Do you ever feel stagnate?

How did my credit card know it was August?

Do you ever feel stagnate? I do. Often. I think for me, it is tied in with the seasons. We are encroaching on the end of August and for me that triggers a whole host of to-do’s.

It used to be prepping my kid for back to school after labour day weekend when living in Toronto. In Phoenix, it changed to the beginning of August which really messed my inner mojo. Now I have no kids to prep, and life morphed again.

Now, it’s where are we going to park the Motorcoach for the winter, and what highway are we going to take to meander there. Fun, I know, not stressful. But a change nonetheless.

August means September which quickly morphs into winter. It is just how I think. I used to not like the winters because they were cold and snowy. After living and working in Florida, California, Mexico and Arizona over the last 15 years, winters are fun. Who knew I just needed to follow my fellow Canadian Geese.

Most people use January as their month of clearing out the cobwebs and starting fresh. Me, It’s August. I also believe part of it is because I have been feeling restlessness, depressed and motionless. I think that is called stagnation. 

One big stagnation has been with my newsletter and what I have been doing on different levels. I did a switch of email providers 2 years ago and thought, this is it. This is the new beginning!

I was let down by the person who “promised me a rose garden” and the platform was awful. It didn’t have spellcheck, I need spellcheck, as you well know (I own it). The pictures were a bitch to upload, it was clunky and the customer service was a chat box where they referred you to a bunch of documents. The anagram 6- loyalist in me stayed even though I loathed the platform.

DECLINED

Then, something magical happened. My credit card on file declined the yearly fee. Eighteen days later (18 DAYS LATER. Yes! 18 days!) I get an email “what should I tell management? Your Credit Card Has Been Declined”

First of all, it should not take 18 days to email me, and what a terrible email headline. What if the guy behind me in the coffee shop peeked over my shoulder and saw that? I would be looking for a portable hole to swallow me whole. Then the email is cleverly written as if they have my back. Weird!

The whole system was awful and was holding me back. But the thought of moving forward ebbed away each Tuesday only to reappear on Sunday night in a fit of frustration. Here was my chance. So, I broke up with my email provider. 

Like any relationship it’s not me, it’s you. It was more than just the platform. Not leaving the relationship kept me in a chronic perpetual state of excuses to not grow and flow.

This is it, I need to get a move on. No more excuses. My credit card did it for me, it kicked me in the ass to get moving forward in all areas of my life. Did my credit card know it was August?

I have been feeling like I need to shift my newsletter into more of a general conversation full of helpful information and share more insights into different areas of health and wellness.

I was not sure how to do this because all I have done for the last 15 years is talk on a stage, in workshops and groups about gut health and spew out a bunch of facts that I hope would motivate one person to make a difference. Everyone is an expert on gut health and the platform is saturated. I have found my platform fading. Or, is it I am getting older?

I am still going to talk all things gut, however, attempt it in a different format. I will still share facts on health, a recipe and my travels. I like that. I hope you do too. 

What do you want from me?

Of course, what I would really love, is if you would tell me what you would like to learn about or see here in the future. This is why I ask, if you need general advice, or have a burning question you would like answered, or a topic covered, hit reply to the email and I will get it answered. I really want to answer your questions health-related or not. And, do not worry, I will only use your first name. No one will know it’s you. Share your thoughts, praise, dislikes and your questions that need the real facts and the real truth. 

I think the zinc and vitamin B6 are finally getting me my mojo back. The cobwebs have been swept away. It’s a trial and error, and I will appreciate your feedback along the way. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I think you may be able to comment right on the platform or this email. I would love to see your comments. It’s lonely as a newsletter writer.

Writing these weekly emails reminds me of my radio DJ days, I had no idea if people were enjoying what they were listening to unless they called in and said something.

Welcome to the first newsletter on a brand new platform 

So, here it is, your cobweb-free newsletter update on a platform called Substack. This platform has text, audio and video. So many times I have wanted to share a video with you all and now I can. Progress!

I will also share with you, I have been working on a 10-minute video show. I Have one episode completed, the second one has been shot and partially edited and the third, scripted out. I want to get 3 ready before I launch it and I am super excited. 

And lastly, in the future (it’s coming) I can offer subscription-based programs right here on Substack. I am not sure what that looks like right now, feedback from you would be helpful for the direction. It can be on anything, any topic- if there are things you would like to learn about life, health, business, habit forming, or mini tips, let me know. Or drop a comment.

I do have one thing in mind, and that is how to feel good again. This last year has been challenging trying to get over Long Covid. My energy went down, and I have been dealing with existential depression, weight gain terrible skin issues, and hip and knee issues. I think my warranty expired. Or, maybe I should have put my health in the hands of my credit card. 

So, I must thank my credit card and August for teaming up, taking control and getting me to move on. Are you ready to hang out with me? 

How are you feeling? How is your mojo? Are the cobwebs getting thicker and thicker? Let me know. What changes do you want to make in your life? What do you need to let go of? 

While you are thinking of these questions, why not ponder it all over a Strawberry Short-Waffle recipe that is super good and super easy to make. Sound good? 

Fluffy short-waffles

I have a client who had some serious gut issues and I put him on a specific food program based on his GI MAP results. He has made incredible improvements however, he was missing strawberry shortcake. 

I got to work and came up with two recipes. I’ll share one this week The Fluffy Strawberry Short-waffle and the other next week. They are quite different. This recipe is light and fluffy and is great for stacking. 

They do dry out quite quickly if you are using a keto or low-carb sugar in place of the honey. The honey tends to make them a bit less dry. I would make these the day of and not really look to make leftovers. But, it will give the same mouth feeling as angel food cake. 

This recipe is made with a mini waffle maker. I used the DASH mini waffle maker making it quick and easy without heating up the kitchen during the summer months. 

The way I make gluten-free, paleo or Keto strawberry shortcakes is as simple as possible. I do not add sweetener to the strawberries or the whipping cream, (in coconut cream I would add a bit of sweetener). Once your taste buds are cleaned up, you can easily appreciate and enjoy the sweetness of simple fresh ingredients. And this recipe does not disappoint. Therefore, I am leaving out the added sweetener. 

If you want to cure the strawberries with sugar, honey or a sweetener, you can. My mum would cut up the strawberries the night before and sprinkle sugar over them, refrigerate them overnight and they would create a juice. Granted that is super delicious, I was also a sugar junkie!

You can use coconut cream instead of whipping cream if you are trying to clean up your gut. The company I use is Aroy-D coconut milk. They do not add any thickening agents or sulfites which are really hard on the gut.  

I get a six-pack of the small 8.5 Oz, containers which are perfect for cooking with. I also get their coconut cream because it is super thick. Perfect for whipping up to plunk a dollop on deserts.

They now carry the coconut cream in the 8.5 oz 6 pack, which I am getting after finishing up this week’s reads. 

One more thing, opt for organic strawberries. Strawberries are heavily sprayed with pesticides. Organic strawberries are ten times sweeter. Here is a little tip, go for the smallest berries as they will be sweeter than the big ones. 

Strawberry Short-Waffle

This recipe only makes 3-4 waffles. If you need more double the recipe. 

Dash mini waffle maker 

Make the strawberries and whipped cream the night before, but not necessary

Prep time 20 min

Overall time 30-40 minutes

Serves 3- 4 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup Whipping cream or coconut cream

• 1 box or plastic container of strawberries, cut into small pieces or sliced

• 1 large egg

• 1 tb honey (or Swerve for low carb)

• 1 tsp vanilla 

• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt ( I used Fage Total 5%)

• 1 cup almond flour 

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp Celtic sea salt

• 1 tsp of oil or ghee for greasing the waffle maker

• 1 tablespoon measuring spoon

If you did not cut up the strawberries the night before, do this now cut them however you like, add to a bowl and then stick them in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them.

If you did not make the whipping cream the night before, do that now. pretty easy, whip either whipping cream or coconut cream until stiff peaks form with a blender or hand mixer. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Heat the mini waffle maker while you prepare the ingredients. 

In a medium bowl, crack the egg into the bowl and mix the yolk and whites with a fork. Add 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and mix again until honey is combined. Add the 1/4 cup of greek yogurt and mix until well combined. Set aside. 

In another bowl add 1 cup of almond flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of Celtic sea salt. Either whisk or use your hands to thoroughly combine, making sure there are no lumps. 

Add the powdered ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. 

Lightly grease the mini waffle maker with a bit of ghee or avocado oil. Also, lightly grease a tablespoon. Spoon out 2 tablespoons of waffle batter into the middle of the waffle maker. Close the lid and cook for 1 minute. Carefully remove with a small spatula. Repeat until the batter is all used up, coating the spoon each time to prevent the batter from sticking.

To serve, on individual small plates, add one waffle, add some strawberries about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup, and a good hefty spoonful or two of whipped cream on top. 

If you want to double-decker- why not, add a tablespoon of cream, 1/4 cup of strawberries,  add the second waffle, a little more strawberries and another dollop of whipping cream. 

Serve and enjoy immediately! 

Until next week, be sure to leave me a comment or two. Have a great week,

Karen

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