The Cleanse

My friend Kim, from work, had been talking about doing a cleanse for awhile. I'd heard of them, was vaguely interested but had never given it all that much thought, but Kim was set on it and our other co-worker Dave had done one the week before and survived, so I took that as a sign.

After all, I've been trying to eat more homecooked, local, organic foods in my daily diet. I still struggle with it, but I've been doing better in the past few weeks and so this seemed like a good time to really cleanse all of the crap out of my system and take a go at eating strictly healthy for a whole week.

Minds made up, Kim and I walked over to Whole Foods on our lunch break one day last week. We spoke with the sale person who told us about a number of the cleanses and recommended one to us. This is the one we chose Total Body Rapid Cleanse. The basics of it is that:

1. You take two pills in the morning which is supposed to target the liver, with 4 amino acids and 6 herbal extracts. 7 herbal extracts are included to support the rapid and deep detoxification of the lungs, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, blood. I realized on Friday morning that I read the directions wrong and was only taking 1 pill in the morning and evening, so I'll likely be continuing the cleanse until all the pills are gone!

2. A little while later you dump a scoop of the supposedly tasteless powder (a total fabrication), which provides 8g of soluble acacia fiber. One the first day I mixed it with water. It tasted as bad as it smelled, which was like glue. Fortunately they say you can mix it with juice- and so I found out that night if you mix it with apple juice it really is nearly tasteless. Phew! I was getting a little worried there.

3. At night you take 2 more pills formulated with magnesium hydroxide (a mineral that helps to hydrate the bowel) as well as cape aloe and rhubarb to promote bowel contractions. Triphala, marshmallow and slippery elm are soothing herbs included to comfort the bowel during this critical cleansing step. Yummy right?

Food plan- they recommend a nearly vegan diet with just a little milk and cheese allowed. No meat. Organic produce is preferred. No sugar. No caffeine. Ouch.

So what has it been like?
The process really began on Sunday when I plugged in my ipod with Jodi Picoult's House Rules loaded up and I cooked. And cooked. And cooked. For about 3+ hours. I roasted veggies and cut fruits and vegetables. I boiled up quinoa for the first time to mix with the other fresh goodies. It was a long process but I really enjoy getting into the rhythm of cooking and having on the ipod with a great novel to keep me entertained really did the trick.

Monday 4/19/10
It was tough driving past Marylou's where I usually get my morning coffee, but it was the first day and I was in good spirits. I felt normal all day. Took a walk after work but only had time to do about 2.5 miles though I found when I got home that it was probably good I didn't have time for more or I may have walked further than I could have walked home.

Food Log
breakfast: whole grain english muffin with peanut butter*. canteloupe and blueberries
lunch: quinoa* with eggplant*, roasted red peppers and roasted zucchini*
snack: 2 piece of dark chocolate* with almonds, small bowl of roasted parsnips, carrots* and sweet potatoes*
dinner: quinoa* with eggplant*, roasted red peppers and roasted zucchini*
Walked a little over 2 miles

Tuesday 4/20/10
Another small whimper as I passed Marylou's in the morning. I miss you coffee, but I'm still determined. I'm enjoying eating my homemade food and the idea of eating anything from the caf sounds gross. It was tough not getting an afternoon snack- usually frozen yogurt a couple times a week (but something even less healthy like a cookie). On the other hand, not spending money on that was a definite perk. I came home after running a few errands after work- earlier than I normally would have because I was starving and refused to let myself grab something "out" like I normally would have. I made dinner and then baked Amish Friendship bread that a friend had given me 10 days before. Talk about temptation. The house smelled delicious. But I let it cool and covered it. Not even a taste grazed my lips!

Food Log
breakfast: whole grain english muffin with peanut butter*. canteloupe and blueberries
lunch: salad greens*, carrots*, salad fixins, feta with oil & vinegar
snack: walnuts* and dried cranberries* 2 pieces of dark chocolate* with almonds
dinner: quinoa* with black beans, roasted red peppers, zucchini* & summer squash*
snack: pineapples and strawberries*

Wednesday 4/21/10
I drove past Marylou's thinking 'I don't need you!' and feeling really confident! Work was good and I left a little early to pick up our Farm Share and then on to Grammy's. She, mom and I went to the hall at Leisurewoods to plan out the tables for Trivia Night, then I caught up with Gram and saw her Florida pictures. I'm pretty sure she thought I was crazy when I pulled out my roasted veggies to eat for dinner "That's all you're going to eat?!" she said to me (though she only ate half a bagel with peanut butter!), and I said yes. I left feeling full and headed to Zumba. That was a little tough but I just did things at a lower intensity and I made it through. Since it was school vacation, Kris didn't have to teach afterwards so the two of us joined Maribeth and Diana at the Ale House. The place was mobbed watching the Bruins game (and subsequent win) and we had a ball. I was a good girl, getting a salad, though splurging on the honey mustard dressing which likely had mayo in it. Oh well. Gotta live a little right?! We laughed on and on for over 2 hours and then I realized it was after 10:30p and I had to head home. Crawled into bed after 11:15p utterly exhausted.

Food Log
breakfast: whole grain english muffin with peanut butter*. strawberries* and pineapples
lunch: quinoa* with eggplant*, roasted red peppers and roasted zucchini*
snack: strawberries* and pineapples, 2 pieces of dark chocolate* with almonds
dinner: roasted parsnips, carrots* and sweet potatoes*
snack: house salad with honey mustard dressing
One hour Zumba

Thursday 4/22/10
Thursday morning I was sluggish. But hell, its my own damn fault for staying out that late, right? Still it wasn't as hard skipping the coffee as I had feared. Taking a shower in the morning definitely helped out though. Work was a bit stressful but then I headed to Photography Class and beforehand, my weekly Veggie Burrito from Qdoba. Definitely my biggest splurge of the week. I probably should have avoided the flour tortilla but the staff there is soo dense I can barely get a burrito made the way I wanted it and I wasn't willing to mess with fate after a very stressful final 90 minutes of work. Still, veggies and beans overall, still fairly healthy! :) And delicious. Another late night though- home around 10p, in bed after 10:20p.

Food Log
breakfast: whole grain english muffin with peanut butter*. strawberries*
lunch: quinoa* with eggplant*, roasted red peppers and roasted zucchini*
dinner: grilled veggie burrito with guacamole and a little cheese

Friday 4/23/10
Tired today. But two late nights out in a row is not my normal MO, so its to be expected. Still, I've snapped back faster than I'd have expected. I was luckier than my co-workers and got to leave on time. I met my cousin Melissa at Derby Street to do some quick shopping then we headed home to prepare a small feast. By the time our friend Jill arrived at 8p we had Steak (well- they had steak), asparagus, green beans, roasted red peppers,summer squash and zucchini, potatoes and sweet potatoes. Oh and salad! Like I said, it was a feast. Yet I still splurged just a little. I let my new ice cream sit untouched in the freezer all week and I couldn't resist any longer. I had the tiniest bowl of dessert and yet I was so satisfied! I'm finding my appetite is already smaller.

Food Log
breakfast: whole grain english muffin with peanut butter*.
lunch: small salad and roasted parsnips, carrots* and sweet potatoes*
dinner: asparagus, green beans*, summer squash* and zucchini*, potatoes* and sweet potatoes,* salad* with feta and carrots*.
dessert: 2x2" square of Amish bread, homemade vanilla ice cream(1 scoop) and 2 scoops of homemade applesauce*

Saturday 4/24/10
Melissa and I woke up around 7am to get to an 8am Zumba class, which kicked our asses, though I was able to do it at nearly full intensity which was a step up from Wednesday's class! We came home and ate breakfast, did the library run then scrambled to get ready and out of the house. I had my Aunt Karen's surprise baby shower at Lantana, then Dan, Dana & Sheri and I headed to a 6p reservations at Flemmings and off to see Young Frankenstein at the Opera House. A day that I had much less control over my eating than the rest, but I made do.

Food Log
breakfast: banana, grapenuts with skim milk*
lunch: salad, green beans and mashed potatoes (at the baby shower. I skipped the turkey ;)
dinner: 2 small pieces of bread with feta spread, dinner salad (greens, walnuts, cranberries), potatoes with jalapenos and cheese, aspargus and mushrooms. [this might have been my favorite moment of the week-- my asparagus is a whole class above Flemmings! they may know how to master steak and believe me the rest of the food was top notch, but I could teach them a thing or two about how to make asparagus] another splurge- 2 glasses of white wine (a girl can't wear a cocktail dress and not drink cocktails right?!]


Sunday 4/25/10
Dan and I slept in after a late Friday night and early wake-up on Saturday. Then we vegged a bit more and caught up on some TV programs. I got out and took a walk, did some crafts and cleaned up a bit. Finally a low-key day. Just what I needed.

Food Log
breakfast: whole wheat english muffin with peanut butter* and homemade applesauce*
lunch and dinner were the same: whole wheat wrap with mexican seasoned veggies (green beans*, zucchini*, summer squash*, and roasted red peppers), with just a little bit of monterey jack cheese*

* organic ingredient

How do I feel?
Fantastic! I feel slimmer and less bloated. My skin looks clearer. My appetite is reduced somewhat though it is Monday and because of a screw-up with the pills I am quasi-continuing for 2 more days, so I am still sticking w/ the diet. Still, if you have plenty of healthy snacks (fruit, granola, nuts etc) on hand, I think its manageable. I did not crave the coffee at all this morning. I was wanting one yesterday but I think that was out of boredom and not some real carnal desire ;) After I got through Wednesday it was all fairly easy.

What other impacts did I notice?
Monetary- I saved $16.80 +tip on coffee last week. I usually spend another $20-30 or so here at work on meals, coffee and/or snacks. While I did purchase apple juice twice (to mix with my fiber supplement), I don't think I purchased anything else. I even remembered my water bottle every day!

Trash- there was FAR less of it. Not eating packaged foods mean so much less trash. Most of what I ate last week was produce. Most of the produce comes from my farm share (and very little plastic). The rest from the supermarket where I either decline those flimsy clear plastic bags, or now I use my own mesh ones.

I used 5 less plastic cups, lids and straws for my morning coffee. No packaging from english muffins or breakfast egg & cheeses... very little plastic silverware (I have my own at work). No nasty styrofoam plates and plastic lids from the hospital cafeteria (can you believe they still use styrofoam?!? I swear any hot food places on it fuses the styrofoam and makes an indent. It has to be terrible for us to breathe nevermind eat! oy).

By the end of the day at work I'd have almost NO trash in the bin under my desk where most days its far more full than I'd like to admit.

Will I do this again?
Yes. I think they say you can/should do this 4 times a year max, so I'm sure in a few months I'll be ready for it again. It’s a good excuse to really focus on homecooked meals, planning ahead and getting back into good habits- all of which I need a little kick in the pants about from time to time.

Avonlea Turns 1

Sunday April 11th

I gassed up my hybrid and scooted down to Bristol, CT to see my college roommate Amber and her family as they celebrated her daughter Avonlea's First Birthday!

Little did I know, a few of my other friends were there as well, Jessica & Joel, Jen and Laura. We had a ball watching this cutie run around in her party dress, then devour her cake!

By the end, she had frosting clear all over her face and all in her hair! It was really cute, though I don't envy Amber's having to give her a bath when they got home!!!

And we found out that Avonlea won't be the only "Marist baby" for long. Jen and Paul are expecting their first child in September!! Congratulations! :)

Riley turns 2!!

Friday April 9th

On Friday night, I picked up Riley for a night of fun to celebrate her turning 2 the day before (I was in my photography class and unable to see how this beautiful girl had grown into a 2 year old overnight). And unfortunately I wasn't able to go to her birthday party scheduled for the next weekend because we'd made plans months before for a weekend down the Cape, so tonight was our special night to celebrate.

I picked up some special treats at the store and then we headed to Grammy & Pepere's house. She put on her birthday hat almost right away- and surprisingly, kept it on most of the night! Except when she wanted Grammy or Pepere to wear it!
After I got the macaroni and cheese in the oven we went upstairs to read and play in her playroom. We colored for a little bit at her coloring table but then she wanted to read.

There was this one part in Goodnight Moon where "the quiet old lady whispers 'hush'"

Whenever I said it, "hush" Riley burst out into giggles, saying "Again!"

We laughed ourselves silly!

Then it was time for dinner and cake. We had macaroni and cheese which Riley chose to mix with her applesauce. Not a pairing you'd see on Giada I'm sure but she thought it was fantastic!

And for dessert a special cupcake from Whole Foods complete with an enormous amount of frosting (aka the best part). We sang the traditional Happy Birthday and she blew out the candle!

And 2 minutes later she giggled as she said "Sing Happy Birthday Again!"... and so we did! She was delighted! We must have sang Happy Birthday 25 times that night, no exaggeration. She loved it every time!

After a thorough cleaning, it was time to open presents. She loved the dress-up outfits and had to put everything on at the same time!

Next was Mrs. Potato Head- the Red Sox edition. She struggled to get the arms and feet into the holes and found that she liked it better when she put the arm in the hole on the top of Mrs. Potato Head's head! Then she realized what she'd done and thought that was just the funniest thing ever! :) Lots of silliness... which is just what birthdays are for!
All too soon it was time to go. I think it was already 8p and past her bedtime. So we packed up all her goodies. I ducked into the bathroom and Riley grabbed up all her things to meet me by the door. I come out of the bathroom to see this.

{She refused to take off the wings or the hat, so Grammy removed them just temporarily to put the raincoat back on because it was pouring}

Then we walk together into the laundry room and she puts down all her gifts and says "You take this Auntie Jen" then walks over to my bags and says "I'll take your bags!"
Silly silly girl! :)

We had such a fun night, laughing and being silly!

I love you Riley

Happy 2nd Birthday

Easter 2010- the hunt continues

We spent Easter Sunday at Mom's house. The original plan was for Dan and I to host, but then we were fortunate enough to have a lot of relatives who wanted to join us and Mom's house was better suited for the 20+ of us that were there to eat Easter Brunch.

At the door on the way in was Mom's traditional Easter Egg Tree. These eggs and decorations have been around since Jeff and I were kids. Mom would blow out the eggs since we could never get the hang of it, and we'd very carefully decorate them.

And now there's a new generation to join in the fun. In fact I think Mom saved some eggs she blew out so that Melissa and Riley could start their collection this year.

Riley and Pepere goofing around!

Nana and all her boys

(right to left) Dad, Uncle Bob, Jeff

Nana & Garret

Sweet little guy!

We enjoyed a pot-luck type brunch with so many different kinds of oven baked omelets I can't even remember what they all were. Plus a ton of other dishes too.

Let's see if I can remember who was there:

Mom & Dad

Jeff, Melissa, Riley and Garret

Dan and Me

Nana

Maureen, Ron, Jamie and her husband Chris

Bob, Wendy and Melissa

Marie and Lindsey

Grammy

Gail

Then the Lassonde's slowly trickled out and the Natale's made their way in.

Including more babies.

Jeff holding little Abby Jo & Melissa with Garret

Soon it was time for the Easter Egg Hunt!

Aunt Milly has been hosting the Easter Egg hunt since the beginning of time (at least as far as I know... though the "adults" are quick to point out that they never got to take part).

I swear each year is more interesting than the last.

As we each age another year we start talking about whether or not we'll be included.

Am I too old?

What if you got married? Does that count you out?

But this year you had a baby, you're certainly an "adult" now, right?

Apparently not. I think Dan might have taken the prize for oldest egg hunter this year at (ahem) 37. {yes, that's him below} Nicole, Melissa and their respective Jeffs both got to participate with their kids this year. And even Kris, Matt, Willy and Aila had eggs waiting for them when they arrived a little late.

The curious thing about the egg hunt is that I swear it gets more difficult each year.

Granted most of the eggs are right out in the open for the little ones to find, but still its tricky.

And there's a lot of competition!


{Jenny and Kara}

{Jenny and Katie} Looks like Katie finally scored!

The kids, you can tell are genuinely having a fun, stress-free time.

Oh to be young again

{Colleen above. Erin below}

And this was Riley's first year really doing more hunting on her own :)

Oooh she found something!

Kris, Matt and the kids came over that night after leaving her mom's house. It was Krissy's birthday as well as Easter so I was thrilled to see her and give her the "matching one" to my ice cream maker so we can make stuff together and share recipes. Happy Birthday to the best friend a girl could ask for.

And what holiday would be complete without some lovin from a really cute nephew?

Emelyn's 6th birthday party

Saturday April 3, 2010

Megg asked me to come to Emelyn's first ever big-kid birthday party. No little kiddos running around- just a bunch of 6 year olds having a ball doing all things camping related!

Painting bird houses...
Sitting by the campfire...
Reading in the tent...


Making and eating s'mores!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

{oops there was one little kiddo at the party the whole time- aila babe}

Uncle Conor came to sign campfire songs with the kids... Well, really it was Nanny leading the way with the songs, Conor didn't know many of the words... and well neither did we. In fact, Kris and I almost died when she was singing "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" and got to the line that says "We will kill the old red rooster when she comes" {CHOP! CHOP!} I kid you not.
Then Megg read them a story while they snuggled up in their sleeping bags. And finally a big round of "Happy Birthday" to Emelyn.
I can't believe she's 6!!Each of the kids took a picture in the kayak, but then we did a group shot. This one cracked me up. I should have known that the "silly" one would work best for this age group! :)

Happy Birthday Emmy! I love you!