Deanna Michaux

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me."

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:36:29 -0400

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

- John 14:1

rhamphotheca: Two years later, alien-like sea creature gains...

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:35:31 -0400

Two years later, alien-like sea creature gains Internet stardom

by Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

Among the more bizarre-looking visitors to California waters this summer are Mola molas, or ocean sunfish, which are being seen in unusually high numbers. But it’s a stunning photograph of one of these gentle giants that appears to be getting the most attention. The image, captured off San Diego by Daniel Botelho, became an instant hit after being posted last week on his Facebook page…

(read more: The Grist)

Simple But Good Friend Chicken Recipe

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 07:53:50 -0400

Ingredients

1 (4 pound) chicken, cut into pieces
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour for coating
2 quarts vegetable oil for frying

Directions

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Salt and pepper chicken pieces to taste, then roll in flour to coat. Place chicken pieces in skillet and fry on medium heat until one side is golden brown, then turn and brown other side until chicken is no longer pink inside and its juices run clear. Drain on paper towel and serve!

"Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ."

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 04:50:22 -0400

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.”

- Galatians 6:2

How To Start Exercising

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 13:00:23 -0400

The toughest part about an exercise program is getting started. The best way to start exercises is to start slow and steady.

In order to change your lifestyle from sedentary to physically active, you need to have a workable plan.

Choose an exercise that you can practice easily all year round. Most people enjoy walking, swimming, jogging, and fitness videos. If you have a medical condition, be sure to consult your physician before you begin any type of vigorous activity.

Always begin your exercise slowly. Be sure to make it fun, not overly strenuous. Give yourself a chance to get used to the new activity. Allow yourself the necessary time to warm up before your exercise and as well, time to cool down afterwards. Five minutes for warm-ups and cool down times are often recommended. By doing warm-ups first, you will be less likely to injure yourself.

Aerobic exercises are a great way to remain healthy or even to lose or control your weight. Regular aerobic exercises help to prevent heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and cancers. They can improve your muscles and strenghten your bones, and improve your flexibility. Aerobics can also lower your blood pressure, and lessen depression. Aerobic exercises include bicycling, swimming, stair climbing, hiking,running, walking, aerobic dancing and many other activities.

Aerobics use the large muscles in the legs and buttocks to strengthen your heart and lungs. These are called cardiovascular exercises. Regular aerobic exercises makes your heart stronger.

Establish a reasonable schedule by allowing certain days to be off. It is good to exercise at least three times a week. A well thought out schedule will continue and be more productive on the long run. An example would be to exercise maybe every other day with two or three days off every week. Begin your exercise moderately at first with maybe only 30 minutes per day. Make time for several different activities. If you find that 30 minutes is too long of a time at once, break up your session into shorter intervals such as maybe two sessions of 15 minutes. Don’t stop exercising if your muscles hurt at the start; that’s normal and this will gradually decrease and disappear in time. If you experience any severe pain or swelling, make sure to stop.

Choose a convenient time of the day to exercise. When exercising, it’s best to wait a while after eating or to wait till the weather cools off if it is too warm.

Make sure to wear shoes that you can breathe in and that allow enough room for comfort, but yet properly support your feet.

Have a goal in mind and plan to achieve it gradually. A great way to track your success is to use a chart. You could maybe list the minutes you exercise each day.

To succeed, you must stick with your plan of exercise. Make time to reward yourself for each accomplishment. As you progress, you can increase your levels of exertion over time.

"And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 07:52:26 -0400

“And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

- Hebrews 13:16

Easy Ways to Set Goals

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 10:56:01 -0400

Most people set goals, but very few will ever live to see them become reality. There are many reasons for goal setting failure, but the principle one is a lack of understanding how to set goals.

The fact is, when you set goals in the correct way you will…

Increase Your Productivity.

Because you set goals, and prioritize your day around them, you tend to get things done quicker and far more efficiently. You refuse to allow distractions get in your way. Frivolous activities fall to the side, and people who would otherwise be a drain on your time seem to fade in the rearview.

Have Powerful Self-Confidence.

The purpose you feel from going after the things you are most passionate about fuels a deep and natural feeling of well-being within you commonly known as scorching self-confidence. The elation you get from achieving the little goals along the way only serve to make you feel more confident in yourself and your abilities.

Develop Laser-Like Focus.

By knowing what you want, and exactly how you are going to get it, you are able to zero in on this task with laser-like focus. With this ability to truly concentrate on things, you are able to achieve faster, and at level of quality that will astound your peers and family.

Now that you understand the benefits of goal setting, let’s jump into the process of learning how to set goals in a way that will give you that highest chances of success. Adhere to these simple rules the next time you set goals—

Set Goals and Plan From Today.

When you set goals, it is great to think about where you want to end up tomorrow, but keep in mind that the most important step is the one you take today. What are you going to right now to make sure that you goals take shape? What is the first step going to be in your journey? When we set goals we are talking about the future, so it is easy to relegate acting on it until tomorrow or the day after. Don’t fall into this common mental trap. Set goals, and start living them immediately.

When You Set Goals, Allow Yourself Flexibility.

Why is this necessary? Simple, when we make our goals flexible and liquid, we allow ourselves the chance to adapt when things don’t go our way. When we set goals that are rigid, and we don’t achieve them, we tend to throw the whole process out the window. When the true culprit is that we didn’t give ourselves the chance to make some mistakes along the way.

Affix a Deadline.

When we give a goal an open-ended deadline, we are performing a form of procrastination. We are allowing ourselves to place the goal in the distant future, in the land of “somewhere” and “somehow.” We are leaving our goals to fate, and fate rarely has a way of giving us anything without us putting something in first.

Vary Your Plan of Attack.

When you set goals, you should be thinking about the different ways that you can achieve them. You want to be able to attack your goal from as many angles and directions as possible. This will do two things: First, you will have options if your original plan doesn’t work, and secondly, by varying your attack you will be consistently engaged. We get bored doing the same thing over and over again. For instance, if you had set goals regarding losing weight, you could try several different diet plans and numerous fitness regimens.

Monitor Your Goals.

Now that you have set goals, created a plan of action, and have taken the first step in achieving them, here comes the hard part—following through with them. An easy way to do this is to monitor and evaluate your goals. Keeping track of your progress will give you a chance to see where you are doing well, and where you aren’t and be able to adjust accordingly.

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 05:40:01 -0400

““This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.””

- John 15:12

The Best 7Up Cake Recipe

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 08:56:58 -0400

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter
3 cups white sugar
5 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons lemon extract
3/4 cup lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

Directions

Cream together the butter and sugar for 20 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time. Add flour, lemon extract and fold in the 7UP soft drink.
Pour into a well-greased 12 cup Bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 60 to 75 minutes.

"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they..."

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 04:54:10 -0400

““Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.””

- Luke 6:38

Dealing With Difficult People

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 07:57:40 -0400

Everyone comes up against difficult people, demanding situations, and disappointing circumstances in every area of life; work, marriage, and friendship. We can’t avoid it. But we can learn some few basic skills that can make working with them less stressful.

Dealing with difficult people takes some understanding on our part and a willingness to assume some risk as well.

It takes time to train difficult people that their difficult behavior may work with everyone else, but not with you. However, with a few basic strategies and easy-to –use principles, your effort will be rewarded with better relationships, a reputation that says you are not easily aroused.

Keep in mind the following points:

The difficult people behavior is habitual and affects most people with whom they come in contact. So “Do not take their behavior personally”
Anger is sometimes a valid response.
Recognize that a criticism of your work is not a criticism of you, so don’t let it damage your self-esteem.
It is useless to ask the difficult person to stop doing what they’re doing publicly, but you can employ more confrontational tactics.
Learn to take care of yourself as you don’t want to get sucked into their behaviors.
You can’t change difficult people, but you can learn to deal with them.

The idea in dealing with difficult people is to first look at your role in the situation and then to try the following strategies:

1) When discussing problems with difficult people, keep it short and direct. It minimizes a stressful situation for both of you. Don’t argue with them as it’s a waste of time. When you do speak, be sure your tone is non-emotional and non-confrontational.

2) Generally speaking, it is good to practice starting conversations that create goodwill. Ask people about the things they like – family, hobbies, TV programs and work in general. This is a very good idea to disarm them, get them talking and make them feel more comfortable.

If you are dealing with silent people who ignore you and seek safety by refusing to respond, then there should be another response. Silent people get away with not talking because most people are uncomfortable with silence. Get them to talk by asking open-ended questions that can’t be answered with just a yes or no, then wait at least one full minute and don’t try to fill the space with words to ease your own discomfort.

3) “Oftentimes, indirect language works because it focuses on the work rather than the person. Instead of saying, ‘You need to get it to me,’ you can say, “Reports must be prepared” That way, people are less likely to feel that they are under attack.

4) Learn to admit when you’re wrong. Make apologies to all you have harmed. It can be as simple as saying “I’m sorry for what I’ve done”, “I made a mistake”, or “I could be wrong”. The more you do this, the easier it becomes.

5) Confront problems professionally and with confidence. As a matter of fact, when you get into a tough point, don’t raise your voice, as dealing with difficult people in a calm and permissive way will most likely keep the emotional level and force the person to listen to you.

6) Keep in mind that “how you communicate with others has much to do with how people respond to you”. Difficult people are difficult because their desires are being met through their difficult behavior. Difficult people are often fully aware they are being difficult. They continue because there is a reward in the end result.

You have to analyze what you have been doing in the past that rewards or encourage the difficult person’s behavior. Then, stop rewarding them.

7) Knowledge is power and it’s to our advantage to develop and practice effective conflict management practices that facilitate discussion. Read related books, attend workshops, listen to tapes or CDs. Learn how to establish an immediate rapport through a smile or eye contact. Develop as many skills as you can. This way you gain credibility, and your efforts will soften those opposing you. Effective communication is critical.

8) Build your self-confidence. Self-confident people are not as concerned with what other people think about them. They will not instinctively let the difficult person have their way in hopes of being liked. Additionally, people with high self-esteem are less likely to respond to the difficult person by being a difficult person.

If the difficult person tries to verbally bully you, just say, “I don’t allow people to treat me this way.” Then slowly and calmly walk away. So be confident and look your bully in the eye. Don’t forget to breathe (most people tend to forget to breathe when under stress). Speak in a calm and clear voice while asserting yourself by naming the behavior you don’t like and state what is expected instead.

Sometimes you may find yourself forced to take unpredictable actions to get their attention: drop a book, stand up, firmly call them by name, and get them to sit down. Be ready for friendly overtures as soon as they view you as worthy of respect.

9) If you can’t see the problem from the difficult person’s point of view, ask them. While this may not work with some, it’s usually a good idea in the case of closer relationships. The trick is, in arguments, you need to have patience with the other person, and self-restraint with yourself.

Some difficult people are experts at taking potshots and making sneak attacks in subtle indirect ways. Respond to those snipers with a question like “Are you’re making fun of me?” Although a sniper usually replies to such question with denial, but it will reduce the chance for similar attacks in the future.

10) Remain open to other people’s opinions, viewpoints, and ideas. Share yours, as well. Find something to appreciate and comment on in a clever way. Too often, we focus on what people are doing wrong. Try to catch them doing something right and comment on it. It makes people feel less under attack.

Dealing with difficult people takes persistence and practice, so don’t get discouraged. Although these strategies won’t change the difficult people, they will break their ability to interfere with your daily activities. “Most important, you’ll feel more confident and you’ll start to enjoy your life.”

"He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor."

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 04:47:16 -0400

“He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.”

- Proverbs 22:9

Crispy Fried Chicken Recipe

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:51:01 -0400

Ingredients

1 (4 pound) chicken, cut into pieces
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour for coating
1 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper to taste
2 quarts vegetable oil for frying

Directions

Take your cut up chicken pieces and skin them if you prefer. Put the flour in a large plastic bag (let the amount of chicken you are cooking dictate the amount of flour you use). Season the flour with paprika, salt and pepper to taste (paprika helps to brown the chicken).

Dip chicken pieces in buttermilk then, a few at a time, put them in the bag with the flour, seal the bag and shake to coat well. Place the coated chicken on a cookie sheet or tray, and cover with a clean dish towel or waxed paper. LET SIT UNTIL THE FLOUR IS OF A PASTE-LIKE CONSISTENCY. THIS IS CRUCIAL!

Fill a large skillet (cast iron is best) about 1/3 to 1/2 full with vegetable oil. Heat until VERY hot. Put in as many chicken pieces as the skillet can hold. Brown the chicken in HOT oil on both sides. When browned, reduce heat and cover skillet; let cook for 30 minutes (the chicken will be cooked through but not crispy). Remove cover, raise heat again and continue to fry until crispy.

Drain the fried chicken on paper towels. Depending on how much chicken you have, you may have to fry in a few shifts. Keep the finished chicken in a slightly warm oven while preparing the rest.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he..."

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 04:57:01 -0400

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

- Isaiah 9:6

How to Make Country Cornbread

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:26:02 -0400

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups Quick Baking Mix
3/4 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk

Directions

In a bowl, combine the mix, cornmeal, sugar and salt. Beat egg and milk; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (corn bread will not brown. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before cutting.

"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he..."

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:01:14 -0400

“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”

- Psalm 127:2

How To Be More Productive

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:08:10 -0400

Thinking good everyday…the Deanna Michaux Way

How much time you really spent working and getting the results you want at work? Take a wild guess. You might be surprised to know that nearly 30 to 40% of your total time is wasted or non-productive.

Why is this so? Some of the reasons appear to be valid like distractions or time waster activities and some are merely self-made. The worst part of all, you may not be even aware of it. Have you ever been in a situation that you felt you did a lot of things, yet nothing has been accomplished?

Do not worry, because you are not alone! Most of us (if not all) are guilty of wasting time in our workplace. The good news is that, there is a solution to this problem.

Here are some proven ways on how to improve your productivity in anything you’ll do:

1. Make a list of the things to be done

Relying your memory on the items for execution at work is not really that effective. Unless if you are gifted with a photographic memory that can record and remember all the slightest details of the job to be done. It happens to me so many times (or perhaps to you as well) and you know what happened? A slight destruction like somebody talks to you about something can already mess up the workings of your memory. As a results, things that are planned are not done, instead the items that re not supposed to be done on that day…you guessed it right…they are done! Some may argue that, is it not still productive since something were still done? Well, maybe if your Boss is also in the same situation as you are.

2. Prioritize your list

It is important to organize your list in the order of priority to be productive. This will help you in ensuring the important tasks are taken cared of first. The most important task of the day should be at the top and the not-so-important task at the bottom of the list. You can apply the same principle on your activities outside of your workplace.

3. Stick to your list

It is perfectly normal to be destructed at times. However, once the activity list is done, stick with it. Make a commitment to yourself to follow your list. At the end of the day you will be amazed how much you’ve accomplished. It is worthwhile to note that the activities in your list should have a realistic chance of being completed within the day.

4. Do not fall on the trap

An activity list should be constructed in a way that you’ll have an accomplishment at the end of the day. Not to punish you due to a lot of it left undone and will be carried over the following day. Therefore, do not overload your list, or else you will into a trap of having a list with piles of un-attended activity. The list should keep your momentum for the following day, thus, leave some room for you to enjoy the feeling having an accomplishments.

5. Reward yourself

When it is time to knock-off from work, give yourself a treat as a reward of a successful day. You need some form of self consciousness to acknowledge that you did a good job. Do not wait for somebody to appreciate what you have done to feel better. Instead, reward yourself in a simple to build up the conscious feeling that you are doing the right thing.

Productivity consciousness is a good habit to cultivate. Indeed, nothing beats the feeling of satisfaction by knowing that the mission was accomplished. However, it takes discipline and commitment to be productive at all times, especially at the workplace. The key thing to note is that productivity, is not an option, but should be a way of life when we do things.

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He..."

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 05:13:04 -0400

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.”

- Psalm 18:2

Green Tea Benefits

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 15:03:48 -0400

Green tea has been used as a medicine for thousands of years, originating in China but widely used throughout Asia this beverage has a multitude of uses from lowering blood pressure to preventing cancer. The reason that green tea has more health benefits attached to it than black tea is (apparently) due to the processing. Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation whereas green tea’s processing avoids the fermentation process. As a result, green tea retains maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances that give green tea its many benefits.

Here’s a list of some of its amazing benefits — benefits that you may not have been aware of. Some of these benefits are still being debated, so please do your own research if you want to use green tea for medicinal purposes.

Weight Loss. Green tea increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.

Diabetes. Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage.

Heart Disease. Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.

Esophageal Cancer. It can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, but it is also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging the healthy tissue around them.

Cholesterol. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is said to delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried out on mice showed that green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells.

Tooth Decay. Studies suggests that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions

Blood Pressure. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers.

Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases.

Skincare. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage.

"See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength..."

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 07:55:40 -0400

“See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.””

- Isaiah 12:2