Southern California Girlfriends http://thesocalgirlfriends.com A little bit of everything! Thu, 16 May 2013 02:53:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 12 Things you can do to Reduce your chance of Cancer http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/05/15/12-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-your-chance-of-cancer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-your-chance-of-cancer http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/05/15/12-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-your-chance-of-cancer/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 02:45:07 +0000 April, Registered Dietitian http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=3191 read more »]]>
This is a lengthy post but well worth your time, I promise! The President’s Cancer Panel has public records of their meetings and summaries of recommendations they make to the President. It is all funded by The National Cancer Institute. They have given recommendations on how to reduce your risk of cancer, it is hundreds of pages so I summarized them for you. Spoiler alert, you are going to want t…o run away to the woods to live off the land, but don’t do that…a bear would probably eat you. Just find the ways you can reduce your exposure and pass the info on to a friend:
1) Remove shoes before entering your house and wash work clothes separately from the other family laundry. Especially important if you have children or pets that spend a lot of time near the ground.
2) Drink filtered tap water rather than bottled water. Public tap water is better regulated than bottled water, but tap water still needs to be filtered.
3)  Store and carry water in stainless steel, glass, or BPA- and phthalate-free containers. Microwave food and beverages in ceramic or glass instead of plastic containers.
4)  Choose food grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Wash conventionally grown produce to remove residues.
5) Eat free-range meat that has not been exposed to antibiotics or growth hormones, if it is available. Minimize consumption of processed, charred, and well-done meats.
6) The Household Products Database is a resource to help make informed decisions about the products that are safe for the home.
7) Properly dispose of medicine, household chemicals, paints, and other materials to minimize drinking water and soil contamination.
 Choose products made with non-toxic substances or environmentally safe chemicals. Don’t use pesticides in your yard, they are contaminating drinking water supplies.
8)  Turn off lights and electrical devices when not in use. Drive a fuel-efficient car, bike or walk when possible, or use public transportation.
9) Try not to keep a cellular phone near your body for prolonged periods of time. Wear a headset when making a call, text instead of calling, and keep calls brief. Don’t keep your phone in your pocket.
10) Home buyers should conduct a radon test in any home they are considering purchasing. If you already own a home, periodically get the radon tested. If the levels are higher than recommended, there are ways to remedy the situation it looks like the prices range from $500-$1200).
11) To reduce exposure to radiation from medical sources, patients should discuss with their health care providers the need for medical tests or procedures that involve radiation exposure. Key considerations include personal history of radiation exposure, the expected benefit of the test, and alternative ways of obtaining the same information. In addition, to help limit cumulative medical radiation exposure, individuals can create a record of all imaging or nuclear medicine tests received and, if known, the estimated radiation dose for each test. (It looks like MRI, ultrasound testing is mostly a better option. Some CT scans provide more radiation than nuclear fallout survivors have received).
12) Wear protective clothing and sunscreens when outdoors and avoid exposure when the sunlight is most intense.
The following chemicals were also identified as needing stronger regulations: formaldehyde (found in furniture and building materials), BPA (found in plastics), phthalates and parabens (found in cosmetics and baby toys) and nanotechnology products (toxicity has not been studied in depth).One thing I’ve learned about government recommendations is that they take a LONG time to be acted upon and there are way too many regulatory agencies that don’t communicate with each other. We can’t rely on the government to protect us from cancer, because clearly as their meetings indicate, they know they are doing a poor job. Something gets missed between the recommendations and when laws become enacted in Congress.
BUT consumer demand can make a huge impact, so vote with your dollars!
 Love you guys. Don’t let your insides fall apart.Here is a link to the report http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/annualReports/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf
]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/05/15/12-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-your-chance-of-cancer/feed/ 0 National Nutrition Month http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/03/08/national-nutrition-month/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=national-nutrition-month http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/03/08/national-nutrition-month/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:04:09 +0000 April, Registered Dietitian http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=3161 read more »]]> Toes are being amputated, tubes for breathing, tubes for eating, medications for medications…
Working in a hospital is a reminder of all the reasons to be thankful for health!
Now that we are in National Nutrition Month,  I want to encourage my friends and family to take care of themselves.
 Don’t let a preventable illness be the cause of a hospitalization…there are enough accidents and viruses out there to dodge in this life.  I’m afraid the real message of nutrition has gotten lost.
 Before I became a dietitian,  I thought nutrition was about the individual nutrients…”How do I get more Vitamin C?”  or  ”Am I eating the right kind of fat?”
 Vitamins and minerals work together in harmony.  They have the power to heal and repair and they come best from natural packages…plants.
 This month, I encourage you to walk away from the
 frozen meal that leaves you starving and wanting to binge eat later.
 Put down the protein bar that promises you muscle but probably leaves your body with inflammation.
 Instead, pick up your pots and pans and cook from scratch.
 Add vegetables.
  Add spices.
  Add fat (gasp)!
 Snack on fruit.
 Try a new grain.
 Drink  w a t e r.
 Savor the flavors of real food and finish it off with a walk outdoors.
 I love yous guys.
 Don’t let your insides fall apart ♥
]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/03/08/national-nutrition-month/feed/ 0 Should I go Paleo? http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/03/05/should-i-go-paleo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=should-i-go-paleo http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/03/05/should-i-go-paleo/#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:47:57 +0000 April, Registered Dietitian http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=3150 read more »]]> Should I go Paleo?

Raw? Gluten-free? 8-hr diet? Organic? GMO free? Vegan? So many choices…who is right?

Do we eat too many refined carbohydrates as a population?    Yes.

Are the additives, packaging and GMOs causing disruptions to our genetics?  Uh huh.

Are pesticides and poor soil quality affecting our produce?  Duh.

Is animal cruelty a part of most meat/dairy distribution?  Sadly, yes.

There is no one right way to eat, because there are so many issues with our bodies and our food supply. We are all individuals with unique genetics (some of which cause food allergies and intolerances), distinct passions (animal rights, human rights), and unique talents (cooking, gardening, athletics) that will dictate what foods we choose to put into our bodies. What is best for your body may not be what is best for your neighbor.

Whatever way of eating you choose, eat with sensibility and compassion. By sensibility, I mean moderate portions and variety of nutrient sources. By compassion, I mean think about how the food you purchased got to you (did it come from a company that widely used pesticides or GMOs, traveled across the world and left a large carbon footprint)? Animal rights is a huge part of compassion, follow your heart with however you feel lead.

We can all eat better. In turn, we can help our bodies, our animals, and our earth.

April, what do you think about a paleo diet?

 Although I’m not personally a proponent of the Paleo Diet, I definitely support any meal plan that advocates less processed foods.
 Paleo can be healthy, but it seems to unnecessarily restrict grains and legumes. If it comes from the Earth (and it’s not poisonous) it is likely beneficial for our bodies. The grains and legumes aren’t bad in themselves, it’s the general over consumption of them, notably grains and sugar.
 Most packaged foods are hardly food anymore…all the husks and fiber removed, bits of cheap soy and corn added, extra sugar and salt to enhance flavors, emulsifiers…we aren’t doing our bodies a favor by eating them.
 However, eat a 1/2 cup of black beans or 1/2 cup of quinoa and your body will be nourished.
 I’m a proponent of eating foods as close as possible as they come out of the Earth. Its a lot of work, and it’s not realistic 100% of the time.
 But following something like the 90/10 rule…eat well 90% of the time and allow 10% of the foods you eat to be treats, can be an easier path to follow.
 Getting back to the basics of eating unprocessed is a goal I’m working toward and I’m really enjoying.
 It feels good to eat real food. ♥

 

 

]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2013/03/05/should-i-go-paleo/feed/ 0 Day tripp-n in Ojai http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2012/07/10/day-tripp-n-in-ojai/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=day-tripp-n-in-ojai http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2012/07/10/day-tripp-n-in-ojai/#comments Wed, 11 Jul 2012 03:48:57 +0000 Queen mum http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=3109 read more »]]> Sunday My boyfriend and I took a little day trip to Ojai. 

 We had talked about spending the weekend at the Ojai Valley Resort and Spa, but because I live an hour away from Ojai we decided do a little day trip instead.

 

First stop was the New Oak Ranch in upper Ojai Valley to Pick Lavender.

  Who knew there were acres of lavender growing a few miles outside of downtown Ojai! 

 The lavender season is short.

 mid-June to the end of July-  (weekends only).

It costs $5.00 per bunch of lavender (that you cut yourself).  They supply the cutting shears and twist ties.

 

This is about as much as you can fit into the twist tie.  Its a great deal!  Take a deep breath of that…ahhhh!

 

 

 

 

 They have more than 5,000 lavender plants.

 The ranch also has 1,400 Tuscan olive trees, which produces a olive oil that they are very proud of!

 The ranch has 35 walnut trees that are harvested in the fall.

 Aww…baby walnuts…aren’t they cute?

You’re welcome to bring a picnic lunch and savor your lunch on a walnut shaded table.

 

You can also purchase quite a few items made with their lavender.

 Everything from body care product to  honey, and even a tomato jam!

 (sounds weird, but it was quite yummy!)

 Yours truly, Big floppy hat and all…

Next stop, downtown Ojai to visit the Farmers Market.

We bought lots of amazing items, like flavored goat cheese, lemon cookies, strawberry pie, fresh basil, pixie tangerines, olive oil.  All the great looking fruits and veggies made me so hungry, I forgot to take pictures!

 We decided to get something to eat at a quaint little health food store called the Rainbow Bridge Market.

 Me, pigging out on a de-lish  avocado- veggie sandwich.

  I eat one whenever i’m in Ojai.

P.S.

I bought a organic olive oil while I was at the Farmers Market.  They have a tour that will be in part 2 of day tripp’n in Ojai.

 

Move over Rover

and let Jimmy take over

Look close, you will see a Bee

 Humming the song

 Purple haze.

XOXO!

Janice

 

 

]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2012/07/10/day-tripp-n-in-ojai/feed/ 0 Things have a way of turning out for the Best!! http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2012/01/25/things-have-a-way-of-turning-out-for-the-best/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=things-have-a-way-of-turning-out-for-the-best http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2012/01/25/things-have-a-way-of-turning-out-for-the-best/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:04 +0000 Queen mum http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=3061 read more »]]> I’ve been working on my house once again.   Yet,..another episode of this old house!

Houses are so needy!  They take up lots of your time and most of your money.   I have owned this house for over 25 years now, and over the years almost every thing has been replaced or re-modeled.

Last year I discovered that the sprinklers in the front yard had caused some major damage to the windows in the living room.  Water from the sprinklers had been hitting the windows for who knows for how long.

This caused not only the windows to mold, but also my wood floor in the living room  *sigh*

 

So…2 months ago I decided to order some new windows for the living room.   I received such a great deal on them I decided to replace all the windows in the front of the house.  I was told it would take about 2 weeks for the windows to come in.

The windows were on their way,  so my son in law  decided he would  install them on December 3.  But as fate would have it… on December the 2nd a powerful wind storm hit the Los Angeles area….causing the delivery truck to blow over,  and all of my windows were  broken in the accident!   *darn*

But all was not lost for December the 3rd… we decided to have a pregnancy photo shoot for my daughter who was due to have her first baby daughter in 2 weeks.

Instead of installing windows…  my Son in law had a day of rest.  Here he is catching a few well deserved winks between photos.

 

And it was a good thing Chad didn’t have to work that day…. because my daughter, April went into labor a few hours after the photo shoot was over.

So, that was an wonderful example of… “things turning out for the best”.  Chad would have been exhausted after a full day of installing windows, and then helping his wife go through labor.

Now….Back to my window story.

So we had to wait for my windows to be made once again.  A few days before my windows arrived I was looking at all the houses in my neighborhood that had installed new windows.

Seems everyone had replaced their windows with windows that didn’t have grids in them, and the windows I ordered had grids. *darn*

I wondered if I should have ordered my windows without grids?  Yes….. I think I should have… I liked the way the windows looked without the grids!

Now what I’m I to do?…. it’s too late to cancel them !  *sigh*

So, a few days later I receive a phone call informing me that my windows are in, but they wanted to know if I ordered my windows with grids or without grid.???  Seems my windows came in without grids….OMG!

Once again…”things have a way of turning out for the best”!

I love my new windows…the view is so much better, and being insulated makes a big difference in how much warmer the house stays, and less outside noise to hear…so…take that you noisy bumpasse’s…..tee hee hee!

XOXO,

Janice

]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2012/01/25/things-have-a-way-of-turning-out-for-the-best/feed/ 0 My Holiday Baking http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/22/my-holiday-baking-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-holiday-baking-2 http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/22/my-holiday-baking-2/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:36:47 +0000 Queen mum http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=3014 read more »]]> Chocolate & Raspberry Shortbread.

Dough

2 sticks butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups flour

Cream butter and sugar together..add flour and mix till it forms the dough.

This makes enough dough to cover a 13 x 9 baking pan, or you can make 2 pans of  8 x 8.  I made one pan of 8 x 8 shortbread and saved the other half to make chocolate toffee bars…(Next recipe)

 

Choose your size pan.. and pat the dough into pan.

then cover with seedless raspberry jam..

if you use a 13 x 9 pan use the whole jar…8 x 8 pan use half of jar..I use this Jam…

bake at 325 for about 20 minutes…take out of the oven when done..while still hot.. sprinkle on…

Wait about 10 minutes…and then swirl melted chocolate and raspberry together

Now…. lick the knife…YOU know… you want to!

I had to also lick my camera len.. because… I’m a dork… I got chocolate all over my camera while taking these pictures!

 

Chocolate Toffee Bar

You need the above shortbread and…

I used the whole can…for a 13 x 9 pan…take them out of their wrappers and put into blender to chop into smaller bits…..pat shortbread into pan…sprinkle on the toffee bits…bake 10 minutes at 325…then sprinkle on chocolate chops..bake another 10 minutes…let cool an few hours and then cut into squares..

MORE recipes  coming soon….

 

Candy cane cake pops

Snowmen cake pops

Snowball cake bites

 

 

Chocolate cake bites with pretzel sprinkles

 Pecan Carmel.

 Sugar Cookies

 Merry Christmas to all

Love,

Janice

]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/22/my-holiday-baking-2/feed/ 0 Let There Be Christmas Lights http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/17/let-there-be-christmas-lights/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=let-there-be-christmas-lights http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/17/let-there-be-christmas-lights/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:32:31 +0000 Queen mum http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=2969 Ohh,,,Christmas lights

Ohh,,, Christmas lights!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Hope You’re all keeping warm and toasty!

XO,

Janice

 

]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/17/let-there-be-christmas-lights/feed/ 0 My House has Gone Winter Wonderland http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/12/my-house-has-gone-winter-wonderland/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-house-has-gone-winter-wonderland http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/12/my-house-has-gone-winter-wonderland/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:38:40 +0000 Queen mum http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=2923 read more »]]> I love this time of the year,

   I’ve been into Christmas decorating mode for a few days now.

 

Some close up’s of the ornaments.

 

 

Is anyone as crazy about snowflakes as I’am?

I hang them from the ceiling..

Or, anything that doesn’t move.

I not only deck the halls

but the bathroom too!

Can’t forget the hearth..

 

Or the front porch…

I Wish You…

XO,

Janice

]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/12/my-house-has-gone-winter-wonderland/feed/ 0 The Birth of Vivian Rose http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/06/the-birth-of-vivian-rose/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-birth-of-vivian-rose http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/06/the-birth-of-vivian-rose/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:51:11 +0000 Queen mum http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=2881 read more »]]> The much anticipated,  much dreamed about,  much talked about…has finally happened.

The Birth of Vivian Rose, my first Grandchild!

 

This is Vivian one hour old, she weighed  7lbs and is 19 1/2 long.  She is Grand ma ma’s perfect little princess!

A few months ago I posted a story and ultrasound picture of her. I thought she was already adorable at only a few weeks old.   Grand ma ma went a little crazy buying things as soon as she knew for sure her first grand child was going to be a girl.

I bought a chandelier for Vivian’s bedroom…Grandma ma doesn’t even have a chandelier in her bedroom…at least not yet!

 

I’m so proud of my daughter April, she had a 100% natural birth just like I did, NO meds of any kind.  I was shocked to know that things have changed so much in the past 20 years or so.  Back in my day we did everything we could not to take any drugs of any kind, now everyone tries to talk you into taking medications for the pain, it’s even hard to find a doctor that still believe’s in a natural birth.  April’s doctor still believe’s in natural births but said he has delivered only 4 babies natural (that is without drugs) in the past year.

 April’s birth plan is very rare indeed!

 

This picture was taken 6 hours before April went into Labor.

24 hours later……

What we lovingly called the  ”baby dance”.

 When April had a contraction she would lean into her husband Chad and sway from side to side till the pain was gone.

   Vivian was born, Sunday December 4th at 8:28 pm

 after approximately 24 hours of labor.

This is what a baby born without drugs looks like.

 Wide awake, and taking in her new world!

I hope anyone reading this who is pregnant, or knows anyone who is pregnant, Please consider giving birth without drugs.  Don’t let your doctor or nurses try to talk you out of it, women have been giving birth for thousands of years without drugs.  Yes, giving birth is painful, but it can be done without drugs!

XOXO,

Grand ma ma

]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/12/06/the-birth-of-vivian-rose/feed/ 3 I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/11/14/im-dreaming-of-a-snow-princess-snow-bunny-white-christmas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=im-dreaming-of-a-snow-princess-snow-bunny-white-christmas http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/11/14/im-dreaming-of-a-snow-princess-snow-bunny-white-christmas/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:57:48 +0000 Queen mum http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/?p=2826 read more »]]>

Making My List

Checking it Twice

Oh Yes,

 I have been Very Nice!

 Faux fur Jacket, I ordered it, I couldn’t wait for Santa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year I bought the black fur version of this, and i’m so glad I did!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I love anything Brocade!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I guess i’m going to have white fuzz stuck in my eyelashes.

 Can we say Ice Princess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   New Years Eve Outfit?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Where’s My Hot Chocolate?

♥

Dear Santa baby

♥

I have been a Very Good girl

♥

So Please bring me everything on my list

♥

XOXO,

Janice

]]> http://thesocalgirlfriends.com/2011/11/14/im-dreaming-of-a-snow-princess-snow-bunny-white-christmas/feed/ 0