Sunday, September 29, 2019

The Manifestation Journal Review

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Manifestation Journal. As always, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 


When I was offered a review copy of The Manifestation Journal by Amy Chace, I knew I wanted to check it out right away. Journaling used to be part of my morning routine. For several years, I would get up about thirty minutes earlier than usual, make a pot of warm lemon water, sit in silence and write in my journal. It was a very relaxing way to start the day, and I believe it actually helped me get my blood pressure under control during a very stressful period in my life.

Unfortunately, I haven't journaled in quite some time, but I always knew it was something I wanted to get back to. The Manifestation Journal is a very unique, beautiful journal. The author calls it a hybrid of a journal, a sketchbook, a planner and a collaboration between her and the owner of the journal. She wants the owner to use the artwork on the pages as jumping off points to let them take the owner where they may.



All pages in the journal are very unique and allow the owners to interact with them how they want. 






This is one of my favorite pages. It really speaks to me. I can't wait to fill it and see where it takes me. 



The Manifestation Journal is a beautiful work of art, and I am very excited that it will help guide me back to a journaling practice. It makes a wonderful gift for loved ones or to oneself. I plan on giving at least two as gifts to very special people in my life.

Be well,
Andrea


Thursday, September 12, 2019

Restarting Exercise After Injury, Illness or a Longer Break

See disclaimer at the bottom of the page. 

2019 has brought much more illness and injuries than expected. I started the year with several bad colds back to back, the flu, strep throat, and the stomach flu. As a result, my regular exercise program was seriously derailed. In fact, I wasn't able to do anything close to my regular routine until May. And then it felt like starting over, which was very frustrating.

And once I was better, there were more interruptions. We traveled most of July. And while we were very active while in Germany (we got between 20,000 and 30,000 steps most days), I didn't do as many strength exercises. Once I was finally back to my program in August, I fell during a hike and seriously banged up my knee and twisted my "good" ankle, which required me to stay off my feet for close to three weeks. To say it has been frustrating would be an understatement.



Here are a few things I have (re)learned about my relationship with exercise:

  • Exercise is a huge mood booster for me and not being able to exercise is very challenging mentally.
  • It's a slippery slope for me from not exercising to not taking care of my health in general, especially when it comes to my caffeine intake and healthy food choices. When I wasn't able to exercising, I drank more coffee and ate more sugar (I suspect to get energy I usually got from exercise and because I was bored?).
  • I still have somewhat of an all or nothing attitude. It was very hard for me to do some weight exercises while being seated when I couldn't stand because thoughts of "what's the use" kept creeping into my mind. 
  • Accepting that not exercising will result in loss of strength, flexibility and cardiovascular conditioning is something I will always have to work on.

How to Get Back to an Exercise Routine*

  • Start off slowly. The longer you were away from your routine, the more patient you will need to be. It's a good idea to do less than you think you should at first so that you won't get too sore or even hurt yourself. We lose strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness much faster than we think.
  • Doing something is better than doing nothing.  This is especially true when you are recuperating and won't be able to do a full workout. But maybe you can do some stretches? Or a short, gentle yoga routine? Short 10-minute walks are also a great way to get moving after being incapacitated. After a few days, you can do several short walks throughout the day. Or how about an arm workout while you are seated? 
  • Focus on "Cans" not "Cannots:" Don't focus on what you used to be able to do. If you haven't lifted weights for a while, you will have to decrease the weight you used to lift. If you weren't able to run for an extended period of time, you'll need to decrease your mileage or tempo, or both. That doesn't mean you won't get back to where you used to be (and if you have been working out for quite some time, probably sooner than it seems), but focusing too much on your previous abilities can be counterproductive. Instead focus on the fact that you are able to do so much more than when you were sick, injured or not exercising. 
  • Focus on having fun. When you first get back to exercise after an injury, illness or break, focus on exercises that you enjoy the most. When you are having fun, it's much easier to keep going. Once you have regained some of your previous fitness level, add in the "less fun" exercises.

* Disclaimer: Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program. This general information is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your healthcare professional.

Monday, September 9, 2019

Vegetable Soup with Gluten-free Meatballs

Since subscribing to the Imperfect Produce box, I have enjoyed creating meals around the vegetables in the box. One of the dishes I recently made was a vegetable soup with a tomato base. I also added gluten-free meatballs (optional).



Vegetable Soup

Ingredients
  • Celery 
  • Garlic 
  • Carrots 
  • Sweet potatoes 
  • Bell peppers 
  • Summer squash 
  • Pomi strained tomatoes 
  • Water ~ 2 - 3 cups
  • Olive oil
  • Spices & herbs: salt, pepper, dried oregano, garlic powder, Trader Joe's mushroom & company multipurpose umami season blend & any other spices you enjoy- start with about 1/2 tsp each and add more as you taste. 
Directions

  1. Heat 2 - 3 TB olive oil in a medium to large pot and briefly sauté the vegetables. 
  2. Add one packet of Pomi tomatoes and a couple cups of water and bring to a soft boil. 
  3. If you'll add meatballs, cook for about 3 minutes before adding the meatballs. Otherwise, cook until the vegetables are al dente (about 10 minutes, but check periodically). 
  4. Season the soup to taste. 


Gluten-free Meatballs

Ingredients
  • 1 pound grass-fed ground beef
  • 3-4 TB hemp seeds
  • 2 eggs
  • Seasoning: salt, pepper, mushroom seasoning blend, garlic powder - about 1/2 tsp each
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients until combined, but don't overwork. 
  2. Form the mixture into small meatballs, slightly bigger than large marbels. 
  3. Drop the meatballs into the softly boiling soup and cook until they are done, about 7 minutes. 


Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Oren's Hummus in Mainstreet Cupertino

We have gotten takeout hummus and eggplant dishes from Oren's Hummus in Mainstreet Cupertino on numerous occasions, but we had never eaten there. A few weeks ago we finally did and very much enjoyed the experience.

We got hummus with beef and the sampler dish, which comes with three different eggplant dips, a yogurt dip, carrots and beets. Everything was delicious!



I also ordered an Israeli wine, Mount Hermon White Blend. The light, fruity wine went very nicely with all the dishes. 


Thank you for a wonderful meal Oren's Hummus! We'll be back!

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Easy Travel Wardrobe

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and www.andreaswellnessnotes.com will benefit from actions taken on the links. Thank you for supporting Andrea's Wellness Notes! 

When we visited Germany in the summer, we decided to travel very lightly. By taking items that easily mixed and matched (and were easy to wash and dry), I was able to fit most of what I took into a carry-on suitcase. Following is a list of the most useful items that I took.

Black (Very Comfortable!) Skinny Jeans, Black Reversible Parka & Black Sneakers

The first week we were in Germany, it was quite cold and rainy at times. The reversible parka jacket that I bought for the trip worked out great in light rain. And I loved that I could wear it with the fabric side out when the weather was nice and achieve a different look. 

The black, stretchy skinny jeans are super comfortable and turned out to be the perfect travel pants. And the sneakers are truly the most comfortable shoes I own. We walked between 20,000 and 30,000 steps most days, and my feet felt great.




Ponchos for Serious Rain


A couple days it rained a LOT, and we were glad that we had bought some ponchos. One downside to the ponchos is that they do get quite hot... But it was still worth it to be able to go outside and freely walk when it rained a lot.


Stretchy Skinny Jeans & Simple Tops

Besides the black skinny jeans, I also took blue jeans. I paired them with simple tops I have had for years. They are comfortable, don't wrinkle and wash and dry very well. I ended up wearing the blue and black top A LOT.




Finally, for a little dressier outfit, I took a black and white striped blouse that doesn't wrinkle. I love the details on the blouse and got quite a few compliments. It's a great travel option.