Kefir Anyone?

Become a fan!

On June 19, 2014 I wrote:

"The wonders of Kefir are too many to count! It's health benefits have been recorded through the ages. The word Kefir when translated from its original language, means "good feeling".  This is in reference to the wonderful feeling one receives from drinking this age old cultured dairy product. I'm a heart fanatic! Tonight I was making my Kefir when a little grain fell out on my counter. It's a reflection of how I've grown to love this amazing culture. I am becoming a Kefir expert. I am now making Kefir in raw milk, raw goat milk, and pasteurized homogenized milk. I haven't quite figured out which one I'm going to stick with, but I have Kefir filling up my fridge like crazy! I can't consume it all. Let me know if you'd like to try some. Thanks Natalie for introducing me to the greatest drink ever." 

2014 was a devastating year. I will post more about that later though. Today I'd like to share more about the benefit of making Kefir!

I have been making Kefir since 2013. That year, I got so intensely sick and had to be on a serious antibiotic. The antibiotic I thought would kill me before the sickness did. I healed from one malady and due to the antibiotic began the next. I truly felt sicker after the antibiotic than before. My gut took a serious hit. And I learned something, good health is all about good gut health! That is when I discovered Kefir. And I make no bones about saying, IT SAVED ME! It is the greatest probiotic evAr! Now I'm a died in the wool fan! To promote good gut health, I gladly give away grains. That translates to about a 17 dollar savings for anyone who would like to try some. Contact me if you are interested. One word of advice though, you make it daily, so you must be committed! 

WHAT IS KEFIR? It's a wonderful probiotic grown in goat or cow's milk. I grow mine in whole pasteurized milk. Do not use Ultra Pasteurized whole milk. It will kill your grains. PS, That pretty much tells me you should not drink Ultra Pasteurized milk either!

Kefir is a milk-based beverage that is made by fermenting milk with kefir grains. Kefir grains look like little cauliflower florets. They are sponge, and they are hardy! Kefir is rich in both enzymes and beneficial bacteria. This beverage is made with the kefir culture, and this culture is more commonly referred to as a "grain" Kefir "grains" are comprised of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and polysaccharides. The live bacteria and yeast found in kefir grains are friendly microorganisms that not only aid in the digestive system but also help strengthen the intestines and resist the growth or harmful bacteria or pathogens. 

A 6oz serving of milk kefir contains 6 grams of Protein, 20 percent of the RDA Calcium, 20 percent RDA Phosphorus, 14 percent RDA Vitamin B12, 19 percent RDA

Riboflavin (B2), 5 percent RDA Magnesium, and a decent amount of vitamin D. 

Kefir also contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds, including organic acids and peptides that contribution its health benefits.

Some microorganisms can have beneficial effects on health when ingested. Known as probiotics, these microorganisms can influence health in numerous ways, including digestion, weight management and mental health. 

Yogurt is the best known probiotic food in the Western diet, but kefir is actually a much more potent source. Bottom line, Kefir contains about 30 different microorganisms, making it a much more potent source of probiotics than other fermented dairy products.

KEFIR TAKES A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME EACH DAY! There is so much good information on the internet about Kefir that I am not going to place it all here. If you want to research it, try the following links.

Cultures For Health  This is probably the most reputable source I've ever found and they are responsive to their customers. You can call and ask them questions and they have lovely video tutorials. This site is my favorite!

Dom's  is a great source of information. Just about any question you have can be answered here. I love Dom's!

Authority Nutrition Will point you to some benefits of consuming Kefir. My own personal story though converted me. I try now to take my Kefir everywhere with me!

Finally if you choose not to make it, but would like to purchase it, then be sure to buy LIFEWAY, this is the best brand I have found. There's a lot of junk out there. Just keep in mind, non of the benefits out weigh making your own. 

I have five boys. I have taken a lot of flack about my Kefir. My son who is presently in law school has become more interested in his health. A few weeks ago I went to visit him. He's a big 'NO AGENDA' fan. (That's a great Podcast to listen to, by the way.) He was telling me about a podcast No Agenda did on Kefir. He played the podcast for me. I had to laugh! My son now makes Kefir. He's a fan now. What ever you do never listen to your mother first. Brrrrhahahha It's not what you know, it's who you know! Lol  

Last a few important notes to those who want to grow your own Kefir. Kefir cannot touch metal or Chlorinated water. It kills the live organisms in the grains. Use glass and plastic only. If you want a good strainer for your grains, go to Amazon and buy the  HIC Nylon Mesh Strainer by HIC Harold Import .Co. 

Also if you want to travel with your grains, I like these plastic storage lids by Ball. I use the quart or pint jars by ball to make my Kefir in. So these lids work nicely when I travel to my cabin and take my grains with me. 

Set of Ball Storage Caps: Regular Mouth Jar & Wide Mouth Jar

I have been making my Kefir now for going on three years. Obviously I'm a fan! I'm a purest and I drink it plain. I won't lie, it took some getting use to, but I love it. For those who are not so tough, you can add a little jam and it flavors it nicely or better yet, add it to your smoothies. That is one great dose of health!

Here's to good health!

The Blue Zones

I just got done reading the best book. Yes I want to live to be a hundred. Do I want to live to be a hundred? I think I do, but what I mostly want is to live healthy! I want to be on the move. I read the best quote, "We have to age, we don't have to rot!" That is my goal, to not rot.

READ THIS: Blue Zones ( just click on blue zones and you'll head right there.)

Sweet Poisons Can Affect Memory

Last week I received a copy of Utah's Senior Review in my mailbox. While thumbing through it's pages, I found an article that impressed me so much I decided to type the entire article here. I don't want to forget it. I know this article is filled with truth. I have seen the effects of excessive sugar in myself as well as in both my parents when they were still alive. I believe the article has great merit!

The article is entitled: Sweet Poisons Can Affect Memory

by David R. Larsen, MFHD

The first thing you may want to know is who is David R. Larsen? David is the former Director of the award winning Organizational Health Center, at Hill Air Force Base - the largest employer in the state of Utah. He is a Master Instructor for the Maintain Your Brain program developed by the Alzheimer's Association, and Neil Nedley, M.D.'s Depression Recovery Workshop. He is also a popular teacher in Weber State University's continuing ed program. He is the author of 4 books on learning techniques and memory, and writes a quarterly review of Research on Brain Health issues for the Alzheimer's Association. He has a double Master's degree in Family and Human Development, and Counseling Psychology, and for seven years serves as a Navy and Marine Corps Chaplain and later as Family Life Programs Manager, for the Air Force. He currently serves as a Case Manager, for the Alzheimer's Association, the Programs Manager and personal coach for Innovations in Population Health Management, and Director of Advanced Memory Dynamics - his own educational consulting company.

The article begins:

"Recently, I learned an important lesson from a couple who are clients of mine. In an effort to prevent further memory decline, the husband had been giving his wife nearly every "Memory" pill and potion on the market, but her gradual memory losses continued.

In my evaluation, I noted the wife did not eat vegetables, or very few, and she seldom got much exercise. I knew from previous research that vegetables are essential to memory and emotional health, and I referred them to a specialist in this area. He put my client on several supplements to try and overcome this deficiency and boost her brain cells. She also resumed her daily swim. But after several months, there was still no progress. This was very frustrating to me, as nearly everyone I work with improves.

Finally, one evening last month, I was talking with her husband, and he said, "Well, I've got to go give [my wife] her treat for the night."

A bit surprised, I asked, "Oh, so what kind of treats do you give her?"

"Usually it's a slice of chocolate cake, a candy bar, or a bowl of ice cream," he replied.

I was stunned! I'm sure my jaw must have dropped. Of course, he thought he was just being kind and didn't realize he was actually poisoning her mind! We now have her on healthier desserts and a powerful new formula designed to re-grow brains cells. I'll let you know how she does.

This experience helped me realize that although the research on brain health is replete with warnings about the effects of refined sugar on the brain, especially as we get older, many seniors are not aware of this. For example, we have long known diabetics were more prone to develop dementia, but last year, a study of 250 "non-diabetic" men and women conducted at the Australian National University's Centre for Research on Aging found those with high blood sugar levels tended to have "shrinking in brain areas linked to memory and emotional processing."1

In preparing this article, I emailed Dr. Thomas Shea at the University of Massachusetts, one of the top Alzheimer's researchers in the world, and asked his opinion on sugar. He replied that while some sugar as found in fruit and vegetables is essential, refined or processed "sugar is brain poison, plain and simple!" It robs the brain of essential B-vitamins, and in excess causes damage (glycation) to tissues and proteins that contribute to amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's.

Some People laugh when it's suggested that Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's came from his over-consumption of jelly beans. But those familiar with this research do not. Though a small thing dozens of jelly beans (or any other sugary treat) on a daily basis can, as sure as arsenic, poison the brain over time. And it's not just sucrose; fructose sugar can be a problem as well. Fructose in fruit is fine, but when it's refined and used as a additive, as in high fructose corn syrup it does not satisfy cravings for sweets, and it's cheap, so people consume too much. Between 1970 and 1990, Americans' consumption of high fructose corn syrup rose by more than 1,000% an increase that paralleled the rapid rise of the obesity epidemic, with serious consequences. Consider this recent review.

"Are you a victim of fructose poisoning? If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, belly fat, or insulin resistance, the answer is likely yes.  Fructose might taste sweet to your taste buds, but there's nothing sweet about what it [in excess] does to your body. Mounting evidence shows that high fructose is responsible for multiple factors involved in metabolic syndrome [metabolic syndrome can quadruple the risk for Alzheimer's].

The reason for these disastrous health problems is that high intake of fructose acts more like a toxin than a nutrient. . . And, like a toxin, fructose has direct harmful effects (glycation) on tissues throughout the body, while performing no necessary nutritional function. Study after study, has demonstrated that excessive fructose consumption directly causes all five components of metabolic syndrome: abdominal fat, high blood pressure, abnormal lipid profiles, insulin resistance, and inflammation."2

Of course, we see these sugars added everywhere--- in our cereal, our ketchup, our bread, yogurt --- but sodas may be the biggest offenders. And "sugar free" sodas may be even worse, as they usually contain aspartame (Nutra Sweet), a well known neurotoxin, which over time can cause headaches, depression, cognitive decline, and even dementia. Of course, some people are more vulnerable to these effects than others. Water, milk, thick juices, decaf coffee, and herbal teas with a touch of Stevia (a healthier natural, not artificial sugar) would be much better choices.

Be forewarned: the consumption of too much sugar, or aspartame, over time or even over the upcoming holidays can have serious consequences for anyone's mind. Helpful hints: the protein tryptophan found in turkey and the spice saffron may help reduce sugar cravings, while cinnamon, turmeric, and the amino acid carnosine may help reduce the damage sugars can cause.

(For more information on sugars and the spices and proteins that may help overcome sugar cravings and damage, I invite you to visit my website, http://4abettermemory.com/memory, or email me at DavidRJL@aol.com

Endnotes 1- See http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Headline/sugar-brain-brain-shrinkage-brain-damage/2012/09/24/id/483930

2- See Life Extension Magazine October 2013 references found in the original.

Thank You For Your Help In Kenya

At the end of December a good friend of mine requested some much needed help with a project. Her sister was leaving for Africa on the 28th of December and was in need of clothing.  Her sister's in-laws, who are presently serving as mission presidents in Kenya, had arranged for them to visit an orphanage that is run by a church member. It is in the slums, which is an area where death, illness, violence, starvation, unsanitary living, and homelessness plague everyone. 

A man there by the name of Stephen, is caring for approximately 150 children in a very small and suffering facility. Church service missionaries are working with him to build his foundation and ability to support these children there.  Recently another couple who also had been serving in that same LDS mission, flew Stephen to America where he was interviewed about his project. 

Here is the link to his story if you'd like to read about it: Man funds makeshift orphanage through woodcarvings

Afer recieving this plea for some help and reading this story, I put a request on facebook for clothing that would fit kids from 0 to 18 years of age. I was amazed at the response! People just instantainously answered that call for help and suddenly clothes started appearing on my doorstep. Well I wanted you all to see what your efforts accomplished!

Today in my email inbox I recieved a heart felt thankyou, along with some photos. I couldn't look at the photos with out tears running everywhere. Can I just say... WE HAVE SO MUCH! Maybe even TOO much! And I fear some day we will have to answer for our greediness. After reading the letter and viewing the photos, I felt I needed to pass this THANK YOU along, To all of you who gave so quickly and so freely, THANK YOU.

"Dear friends and family! We have returned from our trip to Africa and are so grateful for the experiences and relationships we developed there!!  Visiting the school and orphanage was a priceless opportunity and privilege for our entire family.  Steven was so happy, humbled, and grateful to receive the clothing so generously donated by YOU!  I was amazed at what we were able to collect in such a little amount of time.  We boxed up and packed over 250 pounds of clothing with us and delivered it to Steven.  Thank you so much in providing help and comfort to his efforts in helping give these children a better life and future!  Below I have attached many pictures through SkyDrive.  If you have trouble viewing them, please let me know.  There are many story's behind all those beautiful eyes.  The school and orphanage are located in a smaller slum in Nairobi called Soweto.  We were able to visit the school first where the children performed a program of singing and dancing.  We then taught the students the tuti-tot, watly-acha, and then gave them each a paper doll to write their names on, decorate, and hang on a line we strung over their classroom.   It was very fun and they giggled the entire time.  We then visited the orphanage.  They currently have 36 girls and 24 boys living at the orphanage.  There are two rooms, one for boys and one for girls, that each have three bunk beds and that is where they sleep.  They had more children at one time but Steven has successfully been able to place some of them with "guardians" that can help care for the children. The last picture is of a little girl sleeping that just barely came to the orphanage.  She was found wandering in Nairobi and someone brought her to Steven to care for her.  He normally doesn't take children so young but he says, "some just touch your heart and you can't turn them away."  There is also a picture of my daughter, Ellie, standing next to a little girl named Grace and her mother. Grace is a sweet little 12 year old girl that attends the school. She lives with her mom and two aunts in a small room about 6 feet by 8 feet. It has dirt floors and they cook over a small coal stove. Steven is helping Grace and her mom get the appropriate documents needed for her to have surgery. When Grace was 5 she was raped and severely injured and has had to live with a colostomy bag and line since then. He is hoping that they will be able to move her family out of the slum into something more sanitary for her to come home to once she is able to have the surgery. These kids are beautiful and if I could have I would have packed them up and brought them home.  So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for providing clothing that will cover their little body's and provide them some comfort and make them feel loved from all of us."   Here are a few of the photos she shared. As I finished reading the above letter and looked through the photos, I realized one thing. I wish I could adopt every one of these kids. My prayers are with these sweet beautiful children!

Planning For My 2013 Tea Party

I can't wait! Since my addiction to loose leaf herbal tea I found something so cute. Isn't it cute? Oh, I'm in LoVe! Here is what we will be making at the Crow's 2013 Tea Party! Now to find a pattern for that cute rose I need to cross stitch for all my girls!




I had better get going!

Inspiration At It's Finest!

Every once in a while something comes along to inspire your soul to new degrees you never thought possible. Want an inspirational read? Here ya go! 
So thrilled to know Julie all my life. Her family has always been an amazing family. Their kids have been friends with my kids for as long as I can remember. Her parents, Candice and Loyd are the salt of the earth... you couldn't find finer people! It's nice to see Julie's little girl, Nina, is carrying on her mother's family A W E S O M E gene! 
This is one great article! It was hard to read while balling my eyes out, but ohhhh so inspirational! Thanks Julie for raising such an amazing kid! Just love every Beutler ever born. hahaha

READ all about it! Wounded Warriors Take The Field

Don't Get Your Panties All In A Bunch!

This is it. This is what drew me in.

This is what hooked me pole, line and sinker!

I was in the mall. I was shopping with my cute girls. They were giggling and having a great time looking at everything from bright colored sweaters to fashionable headbands. I was feeling old, and a little disappointed that fashion designers do not necessarily cater to the older rounder more mature woman, you know, like me. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would find shopping a little disappointing, that's about the moment I passed a store I hadn't seen before. Teavana was printed in big letters on the front of the entrance. "Hum," I thought, "Tea .....who drinks tea?"

I'm a Mormon. I belong to the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. WE ARE NOT A CULT! I'll be chanting that mantra till I die. What is with people? Our entire religion is centered around Jesus Christ! He is the supreme pinnacle of our faith! We follow Jesus Christ. We learn of Jesus Christ. WE ARE CHRISTIANS! We strive to emulate Jesus Christ. We try to be like Him in every way. We try hard. We fail miserably some days, but we keep at it! Well, at least I do. Ok, so now, hopefully this gives you an idea of our religion if you happen to drop by here and wonder, what's a Mormon. Go to Mormon.Org. for more info. or LDS.org. I am not writing about religion today. I'm not writing to sway anyone over to Mormonism, although I would if I could. After all, it's the truest religion on the planet. Ok, you can say I'm biased, but it's true, on both accounts!

Now back to the task at hand, me, standing in front of Teavana. And the next thing I know, I'm tasting tea. YIKES! Now don't get your panties all in a bunch, let me explain. Mormons can't drink tea right? Or so you thought. Ok, so this is where I have to say it, Mormons can be morons. hahahaha well, it's true. Actually all people of all faith's can in deed be morons, so I don't know if the Mormon morons I know are exceptional to my faith or just part of a larger whole. Just know there are a wide variety of annoying people in all faiths and I know some.

During the beginning of our faith, in it's earliest days, the Prophet Joseph Smith was issued a revelation. It was concerning our health. It is called, "The Word of Wisdom." It is found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 89. I guess you could safely refer to it as the Mormon church's law of health." It's a good law. I could go on and on here about doctors, their recommendations and the health priorities they encourage us to live by, the Mormon law of health is no different. It's a good law that leads us in the direction of good health. You can even do research as to how Mormons live longer because they follow it, ten years longer in fact. That is not my point today. My point is, we are asked to abstain from alcohol and hot drinks. We are further advised against the use of any beverage that contains ingredients that would be harmful to the body. If we follow the counsel of the Word of Wisdom, we are promised physical health, wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, the ability to run and not be weary and walk and not faint, and protections from influences on this earth that would seek to destroy us.

I think it's safe to say here the use of alcohol is self explanatory, as it is addictive and can cause numerous health problems, including liver failure. As a lover of herbs though I have long been interested in the Mormon's dilemma over tea. The Word of Wisdom states no "hot drinks." "Hot drinks" were officially defined as tea and coffee in a general conference in the very early days of the Church. Elder John A. Widtsoe, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reported the following:

"The Word of Wisdom contains certain very important warnings. It declares that alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee are not good for the body. The revelation says hot drinks," but before the revelation was a year old, "hot drinks" were defined to include tea and coffee" (Elder John A. Widtsoe, Conference Report, April 1926).

And Victor L. Ludlow has further clarified that the "hot drinks" referred to in the Word of Wisdom do not apply to the herbal teas.

"The Word of Wisdom counsels against drinking "hot drinks," which have been identified by early Church leaders as coffee and tea. "Tea" refers to the standard tea derived from the tea plant, sometimes called black tea or green tea. The Word of Wisdom has not been interpreted as proscribing herbal teas, stating that "all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man (D&C 89:10)" (Victor L. Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel, p. 434).

Here is where I'm going to clarify even further. Tea, being from the "Tea Plant" or Camellia sinensis, is partially fermented in oolong tea and fully fermented in black tea. In white tea and green tea it is not fermented. All tea is made from the tea plant. Both coffee and tea (from the Tea plant) stimulate the body and cause a warming effect. Both Coffee and Tea are not only addicting, but have a high concentration of Tannic acids that are very harmful to the body, (unless your are a new nursing mom, then a used steeped black tea bag refrigerated is great as a pack on your very sore areola and nipples.) Tannic acid in tea and coffee is known to block iron absorption and inhibits the absorption of calcium and the B vitamins. It can cause heart burn, indigestion, and acid reflux, which in turn cause Ulcers. It can cause intestinal damage, stain teeth, and it interacts with a wide range of medications, reducing their effectiveness. It does not matter whether tea or coffee is caffeinated or decaffeinated, its origin is from the tea plant which contains the harmful addictive properties.

Further research shows that the "Tea" name has been used improperly for decades, as it is used to describe a form of plant and water. The name "Tea" belongs only to the "Tea Plant", while other Herbal drinks, or the plant and water, technically are called "Infusions," "Cecoctions," or "Tinsanes". Oh hallelujah! Now I can have my herbal tinsane and not go insane! Theoretically, herbal tea isn't herbal tea at all, it's called herbal infusions. If you don't believe me check out Teavana.com

We are also told in the Word of Wisdom that all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man. I don't look at the Word of Wisdom as a list of what I can and cannot eat or drink. I look at it as a recipe for a good diet that leads to good health. As I have come to understand the benefits of abstaining from Alcohol, Coffee, Tea, and Tobacco..... and taking into my body more Fruits, Herbs, Vegetables, Grains, and little meat..... I have also come to enjoy a healthier life.

Wisdom goes beyond the letter of the law. Generally when we speak of the Word of Wisdom, we are talking about exercising wisdom in what we take into our bodies. I quote from a letter from the secretary to the First Presidency,

'But the spirit of the Word of Wisdom would be violated by the drinking or eating of anything that contained a habit-forming drug.' (The teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p 202)

I can tell you the only thing habit forming about my morning or evening herbal infusion is taking a moment to sit down, relax, ponder, and enjoy the chance to meditate a little over the blessings of the day. Taking a little quiet time to myself, that is what is truly addicting.

This is where I come back again to me standing in the Teavana Tea shop sampling such subtle, sweet, fruity combinations like Blueberry Bliss and Kona Pop. The sample I tasted that day was aromatically sweet smelling and put me at ease the second I held it in my hand. I stood there and sipped on it and fell in love. It truly was an infusion of goodness. The mixture I was drinking is actually an infusion of two infusions, but inside me they were one in purpose. Well, it made my heart go POP and my wallet too! It was so delicious. By the time I walked out of Teavana I had spent nearly a 100 smack-olas. I was shaking my head and thinking to myself, "What in the world have I done?" When I walked into that shop I felt like a sinner from hell. I was thinking, "Some Mormon is going to see me in an evil tea shop and condemn me. I could hear their chanting, "You're going to hell for even entering." Awe, but I came out feeling like I had died and returned to my heavenly roots. I felt like Angels themselves were going to sit down and have a cuppa with me! I felt wholesome and healthy. My herbal infusions along with my German rock sugar tucked in my sack made me want to drive straight home. Who cares about my pin-headed Mormon friends. The word "TEA" gives herbal tea a bad rap on the Mormon spectrum. That's why I went to town researching every ounce of material I could on herbal teas being OK for straight edged Mormon like me. I did this for my Mormon moron friends. Hahahaha so I can prove, "No, I'm not going to hell for drinking herbal tea which is actually a herbal infusion, thank you!"

Last week I went shopping with my girls. I told them the only place I wanted to go was to the Teavana tea shop. Yes, they looked at me like I had turned into a heathen. I told them of my new found research and love. While in Teavana, I stumbled on a new herbal infusion, or herbal tea, whichever. It's called Tulsi Dosha. BE STILL MY HEART!!! The girl working there made me a cuppa. I gave my girls each a lengthy taste. They sipped on it and kept returning to my cup for more. That was the moment in time I had some real parental entertainment. I thought about my first visit to Teavana. I thought about my shocking crazy expenditure on warm herbal cup of serenity, a hundred dollars. Then I proceeded to watch my girls step up to the counter and each drop 80 bucks. I laughed until my sides hurt. Now we are all herbaly infused!

My daughter sent me a funny text message this morning. It said, "Thanks a lot mom for ruining my cheap crappy herbal raspberry bagged tea that comes out of a  cardboard box. Now I've tasted Teavana loose leaf tea I'm hooked and I had to throw it all away." As you can see, Teavana is not cheap. The great thing about that however is, it doesn't taste cheap either! When you pull the lid off your air tight, light tight canister, you see large chunks of fresh dried fruit. It's amazing and it's true, nothing about it is cheap, especially the taste.

This morning I made me a cuppa Tulsi Dosha. I bought some Almond milk on the recommendation from my daughter. I added that along with my German Rock Sugar, a little Vanilla and honey. Then I sat down in my fuzzy warm slippers and watched the sun come up over the Wasatch mountains and thought about my day. It was a quiet serene moment. It was a blessed moment. It was a chance to reflect on my life, where I've been and where I'm going. It was a chance to breath a little deeper, feel a little warmer, and focus on the important aspects of living. There are many words of wisdom from my maker, one of which is life is to be lived fully, enjoyed wholly, and savored immensely. God wants us to take heart in this life. He wants us to live soulfully! I did that this morning. I caught the infusion of sitting down and taking a moment to steep in life!

15 Simple Rules For Easy Fat Loss

Follow these simple tips from registered dietitian Jayson Hunter, the Head of Research and Development for Prograde Nutrition, for a lean and healthy body. 

1. Eat 4-6 small meals day a day instead of the usual 2-3 large meals. Eating frequently will help regulate and boost your metabolism to burn more calories.
   
2. Consume whole foods that are high in fiber and low in sugar, such as lean protein sources (lean beef, chicken, fish, and whey protein), fruits & vegetables (oranges, apples, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, peppers, asparagus, carrots, nuts (almonds, cashews, & walnuts), and whole grains.
   
3. Eat low-glycemic carbohydrates such as vegetables, whole-wheat products and oatmeal instead of refined processed carbohydrates which usually come in a box or a bag.
   
4. Consume 25-35 grams of fiber per day. Fiber will help satisfy hunger pangs as well as control insulin and blood sugar levels which tend to promote fat storage.
   
5. Eat some type of lean protein at each meal. Protein helps to satisfy hunger and provide the necessary building blocks to maintain lean body mass while losing body fat.
   
6. Consume adequate amounts of healthy fat foods such as olive oil, walnuts, almonds, Omega-3 fortified eggs, or other Omega-3 products.  Healthy fats are great antioxidants as well as help with brain function and many other essential processes that take place in the body on a daily basis. Essential Fatty Acids, according to clinical studies, could also help prevent certain diseases. To guarantee you’re consuming enough Omega-3supplement your diet with EFA Icon.
   
7. Eat 5-10 servings of fruit and vegetables a day to meet your micronutrient needs.  Vegetables also contain a good amount of fiber and help to control appetites and curb hunger. Additionally, VGF25+ provides the power-packed nutrition of 25 whole vegetables, greens, and fruits in a convenient “super pill.”
   
8. Consume Green Tea or Water instead of calorie-filled drinks such as soft drinks.  Green Tea has many health benefits and you should be drinking 1ml of non-caffeinated fluid for every calorie that you consume. This works out between (8-12) 8oz glasses of Green Tea or Water a day.
   
9. Balance your fat intake for the day.  One-third should come from saturated fats, 1/3 from monounsaturated fats, and 1/3 from polyunsaturated fats. Again, ensure you’re consuming antioxidant-rich Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids by incorporating EFA Icon into your nutritional plan.
   
10. Consistent fat loss requires good habits. If you want to create good habits, then you need plan. Therefore, map out your meals every day and follow them. If you follow your plan everyday for 2-3 weeks, you will form habits that become part of your daily routine and part of your life.
    
11. Incorporate “superfoods” into your meal plan on a daily basis. Some examples are salmon, low-fat plain yogurt, tomatoes, spinach, mixed berries, whole oats, mixed nuts, olive oil, flax seeds(or flax meal), green tea, and various beans. Many of the super nutrition found in these “superfoods” are also found in VGF25+.
    
12. Keep total fat intake under 30% for the day.  This can easily be accomplished by avoiding “extra” fats such as butter, sour cream, mayonnaise… This doesn’t mean you have to completely eliminate these items, just use them sparingly and avoid adding them to foods whenever possible.
    
13. EXERCISE! Yes, you can lose weight just by changing your eating habits. But very few people succeed long-term - and it takes much longer to lose fat - when they don’t exercise. And something most people don’t realize is, just how critical ingesting the research-proven Protein to Carbohydrate ratio is to optimizing the results of your workout efforts.
    
14. Record what you eat and drink. You will be amazed by what you find. Keeping a food journal is critical to your success because you need it to evaluate and analyze your current eating patterns. If your fat loss efforts are stagnant, the answer can usually be found in your food journal.
    
15. Follow the 90% rule. If you can follow your plan 90% of the time, you will soon see unwanted fat melt off your body. However, if you find yourself breaking these rules more than 90% of the time, your chances of failing increase significantly. 

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeoning of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

~Ernest Henely

(Invictus means undeafeated in Latin. It was written in the 19th century to express what the author, Ernest Henely, endured over a twenty month period in an infirmary where he was being treated for tuberculosis and arthritis.)

White's Whiter Please

I am my mother's daughter. This means I am required to keep all things clean. Don't tell my mother, but I sometimes struggle with this. Lately, I'm not into cleaning anything. 

My mother was referred to as the "White Tornado." She could get out any stain. People actually use to bring her projects, neighbors, friends, relatives, and mostly her kids. Every individual came with a cry for help! You had to be careful though. Once my sister gave her a shirt with some foreign spot on it and my mother got the spot out alright, but there was an unsightly hole where the spot use to be. My mother was persistent!

I use to follow all of her recipe's for making white's whiter. Those recipes included Mrs. Stewarts Blueing, various detergents, even boiling and freezing the item. Mom would be proud of me if she could read this post.

A friend of mine posted a new recipe for getting whites whiter. Well, being my mother's child, I had to try it. Looks like times have changed and newer, better methods for whiting are appearing for us baby boomers.

Here Ya go! Pearl would be proud!

Soak your white in this mixture for at least an hour.
Soak in HOT HOT HOT water (This is where my mother would boil the water. I agree. Nothing like scalding hot water to clean with.)
1 C. bleach. My mom would use Clorox!
1 C. laundry detergent. I used tide.
1 C. granulated dishwasher soap. 
1 C. Borax. (My mother used Borax for everything under the sun!)
After soaking, wash and dry as normal. My mother would dry it out on the line. Dryers just yellow things she would say.

There you have it. Now when your whites are looking a little dingy, brighten them up!

My mother will look down on you with pride!

I Want To Be A Cat!

I need more than 24 hours in a day. I need more Fridays and Saturdays in my week. I need more money! Serious. I need more money so Man With A Drill can slow down. And more than anything else, I need more lives than just one. I wish I were a cat. I want NINE lives! One for every dream in my heart!

Did I tell you I love life. Every fiber of it. I haven't had a chance to sit down and write for sometime and I gotta say, I love breathing and living. And I love writing about it all. And for me it's not enough to just go about each day living mundanely. NO,  I want to live  and breath pasionately, with heart and soul. Yes, passion, the kind you can feel right down to your toes. I want to taste and feel and experience all the good life has to offer up.

There are so many things I want to do, so many things I'd like to see. And I want to be good at something before I die! Not just OK, but GOOD, GREAT infact! I have always hated average. I want to really excell at something in my life. I want to leave my mark in this life. I want to leave footprints that can't be erased. The kind that are so big all of my posterity can fit inside.

I have so many things left to do in this life and I'm already 55! This is where I write, good hell!  I don't know what is wrong with me but I didn't really know what I loved until now. I didn't know what I wanted to do until now. I suppose it's because I wanted to be a mother first and foremost. And I did that. I'm still doing it, but now I finally have some time to do the things I'm personally dreaming of. I guess I've finally realized, I didn't dream past motherhood. Here I am and I'm just starting to dream of all the things I want to do before I die. And now I'm old. Gotta say it, good hell! So, I wanna be a cat. Please, God, please can I have nine lives? I love the one you've given me right now! You've given me the greatest life. And now, I don't want to sound greedy, but I want nine more, cause lets face it, I'm more than half way done in this one!

I hope Heaven is going to be fun. I'm worried. Some people are so serious when it comes to religion. You gotta admit it can be a tad boring. I hope Heaven is going to be earth life without the emenities of the hell that sometimes surrounds us here, cause sometimes this life can be pure hell. I hope when I travel from this earthly sphere and I land in the next heavenly one, I hope it's fun there and I can go on dreaming and doing all of the things I wanted to do here. And if not, then I'm going to need eight more lives to spend down here. Even that is a scanty number for all the things I want to do!

The picture you see above was taken in California on Deserey's graduation trip. I took that picture. I can't tell you how one single photograph speaks to my heart. My soul is in those waves, churning with a desire break into life and roll up on a million differnt shores.

And since I doubt I'm ever going to be a cat. I have to say, God has given me more blessings in this life than I ever deserved. So I'll be content, grateful for everything He's blessed me with and I'll pray I can make the most of my time I have left here. I hope it's a good long while. I pray he'll bless me to use my time here wisely. It's so precious. And then maybe, just maybe, someday when it's all over, I can stand in some line up in Heaven and request a re-visit ticket so I can come down here and do it again.

I love walking, living, breathing and experiencing the greatest journey ever!

Happy New Years

Today is March 19th and I haven't posted my New Year's Motto.

Last week I found this in my journal. Things I wanted to do in 2011

Revamp my blogs.

Pursue my photography, take classes, improve.
Work to get out of debt.
Organize my pictures.
Organize my life.
Clean out my house.
Get a new roof.
Tare out the water stained carpet in Seth's old room.
Finish the New Testament.

I finished two out of nine. How's that? Well, I'm working on my blogs. I'm still working on my photography, my life long goal. I'll get out of debt when I die... maybe. I am always organizing pictures. Organize my life? Ok, that's a life long goal too. Clean out my house? Another continuous goal. Hey, I did fix the roof. It's not new but it's repaired. I am sad to say, the disgusting stained carpet in the bedroom is still there. And I gave up reading the New Testament in order to go back to reading the Book of Mormon. Only because it's the choice of scripture study this year in Sunday School.

New Years Eve, I started the following post. I wasn't going to post it. But then after reading it I want to remember it. I want to remember that I changed my attitude.

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"New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights." ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Today is January 3rd, 2012 ---the beginning. Here I am typing on a blank page. 363 days await! It's leap year.

Every year I pick a motto. Something to inspire improvement in myself. Tonight I really sat down and looked over six years of motto's that were meant to foster change and in doing so I was sorely frustrated. I suppose it is that realization and frustration that has really inspired my motto for this up coming year.

2006- Just Do It

2007- A thing done when thought of needs no more attention.

2008- 2008 Will be great.

2009- Rise above it.

2010- Be happy.

2011- The year of great relationships.

Just for the record. I hated my New Years Motto for 2011. When I picked it the two one's standing side by side reminded me of a great relationship, the kind I'd like to have. Maybe some symbolic example of two people who move through life as if they are one. 2011's motto is a motto I will never pick again. Why? Because I am only half of any relationship. I repeat, only half!

I'm a sour grape today. Snarky would be a good description of my present attitudes. Not a good day to pick a motto. None the less, gotta keep up the tradition. In looking over the last six years and given my present snarly disposition. I've chosen something really appropriate. And I'm sticking by it.

My motto for 2012... "To Hell With It!"

Yes, you read that right. "To Hell With It." How's that for a New Year's Motto? I'm telling you it's really growing on me. Yup, this year I fully intend on taking the entire year off. In 55 years I'm giving myself a much needed break. Don't you think I deserve one? I've had my head in a self help book since I was old enough to read. I forgot to buy the one on perfectionism first. Maybe if I'd bought that one to begin with I could relax a little.

In the year 2012 I'm not going to buy one single solitary self-help book or set one single solitary goal. How's that for making sure I reach my potential. It's going to be the hardest thing I've ever done, but I'm going to deliberately by pass the self-help section of any store and I'm heading right over to the fiction and romance shelves. Maybe since I can't seem to produce great changes in my own life I can read about some fictional character who does.

So there you have it, I have no intention of working on myself one bit this year. There's going to be a lot of disappointed people. I'm really excited though, and I feel a great sense of relief. Self-improvement is hard work, excruciating, grueling, labor intensified work. This year I'm going to give myself full permission to be a down right slacker. Goal setting is over rated and only for those who want to succeed. I'm sorry, besides being sour I'm also sarcastic today.

This year I'm going to embrace my imperfections. Maybe even shine them up for people. I'm going to fully be accountable to myself and myself only, well, and God of course. Some how I think He understands where I'm coming from more than anyone. He knows my heart.  I know it's sad, but this year I'm not going to get my self all in a fix over the billion and one things I need to improve on. Nope, I'm sitting this year out. I'm going to give it a rest. I need a rest. I'm tired.

So here's to 2012 and being a down right imperfect human! I know one thing, you might want to stay clear of me for a bit. This year I'm taking a sabbatical. Hallelujah, a complete year of rest from stressing over improvement. I can't wait to see how this goes. I am embarking on territory I've never seen before.

I'm also moving my writing to my own personal blog. Oh I'll still post family stuff on the family blog, but that's it. You can see where that's headed can't you?

One thing I want to do more of this year is write. I love writing! I love writing about life! I love finding a way to give the high's and lows meaning with descriptive honest words. And I want to get better at it, so I'm going to practice in my own persoanl space, a place where people can participate if they want, share opinions and insight. I love blogging.

So that's it.

Happy New Year!
Yours Truly,
Despicable Me

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I've decided to improve my attitude today. So here it is my real 2012 New Year's Motto.

Henry David Thoreau said, "To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."  So that's it, today I'm going to live artistically. Draw my day out and live it colorfully in an artsie kind of way. I'm going to strive to make each day count. I'm going to be present in the moment because today is really the only time I have. That's it short and simple. I'm going to take life one day at a time right now. I'm going to improve how I look on life ...TODAY. I'm going to concentrate on makeing each day a good day. Sounds near impossible doesn't  it?