Healthy Aging and Percentages

Healthy Aging and Percentages

My blog today does not include specific statistics about staying healthy, but written based on what I have observed over the past years.  

There are no guarantees that if you eat healthy, exercise and stay in shape you will live longer or even enjoy better health.  I am a great observer of others and have been through the years. When we were younger in our 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s, we all were generally fairly healthy and not hooked on prescription drugs to stay well.  We were naturally more active since many of us worked or took care of our families.  In other words we were moving a good deal of the time.   Some of us had a decent sense of what healthy eating was even though iceberg lettuce was premium. And not to forget our soil  was richer and our foods not filled with additives and preservatives.  Today grocery stores are a haven for busy people and dinners are stacked in the frozen food department ready for quick eating.

It pains me to watch the people around me  with their poor diets and lack of exercise. People with a variety of conditions are dependent on their prescriptions and rarely seek out natural means to find solutions.  They often feel that taking prescriptions continue to solve their healthy issue and regular doctor visits will keep them healthy. Please don’t get me wrong these drugs are keeping people alive and are very important.

We eat healthfully, exercise and monitor our weight and so far feel good and do not take drugs for any conditions.  We eat about 90 percent healthfully with lean protein, lots of produce and lots of healthy herbs.  It is rare we don’t feel good and seem to never have digestive issues.  Will we live longer..that is not my goal. I want to feel good while I am alive.  

I have a good friend who is diabetic and has lost a bunch of weight and his numbers are good.  However, he has felt deprived and is slowly working his way back to eating more junk food. 

I have another friend with cardio problems and diabetes and always has many foods with sugar  in his house and eats steaks regularly.  Another acquaintance who is about 60 pounds over weight and has some digestive issues, lung problems and more… and stuffs herself with carbs.  I know it is difficult to give up your favorite foods and ones you have always indulged in.  Here is a little help

1. Keep a bowl of fresh fruit cut up in fridge for snacking
2. While at the store walk quickly by the bakery department

3.  Think chicken and fish

4.  Increase your produce intake with veggies that you like. 

5. Drink a lot of water..hydration and it staves off hunger

6.  If the bad stuff is your house you will eat it. 

7.  Have a buddy to share your new eating habits

8.  Limit your treats and think about them before indulging.

9. No exercise— start out with a short walk around the block, and never sit for more than half hour with getting up.

*These ideas are simple and remember to always take baby steps when making changes,  and do one thing at a time.

Lets Get Creative with Left Over Chicken

Left overs are often a fact of life.  Some of us love the leftovers and others don’t.  I often have left overs and I almost never throw food out. I am always glad when I have chicken left over as there are so many creative dishes to make.  I am guilty of occasionally buying cooked rotisserie chickens from Costco and love creating dishes with the left overs. I know the chickens are fresh and also very  economical.  

The first night serving the chicken is easy. I just heat it up and we dig in.  I give my husband the leg and thigh and I have a few slices of the breast.  There is always a lot left over,, as these chickens are very large.  I make a salad and and cook a  vegetable and dinner is ready. 

We are lovers of curry so chicken curry is a great way to use the left over chicken. I will share this simple recipe. Feel free to substitute any veggies you have in the fridge.  My curry is always different depending on what is waiting in the vegetable bin.  

Chicken Curry Recipe—-Economical and easy as always

Ingredients:

Cut up left over chicken (whatever you have left)

1 cup of thinly sliced celery

1 cup of sliced mushrooms (a staple at our house.

1 cup of thinly sliced carrots

1 cup of chopped sweet red pepper

Sesame seed oil

1 cup of coconut milk (I always have a can of this around for curry night)

Spices:  2 tablespoons of curry powder, turmeric, coriander, cumin

1 tablespoon of cinnamon

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a large pan (about 1/4 cup)
2. Add all of the spices and stir
3. Add the veggies and cook for about 5 or 6 minutes
4. Add the coconut milk and stir the veggies
5. Add the chicken and simmer for about 10 minutes.
6. Serve the curry with brown rice

Left Over Quick Chicken Soup

I make a lot of soup, and always have some in the fridge and freezer for quick lunches. I made this chicken soup one night when I got home late in the afternoon and didn’t know what to make for dinner.  It was cold outside so this hit the spot.  I used up lots of veggies in the fridge that I was going to have to throw away.

Ingredients:

Left over chicken cut up in small pieces

2 quarts of water or one half chicken broth

2 tablespoons of olive oil

Left over spinach, zucchini, tomatoes, green onions, broccoli (that is what I had left over)

1 can of drained white beans

Spices: two tablespoons each:  oregano, basil, thyme, tarragon, fennel, cumin

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Chop the veggies you have ( don’t worry about how much there is).  You can even add radishes, cabbage, peppers—all will work
2. Boil the water and chicken broth
3. Add the oil (this helps conduct the flavors)
4. Throw in the veggies and spices and the white beans
5. Cook the soup until the veggies are tender
6. Add the chicken and cook for about 15 minutes
7. Serve the chicken soup with some crusty french bread.

Healthy Recipes for Paleo Salads

 The paleo diet is one of many diets that is enjoying popularity today.   It is a simple and healthy diet based on what early man ate a very long time ago.  This of course was before prepared foods, additives and preservatives.  I think the diet has a lot of validity and can be simple way to eat.  Many people have claimed to lose weight with the diet.  There are no restrictions of carbohydrates from produce.  Though potatoes are not part of the diet one can still indulge in sweet potatoes which are filled with nutrition.  Wine, chocolate and coffee can be allowed in small quantities.  These healthy recipes are a part of your nutritious diet.

Paleo Steak Salad

Ingredients

2 cups of thinly sliced sirloin steak-cold

4 cups of romaine  lettuce chopped

1 cucumber sliced thin and peeled

2 chopped roma tomatoes

1/2 cup of chopped watercress

1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds

Dressing

1/2 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup of wine vinegar

1 tablespoon of water

1/2 teaspoon of horseradish root

Spices: 1 teaspoon each oregano, tarragon, basil, rosemary, garlic powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1 Blend all the veggies in a bowl except for the steak and pumpkin seeds

2, Blend all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth

3. Pour the dressing over the salad

4. Fold in the steak gently

5. Add the pumpkin seeds

6. Chill in the fridge for about an hour 

Chicken Salad with Flax seeds

Ingredients

2 cups of chopped dark chicken meat

1 cup of  chopped arugula

1 cup of chopped spinach

1/2 cup of slice radishes

2 tablespoons of capers

1 cup of chopped sweet red peppers

1 cup of chopped yellow neck squash

1/2 cup of whole flaxseed

Dressing:

1/2 cup of grapeseed oil

Juice of one lemon

2 tablespoons of water

Spices: 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, oregano, curry powder, turmeric, coriander, black pepper

Salt and additional pepper to taste

Directions: 

1 Blend all of the salad ingredients in a bowl

2 Dressing: Blend the ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk until smooth

3 Pour the dressing over the salad and blend well

4 Store in fridge for about one hour.

Healthy Recipes for Summer--Farro Salad

Healthy Recipes for Summer-Farro Salads

Summer is the time for light eating and I personally try to make many meals that do not require lengthly cooking.  We do often grill but sometimes salads seem just wonderful for dinner.  Another benefit of these salads is that they are easy on the budget.

Farro is one our favorite grains and it is very versatile  It is delightfully chewy and mellow tasting.  I always have a supply on hand.  Here are a few of our favorite faro salads to add to your healthy recipe collection.  Both recipes will serve at least four people.  For a complete meal add some crusty french bread to dip in olive oil.  

Farro and Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups of cooked Farro

3 roma tomatoes chopped

1 medium cucumber peeled and choppedped

1/2 cup of chopped sweet onions

1/2 cup of chopped cilantro

1 cup of chopped sweet red pepper

Dressing:

1/4 cup of Olive oil

3 tablespoons of wine vinegar

1 tablespoon of water

Spices: 1 teaspoon each of oregano, basil, tarragon, lemon pepper spice

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Blend the faro with all of the veggies and mix gently
2. Make the salad dressing:  Blend all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth and well blended.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and chill for one hour.

Farro and Spinach Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups of cooked Farro

3 cups of raw spinach chopped in small pieces

1/2 cup of chopped red onion

1/2 cup of sliced white radishes

1/4 cup of crumbled Feta cheese

Dressing:

1/4 cup of avocado oil

Juice of one lemon

1 tablespoon of water

Spices: 1 teaspoon each of turmeric, curry powder, coriander

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the faro according to directions.
2. Cool the faro
3. Blend the farro with the veggies
4. The Dressing:  Blend all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until thoroughly mixed
5. Pour the dressing over the salad and blend thoroughly
6. Chill the salad for about one hour

These healthy recipes will add to your daily requirement of produce.

*Both of these recipes will keep well in the fridge for several days—if you have any left.

Healthy Recipes-Salads

Healthy Salad Recipes for Summer

Now that summer is slowly creeping up on us, it is time for recipes that don’t require cooking  It is so nice not to heat up the kitchen, and salads usually fill that bill. I like to keep the salads simple and economical and of course tasty and healthy.  Salads are excellent as you can include a ton of veggies to get your required 5 or 6 servings per day.  Not to mention all the vitamins and minerals you need. Here are a few more healthy recipes to add to your repertoire. 

Here is one of my favorites which I make several times during the summer for either lunch or a light dinner

Tuna Mix

Ingredients:

1 small can of

2 cups of chopped romaine lettuce

1 cup of chopped and peeled cucumber

2 roma tomatoes chopped

1/2 cup of chopped fresh cilantro

1 cup of finely chopped celery

2 green onions chopped

3 radishes chopped

Dressing

1/4 cup of olive oil

juice of one lemon

2 tablespoons of water

1 tablespoon each of cumin, curry powder, oregano, basil, garlic powder

3 tablespoons of dried parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Crumble the tuna
2. Mix all the veggies in a bowl
3. Blend in the tuna
4. Pour the dressing over the salad
5. Stir the dressing until everything is covered
6. Serve immediately

Chicken Salad with Walnuts

Ingredients

2 cups of cooked chicken breast in small pieces

1 cup of thinly sliced celery

1 cup of chopped zucchini

1 cup of chopped yellow neck squash

1/2cup of chopped parsley

1 cup of chopped walnuts

Seasoning: 1 tablespoon each of tarragon, rosemary, oregano, garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Salad dressing:

1/4cup of mayonnaise

1/2 cup of Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 tablespoon of lemon pepper spice

Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Put all the veggies and walnuts in a large bowl
2. Mix all the ingredients of the salad dressing
3. Fold the dressing in the salad
4. Chill the salad for at least one hour

Salads are always great for enduring healthy recipes for healthy diets.

What I have Learned About Aging

Each decade brings new challenges, rewards and changes.   I remember being in my 20s and thinking that I had eternal youth; and would never feel or look older.  Turning 30 was a shock because I knew then that the 20s attitude was history.   Turning 40 was a true milestone and I remember feeling all was well in my world.  Turning 50 was the beginning of a decade of working hard in a new business.  Maybe I should stop here—seriously each decade brings new happenings but doesn’t mean we cannot still be productive and enjoy life.   I truly believe that people change attitudes and actions as they reach the golden years.  I am going to list a few of my thoughts.

1. I have a lot of energy but it doesn’t last as long
2. In some ways I am more tolerant and other ways not
3. I am not the clothes horse I used to be 
4. I am happiest in warm ups or jeans
5. Shoes are now for comfort and style is secondary
6. I eat about 25 percent less to keep my weight even
7. Making friends works best when you meet them at a chosen activity
8. I would prefer going out during the day and staying home at night
9. There are no magic bullets in life in the medicine, food, life experiences that work all the time
10. It takes longer to adjust to change and happenings in life
11. We are not getting any younger, any prettier or more than likely any richer so today is it!
12. We often have the choice how we spend our days and have to work at feeling productive
13. Accepting has become a keyword in my vocabulary
14. Sleep is a little tougher to come by and staying there another challenge.
15. The realization that this century has brought so many changes to our lives and adjusting to them can often be a challenge
16. Life has gotten simpler and more complicated at the same time
17. There is more competition in the arts if you are involved in writing a book or painting
18. Selling your service or product has become far more challenging.  I do remember making phone calls and writing letters with great success.
19. I don’t trust the ingredients that are in food and try to eat food that does not have ingredients
20. There are way too many choices at the grocery store, car dealer and most products we purchase.
21. Even though I am in good health and active our bodies do change
22. If I miss more than a few days of bike riding I have to build up strength
23. Worrying and stress are often part of the landscape so it is really about how we deal with it.
24. We often have less responsibilities with family but that does not stop us from worrying.
25. The word “choice” is definitely part of our daily living.
26. Healing from any health issue takes a long time in comparison to when we were younger.
27. Life is all about today
28. Sometimes being kind is merely a smile.

Are you a Morning Person, Afternoon Person or a Night Owl

There us a claim that  the time of day you  were born will determine what your best time of day that you will be full of energy and getting things accomplished. I was born at 2:30AM so I am really an early morning person. So, this assumption applies to me.  How does this apply to you?

I am extremely productive in the morning after rising at 4 AM,  I take care of my cat, set out the vitamins and clean up the dishes from the night before.  Not being a night person I admit I leave the dishes until morning. I head for the computer and do my social networking marketing, write an article or two and write my daily list of things to do.  We exercise with a bike ride or walk almost every day which helps get the motor running.  I also take care of errands and anything I have to do around the house. 

Around 1Pm I start to fade a little particularly after I have had lunch.  I reward my hard work with a half hour of reading one of my favorite mystery books.  and a quick power nap..

I work at about 75 percent speed in the afternoon often taking time to play the keyboard which I love and just puttering around. No matter how I try I don’t have the same concentration and energy that I have in the morning.  Sometimes I will go to my garage studio and work on some older paintings though I rarely start a new one. 

I usually start dinner about 5PM and enjoy a glass of wine.  After that glass of wine and dinner is over, I am pretty much in sitting position chatting with my husband and watching favorite TV shows. 

I have tried many times to get some things accomplished in the evening like starting a new article, working on the computer keeping up on social sites and answering emails.  It just does not work for me so I have pretty much given up.  I always keep thinking how much more I could get done if I stayed up a later and tried.  

I have friends who do their housecleaning at night, cooking dinners ahead of time, writing or even working on art projects.  I do admire this but for me it is never going to happen.

I have accepted my early morning surge of energy and take advantage of it.  I know my first 6 hours of being awake are my most productive.  And honestly I love the early morning quiet and enjoying the early part of the day with energy and enthusiasm.

Diabetes and What it Means to You

I decided to address this health issue that is now striking young kids.  Many young people are getting type 2 Diabetes, which was almost unheard of a few decades ago.  I am not a doctor nor do I have special training in medicine, except I read everything I can about staying healthy as we age.

Diabetes often starts with pre diabetes which means the insulin in your body is not producing up to par or is resistant.  This warning is so important to your good health,  and at this time you can start regulating your diet with good hopes of eliminating this disease.

Very often when diagnosed with Diabetes your primary care physician will put you on a insulin regulating drug.  Unfortunately for many this means they can eat what they want and the drug will do its job.  To me it would mean to clean up the food intake and start eating healthfully and eliminating processed sugar products. We live in a society today that is filled with fast food restaurants, aisles in the grocery store with sugar laden cereals and convenience foods filled with preservatives and additives.  Making wiser food choices can be a step in the right direction to keeping your blood sugar at normal levels.  I have known many people who have gotten off the Diabetes drugs by regulating their diets.  There are books and tutorials on how to do this.

A large percentage of people with pre diabetes  turn into full Diabetes.  Many people who take drugs for Diabetes eventually end up taking Insulin injections.  And accordingly  people with Diabetes are more susceptible to cardiovascular  conditions.  There are other factors which can create Diabetes which include family predisposition.

It seems simple enough to change your diet, add some exercise and rid yourself of the possibility of getting this disease.  And don’t forget to keep your weight in normal ranges.

Mayo Clinic has some sound advice to avoid young children from getting Diabetes: 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes

 There are also several herbs that help regulate blood sugar:

1. Cinnamon
2. Cumin
3. Ginger
4. Rosemary

A major supplement which helps support normal blood sugar range is Alpha Lipoic Acid.  Ask your physical about this one.  We take this supplement on a regular basis because it has so many health benefits.  

The good news is that for the most part with changes in life  style Pre Diabetes will not turn into DIabetes.  I hope you all take this seriously and realize that Diabetes takes a health toll. Please check with your health provider before making any changes.

Fun Hobbies in Retirement

For many of us during the working years did not have time to enjoy special hobbies that we often dreamed about.  Sometimes when we embark on these hobbies they turn into money making ventures.  And sometimes new talents we didn’t know we may have emerged.

I had many businesses when I war working full time.  My husband always reminds me that he could have wallpapered a wall with all of my ventures.  I had a gift basket business, marketing business, acted as a salesperson for small businesses, wrote a few books and taught telephone sales and etiquette.  Also I have had a few online businesses selling my art and hand painted tote bags and t-shirts.  During this time I had a few jobs but found I worked better for myself.

I have tried many things in past years. I took guitar lessons, cello lessons and karate to name a few. I also indulged in a few craft projects.  I have painted for most of my adult life off and on and have managed to sell a few paintings.  Today this is my hobby of choice.

My latest venture is playing the keyboard.  True I took some piano lessons throughout the years but this is entirely different.   And anyone can play the keyboard.  The keyboards are set so you can learn to play in a short time.  There is a method called E Z Play where the chords are shortened and you just learn the melody with your right hand.  I love sitting down at the keyboard and whipping out favorite songs.  Music is soothing and has many wonderful health benefits.  I feel calm and happy playing and listening to some of my favorite songs from the past.

My husband is a musician and plays the keyboard almost everyday.  He has fun making his own arrangements and creating new sounds.  Unfortunately pianos and organs have gone by the wayside in many cases.  We tried to sell a piano and organ a few years ago and we found we could not even give them away.  They have become a glut on the market.

I wanted to share this with you because of the great pleasure I derive from playing.  

Having a variety of fun things you enjoy doing makes for a day of happiness.  This is the time of our life we hopefully have choices how we spend our days.

How about a Garden this Year

Last year we got a few pots and grew some tomatoes, peppers and herbs. Everything grew well and we enjoyed tomatoes everyday along with peppers.  I did put Oregano, Basil and Thyme in one pot and the aggressive oregano took over.   I nagged at my husband all winter to expand our garden this year.  He was less than enthusiastic.  

He came into my workroom about three weeks ago and said he ordered two large wooded garden beds.  I was shocked but delighted.  We live in Arizona and the ground is  often not suitable for growing. However, he took the first step to our new and improved garden. The beds were half price so that did help the cause.

Being of green thumb intelligence  he checked out prices of all the different types of dirt he needed.  We truly lucked out as the dirt we needed was originally $7.00 a bag on special for $2.00 a bag. This was very helpful as we needed over 40 bags.  This just gave him more inspiration for the garden.

We now have a variety of vegetables happily growing  including radishes, tomatoes, cauliflower, brussell sprouts, cucumbers, peppers (hot ones and sweet ones).  We have a fine looking raspberry plant, blue berries, watermelon and cantaloup.  The herbs we have so far are oregano, basil, sage and tarragon.  I am looking to add lemon cucumbers, garlic, shallots, marjoram, and cilantro.  This year there probably will be no savings,  but next year will start the savings as the expensive items are already in place. 

We sit in the backyard with a glass of wine watching our little garden grow.  Hopefully all will stay healthy and mature properly.

We decided against growing  lettuce as it attracts bugs and generally inexpensive in the stores.

Even if you are not an avid gardener why not fill a few pots with dirt and grow some herbs and maybe a few peppers and tomatoes as we started out.  I love going to the garden and cutting herbs for different recipes I make.  Herbs all have special medicinal qualities and eating them fresh is the best.

There is something very spiritual about growing food and eating it.  The good news is that you never have to question the freshness of your produce.

I Eat Whatever I want and Never gain a pound

This is pretty much a true story but there is a glitch.  I truly love healthy foods.  If I am at a buffet and there are many salads including pasta, potato salad and fresh veggies. I always go for the fresh veggies because I like the taste much better.  Potatoes, rice and pasta are not my favorite foods so I can avoid them.  I will eat these foods if I am invited to someone’s house and they serve them.   As for bread i am really fussy about what I will eat.  Why waste calories on store bought roles? My weakness is crusty french bread and if this is served in a restaurant I will indulge lathering with lots of butter.

I do order a sandwich when out to lunch.  I may eat half a piece of bread and just eat the sandwich filling like turkey, tuna or whatever I decide.  I choose a salad for side instead of french fries because I like salads.

My house is absent from sugar and sugar products.  Though we do not live by a certain diet I keep starchy food to a minimum.  Usually for dinner with the meat or chicken course I make a salad and cook a vegetable.  Sometimes I may make two vegetables.  A favorite of ours along with grilling different meats and fish is also grilling  pan filled with with a variety of vegetables—onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers and I season with olive oil and a ton of spices and herbs.

I have a weakness for red meat and I make it about once a week.   

For sweetness in our lives I keep a wide variety of fruit to snack between meals.  Once in a while I get a craving for something very sweet. Lucky if it happens at night I just live with the craving as it goes away.  Every few months I will ask my husband to go to dairy queen and get a blizzard with M and Ms.  When I am hungry I normally go to the fridge and break off a piece of left over chicken or slice a piece of cheese.  We love nuts.  I buy raw nuts and make a marinade of olive oil, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, curry powder salt and pepper  I cover the nuts  and spread on a cookie  sheet and bake them for about 20 minutes.  This is better than the artificial flavorings they often use to season nuts.

One of the bad things about loving foods laden with carbohydrates  is that it makes you hungrier for more.  If I have a salad, veggies and some chicken I am full.  If I eat pasta it leave me with a craving for more.  

One of the main reasons I do eat healthy is that I rarely do any random eating of cookies or candy.  When I am going to be bad-in the food department-I plan for it.

 I do eat whatever I want as you can see. 

Lets Talk Tooth Paste

It goes without saying we are bombarded with choices today from cereal to automobiles.  Gone are the days with 3 or 4 choices to make whether watching TV or making a purchase.

The toothpaste aisle is similar to the cereal aisle with a huge amount of brands, flavors and benefits.  You can whitened and brighten your teeth, you can get rid of plaque and even cure periodontal disease.  Flavors range from different mints to fruit flavors.  All toothpastes promise healthy teeth.

I decided to head out to the store and check the different brands and pay attention to the multitude of ingredients.  Most of these ingredients are very difficult to pronounce let alone understand where they come from.  There are also some private brand  toothpastes which also incorporate many different ingredients.  I do not know of anyone who has gotten sick from toothpaste but it has left me wondering how these mystery ingredients work in our bodies.

Most of us feel that toothpaste is no big deal.  We swish in our mouths and hope are teeth get cleaned well.  However, any product that gets on our skin or inside our mouths travel to our bloodstreams Not to mention how much toothpaste we swallow.    Today with most products people feel if they taste good they must be good for your health. 

A few years ago I decided to create my own toothpaste and not have to worry about all these different ingredients.  Different companies that produce over the counter products which include mouthwashes, pain medication etc.  are out to get your business one way or another.  Not to mention to tremendous competition between the old companies and the new emerging ones.   Most large companies that produce  packaged foods are now involved in many other enterprises.  The bandwagon for new businesses in the consumer arena is huge.

I am here to share my simple recipe for toothpaste which has worked well for me.

1/4 cup of baking soda
Enough coconut oil to get a thick mixture (but one you can put on your toothbrush)
1/4 teaspoon of xylitol for a little sweetener (optional)
about 6 or 7 drops of peppermint or lemon essential oil

Blend well together and store in a small container.

I use the lemon at night and peppermint during the day.

The coconut oil helps remove bacterial from your mouth and the baking soda is a great cleanser.

I have been making many of my own skin and beauty lotions and potions for several years now, and I love that I know what goes into them.

Find out more about this from my book:  Amazon: Feel Better Every Day

Retirement can be a full time job

In the past, before we retired I would ask people what they did in their retirement.  I thought that if I retired from working I would have nothing to do.

Today retirement is a job--though maybe an exaggeration about being full time.

First of all lets talk about electronics.  It is true you can stay in the dark ages and avoid computers, cable TV and cell phones.  However you would miss Facebook and not know what everyone is doing.  You would be forced to stay in touch by telephone and hand written letters.  The joy of waking up to Facebook would not be part of your agenda. You could not look forward to the daily hundred emails selling you everything from houses to hearing aids.

 Without your computer you would be faced with going to the library to research  or catching the news daily to know what is happening in our world. And leaving your house without a cell phone could cause severe stress and the fear of breaking down at any time.  These are all wonderful inventions however they need love and care.  You have to get the computer worked on when it doesn't work and there is no computer genius in your home.  The cable goes out and you have to call the cable company.  You may spend hours on the phone pressing buttons and talking to a robot.  Or you may get lucky and talk to a real person.  Problem is solved. However a week later the same problem may occur and back on the phone.

Cell phones need updates and hopefully you know how to take care of these. The time comes when you need to buy a new cell phone and don't know what to get unless you have a genius in your home. And you have to figure out the best plan and can easily get swayed by a good sales pitch.

This painting I created when thinking of all the chaos going on today in cities everywhere.

Paying bills is simple today if you know how to pay online.  Many people enjoy this way of paying bills.  Problems still arise with bills and you are back on the phone trying to get the bills straightened out.

A new worry has developed with our electronics or even if you pay your bills by mail---cloning and hacking are part of our vocabulary today.  Time to get protection from Lifelock or one of the companies that protects you from someone using your information.

Insurance is a huge factor in our lives.  Remember when you just bought life insurance? Today there is insurance for everything.  We need protection with everything we do and have.

Managing money is another item that takes a lot of time.  Prices are going up at a rampant rate and our incomes often stay the same.  Budgeting and making changes is something we must be aware of.

Free time and how to spend it.  What was busy when we were young is different from what is busy today.   Remember the days when you worked, took care of kids and still maintained your home?  Though your kids may be grown life often does not feel any easier.

Having pets today can be a challenging adventure and expensive.  I used to take our cats in to the veterinarian when something was wrong, and all of them lived to a ripe old age without six month check ups.

Repairs seem to be a weekly activity aside from the electronics.  Something always needs fixing from changing light bulbs on our 9 foot ceiling to garbage disposals that get stubborn.

I almost forgot about all the decisions we must make every day.  With Netflix, Hula, Showtime, HBO etc we have more than a thousand shows to choose for our viewing pleasure.  And how often do you say there is nothing to watch.

Take some time out today to think of all the details you have to take care of on a daily basis.

I was inspired to write this post when my husband spent an entire day trying to get a bill worked out.  We were waiting for a refund which took six months to get and daily phone calls.  Who says retirement is easy?

Eating Fish for Healthy Diets

We try to have fish for dinner at least two or three times a week.  Coming up with creative ways to cook fish takes some doing.  It seems like when you talk about chicken and creating a  healthy dinner there are so different and delicious recipes.  Eating fish is great for healthy diets.

Since my husband does all the grocery shopping he usually brings home whatever fish is on sale for the week.  Our favorites are Ahi, Salmon and swordfish.

Ahi is the easiest to cook as it can be rare in the center and is easy to determine when it is done.  I usually marinate the fish in the fallowing mixture:
1/4 cup of olive oil
juice of one lemon
1 teaspoon each of basil, tarragon and oregano
Salt and pepper to tatste

I mix the ingredients together and pour over the fish on both sides.  I allow the fish to sit for about an hour in the fridge.

I heat up a small pan and brown on each side until  the outsides are cooked.  Some of you may prefer to cook the fish until it is completely cooked. 

Salmon is also easy to cook, but the minute it goes from translucent to opaque it must be removed from the pan or broiler.  I also marinate this fish in the above marinade.  If you are an expert griller this fish tastes wonderful barbecued.  Another easy way cook salmon is to season the salmon with salt and pepper, a squirt of lemon juice and  a tablespoon of sesame seed oil and wrap completely in foil and bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

I am not nearly as creative with fish as I am with beef, chicken, pork or lamb.  The most important thing about cooking fish is amount of time you cook whatever fish you choose.  Meat and chicken are far more forgiving.  I will admit that I have actually thrown out overcooked fish a few times. 

Speaking of overcooking fish I did come up with a way to use the damaged fish.  I cooked the fish and cut it in small pieces or shred it you can.  I added some mayonnaise, cider vinegar along with capers, chopped celery and sunflower seeds.  I seasoned the fish with basil, oregano, cumin and salt and pepper.  It actually made a tasty salad.

There are many health benefits to eating fish.  The first one is that most fish contain a lot of Omega 3 plus vitamins and minerals.  Fish is generally low calorie and is suitable for many weight loss diets. The best part about eating fish is that I eat much less fish than beef.  A serving of 5 ounces is plenty but I seem to really like at least 8 ounces of pork or steak. 

Maybe you have had enough of my fishy story today.  Check out my book for some really good fish recipes.

Amazon Book Feel Better Every Day

What is Eating Healthy?

What makes up eating healthy and what does it really mean to eat truly healthfully?  Many times people will tell me how healthy they eat. At that time they often go into what they think makes up a healthy diet.  Usually claiming that  read labels and buy only whole wheat, natural and low sugar products.  I have to say, if this is true it is probably better than eating fast foods.

These healthy eaters claim they have tons of veggies but often fail to explain how these vegetables are cooked.  Healthy vegetables can lose a lot of their health value when over cooked, sauces added and sit too long in the fridge.  Though there is nothing wrong with corn and potatoes, and they do contain some vitamins and minerals, but they are also full of starch.  People often claim to love salads, and what starts out as a healthful salad full of nutrition is overloaded with bottled salad dressing.  And please don't claim to use low calorie dressings until after you read the label.

Is vegan and vegetarian a healthy way to eat? I love animal protein so hopefully  you won't think I am biased.  Many vegetarians allow themselves eggs and cheese, and will eat pasta by the bucketful. Their diets are often laden with sugar and salt and foods with preservatives.  Vegans have a strict fruit and vegetable diet but still can make brownies with coconut flour etc.  The paleo diet is probably one I could follow as you can eat animal protein as well as a large variety of produce.  The latest craze is the Keto diet which encourages about 70 percent of fat and the rest protein and some fruits and vegetables.

I rarely have someone confess to me they eat a really bad diet, because in reality they think they are eating healthfully.  Very often they rationalize while commenting that they had their yearly coke, a rare piece of cake and a small piece of pizza.  I have peaked into friends pantry and fridge and sometimes amazed at finding canned everything, packaged cookies and crackers, cases of coke or diet coke. 

It is all about being truthful to yourself.  If you drink ten cans of beer a day own up to it.  If you go through a box of cookies in an hour face it. 

We really eat healthfully and have an ongoing healthy diet with lots of produce and the usual grass fed beef, wild caught fish and organic chickens, but we occasionally will have some of my favorite flavor ice cream, a fatty steak, or some other treat.  The keyword is occasionally and really meaning just that.  And remember restaurant food at its best is not always healthful.

For some really healthful ideas on staying healthy check out my Amazon book   Feel Better Every Day

Making Wise Choices is the Best Way to Stay Trim

Sounds easy doesn't it?  A plate of cookies out of the oven or fresh carrot sticks--what will you eat?
I think before I eat everything but this eating habit is now based on my subconscious mind.   I allow myself a few indulgences either every week or when I know we are going to a fabulous restaurant or being served some fabulous dessert. Not only does conscious thinking and choosing keep off the pounds but also creates healthy eating patterns.

First of all I rarely if ever have anything sugary or foods made with white flower in my house.  Most of my food doesn't have labels.  However, every once in a while I get a yen for something very fattening and unhealthy.  If I am home I let it pass by as the grocery store is a 20 minute drive.

When I go to a party and there is tons of food, I scan the table and put on my plate only my very favorite foods.  If there is nothing that is calling to me I may just have a small piece or serving of this or that.

When we go out to a restaurant and potatoes and veggies come with the main course I ask for double veggies and skip the potatoes.  If bread is served and it is not my absolute favorite I ignore it.  Why eat a fattening dessert after eating a huge meal?

I will occasionally order a sandwich but often turn it into a half sandwich and hold the mayo.

Salad bars are tricky.  I scan the selections and avoid cheese, bacon and pasta which also makes for healthy eating.  I do admit to treating myself to my favorite Ranch dressing.  I never use the low calorie selection as what it lacks in calories it lacks in taste.  And who knows what is creating the taste which is often sweet.

You can learn to say no which feels wonderful after you have not added a pound to your body by eating several chocolate chip cookies.  Pick out the few things you absolutely adore and indulge with a planned event.  I always know when I am going to eat something from my "forbidden" list.  I do enjoy those few moments when digging into a treat and know I have sanctioned it.

For Health recipes check out my book  Feel Better Every Day on Amazon 

Quick, Easy, Healthy and Economical Dinners

Quick, easy, healthy and economical are the best buzz words for cooking that I know.  I love quick, easy, healthy, yummy and economical.   I enjoy preparing healthy dinners with lots of vitamins and minerals, which is another step in achieving good health.  And let it be known that most of us like to create meals that don’t break the bank, and are still easy to make and save some dollars.

Here is one our favorite healthy dinners and so easy to make.  My husband does all the grocery shopping and he always checks for sales and seasonal bargains.  

The cost of this dinner:

One half of a chicken:  1.50

Mushrooms:     .50 cents

Red peppers …..25

One large  Onion………..25

Tomatos………..,25

Brussel sprouts  25

Quinoa………….30

Total Cost for the dinner  $3.30  

Add another $1.50 for two more people for the chicken. There are enough veggies for four people. 

We  bought the chicken on sale.  We actually bought 4 packages for future meals. And the rest of the veggies I had in the fridge.

Chicken Recipe

Ingredients;

chicken half

1/2 red pepper chopped in small pieces

1 large onion  chopped in small pieces

2 Roma tomatoes  sliced i half

1 cup of mushrooms sliced

1 cup of sliced brussel sprouts

1 cup of quinoa  (this is enough for two meals for two)

1 1/4 cup of water or chicken broth

1/2 cup of sesame seed oil

1 tablespoon each of curry powder, turmeric, rosemary, basil garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350
2. Blend the oil with all the spices and mix well
3. Dip the chicken in the mixture and remove,  and set in large baking dish
4. Fit the veggies around the chicken breast keep each separate  from the other
5. Pour the rest of the oil mixture over the veggies.
6. You may want to pour extra oil over the veggies
7. Add 1/2 cup of water and pour over the chicken and vegetables
8. Bake for about 1.5 hours.

Lots more  healthy recipes from my book  Feel Better Every Day

Stay Happy as You Age

As we age we find the mirror starts playing tricks on us.  While looking in the mirror we may suddenly have lost the bloom of youth.  Actually it was not so suddenly, but it does seem that way at times.  The reality is that when growing older some things feel easier in life and some things become more challenging.  Our attitudes change in many facets of our lives. We also find stress and anxiety are often part of our daily landscape.

There are other things that happen as we age just alone in our physical being.  We find our energy doesn’t  last quite as long as it did, and we may not be as agile. Our weight has a way of shifting around changing our proportions. One thing for sure that is easy and that is gaining weight.  

So what is the good news?  The best news of all is that we are here living and can look forward to each day if we choose to be happy.

I once read that happiness is a choice.  Okay so you are looking at this page right now and snickering at me.  You have a ton of problems so how can you choose to be happy.  Trust me this is no easy feat but you can find happy moments each day.  We all have something to be grateful for.  My mother in law had a great saying which I have carried around with me.  “Everything in life has its compensations.”  Think about that one.

One thing I do most days is write a gratitude list.  I write down all that I am grateful for and it sticks with me all day.  We all have issues in life and no one is free from them.  Haven’t you seen miserable people who have everything and happy people who have very little?  

We all wake up with those days that we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders for many reasons.  It could be family, money or health—the three biggest detours to happiness.

And lets not get into stress and anxiety as we all have our doses of that each day.

Here are just a few simple ideas to find ways of being happy every day.

1. Plan a treat for yourself 
2. Take a walk and enjoy nature
3. Have a forbidden food to sneak in for the day
4. Watch a favorite TV show or movie
5. Call a friend who is a good listener
6. Unclutter a closet or room.  (This really helps me)
7. Take some time to meditate that will clear your mind
8. Take a bath in scented water
9. Just smile
10. Buy yourself something new and  it doesn’t have to cost much

This growing old and dealing with aging problems is a challenge and we have to work at fighting back with different solutions. I am getting up today and I have decided to be happy.


More ideas for staying happy in my book  Feel Better Every Day on Amazon

Natural Cleaning Ideas to Save Money

Cleaning house is not my favorite thing to do, but having a clean house is my favorite place to be.  I actually threw away all of my aerosol cleaning solutions and decided to make make many of my own cleaning products.  So far I still buy laundry and dishwasher detergent.

There are many recipes out there for liquid soap.  I made up this recipe which I also use for personal soap and even my hair.  I love it as it is easy to make and pure.

What you will need:
1. pump bottle
2. Pure castille soap
3. baking soda
4. Water
5  Rosemary essential oil

Directions:
1. Fill the bottle halfway with castille soap
2. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda
3. Fill to almost the top with water
4. Add 4 or 5 drops of rosemary essential oil


Quick Cleaning Recope
What  you will need:
1. Large Spray bottle
2. White vinegar
3. Baking soda
4. Hydrogen peroxide
5. 6 or 7 drops of lemon or lavender essential oil

Directions
1. Fill the bottle half full of water
2. Add very slowly 2 tablespoons of baking soda
3. Add 3 drops of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
4. Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar
5. Shale very very gently

This solution is great for doing bathrooms and kitchens.  I use it on granite with no problems.  I often spray the furniture to deodorize the sofas and chairs.  You will want to check first on the back of a chair or sofa that is upholstered to make sure the fabric is colorfast.

Just Baking Soda:

I use baking soda for so many things.  I keep a cup of the soda in each bathroom, by the washing machine and by the cat box.

For a quick cleaning in my bathrooms I pour a little in the toilet, tub and sink.
I simple take a damp rag and go over everything.  I am sure to give another swipe of a damp rag over all of the surfaces pick up all of the residue from the baking soda.

I add about 1/4 cup to a load of laundry.  Every morning when cleaning the cat box I sprinkle a little in the box and never have cat odors.

I love looking under my sink and seeing very few cleaning solutions.  I am working on a laundry detergent and furniture polish next.  I feel healthier knowing I am not spraying all kinds of toxic and scented cleaning solutions in my house.

I have many more recipes in my book  my book Feel Better Every Day

Being an Empath--Solutions and Ideas

Surviving as an Empath

Perhaps you have discovered that you are an empath, well at least you can use this label to describe how you navigate in life.  There are good things and challenging things about being an empath.  I recently discovered that this label describes me and my actions.  I am going to go through some of the traits and some easy (well maybe not so easy) solutions to  live peacefully with ourselves.

1.  We often know stuff without being told.
 This is not a bad thing but often creates a feeling of unrest inside. It can also cause us to make quick judgement and even decisions.  It is best  to just allow these thoughts to flow through and evaluate everything before plunging in.

2.  As an empath we often feel  other's emotions whether where we are  or even far away.
 This feeling can make it challenging to our spirit when entering a room.  You can tune out this feeling by engaging in conversations and focusing on your environment.  Experiencing the faraway emotions  is different story as we are often not sure if what we are feeling is real.  When my head gets full of other's emotions I try to divert myself or have a quiet meditation for a few minutes.


3 Some empaths have an addictive personality
Hopefully you can create positive activities in your life to avoid any addictions.   Currently I have no addictions but sometimes it is as simple as being addicted to buying art supplies.  I have gone through that particular addiction. It certainly is not dangerous but could get expensive.  Dealing with alcohol, food or spending money addictions  will require some outside support and help.  Sometimes empaths just need a good friend to share feelings with.

4. Drawn to holistic and metaphysical beliefs.  To me this is one of the best traits of an empath, and something I have always geared towards.  Developing healthy protocols for staying healthy is excellent,  and metaphysical gives direction to our mind and soul.

5. Needing solitude.
 I try to find time each day to be alone and do things I love like read or paint.

6. Feelings always show
I am not sure we can do anything about this and I personally don't care.  If you are in a situation where it is not to your best interests to show your feelings, this is something you can work on.

7. Clutter dampens the spirit
We have clutter in certain rooms in the house, and if I can have some spaces that are clutter free I am okay with this.

8. Negativity is over whelming
One of the best ways to avoid negativity is to surround yourself with positive people.  We all have those negative moments but they often flee.

9. Sympathy with underdogs
Pick your underdogs wisely and make sure they are working at helping themselves before you reach out. Many people are excellent at playing this role.


10.Crowds can become unbearable
I personally avoid crowds as much as possible.  We rarely go places where there are lots of people in one place.

There are more traits to deal with for the empath.  If you feel you are one there are excellent sources to check out.

Check out my book: Amazon Feel Better Every Day