Guest Post: Wings are king.

May 21, 2013 By anotherjennifer 17 Comments

At some point, I was introduced to the Coach Daddy blog. I think it was through Ilene at the Fierce Diva Guide to Life or Chris at TheMomCafe. Either way, I’m glad I found his blog. First of all, it’s nice to read a parenting blog by a dude. Also, he randomly mentions food a lot.

One time, he mentioned garlic parmesan wings. And, well, like Pavlov’s dog, I crave those wings every time I read Eli’s posts or he comments on this blog. I’m hoping this guest post will help cure my obsession with these wings.

Actually, what I’m really hoping is that my husband prints this post out and plans accordingly. (There’s a Bruins playoff game on this evening. Just saying.)

Did somebody say wings?

The following is a guest post from Eli, otherwise known as Coach Daddy.

Wings are king.

We’re not even from Buffalo. But my girls and I, we love wings. So the inch-high stack of Buffalo Wild Wings coupons (six free when you purchase six), delivered by a college girl in a black and yellow t-shirt when I worked at a Hampton Inn, is to us what the Tesseract is to the bad guy in Captain America.

I’ve spent enough time across the table with these girls to pick up on subtleties and tendencies of their wing-destroying ways. I’ve even learned how to grill (not fry) delectable wings that make my girls’ eyes turn all heart-shaped and their tongues kind of wag.

Not all guys just chomp into wings indiscriminately and slobber over Hooters waitresses. I’m a thinking-man’s wing-eater. I’ve developed five toggles that will tell you much about you at your most basic core. It kind of makes Myers & Briggs look like Bert & Ernie.

Where do you fall on the list?

Hot or sweet?

Sweet

There’s something about someone who always chooses the sweet route. Either they’re 6 years old, or they’re the person who comes to Super Bowl parties just for the commercials. Do us a favor: Just stay home to watch the GoDaddy ads, and keep that sickeningly sweet barbecue wing with you.

Hot

Marie is on a mission to work her way up the wing-ometer, with a hotter wing every time we go. Atta girl, Marie. Wings without spice are like soda without caffeine. Or a college without a football team. Your wings should zing, maybe even sting.

Baked or fried?

Baked

Everything, in moderation. I grill wings for the girls now. Everything – even veggies – are better grilled. Baked is good, too. It’s the business casual, the two-door sedan: The safe, delicious version. With the right rub, it’s going to taste like Christmas and Independence Day, anyway.

Fried

Everything, in moderation, II. Sometimes, it’s about jeans and a T-shirt. A 1968 Camaro. Red Hot Chili Peppers, played a bit too loud. Fried is the reason for the season, and if we go baked and grilled 100 percent of the time, next thing you know, we fellas will be getting manies and peddies.

Drumette hog, or take what Jesus gives you?

Drumette hog

You’re like the dude who pulls out in front of me in traffic, then puts on your seatbelt. Total.Tool. God gave chickens two wings, made of two parts. In this world, there are an equal number of wing tips and drumettes. When you target the meaty portions, you’re upsetting the balance of the universe.

Take what Jesus gives you

Where two or more are gathered in His name, he is there too. This goes for a booth in China King or on your backyard patio furniture. Whether you have a cold one and wings with the boys, or sweet tea and wings with the kids, just be happy you’re in a universe that includes wings. Amen.

Eat to the bone, or leave some on

Leave some on

Communist. You probably don’t eat your pizza crusts either, and I’m sure you don’t recycle. You’d rather toss out your MC Hammer CDs than get up early on a Saturday morning and put them in a yard sale. What gives you the right? You’d make a lousy Allosaurus. Your Carnivore Card? Revoked.

Eat to the bone

You’d make a Sioux chief proud, little warrior. Waste not, want not. You’re the type to repurpose, plant a tree, or at least ask for a doggie bag (and stuff rolls, butter and jelly in it, too). Resourceful. Appreciative. Able to put your all into everything you do. I want you on my team.

Modest or free spirit?

Free spirit

Elise used to demand when I made wings, “make them messy, daddy!” Who am I kidding? She still does. Wing eaters should approach the art with abandon. Paper towels and wet naps, be damned. This is why God put sleeves on shirts. Ain’t nothing a plate of wings can do that a good hosing off can’t remedy.

Modest

I won’t slam this subset. Marie used to take one bite, and wipe her hands and mouth. Now? She hardly chews. But if you have a nice shirt on, or want to stand out to Tiffany your server, or just aren’t as barbaric as my kids and I, I’ll give you a pass. You can even use my napkin. It’s hardly used.

How’d you do?

There isn’t a breakdown for your answers. This isn’t Cosmo. You know where you stand. The more of the first answers described you, the better (except baked vs. fried. Can’t we all just get along?)

I will impart a recipe that bonds Jen and I and that will probably spread love and tenderness worldwide if we let it. Garlic.Parmesan.Wings. Also known as the real reason Jen asked me over!

Coach Daddy’s Garlic Parmesan Wings

What’ you’ll need

1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 pounds chicken wings
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (or melted butter)
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 cup bleu cheese dressing (for dipping perfection)

What you’ll do

In a small bowl, mix cumin, oregano and salt. Lay the wings on a baking sheet and season the chicken wings with this mixture.

Grill the wings. At the same time, mix together oil, basil, garlic, parmesan cheese and seasoning salt. Toss the grilled-perfection wings with the garlic/cheese/olive oil (or butter) sauce. Serve with the blue cheese dressing, and save six on a plate for me. I’ll bring dessert.

When he’s not learning to play like a girl or failing as a Christian during Lent, Eli can be found posting twice weekly on his blog, Coach Daddy.

photo by: jeffreyw

Filed Under: Just for Fun, Parenting Tagged With: Coach Daddy, garlic parmesan wings, guest post, recipe, wings quiz

Using a Blog to Promote Your Book Video + Upcoming Blogging and Event Marketing Workshops

May 20, 2013 By anotherjennifer 10 Comments

I have a few things going on right now that I wanted to let you know about.

While I have been making updates to my classes and workshops page, I realize that not everyone checks static website pages on a regular basis.

And, guess what? If you are an entrepreneur, author, nonprofit or small business, this is a huge reason for you to be maintaining a regular blog! (hint, hint)

So here’s what I have coming up.

First, I’m excited to announce that I recently partnered with Zeeen to produce instructional videos on blogging and social media specifically for authors and aspiring authors. This partnership, as well as the company itself, is in the very early startup phase. I’m excited to offer my very first video on using a blog to promote your book.

I know I have readers who are writing books or who have written books in the past. I would love your feedback on this video (assuming you decide to purchase it, of course) and what other videos related to blogging and social media might be helpful to you.

Read more: How to Write, Grow & Sustain an Effective Blog

Finally, I was going to to hold my online class, How to Write Blog Posts That Build Community, again at the end of June. However, I’d really like to revamp this class a bit. Skillshare online classes are a little different from when I first started teaching the class (in a good way). I just need some time to create a few videos and resources for you. I’m thinking August for the next time I run this online class.

With that said, my focus right now is on creating a brand new class on writing a personal giving strategy. I’m not ready to reveal too much yet, but if you read this blog and enjoy my posts on philanthropy, I think you’ll really love this class. More on this soon!

Phew. Lots going on.

Will you join me?

photo by: dcJohn

Filed Under: Blogging, Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: another jennifer writing lab, blogging class, event marketing, instructional video, workshops

Philanthropy Friday: Why Giving Feels Good (part one)

May 17, 2013 By anotherjennifer 18 Comments

Each Friday, the another jennifer blog shares stories of those who incorporate philanthropy into their everyday lives – personally and professionally – in a creative and unique way. If you have a story you’d like to share, please contact Jennifer. You can view past posts from the series here.

Note from Jennifer: The following article is part one of two on the subject of why giving feels good by Greg Evans, PhD. I was connected to Greg through The Smile Epidemic and am elated that he wrote this article for another jennifer. Because of the length, I decided to divide his post into two. Greg is a positive psychologist and happiness expert. How cool is that? I think you will find his insights and research fascinating.

Selfish behavior by its very definition is aimed at bringing ourselves more happiness, yet study after study finds that unselfish more so than selfish people report feeling happy and satisfied with life.

The scientifically demonstrated benefit of a kind disposition is uplifting news. Also, knowing that he is probably miserable makes me feel better about my neighbour who still has not returned my leaf blower.

The no doubt annoying, but none the less effective, analogy used by the self-care movement is we should “place the oxygen mask on ourselves first before we can put it on others.”

There is undoubtedly some truth to this; often we need to be happy before we can be help someone else to be happy. The sociologist Nicholas Christakis from Harvard University has shown that happiness is in fact a social contagion. Happy people have measurable benefits on the well-being of their friends and even strangers within their social networks. As it turns out, happiness is not so different from the flu.

This common sense “oxygen mask” advice might be hiding a larger truth. Research conducted by Diana M. Tice and Roy F. Baumeister demonstrated that one of the best known mood enhancers was not focusing on ourselves, rather it was doing something kind for someone else—even when we are not feeling our best. Perhaps especially when we are not feeling our best? In other words, putting the preverbal mask on someone else first may ironically be the most effective way for us to breathe.

The paradox is that being selfish in the traditional sense of the word (self-absorbed), is not being selfish in terms of obtaining the most happiness. Based on the collective scientific findings, one might convince even the most self-centred person to help others on the basis that it is what is best for their own happiness. I am hoping my neighbor is reading this.

But why does giving make us feel good?

Jonathon Haidt from the New York University Stern School of Business points to an evolutionary reason. “If we’re happier in a situation,” Haidt writes, “we’re motivated to repeat it…the brains reward system has an evolutionary purpose, it encourages us to cooperate with one another.”

A common misinterpretation of Darwin’s survival of the fit is that all creatures big and small are meant only to compete with one another. But there are many examples in nature of the benefits of giving. Often the best way to look out for ourselves is by giving to others—it’s not exactly pure altruism, but a sort of enlightened selfishness.

Canadian geese fly south in the form of a V shape, with each of the strongest flyers taking turns at the front where there is the most air resistance. More remarkably, if any bird drops behind the group, two other birds typically do so as well, encouraging the fallen bird to rejoin the group at what seems to be great risk to their own personal survival. The chance of individual survival actually increases when taking into account that the other birds would also be willing to help if they were to fall behind.

Vampire bats, Haidt points out, would share on a successful night of blood sucking with generically unrelated peers. This might also seem to go against the idea of Darwinian competition, except that the bats remember who shared with them, and they in turned shared with these bats.

In the most amusing study, researchers sent out Christmas cards to random strangers and to their surprise the majority of people sent Christmas cards in return. It appears humans have an internally motivated need to return a favor, even to a stranger. This reminds me, I have 35 years of Christmas cards to respond to.

But hold on a minute, so does this mean that we just give everything away and we get more in return?

As you might guess the creation of a hyper-social world is more complicated than simply being kind to everyone and handing over all our time and belongings.

Tune in next week for part two of this post!

Greg Evans earned a PhD researching the area of Positive Psychology from the University of Queensland, and is a current board member in charge of strategic partnerships for The Canadian Positive Psychology Association. Greg is the Director of The Happiness Enhancement Group (HEG) which attempts to promote and increase happiness and human flourishing in individuals, couples, families, organizations, schools, and communities through the applied use of Positive Psychology. Read more about Greg

photo by: bobosh_t

Filed Under: Philanthropy, Philanthropy Friday Tagged With: Greg Evans, guest post, Philanthropy Friday, positive psychology, The Happiness Enhancement Group

Guest Post: Wings are king.