Living out each minute of this rather ordinary life in the best possible way.
by dwd 12.13.2022
Advent almost got lost
in the ruckus of life
this week. The waiting
with hopeful expectation
became panic and frustration
trying to meet needs, orchestrate schedules,
to be all things. But God….
reached out and calmed the storm
in me. He said, “I Am
The Prince of Peace” and “I Am
Emmanuel; you are not alone.”
“Slowly and deeply breathe in
My presence.” He is here.
The waiting of Advent, Jesus, has come
to me this day.
by dwd
You lost yourself to all the madness
That this screaming world provides.
Your ears became attuned to it
Your mind bombarded from all sides.
At first I began to wonder
if it really could be true.
Was this some misunderstanding
or did I really not know you?
But as time continued forward
with the darkness pressing in
The voice of Good and Lovely
just got smothered in the din.
How I wish I could uncover
the one that I once knew.
But it’s not my job to find you-
It’s something only HE can do.
By dwd
The light peeks through the tree line at the start of this new day.
It holds a special mystery with Advent on its way.
Just as they heard the Promise of a special baby boy
Who’d come to earth to save us and Satan’s power to destroy.
Today we also have a Promise of that Savior’s sure return.
We watch and wait this season, with Hope and Peace our hearts do yearn.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come.
(by dwd)
curated
/kyo͝oˈrādəd,ˈkyo͝oˌrādəd/
adjective
[Photo by Olena Sergienko on Unsplash]
I am in no way a fashion expert (even though I try to sound like one when I’m trying to convince my husband to not wear that grey sweater with those tan pants –I know! I know! It’s allowed…) However, I have always enjoyed clothes and the creative opportunity they provide. I like looking through pinterest and then finding similar items in my closet to create a fun outfit. I like shopping for a new item that will bring a pop to something I already have at home. I have fun reading about what styles look good on my body and which ones I should avoid. Once I had hit my forties, and now especially in my fifties, I have found it more difficult to find clothing that is stylish and yet still appropriate for me at this age. This is when I began to search the internet for bloggers who would give me ideas of what to wear, and where to purchase those items. For a couple of years now I have followed a variety of influencers but I have always struggled to reconcile what I’m reading/seeing with my desire to live a bit more as a minimalist. [You can read my post on minimalism here.] I was seeing fashionistas purchasing massive amounts of clothes in order to be able to style them into outfits for their blog. And then as the next trend came along, those would pile up in their closet, unused, or they’d get rid of those clothes and buy more. I began to wonder, “What does someone do with all of those clothes?” (I know that some influencers take photos of the outfits in dressing rooms and don’t actually purchase all the clothes but many do). The term for this whole idea is fast fashion.
There are several different definitions for fast fashion. The first is a contemporary term used by fashion retailers for designs that move from catwalk quickly to capture current fashion trends. A second, critical definition adds that fast fashion is not only about quickly moving from runway to store to consumer, but also to the garbage (Wikipedia). This may be because it is made at such a low quality that it doesn’t last very long or that consumers just get rid of it quickly, in order to buy the next trend that comes along. Either way, in general, Americans dispose of, and purchase, clothing at an alarming rate, as well just plain owning way too many clothes! The other reality is many people only wear about 50% of the clothes in their closet!
Enter the capsule wardrobe. There were earlier proponents of this concept; however, Courtney Carver is one of the most well-known, modern day creators. https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/ Courtney’s concept of Project 333 is that you wear 33 items for 3 months and then re- evaluate and purchase only what you truly need for the next 3 months. The 33 items does not include workout clothes, sleep wear, or undergarments. While intrigued with this concept, I questioned if I could do this since I like variety instead of wearing the same thing over and over. But the more I have read and pondered, the more I like the idea at its core and read about others who have modified this idea for themselves. I decided to give it a try in the Fall/Winter of 2019- although I did strictly hold to the 33 items. Then COVID hit and the only clothes I wore for a year were leggings and t-shirts.
Now we are a few more years down the road and my life has changed quite a bit, as has my goal for my wardrobe. First, while I am still working only part time, I am working exclusively from home now so the things I need in my wardrobe are vastly different than they were when I was going to the office three days a week (I own more cute, comfy sweatshirts now than I ever have).
My goal, ultimately, is to develop a well curated wardrobe of items that I really like and feel great wearing. Quality over Quantity. I have been doing two wardrobe evaluations each year- one in Sept/Oct for fall/winter and a second one in March/April for spring/summer. (I may do a quick refresh of a couple items in December and June, if needed, as I enter those seasons but not adding many pieces). Towards the end of each season I pull out the clothes for the next season and re- evaluate what I have. I try to be pretty honest with myself- if something doesn’t fit quite right, is not a fabric that feels comfortable, or is showing signs of significant wear then I don’t keep it around but instead, donate those items. At the same time I am looking to see if there are any items that I need to purchase to round out the items already in my current wardrobe. I was surprised to find that shopping is actually more enjoyable when I only go two or three times per year and have specific items I am looking for- not so overwhelming- and I also didn’t waste as much time looking at things I didn’t need. While I may have spent more money on a quality piece that I really needed, in the end, I am guessing I still am spending less than when I was shopping often ‘just because I was bored with everything in my closet.’ In the past I liked to shop just for fun but I often bought things I didn’t love just because I found them on sale, or purchased something new to make myself feel better even if I didn’t love it. I had been trying to break that habit the last couple of years and this system was just the thing I needed to curb that. Also, because I knew that at the end of the three months I would re- evaluate and shop again, if necessary, it was easier to keep myself from those unnecessary, mindless shopping excursions.
Perhaps when you began reading this post you expected me to lay out guidelines about how many pants, sweaters, and shoes you should have in your wardrobe; however, I have decided, for myself, not to set hard and fast rules about the number of clothing items I own. Instead I honestly reflect on what seems like “enough” and “too much” for me at this particular time. One rule I do hold to is that each time I bring a new piece home I must donate a piece from my closet so this keeps the number of clothes in my closet in check. I also try to have a color scheme for my wardrobe so that when I buy something new within that palette it will match many of the other items already in my closet. If you were to look in my Fall/Winter wardrobe you would see a lot of neutrals (black, grey, taupe) as well as many colors within the pink to wine spectrum. Lastly, and probably my most life changing rule I’ve applied to this process of curating a wardrobe that I love is to stop saving particular clothes in my closet for a *special occasion.* So if I have a blouse that I love and it makes me feel pretty I may wear it to grab some groceries. If I have a gorgeous sweater that I always receive compliments on you may see it on me when I’m at McDonalds with my grandson. And on the other hand, if it’s a dreary day and I’m running errands I may just throw on leggings and a sweatshirt! The best part is it’s up to you and no one else needs to determine your style, what’s in your wardrobe, nor when you wear any it.
Lastly, I thought I’d share a few of the influencers that I enjoy following. I don’t necessarily love all of their outfits or run out to buy the latest thing they model, but I do find it helpful to see what is available, what looks good on certain body types, and what others my age are wearing. Note of caution: If you are not careful, these blogs and accounts can become a trap to have to buy the most trending item, and sometimes they post sale alerts so you have to be able to resist the urge to ‘click and buy.’
On IG:
@sydnesummer
@carcar62
@jolynneshane
@bemorewithless
@cindyspivey
@puttingmetogether
@whatgracebought
@msgoldgirl
@dressed_4_my_day
@wishes_reality
@stylewithmechristinamarie
Book: A Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees
Have you re- evaluated the way you approach your wardrobe recently? Are there IG accounts that you particularly enjoy for their fashion? I’d love to hear from you in the comments about all things CLOTHES. 😀
WARNING: This post contains many photos because it is the best way to show you how amazing the CSA was!
Last February, for a variety of reasons, Duane and I decided to improve our health by changing our diet to more of a vegetarian one. (Technically we are flexitarians since we still eat meat periodically). Because of this change and the ever increasing price of fresh produce we knew it made sense to have a garden going forward but when we moved into our new home at the end of June it was well past time to (successfully) plant a garden. So I began to explore other options.
Beth and Matt had told us many good things about Wickham Farms since they had moved to Fairport years ago. Most recently she’d made us aware of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) co-operative that Wickham operates. I began to look into it more seriously and we decided to purchase one share together and split the harvest each week (April to October).
The basics of the Wickham Farm CSA is that you choose a night (either Tuesday or Thursday) when you go to the CSA barn for your pick up. You sign in and then continue around the barn where you gather all of your fresh food from bins that are being replenished constantly right from the fields. Everything is clearly marked with the amounts available to you – sometimes multiples of things (choose 6 hot peppers) and other times there are choices (choose one head of cauliflower or one head of romanesco). The majority of the foods were vegetables but there were some fruits periodically (strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon). Each week Eli loved going around and choosing vegetables for us and putting them in our bags. The amount of produce was UNBELIEVABLE!
This is an example of what was available to us one of the weeks in August (prime time for NYS agriculture):
| Sweet Corn Lettuce Potatoes Peppers Tomatoes Cucumbers Broccoli Eggplant Garlic Onions or Leeks Bok Choi or Cabbage Zucchini Assorted Greens – Kale, Swiss chard Choice Items – Culinary Celery, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Radishes Watermelon |
In addition to everything we received in our share from the barn, we also had the opportunity to go into the field and pick more produce and flowers, too- both on our pick up night (from 4-7 pm) as well as every Saturday (from 9 am to Noon) at no additional cost. This was a great experience for Elijah (and occasionally Addison would come along) and we took advantage of it whenever we possibly could (even though most of our picking days this summer were in the 80s and super hot in the field.
This list of what we were allowed to pick is also from August:
As you can see, on the peak weeks we each went home with A LOT of fresh produce! Once we got it all home it would often take us *at least* two hours to clean it, cut it up and store it. The salad spinner was invaluable at this point as were my reusable storage bags. We both left a lot of it fresh in the fridge for the coming week but eventually we were getting more than we could use in a week so we began to freeze bags of veggies as well.
Additional benefits from the CSA were that we had access to a nutritionist who shared information and recipe how to’s each week using the produce that was in season that week. We loved trying new recipes and learning from him. For two weeks at the end of the summer we were able to pick Concord grapes in the vineyard and when apple season arrived each share holder could pick two pecks of apples for free. These were great perks and gave us even more for our money.
Speaking of the money….the cost of one share was $770 (so $385 for each Beth and I) and we received produce for 17 weeks which figured out to be just under $25 per week that each of us was spending. We DEFINITELY got more than our money’s worth each and every time. There is no way we would’ve gotten all that we did at the store for $25 (not even at Aldi!) Plus the best part was that we knew exactly where our food was being grown and that it was super fresh! (Side note: My calculations only include the 17 weeks we received food but since we were able to freeze so many vegetables, it will defray our grocery costs some through the winter months as well).
Sadly, as the fall approached Wickham Farms let its members know that they are not going to be doing the Community Shared Agriculture anymore going forward. Their family is growing and they want to be more available to their kids and grandkids. They had attempted to find a farmer to hire to manage the CSA portion of the farm but have been unsuccessful so they are having to end it. To say we were devastated isn’t really an overstatement. It was such a blessing to both of our families in so many ways all summer long (not just the fresh produce but all of the memories of us all picking in the fields together, exchanging ideas for how to use all of it etc) and I can’t imagine not having it again next year! We’ve been researching a few other CSAs in the area (although we hear none are as good as Wickham!) and if that doesn’t work out, we are lucky to have several nice farmer’s markets in this area (We’re talkin’ about you, Brighton, and Fairport) where we will shop to still get local produce weekly.
If you ever have the opportunity to participate in a CSA I would highly recommend it! If you’re from the Rochester area and have experience with other CSAs I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Eat healthy and stay well!
April 7, 2022
Beth: A day past my due date. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE. For my entire pregnancy, I was convinced I would give birth early, as I had with Eli. So as the days ticked on and there was still no baby, I grew more and more miserable. For about a week, I had pretty strong Braxton hicks contractions, some fluid leakage (tmi) and a lot of early labor signs. Multiple times I was convinced “THIS IS IT!”…. But my due date had come and gone, and still no baby. I had an appointment with my OB and she offered to sweep my membranes. After talking with her about what that meant, the “risks” etc, I decided to go for it. I wanted this baby out! So around 1:30pm she swept my membranes, and I headed home.
Darcie: In order to keep an ‘overdue’ Beth from going crazy I offered to meet she and Eli at Eastview Mall to ride the carousel, grab a snack, and hopefully get labor contractions going! We were there for a couple of hours and while she mentioned having some contractions, those (Braxton Hicks) had been going on for a long time so neither of us thought anything about it. As Eli and I were heading back to my house at about 5:30 pm I hugged Beth ‘Goodbye’ and said, (as I’d been saying for weeks now) “Hopefully the next time I see you it’ll be at Highland Hospital having a baby!”
Beth: After walking the mall, I went home to relax. Matt and I had some pizza, I bounced on my yoga ball, and we turned on Netflix. Around 8pm I decided I wanted a McFlurry and so we headed to McDonald’s. While in the car, I told Matt my contractions were feeling more uncomfortable, but given that I had been having “false labor” for a week, neither of us really thought much of it. But as we got home and walked in the door, I felt a huge gush, and raced to the toilet. “UHHH I THINK MY WATER BROKE!” I shouted.
Now if you’ve read my birth story with Eli, you’ll know that this sounds eerily familiar, and when I shouted this to Matt the first time around, he went into hyper-active panic mode.. racing around, frantically packing the car, etc. But whether it’s because he’s a seasoned second time dad now, or because he just didn’t believe me, this time he calmly told me to call the OB and casually continued eating his ice cream. When I talked to the OB, she told me to come in and they’d assess how things were looking. At the time I talked to her, I felt good and didn’t have many concerns. But about 5 minutes after my water broke and we hung up the phone, my contractions came on fast and strong. I almost instantly couldn’t decipher when they were stopping and starting, and was having trouble talking through them. I told Matt things seemed to be happening quickly and we should probably hurry, to which he replied.. “Can I finish my ice cream?!” 🙂
Darcie: As I was putting Eli to bed at our house, Beth called Duane and told him to have me head up to the hospital when I came out of Eli’s room; however, in a few minutes when I hadn’t returned her call she called Duane again, and told him to go get me now. As usually happens I had fallen asleep laying down with Eli until I felt a pull on my foot and Duane whispered, “Beth’s in labor! You better get crackin’.” Figuring I had plenty of time given how her previous labor had gone I jumped in the shower and got into comfy clothes (thinking it would be a long night) and then called Beth and Matt as I was getting in my car to leave. She seemed very calm, cool, and collected but was informing me that her water had broke and she and Matt were headed to Highland. She didn’t make it sound very urgent -with the exception of stopping mid sentence for a contraction which kept her from speaking momentarily.
Beth: When we got the hospital around 9:15 pm, my contractions were about 2 minutes apart. But because of my experience with Eli’s labor (I wasn’t having any contractions, everything had progressed very slowly, and we spent hours just waiting around), I was in denial as to how far along things had progressed. When they checked me into triage and did a cervical exam, she told me I was 8cm dilated. I was in SHOCK. They told me they needed to get me into a room ASAP, and whisked me into a labor room full of doctors and nurses all busily prepping. One of them introduced herself and said “Hi, I’ll be delivering your baby. My name is Dr. Turner!”
For weeks leading up to my birth with Addison, one of my close friends had been telling me about an awesome OB she met and loved, named (you guessed it!)… Dr. Turner. I was so excited that she was going to deliver Addison, and tried explaining how I knew her but could barely catch my breath or talk through the contractions at this point, so I awkwardly just scream-groaned “Hi.. One of my friends knows you!!” Lol
Darcie: I arrived at Highland, wondering if they’d be out of the maternity triage yet but when I checked at the desk on the maternity floor the receptionist told me they were in a labor/delivery room already. I remember strolling down the hallway in no hurry since I *knew* these things never move as fast as we’d like. 😀 When I pushed open the door, Beth was already up on the bed and had about ten nurses and doctors gathered around her. One of them turned and said to me, ‘She’s getting ready to push soon. Come on in! ‘
Beth: The biggest difference between Addison’s labor and Eli’s, was the pace. Eli’s was slow, progressed seemingly naturally, and I felt very in control of my body and my breathing. Addison’s was fast and furious, and I felt extremely out of control… like my brain couldn’t keep up with my body. When it came time to push, I immediately was filled with a sense of dread. Pushing is where I had the most trouble in Eli’s labor, and I could already feel myself growing tired. As another strong contraction came, and the doctor told me to push, I immediately started crying and said “No, I don’t want to do this!” But my body did what it needed to do and I began pushing. After a few minutes and a couple pushes, Addison’s head was out. The end was in sight. “Just a few more!” everyone was saying. And then, the mood changed. I pushed, and nothing happened. I told them I needed a break, not understanding the seriousness of what was occurring. Luckily at this point my back was turned from everyone in the room so I didn’t see the panic that was beginning to rise.
Darcie: I could not believe that I had come so close to missing the baby’s birth and that the labor was moving this fast. I quickly inched my way through the crowd of nurses and techs to be at Beth’s side. Matt shot me a quick look of surprise from the other side of the bed that told me they were as shocked as I was that Beth was at this point already. In a very short time Beth had pushed Addison’s head out but by that point she was exhausted. Everything was happening so fast and she had no opportunity to catch her breath. Once Addy’s head was out (and she was not yet crying) we were all saying to Beth, ‘Come on! One more good push. She’s almost out!’ to which Beth yelled, “I. Can’t. Do. It. Anymore.” At that point I remember being very scared (and screaming at Beth to push- so much for the calming effect of the birth coach) because it was becoming apparent that Addy was stuck and didn’t seem to be breathing. Dr. Turner told a nurse to “ring the bells” (or something to that affect) and within seconds the neonatal emergency team was rushing in. Thankfully I think Beth began to understand how serious this was becoming and she was able to give a couple good pushes and Addy finally came out and began to cry. I have never felt such relief because for a few moments I was honestly afraid we were going to lose her.
Beth: When they finally put her on my chest, I immediately felt a sense of relief. Relief that nine months of horrible exhaustion and sickness were over. Relief that she was here safely. Relief that our family was complete. I remember saying “Holy cow! She looks huge! How much does she weigh?!” It turns out she wasn’t actually that big, she just has the worlds most chubby smooshable cheeks.
Darcie: After Addison was born and we were all taking turns snuggling her the nurse told us that this type of labor is called “precipitous labor” which basically means you don’t have regular contractions for long enough to go through the three stages of labor that your body needs to in order to be ready to give birth. It can lead to various complications but we are so thankful that everything turned out alright in this case!
Beth: Bringing Addy Joy home to meet her brother was by far one of the highlights of my entire life. Their bond was instant and overwhelming. Since those early newborn days, she was, and has remained sweet, content, and absolutely enthralled with her brother. She loves to roll, smile, and chew on everything she gets her hands on. She’s experienced a lot in her first 6 months… camping, baseball games, road trips, fireworks, a wedding… and she’s handled it all wonderfully. We’re so thankful for her place in our family and can’t wait to see all that God has in store for her in the years ahead.
When God began prompting us to sell our home, move out of Avon, and change churches, we immediately knew that He wanted us to ‘finish well’ here. Since then, we’ve spent time talking and praying about what that really looks like. In the midst of pondering this idea I listened to a podcast that I’ve been enjoying called, “The Next Right Thing” by Emily Freeman. She had one episode (#212) entitled, “How to Walk Out of a Room” and it really resonated with me so I want to be sure to credit her with this phrase and some of the concepts weaved into this post.
The reality is that not many things are ‘forever’ and change is inevitable. What this means is that some rooms are just not for us anymore. Places that fit us when we entered them just don’t seem to fit us anymore. Rooms that felt spacious at first feel a bit cramped now. Spots where we once felt at home now leave us feeling a bit like strangers. But just because the room is no longer right for us now does not mean that it was the wrong room all along. It was right for the time we were called to that place- when we entered that room, it was the ‘next right thing.’
For our family, Avon was the right town for us for the last twenty two years. We moved back ‘home’ to Avon in 2000 which ended up being the summer that my Dad had become very sick and eventually received his life-giving liver transplant. We were blessed to be close to support he and Mom during his illness and subsequent recovery. This move also allowed our kids to have both sets of their grandparents close by for sleep overs, sporting events, birthday celebrations, concerts, plays and so much more! Seven years after we moved back, one of my best friends also moved back which was a huge blessing- raising our kids together, meeting regularly for walks, attending church together, etc.
Avon Wesleyan Church was a great church for our family in this season too. Our kids had lots of friends there as well as adults who poured into them and taught them what it meant to live for Christ. Duane and I had many great friends there as well and we spent much time together camping, having bonfires, attending small groups together, mourning, celebrating, playing games, praying, sharing meals, and just being together. Our family’s involvement in many aspects of ministry at AWC over the past 20+ years was truly a privilege and helped us to hone our gifts and passions to fulfill the callings God had given us.
Yes, God has confirmed over and over that this room was good and right for the time He intended it for us. But He has also confirmed over and over in the past year that this is no longer the right room for us. As we leave, part of finishing well meant that we needed to take time to gather the gifts that this room offered, thank God for them, and bring those gifts with us as we leave. My experiences here (some good and some hard) have made me into a more well-rounded person, more compassionate and empathetic, more disciplined, and more appreciative of quiet and the beauty of God’s creation. I’ve been stretched and grown here as I’ve discovered gifts and passions that I didn’t know prior to this time. These years taught me over and over of God’s provision and protection and that He always keeps His promises; that He is always working for my good and His glory. What gifts we’ve been given during these years and how treasured are the people we’ve spent time with and the lessons learned.
We’ve tried to finish well- to put a period on this sentence (chapter?). We’ve had “last” bonfires, dinners, and hikes with friends. Our kids have come out to reminisce, wander around town, and spend “last” times here at the only home they remember living in as kids. We’ve let go of things that were weighing us down and left them behind. We’ve forgiven – and been forgiven. Duane and I have intentionally walked some of our favorite routes around here these last couple of weeks- Nations Road, The trail at the Downs, The Greenway. And now it’s time to walk a new route-out of this room and into the next…
Much of this new room is unfamiliar to us and uncertainties abound. There will be challenges, mistakes, and hurts as we learn to navigate life this new season. It won’t be perfect- nothing ever is. But we are thankful for the courage to step out in obedience and the faith to believe that there will be new blessings, joys, and gifts there too. We’re excited to enhance our calling to “tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord” (Psalm 78) by being more available to our kids and grandkids. We’re excited to see how God chooses to use us in a new church. I’m excited to take a deeper dive in my involvement with the World Relief ministry to refugees in Rochester. Oh- and did I mention that I’m excited to have a garage that is attached to the house so I don’t have to get soaked carrying my groceries in during a rainstorm anymore!!!
Before we go, we want to take time to say Thank You to those of you who have been in this room with us- for some or all- of these twenty-two years. Thank you for being patient with us, for walking with us, for forgiving us, for teaching us, for modeling Christ to us, for allowing us into your lives, for loving us so well. We love you, we’re grateful for you, and we look forward to seeing what God has next for each of you as well. Please stay in touch- we’re only thirty miles away!
As we go, we pray this for you:
I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow
I will ask my God to move
I speak the name ’cause it’s all that I can do
In desperation, I’ll seek Heaven
And pray this for you
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus’ name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus’ name, in Jesus’ name
I speak the name of all authority
Declaring blessings, every promise
He is faithful to keep
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
He is greater, He is stronger
He’s the God of possible
I pray for your healing
That circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name
In Jesus name
Come believe it
Come receive it
Oh, the power of His Spirit is now forever yours
Come believe it
Come receive it
In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible
I pray for your healing
That circumstances will change
I pray that the fear inside will flee in Jesus name
I pray that a breakthrough
Would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name
I pray for revival
For restoration of faith
I pray that the dead will come alive in Jesus name
In Jesus name
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jeffrey Thomas Pardo / Ethan Hulse / David Andrew Spencer / Ethan Gregory Hulse / Katy Nichole
In Jesus Name (God Of Possible) lyrics © Be Essential Songs
Duane and I have been blessed with extremely good health and we’re very grateful. However, around the time that we turned fifty we did begin to notice that it was easier to gain a few pounds and harder to get them off along with a couple of other minor health issues. Since I’ve always been interested in nutrition I starting researching what worked for other people around their menopause years for maintaining health and wellness and for a few years intermittent fasting really worked well for me. (You can read more about my intermittent fasting journey here, here and here). However, in the past year a few pounds had started to creep back on and intermittent fasting wasn’t effective at controlling it any longer. I began to search the internet again and kept seeing carb cycling pop up. I decided to give it a try and Duane jumped on board.
The basic idea was a couple of days per week were low carb (high protein), a couple of days were moderate carb (moderate protein), and a couple of days were high carb (low to moderate protein). However, I didn’t find much success with carb cycling so I eventually moved to a mostly low carb diet (high protein). Duane had jumped on board and was limiting his carbs as well. This worked to manage my weight; however, within three months it was creating issues for each of us in other ways. Around the start of the New Year Duane began having symptoms of kidney stones again which he hadn’t had in several years but a diet high in protein (especially animal proteins) can definitely contribute to kidney stones so it made sense. I was due for my annual physical so my doctor checked my cholesterol (which has always been low) and while still ‘normal’ it was more elevated than in the past (both the overall as well as my LDL). Since I don’t have any other risk factors (non-smoker, not overweight, exercise regularly etc.) she was not overly concerned but she was confident that the high (animal) protein (low carb) diet was contributing. She told me that the quickest way to remediate it would be a more plant-based diet. Duane had been told this as well a couple of years ago by his doctor when his cholesterol was elevated (and again by his urologist in relation to his kidney stones) but we are meat lovers so we had never seriously considered it. But at the end of January, as we reflected on what we wanted our next thirty plus years to look like, we decided it was time to finally make the change.
My Doctor had recommended the website Nutrition Facts set up by Dr. Michael Greger. He does not make any profit from the site or his books and all of his information is solely based on peer reviewed research studies- just the facts. He also wrote the book, How Not to Die, so we began to read his book, pour through his website, and watch his videos on Youtube. He’s a little bit of an eccentric guy so it took some time to get used to his style but he is super knowledgeable and has a staff of people around him helping him to research all the facts. His basic message is that eating a more whole foods, plant- based diet can prevent (and even reverse) many of the most common conditions and diseases that Americans regularly experience.
Dr. Greger’s premise is that while we are living longer as Americans, we are living sicker and for the first time in history they are predicting a potential decline in life expectancy in the US in the 21st century. The solution to this, according to Dr. Greger, is a plant- based diet and the research seems to back him up. Common conditions such as high cholesterol (that leads to heart disease), high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer can be prevented (and even reversed) by eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes as well as limiting (ideally completely eliminating) animal proteins (including animals products like milk, eggs, cheese). This is all relatively new to me and I do not claim to be an expert in any of this but if you are interested in learning more, I highly recommend Dr Greger’s research. His book, How Not to Die, has a chapter for each major health crisis Americans face (Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, Digestive Issues, Cancer, etc) that contains information on what the research says about the best plant-based foods to eat for that specific malady. So far we’ve scoured the chapters on heart disease and kidney disease (stones) and they’ve been extremely helpful! (He also wrote a book entitled, How Not to Diet, in which he goes into more specifics about a plant-based diet specifically for weight loss).
As Duane and I talked about how we were going to make the necessary changes in our diet we knew that it had the potential to be extremely overwhelming at the start so, first off, we decided that we would eliminate meat at home but allow ourselves to have it when others were cooking for us or as a treat on a special occasion (the official term for this is ‘flexitarian.’) We also decided we would limit animal by-products (like milk, cheese, and eggs) but we would not completely eliminate them, initially, since they are such a large part of our current diet, thereby following more of a vegetarian diet (versus a vegan one). One noteworthy tip from Dr. Greger’s book is that foods are not “good or bad” but “better or worse.” For instance, is a white baked potato healthy? Well… it’s better than French fries but worse than a sweet potato. Is a bowl of Cheerios healthy? Well.. it’s better than Cocoa Puffs but worse than steel cut oatmeal. This way of thinking helps you to make wise choices and to keep perspective. There is almost always something better and almost always something worse.
The first week of grocery shopping for a plant-based meal plan I headed straight to Trader Joes where I purchased about four or five meatless meals/products as well as lots of fruits and vegetables. After having a vegan pizza (complete with fake cheese- blech) as well as chicken-less orange chicken (!?!?!), and a veggie burger, Jill informed us that her friend who is vegan definitely recommended not purchasing things that are trying to be meat but in meatless forms. They rarely deliver. We quickly realized this was really good advice and we were going to have to take a different approach. So for our second week of meal planning we began to search for specific vegetarian recipes as well as transforming our own favorite recipes to meatless versions. This was much more successful and after a couple of weeks we are feeling much more optimistic that this eating plan is sustainable and that we can still find foods that are appealing to us sans meat.
One of my concerns was to be sure that we are getting enough protein since we aren’t eating meat and are limiting our dairy but it hasn’t seemed to be a problem. Every few days I do a quick count of the protein we’re getting and so far we both seem to be reaching the recommended amount (42g for women; 59g for men). The beans, legumes, vegetables, and whole wheat grains all have some protein and it doesn’t take long to add up to what we need. We haven’t experimented a lot with tofu or tempeh but those will also help fill in the protein gaps eventually when we’re more comfortable cooking with them.
Another concern was just being sure we were going to get enough of the other recommended vitamins and nutrients with a vegetarian diet. I was really thankful that Dr. Greger has a recommendation that he calls his “Daily Dozen” approach to plant- based eating and so this gave us a lot of direction about what we should be eating in order to get the right amount of protein, vitamins, and nutrients. There is a helpful app (for iphone and android) that allows you to check off the items as you eat them each day and I am faithfully using it until I get used to this way of eating.
Here’s what he recommends daily:
I can guarantee you that if you eat all of things on that list in a day you will be full! I’m still strategizing about the best way to get in all of those servings of food. So far it has been really hard! Just out of curiosity I added up the average calories for each of those servings and it came to about 1400 calories per day. This is less than I used to consume; however, I still feel satisfyingly full. Once in awhile I do eat something that isn’t part of the daily dozen (like an egg or a piece of cheese) but for the most part I am too full to add in many other things!
This week was a true test—we’re almost a month in and we were going to go out for lunch. Duane was choosing the place and decided on Chipotle. He tried their bowl with Sofritas (Soy-based protein )and I ordered the Salad with Chorizo (Pea-based protein). We were truly impressed that both ‘meat substitutions’ were delicious. The chorizo probably had a little more flavor and seemed a little heartier but were tasty and had good textures and neither of us would hesitate to order either of those options again. This gave us hope that even when needing to eat ‘fast food’ we can still make healthy, meatless choices.
I want to conclude this post by giving meal plans for a few days in case you are interested in giving this a try. I’ll also show you how many of the daily dozen I achieved that day (FYI- I haven’t checked everything off the Daily Dozen in one day yet because it’s a lot of food) as well as how much protein I ate. As I said before, I am just learning but I am happy to answer any questions I can or guide you to resources that could be helpful on your journey. I know as we’ve just begun, the counsel and encouragement of other vegans and vegetarians has been instrumental in our success thus far. Websites like Forks Over Knives have been invaluable! If you have been eating this way for awhile now, I’d welcome any tips, recipes, or websites that you have to send our way as well.
DAY ONE: Breakfast– SKIP due to intermittent fasting ( 16oz Black tea)
Lunch– Salad with Romaine, Spinach, Kale, Carrots, Radishes, Onions, Sunflower Seeds, Garbanzo Beans -Mixed Nuts – Granola (homemade) with pepitas, raisins, craisins, cashews -Water (12)
Dinner– Black bean burger (homemade) with peppers, onions, oats, flax, turmeric -Scallion pancakes with whole wheat flour -Roasted broccoli -Fruit salad with berries and other fruits -Baked Apple -Water (16 oz) -Black Tea (16 oz)
(TOTAL DAILY DOZ= 2 beans; 1 berries; 3 fruits; 1 cruciferous; 1 greens; 1 other veg; 3 whole grains; 1 nuts/seeds; 1 spice 5 water. I was still lacking 1 beans; 1 greens; 1 other veg. TOTAL PROTEIN= 55 g
DAY TWO Breakfast– Steel Cut Oatmeal with Blueberries -16 oz black tea
Lunch– Black Bean Salad with Peppers, Onions, etc – Fruit Salad – Raw Veggies – Toast with Almond Butter -12 oz water
Dinner– Spinach Artichoke Lasagna with Whole Wheat Pasta w flax/tumeric – Waldorf Salad (apples, dates, beans, grapes, celery, cabbage, carrots, walnuts) -12 oz water -8 oz black tea
(TOTAL DAILY DOZ= 2 beans; 1 berries; 3 other fruits; 1 cruciferous; 1 greens; 1 other veg; 3 whole grains; 1 nuts/seeds; 1 spice; 4 water. I was still lacking 1 beans; 1 greens; 1 other veg; 12 oz water. TOTAL PROTEIN= 45 grams
DAY THREE Breakfast- Smoothie with Berries, Banana, Pineapple, Dates, Milk, Kale/Spinach; 16 oz tea
Lunch– Salad with Cabbage, beans and veggies – pistachios – granola -fruit salad -16 oz water
Dinner- Roasted Potato Salad with Basil Pesto, carrots, celery, beans- Kale/Spinach/Cabbage salad with berries and lemon vinigeraitte; Poached pear; 16 oz water; 8 oz tea
Snack– Popcorn
(TOTAL DAILY DOZ= 2 beans; 1 berries; 3 other fruits; 1 cruciferous; 2 greens; 1 other veg; 3 whole grains; 1 nuts/seeds; 1 spice; 4 water. I was still lacking 1 beans; 1 other veg; 4 oz water. TOTAL PROTEIN= 42 grams
DAY FOUR Breakfast- Smoothie with bananas, pineapple, berries, milk, kale/spinach – 12 oz iced tea
Lunch– Chipotle’s Vegetarian Salad (chorizo, salsas, black beans, cheese, sour cream, Romaine) – Corn nachos – 16 oz iced tea
Snack- Nuts – Cantaloupe/Pineapple –
Dinner– Tomato Soup with flax seeds – Black Bean Salad (with Peppers/Onions and Turmeric) – Berry Salad – ½ bagel with butter – 16 oz water
(TOTAL DAILY DOZ= 2 beans; 1 berries; 3 other fruits;; 2 greens; 3 other veg; 3 whole grains; 1 nuts/seeds; 1 spice; 4 water. I was still lacking 1 beans; 1 cruciferous; 16 oz water. TOTAL PROTEIN= 55 grams
My biggest challenges are getting in all three servings of beans- that’s a lot of beans for someone who didn’t eat many before. And both servings of greens along with two other vegetables (and you’re already eating a cruciferous as well) -that’s a lot of vegetables so I am trying to become more savvy in serving them in a variety of ways. For instance, instead of buying whole wheat pasta I’ve started buying the pasta made from chickpeas or lentils. They are surprisingly good and get another serving of beans/legumes without even noticing it.
You can see from my daily protein totals that even on the days when I don’t get all of my ‘daily dozen’, I have still achieved my protein requirements so after checking this for several weeks I have quit worrying so much about it. (Plus I eat an egg or piece of cheese once in awhile as well which is extra protein).
Overall, we’ve been having fun experimenting and we’ve tried to make note of recipes that we’ve really liked. I suspect that after a couple of months we will have settled on about ten main meals that we really enjoy and they will be on regular rotation with something new thrown in every once in awhile. I’m looking forward to that because right now it is taking me quite awhile to plan meals each week, shop for ingredients we aren’t used to buying, and meal prepping things that I’ve never made but I know it will get easier as more time goes by.
In the first month I’ve noticed several positive changes due to plant-based eating. For starters I have lost about a pound per week since we began. I am curious to see at what point my weight stabilizes or if I need to add in more calories in order to maintain since I’m pretty much at my ideal weight now. Additionally, constipation is no longer an issue (sorry- TMI) and I have not had as many cravings (for carbs, sweets etc). I am not sure exactly why this has been true but I think this way of eating keeps my blood sugar levels more steady so there aren’t the fluctuations that come with eating highly processed, sugary, simple starches like white rice, white pasta, cookies, and crackers. Also, the beans/legumes and vegetables are very filling so I just don’t feel hungry in between meals on most days.
I’m planning to have my cholesterol re-checked somewhere between the three and sixth month mark since I know I’ll have more motivation to continue this path if I see some tangible numeric results. Some of Dr. Greger’s studies have shown cholesterol levels being lower after even just a couple of weeks of plant-based eating so I am hopeful that both Duane and I will see a decrease over time as well as other numerous health benefits. The more I research and study a plant-based diet the more convinced I become but the real proof for us will be in the next twenty years and how it plays out with our own health. Ideally, we’d like to avoid medications to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high sugar etc. and instead prevent or remediate those issues with our diet and lifestyle as much as possible. While we know that there is no magic bullet for staying healthy, we want to be good stewards of the bodies God’s given us for as long as He gives us time here on earth.
Again, I’d love to hear your experience and expertise if you eat a more plant-based diet and also your questions and about which parts of this journey you’d like me to make more posts. It’s always better to make these changes together and I’m so thankful for this great big World Wide Web that makes it so much easier. Please leave a note in the comments about if you’d like the actual recipes I mentioned and/or more vegetarian meal planning ideas as well.
photos: http://www.pexels.com
Wow- I haven’t written a post for this blog since January. For many, even for those like myself who haven’t been all that negatively impacted, the pandemic has brought about a general sense of being unsettled, unmotivated, uncomfortable, uncertain, and every other ‘un’ word I can think of! Specifically, during this time I have not felt creative nor really able to settle into any of my usual pastimes. But for a variety of reasons I’m finding myself feeling much more energetic and motivated recently so I’m trying to, again, protect some time for one of my most life giving hobbies- writing.
I’ve realized in the last few months that there are several new products that I’ve tried and really loved and so I decided that I wouldn’t keep these a secret any longer but give my review of them here on the blog. If you missed my first post on some of my favorite things you can read that here:
https://midstthemundane.wordpress.com/2018/09/16/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.
First up is a product that I’ve had for less than a year. My daughter, Beth, and I had both heard great things about the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer but neither of us wanted to pay the $40 to try it so we decided to go in together on it. As it turns out, she loves what it does to her hair (gives volume) but she has been wearing her hair curly with the microfiber curly hair drying towel so I have basically had the Revlon dryer 99% of the time since we purchased it (Sorry, Beth- I probably owe you $20 for your part of this dryer that has basically become mine!)
If you know me and my hair at all you will know that I do NOT need volume. I have very thick hair that can get ‘big’ very quickly if not tamed; however, this Revlon dryer cuts the time it takes me to dry my hair by about 66%! With a regular hair dryer and brush it takes about 30 minutes to get this thick head of hair dry but with this Revlon brush dryer I can do it in about 10 minutes. When I’m done it is a little ‘bigger’ than I would wear it but after sleeping on it one night and running a straightener through it quickly, it is great!
While we’re on the topic of hair (no, this post is not going to feature all hair products- just these first two) because of the coarseness of my thick hair I have always had to use a lot of smoothing cremes etc in order to tame the frizz and soften the texture. However, I recently realized that the yellowing issue in the white strands I have is due to the smoothing cremes being activated by the heat of the straightener and discoloring my hair. ENTER FUNCTION of BEAUTY products. It is a brand of hair products that allow you to customize the product for your particular hair needs. You take a short quiz and this determines your hair goals. You also choose the scent and if you want them to be sulfate-free etc. To top it off, the bottles comes printed with your name on it- how’s that for personalization- and fun stickers to put on the bottles. While these products are definitely more expensive than your drugstore brands of shampoo and conditioner, they are comparable to what you’d pay for a good brand from the salon (think Neuma, Pureology, Kenra and the like). Because of the dry and coarse texture of my hair I have always been willing to spend more on hair care products so this wasn’t a stretch for me. The really great thing is they are now selling the Function of Beauty products in Target where you buy the base and add the ‘shots’ to create your own personalized potion. Unfortunately, not all of the options are available there so you may find yourself still having to order from Function of Beauty. Anyway, I I honestly don’t remember my exact hair goals but they were something along the lines of moisturizing, smoothing, softening, etc. and I have been sooooo impressed by this product. I only wash my hair 2-3x/week using this shampoo/conditioner (plus a heat protectant) and my hair is sooo smooth and soft! I love this product and highly recommend- especially if you have problem hair.
Okay, let’s move into the kitchen next. Several years ago we began purchasing oils and vinegars when we were on vacation and would see specialty shops and then we began to enjoy them so much that we found a local oil and vinegar store near us (F. Olivers) and have been buying from them ever since. This is definitely a splurge item since it costs a lot more than olive oil in Aldi or Wegmans so if you’re on a tight budget you might want to skip over this recommendation. We’ve tried a variety of oils and vinegars over the years but one of our all- time favorites is the Harissa Pepper olive oil. It is definitely spicy and is great on potatoes, roasted vegetables, and just about anything. They do have lots of non-spicy offerings as well so check them out and support small business!
Also in the kitchen…. This was marketing at its finest. I have been using the Method dishwashing soap in a pump and just pump a little into a pot, for instance, when washing it. But then I saw this Dawn Power wash Spray advertised and it looked right up my alley. I tried it (I think it was just over $4.00 at Walmart) and I loved it every bit as much as I thought I would. Instead of needing a whole pump of soap, it just gives a little spray on the mug or plate you’re washing. I loved it but it really is pricey comparatively so I decided to try to water down Dawn dish soap and put it in the pump to save money. Let’s just say that their formula isn’t that simple and I almost immediately clogged up the sprayer. I did buy another sprayer with refill bottles when in Costco for a bit cheaper but I am not sure this is something that I’ll continue to purchase, although I do love it.
Next up is what I plan to live in all summer. After being home all winter and wearing mostly stretchy leggings, I couldn’t bear the thought of wearing restrictive, non-stretchy shorts; not to mention the fact that the last few summers I have just had a hard time finding shorts that I like. So I purchased a couple of these sleeveless, tank swing dresses from Old Navy and a couple similar ones with short sleeves. They were recently $15 and are the most comfortable dresses I’ve ever worn. The style is very forgiving with any ‘lumps and bumps’ (if you know what I mean) and the thickness is perfect- not see through but not thick enough to be hot. Just be forewarned- I have this in several colors/patterns so if you purchase based on my recommendation we very well may be twins the next time I see you!
And lastly, this isn’t a product but I needed a reason to leave you with some beauty today so if you don’t have any peony bushes, run to the nearest garden store and purchase one! They produce the most spectacular blooms each summer and require very little work. This year I decided I was going to bring in more of the flowers from my flower gardens instead of just admiring them when I’m outside and these beauties have made my kitchen smell amazing!
I recently heard about a town that has a yearly perennial exchange and I think I might need to organize this some day! Everyone who wants to participate brings some of the perennials that they have divided and are willing to share and then you spend the morning exchanging your flowers/bushes for ones from someone else that you don’t already have. I think this sounds so fun and a great way to get some new items for your landscape. Fall is the ideal time to do this but Spring would probably work too. If anyone is interested in organizing this with me, give me a shout!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the run down of some of my most recent favorite things. I’d love to hear what you think if you give any of these products a try. And if you have something new that you’ve fallen in love with, please leave it for us in the comments so we can all try it out!
Midst the Mundane 