Let's Simplify the Banana Mixed Messages

I've been in banana limbo lately. Is eating a banana healthy or not? 

How do we get past all these mixed messages about bananas? I feel like there's a whole lot of banana monkey business going on! At times, do you feel like a monkey swinging from one “Healthy Eating” headline to another?

I try to be informed with healthy food choices, but I must admit the almighty banana has probably the most mixed messages of all the fruits. Eat bananas. Don't eat bananas. Bananas make you fat. Bananas make you skinny. Bananas have too much sugar. Bananas have good natural sugar. Bananas make your stomach flat. Bananas make you bloated. Bananas can be shoved into a tail pipe. Oh, oops, that's for a different story. 

No wonder we've all gone a little nuts over bananas; don't even get me started on nuts!

Anyway, here's what I have gathered as somewhat the skinny on "banana logic." My source is Chris Freytag who I think makes the most sense. I may be a little biased as she's a Minnesota girl!

The Truth About Being On This Blogging Roller Coaster: What's Next?

Happy Blog Birthday to A Square Of Chocolate!  Come on in and bring your chocolate and cheers to celebrate 2 years!  I’m celebrating with a **Giveaway** but, please hang with me through the celebration tidbits first and then I'll unwrap the details for you.

For those of you who have been with me from the very beginning - can you believe it? 

It's been 2 years!!

I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart that you've stuck around to watch it grow and to follow along with all my silly amusing stories, easy recipes, adventures and moments from MN Living.

I also want to thank any newcomers and visitors that felt this was a fun and inspiring place to connect. 

I've been writing and publishing posts pretty much every week for two years and…

Here’s the Truth:

You Can Run, but You Can't Hide...From a Squeaky Wheel!

Depending on the day, a shopping trip to Target can be about as fun as cleaning the toilet on a Saturday morning before your first cup of coffee. It's just another mundane chore that needs to be done no matter what the mood. It's a day to cross off midlife necessities and household staples from the shopping list.  

A quick glance of someone's cart contents might reveal the truth of the person pushing the cart and, noticeably, what may be happening on that given day...ibuprofen, hair removal cream, hair dye, black cohosh, dark chocolate and a bottle of Metamucil. If liquor was sold at this Target you'd probably see a bottle of wine wedged somewhere between the chocolate and the Metamucil.

Trying to forget my numerous irritations, I continued the task of checking things off the list when in the far distance somewhere between frozen foods and the bread isle; I hear the consistent sound of squeaking. At first, it was something in the background you might not even notice, but within seconds, it was becoming annoyingly persistent and gaining ground. 

Image Credit: pixabay.com - falco

Trying to decide between a small loaf of high fiber bread or a large loaf with nuts and seeds, I was soon distracted with the irritating squeak, squeak, squeaking sound. Not sure what's worse, a squeaky wheel or nails on a chalkboard. 

It was getting inside my head and seemingly getting closer. My eyes shifted examining the isle to see if anyone else was agitated by the ear piercing squeal that was clearly motoring its way towards the bread isle.

Life Throws an Unexpected Curveball

The doctor nonchalantly asks, "so, do you know what you're having...a boy or a girl?" 

I remember this question often in different situations, but especially on this particular summer afternoon when everything seemed to be normal, routine and like any other day. 

I was mowing the lawn in the backyard while my kids played nearby in the sandbox. The only thing possibly out of the norm was that I was mowing the lawn and not Mister O. I'm all for sharing the household chores, but to be honest, this was not my normal household job. Mister O usually did the outside chores and I the inside. 

Photo Credit: pixabay.com - JerzyGorecki

However, on this Saturday afternoon, I don't recall why, I had the chore of mowing the yard on a sultry hot humid summer day while Mister O sat indoors in perfectly cool conditions watching TV. 

Hey, I'm writing this story! When he has his own blog, he can tell his side of the story!

Anyway, I just happened to be picking up the slack on yard work that Saturday afternoon when Mister O comes out onto the deck and hollers to me "hey where's.......

The roar of the lawnmower had deafened the sound of his voice and all I saw was his mouth moving and his hands waving indicating there was concern. 

November's Picture The Possibilities

American White Pelican by Darcy Sime Photography - https://www.flickr.com/photos/djsime

Happy Imperfection Quote - http://www.asquareofchocolate.com/

Do you suffer from stinkin' thinkin'? 

Maybe you're not happy with your imperfections and here starts the cycle of stinkin' thinkin' ...the negative self-talk that settles in the mind and sometimes is very difficult to get past. You're focused on self-doubt, lack of know-how or the lack of confidence, so then you fail to move forward.  

Or, maybe you're trying too hard to live up to being too perfect and now you've set yourself up to anticipate problems that may never arise or you linger on the details. You're waiting for the perfect moment or situation that never comes and, therefore, you fail to move forward.