Menopause Should Come With Instructions

Do you ever feel like you have experienced most of the unpleasant things surrounding womanhood and fully expect all of those types of things to end when you approach or experience menopause? If you are like me, you will quickly agree that pre-menopause or menopause certainly don't come with a list of instructions. Fifty million women across North America are approaching or experiencing menopause and most have an average of five menopausal symptoms. But no two experiences are exactly alike. I would be interested to see how many of those fifty million women go through it alone and do not consult their doctor to ease some of the discomfort of this stage in life. I can honestly say that because if I am honest here, I would fall under that category myself. I certainly don't recommend going through menopause alone, and consulting a doctor to ease some of the unpleasant symptoms is really a good idea. But if you are like me, you feel that menopause sort of sneaked up on you and the symptoms can be trying at best to deal with.

I was offered a chance to review some products by Poise Feminine Wellness Line and was pleasantly surprised with the results of the products I tested. In fact, The 2013 Product of the Year award-winning Poise Feminine Wellness line was introduced to help women approach these changes with confidence. The line consists of five products designed to help women with feeling fresh, staying cool, and intimacy.

The line of Poise Products includes: Roll-On Cooling Gel and Body Cooling Towelettes provide hot flash comfort. My package included the Body Cooling Towelettes and these were the first products that I tried. These towelettes are hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested and provided instant cooling. Specifically, one of the most amazing things about these towelettes was that they provided an instant cooling sensation. Body Cooling Towelettes offer instant cooling and refreshment. Gently wipe the towelette on wrists, chest or neck to feel cool and comfortable. Featuring a portable, re-sealable package, these towelettes are easy to use anywhere you go. This is a product that would be great for women of any age. Personal Lubricant provides long lasting lubrication to enhance your intimate experience. This lubricant features an easy to use bottle and is made without Fragrance, Glycerin or Parabens. While there are many types of lubricant out on the market, I have to be honest here, and say I had never tried any of those types of products before. I am learning that "dealing with these unpleasant" bodily changes is not something that has to be endured. Poise  has designed wonderful products for women our age who are going through all of these types of symptoms, and these products really help comfort during this stage in life. After trying the personal lubricant, I can wholeheartedly recommend this product and I feel sure my husband would have no complaints as well. All I wanted to ask myself was "Who Knew?"  This really is a wonderful product, beautifully and discretely packaged and this will be something I continue to use in the future. Panty Fresheners and Feminine Wash provide daily freshness from odors. Panty Fresheners have a fresh and clean scent that lasts up to four hours. I was most excited about the Poise panty fresheners.

As my body seems to not be able to make up its mind if I am through menopause or not, these were great to try and keep on hand for a "just in case" moment. For most of my adult life, I have been pretty loyal to one or two products to help ease the unpleasantness of once a month accordance. After trying Poise panty liners, I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh and clean I felt and how easy they were to carry with me on the go. I would recommend trying these for yourself, I found the long liners gave me the extra confidence I needed to not worry about any mishaps during my day. The Feminine Wash provides daily freshness with a unique formulation that is pH balanced for your intimate area. Glycerin and paraben free, this gentle wash will help you feel clean and confident. I found the Feminine Wash pleasant to use and added the feeling of clean and refreshed during the days I needed a little extra. I myself, know I am not completely out of menopause yet, and honestly I don't know how many more years or months I will have to deal with this stage in my life. I often wish I had had a guide for what to expect and how to deal with things a couple of years ago. That would have explained a lot and I maybe would have done things a bit differently. I do know however, that no matter what the time frame will be for this stage to pass, I have found several products that will make the journey a bit easier.  Women can go to the Poise Facebook page to learn more about the Poise Feminine Wellness Line and sign up for a coupon or sample.

Now, since I have shared some rather personal life facts here about myself, I have to ask you all a question. “How are you approaching life's changes confidently?” Are you just trudging along like I found myself doing, or are you embracing the changes and marching forward? There is no right or wrong answer here, I just think it is a sensitive subject that many women could benefit from themselves by reading others experiences. Each comment will automatically be entered for a $100 Visa gift card.

 
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 4/04/13-4/30/13.
Be sure to visit the Poise brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Crock-pot Creamy Green Beans and New Potatoes

This is a great recipe for summer cooking. Prepare in your crock-pot and let it go. Super easy. Super delish.



Crock-pot Creamy Green Beans and Potatoes

You will need:

2 lbs. new potatoes - small ones are really the best
1 1/2 lbs fresh green beans
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup water
1/4 cup Dijon mustard (any variety will do)
3/4 - 1 teaspoon dried dill
dash black pepper



How to:

Wash potatoes and place in crock-pot. Next snip off ends of fresh green beans and snap in half, add to the crock-pot. In a separate bowl, add soup, water, mustard, black pepper and dill, mix well. Add to the veggies in crock-pot and give everything a stir to mix well.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-5 hours or until beans and potatoes are tender. Stir well before serving.



This is great as a meal all by itself. I added a little sliced cantaloupe with mine. It is a easy side dish for pork chops or chicken as well.....best part is, fresh veggies without heating up the kitchen in the summertime!! Enjoy!


This is linked to Foodie Friday Today.

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Advice for Modern Times in 2011

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a "dog-gone" good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so  please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies being showed that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

With the start of the new year, here is some advice from folks who lived through the Great Depression, and it is good sound advice for our modern times. Maybe you can take a piece of this information and apply it for the new year. I myself intend to do just that.

Soup line during the Great Depression.

1.Save a dollar for every dollar you spend. I’m a big believer in the Pay-As-You-Go rule, but if you allow more cash to go out of your door than goes under your mattress, you’re asking for trouble.

2. New doesn’t automatically mean better. New this and shiny that may get you a lot of attention and give you a feeling of importance, but new stuff usually costs more than old stuff. Slightly used, gently used, or just plain used will often to the job.

3. Be thankful for what you have. All of us have complained about eating leftovers when we didn’t want to or complained about eating the same thing three times a week, but there are quite a few people in this world that might not know where the next meal will come from. Just be thankful you have what you have … if you have it.

4. Learn how to fix/maintain what you have. Nothing can be more frustrating than having a piece of machinery, whether it be your car or your laptop, that you rely upon, paid good money for, and have to pay someone to repair it. Eliminating the need for the repairman will save you countless hours and dollars over the years.

5. Waste not, want not! If you’re discarding a substantial portion of what you bought (or made yourself), you’re essentially throwing money in the garbage can. Either cut back on what you’re making, or find ways to reuse it at a later date.

6. Make cheap food taste like a million bucks. I probably violate this suggestion most of all because I’m a wannabe chef, but during my college years, my food budget rarely exceeded $100 per month. Learning how to make good eats on the cheap will save you thousands per year if you can learn a few cooking basics.

7. Don’t pay what you can do/make for yourself. It seems like an odd question to ask, but why would you pay someone to do something that you can do for yourself. I understand that we’re all super busy and we may not be an expert in everything that modern society pushes upon us, but thanks to the Internet (praise be Google!), you can find a DIY video for almost anything on your Honey Do List.

8. Preparation can keep you from being blown off course. Many times during your life you’ll face some type of adversity. The more prepared you are to handle it, the better off you’ll be at weathering the storm. As the old adage goes: you can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails!

9. Family time is fun time. I’m one of the least social members of my family, but nothing beats a classic game of Monopoly with the folks. This weekend happened to be catching up over baseball games on TV and lots of hanging out in the kitchen. Funny how positive social interactions work aren’t they?

10. Make your big purchases off season. One of my cardinal rules of shopping (which I loathe to do) is buy most of my winter clothing in April. This way, the retailers are desperate just to break even on their investment and clear the excess inventory to make way for Spring/Summer months. This works equally well when buying summer clothing in November.

11. Marry someone who complements your weak points. No this doesn’t mean someone who will say “good job” each time you do a good deed. Not that kind of compliment. In a complementary relationship, your strong suits will make up for your companion’s weaknesses and vice versa. In the end, the marriage is stronger than the two individuals!

12. Exchange time, skills or service as currency. If you know how to play the piano and your neighbors want their kid to learn to play piano, find something they have that you want.


13. Learn to preserve and store food. Even if you’re not into growing your own food, it never hurts to buy in bulk and keep it frozen for a few months.

Community gardens during the Great Depression

14. Start a garden and pay yourself for growing your own food. Why pay a grocery store for food that you can grow yourself? Many people these days are under the false impression that gardening is too difficult to try and best left to the hippies and hillbillies. Hardly the case since Michelle Obama and started a victory garden on White House grounds.

15. Credit cards are the devil. If you tell my Grandma that you bought her Christmas present on credit, you better hope you got your fill of pumpkin pie prior to opening gifts. Chances are, she’ll cut you off and give you a 10 minute lecture from Proverbs. Most old school consumers won’t even think about buying something unless they pay in cash.

16. Patience is a virtue. Be patient, save your pennies, and wait until they turn to dollars. Paying cash is the only way to go. I admit, this doesn’t translate well to 2009, but if you can rely upon your debit card more than your credit card, you’re on the right path.

17. Work hard, and work often. My family wasn’t exactly the affluent type back in the day, so I’m glad to have some of that blue collar mentality rubbed off on me. I never really understood what it meant to say “I built that” or “I made that from scratch” when I was a kid, but I certainly learned what those phrases meant once I became a bit older.

18. At the end of the day, think how to make tomorrow a little better. This phrase is fairly common, but it’s been sitting on my grandfather’s antique desk for as long as I can remember. Probably longer than I’ve been alive. But to me, it’s a testament to how both of grandparents lived their lives. Over time, little improvements add up a lot quicker than you think.

19. Envy is still a sin. Even though I’m the blaspheming evolutionist of the family, it doesn’t mean I don’t pay attention to sound advice. Believe it or not, the Bible has really good tips on debt avoidance and the “debt is slavery” principle.

20. Speak convincingly and be a leader. We all know a hierarchy exists in most families, and if that happens to be you, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion. Even if you hurt a few feelings here and there, they’re family and they’ll eventually forgive you.

Signs from the Great Depression

Remember, these tips are coming from a 75 year old so the advice may not transfer all that well to modern times, but only a (young) fool would ignore someone that has accumulated a lifetime of worthwhile knowledge.

article originally found here.

Happy New Year Everyone....I am looking forward to the new year and lots of vintage goodness!!

A New Year....Same Weight Struggles......and a recipe

Officially Sundays will be the day I will check in with my weeks progress, and try to do my weight loss post on this day, including some recipes for the coming week.....I was going to do that about 2 months ago, but we know that did not happen...I am so sorry.....I know many have followed along the struggle I have had and feel like I have left them hanging, well, I am finally getting my act together... and now for a quick recap...and get us up to speed for what is to be from here on out.....

As of Thanksgiving, I had stuck to the diet, and supplements and lost a total of 24 pounds....several pounds of body fat and had added some muscle mass without any exercise.....I will be more detailed on the weigh in part from here on out, each time I visit my nutritionist, I will report.

Just to give you an idea, the office has a fancy schmancy scale....you take your shoes and socks off, step up on the scale, hold two stainless steel handles in each hand, and a computer prints out your weight, BMI, body fat per limb, body trunk, etc. it will totally blow your mind or at the very least open it up to reality.......trust me.......there is absolutely no hiding any pounds from the scale...it picks it all up....

I had done pretty good until after Thanksgiving, but the Christmas/New Year holiday was a bit stressful, and well....I lost focus....I gained about 6 pounds, which I guess really is not bad, but when you work so hard to take it off...well, it seems like a lot.....so it is time to get back on track.....

I want to share a recipe with you that is really yummy, good for you and not a lot of fat....I will be enjoying this soup next week at work and at home.....I am a foodie by heart, I love to cook, and well, you all know I had to have the Pioneer Woman's cookbook, I love to visit all the foodie blogs and get new recipes...The ONLY Problem with that is, well honestly, I should not be even reading the recipes on most of these posts...do you ever feel like browsing all of these wonderful, delightful new recipes only contributes to lack of success on a diet?...... Hello?.......anyone there?........have I lost you??? I hope some of the recipes I share you will find helpful...believe me, if I have tried something and it was not TASTY to me, it will never be posted here......I don't want to be a "diet foodie" but I do want to be a "healthy foodie" I want to help others who may be having a hard time starting a new journey.......and I don't want to lose the taste food in the process.

Next week, I'll post the diet I am following.....it may take me all week to work that into print.....but for some of you, it might really help if you are starting a weight loss plan, and if you stick with it, the weight will come off.....it has not been too difficult as long as I stay focused......hope you enjoy this wonderful recipe.....

Amazing Chicken Tortilla Soup

Calories per serving: 164
10 Servings

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium Jalapeno pepper, chopped and seeded
1/2 medium bell pepper
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast or 1 package tenders
2 cups frozen corn (can eliminate if you want)
2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 cup dry white wine or water ( I use water)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
Topping.....recipe to follow below.....


First, saute onion, garlic jalapeno and bell pepper with olive oil in a large pot until soft. Add all of remaining ingredients to large stock pot and bring to a boil. After about 15-20 minutes, remove the chicken breast and shred. ( I usually use two forks to shred chicken in a plate) Return shredded chicken to the pot and simmer an additional 45 minutes over medium heat. Serve, topped with tortilla chips.....recipe below.....

Seasoned Tortilla Strips

Calories per serving: 161
makes 7 one cup servings

1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or ground red pepper ( I use Cayenne)
12-14 6-inch corn tortillas
salt
Tabasco sauce, to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, stir oil and all of the spices together with a wire whisk.

Using a basting brush, brush one side of all the tortillas with the oil/spice mixture

Make 3-4 stacks of 4 tortillas.

Cut the tortillas into 1/4-1/2 inch strips

Put strips in a single layer on a couple of cookie sheets sprayed with Pam.
Bake until golden and crisp, about 10-15 minutes. If pans are on different oven racks, switch their positions about halfway through baking. Remove from oven and sprinkle with salt. Cool completely in pans and store in a zip lock bag. Garnish soup with strips

....ummmm so good!!

This is very good and satisfying and pretty low in calories...I have used the strips as a snack when I wanted something crunchy....usually about a 1/2 cup.

I know many have pledged to shed the pounds this year, if you are just starting, or trying to re-focus like myself....stay positive, provide yourself with snacks and foods you will eat, don't skip breakfast....and drink plenty of water. Skip the sodas, even diet.....they do nothing for you and the sweetener in the diet drinks are terrible for our bodies....remember we can do this....encourage one another!

My Action Plan For Thanksgiving Dinner and Recipes......

I am wise to say, this next week being Thanksgiving will be a major hurdle for me when it comes to food. I have planned ahead....and have a plan....for myself. It may mean, I have to cook extra food, (mainly for myself) but that is OK....it is a must for my success.

I usually cook the traditional Thanksgiving meal....and will this year too for my family. But along with those "must have" dishes, I am going to prepare the following for myself....as a substitution to some of the must have sides......of course, my family are welcome to try these new dishes out...but they are so stuck in tradition....I am sure I will be eating leftovers for days....

Turkey....as always, I will not eat the succulent honey baked ham that I love.....won't even taste it.....I will live!

Mashed potatoes.....southern, homemade potatoes.....no Thanksgiving would be complete without them....Here is my new version:

Mock Mashed Potatoes
extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves chopped garlic
1 cup chicken broth
sea salt & Pepper to taste
3 lbs. fresh cauliflower, cut into florets
1 cup green onions, chopped
1 Tbl. butter
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. In lg. bowl, drizzle a small amount of olive oil over cauliflower, toss to coat. Spread evenly on a 10X15 jelly roll pan. bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Toss garlic over the cauliflower for the last 5-7 minutes of roasting to bring out the garlic flavor. Remove from oven and place in large bowl. Add garlic, broth, butter, salt and pepper, mash with a potato masher or use a mixer. Stir in green onions.

Dressing - southern cornbread dressing....my family thinks I am the only one who can make dressing.....Here is the version I will be having:

Wild Rice Stuffing with Sage & apples
2 1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup wild rice
1 whole bay leaf
4 oz. onion (1/2 small onion, diced small)
6 oz. green apples (1 apple, peeled, cored & diced)
1 stalk chopped celery
2 teas. orange zest, grated
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2/3 cup diced tomato
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 cup parsley, chopped fine
2 TBL. fresh sage

In a small pot bring vegetable broth to a boil. Add wild rice and bay leaf, reduce hear and simmer partially covered for 35-45 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed. Add tomatoes, fluff rice mixture with a fork and set aside. Spray a nonstick pan with vegetable oil and heat over a medium-high heat. Add onions and saute for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent. Add celery, apple, sage and orange zest and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in cooked wild rice, parsley, salt, walnuts, pepper and mix well. Serving size is 3/4 cup.

The family will have Green Bean Casserole....I will have fresh steamed green beans with garlic.

And lastly, because this is one of my favorite recipes, and the original version is found HERE, I am able to substitute ingredients to enjoy this dish and I am super excited.

Broccoli Salad

2 bunches fresh broccoli
1 small onion, chopped
1 pound of uncured bacon (nitrate free) available in several brands at Target, cut in pieces and cooked
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup Vegenaise (available at central market) taste just like mayo..promise
1/2 cup Truvea (in place of sugar)
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

The how-to:
Cook the bacon until crisp, drain and crumble into small pieces. Us the whole pound of bacon. Next, cut the broccoli crowns from the stalks. Mix onion, cooked bacon pieces, pecans in a serving bowl.
Mix the dressing. Mix vegenaise, truvea and vinegar. Stir well. I use a whir whisk for the mixing.
Pour dressing over broccoli crowns just before serving. Serve on lettuce leaves and garnish with tomato wedges if desires.
For broccoli to remain crisp, eat within an hour of mixing dressing on broccoli. Dressing will last several days if refrigerated. This makes this easy to make ahead of time and transport to any location at a later date.

Now, I have no substitution for homemade rolls, pie, cranberry sauce, gravy....etc...but with this plan and a few changes, I feel pretty confident I can make it through Thanksgiving and not slip.....I will have fresh strawberries available in my refrigerator if I do want something sweet later on after the meal when everyone else is eating homemade pecan and apple pie......no worries.

All of these recipes are from my nutritionist and approved by her. That in and of itself gives me the courage and confidence I need to make it through this meal....and not have any set backs. I have not tried any of these versions, so I will let you know what the taste factor is on these dishes after Thanksgiving. I have to believe they will be wonderful!!