Sodium bicarbonate

One of my major interests is health and nutrition. Recently I have been getting interested and learning more about the pH of the human body. (A very good book if you are interested is The pH Miracle). The pH of our bodies is very delicately balanced, and much depends on what we ingest, and how our bodies respond to various foods. Overloading our bodies with acid forming foods creates a acidic pH in our bodies. Over time too much acid can cause body tissue to break down, and greatly effects blood circulation. Too much acid scientifically is called metabolic acidosis can cause a variety of problems in the body.

This is where Sodium Bicarbonate comes in. Sodim Bicarbonate (also commonly known as baking soda) is alkaline. It is not only an amazing household cleaner, it is also good for making your drinking water Alkaline, (to help your body have a more alkaline pH), AND I recently discovered is an amazing face wash. My sister told me about it and I figured it couldn't hurt. I had a breakout for over a month that I couldn't clear up with my regular face wash. I just scrubbed it with a bit of baking soda, and immediately it looked better, and was completely gone with in a week. Really it makes sense. Acidic toxins, are sweated from our body, so often breakouts are caused by the high acidic levels. Baking soda, alkaline, neutralizes this and helps to wash away oils, and wah-la no more breakout. Also the baking soda is slightly grainy which gently exfoliates as well. Isn't science (and Sodium Bicarbonate) amazing ??

For more Baking Soda Tips visit http://www.armhammer.com/

This blog written by Robert Young, Ph.D a good resource as well http://www.articlesofhealth.blogspot.com/

In Defense of Food

This morning I started reading In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. (Only on page 10 and I already adore it...) He wrote the book to answer what to eat, after writing An Omnivore's Dilemma which examined the sources and methods of food production of various sources.

He says: Eat real food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

I really like that. That pretty sums it up. However its not always that easy. First off its not always easy to get your hands on what I consider real food. Everyone has their own definition of what what "real food" is. To me "real" food should be raised by yourself, or nearby, and should be raised sustainably and naturally. This means eating in season, and planning for the winter. Such old fashion notions...

This isn't always "practical" in our busy lives, and busy society. This is one of my plans for our future is to grow at least the majority of my own fruits and vegetables. I have found over the last couple of years that it is easier said than done. There is so much to learn about caring for plants. It cannot be learned over night. Slowly I have learned more and more. Learning which plants do well in which season, soil needs, water needs, which plants can handle shade, which need complete sun. Which plants don't grow well in Oregon because of the mild summer temperatures, and how to grow them anyways. Which plants can grow well year round in the mild winters....

Its wonderfully fascinating to discover. Trial and error, building on what you learn each year, slowly gaining more and more successes. I love it! I am planning to have a large three season garden at the raised beds at my workplace this year(how great is that ? I get paid to garden?) and a perennial flower garden.

I can't wait!

Our Trip to North Carolina

We spent most of our time near Lake Norman. It was a nice area. We rented a vacation house. It is so nice having a kitchen to cook your own meals instead of having to make do with a microwave, or eating out.

We had beautiful weather, clear skies sunny and warm(ish). It was so good to see the kids.But of coarse it came to an end much to quickly. We really miss them, and can't wait to be living close to them.

We celebrated Ocean's Birthday early (she is turing 11!). We made this cake together with Layke. Chocolate cake with coconut milk filling, cool whip frosting and coconut and chocolate sprinkled on the outside. mmmmm delicious.

We gave the kids presents, and they gave us presents as well. Some very creative, and very thoughtful. Raine gave us a mold of his mouth the dentist took.... as well as a very sweetly drawn picture saying "Have a good day Pray"

Layke made us a book and gave us her rock collection

Ocean made me a bracelet, and two pair of matching earings. Both of which I absolutely love. She also made a little knicknack with sand and a shell that says Love.

Out to the Movies, Avatar 3D

To be honest we rarely go out to the movies. Staying at home is so nice. You can push pause, you can decide to re-watch a subtle part you missed, you can eat your own snacks (oh wait I do that anyways...), you can spend just one dollar instead of $20, and there are no obnoxious people getting in your personal space.... Maybe we don't get out enough.

Saturday we splurged and went out to see Avatar 3D. Let me just say, it was amazing. I loved it. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it was better than I expected. I loved how connected the native people were to the earth, specifically the forest they lived in, and how connected they were together. It is so easy to become disconnected from our environment and to our community. Going from our houses to cars, to work and back again. I only know some of our neighbors more than the passing hello, and only because they come over wanting to borrow things, or needing favors, which I am very glad I am in a position to be able to help them.

The movie made me miss my short stint as a Park Ranger, which ironically at the time I disliked, but it was more the life circumstances surrounding the job rather than the job itself. Part of my job was walking on the beach, which was very rocky, but very very beautiful. I loved the early morning, when the park was still quiet, watching the world wake up. The park opened when the sun rose, and closed when the sunset. When else are you really going to notice these times? All too often we see the weather as a inconvenience rather the the earth speaking to us. This is one of the reasons why I love gardening so much. It really reconnects you to what is going on, and the balance of things. In order for things to be green you must have rain. And here in Oregon that means more rain and more rain, and more rain and more rain. I read the weather report just for the pure enjoyment of seeing how many different ways they will try to reword 100% chance of rain. Some years there is more rain than others. This is my third winter here. It really hasn't been that bad, and after the best ever purchase of some beautiful blue polka dotted rain boots and matching rain boot socks I actually love and embrace the rain, and walking in it.

Getting back to the movie, I also really loved that the main character was a paraplegic, and that he didn't let that stop him, or limiting him. Maybe that is just the Recreation Therapist in me, but I love seeing people overcome challenges in their lives, even in a fictional movie.

Sunday, the day the sun was scheduled to make a short appearance, we had planned to go to the National Wildlife Refuge near our house neither Joey or I had ever been too. I was beautiful, very well maintained, and even had a few historic sites in it. We came at the wrong time of day for bird watching but sill saw Swans, lots of Canadian Geese, and 2 Great Blue Herons, among others. I loved being out in nature, and relished feeling somewhat connected to my environment, especially after Avatar made me realize I had be come somewhat unconnected.

Basicly I reccommend Avatar, and it was really fun to see in the theater, especially 3D. If you have a chance go see it. (Although its not very kid friendly, I know ours would think it was scary.)

The Apple Pie Project

My husband, Joey, has very fond memories involving his Grandma and Apple Pie. I knew he liked apple pie, so I have made apple pie-ishness with a easy mix-and-press-into-the-pan-crust. He did confess to me that he prefers real crust, including a top crust. I don't know why but something possessed me, and I decided even if it killed me I would make a "real" semi comparable to Grandma's apple pie.

Finally, on the second try and after some tears while sitting on the kitchen floor in desperation, I completed my very first successful "real" pie crust. The pie is not the most beautiful in the world, but it tasted amazing!. Now that I have the basics down, and have learned that somewhere along the lines my pie crust recipe had a typo - 3 Cups of Flour vs 2 Cups of Flour, there is only room for improvement. Thanks to some one's Grandma Opal, and thanks to Bob of Bob's Red Mill flours for including a pie crust recipe on the packaging of Whole Wheat Pastry flour for helping my attempts at pie to be successful!

Here is the photo-documentation of the event:

My critic declared my pie delicious, and better than the store bought kind. I am satisfied. The sense of accomplishment is invigorating.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I had a wonderful Holiday season, I hope you did as well. The best Christmas in my adult life, (you just can't beat the excitement of being a kid at Christmas...) and by waaaay far one of the best New Years of my entire life. Previously New Years has often involved being bored, stood up, or dumped.... so it was a welcome change. Although last year's New Year was pretty great as well.

For Christmas it was just me and Joey. Although we really missed the kids, it was wonderful to be together, and we got to talk to them on the phone.

We had originally decided to not do presents, then that turned into only little presents. Needless to say I was very surprised to get these earrings and earring and necklace stand... Not really a small gift, but something I had really, really, really been wanting. I adore my wonderful husband!

My parents sent us some really great gifts. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful loving parents. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Peach Jam?! Sweet! I thought it was going to be a candle or something...

We can always use nice mugs, especially ones this big!

For Joey I made ornament with pictures of us and the kids, and a picture of us at the beach on our wedding day.

I also gave him (among other things) a I'll make you apple pie coupon, and his very own pie pan. He loves his apple pie and I love making things for him. He knows how much work it is to make good apple pie, rather than just quick and easy apple crisp, so I gave him this coupon. (And immediately he was ready for me to make apple pie!)

For New Years we went out for dinner. We hadn't got out for dinner in ages so it felt very special. We had appetizers, margaritas, and dinner. We had planned to go to a movie but I decided I would be able to stay awake, so we headed home to take a nap, vowing to wake up for the count down to midnight. We woke up for a few minutes and said happy new year, then promptly fell back to sleep... It was completely wonderful.

(I'll have to post pictures later, they are on Joey's phone and I haven't figured out how to transfer them to my computer yet...)

My Birthday

My Birthday was ages ago, but it was so much fun I wanted to share it with you. Joey was sooo sweet and put up tons of decorations, made me my favorite chocolate cake, the same that he made for me when we were first dating, and we made birthday pizza. The best birthday a girl could ask for.