Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Archive for August, 2013

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S For Spa, Serene, Spot

Posted by terrepruitt on August 13, 2013

I have mentioned a few times that my cat is sick. I mentioned it in my last essential oil post. As often is the case when someone is sick be it an adult, a child, a baby, or an animal, the conversation comes around to let’s say “litter box trips”. Well, part of my cat’s sickness has to do with “litter box trips” as I shared in my Good Clean Scents post. Her illness is a disease and she will have it for the rest of her life. We are treating her and trying to get her symptoms under control. She is such a good kitty, it very unfortunate that she is having anything but the best of times. Also as is often the case when there is illness and sickness involved there is stress and sadness. So some of the oils I am using about the house help with the stress. Some are even said to help with sadness and/or depression. One thing I often find helps in stressful and/or sad situations is humor. While it might not always seem appropriate it does often help to ease the situation.

This past weekend my husband had been helping out a lot especially with litter box duty. At one point he said, “Have you even noticed the ‘S’?” And I said, “What ‘S’?” He proceeded to tell me that after he scooped out and cleaned the litter box he would make and “S” in the sand (he calls litter sand). He said that he wanted to give the cat that “Bed and Breakfast/Spa like experience”. He asked me if I noticed it. I said I had not, and in fact I thought he was joking. When I get up and check the box, it looks unused I shake it to see if anything she might have covered up surface. So I had not been noticing the personal touch that my husband had been creating for our cat, Spot. I noticed the “S” all weekend long.Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex City of San Jose, San Jose Group Ex classes, YMCA

He too believes she is a good kitty and deserves the best so he wanted to help make her litter box trips more spa like. Serene and personal. I am still laughing. I am also a little frightened thinking that maybe he is serious. But that really is just like him to try to add some humor to a tough situation. He even asked me to make the “S”. I did it once because he was paying attention, but really that is not my thing.

Ha, I just noticed while trying to get a picture of the “S” that he does it in BOTH litter boxes. Normally the cat only has one litter box, but with the current situation we want to have a lot of available “real estate” so she actually has three. And he makes the “S” in both of the ones in the downstairs bathroom. Funny man. Although I am certain his little girl appreciates it!

I was unable to get a shot of the “S” where you can see it, so this photo of our cat’s litter box is courtesy of John. Thanks, Hon!

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Green Beans, Onions, and Walnuts

Posted by terrepruitt on August 10, 2013

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYoI have shared before about how wonderful it is to cook for my husband because he pretty much likes whatever I cook.  He is not a picky eater.  When I first met him he did not care for walnuts at all.  I also think he is not a big fan of green beans.  But being the trooper he is he tolerated one of my favorite dishes.  And now, even though he does not care for walnuts or green beans he likes this dish.  I feel it kind of says a lot about how yummy it is.  We received green beans in our produce box yesterday.  I had just bought walnuts so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to make this recipe.  We actually have not had this dish in a long time.  It seems I usually have beans and not walnuts or walnuts and not beans.  Since I had them both, somewhat in an unplanned fashion I thought, “YAY”.  I like walnuts.  I like green beans.  Especially fresh not canned or frozen.  But this recipe will work with whatever type of green beans YOU and your family likes.

In our box we received a half a pound of green beans.  So this recipe is based on that amount of green beans.  I would normally like to cook more, but I only received a 1/2 pound.  As with all recipes adjust as you see fit.  This is a guide to help you on your way.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYoGreen Beans, Onions, and Walnuts

1/2 pound of green beans (cut into bite size pieces)
1/2 cup of minced onion
1 cup of chopped walnuts
1 – 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 – 2 tablespoons butter
garlic salt to taste

Heat up the onions in the oil in a pan.  Cook them until they are just starting to turn translucent.  Then put in 1 tablespoon of butter.  Let the butter melt.  Add the walnuts.  Cook the walnuts to just when they are starting to get light brown from cooking (I know they start out brown so when you see them staring to be toasted).  Then add the green beans.  Add more butter.  Then add the garlic salt.  Cook your green beans to your liking.  I like mine still crunchy.  Serve.

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Oh this is such an easy yet yummy side dish.  The butter and walnuts add a richness.  Of course, you adjust all ingredients to your liking.  I would suggest cooking the walnuts less before you add the green beans if you like to really, really cook your green beans.  The idea is to toast the walnuts not burn them.  And it could be that if you cook the green beans for a long time the walnuts will get over cooked.

Also you can see that I like my ratios to be about even.  You might want a higher bean to walnut ratio.  So please . . . play with it and find what works best for you.  This could be your starting point.

I know that I have used frozen green beans before and it is just as yummy.  I am sure that whatever green bean you like to eat will work.

What type of green bean do you like?  

Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Goodie Jar – Check In #27

Posted by terrepruitt on August 9, 2013

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo

Hey we are INTO August!  WOW!  And we are at our Friday Check-In.  So?  How is it going?  I have a lot of Good Things to add to my Goodie Jar.

I have one thing I should put in my jar because every time I use it I am so very grateful.  I love showers.  They are one of the best privileges on earth . . . I think.  I need to put that in my goodie jar.  I think they are damn good things.  Aside from that I had some good things go in that jar this week.

One of the good things I had happen this week was something amazing by my Nia Students at the community center where I teach on Tuesdays.  I shared this on Facebook, but I will share it here too.  After class one of my students mentioned to me that the class that was being held on Thursday mornings was being cancelled so she asked if I would want to teach Nia in that time slot.  I said yes.  So she asked how to get it as a class.  I told her she needed to talk to the person in charge of the classes at that San Jose City community center.  I told her to write a note for her or send her an e-mail.  She wrote a note and had the students sign it.  I thought that was so cute.  She said she thought it would prove that the students really wanted an additional Nia class to be on Thursdays if they all signed it.

Before I got home the person in charge of the classes at the community center called me to let me know we can give it a go!  So awesome.  This is definitely a good thing for my jar!

How about you?  Do you have good things to add?  Well, here is your reminder . . . ADD THEM!

Cheers!  Have a GREAT weekend!

Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Good Clean Scents

Posted by terrepruitt on August 8, 2013

I think I mentioned in a post somewhere that my cat is sick.  For you animal lovers, please know that we have been to the vet and we are working on a treatment and so the cat is getting medical attention and we have a plan.  But with this condition comes some unpleasant symptoms.  As many of you have experienced a situation where someone is sick you might be aware of the unpleasant odors that accompany certain situations.  I love candles and I have many with wonderful scents and fragrances.  I love to burn them to add to the comfort of our home.  Many companies have recently produced a lot of fruity and fun type of scents.  All of those scents are lovely when you are just wanting to light a candle for the ambiance.  But when you want to scrub the air and really have the odor be gone a pretty little tea light is not going to do the trick.  While I imagine a diffuser would be the best way to use the essential oils, I have been put mine in candles.  I actually feel that the essential oils help disinfect the air and not just mask the odor.  I could just be deceiving myself, I don’t know, but I DO know that the essential oils help elevate the smell whereas the fru-fru candles do not.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYoWhat I do is put a mixture of drops in a tealight.  And place them around the house.

Since my cat’s disease involves her digestive system I usually add a few drops of Peppermint to a non-scented tea light.  Peppermint essential oil contains menthol, which is a proven aid to digestion.  While the “proven aid” could mean through oral consumption . . . I hope that breathing it in assist with the digestion.  Because there is no way I can feed it to my cat!  It also helps with nervous stress.

I often use lavender essential oil for calming nerves.  Plus it is a nice scent to have around the house.  I feel it helps deodorize the air.

Another essential oil I use to help scrub the air is Tea Tree.  I think of its strong scent as fighting off bacteria, fungus, and viruses.  I recently used this in the sugar scrub I made for these very same properties.

I use Eucalyptus because of its strong menthol type of aroma.  It really helps combat odor.

I also use Ylang, Ylang because it helps with nervous conditions and is used in perfumes and cosmetics (for its aroma).

Sometimes I will have a candle with Lemon-grass essential oil in it because of its anti-depressant affects and its antiseptic properties.  The Orange essential oil also is an anti-depressant, and has a list of other benefits including aiding in digestion.

Again, many of the benefits might be from taking them orally or using them topically, but I think that having the oil released into the air helps too.  And since I am not going to put them ON my cat or have her ingest them the air release is as close as we are going to get.

I do not put Frankincense into a candle because the one time I did it burned oddly.  It seems highly flammable.  So while I think Frankincense Essential Oil is great to use, I don’t put it in the candles.  I have been pouring it on a paper towel and leaving it in the room.  Many sites recommend this as the one oil to get.  If you are only going to get ONE oil, they say, get Frankincense.  So I added it to my collection.  It has a strong woody aroma.  One of the benefits of it is thought to be help with the digestion so that, in addition to the strong aroma is why I add it to the scents in our home.

I really would like to get a diffuser, but I am not sure what to get.  I feel as if the “good ones” are really expensive.  So I am beginning to look at some less expensive ones and read the reviews.  Reviews are always to be taken with a grain of salt, huh?  One person “loves it, it is perfect” and another thinks it is “the worst thing in the world, not worth the money”.  For now, I mix my own oils, just putting a few drops into a tealight.  Then after it burns the oil is still in the holder and it lets off the scent.  I really feel that essential oils do a better job of removing unpleasant odors then flowery candles or spray deodorizes.  I LOVE my beautifully scented candles, but to me, they are to add to a nice clean aroma not for cleaning the air.  Since I posted when I bought my oils I thought I would share with you how I am using them . . . besides in sugar scrubs!

What do you use to alter the aroma in your home?  Do you know of a good diffuser?

Posted in Essential Oils, Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Webbed Spaces

Posted by terrepruitt on August 6, 2013

In Nia we use specific hand techniques.  There are seven moves considered “Hand” moves in the Nia 52 Moves.  There are eight moves that are “Finger” moves.  So fifteen moves in all out of 52 that are specifically hand/finger moves.  You can read about “Spear Finger” and “Balance Finger” in previous posts.  The hands are such a large part of our lives.  In addition to the many things they do they help us communicate.  Whether we are using them to make gestures as we speak, using them in place of speaking (in the case of sign language or something as elementary as “the finger”), or using them to comfort by touching.  They are very powerful.  Nia does not neglect that hands.  All fifteen of the 52 Nia moves that have to do with the hands/fingers assist in moving energy.  It could be moving the energy within our bodies or outside of our bodies.  Some of the hand/finger moves can be done both with positive tension or in a relaxed state.  When done with tension the muscles in the hands and arms maybe felt more readily.  While done with a relaxing flow they might allow us to sense the outside energy.  One of the hand moves is called Webbed Spaces.

Webbed Spaces is where your open you hand spreading your fingers wide.  I imagine it is called Webbed Spaces because it shows the “webs” between each finger.  I have also thought it is called Webbed Spaces because I imagine my fingers being spider webs.  I actually don’t know why it is called Webbed Spaces, but those are the things I think about when doing and talking about Webbed Spaces.

After you have already opened your hand and spread your fingers wide.  The Nia Technique book says to practice extending each finger and creating even more space in them.  Usually in a Nia Class we are moving our arms with our hands in Webbed Spaces.  Sometimes we keep our fingers extended while moving our arms or we relax them and move into Webbed Spaces.  Either way it is a great way to keep flexibility in the hands.

Do this: put one hand in the Webbed Spaces position, flex and extend your fingers.  Put your arm out in a gesture of, “STOP!” Allow the flexing sensation to travel all the way up your arm.  Take your other hand and feel the muscles.  Then keeping the tension, point your fingers to the ground . . . feel the muscles in your forearm move.  Then do the same stop motion and fingers-pointing-to-the-earth move while your hand is not in Webbed Spaces position.  Feel the difference.  In both cases with Webbed Spaces the muscles are working differently than doing the same wrist movement without Webbed Spaces.

Webbed Spaces is just another way that Nia engages the entire body.  This move is also comparable to Jazz Hands so I think of it as showy and dramatic.  It can be a great emotional move allowing you to express what you FEEL.  It is another way to add fun and pizzazz into our cardio workout.

What do you feel when you do the little exercise stated above?  What do you sense when you do this move?

Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

A Deep Calm With Which To Face New Experiences

Posted by terrepruitt on August 3, 2013

I was to meet some friends for lunch on one of my friend’s birthday.  I was the first one to arrive.  There is a little store, Moonfyre Metaphysical, between the two restaurants we were deciding between.  While I was waiting I popped in to see what stones they have.  It is one of those stores that has stones, crystals, candles, incense, books, CD’s and stuff.  They have a wide range of books.  They also do readings and Reiki.  I was primarily looking at the stones. One caught my attention — Mookaite (aka Australian Jasper).

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYoMy friend walked over to where I was and immediately reached for one and was about to say something when she saw that I had already noticed how pretty they were and was reading about it.  It is a combination of jaspers; red and yellow.  Some of the stones were primary red, some primarily yellow, and some a nice mix.  I chose two.  One with a multitude of striations.  They are so pretty.  Normally I am attracted to blue.  So I always gravitate toward blue stones and crystals, but this time I was fascinated by a RED (and yellow) stone.  Which is really funny because I normally don’t care for either.  But these were really beautiful.

In the container in which the stone were held there was a little piece of paper describing the stones.  I asked the clerk if I could have one of the papers if I bought the stone and he said that I could have it no matter what.  They are printed for people to take.  So I was happy.

The paper says:

MOOKAITE

Mookaite is a unique combination of red and yellow jaspers from Australia.  It imparts both a desire for new experiences and a deep calm with which to face them.  Flexible mookaite encourages versatility.  It points out all possibilities and assists in choosing the right one.  Mookaite is a physically stabilizing stone that fortifies the immune system, heals wounds, and purifies blood.

Ha.  When I read that I figured I needed this stone and that is why I was attracted to it.  At this time I am not sure about the “desire” for new experiences, but I am certain I am having new experiences.  I am having to face situations with an extremely ill pet and so I focused on the “deep calm with which to face them”.  It has been my experience that with medical situations you have to be versatile because diagnoses change along with treatments as things progress.  I need to see all possibilities and need assistance in choosing the right one.  While my beliefs actually are in God, I do believe that He has created tools for us that can help us along the way.  So it is not outside of my scope to think that a stone might actually encourage some of these things.  Even if it is just in the form of reminding me to pray and trust.

As I was typing this up I thought if it really is a stabilizing stone that fortified the immune system, heals wounds, and purifies blood, I should make a collar that will hold it and have my cat wear it.  Oh, yeah, she would love that.

Information on a website regarding Mookaite made me laugh because it is so fitting.  It said this stone helps when working with animals.  Also it helps make you more aware of natural cycles and see life patterns.  Trippy, huh?  I walk into a store and pick up a stone that is thought to help with facing decisions and allows you to be aware of the circle of life.

I always wonder where the information comes from about what properties the stones and crystals have.  Maybe that is another blog post.

Anyway . . . I was pretty convinced I was suppose to find it when I read the little paper, but the information on the website has me really amazed and even more certain.

Where do you stand in the belief about stones providing assistance?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments »

Goodie Jar – Check In #26

Posted by terrepruitt on August 2, 2013

Wow!  This week when really fast for me.  Could be because I was spending a lot of time caring for a sick cat.  There is a lot of time involved in litter box duty!  But . . . . even though that is going on there are still good things I can write down and put in my goodie jar.  That is what is so great about having a good things jar.  Even if only for the moment you are writing it down you are thinking of the good thing you still have thought of it.

I think about the good things a lot more than when I am writing it down, but the goodie jar sometimes helps me think of additional good things.

As I do every week, I hope you have good things to put in your Goodie Jar!

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Sugar Is Awesome

Posted by terrepruitt on August 1, 2013

So last Christmas my sister-in-law gave my hubby and I wonderful book.  But she gave ME some sugar scrub.  It was lemon-mint.  I thought that was a great idea.  I had always wanted to do that with essential oils.  Well, as you might be able to imagine there are a ton of sugar scrub recipes out there and on the internet.  So if you are here looking at mine —- THANKS!  Some of the scrubs I have had have been a little too oily for me, so I was going for a less oily one.  To me the scurb-y part of the sugar is what you want.  The essential oil for a little therapy.  The oil can be a moisturizer but it doesn’t have to be a lot.  So I futzed with a few of the recipes I found on-line.  I actually made my first batch months ago and this is when I am getting around to posting about the scrubs.  So I don’t remember where I got the recipes that I futzed with and I don’t remember what I did the first time.  But here is my latest recipe for a nice sugar scrub.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaSugar Scrub

2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil (I use olive oil)
30 drops pure peppermint oil
15 drops Ylang Ylang
20 drops tea tree
juice of half of a lemon
zest from a lemon

Put the sugar in a bowl then pour some of the oil in.  Don’t use it all at first.  Stir and stir until it is well combined.  Then half of the peppermint.  Mix well.  Then add the remaining drops of peppermint.  Mix well.  Add more olive oil.  Mix well.  Add the Ylang Ylang.  Mix.  Add the tea tree, then mix.  Add only as much of the olive oil as you want.  You may even want more oil.  But add then mix.  It tends to LOOK like it is not enough but then as you stir is mixes in and the sugar gets saturated.  So pour and mix.  When you are done adding all the oil you want, then add the lemon juice.  Then add the lemon zest.  Mix, mix, mix.

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Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaI have canning jars which really make a nice presentation, but they start to rust in the shower/bath.  Plus you have the band AND lid to deal with.  It is kind of a pain in the shower.  So I was looking for a pretty flip top jar, but then I realized that the little hinge would probably rust.  So finally I settled on something that is not as pretty, but I think it is much more functional.  Just a regular plastic container.  One lid to deal with, easy on, easy off.  No screwing and unscrewing involved.  No metal to rust.

Again, maybe not as pretty, but I think it will be better in the end, because rust isn’t pretty either.

I chose a peppermint essential oil because it has an invigorating effect, so I thought that would be good for morning showers.  Ylang ylang is for stress relief, which many people would appreciate.  Tea Tree Oil helps stimulate the immune system. It is known to fight bacteria, fungi, and viruses.  To me that is perfect in a scrub.  Since I teach Nia which is a barefoot cardio dance, I think of scrubs as being primarily for my feet.  So a scrub that invigorate, relieves stress, AND fights bacteria and fungi —- is GREAT.

I hope you like it.  Of course you can use an essential oil you like.  What oil will you use?

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