JUST BECAUSE.......It's Funny, Gorgeous, Cool, Boho, Good For You, True, Special, and Wise...........

So, what on earth is a blog post titled 

JUST BECAUSE?

It's a blog post from someone whose brain is somewhat fried,

who saw a bunch of random things and thought

"Why can't I share that on my blog?"

"Why does it have to make sense?"

So here we go, JUST BECAUSE!

Just because this made me laugh:)

Just Because this may be the most GORGEOUS Cupcake ever!

Just Because I have ALWAYS loved this idea....

and when my daughter eventually goes away to school, I will do this.

A packet of letters for various occasions/moods/moments

 when she may want or need a note from me.

Just Because I think these letters are so COOL and BOHO and perfect for spelling the word 

"WANDER"  

 (letters from Urban Outfitters)

Just Because this is something good to know and good for you!

 Just Because this is another great idea.......instead of fixing all our little issues all at once, plug away at them month by month, setting NEW habits in the process!

 

Just Because this is so stinking cute and clever and makes me SMILE!

 Just Because this is so true.  

 Just Because we all need a break once in awhile, right?

Just Because I MISS TUTUS and BALLET so much, especially my beautiful daughter's dancing.....and I even miss being a Dance Mom.......but the good kind:)

 Just because I think this is an awesome quote and the girl could be one of my daughters.

Just Because I love horses and if I could have one, it would look like this!

Just Because it's almost Summer and therefore it's swimsuit time.......so it's time to get to work:)

Just Because I love throwing parties for kids way more than adults,

I love fussing over cute treats,

I miss these days and I can't wait to be a Grandma.  Or a GiGI.  Or a Memaw.

Or whatever the heck they want to call me......... on a regular basis.

And also Just Because I love yummy and EASY treats and this looks like

cupcakes with gumdrops, gumdrop slices and peach rings!

Just Because I LOVE my dogs and believe this with my whole heart!

Just Because I love jars, and flowers, and burlap, and lace!

Just Because I believe this!  Sometimes I need to be reminded of this.  Oftentimes.  But I always believe it.  And I hope you do too. <3 p="">

Thoughts from the Grocery Store. . . . .

as i walked out of the grocery store the other night, 

i started thinking of the little things i noticed in just one trip.

yes, i do have more important things to think about.

but sometimes, it's a good thing to let your mind wander,

right?

i hope so!

because mine wanders a TON:)

what i thought about at the grocery store:

~ ~ ~that i prefer doing my shopping at night.

i know my mom hates hearing that.  but it's so much more relaxed

and i sometimes take one of the girls with me:)

~ ~ ~i am so HAPPY to see the big juicy blueberries in January. . .

and they're pretty inexpensive!

STRAWBERRIES, too:)

~  ~ ~note to cashier. . . .

i know you think you're being incredibly thoughtful if, by chance,

i'm buying a little treat.

but you know, that doesn't mean it's for me!

it could be a treat for one of my girls.

so PLEASE don't hold it up and ask, LOUDLY, 

"Is this for you"?

or "Would you like this in your purse?"

because i promise you, if it is for me,

i WILL deny it.

regardless of who it's for,

i will deny the possibility it's for me by saying

"no, just put it in the bag"

or i might even go so far as to say

"it's not for me...just put it in the bag".

GEEZ. . . .

do you expect me to grab it and say

"oh thank you!  I'm glad you reminded me.

i need to SCARF it down in the car before i get home,

so good thing you loudly asked if i wanted it in my purse!!!"

GEEZ. . . again:)

but thanks anyway for your thoughtfulness!

what else, what else. . . .

~  ~ ~i know!  I went to the dr. yesterday and mentioned how frustrated i was

at all the different diets out there,

how stubborn my body was being. . .

you know, stuff like that.

she is so REAL and down to earth.

i love her!

here was her advice.

my extreme FATIGUE was in large part due to my MS.

good luck with that one:)

but my diet was most likely contributing to it.

she said, based on her conversation with me, that i might benefit from

a higher protein and high fiber diet.

and within a few weeks should feel some good effects.

so, i asked the $30,000 dollar question (s)

1.  was she saying to cut out all carbs, sugar and flour stuff?

(as i watch my morning show and see a commercial for the CUTEST

heart shaped donuts at Dunkin Donuts!:)

HELP!!!!!

2.  in addition to lowering my fatigue,

would i lose a few (or more) pounds?

3.  what about all the HOOPLA about 

clean eating, Paleo diet, hunter and gatherer dieting.....

what about it?

this was her take on it and as i respect her opinion,

i have to say i agree.

HER ANSWERS:

1.  i did NOT have to cut out all carbs.

yes, it would be beneficial to cut out white stuff. . . .

white flour, white sugar, white rice, white potato (i think she said that)

the good stuff.

the best i can.  she didn't say go crazy.

just make a better effort.

but she does want me to still have whole grains in moderation. . .

whole grain bread, pasta. . . .

(no heart shaped dunkin donuts, i guess.  boo!)

and as i said, more protein.

one tip she had was to drink 2 packs of the

Special K protein water flavorings/day,

which would mean i had 4 of my 6-8 glasses of water with protein added.

this drink flavoring has 5 mg of protein per packet,

so by drinking 2/day was an easy way to add 10mg of protein to my diet:)

2.  yes, i would probably lose some weight, 

depending on me controlling cravings, moderate exercise and eliminating

fried foods and that kind of thing.

3. what about all the EXTREME diets out there?

TOTALLY not necessary, in her opinion.

not bad diets.

just not necessary.

(ya, try telling that to all the people who try to make you feel like

a criminal because you just ate something that had a label on it.)

she said diets like that are still fads, regardless of what anyone says.

some may stay on them for life, but diets like this have been around forever.

i totally agree. . . .just as i agree that if someone loves eating this way and is doing well,

that's great!

but as she said, you "have to buy into the whole plan, philosophy and all that"

and if you don't, they won't work any better than anything else.

which is true of anything.

what she DID suggest was. . . .

drumroll please. . . .

w

e

i

g

h

t 

w

a

t

c

h

e

r

s

they have changed things so you get credit for eating more protein and fiber, i believe.

i'll be honest.

i'm going to have a piece of my daughter's birthday cakes.

and a warm chocolate chip cookie once in awhile.

and strawberry shortcake at least once or twice during strawberry season.

i know this about myself.

and i know i get tired of meat.

and hate touching raw meat.

so, i need a healthy eating plan that understands i will cheat sometimes.

and my whole body isn't suddenly screwed up because i did.

(excuse me for a moment while i change the channel.

Al Gore is on the screen. uggggh  GO AWAY!)

okay, back to my eating.

i'm gonna give it a try.

my neurologist doesn't want me to do anything extreme for a diet or exercise.

and this all seems pretty non-extreme.

so i'll try...for real this time.

i'll keep you posted.

and now that i've gone over this,

have you ever seen

The Biggest Loser?

i kinda get tired of the yelling, screaming, crying. . . .

good tips sometimes but i would rather read a book.

or watch Honey Boo Boo.

JUST KIDDING!!!:)

however, Bob Harper, the trainer from the show, has a great book.

in particular, he has a list of "rules"

called 

The Skinny Rules

1. Drink a large glass of water BEFORE Every meal-No Excuses!
2. Don't Drink Your Calories
3. Eat Protein at EVERY Meal -or stay hungry & grouchy!
4. Slash Your Intake of Refined Flours & Grains
5. Eat 30-50 grams of FIBER per day!
6. Eat Apples & Berries Every single day- Yes, EVERY-SINGLE-DAY!
7. NO Carbs after Lunch ( eat 'lean & green' at night)
8.Learn to Read Food Labels so You know what you are eating!
9. Stop Guessing about Portion Size & Get it Right-for good!
10. No more added sweeteners-including artificial ones!
11. Get rid of White potatoes!
12. Make one day a week Meatless
13. Get rid of Fast foods & fried foods
14. Eat a REAL breakfast
15. Make Your own food and eat at least ten meals a week at home
16.. Banish High Salt Foods
17. Eat Your Vegetables-(no excuses)- Just DO it!
18.Go to bed hungry!
19. Sleep Right
20. Plan one splurge MEAL per week

OK- there you have them --print them out, tape them on your refrigerator and let them be your guide to NO EXCUSES. 

These rules are NONNEGOTIABLE remember!!

I think these sound pretty reasonable, don't you?

and last but not least (i promise) a few other interesting tips.

i tried to make these printouts as large as possible but if you can't read them,

do whatever you need to in order to make them bigger. 

they're really good:)

that's it for me!

i'm sure the only person who read this all the way through is my mom,

and even she might have had enough! hahaha

have a great day!

Suzanne

the VERY important, life-saving facts about food allergies

a week ago i wrote about a peanut reaction my 17 year old daughter

had from eating a rice krispie treat while at a ballet performance.

the rice krispie treat had been made with peanut butter added and because 

she had never heard of that, the thought didn't occur to her.

by eating just a few bites of it,

she suffered her first severe anaphylactic reaction.

here is the link for that blog post:

momma, something's wrong

if this sounds kinda boring,
i get it.
 sometimes learning important things works that way.
but......if you are faced with someone in this situation,
it wouldn't be boring then, i can tell you from experience;)
my sister mentioned she was glad to learn this as Vacation Bible School
was coming up.
i never thought of that.
Good one Nancy:)

please forgive me if this post is all over the place.
if i take any more time to organize, it may never get done.
i can tell you THAT from experience too:)
my sources are at the end of this blog post.
  i don't know nearly enough about it,
but just want to share what i have learned through the years.


first, what is "anaphylaxis"?
ANAPHYLAXIS:  a potentially fatal condition in which sufferers
have trouble breathing because of constricted airways
 (caused by swelling of passageways due to allergy),
circulatory collapse (experience a sudden and drastic drop in blood pressure),
potential heart failure (have an increased pulse rate and may pass out).


*Food allergies cause between 150-200 deaths in the U.S each year,
with almost 60% of those stemming from peanut allergies.


*Peanut allergy is the most common cause of deaths from food allergies.

*According to scientists,
peanut and tree nut (pecans, walnuts, almonds etc.) affect approx.
12-15 million americans.
Then there are those who suffer from EQUALLY SEVERE
Bee Sting Allergies. (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.)

*THERE IS NO CURE for peanut allergy and no therapies
that eliminate or reduce the severity of peanut allergy,
only treatments to be given after the fact.

*Reactions can be mild
 (tingling sensation, metallic taste in the mouth, warmth, scattered hives, swelling around the lips and on face, itching, runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, wheezing, pale, GI symptoms such as cramping or vomiting),
or SERIOUS.
ex. of hives after ingesting peanuts:

this is exactly how Taylor looked when she was younger and had accidental
contact with peanuts, even something as mild as another child touching her with peanuts on her hands.
now we have moved on to a severe peanut allergy, 
after assuming it was "ONLY" a mild one.

*Reactions can begin and proceed RAPIDLY, in extreme cases proving
FATAL within minutes.

*They used to think you could outgrow a peanut allergy,
estimating that approx 20% will outgrow it.
However, according to Viviana Temino, MD, Assistant Professor at the
University of Miami Medical School,
"if you have been allergic since childhood,
it's more likely you will stay that way."
she then goes on to say that the confusion comes because of other food allergies.
“A lot of little kids develop food allergies, but they are more likely to grow out of allergies such as eggs and milk," she says. "A peanut allergy is more persistent.”
so much for outgrowing this monster!

*did you know that peanuts are not a nut?

they are actually a legume, meaning a person who is allergic

to peanuts may not be allergic to nuts.

but it can happen.

Taylor is highly allergic to peanuts and also allergic to tree nuts.....

and for good measure, soy.

*Roasting peanuts makes them more allergenic.....and we roast our peanuts in the

United States.

UNLIKE other countries, which MAY indicate why their 

incidence of peanut allergy is much lower.

*Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention, including an injection of epinephrine

(commonly called an epi-pen) that most known allergic sufferers carry with them

and if not, most emergency medical personnel.  If a shot of epi is given, it must be followed up by a visit to the emergency room for a few reasons.

one being the use of a life saving drug means the patient needs to be seen in ER

and also because if they have not vomited,

the allergen remains in their body and can flare up again after a few hours.

this is called a biphasic reaction and it can be worse than the first reaction.

(after 17 years, this was the first time i had heard this fact!)

*if you have a history of asthma or family allergies, and/or have a history
of family anaphylaxis,
your chance of having a life threatening reaction is greater.

*once you have had an anaphylactic reaction,
 your odds INCREASE that you will have another.

Okay, because it is SO important,
here is a review of the SYMPTOMS of an
ANAPHYLACTIC/LIFE THREATENING reaction:
Symptoms of Anaphylaxis

Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include:
• Breathing: wheezing, shortness of breath, throat tightness, cough, hoarse voice, chest pain/tightness, trouble swallowing, itchy mouth/throat, nasal stuffiness/congestion
• Circulation: pale/blue color, low pulse, dizziness, lightheadedness/passing out, low blood pressure, shock, loss of consciousness
• Skin: hives, swelling, itch, warmth, redness, rash
• Stomach: nausea, pain/cramps, vomiting, diarrhea
• Other: anxiety, feeling of impending doom, itchy/red/watery eyes, headache, cramping of the uterus

and here is a list of 

Some Unexpected Sources of Peanut

• Sauces such as chili sauce, hot sauce, pesto, gravy, mole  sauce, and salad dressing
• Sweets such as pudding, cookies, and hot chocolate
• Egg rolls
• Potato pancakes
• Pet food
• Specialty pizzas
• Asian and Mexican dishes
• Some vegetarian food products, especially those advertised as meat substitutes
• Foods that contain extruded, cold-pressed, or expelled peanut oil, which may contain peanut protein
• Glazes and marinades

basically, there is no getting around it.

peanuts are EVERYWHERE!

and to make matters WORSE,

there are a BUNCH of food allergies out there.

According to the food allergy network;

Top Food Allergens

• Eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish.   Estimated prevalence⁹, some based on self-report, among the U.S. population:
  • Peanut: 0.6-1.3%
  • Tree nuts: 0.4-0.6%
  • Fish: 0.4%
  • Crustacean shellfish (crab, crayfish, lobster, shrimp): 1.2%
  • All seafood: 0.6% in children and 2.8% in adults
  • Milk and egg: based on data within and obtained outside the United States, this rate is likely to be 1-2% for young children and 0.2-0.4% in the general population.

Yikes, huh?

as a parent of a child who has been allergic her whole life, 

i have always believed the responsibility is mine and now mine and Taylor's

to inform others and be prepared.

when she was in playgroups, the other mother's knew about it

and didn't prepare things with peanuts.

they also knew what to do in case of emergency.

never once did i ask another mother to feed her child something else because of my daughter.

if there was a problem,

i would pack our own food or leave.

simple as that.

she has learned to question everything since she was younger and not to eat

unknown foods.

i know.....but what happened?

a case of letting our guard down and a particularly irresistible 

rice krispie treat:)

****Teens are the most at risk for fatal allergic reactions, and studies have shown that education of their friends would make living with a food allergy easier.****

today, we make sure her roommates at her summer ballet programs are aware,

as well as the resident nurse and staff at the school.

Taylor carries an epi-pen

(and WILL NOT forget it again:)

as well as benadryl for a mild reaction.

She also has a medical alert bracelet which i have purchased and made various bracelets for her.  The original bracelet came from an AMAZING

source,

Lauren's Hope.

she has so many different types of allergy alert jewelry, 

for young and old

boys and girls,

casual and dressy.

just look at some of the items......

this one from BW Silver looks really cool too!

so you see, there are a lot of options.

personally, i never let Taylor stray too much from the traditional 

because i want to make sure people realize it IS a medical alert bracelet,

but at least you have options.

if i had my way, she would have a tattoo on her wrist.

okay, it would be small and cute, maybe with a heart or cross

with the med alert sign too and a simple "peanut allergy".

believe it or not, this is a trend, starting with temporary tattoos for little kids and changing to permanent ones as they get older.

maybe i would and maybe not.

after last weekend, i certainly think so but......

okay, okay, this is long.

i know.

but hang on.

say you work with kids, volunteer, teach sunday school, are hosting

a playdate or mom's club (with kiddies).

how can you prepare.

first, do this.......

i guarantee someone will complain.

but don't let them get to you.

if it were their child, they would appreciate this.

some people just can't help being miserable, you know?

don't give in.

PLEASE!

ask mom if the child can have the treats you have planned.

let her make the call.

know the symptoms of reaction.

here are a few more tips......

  Even under the most watchful eye exposure to peanuts can happen, it's just a fact of life.  Don't freak out....with care, these children are just like all the others. 

know the signs:

1. Skin changes

2.  Breathing changes

3.  Tummy Trouble: 

What to do: In the presence of hives or other skin changes, give oral Benadryl and call the parent.  If the child is experiencing any two of these signs at the same time give the Epipen and call 911.  CALL 911 FIRST, then call the parent.  Make sure you give the Epipen to the EMT, because the hospital might need to know exactly how much medication the child received.  

As many an allergist has said, when in doubt, just use the Epipen.  The benefits far outweigh the risks.  

and lastly (WHEW, right?)

if your child has an allergy,

have a PLAN!

this one from peanut allergy kids is AMAZING!

how cool! 

all allergy suffers should carry something like this.

i know my daughter will get it stuffed in her purse:)

this should be in every backpack, diaper bag, purse, nurses office.....

it's that good.

a few more tips......

when flying, you can request when you make your reservation that 

peanut products NOT be served.

ask to talk to a supervisor.

every little bit helps.

try to think of places where cross contamination might occur.

if you go out for ice cream, ask for a new scoop to be used.

we did that Saturday night at Haagen Dasz and the young girl

immediately said "peanut allergy"?

we said yes, she got a new scoop

 AND put it under a high pressure cleaner.

now, one favor, please.

some in the medical community say this is overblown.

to them i say tell that to the parents who have lost a child.

what does it hurt to be prepared.

absolutely nothing.

and it might save a child.

that's what counts!

you can find more info at the links i mentioned.

                           

also, most info came from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma

and Immunology, as well as Medicine Net and the 

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

Hugs and Blessings to All.......

Suzanne

Check out the GREATIST/GREATEST website.....

HAPPY MONDAY!

you know I'm usually the LAST to discover cool stuff.

and maybe that's the case today.

but.....

just in case....

you've simply GOTTA check this out!

it's the-

seriously!

the website is Great.

"Greatist is your go-to source for all things fitness, health, and happiness."

now, i can't personally vouch for EVERY single article.

but the ones i've checked out so far have been VERY cool.....

full of great tips like this.....

 file://localhost/Users/phildutcher/Desktop/greatist.com:%202.webloc

or this.....

file://localhost/Users/phildutcher/Desktop/greatist.com:.webloc

here are some more topics.....

I want to lose weight. Fight Cravings Boost Metabolism The Ultimate Guide To Interval Training Understand What’s In Your Food Opt for Healthier Snacks I want to get stronger. Build a Home Gym Time Your Rest Try Kettlebells Boost Workouts With Supersets Visualize Your Sets I want to relieve stress. Treat Yourself With Some Retail Therapy Meditate To Build Your Brain Sleep Like a Champ Garden for Happiness Learn to Say “No”

I want to eat better. 80 Healthy Recipe Substitutions Find Which Foods to Buy Organic Try A Healthier Take On Ice Cream The Problem With Frozen Yogurt Cut Down on Sodium I want to get motivated. Harness The Power Of Positive Affirmations Find The Right Workout Environment For You Wear Red To Boost Confidence And Drive Battle Fatigue With a Workout Escape the Bed I want to start working out. Learn The Need-To-Know Gym Etiquette Try A Beginner’s Interval Program Find a Trainer Train for a 5k Run Get Fit With A Playground Classic

hope you like it!