There's Something Healthy About a Big Ugly House!

In its day it was majestic.  A large colonial white home with 9 black shuttered windows on each face, two fireplaces holding the walls together, and a brick stoop providing two directions for entry.  Today, if you follow the private lane flanked with up-kept homes, deep swimming pools and modern cars to the end you will find a large boxy green shadow of what we are only left to imagine it was.  Our imaginations have a sense of humor.

There is a 19-forever-ago Cadillac Eldorado parked in the front yard and its competitor, a diesel Mercedes likely from the same decade, parked in the back (with a three car garage and a driveway fit for a Quinceanera, I'm surprised they missed their marks).  A 30 foot shed also resides on the property; its roof resides on the overflowing contents within.  Posts mark the border of what was once a kitchen garden and vines are digesting what was once a privacy fence.  Even the trees look like they are ignoring the house, for if they haven't been reduced to stumps they are leaning away as if seeking life from all other dwellings. But, in its day it was Majestic.

We intend to live there.  There is something beautifully healthy about a big ugly house.  Looking forward to bringing it back to life has taken our minds out of our current place and into our future home.  If you recall Mrs. Potts singing her directory to the dishes to clean the castle before dinner you'll have a good idea what we sound like here.  Our song has 'rid the termites' and 'install a heater', 'fix the plumbing' and 'order a dumpster' in the lyrics, but we are singing none the less.  Along with a door that must become a window and two garages of 'stuff' to redirect, it does come with a riding lawn mower (it is about the silver lining, after all...  ).

While imagining breakfast at the island and evenings around the fireplace, we are envisioning what will grow there.  Veggies, fruits and flowers for sure, but more than that I hope.  Our son will walk his first girlfriend home from school.  Our daughters will likely be kissed on the stoop.  My parents will take to rocking in patio chairs on warm evenings and cool mornings while smelling the brackish river water and listening to sneaky teenage preambles.  Will there be chickens pecking the ground?  Will we have bird feeders and bat houses and opossum traps?  Will we plant flowers in the Eldorado or just around the wheels?  A sense of humor indeed.

Vitamins do not live in this post, dear reader, nor do minerals or proteins or examples of sugar by grams, but something as important yet much less tangible is present: joy.  In place of food and water vitamins, the soul can be fed with holding onto joy or creating something joyous.  Because of my healthy imagination and an Eldorado as a guard dog, my soul, dear reader, is stuffed!  I am off to sing my song.... "Sweep the Chimneys!"~"Hang the Stormers."~"Burn the wood pile!"~"Swing the Hammers." "Fix the vent hood."~"Replace the toilets."~"Bring on the movers." Before I go, as always, remember to wash your hands.

Anna~

Life is Not About Finding Yourself!

Have you ever moved?  Packed your stuff in boxes, loaded them on a truck, prayed they arrived at your new address intact and rediscovered yourself in the process?  In the words of Mercer Mayer, "Me too!"  Come the winter, we will be following the process as a family for the sixth time in 14 years.  This next home has the potential to be our address for the next eight years and, though I am excited about that, I have no idea what it feels like to live within the same walls for more than three.  In the words of my daughter, "Wait... What?"

I have formulated my own very simple opinion about moving.  Everyone should pretend they are moving every six months or so.  (Ask any military spouse and they will agree whole heartedly.)  Sorting through closets, clearing out the attic spaces, shifting things around the garage and rearranging furniture not only helps pull the weeds, but renews the sense of 'home'.  My mother was always rearranging furniture; I think it was so she could vacuum new pieces of the carpet, but the house always felt 'better' after a good going through~

And then there is the internal furniture.  I remember a conversation with a dear friend of mine after she moved to a new state with her nearly new husband.  At that time I had moved 4 states and had some experience with the invisibility of it all.  She had expressed how she was having a tough time finding a place to belong to which I said, "The beauty of it is, moving allows you to not only let go of the furniture you dislike, it allows you to cast off the pieces of yourself you dislike living with. You have the chance to invent who you wish to be which will lead you to the places you belong."  George Bernard Shaw's more concise version wraps it up nicely, "Life is not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."

After we hear from the Realtor, I may be sooner to a road-trip to Virginia than later.  My husband can't go so soon, but I am hopefully going to have a few days of house-hunting to see where our furniture might fit.  My kids are saying "Me too?" and I am saying "Wait... What?" but even though it's a little scrambled and unfair, the excitement is intoxicating.  We all have a new sense of direction.  We have all been given the chance to recreate our purpose.  We all have the opportunity to pull the weeds.  And, as soon as we settle on a house, we'll have the chance to rearrange the furniture.

Before the trip, real food, lots of water, vitamins for my vitamins, and as always, clean hands - especially after the rest stops.

Anna~

There's Nothing Wrong with My Meal Plan!

I have been trying to get the shoes back in the closet, the laundry back in the drawers, the cans in the pantry, the meat in the freezer and the homework signed and in the corresponding backpack.  We are in the season of 'get our shit-together' and it's been a very messy process.  Each kid has been served with papers of every color and request from new, fairly organized teachers.  Their physicals are in, their teeth are clean, their backpacks are full, and my tank is empty.  Scott is out running a tri-Athelon today and I have only gotten out of bed once to refill my coffee.  (I can hear the kids laughing downstairs as I write.)

Two weeks into school and we are finally getting caught up.  The first week of school my Mother-in-Law was here, which literally saved our lives.  She made French Toast for breakfast on the first day of school, American Chop Suey for dinner (a New England Classic, I'm told), and helped keep the kids out and about while I conducted client calls and constructed emails.  That week was a patch work quilt of old, new, and fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants.

This last week was better. Scott made a fabulous steak and asparagus dinner on the weekend; a local butcher was involved.  I made something out of chicken pieces and a vegetable that I can't remember.  I finally shopped on Tuesday which yielded home made spaghetti sauce, stuffed peppers, roast chicken and quinoa, kielbasa and baked beans, and pork steaks with lots of green things.  Each night we enjoyed steamed veggies, butter, and oils, and each lunch was made from leftovers.  We even breakfasted on fruit, toast, eggs and yogurt with home-made granola.

All of this great food came in handy on Thursday as all 5 of us participated in the Run to Remember at 6 am... in the morning.  As I watched all of my children cross the finish line full minutes before I did on that 3 mile race, I, again, was reminded how much further I have to go in my 1/2 marathon training.  Some runs are really strong and consistent, others are defeating; all have been shorter than 13 miles.  After a great dinner tonight, I will put myself to bed in anticipation of running 10 miles tomorrow. I will sleep knowing the kids are so fantastic because I feed them so very well.

Even on weeks when we shop just before we eat, I know there is truly nothing wrong with my meal plan.   I know kielbasa isn't real food, but nearly everything else that lands on our plate is nourishing in one way or another.  The shoes will eventually land in the closet, the laundry will soon find its way out of the hamper, and the kids will always have things to return to their backpacks.  There will also always be Saturday mornings to lay in bed, and write, and sip coffee, and listen to the laughter from the kids.

And, as always, time to wash our hands.

Anna~

Assembling Your Elephant: "It Looks Like a Fan!"

Julie Andrews is ringing in my ears right now. "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with string." Today I ask, 'What are a few of your favorite things?' Identifying what you are a Fan of is the next piece of the Elephant.

Be a fan of your food: Thirteen essential vitamins exist in nature and are required by the human body; they are are essential because they cannot be made within the body and are needed for immune function, growth, hormone production, digestion, cellular respiration and many other secret activities that take place under the skin. Getting those vitamins out of nature and into your body is key. Salads, for sure, are easy go-to assemblies of vitamins and minerals, but if you don't like the garden variety salad, it's probably not on your menu. Take a moment and think about vitamin packed foods you not only like, but will actually eat. Simplify your grocery list by purchasing fan favorites and then... eat them. (An incomplete list of Nutrient Dense foods can be found here.)

Be a fan of your movement: Interest in exercise in individual. While I like to run, my son likes to rollerblade. While Cadence likes to pedal her way around the world, Kendra likes to chase a soccer ball. While my husband is swimming and biking and running to the base and beyond, I am gardening, cleaning and walking beside the dog(s). We all know we need to move around in order to create and expend energy; it's time to stop waiting for Monday and decide what type of exercise you are a fan of. And then... go do it! Don't worry about all of the days you didn't do it, just seize the moment and work it out!

Be a fan of your work: My job is not a singular one. I am a mother. Wife. Health Coach. Teacher Assistant. Student. Friend. Family Traveler. Wine enthusiast. Just like you, I have many things I work at on a daily basis; things I have chosen and that I love to nurture (me, kids, gardens, etc.). There are also things I am not a fan of. Instead of dwelling on things I dislike (dirty toilets, bills, the post office), I have identified what I love and have willingly focused the bulk of my energy on those things. Now is the time for you, dear reader, to decide if you are a fan of your work! If you are not, ask, "What am I a fan of?" and then... be it!

Be a Fan of Your Elephant:  Dear reader, you have followed me along this path of Assembling Your Elephant with dedication and interest, and I thank you.  So far I've rambled on about walls, snakes, trees, spears and fans, and hope you have taken something away that has helped you assemble your elephant.  My final post in this series will be Wednesday.  Before then, please send me a picture (literary articulate description or photo) of your elephant.  I would love to include reader photos and comments, with your permission of course, in the final post.

While you craft or photoshop, eat real food, drink plenty of water, give your vitamins their vitamins and, as always, remember to wash your hands.  

Anna~

Comment or send your thoughts and photos to anna@infiveparagraphsorless.com.  Thanks!

Assembling Your Elephant: "It Looks Like a Spear!"

Half of your elephant is already assembled.  Walls have been recognized and established;  excuses, obstacles and roadblocks exposed.  You have decided what your tree looks like; what you stand for with respect to your individual purpose.  You have also identified your snakes; devious ingredients, poisonous menus, self doubt and the like, and life itself.  The next piece of the elephant the blind man revealed is the spear.  It's time to lance the boil, dear reader; it's time.

Too often we hide behind the 'it's the way we've always done it' mentality.  I do it.  I am sure you do it as well.  "I have always always had that."  "I have always done that."  "I am not a morning person."  "I don't do windows."  "This is the way I've always done it."  The parameters we assign to ourselves are safety nets utilized when fear or nervousness is felt.  The unknown is certainly a scary place!  But returning to the same old parameters every time you are faced with a new situation, a dangerous invitation or an elephant in the room requires nothing of you.  No growth.  No insight.  No trust.  No faith.  No intuition.  No light.  Nothing.

If that is true, then the results will never be different either.  "I wish that work wasn't so stressful."  "I wish I had more time with my family."  "I wish money wasn't so tight."  "I would give anything for a vacation."  "I don't know why I can't get things done."  "Why is this happening to me?"  To be quite honest, dear reader, the answer to it all is usually, "Because this is the way you've always done it."  You can't expect change if you change nothing.

Growth, in its simplest definition means to get bigger.  I am not suggesting you need to expand your physical presence, but it might be delicious to expand your life's presence.  How?  Lance the boil!  Grab ahold of your spear and slice through your safely placed parameters.  Instead of relying on the same old actions, delivering the same old results, give yourself permission to move beyond your boundaries.  Redefine what it is you want to become and grow into it!

Now, just as the elephant is assembled from six different perspectives, so are you the sum of your parts; a holistic being.  Whatever it is you have decided to grow into, eat real food, give yourself plenty of water, nourish your parts with vitamins and, because lancing boils can be a bloody mess, remember to wash your hands.  If this isn't the way you've always done it you are on the right track!

Happy Lancing!

Anna~

Fine tuning your life takes consistent practice.  If you are out of practice and want to break free from years of bad habits and stagnant behavior, I can coach you thru it.  Visit Anna Burrill, Your Health Coach to schedule a free consultation with me today.  

Assembling Your Elephant: "It Looks Like A Tree!"

Just to the left of the fence around the yard is a grand tree.  In the spring it buds full in pink flowers followed by pink foliage and then, delicately, everything turns green.  The neighborhood is filled with them actually.   In the summer they are noticed for their shade, in the fall they are a nuisance for their leaves, in the winter they are feared when covered with ice amidst the wind, but in the spring they are a great source of pleasure.  Large living chameleons able to provide shade, shelter, protection, stability, enjoyment, and satisfaction gracefully, beautifully, rhythmically.    

I maybe should have started with this one.  Finding health, or finding ways to be more healthy, or finding reasons why you aren't as healthy as you'd like, starts with defining your tree.  You embody all of the properties found in the trees about my yard.  I am not sure why I thought to start with a Wall that may be in your way before I asked you to appreciate your Tree, except for the fact that
John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) said it must be so.  If that were my reason, however, this post would be about a Spear. I digress~

You, to the point, are a tree.  Assembling your elephant, I remind you, is to look at your life as a sum of its parts.  A whole.  You are the center of that whole.  Everything that happens to you or about you matters when it comes to your health.  It matters little how you look in comparison to others; less how others look at you; and, least, your size.  A tree does not face a storm comparing itself to other trees, nor does it grow or shrink or hide away from controversy; it simply stands with flexibility and patience and acceptance of the storm.  

I remember Shel Silverstein's book vividly when I think of trees; giving every last bit of themselves to make others happy.  Imagine if we were so wise.  To give what we wanted instead of demanding our desires.  To apply ourselves when solving problems instead of waiting on the riverbank for someone else to fetch a floatation device.  To reach up for more light and clean air and new rain instead of waiting for service and air conditioning and a turn in the shower.  To give in order to be happy.  Period.

You are a large, living chameleon able to provide shade, shelter, protection, stability, enjoyment, and satisfaction gracefully, beautifully, rhythmically.   You are already in possession of beauty, and grace and strength.  You already possess gifts ready to be given and knowledge ready to be shared.  The only things that can make you more complete and able are real food, plenty of water, and nature's vitamins.  But, just remember, before you approach the world with a broad reach, remember to wash your hands.

Anna~

A Hodge-Podge and a Patchwork Quilt

I signed up for a 1/2 marathon.  I have ran 6 miles in the last two days on my way to training for October's event; six miles that took me over 70 minutes to cover.  My legs aren't terribly sore, my ego isn't terribly bruised, my goal isn't terribly scary, but my tummy is terribly hungry. I would love to dive to the bottom of a bag of chips or into the bucket of ice-cream, but I know that if I eat well first, I can enjoy a taste of the desired second.

My diet is a hodgepodge of dietary theories.  I don't hunt or gather, but I eat more paleo than not.  I drink coffee like a European, although I have recently switched to decaf.  I love fish and potatoes like my ancestors, but I eat them rarely and often fried.  I love juices and smoothies like a Californian, but my distaste for waste keeps that to a minimum.  I agree with eating right for my blood type, I like good carbs and good protein, I agree with clean eating and whole foods, but still, I put sugar in my coffee.  I believe I have successfully blurred the lines of at least a dozen dietary platforms and merged them together like a patchwork quilt.

During my studies I have picked up a few gems.  From Ayurveda, balance what I eat with who I am; from Joshua Rosenthal, invest more in primary foods and enjoy better quality secondary foods;  and my favorite, from Dr. Barry Sears, "Protein walks around, Carbs grow from the ground."  I have learned to thoughtfully choose foods that fit within those categories because I can anticipate how my body and mind will feel when and after I do.

By doing this I have learned that I can have a lotta bit of this and a little bit of that while thriving in good health.  A girlfriend of mine recently reminded me that no one's health is perfect.  While my own health lacks perfection, it produces energy, satiation, satisfaction, flavor, and joy.  I have learned I can enjoy what I eat and enjoy what I shouldn't all in good balance and thoughtfulness.  That, dear reader, is the recipe I wish for you all to find.

Begin with real food, drink plenty of water, and give your vitamins their vitamins.  Wash your hands of the things you can't have and instead enjoy them in tasteful portions after you eat real, whole, naturally occurring food.  You don't need a recipe to eat a carrot just as you don't need an excuse to eat ice-cream.

Anna~

You've been Missed!

I met a woman this week who reminded me that I am an individual.  I love to write, I love to eat, I love to find out about nutritional things, I love to work out in my living room, and I love to contemplate for days before deciding or committing to any one thing.  I have been focusing on social media, business names, logos, headers, footers, and websites lately, none of which I love, but all of which has lead me right back to where I started: a desire to write about food, about nourishment, and about vitamins.

I have missed you, dear readers.  My priorities are now back in the correct order.  I will explain it further tomorrow, in five paragraphs or less.

Until then, eat real food, drink plenty of water, give your vitamins their vitamins, and, as always, remember to wash your hands!  And eat eggs!

Anna~

There is Always a But!

Spring; to originate or arise from - or  - to move or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward.  The anticipation of Spring is all but overcoming me.  I find myself looking for green evidence, measuring the length of the day, and giving myself permission to calm down.  This may be my most transformative season yet and I welcome it with sneakers tied and a smile upon my face; my hope is for a clam, smooth transition into the forward movement of Spring.

The phrase 'forward movement' has been ringing in my ears for weeks now.  Our pantry remains scantily stocked as our refrigerator becomes increasingly full of fresh food and clean water.  We have signed our names on lists of willing runners committing to push three miles of pavement away from our feet.  We are setting loftier goals for the summer and fall, both individual desires and family commitments.  We have all decided, in our own separate ways, to move forward from the places we were and to achieve the places we admire.

Forward movement has also given a name to my health coaching practice; Nutritional Cadence.  Health is not a one dimensional, unilateral, universal state or application. Health is a balance of movement, communication, food, love, joy, work, water, nutrition, education, and spirit.  The human body cannot make what it cannot make; also true, it cannot become something more or less without a constant effort toward growth.  But (and there is always a but), just as the seasons move and change rhythmically, so too should self care, growth, nourishment and movement ~ Nutritional Cadence (Thanks to Sue Plunkett for the conversation.)

There are many disrupters of forward movement.  Fear.  Comparison.  Career.  Failure.  Habit.  Choice.  Knowledge.  Location.  Money.  Life.  This last two weeks I have been intent on encouraging those around me (and myself) to commit to small changes with goals in mind for the ownership of forward movement.  I believe it is better to be afraid and moving forward than afraid while standing still.  Because you are in control of everything you eat, everything you say and everything you know, you are in control of everything you want.

This week, I encourage you all to plan.  Shop mindfully.  Eat real food.  Commit.  Drink plenty of water.  Laugh.  Cook.  Think.   Wash your hands of 'this is the way I've always done it' and ask yourself, "Does this help me achieve my goal?  or Not?"  That, dear reader, is forward movement.

Spring!

Anna~

One Small Change

We are nearly into the 3rd month of the year and Spring is arriving.  Days are a touch longer.  The sun is casting a warmer blanket directing a longer shadow.  I can feel the anticipation of the changing season within me just as I can see it on the world.  Change, evolution, doesn't happen all at once; instead it is a series of small changes connected together that wow observers and beholders alike.  One simple change can align your efforts toward accomplishing your nutritional or lifestyle goals, just as the warmer sun coaxes the trees to bud.

Again, I ask, "What is your goal?"  All of us have plans.  Weight loss.  A Marathon.  Reducing Sugar cravings. Balancing the check book.  Clearing clutter.  Starting a business.  Goals are individual aspirations that deliver a sense of belonging in the world; aspirations should not be ignored or discredited for aspirations come from intuition.  Intuition, by definition, is the ability to understand something without the need for conscious reasoning.  As you identify your goals, listen to your intuition- you will then realize a path of least resistance to deliver you to your desires.

I have much going on in my world these days.  I work 4 hours a day during the school week.  I am in module 14 of 40 perusing a health coaching career through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.  Because of my commitment to achieving my certificate, I have morning meetings, lectures to absorb, health history practices to schedule, and a program to structure.  I have a goal of delivering a healthy lunch lecture to the Middletown Public School System, possibly in March, which I need to construct and have approved.  I also have kids, a husband, a dog, a puppy, a cat, bills, a household to manage and myself to take care of.  No one ever said perusing goals was easy.

Following a path takes energy.  Positive energy, physical energy, emotional energy, mental energy, love, and intuition.  Energy is derived from water, sleep and the food you eat.  I believe that food is the foundation of all other things; if your body is nourished, your mind is hydrated and your soul is fed, then all things are possible through defining desires and demanding them to be true.  Each of us is worth living in our purpose, dear reader, and each of us has the power to evolve into ourselves!

While you describe your desires and tune in to your intuition, grab some real, whole, naturally occurring food.  Wash in the nutrients with plenty of clean water.  Pick your foods from colorful produce, crunchy nuts, soft fruit, tart berries, sweet honey, deep roots, delicate greens and local meat to ensure your vitamins get their vitamins.  Wash your hands of fear and take one small step into the familiar unknown of your intuition.  As you bud, and then bloom, you will coax those around you to do the same...  all it takes is one small change...

Anna~

Statement: "I Am On A Mission!"

The road I am on is becoming populated with beautiful faces, challenging questions, informative rest stops and love.  I have reached my first of four tests in school this week with enthusiasm.  I have also scheduled 5 Health History consultations over the next seven days.  Only 30 weeks until my certificate naming me a 'Health Coach' arrives in the mail; there is much to accomplish and learn and practice before that end.

First thing on the list: Keep Going!  Every gaol I set has speed bumps that slow me down and make me rethink the route.  There are questions I have overlooked, complications I couldn't have predicted, set backs, I even get discouraged.  My blog doesn't generate comments, my Facebook page isn't attracting much participation, my technological savvy isn't getting much savvier, and I am afraid, at times, to solicit clients.  There is nothing to do but to keep going;  I will never get beyond where I am if I stop~

Next things next: Clarify my goals.  As a Health Coach my objective is to actively hold my clients accountable to their goals regarding health.  My platform is food, but good health is not achievable through food alone.  I will encourage my clients to explore all facets of health through healthy shopping (guidance and financial applications), healthy cooking (education and confidence applications) and healthy eating (self awareness and body image applications).  Each area has social, emotional and spiritual aspects to consider just as each individual manifests a different relationship with food.

Another lead to follow: Listen to my Intuition!  I love helping people find a happier, healthier, more confident version of themselves by listening and offering advice.  Every question that I am asked to answer fuels my passion!  "What should I eat?"  "What do you eat?"  "How can I stop feeling sick?"  "What foods will help keep my cholesterol down?"  "What is all the hype about gluten free?"  "From a nutritional standpoint, how do you feel about a cleanse?"  "How do I feel less tired?" "Can I clear acne with food?"  "GMO?"  "Arsenic?"  "Why am I fat?"   Every question and concern is fascinating!  I need to listen to my intuition and keep answering these questions for the sake of those asking and for my own.

I believe health is not weight, diet is not a fad and you are what you eat.  I believe we should all eat real food, we should all drink plenty of water, we should all make sure we give our vitamins their vitamins, and, to be considerate, we should all remember to wash our hands.  Health may actually be just that simple!

Anna~

I Welcome It!

Today is my birthday.  Thirty-Six.  I want to complain and whine and roll my eyes at my progression toward 40 but I can't really find all that much to complain about.  The hills I have had to climb have given me strong legs to stand on; the tears I have shed have washed in fortitude; the the lines on my face give me more character; the mistakes I've endured have provided knowledge; the abundance of happiness, joy, love and prosperity has kept me warm and looking forward to many more accumulating birthdays.  Thirty-Six years seems only the beginning!

Fun facts that have become me over the last third of a century~  I have not have a traffic ticket in nearly 14 years.  In June, 2000, I was driving up to Myrtle Beach to pick up my sister so she could officially meet Kylee, my niece, her grand-daughter, in SC.  While driving with the flow of traffic I was singled out as a speeder; a tactic used, I am sure, to slow down the flow of traffic.  I contested the charge to an officer who then graciously rewarded me with a reckless driving charge instead, thank you very much.

-I am also suffer from stage fright. That may not seem important because I am not an American Idol star or on any other stage, but I do have a wish on my bucket list to sing the National Anthem before a professional stadium event.  When I give a speech, deliver thanks, talk in front of a crowd or enter an event fashionably late, my palms sweat, my heart races, my face turns bright red, and I nearly come to tears.  I do not, however, mind volunteering others to take center stage~  my husband and children and many friends can attest to that...

-I eat at McDonald's from time to time.
-I dislike cold beverages 83% of the time (and making up random numbers and percentages for effect).
-Rather drinking apple cider vinegar to wearing deodorant.
-Socks, red wine and coffee are a few of my favorite things.
-My least favorite place is the post office.
-I wish I had a garden.
-My straightforwardness is most commonly labeled as rudeness, which I regret.
-I have a very confusing sense of humor, one even my family can't quite get.
-I have called 6, soon to be 7, states home.
-Love to Ski downhill but hate the cold.
-I prefer board games to video versions.
-Afraid of swimming in the ocean, though I am scuba certified (does that expire?).
-Prefer eating in to eating out.

Mostly though, I try and eat real food with really wonderful people as often as I can, drink herbal tea and hot water to stay hydrated, am interested in vitamins and how they need their vitamins, and practice washing my hands daily of all the things I haven't done yet or done well.  Today I have the chance to make nourishing decisions that will leave me satisfied and well fed...  and I welcome it, even after 13,146 days...

Anna~

I Wonder What the Cat will Say?

Nameless Black Puppy Boy
Dec- 2013 - 3 Weeks Old
Mama Yellow Lab in the background.

So, we are getting a puppy.  Hazel, our yellow lab, is 11.5 years young so we decided it is time to add a new member to the family.  The nameless little black puppy boy comes home tomorrow with papers, a pedigree, and a dirty little face.  Meet nameless black puppy boy~

The house is ready.  We have a large dog kennel propped up in the corner partitioned off to puppy size.  Chew toys, puppy shampoo, treats, collar and leash all rest in a basket awaiting their owner.  We have had 6 weeks to get ready for him but we still can't decide on a name.  Four of us agree on a couple of different names, but there is always one lone wolf in the pack thwarting our naming efforts with Veto power (I swear his name will end up being Veto).

This doesn't have a lick to do with food, I know.  We are not going to eat the puppy, nor are we going to let him join us at the table, but health is a multifaceted application.  Joy. Love. Affection. Kindness. Consideration.  Exercise. Boundaries. A spouse, child, friend, relative, neighbor, or a dog can bring all of these essential ingredients to the table.

Jan, 2014 - 5.5 weeks old

I am not suggesting you run out and get a dog, but if you are thinking about adding a member to your family there are several avenues to consider.  Save a Lab, ASPCA, your local animal adoption league, shelter, or reputable breeder.  During our search we were even introduced to a breed we'd never heard of before called the Pudelpointer; our friends actually breed them come to find out (Lone Pine Pudelpointers, in AL).  We have also spent a lot of time spying on my sisters kennel (Rockhaven English Springer Spaniels) in Wisconsin via Facebook.  Puppy planning is a labor of love;  one rewarded in puppy breath and unconditional companionship.

Monday I will get back to real, naturally occurring food, I will discuss the importance of water, I may even present a vitamin or two.  Until then I will be playing on the floor with puppies, laughing at our children as they witness silly milestones, teaching manors and cleaning up accidents.  Don't worry, I will certainly remember to wash my hands...
Have a Great Weekend!


Anna~

Did I Ever tell you How "I5PoL" got its Name?

I have been blogging for about 6 years.  My first blog was called 'The Burrillo Pad'.  It was a beautiful spot where I shared military deployment milestones, family pictures, anecdotes for the life of a housewife, and my own journey as a military spouse. Some mornings, as the children would race around the house chasing the cat or running from the dog, I would type my thoughts and aspirations.  And, some evenings, as the children would pop out of their beds to my voice telling them to get back to sleep, I would reveal my mistakes as a mother so my husband, serving in Iraq, could better understand life as we knew it.  I closed 'The Burrillo Pad' when Scott came home and have regretted it every day.

I continued blogging with 'Starting in the Middle'.  I view the world, and all things in it, in terms of the now.  Now implies that something came before and some things are yet to come; even in the grand scheme of things, there was only one beginning.  I am mid-thirties, somewhere in the middle of wife, mother and self, in love with the middle of my life, the middle of my marriage, and the middle of my education.  I love the middle of a wine bottle, the weather in mid-August, the pages that come before the conclusion of a novel, and sleeping in the middle of the bed.  I declare new beginnings quite often, but those beginnings start in the middle of my journey, no matter how declarative I get.  'Starting in the Middle' is still open, but I haven't posted there in a while-  I must be the middle of a long pause.

Then I discovered that my passion, my purpose, is in food.  Nutrition.  Wellness.  Phronesis.  Eudaimonia.  I started devouring blogs, articles and opinions about nutrition. I watched numerous documentaries about food, the facets of health, the global impact of farming and bees.  After a time I found myself scanning the headers and skipping to the end of information;  simply put, I became impatient in the middle.  I thought to myself, "It would be great if all of this information was more concise, like an essay," and 'In Five Paragraphs or Less' was born.  A position, three supporting details with supporting details, and a conclusion consolidating wide ideas about nutrition.

You are what you eat; let food be thy medicine; the body is designed to heal itself; calories do not measure health; diet is not a fad; nutrition is individual but common threads are present.  The human body cannot make what it cannot make so we have to add nutrition to the body, as though assembling a recipe for the perfect cake, the best lasagna, or the ultimate sundae.  Doses of happiness, satisfaction, motivation, love, joy, education and passion are nutrition for the soul, just as a celebration calls for cake, the family table calls for  lasagna, and a hot romantic evening calls for a sundae.  That is what I5PoL is made of.

Lastly, I figured, if you are like me, you might become impatient in the middle and skip to the end so my conclusion, too, needed to be fortified with wholesome, nutritious advice.  Something like 'eat real food, drink plenty of water, give your vitamins their vitamins and remember to wash your hands'.  I know I can't tell you what will make you healthy or what will make you well, but I can highlight and a thousand ingredients you might use to achieve health and wellness...
one ingredient at a time ...
in five paragraphs or less...
and conclude with cleanliness...

...and that is how I5PoL got it's name.

Anna~

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, dear reader.  I have taken a great long vacation from writing, from researching, from giving, and have enjoyed observing, enjoying and receiving.  Thank you for all of your visits, your insights and your inspiration in 2013; 2014 will be better because of it.  

The New Year's Resolution is a typical way to launch into the new year.  New goals and resolutions provide energy to normalcy; motivation to common action; inspiration to routine.  Some resolutions come in lofty packages wrapped in running shoes and mile markers while others are marked in inches and pounds.  I love the word resolution: 1. the act or an instance of resolving  2. the condition or quality of being resolute; firmness or determination  3. something resolved or determined; decision.  Whatever your resolution, use it to propel yourself into 2014 with a renewed sense of joy, positivity and determination.

As I stated above, I spent some time in observation this last month.  Excuses fall on both sides of diet choice, exercise commitment, wardrobe selection, happiness, work ethic, participation and enjoyment.  Scapegoats are often assigned to feelings and culprits to actions.  As I watched, I reflected on my own participation in this unnecessary cycle of blame and absolution.  This year, instead of deflecting responsibility for my own choices, I will take full authority of my actions.  I wish to be present, without regret, and without casting nets of condemnation.  To be happy.

I have also witnessed much, much, much negativity, both in my immediate surroundings and in the far corners of where only ears can reach.  Negativity is poisonous; it turns good company into arguing enemies and joyous conversation into spiteful competition.  Happiness and appreciative consideration can quickly dissolve poisonous positions and soften negativity.  Happiness, joy, also releases dopamine on the brain which has a lasting 'goodness' effect; a feeling that is addictive and sought after the more often you feel it.  Again, a choice is involved.

While you settle into the New Year, enjoy some real, delicious, naturally occurring food.  Wash it in with water so the nutrients can be absorbed and distributed effectively.  Give your vitamins their vitamins to fortify your blood.  And, as always, remember to wash your hands of negativity and be in appreciation of all that you come in contact with.  Within it all is a resolution!

Anna~

Nourishing Ideas!

There are only 14 days left in the shopping season.  Everything must be wrapped and boxed, bowed and labeled for Christmas morning and I am sure there are people left on your list.  You may consider buying them a great basket of food, which I do very often and lovingly, but if you are looking for something a little more clever than bread and butter or a copy-cat idea from wally-world, you may want to look to a couple of my favorite people for gifts.

Eve of Joy is a new home-based business created by my sister-in-law and brother (with three kids in tow).  Kelly repurposes silver plated flatware into garden markers, wind chimes, stamped service sets,  fun cereal or coffee spoons, and many other applications.  You can find her on Etsy under the shop name Eve of Joy.  Kelly also is a very creative
photographer and has a photo shop on etsy as well.  Start at EoJ and her photo shop link is available there.

My mother, a very talented crochet-er has recently opened her own etsy store.  She does not have packed shelves but what she does have available is priceless; her store name is Bobbindell.  Scarves, blankets, foot-ball buntings (you'll see) and throws are her favorite things to crochet, but she also makes shawls, wash cloths, trivets, hats...  well, if you don't see it on her Bobbindell shelves just message her what you desire...  she can crochet anything with masterful hands (some requests just may take longer!)

Christmas gifts can also be a craft made at your table.  Ornaments are a great afternoon activity that can add joy to any tree or party and they are very welcome this time of year.  The kids and I just made fun clothespin reindeer for gifts (and for ourselves) and the activity delivered a lasting memory for us to share for years to come.  If reindeer aren't your thing, maybe snowmen are a better fit.

Whether you are crafty or not, gifts can come in all shapes and repurposed sizes; they do not have to come from a big-box store or have a lofty price tag to matter.  While you finish your Christmas list, eat real, delicious, naturally occurring foods, wash them in with water, give your vitamins their vitamins and remember to wash your hands.  I hope this holiday season nourishes your body and spirit in ways that food cannot.  Enjoy~

Anna

A Week in Review: Be Accountable for Exercise!

With a holiday menu planning and a naughty or nice list started, exercise is probably right there on the back burner, right?  Isn't it funny how the less we focus on exercise and the more we focus on clutter the more stressed we become?  Menus are cluttered.  Shopping lists are cluttered.  The November and December bank statements are cluttered with purchases (whether we remember them or not).  The table is cluttered with dishes, the halls are decked with decor, the tree loaded with ornaments...  and the stress we feel during the season is directly related to the mess.   De-stress and enjoy more of your holiday season by adding in a little dance, a little jog, or a little vacuuming...  Exercise!

From April 5, 2013:

Be Accountable for Exercise! (Exercise?  What's That?)

Readers, you all know that exercise is serious business, but what you may not know is how many of your daily activities count as exercise!  Running, walking, weight lifting, elliptical riding, biking, stair climbing and yoga all count.  So does Pilates, Zumba (and the other kind of Zumba), Insanity, P90X, kick-boxing and Jazzercise!  But bowling, vacuuming, Wii boxing, Just Dance-ing, skiing, reading and laundry all make the same list.  When it comes to exercise, sweat isn't the tool of measurement; movement is!

This weekend I am running a road race with my husband and three hundred other 'in-shape' pavement pushers.  As you have read, I have been running a few times a week on a treadmill with a revolving goal of beating my own 30 minute distance.  My first 'run' delivered just under 2 miles while my latest half hour belt beating delivered a 2.74 mile distance.  Still progress.  Now I am committed to 10 Ks of bridge and borough through Jamestown, RI.

I vacuum a few times a week as well, the dog makes sure of it.  More often than not I am more impressed and pleased with my afternoon push of the vacuum than I am with my afternoon pull on the treadmill.  My entire body moves, my floors look great, and the air smell less like a Hazel-nut.  Laundry brings the same satisfaction.  Visual accomplishment accompanied by skinny jeans and clean cardigans.  The best part?  Home-work satisfies my body's need for movement!  My Fitness Pal accepts my entries of folding and defur-ing as graciously as it accepts my 2.74 miles on a treadmill.

Movement in any shape or form requires, yep, you guessed it, fuel.  I asked my husband this morning what to eat before a run and he replied, "I thought you would be the person to ask!?"  So, as with all other things, I looked it up.  Exercise requires a slow release of carbs, vitamins, and sugar.  What you eat before you exercise depends on how many minutes you have between the meal and the moves.  Oranges, because of their natural sugar, vitamin C, and fiber are great to eat right before a work out while hummus and carrots are good to eat about an hour or so before you hit the gym.  Oatmeal is good early, yogurt is good closer to the run.  Caffeine is good to help maintain focus and fight muscle fatigue but hot coffee works against you because it raises your body temperature.  Needless to say, I found out way more than one paragraph's worth of information on, "What to eat before you run-"  I encourage you to do a quick search before you lace up and vacuum...  fuel is what all movement is made from!

Now off with you!  Exercise, eat real food, give your vitamins their vitamins, drink plenty of water and remember to wash your hands.  And please, if you can spare some, wish me some luck!  I have never run anything close to 10K in my life...

Anna~

Changes~

Thank you, readers and visitors alike, for tolerating my daily template changes.  Today I dropped the 'blogspot' from my name by purchasing my own domain and with that decision came a desire to move toward a more professional look.  I cannot say I am settled in just yet, for I cannot seem to find my 'brand' ...if you will.  My wonderful sister is kindly contemplating how to encompass me in an artistic photograph and until then I cannot say the look won't change.

Though the picture and layout may not be concrete, a few new tabs above are here to stay.  Now you can contact me directly without having to leave a published post.  You can also find out a bit more about me and my journey through health and wellness in the "About Me" tab.  I still have some additions to make to the content, but the tab allows you to know who is behind the writing.  Trusting the source is important; I hope as you get to know me and my background, my education, my intentions and my interests, you will trust me as your source for good health.

To the right you will see a search window which is not exactly functioning correctly.  I added it yesterday and directly after installation it worked beautifully.  This morning I redirected to my domain, and the search no longer functions within this blog.  The search does reveal answers from blogs I am linked to and from the web, however.  Feel free to search within the links; hopefully I will be able to figure out how to get my own blog to search within itself sooner than later.  Until then, use the labels just below  Plan.   Click whatever topic you would like to investigate further and all labeled posts will populate your screen.  (And if you know how to fix my little problem, I welcome your direction.  I am a bit illiterate when it comes to code.)

While you look around and leave your comments or suggestions, grab some real, delicious, naturally occurring food.  Make sure to wash it in with water, to give your vitamins their vitamins, and to remember to wash your hands.  I appreciate you stopping in to visit;  if you like what you read, please register via one of the many avenues to the right.   I always keep my information limited to five paragraphs or less.

Anna~

Planning and Appreciation~

There are several daily habits that I am in the process of getting rid of.  Caffeine, which I rely on heavily, has to go.  Chronic dehydration is something I suffer from, an easily remedied problem that I commit to reversing by simply drinking more water.  Television is a time suck that I look forward to largely eliminating by practicing my guitar and writing down my thoughts.  I have also been feeling mentally lethargic lately, and thankfully school starts today which will help invigorate my mind.  As many of you do, I use Monday as a day to make plans and start fresh.  As I look at my own progress over the last year I see many prolonged stays at the "Going To" resort.  But if I look among the weeds and within the cracks, I see progress and success and am proud of my own accomplishments.

That is all.  My hope for you is that you find the time to eat and enjoy real, naturally occurring food.  That you find enough water to nourish your body with and you drink it.  That you give your vitamins their vitamins and feel well and healthy because of it.  And, because I may run into you in an unexpected place and reach out to welcomely embrace you, please remember to wash your hands.  May your Monday be full of planning, and appreciation for where you are starting from.

Anna~

Soaking up the Gratitude~

Again, I am soon to further my education of health and wellness.  I have an associates degree in healthcare administration; an area that I was warmly interested in for several years.  What interested me most about the potential of the career were the people.  After experiencing the world with grown-up eyes and tastebuds I have realized I am not so much interested in the institution of health as I am the embodiment of it.  So, because people are still what interest me most, I intend to become a fully certified, accredited and employable Health and Wellness Coach.

When we first married, my husband and I negotiated our relationship responsibilities and expectations of each other.  I was eager to be the home-maker, navy spouse and he was proud to be the provider.  Raising the children has been very rewarding for the past 13 years, but now, with our youngest reaching 3rd grade and a babysitter, ehr, I mean 12 year old in the house, my job is far less consuming than it used to be.  The chores are theirs, the responsibilities are divided, and a renegotiation of terms is taking place.  I am a mother.  I am a wife.  I lovingly and admirably enjoy my family and the life that surrounds my home.  But here, in these five paragraphs, I feel most passionate about my abilities and what I have to offer to the world.  I have found my purpose!

Looking at my history, my resume, I have always offered advice, care or guidance.  At one time I was a waitress, a job both of my daughters are eager to perform.  Soon after I hung up my apron I donned scrubs at a nursing home to either enhance activities of daily living or deliver seemingly necessary medication.  I have been a really good mother, I feel, nurturing strengths and recognizing weaknesses.  My responsibilities as a Navy spouse have been and continue to be accomplished with consideration and grace, if I do say so myself.  I have accepted my mistakes along the way and have learned from them (i.e, do not spank with wooden spoons, check the oven before turning it on every time, and make sure you know who is awake before embarking on an adult conversation).  It is in my nature to care for others, to offer help, to encourage, to assist, to solve the problems of the universe, to love.  I intend to utilize my past experience, my current abilities and my future education to help others claim their own health and be well~

Looking to my future, I feel I will be a more balanced portion of my focus, as I probably should have been all along.  To quote a metaphor from The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck, M.D., "If one wants to climb mountains one must have a good base camp, a place where there are shelters and provisions, where one may receive nurture and rest before one ventures fourth again to seek another summit."  I have spent much time tending to my base camp while others have departed for summits, conquered them and returned.  I need to trust that it is stocked, ready and stable once more, for it is now time for my own venture, my own mountain!

You, dear readers, have empowered me.  You have asked my advice and read my work with acceptance and with interest.  Thank you for trusting my education and suggestions and returning to devour more food for thought each and every time I offer it.  While you soak up my gratitude, find a real, delicious food, pair it with plenty of water, and, if need be, give your vitamins their vitamins.  But before you do, remember to wash your hands!  I will see you here Monday~

Anna~