Pesticides on our Produce!….I Think I’ll Plant a Garden

Posted on by
1

I don’t like the fact that pesticides are on nearly all of our fresh produce, in processed foods, even peanut butter. We try to eat healthy foods, but then if they’re loaded with pesticides what is that doing to our bodies? Pesticides affect our hormones and that’s not good. That’s the last thing we need is for something to mess up our hormones and make PMS and any conditioned affected by hormones worse! And the really bad thing is that they affect children who are in the growing stage! Not good…not good at all!

I was looking through the list of the worst foods contaminated with pesticides, and some of our favorite foods are on the list. There’s a chart of 44 fruits & vegetables ranked according to pesticides, and it has all kinds of data for each one. The worst ones unfortunately are:

  1. Peaches – The worst! (however, locally grown peaches are usually OK )
  2. Apples – That negates the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
  3. Sweet Bell Peppers – I use red bell peppers when I make fajitas, teriyaki, chicken tortilla soup, etc. They’re supposed to be a “superfood,” but seems like the pesticides would counteract some of the nutritional value.
  4. Celery – Oh, no…that affects “Ants on a Log”
  5. Nectarines
  6. Strawberries – Oh, wow! That’s one of our favorite fruits!
  7. Cherries – My husband nearly always has dried cherries on hand.
  8. Lettuce – Yikes! We eat a lot of Romaine lettuce!
  9. Imported Grapes
  10. Pears
  11. Spinach – Fresh spinach sauteed in EVOO just until tender is delicious plus it’s a “superfood,” too.
  12. Potatoes – Nearly everyone loves potatoes!

See what I mean? So I have a plan. I grew up with my parents having a huge garden and a huge assortment of delicious fresh veggies at our fingertips all season long. My husband and I don’t have the space for a huge garden plus I remember all the work that goes into a nice garden. I plan to start out small and hopefully add to it next year. I’ve heard a lot about square foot gardening, and that’s what I plan to continue researching. I want to get strawberry plants and then also plant potatoes, green beans, squash, and okra.

I plan to keep you updated on my gardening adventures. This will be a learning experience because it’s been a long time since I’ve worked in a garden. I have grown a lot of flowers in my container garden, though. Does that count? 🙂

And one more thing about pesticides, locally grown produce usually has a smaller amount of pesticides than out-of-state and especially imported produce.

Best Deals on Hotels

Posted on by
Reply

When we went to Hawaii during the month of June several years ago, my husband did a lot of searching and found the best hotel deals for us. We stayed in some really nice hotels and resorts for the price of a nice motel room here. I was impressed how much money he saved us! If you’re going on a trip, it really is worth the time to research prices.  You get the most for your money that way!

“Top Commentors” & “Subscribe to Comments”

Posted on by
5

For my readers, I want to point out that I now have two new features added to my blog. On the right-hand sidebar, there is a place for (top) Commentors as of yesterday. Also, when you leave a comment, there’s a place to subscribe to comments and you will get an email about other comments made on that post.

Thanks, Meg, for the idea about the subscribe to comments! If anyone else has any suggestions, just let me know either by leaving a comment or going to “Contact” at the top of my home page.

A Good Night’s Sleep

Posted on by
2

When I go to sleep, there are certain things I like to have. I want to have soft pillows that help to keep my neck in a position that is good for my back and shoulders. I like to sleep on our memory foam mattress that also has a memory foam topper to make it extra soft. And I like my down-filled comforter which is so comfortable and cozy! All of these things help me to sleep better. I certainly don’t like sleeping on a firm mattress, although some people do. Each person has to figure out what things help them to get a good night’s sleep.

“I Don’t Want to Wake Up!”

Posted on by
Reply

Sleep is crucial for our health, yet how many times do we stay up too late and then when the alarm goes off in the morning, it’s like, “Oh, no! It can’t be time to get up already. I don’t want to wake up.” If we don’t wake up refreshed, then our body is not getting enough sleep or maybe enough “quality” sleep. Here are some facts about deep sleep:

  1. Eight hours of sleep a night is a good rule of thumb for most people. But quality is just as important as quantity. During the time of deep, quality sleep is when our body goes to work, refreshes itself, and has a restorative function.
  2. Getting enough quality sleep is important for memory and other brain functions as well.
  3. Poor sleep is connected with changes in appetite and metabolism which means that it’s easier to gain weight if we’re not getting the sleep that we need.
  4. U.S. researchers have said that deep sleep may be important for keeping type 2 diabetes at bay.

If someone is having trouble sleeping, then there are several suggestions to aid in going to sleep and/or remaining asleep. Click here for more information.

I know personally that I don’t function well if I start getting behind on sleep. I can definitely tell a difference in the way I feel after a good night’s sleep. I think that’s pretty much universal, though. I know that Baby J is in such a good mood when he wakes up after a good night’s sleep! 🙂

For Your Health, Be Oyster Aware

Posted on by
Reply

I have a joke for my readers: If we call young ones “youngsters,” then what do we call new puddles of oil? ………”oysters!” I guess you can tell that I made that joke up myself. Hmm, I think I should just stick to writing text, not jokes. lol

But speaking of oysters, are you “oyster aware?” Be informed! If anyone has liver disease, diabetes, or a weak immune system, they should avoid raw oysters. Those who are at risk and eat raw oysters could develop a serious illness or even die from Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. However, raw oysters are not a serious threat to healthy people. I would definitely prefer to have them cooked, though. The benefits to eating oysters include the following:

  • low calorie protein
  • excellent source of Zinc,
  • Vitamin B-12
  • & Omega-3 fatty acids

The processors at Gulf oysters, however, have developed new technologies to ensure safer alternatives for eating raw oysters. They have added safety features to reduce Vibrio vulnificus bacteria to non-detectable levels. Be OYSTER AWARE! Check out their site and learn about their process and all the facts for safe eating of raw oysters! Be smart!

Four Foods on Friday #19 Questions

Posted on by
9

From Fun, Crafts and Recipes

#1. Do you ever use scissors to cut any foods? Yes

Which? Raw or cooked?

Both. I use my kitchen scissors a lot, in fact, I have two pair of them. I use them the most to cut raw chicken. I get the best deal on chicken breast I can find and then cut it to the size I need. If I can’t get a good deal on boneless chicken but chicken breast with the bone is really a bargain, then I’ll use my scissors to cut it off the bone. Sometimes I use scissors to cut pizza.

#2. Popcorn. Homemade, microwave, bagged, hot, cold. How do you like it?

We like it popped in a hot air popcorn popper. Then we put extra virgin olive oil on it and salt (or sea salt). That’s our favorite way to eat it. And…I feel good about eating it that way because everything on it is healthy… in moderation.

(If anyone eats much of the microwave popcorn, I suggest researching the safety of the butter flavoring added to it. I’ve read articles that make me want to stay away from it.)

#3. Sushi. Love it or hate it?

I can’t stand the thought of eating raw fish. I think I tried it once when our s-i-l had some, and I didn’t like it.

#4. Share a dessert recipe.

I just posted a great dessert recipe that is easy: Pineapple Delight. If you like pineapple, this tastes like delicious pineapple cobbler. I got this recipe from a friend who has had several requests for her recipe.

Friends & Readers

Posted on by
1

I have a favor to ask. There’s something new on my home page now. If you look to the right, there is a free “Subscribe” section. You can now subscribe to my posts via your email. You will only receive one email on days I post articles. I am trying to build up my Subscribe list, and I would greatly appreciate any subscriptions. Thank you in advance to those of you who do subscribe! 🙂

Jewelry, etc.

Posted on by
Reply

If someone had a little shop, they might be interested in wholesale fashion jewelry. I think it would be fun to have a little “shoppe” that was creative, trendy, and had a little bit of everything: gifts, fresh flowers, jewelry, inspirational books, artistic designs, musical accessories, educational products, healthy foods and snacks, etc. I would have to do a lot of thinking to come up with a creative name for a shop that carried such a vast array of products, though.

Pineapple Delight

Posted on by
3

If you’re needing an easy but special dessert to take to a pot luck or maybe a luncheon at work, then try this easy one. It is surprisingly good, and when a friend of mine made it, she had several requests for the recipe. I had no idea it had Ritz crackers in it until she gave me the recipe.

Put both cans of pineapple with juice in a long Pyrex dish:

  • 1 large can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks with juice
  • 1 can crushed pineapple with juice

Mix and pour over pineapple:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 5 tablespoons flour

Then sprinkle over the top:

  • 8 ounces of grated Colby & Cheddar cheese

Then:

  • 1/2 stick butter, melted
  • one “column” of Town House or Ritz Crackers (or similar)

Dip crackers in melted butter and place on top of cheese. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Cold Sores & Fever Blisters

Posted on by
1

There are a lot of people sick right now with colds and the flu. Many times when people get sick, they end up with a cold sore, sometimes called a fever blister, which takes a while to go away. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and can also be aggravated by stress, fatigue, and being run down. One of the best things to do is to keep the immune system strong. Some people who are more susceptible to cold sores take an amino acid called L-lysine as a preventative measure. Some think that Lysine causes the liver to increase cholesterol production, so if that’s a problem then they should keep a check on cholesterol levels. I’ve taken L-lysine before at the very first suspicion of a cold sore, and the next couple of days it was gone. If it’s a full blown cold sore, then L-lysine doesn’t clear it up right away but relieves the pain and shortens the duration of it. Acidophilus, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, and zinc also help.

If the cold sore has already erupted and is painful, there are topical cold sore treatments available at the store, or a moist tea bag can be placed against the sore. The tannic acid in tea is used in many types of medicine and is believed to have an antiviral effect. Also, ice placed on the cold sore at the first sign of outbreak will help to reduce the metabolic rate of the skin tissue. The ice should help slow down the progress of the cold sore. And as with any virus, there’s a need for plenty of fluids. Nonacidic fluids such as apple or apricot juice are great.

Medical Jewelry

Posted on by
Reply

I know several people who have medical conditions that could be life threatening if not treated on a daily basis. One dear friend has to wear an insulin pump, and another friend has been in a diabetic coma. I think if I had some type of condition, I would wear medical jewelry to alert people. Something could happen at the store or somewhere family or friends weren’t around.