Tranquil Tuesday: Spring Cleaning

Hope everyone has been doing well. I have been spring cleaning and taking a breather. I've also been enjoying a break from Facebook, our laptop and this blog. I started seeing a nutritionist a few weeks ago and feel like I have my smile back. Please forgive my absence but know that when this is over I will have some wonderful, healthy recipes to share with you and stories to tell about my detox, the real spring cleaning.

When I utter the word detox so many people have asked, "Which one are you doing?" I didn't know there were so many out there. I am working with Kasia Kines at Sunlight Natural Health on Falls Road and doing the 30 Day Whole Foods Detoxification Program. I found her through our massage therapist Jenny Ayres, also at Sunlight Natural Health. Kasia and I first met in late March for two hours so she could review my needs. I filled out a ton of forms (homework) before our meeting. After reviewing my history she suggested that I may have adrenaline fatigue. I was getting ten hours of sleep but I was still exhausted. After long work weeks with events and travel I would need the whole weekend to sleep to feel like I could just get up on Monday mornings. She put me on a B12 regimen that has literally saved my life! My friends at work keep asking, "What are you ON?" I joyfully respond, "Dude, it's my B12!"

After finding this diagnosis accurate I decided to dip my whole body into the pool of nutrition and plunged into the 30 day detox. It has been a blessing beyond words. We started the program with a three hour class and lunch at Sunlight Health the day before Easter Sunday.

Kasia taught us about how to eat and what times of the day we should eat. Most importantly is that our brains need glucose to function. When a person goes into a coma they are hooked up to glucose so they don't become brain dead. We need glucose in the morning to sustain our brain activity throughout the day. Not just protein! It was like a huge light bulb going off for me. Our brain is most active from 2pm to 6pm.

We learned about grains and beans.

We received a great manual with recipes, our detox program sample and lots and lots to study. Kasia even prepared us a wonderful vegan meal for our lunch that day. I Tweeted!

We started with a raw green drink. I guessed many of the ingredients which is seriously my favorite game. She included kale, pears, spinach, ginger, lemon and apples. It was different but tasty. I'm adding mint to mine for my morning jump start.

She prepared a hot water, lemon and ginger mixture to sip with lunch.

The soup she served was so delicious I bought all of the ingredients and made it immediately. It was a curry, lentil soup with cauliflower topped with cilantro. We had black beans and rice and a sauerkraut and carrot salad as our entree. It was SO much food. I couldn't finish it. But again, our bodies need these type of carbs to help our brain activity in the afternoon. This concept was totally foreign to me. But thinking back to my Adkins diet days I remember always, always being exhausted and just wanting to go home to bed after work vs. working out.

Finally, she served these beautiful cardamom balls for dessert. They were completely vegan, gluten free and seriously so good. It was a big, great meal and a wonderful lesson.

Forgive me while I take some time to get back to a full and more balanced game plan. After a week and a half with no alcohol, no dairy, no wheat, no eggs, no sugar I seriously have more energy than I can ever remember. I'm not tired in the middle of the day. I haven't had COFFEE for over three weeks! My sweet husband keeps telling me how happy I look and that makes my heart sing. I'm SINGING all the time. At work, I'm dancing in the hallways. I'm ME AGAIN!!! I remember when my Uncle Johnny was dying he said to me, "Being sick is a full time job." I want my health to be a full time job. So in health I wish you all well!

Macy's Day Parade Memories

My aunt and uncle lived on 2nd and 11th in the East Village for years. We lost John to cancer the summer of 2004. Ever since 1992 when I was taking a semester at American University I would spend Thanksgiving with John and Susan and later Lucy when she was born. This photo brings up more emotions and memories than I could ever, ever begin to explain. It's the view from their patio over looking St. Mark's church. I had so many great times on that patio and in their home. They even hosted my 30th birthday party!

Many Thanksgiving mornings would find us on the second floor of 41st Street to watch the Macy's Day Parade from a friend's office.

It was seriously the best view. Look at the people on the street. This same year Lucy was little, little and we tried to get up the stairs from the subway but there were magazines stacked in the way. It was like trying to walk on a waterfall of magazines. We were seriously frightened. There were so many people and we felt a little bit trapped hiking up the stairwell of slippery papers.

But we made it. This is my cousin Lucy. She's now a teenager! Susan and Lucy will be visiting Stone Hill this Thanksgiving. We are so excited and getting the house ready for them and our grandmother.

Kermy...I love you!!!

I am maybe the biggest band geek ever. Growing up going to every Michigan home football game sealed it. I loved watching our band and even though they were our opponents the University of Ohio script Ohio is my all time favorite half time moment. We have a friend who played for the "best damn band in the land." So I love a good parade with the bands, the pom pom girls, spirit dancers and the whole schabang. I'm a fan.

This was taken two years before Steve Irwin died. While digging through old photos, I forgot I had this shot. Rest in peace crocodile hunter.

Hall of Famer Joe Namath waving right at us for the picture! 

I love this photo of our friend with the reindeer in the background. She is designer Dana Buchman. It's Dana's office that we would visit every year. We had many a Thanksgiving with her family. She is from Memphis and has known my family for years. She dated my uncle John and they stayed great friends. Her husband's family started Farberware and OXO Good Grips. Sam Farber makes THE best apple pie. He created the Good Grip for his wife Besty who has arthritis. They are a wonderful family and welcomed us like family many years at their table.

Me, Dana, Annie Rose, and their cousin. Charlotte is on the cover of Dana's book. We had many a late night, apres turkey kareoke sing along. Her girls are all grown up now too and I feel old as hell!

Click the image to purchase Dana's book.

Dana's studio was in the old Perry Ellis building.

Her office had her signature zebra print as a wall to wall carpet with the most beautiful shade of purple suede chairs.

Welcome hallway with my favorite photo of Dana.

I will cherish these memories from New York forever. I only wish I had known E. when my Uncle Johnny was still living. They would have adored each other. John was an architect and his last project was the Baryshnikov Dance Foundation on 37th. I can't wait to attend a production there one day.

Santa always ends the parade...and then we would trudge back to the Lower East side through the throngs of folks and get ready to head to dinner at Tom and Dana's. Pure blissful memories.

Many thanks to the multiple years that Dana and Tom hosted me along with John, Susan and Lucy. I always felt like a lucky kid taking the train from DC visiting the big apple during this time of year. It was seriously the best blessing being with John and Susan all those many years for long weekend visits. I love that E. and I have been to Brooklyn in Susan and Lucy's new home. We love you guys and CAN NOT wait to see you next week.