Reading Reviews- July 2013

With 100+ degree temperatures, what else is there to do except stay inside and read :)


The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

     I did not love reading this book, but I did love this book.  It is a beautiful story of how books are used to connect the author with his dying mother. Stories help them discuss some difficult issues.  It fed right into my love of reading and discussing books.  My major issue was he has led a very privileged life and that made it unrelatable to me (i.e. associations with Harvard on mentioned on every page, he read the Hobbit while his family was vacationing in Morocco, boarding school).
Verdict: Read and discuss book. Just maybe not this one hehe

Late Bloomers by Debra Eve

     The author puts together true stories of people, who found their niche after the age of 35.  My favorite story was of 71 year old Wu Ying who started a Hip Hop Grannies dance group. They are actually really good check it out Here!
Verdict:  The author publishes these stories as a blog at LateBloomer.com. If you are over 35, like myself, you can find some inspiration.

Farm City by Novella Carpenter

     "I have a farm on a dead-end street in the ghetto."  With that first line the author draws you into to her urban farming adventure. From veggies to honey bees to turkeys, ducks, rabbits and pigs, it is amazing what you can do with an empty lot in Oakland, Ca. I do admire her risk-taking and she pulls off some crazy plans.
Verdict: A story well-told and a look into what it is like to raise (and kill) your own food.

The Essential Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal

     Unlike the free-spirited tale in Farm City, this provides a in-depth practical guide for starting an urban farm.  It starts with designing your farm, then crops and finally animals. The ultimate goal is to help you produce your own food in whatever space you have.
Verdict:  I see a container garden on my patio in the near future.

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

     I read this book many years ago, but I just started listening to the Freakonomics podcasts so I wanted a re-read.  They discuss the material in the book a lot on the podcast, so it was not that interesting a read because I already knew what the data would show.
Verdict:  I like the podcast better.  The most recent podcast was called "Government Employees Gone Wild." Very amusing and you learn something.

Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

     The first book in the Game of Thrones saga and I read it before. I said I didn't like it and didn't see what all the fuss was about? Then I watched Season I & II and liked that, so I gave the book a second read.  I love it! The TV show is very good, but I actually think the books are better. I really don't know what my problem was the first time around.  My theory is that in the first read, I was overwhelmed by all the characters, places and history. Once I saw the show, I had a much easier time enjoying the story, because I understood the context.
Verdict: The books are looooooong, but well worth the effort. They give much more detail and background than the show.  I will be reading the other 4 books (and watching Season 3, when it comes out).

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

     This is book 2 of Game of Thrones.  With much effort I read it in a day and a half.  Towards the end I started to skim it because it was bogged down with detail (and I saw Season II).
Verdict: Long but still worth the read

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

     Book 3 of Game of Thrones. It starts off very slow and is full of (unneccesary) detail, but about mid-way it turns into a roller coaster of happenings.  No character is "safe."  The author has no problem killing off main characters and the book leaves you wanting to read the next one!
Verdict: The last half of the book is very exciting!

Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

     The reviews on this book were very good, so I was excited to read it. I only got a few pages in and decided this was not my cup of tea. I found myself bored, even though the concept of the book was very interesting.
Verdict: Either you love it or don't get it. I didn't get why other people love it?

Farmer's Market

     Have you ever tasted sunshine?  I think I did in a cherry tomato. Last week, I had a corn on the cob so sweet, it was hard to believe I was eating my veggies.  After a lifetime of avoiding cantaloupe, the sweet perfume of  perfectly ripened one lured me in and turns out I like cantaloupe. I got all of these at my locals farmer market. I also wanted to get some eggs, but turns out heat waves make chickens lazy and unproductive.  (I can totally related to the chickens).

     I used to be intimidated by the seeming chaos of a farmer's market. People everywhere, foods you don't know how to cook and you have to use cash!  Plus they only sell what is in season (sometimes I want an apple in July, so I get one from the grocery store, but it doesn't compare to how they taste in the fall).  Then they are times where farmer's just don't have eggs to sell you.  I've also heard complaints about it being too expensive, but after a couple of years of shopping at farmer's markets, I don't find that to be true about the produce. Meat and eggs-a little more expensive- yes.

     It took some adjustments, but eating locally and in season produce is like tasting real food for the first time.  Shopping the farmer's market does take planning.  I think about my menu for the week and how much cash I need to bring.  For about $50  a week I get eggs for breakfast, 2 lbs of ground beef for my lunch of chili and an assortment of in season fruits and vegetables.

     Right now the market is at its absolute peak!  The spring fruits: peaches, apricots, cherries and berries are still making their appearance. Plus all the summer produce is arriving: melons, sweet onions, tomatoes, etc. etc.  I often buy too much and have to eat extra portions of veggies and fruits to enjoy it all! 

     I recently watched a documentary "In Organic We Trust" and felt my commitment to shopping locally reaffirmed.  Local is better than organic.  It is better for the environment and better for your health. It is also delicious.  So if you have been thinking about visiting a Farmer's Market, now is the absolute best time!

Zucchini Pasta Noodles

       I've been trying to get more veggies into my diet and I heard you could make "pasta noodles" out of zucchini. I was quiet skeptical, but when I talked to people and checked the Internet, many swore it was delicious and easy.

     Turns out it is delicious and easy!   Using an ordinary vegetable peeler, I peeled off the zucchini skin and then continued to used the peeler to make "pasta" ribbons. I peeled to point where the seeds were visible.  I then cooked the "noodles" in boiling water for 3 minutes.

     I added some marinara sauce and topped with Parmesan cheese.  The only think I would suggest is salting the zucchini noodles a little. Otherwise it was perfect. I cut up the rest of the zucchini to be eaten later.  Here is a recipe for homemade Marinara Sauce.  I will be making this a lot while zucchini is in season.
   

Rocking Tape

     Elastic therapeutic tape or kinesilogy tape is my new friend.  Meant for multi-day use even through workouts, the best explanation of kinesiology tape is from a WSJ article "it allows the muscles to go on vacation for a day or two so they come back healed."  With my box jump injury, I finally had an opportunity to try it out.  See there is a silver lining to recovering an injury.

     The tape claims to improve circulation, reduce pressure and swelling, support and heal muscle injuries and alleviate pain.  Rocktape takes its a step further and claims their product enhances range of motion and athletic performance.  Scientist are still looking for significant evidence for any of these claims. One thing is clear, it looks cool! Rocktape comes in 10 different colors and 12 designs. I ordered a roll of "tattoo."

    While my order was shipping, I studied up on the best taping method for my injury.  There is a YouTube video for every body part and injury. In my case, I had a swollen shin so I was taping for "micro-circulatory application."  Sounds technical, but it was simple to apply.

     I used the Rocktape at CrossFit, yoga and a 5k (that I walked).  It made my injury feel cuddled and helped control the swelling.  It was least effective at yoga. Perhaps because yoga is an hour long or just requires me to put a lot of pressure on my shin?  Otherwise, I really like Rocktape. My only complaint is there is no way the tape would stay on for multiple days. Since I wanted to be able to remove it at the end of a workout, even that was plus.

About Kinesiology Tape

Order Rocktape from Amazon

Pork & Green Bean Stirfry

     Stir-frys are my go-to summer meal.  They allow me to take advantage of all the fresh summer produce and make a quick and tasty dinner!  This is one of my favorites using fresh green beans and red peppers.

Preparation:

• Cut up pork and soak in a marinade of 2 Tsp terriyaki sauce, 1 Tsp rice vinegar and 1 Tsp sugar.
• While pork is marinading, cut up onions, red peppers and green beans.
• Pre-Cook the grean bean by boing for about 5 minutes.
• Saute onions and add pork and cook thouroughly.  Then stir in green beans and red peppers. Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
• Sprinkle on red pepper flakes and garnish with chopped cashews.

     I used coconut oil and it gave it a Thai flavor. So next time I might add in some thai curry instead of the terriyaki marinade.  If you have leftovers, this reheats well for lunch.

How to Share a Dog

      Once upon a time two sisters lived together and adopted a dog named Roxy.  Then one day the sisters decided to live apart.  Neither of them wanted to give up Roxy, so they decided to share her.  This is the true story of how I came to share a dog.

     Whenever  I tell people I dog-share, they chuckle.  It seems like a cute idea, but it is actually a very practical idea. My sister and I split the costs to care for Roxy (vet bills, grooming, flea & tick prevention medicine, etc).  When I go on vacation,  my sister watches her and vice versa.  You get all of the benefits and half of the responsibility.

     Roxy has two homes.  She stays a week at my house and then a week at my sisters. We trade-off  custody on the weekend and spend time together to help Roxy transition homes.  At each house, Roxy has (numerous) beds, blankets and toys.  We keep similar schedules for walking her and feed her the same food.  Establishing the "rules" up front is key.

     However, not everything is the same. Different houses can also have different rules. For example, my sister allows Roxy to sleep on her bed, but at my house Roxy is not allowed on the bed.  Sometimes Roxy tries to plead her case with sad eyes, but she does respect the rules of each house.

     One unexpected benefit of dog sharing is staying connected with my sister. Roxy's  trade-offs ensures we see each once a week. We text pictures of Roxy through out the week with updates on what she is up to. I miss Roxy dearly when she is with my sister, but it allows me to be out and about without worrying about her.

     We are not the only ones who share a dog. Google dog sharing and your will find several articles on how neighbors and families are successfully sharing a dog.  Here are two stories of neighbors and cities successfully dog sharing:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121789604499712031.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/07/local/la-me-dog-share-20130107

     I grew up with dogs, but once I started college I knew I didn't have the time or money to have my own.  Dog-sharing has made it possible for me to enjoy the companionship and love again. Roxy gets a much better quality of life with two mamas to spoil her.  I'll end with a Edith Wharton's quote, "My little dog- a heartbeat at my feet."  That's my Roxy!

Follow me on Twitter at RiceKracerGirl

 I'll be posting some of my favorite Roxy pictures all week!

Taco Tuesdays!

   According to a cashier at the grocery store, tacos are the most popular week night meal.  They are so good we dedicate Tuesdays to them- Taco Tuesdays!  But have you ever gotten home from the grocery store only to realize you forgot the seasoning!  Well good news, you probably have the spices on hand to make your own.

Taco Seasoning Mix per pound of ground beef:

• 1 TBSP chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp galric powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• I also like to add in some cayenne pepper to make it a little spicer. 

     Making your own seasonings is also a good idea if you are concerned about preservatives and additives in pre-made stuff.  Recipe from Mark's Daily Apple http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-tex-mex-tortillas-and-taco-seasoning/. 

I know it is not Tuesday, but it is a holiday. So celebrate with some tacos.

Happy Birthday America!

Lessons from a Box Jump Fail

     It took me 8 months to do a box jump.  20 vertical inches onto a wooden box.  I was always wary of "missing" and hurting myself.  I watched others miss and sacrifice a piece of their shins. So I was always careful.  Hundreds of successful box jumps, but finally it happened. I missed one...

   
     I prepared myself for a psychological meltdown. I looked down at my shin expecting gushing blood and instead found a small bruise.  Finally, my fears had come true.  I was ready to go into panic mode, but fortunately a coach stepped in and told me to keep going. So I did. I finished the workout, which means I did more box jumps and I wasn't afraid.  My shin was bruised, my spirit wasn't. Amen!

     However, there was more to be learned. That small bruise turned into big bruise that went from below my knee cap to my ankle. That was ugly, but what was truly concerning was the swelling. My calf was the size of my hip.  I am new to being an athlete and this is my first significant injury.  I got an x-ray just to reassure myself nothing was broken.  I did have accept that I would be resting and recovering until the swelling was "resolved."

     Taking time off of CrossFit was a harsh adjustment.  I love CrossFit and hated being injured and away, but as the swelling went down the pain started and I knew I need to heal.  The physical healing made slow progress.  What surprised me was the mental healing.  Some people call it overtraining, others under-recovery, but I really did need a break physically and mentally.  I was reminded that my top priority was health not physical activity.  Sometime health means taking a break.

     My shin really took one for the team.  It taught me two important things:  1) I don't fear box jumps I respect them, but I hope to never miss one again 2) Rest is just as important as training.  I am learning when to push myself and when to take it easy. I never thought taking it easy would be so hard.  But I'll be back up on that box again!