Period Peace book in development

1. Preface
Who says that menopause is no laughing matter? After skimming most of the
available menopause materials, we’ve learned that this is a topic that needs
some serious lightening up. Period Peace does not contain much scary informa-
tion about terrible mid-life diseases, nasty bodily changes, or expensive
remedies. (That information can be found in all of those “other” books).
Period Peace is a unique book that will provide EHH (a little Education,
lots of Humor, and some Hope) for peri-menopausal women (PMW’s) who
want sound bites of wisdom and a full serving of fun.
We’ve included to some of the fun activities of our youth such as: word scram-
bles, mazes, crossword puzzles, and more. Our version of this fun and familiar
format contains a distinctly mature menopausal twist.We’ve also included some
of our favorite comfort food recipes. Why? Because we couldn’t possibly have
written a book about and for women without sharing recipes and talking about
food.
Don’t think Period Peace is all just fun and games because we have also
included what we believe to be the most important factoids and practical
tips to help you navigate through menopause on the more peaceful side.
After interacting with Period Peace, PMW will have the essential information
required to put menopause into perspective. They will laugh and learn that
they are in the same (sweaty) boat with millions of other women in this
stunning stage of life.

2. Introduction
There are 43 million of us who are facing peri-menopause and menopause
(that is a lot of women)!!! Peri-menopause is a big deal. It happens whether
you want it to or not. Lots of misinformation is out there...too much
information is out there, so don’t believe all the bad press. Symptoms can
be non-existent, bothersome, and/or scary and it can make you feel crazy
but that doesn’t (necessarily) mean you are. Women get it but still don’t talk
about it freely. Menopause is like a very grown up version of adolescence
for women only and like any other sensitive subject, only we can make
jokes about it. Menopausal women are hot and menopause is not conta-
gious.
We have to learn to live with this thing and learning through play helps.
Everyone is entitled to her own customized, personalized menopause. It’s
ok to be irregular women. Put this book on the coffee table - put another
copy in the bathroom. As you read this book, if the lines at the corners of
your mouth go up, we have succeeded!

3. Period Peace Process
Period pain pills pronounced passé
Elevated energy emerges from emptying estrogen
Rich relationships ripen
Increasing instances of insanely important ideas
Old fashioned ovulation over and out
Diminishing dampness delivers deepening dryness
Perfectly placed pimples precipitously pop up
Extra elbow epidermis emerges
Actively engaging in activities alone or altogether
Countering caution with creative climactic celebrations
Everyday eruptions evolve into everlasting evenness

4. IQ
TEST YOUR
MENOPAUSE HAIR

5. { }
Q
hair blow dryers, flat irons, curling wands male hormones when wet
estrogen levels losing weight % 30 - % 40
using deep conditioners eating nourishing food chin
on the crown of your head plant or fruit based minoxidil
medications pregnancy
{ USE THE ABOVE PHRASES TO FILL IN THE BLANKS }
12. Blow dryers, Flat irons, Curling wands 13. Estrogen 14.Medications 15. Pregnancy
1. What helps to preserve thinning hair? ______________
9. Plant or fruit based 10. Using Deep Conditioners 11. On the Crown of your Head
2. Where may hair begin to grow during peri-menopause? ________________
1.Minoxidil 2. Chin 3. 30-40% 4. On the crown of your head 5. When wet
3. What percentage of women lose some hair during peri-menopause? ___________
4. Where may hair thin out during peri-menopause? _________________
5. When is your hair most prone to breakage or damage? __________________
6. Male hormones 7. Losing weight 8. Eating nutritious food
6. When the balance between female hormones and ___________ changes during
menopause, it can cause hair loss.?
7. What helps to control hair loss during peri-menopause? __________________
8. What can help to keep hair healthier ? ______________________
9. What kinds of shampoos are best for preventing hair loss ? __________________
10. What can help hair to look and feel less dry and brittle ? ___________________
11. Where does hair loss most frequently occur ? __________________
ANSWER KEY
12. What tools are not good for your hair ? __________________
13. A decrease in ____________________ can cause hair loss ?
14. Many kinds of __________________ can cause hair loss ?
15. Many women also experience hair loss after _____________________ ?

6. 4 Cut out the innermost circle of
the spinner. Turn to the back of
1
the Memory Game page and
insert finger through the opening.
Using it as an arrow, rotate your
finger around until you land on
3
the number of your choice.
2 Yippie!
You Remembered
Your Shopping List.
Advance 3 Spaces Who Did I Just
Dial?
Hang Up And Go
Back 5 Spaces
WHOOPS!
Why Did I Call
You?
Go Back 2 Spaces
And Think About It
FABULOUS!
You Remembered
Your Reading
Glasses.
OOPS! Advance 3 Spaces
Forgot Where You’re
Going...
Go Back 2 Spaces
Can’t Find The Keys!
GO BACK HOME
1 Space START
HERE

7. Where’s My
Wallet?
Pull Over And Congratulations!
Wait Here You Made It!...
(2 Turns)
But Why Did I
Want To Come
Here In The
Why Did I Go First Place?
Downstairs?
Go Back 1 Space
And Figure It
Out
What Was I
Suppose To Buy?
A Trip To....?
Go Back Home
And Start Again! With your other hand, choose your favorite
finger and using it as a playing piece, move
it around the board the designated number
of squares. Good luck! And remember...oh,
what were we going to say?

8. Diaphragm - Free Diva Edition
FUN LIBS
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Did you know that 43 million women are in _____________? Y it’s true. In fact, you may be one of these women. How would you
es,
(noun)
know? Well, you may have noticed that you are _________ing simple things or that you are _______ing a lot for no reason. Or, perhpas
(verb) (verb)
you have detected that your thighs have begun to _____________ and that you no longer have a _____________. Y or those close to
ou
(verb) (noun)
you may have taken notice of the downward trajectory of your _____________ or your _____________. In addition, you may have
(noun) (noun)
noticed that the frequency with which you _____________ has changed. That is, if you even continue to _____________ at all.
(verb) (verb)
Have you looked closely at your _____________ lately? Y may have observed some new _____________ on your _____________
ou
(noun) (plural noun) (noun)
or fewer _____________ on your _____________. Please know that you are in good company as many of us, in fact, 43 million of us,
(plural noun) (noun)
also have more _____________ on our _____________ and not so much _____________ on our _____________ or down on our
(noun) (noun) (noun) (noun)
_____________.
(noun)
YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT ALONE!

10. PERIOD PEACE COMPOTE
You decide which fruits move you!
Ingredients choice 1: Ingredients choice 4:
1 pint strawberries, 1 pint blueberries 16 oz prunes, 6 ounces of raisins
1 pint raspberries, 2/3 cup of sugar (add 6 ounces of fresh apricots too,
Water to cover (1/2 inch) if desired) Water to cover
(1⁄2 inch on the bottom of the pot)
Ingredients choice 2:
1 quart strawberries (halved) Ingredients choice 5:
6 large stalks of rhubarb (cut into small 1⁄2 inch 8 fresh peaches, 8 necterines
chunks), 2/3 – 1 cup of sugar 6 oz raisins, 1⁄2 cup of sugar
1⁄2 inch of water on the bottom of the pot (You can add a pinch of nutmeg,
(You will be happier if you double this recipe... cinnamon, and/or cloves to taste)
yum!) Water to cover
(1 inch on the bottom of the pot)
Ingredients choice 3:
8 large apples (We prefer Macintosh apples cut Directions:
into small chunks), 1 cup of raisins Place fruit in a medium size pot.
Add water (or cider) to pot. Add
1 stick of cinnamon, Pinch of nutmeg
sugar and mix well. Bring to a
2 cups of cider boil uncovered. Reduce tempera-
1 cup of prunes ture to low, cover the fruit mix-
ture, and cook for 20 – 30 minutes
Compote is delicious hot (or more, depending on the fruit).
or cold. It goes well with Cook until all fruit is soft and all
ice cream or cookies. It ingredients are blended together.
is great on top of pound Adjust sugar or spices to taste.
cake or sponge cake, or Test immediately. Test again with
just straight up. a clean spoon!

11. W O R D S E A R C H:
SOUNDS Like Menopause to me...
C R Y I N G G J O E L C A E K P S T N
R R D A N I E L K S A C E B T U T O L
U S E F K E I T S P O O P I N G A S W
N T R A S T L G L E L S U Z O N E S H
C T R Q K S H N I E O L L T S I B I A
H U O B N I X E U I A E L M B K G N I
Find The I T D F N L N A S N O R I N G C N G R
N H L G M E C G T G R O N R U A I O D
Following Words
G A S P R N T I H P A K G C N R D R R
Gas (enough said) C S G W C C L I O E C H K I W C N T O
Crunching Carbs A E T G E E B O O E H T K L S E U U P
Creaking bones R F Y K L A R Q C I E U R H J S O R P
Scratching itchy skin B A D A M O T T A J L R A C T E P N I
Laughing S C R A T C H I N G I T C H Y S K I N
Snoring G N I P P O P S N O T T U B O R D N G
Losing it, Cracking Up S E X S O U N D S G F I E M M A X G T
Sex Sounds
Tossing or Turning in the sheets
Silence of not eating or chewing, trying to lose weight
Unexpected Sobs and Crying
Checking the drain and the brush, Hairs Dropping
Dripping perspiration and Sweating
Sounds of a racing heart — Pounding Beats
Buttons Popping off of clothing
Peeing, peeing and peeing and peeing

12. T UE FALSE?
R OR
Hot flashes can chill you but won’t kill you. T F
Women with small breasts are not affected by gravity. T F
Rogue chin hairs can be beaded, braided or curled. T F
Women who get interrupted sleep are never crabby, dammit. T F
Itchy palms, pimples and burning feet are symptoms of menopause. T F
Men go through menopause too. T F
Menopause is like puberty only it’s worse ‘cause it is now. T F
If you forget something that was previously bothering you
because your memory stinks you feel better. T F
Many art projects can be created with surplus tampons,
sanitary napkins, condoms, diaphragms, etc. T F
Not being ‘in the mood’ can give you more free time and less laundry. T F
When people irritate you, it is because they are truly jerks. T F
Colonoscopies are way worse than menopause. T F
Friends that survive your menopause are worth their weight in gold. T F
Leg cramps and dry eyes are symptoms of menopause. T F
> lubrication = copulation T F
>

14. Period Peace Granola
Join the earthy crunchy movement Ingredients:
This recipe is a pain in the butt to make, but it is worth 6 cups of rolled oats
every second. It is perfect for getting your mind off of 1 8 oz. bag of sliced almonds
anything else, because you have to concentrate on this 1 8 oz bag of slivered almonds
process in order not to wreck the recipe. 1 8 oz. bag of broken up pecans
1 bag of sweetened coconut
(Dress lightly because the physical work involved in 1 cup of powdered milk
this recipe, as well as being so close to the broiler for so 1 cup of vegetable oil
long will make you sweat, and therefore, you can con- 1 cup of honey
sider it exercise!) Double this recipe because it is really 2 cups of ground almonds
delicious and also because it is so much of a hassle, that 8 oz of rainins
you won’t want to make it again real soon.)

15. Directions:
Turn on broiler.
Tightly cover a half of a sheet-cake pan with foil.
Spread all nuts evenly on the pan and place pan in the broiler.
Every minute or two take out the pan and move the nuts around with a spatula so that they brown evenly
but don’t burn. When nuts are all browned, move them into a very large metal bowl to cool. Spread coconut
on the pan and repeat the above, being careful to brown and not burn the coconut. (Coconut is sensitive, so
don’t take your eyes away from the broiler for a second!) Add the coconut to the nuts in the bowl. Spread the
rolled oats on the sheet-cake pan, and place them in the broiler until they too are evenly browned. When they
are done, add them to the metal bowl. Add the ground almonds to the dry mixture in the bowl and mix all
of the ingredients together.
Boil the oil and the honey together in a small pot. Then pour this liquid mixture over the nut/oats mixture.
Mix well so that all of the dry ingredients are moistened. (The nut mixture will still seem kind of dry, but
coated!) Reuse the foil if it is still in good shape, and if not, cover pan with new foil. Evenly spread half
on the mixture on the half sheet-cake pan. Return the pan to the broiler, watching the mixture constantly.
When brown, which takes less than a minute, remove the pan from the oven, turn the mixture over with a
spatula, and return the mixture to the oven. This process has to be repeated several times until the mixture is
completely browned. Remove the pan from the oven, and lift the foil with the granola on it, and place it on
a countertop to cool. Put new aluminum foil the sheet-cake pan, and evenly spread the rest of the granola
mixture on the pan. Repeat the above until browned. When it is done, as before, take the pan out of the oven,
lift the foil with the mixture on it and let it cool on the counter-top. Test, (but don’t burn your tongue!).
If desired, add raisins to the mixture when it is still warm.
Allow to cool completely and then refrigerate in an air tight container.
Take a shower.

16. WDOR CSMERLBA
(WORD SCRAMBLE)
Good things to do to treat yourself right!
Answer Key In Back
veah xse 1. _______________
zisimouret 2. _______________
kdnir slto fo trawe 3. _______________
og tou ihwt sirenfd 4. _______________
klaw 5. _______________
detamtie 6. _______________
tea hhaltye sodof 7. _______________
sexciree 8. _______________
dare 9. _______________
renal gothmesin wen 10. _______________
axelr 11. _______________
kate snap 12. _______________
eatk simivat 13. _______________

18. PERIOD PEACE
Vegetarian (or not) Mushroom Barley Soup
(Ira Mitlin’s original recipe)
Ingredients: Directions:
1 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into chunks Fill 2/3 of a large soup pot, fill the
1 1⁄2 lbs parsnips, peeled and cut into small chunks pot with water. Place all ingredi-
3 large chopped onions ents except for the mushrooms and
3 pkgs. vegetable soup mix or bean and barley soup the salt and pepper into the pot.
mix with bag of spices Bring to a boil.Reduce heat to low,
6 large stalks of celery, chopped and cook for 2 1⁄2 hours covered
1 turnip, peeled and cut into chunks (stirring every 1⁄2 hour or so). Add
1 cup split peas mushrooms and cook for another
1 cup lima beans (soak in hot water, or microwave 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to
for five minutes and then pinch off outer shell) taste.
1⁄2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 boxes fresh mushrooms,
sliced (If you like soup with
meat, then add 1 pound of
brisket cut up into chunks and
two beef soup bones with all
of the other ingredients )
Salt and pepper to taste

19. Start Here “LAST ONE OUT IS Start Here
A ROTTEN EGG” MAZE
OVARY OVARY
UTERUS
Try and help your eggs leave
your body.
Start in the Ovaries and work
your way through the Uterus.
Now, isn’t this FUN?!

22. Period Peace Salad Dressings
Bold and Sassy Classic (Ooh La La)Vinaigrette
Balsamic Vinaigrette 1 egg yolk
1⁄2 cup Canola Oil 1/2 cup olive oil
1⁄2 cup Balsamic vinegar 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar
1 pinch of fresh chopped oregano 1 and 1⁄2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 pinch salt Salt and pepper to taste
1 pinch pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon sugar Whisk egg yolk until it is thick and lemon
yellow in color. Slowly add the oil, whisking
Add all ingredients into a sealable container it briskly as you add it in. Do this very slowly
or a jar with a lid. Shake well and serve on or else the dressing will “break” and you
your favorite salad recipe. Store in the refrig- will have to begin again. Once all the oil has
erator. Keeps very well for up to three weeks. been added and thoroughly whisked, add the
vinegar, Dijon, salt, and pepper. Whisk a bit
and serve or refrigerate 30 minutes and then
serve as dressing on salad. Also makes a great
dipping sauce for cooked artichokes!

23. Caesar With a Kick Unforgettable Lemon Vinaigrette
1 large clove of garlic, crushed 1 cup virgin olive oil
1⁄4 cup olive oil 1⁄2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/8 cup red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon salt
4 anchovy filets, mashed up into a paste 1 tablespoon honey
with a fork 1 heaping teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon brown mustard
Salt and pepper to taste Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk
well until thoroughly combined. Drizzle over
Crush the garlic well and put in a medium each salad plate filled with Unforgettable
sized bowl. Mash up the anchovy filets until Arugula, Pear, Pecan, Gorgonzola Salad.
they are smooth, like a paste and add this to the
garlic. Add the olive oil and whisk it well until
the garlic and anchovies are mixed into the oil.
Add the red wine vinegar, lemon juice,
mustard and salt and pepper to taste. Toss this
on a salad of romaine lettuce pieces and crou-
tons. Add shredded parmesan or romano cheese
and enjoy!!

26. Period Peace Salad
Unforgettable Arugula, Pear, Pecan, Gorgonzola Salad
2 bunches arugula-washed well and dried
2 ripe pears- sliced with skin on or peeled, your choice
1⁄2 cup pecans- lightly toasted
1⁄2 cup gorgonzola cheese
Arrange pecans in a single layer in a sauté pan. On top of stove and using low heat,
toast pecans lightly. This takes 5-10 minutes in a hot pan and you must stir
frequently or they will burn. Remove from heat and let cool.
Arrange 10 arugula leaves, 3-4 pear slices, 1-2 tablespoons of gorgonzola on each
plate. Drizzle with the lemon vinaigrette dressing. Enjoy!

27. * Cirlce the following words that you can make from the phrase
“PERIOD PEACE”?
Ace Crepe Dry eyes Pace Read
Ape Cried Dumptruck Pacer Rear
Blemish Crop Ear Pander Record
Campaign Crowbar Erase Par Rice
Cap Culdesac Erotica Pear Ride
Cape Dapper Facelift Pee Rip
Caper Dapper Flees Peep Ripe
Car Deep Floss Pod Ripped
Care Deeper Gynocologist Pope Rootbeer
Chicken-lips Diaper Hairnet Pore Rope
Clap Dic Inflammation Pornography Shopping
Competition Dip Influx Price Sweet potato
Cop Dire Lad Pride fries
Cope Dope Marzipan Prod Trumpet
Copper Drape Ode Race Workboots
Crap Drip Opera Rape Worms
Crapped Drop Order Rapper Yeast
Creep Dry eyes Ore
* List any words we may have missed here. ___________ ___________ ___________
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

28. Pluck it
Pluck often meone you love
Pluck with so
Mother Plucker
You’re c
ompletely
plucked
a pluck
ho gives
W You pluck
Get plucked
P luck
ff o
PLUCK
that
Pluck
.
unplucking believable
Pluckin’ A Pluck
You
able
Pluck

29. Period Peace Chili
Ingredients: Directions:
1 tablespoon of canola oil Heat canola oil in a sauté pan on
1 pound ground beef or ground turkey medium heat. Season meat with 1⁄4
1 green or red pepper (roughly chopped) teaspoon salt, half the pepper and 1
2 onions (roughly chopped) tablespoon chili powder. Brown meat
2 carrots (sliced into 1⁄2 inch rounds) in pan, breaking it up into small pieces
1 jalapeno pepper (cut in half, remove seeds) as it cooks. Once it is cooked through
1⁄2 teaspoon salt (there is no more pink color to the
1⁄4 teaspoon pepper meat), drain off and discard liquid and
2 tablespoons chili powder put meat into a large sauce pan.
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons cumin Add all vegetables, jalapeno pepper,
1 large can of peeled whole tomatoes remaining seasonings and canned
1 can of kidney or great northern white beans tomatoes (with liquid). Simmer for one
to two hours, stir occasionally. Then add
Optional Toppings: beans and mix them in (gently so you
Shredded cheese (Monterey jack or cheddar) don’t crush them). Heat for another 20
Chopped raw onion minutes.
Chopped cilantro
Sour cream Season to taste. Season to taste with
a bit more cinnamon, cumin, chili
powder, if you like. Remove jalapeno
pepper and discard. Place about one
cup of chili in a bowl. Top with any of
the above optional toppings. Serve with
corn bread. Serves 4-6

30. Graying Gloria
gingerly
giggggggled
when she
grasped gravity’s
grip
on her gorgeous
GIGANTIC
glands.

31. Period Peace Chicken Soup
Ingredients: Directions:
2 whole chickens Fill a large pot with approximately one
5 stalks of celery, cut into thirds gallon of cold water. Set on high heat
6 large carrots, peeled and cut into one inch sized until boiling. Add all ingredients in order
pieces shown above. Cook on high heat until
3 medium yellow onions, whole boiling. Turn down heat to a simmer and
1 large sweet potato, whole, skin on cover pot. Cook for two hours, until the
1 large turnip, peeled and kept whole chicken falls off the bone when poked
2 large parsnips, peeled and kept whole with a fork.
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped Let cool and then remove chickens from
salt and pepper to taste the pot. Take the chicken meat off the
bone and put in separate containers.
When serving, put enough chicken in
each bowl with soup and heat in micro-
wave or for a greater number of servings,
heat soup in a pot with approximately
one half cup cooked chicken per serving
or as much as desired.

32. A B C D E F
G H I J K L
M N O P Q R S
T U V W X Y Z

33. Decode The Secret Period Peace Message
Use the decoder key on the left page to decipher
the secret Period Peace message.
A = sweat L = birds and bees W = downward mood
B = fan M = droopy boobs X = foot rub
C = hormonal replacement therapy N = lubrication jelly Y = thermometer
D = lifting weights O = hair in the brush Z = no hair blow dryer
E = sleeping P = vitamin B
F = rogue chin hairs Q = apple a day
G= memory issues R = raging lady
H = tea bag S = insomnia
I = walking T = cocktails
J = strong bones U = meditation
K = scale V = coffee
_________________ _______________
____________ ____________________ !

34. Super Easy Period Peace Recipes & Snacks
Herbal Tea: Warm Milk: Chew Gum
and Eat
Mints: Peanut Butter
heat water, warm the On A Spoon:
add tea bag milk and
drink everyone
needs a vice, get spoon
these are ours
get peanut butter
insert spoon into
Handful of peanut butter and
Cold Cheese remove
Nutritious Slices: Raisons &
Cereal: Nuts:
find someone eat peanut butter
slicing cheese
with or is a great with a large
hand for do not eat spoon
without stress reducer
gas - x measuring
purposes

35. Closing remarks for Period Peace
Menopause is real.
It is a life transition.
Accept it.
Loss= change =opportunity.
Think of things that help you to feel better and do them.
Take calcium and vitamin D daily.
Work that body.
Make lists so you won’t forget.
Lubricate and have sex (with or without a partner).
Have ice cream.
Talking helps everything (eventually).
Take time to care for yourself.
Be kind to yourself and others.
Be responsible for your own happiness.
Be generous.
Treat yourself with dignity and respect.
Laugh often.
Forgive.
Take a chance.
Celebrate!

36. Acknowledgements
1. Thank you to our brilliant publisher who had the vision to recognize the
power of Period Peace.
2. Thanks to our husbands, Steve and Larry, who doubled as on-call editors.
3. Thanks, Tore. Your vision helped bring our ideas to life.
4. Thanks to the women who attended our focus groups and to the women who
modeled for our graphics.
5. Thank you girlfriends for listening and giving us feedback even when you were
contending with your own flashes, forgetfulness, and fears, you still made time
for ours.
6. Thanks to anyone who ever laughed at one of our jokes. Your encouragement
fueled us.
7. Thank you to our children, Adam, Emma, Rachel, and Daniel for loving us
through all of this.
8. Thanks to our mothers and everyone else’s mothers who have paved the way.
You have been to menopause and beyond.
9. Thanks to our husbands and children for your willingness to be without us
as we took time to work on this book. You have been so generous and under-
standing.
10. Thanks to all the women and men who wrote seriously scary books before us
and inspired us to lighten up menopause!

37. Here’s one last decoded Period Peace message of wisdom.
__________________ ____________
__________________ __________________
____________________________________ .