I'm not afraid to admit it, I'm lazy...or at least I used to be. I was so lazy that I wanted to make everything easier and faster. I now call this smart ;) I am also forgetful. I was purchasing herbs, fruits and veggies from the store or receiving from my CSA and I would either forget all about them or not use them in enough time and they would all go to waste, at LEAST $10 a week in the trash. I got smart about this, too.
My ex brought very few good things to my life but one of them was at least 10 ice cube trays that his mother was getting rid of and when I was about to donate them
one day because they were taking up space and not being used, I had an epiphany! At that time I was making my own green shakes daily and could never keep a bag of spinach without it going bad by my third shake(organic usually means they don't last as long because there are no added preservatives or chemical pesticides on them) Trash! I thought that maybe if I froze the greens that it would not only solve my forgetfulness but also my laziness, and man was I right! I threw my bags of kale and spinach in my bullet blender, poured in some coconut water and blended. I then poured the mixture into an ice cube tray(or two) and froze them. The next morning, I popped out a couple, put them in the blender with a handful of fresh fruit and almond milk and BAM! I had my shake. It took half the time to prepare and my greens weren't going to waste, even if I decided to skip shakes for a day or two.
I went crazy after that! I cube almost anything these days. Herbs were a big problem for me also, so I chop them up and disperse them evenly in the tray, warm up some ghee or coconut oil(whatever I think I'll be cooking it with in the future) and pour it over the herbs to make little cubes for cooking. I love lemon and pineapple in my water and it's super good for your gut and immune system but I was also wasting those when I wasn't using them as often. I started by cutting them up, putting them in sandwich bags and freezing them to be able to pop into my water any morning but I found myself banging the bag against the counter every morning trying to get the pieces apart just to get one....so now, those get cubed too!! I make full pots of coffee and cube them so I can just throw the cubes in some almond milk in the morning or into a blender with some creamer to make a frappacino, half the price!
My absolute favorite thing to cube is bone broth! I use bone broth for a lot of things like soup and bean bases but I also love to drink it. I found it tedious to warm up a pot of bone broth on the stove(especially since we downgraded to electric, crap!)every time I wanted a cup and it was always a little too strong anyways so I decided to start cubing it. Not only does this help maintain shelf life(which is also short for broth) but it takes a quarter of the time to make now. I simply run a pot of coffee, with out the coffee of course, and then plop 2 broth cubes in my coffee cup. It melts in seconds and is the perfect timing and ratio.
If you're looking for something delicious and nutritious to do with some of your herbs before you freeze them, check back to The Seduction of Fermentation for some yummy recipes! Drop a line with your waste not, want not hacks. Spread the savings :)
Whenever there is a screaming child in the room or a friend has a new baby, my mother often exclaims about how I used to play so well on my own when I was a child. I could make a fun time out of nothing and didn't need constant attention or someone to play with in order to be happy. She always said that my sister was the exact opposite and at times I wondered how we ended up so different but this reminds me that we were different from the very beginning. Some people believe that our experiences growing up is what makes us into the type of people we are, and although it does to some extent, this observation proves that most of it comes from the start of conception. This is called our Constitution. Your personality, microbiome, body type...so many other things were developed based on what time of year you were conceived, what climate, diet and habits your mother had while pregnant, how you were delivered, and so on. These are the unique things about you that cannot be changed.
Although I am extremely proud of my independence and love when my mother brags on me, this part of my constitution can be difficult to deal with at times. I enjoy alone time, I don't like or want to be the center of attention, I love spending time getting to know myself without anyone else's opinion, my favorite things to do are read books and listen to the sounds of nature....alone!
As you get older, alone barely exists. I have an amazing forever partner so I don't sleep alone. I am my mothers caretaker so I do not eat or watch TV alone. I have a dog and 2 cats so I do not poop alone! When you live this kind of life, as the loner with too much going on, it can make you anxious. Almost like you're gasping for a type of air that doesn't exist. You can never know for sure if you'll ever find it so every day becomes a search for something and everything else seems to lose its meaning in the midst of the search. You find places to hide for a little bit or things to do "alone" but the air is still to thick with reminders of the things and people you have to handle when you come "back." The funny part is that as I get older, I also appreciate the loudness even more. The things that give me pure joy are the things inside said chaos.
In order for me to embrace both sides of this crazy adult-ness, I have decided to go somewhere I've never been, completely alone, whenever I can. I have thought over and over that I will do this once everyone is OK and taken care of or when I have enough money or am more settled and don't have so many responsibilities...so I've been waiting a while, go figure.
Today was ALMOST another one of those days. I had planned all week, knowing that I finally had no work to do this weekend. That our home closing got pushed back so I wouldn't be in the middle of moving. Now would be the perfect time to get back to ME for a little bit. As the rain fell down my bedroom window all night, I had an overwhelming feeling that I wouldn't get that chance just yet. I wanted to go to the beach...and this was no weather for the beach. I woke up this morning, looked out the window and just said "Fuck it!" I made my mother breakfast, told her I'd see her for dinner and to be careful and I began to head south. The sky was one big sea of dark grey and I had no idea what I was getting myself into and that thought almost immediately calmed me. I silenced my phone and finally reached my destination an hour and a half later. Although I had planned for a beautiful and sunny day with me, myself and I, I quickly realized that this nasty weather brought me true alone-ness that I wouldn't have gotten on a regular Saturday in Spring. There was no one around, all I could hear were the birds chirping, the waves lightly crashing and the drizzle hitting rooftops.
I walked the given path, enjoying the scenery and history. Rang the bell and vibrated with it's calming sound. Looked to the waters and breathed the deepest breath I had ever taken. Then I placed a bag on the wet bench on the dock, sat down and enjoyed one of my favorite books. A book that talks about food as healing but also everything else that comes along with it, and I knew I was in the right place at the right time. At times it was hard to concentrate on the book because on a post right behind me was an Osprey nest with it's momma flying overhead, swooping into the water to catch fish and bring back to her nest. It was a magnificent distraction!
For the first time in a while, I knew that although everything was not perfect or in place and that some things were even out of control, that it was all still in my control. That things would work out the way they were suppose to and I would still survive with whatever the outcome may be. That through the chaos you can still find yourself and be at peace even if you aren't completely alone. And most
importantly that the crazy times and not being able to poop alone are the very things that help you appreciate the moments and opportunities you used to take for granted. I found that unattainable air and intend to keep it in a jar nearby for safe keeping and reminding that everything you could possibly want or need is right in your reach, you just have to know what you're looking for and make the moves. Don't wait for the perfect day or time, you'll be waiting forever without realizing that life is already perfect.
Am I crazy for loving myself and wanting to embrace it alone? Possibly. But we're all different and need to embrace whatever it is that makes us happy in order to be healthy and successful humans. Do you take time to yourself or to do the things that heal your heart? Share your experiences with the class below and spread the love 😍
The leaves started to fall and while some people were admiring their decent and jumping into piles raked together, you were dreading the constant "cold" you KNEW you'd have for the next few months. Now that you're finally better, the trees are starting to bloom and the flowers are rising from the cool ground. Instead of appreciating their awakening, you start sneezing and coughing. You start to ask yourself "Why have I been sick all winter?" "How come my allergies are getting worse every year, I've never been allergic before." "I guess this is normal?" Well...it's not!
This way of life has become the new normal but it is anything but. Normal is described as something typical or expected and though it appears that "sick" is becoming more expected, it should NOT be normal, and YOU can fix it. Why are we getting so sick?
Because our immune systems are being compromised. What are we being compromised by? Oh I could go on forever about why, but we'll save that for a rainy day. Today is sunny and beautiful so let's keep the positivity going by talking about 3 EASY delights to add to your day to reverse the erosion.
First up, my #1 favorite addition, honey! Not the corn syrup labeled as honey you get at the grocery store, not even the one labeled "real" honey(this honey has been over processed and has lost most of it's nutrients and usually contains no bee pollen). I'm talking about the good stuff...from the farm down the street or your friendly ⇉local⇇ beekeeper. When you purchase local honey, you are not only supporting your community but you are getting strains of bee pollen that are local to your area which helps build your immunity to their flowers which in turn helps those boogery allergies stay away! Studies have also shown that a daily dose of raw honey raises levels of health-promoting antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants help block free radicals in the body that cause disease. It also boosts the immune system, acting as a preventative against any number of debilitating diseases. Honey contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that help stave off nasty colds and even cancer; add one tablespoon of honey to your daily diet via your favorite warm tea, circled over your morning grits or even just by the spoonful!
My second favorite and probably the easiest way to boost your immunity is to smile! Really? That's it?(You don't even have to BE happy!) When you smile, your body naturally relaxes. When you are relaxed, your immune system is able to function optimally, helping to fight off colds and flu. It is also a double duty remedy as when you smile, you naturally make everyone around you smile and happy so you are helping to heal others while healing yourself; no matter how you're feeling today, try to smile at everyone you come in contact with. Especially that coworker that complains all day about their workload but doesn't do any work!
The last and most tasty(according to me) way to boost your immune system is to incorporate garlic into your diet. One clove contains 5 mg of calcium, 12 mg of potassium, and more than 100 sulfuric compounds -- powerful enough to wipe out bacteria and infection. Raw garlic is most
beneficial for health, since heat and water inactivate sulfur enzymes,
which can diminish garlic's antibiotic effects. Cut or crush your raw garlic and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before you use it, to start and complete the chemical reaction that produces allyl sulfide; the compound known for all of it's miracle properties. I personally love to eat raw garlic on it's own or even mixed with a spoonful of honey(double tummy whammy) but if you're not that bold than a great way to get your daily raw garlic in is to make your own salad dressing. Add apple cider or red wine vinegar and oil to an empty jar, add dijon mustard, your garlic after 10 minutes, salt/pepper and shake what your mama gave you. It's so yummy, a gazillion times better for you than store bought/bottled dressing and it will insure that you're getting more veggies in your diet by having more salad. Share your amazing garlic and honey recipes in the comments for others to try!
If you are like me and have absolutely no time to find local honey and don't want stinky hands all day than kill two birds with one stone and check out the lovely Blythe's Bounty for an incredible tonic of Elderberry and Rose Hip, local honey already included!! This syrup will keep you and your wee ones healthy all year round with multiple immune boosting ingredients.
Go out and smell the flowers, you deserve it ✌
"We are all addicted to something that takes the pain away."
Addiction; a word no one wants to say, a topic no body wants to discuss, a problem that no person wants to admit they have. Addiction comes in every form possible and we all suffer from it, yet it is a taboo topic. When people think of the word addiction, they often think of the dirtier side of it like drugs, alcohol and sex but it can also come in more familiar ways like food, shopping or even beauty addictions. Though one may seem worse than the other, they all take high priority and they all require the attention and recovery that they deserve.
I have lost many loved ones from addiction, I know an even larger number that are still fighting the battle and a small few that are in successful recovery. I am not an MD but I can tell you from first hand experience that almost all addiction stems from trauma. It then rewires your brain completely, making it almost impossible to recover from or even realize that it has become your disease. It is referred to as a chronic disease(Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they
are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by non-reversible
pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for
rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of
supervision, observation, or care) but it IS possible to recover from it, just as so with most other chronic disease.
I personally am addicted to food, I absolutely love it! My addiction started at a young age when my father would not let my sister or I leave the table until we were finished with the food on our plates....no matter how much was put on it or how full we were. We would find ourselves still sitting at the table at 9, 10 o'clock at night because we either hated the food or we literally could not eat any more. If it got to a certain time, we would be punished heavily. It got to a point where we would hide food under the cushions of the dining table chairs and behind the bookshelves, just so we wouldn't be beaten: as I got older, this grew into an obsession with finishing all of the food on my plate, no matter what. The addiction grew after my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer twice and then my parents divorce, when I would eat to comfort myself. It was never "too much" at this time, but the food always took the pain away and was always there for me at a time where I felt completely abandoned. Fast forward to young adulthood where I was binge eating for days at a time, eating out at almost every meal and crash dieting when I noticed any weight gain. I would always lose weight but then I would gain it back 10 fold.
We all have something that we are addicted to that takes away the pain, so wouldn't one think that if there is no more pain than there is no more addiction? I personally believe this to be completely true. There is no possible way to be pain free in life but it is possible to change the way we feel about the things that pained us in the past and the inevitable future pain we may go through. My recovery started with facing the fact that what I was doing was hurting and killing me. Many people are already at this point..."I know this triple bacon burger is bad for me but it tastes SO good. YOLO!" "I know this drug is tearing my family apart but I can't stop." "I know that we are going bankrupt but I have to have nice things." So what after that?? I looked into my past where I was reliving the bad times on a DAILY basis. It was extremely difficult for me to recall any good memories and at one point I figured that if I had forgiven certain people or events that I would be healed. Although forgiveness is a key factor in healing, it also has to come with a rewiring of the brain. When you focus on bad moments for so long, you are not only inviting more bad energy into your life but you are literally damaging the brain to where it knows nothing more than the darkness, no matter what light gets let in. To forgive something is to become ok with the fact that it happened, but to not let it hurt you anymore...you have to let it go(LET IT GO!)
I wrote a letter of the things I needed to let go, I burned it, and I cried.
Yes, it was that simple for me! In that very moment, I felt my shoulders get lighter, my heart become warmer and my thoughts started to finally clear up. It was almost instant that I started to recall a memory of laying in the back of my fathers GMC Suburban "big bird" with my sister, under the carport while it was pouring down rain because we all loved the sound and to watch it fall over the roof top. My heart got warmer and I could feel the actual "rewiring" happening. I retrained my brain to focus on the good things that did and would happen. I acknowledged the things that went wrong and knew that they had no effect on my here and now or future, if anything, they made me a beautiful and strong woman. Changing all of these things in turn, changed the way I felt about food, my addiction. I still LOVE food but I love the way it nourishes my body when I feed it the right things, gives me natural energy when I'm down and I mostly love the way it keeps me alive now instead of killing me! Instead of trying to heal pain through food or any other addiction, I was now just trying to experience more pleasure and make more wonderful memories. It may seem simple or even impossible, but it's real! Please take the time to heal your heart, reach out to someone if you need help and most importantly, don't forget to be alive!
Do you have an addiction you need to face or let go of? Have you successfully recovered from one? Please share your story in the comments to encourage others and reach out if you need a helping hand <3
Fermented foods are some of my favorite, mostly because I am of German decent. I grew up with sauerkraut as a side to everything. As I got older and my grandparents quickly passed, I found myself wanting more than just a CAN of kraut! (Enter Bulgarian Love of my Life) It almost seemed like my grandparents could hear my cries for something better and sent down my soulmate to fill that void I had been missing since I had lost them...from that point on, I was eating sour cabbage rolls and salad almost every week with my new family! On a beautiful Sunday morning exactly a year ago, my new little family and I did some exploring at their new farm house. We found some pretty amazing and interesting things that day.
After such a long day of exploring, we headed back home to make dinner. Baba was making fermented cabbage like she always did, in a large paint bucket! It always had my interest and amazed me. I'm sure she could tell, as she looked up at me and said "Come here, let me show you!" That day I learned the simple act of fermenting and I never looked back. It was a wonderful experience she shared with me; I had started to wonder if my family made it this way. I wondered if this is what it would have been like were my grandmother to show me some of her culture. I will never forget that day.
The Science⟾
When you combine fruits, vegetables and/or grains with salt water in an anaerobic state(no air/oxygen), a reaction happens between the good bacteria and the natural sugars found in these foods, creating lactic acid. This reaction lowers the anti-nutrient phytic acid(that stuff that makes you fart😷) that is found in grains and beans that inhibits the full absorption of nutrients into the gut. It also increases the activity of vitamins A, vitamin C and other macro- and micro-nutrients among various strains of probiotics. If you aren't familiar with probiotics, those are little miro-miracles that improve your digestion, help create a healthy gut and boost your immune system. It is also important to add prebiotics to your fermented foods as prebiotics are food for probiotics. When probiotics and prebiotics are combined, they form a synbiotic. Fermented foods can be amazing for keeping the common cold away, treating diarrhea and keeping good bacteria in your gut during antibiotics(just to name a few +'s).
The Act⟾
Fermenting is so simple. All you need is some local, seasonal, preferably organic veggie's, purified or filtered water and salt!! That's it. I started out using old pickle jars or whatever jar(cheeze whiz once hah) I had that was emptied as long as it wasn't metal and recently upgraded to Ball jars. You can literally use anything AND add anything to your liking, this is all YOU! Some of my favorite things to ferment are cabbage and radishes, yum.
The "Recipe"⟾
Sunday afternoon I came into some yummy, local carrots and knew I wanted to ferment them!! Have I ever fermented carrots before? No. Can I? YES!! I like to add garlic to my ferments because it is prebiotic so here is what I made. Again, you can add whatever prebiotics, herbs or flavors that you'd like to make it yours. NO SUGAR THOUGH :)
4 carrots sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt(table,sea salt or Himalayan)
sprig of fresh dill
2 garlic cloves
approx. 1/2 cup filtered water
1 cabbage leaf
Cut carrots about an inch shorter than the jar you're using; there needs to be room for the jar to "bubble" or it WILL overflow. Place sprig of dill in jar and fill it with carrots until almost tight. Squeeze halved garlic cloves in between slices. Sprinkle salt over the top of carrots and fill with water until the carrots are covered. Place top on and shake jar a couple of times until the salt is dissolved. Open the jar and place cabbage leave on top of the carrots to insure that they stay submerged and that no oxygen reaches them. Replace top tightly and find a nice spot on the counter for your new friend. In a couple of days you will see your friend start to come alive!! You will want to burp the jar(loosen the lid for a second) every couple of days to release the gas that is forming. It is best to leave the jar on the counter for at least 7 days but you can start tasting it after 5 to see if it's at a sour level that you like. The warmer the room is, the faster the fermentation happens so don't forget about your friend!
I would love to hear if you've ever tried to ferment at home and what kind of recipes you have. If you haven't, give it a try! I also have jars for purchase if you can't find time in your day to try it out on your own.
Happy Day,
Amanda
I'm not afraid to admit it, I'm lazy...or at least I used to be. I was so lazy that I wanted to make everything easier and faster. I now call this smart ;) I am also forgetful. I was purchasing herbs, fruits and veggies from the store or receiving from my CSA and I would either forget all about them or not use them in enough time and they would all go to waste, at LEAST $10 a week in the trash. I got smart about this, too. 
