My Favorite Things… Misto

Yep, it's time for more of my favorite things! You may not like all the same stuff I do, but I'm totally going to share anyway. You know, just in case.

This Misto sprayer is seriously so ah-maz-innnnnnnnng. I've wanted one for ages, but I never purchased one for some odd reason. Finally, a few months ago, I picked one up on a random trip to the PX.

I am never going back people, NEVER!

You see, products like Pam use chemicals that then wind up in your food. This is no good, peeps. The worst part is these products advertise themselves as a "healthier" way to cook. Go ahead, check out the ingredient list on your can of Pam (or other non-stick spray). I bet you'll be surprised at what's in there. You might not even know what most of those ingredients even are. What the heck is "propellant"??? Whatever it is, I don't want it in my food.

I made the switch to a better, healthier, and less chemical-laden me. So far, the Misto is exactly like using my old cooking sprays. I fill mine with olive oil usually. Then you just pump the top and spray away. This is also a money saver too, bonus! One can of Pam runs anywhere from $2.50 and up. That means my Misto (around $10) has paid for itself with just a few cans of cooking spray.

Lemme know if you try it out yourself, peeps. Until next time, happy cooking!

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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Chatting with Friends

Everybody I know seems to play these "apps", like Words with Friends, Scramble with Friends, Match with Friends…. well, I've got my own version. It's called Chatting with Friends! With so much technology in the world, I don't want to lose sight of what's really important in my life. Moving to Germany has helped me greatly, because the internet and phone service is definitely not on par with what I was accustomed to in the States.

This means I use my technology less. Some might find that a hardship, but I've found it to be a lifesaver, honestly.

Every week, I pick one day that I try to call all my loved ones in the States. I find it helps me to call all my friends and relatives on the same day, so I make my rounds and chat with everyone. Last week, I was lucky enough to talk with one of my favorite people…. I bet you can guess who.

You got it, I chatted with my girl Abby!

Whenever we start yakking, a single phone session can go on for hours. Maybe days if our phone batteries didn't die.  You know what I'm saying here? Abby and I connected with each other right away, from our first meeting. She's the kind of friend where time and distance don't matter. Seriously, we could not speak for months (prob wouldn't happen though!) and still be instantly cool with each other, no issues.

Me and Abby hiking the Guadalupe Mountains

Those are the kind of peeps you hold onto forever. I'm so blessed to have several people like this in my life.

Abby and I talked of everything under the sun, like photography and travel, our problems and joyful moments. And we also talked about some lifestyle changes we've each been making in our lives.

See, a few years ago I found out I have the early signs and symptoms of MS. This has set me on a path of research and discovery. And I don't like everything I'm finding. There are so many chemicals and drugs on our markets. The food we consume is full of them. The more I research, the more overwhelmed I become.

So instead of freaking out, going to the extreme, and basically having a total meltdown, I made a decision. I would tackle one thing at a time in my life. I want to be a healthier, better version of me, but I can't make all those changes at once. I'm afraid I would become discouraged and give up if I did.

I began the journey by cooking as often as possible from scratch. I buy organic when I can. Of course, I'm not perfect. Some of my tried and true recipes are still made from processed goods.. but I'm getting there.  A few months ago, I started making my own Brown Sugar Scrub instead of using chemical-laden bath soaps.

Brown Sugar Scrub

I have a super long list of the changes I want to make. For example, I hope to test out my own shampoo and deodorants, as well as a body lotion. Food-wise, I plan on making my own gummy snacks and granola bars in the near future. So expect a lot of these recipes on the blog!

I love having the support of my amazing friends (like Abby!), who have their own journeys and changes ahead of them. And I'm so inspired by the people I know who really look ahead and make the effort to achieve their goals (also like Abby!)

I know I've rambled a bit today. You might not be interested in this stuff at all. But it's what was on my mind at this moment. No matter what comes my way in the future, I'm so blessed to have amazing people around me. I carry them in my heart wherever I am in the world, and I know they carry me in theirs. Friends are awesome, aren't they? So take a minute today, put down your game, and pick up the phone. Have some real contact with some of your favorite peeps. I bet you won't be sorry.

Until next time, my friends!

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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Oil Pulling, Part 2

About 10 days ago, I started my new adventure of oil pulling. I promised to keep you updated, so here I am!

Every morning I wake up, and start my day with oil pulling. At first, this was rather disgusting. Because I'm using coconut oil, it was solid at room temperature. This sensation of solid goop wasn't pleasant, but the oil quickly melts after being swished around for just a minute.

As you know (having read my first post, of course!), I wasn't able to do the full 20 minutes in the beginning. Now however, I've got this! By day four, I could do the entire 20 minutes of swishing with no problem. I still feel a little queasy when I spit the oil out (after my 20 minutes), but it's getting better.

If you're attempting oil pulling yourself, I suggest finding a task to complete while you're swishing. I've been cleaning my kitchen every morning. This works for me, I hardly notice the swishing now. I am having issues with clenching my jaw a little too tight, but I think that's just me. I grind my teeth at night too, ha. When I notice the tension, I simply relax my jaw a bit and everything is fine.

The first few days of pulling, I didn't notice much difference in myself except for a clean feeling in my mouth when finihsed. After 10 days, I've noticed quite a bit more. For example, I definitely have more energy! I noticed this side effect just a few days ago, and I'm extremely excited about it. As someone with an autoimmune disorder, I pretty much walk around tired all the time. I'm not sure if the oil pulling is boosting me or if this is psychosomatic, but I'm happy to take advantage of the benefit either way.

I've also noticed some changes in my sleep pattern. I often have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. I guess I'm a bit of an insomniac. Again, in the past few days, I am most definitely sleeping better and feeling well-rested when I awaken.

Now that I've gotten past the icky feeling of putting oil in my mouth every day, I'm loving the changes I feel. Over the remaining 20 days of my challenge, I'll keep you updated! I'm tracking a few other supposed benefits, so we'll see if they're true or not.

Until next time, peeps!

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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Oil Pulling, Part 1

Over the last several years, I've become much more focused on my health. Specifically, on what goes into my food, and what my body might be absorbing. These changes are difficult to make all at once. I'm sure you know what I mean! It's hard enough to keep a New Years resolution, much less a huge lifestyle change.

So, I decided to pick one thing at a time, and change that. Once I've mastered the mini-goal, I move on to the next one. Hopefully, all these mini-goals will add up to make a big difference. 

If you follow my Facebook page (if you're not, you totally should!), you know I started some smaller goals when the Hubs was deployed. I take my vitamins everyday, after I did some careful research on which ones will make a difference for me. I actually get the most benefit from coconut oil, which isn't technically a vitamin, but I take it nonetheless. If you're looking for a great company to get vitamins and supplements from, check out Swanson Vitamins, I love their site. 

Of course, I've also been walking my dog everyday (though I've slipped occasionally there), and reading my devotions everyday, among a whole host of other things. I even started making my own brown sugar scrub, which I LOVE.

Brown Sugar Scrub

My new goal is to try oil pulling for 30 days. If I find it benefits me, then I'll continue the practice indefinitely.

What exactly is oil pulling? I know you're wondering. 

From what I understand, oil pulling originated in India, and has been practiced for a super long time. I know that's not very scientific of me, but I'm just starting to learn about this technique. Supposedly, the oil pulls toxins and bacteria from the mouth, which are then spit out. This can improve such conditions as bad breath, bleeding gums, insomnia, migraines, acne and other skin conditions, ulcers and stomach conditions, nerve diseases, and arthritis. AND, this is supposed to be a natural teeth whitener as well. 

Your oil choice makes a difference, with most articles recommending either sunflower or sesame oil, with an option for coconut oil. 

Because I always have unrefined coconut oil on hand, this is what I'm using in my experiment. I began with a tablespoon of oil. If you've used coconut oil before, you know that it's a solid consistency at room temperature. Placing that in my mouth was a little scary, but after the first few seconds, the coconut oil responds to the heat in your mouth and melts.  

And then you just swish, swish, swish! You should do this for 20 minutes, but I'm finding it difficult. On day one, I only managed 5 minutes. Today was day two, and I swished a little more than 10. I'm building up to that 20 minute mark. 

I haven't noticed an appreciable difference yet, though my mouth does feel clean after the swishing. Upon spitting out the oil, I rinse very well with water and then move on with my regular morning routine. Quick Tip: If you're using coconut oil like me, don't spit it into your sink because the oil will solidify again in your pipes and clog them up. Spit into the trash instead. 

I'll let you know how the rest of this experiment goes! Have any of you tried oil pulling? Has it worked for you? Please comment and tell me about your experiences. 

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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The Bounty in the Basket

Recently, the Hubs and I find ourselves on a non-processed food kick. Meaning, we're doing our best to slowly eliminate all the processed foods in our pantry and fridge, one item at a time.

Yeah, so this was basically my idea and I've dragged the Hubs into it. But for the most part, he's not complaining. He's such a good hubs. 

This idea began slowly. I started by adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to our diet. Eating salad more often was about as creative as we got for several weeks. Then, I discovered this great co-op called Bountiful Baskets. 

Ever heard of it?

The basic idea is this: Either every week or every two weeks (depending on your location), you purchase "baskets" full of fresh produce at a discounted rate. This is a co-op, and all volunteer, so don't expect awesome customer service. Instead, you arrive for pick-up (with your own bags or boxes handy), load up, and move out. 

Did I mention they also sell bread, and granola, and juicing packs, and fresh herbs, and all kinds of other enticing items?? 

Well, they do! These add-on items can change weekly, but I've noticed others are fairly consistent in our area. 

The produce each week is a complete surprise, and I love it! This forces me to think outside the box with my meal planning. Items I may not have purchased at the store are suddenly at my disposal. I mean, I can't very well throw it away, you know? So I find ways to use whatever comes my way. 

This was what I received in my last 'basket': 

Here is what you're looking at:

1 large bunch of bananas

1 bag of apples (plus 3 individual apples)

1 watermelon (woot!)

1 cantaloupe

3  heads of broccoli

4 green peppers

2 heads of iceberg lettuce (previous weeks have contained romaine, which I personally prefer)

1 head of cabbage

2 cucumbers

4 ears of corn

2 artichokes 

My, oh my! Though I've eaten artichokes in restaurants, I've never made them at home. Totally new experience for me. Also, I don't ever cook with cabbage, so sometime this week I'll be testing out a recipe for Bubble and Squeak. 

Next week, my basket could be entirely different. For some, this might be an annoyance, but I really enjoy it. 

This past basket day, I also purchased the additional bread pack: 

This included 2 loaves of whole grain bread, 2 loaves of English muffin bread, and a baguette. I adore English muffin bread, and it's almost all gone already.

This co-op isn't for everybody, but check it out if you're looking to save some money on your produce and you don't mind a little adventure. Also note, you can purchase fully organic baskets as well! 

As for me and the Hubs, we're working hard to eliminate all those processed foods. If it's something we really love (like ice cream!!), I'm finding ways to make those items myself. This way, I know exactly what goes into each treat. 

And you will receive the benefit of all my new recipes! Keep an eye out later this week for my Orange Sorbet recipe. It's easy, and delicious, I promise. 

Let me know if you try Bountiful Baskets, and feel free to send in pics of your bounty. Happy shopping!

Thanks for reading, everyone!

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