customer when I noticed a cupcake on the belt.  I asked if the cupcake was part of her order.  At that moment, a man, who is standing at the end of the belt with his wife and son, says, "That's mine.  How much is it?"  I finished with my customer and turn to him and say, "It's $4.00."  He then turns to his wife and says, "He doesn't need that.  It's $4.00!"  The wife immediately cuts him off and starts yelling at her husband.   "He does need it!  I buy him one every time I come here!  Who are you to tell him no!?"  

Husband:  "We have a lot of other things, I don't think he needs the cupcake.

Wife: " We need the cupcake.  How would you feel if I told you no?

Husband:  "Calm down.  You don't have to yell.

Wife: (yelling) "I'M NOT YELLING!"

Husband: I'm not buying him the cupcake.  He doesn't need it!

Wife: He needs the cupcake!  Every time we come here, I buy him one.  How would you feel if I said no to you!?

This discussion/argument went on for several minutes.  

What am I doing at this time?  Standing at my register, looking away from the arguing couple and pretending I cannot hear them try to kill each other.  

The husband caved, probably just to shut her up, she grabbed the cupcake and still "talked loudly" about it all the way to the cafe area with the son.  

They had quite a large order and I'm sure they could have found something in there to feed the kid other than the cupcake.  If it weren't for the kid, I would have told the husband to leave her now.

What have I learned from this experience?

A cupcake can bring out the ugly in a person.

Background Check

 We are on month three of my background check.  I would like to think the reason it is taking so long is  that they are reading about my crazy past.  Of course, the reality is that they can't find anything fun and interesting and feel the need to keep digging. 

Stay tuned.  

Retail Problems

Do not go to self-checkout if you have no idea what you are doing and expect the attendant to ring everything up for you.  That is not why we are here.  You're a big boy/girl, ring the merchandise up by yourself or take your things over to a register with a cashier.

Thank you.

Retail Problems

 I mentioned a few posts ago that I have a new job.  I am currently working as a cashier at a grocery store.  Yes, I strongly believe in self inflicting pain upon myself.   I had to get certified so I can do liquor sales (I got a certificate and everything!).  Apparently, my age has no meaning when it comes to selling liquor.  I have been writing down some of my favorite exchanges with customers with the hopes of sharing them with all of you.  They are quite entertaining. 

I guess I'll just jump in and start off with some alcohol stories.

There are many alcohol encounters.  You see, we have to card everyone.  Yes, you have gray hair and wrinkles, but I still have to card you.  When I card someone who is obviously over 21 they feel the need to tell me their age and that I am crazy for asking them.  I reply that I am just doing my job.  Other responses when I ask:  

"Carded?  That's just ridiculous! I'm 70 years old!"  

"Do you see my gray hair?"  

"Do I look under 21?"  

"I have gray hair, am in my 40's and run my own business!"

All to which I would like to reply, "I didn't ask for your age, your occupation or about your gray hair, I asked to see a photo ID."

Oh, and I have to see the actual ID (Driver's License, State ID).  Apparently, before I started, an employee was fired for not looking at an ID (the police were involved, etc.).  I'm not sure if that is true, and I really don't want to find out.  I guess sometimes I'm a rule follower.  

One more funny encounter before I go.  I was standing at self-checkout and a woman walks up and asks, "Can you do the alcohol or are you too young?"  I replied, "I know I don't look a day over 20, but, yes, I can ring the alcohol for you."

National Months - January

 Well, I wrote about the odd weird interesting national days and weeks throughout the year and thought I should move on to months.  I am going to consolidate them into one post a month (you're welcome).

Let's get started, shall we? 

January is

National CBD Month

What a great way to chill down from all of the craziness of the holidays.  CBD comes directly from the hemp plant and brings the power from the hemp without the "high" associated with cannabis plants.  There are lots of products available now: tinctures, topicals, capsules, edibles, bath bombs, dog treats (Pippen enjoys these), etc.  

How to observe:

If you haven't tried CBD, this is the month to try it.  Ask your friends about their favorite CBD products.  Research suppliers so you get high quality, unadulterated CBD products.  Oh, you can spread awareness by posting to social media using #NationalCBDMonth.

January is also

National Hot Tea Month

What better way to survive the bitter cold days of January than a hot cup of tea.  31 days of drinking tea sounds pretty good to me.  

I tried to do a little digging on the history of tea and found that it started in China (BC) as a medicinal drink.  It was written about in a medical journal in 3rd century AD.

Tea benefits:

packed with antioxidants to protect and keep our body young and protect from toxins

less caffeine than coffee

tea drinkers have a 20% less chance of having a heart attack than those who don't drink tea

can help with weigh loss.  It's calorie free, gives you energy and helps burn calories throughout the day

it's an immune booster

How to observe tea month:

Sip some tea.  Don't forget to post a picture of that hot cup of tea and use #NationalHotTeaMonth , or #HotTeaMonth or #TeaTime.

If you're lucky, maybe the Tea Fairy will visit you this month!

How much tea will you drink this month?