Back to my Weight Journey:

I have been at this for 6 weeks.  I have lost 6 pounds. 

The first three weeks I was so darn close to chucking my plans it was not even funny.  I was exercising and eating approximately 1400 calories a day.  Healthy calories too.  I did not lose an ounce!

But on that last day when I was about to give up hope I finally lost a pound and that helped me stay in the game.

This is tough for old people that do not have much muscle to motivate that metabolism.  But I am determined and I will not give up.

I will once again endorse my fitness pal.  There are some great ladies and gentlemen on that free site that are helping themselves and others through this weight loss journey.

I want to shout out to them and thank them for the help.

I will keep you posted.....even if you don't care.  :-)

With love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane

Too Many Irons in the Fire.

As a FACS professional I have met a great deal of people that are very much like me.  Because our profession has many components to it, those of us involved are good at a great many things. 

I love to create things through sewing and decorating, I love to write, I love to talk about what we do through my blog, I love to promote, I am good with numbers (sometimes), and I love to speak to people about what they do and what I do.

When I retired early from teaching I decided to focus on creating items for ETSY to sell.  I was going to do this for me.  I knew that I would not make much money at it but it would be a fun hobby. 

I occasionally do floral arranging for weddings.  Two this summer.  But they are friends and it is not a real money maker.

I also knew that I was going to continue to do the bookwork for our family's machine shop. 

So, I thought I should substitute teach to at least pay for my health insurance.

O.k. that is four jobs.

Now, my husband has started a small new company that is really fun and has been something he has wanted to do for years.  Pringle Bagpipes, yes we are making bagpiping items.  I am helping him by doing much of the marketing and start up chores that a new business entails.

So you see my life is still the same chaos I thought I would escape when I left education.  O.K. Maybe not the same.  The stress is different, the jobs are my choice and I have less money.

But oh, I am having fun doing what I want to do;  still getting my kid fix and taking care of myself in a new way.  And still full of FACS passion.

With Love From Your Retired FACS Teacher, Jane

These are practice chanters that our company has made, "Aren't they Pretty?"
FYI traditionally they have been black.  We are starting the customization of color with them and we are causing a stir among the traditionalists.  Imagine me being a part of that.  Ha, Ha.

It is not easy to lose weight....But I am trying! Confessions from the heart

When I retired I decided it was time to take my promise to myself seriously.  I had always said I will lose weight when my kids are gone.  Well, let's face it, I got a slow start.  My son's are 25 and 26.

Last June when I took my early retirement I made a commitment to exercise at least 4 day's a week.  I have been keeping that up and most often exercising 5 day's a week.  The thing is....it did not do much for me weight wise.  In fact it did nothing for me. 

I created the class Healthy living at North High school while I was there, and I always addressed my weight by discussing my lack of metabolism.  Although the numbers from my blood test are always on the edge reaching the mid 50's for a woman, compiled with goiter makes things tough.  I know I was using this as an excuse.  I was also on the "Taking it to the Streets" team addressing obesity for AAFCS.  I was always the fat one on the conference call.  I remember someone saying, "Often overweight people don't see themselves as overweight when they look in the mirror."  I always bit my tongue when I heard that because I do see myself, and trust me it is not a thin person. 

I know that I have always eaten healthy but I will admit I like to indulge in sweet and salty items.  I do not do this on a regular basis but when I do, I do it with flare. 

Recently I started cutting more sugar, more carbs and counting calories.  I really thought that the weight would fall off because I am really following my plan.  I am hungry and that is o.k. I want results.  But man it is not easy.  I lost quite a bit of weight in the late 90's.  While teaching I gained that weight and more.  (60 pounds). 

I know logically that it will happen over time just like I gained weight over time.  But it is hard to keep that follow through and while not seeing many results.  Yet, I know that I will be much happier with myself cutting back and changing my look. 

I know exactly when I got off the wagon.  It was while I was in grad school, teaching advanced foods, reinventing that curriculum and my boys in grade school.  I told myself it was ok to taste my students food "just a little bit".  Then it got to be more and more and I slowly packed it on.  Because I AM a stress eater. 

It is going to take me longer to lose it this time, and sometimes I am going to fall off....but hopefully I can forgive myself and get back to the plan.  My stress is lower, my life is pretty darn peaceful, and I have to care about myself enough to let go of that comfort food that I have embraced for a long time.

For those of you that struggle with the same issues.  Your time will come and you can only do it when you are ready.  I think I am ready this time.

The hard part for us "FACS people"  is that we know nutrition and we can probably help everyone but follow through for ourselves is hard.  One source that I am using is myfitnesspal.com  I do not normally endorse product but this counts my exercise and food. It is easy and I can do it on my phone.  If you have been struggling look it up and try it.

With love from your retired FACS teacher.

Jane

I created a new soup last night: It was good, so I will share.

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 chicken breast cut in small cubes  (Vegetarians leave out)
1 medium onion chopped
1 chili pepper, deseeded and chopped
2 medium carrots sliced
10 Brussels sprouts, end cut off and cut into 3rds.
3 garlic cloves chopped

1 -15 ounce can chopped tomatoes
1 -15 ounce can navy beans
1 -15 ounce can black beans

4 chicken bullion cubs (Vegetarians use vegetable bullion)
6 cups water
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Choose one according to your liking for HEAT

• 2 Tablespoons Franks sauce for mild hot
• 1/4 cup Franks sauce for medium hot
• 1/2 cup Franks sauce for Hot

Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven (6 quart pan) sauté` the chicken, onion, carrot and chili pepper until brown chicken and onion is almost transparent.  Then add Brussels sprout, and garlic.  Once those are cooked add the can of tomatoes with juice to deglaze the pan.  Stir.  Add both bean, bullion cubs, seasoning, and water.  Let simmer at medium heat for 5 minutes and add the franks sauce.  Cook on stove top for at least 15 minutes and serve.  You can cook this longer and/or refrigerate and freeze for later use.

4-6 bowls of soup.

A fun day at St. Katherine's University, St. Paul, MN: A motorcycle accessory project for design students

Sometimes being out of the classroom leads to fun little projects that I would not normally be able to participate in when working full time.

Last week Anupama, a FACS colleague, and associate professor, from St. Kate's called me.  Her design students were working on a project for a motorcycle accessory company.  The company had products mostly for men.  The owner wants to expand the line into women's accessories.  Her students needed to research products in existence and they needed to talk to someone that rides a motorcycle. 

Anu doesn't really know anyone that rides but she knew from my Facebook postings that I am an avid rider.  She called and asked if I would come and speak to her class about riding and bring a friend(s).

I was so excited about working with students in design because of course this is a passion for me.  My friend was excited too. 

We were a good resource for this group as not a one of them had ever been on a motorcycle.  We talked about helmets, scarves, things to keep warm and of course how all of these things are "hair" issues.  We discussed the difference from being a passenger and driving the bike.  We shared about the extreme wind as a passenger and the types of protection you need because of the wind.  There was much more plus, just maybe, a few stories to give them to chuckle. 

I can't wait to see what they come up with for their project.  I am so excited for them as they learn and grow with their career's.

What a wonderful "real life" experience for these future designers.

Anu; thanks for the opportunity to work with your design class, even if it was just for a day.

With love from your retired FACS teacher, Jane







Design Students at St. Kate's, St. Paul, MN:  As you can see by some of their facial expressions I may have been telling a story.

My friend Lynn, at the table, and myself.  Yes Lynn did get to talk too.



Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers: Is there a shortage of teachers? Or, are programs being shut down due to shortage? Or, is it both?

This past year the Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences put out an article titled, "Family and Consumer Sciences Secondary School Programs:  National Survey Shows Continued Demand for FCS Teachers". 

In this article they state that although student enrollment is down at the high school level the middle school level has maintained its enrollment over the past 10 years. 

There has been somewhat of a national campaign to "Bring Back Home Economics" and although this is vital and prominent in social media it is clear that FCS programs continue to thrive throughout the United States.  Number of students in FCS programs and corresponding teachers are down.  It states that this could be anticipated with continued focus on "core" academic offerings and lack of funding.  And, in some states Career Pathways has left FCS struggle to find its place with the career technical curriculum.  (p44 vol 105, no 4, 2013)

Through out the 80's school budgets were struggling.  Many schools chose to cut electives.  Beside cutting these electives schools were feeling as though courses like "Home Economics" were not vital to education and that children could learn some of the concepts in the Home Economics curriculum at home.  Because of this transition many colleges and universities chose to cut the Home Economics education programs in their schools. 

As the FCS programs leveled off in the 90's many school guidance officials felt that they should not steer children into a career that was facing decline.  Therefore Colleges and Universities that did still have programs were seeing a decline in their FCS enrollment.  In the early 2000 I did a small study in the Minnesota.  During that year the University of Minnesota had 8 graduates in the Masters program and UW Stout had 18  (lower now).  When I graduated from Stout in 1982 there were between 80 and 90 in my graduating class.

Because there were not many jobs available over the late 80's and early 90's very few went into the field.  Now, as we face a time when many of those that started teaching FCS in the late 70's and early 80's face retirement schools are desperate to find replacements for these FCS classes.

Last year Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN received approximately 40 requests for FCS teachers.  They graduated approximately 4 students.  (Note:  The University of Minnesota,  original land grant university, no longer offer a FCS degree)

As we approach the end of the school year we see emails across the Minnesota list serve for open position for the coming school year.  Up until April 1 there have been 6 requests for FCS professionals for the coming school year. 

Schools that struggle with budgets can easily decide to end programs rather than wait until the finale hour to replace retiring FCS professionals.

As a profession, if we do not want to see the field die, several things need to happen to keep it alive.

1.  We must continue to be a positive voice nationally and promote the wonderful work that we do to educate children.

2.  We need to promote our field as a career choice for our FCS students through the courses we teach and extra curricular activities sponsored by FCS.

3.  We need to encourage those that have walked away from the field because jobs were hard to find at one time and "get them back into education". 

4.  Some of us that have left the field might need to go back until replacement can be found.

5. As professionals we need to stay current with trends and teach what is vital to sustain today, rather than what we have always taught. 

Our profession is in a scary state.  Our professional organization is struggling as a whole, our high school and college enrollment is declining and yet we have a shortage of educators to keep the programs that we have alive.

As a group we must be strong, be involved and fight to keep the positive work that we do in the public eye.

With love from your retired FCS teacher, Jane

Reusable sandwich/storage bags. I have finally gotten on the bandwagon.

 

 

Since I have retired from education a bit early I have been doing many things.  One of them is making things to sell on ETSY.  I know most of my readers know what ETSY is but if you do not, it is a site to sell art, crafts and homemade items to the general public.  If you think that it is a good way to make extra money please let me say that wealth does not come fast or easy.  I have been doing this for one year in April.  It takes a while for people to know that you are out there selling things, and for customers to trust you and your products.  I started doing mostly baby blankets and quilts.  To give you an example of the competition....there are approximately 40,000 baby and lap quilts on ETSY for sale.

 

Occasionally I make special order items.  I have adult inseam snap, elastic waist pants that get quite a few hits.  The length is never right so people order these specially.

 

I have not made more money than I have spent on supplies.  Typical.  The person that took my former position is always giving me ideas to make for my ETSY site.  The other day she had reusable bags on her desk.  I was thrilled as I have quite a bit of this water proof fabric and I needed some quick things to make with it.  PUL fabric is water proof, food safe but it breathes.  It was used mostly for diaper covers when it first came out. 

 

I like these fold over bags for reusing because the sewing is on the outside of the bag and the thread does not interact with the food. 

 

To wash these you turn them inside out and put them in your dishwasher or washing machine and then let them air dry.

 

If you are interested in seeing any of the items from my ETSY shop here is the link.  It is also on my blog.

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmilHansDesigns

 

With love from your retired FACS teacher, Using up a lot of time but not supporting myself.  Having fun as always.  Jane