The Last Survivor Series by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Title: Life As We Knew It
The Last Survivor Series
Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publish Date: Oct 1, 2006
Publisher: Harcourt Children Book
337 pages

GoodReads
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

I am completely and utterly enamored with this book. Instantly pulled in and forever will be talking or thinking about this concept. Fascinating!

All the scientists and world are talking about the moon being hit with an asteroid. The entire world turns out to see it. Only it turns out to be a bit denser that they predicted, completely changing the world - as they knew it. Tsunamis, volcanoes, and all sort of natural disasters destroy so many people and parts of the world. Would you survive? Would your family? And what would you do and how far would you go to save yourself and loved ones?

HELLO?! SO FASCINATING!!

I just love this book. The characters were awesome. The main character, Miranda, is so real and I love her for that. She is down to earth, a sweet person who wants a normal life and fall in love. What her dreams are become nothing to what she will deal with in the following time after the impact. She has so many conflicts with her mother who is trying to save her family while Miranda is trying to decipher who she is. Then there is her older brother who is away at college, but comes home and learns he may not be the end all be all. Her younger brother ends up being the one the entire family feels has the best chance to survive because he is strong and young. They give up so much to keep him well and alive.

Meanwhile the surrounding neighborhood is drowning in not enough food, beggars, sickness, gangs with guns. As people are dying Miranda's family must decide will they help and risk their own lives.

This raises such wonderful discussions for me and those around me. Okay, really it just impressed me, but I still managed to bring it up in many conversations.

Honestly, I really didn't care for book Number 2 in the series, but I am loving #3 where they pick up with Miranda's family where they left off in book 1.

Summary -

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

Review: Eve and Adam

Title: Eve and Adam
Author: Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publish Date: Oct 2, 2012
291 pages

GoodReads
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

I was really excited to get my hands on this book. I love the concept! A woman who creates a boy. Feminist at its best. lol

Actually, it was just really nice to read a book that was totally different than an other I have read. I had an inkling where it was going, as I had participated in a discussion on books and triangle love stories, but things never are exactly as you expect.

Evening, which is an incredible name btw, is a daughter of a brilliant scientist who has done a few things to cut corners around laws and yet, has saved millions of people from deathly diseases. How far would you go to save humans from diseases? But the story goes so much deeper than that.

In comes Solo, a boy that Eve has no idea about. He has been living in the building where his mom works (plays God) and yet, she doesn't know why he is there or what he is doing. There is a definite attraction there though. But what does he want?

Then Eve's mother gives her this project to keep her busy while recovering, to create her dream guy - on a computer. Easy, right? You just input the data and he is shown on a screen. But could he be created to be real? Would she want this? What would she feel if he were real?

Okay, seriously loved this book. CANNOT WAIT to read the next book, Adam and Eve.

Summary -

And girl created boy…

In the beginning, there was an apple—

And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.

Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.

Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?

Review - Origin by Jessica Khoury

Title: Origin

Author: Jessica Khoury
Publisher: Razorbill
Publish Date: Sept 4, 2012

GoodReads
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

When I first started reading this book, the movie Species popped in my head. I kept comparing the two simply because it was a woman/girl that was specially made, kept in a glass box, being watched and tested, then she gets out. In reality, the story lines are very different.

I really liked this book. It was so different than anything I have read it awhile. I love Pia, the main character. She was sweet and innocent and I especially loved that she was kind and caring. She wants the ultimate goal, to get to a point in her testing to be proven worthy to know the secret to herself and building others just like her. Even though she is surrounded by people, her family and workers, she is lonely because no one really knows who she is and what she needs. Then she notices a hole in the fence surrounding her home and curiosity gets the best of her. Out in the real world, she meets a local tribal boy and her world expands exponentially.

This writing was so spectacular. I cannot wait to see where this goes. I really hope there is a followup to this book. I cannot divulge the ending because that is the worst, but I hope for more.

Summary -

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.

Meal Planning

In order to be healthier, I have to start making my food ahead of time. I really sink low when I don't have food on hand ready to eat. I have tried so many times to wait to make dinner after work, but working in retail really makes that difficult. Some days I am off at 330pm, other 630, 730 and even 930 and later. It just doesn't bode well. I have been really good since my detox. No gluten at all. I did forget one time when I was eating at a restaurant. The fork was poised at my mouth and I realized I hadn't specified gluten free. The server was so kind and switched it out no problem. Whew! So I have been thinking and planning how to be more organized in the food department.

This week I found a really awesome cookbook that has inspired me called Gluten Free Made Simple by Carol Field Dalhstrom. Now let me tell you, I have read a lot of books that say simple and they are not. This one totally IS SIMPLE. I am excited. It is full of recipes I love. So this week, I sat down and planned out five meals I would have along with leftover options. Crazy, I know.

My boyfriend called and asked if because he is not gluten free would he need to make his own food.  This is how uneducated our society is about allergies. I myself knew NOTHING about it until I realized I am sensitive to it. Drives me nuts how many people want to be rude about how they feel it is a fad and won't last! So I told him not to worry. I love to cook and will always want to cook for us. I am such a fan of making my lunch and a lunch for him too!! I told him we would be trying some new stuff, but the weirdest would probably be the stuffed peppers because he is not a huge fan of vegetables. I will definitely warn him when I want to cook something I know he may not like, but realistically it won't have anything to do with gluten free food, but rather vegetables.

Here is what I am planning -

Meatloaf and polenta (with spaghetti sauce over polenta)
Stuffed peppers with salad
Steak with scalloped corn
Chicken nuggets (GLUTEN FREE PEOPLE) and sweet potato fries (real potatoes)

I am pretty stoked because I already made the prep work for the stuffed peppers and I also mixed up a batch of broccoli slaw to go with my lunches. I have bought my first loaf of GF bread and had a really nice sandwich today. It was surprisingly good. I wasn't sure about the GF bread, as I am a fan of really soft bread and the fridge or freezer breads tend to be either too mushy or really brittle. But I bought what I wanted - after much angst - yummy raisin bread. Not a usual choice for lunch bread, but who cares? I'm happy.

I am also planning to revamp my baking cupboards this weekend. I would like to ultimately have a bin for the following - GF Flour (all purpose), lentils, beans, corn starch, premixed dry waffle and pancake mix, dry fruits and a few others ready at hand. I would also love to have some sort of system for herbs, but seriously have no clue what to do for that. Ideas for herbs? Plus, my baking is all up on top of my kitchen so I am looking to make it easier to reach each item.

Also I am really excited that my boyfriend and I are going out on the town to try out some GF beer for me!! I am not a huge drinker. It is actually pretty rare for me to drink, but I am curious and my boyfriend LOVES beer, so why not?

What are your food plans for the week?

PS Check out these really awesome food sacks that I picked up at The Container Store!!! I am so excited to be using less plastic. Seriously some of the best gifts for me revolve around my lunch.

Why I was adorable as a child

One of my favorite stories of myself as a child happens to be horribly disgusting too. I am reminded by it often too.

My mother, sister and I were driving with the windows down. Just as my mother and sister started to gag, I took a deep breath in and said, Wow what smells so good? I'm hungry!"

My mother says, "Well that is the Purina Puppy Chow plant."

At the time, I didn't get it, but every time I pass it again, I happen to start laughing. I can't squelch what a total nerd I was.

Blessedly happy one though.

Detox, Day 5

I realized I went from Day 1 to Day 5 on my blog. Too bad I couldn't have also skipped those days on the actual detox. lol

It has been a very rocky road. Not easy at all.

Day one wasn't too bad . . . compared to the others.

Day 2 was pretty rough as the actual detox hit my system while I was at work. Needless to say I was worried I wouldn't make it through my shift, but lo and behold, it was okay. The actual drinking of liquids was way easier on day 2, but the body effects were tough. I was tired, achy, little headachy, then add in the fact that my own body decided to detox all the food in a matter of 4 hours, uhm not pretty. I felt pretty shaky for that time, but then it cleared and all was ok.

Day 3 was worse due to the fact that I read the detox too literally. (Me? too literal? never!) I ate fruit for breakfast, ugh I miss my cereal SO BAD. Then had a smoothie shake for snack. Then lunch. Ah, lunch, the one thing I was looking forward to. Bummer. The one cup of rice I made, was under cooked. Then the veggies I stir fried were awful!! They all tasted like turnips. Which apparently I do not like. I picked out the turnips and nawed on the rest. Very unhappily. By afternoon snack time I wanted to kill someone. I knew I wasn't going to continue this detox if I couldn't figure out the food.

I texted my boyfriend and asked him to reread the detox. He said I could eat any veggies, not just the detox specific.

Now I am on board.

Day 5 all is better. I have been cooking the rice every other day. I then have a mixture of whatever veggies are around. Last night for dinner, I made a portobello mushroom in oil and onions then a side salad of spinach, squash, blueberries, strawberries and grapes.

But honestly, I would do a lot for a bowl of cereal or a pizza.

Also, sugar is one mean motherf*cker. I am pretty sure I detoxed sugar on day 3 as well. Have you ever wanted to punch someone repeatedly and then just punch everyone else in arms length? I felt like I just could have gone home and called it good. I truly like people, but day 3 was a hateful day.

Yesterday was really the first day I was around others while eating. Since I take my breaks at work by myself and live by myself, I have been eating alone. Then at my boyfriend's house, I felt like my parent's dogs hovering over while he ate his pasta and bread. I wasn't hungry, I just wanted what he had.

One thing I have learned on this detox, is food is fuel for the body. I do not need it to feel better. I do not need it to enjoy life. It is just fuel for the body. Should it be tasteful? Yes, but most crappy food doesn't really taste all that good. I mean the people I work with eat pizzas from work which in reality, are so full of grease I cannot taste the food. They smell heavenly, taste? Not so much. The coffee is so chock full of chocolate, what's the point?

I drank an iced tea that was SO MUCH BETTER than the mocha I ever had at Starbucks and it was so much healthier. I realized that food I can make at home is so much more worth it! And with websites like Gluten Free on a Shoestring, I can cook at home all the time. And I really love to cook!!

I am excited to start being gluten free. And not just because I could take this detox and fling it out the nearest window. I am looking forward to being healthier, feeling better and knowing I am making that choice for myself. There are so many wonderful opportunities out there for gluten free individuals, that I know I will not be missing out.

Two more days and I will wake up to a bowl of Chex Cereal and a banana and a pizza (Gluten free, of course) for lunch and probably a big ass steak for dinner (with veggies)!

Detox, Day 1, Initial Thoughts

Recently tested to have Hypothyroidism, then through more information found out I may have a gluten sensitivity. By the time the time came around to have tests done, I realized that I had cut out pretty much all of my gluten and therefore the tests would be invalid. I chose not to restart on gluten foods only to test myself. Instead, with my doctors approval I moved to a detox cleanse instead and just decided that the next time (if there ever is one) I feel horrible, we can test then. In the meantime, I am happy to move straight to gluten free eating.

It has been almost a month since I started eating clean and then moving to gluten free as well. I have lost two pounds (though I think it may be a little more, but I do not have a scale in my house). My pants feel so much smoother. My body feels lighter, especially my belly and lower belly. I do not have that rock of sickness feeling in my lower abdomen anymore. I am regular (stop there). I am sleeping at night and mostly peacefully. Still have an occasional feeling of not good sleep. I am exercising cardio at least 3 times a week and yoga 4 times a week. I wake up feeling good and ready to start my day. My allergies are better, except for this last couple days with the change in weather. It has been a bit rough with headaches and such, but I am used to the weather changes killing my allergies.

I have been a bit scared of starting this detox because I don't want to cheat and I definitely do not want to turn into a nightmare. I know the two catalysts for me are not eating and being tired. With those two I get really grumpy and unreasonable.

I was a competitive athlete too, so I have been drilled in to always eat and take care of the body. Body needs fuel and food is that fuel. Do not deprive yourself. Which is why I spent weeks thinking about detox and then talking to my doctor about it. 

I am doing the Tosca Reno Detox because it is one I feel I can do. It feels reasonable and healthy. It is only two days of liquids and then clean eating vegetables and 1 cup of GF brown rice for the next 3 to 7 days.

I bought a bunch of Coconut Waters to get me through the first two days. I will be putting 8oz of coconut water then fill with water for every liquid bottle I drink. I then bought GF rice for days 3-7. I have cleaned out my fridge to include only vegetables. All other food, like chicken are in the freezer for safe keeping. I also have Naked Juice to drink 8oz before bed with my meds and also to help my tummy through the night. I haven't decided if I will mix it with protein powder. I suppose I will decide how I feel. I will allow myself one hot herbal decaf tea at work if and when I strongly feel weak and want to cheat.

I woke up this morning with a bit of trepidation. I went downstairs and fed the kitties (wondering if in the two days of no eating food if I will want to eat the cat food) and then filled up my first liquid bottle. I have a feeling I will never want to drink coconut water ever again after this.

I really want to do well and I hope I can keep my spirits up as well.

Have you done the Tosca Reno Detox? Results? Thoughts?