Body Business

Aaron's mom has been reading a few books about juicing, how our body processes foods, and the food industry. I know you all are very familiar with all of this stuff, so I'll just jot a few notes that were new to me.

• If your body is in an alkaline state, rather than acidic, diseases can not survive. So, stay away from vinegar and processed foods. Apple cider vinegar is good though. So I've been drinking 2 tsp of ac vinegar a day. This is especially beneficial if you eat meat because it helps you process the protein. I don't eat meat anymore but I take it anyway.
• It's extremely beneficial to supplement the amount of raw vegetables and fruits you normally eat with juiced raw veggies and fruits - make sure it is a juicer and not an emulsifier because it's hard for your body to process the fiber found in the skins and pulp. You just need the fiber from the 5 un-juiced servings you should be eating. I'm going to buy a juicer one of these days... or those days.
• Carrots and spinach are life savers!
• Processed foods suck - we all know this. But they layer the foods so that your mind gets complete satisfaction and you become addicted. Gross... it's like brainwashing.

Okay, peace out.

Artsy Craftsy

Aaron and I are volunteering for a local non profit called Treasures for Teachers. They have tons of 'junk' donated to them on a regular basis and teachers can fill a bag of random items for a couple of bucks to make projects with their students. We've been contracted (freely) to make fun arts and crafts projects for the store to display... so that the teachers have ideas for what they can create out of the random odds and ends. We filled a huge bag - binders, styrofoam cups, pine cones, styrofoam blocks, coin wrappers, fabric, string, plastic trays, so on and so forth. We'll make about 6 items out of these materials. So far, we made a stained glass inspired panel (plastic tray, paint, bubble wrap, wood sheet), neo-conservative finger puppets named Dan and Louise Meadows - they're married and he's a reporter - (coin wrappers, styrofoam blocks, paint, wood sheet, fabric, pine cone, plastic strap), and a penguin (styrofoam cups, file folder, plastic cap, pine cone, paint). Well, WE LOVE them! We took some pictures and together, they look like they're on a 70's TV talk or game show set. 

Over the weekend: We had an awesome visit with Becka this weekend and she looks amazing and seems full of spunk. Vivian's (Aaron's mom) 50th birthday was also this weekend and we threw her a surprise party at a greek festivity restaurant. That was also so much fun - she was super happy. Last night we all went to see Wicked for her b-day (Aaron, his sister and her husband, Vivian and Ron, and I). Their set was pretty kick-ass, and likely very expensive, and Glinda the Good's character was quite funny. I read the book a few years ago, so now I'll finish Son of a Witch finally. 

Becka and me... I need a tan:)

Vivian with the belly dancer 

Goings On

So, Aaron and I are both gainfully unemploy', (I just finished reading Confederacy of Dunces) and we're looking into jobs of various skill, pay, and objective. We want to get rid of our debt - who doesn't? - and then just get easy breezy jobs and travel around working on farms, making art, and eventually, hopefully, buying a piece of cheap land that has lots of dirt that we can use to make bricks and build a little dwelling, and have a garden, grove, and some goats. Anyway, there are tons of avenues to take. We both have our resumes out, our contacts contacted, our extra car on the market, and a few small, freelance (and babysitting) jobs scheduled to make it through August and hopefully get our credit cards paid off by mid 2010. But, our Mega Blaster 3000 to Get Out of Student Loan Debt Free plan is to get our teaching certificates and teach in low-income neighborhoods for 4 years. They pay a  large percentage each year towards your student loan debt and by the 4th or 5th it's inilated. Oh yeah, I didn't get the AmeriCorps jobs - rats! So, that's that. Who knows what will actually happen but this is what we're thinking at the moment. 

I was reading this book called Shelter last night. I think Dad happened upon it in one of his used book store rummages and gave it to me. It's really great - lots of pictures and random writings about shelters built throughout history throughout the world. I think my favorite buildings for the moment are that of the Dogon of central west Africa. They make bricks out of the earth and water, then make a mortar to plaster the outside. They could definitely work in Arizona. Also, the ghorfas in Tunisia are pretty awesome. They remind me of Arcosanti. 

This is the book cover. It's far out - very 70's and delightful. 

Two above - Dogon village and dwellings 

Two above - Ghorfas in Tunisia

What else? Oh yes, WWOOF - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. So, you can work on organic farms that are listed through WWOOF (www.wwoof.org) and your food and lodging is paid by the farm. They typically want you to work 5 to 6 hours a day 6 days a week. Pretty cool. So, that may be something else we do after paying off our debt. So many wonderful things.

Okay, I'm going to eat some of the butter oatmeal raspberry bar that I made. It's so terribly good. 

2 sticks butter, 2 cups oatmeal, 2 cups flour of your choosing, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 cups brown sugar. Mix it. Put 2/3 in a buttered (more butter!) pan and press it. Spread either fresh fruit or preserves on top. Then add the rest of the butter crumble mix and press. Put in 375° for 40 minutes. Let cool and eat... but not too fast because it's like eating a sweet butter stick and it's very bad for you. 

Peace out! 

No One's Blogging. What's the Deal?

I suppose summer has us heat stricken. 

Well, I had a phone interview for an AmeriCorps position today. The woman who interviewed me recommended me on for a live interview with the supervisor of the Phoenix office. I REALLY hope I get it! It sounds perfect for me and it would be something I feel exceptionally great about. This is the description of the program:

Rebuilding Together Capacity Corps is a high-impact National AmeriCorps program of 44 full-time AmeriCorps members serving in 24 Rebuilding Together affiliates in 15 states including Arizona. RT CapacityCorps members will build the capacity of Rebuilding Together affiliates to serve additional low-income homeowners through volunteer recruitment, client outreach, direct repairs for low-income homeowners, new project implementation, community partnership development and program expansion.

Also, I was feeling inspired last week and made a piece of art for Becka... finally. 

Amazing Food Blog

I love this website. www.deliciousdays.com. The site design is fresh and simple, the pictures are awesome, and she has some very cool recipes. Have fun:)

Bircher Muesli - made a variation of it this morning... yum!

This red onion confit looks rockin'

Hmm... squid breadsticks

I'm SO going to make these cubes of decadence

Fragrant Spring

Hi. Here I am at last! I haven't blogged in a while. I've been out of touch with this and Facebook since coming back from Louisiana. Aaron and I may be moving to California next month (I know - it's getting pretty close for me to still say 'may be' but that's how I roll... or stroll). I'll be a cook for Rachel! How exciting:) I love to cook and I love Rachel and I love to eat Rachel's food so this should work out well, I hope. In the meantime, Aaron and I have been looking for and applying to jobs in the area but it's pretty slim pickings. 

I haven't been packing or anything of that sort. Nope, I've been painting and preparing my bath püffs ('poof's). I made 15 püffs this week and they smell and look great, I must say! I'm packaging them and sending them out this weekend. Look forward:) They are made with organic, naturally derived ingredients. 

Look, I've finally drafted something to paint!

Here are the püffs and two that were packaged for Aaron's bosses 

My birthday is in two weeks and Aaron and I will perhaps spend the night at Arcosanti again (I want to make it there in case we leave soon) and will definitely head to the Reiki center and river in Sedona (as seen in the pic with Aaron - he's unwrapping some new stones at the river). 

I am also volunteering in the office at the refugee non-profit organization I've worked with over the years. I started that today and it was just me and the director Kelly in the office Aaron and I designed and decorated... I must gloat that it's a relaxing space. Kelly is awesome - she likes to cook, sew, knit, garden, entertain friends, do community work - a combo of we Main girls. She invited me to her home to see her garden, so I'll bring her a bath püff and this wonderful herb book I've been reading and recommend by Jack Staub. I love the illustrations, and he gives a history of how the herbs have been romanticized over the centuries and their practical applications today. 

Nice Things

Before leaving Louisiana for architecture school in Arizona five and a half years ago, I was told by a unseemingly drunk woman of 80 years that she would help me receive a scholarship for interior design school. I was working at Foodies Kitchen and she and I had a funny chat while I helped her find a few items. She gave me a date and time to come to one of her lectures at the Longue View Gardens in Metairie. So I went. It turned out she was a textile designer from Europe. A cute, sweet, old thing. There were plenty of designers at the lecture. And me. I talked to her during a break and she didn't remember who I was or that she ever mentioned anything about school to me. Her assistant said she drinks at night and she probably forgot. Anyway, that was that but I've been interested in textile design ever since. She made tapestries mainly but I would love to design wall coverings and apparel fabric - and be an old lady who gets tipsy at night and goes around town having random, inspiring conversations with strangers (seriously, I would:)). 

Here are a few interesting pictures I found last week. The clothing looks like leaves or palm bark, but it's made of silk thread and other materials. 

Glazing Dayz

So, we glazed last week in ceramics class. These are the results. So much fun! I'll go in tomorrow and make a few things so that I can glaze next week and start sending a few things to people.

Also, I made bath fizzers a month ago. Only, they don't fizz because I used lemon juice instead of citric acid powder. I bought the powder so my next batch should fizz and you all will get a sample. 

I Wanna Look Like This When I'm Prego

I love M.I.A! I've loved jamming to her Kala album all year and tonight I saw her on the Grammys (we veg'ed out to it tonight). Her due date was today and she was bangin'! Hmm... I have to get up to speed on the cool factor though. 

What is This?

So, on Superbowl Sunday, I noticed a mark on my arm... the crease part opposite my elbow. Aaron had given me a piggy back ride from our room to the television so we could watch the game a while earlier. I didn't remember it hurting at any point but I went ahead and chalked the mark up to a burn from rubbing against Aaron's back. It got progressively worse through the evening and hurt like a rug burn would. The next day I noticed another faint mark on the wrist of my other arm. It also got worse and started itching the next day. Yesterday I noticed another mark running from my wrist, on the arm with the first mark, up to mid forearm. It kind of itches and kind of burns a little. Anyway, today I have yet another mark on my arm so, two marks on each arm. I'm noticing that some of them are spreading as water would on a floor. I've attached images... yay for the faint hearted! What is it? Oh, also, my lips feel gross. Kind of like their chapped but with little bumps. ??? What is happening to me? I don't have insurance so I won't go to the doctor unless I faint several times or can't breathe at all. I took Benadryl and it didn't make it better so it may not be an allergic reaction. 

 

Thinking of sunnier times, Aaron and I went to Superstition Mountains on Saturday. It was lovely, full of juicy succulent ground cover, hairy desert grass, and fun-shaped cactii with alienesque dangly fruits, and reminded me of dinosaurs. We'll hike further in next trip... we saw rock climbers and under-sky campers coming down from a trail that looked more adventurous as we were leaving. 

Posting Two in a Row

This post is not about posting two in a row. 

:)

It's about recent wellness issues and what I've successfully done to ameliorate them. So, you can skip to the post below (also posted today) about a coffee alternative if you wish. 

A few recurring health issues have popped up recently. Let me go through them one by one since I have so much time (ah, the life of working from home part time = no money but lots of flexible / free time).

Number one: Difficulty Breathing

YES I'M EATING DAIRY. Geez. But I've recently reduced my intake, especially since I've reduced my coffee intake and I like half and half in it. And I do only eat / drink organic dairy. I can't find raw dairy here. Is there some food law that prohibits it in Arizona? 

Anyway, I've been drinking an herbal, medicinal tea by Traditional Medicinals called Breathe Easy. I like it... I love black licorice and the licorice root in it leaves that flavor lingering in the back of my throat. Also, and more importantly, it seems to be helping. I woke up several nights last week because of my respiratory unrest (get it?) but so far, no night terrors this week. 

This is all to say, I love Traditional Medicinals tea! You should try them if you haven't. I'm going to buy a few more for overall wellness next week. If only they made a tea for migraines, which brings me to 

Number two: Migraines

This blog is totally no fun. I'm sorry. I'm going to keep writing though. 

Yes, last week I had 4 migraines!!! It was awful I tell you, just miserable (do you like the dramatics?). 

Again, yes I'm eating dairy, though it's recently been reduced. I'm also doing yoga quite often and sitting outside to get more Vitamin D. It seems to perhaps be helping, as I cross my fingers.

Number three: Hip Dysplasia or Some Such Thing

I'm 25 and a human, not a dog. But apparently, according to Becka's massage therapist, I have hip dysplasia or it's homo sapien equivalent. So, I've been adamant on paying close attention to the way I'm sitting, walking, and resting while standing. I've been moving my glute and hip to counteract it's ill placement. Also, I've been doing a lot of yoga and a bit of pilates and it feels so much better! Really, almost no pain now. 

Amazing what taking care of yourself can do, right? Finally. 

I'm a Coffee Girl in a Coffee World

So, as some of you may know, I am a coffee fiend / fanatic / lover... addict. 

Seriously.

I'll drink a whole pot of richly colored coffee or several macchienettas (stove-top espresso maker) full of espresso if it's there (i.e. if I make it). I've been drinking it since second grade, and watched Mom through the years scavenge several pots relentlessly while studying or working at home. It's in my blood - likely!

Well Friends, the time has come for me to face my demons, and I'm on a path to a caffeine-free life. Or, at least a less caffeine rich diet. This week I've been drinking 1 macchienetta of coffee a day. :) That's rough for me, I must say. I think I'm also going to try a brand of natural coffee alternative called Teecino. Have you heard of it? I picked up a brochure by the company at Whole Foods yesterday. It's designed for coffee lovers who can not have or are trying to reduce or eliminate their caffeine intake. I'm super excited about it - because I'm a dork who gets excited about things like this. 

Here are the ingredients:

(all organic) carob; barley; chicory; ramon nuts or dates and almonds; and other spices and fruit, nut, or bean derived flavors. 

I'll let you know if it's any good! www.teecino.com.

Hairy Potter

I start a pottery class tonight and I'm super stoked!  I bought an old bike last week and I've been riding it around town. Yesterday I went to the art store to buy supplies for tonight's class. Among the essentials - a 25 lb bag of clay. I have a single speed cruiser with a small rack so I strapped it on with some string I asked for from the grocer next door. It was a difficult ride because the bike wobbled quite a bit but I'm looking forward to hauling my clay to class tonight, strapped to the back of my Free Spirit. 

Plans so far: to make molds for my vegan soaps and bath fizzers, and to make beads so that I can string a few necklaces for myself and friends (and sisters)... and pots and bowls, of course.

We have 6 hours of open studio (studio time set aside separate from class for ceramics students to use free of charge) 2 days a week, so I'll take advantage of that. 

I'll post a picture of my first project when it's complete... no matter what it looks like! And hopefully I'll be able to afford the ingredients and equipment to get some soaps and fizzers to you all soon. 

Gonna Make Some Bath Stuff

It's super late and my computer is going to die... and I don't want to step out of my warm bed and onto the cold concrete to get the plug. So, I'll make this short.

My friend sent a package with this wonderful bath sud ball and lip balm by a company called Lush. They make handmade, vegan bath products and cosmetics. Love love love! They make a solid shampoo, which I will try this week - one bar saves 3 150 mL bottles. Ultimately, I will make the products I like such as the sud ball and possibly the solid shampoo. I'll send them to you ladies I know will enjoy them. Hopefully by the end of the month.