Happy with Whole Living

Remember a few posts ago when I mentioned that after having-it-up-to-here with magazines that promote unhealthy products and mindsets I half-heartedly subscribed to Martha Stewart’s  Whole Living magazine?  The tagline of the mag is “body + soul in balance.”  It sounded like a fairly likeable magazine, unless it turned out to be just another catch-phrase label, cleverly masking its unhealthy content.

Which, I am quite pleased to say, it is not.  I received my first issue nearly two weeks ago and I just now had a chance to really spend some time with it and see for myself what the editors think “whole living” is.  I am ecstatic that they pretty much promote what I already believe, and their tagline is quite in balance with that.  I sat down with my magazine tabs and was amazed at how many blue ones I needed.  See, in my scheme of magazine perusal I color code ideas and things I want to come back to with these cute little page flags.  The blue ones are for health/medical/wellness ideas that I either need to save or follow up on.  Typically, even in Health magazine, I only used one or two blue flags, and that wasn’t even with every issue.  LOOK at this:

That’s an unprecedented amount of blue tags, folks!  Which means that they share a lot of health and wellness advice that I deem valuable.

Best part?  No annoying ads of beautiful, air-brushed, you’re-never-gonna-look-like-this-in-a-million-years models.  The ads are for things like seriously all-natural gummy vitamin supplements, organic teas, and products that promote natural beauty and health without chemicals and artificial ingredients (for the most part).  They promote sustainable companies and products, which I realize I don’t know enough about.   In short, I find this magazine to be severely lacking in “plastic promotion” – petrochemicals, harmful beauty regimens and overall fakeness.   (Is “fakeness” even a word??)  Allow me to share with you some of my favorite parts of the November 2011 issue:

Pages 2-3 contain an action plan for strengthening the immune system and beating stress in November, like how to ease a sore throat and a recipe for air freshener without hormone-disrupting chemicals.   All of the advice solutions are natural – really natural, not just buzzword natural.  😉

Page 22 shares the “Econumdrum” of home efficiency and offers insight into how to improve your home’s heating efficiency this winter.  Page 26 tells you how to shop for ethical meats.  Several natural perfume recipes are listed on page 42, and page 48 enlightened me to the ancient art of Ayurveda.  I’m going to share Page 52 with Dom as I try to get him to follow some yoga advice for people with rotator cuff injuries.

There is an entire recipe section where you’ll find all kinds of special-diet healthy recipes to share at Thanksgiving, so even people with food sensitivities can enjoy the feast at your table.  And best of all, there is a recipe for Dark Chocolate Bark with Pistachios and Sea Salt.  Oh my.

Not everything promoted in the mag is “organic,” which is okay because not everything has to be.  One article even points out the fallacy in thinking that organic foods are healthier foods for losing weight, which I found out on my own is not the case.  (Generally speaking, organic produce is preferred to its non-organic counterparts, but organic snacks are NOT necessarily lower in fat, sugar or calories.  It is still incumbent upon us to read and decipher labels.)  I also was inspired by the article that pointed out, “What is healthy for me may not be healthy for you.  Listen to your body…”

Check out the magazine online.  Subscribe.  Or, buy one in the checkout line.  Call me up and we’ll chat about the articles. You know you want to!

Summer’s Over, and I Have Lemons!

Last spring I bought a lemon tree because it wasn’t always easy to find organic lemons in the grocery store. I decided I’d be better off to grow my own.  I really didn’t consider that with just one tree I likely wasn’t going to have enough lemons to supply all the lemon water I like to drink.  I bought the tree, positioned it on a rolling stand and set it outside by the backdoor.  I was pleased that it already had several budding lemons on it – all dark green.

Months passed and the green lemons grew quite healthy.  I counted eleven in all by the time the tree stopped flowering.  As the lemons grew from pea-size to golf-ball size, they stayed a beautiful dark green.  I wondered when they would turn yellow.

The kids wondered too.  “Mommy, are you sure you didn’t buy a lime tree?”

“I’m pretty sure.  We’ll just see what happens,” I commented, thinking to myself that if I was actually growing limes I would just find some salt and tequila and roll with it.

When the weather snapped two weeks ago I brought the lemon tree inside and set it next to the window to enjoy the sun without the cold air.  And then the temperature stayed in the 70’s, making me wish I had waited to bring it in.  BUT – the lemons, then almost tennis ball size, began to fade into yellow.  Within a week two of the lemons were bright yellow and the rest were half-way there.

Then Victoria came to me one evening with a worried look on her face.  “Um, Mommy, um…I didn’t pull it, but this lemon came off the tree when I accidentally bumped it,” and she held one of the brighter yellow lemons in her palm.

“If you didn’t pull on it, then it was ready to come off of the branch and be eaten.  Let’s see how it tastes!”

We cut into the lemon and a fresh, soft lemon scent filled the air around us.  Wow.  I think if all lemons had that gentle a scent, even Dom might like them.  I was surprised at how soft the rind was, mostly because I am accustomed to the thickness of store-bought lemons that I assume have been force-ripened.  The rinds on my lemons are very thin – so thin that gently squeezing an uncut lemon will ooze a little juice (or lemon oil?) through the tiny pores.

So even though I have the tiniest crop, I am pleased beyond measure with my little Charlie Brown lemon tree!!

Side Note: The OOPS! Post

Now that I have my little blog connected to various people through email, and I set posts to automatically post to Facebook, getting the word out about a new post is easy-peasy. But with every good thing in technology, there is the inevitable glitch.

When I said I was “on my way” to a family reunion, I meant literally. I am in the backseat of my dad’s vehicle, typing away on my iPad and posting to my many blogs as we zoom down the road. The iPad has an awesome WordPress app, but because (I think) my blog is on its own domain, when I tried to preview it, the app told me it was not published. I assumed that was because I was operating on AT&T’s Edge network, and I was entirely convinced that just meant I was on THE EDGE OF BEING EFFECTIVE.

Little did I know that all of my attempts to post were, in fact, successful, and now I have flooded inboxes and Facebook walls with no less than seven posts of the same darn message.

Seriously, I think I should rip this pillow out from under the keyboard, prop it up against the window and go to sleep. I would be far more productive that way!

So I apologize for all the bombarding you with my less-than-earth-shattering Day 306 post. I’m deleting stuff right and left over here!

Workin’ It

Alright, folks, I’m trying to get my online real estate organized.  So far, nothing is really panning out the way I intended, so bear with me.  This page will get several updates in the near future as I try to figure out what in the world I want to do with LoriMainiero.com. 

See ya around.  😉

Day 247: Preaching from the Soapbox

I recently got more active on Twitter and have been privy to many more resources that I simply don’t have the time or wherewithal to go hunt for myself. Today  the Organic Trade Association tweeted an article by Green Change about pesticides being harmful to the male reproductive system. The gist of it is that 30 out of 37 chemicals tested mimicked male hormones; 16 of those 30 flew under the radar until just now.  Not to overshadow the article with my rant, I hope you take the time to read it.

If you read enough of the articles available on this topic you will begin to piece together the ignored harm that I believe results from two things: 1) our willingness to eat what is sold to us, and 2) Big Business and Government not making efforts to learn that which could prove detrimental to their own profits in the interest of public safety.

I have a theory. I think that against all odds and obstacles we will MAKE time for that which is important to us. We will also make a way to AFFORD that which is important to us. My theory does not apply only to our households, although I firmly believe that is where our public and even corporate values originate. It applies to our businesses and our government.

Cases in point: our legislatures claim education to be a priority. Yet budget cuts often affect our educational systems first. This tells me loud and clear that education is NOT a priority, regardless of how much mouthing off they do to the contrary. I believe wholeheartedly that our budget reflects our values, both at home and at the office.  Consider a private church-based school whose athletic budget is twelve times greater than the religious education budget. Consider a corporation that wants to be viewed as “green” but doesn’t want to pay for necessary recycling services. Tell me what the priorities really are.

I could go on and on. But I think you see my point.

Corporations and government do not want to invest in chemical testing and research for two reasons: 1) they will learn negatives that they really don’t want to know, much less want to share with the public; and 2) the knowledge of the dangers posed will reduce their profits – somehow, somewhere – and we all know money is more important to our world, our leaders, and our national structure than our health. This is the evidence I see every time I learn about a new danger in our foods. Not enough tests.  Not enough money to run the tests. Not enough time to worry about it. And certainly not enough “compelling evidence” to warrant the tests in the first place. If you ask me, it all boils down to not enough concern for the safety of our kids.

I do so truly wish someone would prove me wrong.

I’m not perfect by any stretch of the vivid imagination.  But I am cautious.  When Aaron was born, I installed his carseat myself.  I read all the directions and safety reviews, and I spent forty-five minutes buckling and tightening and pushing and pulling.  Then I drove my car to my father, and asked him to push and pull and tighten some more.  Was that good enough for MY newborn?  Heck no.  I drove to a state police checkpoint and asked the officer to inspect my work and let me know if, where and how I needed to improve my installation.  Only then did I put my child in the carseat.  

I do not think it’s too much to ask the people creating our foods to be as cautious.

Day 151: More Healthy Foods News

Tags

World's Healthiest Foods

Thanks to my mom’s undying generosity, I finally got my hands on George Mateljan’s book for more than ten minutes.  She even let me borrow it for the day.  Eeep!!!

So, now that I have time to peruse it at my leisure today, I am stumbling upon more information and more great ways George helps ease us into eating the world’s healthiest foods.  Lo and behold (can you hear my Southern accent in that?) there is already a two week meal plan and a four week introductory plan. (The latter is more acceptable for slower starters.  You know I’m going to dive right into the two week free-for-all!) The four week plan allows you to gradually get accustomed to the healthiest foods by first introducing antioxidant-rich fruits, then immune-supporting vegetables and salads, then anti-inflammatory cold- and fresh-water fish, then heart-healthy nuts, seeds and legumes.  If you ever wanted to venture into healthier eating, this is a painless way to do it. 

Without much to post today, I will be reading and determining how best to tackle my two-week food fest!  And I think I may go ahead and include it around Thanksgiving, and be grateful for my ability to change what needs changing!

Happy Birthday, Mason!

Today our furry first-born turns 11 years old! Even though I did not celebrate Mabel quite so much on her birthday, plenty of blog posts have been dedicated to her notoriety, so I don’t feel bad doting on Monkey for an entire post on his “77th” birthday!

But he’s just so darn cute, pictures are the only way to do this right. So here they are, snippets of the Yella Dog photo album:


6-weeks old, November 1999



New Year’s Snow, January 1, 2000

Just One of the Boys, 2001

Wearing Daddy’s shirt, 2001

“This babysitting gig is tough!” 2003

“Did somebody say McDawnowd’s?!!” 2004

The Things We Do For The Kids, 2007

Peace, Love, Monkey, May 2008

“What the heck did you bring home?!!” November 2008

After surgery for ruptured ear vessels, 2009.

“You go on to work. I’ll be right here when you get back!” 2010

Eleven years of Monkey love is enough to make us overlook the fur on the sofa, the scratches on the door, and the memories of chewed-up shoes, sofas and remote controls. He’s a genuinely happy guy, and we love him for all the smiles, hugs and wags we get every day.

Happy Birthday, Monk. You’re the Best Yella Dog EVER!!

Day 110: The Makeup Muses Are Smiling On Me

After my near-meltdown yesterday over the makeup situation, I headed out today in search of new product.  I was in no mood to shop, however, and as I squatted beside a display in Sephora to review ingredient listings, a friend of mine came up and we began to chat.  I shared that I was in no mood to shop, and she shared that she loved shopping and had plans for a great day!  As we talked about my makeup dilemma, she asked if I had ever used Aloette makeup. 

Never heard of it.

I explained my dying Mary Kay loyalty and she shared her nearly 30-year Aloette loyalty, explaining that the latter had mostly natural ingredients in many of its products.  I was intrigued.  I asked where I could find it. 

“I sell it!”

JACK. POT.

Needing makeup within the hour, I quickly purchased some Tarte pressed powder and mascara which will hold me over until I can try out some of the Alloette products Helen told me about.  I feel like this is all going to work out well, and I can’t wait until I have more makeup news to share with you.  I’ll keep you posted!

Day 108: Breakfast Menu Blues

Tags

Food

I don’t know why I can’t just let this go.  Breakfast is an issue, even though we have successfully enjoyed breakfast together since I last wrote about it.  But now I am seeing things that I need to correct somehow before breakfast becomes an outright problem.

My typical nature is to want to cook everything.  PLEASE UNDERSTAND this does not mean that I do cook everything, just that I typically want to.  But we don’t all want to eat the same things in the mornings.  Hey, it’s taken us a while to get to this point.  I don’t want to blow it just because I got all uppity about my role in the cooking.

Mornings are rushed – their very nature makes that so.  Ideally, I’ll have everyone in the kitchen by 5’til 7 so that we can set the table, gather our drinks and sit down.  My morning routine does not leave me time to prepare four completely separate meals.  (Actually, two meals.  The kids are pretty handy on their own with a cereal bowl!)  And yesterday morning, I wanted something unusual at the last minute.  I decided to make these awesome fat-burning oatmeal pancakes.  Ok, the magazine article called them awesome.  Dom called them anything but, and phrased it in his usual kind way: “We don’t have to have these again, do we?”  I called them tolerable.  Perhaps they were only tolerable because I didn’t have all the specific ingredients called for in the recipe – I kind of improvised.  I will do the recipe justice later and prepare the pancakes as they were meant to be so that I can offer a fair and final evaluation.  But yesterday morning as I juggled bowls and batter, that just wasn’t happening. 

So in the middle of all this, it occurred to me that I really do need a breakfast menu – one with lots of options for pre-cooked recipes.  It’s grocery day again (ugh).  Maybe I can come up with something workable between now and Wal Mart.

Day 61: Shop ‘Til I Drop

And that I did! In the spirit of saving money, buying organic, and intentionally driving myself to the brink of insanity, I hit 5 grocery stores yesterday. That is not a typo, people. F-I-V-E.

Now you understand me a little better, don’t you? I’m starting to morph into “That Crazy Lady Who Writes a Blog.” You also understand why this post is a day late. I was tiii-yerd!

Now, let me explain that four of the grocery stores were separate locations of two chains. I have to know if different locations of the same chain will carry the same stuff for the same price. (I told you I overthink things!!) I can manage to plan my grocery days around Bossier and Youree Drive, but I have to be absolutely certain that the trip is worth the extra effort. So, of course, I had to hit ALL of them to see what products were on-hand and if the prices differed. I am pleased to report that the prices were consistent for each chain, and I believe I can narrow down my future grocery trips to only four stores.

Only four stores. That can seem pretty overwhelming if I really think about it, so let’s find something positive to focus on. Hmmmmmm…oh yes…check THIS out:

Kroger on Youree. A literal wall of organic produce. No more guessing…no more looking for the green labels. And right in front of this wall of produce is an organic fruit stand. No more wandering through their acre of produce for all my goods. One stop. Isn’t it beautiful????? I bought things I didn’t even need!!

But I also recognized that for all the wonderful things Kroger on Youree has in natural and organic products, the Kroger by my house carries all the same items that I am actually going to buy. It may not be as big a spread, but it suits me and saves me a trip if I have no other reason to go to Youree Drive.

So even though yesterday nearly killed me, and I managed to miss lunch because of all the shopping, it served the unique purpose of helping me understand my shopping situation so I can plan better next time. Next time, as I reflect on my completed grocery shopping, I won’t be tired, hungry and oh-so cranky (hopefully).

A reminder just popped up that it’s time to inspect the tires on our cars. 10-4. Crazy Lady out…