A message from "Taking it to the Streets" for the conference this week. Bring accessories you would like to trade.

Hi,

Hope you'll join the fun and bring some things to swap!

Taking It to the Streets/FERM TWICE IS NICE ACCESSORIES SWAP

Friday June 27, 6 to 7 pm Gateway West

Come have some fun!

DROP OFF accessories you no longer want or use following the opening general session at the  Community Showcase Thursday, June 26 10:30 to 11:45, Taking It to the Streets Table.  Receive a ticket to exchange for a new item(s) you can select on Friday night starting at 6pm.

“SHOPPING” available to those who do not donate at 6:30pm Friday in exchange for a $ donation to a local organization

GUIDELINES: items must be clean, sylish (or up to date?), new or gently used.

SUGGESTED ITEMS:  scarves, hats, belts, gloves, jewelry, shawls, scarves, shrugs, anything small so as not to overfill our suitcases…or closets!

Door prizes 6:55pm

Marilyn Swierk

Sometimes Busy People Get more work done. Are you ready for the AAFCS conference?

I am excited about the national AAFCS conference but I am worried that I may forget something.  This week before the conference is insane busy and so are the weeks following!

Monday:  Bookwork for our business
Tuesday:  Meeting with a family to get the flowers ordered for their wedding in August....yes I do floral arranging too.
Wednesday:  Photo shoot for Pringle Bagpipes new product line.
Thursday:  Catch up on FACS items, pack for the week-end and next week.
Friday:  Drive to Chicago for Scottish festival where we will be doing our first show with our Pringle product line.
Saturday:  Scottish fair and show
Sunday:  Drive home, do bookwork, finish packing.
Monday:  Organize all for conference.  Pack for vacation.
Tuesday:  Fly out for conference, meet cousins, organize for conference
Wednesday:  Excursion.
Thursday:  Present
Friday:  Silent auction, ESAE
Saturday:  Leave from St. Louis to San Francisco for motorcycle vacation

And the list goes on.  Do you think that I will be able to relax for our vacation?  Do you think that my brain will turn off and I will be able to focus on fun?

I hope so, my husband and I both need it!

But let's move back to the conference.

I will be presenting information on using social media to promote programs.  I hope that you visit Ashley Davis and I as we talk about the many ways to use technology in your work.  This is Thursday at 3 p.m.

I would also like to bring up the idea of a "Family and Consumer Sciences Day".  The Public Policy group contacted me about this idea. 

There are several items that I listed that need to be worked on with in the organization to make this happen.  I think it is a great idea and I hope that there are members interested in pursuing this concept, "full speed ahead".

This is the quick 10 point list that I have put together. 

Public Awareness:  National Family and Consumer Sciences Day/Week Proposal.

 

1.      Promote through all FACS entities with in the FACS family and in AAFCS, (FCCLA, HERO, Extension/4-H, HEIB, FDA, Restaurant Association, Local and national politicians, etc.)

2.      Choose a day and a week.  Suggested day:  Ellen Richards Birthday. December 3 OR Day Home Economics was started, OR Coincide with conference time in June.

3.      Encourage story writing about programs and strengths of the FACS field in business and education.  (All included, especially those that think they are “just doing their job.”!

4.      Use these stories to and send them to media outlets throughout the United States and national media.

5.      Encourage participation with small rewards.

6.      Prepare talking points for members and other FACS outlets to use for publicity.

7.      Make this a “STAR” event in FCCLA.

8.      Be Inclusive to all FACS professionals, not exclusive.

9.      Involve “Taking it to the Streets”

10.   Find sponsors for funding such as Restaurant Association, Publishers, Food companies, Nutrition companies, Weight of the Nation, etc.

 

Because of the list of things that I have to do everyday now that I am retired....ha, ha, I have decided to step down as chair of public awareness.  I am hoping that there is someone out there that is as passionate about Family and Consumer Sciences as I am to work on this project.

I believe that because so many think that Home Economics is gone we should use Home Ec as part of our promotion.  As one of our FACS staff pointed out Home Ec is no longer thought of as a domestic taboo. 

If you have any ideas or thoughts please comment on this site or contact me with those ideas.

Below is a sarcastic little thought that I want to scream when I see article about bringing back Home Economics...but on the other hand I DO appreciate that people are thinking about my profession and understand the value and importance of what we teach.

Let's bring back Family and Consumer Sciences into the public eye....Now!

Have a great conference, hope to see you there!

With Love, Your Retired FACS Teacher, Jane

 

 

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.