1) Bloodwork Results
Last Friday, I got bloodwork done. (As expected, they had to bring in their “expert” phlebotomist because I have really deep veins.) I got my results on Wednesday and I was relieved to see that my glucose and A1C levels are normal. I definitely want to improve my numbers (my glucose has remained steady on the high end of normal for two years now), but I’m glad I don’t need to be too concerned about prediabetes. What was super concerning, though, were my triglycerides which were astonishingly high. Triglycerides are part of the cholesterol panel that determines one’s risk for heart disease. While my total cholesterol was normal, my triglycerides were not. Thankfully, all of my other cholesterol numbers improved, even if some of them still aren’t in the normal range (HDL and non-HDL, but they are just a few points away from normal). Anyway, I’ve been doing a lot of research about lowering one’s triglycerides levels and I’m trying to come up with a plan where I can work towards healthier cholesterol without putting myself on a strict diet. I know I will need to continue limiting sugar as well as red meat and carbs, and I want to make sure I’m doing so in a way that aligns with my values and isn’t seen as a punishment. Lots more to come on this!
2) Eczema
I am pleased to report that my eczema/dermatitis (whatever this thing is) seems to be improving. I’ve been applying hydrocortisone cream twice a day and I’ve started to notice a real difference in the way my skin looks and feels. Hooray! I’ll keep applying the cream until the flare-up is gone, but I’m hoping I can restart my skincare routine sometime in February. I’ve really missed doing my skincare routine and I’m excited to get back to it.
3) My Backup Supplies Shelf
Look at my new backup supplies shelf in my hall closet! I am so proud of this little area of my home. I was running low on a lot of my supplies—conditioner, mouthwash, tampons, eyeglass wipes, laundry detergent, and the special sensitive laundry detergent I use when I wash my bras—and it was quite scary to see how much money I was going to spend to double-up on everything I needed. And then Target was running a sale—if I bought 3 boxes of tampons, I could get a $5 coupon; and if I bought 4 bottles of shampoo/conditioner, I could get a $5 coupon. Normally, I would say “no way!” Three boxes of tampons?? What am I, the queen of England?! But I took a deep breath and added 3 boxes of tampons, 2 bottles of conditioner, and 2 bottles of shampoo to my cart and pushed the purchase button. It was scary, but I did it! I’m proud of myself and I feel a lot of joy in looking at my shelf filled with supplies. Lisa commented on my post last week where I talked about the under-buyer/over-buyer conundrum, and said she sees herself as a “just-right buyer” and I think that’s what I’m aiming for. I’ve been an under-buyer because spending a lot of money at one time scares me, and my goal is to become a just-right buyer who has backups of her normal supplies and toiletries, but I’m not, like, stockpiling for the end of the world out of panic.
4) Niagara Falls
My mom and I have started planning our 2022 trip! We thought about taking a cruise, but neither of us is totally comfortable going that route just yet. Maybe in 2023? Instead, I did some research and presented her with three options: Arizona to visit Sedona and the Grand Canyon, Canada to visit Niagara Falls, or an all-inclusive resort in Costa Rica. I was so pleased when my mom picked Niagara Falls! Of course, it all depends on the COVID situation, but we’re not planning on going until the summer so we should be okay. (Hopefully.) My plan is for us to fly into Buffalo, rent a car and drive over to the Canada side of the Falls, spend a few days in Canada exploring the Falls (and possibly a day trip to Toronto?), and then driving back over to Buffalo to explore the Falls from the U.S. side. I’ve always wanted to visit Niagara Falls, and I’m excited to tick a new state (New York) and a new country (Canada) off my list, too! Seasoned travelers, please let me know if my loose itinerary sounds ridiculous. 🙂
5) Weekend Plans
I don’t have a lot going on this weekend, which I’m taking to be a good thing. This afternoon, I’m meeting up with my mom so that we can take the dogs to go get their paw prints done. One of the artist studios near us is offering this fun event where pets can come into the studio, get a clay impression of their paws, and then the studio will make a custom painting incorporating their paw prints. Isn’t that such a great idea? I can’t wait to see what they do for Chip and Lucy! (And no, I’m not taking my girls because I think it would be way too traumatizing for them, haha.)
Saturday, I have no plans other than getting caught up on blog stuff and work stuff. And then, on Sunday, it’s the AFC/NFC championship games! I am so excited! While my team didn’t even make the playoffs, both my brother’s favorite team (the 49ers) and my nephew’s favorite team (the Chiefs) are playing. A few years ago, the 49ers and the Chiefs were in the Super Bowl, and that got very contentious, so while I want both of their teams to make it back to the Super Bowl, I don’t know if I want another tense game like that! So we’ll see how it goes.
Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? What are your weekend plans?
Look at your shelf! That’s so great, Stephany, and I bet you’ll save in the long run. Funny story regarding tampons: years ago, literally YEARS, I bought a giant box of tampons from Costco and I JUST finished it last month. I have very light periods, and so I only go through about 2-4 tampons per period TOTAL. Well, I finished that giant box and thought, I better not buy another one. I mean, I’m pretty close to menopause. So I bought a regular size box that should hopefully see me through my tampon days, but I was slightly annoyed that the regular box was maybe fifty cents less than the Costco box. Should I have bought the big box? Probably not. I’ll be annoyed if I have to keep buying small boxes.
Regarding triglycerides: my husband was diagnosed with very high levels back in, I think, 2008 or 2009. He was able to control them quite well with diet and he didn’t have to go on a super-strict diet either. He did cut out ADDED sugars, like sugars in his coffee and he limited sweet desserts. I bake with much less sugar than the recipe calls for, which probably helps. He has sugary things a couple of times a week, in moderation, but his levels have been great for many years now. So there’s hope! He has a real sweet tooth but I think just being able to have a few of his favourites helps with cravings. For what it’s worth, that’s our experience, anyway.
I have really light periods, too! And I get a period every other month, due to the birth control I’m on. So I’m assuming those two big boxes of tampons will last me a year. We’ll see!
It is heartening to hear about your husband lowering his triglycerides without adhering to a strict diet. I can definitely stand to cut some added sugars from my diet and adding more activity to my day should help, too.
This made me laugh: “Three boxes of tampons?? What am I, the queen of England?! ” Good for you for loading up on supplies! (Hooray for Target’s $5 coupon deals — I take advantage of those too, even though sometimes it seems silly at the time.)
Niagara Falls sounds like a great destination! I stopped by for just a few minutes on a return home from Toronto one year, and the falls are so spectacular. I bet spending some time there will be wonderful!
Those $5 Target coupons always ask you to add SO much to your cart, but it’s always stuff I need and will use in time. I need to take advantage of them more!
I think Ashley that lives in Pittsburgh went to the falls last year? You could look through her IG to get some inspiration for that trip? I’m blanking on her IG name but hopefully you know who I’m talking about? She has 3 kids and has been through lots of traumatic things like losing 2 babies and her mom to cancer. hate that I have to use that as a descriptor for who I am talking about!!
Hooray for the new term of ‘just right buyer’. I really think that is more so where you fall. There’s something to be said for convenience and not having to stress about running out of something – especially tampons!!
We don’t have much planned this weekend. Phil is taking Paul out to his mom’s tomorrow so I’ll just have Will to manage. I’m hoping he takes a long afternoon nap so I can take one, too! I was supposed to go for a walk with my 2nd time mom’s group on Sunday but one of the girls suspects her family has covid so she’s quarantining. I know so many people with covid. I hope we can avoid it before our Presidents’ Day trip to AZ!!! Anywho… that means we have no plans for Sunday now which I’m fine with. The weather is looking up and by that I mean it’s going to be 25 outside! Heat wave! 😉 But it was -5 this morning w/ a windchill of something like -30F. So 25 really does feel tropical. It was in the 20s one day this week. I told Paul “this is swimsuit weather” when I was buckling him into his carseat and he said, “mommy, it’s not. The lake is frozen.” So it appears my son is going to be a literal person like I am!! I often miss sarcasm because I will take things too literally.
Weather is so relative, isn’t it? Hahaha. Over here in FL, we start freaking out if we have lows in the high 30s but for Minnesotans, that’s when you break out the shorts and flip-flops!
I’ll have to check out Ashley’s Instagram about her trip. I know exactly who you are talking about!
I think I’m mostly a just-right buyer too. If anything I would be an under-buyer, but I like the “ring” of just-right much better.
We went to Niagra Falls a few years ago and LOVED the experience. We took a boat to the base of the falls and it was every bit as cool as I had imagined. Actually, I went in with low expectations because my sister, who lives close to Niagra Falls, said it was just a big tourist trap. We stayed 24 hours and I think that was the perfect length because, to a certain extent, it IS a tourist trap. But it was beautiful and mesmerizing. I loved it and would definitely go back.
I am not afraid of a good, ole tourist trap so I’m excited about it! And I’m glad you loved the experience. We’ll be staying for a few days, but we like to take things really slowly on vacation (a mid-afternoon nap is always a must!) so I think it will be the perfect length.
I am so glad you got your bloodwork back and are working on a sensible plan that will work for your life and not make you crazy. Props for taking care of you, Stephany! <3
I am so glad your skin is clearing up! Some of my January zits still have ghost marks on my face and I am so unhappy about it. UGH.
The queen of England comment made me LOL!!!!
Niagara Falls sounds so great! I have not been, but I have heard people say the time of year you go is key, and that you have to see it from the Canada side, so I am glad you are 🙂
No weekend plans here!
The consensus seems to be that summer is a great time to visit the Falls, so we’re hoping to make a trip around my mom’s birthday. But her birthday is close to the 4th of July and flights are really expensive, so we may have to plan something for later in July or August.
When my sister and I were teenager, we used to spend part of the summer with my aunt and uncle in Pennsylvania. They asked us once if we wanted to go to Niagra Falls and I was so excited, but my sister threw a fit about not wanting to be in the car for that long, so we never went. I was disappointed, but, you know, life happens.
Do you know where my sister went on her honeymoon? NIAGRA FALLS. Do you know who still has never been there?! ME. There is a distinct possibility that I will never get over this.
Also, it’s Niagara and I’m so sorry for my bad spelling.
Oh, I would be LIVID so I definitely understand where you are coming from! Argh. I hope you will be able to visit someday!
Also, I kept spelling Niagara as Niagra, so no worries about the misspelling. It sounds like it should be Niagra!
I also have super high triglycerides and regular everything else numbers, so I am interested to see what you come up with to try and regulate those. Glad your A1C is good, diabetes seems so annoying to have to deal with, especially t2!
I was really worried that my glucose/A1C numbers would be high, especially since I have hypoglycemia. But I guess I’m just one of those lucky people to have hypoglycemia WITHOUT diabetes. Something I need to bring up to my doctor!
High-five for the high triglycerides team?!
Highly recommend seeing Toronto if you can! I went in 2019 and thought it was a beautiful city. I recommend the CN Tower and Evviva Breakfast & Lunch if you’re into good breakfast places. Also, if you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, the pilot was filmed in nearby Unionville which is a cute little town that’s definitely worth a visit.
I’m so glad you recommended visiting Toronto! I was thinking about doing so, but wasn’t sure if it was worth the visit. Thanks for the recs!
Niagara Falls is great, but honestly, the New York side is pretty lame, especially if you’ve done the much prettier, much less tacky Canadian side first. You might be better served visiting someplace else upstate like Rochester or just spending that time in Buffalo, which is a pretty cute little city of its own. The New York side of Niagara Falls is just weird, haha.
Haha, this is great advice! I was thinking we could just wander around the NY side for an hour or two and then spend some time in Buffalo, but maybe we’ll just skip it entirely. We might be a little Niagara-ed out after spending 2 days on the Canada side anyway. Ha!
I have not been to Niagara Falls but I’d love to see them someday. I’d be so excited if you’d get to go this summer.
I think I’d also consider myself a “just-right-buyer” overall.
I’m really looking forward to visiting Niagara Falls! From the little research I’ve done so far, it looks like there are so many different ways to explore the Falls and I’m excited to dig into more trip research. 🙂
Oh, goodness. So many good things here! First, yay on you for taking control of your health. Now you know what to focus on – and so many great suggestions in the comments. Just one more idea – think about adding vs. taking away. So, maybe adding more veggies / seltzer / etc. vs. taking away sugar / carbs / fun foods? Just a random thought. And glad the consistent use of the steroid cream is helping your skin. That is really the trick – not applying it sporadically but consistently. Fingers crossed it stays that way! I have only visited Niagara Falls once and concur with the assessments of the US vs. Canadian sides. That said, there used to be a hilarious Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum that my brother and I LOVED when visiting. However, we were… probably 10 and 11? Maybe 12 and 13? Anyway – we were not adults. 🙂 But it was quite entertaining for us – perhaps less so for our parents. Ha! I think you and your mom will have fun no matter what! You’ll be together -and on vacation. That alone is priceless. <3