Guide to Life for Women

My Dogs and Their Health

2010-03-09T20:19:00.003-07:00

They decided they wanted to sit on the same bed this morning...cute.

My boys (puppies) have been under the weather since mid January. As such the extent of their care has been all-consuming and I apologize for my absence with the blog.

My little one, a Yellow Lab, started exhibiting signs of something going wrong on January 15. His eyes were really droopy and bloodshot and he was lethargic beyond what is normal for him. During the course of a week I noticed a dramatic change in his behavior.

I took him to the vet on January 28 and he got a check-up and a thyroid panel. Nothing was revealed. He continued to get worse and could barely hold his head up. Then he started trembling all over like he was extremely cold - all the time.

On January 29 he got chest x-rays, a Chem Panel, and a Valley Fever Check. Then on January 29 he had a seizure. He has never had seizures but my Siberian Husky is epileptic – so I knew exactly what I was seeing.
I started giving him scrambled eggs and yogurt in the mornings and Milk Thistle for his liver.

He began to sway back and forth and was barely able to even stand up on his own. The swaying resembled a really drunk person. His breathing seemed labored and there was wheezing and he was panting constantly.

Next vet check – his temperature was elevated and the vet noticed all of the symptoms I had been noticing.

On January 30 he had another seizure. I took him to the vet again. Blood pressure and Heart rate were normal. They drew blood for a copper and lead screening.

I started to notice that he had lost some of his peripheral vision and was bumping into things (when he could stand and try to walk).

On January 31 I took him to the emergency clinic. They kept him overnight for observation and gave him IV fluids and did more blood work and additional x-rays.

Feb 1 – I picked him up at the clinic. Still no answers. Same symptoms since Jan 15 and the laundry list of added symptoms plus now I was noticing “frozen” stare-like seizures.

I opted out of a planned trip to stay at home with my dog.

On Feb 2 he started having (in addition to everything so far) Parkinson’s-like head shaking. The “head" seizures were intermittent but continued for 2 days.

I called the vet and he said to check his pupil responses. I did. I shined a flashlight into his eyes and one eyeball rolled upward and the other rolled down. This was disturbing to say the least.

Finally I made him an appointment with the puppy neurologist (My Siberian Husky goes there for his epilepsy).

The neurologist reviewed all of the data, the blood tests, the notes from the regular vet, the notes from the emergency clinic, and looked at my copy of both sets of x-rays.

She said it was definitely neurological and gave him a steroid shot. We scheduled a MRI for the following day.

Once home – I could notice an almost instant improvement from the shot.

Feb 4 – He went in for the MRI. (They had to put him to sleep to do it). I talked with the neurologist later that day and she said that it was amazing that my Lab was still with us. She had found a huge amount of swelling in his brain surrounding a lesion.

They started him on IV drugs and kept him overnight.

Feb 5 – I picked him up and talked with the doctor. She thinks it is either an auto-immune disease or Valley Fever. Mind you the VF tests had been negative. She sent off another one. All of the neurologists in her office all reviewed the brain scans and they all agreed that it is most likely Valley Fever. Sometimes there are false-negatives and sometimes the infection skips the initial phase of pulmonary infection and can go straight to the brain.

We started drug therapy at home on Feb 5th.

He is taking:
20 mg of Prednisone twice daily
64.8 mg of Phenobarbital twice daily
100 mg of Milk Thistle twice daily
425 mg of S-Adenosyl twice daily
400 mg of Fluconazole twice daily

On Feb the 11th he somehow hurt his foot. He was limping and licking his paw. I took him to the regular vet and there was a substitute filling=in for the regular doctor. This sub said that my Lab had Cushing’s Disease. I assured her that the regular vet and the neurologist had checked this as well as a host of a million other things I had inquired about. She wanted to do a bunch of other tests and change the medicines that the neurologist had put him on. I declined.

I discussed this with the neurologist and she said that the Prednisone was causing Cushing’s Disease and that, theoretically, this should improve once we begin lowering the dose.

By the way, Cushing’s Disease manifests as muscle wasting. Currently, my Lab is showing definite signs…you can see his spine and virtually every single bone in his head is showing. The muscles have just depleted. The neurologist is not alarmed. We are in between a rock and a hard place – because we need to get the brain swelling down fast.

As far as the foot – they are putting him on antibiotics (the Prednisone lowers the immune system response so this is important).

I am to unwrap- soak in warm water- blow dry with a hairdryer and treat with a prescription cream – then put cotton balls in between his toes and under his pad and re-wrap with wound dressing and then over-wrap with self-sticking dressing on top…EVERY SINGLE MORNING.

The pad seems to be getting better. Although they did say that he might (let’s pray that he doesn’t) lose the pad on that toe.

Now this is going to throw you…the same day I took my Lab in for his foot – My Siberian’s leg was bleeding. After I got back home with the first dog I took the Siberian to the vet as well - to see about his leg. There is a gaping, open wound. I have no idea how or what has happened to him. They said it doesn’t look like a bite and that it resembles a laceration. I have scoured the house and yard and found nothing that could have caused this.

Anyway, now my Siberian is on antibiotics...In addition to the Phenobarbital, Zonisamide, Milk Thistle, Ursodiaol, and Sam-e that he already takes for his seizures and his liver.

The wound is draining and there is absolutely no way to wrap it. It is on his hind quarter and everything just slides down. Also – they don’t want it covered – they want it to drain. So I walk around the house trying to wipe it occasionally and then run around with a swifter and some carpet cleaner to clean up where he has been. I finally figured out how to secure a half of a sock on his ankle to catch some of the drainage.

My Lab is now on another (different) round of antibiotics for his paw after taking him to the vet to check the paw again on Feb 18.

My Siberian keeps licking the wound and I keep trying to get him to stop – I do not want to put a cone on his head…he is already dealing with enough and I don’t want him knocking into the walls and scratching them up…also he can’t fit through the puppy door with a cone.

The regular vet also just changed the Siberian's antibiotics to another type that is, mind you, three times a day instead of twice.

On Feb 22 – we started to lower the Prednisone for my Lab, by half a tab in the mornings and the regular dose at night. I am to watch for any neurological signs.

Throughout all of this I have declined many events, trips, and dinners…to stay at home and care for the boys. I cannot trust a kennel to do all that I am doing. Even asking our wonderful puppy nanny is really too much to ask of anyone.

On Feb 26 I took both of the boys to the neurologist (an hour away) to have their blood work checked and do liver tests and check the Siberian’s phenol level and do another Valley Fever test on the Lab.

Got the results on Feb 29.

The Siberian’s liver seems to be okay and we are taking him off of the Ursodiol. We are also continuing to lower the Phenobarbital and rely mostly on the Zonisamide for seizure control – which is less harmful to the liver. You have to lower Pheno very slowly because it could actually cause seizures if you lower too quickly.

My Lab’s results are that the Valley Fever is still negative…yet we are still treating with anitfungals because that is the most likely causative source. His liver levels went from 720 (already high) to 11,000. Yes, you read that correctly. 11,000! The neurologist said to give him the Siberian’s leftover Ursodiol that he is no longer taking and we will continue to monitor. Still, she is not surprised…he is on a lot of meds that are metabolized through the liver.

She agrees with me that the added easily digested daily protein of scrambled eggs, yogurt, and lean meats is good for him now. I started this due to the muscle wasting…also I am giving him cooked carrots and green beans for readily available carbs – i.e the body is catabolic (Cushing’s Disease) and is eating the muscle to get sugar basically. I give them all of the above on top of a small amount of kibble for breakfast and dinner. The kibble is Natural Balance Duck and Potato. Yes, I scramble them eggs and cook them carrots every morning. And, yes, my husband grills them chicken and beef.

On March 2 we started lowering the dosage of Phenobarbital for my Lab by one-half of a pill in the morning and a full tab at night.

I’m glad we have started to lower the doses.

Throughout all of this – I have become quite proficient at using a pill cutter. (Not just in half – but some quarters even for my Siberian) I have also become rather good at dressing wounds.

I have notes, records, med schedules, vet schedules, and protocols listed everywhere. I have to check the calendar for med changes every week.

As I was writing this – my Siberian started bleeding from a new wound 6 inches above his other two leg wounds. It seems to me this may be what I asked the vets about – a serious skin reaction from the Zonisamide anti-seizure drug…they had informed me that we would have seen something before now – yet these wounds are quite mysterious. In my opinion, it is coming from within...whatever is causing it.

I have confined him to the garage and laundry area – he is bleeding everywhere and will take him to the vet tomorrow. I just sent the neurologist an email to ask, yet again, about the possible reaction to sulfa drugs (Zonisamide)causing this skin issue.

This is just getting ridiculous already.

Tomorrow we will see what the regular vet and the neuro have to say about the skin issues in the Husky.

All in all, I have to say I only want my boys to healthy again. It has been stressful and exhausting to say the least. Not to mention expensive.

But I love them so very much and am doing what I must do to help in their healing process.

Please send loving, kind thoughts and prayers our way.

I know there are plenty of horrible issues that people are facing and dealing with everyday. And the issues I am dealing with currently with my dogs do not even begin to compare to the heartbreaking situations happening world wide.

My heart goes out to those suffering illness, loss, and destruction in its many, varied forms.

Hopefully - things will be back to normal or near normal before long and I can start posting recipes and the like again!

And while I have your ear-
Please send prayers for my Sister (An Ovarian Cancer Survivor) who is recovering from a recent surgery.

Keeping the Faith, Always
– TR Hughes

What We Can Learn From Dogs!

2010-01-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

I love this!

Someone forwarded me this today and I wanted to share it with everyone.

A transcript from Face The Nation two weeks ago:

BOB SCHIEFFER: Finally today, I have no idea where this comes from or who wrote it. If I did,
I’d give them credit. But a friend who knows I love dogs e-mailed the following, which I pass
along today only because it seems a nice thing to share at the beginning of a new year.

It is a list of what we would learn if dogs were our teachers, such as:

Always run to greet loved ones when they come home.
Never pass the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
Recognize the ecstasy of fresh air and wind in your face.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising--a good plan.
Run, romp and play daily.
Thrive on attention. ~ And let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, lie on your back in the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and find the shade.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Enjoy long walks.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want is buried dig deep until you find it.
And when someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

We’d be better off, better people if we acted more like dogs.

Take Back the Control in Your Life

2010-01-13T15:10:00.006-07:00

Get out of the cave!

How many of us are running on auto-pilot or cruise control - Just going through the motions of everyday life, repeating the same mundane tasks over and over and accepting the status quo?

I think a lot of us are. I know I fall into that routine often enough. But, isn’t there more to life than just walking around with blinders on? – What about making a difference in the community, the world? – What about following your passions and achieving your dreams? – What about taking care of you? (Emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically)

Everything starts at home, right? Well, when I say “home” – I mean within you. Get yourself in tune first and then you can take back that control you may have lost within your life.

I and perhaps you too, find myself thinking that I can’t make any real difference in the world. Well, that just isn’t so. People make a tangible difference every day.

What is it that fires you up?
– For me, a couple of big ones are: The abuse of animals and the FDA’s hypocrisy that caters to big pharmaceutical companies.

When I look at these two “big” things, I think that while I would like to help make a change, I feel overwhelmed and unarmed with the tools to do so.

I realize that I am not going to go to DC to lobby against the FDA and Big Pharma. – But, I have signed many a petition to rally against the issues and I have joined in the consumer boycott of using their drugs.

And as far as animal rights…I know that I’m not going to be a major player in the protection of all animals. – But, when I lived in MN I adopted two little Huskies and tried very hard to find their parents, got them scanned, ran ads in the papers, contacted all the right groups, took them to the vet and got all of their shots, cared for them for months, and finally found them two adoptive homes. Did I make a difference in changing the fact that people abandon their animals? No. Did I make a difference in the lives of those particular puppies? Yes!

So, you see when you feel like the issues are too large – remind yourself that even the small things really do make a difference and never stop being a part of the resolution.

Another place “auto-pilot” landed me is a slowly progressing weight gain. It did not happen overnight, but, I sort of just realized it overnight. I should not have let it get this far, but I did. Now, I need to take back the control and do something about it. I know there are a lot of women out there with a long road ahead of them as far as reaching their fitness goals and I wish them much success, for me I need to lose about 30 pounds, still no laughing matter. The most disconcerting is the fading level of strength and endurance that has accompanied the weight gain.

Shifting out of cruise control and into drive is the first step. Life is too precious to simply exist and not be a part of the larger picture.

Take care of yourself first and then get involved in what motivates you. Follow those passions that have been buried for way too long. Dust yourself off and drive into your future consciously with both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, headlights on, and shift from first all the way to fifth. – Where you can make great strides, progressing your life in a direction that you have chosen.

No more sleepwalking through life. We can all make a difference, if we choose to.

Look at this Sea Lion in Cabo San Lucas. Do you have any idea how hard it was for him to get on top of that rock?

I took several pictures of him, but I like this one the best. His head is turned all the way back almost like he is laughing at himself for ever having doubted that he could do anything he set his mind to. He wanted on that rock so he just did it.

He could have sat with the others (see below) on the smaller more surmountable rock, but he made a choice to go after what he wanted and he should be proud.

Make 2010 a Great Year - Set and Accomplish Your Goals

2010-01-12T17:06:00.002-07:00

Here is where the two Oceans meet in Cabo San Lucas. The Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet between the rock formations around the famous Arch.

On a recent trip I captured some great shots.

This is a "window" looking from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific.

To me this photo looks like the window of possibility...a doorway to your dreams.

It is so hard to believe that another year has passed. I feel as though 2009 came and went with lightning speed. I did not accomplish my 2009 goals. I did not get fit and lose weight like planned. I did not finish my manuscript. I did not become more active within the community. I did not purge my myriad kitchen gadgets. And the list goes on.

Does this upset me? - Not really. I did accomplish a lot in 2009, even if these things were not necessarily on my list. That's part of the problem. I make lists, lots and lots of lists. It helps me feel organized and in control. Even if I do not finish all of the tasks on my multiple lists - list making frees my mind to concentrate on the moment.

I couldn't imagine trying to remember all the things I need at the market or that I need to pick up dry cleaning, luggage from the repair shop, my dog's medicines, or that I have a dentist appointment, or that there is a meeting at the club on Wednesday...all these "tasks" get listed and then I don't need to remember everything all the time.

Today, I have started to organize 2009 files and start new 2010 files. During the process I will hold aside necessary paperwork for taxes. I feel overwhelmed, yet, I know when I am done that I will be super happy at having completed the task at hand.

I also just purchased some great Franklin Covey Organizers - Large binders with folders for organizing important home and personal documents. Franklin Covey does a great job with their organizers. The ones that I purchased are from a line they call "Buttoned Up".

As the New Year is starting, I am compelled to make lists. Setting goals for yourself is exciting and gets you energized. Even if some of them fall by the wayside, there will be a handful that you will accomplish.

I am full of hope and anticipation at what the New Year will bring. I am energetic and thrilled to embark upon a brand new list of goals.

I am hopeful to spend quality time with family and friends, finally get fit and trim, finish that elusive manuscript, and enjoy all that life has to offer.

I hope to relish in both the large and small, appreciate the special moments, gaze into the beautiful Arizona sunsets, enjoy the crisp breeze when it caresses my shoulders, laugh at the absurdity of the mundane, accept the difference of opinions in others, take everything with a grain of salt, and pretend to like Muscle Class at the gym.

I wish you all a very wonderful, magical year in 2010!

A Round-up of a Few of My Favorite Recipe Websites

2009-11-25T10:16:00.001-07:00

Taste of Home Holiday Recipes

Paula Deen

Southern Living

Southern Plate

Eating Well Magazine

Easy Corn Chowder

2009-11-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

6 slices fresh chopped uncooked bacon
1 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped celery
3 c. peeled and chopped potatoes
3 c. fresh or frozen sweet white corn niblets
1 c. chicken broth
2 Tb. Garlic Olive Oil
1 c. Prepared Béchamel Sauce
1/2 c. milk
2 Tb. butter
2 tsp. salt
dash black pepper
dash white pepper
1 tsp Nature's Seasoning Blend

Saute fresh bacon in garlic olive oil for five minutes, add the onion, celery, and chicken broth - cover and simmer on med-low for 15 minutes until tender.

Boil the potatoes in salted water until just cooked (can penetrate with a fork).

Add the drained potatoes, corn, milk, butter, and seasonings. - cover and cook on medium-low heat for another 15 minutes.

Prepare the Béchamel Sauce (per package instructions) - add to the soup.

Puree one half of the soup mixture in a blender or mini chopper and add back to the remaining soup.

Serve with sourdough bread and a salad.

Lemon Drop Martini

2009-10-17T09:22:00.004-07:00

Stirrings makes a great Lemon Drop Martini Mix as well as an awesome Rimmer.

3 oz. Ciroc Vodka
1/2 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 1/2 oz. Stirrings Lemon Drop Martini Miz

Shake Vigorously with ice. Pour into a chilled, Lemon-Drop Rimmed Glass and garnish with 2 fresh lemon wheels.

Enjoy!

Southern Hoppin John

2009-10-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

This Southern Hoppin John is full of healthy fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals.

2 cups fresh shelled, rinsed black eye peas (from produce section) - Boiled in 3 cups of water for 10 minutes, drained, set aside.

1 med. onion chopped
3 cups chicken stock
3 cloves minced garlic
dash celery salt
dash black pepper, white pepper, and sea salt
1 package Uncle Ben's microwavable whole grain brown rice (2 cups)
2 cups washed, fresh chopped Kale
2 Tb. butter to finish

Add the cooked, rinsed, and drained peas with the ingredients that follow (except the rice and butter) and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes. Fold in the rice and butter to finish.

This is an excellent, healthy dish. Hope you enjoy!

Recent Visit to Wine Country

2009-09-08T10:36:00.016-07:00

Above is a picture from the brand new Trinchero Winery location. (The new open kitchen) My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful private luncheon at their new facility. We had ribs, crab cakes, heirloom tomatoes w/ buffalo mozzarella, Caesar salad...and of course, wine.

Below is the view of the vineyards from their new location.

Trinchero purchased their new winery from two psychiatrists. The psychiatrist partners (romantic, I think) made their own label of wine and named it "Folie a Deux"...because everyone thought they were crazy for quitting their practice and starting a winery. It translates as "two people who share the same madness or delusion". Trinchero liked the wine and the name - and so they kept it.

From Wikipedia:

Folie à deux (English pronunciation: /fɒˈli ə ˈduː/, from the French for "a madness shared by two") is a rare psychiatric syndrome in which a symptom of psychosis (particularly a paranoid or delusional belief) is transmitted from one individual to another. The same syndrome shared by more than two people may be called folie à trois, folie à quatre, folie à famille or even folie à plusieurs ("madness of many"). Recent psychiatric classifications refer to the syndrome as shared psychotic disorder (DSM-IV) (297.3) and induced delusional disorder (folie à deux) (F.24) in the ICD-10, although the research literature largely uses the original name.

Too Funny, right?!

The Beringer Estate House is exceptional and beautiful. (See Below)

We visited a lot of wineries on our trip. We went to both Napa and Sonoma. It was so much fun. Silver Oak was super nice, Chalk Hill, Beringer, St. Francis, Rodney Strong, Stag' Leap,...Oh, there were so many that were unbelievably nice!

Blackstone:

We met a wonderful woman, Judy Oliver-Rose, at Blackstone Winery. We tasted everything! (Here is my new friend, Judy)

We tried a wonderful new wine that I highly recommend. It is Blackstone Rubric.

It is a blend of: Cabernet Suvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Tannat, Merlot, and Petie Sirah. And - It is amazing!

Judy was so generous with her time...she took us into the barrel room, with a thief in hand, and allowed us to sample some truly wonderful wines.

Judy then took a little time off and we followed her to the local Cheese Monger. I do so love cheese.

Thanks to Judy for her hospitality and making me a fan of Blackstone!

Here is the Cheese Monger:

Raymond & Company Cheesemongers in Jack London Village - Glen Ellen, CA.

Oh, and I have to say Cakebread Winery, BV, Rutherford, and Charles Krug were all outstanding!

I totally should have taken more pictures, but, I was too busy drinking wine!

Beautiful Flowers from My Husband for Our Anniversary

2009-09-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Zucchini and Turkey Lasagna

2009-09-03T15:34:00.003-07:00

(This Recipe Makes a Large Deep-Dish Lasagna or 2 square pans)

You can get a disposable deep-dish casserole pan or the recipe can be used to make two 8 x 8 lasagnas - which I did.

2 pounds Ground Turkey
1/2 Green Bell Pepper (chopped)
1/2 Red Bell Pepper (chopped)
1/2 Red Onion (diced)
6 Cloves Fresh Garlic (minced)
2 TB Dried Oregano
2 Cups Loosely Packed Fresh Chopped Basil
38 Ounces Tomato Sauce

Cook the Ground Turkey in a sauce pot on medium heat until cooked thoroughly. Add the peppers, onions, garlic, and 1/2 cup of water. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients from above and cover and cook for another 20 minutes on low heat.

32 ounces of Fresh Ricotta Cheese
1 1/2 Cups of Egg Beaters

Mix above two items together and set aside.

1 Package of "No Pre-Cook" Dry Lasagna Noodles
1 Package of Fresh Shredded Cheddar
1 Package of Sliced Mozzarella
5 Medium Fresh Zucchini (sliced lengthwise)

Assembly:

Start with a layer of meat sauce. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Then spread on a layer of the Ricotta-Egg mixture. Add another layer of meat sauce and then assemble mozzarella slices to top. Next add a layer of fresh sliced zucchini. Top that with the Ricotta-Egg mixture. Then add a layer of meat sauce. Then add another layer of noodles and more mozzarella and meat sauce. Finish with a final layer of shredded mozzarella.

Loosely cover the lasagna with foil to prevent the cheese from browning too soon. Cook on 325 degrees for about and hour to one and a half hours. Remove foil at the end of the cooking cycle for about 15 minutes to brown the top slightly.

I have also made this recipe with just Zucchini and no pasta. You can also use ground beef or buffalo instead of turkey.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil From Spain is Highest in Polyphenols

2009-08-21T17:23:00.002-07:00

My favorite varieties of Extra Virgin Olive Oils are from Spain. (Particularly the Andalusian and Catalonian regions) It has become evident in recent research that the health benefits of Olive Oil are due (in part) to their concentration of polyphenols.

Polyphenol content is mainly dependent upon the production process, but it has also been shown that the origin/region of the olive plays a factor as well. Whether the higher concentrations of health benefiting polyphenols is dependent upon the region which the olives are grown or lies solely within the production process is up for debate. (I have read that the Spanish regions mentioned above have the added impact of soil integrity that may affect the oils’ health report of higher antioxidants, polyphenols, and oleic acid profiles.)

I always opt for Extra-Virgin First Cold-Press Olive Oil using Organic Farming methods. It is the healthiest type of Olive Oil you can buy. Researchers have shown that the polyphenol ppm (parts per million) values are vastly different. Extra Virgin comes in at about 50 -80 ppm and regular olive oil comes in at about 5 ppm. That’s huge.

Another interesting tidbit you might not be aware of is that Spain is the world’s largest producer of olive oil and that many of the “Italian” olive oils are actually blended or even 100% Spanish that has simply been “bottled” in Italy. All oils in Europe are basically bottled in Italy - regardless of their origin.

So if you use olive oil for more than flavor and would like to also enjoy the health benefits you should make an effort to buy the best olive oil available. One of my very favorites is L'Estornell. The name is derived from a bird that frequently is seen around the olive harvest in the region of Catalonia, Spain. The terrior (soil-terrain) and climate of the area are ideal. The production process employed by the manufacturer is superb, rising above the standards set by the International Oil Council. In the states it can be found at most gourmet markets. I personally have found the oil in retail markets like: Williams Sonoma and Whole Foods.

They also produce some other varieties that are awesome, like the Lérida Veá, which is the first cold extraction of the buttery, flavorful Arbequina Olive.

The health benefits of EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) are numerous.

Some Of the Health Benefits Include:

* Anti-inflammatory
* Protective against heart disease
* Antioxidative
* Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases HDL (good)
* Lowers blood sugar levels and helps to prevent insulin sensitivity
* Stimulates immune cells
* Gobbles up free radicals (through enzyme activation)
* Protects DNA from free radical damage
* Lowers blood pressure
* Functions as an anticoagulant (platelet aggregation)
* Oleic Acid, found in Olive oil can initiate cell death of aggressive breast cancer cells
* Helps prevent bone loss
* Protective against peptic ulcers
* Promotes gastrointestinal health
* Monounsaturated fats in Olive oil can help to break down stored fat in cells

The link below is for further, more in-depth information about the above referenced statements concerning the health benefits of Olive Oil.

It is from one of my favorite sites: WHFoods.com.

Read Informative Information about Olive Oil: (Link Bellow)

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil (From Spanish Olives) Often!

Easy Deviled Eggs (Eggs are THE Perfect Food)

2009-08-13T18:45:00.011-07:00

Easy Deviled Eggs (Eggs are THE Perfect Food)

Makes 12 Deviled Eggs

Combine the following and spoon into the egg white halves :

Yolks from 6 Boiled Eggs
3 Tb. Mayo
1 tsp. Mustard
2 Tb. Diced Bread and Butter Pickles
1 Tb. Pickle Juice
Dash White Pepper
Dash Black Pepper
Dash Salt

Sprinkle a touch of Paprika on top and serve well chilled.

Read Informative Article: Eggs are THE Perfect Food!

Hope you have a great day!

Canine Seizure Control Update - Using New Prescription (Zonisamide) for Our Siberian Husky

2009-08-11T15:41:00.001-07:00

Our Siberian Husky has had Grand Mal Seizures for the past three years. They started in 2006 and he is 9 years old. We could not find any diagnosis other than Idiopathic Epilepsy.

For the most part the prescription for Phenobarbital has controlled the seizure activity. He would have one or two a year and we would adjust the medication.

In April of this year he started having multiple seizures frequently. We increased the meds again and it did not help control them.

I have thoroughly researched everything known to man about this topic, possible causes, any and all treatments...you name it. I have adjusted his diet and started giving him natural supplements and vitamins as well.

After 8 seizures since April of this year we went to see a Vet Neurologist. I cannot tell you how much I love this new doctor. I went in armed with huge amounts of info and a lot of questions. She was impressed with my plethora of information and logs and I was impressed with her knowledge, compassion, and her generosity with her time in speaking with me. She prescribed a new drug that I, too, was also interested in trying for our puppy - after reviewing the studies and comparing ongoing symptoms and observations in our Husky.

We started the new drug, Zonisamide, in conjunction with the current phenobarbital regimen and also added some more "Liver Protecting" natural supplements. We started the Zonisamide on a half-dose of what would be recommended for our dog's size. This was, in part, due to my reluctance on the "side-effect" period.

In April of this year our regular Vet prescribed Potassium Bromide - with no help. The Potassium Bromide caused a host of horrible side-effects and I took him off the meds within a week. The Bromide made him very ataxic (weak, wobbly legs) and gave him tremors that were like seeing someone with progressive Parkinson's Disease.

So, the Vet Neurologist agreed that we would try a half-dose of the Zonisamide and keep the Phenobarbital the same and watch and wait. She said that after a while on this therapy, considering its' effectiveness, that we could start to decrease the Phenobarbital and increase the Zonisamide. The Zonisamide is supposed to have fewer side-effects and be less harmful to Liver function.

So far he is doing well. I am so very thankful and appreciative of this new therapy. If you've ever dealt with Canine Grand Mal Seizures on a consistent basis...you know that controlling and minimizing the seizure activity is truly a God-send.

I feel completely and totally blessed to have found such a wonderful Vet Neurologist to assist us in taking care of our Husky. We are hopeful and optimistic that this new therapy is well-suited for our beloved pet. :)

The Best Pot Roast Recipe (Super Easy and Tasty!)

2009-08-03T14:09:00.007-07:00

This Recipe Makes THE Best Beef Pot Roast. It simple, easy, and tasty!

In your crock pot add the following:

(2) cans of Campbell's Beef Consomme
(1) can of Campbell's Double Strength Beef Broth
(1) Package of Knorr Au Jus (Dry)
(1) Package of McCormick Slow Cooker "Pot Roast" Seasoning

Place your Beef Roast in the above liquid.

Add your Vegetables:

2 cups Baby Carrots
2 Sweet Onions (halved)
4 Large Baking Potatoes (halved)

Add enough water to cover the Roast
Add 3 fresh sprigs of Rosemary

Cook on low for 5 hours and then turn on high for approx. 3 more hours.

Remove Roast and Vegetables to cool on platter.

Save the broth!

The broth can be used to make your gravy.

You can also use the broth for a nice Beef Stew (using your leftovers).

I will post the Beef Stew Recipe this week as well...stay tuned.

I hope you enjoy this simple, easy, beef pot roast!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs over Rice

2009-07-30T10:21:00.005-07:00

(I used a nice pre-made meatball for this recipe.)

Ingredients:

10 Meatballs
1 Package of Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Brown Rice (Microwave Pack)
1 Sliced Green Pepper
1/2 an Onion - cut into medium strips

Sauce:

1 small can Crushed Pineapple w/ juice
1/2 c. Pineapple Tidbits
1/2 c. Grape Jelly
1/2 c. Ketchup
Dash of Hot Sauce
1/4 c. Soy Sauce
Dash of Nutmeg and Allspice

Directions:

Mix your sauce and warm over med-low heat.
Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover and marinate for 20 minutes.
Saute the peppers and onions.
Microwave the Whole Grain Brown Rice (Per Package Instructions)
Serve by layering the rice with the peppers and onions and top with meatballs and sauce.

Enjoy!

Iodine Deficiency Common among Women - Supplement with Kelp for Optimal Health

2009-07-24T10:54:00.007-07:00

The US introduced iodized salt in 1924 to help protect the population from deficiency symptoms.

However, a recent study published in 2008 Environmental Science & Technology Journal, revealed that 47 of 88 samples randomly tested did not meet the US FDA Standard for Iodine content.

Add to that the ever-growing trend of people avoiding salt and we are looking at a resurgence of an iodine deficient American population. I admit myself that I consistently use Himalayan Pink Salt and Celtic Sea Salt. (Which do not contain any significant amounts of iodine)

Women considering pregnancy should be aware that iodine largely affects nervous system development of a growing infants and women should be aware of/monitor their iodine intake during pregnancy. This also poses another problem due to the avoidance of seafood items during pregnancy months. Iodine deficiency has also been shown to be a factor in ADD and ADHD disorders, which may develop during infant growth.

The most widely recognized and understood facet of iodine use within the body is its regulation of thyroid hormones. This is of particular interest to women, who seem to experience thyroid irregularities far more frequently than men. Iodine is also useful as a bacterial inhibitor, per its use as a topical skin disinfectant, and a purifying agent in water.

Recently I learned that iodine plays quite the role in preventing Fibrocystic Breast Disease. It appears to normalize the effect of estrogen in breast tissue – which would also lead us to believe that by lowering the effects of estrogen in the breast that it may also play a role in the prevention of breast cancer in general.

In addition, it seems that several experts agree that overall iodine deficiency plays a role in immune system function as well.

While goiter (enlarged thyroid) is the most recognizable symptom of iodine deficiency, there are other warning signs to watch out for concerning hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism: (fatigue, weight gain, lethargy, depression).
Hyperthyroidism: (weight loss, rapid heartbeat, changes in appetite).

The utilization of iodine is thwarted by certain foods, including those that contain goitrogenic compounds, like: Cruciferous vegetables (for example: cabbage and broccoli).

Proper Iodine levels may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of:

Cognitive impairment
Fibrocystic breast disease
Goiter
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Multiple miscarriages
Breast Cancer
Diabetes

Sources of dietary iodine include:

Sea Vegetables (like kelp)
Most fish/shellfish – However, it is hard to predict the amount of iodine in fish due to its concentration being dependent upon the feeding regimen and cycles
Milk, Eggs and Yogurt
Strawberries

I recently started supplementing with Kelp myself to help with my own weight loss efforts and to provide some relief from cyclical tenderness associated with Fibrocystic Breast Disease.

Here are some informative articles from Natural News:

“Iodine May Be the Critical Mineral for Weight Loss, Energy and Beauty” – by Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor

“Iodine Deficiency and Its Link to Diseases in the Body” – by Mary Laredo, citizen journalist

Always consult your physician, nutritionist, or health care advocate before beginning any supplement regimen.

Canine Epilepsy - Phenobarbital Losing Effectiveness

2009-07-23T15:43:00.003-07:00

My Little Baby is having trouble with his seizure control. It is breaking my heart. He has had Grand Mal Seizures since 2006 and the Phenobarbital Meds have worked for some time. However, the Pheno is not working well anymore, even after increasing it 300%. We tried Potassium Bromide and the side effects were too great. It is so sad and hard to deal with increased seizure activity...it has only been a week in between seizures. I want to make him all better. But, I have to say it is breaking my spirit. I have another appointment with the vet and am armed with a lot of research info on various meds to try. Wish me luck. We love our puppy so much...if anyone has any helpful information please share. :)

What Are Your Guilty Pleasures? - Curious Minds Want To Know

2009-07-22T12:01:00.005-07:00

Okay - I know, you know, we all KNOW...We all have some guilty pleasures.

What are yours?

Complete the Survey by leaving a comment with a few of YOUR "Secret" Guilty Pleasures!

A Few Of Mine Are:

Doritos - Totally have to wash my hands many times to get rid of the evidence!
Soap Operas -I've been taping them for years!
Celebrity Rags - I leave them on the treadmill.
Atkins Snack Bars - Love the Chocolate/Caramel Ones
Big Brother- Total Mindless TV (Don't tell anyone)
Long Sunday Naps with My Husband - I adore these...they are Amazing!

WHAT has happened to Customer Service?

2009-07-15T12:29:00.004-07:00

I want great customer service! – Who doesn’t, right? In today’s economy it seems logical that most companies would agree, however, I have found that NOT to be the case in a handful of recent, frustrating situations.

How many representatives does it take to change a light bulb?

We’ve all been there. It seems that phone customer service is perhaps the worst offender…is it "out of sight out of mind”?

After many prompts we finally get to an actual person and we tell them our situation. Next, we are routed to another Rep and we re-tell the whole situation. Then, we are re-routed again and WOW, guess what? – We’ve got to recite our situation/issue yet again!

Then, by some weird (or not so weird) freaky thing – we get disconnected.

We bite our lips and call again, enter the numbers requested, listen to some music or ads while we wait, then we are graciously allowed to speak to another representative only to go through being forwarded another 4 or 5 times (all the while reciting our now memorized issue each and every time).

Is it any wonder that we (Valued Customers - I use that term loosely) are completely frustrated by the time we actually speak to a manager?!

Email isn’t much better; I recently became completely annoyed trying to rent a property. (NOT naming names- much to their pleasure, I'm sure)

I have an idea for all those struggling companies out there – FOCUS on customer service.

Here’s another idea…if you have 30 check-out lines…open more than 2!

I suppose that I have been obviously misguided in my notion that “The Customer is ALWAYS right” and that “The Customer ALWAYS Comes First”. I mean customers are WHY are companies built in the first place.

When I ran my restaurant many years ago, I had this elderly gentleman of about 80 years old that was a regular customer.

EVERY single time he came in he asked for Oyster Stew as an appetizer. I never had Oyster Stew on my menu, EVER.

BUT, you know what? – I had oysters, milk, butter, celery, white pepper, salt, parsley, and paprika. I must have made him Oyster Stew a hundred times. I did this sort of thing for customers ALL the time…if you’ve got the ingredients, why not make it?!

-Customers do come first sometimes and in some places.

I guess if you’re a Big Company it is easier said than done, YET I am only suggesting that they answer the phones and take care of their customers in a timely, suitable manner.

Good Business is NOT Rocket Science!

Salmon Burgers with Asian Slaw and Lemon-Dill Aioli /Tortellini Pasta Salad

2009-07-15T09:53:00.005-07:00

I used Pre-made Limited Ingredient Wild Salmon Burgers from Whole Foods.
(Cooked them on the grill)

For the Asian Slaw:

Mix a bag of pre-cut and washed cabbage.
Coat and toss the cabbage with Sesame Oil.
Sprinkle in a tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds (black and natural).
Add 2 teaspoons of sugar and refrigerate to chill.

Lemon-Dill Aioli:
Mix and Chill the following:

1/3 c. Olive Oil Mayo
1 Tb. Fresh Lemon Juice
2 tsp. Dill
1 Clove fresh minced Garlic
Dash of White Pepper

Tortellini Pasta Salad:

Cook, rinse, and chill the Tri-Color Tortellini.

(I used a frozen bag of pasta- around 16 oz.)

Coat and toss with about 1/4 c. Olive Oil.

(May need a little more, depending on your taste)

Add 1/4 c. Pre-made Sun Dried-Tomato Pesto Sauce.
Add 1 small can of drained Sliced Black Olives.
Add 1 small jar of drained Pimentos.
Add a Dry Package of Knorr Spring Veggie Mix
Add 1/2 c. Fresh Shredded Parmesan.
Mix all above well and chill for a couple of hours.

Enjoy!

I received a Best Blog Award!

2009-07-09T08:30:00.008-07:00

I received a Best Blog Award!
Special thanks to Lazy Bear Blogs

This is an awesome way to honor our fellow bloggers out there; here are the rules of receiving this award:

1) To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are my top 15 picks:

Health Nut Wannabe Mom

I hope you can take the time to check out the above fabulous blogs!
Thanks again to all my fellow bloggers out there!

Organization Project – The Kitchen Pantry

2009-07-02T14:27:00.009-07:00

If you have a pantry, awesome! If you don’t, you can still organize those cabinets with the same flair. The kitchen is the “heart” of the home. I believe that organizing your food storage is the first place to start when getting your home into top organizational shape.

Pantry Project Overview

Remove all items from the area and Take inventory.
Clean the space you have to work with. (Shelves/drawers etc.)
Choose your layout.
Make a list of organizing supplies needed.
Purchase supplies.
Gather items for discard or donation.
Label your new containers/drawers.
Re-stock the area.

Let’s Get Started!

Remove Items. Take inventory. This is a critical first step. Divide and conquer the products you have on hand by separating them into categories.

Separate the items by like packaging. (Cans, boxes, etc.)
Further separate again by food categories. (Grains, Pasta, sauces, etc.)
Now we can see the approximate items you generally have on hand that will need to be stored. This will help you decide on storage containers and placement within the area you have to work with.

Clean the space you have to work with.

Choose your layout.

Here is where you will work with the space you have allocated.
Take measurements of the height, width, and depth of the shelving area.
Visualize the open space and what containers you think will work for your items.
Take stock of your items again, divided by category and packaging material.
During the process of organizing your space, you may find that another trip to the store is necessary due to changes made. I suggest purchasing a wide variety and quantity of storage devices beforehand. You can always return the unused items, but you will probably find that any leftover containers can still be put to good use elsewhere in your home.

Make a list of supplies needed.

Do you need can holders? Drawers? Movable shelving? Bins? Stackable Units? Shelf lining materials?
Do you have a label machine? – Or would you like to use labels that simply write on?
Also add storage bags to your list in various sizes.

Purchase Supplies!

You can purchase your supplies at any number of outlets. Consider: Wal-Mart, Target, Craft Supply Stores, Container Stores, and stores dedicated to organizational supplies.

Gather items for discard or donation.

Go through your sorted categories and check expiration dates.
Throw out all expired items.
Also gather any items you know you will never use and if they are still viable products, you may want to donate them at the market or other collection areas in your town.

Label your new containers, if desired. This works well if you use any bins or drawers that you cannot readily see the contents inside the units. (I love my little label maker and have used it often. Label makers can be purchased at office supply stores.)

Re-stock the area. This is the fun part. Now you can see the fruits of your labor and enjoy your new organized pantry!

Below are a couple of photos of my own pantry.

Organization is key to feeling de-stressed!

Simple Pleasures Negate Stress

2009-06-29T07:57:00.002-07:00

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses, literally. Taking in all the beauty that surrounds us every day can lift your spirits with ease. Look at the mountains, the water, the sky, the flowers, birds and butterflies. By opening your senses and your mind to the wonder of the world you can negate any stress in your life, if only momentarily.

Stress, as we all know, can not only affect your health, but your mental capacity to be your best self. Stress can impede your forward movement in life and injure your physical well-being. There are many modes of lessening the effects of stress.

Try some or all of the following 50 ideas/tactics often - to help thwart stress in your life.

Engage in leisure activity with family and friends.
Play with your pets or get a pet.
Meditate.
Focus on the beauty that surrounds us in nature.
Smell a gardenia bloom.
Gaze at the sky, full of clouds or stars.
Take a bubble bath.
Get a massage.
Be thankful every day.
Implement small acts of kindness.
Plant some flowers or a small garden.
Laugh.
Keep a journal.
Be grateful.
Keep a scrapbook of happy images.
Make a Dream scrapbook of goals and achievements for your life. (Yet to be accomplished)
Listen to beautiful music.
Practice being optimistic.
Read a great book.
Choose to feel your best.
Let go of the past.
Forgive others and yourself.
Eat your favorite foods.
Keep an open mind in debating with others.
Stretch.
Sleep well.
Imagine all the possibilities for your life. (Believe them to be true already)
Get your groove on...dance your way to happiness!
Get some sun...studies show it really works.
Tune out the negative news stories.
Watch the sunrise.
Eat chocolate.
Make a wish on a star.
Believe in the greater good of mankind.
Dream big.
Get a pedicure.
Send a card to someone for no special occasion.
Spray your bed linens with Lavender Linen Spray before turning in.
Go to the Zoo.
Buy yourself a fresh flower arrangement for your kitchen.
Light candles.
Give to charity.
Clean out your closets and junk drawers. (It really does make you feel great to be organized)
Get a small bottle of “kid’s bubbles” and keep it in your car. (Next time you’re stuck in traffic blow bubbles out your window; you’ll feel so ridiculous it will make you laugh and make others laugh too.)
Start practicing yoga.
Drink in moderation.
Smile.
Enjoy the present moment.
Breathe deeply.
Wear rose colored sunglasses.

Remember my slogan:

Live Well. Live on Purpose. Live Your Dreams.

The Organized Life – Scheduling and Journaling

2009-06-28T12:47:00.001-07:00

An integral part of an Organized Life is maintaining a schedule. Some people like to use calendars on their computer to organize their daily activities. I, like many others, still prefer to use paper. I have kept multiple journals and used a wide array of different calendar systems over the years.

At one point I found myself keeping a health and fitness journal, a schedule sheet, an expense log, a daily journal and a gratitude journal. This soon became exhausting. That is when I became frustrated with trying to locate a template that would include space for everything I wished to record. I finally decided to create an all-inclusive template tailored to my personal needs and desires for a daily calendar page.

I will share it with you here. I have saved the two pages (front and back) in GIF format you can copy and print for your own use. I have the margins set up to be printed on standard size, 3-hole punch paper (front and back) to accommodate insertion into a 3-ring binder style calendar.

A Brief Look at My Daily Sheets:

First there is the heading portion of the sheet: Date and Events.

I use the events section to record any birthdays or other random info for the day.

Next there is a time line area starting from 6 am until 8 pm (with 15 minute incremental lines).

On the front page there are also boxes for:

Thought of the day – Whatever thought or quote moves you can be recorded here.
Daily Affirmation – Here you can record a positive, uplifting affirmation to energize your day.
Task List – Here you can elaborate on any of the items you put into the timeline portion.
Notes – Here you can jot down any notes that you may have.
Expenses – If you are so inclined you may keep track of any expenses you have for the day.
Standing Affirmation – At the bottom of the page there is my standing affirmation

“Results are a product of action; Based on Intention and born of dreams.”

On the back page there are boxes for:

Exercise log
Dietary Log
Vitamin/Supplement Log
Health Notes
Weight
Water Servings

Also on the back page there are sections for:

Daily Journal
Gratitude Journal
Dream Wizard (Goal Planning)

I truly believe in the rewards of staying organized. It will allow you the opportunity to focus on your goals and help you to create the life you desire. Try my Daily Sheets and see for yourself.

A few years back, Oprah suggested keeping a Gratitude Journal on one of her shows. I immediately started one myself and I cannot tell you how amazing it makes you feel to acknowledge your own gratitude for something, anything, every day.

Below is an excerpt from this site about Gratitude.

Gratitude is powerful, being thankful opens up opportunity within you.

When taking a few moments each day to count your blessings, you are essentially giving the world around you a big, fat thank you that is often overlooked. If you really examine your day and your life in general, there will be multiple things for which you can be truly thankful.

The quiet, thoughtful process of analyzing your gratitude scale negates and eases all the stressful emotions and feelings you may have been experiencing at that time. It is during the slightly meditative process that you will gain insight into your thoughts allowing for a measure of peace to reside over you. This is best done just before bedtime...in the moments before drifting off to sleep. This, in turn, may affect not only the quality of your sleep but the overall quality of your life.

Show gratitude in your thoughts, say thank you to the universe, the world, the people around you...and reap the rewards of relaxation sans stress just before entering that amazing dream world. Wake up refreshed and anew, begin your day with anticipation of blessings and miracles untold, and be your best self.

And, as always, remember my slogan:

Live Well. Live On Purpose. Live Your Dreams.