My Vita-Mix Love...

(This post was started roughly a month ago and has since been sitting in my drafts... *sigh*)

So guess what my in-laws had hidden away in their house? That would be a Vita-Mix 5000 (The Cadillac of blenders)! So Karen... why is this so exciting? Why do we care that your in-laws have a blender? Well... since you asked, lemme esplain... They have NEVER used it. EVER. And... (after some begging on Husbands part) They gave it to us!!!! Apparently Husband's grandfather gave it to them as a Christmas gift years ago and they never even tried it out. That is a $450+ shame! Ever since I got my juicer I have been really wanting a blender to supplement this healthier lifestyle that I'm trying to get a handle on. (Read a raw food website and you'll be seething with envy over my new baby, trust me.)

When we busted out the how-to-VHS (That's right VHS, copyright 1994!) we nearly died. Luckily we found the manuals (above) to fill in the gaps since the first few minutes of the VHS were toast (well that and the lady doing the how-to video was absolutely hysterical so we were cracking up through most of it).
Now I can not only make fruit smoothies... I can make soups, breads, batters, milk & spreads from scratch. Grocery shopping yesterday had me giggling about making flour from whole grains and making my own rice milk. (Obviously buying rice, almond, & cashews in bulk and using my blender is much cheaper then buying pre-packaged milk alternatives) The possibilities are endless and we're both really excited. (I was actually really shocked at how excited Husband is to be honest!)

The first attempt at smoothie making went pretty well. We had pineapple, tangerine, banana, apple, strawberry & honey, with just a small amount of ice. Although truth be told we might have overloaded it just a bit...

The end result was beautiful and very creamy. We're not very rigorous about following the suggested portions so this first round was a bit too pineapple-licious for my taste. However, just like everything else there's a bit of learning curve...Take my attempt at making bread.
There we were standing at the bulk bins at Whole Foods contemplating our selections. I saw spelt seeds, thought to myself... hey that sounds familiar let's get that. So we used the Vita-Mix to grind up the seeds into flour then threw the concoction into our bread maker.
Keep in mind we weren't exactly following a recipe, just making it up as we went along...
While it was baking I thought to myself, that looks funny and proceeded to do some research on spelt. Turns out spelt bread is prone to being very temperamental. Imagine that.
It didn't necessarily taste bad... it just looked really, really bizarre.

Today at Barnes & Noble I picked up 2 books that I'm hoping will spur me back to the path of health & wellness.

• Green Smoothie Revolution : The Radical Leap Towards Natural Health - Victoria Boutenko
• Juicing for Life - Cherie Calbom

The problem is that there's so much info out there but it takes time & patience to wade through it all to find the real gems. Recipes seem few & far between or seem to rely on you understanding how best to combine all the fruits & veggies in your fridge to find something that taste delicious. I need to have my hand held instead of just being shoved out into the deep end. So it's slow going but I'm sure, eventually, I'll get there. In the meantime I'll just doggie-paddle my way around...

A glimpse...

I haven't blogged lately because... Well... I got nothing...

However, I promised she who shares my namesake that I would blog by the end of the week (which obviously didn't happen, seeing as how it is now next week) so here I am. I know you've missed me. Don't lie.

So you say to yourself... "What's been going on Karen?" To which I reply... "um, let me think about it"

On yoga - Yes, I'm still going. Yep, you guessed it, my body still hates it. Some of the most basic things my body just refuses to do. It screams, protests and threatens to shut down while I try to make it bend and pose. I know patience is a virtue and at some point I will be bending and posing with the best of them but in the meantime it's a struggle. 27 years of being sedentary are coming back to haunt me. No worries though, I will make my body love yoga, whether it wants to or not is irrelevant.

On my quest for better health - Obviously I've been having some issues when it comes to staying with it. Legolas (my Elf boyfriend) is trying his hardest to remind me. Juicing has also been a little problematic as I've been lazy and also have been having a hard time finding kale that isn't dry. So what happens when I don't do the things I know I should be doing? I get sick. My sinuses are killing me. Consequently I can't sleep (especially if I try to take a Claritin D close to bedtime) and have raging headaches. However, I'm getting sick of being sick so I think that will spur me back to the path of health.
In a related note I tried some Almond milk a while back and decided that it is supreme yum. I'm hesitant to try soy products just because I'm heard so many bad things about it... Any recommendations for dairy substitutes? (And if you are a family member reading this don't freak out, I'm not going vegan anytime soon)

On my new phone - I got an iPhone! We've been together for 2 weeks now. The honeymoon phase is over and now we're stuck trying to find our groove. It's a delicate relationship currently because we're still on unfamiliar territory. He (yes my iPhone is male) is a sensitive one and I'm always pushing the wrong buttons. I've been told eventually it'll become easier and like second nature. I hope so because I've lusted after this relationship for so long. (Just for you Karin =P)


Work on the bathroom continues (now that Husband is home). The shower is tiled & grouted. Yesterday he started on the floor (and finished but I'm too lazy to take another picture). It will probably be grouted sometime later this week. I love the design and I love the fact that Husband just dreamed it up out of nowhere. He's so awesome. Now if we could just get done with the house...

So now I'm sure you're saying to yourself... That's great Karen but what have you been doing while your husband has been hard at work? Well... I've been busy too... Sorta.

Yesterday I spent most of the day making our book shelf look pretty and organized again. 250+ books/4 hours later doesn't it look pretty? I also discovered that we apparently need more shelves... Which means I also need to sit down with my thoroughly marked up excel spreadsheet and update some info... Oh books how I love thee... (This is our "read" section... which brings me to...)This didn't happen yesterday, maybe last weekend but here's even more books that I have stashed away somewhere else... This is my to-finish-reading-dammit pile. I need to stop buying books for the love of jeebus. Or just read faster...And this morning I did this... *beams with pride* Welcome to the kingdom of Karen. (And yes Li that is the Sims on my computer screen... but I was working while playing darnit!) Isn't it beautiful? (Although I did forget to dust my keyboard/mouse area...) It feels nice to be organized... even if it won't last.

Let me see... what else?
Oh I signed up for the Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel. That means I scan in my weekly household purchases and transmit the data for free stuff! Yep, I love me some free stuff. I got the scanner in Friday and finally set up the store information today along with scanning in my first purchases. I'm excited.

Honestly, I think that's all. Even if it's not my brain refuses to think anymore. Over and out.

The juice, it is green!

My juicer arrived Friday.
I was so giddy with excitement that I made Husband text me a picture of it.
Saturday morning I was awake and out of bed by 7:30. I finally managed to get Husband out of bed and us to the farmer's market by about 8:15ish... There I purchased massive amounts of romaine lettuce, kale and green onion (no, the onions weren't for the lemonade... I just can't resist the smell of green onions). After a short trip by Whole Foods to get my apples and lemons we were home and washing/peeling all the food for the juicer.

Part of my farmer's market buy freshly washed and ready to juice. We doubled the ingredients to make enough for both of us so we have 2 heads of romaine lettuce and approximately 10 stalks of kale.

My apples and lemon, 2 of each. We peeled the lemons just to be safe and sliced the apples just to avoid any seed mishaps. Better safe then sorry with my nice new juicer.

Husband took over. I think he was far more fascinated with my juicer then me!

All of my pulp, which goes directly into my flower beds because it's an excellent fertilizer.

The finished product!

Husband loves the green lemonade. He even made me get of bed this morning to make him some before work. There's also a very good chance he'll drag me out again tomorrow morning. I won't complain too much though because I'm so happy he likes it.

It's yummy, it's way nutritious, and it's green. I'm not sure where you can wrong with that...

Yes, I'm sticking close to my fruit breakfast but failing miserably on everything else. I'm sure it just takes time. Mostly though I blame the cows for making such yummy dairy products.

Detoxing my life...

(This image stolen shamelessly from Amazon)

Forget jewelry, sweets or flowers... This is what *this* girl really wants!

My new juicer:
Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite 1000-Watt Juice Extractor
It features:
1000-watt juicer with 2 speed controls, high (13,000 RPM) and low (6,500 RPM)
Die-cast steel housing; stainless-steel micromesh filter; titanium-plated cutting disk
Circular 3-inch feed tube accommodates whole fruits and vegetables
Pulp container, juicing pitcher, and manual/recipe book included; dishwasher-safe parts

I've been reading The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose and I've become inspired. (Yes I realize that I weigh something like 2 pounds and don't need to diet. I didn't buy it for the diet part thank you very much.) She did a blog awhile back for Kris Carr's blog/wellness living community and I found myself musing that these people might just be onto something... So I started doing some research which has lead me to this point... Anxiously awaiting the arrival of my anniversary juicer.

I have rededicated myself to total vegetarianism and I'm attempting to cut back on the amount of dairy I ingest. Being a semi-vegetarian for 12+ years (no fish, no red meat and very little pork) it's hard to let go of the convenience that eating chicken has given me in both my marriage and eating out scenarios. I'm starting to remember the frustration that involves any eating out and why I always caved. So I sit trying to plot out some type of grocery store plan/invasion tactic that will work for both myself and Husband. (I'm pretty sure the invasion of Normandy was easier...) I know though that I'm onto something wonderful for my health and well being.

My goal:
Green Lemonade 1st thing in AM. (See below for recipe) (obviously I need my juicer first)
Breakfast: Fruit
Lunch: Salad/sandwich or something equally light/easy to digest
Dinner: Open (at this point)

*fingers crossed* (mostly because I'm prone to extreme laziness)

Green Lemonade Recipe
(as it appears in The Raw Food Detox Diet book)
1 head romaine lettuce or celery
5 to 6 stalks of kale (any type)
1 to 2 apples (as needed for sweetness)

1 whole lemon (organic is best so you don't have to peel it)

1 to 2 inches fresh ginger (optional)

Wish me luck.

When it rains...

...it pours.

I've been trying to look on the bright side of things for a while. It's not working. My whole existence seems to be on the dark & stormy side lately.

The recap:
I broke out in an allergic reaction Thursday evening. Went to an urgent care where they gave me prednisone and told me to take some Zyrtec.
Cleared up overnight. Broke out again the next evening. Went back to urgent care where they gave me an IV solution of Benedryl, Pepcid and something else. They also told me to up my dose of Prednisone.
Saturday morning, my hands swell and become painful. Husband calls urgent care, again, where they inform him they've done all they can and now I'll have to go to the ER. The hives started breaking out again that evening so we proceed to ER. At the ER they give me an injection of Benedryl, Xantec and a different prescription for Prednisone. I have to take 2 Benedryl every 6 hours and Xantec twice a day. They tell me to see an allergist.

Husband tries to call several allergist today. He gets me an appointment for next Monday and says I have to stop Benedryl 4 days prior to the visit. I ask him about the other meds. He didn't think to ask. I call back. They inform me I have to finish my Prednisone before they can see me. That pushes my visit back to the 14th. I ask what I'm supposed to do if I break out again between the time I'm off the meds and when I go in... they say sorry...

Add to that:
One of my dogs is having issues getting around...
Husband's car died, it needs a new fuel pump which will cost $900.
We have to pay taxes which are around $1,000.

I just want to crawl in bed...

Snapshots...

-Husband and I actually played rock-paper-scissors the other night in the car to determine who had to pump the gas. I won.

-I always order a Grande Chai Tea Latte when Husband and I go to B&N or Starbucks. It's not a difficult drink to make, you would think anyway. The other night, crazy girl at B&N first made my drink with coffee in it (WTF?!) then just gave me steamed milk. I was too deflated by then to do anything else about it.

-Working for a veterinarian does have it's distinct advantages. One of my kiddos was due for shots and instead of the nearly $200 fee it would have usually cost me for her annuals shots/checkup it cost a whopping $80. I may never leave.

-Monday nights now consist of Husband and I sitting on the couch yelling like crazy while watching American Gladiators. Talk about flashbacks to my childhood mixed with terrifying dreams about how huge they all are now... It's all very fun.

-This weather is really messing with whatever remaining immune system I have left. I don't really understand how we go from 70s to snowing in 24 hours but somehow it happens. I swear I wake up every morning feeling like I was hit by a semi but somehow manage to perk up by mid-afternoon. Either way it's getting old. I'm ready for summer.

-Furniture shopping sucks. You seem to be either hounded by sales people or completely ignored. Husband and I have been out recently and I have to say that customer service is non-existent anymore. It's somewhat unfortunate that I'm left with a few nice pieces of furniture but a very bitter taste in my mouth from the lack of good customer service.

-I'm also addicted to a teeny bopper canadian tv show called Desgrassi. I really need a life.

Look both ways...

2007 didn't go out with a bang. I was in bed by 8:30 with a massive migraine. Husband came to bed about midnight, while fireworks went off we exchanged sleepy "happy new year"s, kissed and went back to snoozing. We are an exciting pair I tell you.

2007 had its up and downs I suppose. For your viewing pleasure I offer the highlights in bulleted format.

• 2007 lead me through 3 different jobs and countless interviews that went nowhere.
  
• Eventually though I finally can say I'm in a career I enjoy.
  
• I discovered organic living and became a hippie I suppose.
• Husband had a mini-health crisis.
• I rediscovered Buddhism.
• I gave up on scrap booking because of lack of time.
  
• I found out that life without DVR service is nearly unbearable.
  
• I got a Wii and realized just how out of shape I really am.
• Husband and I debated the question of children... never really coming to a conclusion.
  
• I think I developed adult ADD.
• My dad gave me his Cannon EOS 1 35MM camera and I discovered that my dogs should be models. Or I should be a dog photographer... lol
• I finally used my slow cooker, 2 years later... *cough*
• I realized that I can no longer handle horror movies. Too bloody. Yuck.

In this new year there are few things I hope to accomplish. I won't call them resolutions because there's a sense of defeat in that term. These aren't things I *have* to change but rather things I would *like* to change. I'm not perfect, I realize that, but right now it's more important to love myself (as is). Red's blog a few days ago (letter to my body) made me realize something profound. Something intense and something very profound, it's personal though.

I hope above all us that this will be the year for profound change. I hope this year will provide positive outcomes instead of bitter disappointment. I hope this year will help both Husband and I bridge the gap from young adults to adults without much turbulence. I hope this year makes all of the previous years worthwhile. It's going to be good though. I can feel it. I'm staying positive Li. Promise.

It was bound to happen...

I mean c'mon... I work in a vet clinic. It was only a matter of time before I got bit.

It happened Wednesday morning. It was the meanest, ugliest, oldest, toothless, little snot of a chihuahua. I knew he was aggressive and thought I was handling it properly but apparently he was just too fast for me. 1 of the possible 3 teeth he still had managed to tear a hunk of skin off my pinky finger. I didn't think it was a big deal till the next day.

Woke up with a swollen finger and puss oozing out of the wound. Long story short. They made me go to their worker's comp clinic. Medicine was dispensed and I'm pretty sure I'll survive. But like I've been saying... it was bound to happen.

Easy come, easy go...

A former co-worker/good friend was involved in a near-fatal car crash early Sunday morning.

Her heart was punctured and she had to have emergency heart surgery.

They lost her twice.

I saw her today at the hospital.

You almost couldn't tell she had been in a car wreck.

Despite the big scar on her chest from the surgery she didn't have a single bruise on her.

I'm so thankful I could cry.

I take that back... I have cried.

The doctors say she should have died.

Only one person in Japan has ever survived her type of accident.

It's been a week... to say the least.

Veggie love

Hubby and I wanted to cook dinner.

Dinner is almost always like WWIII in our household.

So I suggest a veggie stir-fry type dinner.

Husband pulls out some chicken legs and strip streak because he's convinced that veggies won't be enough.

Little does he know... he gets full from the veggies before the meat is even done cooking.

Mwahahahaha!

I'll make him a vegetarian one of these days.

The recipe can be found here. We just substituted the eggplant for butternut squash.
The above photo is from the first time we cooked said dinner.

Coping

Coping is a funny thing. It never fails to amaze me the things the human mind is and is not capable of handling. The past few weeks have been what seems like a never ending test of that for me.

When I started at the vet Husband was afraid of two things. My willingness to do the "dirty" work and my ability to handle death. The first is valid because I always make him clean up any bodily fluids left behind by our dogs, and well the second is valid because when I used to watch Emergency Vets on Animal Planet I would sob like a little child anytime an animal died. So far I'm handling both extremely well. So much so that he tells me if we have kids I'm in charge of any "clean ups". I think not. On the second note... I think I'm coming to terms with death. Being in a vet's office makes me more curious then emotional. When they put a 20 y/o cat to sleep the other day I found myself being happy he had lived a happy life and not focusing on the other half of the situation. I'm sure it will be different as time wears on but for now I'm dealing better then he expected.

Not to post a terribly depressing blog but I think dealing with death on an animal level makes dealing with it on the personal level easier. I find myself coming to terms with deaths in my past I had yet to find peace with. It's all very odd.

On the other hand... I'm not coping well with the extremely long hours. I'm working from 7:30am-6:15pm every day. No breaks. I barely get to eat. Tomorrow will be the first full day I've had off in over 2 weeks. I'm ready for it. I sobbed the other day while working at the bank. I couldn't take the pressure anymore. They are trying to arrange for my hours to be cut back down to part-time. They say if nothing else by Dec 1 I should be back to just 20 hrs a week. Blah. I want to quit but I just got my first paycheck from the vet's office and let's just say... it isn't much.

Still no word on Husbands job. The anticipation may kill us.

It's in the 70s and it's November. I'm not coping well with that. I want to sweaters and that's that.

I had fully intended to blog more, maybe later. I'm still exhausted.

Take 2 and call me in the morning...

When I was younger I thrived on pressure and deadlines. I would put things off till the very last minute because I convinced myself that I worked best under pressure. I would even go so far as to make up bogus lists of things that "had to be done" and run around like crazy in order to feel productive. I'm pretty sure I was some form of adrenaline junky. However, in college that lead to my immune system nearly shutting down on me.

In the years following I've become quite the opposite. I've become sedentary and comfortable in routine. I avoid pressure like most people avoid carbs nowadays. Change has become the enemy. Change triggers anxiety in me and the anxiety then throws my immune system into what feels like complete meltdown. This is why I currently feel like doing nothing more then crawling back under my down comforter with some claritin and a bucket of ibuprofen.

For the past couple of days it felt like my right arm had been dislocated. Every time I would try to raise my arm I would practically scream out in pain. I figured I either had to be sleeping on it funny or maybe I had minor injuries from a dog at the vet pulling on the leash too hard. Then there's the issue with my legs feeling like they are strained to their breaking point. I've been hobbling around the house for a few days now and it's very attractive to say the least. Sleeping? Yea... not getting much of that. At least not getting much quality sleep anyway.

This month will most likely tests whatever energy reserves I have left. I will be working every morning at the vet from 7:30-10:30ish. Then I go to the bank from 11-6:15pm. I'm also alternating weekends with the vet and the bank. This means I get one Sunday off every other week. I'm trying not to be irritated with the bank. I know they need me to work because we're very short-staffed but this is getting a little out of hand. Had I known that I would be working full-time at the bank and part-time at the vet I probably wouldn't have gotten myself in the situation to begin with.

When I'm home... I don't feel like doing anything. I'm so worn out that I can barely focus enough to watch TV, let alone check a dozen networking/blogging sites. So if you don't hear from me much this month... it's not that I don't care it's just that I'm so tired.

Kermit was wrong...

It is easy being green.

A few days ago a fellow co-worker at the bank asked me point blank if I was a hippie. I stopped for a second and asked him what he meant. Seeing as how this co-worker knew nothing about me I was wondering where the question was even coming from. Turns out a friend of his who had just come through the bank was a "hippie" because she shopped at Wild Oats. I informed him that if he considered that to be a hippie then yes I was a hippie.

It wasn't even so much a question but rather than an accusation. Like somehow shopping there made me strange. Not like it really bothered me though. I'm used to it by now. Several months ago I felt a strong pull towards this lifestyle I guess you could call it. Maybe it was the movie An Inconvenient Truth or maybe it was Husbands mini-health crisis. I'm not entirely sure. Whatever it is... I enjoy it.

I've been afraid that "being green" as some people like calling it was going to become fashionable and like all fashionable things (think furbies and tie-dye) it would later be forgotten. I'd like to think now though that it is becoming something more... something permanent. You can go into any major store and see "green products". Home Depot is one of the most noticeable, it seems every section now contains a more eco-friendly option along with the standard ones. Target has even started selling Seventh Generation cleaning products and organic sheet sets. Everywhere you look corporations are seeming to be more willing to embrace this eco-friendly life-style. While I'm not wild about corporations taking advantage of this movement I'm glad that they are making it more accessible to the general populace.

Husband and I are trying to do our small part.

• We're gradually replacing our light-bulbs with the new energy star bulbs.
• We recycle. It costs just a few dollars every month to have the city pick up twice monthly.
• We take our own reusable grocery bags to the store with us.
• We shop our local co-op.
• We had our own organic veggie garden this year.
• We're phasing out our normal cleaning products for more eco-friendly/natural solutions. (It's nice not to gag when cleaning the shower)

It's not like going "green" has to be hard or difficult. It doesn't have to/need to be a "hippie" thing anymore. I want to be able to bring children (if I so choose) into a world that is environmentally save. I know I personally feel healthier since beginning the transition to a more "green" lifestyle. I think it's the small changes that are going to make the biggest impact. If everyone just did their small part that would make a world of difference. I know I'm trying to lead by example... hopefully it works.

I'm sorry to say Kermit... it is easy being green.

(For an even greater insight on this matter visit this blog.)

Exhaustion...

I'm exhausted. I'm that kind of exhausted in which every fiber of your being feels just worn out. My eyes hurt. My joints hurt. I even feel like my emotional well-being is hurting. I really need a hot bath and a good 3-day nap. I can't even really articulate why I'm so exhausted. The past two weeks feel more like a lifetime then any other two weeks I can remember. My sense of time is completely out of balance. Something could have just happened 5 minutes ago and I'll swear it was months ago. I'm amazed at the amount of things that have transpired in that small amount of time.

My job at the bank has been filled with drama. People are leaving left and right. The management is in complete disarray. I haven't gotten my next months schedule yet for the sheer fact that they aren't sure exactly who will still be working there. This makes starting my 2nd job with the vet a bit more problematic. Lucky for me they are understanding and willing to work with me. I'm actually having to start my 2nd job tomorrow because they had to fire someone today. Should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

In other news... my allergies are back with a vengeance. I think I'm on the verge of ODing on claritin D and ibuprofen. So far it's the only combination that is keeping me alive and somewhat kicking. I hate Oklahoma this time of year. Now if I manage to ward off my yearly sinus infection that I have gotten faithfully every year since 8th grade (that's 12 years for anyone counting) I'll be a happy camper. This time of year just seems to make me crazy. I'm sure Husband would agree.

And that's all for now. I'm off to gorge myself on pizza, medicine and some Dog Whisperer. Happy weekend to anyone who isn't working! lol

On the subject of health...

I went to the doctor last week for arm weakness/numbness... They ran the standard blood/urine tests to make sure there wasn't anything fundamentally wrong as well as set up an appointment with a neurologist next month to check for pinched nerves.

I got the results of the tests in today and I'm a little surprised how healthy I am. My cholesterol is really healthy as is my blood sugar and to top it off no signs of anemia (something I had always been concerned about). So I'm happy. I know I could eat better and probably actually exercise but at least for now all health crises have been averted.

Husband's health is also doing really well. His last check-up showed that he has finally gotten his blood sugar down to a normal level so instead of going back in 3 months he gets to put it off for 6 months. Now if only we could start being more motivated to cook every night...

Monday I had to take one of the dogs to the vet because she hurt her paw. Or rather, she licked it obsessively and caused it start oozing and what-not... It was not pleasant but it reminded me how much I love our vet.

Pinched nerves aside... all is well.