Author: Sarah ODell

Our Move to Asheville

~ Sarah ODell ~ Leave a comment

Well, hello! It’s been a while! We’ve been busy with a move after buying a house in Asheville, NC in 2021 then moving in May 2022.

Why Asheville? Everyone is friendly here and always ask this question. We came for the four seasons, a slower pace and the natural beauty. My husband loves to cycle which we do together some. I have also joined a hiking group. We enjoy giving back by volunteering and have gotten involved in several things. There are many opportunities to choose from here!

Someone here told me that “you’ll get very busy “. So true! Most people are from somewhere else. So they are looking to make friends and explore the area especially if they aren’t working. There are many clubs, churches and organizations looking for volunteers.

Was it the right move? Absolutely! It’s been an easier transition than I expected. People are generally open and accepting. We have most of the amenities that we’re accustomed to in a large city. We love the outdoor activities that are available and enjoy going downtown for dinner and live music.

Any downsides? There’s a shortage of housing (like a lot of cities) and real estate is high. I heard on the news that there are still a lot of people wanting to move here and when mortgage rates drop they’re expecting a surge. I meet people at the gym who are living in an apartment until a house opens up. There is a little more availability and lower prices in the cities around Asheville.

Contractors are in short supply. Our house was 20 years when we bought it and needed updating. It was more expensive than expected and we had to wait a couple of months for the painter.

There aren’t enough doctors here for the number of people. I waited 4 months to become a patient with a family practice doctor. There are some issues with the largest hospital that are concerning, but hopefully it will improve.

The restaurants are good but are smaller than Texas restaurants. They fill up quickly! Reservations are recommended a month in advance for a gourmet meal.

Overall, it’s been a great move for us and we love living in Asheville!

Weekend at Boerne

~ Sarah ODell ~ 2 Comments

We were in Boerne, (bern-ee) TX recently for a bike ride. It’s a quaint town near San Antonio. It’s been 10 years since I visited and the town continues to grow. Main street is thriving with quirky and fine shops. I’d like to return so we can explore more of it!

xoxo Sarah

Main Street
Collectibles on Main Street
Our friend worked for Texaco and noticed. he could buy a gas pump
1854 Post Office is now a home and garden store
Once a bank building, now a fine department store. Unfortunately, many shops had closed for the day.
From my bike ride, I was between Comfort and Welfare as the sign says

One Week in the Grand Canyon

~ Sarah ODell ~ 2 Comments

Here’s the thing. I didn’t really want to spend a week rafting/camping in the Grand Canyon but my husband really wanted to go. We had visited the North Rim before but I was curious to get deep inside the canyon. I’m not a good camper but I’m from Texas and we’re not known for pleasant summer nights. When friends invited us on a private trip, I said ‘yeah, okay’ and signed up!

The group had booked with Western River who started their trips in 1961 with a uniquely designed boat made of hot dog looking tubes in the front. They picked us up in Las Vegas at 4:45 am to travel to the Boulder City airport so we could catch our flight to Marble Canyon. Once we arrived, our guides met us. Joe, Shad, Justin and Jack were all wonderful guides, cooks, rescuers, medics and companions.

There was a lengthy safety talk the first day at launch. This is an expedition, not a resort. There was an opportunity to opt out if you weren’t willing to be uncomfortable. Medical help is 3-4 hours away. They asked us to stay flexible because you never know what will happen. You need to be able to get on and off the boat without assistance and hike over boulders, on ledges and through streams. I would say it’s not for people who are uncomfortable with 1) sand, 2)not taking a shower for a week, and 3)peeing in the river

The water was down a bit from normal at 8000 cfs. The rapids were still fun and exciting. We had quite a few 8, 9 and 10 class rapids and even one 11. We learned the rapids are rated by danger and technical skill required to navigate. On the fourth day, we had 30 challenging rapids to navigate. We had several 180 turns in the rapids which were (mostly) planned. We had a few passengers spin around but no one fell into the rapids. Camps each afternoon were determined by what’s available and how far we needed to go each day.

The views were amazing. The canyon changed as we rafted along. I loved seeing the 600 foot red wall canyons the first time. I marveled that 6 million go to the Grand Canyon each year, but only 20,000+ see what we saw. We saw lots of Desert Bighorn sheep, mule deer, lizards and one hummingbird that perched on our heads and hands looking for something sweet.

All in all, it was an epic expedition with lots of fond memories and a few bruises. I’m glad I said yes!

xoxo Sarah

You Know What You Want

~ Sarah ODell ~ Leave a comment

“They aren’t working very hard.”
Did I hear my trainer right? He’s new to the gym and I was curious about his coaching style.

“I have to motivate them to work hard”.
Have you asked them about their goals?
“Well, I know what they need.”
His style was to push to make them work hard.
He wanted to see results from his clients.
Do you know what results they want?
He thought he did.
He seemed to be making assumptions about his clients. This is classic working up the Ladder of Inference.

I observe some data, then I select data, I add my meanings based on culture/experience, I make assumptions based on those meanings, then I draw conclusions. Last I adopt beliefs and take actions based on those beliefs. That’s the Ladder of Inference.

We often think our beliefs are true, it’s obvious and it’s based on real data. When your friend doesn’t call you back and you think it’s because she’s mad at you. Later, you found out she was dealing with a family crisis.

One way to avoid jumping up the Ladder quickly is share your thinking, test your beliefs with others, and talk about the data. Yes, just talk about what you’re seeing and experiencing!

We ended up having a conversation about things that could be going on and what to talk about with his clients.

I help women entrepreneurs launch their business with ease. I ask my clients what they want to get out of it. It’s important that it’s about you, not me.

Have a fabulous day!

Sarah

Spring Update

~ Sarah ODell ~ Leave a comment

Oh my! I’ve been away for a while. I started pounding the keys in January working on a new project. We had the artic blast in February which knocked out power and water for many in my area. Then my father passed away once we had (somewhat) recovered from the storm. While it’s difficult to say goodbye, I know that he’s at peace now. After some time, I turned back to my purpose.

Voila! The new project is my new website to help entrepreneurial women identify their gifts and help them launch their business with ease. I plan to use my coaching skills and will offer MBTI and EQ-i assessments. Things are already starting off with a bang!

I started this blog to explore a number of things going on in my life. The death of my mother. Nutritional issues. Fitness fun. Travel. I will continue to explore those topics but will shift to helping people with my skills.

After three decades of work experience, I have decided to approach this in the way we’re working now. Virtually where the internet connects us all together.

Try out the personality quiz on my home page to find out your Unique Gift! Let me know what you think.

xoxo Sarah

Dear 2020

~ Sarah ODell ~ Leave a comment

You are like Lucy who yanked the football out of the way right before Charlie Brown kicked it.  Fortunately, I got up, dusted myself off and tried again.

I’ve learned some things this year and I’m grateful for the lessons.

First, I love being in quarantine with my husband.  We’ve developed new routines and have had some fun.

I learned a new skill, jumping rope.  I never thought I would be into jumping rope and posting videos of myself online for thousands to view. Yikes!

I started this blog after encouragement from a friend. Then, I took a writing class which gave me some wonderful new insights into my writing. There’s more to learn and practice in this arena.

We made a couple getaways this year which soothed the soul.  It felt a little illicit, but our driving trip to Colorado sustained me for several months.

I learned that I treasure my friends and it was a delight to keep in touch with them over these months.  I hope we continue this post quarantine.

I have met new friends through these experiences and have learned from all of you.  I have enjoyed reading all of your blogs and peek inside your experiences. I appreciate all the love and support you have given.

Here’s to new adventures (and some flexibility) in 2021!

xoxo Sarah

Photo by Kelly Sikkema

25 Questions

~ Sarah ODell ~ 5 Comments

I saw this on Samantha Wharton’s blog, https://artofbeingfabulous.com/ and she saw it on Sheree’s View From The Back. This was fun, so I decided to join! This 25 Question Tag was created by Creabealounge.

What are you wearing? Jeans and a long sleeve tee

How tall are you? 5’4

What’s your favourite TV show? The Voice

Who are your favourite singers? I like Dua Lipa’s voice. U2 is my favorite band.

Your favourite song? Mysterious Ways by U2

Someone you miss? My Mom

Zodiac sign? Scorpio

What’s your favourite fictional character? I’m reading my 4th Cormoran Strike book (Lethal White by Robert Gailbraith /JK Rowling) so there must be something about this character.

Your favourite actors? Meryl Streep

Favourite colour? Pink

Where do you go when you’re sad? For a walk

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? 30 minutes. If I need to wash my hair, it’s 60 minutes.

The reason you started a blog? I wanted to process the transition I’m going through and what I’m learning.

Fears? That we won’t be able to do the fun things we’ve planned

Last thing that made you cry? Steve Hartman’s story about Santas learning Zoom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EflaQJUWN1o&list=PLwBoQZPcMB014nWrqnixzaLycBTASyrf6

Last (comic) book you read? I can’t remember!

What’s your favourite season? Fall

What’s your favourite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard on High

What’s your favourite food? Tex Mex

Place you want to visit? Normandy/Brittany (our cancelled trip awaits!)

Last place you were? Austin, TX

What instruments do you play? I’ve played flute/oboe. I don’t know that I still can!

Last sport-related activity you did? Jump rope

Last song you sang? Higher Love by Steve Winwood

Ashburn Chicken

~ Sarah ODell ~ 3 Comments

We have had a few friends over from time to time during the pandemic. This really lifts my spirits to be with people again!

A friend gave us this recipe and I just love it! The aroma of the garlic, oregano, and fruit is divine. You can make it ahead and cook it the next day. I wanted to share it with you in case you’re looking for a new recipe.

Ashburn Chicken

8 chicken breasts (or 12-14 chicken tenders)

5-6 cloves of garlic

2 TB dried oregano

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup dried prunes

1/4 cup green olives

1/4 cup capers

3 bay leaves

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white wine

Combine first 9 ingredients (through bay leaves) in a shallow dish covered or gallon ziplock bag. Chill overnight.

Arrange chicken in a 9×13 baking dish with marinade. Sprinkle brown sugar and pour wine over top.

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes for boneless chicken.

Transfer to platter. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Love,

Sarah❤

Four Things to Know about Collagen

~ Sarah ODell ~ Leave a comment

What is Collagen? 

It’s a protein that provides structure to your bones, skin, tendons, and ligaments.  It has a functional and cosmetic role.  Normal aging produces a loss of collagen and leads to aesthetic skin concerns such as lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness and uneven texture.

When is the Right Time to Stimulate Collagen production?

Dermatologist Dr. Vivian Bucay says everyone in their 20s and older should start using some type of treatment that speeds cell renewal.  By the time you are in your 50s, you have half as much collagen and hyaluronic acid as someone in their 20s.  Collagen is like a mattress covering, holding everything together. 

What You Eat makes a Difference

A healthy diet is integral to natural collagen product.  Eat protein rich foods from plant and animal sources for the amino acids.  Zinc, Vitamin C and Copper are part of the collagen production process and you can get those from fruits and vegetables.  You’ll find zinc in dairy, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts and whole grains.  Vitamin C is in broccoli, cauliflower, green and red peppers, potatoes and squash. Copper is in dark chocolate, leafy greens, mushrooms, nuts and seeds.

What You Don’t Do makes a Difference

Smoking and avoiding UV rays are high on the list.  Also eating foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates.

If you’re interested in skincare products, R+F’s Redefine Regimen has retinoid science to address the look of fine lines and wrinkles.  Redefine Intensive Renewing Serum has Retinal MD technology which is a more potent than vitamin A but gentle enough to use daily.  The AMP MD System has the serum with a roller.  The roller tricks the fibroblasts in your cells into thinking it needs to make more collagen.  R+F is coming out with a new and improved Redefine regimen on November 1. I have been able to try it and it’s wonderful! Have a wonderful day!

https://sodell2.myrandf.com/collection/c/redefine

Love,

Sarah