Food Friday- New Addiction




New non food addiction- art edits

 

New food addiction

 First I'll address my new photo- let's have fun- addiction.  Believe it or not both of these photos started out with the same shot.  It has been so hot outside that I have spent more time inside on my computer.  While alot of this extra time has been in reinstalling and organizing the data I put back on my computer after having to reinstall Windows, but I have also taken some time to play.  I have been playing with different aspects of the picnik.com editing program and learning how to fine tune some of the different aspects of the program.  I've been working with this because I don't have to download the program it stays on the Internet and therefore it does not take up memory on my computer; a big plus for a photo editing program.  Add the biggest plus is it's free and does some really cool edits.  They do have a premium program with more features for a small yearly fee, I just never felt the need to use the features on the premium plan.  But fun it is and there are so many variations that I could use it for a long time and still be having fun.  In fact I have to restrain myself from saving to many of the variations.  Fun, fun.
Now on to the new food addicton, since I have given up sodas, I have started to drink lots of herbal teas sweetened by Stevia in the Raw (check out the ingredients some stevia products have additives).  I drink a great variety especially those from Celestial Seasonings.  When I open the packages I put them in ziploc bags to save the flavor and also because they take up less room.  I have a good size container filled with these bags.


My collection of teas

 As you can see I really do have lots, most of them I drink for the flavor but I have also been researching medicinal teas and there are some that I drink for that reason.  I believe that they are slowly but surely helping.

Since so much of my life right now is taken up on developing new eating habits and having fun doing it I have decided to do a post on Fridays on my food lifestyle changes and the things that make this change easier and/or more fun.  That's the reason for for this photo as it shows some of the things I have found to be useful.  First is a wide variety of flavors so I don't get bored. Second is the teabag strainer cuz it keeps my fingers from getting burned when I squeeze out the tea bags after they steep. Third is the mesh tea ball as alot of medicinal teas come loose, not in bags. Fourth I had to make sure the containers I use to steep my tea have a big enough mouth so that the ball will fit in it I use Rubbermaid servin' saver bottle.  Its nice to use 'cause of the lid which keeps the flavor in while it steeps and I can use it to drink from when it's done with very little spilling.  Nice when your hands shake.  They also hold a two cups of water and since I like my tea a little stronger I can put 3 bags in the 2 cups instead of 1 bag per cup and then it can be heated in the microwave.
Fifth I also use insulated sports bottles for iced herbal teas, the ones shown holds the containers worth of tea plus the ice from one of the ice cube trays shown. Sixth is the flexible ice cube trays as they flex to get the ice cubes out easier and the cubes fit through the small necks of soda bottles and sports bottles.  And of course you have to have your favorite mug, mine is 'Winnie the Pooh' from the Disney Store.  I try to make everything as fun as possible.
Try some I think you'll like it.
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Change

Last Thursday as I was driving to my IVIG appointment I made a realization of a change that I have made in my life; a positive change and a long term change. The day turned out to be a day of change too. The day started out with me getting up late and dragging; it's an early morning appt. with a long drive and I ended up leaving late. I went outside into the pouring rain. I got in the car only to realize that I needed gas, so I stopped at the local gas station only to have my debit card rejected at the pump. I had to go inside where there was no problem with my card, just a waste of time outside. Then I got caught in the school bus traffic because I was late which made me later. Then I got caught in the longest line I've ever been in at the Hill St. four way stop. At which point I pulled out my camera (a change) and took a picture of the colorful truck in front of me. As I continued on my drive I realized that I was NOT upset in spite of all the aggravations of the mornings. Not too long ago I would have been upset, uptight and muttering under my breathe; but this time I was thinking oh well I'll just watch the time and if it gets too late I'll just pull over and call and let them know I'm on my way. No biggie. Pat me on the back. To top off the morning when I went to gather my things my purse fell on the floor of the car and every thing spilled out, right down to all my cards and money out of my wallet. I just picked them up and went in. No getting upset.
When I came out surprise, surprise the weather had changed. It was a beautiful sunshiny day. I took several pictures. I was really impressed with the clouds and the reflections in the windows so I paid particular attention to them. Loved the way that pic turned out. Photo taking really makes me feel good- it's good for my psyche. Not too long ago; before the photography habit I would not have noticed how wonderfully the day had changed. Another positive change for me.
On the way home I made another wonderful realization and that is that I can recognize and acknowledge these changes in my life. At one point in my life I was in a therapy group and we were asked to write down a couple of good things about ourselves. I couldn't think of a single thing. All I wanted to do was wad up the paper and throw it as hard as I could because I couldn't think of anything. Now not only can I recognize my good points, my improvements, my good changes, but I can write them down, pat myself on the back, toot my own horn, and I can do it on this blog for the world to see and read. TOOT-TOOT good for me my life is getting better, changing for the better, BIG pat on the back for me.