HH&R: Trusty Tips for Cleaning

If you know me, then you know I am not the cleaning guru.  However, I am married to one, and that has its perks.  It also comes with hearing, "...I JUST cleaned that!!" as I inevitably used something as mundane as he sink or shower or toilet...or...you know...walked on the floor.

So here are some of the tips for keeping your house clean!  And many of them require very few "specialized" ingredients, though our robot vacuum / mop is not one of them.  We use all these things in our own home, use them when we are cleaning a property after a renovation, and we recommend them to our renters as well!

The Household Staples:

If you don't already have these things, I recommend you get them immediately.  We buy in bulk from Costco, but if that's not your thing or you don't have the space, any store carries them.  The best part is they're budget friendly and great for folks like me who hate using chemicals when I don't have to and also seem to have allergies to everything.

• Alcohol (the Isopropyl form, sometimes called "rubbing alcohol")
• More than just for cuts and scrapes, this is wonderful for the house, too!  And even the classroom.
• Keep it in a spray bottle and you can use it to clean:
• dry erase boards
• makeup brushes
• stainless steel / sinks / chrome
• and deodorize shoes
• or get rid of fruit flies
• and refresh sponges
• and remove sticky substances from stickers
• and disinfect computer / keyboard / phone / mouse

• Baking Soda
• Add to water and soak veggies and fruit for 10-30 min to remove pesticides.
• Add it and hot water to pots and let them soak to remove stains and burnt-on buildup
• Put in your fridge to eliminate odors
• Put in any room to eliminate odors.
• Mix with a little water to make a paste and use it to clean and brighten grout
• Sprinkle in toilet bowl and let stand 15-20 min, then scrub with toilet brush
• Add 1/2 cup to your laundry to brighten and deodorize clothes
• Sprinkle on carpet to lift stains and odors

• Hydrogen Peroxide (DO NOT EVER MIX WITH VINEGAR! THAT IS TOXIC!)
• Douse the shower once a week. You'll hear it bubble and watch it foam a bit as it combats the bacteria and grime.  Leaves it clean.  No chemicals required, and that is something you can feel good about!  You can even use these OXO Clean Brushes to help scrub the grout every month or so to really help keep the build-up at bay.  (we try to go plastic free, but we do like these...)
• Also great to use on cuts and scrapes before you use alcohol

• Vinegar (DO NOT EVER MIX WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE! THAT IS TOXIC!) - admittedly the smell of vinegar makes me gag and want to vomit, so my husband does all this and I stay out of the room. I have heard if you add the juices of two lemons to it, it helps, but I have yet to try that.
• Douse your washing machine every week and do a rinse cycle with nothing but vinegar.  It helps removes mold from the places you can and the places you cannot see
• And for clothes - was clothes in it that have a heavy smell in them either from intense workouts or if you buy them from a store and that store's fragrance smell won't leave after a wash.  Wash them in vinegar instead!
• Soak fruits and veggies in it to keep them from wilting or molding as quickly
• Run it through your coffee machines to descale it
• Do a 50/50 of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and you can use it to:
• clean household surfaces
• clean the floor
• spray ants outside to remove their scent trail
• degrease your stovetop 
• remove build up from faucets

For a lot of these, I'm told you can add drops of lemon or orange or their zest to brighten the scent as well, but as someone who is scent sensitive, we just use the ingredients as-is.  I'm sharing so you can find them helpful as well.  In an effort to protect budgets, keep costs down, help the planet by going eco-friendly where we can, we love these solutions and would love to hear how they have helped you as well!

Food: the Brain-Gut Connection and Supplements I've Found Helpful

I've spent a long time debating how much of my health stuff to share, but the more feedback and gratitude I receive when I talk about it, the more I think I'm probably not as alone in this as I seem, and if I'm doing the research, then someone else probably is, too.  So here's a little about what I'm dealing with and what I've found helps.

Note: I am not a medical professional.  This is my personal story and preference list, and I recommend you speak with a doctor before starting any supplements.

So, the big rocks - are you dealing with any of these?  Migraine?  Endometriosis?  PCOS?  "Undetermined GI issues" (IBD/IBS but also probably something more)?  Food sensitivities?  Perimenopause?

If you are, welcome!  If you are not, maybe you know someone who is.  And to that end I will say, I have no doubt in my mind these are all connected.  The Gut-Brain connection is real, and the Hormone-Gut/Brain connection is also real.  I know because I have tracked symptoms to cycle.  It's never 100% predictable, but there are some tells, like I have cravings and migraines and constipation or diarrhea or nausea at certain points in my cycle.  I even tracked at one point eating the same foods for 3-4 days in a row to see what happens, and based on additional factors (hormones, migraines, etc), I reacted differently to the same foods.  Crazy.  I also know that a GI upset spell can cause a migraine and vice versa.  Actually, at one of my employers I was the unofficial 'resident migraine speaker' for a few years.  So I've dealt with this a while.

And don't forget the less visible stuff: the vitamins, minerals, and blood markers!  These are all also related.

So here are some things I have found helpful.  All food or over the counter supplements.

Managing Anemia:  I've been officially anemic once, and it was severe.  But since then my numbers have always been low, albeit in range, and as I move and change doctors, new doctors aren't interested in prescribing a prescription strength iron supplement, so I've found my own.  They can be harsh on the stomach, and many have dyes in them (which I'm allergic / sensitive to), but I finally found one I love.  Have taken it for a while now.  Really helps.

I also have a folate / B12 deficiency (same story - was deficient, now runs really low) and they suspect I don't convert it well from foods, so I've been on a supplement for most of my adulthood.  I did a chewable for a while and then switched because it turned out my dog has the same issues.  Now I buy the pill that we can both safely take.

Managing Other Markers:  I've had an IV drip for being dehydrated (I didn't even know I was until my labs cam back), and my associated levels often like to dip and swing.  I get really hot in the summer and have a hard time staying cool, and I've finally realized I need help.  

• So I've picked up some Liquid IV.  I know there are other options out there, but this one has real sugar (fake sugar gives me a migraine) and fewer fake ingredients which could trigger me.  So I stick with them.  
  
  
  
• I also take a vitamin D supplement regularly and occasionally add in a Potassium supplement.  It rounds it out nicely. 
  
  
  
  
  
• My most recent doctors also mentioned that if I'm feeling dehydrated to eat a pinch of salt.  It sounded counter intuitive to me, but she said it is often one of the items missing and prompting you to be thirsty. 

Migraines and GI issues:  Here is the tricky one.  Since one affects the other, it's challenging for me to split this out, so I'm lumping them together.  

• I use Magnesium to help with migraines but I take half a dose.  I also take a complex because there are many varieties of magnesium and they'll beneficial for different things, and I don't want to choose.  The complex provides the variety.  It also helps with muscle aches, too.  Win-win.
  
  
  
• I use a probiotic recommended by my GI doctor because it has a high potency of many of the things he said I should have.  It also doesn't have everything, so I supplement with Arbonne prebiotic and probiotics as well.  (PS - if you want to try the Arbonne one and need a consultant to connect with, lmk.  Email me at Stephanie.truthsc@gmail.com) 
  
  
  
• I have a stool softener just in case.  I genuinely dislike them so I avoid them unless I'm really struggling and constipated and it's been more than 24-36 hours.
• Ginger and Turmeric tea - I was given this at a spa and never looked back.  Bought a one year's supply right away.  I have found that if I drink it regularly it helps the GI swings be a little more stable.  I tend to drink it at night.
  
  
  
• Hot lemon water - I have started swapping out my first cup of (decaf) coffee in the morning for hot lemon water.  It doesn't wake up the GI tract quite as effectively, so I still have coffee, but it does help put something less acidic into my system first, and I've found it helps ease me into the day.  Likely never going back.
• Avoiding raw vegetables or vegetables that aren't essentially 'over' cooked and sort of mushy.  My stomach just has a hard time breaking it all down, so I have found that the more it's already broken down, the easier it is.  I know many of you are saying "but that takes away so many nutrients!" and it does.  I do miss my salads, but I have found that I've come to love green drinks and other juiced versions of my fruits and vegetables.  And if I do eat vegetables, I try to keep them to a minimum in one sitting so as to not overwhelm my system.  If you do need a green drink, I love Suja.
  
  
  

If you're struggling with issues, I encourage you to talk to your doctors.  Plural. Get opinions from lots of folks - traditional western and eastern medicine.  Share your blood work results.  Get them updated yearly.  No two people are the same, so getting a sense of what might help and then using their help to put a plan together for you could be beneficial. 

Still haven't figured out the migraines or the perimenopause yet...but I'm working on it!

Food: The Gluten Free Life

Not everyone is gluten free. Not everyone needs to be. For some it's a choice.  For others, it's a medical restriction that needs to be abided.  Wherever you fall, you're not alone.  I want to share a little story and some of my fave items here in case you're new to this life, what to understand it better, or feel like sharing your own story and favorites in the comments!

Just because you don't have Celiac's doesn't mean you don't have sensitivity or aversions.  And if you're not Celiac's, gluten isn't a horrible thing for you to have now and again.  It's just something you need to pay attention to and listen to your body when you have it so you understand.

For example:  There are some breads I can eat and have no issue initially, and others immediately give me stomach pains.  Is that an additive?  Is that yeast?  Is that a specific type of gluten product?  I don't know.  I haven't been able to compare ingredients in a way that helps me determine which instance will be fine and which won't.  I can tell you, though, that (and you already know I have so many other food sensitivities like black pepper, cinnamon, FODMAP foods, and the whole gamut of latex foods) my body lets me know when it's unhappy.  When I eat gluten, my lip splits.  Usually on the left side, but it's been more creative and split on the right lately.  No idea why.  But that's where it likes to mount its protest.  Some people have asked if I'm "okay" because I have a black or split lip, but I explain it's just an allergic reaction.  Oh well.

So, because I don't know what exactly causes what, yet, I try to stay clear of gluten most of the time.  I allow myself a pastry or pizza or roll when I'm out, but that's not a daily or regular occurrence.  So, at home, I stay gluten free.  Here are some of my faves if you are building this life for yourself as well.  I've also listed some recipes in my blog, and you'll note that when I list flour it is a 1-1 ratio from gluten to gluten free flour, so that makes it simple!

Flour:  Ok, I love Cup for Cup but I don't find it often. My preferred gluten free flour.  If you're celiac or just sensitive and working to stay away from gluten, this is my go-to.  I found this initially at Williams and Sonoma and thought it was wonderful.  I will admit it is and can be hard to find at stores, but if you find it...yum.  It seems the most balanced and neutral flavored.

Ok, if I can't find cup for cup (and I usually can't) then King Arthur's Measure for Measure is my next pick.  It's also fairly neutral tasting and is usually 1-1 with most recipes.  Every now and again I find I have to add just a tablespoon or two more for the same density and bounce, but it's reliable in it's use and fairly reliable in its ability to be found on shelves.  It is a popular one, so it can go quickly.

Mac & Cheese:  There will never be a day when I don't love or want Mac & Cheese.  And finding a good gluten free one is a challenge.  Either the noodles are wrong or they messed the sauce up somehow.  Then...enter Goodles.  I don't know what they did, but Goodles figured it out.  THANK YOU!  It's a pasta with a good mouthfeel and chew and a cheesiness that doesn't make you miss the versions you shouldn't be eating.  As a perk it has fiber and protein (win!) but that's just a bonus, because it's fabulous on its own.

The cracker:  I'll admit, this is a hard one.  Really hard.  For me, with all my sensitivities, I can't do the cassava flour or almond flour ones.  I have favorites of those that I'll list here because they really are wonderful, but I'm really fairly relegated to one.  It's a good one.  I'm happy with it.  But I personally have limited options because of all my other sensitivities.  If you don't have those same obstacles, then I recommend all of the below.

The Oreo:  And lastly, don't forget you can still have OREOS!!!  They have a gluten free Oreo now, and somehow it seems to have cleaner ingredients than the original (which, take with a grain of salt, but it's still nice).  I even argue it tastes better.  Never forget your Oreo.

There are loads of other things to recommend, but I have found these are the staples.  I still don't have a good gluten free bread I love.  There are okay ones out there, and I'll eat them, but I'm not pining for them on a regular basis.  If you've found one, leave it in the comments!  Same with other items you've come to love!

LMOH: A New Substack

It's time to expand and flex my writing muscles! Welcome to my Substack!

If you follow my writing at all, either here or through having read my books, you've likely found a rhythm, pace, and style is common.  I like real things.  I have an imagination, but it's all rooted in realism.  And I think that what happens in our day to day is wonderful, fascinating, (stressful, challenging), and inspiring either in a creative way or in a way that pushes us to learn and grow.  

While I'm going to continue to focus on this blog in a recommendation and thoughts perspective, I am branching out into the Substack world, too, to allow me space to explore new genres of writing, preview things I'm working on, publish short works and poetry, and grow the Last Bite Publishing brand.

What will be the difference: 

Truthsc.com (this blog) - focus on LMOH, AOT, Food, and HH&R with anecdotes and links to my favorite recommendations.  I want this blog to continue to be a hub for those items you've come to love

Substack.com/@lastbitepublishing (Substack) - Create offerings in two fields: written work and business.  Allow for a place to test new material (new genres like smut, poetry, character development thoughts, obstacles in writing, etc) with like minded people in a space where that's the expectation from audiences leveraging the platform. Also showcase work my company AboutStephanie is doing related to business.

Both spaces have a place and a focus, and I want to continue to bring meaningful work to you through the varying avenues.  If you have a lean one way or another, pick a fave.  If you like staying well-rounded and informed, follow me on both!

I hope to see you join us there! Share the kinds of things you enjoy reading so I can consider them as I muddle through ideas and concepts for my next pieces!

LMOH: A Good Book

Maybe you're like me and your desire to jump into a book waxes and wanes.  And then maybe you're like me again in that when you do find that you're dying to jump into a good book, you're underwhelmed by your options.  I can't tell you how many books I've put down.  I try to give them 50 page (maybe 100 if they're longer) because somethings the uptick can be slow going but it ends up a great book.  Other times I'm so enthralled in the first few chapters only to be left disappointed by the half-way or three-quarters point, when suddenly everything that was good about the book evaporates and you're left with absolute garbage.

The latter has happened so frequently in the past few years that my friends and I have stopped recommending books to one another until after we are 100% finished.  No more, "OMG, I'm reading this book right now and..." conversations.  We don't want to be hoodwinked later and be recommending bad things!

So, when I look ahead of me and what I'm going to read, I'm left with a big blank "I have no idea".  So, ideas welcome!

That said, if you're looking for a good book, I have a handful to recommend.

Of course I'll start with my own books.  I write what I want to read, so I have 2 novels, 2 Spanish/English quote books, and 2 Kids books you should check out!  

Living with B - I wanted a story about living with eating disorders that didn't feel like its as dragging you down or that the only solution was religion.  Enter Nicole.  21.  Depressed.  And a voice in her head she fights with regularly.  Enjoy the occasional comedic relief as you learn that the line between "ok" and "not ok" is quite thin and that her life and inner monologue maybe isn't so different from yours.

The Summer of 3 - I wanted a summer read about relationships and combating social stereotypes that didn't involve high octane drama.  Not everyone cheats.  Not everyone is vindictive.  Sometimes the chaos is quiet and ever presently churning even though it's not noisy.  I wanted women to see themselves and their friends and their actual lives play out in a way that helps them learn something and grow.  F*** the patriarchy.  But don't screw over your friends.

Quotes in Spanish - If you're a language or quote lover - grab a copy.  They're so fun.

What Faye Loves and What Ein Prefers - a corgi series for kids 0-10.  I wanted grounding morals, lovable characters, and the charm of rhyming schemes I found I loved as a kid for the next generation.  Plus, proceeds give back to rescues!

Ok, so what other books.  Here are some of my other faves:

The Thirtheenth Tale - I'm not a fan of eerie or dark mystery, but I loved this book.  Strong characters.  Enticing read.  Makes you think.

Memoirs of a Geisha - I feel like everyone read this book 20 years ago, but the newer readers may have skipped it because it's 'old'.  It's not.  It's a great story about the struggles of women.  Timeless.  And so beautifully written.

The House on the Cerulean Sea - I picked this up via an online recommendation, and it did not disappoint.  I kept wanting it to be like Harry Potter, but it's not 'magical' in that way.  It's relatable and it makes you hope the underdog wins. If you've even been outside the main stream, you'll love this book.

Where the Sidewalk Ends - Poetry and short stories that speak to the kid inside you.  And they land differently as an adult.  It's not just 'fun to read' but it makes you think about all the ways these stories apply now that you never appreciated.

Never - Woah.  Heavy.  Deep.  Not uplifting at all, but wildly honest and real.  If you want to understand geopolitics and the global intricacies of dependency and power, and how all that is actually hangs by very precarious threads - this is a great read.

Hail Mary - All I can say is the movie had better do it justice.  I'm not big on sci-fi, and yet I gobbled up this book in less than a week.  Transportive.  Emotional.  Nail bitting.  Everything.  Yes, yes, yes.

Name of the Wind - I will warn you, I fell in love with this book and then was devastated to find out the series remains unfinished.  It's the first of 3, and it and the second book are out, but not the third.  It's a little like the darker side of magic without being a dark book, and I love that about it.

Maybe You Should Talk To Someone - a psychology book for people who like to learn how the brain works, people thing, and problems are unwound.  Yes, there are partnering workbooks you can read along with this, but the book on its own is a win.

I probably could go on, but these are the 'top of mind' faves, if you will.  Share yours! Can't wait to hear what everyone else is reading, too!