for fun: Do/Would you still put on all your makeup and decent clothes if you are quarantined

[Lois R]

Hi again,  I did some research and google can be a good friend😃

 

We have a place called  THE LOOP.......they have salads/sandwiches/burgers/pizza, etc........it is where I had

a delicious portobello sandwich a few weeks back.    Anyway,  they actually show the Nutritional Calculator

on line for their items.....they have a whole wheat pizza and when I picked the Mediterranean Specialty Pizza it shows

one slice only has 11 carbs!  So even 2 slices would be an ok thing for lunch......22 carbs is fine😃

So I will be having a pizza.........I will bring the rest of it home for leftovers.

[pacruise804]

We tried the crustless pizza/pizza bowl from Marco's last month and it was really good - didn't miss the crust much at all.  Ours had really good wings too - although it is still take out and higher sodium and fat than I should have on a regular basis.

 

I've switched to a nutrition plan that is vegetable and protein heavy with limited carbs.  The carbs include fruits and root vegetables as well as grains (rice, quinoa, corn - not just flour) so I'm pickier about what I choose to spend my carbs on and would rather have fruit than bread.  I feel much healthier eating this way and have often wondered if while my body can process gluten it can get overwhelmed if there is too much (like a drink a week the liver is ok, but a drink an hour my liver might say "wait a minute").  Then again, I might have a sensitivity but am so used to being sick I don't know what it is to feel well🤷‍♀️

[Anita Latte]

I read not too long ago that you really shouldn't eat the same thing two days in a row. The body does better on a wide range of foods and to keep feeding it the same chemical makeup is to tire out the process. Along the same lines, in the US, the grains in a typical diet are very limited...wheat (definitely) and then maybe some rice and oats... I'm talking broad strokes here...it's just what I've read. There's a huge selection of grains in the world. Quinoa has come into popularity, but like wild rice, it's a seed, not a grain, and so it doesn't really count to expand the grain horizon.

 

I have often thought that if I treated grains like I treat other foods...too many days in a row and it's like, please, can I eat a different vegetable? Or protein...like, chicken, AGAIN? LOL. I think it's the ability to make variety AROUND a grain...like there are infinite sandwiches...but we put so many of them on WHEAT bread. The grain element needs to enter into the field of variety...like try making pilaf out of something besides just rice, make a concentrated effort to eat a "rainbow" of grains...and THEN see how sensitive everyone is to grains for real. IDK...just my thoughts.

 

pacruise...I know what you mean about not feeling well. I often think of the lyric, "I'm not sick, but I'm not well..." because that's kind of how I feel. If I had a gauge, I would be in the yellow zone...functioning without apparent defect but not optimal...like a filter that is clogged and needs to be changed...I just have to figure out where and what the filter is so I can clean it out.

[Lois R]

Hi girls, well, I actually ended up having a cauliflower crust pizza........it was VERY GOOD😃.....it had spinach,

artichokes and roma tomatoes.......to be truthful, they made it wrong to start with (they left off the tomatoes.........)

but when I asked them to fix it they said they could not put it back in the oven and they made me a new one. The

Manager told me to keep the wrong one as well! So basically I got 2 pizzas for the price of one😃 and yes it 

had cheese too LOL first pizza in many, MANY months. 

 

I have never heard not to eat the same thing 2 days in a row. and I am not in that category.  I love these Thomas

English muffins and I have had them for breakfast for the last 2 or 3 days. Different toppings.......sometimes tomato

and sometimes tomato and cheese..... my body seems to be fine with it.  I have been eating various fresh veggies

and yes fresh fruit. I know some have more carbs than others but berries are good. And I love blueberries!  Watermelon

is good too and it was on sale today. After I had lunch I went to the grocery store.  It is VERY hot outside today!

 

 

[cruise kitty]

Hi Ladies....  Lois I was just going to recommend the cauliflower crust pizza,  glad you enjoyed it.  & Congrats on your good glucose numbers!  

 

Pacruise804, & Anita,  I agree about feeling better when eating a "cleaner" diet (sorry that both of you aren't feeling well)   I feel like this situation tend to exacerbate any issues that someone has....  

 

Lois, I could happily eat the same thing every day & I'd say I eat mostly healthy... but once in a while I'd like to have a huge, greasy burger with french fries, something I haven't had since about March 6th lol... (last time we ate out) we do burgers at home, but they are lettuce wrapped & we broil a few potato slices sprayed with olive oil as "fake" fresh fries :)

 

On a "happy news" note, I started a little garage door makeover project,  bought some magnets on Amazon that look like little windows, & some hardware... I've finished the windows, & am so happy with them, completely changed the look of the door, going to get out the screw gun  & work on the hardware today,  the whole project is costing less than $50 but so far looks great.   Trying to stay as busy as possible in the next 3 weeks of our tougher lock down :)

[Lois R]

Hi CK (hope that is ok...) I have a garage too but the only thing in it is my car LOL.....well, there is a chair in there as well and a cooler.

  I guess I just don't have much extra stuff.  I keep thinking I need to donate the chair but it is too big to

fit in my car......it is a rocker but doesn't go with anything anymore.  So it is just sitting in the garage.  I know there are

some places that do pick ups. I guess I could call them. 

 

I can't remember ever trying Cauliflower crust before.  It really tasted pretty good and I am guessing the carb intake

is much lower than regular dough. 

[slidergirl]

Yay!!!  I decided to give it a try and go down the mountain to Trader Joe's.  I just didn't look in the distance when I drove, but maybe 3 car lengths ahead on the road and I was OK.   I didn't get nauseous, to that was a big deal.  I had to fight to stay away from trying to look in the distance and see how it is - you know what it's like when you try to not do something??  I did make a quick stop at REI to pick up some camp fuel for my stove and see what they had on sale.  I was very good and only bought the fuel, bug spray (Intense mosquitos up in the Uintas right now) and some more of my favorite fire starters.  I was a very good girl!

 

But, it was another "Holy Crap" moment when I got to the cashier!  But, I hadn't been there for awhile and I really wanted to stock up so I can hunker down some more.  Got a lot of my usual stuff, but I found some interesting things to try:  cauliflower thins - about corn tortilla size.  Use for mini pizzas, or tacos.  Jicama wraps - thin cut rounds of jicama, about corn tortilla size.  Use for tacos, wraps.  They had a bag of arugula salad with a lemon dressing - I'll add a burrata on top of that with a little balsamic vinegar for a dinner.  Lots of flavored waters.  A bag of frozen chicken breasts,  2 bags of frozen shrimp, different sizes.  A Tuscan cantaloupe - my favorite!!   Bought some different jars of sauces and salsa to play with to make my food a little more interesting.  

 

I did something fun.  I had always heard that french fries and champagne was a good pairing.  I had popped open a bottle of Prosecco last night.  I put the rest in the fridge.  On the way home from shopping, I stopped at Wendy's and got a salad and a small fries.  When I got home, I gave it a try.  Who knew?  It was really good together!!!!  

 

OOTD:  I decided to spiff up a little.  Periwinkle Lululemon running skirt (it has pleats in the back), my new Athleta camo Tshirt - the colors really went well together.  Trail runners.  Watch, wrist wraps, little studs and little hoops, one of my homemade turquoise, trade bead and Murano glass bead necklaces.  Plus the ubiquitous baseball hat.  Man, it was HOT down in the Valley today - in the 90s.  It felt so good to get back up home and in the 80s!

 

Have a good night ladies!  And, thanks again for the support!

 

[cruise kitty]

Hi Lois,  the inside of my garage is now holding giant racks floor to ceiling filled with the things from Steve's business closing...won't be getting a car in it anytime soon :)

 

On the other hand, the outside came out adorable,  I'll try & post a photo tomorrow...  it came out better than I hoped...  now Steve's working on a new gate to go across our driveway,   he made the wooden fence around our front yard & he's doing a wood one to match...  We moved here exactly 5 years ago & basically rehabbed everything...  house was built in 1949 & had everything, & I mean everything original...  we kept the wood floors & matched them when we added the kitchen, & we kept the front wood windows as they are historic, but everything else is new..  it's been a long 5 years..  first two we didn't even have a kitchen (floor was collapsing in the original one)  we had a bbq outside & a dorm sized fridge & that was it...  so this time at home has allowed us to actually finish our remodel.  

 

I'm totally jealous of your tidy & empty garage :)

 

& Hi Kat,   sounds like you had a major expedition today!   Let us know how your french fries & prosecco were...  never heard of that combo, but it sort of makes sense.  

 

I used my REI dividend to buy new socks last week,  my favorite Wright sock style was on sale super cheap & I was able to get 6 pairs

 

dinner tonight:  I'm eating spicy ramen with an egg cracked in it...  standing up as I type this at the island...  Steves working on the gate, & I want to go running a little earlier today.  

 

Clothing wise, currently wearing my Target tank dress which is getting very ratty from being washed at least 4x a week for 3 months now :)

[awhfy]

23 hours ago, Lois R said:

Good morning girls, Kat, hope that eye gets better!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It seems my glucose number is much better now in the mornings than it originally was🙂.....I have a feeling cutting

back on the carbs in the evenings (dinner) is a big factor.   I know that nutritionist had said to eat 45 grams of carbs

every meal but if I am being totally honest I have not done that and no reason to say otherwise.  

 

I haven't cut out the carbs totally but I know they are what turns to sugar so I have been just eating more proteins, 

veggies and the starches? Not so much anymore.  I really felt like ordering a pizza the other day (haven't had one

in many months) but I thought better of it..........I guess one slice wouldn't be so terrible but if I buy a whole pie?

I could eat 3/4 slices in one sitting.............😲

Lois,  has your kidney specialist said to watch the amount of protein you eat, or just the carbs?  I get concerned about overtaxing the kidneys with too much protein, even tho nothing I’m eating right now would tax anything. 

[Lois R]

39 minutes ago, awhfy said:

Lois,  has your kidney specialist said to watch the amount of protein you eat, or just the carbs?  I get concerned about overtaxing the kidneys with too much protein, even tho nothing I’m eating right now would tax anything. 

Hi Melody, she did not tell me anything about that at all.   I do know I have to keep hydrated (which I am forcing myself to do).  I was never a water drinker before this all happened.........that has definitely

changed.

I am just trying to eat healthier.  As for too much protein? My body feels good and I am actually trying

to walk every morning (before the heat sets in)......it is a about a mile to walk around my condo complex.  

 

The Kidney Specialist did not tell me about the carbs either......that is knowledge I gained from learning more about

the diabetes.  Next month is August? I am scheduled for a kidney ultrasound and so that should tell us in more detail

how well I am doing-----(inside).........  The one thing she did tell me is to stop taking anything with Ibuprofen in it. If

I need anything like that for (headache for example).......I need to take a Tylenol.  Ibuprofen can have a negative 

affect on the kidneys. 

[awhfy]

I’m the same with ibuprofen, which is miserable because Aleve helps me so much. When I’m back to my normal eating (if ever!) I’ll have to watch carbs & proteins to get a good mix. Who knew that everything we used to eat with abandon would turn out to be things we can no longer ( or seldom) partake in. Sigh

 

that being said, I’m making a BLT pasta salad today. Box of Rotini pasta, 1 red onion diced, bacon (14 Cooked pieces chunked up), 2 cups cubed cheddar cheese, container of grape tomatoes (halved),  iceberg lettuce (2 Cups torn) [because hubs hates romaine], & 2 cups Hidden Valley ranch dressing. Hubs handed me the recipe & said please. Can’t deny that patient guy. I’ll let you know if I can eat any of it. Melody

[cruisemom42]

Well, I think I may finally be back in the world of the living. My huge project wrapped up on Wednesday and while there are still a few loose ends to tie up, I will be ramping down to a much more normal schedule -- thank goodness. 🍾

 

Also, two weeks ago I managed to twist my knee badly when I went on an extremely rare outing with my son to get gelato at a little kiosk that is only open a few months a year.  By the next day I could not bear any weight on it and was thinking I had maybe done something worse than a twist or sprain -- had a teleconsult with my ortho guy (first time, it was pretty awesome) although I was juggling it around conference calls because he was late.  At any rate, he thought it was likely just a sprain or at worst a small meniscal tear and refilled my OA prescription that I normally only use when traveling/walking a lot. After a week it was much better and now almost normal -- huge sigh of relief.

 

Despite our state being one of the earlier ones to "open", we personally have been very careful. We have not eaten at a restaurant since the first week of March, get the bulk of our groceries delivered, and make use of Amazon, Uber Eats, Door Dash and pickup. The only things I have gone out of my neighborhood for are quick trips to the drug store or grocery store (for a couple of items), one trip to the office and a haircut about a month ago. Oh -- and that gelato. 🍦 It is depressing to see that, four months in, we are now no better off -- where I am -- and probably worse in terms of infections.

 

OOTD:  This morning I still have on my lounging clothes. But yesterdays' OOTD was navy crops from Talbots with a cute print top from J Jill. I've ordered several times from J Jill in the last couple of months when they have 40% or even 50% off....normally I don't have a lot of casual clothes because my office is rather conservative, so I don't have that many cute casual outfits. But I've needed a few things to perk me up during "confinement" -- and I really like the J Jill things I've gotten.

 

  

 

 

 

[Lois R]

Hi again, Cynthia, good too see you again.....sorry about your knee but glad you are on the mend and I know you

are happy that project is over🙂 And that is a cute top!

 

Melody, that BLT salad sounds DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😃

[57redbird]

3 hours ago, awhfy said:

 

 

that being said, I’m making a BLT pasta salad today. Box of Rotini pasta, 1 red onion diced, bacon (14 Cooked pieces chunked up), 2 cups cubed cheddar cheese, container of grape tomatoes (halved),  iceberg lettuce (2 Cups torn) [because hubs hates romaine], & 2 cups Hidden Valley ranch dressing. Hubs handed me the recipe & said please. Can’t deny that patient guy. I’ll let you know if I can eat any of it. Melody

Gotta try that salad - thanks.

[slidergirl]

Yay!  Cynthia is back among the living!!!   Sorry 'bout the knee but good to hear that rest and some meds helped it out.   

 

I used up my REI dividend back in the Spring when I decided I really did need a new Patagonia down sweater.  I bought the old one way back in 2011 before I went to Kenya.  It's still serviceable, but it's got a few duct tape patches on it so it isn't quite appropriate for wearing out to dinner at our finer dining establishments 😉   So, I went rogue and replaced the black one with a new red one.  The black one goes into the camping bag.   I do need some new Wright Socks, though.  Some of my beloved neon colored ones are starting to wear out.  I always count on them to add a flash of color to any outfit.   Interesting story from my REI trip:  I struck up a little conversation with the man standing behind me in line to get in the store (they limit).  Turns out he is from New York City.  He and some of his work colleagues had planned this trip to UT for team building for months - hiking, rafting, dining, etc.  Well, along came COVID.  They decided to come anyway.  So, they are here for a week, staying up in Park City.   The kicker - they have to quarantine for 14 days when the get back because UT is one of those states that NY is listing as bad!!!  I sure hope his trip is worth it!

 

The French Fries and Prosecco was really good!!!  Probably the salty and bubbly made for a good pairing.  I'm also a person who used to use pretzel sticks as my "spoon" when I got a vanilla ice cream as a kid.  And, I like chocolate and bacon together.   Anyway, give it a try sometime!   

I think I'm going to make some shrimp tacos tonight.  I'll use the jicama "wraps" I got yesterday as my shells.  I've got shredded cabbage and carrots to put on top.  I'll make a little crema with sour cream and either sriracha or the ancho honey sauce I bought yesterday.  I'll probably just broil the shrimp in a little chili powder.   I've gotten into shrimp lately - they are VERY low carb and super easy to fix up in so many different ways.  

 

OOTD:  Not sure if I'm going to go out yet.  So, I'm in my sleeveless hoody "mini dress".  I think dressing up and driving and all that shopping was a little overkill for me.  Wore me out!

[cruise kitty]

Cynthia, good to "hear" from you :)  & sorry about the knee, thank goodness it's not something that will require surgery!

 

Melody, that salad sounds so good!  I think for us it will be a take out night.

 

Kat,  I'm going to buy some Prosecco & make some fries & try it one day...  sounds like it would be something great to have on a "down" day :)  I love the TJ salted caramels so I'm with you on the sweet & salty :)

 

Lois, good job on the morning walks...  for me exercising or doing "projects" is the one time my brain isn't squirreling into a downward spiral :)

 

Our numbers are up here, like really, really up & I think we have a long road ahead of us...

 

Oh, & I"m wearing the damn Target dress again...  it pretty much goes in the wash every night now :)  Sun hat on & going to work on the garden a bit :)

 

stay safe everyone!

[awhfy]

Well we ate (more like devoured) the BLT pasta salad. It is fabulous (& was soft enough for me to enjoy). Next time I make it I’ll eliminate the cheese cubes they didn’t add anything. I did cut the recipe in half & we’ll have Pasta salad for several days  This is definitely in the summer salad rotation. It’d be great for a family bbq. Melody

[slidergirl]

OK.  I have to write about this one!!!

 

When I went to Trader Joe's I had picked up those Jicama Wraps (street taco-size thin rounds of jicama).  I also picked up a bottle their new Honey Aleppo pepper sauce - not to hot, but with a nice sweet kick.  Well, I got hungry early tonight, so I made myself some shrimp street tacos.  I had some of the small shrimp already cooked, so I put some of that sauce in a little skillet to use to warm up the shrimp.  Then I made a little mix of more of the sauce and sour cream to make a crema.  I laid out 3 pieces of jicama, put in some of those shrimp, put on some shredded cabbage and then the crema.  Oh my!!!!!  So freakin' good!!!  Spicy but sweet, the jicama and cabbage gave good crunch!  Definitely going to be in my rotation!  When the jicama wraps go away, I may have to try slicing up a jicama with my meat slicer.  I could even sauce the shrimp ahead of time and take all the stuff camping!   

[cruise kitty]

Lois, yes I'm worried, we try to be so careful, but people in my little area are now testing positive...  just praying the hospitals don't get overwhelmed in a few weeks..

 

Melody, glad that salad was as good as it sounded, & that you were able to eat it!

 

Kat, Hamilton is tonights plan, so excited, we've never seen it!

 

& edit to add:  I will add Jicima wraps to my TJ list along with the Processco :)

 

Edited July 3, 2020 by cruise kitty

[Lois R]

19 minutes ago, cruise kitty said:

Lois, yes I'm worried, we try to be so careful, but people in my little area are now testing positive...  just praying the hospitals don't get overwhelmed in a few weeks..

 

Melody, glad that salad was as good as it sounded, & that you were able to eat it!

 

Kat, Hamilton is tonights plan, so excited, we've never seen it!

 

& edit to add:  I will add Jicima wraps to my TJ list along with the Processco 🙂

 

Hi, looks like my previous post was too much......they removed it.    I hope your area stays healthy too.......and

I hope we here in Florida stay healthy as well.

 

I love shrimp but have never been into spicy sauces....

 

And I have never seen Hamilton either but I don't have Disney + 

[Lois R]

29 minutes ago, awhfy said:

Well we ate (more like devoured) the BLT pasta salad. It is fabulous (& was soft enough for me to enjoy). Next time I make it I’ll eliminate the cheese cubes they didn’t add anything. I did cut the recipe in half & we’ll have Pasta salad for several days  This is definitely in the summer salad rotation. It’d be great for a family bbq. Melody

Glad the salad turned out so well and that you could enjoy it too🙂

[Lois R]

\

 

Hi girls.....hope all of you have a safe and healthy day........wherever you live.  Anyone have

plans? Nothing here for me..........I bought some new turkey sausages from a company called

"The Great American Turkey Company"........will try them.  I got the maple/apple flavor so will

try them for breakfast🙂

 

Have a good day.

[awhfy]

Lois, I’ve had those sausages, they are good!  I pan fried mine with a sweet onion & some yellow & orange peppers in a little EVOO. Absolutely delicious. This was pre surgery tho... 

 

have a great 4th all. Stay safe. Melody

[Lois R]

Just now, awhfy said:

Lois, I’ve had those sausages, they are good!  I pan fried mine with a sweet onion & some yellow & orange peppers in a little EVOO. Absolutely delicious. This was pre surgery tho... 

 

have a great 4th all. Stay safe. Melody

Hi Melody.....maybe I should have added some onion and peppers because these tasted very bland.  I did buy 2 packages.

One is this apple/maple and the other one says Sweet Italian.....I will try that one and definitely will add some sliced

onion and peppers.  Maybe those will taste better (will have more flavor). The instructions said to put 2 tablespoons

of olive oil in the pan and cook for about 10 minutes........which I did.  I ate 1 and 1/2 of another one.........

 

I will try the sweet Italian tomorrow (maybe).  

[cruisemom42]

Happy Fourth of July to all!

 

Those jicama tacos sound good -- I would love to go to Trader Joe's, but a friend of mine who passes by the one close to us says that every time she has looked, there is a HUGE line waiting to get in. 

 

I also like the pasta salad idea -- making some for lunch today with some broccoli, pine nuts and feta cheese. It may also reappear with our dinner/grill out food this evening....