Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Mind and Body

Perennial Optimist

Years ago, when my children were young, they picked out a gift for me. It was a t-shirt that had a picture of flowers and the words, “Perennial Optimist.” They didn’t know what perennial optimist meant, they just thought I would like the flowers on it. Perennials are the plants that come back in the […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU Extension, Lucas County, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, OSU Extension, Perry County, Family and Consumer Sciences

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • pixabay

SOURCES:

  • Degges-White, S. (2022). Ditch toxic positivity for tragic optimism. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/202205/ditch-toxic-positivity-tragic-optimism
  • Harmon, M. (2023). Hope is a strategy. Live Healthy Live Well. Ohio State University. https://livehealthyosu.com/2023/02/02/hope-is-a-strategy/
  • Kaufman, S. B. (2021). The Opposite of Toxic Positivity. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/08/tragic-optimism-opposite-toxic-positivity/619786/
  • Know the life cycles of plants — annuals, biennials and perennials. Oregon State University Extension. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/know-life-cycles-plants-annuals-biennials-perennials
  • Leung, Mega. (2019). Tragic optimism: an integrative meaning-centered approach to trauma treatment. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 32. 1-19. 10.1080/09515070.2019.1633497. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334043933_Tragic_optimism_an_integrative_meaning-centred_approach_to_trauma_treatment
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2021). What’s Wrong with Positivity? Live Healthy Live Well Blog, Ohio State University Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/04/08/whats-wrong-with-positivity/
  • Princing, M. (2021). What you need to know about toxic positivity. Right as Rain. University of Washington Medicine. https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/mind/well-being/toxic-positivity
  • The Life of Victor Frankl, The Victor E. Frankl Institute of America. https://viktorfranklamerica.com/viktor-frankl-bio/

Embrace the Stress?

April is not only Earth Month, but also Stress Awareness Month! If you already knew this, you are a step ahead in your stress awareness. Stress is a hot topic for our health and well-being. How does stress work? Whether it’s good or bad stress, your body releases stress-specific hormones into your bloodstream, increasing your […]

WRITTEN BY: Casey Bishop, MACP, Family and Consumer Sciences, Paulding County

REVIEWED BY: Melissa Rupp, Family and Consumer Sciences, Fulton County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay. (Retrieved March, 2023). https://pixabay.com/photos/desperate-think-stressed-out-5011953/

REFERENCES:

  • Lawson, Karen. (Visited March, 2023). Why It’s Important to Master Stress. University of Minnesota; Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/why-its-important-master-stress
  • McGonigal, Kelly. (May, 2015). Embracing stress is more important than reducing stress, Stanford psychologist say. Stanford University; Stanford News. https://news.stanford.edu/2015/05/07/stress-embrace-mcgonigal-050715/
  • Meyer, Pam. (April, 2021). April is Stress Awareness Month. The American Institute of Stress. https://www.stress.org/april-is-stress-awareness-month
  • National Institutes of Health. (Visited March, 2023). National Stress Awareness Month. National Institutes of Health; Office of Human Resources. https://hr.nih.gov/working-nih/civil/national-stress-awareness-month

FCS February

When we think of February, a few celebrations come to mind: American Heart Month, Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day. Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Educator Day probably isn’t something you’ve heard about, but it takes place this year on February 15th and highlights the field of study […]

WRITTEN BY: Caitlin Mathews-Smith, OSU Extension, Guernsey County, Family and Consumer Sciences

REVIEWED BY: Amy Meehan, Healthy People Program Specialist, State Office, Family and Consumer Sciences

Super Bowl, Super Choices

As February begins, we’re settling into the new year, and though we are seeing Valentine-themed messages and products in the stores, there’s another event approaching that we heavily associate with this time of the year: The Super Bowl. For those who don’t enjoy football, the food is the main attraction of Super Bowl Sunday. For […]

WRITTEN BY: Caitlin Mathews-Smith, OSU Extension, Guernsey County, Family and Consumer Sciences

REVIEWED BY: Amy Meehan, Healthy People Program Specialist, State Office, Family and Consumer Sciences

REFERENCES:

  • Burton, Dreena. “Juice Spritzer.” Food Revolution Network, 7 Dec. 2022, foodrevolution.org/recipes/juice-spritzer.
  • “How Many Hungry People Could We Feed With All Our Super Bowl Food?” World Food Program USA, 10 Feb. 2022, www.wfpusa.org/articles/solve-world-hunger-with-super-bowl-food.
  • Tips and Recipes for Heart Healthy Super Bowl Snacking | Luminis Health.” Luminis Health, 4 Feb. 2021, living.aahs.org/recipes-and-nutrition/tips-and-recipes-for-heart-healthy-super-bowl-snacking.
  • Wansink B, Cheney MM. Super Bowls: Serving Bowl Size and Food Consumption. JAMA. 2005;293(14):1727–1728. doi:10.1001/jama.293.14.1727
  • “Zipongo.” Zipongo, zipongo.com/recipes/category/snacks. Accessed 30 Jan. 2023.

Is your tire going flat?

Have you ever been in a car that had a tire go flat?  Did you notice warning signs before it went flat? Maybe a warning light came up on your dash or you noticed a bit more vibration while driving? Even if you didn’t notice the signs, you knew when it went flat. Life gives […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, Scammahorn.5@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Susan Zies, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Wood County, zies.1@osu.edu

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