Pulled Pork Deliciousness

Playing in the kitchen has really become fun for me. I used to be so afraid. What if something comes out bad? What I have learned is sometimes things come out bad and that's not fun, but then you try again and make adjustments and it could turn out to be your favorite meal!

My mom recently cleaned out her extra freezer and had some pork shoulder she wasn't going to make, she donated it to the feed the Cindy fund and I happily cooked it up. I did some research first online..the usual places..google and pinterest. I wasn't really sure what to do, but the crockpot seemed like the best option. I found a couple of different recipes, took what I liked about each one and made my own recipe hoping for success. I can tell you I was not disappointed! Hello melt in my mouth and happy belly food pork shoulder.

Recipe time...

This is just one of many many ways to cook the pork shoulder

** I forgot to add 1/2 cup of water to the above recipe. **

Done and shredded. Ready to be eaten!

I couldn't believe how juicy and tender it was when it was cooked and the flavor blew me away. I made that! And my condo smelled delicious for days.

In the past I didn't really share my cooked food, especially if I made up the recipe. I was afraid no one else would like it, but then I realized I wanted to know. I wanted other people's opinions and I wanted to know if there are tweaks I could make to make it even better.  Thankfully my dad and a few coworkers are brave and have been my go to testers. They all approved and asked for this dish again!

Happy dad, happy daughter!
He loved it and trust me he is not an easy sell.

I had plenty for the week and loved mixing it up with different sides.

Broccoli and zucchini 

String beans and caulirice,
I also added a little balsamic dressing to this dish

Enjoy!  If you make it I would love to hear your thoughts.

Out of Balance

The last few weeks have been non-stop. It hasn't been bad things just non-stop. Sometimes I wasn't sure if I was coming or going. Work took top priority, second place went to working out and weight loss, everything else came after that. 

This is how I feel my calendar looks

I had made plans for every night after work last week, I thought I got this...nope. By mid to end of last week I noticed my patience was really thin. Things that normally wouldn't bother me, really did! I was sleeping, but going to bed way too late and waking up already cranky and not even wanting to workout, which I have really been enjoying. I was having really bad food cravings at night and wanting to mindless eat. I was struggling to focus because my mind was already on the next thing. 

There is a light at the end of the tunnel... 

My weekly plans also included to get pedicures with my friend/co-worker Marissa. The pedicures hit the spot!! Marissa and I never get time to just hang out and relax. We both work really hard and decided to start treating ourselves by having an after workday date once a month. While we were sitting there completely getting pampered I realized how lacking I have been in taking care of myself. Sure I eat healthy and workout but what about relaxing, what about all the stress...it has to go somewhere. We walked out of the pedicure place feeling fantastic! That will be on April calendar as well! 

I am making time to pamper myself!

 

Also set for Friday was plans with my friend Jay. During the week Jay said we should try something new after dinner and go to this place called the Amazing Escape Room. He said it's a neat mystery/puzzle where you get locked in rooms and have to find clues throughout the room to find keys and escape. Heck yeah count me in! It was a late night, but I have to tell you I had more fun that night than I had in ages!!! While we were at dinner, some bag pipers came in the restaurant for a little day after St. Patty Day music, we got to sit and talk, and then walked to the Escape Room. We got hooked up to work with this larger group of people and they turned out to be so fun to work with. We all hit it off. And yes we did escape in time!!  They even told us we had the best time escaping from all the teams that night. Walking back to the car it hit me, I had fun. I laughed. I relaxed. I wasn't worried about anything. I wasn't 2 steps ahead of myself. I just had FUN!  

Jay and I after the escape!
Such a fun time 

So now I realize I need to find a better balance between work, health, relaxing, and fun. I took this weekend and relaxed. I slept late since I was able to. I played in the kitchen. I am now sharing my story with all of you and soon I will be watching The Walking Dead. Tomorrow is a new day and week, I plan on keeping time open to relax and have fun!  I don't want to get out of balance again, being cranky and tired is absolutely no fun at all! 

PB2 Woohoo!

Happy Tuesday! How is everyone doing adjusting to daylight savings?...Except those who are in states that don't have to adjust, I am jealous of you guys. 

I really miss that hour

I had a few minutes this morning before work and had to share my favorite snack find. Let me start off by saying I love peanut butter. I like almond butter, but I LOVE peanut butter. As you know peanut butter also comes with a lot of calories, not the best to devour while trying to shed a few pounds (just ask my scale). And sure you can have a serving size, but who really has a serving size of the deliciousness. Then some genius came out with PB2. 

Looks so simple,
yet so much deliciousness in a powder and less calories!

PB2 is powdered peanut butter and according to the label 85% less fat and calories than traditional peanut butter. You just mix the powder with liquid and voila peanut butter. Okay, sure it's not exactly like eating from a jar of the real deal, but it definitely helps to satisfy my peanut butter craving. I have also started using it in my morning shakes...chocolate, banana, and PB2...hello happy taste buds!!! 

I know there are lots of brands out there now, but I noticed some other brands have added "stuff" to them. No thank you. I love having a little bowl at night while watching tv or during the day with a cut up apple. 

Apples and PB2
Low carb, low calorie, super filling

Just a bowl of PB2 to watch some TV
I usually try to make it thicker but this was still delicious 

Hmm I wonder if I can bake with it...might have to play with that idea.

Have you tried it before? Do you mix it in shakes or eat it alone?  

Have a great day everyone. I am off to work!

It's a great day to have a great day!

Tea Time

When I found out I had to cut out some foods/drinks in order to help my body heal I was on board. Whatever it would take to get better. No gluten, no problem. No wheat, okay sure. No rice and potatoes, sure whatever I don't eat them that much any way. Cut back on sugar, eh who shouldn't cut back really. No dairy, umm that's no fun, but if that's what it takes. No coffee...wait what?!?! No COFFEE!!  That's it, I can't survive, life can't go on. How will I function, how will I still have friends and a job without coffee....

Yup, this is how I felt
(photo credit: http://explodingdog.tumblr.com/)

So there I was, faced with the option. Challenge the results and continue to drink my coffee, hoping that by eliminating the other foods it would help enough to heal or take the plunge and cut it out. I decided coffee wasn't worth my health suffering even just a little. On the way home I picked up some tea so I wouldn't have bad caffeine withdrawal and mentally prepared myself for starting my next morning without coffee.

By mid-week, I wanted to curl up under my desk I missed coffee so much and it was a hellish week. Thankfully my coworkers are amazing, especially my friend/coworker Marissa. She let me try lots of different ones she had stashed at her desk, Mary talked my out from under my desk, and at the end of week one I was feeling pretty darn proud of myself. I even noticed I wasn't having afternoon crashes as much...interesting. I started googling and found out that tea is actually very beneficial for your health.

So many wonderful reasons to drink tea, even if you can drink coffee

The following week I was off from work, it was close to the holidays and I had time to spare. I made plans to go out with my friend T (Theresa). She told me to meet at her place and then she was kidnapping me. Wouldn't tell me where we were going or doing. Ooh exciting! I followed orders and hopped in. We ended up in the mall parking lot. I thought okay, not so much exciting but still fun. She handed me an envelope, said happy holidays and enjoy! Her and her husband surprised me with a gift card to Teavana. She said they were so proud of me for giving up coffee and still smiling. If you haven't heard of Teavana it's a store (online as well) that sells all different types of loose tea. Different blends and types and tea accessories. We walked into the store and I was absolutely in tea heaven. So many flavors to choose from!! I picked up a few bags of different flavors, I went over my gift card limit but it was worth it.

JavaVana Mate...has a very similar flavor to coffee.
Highly recommend for my fellow coffee lovers

My favorite is one called JavaVana Mate...why you ask, because it has a very similar taste as coffee!! Some people just enjoy coffee because of the caffeine. They add sugar and milk and stuff..not me I always just loved the pure taste of coffee black. Lately I have craving that taste big time and went back to restock my Java finally and so glad I did!! I am enjoying a cup right now, even as I type this post.

My setup right now with my BIG mug of tea.
I also have a mug obsession. They are all so cute

I still miss coffee, but I am enjoying this fun and tasty new world of tea!  Do you have a favorite brand or flavor?  I would love to know.

Don't Let Candida Win

In my last post I quickly mentioned candida and oral thrush. If you are like me you have never heard of it before or have a clue what it is. First, let me remind you I am not a doctor or any type of medical professional. I am just a girl who went through it and knows how very unpleasant it can be.

Here we go...

I love this description by the MindBodyGreen website (http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8376/10-signs-you-have-candida-overgrowth-what-to-do-about-it.html): Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, and a very small amount of it lives in your mouth and intestines. Its main job? Helping out with digestion and nutrient absorption. 

Great Website for Health Information

The real problem develops when there is an overproduction of candida. Candida can break down the wall of the intestine and penetrate the bloodstream — releasing toxic by-products into your body and causing leaky gut. This can lead to many different health problems, from digestive issues to depression.

You get the idea, this is no joke and no fun!

Candida overgrowth can present itself in many different forms..for me it chose to present itself in my mouth. The infection had taken over. Ew. My tongue developed this horrible white coating, I developed canker sores, and it was so swollen and painful. My primary care doctor told me I had strep and gave me the normal prescriptions for treating strep, in addition I was given an oral lidocaine swish to help with the pain.  By the next day I was still in so much pain, even worse, and I could barely talk. I definitely couldn't eat and even drinking was painful. My mom did some googling and discovered a diagnosis called oral thrush. I found a local ENT (ear, nose, throat) Dr. who took my insurance and was able to get in that day. He put a camera down my nose, checked my mouth, and finally I had a proper diagnosis. He confirmed I did indeed have a really bad case of oral thrush. He put me on a different swish and stopped the other medicines which were actually causing the thrush to get worse! Once home I started looking into more options to help the healing process along. A friend of mine suggested I check out a site, earthclinic.com.  What an awesome site. It gave me lots of natural suggestions to help with the healing process; such as baking soda peroxide switches, turmeric for the swelling, apple cider vinegar to help with healing my digestive tract. These are just a few that I tried.

Lots of natural healing ideas for all sorts of problems

So now what...first thing, you have to change your diet. There are lots of different books and diets out there find one that works for you. Low sugar is most important! Candida feeds off sugar, don't feed the bad stuff. Small meals help your poor digestive tract that is already working overtime. I also found a Holistic Treatment Practice that had history in dealing with oral thrush and candida. They put together a very specific supplement regiment for me to take. I won't share what it is because everyone's body and diagnosis is different and I don't want you to try something without the proper understanding of the product. I will tell you that a probiotic and prebiotic are very important!!  Also switch up your foods and the pre and pro biotics every couple of weeks. Candida is sneaky and they have a way of adapting to their surroundings!  So what once helped, no longer will. 

I stayed home a lot that summer. People would ask me what happened and I felt so embarrassed to tell them. I didn't want to go out and see people. My tongue was in pain and I could barely speak and yeah I felt yucky. I mean come on who wants to talk about everything I just told you. While everyone was enjoying their summer, I turned to online blogs and social media to do research and also not feel so alone. That is why I have decided to share my story today. You are not alone ever. There is probably someone out there going through something similar. Feeling like I had support, even just in my online friends world helped me cope. 

Well this quote fits perfectly!!

Present day... I still have my struggles, but slowly I am healing up. My stomach is still sensitive to certain foods and drinks. I still have to eat small meals or it takes down my digestive system. Sugar is my ultimate kryptonite! I keep it as low and as natural as possible. I buy mostly organic foods, because who wants to fill their body with bad stuff now that you are cleaning it up. 

Keep away!!
Sugar for me is from fruits and occasionally honey or agave to bake 

I learned a lot about myself going through this, mostly I learned I am actually pretty bada**.  It was not fun, but I fought back and still fight back every day and I want you to fight back too. Don't get me wrong I had and still have plenty of boohoo me days, but I try to not let them bring me down too long. Sometimes I wish I could eat regular like everyone else, but wishing and feeling bad doesn't change the fact that I can't. 

I love this quote,
 because it is the truth!

Most important please BE PATIENT with yourself!!  Depending on how severe the case it could take a very long time to heal. Look at me going on 6 almost 7 months and I am still healing!!! Don't let the candida bring you down, you need to beat it down!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post about something that is very personal to me and had such a huge impact on my life.

Here I Am

I'm back in the blogging world. For those of you that have not forgotten about me I thank you, and for those of you just tuning in, welcome to my life!

2015 was a crazy year for me...let's start with being bit by a dog in the park. Not so fun. Then I developed a case of oral thrush (candida overgrowth)..this was horrible! I will explain that more in another post. I dated a guy that taught me a lot of life lessons, but was in no way the man for me. In fact my best friend Debbie still wants to beat him up. What are friends for...love you Debbie!

Who knew a Great Dane would think I looked like his breakfast.
Yes I still have a scar. 

I also discovered that gluten, wheat, rice, soy, coffee, sugar, and potatoes are not my friends. Yes I said coffee, it's been since December that I gave it up and while I notice a difference in my body I still miss it every day. On the plus side I have discovered a love for tea. The first week I was off coffee my coworkers all brought me in different teas to try. I love yogi teas and the little inspirational messages on the string are fun to read.

My tea cabinet..Just a few of my favorites.
I have yet to try one I didn't like

So while 2015 was not the funnest of years for me, I am thankful for it. Without going through all of that I wouldn't be who I am today. I love who I am today and I love the path that I am on. Somewhere along the way I forgot how to dream and have faith that things do have a way of working out. I hope you enjoy going on this journey with me.  I am going to use this blog to share my highs and lows with you and I hope that you will share yours with me. One of the biggest lessons I learned in 2015 is I am not alone and with the support of friends (yes, even internet blogger friends) it can make a huge difference in your life.

Thank you for reading and please come back soon!

This is me, Cindy
And can't forget the cute furbaby on the floor, Abby 

Adventure with Travel and Food

I did it!  I not only flew on a plane for the first time in over 12 years, I not only went to my first big business trip, but I managed to stay true to myself and make choices to benefit my health. With everything I went through last month I was so nervous traveling, especially on a plane and to a location I had never been before. Now that it is over I can say from the bottom of my heart it was amazing!!

View from the plane going to Las Vegas

The meeting that I attended went smoothly and was very informative, in fact, I'm more excited about the future of my company than ever before. The meeting took place in Las Vegas and I am so thankful my boss invited me to attend. From the moment he asked, I thought oh no there will be food. I had barely eaten anything other than my soup, greek yogurt, and caulimash for a month and now I would not only be eating other foods I would not have my own food. I am sure there are plenty of people who travel and what they eat is not on their list of high concerns, but I have a feeling anyone who suffers from health issues related to the digestive system can relate to my fears.

My coworker asked if I wanted a picture,
a few months ago I would have said no thank you,
but now I said absolutely!

Another plane view. I love looking at the clouds

I spoke to the women planning the meeting and she was very understanding, told me everything that would be in the meeting room for breakfast and lunch and gave me the restaurant names so I could plan ahead. I called the restaurants and both seemed okay with my request of plain grilled chicken and a side of veggies.

On the plane I brought some cheese sticks and water. I didn't even eat them, guess my stomach shrunk more than I thought. We checked into the hotel and went to lunch, I ordered a salad with chicken and hoped it would hold me over until dinner. After lunch my boss took us on a tour of Las Vegas, and then went back to the hotel to relax a little.

No french fries or onion rings for me.
I admit this salad was really good and way more filling than I thought it would be

Look I went to Paris too...
haha okay maybe not, but still incredible to see in Vegas

View from my room.
I loved looking out and seeing the mountains

Well I think all that walking and jet jag (I'm from the east coast) caught up to me, because while hanging out in the hotel room I realized I was starving! I checked out the little store downstairs and found some cheese, a turkey sandwich, and coconut water...jackpot! The turkey seemed to be of good quality so I gave it a shot. It was just what I needed. I was back on track and feeling good. Later I met everyone for dinner at the Mexican restaurant and absolutely LOVED the meal they made me of chicken breast, cheese, and veggies. Very healthy, very yummy, low carb, low calorie, low sugar, no bad extra ingredient stuff. I skipped the drinks and dessert and really felt very proud of myself. I also slept great that night.

Snacks I found in the little hotel store.
Thankful the cheese didn't bother my belly

Breakfast in the meeting room was greek yogurt and berries, I am very pleased the berries didn't bother me. Lunch I had some fresh turkey in a small salad. Dinner...well even though I called ahead asking for plain chicken and they assured me it was no problem, the waiter came back and said everything has been marinated and spiced. Ummm now what!?! I asked him what wasn't marinated and spiced he said salmon. Good thing I like salmon. It turned out to be really delicious with a side of asparagus. We walked back to the hotel to enjoy the city at night.

Water show at the Bellagio.
The water was dancing to "singing in the rain" 

Water show at the Bellagio
My favorite part of the walk back to the hotel

I came back from that trip so excited that I stayed true to myself. I didn't eat anything bad because it was easier. I didn't hide my health issues. I even lost a pound. And best of all I was able to wear really cute clothes (thanks to my bf for the Express gift card) and even more exciting was having the the energy I needed to keep up with the meetings, the walking, the travel, and the fun!!

Welcome back to the East Coast.
No place like home