Category Archives: Peace. Calm. Serenity

Miami in the Summer!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your part of the world. As promised, I’m back with another post all the way from North Texas. As is the norm, we had 3-digit temperatures a couple of weeks back so being able to get away for a while was a relief. We were in Miami!!! One of the things I was excited about was the fact I would be out of the oven and in proximity to huge ‘natural’ bodies of water, and lots of negative ions; not the artificial water holes and fake lakes we have in my part of Texas. When it comes to vacations, it’s so easy to want to jet off somewhere FOREIGN but I feel like there is so much more to see and to experience in my own backyard that I had not really appreciated before now. These are some of the things I noticed on my trip to Miami, Florida so stay with me.

The Sun Shines Differently. Something about the sky and the sun is so different from North Texas. No matter how much sunscreen or hats you wear, you will be tanned…. disproportionately if I might add. 😂😂

It’s So Tropical. The palm trees, lush vegetation, greenery everywhere is so calming and gives me that sense of being closer to nature. If you build plant it, it will grow is my new motto for Miami.

A plethora of Beaches to choose from. There are many beaches there, but South Miami beach was the nicest…in my opinion. There was washed up sea moss and seashells on the shore. Getting waist deep into the waves, I could see small fishes probably eating the plankton off the moss. The water was so salty it stung a bit the first couple times I got in the water. However, it felt so rejuvenating.

The food is GREAT! No matter where we went, what kind of food we ate ex. Cuban, Asian, Vegan, American, Italian, the food was amazing and always served hot…and I mean with steam emanating out of it. This happened everywhere we ate so I guess it’s a ‘thing’ in Miami.

Floridians Appear to be More Fit than most. I saw less heavy-set people in Miami, and I got to thinking, we do love our cars, meat and potatoes in Texas. So…..it’s to be expected.

Downtown is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I love architecture so being Downtown in the middle of the action was a must. There are boat tours especially in the Miami Circle area Downtown. Nice restaurants overlooking the water and that fresh ocean breeze.

Some Things to Be Aware of in Miami.

Finding Parking is a Bear. A stranded hiker in the mountains has more luck finding cell service than it is to find parking especially in the downtown area. Hope on your luck or leave the day before…lol. Just kidding. But the city never sleeps so uber or taxi your way when you’re in the dense downtown area or bite the bullet and pay the price for parking. We literally had to download parking apps to pay for parking while we were there.

It’s Pretty Pricy. Being a tourist City, it does get expensive.

The lizards. We were near the coast and there were these Iguana lizards that would sometimes run when they see you or just stand really still and watch you. Some were the sizes of designer dogs…I kid you not – we were told they were harmless and would only bite when threatened. ‘Bite you say?’ was my response. ‘No hablas iguanas’ was my best Spanish phrase for I don’t do Iguana’s.

Huge Snakes. They have issues of invasive python species especially if you reside in the sub urban areas or everglades. These reptiles were brought over as exotic pets from Asia and Africa. These have somehow infiltrated the wild, are breeding like crazy and are now leaving the swamps and moving into the city in search of food.

Alligator’s that can turn doorknobs of people’s homes and scale fences…and I’m not kidding. I literally fell out of my chair when I saw a video clip but it’s true. People fence their pools and cover the top with a cage of sorts because you may want to take a nice evening swim and find a 12-foot gator or python enjoying the comforts of your backyard.

Lower Temperatures, Higher Humidity. Being one to whine about the weather ALL – THE – TIME, the humidity was obviously high-er. Wearing light clothing especially cotton serves as a wick to cool you down faster as opposed to other fabrics. While enjoying my newfound freedom, my hair did frizz, become poofy and stick to my skin. But it didn’t bother me much. I was just happy to be there.

Well, folks I was glad to be a pseudo tourist for a few days in Miami but happier to be back home. Like me, try to get out of your usual regimen and explore some of the jewels in your own backyard. Your likes, comments and follows are always welcome. Be safe, stay healthy and optimistic. Until I come your way again, I remain,

Periwinkle Starr 💕

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Gluten Free Baking…With Bananas!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your part of the world. We’re at the tail end of the weekend and it has been the most restful one in a long time. Oh, and by the way the temperature in North Texas dropped about 30-degrees yesterday all of a sudden so for a minute I was contemplating bringing out some of my layers back out…. but according to the weatherman, it’s going to heat back up over the next couple of days.

Pollen and rag weed were pretty intense this week and although I got to rest and enjoy my days off, I could feel it being out and about. I love weekends! They’re my best days to bake because I have the time to take stock of what I have and what I’m craving. Since going gluten free, I have been trying to find healthy alternatives with lower carbs to add to my go-to list of recipes and I have to say that I’m still working on it. So far, I’ve found a brownie mix that kinda works – with some additives, and a pancake mix that’s so good you couldn’t tell it was GF. If you’re like me, I shop bananas by the bunch and freeze them for smoothies, Yonanas or pancakes when I have the time. This recipe was a way to literally get rid of some of the bags I had laying around in the freezer.

Baking a Gluten Free Banana Loaf/Cake!

I got some inspiration for this recipe watching a short recipe on YouTube but switched up the ingredients and added a couple of my favorites to the mix. Ingredients include: 4 Frozen Banana’s, 2 Eggs, 2 Tbsp Butter, 2 Tbsp Vanilla Extract, 1 Tbsp Chia Seeds, 2 Tbsp Psyllium Husk, A good dash of Cinnamon, 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Shredded (dried) Coconut, 1/2 Cup Gluten Free Flour, about a 1/2 Cup Milk (I prefer powdered milk because its gentler on my digestion), Erythritol Monk Fruit Sweetener to taste, Baking Powder.

P.S.: I’ve recently started adding psyllium husk in small quantities to a lot of meals, cereal and baking. Its tasteless, odorless but a great source of fiber which is good for the gut, burns fat and aids digestion. I’d recommend you try it; you just might like it.

Now Let’s Go!

Place the frozen bananas in a bowl and let it thaw for a couple minutes. Using a fork, smash the bananas. Add the chia seeds, butter, shredded coconut and mix. Add both eggs and keep mixing. Add the vanilla extract, psyllium husk, Cinnamon, and milk. Keep mixing. Add Erythritol sweetener to taste. Add the Gluten Free Flour and using a whisk, keep stirring. Turn up your oven to 325F. Spray or oil your baking pan – I used my bread tin this time. Pour in the mix and then gently tap the pan on the counter a couple of times to settle the mix evenly before placing at the top rack of your oven. Bake for about 30-35 minutes with constant checks. Turn down the heat and let it sit in the oven for another 15 minutes until its done and it passes the knife or toothpick test. Reason: Ripe bananas tend to cook pretty fast without cooking evenly through. Lowering the heat will ensure the top does not burn while the rest of the loaf is still uncooked.

Ingredients that are probably already in your pantry.
GF Flour
Shredded Coconut and Psyllium Husk.
The smash begins.
To bake!

After removing the pan from the oven, I let it sit on the counter for a couple minutes to cool.

15 minutes later…Final Product 🙂
First Check.

Folks, this turned out pretty good and for those on a diet, this recipe works great, has minimal carbs, a great source of protein, Omega 3’s and fiber. Until I come your way again, stay fit, active and have healthy recipes for when you crave something sweet. I remain,

Periwinkle Starr

Getting Back on the Wagon!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing great in your corner of the world! Its Mother’s Day in the States so I am wishing a happy celebration to all the Mums out there …most especially mine. The good Lord knows that many of us would not be alive today without our mums and it’s something we ought to be grateful for. It’s been a busy time but I’m glad to be back and writing again. We are in the month of May and it’s time to check in on my weight management plan.

Drum Roll!!! Drum Roll!!! Drum Roll!!!!

Let me just say that the scale was not very friendly to me when I stepped on it. I fell off the wagon with my diet even though I remained gluten free…. like that helps any. It started off slowly, skipping workouts, snacking a little later each night, not tracking my meals, not moving, not swimming…NOTHING! All I could do was scream…..NOOOOO!!!

Not today…..!

It’s funny that I didn’t notice the symptoms of weight gain…. Well, I take that back. I thought I could cheat, and my body would do what it has always done and bounce back from all those calories and bad habits, but this was not the case. This makes me think of all those people who get on those extreme diets and loose the weight but somehow the old habits slowly creep in and before you realize, it’s a downward spiral all the way down to the bottom and they are in some cases heavier than when they started off. Well, I felt exactly the same way. I knowingly did it to myself. These were some of my habits:

  • Excessive snacking – buying salty and sweet ‘gluten free’ snacks when busy, working or traveling. Come to think of it, gluten free snacks actually have more calories than a lot of regular snacks. I think this happens because manufacturers have to add ingredients that hold the condiment together which ends up with more calories in what appears to be the same quantity of food.
  • Heading to the couch and grabbing the remote after getting home – instead of heading out to the gym – even if for just an hour of cardio, Zumba or a couple of laps in the pool.
  • Late night meals, snacks, sweet treats. Guilty as charged.
  • Not being active…. ENOUGH!
  • Not getting enough sleep.
  • Poor stress management.

Getting Back on the Wagon Again!

Not a real wagon..lol!

Just like everything in life, when you get into a funk, its ok to be down, feel down and to just soak in it for a bit. The end goal is to not stay there forever. Get back up and get back into the fight to be and stay (in my case) healthy and at a healthy weight. Life happens folks and every now and again it’s easy to get out of sync when we are balancing so many spinning plates. But checking in on myself every now and again was very helpful. I find that there will always be something going on somewhere and our control as human beings is very limited. So, I had to re-strategize. Here’s what I came up with.

  • Take stock of where I’m at. How I arrived here. What I did right or didn’t do enough of; and how I prioritized my time on a daily basis.
  • Admitted failure especially in areas that need improvement. Admitting wrong is the first step of growth. Denial keeps us stuck.
  • Came up with a healthy plan – a positive and sustainable way forward.
  • Sticking to it – No more excuses.

I know this looks easier than it actually is but less is more. I’m off to the gym to do a couple of laps in the pool and get my body back in shape again. Until I come your way again, no matter where you’re at in your life or how long you’ve fallen or neglected vital components of your life, you can always make a determination to get back on the wagon again. Rome wasn’t built in a day and anything that is rushed is very rarely sustainable. Be happy, stay safe and healthy. I’ll be back before you know it. Please like, follow and comment.

Periwinkle Starr

Spring Cleaning…To Do or Not?

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Hello Yall! Happy New Month. I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. We’re already ziplining through 2022; can you believe we are in the fourth month already? My heart and prayers go out to the Starr readers in Ukraine and Russia. I pray the madness ends and the citizens are allowed to thrive freely and in peace. I’m writing this post with my TV on in the background and wondering why on a hot Texas Sunday they are showing Krampus on TV but who knows these things.

It’s time to spring clean and I have to admit that I’m a little behind this year, but I have a plan on how to get started which I’m going to share with you so stay with me. The beauty of doing this every year or multiple times a year is to make sure that whatever items we have or own at home are things that we need, are put to use or will be put to use at some point. The goal is to have stuff but not let stuff have us…but often times, this is easier said than done. So, grab a drink, smoothie or a snack and get comfy. This post is for me and everyone else who believes they can at least do better.

Kitchen & Pantry

Culled from the internet.

If you’re like some of us, chipped dishes, broken mugs, cracked glasses and a mis match of utensils mixed with to-go plastic containers line our cabinets and counters. It’s time to get organized on a budget or better still, invest in decent cookware and utensils. Trust me, this is not about anything over the top expensive but knowing you are worth it and deserve to eat or cook with decent cookware for yourself and your family. Isn’t it ironic how we spend top dollar on expensive dinners at fancy restaurants, yet we don’t even have matching cutlery, good silver ware or presentable dishes at home?

When it comes to the pantry, some pantries can hide a whole human being in there due to the clutter, disorganization and lack of routine cleaning. I know, I know…..we may still have that promised apocalypse at some point, but you should at least be able to know what you do have and what you need to stock up on. And for the love of plastic bags, buying clear containers that you can store food items in instead of grocery store plastic bags helps a lot. You can get affordable storage containers if you have some time and the patience to look and find brands that work for you.

Living Area (s)

Culled from the internet.

We can opt for a real bookshelf, a second bookshelf or an area to stockpile our books instead of the coffee table that hasn’t seen itself bare in the last couple of years or your dining table. Eating in front of the TV because your ‘dining table’ has been converted to a holding place for abandoned items is definitely a no no. I like the term ‘A place for everything and everything for a designated space’…or something along those lines.

Taking off the covers from sofas and washing them or getting professional cleaners to clean your furniture is great…because we sit, lay down, sleep, eat all year round on it. There’s ALL kinds of shed skin, dust mites and only God knows what are on there. Cleaning and sunning rugs or just any hard to reach or barely cleaned areas is a great idea.

The Closet

Culled from the internet.

I opt for open shelving in a closet, no drawers. Out of sight is out of mind and if I can’t see it, then I’m probably not going to wear it. You don’t necessarily have to have a built-out closet to be organized especially when looking at it from a temporary versus permanent standpoint. But having clothes separated by seasons, work, casual, special occasions, sleep wear, undergarments etc. will get you started. Having a shoe rack, shelving or shoe storage is great. No one likes stabbing their toes on some spiky heels when they’re in a hurry. But overall, you’ll know what you have and what you need more of when you are more organized. Now, this post may make some people chuckle because they already do this but there are people whose homes I have been in and there’s clothes in laundry baskets and about a foot high all over; I couldn’t even see the floor. If you were raised better than most, be kind. People are a work in progress especially when they make an effort to do and be better.

Folks I’m out of time but I hope you had a good read and this helps someone out there. Until I come your way again, do like, comment and share. And always remember that we’re all in this together!

Periwinkle Starr

An Amazing New Year!…Pandemic or Not.

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Hello Y’all! Happy belated New Year to you from North Texas. I’m so glad to blog today and I hope you are doing well in your part of the world. It’s been cold here lately but thankfully it hasn’t snowed, and we haven’t lost power…at least not where we’re at. The year 2022 took off like a horse at the races so I’m not surprised that we’re at the end of January. The pandemic is still on with worldwide chaos on mandates, rules and the division that comes with trying to control a large group of people. Friends of ours in other parts of the country are experiencing shortages and scarcity on certain items and services but still, we have to keep on living life the best way we can.

I was hoping that by this time, we would be skipping along with the pandemic somewhat behind us but NO NO NO….we now have Omicron. which is more contagious than Delta and even has a shorter incubation period. Some clown posted a statement saying ‘I’m going to sleep. Wake me up when Omegatron hits’. I literally fell out of my chair because it hit me that we may never get back to life as we knew it….and this may be a weird kind of normal from now on. Heaven forbid! But we still have to weather this 2+ year storm somehow. Here are some of my strategies that I’d like to share with you so stay with me.

See the source image
Culled from the internet.

Talk about it. Getting with friends and family and just talking about everything that’s going on has been a tremendous stress reliver because you know that you’re not alone.

Stay healthy. whether it’s eating better, exercising, keeping fit, staying connected with friends and family.

Wear a mask when needed. Folks, this pandemic is real. Many have lost their lives because of it. There’s no shame in this game. You owe it to yourself to protect your body and health. This may be contrary to some people’s belief system but it’s better to prepare for a catastrophic event that never happens than to be caught unawares.

Take your vitamin supplements. This boosts your immune system and fortifies you against any nasties.

Keep on living! We humans are resilient. We have always been, and we will always be. We are still here….so let’s enjoy the gift of another day that we have been given.

Friends, I plan on getting better at posting on a regular. As soon as the dust settles, I’ll be back. Please like, follow or comment if you found this post helpful. Until I come your way again, I remain

Periwinkle Starr

Its Christmas!!!… Don’t Fall Off The Wagon.

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Merry Christmas Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your part of the world. Texas is having the warmest winter on record this year and it hasn’t frozen over as we expected. Not sure if I like it or not but that’s okay. I have wanted to write this post for a while now but just wasn’t settled enough to do it. I have been resting and recovering from the year we just had. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and has aways been for me, but this year is a little different but I’m so thankful. My neighborhood has an annual Christmas decor competition, and the winner is usually the most decked out house. As much as I love admiring decor, if it needs a ladder, drills or nails, I’d rather not be the one doing any of that. After donating my old tree to a family that I felt would better appreciate it, I went a non-traditional route and got a spiral Christmas tree, and I absolutely love it.

It’s the holidays! I know but nevertheless, I’m still doing my best to keep my routine going and not just letting it ALL go…because it may be too hard to kickstart it in the new year. LOL! Here are some of the things I’ve been doing to maintain and improve on during the holiday period.

Culled from the internet.

Staying Hydrated. Being home and not on the go coupled with having so many drink options, it’s easy to forget to hydrate my body because I don’t feel or get thirsty. But making a mental note to drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water every day has been my goal.

Rejuvenate your skin. Waking up and dashing to work or getting home and barely making it through my exercise class doesn’t give any room to really cleanse and pamper my skin as I should. But now that we’re home, dry brushing, Epsom salt soaks, sugar scrubs and pampering my skin is necessary for it to retain its youth and elasticity.

Apply detox foot pads while you sleep. A lot of people have said that detox foot pads are a hoax or that they’re fake. Well, I have used detox foot pads for almost a decade, and they WORK! My sleep is better, I feel refreshed, and my energy levels are up. I feel like people should try good brand names for great results…Try it and thank me later.

Get unlimited at-home facials. It doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or a gal. Now is the time to slow down and really take care of your face. Everyone has a routine or regimen that they follow and now is the time to slow down and follow it instead of just barely wiping your makeup off before jumping into bed. Cleanse, exfoliate, scrub, hydrate, moisturize and spot treat. Remember, your face tells a lot about you before you open your mouth.

Rest. This is when you have earned the right to be a couch potato…and a happy one at best. Rest, relax and give your brain some timeout to just do nothing. Watching garbage TV aka Real housewives are my go-to because I need only two braincells to be entertained when I watch reality TV.

Cut back on excessive stimulants. Your liver will thank you for it. I sat with a doctor friend of mine who intimated me on the rise of health issues because of stimulants; be it drinks or medication. Moderation is the key but if you have to binge during the festivities, have your cleanse or detox lined up afterwards. In Hollywood, people have parties and then have detox sessions afterwards where they get IVs with vitamin supplements to cleanse or repair whatever damage they may have caused internally. I know this sounds extreme but that should tell you something about stimulants and toxins and what they do to our internal organs.

Folks, it’s so good to write again. I hope you get to rest, reflect and enjoy your families this season. From my family to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and an amazing new year ahead. Until I come your way again, I remain

Periwinkle Starr

Gobble Gobble….Here Comes Trouble!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are fine and doing well in your part of the world? Well, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Fall at last. The leaves are falling. It getting windy-er and Thanksgiving is here. A lot of my friends have bought their birds and are working through their shopping lists at the moment. A few of us have been liberated from that nightmare and have decided on ordering an already made thanksgiving dinner….All you have to do is show up and eat. There is a level of stress in food prepping that is so tiring that when you do sit down at the table, you can’t even eat the food anymore. Trust me, I’ve been there. I would RATHER catch up on conversating and just enjoying the atmosphere than slaving away at the stove. I’ve done that so many times over the years that I feel like I don’t have to prove any thing to anyone at this point.

Don’t get me wrong, a home cooked meal is the next best thing but not having to spend the last 48 hours on your feet getting everything prepped and ready is even better. I will be enjoying a home cooked thanksgiving feast, I just wont be the one preparing it this year. Just the thought of that makes me dance without any music.

But on a serious note, things are a more expensive this year especially with the rise in inflation and per record, the most expensive Thanksgiving so far in the country. With that being said, I have been through far too much over the past year to not have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. All diets are off….I don’t think I would be 100 percent gluten free…LOL. I have been craving cheesecake for a while now and the opportunity to indulge has presented itself. I will have my slice of cheesecake and pay for it later.

So Much To Be Thankful For This Year!

I’m thankful for life. So many were lost over the past year, its so surreal. I’m thankful for my health, family, my friends, my work and the country I live in and for all the readers who follow this blog. I’m thankful for all of you. Folks, if this time makes you feel down, discouraged or sad; instead of looking at your glass as half full, why not focus on the things that are going well, things that are positive and anticipate an even better future for yourself. If you are religious, think of the story of the sparrow, if God takes care of a tiny insignificant creature, how much more you and I. From me to you, Happy Thanksgiving!! Until I come your merry way again, probably from the gym working off these self induced calories…haha, I remain,

Periwinkle Starr

Kicking Gluten To The Curb!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your part of the world. Its getting cooler but not just yet. I’m waiting for a massive temperature drop to switch out my Summer gear for Fall/Winter wear. So until then, it’s temperamental North Texas weather for the next couple of days. But I just cannot wait to layer on. LOL…I know all my Midwesterners are rolling their eyes at this but hey! You are not a tree. You can move. And you don’t have to let the gusty Ohio River winds invade your soul every year. The choice is yours!! Anyways, todays post is about my journey to being gluten free. And by sharing this journey, I hope this can help someone else.

Food is life. It doesn’t matter the culture, region or people. Food is the number one common denominator. When it comes to food sensitivity, its very easy for people to expect bad reactions, extreme skin anomalies, swelling, or itching throat. But, there is a more subtle reaction that I believe is more deadly because the symptoms are milder and many of us fall under this category but are not aware.

A huge amount of the general populace (myself included) eat to curb hunger and attain satiety. In order words, we eat to keep our bellies filled or full. This is very different from eating to ‘fuel’ the body. When you eat food without knowing your bodies needs, your body accepts the food because it has no choice (duh) but it looks for places to store it because it doesn’t know what to do with it. That is why we see an increase in belly fat, fat around the thighs, arms because we have adopted a diet that in many many cases is not suitable for our body type. And the long suffering human body has to do the best it can with the trash it receives on a daily and still keep us alive, keep our hearts pumping and fight off the bacteria and illnesses in our environment at the same time.

I Started Paying Attention to My Body.

The signs were there, but they were very mild so its very important to pay attention to our bodies Some people have instant reactions like rolling on the floor or hives that instantly appear. This is not the case for everyone. A lot more people have milder symptoms that are often and very easily overlooked. Nobody just drops dead without any warning…our bodies are too intelligent for that. The problem is we ignore the signs because they’re subtle and fleeting. Here are some signs you may be sensitive to gluten.

*Being bloated on a daily or after eating certain foods. Ex. Rice and certain grains, baked goods, desserts, milk, certain cheeses, sweets, sodas, sweet fruits, alcohol, heavy carbs etc.

*Gut imbalance. Constant yeast infections. When people hear the words ‘yeast infection’, it’s very easy to think it always has to do with the private areas. Well… we have yeast in our gut and on our skin as human beings. The problem comes when the yeast bacteria outgrows the good bacteria and compromises the immune system. Then there’s a problem.

*Constipation and irregularities. If you have to take laxatives on a regular, or all those fiber powders and supplements, this is not normal and is not healthy. The commercials on TV want you to buy more products without really addressing the root cause or underlying issue.

*Acne. Skin issues. Hormonal imbalances. These three things go hand in hand and a lot of times when the diet is fixed, there will be significant and visible improvement in these three areas.

Healing the Body – How to get started.

*Find a naturopath who is well versed in diet and nutrition as well as gastrointestinal health.

*Removing unnecessary metals from the body. Ex. Mercury amalgam dental fillings etc. This is a whole other post on its own. But I encourage you to look up the side effects of having metals in the body. Don’t just take my word for it.

*Some people may need extensive bloodwork to determine their body type and how better to fuel it. We no longer need to expect to be sick just like our family members were due to our genes. We can start now to make changes to mitigate or completely rewrite our own health path.

*We can start by cleaning out our diet. We owe that much to our bodies. Remember, we only have one.

*Colon hydrotherapy. It’s funny how we get massages, spa treatments, and all kinds of pampering to our outer bodies while very few people take the time to do an internal cleanse of their internal organs and system. I believe in balance. Take care of your insides and your outer body will need less work. Scientist say that the gut is the brain and after doing my own research, I believe it. If the gut is healthy and clean, your mind, will and emotions with be better for it.

*Clean out your refrigerator, pantry and all your secret stashes….yes, I said stashes. With advise from a naturopath or nutritionist, draw up a diet plan that works for your body type and do the best you can to stick to it.

*Read the labels when grocery shopping. Up until now, I had no clue that there was such a thing as gluten free aisles or sections. The market is rapidly growing because a lot more people are experiencing food sensitivities and looking for alternatives to relieve the symptoms.

*Cheat responsibly. A gluten free diet is very hard to stick to 100% because almost every food around us has some form of gluten in it. When you do cheat, portions matter.

Folks, If this post helps one person, it makes all the difference in my world. I have been through it myself and if anything I say on here helps someone else, my work is done. Feel free to share your experiences, like, follow and comment. Until I come your way again…and my hope is that when I do, it will be cooler in North Texas, I remain

Periwinkle Starr

Healing Your Body…Post Pandemic!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are fine and doing great in your part of the globe. Its been a minute since my last posts and it’s been fun but also very intense. The weather is soooo nice in North Texas. I almost don’t want to say it before we wake up one morning and it’s literally back to hell again. LOL. From what I heard, we should be gearing up for another very cold winter and I just cannot wait to layer on. There’s literally a countdown to swapping out my summer wardrobe for Fall but I’m not quite there yet.

We made it to the ember months and it’s something to be thankful for. With the pandemic, the craziness of life and all the other things in between, if you’re reading this post, you’re here and that matters. Looking back at the past months, I would say that 2021 has been a year of getting healthy-er and doing right health wise. I began by making minimal changes. These changes were difficult and still are but the longer I stick to it, I must say that it gets better. Just because it looks like the world is ripping to shreds doesn’t mean we take our focus off living life and doing the things we must to remain in tip top condition all around.

It’s almost baking season! I’m not sure if there’s any such thing as healthy baked goods but I’m going to try. And if you happen to have discovered a way to enjoy baked good that don’t make your body pack on the pounds, please send them my way.

Still staying safe despite the pandemic. Folks, it’s not over and staying in good health, taking your vitamins and being physically active is the way to go.

Get out more…in open spaces. Go hiking, work out in the park, go golfing. Being out in nature exposes you to negative ions that are good for your body and overall well being. Have you met anyone that went to the beach or a waterfall or lived out in the country that didn’t feel at ease or calm-er than us city people? Trust me, it wasn’t the farm animals LOL. Don’t just take my word on it, look it up for yourself.

Get back into your hobbies. Doing things that you really love. Getting back into reading, baking, kayaking, taking dance classes, learning to cook, visiting coffee shops with outdoor seating if you’re not comfortable being indoors. A friend of mine told me about couple who haven’t been seen in over a year. I kid you not. They both work from home, have everything delivered and use facetime for E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. No judgement here. I can understand the fear but if the world was ending, it would have ended a long time ago. We truly live when we do the things that we love, so take baby steps if you must but you’ve got to keep on living life…or a semblance of it as you once knew.

Take a deep breath. A lot of times people think that once you’re healthy you’re good but being healthy is a broad term that encompasses every aspect of life. Rome wasn’t built in a day and no one wakes up in tip top health just because they made a decision the day before to take action. Folks, it takes baby steps, little tweaks, cheat days until you no longer feel the need to do so (hehe…myself included). So until I come your way again be safe, have fun because the festivities are just around the corner!! And…it will only be a little while before its another Christmas. Smile…because you’re still here!!!

Please like, comment and follow for more. I remain

Periwinkle Starr

Poetic Weekends!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing great where ever you are in the world. We are in Fall but it sure feels like a long hot Summer. But no worries, in a couple of weeks, we will be layering on again and then comes Winter. Its been one heck of a busy time but I’ve also had time to reflect on a few things. I haven’t had time to write in a while but I woke up feeling poetic today so here goes. Feel free to share your thoughts, comment, like and follow. Enjoy!

Its Beautiful Because I Said So!

Life is beautiful. Its one big maze. From the first time we open our eyes, until the last time the light fades out into nothing. Just like a caterpillar has to wiggle around in it’s cocoon until it breaks free and feels its very first rays of sunshine, so is the struggle of life.

The struggle to be. To drown out all the voices and dare to dream for yourself. The strength to be resilient in difficult times and to be level headed in good times. The courage to be you. The boldness to stand up for what you believe in and to not be afraid to be who you are. The grace to brace yourself against the currents and storms of life. Because they will come.

Knowing who you are and why you’re here is the key to life’s purpose. No one can define that but you. In the stillness and quieting down of your soul, clarity comes. The superficial become unimpressive and the intentions of the world around you become clearer.

Life has its peaches but also it’s darts. Learning to lighten the burden is the key to traveling light and finishing well. There’s so much to learn, so much growing to do…We will take it one step at a time.

Until I come your merry way again, be safe, upbeat and hydrated.

Periwinkle Starr