I don’t normally participate in things like this, but I have enjoyed reading so many other bloggers’ 7 links, I was thrilled with Faith of An Edible Mosaic (a long-time favorite blog of mine) tagged me to do so. It’s hard to think back on 27 months of blog posts – this will be my 784th blog post. Insane! But, I did my best. Here we go…
1. Most Beautiful: Tribute to Mama Prevention – Mother’s Day 2010. I’m lucky enough to call my mom my best friend. She’s the most incredible woman I know. The best compliment anyone could ever give me is that I resemble her in any way – looks, mannerisms, sayings, anything.
2. Most Popular: Whole Wheat Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes. I wish I knew why these were so popular, but these things spread like WILD FIRE across the internet and I have received, by far, the most hits on this post. And, they were delicious, too 😉
3. Most Controversial: SkinnyGril Margaritas. There is no link because the post was THAT controversial. In summary, in case you weren’t around back then, I posted about Skinny Girl Margaritas and their serving size (1 1/2 ounces for 38 calories) simply being (for the most part) a play on potions, and not a huge savings from other pre-mixed margaritas. Someone from Bethanny’s marketing department threatened to sue me if I didn’t take the post down and publicly apologize. And here I thought I was just doing simple math — that 1.5 ounces is not a serving size of margarita and that if you drink 8 ounces, that’s over 200 calories. Anyways, the post is down and I think less of Bethanny, her products, and her entire “empire” than ever before. P.S. Did you hear these margaritas were pulled from the shelves of Whole Foods because they weren’t, in fact, “all-natural”? Shocker. The last quote she has in there makes her sound like a real gem. Why isn’t ever a Registered Dietitian who hits it big? Gr.
4. Most Helpful: How to make homemade yogurt in a crock pot. I was so happy with the way this yogurt turned out. I have since decided to spend my time making meals and breakfasts, and opt to buy Greek yogurt, but if I am ever lucky enough to work from home or be a stay-at-home mom or part-time employee, it’s definitely something I would do on a regular basis.
5. Most Surprisingly Successful: Red Velvet Cookies with White Chocolate Chips. More people Google “red velvet cookies” and land on my site more than any other search engine terms. While these cookies were delicious, I find them to be rather…ugly, especially my photos of them – bleck! But, it sure has people headed to Prevention RD from all over the world wide web for the (all too simple) recipe that includes a boxed cake mix.
6. Most Overlooked: Sweet & Salty Olive Oil Granola Clusters. This is crack in granola form. I have dreams about this granola. This granola nearly disappeared into thin air. And, I didn’t hear from one reader that they tried it. Your loss, folks…make it!!
7. Most Proud: Imperfections. I wrote this post when I was overwhelmed with work and my weight. I was struggling with work-life balance and fitting it all in to 24 hours. I still struggle with that, but unlike my last job (which I was in when I wrote this post), I no longer sit ALL day at work. I still sit a lot, more than I would like, but I make an effort to always do my charting standing up at the nurse’s station in the clinic. My weight has remained fairly stable since this post was written, but I am still desiring 20lbs or so weight loss. I *have* lost 10lbs since January and I’ve maintained that loss. So long as I’m stable or heading slowly in the right direction, I’ve learned to love me just as I am. And you, my dear readers, were beyond sweet and supportive to me in that post. There’s moments in time you just remember, always, and driving to work hearing my Blackberry ding with new comments on the post was so nerve-wracking. I didn’t know what people would think. But as the saying goes, honest is best policy and I learned a lot from posting something I was so insecure about. {this photo was taken right around the I posted that blog post}
I think a lot of the blogs I follow have already been tagged and my memory isn’t the best. So I am going to tag all the blogs with the words “HEALTH” or “HEALTHY” in their blog name/web address. Go!
On an unfortunate and unrelated note, I spent last night at Urgent Care. I woke-up on Saturday with pain around my left rib cage and on my left shoulder. It got to the point on Saturday night that I was in tears, just sobbing. I couldn’t get comfortable and on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being take me to the ER NOW), I was at about a 9. At this point I’ve been diagnosed with a “chest muscle strain” but seeing as my last workout was Friday afternoon and was a simple elliptical workout, that isn’t quite stacking up. After a rash developed on my stomach, we’re now waiting to rule out shingles. LORD LOVING, let me not have shingles. But it hurts to move, laugh, breathe, lay…just about anything. And so clearly, it’s been a far from enjoyable weekend. I am just hoping things improve…quickly.
I hope you are all enjoying your Labor Day weekend and are having some better weather than central Ohio – bleck!
Lots of love,
Yikes Nicole. I hope you’re feeling better. Pain is no fun! :-/
Great post!
So sorry you are in pain. Feel better soon!!!
Nicole, I hope you are feeling better when you read this. I love the “realness” of your blog, and I always enjoy seeing your picture when I open Facebook. Keep us posted….
I hope you’re feeling better soon!
This was a fun post to read! But I am so sorry to hear about that pain. I hope they find real answers soon (and not shingles).
Feel better soon!
I remember that margarita post! Crazy you had to take it down. I need to get around to my 7 links too, thanks for the tag! Hope everything turns out okay with you and it’s not shingles! That would stink.
Sorry to hear you’re in pain. My dad had shingles several years ago, and I know it’s not fun. Thanks for sharing your posts! I love red velvet cake- the cookies look really good.
Fun post! I hope you do not have shingles as I understand it is very painful. My sister-in-law had it once. Here in E. Tn. we are loving all this rain. We really needed it. I really feel sorry for the folks in Texas though, I wish they could have shared in this wonderful wet stuff. Our son was evacuated from his Bastrop home last night due to a really bad fire.
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Dianne, hope your son is okay. Thanks for the well wishes!!
Nicole, first of all, thank you for tagging me (although I did already do a 7 links post!), secondly, have you ever read bethenny’s book? It’s basically a recipe for how to have an ED! ARG! You are SO right! Why can’t anyone with any REAL credentials in nutrition hit it big? Most of the time it’s just a bunch of people who don’t know what they are talking about! I could go on and on with my angst but I’m so glad you pointed this all out! On top of that! have you ever tasted the SGM? They taste awful! I Really do like watching her tv shows but what she stands for drives me nuts! Don’t worry! Someday dietitians WILL have their time in the spotlight!
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I’m sure I wouldn’t make it very far in her book before burning it. And the margaritas…not good at all. Thanks for the great comment, Erin…can’t wait to read your 7 things!
Loved reading this post Nicole, except for the end -eek! Hope you don’t have shingles and you are feeling better today!
I remember your Skinnygirl post. I still can’t believe that! Freedom of speech!
Oh my goodness! I hope you’re feeling better! That sounds awful, and super scary.
Sending lots of thoughts, prayers & vibes you feel better soon & tests come back with good results to help make sense of what’s going on. This was a great post (your current pain aside) and loved reading all about your links!
I love these 7 links posts. So interesting and nice to be able to go back to your old posts that I might have missed…like the granola one. I don’t make granola too often but I guess that I’m going to have to bookmark that recipe so that I make sure to use your recipe next time I DO decide to make it.
I’m sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. I hope it’s not shingles. My best friend had shingles when we were kids and she was SO so sick.
Wow! I can’t believe skinny girl made you take down that post, but you’re right! All you were doing is simple math!! 1.5 ounces is hardly a serving of margarita! and Red Velvet cookies – Yum! Must’ve missed that post but can’t wait to try them. Hope you are feeling better!
I saw these “featured” in the grocery store the other day and noticed the sign said “Only 100 calories per serving*!”
[fine print]
*per 4oz serving
At least that’s a little more realistic than the 1.5oz serving. I didn’t buy any. I make better skinny margaritas myself. 😉
Ouch! Forgive me for being so late to respond, I’m trying to catch up on a bunch of reading now… are you ok? What was the outcome of your testing?
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No shingles!! A chest wall strain. Basically, it hurts after running, so I’ve been taking it easy, unfortunately.
Wow so crazy about bethenny’s pr that happened to us with Pinkberry. You’d think if a company and their nutrition info was legit they wouldn’t have to threaten professionals evaluating it, right? Insane.
I was suggested this website via my cousin. I am not certain whether this post is written via him as no one else understand such special approximately my problem. You’re amazing! Thank you!