Diet/Delicious-- Sweet/Sour Cabbage Stew

I have been dieting and working out with weights for a couple of years now. I am proud to say I have been successful at getting smaller (my trainer says "leaner").

 Call it whatever you want, my clothes are too big and I feel wonderful!

In the process I have found out I am allergic to wheat. If I eat wheat my face and sinuses swell. It is very painful but a great motivation to say no to wheat and yummy baked goods:)

Since I am mainly eating, fruits, vegetables and lean protein I am getting creative.

I am a big fan of cabbage rolls. If you have ever made them they take a lot of work.  I think it is the tangy sweet and sour tomato flavor that I enjoy.

So being the time saver cook that I am I came up with a quick solution.

My version of cabbage roll stew.

 Put the following ingredients in a stock pot


1 Cup of Water
4 Cups of chopped fresh Brussels Sprouts or 4 cups chopped fresh Cabbage
2 cans of Del Monte Organic Dice Tomatoes or your favorite brand of diced tomatoes.

 A little salt and pepper
3 Tablespoons of sugar- or a little more but taste it first
2 Tablespoons of white vinegar-or a little more but taste it first

Put everything pan at the same time and cook on medium to low for about 20 minutes (or until the Brussels Sprouts or Cabbage is tender)

Then I add 1 1/2 cups of my precooked hamburger. (Here is the blog that will explain where the cooked beef comes from.) If you are a vegetarian it is good without the meat.

You can also add 1/2 to 1 cup of cooked rice. I prefer brown, way better for you:)

 I love this recipe- it is really easy, taste great and is very, very low calorie. It last in the fridge for several days ( you can freeze it also). It taste better after a day or two when the flavors all mix!

It taste & looks like chopped up cabbage roll!!

Enjoy!

Old Fashion Phone Etiquette, Is it lost art?

I am sorry this is a really long blog. If you use a phone in your business (who doesn't?) 

I hope these tips help your business grow. 

The word etiquette is a French word meaning ticket.  The rules of the court were written on tickets and given to the lords and ladies in the court to observe and obey.

A recent study indicates that 91% of dissatisfied customers/clients never complain about personal discourtesies, they simply take their business elsewhere.  Companies now recognize the need to sharpen business etiquette skills as an element of professional development.

The use of telephone manners has never been taught in our schools, despite the fact that using the telephone to communicate is one of the most crucial skills needed to succeed in business.   The telephone is also the first significant contact many people have with a business. It can be a very important image builder and a powerful medium for establishing a good relationship and trust.

Companies today, spend a large amount of their resources on staffing, advertising and marketing to bring the clients to them. Training on how to receive and retain the customers is vital to the growth of your business.

BEWARE THAT THE TELEPHONE IS A HIGHLY PERSONAL MEDIUM FOR COMMUNICATIONS. 

Intrusion- always be sensitive that people resent even a brief loss of control over their lives

Language- keep your language simple, there is no immediate way to tell if the listener understands what you are trying to communicate

Voice Power-the voice is a great reflector of the inner feelings that we can communicate, regardless of the distance

Excessive Intimacy-when you invade someone else’s ear- at least do so with good manners.

Speed- the ease of use and speed of connection can lead to hasty discussions-with misunderstandings likely to result. Slow down and think before you speak.

Energy- extra energy and effort are required to make a conversation successful. If you are not up to making an important call, perhaps it may be better to wait until you feel more confident and refreshed.

Body Language- Be mindful, as there is no body language-- your voice says it all. 

Answering the Phone

-Try to answer by the 3^rd or 4^th ring (2^nd is better)

-Always identify yourself “Good Morning, this is___________ at ___________ how may we help you?”

-Smile- this makes your voice more bright and pleasant

-Speak slowly and distinctly- do not use slang

-Do not chew gum or eat during a conversation

-Inflections in your voice help you to sound capable and interesting, do not talk in monotones

Transferring a Phone Call

-Let the caller know they are being transferred and if voice mail is available to them. If they do not like voice mail, take a personal message.

-Take ownership of the message; see that it gets to the right person. 

Placing Call on Hold

-Always ask permission to put a call on hold. “Can you hold please?”- Then wait for their answer.

-Always thank the person for holding when you pick up the call again.

-Always use the “on hold” button do not just lay the phone down.

-If they have been on hold a long time, pick up the call and say “I am still checking for you, would you like to continue to hold or have me take a message?”

Screening Calls

Sometimes it is necessary to screen calls in order to work more efficiently. Do so politely and briefly. Do not make callers feel they are being screened. Have a plan of how you are going to handle the callers in a positive manner.

-Do not say “Who’s calling?” or worse yet “Who’s this?”

-You could say something like “May I tell_______ who is calling?”

-If your employer is only available to certain individuals or is only taking urgent request.  If they want to take the call, you can say something like“________ just became available, I will transfer you now.”

-If they are not available, take a message or offer voice mail.

How to Handle Unavailability

This is one of the most important areas of phone etiquette.

-Always offer a positive explanation of why someone is unavailable. Here are some possible options

“He is in a meeting right now”

“She is on another line”

“She is working off site right now”

Never give out personal information, like they are on vacation or sick.  Here are some wrong ways to explain why someone is not available.

“He has not shown up yet”- I used to call a business that said that all the time- not good!

“They are not taking calls “

“They have another day off”

We never want our clients to think we are not available. The person they are looking for maybe out of the office but they are available by voice or e-mail, a personal message or another qualified employee can fill in.  The goal should be to meet the needs of the client even if the person they are asking for is unavailable at that time.

Most callers do not need to know your employer or fellow employee is on a day off or vacation. They only need to know their call is important and will be handled or returned as soon as possible. 

Taking Messages

Telephone messages in any business must be taken carefully and delivered promptly.

-Be polite and professional

-Record all facts correctly

-Make sure the message is delivered to the correct person

-Name and phone number, reason, company time & date and a brief reason for the call should be included.

Proper message taking shows concern for your customers. Most calls should be returned within 24 hours. One of the biggest complaints in business today is that calls are not returned. 

-Follow up when necessary to make sure the client was taken care of. 

Handling Rude, Aggressive Customers or Complaints

-Stay calm, be diplomatic and polite

-Be loyal to your employer or fellow worker

-Show a willingness to resolve the problem

-Remember your customer needs your help and you need your customers

-Try not to use the words, no or never, leave the door open for a resolution

-Take ownership and see it through to resolution

-Know your companies policies in handling issues

Resolving conflict can be the beginning of a long term relationship.  A conflict handled correctly builds trust.

Voice Mail Messages

If you are leaving a voice mail message please included the following

-Name and company

-Keep the message simple

-State the time and date

-Repeat your name and the phone number 2 times in the message

-End with a positive statement- “Have a great day”, or “I look forward to talking to you soon.” 

Speaker Phone

A lot of people do not like speaker phones. It is best to let the person know you are using a speaker phone.  If you are calling somewhere with a client, you should always identify yourself and let them know the client is listening.

“ ________ I am sitting here with Mr. & Mrs. _____________ can you please look up their account?”

This will alert the person that you are on speaker phone and the client can hear the conversation.

Conclusion

The use of the telephone, voice mail and our conversation can be a powerful tool.  Attitude and the desire to improve your skills will determine your level of success. We do have control over how we communicate. Learning these skills will benefit us in our relationship with all of the people we come in contact with every day.

It has been my experience that if we practice the etiquette of proper communication our work atmosphere improves.  Communication is fundamental to seeing a job well done.

Loyalty is a gem that can enhance the work place. Practicing these skills can become a very positive influence in your life.

Have you been to the phone store lately?

I stopped at the local mobile phone store tonight and bought a new phone. I should clarify it is a new phone but not one of the greatest and latest (4G) phone.

I have a really cheap rate plan and cannot go to the newest & coolest with shelling out a lot more money each month.  Probably some day I will but not until I have no other option.


I need to give you a bit of history.  I worked in the mobile phone industry from 1995-2000. It was a crazy job. Being in the middle of the growth of a new industry was really exciting.

The phone service (coverage) was terrible and they where EXPENSIVE to buy and use.(No free  phones back then) Most families only had one phone to share. Then we added one for mother, then one for the kids who left for college....now little kids have them.
 I bought a "real" phone for my  granddaughter's 4th birthday a few years ago-it was she asked Grandma for:) When I asked her why she wanted a phone, she said to call her "friends". I had a lot of fun calling her on her own cell phone.

In 1995 most people bought a "bag phone". It was a  phone in a bag, it plugged into your cigarette lighter.  Hard to believe people where excited about getting a phone like that:)

Or a "brick phone"  below. This is the first "handheld" phone. Brick describes it perfectly!

Then they came out with the "flip phone" (The black thing beside it, is the charger.). We could not keep them in stock--  light grey, dark grey or black where the color options back then!

 My daughter's claim to fame is they where one of the first "people" to have cell phones in their high school. The teachers did not even have phones. My girls did since I worked at the local phone store.

The rate plan they had cost $24.95 per month.
 It included 20 day time minutes, 20 night time minutes...and $1.00 a minute if they went over the 40 minutes per month. 
(If you take the 40 minutes and divide by 30 days = 1.3 minutes of talk time per day)

No text messaging- (not even heard of yet)
No free nights
No free weekend
No free long distance
No free mobile to mobile

(Take a look at your teenager's bill- how many text messages per day are they doing? How many minutes are they using per month?)

It is a amazing how far the technology has come & how much we depend on our "mobile" phones.

I just had to write about it! ~~~Amazing trip to the phone store, I see the new technology, it is crazy what is available.

Do you remember getting your first mobile phone?

How Many Sewing Machines Do You Own?

When I was a little girl, maybe 6 or 7 years old, I was at an auction with my mother 

where she bought a little black and gold sewing machine. 

It was a Singer 221 Featherweight machine. That was the vintage machine I learn to sew on. 

I have wonderful memories of sewing with my mom and using that machine.

About 25 years ago I walked into an estate sale. Back in the corner was a little black case.

 I knew immediately it was a Singer Featherweight machine like my mom had bought when I was a little girl.

I also, knew I was NOT leaving without that machine. 

Note: I have a certificate from Singer that dates my machine. It was issued in 1953, that makes it a few years older then me:)

I bought it for $70.00, which was a steal. I was so excited, I don't think anyone understood how much that meant to me to have my own Singer Featherweight just like my mom's.

 I had 3 little girls back then, so I was so excited to be able to use that machine with my girls just  like I did with my mom. 

 My daughter's & now my granddaughter's have all sewn on my little machine. 

It runs slow and steady which makes it a great machines to learn on.

The other day, I was in Family Sewing in Grandville MI taking a serger class. (They do a great job at classes)

 I saw the  Singer 160 Year Anniversary Machine.

How fun, it looks so much like my 1953 Singer Featherweight. SO COOL! I had to stop and take a good look at it. What a great idea Singer had to make it look so vintage! I am sure there are many warm memories this vintage looking machine brings to people. The vintage look is so touching! 

 Singer had a contest last year for this very machine. I told my story and read many wonderful accounts of people and their experiences with Singer machine's.

This is my current  sewing machine........a state of the art back in 1988 when I bought my Viking Machine. 

(Almost as vintage as my little 1950's black Singer:)

It still works very well but I hope to update it soon.

Don't feel too bad for me & my vintage sewing machines....since I just bought a wonderful Serger! 

(In-fact, my mom last December was laughing at me that I was still just using a sewing machine and had not bought a Serger) 

So....I bought a Baby Lock Evolution. Incredible! Awesome! 

Why did I wait so long!~~ you get the idea!

What an interesting adventure this new machine has been. The challenge of knowing when and how to use a Serger vs a regular sewing machine.--But that's another blog:)

 There is so much truth in the saying of  how difficult it is to teaching an old dog new tricks, 

especially when the old dog is me teaching me!!!!

I love doing the rolled hem and the cover stitch!

 I LOVE my new Serger!

I am sure one day my lovely new Baby Lock Serger will be added to the list of my favorite vintage machines:)

Sew Much Fun!

Flower Girl Dresses On A Budget?

Three years ago when my youngest daughter got married, she decided to have 6......yes  I said 6 flower girls.

Holly had 4 nieces and Justin had 2.  It was the fun thing to do.

 Trying to stay within a budget can be difficult when planning a wedding. ( I know, 10 years ago my two other daughter's had their weddings 5 months apart!)

After looking for flower girl dresses at the local bridal shops, and seeing how much they cost, we decided to go to a major retailer who had  a good selection of special occasion dresses.

We found the perfect little dress for the girls, except they where all white.  We felt the dresses could use a more custom look and we wanted to match the yellow of the bridal party.

These dresses ended up costing under $50.00 each. (The bridal store's selections are at least triple that amount. or more)

(I just checked this same dress available for $30.00 at JC Penney)


Victoria, (Holly's maid of honor) came up with the idea of opening the lace on the sides of the dress and adding yellow ribbon in the waistband.. What a GREAT idea!

I  carefully cut the lace open on each side of the dress. I put Dritz Frey Check on the edge of the lace to keep it from fraying.  After it was completely dry I put the ribbon through the front of the dress and made a nice bow in the back~~~it was DARLING X 6!!!

(NOTE:  Always make sure you let the Frey Check completely dry before you move to the next step in your project).

We had one more challenge. The dress did not come small enough for Abby. (She is the little one looking up at Holly in the picture ) To fixed that problem we bought the smallest size available and made it smaller to fit Abby.

(We took a 6X down to a 4T). This could cost about $35.00 to $50.00 for a seamstress to do if you are unable sew).


I think they look beautiful!  The yellow ribbon gave them a custom look.

I love this picture of them laying in their fancy dresses coloring

Jenilee   (Holly's sister) is a smart mommy and brought coloring books and things to keep them busy!

Waiting for get the show on the road!

3 years later Holly has her own little flower girl, Sloan and Myla coming in May:)

(Here's the math.... 4 at the wedding + 1 since the wedding  + another 1 on the way = 6 granddaughters for us:)

Busy Mom's Super Fast, Super Easy, Ground Beef Meals

Beside, travel & sewing I love to cook.

I was a stay home Mom until my youngest started 3rd grade. I know first hand how difficult it is to work, take care of a family and keep all the activities going.

This idea is not only a great time saver but helps you provide, healthy home cooked meals in minutes. Or have dinner ready by using the ground beef for your favorite crock pot recipe.

This is a really simple idea but I have only met one person who does the same thing that I have been doing for years. It was a cashier at a grocery store, who buys the ground beef on sale and pre-cooks it for her daughter. (My girls have to cook their own:)

Start with 3 or 4 pounds of ground beef. (I sometimes use a combination of  ground beef & venison-this time I am using 2 beef & 1-vension).

To have less calories and save money, you can also mix ground turkey or chicken with the beef.

Take the beef, frozen or fresh and put it in a pan, cover with water. You can do it on the stove top or in the oven the same way you cook a roast.  Let the meat cook until completely done.
Stir, to keep from sticking and to break up the meat. I use a hand chopper to chop the beef really fine after I drain it.

DO NOT PUT ANY SEASONING IN THE MEAT. NOT EVEN SALT AND PEPPER..SINCE YOU ARE FREEZING THE MEAT, WHEN YOU TAKE IT OUT YOU WILL KNOW IT IS JUST COOKED MEAT.

This is what it look like when it is almost done.

Once it is completely cooked put it in a stainer and rinse with warm water to get as much grease out of the meat as you can.  Let it completely cool and drain.

Put the meat in quart size freezer bags. I put about 1 pound in each bag. Date and label the bags.

Now here comes the fast and easy part.

Spaghetti
Take 2 jars of your favorite sauce and 1 bag of frozen ground meat in a crock put on low for 8 hours or high for 4.
(My girls will tell you when they where growing up we had this once a week!)
Add noodles and a salad or vegetable and you are done.

Chili
Use one bag of frozen meat with you favorite chili recipe. Use your crock pot. I like to serve the chili on spaghetti or baked potatoes.

Sloppy Joe's

Use on bag of meat, a can of sloppy Joe mix, I add a small can of baked beans and put on a open face hamburger bun. Add slice of cheese, then put in the over for a few minute to melt the cheese~~wonderful!

Mexican- Anything- you can make Tacos, Burritos Nacho's.
Take the ground beef, add you favorite seasoning to make your favorite Mexican dishes.

 I would love to have you share your ideas or recipes that you could use pre-cooked ground beef in.

Next time you see it on sale try this idea and see how much time it can save you and it is .......so easy! Plus you only have the pan and stainer dirty once for 5 or 6 meals.

Enjoy!

10 Must Know Travel Tips

I love to cruise (15 times and booked next year) and I love to travel to all-inclusive resorts.
 
Here is a picture of the bulletin board in my home office. 

 (I will say it for you..... that mustache on my husband is horrible:)

I hope these tips help you with your next vacation. 

1. Make An Decision To Relax.
When you leave for the airport......make a a decision to relax. This may sound crazy but most people take 1/2 of their vacation to relax.  Think about it...you planned well, your kids will be fine,your stuff is insured and everything will be there when you get back:)

 Take a deep breath, this is the week you have been waiting for.


2. Go With The Flow
 A change of scenery is what vacations are all about.....have a flexible schedule.  An opportunity may come along that is better then what you had planned. Be open to changes.

3. Pack As Light As Possible
I would take about 1/2 of what you think you need. Lighter luggage is so much easier to manage. If you wear the same outfit twice you will be fine:)

4. Take Only The Necessary Credit Cards
Unless you will be doing a home improvement project on your vacation you will not need your Lowe's credit card in the Caribbean or Mexico:)
We take two credit cards on vacation. We leave one in the safe in our room or cabin and take one with us on outings. Copy your two credit cards front and back and keep that in a safe place. ( I also make a copy of our id and keep that with it). If you lose your wallet  or it is stolen it will not ruin your vacation. One phone call to your credit card company to cancel and you are back on vacation. It would be horrible to have all your cards lost that you should have left home.

Note-you should call your credit card company and let them know you will be out of the country and maybe using your card.

5.If You Are Taking A Cruise- Leave One Day Early
We love to go a day early and stay in a hotel near the cruise port. This really helps with tip number one, relax. We can sleep in, get to the ship early and be out by the pool before most people get to the airport. Pack a pair of shorts or a swimsuit and cover up in your carry on, it maybe a while before your luggage arrives in your cabin.

6. Proper Documents
You cannot travel without the proper documents.  The minute you book your vacation check your documents to be sure of the expiration date. Wondering  how I know this? I carry a Canadian passport, last September we had a vacation booked to Mexico. I never checked my passport until about 8 days before we left. So after, 3 tanks of gas,  $250.00 and 2 trips to Canada and I got my passport the day before we left.-Not a relaxing way to start a vacation!

 Check with your travel agent or tour/cruise company to make sure you have proper documentation.

7. Purchase A Cruise Or Travel Guide
This will really help you prepare and have a great vacation. The Internet has a lot of information but having a guide with you on your vacation will come in handy.  This gives you information about beaches, buses and activities.

8. If You Are New To Travel-Use A Travel Agent
The commission for most packages and cruises are built into the price. You may pay a small agent fee but it will be well worth the money.  The Internet is a great resource but will not replace an experience travel agent.

9.All Inclusive Or Cruise-what's a vacationer to do?
An all-inclusive or resort vacation is much more relaxing than taking a cruise. The cruise has activities planned from morning until night,(besides eating) if you try to do everything you can stay very. very busy. A resort (all-inclusive) has activities but has a way slower pace.  (I will post about the cost and differences between them at another time)

10. Airport Off-Site Parking.
Check with the Internet and the local airport. On-site parking is very expensive. Off-site parking can save you a lot of money.  We also sometimes book a hotel that includes the parking. So do the math, if it is $10.00 a day to park for 7 days, and you can go the night before and stay at a hotel for $70.00 or $90.00 a night and it includes the parking.  We are about 3 hours from Detroit, this work great, we do a Park & Stay at a hotel by the airport for about what 7 days of parking cost. Plus the hotel transfers you back and forth the the airport and sometimes includes breakfast:)

Have a great vacation!

Added my tips to Many Little Blessing site, for  TOP TEN TUESDAY:)