That's Close Enough...

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Did You Know...

...that Google.org/flutrends tracks people searching for flu symptoms in different locations and states and can offer early warning and trends of outbreaks in your area?

Due to my detox (lasted 3 days total, caved in, but still had huge benefits mentally from it) my eyes were opened up to many things. Germs to be exact.  I thought about what foods I could live without and I thought about how amazing the human body is.  How little we need to function and thrive is amazing.  I realized there are just too many commercials out there telling us we NEED to eat this and that, when really - we don't.

When I was cleansing my body, I was also cleansing my mind too.  Since I didn't have to really think about what my next meal was going to be - besides cooking for the family - I really had time to just focus on what purpose my body serves.  At the same time of feeling completely vulnerable I felt completely in power of my actions and movements and it was like I had Spidey Sense. Everything was crystal clear to me.  Not "Help! Somebody! That man stole my purse!" across town kind of sense, but just a clearer perspective on my environment.  I can liken it to the Mom goggles I acquired after giving birth to my first child.  I saw every germ within a 10 yard radius and from a mile away I could tell if I would need a Sani-wipe, antibacterial gel - or both.

But is that a bad thing?  SELF magazine polled it's readers and almost 1 in 10 said they avoid shaking hands. What do the Docs say?  Mental health professionals agree that, in people more vulnerable extreme germ awareness can be a catalyst to a smorgasbord  of anxiety ailments. Women are already prone to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which can involve constant hand washing and fear of contamination. (I'm about 3 hand washings a day away from having this illness...)  Joshua Fox, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology says hands that are dry and cracked from overwashing are more likely to pick up an infection through openings in the skin.  Hmm....never thought of it that way. Here's something else that I learned, we actually live in a world where staph infections kill more people each year than AIDS.  Whoa...that's crazy...

All is not lost though.  We are all not doomed to be taken over by giant unrelenting germs.  Our body is covered in bacteria already.  To the tune of billions on our skin and trillions in our intestines.  Yet they still manage to live in a great symbiotic relationship with us helping us digest our food, absorb vitamins and stave off infection.  If a germ really wants to get us, it has some pretty formidable opponents up against it.  

After reading about all that bacteria, it put my mind at ease that our defense mechanism is wonderfully made and it's really the reason that more sickly people aren't walking around here all the time.  There are some precautions we can take too to ensure that we are doing our best to stay healthy.  Here are a few questions answered:

Is it safe to eat food off the floor using the 5 Second Rule? Short answer, no. Researchers @ Clemson University in S. Carolina put the rule to the test and came to the conclusion that although the number of bacteria on the food did increase with time, potentially illness-causing contamination was virtually instantaneous.  "If you drop food, the best policy is not to eat it," says Paul Dawson, Ph.D. from Clemson University.

Could kissing my doggie make me sick?   

Short answer, yes. Salmonella and roundworm can be passed between species.  The American Veterinary Medical Association in Schaumburg, Illinois, warns against putting your mouth on any part of your pet.  I don't have any animals, so this whole concept is lost on me.  

What's the single germiest surface that I touch daily?         Not your toilet seat surprisingly enough.  Chuck Gerba, Ph. D. cites home offices, teachers' desks and kitchen sinks - which due to coming in contact with raw food, harbor more fecal bacteria than the toilet bowl! Blech! Let's eat out tonight - just don't use the salt shakers!

I'm glad you read this far... I guess what I really learned about germs and how to stay sane in this insane world is to just do what comes naturally...wash your hands and make sure you do it in moderation.  

There are a whole slew of "germ crazy" things I do.  Here's a few:  push elevator buttons with my knuckles, flush toilets with my feet, never touch public bathroom door handles, punch the buttons on the card swipe thing @ the cash register with my knuckles.....what about you guys? Anything you do that could label you 'certifiable'? Let me know.  

Take care all.  

My best, 

Lynn

Music: Counting Crows "Big Yellow Taxi".  All medical references from Self magazine article (Feb. 2009) Germaphobia by Maryn McKenna.  Pics from 123rf.com

Uno, Dos, Detox!

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Did You Know...

...that while detoxing, it is best to limit exercise while the body rejuvenates itself?

So here's my story.  Last week as many of you read, I was starting my detox journey.  Well the first day went fairly well. According to the Master Cleanse website, the first is nothing but fruits and veggies.  I ate all of that like a champ all day long.  I was full, no hankering for a slab of beef or anything (maybe because of my Whopper Jr. sendoff the night before!). 

Until night fell...

That's when peaceful, loving, feel-good Lynn was sent away and cranky, salt and processed food craving monster Lynn came out.  I seriously don't know what happened.  I kinda went off the deep end and all I remember was sitting down to watch my HGTV and then snippets of "Where are the Pringles?" "Why are you hiding salt from me?" "Just give me a dollar - one dollar for one tiny burger....pleeeeease?" "You don't love me anymore..." "WHERE ARE THE PRINGLES?!?"

I'm sure I looked like this to my poor hubs...

Needless to say, the night ended in tears and my hubs giving in and telling me where he hid the pudding, cheese sticks AND Pringles.  Poor guy, he ate in closed bedrooms with the window open just so that the smell wouldn't break my spirit. Great guy.  I should make him a steak. The weird thing is, that once he told me where everything was all desire to eat them went away.  I was tired as all get out though, so I actually went to bed (passed out) at the very respectable hour of 10:45.

So the first day (aside from the evening meltdown) was a success.  The second day was going to be nothing but fruit and veggie juice.  I borrowed my moms juicer (thanks mama) and went to town on everything.  I made about 4 1/2 cups of varying juices (grapefruit and strawberry, apple, celery and carrot) and then lined them all up in a pretty little row on the top shelf of the fridge so I would be set to go the following day.  

Enter said following day...

You never want to wake up to the words "So you want the bad news or the bad news?"  Turns out, my kids as of late are early risers and I can't keep up with them.  My husband wakes up with them and lets me sleep a bit longer.  That morning, he woke up to find them elbow and face deep in my juices and empty cups.  They had taste tested and disapproved of the juice (maybe they thought the celery juice had gone rogue?) anyway, they threw every last ounce of my blood, sweat and tears down the sinkerator.  What did I do after that?  After listening to the story, visiting the scene of the crime and realizing there was no salvaging anything, I walked over to the cupboard, grabbed a bag of chips and some fig newtons, poured a glass of milk, and went right back into my room for about a 1/2 hour of solitude.  Then I figured "There's always next week right? Right!"

So here I sit today, once again fully committed and invigorated.  I skipped the ease-in because I just want to get into the cleanse and the actual grit of it and get it done with.  I have a sinus infection and I'm hoping that the cayenne pepper concoction will help do the trick.  

Have any of you done this before?  (Execumama I have followed your journey so I know you have. Congrats!)  Anybody else?  I would love to hear about your experiences or advice on this matter.  How did you psych yourself up and stay focused on the end goal?  I think my cheer song will be that Rocky "Eye of the Tiger" one...yeah that always gets me going.  

Until next week all, stay healthy.

My best,

Lynn

Music: Rusted Root "Send Me on My Way".  Click around for one with good quality. There is one on here with the actual lyrics.  Who knew he was using real words?  I tell you this.  My middle school version didn't have half of these words in it! :o) I felt all cool, thinking I was singing in some ancient Indian dialect...sad really....don't know why I just shared all that. Photo: 123rf

Food For Thought...

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Did You Know...                         

...that in the past tarragon was used to prevent scurvy?

  Lately, I've been thinking alot about what I put into my body and how it affects my life. Physically I haven't been myself lately and I'm pretty sure it's due to the horrible allergic reactions I've been having to this planet these last few months. (I mean, really? Who sneezes 8 times in a row? Really.) So I finally sat back and said to myself "Self, what can you do to change your lot in life?" Thankfully, no one answered back, but I did start to think of different ways to cleanse and clarify my whole being.  I am going to be starting a detox program tomorrow, so I am preparing my family for it now.  ("Kiddies, hubby, mommy might be a veeeery scary woman for a few days. Don't try and be a hero. Hiding from me is okay.") So in honor of my going off into the wildness to find myself, I am leaving you ladies and gentlemen a recipe that is good for you, easy as all get out to make and wonderfully delicious.  Enjoy!

Pan-Fried Chicken with Tarragon (ah ha! Now my D.Y.K makes sense to you all right?)

Dressing:

2 Tbsp lemon juice

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

Salt to taste

Chicken:

1 lb. chicken breast tenders (12 to 16 tenders)

2 Tbsp poultry seasoning (I use Goya Adobo - it's got everything in it)

1 Tbsp dried tarragon, crumbled

1 Tbsp dried garlic

1-2 pinches salt (taste it and add more if you like that sort of thing)

8 c (5 oz) loosely packed baby salad greens (or whatever lettuce greens are in the kitchen)

1. In a bowl, whisk all of the dressing ingredients and set aside so they can mingle and get to know each other better.

2. Place the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap.  With kitchen mallet (or bottom of a heavy saucepan) pound tenders a few times to a thin and measly 1/4 inch thickness.  This thinness will make it cook in a whole lotta less time.  

3. In a medium bowl, mix poultry seasoning, tarragon, garlic, and salt.  Coat chicken with mixture.

4. Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and place on high.  When pan is hot, add 4 to 5 chicken tenders and cook on medium-high until golden and firm, 1 to 2  minutes per side. Wipe down pan with paper towel to remove any burned crumbs and repeat process until all tenders are cooked.  

5. Add greens to large bowl and toss with dressing.

6. To serve, place 2 cups of greens on dinner plate and top with 3 or 4 chicken tenders.  

Serves 4.  Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 190 calories, 7.5 g fat (1 g saturated), 147 mg sodium, 5 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 27 g protein 

Did you catch that this is under 200 calories?  I love that. If you try this and you like it, let me know.  If you didn't like it, let me know why not.  This recipe is from Women's Health magazine the July/August 2007 issue.  I will keep you updated about my detox program if you want. Have a great week.

Bon Appetit!

My best, Lynn

Music: Feist "1234".  I love choreographed dance almost as much as sports clip shows during playoff season. This song is just fun. It's how I wake up the kids in the morning after breakfast. If you don't have kids, you can skip the Sesame Street version of it - but you know you want to hear it too! ;o)

Photo from fotosearch.

Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal

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Did You Know...

...the human underarm is among the warmest areas on the surface of the human body, and sweat glands excrete moisture, which has a vital cooling effect?

Those aren't my hands... 

I have been gone quite a while people, I know.  I have had it all.  Writers block, carpal tunnel, low on funds, the blahs, nothing to say, nothing to review.  

But that all stops today!  I'm back y'all!  With a whole new perspective too. Things are going to get better. The clouds are here, but not forever right? Spring is here and green is everywhere and food is delicious this time of year. Everything just seems a whole lot fresher when the weather is nice right? I think so. AND I have a review of a product this week. 

I finally got back on the wagon and took this new product for a spin. It's deodorant. I have been looking for a new deodorant for the longest time. Like I said a while back, I am changing my cosmetic and personal body products out slowly but surely and this time it's my pits that are getting an overhaul. (I'm sorry.  I was raised with all brothers growing up.  They would be proud.) Here's the review...

Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal Roll-On:  

I was strolling down the aisle of our local Publix around 10 in the a.m. (that's when the sun really starts to cook ya) with my husband one day when I sniffed and whispered "Babe, what's that smell" and since I'm short and he's tall (my 5'2" frame vs. his 6'2") he doesn't usually smell things that I do until about a whole 30 seconds later, he said "what smell?" I kept walking a few feet before I realized 'oh no, that smell is me', and in the rush of getting us all out of the house, the kids looking great, me not so much, and everyone fed, I had long  since forgotten to apply any kind of deodorant. Now I was stinkin' up the place (my immediate vicinity and about a 1/2 foot perimeter around me) with my odorant. Welcome to my world where I give too much information! So I steer all of us in the direction of the deodorant aisle and I'm cringing at all of my choices because I knew that I was planning a trip to the Health Foods store to get this very product that week. I found this deodorant hiding behind a display of lint brushes. It was the only one of its kind so I grabbed it and let's just end the story there. Let's leave it at it was purchased and used. 

Ingredients:

It has a lot of good stuff in it such as water, natural mineral salts and  chamomile extract. However, it had some ingredients that I have grown to be not-so-fond-of. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has been tested by the Environmental Working Group and has shown signs of toxicity. It has been restricted in Japan and the European Union won't allow it. The E.P.A. data sheets show "chromosomal changes and genetic mutation effects in testing as well as testicular atrophy and reproductive damage in mice"(thegreenbeautyguide). Warn your men! Also, something to note, it does contain Xanthan Gum which is a derivative of corn. So if you are allergic to corn, you may be allergic to this.  

Summary:

It was an alright run while it lasted. My qualms about this deodorant was that I had to reapply it too many times during the day. Now I'm not sure if this is something that I will just have to get used to with natural deodorant. I don't mind if that is the case, I'd rather have a little inconvenience now, than suffer later even more. In high stress situations sometimes the roll-on would completely fail me (trying to get my 2 year old to sit still long enough to braid her hair), but other times (a 2 hour game of tennis) it would hold up just fine. Weird, huh? My conclusion and thoughts on this are that I'm going to have to shelve it just because of the Phenoxyethanol. That ingredient creeps me out now. The search goes on for my new deodorant... let me know if you know of any. I'd love any suggestions. Next week, a tasty recipe for our bodies. Yum-o!

My best, 

Lynn

Music: Bjork, "It's Oh, So Quiet". She's so wonderfully weird isn't she? It's like, you wish you were her friend, but only on days that she takes her medicine, because you're scared she might punch you...  Play the 2nd video that's the official video.  The 3rd video is a live version with dancers that forgot their clothes apparently.  Pictures from 123rf and tccd

Music Info.: YouTube is putting up 8 different versions of this song and video alternating 4 at a time.  Wait for the 4 that start with a young man with a guitar in the first video picture.  That is the 4 you can select from.  Like I said up above, pick either the 2nd or 3rd one.  On one of the other 4 there is a cute just married couple that dance to this for their reception song.