A Collection of Thoughts

Letting Go

via pinterest.com

I've been quiet on the medical update front because there has been nothing to report - just the way we like it. Heading in each day to radiation is a bit like groundhog day - same thing every day - not too tough just inconvenient if anything. I am in week three and have worked out whatever the time of day I am booked for there is always something esle I would rather be doing.

Apart from that I have been researching like crazy nutrition and going round in circles.I'll let you know if I unlock the secret.  I am spending many hours at gym and in yoga builidng my endurance and immune system- it takes serious time. It's all good. The light is at the end of the tunnel.

Fast forward to yesterday when I went to get chnaged and Richard said to me  ummm did you know the right side is bigger than the left ? And I looked and went oh yeah umm maybe to do with radiation? Dunno.  Then I pulled on a crop top that fitted the day before and it was too small. So I looked again.  My right side was definately swollen.

SIGH

I went to radiation and then popped my head into my breast care nurse - who said Oh my - that's not good.

I love those sorts of comments.  We will see you tomorrow she said.

I was hoping for a  "hey you are a miracle worker you've just grown a new breast all by yourself. Must be all that good food you are eating" type comment.

SIGH

Mr Google and I spent some hours together last night. While I knew it wasn't anything too sinister it was still enough to send me back to google.

I came up with lymphodema - I didn't know that you could get it in your trunk or breast but you can - I thought it was just arms and legs.

 Overnight the swelling doubled in size and was now sore.

 SIGH

 No zumba for me - not happy

 Headed to radiation then home then back in to my surgeon.

Ultrasound and a chat -I told him what I thought with Mr Google - he told me good effort but no.

It's an infection again. There are three pockets of fluid - one that can be drained the other two can't.

So I headed for blood tests to see what sort of infection.

On Thursday I will know more but at the moment he's muttering about surgery and removing the expander. That means a 3 month delay again. Then a new expander put in.

He has to talk to my radiologist as I'm still part way through radiation and he wants to operate next week.

I'm just trying to just let it all go.

I spoke to my Ma this morning before I knew for sure what was going on. She said it's like once you start you just can't stop. One thing leads to another to another to another. And so it seems she is right. There is no text book fix and you just have to keep walking on through it.

I pray fervantly for the day that there is no more cancer. 

Did you know there are currently 12 million cancer survivors?

12 million people doing this - dealing with ongoing symptoms, fighting the infections and the side effects of the "cure", worrying about recurrences, every headache, every stomache cramp anythign out of the normal- along with their family and their friends. That's a lot.

I am just one and while I thank you for all your prayers and good wishes - I ask you please send them up for all the others that walk like I do.

One step at a time.

 

 

Chocolate Protein Balls

At boost juice they have these really yummy chocolate protein balls rolled in coconut for $1.50.  I love them. They are the perfect sweet treat without being too sweet. I have been however googling for the recipe or at least the ingredients list to no avail.

But the lovely Lisa Pate shared her protein ball recipe with me over on her facebook page.  You can see it here.

I didn't have quite the same ingredients and wanted to make them right then and there so here is my take on hers.

***** If you don't have protein powder or don't use it then substitute for skim milk powder.  It has a good amount of calcium and protein and will do the trick nicely.

1/2 cup  protein powder - I had vanilla but Lisa uses chocolate and omits the cocoa
1/2 cup steel cut oats
3/4 cup coconut
2 tblspn good cocoa
1 tblspn hot water
3 tblspn organic peanut butter
1 tblspn honey
5 tblspn almond milk

Extra coconut to roll in.

Mix protein, oats and coconut in a bowl.

Melt peanut butter, water and honey in a bowl in the microwave.

Add to dry mix then slowly add milk.

Roll into balls then cover in coconut.

Put in fridge or freeze straight away.

Makes 16.

Just an aside - I do love these but I am still keen to work out what's in those boost juice ones ! They are way more chocolatey :)

 

Casserole Dishes and Recipes

At the age of 40 I bought my very first two pieces of cast iron cookware - you know the dishes that can go straight on your stove top and then into the oven? I have seen them forever and every time I go to cook a casserole I think I should look for some. Last winter I did that but the prices put me off- Kmart had some but only in red and they started at about $25 for a smallish one from memory.  Target ones started at about $60. Then two weeks ago in the Aldi catalogue I spotted these Crofton ones.  $19.95 and $14.95 for the two with lids on. I also managed to get a cast iron trivot for $7.99. As of yesterday in our local Aldi there were still some casserole dishes left. They come in different colours too - cream red and blue. I bought the cream.

 Since then I have turned into a casserole making fool. I love that I can do all the prep in one dish and then throw in the oven while the girls are doing their homework - an hour or so later all good to go with some rice couscous or quinoa and steamed greens.

 These are my top three recipes  ( all from taste.com.au with some changes LOL )

 

via www.taste.com.au

Chicken and Sweet Potato Casserole

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 chicken lovely legs
• 1 large bulb fennel, thinly sliced
• 6 sprigs lemon thyme
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tablespoons  wholegrain mustard
• 400g sweet potato, peeled, roughly chopped
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1 small tin light evaporated milk
• 2 red onions thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

 - Make a batch of caramelised onion  - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan over low heat. Add 2 thinly sliced large red onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until soft. Add 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes.

1. Heat oil in casserole dish. Add chicken. Cook for 2 minutes each side or until golden. Remove to a plate.

2. Add fennel, thyme and garlic. Cook until soft. Add 1/2 cup of stock and mustard. Cook for 3 minutes. Add sweet potato and rest of stock. Bring to the boil. Return chicken to dish. Cover and place in a moderate oven for 50 minutes.

3. Add evaporated milk and return to a hot plate. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes (do not return to the boil as sauce might spit). Stir in caramelised onions. Serve.

via www.taste.com.au

Massaman Beef Curry

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 650g gravy beef or chuck steak, trimmed
• 1 cup coconut cream
• 2 tablespoons massaman curry paste (I used the Valcom brand - in Woolies)
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1/2 cup unsalted roasted peanuts
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled, cut into 3cm pieces
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon tamarind concentrate - ( in the Asian section of woolies - same spot as the massaman paste)
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce ( with the tamarind paste) 

1. Heat oil in casserole dish . Add beef. Cook, until browned. Transfer to a plate. Add 2 tablespoons coconut cream to pan. Cook over medium heat for 20 seconds or until hot. Add curry paste. Cook for 1 minute or until aromatic.

2. Return beef and juices to pan. Add coconut milk, stock, peanuts, potatoes, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, cardamom pods, sugar, tamarind concentrate, fish sauce and remaining coconut cream. Stir to combine.

3. Cover and place in the oven on moderate heat, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beef is tender. Serve with rice.

via www.taste.com.au

 Lamb Casserole

• 6 lamb forequarter chops
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves crushed
• 500g potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2/3 cup red wine
• 2 jars of pasta sauce ( I used the red wine one )
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1 x 260g btl tomato chutney (I used this Beerenberg chutney from woolies )
• 2 large sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 cup frozen peas

1. Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a casserole dish and brown the lamb chops. Transfer to a plate.

2. Add the garlic and cook until soft. Add the potato and carrot, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes or until the liquid has reduced by half.

3. Add the lamb, pasta sauce, stock, chutney and rosemary. Cover and bake for 2 hours.

4. Stir in the peas 10 minutes before you want to serve.

Yummy with mashed potato

 Any favourite casseroles in your house ?? Please link me up !

 

Bikram Yoga

I have been a little missing in action this week as I head into my third week of radiation because I have a new obsession.

 Bikram Yoga or Hot Yoga.

I have been doing a zumba class at gym a few days a week and the other day as we headed out into the space it was sooo muggy I jokingly said oh this must be what hot yoga is like. My trainer Kate said You know I have always wanted to try that it's supposed to be really good.

I went home and googled - I liked what I read  - found a studio and on Monday I started. I have completed three classes now so clearly I am an expert - not.

I have dabbled in yoga before - like maybe taken half a dozen classes at gym in years gone by. And I was really really really bad at it. Like really bad. I spent the whole time forgetting to breathe and falling over.

I didn't have high hopes that this would be any different but I loved the idea of it and  the benefits I had read.

I was scared of the heat aspect because I don't like heat but I honestly love it. You feel so refreshed and energised afterwards. You do however get very hot and sweat alot. Like a real lot - so much lol.

 

Bikram Yoga is a system of yoga that Bikram Choudhury synthesized from traditional hatha yoga techniques and popularized beginning in the early 1970s. Bikram's classes run exactly 90 minutes and consist of a set series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. Bikram Yoga is ideally practiced in a room heated to 40.6°C with a humidity of 40%, and is the most popular form of hot yoga (a series of yoga poses done in a heated room)

 source

I really liked the idea that there were only 26 poses and they are repeated - so it's not up to the teacher to set up a routine. The routine is the same each time no matter where you go. I wondered how many of the poses I could actually do - because for me yoga has always been put your right leg behind you left ear and breathe- and just quietly I am not good at that. But when I looked at them all I thought hmmm I could do most of them.

Source

And now that I have done three classes I can tell you I can't do 4 of them.

Classes run for 90 minutes and the first half is completed standing. The second half is all on the ground.

There are three places I found on the coast that offer Bikram and the pricing is all about the same. They seem to offer an intro for a week  and you can attend as many classes as you like to see whether you like it. So I paid $25 for the intro. After that you can pay casually $20 ish (eeek  each session ) or there are class passes of ten or a whole month, three months a year etc which are much better value.

You need to take a yoga mat if you have one or you can hire one there, a towel, a big bottle of water.  Wear clothes that are well fitted - because once they start to sweat if they are loose they get heavy and its hard to do the moves. I just wear my 3/4 pants from kmart and a crop top with a singlet over the top. Some people wear alot less - just warning you. 

I have attended the 9.30am, 4.30pm and 6.30pm timeslot so far and each session has a real mix of people -some super fit who can do everything seemingly easily to some super unfit who can't do many at all. I read somewhere that for your first class you should just stay in the room the whole time.

If you know you are going to attend you should refrain from eating two to three hours beforehand - so don't gobble dinner and dash to a class. Also up your water intake through the day and try and steer clear of coffee.

While I am not quite up to doing a 30 day Bikram challenge (where you attend every day for 30 days- one day maybe) I am certainly aiming to do the recommended 3 a week.

If you are looking for something to go a little out of your comfort zone then this could be the thing for you :) Or If you have always wanted to try it then I highly recommend that you take the plunge and do it. I attend at this studio so locals if you do decide to rock up look for me I'm the one at the back falling over and sweating up a storm.

 Namaste

 

Blogs to Read

I thought I would share with you some of the new reads that have popped up lately that I am really enjoying.

 All that I Adore - Sophie from the Block has a very very fun blog. I loved her style on the block and now she has set up a blog of all things she adores. at the moment shes blogging a series on fairy tales.

 The Rabbit in the Waistcoat -  along with that Sophie and Dale have a website for their homewares. I loved their tree trunk chairs and cushions I could so see those being used at a children's party.

Vivienne McMaster  - An amazing blog with an unusual way of blogging  - being  a photographer her images are stunning but I love the way she adds her words. Not all blog posts are like this but plenty are. Well worth the follow.

Elsie and Emma from A Beautiful Mess have set up two new blogs as well - You can't comment on them but they are beautiful to look at - pretty photos and a glimpse into these amazingly creative girls lives.

 Everyday Elsie    Everyday Emma

 

Danielle Thompson from Kitschy Digitals has redesigned her site and invited a whole slew of talented designers to join her. Lots of goodies here and some freebies too.

 and lucky last  is  The Thrifty Mrs.

A 20 something ( eeek so young ) blogger from the UK who writes some great tips on being thrifty. Really fun images.

I really need to start weeding out some blogs my google reader is out of control. I have a reader on my ipad but it doesn't work as well as I would like - can anyone recommend one ?

Facebook and Blog Makeover

I have spent the last few days dragging myself around facebook. I say dragging because I still find it difficult to follow. I created a personal page and fan page back in 2011 after much prompting from friends and then just left them because I couldn't get it.

I know there are like 500 million active facebook users - you'd think if there are that many getting it then I'd get it too but umm I sort of do now.

I have two places on facebook

 - my home page - which will be kind of random and more for family and friends

 You can find it here -  http://www.facebook.com/tamar.bostock

and then my blog page  - this is where I will be sharing my blog stuff and lots of links to crafty things recipes and lovely things I find online- so if you are a blog reader for my crafty goodness then please "like" my blog page. I'm also going to try to keep the blog page likes to specific business and sites that are crafty food related with everything else on my personal page. So I guess my facebook page will be an extension of my blog - or thats what I hope it to be.

 You can find it here -  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tarisota-Collections/116916921722839

My pinterest feed is over on that page too. I was pretty impressed with myself when I worked that out (I think I had to click three things to do it)

Thank you to the lovely Mel and Kim who have helped me get myself sorted and have patiently answered  a series of dumb questions -  for example if I like something what does that really mean ?  I know I've been a joy for the last few days - bet you're glad you never recieved a facebook question from me!

 As well I have given my blog a little makeover which required serious brain power. It's so easy to forget but I think I have it mostly sorted now with just a few more tweaks to go. I'm yet to update my about me page  - it's a bit of a story these days so I hope to do that soon. So if you are reading from a reader do pop over.

We still have one more week of holidays here - I'm into my second week of daily radiation and all is good.

Thanks for visiting

 

 

 

 

 

Strawberry Jam Making

When we returned from the Sunshine Coast we stopped off for some jam grade strawberries. I had no clue how to make jam but the thought of fresh jam sounded really good.

1kg of strawberries for $5 and I figured I couldn't go too wrong. Then I mentioned to a friend my plans. Oh good luck she said. I remember Mum trying to make jam and it never set. I thought eek set ? really?  This could be a disaster.

I started googling about sterilizing jars and what not. Stressing again ( I swear I never used to get anxious like this ! ) I wondered what on earth I was thinking.

Anyhow I had the strawberries so jam making commenced.

Someone mentioned in one of my comments about jam making sugar  ( thank you! ) and I found that at woolies along with some jam jars.

I chopped up the strawberries added in the sugar put it on the stove - mushed it up with a masher just a little bit. 1 kg fruit 1 kg sugar - eeek

I placed a saucer in the fridge for me to try the setabilty ( no such word I don't think LOL ) of the jam.  Once the sugar was dissolved I bought it to a slow rolling boil for 4 minutes-  dropped some on the cold saucer - it didn't run much so I figured that would be ok.

I poured boiling water into my jars  and them popped them in the oven for 10 minutes.

I skimmed the froth off the top of the jam then I poured the hot jam into the jars, put the lids on (I  soaked them in boiling water too) and turned them upside down for five minutes. I left them on the bench to cool then popped them in the fridge.

The next morning I checked and FAR OUT it worked. I have (had) three jars of the most delicious jam ever. I am a bit dubious as to whether I have sterilised the jars for keeping so I have given some to the neighbours.

If anyone has advice on that I would love to know but really I'm quite happy to make three jars at a time  - eat one give two away. So good - give it a try!

 

 

 

Relaxing Break

What started as a let's take the girls to Australia Zoo for the day - turned into a 4 day mini break at Twin Waters. The best sort of holidays I think are the unplanned unexpected ones. We didn't tell the girls until the night before. I gave them a list of stuff to go pack and they were so crazy with excitement.

Thank you to everyone who linked me to vouchers for Aus Zoo - in the end we decided not to go - the weather was glorious and we had enough to do just hanging around the resort. We will get there one day.

 

We spent many hours walking this beach- though I'm ashamed to say it's much more peaceful to walk without children.  How much further ? I have sand on me ( it's a beach ! )  I want to get wet, I don't want to get wet, I want to take my shoes off, I don't want to take my shoes off, Can you carry these 5 kilos of shells?  Can we have a dog ? Can we learn to fish? I have sand on me, I have sand on me, I have sand on me SIGH. I ended up making a deal with Richard that I wanted to walk twice a day and one of those walks had to be child free LOL. It was lovely though each time and despite the children chatter - the girls and I had lots of good chats too. Amazing some of the stuff they tell you when you aren't distracted by life.

Sue told me the strawberry farm was open - so we stopped there on the way up and back. It was really pretty there and has a great shop with yummy parfaits and coffees.

We stopped on the way home too because I wanted to get some jam grade strawberries and then Sue told me she makes sorbet and icecream so I wanted strawberries for that too. The jam grade strawberries were $5 a kilo and I swear they are better quality than what I get at the supermarket. I have them prepped ready for jam making but I'm still trying to decide on which recipe to use. I'm going to freeze the two kilos I bought for strawberry icecream making - they were  $7 a kilo.

Saturday we visited Eumundi markets and bought some gorgeous necklaces which I'll share the details of in another post. On our way home we called into two scrapping stores and I was chatting to one lady who admired my necklace. She confessed she had lived on the Sunshine Coast 40 years and had never been to the markets. FAR OUT ! They are so awesome. If you are a Sunshine Coast reader and have never been - GO  this week - Wednesday quick LOL.

Two evenings we went into Mooloolaba for dinner which was really nice to do. We try to let the girls choose the restaurants - there are heaps all in a row so we just wander until they find one they like. I have a rule - no chicken nuggets. While they are both foodies - love to cook love to eat they tend to gravitate to the kids menus because inevitably they are swayed by the comes with a drink and an ice cream thing.

It was all over far too fast and now we are home unpacked Richard's back at work and today I had my first radiation treatment. I'm trying to get back in the swing of keeping the girls occupied minus TV.

Happy Holidays :)

 

 

Wild Olive Anniversary

via wildolive.blogspot.com.au

Just a quick share before it disappears - Molly from Wild Olive is celebrating 8 years blogging and has this adorable freebie for her readers. I saw those three designs and thought oh how cute - but when I downloaded there are like 24 cute as patterns and a lovely banner one too!

 Be fast before the link is gone :)

Thank you Molly!