Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist's Blog – January 2010 Archive (10)

FORKS AND CORKS AT COSIMO'S

The Forks and Corks Food and Wine Festival premiered this year with wine tasting dinners at various restaurants. It was a delightful beginning to a three day celebration of food and wine. I joined other food and wine enthusiasts at the Forks and Corks Tasting Dinner at Cosimo’s Brick Oven where Executive Chefs Shane Dabney from Cosimo’s Brick Oven at… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 31, 2010 at 8:30pm — 1 Comment

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Salmon Rice Bowl with Ginger-Lime Sauce

Okay, there's a reason the piece of salmon in this photo is so dinky. When I made this recipe by Mai Pham from FoodandWine.com, I wasn't expecting it to become a recipe of the week. But after I tasted it, I had to share it...there just wasn't much left over to photograph! This one-dish meal is so refreshing and delicious, and the entire meal can be be made in half an hour. I recommend using basmati rice or jasmine rice to enhance the Vietnamese… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 26, 2010 at 9:14pm — No Comments

Have You Been Overcharged Too?

While doing my end of the year bookkeeping, I happened to notice some extra charges on the Verizon bill for my landline. Listed under Convenient Pay-Per-Use Calling Services, I found charges for Automatic Call Returns, something that has never been utilized on my phone—something that I didn’t even know how to do. The charge was $1.25 per “call return.” On one bill, I was charged for three of these calls, amounting to $3.75 of false charges. Upon further investigation, I found that not only did… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 24, 2010 at 6:30pm — 1 Comment

Sarasota Food and Wine Festival, Then a Speakeasy

This month’s food and wine festivals began with last night’s Sarasota Food and Wine Festival sponsored by the American Lung Association. Southgate’s Hilllview Street was transformed into a mecca of food and wine. You know I’m a happy girl when I’m faced with a street lined with food from 25 restaurants and caterers and an array of wine to taste from Premier Beverages. I could be seen rushing from table to table in an effort to taste every edible… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 24, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: Take a Tip from Conan

I don’t normally watch late night television, but after all the hoopla about NBC replacing Conan O’Brien as the Tonight Show host, I tuned in for his last couple of shows. What I viewed was an example what Relational Life Therapists like myself refer to as "relational living."On Thursday’s show, there was great fun at the expense of NBC. But on Conan’s last night as the Tonight Show host, he became serious. He expressed gratitude for his twenty year… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 24, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: The Hard Truth is a Gift

Whether you are giving it or receiving it, the hard truth is a gift. Most of us have a difficult time both giving and receiving negative feedback. However, when we care about people, one of the greatest gifts we can give them is to lovingly and respectfully tell them those things about themselves that no one else has the nerve to tell them. Conversely, it is a gift to receive that information about ourselves.

Think of all the things you… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 20, 2010 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Post-Holiday Salad

This refreshing, light and easy recipe that Donna Paige submitted for the holiday recipe contest sounds like a great salad for after the holidays too. Hence, I've changed the title here from Holiday Salad to Post-Holiday Salad, a delicious addition to my post-holiday weight loss efforts.

Needed:

4 Tablespoons Frozen Cranberry Juice Concentrate

4 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar

1/1/2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard

2 Tablespoons… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 17, 2010 at 9:00am — No Comments

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't Let The Shame Be On You

As humans, we all make mistakes at one time or another. When a mistake is made or something has been done to hurt someone, many people tend to withdraw and wall off in shame, inwardly berating themselves. This behavior is what is called toxic shame. The message is “I’m so hurt by how I hurt you that my pain is more important than yours.” Others lash out and attempt to mask their error by blaming the other person for his wrong-doings. Both of these types of behaviors are self-absorbed and do… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 12, 2010 at 5:00pm — No Comments

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Turbo Weight Loss Soup

Now that the holiday feasting is over, the three food thoughts running through my mind are: I need to lose the pounds I gained over the holidays, I don't want to sacrifice eating good food in order to lose the weight, and I want something warm in these freezing temperatures. In case you're thinking like I am, I thought it was a good time to reincarnate this recipe that I posted in the early days of the website. My mom introduced me to this… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 10, 2010 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

RELATIONSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK: Make a Resolution for Your Relationship

Most of the time when we make resolutions for the New Year, our resolutions tend to be self-centered. Resolutions such as losing weight or stopping smoking are generally about you and you alone. This year, as you make your New Year’s resolutions, expand your pledges to include actions that will impact your relationship. Perhaps you need to stop yelling or complaining, be more accountable for your mistakes or spend more time simply having fun together. As an incentive, remember that your efforts… Continue

Added by Amy Warren, LMHC / WQ Mag Columnist on January 4, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments