A [Diabetic] Girl's Best Friend(s)

My diet is all about the numbers...counting carbs and monitoring blood glucose levels. To find ways to shave even 3 or 5 carbs here and there throughout the day means that a few cookies with my coffee at the end of the day is a bright possibility! So I've become an avid food label reader. No. I've become an obsessive food label reader. And once you begin to study those labels your eating habits will change...diabetic or not. There's a lot of bad stuff on the grocery store shelves posing as food. But there's also a lot of wonderful, yummy food to be found as well. So, I've compiled a list of my favorite diabetes-friendly foods.  This is by no means comprehensive, but a list of my new best [dietary] friends:

walnuts
Gotta love those omega-3 fatty acids! A little goes a long way though.

 

almond milk (vanilla, unsweetened)
Low carbs, low cal, lots of calcium, and omega-3s. Great with cereal!

 

 

Ceylon cinnamon
Not all cinnamons are the same.  Only Ceylon is attributed
with stabilizing blood sugar levels and is known to have
anti-inflammatory properties. 1/4 - 1/2 tsp per day.

 

 

dark chocolate
Need I say more? Dark, not milk.

 

cauliflower
Steamed, with cheese sauce, and then baked.  Who needs mac and cheese?
Smashed with butter and sour cream or plain greek yogurt.  Who needs mashed potatoes?

 

spaghetti squash
No, it doesn't taste like spaghetti. But it's a nice low-carb break from using
pasta or rice as a side for stir fry. Try it, you'll like it!

 

 

Nature Valley protein bars
5g fiber, 14g carbs, 10g protein. Very satisfying afternoon snack. 

 

 

LaTortilla Factory mini whole wheat tortillas
Tortillas are not the most carb-friendly, however this company
managed to create a wonderful 50 calorie taco-sized tortilla
with only 9g carbs and 6g fiber. I find these at Harris Teeter.

 

 

peanut butter
Oh how I love you, peanut butter!
I prefer Smart Balance for taste and nutritional value.

 

Of course my list would continue with fresh fruits, fresh veggies, salmon, trout, ground buffalo,Greek yogurt, eggs...and my once-weekly chocolate almond scone from Underground Baking Company (to enhance my "quality of life").



 

 

Bucket Lists

Very often I hear people remark about their "bucket lists" and how, after they've reached a certain milestone, they are able to then check off one of the "things I gotta do/see/experience before I die." This sounds stressful to me...downright depressing, too. To have a list hanging over me as a constant reminder of all the things I still need to do or accomplish seems to me more of a burden than a motivation.

Now I'm not averse to keeping lists and making goals. Lists keep me sane and goals motivate. But a bucket list? Not for me.

My nesting dolls from Moscow

There are things that I have done/seen/experienced that I never would have even imagined putting on a list. They just happened. Act in a play, visit Moscow, learn  sign language, move to North Carolina....you know what I mean. Interesting events happen to everyone in seemingly random ways. My bucket list is being written as I live my life. The writing of this "list", my life in Christ, is the work of the Holy Spirit. His ways are so much higher than mine. I need to trust Him with writing my Bucket List.

So far, so good. And if I ever swim with the dolphins, climb Mt. Everest, sing a duet with Josh Groban... 

SuperthriftingfrugalistaeBayalidocious

Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious...superthrifting-frugalista-eBayalidocious!



Some of my eBay goodies

So as I continue to "thrift" (a now cool term for people like me who like to dig around thrift stores) I come upon some really wonderful items...that aren't my size. So I sez to myself, "Gee, I wonder what I could get for this on eBay?" And so now I am an eBay seller of purses, shoes, and other really cool stuff. At least I think it is. And when someone bids on one of my offerings, I feel strangely validated as if they are approving my taste in second hand apparel. If no one bids on something I've listed, well, I feel somewhat hurt. I've failed. But when there are multiple bidders, then I feel an eBay rush of adrenaline. Quite addicting.

I don't think I will become one of those mega eBay selling success stories... you know the one where I quit my real job because I'm making twice as much a month selling my fantastic thrifted items. The one where I also become a famous blogger who writes about being a famous eBay vendor. The one where I am a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show telling my awesome life story. No, I won't be eBayalidocious...but a girl can dream.

Just a Little Different

A rogue blossom on one of my azaleas has made me think about ways people try to break free of conformity. I think we all want to buck the system in one way or another - for my husband and I, it was our decision to home educate our children. Others try to blur gender boundaries. Some live off the grid. There are Republicans who do not watch Fox News and democrats who dislike tax hikes...very rogue indeed.

So here is one little flower doing its own thing and now I can't get its image out of my mind. Would the white azalea shrub be just as lovely without that pink rascal? Yes, but now it has an interesting imperfection which makes it more lovely, more memorable.

As I think through this metaphor I suppose the shrub could represent society and the pink flower represent the peculiar person.  Or the shrub could represent an individual and the oddball bloom represent the desire to be unique in some small way. Hmmm. Deep, no?

I think I need to ponder this a bit more. But first, I must cue music...

Look, to See, to Remember

This mantra was drummed into my brain by Mr. Joseph Fitzpatrick.  He was a dedicated artist who made it his mission to train young artists in the Pittsburgh area for many decades.  For several years I was privileged to be one of his students.

Mr. Fitzpatrick knew that the power of observation was important for more than drawing an object or painting a picture.  It was a way to process life - to see the good, the bad, and the ugly.  It was important for him to teach his students how to go beyond looking at generalities to seeing the details and to then let those details soak into the brain...and remember. Look at a leaf. Observe the veining, the edges, the color, the sheen. Or look at the sky and notice how the atmosphere affects the color from the horizon upward. He taught his students to study not only the micro, but the macro perspectives as well.

Then he took his mantra on step further. Enjoy. Enjoy the observation, the study, the practice, the entire creative process.

Look, to see, to remember...to enjoy!

Granny Gear

I bet you thought I was going to blog about cycling steep inclines! Nope. I'm referring to a hot "new" fashion trend: Grandmother Style. The fashionistas are talking breathlessly about radical apparel such as knee-length skirts, kitten heels, cardigan sweaters, classic colors, all things *gasp* prim and proper and ladylike. Imagine that.

Granny style appropriate,
but would a 20-something wear it?

Now this really isn't Granny Style.  I've seen pictures of my grandmothers and they did not dress like Lee Radziwill or Caroline Herrera, nor did they wear Chanel suits with Farragamo flats. I think the fashion critics are referring to trend setters like Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. Designers are probably bored trying to make young women look like hoochie-mamas so now they proclaim that demure is de rigueur. Even though their motives are financial, I applaud the change.

From a thrifty point of view, this trend is wonderful. Soft florals, tailored knee-length skirts, kitten heels or flats, small structured purses, gold jewelry...this is easy to find at consignment shops and thrift stores. Ditch those daisy dukes and embrace peddle pushers! Down with 4" stillettos and up with kitten heels! Gold is the new silver.

In searching for granny gear, you might want stay away from Plato's Closet! Their racks are filled with young, whipper snapper apparel. Instead seek out shops whose customer base is...well, older.

Go, Granny, go!

Sharing the Love

In the spring time there is nothing that does my heart and soul more good than to see my yard, perennials, landscape come back to life. This gardening passion has evolved over time thanks to many green-thumbed friends - including my sister, a master gardener. They have taught me to appreciate the process of garden design: researching, planning, digging, planting, mulching, pruning, cultivating, propagating, dividing, weeding, composting. A never ending joyful process! And my fellow horticulture loving friends enjoy sharing their successes and failures.  And when nature has blessed them with an overabundance of the green stuff, they love to share. And so do I. It's a way not only to connect, but to help each other save a few dollars. You see, gardeners are weak-kneed and budget-tipsy when near a greenhouse or nursery. I can be quite frugal and disciplined in other areas of my life, but will pay full price for that gorgeous blush pink peony.


Too much of a good thing? Pass it along!

But back to sharing. As I stroll around my beds I see friends, I see my sister, I relive events. The crepe myrtles? I bought those at the first Garden Jubilee after moving to Hendersonville. The Shasta Daisies (among many other plants) are from my dear sis, Linda. My co worker's wife passed along tall verbena which graces the exterior of my husband's workshop. The Bumblebee Iris was given to me by a woman at a farmers market...a total stranger. She thought I needed some in my yard. She was right.

Want to garden but don't have a clue where to start?  Seek out a gardening mentor. We are more than willing to share the love.

Wabi Whati?

According to the most trusted resource on the internet, Wikipedia, Wabi-sabi is explained as a "Japanese aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection." It goes much deeper than that as it also involves Buddhist teachings on simplicity, austerity, suffering, etc. As a designer, I have simply summed it up as the appreciation of beauty in imperfect things as opposed to the beauty of perfection. As a Christian, I see a correlation of the saving work of Christ in my life - taking my imperfection and declaring it perfect in Him - to the Wabi-Sabi thought. Perfect and yet imperfect. Perfectly imperfect?  For now, I can't go any deeper than that.

Frugalista, Me?

While dressing for work today I realized that everything I was wearing was something purchased at a thrift store. Well...except for undergarments *ahem*. Adding up the purchases, this outfit set me back a cool $10 plus tax. The North Face capris looked like they had never been worn - same with the espadrilles. The purse and shirt? Pristine condition. Many frugalistas have written blogs about the thrill of finding great clothes for a fraction of the original cost, but until now I never really appreciated the fact that thrift stores have more than worn out frocks hanging on the racks.

And what a wonderful way to refresh your wardrobe while supporting worthy causes. My favorite place to thrift for clothes is a store in Brevard, NC that supports a shelter for women escaping domestic violence: Safe's Attic. There are so, so many more and they all need good donations and lots of frugalistas...like me.

My Mother the Car

From reading my last blog, - that's a huge assumption - you might have gathered that I sort of anthropomorphize our family's vehicles. They become a part of the family. Why? Oh, probably for some deep, troubling, psychological reason. Or maybe because it's fun to do so. Anyway, this made me think of a really strange sitcom from the mid sixties, My Mother the Car. In a nut shell, the lead character's mother is reincarnated as a classic jalopy. Awful, awful show and more awful that the writers cast the deceased mother as an old jalopy. Classic or otherwise.

So then I started thinking how would I want to be cast?

Now we're talkin. An El Camino! Part classic car, part truck. A mullet vehicle.  Business up front and party in the back. A little bit county, a little bit rock 'n roll.  A truck for short people like me.

And just think how useful I would be for Goodwill hunting.

Goldie Honda

My husband and I dislike buying cars. So when we need to buy a vehicle, we want it to last a long, long time. In our thinking a car or truck that has 200,000 miles on it is just getting warmed up.  If it can't easily surpass that milestone, well, it's not worth purchasing.  As long as it's still running safely, we can't see any reason to get rid of it for something shiny and new (and expensive). 

These enduring family vehicles represent so many memories. Take Goldie Honda, for example. Purchased new in 1995, Goldie has over 400,000 miles on the original engine. Our daughter was 7, our son was 9 when we drove it off the lot. They are now 25 and 27. There are specific dents along with a loose front bumper - remnants of our teenagers' first driving experiences.  For five years our daughter drove it and then relinquished it two years ago when she decided to purchase her first vehicle: a Honda Civic. We took it back into our care once again and it faithfully "carries" my husband back and forth to work. Of course Goldie has an understood "DNR" order in that if there is a major mechanical failure, we will no longer pay large sums of money to keep her running.

Someone once told us that the most economical car to drive is the one that's already paid in full and parked in your garage. Eighteen years. I think we got our money's worth.

Selling Lemonade

We've all experienced those curveballs that life throws our way.  And when they occur, we are to find the silver lining...you know, the whole "make lemonade out of lemons" metaphor. Well, my most recent curveball happened last August when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. (For people my age this diabetes is referred to as LADA.) My most noticeable symptom was unexplained weight loss.  Twenty-two pounds worth in about 2 months. I melted out of of my wardrobe. Not having hundreds of dollars at my disposal to buy all new clothes, I did what I do best - shopped for bargains and hit the thrift stores and consignment shops. I was able to outfit myself throughout the fall and winter for very little money. This need has made me an even savvier thrifter. I guess I was beginning to make "lemonade."

So now it's time to store the winter clothes and unpack the spring and summer wardrobe. Except I discover that last summer's clothes are useless to me.  Nothing fits. Sooooo I decided to consign these useless items and turn them into a bit of extra cash.

I like making lemonade, but I like selling lemonade even more.

Chicken Whatever

Except for baking, I don't have much use for recipes. Especially recipes that involve chicken. Cut it up and stir fry with whatever veggies are on hand. Braise it on the stove top - make a pan sauce with some wine or chicken stock or beer or sour cream or whatever is in the fridge. Coat it with something crunchy and bake it in the oven. Smother it in pasta sauce and cheese and bake it in the oven.

Who needs recipes?

"What's for dinner?" my beloved husband asks. "Chicken Whatever,"
I reply.  He knows exactly what that means. I'm freestyling dinner because I don't have a clue. But it does involve chicken.

If I really need inspiration, if I'm stuck in the Chicken Whatever rut, I can always count on Pinterest to inspire and overwhelm me.

But really, it's chicken. Whatever.

Goodwill Hunting

Not the movie, the act of thrifting. The thrill of the hunt to find items that no one else wants and to make use of them once again. For pennies on the dollar. Dave Ramsey would approve of my budget-stretching measures.

Back in the day I would scour thrift stores for cream glazed pottery, plates with fruit hand painted on them, or play clothes for my toddlers. I loved old suitcases, too, and could snatch them for a few dollars each.  I would give my little ones a few quarters to buy some books to keep them happy while I searched.

Later on I became the primary shopper of props and costumes for our church's theater group.  I would zero in on vintage clothing, furniture, and household accessories. Finding that black rotary phone or the pink pillbox hat was great sport.  Those were my "trophies" of a successful hunt.

Now my search has expanded to things that my husband and I can rehab or repurpose.  I am the Goodwill hunter and he is the "fixer". Yes, I hate to admit we get excited over  new episodes of American Pickers or Salvage Dawgs...or even Antiques Roadshow.

We love our stuff, but once it loses its newness many are quick to toss it.  Thankfully some choose to donate. That's good for Goodwill and for my Goodwill hunting.