http://completecaptivation.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-very-first-crochet-pattern.html?m=1

This was a pattern I started with, ended up using 115 stitches instead of 75. (Had smaller hook and wanted longer cowl)

Have two wonderful friends out here at school so decided to make matching scarfs for both. One down, next tomorrow.

So, I didn’t follow a specific recipe.  Here is what I used:

3 bell pepper pack from store
Three medium long, sweet peppers
Various spices: oregano cinnamon, garlic herb, onion powder etc. (sprinkle here and there)
Two handfuls cut up mushrooms
1 lb. ground beef

I suggest preheating the oven for the fries first because it requires 475 and the peppers only need 375.

Cook the peppers mushrooms etc. I used a slap chop to help dice them.   (Cook but keep crunchy not soft) remove and throw on meat in same pan.  Brown then ready veggies and spices.

Cut top off peppers remove stem and innards.  Stuff peppers and top with shredded mozzarella. Re-top with pepper cap.

Bake 20 min at 350

Sweet potato fries

http://apronappeal.blogspot.com/2011/05/sweet-potato-oven-fries_10.html?m=1

For dessert I decided against cookies and made double fudge brownies with marshmallows.  So much for a healthy meal…Hehe

I finally got an appt with my gen physician/nurse back home to discuss my insomnia /anxiety/mild depression over spring break when I also have my follow up pet scan (less then 20 days!)

Until then I found a great nutritionist who gave me a deal I couldn’t refuse, will be starting a 6 month coaching program, using paleo diet, and she understands my medical history and how that will nutritionally affect my body compared with “normal” systems.

I went to the store and stocked up on almond flour, almond butter, coconut oil, couple new spices, cooking utensils, slap chop, mini blender, coffee maker (just in case I need to cheat with quick energy) , peppers, meats, fruits and veggies.  I’m totally looking forward to trying paleo stuffed peppers with sweet potato fries tomorrow!  And going to make regular Ol Betty Crocker cookies for dessert (still too early in diet to give up sugar … and haven’t had first session with nutritionist yet!   ……baby steps toward a healthier non processed sugar free anxiety free life lol. 🙂

I will keep you updated with photo, and link to recipe.  (Many recipes I found were through Pinterest, and fastpaleo.com) after I complete the whole program, I will even refer the nutritionist, if they still want to do distance meetings after me (trial period here, yay for being a guinea pig as half our time working together I will most likely no longer be able to meet in person)

Update on guy from the other night: nothing 🙁 oh well.  There are other fish in the sea! (new year’s resolution is to be positive about future potential relationships)

The best thing I’ve learned about paleo diet, is that it’s almost not a diet.  It doesn’t restrict calories (that I’ve seen) and offers healthier alternatives to processed foods such as sugar and wheat. Technically our bodies aren’t naturally supposed to digest them anyway, and with all the easily to be gotten processed never go bad yummy foods out there, it’s hard to give our bodies what it really needs.

I’m a meat eater for life, with paleo it works.  I can’t have dairy anymore; with paleo they have nut substitutes like almond milk (I recommend chocolate almond milk).  Because of cancer going after sugar, I need to cut back. Paleo is perfect because it chooses natural honeys or veggies with regular fruits as opposed to processed bleached sugars or sugar substitutes. Paleo doesn’t restrict me to only shakes or so many meals a day.  I could easily fit in extra meals a day like is recommended to keep the metabolism fit (6 small meals as opposed to 3 large meals). (One of my brothers has frequently used the 6 small meal plans to get into shape and says it’s amazing.  Lucky SOB also had his own garden and lived at our farm during hunting season at the time with fresh veggies, nearby lakes for fishing and meat available, no wonder it worked for him)

Anyway, I totally recommend looking into paleo for your own benefit. Friends out here use it, and their skin is clear, no exhaustion have mental clarity and fit great in clothes. Between this and the help from my nutritionist I’m excited to see what comes next!

I went to a graduate student social event tonight.  A couple other students were playing guitar and singing. We had free food and then I had some drinks.  Near the end a friend introduced me to a guy!  We talked while our friend played pool and then I got a hug 🙂 Hehe.  And while he did invite me to the “after party” at another bar (he’d buy), I said no because I was so tired from being at internship all day and all week. I said I’d take up his offer another time though so who knows, maybe I’ll hear and maybe I won’t.   I hope I do 🙂

I have been experimenting with watercolors this month.  When I’ve been stressed about school or considering my next scan in March, sunsets have come to mind.

Here is a preview:

I woke up feeling completely awful today, which I think was from my body coming down from extreme stress.  I was disoriented, numb, dizzy, felt drugged up, shaking, weird nightmares, (last night was also first night without using sleeping pills, my body must be lacking natural sleep and having trouble with stress go figure).

Anyway, I decided to look at the job apps again and sent my resume to a place back home thinking I wouldn’t hear anything since it didn’t say immediate help needed.  Granted they were looking for a photography associate position with costumer service skills so on.  Two minutes later I had a call for interview!!  Unfortunately, its 1400 miles away and I’m not back until May.  But they said to call back and they may still need help, so that was my Valentine’s Day excitement.

Happy Valentine’s Day all, I hope each and every one of you has something to be excited about today 🙂

RIP to a wonderful young lady in my online support group who passed this weekend.  Thoughts and prayers to her family, 22 is too young.

So, I’ve always had issues with anxiety and emotions and insomnia, and the list goes on.  After an awful discussion with one of my professors about my internship site, I decided to schedule my next counseling session and left a voicemail with my counselor about looking into anxiety medication.

Maybe it may help control my anxiety, my *overly emotional attitude* my frustrations issues with change so on.  Personally, I can’t wait to go back to the Midwest, because since I moved out east the stress of school seems to be making my *issues * worse and I just seem to be adding lots to my medication list.

While I have had *issues* before, yes, I feel they are worse since treatment.   But for me treatment for cancer was a good thing.  It took my pain away; it gave me a second chance to live.  I was very fortunate in this. It’s also now giving me the strength to ask for the medications to help with my anxiety and temperamental mood issues.   I have heard many good things about these drugs these days and using a balance of counseling and medication, I think things will become easier for me.

Here’s to hoping for a brighter future after a very difficult beginning to a semester. 🙂

When I think about my scan in March or my knee hurting, yes, I get nervous and shaky.  The chemo makes one feel like a giant floating glob with fuzzy surroundings and requires an occasional bucket.

Everyone handles the chemo differently though. One of the first things my doc told me was every individual is different. The genetic differences mix with the drugs and that helps determine the healing process.   This is why some people gain weight, lose weight, lose or keep their hair or have differences in their confusion and communication.

For me I had an interesting time with communication.  My words came out weird so a lot of the time my parents would nod and smile. They told me later it’s because I made no sense. (There is a technical name for this! It escapes me at the moment)

Another thing that scares me though is hearing about people around me having trouble.  Being sick is no fun and lonely and can be downright scary.  Saying the word cancer in general is scary. It’s not something someone wants to say or experience.  I’ve been reading a book about the history of cancer, and one thing that helps reassure me is that today’s medical advances have grown much in the past few decades.

Anesthesia for procedures is better, nausea pills have advanced to assist alongside treatment to keep away the bucket (I didn’t need it till halfway through, but my doc said having a healthy appetite helped there to) sleeping pills for the insomnia associated with treatment have been advancing as well.

One thing that bothers me though was this week.  I happen to have heavy insomnia.  I recently needed new pills because the last ones prescribed didn’t work for me.  My school health ctr recently lost my physician (who was also the director and only one able to prescribe at this small facility) so I couldn’t go there, so I called home and was told because I’m currently out of state they could not prescribe me any controlled substances.

After two in half weeks on 3 hours of sleep I was starting to crack with stress from school.  Luckily Walgreens had my back with over-the-counter Unisom!  I was able to enjoy sleep all last night into this morning! Glorious sleep, no thanks to the healthcare system.

Mostly though, I am grateful for today’s medical advancements for me and those around me!