No Sugar, No Problem! (Kind of)

I want to return to a previous post you may have read. About 2 weeks ago I posted an entry titled “Sickeningly Sweet” which explored the toxicity of sugar. That same day I quit sugar cold turkey which was a dramatic move for me since I like to eat M & M’s for breakfast. I  knew prior to that post that I had no control of my sugar consumption, it was addictive and I happily consumed.

Now, 2 weeks into this no sugar thing I feel good. I am proud of the efforts I have made. My body doesn’t look different and most days it doesn’t feel different either but I have noted the following changes:

1. I am much more aware of the amount of sugar I am offered each day. One day I was offered sugary treats 9 different times!

2. Sugary treats don’t look or sound as delicious. If someone had told me this I wouldn’t have believed them!

3. I don’t feel like passing out at the end of a meal, probably because I don’t experience the sugar high and sugar crash that comes with dessert.

4. I feel great about making the conscious decision to do something healthy for myself.

But it’s not all easy. I removed sugar in the following forms:

• desserts and candy
• sugary drinks like soda and juice
• sweet breakfasts like pancakes, cold cereal, and doughnuts
• processed food with hidden sugars like snack chips, condiments, and yogurt
• sweetened coffee and tea (this has been the hardest!)

Admittedly, I don’t like black coffee and my latte would taste a lot better with a shot of vanilla. It’s taken a concentrated effort and some creativity to find new kinds of savory breakfasts. And on hot days an ice cream cone still sounds amazing! I know that I can never remove sugar completely, if I did I would never be able to eat at a restaurant or go over to someones house for dinner but the foods I listed above are largely in my control and a good place to start.

I don’t know if I will give up sugar forever, but I recognized I had no control over it and learned that it is a toxin which scared me. So for the foreseeable future, me and sugar have called it quits and I am happy about that!

10 Packing Tips

I’ve been busy gearing up for Europe these days. I’ve never been there before so to prepare I have aggressively been collecting tips and travel techniques I can use. Below I compiled a list of my best packing tips to share with you, applicable to all travel destinations.

1. Select a color theme and pack all of your clothes in those colors. That way you will never have problems putting together an outfit or wonder whether or not something matches (because it all does!)

2. Pack mini booze bottles for the flights. They are below the liquid carry-on limit, are more affordable then the in flight cocktail menu, and you can be more selective of brands. Besides, nothing soothes those turbulence worries like a nice stiff drink.

3. Invest in shoes! You will be walking all over the place so respect your feet and give them a good pair of heels, flats, sneakers, and sandals. Admittedly, I’ve spent the last 2 months shoe shopping for this very reason. I am in love with these sandals, I’ve worn them all day and walked miles without the slightest hint of a blister.

4. Pack microfiber clothing when possible- its easier to wash, quicker to dry, and doesn’t hold stains the way cotton does. Wrinkle resistant fabrics don’t hurt either.

5. Pack multiple travel size toiletries rather than regular size ones. That way you can toss them out as you go, your bag will get lighter, and there will be some room leftover at the end of the trip for souvenirs.

6. Pack granola bars or as my family so fondly calls them “Don’t Be a Bitch Bars.” Don’t be a hangry (hungry + angry) traveler, pack a hearty snack to tide you over from airport to airport and everyplace inbetween. I love Clif Bars because they are so fulfilling.

7. If you are bringing travel books, tear out the pages you don’t need. Or tear out the pages you do need and only bring those. Travel books are heavy and not always worth the weight. Or consider an e-reader to streamline the process.

8. Dress like an onion. Layers! Skip the heavy coat and bring a sweater and light jacket instead, it will take up the same amount of space in your suitcase but will provide more versatility when weather is in flux.

9. Bring or buy a small water bottle. I get so excited about travel I often forget to feed myself, so something as simple as having water at your side can make a huge difference when you’ve been walking all day.

10. Bring a shawl. They aren’t for old ladies anymore! A Shawl or wrap can be used as a clothing accessory, a blanket, and it can be rolled up and used as a pillow. It’s super versatile and easy to carry with you. This one, this one and this one are all at the top of my list.

Coming Soon To A Theater I Will Be Visiting

Safety Not Guaranteed, Coming 8 June, 2012

To Rome With Love, Coming 20 April, 2012. Apparently it’s already out but I haven’t seen it come to my theater yet.

Looper, Coming 28 September, 2012. I am not sold on the plot however I am always sold on Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Moonrise Kingdom (which I have already gushed about!), Coming 16 May, 2012.

It looks like it’s going to be a good summer (and fall) for new movies!

Sickeningly Sweet

Yesterday I consumed an embarrassing quantity of egg and bean shaped candy. The escalating levels of sugar in my body caused me to crash once at 3pm and again at 5pm, which sounds about right for any given American holiday I celebrate. I joyfully slid into little catnaps while my family came and went about their casual conversations and holiday joviality. And then today I stumbled upon this article and this video below.  (Note: the video is 14 minutes in length and the article takes about the same about of time to read.)

As a result, I have begun to rethink my relationship with some foods. What do you think? How is your relationship with sugar? Do you believe the video and what it is suggesting about our health problems? Do you have the willpower to extract sugar from your diet? I certainly hope I do.

More on this soon…

Dinner Guests

Michael’s parents are coming over for dinner tomorrow night. It’s the first time they have ever really come to visit so its sort of a big deal. And we’ve got a lot to do. Tomorrow we are going to spend the entire day cleaning and hiding things to create the illusion we are tidy and well kept individuals. And when we aren’t cleaning we will be cooking and baking. His folks are meat and potato kind of people, so we have prepared a very traditional menu of:

Braised Short Ribs,

Mashed Potatoes,

and Green Beans.

For dessert, a Lemon Curd Layer Cake which I am practicing for the first time in preparation for my sister’s birthday in April. Do you ever practice dishes? I used to think I was the only one but lately I hear of more and more people doing practice runs. I’m glad to know I am not the only who worries about the outcome of her curd before she goes to sleep at night!

Ahh, wish me luck!

So We Meet Again

sprung; sprung; spring·ing; noun, adjective

verb (used without object)

1. to rise, leap, move, or act suddenly and swiftly, as by a sudden dart or thrust forward or outward, or being suddenly released from a coiled or constrained position

2. to be released from a constrained position, as by resilient orelastic force or from the action of a spring

3. to issue forth suddenly, as water, blood, sparks, fire, etc. (often followed by forth, out, or up )

4. to come into being, rise, or arise within a short time (usually followed by up )

5. to come into being by growth, as from a seed or germ, bulb, root, etc.

This Week I Love

Do you feel the weekend taunting? It’s whispering , come play! I am aching to get out of the office, I have old friends in town and the sun is shining. How about some links? Anything to make it to 5 o’clock!

Grilled cheese, please!

My dream laundry room. Seriously. Perfect.

I’ve been enjoying this travel blog, Yes and Yes (because it’s more fun then no!)

Snow patterns, could you image?

DIY, neon soled oxfords. Also neon toed pumps.

Any thoughts on butter storage?

Have you heard the Ed Quartet? Very pleasing.

Tips from a grandmother 2.0.

Never doubt the abilities of the Swedish, you can now buy an entire house from Ikea. An entire house!

Typography + Chocolate = Delightful.

It appears that the snow is done, but I still fell in love with this Rick Allen print during my last trip to the North Shore.

That is one really large omlete. I think I’ll give it a try.

Scientifically Yours, Love MULMET.

To Bake Or Not To Bake?

Michael is going on a golf trip this weekend and being the kind and benevolent girlfriend that I am, I plan to make him cookies. Actually it’s only half a plan because the other half of me is lazy and wants to do nothing at all. Growing up, my mother’s solution was always to purchase cookies from the store, put them in a Tupperware, and claim them as her own. The women was a genius! And apparently inspires me because I am really tempted to continue the tradition.

Plus it’s going to get up to 72 degrees today! For Minnesota in March, that’s a miracle.

Errr… Really tempted!