Thursday, March 8, 2018

The Keto Reset Diet: Reboot Your Metabolism in 21 Days and Burn Fat Forever Hardcover – October 3, 2017
by Mark Sisson

This is a great book for those who may already be a little familiar with keto or have tried it and "failed."I know that I thought I could do it all on my own, and I was wrong.. However, you can absolutely start here, and get the information you need to do it right.
This book lays out a plan for how you are going to get from point A to point B - and it is possibly the most sensible plan I've ever seen. Sisson offers a sustainable lifestyle. He teaches you how to gradually and safely enter ketosis, how to adapt, and then offers thoughts on where to go next to make this a whole life plan.
Sisson's approach is one of a seasoned coach, which is surely what many readers are going to need to help them make that lasting change in their health. You leave this book with an action plan, including a test to know when to go full keto (so you have no doubt when you're ready), and the motivation to believe you can do it.
There are two different meal plans inside and many fantastic, nutrient-dense recipes.
I'm not trying to take away from all the positives too much, but there were a couple of problems I did notice in the book. One, there were some inconsistent messages on how to execute the 21 day primal diet leading into the keto reset. For example, it mentioned no grains but then later suggests eating grains like wild rice. For those well versed in Sisson's primal diet, you will understand what this 21 day prep phase is supposed to look like, despite a couple of contradictions in this book.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is curious about keto and anyone who could be well served by trying it out

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Harvest, beautiful projects for gardeners and herbalists

Harvest is a stunning book that every gardener, experienced and novice will love having on their bookshelves! With 47 projects ranging from dyes, drinks, balms, to seasonings, Harvest will inspire.the creative in your soul. You may even want to start gardening in attempts to create these exciting projects!

There are 3 categories, Early, Mid, and Late, each section tempts readers with ideas for each growing season. The authors, Stefani Bittner and Alethea Harampolis, use both known and lesser known herbs, vegetables, and fruits, and go into detail for each herb, vegetable, and fruit, notifying the readers how and where to grow these items and how to harvest them once they are ready.

The photography is stunning, showing each herb, vegetable, and fruit, as well as the projects! Readers will learn how to make items such as Rosewater Facial Toner, Huckleberry Shrub, Papa’s Finger Lime Gin & Tonic, and Pineapple Guava Simple Syrup. Harvest is a perfect read or gift for anyone who loves nature’s bounty and gardening.

Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants, STEFANI BITTNER and ALETHEA HARAMPOLIS

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Rad Women

I have no daughter, but I have young cousins. This book will be in the mail to them as soon as I finish this review. It's great fun, well written, and has a wonderful variety of Rad Women from different eras, different countries, and different fields of endeavor. What is most important to me is that all these women made a difference, either in their own country or the world. The short length of each biography makes it easy to read one in a sitting, which I think will appeal to younger readers. Or, perhaps Mom can read one at bedtime, out loud!



https://www.amazon.com/Rad-Women-Worldwide-Athletes-Revolutionaries-ebook/dp/B01AERZRYC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485907371&sr=1-1&keywords=rad+women+worldwide

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Bee-Friendly Garden

The Bee-friendly Garden, Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn

I have a number of friends who are beekeepers, and I do my best to share any information that comes through the news with them regarding bees. Everything gets passed on, from colony collapse, through pesticides, pests and weather reports.
Many people don’t realize just how important bees are to our diet. European honeybees ensure that we have fruits and vegetables in the market and on our plate. The wild growth that supports so many of them has been cut back, and people just don’t grow enough of the right kinds of flowers anymore. That’s why a book like the Bee-friendly Garden is so important.
The book is divided into 6 chapters, ranging from a general introduction to various kinds of bees through becoming an activist for bees. The plants are both decorative and edible, and lists of plants for different parts of the country and differing climates are included. The back of the book offers resources, photography credits, and an excellent index. The book has something for every experience level, from beginner to Master Gardener.
The illustrations are beautiful, but there aren’t so many that the information gets lost. The font chosen does make the book a little hard to read, especially for aging eyes.
I received this book through Blogging For Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

2016 reset

As usual, the New Year started with those pesky resolutions. You know, go to the gym, watch what I eat, lose some weight. This year however, I was so sick with bronchitis that none of that happened. So, I decided that January was just a test run, and I’m starting my New Year on Imbolc (also known as Groundhog Day, Candlemas, St. Brigid's Day, Candelaria, Feast of the Purification, etc.).

We started at the gym last week, mostly walking and Tai Chi. Being sick for two months just killed any aerobic fitness level I had achieved, and even a half mile was exhausting. But a half mile is better than sitting all day. Plus, it got us out of the house, into some winter sunshine and talking to someone other than each other! I guess starting in February was a good idea, because all those folks who started on the first of January have already stopped going. Finding a treadmill empty in January is always tough!

On the nutrition front, what I started with was simply portion control. I've found over the years that if I don't remind myself what a one cup serving really looks like, it will grow to a whole lot more, especially with favorite foods. It seems to be making a difference. I cut out fried foods a long time ago, and am limiting soda (even diet soda) to a couple of servings a week. Limitation, not deprivation, for most things.

I’m working on a new Tai Chi form, which keeps my brain active. The entire thought process is so different from Taekwondo and Karate that learning a new form is really work. I have to remind myself to slow down, not put so much power and focus into the techniques…just breathe! My knees and shoulders aren’t objecting too much, but I’m not trying to get the low stances all the way down. That’s just not going to happen.

I also got back into my choir practice at church. People don’t realize just how much work there is in singing, especially in a group. Obviously, when I had bronchitis, singing was out of the question. The coughing tends to irritate the entire group, but I had no lung power to breathe, much less sing. So, I missed the entire Christmas season this year, which made me really sad. Singing is food for the soul, even if my ribs are really sore from all that diaphragmatic breathing!

One thing I did manage to do while sick was crocheting. I finished a bunch of fingerless gloves and one prayer shawl while I was down. My technique is improving, and I think I’m going to try to move on to some more challenging patterns. Hats are next! This winter has been so mild here that I really don’t need any more, but I love to wear hats and I have some beautiful yarn that I want to try with.

I did a little herbal work over the sick days. Fire cider came out really well, and seemed to help people other than me! Some pre-shave oil was a quick mix. Now, it's time to make some boo boo salve up, as I'm running out. Motivation was hard while I was so sick, but I'm ready to go!

Friday, January 8, 2016

A walk in the Woods

For the first half of the book, I really did enjoy the book. I wasn't bothered by the fact that they were unprepared or out of shape. I don't think anyone can really be prepared for their first long distance hiking trip. I know I wasn't, and mine was only three days. . I also enjoyed that he talked honestly about the experience of hiking, and I liked the way that he interspersed history and facts about the trail with the travel writing.

The second half, however, got much less interesting. The day trips and the abortive Maine portion were actually kind of disheartening. The whole feel of the prose got sort of mean spirited. I had trouble finishing it, because it just got nasty and tedious.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Winter herbal prep

About two weeks ago, I started preparing the herbal remedies I want to have in the house, ready to go when winter hits. The fire cider, in particular, takes at least a month to properly infuse in the vinegar. Elderberry syrup is a lot easier, and I can make it in an afternoon. I have a couple of good tea mixes ready, and I've lined up my ingredients for some salves and bath preparations for winter chapped skin.

Why bother, when I know I can buy off the shelf preparations for all of this? Love, for one. When I make things for my family, to preserve their health, it is one way to show my love for them. I, as the "mom" in the house, am the one who cares for all of us when we're sick. I put the intention of that love in everything I make for them. It is soul-satisfying.

Next, although commercial preparations may be effective, I've found that my natural ingredients may be gentler on the system. As well, there is scientific study, especially with the elderberry syrup, that they are effective. Elderberries are a specific for flu. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15080016). My Healthy Heart tea is filled with vitamin C from the hibiscus flowers, and hawthorn leaf, flower and berry which are wonderful for your heart and blood pressure (http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-527-hawthorn.aspx?activeingredientid=527&activeingredientname=hawthorn)

I want to spend more time on my herbal studies this winter, and perhaps finish the course of instruction I am studying with Rosemary Gladstar, to be certified. It's so satisfying to do this and share it with my family and friends. As well, I want to make sure that the food we eat, especially in the winter months, is wholesome, healthy, and healing. The recipe search is on!