Endometriosis Awareness: My Story and Support for Fellow Sufferers

March 2nd-9th is know internationally as Endometriosis Awareness Week and this year I've decided to share my own experience with this affliction in hopes to help other women out there that have been diagnosed or suspect they may have it. Endometriosis is a condition in which the cells of the uterine lining, the same ones that are shed with each period, somehow escape the womb and end up attaching themselves to different areas of the body, mainly within the abdomen. Problems then arise because these cells react with menstrual hormones the same way they do inside the uterus and start to collect blood that has no way of being expelled therefor resulting in large cysts, inflammation and scar tissue that grows more and more with each period, sticking to organs and distorting their normal positions. It can become extremely painful with time and cause permanent damage if not treated.

 The current statistics say that 10% of women worldwide are living with endometriosis, thats roughly 176 million women. And the reason that raising awareness is so incredibly important is because there's still so much unknown about what causes this disease and how it can be prevented/cured. To donate to Endometriosis research please go to http://www.endometriosis-uk.org/donate there are so many easy ways to help out!  I myself suffered terribly with it for 11 years till a diagnosis was reached and sadly thats the case for most women.

See, in 2008 I became extremely ill. I withered down from 124 lbs to 103 lbs in the space of about 5 months without any change in my diet or exercise. I was very anemic, had zero energy and had terrible twisting pain in my lower abdomen which was unbearable during periods (sorry guy readers, TMI). Everyone around me was getting increasingly concerned because of my shrinking frame yet I was still in denial, mostly out of fear that it was something scary but when I actually started to feel a palpable hard object when I pressed down on my lower tummy I decided to put my fears aside and go see a doctor. They took blood and other tests which didn't ring any cancer alarms so then I was sent for an ultrasound and thats when I got my first glance at the monster that is Endometriosis. The technician pointed up at the screen as she rolled over the hard spot in my lower abdomen and a huge black oval slowly appeared. I watched her take screen measurements with her mouse...12 by 14 cm! And another golf ball sized one right next to it! These things were attached to my tiny left ovary. I was sent for surgery 3 weeks later which was supposed to be laparoscopic but the large cyst had grown too large so they had to cut me wide open. Luckily, they were able to save both ovaries and my uterus during the procedure. Five days in the hospital and a six inch scar later, I was home recuperating.

I was put on birth control which I have to take continuously for three months at a time to avoid any further cyst growth though I did have to go back into surgery a second time (laparoscopic this time, phew!) to remove the second cyst which had gone from golf ball sized to orange sized a year later. Since that last surgery I haven't had any major crisis', just a few minor period problems and for the last 2 1/2 years I've been completely all good! I still stay on the continuous birth control but now I even consider my diet when it comes to endometriosis. Some studies speculate that the hormones and antibiotics in mass produced meat can be to blame for not only endometriosis but all kinds of reproductive disorders, especially in women. And a diet high in vitamins, minerals and good fats and regular exercise can help keep symptoms at bay. Following this kind of lifestyle is the best thing to do for your health anyway so it's a win win for me!

Now, here are some quick facts about Endometriosis that definitely helped me in the beginning:

Symptoms Include:
Heavy and painful periods, twisting pain before and after periods, occasional pain during sex, tiredness, lack of energy, digestive problems, pain during vigorous exercise or ab work outs, pain when you press down on parts of your lower abdomen.

If you have more than a few of the symptoms above you should see your gynecologist asap.

- Endometriosis is not an infectious or contagious disease.

- Endometriosis can occur in females of any age or race.

- What causes endometriosis is still unknown.

- Exercises like yoga, Pilates and swimming can help alleviate pain and stress caused by endometriosis.

- Though getting pregnant might be challenging for endometriosis sufferers there are plenty of options nowadays and once you are pregnant, your endometriosis should not cause any problems.

Well I hope anyone reading this has found the information they need and if you what to learn any more please visit: http://www.endometriosis-uk.org


PJJ xx

Our Visit with Anne, Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace

A few weeks ago my husband and I received a very exciting invitation in the mail that instantly made me feel like a giddy little girl in a Cinderella fantasy. It was an invitation to join Anne, Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace in support of the Animal Health Trust which is a charity organisation my husband does work for. We were invited to Buckingham Palace and to meet a real life princess!!!

Anne, Princess Royal who, ahem, happens to be the Queen's only daughter is the President of the Animal Health Trust which raises funds to research animal diseases and injuries, find cures and learn how to prevent them. It's absolutely AMAZING what this charity can do for our furry family members using top of the line diagnostics and equipment. And every penny goes into more research, research that is shared with ALL veterinarians everywhere so that our pets have the very best of care when they need it. How cool is that?! If you want to learn more and even donate, check out their website here: http://www.aht.org.uk 

So, we got all dolled up and headed off to Buckingham Palace. When we arrived the changing of the guard had just begun and there were about a thousand tourists outside the gates snapping photos and watching. We got a little bit confused by the parking instructions on the invite and thought that surely we don't just drive in through the front gates, like, that would be crazy.....BUT WE DID! We asked a security guard and showed him the invitation and he actually stopped traffic and directed us straight through the gates! And even crazier, we got to park our car right in front of the actual Palace! As if we were just popping into a pal's house for tea and cookies or something. We couldn't believe it. My husband really wanted a photo of his Range Rover parked in front of Buckingham Palace so I asked a guard who very politely advised us that no photos are allowed once you're inside the gates or everyone gets in trouble. So unfortunately we don't have any personal pics from that day but luckily there was an in house photographer (Matt Leete mattleete.com) to take a few snaps. 

Upon entering the palace through the Privy Purse entrance we had to leave our coats and cell phones in the cloak room before our lovely greeter lead all of us (about 50 people) up the grand staircase to the Principal Corridor for sparkling wine and juice. We mingled with the other guests for a bit but couldn't help but look all around and really take everything in. Glancing out of the big windows of the Principal Corridor we saw two stunning horse and carriages on stand-by in the courtyard waiting to whisk away whatever important ambassadors were meeting with the Queen that day. The Queen was in though we didn't get to see her. We were even allowed into one of the guest bedrooms to use the restroom. The bedroom looked as if they hadn't changed its decor since the Victorian era with a HUGE comfy bed and very ornate antique furniture and paintings. From the window you could see the front gates and the crowds behind them, that's when it really sunk in that I was actually inside!

From the Principal Corridor we moved to the Chinese Dining Room for the AHT presentation in which the Princess Royal spoke to the group about the importance of the organisation and what has been achieved so far. She was a terrific speaker with so much passion for the cause and for animals. My admiration for her definitely grew to new heights, what a woman. After the presentation we moved on to the Center Room which is has the famous balcony we've all seen newly wed royals kissing and waving from. They served us delightful little canapés of smoked salmon toast, fish cakes, pesto pastry scrolls and chocolate mouse squares with gold flecks and of course, more sparkling wine. 

We were divided into groups for Anne, Princess Royal to meet and greet us. When she finally got to our group, which was the last group, I was so anxious. One of the women in our group gave me a bit of a panic because she said we MUST address her as Ma'am and nothing else. No , "lovely to meet you" or "your royal highness" just "Ma'am". I had no clue of this protocol so it suddenly made me kind of nearvous. Well, there was no need to be nearvous at all really. She was very gracious and warm and quite easy to chat with. I honestly don't know how the royals do it! Always meeting and talking to so many people in a single room with an ounce of apathy. She chatted with some of the men about golf and rugby and even threw in some jokes with my husband about him being a Welsh man that's not into rugby and doesn't know anything about Welsh Corgies. 

We somehow got onto the topic of our dogs and their genetics and she explained to us about the Animal Health Trust's genetics testing for dog breeders because there are certain genetic illnesses that need to be bred out in which I spoke to her about our dog Frances' hereditary deafness. She explained to me that in white pure bred dogs if a color hasn't been bred in after two generations then the deaf gene will keep getting passed on. Well I can now say I've learned an interesting fact personally from a royal. Whip smart, funny and very kind. Anne, Princess Royal is exactly the kind of princess you'd hope a princess to be. 

PJJ xx

Quick and Easy Breakfast Toast Fingers

No need for a long explanation for this one. All you need to know is that these a superbly tasty little breakfast bites and you will love them. Nuff said.

All you need is:

1 or 2 slices of toast per person (I used gluten free but choose what you want)

A little bit of butter or sunflower oil spread

3 strips cooked bacon per each slice of toast

Grated cheddar and/or Gruyere 

1/2 cup sliced baby tomatoes

1 egg per slice of toast

Fresh chopped chives

Salt and pepper to taste

First, Heat your oven broiler to high. Butter your toast and place in a large baking dish side by side. Lay the bacon strip diagonally on each toast. 

Sprinkle a handful of the cheese over the bacon evenly then dot the sliced tomatoes on top. Broil for about 5 minutes or till cheese is bubbling. 

Meanwhile, in a large skillet and using a tiny bit of oil, start frying each egg on both sides and setting them aside. Remove, the toast from the oven and place a fried egg on each piece. 

Use a large knife to slice the toast into 4 strips. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and chives then yum it up! 

Oooooh....ahhhhh.

PJJ xx

A Perfect Pancake Day

So yesterday was Pancake Day and I thought we should go all out this year and just have a full day of pancake everything! And it's great because you can have savoury and sweet pancakes so they're basically an all day food, not just breakfast. I personally hadn't ever made savoury pancakes before so it was exciting to come up with an interesting flavor.

Now, I know it doesn't sound like the healthiest of days to celebrate but I did make sure we substituted in healthy ingredients where we could, like using whole grain and seeded flour instead of plain white flour, and all the pancakes came out beautifully! I even made a batch of dog friendly pancakes which really went down a treat. We're trying to fatten up our little girl doggy Frances since she was recently diagnosed with Addison's disease after not eating for 5 days straight. I think she had about 4 pancakes and still wanted more! (Recipes for all pancakes below)

Sweet Potato Pancakes for Dogs (makes about 9 medium sized pancakes)

Recipe:

1 cup (150g) whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 egg

1 cup (250ml) low fat milk

1 cup (200g) cooked and mashed sweet potato

2 Tbs olive oil, plus 1 more for the skillet

First mix all the dry ingredients well in a bowl. Crack the egg into the center then add the milk, sweet potato and olive oil and stir gently till well mixed. It will be lumpy but that's ok, don't over mix or pancakes will be tough. Heat oil in a large skillet or griddle pan on medium heat. Pour about 1/3 cup of the batter for each pancake, I use an actual 1/3 measuring cup to do this. Once bubbles start to form, flip the pancakes and let cook for a minute or so. Let all the pancakes cool off completely before feeding to your pooch. Hope they love 'em! 

Never disturb a man making crepes. Serious business.

Savoury filled crepe style pancakes over roasted shaved Brussels sprouts

Ingredients: 

For the Brussels sprouts-

1 1/2 lbs fresh Brussels sprouts, sliced thin

4 garlic cloves minced

1 red onion, sliced thin

3 Tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

For the crepes-

1 cup (150g) whole wheat flour

Pinch of salt

2 eggs

1 cup (250ml) milk + 1/4 cup (60ml) water

2 Tbsp melted butter, cooled

2 Tbsp olive oil

For the filling 

Grated Gruyere  

Diced cooked ham

Yellow mustard

Heat oven to 400f/200c. Mix all ingredients for the Brussels sprouts and roast for 20 minutes, tossing with a spatula occasionally. Remove and set aside. 

Now for the crepes, use a fork to mix the flour and salt well. I use a fork because I can't be bothered to sift and it actually turned out just fine. Anyway, fold in the egg, milk, water, melted butter and olive oil till well mixed but don't over mix, lumps are ok. Heat up a large non-stick skillet and add a dab of oil. Pour about half a cup of the batter into the hot skillet and tilt to evenly coat the bottom with the batter. When little bubbles start to form, loosen the edges of the crepe with a spatula and using the spatula to aid you, flip the crepe quickly. This can be pretty tricky but don't worry if you mess up, the scraps are just as tasty. 

Immediately after flipping, place the cheese and ham in a thick line down the middle. Let cook for about a minute then fold the sides of the crepe over the cheese and ham and press down gently. Scoop some of the roasted Brussels sprouts on a plate and lay the filled crepe on top of them. Enjoy with yellow mustard. 

And now for dessert....

Whole grain seeded buttermilk pancakes with fresh apple and rhubarb compote (makes 9 medium pancakes)

Ingredients:

For the compote-

1 stalk of rhubarb, chopped

2 green apples, peeled and chopped

3 Tbsp unsalted butter

3 Tbs brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

For the pancakes-

1 cup (150g) whole wheat seeded flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 Tbsp raw sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups (375ml) low fat buttermilk

2 Tbsp melted butter, cooled

First make the compote. Add all the compote ingredients to a small saucepan and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn of heat and cover. Now for the pancakes, mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Fold in the egg, buttermilk and melted butter and mix gently till all combined. Do not over mix or pancake will turn out tough.

Heat a drop of olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Pour 1/3 cup of batter onto hot skillet for each pancake. Once bubbles start to form around the edges, flip. Once each pancake is done, place onto a plate and cover with foil to keep moist. Serve with a dollop of compote in between each pancake and for an extra treat top with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Yum!

PJJ xx

Bring a Room to Life with Color!

Spring is just around the corner and after finishing spring cleaning it's a perfect time to add some pizazz to your home. I personally think adding a big dose of color is the best way to welcome warmer sunnier weather and my friends at www.chairish.com with all of their FABULOUS vintage home furnishings have exactly what's needed for a bright boost. I've put together a whole spread of everything I would choose from the Chairish website to make an awesomely vibrant sitting room to share with the friends and family that come over for a springy drink!

This rug makes a stunning centerpeice to start. If you're having trouble coming up with design ideas for a room try starting with a great rug and work your way around it. Check out more groovy vintage rugs like this at https://www.chairish.com/collection/rugs .

I love having plenty of seating space for guests so we can all just relax and hang out without feeling cramped. How cool are all these colourful vintage pieces?? Oh and I'm dying over the coffee table...I chose glass so you can still see the design of the rug underneath.

I love a good side table so we that have lots of places to set drinks or nibbles and since I'm a huge cocktail making fan, a fancy drink cart would be a dream!

Of course there needs to be storage as well and this worn blue credenza would add such a fun hue to the room. I chose some quirky decorative objects to put on top that I think go with its blue theme.

You can't forget about the walls when adding color and since many of us don't want to commit to actually painting our walls I think the best solution is to add art! I like funky conversation starters.

Well there you have it! Taking a plain white room to new heights with color. Hope you all can find some inspiration for your own homes here. 

PJJ xx

Special Guest Writer Brandon Rose's Valentines Day Advice for the Fellas

Hey everyone! Meet my very first guest writer Brandon Rose. He has some fantastic ideas that every guy should pay close attention to this Valentines Day. I mean, let's face it, romance isn't always second nature for most men so guys, lend this man your ears. Oh and for the ladies reading, if you wanna give your Valentine a "hint hint", just casually leave this page open on his laptop or iPad, cross your fingers and hope for the best. On to you Brandon! 

 Making Valentine’s Day Special For Her

By: Brandon Rose

 

 

Fellas, Valentine’s Day is the one-day a year you need to put in 100% effort for your significant other.  Because you know what happens on February 15^th?  Your girl and all of her girlfriends get together to brag about what their men have done for them, and this is the one contest where you don’t want to be the loser.  This year, up your Valentine’s Day game with these tips and be the guy who puts some thought into her special day.  

 

Flowers are a definite must on Valentine’s Day but don’t just pick up a bunch from the petrol station. Bad move. Believe me she will be able to tell. Do yourself a favour and call your local florist ahead of time and order something decent. Red roses are your classic Valentine’s Day flower and are always a good choice, but if you know that your girl has a thing for white tiger lilies, don’t be afraid to deviate from the norm and get her what you know she likes.  Sending your woman flowers at work is always a smooth move and especially if you send them the day before Valentine’s Day with a note that lets her know how you couldn’t wait until February 14^th to show her how much you love her. Congratulations! You just earned some serious brownie points while disarming your competition that all send flowers to their women at work the following day with a message that doesn’t matter because you did it first.  Be an original, because nobody remembers who the second guy was to walk on the moon.

 

Also as Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year why not book your lady in for a beauty treatment at her local beauty salon. You may just be able to coincide it while the match is on. Smooth move again.

 

You’ve now got some nice momentum going, and you want to capitalise on it so make sure you also book a table at her favorite restaurant for an evening date. But remember restaurants are bound to get booked up quickly so make a reservation now.  If there’s already no room at the Inn, maybe her favourite restaurant does home delivery? Draw the curtains, light some candles, fire up the Barry White and hey presto… you’ve set the scene for one romantic evening in. 

 

For dessert, send her on a treasure hunt.  Buy her three or four little gifts and hide them throughout the house with clues attached to each that lead her to the next gift.  Make the hints rhyme for added effect and watch her squeal in delight.  The gifts can be small, such as her favourite chocolate bar, a gift certificate to the nail salon, or her favourite perfume. However, of course jewellery is always a big winner too.  Have the last clue lead her to the freezer where her favorite desert is waiting for her.  Enjoy it together and pour on the romance thick, because you just made her Valentine’s Day special, and all of her girlfriends jealous.

 

- Follow Brandon on Instagram @brandonrose99

My Ultimate Umami Venison Chili aka The Best Damn Chilli On Earth!

Alright, alright I know it's a HUGE claim but I honestly have never made a batch this delicious and I've made A LOT of tasty chili over the years. I've recently become obsessed with the term "umami". What is it exactly? What's it made of? And how can I create my own?! Most people, like myself, have heard the word umami but don't have a clue why it's so special. 

Well here's a quick breakdown: Umami is a flavor now considered to be the fifth taste sensation on our palates (the others being salty, sweet, bitter and sour). It's basically an intense savoury flavor with brothy meaty roasted undertones that lingers in the mouth and induces salivation. It's the kind of flavor that keeps you coming back for more, and more....and more! It's created from different combinations of all kinds of ingredients such as anchovy, mushroom, parmesan cheese and rich tomato just to name a few. Some simple examples of an umami combination is the meat, bacon, cheese and tomato ketchup of a cheeseburger or soy sauce mixed with stir fried vegetables. Then there's a more complex way to get your umami on by carefully concocting umami ingredients into a sauce, soup or seasoning. This is where my new venison chili recipe comes into play. 

I made a list of my usual chili ingredients (some of which were already umami conducive) then I added a bunch more umami flavors just to give it a super umami punch and man oh man....it effing worked! It's not a particularly spicy chili because I didn't want spicyness to override the intensity of the umami but there is just enough to get that warming chilli feel. Now, be forewarned there are a stupid amount of ingredients involved to get this chili just right but trust me, it's well worth it and makes a large batch that can be eaten for days or saved in the freezer. 

Also, I used and recommend a slow cooker to avoid burning on the bottom of the pot. 

Serves 8-10

Recipe ingredients:

1 tall can of beer (any kind you prefer)

1 small can tomato paste

1 can chopped tomatoes

2 cups beef stock

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can black beans, drained

1 bulb black garlic (cloves removed and mashed into a paste)

1 1/2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce

2 jalapeños, chopped with seeds and white veins removed

2 anchovy fillets, minced

2 bay leaves

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp ground coriander 

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 1/4 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp dried parsley

1 tsp chili powder

2 Tbs brown sugar

2 tsp sea salt

Generous dash of fresh ground black pepper

1 cup pancetta

1 cup cubed chorizo

1 1/2 lbs ground venison (can substitute lean ground beef)

2 bell peppers chopped

1 1/2 onions (yellow and red) chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

Optional toppings:

Sharp cheddar

Sour cream

Chives

Green onion

Avocado

Fresh cilantro

Chili flakes for added heat if desired. 

 

Instructions:

Turn slow cooker on high and add first 11 ingredients. In a small bowl, mix the next 10 ingredients to make the chilli spice mixture. Add the chilli spice mixture to the slow cooker and stir well. Now, brown the pancetta and chorizo in a large skillet then add to slow cooker, leaving the drippings in the skillet. Brown the venison in the drippings then add it to the slow cooker, still reserving the drippings in the skillet. Finally, sauté the bell peppers, onions and garlic in the drippings (add oil if needed) till soft then add them to the slow cooker. Stir all ingredients well and let slow cook on high for 4 to 5 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve on its own or with toppings. Enjoy that umami goodness! 

PJJ xx