Breast Cancer Awareness: Kristin's Story Part II

Image: Hayley West

Styling: Stylist LisaG

MAU: Hanna Fisher

I couldn't possibly share this amazing woman's story in one blog. This is Part II of Kristin's journey from battling Breast Cancer to her road to recovery. Kristin has been so inspiring to me and what an amazing way to celebrate her end of chemotherapy treatment than with a styled pictorial showcasing her beauty - both external and internal. If you missed the first Part read is HERE

There is a lot more to recovery than the physical healing of incisions. Kristin told me what she has been doing to heal herself, and what she would tell others who have received a diagnosis, "You’re not alone! Be careful doing searches on Internet. We are really fortunate to have so many helpful resources in this town. For example, Wellness Kitchen in Templeton I get bone broth and healing tea quite often. There is pick up location in San Luis Obispo.

 No sugar or processed foods! Sugar feeds cancer 

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I take several supplements to keep my immune system and overall support.  I Know you are thinking that must be so expensive and the answer is YES. But I think it is worth every penny. If you can't afford it at least take Vitamin c, d . Mushrooms are great for immune support. I started with Turkey tail and since then moved on to Mitake and now Shitake (Host Defense Brand).  Consult with a Naturopath doctor first. I feel fortune to have best of both worlds. I have a regular oncologist Dr. Dicarlo and Dr. Hedi Lucas my integrated naturopthic oncologist.

Please check out Kristin'a GoFundMe Page if you are able to help out!

HERE

Kristin explains how your contributions are helping her with her health; 

" I went back and fourth on the derision of doing radiation . After many visits to radiation oncologist with many questions . I decided to not move forward with radiation . Just never had a 100% peace and my gut was telling me it was more harm then good . With that said decided to go an alternative route and work with a nutritionist . On a very strict diet and as he works on re-booting my body . I buy all my fruits and veggies at local farmers market . We are so blessed to have one every day of the week in different towns near by . Usually I attend sat in Templeton and wed. In Atascadero . Currently on a plant based diet with fish and chicken . My nutritionist has me on intestinal cleanse , then gall bladder cleanse , kidney , liver ...... This is to purge the toxins out of my body and keep me healthy ! Also juicing twice a day . So as you can imagine it's very time consuming and costly to work with a nutritionist . I am feeling better and feel this strict regiment is with it ."

Her words of wisdom:

"Stay Positive: Your mind plays a huge part in your mood. Yes there will be good days and bad days. Feel blessed to have had more good days than bad days.

Allow help: Everyone has different ways of showing they care and helping.

Keep moving: I think the biggest reason was so strong through treatment and surgery is a great team of support but also private Pilate lessons at the house. I also try to walk at least 30 min a day and eat really clean.  

I feel so fortunate to have been a part of the project and to have connected with Kristin. I am so thankful for her courage to share her story as it may save a woman's life. Share what you have learned with your sisters, we need to support one another. As women we have an amazing opportunity to educate,  empower and inspire each other and lift each other up by sharing our truth and experiences. Take the opportunity to speak to your friends, colleagues, family and strangers about early detection, self examination and overall health this month and beyond.

L

XO

Mouthy Treats

I recently was pressed to find an easy but fabulous treat for my daughters Pre-School class with a Halloween theme since we are so close to the day of costumes and sugar coma's. I decided on these mouthy treats I saw on-line somewhere and gave them a shot. Fear not mom's there are also 2 healthy alternative's to this mouthy masterpiece with just fruits and nuts you can see pictured HERE

What you need:

*Cookies

*Mini Marshmallows

*Almond Slivers

*Red Icing

What I Did:

 1) Lay the cookies out on a piece of wax paper and cut in the center

2) Line the edges with red icing as well as a small dot on the opposite side (this will secure the marshmallow that will hold the mouth up - see image below)

 3) Add your marshmallow teeth - you can fill the line or leave gaps for an extra spooky effect.

4) Mount the top cookie on pressing gently so it adheres to the red icing.

 *Optional - Helper!

5) Add the Almond "fangs" - I stuck them in the icing on the top of the "bloody gums"

6) EAT & Enjoy your SPOOKtacular treat!

Avocado App

I love creative cooking and am ALWAYS on the hunt for the next amazing dish or appetizer to make for my husband and family. My husband is Vegan, daughter/son Vegetarian and I'm on the path from Veg to Plant Strong (Vegan AND no processed food). This makes my culinary creations extra creative.

I was reading my friend Tori's E-mag EdiTORIal and she featured some creative Avocado dishes.  It inspired me to share on of my FAV Avocado Appetizers Vegan & Veg friendly. You can also use it for a meal too.

What you need:

Avocado

Sesame Seeds

Soya Sauce

Garlic Powder

*Toothpicks for App

*Rice or Quinoa for meal

Peel/Pit/Slice Avocado

Place on a plate or serving dish and drizzle with Soya Sauce to your own taste (you may want to cover in fresh squeezed lemon juice too if you are not going to serve/eat right away to prevent browning)

Sprinkle with Sesame Seeds & Garlic Powder

Use the toothpicks for bite size pieces for guests.

OR

Top your rice or quinoa with this amazing mixture and ENJOY!!

Avocado FACTS (via WebMD & Avacado.org):

*There are more than 80 varieties of avocados. The most common is the year-round Hass avocado, whose original mother tree still stands in California.

* Avocados are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins C,K, folate, and B6

* They act as a "Nutrient Booster" - by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients; such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit (Tomatoes for example)

*Half an avocado has 160 calories, 15 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fat, and only 2 grams saturated fat.

*One globe contains more than one-third daily value of vitamin C, and more than half the day’s requirements of vitamin K

*The avocado is also known as an alligator pear, because of its shape, green skin, and rough texture of the Haas variety. (The Florida avocado has a shiny, smooth surface.)

* The two main U.S. producers of the fruit are California and Florida. The Golden State far outranks the Sunshine State, however, with more than 6,000 groves accounting for about 90% of avocado crops.

Do you LOVE Avocados?? Share your FAV dishes!

Food For Thought

Our lives are so fast paced and most of us are over obligated. This leaves little time for providing ourselves with adequate nutrition, or does it? The biggest "excuse" I have heard (and made) about not eating healthy is that I don't have time - Translation = It is not a priority for me.  I used to make this excuse in the past and now that I am adapting a much more healthy lifestyle honestly at this juncture I have LESS time and more obligations than I did before, yet somehow I have time to shop accordingly. Now that I have made it a priority I have no problem preparing healthy meals for my family.

Visualization always work for me to put things into perspective. I wanted to share this image as it related to calorie intake, nutrition and feeling satisfied (or sated).  It is simple to see why we over eat. We are over fed an under nourished.  

Think about what you are putting into your system today. Mindfully choose your meals and snacks. Get creative in your kitchen and see the ways you can work in healthy foods into your daily routine to replace the non-nutritious ones. I don't know about you but I would much prefer to be the stomach on the far right. Remember: what you put into your body will be directly reflected on the outside.  Just a little food for thought today!

Dish of the Day: Curry Rice Salad

I'm always looking for new dishes to experiment with, tweak, or convert to Veggie/Vegan.  My latest was an old recipe of my mothers.  She used to call it "Polynesian Rice Salad". Back in the day when she made it she used tiny shrimp, sugar and other items I left out.

Last night I took a shot at her famous salad and made it a VEGAN delight.

What you need:

Pkg of Peas ~ I purchased frozen, let thaw and added.

Rice ~ I used brown 

1 1/2 cup of Celery (Optional)

1 cup of green onions

Dressing:

1/2 Cup light oil

1 tbsp Soya Sauce

1 Tsp Celery Salt (the original called for celery seed and then a tsp of salt - I used the celery salt instead)
Tbsp of Red wine vinegar (or the Vinegar of your choice)

2 Tsp Curry Powder (or more depending on your taste)

What you do:

Mix in a large bowl

Refrigerate

ENJOY!

P.S. My 4 yr old LOVED it .. without the onions ;)