Thursday, January 26, 2012

Beating the Winterland Blues

I was perusing through my Natural Health Magazine that I get for free somehow because of my wonderful (sometimes) brother who is always getting stuff for free... and came across an interesting little article called "win over winter" and they had some little tips for keeping the wintertime blues at bay. The article said they were tips from Scandinavian culture. Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D. ways that "prevention is better than any cure", and I SO agree! Eating a healthy diet full of nutrients is better than popping a vitamin pill.

1. Go for a morning walk - I know it's cold, but even a few minutes of AM mild aerobic activity and sunlight can brighten your mood for the whole day and keep you healthy and full of Vitamin D3.
I have read that if there is any pill that you should take, Vitamin D3 is one of them. Vitamin D3 is not the same vitamin D that you get out of milk or in a Calcium pill. It's what you get from sunlight. I've read that Doctors say 1000 iu's is a safe dosage for everyone, but some people need more; you doctor can tell you if you need more.
click to read more on algaecal.com: a whole food source powered by marine algae.

click here to take you to Amazon.com to buy Vitamin D3


2. "During the winter, Swedish cafes set out colorful blankets and pillows to help customers feel at home." (Natural Health mag). It is a coping technique for wintertime called mysig; which basically means cozy. 

Here are some pictures that look mysig to me..

 I would love to cuddle up in this chair with a nice book and a cup o joe.
15house cozy chair
To have your own mysig cafe you could set up your living room with a bunch of colorful pillows and candles. Invite some friends over for a mysig date. Play games or watch movies and wrap up in cozy colorful blankets.
   ....
Here's an interesting video on a Swedish Light Cafe...

click to go to Amazon.com


3. Be a waterbaby - get a quick blast of hot to cold. Like we used to do as kids, get in the hot tub and then jump out and roll around in the snow and jump back in. I guess there was something to all that, we just didn't know! You can get the same thing by alternating hot and cold water in your shower. (Be careful if you're pregnant or have a heart condition!)

4. Use Candles. They create a warm and welcoming environment. Some Sweeds even eat breakfast by candlelight. Sounds welcoming.


..

and of course...

Eat More Kale! - this didn't come from this particular article about winter blues... I just think it's great advice.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

out for a stroll

Unknown Mami


There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.  ~Ruth Stout~

I found these in my grandpa's garage and went for a little walk on the day of our first big snow in the Bitterroot Valley - Montana. It was a lot of fun, my first time snowshoeing... but I was so sore when I got home!

Every mile is two in winter.  ~George Herbert~

Pretty trees I found along my walk



More cool trees covered in snow.


Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.
~Bill Morgan, Jr.



Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair.
~Minna Thomas Antrim



Cruel and cold is the judgment of man, Cruel as winter, and cold as the snow; But by-and-by will the deed and the plan Be judged by the motive that lieth below.
Lewis J. Bates

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Kale Madness

Kale is a baddass vegetable! It is known as the Queen of Greens & the "healthiest vegetable on the planet". According to webmd: "One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus."




My Mother introduced me to Kale Smoothies
  • several leaves of fresh kale
  • 1 1/2 banana (frozen works really well because it's like banana ice)
  • 1 1/2 cup apple juice or more
  • cloves and allspice for an extra kick of flavor
They really just taste like banana and don't have a very strong kale taste. Banana covers up everything. You could even add an apple in there if you liked. This is a fabulous breakfast smoothie. Just what you need for that extra kick of energy in the AM.





Here's a guy that makes tshirts about kale - EatMoreKale.com. He prints his shirts one at a time so you know it's been individually made.


KALE CHIPS


tear/chop up your kale 
put it in a big bowl and toss with olive oil, paprika, garlic salt
add chili powder if you like it spicy
I like to also toss up some minced garlic as well




lay it out flat on a pan and toast it on 350 for 10 minutes
You can leave them in a little longer if you like them extra crispy.
Just take one out and test it.


I like to sprinkle mine with lemon or lime juice. It just adds an extra somethin'-somethin'.
You could even sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on there if you wanted. I'll bet that would be fabulous.


Well I hope you enjoyed this post. It's been fun!



Remember...


EAT MORE KALE!



Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Welcome 2012


It's my first post of two-thousand-and-twelve!

I have nothing to add right now, but if you'd like, please check out my Pinterest Page. There's always new and exciting stuff on Pinterest!