Friday Finds #37: Waiting Out Winter

Hello friends! I hope you’re all doing well while we wait out winter. Our temps are staying in the teens with more snow on the way. I have to confess, it does look pretty outside and I’m finding ways to enjoy being indoors until the wind chill calms down. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Blue House in Winter with White Picket Fence

Eating healthy is something I’m really focusing on right now. I just got results of blood work and my cholesterol is much too high. It runs in my family. My doctor is treating it by having me take niacin, which can cause flushing. So I thought I was smart by switching to flush-free niacin for the past six months.

Well guess what? Flush-free niacin doesn’t treat high cholesterol. You have to take the “regular” niacin. Sigh. So now I’m on a stronger dose of non flush-free niacin and yes, I do experiencing flushing, but not every day. Flushing starts with your skin getting itchy (for me it’s mostly my arms) followed by your skin feeling hot and even turning red. It’s like you have a bad sunburn for about 30 minutes. Then it goes away and all is well.

In addition, I’m changing my diet. I’m a pescetarian – which is a vegetarian who eats fish – but I love my pasta and bread. So I’m cutting back on breads and pasta and increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables I eat. I do have steel-cut oatmeal a few times a week because it helps with cholesterol. And I’m drinking pomegranate juice about five times weekly, for the same reason – along with more water.

Exercise is important to reduce cholesterol so it’s good that I like to walk, run, and ride my bike. But right now it’s so cold I’m not getting outside as much as I’d like. Enough about health and fitness, let’s get on with this week’s finds.

Friday Finds for You …

Don’t miss this utterly charming townhouse in Sweden. From the entryway staircase to the romantic bedroom, you’re sure to love this European home.

One thing I love about winter is all the white. Especially when the tree branches are frosty and a fresh coating of snow glistens in the sun. With that in mind, I find this collection of winter white bedrooms to be especially dreamy.

Looking for an inexpensive, last-minute Valentine’s Day gift for a loved one? How about a fun, heart-shaped waffle maker?

I stumbled across a post on how to create a cohesive look in your home. The tips are practical and easy to implement.

Finally, the new cook book I’m using to help me eat more veggies is the Vegetable Cookbook for Vegetarians. So far I’ve made two recipes and they were both amazing. I think I’m going to make every recipe – just like the move Julie and Julia.

Stay warm this weekend – and I’d love to hear what you’re doing to help you wait out the rest of winter!

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3 Comments

  1. I love, love, love, your blog! I look for it almost daily. I live in Montana now, and am from Rockford, Illinois. I love the Midwest architecture and miss it. I also love winter in ways I never anticipated before moving here. I’m most always disappointed that winter is done as the season provides so much to do outdoors! I xc ski now, regularly, and downhill ski, and there’s more to do than that! So keep posting your beautiful photos and keep being positive about winter! It keeps my spirits higher in this time that tends to shout negativity.

  2. Thank you that was fun and entertaining. I loved the townhouse and white bedrooms, lots to see on this cold day. I truly feel sorry for people going to work and am so glad I am retired.

  3. Julie and Julia! Meryl Streep plays that role to perfection! Stanley Tucci with her also in The Devil Wears Prada make a great team. Hilarious! Sounds like you already do so well with your eating and exercise but that book on veggies looks interestingly tempting. I bet you could make every recipe and fill your freezer full. I can see Meryl’s attempts (Julia’s) at the French language so you must translate every recipe into French as you cook…there is a challenge for ya. I hear you on trying to keep active in this cold weather. 7″ plus coming next week…sigh…the summer walks with my dogs and tending to the yard and garden help so much..now inside DVD’s with Yoga, Pilates, some weights to keep the arm flab from blowing in the wind and a treadmill help me get through. It’s hard not to curl up with a good book and forget about it:0) Hope the niacin helps with the cholesterol but with no meats your doing really well. Not a meat eater either but eggs/fish mainly. A cup of Dunkin Vanilla coffee, Pods non dairy vanilla with some dark chocolate is my go to. The Sweden Townhome is so cute! So is that little waffle iron! Flower garden planning is my optimism.