Happy Tea Time Tuesday!

This is my very first time joining in on Tea Time Tuesday. I wanted to show you a little treasure I found at an estate sale several years back. 

This little treasure is a product of "Glo-Tan," produced by Carr China Co. Their items were considered "The Ware that Stands the Knocks."  The pieces are very thick and heavy and manufactured mainly for hotels, restaurants, hospitals, clubs, etc. Thomas Carr was the president of the Warwick Pottery Co. in Wheeling, W.V. and was selected to manage the pottery in Grafton, which was built on the bank of the Tygart River in 1913.

Some of the clay was quarried locally (Grafton, WV), but most of the materials used were from New England, Berkley Springs region of eastern West Virginia and as far as Florida.

This plant started up in 1916, but abruptly closed in 1952 by Wheeler Bachman, who was the owner of the plant at the time. There was a decline in the pottery industry in America due to the competition from Japan and other low wage countries. The rumor was Mr. Bachman learned that the employees were discussing the possibility of a union. He was in such a rage, he closed the business. 

There was a man by the name of Claude Hawks that visited the plant several years later and had this to say, "There was unfinished product all over the place; lines of benches, where artists worked...their brushes still in the glasses...dried up jars of ink and paint...transfer patterns all over. In the room where the kilns were, the carts were loaded just like they were going to be pushed in an hour or so...so tragic."

A tragedy indeed! The doors never opened again and burned to the ground in 1966. A sad ending to such a prosperous business.

If you would like to see more information about the Carr China Company, click here.

Click on Carr China Collector's Club for information on more pieces.

The lady that I purchased the items from was "very well to-do." She and her husband use to travel a lot, but I don't have any idea how she came upon these pieces. 

Happy Tea Time!  Here's to your health!

NOTE:  The guitar table that the Glo-Tan cup sits on was created by my wonderful husband.

Just as the Doctor has Ordered!

Just as the doctor has ordered, I was able to get in 30 minutes of exercise three times a week last week. To me that just does not seem to be enough, but when you suffer with adrenal fatigue, as I do, I am told "that is enough" at first. I feel good while doing the exercise and my husband and I are really enjoying doing this together. He has been very encouraging!!

I have been trying very hard to stay with the 3% and 6% veggies as mentioned in one of my posts. My friend, Marianne, also sent me a link to a wonderful blog  called "Angie's Healthy Living Blog". Go to her sight to see some of the most wonderful dishes that she prepares for her family. Angie has a lot of good healthful advice. I find her very charming and cheerful!

I found myself getting very sleepy during the day over the weekend. It was all I could do to keep my head up!  LOL!  So I decided to take some advice that I had given my dear friend, Marianne, while she was sick with a terrible cold; "Lay down and take a nap if you have to. Don't push it!"  I made my way to the couch, which happened to be several times during the day, and took little cat naps that seemed to revive me until the next slump came along.  I just couldn't seem to pull myself out of it. I gave in...

I tell you, I am looking forward to getting my energy back!!
 

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14

FORGIVENESS; A Healthy Choice

Have you ever had anyone to really hurt you to where it is hard to get over how betrayed and angry you feel? It is something that you hold to and just can't seem to get over it? Your stress level goes up; your blood pressure goes up; depression, and anxiety! You really have to get to a point of forgiveness, because if you don't, you may be the one who pays the most for what has happened.

Forgiveness is a decision to "let go" of resentment and even thoughts of revenge. Forgiveness can even lessen it's grip on you and help you focus on other parts of your life. Forgiveness doesn't mean that you have to accept what that person did to you. That person still holds the responsibility of his/her actions, and forgiving doesn't minimize or justify the wrong. You can forgive the person without excusing the act. Forgiveness can bring peace to help you go on with life.

The benefits of letting go of grudges and bitterness will make way for compassion, kindness, and peace within your soul. It can lead to better relationships, less stress and hostility, better health. Don't let being wrapped up in the wrong keep you from enjoying the present.

Forgiveness is a commitment to a process of changes. Recognize the value of forgiveness. Reflect on the facts of the situation, how you reacted, how this situation has affected your life, health and well-being. When you're ready, choose to not be the victim and release the control and power of the offending person. As you "let go" of the grudges and resentments, the anxieties, the shock of it all,  you'll no longer define your life by how you've been hurt.  Choose to forgive!

If you need a visual, I have one to share with you:
I pictured myself holding on to bags of trash, filled and heavy. I was dragging them around where ever I went. Bent over and tired, angry, miserable! I am tired of lugging this heaviness around on my back, shifting positions trying to get comfortable. There is no comfort carrying this load. I see a landfill up ahead and it is FULL of many overfilled thrash bags. I decide this is my chance to be rid of all these burdens. I take a deep breath and choose to THROW those bags as far away from me as I can; first one and then the other. FREEDOM! My load is light now. I can breathe!! I can stand up straight. Then I think, "can I make it without them?" I look for them, but can't find mine! I don't want burdens that belonged to someone else! There are too many! I think, "But they were heavy and I feel different now!"  I walk away feeling light on my feet; I can skip, I can run. I AM SET FREE!

And THAT'S what forgiving feels like...

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103:3-14

Picture taken by Brenda Stevens of one of her granddaughters. She looks as though she is praying.

A Healthy YUMMY Breakfast; FRENCH TOAST

I am always looking for better ways to serve healthy foods. I made this breakfast the other morning that is not only DELICIOUS, but also healthy.  I used Oatnut bread, dipped in eggs and Mootopia (HEB Brand) high protein milk and put them on the griddle, turning them a couple of times and placed on a plate. I cut up fresh strawberries and added the blueberries and placed some on top of the French Toast. And don't forget to sprinkle on the cinnamon! Cinnamon helps regulate your blood sugar. I used the sugar free syrup for this breakfast, but also "drizzling" maple syrup is also good, but not too much.  I also sprinkled just a little of the powered sugar over my toast, but remember to go light.  Maybe if you are using maple syrup, skip the powered sugar.  VOILA! A great healthy meal!

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103:3-14

Keeping with the Rhythm

According to a study done in 2003, links between stress and weight gain were linked. The authors stated that over time the release of stress hormones, like cortisol, can do three major things to cause weight gain:

1. It excites the central nucleus of the amygdale, which is a major part of the emotional brain.

2. It magnifies our satisfaction from pleasurable or compulsive activities, such as EATING SUGAR  

    (which can actually act like a drug in some people).

3. It increases the amount of fat deposited in the abdomen.

#3 is the truest with women that have adrenal imbalance. I have been having this problem for so long, now I am starting to understand WHY I couldn’t drop weight like I use to.

OK! We now know that we can “heal” the adrenals by “light “exercises and by better eating habits. AND it is also important not to let ourselves get too hungry. Remember, my doctor had told me not to go 2 hours without eating when I first wake up in the mornings? Here’s why:

Low blood sugar by itself puts stress on our bodies and can tax our adrenals. Even as we sleep, our bodies constantly need energy. The primary adrenal hormone cortisol serves as a kind of moderator in making sure our blood sugars between meals, especially during the night, stays adequate. Long periods without food make the adrenals work harder by requiring them to release more cortisol to keep our bodies functioning normally.

It seems that cortisol has a natural cycle that works with our circadian rhythm.  Normally, it begins to rise around 6:00 AM and reaches its highest peak around 8:00 AM, then throughout the day it gradually declines, with small upward bumps at meal times, in preparation for nighttime rest. So it’s important to work with the natural cycle to avoid dramatic ups and downs. Eat the majority of foods earlier in the day, and eat an early dinner making it the lightest one of the day. The “night-eating” habit is due to the appetite-stimulating effects of residual cortisol, which unfortunately disturbs our hormone axis…So try to cut out that night time eating.

Giving our bodies the support it needs through natural rhythms by timing meals not only prevents dips in blood sugar, but also minimizes cortisol output and frees up our adrenals to perform their functions and gives us more sustained energy throughout the day!! And life becomes more enjoyable when we have the energy we need!!

Choosing Complex Carbohydrates and Proteins

My doctor had stated to me before to choose complex carbohydrates according to the carbohydrate content within the 3's and 6's, meaning 3% to 6% carbohydrate content. 3%: asparagus, bean sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, spinach; 6%: string beans, beets, brussel sprouts, chives, collards, eggplant, kale, leeks, okra, onion (just to name a few.)  These are also richest in fiber and high in beneficial alkaline minerals.

I am also told by my doctor to choose a complex carbohydrate equivalent for each protein. One 15g portion of protein should be accompanied by one 20g portion of complex carbohydrate (e.g. match your 3 oz. of salmon with 1 1/2 to 2 cups of steamed string beans and beets and match 2 oz. of chicken breast with 2 cups of leafy green salad or 1 cup of steamed brussel sprouts.

OK! It can be a little complicated in trying to figure out all this stuff!!! I know that I am not going to get it completely right every time! But today I chose tuna on oaknut bread. I made my tuna with fat free mayo, mixed in onion and garlic powder, along with some other really nice herbs.  I had some vegetable stock from my previous vegetable meals and made a nice broccoli, zucchini, and corn soup. My choice may be on the higher carbohydrate content, but IT'S HEALTHY. I will try to pick the lower ones on the next tries!! 

I suppose BALANCE is the key. By balancing the protein and carbohydrate ratios helps our bodies produce balanced levels of two key hormones: insulin and glucagon. When balanced, they help promote normal appetite control, fat burning, emotional stability, mental clarity and physical endurance.  So all we can do is REALLY TRY! RIGHT!!?

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14

Leftovers for Lunch - Make it Healthy!!

All those wonderful vegetables I had left from the other night's dinner, was used for leftovers for the next day's lunch. I had made my son turkey tacos also the day before and used that to add to my veggies. So within this awesome bowl are caramelized white onions, portobello mushrooms, zucchinis, broccoli, and corn. The taco meat set it off with a bound of flavor. AND IT'S HEALTHY!!

Try to make better choices everyday. Maybe it's not about dieting. Maybe it's just about eating healthy foods everyday!  Instead of snacking on chips, eat carrots instead.  When needing a little chocolate, drink a double rich chocolate protein shake or have a piece of fruit. For exercise, take walks in the park, or stroll through your neighborhood. If you can't get out, just walk around your coffee table. You might think that is funny; but you would be surprised at how much exercise you are getting. Turn on some music and dance around the house! I guess what I am trying to tell "myself" is GET OFF THE COUCH AND GET A LIFE!!

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14