3 Things I Learned From the Ultimate Blog Challenge and My 5 Most Popular Posts in July

This month I participated in my third Ultimate Blog Challenge.  The goal was to write 31 blog posts in the month of July.  Additionally, we were to read and comment on other participants' blogs.  I enjoy the challenge because I find new readers, I discover new-to-me bloggers, and I find that I'm more creative when I'm thinking about blog content daily.

I made it.  This is #31.

I learned three important things during this challenge.

1. In Facebook, it's possible to search posts in a group by clicking on the magnifying glass icon at the upper right corner of the screen, just under participants' pictures.  I can enter my own name to find my own posts or places where I've been mentioned.
2. Pinstamatic is a great way to create simple but bold graphics.  Thanks Donna at Socially Sorted!
3. CommentLuv (see #3 below) is a great way to find out what readers are writing and connect on a new level.

Finally, these were my most popular posts in July, with a nice variety of topics:

1. Fashion Mistakes - Gym Clothes in the City
2. Summer Reading Program Project - Reading Is So Delicious
3. Installing CommentLuv on Blogger Using Intense Debate
4. Using Bribery to Encourage Kids
5. Made Over Salted Caramel Apple Cake

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Maybe It's Time to Meditate

Imagine you have to leave a library with a mad, hungry baby in one hand and a toddler in full meltdown mode in the other.  Somewhere behind is a five-year-old that may have contributed to her sister's meltdown.  People are looking at you.  You somehow make it to the car.  What happens next?

Well, what is it?

Do you crank some peppy music and turn around and smile at your beautiful children?  My answer is no.  This is not my story.  It is my friend Erin's story (which was just published by Huffington Post!).  It's called, "Are Your Kids Making Your Crazy?  5 Ways to Remain Joyful and Calm Through the Chaos."

Number one on her list is meditate.  She wrote, "On the days I meditate, I feel as though I have an outer protective shell on me -- things just roll off."

I sure would like to have a protective shell.

I'm starting to work more and of course I think I should be able to keep up with all of the things I used to do.  I feel like a juggler, trying to manage all kinds of moving pieces.  My mind tries to keep up with the "if this then that" but my thoughts are scattered and things are starting to go in one ear and out the other.  Everything is out of focus.

After reading Erin's piece this morning, I then read the following in Inside the Yoga Sutras by Jaganath Carrera:

Our lives--every act--should reflect a clear and steady focus of mind.  We won't make satisfactory progress if we practice control of the mind for an hour a day and then let it restlessly wander during the other twenty-three.  Our lifestyle and environment should support our goals.  That is why we need to live fully in the moment and to develop attentive focus on whatever task is at hand.  That is also Yoga practice.

Meditation is just one piece of developing focus of mind, just as the physical practice of yoga and breath work is another piece among others.  However, it is something that is missing from my life.

I can find calm in many challenging yoga poses.  However as soon as I assume the same pose to begin meditation all of a sudden my knees are achy or I start to itch all over, all things that I will have to overcome if I want to begin a regular meditation practice to find my protective shell.

Like it or not, in a few weeks I will go to my three-week yoga teacher training and meditation will be a regular part of our day.  I am excited and worried and I think I better begin sooner than that otherwise I have a feeling that it might not be my favorite part of the day as perhaps it should be.

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An American Girl Finishes Third Year in German School

Meet Sophia.  She is nearly eight and just finished second grade today.

She's like a lot of other little girls.  She likes to play with friends, make bracelets, ride bikes/skates/scooters, swim, and jump rope.

There's one thing that makes her very different.  Even though she's American, she has just completed her third year in German school.

Her daddy is in the Army and we moved to Germany when she was four.  With an October birthday she didn't make the age cutoff for American kindergarten.  Excited for her to learn a second language, we put her in German kindergarten and she has been learning and moving on ever since.

She sailed through her first two years.  I struggled a little more, translating A LOT of paperwork, suffering through meetings where people talked very fast, trying to hold my own in parent teacher conferences, and making arrangements for play dates with other parents.

This year was a little tougher.  Her daddy's job moved us to a new town and a new school.  Sophia's old school had a lot of foreigners in it and the class covered less in the first grade than Sophia's new classmates.  She was already behind.  She struggled to catch up only to fall behind again.  At the mid-year parent teacher conference the teacher feared she would have to repeat the second grade.  I was heartbroken and left the conference in tears.  She had done so well and while I knew her cursive handwriting was poor, I didn't know the situation was quite so bad.  After everybody talked about it we decided that she would continue on to the third grade even if her grades were mid-range, knowing that she would most likely stay back a grade when we return to America so she can be back with kids her age.

We had a talk with her and told her she needed to kick things up a notch if she wanted to go to third grade.  She did, because she gets to go to an all day program that has extra art, music, and field trips.  She surprised her teacher, improving her handwriting and doing particularly well in math.

Sending her to German school was not the easy choice but we feel like she's getting a good education with people that care about her.  She's made great friends.  One of dads in the neighborhood says that she speaks beautiful German and she must go back to America to teach German in the university.  That's a long way off, but I was pleased that he said so.

Summer started this afternoon so she's looking forward to playing with her friends and going to Ireland with her daddy while I go to Spain for yoga teacher training.  I've hired a German tutor to meet with her a couple of hours a week, just to make sure she doesn't lose any ground.  And, there is an American teacher willing to meet with her once a week to assess her reading in English and offer suggestions for how we can work on that end so she's prepared to enter the American system, probably next year.

Sometimes it's hard to know what the right choices are, but when I hear her chattering away in German with her friends, I know it is all worthwhile.  The experiences she gets here are priceless!

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Chocolate Coconut Protein Balls

When I teach back to back Body Tone and Yoga classes I start get hungry in the middle of the second class. Today I ate one of these delicious bite-sized balls between classes. I was inspired by a recipe by The Fitnessista but ended up changing the ingredients a bit and reducing the serving size. Mine were fast, delicious, and hit the spot between classes. I quickly ate one as I was taking off my shoes for yoga.

I didn't have any dark chocolate on hand but I chopped up one of my Duplo Zartbitter Cocos bars. We have these in our commissary. At 103 calories per bar they are a nice portion controlled treat. They are like a coconut flavored, dark-chocolate Kit Kat bar. Not everybody will find this German product, but you could use dark chocolate or dried fruit instead.

 

Chocolate Coconut Protein Balls

Makes: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp chocolate protein powder
• 2 tbsp sunflower seed butter
• 2 tbsp shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 bar of Duplo Zartbitter Cocos (or dark chocolate or dried fruit), chopped

Directions:

1. In a small food processor, add the protein powder, sunflower seed butter, and coconut and pulse until the ingredients are well incorporated.

2. Add the maple syrup and sea salt and pulse again. The mixture will start to clump together.

3. Add in 1 bar Duplo (or dark chocolate or dried fruit). Pulse together one more time to finely chop the add in. If mixture is not holding together well add a little more maple syrup.

4. Roll mixture into six balls with your hands, using a small scoop or teaspoon to form portions.

 

 

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To Be Fit, Plan Your Menu In Advance

There's a saying in fitness circles, "Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym."  You can build muscles all you want but they won't show unless you eat well.  It's hard to eat well if you don't have a plan.

Have you ever worked/played until it's time to eat and then you have no ingredients and no time to make anything?  Have you ever worked out really hard and then snacked your way through meal prep because you got too hungry?

If you plan a menu and have all of the ingredients on hand then you know approximately how long it's going to to take to make something and you can plan accordingly.  No fast food stops.  No ordering of pizza.  No chowing down on cheese and crackers while you make dinner.

Here are a few of the things I'm making this week:

Chocolate Chip Protein Ballz - These look like a perfect one-bite snack to refuel between Body Tone and Yoga.

Southwestern Spiral Sweet Potatoes - Look for the recipe later this week if the dish in my imagination turns out as great as I think it will.  I just got a new kitchen gadget that will make wonderful long spirals out of vegetables.

Penne with Zucchini and White Beans - Beans and veggies add substance to this recipe so the whole wheat pasta is kept in an appropriate serving size without seeming too meager.

Mediterranean Salad with Chickpea Patties - A 20-minute meal for a busy night.

Tabbouleh-Style Amaranth Salad - This salad covers all of the bases...grain, veggies, protein...all in one dish.

What are you eating this week?

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To Be Fit, Plan Your Workouts In Advance

If you plan your workouts advance you are less likely to be thrown off track by excuses, leading to better fitness.

It's raining. I didn't get enough sleep. It's too hot. I'd rather read a few chapters. My friends invited me out. What are your excuses for not working out? If you have a plan scheduled ahead of time then the excuses fall away because you're already mentally prepared for your workout and everything else works around it.  When people know you mean business they will respect your workout time and admire your dedication.

It's easy to plan if you're training for a race or on a bodybuilding schedule. You just do as you're told. For everybody else, you should shoot for:

• Cardio - At least 30 minutes five times a week
• Strength - Work through the major muscle groups 2-3 times a week
• Flexibility - At least 15 minutes every day. Sixty-ninety minutes is great a few times a week.

This is what my week looks like:

Monday:

Body Tone - 60 minutes

Yoga - 60 minutes

Tuesday:

Body Tone - 60 minutes

Yoga - 60 minutes

Wednesday:

Yoga - 60 minutes

Thursday:

Running - 60 minutes

Yoga - 20 minutes

Friday:

Body Tone - 60 minutes

Yoga - 60 minutes

Saturday:

Restorative Yoga - Flexible time

Sunday:

Advanced Yoga - 90 minutes

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Made Over Salted Caramel Apple Cake

I had originally planned to take a nice potato salad with an assortment of toppings to book club this month. Then I learned that our hostess was turning 29 on the 29th in just a couple of days. Her husband is deployed so I guessed that her celebration wouldn't quite be what she hoped. I decided to take her a cake with candles and everything.

We still have a tree full of summer apples so I wanted to make an apple cake. I found this recipe but with 528 calories and 29 grams of fat per serving I couldn't in good conscience make it for a group of ladies that care about being fit and eating well.

I substituted applesauce for half of the oil. That adds some sweetness so I decreased the sugar. I used King Arthur white whole wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour. I left out the nuts because of allergies in the group. I also cut my pieces a little smaller. Nobody wants a huge serving at a potluck dinner where all of the food is delicious. One thing I left alone was the half and half. You can buy fat free half and half but it has a long ingredient list including corn syrup. Regular half and half is just milk and cream.

My recipe has 252 calories and 9.9 grams of fat per serving. It's still a treat but it's something you don't have to feel too bad about. If I were making this at home I would skip the confectioners' sugar in the icing and just pour the caramel sauce over individual pieces. The extra sugar helped the icing set but didn't really change the taste.

I was pleased that everybody, especially the birthday girl, loved the cake!

Made Over Salted Caramel Apple Cake

 

Prep Time: 30 min | Cook Time: 25 min Makes: 24

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 cups diced peeled tart apples

 

CARAMEL ICING:

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed
• 1/4 tsp coarse sea salt
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325° F.

In a large bowl, combine the oil, applesauce, sugars and eggs until well blended. Combine the flours, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; gradually add to creamed mixture until blended. Fold in the apples.

Pour into a greased and floured 10x13 baking pan. Bake at 325° for about 25 minutes or until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

In a small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook and stir the brown sugar, cream, butter and salt until sugar is dissolved. Transfer to a small bowl. Cool to room temperature. Beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Drizzle over cake.

Nutritional Info:

Amount Per Serving

Calories 252.0 Total Fat 9.9 g Saturated Fat 2.1 g Polyunsaturated Fat 2.2 g Monounsaturated Fat 4.9 g Cholesterol 29.5 mg Sodium 140.3 mg Potassium 94.4 mg Total Carbohydrate 43.5 g Dietary Fiber 1.9 g Sugars 26.5 g Protein 2.5 g




 

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Don't Give Up On Me - A Lesson From the Garden

It is nearly August and my spring pansies are still hanging in there. Barely. They should have been gone long ago but for some reason they have flourished through the early part of the summer.

This particular one was completely brown but I moved it to a different location, continued to water it, and it is starting to turn green and sprout blossoms.




Sophia planted this one at a birthday party and it spilled in the car on the long ride home. We didn't think it was going to make it. But again, with some patience and water it is coming back.

Plants can be resilient, bouncing back with a little care. Is there something or someone you've given up on? Perhaps things could be mended with a slight adjustment and some attention.

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Saying Yes to the Run

I almost didn't run with my friend Johanna this week.  When she texted me early in the week to see what my schedule was like I gave her a big maybe.  When she asked what I was busy with I gave her a whole list of things that had deadlines, like catching up with the Ultimate Blog Challenge, completing quilt blocks for a block exchange, finishing the book club book, and doing something with all of the ripe fruit on the trees.  She laughed at me a little bit because most of these things are optional activities that I've committed myself to.  Add them to my regular responsibilities and travel and somehow I ended up with more than I could possibly do this week.

Even so, I went ahead and told her yes.  Now that I'm teaching Body Tone three times a week and I have cardio built in, I'm not running as much so maybe the only run I get in a week is the run I do with her.  And, it's nice to have two hours to chat with a girlfriend...the hour we spend running and the hour we sit and talk while cooling off and drinking water.

There will always be things to do.  Good times with friends and family shouldn't take the back seat.  And, exercise is important.  Will the world end if I don't get through my list this week?  No.  Do I wish I had a friendlier relationship with time?  Yes.  Some people seem to be able to shuffle things around and blow things off and be flexible with deadlines.  I'd like to be able to keep my good qualities of being responsible, hard-working, and dedicated but with a little bit of flexibility thrown in for good measure.

She was still tired from a hot, hilly run yesterday.  I was worried about a tweak in my good knee.  It was unusually warm for Germany.  We've been getting the hot and cold treatment.  In light of all these things, we decided on a flat run at a comfortable pace.  The scenery was beautiful.  I hadn't run that route in quite some time so everything was new.  The rapeseed, daisies, and poppies were replaced by several varieties of purple flowers, ripening apples, and vivid orange berries on trees.  We ran almost 5 miles in less than an hour.  Not bad considering we were taking it easy, and I stopped several times to take photos.

Time well spent.

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Surprising Response to 12 Great Jobs for Military Spouses

The CPA/MBA in me ought to be outraged at the article 12 Great Jobs For Military Spouses.  

Melba Newsome compiled a list of 13 (in spite of the title) portable ways educated military spouses could earn money.  On this list are things like gift basket creator and errand runner.  She starts out by saying that military spouses are more educated than the general population and lists some companies and organizations that are working to support their careers.  The list was a disappointment after the introduction because it led us to believe there would be career-oriented suggestions, not just any old opportunity that a teenager could do.  The disappointment and the outrage is clear when reading the comments that follow the article.  Many people thought it was a joke.

But, I'm not outraged.  I take ownership of the decisions that led me to where I am today.  Eleven years ago I left my job as a senior accountant at a Fortune 100 company to join my new husband in Germany, his first Army duty station.  I was offered a job as a financial counselor with ACS, a portable job that would have led to opportunities for growth even though I would have had to take a pay cut at first.  I turned down the job because as a civilian employee I would not have had the same vacations as my active duty husband.  It was our goal to travel aggressively and we did.  I valued the opportunity to travel more than I valued my career trajectory.  I got to choose.  Perhaps those who are outraged did not.

Meanwhile, I've had a few of the jobs on the list, or ones that were similar.  In addition to the volunteer work that seems to accompany military life, I've been a clerk/instructor at a craft store, a seller of scrapbooking supplies, a trainer for the Military Child Education Coalition (wait, that's a step above the list), and most recently a yoga/group fitness instructor and personal trainer.  The common thread is that I'm always looking for opportunities to learn and grow, regardless of my job title or my salary.  Another common thread is that these jobs left me in control of my work schedule.

I choose to be present in my own life.  A work schedule that I control allows for that.  I'm able to be home when my daughter is home.  I'm able to travel when the family is free to travel.  I've learned all kinds of new skills that I in turn teach to others.  I clean my own house.  I cook healthy meals.  I sweat in my garden/orchard.  I supervise play dates.  If I were not in charge of my schedule somebody else would have to take my place and that would break my heart.

Perhaps all that I have learned and the skills I have developed will one day culminate in a brilliant career.  Perhaps it's my job to encourage others to find their own brilliance.  Perhaps, despite all I learned about being strong and smart and independent, I will be my husband's helper and my daughter's cheerleader as they climb toward success.  Whichever the case may be, I got to choose my life and it's a good one!

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Small Batch Chunky Applesauce

Having fresh fruit on trees is like having a baby. On one hand it is a delightful opportunity that brings a lot of pleasure and joy. On the other hand it is a demanding beast when it's ready, not caring much for anything else you might have had planned.

We are richly blessed this year with a tree full of early summer apples. Kenny did some research and determined that they are Yellow Transparents. They are firm and tart. Our neighbors say they are best for cooking.

We are in for a warm spell this week so we decided we needed to be proactive and process some fruit. Sophia and her friend Lara picked some apples and wanted to make applesauce so I made a fairly small batch to be eaten fresh, not jarred. We made just enough for our families eat right away.

 

I made up my mind that I wanted to make a chunky applesauce, which is a mistake if you're in a hurry because the apples must be peeled, cored, and chopped, challenging work when the apples are small, even if you do have some helpers. When I do a big batch I'll use a food mill. However, this recipe was worth the work, it was delicious! It's modified from a Martha Stewart recipe. You can't go wrong with chunks of apples, butter, cinnamon, and sugar.

Small Batch Chunky Applesauce

Makes: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

• 5 lbs Yellow Transparent apples (or other firm, tart variety)
• 2.5 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 - 1 cup sugar, to taste

Directions:

Peel, core, and cut apples into 1/2 inch chunks.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add apples, cinnamon, sugar, and 1/4 cup water. Add 1/4 cup more water if the bottom of the pan seems dry.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender, about 10-15 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to mash some of the apples against the side of the pan until you reach your desired chunky consistency.

Serve warm or chilled.

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Polish Pottery Shopping Trip in Boleslawiec

Upon arriving in Germany for the first time 11 years ago as a newlywed it didn't take me long to discover Polish Pottery. I arrived late in June and we were invited to a get together for the 4th of July. Our belongings hadn't arrived yet so I showed up with my Black Bean & Corn Salad in a brand new stainless steel bowl that I had to buy at the PX for the occasion. Most of the other dishes there were served in heavy, brightly covered pottery. I wanted to know all about it and it and Kenny's boss' wife promptly offered to take me to Poland so I could purchase some of my own. Happily, we hadn't registered for dishes so we truly needed something to spice up our first shared kitchen.

Back then the dollar was stronger and it was possible to go load up on whole sets including place settings and serving pieces and not break the bank. But, the shopping experience was rough around the edges. There were tales of stolen or broken into cars. Beggars swarmed the cars asking for money in exchange for clean windows, and if not money then just some food please. You might even run into a prostitute or two on the roads on the outskirts of town. And, the old communist building that housed the Hotel Piast was clean but bare, and the barbed wire and guard protecting the vehicles in the parking lot were unsettling to young travelers.

Eleven years later, things are much different. The prices are higher, the colors are brighter, and there are more intriguing shapes, like the wide, shallow bowl pictured above or the dessert cups with pedestals below. The city was cleaned up with not a beggar or a prostitute in sight.

 

The most surprising change however, was that there didn't seem to be many Americans there. We ran into some in two shops, but otherwise we found Germans and Poles, which were uncommon before. Is it the weak dollar? Are young families stocking up their kitchens with something else? Did we just get lucky and hit town on an off weekend?

The most pleasant change was the hotel. Hotel Piast has been torn down and we stayed at The Blue Beetroot, housed in a rustic converted barn.

Various rugs were strewn about wooden floors throughout the hotel.

Original windows opened up into charming views.

And the restaurant offered vegetarian options with huge portions. I had a Greek salad and pierogi floating beet soup.

As the tour guide for the trip I was pleased that the hotel was nice so I didn't have to disappoint my friends. We enjoyed the rustic charm, the food, the free wi-fi (though I wish my room had a stronger signal), and Mary was delighted to find a fan in the room. But, the thing that set this place apart from the many others I've stayed in, was the service. Jarek, the manager was extremely helpful from the moment I inquired about available rooms. He included a map of pottery shops along with information about each shop on the map in his reply to me. We hadn't even booked yet! The number in our party changed several times and he patiently worked to accomodate us. Luckily we made it in time for dinner, but had we not he was willing to put together a cold plate for us. After dinner he provided us with more information about shops and let us know where we could find discounts because we had stayed with them. He invited us to come back with our families (children and dogs are welcome) because they can arrange for fishing trips and horseback riding among other things.

It was nice traveling with girlfriends. Their chitchat made the five hour drive go quickly and I had somebody to practice yoga with in the evening before bed and in the morning before we started our day. We just did short 25 minute sessions from Yoga Downloads. We eeked through with a faint wi-fi signal. Yoga felt really good after a long car ride and before a day on our feet.

After a simple breakfast we checked out and started our day of shopping. We hit many shops that were new to me that were included on the list from The Blue Beetroot. It was somewhat of a challenge following a list because my GPS would find me the road but not a particular building number. But, we managed to find what we were looking for in all but one case.

My favorite of the shops that was new to me was Manufaktura. They had a large selection of patterns in quantities large enough to make it possible to buy a full set. Two large rooms were filled with newer patterns while a third was full of the traditional peacock pattern.

My favorite shop that I have frequented many times is Zaklady (ul.Kosciuszki 11, 59-700, Boleslawiec). They have a nice, large selection at reasonable prices, especially if you don't choose unikat pieces which are handpainted rather than stamped and signed by the artist. I usually like to hit this store first at the center of town and then head out to see what else there is.

Leave me a comment with your email address if you'd like a list of the shops that The Blue Beetroot gave us.

 

For lunch, we stopped at Elric, the place that we had lunch on that first visit eleven years ago. I can always find it because it's on a main road just across from the Three Sisters shops (unfortunately only one of the three sisters is open now). They offer several vegetarian options, you just have to tell them ahead of time so they don't sprinkle the pierogi with bits of meat. They also offer free wi-fi.

I had potato, cheese, and onion pierogi and a beautiful salad, but my biggest delight was this tea named after the restaurant. The cup came full of fresh fruit, dried fruit, and nuts. It was very unusual and delicious. There was more to eat than drink so I ordered a black tea later to give energy for shopping and the long trip home.

 

I really didn't think I needed anything but I of course found some things to bring home. I was excited to find this deep pie dish with the edges that save me from having to make a decorative edge on my crust. And, I found a full-size tea set for Sophia. She has had a miniature one for quite some time but she wants to drink more tea than the tiny pot and cups hold. Now she'll have something that she can use forever.

A wonderful trip was scarred by a flat tire at the very end. We got it as we exited the autobahn to enter our village. Happily our village is very small and we could walk home to get my friend's car so we could unload our things.

I called ADAC the next day to come rescue me. All four tires were just put on last week and the lug nuts were too tight for Kenny to get off with the tools we have. They have earned the membership fee that we pay them every year.

Hopefully the tradition of Americans flocking to Boleslawiec for pottery will continue. It usually takes someone who has been before to show the newcomers around. My pieces have stood the test of time. They don't chip, rarely break, and are wonderful for baking.

 

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