The Oregon Women's Report - Women's News from Oregon

Puffballs and Angel Wings

Submitted by Kay Helbling

There were two reasons I moved to Oregon, the ocean and the mountains, the beauty for which I have appreciated for the past thirty years.

Having had neither in the Midwest where I grew up, I plunged into hiking, sand castle building and all the other activities that Oregonians can so easily take for granted. It was while hiking the many Mt. Hood trails in the fall and early winter months of the year that I was introduced to the Oregon mushroom. No, I don’t mean the kind that do crazy things to your head, I mean the kind that you can eat. I was amazed at the variety of colors and shapes I found on and off the trail.

Wanting to learn more, I picked up Mushrooms of North America by Orson Miller, Jr. and found names and descriptions and full colored photos. I learned there are many groups of mushrooms each having their own distinctive characteristics, some quite ugly and yet tasty. Others can be brilliantly beautiful yet dangerous to eat. Species within those groups may look similar but range from choice edible to downright poisonous. So, I was at an impasse. Do I simply enjoy their beauty and the joy of the hunt, or do I find a way to safely experience the taste of these delicacies.

Autism, More Questions Than Answers

By Erika Weisensee

A new study suggesting that autism rates are higher in rainy areas has only increased anxiety for concerned parents. But before you start packing your bags, approach these studies with caution.

The research linking rain and autism was conducted by economics professors at Cornell University, not by autism experts. Rather than taking the word of “junk science,” Genevieve Athens, Executive Director of the Autism Society of Oregon (www.oregonautism.com), says people should refer to the work of experts in the field, like the Autism Research Institute (www.autism.com), an agency devoted to researching autism since 1967.

Dieting on a cruise ship and other real-life possible goals

Your Personal Trainer,
Olivia Rossi, RN, MSN, ACSM

What goes down must come up. So begins the saga of my friend’s seven day Alaska cruise.  Upon her return to work, she told me that it had been her goal before leaving not to gain any weight, nor to deprive herself of dessert, a lofty pursuit considering the buffet was open from 6 am to 12 midnight everyday and wasn’t the only available place to eat on board.  She literally had sea and food all around her–perhaps the ultimate “sea-food” diet!  Amidst all of that floating temptation–she did it!

She had a goal and she took steps to reach it.  More specifically, she took the stairs to reach it–four flights down to the dinner buffet and four flights back up.  It was another two flights up to walk off the ship in port and three flights to go shopping on board.  She kept a fruit bowl in her cabin for snacking and avoided the “see-food” buffet line at breakfast by having her husband bring breakfast to their cabin.  One thing that wasn’t available to her was her daily Starbuck’s Chai Tea non-fat latte.  That was two-hundred calories that she wasn’t having that left her room for dessert!

Dressing like a Million on a Pittance

By Cathy Rae Smith
Founder of Culture Magazine

Recently, I was asked to speak at a university, addressing the MBA Business School students on how to “Dress for Success” on a student’s budget. For years I have advised people on their purchases, whether regarding wardrobe or décor.

“Quality over Quantity” is my primary mantra. Select items of superior materials. In the case of wardrobe choices, this extends further to the issues of line, fit and coloring of clothes that best suits your figure. However, if you have items that are of inferior quality, it can fit well and still look cheap.

Who Needs a Thirty Dollar Toy

Written by: Gienie Assink, Springfield Oregon

Ignorance is bliss, so we’ve heard, but isn’t that true for a child?  Manufacturers of “educational toys” will try to convince you otherwise, and sell you a specialized toy that is guaranteed to enhance your child’s ability to learn.  Thus, “fixing” what they call the problem so in today’s economy your child will not be left behind.

But most everyone would agree a child’s imagination is truly fascinating: Simply put!  For example, as adults we know the purpose of a spoon is to help us eat and serve food.  It is a utensil created to enhance our ability as humans to function better in society, and that is solely its purpose, right?  On the contrary: a spoon can also be GI Joe’s snow shovel, or perhaps many spoons together can serve as a pirate’s buried treasure. (Imagine my son’s delight when he found the spoon drawer and hit the jackpot!)

Rebuilding Oregon – one family at a time

Submitted by Kay Helbling

Lean times are here. Tougher times may be coming, so I decided it was time to seek the sage advice of my elders who actually lived through the days of the Great Depression. Wisdom that can only come from years of experience, their words fed me with insight that went beyond dollars and cents. Their words inspired me with a renewed sense of optimism.

You see, having our world turned upside down could be just what we need to rebuild Oregon and America, but it needs to be done one family at a time. We  need to think differently on just about everything. But, in return, we could find the very foundations upon which the greatness of America was built and can once again return. We can find a society of people who are healthier physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. A society that asks what we can do for ourselves, rather than what can be done for us.

Why I Love Clichés

By Erika Weisensee

Any grammar guide or writing handbook will tell you that clichés are bad. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines a cliché as “a trite phrase or expression.” A former professor of mine was especially fond of telling his students to “avoid clichés like the plague.” Clichés are unoriginal, overused and often corny. But I’m not here to jump on the anti-cliché bandwagon. That would be, well, so cliché.

In writing, clichés often fail. Yet, when speaking, the right cliché can help us express what we really mean. Because clichés are so familiar and we share their meanings with others, they help us save words, and time. Why beat around the bush when you can hit the nail on the head with a perfect cliché?

From Butter Fat to Better Fat . . . The Mediterranean Way.

By Olivia Rossi, RN, MSN,

The Mediterranean diet is a culinary delight.  It is also a heart’s delight.  As poetic as that sounds, it is grounded in history, research and chemistry.  Let’s take look at each and you’ll see why.

First, the history.  The modern day Mediterranean diet has a history that dates back to the years between 1958 and 1970.  During that time, Ancel Keys, a pioneer in the field of nutritional research, was involved in a study called the Seven Countries Study.  Keys was particularly interested in the traditional diet of people living on the small Greek island of Crete.  They were found to have the lowest level of heart disease in the world.  Their diet consisted of olive oil, fruits, whole grains, fish, very little meat, and red wine with meals, a combination of low saturated fat, high monounsaturated fat, omega-3 fish oil and fiber.  “. . . Key’s novel findings revealed to the world for the first time that risk of cardiovascular disease is strongly related to both the level of saturated fat in the diet and the amount of blood cholesterol.  The concept of the Mediterranean diet was born.” (1)

Abstinence message from an American Idol

By Evergreen, Portland

Society struggles with how to deal with teen sexuality and sex education .  Just last month, Willamette University removed some controversial condom posters which were part of a sex education campaign.  After a new outcry the posters were put up again.  Sometimes the best messenger is not a program but a person.   This may be the case with American idol star, Kellie Pickler, whose has a new song dealing with girls’ self-esteem and abstinence.  The song is called Don’t you know your beautiful (see video here).

Here is the best line…

I know you wanna be just like your friends
But he’ll still love you if you don’t give in
If those girls were being honest
’bout when they are where you’re at
I’ll bet they’d tell you they wish
They had their innocence back

A Common Toy… Oh How Interesting!

Submitted by: Gienie Assink, Springfield Oregon

When my husband Tim was 2 years old his dad bought a huge toy semi-truck probably about as long as he was tall.  He could have ridden on the thing I’m sure; however, Bill (Tim’s father) didn’t want Tim to destroy it being a 2 year old.  So he gave it to Tim when he was about 17–If you know Tim’s dad at all, this “logic” would make a lot of sense.

Needless to say, Tim managed to keep it all these years and Elijah, (my delightful 5 year old) got a hold of it and asked Tim how it worked.  Tim says openly, “Just push it along Elijah.  Make noise, you know.” 

A moment later Elijah says in frustration, “It isn’t working dad..!”

In search of the ultimate Chick Flick?

Submitted by Kay Helbling

As a matter of course, I don’t like Chick Flicks. Give me a good old fashioned spy thriller any day. Actually, just watching the promos for those sappy, sleepy, shallow features can turn my stomach. Yet, if truth be told, and it will be here, I have to admit one of my favorite movies of all times would definitely fit that billing.

How do I establish my rating of “favorite”? For me, it is simple—the only ones that I’d actually watch more than one time. Three or four is unheard of for me, but… “The Rose” is the exception. It is beautiful and has everything a woman can relate to—the drive for a career, the need for a family, best friends, great music sung by one of the best, Bette Midler, and the opportunity for a good, old-fashioned sob fest.

Status of Oregon Children Revealed in New Report

By Erika Weisensee

When it comes to the well being of Oregon children, there is a lot of work to do, according to a new study by Children First for Oregon. Oregon has earned a “D” for the second year in a row on the agency’s 2008 Report Card. The study examined five categories, including Child Welfare, Early Care and Education, Family Financial Stability, Health, and Youth Development and Education.

The letter grade is based on an analysis of progress toward the 2010 Oregon Benchmark Targets and progress over the last ten years.

Smart snacking can reduce your appetite and weight

Your Personal Trainer,
Olivia Rossi, RN, MSN, ACSM

No doubt you’ve heard the admonition to avoid between meal snacks but avoiding snacks can do more harm than good when it comes to healthy weights.  Snacking is a way to maintain weight, lose weight and even help to keep from gaining weight during the holidays because eating a healthy snack may keep you from taking a second or third helping at your next meal. The right kind of snacking can lead to good appetite control and more consistent blood sugars.  Since your stomach empties approximately every three hours, you can anticipate that and plan ahead with a nutritious snack.  This is especially helpful if you have a tendency towards hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, which can manifest itself in feelings of light-headedness, confusion, shaking and sweating.

Fashion Faux Pas – Oh, the Horror!

by Cathy Rae Smith,
Founder of Culture Magazine

Anyone with even the remotest exposure to media in 2004 was aware of the “wardrobe malfunction” of the Superbowl XXXVIII halftime show aired live with Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. The next couple years, speculation persisted over whether repeated incidents of Britney Spears going commando in short skirts were accidentally caught by the camera or a calculated ploy for attention. A classic paparazzi shot from the previous generation captured the scornful gaze of Sophia Loren at Jane Mansfield spilling out of her low-cut dress. Though Lady Godiva could be defined as a wardrobe omission rather than a malfunction, such unexpected sightings of the fleshsustain interest.

Breastfeeding, isn’t THAT Easy!

Submitted By: Gienie Assink, Springfield, Oregon

When my second son, Elijah, was a few weeks old, I had a minute to realize I was overwhelmed by the abrupt addition to my life.  Nine months is enough time to prepare a room, but nothing prepares you for a new baby! After being a mother already for nearly two years, I was shocked to learn, the second time around would be much different than the first.  Nothing in my life as a wife, chauffer, head cook, lover, friend, business woman–not to mention president of “No One Knows What I Do Unless I Don’t Do It, Inc.” prepared me for Elijah.  I hasten to add, “as wonderful as he is”.

Can one person really make a difference?

Submitted by Kay Helbling

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Each time I pick up groceries I’m reminded by the checkout clerk with their request for “rounding up my purchase amount and giving the loose change to cancer”. So few pennies for such a huge cause…and then, the pennies become tears when memories reflect on a family member or personal friend who walked through the ordeal.

You receive the news. Your friend has cancer. This vital, always happy, always healthy, always active, woman. How can it be? A million things run through your mind. What can I do to help? What does she need the most from me right now?

As any good friend you want to do anything and everything you can but where do you start? It doesn’t matter, you simply start. She will need you each step of the way.

The Mysterious Appeal of Texting

By Erika Weisensee,

About a year ago, my husband pointed out that I had a whole bunch of unanswered text messages in my cell phone’s inbox. My first thought was, “My cell phone has an inbox?” Even more amazing, was the idea that friends and family were texting me. After a friend gave me a quick lesson, I started sending little messages to the texters in my life.   But within a few weeks, the novelty of texting had worn off. The truth is, I don’t need one more way to communicate with people. I already have two email addresses and two voicemail systems, and texting is tedious. Typing a sentence on my phone’s tiny keypad is more difficult than just dialing the number and talking. I still text a little, but only when a phone call is inconvenient.

Heart Healthy Eating: Reducing the Risks of Heart Disease.

By Your Personal Trainer,
Olivia Rossi, RN, MSN, ACSM

We are surrounded by food. It’s everywhere–at the movies, at the mall, at work, at the airport. It’s available, convenient and it’s usually pretty tasty. The problem is that it’s often not healthy. In choosing foods that are prepared by others, we lose control not only over the way in which it is prepared but also over the ingredients with which it is prepared. Compared to foods prepared at home, most commercially prepared foods are high in sodium, cholesterol and sugar. Those ingredients contribute to three of the risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Knowing your numbers and making some changes in your eating habits can help to decrease your risk.

I can’t even grow a fake tree!

By Evergreen,

All of my household plants have died. My friends only buy me plants that are resilient and need little care. I accidentally killed those plants as well. So this week I decided to try those paper Magic Trees. What could go wrong? All you have to do is add the enclosed solution to the paper tree and it begins blossoming in two hours.

First of all, something happened to my plant solution. Somewhere under my care part of the solution gelled up and was unusable, leaving me with less solution to use. During the first hour of blooms, I couldn’t resist showing my new joy to my neighbor office workers . While boasting I accidently dropped it on the floor. Most of the flowers burst out upon the floor. The tree was supposed to be a thing of pride, joy and beauty. Now it is a towering symbol of my blunderings.