Coconut Sweet Rice Breakfast

Today I was originally going to post about "the day after". And how much my joints hurt...and how frustrated I was. But...meh. I think I was being dramatic. And I pretty much hate to knowingly have the attitude of "poor me". The truth is, I came to realize yesterday...and again today...that I really should've built up to what I did. Even though what I did wasn't much, I should've began with speed walking for a few days. Then adding in a minute or two of jogging. And keep going at that pace. Yesterday, my knees felt broken. Literally. Like...they needed to be bandaged up or something because they just weren't moving right when I walked on them. This morning...my hips. And if anyone says anything like, "You know, it's normal to be sore after something like that" or "you know a lot of people have joint problems when they run" I might sucker punch you through the computer screen cause that's one of the most annoying comments I've ever heard since having Lyme. I actually DO have a brain that holds memories and a body that holds memories and I understand what "sore" and "achey" feels like. In fact, I have those feelings ONTOP of the other feelings. Clay used to get so annoyed at me when I'd say things like that to him, hoping he really is better and doesn't know it...but now I completely understand. It's just not the same...and you wont understand until you're experiencing it. Anyway...rant over.

I'm okay though. I'm basically just bummed I couldn't go to Zumba last night. They did it outside, and who doesn't want to try Zumba outside?! Hopefully they'll do it again. 



So this has been a favorite breakfast among much of my family lately. It's SO easy, and SO delicious, and SO healthy. 

Coconut Sweet Rice Breakfast

Brown Rice

Sliced Berries

Chopped Nuts (I use pecans)

Coconut Oil

Agave (use xagave brand for optimal nutrition)

Make a bunch of brown rice at the beginning of the week so you can scoop out a bowlful each day and just warm it in the microwave for a minute after putting coconut oil and agave on top. Put berries and nuts in. Eat.

AMAZING. 

It seriously feels like a treat. But your getting a ton of nutrition. I eat this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's good for any meal really...it takes maybe a minute longer than a bowl of cereal, and less time than oatmeal, and in my opinion it's healthier than both. 

DO IT! You wont regret it.

Did you know about the benefits of coconut oil? There are so many benefits...but some of them include: improving heart health, boosting your thyroid, increasing metabolism, supporting immune system, regulating blood sugar, among other things. I have been trying to replace butter and oils in recipes with coconut oil, and in some things you really can taste the coconut, in others not so much...but it's never overpowering.

Today I have a big “to-do” list before vacationing…change address on my license…return a book to a friend…get clay’s meds…pack…WAIT- change my address? Yeah. I got called to Jury Duty in Rexburg, a place I haven’t lived in about 3 years…and the letter came to my Idaho Falls address and well, it’s pretty silly. I have to send in proof that I don’t live in Rexburg to get out of it and so I need to go change my address on my license which, I KNOW, I should’ve done three years ago. Blah. The timing is just annoying. Oh well.

Do you want to spice up your 4^th of July décor? Download my free print with the “God Bless the USA” lyrics on them. Who doesn’t love that song? I pretty much tear up a LOT of the times that I hear it. I have to say, I think I’m a pretty proud American. I just love this place! I’m so proud to be an American, and I love other countries and want to visit them too…but America is just a different kind of special I think. I just wish more people realized how blessed they were to be here.

Happy Independence Day!

Well, I did it. I ran. Kinda.

I feel kind of ridiculous even talking about it because when I look back on my "running" experience...it involved a lot of walking and panting like a 500 pound couch potato. The route was around the Idaho Falls Greenbelt- but it wasn't the FULL huge route...it was what they call the "Temple loop" or something...which is 2.3 miles. It's a pretty beautiful area around the river and temple. I have to tell you, I was expecting the hard part to be my joints...but that was only a MINOR inconvenience. 

My LUNGS! 

Boy oh boy. We ran for MAYBE five minutes? Then I was like- okay I need to walk. So we walked for a bit, then started back up...THAT is when I felt my joints kickin in. But like I said, just an inconvenience really, it wasn't horrible. I soon realized after about a minute? I was like thinkin..."holy crap, I'm going to have to walk even sooner" and so then we walked again. This pattern continued a LOT- and everytime I thought things like, "Okay I can get to that tree" or, "As soon as we hit those shadows" or something. Honestly, my friend was hilarious because she was like, "Just so you know, when I run...I can't really talk, so we will have to be silent running partners...and I breath HEAVY. Just to warn you..." like she was insecure or something. But let me tell you, compared to me she seriously seemed like she was just having a nice stroll around a park. But she has been running for a while and gotten conditioned. We finally got to the car and I was PARCHED. I have a ginormous water bottle that usually takes me all day to drink. I drank the entire thing in less than an hour after the run. 

When I got out of her van, I was so worried. I felt like I did after DC. My joints were KILLER. I felt like an old man. I felt defeated. I was like...even coughing when trying to talk to Clay. I had to sit down. I started worrying, oh my gosh...this is my life. My joints just suck. 

But I am happy to report, they are already doing great, just like...an hour after we finished. I am recovering already. And I'm realizing this is nothing like DC. 

Clay and I have talked a lot about this...cause I've been feeling insecure lately about my joints and what their status is...and we've realized that logically...my joints need to regain their strength just like my muscles, lungs, everything. I went over a year doing NOTHING with my body. Just laying around. And at that same time I would be losing weight. It was just an unhealthy time. So it will take a while before my joints can handle things you know? So I'm excited to keep trying to regain strength in them and build a healthy strong body :) 

I have to say, as miserable as that run was....I felt pretty tight when I got home. I don't mean "tiiiight dude, that was sweeet!", I mean...tight muscles. Tight abs. I like it. So, I definitely want to do it again. I will be on the Oregon Coast next week, so I plan on doing some more running/walking there! Woohoo! Hopefully I'll be a little more conditioned for when I come back. I still definitely don't want to run everyday. Eck. And no thanks on my joints. I just think it could be a good thing for me to do 1-2 times a week? We'll see.

I feel so funny posting this whole story. I feel like most "running" stories, are these EPIC races and marathons that people ran for like HOURS and over hills and mountains and things...mine was pretty pathetic comparatively...but this felt like a pretty big milestone in MY life that needed to be documented :)

Quilty quilt!

So, this is the quilt I told you I started 3 years ago. Now...the truth is, I worked on it everyday for about 2 weeks three years ago. Then I worked on it everyday for about 2 weeks or so this year. And now it's done! I'm SO PLEASED. I just love it. It's got a kinda vintagey feel in person and I'm just a bit obsessed with it. It's definitely not perfect. But I kinda like that about it.

Tonight I am going to try to RUN. Around the river with my friend. I'm super nervous about it. I'm planning on only running once a week or so...I don't want to overdo it and I like having variety in my workouts. Planning on incorporating some yoga soon as well. Don't worry, I'm still a firm Zumba believer! I just need some more I think. Wish me luck! Hopefully I don't die. 

My green Maxi Skirt

So I've wanted to make a maxi skirt for about the longest time. I finally did! 

 

I used this tutorial. It's super easy to follow! Yippee! I surged a rolled hem on the bottom instead of a double hem. The picture totally doesn't do it justice. And I had just gotten home from work, meaning tired old face and everything. Blah. Oh well. It's life. And of course I had to put two pictures cause I just couldn't decide which one was better.

And incase your wondering, I totally considered editing out my zits. I just thought- oh that'd make it look better. But then I went through this big debate in my head about how I HATE the magazine industry for the mere fact that they airbrush and photoshop every cover person so that they look like this amazing person and then of course it makes every normal person feel like WOAH- my face sure is blotchy! Even though that exact cover person has a blotchy face too, they just are photoshopped. So after my internal deliberation...I decided that's retarded. Even though I think I wouldn't mind doing it for something hanging on my WALL- why give in to the industry on my blog and possibly make someone think, "Wow her face sure is nice" when in reality, it's quite acne-infected. Don't get me wrong, I am happy with myself and I can tell you I am definitley working on the zit issue, I want them GONE! But the point is...I'm not going to be fake and look like I don't really look just to let others believe I have this perfect face. Not to say it'd be perfect without zits. You know what I mean. Right? Anyway. I'm pretty excited about my maxi skirt.

SF/GF Fruit Cobbler

So this weekend I had these raspberries and I thought, "I want cobbler". So I made it! And don't even ask me how much of it I ate. Cause then I'd have to explain that Clay doesn't like cobbler, and I'm the only other human that lives in our house. 

I discovered better batter flour when I saw tons of people using it on gluten free blogs and stuff. They claimed it worked wonders! Well, I looked at our health food store and they didn't have the mix, so I worked my google magic and found a mock recipe for the better batter flour blend. The link is down in the recipe. I have to say this- this blend works WONDERS for cinnamon rolls. And it turned out beautifully for this cobbler! I still would rather use my other blend for other things because I don't think this blend is quite as healthy as my other blend. However, it's good for cinnamon rolls and in my book, that means they should be praised. I plan on doing a whole other post about THAT. 

 Fruit Cobbler (Gluten Free, Sugar Free)

 adapted from Better Batter Recipe

4 Tablespoons butter
3/4 cup Better Batter Flour*
3/4 cup coconut sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup milk
2 cups sliced fresh or frozen (12 oz pkg) peaches, nectarines, whole blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, pitted cherries or a combination of fruits
1 Tablespooon coconut sugar

Preheat oven to 350
 

Put butter in 8 or 9 inch square pan (I use a glass one and melt the butter in the microwave – or you can set the pan in the preheating oven to melt the butter)

Whisk Better Batter Flour, 3/4 cup coconut sugar, and baking powder in small bowl. Add milk, whisk to form a smooth batter.

Pour batter over melted butter in pan.

Scatter fruit over batter. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tablespoon of coconut sugar.

Bake at 350 until batter browns and fruit bubbles, 50-60 minutes.

When using frozen fruit, do not defrost.

 *If you aren't gluten-free, this could totally be subbed out for white flour.

Lyme Disease & Ticks FAQ

Isn't that the truth?

What is Lyme Disease? Lyme Disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by a spirochete, which is transmitted via a tick bite (the truth is, any bug that bites can transmit it, like mosquitoes and flees). Lyme Disease is OFTEN misdiagnosed as arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson's, Crohn's, Irritable bowel, autoimmune, autism, and many other things. There are thousands of examples of people who have been diagnosed with one of those things only to find out YEARS later that it is actually Lyme Disease.

I heard that Lyme disease doesn't exist in my state? NOT TRUE. I have talked to, and personally known multiple people that live in states that "don't have lyme", and they got bit by a tick there and got it. A few things to think about, a tick can easily migrate much like a bird. First off, they can attach to a bird, deer, human, ANYTHING...and stay attached for a long time. So lets say they get on a bird. Bird flies from Idaho to Oregon. Tick drops off in woods. EASY. Ticks don't know state lines. Another thing is, Lyme Disease can be sexually transmitted. Not to mention the fact that you could've been bit without knowing it while on vacation. The entire excuse that you couldn't have Lyme Disease because you live in a certain state is severely flawed.

I got bit, but I didn't get a bulls eye rash. That means I didn't get it...right? FALSE! My husband didn't get a rash, my niece didn't get a rash, 2/3 of people who get bit, don't see a rash. DO NOT go by this small symptom. HOWEVER- if you do get a rash, you got it. Get on antibiotics IMMEDIATELY.

The tick wasn't engorged, and it was on me less than 12 hours. I'm okay right? NO! Again, this is such a false notion that the tick has to be engorged or on you for a long time. My little niece was in Oregon (a state that supposedly doesn't have Lyme, or has LITTLE likelihood of getting it) the tick was on her for less than 12 hours, was NOT engorged, she didn't have a rash, and she has Lyme Disease.

What are the Symptoms?
Early Symptoms within a few weeks after being bit:
-Flu/Fever
-Achey Joints
-Fatigue

What happens after a long time? When gone untreated, Lyme disease can do some SERIOUS damage. It aggressively attacks the immune system. People with chronic Lyme often have severe joint pain, extreme fatigue, memory issues, seizures, digestive issues, heart problems, among a myriad of other things.

What should I do if I got bit by a tick? First, follow these instructions to remove tick:
Any tick that is attached to the skin should be removed carefully and quickly using the following guidelines:

• Using small tweezers, grasp the head of the tick at the skin and hold firmly without squishing it, and pull STRAIGHT OUT without twisting or turning it.  There may be some resistance as ticks secrete a cement- like substance that allows them a tight hold on the skin site of attachment.
• Place the tick in a small jar and save to send to Igenex, Inc. for PCR/DNA testing of the tick for Lyme Disease.
• NEVER squeeze or burn a tick.
• NEVER use any ointments at the site of the tick bite.
• Clean the tick bite site thoroughly with alcohol.
• Phone your physician and make an appointment immediately.
• Monitor the site of the tick bite and note any strange rashes.
• Take a magic marker and draw an outline around the edge of the rash so the Lyme Literate physician can see the extent of the rash. The marker won't wear off in a shower if you have to wait to see the physician.
• Take a picture of the rash with your camera, and bring the camera with you to the doctor's office so that if the rash fades, the physician can still assess it.
• Rashes can also occur on the body other than at the site of the tick bite so make note of these as well.
• Fleas, mosquitoes, sand flies, and probably any biting insect may also transmit Lyme Disease, so if you have suspicious swelling after an insect bite, take a picture of it and bring that picture to a Lyme Literate doctor's office.

Just know though, that when they test the tick, they only test for like ONE strain of Lyme Disease, and there are over 100. So it's pretty unreliable. Also, if you can get your doctor to give you a round of antibiotics immediately, that would be ideal. Most doctors wont, but remind them that people get medication for acne and all sorts of things that aren't as serious as Lyme Disease. You really should get at least 8 weeks of antibiotics to get rid of it before having to have major long-term treatment.


How do you get treated for Lyme? There are many methods of treating Lyme disease, but what we personally believe is best is this: long term antibiotics and supplements. There is a lot of controversy on this topic, but from our experience so far, we feel like there's no way to get rid of it without antibiotics. You may make the Lyme dormant (which happened to Clay when he was treated naturally, then it came back full force), but to fully get symptom-free and in remission, you need antibiotics. It's really important to be treated by a Lyme Literate Doctor who knows what they are doing. It's such a smart disease. The other major way to treat Lyme is diet change. Lyme feeds off of sugar and gluten, so those are big no-no's when diagnosed.

Why don't more people know about this? For a number of reasons. But mostly, people just don't understand this disease, especially doctors. There are only a handful of doctors in the entire nation that are qualified to treat this disease, which is why it is so often misdiagnosed. Also, because of political/financial ties to insurance companies and people in the infectious disease board, truth has been covered up and denied. If you want to learn more about this, watch "Under our Skin", a documentary, or just google it. And again, people think this can only come from ticks, but like I said, it can come from a number of things. So if someone never found a tick on them, they think there's no possibility, but there is.

What can I do to help? TALK. Communicate to people who you think may have it. Talk to people about me and Clay! Tell people what you know about Lyme Disease, and DON'T back down to doctors. Share this link with people. Most people don't understand ticks and Lyme.

What do I do if I think I have Lyme Disease? Find a Lyme Literate Doctor. Email me if you want to know who I see. Get TESTED by Igenex Labs. http://igenex.com/Website/ If you have been tested before by a different lab company, get tested again with Igenex. They are the best at testing Lyme. Because Lyme is so smart (really it is), it's very hard to find and diagnose. Igenex is TRAINED to recognize Lyme and know the things to look for.

Lyme Disease is serious. It kills people. It destroys lives. I'm not being dramatic here, it's the truth! This is why I want so badly for more people to know about it, because it can be PREVENTED. I hope so badly that I can help people to NOT have to go through what Clay and I have gone through these past couple years...not to mention the pain involved before treatment. It's hard. Really hard. So be smart, be aware, and be careful. Don't let doctors bully you into thinking it's impossible for someone to have it where you live. Demand a test, and tell them if they don't help then you'll find someone else.

If you or someone you know thinks they have Lyme, or you have Lyme and have questions, or need someone understanding, please feel free to email me at daniellephillipp (@) gmail (dot) com.

If you have any more questions about Lyme, feel free to comment and I can always add more to this. I just wanted to cover the general things most people talk about and don't understand. 

Free Patterns

So, since I am no longer doing etsy, I put these patterns I made in my tutorials section! They are so fun to make. I know it's not the holiday season, but sometimes it's nice to make these things before the holidays so you can enjoy them :)

Just click on tutorials in the header if you want the directions!