One Year: Outside of the Box

Clark College has been good to me! One year ago today, August 27th, my cookbook, "Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box" hit the shelves at Clark College Bookstore as a required text in the curriculum for students enrolled in "Health 100: Food and Your Health" and as a recommended text for students in "Health 104: Weight and Your Health." Woot woot!

On the shelves Fall '12

It's been my great pleasure and honor to visit the campus on a number of occasions as guest lecturer to show the students just how simple it is to whip up recipes from the cookbook. Hands down the favorite part of my "job" lecturing on campus. There's nothing better.  I can't wait to get back on campus in action this fall.

I'm thrilled to announce the health department will be using "Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box" for the second academic year, 2013-14.

I'm grateful, thankful for all the opportunities that my beloved cookbook has afforded me at Clark and beyond. Thank you Clark College for believing in me to author the cookbook and your continued support. Extra-special thanks to my mentor and friend, Veronica Brock for her belief in me, "For Veronica In Food and In Health."

Clark College -- here's to another Outside of the Box year!

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Read "The Columbian" articles introducing the book:
Cookbook author aims to educate college students
After-school snacks get healthy makeover

A blog post (with photos)from the inaugural book signing at Clark College Bookstore:
Clark College: Outside of the Box 

Blog posts (with photos) recapping my guest lectures at Clark College:
Clark College: Steps OUTSIDE of the Box
Clark College: Steps OUTSIDE of the Box - II 
V day
OUTSIDE of the Box: Clark College Winter '13
Outside of the Box Finals at Clark College
Outside of the Box: Clark College Spring '13
Outside of the Box: Clark College (CTC) Spring '13
An OUTSIDE of the Box Thank You

OUTSIDE of the Box: Clark College Winter '13

Yesterday, I delivered back-to-back lectures for Health 100: Food and Your Health. This time at the snazzy new Clark College campus - Columbia Tech Center. What can I say, I get around. 

Over the course of two weeks, I delivered six lectures to more than 125, Health 100: Food and Your Health students and a lecture for Health 104: Weight and Your Health, 30 students.

My goal was to arm the students with grocery shopping motivation, kitchen basics, and of course,  show them how simple it is to whip up fresh, real food that is enjoyable.

Here's what Veronica says about the experience: "...It fills the gap between theory and practice, allowing students to apply the content they learn in class to advance their health – in a most delicious way."

At the end of each class, I asked if they (students) could prepare the dishes that I demonstrated to them. They all answered yes they could and promised they would. I did what I sought out to do -- I OFFICIALLY helped more than 150 students step OUTSIDE of the processed food box. Doing what I love, loving what I do!

Thanks to the Health Department of Clark College for calling on me to do this fun, but important work. Extra-special thanks to Veronica Brock, Erin Staples, and Kristen Myklebust for having me in their classes.

Here's a look-see at the delicious fun!

Lecture 1: Weight and Your Health 
February 4th

Lecture 2 : Food and Your Health 
February 13th

Lecture 3 and 4: Food and Your Health 
February 14th

Lecture 5: Food and Your Health 
February 19th

Lecture 6 and 7: Food and Your Health 
February 21st

What's Happening in February

Another month full of community outreach-- speaking, cooking, presenting, and more cooking. I declare February 2013 as FANTASTIC fun. Here's what I'll be up to and where -- join me*!

Highlights:

Throughout the month -- *For current Clark College health students. Excited to return to Clark as a guest lecturer! The goal is to bridge the gap between what the students are learning in class and to give them some practical, "hands-on' experience. I'll visit Health 104: Weight and Your Health, Monday, February 5th. And am looking so forward to lecturing in Veronica Brock's Health 100: Food and Your Health classes (She taught me a lot  of what I know about food right in the very class I'll lecture in!) two back-to-back lectures -- Wednesday, February 14th. I'll also lecture for Health 100: Food and Your Health these dates: Tuesday, February 13th, Tuesday, February 19th, and Thursday, February 21st. Whew! Clark College!

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I'm expanding my outreach to get more kids and teens (they're our future!) involved in  preparing and eating real food -- Outside of the Box.

Tuesday, February 5th
5 - 6 p.m.
Teen Arts & Crafts night
Quick & Yummy Snacks: Teens 12 and over. Make delicious healthy snacks like smoothies, energy bars and homemade microwave popcorn, with cookbook author Chrisetta Mosley. Click here  to read LiveWell's calendar blurb.
Community Park Library
600 NE 136th Avenue
Vancouver

Wednesday, February 6th
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Outside of the Box Young Un's
Kids age nine and older can learn OUTSIDE of the Box simple favorites using whole food ingredients: Granola Parfaits (granola made from scratch) and Brown Bag Popcorn with  healthy add-ins. Call store to sign your child up! 360.597.2700

Chuck's Produce & Street Market
13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd.
Vancouver


Here's a full list of my upcoming events:

Monday, February 4th
Clark College Health 104: "Weight and Your Health" guest lecturer
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Tuesday, February 5th
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.


Outside of the Box: Teens
This one's for teens -- twelve and older. I'll show them how to create simple items they can whip up to-go. Blueberry Banana Kale Smoothies and Whole Food Energy Bars.

Cascade Park Community Library
600 NE 136th Ave.
Vancouver                 
360.256.7782
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Wednesday, February 6th
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Outside of the Box for Young 'Uns
Kids age nine and older can learn OUTSIDE of the Box simple favorites using whole food ingredients: Granola Parfaits (granola made from scratch) and Brown Bag Popcorn with healthy add-ins.

• Classes are F-R-E-E
• Class size is limited to about 15
• Please call store to sign up for class and reserve your seat

Chuck's Produce & Street Market
13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd.
Vancouver
360.597.2700
-------------------------------
Sunday, February 10th
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
 
Outside of the Box: Chili
Join me as I show you how to create hearty, warm chili using two types of beans and extra-lean ground beef. Served with Cilantro Lime Rice.

• Classes are F-R-E-E
• Class size is limited to about 20
• Please call store to sign up for class and reserve your seat

Chuck's Produce & Street Market
13215 SE Mill Plain Blvd.
Vancouver
360.597.2700

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Tuesday, February 13th
Wednesday, February 14th
Tuesday, February 19th
Thursday, February 21st
Clark College Health 100: "Food and Your Health" guest lecturer
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Wednesday, February 20th
PSU Eat to Live Panel guest 

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Wednesday, February 27th
6-7:30 p.m.

"5 or 50" Women's Sustainable Weight Loss & Healthy Lifestyle Group
No matter if you have "5 or 50" pounds to lose. It's time to start seeing yourself as beautiful, strong, capable and look beyond physical attributes. I'll facilitate the meeting and share my tips for staying motivated. This will be a safe, inspiring environment to share and grow.

• Motivation and tips for healthy, sustainable weight loss
• Recipe sharing
• Self-love and affirmation
  

Cascade Park Community Library
600 NE 136th Ave.
Vancouver
360.256.7782

Up to the Challenge

Clark College! Whew. What an experience. It was so cool to be the lecturer in the very same room, OSC 204 I sat in as a student just over a year ago. Thanks Steve and Garet from the Thompson Fitness Center for inviting me.

Last week, I had the great pleasure and honor of holding four lectures over three days for Clark College's Biggest Loser Challenge. I believe I did what I sought to do -- encourage, inspire, and motivate. ""I've been asked by your trainers and professors to speak to you today because I have a story to tell that the textbooks can't. I have a story to tell that will resonate with you as you begin your journey to health and fitness. I am your real example. I am your real life Biggest Loser. I've been there, done that -- am doing that. That's why most of you can relate to me. I'm not a Biggest Loser contestant on TV being worked by a staff of personal trainers and fed by personal chefs. I'm not an airbrushed Weight Watchers celebrity spokesperson. I'm right here in the midst of life trying to figure it all out too. I'm your real example. I'm your Biggest Loser."

In turn, as often the case I was inspired as well. I really love the vibe on campus, the energy -- learning, thinking, growing. Professor Mosley? Hmm...maybe. I'll also be on campus seven times next month!


 Here's some of the photos from my time on campus.

Tuesday, January 22 -- Lecture 1 & 2

Thursday, January 24 -- Lecture 3

Friday, January 25 -- Lecture 4 -- The grand finale

Gettin' SMART

 

In July, I formed a women's group -- 5 or 50" Women’s Sustainable Weight Loss & Healthy Lifestyle Group. A time for us gals to come together -- bond, share, encourage. To dispel negative thoughts of ourselves, of each other, and approach weight loss sustainably. Over the months, we've done just that.

At the year end meeting, I challenged the ladies to start looking forward to the new year. "Claim 2013 as your best year yet." Though I don't believe in new year's resolutions, I do agree that the new year is a great time to hit the refresh button. So we spent our final meeting of 2012 by discussing SMART goals. Their homework over the holidays was to fill out a SMART goal and Action plan packet.

To kick off 2013 we created our SMART goals with the help of Clark College Health Professor, Erin Staples! Erin was my Wellness Coach professor last fall and taught me what I know about SMART goals and coaching. Once I got the ladies started I thought It would be nice to have the guru step in.

Thanks again, Erin -- we appreciate you for helping us get SMART.

More about SMART GOALS---

A SMART goal is:

• S is for SPECIFIC. Decide what you are going to do and how to do it.
• M is for MEASURABLE. Keep track of how you are doing.
• A is for ACHIEVABLE. Pick something you think you can do. Start with small changes. Is running a 4-minute mile possible for you?
• R is for REALISTIC or (REWARD). Be realistic about the goals you set. Getting down to your high school weight after having 3 children may not be realistic. Set a goal that you can not only attain, but is in reason for you. You know yourself best.
• T is for TIME-SPECIFIC. Give your goal a deadline.

SMART goals are to be written down in a certain way, it gives them even greater power. 

“Goals not written down are just wishes.”

Day 7: Holiday Samplin' & Signin'

Happy Holidays! Today, I wrapped up my Holiday Samplin' & Signin' campaign at Chuck's Produce & Street Market. I sampled lots of good food, signed and sold lots of cookbooks.

Every day was different. Every day brought about lots of women, men, and children. Over the course of several weeks, I've had great conversations with you. Some of you already knew me from here, there, every where, some of you read about me in The Columbian newspaper, some of you are enrolled in "Food and Your Health" at Clark College, and some of you never heard of me before. No matter how our encounter began we always talked about food, grocery shopping, and eating OUTSIDE of the Box!  I learned that a number of you are already OUTSIDE of the Box and those who aren't quite there yet are eager to take the steps to get there! I am impressed and inspired by you all.

Thank you for your support. Thank you for your willingness to try my OUTSIDE of the Box concept and ultimately take control of your health.

Happy Shopping, Cooking, and Eating OUTSIDE of the Box! ~Chrisetta

Day 7

Day 6

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

Superficial level

At Clark College Bookstore

Being a self-published author is rewarding, but it's a lot of hard work. There's no big publishing company backing you, with connections, clout, and money to help you with the process -- to promote and distribute your book.

Daily, I'm putting myself and my ideas on the line.  I have to constantly be on the look out for opportunities to promote and sell my book otherwise it won't get sold. It requires a huge amount of drive and tough skin.  I'm fortunate that my new book is being backed by Clark College's health department that's a huge bonus, but I still am a little fish in the pond.

The mecca of books -- Portland, OR

A couple of weeks ago, I was in a particularly bold state of mind and decided I wanted to go BIG. So I made a trip to one of the largest bookstores in Portland, Powell's Books. Walking in that store was overwhelming. Books, upon books, upon books. The bookshelves were MASSIVE. When I walked to the cookbook section I almost fainted. There were sooooooooooo many cookbooks from all the big well known authors, who are backed by big well known publishers.


I walked in with a calculated plan. But after seeing the massive amounts of books. I had a moment of self-doubt. "Come on, Ms. Mosley, you're here now. Turn it on." I told myself. So I started walking around trying to spot the right employee to deliver my pitch to. I figured it probably wouldn't be the best idea to target a cashier or anyone at the numerous info desks (they'd likely have to help other customers) and I wanted the person's undivided attention. I found him, Chris was his name. I showed him the book told him a little bit of my story. He was hooked, line, and sinker. He gave me the direct contact info for the buyer. I excitedly thanked him and he wished me luck.

I decided to call the buyer while I was in the bookstore. Perhaps he would be available and I could put the book in his hands. Low and behold he answered! I immediately started in on my spiel.  All the while I could detect his utterances to interrupt me, but I just kept going. He was less than enthused with my sell pitch. In a nutshell, he said it didn't matter much that I was a local author. There's a lot of local authors. He also went onto to tell me about the procedure for having my book reviewed. Because I'm no quitter. Even though I could hear the disconnect in his voice, I figured I had come to far to let him go. So I said "Well, my book is being sold at Clark College Bookstore as required reading." Ah ha that got him to agree to come down and see me. When he arrived he had a very unpleasant, highly irritated look on his face. We shook hands and I gave him the book. Convinced that once he saw the cover and then the content he'd soften up. He fumbled through it. Held the pages up to the light. Gave it a quick once over and said "On a very superficial level this cookbook doesn't jump out at me. It has nothing that stands out from the rest." He didn't take the copy of the book that I was going to give him, but instead he gave me a yellow card with instructions on how to submit my book for consideration.

Ha ha. Seriously. Didn't I just tell him my whole story and why my cookbook stands out from the rest? It's OUTSIDE of the Box, including my journey of how I came to author the cookbook. And I'm sorry, but local does have something to do with it. It has everything to do with it. I would think Powell's Books would embrace that. Seeing as how they once were just a local little bookstore. Obviously they are starting to lose sight of their roots.  Humph, or maybe the buyer was just having a bad day. Not sure what was going on with him, but I do know he made a mistake. Like he said he was looking at my book on a "very superficial level."

He's words stung for a few minutes, but as I left the store I ran into Chris and I shared with him the news. I also told Chris that one day my books will be on the shelves of Powell's Books, but in the meantime, on a "very superficial level" there are no hard feelings.

**Again, I believe in myself and my ideas. I can't and won't let a person or an entity define me. My journey and everything about my story is OUTSIDE of the Box. Next!

The Process

I've poured my heart and soul into creating Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box. I've spent months and months researching recipes, writing recipes, and creating an appealing layout and design for the cookbook. Once the book was written along with three others (two from Clark College's health department) we went through it one recipe at a time, page-by-page to check for inconsistencies, errors, etc. The book was looking good and all set to go...

Then a big hiccup, for a myriad of reasons late in the process of editing I decided to change printing companies. At that point there were only three weeks left to print and deliver the books to Clark College bookstore. Heavy sigh. After a search, I decided to print with Minuteman Press of Vancouver, WA and they have enthusiastically been able to meet my needs and timeline. Although changing printers late production was stressful. I am so happy that I made the change. I'm sure that I'm getting a much better final product - the cover design is amazing and the small details inside like the colored box page numbers. Oh yeah!

Super-excited...We are in full production folks! Books will be finished printing by tomorrow, Friday, August 24th. Earlier this week, I went to take a behind-the-scenes peek. Here's what I found:

 

 

This has been quite a process but not in vain. I'm so very proud to present my labor of love to you. Click here to pre-order YOUR copy.