7 Ways to Improve Your Blog

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I've always had a nagging feeling that I wanted to blog more.  I'm pretty good at following a program so I decided I would participate in the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  The goal was to complete 31 posts in the month of January.  I did it!  This is my 31st post.  Sometimes I posted more than once a day because I started the challenge late.  With the challenge of posting something everyday I found that I had all kinds of ideas I wanted to share.  I also found that I had all kinds of ideas about ways I wanted to improve my blog.


Create a better banner.  The blog banner is the first thing that people see when they visit.  I liked the photo I used in my banner before but alone it didn't necessarily reflect what my blog is about.  And, I never figured out how to get it sized correctly so readers had to scroll down to get beyond the photo which is something that always bothered me.  

The Daily Details' Old Look

Create a better tag line.  The old tag line of fitness, vegetarian cooking, sewing, papercrafting told what the blog was about but it wasn't particularly catchy or comprehensive.  The new tag line, creating a rich life one post at a time, really conveys the message of the blog.  I am a blogging Army wife so "post" has a double meaning...blog post and Army post.  I wasn't sure whether anyone would get the double meaning, but my non-tech savvy friend got it right away.  I think it's a nice tag line even if people don't get the double meaning.

Write catchy titles.  I used to write long titles that would describe the category of the post and perhaps the number in a series (i.e. Running-Marathon Training #53).  Who wants to read that?  It would be much better to write something like Last Training Run Before First Marathon.  Now I let the labels take care of my catagorization.

Simplify the labels.  I started out with over 13 categories of blog posts but when I really looked at them I found that I could narrow them down to 7.  These categories are really what my blog is about.  How convenient!  If I got organized I could write about one category each day.  They are:

• Raise (Parenting)
• Move (Fitness)
• Create (Sewing, Papercrafting, etc.)
• Tell (Feature.  Whatever I want to write about.)
• Jaunt (Travel)
• Taste (Cooking, Nutrition, Dining Out)
• Inspire (Ideas that I put into practice.)

Post a profile photo that is consistent with the blog message.  As I was reading posts in the Ultimate Blog Challenge I found that some people's photos were off-putting.  I didn't want to read their post or consider them an authority because I didn't like their photo.  I chose my new photo because I looked happy, it was creative, and the colors worked with the blog color scheme.

Decide on an audience and focus posts to them.  Mentally, I shifted audiences.  This blog started before Facebook so it was my main way of sharing updates about my daughter.  It had a very personal, journal-like quality to it.  I'd like to keep some of that because I think it makes me relatable, but I'd like to write my posts in such a way that others can read about my experiences and apply them to create their own rich lives.

Post Better Photos.  I don't even care if some of The Pioneer Woman's posts don't apply to me.  I always enjoy looking at the amazing photography.  I'm learning how to edit photos and hope that I can post nice photos too. 

I hope you like the changes I made and will follow along in my attempt to create a rich life one post at a time.

Some of my changes were inspired by the Ultimate Blog Challenge and 31 Days to Finding Your Blogging Mojo.

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My Resolutions (Now that I know which ones I'll keep!)

Everybody talks about resolutions at the beginning of the year.  I want to let you in on mine now that I know which ones I've done a good job of keeping so far.  The secret to most of these is having some kind of program to follow.

• Learn how to strength train.   Last year I trained for and completed my first half marathon and full marathon.  I got certified to be a personal trainer, group instructor, yoga teacher, and indoor cycling instructor.  It is one thing to do the book learning and get certified to teach something.  It is quite another story to actually feel confident teaching.  I've been practicing yoga for about 12 years now and I feel comfortable teaching one-on-one or in a group setting.  But, I don't feel like I can put out my card to be a personal trainer just yet.  I need to get more comfortable in the weight room.  So, I'm doing Jamie Eason's 12 Week Body Challenge.  I'm on Week 4 and my confidence is growing along with my muscles.
• Blog more.  Maybe even daily.  This is a record of my life and it's a good one.  I hope to keep a record for myself and inspire some people along the way.  If you've been paying attention you may have noticed that I've been posting more, often more than once a day.  I signed up for the Ultimate Blog Challenge to help keep me motivated.  The goal is to post 31 times in January.  This is number 30 and today is the last day.  One more post and I've met my goal.
• Learn how to edit photos.  Last year I had a friend teach me how to use the manual settings on my camera.  This year I'm going to learn how to edit photos to take it to the next level.  Happily this is something that Kenny and I enjoy so we've spent several afternoons and evenings editing photos.  I also joined a Facebook group that is posting a photo a day all year long so I'm thinking about photography every day.
• Spend more time doing the things that I want to do.  I could putter around my house all day long cleaning and organizing and never feel like I'm done.  I decided to rededicate myself to the Flylady system.  I had revised her Weekly Home Blessing to be more of a clean my entire house day.  Yes a day.  In the beginning when I lived in a two bedroom stairwell apartment I could get through it in the designated hour, but it takes longer and longer as my homes get bigger.  So, I'm using my timer and doing her daily missions and following her list for the Weekly Home Blessing.  When I'm done, I'm done and I give myself permission to move on to other things.   With Flylady and the body challenge my days are starting to have some structure and I'm able to accomplish more of what I want to do.  I get Sophia off to school and do my chores around the house.  Then I hit the gym and go to the grocery store if necessary.  After lunch I write a blog post or two.  Then the rest of my afternoon is free for projects until I pick up Sophia.  Then I make dinner and spend the evening with my family.  There's a time for everything.  I like the structure.

There are always more things I want to do...craft, spend time with friends, learn more yoga poses.  I think these things will fall into place as I keep up with my routine.

It has been a good year so far.  I feel reenergized and excited for the coming year.  When I do things I enjoy I have more energy for things things that are necessary but not as pleasant.

How are your resolutions coming along?  What is your secret for making sure you follow through?

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Pinterest on the iPad

It took me awhile to figure out how to get everything set up to look at and post to Pinterest on my iPad.  Now, I like using it better than my desktop for Pinterest.

The regular Pinterest site looks like this on my iPad or my desktop:

There's a lot going on.  My eyes don't know where to look.  So, I discovered that I could use the mobile site and it would look less busy, like this:

By the way, the mobile site works on the desktop too if you prefer the simpler view.  

I had a good way to look at Pinterest on the iPad but I didn't have a good way to post.  Pinning things on my iPhone was less than ideal so I assumed pinning on the iPad would be the same.  But then I saw that the bookmark bar from my desktop came through on my iPad.  Thank you iCloud.  If you don't have the Pin It button yet go here.

To have the bookmark bar show up all of the time you'll have to go to settings and turn on Always Show Bookmarks Bar.

And now I can easily read AND pin from my iPad.  I'm very pleased!

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Jamie Eason's 12 Week Body Challenge - Days 17-22

Do you see these Candy Cane Joe-Joe's?  They are my favorite store bought cookies.  They are not on Jamie Eason's 12 Week Body Challenge eating plan.  I opened them this weekend because Kenny and Sophia made a huge snowman and I thought they would make good eyes.  I did not eat one.  Not one.  Kenny commended me on my dedication and said most people wouldn't be so committed.  I felt pretty proud.  The funny thing is that they weren't terribly difficult to resist.  My tastes are changing.

I love Pinterest and food porn is one of the reasons.  People post things like these Taco Cups or cakes with ten decadent layers and I will never in my life get around to eating all of that stuff.  Even a small amount of moderation will never allow it.  But again, things like this are becoming less attractive as I consistently eat only healthy food.

For three whole weeks I have followed the eating and exercise plans.  Here are the results:

Weight = -2.5 pounds
Waist = -1 inch
Hips = -1 inch
Chest = -1 inch
Upper arm = -.5 inch
Inner thigh = -1.25 inches
Calf = .5 inch
Waist/Hip Ratio = .84  No change

I would have hoped to be down at least 3 pounds this week because I think a pound a week is reasonable weight loss for an already healthy individual.  But, I'm not too worried about it because I can see a difference in how I look.  I've gone from post-holiday dumpy to okay in three weeks.  Muscles are starting to appear and the ring around my belly is smaller.

Some people wonder why I work so hard to stay in shape.  I am not overweight.  However, I have an apple shaped body (weight in belly and chest) so I am at moderate risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.  I need to get that ratio down to .8 or below to be healthy.  That is one goal.  The other goal is to look better in my clothes.  And, I want to improve my yoga poses.  The weight training can help with that.  Already I'm noticing more control in my attempt to manage forearm stand.

Only one more week and I begin phase two.

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Pumpkin Protein Bars

I'm just finishing up week three of Jamie Eason's 12 week body challenge and I finally made a version of her Pumpkin Protein Bars.  I've been feeling guilty about eating so many Kind bars as snacks.  Nuts aren't part of Phase 1.  It's nice to get on track with something so yummy.

I had to piece things together from things I had on hand from Trader Joe's in the States, Tegut here in Germany, and the Commissary.  For the record, Kenny says that if you're active duty you're not supposed to consume hemp protein powder.  It's legal for civilians and it will not make you positive on a drug test because hemp, unlike marijuana does not have THC which is the compound that makes you high.  It's nice for vegetarians because it is a good source of Omega-3 which is commonly found in fish.

I just used regular brown sugar.  I'm not sure I could find the Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend, but I'm not a big fan of sugar alternatives so I didn't spend any time looking for it.  She calls for baby food applesauce.  I just used an individual portion of no sugar added applesauce.  I couldn't find oat flour so I used Haferkleie which is finely ground oatmeal.  I was worried that my bars would be too grainy.  They look pretty grainy but the texture didn't bother me when I ate it.  I did find some quinoa flour at the Grafenwöehr Commissary so maybe I'll try that next time.

The instructions didn't require separating wet and dry ingredients so I was prepared for a disaster but the bars came out nicely.

Pumpkin  Protein Bars

Ingredients
1⁄2 cup brown sugar
1 3.9 ounce container no sugar added applesauce
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground ginger
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large egg whites
1 15 ounce can of raw pumpkin
2 cups oatmeal, finely ground
4 tablespoons vanilla hemp protein 
1⁄2 cup almond milk

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a 9 X 13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.
Add the final 3 ingredients (4, if adding walnuts), and mix until incorporated.
Spread batter into the baking dish and back for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.


Makes 24 squares. 

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Sometimes My Daughter Listens

Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a block of wood when I talk to Sophia.

Sit like a lady.
Use manners at the table.
It doesn't matter who gets to the gate last.
Use your best handwriting.
Use the correct fingering on the piano.
Keep track of your gloves.
Close the door.

On and on.  Over and over.  Broken record.  I don't think she hears me a good deal of the time.

But sometimes she listens.

She's gotten into a bad habit of eating while she watches TV.  This started because if she's watching TV she's sitting still, taking a break from whatever she's been doing.  It's a nice, quiet time for a snack.  But, I've noticed that she wants to eat the entire time she's watching TV.

Now, I'm careful to avoid the f(at) word at home.  We talk about making healthy choices, and there are some times when we are definitely more mindful about what we're eating.  Little girls are having enough body image issues I don't want to contribute.  But this time I told her that she can't just eat constantly in front of the TV.  When we watch TV we're distracted, and not really paying attention to whether we're hungry or not.  It's easy for people to get big when they eat in front of the TV because they eat more than they need.

She barely acknowledged what I said.  But, when she and her daddy ate breakfast on the couch in front of the TV I heard her say, "Mommy said," and she gave the whole speech.  She heard me.  Now it's time to establish new habits.

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Necklace and Bracelet Organization

One of the ladies in my photo-a-day group showed a photo of her pile of jewelry.  She was looking for ideas on how to organize it so I thought I'd share what I put together.

I hung the bottom rack of a broken laundry cart on the wall and then used IKEA hooks (found in the kitchen section) to hang my necklaces and bracelets.  It's pretty great.  A bulky item didn't go to the dump and I can clearly see what have.  And, no tangles!

My rings, earrings, and pendants are kept in a dresser drawer in boxes like these from Bed Bath and Beyond.

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Happy Birthday Card - PDCC116

This is my entry for this week's challenge over at the Play Date Cafe.  Every week they provide an inspiration photo and colors to work with.  While I love the purple (plum) and the blue (moldy cheese) colors, I wouldn't ordinarily be inclined to work with the pear color.  In the end I loved the brightness that it provided to my card.

Here are the supplies I used:

CTMH = Close to My Heart

CTMH Grapevine Stamp Set

CTMH Annotations Stamp Set

CTMH Vanilla Cream Cardstock

CTMH Indian Corn Blue Cardstock - Distressed with sandpaper

CTMH Smokey Plum Cardstock

CTMH Black Ink

CTMH Smokey Plum Ink

CTMH Citrus Leaf Marker

CTMH Black Marker

CTMH Blender Pen

Stampin' Up Watercolor Pencils

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Happy, Healthy Surprises at REWE

 

For those of you who live here in Germany, I was so delighted with what I found at REWE I thought I should share so you can go there too.

As soon as I walked in the door I saw a whole display of 10 liter buckets filled with fruit for only 5 Euro. It includes apples, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, pineapple, and of course the bucket.  I needed a nice clean bucket for fruit picking in the summer.

Then, in the Tchibo section they had these snow chains for shoes.  I really needed them last winter.  I was lucky I didn't break my neck when I was doing my half-marathon training.  We haven't had much snow this winter but it will be nice to have these on hand for whenever it decides to dump on us.

Americans often stick to the Commissary for their grocery shopping, but today is a good day to go out and try a new store.

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Organize Your Fridge with a Lazy Susan

Use a lazy susan in the fridge to make small jars easily accessible.  I have a Barbie doll size fridge so I need all the help I can get.  Europeans' appliances are much smaller than those we're used to using in America.

I found this idea on Pinterest from this blog.  This is yet another attempt to put to use all of the fabulous ideas I find there.

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Jamie Eason's 12 Week Body Challenge - Days 12-16

I've started week 3 of Jamie Eason's 12 Week Body Challenge and there's some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that yesterday's leg workout included this amazing exercise that combines strength, flexibility, and balance.  Check it out!
BodyBuilding - Kettlebell One-Legged Deadlift

The other good news is that I'm feeling more comfortable in the gym and getting into a nice routine where I can get things done at home in spite of taking time out to go to the gym just about every day.

The bad news is that my weight is doing this:

After a couple weeks of steady losses I got a couple of red dots in the last few days.  Red dots mean sudden weight gains and the Wii Fit wants to know why.  I marked indigestion.  I don't know.  But it's a little discouraging.  I'm going to choose to believe that I'm creating all kinds of great new muscle and it weighs a ton.

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Healthy Living Resolutions - 5 Pitfalls & Solutions

Breakfast Buffet = Major Tempation

It is the end of January.  How are you doing with your New Year's resolution to get fit and eat better?  I'm sticking with it but there have been some sticky situations.  Here are 5 pitfalls that I've run into while trying to get fit and eat better and what you can do to avoid them and stay on track.  After all, according to a Franklin Covey survey, 35% of respondents broke their New Year's resolutions by the end of January.

There's a personality quiz at the end to determine whether you're a Type A personality.  Type A personalities tend to like specific plans like the one I'm doing at bodybuilding.com.  I reveal my score and want to know how yours compares.

1.  Travel


Pitfall - Traveling is fraught with peril for those trying to make healthy choices.  You're off schedule and eating out at restaurants.  Without your own kitchen and gym you're likely to stray off course.  For example, Jamie's plan requires me to eat every three hours.  It's a diet heavy on protein and vegetables, is specific about what fruit to eat, and requires healthy starches.  When we visited Prague recently I was faced with a breakfast buffet at the hotel and restaurant meals.  Luckily we were there over exercise rest days so I didn't have to go use the hotel's gym after full days of being a tourist.

Solution - Plan ahead.  If you know you're supposed to eat frequent small meals including lots of vegetables and protein make sure to bring along some protein bars and portable veggies like baby carrots. You can carry them in your bag while you're out and about.  Choose to stay at a hotel that has a gym or bring portable equipment like resistance bands, a jump rope, or a yoga mat.  Ask your hotel for good/safe running routes.  Exercise in the morning before you get too tired with your day's activities.

Learn how to make healthy choices at the hotel breakfast buffet and restaurants.  You might not be able to stay completely on track, but know what the good compromises are.  In Prague I ate eggs, the darkest available toast, fruit, and a veggie salad for breakfast.  I allowed myself only a sample of the wonderful pastries.  Didn't want to miss out on the cultural experience!  Prague has several wonderful vegetarian restaurants so I was able to get hearty salads including protein, veggies, and healthy starches.  Just what my plan called for.  If you're not a vegetarian you'll have an easier time finding healthy choices like lean meat and vegetable dishes.  Know your plan and approximate it the best you can.  Allow yourself a small portion of special items unique to the place you're visiting.  You will help facilitate lifestyle change by allowing yourself indulgences from time to time.

2.  Change in Schedule


Pitfall - No week is perfect.  There will be days when you have to travel, or there's a holiday, or a child is home from school, or you have a meeting during the time you usually work out.  Something comes up and you miss your workout.  Maybe you miss breakfast and your eating schedule is thrown off.

Solution - Have a backup plan.  Jamie Eason offers a couple of home workouts you can do if you can't get to the gym.  Or, if rest days are built into your plan, just push the schedule forward a day.  If your eating schedule is thrown off throw some healthy snacks in your bag so you have good choices instead of making a desperate bad choice when you're out and about.

3.  Social Gatherings


Pitfall - Social gatherings are usually great fun.  There is often delicious food, fun activities, and good friends.  Sometimes there aren't healthy food choices to make and you feel like you have to eat whatever is there to please the hostess or the other food contributors.

Solution - It's the P word again.  Plan ahead.  Know what you're going to eat before you get there.  Make the decision to avoid temptation.  If you're going to book club or Bunco or your crafting group and you're asked to bring something, take something you can eat.  I usually like to take a large salad that contains veggies, a protein, and a starch.  It could be my whole meal if I need it to be.  If a friend asks me what she should bring I'll have a suggestion in mind.  For last book club I asked a friend to bring an egg dish.  Decide that you'll have one treat and stick to a small portion.  That treat might be a dessert, cheese dip, chips, whatever.  I decided I didn't want to be that thin girl that didn't eat cake at parties (I used to be her and I knew people were calling me names behind my back) so at book club I had a small slice of cheesecake.  Allowing occasional indulgences will help you enjoy life and maintain a healthy lifestyle rather than keeping you in a yo-yo diet cycle.

4.  You Don't Have Anything to Eat


Pitfall - You didn't plan ahead.  You are out and about and you can't find any healthy choices on the run.  Or it is dinnertime and you have to feed your family and you don't know what to make.  It's easy in these situations to grab something from the bakery (our bakeries here in Germany are amazing!) or throw together some nachos or a frozen pizza.

Solution - Know what you're going to eat before it is time to eat.  Yes, I'm going to say it again.  Have a plan.  If you're going to be out all day, know what your meals and snacks are going to be.  Decide on what's for dinner early in the day.  Don't scramble.  Know ahead of time.

5.  You Fell Off the Wagon


Pitfall - You had good intentions but you didn't plan ahead and were stuck making a bad choice or you couldn't resist temptation.  You got too busy and didn't make it to the gym.

Solution - Forgive yourself and jump right back on the wagon with the next meal or the next workout.  Just because you deviated from your plan doesn't mean that the whole thing is out the window.  Remember your goal.  Do you want to look better in your clothes?  Do you want to run a marathon?  Do you want to see some defined muscles?  Do you want to buy that prize you promised yourself for meeting your goal?  Is it worth it to throw away your success because you went off course for a short time?

Of course not.  Stick with your plan.  Achieve your goals.  This is easier said than done for me.  My friends say I have a very Type A personality.  One went as far as to say I'm the most Type A person she knows.  I like to have a goal and a plan and I usually follow it to the letter.  That is until one of the above pitfalls catches me and I deviate.  Once I deviate that's it.  I'm done.  The plan is out the window.  That's why it is very important for me to have a very specific goal with an end date like Jamie's 12 week plan, or a marathon.  It forces me to get back on track even when I've fallen off.

Just for kicks I just took a short personality test to see whether I'm a Type A personality.  I scored 85 which means that I have most if not all of the Type A personality characteristics.  Take the test.  It will take you less than five minutes.  I want to know what your score is.  I want to know if I can tell my friend that there are real people out there that are more Type A than me.  Meanwhile, I guess I better get working on my yoga practice so I can learn how to relax a little more.

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Quilts of Valor

One of the ladies in my quilt block exchange group asked everyone if they would like to contribute to the quilt she's making for Quilts of Valor.  According to the QoH website these quilts are "stitched with love, prayers and healing thoughts.  Combat troops who have been wounded or touched by war are awarded this tangible token of appreciation that unequivocally says, 'Thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor.'"

Making a quilt is a lot of work.  A lot of time and energy is involved.  So much so that I rarely gift a quilt outside of my family.  How special it is that over 60,000 quilts have been given away.  My husband is in the Army and we are often thanked for our sacrafices.  How easy it is to give away words!  I'm thankful that my husband has returned home safe and sound, but so many others aren't so fortunate.  I think this is a worthy cause and I want to make some tops of my own to send.

In the meantime I'll send this one off and I hope it becomes part of a quilt that offers comfort and hope to someone who needs it.  It is the Army Star made from Around the Block with Judy Hopkins.

If you are a quilter or would like to become one, I hope you'll check out the link above and consider contributing.

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Creating a Bathroom Vignette

There are Army wives that create spectacular homes wherever they are.  They showcase their talent at the Parade of Homes and wow the rest of us.  They collect antiques and have special Christmas china. I admire them and yes, I'm a bit jealous.  But, I don't like to go crazy buying all kinds of things because it breaks my heart when the movers break it.  So, I just try to make the most of what I have.  Thank goodness for Pinterest and the inspiration I find there.



My outdated bathroom with brown tile from floor to ceiling is a little bit tough to work with.  I toured my house to find things that would work for a vignette to top my Ikea EXPEDIT shelving.  I chose to embrace the brown and add some blue.



I don't like a lot of clutter so I picked useful things and things that would add some height to give some relief from all of that brown tile.  There are containers holding cotton swabs and cotton balls, a vase filled with reeds and tied with wire ribbon, candles on a pedestal, a photograph I took in Gozo, and some rolled towels in a basket.  Pretty simple, but I think it adds a lot.

Rolled Towels

Photograph, Filled Vase

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My Bookshelf - The Happiness Project

Things that make me happy...in no particular order.
1.  Alone time
2.  Baking
3.  Getting ready to go out with friends
4.  Sunshine
5.  Blue sky
6.  Painted fingernails
7.  Flat abs

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Roasted Autumn Panzanella Salad

WHAT'S COOKING?


A couple of months ago I made Bulgur Salad with Arugula, Pomegranate Seeds and Toasted Almonds for book club which I reworked from Whole Foods (see below). My friend asked that I bring it again. I was flattered but told her no because I don't want to be a one trick pony. This recipe is similar but with a roasted vegetable twist.

Last night we gathered to discuss The Help and of course eat lots of good food.  My salad was well received.  I didn't bring much back home.  I made just a few changes to a recipe from Tasty Kitchen.

Roasted Autumn Panzanella Salad
6-8 Servings


INGREDIENTS

For the Salad
1 teaspoon coarse salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil, or more as needed
2 Pink Lady apples, seeded and cubed
5 slices thick multigrain bread, cubed
4 cups arugula
Seedes from one pomegranate

For the Spiced Pomegranate Vinegrette
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
¼ cup pomegranate juice
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 pinch each of salt, pepper and nutmeg
½ cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS

For the salad:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix salt, pepper, chili powder, cinnamon, and garlic powder in a small bowl.

In a large bowl, mix sweet potato and squash chunks, then drizzle the olive oil on top and mix to coat with your hands. Add about 3/4 of the spice mixture and mix again to coat. Lay on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping once.

After 20 minutes, toss apple chunks with remaining spice mixture. Add apple to the baking sheet and bake for another 25 minutes, tossing once or twice.  Add salt to taste.

Let squash, potatoes and apple cool and place in a large bowl.  Add bread chunks to the baking sheet.  Drizzle with a bit of olive oil if desired.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden and crispy.

In a large bowl, combine arugula with roasted fruit, vegetables and bread cubes.

For the dressing:

Combine mustard, honey, pomegranate juice, vinegar, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and olive pile in a jar with a lid and shake.  Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

I don't pre-dress the salad because I like people to be able to control the amount of dressing they want.  And, I don't want any leftovers to get soggy.

And now for the much requested bulgur salad.

Bulgur Salad with Arugula, Pomegranate Seeds and Toasted Almonds
6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 cup uncooked bulgur wheat
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup sliced or slivered almonds
3 cups packed baby arugula
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
Juice of one lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, combine bulgur and water, cover and set aside until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Spread almonds on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until lightly golden, 10 to 12 minutes.

Stir arugula, pomegranate seeds, celery and almonds into bulgur.

Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Stir into salad.

Salad becomes creamy after sitting for half an hour or so.

Serve.

Notes:

11/20/11 - Book club. Kenny said he might even give this salad 5 stars. He really liked it. The ladies at book club said they enjoyed the creaminess and earthy flavor. I added the dressing to the original recipe. It definitely needed something.

12/15/11 - Served as a stuffing substitute for Christmas dinner.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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New Blog Purpose = New Blog Platform?

I started blogging in the olden days before Facebook.  The main purpose of my blog was to share updates of my daughter with family and friends.  I also posted quite a few recipes so that when people asked for a copy at gatherings I could just direct them to my blog.

Times have changed.  I'm more likely to share photos of my daughter on Facebook unless it's a major milestone that compels me to write a blog post.  I'm brainstorming ideas to take this blog from a free-flowing "this is what I'm up to" feeling to a more structured approach to give readers ideas on how to create richness in their lives through fitness, eating well, creative parenting, crafting, traveling, and making the most of sometimes difficult situations (Army life!).

My question then becomes, should I change my blogging platform?  As I've been looking for inspiration from other blogs I get the feeling that all of the cool kids are playing at WordPress.  They have all kinds of fun plug-ins to work with and their templates look clean and fresh.  I've read that all of those plug-ins crash all of the time though.  In talking to my husband, he says that Tumblr is the wave of the future.  I'm just not so sure that Tumblr can be made into blogging platform that can successfully display in-depth content.

Is it worth my time to fidget with Blogger as I upgrade my blog, or should I be looking at a new platform?

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Sewing Room - Quilt Block Exchange 2012 - January

Army Star

When I saw that a high school friend was putting together a quilt block exchange on Facebook I was excited to join.  I've vowed to organize my time better this year so that I can do more of what I want to do.  Quilting is one of those things and a group like this provides me with good accountability.

The block exchange requires us to complete two blocks a month.  We all send them in to one person and will get two blocks in exchange each month.  It is a fantastic way to get me in my sewing room regularly.  I'm using up scraps for this project which is an added bonus.  And, I'm getting acquainted with other quilters that I otherwise wouldn't have a chance to meet.

I decided to make the "Army Star" from Around the Block with Judy Hopkins - 200 Rotary-Cut Blocks in 6 Sizes.  This is the book I turn to when I need to make a single block.  There are lots of good choices and I get to pick my size.  This book was written in 2004 but Judy has a newer book called 501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks which is more easily available now.

Of course I picked the Army Star because I am an Army wife.

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Fitness - Jamie Eason's 12 Week Challenge - Day 11 - Paula Deen

Have you seen Chef Paula Deen's interview with Al Roker on the Today Show?  She discusses waiting three years to announce her Type 2 Diabetes diagnoses while continuing to dish up her recipes full of fat and sugar.  Now that she has an endorsement with a major drug manufacturer she's ready to discuss her diabetes while continuing to insist that she's always eaten in moderation.  She's sending an irresponsible message.  Eat what you want and let the drugs take care of the consequences.

Some people eat with reckless abandon because they aren't educated about healthy eating.  Some people know better but continue to make bad choices.

Yesterday at the Commissary the lady checking me out said to the checker in the next aisle, "Look at her cart.  It is full of healthy vegetables.  If people were to see my cart they would say 'Oh my, look how she feeds her family.'"  That woman knows better.  Her conscience is bothering her.  She continues to make bad choices not only for herself but for family.

I'm doing Jamie Eason's 12 Week Challenge right now, but I'm not always on a plan.  Still, I make healthy choices with my diet and exercise.  It is a lifestyle.  This isn't the first time that people have commented on my grocery cart.  Sometimes they don't even know the names of my fruit and vegetables.

Who would you rather be?  You get to choose.

Paula

Jamie

I choose a healthy lifestyle.  I just finished Jamie's week two workout.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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Fitness - Jamie Eason's 12 Week Challenge - Day 10 - Upset Tummy

So far so good with the workout portions of Jamie Eason's 12 Week Challenge.  The biggest challenge is the change in my diet.  This plan calls for more protein than I usually eat, and the sources of protein are different.  As a vegetarian, I usually get my protein from a nice variety of tofu or other veggie meats, beans, nuts, and dairy/eggs.  This plan is heavy on the eggs and tofu/veggie meats.  I'm guessing nuts are too fatty for this plan and beans are considered starches so they're eaten along with an additional protein source.  Dairy is extremely limited.

My stomach has not felt particularly good since I started.  I started off feeling bloated.  A friend who's doing the plan had the same complaint.  I started drinking yogurt shots (Activa, or something similar) with my lunch.  That helped a little but then this morning I felt very sick and Kenny had to make Sophia's lunch and Brotzeit because I needed to be curled up in a ball.

So I did a little reading and found that high protein diets can lead to bloating, or feelings of fullness, because protein seems to leave the system slower than carbs or fats.  This isn't an Atkins diet like the article talks about, but it does explain why my stomach hasn't been happy.  The good news is I haven't really been tempted to stray from the plan.

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Fitness - Jamie Eason's 12 Week Challenge - Day 9 - Workout Clothes

Lululemon Ta Ta Tamer II

I hear a lot of reasons why people don't like to work out.  Some of the excuses have to do with clothing.

"I don't have nice workout clothes." --Don't let this be a barrier to entry.  Make sure you have good shoes and a good sports bra and you're good to go.  Otherwise you just need something you can move in.  Then save up for something cute or ask for workout clothes for special occasions.

"My boobs are too big and it is uncomfortable to exercise."  --Again, make sure you have a good sports bra.  I like the Ta Ta Tamer II from Lululemon.  It has adjustable padded straps and moulded cups so you get excellent support without the mono-boob look.

"I need to lose some weight before I can go to the gym."  If you are overweight and walking down the street with a bag of chips (yes, I'm talking about the soldier walking down the street the other morning with the open bag of Doritos that I'm sure doesn't meet weight standards) then you should probably feel a little self-conscious.  People will judge you.  People will not judge you if you're in the gym working out.  But if you're feeling too self-conscious to go to the gym, clothes can be your friend to help get you in the door.  I dare say the Ta Ta Tamer mentioned above is minimizing.  It is very flattering.  Kohl's has a whole shape wear category under Activewear to give you a little help while you're working on getting fit.  Lululemon has some great tanks right now that are fitted through the chest and then have a nice drape through the middle.  Invest in a few good pieces to boost your confidence so you can get in the door of the gym.  Fake it till you make it!

Lululemon Back on Track Tank

No excuses for me.  It's day 9 of Jamie Eason's 12 Week Transformation Challenge.  I haven't been feeling well since we got back from the States.  My chest is congested and it is slowly getting worse, developing into a phlegmy cough.  It's unpleasant, but luckily it is manageable during the day, getting worse during the late afternoon.  It is not stopping me from exercising.  I'm glad I'm not doing any cardio right now.  It would just aggravate my cough.

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What's Cooking - Vegetarian Meatloaf Muffins

I like to eat these Vegetarian Meatloaf Muffins with salsa.

I'm doing Jamie Eason's 12-Week Body Transformation Challenge and I'm supposed to eat a lot of protein.  This is my vegetarian version of the plan's popular snack food.  The menu plan for Phase One calls for eating four Turkey Meatloaf Muffins a day.  They are good, but I eat one a day and choose an alternative for the second snack.  Two is a serving, but I've found that it is difficult to eat as much as the plan calls for. Perhaps it's because I'm petite and I don't require as many calories as a larger person.

2 bags Morningstar Burger Crumbles
3 egg whites
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dry yellow mustard
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray muffin pan with canola or olive oil.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
Roll the mixture into balls and place in a muffin pan.  Muffins should be about the size of a racquetball.
Bake for 40 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins.

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Fitness - Jamie Eason's 12 Week Challenge - Day 8 - Results

What is a fitness/nutrition plan without results?  Here's how I did after week one of Jamie Eason's 12 Week Transformation Challenge.

Weight lost: 2.2 pounds
Inches lost: 2.5 (measuring one arm and one leg only)

It was nice to hit the gym armed with a familiar workout. Well, I wasn't excited to revisit narrow pushups, but I liked to feel like I knew what I was doing. I was worried about the gym being busy since it's a holiday. The gym opened at 8 and I managed to get there at 8:30 and it wasn't too bad. I'm sure a lot of people wanted to sleep in.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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Pinterest Inspired - Cake Stand

I've been a loyal fan of Pinterest for awhile now. It's a little bit of an obsession.  It's fun to look at pictures of pretty things and beautiful spaces. I collect ideas of things I want to do. It's about time I put some of those ideas into action.

This Pin came from the Home Design with Kevin Sharkey blog. The idea is to use a cake stand to hold frequently used items next to the stove or prep area. I already had a collection of items next to my stove, but I'm able to buy a little more space with the cake stand because low standing items can sit underneath.

I keep oil, vinegar, salt, garlic, honey, and spoon rests here.


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Travel - Prague - Maitrea and Lehka Hlava Vegetarian Restaurants

Prague was only an hour and a half away from us when we lived in the Grafenwoehr, Germany area.  Now we live about three hours away, but it is still an easy distance for a weekend trip.  We go quite often.  It helps that as vegetarians we're able to eat well there.  It is a treat for us, particularly in Europe, to get to go to restaurants and have lots of choices of things to eat.

We always eat at Maitrea Vegetarian Restaurant and now for the second time we've eaten at Lehka Hlava.  They are sister restaurants that offer world cuisine, including traditional Czech specialties.  They are very popular so we always either show up right when they open and hope for a spot or call for a reservation.  Both restaurants offer a children's menu, but with so many wonderful choices our 7-year-old ordered off of the regular menu.  Portions are big though, so next time I'll see if they can make a kid's portion for her.

At Maitrea Kenny had marinated "duck" with cabbage and dumplings.  Sophia had vegetable lasagna.  I had a Thai salad that included smoked tofu, veggies, and avocado.  They also offer unusual drinks.  Kenny had birch juice and Sophia had ginger lemonade.  Our waiter was surprised that a little girl would want ginger lemonade.  She loves ginger, but this was indeed a little spicy for her.  Maitrea is a larger restaurant but the tables are close together.  Prepare to bump elbows with your neighbors.

At Lehka Hlava Kenny had bulgur risotto with tempeh.  Sophia had an unusual pasta and tofu dish.  I had a salad topped with "sausage," roasted potatoes, and beet dressing.  Kenny and Sophia ordered aloe vera juice.  This is a smaller restaurant but the tables seem to be spaced further apart.  Our table was drafty but they had blankets for us to use.  I didn't complain.  They were full but agreed to seat us one hour earlier than our reservation time.  The ballet that we went to see let out earlier than we expected and we weren't really dressed to walk around outside in the cold for too long.



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Fitness - Jamie Eason's 12 Week Plan - Days 5-7 - Traveling

It can be hard to stay on track with a diet and exercise plan while vacationing.  Here's how it worked out for me this weekend.

Days 5-7 of Jamie Eason's 12 Week Transformation Plan were rest days so no workouts were required.  It was good timing because we were in Prague for the weekend.  Our hotel had a gym but walking around the city all day made me tired so I was glad to not have any workout obligations.  I took my yoga mat along with the best of intentions but I fell into bed each night and didn't get any yoga done.

Eating right was a challenge.  I meant to bring along some protein bars but I was fighting with Sophia about completing her homework before we left so I walked out without them.  Without healthy choices in hand I was not able to eat every three hours, but I tried to make good choices when I did eat.

Our hotel had a nice breakfast buffet.  I was not able to get anything made with egg whites (well, I was too timid to ask) so I had scrambled eggs one morning and boiled eggs the next.  They didn't offer any berries so I just had a serving of fruit.  I had a slice of their really hearty dark bread and a bowl of veggies.  I didn't want to be completely left out of enjoying the goodies so I just had a bite of the cakes and pastries that Kenny and Sophia had.  Sophia had perhaps the best pastry ever.  It was similar to a croissant and it was filled with chocolate and just a tiny bit of custard.  I would have liked to have eaten several, but I stuck with two bites.  After all, complete deprivation won't lead to lifestyle change.

We ate at vegetarian restaurants both nights (Maitrea and Lehka Hlava) where I was able to find hearty salads that contained my protein, starch, and veggie requirements.

I failed when I ate a Snickers bar for lunch one day.  We rushed to a ballet performance and I was stuck with whatever I could find at the concession stand.  And, I had to make do the best I could at the Grafenwoehr food court on our drive back home.  The salad bar in the Commissary is closed on Sundays.  So, I had some bean tacos at Taco Bell.  They were kind of icky because I did not get sour cream on them as I usually do.

The best part is that even though I had to make some compromises with the eating plan, I was able to come back home and jump right back on the program.  Goodbye to my all or nothing attitude.






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Fitness - Jamie Eason's 12 Week Challenge - Day 4 - Routines

Getting into a good routine helps with beginning and maintaining a new fitness program. I like plans like Jamie Eason's 12 Week Program, or marathon training programs because what I have to do is outlined for me. I just have to fit it into my day and stick with it.

Finding a good time to hit the weight room is particularly important to me because I don't want it to be too crowded with soldiers. Also, the locker room is closed from 9-10 for cleaning which I find inconvenient because that is prime time for me. Any earlier and it's going to be busy with people who go to the gym before work. I've discovered that the weight room will be all but deserted if I leave my house by 9:45.

That's a little late for me because it means I'm puttering around my house all morning in either pajamas or workout clothes and there's not a whole lot of dignity in either. This morning my neighbor came by at 9 and 9:30 and caught me in both. I was embarrassed! I'm going to have to at least put my workout clothes on right away every morning.

Getting to the gym is becoming routine but it takes a couple of hours out of my day. It's lunchtime by the time I get home. I need to figure out a good routine for getting everything else done.

I did shoulders and abs today. Struggled with even light shoulder weights.

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Fitness - Jamie Eason's 12 Week Plan - Day 3 - Fitness Goal Rewards

I often turn to food for a reward.  Or as a way to celebrate.  Or to help ease the burden of a bad day.  Emotional eating at it's finest.  I'd like to do away with that kind of eating for good, but especially now while I'm trying to rid myself of the results of extra holiday indulgences and stay on track with Jamie Eason's 12 Week Transformation Plan.

I usually do a pretty good job of meeting my fitness goals.  I ran my first half-marathon and marathon last year and I followed a strict training schedule from January through July.  My reward was meeting my goal of finishing.  Staying on an eating plan is harder because I have an all or nothing attitude.  Either I'm on the plan or I'm not and if I get interrupted by a vacation or a major holiday like Thanksgiving it's all out the window.   So, I thought it might be nice to treat myself to the gym bag I've been coveting from Lululemon.  It has all kinds of great features but I particularly like it because it will hold a yoga mat.  I hope it's still available in 11 1/2 weeks!

Lululemon Destined for Greatness Duffel

How do you reward yourself when you meet your fitness goals?

I hit the weight room at 10:30 instead of 11:30 and there were several women and one guy. What a difference an hour makes!  Much less intimidating to not have to work out in a gym full of soldiers.

It was a leg workout today and for the first time the gym didn't have the exact equipment I needed but I was able to modify and get the workout done.  It was a relief to move to lower body.  My upper body was pretty sore.


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What's Cooking? Breakfast Tacos

Jamie Eason's 12 Week Plan is pretty straightforward when it comes to food. There's a set outline of what you should eat for each phase of the program.  Phase 1's breakfast for women looks like this:

5 egg whites
Unlimited vegetables
1 serving starch
1 serving berries

And, you can click on a link to see lists and quantities of vegetables and starches. But this is almost too simple.  How does it translate into a meal?  This is a nice breakfast recipe that I came up with.  I cheat and use a tiny bit of olive oil to sauté the green peppers.

1 cup frozen blueberries (It is winter and we don't get good prices on fresh berries at the Commissary.  Will have to check the German grocery stores.)

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 cup Egg Beaters (usually I like to eat unprocessed food, but I didn't feel good about wasting so many yolks)
1 tablespoon whole flax seed (plan calls for 1T a day and this is where I choose to use it)
2 corn tortillas, toasted until crispy in toaster oven
Salsa

I like my blueberries somewhat frozen so I set them out in a bowl while I cook the rest of the meal and they're just right when it's time to eat.

Heat the smallest about of olive oil you can get away with in a cast iron skillet (or skillet of your choice).  Sauté green peppers until somewhat soft.  Add Egg Beaters and scramble.  Remove from heat and stir in  flax seed.  Spoon over tortillas and top with salsa.

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