Unwilling to give up her desire to make a difference in the world around her, Catherine made a decision. With a string of published articles behind her, she decided to pursue writing her first book. The years subsequent to 2005 deepened Catherine as she re-evaluted the validity of her belief in God, and rediscovered its staying power. Then in 2007, when cancer hit, her faith held up.

Convinced intimacy with God through Jesus Christ is the secret to true success and inner peace, Catherine shifted her focus and in 2008 began preparing for ministy.

Based out of South Central Alaska, Catherine and her husband, Jeff, are semi-retired with a part-time business. Along with sea kayaking and fishing, she pursues her biggest passion – helping others experience God.

Join our Host, Kelli Claypool, as she talks with Catherine J. Craig, Author of The Golden Thread, on the next DivaTalkRadio show.

When: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. EST
Where: http://divatalkradio.com/live
Our interactive chat room will be open during the LIVE show to take your questions and comments

Join us!

According to Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of “The Doctors,” identifying whole grain products can be challenging. Shoppers can look for cues on the front of the box, but they need to read the ingredient list to know if they are getting products with whole grain as the first ingredient. Ingredient lists detail ingredients in order of prevalence, and if the words “whole” or “whole grain” are followed by a grain like wheat or oats, it means the food contains more whole grain than any other single ingredient. Here´s how to determine if your cereals have whole grain as a first ingredient:

• Start Early! The Dietary Guidelines recommend people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. Get a jump-start on the day´s nutrition by incorporating whole grain into your morning routine. For instance, when choosing cereal make sure whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. One easy choice is cereal with the white check, which have more whole grain than any other single ingredient.
• Make Simple Swaps. Choose whole grain versions of the foods you love. Great options include whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread or even whole grain crackers. Also, try different types of whole grain. Use brown rice instead of white rice as a side dish at dinner or popcorn, which is a whole grain, for a snack.
• Don´t Judge a Food by Its Cover. The front of food packages provide good nutritional cues, but don´t forget to read the ingredients and check the nutrition label and side labels for additional health information. Cereals with the white check even include the amount of whole grain per serving on packaging.

Plus, check out Dr. Travis Stork in this brief video about the importance of whole grain and how to find whole grain.

To help make it easier to find whole grain products, General Mills developed “Fast Lane for Whole Grain,” an online educational game. Consumers can navigate virtual grocery store aisles and identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient, with the option to enter a sweepstakes to win one of each of the 50 cereals with the white check.

In connection with healthier lifestyles, a diet rich in whole grain has been linked to healthier body weights, and it may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Make a commitment to incorporate more whole grain into your family´s diets by starting their day with a bowl of cereal with the white check, including Cheerios®, Lucky Charms®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Honey Nut Cheerios® and Total®. For more information on the importance of whole grain and a chance to enter the “Fast Lane for Whole Grain” sweepstakes visit www.WholeGrainNation.com

In addition, you can visit http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/d537/ to download a printable coupon for $1.75 off the purchase of any (2) cereals with the white check today!

DISCLOSURE: This information was provided by MyBlogSpark. No products and/or compensation were given in exchange for posting this information.

If you missed the live show, be sure to listen to the rebroadcast and connect with Kim. Your Happy relationship will thank you!

What Makes a Happy Couple Happy?

Whether you’re in love and want to make it better, or are alone and want to get it right next time, relationship expert Kim Olver reveals the hidden truths behind happiness and satisfaction.

Secrets of Happy Couples is different from other books of the same subject because it is based on one basic truth—that all great relationships begin and end with yourself. Any relationship is the sum of its parts: individuals. This book explores how you, as an individual, can make the difference and create a happy and fulfilling relationship with your partner.

No other book has surveyed couples. Olver also interviewed prominent relationship experts and included their ideas in the book. She discusses the Relationship Cycle, beginning in the Alone Stage, moving to the Getting Together Stage, on to the Compatibility Stage, to the Maintenance Stage, and then back to the Alone Stage. At least 50% of us will find ourselves alone again due to death, divorce or personal decision. Kim doesn’t shy away from that fact; instead she provides tips and strategies to successfully navigate the grief of a lost relationship.

Secrets of Happy Couples: Loving Yourself, Your Partner, and Your Life will provide you with the answer to how you too can be happy and satisfied in your relationship with your significant other.

Join our host, Kelli Claypool, as she talks with Kim about the Secrets of Happy Couples, on the next DivaTalkRadio.

When: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. EST
Where: http://divatalkradio.com/live
Our interactive chat room will be open to take your comments and questions

About Kim Olver

Kim is the award winning author of Secrets of Happy Couples, a licensed clinical professional counselor, life coach, founder of Coaching for Excellence LLC, and creator of the InsideOut Empowerment process. She spent two years compiling the research and survey data for Secrets of Happy Couples. For more than two decades she has helped clients get along better with the important people in their lives — including themselves — at home and at work.

The Chamberlain Negotiation Principles: A Tale of Five Must Know Negotiation Tenets and the Insight Behind the Principles to Help You Succeed

The Chamberlain Negotiation Principles is an excellent book not just for business professionals looking to enhance their negotiation skills, but the fable format is perfect for anyone interested in learning about negotiations that normally would shy away from the typical non-fiction business “How-To” books.

About the Author:  Jared Kelner’s career started in the mid 1990s in California where he opened a chain of secondhand children’s clothing stores. “The Well Dressed Baby” was featured in the August 1998 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine in an article entitled “10 Best Children’s Businesses You Can Start Now.”

Our Divas are off spending time with their families over the next two weeks. Both Kelli and Gina are traveling and will not host a live until the new year. Our next live show is scheduled for January 4, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Spend some time this Christmas to love a little hard, smile a little longer, and keep joy in your heart always. We love you beyond measure and look forward to spending 2012 with YOU!!

Until next time Divas, wear your heels and sneakers well..and be blessed!!

Celebrate your child’s talents, gifts, accomplishments, awards and even challenges. How? Glad you asked – by developing their resume.

Choosing activities that provide your child with life skills as well as build character is a key element to their success. Documenting those is also a key element to their success. Why? Keeping before them a present visual reminder of their activities, awards, accomplishments, gifts, talents, etc., gives encouragement and pride in what they do and have done. It also allows them to see how well they have progressed over the years. In other words, you will assist your child in “behaving” their way to success.

A resume for a child:

* Boosts self-esteem
* Presents a child in such a way that others will want to invest in that child
* Shows that a child’s accomplishments go beyond his or her report card
* Affirms the importance of what a child does

Kris Manley wrote this wonderful guide, Resumes for Children – 17 Years Old and Under, because she saw a missing piece. Parents talk about their children’s activities, accomplishments, awards, and challenges, but most parents don’t document them. Resumes for Children – 17 Years Old and Under gives parents a great start because a child will someday need a resume. So let’s be proactive and begin early.

Join the Divas as they talk with Kris Manley on the next DivaTalkRadio.

When: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. EST
Where: http://DivaTalkRadio.com/live

We recommend Gary Chapman’s free quiz on his site

the Five Love Languages.

Kelli and Rebecca both share how to come through a painful divorce. Kelli’s first marriage ended in this expensive, traumatizing way. The losses of friendships, money, community position, self esteem, and family is painful. But there are some steps to move to victory.

1. Forgive your self and your mate

2. Take extreme care of yourself

3. Reach out to new community members

When people look at you strangely after your pain, simply greet them warmly!

Sometimes this heartache follows death and grief also. How important to help eachother.

You can reach Rebecca on

Twitter @RebeccaFein

Facebook: facebook.com/rebecca.fein

facebook.com/feinlifecoaching

One of the things that we enjoy doing on DivaTalkRadio is giving new authors the opportunity to share their books with our Loyal Diva Listeners. When the information about this author came across my desk, I knew that her story would be ideal to share. What caught my eye is this message from Patsy…

“My name is Patsy Henry, and although I am 65 and retired, I am in a good place.  Two years ago I wrote and had two books published about my bunnies.  At this point, I have 3 books in the “My Hare Line” series and a 4th one in the editing process.  What an awesome place to be at this point in my life!!!  I have had all sorts of rewarding experiences.  Who would have thought??  I look forward to hearing from you.”

How could I not book her to be on the show? I love how she is living out her dream of writing books on her beloved bunnies. I can totally see me writing books about my pet chickens…hmmm, don’t get me started!

Author Patsy Henry came by and shared her sweet spirit and story with us on DivaTalkRadio all about her journey and even  getting published telling her stories about Bunny Rabbits. More proof that following your passion can lead to good things.

Also, we are so excited to announce that we have filled 478 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, nearly reaching our Mission 500 Goal of five hundred. THANK YOU DIVAS!

When you were a child, did you have a pet?  My Hare Line author, Patsy M. Henry, was from a hard working farm family, and there was no time or money for pets. The thought of having one never entered her mind.  At the age of fifty-seven, her husband surprised her with a rabbit for Easter.  Follow along as the author takes you on an emotional ride as she learns how to take care of Bunny Rabbit.  She adds Jack and Flopsey to the family and the action picks up.  Emotions run high as two dogs attack the rabbits.  Our author develops a love and strong bond unlike any she had known before.  My Hare Line tells the story of their sometimes-bumpy ride.

After the tree fell and knocked the fence down, Brownie asked Rascal if anyone escaped. Rascal thought this was the silliest thing he had ever heard. As usual, Rascal talked to Aunt Paula Rabbit about what Brownie had said to him. That’s when he learned about his adventurous family.

We arrived at Applebees in the middle of lunchtime, at 12:15 p.m. and a scan of the tables represented approximately 70% full. We were greeted by a nice young man who welcomed us, then taken over by an older woman who had the attitude that she could careless if we were there or not. We asked for a booth, which by her huffing while looking at what was available, it was clear that our request annoyed her in some way.

The nice young man seated us and said that our server would be with us shortly. After approximately 10 minutes and two trips to the bathroom (the car ride was long for mom), we still did not see sight of a server. In observing the tables immediately around us, the three (3) booths to our left were empty, and the two tables in front of us had finished their meals and were chatting.

After another 5 minutes, the older woman came over to our table and asked for our drink order. By this time, mom was asking for a drink every 2 minutes (she has Alzheimer’s and forgot that she just asked). It took another 7 minutes for us to get our drink order, which represents a 22 minute wait just to get our initial drinks.

Because we had so much time to wait prior to getting our drinks, we were ready to order our food. The server arrived at our table shortly after receiving the drinks and if she told us her name, I didn’t capture it and she wasn’t wearing a name tag. Mom and Spencer (my son) decided to order off the 2 for $20 menu. Spencer ordered the chicken tenders platter, mom wanted the Chicken Fettuccine Carbonara, and the boneless chicken wings as an appetizer. I decided on the Cowboy Burger, and order the Appetizer Sampler for the three of us to share. Hey, I have growing teenage son…he loves food!

The appetizers came out within a reasonable time and the server saw that my son’s drink needed to be refilled. The boneless chicken was scrumptious. The mozzarella sticks were crispy and the cheese was perfectly stringy. The Spinach & Artichoke Dip was hot and tasty. However, the Cheese Quesadillas were cold to the point that the cheese was not melted. I sat them aside and was not going to mention it since the rest of the appetizers were delicious. I had to remind the server to refill my son’s drink and by that time both mine and my mom’s drink needed refilling. Unfortunately our server never showed up with refills.

Again, the restaurant was not packed, and even if it was…having to wait and ask multiple times for refills is poor service.

The entrees also came out within a reasonable time. I asked the server who delivered the entrees for drink refills. Again, we waited approximately 5 minutes and no refills. At this time, the manager (Dustin) was walking by and I called out to him and asked if he was the manager. He acknowledged that he was and I shared with him my substandard service. Even though I was not going to originally mention the Cheese Quesadillas, I did when speaking with him.

The manager was gracious and took our drink order for refills. Our server then came to the table and asked me “is he getting your drinks or do I have to?” I was stunned and didn’t know what to say. I simply said to her “I’m not sure, perhaps you should go check.” A few minutes later, our server brought the drinks and made the excuse that they were busy. Dustin, the manager came over and gave me the same excuse, but then took it one step further and blamed that it was an election day. More about my thoughts on the excuses in a moment.

Dustin offered to bring out another order to Quesadillas, for which I was grateful, but not necessary as we were ready to leave. Mom was getting anxious. He did, however, remove the Appetizer Sampler from my bill. Again, I’m grateful and appreciated the jester.

Here’s my two cents on the slow service and the excuses made by both the server and the manager.

Stop insulting our intelligence and stop…please stop making excuses. Dustin, as the manager, you must set an example for your employees to follow. They see you making worthless excuses, they are going to do the same. It was obvious that half way through out meal, there were less patrons than when we first arrived, and still not full to capacity. Do not make excuses that you were “busy” as that tells me that the other patrons had priority over us. That’s simply poor business procedures by excuse making. An then to tell me that it was also an “election day”…sheesh, what does that have to do with anything.

The fact is, if you are too busy to handle your customers then perhaps revisiting your operating procedures is in order. There is absolutely no reason for a customer to have to wait for a refill, and then to make excuses of being too busy just adds salt to the wounds.

As mentioned in the beginning, we traveled 84 miles, round trip, to visit this Applebees, and it was disappointing in the level of service received.

Location:
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar
100 Max Wagner Drive
Glasgow, KY 42141
Phone: (270) 678-3325
Manager: Dustin
Server: Not sure, but the name on the receipt is Carolyn H.

I invite you to share your idea of good and bad service. Please comment below.