perspective

There has been a lot going on lately at Chateau Notes. Life happens. And sometimes it is messy and hard. (we are fine...just normal stuff)

Recently we purchased new floors. Buy buy Bye-bye carpet and hello looks like wood vinyl planks. (Cali Bamboo LVP). I chose Cali because they are a pretty clean product with ultra low VOCs and that is important to me. But what an ordeal!

We spent about two weeks moving as much as we could to our dining room and kitchen..and even our extra bathtub..stack stack stack. It was crazy. But our installer called us dream clients because we did so much of the work for him. :) They ripped out all the old carpet..dust dust dust flying everywhere. GROSS. And they got busy installing our new floors. It took three days. We stayed two nights in a hotel.

And then we came home to a dusty dirty post reno MESS. But I couldn't get the floors looking clean. Major struggle bus. I think I figured out my problem today and used a different cleaner and they seem much prettier today..but its cloudy and dark out and I need a sunny day to know for sure.

But this whole thing along with a few other things going on, had me flaring with my breathing problems and just generally annoyed at life. Sometimes the everyday funk just gets me down, ya know?

I was scrolling and generally feeling sorry for myself when I stumbled upon a video from a local news personality. I knew she had breast cancer just three years ago. And then had a handful of 'state of the art' surgeries to rebuild her chest. Her latest video was announcing that she had metastatic breast cancer.  Her clock is ticking.

Y'all.

I had to stop and pray. And thank God that I feel great and can do things like left heavy furniture and boxes and that I'm dealing with everyday life..and not dealing with mortality.

It's hard to get flustered about smudges on floors when I could be fighting even harder for my life than I currently do.

So today I mopped my floors..again...with a new perspective. And Hope that goes beyond a better floor cleaner. 

Romans 15:13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (italics mine)

this little piggy went to Walmart

I woke up in the night last night to a weird smell in the house. In my groggy state, it finally hit me...nail polish. She had polished her nails..all of them..right before she went to bed.

What a horrible smell. Worse than that, a VOC!

It got me to thinking. I have read articles and pins about not horrible for you nail polishes, but had yet to take the plunge and purchase any. I have just done without because it's not that big of a deal.

Well. Today it became a big deal. No reason. I was kinda crabby and needed in a pick me up. So thanks to google,  I had a list of possibilities. But one stood out because of it's cute name. Piggy Paint.

The more I read about it, the better I liked it. And they carry it at Walmart.

So this little piggy went to market and got some Piggy Paint!

It is in the kiddie section of health and beauty. (it is also carried in some baby stores and some froo froo boutiques on Main Street in a suburb near me) Walmart carried a two pack of what I would call tester bottles. Very tiny. I got hot pink and really pretty turquoise kinda like color (just go with it). I also got a bottle of remover. All vegan. All no VOC. No smell at all to the paint and very very little in the remover.

I came home and painted my piggies. They are hot pink and oh so cute! It was such a simple thing but it lifted my mood so much to look down past my hot pink tee shirt, and see my hot pink piggies in my hot pink flip flops. Made. Me. Smile.

So there ya go.

(They also have an adult line, a pooch line and a toenail line among other things. Worth checking out. But the kiddie stuff comes in many colors and if I like the wearability of it, I will just stick with it. It's easy and fast.)

Happy piggies. :)

ps..I should add that my girl rarely paints her nails, so it's not like she was exposing herself to these toxins every time she turned around. : )

the root of all sorts of evil

I got a root canal when the girl was in middle school. It never gave me any problems after that (or so I thought) and I never thought another thing of it.

Until I started reading about health. And guess what kept coming up again and again? Root canals! And just how awful they are for your health. Many in the natural cancer treatment community believe root canals are a major contributor.

Well..not good news for me to hear. So I started researching holistic and naturopathic dentists.  And finally I found one that didn't act like I was crazy for wanting to get a root canal OUT rather than putting one in.

So yesterday I got it out. I love this dentist. I think I will be using him for everything (for me) now. But back to 'the story'...he was very kind and listened to my concerns about my tooth and how that I wanted to get it removed. He agreed that we could go ahead and get that thing out. In the back of my mind I kept thinking that I was going to feel real silly if he pulled that thing out and it was 'perfectly fine'. I knew he would be rolling his eyes and I would feel like I had caused myself a lot of pain 'for nothing'.

Long story longer..he pulled my tooth. Oh my word. It was a bit dramatic. He had a hard time getting the crown off and I found myself wishing for knock out drugs about three minutes into the fierce tugging and stretching of the corners of my mouth to get his horrible instrument 'all the way back there' to get it out. But finally he got the crown cover and then the tooth out. Then came the scraping. By this time my brain had calmed down and the mouth stretching wasn't as severe so I 'relaxed' and he finished up the job.

And then he sat back and took of his face gear and told me the story. He said it was a super good thing that I had it removed because it was full of infection! None of it showed up on xrays etc. Remember, I wasn't having any 'problems' with it. He said it certainly wasn't a wasted effort on my part to get this thing out.

So here I sit today. Recovering. I actually feel pretty good. Last night, not so much. I took three Advils twice yesterday but haven't needed anything today. I have a chipmunk cheek on one side, my cheek is sore to the touch and the corner of my lip was stretched enough to crack. That is actually the most sore part right now.  He gave me aloe vera gel to put on the tooth area, arnica cream for the TMJ area of my jawline externally and a scrip for heavy duty pain meds that I haven't needed. I feel half way decent, given the circumstances.

Now for the interesting part..the tooth that I had removed was #2. There is a thing called a meridian chart that shows how each tooth corresponds to a part of the body. Guess which part of the body #2 corresponds to...my right breast. I will only give you one chance to guess where my BC was. Yep! When I figured all of that out, it sent chills down my spine.  And I am so thankful to get it out.

Mainstream doctors annoy me so much! Nothing they do is in unison with the rest of the body in their world but it is. And I think my root canal is proof of that.

So...my .02...think twice about that root canal. It could do more harm than good.

Further reading about the dangers of root canals here, here and here.  And those are just quick links I grabbed. There is a ton of info out there. Just don't ask a regular dentist. ; )

the dynamic duo

I made an appointment to visit a new dr because I had a sinus infection. (see previous post) I thought I was seeing the dr, but there is also a chiropractor in the office. Well, my appointment was with the chiropractor, who is also a nurse practitioner. Are you confused?

So was I! I was so thrown off by the whole thing. Anyway, she explained that they do things a little bit differently, which was welcome news. She prescribed colloidal silver for my sinus infection. The next day I was worse so I went to Sprouts and asked what else they would add to that. She commented that my sinuses were probably hard and needed to be broken up so they could drain. I knew...ew, right? So she suggested I add SinuZyme by Redd Remedies.

And together they are the dynamic duo. Yes, they knocked out my sinus infection in three days.

Unfortunately, I also have so nasty throat cooties going on. So she suggested I keep going with the silver and it should be knocked out in a week. So that's what I'm going to do..and see how it goes.

But if you have an infection..not just sinus..lots of different types of infection...and antibiotics aren't working for you, give colloidal silver a try. It just might do the trick. : )

If April showers bring May flowers....(updated)

...this year should be a bumper crop!

Y'all. It has rained an insane amount this spring. We went from having a hard winter (for us) to everything blooming within about a week. It was crazy, even by Texas standards. (If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute)

Since everything bloomed just about at once, my allergies went off the rails. And I ran out of Allergra. I thought I was doing ok but I finally came down with what I think is a sinus infection.

I have been trying really hard to kick it on my own WITHOUT antibiotics. (antibiotics make me sick to my stomach most of the time, which affects my immune system worse than being sick..and then comes the yeast infection). So yeah..I was hoping to avoid.

I have been taking...

• Garlic tablets - antibiotic and antifungal
• Lobelia - dries drainage
• Elderberry - general upper respiratory
• oregano oil - antibiotic and antifungal
• marshmallow - does many things including general upper respiratory
• licorice root - does many things including general upper respiratory
• tart cherry - great antioxidant with dinner. Promotes sleep.
• Eucalyptus essential oil - breathing in the vapors in hot water/shower
• various pharmaceuticals..advil, allegra, mucinex

I have tried enough things and waited enough time to now know that it's lingering and I need some help. Most of you remember that I had a serious run-in with my GP during my VCD days. They were so rude and unhelpful when I needed them most. So I have been searching for someone that perhaps is more holistic. East/west. Functional. Integrative. Something. I found a small clinic in the area with an m.d. that is more functional and integrative. I have been wanting to "try her out" to see if she's all that and a bag of chips. And since I can't kick this crud, today is my lucky day. (I love my integrative dr but I cannot afford to pay cash for all of my health care, which is unfortunate because I love him. And this office takes insurance..and they have a chiropractor and my girl needs to get started with one this summer.)

I don't know whether I'm going to like her. I am also window shopping because I need to move the girl over to a grown up GP at some point. After all, she's 20. 

But alas, it's not snowing anymore (like it was in my last post lo a many weeks ago). We've moved on to the pestilence of rain. Today enjoying the warm temps and sun. Word is its more rain starting next week. Fun times. Hoping by then, I have some sort of relief from my head and throat. 

Hugs and love, y'all.

Update..I liked her. It was an odd visit. A bit confusing. I ended up seeing a chiropractor that is also a nurse practitioner. Weird. But she was nice. She did a nebulizer treatment with colloidal silver and sent me home with it to quirt up my nose and take some by mouth a few more times and I can do one more neb treatment tomorrow if I feel the need. She says that should do it. Jury is out on all of this but I am willing to try it. The alternative health care world is a different animal altogether!

just a little cooking and health and vcd update all in one

Last night and this morning I made out the grocery list for the early part of the week. And since today it is very cold (unlike yesterday when it was down right delightful..almost 80*), I thought soup would fit the bill for dinner. I've been making lots of soup. Growing up we called it stew but I think it's more of a soup, but whatever. Last week I made some soup. Found it on Pinterest. Healthy delicious bla bla bla. And it was terrible. Hubs made a pbj and I didn't want the leftovers and threw them out.

So today when I was making out the list, I reminded myself of the words of my oncologist at my last visit recently. Eat simple and healthy. It doesn't have to be all this out there kind of stuff. Just eat simple. So that's what I'm going to do today. I love the soup I've made forever...with a few healthy additions. It was already healthy whole food, but I add a few more things now. I'm thankful that his words pop into my head when I'm tempted to get a little carried away.  And as my folks used to say on occasion... if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Lesson learned. No more 'fancy' soup. : )

And also, VCD is an ever present 'friend'. Sometimes it's a friend that I hardly notice. Easy breathing. Love it. And other times, I have to remind myself to take a chill pill and breathe. So because of that, I have been slowing things down in the kitchen and not trying to go all out when simple (and healthy) will git 'r done.

I was able to call this morning and cancel my last speech appointment. I skipped (part of the plan) last week but had this week in my back pocket just in case. But I called this morning and cancelled. Woo hoo. Glad I'm far enough along and life has been able to return to some normalcy...even though there are those times I have to stop and 'do some breathing' to get things back on track.

And also...just something I can't remember if I shared this or not..regarding my last onc appointment. I am so happy to report that my tumor marker went DOWN an entire point. Woo hoo. I was always well in the safe zone but I like to see it going backwards! I credit the sauna for this...along with eating healthy and the other healthy things I do. And I had only been going in for about 6 weeks when I had my onc appointment. Will be interesting to see what happens after 6 months. Also thankful that my breathing is allowing me sauna time again.

I had done a drug therapy thing with the crunchy dr for about 9 months and I was super unhappy with where I was physically...even though it was supposed to be very cancer protective for me...so I pulled the plug a good while back.  I was nervous to stop on it even though it wasn't really helping me. That made me extra grateful for the downward turn in my numbers this time around.

So that's a fun little update and a reminder to keep it simple and healthy. Your bod (and your sanity) will thank ya for it. : )

allergic

Yesterday I got allergy tested.  My only experience with it was back in the ye olden times when Bub got tested. He was the youngest patient his allergist had ever tested and given shots. And they helped tremendously.

So I decided to give it a whirl since my asthma really bothers me sometimes. And there are only so many oral meds and inhalers available. (and Bub got to the point that he didn't need any of it)

I signed all the paperwork and changed out of my top and soon the nurse came in with all the prinklies. It was uncomfortable but not painful. And I didn't have any intense reactions, so the experience overall wasn't too bad.

But I found out I'm allergic to a lot of molds. And some trees. And plenty of animals. Including dogs. And cats. Don't worry. We won't be showing Annabelle the door...she's our baby. And I'm totally not surprised that I was allergic to her. I've know it for years. Maybe the shots will help with all of that and more.

Either way, I might as well not have a cow about all of this. Because I'd be allergic to it, too.

Something I'm not allergic to? Roaches. So...what am I supposed to do with that tidbit? Pet roach anyone? : p

Good times.

Sauna time

It's summer. It's hot. It's like a sauna.

Not really. Because I know what I sauna is like. Because I just got one. : )

Yes..really! 

It's not what you think though. It's not the multi-levels of wooden seating wrapped in a towel a la tv. Although those do exist. It's more of a wooden frame with reflective walls and lights for the heat. Kinda like the ones at McDonalds to keep the food warm. I'm not kidding. It's called near infrared. It has six bulbs that shine on the lone occupant of the sauna..me. : ) But the walls reflect light all over. So not only is there benefit from the heat generated by the bulbs themselves, there is actual benefit from the light. It is low EMF, which is a good thing. But it penetrates the skin and that is an added benefit. Another benefit to near infrared vs the conventional way, is that the temperatures are greatly reduced...like from 150 to 175 (or higher) to around the 100 to 120 range. With the same plus added benefits. 

I have known that saunas are a good thing for a while because like most people know, you sweat in it. And that releases toxins from the body. Which is good. Of course. But after I got sick, I began to realize that detox in the tip of the sauna iceberg, so to speak.

Not only do they release toxins, they heat the body a few degrees, which actually attacks things like viruses and candida (hello summer problem!) and weakens cancer cells directly, it raises the heart rate, it reduces inflammation which helps with all manner of diseases including arthritis, workout issues and cancer, rejuvenates skin, enhances circulation and aids in weight loss. Those are just some quick things that I remembered from all my reading. There are other benefits as well. 

But I'm sure you can begin to see why it is of particular interest to me. 

It arrived in the mail in kit form around dinner time Friday. (Grr you, UPS. Would have preferred putting it together in the afternoon, rather than into the night Friday night). But we did get it all put together by around 10:30 Friday night.  It took four hours if you include a quick froyo run for the hubs. He deserved a break after all that work. We got it built and turned it on to make sure it worked and went to bed. I got up Saturday morning and had my first sauna session. Feels a little bit like roasting on a spit. The user has to turn every so many minutes. I used an old interval app for my timer and I was set to go. I am starting with about 15 minutes total right now, changing every three minutes. Front, side, back, other side, front. I will increase my times as I get more acclimated to this, which shouldn't take very long. I will work up to going all the way around and including the front and back twice and also doing those two stations a minute or so longer than the sides. I did sweat pretty well Saturday, given it was my first time in it.

Later yesterday, I found a nice app that is an interval timer but it allows music to be played at the same time and tried it out this morning. It didn't work out as well as yesterday without it because I had my sounds volume turned down too far and I couldn't hear the turn alerts over the music, so I was in and out of the sauna a few times getting it all worked out. But I think I have all the settings working correctly for this now and tomorrow should run smoother. I was bummed that I didn't sweat today. I was plenty hot but I didn't get sweaty. I guess the in and out of cool air and letting cool air into my little box didn't really help. Boo. 

And unlike being wrapped in a towel (like tv) or wearing a swim suit like one would have to do using a sauna at a fitness center, I have decided just to wear a pony tail holder. ; ) Its easier than dealing with clothes and part of the benefit is the light anyway. And I'm by myself, so why not. I put on one article of clothing that covers me while getting ready and then just shed it and put it under my little stool while I do my time. And when time is up, I can just dry off and put it back on. Works nicely not to have to buy something specific for the purpose. 

So yes, summer is hot. But the sauna is hotter. 

***Should I disclaim? Ok, I will. No, I didn't get this sauna for review. I got it because I bought it myself. And also, I'm not promising this thing will heal everything from your dandruff to your ingrown big toenail. End of the disclaiming. ; ) ***

happy stuff

I went to the gym today in SHORTS and did not freeze. I may have blinded a few people temporarily with all the bright shining light from my snow-white legs. But other than that, it was good to be out and about wearing something lightweight and comfy. I know winter isn’t over yet and will surely show it’s ugly cold head, but I take what I can get when I can get it.

I took my kitty back to the vet today to get her kidneys checked out. Again. This was just a recheck to make sure everything was still grooving along the way it’s supposed to. She did a quick test and we waited for the results. And then she called her a miracle kitty again. Her labs are looking better than ever. And she’s gained 3 ounces. So it’s all good in the kitty hood right now.

I made baked flautas and what started out to be a mango salsa but was more of a veggie and fruit Mexican salad after I added everything but the kitchen sink. The girl and I both loved it. All the bites were eaten.

I’m still loving my NutriBullet. Love-ing! I am finishing a green smoothie while I write this.

See, happy stuff. I like that.

snow day

It’s snowing. I think a list is in order today.

1. Hubs had a wreck a few miles from home on the way to work this morning. (he’s fine!)

2. He called to tell me.

3. Calls not long after he leaves the house are NEVER a good sign.

4. But the fact that I was talking to him was a start in knowing that at least HE was ok.

5. It was only a fender bender. But he’s been on the phone all morning getting things in order to get it fixed.

6. He ended up driving the girl to school…and will pick her up when it’s over later this morning.

7. I was supposed to go to the grocery store this morning…but we can make it. I’ve got enough fresh stuff to get us by.

8. I am making a vegan broccoli ‘cheese’ soup for lunch. (for the girl and I..he will likely have a PB&J)  I made it for myself the other day to test out the recipe and it was soo good. Surprisingly. Pinterest is a wonder, that’s all I can say.

9. I’m not a winter girl. I’m ready to start shopping for real estate in Florida for my ‘winter home’. And I guess I can shop for my summer home in Colorado while I’m at it. ; )

10. When I woke up this morning, I checked WeatherBug on my iPod and it said our ‘feels like’ temp was –1. All I could think of was..what the hey??? This is Texas. It’s not supposed to get ‘minus’ anything here.

Dear Winter…I’m done.

My newest obsession: NutriBullet

Not very long into my health journey, I bought a fancy pants ($$$) juicer. And I used is a good bit. But the problem was…it took forever to use and clean up. And there were a lot of days that it just wasn’t going to happen. Fast forward a good many months and it’s been a good many months since my juicer came out to play.

And that made me sad.

So I started eyeing all the food “extractors”…Ninja, Vitamix, Blendtek and the NutriBullet. I finally chose the NutriBullet. And I have tell you, I am IN LOVE! 

I bought it last week at Bed Bath and Beyond with a coupon. I got the newer model, the Pro that costs more, but I wanted to make sure it would liquify just about any veggie, so I went with the heavier duty model. But I think either one would make a great improvement to one’s health.

I got it and washed up all the pieces..and then went shopping for some of the ingredients I needed for it and got to work. I made my first ‘blast’ and they call it, and couldn’t believe how fast it was. I just plopped my ingredients into the wide mouth cup (compared to the tiny hole I had to shove all my fruits and veggies down for the juicer), screwed on the lid and in less than a minute, I had a tall glass of liquid nutrition that was tasty, and I could drink it knowing every last drop was healthy stuff made readily available to my body for health.

The NB comes with several cups and blades along with several lid styles and rings to go around the top, to make it more comfortable to drink from the ‘tall cup’ that I make my drink in. It also comes with two books with recipes and tips for success. Aaaaand a web site called NutriLiving (that purchasers get access to for 6 months free…don’t know the price yet for when my 6 months expires) which I am loving so far. Many  many recipes. And since they are a short list of raw foods, I have index cards handy to jot down new ideas for future ‘blasts’. 

I am hoping since it couldn’t be any easier (especially in light of just how long it took to juice ‘the old way’), that this becomes a habit that I can stick to. I am loving the variety and the idea that I can drink my greens and get them incorporated in my diet every day EASILY. Like I said, I’m loving it! : )

Disclaimer..I haven’t been compensated for my views bla bla bla and I bought my NutriBullet myself bla bla bla. Over and out, peeps. : )

oatmeal chia breakfast

I have seen variations of what I’m about to show you all over the internet and on Pinterest. But I tweaked and changed and lowered the sugar (to zero) and I think it’s just about my favorite thing ever.

Are you ready?

(pretend I am showing you oatmeal, chia seeds, stevia, cocoa powder and almond milk)

(I totally forgot that until I was loading the pics and I deemed it too late since I didn’t want to start the process all over. Forgive me.)

Ok…back to the recipe…you start with 1/3 of a cup of old fashioned oatmeal…not the quick 5 minute stuff.

And then add about 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder.

And 1/8 of a teaspoon of stevia.

This is the kind of stevia I’m using right now.

And stir it all around til it looks sort of combined.

Then add 3/4 of a cup of unsweetened almond milk. (or the milk of your choice)

And 2 tablespoons of chia seeds. (follow the link and go read about this little super food dynamo!)

And stir it all up. Also add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and stir that in too. I forgot to picture it. Pioneer Woman I am not.

That spoon is good for licking right about this point. Just sayin’. : ) And the bowl now goes in the frig for 15 to 30 minutes. I usually grab it closer to 15 minutes and everything is ok.

While the chia seeds work their magic and soak up some of the chocolate milk, it’s time to make the topping.

The cast of characters…cocoa powder…I buy mine at the health food store…it is dutch process and I think it dissolves easier, vanilla extract, a riper banana (or baby food banana if you don’t have a real banana on hand), flax oil, stevia and cottage cheese. Pretend my cottage cheese is organic..it usually is.

Anyway, combine 1 tablespoon of the flax oil with about a 1/4 of a cup of the cottage cheese in a bullet style blender. Also add about 1/2 the jar of baby food banana, or about half a banana, 1/8 teaspoon of stevia, 2 teaspoons cocoa and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Put the spurs to it!

Basically what you’ve got now is something that tastes exactly like chocolate pudding, but it’s super healthy!

Pull out your oatmeal concoction when you deem it settled enough. It will look sort of crusted over on the top. I always stir it some to mix it well and give the chia something else to soak up if they still want to.

Pour the pudding on top. And enjoy!

Y’all this is just about the most delicious breakfast ever. I took all the equipment on vacation to have this every morning for breakfast. I just love it. And if you get tired of the chocolate, you can just leave it out altogether and make the entire thing vanilla flavored. Both are equally delish!

And super healthy…love love YUM!

strawberries

The other day when I went to Home Depot the nursery to pick out my plants for the garden, I ran into a friend that works there. She has worked there for what seems like forever, but I never run into her because I usually go to ‘the other’ Hope Depot in my neighborhood. (closer, less traffic etc) But on this day, I needed a big ole honkin’ bag of vermiculite and ‘my’ store was out. So we made the trek over to the other store to pick up my soil amendment and get some plants.

The instant I saw Mrs K, we both just locked eyes and I immediately made my way to her and we hugged in the longest hug I’ve shared in a very long time. We go way back. She kept both of my kids in mothers day out and we used to go to the same church. She also used to baby sit my little guy for me while he was sick so I could grocery shop, since I couldn’t take him with me. And she had my girl in MDO when she got the tip of her finger slammed in a door (another little kid closed it on her..no negligence on the school’s part) and it cut off her finger print. I frantically arrived at the school to find Mrs K holding my screaming, flailing girl with her blood all over the both of them. I reminded her of that the other day…good times. : )

But anyway, as we got ‘caught up’ chatting among the plants, we quickly discovered  that we are both on a journey to remain healthy. She has stayed the course for a long time and at 62 is proud to say that she doesn’t take any medications. Because of her healthy lifestyle choices. And since I am a slow learner, I am navigating this world AFTER a major illness, unlike her. But we both excitedly chatted about what we do, what we eat, how much we enjoy it…and how much we wish others could see what their toxic choices are doing to them.

She later commented on my basket of transplants and said I should have lots of good food. Among other things, I got 2 varieties of strawberries, two plants each. And it has nagged me ever since. So a couple of days ago, I went back to the store (to her store..and chatted with her some more) and got two more strawberry plants (yet another variety) and planted them too.

Yesterday I went to a farmers market she told me about and they had early strawberries so I grabbed a small basket. I told the girl about them and instructed her to eat SOME of them for lunch while I went to the gym. When I got home, she told me she ate all “the big ones”.

Gee thanks, kid.

Makes me glad I got those extra two plants. ; )

Maybe a need a couple more.

a bubbly day

Today I switched my end of the week grocery run around a little bit. I have been going to Kroger lately. I am LOVING all the organics and ‘crunchy’ stuff they are carrying now. Saves me many trips to the health food store that is miles away.

But they are re-arranging my Kroger. And it is utter chaos in there right now. I asked and they are supposed to be finished tomorrow. But I just didn’t have it in me to fight that for yet another grocery run.

So I switched my routine out and did Walmart and the big health food store. I needed a bucket load of lots of odds and ends anyway. I did the health food store first and had a lot on the belt. The lady started checking me out and commented that I was bubbly and perky.

HUH?! But I smiled and said thanks. But then I realized that I was bubbly and perky. And I felt like I had crazy insane energy.

So on the way home, I called my trainer to laughingly tell my story of being told I was bubbly and perky. My story wasn’t met with surprise. Not in the least. I was a bit taken aback. I knew we had wrecked my routine and shuffled everything around and that I had gone from a total beginner that could barely move her arms over her head with any weight at all, to a girl that can really exercise.

Granted I am at the beginning of all the new things we’ve started. But I am beginning to make progress. I can tell that I am stronger and have lots more stamina. And I can carry those groceries in the house like nobody’s business.

But the point is…my trainer knew this was going to happen. And that because I am working out and pushing my body harder, I was going to feel it. Not just in aches and pains (which are minimal by the way) but in feeling great. And having boundless energy.

Well if this is what pushing extra hard at the gym makes me feel like, then woot. Score for me.

So if you’re feeling tired and having a hard time getting out there…push yourself a little bit. You’ll be glad you did.

I am. : )

diet vs lifestyle

The new year brought with it many posts on Facebook of different illnesses.

And many of them are caused by eating unhealthily.

And now I see people on “diets” and I get so sad.

Because a diet in our country is seen as something temporary “to do” until a “problem” is “fixed”.

Forgive my overuse of “quotes”.

But it just makes me sad. I really wish people would realize what they are eating is killing them. And that what is needed isn’t a flash in the pan approach, but a total overhaul of everything they consume.

Because to me, healthy eating is not a “diet”. It has to be a way of life…a lifestyle…from now on. A week or two, or even a couple of months of doing some crazy fad are not going to be enough for me to maintain my health in the long haul.

And it’s not going to work for anybody else either.

So please, people…get healthy the smart and healthy way. By making permanent changes for the better and cutting out all the junk and chemicals. Your body will thank you for it.

*stepping down off my soapbox now*

“Carry on!”

Oops sorry…I used quotes again. ; )

a roundup of sorts

I have had the idea over and over to write a post about many of the changes that I’ve made that involve staying away from toxins in every day life. But it can be overwhelming to say the least.

So I started a list. And it’s pretty mind blowing just how long it is. And I know it’s not an exhaustive list…I’m sure I forgot something. But here goes. Forgive me for not adding links and pictures and making this post more fun looking but that takes gobs of time. And if you’re interested in a product, it’s easy to do a search and find out where it’s available in your area and what stores carry it.

I know I blogged about getting new plates. Corelle Ware. They replaced very old ceramic stoneware plates we have been using for 20-plus years. Gah.  And I still love them. Healthy food looks so pretty on them!

I wanted to replace my old coffee mugs with glass but I could never find what I wanted. So one day I was at the thrift store and found a cute set of two mugs. They are a little bit retro and I love them! And they are glass.

I replaced my drinking cups with Copco cups from Bed Bath and Beyond. They come with a lid and straw and they are BPA FREE. I also got the girl a Tervis Tumbler for her every day drinking glass and it’s BPA FREE also.

I use vinegar water in a spray bottle to clean off the kitchen counters instead of Lysol kitchen cleaner. And baking soda and Dr Bronners to scrub out the kitchen sink and bathtub instead of some sort of bleach scrub cleaner. I have made a concoction of Dr Bronners, some washing soda, water and maybe some vinegar to wipe down the bathroom counters. I just use my kitchen spray of vinegar/water to wash mirrors, instead of Windex.  On a related kitchen note, I use gloves when I handle raw meat and put the knife I use to cut open the package straight into the dishwasher, the meat in the pan/dish and the meat container and the gloves in the trash…so there is no raw meat cleanup in my kitchen. If something unusual happens and I need to clean up after raw meat, I go ahead and use bleach spray (and I follow it up with the vinegar solution to get rid of any residue), but try not to get it on my hands. But that is very rare.

I used to use All laundry detergent. And sometimes Purex. Usually the “free and clear” stuff because fragrances bother me. But now I use Ecos. I first found a monster huge bottle at Sams. I loved it except for the very huge size of the bottle. Hard to handle when it’s full. But then they stopped carrying it at Sams but I noticed it at Walmart. And it’s about $10 for a still very large bottle and it lasts forever since it’s very concentrated. It comes in a natural lavender and the free and clear, which is the one I am using.  I still use Bounce free and clear…I hate static cling. I keep thinking about trying those dryer ball thingies but haven’t done it yet. Have any of you tried them? Do they work?

I have used several brands of body wash over the years. But now I use Every Day Shea in lavender scent. It comes in vanilla mint which also smells nice. And unscented, which doesn’t smell like much of anything. I love this product because it lathers well and has a nice scent that doesn’t linger forever…and it’s a fair trade product, so I can feel sort of good about buying it. And it’s got a very short list of ingredients as well. I will say that although I love the body wash, I did not enjoy using the shampoos or lotions. But they are all a steal at around $10 for a huge bottle that lasts forever. Score.  On a side note, the shampoo left my hair feeling heavy, and using the conditioner of the same brand didn’t help. So currently I am using the shampoo to wash my foobs every morning. It’s a good thing to clean things with, just not my hair. And the lotions are ‘ok’, but if you’ve got dry skin at all, it’s just not enough. I could get by with it in the summer for body lotion, but not in the cooler months. And strangely the coconut variety that is for extra hydration is worse on my skin than the shea.

I’ve used every shampoo under the sun as well. And to be honest I am still searching for the perfect natural alternative. (I gave up on the vinegar/baking soda routine..over time it seemed to strip my hair) I have used Burts Bees for hair…meh..it sort of weighed it down. I am using Alba Botanicals now and I like it. Not very toxic and it works well. I also just bought a small bottle of Hugo Naturals styling gel. So far so good. When I run out of the Alba stuff, I want to try Hugo Naturals for other products…they have everything from bath gel to shampoo. Would be interesting to try some more of their hair care line.

I haven’t settled on the best thing ever for body lotion, so right now I’m using a more natural line of Johnson’s baby. Works great and doesn’t smell much at all. I also use Yes To Cucumbers for hand cream. It works very well and has a light scent.

I have never been much of a scented candle kind of girl, mostly because of having asthma. But now I rarely, if ever use them. (I got one for Christmas that I have burned for a few minutes a few times.) Instead of Oust, I use Pure Citrus if I absolutely feel like I need to spritz a trash can or the air. It’s natural and smells like oranges. YUM.

I used to use mainstream toothpaste and mouthwash, but now I use Trader Joe’s toothpaste, without fluoride, and Spry mouth rinse.  The toothpaste tastes funny, but it seems to do the trick.

I know I did a post early on about using Crystal deodorant. I still love it and that’s saying something after using through a hot Texas summer. Enough said on that one. ; )

I used to use a Walmart brand knock off for Cetafil face cleaner. And then for a while I used Yes To Cucumbers brand face cleaner. I also use Yes to Cucumbers face moisturizer, which I LOVE. But lately, I have been using a mixture of olive oil and castor oil to wash my face, and believe it or not, it works great. And my skin is super soft and I’m not breaking out. Score.  You can do a search of “oil face cleaning method” and find a good explanation of this.

I used to use Ajax dishwashing soap but now I use a natural dish washing liquid. I’ve used several. And they all work very well. I have some Ajax under the sink because its antibacterial, in case I ever need it, but so far I haven’t. I also use the natural dish soap in my foaming soap dispensers throughout the house and it works great diluted in those.

I used to use run of the mill drug store makeup…Almay, Maybelline etc, but now I am enjoying using Sheer Miracle. It works great and feels nice on my skin. I bought some Burts Bees tinted lip balm to give my lips a little bit of color when I’m wearing makeup. I threw all of my old makeup in the trash. Good riddance.

I used to keep antibacterial wipes in the car for after pumping gas or after I came out of a store etc. But lately I have been trying to stick with Purell type stuff. I am a germ freak and especially during cold and flu season, I really want to wash my hands when I get in the car after each leg of an outing. So I’m trying to stay away from the wipes.

Whew…that is all I wrote down, but I will probably remember something after I post. Ha, isn’t that always the way.

***I know you know this, but all of these opinions are mine and nobody gave me anything or is sponsoring my words in any way…bla bla bla.***

Having said all of this, I daily think of new ways I could do more. I think it’s a never ending evolution really.  There is always something new to do/try in this journey. And you know I’ll tell you about it when I do. LOL

But just step back and look at all the toxins I’m not subjecting my body to with just these changes. When I think about that, it’s mind blowing. And I’m so thankful I’ve made some changes.

I have made some simple changes for the girl too, to try to keep her away from a lot of chemicals. I bought her new make up also. She uses the same deodorant and I got her hooked on a youth line of Burts Bees products and she is doing pretty well with those. I knew for her to use them, they would have to have a more mainstream feel etc, so I’ve kept it simple for her. (she won’t be washing her face with EVOO and castor oil any time soon…) But I did get her a bottle of Every Day Shea body wash and a poof and she’s happy with the results. So score, cuz it’s cheaper than Burts Bees.

If you know of any natural products, please be sure to pass the info along…I’m always interested. : )

still here…

Hi. : )

I can’t believe it’s been two months since I’ve posted. Crazy, huh?!

To answer the question bobbing around just within reach…yes, I’m fine. Life is just busy.

I feel so overwhelmed with life most of the time. I spend a significant amount of time doing things directly related to my health (shopping for healthy food, exercise, juicing, making things I used to buy…from foods like bread to things like lip balm…and it all takes time!). And then there are the things we are all familiar with..cooking and cleaning and folding laundry. Ya know..the usual.

I juiced yesterday and saved half of the juice to drink today. So I just had that with a tall glass of hot green tea to wash it down.  Yum. Juicing takes a lot of time. From gathering my veggies to clean up, it takes about 50 minutes. So it is a commitment. But one I am more than willing to make. We recently got a cheap-o frig for the garage so I can store overflow and more fresh veggies, mainly to juice. Score for me.

But I am doing ok. There are times that this journey feels very lonely. No one I come in face to face contact with shares my newfound enthusiasm for health and proper eating. So to say that I can be a bit or a lot of a wet blanket sometimes is an understatement. And that is what I mean about lonely. Not even my own family really shares my desire to work hard to eat what I should be eaten to stay healthy. They are happy to see me doing good things; don’t get me wrong. But it ends before picking up the fork with the kale begins…

I don’t really even know why I am posting this. I’ve said it all before. But I guess I just needed to reach out because I know you’re there, cheering me on from the bleachers as I continue on this strange journey.

Thanks for cheering me on and caring about me.

I have had post ideas pop into my head lately, but it’s the time to write them out that eludes me. Perhaps I can find time to come here more often. I’ve missed y’all. Hugs! : )

Sheer Miracle

In my quest to find healthier products, I’m always on the hunt for replacements for this or that. One of the things I finally decided I wanted to replace was my make-up. I’ve always been a pretty basic girl…Almay or Neutrogena. Simple drug store stuff. But when I read the label, it was loaded with chemicals and things I couldn’t pronounce. And a few things I could pronounce, I knew were bad for me.

I had pretty much just decided I’d never wear make-up again. There are many days that I felt fine just being a natural, sometimes not so fresh-faced looking girl. But then there are the other days, that I want to feel and look a little more put together that made my heart pang a little bit as I brushed past my old make-up basket shoved into a corner in the closet.

So I started researching and found a company called Sheer Miracle. (this is not a sponsored post…they have no idea who I am…just sharing something I like) And now, back to the show…I really liked that it wasn’t loaded with a bunch of stuff and it seemed healthier to use than many similar products I’ve read about. And the prices were pretty reasonable too, which was a great bonus.

So I ordered a sample kit, which I love the idea of, because I could order 4 sample sized products (a two weeks supply if used every day) for less than $10 including free shipping. Score.

I finally got them in the mail last week. In the interest of full disclosure, there was a mix-up on the order and I originally got somebody else’s order in the mail. I had to email them to get it straightened out and then there was another mix-up and my replacements were never shipped so I had to email them again, and promptly after that email, my stuff came. I was beginning to think it would be a sheer miracle if I ever got my stuff, but it did come. And I’m so thankful.

I love this stuff. I bought the equivalent to base, powder, under eye correction and blush. They had several options in those four categories, but no options for other things like eye shadow, but you can order samples of those very cheaply. I plan to do that soon.  And then make a ‘real’ order for regular sized pots of everything.

I have used it one time so far. I’ve never worn mineral make-up before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I read a little bit and then started playing. It only takes a tiny bit to get decent coverage. After applying a thin coat of the ‘base’, I topped that with a very thin layer of the HD powder…the white stuff. It really gives my face a bit of an air brushed look. Very soft looking. (I read that if you get too much it can go into ‘white face’ but I didn’t have that problem). I also used the pink under eye corrector (before the base and HD). It came with instructions which I followed. And got good results covering up the dark under my eyes. And the blush is a very pretty shade…again with the  ‘just a tad’ routine. A little goes a long way. But I came away looking fresh and natural but not overly glammed. I am loving this product. I compared the prices of this with other mineral make-ups and found it’s much less expensive. Will definitely be ordering more.

the workout pants

I have never worked out quite like I do now. In the past, I’ve taken stabs at cardio. And before L got sick, I had gotten myself in pretty decent shape using resistance training. But that went down the tube when he got sick.

Basically everything I’ve done has been short lived. Until now. Because I don’t have a choice. And oddly, because I want to. I feel better. I’m beginning to look better, too.

And although I wouldn’t admit this to anybody face to face, sometimes I check out my biceps in the mirror. Cuz I have some now. : )

I have resisted workout wear. I don’t know why..I just have. I hate the thought of spandex stretched out over my less then perfect body. But I am always a fan of the oversized tee shirt. But I’ve noticed that lately I’ve been tempted to skimp on things because I’m already “dressed” for the day. Some days I come home from the gym (cardio days) sweating and feeling gross. Already wearing my regular clothes. Albeit it’s only shorts and a tee shirt…but still, it’s the uniform of choice for me most days. The laundry and the home schooler don’t really have high fashion hopes for me day to day.

So yesterday I had finally had enough of coming home feeling all icky and not wanting to dirty up more regular clothes. Oh yes, you heard it right…I took the plunge and bought some workout pants. They are actually more like capris, which will be nice, as I can wear them through the winter and not freeze to death walking to and from my car. And since they are capris, they cover my back side, thankyouverymuch. And dare I say…they are a bit flattering. It took me a while to find flattering…for a while I wanted to have a cry-fest in the fitting room. But I finally came upon something that doesn’t look scary on me. And they are comfortable too.

I put my new pants on this morning and felt myself doing my warm up (weight day) with a little more gusto….trying harder to get all the moves just right…remembering those biceps. Ha!

I’m hoping this little boost helps me push even harder to reach some unwritten goals I’ve set for myself. Some involve weight, endurance and let’s face it…shape.  

So today I feel a bit transformed by a new pair of pants. : )

Back to the work out…warm up is over…and it’s time for kettle bells! Woot!

From two big messes…

…to one neat and organized cookbook.

It used to be this…a notebook of loose clipped recipes. Some were in the folder pocket.

And some were taped to printer paper.

And another book of printed out recipes inside plastic sleeves.

I took apart two cookbooks recently. The taped together one. And the printed one. I weeded out recipes I will NEVER cook again from both books, and made a stack of the healthy recipes I will continue to use from here on out. I am a little bit ashamed at how big the toss pile was. But not surprised. : (

Now it’s all done and I have one place to go for all my recipes. And since I am finding new recipes pretty frequently online now, I am printing them and adding them to THE BOOK.  Just a little bit of effort made things a lot easier at meal planning and meal prep time. Love it!

And it’s cute too. : )