a little more health talk ~ and my reading stash

Good morning, friends! I've received some comments and emails from readers asking questions about intestinal problems and asking about different foods. Some people have said that they could "never give up beans". When you have an intestinal problem such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), or Crohn's, there is no choice in giving up beans/legumes (among other particular foods) ~ unless you want to remain very sick. Beans contain indigestible saccharides. The dietary goal with treating IBS and other intestinal maladies is to eat foods that are easily digested. This way, most of the nutrients can be absorbed higher up in the intestine, away from bacteria that lives near the end of the small intestine. I love beans/legumes - I used to eat them all the time because I ate mostly vegetarian. Little did I know one of my most-loved foods was contributing to my gut problems. To give them up to feel well once again, not be in constant pain, not have my stomach be so bloated that I look five months pregnant and can't even button my jeans, and not be constantly running to the bathroom with diarrhea (sorry, but I have to be real here) is 100% worth it. Once the eight weeks of being on the FODMAP diet is up, I can then try adding in one of the higher FODMAP foods (beans, gluten, apples, pears, onions, garlic, etc...there's a long list!) one at a time, to see how my intestines react.*

  On to better things ~ reading! I am never just reading one book or one magazine. I like to have several different genres of things going at one time, because I choose depending on my mood. If I want light or quick reading, I will pick up a magazine. And I'm a magazine junkie! I don't spend much on magazines...there are several I get free (I signed up with Mercury Magazines several years ago and still get free subscriptions through them) and others that are passed down to me. I do have subscriptions to several of my favorites: Mother Earth Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Clean Eating, and Midwest Living. I love the British magazines such as Country Homes and Interiors, Country Living, and The Simple Things. Every so often, I'll go to Barnes and Noble and thumb through these...and once in a blue moon, I'll treat myself to one or two of them. This is my current stash. Sorry for the poor lighting quality. I took these photos at night when I had the lights on in my house.

Here's my current book - and other reading material - pile. A cookbook, a health/psychology book, a novel, and yes, a medical article on microbiomes (which is all about your gut flora). As you can tell, I am fascinated by medical issues, how our body works, and natural ways of healing. If you're interested in reading a little about microbiomes and how they control your health, click here to read an article from Dr. Mercola. There's also a video to a TED talk in this article.

Here's a great idea that I actually saw in a magazine (don't remember which one, so I can't give proper credit): use extra vintage Pyrex dishes to corral stuff around your house. In my case, I'm using one of my dishes to stash a couple of small notebooks, page tabs, note cards, and a pen. I keep this dish in the living room by my book pile. I can't tell you how many times I'd be reading something and then have to jump up to dig for a pen, a piece of paper to write on, or a Post-It note to mark a page.

What's in your reading pile right now?

*Disclaimer:

This blog post pro­vides gen­eral infor­ma­tion about health and related sub­jects. The words and other con­tent pro­vided in this blog, and in any linked sites, are not intended and should not be con­strued as med­ical advice. If the reader or any other per­son has a med­ical con­cern, he or she should con­sult with their physician.

Never dis­re­gard pro­fes­sional med­ical advice or delay in seek­ing it because of some­thing you have read on this blog or in any linked sites.

finding the little joys

 I'll be honest ~ this new year hasn't started out so well. Due to privacy issues,

I can't say a lot, but suffice it to say, there's been a lot of worrying and anxiety

going on. I know that worrying doesn't get me anywhere and I try so many things

to let go of that worry and anxiety ~ including prayer ~ but, sometimes it just really

sucks me in. I know I'm not alone in this. Everyone has problems and worries.

Financial troubles, marital problems, illness (physical and mental), addictions,

 death, problems with kids, stressful jobs, lack of employment, cars breaking 

down...the list goes on and on.

I think one that that helps is looking for the little everyday joys in life. They are 

there if we really look. We all know about keeping a gratitude  journal, but I 

prefer to capture these little joys in images instead.

I was out with a friend yesterday (oh ~ that was definitely a mood lifter, too!) and

we stopped at Trader Joes. I love their $3.99 bouquet of flowers. I put them

on the kitchen table...

a few on a stool beside my desk...

 

the purple ones went in my bathroom...

 

 

and a few more went in the main bath.

 

 My favorite British print publications...

Coffee at an independent coffee shop...

 

The beautiful green eyes of my neighbor-friend's cat, Aura...

 

 Some of my houseplants in a sunbeam...

And, standing in awe of a beautiful winter sunset outside a bedroom window.

 What little things have brought you moments of joy lately?

good eats, good reads

Here's another healthy dish I whipped up for lunch today. It'd also make a great

side dish for dinner. Just saute whatever veggies you have on hand...I used onion,

garlic, carrots, corn, and spinach. I was wishing I had celery and peppers, but all out.

I also sauteed this concoction in coconut oil. If you're not familiar with all the health

benefits (and uses!) of coconut oil, do yourself a favor and google it. Amazing stuff!

Anyway, I then added some chopped walnuts and slivered almonds, and finished

the dish off with a handful of fresh, chopped herbs (basil, oregano, rosemary, and

parsley). Again, just use whatever you have available.

While you're chopping and sauteing, make a pot of brown rice. (Or quinoa,

barley, or other healthy grain of your choice.)

When the rice is done, add it to the pan of sauteed veggies. You might want to

transfer everything to a bigger pan though. Don't ask me how I know this. I thought

the dish was a little bland at this point and I love lots of flavor, so I added a couple of

splashes of Bragg's Liquid Aminos. Or, you can use soy sauce or tamari.

Another thing I really enjoy in life besides cooking and eating, is reading.

I'm a self-confessed magazine junkie but I got tired of the usual women's

 magazines years ago (Woman's Day, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, etc).

 I found those types of magazines have the same articles every month, just recycled

 news and tips. My new favorite magazine is a British publication called

The Simple Things.

The photography is amazing...

and the ideas are simple, tasteful, and so artsy.

There's lovely recipes...

and a new featured city or town in every publication.

I also love all the Stampington & Co. publications, such as Artful Blogging,

Where Women Cook, Where Women Create, Art Journaling, and Somerset

Home. Unfortunately, I don't love the price tag! These babies are $15 each.

So what I do is visit Barnes & Noble about once a month, grab a stack of

magazines, get an iced tea or coffee, and sit in the cafe and look through 

all the magazines. Well, it just so happened that I won an issue of Artful Blogging

magazine from Kris at Junk Chic Cottage! I got it in the mail today - thanks, Kris!

What's even more special about this issue is that Kris herself is featured in it!

I haven't read the article yet - like most women, I'm trying to do several things at

once right now (in and out of the house, power washing with hubby; writing this 

blog post; folding laundry; getting the fish out of the freezer to thaw). I will wait

until the house is settled down for the evening, and then I will take my time to

truly savor this article and the entire magazine.

I got a couple of new books in the mail recently too, but geez, this post could

go on and on if I wrote about those books, too. So that will be another post for

another time. What are you cooking up and reading right now? Any new 

magazines that you've discovered?

Linking up to these fabulous blog parties - check them out!

 Home(work) Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesdays
Tweak it Tuesday 

The Scoop
What We Accomplished Wednesdays 

dreary monday ~ but what i have to look forward to

 This is the view outside my living room window right now.

Nevermind my neighbor's dilapidated, eyesore-of-a-garage. 

I'm talking the gray skies and endless rain. Seems like we're either getting

socked by snow or rain. Can't seem to catch a (sunny) break.

I have zilch motivation to get anything done in this kind of weather.

I did manage to read a few magazines in my huge pile. Yeah, I kinda

have a magazine and book addiction. What can I say ~ I love to read! 

 Had to pick up some cheery yellow flowers when I was at Trader Joes the other day.

Still amazes me that you can get a huge bunch for only $3.99. There was enough

to put in three spots in my house. One small bunch in the kitchen...

a centerpiece for the kitchen table...

and another bunch for the side table in the living room.
 

Despite the gloomy weather, I have a huge dose of cheer coming my way.
 Tomorrow, I'm meeting Jane from Blondie's Journal for lunch. Think we'll stop talking

long enough to actually eat our food? I'm sure the time will fly by.

Thursday, I'm meeting Penny from At Home in English Valley for a mutual

 favorite activity ~ thrifting!

And then on Saturday, I'm meeting 24 other bloggers at The 4th Annual

Midwest Meet-up. Not only will locals from the Chicago suburbs be coming,

 but bloggers from Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan, too.
 And  Karianne from Thistlewood Farms and Heather from At the Picket Fence
   are coming all the way from Kentucky!

Sooo...be gone with you, gray skies and rain. I'm kicking your dreary butt with 

a sunshiny dose of friendship.