Another Migraine

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Yes, I know you’re getting tired of hearing about them, but oh man was this one a doozy. I wanted my head to explode so I couldn’t feel it anymore.

The pre-event aura lasted over a week. I thought I might get lucky and not get one in April, but when it hit, I wanted to crawl into a hole. How bad was it? Hubby took over all morning and dinner duties and sent me back to bed. I spent all but 2-3 hours on Thursday in bed. Today I still hurt and have a funky tummy to boot. Gah.

I don’t have time for this! Work and dinner plans this weekend. I’m already a day and a half behind. Boo.

That’s it for my pouting today. I’ve got work to do. Look at the sweet puppy face.

Did she make you smile? Good.

Short and sweet – three days in.

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So it takes three weeks to form a habit.   I intend for some form of morning exercise to make my day complete.  I restarted on Sunday and am two days with morning exercise.  I know without a doubt now that my battered body requires modifications if I am to keep on track without injury. 


My mind and body are finally connecting as they should.     

So call me lazy or undisciplined because I don’t get in hard core workouts that leave me dripping in sweat.  I’m moving at a slower pace so I can keep moving instead of ending up yet again on injured reserve.  I’ll bet my lazy way leads to a stronger me.  

My former workout buddy,  RIP, Willow.

Until next time, peace.   

Iris and the Dragonflies is fantastic for family reading

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Africa photo.


I have always been an avid reader, and even more so once I discovered science fiction and fantasy.  I read novels to my kiddos as bedtime stories and firmly believe it helped them bolster their creativity.  As they grew and filled their schedules (and mine) with extracurricular

activities, I put my fun reading time aside and focused on required reading for school and work. On occasion I’d flip through a beloved text and dream of having the time to read something new for fun.

Something I used to do when the kids were younger was flip through anything I thought they might like before passing it to them. These days my teens give me a sidelong glance when I recommend reading material because they don’t see me as cool anymore I suppose.  One is rediscovering her love of books while the other is focused on paintball and baseball.  He’ll come around.

How does reading make me healthier?  It relaxes me and brings down my blood pressure.  The time spent with a good book helps me escape for a while, and that helps keep me sane.

My first venture back into reading for fun was a copy of Iris and the Dragonflies.  While technically it was reading for work, it did not feel like it.  I was hooked from first mention of dragons.  It made my geek girl heart sing.  

Rosemary Daniels nailed it in this novel.  An instantly likeable female lead, magic, nature, family, adventure, and the fight between good and evil all make this story for young readers sing.  While it is geared toward pre-teens, it caught me and kept me engaged from start to finish.  

Iris is an amazing, talented, loving, and  special girl with the ability to talk to dragonflies. As a mother, I wanted to just hug her.  As the girl I once was, I rooted for her. My heart raced when she faced danger and sang when she smiled.

Her teacher, Mrs, Alrich is a gem and I wish all children have a Mrs. Aldrich in their lives.  My Mrs. Aldriches were my first grade teacher and her assistant, Mrs. Hart and Miss Brown.  I remember those ladies to this day and how much they meant to me.  They encouraged me to be myself and to take a closer look at the world around me.

It’s been a long time since I found myself lost in a book, and this one is a keeper.  It was hard to put down. The best part?  Iris’ adventures will continue in a second book!

I wish my daughter was a little younger so we could read it together like we used to.  I think I’ll send it her way so she can read it anyway.  I think she’ll inhale it like I did.

Iris and the Dragonflies is available on Amazon.com for $13.45 in paperback or just .99 for the Kindle version.  If you don’t have a Kindle, download the free Kindle for PC app.  Get a copy for you and your young ones to enjoy.  

To learn more about the author, check out her gorgeous blog and on Facebook.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com.
Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. And this book will definitely be good for you and yours.  

Peace.

Keeping track on weekends

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One of my fav lunches – chickpeas on a Greek-inspired
salad with lots of lemon juice

I look forward to the weekends like most people with typical schedules.  The kids are home from school, hubs is off work, and we try to do something together besides just hang at home.  I can keep on track with food and scheduled exercise during the week, but on weekends, all bets are off.  I plan to keep steady, but that isn’t always the case.

On weekends I can be swayed off track between errands and the lazier schedule.  I will concede if outvoted by the family on places to eat, and if I’m tired or overly hungry I’ll just pick something heavier instead of making cleaner choices.

Am I alone in this?  I can’t be.  Can I?

I know how I can get if I go too long between meals, and I plan to stash something in my purse to help me get through, but if I’m rushing about I forget.  And I tell myself I can wait 5-6 hours, but by that time I am heading for a crash and either get grouchy or shaky.  Either way, it leads to heavier choices, like deep fried instead of grilled or starch fests instead of a balanced plate.  I hate what I’m eating while eating, but while ordering I ignore the call for better food.  Oy.

But on the plus side, even though I’ve ignored the scale for a few weeks, nothing has changed for the better or  worse.  That in itself is a victory to me.  It means I am making good enough choices when I’m not really on track.  But it’s time to make better choices, period.  More greens, less starch, and more movement!

Until next time.

My 24 hours juice feast fiasco

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Fresh apple, carrot, and ginger juice is fantastic!
Photo credit: Paul  

I’m not saying a juice feast is a bad thing, just that it was a bad thing for me yesterday.  I’m not sure if it was juicing or the migraine that did it, but yesterday was a miserable day.

When I heard about the 24 hour juice feast on Facebook, I decided to give it a shot.  I’d had an iffy few days of eating and thought it would be an awesome way to help flush the heavy away and get back on track. I didn’t think ti would be bad.  I’ve mixed green smoothies and veggie/fruit fresh juices with eating for quite a while now and wanted to try a feast.  It was not pretty.

The day started great.  I took my dose of Candigone and followed it with a glass of lemon water like usual. My morning juice was really good and I’ll have it again.  Apples, carrots, celery, ginger, lemon, and cabbage made a slightly sweet and satisfying start.  I sipped slowly and had plenty of water.  I felt fine for a while.

At lunch I went savory with a tomato, celery, garlic, onion, broccoli, pepper, and lemon juice.  It was fantastic and is a keeper.  While drinking I thought it would make a perfect soup appetizer or dinner with some salad and garlic bread another time.  I was satisfied for about an hour, then was suddenly starving.  I made a second batch and was enjoying it when I saw the migraine aura.  I felt the beginnings of a migraine on Sunday, but what hit me yesterday around 2:30 pm was horrendous.  I could barely stand and my kiddos told me I should go lie down.  I went to bed, but took the laptop with me so I could work.  Ha.

By 6 pm, I was done.  I hurt, was just sick, and could not see.  I had to get something else to eat or drink but could not bring myself to turn on the juicer.  The sound would have pushed me over the edge.  I grabbed a cup of cinnamon tea and was again told by the teen girl to go to bed.  She sat next to me and hugged me.  I must have looked like death warmed over because both teens were nice to me and not snarky at all.  I remember hubby getting in from work and leaving to take the boy to baseball practice, and think I remember them coming back.  I do remember asking them to stop yelling because it felt like everyone was standing around me and scream talking.  I was in bed and they were all on the other side of the house.

Yeah.  Wasn’t pretty.

I have no plans to do it again anytime soon.  I will keep fresh juices on my menu, but not as meals.  Maybe it was the migraine, but I am in no rush to go again.

Have you feasted?  How did it go?

Had to change things up a bit

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So I started a yeast and sugar-free way of eating last week and had foggy brain by Wednesday.  By Friday night I was in a rage.  It was not pretty, I felt horrid, and scared my family a bit.  Eating clean in general (no junk or sugar with minimal if any bread) made me feel good and I had few if any symptoms I need to combat.  So back to clean eating I went – a combination of Radiant Health, Inner Wealth, Eat to Live, and clean eating guidelines. Lots of veggies, water, clean veggie protein, and no sugar.  I feel better and am still detoxing. 

Do I feel like I failed or am bailing?  No.  I know what detox feels like, and that was not just detox.  I was either yelling or crying with nothing in between. If I didn’t work from home, I may have been fired.  Yes, it was that bad. I feel like I hurt my family and never want to feel that way again.  I never want to make them feel that way again or tiptoe around me like they did. 

So here I am, even tempered and enjoying meals rather than dreading them. 

Until next time, peace. 

Semi-wordless Wednesday: Boozy Edition featuring Exclisiv Vodka

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I like vodka.  Scratch that, I love vodka.  It’s my go-to when I mix cocktails for myself or guests and becoming vegetarian didn’t change that.  Enter Exclusiv Vodka.  The kind people at Exclusiv sent me a bottle of Exclusiv Classic and  Rose Moscato.  Color me happy!  It’s vegan and lovely.  Smooth straight up and in cocktails.

Moldova 76

Cashmere

Currency

 

Next up, vegan ‘jello’ shots!

Exercise and other evils

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Exercise, how I both hate and love thee.  I know I need you, but some days you hurt me so much I’m not sure if I’ll ever let you back in.   But I do, and I don’t regret it.  

Nope, I am not fond of that word, ‘exercise.’ It is, however,  a necessary evil.  When I say it’s time for exercise, I groan, grumble, and try to think of 100 other things I also need to do.  But when I say I’m going dancing or to walk, I don’t see it as exercise and enjoy it. Finding an activity that inspires me is key to getting me up and moving.

I love karate and obtained my yellow belt 14 years ago. Since my accident, I dream about getting back into a dojo and throw a little kickboxing in when my body can take it.  I decided to check out Tai Chi and Qigong as alternatives to karate that my crumbling spine and crotchety hips can take.  They feel awesome and I burn a decent amount of calories in 30 minutes.  It might be slow and steady, but it feel like much more.  I feel energized and strong, and those feelings carry me through the day.

How do you exercise?