Health
Granite and Pantry Pictures
When we were deciding what cabinets to get we originally wanted the ultra dark cabinets with white countertops. After much deliberation, we decided on a granite that would work with our cabinets. Well many granite’s would “work,” but we wanted what would “work” for us :).
Oh yeh sink is in too. We were really close [...]
When we were deciding what cabinets to get we originally wanted the ultra dark cabinets with white countertops. After much deliberation, we decided on a granite that would work with our cabinets. Well many granite’s would “work,” but we wanted what would “work” for us :).
Oh yeh sink is in too. We were really close to going with the brand that our granite guy sells, Suneli, however, Suneli doesn’t make a large single bowl which is what we wanted. So at the last minute I ran over to Home Depot and bought this large single bowl Elkay and Hansgrohe faucet.
Undercabinet Lighting reflecting off the granite.
Left side: Mostly cans of stuff, your oils and vinegars, sauces unopened, tea, spices, cooking related dry goods type stuff such as pasta, and a standard shelf for the ziplock bags, foil, saran wrap, etc. The spice drawer stealthily closes under this shelf.
Left side some drawers open to see how it looks. Note full extension a perk that the top cabinet companies consistently mention, but it seems this is pretty standard nowadays everywhere.
Right side: Cereal (we love cereal), snacks (we might love snacks more), vitamins/meds, food that Jax can grab himself on the bottom drawer.
Random stuff is stored on the top cavernous box.
Stay Young by Eating
Who doesn’t want to stay young? We all do and if there is anything we can do to help feel and look our best, we’ll try it, right? Well, here are some very easy ways to keep yourself young.
Olive oil
Olive oil contains mono-unsaturated fats which are largely responsible for low rates of heart disease and [...]
Who doesn’t want to stay young? We all do and if there is anything we can do to help feel and look our best, we’ll try it, right? Well, here are some very easy ways to keep yourself young.
Olive oil
Olive oil contains mono-unsaturated fats which are largely responsible for low rates of heart disease and cancer. It also contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that may help prevent age-related diseases.
~ I always cook with and use olive oil
Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off osteoporosis and contains “good bacteria” that help maintain gut health and diminish the incidence of age-related intestinal illness.
~I try to eat a low-fat yogurt every day as a snack
Fish
Fish is an abundant source of omega-3 fats, which help prevent cholesterol buildup in arteries and protect against abnormal heart rhythms.
~I’m definitely improving in this area. I love fish and try to eat at least 1-2 servings per week. I should up it though.
Chocolate
Cocoa is unusually rich in flavanols that help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowers risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.
~Yum! I can easily consume a piece of chocolate per day.
Nuts
Those who eat nuts gain, on average, an extra two and a half years. Nuts are rich sources of unsaturated fats, so they offer benefits similar to those associated with olive oil. They’re also concentrated sources of vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, including antioxidants.
~Nuts are an excellent snack. I take a tiny handful with a big glass of water and I’m good to go.
Wine
Drinking alcohol in moderation protects against heart disease, diabetes and age-related memory loss. Any kind of alcoholic beverage seems to provide such benefits, but red wine has been the focus of much of the research. Red wine contains resveratrol, a compound that likely contributes to its benefits—and, according to animal studies, may activate genes that slow cellular aging.
~I’m not a big drinker, but when I do drink, it is almost always a glass (or 2) of red wine.
Blueberries
Compounds in blueberries (and other berries) mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, which are associated with age-related deficits in memory and motor function.
~I do love berries and try to eat a few servings of blueberries and strawberries every week.
So, you see….I’m doing my best to stay young without even realizing it. How are you doing?
Lack of sleep may be deadly!
If your sleep life is anything like mine, you may be in danger! I suffer from serious sleep issues and have honestly not had a good night’s sleep in at least 3 years. Pregnancy and then parenthood is what did me in. I am chronically tired and lack energy. It’s awful. So is the news [...]
If your sleep life is anything like mine, you may be in danger! I suffer from serious sleep issues and have honestly not had a good night’s sleep in at least 3 years. Pregnancy and then parenthood is what did me in. I am chronically tired and lack energy. It’s awful. So is the news below……
According to a large British study just released, people who do not get enough sleep are more than twice as likely to die of heart disease.
Although the reasons are unclear, researchers said lack of sleep appeared to be linked to increased blood pressure, which is known to raise the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
A 17-year analysis of 10,000 government workers showed those who cut their sleeping from seven hours a night to five or less faced a 1.7-fold increased risk in mortality from all causes and more than double the risk of cardiovascular death.
A third of the population of the UK and over 40 percent in the U.S. regularly sleep less than five hours a night, so it is not a trivial problem.
The study looked at sleep patterns of participants aged 35-55 years at two points in their lives — 1985-88 and 1992-93 — and then tracked their mortality rates until 2004.
The results were adjusted to take account of other possible risk factors such as initial age, sex, smoking and alcohol consumption, body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol.
In terms of prevention, the findings indicate that consistently sleeping around seven hours per night is optimal for health.
Living with Alzheimer’s
Today is my grandma’s 87th birthday. She hasn’t really been here for a few years now though. I mean, physically she’s been here, but mentally she has been gone for a long time. She’s been living in “lock down” in a nursing home specifically for people with Alzheimer’s for the past two years. Alzheimer’s is [...]
Today is my grandma’s 87th birthday. She hasn’t really been here for a few years now though. I mean, physically she’s been here, but mentally she has been gone for a long time. She’s been living in “lock down” in a nursing home specifically for people with Alzheimer’s for the past two years. Alzheimer’s is a horrible, horrible disease. I hate it. It took my sweet, beautiful, kind, caring, funny grandma from her family. My grandpa, who is 91, still visits his wife every single day. She has no idea who he is anymore, but he is still her loving and loyal husband of over 65 years now.
I miss my grandma so much and seeing her now just makes me sad. She doesn’t have a clue who I am, she doesn’t even know what a grand daughter is. She doesn’t like when I visit, as infrequent as that is. It makes her nervous and upset and she has a hard time breathing. She closes her eyes, either to pretend she’s sleeping or from sheer exhaustion at the emotions it possibly stirs up in her. If not that, she just tells me to “go home”. I know my grandma would be appalled if she knew what was going on. I clearly remember she used to tell my mom that if she ever got like this, to just kill her. It is horrible that her nightmare came true. Even more horrible for her adoring family.
I know Alzheimer’s affects so many people and that it affects everyone differently, but all of us have something in common. We all hate it and we all wish there was something we could do. The best thing we can do is to help raise awareness and support our loved ones who are suffering from this awful disease. You can look on the Alzheimer Associations website for tons of helpful information, including details about the Memory Walk, the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. There are walks in more than 600 communities. A typical Memory Walk is a 2-3 mile walk held on a weekend morning in the fall. By teaming up with the Alzheimer’s Association, you can walk with a purpose – and move us closer to a world without Alzheimer’s. Together, we can MOVE a nation.
With that, I’d just like to say Happy Birthday, Grandma Ruthie! I love you and miss you always. xoxoxo
