MAD Unified Life

MAD UNIFIED - MAD Unified Instructors: Patrick Burns, Michael Wakeford What is MAD Unified? MAD Unified Dance Crew met January 10th, 2020 at our studio before COVID-19 turned our world Upside down. Some courageous humans showed up to Marilyn's Academy of Dance to build something new, UNITY. We found the best way to find UNITY is in DIVERSITY. These brave individuals embraced different and came together to create something bigger than ourselves. Every week for 1 hour Patrick and Michael taught 24 amazing people hip hop. MAD Unified was going to perform at the Arizona Special Olympics opening, our annual recital and dance competitions and then came COVID-19. COVID-19 caused us to stop in person classes at the studio, but we were able to continue dancing via ZOOM classes with people throughout the states and overseas. Thankfully we are back dancing at the studio and performing.

A Night at the Museum Recital 2025 Marilyn's Academy of Dance

Special Olympics Breakfast With Champions

Invocation for Breakfast of Champions 

What a beautiful morning. Excellent attendance, beautiful opening ceremonies and amazing speakers. A room full of joy! If you are looking for a meaningful way to spend your time that will be way to fun AND build others up this is your gig. Don’t walk but run to the website and see how you can be a part of this fantastic organization. 

Special Olympics Arizona

RSK Unified - I am WE 2022

Forgotten

We have seen 1000s of people step up or step in to help with the COVID healthcare crisis. Responding to the healthcare systems desperate pleas they have returned to the bedside, assisting with vaccines, developing (and redeveloping) tools and education, helping with testing and process development and so much more. They were welcomed into the executive war room, worked tremendous hours learning project expectations on the run. They gave their all, willingly, to be a part of the team. 

Then they were no longer needed, silently removed from meetings, folders, projects and teams. No fanfare, no thank you’s, no notice. They found themselves on the outside. 

Forgotten. 

Consider the value of that employee or department who went above and beyond for you and your customers during the pandemic. During any event. They were your Hur and Aaron, but now they are back to their homes or hidden in their cubicle, doing a great job, but you don’t remember who they are. You didn’t learn their names. It’s like they didn’t exist. 

Forgotten.

Can you name 5 (or 10) people who were there for you or your team who were not part of your usual workgroup? 

Do you know one personal thing you learned about them? 

Did you show them gratitude as the work was completed while in those executive team meetings? 

Did you acknowledge their part in the project while getting your award? 

It’s never too late. 

Show gratitude. An individual note to each one. 

Show respect. Prior to making their new identity vanish, give them the plan in a meeting. And thank them for the work. 

Show honor. Recognize you would not be in your seat of power without those loyal, hard working people who at a moments notice said yes!

Show humility. One day you too may be forgotten, your season of success wiped out in a single canceled calendar notice. 

GF Chocolate Mini Bundt Cake

GF Chocolate Cake

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time

Ingredients

* 2 cups Steve’s GF Cake Flour  

   Steves GF Cake Flour 

* 2 cups sugar

* 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

* 2 teaspoons baking powder

* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 teaspoon instant AfricaFe pure coffee   

    https://www.africafe.us/

* 1 cup milk or buttermilk

   The Saco Pantry Cultured Buttermilk

* 1/2 cup canola oil

* 2 large eggs

* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* 1 cup boiling water

Instructions

* Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare 2-9” rounds, cupcakes or Bundt pan with baking spray then lightly flour.


For the chocolate cake:

* Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk through to combine or, using your paddle attachment, stir through flour mixture until combined well.

* Add buttermilk, canola oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well combined. Reduce speed and carefully add boiling water to the cake batter until well combined.

* Distribute cake batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 22-35 minutes, until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the chocolate cake comes out clean.


* Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes, remove from the pan and cool completely.

* Frost cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting or your favorite mix..

      

We B Gluten Free

 https://webglutenfree.blogspot.com

Some time ago I set up this blog to share about our Celiac and Gluten free journey. I find I am sharing this same information with new or seasoned GF friends. During the holidays hosts want to assure they have safe options for their guests. Thank you for that. 

I am going to start writing again. I will add to the recipes already here and share my tips and tricks. Thankfully there are tons of great options today! Even Gluten Free Oreos and a gluten free Oreo Double Stuff! 😍😍😍 Can you just imagine????? 

           Gluten Free Oreos

If you have any ideas or recipes to share I would love to include them. Have a great day!!

Daniels Best Friend ~ A+ For this Paper: The Legend of Dano

Ryan has a way with words! He has captured everything from the day they met to the day he said goodbye to my nephew. But even more he has shared a bit about Providence, the impact of events and people that change the course of your life. This ‘essay’ has brought tears and smiles as it tells the story of their friendship. Thank you Ryan. I know Jackson will learn a lot about his namesake from stories l ike this. Big hugs from Aunt Doodley! Love you! https://medium.com/@ryanclements_11431/the-legend-of-dano-df84d7a2fc44

GF Keto Chocolate Covered No Bake PB Bombs

Ingredients

• PB Bombs
• 2 cups smooth peanut butter 
• 3/4 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup Walden’s Pancake Syrup (zero carbs, zero calories, zero everything!) Walden’s Syrups 

• Chocolate Dip
•  8 T cocoa, 5 T coconut oil, 7 T stevia
•  Blend together 
• *You can melt chocolate chips or sugar free chips instead of the cocoa, stevia and coconut oil. But the you need to be better at buying groceries then me! Lol*

Instructions

• Line a large plate or tray with parchment paper and set aside.
  
• In a mixing bowl, combine PB, Walden’s Pancake Syrup and Coconut Flour. Mix until fully combined. If the batter is too thick and crumbly, add some liquid (water or milk) slowly until a thick, formable batter remains. 
  
• Using your hands or a scoop to form into small balls then place on the lined plate or tray. 
• Freeze for 10 minutes.
  
• While the peanut butter balls are firming up, mix your chocolate dip. 
• Remove the peanut butter protein balls from the freezer and place each ball in the chocolate dip until completely covered.
• Place back on the plate or tray.
• Repeat until all the balls are covered in chocolate.
  
• Refrigerate for 20 minutes, or until the chocolate coating has firmed up. 
• Enjoy!

They need to be refrigerated and are better cold ! They freeze well:-) 

Time Stands Still

There is nothing that explains why an event that happened 10 years ago feels like yesterday. 

The moment it happens, your mind plays reels of memories and suddenly, time stands still. 

No one ages, no one changes, we notice our own changes less as we are living in yesterday. 

Sounds, smells, songs, jokes, people, places they will all take you to that last moment. 

It seems surreal.

At the last moment you are together, that is where the memories begin fade, filtering out the darkness. 

You lose site of the bad days, sadness, anger, pain or harsh words and you focus on the joy. 

All of your life you struggle to forget the negative and in death you only remember the beauty. 

The thing is, even though they haven't lived a long life, they have definitely lived!  

That life is our gift. 

That life will be with you always. No matter how old you get they remain in your presence.  

You will reach for a phone to call them almost every day, or be reminded of a good story.  

You will miss them at the table, but you will be reminded of the smile, laughs or tears shared there.  

You will cheer on their teams, exchange tales with their friends and you will live on.  

And you will be ok.

jlg9.11.20

Anise

Keeping Your Patient Informed

Keeping Your Patient Informed

​The rapid pace of healthcare can often have 15-20 people in a patients room in the span of a few hours. They are anxious, vulnerable, perhaps alone, confused or medicated. They aren’t sure what is said, who is saying it or what it all means. It can lead to poor patient experiences and possibly poor outcomes.

​Many institutions have taken to using communication boards or white boards to put pertinent data on for the patient and family. When filled out they are marvelous, when outdated or blank they are not only worthless but may further lead to confusion. And in addition surveys elicited that compliance with use and engagement of the team members made keeping them up to date and accurate the greatest challenge.

​Depending on the practice at your facility, being committed to the process can make the difference between a safe, positive experience and and high risk, disappointing one. Safety is a focus of CMS, tJC and NDNQI to name a few. Reducing falls, hospital acquired injuries or illness and errors can be reduced or eliminated when patients, family and care providers are all on the same page.

​A few key pieces of information shared at the beginning of shift and refreshed throughout the day include:

1. Introductions - Who will the nurse, nursing assistant, provider or other team members be providing care. Check the arm band.

2. Daily Plan - Review what will be going on for the morning; tests, therapies, treatments, bathing, etc

3. Meals and Meds - When will meals be delivered? What meds will they be taking, why and what will they experience. Check the arm band.

4. What are they waiting for - Case management to plan discharge, surgery, doctor or follow up care

5. What is your plan - when will you be back in the room, what will you be doing with them or for them during the shift

6. What is the discharge plan - every day it helps to remind them what has been completed and what still needs to happen for them to go home

7. Make sure they are prepared for the day - Emergency light in hand, bed in low position, alarm on for those at risk, bedside table at hand and free of as much ‘junk’ as possible.

​Taking time to make sure they are informed will reduce anxiety, improve engagement and reduce risk of injury. The patient and family will also be more comfortable with the care they see. Communication received from the nurse and provider will greatly improve patient satisfaction.

Jlg5.9.18(c)