The Paleo Way - Almost 1 Month

Crazy diets.  Crazy fads.  Weight loss and healthy eating can go hand in hand.  I've suffered from mild Gastroparesis for a few years now.  My GI doctor just wants me to have more meds and more meds!  I couldn't seem to lose weight...even when working out for 2 hrs/day!  The pounds just kept packing on!  This is a story of my journey to lose weight...lots of weight.

Above is a "before" shot.  I'm the lady in the middle.  Over the next year, my goal is to get to a healthy weight before I turn 40.  With my food choices for the Gastroparesis, I was eating a lot of carbs and a lot of hidden sugars and processed food.  Because of my acid reflux, smoothies were out of the question because if I bent over, they would just come right back up.  A friend of mine suggested the Practical Paleo book written by Diane Sanfilippo, BS, NC.  She lost 15 lbs. during the 30 day challenge. 

It's available from Amazon right here 

 

She bought it for me for my birthday.  I was a little skeptical at first.  Um, yeah...I'm not supposed to eat any veggies not cooked.  They stay in my tummy too long and rot!  But I must say, so far my Gastroparesis is getting a tiny bit better.  There are lots of things to learn and to buy.   It's expensive.  But as with anything, it's what you make of it.  Can't go all organic?  Then don't!  Can't go 30 days totally Paleo?  Then don't!  Can't go cold turkey?  Then don't!  (Of course, they recommend that you do to get maximum results.)  This is your journey and you are the only one that can do it.  You need to do it for YOU!  Your pace.  Your rules.  Your body.  Your weight loss.  Take charge!

 Step 1 - Food

For me, my first step was to get the food that I needed.  Have a little fun with it.  I got to use my label maker ;)  Some flours and items I bought weren't Paleo.  I tried to use them up anyway so I wasn't wasting.  Live and learn right?

What I learned

Not all flours are created equal.  Unless you are doing a lot of baking, go easy on what you buy for flours.  Want a nice biscuit?  It's probably not going to happen.  Pancakes and brownies, yeah maybe...but the same bread/biscuits...nope not going to happen.  Eggs will be your best friend when cooking/baking.  After preparing all this, my go-to that I need to have on hand?  My raw almonds.

One of my favorite recipes from the Practical Paleo book is the Swirly Crustless Quiche:

I added bacon, onions and peppers.  I love bacon.  It takes a lot of eggs, but you can eat for days!

Disclaimer:  Consult your doctor before trying any new diet/exercise program.  I am NOT a doctor.  What works for my body, might not be ok for yours.   This is a story of my journey and what works for my body.  Good luck!

Camera Review: Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Camera reviews on the web were useless when I was trying to upgrade to a D-SLR a year ago.  Ultimately, I found my fit from trial and error...not from some website telling me it's 5 stars!   Also, if you are used to a certain brand with your point and shoot camera, you might like to stick to that brand when you buy a D-SLR camera.  

In this segment of my blog, I want to show REAL reviews from REAL people...over the next few months test driving them all!  These people aren't paid to say their camera is the best...they know it is because it fits them just right.  

I want to review the Canon Power Shot SX10IS first.  It's a higher end point & shoot camera.  It's not my favorite, but my sister (Candy) and my mom (Mary) love it.  I'm a Sony girl myself but have to give every brand a fair shot ;)

"I have had various kinds of digital cameras.  My best so far is the Canon Power Shot SX10IS, which I bought second hand.  Good vibrant color and great zoom 20 X  optical zoom  10.0 MEGA pixels.  First camera that I have actually taken a picture of the moon and have it come out ok.  I know it is time for a new camera.  Lets see what the reviews are!" ~Mary

These are some of Mary's favorite photos that she's taken with her camera:

 

Moon 003  2012-10-20-  f5/7   1/15 sec  ISO 200

Look at that detail in the moon!  Love it!

 

 Tony 038   2013-2-23 - f/4.5  1/200  ISO-160

So beautiful!

 Watch 001  2013-2-23 - f/5.6  1/4 sec.   ISO 100

This shot was for a photography class: using manual settings

Dragonfly 112  2012-07-1  f/5.7  1/400 sec  ISO 200

Such detail!  The background is blurred out too. I can't wait for summer!

Thanks to Mary Loring for sharing her photos and review with me.

If you want to see more info/specs/review about the camera, you can visit http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-sx10-is/4505-6501_7-33280759.html

~happy snapping~

The Sky is the limit! Or is it?

My recent photography has brought me to the great outdoors at night.   I wanted to capture the stars and the moon together.  Later I discovered it's not possible to get the great detail on the moon plus the beautiful stars all in one photo (without high tech equipment or photoshop).  So today's focus is on the stars.

Camera used: Sony A57 DSLR

Lens: Tamron 18-270mm

Settings: F 3.5 , shutter 0.62 & ISO 3200

The above photo was one of the first photos that I took while trying to capture the stars.  If focusing on the stars alone, it should be a clear night.   It was almost a clear night...until my hubby put wood in the wood stove. 

The photo below is one of my favorites so far.  I have a long way to go but I like it.

 

Camera used: Sony A57 DSLR

Lens: Tamron 18-270mm

Settings: F 3.5, shutter 1/4 and ISO 3200

 

And what would the post be without a point and shoot version???  

I love my Sony Cybershot DSC- HX200V.  I don't know if I can ever ditch the p & s version for my dslr completely.  It's handy and fast.  I will admit, I can't fit as many stars.  So it's not my favorite for stargazing.

Camera used: Sony HX200-V

Settings: F 2.8, shutter 2 seconds, & ISO 1600

We live in NH and this week we can see comet Pan-STARRS.  You can read about where to see them in the night sky and what to look for through the local wmur website (this link might work: http://www.wmur.com/weather/How-to-spot-comet-Pan-STARRS-in-New-Hampshire-sky/-/9859398/19312426/-/hf1039/-/index.html.)  Last night I snapped a very quick photo of the moon and didn't realize that the comet was going to be in view.   So I missed it :(  But I will be looking tonight if it's clear!

)

Same blog NAME but different focus...

There's never going to be enough time to document all my adventures & stories.  I can only hope to catch a small glimpse of it before it passes by.  My focus lately has turned to my photography.   Instead of extensive cleaning, scrapbooking or or picking out new homeschooling curriculum, my focus is on catching that smaller part...maybe that macro shot of life that the average person might miss...or chooses to ignore.  After all, if you can't see it, is it really there? 




 My other focus is on camera reviews.  Over the past two years, I have searched for that perfect dslr camera.  Everyone has her/his view on what "the perfect camera" is.  But does that camera work for you?  Mine Retails for $3,000, body only but that's only my dream camera.





My hope is that by sharing what I've learned over the past few years,  it might encourage someone else to learn how to take photos with their own camera.  Do you really need that DSLR? And I will learn things from your comments  and experiences.  (psst...don't tell anyone but this cute little lady bug was shot using my Sony point & shoot!!!)

Homeschooling - Music Class

I homeschool two of my three children.  It's very hard to keep everything organized on a given day.  I do, however, enjoy music class.  It's a time that my mom comes up and teaches them the guitar...both kids learning the same instrument. 

My son is in his third year....

 and he's on his second foot reconstruction..yikes that story is for another day :)

My daughter didn't want her picture taken...she was too busy focusing on the task.  So I had to take it from afar...

 My mom also brings me a DD iced coffee...did I mention how much I love music class???!!!

Adoption...a life long process

Our adopted daughter is 7 now.  She loves to look through her scrapbook.  I tell the story over and over about how she grew in my heart.  She understands what foster care is.  But I wasn't ready for the hurt and anger that came out of her today. 

"What I can't understand Mom is why SHE didn't keep me!" she said.  I explained that the foster mom was only to take care of her until we found her...that God had a plan for us.  She abruptly replied, "I KNOW.  WHY DIDN'T THAT LADY THAT GREW ME IN HER BELLY KEEP ME."  Mind you that we aren't looking at the birthmom's picture...we don't have one.  I very calmly replied with my well-rehearsed line, "She chose to have you.  That was a good thing.  But some mommies and daddies aren't ready to parent their children."  Of course, that led to, "Well, did SHE have any other kids."  Instead of directly answering, I gently replied, "Well, when you are 18, maybe you can look her up and ask her yourself."  I know the truth.  I know that she has at least one other child.  I'm not ready to answer that one!

Some people think that adoption ends with the court document saying yes, you are the parents.  But that's just the start.  It's the beginning of a long road in which you won't have all the answers.  It's a constant struggle for acceptance.  Then one day, 18 years later, some questions may be answered...ending some of that hurt and anger.  Then the healing can truly begin.

This week's sketch at the Everyday Scrapper

Hop over to The Everyday Scrapper and see what's happening this week.

Smashing Bottlecaps via Sizzix

What a cool technique...now I just need some bottle caps!

Smashed Bottle Caps

I haven't tried it yet so let me know if you do!

This week's sketch over at The Everyday Scrapper:

the everyday scrapper updates......

Ever want to create a quick fridge magnet?  Well head over to http://www.theeverydayscrapper.com/ and see what I've been up to.

The sketch for this week is:

Hop over and have some fun!

The Water Effect on Scrapbook Pages and Cards

I've seen shaker boxes and now I've seen water!  This is a great way to add texture to your cards or scrapbook pages.  I'd use caution on scrapbook pages...don't use pictures that you don't have a copy of of!!  (just in case the bag breaks!!)

Key Supplies Needed:

Hair or Aloe gel (I didn't have hair gel so I used green aloe gel)
Jewelry ziplock bag

Other Helpful Supplies:

Sticky Tape (very tacky double sided tape)
Glue Runner
Desired Cardstock

Step 1:

Squirt desired amount of gel into ziplock bag.  The more you squirt, the more colorful and liquid you will have.  Less might give you more bubbles.

Step 2:

Release most of air from bag.  Zip closed.  If you don't release the air, you will be left with unneeded air pockets and a fatter project. 

Step 3:

Make a frame.  You want your opening to be slightly smaller than your ziplock bag.  This way you have room for sticky tape.

Step 4:

Tape bag onto frame.   Attach photo behind the bag.  Lightly kneed the bag until the desired bubbles are where you want them.   Trim photo if needed.

Step 5:

Finish your page/card.

Visit us over at www.theeverydayscrapper.com for more great ideas and challenges!