Sneaky Moms, Healthy Family

Picky teen, picky husband, picky me.  We all need to eat healthy but....
A great way to add healthy fresh fruit to the diet is with a smoothie.   We all know that.  Fruit is better than a pastry.  Its low calorie, nutritional etc.  Getting the guys in my family to actually drink one is the hard part.  Some times I dont feel like making one for myself.  The answer is to have the fruit prepped or frozen.  Ask them if they would like a fruit 'drink' and when they hesitate, grab the ingredients and throw them into the blender.  Mix and done.  Hand them the drink and make them feel guilty if they dont drink it.  Works for me.
Here are the ingredients I used today.

Fresh pineapple, strawberries, peeled fresh orange, frozen bananas.

  Always grate the zest from an orange before peeling it ( the orange part not the white part) .  Dry the zest at room temperature then store it in an airtight container until you need to add some extra flavor to a cookie recipe.

Add 1 teaspoon of honey if desired a bit of coconut and a smidgen of the orange zest.  Whirl in your blender.  Mine was a little dry so I added a small amount of pomegranate juice and mixed again.  You can add any fruits you like or have on hand.  Yum!  I really like these but if your family is hesitant,serve it up  in a non see thru cup ( a sippy cup :)   One taste and they will change their minds.

Moms have to be sneaky like that.

Crocheting Again

Im so happy to be crocheting again!  The carpal tunnel, MS, fibro (sigh) or whatever it was, has improved.  I crocheted a sleeveless sweater from a Lion Brand yarn, Vannas Choice in 403 Barley. No pattern was used but I have seen several that are similiar to mine.   I love the softness and the warm brown color. I added a removeable vintage button and loop to the cowl neck.  This will be one of my favorites Im sure.

No Hugs Please!

A hug is a good thing. Right? Well not if its associated with Multiple Sclerosis.  I dont know who named it MS Hug but they certainly dont feel what I do!  The hug for me is more of a kick in the chest kind of feeling that lasts for minutes or up to an hour.  I call it the Demon Grip.  I have experienced it a few times in years past before I was diagnosed.  Was in the hospital twice.  Ignorant dr gave me a GI cocktail.  Well I guess it worked because I threw it up and got some relief from the terrible spasm.  That is what the hug/grip is.  A terrible muscle spasm that can make you feel like you are having a heart attack.  I recovered in a few hours but now I am feeling like crap.  I suppose this is a flare.  Hard to tell the difference between 'normal' life for me and a flare these days.  I will rest today.  Try to not talk to anyone.  Maybe find a movie in my collection.   Crafting is out.

Make a Plan or Wing it?

Im the kind of person who likes to plan everything in advance, well in advance.  That doesnt happen much anymore.  Life with MS and fibro means not knowing how you will feel from one day to the next. Sometimes it means not knowing from morning to evening.  Things have gotten more predictable and stable for me now. I know that shopping will have to be a one store, as quickly as possible trip.  My Hubs does most of the grocery shopping now.  He makes way more trips to the store than he should but I really appreciate it.  Lifting a huge bag of cat litter to the cart, to the trunk and then up my stairs is just too much for me.  Oh those steps!
The Kits keep me company.  Ive heard having one will lower your blood pressure.  I dont see how, considering mine are either constantly begging for food or getting into trouble.

A New Year The Same Me

Christmas is over.  The decorations were taken down as quickly as possible. I reconfigured the storage situation.  Most of them are no longer stored in the attic. They will be easier to retrieve next season.  New Years resolutions?  I dont make them anymore.  I only strive to do my best but I did realize the need to schedule some rest time everyday.  This will be harder than resolving to get organized this year !  I normally do all I can until I am ready to fall out...then I rest.  With Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia you should NEVER over do.  Do as I say not as I do :)   In order to get more rest I have to be better organized.  Wardrobe needs to be simplified, clutter must be removed. Ugh.  Why cant you do one thing without doing a dozen more?  Ok. I will do my best.  Simple, uncluttered, probably not but I will get more rest.