One Thousand of My Gifts

photo courtesy of Ann Voskamp www.aholyexperience.com

Continuing my count of one thousand gifts, numbering each one.

33. Laughing with girlfriends til you cry
34. Surprised by Patrick's solo in show choir and his vocal talent
35. Reagan coming out of her shell and playing great basketball
36. Reagan's beaming smile after scoring basket
37. One-on-one girl time with Reagan
38. Sunshine after a rainy day

The Day I Was Dreading Has Arrived

Last week, I was getting ready in my bathroom and while styling my hair I noticed something.  I notice my hair looked different, like lighter or something, so I leaned into my mirror and looked closer and backed up and leaned in again.  I moved my hair around and looked again, and sure enough.........................

I had found a patch of grey hairs.  AARGH!!!!

I was not prepared for this.  Even though my mom was nearly all grey in her 30's and my sisters have been covering up their grey for awhile, I just always thought that since I was the blonde in the family, I was going to be exempt from the grey hairs.

I took this rather hard.  I cried.  A lot.  Everytime I walked by a mirror.  Even though, I am 40 now and should have expected it, I didn't expect it to happen to me.

So, after a few days of pouting about it, and getting advice from several friends, I realized it really wasn't that bad.  I just needed the kick in the butt to snap me out of my self-induced "poor me" saga.  One of my friends reminded me it could be worse, I could be losing my hair! She was so right!

So, I finally called my hair stylist and told her we needed to have an appointment.  I wanted her to look around my whole head to see if I had grey hairs all over or just this one spot.  Thankfully, it is just in the one spot, at the front of my head, right where I part my hair and down into my bangs. See, so next time you see me you can find it!

After much discussion, I have decided not to color it.  It really isn't that noticeable.  It is just in a small area.  I have never colored my hair (except for one bad attempt in college) and don't want to start that process until I have to.  I love my hair and messing with color might change it forever.  So, I am putting a smile on my face and wearing my grey....and secretly hoping it doesn't spread to more areas.

Gotta love turning 40!  Any of you choose to not color your grey?

Grey hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
Proverbs 16:31 NIV



Check out this an other great posts on Women Living Well.

Book Review: The Kitchen House By Kathleen Grissom

THE KITCHEN HOUSE

By: Kathleen Grissom

Published:  February 2, 2010

*****

When a white servant girl violates the order of plantation society, she unleashes a tragedy that exposes the worst and best in the people she has come to call her family. Orphaned while on board a ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin. 

Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk.

My mom gave me this book for my birthday in October and I chose it for our book club to read this last month.  There is no question this is an excellent choice for a book club.  There is so much to talk about!  Slavery, alcoholism, parenting, family dynamics, and abuse are all topics that you will be sure to discuss.  My book also had discussion questions at the end of the book.

With this book set during the late 1700's and into the 1800's, and in the south, there are certain expectations and rules that you have to remember.  Plantations were isolated from the outside world it seemed and really were their own little country, running themselves and living off of their own produced goods.  Slaves were common and their treatment was often tragically ruthless.  What sets this book apart from other books of this genre is that Lavinia lives in the slave world but is white.  She sees herself as one of them and doesn't understand that there is a difference between the two worlds.  So, once her life with the slaves is uprooted, her whole world is turned upside down.  Lavinia was very naive as to the societal expectations and social obligations and because of that, this novel has many interesting twists.

This book is told is alternating chapters between Belle, a slave in the kitchen house, and Lavinia.  The naive telling of the story from Lavinia's perspective is compared to the harsh telling from Belle's perspective and in this way you get the whole story.  There are many characters in this story and it may be helpful to keep track of them all and their relationship to each other while you are reading.  The family of slaves is large and ever-growing throughout the story.

At times, the story is difficult to read due to the atrocities that happened both to the white son and the slaves.  As the story builds, you begin to feel both anger and compassion towards those committing the violence.  Unfortunately, the lesson "hurting people hurt others" plays out in this story in many, many ways.  

As the story comes to a close, you will be sitting on the edge of your seat, reading the words and flipping the pages just as fast as you can to find out what will become of the characters.  If you are easily emotional, keep tissues close by.  The writer has built an interesting twist in the story that begins in the prologue and ends in the last nail-biting chapter.

Kathleen Grissom

This is Kathleen Grissom's only novel and she certainly has a talent.  She is working on her next book about the true life story of Crow Mary, a Native woman who carried a Colt revolver on her studded belt and wasn't afraid to use it!  To learn more about Kathleen, visit her website at http://www.kathleengrissom.com/.

Valentine's Box Idea

Do you need a Valentine's box idea for school or home?  Check out my post from last year on what Reagan made for her school box.  We are using it again this year!

http://www.sincerelystacie.com/2012/02/valentine-box.html

Book Review: Clean Cuisine By Ivy Ingram Larson and Andrew Larson

CLEAN CUISINE
An 8-Week Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Program That Will Change the Way You Age, Look and Feel

By:  Ivy Ingram Larson and Andrew Larson

Published: February 5, 2013

****

There is a diet and exercise plan that covers all the bases—food we should eat and food that tastes good; what is best for our bodies and what is easily doable in the real world—all while offering hunger-free weight loss. Developed by Andrew Larson, M.D. and certified Heath Fitness Specialist Ivy Larson, Clean Cuisine is scientifically proven to reverse diabetes, improve cholesterol and blood pressure, and ease the symptoms of other inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, asthma, allergies, and arthritis.

Broken down into eight easy steps and spread over the course of eight weeks, Clean Cuisine will enable readers to transform their bodies one delicious meal at a time by adopting an anti-inflammatory diet and choosing unrefined foods in their most natural, whole state.

With guilt-free, delicious recipes and a workout program that has been proven to deliver substantial results with just three 30-minute sessions a week, Clean Cuisine is the long-term answer to eating for optimal health, disease prevention, weight loss, vitality, longevity, and good taste.

After my mother's battle with colitis this past year and knowing several people suffering from MS and Fibromyalgia, this book and it's philosophy certainly intrigued me.  I hear more and more, that nutrition and other homeopathic remedies are key to helping those suffering from cancer and other horrible diseases and wonder if there isn't some true worth to "clean eating".  This book has certainly convinced me, but let me warn you...it won't be easy.

The authors, husband and wife, take you through 8 steps of incorporating clean eating into your regular lifestyle while touting the amazing life-changes and benefits from doing so.  Ivy Larson can speak from experience as she suffers from MS herself and found this method to work for her.  I have no doubt that following this plan will help you lose weight and feel better, especially if you have health issues.  After reading some of the explanations of the ingredients in some of the foods we eat, it does make you cringe a bit.  Do you really want to eat a meal of potassium sorbate and sorbic acid?  I don't, but in our quick-fix, processed society, most of us are eating these ingredients daily.

This book is full of thorough explanations and tips to guide you through this nutrition program.  It couldn't be a more direct and simple plan to follow.  Then why is it so hard?  Well, it is tough to give up all your favorites.  Do you really want to give up Oreos?  Second, not all of us have produce and organic food readily available.  Even though I live a half hour from the closest grocery store, it is not somewhere I can go every other day.  To feed a family of five, I would have to go frequently to get fresh produce and sometime even farther to find the types of organic food listed in the book to use in our meals.  But, I think you can learn a lot about how to feed your family properly by reading this book and slowly incorporating their ideas into your meal planning would be a win-win for everybody.

This book is also filled with ways to incorporate fitness into your daily life.  Photos and explanations of all types of exercises are included.  Whether you are interested in yoga, sculpting or cardio, there is an exercise for everyone.

Finally the book closes with over one hundred pages of recipes and meal plans to really get this nutrition program in motion.  From recipes like Fresh Cinnamon Apple-Pecan Cake to Cleaned Up Sloppy Joes to Creamy Broccoli Edamame Bisque, there is something for everyone's tastebuds.  The only down side is that photos of the dishes are not included.  When I got to the Smoothie section of the recipes I was excited to realize that I was doing something right.  Their smoothie recipes are much like the ones I make for myself in the mornings.  Spinach, fruit, and chia seeds are common ingredients in my smoothies, just like in the book.  I will have to start trying kale, gingerroot, and coconut water in them as well.

The bottom line is if you are suffering from an anti-inflammatory disease or any other health related issues, this nutrition program could just be the medicine you need to feel better.  If anything, it can't hurt.  It has worked for Ivy Larson and I bet it could work for you too.

photo courtesy of Ivy and Andrew Larson

Ivy Larson is a former TV personality on Lifetime’s The Balancing Act and has been featured in Time, U.S. News and World Report, Fitness, Life and Style, Woman’s Day, Woman’s World, Fit for Women and many other publications.  Ivy also teaches cooking classes at Whole Foods Market and Williams Sonoma.
Andy Larson, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.M.B.S. is a board certified general, laparoscopic, and bariatric surgeon.  They live in North Palm Beach, FL.

To learn more about CLEAN CUISINE, follow them on TWITTER or FACEBOOK.  Or check out their website at http://cleancuisineandmore.com/. There you can sign up for their newsletter and have access to more recipes.


If you would like to puchase a copy of CLEAN CUISINE, click the photo below:

Thanks to Kayleigh at Penguin for sending me a copy of this book for review.  I was not compensated in any other way for this review.  This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase a copy of this book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

A Little Monday Inspiration

Every time I go out there, I win.  Every time I finish the task that I've set before myself, I win again.

David James Elliott, actor

A few months ago, I wrote to our daily newspaper and let them know I would be interested in reviewing books for their Sunday feature.  A couple weeks ago, I heard back from them saying they were interested.  I never expected to hear back and didn't expect to actually be featured, but yesterday, I was.  So, if you are a new reader, I thank you for coming to check me out.  You found me because I was willing to take a risk and this time it worked out.

What risk have you been putting off?  What task do you need to go after?  You can't win if you do play, so go out and win the race today!

David James Elliott is known for his roles in the TV series JAG and CSI: NY.  As a teenager, he quit school to follow his dream of becoming a rock star with his band. It didn't work out and at the age of 19, he returned to finish high school.      In college, he auditioned for roles and eventually moved to Hollywood to work with Disney.  When that fell through he persevered and landed small roles and guest appearances until finally 10 years later was selected for the TV series JAG.  That series lasted 10 years and he has continued to work ever since.

One Thousand of My Gifts

photo courtesy of Ann Voskamp at www.aholyexperience.com

Continuing my count of one thousand gifts, numbering each one.

26. Enjoying extra time at home with Pat and kids due to snow days
27. Hearing great things about our school and teachers
28. Compliments - received and given
29. Quick, easy and delicious supper
30. Laughing
31. Smiles on the faces of adorable toddlers
32. Rosy cheeks after playing outside