Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Green smoothie

Forced L to drink green smoothie for the past 3 days. Cut out flovent but continued with albuterol prior to school and gym. He didn't cough when I picked him up nor did he cough at night after the albuterol wore off. I am trying not to be excited b/c chances are the flovent is still circulating in the body. But, I am really hopeful b/c this is the first time it's ever happened. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

Here is the recipe for the smoothie:
1/2 banana
1 C grapes
1 bunch of greens
Water till it covers the blade. Then liquify the suckers!

It didn't taste that yummy but I made him finish it all up. J's a tougher challenge since he's only 3 and would rebel strongly.

Then, this evening, I made another smoothie for myself:
1 really ripe pear (they become creamy at that stage)
3 ripe strawberries
A bunch of lettuce leaves
Water covers the blade. Liquefy 'em again.

This one - surprisingly tastes much better. Liem liked it and took a drink out of my cup.

One thing about smoothies is that they go through your system rather quick. I find myself getting hungry again after an hour.

Oh, I also tried this combi:
1 avocado
1 orange (peeled)
some grapes
water

It was a bit thick. But J seemed to like it. Perhaps it's the novelty of it. Thus far, he's been refusing to drink the other ones.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Scrapbooking

I started scrapbooking last year and made a gift to my MIL. I discovered that I really enjoyed donig it and regretted giving the book away. So, as a tradition, I decided to scrapbook every year. I collect photos over the year and organize them in monthly albums on an online photo webpage. The online photo services allow you to input descriptions and tags. So, I did just that. It is a good system because once I'm ready, I can send all the pictures for printing and they will arrive in the mail. I prefer matte to glossy type of paper.

I did buy some tools and experimented with them but I find that embossing or pattern punches are too restrictive. I get more uses out of styluses, patterned scissors and glue. I also happen to love ribbons and would buy them at sales. Finally I found a way to use them. I also love beads. All these really add to the dimension of the scrapbook.

Now, I wonder to myself ... why don't I save money and just do digital scrapbooking. Nah ... I think I like the feeling of working with my hands and being able to turn unattractive looking scraps of papers into something interesting.

Scrapbooking also opened my eyes to nature's beauty. Trees in silhoutte gives me inspiration to create a page with shadows. Large leaves with yellow spots inspire me to cut the ugly bright yellow paper into simple shapes but compiled into a pretty pattern. Flowers will never be the same. I think of ways to draw them or to use whatever scraps of papers I have to resemble them.

I like scrapbooking. Heh.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Blogger debut

I'm sitting here feeding J. Both kids are entranced by Transformers (1996) on TV. Once they are done, we have to send L to K. J & I have "Small World" class - something like a mommy and me class. Gosh, I sure hope J will get over this separation anxiety from me so I can stick him in a school.

These past few weeks:

1. A friend told me abt raw diet. So, I have decided to try it out but due to tight schedules, I can only eat raw salads for lunch and dinner. Anything in btwn will have to be quick and easy. The salads that I ate in the past were mostly "american" type - cheeses and creamy dressings over bland vegies which I didn't like. However, I've since discovered the world of fresh herbs and other flavorings that do not involve the cow. Oh, and avocado seems to taste a lot better now than before. Perhaps I'm getting old. Here is a recipe of the salad:

Organic herbal mix from Earth Bound
1 avocado
dates or nuts
mint
basil
cucumber
Need to try to add: grape tomatoes, shallots, pine nuts...

Dressing: squeeze some lemon over the avocados, drizzle of honey & olive oil, soy sauce. Sometimes I would add slivers of seaweed & sesame seeds

This could just be a phase or it could be permanent. Whatever it is, I know I feel more alert consuming pure vegetables than my regular diet of rice, meat and vegie combi.

2. Juicing
Supposedly carrot & spinach combi is good for asthma & eczema. I've yet to see any improvements. Book recommended by a friend:
Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices: What's Missing in Your Body? (Paperback)
by N. W. Walker, Dr. Norman W. Walker

I was desperate to try juicing b/c nothing is working for L. He's still dependent on his inhalers. I know alot of modern thinking parents who believe that you can control asthma through asthma meds. I agree you can do that but my goal is to be free of them. I cannot imagine life being tied to these medications esp. when they produce side-effects of long term usage.

His dr. wants him to go on Singulair. Found these websites abt the side effects.

http://www.medications.com/go/se/Singulair

http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=20829&name=SINGULAIR

Since L cannot tell me if he experiences these symptoms, I'm not too inclined towards this product. I will stick to flovent and albuterol for now. And just pray that we find some alternative method of managing the dang asthma.

He's already staying away from his food allergens but it's the environmental triggers that are uncontrollable. Perhaps I ought to make him wear a breathing mask ...

So, I'll keep juicing until I get tired or my hands crack from constant washing.

3. Crocheting. Thanks to a close friend's gift of knitted scarf, she has revived my crocheting hobby. I made 5 scarfs thus far and given them to a few friends. Surprisingly scarves really help keep you warm. I go around the house in a single long sleeve t-shirt and a scarf. W/o the scarf, I'd need a sweater. Also discovered crocheting with thick yarns and big hooks really fun and well, quick. heh ...

4. Ants ... they always manage to find the teeniest of cracks to crawl through. Spray the openings with RAID or any insecticide and then spray soap water (or any cleaning solution) on the ants to kill them. Or, you can just stomp on them. Good therapeutic exercise.