Monday, January 30, 2012

::seasons::

Since this is MY blog I am going to write about whatever I want...so...I have a problem with Winter...I don't have a problem with the snow or anything...other than the cold {brrr} and I absolutely adore it when it snows, it fills my heart with warmth {reminds me of when I was little, Ma baking, Pa shovelling, music, going outside to play in the snow, the furnace kicking in, just about anything to do with being cozy, safe and happy} but over the last few years, as I have gotten older...I have realized that I need some sunshine in my life. 
Growing up, I loved the dark. I loved overcast days, I loved rainy days, it could perpetually rain for the rest of my life and I didn't care. I loved it. And to be honest, my Mamma liked it too. My Dad on the other hand? Not so much...he liked the sunshine. I am pretty sure my hyper younger Sister at the time liked the sunshine as well. When building our last house my Dad made sure there were a TUN of windows everywhere because he wanted the sun to shine in every corner of the house...he would SLEEP in the sun too, like a cat {how do people do this?!}. Don't get me wrong, I liked the sun...but if they called for rain or storms and the sun popped out {ESPECIALLY after a rainstorm} it pissed me off...
Why? I guess I read a lot...I mean, I associated the rain with things like Ireland and mythology, castles and faeries...and at the time those were things that intrigued me. So you can imagine how stupidly happy I was when it was pouring rain out there, window open, the smell of it, Sting on the CD player, or Enigma or Delerium...reading a book by OR Melling or Marillier or even watching Merlin or Willow...it just coincided. It melted into one another into something that I could only describe as "magical". 
Like I said...at the time...that was perfection. 
As much as I still love my rain, storms and snow...there is a line there now...I can handle a day or two...I cannot handle plain old boring overcast days...but I need some sunshine from time to time. Why? I have something called S.A.D.
Seasonal Affective Disorder.
What brought it on? I don't know to be honest...there are many factors that play into someone developing S.A.D. such as body temperature, amount of light, genes and hormones.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is episodes of depression that occur at a certain time of the year, usually during Winter. Don't get this confused with Bipolar Disorder...some people could even get S.A.D. during Summer months, but it affects most people that endure long Winter nights...and it doesn't help that I live in a basement and I worked in a basement. When I get in a funk I can immediately pull myself out of it little by little but going outside or doing something in the outdoors...fresh air does help believe it or not. 
Do I feel like this in the Summer? Heck no...I am out and about and happy as pig in shit during those hot and tediously humid days. In warm weather - the possibilities are endless as to what you can do out there in the world. In the Winter...I feel like those options are a bit limited. 
I also have a great little S.A.D. lamp that the boyfriend got me 2 years ago...that I haven't used for a bit but might end up using it this time around to get me out of my funk. It emulates sunlight in a way and just 30 minutes in front of this ridiculously bright lamp can help your mood significantly. 
How do I know I have S.A.D.? Well, you can go to your Doctor for one thing, there is no "real" test for S.A.D. but I am not a depressed person and I know my little bouts of extreme moodiness in turn reflects the weather at times...and I have noticed that Winter time, the anxiety climbs high so I have learned to put two and two together. I know that some people may freak out and think they have a full blown depression that comes and goes...that doesn't happen on it's own. 
There are some symptoms that you can spot with S.A.D. but as I said - nothing beats like going to see your GP and seeing what he/she has to say. Ultimately though, you are what you are and no one knows you but you. 




Some symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
{Taken from the site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov}

Symptoms usually build up slowly in the late Autumn and Winter months. Symptoms are usually the same as with Depression.
  • Increased appetite with weight gain {weight loss is more common with other forms of depression}.
  • Increased sleep and daytime sleepiness {too little sleep is more common with other forms of depression}.
  • Less energy and ability to concentrate in the afternoon.
  • Loss of interest in work and other activities 
  • Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement.
  • Social withdrawal.
  • Unhappiness and irritability.
First of all...who ever has a keen interest in work??! Lol. 

Treatment...well, the one thing that REALLY helps S.A.D. is light therapy and that is where the S.A.D. lamp comes into play. You can get them at your local drug store...they are a bit pricey but it is well worth it...and for 30 minutes a day you can significantly improve your mood within 3 to 4 weeks. 




Now, like I said...I AM NOT A DOCTOR so do NOT take this information IN PLACE of YOUR GP. I don't have a PHD attached to my name. I am just telling you and recounting my experiences with S.A.D. and some things that helped me realize that I had it and what helped me. Make sure to get out there and get fresh air, do light therapy, exercise and dream. :) 

Why did I share? 
Just because...there are people out there that inspired me to do so {such as Ava Cowan and her blog post about her depression and substance abuse issues in the past}...and what is the sense of keeping it "hidden" and not talking about it when you can essentially help someone out there? 
Mental illness isn't a joke...and it isn't as taboo as it used to be. SOOO many people deal with different forms of mental illness! It is only normal! We can hurt physically and it is obvious that we can hurt emotionally and psychologically too. 
It's human. 
So get over hiding it and get yourself better. :)



-S.*

{Source: Images from Google Images}

Thursday, January 26, 2012

::style:hits::

Here are some recent Style Hits!










Some of my favourites? 
Cameron Diaz in the white frock, Jennifer Lopez {she looks crazy cool and chic!}, Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Kate Bosworth in the red number. 
What are your faves? 


-S.*

{Source: People StyleWatch}

::superbowl:snacks::

Well, it seems like I am losing followers. Oh well...I am glad for the ones that are sticking around with me. :) 
The last little while has been a "stressy" one. I have had anxiety and am dealing with it and I just think I am having "one of those weeks". So I am taking it easy...I should be on here blogging more. It's cathartic. I should probably start journalling again too. 
My friend and I went on a grocery escapade together last night and he picked up the latest Food Network magazine for me "The Light Issue" and there are SO many great recipes in there! Especially some for the Super Bowl! Which we figured out is on the 5th of February. I am not one to participate in Super Bowl parties since I dislike football (hockey girl here through and through) but I will share some of these Super Bowl recipes with you guys so you can share them at your own parties. Wait...is it Super Bowl or Superbowl? Whatever. 
On page 112 and 113 there is a mini book in there that you can pull out called "50 Super Bowl Snacks" and these treats/apps/whatever you wanna call them are SUPER simple and ridiculously easy to make. 
I am going to share with you some of my favorites in there. :) 

SOME SUPER BOWL SNACKS!!!


Chipotle Guacamole
Mash 3 avocados with 1/4 cup minced red onion, 1 tablespoon minced chipotles in adobo sauce, the juice of 1 lime and salt to taste. 

Hot Crab Dip
Mix 3 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and hot sauce and chopped parsley to taste; fold in 1/2 pound crabmeat. Spread in a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs {preferable panko} and bake at 425 degrees until golden, about 15 minutes.


Bacon Jalapeno Dip
Mix 8 ounces cream cheese, 2 cups shredded cheddar, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 4 slices chopped cooked bacon, 1 tablespoon bacon drippings, 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar and 2 thinly sliced jalapenos. Spread in a baking dish; top with buttered breadcrumbs {preferably panko}. Bake at 350 degrees until golden and bubbly, 30 minutes.

Beer-Bacon Nuts
Boil 1/3 cup beer, 1 cup brown sugar, 6 slices chopped bacon, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 pinch cayenne until the beer evaporates, 8 minutes. Mix in 1-1/2 cups corn nuts and 1 cup each almonds and peanuts. Bake at 350 degrees, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Spicy Chickpea Mix
Drain and rinse 1 can chickpeas; toss in olive oil and bake at 350 degrees, 20 minutes. Mix with 1 tablespoon chili paste, 2 cups pita chips, 1 cup sesame sticks and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake 10 minutes, stirring. 


Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Warm 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken with 1/4 cup each sour cream and hot sauce. Serve on 12 mini buns with celery and blue cheese. 

Beef Sliders
Form 1 pound ground beef into 12 patties, 3/4 inch thick. Sprinkle a skillet with kosher salt; cook the patties over high heat, 4 minutes per side. Put on mini buns. 

Shrimp Sliders
Combine 2 tablespoons each mayonnaise and whole-grain mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and minced parsley and hot sauce to taste. Season 1 pound butterflied shrimp with salt and cayenne. Dip in buttermilk, coat in cornmeal and fry in hot oil. Serve on mini seeded buns with lettuce, pickles and the mustard sauce. 

Mini Veggie Pockets
Warm 12 mini pitas. Cut off the tops and fill with hummus, crumbled feta and chopped olives, cucumber, lettuce and tomato. 


There you have it! The possibilities are endless and don't forget that there are FIFTY in total so you have a lot to choose from. These are only some of the ones that caught my eye. :) 
If you give any of these a try that please be sure to keep me posted! :)


-S.*

Saturday, January 21, 2012

::to:India:with:love::

I harbor an obsession with India. 
I would love to visit there one day - and soon! 

Marc Jacobs ~ India ~ November 2010.






-S.*


{Source: Mirik @ TFS}

::random:inspiration::

Just some random pics I'd share that I got from my Tumblr account. 

{I don't own any of these images.}


 












-S.*