how its done Archives

My Positive Manifesto

Oct 8, 2019 | 0 comments

Write out your priorities so you can refer back to them later.

Sometimes it is so hard to manage everything you need to take control of in your life. For me, I had to stop everything one day, sit down and write out my priorities. This way, I could share them with my family, so we are all understanding the same expectations.

I could also refer back to them, anytime I feel like my life is slipping out of whack, or if I am struggling to make a decision based on what is best for me. In times like these, I just check back in with my list, and make sure what I am choosing reflects my priorities.

I also grew tired of hearing about how the perpetrators of hate crimes all had a manifesto where they spewed all their hate. I thought we need more POSITIVE manifestos. So, this is my positive manifesto:

ME
1. My Physical and Mental Health Includes activities such as sleeping, eating, resting, visiting doctors and integrated healing partners, exercising, getting outside for fresh air, meditating, stretching, yoga, physical and occupational therapy exercises, strength training, and any other associated activities deemed necessary by Me.
  1. healing and strengthening current physical or mental ailments, and
  2. preventing cancer and/or other future ailments.
2. My Spiritual and Emotional Well Being
MY FAMILY
1. My Children
2. My Husband
3. My Extended Family
MY COMPANY Despite it being a smaller part of my life, if I don’t help keep it sailing smoothly, it can and will become a problem in maintaining items 1 and 2 above.
MY FRIENDS I am blessed to have friends like those I have now. Whenever possible, I will help them as they have helped me.
MY HOME I spend almost every minute of my time here; it needs to be a place I am comfortable and happy in.
TRAVEL I want to see the world and meet its people. I want my children to as well.
THE WORLD I took an oath to make the world a better place. I do this by Being a Girl Scout Leader, and by speaking out against hate and for social justice. Every – single – time.

Feel free to copy.paste and make your own. It feels good to have a clear understanding of your priorities and to have them available to reinforce to you that yes, you need to TAKE CARE OF YOU first.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN’T HELP ANYONE IF YOU AREN’T WELL YOURSELF.

Butternut Squash Apple Leek Soup

Jul 18, 2018 | 0 comments

I will be the first to admit there was a time I would have refused to eat a soup if I knew it had squash in it. Or, really, any other vegetables. There is zero chance I would have tried a bite of your butternut squash, leek, and apple soup. No. Way.

But one of the amazing women who cooked for me while I was sick is such a phenomenal cook, that when she served it to our family at dinner I knew I had to give it a taste. I have never, ever, been so pleasantly surprised. What a delicious soup!

I asked my friend for the recipe, which led to my second good fortune of stumbling upon this super amazing healthy living blog called My New Roots. The author Sarah B. says she started the blog “because I wanted to share the incredible knowledge I had received through my education in Holistic Nutrition. I discovered so many things that I believed needed to be public information, not just for those who can go to school to study in this field. I wanted to set up a non-biased space for people to come and learn about how to take better care of themselves through diet and lifestyle, as I have seen immense changes in myself since making little, positive changes every day.”

YES!

As you can see I skipped the croutons, but doubled up on the pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and some green onions on top

So the recipe… can be found on this sweet holistic nutrition blog. I have made this 3 times in the last month alone. I cannot get enough. It is so satisfying, it just hits every note and I cannot believe *I* made it. And it’s not even that hard! I usually take two nights to make it, but that’s not necessary at all. For me, it’s convenient to chop and roast the vegetables while I am cooking dinner one night, and put them in the fridge overnight. The next night I can just blend it all up and heat it through and get right to eating!

Butternut Squash, Leek and Apple Soup with Garlicky Rye Bread Croutons
Makes at least 2 quarts / 2 liters, Serves 4-6Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. melted coconut oil (or ghee)
3 leeks
1 medium onion
5 cloves garlic
1 large butternut squash (mine was about 2 lbs. / 1 kg)
1 large, tart apple
4 – 6 cups / 1-1½ liters vegetable broth, as needed
1 tsp. fine grain sea salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground cardamom
½ tsp. ground star anise
apple cider vinegar to taste (start with ½ tsp. up to 1 Tbsp.)
1 batch Garlicky Rye Bread Crouton (recipe to follow)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C.

2. Prepare all vegetables: chop leeks and onions, peel garlic (but leave it whole), peel butternut and cut into cubes, chop apple.

3. Place all vegetables on a baking sheet with the coconut oil, toss to coat, and set in the oven to roast for 25-35 minutes until tender.

4. Transfer roasted vegetables to a blender and add the spices and hot vegetable stock (you may need to work in batches). Blend on high until completely smooth. Taste, then add salt and apple cider vinegar, blend and taste again. Adjust seasoning to your taste, and add stock until the desired consistency is reached: I like mine quite thin so I use the full 6 cups / 1½ liters of stock.

5. Transfer soup to a large cooking pot over medium heat to warm, if necessary. Divide soup equally among bowls and serve with the Garlicky Rye Bread Croutons and freshly cracked black pepper.

Final thoughts:

This recipe is crammed full of nutrients your body will LOVE you for eating
This is also a perfect meal to bring to someone going thru cancer treatments right now. Don’t bring a big mac. Bring something nourishing, made with love, and delicious.
You will have leftovers. Easy lunch for a couple of days or dinner the next night.
The flavor is unbelievable. So fresh, and rich, and just perfect. Don’t skip the apple cider vinegar, or the seasonings. I couldn’t find my anise, so I used some extra cracked pepper. You can substitute somewhat and adjust the ratios, but don’t skip them entirely or else you will just have funky squash-applesauce.
If you try it out, comment below. Did you change anything? How did the family like it? Will you make it again?

Pure Organic CBD Oil

Oct 2, 2017 | 1 comment

CBD oil, ancient healer.

Some of you know I recently started taking CBD Oil and OMG I have had my mind blown with the results! I think just being on so many meds and having so many “treatments” – I didn’t want to add anything else to the mix. And I really didn’t have hope that it would work better than the (crazy expensive!) pharmaceuticals that I’ve already tried.

*drum roll!*

So I have now COMPLETELY ELIMINATED one of my pain med prescriptions, and am in the process of reducing and hopefully weaning off another. Mercy!!! I cannot believe it myself. I’m taking things one day at a time, like I do, but I cannot tell you how freaking phenomenal it feels to NOT feel like I’m walking on razor blades all day long. Seriously, I stare at my feet in amazement that they are not in fierce stabbing pain all day long. It has been 7 years I have been living with this nerve damage pain and peripheral neuropathy.

I’m still struggling with the deep bone and joint pain, and the lymphedema, and all the other side effects from the cancer treatments… but I’m getting there! And being able to stand and walk more will only lead to the next steps of becoming more and more healthy. I finally feel like I am building UP my body and spirit instead of knocking it down and breaking it apart. YAY!!

This was new to me, and it’s all a little crazy since the products are unregulated… so I did my research and tried a few different companies and finally found CDBPure. I love that it’s organic, and processed in a way that retains more of the beneficial elements. It is independently tested and it’s 100% pure.

So, I’ve been singing the praises of CBD oil and a few of you have asked me where you could get it, so I am linking below. This bottle is for one month, and it is a low dosage – only 3.3 mg per day. They also have 10mg/day and another one even higher if it works for you you can step it up.

You put a dropper full under your tongue each day. Putting it under your tongue makes it go straight into your bloodstream where it is utilized best. Swallowing it would put it through your digestive system and not get used as much as it can. I don’t know what else to say about it but I’m super happy to answer any questions if you have any just ask!

Oh – if you don’t already know – this is from Hemp – the same plant as marijuana is from. But! They are 2 different components. Pot has THC in it, which is the psychoactive part that gets you high.

There is NO THC in this stuff, it’s the nerdy brother, CBD. Totally not psychoactive, totally legal, won’t show up as THC in drug tests (because it doesn’t HAVE THC, of course!) You can drive, handle machinery, and there’s ZERO negative or “sometimes fatal” side effects. If you want to know more about how it is made or how it works or what CBD is check out their site for info.

Seriously, if you have pain, or seizures, or stress, or “nerves” or anxiety, or fatigue – I highly recommend it! And if you do try it please comment below to let me know how it works for you!!