Avoid the Apple?

A health-nut I am not, but I have begun paying more attention to what I'm eating. For some time now, I've been incorporating more organic foods, especially meat that has not been injected with hormones and the like, in to our family's meals.

Besides meat, I've never been exactly sure of what else should be on the organic "priority" list since I obviously can't afford to purchase everything organic. And then November's Prevention magazine came to the rescue! In this issue, they contacted leading Food scientists, Endocrinologists, and others in the health-related field to come up with "Seven Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips". My grocery list has been altered as a result. You can read all the nitty gritty details in the magazine, but here's a snapshot for the recent alterations:

1. The Endocrinologist won't eat: Canned tomatoes. The resin linings of tin cans contain a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to numerous diseases. The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles. Budget Tip: Substitute pasta sauce whenever possible.
   
2. The Farmer won't eat: Corn-fed Beef. Cattle were meant to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up animals faster for slaughter. More money for farmers means a lot less nutrition for us. The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers' markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. Budget Tip: Cuts on the bone are cheaper because processors charge extra for deboning.
3. The Toxicologist won't eat: Microwave popcorn. Chemicals, including PFOA, in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize - and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body for years and accumulate there," says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in lab animals. The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet.
4. The Farm Director won't eat: Non organic potatoes. Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. Potatoes are treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. "I've talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes that they sell." They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals. The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing simply isn't good enough if you're trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.
5. The Fisheries Expert won't eat: Farmed Salmon. It's lower in Vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. There is also concerns about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get doused with the same drugs and chemicals. The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it's farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon. Budget tip: Canned salmon, almost exclusively from wild catch, can be found for as little as $3 a can.
6. The Cancer Researcher won't eat: Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones. Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. "There's not 100% proof that this is increasing cancer in humans," admits North. "However, it's banned in most industrialized countries." The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. Budget tip: Try Wal-Mart's Great Value label, which does not use rBGH.
7. The Organic-Foods Expert won't eat: Conventional apples. If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. Grafted varieties don't develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it's just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers," he says. The solution: Buy organic apples. Budget tip: If you can't afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them.
   

Maybe you were as surprised as I was by some of the suggested "hands-off" food listed above. I can attest to #7 myself as I've tried eating an apple a day for awhile now and at times, it tasted as if I was chewing pure pesticide. It tasted like a "chemical" and I've thrown the apple away immediately. If you know me, you know I'm a wash-a-holic, beginning with my hands, but also the things we eat. If a well washed apple still tastes chemical-like, I'm making some changes.

I'm just thankful "chocolate" wasn't number eight. :)

Whew!

I was relieved to see this on the Wal-mart magazine stand this morning.


With so many popular publications sinking fast, I'd not held out much hope for this unique, relevant and beautiful magazine, "Life: Beautiful" to publish another issue. Every week, I checked the stands at Publix (where I'd purchased past issues) to no avail.

In this Holiday 2009 issue, they offer creative ideas for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's table scape. The unique feature? Scripture scripted throughout the pages. It's truly something special and most assuredly should be shared.

If this magazine sounds like something you (or someone you know!) would enjoy, I encourage you to get behind this "unique" publication and make your way to Wallymart.

Finally!

I've been asked by many friends if I've purchased a dress for the wedding yet, and up until Saturday, I'd hung my head low and mumbled "No, not yet". Don't get me wrong! My slackness is not due to a lack of excitement over the wedding. I have nothing but excitement over the upcoming nuptials. My slackness is solely due to my total disdain for shopping -- especially clothes shopping. eek.

But that all changed Saturday morning (at least the dress status -- not the disdain for shopping!) Brian and I headed to the mall with one goal in mind: Find the dress! And that we did... finally.

Unfortunately for Brian the dress was found at the last store and cost the most of all the dresses I tried on (at least 15). I balked at the price at first (I never pay full price for clothing when there's a Ross or TJ Maxx around the corner) but Brian said he would pay anything at that point. ha! What a guy!

It's teal and sleeveless, which should be interesting in mid-December, but it required no alterations. Sold!

Finally.

It's the Little Things...

This was one of the best anniversary and birthday weeks I've ever celebrated. While I'm unable to pinpoint one big thing that set these celebrations apart from other years, I am certain it is due to little things that ended up making a big impact:

• the drizzle and cool temperatures over the weekend gave Brian and I an excuse to stay in, eat fun foods, and enjoy our favorite books together.
  
• being able to crate Rupert while away from the cabin gave us great peace of mind and freed us to go places we wouldn't normally visit because of the fluff muffin.
• increased eating out = no cooking or cleaning (need I continue?)
• a birthday dinner at Cracker Barrel with the kids (we missed you Brandon & Megan!)
  
• unexpected birthday cards from friends I don't see very often and little gifts dropped off on my porch.
  
• Lesa's mom, lovingly known as "BB", sang "Happy Birthday" to me via a phone message. Her voice was lovely -- but her heart? Golden!
• phone calls, emails, and messages throughout my birthday from friends, a wonderful cousin and aunt, and parents.
  
• a free Starbucks Java Chip Frap thanks to my favorite Barista! (allowing me to save my gift card from Sarah for another time!)
  
• a free dessert from one of my favorite restaurants, Elegant Gourmet.
• having a hubster take off work early to buy me flowers and a one-of-a-kind card, in addition to an awesome gift.
• an evening escape to Cracker Barrel after church to enjoy our favorite seasonal dessert, "Double Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake". The body doesn't recognize calories on birthdays, right?
• morning tea with my best friend, good conversation, and clueful gifts (she knows me well!)
• a sweet email from my favorite 14 year old, K, who said: "I bet God made this day extra beautiful just for you, because he knows how much you love pretty, cool, fall days. Its his birthday present to you." Talk about ending my day on a high note!
  

It really is the little things in life that make all the difference. :)

I feel very blessed.

The Highlight of Our Trip

This past weekend in Saluda, NC, was one of our best anniversary trips ever -- despite the drizzle and lack of brilliancy in the leaves.

The highlight for me was visiting Carl Sandburg's home in Flat Rock. We showed up for the 9:30 a.m. tour on Saturday morning only to find we were fortunate enough to have our own personal guide through the home. But Jim wasn't just any guide. If given a super hero title, his would be "Uber-Guide Man", filled with facts and eager to share. He volunteers countless hours of service in order to give people like us a glimpse into the life of one of America's favorite authors... and that he did.

Before entering the home, he challenged Brian and I to do a little detective work by determining (1) what was important to the Sandburg family and (2) what was not important to the Sandburg family based on what we saw (or didn't see) in the family room, the first room we entered.

It didn't take long to figure out what was important -- music, literature and family. Board games were still sitting on the coffee table. (This home is one of few historic homes that has kept virtually everything "as is" with all their original belongings and settings as it was when he lived in the home.)

It also didn't take long to figure out what was not important to Carl and Lillian Sandburg. Fine furnishings and "stuff" in general. They were very frugal and as green as they come. I couldn't help but wonder as I strolled through the room what our home might convey to strangers about our values and priorities.

Immediately upon walking into the next room, his mail room, Brian and I locked eyes on the floor to wall bookshelves that not only surrounded this room, but practically every room in the house. (I was hoping Brian took notes as we plan to do something similar next year. He did. :)

Jim shared that Carl Sandburg was 67 years old when they moved to this home. My guess is that most would simply kick back and ease in to retirement while enjoying this type of setting from the front porch every morning.

Not Carl Sandburg. He was most prolific in his writings after the age of 67. I love that! He would write and enjoy his time on this beautiful farm for twenty-two years until his death at age 89 in 1967.

I also enjoyed peeking in to the upstairs room where he did most of his writing. No fancy tables for him. He turned an orange crate on end to use as table for his typewriter.


The driveway meanders its way around cedars and shrubs. Simply beautiful in its own right.


While I don't agree with everything Carl Sandburg did or didn't do, I walked away with an appreciation for his work ethic, his tenderness towards his wife, children, and grandchildren, and especially his taste in choosing a home site (although it was actually Mrs. Sandburg who found it first!)

If you know me, you know I am a homebody at heart -- but I have to tell you -- leaving the mountains is never an enjoyable departure for me.

I could always linger there a little longer.

The Cake Has Been Ordered

... and the calories reserved!

Tomorrow afternoon, we plan to pick up my birthday cake from McFarlan Bakery in downtown Hendersonville. Although the cake will no longer be in existence on my actual birthday next week, I will enjoy it for all it's worth over the next several days. I've been foregoing all Starbuck trips and chocolate goodies in order to enjoy this bad boy guilt-free! :)

If weather permits, we also hope to make it to Carl Sandburg's home in Flat Rock, NC. I visited there when I was younger, but I think I will appreciate it more this time. I look forward to seeing the places where he pondered and posed his poetry. While I do not agree with his political persuasions, I couldn't agree more with this quote:

"It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of himself, 'Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?'...If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one's time- the stuff of life" -Carl Sandburg as quoted from a letter to his friend, Ralph McGill.

On our anniversary weekends, we enjoy doing things together, but we also like to venture out on our own a little. Brian enjoys driving to Asheville to browse music stores. I enjoy swinging in the hammock behind the cabin and gazing up at the canopy of trees that cover it.

I wouldn't refer to those moments as lonely times for there is much difference in being lonely and alone.

Aloneness is a good thing in small doses. And so is birthday cake!

I look forward to enjoying both in the coming days. :)

Rainy Days and Monday... Again

What is it with rainy days and Mondays?

I actually love the rain, however, one downfall is that Brian and I won't be able to get our walk in tonight - something we've started doing together on most evenings. The physical benefits are good, but so are the relational! It's a nice time to catch up on things without interruption - no computer, no T.V., no music (a true rarity), no nothing -- except the sound of hungry mosquitoes whizzing past our ears. Who could pass that up?

I'm looking forward to our mountain walks when we head up to Saluda for anniversary getaway. It's coming up soon!

Not soon enough. :)

The Value of Pausing

Pause: To cease or suspend an action temporarily; to linger; tarry; to hesitate

Over the past 24 hours, pausing has added value to my life in these ways:

1. I paused at an intersection. It saved the right side of my CRV -- and maybe more.

2. While walking through the yard, the sweet fragrance of our tea olive beckoned me to pause, and I did. I took it in for all it was worth and thanked the Lord for surrounding me with such wonderful treats.

3. While having coffee with a friend, my pausing before speaking saved me from saying something I'm glad I didn't say. :) Now, I wish I could say THAT more often!

4. Pausing allowed me to consider the calories I was about to intake -- and I made a wiser choice as a result.

5. Pausing, in general, this week has been much like a breath of fresh air. I'm reminded of our study last Sunday on Psalm 23 where the Shepherd leads the sheep to a place of rest and refreshment. I was in desperate need of both and He provided... as always. :)

Needless to say, I need to pause more often.

Nothing but Blue Skies Do I See

This morning, I saw the most beautiful bright blue sky peeking out from behind the clouds. It's a sight I have a new appreciation for after having a conversation with Charlie and Jeannie, a wonderful couple in our class who are from NY.

They were sharing things they love about our state (which is always nice to hear). One of their favorite things? Our blue skies. Excuse me. Blue skies? Doesn't everyone have blue skies? Apparently not.

Charlie went on to say how often he stops to simply gaze at the sky, using it as a time of worship. Shame on me! Not only have I taken our beautiful skies for granted, I certainly haven't paused often enough for long gazes.

Now, I can't help but wonder what else I'm taking for granted on a daily basis. I'm praying for "fresh" eyes to see God's handiwork all around me and to use it as another opportunity for worship.

Thank you Charlie and Jeannie!

A Shower Today!

First off, thanks for all the emails I received about Rupert. We've resorted to surprising him with a dab of peanut butter on his nose and then hijacking him with more until the pills go down. :)

Today! My parents hosted a wedding shower for Zach and Sarah. This was especially cool because they've been divorced since I was 8 years old. I've said this before but it deserves to be reiterated. The BEST gift any divorced parent can give their child (regardless of their age) is to always speak highly of the other parent or to say nothing at all. Putting the other parent down, in my opinion, is one of the most selfish things we can do. Mom, Steve, Dad, and Sherry even went to dinner together a couple of times to plan the event. Thank you for setting such a great example.

At the shower, there were five families represented: Zach's dad's family, Sarah's family, my mom's family, my step-father's family, and my dad's family. As I looked around the room today, I couldn't help but smile as I saw everyone mingling and enjoying one another's company. How rare is that?

Here's a picture of Zach and Sarah opening gifts. We all especially enjoyed the moment when they received potholders and kitchen towels. Zach quickly passed it off to Sarah and told her it was "her gift". Luckily for her, I haven't set the cooking bar very high. :)

Zach finished off our time together with a nice "thank you" speech to all (my aunt said he already sounds like a Prof!) reminding them to bring their dancing shoes to the reception. It's going to be a blast.

As Tammy (Sarah's mom), Jim (her dad) and I watched the kid's open gifts we couldn't help but all agree they are perfect for one another. Our prayers had been answered.

December 12th is a day we are all looking forward to!

Who Me? Obstinate?

We came home Sunday afternoon to find our Lhasa, Rupert, not acting like himself at all. If you've visited us before, you may be thinking it's a GOOD thing that he's not acting like himself -- but it wasn't. It was downright scary.

We knew he was emergency clinic bound when: (1) We offered to "go for a ride" (one of his fav things to do). His face screamed "Whippee!" but his body plopped to the floor. (2) Sarah came through the door and instead him jumping up and down (his normal joyful response when he sees the kids), all he could do was lie at her feet.

The vet was unsure of the exact problem other than the pain was located in his back. It could be a slipped disk or it could be a one-time inflammation of some type. Either way, she put him on three meds - two of which has to be taken 3 times a day.

Do you have any idea what's it like to try and trick an obstinate dog in to eating anything with a pill tucked inside? The last pill I gave him was hidden in so many food groups (unsuccessfully) that it could have been mistaken for a V-8.

If there's a dog lover reading this, we're open for suggestions! Actually, we're desperate for suggestions. :)