Blog Archives - INSPIRING MAX

Food Tips #1

November 26, 2015November 25, 2015 inspiringmax

Don’t wash your chicken it only spreads the bacteria over you and the surrounding benches — it doesn’t remove the bacteria from the chicken. Thinking about it this makes a lot of sense. After all, the only way to remove bacteria from chicken is to cook chicken properly. If you want to remove anything from your chicken before cooking it, use a piece of paper towel and throw it away. These ensures you don’t spread the bacteria around. Personally I don’t wash my chicken but not for the reasons outlined in the video. I just haven’t ever developed the habit. Being aware of chicken’s bacteria however I do use a separate boards to chop my chicken, red meat and vegetables.

Not having heard it before, the simplicity of this food tip inspired me to develop a new regular category — Food Tips. Knowledge is powerful, so join me as I find some interesting facts that relate to food especially in the areas of health, hygiene and history. It will be a work in progress so let me know if you have any suggestions.

A Tale of Two Cities

November 22, 2015 inspiringmax

If you could split your time evenly between two places, and two places only, which would these be?

For a period I would love to be able to spend 6 moths in Australia and 6 months in Canada. There is so much natural beauty, flora and fauna and history in both places, devoting time to exploring it would be amazing. The question I would struggle to answer is where to begin? Maybe I could use the following acrostic poems as a guide.

Adelaide

Uluru

Sydney

The Great Barrier Reef

Rottnest Island

ACT

Launceston

Illawarra

Albury – Wodonga

Charlottetown

Alberta

Newfoundland & Labrador

Algonquin Park

Drummondville

Arctic Bay

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/a-tale-of-two-cities/

Sisterhood Of The World Bloggers Award

November 15, 2015November 15, 2015 inspiringmax

This week I am honoured to receive the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award from purpleslobinrecovery. Thank you Purple I enjoy your practical humour and advice on everyday subjects. If you get the chance, stop by and check out her blog and join in with her community spirit.

HERE ARE THE RULES:

• Put the Award logo on your blog

• Thank the person who nominated you, linking back to their site

• Answer 10 questions the person asked you

• Nominate 10 blogs and notify them

• Write 10 new questions for them

HERE ARE MY ANSWERS:

Barney or Blue? If you have no CLUE about this question, that’s okay. Just make up a funny 1 liner.

Definitely Barney after all who doesn’t love a purple dinosaur with an imaginary world that their kids grew up with. Barney’s cool!

Photo Credit: Google Images

2. What number comes after 14? Just so I’ll know for next time.

In a series 7 it’s 21 so I’ll go with that to be different.

3. What surprise ingredient do you add to your lemonade?

Now that would depend who I am making a drink for myself or a child. If it’s me I add vodka and parfait armour—tastes amazing. If it’s for a child definitely red cordial after all I don’t know a child who doesn’t love a fire engine.

4. If you could go back in time, to any age, how old would you be?

I don’t want to go back in time. I’m happy with my age although sometimes would like to be physically younger in my abilities.

5. Why that particular age?

Happy with being in my 50’s dreaming about retirement.

6. Do you drink outta plastic or real glass?

Real glass at every opportunity. If I have to drink out of plastic I like the glass shape to match the drink e.g. if I am drinking wine it needs to be out of a plastic wine glass not a plastic cup—fussy I know.

7. Are you tethered or wireless?

Wireless I think. As long as it works I don’t care.

8. E-book or print?

I love bookshops so definitely print. E-books are convenient but there is something special about the feel of a book and seeing how far you are though it.

MY DESERVING NOMINEES:

MY INTERESTING QUESTIONS:

Your favourite Disney character is…..
What is the vegetable you hated as a child?
Did you get a pen or ink license at school?
Do you drive on the left or right side of the road?
What is your favourite joke?
Do you read fiction or non-fiction?
Who is your favourite author?
What is your favourite sport?
If you could give $1000 dollars to a charity which one would you choose?
Name one of your strengths?

CN Tower’s Glass Floor

November 8, 2015November 16, 2015 inspiringmax

For 36 years between 1976 – 2010, CN Tower was the tallest tower in the world at 553 metres in height. So last year when my husband and I visited Toronto, I was excited to reach the top and cross off one of the original things on my bucket list.

From the moment I entered the elevator I was amazed. It takes 58 seconds, yes less than a minute to travel 132 floors. There is also a glass panel in the wall and the floor so you can look out— if you dare. From the main viewing platform, the views were spectacular as we had chosen a clear winters day.

My favourite part of the CN Tower however is its glass floor. Built in 1994, it was the world’s first glass floor. I had set myself a goal I was going to walk into the middle and look down. Initially, although I knew it was safe—I was petrified. I started with taking a few steps out, sitting and looking down. Determined to not let it beat me, I kept persevering until I could walk across the glass floor. My mindfulness training paid off and I was able to enjoy this unique experience even though our photos don’t show the distance below well.

If ever you visit Toronto, Canada take the time and experience the the joy and challenges of CN Tower. In 2013, we visited Canton Tower in Ghangzhou, China which in 2010 became the tallest tower in the world however this honour is now changes regularly.

Resilience

October 26, 2015October 26, 2015 inspiringmax

What’s your most prized possession?

My most prized possession is my ability to cope with what ever comes my way. My life has been an interesting miss mash of experiences that have helped me developed my personal resilience. At times, I laughing joke that resilience is the one thing that I have achieved a high distinction in. Seriously however—personal resilience is no laughing matter. Although, it is the corner-stone of emotional intelligence. The following acrostic poem describes some of the values my personal resilience has taught me.

Resourcefulness

Encouragement

Sincerity

Intuition

Logic

Integrity

Empowerment

Nurturance

Clarity

Empathy

To help you develop your personal resilience, look into the lessons your tough times have taught you. Moving forward they can turn into powerful tools that you can use to support yourself and others in times of need.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/pride-and-joy/

Some Say Love, It Is A Razor

October 11, 2015 inspiringmax

Take the third line of the last song you heard, make it your post title, and write for a maximum of 15 minutes. GO!

Bette Midler’s The Rose is my favouirte empowerment song. I love to lie on the floor, in the dark and listen to it played—loud and proud. This song motivates me and reminds me risks are worth taking and growth takes time and nurturing.

As one of the opening lines of The Rose, the third line “some say love, it is a razor” uses vivid powerful imagery. A razor like love can be a positive or a negative experience. It can

Tidy new hair growth
Trim a mustache or beard
Transform faces, legs and other body parts
Terminate a life

The secret is to trust the the person in control of the razor—yourself included.

If you are scared of ever bleeding from a razor cut—you will never know the freedom and beauty that comes from feeling your freshly shaven, clean subtle skin. “Feel my skin, it feels so soft” are words often used by many of us to share our experience with others. This invitation increases the intimacy between us and often leads to love.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/cant-drive-55/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Boundaries

October 5, 2015October 5, 2015 inspiringmax

The most amazing physical boundaries and divides I have explored are high in the Taihang Mountains, China. The Guoliang Tunnel shown in the photos below was carved by hand to allow Guoliang village people access to the outside world. To be even more inspired by this amazing part of China and learn more about the Guoliang Tunnel please visit my previous post https://www.inspiringmax.com/guoliang-tunnel/

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/boundaries/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

September 28, 2015 inspiringmax

Change can happen in many ways. As I considered my options for this challenge, nothing was connecting with me. Then I remembered some historical museums my husband and I had found on our recent trip to country New South Wales. What better place to see change, look for inspiration and remember its impact on our lives. One item that grabbed my attention was a 1930’s Drip Safe.

In Australia these were one of the first versions of the modern day refrigerator. The Drip Safe was lined with charcoal and stored on the front or back verandah of the house. The food inside the safe was kept cool by evaporation as water from the rainwater tank above was dripped over the charcoal. I was fascinated as I had never seen one before and I instantly thought about how this item would have changed people’s lives for the better especially over the long hot Australian summers.

Personally I am very grateful for the change refrigerators have made to our lifestyle. I rarely find it difficult to fill two refrigerators, even if one mostly contains drinks.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/change-2015/