Spinning...Cupcake Fibers.

I've been doing a little spinning lately since I don't seem to have energy for anything else. This fiber is from Cupcake Fibers and wonderfully and lovingly prepared. Each box is a special gift. I purchased this before I even had my wheel. I finally obtained the nerve to spin it and its been a great experience. I am glad that I practiced on other not-so-important roving before this.

I also finally named my wheel. It's funny how long it took. It's been 4 months so we are still in the "just getting to know each other" stage. I would think of a name and she would say to me, "well, it's ok, I'll spin by it, but not really my name." Kinda like a cat. You know, they have at least three: the one they are called, the one they come to, and their real one.

Her name came to me while spinning this yarn. Butterfly it is.

Good day. Happy spinning if you spin.

coffee...useful tips.

Coffee grounds are more useful than we think. Love this article. Check it out.

Thank you yahoo for the link.
Good day.

Movie quotes...Batman Begins.

"It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you." --Batman Begins (2005)

I just love the movies. Especially when you find a useful quote that makes you think or laugh or cry. I couldn't agree more with the above quote. In my opinion, what people do is much more important that what they say. Sometimes I miss that, and it's really to my own detriment and my own fault for missing this. I guess that's where truly observing people is the key element and not "wishing" or "hoping" for certain behaviors from others or myself.

The quote also reminds me to watch my own behavior as well and making certain that my own behavior is really the impression I want to impart to others. Remember you can only change yourself not others. I hope what you do is a positive influence to others.

Good day and enjoy doing what defines you. Let's hope it's a positive experience for all involved.

Food and GNO...

tomato basil
GNO-Blue Star
Hello,
Haven't been one much for posting lately. You'll have to put me on your GoogleReader to be notified of updates, if you so choose.

Here' is a lovely recommendation for food:

fresh basil
fresh mozzarella cheese
sliced tomatoes
balsamic vinaigrette

arrange mozzarella, tomato and basil one on top of the other, sprinkle the vinaigrette over the top and then eat. I love it when its this simple. I've been eating this for the past 3 days. yummy. and a glass of red wine. double yummy.

GNO- for girls night out we went to the Blue Star and had a meat and cheese plate and hummus. All were delish and the service was terrific. Of course, on a Tuesday night they were not busy. We complimented the meal with a lush, full-bodied, berry BenMarco Malbec wine from Argentina. mmmmmhmmm, good. I just love the presentation of food. So took some quick pics and encourage you to enjoy making your own.

Happy T day,
Good day.

Romantic at heart...

Personally, I am a romantic at heart, sssh don't tell. I absolutely love, love stories about true love, soul mates, kindred spirits. I believe its what we all search for and some are lucky enough to be smart enough to recognize it and "do the right things" and keep it. Others... well, others...oh, well never mind. I'll keep those many thoughts to myself for now.

Goodnightgram always has a lovely post when speaking of Officer Friendly (OF) and it always brings tears to my eyes. By the end of this post I was crying from the simple beauty of her writing.

I do so enjoy her love story and am honored that she shares it with us.
Good day and good weekend to you all.

In Search of...safe Herbal remedies...menopause.---Update

Peaceful Mtn-Hot Flash Rescue
Greetings and Salutations,

Remember my search for homeopathic remedies for menopause??? As some of you may or may not know I have seen two doctors who refuse to believe that someone as young as myself is going through menopause and refuse to help me. I also always mention my issues with any healthcare professional I may be around and they state the same thing too, I'm too young. My feeling: what do they know, everybody's different. Hence, my search.

This past week I became so desperate from no sleep and so many hot flashes that I thought I was going to spontaneously com-bust or fall over from being dizzy from the heat from the hot flashes that I finally bit the big one and found several remedies without giving myself a heart attack---at least so far anyway. There may be other health issues associated with each that I am unaware of at the moment that they cause. The cost was pricey $10 to $11 dollars for a 1-2oz bottle. I did say I was desperate.

The photo is of Peaceful Mountain Hot Flash Rescue and its a soothing mist for "in the moment" hot flashes. I've been using it for a few days now and it really does work. One mention, is it smells very peppery-ish, like pepper spray. Be careful if you use it. I have to hold my breath and spray lightly as its hard for me to breath a little right after I spray it. It seems similar to Icy-Hot, and by that I mean that if you fan yourself it gets hot where the spray is, which is totally counterproductive to what you desire, but if you leave it alone it feels like its cool where the spray is on your skin. Kind of like its freezing. Interesting, eh???

I have noticed that I've been sneezing more since using it. Maybe the so-called "pepper" in it??

The ingredients listed:

inactive ingredients: aloe vera concentrate, black cohosh root, chaste tree fruit, lavender buds, natural plant extract, phenoxyethanol & caprylyl glycol & sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, purified water, sage leaf, St. John's Wort aerial parts, vitamin C, Vitamin E (soy), and wild yarn root.

active ingredients: Capsicum Annuum 3x, Pulsatilla 3x, sanguinaria Canadnsis 3x

I really do like that the USA-FDA requires ingredients to be listed if over a certain percentage. Its great.

I also found some liquid Valerian Root and liquid Black Cohosh.
The valerian root is supposed to be helpful for sleeping and the black cohosh for menopause symptoms and also a sedative.

Here's an interesting link for the black cohosh. Turns out it can cause liver damage. Hence my opinion in my side note below.

and link for the Valerian root

For each I only use half the recommend drops 15 (30 drops recommended), which is the full eye dropper. I use half to 1/4 eye dropper. Remember my experiment with the herbs for thyroid? I almost caused myself a heart attack, since the herbal company used 20 times the recommended amount. ugh. I also put the liquids in cranberry juice instead of water as the liquids taste horrible but aren't so bad in juice.

The valerian root does seem to be helping with sleep issues and the black cohosh with hot flash issues. Yeah me. I am thrilled to be able to sleep again and not so intense hot flashes. Plus I've noticed my attention span is getting better, which is good since I am having problems with this too. Maybe because I have now gotten some sleep for a few days in a row instead of having one good night and several bad nights.

Looks like both should only be used short-term due to the health concerns.

I also make certain to drink lots of water to help with reducing hot flashes too. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Its always a good idea no mater what your health issues.

Side note: as I was in the herbal store there was a conversation going on ahead of me that it turns out the FDA is looking into regulating the herbal industry. The two speaking were against it. Personally, after my near heart attack experiment, I think its a good idea. The implementation of regulating is going to be where they get it right or wrong on whether or not it is helpful. But at least with regulation the claim a company makes must be correct, which means research, which means money.

Thank you to NCCAM for the links.
I have not been given any benefits from Peaceful Mountain company for my comments.

Good day and good luck if you have a similar search.

Fellow blog posts...inspiring.

I've been really bad about keeping up with fellow blog posts. I really enjoy them. I just have not been doing anything lately that I enjoy. No spinning, no knitting---gasp, something must truly be wrong if no knitting!!!

I guess you could say I took a break from life. Today I have been reading a couple favs: Adventures in Paradise

and the following:
Be More with Less--10 Things you should Quit today. I think what I like most about her post is this quote, "you have to let go,instead of try harder. All that pushing, reworking and forcing might set you back." ---I couldn't agree more with this statement.

I feel as though over the past year I have been pushing, reworking and forcing life and its really set me back. My own choices and thoroughly my own disappointment in myself regarding said choices. I suppose that's why I have needed a break from life and rejuvenate, for lack of a better word.

I also like her statement about "fixing" people or "fixing" other people's problems. We all know people like that don't we?? Those that live to do this. Those that feel good or needed or complete when they do this??? This issue has also indirectly affected me and has been something of a drain. I need to let it go and be happy that its finally gone from my life. Yeah, me.

What have I been doing??? I took the time to rediscover lost enjoyments. For example I went to an auction and had a great time people watching and finding and looking at old items. I forgot how much I used to enjoy going to auctions. It was nice to revisit this pastime.

Take time with life and click the link above and find out what you should quit. Enjoy.
Good day.