an (un)fortunate reading experience April 28, 2008

hi everyone!

wow, where’ve i been? hehe!  well if you ask my husband, i’ve had my nose stuck in books and magazines the last few weeks! hehe! 

i have this strange habit of reading several different books (plus 2-3 different magazines) at the same time.  i donno why.  maybe because now that i go to the library all the time and the books are free (i used to belong to book clubs and buy them all the time!  egads!), it’s easy to grab a few and then just read them as i’m in the mood throughout the day/evening.

just last night i finished reading Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. many of you have probably seen the movie, like i did, starring Jim Carrey.  i saw it not too long after it came out.  it was okay—but a bit dark and creepy for me considering it was supposed to be a kids’ movie!   if you havent, in short, it’s about 3 orphaned siblings and their woeful story of being shuffled from guardian to guardian, all the while a sinister man trying to steal their family’s fortune.

but then i found out it was based on books and was curious to read them.  there’s 13 (juvenile fiction) books in the series, and the movie only covers the first 3 (therefore, doesn’t tell the whole complicated story!).  so, last summer i read 8 of them.  but then i could never get ahold of book 9 or 10—they were always checked out! hehe!  so i gave up until just last week, when books 9-13 were in.  so i checked them all out and like i said, finished them last nite.  i actually read the last two books both yesterday! LOL!

i have to admit when i first started reading them last summer, i was a bit disappointed.  in fact, i kept thinking to myself—i dont think i’d want my own child to read these!  they are very morbid—and usually more than one person dies during each book and always in a quite um, unfortunate way.  

fortunately, they arent very gruesome at all—but as the author always warns at the beginning of each book and also in a letter to the reader on the back cover, you should never expect happy endings:

Dear Reader,

Unless you are a slug, a sea anenome, or mildew, you probably prefer not to be damp.  You might also prefer not to read this book, in which the Baudelaire siblings encounter an unpleasant amount of dampness as they descend into the depths of despair, underwater.

In fact, the horrors they encounter are too numerous to list, and you wouldn’t want me even to mention the worst of it, which includes mushrooms, a desperate search for something lost, a mechanical monster, a distressing message from a lost friend, and tap dancing. 

As a dedicated author who has pledged to keep recording the depressing story of the Baudelaires, I must continue to delve deep into the cavernous depths of the orphans’ lives.  You, on the other hand, may delve into some happier book in order to keep your eyes and your spirits from being dampened. 

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

The Grim Grotto, Book the Eleventh

but of course his fair warnings only curiosify! hehe!

i’m not much of one for book reviews that give too much away, but let me say that i was very hooked to this series, especially once more mysterious (and unfortunate!) events kept creeping into the plot.  i’m a sucker for stuff like that.  and UNLIKE most adult fiction mystery books i read—i DIDNT figure this one out!

in fact, i’m so curiosified that i put The Beatrice Letters by Lemony Snicket on hold at the library. hehe!  it’s supposed to help clear up a lot of the loose ends and questions readers might have about many of the secret circumstances that surround the Baudelaire’s lives.

i was also interested in finding out more about Lemony Snicket himself!  while that link was interesting enough, i found that reading about Mr. Snicket’s uhh, representative, Mr. Handler, quite intriguing now that i’ve read the books! 

however, DONT look up Lemony Snicket himself on Wiki, unless you want more secrets revealed to you that could spoil the fun in reading the books.  i purposely waited until i was finished with them, and i’m glad i did!  but, if you’re like one of those little kids who MUST find his Christmas gifts where they’re hidden in the closet before Christmas morning, then by all means, read about Lemony Snicket and his secrets! LOL!   

i was also quite impressed with the amount of information packed into each book, and how the author is very consistent with his facts between books.  as you continue to progress in the series, there are many references about past events to help you connect it all together into one big, cohesive account of the characters’ lives.  

in fact, i almost find myself missing the Baudelaires! hehe!  kinda like how i felt after reading The Chronicles of Narnia (my fave books of all time!).  you become very attached to the characters because the books reveal so much about their personas that they seem like real people. 

if you enjoy easy-to-read fantasy that’s a bit dark and humorous yet with witty (and very sad and true) tales of the human condition all wound up and concealed in a juvenile fiction form, then i definitely recommend this series of books!

ANYHOO…this has once again got my creative juices flowing for my own juvenile fiction writing.  yes, i’ve been interested in it for years!  i’ve not yet completed a book, but i’ve got plenty of little stories on the side.  in fact, here’s a short one (based on a true story from my own life!) you may enjoy called crinkle crinkle scoop.  i suppose it might be more suited to an audience of adults born in the 70s moreso than kids tho. hehe!!

alrighty, off i go…to write while the pen’s hot!!

enjoy your monday!

~josey~ 
 

an (un)fortunate reading experience April 28, 2008

hi everyone!

wow, where’ve i been? hehe!  well if you ask my husband, i’ve had my nose stuck in books and magazines the last few weeks! hehe! 

i have this strange habit of reading several different books (plus 2-3 different magazines) at the same time.  i donno why.  maybe because now that i go to the library all the time and the books are free (i used to belong to book clubs and buy them all the time!  egads!), it’s easy to grab a few and then just read them as i’m in the mood throughout the day/evening.

just last night i finished reading Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. many of you have probably seen the movie, like i did, starring Jim Carrey.  i saw it not too long after it came out.  it was okay—but a bit dark and creepy for me considering it was supposed to be a kids’ movie!   if you havent, in short, it’s about 3 orphaned siblings and their woeful story of being shuffled from guardian to guardian, all the while a sinister man trying to steal their family’s fortune.

but then i found out it was based on books and was curious to read them.  there’s 13 (juvenile fiction) books in the series, and the movie only covers the first 3 (therefore, doesn’t tell the whole complicated story!).  so, last summer i read 8 of them.  but then i could never get ahold of book 9 or 10—they were always checked out! hehe!  so i gave up until just last week, when books 9-13 were in.  so i checked them all out and like i said, finished them last nite.  i actually read the last two books both yesterday! LOL!

i have to admit when i first started reading them last summer, i was a bit disappointed.  in fact, i kept thinking to myself—i dont think i’d want my own child to read these!  they are very morbid—and usually more than one person dies during each book and always in a quite um, unfortunate way.  

fortunately, they arent very gruesome at all—but as the author always warns at the beginning of each book and also in a letter to the reader on the back cover, you should never expect happy endings:

Dear Reader,

Unless you are a slug, a sea anenome, or mildew, you probably prefer not to be damp.  You might also prefer not to read this book, in which the Baudelaire siblings encounter an unpleasant amount of dampness as they descend into the depths of despair, underwater.

In fact, the horrors they encounter are too numerous to list, and you wouldn’t want me even to mention the worst of it, which includes mushrooms, a desperate search for something lost, a mechanical monster, a distressing message from a lost friend, and tap dancing. 

As a dedicated author who has pledged to keep recording the depressing story of the Baudelaires, I must continue to delve deep into the cavernous depths of the orphans’ lives.  You, on the other hand, may delve into some happier book in order to keep your eyes and your spirits from being dampened. 

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket

The Grim Grotto, Book the Eleventh

but of course his fair warnings only curiosify! hehe!

i’m not much of one for book reviews that give too much away, but let me say that i was very hooked to this series, especially once more mysterious (and unfortunate!) events kept creeping into the plot.  i’m a sucker for stuff like that.  and UNLIKE most adult fiction mystery books i read—i DIDNT figure this one out!

in fact, i’m so curiosified that i put The Beatrice Letters by Lemony Snicket on hold at the library. hehe!  it’s supposed to help clear up a lot of the loose ends and questions readers might have about many of the secret circumstances that surround the Baudelaire’s lives.

i was also interested in finding out more about Lemony Snicket himself!  while that link was interesting enough, i found that reading about Mr. Snicket’s uhh, representative, Mr. Handler, quite intriguing now that i’ve read the books! 

however, DONT look up Lemony Snicket himself on Wiki, unless you want more secrets revealed to you that could spoil the fun in reading the books.  i purposely waited until i was finished with them, and i’m glad i did!  but, if you’re like one of those little kids who MUST find his Christmas gifts where they’re hidden in the closet before Christmas morning, then by all means, read about Lemony Snicket and his secrets! LOL!   

i was also quite impressed with the amount of information packed into each book, and how the author is very consistent with his facts between books.  as you continue to progress in the series, there are many references about past events to help you connect it all together into one big, cohesive account of the characters’ lives.  

in fact, i almost find myself missing the Baudelaires! hehe!  kinda like how i felt after reading The Chronicles of Narnia (my fave books of all time!).  you become very attached to the characters because the books reveal so much about their personas that they seem like real people. 

if you enjoy easy-to-read fantasy that’s a bit dark and humorous yet with witty (and very sad and true) tales of the human condition all wound up and concealed in a juvenile fiction form, then i definitely recommend this series of books!

ANYHOO…this has once again got my creative juices flowing for my own juvenile fiction writing.  yes, i’ve been interested in it for years!  i’ve not yet completed a book, but i’ve got plenty of little stories on the side.  in fact, here’s a short one (based on a true story from my own life!) you may enjoy called crinkle crinkle scoop.  i suppose it might be more suited to an audience of adults born in the 70s moreso than kids tho. hehe!!

alrighty, off i go…to write while the pen’s hot!!

enjoy your monday!

~josey~ 
 

monday’s mexican nite! November 5, 2007

hola!!

most monday nights, we have mexican fare for supper.  usually its tacos or taco salad, cause i’m not daring enough to try to make chimichangas, which is hubby’s fave. hehe. 

in the last few years, i’ve pretty much eliminated any pre-packed form of food in the house unless its a whole food or organic (the organic is important to me because i know there’s no harmful preservatives and i can pronounce all the ingredients!).  so, one of the things i DONT use anymore, is store-bought taco seasoning.  its actually really easy to make at home!

now i’m not claiming to be the next food network star, here   im not well-versed in authentic cuisine and spices or anything. hehe!  i just look around online for recipes to replace things i discontinue to use, and then adapt it to make it my own.  its fun! 

here’s a quick recipe for seasoning for 1 pound of ground meat.  (if you make it in bulk, a little more than 3T is about what you need for 1 pound, at least to start with.)  its my basic recipe–but sometimes i add more of some of the ingredients if im in the mood for a diff taste! 

oh, and its not super spicy, so just play around with it til you get the taste you want.  this is just a starting point! of course there are plenty of other spices you could add as well. 

and if ya dont like mine, i still encourage you to replace what you currently use with something homemade.  its one simple step toward a healthier diet   i just dont know why i never thought of making this on my own before.  its easy and MUCH healthier than pre-made.  NO MSGS!!

Taco Meat Seasoning

Combine all ingredients and add to browned ground meat along with 2/3-3/4 cup water.  Bring to a boil then simmer until desired consistency, stirring often.

• 1T chili powder
• 2t onion powder
• 1t ground cumin
• 1t garlic powder
• 1t paprika
• 1t sugar
• few dashes cayenne
• 1/2t corn starch

another way i’ve spiced up meat for our mexi-meals is using a recipe for red enchilada sauce i got out of Nourishing Traditions.  it’s made with dried Ancho chiles and tons of other supernummiful fresh stuff.  it’s something you make a batch of, and then freeze it in cupfuls, and use one of the cups per pound of ground meat.  its DELISH and VERY healthy!! 

anyhoo…then i take soft corn tortillas and lay them lightly in a pan with a touch of olive oil, flip it over, spoon in some meat and fold it in half and brown both sides so its crunchy.  YUMMY!!  hmmm…i guess if i can do all that, i could probably make a chimi, too!  guess i’ll have to try that next time   

of course then top them with your fave stuff–sour cream, green onions or pico de gallo, monterrey jack, guac, lettuce, salsa!

speaking of, time to get it started!  have a great monday night

buenas noches!

~josey~

monday’s mexican nite! November 5, 2007

hola!!

most monday nights, we have mexican fare for supper.  usually its tacos or taco salad, cause i’m not daring enough to try to make chimichangas, which is hubby’s fave. hehe. 

in the last few years, i’ve pretty much eliminated any pre-packed form of food in the house unless its a whole food or organic (the organic is important to me because i know there’s no harmful preservatives and i can pronounce all the ingredients!).  so, one of the things i DONT use anymore, is store-bought taco seasoning.  its actually really easy to make at home!

now i’m not claiming to be the next food network star, here   im not well-versed in authentic cuisine and spices or anything. hehe!  i just look around online for recipes to replace things i discontinue to use, and then adapt it to make it my own.  its fun! 

here’s a quick recipe for seasoning for 1 pound of ground meat.  (if you make it in bulk, a little more than 3T is about what you need for 1 pound, at least to start with.)  its my basic recipe–but sometimes i add more of some of the ingredients if im in the mood for a diff taste! 

oh, and its not super spicy, so just play around with it til you get the taste you want.  this is just a starting point! of course there are plenty of other spices you could add as well. 

and if ya dont like mine, i still encourage you to replace what you currently use with something homemade.  its one simple step toward a healthier diet   i just dont know why i never thought of making this on my own before.  its easy and MUCH healthier than pre-made.  NO MSGS!!

Taco Meat Seasoning

Combine all ingredients and add to browned ground meat along with 2/3-3/4 cup water.  Bring to a boil then simmer until desired consistency, stirring often.

• 1T chili powder
• 2t onion powder
• 1t ground cumin
• 1t garlic powder
• 1t paprika
• 1t sugar
• few dashes cayenne
• 1/2t corn starch

another way i’ve spiced up meat for our mexi-meals is using a recipe for red enchilada sauce i got out of Nourishing Traditions.  it’s made with dried Ancho chiles and tons of other supernummiful fresh stuff.  it’s something you make a batch of, and then freeze it in cupfuls, and use one of the cups per pound of ground meat.  its DELISH and VERY healthy!! 

anyhoo…then i take soft corn tortillas and lay them lightly in a pan with a touch of olive oil, flip it over, spoon in some meat and fold it in half and brown both sides so its crunchy.  YUMMY!!  hmmm…i guess if i can do all that, i could probably make a chimi, too!  guess i’ll have to try that next time   

of course then top them with your fave stuff–sour cream, green onions or pico de gallo, monterrey jack, guac, lettuce, salsa!

speaking of, time to get it started!  have a great monday night

buenas noches!

~josey~

monday’s mexican nite! November 5, 2007

hola!!

most monday nights, we have mexican fare for supper.  usually its tacos or taco salad, cause i’m not daring enough to try to make chimichangas, which is hubby’s fave. hehe. 

in the last few years, i’ve pretty much eliminated any pre-packed form of food in the house unless its a whole food or organic (the organic is important to me because i know there’s no harmful preservatives and i can pronounce all the ingredients!).  so, one of the things i DONT use anymore, is store-bought taco seasoning.  its actually really easy to make at home!

now i’m not claiming to be the next food network star, here   im not well-versed in authentic cuisine and spices or anything. hehe!  i just look around online for recipes to replace things i discontinue to use, and then adapt it to make it my own.  its fun! 

here’s a quick recipe for seasoning for 1 pound of ground meat.  (if you make it in bulk, a little more than 3T is about what you need for 1 pound, at least to start with.)  its my basic recipe–but sometimes i add more of some of the ingredients if im in the mood for a diff taste! 

oh, and its not super spicy, so just play around with it til you get the taste you want.  this is just a starting point! of course there are plenty of other spices you could add as well. 

and if ya dont like mine, i still encourage you to replace what you currently use with something homemade.  its one simple step toward a healthier diet   i just dont know why i never thought of making this on my own before.  its easy and MUCH healthier than pre-made.  NO MSGS!!

Taco Meat Seasoning

Combine all ingredients and add to browned ground meat along with 2/3-3/4 cup water.  Bring to a boil then simmer until desired consistency, stirring often.

• 1T chili powder
• 2t onion powder
• 1t ground cumin
• 1t garlic powder
• 1t paprika
• 1t sugar
• few dashes cayenne
• 1/2t corn starch

another way i’ve spiced up meat for our mexi-meals is using a recipe for red enchilada sauce i got out of Nourishing Traditions.  it’s made with dried Ancho chiles and tons of other supernummiful fresh stuff.  it’s something you make a batch of, and then freeze it in cupfuls, and use one of the cups per pound of ground meat.  its DELISH and VERY healthy!! 

anyhoo…then i take soft corn tortillas and lay them lightly in a pan with a touch of olive oil, flip it over, spoon in some meat and fold it in half and brown both sides so its crunchy.  YUMMY!!  hmmm…i guess if i can do all that, i could probably make a chimi, too!  guess i’ll have to try that next time   

of course then top them with your fave stuff–sour cream, green onions or pico de gallo, monterrey jack, guac, lettuce, salsa!

speaking of, time to get it started!  have a great monday night

buenas noches!

~josey~

what’s your type? November 5, 2007

tall, dark and handsome?

 

cute, bubbly and chatty?

 

whoooaaaa wait a minute here!  im not talkin about your type of date…*teehee* 

i’m talkin about your blood type

i know, i know, how mean was that??  super CHEESEY, guh!!  well dangit, i had to get your attention somehow!  LOL!!!  you know all i do is yap about food and health, so how could you possibly believe i was going to yap about something as exciting as your date type?? hehe!!

i’m reading Eat Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo.  both naturopaths i’ve seen this year follow this theory of diet personalization.  back in april when i saw my first naturopath, i checked the book out from the library and turned to the type A section, read it, and promptly dropped it in the return bin saying, "I DON’T THINK SO!" 

i read that A types are best suited as vegetarians!?!?! :-O  hello, i was raised in small town Indiana–meat and potatoes, please!  TOFURKEY??  BLECH!

so there i was, thinkin i’d never have to go there and read that again. hehe.  this time around, i’m a little more desperate to find what foods really do work best for me.  since i have endometriosis to throw in and change it all up, it’s been that much harder to decide what i should follow.

to educate myself on what sort of diet i should adopt for the best healing, this year i’ve also read:

• Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition
• The World’s Healthiest Foods, Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating
• Wild Fermentation:  The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods
• Eat Fat, Lose Fat:  The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats
• Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats

in some ways, all of these books have something in common.  in other ways, the last two (maybe even three) books are much different than the rest.  this is where im having some brain clutter.  the biggest difference is that the blood typing diet steers type A away from saturated fats.  the last two books (written by Sally Fallon) say that high quality saturated fats are what we are lacking and that vegetariansim is unhealthy!  im torn!

i know what you’re thinkin–just keep trying until you find what works for you!  well, i’ve been doing that for like, oh, 5 years now. LOL.  obviously i havent found it yet!

hubby and i were chatting about the "eat right for your type" diet during breakfast this morning.  i was getting discouraged because for type A, there’s some things i should try to avoid eating AT ALL.  foods that’re staples in my daily grub–like butter, tomatoes or any tomato product, black pepper, oranges, bananas, anything coconut, peppers, potatoes, wheat, and any meat except chicken or turkey.   

there’s good reason to avoid these foods, explained in logical scientific detail in the book.  and it does makes sense–i will even admit to being a bit sensitive to many of those foods!  but they TASTE good…so duh, i wanna eat em!!

anyhoo, i told hubby that this time i just have to buckle down and follow this dietary change.  too many times in the past i just throw in the towel if i cant believe in a nutritional plan 100%.  but who can??  well, at least i can’t!!  i’m just notta one-size-fits-all kinda gal when it comes to my food!!

so, in order to find some continuity in my health and healing of endo, im gonna try to stick with this.  BUT, im not going to jump in head first, either.  the book itself even recommends NOT doing that.  i think that’s smart!

since right now my supplement program is focusing on detoxing me–that’s including removing all the crap that’s built up in my liver, gall bladder, and digestive system to start with–it’s important that i eat foods that wont upset that delicate procedure. hehe. 

now mind you, my detox is not one of those, "scuse me, i gotta use the lil girls’ room!" kinda detoxes. LOL.  its a slow process, gradually integrating nutrients (via supplement) that my body needs to rid itself of heavy metals, gunk and more gunk, in addition to giving my body lots of chances to be able to utilize nutrients that support my endocrine system.  cause right now, my endocrine system is saying NO WAY to uptaking any sort of nutrient it needs.  i am so TOXIC that my body rejects some of what it needs.  man, that really sucks!

i feel that Eat Right For Your Type is closely related to Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition, so that makes me feel a little better.  when i read the latter, i felt like i had found all my answers.  that book is a MUST READ for anyone with endo…it not only educates you, but comforts you as well.

but i also want to follow what my naturopath suggests for now, so when i go back in a few months for a re-balancing they can get a good picture of my progress.  so, im hoping as i reread the former i can somehow integrate it into the latter and satisfy that need of not following just one single program LOL!  am i pathetic or what! HAHA!

yikes, okay this post has been a lot of randomized rambling!  i’m sorry if you’re lost and confused! LOL!  i suppose i am just trying to reason with myself and tell myself that IT’S OKAY to question these things, and that it’s not going to kill me (hopefully. LOL.) to follow a plan for a while and see how i feel. 

before i know it, it will be a year since my diagnosis, and it has been my goal to see a marked change in my health by then.  so ive gotta get my bum in gear!!

thanks for attempting to follow along my very disorganized train of thought tonite!!  teehee

ttys!

~josey~    

what’s your type? November 5, 2007

tall, dark and handsome?

 

cute, bubbly and chatty?

 

whoooaaaa wait a minute here!  im not talkin about your type of date…*teehee* 

i’m talkin about your blood type

i know, i know, how mean was that??  super CHEESEY, guh!!  well dangit, i had to get your attention somehow!  LOL!!!  you know all i do is yap about food and health, so how could you possibly believe i was going to yap about something as exciting as your date type?? hehe!!

i’m reading Eat Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo.  both naturopaths i’ve seen this year follow this theory of diet personalization.  back in april when i saw my first naturopath, i checked the book out from the library and turned to the type A section, read it, and promptly dropped it in the return bin saying, "I DON’T THINK SO!" 

i read that A types are best suited as vegetarians!?!?! :-O  hello, i was raised in small town Indiana–meat and potatoes, please!  TOFURKEY??  BLECH!

so there i was, thinkin i’d never have to go there and read that again. hehe.  this time around, i’m a little more desperate to find what foods really do work best for me.  since i have endometriosis to throw in and change it all up, it’s been that much harder to decide what i should follow.

to educate myself on what sort of diet i should adopt for the best healing, this year i’ve also read:

• Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition
• The World’s Healthiest Foods, Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating
• Wild Fermentation:  The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods
• Eat Fat, Lose Fat:  The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats
• Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats

in some ways, all of these books have something in common.  in other ways, the last two (maybe even three) books are much different than the rest.  this is where im having some brain clutter.  the biggest difference is that the blood typing diet steers type A away from saturated fats.  the last two books (written by Sally Fallon) say that high quality saturated fats are what we are lacking and that vegetariansim is unhealthy!  im torn!

i know what you’re thinkin–just keep trying until you find what works for you!  well, i’ve been doing that for like, oh, 5 years now. LOL.  obviously i havent found it yet!

hubby and i were chatting about the "eat right for your type" diet during breakfast this morning.  i was getting discouraged because for type A, there’s some things i should try to avoid eating AT ALL.  foods that’re staples in my daily grub–like butter, tomatoes or any tomato product, black pepper, oranges, bananas, anything coconut, peppers, potatoes, wheat, and any meat except chicken or turkey.   

there’s good reason to avoid these foods, explained in logical scientific detail in the book.  and it does makes sense–i will even admit to being a bit sensitive to many of those foods!  but they TASTE good…so duh, i wanna eat em!!

anyhoo, i told hubby that this time i just have to buckle down and follow this dietary change.  too many times in the past i just throw in the towel if i cant believe in a nutritional plan 100%.  but who can??  well, at least i can’t!!  i’m just notta one-size-fits-all kinda gal when it comes to my food!!

so, in order to find some continuity in my health and healing of endo, im gonna try to stick with this.  BUT, im not going to jump in head first, either.  the book itself even recommends NOT doing that.  i think that’s smart!

since right now my supplement program is focusing on detoxing me–that’s including removing all the crap that’s built up in my liver, gall bladder, and digestive system to start with–it’s important that i eat foods that wont upset that delicate procedure. hehe. 

now mind you, my detox is not one of those, "scuse me, i gotta use the lil girls’ room!" kinda detoxes. LOL.  its a slow process, gradually integrating nutrients (via supplement) that my body needs to rid itself of heavy metals, gunk and more gunk, in addition to giving my body lots of chances to be able to utilize nutrients that support my endocrine system.  cause right now, my endocrine system is saying NO WAY to uptaking any sort of nutrient it needs.  i am so TOXIC that my body rejects some of what it needs.  man, that really sucks!

i feel that Eat Right For Your Type is closely related to Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition, so that makes me feel a little better.  when i read the latter, i felt like i had found all my answers.  that book is a MUST READ for anyone with endo…it not only educates you, but comforts you as well.

but i also want to follow what my naturopath suggests for now, so when i go back in a few months for a re-balancing they can get a good picture of my progress.  so, im hoping as i reread the former i can somehow integrate it into the latter and satisfy that need of not following just one single program LOL!  am i pathetic or what! HAHA!

yikes, okay this post has been a lot of randomized rambling!  i’m sorry if you’re lost and confused! LOL!  i suppose i am just trying to reason with myself and tell myself that IT’S OKAY to question these things, and that it’s not going to kill me (hopefully. LOL.) to follow a plan for a while and see how i feel. 

before i know it, it will be a year since my diagnosis, and it has been my goal to see a marked change in my health by then.  so ive gotta get my bum in gear!!

thanks for attempting to follow along my very disorganized train of thought tonite!!  teehee

ttys!

~josey~    

what’s your type? November 5, 2007

tall, dark and handsome?

 

cute, bubbly and chatty?

 

whoooaaaa wait a minute here!  im not talkin about your type of date…*teehee* 

i’m talkin about your blood type

i know, i know, how mean was that??  super CHEESEY, guh!!  well dangit, i had to get your attention somehow!  LOL!!!  you know all i do is yap about food and health, so how could you possibly believe i was going to yap about something as exciting as your date type?? hehe!!

i’m reading Eat Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo.  both naturopaths i’ve seen this year follow this theory of diet personalization.  back in april when i saw my first naturopath, i checked the book out from the library and turned to the type A section, read it, and promptly dropped it in the return bin saying, "I DON’T THINK SO!" 

i read that A types are best suited as vegetarians!?!?! :-O  hello, i was raised in small town Indiana–meat and potatoes, please!  TOFURKEY??  BLECH!

so there i was, thinkin i’d never have to go there and read that again. hehe.  this time around, i’m a little more desperate to find what foods really do work best for me.  since i have endometriosis to throw in and change it all up, it’s been that much harder to decide what i should follow.

to educate myself on what sort of diet i should adopt for the best healing, this year i’ve also read:

• Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition
• The World’s Healthiest Foods, Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating
• Wild Fermentation:  The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods
• Eat Fat, Lose Fat:  The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats
• Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats

in some ways, all of these books have something in common.  in other ways, the last two (maybe even three) books are much different than the rest.  this is where im having some brain clutter.  the biggest difference is that the blood typing diet steers type A away from saturated fats.  the last two books (written by Sally Fallon) say that high quality saturated fats are what we are lacking and that vegetariansim is unhealthy!  im torn!

i know what you’re thinkin–just keep trying until you find what works for you!  well, i’ve been doing that for like, oh, 5 years now. LOL.  obviously i havent found it yet!

hubby and i were chatting about the "eat right for your type" diet during breakfast this morning.  i was getting discouraged because for type A, there’s some things i should try to avoid eating AT ALL.  foods that’re staples in my daily grub–like butter, tomatoes or any tomato product, black pepper, oranges, bananas, anything coconut, peppers, potatoes, wheat, and any meat except chicken or turkey.   

there’s good reason to avoid these foods, explained in logical scientific detail in the book.  and it does makes sense–i will even admit to being a bit sensitive to many of those foods!  but they TASTE good…so duh, i wanna eat em!!

anyhoo, i told hubby that this time i just have to buckle down and follow this dietary change.  too many times in the past i just throw in the towel if i cant believe in a nutritional plan 100%.  but who can??  well, at least i can’t!!  i’m just notta one-size-fits-all kinda gal when it comes to my food!!

so, in order to find some continuity in my health and healing of endo, im gonna try to stick with this.  BUT, im not going to jump in head first, either.  the book itself even recommends NOT doing that.  i think that’s smart!

since right now my supplement program is focusing on detoxing me–that’s including removing all the crap that’s built up in my liver, gall bladder, and digestive system to start with–it’s important that i eat foods that wont upset that delicate procedure. hehe. 

now mind you, my detox is not one of those, "scuse me, i gotta use the lil girls’ room!" kinda detoxes. LOL.  its a slow process, gradually integrating nutrients (via supplement) that my body needs to rid itself of heavy metals, gunk and more gunk, in addition to giving my body lots of chances to be able to utilize nutrients that support my endocrine system.  cause right now, my endocrine system is saying NO WAY to uptaking any sort of nutrient it needs.  i am so TOXIC that my body rejects some of what it needs.  man, that really sucks!

i feel that Eat Right For Your Type is closely related to Endometriosis: A Key To Healing Through Nutrition, so that makes me feel a little better.  when i read the latter, i felt like i had found all my answers.  that book is a MUST READ for anyone with endo…it not only educates you, but comforts you as well.

but i also want to follow what my naturopath suggests for now, so when i go back in a few months for a re-balancing they can get a good picture of my progress.  so, im hoping as i reread the former i can somehow integrate it into the latter and satisfy that need of not following just one single program LOL!  am i pathetic or what! HAHA!

yikes, okay this post has been a lot of randomized rambling!  i’m sorry if you’re lost and confused! LOL!  i suppose i am just trying to reason with myself and tell myself that IT’S OKAY to question these things, and that it’s not going to kill me (hopefully. LOL.) to follow a plan for a while and see how i feel. 

before i know it, it will be a year since my diagnosis, and it has been my goal to see a marked change in my health by then.  so ive gotta get my bum in gear!!

thanks for attempting to follow along my very disorganized train of thought tonite!!  teehee

ttys!

~josey~    

i’m a coco-nut! July 24, 2007

hahaha! (this is my cat cali, AKA “coco”-lander…derived from cali-CO…how original! haha!!)

okay, so i am a big fan of my cat cali coco-lander, but that’s not what this post is about! hehe!! i wanted to drop ya’ll a line and let you know the book i am currently reading– “Eat Fat Lose Fat” by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. its mostly about how using coconut and coconut oil (not cali “cocos” heheh…altho pets do help keep us healthy, but that’s another blog topic! pardon the mid-sentence tangent! but hey, you’re used to it…hehe!) can help you get healthier–lose weight, recover from illness, etc… well, im not one to fall for fad stuff or things that seem to good to be true, and i was skeptical when my hubby decided to check this book out from the library, especially when i saw the cover of the book said something about “coconut diets!” :-O

so let’s back up a bit. as i have progressed along my journey to better health and have become more educated about current studies and opinions on food and nutrients, i have really changed my own view about FATS in general.

i mean come on, when you’re fat, it seems like fat is the last thing you should be eating, right?? WRONG!

for the last year or so, i’ve been focusing on eating more healthy fats and trying (let me stress TRYING *lol*) to get away from eating those addicting trans fats. olive oil, nuts, eggs, fish/cod liver oil, primrose oil, flax oil (usually ground seeds, not the actual oil–its too unstable and goes rancid quickly), coconut oil–those are all ones i consume on a pretty normal basis.

i have NOT gained weight from it, having even up to 40 or 45% of my calories coming from these fats on some days. i have noticed clearer skin (coconut oil is now my ONLY moisturizer for my face and body), softer hair and my dry skin is gone. woohoo!

and it goes WAY further than the weight issue or outward stuff. because of the low-fat craze of the 80’s, most of us dont have a clue that healthy fats are not our enemies. sure, people lose weight going the low-fat route cause they are consuming hundreds of calories less.

however, they’re also robbing themselves of nutrients, and in addition losing out on many other nutrients they are taking in from their salads and slim-fast bars because our body needs fats to use many of the vitamins in minerals in our foods.

(fyi–any salad you have should contain at least 8g of fat so those greens are actually worth eating!! LOL so if you MUST have low-fat or fat-free dressing, throw some walnuts and pumpkin seeds on that salad!)

we need fat to make hormones, lower stress (hormone related!), have energy, feel full, aid digestion, and heck, we need fat to BE HAPPY! everyone who’s gone on a fat-free diet knows that!

anyhoo…back to coconut oil! we have actually been using coconut oil off and on for a few years in our smoothies and to cook with. its solid at room temp–yep, its a saturated fat! now, dont freak out! here’s some of the great things about coconut oil:

• its VERY stable (takes a LONG time to go rancid/slow oxidation) and has a high smoke point, which makes it great for cooking/frying at low/med temps

• the saturated fats in coconut oil are medium-chain–which means our bodies use it differently than normal saturated fats (for example, butter). it is metabolized more quickly, which is why it also helps boost your metabolism! in addition, it’s not converted into cholesterol like animal-based saturated fats are in excess.

• it’s rich in lauric acid, which is anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal! this has given coconut oil a good name in the treatment of many diseases and also prevention. (it even helps clear up acne and get rid of warts!! i speak from personal experience!)

• and most of all, it enhances and supports our immune system with the nutrients it contains! (and boosting your immune system will solve many-a-physical ailment, as i have personally experienced in the last few months!)

so, ya think my list is boring and bookish? check out this site for an interesting and humorous read on the benefits of coconut oil! (side note on this link: at the end she mentions Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. that’s what i use!)

so ta kinda summarize my point of this post…it will take me a few more days to finish this book, but i can tell it is going to be a great source of information on getting healthier in general, and i am starting to see how adding a little more coconut oil (and a LOT less trans fats) will really help me with my recovery from endometriosis.

(i love to read all sorts of health books–even if they are somewhat one-sided–so i can take out of it what i feel applies to me and just add it to my opinions and use it!! anyhoo…hehe…)

i need to lose weight, which will help my body get rid of all that extra estrogen being stored in all my excess body fat! coconut oil will help boost my metabolism and help me feel satiated so i dont crave junk. and this means i will want less fast-food-evil-trans-fatty crapola, which will indirectly help my immune system function properly!

and with my immune system purring like a kitten, my poor adrenals can normalize and my anxiety will lessen even more.

oh and one other thing, the book reallly loves cod liver oil, especially when taken with the coconut oil because the nutrients in each help the body use the other. i take cod liver oil every day and it has greatly reduced my anxiety, among countless other benefits! (the best brand IMHO–Carlson’s!)

one last thing! the other day i was reading thru the website of one of my fave places to get skin care (every once in a while, for a special treat!). and found an interesting concoction i am going to try starting tomorrow! it’s called “morning brew.” here’s the recipe (also in the link):

• 2 tea bags of organic white tea

• 1 T cold pressed organic virgin coconut oil

• 1 T organic unsulphered black strap molasses

• 1 T organic raw honey

• 1 T organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar

however, im going to use fresh lemon juice instead of the apple cider vinegar (personal preference lol). since im not having smoothies much these days, i thought this might be an easy way to get some coconut oil while i have my tea every morning. plus, i’ve read lots of good things about blackstrap molasses in helping women with reproductive issues by providing extra iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium! all stuff i need!! i’ll let you know how i like it haha!

there’s so much info out there about why we need fat to be healthy, so if my blabblings intrigue you, PLEASE go out and do some of your own research and see what works for you! you will be healthier for it!!

and remember, even for the most healthy of foods, MODERATION is the key. getting a great variety of whole foods (AND FATS!) will give your body a chance to heal itself of all of what we consider “normal aches and pains,” function at peak performance, and live longer more fulfilling lives!! and that’s what we all want, right?

~josey~

i’m a coco-nut! July 24, 2007

hahaha! (this is my cat cali, AKA “coco”-lander…derived from cali-CO…how original! haha!!)

okay, so i am a big fan of my cat cali coco-lander, but that’s not what this post is about! hehe!! i wanted to drop ya’ll a line and let you know the book i am currently reading– “Eat Fat Lose Fat” by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon. its mostly about how using coconut and coconut oil (not cali “cocos” heheh…altho pets do help keep us healthy, but that’s another blog topic! pardon the mid-sentence tangent! but hey, you’re used to it…hehe!) can help you get healthier–lose weight, recover from illness, etc… well, im not one to fall for fad stuff or things that seem to good to be true, and i was skeptical when my hubby decided to check this book out from the library, especially when i saw the cover of the book said something about “coconut diets!” :-O

so let’s back up a bit. as i have progressed along my journey to better health and have become more educated about current studies and opinions on food and nutrients, i have really changed my own view about FATS in general.

i mean come on, when you’re fat, it seems like fat is the last thing you should be eating, right?? WRONG!

for the last year or so, i’ve been focusing on eating more healthy fats and trying (let me stress TRYING *lol*) to get away from eating those addicting trans fats. olive oil, nuts, eggs, fish/cod liver oil, primrose oil, flax oil (usually ground seeds, not the actual oil–its too unstable and goes rancid quickly), coconut oil–those are all ones i consume on a pretty normal basis.

i have NOT gained weight from it, having even up to 40 or 45% of my calories coming from these fats on some days. i have noticed clearer skin (coconut oil is now my ONLY moisturizer for my face and body), softer hair and my dry skin is gone. woohoo!

and it goes WAY further than the weight issue or outward stuff. because of the low-fat craze of the 80’s, most of us dont have a clue that healthy fats are not our enemies. sure, people lose weight going the low-fat route cause they are consuming hundreds of calories less.

however, they’re also robbing themselves of nutrients, and in addition losing out on many other nutrients they are taking in from their salads and slim-fast bars because our body needs fats to use many of the vitamins in minerals in our foods.

(fyi–any salad you have should contain at least 8g of fat so those greens are actually worth eating!! LOL so if you MUST have low-fat or fat-free dressing, throw some walnuts and pumpkin seeds on that salad!)

we need fat to make hormones, lower stress (hormone related!), have energy, feel full, aid digestion, and heck, we need fat to BE HAPPY! everyone who’s gone on a fat-free diet knows that!

anyhoo…back to coconut oil! we have actually been using coconut oil off and on for a few years in our smoothies and to cook with. its solid at room temp–yep, its a saturated fat! now, dont freak out! here’s some of the great things about coconut oil:

• its VERY stable (takes a LONG time to go rancid/slow oxidation) and has a high smoke point, which makes it great for cooking/frying at low/med temps

• the saturated fats in coconut oil are medium-chain–which means our bodies use it differently than normal saturated fats (for example, butter). it is metabolized more quickly, which is why it also helps boost your metabolism! in addition, it’s not converted into cholesterol like animal-based saturated fats are in excess.

• it’s rich in lauric acid, which is anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal! this has given coconut oil a good name in the treatment of many diseases and also prevention. (it even helps clear up acne and get rid of warts!! i speak from personal experience!)

• and most of all, it enhances and supports our immune system with the nutrients it contains! (and boosting your immune system will solve many-a-physical ailment, as i have personally experienced in the last few months!)

so, ya think my list is boring and bookish? check out this site for an interesting and humorous read on the benefits of coconut oil! (side note on this link: at the end she mentions Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil. that’s what i use!)

so ta kinda summarize my point of this post…it will take me a few more days to finish this book, but i can tell it is going to be a great source of information on getting healthier in general, and i am starting to see how adding a little more coconut oil (and a LOT less trans fats) will really help me with my recovery from endometriosis.

(i love to read all sorts of health books–even if they are somewhat one-sided–so i can take out of it what i feel applies to me and just add it to my opinions and use it!! anyhoo…hehe…)

i need to lose weight, which will help my body get rid of all that extra estrogen being stored in all my excess body fat! coconut oil will help boost my metabolism and help me feel satiated so i dont crave junk. and this means i will want less fast-food-evil-trans-fatty crapola, which will indirectly help my immune system function properly!

and with my immune system purring like a kitten, my poor adrenals can normalize and my anxiety will lessen even more.

oh and one other thing, the book reallly loves cod liver oil, especially when taken with the coconut oil because the nutrients in each help the body use the other. i take cod liver oil every day and it has greatly reduced my anxiety, among countless other benefits! (the best brand IMHO–Carlson’s!)

one last thing! the other day i was reading thru the website of one of my fave places to get skin care (every once in a while, for a special treat!). and found an interesting concoction i am going to try starting tomorrow! it’s called “morning brew.” here’s the recipe (also in the link):

• 2 tea bags of organic white tea

• 1 T cold pressed organic virgin coconut oil

• 1 T organic unsulphered black strap molasses

• 1 T organic raw honey

• 1 T organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar

however, im going to use fresh lemon juice instead of the apple cider vinegar (personal preference lol). since im not having smoothies much these days, i thought this might be an easy way to get some coconut oil while i have my tea every morning. plus, i’ve read lots of good things about blackstrap molasses in helping women with reproductive issues by providing extra iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium! all stuff i need!! i’ll let you know how i like it haha!

there’s so much info out there about why we need fat to be healthy, so if my blabblings intrigue you, PLEASE go out and do some of your own research and see what works for you! you will be healthier for it!!

and remember, even for the most healthy of foods, MODERATION is the key. getting a great variety of whole foods (AND FATS!) will give your body a chance to heal itself of all of what we consider “normal aches and pains,” function at peak performance, and live longer more fulfilling lives!! and that’s what we all want, right?

~josey~