Slow down

Sometimes life forces you to slow down even when you don't want to. Today I learned that lesson the hard way. A completely flat and shredded tire thanks to nails in the road forced me to stop and rethink my day. I am so grateful to companies like AAA who do their best to help the uneducated in automotive repairs like myself and have deduced that the errands I wanted to run can wait. A day at home sounds nice.

Curling Up With A Good Book

Part of this journey that i am undertaking is a spirtual element.  For many years the focus was on religion and not spirituality.  One can satisfy the mind and yet not inspire the soul.  

While on this quest I have decided to take time for simple pleasures.   I recently became a  participant for a scial media launch team for a new book by Rachel Held Evans entitled: "Searching For Sunday". My copy of the book just came in and it will be a perfect way to spend tomorrow- which is supposed to be rainy with thunderstorms.  I will let everyone know my thoughts on this particular book. 

Change

Apparently there is the myth that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Well, I think I have made it past that and all I know is that I would never go back to the old me.  As an Episcopalian who grew up in the Catholic faith I every year, give up something or try to take up a new habit for Lent.  Usually after Lent I return to the behaviors or habits that I gave up earlier.  This year was different.  I wanted to make a change and wanted it to last longer.  I wanted to change my attitude, my energy, my outlook- in other words just about all of me.  I took up better eating, drinking water, and exercise like many people.  I also began meditating and thinking more positively- seriously I was one negative person prior to Lent.  I actually began considering that whatever energy I put out into the universe meant something.  Finally, I began to take chances and risks more, i started to acknowledge failures as a lesson learned, and reflected back on what were my passions.  

Long ago I put down the paint brushes, the pastels, and charcoals that I used for art projects and labeled them as childish frivolity that as an adult I couldn't pursue.  Imagine my disbelief that engaging in art was a much needed creative release for me.  I have also found out that I love baking and love decorating the cupcakes I make for others.  I find myself trying new recipes (chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting!) Never before would I have even thought to do that.  

I have realized that life is a journey- one that you can enjoy and take part in.

That has helped me find peace and positive energy around me and within me.

Question?

Has anyone ever used coconut flour? Any thoughts on it? We have some and I don't know what to do with it.

Thanks!

Chicken

Chicken is a regular part of our weekly meals in my house. It's something that everyone can eat. Tonight's dinner is chicken seasoned with cumin, turmeric, mustard, paprika, garlic and onion powder. It smells awesome in the kitchen. Topping all of this is guacamole! It's chicken with a kick! Chicken doesn't have to be boring. 

Spring

Spring is upon us! You can feel it in the air. Birds are sweetly singing. Ladybugs have taken over everyplace in the house. Seeds are ready to be planted. And for the first time in years I want to be a part of it. I want to be outside. I want to plant things and watch them grow. I want to take in the yearly reminder of rebirth and renewal. This year is my spring- my rebirth and my renewal. 

I love my crockpot

I love my crock-pot.  I really do.  It makes cooking so easy.  Yesterday, I didn't feel like cooking thanks to a flare up of my fibromyalgia (for more on that please see the previous post).  That being said, I still had to eat and so did the other people living in the house.  So I took three boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I added: honey (several tablespoons), spicy brown mustard (a must in my pantry- and I added several tablespoons of that to the honey to start), a pinch of salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.  I cooked the chicken on high for several hours and then left on low.  When I was ready to eat, the chicken was so well cooked and tender that I easily shredded the chicken and mixed it in with the honey mustard marinade.  It was amazing!!!!

Yumaste!!! 

My Life With Fibromylagia

Fibromyalgia seems to be one of the most controversial terms in modern medicine.  Many people debate the existence of what they call an "invisible disease".  For the most part one of the biggest issues with Fibromyalgia is defining exactly what it is.  According to the Mayo Clinic, Fibromyalgia is a "disorder characterized by widespread pain". Fibromyalgia hurts because the nerve receptors in the body over react to stimulation and send signals to the brain that tell the body to feel pain.   What causes Fibromyalgia is also debated- it can vary from person to person which makes understanding this disorder much more difficult.  Injury, stress, or infection seem to be some of the leading causes.  I often wonder if autoimmune disorders play a factor as well.  Two other factors that are relevant for me are: 1) women are more prone to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and 2) genetics- my mother was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia years before I was.  So I have a family history of it. (Learn more about the definition of fibromyalgia and the symptoms at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/basics/definition/con-20019243)

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at the age of 18.  I will turn 32 this year and can count only 2 days of being pain free since I was diagnosed.  I was lucky to have a primary care physician that took my pain seriously and since his wife also had Fibromyalgia he was knew that I wasn't faking the symptoms.  Many people suffer with Fibromyalgia silently because they don't show signs of being ill.   My pain is chronic and can be worsened with stress- particularly emotional stress.  My pain tends to set up camp primarily in my shoulders, neck, and the back of my head.  As a result of my pain I have frequent headaches- they can escalate into full blown migraines. This isn't like the aches and pains people get with the flu- Fibromyalgia pain can be so consuming that it can lead to depression.  It can so debilitating that for some they cannot work and find day to day functions challenging and exhausting.   

I consider myself lucky in many regards.  Yes, I ache and yes, I am tired but I have a doctor that listens to me and I am still able to work.  Sometimes I get fibro fog and get a little forgetful and I consume cups of coffee but I can manage. The only way I am not lucky is that I cannot take Lyrica or the other medications available to ease the pain.  Sadly, these medicines I am either allergic to or they interact with my thyroid medicine.  

There are things that I try to do daily to lessen the amount of pain that I am in;

1) Daily prayer and meditation.  Being in chronic pain can bring me down if I let.  I spend at least ten minutes day sitting and focusing on the positives which helps reduce the amount of stress I have.
2) Exercise.  Hard to believe that my pain is worse when I don't get up and move.  I may feel like I'm dragging myself through the day but I am always more upbeat after a workout.
One of my favorites is yoga.  Yoga seems to help relieve the muscle tension that seems to go along with my Fibromyalgia- this helps lessen the amount of pain I am in.  I try to spend a few minutes each day doing yoga- like when I first get up and I feel much better.  
3)  I try to eat gluten free- I mean I kind of have to since gluten and my stomach just recently stopped getting along but gluten also seemed to agitate my symptoms making them much worse.  I also felt more lethargic after eating pasta or bread which isn't fun.  Gluten free sounds boring but it doesn't have to be.  I just know that cutting it out of my diet has made me feel much better.





One thing that has helped to ease my pain is a Vitamin B-12 shot.  The first time I had one over a year ago- I was pain free for 2 days!! Two days of not hurting- it was amazing.  The second time I had the shot the pain didn't go away entirely but it was much, much less. Of course this in't a daily thing but it can help. I see my doctor for this shot.

Fibromyalgia is to many who do not understand it, a made up illness.  We seem to have this idea that if we can't see the symptoms then they are not real.  I'm here say that Fibromyalgia is real.  My pain is real. My fatigue is real.  I am not making these symptoms or any of other symptoms up.  No one I know with Fibromyalgia is faking it to get attention.  I have made it a point to live a healthier life in order to help ease the disorder and to take back control of my life from it.  

Hair health

My poor hair- it's naturally wavy, coarse, and brittle. It's been colored and straightened within an inch of its life. The products I usually use are loaded in chemicals that often make the damage worse.  I came across two more natural options to help save my hair. Apple cider vinegar makes a great conditioner- you only need a small amount and run it through wet hair after shampooing and leave in for a few minutes before rinsing out.  Instead of using a regular heat protecting spray that dries my hair out I've used a small amount of coconut oil- a dime sized amount and run it through my wet hair and wow! Less frizz and my hair is shinier and more manageable.