She Says: Show Me More
Good Morning Everyone and Happy Friday! I am glad so many people are excited about The Cleaner Life Month. My mom and sister (commenter Stinky Cheese) are even going to play along with me and Rose. Stinky Cheese already gave up white flour and sugar once and had spectacular results – clearer skin, lost weight, the whole bit. I’ve been thinking of maybe doing before and after stomach/waist measurements to see if the bloating I mentioned is reduced, but I’m a little nervous about sharing that kind of info. We’ll see. Oh, I’ve also decided that upon completion of the month I get a present. Nothing too fancy or expensive, just something that is a reward for working hard to feel my best inside and out!
Now to answer some questions about the Month:
Caronae said “I think I’ll try to join you as much as I can on this challenge. Two questions: Is stevia allowed (I always put it in my tea) and do puffins have white flour/soy? This is exciting sounding! I can’t wait to start.”
- Yes, stevia is definitely allowed. I didn’t mention it because I happen to not like it all that much.
- I checkout the Puffins ingredients online and they do contain soy.
Caitlin said, “WOW what an interesting challenge!! i cannot wait to follow you on your journey (from a distance LOL). do you not get to have any alcohol?”
- I didn’t think of this because I am honestly not a huge drinker and could definitely go 30 days without it without even trying. That said, I think organic wine is probably preferable over distilled liquor and beer.
And to clarify wiy why I’m cutting out soy.
- I’ve read and heard both good and bad things about soy. I am not always sure what to belive and what to ignore. I do, however, understand that soy contains phytoestrogens, which inetact with and alter the body’s own hormones. The source of conflict in much of the research is whether that result of the interaction is negative or positive. Ultimately, I don’t plan on abandoning soy forever, but I do think I was eating it too much out of convenience rather than necessity. It is a processed food and I think I can eat better things most of the time.
Last Night’s Dinner
I had another yummy salad last night and I must share.
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Romaine Lettuce
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Raw Corn on the Cob (delicious and so sweet)!
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Broccoli
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Green Beans
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Red Peppers
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Tomatoes
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Dijon + Apple Cider Vinegar
I had it with the last of the Bababanush-Hummus Pasta from the other night and a giant sweet potato with corn and bean salsa.
More Getting to Know you Games
Because the Fun Facts Comments were such fun (who knew so many people had fake teeth issues like me!), I thought it would also be fun to get to know my readers by sharing 3 House Items. My three items represent different things about myself.
(1) Fun Fruit Lights – I got these lights at Urban Outfitters when I was a junior in college and I’ve had them ever since. They represent the fun side of me. Now they sit in my bathroom, but I don’t turn them on often because Mark says they aren’t safe. I use them when the main light is off during my mostly dark bedtime shower.
(2) Peaceful Yoga Room – Well, this is actually a big hallway, but its big enough for my mat and that’s good enough for me. It represents my peaceful side and reminds me to breathe when things get overwhelming. I think I want to paint the wooden letters and hang them permanently, but I can’t decide on color or location. I guess they also represent my indecisive side.
(3) My Tomatoes – This is my patio tomato! It lives outside the front of my house where it gets plenty of sun and lately, lots of water. It represents the side of me that loves fresh food. I love going to a Farmer’s Market, and the only thing better is your very own vegetables. They also represent the side of me that wants to improve. I don’t have a good history with gardening, but I want to do it well!
There are other sides of me. For example, my messy side is found in my closet, but not on the internet!!!
What about you? What in your house represents you? Show me in pictures on your blog if you have one, or tell me in a comment!
Tags: apple cider vinegar, broccoli, dijon mustard, get to know my readers, salad, salsa, sweet potato
June 5th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Happy Friday Heather! Hope you have a fun weekend planned!
I am really excited to read more about your month’s challenge- am still very much on the fence about soy right now so just keeping it in moderation and using alternatives for most of the time.
LOVE your yoga hallway and lights! I think the thing that represents me is a collection of postcards in my kitchen- they are street signs/stores from NY but have been photoshopped so the writing has inspirational messages!
June 5th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I actually stopped consuming Puffins about a week ago, since my Crohn’s has been acting up – turns out that the Puffins were causing me trouble
June 5th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I’m so excited to read about how the challenge goes! You girls are braver than I (though I REALLY need to cut back on the junk).
Looking around my house to see what represents me… hmm… probably the giant collection of cookbooks in the kitchen or all of the random (yet awesome) flea market decor we’ve stumbled upon over the years.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:10 am
OoO! This will be a fun one. Lemme think.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Very interested to hear how your challenge goes! I have done a lot of reading on meta-analyses of soybean studies and I have not found one solid analysis that shows a deleterious effect of the bean except for tthat it is an allergen for some people.
Also, people don’t realize how common phytoestrogens are in our diet: flax seeds actually have the highest content! Other foods with phytoestrogens include yams, oats, barley, nuts, carrots, apples, berries, etc.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I love the pictures and your yoga hallway
I’ll have to think about this and maybe take some pictures in my house….
I’m so interested in this challenge, and hope to do it, but I’ll have some challenging weekends, away, too.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I’m so happy you are doing this challenge because I’ve recently cut out all artificial sweeteners and I am looking to cut out as much processed food as possible–I can’t wait to snag some good ideas over the coming month!
June 5th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Love the pictures! We are trying to grow tomatoes too. I try to limit processed foods but there are some things that I like too much!
June 5th, 2009 at 10:28 am
heather i love the guidelines of this challenge! i would like to try to modify my own eating and follow the plan you laid out with this challenge. i think the hardest part for me will be checking labels because i am not a label reader and often times there are ingredients in there that you wouldn’t expect. i am really looking forward to reading all about the changes you are making and seeing how it benefits you! plus your food you eat on this challenge will give me great ideas for my own eating, i am sure.
love the tomato plant! nothing better than a fresh garden tomato!
June 5th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I love the challenge that you guys are doing! The question I asked Rose was, what about organic unrefined cane sugar? When I’m looking at ingredients, that’s usually what I check for because while honey/maple syrup is optimal, I think cane sugar is a nice alternative as well.
Where can I learn more about hidden soy?
June 5th, 2009 at 10:37 am
how does your stomach handle the raw corn? ive been curious about adding that into my salads, but im not sure about the digestive issues it could cause.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:46 am
It’s a good idea for a challenge. Eating that way has changed my life!
Love your thoughts on the soy; there’s so much contradicting information out there so it will be interesting to try getting away from it for a while just to see what happens.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Home grown tomatoes are 100x better than the store bought kind! I could eat them like apples!
LOVE the fruit lights
Things around my casa that represent me are all the decorations I’ve picked up from my travels – I’m a memory-sap and refuse to get rid of anything!
June 5th, 2009 at 11:20 am
You made me realize I shoudl take a picture of it before its gone…but currently I still live with my bff (not the fiance…yet), and therefore still have a pretty “girly” room. And by girly I mean PINK!!! I have a HOT PINK comforter with corresponding sheets…it’s actually really funny to see Brian all snuggled up in a hot pink bed. Claerly this is not coming to the new house…and now that I think of it the sheets are no longer because I got a new mattress a month ago! I am going to do my best not to over-pinkify the new house
June 5th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Dinner looks delicious. I have to check into all this soy business bc for years I was eating so much soy. Now it makes we want to cut it out totally. Good question, what represents me in my house is probably the treadmill and the neatness bc I’m very organized!
June 5th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
1. Terrible towel at the enterance to my bedroom (Go Steelers!)
2. Plaque in the kitchen that says “It’s Wine O’ Clock Somewhere” (I’m a total wino)
3. Bibs from all the races I’ve run this year are taped up on the wall in a long strand
June 5th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I thought that I didn’t like stevia either until I tried the liquid kind. Much better. Just a thought if you wanted to find a sweetener and hadn’t tried it.
June 5th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I think your challenge is definitely great. I plan to do some reading on the weekend and at least attempt to take part. I think something like this takes a little prep work because there are quite a few restrictions (not that any of them are bad!
).
Amazing looking salad!
Have a great Friday!!
June 5th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
happy friday
i cant wait to follow you on your journey, it sounds like a great challenge, im sure youll kick ass at it
ooo i love the pretty lights! i have ones kind of like that in my room!
June 5th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
[...] 2008 Getting To Know You June 5, 2009, 1:47 pm Filed under: Uncategorized I saw on Hangry Pants this morning that Heather posted about getting to know each other more, and I think that’s a [...]
June 5th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I love the getting to know you games! I just posted my three things on my blog
June 5th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Thanks for sharing those pics!!
I live in a little studio apt by myself, and figured this would be my last place before living with my bf so I could decorate exactly how I wanted to!
1) One bold pink wall behind my bed showcases my girliness!
2) My bulletin board is filling up with race bibs and medals
3) I have this adorable little yoga guy that is made from an old railroad nail (positioned with legs crossed and arms out) that my boyfriend got for me
June 5th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I like the hanging lights
I also take a “dark” shower where I only have one light on. Much more peaceful. 
June 5th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Hmmm…I don’t even know what three things I would choose to represent me in my home. Interesting question to ponder. Perhaps if I come up with some, I will post and share
June 5th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I just read your cleaner life challenge and it sounds awesome! As luck would have it, it looks like I already started it six weeks ago
I have been soy-free (aside from miso and soy sauce) for a while now, and six weeks ago cut out white flour, sugars (aside from honey, maple syrup, and I do use the slightest touch of stevia once in a while), and processed foods. It definitely feels good! I am slowly posting up the recipes we have been making, and I can’t wait to get some ideas from what you do too!
That is so cool that you have a yoga room!
June 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Dude, buy yourself a juicer as a present
I love those lights!
June 5th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
This challenge is awesome! I have been trying to cut out the processed foods from my diet recently but haven’t been as successful as I would like to be… But I’m sure following your challenge will inspire me to be more hardcore about developing a more-informed consciousness of what I put into my body. I look forward to hearing about your new discoveries! Also, have you tried jicama? It was one of my top new food discoveries!
Looking around the old apt:
1. My bookshelf, which is in a constant state of reorganization, is currently organized by color followed by size and before that it was by date of the author’s birth (I’m kind of a bibliophile geek!)
2. My tschkatschke shelf, which is filled with a pretty random assortment of things that make me happy! (i.e. autographed program from my first Arlo Guthrie concert, the Minnie Mouse statue my dad bought for my mom on their honeymoon, etc.)
June 5th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
The challenge sounds awesome. I want to participate! It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile, and I think joining you and the others in this challenge is perfect!
I’m loving your “Getting to know you” games! I’ll take pics of what represents me and post about it soon!
June 5th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Fresh tomatoes are the best – I need to start a little veggie garden. Good luck with your challenge. I totally agree with the whole soy thing. I can’t eat it – it makes my stomach ache something fierce. If you are looking for paraben free products – Alba is a great line. I buy my stuff at Whole Foods but I also saw it a Target today. I hope you have a great weekend.
June 5th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
oh so fun! i love the yoga area, that’s a great idea to have a relaxing place in your house. i would participate in this game, but i’m living at home right now so the only thing that represents me is…my room
but once i move into my apt this summer, i’ll be sure to play!
in my room what represents me are
1.) the artwork done by my boyfriend hanging on the wall
2.) the two half marathon medals i have swinging from the window, reminding me of what i’ve accomplished
3.) a closet full of way too many running shoes from working at running stores for a year
June 5th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I am in the process of giving up sugar, and agave nectar makes it sooo easy. I love the stuff!
Three things in my house:
1) My lovely pink laptop
2) My dried wedding bouquet that is tied to the post of our 4 poster bed. . . its been almost 3 years, and it still looks amazing!
3) “Urban garden” on the back deck- tomatoes, spinach, peppers, beets, rosemary, and cilantro. I love being able to just go outside to harvest my green monster spinach in the am!
June 5th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I think the challenge is great! I have been trying to “eat clean” for awhile now…there’s a book, forum, cookbook, etc. I think you’ll do great. Love love love the tomato garden. And I’ve been meaning to get some apple cider vinegar to try your dressing! Have a great weekend
June 5th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I love the three things idea! I just posted three of my own, check it out!
June 5th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
funny! how coincidental…I just posted a pic of my morning table! I think that represents me the most…my bible (my faith), my laptop (my nerdiness and ambition), and my cup of coffee (my zest for simple joys in life!)
June 5th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I’m not joining you on your challenge (sadly, I will probably eat all the processed foods you are freeing up!) but I am super excited to read about it. I like the “3 things,” I’ll do this on my blog soon.
June 6th, 2009 at 10:43 am
http://www.thenaturaldentist.com/site/
we have been using this tooth for awhile, i researched different brands, i like tom’s of Maine but my husband doesn’t. I found this toothpaste at whole foods for like $7 but then I found it at Bed Bath and Beyond and it was only 3.99$
June 6th, 2009 at 11:55 am
CUTE FRUIT LIGHTS!!!!!!!
-A
June 6th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I love your “room”, aka yoga hall. I think that’s fabulous, and what a beautiful salad,
June 6th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
What an interesting challenge! I think I’m going to try my best to adopt some of the habits you’re going to change…Lord knows I need to cut out some junk in my life! Good luck
p.s…I’m going to try your apple cider/dijon mustard concoction on my next giant salad. Can’t wait!
June 6th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
The fruit lights are cute!