Results Were Good To Go

WGLT’s Good To Go alternative transportation challenge occurred last week and the results are now in.  Loved seeing the tally, especially hearing that bus use went up by 150%!

The goal of the program is awareness – don’t drive alone, consider a variety of alternative methods of transportation, save money on gasoline and do one’s part for the environment.  Every small effort makes a difference

New to the challenge I noticed a few things:

working from home has my actual commute not really be an issue at least compared to most

when i do commute I am mindful, stacking my places to go all in one commute – I commute for errands – grocery, farmers market, occasional shopping and my social excursions. I typically don’t commute daily.

some of the places i needed to go were not on the bus routes thus limiting my ability to use the bus. I had never considered bus use prior to joining this campaign.

when asked, folks were eager to ride share – this is how I utilized this challenge the most

i am not equipped to carry stuff in a walking commute – this had me rethink that option.

What I learned from the challenge is that I could do better, it had me actively explore how to use the bus system, and it had me rethink ways to make alternative modes of transportation ( cycling, walking, the bus and ride sharing ) fit into my life.  On my wish list is a bag that might help me carry more things in a walking commute.

Way to go for the success of this campaign!!  What are you doing to take on alternative methods of commuting?

image by Karen Hanrahan

I had the privilege to shoot imagery that illustrated examples of those already taking on alternative transportation for the Good To Go’s Blog – these were the final images chosen 

Do You Have PMS?

Premenstrual Syndrome are symptoms a woman experiences before the onset of her period.

When this Mother Earth was a young girl becoming a woman was a bit of a wow.

The joke for my parents was the note I left under my mother’s pillow ” I desperately need a bra ” ( Couldn’t they see that? ) When I got my trainer bra I proceeded to sortof bust ( excuse the pun ) right out it it! My mom exclaimed, “where the heck did those come from?”

Compared to most of my high school girlfriends the only drama I had in relationship to getting my period was the one my mother created when I didn’t rinse out my underpants.  I never had all the pain and suffering my friends had. Thus premenstrual syndrome just wasn’t part of what I knew. In HS, I had a normal cycle, normal period,  no concerns. Tons of my friends lost days from school, took drugs, had flow issues, slept with heating pads, and were on the pill to help regulate.

Until my senior year.

Symptoms of PMS: 

weight gain
tender breasts
mild to severe cramping
lower back pain
moodiness
moderate to severe food cravings - usually in the form of chocolate and salt
periods longer than 3 days
heavy bleeding

My senior year in high school was intense for about six million reasons. Whatever the reasons were I was stressed and it showed up physically. As I continued to be stressed,eat poorly and to start life out on my own, my symptoms increased.

I was nutritionally deficient.  Severely.

Stress pulls nutrients from the body. One nutrient in particular, B Complex regulates hormones, contributes to the brain, helps convert food to energy.

In my child bearing years I had horrific first tri-mesters. With what I know now I can’t help but wonder if all those years of nutrient depletion contributed to that.

When trying to conceive my second child I began to read about ovulation. I began to notice a very specific pattern in the way I felt after I ovulated. The pattern was so specific it was rather frightening. It’s not something I ever talked about with my mom or my sisters OR my friends. We didn’t have the internet to discover that tons of woman had these symptoms too.  I never felt I could ask my friends hey do want to cry all the time? I felt like a freak.

After I ovulated, or two weeks after my last period stopped, I’d get tender very full breasts – I’d have to wear a completely different bra. I’d get indescribable lower back pain, I’d start to gain weight – I’d fluctuate up to 10 lbs,  I’d get so moody and weepy. Just about anything would make me cry. I found my ability to cope limited.  This was often more than I could bare – I at times felt deep despair. I’d start cramping about three days before getting my period and then once it began I’d cramp severely and bleed heavily for about seven days. This pattern was worse after the birth of my first child.  I thought this was the way it was supposed to be – the woes of being female. We all go through this, don’t we? I had heard others complain so I thought to myself – I am just like them.  It’s normal to be so miserable. I at one point remember asking my husband if during these times – during the especially weepy emotional times if he could just be nice to me – I actually begged him.  This was not a particularly good time in our marriage.

In addition to this I had blood sugar issues. I had a horrible habit of skipping breakfast. I ate junk. I’d wake each and every morning trembling – I’d eat, only to get a headache – start trembling again a few hours later.  More headaches.

This Mother Earth was a mess.

By the time I had gotten through my second pregnancy, there was nothing left of me – I gave birth to every healthy living cell.

Several years followed. I was a stay at home mom with two kids. My marriage issues intensified. Stress and fear ruled my universe.

I got scared. I began to shift my focus – I wanted my life to be more positive. I began to investigate healthy living, I started Jazzercising – I started to learn about food choices – I began to question things.  A  very wonderful person encouraged and introduced me to supplementation

She asked me to take 2 high quality multi-vitamins, 3 B Complex and to drink a Soy Protein smoothie each morning. While I purchased these three items I heard like heck about it from my husband. He said, you bought what?? I felt undeserving, he was a skeptic. I wasn’t sure this would help me but I wanted to believe her.  I wanted to feel different.  I only took 1/2 of what she recommended. I noticed a little bit more energy and on the days I had a smoothie in the morning. I had no headaches.  She continued to encourage me. I finally took on the full protocol she suggested. Four months later ALL my PMS symptoms disappeared.  Everything.  I was a completely different person.

The difference in my health is what precipitated my sharing wellness with others, the more I learned the more I wanted to share. With the income potential I also began to see a way out of my first marriage. Courage and boldness followed.

I have not had PMS symptoms since 1993.  I began menstruating when I was 12 - since 1997 I had PMS symptoms.  16 years!

I have been absolutely free of PMS symptoms now for 18 years!

I am a huge advocate of supplementation for woman.  A simple regime of a Multi-Vitamin, B Complex and Soy Protein could assist your PMS symptoms too.

Perhaps you know of someone who is wondering if their monthly symptoms are normal or who might be questioning their sanity?

It’s so not normal to have PMS symptoms.


flickr image credit

Mother Daughter Tile

perhaps you recall that i am a gushing fan of the swedish artist camilla engman. she examples someone who has made herself very accessible via the web, I feel often artists are so elusive and mysterious. I fell for Camilla’s authenticity and her very unique expression.

when she posted that she was working on another collaboration with ceramicist karin ericksson,  an artist I also have admired, thanks to her work with Camilla, I went to peek at the items they were clearing out to make room for their newer pieces.

I was quite taken with this particular piece

i thought, wow – this tile says mother/daughter to me, how totally cool.

on a whim, i ordered it.

and so here it is – just in time for Mothers Day!!

i had to take a close up of the signature. LOOK…both of them signed it!!

when it arrived… I emailed both of them.  i shared that the tile was here, safe and intact and that i was delighted and grateful.

both artists entertained a few forth and back emails with me.

oh my goodness more gush.

perhaps my photography will someday have an adoring following.

yes, i have artist envy.

by the way, my daughter and I?

we are just like the ladies in this tile.

very happening!!

Moms Take Care Of YOU!

Moms do it all don’t they?

They work, they cook, they clean, they juggle, they shuttle, they worry.

It shows up in stress which takes it’s toll on the body, and it’s now showing up more than ever before.

Moms are tired, maxed out, they can’t sleep, they are overweight.

Woman according to a 2008 survey by the American Pysycholigical Association, are more affected by stress than men. Unhealthy behaviors like comfort eating, poor food choices, smoking and inactivity now shows up in their physical health.  Stressed woman are at risk for serious health concerns down the road

The stress response, also known as flight or flight is a very automatic function of the nervous system. It’s one thing to have it kick in and give you the ability to run like heck when you need it. Yet if the response becomes chronic it can really goof up our hormonal and physical chemistry. This can show up in your heart rate, your blood pressure and your blood sugar. It can actually effect major systems of the body like the immune system, the digestive system, and our reproductive and growth processes.

Normally the stress response is self regulating.  Example: a child gets lost – we go into a full alert panic as we try to find him or her, yet once we find resolve ( and the child ) our bodies become calm again. Balance.
These days everything has become full alert, the body never gets a chance to chill out – it never gets a chance to recharge.

Which are the areas of the body that feel it most?

Digestion - when digestion shuts down it manifests itself physically; a stomach ache, diarrhea, or constipation – if you are stressed and shutting down digestion due to fight or flight responses you are creating a chronic concern. Our digestive system was not meant to be in constant stress. Woman experience Irritable Bowel Syndrome 3 times more than men

Immune Response - suppressed immunity occurs after repeated call to action. The immune system is a very complex balancing act, when it’s in full working order it’s pretty darn miraculous. Yet our full and rigorous lives have us increasing our immunity risk not only to infections but to more serious disorders. Auto-immune diseases are more prevalant in woman.

Cardiovascular Health - if you are constantly stressed you actually raise your heart rate altering your personal chemistry – this chronic acceleration increases risk for heart attack and stroke. Constant fight or flight response can cause an overproduction of cortisol and may have you feeling anxious and depressed

Nervous System - brain cells lose their ability to function and structure when stressed. This shows up in memory function. I thought my classic where is my car parked syndrome was a function of getting older!

Sleep Deprivation- chronic stress and anxiety contributes to sleepless nights, while normally this was thought to be a new mom syndrome, it is now is found in all stages of their lives – woman aren’t getting enough sleep more than ever before. Woman tend to have more insomnia than men. Sleep is what recharges the cortisol connection.

Obesity- the collection of central obesity or the accumulation of abdominal fat is seemingly a direct corralation to the levels of cortisol in the body, this apple type body shape increases the risk of heart disease dramatically.

SIX Ways to Manage MOM Stress

Being a single mom of two has had it’s moments, however parenting by far has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Some of my very roughest times were managed simply by taking care of me first, being a better me – created me as a much better mom

ONE - Identify the stressors, we can not fix what we haven’t identified. Strive to find solutions. Be determined. Besides creating less stress, strident problem solving is a great example for our families

TWO - Schedule personal relaxation times – simply pausing several times a day to breathe, collect and organize your thoughts can recharge even the busiests of moms. Additionally actually scheduling something, anything outside the home regularly can provide just the right relief valve, don’t have the money? A walk with a friend is free. Just do it.

THREE - Eat right. We all know this. I have personally had success with being mindful, eating a variety of foods, and not buying the junk- if it’s around – I’ll eat it!

FOUR - When is bed time? We establish that routine for our kids perhaps it would benefit us as moms too. If our child doesn’t get their nap are they cranky? fatigued? Why would we think anything less for us as moms – go to bed!

FIVE - Movement stimulates all the systems of the body. 10 minutes each and every day is better than nothing. Start with 10 minutes of anything after a big glass of water each and every day and see what a difference that makes for you

SIX - Oh my goodness — Take your vitamins!! Nutritional gaps are inevitable, a really good multi-vitamin is a great start, often we need more. Not sure what you need ? I’d love to help.

Choose high quality nutritional supplements that can assist your stress free path.

Moms don’t forget that a sense of humor goes a long way too!

retro flickr image credit


Hearty Pea Soup

my sister sent me this hearty pea soup recipe and i enjoyed it tremendously,   the simmering of onion, celery seed and bay leaf was very aromatic…and I can’t tell you the last time i had lima beans!  I added more carrot.  I also think if you like ham – that would make a great addition too!

1 onion, diced

2 T olive oil

1 bay leaf

1 t celery seed

———————

1 C green split peas

1/4 C barley

1/2 C lima beans

2 quarts water

——————–

2 t salt

dash pepper

1 carrot, chopped

3 stalks celery, diced

1/2 C chopped parsley

1 potato, diced

1/2 C chopped leeks

1/2 t basil

1/2 t thyme

 

Saute onion in olive oil until soft, along with bay leaf and celery seed. Stir in peas, barley & limas. Add water & bring to a boil. Cook on low heat 1-1/2 hours. Add salt, pepper, veggies & herbs. Turn head down as low as possible and simmer 1 hour.

 

Makes 8-9 cups

bay leaf image source – google images.  sorry, but split pea soup images are not that aesthetic.